Credit

The term 'credit' has a number of different related meanings in finance generally, and in banking in particular.

We will consider them separately in the sections below.

1. Repayable financial benefits.

The provision or availability of loans or other repayable financial benefits by a bank or other lender.

An entity which lends money, or which provides goods or services on deferred payment terms, is 'extending credit' to its customer.

Credit includes borrowings, especially short term ones relating to particular goods or services.

2. Creditworthiness.

Credit strength, or 'creditworthiness', means an entity's ability and willingness to meet its financial obligations.

3. Banking - credit balances in banking.

In relation to a bank account, a credit balance in the bank's books is one which stands in favour of the customer.

The bank owes money to the customer.

(Contrasted with a debit, or overdrawn, balance.)

4. Banking - credit items in banking.

In banking, a 'credit' also means an item paid into a bank account.

5. Book-keeping.

In double entry book-keeping, every accounting transaction is recorded with both a Debit entry and a Credit entry in the accounting records.

6. Bookkeeping - credit balances in book-keeping.

Credit balances represent liabilities or income.

(Debit balances represent assets or expenses.)

7. Bookkeeping - credit entries in book-keeping.

In double entry book-keeping a 'credit entry' is one made:

• To increase a credit balance; or

• To reduce a debit balance.

For example, the book-keeping entry to recognise an expense paid in cash is:

DR Expense

CR Bank

If the bank balance is already overdrawn, the CR Bank accounting entry for the payment will increase the overdrawn bank balance (liability) in the balance sheet.

But if the bank balance is currently an asset (DR balance in the account holder's records), the CR Bank accounting entry for the payment will reduce the positive bank balance (asset) in the balance sheet.

8. Taxation.

1. A 'tax credit' is an amount which can be used to reduce a tax liability.
2. Under the UK tax loan relationship rules, a 'credit' is any profit or gain, for example interest income, arising from a loan relationship.

9. Non-repayable financial benefits.

A 'credit' can also mean any amount in favour the holder of the credit, entitling them either to future goods or services without further payment (or for a reduced payment) or alternatively to a repayment in cash.

See also

• Acceptance
• Acceptance credit
• Accounting records
• Availability
• Biodiversity credit
• Bookkeeping
• Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
• Buyer credit
• Cash terms
• Chartered Institute of Credit Management
• County court judgment
• Corporate credit ratings: a quick guide
• Credit Benchmark
• Credit break
• Credit caps
• Credit card
• Credit concentration risk
• Credit control
• Credit Conversion Factor
• Credit creation
• Credit crunch
• Credit default swap
• Credit derivative
• Credit enhancement
• Credit event
• Credit exposure
• Credit impulse
• Credit institution
• Credit insurance
• Credit line
• Credit migration
• Credit note
• Credit Quality Step
• Credit rating
• Credit rating agency
• Credit reference agency
• Credit relief
• Credit risk
• Credit score
• Credit spread
• Credit support
• Credit support annex
• Credit transfer
• Credit transfer system
• Credit union
• Credit valuation adjustment
• Credit watch
• Creditworthiness
• Daylight credit
• Days sales outstanding
• Debit
• Deferred payment credit
• Direct credit
• Documentary credit
• Double entry
• Double entry bookkeeping
• Earnings credit allowance
• ESG Credit Impact Scores
• Expected credit loss
• Facility
• FECMA
• Finance
• Foreign tax credit
• Instant Credit Transfer Scheme
• Intra-day credit
• Journal
• Ledger
• Letter of credit
• Loan
• Loan relationship
• Money
• Net credit/debit position
• Open account
• Overdraft
• Overdrawn
• Packing credit
• Provisional credit
• Revolving credit facility (RCF)
• Supplier credit
• Tax credit
• Trade credit
• Trading credit