A loan is money, property, or other tangible goods given to another party in exchange for future repayment of the principal amount, plus interest or loan fees.
A loan can be for a specific, one-time amount, or it can be available as an open-ended line of credit up to a specified dollar limit.
Loans are typically issued by corporations, financial institutions, and governments; they allow for growth in the overall money supply in an economy and open up competition by lending to new businesses. Loans also help existing companies expand their operations. Interest and fees on loans are a primary source of revenue for many banks, and some retailers through in-store credit cards.
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