A lender is either an individual, public group, private group, or financial institution that makes funds available to another with the expectation that the funds will be repaid. Repayment typically includes the payment of any interest or fees, and may occur in increments (as in monthly mortgage payment) or in a lump sum.
Lenders provide funds for a variety of reasons such as a mortgage, automobile loan, or small business loan. The terms of the loan will specify how the loan is to be satisfied, the period of the loan, and the consequences of default. One of the largest loans consumers take out are home mortgages.
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