The term collateral refers to an asset that a lender accepts as security for a loan. Collateral may take the form of real estate or other kinds of assets, depending on the purpose of the loan. The collateral acts as a form of protection for the lender. That is, if the borrower defaults on their loan payments, the lender can seize the collateral and sell it to recoup some or all of its losses.
How Collateral Works
Before a lender issues you a loan, it wants to know that you have the ability to repay it. That’s why many of them require some form of security. This security is called collateral which minimizes the risk for lenders.
