Subprime Loan

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Subprime Loan'

A type of loan that is offered at a rate above prime to individuals who do not qualify for prime rate loans. Quite often, subprime borrowers are often turned away from traditional lenders because of their low credit ratings or other factors that suggest that they have a reasonable chance of defaulting on the debt repayment.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Subprime Loan'

Subprime loans tend to have a higher interest rate than the prime rate offered on traditional loans. The additional percentage points of interest often translate to tens of thousands of dollars worth of additional interest payments over the life of a longer term loan.

However, getting a subprime loan could still be a good idea if the loan is meant to pay off a higher interest debt (such as credit card debt) and the borrower has no other means for payment. 

The specific amount of interest charged on a subprime loan is not set in stone. Different lenders may not value a borrower's risk in the same manner. This means that a subprime loan borrower has an opportunity to save some additional money by shopping around.

Related Definitions

  • Problem Loan

    In the banking industry, a problem loan is one of two things; it can be a commercial loan that is at least 90 days past due, or a consumer loan that it at least 180 days past due. This ...
    Read More »
  • No-Ratio Mortgage

    A mortgage program in which a borrower's income isn't used or reported in qualifying the borrower for the mortgage under the standard debt-to-income ratio requirements. The loan is ...
    Read More »
  • Prime Rate

    The interest rate that commercial banks charge their most credit-worthy customers. Generally a bank's best customers consist of large corporations. The prime interest rate, or prime ...
    Read More »
    • Default

      1. The failure to promptly pay interest or principal when due. Default occurs when a debtor is unable to meet the legal obligation of debt repayment. Borrowers may default when they are ...
      Read More »
    • Credit Rating

      An assessment of the credit worthiness of individuals and corporations. It is based upon the history of borrowing and repayment, as well as the availability of assets and extent of ...
      Read More »
    • Subprime Lender

      A type of lender that specializes in lending to borrowers with a tainted or limited credit history. Subprime lending is more concentrated in a smaller number of large lenders than prime ...
      Read More »
    • Collection Agency

      A company hired by lenders to recover funds that are past due or accounts that are in default. The lending company itself may also have a division or subsidiary that acts as its ...
      Read More »
    • Front-End Debt-to-Income Ratio - DTI

      A variation of the debt-to-income ratio (DTI) that calculates how much of a person's gross income is going towards housing costs. If a homeowner has a mortgage, the front-end DTI ratio ...
      Read More »
    • NINJA Loan

      A slang term for a loan extended to a borrower with "no income, no job and no assets". Whereas most lenders require the borrower to show a stable stream of income or sufficient ...
      Read More »
    • Subprime

      A classification of borrowers with a tarnished or limited credit history. Lenders will use a credit scoring system to determine which loans a borrower may qualify for. Subprime loans ...
      Read More »

Articles Of Interest

Partner Links