Credit Risk

Will the borrower pay or end up a deadbeat who doesn't pay their debts? That's credit risk: the risk that the promise to pay won't be honored.

Lenders are really worried about credit risk and have all sorts of ways to figure out whether you're a good  risk or a bad one. They might take a peek at your credit score, for example, or run an employment verification to get some intel on you. 

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)