Products and Providers

Abstract

There are many forms of credit consumers can obtain and use, and many types of organization that provide credit. The goal in this chapter is to introduce each type of credit and describe the nature and objectives of credit providers. The chapter begins with a discussion of the features that can be used to define each type of consumer credit. The central part of the chapter then presents the different types of credit available in the market today, such as credit cards, mortgages and pawn loans, in terms of these features. The final part of the chapter discusses the institutions that provide consumer credit and the characteristics that differentiate one type of lending institution from another.