Glossary Terms:

One of many choices or courses of action that might be taken in a given situation.

The industry involved with conducting financial transactions. Also, conducting business with a bank, e.g., maintaining a checking or savings account or obtaining a loan.

Monetary or non-monetary gain received because of an action taken or a decision made.

Any activity or organization that produces or exchanges goods or services for a profit.

A written order to a financial institution directing the financial institution to pay a stated amount of money, as instructed, from the customer's account.

People who use goods and services to satisfy their personal needs and not for resale or in the production of other goods and services.

An amount that must be paid or spent to buy or obtain something. The effort, loss or sacrifice necessary to achieve or obtain something.

The opportunity to borrow money or to receive goods or services in return for a promise to pay later.

Money owed to someone else. Also the state or condition of owing money. Can be individual, corporate or government debt.

Wrongful or criminal deception intended to manipulate a person for the purpose of gain, usually financial.

Tangible objects that satisfy economic wants.

A practice or arrangement whereby a company provides a guarantee of compensation for specified forms of loss, damage, injury or death. People obtain such guarantees by buying insurance policies, for which they pay premiums. The process allows for the spreading out of risk over a pool of insurance policyholders, with the expectation that only a few policholders will actually experience losses for which claims must be made. Types of insurance include automobile, health, renter's, homeowner's, disability and life.

Money paid regularly, at a particular rate, for the use of borrowed money.

Anything that is generally accepted as final payment for goods and services; serves as a medium of exchange, a store of value and a standard of value. Characteristics of money are portability, stability in value, uniformity, durability and acceptance.

A business with two or more owners who share the firm's profits and losses.

A good or service that can be used to satisfy a want.

In a credit arrangement, the total amount spent during the billing cycle.

The basic kinds of resources used to produce goods and services: land or natural resources, human resources (including labor and entrepreneurship), and capital.

Activities performed by people, firms or government agencies to satisfy economic wants.

Use money now to buy goods and services.

Compulsory payments to governments by households and businesses.

The exchange of goods and services for money or other goods and services.

Effort applied to achieve a purpose or result, often for pay; skills and knowledge put to use to get something done; employment at a job or in a position; occupation, profession, business, trade, craft, etc.