Banks.com.au - Australian Banking, Finance and Investments

Glossary of terms and acronyms related to Australian banking, finance and investments.

CRAA

The Credit Referencing Association of Australia (CRAA) is a premier credit reporting agency responsible for keeping files on all borrowers and financial institutions. The CRAA notes whenever you appl... view full definition of "CRAA"

Calculated

Calculation is usually applied to interest and interest rates in credit cards, bank accounts, and home and personal loans. Various formulas are used to calculate different financial factors, which ca... view full definition of "Calculated"

Capitalising Interest

Capitalising interest occurs when accrued or accumulated interest is added to your loan principal instead of being paid out month to month. In capitalising interest, the loan amount continuously incr... view full definition of "Capitalising Interest"

Capped Loan

A capped loan is a loan wherein the interest rate may go lower than, but cannot exceed, a preset level. It offers some of the flexibility of a variable rate loan and the security of a fixed rate loan... view full definition of "Capped Loan"

Caveat

Caveat is a Latin word which literally means "beware." In finance, it is used to warn potential property buyers that a third party-the one that filed the caveat-has some right or claim over the prope... view full definition of "Caveat"

Certificate Of Title

The Certificate of Title is an official document stating that a person owns a piece of land or property. It should state all the details of the ownership, including mode of acquisition (purchase, gi... view full definition of "Certificate Of Title"

Charge card

A charge card allows you to credit your purchases on a separate account payable at the end of every month. Unlike credit cards, they do not use an extended line of credit that keeps your balances out... view full definition of "Charge card"

Chattels

Chattels are movable personal properties such as clothes, furniture, and appliances, as opposed to permanent fixtures like homes and buildings. Specifically, they refer to items that you can either i... view full definition of "Chattels"

Combination Loan

A combination loan is a loan that switches between two schemes, usually from fixed to variable rate or vice versa. Also called a split loan, the combination loan allows you to enjoy the benefits of b... view full definition of "Combination Loan"

Common Property

Common property is any property which is owned by a number of tenants instead of a single individual. Apartments, condominiums, and strata buildings are popular examples. Common areas such as corrido... view full definition of "Common Property"

Comparison Rate

The comparison rate determines the true rate of a loan, taking into account the upfront costs, ongoing fees, and other fees not commonly included in advertised rates. Also called the Average Annual P... view full definition of "Comparison Rate"

Construction Loans

Construction loans are used to finance the building of a new home or property. They are considered story loans, which means the lender has to study and approve your construction plans before giving y... view full definition of "Construction Loans"

Consumer Credit Code

The Consumer Credit Code protects borrowers from deception, fraud, and other illegal dealings by lenders and financial institutions. It gives you specific rights to information and requires lenders t... view full definition of "Consumer Credit Code"

Contract

Broadly speaking, a contract is an agreement between two entities, which may or may not be written. In finance and real estate, the contract is a legal document through which buyers and sellers make ... view full definition of "Contract"

Conveyancing

Conveyancing is the process of officially transferring a property title from one party to another. There are typically two steps in a conveyance, known as 'landmarks.' The first is the exchange of co... view full definition of "Conveyancing"

Credit Union

A credit union is a financial institution fully owned and controlled by its members. Unlike banks, they do not aim to maximize profits for their shareholders, so members enjoy all of the benefits. Th... view full definition of "Credit Union"