💳 The 5 C’s of Credit (Simply Explained)
- Character – Do you pay your bills on time?
- Capacity – Can you afford to repay the loan?
- Capital – How much money do you have saved or invested?
- Collateral – What can you offer if you don’t pay (car, house, etc.)?
- Conditions – Why do you need the loan and what’s going on financially?
Easy way to remember:👉 Trust, Income, Money, Backup, Reason
The 5 C’s of Credit are used by lenders to decide whether to approve you for credit and on what terms. Here’s a clear, easy-to-remember breakdown 👇🏽✨
💳 The 5 C’s of Credit
1️⃣ Character
- Your trustworthiness as a borrower
- Based on: Payment history Credit report behavior Public records (collections, bankruptcies, etc.)
- Lenders ask: Do you pay your bills on time?
2️⃣ Capacity
- Your ability to repay the debt
- Based on: Income Employment stability Debt-to-Income ratio (DTI)
- Lenders ask: Can you afford this loan?
3️⃣ Capital
- Your financial stake in the deal
- Includes: Savings Down payment Assets
- Lenders ask: How much of your own money are you putting in?
4️⃣ Collateral
- Assets used to secure the loan
- Examples: Car (auto loan) Home (mortgage)
- Reduces lender risk if you default
5️⃣ Conditions
- The purpose of the loan and external factors
- Includes: Loan type Economic conditions Interest rates
- Lenders ask: Why do you need the loan, and is now a good time?
💡 Simple Way to Remember:
Character = TrustCapacity = IncomeCapital = Skin in the gameCollateral = BackupConditions = The “why & when”
If you want, I can:
- Turn this into a credit class slide
- Make it a social media post
- Create a client-friendly flyer
- Simplify it for beginners