Accounting

We answer your accounting questions.

Over 500 questions have been answered on our accounting blog. Click here to suggest a question.



October 15, 2007

What is a line of credit?

In business a line of credit or credit line is an arrangement/commitment by a bank or other creditor with a customer. The agreement specifies an amount that the customer can borrow or use in the future, assuming that the customer’s financial condition is maintained.

For example, a company may arrange with its bank to borrow money as needed but never owe the bank in excess of $500,000. The agreement might specify that interest will be calculated by multiplying the prime rate times the loan balance.

In the U.S. many individuals have a home equity line of credit that allows them to borrow up to the amount of “the line.”




Comments

3 Responses to “What is a line of credit?”

  1. lmp on September 9th, 2009 3:56 pm

    what kind of account is the interest on the line of credit.

    Thank you

  2. ACoach on September 9th, 2009 4:12 pm

    Interest on a line of credit is an expense in the period in which it occurs. Interest expense is a temporary or nominal account that appears on the income statement. Interest Expense is considered a Nonoperating or Other item.

  3. Aleynrt on November 2nd, 2009 6:21 pm

    How do I post a line of credit; what account is debited and what account is credited? I can’t get my mind around this. Is the line of credit an asset or a liability? How does a line of credit affect the company’s equity account?

Leave a Reply