Kölcsönadó

Kölcsönadó means the person or entity that provides a loan to another party (the kölcsönvevő). It is used in Hungarian civil-law discourse; a kölcsönadó can be a private individual or a bank or other financial institution. The lending arrangement is usually formalized by a kölcsönszerződés, which specifies the loan amount or object, the purpose or use, the term, repayment schedule, and any interest or fees.

For money loans, the borrower must repay the principal and any agreed interest; for non-monetary loans, the borrower must return the same item after the use, in the same condition unless agreed wear and tear applies. The contract and obligations are governed by the Civil Code (Polgári Törvénykönyv). The kölcsönadó has the obligation to deliver the lent thing and to ensure that it is owned by the lender or free of third-party claims; the kölcsönvevő owes return of the item or repayment of the principal, and any interest when due. If the borrower defaults, the kölcsönadó may seek enforcement through civil remedies, claim the due amount, charge default interest if provided, or seek security or collateral if arranged.

In everyday language, kölcsönadó is often synonymous with hitelező (creditor) or hitelnyújtó, though the term foregrounds the act of lending. Related terms: kölcsönszerződés, kölcsönvevő, hitelező, adós.