Your Ultimate Guide to Financial Terms: Simplifying Banking and Investments

Navigating the world of finance can feel overwhelming with its seemingly endless jargon and acronyms. To help you feel confident and informed, we’ve compiled a glossary of key financial terms, spanning from banking basics to complex investment concepts. Let’s dive in and demystify these terms together!

A:

  • Add-On Card: Extend the benefits of your primary credit card to family members with an additional linked card for their convenience.
  • Advisory Services: Expert recommendations to guide your financial decisions.
  • Anti-Money Laundering (AML): Procedures and regulations to prevent illegal income generation.
  • Arbitrage Funds: Mutual funds that profit from price differences in the same asset across various markets.

B:

  • Balanced Funds: A mix of stocks, bonds, and money market instruments in one portfolio for diversified growth.
  • Bullion Market: A marketplace for trading precious metals like gold and silver, operating 24/7 globally.

C:

  • CDMA Mobile: A communication technology for channel access.
  • Compound Interest: The interest calculated on both the principal and accumulated interest over time, maximizing your returns.

D:

  • Debt Funds: Mutual funds primarily investing in fixed-income securities like bonds.
  • Disbursement: Delivery of loan funds by a bank to the borrower.

E:

  • E-Commerce (E-Com): Online buying and selling of goods and services, facilitated by credit and debit cards.
  • ELSS (Equity Linked Saving Schemes): Tax-saving mutual funds with a 3-year lock-in period for long-term growth.

F:

  • Fixed Maturity Plan (FMP): A closed-ended mutual fund with a set maturity date and predictable returns.
  • Floating Rate: An interest rate that fluctuates with market conditions or an index.

G:

  • Gold ETF: Invest in gold without physical hassles via exchange-traded funds.
  • Guarantor: An individual who pledges to repay a loan if the borrower defaults.

H:

  • Half-Yearly Interest: Interest payable every six months.
  • Hotlisting: Immediate cancellation of a lost or stolen credit or debit card to prevent misuse.

I:

  • Insured Declared Value (IDV): The maximum insured amount for a vehicle, based on its current market value.
  • International Securities Identification Number (ISIN): A unique 12-character code for identifying securities globally.

L:

  • Liquid Funds: Investments in short-term securities for quick access to your money without penalties.
  • Letter of Credit (LC): A document ensuring secure international trade payments between buyers and sellers.

M:

  • Money Laundering: Converting illicitly earned money into legitimate funds.
  • Moratorium Period: A repayment holiday for education loans, usually during the course period plus a buffer time.

N:

  • Net Asset Value (NAV): The per-unit price of a mutual fund or ETF, calculated daily.
  • National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT): A system for transferring money between banks electronically within India.

O-P:

  • One-Time Password (OTP): A secure, temporary code for online transactions.
  • Point of Sale (POS): The location or platform where a sales transaction occurs, such as a retail store.

R:

  • Remittance: Sending money across borders or domestically, often with associated charges.
  • Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS): Instant and secure fund transfers for large sums.

S:

  • Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): A protocol ensuring safe online communication.
  • Sweep-Out Facility: A feature transferring excess funds between savings and fixed deposit accounts to maximize interest.

T:

  • Tax Rebate: A reduction in taxes for eligible taxpayers, such as senior citizens.
  • Telegraphic Transfer (T/T): An electronic means of transferring funds internationally.

V:

  • Volatility: A measure of how much a mutual fund’s price fluctuates, indicating risk and potential reward.
 
 
This glossary is your starting point to mastering financial literacy. Whether you’re opening a bank account, investing in mutual funds, or securing an education loan, understanding these terms will empower you to make informed decisions. Remember, knowledge is the key to financial freedom—so keep learning and exploring!

 

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