Definition of Unsecured Debt



Unsecured debt is the amount of debt that is not secured with any collateral. The lenders like banks normally lend money to companies based on the credit score. The customers with good credit scores are often not asked for collateral and issued unsecured debt. Unsecured loans are risky for lenders because there are no valuable items backing the debt and for this unsecured debts are often available at higher interest rates to compensate the inherent default risk.

 


Unsecured debts are also paid after secured debts in case of liquidation or bankruptcy of the borrower. Since the bankruptcy will use all the secured assets first to pay the secured debts and the rest is used proportionately among unsecured debts, the full payment is not possible in some cases.


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