A creditor is a party (e.g. person, organisation, company, or government) that claims that a second party owes the first party some money or assets or services.

The first party, in general, has provided some money, property or service to the second party under the assumption (usually enforced by contract) that the second party will return the equivalent money, property or service. The first party is frequently called a lender, and the second party is frequently called a debtor or borrower.

In simple terms, your creditors are people to whom you owe money.

The term creditor is frequently used in the financial world, especially in reference to short term loans, long term bonds, and mortgages.

The term creditor derives from the notion of credit. In the modern world, credit refers to a rating which indicates the ability of a borrower and likelihood to pay back his or her loan. In earlier times, credit also referred to reputation or trustworthiness.

Many large creditors in the UK are also members of the British Bankers Association.