A creditor is a person, organization, company, or government that has provided some property or service to the second party under the assumption (usually enforced by contract) that the second party will return an equivalent property or service. The second party is frequently called a debtor or borrower.

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

For example if Visa extends you a credit card, Visa is the creditor and you are the debtor.