deposit

Deposit

1. An amount of money held at a financial institution on behalf of an account holder for safekeeping. For example, one may keep a deposit in one's checking account to pay for daily expenses instead of hiding one's money "under the mattress." Many deposits are insured by organizations like the FDIC to reduce their risk.

2. See: Earnest Money.

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deposit

Money paid to ensure performance under a written or oral contract.Many states require that lease and other such deposits be maintained in escrow accounts and earn interest which must be paid to the party when the deposit is refunded.All real estate brokers must place earnest money deposits in escrow accounts. One must carefully examine the particular contract language relative to deposits in order to determine the circumstances under which they may be withheld from the depositor.