Good faith deposit

Used in the context of commodities. Refers to the initial margin account deposit needed when buying or selling a futures contract; approximately 2%-10% of the contract value.
Used in the context of securities to describe the deposit required by securities firms engaged in transactions on behalf of a new client.
Also used to refer to the deposit with a municipal bond issuer by firms competing for the underwriting business.

Good Faith Deposit

1. In municipal bonds, a small amount of money, usually less than 5% of an issue, that underwriters give to the issuer in exchange for the right to place part of the issue. A good faith deposit is a sign that an underwriter has a vested interest in placing the issue and will therefore act vigorously on behalf of the issuer.

2. In securities, a small amount of money from an order that a brokerage requires a new client to deposit in exchange for filling the order. The good faith deposit ensures that the new client is serious about the order and will be likely to settle or make delivery when the time comes. This is done to reduce the risk to the brokerage when it takes a new client. It is also called earnest money.

3. See: Initial margin amount.

good faith deposit

1. A sum of money required of an investor who is placing an order when that investor is not known to the brokerage firm. A good faith deposit ensures that the customer will follow through with proper payment for a buy order or with delivery of securities for a sell order.

2. A sum of money deposited by competing underwriters of a new municipal bond issue. The deposit is a relatively small proportion (usually under 5%) of the value of the issue being underwritten.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms for Today's Investor by David L. Scott. Copyright © 2003 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. All rights reserved.

Good faith deposit.

A good faith deposit is a sum of money provided by a buyer to a seller, which demonstrates the buyer's intention to purchase.

For instance, if you've decided on a home you want to buy, you generally make a good faith deposit to support your bid.

A good faith deposit, also called a binder or earnest money, is usually a fixed amount that's standard in the community where you're buying. It's different from a down payment. That's a larger cash payment, figured as a percentage of the purchase price, which you make when you sign the contract to purchase the property.

If you and the seller can't agree on the terms of the sale, you generally get your good faith deposit back.