What is the most senior type of debt?

Asked by: Irma Fritsch  |  Last update: December 30, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (26 votes)

Senior debt is debt and obligations which are prioritized for repayment in the case of bankruptcy. Senior debt has the highest priority and therefore the lowest risk. Thus, this type of debt typically carries or offers lower interest rates.

What is the most senior debt?

Secured Bonds: These rank the highest in terms of safety and seniority, because they are backed or secured by collateral. Senior Bonds: Anything with the title senior attached to it means it ranks higher than junior or subordinate debt.

What is senior preferred debt?

This type of debt obligation typically has to be paid first because it carries more significance than other types of debt. Interest on preferred debt is typically free from any taxes. Preferred debt can also be referred to as senior debt in a corporate bankruptcy.

What type of debt is the highest?

The largest percentages of the average consumer debt balance are mortgages.

What is the hierarchy of senior debt?

Senior debt can be secured (backed by collateral) or unsecured. Secured senior debt holders are first to receive repayment during liquidation, while unsecured senior debt holders are repaid next, followed by subordinated debt holders. Equity holders are last in line.

Senior Debt: What is Senior Term Debt?

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What is a super senior debt?

What is it? Labelled 'first out' in the US and 'super senior' in Europe, this is a revolving credit facility (RCF) which has priority over other pari passu debt in relation to the proceeds of enforcement of collateral and, in the US, guarantee recoveries.

Is term loan B considered senior debt?

In US law-governed loan transactions, TLBs are senior debt and are usually not subordinated to other indebtedness of the borrower.

Which debt is worse?

High-interest loans -- which could include payday loans or unsecured personal loans -- can be considered bad debt, as the high interest payments can be difficult for the borrower to pay back, often putting them in a worse financial situation.

Is there a hierarchy of debt?

Senior debt has the highest priority and, therefore, the lowest risk. Thus, this type of debt typically carries or offers lower interest rates. Meanwhile, subordinated debt carries higher interest rates given its lower priority during payback. Banks typically fund senior debt.

What is considered a high level of debt?

Key takeaways

Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.

What is the senior debt level?

Overview of Senior Debt

The entire senior debt portion commonly accounts for 50% of funding in an acquisition, which roughly equates to two to three times debt to EBITDA or twice the interest coverage.

How is senior debt different from long term debt?

What makes senior term debt different than a regular debt is that it can include a bullet payment at the maturity date. It means paying the remaining value of the debt that is owed to the lender.

What are Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 banks?

There is a difference between tiers for the number of all types of branches/offices. Tier 1 banks have a higher mean across all office types, compared to Tier 2 and Tier 3 banks. Very few banks in Tier 3 have retail offices, limited service offices, or other offices.

How many seniors still have a mortgage?

While many older homeowners own their properties free and clear of a mortgage payment, this is not a feasible reality for many seniors. In fact, more than 10.5 million Americans at or over the age of 65 still pay into a forward mortgage loan, according to a study conducted by LendingTree.

What is the #1 debt for American households?

Credit Card Debt. Credit card debt is one thing nearly all Americans share, regardless of race, gender or income level. It's the most common type of debt in the U.S. By the end of 2022, Americans owed an all-time high of $986 billion on credit cards, a $130 billion increase in 12 months.

What type of debt is senior debt?

What is Senior Debt? Senior Debt is a financing arrangement that represents the highest claim on the borrower with the lowest downside risk to the lender. As part of the terms of such a financing arrangement, the borrower normally must pledge its assets as collateral, i.e. senior debt is a secured form of financing.

What types of debt should be paid off first?

If you have several loans or debts to repay, you may prioritize paying the high interest ones off first. You can also prioritize debts that will most impact your credit score negatively if you fall behind. Some people aim to pay the lowest amount of debt first to stay motivated as they eliminate a debt faster.

What debt is hereditary?

There are two types of debt you could inherit from your parents: loans you co-signed for them and medical debt (in certain states). Over half of U.S. states have filial responsibility laws, which say adult children may be responsible for their parents' care expenses if they can't support themselves.

Do millionaires pay off debt or invest?

They stay away from debt.

Car payments, student loans, same-as-cash financing plans—these just aren't part of their vocabulary. That's why they win with money. They don't owe anything to the bank, so every dollar they earn stays with them to spend, save and give! Debt is the biggest obstacle to building wealth.

How do the rich use debt to get richer?

You can enhance your financial position and create long-term wealth by leveraging debt to invest in appreciating assets such as real estate, consolidate high-interest debts to improve cash flow, use high-yield savings accounts or borrow to acquire profitable businesses.

Is there ever good debt?

Good debt is money you borrow for something that has the potential to increase in value or expand your potential income. For example, a mortgage may help you buy a home that can appreciate in value. Student loans may increase your future income by helping you get the job you've wanted.

What is below senior debt?

Subordinated debt, also known as junior debt, is a type of debt that ranks below other, more senior forms of debt in terms of repayment priority. In the event of a company's liquidation or bankruptcy, subordinated debt investors receive repayment only after senior debt obligations have been satisfied.

What is the pari passu clause?

Pari-passu is a Latin term that means “ranking equally and without preference.” Applied in a legal context, pari-passu means that multiple parties to a contract, claim, or obligation are treated the same, “ranking equally and without preference.”

What is a debt revolver?

In revolver debt, the borrower is, instead, given a line of credit with a maximum limit. The borrower can access any amount up to this limit at any time and does not have a specific term within which to pay the loan back. However, interest will accrue on any outstanding funds borrowed.