What is the term for an institution or individual that provides a loan?

The term that describes an institution or individual that provides a loan is "lender." Lenders are typically financial entities such as banks, credit unions, or other mortgage companies that offer financing to borrowers who need funds for purposes such as purchasing real estate, starting businesses, or other financial needs. The lender supplies the money with the expectation of being repaid with interest over time.

In real estate transactions, the lender plays a critical role as they evaluate the creditworthiness of the borrower and the potential value of the property being financed. The lender seeks to mitigate their risk by assessing factors like credit scores, income stability, and the property's appraised value.

While the other terms might relate to the loan process, they do not define the entity that provides the loan. A borrower refers to the person or entity receiving the loan, a mortgagor is specifically a borrower in a mortgage transaction, and an investor could be anyone who puts money into ventures with the expectation of earning a return but does not specifically imply lending money. Thus, "lender" is the correct designation for the entity that issues the loan.