Definition of certificate

paper establishing an ownership claim; also, an assertion of facts.

>
1. bank charter or certificate of authority issued by a chartering agency, authorizing a newly organized bank to open for business.
2. Certificate of Deposit (CD), a receipt for a time deposit.
3. certificate of accounts, an auditor's opinion, filed by a certified public accountant after examination of an organization's books and records.
4. certificate of title evidencing ownership of real estate or personal property.
5. certificate of claim, a borrower's written promise to reimburse a lender for certain credit costs, for example, debt collection costs.
6. safekeeping certificate issued by custodian for a certificate of deposit, stock certificate, or other security assigned to a new nominee.
7. PROTEST certificate issued by a bank refusing to honor a check.
8. certificate of indebtedness.

formal declaration that can be used to document a fact, such as a birth certificate.

formal declaration that can be used to document a fact, such as a birth certificate.

The following are certificates with particular relevance to finance and investments.

1. auditor's certificate, sometimes called certificate of accounts, or accountant's opinion.
2. bond certificate, certificate of indebtedness issued by a corporation containing the terms of the issuer's promise to repay principal and pay interest, and describing collateral, if any. Traditionally, bond certificates had coupons attached, which were exchanged for payment of interest. Now that most bonds are issued in registered form, coupons are less common. The amount of a certificate is the par value of the bond.
3. Certificate of Deposit.
4. certificate of incorporation.
5. certificate of indebtedness, government debt obligation having a maturity shorter than a bond and longer than a treasury bill (such as a Treasury Note).
6. partnership certificate, showing the interest of all participants in a business partnership.
7. proprietorship certificate, showing who is legally responsible in an individually owned business.
8. stock certificate, evidence of ownership of a corporation showing number of shares, name of issuer, amount of par or stated value represented or a declaration of no-par value, and rights of the shareholder. Preferred stock certificates also list the issuer's responsibilities with respect to dividends and voting rights, if any.