DEFINITION of 'Credit Risk'. The risk of loss of principal or loss of a financial reward stemming from a borrower's failure to repay a loan or otherwise meet a contractual obligation.Credit risk arises whenever a borrower is expecting to use future cash flows to pay a current debt.Investors are compensated for assuming credit risk by way of interest payments from the borrower or issuer of a debt obligation.redit risk arises whenever a borrower is expecting to use future cash flows to pay a current debt. Investors are compensated for assuming credit risk by way of interest payments from the borrower or issuer of a debt obligation.