What is a credit default swap: Explained with Real-World Examples

Key Insights

1. A credit default swap (CDS) functions as loan insurance. Banks pay a fee to protect themselves against the risk of borrower default, similar to how car insurance covers accidents.
    
2. CDS can be used to manage risk or for speculative purposes. Banks use them to reduce exposure, while some investors speculate on a company's potential to default.
    
3. CDS can be helpful but also risky. If they are misused, as seen during the 2008 crisis, they can lead to significant losses. It is essential to always look closely at the risks involved.

A credit default swap (CDS) is an agreement where one party pays another for protection against a loan default. Think of it as loan insurance. The insurer covers the loss if the borrower fails to pay.

Example: 

Loan safety net: If a borrower defaults, pay a small fee to get full repayment.

Manish is worried that Rahul might not repay the ₹10,00,000 he lent him. To protect himself, he pays Neha ₹20,000 each year for a CDS, similar to insurance. If Rahul defaults, Neha will reimburse Manish. If Rahul pays, Neha keeps the fee as profit.

CDS protects lenders. A small payment now can prevent a big loss later.

Table: 

Loan insurance: If Rahul cannot repay, Manish pays Neha to manage the risk.

If Rahul pays, Neha keeps the fees. If he defaults, Neha steps in to cover (insurance cover) Manish.

This article will help you understand credit default swaps. We will discuss in detail how CDS works and explore various scenarios for risk protection.

Read More – Top 10 High-Risk Investments with Huge Returns in 2025 – Should You Try Them
 

How Does a Credit Default Swap (CDS) Work?

A Credit Default Swap (CDS) is a type of financial agreement in which one party covers another to protect against loan default. The protection seller pays the buyer if the borrower defaults.

Example: 

This example shows you how Dev’s use CDS Protection:

Scenario:
 

• Dev owns a hotel and takes a ₹50,00,000 loan from Bank A.
   
• Bank A worries that Dev might default, so it buys a CDS from Investor B for safety.

Table: How the CDS Works:

Investor B provides loan protection to Bank A for Dev's ₹50,00,000 hotel loan.
 

If Dev pays, Investor B receives fees; if he defaults, Bank A is compensated.

Two Possible Outcomes:

This scenario outlines the outcomes for Bank A and Investor B, depending on whether the Developer repays his loan or defaults, and highlights the role of a credit default swap.
 

1. Dev Repays the Loan (No Default)
   • Bank A gets its ₹50,00,000 + interest back from Dev.
   • Investor B keeps the ₹1,00,000 per year fee but pays nothing.
      
2. Dev Defaults (Fails to Repay)
   • Investor B pays ₹50,00,000 to Bank A.
   • Bank A recovers its money, but Investor B loses ₹50,00,000.
      

The credit default swap acts as insurance: Investor B profits if Dev repays but bears the full loss if Dev defaults, protecting Bank A from risk.

Key Points to Remember:
 

This scenario illustrates how a Credit Default Swap (CDS) functions as a financial safety net, transferring risk from a lender to an investor.
 

• A CDS is like insurance for loans; the buyer (Bank A) pays a fee for protection.
   
• The seller (Investor B) takes a risk, hoping the borrower (Dev) won’t default.
   
• If default happens, the seller must pay the full loan amount.
   
• If no default occurs, the seller profits from the fees.

A CDS provides insurance for lenders, such as Bank A, while investors, like Investor B, assume risk for potential fee-based profits, balancing security and opportunity.

The example provides information about how banks and investors use CDSs to control risk. We will then look at actual situations where CDS was essential.

Real-World Example of Credit Default Swaps: Michael Burry's Big Bet

Investors can place bets against risky loans through a Credit Default Swap (CDS). When the loans fail, the CDS buyer gets paid, just like insurance pays out after a disaster.

Michael Burry vs. The Housing Market (2005-2008)

The Situation:
 

• In the mid-2000s, U.S. banks gave risky home loans to people who couldn’t afford them.
   
• These loans were bundled into Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) and sold as "safe" investments.
   
• Michael Burry, a hedge fund manager, noticed these loans would fail.

The Big Bet:
 

• Burry wanted to profit from the coming crash, so he bought CDS contracts against MBS.
   
• He negotiated with Goldman Sachs (a big bank) to sell him these CDS contracts.

How It Worked:

This table outlines the key players and dynamics in Michael Burry’s famous bet against the U.S. housing market using Credit Default Swaps (CDS).
 

Burry’s prediction of mortgage defaults allowed him to profit massively from CDS payouts, while sellers like Goldman Sachs faced huge losses after collecting fees.

What Happened Next?
 

1. Burry Paid Premiums (like insurance fees) to Goldman Sachs.
    
2. Homeowners Defaulted: Just as Burry predicted.
    
3. MBS Lost Value: Banks panicked as their "safe" investments crashed.
    
4. Goldman Paid Burry: His CDS contracts became worth 10-20x his original bet.

The Aftermath:
 

• Burry’s fund made huge profits (estimated ₹1,500+ crore).
   
• Banks like Lehman Brothers collapsed because they lacked sufficient CDS protection.
   
• The 2008 financial crisis began, and millions lost jobs, homes, and savings.

Why Does This Matters?
 

• CDS Can Be Powerful: Burry used them to profit from a crisis.
   
• Banks Underestimated Risk: They sold too many CDS without backup funds.
   
• Real People Were Hurt: While Burry won, ordinary homeowners suffered.

This actual case shows how, depending on who owns them, CDS can either protect or destroy wealth. We will then look at the current use of CDSs.

Bonus Tip: A CDS is like insurance for loans. If a borrower defaults, the seller compensates the buyer; however, large institutions, rather than individuals, often utilise this provision.

Who Uses Credit Default Swaps (CDS)?

A Credit Default Swap (CDS) helps investors manage the risk of loan defaults. Different players use it either for protection or to make profits from others' financial troubles.

Example: Shikhar’s Bank and the CDS Deal

The Situation:
 

• Shikhar’s Bank lends ₹5 crore to ABC Steel Company.
   
• The bank worries ABC Steel might fail to repay due to market problems.
   
• To reduce risk, the bank buys a CDS from XYZ Insurance.

How the CDS Works:
 

This table helps you understand how CDS work:

Possible Outcomes:
 

1. If ABC Steel Repays:
   • Shikhar’s Bank gets its ₹5 crore + interest back.
   • XYZ Insurance keeps the ₹10,00,000 per year fee as profit.
      
2. If ABC Steel Defaults:
   • XYZ Insurance pays ₹5 crore to Shikhar’s Bank.
   • The bank recovers its money, but XYZ Insurance loses big.

Also Read - Understanding Bond Ratings and Their Importance

Who Else Uses CDS?

This table highlights the diverse users of Credit Default Swaps (CDS) and their unique motivations, from risk protection to speculative profit.
 

1. Banks & Lenders
   • Protect against business loans or corporate bonds going bad.
      
2. Investment Funds
   • Hedge funds bet on companies failing to make huge profits.
      
3. Insurance Companies
   • Sell CDS contracts to earn fees (but take on significant risks).
      
4. Big Corporations
   • Safeguard against suppliers or customers collapsing.
      
5. Governments
   • Manage risks on country-level debts.

CDS serves multiple purposes: shielding entities from defaults, enabling high-stakes bets, and generating fee-based income, but requires careful risk management.

Why Do They Use CDS?

Credit Default Swaps (CDS) offer three powerful advantages: safety for lenders, profit opportunities for investors, and flexible trading without direct loan ownership.
 

• Safety: Banks like Shikhar’s reduce loan risks.
   
• Profit: Investors like hedge funds bet on failures.
   
• Flexibility: CDS can be traded without owning the actual loan.

These benefits make CDS a versatile tool for risk management and speculation, though they require caution to avoid systemic pitfalls.

This example shows how various players use CDS, either to take significant risks or to stay safe.

Bonus Tip: Banks sold too many CDS without reserves to cover defaults. When mortgages failed, they couldn't pay, triggering collapses like Lehman Brothers.

Conclusion

Credit Default Swaps act like financial protection systems; swaps allow banks and investors to safeguard themselves if loans default. Similar to how Shikhar's Bank employed a CDS to protect against ABC Steel, which is possible to collapse, major financial institutions depend on these agreements to control risk or occasionally take a chance on it. 

As shown by previous financial crises, where unchecked investments are the reason for massive losses, CDS can be helpful for stability, but also offer risks. CDS allows us to see the insider secrets of banking and investing. 

These tools, whether for profit or protection, serve as a reminder that every safety net in the financial industry has risks, and occasionally, the fall may be more severe than expected.

FAQs

1. Is CDS same as insurance?

A CDS works like insurance, but it isn’t the same. Insurance covers things like cars or health, while a CDS only protects against loan defaults. Also, unlike insurance, you don’t need to own the loan to buy a CDS; you can just bet on it failing.

2. Can small investors use CDS?

Mostly no. CDS deals are usually for big players like banks, hedge funds, and corporations because they involve large sums and complex contracts. Regular investors rarely use them directly.

3. Who decides if a "default" happens?

A committee of financial experts checks if a borrower truly failed to pay. If they confirm a default, the CDS seller must pay the buyer.

4. How much does a CDS cost?

The cost (called "premium") depends on the borrower's risk profile. Safe companies cost less to insure, while risky ones cost much more, sometimes even 10% or more of the loan value per year.

5. Can a CDS lose value?

Yes. If the borrower’s financial health improves, the CDS becomes cheaper (less valuable). If the borrower looks riskier, the CDS gets more expensive.

6. What happens if the CDS seller can’t pay?

This is called "counterparty risk." If the seller (like a bank) goes bankrupt, the buyer gets nothing. This almost destroyed AIG in 2008.

7. Are CDS trades secret?

Mostly yes. Since CDSs are private deals, regulators and the public often don’t know who’s betting on what until it’s too late.

8. Can CDS be used for good?

Yes, when used carefully, they help banks lend safely. But when abused (like betting too much on failures), they can crash markets.

9. Do governments use CDS?

Yes. Countries like Greece had CDS traded against their debt. When Greece almost defaulted, these CDS payouts caused massive financial shocks.

10. Why did CDS cause the 2008 crisis?

Banks sold too many CDS without enough money to cover losses. When mortgages failed, they couldn’t pay, causing collapses like Lehman Brothers.

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