WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

offsetting balance
    n 1: a minimum credit balance that a bank may require a borrower
         to keep on deposit as a condition for granting a loan; a
         common requirement for establishing a line of credit at a
         bank; "the compensating balance increases the effective
         interest rate to the bank since the net amount loaned is
         reduced but the interest paid is unchanged" [syn:
         compensating balance, offsetting balance]