Can a lender take your savings?

Yes and no. Most banks who also lend have a section in their account agreement that gives them the "right of offset" for certain loan types. In this scenario, if you owe your bank money, they can (according to the terms set in the agreement) take money in your checking or savings to offset the delinquency. This does not mean Bob's Auto Loans could find your Community Credit Union checking account and go take money out of it without a court order. In relation to real estate, it depends on the state and governing laws. In CA there is a one-action rule that states a lender may take one action to cure a defaulted home loan. That means if you stop paying your mortgage and your lender takes $500 from your checking because you bank with the same lender, they can not foreclose on the home. They took their one action.