Final answer:
Melinda is not an investor but a borrower in the given situation. The actual investors are the depositors who provide capital to the bank, expecting to earn interest, which is their return on investment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which party in a financial transaction can be considered an investor. In the scenario described, Melinda is a dental office owner who borrows money from a bank to purchase new equipment. The bank, in turn, has obtained these funds from its depositors. From an investment standpoint, the depositors are the actual investors as they are the ones providing the capital to the bank, which is then used to give out loans like the one Melinda takes. The depositors earn interest on their savings, which is a form of return on their investment. Melinda, on the other hand, is a borrower who is responsible for paying back the loan with interest, rather than receiving a return from an investment.