A person or entity having a close enough relationship with or connection to the debtor to require special scrutiny of its dealings with the debtor. Relatives of individual debtors, officers and directors of corporate debtors, general partners of partnership debtors, “managing agents,” and “persons in control” of debtors fall within the definition of “insider.” An “affiliate” of the debtor or an insider of such affiliate is also defined as an “insider.”
Insiders have potential liability for avoidance of preferences made within one year prior to the bankruptcy filing; by contrast, the look-back period for non-insiders is only 90 days.
Bankruptcy Code §§ 101(2), 101(31). See also Affiliate, Indirect Preference, Preference.