US Banks eased lending standards for businesses, households in Q2, Fed survey shows

Loan officers at U.S. banks reported easing standards and terms on business loans in the second quarter as the economy revved up on the back of wider re-openings and rising coronavirus vaccination rates. The officers also said in the Federal Reserve survey released on Monday that there was greater demand for business loans from firms of all sizes. “Major net shares of banks … cited a more favourable or less uncertain economic outlook, more aggressive competition from other banks on nonbank lenders, and improvements in industry-specific problems as important reasons,” the U.S. central bank said in its quarterly survey.

The U.S. economy grew at a 6.5% annualised rate in the second quarter, pulling the level of gross domestic product above its pre-pandemic peak, Commerce Department data last Thursday showed. For consumers, banks reported easing standards across all three loan categories — credit card loans, auto loans, and other consumer loans – and saw stronger demand for them during the same period. The Fed surveyed loan officers at 75 domestic banks and 22 U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks.

Reuters