Journal Article

Recent developments in business lending by commercial banks

Abstract: After growing rapidly during much of the 1990s, the real value of commercial and industrial (C&I) loans at domestic commercial banks and at U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks has fallen 19 percent since the beginning of 2001. The recent contraction in business loans has been concentrated at large banking institutions and appears to stem from the combined effects of weak demand for credit and a tightening of lending standards and terms. The move toward a more-stringent lending posture, although partly cyclical, also reflects a reassessment of the risks and returns of C&I lending. This reassessment, in turn, is due partly to structural changes in the market, including the increased participation of nonbank financial institutions, the growth of the secondary loan market, and the greater use of credit derivatives by some banks.

Keywords: Commercial loans; Bank loans;

JEL Classification: G21; G32;

https://doi.org/10.17016/bulletin.2003.89-12

Bibliographic Information

Provider: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (U.S.)

Part of Series: Federal Reserve Bulletin

Publication Date: 2003-12

Volume: 89

Issue: Dec