A quarterly survey of senior loan officers by the Federal Reserve found that in the April survey, a “modest” number of banks reported having eased their lending standards and having experienced stronger demand over the past three months. Standards on commercial loans to large, middle-market firms, and small firms, were about unchanged. However, a “moderate” number of banks eased many terms on commercial loans to firms of all sizes, with most indicating that they had done so in response to more aggressive competition from other banks or nonbank lenders. Fewer than half of the banks that reported having eased standards attributed the change to an improved or less uncertain economic outlook.
Banks also reported an increase in demand from firms of all sizes, for the second straight survey. Banks also reported that the number of inquiries from potential business borrowers regarding new or increased credit lines increased. Banks reporting stronger demand cited shifts in borrowing from other bank and nonbank sources, as well as increases in customers’ funding needs related to inventories, investment in plant or equipment, accounts receivable, and mergers and acquisitions as important factors underlying the increase. Banks reported that their credit standards on commercial loans to both large and middle-market firms and to small firms were little changed over the first quarter of 2012.
It is no secret: banks are competing for high grade loans, and rates are low. While this continues to be good news for high grade borrowers, less-than-perfect borrowers are seeing only little relief. Now if I could only figure out how many banks constitute a modest versus a moderate number as far as the Federal Reserve is concerned…and credit crisis solved.