Banks Tightened Loan Standards as Virus Spread
By April 3, borrowing was already more difficult, as demand for cash increased and companies’ internally generated cash flows shrunk.
Banks reported tightening standards on loans to companies and households in the first quarter amid mounting concerns over the impact of the coronavirus on the U.S. economy, a Federal Reserve survey showed.
Lenders tightened standards and terms on commercial and industrial loans to firms of all sizes, according to the “April Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices,” released Monday. Banks also reported stronger demand for commercial and industrial loans, with most citing precautionary demand from borrowers for cash and a decrease in customers’ internally generated funds.
The changes “occurred late in March, as the economic outlook shifted when news emerged about the rapid global spread of Covid-19,” the Fed said.
In addition, banks tightened standards and reported weaker demand for all major commercial real-estate loan categories. They also tightened standards and reported weaker demand on credit cards, auto loans, and other consumer loans.
The survey was conducted between March 23 and April 3 and received responses from 67 domestic banks and 22 U.S. branches of foreign banks.
See also:
- A Tsunami of Loan Modifications Is on the Horizon
- What’s Expected of Treasury in Responding to Covid-19
- Wall Street Seizes on Corporate Loan Binge to Dictate New Terms
Copyright 2020 Bloomberg. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.