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  4. January 2021 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices

Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices

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Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices at Selected Branches and Agencies of Foreign Banks in the United States 1

(Status of Policy as of January 2021)

Questions 1-6 ask about commercial and industrial (C&I) loans at your bank. Questions 1-3 deal with changes in your bank's lending policies over the past three months. Questions 4-5 deal with changes in demand for C&I loans over the past three months. Question 6 asks about changes in prospective demand for C&I loans at your bank, as indicated by the volume of recent inquiries about the availability of new credit lines or increases in existing lines. If your bank's lending policies have not changed over the past three months, please report them as unchanged even if the policies are either restrictive or accommodative relative to longer-term norms. If your bank's policies have tightened or eased over the past three months, please so report them regardless of how they stand relative to longer-term norms. Also, please report changes in enforcement of existing policies as changes in policies.

1. Over the past three months, how have your bank's credit standards for approving applications for C&I loans or credit lines—other than those to be used to finance mergers and acquisitions—changed?

 

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 1 4.5
Remained basically unchanged 21 95.5
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

2. For applications for C&I loans or credit lines—other than those to be used to finance mergers and acquisitions—that your bank currently is willing to approve, how have the terms of those loans changed over the past three months?

 

a. Maximum size of credit lines

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 22 100.0
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

b. Maximum maturity of loans or credit lines

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 21 95.5
Eased somewhat 1 4.5
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

c. Costs of credit lines

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 20 90.9
Eased somewhat 2 9.1
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

d. Spreads of loan rates over your bank's cost of funds (wider spreads=tightened, narrower spreads=eased)

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 3 13.6
Remained basically unchanged 16 72.7
Eased somewhat 2 9.1
Eased considerably 1 4.5
Total 22 100

e. Premiums charged on riskier loans

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 1 4.5
Remained basically unchanged 20 90.9
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 1 4.5
Total 22 100

f. Loan covenants

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 22 100.0
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

g. Collateralization requirements

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 22 100.0
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

h. Use of interest rate floors (more use=tightened, less use=eased)

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 0 0.0
Tightened somewhat 0 0.0
Remained basically unchanged 21 95.5
Eased somewhat 1 4.5
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

3. If your bank has tightened or eased its credit standards or its terms for C&I loans or credit lines over the past three months (as described in questions 1 and 2), how important have been the following possible reasons for the change? (Please respond to either A, B, or both as appropriate.)

A. Possible reasons for tightening credit standards or loan terms:

a. Deterioration in your bank's current or expected capital position

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

b. Less favorable or more uncertain economic outlook

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

c. Worsening of industry-specific problems (please specify industries)

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

d. Less aggressive competition from other banks or nonbank lenders (other financial intermediaries or the capital markets)

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

e. Reduced tolerance for risk

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

f. Decreased liquidity in the secondary market for these loans

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

g. Deterioration in your bank's current or expected liquidity position

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

h. Increased concerns about the effects of legislative changes, supervisory actions, or changes in accounting standards

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

B. Possible reasons for easing credit standards or loan terms:

a. Improvement in your bank's current or expected capital position

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

b. More favorable or less uncertain economic outlook

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 0 0.0
Somewhat important 3 75.0
Very important 1 25.0
Total 4 100

c. Improvement in industry-specific problems (please specify industries)

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

d. More aggressive competition from other banks or nonbank lenders (other financial intermediaries or the capital markets)

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 0 0.0
Somewhat important 2 50.0
Very important 2 50.0
Total 4 100

e. Increased tolerance for risk

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

f. Increased liquidity in the secondary market for these loans

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

g. Improvement in your bank's current or expected liquidity position

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

h. Reduced concerns about the effects of legislative changes, supervisory actions, or changes in accounting standards

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

4. Apart from normal seasonal variation, how has demand for C&I loans changed over the past three months? (Please consider only funds actually disbursed as opposed to requests for new or increased lines of credit.)

 

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Substantially stronger 1 4.5
Moderately stronger 6 27.3
About the same 12 54.5
Moderately weaker 3 13.6
Substantially weaker 0 0.0
Total 22 100

5. If demand for C&I loans has strengthened or weakened over the past three months (as described in question 4), how important have been the following possible reasons for the change? (Please respond to either A, B, or both as appropriate.)

A. If stronger loan demand (answer 1 or 2 to question 4), possible reasons:

a. Customer inventory financing needs increased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 40.0
Somewhat important 3 60.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 5 100

b. Customer accounts receivable financing needs increased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 50.0
Somewhat important 2 50.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

c. Customer investment in plant or equipment increased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 3 75.0
Somewhat important 1 25.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

d. Customer internally generated funds decreased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 3 60.0
Somewhat important 1 20.0
Very important 1 20.0
Total 5 100

e. Customer merger or acquisition financing needs increased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 0 0.0
Somewhat important 4 66.7
Very important 2 33.3
Total 6 100

f. Customer borrowing shifted to your bank from other bank or nonbank sources because these other sources became less attractive

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 3 60.0
Somewhat important 2 40.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 5 100

g. Customer precautionary demand for cash and liquidity increased

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 40.0
Somewhat important 1 20.0
Very important 2 40.0
Total 5 100

B. If weaker loan demand (answer 4 or 5 to question 4), possible reasons:

a. Customer inventory financing needs decreased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

b. Customer accounts receivable financing needs decreased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

c. Customer investment in plant or equipment decreased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

d. Customer internally generated funds increased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

e. Customer merger or acquisition financing needs decreased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

f. Customer borrowing shifted from your bank to other bank or nonbank sources because these other sources became more attractive

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

g. Customer precautionary demand for cash and liquidity decreased

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

6. At your bank, apart from seasonal variation, how has the number of inquiries from potential business borrowers regarding the availability and terms of new credit lines or increases in existing lines changed over the past three months? (Please consider only inquiries for additional or increased C&I lines as opposed to the refinancing of existing loans.)

 

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
The number of inquiries has increased substantially 1 4.5
The number of inquiries has increased moderately 3 13.6
The number of inquiries has stayed about the same 17 77.3
The number of inquiries has decreased moderately 1 4.5
The number of inquiries has decreased substantially 0 0.0
Total 22 100

Questions 7-8 ask about commercial real estate (CRE) loans at your bank, including construction and land development loans and loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties. Question 7 deals with changes in your bank's standards over the past three months. Question 8 deals with changes in demand. If your bank's lending standards or terms have not changed over the relevant period, please report them as unchanged even if they are either restrictive or accommodative relative to longer-term norms. If your bank's standards or terms have tightened or eased over the relevant period, please so report them regardless of how they stand relative to longer-term norms. Also, please report changes in enforcement of existing standards as changes in standards.

7. Over the past three months, how have your bank's credit standards for approving applications for CRE loans or credit lines changed?

 

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tightened considerably 1 6.2
Tightened somewhat 3 18.8
Remained basically unchanged 12 75.0
Eased somewhat 0 0.0
Eased considerably 0 0.0
Total 16 100

For this question, 4 respondents answered "My bank does not originate CRE loans."

8. Apart from normal seasonal variation, how has demand for CRE loans or credit lines changed over the past three months? (Please consider the number of requests for new spot loans, for disbursement of funds under existing loan commitments, and for new or increased credit lines.)

 

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Substantially stronger 0 0.0
Moderately stronger 2 12.5
About the same 7 43.8
Moderately weaker 5 31.2
Substantially weaker 2 12.5
Total 16 100

Questions 9-10 ask how your bank expects its lending standards for select categories of C&I and commercial real loans to change over 2021. Question 11 asks about the reasons why your bank expects lending standards to change.

9. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, how does your bank expect its lending standards for the following C&I loan categories to change over 2021 compared with its current standards, apart from normal seasonal variation?

A. Compared with my bank's current lending standards, over 2021, my bank expects its lending standards for approving applications for C&I loans or credit lines to large and middle-market firms to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tighten considerably 0 0.0
Tighten somewhat 0 0.0
Remain basically unchanged 19 86.4
Ease somewhat 3 13.6
Ease considerably 0 0.0
Total 22 100

B. Compared with my bank's current lending standards, over 2021, my bank expects its lending standards for approving applications for C&I loans or credit lines to small firms to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tighten considerably 0 0.0
Tighten somewhat 1 7.1
Remain basically unchanged 12 85.7
Ease somewhat 1 7.1
Ease considerably 0 0.0
Total 14 100

For this question, 7 respondents answered "My bank does not originate C&I loans or credit lines to small firms."

10. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, how does your bank expect its lending standards for the following commercial real estate loan categories to change over 2021 compared with its current standards, apart from normal seasonal variation?

A. Compared with my bank's current lending standards, over 2021, my bank expects its lending standards for approving applications for construction and land development loans or credit lines to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tighten considerably 0 0.0
Tighten somewhat 3 21.4
Remain basically unchanged 10 71.4
Ease somewhat 1 7.1
Ease considerably 0 0.0
Total 14 100

For this question, 6 respondents answered "My bank does not originate construction and land development loans or credit lines."

B. Compared with my bank's current lending standards, over 2021, my bank expects its lending standards for approving applications for loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tighten considerably 0 0.0
Tighten somewhat 1 7.7
Remain basically unchanged 11 84.6
Ease somewhat 1 7.7
Ease considerably 0 0.0
Total 13 100

For this question, 7 respondents answered "My bank does not originate loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties."

C. Compared with my bank's current lending standards, over 2021, my bank expects its lending standards for approving applications for loans secured by multifamily residential properties to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Tighten considerably 0 0.0
Tighten somewhat 0 0.0
Remain basically unchanged 11 91.7
Ease somewhat 1 8.3
Ease considerably 0 0.0
Total 12 100

For this question, 8 respondents answered "My bank does not originate loans secured by multifamily residential properties."

11. If your bank expects to tighten or ease its credit standards for any of the loan categories reported in questions 9-10, how important are the following possible reasons for the expected change in standards?

A. Possible reasons for expecting to tighten credit standards:

1. Expected deterioration in your bank's capital or liquidity position

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

2. Expected deterioration in collateral values

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

3. Expected reduction in competition from other banks or nonbank lenders

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

4. Expected reduction in risk tolerance

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

5. Expected reduction in ease of selling loans in secondary market

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

6. Expected deterioration in credit quality of loan portfolio

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

7. Increased concerns about the effects of legislative changes, supervisory actions, or changes in accounting standards

Responses are not reported when the number of respondents is 3 or fewer.

B. Possible reasons for expecting to ease credit standards:

1. Expected improvement in your bank's capital or liquidity position

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 3 75.0
Somewhat important 1 25.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

2. Expected increase in collateral values

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 50.0
Somewhat important 2 50.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

3. Expected increase in competition from other banks or nonbank lenders

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 50.0
Somewhat important 2 50.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

4. Expected increase in risk tolerance

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 50.0
Somewhat important 2 50.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

5. Expected increase in ease of selling loans in secondary market

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 3 75.0
Somewhat important 1 25.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

6. Expected improvement in credit quality of loan portfolio

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 2 50.0
Somewhat important 1 25.0
Very important 1 25.0
Total 4 100

7. Reduced concerns about the effects of legislative changes, supervisory actions, or changes in accounting standards

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Not important 4 100.0
Somewhat important 0 0.0
Very important 0 0.0
Total 4 100

Questions 12-13 ask how your bank expects demand for select categories of C&I and commercial real estate loans from your bank to change over 2021.

12. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, how does your bank expect demand for the following categories of C&I loans from your bank to change over 2021 compared with its current level, apart from normal seasonal variation?

A. Compared with its current level, over 2021, my bank expects demand for C&I loans or credit lines to large and middle-market firms from my bank to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Strengthen substantially 0 0.0
Strengthen somewhat 8 36.4
Remain basically unchanged 14 63.6
Weaken somewhat 0 0.0
Weaken substantially 0 0.0
Total 22 100

B. Compared with its current level, over 2021, my bank expects demand for C&I loans or credit lines to small firms from my bank to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Strengthen substantially 0 0.0
Strengthen somewhat 4 30.8
Remain basically unchanged 9 69.2
Weaken somewhat 0 0.0
Weaken substantially 0 0.0
Total 13 100

13. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, how does your bank expect demand for the following categories of commercial real estate loans from your bank to change over 2021 compared with its current level, apart from normal seasonal variation?

A. Compared with its current level, over 2021, my bank expects demand for construction and land development loans or credit lines from my bank to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Strengthen substantially 0 0.0
Strengthen somewhat 3 21.4
Remain basically unchanged 11 78.6
Weaken somewhat 0 0.0
Weaken substantially 0 0.0
Total 14 100

B. Compared with its current level, over 2021, my bank expects demand for loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties from my bank to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Strengthen substantially 0 0.0
Strengthen somewhat 3 23.1
Remain basically unchanged 10 76.9
Weaken somewhat 0 0.0
Weaken substantially 0 0.0
Total 13 100

C. Compared with its current level, over 2021, my bank expects demand for loans secured by multifamily residential properties from my bank to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Strengthen substantially 0 0.0
Strengthen somewhat 4 33.3
Remain basically unchanged 7 58.3
Weaken somewhat 1 8.3
Weaken substantially 0 0.0
Total 12 100

Questions 14-15 ask about your bank's expectations for the behavior of loan delinquencies and charge-offs on selected categories of C&I and commercial real estate loans in 2021.

14. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, what is your outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on your bank's C&I loans in the following categories in 2021?

A. The quality of my bank's syndicated nonleveraged C&I loans to large and middle-market firms over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 5 25.0
Remain around current levels 13 65.0
Deteriorate somewhat 2 10.0
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 20 100

B. The quality of my bank's syndicated leveraged C&I loans to large and middle-market firms over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 4 20.0
Remain around current levels 15 75.0
Deteriorate somewhat 1 5.0
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 20 100

C. The quality of my bank's nonsyndicated C&I loans to large and middle-market firms over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 5 26.3
Remain around current levels 12 63.2
Deteriorate somewhat 2 10.5
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 19 100

D. The quality of my bank's C&I loans to small firms over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 3 16.7
Remain around current levels 15 83.3
Deteriorate somewhat 0 0.0
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 18 100

15. Assuming that economic activity progresses in line with consensus forecasts, what is your outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on your bank's commercial real estate loans in the following categories in 2021?

A. The quality of my bank's construction and land development loans over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 0 0.0
Remain around current levels 13 86.7
Deteriorate somewhat 2 13.3
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 15 100

B. The quality of my bank's loans secured by nonfarm nonresidential properties over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 2 13.3
Remain around current levels 12 80.0
Deteriorate somewhat 1 6.7
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 15 100

C. The quality of my bank's loans secured by multifamily residential properties over 2021, as measured by my bank's outlook for delinquencies and charge-offs on these loans, is likely to:

  All Respondents
Banks Percent
Improve substantially 0 0.0
Improve somewhat 1 6.2
Remain around current levels 14 87.5
Deteriorate somewhat 1 6.2
Deteriorate substantially 0 0.0
Total 16 100

1. As of September 30, 2020, the 22 respondents had combined assets of $1.5 trillion, compared with $2.5 trillion for all foreign-related banking institutions in the United States. The sample is selected from among the largest foreign-related banking institutions in those Federal Reserve Districts where such institutions are common. Return to text

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Last Update: February 01, 2021