Commercial, residential real estate lending standards eased in first quarter, report finds

Some lending terms in the first quarter of the year were eased for commercial real estate (CRE) loans of all categories, as were standards for consumer loans – including residential real estate (RRE) lending, home equity lines of credit (HELOC), and card and auto loans, the Federal Reserve said in a report on its senior loan officer opinion survey, released Monday.

On commercial real estate loans, the Fed’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices found that the maximum loan size and maturity, the spread of loan rates over their cost of funds, the length of interest-only periods, and the market areas served were all eased by banks responding to the survey.

On household lending, the report stated, banks eased standards across most categories of RRE loans and HELOCs over the first quarter while also reporting weaker demand for all types of RRE loans but stronger demand for HELOCs on net. In addition, the report stated, banks eased standards for card loans and auto loans, while demand reportedly strengthened for all consumer loan types over the first quarter.

Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices