Bank Lending Survey (BLS) (1,2) - Q4 2015

Loans to non-financial corporations

In the fourth quarter of 2015, credit standards for loans to non-financial corporations (NFCs) remained broadly unchanged (see Chart 1) compared with the third quarter of 2015, in line with expectations expressed in the previous survey round. Banks expect that credit standards will remain unchanged in the first quarter of 2016.

Despite the unchanged credit standards, the conditions and terms for loans to NFCs tightened somewhat in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter.

The demand for loans by NFCs decreased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2015 (see Chart 2), as opposed to the positive expectations expressed in the previous survey round. The decline was due to decreased financing needs of NFCs for both working capital and fixed investment. Demand for loans by NFCs is expected to improve in the first quarter of 2016.

Loans to households

In the fourth quarter of 2015, credit standards for loans to households remained basically unchanged (see Chart 1) compared with the third quarter of 2015. It is noted that in the previous survey banks had stated that they expected a tightening of standards for consumer credit. As regards the expectations for the first quarter of 2016, credit standards for all loans to households are expected to remain unchanged.

The terms and conditions for loans to households remained also unchanged in the fourth quarter of 2015.

The demand for loans to households increased (see Chart 2) in the fourth quarter of 2015, in line with expectations expressed in the previous survey round. Moreover, the demand is expected to increase further in the first quarter of 2016.

Chart 1
Credit Standards (Average)

Chart 2
Demand (Average)

(1) For more information on the Bank Lending Survey , see
http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/Statistics/monetary/BankLendingSurvey.aspx.
(2) Information regarding the BLS methodology is available at: http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/Statistics/monetary/BankLendMeth.aspx.

Bank of Greece issued this content on 2016-01-19 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-19 12:43:10 UTC

Original Document: http://www.bankofgreece.gr/Pages/en/Bank/News/PressReleases/DispItem.aspx?Item_ID=5189&List_ID=1af869f3-57fb-4de6-b9ae-bdfd83c66c95&Filter_by=DT