Overview
As part of our mission to maintain monetary and financial stability, we need to understand trends and developments in credit conditions. This quarterly survey of bank and building society lenders is an input to this work. The survey covers:
- secured and unsecured lending to households; and
- lending to non-financial corporations, small businesses, and to non-bank financial firms.
This report presents the results of the 2026 Q1 survey. Lenders were asked to report changes in the three months to end-February 2026 (Q1), relative to the period between September and November, and expected changes in the three months to end-May 2026 (Q2), relative to the period between December and February. It was conducted between 23 February and 13 March 2026. Any impact from more recent developments will therefore not be captured.
The results are based on lenders’ own responses to the survey, and are reported as net percentage balances. The changes in balances are described as an ‘increase’ if greater than 10 in absolute terms, as ‘slight’ if between 5 and 10 and as ‘unchanged’ if less than 5. The results do not necessarily reflect our views on credit conditions. You can read a full guide to interpreting the survey and copies of the questionnaires at the end of this page.
You can also read more background information on the survey in the 2007 Q3 Quarterly Bulletin article The Bank of England Credit Conditions Survey.
The 2026 Q2 Credit Conditions Survey will be published on 2 July 2026.
Supply
- Lenders reported that the availability of secured credit to households increased in the three months to end-February 2026 (Q1). It was expected to increase over the next three months to end-May 2026 (Q2) (Chart 1).
- Lenders reported that the availability of unsecured credit to households was unchanged in Q1 and was expected to increase in Q2 (Chart 2).
- Lenders reported that the overall availability of credit to the corporate sector was unchanged in Q1. However, when broken down by size of business, lenders also reported that credit availability for small, medium and large businesses increased in Q1 (Chart 3). This difference is feasible because individual lenders can report increased availability for one size of business, with unchanged availability for other sizes and so for corporates overall. Overall availability was expected to be unchanged in Q2.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamond shows the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has the availability of secured credit provided to households changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in credit availability.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamond shows the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has the availability of unsecured credit provided to households changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates that more unsecured credit is available.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamonds show the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has the availability of credit to small businesses, medium private non-financial corporations (PNFCs) and large PNFCs changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in credit availability.
Demand
- Lenders reported that demand for secured lending for house purchase was unchanged in Q1, and was expected to increase in Q2. Demand for secured lending for remortgaging increased in Q1, and was expected to increase in Q2 (Chart 4).
- Lenders reported that overall demand for unsecured lending was unchanged in Q1, and was expected to be unchanged in Q2. Within the overall figure, demand for credit card lending was unchanged in Q1, and was expected to be unchanged in Q2 (Chart 5). Demand for other unsecured lending was reported to have decreased, and was expected to increase in Q2.
- Lenders reported that demand for corporate lending from small and large businesses slightly increased, while demand from medium-sized businesses was unchanged, in Q1 (Chart 6). Demand for corporate lending in Q2 was expected to increase slightly for small businesses, expected to decrease slightly for medium-sized businesses, and expected to be unchanged for large businesses.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamonds show the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has demand for secured lending for house purchase/remortgaging from households changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in demand.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamonds show the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has demand for credit card/other unsecured lending from households changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in demand.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamonds show the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has overall demand for lending from small businesses, medium PNFCs and large PNFCs changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in demand.
Loan pricing
- Lenders reported that overall spreads on secured lending to households – relative to Bank Rate or the appropriate swap rate – narrowed in Q1, and were expected to be unchanged in Q2.
- Lenders reported that overall unsecured lending spreads widened in Q1, and were expected to widen in Q2. Lenders also reported that the length of interest-free periods on credit cards for balance transfers increased in Q1, and was expected to increase in Q2. The length of interest-free periods on new credit cards for purchases increased in Q1, and was expected to increase slightly in Q2.
- Lenders reported that spreads on corporate lending to small businesses were unchanged in Q1, slightly narrowed for medium-sized businesses, and narrowed for large businesses. Spreads on lending to small and medium businesses were expected to be unchanged over the next three months, while for large firms these were expected to narrow slightly.
Defaults
- Lenders reported that default rates on secured loans to households slightly increased in Q1, and were expected to decrease slightly in Q2 (Chart 7). Losses given default on secured loans were unchanged in Q1, and were expected to be unchanged in Q2.
- Lenders reported that default rates for total unsecured lending increased in Q1, and were expected to increase slightly in Q2 (Chart 7). Within this total figure, defaults for credit cards and other loans increased in Q1. Defaults for credit cards were expected to increase and for other loans were expected to be unchanged in Q2.
- Lenders reported that default rates on loans to corporates were unchanged for small, medium, and large businesses in Q1. These were expected to be unchanged for small, medium and large businesses in Q2.
- Losses given default were unchanged for small, medium and large businesses in Q1.
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The aqua bars show the responses over the previous three months. The orange diamonds show the expectation over the next three months. Expectations data can be used as an indicator of the potential direction and magnitude of the change expected in the next quarter, but should not be treated as a realised outturn. Previous expectations balances are available in full in the annex.
- (b) Question: ‘How has the default rate on secured/total unsecured loans to households changed?’.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in the default rate.
How to interpret this survey
This report presents the results of the 2026 Q1 survey. It was conducted between 23 February and 13 March 2026. The results are based on lenders’ own responses to the survey. They do not necessarily reflect our views on credit conditions. To calculate aggregate results, each lender is assigned a score based on their response. Lenders who report that credit conditions have changed ‘a lot’ are assigned twice the score of those who report that conditions have changed ‘a little’. These scores are then weighted by lenders’ market shares. The results are analysed by calculating ‘net percentage balances’. The net percentage balances are scaled to lie between (+/-)100.
In this report, changes in balances are described as an ‘increase’ if greater than 10 in absolute terms, as ‘slight’ if between 5 and 10 and as ‘unchanged’ if less than 5.
Annexes
To calculate aggregate results, each lender is assigned a score based on their response. Lenders who report that credit conditions have changed ‘a lot’ are assigned twice the score of those who report that conditions have changed ‘a little’. These scores are then weighted by lenders’ market shares. The results are analysed by calculating ‘net percentage balances’ — the difference between the weighted balance of lenders reporting that, for example, demand was higher/lower or terms and conditions were tighter/looser. The net percentage balances are scaled to lie between ±100. This annex reports the net percentage balance of respondents for each question in the secured lending questionnaire.
Positive balances indicate that lenders, on balance, reported/expected demand/credit availability/defaults to be higher than over the previous/current three-month period, or that the terms and conditions on which credit was provided became cheaper or looser respectively.
Where the survey balances are discussed, descriptions of an ‘increase’ refer to a net percentage balance greater than 10 in absolute terms, and a ‘slight’ change refers to a net percentage balance of between 5 and 10 in absolute terms. Survey balances between 0 and 5 in absolute terms are described as unchanged. (The 2019 Q2 and earlier reports also described changes greater than 20 in absolute terms as ‘significant’).
The first Credit Conditions Survey was conducted in 2007 Q2 and additional questions have been included since 2007 Q4. A full set of results is available in an Excel file in the ‘Related documents’ section.
Net percentage balances (a)
2024
2025
2026
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
How has the availability of secured credit provided to households changed?
Past three months
22.4
9.2
23.2
36.9
30.3
15.5
Next three months
16.4
19.8
21.2
26.5
9.1
22.0
Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)
Changing economic outlook
Past three months
11.6
-3.1
5.5
2.0
-1.5
-6.4
Next three months
-2.7
2.0
7.1
3.0
-6.2
-4.3
Market share objectives
Past three months
7.0
1.8
5.6
0.0
2.3
11.9
Next three months
9.3
4.2
9.1
5.7
23.2
4.9
Changing appetite for risk
Past three months
6.4
6.6
3.8
18.8
15.1
6.7
Next three months
7.6
-0.9
12.8
3.3
6.6
22.0
Tight wholesale funding conditions
Past three months
6.6
-3.6
-5.3
-5.3
0.0
0.0
Next three months
-0.5
-3.6
-3.8
-3.9
0.0
-2.4
Expectations for house prices
Past three months
10.2
1.4
1.5
-1.0
0.0
-6.8
Next three months
2.7
0.1
0.0
-1.5
-7.1
7.7
How has the availability of household secured credit to the following types of borrower changed?
Borrowers with low loan to value ratios (75% or less)
Past three months
18.0
8.9
22.6
28.1
29.8
7.4
Next three months
13.8
8.5
19.7
26.0
17.7
-2.0
Borrowers with high loan to value ratios (more than 75%)
Past three months
18.7
8.5
23.0
27.0
11.6
10.1
Next three months
14.4
15.5
19.6
25.5
10.2
22.8
Have you become more willing to lend to borrowers with housing equity less than 10% of the value of their home?
Past three months
4.6
2.6
7.2
17.6
7.1
24.9
Next three months
8.6
4.3
8.6
12.3
19.2
11.4
How have credit scoring criteria for granting loan applications by households changed?
Past three months
5.4
11.7
2.3
5.0
14.2
11.1
Next three months
5.6
0.8
3.4
12.7
13.6
8.3
How has the proportion of household loan applications being approved changed?
Past three months
16.4
1.9
2.7
13.4
12.9
22.9
Next three months
4.8
8.5
14.4
8.3
14.2
-0.5
How has the average credit quality of new secured lending to households changed?
Past three months
2.7
2.3
-0.7
-2.7
-7.6
0.8
Next three months
0.0
-1.4
2.5
-1.4
0.0
1.0
How has the default rate on secured loans to households changed?
Past three months
7.8
2.8
0.8
-8.1
-13.0
6.2
Next three months
3.5
2.8
-4.2
-10.3
-13.3
-6.6
How have losses given default on secured loans to households changed?
Past three months
17.4
18.7
5.9
16.5
-4.4
4.0
Next three months
6.2
21.5
7.2
-7.8
0.5
0.7
How has demand for secured lending for house purchase from households changed?
Past three months
33.3
12.4
30.9
0.7
-13.9
0.3
Next three months
-10.6
-2.0
-18.5
4.5
-11.0
30.0
of which: demand for prime lending
Past three months
33.3
12.4
30.9
0.7
-15.0
12.2
Next three months
-10.6
1.7
-19.8
4.5
-0.4
26.8
of which: demand for buy-to-let lending
Past three months
23.9
22.6
23.9
-12.5
-27.8
-6.0
Next three months
-2.5
7.1
1.2
2.4
-0.8
6.9
How has demand for secured lending for remortgaging from households changed?
Past three months
60.0
19.8
30.4
25.9
-3.9
14.8
Next three months
-20.1
32.7
21.4
15.1
17.4
22.1
How have overall secured lending spreads changed?
Past three months
4.4
54.9
5.8
33.3
17.8
26.7
Next three months
9.3
0.6
1.2
3.4
20.2
1.0
of which: spreads on prime lending
Past three months
-8.0
56.3
9.4
29.0
35.0
20.8
Next three months
11.9
14.5
1.6
4.3
12.6
1.2
of which: spreads on buy-to-let lending
Past three months
4.4
50.9
9.9
27.0
17.4
19.4
Next three months
3.3
0.6
-0.3
0.0
20.2
8.7
How have fees on secured lending changed?
Past three months
0.0
-1.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
How have maximum loan to value ratios changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
12.2
Next three months
5.0
0.0
1.8
7.0
4.2
19.3
How have maximum loan to income ratios changed?
Past three months
0.0
1.4
0.5
18.1
19.3
7.0
Next three months
-2.3
0.5
3.6
19.6
21.8
1.0
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question by their market shares. Positive balances indicate that lenders, on balance, reported/expected demand/credit availability/defaults to be higher than over the previous/current three-month period, or that the terms and conditions on which credit was provided became cheaper or looser respectively.
- (b) A positive balance indicates that the changes in the factors described have served to increase credit availability.
The methodology for calculating, and interpretation of the aggregate results are as described in Annex 1. A full set of results is available in an Excel file in the ‘Related documents’ section.
Net percentage balances (a)
2024
2025
2026
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
How has the availability of unsecured credit provided to households changed?
Past three months
10.3
15.8
11.3
7.6
10.6
-2.8
Next three months
8.5
24.1
18.9
8.4
7.2
17.8
Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)
Changing economic outlook
Past three months
-1.2
7.8
0.0
0.0
-0.4
0.0
Next three months
-1.2
10.2
0.7
0.0
-0.4
2.3
Market share objectives
Past three months
17.2
24.4
3.1
11.8
11.0
0.9
Next three months
5.7
15.4
6.3
12.4
5.4
0.4
Changing appetite for risk
Past three months
-1.2
7.8
-0.4
-1.6
-0.7
2.8
Next three months
1.5
16.7
1.2
0.4
13.5
18.1
Changing cost/availability of funds
Past three months
0.0
11.8
-5.3
0.0
2.9
0.0
Next three months
-0.6
7.8
0.0
-2.8
0.0
-0.9
How have credit scoring criteria for granting credit card loan applications by households changed?
Past three months
-13.3
0.0
21.0
17.7
5.9
-4.4
Next three months
11.0
22.4
14.5
7.9
0.0
-14.5
How have credit scoring criteria for granting other unsecured loan applications by households changed?
Past three months
18.0
-1.8
12.0
4.4
7.5
12.3
Next three months
1.3
27.3
8.8
23.6
3.2
12.3
How have credit scoring criteria for granting total unsecured loan applications by households changed?
Past three months
-9.1
-0.2
19.7
15.8
6.1
-2.0
Next three months
9.8
23.0
13.7
10.2
0.5
-10.7
How has the proportion of credit card loan applications from households being approved changed?
Past three months
2.0
-7.9
14.5
-2.1
-2.6
-17.7
Next three months
8.5
20.3
10.0
5.3
7.7
-7.6
How has the proportion of other unsecured loan applications from households being approved changed?
Past three months
3.2
4.9
11.7
4.4
-21.4
6.4
Next three months
9.1
20.8
8.8
26.1
-11.8
-7.2
How has the proportion of total unsecured loan applications from households being approved changed?
Past three months
2.1
-6.2
14.1
-1.2
-5.3
-14.3
Next three months
8.6
20.4
9.8
8.3
4.9
-7.6
How has the average credit quality of new credit card lending to households changed? (c)
Past three months
13.9
2.1
-5.5
-17.7
-3.4
-3.3
Next three months
-18.3
-10.0
-3.7
-10.0
2.9
-5.6
How has the average credit quality of new other unsecured lending to households changed? (c)
Past three months
-26.2
0.3
8.2
-7.5
-6.5
-1.7
Next three months
8.6
-9.3
4.3
-5.6
-6.7
-5.7
How has the average credit quality of new total unsecured lending to households changed? (c)
Past three months
8.6
1.9
-3.5
-16.2
-3.8
-3.0
Next three months
-14.8
-9.9
-2.5
-9.3
1.5
-5.6
How has the default rate on credit card loans to households changed?
Past three months
-16.9
-11.1
3.3
3.9
10.7
18.6
Next three months
21.6
3.7
3.3
10.5
11.7
11.1
How has the default rate on other unsecured loans to households changed?
Past three months
-18.9
-4.6
-11.1
2.9
18.1
17.2
Next three months
7.3
-21.6
-4.7
7.0
18.1
-1.4
How has the default rate on total unsecured loans to households changed?
Past three months
-17.2
-10.3
1.2
3.7
11.8
18.4
Next three months
19.7
0.4
2.2
10.0
12.6
9.3
How have losses given default on credit card loans to households changed?
Past three months
-4.9
0.0
0.0
4.4
4.3
0.0
Next three months
3.3
-3.3
4.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
How have losses given default on other unsecured loans to households changed?
Past three months
3.3
9.0
2.7
5.0
-13.7
8.1
Next three months
0.4
0.0
0.0
2.5
2.4
-5.0
How have losses given default on total unsecured loans to households changed?
Past three months
-3.8
1.2
0.4
4.5
1.7
1.1
Next three months
2.9
-2.9
3.8
0.4
0.3
-0.7
How has demand for credit card lending from households changed?
Past three months
8.6
14.5
14.7
-5.9
14.4
4.2
Next three months
8.6
15.0
3.8
2.5
2.9
-4.2
How has demand for other unsecured lending from households changed?
Past three months
-7.3
-3.8
30.9
27.5
-13.1
-22.1
Next three months
2.1
14.9
-7.4
0.5
-22.6
20.8
How has demand for total unsecured lending from households changed?
Past three months
6.5
12.1
17.1
-1.0
10.4
0.5
Next three months
7.7
15.0
2.2
2.2
-0.8
-0.6
How have spreads on credit cards changed?
Past three months
-19.0
-10.9
-27.1
-31.1
-28.1
-29.8
Next three months
-26.6
-15.0
-28.4
-29.1
-32.1
-26.5
How have spreads on other unsecured lending products changed?
Past three months
-7.4
-6.8
-10.6
0.7
18.4
-6.6
Next three months
-0.5
0.0
-16.8
-3.7
-15.8
17.6
How have overall unsecured lending spreads changed?
Past three months
-17.5
-10.4
-24.7
-26.4
-21.3
-26.6
Next three months
-23.1
-13.0
-26.7
-25.3
-29.8
-20.4
How have credit card limits changed?
Past three months
24.8
-4.6
-7.9
5.9
3.9
11.0
Next three months
0.7
-6.6
0.0
-7.2
8.8
21.2
How has the minimum proportion of credit card balances to be paid changed?
Past three months
-10.4
-11.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Next three months
-1.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
How have the following terms on new credit card lending to households changed?
Length of interest free period on balance transfers
Past three months
16.7
40.9
19.1
22.3
32.0
23.5
Next three months
11.8
25.7
3.7
24.9
31.6
17.6
Length of interest free period for purchases
Past three months
14.1
22.4
13.2
13.3
20.6
21.0
Next three months
25.0
17.8
-3.3
24.9
10.3
9.9
How have maximum maturities on loans changed? (d)
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
12.4
5.2
10.5
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.5
10.6
1.4
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question by their market shares. Positive balances indicate that lenders, on balance, reported/expected demand/credit availability/defaults to be higher than over the previous/current three-month period, or that the terms and conditions on which credit was provided became cheaper or looser respectively.
- (b) A positive balance indicates that the changes in the factors described have served to increase credit availability/demand.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an improvement in the credit quality of new borrowing.
- (d) A positive balance indicates an increase in maximum maturities on new loans. The sign convention was changed in 2009 Q4 and was applied to the back data accordingly.
The methodology for calculating, and interpretation of the aggregate results are as described in Annex 1. A full set of results is available in an Excel file in the ‘Related documents’ section.
Net percentage balances (a)
2024
2025
2026
Q4
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Q1
How has the availability of credit provided to the corporate sector overall changed?
Past three months
8.6
8.7
7.9
7.7
3.5
3.0
Next three months
10.7
2.4
9.1
7.1
2.7
2.3
of which: commercial real estate sector
Past three months
19.6
20.6
27.7
23.2
24.4
17.9
Next three months
7.1
13.8
34.2
13.6
16.6
10.1
How have commercial property prices affected credit availability to the commercial real estate sector, and/or secured lending to PNFCs?
Past three months
17.8
25.1
22.8
18.2
8.5
9.0
Next three months
10.2
12.8
21.7
11.3
7.2
10.2
Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)
Changing economic outlook
Past three months
2.1
8.4
6.9
4.8
0.5
1.2
Next three months
2.4
12.6
9.8
1.6
3.8
8.7
Changing sector-specific risks
Past three months
3.8
6.8
10.5
5.8
5.4
4.2
Next three months
3.8
11.7
12.8
-0.7
3.9
8.2
Market share objectives
Past three months
12.2
12.4
22.0
17.7
12.9
15.5
Next three months
11.5
17.2
22.0
11.3
7.6
21.2
Market pressures from capital markets
Past three months
1.5
1.6
-3.9
1.4
2.7
3.3
Next three months
1.5
-9.0
1.8
2.6
2.7
5.3
Changing appetite for risk
Past three months
3.3
1.5
9.1
-1.2
1.9
2.1
Next three months
3.6
7.8
10.3
-1.2
1.9
6.3
Tight wholesale funding conditions
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Next three months
-0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
How has the availability of credit provided to small businesses changed?
Past three months
27.5
15.2
24.2
12.0
12.0
14.0
Next three months
15.3
26.0
13.8
13.9
13.9
14.0
How has the availability of credit provided to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
10.0
10.0
10.2
16.1
8.8
12.1
Next three months
11.0
11.9
11.5
17.3
11.6
13.5
How has the availability of credit provided to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
4.2
3.2
7.9
10.5
8.5
13.7
Next three months
5.8
8.0
7.9
8.8
11.6
11.9
How has the proportion of loan applications from small businesses being approved changed?
Past three months
4.8
-1.8
0.0
10.0
8.3
9.1
Next three months
15.0
3.3
3.2
9.8
0.0
0.0
How has the proportion of loan applications from medium PNFCs being approved changed?
Past three months
2.9
4.1
5.7
-1.4
7.0
0.0
Next three months
2.9
2.9
2.7
0.0
8.2
0.5
How has the proportion of loan applications from large PNFCs being approved changed?
Past three months
1.6
6.6
0.0
2.2
0.6
2.7
Next three months
3.2
1.5
1.5
1.4
3.2
2.8
Has there been a change in average credit quality on newly arranged PNFC borrowing facilities? (c)
Past three months
-5.6
-5.8
-3.5
-3.1
-6.1
0.0
Next three months
-3.6
-3.9
-3.8
-1.3
-1.4
-1.5
Has there been any change in ‘target hold’ levels associated with corporate lending?
Past three months
-4.6
-4.6
-1.2
-2.8
-3.7
-12.3
Next three months
-4.6
-8.5
-2.9
-2.8
-2.7
-2.1
How have loan tenors on new corporate loans changed? (d)
Past three months
-3.3
1.4
1.4
0.0
-1.4
8.7
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Has there been a change in draw-downs on committed lines by PNFCs?
Past three months
3.6
-1.3
0.0
2.3
7.2
0.0
Next three months
3.6
2.5
0.0
8.6
2.2
6.5
How has the default rate on loans to small businesses changed?
Past three months
-1.4
3.3
0.0
0.0
9.6
1.9
Next three months
1.6
5.7
1.8
0.0
0.0
3.6
How has the default rate on loans to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
-0.7
2.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.7
Next three months
1.4
4.9
1.6
0.0
0.0
3.2
How has the default rate on loans to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.8
-0.3
-1.5
-1.4
-1.4
-1.4
Next three months
1.2
3.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.0
How has loss given default on loans to small businesses changed?
Past three months
1.3
1.7
1.8
0.0
0.0
-1.9
Next three months
0.0
5.7
1.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
How has loss given default on loans to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
1.5
1.6
0.0
-6.0
-1.7
Next three months
0.0
5.0
-8.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
How has loss given default on loans to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
9.0
10.2
7.3
2.0
0.0
Next three months
0.0
12.0
1.4
0.0
0.0
1.2
How has demand for credit card lending from small businesses changed?
Past three months
-8.9
0.0
0.0
11.8
2.9
8.6
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.8
11.3
11.3
How has demand for other unsecured lending from small businesses changed?
Past three months
15.1
33.1
19.5
5.8
9.9
16.8
Next three months
3.6
25.2
5.8
2.9
13.2
22.7
How has demand for total unsecured lending from small businesses changed?
Past three months
-5.3
4.6
3.1
10.9
4.0
9.8
Next three months
0.5
3.5
0.9
10.4
11.6
13.0
How has demand for secured lending from small businesses changed?
Past three months
29.4
-4.0
13.7
13.5
11.2
-1.8
Next three months
-5.5
-2.0
-4.8
-3.4
-14.0
19.4
How has overall demand for lending from small businesses changed?
Past three months
11.5
8.3
7.1
5.6
1.8
7.2
Next three months
0.0
-3.1
5.6
9.4
-1.3
5.5
How has demand for lending from medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
7.5
11.5
6.6
0.1
1.6
-1.7
Next three months
0.8
-2.3
0.6
6.0
-2.6
-8.7
How has demand for lending from large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
6.7
14.9
0.0
8.6
-1.3
8.9
Next three months
3.2
8.5
5.9
6.9
-0.1
2.7
How has demand for lending from OFCs (other financial corporations) changed?
Past three months
1.8
7.3
-3.5
-6.2
16.1
2.3
Next three months
9.0
1.9
0.0
2.9
16.1
5.5
What have been the main factors contributing to changes in demand for lending: (b)
Mergers and acquisitions
Past three months
2.0
4.4
-6.8
1.1
-8.5
8.0
Next three months
5.3
4.5
0.4
-1.2
7.6
-2.2
Capital investment
Past three months
6.2
11.6
-2.6
2.5
-9.7
-2.8
Next three months
2.7
10.2
2.9
4.0
11.7
-7.4
Inventory finance
Past three months
-8.2
15.6
-4.2
-0.5
6.9
-0.4
Next three months
-7.8
11.4
7.5
10.1
10.1
2.8
Balance sheet restructuring
Past three months
0.8
2.4
0.4
-1.0
4.6
1.2
Next three months
0.3
1.7
1.4
0.0
2.7
2.6
Commercial real estate
Past three months
16.2
11.9
15.9
18.2
9.4
15.4
Next three months
5.2
22.8
27.6
8.3
9.4
12.1
How have spreads on loans to small businesses changed? (c)
Past three months
-1.7
0.0
0.0
3.2
-3.5
-3.6
Next three months
-1.7
-1.8
3.2
1.2
-3.5
3.7
How have fees/commissions on loans to small businesses changed?
Past three months
1.4
1.8
1.8
0.0
0.0
-3.0
Next three months
1.7
0.0
3.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
How have collateral requirements for loans to small businesses changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
-1.9
0.0
Next three months
10.2
0.0
-1.8
2.0
0.0
0.0
How have maximum credit lines for small businesses changed?
Past three months
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
0.0
0.0
Next three months
1.4
1.4
1.5
1.5
9.9
0.0
How have loan covenants for small businesses changed?
Past three months
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
0.0
Next three months
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
n/a*
6.5
How have spreads on loans to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
-1.8
0.0
12.1
13.3
3.0
8.1
Next three months
-1.8
-1.8
1.7
3.5
3.0
0.0
How have fees/commissions on loans to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
7.1
8.8
7.2
9.0
3.6
Next three months
7.1
0.0
4.1
9.0
3.1
0.0
How have collateral requirements for loans to medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
-1.6
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
-1.5
-1.6
0.0
0.0
How have maximum credit lines for medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
5.6
0.0
2.8
0.0
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
How have loan covenants for medium PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
1.5
1.4
1.3
5.9
0.0
Next three months
0.0
1.5
1.4
1.3
0.0
0.0
How have spreads on loans to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
-5.8
28.1
2.6
27.9
26.5
15.3
Next three months
18.7
11.8
10.0
20.2
12.3
7.6
How have fees/commissions on loans to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
1.6
16.4
1.4
16.7
10.4
8.9
Next three months
3.5
19.1
0.0
17.8
3.7
11.1
How have collateral requirements for loans to large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.8
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.8
0.0
How have maximum credit lines for large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
10.8
12.5
2.4
12.8
9.0
10.8
Next three months
10.8
5.8
1.7
2.6
0.0
-3.2
How have loan covenants for large PNFCs changed?
Past three months
4.1
3.2
0.0
5.1
0.9
1.0
Next three months
2.5
6.6
0.0
5.1
0.0
0.0
How have spreads on loans to OFCs changed?
Past three months
-9.0
10.3
15.9
16.0
28.2
8.1
Next three months
9.0
14.8
3.9
8.6
8.5
16.6
How have fees/commissions on loans to OFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
5.8
0.0
0.0
9.6
Next three months
0.0
9.0
0.0
8.8
0.0
16.6
How have collateral requirements for loans to OFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
-1.7
How have maximum credit lines for OFCs changed?
Past three months
0.0
-10.8
0.0
10.8
-2.9
0.0
Next three months
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
0.0
Footnotes
- (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question by their market shares. Positive balances indicate that lenders, on balance, reported/expected demand/credit availability/defaults to be higher than over the previous/current three-month period, or that the terms and conditions on which credit was provided became cheaper or looser respectively.
- (b) A positive balance indicates that the changes in the factors described have served to increase credit availability/demand.
- (c) A positive balance indicates an improvement in the credit quality of new borrowing.
- (d) A positive balance indicates an increase in new corporate loan tenors. The sign convention was changed in 2009 Q3 and was applied to the back data accordingly.
Next publication date: 2 July 2026
ISSN 1755-8247
