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The Federal Reserve’s July senior loan officer opinion survey (SLOOS) on bank lending practices examined changes in the standards and terms on demand for bank loans to businesses and households generally corresponding to the second quarter of 2023. According to the survey, banks reported tightened lending standards across categories. 

A few key findings from the survey: 

• survey respondents reported, on balance, tighter standards and weaker demand for commercial and industrial (C&I) loans to firms of all sizes over the second quarter, as well as tighter standards and weaker demand for all commercial real estate (CRE) loan categories;
• banks reported that lending standards tightened across all categories of residential real estate (RRE) loans – especially for RRE loans other than government-sponsored enterprise (GSE)-eligible and government loans – and demand weakened for all RRE loan categories;
• banks reported tighter standards and weaker demand for home equity lines of credit (HELOCs);
• standards tightened for all consumer loan categories: demand weakened for auto and other consumer loans, while it remained nearly unchanged for credit card loans;
• the survey also included two sets of special questions, including one about the current level of lending standards relative to the midpoint of the range over which banks' standards have varied since 2005, to which banks reported, on balance, levels of standards are currently on the tighter end of the range for all loan categories. Compared with the July 2022 survey, banks reported tighter levels of standards in every loan category; and
• in response to the second set of special questions about banks' expectations for changes in lending standards over the second half of 2023 and reasons for these changes, banks reported expecting to further tighten standards on all loan categories. Banks most frequently cited a less favorable or more uncertain economic outlook and expected deterioration in collateral values and the credit quality of loans as reasons for expecting to tighten lending standards further over the remainder of 2023.

Responses were received from 66 domestic banks and 19 U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks. The survey was received June 15, with responses due June 30. 

Access the full survey from the Fed. See NAFCU's recent economic analysis reports.