Credit Conditions Survey - 2021 Q3

This quarterly survey of banks and building societies is aimed at improving our understanding of trends and developments in credit conditions.
Published on 14 October 2021

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.
  • Lending to non-financial corporations, small businesses, and to non-bank financial firms.

This report presents the results of the 2021 Q3 survey. It was conducted between 31 August and 17 September 2021. Any impact from more recent developments will therefore not be captured.

Lenders were asked to report changes in the three months to end-August 2021 (Q3), relative to the period between March and May, and expected changes in the three months to end-November 2021 (Q4), relative to the period between June and August.

The results are based on lenders’ own responses to the survey, and are reported as net percentage balances. 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 2021 Q4 Credit Conditions Survey will be published on 13 January 2022.

Supply

  • Lenders reported that the availability of secured credit to households increased in the three months to end-August 2021 (Q3). Lenders also expected the availability of secured credit to increase further over the next three months to end-November 2021 (Q4) (Chart 1).
  • Lenders reported that the availability of unsecured credit to households increased in Q3 and was expected to increase further in Q4 (Chart 2).
  • Lenders reported that the overall availability of credit to the corporate sector remained unchanged in Q3. Within this, the availability of credit to small and medium-sized business remained unchanged in Q3, but increased for large firms. Overall, corporate credit availability was expected to remain unchanged in Q4.

Chart 1: Household secured credit availability (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2007 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamond shows future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for 2021 Q3 was 41.3 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 49.6.

Footnotes

  • (a) Net percentage balances are calculated by weighting together the responses of those lenders who answered the question. The blue bars show the responses over the previous three months. The red 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.

Chart 2: Household unsecured credit availability (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2007 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamond shows future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for 2021 Q3 was 15.3 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 18.3.

Footnotes

  • (a) See footnote (a) to Chart 1.
  • (b) Question: ‘How has the availability of unsecured credit provided to households changed?’.
  • (c) A positive balance indicates that more unsecured credit is available.

Demand

  • Lenders reported that demand for secured lending for house purchase decreased in Q3, and was expected to decrease further in Q4. Demand for secured lending for remortgaging increased in Q3, and was expected to increase further over the next quarter (Chart 3).
  • Lenders reported that overall demand for unsecured lending increased in Q3, across both credit cards and other unsecured lending, and was expected to increase further in Q4 (Chart 4).
  • Lenders reported that, in Q3, demand for corporate lending from small businesses decreased, demand from medium-sized businesses decreased slightly, and demand from large firms increased over the same period. Demand for corporate lending in Q4 was expected to increase for large businesses and increase slightly for small and medium-sized firms (Chart 5).

Chart 3: Demand for secured lending for house purchases and remortgaging (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2016 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamonds show future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for house purchases for 2021 Q3 was minus 35.3 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was minus 35. The balance for remortgaging for 2021 Q3 was 34.5 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 31.7.

Footnotes

  • (a) See footnote (a) to Chart 1.
  • (b) Question: ‘How has demand for secured lending for house purchase/remortgaging from households changed?’.
  • (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in demand.

Chart 4: Demand for unsecured lending by loan type (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2016 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamonds show future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for credit cards for 2021 Q3 was 40 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 43.1. The balance for other unsecured for 2021 Q3 was 31.5 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 28.4.

Footnotes

  • (a) See footnote (a) to Chart 1.
  • (b) Question: ‘How has demand for credit card/other unsecured lending from households changed?’.
  • (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in demand.

Chart 5: Corporate demand for lending by firm size (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2017 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamonds show future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for small businesses for 2021 Q3 was minus 13.4 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 7.4. The balance for medium-sized businesses for 2021 Q3 was minus 5.5 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 5.1. The balance for large businesses for 2021 Q3 was 20.3 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 31.8.

Footnotes

  • (a) See footnote (a) to Chart 1.
  • (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 Q3, and were expected to narrow further in Q4.
  • Lenders reported that overall unsecured lending spreads remained unchanged in Q3, but were expected to narrow slightly in Q4. Lenders also reported that the length of interest-free periods on credit cards for both balance transfers and purchases increased in Q3, and was expected to increase further in Q4.
  • Lenders reported that, in Q3, spreads on corporate lending were unchanged for small-sized businesses, slightly widened for medium-sized businesses, and narrowed for large businesses. Spreads on lending to small and medium businesses were expected to remain unchanged over the next three months, while they were expected to narrow further for large firms.

Defaults

  • The net percentage balance for changes in default rates on secured loans to households decreased in Q3, but was expected to increase in Q4.
  • The net percentage balance for changes in default rates for total unsecured lending was unchanged in Q3, but was expected to increase in Q4.
  • The net percentage balance for changes in default rates on loans to corporates increased for small businesses, slightly decreased for medium businesses, and was unchanged for large businesses in Q3. These were expected to increase for small and medium-sized businesses in Q4, and to remain unchanged for large businesses over the same period (Chart 6).

Chart 6: Net percentage balance for changes in default rates on loans to firms by size (a) (b) (c)

The bars show the net percentage balance of responses from 2017 Q1 to 2021 Q3 and the diamonds show future expectations for 2021 Q4. The balance for small businesses for 2021 Q3 was 44 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 17.5. The balance for medium-sized businesses for 2021 Q3 was minus 5.7 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 15.7. The balance for large businesses for 2021 Q3 was 0.9 and the expected balance for 2021 Q4 was 1.6.

Footnotes

  • (a) See footnote (a) to Chart 1.
  • (b) Question: ‘How has the default rate on loans to small/medium/large PNFCs changed?’.
  • (c) A positive balance indicates an increase in the default rate.

How to interpret this survey

This report presents the results of the 2021 Q3 survey. It was conducted between 31 August and 17 September 2021. 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 the Excel file at the end of this page.

    Net percentage balances (a)

    2020

    2021

    Q2

    Q3

    Q4

    Q1

    Q2

    Q3

    How has the availability of secured credit provided to households changed?

    Past three months

    -72.1

    9.5

    2.4

    13.7

    39.1

    15.3

    Next three months

    -22.2

    -3.5

    24.7

    37.6

    16.5

    18.3

    Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)

    changing economic outlook

    Past three months

    -79.5

    -23.7

    -1.9

    15.0

    42.2

    30.4

    Next three months

    -54.0

    -22.4

    4.8

    26.2

    25.4

    24.2

    market share objectives

    Past three months

    -10.5

    13.6

    11.6

    12.8

    9.0

    6.8

    Next three months

    4.0

    5.3

    1.2

    18.9

    12.8

    0.0

    changing appetite for risk

    Past three months

    -35.0

    -6.2

    -2.0

    7.6

    19.7

    7.8

    Next three months

    -41.8

    -0.8

    11.9

    13.9

    0.9

    14.6

    tight wholesale funding conditions

    Past three months

    -6.7

    7.3

    8.9

    0.0

    1.8

    -1.7

    Next three months

    -6.7

    -1.9

    -1.8

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    expectations for house prices

    Past three months

    -55.1

    -8.2

    18.9

    14.0

    37.9

    16.7

    Next three months

    -48.5

    -25.4

    0.7

    13.7

    7.4

    10.8

    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

    -33.6

    -8.9

    -9.9

    -11.6

    5.6

    0.7

    Next three months

    -19.6

    -11.1

    -1.5

    4.5

    4.8

    11.8

    Borrowers with high loan to value ratios (more than 75%)

    Past three months

    -83.1

    2.0

    6.8

    28.7

    59.3

    23.2

    Next three months

    -1.7

    4.5

    26.1

    64.9

    8.1

    19.3

    Have you become more willing to lend to borrowers with housing equity less than 10% of the value of their home?

    Past three months

    -90.5

    -3.4

    4.3

    -0.4

    62.6

    23.9

    Next three months

    -19.0

    3.2

    3.6

    57.2

    2.9

    14.2

    How have credit scoring criteria for granting loan applications by households changed?

    Past three months

    -62.4

    -44.1

    -17.8

    -5.1

    24.0

    -0.6

    Next three months

    -31.8

    -7.4

    -11.4

    20.3

    2.7

    28.2

    How has the proportion of household loan applications being approved changed?

    Past three months

    -38.3

    -30.1

    16.2

    -11.7

    2.1

    -5.6

    Next three months

    -38.8

    -4.7

    -2.1

    -0.4

    -6.1

    24.9

    How has the average credit quality of new secured lending to households changed?

    Past three months

    18.1

    30.9

    29.2

    15.4

    16.1

    6.7

    Next three months

    20.9

    11.0

    0.6

    -4.6

    -0.6

    -6.4

    How has the default rate on secured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    6.6

    4.8

    0.8

    20.3

    4.0

    -37.1

    Next three months

    26.4

    59.8

    41.1

    36.1

    19.5

    20.9

    How have losses given default on secured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    -14.0

    5.8

    -7.3

    -33.2

    -15.5

    -23.3

    Next three months

    51.4

    13.2

    -0.5

    0.7

    -14.8

    -8.1

    How has demand for secured lending for house purchase from households changed?

    Past three months

    -79.0

    95.6

    31.5

    -21.9

    81.1

    -35.3

    Next three months

    18.5

    -1.9

    -8.8

    42.8

    -48.7

    -35.0

    of which: demand for prime lending

    Past three months

    -83.7

    63.0

    31.5

    -16.4

    81.1

    -35.3

    Next three months

    18.5

    -1.9

    -20.1

    42.8

    -47.0

    -36.7

    of which: demand for buy-to-let lending

    Past three months

    -84.9

    74.2

    37.5

    -9.4

    49.0

    -9.1

    Next three months

    21.5

    12.5

    -25.2

    16.2

    -6.7

    8.0

    How has demand for secured lending for remortgaging from households changed?

    Past three months

    -54.9

    -13.5

    2.3

    -29.3

    22.5

    34.5

    Next three months

    21.1

    8.0

    7.8

    14.4

    11.8

    31.7

    How have overall secured lending spreads changed?

    Past three months

    -61.8

    -79.1

    -41.9

    20.6

    51.1

    75.2

    Next three months

    -25.5

    -32.2

    33.9

    65.4

    51.9

    56.1

    of which: spreads on prime lending

    Past three months

    -61.8

    -81.8

    -41.9

    20.6

    51.1

    75.2

    Next three months

    -17.2

    -30.4

    33.9

    65.4

    51.9

    56.1

    of which: spreads on buy-to-let lending

    Past three months

    -57.5

    -60.8

    -43.3

    14.6

    39.1

    58.4

    Next three months

    -25.5

    -22.6

    23.9

    47.9

    40.7

    54.3

    How have fees on secured lending changed?

    Past three months

    16.9

    5.9

    -19.8

    14.9

    15.7

    17.6

    Next three months

    -9.9

    0.0

    17.4

    0.0

    11.2

    7.3

    How have maximum loan to value ratios changed?

    Past three months

    -76.3

    -15.4

    28.8

    44.1

    58.0

    9.0

    Next three months

    8.3

    25.9

    29.8

    63.4

    0.6

    2.9

    How have maximum loan to income ratios changed?

    Past three months

    -11.2

    -7.9

    -3.4

    9.7

    10.5

    7.1

    Next three months

    -2.1

    -11.2

    10.3

    15.0

    2.4

    24.2

    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 the Excel file at the end of this page.

    Net percentage balances (a)

    2020

    2021

    Q2

    Q3

    Q4

    Q1

    Q2

    Q3

    How has the availability of unsecured credit provided to households changed?

    Past three months

    -63.3

    -33.6

    9.1

    -6.5

    14.4

    41.3

    Next three months

    -24.9

    -10.0

    4.2

    22.1

    40.4

    49.6

    Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)

    changing economic outlook

    Past three months

    -64.1

    -42.4

    -11.8

    0.6

    19.1

    35.1

    Next three months

    -14.2

    -16.4

    -2.3

    31.3

    47.0

    44.4

    market share objectives

    Past three months

    -0.3

    4.5

    8.0

    3.7

    9.2

    19.6

    Next three months

    3.1

    6.9

    6.1

    15.1

    26.0

    32.2

    changing appetite for risk

    Past three months

    -38.9

    -26.6

    -1.8

    -9.8

    2.6

    8.3

    Next three months

    -12.4

    -2.3

    -2.0

    6.7

    18.9

    11.8

    changing cost/availability of funds

    Past three months

    -1.5

    -0.2

    0.5

    0.5

    0.4

    0.5

    Next three months

    -0.8

    1.1

    -0.9

    1.7

    7.0

    0.0

    How have credit scoring criteria for granting credit card loan applications by households changed?

    Past three months

    -46.8

    -34.6

    -24.4

    -0.2

    34.7

    32.6

    Next three months

    -21.7

    -26.2

    5.5

    23.8

    45.5

    29.3

    How have credit scoring criteria for granting other unsecured loan applications by households changed?

    Past three months

    -73.8

    -35.7

    -4.7

    -1.9

    20.1

    23.5

    Next three months

    -27.2

    -19.2

    -1.9

    5.3

    26.2

    30.1

    How have credit scoring criteria for granting total unsecured loan applications by households changed?

    Past three months

    -51.0

    -34.8

    -21.5

    -0.4

    32.8

    31.3

    Next three months

    -22.6

    -25.1

    4.5

    21.2

    43.0

    29.4

    How has the proportion of credit card loan applications from households being approved changed?

    Past three months

    -70.0

    -1.2

    3.9

    -22.9

    34.5

    49.3

    Next three months

    -11.6

    -10.6

    4.0

    22.0

    44.0

    36.0

    How has the proportion of other unsecured loan applications from households being approved changed?

    Past three months

    -47.5

    -10.2

    7.0

    -2.7

    32.9

    29.9

    Next three months

    13.8

    -22.3

    13.5

    12.5

    29.6

    27.9

    How has the proportion of total unsecured loan applications from households being approved changed?

    Past three months

    -66.4

    -2.5

    4.3

    -20.0

    34.3

    46.7

    Next three months

    -7.6

    -12.4

    5.4

    20.7

    42.1

    34.9

    How has the average credit quality of new credit card lending to households changed? (c)

    Past three months

    31.7

    34.8

    -0.8

    -20.3

    0.0

    -3.6

    Next three months

    -8.3

    -9.1

    -2.2

    -11.1

    -46.5

    -23.7

    How has the average credit quality of new other unsecured lending to households changed? (c)

    Past three months

    3.0

    42.5

    4.4

    -10.1

    2.9

    -25.3

    Next three months

    4.6

    -7.2

    0.3

    5.0

    -32.2

    -33.9

    How has the average credit quality of new total unsecured lending to households changed? (c)

    Past three months

    27.2

    36.0

    0.0

    -18.9

    0.4

    -6.6

    Next three months

    -6.3

    -8.8

    -1.8

    -8.9

    -44.6

    -25.1

    How has the default rate on credit card loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    6.4

    -7.9

    -42.2

    -11.7

    -5.6

    4.5

    Next three months

    26.8

    47.2

    20.4

    50.7

    17.7

    46.9

    How has the default rate on other unsecured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    42.1

    -23.1

    19.2

    2.1

    -17.6

    -15.2

    Next three months

    4.3

    53.0

    19.2

    13.8

    17.2

    12.8

    How has the default rate on total unsecured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    12.1

    -10.2

    -33.3

    -9.8

    -7.2

    1.8

    Next three months

    23.2

    48.1

    20.3

    45.5

    17.7

    42.2

    How have losses given default on credit card loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    -9.5

    -1.8

    0.0

    -10.4

    1.3

    1.1

    Next three months

    4.5

    20.6

    1.3

    -8.1

    0.0

    -10.8

    How have losses given default on other unsecured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    17.8

    -10.9

    3.8

    12.1

    18.8

    16.4

    Next three months

    20.7

    29.8

    -2.1

    0.0

    4.3

    -16.9

    How have losses given default on total unsecured loans to households changed?

    Past three months

    -5.2

    -3.2

    0.5

    -7.2

    3.6

    3.2

    Next three months

    7.1

    22.0

    0.9

    -7.0

    0.6

    -11.6

    How has demand for credit card lending from households changed?

    Past three months

    -82.5

    -18.2

    9.8

    -1.5

    28.2

    40.0

    Next three months

    33.8

    15.1

    27.4

    17.5

    40.8

    43.1

    How has demand for other unsecured lending from households changed?

    Past three months

    -90.7

    7.4

    27.1

    -17.9

    53.0

    31.5

    Next three months

    11.8

    23.6

    -0.1

    52.1

    39.5

    28.4

    How has demand for total unsecured lending from households changed?

    Past three months

    -83.8

    -14.3

    12.3

    -3.8

    31.4

    38.8

    Next three months

    30.4

    16.4

    23.4

    22.4

    40.7

    41.1

    How have spreads on credit cards changed?

    Past three months

    2.9

    -9.0

    0.5

    9.0

    12.4

    3.5

    Next three months

    0.0

    -21.9

    6.2

    6.2

    -2.9

    9.4

    How have spreads on other unsecured lending products changed?

    Past three months

    11.5

    5.5

    -14.9

    -1.3

    -15.0

    -10.2

    Next three months

    11.5

    -21.0

    -13.7

    -18.1

    -5.1

    8.9

    How have overall unsecured lending spreads changed?

    Past three months

    4.2

    -6.9

    -1.6

    7.7

    9.1

    1.7

    Next three months

    1.8

    -21.7

    3.4

    2.9

    -3.2

    9.3

    How have credit card limits changed?

    Past three months

    -5.7

    -21.9

    -20.0

    -13.2

    -16.3

    3.5

    Next three months

    -7.9

    -18.7

    2.6

    -15.1

    -2.6

    -7.4

    How has the minimum proportion of credit card balances to be paid changed?

    Past three months

    -5.2

    -6.8

    9.8

    -5.5

    -7.7

    25.4

    Next three months

    0.0

    15.0

    6.4

    13.0

    11.4

    17.2

    How have the following terms on new credit card lending to households changed?

    Length of interest-free period on balance transfers

    Past three months

    -28.2

    -24.1

    -12.1

    11.8

    21.7

    18.9

    Next three months

    -37.2

    -7.5

    -6.9

    12.9

    25.7

    16.0

    Length of interest-free period for purchases

    Past three months

    -27.1

    -22.7

    0.0

    1.5

    19.6

    34.0

    Next three months

    -34.8

    -7.5

    -4.8

    14.3

    22.2

    19.2

    How have maximum maturities on loans changed? (d)

    Past three months

    -15.7

    2.0

    4.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    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 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 the Excel file at the end of this page.

    Net percentage balances (a)

    2020

    2021

    Q2

    Q3

    Q4

    Q1

    Q2

    Q3

    How has the availability of credit provided to the corporate sector overall changed?

    Past three months

    71.0

    8.7

    -0.5

    3.4

    5.1

    0.7

    Next three months

    5.5

    -12.4

    2.6

    9.7

    3.6

    0.7

    of which: commercial real estate sector

    Past three months

    10.0

    -30.0

    -23.5

    -21.3

    1.5

    3.9

    Next three months

    -18.7

    -9.1

    -0.7

    0.2

    1.5

    2.4

    How have commercial property prices affected credit availability to the commercial real estate sector, and/or secured lending to PNFCs?

    Past three months

    -33.5

    -14.3

    -10.6

    -10.1

    -6.1

    12.7

    Next three months

    -33.8

    -14.7

    -21.1

    -13.8

    4.7

    7.7

    Factors contributing to changes in credit availability: (b)

    changing economic outlook

    Past three months

    70.0

    25.0

    -3.8

    4.7

    9.4

    3.3

    Next three months

    4.7

    6.8

    5.6

    12.1

    14.1

    16.4

    changing sector-specific risks

    Past three months

    55.9

    18.2

    -5.4

    5.3

    7.7

    1.4

    Next three months

    10.2

    8.7

    -0.6

    6.6

    7.7

    14.8

    market share objectives

    Past three months

    0.3

    -2.2

    -0.2

    2.1

    0.0

    1.0

    Next three months

    -1.1

    -2.2

    -0.2

    2.1

    1.0

    1.0

    market pressures from capital markets

    Past three months

    7.8

    1.7

    2.5

    3.0

    0.0

    10.4

    Next three months

    2.4

    0.6

    1.4

    5.7

    0.0

    10.4

    changing appetite for risk

    Past three months

    13.9

    3.2

    -14.2

    1.4

    0.0

    4.4

    Next three months

    -10.4

    -8.6

    -1.2

    0.7

    4.4

    5.9

    tight wholesale funding conditions

    Past three months

    -15.3

    7.8

    -9.2

    -8.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    -8.2

    0.0

    -9.2

    -8.0

    0.0

    0.0

    How has the availability of credit provided to small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    78.7

    6.4

    -19.3

    -1.0

    -1.0

    -2.0

    Next three months

    7.4

    -8.8

    -2.1

    6.7

    3.6

    10.4

    How has the availability of credit provided to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    77.1

    6.6

    3.3

    -0.9

    2.0

    -0.9

    Next three months

    6.2

    -24.1

    -2.0

    5.8

    0.4

    0.9

    How has the availability of credit provided to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    69.5

    -6.4

    -1.5

    6.3

    6.3

    11.1

    Next three months

    0.0

    0.0

    6.7

    5.6

    2.1

    6.5

    How has the proportion of loan applications from small businesses being approved changed?

    Past three months

    78.6

    31.7

    -22.6

    -7.9

    -13.5

    -3.1

    Next three months

    -2.1

    -27.8

    -44.9

    -9.8

    -13.5

    15.2

    How has the proportion of loan applications from medium PNFCs being approved changed?

    Past three months

    55.2

    0.0

    -2.0

    -3.0

    4.2

    1.9

    Next three months

    10.4

    -6.2

    -7.4

    6.2

    7.5

    17.5

    How has the proportion of loan applications from large PNFCs being approved changed?

    Past three months

    20.3

    -2.3

    -2.7

    -3.0

    4.1

    13.1

    Next three months

    3.9

    -2.0

    -4.7

    5.0

    9.1

    12.0

    Has there been a change in average credit quality on newly arranged PNFC borrowing facilities? (c)

    Past three months

    -35.6

    -18.9

    -16.3

    -8.0

    0.2

    12.2

    Next three months

    -23.5

    -23.8

    -13.6

    -14.7

    13.5

    10.5

    Has there been any change in ‘target hold’ levels associated with corporate lending?

    Past three months

    8.7

    -1.7

    -1.1

    2.6

    0.8

    -10.0

    Next three months

    8.0

    7.8

    -1.8

    0.0

    -0.9

    -10.2

    How have loan tenors on new corporate loans changed? (d)

    Past three months

    -13.5

    -3.8

    -3.8

    -1.1

    -0.8

    14.7

    Next three months

    -3.1

    11.1

    0.8

    10.4

    6.1

    15.7

    Has there been a change in draw-downs on committed lines by PNFCs?

    Past three months

    80.2

    -23.7

    -12.2

    -4.3

    -0.4

    -4.4

    Next three months

    16.9

    18.1

    14.7

    11.4

    0.4

    -3.8

    How has the default rate on loans to small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    22.5

    4.6

    13.6

    13.5

    11.9

    44.0

    Next three months

    50.0

    39.4

    33.1

    24.7

    47.5

    17.5

    How has the default rate on loans to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    22.6

    14.5

    7.3

    0.9

    -14.2

    -5.7

    Next three months

    52.3

    46.1

    25.9

    17.8

    21.5

    15.7

    How has the default rate on loans to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    10.7

    16.0

    22.8

    1.7

    6.4

    0.9

    Next three months

    37.6

    22.2

    28.6

    0.7

    1.7

    1.6

    How has loss given default on loans to small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    20.3

    -17.8

    -1.5

    1.0

    1.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    58.5

    27.6

    29.4

    12.3

    1.0

    0.0

    How has loss given default on loans to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    27.6

    5.1

    -1.3

    0.9

    0.9

    -0.9

    Next three months

    39.2

    23.5

    14.7

    10.6

    0.0

    1.2

    How has loss given default on loans to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    13.6

    4.4

    2.0

    0.8

    -10.5

    -0.9

    Next three months

    36.9

    13.3

    11.1

    9.4

    0.0

    0.0

    How has demand for credit card lending from small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    -79.1

    -4.2

    -11.7

    -4.6

    4.4

    3.1

    Next three months

    20.9

    0.0

    17.7

    17.5

    4.4

    4.6

    How has demand for other unsecured lending from small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    79.1

    -27.5

    -11.7

    -2.8

    -35.4

    11.1

    Next three months

    -31.4

    -27.2

    9.1

    31.0

    37.0

    9.5

    How has demand for total unsecured lending from small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    -54.6

    -8.2

    -11.7

    -4.3

    -0.9

    4.2

    Next three months

    12.8

    -4.7

    16.4

    19.6

    8.7

    5.3

    How has demand for secured lending from small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    58.0

    -71.4

    -18.1

    -26.6

    28.1

    -31.9

    Next three months

    -25.9

    13.4

    14.0

    12.2

    4.7

    -2.3

    How has overall demand for lending from small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    89.5

    14.5

    -6.1

    -32.3

    -29.8

    -13.4

    Next three months

    -13.1

    -25.5

    -14.3

    30.1

    28.8

    7.4

    How has demand for lending from medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    90.0

    -45.4

    -10.6

    2.8

    -5.7

    -5.5

    Next three months

    -25.6

    8.3

    16.6

    11.1

    4.3

    5.1

    How has demand for lending from large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    84.2

    -19.6

    13.7

    17.6

    11.1

    20.3

    Next three months

    -27.0

    -10.7

    28.9

    33.9

    25.5

    31.8

    How has demand for lending from OFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -12.1

    -0.7

    -5.2

    3.7

    -1.1

    12.2

    Next three months

    -7.8

    -10.2

    -12.8

    -9.1

    0.0

    13.3

    What have been the main factors contributing to changes in demand for lending: (b)

    mergers and acquisitions

    Past three months

    -85.6

    -36.6

    6.1

    16.2

    20.6

    28.9

    Next three months

    12.6

    18.9

    33.9

    42.2

    24.4

    27.7

    capital investment

    Past three months

    -53.3

    -38.0

    -16.5

    -3.1

    -3.2

    7.1

    Next three months

    -14.8

    -18.5

    -6.8

    23.7

    18.2

    14.1

    inventory finance

    Past three months

    -6.2

    1.5

    -1.9

    -9.9

    -15.7

    14.8

    Next three months

    38.3

    11.2

    15.3

    19.6

    35.0

    21.4

    balance sheet restructuring

    Past three months

    26.5

    4.7

    19.9

    7.1

    0.1

    -13.4

    Next three months

    28.5

    16.1

    8.1

    8.2

    10.5

    0.7

    commercial real estate

    Past three months

    -49.6

    -54.4

    20.0

    15.9

    9.0

    16.7

    Next three months

    -24.4

    -34.2

    15.1

    22.3

    7.6

    7.4

    How have spreads on loans to small businesses changed? (c)

    Past three months

    27.5

    1.2

    -19.2

    -14.5

    -12.1

    0.0

    Next three months

    11.4

    -14.2

    -7.2

    -13.6

    0.1

    0.0

    How have fees/commissions on loans to small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    45.5

    3.7

    -4.9

    0.0

    -11.1

    0.0

    Next three months

    11.6

    0.0

    -4.9

    -1.4

    12.2

    0.0

    How have collateral requirements for loans to small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    19.6

    0.0

    -1.0

    -1.0

    -1.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    2.5

    -3.7

    -9.8

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    How have maximum credit lines for small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    4.9

    0.0

    -1.0

    -1.0

    -1.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    0.0

    -4.9

    -1.0

    -1.0

    -1.0

    0.0

    How have loan covenants for small businesses changed?

    Past three months

    5.2

    0.0

    -1.9

    -1.9

    -1.3

    0.0

    Next three months

    2.6

    0.0

    -1.9

    2.5

    -1.3

    0.0

    How have spreads on loans to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -8.0

    -25.1

    -7.5

    -16.2

    0.0

    -8.5

    Next three months

    20.0

    -8.5

    -7.1

    -11.1

    0.0

    0.0

    How have fees/commissions on loans to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    16.9

    -7.5

    -4.2

    -4.3

    0.0

    0.0

    Next three months

    10.0

    -6.4

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.9

    How have collateral requirements for loans to medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    6.4

    -1.2

    -0.9

    -6.7

    -0.9

    0.0

    Next three months

    -0.3

    -3.2

    -4.3

    -5.8

    0.0

    0.0

    How have maximum credit lines for medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    6.5

    -9.7

    -2.7

    -0.9

    -0.9

    0.7

    Next three months

    0.0

    -13.1

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.9

    How have loan covenants for medium PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    4.5

    2.1

    -0.9

    -0.9

    -0.9

    0.0

    Next three months

    2.1

    -0.9

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    How have spreads on loans to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -46.5

    -10.9

    -6.7

    12.7

    16.2

    29.7

    Next three months

    -9.4

    -1.3

    -18.4

    17.1

    26.5

    31.1

    How have fees/commissions on loans to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -44.0

    -10.3

    -3.0

    11.0

    14.2

    28.0

    Next three months

    -13.3

    0.5

    -15.5

    15.7

    28.5

    31.9

    How have collateral requirements for loans to large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -5.2

    -1.1

    0.6

    0.0

    1.8

    0.0

    Next three months

    -1.7

    0.0

    0.9

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    How have maximum credit lines for large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    25.6

    5.2

    -0.5

    -0.1

    2.6

    10.4

    Next three months

    3.1

    -10.8

    5.2

    0.0

    0.9

    11.3

    How have loan covenants for large PNFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -17.0

    9.3

    -1.4

    -8.6

    1.8

    9.4

    Next three months

    -10.1

    -0.6

    0.9

    -5.8

    5.5

    0.9

    How have spreads on loans to OFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -14.3

    -14.4

    -0.3

    -0.4

    12.5

    29.2

    Next three months

    -7.5

    5.2

    4.9

    2.2

    18.1

    13.1

    How have fees/commissions on loans to OFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -11.8

    -1.4

    2.2

    2.2

    12.5

    13.1

    Next three months

    -8.2

    2.3

    2.2

    2.2

    12.5

    13.1

    How have collateral requirements for loans to OFCs changed?

    Past three months

    -1.1

    -1.4

    0.0

    0.0

    -0.9

    0.0

    Next three months

    0.6

    -1.4

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    How have maximum credit lines for OFCs changed?

    Past three months

    3.5

    -3.7

    -2.2

    7.2

    -0.9

    11.3

    Next three months

    4.8

    -2.3

    -2.2

    -7.2

    -0.9

    11.3

    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: 13 January 2022.

ISSN 1755-8247