(Financial) services Banks in the eurozone tighten conditions for loans

SDA

28.1.2025 - 15:20

Eurozone banks have tightened their lending conditions for companies. The reason for this is higher risks. (The picture shows the headquarters of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank in Frankfurt)
Eurozone banks have tightened their lending conditions for companies. The reason for this is higher risks. (The picture shows the headquarters of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank in Frankfurt)
Keystone

Eurozone banks have tightened their lending conditions for companies. The reason for this is higher risks, according to a survey by the European Central Bank.

Keystone-SDA

The final quarter of 2024 saw the "most pronounced tightening" of guidelines in more than a year, according to the survey on lending in the eurozone published by the European Central Bank (ECB) on Tuesday. Banks in Germany and France were particularly affected.

In contrast, lending to private households showed a mixed picture in the fourth quarter. According to the survey, the guidelines for consumer loans were tightened further. Standards for home purchase loans, on the other hand, remained unchanged compared to the previous quarter. Demand for owner-occupied homes "continued to recover strongly" in the months from October to December.