France bank lending survey
The France bank lending survey tracks credit standards and business access to credit.
| Indicator | Q3-2026 | Q2-2026 | Q1-2026 | Q4-2025 | Q3-2025 | Q2-2025 | Q1-2025 | Q4-2024 | Q3-2024 | Q2-2024 | Q1-2024 | Q4-2023 | Q3-2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank lending survey (banks)2 | ||||||||||||||
| Loans for house purchase10 | ||||||||||||||
| Credit standards, past three months (net percentage) | 12.5 | 0 | -14.29 | 0 | 0 | -25 | -12.5 | -22.22 | -33.33 | -22.22 | 0 | 10 | 20 | |
| Credit standards, next three months (net percentage) | -12.5 | 0 | -14.29 | 0 | -12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | -33.33 | 0 | -11.11 | 0 | -10 | -10 | |
| Loan demand, past three months (net percentage) | -12.5 | 0 | 14.29 | 37.5 | 25 | 25 | 50 | 66.67 | 0 | -33.33 | -60 | -60 | -70 | |
| Loan demand, next three months (net percentage) | -12.5 | -37.5 | -14.29 | -25 | 37.5 | 37.5 | 37.5 | 77.78 | 33.33 | 22.22 | 10 | 0 | -10 | |
| Rejected loan applications, past three months (net percentage) | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -12.5 | 0 | -12.5 | 0 | -11.11 | 0 | 10 | 20 | 10 | |
| Credit standards, past three months (diffusion index) | 6.25 | 0 | -7.14 | 0 | 0 | -12.5 | -6.25 | -11.11 | -16.67 | -11.11 | 0 | 5 | 10 | |
| Credit standards, next three months (diffusion index) | -6.25 | 0 | -7.14 | 0 | -6.25 | 6.25 | 6.25 | -16.67 | 0 | -5.56 | 0 | -5 | -5 | |
| Loan demand, past three months (diffusion index) | -6.25 | 6.25 | 7.14 | 18.75 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 31.25 | 44.44 | 0 | -16.67 | -40 | -35 | -40 | |
| Loan demand, next three months (diffusion index) | -6.25 | -18.75 | -7.14 | -12.5 | 18.75 | 12.5 | 18.75 | 38.89 | 16.67 | 11.11 | 5 | 0 | -5 | |
| Rejected loan applications, past three months (diffusion index) | 6.25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -6.25 | 0 | -6.25 | 0 | -5.56 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 5 | |
| Consumer credit and other lending10 | ||||||||||||||
| Credit standards, past three months (net percentage) | 30.77 | 30.77 | 9.09 | 0 | 16.67 | 8.33 | 8.33 | 7.69 | 0 | 7.69 | 14.29 | 21.43 | 35.71 | |
| Credit standards, next three months (net percentage) | 23.08 | 38.46 | 27.27 | 8.33 | 8.33 | 16.67 | 16.67 | 7.69 | 0 | -7.69 | 0 | 7.14 | 0 | |
| Loan demand, past three months (net percentage) | 0 | -38.46 | -18.18 | -25 | -25 | 0 | -16.67 | -15.38 | 7.69 | -23.08 | -14.29 | -28.57 | -21.43 | |
| Loan demand, next three months (net percentage) | 7.69 | -23.08 | 0 | -8.33 | -16.67 | 0 | 16.67 | 7.69 | 0 | 7.69 | -14.29 | -7.14 | 0 | |
| Rejected loan applications, past three months (net percentage) | 30.77 | 30.77 | 18.18 | 16.67 | 33.33 | 16.67 | 16.67 | 7.69 | 0 | 7.69 | 7.14 | 0 | 7.14 | |
| Credit standards, past three months (diffusion index) | 15.38 | 15.38 | 4.55 | 0 | 8.33 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 3.85 | 0 | 3.85 | 7.14 | 10.71 | 17.86 | |
| Credit standards, next three months (diffusion index) | 11.54 | 19.23 | 13.64 | 4.17 | 4.17 | 8.33 | 8.33 | 3.85 | 0 | -3.85 | 0 | 3.57 | 0 | |
| Loan demand, past three months (diffusion index) | 0 | -19.23 | -9.09 | -12.5 | -12.5 | 0 | -8.33 | -7.69 | 3.85 | -11.54 | -7.14 | -14.29 | -10.71 | |
| Loan demand, next three months (diffusion index) | 3.85 | -11.54 | 0 | -4.17 | -8.33 | 0 | 8.33 | 3.85 | 0 | 3.85 | -7.14 | -3.57 | 0 | |
| Rejected loan applications, past three months (diffusion index) | 15.38 | 15.38 | 9.09 | 8.33 | 16.67 | 8.33 | 8.33 | 3.85 | 0 | 3.85 | 3.57 | 0 | 3.57 | |
| Business access to credit (firms)3 | ||||||||||||||
| Very small enterprises (TPE)14 | ||||||||||||||
| Applied for cash credit in the last 3 months | 3.61 | 2.83 | 1.92 | 3.94 | ||||||||||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested cash credit | 68.75 | 76.92 | 88.89 | 73.68 | ||||||||||
| Applied for investment credit in the last 3 months | 7 | 7.17 | 4.68 | 7.05 | ||||||||||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested investment credit | 93.55 | 96.97 | 90.91 | 100 | ||||||||||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested equipment credit | 94.42 | 94.29 | 97.87 | 91.08 | ||||||||||
| New collateral or guarantees required on loans | 2.56 | 5.13 | 7.41 | 8.51 | ||||||||||
| No cash credit request: no need | 88.06 | 86.77 | ||||||||||||
| No cash credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 7.49 | 8.46 | ||||||||||||
| No cash credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 3.75 | 4.34 | ||||||||||||
| No cash credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0.7 | 0.43 | ||||||||||||
| No investment credit request: no need | 89.56 | 87.05 | ||||||||||||
| No investment credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 6.55 | 8.04 | ||||||||||||
| No investment credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 3.64 | 4.69 | ||||||||||||
| No investment credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0.24 | 0.22 | ||||||||||||
| Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)19 | ||||||||||||||
| Applied for cash credit in the last 3 months | 6.38 | 5.76 | 5.66 | 5.77 | 5.62 | 5.37 | 6.04 | 5.59 | 5.92 | 5.19 | 5.76 | 5.45 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested cash credit | 82.63 | 81.9 | 85.28 | 82.98 | 85.22 | 83.78 | 82.72 | 83.33 | 77.55 | 85.58 | 86.15 | 84.3 | ||
| Applied for investment credit in the last 3 months | 20.2 | 19.08 | 18.39 | 18.69 | 19.47 | 19.09 | 18.38 | 18.27 | 18.59 | 18.99 | 19.13 | 19.26 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested investment credit | 96.22 | 97.66 | 96.13 | 97.9 | 96.73 | 96.2 | 97.16 | 95.84 | 96.36 | 97.96 | 96.35 | 94.92 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested equipment credit | 93.7 | 93.93 | 93.78 | 94.06 | 92.48 | 91.93 | 94.15 | 90.48 | 93.42 | 92.54 | 91.32 | 92.67 | ||
| New collateral or guarantees required on loans | 6.67 | 6.49 | 5.23 | 5.95 | 6.25 | 6.33 | 6.2 | 6.74 | 6.18 | 6.53 | 7.73 | 6.91 | ||
| No cash credit request: no need | 88.47 | 88.83 | 89.4 | 88.98 | 89.64 | 90.11 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 5.74 | 5.61 | 4.92 | 5.43 | 5.45 | 5.42 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 5.37 | 5.25 | 5.34 | 5.22 | 4.45 | 4.02 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0.42 | 0.31 | 0.34 | 0.37 | 0.46 | 0.45 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: no need | 85.74 | 85.55 | 86.27 | 85.75 | 87.49 | 88.14 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 7.32 | 7.3 | 6.95 | 6.77 | 6.36 | 6.41 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 6.64 | 6.73 | 6.5 | 6.92 | 5.56 | 4.75 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0.31 | 0.42 | 0.27 | 0.55 | 0.59 | 0.71 | ||||||||
| Applied for a new or renewed credit line in the last year | 34.06 | 33.47 | 34.71 | 32.17 | 32.18 | 33.09 | 33.48 | 32.2 | 33.49 | 32.79 | 34.11 | 33.99 | ||
| Credit line fully obtained | 91.32 | 91.91 | 91.67 | 92.98 | 92.93 | 92.84 | 91.46 | 91.62 | 90.98 | 92.93 | 92.26 | 91.52 | ||
| Used a credit line in the last 3 months | 55.94 | 53.13 | 53.34 | 55.36 | 54.07 | 54.33 | 54.76 | 54.24 | 53.79 | 53.81 | 54.52 | 52.46 | ||
| Overall cost of financing increased | 24.39 | 20.84 | 13.45 | 13.81 | 12.44 | 16.19 | 19.6 | 24.85 | 33.31 | 46.47 | 59.96 | 62.94 | ||
| Overall cost of financing decreased | 5.76 | 7.38 | 12.3 | 14.46 | 23.7 | 20.78 | 21.78 | 16.49 | 9.58 | 6.41 | 1.34 | 0.57 | ||
| Mid-sized enterprises (ETI)19 | ||||||||||||||
| Applied for cash credit in the last 3 months | 9.19 | 4.47 | 7.07 | 8.68 | 4.31 | 4.62 | 5.86 | 5.97 | 8.89 | 4.8 | 6.25 | 8.58 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested cash credit | 92.86 | 80 | 84.85 | 83.33 | 95 | 90.91 | 92.59 | 96.43 | 90 | 86.96 | 90 | 92.5 | ||
| Applied for investment credit in the last 3 months | 27.79 | 24.16 | 27.62 | 28.31 | 24.57 | 26.05 | 25.81 | 21.75 | 26.89 | 22.13 | 28.12 | 26.4 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested investment credit | 98.43 | 93.52 | 96.9 | 95.62 | 97.37 | 94.36 | 97.48 | 97.06 | 98.35 | 96.23 | 98.52 | 96.75 | ||
| Obtained 75% or more of requested equipment credit | 92.52 | 89.6 | 90.83 | 86.04 | 90.08 | 92.45 | 91.48 | 89.02 | 93.04 | 89.63 | 90.49 | 96.05 | ||
| New collateral or guarantees required on loans | 4.74 | 4.18 | 7.04 | 4.78 | 6.9 | 5.86 | 6.59 | 2.71 | 6 | 3.92 | 5.65 | 6 | ||
| No cash credit request: no need | 92.53 | 93.55 | 91.22 | 91.01 | 92.93 | 93.33 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 3.61 | 3.46 | 2.93 | 5.53 | 3.42 | 3.33 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 3.61 | 3 | 5.18 | 3.23 | 3.66 | 3.11 | ||||||||
| No cash credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0.24 | 0 | 0.68 | 0.23 | 0 | 0.22 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: no need | 90.61 | 89.94 | 90 | 88.89 | 89.97 | 91.01 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: unwilling to take on debt | 3.64 | 5.62 | 4.29 | 6.43 | 5.17 | 3.77 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: company situation judged unfavourable | 5.76 | 4.44 | 5.14 | 4.39 | 4.26 | 4.06 | ||||||||
| No investment credit request: lender criteria expected to be too strict | 0 | 0 | 0.57 | 0.29 | 0.61 | 1.16 | ||||||||
| Applied for a new or renewed credit line in the last year | 45.95 | 46.53 | 48.82 | 47.11 | 45.9 | 47.27 | 46.64 | 46.06 | 47.56 | 47.81 | 47.71 | 45.28 | ||
| Credit line fully obtained | 93.81 | 91.35 | 91.23 | 91.23 | 93.9 | 92 | 94.42 | 94.91 | 95.79 | 94.32 | 95.63 | 93.84 | ||
| Used a credit line in the last 3 months | 60.87 | 62.26 | 63.68 | 55.86 | 54.81 | 59.73 | 60.85 | 56.74 | 60.56 | 56.14 | 61.23 | 64.25 | ||
| Overall cost of financing increased | 26.88 | 22.18 | 13.7 | 11.77 | 9.58 | 11.72 | 14.73 | 25.58 | 34.4 | 50.2 | 71.73 | 79.6 | ||
| Overall cost of financing decreased | 6.72 | 6.7 | 16.3 | 23.53 | 36.4 | 36.33 | 37.21 | 27.91 | 14.4 | 6.67 | 1.77 | 0.8 |
Latest reading
The latest reading is 12.5 Net percentage, for Q3 2026. That is +12.5 Net percentage from Q2 2026 and +12.5 Net percentage from a year earlier. The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q1 2003 to Q3 2026. Source: ECB Data Portal – Bank lending survey (BLS), France.
- Latest
- 12.5 Net percentage
- Q3 2026
- vs previous period
- +12.5 Net percentage
- Q2 2026
- vs a year earlier
- +12.5 Net percentage
About this data
The France bank lending survey tracks credit standards and business access to credit. This quarterly dataset from the ECB and Banque de France covers loan demand, rejected applications, and credit line usage since 2003. It details responses from both banks and firms on cash and investment credit. Measures are reported in percentages, net percentages, and diffusion indices.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the France bank lending survey?
- The France bank lending survey is a quarterly survey conducted as part of the Eurosystem initiative. It measures credit standards, loan demand, and credit terms as reported by French banks and businesses.
- How is business access to credit measured in France?
- Business access to credit in France is tracked through surveys of firms regarding their applications for cash and investment credit. It reports the percentage of businesses that successfully obtained the requested credit.
- What do net percentage and diffusion index mean in this survey?
- In the France bank lending survey, net percentage represents the difference between banks reporting tightening and easing standards. The diffusion index is a weighted measure of these responses to show the strength of credit condition shifts.
- How far back does the France credit conditions data go?
- The quarterly credit conditions and bank lending survey data for France is available from 2003 onward, with regular updates following each ECB and Banque de France release.
