US Bank Lending Standards
US bank lending standards and demand from the Fed SLOOS survey.
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tighter lending standards - large and medium firms | 0 | 8.1 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 18.5 | 6.2 | 0 | 7.9 | 15.6 | 14.5 | 33.9 | 50.8 | |
| Tighter lending standards - small firms | 1.8 | 6.6 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 15.9 | 11.1 | 13.3 | 8.2 | 19.7 | 18.6 | 30.4 | 49.2 | |
| Tighter lending standards - credit cards | 6.7 | 2 | 0 | 4.2 | 10.4 | 5.6 | 9.4 | 18.4 | 20 | 21.2 | 22.9 | 28.9 | 36.4 | |
| Stronger loan demand - large and medium firms | 16.1 | 4.8 | 16.1 | 11.5 | -28.6 | -20.3 | 9.4 | -21.3 | 0 | -26.6 | -25 | -30.5 | -51.6 |
Latest reading
Tighter lending standards - small firms stood at 1.8% in Q3 2026. That is −4.8 pp from Q2 2026 and −6.4 pp from a year earlier. The series on this page is quarterly and runs from Q2 1990 to Q3 2026. Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis).
- Latest
- 1.8%
- Q3 2026
- vs previous period
- −4.8 pp
- Q2 2026
- vs a year earlier
- −6.4 pp
About this data
US bank lending standards and demand from the Fed SLOOS survey. This quarterly table tracks net percentages for large firms, small firms, credit cards, and loan demand. Series go back to 1990 from the Federal Reserve via FRED. Positive figures indicate overall tightening by banks.
Frequently asked questions
- What do US bank lending standards measure?
- The United States bank lending standards measure the net percentage of domestic banks reporting tighter or easier conditions for commercial and consumer loans in the SLOOS survey.
- How often is this survey published and how far back does it go?
- This survey is published quarterly by the Federal Reserve, with data series extending back to 1990.
- Which loan categories are covered in the United States lending data?
- The data covers lending standards and demand breakdowns for large and medium firms, small firms, and credit card loans.
- How should positive figures be interpreted in this table?
- A positive net percentage in the United States bank lending survey indicates that more banks are tightening standards than easing them.
