🏦📉 ECB survey reveals tightening corporate credit standards amid rising demand

Oneliner

The ECB's latest Bank Lending Survey reveals that eurozone banks have tightened corporate lending standards due to economic uncertainty, particularly in Germany and France. Despite this, demand for corporate loans is expected to rise further in early 2026. The ECB is likely to maintain its key deposit rate at 2.0% as it assesses the implications of these developments on economic growth.

Key points

• Eurozone banks tightened corporate lending standards due to economic uncertainty.
• Demand for corporate loans is expected to rise further in early 2026.
• Germany and France reported the most significant tightening, while Spain and Italy saw little change.
• The ECB is likely to maintain its key deposit rate at 2.0% amid these developments.

Links

• Handelsblatt: EZB: Für Unternehmen klafft eine Finanzierungslücke
• Reuters: Euro zone banks tightening access to business credit, ECB survey shows
• Handelsblatt: Finanzinstitute: Laut EZB-Umfrage weiterhin steigende Firmenkredit-Nachfrage

Facts

• The ECB surveyed 153 banks for its quarterly Bank Lending Survey.
• Corporate lending standards tightened most in Germany and France.
• Spain and Italy reported little change in lending standards.
• The ECB has held its key deposit rate at 2.0% since mid-2025.

Quotes

• Concerns about the outlook for firms and the broader economy contributed to tighter credit standards — ECB
• Demand for corporate loans in the euro area has continued to increase — ECB

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