Fed Survey: Banks Ease Mortgage Lending Standards

Banks lowered mortgage lending standards in the third quarter of 2015, according to the Federal Reserve's Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices.

The survey, which includes responses from 69 domestic banks and 23 U.S. branches and agencies of foreign banks, found that household lending from banks have loosened their credit standards over the past three months on loans eligible for purchase by the GSEs and on qualified mortgage (QM) loans.

According to the survey, 50 respondents noted that their credit standards on GSE-eligible residential mortgage loans remained basically unchanged. On the other hand, seven banks reported that their standards eased somewhat, while one bank said their standards eased considerably.

Credit standards for QM non-jumbo, non-GSE-eligible residential mortgages eased somewhat for five banks, remained basically unchanged for 48 banks, and tightened somewhat for one bank. QM jumbo loans credit standards eased somewhat for five banks, remained basically unchanged for 52 banks, and heightened for one bank.

In terms of demand, smaller portions of banks reported weaker demand across most categories of residential loans, while most banks indicated that their demand was about the same.

The report also showed that many banks reported that they do not offer mortgage loans to subprime borrowers.

Overall, lending standards were little changed for home equity lines of credit, but demand for these loans experienced an uptick.

Credit standards for approving applications for revolving home equity lines of credit were basically unchanged for 62 banks, eased somewhat for two banks, and tightened somewhat for one bank, the Fed reported.

On the demand side, home equity lines of credit were moderately stronger among 21 banks, about the same for 40 banks, moderately weaker for two banks, and substantially weaker for one bank.

Click here to view the full survey.