In the bank lending survey (BLS) for the third quarter of 2026, euro area banks reported a further net tightening of credit standards for loans or credit lines to firms (net percentage of banks of 9%; see Chart 1 and Overview table). [ 1 ] The October 2026 BLS was conducted between 21 September and 6 October 2026. The net tightening was slightly higher than in the second quarter (7%) and larger than expected by the banks (5%), standing slightly above the historical average (8%). Heightened risk perceptions and lower risk tolerance remained the main drivers of tighter credit standards, with some banks reporting tightening pressure stemming from geopolitical uncertainty and energy developments.
We show the main point publicly. Create a free account to continue reading the full article, save it, discuss it, and connect it with market and OSINT context.