Banks tightening small-business loan standards
5.1% net share of banks as of Q4 2026
- ▲ +3.3 pt from a quarter earlier 1.8% on Q3 2026
- ▼ −3.2 pt from a year earlier 8.3% on Q4 2025
What it measures
From the Federal Reserve's quarterly survey of senior loan officers: the share of banks that tightened their standards for commercial loans to small firms, minus the share that eased them.
Why it matters to a small business
A positive number means bank credit is getting harder to qualify for, whatever the rate. When banks tighten, more owners turn to non-bank lenders and marketplaces.
Recent readings
| Date | Net share of banks |
|---|---|
| Q4 2026 | 5.1% |
| Q3 2026 | 1.8% |
| Q2 2026 | 6.6% |
| Q1 2026 | 8.9% |
| Q4 2025 | 8.3% |
| Q3 2025 | 8.2% |
| Q2 2025 | 15.9% |
| Q1 2025 | 11.1% |
| Q4 2024 | 13.3% |
| Q3 2024 | 8.2% |
| Q2 2024 | 19.7% |
| Q1 2024 | 18.6% |
Source
Federal Reserve Board, series DRTSCIS, retrieved from FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Published quarterly. Official figures can be revised after they are first released.