The euro area bank lending survey - Second quarter of 2025

In the July 2025 bank lending survey (BLS), euro area banks reported that credit standards for loans or credit lines to euro area firms remained broadly unchanged in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of banks of -1%; see Overview table).^[1] Perceived risks related to the economic outlook continued to contribute to a tightening of credit standards, whereas competition had an easing impact. Euro area banks mostly reported no specific additional tightening impact on their credit standards from geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions, although they intensified their monitoring of the most exposed sectors and firms. Among the four largest euro area countries, banks in Germany reported a net tightening of credit standards for firms, banks in Italy reported a net easing and banks in Spain and France reported unchanged credit standards. The net percentage of credit standards for firms was lower than banks had expected in the previous survey (net tightening of 5%) and follows a small net tightening in credit standards in the first quarter (3%). For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect unchanged credit standards for firms (0%).

Banks reported a small net tightening of credit standards for housing loans and a more pronounced net tightening for consumer credit (net percentages of 2% and 11% respectively). Changes in risk perceptions and the risk tolerance of banks were the main drivers of the tightening for both household loan segments. Across the largest euro area countries, credit standards for housing loans remained unchanged in Spain, France and Italy, while banks in Germany reported a net tightening. Credit standards for consumer credit tightened in all of the four largest euro area countries. The overall net tightening was less than anticipated by euro area banks in the first quarter for housing loans and larger for consumer credit (7% in both segments). For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect credit standards to ease slightly for housing loans (-3%) and to tighten further for consumer credit (4%).

Firms’ demand for loans increased slightly, in net terms, in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of 2%). It remained weak overall, supported by declining lending rates but dampened by global uncertainty and trade tensions. This followed a small net decrease in loan demand in the previous quarter (-3%). Firms’ loan demand was supported in the second quarter by declining lending rates, while the impact of fixed investment and inventories and working capital was neutral. Several banks referred to a dampening impact on loan demand from global uncertainty and the related trade tensions. Banks in Germany and Italy reported a net increase of firms’ loan demand, while banks in France reported a net decrease and banks in Spain zero change in loan demand in net terms. For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect a net increase in loan demand (7%).

Banks reported a further substantial net increase in demand for housing loans, while consumer credit demand increased only slightly (net percentages of 37% and 2%). Declining interest rates, improved housing market prospects and, to a lesser extent, consumer confidence, were the primary drivers of the continued increase in housing loan demand. The net increase was observed across a wide range of euro area countries – it was only slightly lower than in the previous quarter (41%) and was above banks’ expectations (20%). Consumer credit demand was also supported by declining interest rates, together with “other factors”, offsetting the negative contributions from lower consumer confidence and spending on durable goods. The net increase in demand for consumer credit was lower than in the previous quarter (10%) and banks’ expectations (6%). For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect demand for housing loans to increase further (21%), while remaining broadly unchanged for consumer credit (1%).

Euro area banks’ overall credit terms and conditions eased for loans to firms, remained unchanged for housing loans and tightened for consumer credit. For firms, lower lending rates and narrower margins on average loans contributed to an easing of terms and conditions, while margins on riskier loans led to tighter lending conditions. For housing loans, lending rates and margins, including margins on riskier loans, contributed to an easing of terms and conditions, although less than in the previous quarter. For consumer credit, margins on both riskier and average loans contributed the most to the tightened terms and conditions, followed by lending rates and collateral requirements.

Banks reported a small net increase in the share of rejected loan applications for firms, a more pronounced net increase for consumer credit and a broadly unchanged share for housing loans.

The July 2025 BLS contained the following ad hoc questions:

• Euro area banks’ access to retail funding improved slightly in the second quarter of 2025, driven by short-term retail funding, eased moderately for money markets and debt securities, and remained broadly unchanged for securitisations. Access to debt securities eased more strongly for medium to long-term securities. Over the next three months, banks expect access to these funding sources to remain broadly unchanged.
• Euro area banks reported a net tightening impact of NPL ratios and other credit quality indicators on their credit standards across loan categories, and a net tightening impact on terms and conditions for loans to firms and consumer credit. Banks expect these trends to continue in the third quarter for firm loans and consumer credit, driven mostly by pressures related to supervisory or regulatory requirements.
• Changes in credit standards and loan demand were heterogeneous across the main economic sectors in the first half of 2025. Credit standards tightened in commercial real estate (CRE), manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and, to a lesser extent, construction, while they eased slightly across most services (excluding financial services and real estate) and in residential real estate (RRE). Banks reported a net decrease in demand for loans in the construction, manufacturing, and wholesale and retail sectors, consistent with the overall weakness in loan demand and the dampening impact of global uncertainty, as well as in CRE. They reported net increases in demand in RRE and in transport, accommodation and food services. For the second half of 2025, banks expect either broadly unchanged or easier credit standards in most main economic sectors and overall small changes in loan demand. The exception is RRE, for which banks expect a further moderate increase.
• Banks continue to consider firms’ climate performance in their lending policies. They reported an easing impact on credit standards and terms and conditions for green firms and firms in transition and a tightening impact for high-emitting firms over the past 12 months. Both physical risk and firms’ transition risk had a moderate net tightening impact on banks’ lending policies, while climate-related fiscal support continued to have an easing impact. Banks also reported a net increase in demand for loans to green firms and firms in transition owing to climate change, while uncertainty over future climate regulation was perceived as an obstacle. Banks expect an overall similar impact over the next 12 months.
• Based on a new question on the impact of climate change on housing loans, banks reported an easing impact of climate change on credit standards for buildings with high energy performance and a tightening impact for buildings with low energy performance over the past 12 months. They expect a broadly corresponding impact over the next 12 months. As the easing impact for new buildings mostly offsets the tightening impact for old buildings, the net impact of energy performance was low. The physical risk of real estate was, however, an important driver of further net tightening in lending conditions overall, and an even higher net percentage of banks indicated that it will be a driver over the next year. Banks also reported a positive impact on loan demand for buildings with high and medium energy performance but a negative impact for those with low energy performance. Investment in energy performance was the key factor for climate-related loan demand, supported by preferential lending rates for increasing sustainability, whereas uncertainty about future climate regulation was reported as a dampening factor for loan demand.
• Banks reported that changes in excess liquidity held with the Eurosystem in the first half of 2025 had a neutral impact on bank lending conditions. Banks expect similar impacts during the second half of 2025.

2.1 Credit standards remained broadly unchanged

Credit standards for loans or credit lines to euro area firms remained broadly unchanged in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of banks of -1%; see Chart 1 and Overview table).^[3] The net percentage follows a small net tightening in credit standards for loans to firms in the first quarter of 2025 (3%) and was smaller than banks had expected in the previous survey round (net tightening of 5%). Across the four largest euro area countries, banks in Germany reported a net tightening of credit standards on loans to firms, banks in Italy reported a net easing and banks in Spain and France reported unchanged credit standards. The net percentage was broadly equal to the net percentage in the second quarter of 2021 and was lower than the historical average (9%).^[4] Credit standards remained broadly unchanged for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), while they eased for loans to large firms (net percentages of 1% and -3% respectively; see Chart 2). Across maturities, banks reported broadly unchanged credit standards for both short-term loans (1%) and long-term loans (0%).

Perceived risks related to the general economic and the industry and firm-specific outlook contributed to tighter credit standards, as reported by banks in all four large euro area countries (see Chart 1 and Table 1). The tightening impact from perceived credit risks is also consistent with the net tightening impact of non-performing loan (NPL) ratios and other indicators of asset quality on banks’ credit standards for loans to enterprises (see Section 5.2). Based on a dedicated open-ended question which was included in this survey round, euro area banks mostly reported no specific additional tightening impact on their credit standards related to geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions over the past three months. However, they reported intensified monitoring of the credit risks of their potentially most affected corporate customers (especially exporters with high levels of US exposure). Competition from banks and, to a lesser extent, from non-banks, had a net easing impact on credit standards for loans to firms. Among the four large euro area countries, the easing impact of competition was concentrated in Italy. Euro area banks’ risk tolerance and banks’ cost of funds and balance sheet situations had a broadly neutral impact on credit standards for loans to firms.

For the third quarter of 2025, euro area banks expect credit standards for loans to firms to remain unchanged (net percentage of 0%). Banks expect unchanged credit standards for loans to SMEs and large firms (both at 0%), and broadly unchanged credit standards for short-term loans (-1%) and long-term loans (1%).

2.2 Terms and conditions eased further

Overall terms and conditions for new loans to enterprises eased further (net percentage of -10%; see Chart 3 and Table 2).^[5] According to the banks, the net easing was mainly driven by lower lending rates and narrower margins on average loans. This is in line with the further decline in bank lending rates for firms in April and May, based on MFI interest rate statistics. Banks also reported that margins on riskier loans tightened slightly. Banks in Spain, France and Italy reported a net easing of terms and conditions on loans to firms. In the case of Spain and Italy this was driven mostly by declining lending rates, whereas banks in France reported a net easing of non-interest rate charges and loan size (within “other terms and conditions”). By contrast, banks in Germany reported a slight net tightening of their terms and conditions for loans to firms, driven mainly by lending rates and loan margins, and to a lesser extent by loan size, maturity and loan covenants. Some banks reported that global uncertainty and US tariff policy have led to actual changes in their lending conditions over the past three months, indicating tighter lending conditions via interest rates, loan sizes and maturity. Across segments, euro area banks reported a net easing in overall terms and conditions for loans to large firms and SMEs (net percentages of -12% and -7% respectively; see Chart 4). In both cases, lending rates and narrower margins on average loans were the main drivers of the net easing, while wider margins on riskier loans had a limited net tightening impact.

The main factor contributing to the net easing of terms and conditions for loans to euro area firms was competition, and especially competition from other banks (see Table 3). Competition with non-banks also had a small easing impact. Banks also reported a small net easing impact of their cost of funds and balance sheet situation, on account of access to market financing, banks’ liquidity position and capital costs. This is in line with the moderation in bank funding costs in the second quarter, as the temporary increase in bank bond spreads in April in the context of the US tariff announcements was fully compensated by a repricing of the risk-free curve. Perceived risks contributed to a small net tightening of credit conditions, while banks’ risk tolerance had a broadly neutral impact.

2.3 Rejection rates increased slightly

Banks reported a small net increase in the share of rejected loan applications for firms (net percentage of 2%, see Chart 5). The net increase in the share of loan rejections was driven by loan rejections to SMEs (net percentage of 5%), while the share remained broadly unchanged for loans to large firms (1%), pointing to either somewhat higher credit risks on average for SMEs or changes in banks’ lending policies for this segment. The share of rejected loan applications increased further in net terms in Germany - more so for SMEs than for large firms – whereas the share of corporate loan rejections remained unchanged, according to banks in Spain, France and Italy.

2.4 Demand for loans increased slightly

Euro area banks reported a slight net increase in loan demand from firms in the second quarter of 2025, remaining weak overall (net percentage of 2%; see Chart 6).^[6] This followed a small net decrease in loan demand in the previous quarter (-3%) and was broadly in line with what banks had expected in the previous quarter (4%). The continued weakness in loan demand to euro area firms is consistent with the subdued developments in actual lending to firms in April and May, according to monetary statistics. Banks in Germany and Italy reported that demand for loans to firms increased in the second quarter in net terms, while banks in Spain referred to unchanged demand and banks in France reported a net decrease. Across loan segments, banks reported a net increase in loan demand from SMEs and broadly unchanged loan demand for large firms (net percentages of 4% and 0% respectively, see Chart 7). Loan demand remained broadly unchanged for short-term loans and increased slightly for long-term loans (net percentages of 1% and 2% respectively).

Loan demand was supported by declining interest rates, while the impact of fixed investment and inventories and working capital was neutral, with a reported dampening impact from global uncertainty and trade tensions (see Chart 6 and Table 3). Debt restructuring had a positive impact on loan demand, whereas mergers and acquisitions dampened firms’ loan demand (net percentages of 5% and -7% respectively, both within “other financing needs”). Several banks referred to a dampening impact of global uncertainty and the related trade tensions on loan demand, possibly leading to a postponement of investment decisions. Across the four largest euro area countries, banks in Germany and Italy reported declining interest rates as a factor contributing to net increases in loan demand, while banks in France and Spain reported zero contributions from changes in interest rates. Banks in Germany and Italy also reported a positive impact on loan demand from fixed investment, despite high uncertainty putting a strain on corporate investment, as well as from inventories and working capital. By contrast, banks in France reported a negative impact on loan demand, mainly from fixed investment, inventories and working capital, and mergers and acquisitions.

For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect a moderate net increase in firms’ loan demand (net percentage of 7%). They expect a larger net increase in demand for loans to large firms than to SMEs (net percentages of 11% and 7% respectively), and a larger net increase for short-term than long-term loans to euro area firms (net percentages of 7% and 4% respectively).

3.1 Small tightening of credit standards

Banks reported a small net tightening of credit standards for housing loans in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of banks at 2%, see Chart 8 and Overview table).^[7] The slight net tightening followed an easing of credit standards in the first quarter (-7%) and was the highest since the hiking cycle ended in the third quarter of 2023. It was, however, lower than banks anticipated (7%). Across the four largest euro area countries, banks in Germany reported a net tightening while credit standards remained unchanged in Spain, France and Italy.

Higher perceived risks and lower risk tolerance were the main drivers of the net tightening in credit standards, while the easing impact from competition experienced since the end of 2023 has stalled (see Chart 8 and Table 5).^[8] The net tightening impact of risk perceptions was driven by concerns about the general economic situation and borrowers’ creditworthiness. This factor was reported mostly by banks in Germany and France. The main factor contributing to a net tightening of credit standards in Germany was risk tolerance. In contrast to the trend observed in the last surveys among banks in France and, to a lesser extent, in Germany, competition did not have an easing impact.

In the third quarter of 2025, euro area banks expect to ease credit standards on housing loans (net percentage of -3%). Across the four largest euro area economies, the expected easing is driven by French banks. By contrast, German banks expect to tighten credit standards again and Spanish and Italian banks expect credit standards to remain unchanged.

3.2 Terms and conditions remained unchanged

Euro area banks’ overall credit terms and conditions remained unchanged for housing loans in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of 0%; see Chart 9 and Table 6). This follows six quarters in which banks had indicated continued net easing. Lending rates and margins, including margins on riskier loans, contributed to an easing of terms and conditions, although less than in the previous quarters. This is aligned with the moderation of interest rate declines in certain mortgage segments, and with the evolution of long-term rates. Among the largest euro area countries, only banks in Italy reported a net easing of terms and conditions, driven by lending rates and margins on average loans, which more than offset the higher margins in riskier loans. By contrast, banks in France reported a net tightening of overall terms and conditions, despite the narrower margins on riskier loans. Banks in Germany and Spain reported no changes in overall terms and conditions.

In the second quarter of 2025, competition had a net easing impact on overall terms and conditions, albeit lower than in the previous quarter (net percentage of -13%, see Table 7).^[9] Competition had a net easing impact for French and Italian banks, while it had no effect on credit terms and conditions for German and Spanish banks. Banks’ cost of funds had an easing impact in Italy, as banks’ ability to access market financing improved, while risk perceptions and banks’ risk tolerance contributed to tighten terms and conditions in Germany.

3.3 Rejection rates remained broadly unchanged

The share of rejected applications for housing loans remained broadly unchanged (net percentage of -1%; see Chart 10). This stability contrasts with the declining share in the preceding quarter and with the small tightening of credit standards in the current period. The aggregate change masks heterogeneous country dynamics. Across the four largest euro area countries, the share of rejections increased in Spain and Italy, fell in France and remained unchanged in Germany.

3.4 Demand for loans increased substantially

Banks reported a further substantial net increase in demand for housing loans (net percentage of 37%, see Chart 11 and Overview table).^[10] A net increase was reported in Germany (52%), Spain (40%), France (25%) and Italy (9%, in line with its historical average). The net increase was somewhat lower than in the previous quarter (41%) but constitutes the fifth consecutive quarter reporting strong expansion in net terms. It is also the second quarterly reading that is above banks’ expectations (20%), especially in Germany and Spain and, to a lesser extent, in Italy. The reported net increase in demand appears to be at odds with the moderation of the lending flows in this type of credit seen in April and May 2025. This suggests that either the volumes of new business for each bank registering an increase in loan demand is still contained, or the slight tightening of credit standards reported by banks during the second quarter (see Section 3.1) may already be in play, affecting actual lending volumes.

Declining interest rates, improved housing market prospects and, to a lesser extent, consumer confidence, were the primary drivers of the continued increase in housing loan demand (see Chart 11 and Table 8). These factors were relevant across the four largest countries, except for housing market prospects in Italy which had a neutral impact on demand. The reported contribution of declining interest rates was lower than in the previous quarter across all the largest countries in the euro area.

In the third quarter of 2025, banks expect housing loan demand to continue growing, albeit more moderately (net percentage of 21%). German, French and Italian banks expect demand to improve, while Spanish banks expect demand to remain unchanged.

4.1 Pronounced tightening of credit standards

Banks reported a pronounced net tightening of credit standards on consumer credit and other lending to households in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of 11%; see Chart 12 and Overview table). Credit standards on consumer credit have tightened since the second quarter of 2022, with further tightening in this quarter at a higher pace than in the previous five quarters. The net percentage exceeded what euro area banks had expected in the previous quarter (7%) and was also above the historical average since 2003 (5%).^[11] In all four largest euro area countries, banks reported a net tightening. Higher net percentages were recorded in France and Italy, with values exceeding historical averages in those countries. In Germany and Spain, the net tightening followed a quarter of unchanged credit standards and was comparable in magnitude to the tightening reported throughout 2024.

Lower risk tolerance and higher risk perceptions were the main drivers of the net tightening of credit standards for consumer credit (see Chart 12 and Table 9). These two factors were mentioned by banks in all four largest euro area countries. Lower risk tolerance was reported more frequently than in the previous quarter across all countries. The higher impact of risk perceptions related to concerns about borrowers’ creditworthiness (8%) but also the general economic outlook (4%) and the collateral demanded (3%). Competition and banks’ balance sheet situation had a broadly neutral impact.

In the third quarter of 2025, euro area banks expect credit standards for consumer credit and other lending to households to tighten further (net percentage of 4%). Across the four largest euro area economies, banks in Germany and France expect a net tightening, while banks in Spain and Italy expect unchanged credit standards.

4.2 Terms and conditions tightened further

Banks’ overall terms and conditions applied when granting consumer credit and other lending to households tightened further in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of 8%; see Chart 13 and Table 10). The net percentage of euro area banks reporting a tightening was in line with the previous quarter and above the historical average since 2015 (2%). Higher margins on both riskier and average loans contributed the most to the tightened terms and conditions, followed by lending rates and collateral requirements. Loan size and maturity had a marginal additional tightening effect. Across the four largest euro area economies, overall terms and conditions tightened in Germany, France and Italy and remained unchanged in Spain. Banks in Germany and Italy reported an easing contribution from lower lending rates, while banks in France reported an increased contribution. Lending margins widened in Germany and France (for both average and riskier loans) and in Spain (for riskier loans), while they narrowed in Italy for average loans. Tightened collateral requirements were reported in France and Italy.

Higher perceived risks and a lower risk tolerance of banks contributed the most to the net tightening of banks’ overall terms and conditions (see Table 11). Banks’ higher risk perceptions and lower risk tolerance contributed to the tightening in Germany, France and Italy. Lower competition pressures in this segment also had a small additional net tightening impact at the euro area level, driven by French banks.

4.3 Rejection rates increased markedly

Euro area banks reported a marked increase in the share of rejected loan applications for consumer credit (net percentage of banks of 12%; see Chart 10 above). The reported increase followed one quarter of unchanged share of rejections on aggregate and resumed the trend of increasing shares of rejected applications that has been recorded since the second quarter of 2022. It was the largest increase in rejections since the third quarter of 2023. Banks in all four largest euro area countries reported an increase in the share of rejections, notably in France where a third of the respondents mentioned an increase in net terms, the largest net percentage recorded in France since the introduction of the question in the first quarter of 2015.

4.4 Demand for consumer credit increased slightly

Banks reported a slight net increase in demand for consumer credit and other lending to households (net percentage of 2%; see Chart 14 and Overview table).^[12] The net increase in loan demand was smaller than in the previous quarter (10%) and lower than banks’ expectations in the previous quarter (6%). Across the four largest euro area economies, a net increase in loan demand was observed only in Germany, broadly offsetting the net decrease recorded in France. In Spain and Italy, loan demand remained unchanged in net terms.

The slight increase in loan demand was primarily supported by declining interest rates and other factors, while developments in consumer confidence and spending on durable goods put downward pressure on demand for consumer credit (see Chart 14 and Table 12). The lower level of interest rates was reported as factor supporting loan demand in France and Italy, while having a neutral effect in Germany and Spain. “Other factors” with a positive effect on loan demand were mentioned in Germany and France. On the other hand, consumer confidence dampened loan demand on aggregate, mostly driven by negative developments in France, which were partially compensated by positive developments in Germany. These reported developments were consistent with the observed changes in the consumer confidence index from April to June relative to first quarter of the year. Finally, lower spending on durable goods had a small negative effect on loan demand at the euro area level, driven by France and offset to some extent by higher spending recorded in Germany and Italy.

For the third quarter of 2025, banks expect broadly unchanged loan demand for consumer credit and other lending to households (net percentage of 1%). Demand for consumer credit is expected to increase in Germany and Italy, decrease in France and remain unchanged in Spain.

5.1 Banks reported an improvement in access to funding^[13]

Euro area banks’ access to retail funding improved slightly in the second quarter of 2025, driven by short-term retail funding, while their access to funding eased moderately for money markets and debt securities, and remained broadly unchanged for securitisations (Chart 15 and Table 13). Access to debt securities funding eased in net terms, especially for medium to long-term securities, against the backdrop of the narrowing of bank bond spreads that followed the trade tensions of early April. Banks reported no changes in access to the securitisation market.

Banks expect small changes in their access to funding sources in the third quarter of 2025. They anticipate slightly better access to medium to long-term debt securities. By contrast, they expect a slight deterioration in accessing short-term debt funding and in the short-term retail funding segment.

5.2 Perceived risks to credit quality had a tightening impact on credit standards^[14]

Euro area banks reported a net tightening impact of NPL ratios and other credit quality indicators on their credit standards for loans to firms (net percentage of 6%), housing loans (2%) and consumer credit (10%) in the second quarter of 2025 (see Chart 16 and Table 14). A tightening impact of credit quality was also observed for terms and conditions, although concentrated in loans to firms and consumer credit (7% and 6% respectively; see Chart 17). The net tightening of credit standards was lower than in the previous quarter for loans to firms, but the net tightening of terms and conditions was higher, suggesting that past changes in lending criteria of banks are finding their way into actual terms and conditions for firms. This was not the case for consumer credit, for which both credit standards and terms and conditions tightened more than in the previous quarter and which, paired with the overall tightening of credit standards in this sector, points to ongoing revisions of credit policies for consumers.

Similarly to the previous quarter, higher perceived risks, pressures related to supervisory or regulatory requirements and lower risk tolerance were the main factors explaining the tightening impact of credit quality on lending conditions (see Chart 18 and Table 15). Costs related to the capital position of banks and costs related to balance sheet clean-up also had a slight tightening impact, with other factors being broadly neutral.

Looking ahead, euro area banks expect a further tightening impact of credit quality on their lending conditions. For loans to firms, both credit standards and terms and conditions are expected to be affected. For loans to households, terms and conditions are expected to be affected but the impact on credit standards is expected to be neutral for housing loans. The factors that had a tightening impact in the current quarter are expected to continue to exert tightening pressure in the near future, with supervisory or regulatory requirements leading the impacts.

5.3 Heterogeneous developments in credit standards and loan demand across main economic sectors^[15]

Credit standards tightened in CRE, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade and, to a lesser extent, in construction in the first half of 2025, while easing slightly in various segments of services (excluding financial services and real estate) and in RRE (see Chart 19 and Table 16). The net tightening of credit standards in CRE and in wholesale and retail trade was lower than in previous quarters, while the net tightening in the manufacturing sector was higher, potentially reflecting perceived risks in the context of global uncertainty, despite some upward movement of the euro area manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

Terms and conditions followed a similar pattern to credit standards in the first half of 2025, tightening slightly for manufacturing and easing slightly for services (excluding financial services and real estate), except for a further limited net tightening in the CRE sector (see Chart 20 and Table 16). Compared with credit standards, the net tightening of credit terms and conditions was mostly more limited, while the net easing was overall similar across the respective sectors. Overall, the heterogeneity across the main economic sectors as regards the net tightening and easing of credit standards in the first half of 2025 is consistent with the small net tightening of overall credit standards for loans to firms in the first quarter of 2025 and broadly unchanged credit standards in the second quarter.

For the second half of 2025, euro area banks expect either broadly unchanged or easier credit standards for most main economic sectors. Exceptions are the energy-intensive manufacturing sector and CRE sector, for which banks expect a small further net tightening in the second half of 2025. For credit terms and conditions, banks expect a net easing for most main economic sectors in second half of 2025, except for CRE and energy-intensive manufacturing, for which banks expect terms and conditions to remain broadly unchanged.

Banks reported a net decrease in demand for loans in the construction, manufacturing, CRE and wholesale and retail sectors in the first half of 2025, and a net increase in RRE and some services sectors (excluding financial services and real estate) (see Chart 21 and Table 16). The net decrease in loan demand was also pronounced in energy-intensive manufacturing. These developments are broadly consistent with the overall weakness in loan demand and the dampening impact of global uncertainty. Loan demand increased in RRE together with a limited net increase in the transport, accommodation and food sector. Loan demand in the rest of the services sectors (excluding financial services and real estate) remained broadly unchanged.

For the second half of 2025, euro area banks expect small changes overall in loan demand across the main economic sectors, except for RRE where demand is expected to increase moderately. Loan demand is expected by banks to remain broadly unchanged in the second half of 2025 in manufacturing (including in energy-intensive manufacturing), construction and CRE. A small net increase is expected for both segments of the services sector, while a limited net decrease is expected for wholesale and retail trade.

5.4 Easing impact of better climate performance on firms’ credit standards but uncertainty regarding future climate regulation seen as an obstacle to loan demand^[16]

Banks continue to take the climate performance of firms into account in their lending policy, reporting an easing impact on credit standards and terms and conditions for firms with better climate performance and a tightening impact for high carbon emitting firms which have not yet started their transition (see Chart 22 and Table 17).^[17] Over the past 12 months, euro area banks have reported a substantial net easing impact of climate risks and measures to cope with climate change on their credit standards and terms and conditions (net percentages of -20% and -31% respectively) for loans to green firms, i.e. firms that do not contribute or contribute little to climate change, which was somewhat smaller than expected by banks one year ago (-29% and -37%). A net easing impact was also reported by banks for loans to firms in transition, i.e. firms which have implemented a climate plan to reduce their carbon emissions (net percentages of -13% and -20% respectively), and was somewhat more than expected one year ago, especially for terms and conditions (-12% and -14%). By contrast, climate risks had a substantial net tightening impact for loans to high-emitting firms (net percentages of 35% and 22% respectively), although this is smaller than expected by banks one year ago (50% and 40%).

Both physical risk and firms’ transition risk had a moderate net tightening impact on banks’ lending policy for euro area firms over the past 12 months, while climate-related fiscal support continued to have an easing impact (net percentages of 11%, 8% and -3% respectively; see Chart 23 and Table 18).^[18] Banks’ capital costs related to their exposure to climate risk had only a small tightening impact on banks’ lending policy (net percentage of 2%). The net easing impact of climate-related fiscal support on banks’ lending conditions was in line with their expectations one year ago.

Over the next 12 months, euro area banks expect a broadly similar impact from climate change on their lending conditions, driven by a further net tightening impact from physical risk and a broadly unchanged impact from transition risk, while the relevance of climate-related fiscal support to ease lending conditions is expected to increase (net percentages of 9%, 1% and -7% respectively). Banks’ capital costs related to their climate exposure are expected to have a broadly neutral impact (1%).

Euro area banks reported a net increase in demand for loans to firms in transition and green firms owing to climate change over the past 12 months (net percentages of 24% and 22% respectively), and a net decrease in loan demand for high-emitting firms (net percentage of -3%; see Chart 24 and Table 17). Fixed investment and corporate restructuring in combination with bank lending rates for green projects or technologies were reported by banks as the main drivers of climate-related loan demand (net percentages of 17% and 21% respectively; see Chart 25 and Table 18). Climate-related fiscal support had also a small supportive impact over the past 12 months. By contrast, the uncertainty about future climate regulation was perceived by banks as an important obstacle to loan demand (net percentage of -11%). According to the banks, the impact of the current climate regulation on loan demand was on average slightly positive over the past 12 months (2%).

Over the next 12 months, loan demand is expected to increase owing to climate risks for firms in transition and green firms (net percentages of 24% and 21% respectively), while it is expected to decrease for high-emitting firms (net percentage of -6%). Fixed investment and corporate restructuring, bank lending rates for green projects or technologies, and, to a small extent, climate-related fiscal support are expected to have a positive impact on climate-related loan demand, while the uncertainty regarding future climate regulation is expected to remain an important obstacle over the next 12 months.

5.5 Bank lending conditions eased for buildings with high energy performance and tightened for buildings with low energy performance^[19]

Banks reported an easing impact of climate change on credit standards for buildings with high energy performance, while tighter credit standards were applied to buildings with low energy performance (net percentages of -14% and 25% respectively; see Chart 26 and Table 19). A new ad hoc question on the impact of climate change on loans to households for house purchase shows that the energy performance of buildings is a relevant criterion for banks when granting housing loans. Similar to the impact on credit standards, banks also reported a net easing impact on their credit terms and conditions for housing loans for buildings with high energy performance and, to a small extent, for buildings with medium energy performance over the past 12 months, whereas climate change had a tightening impact for buildings with low energy performance (net percentages of -30%, -2% and 22% respectively).

Physical risk of real estate was, in net terms, the main climate-related factor for housing loans with a tightening impact on banks’ lending policy (net percentage of 11%; see Chart 27 and Table 20).^[20] Euro area banks also reported a small net tightening impact of the transition risk stemming from the energy performance of buildings and a small net easing impact of banks’ capital costs due to their climate exposure and of climate-related fiscal support (net percentages of 2%, -3% and -2% respectively). The low net impact of energy performance of buildings could be partly related to the shares of housing loans granted over the past 12 months for new buildings (easing impact for buildings with high energy performance) and the renovation of old buildings (tightening impact for buildings with low energy performance).

Over the next 12 months, euro area banks expect a continued easing impact on their credit standards and terms and conditions for housing loans for buildings with high energy performance and a tightening impact for buildings with low energy performance (net percentages of -20% and 28% respectively for credit standards; net percentages of -25% and 24% respectively for terms and conditions). Physical risk of real estate is expected to remain the main climate-related tightening factor in net terms, with a limited net easing impact from the energy performance of the buildings, banks’ capital costs due to their climate exposure and climate-related fiscal support.

Euro area banks reported a positive impact of climate change on housing loan demand for buildings with high and medium energy performance and a negative impact for buildings with low energy performance over the past 12 months (net percentages of 24%, 7% and -12% respectively; see Chart 28 and Table 19). While 75% of the stock of buildings in the EU have a poor energy performance according to the European Commission^[21] and would require energy modernisation, the evidence from the banks points rather to increasing housing loan demand for new buildings with high energy standards and to the modernisation of existing buildings with medium energy performance. By contrast, the evidence from the banks points to subdued demand for housing loans for buildings with low energy performance.

Investment in the energy performance of buildings was the key factor for climate-related loan demand over the past 12 months (net percentage of 36%; see Chart 29 and Table 20). Preferential lending rates for increasing the sustainability of real estate and, to a smaller extent, fiscal support also had a positive impact on climate-related housing loan demand (net percentages of 24% and 6% respectively). Investment in the reduction of physical risk had only a small positive impact (net percentage of 2%), pointing to a focus of households on the energy performance of buildings. By contrast, uncertainty about future climate regulation was reported by banks to have a dampening impact on housing loan demand.

Over the next 12 months, climate-related housing loan demand is expected, in net terms, to increase for buildings with high and medium energy performance (net percentages of 28% and 8% respectively). By contrast, a net decrease in climate-related housing loan demand is expected for buildings with low energy performance (net percentage of -19%). While investment in energy performance and lending rates for increasing the sustainability of real estate are expected to remain the main drivers, flanked by climate-related fiscal support, banks expect demand to be mainly for new or relatively modern buildings while they are sceptical about the modernisation progress for old buildings with low energy performance over the next 12 months.

5.6 Changes in excess liquidity had a neutral impact on bank lending conditions^[22]

Banks indicated that changes in excess liquidity held with the Eurosystem in the first half of 2025 had a neutral impact on bank lending conditions (see Chart 30 and Table 21). Changes in excess liquidity held at the bank level also did not materially impact lending volumes. As regards the change in aggregate excess liquidity held by other euro area banks, banks reported no impact on lending volumes, on their terms and conditions, and on credit standards.

During the second half of 2025 banks expect broadly neutral impacts from changes in excess liquidity. Both changes in excess liquidity at the bank level and changes in the excess liquidity held by other banks are expected to have a broadly neutral impact on bank lending conditions.

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