Credit standards for firm loans remained broadly unchanged Credit standards tightened slightly for housing loans and more markedly for consumer credit Housing loan demand continued to increase strongly, while demand for firm loans remained weak According to the July 2025 bank lending survey (BLS), euro area banks reported broadly unchanged credit standards – banks’ internal guidelines or loan approval criteria – for loans or credit lines to enterprises in the second quarter of 2025 (net percentage of banks of -1%; Chart 1). Banks also reported a slight net tightening of credit standards for loans to households for ... (full story)