More euro area banks are expected to tighten credit standards for corporates in the first quarter of 2013 than in the previous quarter, the latest bank lending survey by the European Central Bank revealed Wednesday.

The survey revealed that a net 15 percent of banks expects to tighten lending standards for businesses in the coming three months, up from 13 percent in the final quarter of 2012.

However, the lenders foresee easing of credit standards for housing loans and consumers this quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2012, net tightening of credit standards for loans to enterprises was broadly stable while it increased for loans to households for house purchase.

Euro area banks continued to report a pronounced net decline in demand for loans to enterprises in the fourth quarter of 2012 with a net 26 percent lenders saying the demand has fallen.

However, the net decline in demand for housing loans and loans to consumers abated in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter.

RTTNews