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Banking Conditions Survey

Special Questions

Special Questions

April 2020

For this survey, respondents were asked supplemental questions on the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Report in PDF

Results Tables

Have you observed an increase in draws on existing commercial credit lines that you would attribute to the coronavirus?

  April '20
(percent)
Yes 24.6
No 75.4

Have you observed any changes in demand for new loans or lines of credit that you would attribute to the coronavirus?

  April '20
(percent)

Yes, increased demand

25.8
Yes, decreased demand 21.0
No 53.2

If you have observed increased demand, do you have plans in place to meet that demand?

  April '20
(percent)
Yes 100.0
No 0.0

Comments from Survey Respondents

These comments are from respondents’ completed surveys and have been edited for publication.

What are the main challenges you foresee in meeting customers' financing needs during the coronavirus outbreak?

No Concerns at the Time

  • I don't expect any significant challenges. My bank is very well-capitalized with significant liquidity. I need more loans.
  • We are managing, with no problem meeting our customer needs on a one-on-one basis by appointment.
  • To be determined.
  • Too early to make an assessment.

Staffing

  • Determining who will be available to service the customers.
  • Keeping employees well. We run a "lean ship." Increased absenteeism could get to be a real problem.
  • Uncertainty in employment.
  • Employment disruption.
  • I am anticipating an increase in demand for credit and an extension of payments over the next several months. I am concerned we may have a shortage in personnel in the lending area due to either being ill or taking care of ill family members.
  • Staffing in the short term may become an issue.
  • Unemployment and ability to keep up with expenses.
  • Availability of staff driven in part by closure of schools and the nature of the event.
  • We are having trouble finding gloves and cleaning supplies. Our customers are reacting in a panic fashion as they watch too much media. We are also concerned with staffing levels of our employees.

Regulatory

  • We need regulatory help clarifying what kind of forbearance is acceptable to offer interest-only solutions over the next six months without creating a TDR [troubled debt restructuring], problem asset or nonaccrual.
  • Understanding the new guidelines for SBA [Small Business Administration] and stimulus programs.
  • We need assistance from regulators in tools to assist. Suspend troubled debt restructuring concern. Raise FDIC [Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.] insurance levels. Expand SBA guarantees.
  • Need to balance regulatory compliance and income statement considerations with long-term member benefits. Inability to accurately forecast future direction the event will take.
  • Appraisal requirements. Please give us a temporary stay, 120 days lack of forbearance, and guidance from regulators telling us if we can match what FNMA [Federal National Mortgage Association] is doing to alleviate appraisal concerns during the pandemic.  

Lending

  • Borrowers' qualifying. There are adequate liquidity and personnel to process.
  • Establishing feasible payback plans for customers to service loans in a timely manner.
  • Working on modifications and separating the customers affected by the virus and those who are not showing the need. Cash availability is also important.
  • Customers need some breathing room to weather this storm, but it doesn’t mean they are not good loans with good managers that will come out of this in good shape.
  • Requests for delayed payment, interest only and an increase in bank TDR loans. Making loans to support customers without adequate cash flow and collateral. Businesses who will be severely impacted are requesting financing while existing cash flow is not sufficient due to recent events. We will need to assess what buckets we want to fill and how much for these loans and adequately reserve for them.
  • Payment extensions and increase in past-due loans because of business closures or loss of employment.
  • Regulatory impediments: ATRQM [Ability to Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule] will prevent banks from providing new residential mortgage loans or refinancing existing mortgage loans. Uncertainty related to how long the economic disruption caused by the virus will continue. Concerns that the restructured loans will negatively impact our borrowing base at the Federal Home Loan Bank. Challenges related to providing working capital loans to restart businesses with sustained losses as a result of the shutdown during this pandemic.
  • Most of the financing needs are attributed to requesting some sort of relief by the way of deferring future payments to assist them in getting through the crisis.
  • Banks will not be able to provide financing because of the uncertainty associated with the borrower's or company's ability to repay any new or existing loans.
  • Credit underwriting.
  • Continued requests for extensions and rate decreases on loans.
  • Loan repayment and liquidity needs in the near term. Funding by deposits seems adequate, and we do not see any large withdrawal of funds presently. However, due to the closure of several businesses by government decree, we realize there will be increased past-due loans and impacts to repayment in the near future.
  • The amount of refinancing requests for lower interest rates.
  • Repayment for 0 percent loans. If long-term unemployment, loan losses.
  • Underwriting will not look like it has historically looked. We are going to get requests that we would typically decline; some of these we will eventually approve in an effort to help the customers and the economy in general. We are concerned about how regulators will evaluate loan modifications. Will they be classified as TDRs? Nonaccrual? If we provide modified payments programs that differ from the original note? We plan to create a "Sub-Watch List" to separately monitor loans that we modified as a result of the coronavirus.
  • Payment deferment as cash flow has been wiped out by government restrictions in the hospitality and other industries.
  • My main challenge will be to implement any government regulations for postponing or modifying consumer real estate loans.
  • Deferred payments.
  • How quickly we can respond to the needs they face. And trying to determine the fate of those directly impacted and how much risk they may face when looking to assist our borrowers.
  • Loan extensions up to six months. We would like to know more about how the Fed [Federal Reserve] will get more money to Main Street.
  • Making small business loans while their revenue is declining.
  • Extending principal payments and maturities. Short-term loans to assist with cash flow and liquidity shortages.

Cash

  • The main challenge is keeping customers aware that it is safer to keep cash in a bank account rather than in a safe at home.
  • Customers are pulling deposits due to bad information. They think their money is safer under their mattress at home than in an insured financial institution.
  • Providing nonqualified mobile deposits or large cash withdrawals if branches are required to or need to close.
  • Speed in delivery of loans, cash needs and payroll needs of customers.

Customer

  • We have implemented several programs to assist members. I think the biggest challenges in serving them is the concern over uncertainty of the market. Some will be impacted by layoffs, unemployment or reduced hours. We can handle the short term, but if the virus is long term, it will be difficult.
  • Customer uncertainty about the economy going forward. Customer revenue interruption. Modified work-from-home staffing/loan processing.
  • Business shutdown due to major lines of business coming to complete shutdown. Consumers are losing their jobs and cannot make rent or mortgage payments.
  • Not knowing how long [customers’] business will be closed.
  • Customer cash flow decreasing.
  • Lack of cash flow. Uncertainty of when the business can open up. Decline in consumer confidence. Financial losses taken in the stock market.
  • The uncertain time frame of the shelter-in-place orders and ability of businesses to return to operation.
  • Good loan customers losing income. [Their] ability to repay.
  • Uncertainty in revenue streams due to COVID-19.
  • Not knowing how long this will last. Not understanding customers’ cash flow for the near future.
  • With business being shut down, obviously cash flow is negative, and the availability of any additional collateral will be limited. The future is so unknown with not knowing how long this might last and the long-term impacts on our economy.
  • Business cash flow with industries shut down.
  • Forecasting future cash flow and how the virus will affect that.

Economic

  • Financial crisis.
  • The double hit taken in this area due to the decrease in economic activity due to the falling price of oil and the service industry shutdowns due to state-mandated social distancing is creating immediate cash flow problems for businesses, along with credit quality issues in the longer term.
  • Will it get worse before it gets better?
  • Uncertainty regarding how long this pandemic and its effects will last and what federal programs will be available to help our customers navigate the short-term problems.
  • The unknown length of time before economic conditions and cash flows return to normal, providing for appropriate repayment ability.
  • Lack of information. Decreased productivity. Fear in the marketplace. Making margin calls. Businesses not open (primarily service businesses).

Questions regarding the Banking Conditions Survey can be addressed to Emily Kerr at emily.kerr@dal.frb.org.

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