The latest Bank Lending Survey by the Deutsche Bundesbank, published on 21 July 2026, shows that banks are currently being more cautious about granting loans. Credit institutions and banks are noticeably adjusting the requirements for their own credit assessment processes.
Three loan types, three directions
For corporate loans, the net balance stands at plus 10 per cent. This is the balance between banks that have tightened their lending standards and those that have eased them. The figure is lower than in the previous quarter (plus 16 per cent), but still signals a restrictive stance. The banks cite, above all, increased credit risks, sector- and company-specific factors, and the subdued economic climate as the reasons for this.
In the case of housing loans, the trend has even intensified: the net balance rose from plus 4 per cent to plus 7 per cent. Institutions are increasingly differentiating according to energy efficiency standards. The criteria are becoming stricter for buildings with poor energy performance. By contrast, banks remain fairly open to properties with high energy efficiency or those aiming to achieve it. Energy efficiency is thus becoming an independent assessment criterion in mortgage lending.
For consumer loans, the net balance remains restrictive at plus 11 per cent compared with the previous quarter. At the same time, demand from private households has fallen more sharply than at any time in the last three years. The picture for businesses is mixed: large companies are once again seeking more loans, mostly for refinancing, whilst demand from small and medium-sized enterprises continues to decline. Banks must therefore scrutinise more strictly while also adapting to a change in application behaviour, which is divided according to company size.
How does this affect the credit assessment process?
With manual or rigid processes, lenders find it more difficult to account for rising risks and new criteria such as energy efficiency. Those who fail to adapt their creditworthiness assessments risk either excessively long processing times or poorly documented decisions. Both are problematic in the current regulatory environment.
With Credito and MONTO, we accompany lenders precisely at this point. Both applications facilitate the automated assessment process through configurable and clearly traceable credit decisions. Lenders can therefore make quick, reliable decisions even in a more restrictive market environment, without compromising on due diligence.
What does this mean for the promotional lending business?
This development is also relevant to the promotional lending business. The stricter lending standards have an impact beyond traditional credit financing. If banks become more restrictive in granting loans, promotional loans gain importance as a complementary component, for example in energy-efficiency refurbishments. Landesförderbanken and credit institutions must therefore integrate their assessment processes more closely.
In MONTO, however, advisers simply add such a criterion as an additional rule within the existing scoring and assessment process. The decision remains transparent for both regulators and customers alike, and advisers retain the time to discuss matters with them.
Our conclusion: The Bundesbank figures are no cause for concern, but rather confirmation that the credit market is currently recalibrating. Institutions that set up their assessment processes digitally and flexibly now will gain a competitive edge. This applies regardless of whether the standards tighten further or ease again in the next quarter.
Would you like to find out how you can incorporate new assessment criteria, such as energy efficiency or sector-specific risk premiums, into your existing system landscape? Then speak to our team – we'll show you how Credito and MONTO can be integrated into your processes.
Source
Deutsche Bundesbank: "July results of the Bank Lending Survey in Germany", 21 July 2026.