The Central Bank of Chile published its Bank Lending Survey for the second quarter of 2026, showing that banks reported more restrictive lending conditions and weaker demand than in the previous quarter in consumer credit and loans to large companies. By contrast, banks saw a slight pickup in demand from small and medium-sized enterprises, real estate companies and construction firms. Mortgage lending standards were largely unchanged, while housing loan demand was mixed. On the supply side, 18% of banks reported tighter conditions for consumer credit and 9% reported easing, unchanged from the previous survey. In housing, 90% said standards were unchanged. For companies, conditions tightened for large firms, with 15% of banks reporting stricter standards and 8% more flexible ones, while SMEs saw a more favorable pattern, with 20% reporting easier standards and 10% stricter ones. Credit supply to real estate and construction companies also showed some greater flexibility. On demand, the share of banks reporting weaker consumer credit demand rose from 18% to 36%, while 9% continued to report stronger demand. For housing loans, 30% reported stronger demand and 20% weaker demand. Demand from large companies remained softer than in the previous quarter, with the share reporting weakening falling from 46% to 38% but no bank reporting stronger demand, which banks mainly linked to weaker investment prospects. For SMEs, the share reporting weaker demand fell from 40% to 10% and the share reporting stronger demand rose to 20%, which banks associated with higher working capital needs. Demand from real estate and construction companies also strengthened, with the share reporting stronger demand from real estate firms rising from 22% to 33% and the share reporting weaker demand falling from 22% to 11%, while 30% of banks reported stronger demand from construction firms.
Central Bank of Chile2026-07-15
Central Bank of Chile survey shows tighter consumer and large corporate credit conditions, weaker demand in those segments
The Central Bank of Chile's second-quarter 2026 Bank Lending Survey shows banks continued to tighten consumer credit and tightened standards for large companies, while keeping mortgage standards broadly unchanged and easing somewhat for SMEs, real estate and construction firms. Banks also reported weaker demand for consumer and large corporate credit, but stronger demand from SMEs, real estate companies and construction firms. Housing loan demand was mixed.