Community bank credit comeback

By Kelsey Bartlett and Zain Tariq, S&P Global Market Intelligence staff writers

Small-bank loan growth expanded across most categories during the second quarter of 2017, outpacing large-bank loan growth in areas such as commercial-and-industrial lending.

C&I lending increased across each asset threshold for banks with less than $10 billion in assets. Banks in the $1 billion to $10 billion asset class experienced the strongest C&I growth, up by a median of 3.4% from the first quarter of 2017. Regionally, the Northeast experienced the strongest median C&I growth, up 3.0%. The national quarter-over-quarter increase was 1.9%.

Lending is expected to remain subdued at the nation's largest banks, where the Federal Reserve reported a flattening in C&I activity. But analysts say pipelines remain strong for community banks.

In an interview, Keefe Bruyette & Woods analyst Christopher McGratty said, based on earnings commentary, he expects small-bank loan growth to be in the high single digits in the back half of the year.

"You saw a decent rebound in commercial lending, and that's what most of these banks are trying to do, because of the variability of the interest rate and the asset sensitivity," McGratty said, "and typically, you get some deposits with it."

In a research note, Raymond James analysts also expressed optimism that the surge in C&I lending will accelerate loan growth in the second half of the year, "particularly if Congress can provide some conviction that it can get something done to stimulate the economy."

A slow first quarter was largely attributed to seasonality and uncertainty in Washington.

Categories beyond C&I see growth

Among other trends, consumer lending rebounded in the second quarter, with the exception of the Southwest, where it experienced a 0.1% median decline.

For banks with $1 billion to $10 billion in assets, multifamily lending increased by a median of 1.5% from the linked quarter, but decreased 0.8% for banks with $100 million to $1 billion in assets, and 1.1% for banks with less than $100 million in assets.

Home equity lending shrank at banks with less than $100 million in assets, but the median increased quarter over quarter for banks with $1 billion to $10 billion in assets.

"In general, the mortgage market did pretty good in the second quarter," McGratty said. "One benefit of the long-term rates coming down is that it spurts mortgage banking. Banks can either sell the production or retain it, and if they retain it, they typically show pretty good one- to four-family loan growth."

This article originally appeared on S&P Global Market Intelligence’s website under the title, "Small-bank lending bounces back in Q2; outlook remains strong"

 Download reprint of S&P Global Market Intelligence article