Fewer Banks Tighten Credit Rules, Fed Says:...

Fewer Banks Tighten Credit Rules, Fed Says: The number of banks tightening standards for business loans continues to decline, although there has been virtually no easing of requirements, the Federal Reserve reported in its latest survey of the credit crunch. “The number of banks reporting tighter lending standards for approving loan applications for non-merger-related purposes was substantially lower than in the survey taken in late January,” the Fed said. The Bush Administration has been urging recession-shy banks to make more loans to their credit-worthy customers to stimulate economic growth.