Credit quality

Many business customers are putting off expansion because they can’t find enough workers to fill available jobs.

While demand is strong and loan performance generally remains solid, the prevalence of longer loan terms has sparked concern that losses will eventually spike.

The Upstart Network, the first and only startup to participate in the bureau’s program for promising digital platforms, claims that using nontraditional credit data items has helped loan volume and affordability.

After rising between 2016 and 2018, the card issuer's charge-off rates are now steady. The trend reflects both the impact of tighter underwriting standards and the continued resilience of U.S. consumers.

Lawmakers waded into a growing debate about the threat posed by corporate credit risk.

Measures of loan performance were generally better than expected at Ally, American Express, Synchrony and Sallie Mae. Their 1Q reports suggest that consumers remain able to meet their obligations despite a long run-up in debt.

A quarterly IACPM survey shows far fewer credit managers planning for widening spreads this spring, staving off concerns for now of deteriorating credit conditions and macroeconomic troubles.

More consumers were late in paying two major types of loans in the latest figures from the American Bankers Association, but it appears to be a relatively isolated problem.

As the consumer lender announced its seventh consecutive profitable quarter, its CEO bragged that his company is better positioned than the likes of Goldman Sachs and LendingClub.

Executives from Ally Financial and Santander Consumer USA gave rosy outlooks about 2019 consumer trends, while other banks that rely less heavily on car lending offered more cautious appraisals.