Bank lending to firms surges to a 13-year high as COVID-19 leads to UK businesses borrowing more

• 15.9% drop in consumer credit is predicted in 2020; the biggest fall since records began in 1993
• Mortgage lending forecast to rise just 2.6% in 2020 – the weakest rate since 2015 – with further slow growth expected amid rising unemployment

The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to see business lending grow by 14.4% this year – the highest level in 13 years – according to an EY ITEM Club Interim Bank Lending Forecast. Additional bank finance (including government-backed loans) has been crucial to UK corporates and SMEs during the pandemic, and this latest EY ITEM Club forecast predicts that firms as a whole will only start repaying this additional debt in net terms, and reduce their borrowing, from 2022.

Conversely, the lockdown has caused a significant slowdown in bank lending to households. Demand for consumer credit is predicted to fall by 15.9% in 2020 – the biggest annual fall since records began in 1993. Mortgage lending is forecast to rise, but only marginally, by just 2.6% in 2020. This would be the weakest growth since 2015, with further slow growth expected over the next two years as unemployment rises.

Omar Ali, UK Financial Services Managing Partner at EY, comments: “COVID-19 has caused unprecedented challenges for the UK economy, putting financial strain on both businesses and households, and has resulted in a staggering amount of money being lent to firms over a short period of time. With a weakened economy, banks face increasing write-offs on all types of lending and, with slow growth for consumer credit forecast, this will add pressure to their profitability and ultimately their ability to lend more to businesses to help kick start growth.”

Surge in business lending as firms deal with lockdown slowdown

In contrast to the 2008 financial crisis, COVID-19 has seen bank lending to the corporate sector accelerate with many businesses seeking loans to help cover their costs as revenues stalled. Banks lent (net of repayments) non-financial companies just over £30bn in March – around 100 times the average of net lending over the twelve months to February. Aided by government-backed loan schemes, lending has continued at historically high levels resulting in annual growth rising from 0.6% in February to 11.1% in May.

The business lending growth forecast of 14.4% this year compares to 2% in 2019 and an average of -1.4% from 2010 to 2019. As the Government’s furlough support tapers off, business costs will rise and businesses are likely to be more constrained in taking on additional debt. Lending growth is forecast to slow to 7.1% in 2021. Firms as a whole are forecast to only start repaying debt in net terms, and reduce their borrowing, from 2022, reflecting the EY ITEM Club’s expectation that the economy’s return to normality will be relatively slow-paced.

Biggest drop-off in consumer credit demand since records began

The stock of consumer credit is forecast to fall by almost 16% this year as net lending for credit cards and personal loans turned negative during the lockdown period. A return to more normal spending patterns should mean consumer credit lending also returns to positive figures – both 2021 and 2022 are forecast to see growth of just over 9%. But with consumers expected to maintain a cautious attitude towards taking on debt, at least in the short term, the stock of consumer credit isn’t predicted to return to 2019 levels until 2022.

Mortgage lending growth forecast to be the weakest since 2015

Housing market activity and associated lending have been significantly affected by COVID-19. Net mortgage lending averaged only £0.6bn over April and May, compared to around £4bn per month at the start of the year. Overall, mortgage lending is forecast to grow just 2.6% in 2020. This is despite a relaxation of restrictions on home viewings in May and the Government’s decision in July to exempt the first £500,000 of property purchases from stamp duty until the end of March 2021.

While low interest rates and the beginning of economic recovery (the EY ITEM Club forecasts GDP to grow 6.5% in 2021) should also help boost activity, the prospect of rising unemployment is likely to constrain growth. At the same time, banks are likely to tighten lending standards in the wake of the pandemic. Mortgage lending growth is forecast to slow to 2.1% in 2021 and only 0.5% in 2022, before picking up the following year.

COVID-19 likely to lead to a further rise in loan-losses

The action taken by banks in the form of payment holidays on mortgage and consumer debt has helped cushion the impact of the pandemic on business and personal finances, and has created breathing space for borrowers, especially in the initial recovery phase. However, the economic impact of COVID-19 will likely lead to a rise in overall loan-losses, particularly once the furlough scheme ends and if unemployment subsequently rises.

Write-off rates on consumer credit are forecast to rise from 1.5% this year to 2.5% in 2021; a near-decade high. Mortgage write-off rates are expected to rise to 0.03% this year, which is three times 2019’s 0.01%, before doubling to 0.06% in 2021 – a rate last seen towards the end of the financial crisis. Banks are also likely to face losses in the coming months as some businesses struggle to meet their loan repayments. Business loan losses are forecast to rise from 0.3% in 2019 to 0.6% and 0.7% this year and the next respectively.

Dan Cooper, UK Head of Banking at EY, concludes: “Even assuming the economy bounces back in the short term, we’re likely to see very weak growth in loans to home buyers and consumers for some time to come. However, the banks went into this crisis well capitalised and, despite the level of contraction in GDP this year, which the OBR says is likely to be the biggest decline for 300 years, they have extended significant levels of support to businesses and consumers and are continuing to help drive the economic recovery.”