And our low interest rates defend business, employment, mortgage borrowers.

The survey, released by the Federal Reserve, also said that banks remained cautious with business borrowers.

Information about the location of business borrowers and the size of those companies is much harder to obtain.

In particular, bankers have worried that key conditions, like how much collateral is required of business borrowers, have been relaxed too far.

Lenders bid on online auctions to loan money to business borrowers.

Several banks quickly reduced the prime rate they charge business borrowers to 7.75 percent from 8 percent.

Loan demand is beginning to pick up in the Southeast, analysts say, and existing business borrowers are not paying off their loans as quickly.

Just as consumers have done, business borrowers have bet on a strong economy to give them enough income to make their monthly installment payments.

Companies use the proceeds to make loans to small business borrowers.

The ability of business borrowers to get bank loans worsened, but the tightening was far less than in preceding quarters.