Eurozone businesses report tighter financing conditions in Q2 2026

According to the European Central Bank's SAFE survey, businesses in the eurozone faced tighter bank lending rates in the second quarter of 2026. The net percentage of companies reporting increased interest rates rose to 42%, up from 26% in the previous quarter. Other financing costs, including fees and charges, increased for 31% of businesses, down from 37% in the first quarter. Collateral requirements grew by a net 10%, a slight decrease from the 14% recorded in the first quarter of 2026. Financing needs for bank loans saw a minor increase to a net 2%. While overall loan availability remained nearly flat at a net -1%, divergence emerged between firm sizes. Availability rose by 4% for large enterprises but decreased by 4% for small and medium-sized enterprises.