Banks’ Lending Should Start Playing Catch-Up With Economy: View

There are tantalizing signs that the worst of the disastrous credit crunch may be over. The most tangible evidence can be found in the latest earnings reports from some of the U.S.’s largest banks.

With a few exceptions, financial institutions such as JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Wells Fargo & Co. reported to big businesses and, to a lesser extent, to consumers. Since consumers power growth, making up about two-thirds of the U.S. economy, their ability to get credit may determine whether the fragile recovery endures.