Since the credit crisis began, high street banks have lent less to customers, blaming a fall in demand for new loans, mortgages and other types of credit. However, in a research paper today, the Bank rejects that argument and says that demand for new loans has not shrunk by as much as lending has been reduced. Instead, by restricting access to credit, banks are threatening to âdampen the recoveryâ, the study says. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...c-recovery-at-risk-Bank-of-England-warns.html