Banks already easing credit restrictions, Abi tells Renzi

(see related) (ANSA) Rome, June 17 - Italy's Abi Bankers' Association defended its members' record Tuesday on providing credit for firms after Premier Matteo Renzi lambasted banks for denying capital to recession-hit entrepreneurs.
    "In the first four months (of 2014) the banks increased mortgages by more than 26% and are making very significant capital increases that are not just to pass the examinations of the European Central Bank but also to increase capacity for further new loans," Abi President Antonio Patuelli said.
    "Just today Abi is issuing its new monthly report from which one sees that in the first four months banks increased mortgages by more than 26%," he added.
    Patuelli also underlined that "interest rates in these first months of the year are the lowest since 2011 and reach almost the historical record of limited level".