reluctance to lend; credit crunch; tight lending
Financial term referring to banks or financial institutions becoming cautious and restricting loans, often during economic downturns.
Due to the recession, banks' reluctance to lend is becoming more serious.
Small and medium-sized enterprises are strongly affected by the credit crunch.
Compound of 貸し (lending, from 貸す) and 渋り (reluctance, from 渋る 'to be reluctant').