Article: Banks expected to tighten credit in response to law

WASHINGTON - Banks expect to tighten terms on credit cards in response to a new law that aims to protect consumers from sudden rate hikes, the Federal Reserve said yesterday.

A quarterly survey by the Fed found that many banks expect to increase rates, reduce credit limits, and raise annual fees for both prime borrowers - those with sound credit histories -as well as more risky nonprime borrowers, who have tarnished credit. Banks also expected to raise minimum credit scores for nonprime borrowers, the Fed said.

Banks already have been pushing through rate increases in anticipation of the new rules. Because of that, the House recently approved legislation to speed up the law's effective ...

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