Analysts: Longer-term lending main challenge this year - 2004-02-24
The revival of longer-term lending in Argentina will be a vital factor in the banking sector's mission for full-year profits in 2004, according to local analysts.

The banks need to boost longer-term lending such as commercial and mortgage loans to be able to continue to improve their financial results this year, Hernan Fardi, partner at local consultancy Maxinver told BNamericas.
Read the full story at Business News Americas

Higher mortgage rate despite higher equity - 2004-02-24
DEAR BRUCE: I'm 40 and had gone through a divorce about 12 years ago that left me with a great amount of debt. I paid it off with the help of a credit-counseling service. I thought I would never get to buy a home, but suddenly I was approved for a $225,000 mortgage.

Now I am finding the reason I had to pay these higher rates even in a falling market was I was considered a substandard loan and nobody wants to refinance me even though my equity is over 20 percent. -- T.B., Santa Maria, Calif.
Read the full story at The Cincinnati Post