Lånreglering

Lånreglering, or lending regulation, denotes the set of laws, rules and supervisory practices that govern the provision of credit by lenders to individuals and businesses. It covers banks, non-bank lenders, credit unions and fintechs, and applies to mortgage lending, consumer credit, small-business lending and other forms of unsecured and secured credit. The aim is to promote financial stability, ensure prudent risk management by lenders, protect borrowers from abusive or misleading practices, maintain fair competition, and preserve access to credit.

Regulatory tools include licensing and ongoing supervision of lenders; capital adequacy and risk-management requirements for banks (in line with international standards such as Basel III); disclosure and transparency rules on terms, fees and APR; and consumer protection measures such as mandatory affordability assessments, clear disclosure, and complaint mechanisms. Macroprudential instruments, used by central banks or financial supervisory authorities, include limits on loan-to-value ratios, debt-to-income ratios, loan-to-income caps, and countercyclical capital buffers to dampen credit growth during booms. Regulatory frameworks may also require data reporting to credit registries and regular stress testing.

Institutions involved typically include central banks, financial supervisory authorities, consumer protection agencies, securities regulators, and, at the regional level, supranational bodies and EU member-state regulators. The scope and stringency of lending regulation vary by jurisdiction but share common goals of reducing credit risk, preventing over-indebtedness, and maintaining trust in the financial system.

Lånregulering is often debated: tighter rules can curb excessive risk but may restrict credit access or raise borrowing costs, while looser rules can increase credit availability but raise systemic risk.

See also: macroprudential policy, consumer protection in credit, credit registry, Basel accords.