Diario Libre reports that the new ruling that obliges banks to grant loans based only on income tax presented statements has reduced the number of loan requests. The newspaper says that a source indicated that only 19% of the large bank clients fall in categories A, B and C, while 81% fall in the C, D and E categories. Banks have to make greater provisions for C, D and E categories, given that the new rules identify these as high-risk loans. Bankers argue that the new ruling is limiting the number of companies applying for loans. The bankers say that in the past months they were unable to place RD$4 billion received in deposits due to the more stringent lending requirements.