It has opened a for-profit bank mortgage office to write loans and expand the availability of credit, especially for mortgages in affordable housing developments.

WSJ: Banking on New Role

In no year has the discount for a 15-year mortgage exceeded an average of 0.66 percent, so 15-year mortgages are in especially rare territory right now.

FORBES: How Low Are Current Mortgage Rates? 3 Convincing Answers

But demand for loans from consumers is weak, especially in areas such as credit cards and mortgages, although banks hope that these will soon start to rebound.

ECONOMIST: American banks

Especially in the downturn of the economy, where many mortgages have morphed into foreclosures and loans are becoming less common, Americans are dependent on credit cards in order to spend, budget, and survive on a day-to-day basis.

FORBES: How To Avoid A Debt Crisis Like The Government's

All categories of loans are seeing some signs of growing financial distress among borrowers, but the trouble is concentrated in the subprime sector, especially for adjustable-rate subprime mortgages.

ECONOMIST: Subprime jitters are spreading