The banks choosing to make new loans would have to lend 25 percent of the total of their existing loans.

By lowering values, they are lowering the values of the collateral for their existing loans.

And they point out that the support would be provided only after banks have taken losses on their existing loans.

Qwest also said it was negotiating new loans and a relaxation of the terms of some existing loans.

A program for farms to receive an interest rate reduction on new or existing loans or lines of credit up to $100,000.

Small businesses that can commit to creating or retaining jobs in Ohio can receive a two-year, 3% interest rate reduction on new or existing loans.

Banks holding 41 percent of the $48 billion have agreed to reduce the face value of their existing loans by 35 percent.

Moreover, any sharp rise in interest rates would squeeze profit margins on their existing loans.

The strategy calls for commercial banks to forgive some existing loans and continue to provide new loans to debtor countries.

This loan offers up to $35,000 to help viable small businesses that need help paying their existing loans to get through a short-term downturn.