Community bank lending up

While Florida's community banks reduced total domestic lending by 0.6% in the fourth quarter of 2010 relative to the prior year — roughly the national average — those based in the Gulf Coast increased lending by 2.5%.

The major difference came in lending for multi-family construction, according to data issued by SNL Financial.

Community banks based in Southwest Florida increased multi-family construction lending by 15% over the year, data shows. Compare that to the statewide trend, where multi-family construction lending fell 2.4%.