Chart 1. The title is "Rising Loan-to-Asset Ratios Have Not Completely Mitigated Pressures That Are Eroding Net Interest Margins at Community Banks." A line chart showing net interest margin and loan-to-assets ratio from 1991 through 2001. The net interest margin rose sharply from 4.2 percent in 1991 to 4.5 percent in 1992, then declined to 4.4 percent by 1995. It remained stable until 1997, then dropped to 4.2 percent by 1999. It rose to 4.3 percent by 2000, then dropped to 4.1 percent by 2001. The loan-to-asset ratio was 50 percent in 1991. It rose to 55 percent by 1994, to 60 percent by 1997, and to 65 percent by 2000. It dropped to about 63 percent by 2001.