Chart 1. The title is "Rising Loan-to-Asset Ratios Have Been Unable to Counter Pressures That Are Eroding Net Interest Margins at Community Banks."

A line chart showing net interest margins and loan-to-asset ratios from June 1993 through June 2002. The loan-to-asset ratio was 4.47 percent in 1993, 4.39 percent in 1994, 4.41 percent in 1995, 4.33 percent in 1996, 4.37 percent in 1997, 4.33 percent in 1998, 4.15 percent in 1999, 4.33 percent in 2000, 4.11 percent in 2001, and 4.20 percent in 2002. The net interest margin was 52.45 percent in 1993, 56.16 percent in 1994, 58.69 percent in 1995, 58.60 percent in 1996, 60.81 percent in 1997, 63.08 percent in 1998, 61.83 percent in 1999, 64.77 percent in 2000, 65.74 percent in 2001, and 64.90 percent in 2002.