(AP) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City says Kansas banks have loaned less money for new buildings and business operations than at any time in the past five years.

In a report prepared this week for The Wichita Eagle, the Federal Reserve said Kansas banks made $9.5 billion in commercial real estate loans in the first half of 2011. That’s a drop of nearly $1 billion from the same period a year ago.

At the same time, commercial and industrial loans totaled $5.2 billion, down from $5.5 billion in the first half of 2010.

Bankers told the newspaper that the lower numbers do not mean they are tightening credit. They cited factors such as regulatory policies, fewer lenders, a lack of cash and retail properties, and lower customer demand.