The world’s banks are facing renewed pressure on their balance sheets as corporations increasingly draw on loan commitments agreed before the credit crisis.

Analysts at Citigroup estimate that the global banking industry has committed to lend about $6,000bn to corporations that have not yet drawn down the loans – double the amount outstanding in 2003. The commitments represent a potential additional strain on banks’ reserves as they attempt to rebuild their capital in the wake of the crisis in the US mortgage market.