Delaying the recognition of expected losses will lead to an increase in the required provision during economic downturns. This increase in the loan loss provision will decrease banks’ reported income and their Tier 1 regulatory capital. Van den Heuvel’s (2009) theory that banks may optimally forgo profitable lending opportunities now to lower the risk of future capital inadequacy suggests that the expected increase in the loan loss provision during recessions may lead to lower recessionary lending for banks with greater delays in expected loss recognition. This suggests that the pro-cyclicality of the lending is higher for these banks. Our third hypothesis is