While commercial real estate continues to burden the nation’s 7,584 insured banks and thrifts, the severity of the CRE-related impairment is gradually decreasing. Most of the recuperation is stemming from write-downs and attrition in construction and development loans, the dearth of new lending and from improvement in the multifamily sector.

As deteriorating conditions lessen, the amount of capital that banks have available to loan should increase. Banks are already setting aside fewer dollars to deal with the losses, according to the FDIC. New provisions for loan losses fell to $20.7 billion in the first quarter from $51.6 billion a year earlier. This marks the sixth quarter in a row that loss provisions have had a year-over-year decline. It is the smallest quarterly loss provision for the industry since third quarter 2007.

“Certainly this has been aided significantly through the continued low interest rates engineered by the Federal Reserve,” noted CoStar Group Senior Real Estate Strategist Christopher N. Macke. “If the termination of QE II or some other factor leads to rising interest rates, banks will have to rely on strengthening property fundamentals to offset the rising rates – commercial real estate’s version of “The Amazing Race.”

The total amount of CRE loans outstanding fell by $32.3 billion (2%) during the first quarter. At the end of March, insured institutions reported holding $1.58 trillion in CRE-related loans, down from $1.61 trillion at the end of 2010.

The total amount of construction and development loans on bank books fell by $25.9 billion (8%) to $295.6 billion.

The total amount of nonresidential loans (including owner-occupied buildings) on bank books fell by $6 billion (less than 1%) to $1.07 trillion.

However, the total amount of multifamily loans on bank books was flat falling by just $300 million to $214.5 billion.

The total amount of distressed CRE assets (delinquent loans, foreclosed assets and restructured loans) at banks stood at $170.9 billion, just 1.3% of all outstanding bank assets.

Total delinquent CRE loan balances (loans 30 days or more past due or in nonaccrual status) fell by $3.5 billion (2.8%) during the first quarter. At the end of March, banks and thrifts reported $121.6 billion in delinquent CRE-related loans, down from $125.1 billion at the end of 2010.

Delinquent construction and development loans fell by $4 billion (6.9%) to $53.8 billion.

Delinquent multifamily loans fell by $400 million (3.8%) to $10 billion.

However, delinquent nonresidential loans grew by $900 million (a 1.6% increase) to $57.8 billion.

The balances of foreclosed assets continued to grow at the nation’s banks from $30.9 billion at the end of the year to $31.2 billion as of March 31. All of that increase was in nonresidential properties, which grew by $500 million to $10.7 billion.

The amount of foreclosed construction and development projects fell about $100 million to $18 billion; and foreclosed multifamily properties also fell by about $100 million to $2.5 billion.

The total amount of restructured CRE loans at the end of the first quarter stood at $34.9 billion, (the amounts are not available for previous quarters). Of those restructured loans, $16.7 billion (48%) were again delinquent or in nonaccrual status.

The number of insured commercial banks and savings institutions reporting financial results in the first quarter declined from 7,658 to 7,574 in the first quarter. One new reporting institution was added during the quarter, while 56 institutions were absorbed through mergers and 26 institutions failed.

From the big picture of gradual recuperation in CRE bank assets, we’ve pulled together some of the highlights from the individual bank numbers.

• The number of institutions on the FDIC’s “Problem List” increased from 884 to 888 during the quarter. Assets of “problem” institutions increased from $390 billion to $397 billion.

• Of the 7,584 insured banks in the country as of March 31, distressed CRE assets made up 1% or less of total assets at 4,298 banks.

• 566 banks out of the total of 7,584 (7.4%) hold more than 80% of the distressed commercial real estate on bank books. The 10 largest banks in the country hold $49.4 billion in delinquent, foreclosed or restructured assets (29%).

• Wells Fargo Bank holds $2.24 billion of commercial real estate properties on which it has foreclosed, including $1.14 billion in construction and development properties and $868 million in nonresidential properties. Citibank holds the largest amount of foreclosed multifamily properties at $710 million. While high in dollar amounts, the total amount of CRE distress at these two banks is 1% or less of their total assets.

• Distressed CRE assets make up more than one-third of total assets at five banks: Builders Bank, Chicago, IL; First Choice Community Bank, Dallas, GA; High Trust Bank, Stockbridge, GA; Security Exchange Bank, Marietta, GA; and Cortez Community Bank, Brooksville, FL.