While regional banks carry the greatest exposure to the commercial real estate (CRE) sector, second quarter earnings show that a number of big banks have prepared for potential defaults, primarily on office loans. However, Borthwick noted the bank's office CRE exposure was low relative to its overall loan portfolio, at 2%. CRE loans represented just 15% of the bank's overall lending book, while only 1% of the CRE loan portfolio was office-related. WELLS FARGO (WFC.N)The bank said it had a $949 million increase in its allowance for credit losses, primarily CRE office loans. WEBSTER FINANCIAL CORP (WBS.N)The regional bank's nonperforming CRE loans ticked up to $47.9 million last quarter from $35.8 million in the first quarter.

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Persons: Goldman Sachs, Andrew Kelly, Alastair Borthwick, Borthwick, GOLDMAN SACHS, markdowns, Denis Coleman, Jeremy Barnum, WELLS, Charlie Scharf, Bruce Van Saun, Dominic Ng, East, James Leonard, MORGAN STANLEY, Webster, Glenn MacInnes, John Ciulla, Matt Tracy, Michelle Price, Nick Zieminski Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, U.S, AMERICA CORP, GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC, Goldman, JPMORGAN CHASE &, JPMorgan, Citizens, EAST WEST BANCORP, East, BANCORP, WEBSTER FINANCIAL, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, California, CRE