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Washington (AP) Banks borrowed slightly less from the Federal Reserve's emergency lending program over the past week, but increased their use of other credit programs designed to ease the financial crisis.

Banks are using programs that buy up mortgage securities and short-term debt more than they did the previous week.

The Fed says commercial banks averaged $19.8 billion in daily borrowing over the week that ended Wednesday. That's down $1 billion from the week that ended Nov. 11, and down $71.8 billion from what they borrowed a year ago near the peak of the credit crisis.

The identities of the financial institutions are not released.

They pay just 0.50 percent interest for the emergency, overnight loans. The limited borrowing shows banks are having a slightly easier time getting short-term loans in private markets.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-19-09 1701CST | save this article / add to your favorites list