S.Korea banks' Jan-Oct FX lending at $44.5 bln

SEOUL, Nov 18 - Foreign currency lending from banks in South Korea during the first 10 months of the year fell $6.0 billion to $44.5 billion from all of 2008, central bank data showed on Wednesday.

Foreign currency lending from foreign bank branches in the country rose $570 million, while such lending from local banks fell $6.6 billion, the Bank of Korea said in a statement.

The data came as financial authorities are considering measures to control foreign bank branches' foreign currency liquidity.

For policy makers, rising overseas borrowing is an uncomfortable reminder of the global credit crunch last year when Korean debtors faced a rush of calls to repay their foreign borrowings, placing a severe liquidity squeeze on the country.