Risk in the U.S. banking sector is increasing as lenders ease underwriting standards for some categories of loans, the OCC said Tuesday. The share of leveraged loans to companies with debt-to-earnings ratios above the regulatory guidelines rose during 2014. In commercial real estate, banks are facing competition not only from other banks but also from life insurers, private-equity firms and others. As a result, banks are easing underwriting standards and making loans with options including interest-only payments for borrowers. Lenders are also easing the terms of auto loans, extending repayment periods and offering greater amounts of credit compared with the underlying value of the vehicle.