This year, Brad Bengson won't get the $100,000 line of credit he usually receives to help him sustain his Boise rental business.

His own bank and three others have turned him down in the last month.

Bengson, president of Brown Rental Inc., blames the national credit crunch.

"I have never had a problem in 29 years borrowing money," he said. "I have to assume that is the reason."

Economists and U.S. Treasury officials warn that there could be people like Bengson popping up all over the country if the government doesn't take steps to combat the toxic debt choking America's credit system.

But several Idaho banks say they are still making loans, although borrowers face more scrutiny than in the past.

The average family or small business shouldn't see a difference at Zions Bank, said Toni Nielsen, western Idaho regional president. "We have plenty of money to lend," she said.

Some businesses say they aren't affected.

"We are fortunate that we don't have an immediate need to go to the market," said Michael Read, spokesman for WinCo, the Boise-based grocery store chain. With 63 stores, WinCo typically borrows for capital projects like new stores, not to buy inventory or meet payroll, Read said.

J.R. Simplot Co., the Boise agricultural giant, isn't experiencing any credit tightening, spokesman Rick Phillips said.

Without a line of credit, however, Bengson predicts he'll have to dig into his personal funds to help Brown Rental through the lean winter months that characterize his business.

The lost line of credit is only one of several blows he has endured over the past couple of years at his two locations: 11000 W. Fairview Ave. and 2905 Overland Road. Rentals of equipment for commercial construction began to fade in 2007.

When gasoline hit $4 a gallon earlier this year, homeowners didn't show up to rent power rakes, tillers and other home and garden equipment.

"Homeowners quit spending money," he said.

By fall, party equipment rental income dropped.

"Phones quit ringing," he said.

A year ago, Bengson had 32 employees. Now he is down to 21, and that number could drop.

He counts on his line of credit each year to help him buy rental equipment that customers need and to pull Brown Rental though traditionally thin winter months.

But this year his bank - which he declined to name - couldn't comply.

"My bank is as worried about themselves as I am about my own company," Bengson said.

Some banks acknowledge they are being more careful about loans. Syringa Bank is being more cautious about lending money for land, commercial real estate and home mortgages, said Jerry Aldape, Syringa president and CEO.

"But we are not shutting anything off," he said.

Some lenders are taking a second look at information from borrowers, such as land appraisals, to make sure they reflect market conditions.

A 90-day-old appraisal, once considered reasonably current, may not be acceptable for some lenders because of declining land values in recent months, Aldape said.

Some lenders may look closely at business plans.

"Are you coming to us with a realistic business plan, or are you still stuck in a mindset that might have been OK six months ago or 12 months ago?" said Tony Olbrich, western Idaho regional president for U.S. Bank, the largest bank in Ada County measured by deposits.

U.S. Bank's lending policies remain consistent, Olbrich said. "We are scrutinizing everything a little bit more cautiously to make sure it in fact adheres to our policy."

As the credit market tightened, Bengson watched the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday reject a plan many thought would ease the problem.

He doesn't have a solution. But he doesn't buy into many people's belief that Wall Street tycoons ought to sink in their own mistakes, because he could get caught in the quicksand, too.

"My ox is getting gored," Bengson said. "It could potentially get worse."

He called Rep. Mike Simpson to congratulate him on voting for the unpopular $700 billion bill to buy toxic mortgages and other assets from troubled financial companies to reopen the credit spigot. "This thing is clogged at the top," he said.

Despite some worries, Bengson believes he'll survive the latest bumps he hit. But his company may look different.

"I have a plan," he said.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408