The allowances for credit losses consist of an allowance for loan losses and an allowance for credit losses on lending-related commitments.
The following table shows the activity in the Group's allowance for loan losses:
| in € m. | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
| Balance, beginning of year | 4,317 | 5,585 | 6,745 |
| Provision for loan losses | 1,113 | 2,091 | 1,024 |
| Net charge-offs | |||
| Charge-offs | (1,894) | (2,728) | (2,055) |
| Recoveries | 167 | 112 | 67 |
| Total net charge-offs | (1,727) | (2,616) | (1,988) |
| Allowance related to acquisitions/divestitures | (105) | (421) | (156) |
| Foreign currency translation | (317) | (322) | (40) |
| Balance, end of year | 3,281 | 4,317 | 5,585 |
The following table shows the activity in the Group's allowance for credit losses on lending-related commitments:
| in € m. | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |
| Balance, beginning of year | 485 | 496 | 453 |
| Provision for credit losses | (50) | 17 | (30) |
| Net charge-offs | – | – | (22) |
| Allowance related to acquisitions/divestitures | 1 | (11) | (2) |
| Foreign currency translation | (20) | (17) | 97 |
| Balance, end of year | 416 | 485 | 496 |