But bank leaders say that could change — and sooner than anticipated. Banks are already posting record earnings in the first quarter of this year, coinciding with the recessionary environment that was expected to weigh down the economy not fully materializing. At the same time, the loan demand that banks see — which often goes hand-in-hand with a growing economy — appears to be headed for an upswing. At one of the state’s largest lenders, Bank of America, there are already signs of a rebound, said Alberto Garofalo, the organization’s New Jersey market president. “We’re seeing record levels of engagements with clients wanting to speak with us (about lending and other opportunities),” he said. “And if you look at the most recent trends, in March, consumer spending is up, and obviously that’s a leading economic indicator.”