Performance on home-equity loans is improving, with industry participants optimistic about future performance. Bank and thrift holdings of HELs continue to decline, based on a new ranking and analysis from the Inside Mortgage Finance Bank Mortgage Database. Delinquencies on HELs fell to 4.03 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012 from 4.20 percent the previous quarter, according to the American Bankers Association. “We saw the first inkling of improvement for that sector,” said ... [Includes one data chart]