18 . allowance for credit losses .
( 1 ) reclassified to conform to the current period 2019s presentation . ( 2 ) 2009 primarily includes reductions to the loan loss reserve of approximately $ 543 million related to securitizations , approximately $ 402 million related to the sale or transfers to held-for-sale of u.s . real estate lending loans , and $ 562 million related to the transfer of the u.k . cards portfolio to held-for-sale . 2008 primarily includes reductions to the loan loss reserve of approximately $ 800 million related to fx translation , $ 102 million related to securitizations , $ 244 million for the sale of the german retail banking operation , $ 156 million for the sale of citicapital , partially offset by additions of $ 106 million related to the cuscatl e1n and bank of overseas chinese acquisitions . 2007 primarily includes reductions to the loan loss reserve of $ 475 million related to securitizations and transfers to loans held-for-sale , and reductions of $ 83 million related to the transfer of the u.k . citifinancial portfolio to held-for-sale , offset by additions of $ 610 million related to the acquisitions of egg , nikko cordial , grupo cuscatl e1n and grupo financiero uno . ( 3 ) represents additional credit loss reserves for unfunded corporate lending commitments and letters of credit recorded in other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. .
In millions of dollars 2009 2008(1) 2007(1)
Allowance for loan losses at beginning of year $29,616 $16,117 $8,940
Gross credit losses (32,784) (20,760) (11,864)
Gross recoveries 2,043 1,749 1,938
Net credit (losses) recoveries (NCLs) $(30,741) $(19,011) $(9,926)
NCLs $30,741 $19,011 $9,926
Net reserve builds (releases) 5,741 11,297 6,550
Net specific reserve builds (releases) 2,278 3,366 356
Total provision for credit losses $38,760 $33,674 $16,832
Other, net(2) (1,602) (1,164) 271
Allowance for loan losses at end of year $36,033 $29,616 $16,117
Allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending commitments at beginning of year(3) $887 $1,250 $1,100
Provision for unfunded lending commitments 244 (363) 150
Allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending commitments at end of year(3) $1,157 $887 $1,250
Total allowance for loans, leases, and unfunded lending commitments $37,190 $30,503 $17,367
in millions of dollars 2009 2008 ( 1 ) 2007 ( 1 )
allowance for loan losses at beginning of year $ 29616 $ 16117 $ 8940
gross credit losses -32784 ( 32784 ) -20760 ( 20760 ) -11864 ( 11864 )
gross recoveries 2043 1749 1938
net credit ( losses ) recoveries ( ncls ) $ -30741 ( 30741 ) $ -19011 ( 19011 ) $ -9926 ( 9926 )
ncls $ 30741 $ 19011 $ 9926
net reserve builds ( releases ) 5741 11297 6550
net specific reserve builds ( releases ) 2278 3366 356
total provision for credit losses $ 38760 $ 33674 $ 16832
other net ( 2 ) -1602 ( 1602 ) -1164 ( 1164 ) 271
allowance for loan losses at end of year $ 36033 $ 29616 $ 16117
allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending commitments at beginning of year ( 3 ) $ 887 $ 1250 $ 1100
provision for unfunded lending commitments 244 -363 ( 363 ) 150
allowance for credit losses on unfunded lending commitments at end of year ( 3 ) $ 1157 $ 887 $ 1250
total allowance for loans leases and unfunded lending commitments $ 37190 $ 30503 $ 17367
what was the percentage change in the allowance for loan losses from 2007 to 2008?