By Tom Hals

Feb. 5 (Reuters) - The number of U.S. companies seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection fell 36 percent in January from a year ago, as interest rates remained low.

Commercial Chapter 11 filings fell to 479 from 749 in January of 2012, Epiq Systems Inc and the American Bankruptcy Institute, or ABI, said in a report on Tuesday.

Total commercial filings, which also includes liquidations under Chapter 7, fell 26 percent to 3,728 in January from 5,006 a year earlier.

January bankruptcies included the former broker Penson Worldwide Inc, hotel video firm LodgeNet Interactive Corp, wireless antenna maker Powerwave Technologies Inc and school supplies company School Specialty Inc.

Bankruptcy for individuals also continued to drop as the U.S. economy has slowly recovered from recession, according to the report.

The total number of bankruptcy filings of all types in January fell 11 percent to 78,471 from a year earlier.

ABI Executive Director Samuel Gerdano said bankruptcy filings are expected to continue to drop in the coming year as households and businesses cut their debt and interest rates remain low.

Credit rating agency Moody's said on Friday that its liquidity stress index, which rises when non-investment-grade companies struggle to find funds, had fallen to a record low in January and was less than half of its long-term average.

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