The blockbuster merger proposal will be reviewed at a time when the Biden administration is expressing skepticism about consolidation. Its analysis will have to account for markets dominated by both big banks and the likes of Visa and Mastercard.

: A1 notes are expected to price at par, with a 13 basis-point spread over the 3-month, I-curve, and 44-77 basis points on the A2 through A4 notes, according to Asset Securitization Report's deal database.

The median interest rate that large credit card issuers charged consumers with good credit in the first half of 2023 was 28.2%, compared with 18.15% at smaller banks and credit unions, according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is on a campaign against excessive fees.

DBRS assumes a base-case net cash flow of $15.8 million on the portfolio, about 28% lower than the issuer underwritten net cash flow amount of $21.9 million.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr said Friday that Fed supervisors continue to draw on lessons learned from last March's bank failures—including heightened scrutiny—addressing risks banks currently face including firm asset growth, liquidity pressures and plummeting commercial real estate values.

Investors have hammered the New Jersey-based lender following the turmoil at New York Community Bancorp. But Valley executives say there are key differences between the two real estate-focused banks, and they express confidence that the bank's underwriting will hold up again this cycle.

The deal has a relatively high exposure to commercial and industrial customers. Non-residential ratepayers account for 55% of its customers and about 47% of its revenue.

Financially stressed consumers nearing their credit limit use buy now/pay later loans to finance smaller purchases, while wealthier households want to avoid paying interest or carrying a balance on credit cards for bigger-ticket items, according to the New York Fed.

For the first time since mid-December, the Freddie Mac survey reports mortgage rates over 6.7%.

HBAN will service the transaction, with an A3 rating for long-term, senior unsecured debt, an A2 long-term credit assessment, and P-1 for short-term deposits.

The company was able release credit reserves because of actual and forecasted prices that boosted net income, CEO Priscilla Almodovar said.

The notes benefit from total hard target credit enhancement of 16.50%, with an estimated 4.02% in estimated excess spread per year.