The new credit card late fee rule could increase charge-offs and lead to tighter credit card underwriting standards.

Investors have shown increasing demand for ABS with home improvement loans and other esoteric assets.

Bank ABS holdings rose unexpectedly in the fourth quarter, but most of the gain came from a portfolio securitization of consumer loans by one institution. (Includes two data tables.)

Attendance at the SFVegas conference this year hit another record. Demand for MBS and ABS is exceptionally strong, with few concerns on the immediate horizon.

New prohibitions against conflicts of interest in the MBS and ABS market will take effect in June 2025. But SEC officials are urging industry participants to raise compliance concerns, if any, as soon as possible.

Higher vehicle prices and inflation are reducing auto lending to subprime borrowers and lifting the prime sector’s share of ABS issuance.

Issuance of home-improvement securitizations came in at $3.5 billion in 2023, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency. Some of that volume was in privately-rated deals that haven’t been disclosed to this point.

S&P Global Ratings projects prime auto loan ABS ratings to remain stable to positive in 2024, but subprime auto ABS ratings could drop.

The potential merger of the two credit card companies will result in significant consolidation in bank credit card portfolios and a new market leader.

The AAA-rated credit card ABS was issued by WF Card Issuance Trust, a de-linked credit card receivables-backed trust sponsored by Wells Fargo.