Toronto, January 23, 2019 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has today
taken action on the ratings of three Puerto Rican banks. The long-term
ratings and standalone baseline credit assessments (BCAs) for Popular,
Inc. and its subsidiaries (Popular), and FirstBank Puerto
Rico (FirstBank) were placed on review for upgrade. The long-term
ratings for Banco Santander Puerto Rico (BSPR) and its adjusted BCA were
affirmed while at the same time BSPR's ba3 BCA was placed on review
for upgrade. BSPR's ratings outlook remains stable.
Moody's also affirmed the short-term ratings of all the three
Puerto Rican banks and their subsidiaries.
A complete list of affected ratings can be found at the end of this press
release.
The rating action was prompted by Moody's assessment that the operating
conditions of banks in Puerto Rico have improved, reflecting better
near-term economic prospects for the island economy despite uncertainties
in the implementation of structural economic reforms and measures to balance
the Commonwealth's fiscal position.
RATINGS RATIONALE
The review for upgrade reflects Moody's view that Puerto Rican economic
prospects have improved since Hurricane Maria in 2017. Moody's
believes anticipated federal reconstruction funds from the Government
of the United States of America (Aaa stable) and structural reforms proposed
by the Federal Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico will improve
Puerto Rico's bank operating environment in the medium- to
long-term.
Moody's also noted that the loan performance of all three banks
returned to pre-hurricane levels earlier than it previously expected.
At 30 September 2018, the ratios of problem loans to gross loans
for BSPR, Popular, and FirstBank were 10.0%,
7.9%, 11.1%, respectively.
The banks are also well capitalized with Moody's tangible common
equity to risk-weighted assets ratios for BSPR, Popular,
and FirstBank at 31.4%, 14.6%,
and 20.9%, respectively, as at the same reporting
date. These capital levels are above the US mainland regional bank
average and provide a significant cushion to buffer unexpected credit
losses.
During the review, Moody's will assess the extent to which
the banks' standalone credit profiles may benefit from the improvement
in operating conditions. Higher BCAs following the completion of
the review could result in upgrades of the ratings for Popular and FirstBank,
which have also been placed on review for upgrade. However,
a higher BCA for BSPR is unlikely to lead to a higher adjusted BCA,
and thus a long-term ratings upgrade, as Moody's aligns
BSPR's ratings to Santander Bank N.A, because of cross
indemnification provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
As such, BSPR's long-terms ratings were affirmed at
the current levels.
WHAT COULD MOVE THE RATINGS UP/DOWN
BSPR
BSPR's ba3 BCA could be upgraded if Moody's were to assess
a sustainable improvement in Puerto Rico's bank operating environment,
which it believes would lead to a reduction in problem loans, sustained
improvement in profitability and/or liquidity. BSPR's ratings could
be upgraded following an upgrade of the standalone credit assessment of
its affiliate support providers, which would result in a higher
adjusted BCA.
BSPR's BCA could be downgraded if Moody's were to assess a
deterioration in bank operating conditions in Puerto Rico. It could
also be downgraded if Moody's believes the risk appetite of BSPR
has increased, for example because of above-peer average
loan growth or a notable increase in lending concentrations. Additionally,
a sustained decrease in capital could lead to a downgrade in the BCA.
BSPR's ratings could also be downgraded following a downgrade of either
of its affiliate support providers, which would lower its Adjusted
BCA, from which its ratings are derived.
Popular
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico's b1 BCA could be upgraded if Moody's
were to assess a sustainable improvement in Puerto Rico's bank operating
environment, which it believes would lead to a reduction in problem
loan levels, sustained improvement in profitability, capitalization
and/or liquidity. A higher BCA for Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
would likely lead to rating upgrades.
The standalone BCA of Banco Popular de Puerto Rico could be downgraded
if Moody's were to assess a deterioration of bank operating conditions
in Puerto Rico. It could also be downgraded if Moody's believes
Popular's risk appetite has increased, for example because of above-peer
average loan growth or a notable increase in lending concentrations.
Additionally, a sustained decrease in capital could lead to a downgrade
in the BCA. A lower BCA would likely lead to ratings downgrade
for Banco Popular de Puerto Rico and Popular Inc and it subsidiaries because
all of Popular's ratings are derived from the BCA.
FirstBank
FirstBank's b3 BCA could be upgraded if Moody's were to assess
a sustainable improvement in Puerto Rico's bank operating environment,
which it believes would lead to a reduction in problem loan levels,
sustained improvement in profitability, capitalization and/or liquidity.
A higher BCA would likely lead to a rating upgrade.
FirstBank's BCA could be downgraded if Moody's were to assess
a deterioration in bank operating conditions in Puerto Rico. It
could also be downgraded if Moody's believes the risk appetite of
FirstBank has increased, for example because of above-peer
average loan growth or a notable increase in lending concentrations.
Additionally, a sustained decrease in capital could lead to a downgrade
in the BCA. A lower BCA would likely lead to a rating downgrade
for FirstBank.
The rating actions were as follows:
Issuer: Banco Santander Puerto Rico
..Review for Upgrade:
.Baseline Credit Assessment, currently ba3
..Affirmations:
.Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment, affirmed at
baa1
.Long-Term Bank Deposits, affirmed at A2,
Stable
.Short-Term Bank Deposits, affirmed at P-1
.Senior Unsecured Bank Note Program, affirmed at
(P)Baa1
.Foreign Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at P-2
.Local Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at P-2
.Local Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Baa1
.Foreign Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Baa1
.Long-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment, affirmed
at A3(cr)
.Short-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
affirmed at Prime-2(cr)
.Long-Term issuer rating, affirmed at Baa1,
Stable
.Local Short-Term Bank Note Program, affirmed
at (P)P-2
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Remains Stable
Issuer: Popular, Inc.
..Review for Upgrade:
.Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture, currently
B2, Rating Under Review; previously B2, stable
.Senior Unsecured Medium-Term Note Program,
currently (P)B2
.Senior Unsecured Shelf, currently (P)B2
.Subordinate Medium-term note program, currently
(P)B2
.Subordinate Shelf, currently (P)B2
.Junior Subordinate Shelf, currently (P)B3
.Preferred Stock Non-Cumulative, currently
Caa1(hyb)
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from Stable
Issuer: Banco Popular de Puerto Rico
..Review for upgrade:
.Long-Term Bank Deposits, currently Ba2,
Rating Under Review; previously Ba2, Stable
.Local Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
currently B1
.Foreign Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
currently B1
.Long-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment, currently
Ba3(cr)
.Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment, currently b1
.Baseline Credit Assessment, currently b1
.Long-Term Issuer Rating, currently B2,
Rating Under Review; previously B2, Stable
..Affirmations:
.Short-Term Bank Deposits, affirmed at Not
Prime
.Local Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Not Prime
.Foreign Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Not Prime
.Short-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
affirmed at Not Prime(cr)
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from Stable
Issuer: Popular Capital Trust I
..Review for Upgrade
....Backed Preferred Stock, currently
B3(hyb)
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from No
Outlook
Issuer: Popular Capital Trust II
..Review for Upgrade
.Backed Preferred Stock, currently B3(hyb)
.Backed Preferred Shelf, currently (P)B3
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from No
Outlook
Issuer: Popular North America, Inc.
..Review for Upgrade
.Backed Senior Unsecured Shelf, currently (P)B2
.Backed Senior Unsecured Medium-term Note Program,
currently (P)B2
.Backed Subordinate Shelf, currently (P)B2
.Backed Subordinate Medium-term Note Program,
currently (P)B2
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from No
Outlook
Issuer: Popular North America Capital Trust I
..Review for Upgrade
.Backed Preferred Stock, currently B3(hyb)
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from No
Outlook
Issuer: FirstBank Puerto Rico
..Review for Upgrade
.Long-Term Bank Deposits, currently B1,
Rating Under Review; previously B1, Stable
.Local Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
currently B3
.Foreign Long-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
currently B3
.Long-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment, currently
B2(cr)
.Long-Term Issuer Rating, currently Caa1,
Rating Under Review; previously Caa1, Stable
.Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment, currently b3
.Baseline Credit Assessment, currently b3
..Affirmations
.Short-Term Bank deposits, affirmed at Not
Prime
.Local Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Not-Prime
.Foreign Short-Term Counterparty Risk Rating,
affirmed at Not-Prime
.Short-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment,
affirmed at Not-Prime(cr)
..Outlook Actions:
.Outlook, Changed to Rating Under Review from Stable
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Banks published in
August 2018. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating.
For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory
disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and
in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to
the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction
structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive
rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further
information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the
respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
The ratings have been disclosed to the rated entities or their designated
agent(s) and issued with no amendment resulting from that disclosure.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Jason Mercer
Vice President - Senior Analyst
Financial Institutions Group
Moody's Canada Inc.
70 York Street
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 1S9
Canada
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
M. Celina Vansetti-Hutchins
MD - Banking
Financial Institutions Group
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Canada Inc.
70 York Street
Suite 1400
Toronto, ON M5J 1S9
Canada
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653