Press releaseLyon, September 22, 2025 AFL acknowledges the downgrade to A+ (stable outlook) of its long-term rating by Fitch Ratings Following the decision by Fitch Ratings to downgrade the French government's long-term rating from AA- (negative outlook) to A+ (stable outlook), AFL, the bank for local authorities, announces that its own long-term rating assigned by Fitch Ratings has been revised from AA- (negative outlook) to A+ (stable outlook) on September 18, 2025. Its short-term rating remains unchanged ...

Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg Top dealmakers from global investment banks have been heading to Zurich in recent weeks to pitch UBS Group AG on transactions that could change the face of Swiss finance.The bank's senior leadership has been sitting through presentations as they seek a solution to perhaps its biggest challenge in over a decade: A $26 billion increase in capital requirements leveled by its home government, Switzerland.  Options theoretically on the table range from the dramatic — a merger or acqui ...

Core Viewpoint - Third Coast Bank has successfully originated a $200 million revolving commercial real estate loan, marking a significant achievement for the organization and enhancing its financial position through improved risk management and capital efficiency [1][7]. Group 1: Loan Details - The $200 million mortgage loan is secured by a portfolio of eleven Residential Master Planned Communities under development in the Houston, Dallas, and Austin metropolitan areas of Texas [2]. - EJF Capital LLC, a global alternative asset management firm with approximately $5.4 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2024, arranged the securitization transaction related to the mortgage loan [2][10]. Group 2: Securitization Process - Following the loan origination, Third Coast Bank created participation interests in the mortgage loan, selling one to EJF CRT 2025-1 Depositor LLC, which then sold it to EJF CRT 2025-1 LLC [3]. - The Issuer pledged its participation interests to U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, and issued Asset-Backed Notes, including Class A-1 and Class M-1 Notes, with the Class A-1 Notes sold to the Bank [4]. Group 3: Financial Impact - The transactions are expected to reduce the Bank's risk-weighted assets and the ratio of loans for construction and land development to total capital, which is a measure used by regulators to assess loan concentration risk [6]. - The Company believes these transactions will enhance the diversity of the Bank's on-balance sheet loan portfolio [6]. Group 4: Leadership Commentary - Bart Caraway, President & CEO of Third Coast Bank, expressed pride in the team's efforts to complete the first securitization, highlighting its importance in strengthening the Bank's financial position and opening new opportunities for customer service [7].