Fitch Affirms Associated Banc-Corp's IDRs at 'BBB-/F3' Following Mid-Tier Regional Peer Review

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitch Ratings has affirmed the long-term and short-term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of Associated Banc-Corp. and its subsidiaries at 'BBB-/F3'. The Rating Outlook remains Positive. A full list of ratings follows at the end of this release.

Fitch reviewed Associated Banc-Corp. as part of a peer review that included 16 mid-tier regional banks. The banks in the peer review include: Associated Banc-Corp., Bank of Hawaii Corporation, BOK Financial Corporation, Cathay General Bancorp, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc., East West Bancorp, Inc., First Horizon National Corporation, First National of Nebraska, Inc., First Niagara Financial Group, Inc., Fulton Financial Corporation, Hancock Holding Company, People's United Financial, Inc, Synovus Financial Corp., TCF Financial Corporation, UMB Financial Corp., Webster Financial Corporation. Refer to the release titled 'Fitch Takes Rating Actions on Its Mid-Tier Regional Bank Group Following Industry Peer Review' for a discussion of rating actions taken on the entire mid-tier regional bank group.

The mid-tier regional group is comprised of banks with total assets ranging from $10 billion to $36 billion. IDRs for this group is relatively dispersed with a low of 'BB-' and a high of 'A+'. Mid-tier regional banks typically lag their large regional bank counterparts by asset size, geographic footprint and product/revenue diversification. As such mid-tier regional banks are more susceptible to idiosyncratic risks such as geographic or single name concentrations.

Fitch's mid-tier regional bank group has fairly homogenous business strategies. The institutions are mostly reliant on spread income from loans and investments. With limited opportunity to improve fee-based income in the near term, Fitch expects that mid-tier banks will continue to face greater earnings headwinds in 2013 than larger institutions with greater revenue diversification.

Share repurchases is common theme amongst the mid-tier banks. As mid-tier banks face earnings headwinds, institutions have begun repurchasing common shares to improve shareholder returns. Fitch anticipates continued repurchase activity in 2013 as the return on equity lags historical norms for the group.

In addition to share repurchases, Fitch has observed that some mid-tier banks have looked to their investment portfolio to improve returns. Most notably, CLOs and CMBS have become more popular amongst mid-tier banks. Although such securities are beneficial to yields and returns, Fitch notes that such purchases can be a negative ratings driver if the risks are not properly measured, monitored and controlled.

Asset quality continues to improve throughout the banking sector. Both nonperforming assets (NPAs) and net charge-offs (NCOs) are down significantly year over year. Fitch anticipates further asset quality improvement as nonperforming loan (NPL) inflow slows. Reserve levels have also declined as asset quality improves, which has been beneficial to earnings in 2012. Fitch expects further reserve releases in 2013 but at a slower pace.

RATING ACTION AND RATIONALE
Associated Banc-Corp.'s (ASBC) ratings were affirmed at 'BBB-'. The Rating Outlook remains Positive. The affirmation and continued Positive Outlook reflect the progress ASBC has made in rebuilding balance sheet strength while improving operating performance. Fitch notes ASBC's sustained positive trends in asset quality metrics, reporting NPAs of around 2.77% at fourth quarter of 2012 (4Q'12), significantly down from a year prior. Further, the company has maintained a strong capital base, especially relative to similarly rated institutions as risk on the balance sheet has been lessened. The company reported an 81 basis points (bps) return on assets (ROA) for 2012, a 16 bps improvement from 2011. While Fitch expects similar results over the next 12 to 18 months, Fitch notes that performance has been augmented through artificially low provision expense and a historically high level of mortgage banking income. ASBC has taken just $3 million in allowance provisions since 4Q'11. Moreover, earnings have been boosted over the last year through the rally in mortgage rates which has added over $50 million of incremental pre-tax mortgage banking income to the bottom line relative to the year prior. The level of earnings, which are below some higher rated institutions, represents the main hurdle for upwards rating momentum over the intermediate term.

RATING DRIVERS AND SENSITIVITIES - IDRs and VRs
Over the more medium term, ratings could benefit from controlled, strategic balance sheet growth, combined with costs savings realized through efficiency measures. Conversely, a sharp reverse in asset quality trends, particularly in the growing C&I book, could negatively impact both ASBC's rating and outlook. Further, more aggressive capital management at bank or holding company level could lead to negative rating actions.

RATING DRIVERS AND SENSITIVITIES - Support Ratings and Support Floor Ratings:
All of the mid-tier regional banks in the peer group have Support Ratings of '5' and Support Floor Ratings of 'NF'. In Fitch's view, the mid-tier banks are not considered systemically important and therefore, Fitch believes the probability of support is unlikely. IDRs and VRs do not incorporate any government support for any of the banks in the mid-tier regional bank peer group.

RATING DRIVERS AND SENSITIVITIES - Subordinated Debt and Other Hybrid Securities:
Subordinated debt and hybrid capital instruments issued by the banks are notched down from the issuers' VRs in accordance with Fitch's assessment of each instrument's respective non-performance and relative loss severity risk profiles, which vary considerably. The ratings of subordinated debt and hybrid securities are sensitive to any change in the banks' VRs or to changes in the banks' propensity to make coupon payments that are permitted but not compulsory under the instruments' documentation.

RATING DRIVERS AND SENSITIVITIES - Holding Company:
All of the entities reviewed in the mid-tier regional bank group have a bank holding company structure with the bank as the main subsidiary. All subsidiaries are considered core to parent holding company supporting equalized ratings between bank subsidiaries and bank holding companies. IDRs and VRs are equalized with those of its operating companies and banks reflecting its role as the bank holding company, which is mandated in the U.S. to act as a source of strength for its bank subsidiaries.

RATING DRIVERS AND SENSITIVITIES - Subsidiary and Affiliated Company Rating:
All of the entities reviewed in the mid-tier regional bank group factor in a high probability of support from parent institutions to its subsidiaries. This reflects the fact that performing parent banks have very rarely allowed subsidiaries to default. It also considers the high level of integration, brand, management, financial and reputational incentives to avoid subsidiary defaults.

Fitch has affirmed the following ratings:

Associated Banc-Corp.
--Long-term IDR at 'BBB-'; Outlook Positive;
--Senior unsecured debt at 'BBB-';
--Viability at 'bbb-'.
--Subordinated at from 'BB+';
--Preferred stock at 'B';
--Short-term IDR at 'F3';
--Commercial paper at 'F3';
--Support at '5';
--Support floor at 'NF'.

Associated Bank, NA
--Long-term IDR at 'BBB-'; Outlook Positive;
--Viability at 'bbb-';
--Long-term deposits at 'BBB';
--Long-term senior debt at 'BBB-';
--Short-term IDR at 'F3';
--Support at '5';
--Support floor at 'NF';
--Short-term deposits at 'F2'.

Associated Trust Company, NA
--Long-term IDR at 'BBB-'; Outlook Positive;
--Viability at 'bbb-';
--Short-term IDR at 'F3'
--Support at '5';
--Support floor at 'NF'.

Additional information is available at www.fitchratings.com. The ratings were unsolicited and have been provided by Fitch as a service to investors.

In addition to the source(s) of information identified in Fitch's Master Criteria, these actions were additionally informed by information provided by the companies.
Applicable Criteria and Related Research:
--'Risk Radar' (Jan. 16, 2013);
--'U.S. Banks: Rationalizing the Branch Network (Witness the Incredible Shrinking Branch Network)' (Sept. 17, 2012);
--'U.S. Banks: Mortgage Representations and Warranties (Banks Increase Reserves; Uncertainty Remains)' (Aug. 20, 2012)
--'Global Financial Institutions Rating Criteria' (Aug. 15, 2012);
--'Rating FI Subsidiaries and Holding Companies' (Aug. 10, 2012);
--'Treatment of Unrealized Losses in U.S. Bank Capital Rule Proposal (Pro-Cyclical Capital Policy to Create Greater Capital Volatility for Banks)' (Aug. 7, 2012);
--'Basel III: Return and Deleveraging Pressures' (May 17, 2012);
--'Assessing and Rating Bank Subordinated and Hybrid Securities' (Dec. 05, 2012).

ALL FITCH CREDIT RATINGS ARE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS. PLEASE READ THESE LIMITATIONS AND DISCLAIMERS BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: HTTP://FITCHRATINGS.COM/UNDERSTANDINGCREDITRATINGS. IN ADDITION, RATING DEFINITIONS AND THE TERMS OF USE OF SUCH RATINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE AGENCY'S PUBLIC WEBSITE WWW.FITCHRATINGS.COM. PUBLISHED RATINGS, CRITERIA AND METHODOLOGIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THIS SITE AT ALL TIMES. FITCH'S CODE OF CONDUCT, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AFFILIATE FIREWALL, COMPLIANCE AND OTHER RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE 'CODE OF CONDUCT' SECTION OF THIS SITE.

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Fitch Affirms Associated Banc-Corp's IDRs at 'BBB-/F3' Following Mid-Tier Regional Peer Review

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