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Fitch Rates SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1
[January 28, 2014]

Fitch Rates SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1


NEW YORK --(Business Wire)--

Fitch Ratings has assigned ratings to SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1 as follows:

--$272,100,000 floating rate class A-1 notes 'AAAsf'; Rating Watch Negative;

--$184,000,000 floating rate class A-2 notes 'AAAsf'; Rating Watch Negative;

--$510,600,000 floating rate class A-3 notes 'AAAsf'; Rating Watch Negative;

--$27,300,000 floating rate class B notes 'A+sf'; Outlook Stable.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral consists of Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans with guaranties provided by eligible guarantors and reinsurance provided by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for at least 97% of principal and accrued interest.

Rating Watch Negative: All existing and new issuances of 'AAA' rated tranches of FFELP securitizations are on Rating Watch Negative following the revision of the long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) of the U.S.

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: Cash flow scenarios for class A and B notes were satisfactory under Fitch's stresses. At closing, total parity is expected to be 100.80% and senior parity is expected to be 103.64%. Total credit enhancement (CE) is provided by overcollateralization (OC; about $7.93 million at closing), excess spread and, in the case of class A notes, 2.75% subordination provided by the class B notes.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support for SLM 2014-1 notes is provided by a $4.98 million reserve account (0.50% of outstanding notes), funded at closing with note proceeds.

Targeted OC Level: CE must build to the greater of 1.00% of the adjusted pool balance, or $1.25 million before excess cash may be released from the trust.

Satisfactory Servicing Capabilities: Sallie Mae, Inc., as servicer, will be responsible for servicing the 2014-1 portfolio. Fitch believes Sallie Mae is an acceptable servicer of FFELP student loans.

RATING SENSITIVITY

Since FFELP student loan ABS (News - Alert) rely on the U.S. government to reimburse defaults, 'AAAsf' FFELP ABS ratings will likely move in tandem with the 'AAA' U.S. sovereign rating. Aside from the U.S. sovereign rating, defaults and basis risk account for the majority of the risk embedded in FFELP student loan transactions. Additional defaults and basis shock beyond Fitch's published stresses could result in future downgrades. Likewise, a buildup of credit enhancement driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.

Key Rating Drivers and Rating Sensitivities are further described in the presale report titled 'SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1', dated Jan. 13, 2014, available on www.fitchratings.com.



Additional information is available at 'www.fitchratings.com'.

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:


--'Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria' (May 24, 2013);

--'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria' (May 17, 2013);

--'SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1' (Jan. 13, 2013).

Applicable Criteria and Related Research:

Global Structured Finance Rating Criteria

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=708661

Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria -- Amended

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=708795

SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1 (US ABS)

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=729698

SLM Student Loan Trust 2014-1 -- Appendix

http://www.fitchratings.com/creditdesk/reports/report_frame.cfm?rpt_id=729736

Additional Disclosure

Solicitation Status

http://www.fitchratings.com/gws/en/disclosure/solicitation?pr_id=817635

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 (News - Alert) 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. FITCH MAY HAVE PROVIDED ANOTHER PERMISSIBLE SERVICE TO THE RATED ENTITY OR ITS RELATED THIRD PARTIES. DETAILS OF THIS SERVICE FOR RATINGS FOR WHICH THE LEAD ANALYST IS BASED IN AN EU-REGISTERED ENTITY CAN BE FOUND ON THE ENTITY SUMMARY PAGE FOR THIS ISSUER ON THE FITCH WEBSITE.


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