OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has affirmed the long-term ratings and Outlooks assigned to American Express Issuance Trust II. A detailed list of rating actions follows at the end of this release.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

The affirmation is based on continued positive trust performance. Gross yield has remained stable throughout the past year. As of the January 2015 reporting period, the 12-month average gross yield was 34.43%.

Monthly payment rate (MPR), a measure of how quickly consumers are paying off their credit card balance, has been consistent over the past year. Currently, the 12-month average is 93.88%. AEIT II's MPR is well above the industry average due to the high concentration of prime borrowers and the nature of charge cards. The Fitch Prime Credit Card Index was 28.65% for the January 2015 reporting period.

Gross charge-offs have remained at low levels throughout the year. Currently, the 12-month average is 1.63%. 60+ day delinquency levels have also remained at very low levels with a 12-month average 60+ day delinquency rate of 0.59%. Fitch expects chargeoff levels to remain stable in the near term given the high quality of the credit card portfolio.

Fitch runs cash flow breakeven analysis by applying stress scenarios to three-, six-, and 12-month performance averages to evaluate the breakeven loss multiples at different rating levels. The performance variables that Fitch stresses are the gross yield, MPR, gross charge-off, and purchase rates. Fitch's analysis included a comparison of observed performance trends over the past few months to Fitch's base case expectations for each outstanding rating category. As part of its ongoing surveillance efforts, Fitch will continue to monitor the performance of these trusts. For further information, please review the U.S. Credit Card ABS Issuance updates published on a monthly basis.

The affirmations are based on the performance of the trusts in line with expectations. The Stable Outlook indicates that Fitch expects the ratings will remain stable for the next one to two years.

Fitch's analysis included a comparison of observed performance trends over the past few months to Fitch's base case expectations for each outstanding rating category. As part of its ongoing surveillance efforts, Fitch will continue to monitor the performance of this trust.

RATING SENSITIVITIES

Fitch models three different scenarios when evaluating the rating sensitivity compared to expected performance for credit card asset-backed securities transactions: 1) increased defaults; 2) a reduction in MPR, and 3) a combination stress of higher defaults and lower MPR.

Increasing defaults and reducing MPR alone have the least impact on rating migration even in the most severe scenario of a 75% increase in defaults. The harshest scenario assumes both stresses in increased chargeoffs and reduction to MPR to occur simultaneously. As such, the ratings would only be migrated downward under the severe stress of a 50% increase in defaults and 20% reduction in MPR.

To date, the transactions have exhibited strong performance with all performance metrics within Fitch's initial expectations. For further discussion of Fitch's sensitivity analysis, please see the new issue report related to one of the transactions listed above.


Fitch has affirmed the following classes as indicated:

American Express Issuance Trust II Series 2013-1:
--Class A at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B at 'A+sf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class C at 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable.

American Express Issuance Trust II Series 2013-2:
--Class A at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B at 'A+sf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class C at 'BBBsf'; Outlook Stable.