OREANDA-NEWS. September 15, 2015.  Fitch Ratings has affirmed Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC's (BLS) U.S. residential special and small balance commercial servicer ratings as follows:

--U.S. Residential Special Servicer Rating at 'RSS2+'; Outlook Stable;
--U.S. Small Balance Commercial Primary Servicer Rating at 'SBPS2+'; Outlook Stable;
--U.S. Small Balance Commercial Special Servicer Rating at 'SBSS2+'; Outlook Stable.

The ratings affirmation and Stable Outlook reflect BLS's corporate governance, risk management, and quality control/quality assurance enhancements that the servicer completed during the review period. These changes should help BLS to maintain control in an increasingly regulated environment. In addition, the servicer strengthened its pre-boarding process and completed several senior management changes, which included filling the position of head of loan servicing.

The ratings also take into consideration the servicer's corporate growth strategies and diversification of its platform to include non-performing agency loans and increased subservicing arrangements. The servicer expects to maintain its special servicing capabilities as it enhances its effectiveness as a component servicer.

For this review period, the servicer made enhancements to its staff training and development program, which included the introduction of a new learning management system to house its training programs. The new system facilitates increased functionalities, including improved reporting features for its managers and supervisory members. In addition, BLS streamlined its compliance training program to align with the distinct business functions performed by its employees.

BLS provides full-service residential-mortgage, small balance commercial and commercial loan special servicing with its main location in Coral Gables, FL, with two additional sites in FL, and offices in TX, and PA. The platforms utilize the same staff for systems functionalities, which include, client/customer web based and telephony systems. The servicing platforms utilize shared services for its special loans, cash management, escrow administration and foreclosure action responsibilities.

As of June 30, 2015, BLS serviced 104,847 residential mortgage loans totaling \\$22.8 billion. This is further broken down by product as follows: private RMBS 49,152 loans totaling \\$9.5 billion, third-party servicing 30,613 loans totaling \\$8.9 billion, an affiliate-owned portfolio of 25,024 loans totaling \\$4.3 billion, and agency 58 loans totaling \\$1.5 million.

In addition, the servicer primary serviced 5,490 small balance commercial loans totaling \\$1.6 billion and special serviced 1,538 small balance commercial loans totaling \\$514 million.

Fitch does not publicly rate the credit and financial strength of BLS or its parent, Bayview Asset Management, LLC (BAM). However, Fitch's financial institutions group reviewed BLS's financial statements to provide an internal assessment, as a company's financial condition is a component of Fitch's servicer rating analysis.

BLS is the servicing arm of BAM, which was created in October 2008 with Blackstone Capital Partners, an affiliate of The Blackstone Group, holding a minority ownership interest. The parent is a privately held fund management business involved in mortgage acquisition and securitization.