OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings affirms the senior and subordinate notes at issued by Educational Funding of the South, Inc. 2011-1 (EFS 2011-1). The Rating Outlook remains Stable for all of the notes.

KEY RATING DRIVERS

High Collateral Quality: The trust collateral comprises 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. Fitch currently rates the U.S. 'AAA' with a Stable Outlook.

Sufficient Credit Enhancement: While both the senior and subordinate notes will benefit from overcollateralization (OC; the excess of trust's asset balance over bond balance) and future excess spread, the senior notes also benefit from subordination provided by the class B note. As of the September 2015 collection period, reported senior and total parity is at 119.98% and 109.21%, respectively. Additionally, the trust is in turbo and no cash can be released until all the notes have been paid in full. Furthermore, Fitch's ratings only address timely interest payment for class A notes and class B notes up to interest cap on each distribution date. The ratings do not address the ultimate payment of class B carryover amount.

Adequate Liquidity Support: Liquidity support is provided by a Debt Service Reserve Fund currently sized at the greater of 0.50% of the outstanding note balance, and 0.15% of the initial note balance. As of September 2015, the debt service reserve fund balance is $2,229,138.

Acceptable Servicing Capabilities: Day-to-day servicing is provided by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), which Fitch deems to be an acceptable FFELP student loan servicer.

On Dec. 4, 2015, Fitch published its exposure draft which delineates revisions it plans to make to the 'Rating U.S. Federal Family Education Loan Program Student Loan ABS Criteria', dated June 23, 2014. Fitch has reviewed this transaction under both the existing and proposed criteria, which has resulted in affirming the EFS 2011-1 notes and maintaining Outlook Stable.

RATING SENSITIVITIES
Since the FFELP student loan ABS relies 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, basis risk, and loan extension risk account for the majority of the risk embedded in FFELP student loan transactions. Additional defaults, basis shock beyond Fitch's published stresses, lower than expected payment speed, and other factors could result in future downgrades. Likewise, a buildup of CE driven by positive excess spread given favorable basis factor conditions could lead to future upgrades.

DUE DILIGENCE USAGE
No third party due diligence was provided or reviewed in relation to this rating action.

Fitch has affirmed the following ratings:

Educational Funding of the South, Inc. Series 2011-1:
--Class A-2 at 'AAAsf'; Outlook Stable;
--Class B at 'AA+sf'; Outlook Stable.