07:59 AM EDT, 06/07/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Moody's on Thursday placed the creditworthiness of six regional US banks under review for possible downgrades over their exposure to commercial real estate.

Among the banks were First Merchants ( FRME ) , F.N.B. (FNB), Fulton Financial ( FULT ) , Old National Bancorp ( ONB ) , Peapack-Gladstone Financial ( PGC ) l, and WaFd ( WAFD ) .

In its note regarding First Merchants ( FRME ), Moody's described "a substantial concentration in commercial real estate loans" that cause "ongoing asset quality and profitability pressures" as interest rates increase the bank's risks.

Regarding Fulton Financial ( FULT ), Moody's said that unlike its larger rivals, the bank is "not subject to the heightened prudential regulatory standards."