NEW YORK - Metris Companies Inc., the credit card-issuing monoline, is evaluating acquisitions of NextCard Inc. and Providian Financial Corp., troubled card companies that recently began exploring strategic options.
"We are taking a look at NextCard," David Wesselink, a vice chairman at Metris, said Wednesday at the U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Financial Services Conference.
Mr. Wesselink said Metris, which specializes in subprime lending, is "taking a wait-and-see attitude toward Providian" but he would not rule out a bid for the company.
