Fiserv shares responded to the report with a 4.8% jump in premarket trading, reaching $54.24. The move offers a potential lifeline for the stock, which had shed more than 20% of its value since the start of the year. While the prospect of a deal has energized investors, the path to an acquisition remains highly uncertain.

People familiar with the internal discussions suggest that several of the aforementioned institutions have already cooled on the idea, deeming a formal move unlikely. Despite the preliminary nature of these talks, the mere possibility underscores the lengths to which major lenders will go to circumvent fee restrictions that have long pressured their bottom lines.