CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:
CREDIT CARD BANKS, though not hit as hard by the fair-lending issue as their mortgage counterparts, are starting to face up to it. "The character brochures issued by credit card companies are not diversified" in terms of race and gender, says Emily Gunter, a consultant for Orchard Bankcard Services. Page 16
WASHINGTON:
THE FEDERAL RESERVE eased its Fed Wire transfer rules to free banks from having to approve each transaction carried out by a third party. The change is expected to save banks money. Page 2
SINCE THE REPUBLICAN sweep last November, Rep. Marge Roukema, the new chairwoman of House Banking's powerful financial institutions subcommittee, has been forced to thrust herself into a host of complex issues facing the financial industry. Page 3
REGIONAL BANKING:
W. BRENT ROBINSON, retail chief of American Savings Bank since 1987, resigned abruptly after what was called a "serious disagreement" with top management. He had been executive vice president in charge of the 159- branch network at the nation's fourth-largest thrift. Page 4
COMMUNITY BANKING:
MICHIGAN's Franklin Bank has scored a touchdown with its 1994 annual report. The $426 million-asset bank designed an annual that looks - right down to the full-color photos of muddy football players - like a sports tabloid. Page 6
AN OHIO GROUP seeking to open a community bank says it got nonbinding statements of interest totaling $4.7 million, or 94% of its capital goal, during a preliminary capital campaign in July. An initial public offering will begin Tuesday. Page 6
COMPLIANCE:
INDUSTRY representatives want the Federal Reserve Board to provide more guidance on Home Mortgage Disclosure Act compliance. A staff commentary proposed June 2 leaves too many questions unanswered, they said. Page 9
PROACTIVE, a compliance software vendor based in Atlanta, has set its sights on serving the industry's biggest players after signing up CoreStates Financial. Since its founding in 1993, its customers have been mainly small banks. Page 9
MORTGAGES:
FIRST MORTGAGE Corp. reported improved results for its first fiscal quarter, which ended June 30. Net income for the quarter was $1 million, compared with a loss the year before of $618,000. Page 12
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:
ACQUISITIONS and joint ventures in the money management industry climbed to a record 52 during the first half, including eight involving banks, a consultant says. Page 14
TECHNOLOGY:
SALEM FIVE CENTS Savings Bank has added banking by personal computer - becoming one of the few institutions with less than $1 billion of assets to offer PC banking. Page 18
FINANCE:
PRUDENTIAL Securities resumed coverage of regional banks with analyst Ruchi Madan posting "buy" ratings on Norwest and First Tennessee National. Both have better revenue and earnings growth prospects than the industry as a whole, she says. Back page
