Today's News

WASHINGTON:

HOUSE BANKING Committee Chairman Jim Leach blasted the comptroller of the currency, accusing him of intimidating bank presidents in an effort to maintain regulatory turf. Page 2

A TRADE GROUP for foreign banks released a study that may provide ammunition for lawmakers who want to let banks underwrite securities with few restrictions. It found that virtually all major nations permit such activity within banks themselves, rather than requiring separately capitalized affiliates. Page 2

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:

AFFILIATED COMPUTER Services' Thomas M. Rouse says the huge ATM network's deal with Card Capture Services is a major step forward. The 450 teller machines involved will bring the total for Affiliated's MoneyMaker network to nearly 3,500.

Page 12

MASTERCARD, responding to a decision by Visa and Microsoft to publish a standard for secure on-line payments without its input, posted its own draft specifications on the Internet. Page 12

REGIONAL BANKING:

TRADING LOSSES at Daiwa Bank Ltd. - following similar incidents at Barings and Chemical - mean banks need to intensify internal controls, bankers and analysts said. Page 4

H.F. AHMANSON'S PLAN to repurchase up to $250 million of its stock may foretell a trend among big California thrifts.

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INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:

BANKS ARE snapping up U.S. money management firms at a record pace this year, but the biggest prizes are going to nonbanks. Page 10

MELLON WILL OFFER private banking to customers of little Golden Gate Bank in San Francisco. It's a first for the big Pittsburgh bank.

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COMMUNITY BANKING:

CAN YOU IGNORE the competition on deposit interest and still be profitable? American Banker found 206 community banks that pay less than 3% and have ROAs of more than 0.5%.

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MORTGAGES:

AS A LANDMARK mortgage discrimination suit against NationsBank works its way through the courts, one thing is clear: Despite years of talk and action on this thorny issue, lenders and community activists are as far apart as ever. Where lenders say they see high risk, consumer advocates see prejudice. Page 8

WILL NORWEST MORTGAGE's ground-breaking alliance with Wells Fargo spawn imitators? Norwest lenders are serving up Norwest products at Wells' 616 California branches. Never before has one banking company allowed another such direct access to its customers.

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FINANCE:

BANKAMERICA stock has been rising lately, spurring some debate among analysts over just how high it will fly. The price rose 75 cents to $63 after a Morgan Stanley upgrade to "strong buy" from "outperform." Back page

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