Today's News

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:

BELL ATLANTIC has made it a clean sweep; now all the Baby Bells have joined the cobranding fray. Charles A. Schmidt of First Omni Bank in Delaware, which will issue Bell Atlantic's card, said the deal "will really put us on the map." Page 10

TRAVELERS GROUP's Travelers Bank USA will issue a Visa card tied to gay and lesbian causes.

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WASHINGTON:

RICKI HELFER, celebrating her first anniversary as FDIC chairman, said cuts in the agency's staff and expenses should let it reduce bank insurance costs.

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THE IBAA OFFERED grudging support for Rep. Jim Leach's broad package of Glass-Steagall repeal and regulatory relief. The proposed restriction on OCC power to let banks sell insurance isn't as bad as feared, the group's said. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING:

DAIWA BANK LTD. said it is reassessing its U.S. and international operations in the wake of massive trading losses.

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COMMUNITY BANKING:

THE HEAD of an inner-city Philadelphia bank says the time is right for bankers to pursue such markets. Page 6

IT PROBABLY RANKS among a bank chief executive's worst nightmares: A director blabs to a reporter about a split on the board over the company's future.

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MORTGAGES:

A WHOLESALE LENDER in Detroit is using Freddie Mac's automated underwriting system and its own videoconferencing system to speed loan approvals.

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HOME SALES have dropped sharply in Southern California and south Florida, according to TRW Redi Property Data.Page 13

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:

BANKS ARE coming under renewed pressure to refrain from selling their own mutual funds more aggressively than those run by other companies.

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THE BANK SECURITIES Association has opened a World Wide Web site on the Internet, hoping to use on-line technology to lure new members and unite factions within its industry. Page 9

TECHNOLOGY:

TARGETING the "mainstream corporate environment," Sun Microsystem is introducing a line of interactive video servers for financial institutions and other organizations. Page 17

FINANCE:

THE USUAL early-autumn falloff in bank bonds hasn't materialized. Not only have the securities maintained their appeal for investors, they have actually shown some improvement in the last few weeks, after a summer of consistent and strong performance. Page 22

PNC BANK CORP. came out swinging at critics of its planned buyout of Midlantic, asserting in a proxy statement that the deal would generate a higher return for shareholders than any alternatives, including the share- repurchase program it shelved. Back page

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