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FIRST UNION Corp. found an attractively priced way to expand in Florida with its $188 million agreement to buy Society First Federal Savings Bank of Fort Myers, analysts said. Page 4 ABN AMRO North America Inc. said it has formed the largest thrift in Illinois by merging two of its other LaSalle institutions into LaSalle Bank FSB, its $10.3 billion-asset subsidiary. Page 4 WASHINGTON: JOHN P. RELMAN, a leading public advocate of fair lending, is trying to make settlements in loan bias suits high enough to attract private-sector litigators. Page 3 HANDING retail lenders another victory, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that the state cannot prevent out-of-state credit card companies from charging fees to its residents. Page 2 INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: BANK SALES of fixed annuities plummeted to one-fourth of their year-earlier level in the third quarter as customers continued their flight to certificates of deposit and mutual funds. Page 7 COMMUNITY BANKING: POISED to take advantage of a strong economy and an infusion of high-tech money, Oregon's community banks could be on the verge of an unprecedented period of growth, observers say. Page 8 FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN and a rapidly changing marketplace are driving community bank directors back to classrooms and seminars in record numbers. The demand for bank directors' training is spawning a cottage industry of consultants, according to the American Association of Bank Directors. Page 9 CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:

HOUSEHOLD International, which rose to credit card prominence through alliances with General Motors and other cobranding partners, has brought US West into its fold. Page 10

KEY FEDERAL Savings Bank's latest affinity product is a secured MasterCard for Hispanics. Page 10 MORTGAGES: THE SHUTDOWN of the federal government ended just in time for most lenders, who struggled gamely through the four-day furlough to conduct business as usual. Page 12 TECHNOLOGY: AS THE INTERNET reconfigures typical business transactions, U.S. law enforcement officials are trying to figure out how to police and regulate commerce in the new jurisdiction known as cyberspace. Page 13 FINANCE: ZIONS BANCORP.'s soaring share price brought it a downgrade from one analyst, and others are backing off from strong "buy" recommendations. The outlook for the Utah bank is still considered positive. Back page ASSET-BASED lenders are turning to third-party inventory evaluators to get the inside story on the financial condition of borrowers, says consultant Stevan Buxbaum. Page 18

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