TECHNOLOGY:
SCOTT COOK's use of testimonials in his presentation at the Bank Administration Institute retail delivery conference caused one banker to chide the Intuit CEO, saying: "Nice commercial, Scott." Page 16
WASHINGTON:
A PROPOSAL to require federal agencies to charge for examinations of state-chartered banks has been resurrected by the Clinton administration. Page 4
THE DUAL GOALS of D.C.'s new superintendent of banking and financial institutions - encouraging more large national banks to do business in the nation's capital and improving banks' adherence to CRA commitments made in the late 1980s - may be easier said than done. Page 4
REGIONAL BANKING:
IN WHAT MAY BE the first in a series of international divestitures stemming from its pending merger with Chase, Chemical confirmed that it is negotiating the sale of its holdings in Banco Chemical (Portugal) to another Lisbon-based bank, Banco Espirito Santo e Comercial. Page 7
AN AD CAMPAIGN to encourage spending - featuring competing bank executives giving a unified thumbs up - has played to mixed reviews in Hawaii, which is still recovering from an economic downturn. Page 5
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:
BANKERS WHO HOPE to convert their common trust assets into mutual funds without triggering a tax bite will have to cross their fingers and wait a little longer. Page 8
COMMUNITY BANKING:
ILLINOIS recently became the first state to pass legislation that limits lender liability concerning the cleanup of contaminated industrial sites. Page 10
AFTER RECEDING SHARPLY in the early 1990s in the wake of the savings and loan debacle, federal thrift charters have staged a comeback in the last three years. Page 10
MORTGAGES:
FREDDIE MAC, seeking more prompt appraisals, says it is beefing up the collateral assessment features of its automated underwriting system. Page 14
MORTGAGE LENDERS are unlikely to experience the traditional late- fall and winter doldrums this time around, the experts say. Page 14
FINANCE:
SHARES OF FIRST USA Inc. gained after officials of the credit card company told analysts they might consider selling its merchant processing business. Back page
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:
FIRST USA, the nation's third-ranked credit card issuer, is appealing to music lovers with its latest niche product - the Sam Goody Visa. Page 15
BANCO POPULAR, Puerto Rico's largest issuer of credit cards, has responded to increased competition by issuing a rare product for the island - a card that rewards customers with points redeemable for merchandise or cash. Page 15
