Today's News

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs: SBC COMMUNICATIONS, formerly Southwestern Bell, will become the fourth of the seven Baby Bells to put out a cobranded credit card - a Visa product to be issued in conjunction with Mercantile Card Services. Page 13 WASHINGTON: AFTER THREE YEARS in regulatory limbo, a plan limiting the exit packages paid to officials at ailing banks is being resurrected by the government. Page 3 A NATIONAL community organization is demanding that the Federal Reserve Board block a bid by Boatmen's Bancshares to acquire Worthen Banking Corp. Page 2 REGIONAL BANKING: QUITE A FEW banking players went limping from the field in the fourth quarter, and analysts say some of these difficulties are unlikely to go away in 1995. Page 6 COMMUNITY BANKING: MERGER ACTIVITY in community banking is heating up again east of the Mississippi, as two deals and one set of negotiations were announced just days after the end of the most active year in recent memory. Page 12 MORTGAGES: TOUGHER affordable-housing targets for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be delayed if congressional Republicans freeze federal rule making until July. Page 8 THE NATION'S second-largest pension fund may soon begin offering reverse mortgages to its members. Page 8 INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: FORD MOTOR CO. has yanked a retirement plan servicing contract away from Detroit's Comerica Inc. and handed it to Fidelity Investments. Page 10 FURASH & CO., a prominent bank consulting firm, has agreed to be acquired by a New York company with marketing, public relations, and executive search arms. Page 10 TECHNOLOGY: HARDWARE VENDOR Stratus Computer has set up a new software unit and hired well-known banking systems specialist Robert E. Lund to run it. Page 5 FINANCE: IN THE LATEST sign of concern over the impact of rising rates on adjustable-rate-mortgage lenders, a Goldman Sachs analyst downgraded Golden West Financial to "market performer" from "moderate outperformer." Back page A FORMER New York City detective has redirected his investigative skills to the derivatives market - compiling a report on losses at more than 30 banks worldwide. Page 18