Today's News

WASHINGTON

Banks are demanding too many changes in his Glass-Steagall reform, complains House Banking Committee Chairman Jim Leach. Page 4

The Fed has failed to retrieve two documents it accidentally disclosed to a community group opposing the Chase-Chemical merger. Page 2

SMALL BUSINESS

Business banking via personal computer will take off in the next few years, lenders and industry experts say. Page 5

Meridian agreed to a $1.6 million settlement with the federal government to resolve an SBA fraud allegation. Page 6

REGIONAL BANKING

Centura Banks announced a deal to open 24 in-store branches in 18 months, giving it dominance in North Carolina supermarket banking. Page 10

Rosemarie Greco was named president of CoreStates Financial, making her the highest-ranking woman in commercial banking. Page 8

MARKET MONITOR

Most bank mergers hurt shareholder value, Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette analyst Thomas K. Brown contended at a Bank Administration Institute conference. Mr. Brown singled out PNC, Fleet Financial, First Union, Amsouth, First of America, and National City as frequent dealmakers whose stock prices have lagged. Back page

Shares of Commerce Bancorp. have surged 22% as investors may finally have warmed to the New Jersey bank's unusual "bricks and mortar" strategy. Page 29

MORTGAGES

After three years of poor to mediocre business, the Seattle mortgage market is starting to make a comeback. Page 14

The Public Securities Association has said a proposal to securitize a larger proportion of interest payments on home loans would not meet bond- industry criteria. Page 14

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

After years of helping banks set up and run investment sales programs, third-party marketing firms are now rushing to add life insurance to the mix. Page 16

Deutsche Bank Trust, a newcomer to U.S. private banking, is aiming to have $10 billion under management by the year 2000. Page 20

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Diners Club has protested a plan by Visa International to prevent its members overseas from issuing competing card brands, sources say. Page 21

Waiters at two Planet Hollywood eateries this fall will prompt diners to pay with their Maestro on-line debit cards instead of cash. Page 21

COMMUNITY BANKING

Charles Stoner, CEO of Welch State Bank in Oklahoma, is breathing a sigh of relief. He had worried that new Community Reinvestment Act exams would jeopardize his bank's prized "outstanding" rating. Page 22

Telebanc Financial, the thrift that treats the nation as its core deposit area, is taking advantage of the upheaval in retail banking to buy telephone-generated deposits out of branch and deposit dispositions. Page 22

TECHNOLOGY

Shares of Security First Network Bank skyrocketed after its initial public offering, underlining Wall Street's love affair with the Internet. Page 24

Meca Software is grabbing for market share by introducing pared-down versions of its flagship product. Page 25

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