Today's News

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS:

ANALYSTS WERE IMPRESSED with Banc One's plans for a second attempt at building a nationwide investment sales operation. The Ohio banking company had to cope with internal tumult and employee defections after pulling the plug on the previous effort.

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THE SQUEEZE on income from managed health care has sent doctors in search of investment help. Private bankers see that as a big opportunity.

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WASHINGTON:

Fed Vice Chairman Alan Blinder announced his resignation, effective Jan. 31. He plans to return to teaching at Princeton. Industry sources speculated about a replacement, reiterating demands for a banker.

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THE OTS published a proposal to cut loan documentation requirements and relax commercial lending limits for the savings institutions it regulates. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING:

THE BATTLE OVER the federal budget may be ugly, but it's the epitome of democracy in action, writes William M. Isaac. By contrast, Congress' handling of priority baking legislation has been disgraceful, he says.

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COMPLIANCE:

Consultant JoAnn Barefoot says more banks than ever are bringing in outsiders to help with compliance work. But some bank compliance officers - mainly those at large institutions say the recent compliance outsourcing boom is waning.

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THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, struggling to ease anti-laundering regulations, will soon exempt banks from filing currency transaction reports on companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

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TECHNOLOGY:

IN SIGNING a relatively small manufacturer as its first customer for electronic data interchange services, Nashville's First American is angling to explode the truism that the service is only for big companies. Page 10

IN A NEW TWIST on outsourcing pacts, Swiss Bank Corp. completed a deal in which Dallas-based Perot Systems will manage its technology services and the bank will get an option on 25% equity in Perot.

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COMMUNITY BANKING:

BANKERS AND REGULATORS in Connecticut hope to avoid a struggle with federal officials by adopting new state rules for stock conversions of mutual savings banks.

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POLITICAL CHANGES in Kentucky could snuff out a state-funded program for small-business lending that has drawn bankers' ire. Some said they won't participate again, because of procedural obstacles and complex regulations.

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CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs:

MASTERCARD HAS HIRED two executives to help buttress its year- old global point of interaction group, formed to ensure acceptance of the MasterCard at points of sale around the world.

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MORTGAGES:

AMERICAN AIRLINES is launching a program that rewards borrowers who make payments on mortgage interest - one bonus mile for each $1 of interest paid. As many as 15 lenders are expected to take part in the endeavor, the airline said.

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THE SOBERING credit outlook for the next few years includes a dramatic increase in loan delinquencies, led by a affordable housing sector and refi, an analyst says.

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FINANCE:

BANK STOCKS ROSE Wednesday as solid earnings news and declining rates continued to boost the sector. The Standard & Poor's bank index rose 0.16%.

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