WASHINGTON
Congress recruited the General Accounting Office to help probe alleged mismanagement at the National Credit Union Administration. Page 2
An administrative law judge denied the Farm Credit System's request for a credit union charter, saying its proposed field of membership is too broad. Page 2
COMMUNITY BANKING
For many farmers in the Upper Midwest, too much rain is threatening feed crops, and may impair their ability to repay loans on time. Page 7
REGIONAL BANKING
One year from today, Hong Kong will officially become a Chinese territory again. And many U.S. bankers doing business in the bustling trade hub see a future filled with dollar signs. Page 8
MORTGAGES
RAC Financial Corp., a home equity loan wholesaler, has decided to head into retail, with a new name, FirstPlus Financial Group. Page 15
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
The term "benchmarking" has become an industry buzzword. Experts like consultant Juliet Kontaxis caution that not all benchmark studies are created equal - and the pitfalls of the process must be understood to preserve its effectiveness. The more comprehensive type of study, called a "best practices analysis," "helped Swiss Bank tremendously," Ms. Kontaxis says. Pullout section
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Two of Signature Financial Group's biggest clients - J.P. Morgan and Citicorp - took most of their fund administration business to archrival State Street Boston. Page 16
Dutch-owned ABN Amro promoted an executive from its U.S. banking subsidiary to carry out its worldwide private banking expansion plan. Page 17
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
First USA and America Online launched a cobranded card that offers Internet users a break on browsing. Page 18
NationsBank will issue a stored value card for fans of the National Football League's Carolina Panthers to use at home games. Page 18
SMALL BUSINESS
A Canadian firm is marketing devices designed to keep small-business customers from clogging teller lines with swollen deposit pouches and demands for coins. Page 20
A unit to supply secured working capital to small businesses was set up by NationsBank. Page 20
TECHNOLOGY
Investors wary in advance of second-quarter earnings news gave bank technology stocks a mixed week. Page 23
Bankers have come away from early tests of the Internet both optimistic about its uses and concerned about data security, a survey found. Page 24
MARKET MONITOR
Short selling in the stocks of banks with strong consumer ties rose steeply in the four weeks ended June 14 - another sign of mounting concern over credit quality. Page 28
First Chicago NBD is considering sale of unprofitable parts of its corporate bank, officials told analysts. Back page
