REGIONAL BANKING
EXPECTATION is growing among analysts that NationsBank will announce a stock split this year, possibly at $100 a share. Page 4
COMMUNITY BANKING
UNDER PRESSURE from its largest shareholder, a western Maryland thrift has hired a consultant to examine options including a sale. Page 6
THE AMERICAN Bankers Association's educational branch has forbidden an alliance between one of its Minnesota chapters and an independent bankers group there. Page 6
MORTGAGES
SLUGGISHNESS in the technology sector is putting the brakes on what has been an accelerated housing market in Austin, Tex. Page 8
BANKS, THRIFTS, and finance companies that make home equity loans are seeing a shift in favor of lines of credit and away from closed-end loans. Page 9
WASHINGTON
HOUSE BANKING Committee Democrats are trying to weaken regulatory relief contained in a compromise plan to shore up the Savings Association Insurance Fund. Led by Reps. Bruce Vento of Minnesota and John J. LaFalce of New York, the panel's Democrats hope to preserve a handful of consumer protection rules that Republicans want to dump. Page 2
BANKERS, insurance agents, and regulators have offered a host of suggestions for improving the OCC's proposed guidelines on insurance sales through banks. Page 2
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
IN A PILOT program targeting walk-ups, Norwest has stationed two discount brokers in a teller cage in a pedestrian area in Minneapolis. Page 11
A SMALL midwestern money management firm is hawking a global mutual fund with an unusual investment strategy. Page 11
TECHNOLOGY
ON-LINE BANKING: Block Financial is offering banks a utility to provide account access, bill payments, and connections to other on-line services. Page 14
CYBERCASH co-founder Magdalena Yesil has left the company to form her own electronic commerce firm. Page 15
FINANCE
DERIVATIVES traders are turning to emerging markets transactions as a more profitable alternative to common swaps. Page 18
LOSSES on consumer auto loans are on the rise, but banks have fared better than other auto lenders - so far. Back page
