WASHINGTON
The long-delayed rescue of the Savings Association Insurance Fund will be on the table this week as congressional leaders scramble to work up government debt and spending bills. Page 2
The OCC named Leann G. Britton, the senior deputy comptroller for supervision operations, as chief supervisor of national banks. Stephen R. Steinbrink, whom she'll replace, predicted major changes. "Our agency mirrors the industry that we supervise," he said. Page 2
REGIONAL BANKING
James Lang, the chairman and CEO of Firstar Bank of Iowa, is quitting in the wake of a corporate restructuring that reduced his powers. Last month Milwaukee-based Firstar Corp. announced a plan to cut 2,500 jobs. Page 5
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Some banks are taking over the management of their proprietary international mutual funds. "We believe that these markets will be the money-makers for the next 10 to 20 years," said a Wachovia portfolio manager. Page 7
Sales of unit investment trusts jumped 26% last year, but banks are shying away from offering this rare style of investing to their customers. Page 8
COMMUNITY BANKING
Both of Nebraska's main banking trade groups are supporting legislation to halt the creation of "phantom S&Ls" - thrifts that banks establish in order to turn them into bank branches, to get around a state bank on de- novo branching across county lines. Page 10
Here's a sign of things to come: The biggest independent bank in Idaho has only 12 branches, $250 million of assets - and a 2% deposit share. Page 10
TECHNOLOGY
Experts see a warning to banks in the plans of Verifone, the point of sale systems vendor, and Oracle, the relational data base firm, to produce a secure end-to-end payment system for the Internet by the third quarter. Page 14
Hewlett-Packard is buying the Internet security system of Secureware Inc., the software company behind Security First Network Bank, which bills itself as the first Internet-based bank. Page 12
MORTGAGES
Things look pretty good these days to Bruce Paradis, president of Residential Funding, which packages loans for sale in the secondary market. And if he is upbeat, banks that sell mortgages on Wall Street are likely to be faring well, too. Page 15
Home lenders can't rest on their laurels after originating a mortgage these days. Homeowners who want to refinance begin shopping around at the drop of a hat - or an interest rate. So lenders are focusing on how to encourage their borrowers not to jump ship. Page 15
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Shipments of automated teller machines jumped 14% last year to a record 24,300 machines, according to an industry newsletter. Much of the growth was in low-end cash dispensers and machines for nontraditional locations. Page 18
FINANCE
NationsBank stock rose after Lehman Brothers raised its earnings estimate and price target. The bank's stock had been hurt by concerns over its securities portfolio, a seemingly unfocused businesses strategy, and dilutive acquisitions. Back page
