WASHINGTON
Despite objections by the President, a House Banking subcommittee was expected to pass a bill Wednesday to modernize the Federal Home Loan Bank System. Page 2
REGIONAL BANKING
As head of a new BankAmerica marketing group, Gary J. Matus is charged with devising new ways to leverage the bank's vast customer data base. Page 4
Following other regionals, New Jersey's Summit Bancorp is moving into supermarket banking with plans to open 70 in-store branches by the end of 1998. Page 4 SPECIAL REPORT
The American Banker takes a close look at the new breed of giants taking shape in the banking industry. Though the partners in these deals are pursuing some compelling strategies, they will also face some clear challenges in the future. A key question: Will the managements of these megabanks be up to the task? Pullout section
COMMUNITY BANKING
Resistance by Florida banks forced the state's comptroller to abandon a yearlong effort to reassign his agency's bank regulatory powers to another state office. Page 17
It may sound like New Age pseudoscience, but graphology - the study of handwriting for character analysis - is a handy personnel tool for some bankers. Page 17
COMPLIANCE
Bankers at the BAI '96 compliance conference were flocking to sessions on the new Community Reinvestment Act and revised money-laundering rules. Page 18
The scores of state and federal restrictions on bank advertising are a minefield for some lenders. Just ask Cambridge Savings Bank. Page 18
MORTGAGES
Fannie Mae has chopped $50 million off its lending volume forecast for 1996. The agency says '96 lending still will be about 14% more than in 1995. Page 20
The Department of Housing and Urban Development began spring cleaning last week, selling 16,231 single-family mortgages to the private market. Page 21
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Mutual fund dealers big decision once was wether to go load or no-load. Now they face murkier questions and growing customer demands. Page 22
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Gemplus, the French smart card manufacturer, shook up its North American staff, replacing president Dan Cunningham. Page 26
FINANCE
National City Corp. appears to be the first casualty of new SEC guidelines on merger-related accounting. The bank plans to forgo the remainder of an ambitious buyback. Back page
