WASHINGTON
Industry leaders continue to oppose sweeping banking legislation, even though the latest version would write into law much of a Supreme Court ruling allowing national banks to sell insurance from small towns. Page 2
A split among community advocacy groups is smoothing the way for mergers. National groups push for big CRA commitments; local groups fight to save branches. Banks can choose whose support to seek. Page 4
REGIONAL BANKING
To expand capital markets operations in Europe, NationsBank will double the capital of its London-based bank and open a Frankfurt branch. Page 5
text here. Page 5
COMMUNITY BANKING
A small bank in Yreka, Calif. (pop. 7,000) is heading toward the big city; it's opening a commercial branch just north of Oakland. "Independent banks can afford to be on the offensive," says the CEO. Page 7
Farm bankers like the streamlined CRA guidelines that took effect Jan. 1. Documentation has been their biggest frustration, and that's just what the new rules deemphasize. Page 7
SMALL BUSINESS
Anthony Abbate sees himself as a street fighter. His New Jersey bank is no match for the giants in its midst, but he's betting it can compete. Page 16
More banks are automating and streamlining their small-business activities in the face of growing competition from nonbanks. Page 17
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Banks in cash management are facing a tough question: Should they offer top fund companies' money market funds? Page 18
Union Bank of California is giving away Quicken Financial Planner software to retirement-account customers. Page 18
MORTGAGES
Manufactured-housing shipments are expected to shrink slightly this year, the rise again 1997 and 1998. Page 20
RAC Financial, a Dallas specialist in home improvement loans, has a deal to buy Denver's Mortgage Plus. Page 21
TECHNOLOGY
Newly merged Chase Manhattan dropped Fiserv as a check processor. Chase will pay $15 million as an exit fee from the $480 million contract. Page 22
NationsBank is streamlining the processing of car loans. New software links it with dealerships. Page 24
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Advanta Corp. near Phil-adelphia has contributed $1 million to bring a Cezanne exhibit to the city and is funding a TV special and an educational CD-ROM. Page 25
DataCard Corp. is marketing a way for issuers of cobranded and affinity cards to custom print them with whatever image the cardholder wants. Page 25
MARKET MONITOR
Card company insiders sold more than 2.3 million shares in the first two months of 1996, amid concerns about consumer debt levels and delinquencies. Page 31
Stock of Olympic Financial, an auto finance company, has jumped since it announced plans for a $120 million secondary offering. Back page
