Today's News

WASHINGTON

The Comptroller's Office is creating best-practices guidelines for community development lending. Page 3

The Bankers Roundtable, holding out for more powers, will oppose the latest version of Glass-Steagall reform. Page 2

COMMUNITY BANKING

Crop insurance is being touted as the answer to the federal government's shrinking agriculture safety net - and farm lenders see it as an opportunity. Page 5

A community bank in Truckee is the first in California to take advantage of the state's early opt-in to interstate branching. Page 5

MORTGAGES

Banks are facing tougher examinations of their residential lending activities this year. Page 6

Industry experts are keeping a wary eye on skyrocketing personal bankruptcy filings, up 27% in the first four months of 1996. Page 6

REGIONAL BANKING

After doubling in size and running out of space at its Flushing headquarter s, GreenPoint Financial said it will split its administrat ive and management operations between Manhattan and Long Island. Thomas S. Johnson, chairman and chief executive, predicted earnings would build "momentum through the year." Page 8

Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan is seeking a buyer for its government securities dealer, Greenwich Capital Markets. Page 8

SMALL BUSINESS

As much as money, entrepreneurs want faith, communication, and commitment from their banks. Page 11

Fair, Isaac & Co. is crafting a product designed to let banks offer preapproved credit to small businesses nationwide. Page 13

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

American Express and Advanta are sampling small-business owners' appetites for office equipment leases. Page 15

First Chicago NBD, facing competitive pressure, is sprucing up the offerings of its Marriott Honored Guests Visa program. Page 16

TECHNOLOGY

Netscape Communications is throwing down the gauntlet with product announcements in the battle over electronic commerce. Page 18

Kentucky's Cardinal Bancshares is spinning off its Internet banking unit, Security First Network Bank. Page 17

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Bank mutual fund executives are bracing for the release this week of the FDIC's long-awaited study of banks' fund sales practices. Page 23

MARKET MONITOR

Some Wall Street analysts think it's high time to hunt for good bank stocks to buy for late in an economic expansion. Page 29

The settlement between Bankers Trust and Procter & Gamble was a double- barreled victory for the derivatives industry. Back page

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