WASHINGTON
Preparing against the possibility of an economic downturn, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency asked national banks to review their loan- loss reserves every quarter. Page 2
The SBA could conserve its scarce funds by eliminating government guarantees on seasoned loans and restricting credit to repeat borrowers, areport says. Page 4
CORPORATE FINANCE
Hicks, Muse, Tate &Furst, the Dallas-based buyout firm, is seeking $500 million for its first Latin American equity fund. Page 5
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
First Union's aggressive marketing campaign for its bundled brokerage and banking account has hit a speed bump, jostling loose a $100 incentive payment to customers opening the account. Page 14
Sanwa is planning to join the ranks of banks that offer their own mutual funds. Page 14
REGIONAL BANKING
Mergers and tighter credit standards have hurt relationships between banks and automobile dealers, according to a survey. More dealerships are unhappy with the banks and other companies that provide car loans and lease and dealer financing. Page 6
Developers broke ground for a 27-story office tower designed for up to 1,500 new employees of First Union Corp. in Charlotte, N.C. Page 7
MORTGAGES
The earnings drop at Cityscape Financial-its first ever-spurred talk that the bloom is off home equity lending. "There are problems throughout the whole sector," a Moody's analyst says. Page 8
TECHNOLOGY
ON-LINE BANKING: Brightware said its Internet "sales server" is ready, and Wells Fargo Bank is preparing to use it to deal with the rising volume of customer inquiries in its home banking program. Page 18
MARKET MONITOR
The big automakers are starting to move into subprime lending and may provide the seeds of renewal for that battered business. Page 26
Citicorp shares led a rally. Back page
WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL
Germany's Dresdner Bank will develop its U.S. operations but won't buy securities firms here, its top U.S. executive says. Page 12
