Today's News

WASHINGTON

House approval of financial reform legislation this year is increasingly unlikely-but not impossible. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

A writeoff by Magna Group of St. Louis has sparked a debate among analysts over what an "extraordinary item" is. Page 4

Colonial BancGroup in Alabama has a new president, but the founder is far from stepping aside. Page 4

COMMUNITY BANKING

Worried that customers will finance their fire trucks and backhoes somewhere else, community banks are buying equipment leasing companies and starting their own. Page 5

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Former BankAmerica chairman Richard M. Rosenberg, electronic banking pioneer Richard P. Yanak, and the late founders of Fair, Isaac & Co. are due to receive honors from the ABA. Page 9

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Buying Barnett would vault NationsBank to No. 4 among bank mutual fund managers as well as put it in a hot market. Florida "may be the most lucrative mutual fund market they could be in," a consultant says, offering " far greater opportunity than other markets Nations historically has been in." Page 8

More than three months after the head of its private client services group resigned, Fleet continues to search for a successor. Page 8

MORTGAGES

A California lender is taking high-loan-to-value mortgage products in a new direction with a loan that travels with borrowers when they move. Page 6

First Nationwide, the 10th-largest servicer, is taking a breather from its rapid expansion program. Page 6

The executive who oversaw day-to-day operations at Banc One Mortgage has left to join a consulting firm. Page 6

CORPORATE FINANCE

Standard & Poor's has teamed up with a syndications data base and research firm to develop information products for the bank loan market. Page 7

With bankers returning to syndication desks after the late-August doldrums, several new credits were announced this week. Page 7

MARKET MONITOR

People's Bank is paying $164 million for another Connecticut institution. Page 18

Merrill Lynch is venturing into exotic asset-backeds. Back page

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