Today's News

WASHINGTON

Community Credit Union in Plano, Tex., became the first financial institution to sell U.S. savings bonds on-line.

text here. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

A tiny bank branch in rural Maryland is giving Richmond, Va.-based Crestar Financial a major headache. First it wanted to close the branch, then it agreed to keep it open but at a reduced level. Page 6

Fleet Financial has been appointed to help manage donations to a charitable trust established in honor of the late Princess of Wales. Page 6

COMMUNITY BANKING

Bank megamergers create consumer fear, a Virginia survey indicates, and small banks are exploiting the consequent opportunities. Page 8

CORPORATE FINANCE

New York's Economic Development Corp. has not only created a wealth of job opportunities for New Yorkers but also given banks plenty to do. Page 9

MORTGAGES

First of America Bank has scrapped residential mortgage programs in the Carolinas and Florida and is focusing its lending efforts in the Midwest. Page 11

Capstead Mortgage is an anomaly among large mortgage servicers. The Dallas mortgage bank services almost $50 billion of mortgage loans but doesn't originate any. Page 11

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Commerce Bancshares launched an asset allocation account that gives retail investors services previously reserved for the well-to-do. Page 12

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Companies are increasingly looking for a single vendor to fill multiple corporate card needs - but not necessarily on one product. Page 15

TECHNOLOGY

Internet Finance is betting that people with an above-average interest in golf or the weather are likely to be valuable consumers of financial services. Page 16

Microsoft has unveiled its approach to on-line banking security and named several banks around the world ready to put it to the test. Page 16

MARKET MONITOR

Veteran analyst Frank J. Barkocy is the latest on Wall Street to sharply revise upward his expectations for bank stocks. Mr. Barkocy of Josephthal Lyon & Ross said he thinks banks deserve to sell at higher price-to- earnings multiples than they are trading at today because of the industry's changed dynamics. Back page

text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here.text here. Back page

WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL

American Express added a Czech bank to the growing list of financial institutions that are teaming up with it to sell its products. Page 10

National Bank of Canada is adding offices in the United States in an effort to build its asset-based lending business. Page 10

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER