Spare change: Thrift Helping Its Customers Downsize; Nice Name Fails to

A Chicago thrift is fighting a different sort of inflation.

The Westmont branch of Park Federal Savings Bank this month is offering body-fat analysis.

The test will be administered at no charge to Park Federal customers and anyone who opens a new checking account. There will be a $5 fee for noncustomers.

Professionals from a local hospital will conduct the tests.

Richard J. Remijas, executive vice president at the $168 million-asset thrift, said the screening is being held more as community good will than a new customer drive.

"We are trying to find links to other institutions and services in the community," he said.

Other Park Federal branches will administer free flu shots this autumn. Mr. Remijas said the Westmont branch settled on body-fat analysis after it couldn't find an organization to give flu shots in the neighborhood.

What's in a name? Apparently not much-at least to federal thrift regulators.

Of the 35 banking institutions the Office of Thrift Supervision evaluated last month on Community Reinvestment Act performance, only one received the dreaded "substantial noncompliance" rating. The bank's name: Sincere Federal Savings Bank in San Francisco.

According to the OTS, a "substantial noncompliance," rating is given if a savings association provides "few, if any" community development services. In the September OTS report, eight institutions received outstanding ratings and 26 were rated satisfactory.

Sincere Federal Savings president Tom Leung was not available for comment.

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