+++
WASHINGTON
Long-delayed rules governing how banks verify the identity of their customers will be proposed early next year, a Federal Reserve Board official said. Page 2
COMMUNITY BANKING
The IBAA received preliminary permission to charter a credit card bank. Page 5
A North Dakota bank is delaying its purchase of 37 Banc One branches their customers' cards remain good through the holidays. Page 5
REGIONAL BANKING
It's time for congressional leaders to stop playing politics on financial modernization, William Isaac writes. Page 6
CORPORATE FINANCE
In spite of the stock market's recent volatility, new leveraged loans continue to come to market, and lenders foresee the market continuing to break records through the fourth quarter. Page 8
MORTGAGES
GE is buying Australia's largest mortgage insurer from the Australian government. Page 9
Nearly a year after it moved to reduce its reliance on brokers to book loans, Huntington Mortgage Co. is moving full speed ahead. Page 9
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
MasterCard International has followed Visa U.S.A.'s lead in announcing a rise in interchange rates. Page 12
ANALYST ROUNDTABLE
Banks appear to be ill-prepared for the inevitable downturn in the business cycle, say analysts who met for American Banker's quarterly roundtable session. "When people say to me that even Connecticut is picking up, I get a little worried," says Brown Brothers' Nancy A. Bush. "When the Northeast economy gets heated up, you've got to wonder if the end is near." Page 14
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
The spate of bank acquisitions of money managers announced this week demonstrates the continued appeal of adding investment clients in single swoops. Page 16
TECHNOLOGY
Hewlett-Packard and its Verifone division have brought yet another high- tech ally - EDS - into their electronic commerce axis. Page 18
MARKET MONITOR
What are the prospects for Advanta now that it has agreed to sell its credit card business to Fleet? What is its remaining business worth? There's really no way to know. Page 26
WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL
In the latest in a growing number of syndicated financings for Chinese corporations, First Chicago NBD arranged a $45 million loan for the state- owned shipping corporation. Page 10 ===
