Today's News

WASHINGTON

A new bill would permit use of Federal Home Loan bank advances for small-business, agricultural, rural development, and low-income community development loans. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

Bank Leumi Trust of New York said it would change its name and consolidate its U.S. operations in an effort to become more efficient. Page 8

COMMUNITY BANKING

NationsBank isn't interested in buying small banks anymore, its president says. "It's just not worth our effort." Page 10

MORTGAGES

Five ex-bankers, including three Wells Fargo alumni, have formed a company that is teaming up with banks to provide high-loan-to-value and subprime mortgages. Page 11

BankAmerica officials vowed to regain leadership in the California mortgage market from Seattle-based Washington Mutual. Page 11

Shareholders of a New York bank got an special dividend this quarter: a coupon good for a discount on mortgage closing costs. Page 11

TECHNOLOGY

ON-LINE BANKING: Bottomline Technologies has begun using its automated clearing house software to let billers interact directly with consumers. Page 12

Several of the nation's largest banks are rolling out browser-based cash management products, which can be cheaper to support and easier to distribute. Page 12

WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL

BankBoston isn't backing off its plans to expand in Latin America. "Instability is a way of life" in the region, "we have weathered crises much worse than this one," says president Henrique de Campos Meirelles. "In these kinds of situations our overall level of profitability improves." Page 14

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Charles Schwab is poised to announce another distribution partner - maybe a bank, maybe not - for its mutual fund supermarket. Page 16

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Deluxe Electronic Payment Systems Inc., which provides much of the processing support to government electronic benefits transfer systems, is having trouble keeping up with demand. Page 18

The Mondex smart card trial in Guelph, Canada, hit its one-year cardholder goal more than three months early. Page 18

MARKET MONITOR

The chairman of Glendale Federal's holding company has filed Nov. 3 to sell 460,000 shares. Page 26

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