Today's News

SPECIAL REPORT

Leading banks like Chase and First Union are clearly in the mood to flex their muscles and experiment in the insurance business. Programs that take off in new directions are spotlighted in American Banker's third annual supplement on bank insurance market- ing. Supplement

WASHINGTON

CoreStates chairman Terrence Larsen advised bankers to adopt a risk- management strategy to guide growth. Page 2

House Banking Committee Chairman Jim Leach accused thrift industry executives of breaking a promise to support legislation that would eliminate the thrift charter. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

Jon Munoz, Banc One's new head of Hispanic marketing, is a hot commodity. Page 6

When National City announced it was buying First of America, most observers assumed the buyer's brand name would prevail. Not so fast. Page 6

COMMUNITY BANKING

Searching for new ways to generate income, community banks are slowly embracing the higher-risk - but potentially higher-reward - business of consumer finance. Page 8

MORTGAGES

Resource Bancshares may finally have something to celebrate. Page 10

CORPORATE FINANCE

Despite strong demand and high liquidity, the syndicated bank loan market may be losing some luster after five years of steady growth, according to senior lenders. Page 13

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Bank sales of variable annuities edged past sales of fixed annuities for the first time in the third quarter, as bank customers took more risks and sought higher returns on investments. Page 16

New York-area banks are losing less to check fraud, possibly bucking a national trend, according to the New York Clearing House Association. Page 16

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Brian O'Hare, the card industry veteran who headed Norwest's credit card division for the last six years, said he will retire at yearend. Page 18

The banking industry must take it upon itself to create a favorable climate for smart cards and electronic commerce, one of the more vocal proponents of those innovations says. Page 19

MARKET MONITOR

PaineWebber cut its investment rating on KeyCorp, citing the stock's substantial appreciation. Page 30

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