WASHINGTON
The FDIC, which hasn't added examiners since 1992, plans to hire 150 of them next year. Page 2
REGIONAL BANKING
In a memo to employees, Wells Fargo chairman Paul Hazen downplayed comments that spurred merger talk. Wells has always said it would "consider offers if the price was right," he wrote. "We have made statements like this since the mid-1980s, and they have never implied we are engaged in acquisition discussions." Page 7
COMMUNITY BANKING
Acting more like a big bank than a community bank, a $464 million-asset Kansas bank has agreed to buy a brokerage firm that helps manage $3 billion of assets. Page 8
CORPORATE FINANCE
Dominion Resources of Richmond, Va., has hired more defectors from the U.S. merchant banking arm of Paris-based Credit Agricole Indosuez, including a senior managing director. Page 9
MORTGAGES
Mego Mortgage is the latest specialty lender to take a multimillion dollar hit because customers are prepaying loans faster than expected. Page 10
As profit margins in the mortgage banking business erode, more companies like SunTrust and First Tennessee are looking to the mortgage insurance industry for income. Page 11
TECHNOLOGY
ChequeMark Technologies is hurling patent-infringement accusations at several companies that process check transactions at the point of sale. Page 13
First Union has turned to Electronic Data Systems to help with technology conversions required for the Signet and Covenant mergers. Page 13
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Mondex Canada has found someone uniquely qualified to be its first president. Her previous job was also as the first president of a national payment association. Page 17
CARD FRONTIERS: Schlumberger announced what may be the biggest deployment of smart card devices in North America: a deal to convert 50,000 coin-operated laundry machines over two years. Page 17
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
In a reshuffling of executives, PNC Bank named Michael Mortensen chief executive officer of its PNC Brokerage unit. Page 18
MARKET MONITOR
Gerard Klauer Mattison raised its target price on Norwest, praising its acquisition strategy, product diversity, and marketing skills. Back page
