Investor Advice Group Seeks Banks

The Forum for Investor Advice is expanding efforts to recruit banks and thrifts to its fold.

The Bethesda, Md.-based association, formerly known as Mutual Fund Forum, was set up three years ago to encourage investors to work with financial advisers.

Its membership roster-70 fund companies and securities firms that sell investments through brokers and other advice-givers-includes five units owned by banks or thrifts.

Forum members voted this week to "make communications with banks a mission for this year," and formed a committee to lead the effort, said Barbara Levin, executive director.

It is co-chaired by Maryann Bruce, senior vice president at OppenheimerFunds Inc., New York, and Henry Schulthesz, senior vice president of Zurich-Kemper Investments Inc., Chicago. Both lead their companies' bank sales efforts.

The forum's current financial institution members are units of Chase Manhattan Corp., Citicorp, First Union Corp., Great Western Financial Corp., and PNC Bank Corp.

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