Today's News

WASHINGTON

Fueled by continued concern over Asian economies, banks' derivatives revenue soared to a record $2.7 billion during the first quarter, the OCC reported. Page 2

REGIONAL

Citicorp appointed Patrick J. Kelly chief executive officer of Citibank Florida, responsible for running Citi's 34-branch retail network there. Page 6

COMMUNITY

Under pressure to lend and facing stiff competition from large banks and other lenders, some West Coast community banks are luring loan officers with signing bonuses and higher than usual base salaries. Page 9

MORTGAGES

Banks are loosening their home equity lending standards and charging less to make these loans, a Consumer Bankers Association study reveals. Page 10

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

The jury is out on whether the differences between the mutual fund businesses of merger partners Wells Fargo and Norwest will prove complementary or divisive. Page 13

INSURANCE: In a break with its own tradition but conformity with a new trend, Comerica has teamed up with an insurance agency instead of buying it. Page 15

CARDS

The ABA's quarterly survey of consumer loan delinquencies found an improvement in nearly every category except credit cards. But the small rise in bank card delinquencies didn't bother James Chessen, the association's chief economist, because the figures showed "such a strong decline in the fourth quarter that it would not be unusual to see a small bounce back." Page 16

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: Credit Suisse of Zurich has started an Internet commerce project that relies on Digicash's eCash technology to facilitate micropayments. Page 18

TECHNOLOGY

First Union has joined a handful of institutions that are rolling out network computers - simplified, less expensive versions of the personal computer. Page 19

CORPORATE FINANCE

Now that Goldman Sachs has decided to hold a public offering of shares, most market watchers expect it to join its Wall Street competitors and buy an asset management firm. Page 20

MARKETS

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Investors fled the equity markets as worries about foreign currencies and economies escalated. Back page

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