WASHINGTON
Destroying a bipartisan compromise on regulatory relief, Republicans pushed through a House subcommittee amendment that would exempt 83% of the industry from the Community Reinvestment Act. Page 2
New guidelines give national bank examiners broad authority to investigate possible Fair Credit Reporting Act violations. Page 3
REGIONAL
BOK Financial's plan to buy 17 New Mexico branches from BankAmerica may run afoul of a state law. Page 4
COMMUNITY
A western New York community bank has found some unlikely allies in its battle to stop a local credit union's expansion plans: other credit unions. Page 6
CARDS
ATM surcharges have become the subject of a Justice Department probe, but actions already taken byseveral regional networks may have softened itsbite. Page 15
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
SMART CARDS: The consortium that oversees Multos, the operating system that is linked to the Mondex program, has added Fujitsu of Japan to its membership. It was a sign that a battle with Visa is far from over. Page 13
MORTGAGES
Some economists worry that the housing bubble is about to burst and home prices about to deflate. Mark Zandi of Regional Financial Associations is not among them. Page 9
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Banking companies that traditionally focused on well-heeled investors are expanding their scope to include retail bank customers with less to invest. Page 10
Several of the mutual fund companies that lead the pack in sales through banks plan to form anassociation aimed at increasing banks' share of the fund market. Page 11
TECHNOLOGY
National City says it is saving as much as $1,400 per teller station by sticking with simple technology in its merger with First of America Bank. Page 17
MARKETS
Bank stocks helped lead a dramatic marketwide dive of nearly 300 points. Back page