Today's News

WASHINGTON

Senior government officials will discuss at a conference this week how deposit insurance fits into the increasingly chaotic global banking market. Page 2

REGIONAL

Wachovia plans to rid itself of 35 to 70 branches over the next nine months and focus attention onmarket areas it deems more appealing. Page 6

What was once considered the quintessential banking job-commercial loan officer-is no longer the surest route to the top, and for many it has been an exit route. Page 7

COMMUNITY

Reluctant to do business with the few large banks still offering correspondent services in their region, a group of New England community banks has created its own bankers' bank. Page 16

TECHNOLOGY

DST Systems, the mutual fund processing giant, announced plans to buy USCS International, a cable TV bill processor, for $874 million of stock. Page 17

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Fidelity Investments raised the curtain on anadvertising campaign featuring investment icon Peter Lynch and actress Lily Tomlin.Former KeyCorp marketing chief Stephen A. Cone is the creative force behind themutual fund company's efforts. Page 9

NationsBank opened a private-client office in suburban Philadelphia, providing fresh evidence of how hotly contested that market has become. Page 9

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: Banks in Integrion would not be affected if IBM sells the data network they rely on, an Integrion official said. Page 19

MORTGAGES

The price of servicing on conventional mortgages has fallen as a result of the recent sharp drop in interest rates, servicing brokers said. Page 20

Huntington Mortgage's CEO, who has been credited with reviving the division, left the company and was succeeded by the unit's senior vice president. Page 21

MARKET MONITOR

bears roamed Wall Street last week, but the last lengthy down market unfolded so long ago that investors may need a primer about such events. Page 32

THErecent slide in bank stocks has spawned a surge in repurchase efforts by smaller banks-but not by bigger ones. Page 32

CORPORATE FINANCE

Syndicated lenders say the recent 15%devaluation in the stock market may be good news for the bank loan market as leveraged buyout firms look to buy bargain-priced companies. Back page

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
MORE FROM AMERICAN BANKER