WASHINGTON
Facing public confusion and a paperwork nightmare, the Social Security Administration has asked for a delay of the plan to make most federal government payments electronically by 1999. Page 4
REGIONAL BANKING
Naming an heir apparent can be a two-edged sword. The announcement can send signal that a company plans a seamless management transition, but it can also send talented also-rans looking for jobs elsewhere. Page 5
MORTGAGES
Big-bank interest in GE Capital's mortgage banking operation suggests that consolidation in mortgage servicing is heading into a new phase. Page 6
MONTHLY REPORT: MORTGAGE TECHNOLOGY
Mortgage technology isn't just for cost cutting anymore. The focus is shifting to service and cross-selling, a survey found. Page 8
The MBA plans to spearhead a year-2000 testing effort for lenders, servicers, and government agencies. Page 8
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Banks that expand offerings by opening their doors to insurance companies face a new risk: offending customers if the insurers stumble. Page 9
Chase is going downmarket with its retail wrap accounts, which invest idle cash in mutual funds. Page 11
COMMUNITY BANKING
While many banks nationwide are reporting record earnings, Fidelity National in Atlanta is happy just to be in the black. Page 12
TECHNOLOGY
Digital Equipment has launched a free public trial of Millicent, its Internet micropayment system. Participants get electronic wallets and scrip that lets them buy goods and services from 20 on-line merchants. Page 13
Commerce Secretary William M. Daley called on corporate America to speed up development of policies to protect consumers' privacy on the Internet. Emerging from a meeting Monday with private-sector executives in New York, Mr. Daley and other federal officials said they were trying to instill a sense of urgency to comply with previous requests from the Clinton administration. Page 15
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Fearful of losing customers to larger banks with bigger automated teller machine networks, community banks are forming a new type of anti-surcharge alliance. Page 16
CORPORATE FINANCE
Citicorp and BankBoston plan a bank meeting today for a loan package to finance International Technology's $370 million acquisition of OHM Corp., an Ohio-based waste cleanup company. Page 18
MARKET MONITOR
A widely respected Wall Street strategist put Fannie Mae stock alongside General Electric, Microsoft, and Wal-Mart as one of the few sure bets for 1998. Back page
