Today's News

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T. Stephen Johnson, an Atlanta investor who starts up banks in an age of consolidation, is an idea man more than an administrator. "Someone was asking me the other day what my job was," he says, "and I said it is to come up with one good idea a year." Page 4

WASHINGTON

Prompt corrective action rules have caused banks to increase capital and operate more safely, according to researchers at the OCC and John Carroll University. Page 2

COMMUNITY

A long-awaited community development bank for the nation's capital is set to open by month's end. Page 3

armers choose a lender, knowledge of the agriculture industry is more important than location or low interest rates, a survey found. Page 3

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

J.P. Morgan and American Century Investments have developed their first joint product for banks, a same-day sweep account. Page 5

Wells Fargo is eager to take advantage of the heft and depth in mutual funds created by its merger with the former Norwest Corp. Page 5

MORTGAGES

On-line mortgage brokerages are proliferating as an alternative source for loans. Page 6

TECHNOLOGY

The former vice president of corporate development at Verifone Inc. has been elected chairman of Personal Solutions Corp. Page 8

CORPORATE FINANCE

A lavish setting gave last week's Securities Industry Association conference the look of a bull-run pep rally, but looks were deceiving. Page 17

A bank group holding $2.5 billion of loans to Patriot American Hospitality will be asked to ease repayment terms, the company said. Page 17

MARKETS

In a sign that the moribund market for initial public offerings may be reviving, Prosperity Bancshares became the first such deal conducted for a bank in nearly two months. Back page