WASHINGTON
In the war over credit union growth, Utah is proving to be one of the nation's nastiest battlefronts. Credit unions there are taking their expansion fight to the courts and the streets. Page 2
To stave off massive losses in the next economic slump, community banks must improve credit-risk management systems, Robert Morris Associates recommended on the basis of a study. Page 4
COMMUNITY
Illinois may be the next state to combine its financial services companies under one regulator. Page 5
REGIONAL
Against the wishes of local bankers, Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell approved a City Council resolution calling on businesses to restrict the use of drive-through facilities. Page 6
Zions Bancorp. said it has managed to avoid the deposit runoff expected in the wake of its purchase of Sumitomo Bank of California. Page 7
CARDS
U.S. credit card issuers were among the top three users of direct-mail account solicitations last September in the United Kingdom and Canada, a survey found. U.S. issuers were attracted by cards' low market penetration in these countries, compared with the nearly saturated market in the United States. Page 13
MORTGAGES
HOME EQUITY: Investors have unfairly tagged Amresco as just a home equity lender, says the president of the Dallas company. Page 8
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
SMART CARDS: A new product from Schlumberger provides one of the first realistic glimpses into what Java technology promises to deliver on smart cards. Page 12
Formal release of the Microsoft software code for Windows-based chip cards is still three to four months away, said the director of the company's smart card group. Page 12
TECHNOLOGY
Merrill Lynch is poised to take advantage of an expected surge in European stock trading with its new transaction and settlement system. Page 14
CORPORATE FINANCE
American corporations have not paid enough attention to the euro, the new European currency that will be adopted by 11 countries in two weeks, say executives at Barclays Capital. Page 24
MARKETS
Fleet shares advanced for a second straight day as merger speculation returned. Page 25
