WASHINGTON
History repeated itself when the FDIC named James L. Sexton, a former chief of its supervision division, to run the unit again. Page 4
REGIONAL
As the nation's thrifts overhaul their strategies, they are also revamping their approaches to management. Page 5
Imperial Bancorp plans to sell its 24% stake in Imperial Credit Industries, a high-risk consumer lending unit, according to SEC documents. Page 5
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
OppenheimerFunds' planned purchase of Trinity Investment Management would give it entree into institutional money management and access to new products for the 401(k) and other markets. Page 7
To reach prospective Japanese investment customers, First Union's Evergreen mutual fund family is tapping the resources of its international commercial bank. Page 8
MARKET MONITOR
Finova Group is competing with banks to attract business borrowers. The phoenix commercial finance company has concentrated on small to midsize markets, says CEO Samuel L. Eichenfield. "We'd rather be No. 1 or No. 2 in a moderate market than No. 5 or 6 in a much larger business." Page 13
CARDS
Hypercom won an exclusive contract to supply point of sale terminals for a major payments network serving gambling casinos. Page 10
Flying in the face of accusations by consumer groups, new research concludes that bank underwriting criteria are not to blame for high levels of credit card delinquency. Page 12
MORTGAGES
With adjustable-rate mortgage originations down this year, lenders are finding ways to make the product more attractive. Page 29
COMMUNITY
After five years focusing on internal growth and buying banks outside Vermont, Chittenden returned home with a deal that would double its size. Page 30
A group of retired New York City bankers is looking to shake up the board of a Northern California thrift. Page 30
TECHNOLOGY
Bank technology stocks have not enjoyed the kind of general advance that lifted the broader stock markets in 1998. Page 31
CORPORATE FINANCE
Many observers predict that economic conditions in the United States will turn against the junk bond market next year. Back page
