WASHINGTON
To marshal forces against legislation banning ATM surcharges, the American Bankers Association is gathering representatives of industries that could become allies. Page 2
REGIONAL BANKING
One chapter in a bizarre fraud case involving two of the nation's largest banks should be coming to a close, though federal officials say they will continue their investigation. Page 5
Big banks are beginning to set aside small budgets for advertising on the World Wide Web. Page 6
COMMUNITY BANKING
Washington State's three banking associations have joined forces to convince the state legislature to crack down on credit union expansion. Page 7
A Huron, S.D., community bank is giving a break to some of its borrowers who lost their jobs when the town's biggest employer went out of business. Page 7
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Capitalizing on its recent acquisition of Columbia Management Co., Fleet Financial Group will infuse its variable annuity with mutual funds managed by the Portland, Ore., company. Page 10
MORTGAGES
In the midst of plunging long-term rates that threaten to clobber adjustable-mortgage investors, banks and thrifts got some good news: New- home sales are booming. Page 11
CORPORATE FINANCE
Issuance in the high-yield market was extremely light as investors and underwriters began launching road shows for the new year. Page 12
TECHNOLOGY
Overseas businesses trail U.S. companies in awareness of and action on the year-2000 problem, according to a survey. Page 15
MARKET MONITOR
Ears pricked up on Wall Street after Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan spoke about deflation - a possible hint that the central bank would soon switch into a credit-easing mode. Page 25
Money managers have identified bank and financial stocks as a safe haven in what could be a turbulent market this year. "Sometime this year we may witness a bear market, if not in the leading blue-chip averages, at least in some sectors," said Ralph J. Acampora, director of technical research at Prudential Securities. Back page
WEEKLY REPORT: SMALL BUSINESS
When Tai-Dan Hsu, a successful Colorado entrepreneur, needed money to finance an acquisition, he went to his bank but had to wait months for a decision. Merrill Lynch, which had been courting him, granted the credit in just two weeks. Page 8
