Today's News

WASHINGTON

banks should devise contingency plans to take effect if key products or services are knocked out by year-2000 computer failures, regulators said. Page 2

REGIONAL

Woodstock Institute of Chicago said it will use data showing lending deficiencies by First Chicago NBD and Banc One to press the merger-bound companies for a significant community lending pledge. Page 6

COMMUNITY

AS membership rises, the U.S. credit unions last year posted their biggest asset gains in five years. Page 8

Special Report

U.S. fund companies are expanding rapidly in global markets. The key attractions are the untapped wealth in mature markets and rising incomes in emerging markets. The American companies are taking on foreign partners or recruiting foreign talent to facilitate their growth abroad. Supplement

MORTGAGES

The CFO of First Alliance said he will return to a previous career goal- running a banking company. Page 13

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

American Express Financial Advisors is running a sweepstakes that offers a $50,000 investment portfolio as its top prize. Page 16

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ON-LINE BANKING: First Tennessee National announced the official launch of FTB Online Banking, which is seen as an important test of the Java programming language in a home-banking context. Page 17

CORPORATE FINANCE

The pending BankAmerica-NationsBank deal has caught the eye of Chase's outspoken investment banking chief. Page 23

MARKETS

The size of the personal payday is becoming increasingly important as bank chief executives weigh whether to sell. Back page

WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL

A former vice chairman of BankBoston is about to take the reins of Australia's fifth-largest bank. Page 15