NATIONAL/GLOBAL
LaSalle of Chicago is on the prowl to expand its asset-based lending unit. Page 5
While many banks have cut back in emerging markets, Chase is expanding its capital market business in those countries - and showing staying power, says a new unit chief. Page 6
COMMUNITY/REGIONAL
A Pennsylvania company says its ownership of a unionized bank is hindering the growth of a sister nonunion bank. Its solution: spin off the latter. Page 7
Criticized last year for lackluster profit growth, First Virginia is showing signs of improvement, with quarterly earnings up 10%. Page 7
MORTGAGES
California's largest banks have been accused of illegally keeping more than $270 million in title transfer fees for papers that were never filed. Page 8
WASHINGTON
The San Francisco Fed president is upbeat about the industry's year-2000 preparations. "The financial services you've come to rely on will operate normally," Robert T. Parry told a Washington audience. The Fed's computer systems are already 100% ready for the date change, he said. Page 2
The latest proposal from federal regulators on compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act is drawing mixed responses from trade groups. Page 2
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Bank of America is keeping the name of its merged retail brokerage close to home, calling it Banc of America Investment Services. Page 10
Liberty Financial is expanding its value-style mutual fund offerings. A new fund has joined one introduced in November. Page 11
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
Gemplus and a vendor of loyalty software for smart cards plan to market "frequent customer" cards to U.S. financial institutions. Page 12
TECHNOLOGY
Continuing a trend, 40% of the U.S. banks and thrifts that bought core processing systems last year hired outside companies to run them. Page 14
MARKETS
An independent committee is urging National Processing shareholders to reject an offer from National City for the stake it does not already own. Page 22
Bank One plans to sell $2 billion of senior notes tomorrow, giving momentum to an expected surge in bank capital raising in the third quarter. Back page
