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WASHINGTON Loan demand remained strong in most parts of the country this summer, the Federal Reserve Board said. Brisk demand for commercial credit and consumer loans offset a decline in residential mortgage lending. Page 2 The Justice Department has appealed a nearly $1 billion award granted to Glendale Federal Bank in a landmark regulatory goodwill case. Page 2 NATIONAL/GLOBAL Washington mutual is mulling ways to present a unified front to loan customers. The aim is to make it impossible to tell whether the thrift or a subprime unit made a loan. Page 5 chase manhattan has launched aggressive television and print advertising campaigns targeted at entrepreneurs. Page 6 CARDS A phone card marketer has developed a customer research program for ATMs that is customizable for banks providing the service. Page 8 MORTGAGES For the first time in 22 months, total employment in the mortgage industry declined in July, raising the specter of a tough period ahead as higher interest rates cut into demand. Countrywide, the largest independent home lender, cut 6% of its wholesale and 7% of its retail jobs. Page 18 COMMUNITY/REGIONAL Page 7 INVESTMENT PRODUCTS Small-cap mutual funds had a strong showing in the second quarter, replacing growth funds as the top performers among bank and thrift-managed equity funds. Small-cap funds dominated a list of the top 50 bank and thrift-managed funds. Page 13 TECHNOLOGY Bank One Corp. made a big stride last weekend in unifying its computer systems. It linked the general ledger systems of the old Banc One and the old First Chicago NBD. Page 21 MARKETS Fifth Third's stock is likely to be the top performer among large banks' shares over the next five years, Salomon Smith Barney says. It ranks First Union and Fleet near the bottom. Page 30 Bank stocks rallied on Wednesday. The S&P bank stock index rose 2.6%, offsetting Tuesday's 1.9% decline. Analysts said the Fed's Beige Book report reduced fears of a rate hike. Back page

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