Today's News

WASHINGTON

THE FEDERAL Home Loan Bank System could be on the verge of playing a bigger role in the $4 trillion mortgage finance market. Page 4

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

ANALYSTS are cautiously optimistic about Amsouth's planned takeover of First American; the deal cleared another hurdle. Page 5

BANKING companies have been using their venture capital units to invest in Internet-related firms. Page 6

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

LOS ANGELES may not be big enough for its seven Korean-American banks, which are locked in a tug-of-war for the same market. Page 7

TECHNOLOGY

ATLANTIC DATA, a systems integrator for banks, is looking to electronic commerce for a boost next year, when its Y2K-readiness business dries up. Page 13

MORTGAGES

NEW YORK's Dime Bancorp has been reducing its dependence on mortgage banking, and the pending merger with Hudson United of New Jersey would speed the process. That may have been a big motive for the $3.6 billion deal -- to escape stock price sensitivity to rate increases. Page 8

THE OFFICE that regulates Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is fighting to get more money for fiscal 2000. Page 8

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

THE INCOMING HEAD of Evergreen Funds' distribution system will have a much bigger system to work with. The First Union subsidiary will soon have three times as many brokers. Page 10

AN AGENCY is wooing banks with a plan to sell insurance to bank customers while giving the bank ownership of the policies. Page 11

CARDS Page 12

ON-LINE BANKING

SINCE ITS CREATION in 1994, Waterhouse National Bank has served customers only through electronic channels. Now it has closely linked banking and brokerage services. Page 14

MARKETS

DO BANK examinations influence a stock's price? A study by a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston economist concludes that they do. Page 29

BANK STOCKS ROSE, bolstered by a stronger dollar and lower long-term interest rates. Large- caps did especially well. Page 30