Today's News

WASHINGTON

A showdown on the thrift charter is expected in the House Banking Committee this week. Page 2

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

With crop prices at or near record lows, bankers are asking for more collateral rather than deny farm borrowers credit. Page 8

New Jersey's Hubco confirmed it will combine its three banks under one name and charter. Page 8

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Denmark's Unibank is getting its feet wet in the U.S. mutual fund market to prepare for the onslaught of American competition in Europe. Page 9

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

The euro has a big fan in Jan Kalff, chairman and chief executive of the Dutch banking giant ABN Amro Holding. The new common European currency is giving large multinational banks an edge in Europe, he said. "For us, the euro is not so much a threat, but it is an enormous opportunity." Page 5

With Americans earning more and saving less, an expensive short-term loan geared to checking account holders is gaining popularity-to the alarm of consumer advocates and state regulators. Page 6

MORTGAGES

The demise of a Michigan lender has given warehouse lenders more reason to be skittish about extending credit. Page 11

Australia is prime territory for a subprime lending push by a U.S. mortgage banker, a Beverly Hills advisory firm says. Page 12

CARDS

Trimming another of its extraneous processing ventures, National City of Cleveland sold its majority stake in Stored Value Systems to Ceridian. Page 14

TECHNOLOGY

All the scope and power that Microsoft's friends and foes admire and fear were on full display as the software company laid out its plans for guiding and shaping electronic commerce. Page 15

MARKETS

OKLAHOMA's BOK Financial said it has a deal to buy Swiss Avenue Bank of Dallas. Page 26

Shares of Mercantile Bancorp rose on speculation that the St. Louis company will be sold. Back page