Today's News

WASHINGTON

A Treasury official attacked the recently withdrawn know-your-customer proposal but made a vigorous defense of the Bank Secrecy Act. Page 2

Starting the bankruptcy reform debate on a bipartisan basis, the House Judiciary Committee adopted amendments protecting poor people from unsecured creditors. Page 2

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

Citigroup is planning a sizable expansion of its five-branch network in Poland, according to sources in Warsaw. Page 5

Heller Financial said it has agreed to buy HealthCare Financial Partners for $483 million in cash and stock. Page 6

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

Silicon Valley Bancshares said nonperformers climbed unexpectedly fast in the first quarter. Page 8

The board of Carver Bancorp, the nation's largest black-owned banking institution, struck down a second merger offer from a Boston rival. Page 9

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

The on-line broker DLJdirect appointed four executives to newly created posts. Robert D. Flowers Jr., who was head of BankAmerica's brokerage unit until 1997, was named director of the select client group, which targets clients with $1 million or more to invest. Page 11

Roughly 20% of Bank One's proprietary fund sales come from outside its franchise, up from 1% two years ago, thanks to the addition of wholesalers. Page 10

MORTGAGES

The New York Home Loan Bank has joined the alternative secondary market program started in 1997 by the Chicago Home Loan Bank. Page 12

The attorney general of North Carolina and a community group are waging war on predatory lending practices. Page 13

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

SMART CARDS: Microsoft has given Gemplus and Schlumberger not just a technology platform for smart card systems development, but also a pathwayfor rapid deployment. Page 14

TECHNOLOGY

Science Applications is poised to raise its banking industry profile by acquiring Broadway & Seymour's banking software business. Page 17

MARKETS

An ABA committee revised a policy statement on data security in hopes of ensuring a strong role for banks in government deliberations. Page 26

BankAmerica's shares were downgraded by a First Union analyst who cited "unsettling trends" in first-quarter earnings. Back page