Bank bills seen unaffected by Whitewater probe.

WASHINGTON -- The House Banking Committee has finally scheduled the long-anticipated Whitewater hearings, but bank lobbyists here doubt that the sessions will have an impact on pending legislation.

"These bills are seen as pretty much done deals," said Edward L. Yingling of the American Bankers ASsociation, referring to measures dealing with interstate branching and community development.

"It wouldn't be a real problem if the bills are still being worked on" when the hearings start, he added.

Work on both bills appears to have slowed in recent days. However, the issues have been narrowed to the point where negotiations on both bills can be wrapped up quickly once lawmakers meet, Mr. Yingiing said.

'Washington Phase' First

House Banking Committee Chairman Henry B. Gonzalez, D-Tex., announced late Monday evening that he has scheduled a hearing on July 26. The first witness, he said, will be Robert B. Fiske, the independent counsel appointed by the Department of Justice.

The hearing will cover the so-called Washington phase of Mr. Fiske's inquiry. It will focus on the handling of papers following the death of Vincent Foster, who represented President Clinton on Whitewater-related matters, and on administration contacts. with the Resolution Trust Corp.

Republicans have criticized those contacts, arguing that it was improper for the administration to be in contact with the thrift-bailout agency so long as it was investigating President Clinton's past involvement with Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan, Little Rock.

The witness list is a kind of Who's Who of the Clinton administration, including everyone from outgoing White House counsel Thomas F. McLarty and senior advisor George Stephanopoulos to Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen.

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