Surging Profits Boost Consumer Confidence The tidal wave of bank profits has lifted the public's confidence in banks to yet another new high. American Banker's 1995 survey of consumers showed that 77% rate the banking and financial system healthy. November 1 19223 Bankers may finally have achieved equality with nonbank competitors where it counts the most - in the minds of the American public. Though Congress and industry lobbyists continue to haggle over charter differences, Glass-Steagall Act reform, and other issues, consumers have pretty much gotten on with life on a level playing field. November 1 19228 Consumers' embrace of personal-computer technology may be turning the "Field of Dreams" approach to home banking - build the systems, and customers will come - on its head. The American Banker survey suggests that banking providers will have to go after customers in the home, rather than expecting the customers to come to them. November 1 19218 Bank marketers have not fully exploited interest in mutual funds among their deposit customers, the survey indicates. More respondents than in the past said they had bought funds from banks, and 24% of bank customers said they'd be interested doing so. But only 17% said they had been contacted about purchasing funds or other investment products through bank branches. November 1 19217 WASHINGTON Bank Panel Leaders Cut Deal on Thrift Fund The chairmen of the House and Senate banking committees agreed to rescue the Savings Association Insurance Fund and pledged to deal by April with more complicated issues such as merging the bank and thrift industries. November 3 19309 Federal regulators agreed to stop requiring banks to use one set of accounting standards for call reports and another for annual reports. The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council voted to mandate the use of generally accepted accounting principles for bank call reports, starting in the first quarter of 1997. November 3 19312 Regulators are pledging to release examination guidelines for the revised Community Reinvestment Act rules by Nov. 13, about four months behind schedule. The guidelines are expected to resolve scores of questions about how the new CRA rules - which begin phasing in Jan. 1 - will work. November 2 19264 Efforts to modernize banking laws and regulations have not been nearly bold enough, said Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig. He envisioned "a new paradigm for the financial services industry" and hinted that it should involve breaking down all barriers between the insurance, securities, and banking businesses. October 30 18960 Bank Insurance Fund reserves climbed to 1.3% of deposits in the third quarter, leading industry representatives to press for further cuts in premiums. October 31 19167 REGIONAL BANKING A Time of Consolidation For the Top 300 Banks Consolidation continues to radically reshape the distribution of bank assets and deposits, as well as efficiency ratios and profitability measures, according to American Banker's latest survey of the top 300 commercial banks. October 31 19175 Major West Coast thrifts reported generally strong earnings for the September quarter. Fatter-than-expected rate spreads and one-time gains pushed many of their earnings above analysts' expectations. October 30 18948 Chase and Chemical committed $18.1 billion to a five-year community reinvestment initiative. November 2 19258 Banks are making more business and consumer loans, even though the economy shows some signs of slowing down, the Federal Reserve says. November 2 19261 U.S. Bancorp and merger partner West One boosted profits in the third quarter, as did three major Japanese-owned California banks and the two biggest banks in Salt Lake City. But results in Hawaii were mixed. November 3 19311 COMMUNITY BANKING In N.E., Strong Profits, Asset-Quality Worries Northeastern community banks and thrifts turned in generally solid performances in the third quarter, but analysts saw the first signs of trouble ahead. October 31 19197 Executives at the nation's small federal mutuals are worrying more about their future as Congress wrangles over a merger of the bank and thrift charters. November 3 19290 Aftershocks of last year's Northridge earthquake can still be felt in Southern California, but one of the worst-hit thrifts continues to have surprising success in revolving quake-jolted credits. November 2 19272 Farm lenders in California's arid San Joaquin Valley look for a farmer's water source before they leap into doing business. October 30 18955 "It's been a pleasantly busy week," said Jerry Shearer, managing partner of the South Carolina-based Mid-Atlantic Investors. The thrift investor group scored big with the sale of Bankers First to SouthTrust and disclosed the purchase of a new stake in another thrift. November 2 19271 SMALL BUSINESS N.Y. Banks Start Fund For Minority Ventures Jill M. Considine, president of the New York Clearinghouse Association, is spearheading a venture capital fund that can finance $100 million of equity and debt for small businesses owned by minorities and women. October 31