Regulatory Roundup: Action Expected Soon

CREDIT REPORTING: The Comptroller's Office and the Federal Trade Commission are working on joint guidelines urging subprime lenders to report positive borrower payment histories to credit bureaus.

THRIFT RULE: The Office of Thrift Supervision is expected to issue a rule by yearend to clarify when a unitary thrift holding company may own more than one thrift but still engage in nonfinancial activities.

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY: The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is expected to propose a rule this summer requiring securities brokers and dealers to report suspicious transactions by customers. Similarly, Fincen expects to approve a final rule requiring other nonbanks-such as check cashers and currency exchanges-to report suspicious customer activity.

FAILED BANKS: The FDIC by August is expected to propose barring people who helped cause the failure of a bank or thrift from buying that institution's assets.

LOAN POOLING: The Small Business Administration expects to propose a rule soon that would let small banks pool and sell the nonguaranteed portions of their 7(a) loans.