State Farm to Get OTS Hearing On Charter; Legg Mason Applies

The Office of Thrift Supervision announced plans Wednes- day to hold a hearing on State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.'s re- quest for a federal thrift charter.

To be held in Chicago, the closed-door hearing is scheduled for June 3 to investigate complaints that State Farm does not adequately serve low- income areas.

Also Wednesday the Baltimore-based securities firm Legg Mason Inc. became the latest nonbank to seek a federal thrift charter. The firm plans to convert Legg Mason Trust Co., its Maryland-chartered trust with $220 million of assets under management. If the switch is approved, the operation will be renamed Legg Mason Trust Bank FSB.

Arthur P. Sims, Legg Mason Trust's president and chief executive officer, said a federal thrift charter would allow the unit to operate under one set of federal rules rather than various state laws.

Legg Mason is the third securities firm recently to seek a federal thrift charter to offer trust services. The OTS approved A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc.'s request in April, and PaineWebber Group Inc. has an application pending. Since January 1997 the OTS has granted thrift charters to nine nonbanks; 22 such requests are pending.

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