Today's News

WASHINGTON

The House Banking Committee approved legislation that would make it a federal crime to trick a bank into divulging private customer information. Page 2

REGIONAL

Expanding into a new area of securities processing, Bank of New York said it would purchase an 80% stake in Everen Clearing for an undisclosed sum. Page 5

SunTrust is forging ahead with plans to make Crestar Financial one of its own. Page 6

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

With no set post-merger plans for the investment services business, Wells Fargo and Norwest are eachcontinuing with existing initiatives. Page 7

COMMUNITY

Banks offering insurance will have a tough time persuading small- business owners to buy policies from them, a study suggests. Page 10

INTERNATIONAL

With bank asset declines in Japan offsetting gains in North America and Europe, the world's top 100 banks last year posted their slowest growth in more than 10 years, an American Banker survey found. "Flat assets at international banks is largely a function of securitization," says Nancy Bush, a Ryan, Beck analyst. Page 18

CARDS

Webster Bank of Connecticut, which a year ago was expressing high hopes about its credit card business, has beaten a retreat. Page 12

Hypercom is moving to turn up the speed of point of sale transactions. Page 13

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

ON-LINE BANKING: One-third of Internet users who manage their investments on-line said they mostfrequently turn to AOL Personal Finance, a New York market research firm found. Page 14

TECHNOLOGY

Banks in the small-business market are facing increasing competition. Page 15

CORPORATE FINANCE

Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, the undisputed king of the high-yield market, is diversifying its business to offer clients true one-stop shopping. Page 33

MARKETS

Loan demand remained strong last month, with banks competing intensely for quality borrowers, the Fed said. Page 34

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