Today's News

COMMUNITY

A sharp drop in mortgage interest rates is threatening a deal between a suburban Chicago bank and a neighboring thrift. Page 5

REGIONAL

Deutsche Bank's pending deal for Bankers Trust would return Josef Ackermann, one of the German bank's highest-ranking executives, to the Wall Street spotlight. Page 6

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Massachusetts Financial Services is building a corps of regional vice presidents in an effort to crack the bank trust department market. Page 12

A small thrift in Indianapolis is hoping to pick up asset management customers displaced by bank mergers in its locale. Page 12

AMERICAN BANKERS Insurance Group has agreed to pay $12 million to settle accusations by 39 states. The alleged violations included failure to police brokers and other marketing irregularities. Page 13

WASHINGTON

R. Scott Jones, president of the American Bankers Association, said the group will decide within the next three months whether to hold a convention in 2000 and beyond. "On the table is not having it any more," says Mr. Jones, who is also chairman of Goodhue County National Bank of Minnesota. Page 2

The spat between banking regulators and the SEC over loan-loss reserves has outraged bankers, who argue that securities regulators have no business interfering in a safety-and-soundness issue. Page 2

CARDS

Every industry has its gadflies, and credit cards has Peter W. Flur, who maintains a Web site with critiques of the latest card offers. Page 14

First USA and Discover have begun offering sizable cash rebates for Internet purchases. Page 15

MORTGAGES

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced that their loan limits for single- family homes will rise to $240,000 next year, from $227,150. Page 16

TECHNOLOGY

Credit Management Solutions is seeking a buyer or equity partner to help it shore up its flagging stock price after disappointing earnings. Page 18

MARKET MONITOR

The miserable stock performance that came after several major bank merger announcements this year may be hindering deal activity right now, a prominent investment banker says. Page 33

Fleet plans to issue $250 million in trust-preferred securities, sources said. Back page

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