WASHINGTON
Liquidating Colorado's failed BestBank could cost $150 million-five times more than the original FDIC estimate. Page 2
A Treasury proposal for low-cost accounts for recipients of federal electronic payments has drawn a mixed response. Page 4
COMMUNITY
A New Jersey town plans to sever its longtime relationship with a local bank that is paying no interest on municipal deposits. Page 7
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
As banks assume a higher profile in the insurance business, they are beginning to come under fire from consumer advocates and the media for marketing particular policies. Page 9
The insurance arm of Summit Bancorp, Princeton, N.J., has bought 500 insurance accounts without buying the agency. Page 10
CARDS
Two years after Citicorp battled check cashers over electronic transfer of government benefits, Citigroup has teamed up with the National Check Cashers Association - to issue debit cards to recipients. "It's a great way to reach the unbanked," said Mark E. MacKenzie, executive director of Citicorp Services. Page 18
MORTGAGES
Because of a proposal said to be in the forthcoming federal budget to privatize Ginnie Mae, lenders are concerned about the future structure of the secondary market for FHA and VA loans. Page 12
FirstPlus Financial is shedding business lines to raise cash, selling its consumer finance unit last week for $51 million. Page 12
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
THE PIONEERING CEO of an Irish Internet payment processor says U.S. banks are ceding an opportunity for growth in that emerging market to their foreign competitors. Page 16
TECHNOLOGY
A start-up company is delivering market data at one-quarter the usual cost, using the Internet. Page 17
MARKET MONITOR
U.S. banks stand to benefit from the turbulence in Brazil, according to major banks operating there. Page 33
The inflation rate, so tame as to be nearly forgotten, could lurch upward in the next several months, but a long-term deflationary trend is expected to continue. Page 38
Wells Fargo, whose famous name had faded a bit, is beginning to look a lot like the old Norwest to some analysts. Back page
