NATIONAL/GLOBAL
Associated of Wisconsin said it would convert a recent acquisition from a pooling transaction to a purchase to facilitate an immediate stock buyback. Page 5
As on-line banking gains popularity and importance, a new breed of banking executive will need to combine customer service experience with technical skills, consultants say. Page 6
COMMUNITY/REGIONAL
National City Bancshares, faced with a CEO vacancy, may be the next Indiana banking company to be bought out, according to analysts. Page 7
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Early last year a small western Pennsylvania insurance agency moved its banking business to nearby FNB Corp.'s lead bank. Now the bank is buying the agency, for $4 million. Page 9
Renewed interest in variables, sparked by dollar-cost-averaging products, boosted annuity sales at banks by 10% from the fourth quarter to the first. Page 9
WASHINGTON
A pilot program that subjected banks in four areas with heavy drug trafficking to aggressive Bank Secrecy Act examinations is being expanded to 21 such areas, Comptroller John D. Hawke Jr. said. The program will also continue to gather tips from law enforcement agencies, he said. Page 2
The House Rules Committee has scheduled a vote for Wednesday on financial reform, teeing it up for a vote by the full House on Thursday. Page 2
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE: Transactor Networks, a pioneer in developing digital wallets for electronic commerce, started a new life with a new name, Brodia, and a product bigger than a wallet. Page 11
TECHNOLOGY
The Keon information security framework is being enhanced with digital certificates. Security Dynamics said its Certificate Server is targeted at assisting new-business creation by banks and others. Page 12
CARDS
MasterCard International is pumping up promotions associated with sponsorship of Major League Baseball, in its second season of a four-year deal. Page 13
MARKETS
National City Bank in Cleveland will have new places to display its logo as a sponsor of the city's municipal stadium and official bank of the Browns football team. Page 22
Fidelity Investments has entered an alliance with Lehman Brothers to provide some of its customers access to stock and bond IPOs that are lead- managed by Lehman. Back page
