Today's News

WASHINGTON

Financial reform has become entangled in the fight over confidentiality of patient medical records, adding a new obstacle to the legislation. Page 2

Consumer privacy and market consolidation are hot topics among government studies ordered by the House and Senate financial modernization bills. Page 3

COMMUNITY/REGIONAL

Hudson City Savings of Paramus, N.J., is slated to become one of the largest thrifts ever to convert to a public company, but the stock is getting a chilly reception. Page 7

Progress Financial, a thrift holding company near Philadelphia, is expected to report disappointing second-quarter earnings because of troubles with its leasing portfolio. Page 7

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Mutual funds geared to Internet stocks are popping up left and right as investors look for a piece of the volatile action. Page 9

NATIONAL/GLOBAL

The CEO of Key Bank in Cleveland said he would take early retirement and leave at yearend. Bank analysts saw his departure as a sign that the much- touted overhaul of its retail banking operation has run aground. KeyCorp president Henry L. Meyer 3d is slated to assume Gary R. Allen's duties temporarily. Page 4

Halfway through the third straight year of sagging crop prices, farm lenders are concerned about a possible rise in nonperforming loans. Page 4

TECHNOLOGY

Two more companies are joining the ranks of publicly traded Internet banking software providers. Both are aiming at small and medium-sized banks. Page 12

U.S. Central Credit Union has approved an electronic commerce initiative designed to provide affordable home banking capabilities. Page 13

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

A small-business entrepreneur became so frustrated in dealing with his bank that he founded a financial company for small-business owners. Page 14

MORTGAGES

Pitney Bowes has put its Atlantic Mortgage and Investment subsidiary back on the block, this time using different investment bankers, sources say. Page 16

MARKET MONITOR

The Federal Reserve's candor campaign on interest rate policy seems to have produced decidedly mixed results so far. Page 24

A savings bank on the tony north shore of New York's Long Island could stand tall among its peers if it would make some changes, says a Lehman Brothers bank analyst. Page 30

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