MONEY STORE has been dethroned as the leading Small Business Administration lender. After 16 years, the First Union subsidiary slipped behind Heller Financial. Page 2
CREDIT UNIONS in Wisconsin are promoting legislation that would let them target more customers, offer more commercial loans, and sell brokerage services. Page 6
WITH A BIGGER OFFER on the table, shareholders of a small Pennsylvania bank have voted down a $25 million buyout deal endorsed by the bank's management. Page 6
THE INDUSTRY is suffering the effects of higher interest rates: price competition, layoffs, and reeling stock prices. One consultant says bankers can prepare for such times by hedging. Page 8
FLEET BOSTON's asset management unit has reached sales agreements with banks in Singapore and the Netherlands. Robert L. Ash, who oversees the Galaxy Funds, said the company is looking for growth abroad because "the industry is glutted in the United States." Page 7
MERRILL LYNCH said it is working with AT&T Solutions and Exodus Communications to support its push into on-line trading. Page 10
SONERA of Finland took several steps to command strategically important ground where wireless communications technology intersects with Internet commerce and banking. Page 11
E-TRADE has an exclusive marketing agreement with Amazon.com to provide customers with reduced prices for books on personal finance and on-line investing. Page 12
HYPERCOM said it will provide card payment terminals and other equipment to banks in China and Poland, as both expand their services for retailers. Page 14
TWO TOP executives of failed First National Bank of Keystone, W.Va., were freed on bail to await trial, but the magistrate who released them said the government's case that they conspired to block a bank exam is "overwhelming." Page 21
