Today's News

COMMUNITY BANKING

Massachusetts bankers have won state Senate passage of a bill to lift the state's ban on Sunday banking. Page 4

It's the time of year when your kids, your neighbors' kids, or your customers' kids will be graduating from school and looking for a job. Columnist Paul Nadler shares advice he gives his students. Page 5

REGIONAL BANKING

Fifth Third is so frugal it didn't replace the carpet in its 26-year-old headquarters until a couple of years ago. So why is it considering development of a $54 million, 26-story office tower across from its downtown Cincinnati offices? Page 7

TECHNOLOGY

Spending on technology by the banking industry grew 15% last year, to $18.7 billion, according to a survey by Ernst & Young and the American Bankers Association. Page 8

WASHINGTON

The Comptroller's Office says it sees little new in the latest version of House Banking Committee Chairman Jim Leach's bill to repeal the Glass- Steagall Act and trim regulation. Page 2

Sen. Connie Mack, R-Fla., is threatening to block a vote on his regulatory relief package unless Senate Democrats agree to revise fair credit reporting rules that were added to the legislation by Republican leaders in order to attract the Democrats' support. Page 3

CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Tyme Corp., a Milwaukee-based ATM network, is preparing to market automated teller machines that would play music and commercials as they dispense cash. Page 11

Old Kent Financial will switch its debit program from MasterCard to Visa and also will use Visa's home banking product. The Michigan company decided after a lengthy review of home banking options. Page 11

MORTGAGES

IMC Mortgage has filed for an initial public offering, entering a market that has been quite friendly to similar IPOs recently. Page 14

The next year will bring increased demand for mortgage-backed securities and a surge of trading, according to a survey of fixed-income executives contacted by the Public Securities Association. Page 14

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Firstar is bent on becoming the preeminent asset management company in the Upper Midwest, and that promises conflict with formidable rivals outside its Milwaukee home base. Page 16

Muzinich & Co., a tiny New York City brokerage, is urging community banks in southern New Hampshire to send it their wealthy customers in a fee-sharing deal. Page 18

FINANCE

With some economists predicting slower growth by yearend, Comerica is attracting attention as a bank stock that could do well when others stumble. Back page

Since luring L. Bram Smith away from his post as head of loan syndications at Bankers Trust last winter, Morgan Stanley has hired three of his former colleagues, a trader and two salesmen. Page 22

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