WASHINGTON
The OTS announced a round of regulatory relief focused on thrift subsidiaries, conflicts of interest, and corporate governance. Page 4
COMMUNITY BANKING
Three years after James Aldrich sold Lake Shore National Bank to First Chicago Corp., he plans to renew the competition from a bank in the same neighborhood. Page 8
Continuing its march across northeastern New England, Peoples Heritage Financial Group of Maine has agreed to buy Haverhill, Mass.-based Family Bancorp. Page 8
MORTGAGES
First Alliance Mortgage is the most recent home equity and B and C lender to join the crowd going public. It plans to issue 3.35 million common shares priced at $17 to $19 apiece. Page 10
Freddie Mac held a meeting to show how mortgage servicing rights can be securitized; later, it and Fannie Mae announced the new products will be out in July. Page 10
REGIONAL BANKING
Robert Carper has proven to his own satisfaction that there is life after banking. In this week's Career Tracks article, he says he's never regretted turning his back on the top marketing job at Atlanta's Bank South or renouncing the huge office with private bathroom, company car, paid vacations, and stock options, in order to become a consultant. Page 6
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
For the first time American Express has opened its merchant network to another card issuer, in a three-way cobranding deal in France. Page 12
Transaction volume dropped at many regional ATM networks in April, after the green light for nationwide surcharging, but rebounded in May. Page 13
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Embarking on an ambitious thrust, Equitable Cos. hired an executive to set up a division to market to banks. Page 14
Bank brokerages are realizing improved profit margins this year and are also selling to bigger slices of their customer bases. Page 15
TECHNOLOGY
More than half of big U.S. financial institutions report they plan to base their retail delivery channels on common computer systems. Page 19
Centura Banks, Regions Financial, and Whitney National have chosen a Windows version of EDS' Sellstation branch automation software. Page 19
M&A REVIEW
Last year, banks bought other banks at a furious pace, but nearly halfway through 1996, nonbank financial companies are the clear acquisitions of choice. Page 25
FINANCE
Ryan, Beck & Co. upgraded Long Island thrift T.R. Financial, saying recent price declines created a buying opportunity. Back page
Chase Manhattan's asset-backed group hired Thomas Hourican, chief asset- backed securities analyst at Standard & Poor's. Page 30
