Today's News

SNAGGING CUSTOMERS: William Raymond says his ATMs bring people into Bank of America. Page 21

WASHINGTON

SEN. ALFONSE D'AMATO heaped praise on the banking industry and its regulators for reacting quickly to a decline in consumer credit quality. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

SOUTHEASTERN regional banks brushed aside concern about rising credit card chargeoffs to post double-digit earnings growth in the second quarter, led by Southern National and Regions Financial. Page 4

COMERICA said it has hired Tandon Capital Associates, a New York-based consulting firm known for shaving expenses through massive job cuts. Page 4

TECHNOLOGY

ON-LINE BANKING: Ira H. Aurit produced BankSite Online, a Web site offering consumers information on bank services, and now he's promoting it with his cash and time - and sheer enthusiasm. Page 6

AN INDIANA credit union expects to be among the first U.S. financial institutions to rely on fingerprint identification of customers when it opens three kiosk branches next spring. Page 7

COMPLIANCE

TWO COMPLIANCE firms with services designed to help banks manage interest rate risk - Farin & Associates and Risk Analytics - say business is booming. Page 8

FLOOD INSURANCE rules for credit unions, the first from the federal government, were approved Wednesday after months of delay. Page 9

MORTGAGES

REP. RICHARD BAKER roasted a top Treasury official for sending Congress a tardy and inconclusive report on whether the government should cut its ties to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Page 10

HOUSING MARKETS should cool down in the second half, economists say. Page 11

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

WASHINGTON MUTUAL's planned acquisition of American Savings would combine two of the most aggressive thrift brokerage programs, creating a big player in the cutthroat California market. Page 12

COMMUNITY BANKING

UNIVERSITY BANK in Ann Arbor, Mich., is linking its marketing efforts to charitable causes. Page 22

FINANCE

INTENT on becoming a U.S. corporate banking powerhouse, Union Bank of Switzerland has tapped an American to run its U.S. operations: Brooklyn- raised Richard C. Capone, a 20-year UBS veteran. Page 26

LENDERS ARE BACK in hotel finance though they remain reluctant to fund new construction, a hotel trade group survey found. Page 26

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