WASHINGTON
FOUR BANKING and thrift agencies jointly examined 65 interagency regulations and decided to scrap or simplify 70% of them, a report says. Page 2
A FEDERAL APPEALS court in Washington might reconsider its landmark decision limiting credit-union membership to employees of a single company. Page 3
MORTGAGES
A TUG-OF-WAR is heating up over an amendment to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, and mortgage lenders are finding themselves at both ends of the rope. Page 8
WEYERHAEUSER said its mortgage subsidiary may be on the block. It has hired Goldman, Sachs to explore options regarding its future. Page 9
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
CHARLES SCHWAB has again dipped into the pool of former First Interstate Bancorp executives to fill a key management position overseeing 4,700 registered investment advisers. Page 10
NATIONSBANK of Texas is selling off a slew of small trust accounts, totaling $160 million in mostly funeral and court settlement funds, to a local trust company that specializes in their management. Page 10
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
EQUIFAX has agreed to acquire the nation's fifth-largest credit card processor, which serves credit unions. Page 12
TECHNOLOGY
BANKERS are more eager than ever to create a "new breed" of call center, an American Bankers Association study said. But only a small segment have been able to translate that enthusiasm into marked improvements in sales and customer service performance. Page 14
CHASE MANHATTAN's acquisition of Chemical has given rise to one of the nation's largest call centers, employing 1,200. It is expected to handle 70 million calls next year. Page 15
COMMUNITY BANKING
CONSULTANTS SAY a growing number of community banks are embracing advisory boards. But the tactic can be a serious drain on management and a negative if not managed properly. Page 16
FINANCE
BANKERS TRUST New York's derivatives business will make money next year, but the unit will never be the earnings juggernaut it was in the early 1990s, its top executive said. Page 22
NATIONSBANK's capital markets unit is expected to come to market with $100 million in high-yield senior subordinated notes for Costilla Energy. Back page
