Today's News

Linda A. Weber, CoreStates Financial's point person for Internet technology, says the bank has taken an enlightened view of her career as a working mother and of Internet services and electronic commerce. Her task is to develop the next generation of on-line offerings. Page 16 WASHINGTON The Fed said banks continued to book more business loans in April, but consumer lending fell across the country. Page 2 Banks define success in regulatory compliance by exam ratings more often than by violations or internal audits, a survey found. Page 4 REGIONAL BANKING NationsBank officials say the $500 million "model bank" project has contributed to a 20% increase in sales per full-time employee in certain areas, and there is more to come. Page 8 Lawsuits filed recently may have done irreparable harm to the relationship between San Francisco and one of its most important corporate citizens, BankAmerica. Page 8 INVESTMENT PRODUCTS NationsBank's international asset management venture has lost four senior managers, including its head. Page 13 MORTGAGES Barnett is in discussions to sell its wholesale mortgage origination unit, Loan America, to HomeSide, sources say. Page 18 MARKET MONITOR U.S. banks are improving their skills at acquisitions and mergers, a recent credit quality report by Standard & Poor's suggests. Page 22 Bond insurers are reporting record earnings as they venture beyond guaranteeing municipal bonds and into the world of asset-backed securities. Back page WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL Banks have launched what they think could be a last-ditch campaign to save the U.S. Export-Import Bank and other export finance programs. Page 10