Today's News

WASHINGTON

Small thrifts find the revised Community Reinvestment Act rules difficult to follow but praise examiners for doing the job faster. Page 2

REGIONAL BANKING

More bankers are working to put CFA after their names. About 13% of the 39,341 people who signed up for the annual chartered financial analyst exam were bankers. Page 5

MORTGAGES

The accidental release of some trade group data last week highlights the pitfalls of relying on sources that lack Uncle Sam's locked-room security. Page 12

Henry Cisneros, the former HUD secretary, has emerged as a leading candidate for the senior staff job at the Mortgage Bankers Association of America. Page 13

COMMUNITY BANKING

Milwaukee's largest publicly owned thrift company has adopted a poison pill plan. Page 14

Southwest Bancorp in Oklahoma plans to write off $5.1 million of bad loans and post a net loss of $500,000 for third quarter. Page 14

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Fidelity named the chief of its Canadian subsidiary to lead fund marketing through U.S. banks, brokers, and other go-betweens. Page 16

A federal judge in Florida last week denied class-action status to plaintiffs suing Amsouth over allegedly misleading sales practices. Page 16

INSURANCE: National City hired industry veteran Kenneth J. Coleman to build and lead its insurance business. Page 18

CORPORATE FINANCE

Chase led U.S. banks in domestic commercial and industrial lending in the first quarter. Page 19

TECHNOLOGY

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CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs

Targeting what they believe is an overlooked market segment, JCB International Credit Card of Japan and Northwest Airlines introduced a credit card for Asians living in the United States. Page 22

A California company has begun offering a credit card specifically for medical expenses. Page 22

MARKET MONITOR

BankAmerica got a lift from Smith Barney, which upgraded its shares because of improved performance. Page 30