MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Western Financial Bank in Irvine, Calif., could be the poster child of thrift evolution. Nonbanks starting thrifts? Western's finance-company parent did it in 1973. Thrifts becoming more bank-like? That's just what Western has been doing lately - partly by hiring Don Kasle from Banc One. Magazine supplement
WASHINGTON
President Clinton is expected to sign a bill shortly that will direct the Treasury Department to redesign the dollar coin and the quarter. Page 2
COMMUNITY BANKING
Older savers are the fragile backbone of community banking's core deposits, and many banks cultivate these people's loyalty to prevent what they're reluctant to do anyway: move their money. Page 9
CREDIT/DEBIT/ATMs
Cartel, the upstart no-fee ATM network, signing banks in New York State fast, its chairman says. Page 12
CORPORATE FINANCE
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will release a study in the next few weeks that will demonstrate weakening credit underwriting standards at big banks. Page 16
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
With foreign money pouring into this country, new IRS rules on withholding could mean headaches for bankers. Page 18
MORTGAGES
WMC Mortgage, formerly known as Weyerhaeuser Mortgage, hired Great Western's last chief financial officer as its own. Page 23
TECHNOLOGY
Intelidata Technologies' fortunes took another dive last week as the company reported a loss for the second consecutive quarter. Page 24
MARKET MONITOR
The Treasury yield curve, considered one of the best leading economic indicators, is signaling a business slowdown next year. Page 33
Downdrafts in the stock market aside, most of the nation's top banks are increasing shareholder value at record levels, according to an unconventional analysis. Page 33
WEEKLY REPORT: SMALL BUSINESS
A year after Congress made medical savings accounts more attractive to small businesses, five banks - Wells Fargo, Mellon, Northern Trust, Fifth Third, and Home Federal in Idaho - dominate the market. Page 10
