WASHINGTON
Financial industry heavyweights pushed legislation that would establish a uniform system for authenticating electronic commerce. Page 3
REGIONAL
In Hawaii, legislators are debating a bill that would create a form of financial institution that state banking regulators fear would attract money launderers. Page 7
COMMUNITY
The Illinois Bankers Association is pushing state lawmakers to protect officers and directors from lawsuits relating to year-2000 conversions. Page 8
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Chase has had no problems meeting the aggressive growth goals it set when it combined its far-flung brokerage businesses in June, the division head said. Page 13
CORPORATE FINANCE
The M&A shop that First Union agreed to buy specializes in a sector coveted by the largest banks-private equity and leveraged buyout groups. Page 14
MORTGAGES
Delinquencies in the fourth quarter were at their highest level since the first quarter of 1996. Much of the rise came from an increase in delinquencies among borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages. But the rise could be short lived: Some lenders are already reporting declines. Page 10
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
ON-LINE BANKING: A home banking software entrepreneur has gone public with some less than encouraging consumer research results. Page 18
TECHNOLOGY
Norwest and State Street have become the latest in a line of major commercial banks to license Politzer & Haney's software. Page 19
Huntington's tech chief used to be Compuserve's - a natural for a bank with lots of on-line customers. But Huntington is committed to branches too. Page 19
MARKETS
Investors can't seem to get enough of bank stocks, so banks are looking to give them what they want. Back page
WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL
Citicorp will continue to expand in Asia despite recent setbacks in earnings and a suspension of efforts to buy a bank in Thailand. Page 9