WASHINGTON
An interim Federal Reserve rule allowing electronic account statements could bolster profits and lead to cheap paperless accounts for home banking customers. Page 2
Pressure is mounting on the Fed to block a $25 billion merger of two Swiss banks, but legal experts say that it is unlikely to affect the central bank's decision. Page 2
REGIONAL
WaMu is preparing a folksy ad blitz for California, but it won't include the Rodeo Grandmas, the stars of its Washington State campaign. Page 4
COMMUNITY
Capitol Bancorp of Lansing, Mich., is more than willing to wine and dine its directors for the sake of a few good sales leads. Page 6
MORTGAGES
Regulators warned that use of credit scoring is no defense against charges of bias in lending. Page 10
TECHNOLOGY
When Hatim Tyabji, Verifone's CEO, revealed this week that he would retire at yearend, he did so in characteristic style, headlining his announcement "A Message from My Heart." "If there is anything I would want you to say about a legacy," he said in an interview, "it is that we truly tried to build a family." Page 18
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Eaton Vance has ridden its signature niche mutual funds to growth in sales at banks over the past year, its bank distribution chief said. Page 12
CORPORATE FINANCE
NationsBank is betting that a new emphasis on the industrial sector will spur cross-selling with its new investment banking unit. Page 14
CARDS
Retailers increasingly are offering card-based gift certificates to customers and corporate clients, hoping the new products will spur loyalty. Page 16
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
ON-LINE BANKING: A new product out of Silicon Valley could reduce the cost and complexity of building a virtual financial services business. Page 17
MARKETS
Continued merger speculation prompted an upgrade for J.P. Morgan, but its shares dipped anyway, along with the broader market. Back page
WEEKLY REPORT: INTERNATIONAL
As U.S. banks wait out Asia's financial crisis, they are steadily building businesses in a less troublesome emerging market-Eastern Europe.
Page 8
