Today's News

Michael Brown, the CEO of Euronet Services, has a mission: to lock up as many ATM sites as possible in the emerging markets of Eastern Europe before others get there. Page 12

WASHINGTON

As part of a campaign to boost personal savings, administration officials said they plan to push banks to make their services more widely accessible. Page 4

REGIONAL

An employee of the former Barnett Banks has sued, claiming its savings plan was shortchanged by $250 million as part of the merger with NationsBank. Page 5

COMMUNITY

Small banks must not be so concerned with satisfying Wall Street on matters such as charging fees that they snub their Main Street customers, a Ryan Beck analyst told the New York Bankers Association. Page 6

MORTGAGES

Sterling Bancorp's annual report for 1997 gives shareholders a concrete way to take advantage of low mortgage rates: an offer to refinance. Page 8

CORPORATE FINANCE

BankAmerica will finance construction of the Staples Center, a 20,000- seat sports arena slated for downtown Los Angeles. Page 9

Chase Capital Partners is opening its first Latin American office, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Page 9

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Armed with more equity mutual funds, Colonial Group is rebuilding its sales through banks. Page 10

TECHNOLOGY

A German software company, SAP AG, is homing in on the financial services market in North America. Page 15

MARKETS

California's community banks should continue to shine this year, a market watcher says. Page 22