Today's News

WASHINGTON

The OCC is ordering all national banks to complete surveys on the year- 2000 computer problem by June 30. Page 2

REGIONAL

Nebraska's Commercial Federal Corp. is on the hunt to buy a company with as much as $3 billion of assets, CEO William A. Fitzgerald says. Page 5

COMMUNITY

The founder of an upscale bank in a wealthy Chicago suburb has been ousted by the bank's board, reportedly because of "fundamental disagreements" over the company's business strategy. Page 9

MORTGAGES

HOME EQUITY: Finance companies are flocking to Mexico to take advantage of the billions of dollars in nonperforming assets left there in the wake of the peso's devaluation. Page 11

CORPORATE FINANCE

"Focus, focus, focus." That's how BankBoston chairman Charles K. Gifford sums up the strategy behind the deal to buy Robertson Stephens from BankAmerica. He also sees potential for the investment bank to play a role in his company's showcase business in Latin America. Page 12

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

Offering a retail cash management account, which links brokerage, banking, and credit, is becoming a necessity, many banking companies say. Page 14

National Penn, a $1.6 billion community bank, is preparing to file with the NASD for a broker-dealer license. Page 15

DIGITAL FRONTIERS

SMART CARDS: Mondex USA and Burger King are set to launch their joint smart card test today east of New York City. Page 16

CARDS

In a changing of the guard, Chase has dropped the British Airways cobranded card program, and First USA Bank has picked it up. Page 17

TECHNOLOGY

Wachovia has licensed software from Prime Response, a London software developer, with the aim of becoming a more sophisticated marketer. Page 21

MARKETS

THE TOP candidates for the post of a departing Fed governor are reportedly Cathy Bessant of NationsBank and Mary Decker of First Chicago NBD. Back page

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