Today's News

WASHINGTON

Warnings that a new tax on frequent-flier miles would doom the wildly popular credit card incentives were overblown. Page 3

TECHNOLOGY

Investment activity among vendors of client/server core processing systems is heating up. Page 8

The Fed has created a year-2000 test lab for banks to test their interfaces with the institution. Page 9

COMMUNITY

California's recession officially ended four years ago, but nearly three dozen community banks still feel its effects, the state's chief banking regulator says. Page 13

CORPORATE FINANCE

J.P. Morgan has spun its advisory work for Lyondell Petrochemical into a mandate to lead one of the year's biggest loan packages-a $7 billion financing. Page 14

CARDS

At its debut, critics scoffed at the prospects for a cobranded Mercedes- Benz card-issued as a standard product rather than as gold or platinum. But six months after its introduction, both the auto company and the issuer, Capital One Financial, say the card has "performed above industry averages" in response rates and card usage. Page 17

economic and political turmoil in Asia has not dampened card companies' enthusiasm for the region or belief in the creditworthiness of its residents.

MORTGAGES

Demand for home loans remains strong despite an economic slowdown, Fannie Mae says in its summer report.

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

BankAmerica is hoping a new magazine will bring a little magic to its relationship with African-American customers.

Massachusetts bankers want the state to pass a law allowing for conversions of personal common trust funds to mutual funds without triggering taxes for clients.

MARKET MONITOR

Despite last week's wild ride in stocks, Wall Street's leading bulls are refusing to pull in their horns.

The market's recent upheaval has placed two of the industry's closest followers of regional bank stocks at odds.

WEEKLY REPORT: SMALL BUSINESS

lending to small business is expected to be a key part of a CRA agreement being hashed out between activists and First Chicago NBD and Banc One.