WASHINGTON
Year-2000 glitches in the global financial infrastructure could leave even well-prepared U.S. banks vulnerable to problems, witnesses at a House Banking Committee hearing said. Page 2
REGIONAL
Banc One is wasting no time in considering branch closings to put First Commerce, its new Louisiana banking house, in order. Page 4
Developing a broad-based relationship with retail customers offers huge payoffs for banks, but also a host of headaches, speakers at a conference said. Page 4
COMMUNITY
A slowdown in the construction and tourism industries could affect the lending portfolios of Nevada community banks, the FDIC cautioned. Page 7
MORTGAGES
Lenders are wrestling with the question of when to notify borrowers of an expansion July 6 of the flood plain in several California counties. Page 9
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
SMART CARDS: ReadiMondex software, which helps retailers accept Mondex payments on-line, will operate in tandem with Microsoft's ActiveStore system framework. "We are targeting retailers who are large cash-based merchants and who are rapidly moving to client/server technology," says Janet Crane, Mondex USA president and CEO. Page 12
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
Charter One plans to hang out its shingle as a broker-dealer after it wraps up a pair of acquisitions in October. Page 11
CARDS
Oasis Technology, a Canadian vendor of on-line processing software, is making its debut in the United States. Page 13
TECHNOLOGY
CIBC is enlisting college students in an unusual program designed to help ensure its small-business lending customers are year-2000 compliant. Page 14
Bowne & Co., a 223-year-old financial printer, is transforming itself through acquisitions into a provider of Internet banking software. Page 15
CORPORATE FINANCE
Credit Suisse First Boston is bringing a leveraged $1.28 billion loan to market for Ispat International, a global steel company. Page 25
MARKETS
Wachovia and TCF Financial rose on buyback announcements, but investors were warned to temper their enthusiasm. Back page