Today's News

WASHINGTON

Tipping his hand for the first time, Senate Banking Committee Chairman D'Amato hinted that financial reform legislation should not grant broad new powers to banks. Page 3

The Federal Trade Commission needs more power to prevent fraud over the Internet, a top agency official told lawmakers. She predicted most consumers would shun Internet transactions without better fraud controls. Page 3

INVESTMENT PRODUCTS

State securities regulators are driving home a message to senior citizens: Beware scam artists peddling bogus investments on the Internet. The group also has a committee developing a search engine designed to detect fraudulent home pages before trouble occurs. Page 8

First Union has hired Thomas Pindelski as chief financial officer of its First Union Capital Management Group. Page 8

REGIONAL

Fifth Third CEO George A. Schaefer Jr. would like to double his bank's market share in Ohio and build it up in Indiana and Kentucky. Though he is looking for bargains in a seller's market, his game plan remains the same: Buy small, underperforming companies at low premiums and improve them. Page 4

BankBoston promoted two of its fastest-rising stars, Susannah M. Swihart and Bradford H. Warner, to vice chairman. Page 4

MORTGAGES

Standard & Poor's took Aames Financial's debt off the CreditWatch list, affirming the company's BB-minus rating. Page 7

CARDS

Capitalizing on the popularity of platinum cards, bank issuers are slapping on eye-popping fees. Issuers are charging as much as $35 to consumers who exceed their credit limits by as little as $1, according to RAM Research. Page 11

CORPORATE FINANCE

Securities Data is looking to shake up the way the syndicated lending business tracks itself when it unveils a new league table next month. Page 21

MARKETS

Mellon's shares surged more than 5% on fresh speculation that it would be acquired by Chase. Back page

The president of Comerica told employees in an internal memo that he will retire June 1, 1999, leaving open the bank's No. 2 position. Back page

COMMUNITY Page 6

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