REGIONAL
St. Paul Bancorp of Chicago is under pressure from investors to improve its performance or consider selling out. Page 5
CORPORATE FINANCE
Chase Manhattan, Citicorp, and J.P. Morgan have been identified in a study as the three U.S. commercial banks with the best chances of succeeding as global investment banks. Page 6
TECHNOLOGY
A recent Alltel outsourcing agreement with Poland's largest bank is the latest in a growing number of overseas deals by U.S. service providers. Page 7
MORTGAGES
HOME EQUITY: A Prudential Securities analyst downgraded three companies in the sector, citing ever-increasing prepayment rates, continued stiff competition, and in one case management turnover. Page 8
Mortgage insurance companies beat analysts' second-quarter earnings projections, and industry experts are saying the second half will be even better. Page 10
WASHINGTON
Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, reiterating his credit quality warning, said bankers have not tightened underwriting standards enough. "We find the issue somewhat discomforting," Mr. Greenspan told the Senate Banking Committee. "In our judgment, practices are looser than they need to be." Page 2
Business leaders vowed to implement safeguards for data collected on- line but said they would not be in widespread use by Jan. 1 as the Federal Trade Commission had asked. Page 3
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS
A new assortment of stock mutual funds has helped John Nuveen boost its bank sales. Page 12
Planning can help curb customer runoff after a merger, an Ohio consultant says. Page 12
DIGITAL FRONTIERS
SMART CARDS: Visa International announced the launch of a major smart card project in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Page 14
COMMUNITY
Seeking to become the dominant player along California's affluent central coast, Santa Barbara Bancorp and Pacific Capital Bancorp announced plans to merge. Page 25
The death of Success Bancshares' flamboyant chief executive has cast doubt on the future of the Illinois company. Page 16
MARKETS
Shares of SunTrust Banks have been hammered amid criticism of its deal for Crestar Financial, but one veteran banking analyst thinks a buying opportunity lurks. Back page
