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A number of large US banks, such as BankAmerica Corp and First Union Corp, reported strong operating profits for the 4th qtr of 1997 with the help of strong capital markets results. Wells Fargo and Co, Republic New York Corp, BB and T Corp, and Union Planters Corp were others which had substantial profits for the period as well. Greenpoint Financial Corp and Washington Mutual Inc were among thrifts with better 4th quarter results, as well., Strong results from capital markets operations helped boost fourth- quarter earnings at several large banks reporting Wednesday. BankAmerica Corp., the nation's fourth-biggest bank, posted profits of $812 million, a 9% [...]

The banking industry went to court Monday to try to block new membership rules adopted by the National Credit Union Administration. The rules, approved by the agency Thursday, violate an [...]

SALT LAKE CITY - Zions Bancorp. and First Security Corp. expect federal regulators to require $2 billion of deposit divestitures because of their merger, according to a Securities and Exchange [...]

NEW YORK - Washington Mutual Inc. moved ahead with its plan to grow by opening branches on a de novo basis, announcing plans Monday to open 20 retail store-like branches [...]

SAN FRANCISCO - Golden State Bancorp, the parent of California Federal Bank, has named Daniel Leonard president and chief operating officer of the thrift's automobile finance unit. Mr. Leonard, a [...]

By OLAF de-SENERPONT-DOMIS Four months after being forced out as president of BankAmerica Corp., David A. Coulter is starting a venture that he said could take business away from banking [...]

By de-SENERPONT-DOMIS, OLAF In a deal that would beef up its Northern California operations, BancWest Corp. of Honolulu said it has agreed to acquire SierraWest Bancorp for $194 million in [...]

HF Bancorp in Southern California said last week it had recovered all of a potential $2.9 million loss from a check kiting scheme. The $1 billion-asset thrift disclosed its problem [...]

By OLAF de SENERPONT DOMIS To reduce turnover, Unionbancal Corp. is changing its approach to hiring branch employees. Its Union Bank of California plans to offer cash incentives to rank-and- [...]

By de-SENERPONT-DOMIS, OLAF BB&T Corp. continued its shopping spree Thursday, announcing an agreement to buy Mason-Dixon Bancshares of Westminster, Md., for $257 million in stock. The price for $1.1 billion-asset [...]

By de-SENERPONT-DOMIS, OLAF In a deal that would give it a foothold in Atlanta, one of the largest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the Southeast, BB&T Corp. said Wednesday it [...]

First Union Corp.has become the first major domestic bank to offer its customers Vasco Data Security International Inc.'s (Oakbrook Terrace, IL) pocket-size Digipass 300 authentication system, information technology that supports electronic commerce via the Internet on a secure basis. The device already is being used by thousands of First Union customers who use the Digipass 300 for their cash management operations. First Union predicts that upwards of 20,000 of its customers will be using the Digipass 300 by mid-1999., By de-SENERPONT-DOMIS, OLAF In a first for a major U.S. banking company, First Union Corp. is deploying Digipass 300, a pocket-size device that lets corporate customers make secure transactions over [...]

By de-SENERPONT-DOMIS, OLAF Washington Mutual Inc. says its effort to introduce its brand in California and Florida is succeeding. The Seattle thrift said last week that it ranks among the [...]

By OLAF de SENERPONT DOMIS Imperial Bancorp plans to sell its 24% stake in Imperial Credit Industries, a high-risk consumer lending unit, according to documents filed last week with the [...]

By Olaf de Senerpont Domis BankAmerica Corp. Wednesday named Charles Rice, formerly chairman of Barnett Banks Inc., vice chairman of corporate development, a new post. Mr. Rice will head the [...]

By Olaf de Senerpont Domis Pacific Century Financial Corp. said it has agreed to purchase Triad/IAG Insurance Agency. Honolulu-based Triad, a property and casualty company, is the fourth- largest insurance [...]

A community activist group said Monday that the federal government has found the former Sumitomo Bank of California in violation of affirmative action laws. According to the Greenlining Institute, the [...]

The planned merger of Wells Fargo & Co. and Norwest Corp. is likely to prompt fewer employee departures than usual, and credit belongs to the Minneapolis company for keeping people [...]

Pacific Century Financial Corp. of Honolulu has reauthorized a stock repurchase program, a move observers considered a positive sign for a company stung by the Asian economic turmoil. Pacific Century, [...]

Financial services firms trying to lure executive talent are increasingly relying on signing bonuses. A survey by the New York executive search firm Thorndike Deland found that nearly 75% of [...]

Retail fees are emerging as the latest target of class actions against banks, according to lawyers and other industry experts. This month a San Francisco law firm filed a suit [...]

The Justice Department on Friday said it will not challenge the BankAmerica Corp.-NationsBank Corp. merger on antitrust grounds after the companies agreed to divest 17 branches in New Mexico. 'This [...]

Public shareholders of Sumitomo Bank of California voiced their displeasure this week about its pending sale to Zions Bancorp. Though the cash transaction was approved by an 89% vote, 85% [...]

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Ltd. on Thursday said it plans to change the ownership structure of its California banking affiliate. The Japanese parent said Thursday that it would eliminate its direct [...]

Washington Mutual Inc. said net income rose 37%, to $261 million, fueled by strong loan growth and improved fee income. Excluding one-time charges related to acquisitions, earnings per share of [...]

NationsBank Corp.'s automobile finance unit has agreed to refer subprime loan applicants to Houston-based First Investors Financial Services. Under terms of the alliance, announced this week, a car dealer would [...]

Wells Fargo & Co. has been sued by a senior-citizen customer who does not want to lose his free checking account. The class action, filed last week in San Diego [...]

Union Bank of California has kicked off a legal battle to prevent Zions Bancorp. from using the name Bank of California. In a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District [...]

In announcing a 'merger of equals' Monday, executives of Wells Fargo & Co. and Norwest Corp. focused many of their comments on the companies' considerable differences. The two are counting [...]

BankAmerica Corp. gained a victory in the initial phase of a trial to determine if it mismanaged billions of dollars of California municipal bond proceeds. On the basis of bank [...]

When Zions Bancorp. decided to name its California operation Bank of California, it chose a name laden with historical significance. 'The new name is a simple and direct reflection of [...]

BankAmerica Corp. vice chairman Martin A. Stein plans to resign after the San Francisco-based company completes its merger with NationsBank Corp. Mr. Stein, who is the director of technology and [...]

First Security Corp, in Salt Lake City, UT, will purchase California State Bank of West Covina for $301 million in stock. The purchase will enable First Security to enter the banking industry in California. First Security officials were attracted to California State Bank of West Covina because of its focus on small- and middle-market lending., First Security Corp. of Salt Lake City said Thursday it had agreed to buy a business-oriented Southern California bank for $301 million in stock. With $849 million-asset California State Bank [...]

Citing economic weakness locally and in Asia, Hawaii's largest banking company announced plans Wednesday to cut its work force by 11% and close 25 of its 100 branches. Pacific Century [...]

Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig announced Thursday that he will resign April 4, ending a remarkable five-year run that greatly expanded the powers of national banks. Though the [...]

Multinational banks based in the United States can expect to have an easier time entering foreign markets under an agreement reached by the World Trade Organization. Citicorp, Chase Manhattan Corp., [...]

The rush by big insurance firms to charter thrifts is sparking howls of protest from state banking regulators. The state officials fret that their supervisory powers will be usurped by [...]

Sallie Mae chief Alfred L. Lord bluntly told bankers Tuesday to prepare for tough competition from the student loan concern. 'We are going to do more of what we can [...]