| Poised
to Grow
By Kenneth Cline
— Fifth Third Bancorp's earnings power and market
multiples are such that it can buy virtually anything
it wants on a non-dilutive basis. CEO George Schaefer,
looking for ways to expand, seems increasingly willing
to use that firepower.
High
Tech, or High Touch?
By Bill Stoneman
— Small business customers
are increasingly gravitating to banks and nonbanks that
use credit scoring and mass mail loan campaigns. But bankers
and consultants agree that personalized service can still
play a vital role in maintaining relationships.
Raising
Aspirations
By John Garabedian and David
Taylor — Banks
could reap great rewards by applying their business model
to insurance sales. But getting the full benefits will
require strategists to commit to insurance as a core product,
asserts a study by BAI and Boston Consulting Group.
Handle with
Care
Banks are wrestling with cultural and compensation issues
as they enlist top money managers for their mutual funds.
Some are testing innovative ownership structures as a
way to cement relationships.
Trusting Relationships
Throngs of new players are entering the trust business
by purchasing thrift charters. Bankers believe they can
withstand the charge -- but many are adopting new strategies
just in case.
The Capital
Investments Maze
The benefits of capital investment projects are tough
to measure, particularly those including information technology.
A.T. Kearney consultants Nigel Williams and Owen Young
say key principles such as early project screening can help.
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