1.   American officials also said they were hopeful that United States and other foreign banks would be interested in acquiring South Korean banks.

2.   Analysts said the region is attractive to acquiring banks because of its growing, diverse economy and low unemployment.

3.   Analysts said NatWest might seek to merge with or acquire another bank, or to sell its investment-banking unit.

4.   And chief executives at Nationsbank, BankAmerica Corp. and Banc One Corp. are all intent on establishing the first coast-to-coast banking operation by acquiring smaller banks.

5.   BankBoston does not have the required funds to acquire another bank in Brazil.

6.   Banc One refrained from acquiring other banks in the last three years as takeovers swept the banking industry.

7.   Banorte and BBV are the most likely candidates to win Banpais because they are bigger than Invex and have experience acquiring troubled banks, analysts said.

8.   BankBoston spent heavily to acquire investment bank Robertson Stephens last year only months before a downturn in global capital markets.

9.   Banks that acquired investment banks in recent years are re-evaluating how to balance their lending and investment banking businesses.

10.   BIC needed to acquire a bank to keep developing its business in Colombia, said Salomon Brothers analyst Pablo Burbridge in a recent report.