1.   A ministry committee to study banking risk management is considering the idea favorably, said Koji Sone, an official in the banking bureau.

2.   Ministry officials within the banking bureau and the international finance bureau said that Mitsubishi Bank officials have discussed a vague outline of what the bank intends to do.

3.   Nishimura is director general of the banking bureau.

4.   They resigned along with a former banking bureau official.

5.   The problem is a political one, according to the deputy director general of the banking bureau of the finance ministry, Sei Nakai.

6.   The banking bureau chief said the government should tackle the liquidation of property collateral with such actions as tax and budget measures.