21.   Banque Leumi France, by contrast, a far smaller bank also under investigation, asserts that it did tighten its controls after receiving the police tip-off.

22.   Bank of the Philippine Islands has begun negotiating with key shareholders of CityTrust Banking Corp. to gain control of the smaller bank.

23.   BankAmerica Corp., Fleet Financial Group Inc. and other smaller U.S. banks said fees, lending and a cap on expenses boosted first-quarter profits.

24.   Beyond the giants, smaller banks such as UST Corp. of Boston jumped back.

25.   A smaller bank, like BHF-Bank, or an international merger with a bank in Switzerland, France or the Netherlands might be more attractive.

26.   A smaller bank, such as BHF-Bank, or an international merger with a bank in Switzerland, France or the Netherlands might be more attractive.

27.   A smaller regional bank failed yesterday.

28.   ABN Amro of the Netherlands has been acquiring smaller banks across Europe.

29.   According to Melissa Morey, a spokeswoman for Visa USA, while most large banks will provide quick replacement, some smaller banks may not be as quick.

30.   But a merger with Nippon, a smaller bank in worse condition, would create a bigger problem, said Tomishi Ishida, a Tokyo bank analyst.