31.   Similarly, the funds owned three notes linked to an index of interest paid on deposits by West Coast savings institutions, known as the cost of funds index.

32.   So savings institutions have an incentive for premiums to be as low as possible once the target is reached.

33.   Strachan was also the first to report on tax concessions granted by the government to buyers of failing savings institutions.

34.   That is because savings institutions are allowed to sell certain types of insurance and engage in some real estate deals from which banks are barred.

35.   The administration plan would allow the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to defer the large fee for a few financially weak savings institutions that could not afford to pay it.

36.   The GAO warned of possible trouble if the FDIC lowers deposit insurance premiums for banks and not for savings institutions.

37.   The home loan banks lend money at low rates to savings institutions and some banks for use in home loans.

38.   The merger of the funds would eliminate the most important lingering distinction between savings institutions and commercial banks.

39.   The latest reduction in bank fees gives banks a temporary competitive advantage over savings institutions.

40.   The price is slightly higher than that paid for other savings institutions.