51.   The thrift also made several management changes as it combined its New York and National mortgage businesses.

52.   There is also increased competition for mortgage business.

53.   Trevor Cheung, property analyst at Credit Lyonnais, said banks want the mortgage business to offset corporate lending business.

54.   Transamerica said it will continue to own and operate its broker-based mortgage business, based in Dallas, and a recently acquired mortgage business headquartered in Florida.

55.   When Wells abandoned the first home mortgage origination business, it allied with Norwest Bank .

56.   With the move, Rhode Island-based Citizens will abandon the wholesale mortgage business, and pulls out of the South East.

57.   But analysts who follow FleetBoston said the mortgage business yields slimmer profit margins than do other banking operations.

58.   Citicorp is retreating from the mortgage securities business, citing a slump in demand for the investments caused by higher interest rates.

59.   Merrill Lynch said Tuesday it will offer federally insured savings accounts to many of its brokerage customers, and will expand its online mortgage business.

60.   Mr Cai added that besides the mortgage loan business, the company has also engaged in trade financing for mainland enterprises.