61.   The bank raised its dividend five cents a share.

62.   The bank raised maximum rates for short-term peso fixed-term deposits and all U.S. dollar fixed-term deposits.

63.   The dollar is now more than a cent and a third lower than when the bank last raised rates.

64.   The three banks raise funds mainly by issuing debentures rather than taking deposits.

65.   They also say banks are raising penalty rates, and in some instances confusing card holders with due dates that change month to month.

66.   Though many analysts and investors have expected the bank would raise rates in the next few months, an immediate action would come as a considerable surprise.

67.   Those rating cuts are already making it more expensive for the banks to raise funds.

68.   To be sure, sterling could fall if the bank raises rates by only a quarter percentage point or leaves rates unchanged, traders said.

69.   To bolster core capital, the banks are raising money.

70.   To cut costs and squeeze more profits from their consumer-banking arms, banks have raised fees and added scores of ATMs.