January 22, 1998 - Minnesotans may not realize that the state's tobacco lawsuit has the potential to affect their personal finances. In all likelihood, a large number of Minnesotans have financial stake in the cigarette industry, through the stock holdings of their pension funds, or mutual funds, and even simply as state taxpayers. And Minnesota's lawsuit against the industry is expected to have a potentially powerful impact on tobacco company stocks.
January 21, 1998 - A bill that would pressure banks to offer a low-fee checking account got its first hearing at the state capital today. The bill is one of several proposals to limit bank fees that will come up in this legislative session. Supporters said fees have gotten excessive. Opponents did not have a chance to testify.
September 12, 1997 - Consumer groups argue bank fees are gouging customers at a time of record profits in the industry. In Minnesota and nationally, banks have increased service charges and added new ones. The fees add up to a lot of money. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Minnesota commercial banks collected more than 800 thousand dollars a day in service charges last year, a total of 293 million dollars. Complaints about fees have reached the Minnesota legislature, where proposals to reign in bank fees are pending. Here is an exerpt from the third of Bill Catlin's reports on bank fees.
September 12, 1997 - Consumer groups argue bank fees are gouging customers at a time of record profits in the industry. In Minnesota and nationally, banks have increased service charges and added new ones. The fees add up to a lot of money. According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Minnesota commercial banks collected more than $800, 000 a day in service charges last year, a total of $293 million. Complaints about fees have reached the Minnesota Legislature, where proposals to reign in bank fees are pending. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has the third in our series of reports on bank fees.
September 10, 1997 - FOR ATC WEDS 9-10-97 Today we begin a three part series on bank fees. Consumer groups have blasted banks for excessive fees in an era of record profits. Much of the recent criticism has focused on Automated Teller Machine fees. But the amount banks collect in bounced check fees dwarfs their income from the new ATM surcharge. In the first of our series, Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports that banks have figured out the bounced check fee can turn rubber into gold. | D-CART ITEM: PLAYLIST #7329 | TIME: PART ONE (7327) 7:42 | OUTCUE: "... is enormous." | TIME: PART TWO: (7328) 6:57 | OUTCUE: SOC note: story includes a promo for next day's story just prior to SOC.
September 10, 1997 - FOR M.E. WEDS 9-10-97 Today we begin a three part series on bank fees. Consumer groups have blasted banks for excessive fees in an era of record profits. One of the most lucrative service charges is the bounced check fee. In the first report of our series, Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin reports that banks have figured out the bounced check fee can turn rubber into gold. Tune in at 5:30 tonight for more about bounced check fees, including a banking practice that can make customers bounce more checks
March 26, 1997 - A key Minnesota house committee today approved legislation that would require snowmobile owners to have liability insurance on their snowmobiles. This bill is one of many this year fueled by the 32 snowmobile related deaths this year in Minnesota. The House Financial institutions and Insurance Committee passed the requirement after hearing tearful pleas from the mothers of two children killed by snowmobilers this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more.
March 20, 1997 - Minneapolis-based First Bank announced today it would acquire one of the largest and oldest banks in the Pacific Northwest, U.S. Bancorp, for about $9 billion dollars in stock. The new entity will be the 14th largest banking firm in the U.S., and will take the name U.S. Bancorp. Officials say some 4,000 positions will be eliminated, the majority in the Portland area. Analysts say the announcement has relatively little bad news for Minnesota. Minnesota Public Radio's Bill Catlin has more.
December 16, 1996 - Officials at University of Minnesota announced today they are suing the U.S. government in a dispute over federal efforts to recover damages that could exceed 100 million dollars. The dispute stems from the U Surgery department's ALG transplant drug program and administration of grant funds in the department.
December 12, 1996 - University of Minnesota Presidential Candidate Mark Yudof got generally high marks from legislative leaders following a morning meeting at the capital. The board of regents votes tomorrow on whether to offer Yudoff the position of president.