For decades before that, banks were essentially portfolio lenders; they held loans until they matured or were paid off.

The struggling railroad company was indebted to Union and Planters, who held loans for the railroad totaling $200,000.

Government authorities have pressured about twenty families to sell, and there is pressure from banks which hold outstanding loans on other properties.

This plan has upset bankers holding bad loans as they want 'the pain to be shared' by everyone.

Experts estimate that 90 percent of the assets against which the insolvent thrifts hold delinquent or otherwise troubled loans are residential properties.

St. Louis had the biggest disparity between the percentage of upper-income blacks and upper-income whites who held subprime loans, according to the study.

It suffered mounting losses on its stockholdings and found that under new, stricter accounting guidelines, it held more bad loans than expected.

The big devaluation that was made in November 1991 raised the currency debts of Finnish companies holding foreign loans.

Dutch banks, moreover, held substantial loans to Britain.

Under the plan, commercial banks and governments holding Argentine loans would be asked to accept below-market interest payments.