These and other refinements should allow holding companies to move closer toward their goal of operating as a one-stop financial service firm for customers, while operating safely and soundly. The Comptroller of the Currency has also taken steps to widen the breadth of activities undertaken by banking organizations. For example, the expansion of insurance sales activities has opened new opportunities for national banks.
The rate of inflation indeed continued to decline to reach a lower turning point of 5.5 per cent over the twelve months up to April 1996.