NR 97-73
July 23, 1997

Comptroller Ludwig and Attorney General Reno Will Address Conference on Banking in Indian Country: Expanding the Horizons

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Comptroller of the Currency Eugene A. Ludwig
will deliver  opening remarks tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. at
Banking in Indian Country: Expanding the Horizons, a conference  co-sponsored by the OCC and the Department of Justice's Office of
Tribal Justice.  

The audience will include over 300 bankers, tribal government
officials, attorneys, consultants and representatives of trade
associations and federal government agencies. The luncheon speaker
will be Attorney General Janet Reno, who will address tribal self-governance and fair lending issues.  Other featured speakers are
Karen Alnes, Director of Community Reinvestment, Norwest
Corporation, at 10:15 a.m.; and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Vice
Chair, Senate Indian Affairs Committee, at 3:45 p.m.

Panel sessions throughout the day will cover:
     
9:00 a.m.      Operating in Indian Country  (tribal sovereignty and
               self-governance, trust land status, civil
               jurisdiction and sovereign immunity.)
10:45 a.m.     Community Issues (CRA, fair lending)
2:00 p.m.      Concurrent panels:
               Home Mortgage Lending in Indian Country
               Acquiring/Chartering Tribally Owned Institutions 
4:15 p.m.      Reaching the Nonbanked in Indian Country


Reporters interested in covering the conference should call (202)
874-5770.

                                # # #

The OCC charters, regulates and supervises approximately 2,800 national banks and
66 federal branches and agencies of foreign banks in the U.S., accounting for
more than half the nation's banking assets.  Its mission is to ensure a safe,
sound and competitive national banking system that supports the citizens,
communities and economy of the United States.