BUSINESS MEMO

Capital Bancorporation's net income for the final quarter of 1993, and for the year, is up from 1992 levels.

The three months net income total was $1,691,000, an increase of 7 percent over fourth quarter totals of a year ago. Net income for 1993 was $6,735,000, a 26 percent increase over 1992 net income.

Earnings per common and common equivalent share for the three months and 12 months ending Dec. 31 were 51 cents and $2.06, respectively, compared to 48 cents and $1.80 for the same periods in 1992.

Total assets exceeded $825 million. Capital Bancorporation's return on average assets was 0.84 percent for the fourth quarter and 0.86 percent for the year.

Nonperforming loans on Dec. 31 were $3,760,000. The allowance for possible loan losses was $10,626,000, representing approximately 283 percent of nonperforming loans and approximately 1.76 percent of total loans.

On Jan. 14, 1994, Capital Bancorporation's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share on its common stock, payable on Feb. 3 to shareholders of record Jan. 27, 1994. Also on Jan. 14, the Board of Directors declared its quarter cash dividend with respect to the preferred stock (depositary shares), payable March 1, 1994, to holders of record, Feb. 22, 1994.

Capital Bancorporation is a multi-bank holding company headquartered in Cape Girardeau. The company operates 26 banking facilities through six affiliate banks in Missouri.

Mercantile Bancorporation, Inc. reported last week that income for 1993 was a record $116.9 million, up about 40 percent over 1992 receipts totalling $85.3 million. On a per-share basis, net income increased 31.1 percent, to $4.98 from $3.80 in 1992.

Fourth-quarter net income was $31.4 million, more than double the $15.1 million the final three months of 1992. Mercantile's per-share net income the final quarter of 1993 was $1.33 compared to 68 cents in 1992.

"Mercantile's performance remained on target during 1993 as the corporation continued its strong earnings growth," said Thomas H. Jacobsen, Mercantile's chairman and chief executive officer.

Mercantile Bancorporation, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, owns 41 banks in Missouri -- including Cape Girardeau -- Southern Illinois, eastern Kansas and northern Iowa. Mercantile's non-bank subsidiaries include companies providing brokerage services, asset-based lending, investment advisory services and credit life insurance.

Commerce Bancshares, Inc. announced earning of $86.9 million for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, 1993, an increase of 21.3 percent over the $71.7 million of the same period in 1992.

Per-share earnings were $2.74 for 1993, up 12 percent over the $2.44 for the same period of 1992. Return on assets for the year was 1.14 percent.

Net income for the three months ending Dec. 31, 1993, was $23.1 million, up 26 percent over the $18.3 million for the same period of 1992. Per-share earnings for the final quarter were 72 cents compared to 16 cents in 1992, an increase of 18 percent.

"We're pleased to report record earnings for the year," said David W. Kemper, chairman and CEO. "A significant contribution to this year's performance was an improved net interest margin for both the quarter and the year. In addition our fourth quarter net yield improved from the prior quarter."

Commerce Bancshares, Inc., is a registered bank holding company operating 160 locations in Missouri, Illinois and Kansas.

Edward D. Jones & Co., a St. Louis-based investment firm, has been ranked the number one financial-services company in the nation in terms of broker satisfaction, according to "Registered Representative" magazine.

"Each year, Registered Representative asks brokers to rate their firms in 20 categories, including overall ethics of the firm, quality of investments offered, and freedom from pressure to sell certain investments," explained Joe Domian and Robert N. Etherton, investment representatives in Cape Girardeau.

Edward D. Jones & Co. scored highest in 12 of the 20 categories and highest overall among the nine firms polled.

Edward D. Jones has more than 2,600 offices in 48 states, including two in Cape Girardeau at 1749-I Independence and 215 N. Sprigg.

Mid-Missouri Engineers, Inc., (MMEI) has a new name -- Alliance Water Resources Inc.

The change, said Craig Edlund, business development manager, was made to reflect a name consistent with the company's continued focus of providing professional management and operation of municipal water and wastewater utilities.

"Our continued focus and commitment is to help clients reduce operating costs, enhance management and compliance and improve overall customer service," said Greg Mattli, president of the firm.

The local Alliance Water Resources firm is located at 120 Broadview.

"Investments -- The Long Term Outlook," was the topic of discussion during a special economics seminar held Thursday at Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

John M. Bartlett, CSA, vice president and senior portfolio manager, Investment Management Group, Commerce Bank of St. Louis, was key speaker. Also speaking was H. William Reisner Jr., vice president, Investment Management Group.

A long-term assessment formulated by Investment Management Group two years ago, concluded that the economic landscape for the first half of the 1990s, and possibly the entire decade, would be marked by slow economic growth.

Thus far, that forecast has been on target, noted Bartlett, adding that looking over the next few years, it remains difficult to envision where the impetus for faster growth would come.

The major sources of growth, noted Bartlett, are consumption, government and exports, and all continue to be constrained. But, some positive trends do point to a stronger economic growth in 1995 and beyond.

Reisner discussed Commerce Bank's benefits for employees.

Corn and soybean marketing strategies for 1994 will be primary topics during an all-day meeting Feb. 7 at Sikeston.

Roy Smith of Plattsmouth, Neb., farmer and commodity marketing specialist, will discuss market trends and strategies, and Abner Womack, director of the Food Research Institute at the University of Missouri, will discuss marketing for the upcoming year and government policy changes farmers may expect.

The meeting, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will be held at Banquets Beyond the Bay, Kingsway Plaza Mall.

Representatives of area businesses and agencies that provide internship opportunities for Southeast Missouri State University will be honored during an Internship Recognition Banquet Jan. 25 at the Show Me Center.

A social hour will start at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. The banquet is sponsored by the university and University Relations Committee of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

Keith Russell, vice chairman of the Chamber's University Relations Committee, developed the idea for the dinner.

"This is a way of recognizing these members of the business community that provide internships for our students," said Russell.

SueAnn Strom, vice president of student affairs at the university, is co-chairman of the event.

More than 200 representatives from off-campus internship sites and 15 representatives from campus internships sites, members of the campus Task Force for Expanding Experimental Education and several student interns have been invited.