BUSINESS MEMO: BOATMEN'S REPORTS RISE IN SECOND QUARTER EARNINGS

Boatmen's Bancshares Inc. reported a 14 percent increase in second-quarter net income.

Net-income earnings for the quarter were $146 million, or 92 cents per common share, compared with $128 million and 80 cents per common share during the second quarter of 1995.

Return on assets for the quarter was 1.44 percent and return on equity was 16.49 percent, compared with 1.27 percent and 15.46 percent respectively for the same quarter a year ago.

Net income also rose 14 percent for the first six months of 1996, at $257 million, or $1.61 per share, from $218 million, or $1.37 per share.

Boatmen's Bancshares, with assets of $41 billion, is one of the 25 largest U.S. bank holding companies, operating at more than 650 sites in nine states, including banks at Cape Girardeau and Jackson.