NATIONSBANK TO CUT SOME JOBS

Some banking jobs may be lost here under NationsBank's reorganization plan following the purchase of Boatmen's Bank.

"We don't have a firm schedule on the centralization issue," said Jim Limbaugh late Thursday.

But some departments, he said, will be affected as certain functions are "centralized" to prevent duplication.

"We will make every effort to fold people who lose their jobs in one department into other areas of operations," said Limbaugh, regional executive director of the Southeast Missouri/Southern Illinois Region, which employs about 440 workers.

"We don't anticipate any significant impact in employment locally," said Limbaugh, who is also maintaining his duties as head of the bank at Cape Girardeau.

Few if any Boatmen's branches are expected to close here, as NationsBank had no branches in this area.

Meanwhile, the transition, said Limbaugh, is going smoothly.

The transition team, which include people from NationsBank and the former Boatmen's Bank, is still gathering information to make the changeover process work smoothly, said Limbaugh.

"They're professionals, and from my perspective, the team is very focused and visionary," said Limbaugh. "I'm impressed with their down-to-earth attitude and business savvy."

Attrition, said Limbaugh, will account for some of the people who may lose certain jobs in this area.

The St. Louis area may gain some jobs, said Limbaugh. A number of the centralization of services will be established in the St. Louis area.

"In the long run, I feel that the St. Louis area will actually gain some NationsBank jobs," said Limbaugh.

NationsBank officials provide no estimate of employment impact, saying only that the company does not expect any great impact on employment in the St. Louis area.

NationsBank earlier said it would cut no more than 4,700 jobs from the company's combined 87,000-member work force.

Sources say NationsBank has already started laying off workers in "duplicate" jobs in the St. Louis and in the local region, but bank officials have not given out any numbers.

Under the new format, Boatmen's Banks in Missouri and Illinois communities have been divided into five regions.

Limbaugh's region includes banks in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Kennett in Missouri and banking centers in Mount Vernon, Salem, Centralia, West Frankfort, Ziegler and Marion in Illinois, with 20 locations.

NationsBank signs won't appear in the area until some time next summer. Signs won't be changed on Boatmen's branches here until June.