ABN Amro to Cut Work Force

ABN Amro Bank's North American businesses, which include ABN Amro Mortgage Group Inc. as well as LaSalle Bank Corp. and its subsidiaries, will cut their work force by approximately 900 jobs in 2007, ABN Amro has announced.The 5% work force reduction will occur "across nearly all areas of the bank and at all major locations," the bank said. The staff reductions represent "a strategic decision to better focus resources on the businesses and client relationships that are at the core of the bank's expertise in North America," it said. ABN Amro's North American business unit is headquartered in Chicago and operates more than 400 branches under the LaSalle Bank brand.