Fed to Hold Meetings on Chase Merger

The Federal Reserve Board will hold public meetings in New York and Chicago in April on the proposed $58 billion merger of J.P. Morgan Chase and Bank One, partly in response to objections that the deal's implications for community access to credit and mortgage loans have not been fully explored.The meetings, which had been sought by many consumer groups and elected officials, will be held on April 15 in New York and April 23 in Chicago. The board will consider the effects of the proposal on the financial future of the companies, competition in relevant markets, and whether the banks meet the needs of the communities to be served. The period for public comment has also been extended through April 23.