MORE U.S. BANKS JOIN IN PRIME RATE CUT
Chemical Bank, the main bank subsidiary
of Chemical New York Corp, and Marine Midland Banks Inc said
they were raising the prime lending rate to 7-3/4 pct from
7-1/2 pct, effective immediately.
    In St Louis, Mercantile Bancorp said its Mercantile Bank
N.A. was also raising its prime rate to 7-3/4 pct from 7-1/2
pct, effective immediately.
    The changes follow similar cuts yesterday by Citicorp and
Chase Manhattan.
 Reuter
