Studies show that lending officers at bank branches have preferred to serve white customers more than blacks.

Its staff is made up almost entirely of experienced lending officers.

"Our goal is to emancipate the lending officers from these bad assets," he said.

Last year, the former lending officer oversaw the distribution of 4,221,000 pounds of food to more than 450 agencies.

Today, all of the bank's 500 middle-market lending officers have attended classes to learn about capital markets products and how they can be sold.

Individuals close to the investigation said that lending officers were aware of the trading.

"Belarus is just using up whatever capacity they have as a result of the Soviet breakup," said the international lending officer.

These are not dedicated salespeople, or traditional lending officers, but executives who work anywhere from the trading floor to the back office.

The lending officers were put through a training program followed by a rigorous, six-hour test.

Near Omaha, some lending officers say they have considered buying handguns to protect themselves and their families.