Farmers National Bank

American banking laws are still so restrictive that true nationwide banking is a mirage. But in just a few short years, regional banking has been introduced with such a force that roughly half the deposits in Maryland are now held by banks owned by out-of-state companies.Crestar, the Richmond-based financial giant, has announced that it will buy Annapolis Bancorp Inc. When completed, the transaction will add Annapolis Federal Savings Bank's 10 branches and $332 million in assets to Crestar's asset base of $13 billion and its regional network of 302 branches.

Jessup company wins luggage competitionDelsey, situated in Jessup, has been awarded the first and second prizes at the Product of the Year Awards, sponsored by the British Luggage Association, for its luggage.The top award went to Delsey's wheeled garment bag from its Hemisphere Softside Collection, and the company's new 30-inch, four-wheeled hard-side suitcase from the Hemisphere Hardside Collection.Gilchrest receives builders' awardAssociated Builders & Contractors (ABC), Anne Arundel/Southern Maryland Chapter, recently presented an "Eagle" Award to Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, R-1st.

Marian M. Melville, 99, gardener, designed homeMarian M. Melville, an avid gardener who designed her Gibson Island home, died Tuesday of heart failure at the Keswick Multi-Care Center. She was 99.A former resident of the Marylander Apartments, Mrs. Melville decided in 1957 to have a home of her own design constructed on Gibson Island.She spent the next 40 years in the home, then moved to Keswick last year. She was an avid gardener and was a member of the Gibson Island Club.The former Marian Maytham was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y.While attending the Penn Hall School for Girls in Chambersburg, Pa., she met Thomas Woods Melville at a school dance.

A Pasadena man thwarted an armed robbery attempt Tuesday when he grabbed his assailant's gun during a struggle, county police said.The 18-year-old man suffered a slight hand injury when the gun went off during the struggle, but he refused medical treatment, police said.The victim told police he was walking through a field toward the rear of Farmers National Bank in the 3000 block of Mountain Road in Pasadena shortly before 10:30 p.m. when a man approached him from behind and demanded his bank card.

WITH Maryland National Bank due to adopt the name of its new owner, Charlotte-based NationsBank, no local institution will be happier about this change in nomenclature than the First National Bank of Maryland.For longer than most care to remember, these two big competitors have been in each other's hair because of the similarity of their names.Both receive huge numbers of letters and phone calls that have to be redirected. Both have carefully massaged their marketing campaigns to differentiate themselves, one from the other.

A suspect in a holdup at a Glen Burnie bank branch Monday was in custody yesterday, tracked down by FBI agents and the police through the license tag of the getaway car.Authorities said a gray Acura belonging to the man's wife was used in the robbery. He was arrested at their apartment on Falcon Place in Waldorf shortly before midnight Tuesday after an hours-long standoff and negotiations with police.The robber implied that he had a weapon when he handed a note to a teller at Farmers National Bank in the 200 block of Hospital Drive about 11 a.m., authorities said.

Sandy and Ramsay Stallman saw a good omen when they read the ad in the Wall Street Journal.The description sounded so perfect - a meticulously restored Colonial inn, with upstairs suites and a basement tavern, in the heart of historic Annapolis. It sounded like the place they were looking for to open their second restaurant.They knew they were right when they saw Reynolds Tavern. History buffs who enjoy living near the water, the Stallmans took one look at the inn on Church Circle and began planning the menu.

A man robbed Farmers & Mechanics National Bank in Columbia's Dorsey's Search village yesterday of an undisclosed amount of money, Howard County police said. The man entered the bank in the 9500 block of Old Annapolis Road about 2:20 p.m., according to police. He did not display a weapon, and he quietly approached a teller and demanded money, police said. After receiving cash, he ran into a wooded area, police said. Police described the man as white, in his 30s, about 5 feet 9 with a heavy build and a goatee.

Frederick-based F&M Bancorp, parent of Farmers & Mechanics National Bank, agreed yesterday to buy Monocacy Bancshares Inc. for 2.22 million shares of stock as F&M expands in Maryland.F&M, which has total assets of about $1.07 billion, is acquiring Taneytown-based Monocacy, parent company of Taneytown Bank & Trust, to move into a contiguous region of the state.Monocacy has 11 community bank branches and assets of $294 million.The final price of the transaction will be between $76.4 million and $103.

Rouse Co. receives industry award for promoting diversity The Rouse Co. was named as recipient of the first Diversity in Construction Award at the October meeting of Partnering for Success, an organization of building industry associations. The award recognizes companies based in Washington and in Prince George's and Montgomery counties for efforts in bringing minority contractors together with business leaders. Rouse was recognized for including affirmative action plans covering women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and Vietnam veterans and annual corporate goals for recruiting women and minorities.