Second National Federal Savings Bank

Regulators Close 3 Thrifts: Federal regulators seized three savings and loans with combined assets of more than $8 billion, including New Jersey's largest thrift, Carteret Savings Bank. Carteret, of Newark, N.J., Security Savings Bank, of Vineland, N.J., and Second National Federal Savings Bank, of Salisbury, Md., were closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision after failing to meet capital requirements. The Resolution Trust Corp.

Regulators Close 3 Thrifts: Federal regulators seized three savings and loans with combined assets of more than $8 billion, including New Jersey's largest thrift, Carteret Savings Bank. Carteret, of Newark, N.J., Security Savings Bank, of Vineland, N.J., and Second National Federal Savings Bank, of Salisbury, Md., were closed by the Office of Thrift Supervision after failing to meet capital requirements. The Resolution Trust Corp.

John Cushwa spent years pruning peach and apple trees in the rolling hills near the Potomac River. These days he is raising $180,000 houses on 100 acres his family had farmed since 1810. "I can't say I'm happy about doing it," Cushwa said. "At one time I used to be against this type of development. But I have to do it to survive. I guess you can say we're growing houses instead of apples."

Most people would love to pay off their 30-year mortgages in 23, 21 or even 19 years. But most people don't realize how little it takes to do so. Lenders say it takes only a little extra cash every month to take a big bite out of the mortgage over time.