A rate cut will stimulate home building and buying and it should help the bank increase the spread between what collects on the loans it makes and what it pays to raise the money it lends. Not that Washington Mutual needs any help on this front. The thrift managed to increase its interest margins in third quarter of 2000 and analysts were expecting another improvement for the December quarter even before everyone started speculating about interest rate cuts. Even after recent gains in the stock, it trades at just 13 times estimated 2000 earnings. But that's not the only reason to own this bank stock.
Branches stay open into the evening and are open on weekends.
The savvy extends to the tiniest details. The bank encourages customers to steal a pen, rather than chaining them down in the lobby, believing that the advertising is well worth the dime a new pen costs. Search MSN Money tips MSN Money's editorial goal is to provide a forum for personal finance and investment ideas. Our articles, columns, message board posts and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by Microsoft of any specific security or trading strategy. An investor's best course of action must be based on individual circumstances.