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TREASURY ENACTS NEW ACCOUNT PROCEDURES

WASHINGTON, DC - The US Treasury Department recently issued final rules that require certain financial institutions to establish procedures to verify the identity of new account holders. The DOT said the regulations were written to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing, identity theft and other forms of fraud "while also providing financial institutions the flexibility they need to effectively implement the rules."  The rules are part of the Patriot Act, legislation passed by Congress in the wake of the September 2001 terrorist attacks against the US. The customer identification standards will take effect October 1 and apply to a range of financial institutions and service providers, including banks and trust companies, savings associations, credit unions, mutual funds, and securities brokers and dealers, Treasury said. Institutions will be required to establish a program for obtaining identifying information from customers opening new accounts, such as the customer's name, address, date of birth and a taxpayer identification number, or -- for non-US customers -- a similar number from a government-issued document.

MEXICO REDESIGNS CURRENCY TO HELP BLIND
 
MEXICO CITY - The Central Bank of Mexico has said it will make changes to its national currency to help the blind and visually impaired identify bills and coins, reports the Associated Press.  The new money will incorporate reliefs to make denominations identifiable by touch, the Central Bank. The bank plans to finish this year a study of the textured currencies before making changes to raw materials and starting production. Mexico has 467,000 people with visual disabilities, according to the country's 2000 census. Other organizations say the number is much higher. Mexican currency has five types of bills and seven coins.

UNIVERSITY TO EXPAND IN ORANGE COUNTY

WASHINGTON, DC - CarrAmerica Realty Corp. recently announced that the University of Phoenix has signed a 65,000 square foot lease at the new South Coast Executive Center in Costa Mesa. The University has indicated its intent to use the space to relocate and expand its Orange County campus. The lease brings the property's occupancy rate to 100%. Located within the triangle formed by Orange County's three major freeways, the new South Coast Executive Center is composed of twin, five-story, interconnected buildings. Its amenities include parking below the buildings, balcony suites overlooking a landscaped plaza, an exterior fountain, and proximity to shopping, restaurants and hotels.

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