LOCAL BANKS RALLY TO THE CAUSE OF RAMS' PUSH

While interest has risen in most facets of the St. Louis Rams, it's being held down on another front.

With personal seat licenses (PSL) as high as $4,500 and tickets still to be bought, money has become an issue for many football fans. In St. Louis, Boatmen's Bank, Roosevelt Bank and Capital Bank have rallied to the cause of the civic push.

Boatmen's is advertising a floating prime rate loan for PSLs. The program has been extended to the Cape Girardeau offices, where the loans can be obtained. Roosevelt Bank has also extended its St. Louis program to Cape.

Boatmen's, Roosevelt and Capital are the only local financial institutions with a specific PSL loan program, although loans can be obtained at other firms for a PSL.

Boatmen's offers a floatable loan at the current 8.5 percent prime rate. Roosevelt offers an unsecured 12.5 percent fixed rate loan.

Boatmen's loan officer Taylor Dial said processing has begun on three PSL loans since the Cape branch received the PSL plan from its St. Louis headquarters last Friday. Dial said he has handled numerous inquiries since Monday.

"I'm surprised we've had so much interest," said Dial. "I say surprised because we're so far away."

Dial said the loans are four percent less than what Boatmen's would ordinarily offer. They can be up to 60 months and can be applied for by phone.

"The reaction here from us is pretty positive," said Dial. "I think the St. Louis market must be going like gangbusters."

At Roosevelt, Jeff Hawk said the six-to-48-month loan requires four years of excellent credit and two years on a job. Hawk said Roosevelt has not yet processed any loans for PSLs.

"I never knew they had this kind of loan until this happened," said Hawk.

Capital is just implementing a PSL package. Either fixed or floating rate loans are available. The fixed rate loan is 11.5 percent and the floating rate has yet to be determined. Twenty-five percent down is required on the PSL.

Anyone interested in obtaining a loan for a PSL should call the area banks.