The American Bankers Association, the largest industry trade organization, generally welcomed the approach he outlined, but consumer groups expressed reservations.

The American Bankers Association congratulated the Administration for putting forward a plan and said it agreed with many aspects.

American Bankers Association, Public Comment 10, at 3 (comment).

A spokeswoman in Washington for the American Bankers Association, a lobbying group, said that members "look at creditworthiness" before making credit card offers.

"They don't want to give people ideas," said Nessa Feddis, a lawyer with the American Bankers Association.

Virginia McGuire, a spokeswoman for the American Bankers Association, said the industry trend was to build banks smaller than in the past.

The American Bankers Association (ABA) is a professional association founded in 1875.

"If they do that, then we oppose the package," said Edward L. Yingling, a senior official at the American Bankers Association.

"Presumably the market, on its own, will find the right balance between short- and long-term credit," said James Chessen, chief economist of the American Bankers Association.

"The banking industry had a valid exemption, but it has been misconstrued by the courts," said John Byrne, senior counsel to the American Bankers Association.

Donald G. Ogilvie, executive vice president of the American Bankers Association, called the ruling "a tremendous decision for the banking industry and for consumers."

John Hall, a spokesman for the American Bankers Association, said the fees were needed to help cover the costs of providing the A.T.M.'s.

Founded and funded by bankers, the foundation works closely with a board of bankers and is a subsidiary of the American Bankers Association.

"We think this proposal is just a disguised way of increasing taxes," said Donald G. Ogilvie, executive vice president of the American Bankers Association.

"There are some more supporters and that is very helpful," said Floyd E. Stoner, executive director of Congressional relations at the American Bankers Association.

Financial Industry members include the ING Group, VISA, Mastercard and the American Bankers Association.

"I think this adds a lot more momentum for repeal of Glass-Steagall," said Edward L. Yingling, head of governmental relations at the American Bankers Association.

In 2002 it acquired Digital Signature Trust, which had previously acquired the American Bankers Association's ABAEcom Project.

His first major address, for which he is expected to write the first and last draft himself, is scheduled for Oct. 20 at the American Bankers Association convention in Dallas.

Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, gave a scheduled speech on bank capital requirements to the American Bankers Association this morning just as the stock market was opening.

Whether significant deficit reduction will actually be achieved was one of the main points of contention at a meeting early this week of an 11-member economic advisory committee of the American Bankers Association.

"Bankers aren't thrilled about the large amount of card issuers out there that are not commercial banks - but that's the reality," said Anne Livingston, of the American Bankers Association.

Although often confused with the American Bankers Association or other industry trade groups, American Banker is an independent newspaper and is unaffiliated with any portion of the banking industry.

Edward Yingling, a lobbyist with the American Bankers Association, said much of the bill, as it emerged from this committee, was still unworkable, particularly the restrictive insurance sections and the numerous firewalls.

The American Bankers Association, the Washington trade group that represents the nation's largest banks, said yesterday that it opposed a bill intended to break down barriers that separate the banking, insurance and securities businesses.