Wal-Mart's plan to open its own industrial bank in Utah to handle its electronic payment
processing is attracting attention from congreesman, lawyers and financiers.

Their concern is that losses to the FDIC, which insures deposits at
banks and thrift institutions, could be staggering if Wal-Mart begins to
have financial troubles that bleed into its bank's business.

"Consider the consequences if Enron or WorldCom had owned a bank," the
group said.