First Interstate Bank of Texas said it...

First Interstate Bank of Texas said it has asked the comptroller of the currency for permission to convert its 57 Texas banks into branches of a combined bank with assets of $7.5 billion. A court ruling earlier this summer cleared the way for branch banking in Texas, and Houston-based First Interstate said it expects quick approval of its request. Bank officials said the statewide branches would allow corporate customers to combine accounts instead of maintaining separate accounts in several banks. First Interstate Bank of Texas is an affiliate of First Interstate Bancorp of California, Los Angeles.