BANKING

* Late payments on U.S. bank credit cards rose slightly in the fourth quarter of 1998 but remained below record levels, according to figures released by the American Bankers Assn. The number of credit card accounts that were at least 30 days overdue increased to 3.45% of all accounts from 3.28% in the third quarter. The rate hit a peak of 3.72% in the fourth quarter of 1996. The ABA’s composite measure for other types of consumer debt, including car loans, home equity lending and personal loans, saw the delinquency rate increase slightly to 2.35% in the fourth quarter of 1998 from 2.29% in the third quarter.