UNITED AGAINST FIRST UNION

A bipartisan group of 10 congressmen from eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey (that’s where guys wear big hats and high-heeled boots driving their sport utility vehicles along the turnpike) want First Union Corp. to answer some questions about its impending $16.8 billion purchase of CoreStates Financial Corp.

The deal would leave Philadelphia, the home of American banking, without a bank to call its own, of course, but that’s not what’s worrying them. The reps, along with Pennsylvania’s two GOP senators, want the North Carolina-based bank to explain what it plans to do about charitable activities and subsidized loans, as well as loans in low-income areas.

CoreStates employees have other worries, too, in addition to their jobs. First Union has already waffled on how important Philly will be to its future. CoreStates people can’t even get a simple answer on what to call the series of professional bicycle races – watched by more than a million potential customers – CoreStates sponsors each June.

They’re taking consolation, though, in snickering about potential acronyms for the arena where Philadelphia’s 76ers and Flyers play. It’s now the CoreStates Center. That’s CSC. Will it be the First Union Center?