Two N.Y. banks cut some consumer loan rates.

Both Manufacturers Hanover Trust and Marine Midland said they were cutting interest rates on a wide variety of personal, home and auto loans. Marine Midland, for example, said it was dropping its new-car rate to 11.95% from 12.5% for fixed-rate loans and to 10.95% from 11.5% for variable-rate ones. Meanwhile, Manufacturers Hanover said it was lowering its home-improvement loans to 14% from 15.5% for current customers and to 15.5% from 17% for new customers.