Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY - John Adam Kanas, chairman, CEO and president of North Fork bank, told a business breakfast gathering at Hofstra University today that he sees further consolidation within the banking industry in the years ahead but that there will always be room for small, hometown banks.

Mr. Kanas, who recently became head of banking for the Capital One financial Group when the former credit card company merged with the Long Island-based bank, was the keynote speaker for the December Distinguished Lecture Series sponsored by the Scott Skodnek Business Development Center at Hofstra University.

Speaking before some 150 business executives and Hofstra administrators, Mr. Kanas detailed how the merger came about and what Long Islanders can expect in the next three years while he remains head of the merged company's banking operations. Mr. Kanas said North Fork Bank, which would retain its name in the near future, would continue to support local charities and business groups even while moving ahead on opening new banking branches in the metropolitan area and in Texas and Louisiana, where Bank One merged with another local bank.

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