Staff/wire reports

Household International has mailed checks to more than 37,000 Ohioans eligible to share in the multistate settlement resolving allegations of unfair and deceptive mortgage lending practices. Settlement administrator Poorman-Douglass mailed the checks Dec. 16 to Ohioans, in amounts ranging from $200 to $5,029.47. The average check amount for participating Ohioans was $846.10. Ohio's share of the settlement is almost $32 million. Under the landmark settlement, which was finalized in December 2002, Household agreed to pay $484 million to the states to be distributed to eligible Household borrowers.

Kroger plans second appeal

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Kroger officials say they plan to again challenge the state's decision to award unemployment benefits to workers who were off the job during a recently ended two-month strike. The Cincinnati-based supermarket chain plans to file an appeal in Kanawha County Circuit Court within two weeks, Kroger spokesman Archie Fralin said. The appeal will be the company's second since a Nov. 20 ruling granted up to $350 a week in benefits to more than 1,700 striking West Virginia workers, saying benefits were justified because Kroger had sent employees home and closed stores before the strike started. Ohio has rejected requests for jobless benefits, while Kentucky has not ruled.

Fifth Third signs deal with grocer

Fifth Third Bank Processing Solutions, Fifth Third Bancorp's data-processing unit, has signed a three-year deal to handle electronic payment-processing services for Fisher's Foods of Canton, Ohio. The deal will increase annual transactions at Fifth Third Bank Processing Solutions by 586,000 a year. Fisher's Foods operates seven grocery stores in northern Ohio.