This article examines the market reaction to announcements leading to the eventual passage of the Competitive Equality Banking Act (CEBA) of 1987 using portfolios of savings and loans. Negative announcement effects of the CEBA legislation are observed for well capitalized savings and loans and positive announcement effects are observed for less capitalized savings and loans. The evidence also indicates that the market risk for the less capitalized savings and loans decreased following the passage of the CEBA legislation.