TCF has since become a big player in Chicago's financial services market, where it now has 132 supermarket units (including 11 with Cub Foods) and 32 traditional branches.``Our product line is more suited to a larger portion of customers at Jewel,'' says Mike Johnstone, president of TCF Illinois.``Our cornerstone product, `Totally Free Checking,' has been a tremendous hit.''

TCF is now looking for opportunities to expand through grocery store branches in the Detroit area, where it sees great opportunities. At this point, however, none of the big supermarket chains are looking for bank branches, said a TCF spokeswoman.

Johnstone says TCF plans to add five more branches this year and 25 branches next year in the Chicago and greater Illinois markets, then slow down its expansion rate to eight to 10 Jewel branches a year, following Jewel's growth. With 32 traditional branches in Illinois, TCF also plans to add two traditional branches a year there, Johnstone said.