Floridians can still get home loans despite the national credit crunch, banking officials assured Gov. Charlie Crist.

After meeting at the Governor's Mansion, Crist encouraged people to see their banker whether they're interested in buying a new home or having problems paying their mortgages. The ever-optimistic governor also urged people to buy homes because they should be able to get great bargains due to the glut of residential property.

''Florida banks are open for business,'' said Mike Fields, Tallahassee area president of Bank of America. Fields told Crist his bank is prepared to restructure about 80,000 subprime and other troubled mortgages in Florida to avoid foreclosing on those properties. That includes a settlement with the attorney general over loans made by Countrywide Financial, which Bank of America purchased. That program will start in December.

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