BANKING / FINANCE

Thomas J. Haupert is no stranger to troubled savings and loans. He ran American Diversified Savings Bank for federal regulators until the Costa Mesa thrift was closed in June.

Now, he is acting president of Antelope Valley Savings & Loan in Lancaster, which lost $5.5 million in the first 9 months last year. The S&L;’s capital base fell to 2.5% of its $320 million in assets at the end of September.

But Haupert said Antelope Valley Savings “can work its way out of its problems.” Besides devising a business plan, he said, he is looking for a chief executive to replace him. The CEO will answer to an 18-member board of directors.

From August, 1986, to June, 1987, Haupert was head of American Diversified, which regulators had seized 6 months earlier and kept open for more than 2 years.