FIRST COLORADO BANCORP INC
S-8, 1996-10-24
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 1996.
                                           Registration No. 333-_______________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           --------------------------

                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             Colorado                                       84-1320788
- -------------------------------                         -------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of                          (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)

                          215 South Wadsworth Boulevard
                            Lakewood, Colorado 80226
                                 (303) 232-2121
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
                             1996 Stock Option Plan
                             ----------------------
                           (Full Title of the Plan)

                               Richard Fisch, Esq.
                      Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.
                               1301 K Street, N.W.
                                 Suite 700 East
                             Washington, D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 434-4660
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                             ----------------------

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
                                                     Proposed
Title of                           Proposed          Maximum          Amount of
Securities to    Amount to      Maximum Offering    Aggregate       Registration
be Registered  be Registered    Price Per Share  Offering Price (2)    Fee (2)
- -------------  -------------    ---------------  ------------------    -------

Common Stock
$.10 par value  1,340,379(1)         $ (2)         $18,212,295        $5,518.88
================================================================================

(1)   The maximum  number of shares of common stock  issuable  upon  exercise of
      options  granted or to be granted under the First Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.
      1996 Stock  Option  Plan  consists  of  1,340,379  shares  which are being
      registered under this Registration  Statement and for which a registration
      fee is being paid.

(2)   Under Rule 457(h) of the 1933 Act, the registration fee may be calculated,
      inter  alia,  based  upon the  price at which  the  stock  options  may be
      exercised.  A total of 1,340,379  shares are being registered  hereby,  of
      which  1,319,000  shares are under option at an exercise price of $13.5625
      per share  ($17,888,937 in the  aggregate).  The remainder of such shares,
      which are not presently subject to options (21,379),  are being registered
      based upon the mean between the last bid and ask price of the common stock
      of First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.  as reported at the close on the Nasdaq
      National Market System on October 18, 1996, of $15.125 per share ($323,358
      in the aggregate) for a total offering of $18,212,295.

      Under Rule 462 of the 1933 Act,  the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8
      shall be effective upon filing with the Commission.




<PAGE>



** THIS DOCUMENT  CONSTITUTES THE PROSPECTUS  COVERING SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.**

PROSPECTUS
- ----------

                                1,340,379 Shares
                                ----------------

                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK
                           (Par Value $.10 Per Share)

                                ----------------

                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                ----------------

      This  Prospectus  relates to 1,340,379  shares of common stock,  par value
$.10 per share (the  "Common  Stock"),  of First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  a Colorado corporation which is the parent savings and loan holding
company of First Federal Bank of Lakewood  Colorado  (the "Bank"),  which may be
issued from time to time by the  Company to holders of options  granted or to be
granted by the Company to selected officers, directors, key employees, and other
persons of the Company and any  subsidiary of the Company  pursuant to the First
Colorado Bancorp,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").  Holders of options
granted or to be granted under the Plan (the  "Options")  are referred to herein
as  "Optionees."  Each offer made under the Plan pursuant to this  Prospectus is
made at the price and on the terms and conditions  contained in the stock option
agreements entered into between the Company and each Optionee.

      This Prospectus is for use as of the date hereof and in subsequent  years.
Information  which is  likely to change  from year to year will be  included  in
appendices to this Prospectus.

      The issued and  outstanding  Common  Stock of the Company is traded in the
over-the-counter  market,  and  transactions are reported on the Nasdaq National
Market  System  under the symbol  "FFBA."  Shares of Common  Stock  which may be
issued upon exercise of options  granted or to be granted  under the Plan,  will
also be traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market System.  On October 18, 1996, the
mean  between  the last  reported  bid and ask price of the Common  Stock in the
NASDAQ System was $15.125 per share.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 The date of this Prospectus is October 24, 1996


<PAGE>



      No  person  has been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representation  not contained in this  Prospectus,  and, if given or made,  such
information or representation  must not be relied upon as having been authorized
by the  Company.  This  Prospectus  does  not  constitute  an offer to sell or a
solicitation  of an offer to buy any  securities  other  than the  Common  Stock
offered by this  Prospectus or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy such Common Stock in any  jurisdiction  to any person to whom it is unlawful
to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. Neither the delivery of
this  Prospectus nor any sale made  hereunder  shall,  under any  circumstances,
create  any  implication  that  there has been no change in the  affairs  of the
Company  or that the  information  contained  herein is  correct  as of any time
subsequent to the date hereof.


<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
                             1996 Stock Option Plan

                                                                     Page

General Plan Information                                                1

Administration                                                          2

Purpose                                                                 2

Securities to be Offered                                                2

Eligibility to Participate in Plan                                      2

Purchases of Securities Pursuant to the Plan
 and Payment for Securities Offered                                     3

  Term of the Plan                                                      3
  Stock Option Agreements                                               3
  Option Price                                                          3
  Limitations on Grant of Options                                       4
  Option Period                                                         4
  Non-transferability                                                   4
  Conditions of Exercise                                                4
  Payment for Options                                                   5
  Cashless Exercise                                                     5
  Issuance of Common Stock                                              5
  Options Granted to Directors                                          5

Recapitalization, Merger, Consolidation, Change in
 Control and Similar Transactions                                       5

Amendment and Termination of the Plan                                   6

Restrictions on Resale                                                  6

Federal Income Tax Consequences                                         7

Annual Report to Shareholders                                           8

Additional Information                                                  8

Legal Opinion                                                           8

Appendix A                                                              A-1
  Administration                                                        A-1
  Number of Shares Subject to Plan                                      A-1
  Participation in the Plan                                             A-1
  Outstanding Awards                                                    A-1


<PAGE>



                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
                             1996 Stock Option Plan

General Plan Information
- ------------------------

      This Prospectus  relates to 1,340,379  shares of the common stock ("Common
Stock"),  par  value  $.10 per  share,  of First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  which will be offered  upon  exercise  of options  granted or to be
granted  under the First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.  1996 Stock  Option Plan (the
"Plan").  The  Company  became the sole  shareholder  of First  Federal  Bank of
Colorado (the "Bank") on December 29, 1995.

      The  Company was formed  under the laws of the State of  Colorado  for the
purpose of  becoming a savings  and loan  holding  company and became the parent
corporation  of First Federal Bank of Colorado (the "Bank") on December 29, 1995
at which time the  Company  acquired  all of the shares of capital  stock of the
Bank.  The Board of Directors of the Company  adopted the Plan at its meeting on
July 24,  1996.  The Plan was  approved  by  stockholders  of the Company at its
Meeting of Stockholders on July 24, 1996 (the "Effective  Date"). The Plan is to
continue in effect for a period of ten years from the Effective Date (i.e., July
24, 2006), unless earlier terminated or extended by the Company.

      Pursuant to the Plan,  1,340,379  shares of Common Stock were reserved for
issuance  by the  Company  upon  exercise  of  Incentive  Stock  Options  and/or
Non-Incentive  Stock  Options  (collectively  referred  to herein as  "Options")
awarded to officers,  directors,  key employees and other persons of the Company
and any parent and subsidiary  corporations.  Options granted under the Plan may
be either  Incentive  Stock  Options  within the  meaning of Section  422 of the
Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended  (the  "Code")  or  options  not so
qualifying ("Non-Incentive Stock Option").

      Subject to certain limitations,  no gain or loss is recognized for federal
income tax purposes by the recipient of Options (the "Optionee")  under the Plan
upon  the  exercise  of an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  and no tax  deduction  is
available  to the Company as a result of the  exercise.  Upon the  exercise of a
Non-Incentive Stock Option, the Optionee generally recognizes ordinary income to
the extent that the  exercise  price is less than the fair  market  value of the
Common  Stock on the date of  exercise.  The  Company is  entitled  to a federal
income tax deduction  equal to the amount of ordinary  income  recognized by the
Optionee  at the  time of such  income  recognition.  See  "Federal  Income  Tax
Consequences."

      The  Plan is not  qualified  under  Section  401(a)  of the Code and it is
exempt from the  provisions of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of
1974, as amended.

      The statements  herein concerning the terms and provisions of the Plan are
summaries and do not purport to be complete.  All such  statements are qualified
in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan document as filed as
Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.

      Additional updating and other information with respect to the Plan and the
Common Stock offered  hereby may be provided in the future to Optionees by means
of  one or  more  supplements  or  appendices  to  this  Prospectus.  Additional
information about the Plan (including a copy of the Plan), plan  administration,
and the Company may be obtained at the Company's  principal  offices,  which are
located

                                      1


<PAGE>



at 215 South  Wadsworth  Boulevard,  Lakewood,  Colorado  80226.  The  Company's
telephone number is (303) 232-2121.

Administration
- --------------

      The  Plan  is  administered  by a  committee  of the  Company's  Board  of
Directors (the  "Committee").  The Plan provides that the Committee will consist
of not less than three non-employee directors of the Company. The members of the
Committee  are  appointed  by the Board and serve at the  pleasure of the Board.
Members of the Committee shall be "non-employee directors" within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Rule 16(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "1934 Act"). A majority of the entire Committee shall constitute
a quorum,  and the action of a majority of the members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be deemed the action of the Committee.

      Subject to the express  provisions of the Plan and resolutions  adopted by
the Board,  the  Committee  has  authority to interpret  the Plan, to prescribe,
amend,  and  rescind  the rules and  regulations  relating  to the Plan,  and to
determine  the form and  content  of  Options  to be issued  under the Plan.  In
addition,  the Committee is authorized to make all other  determinations  deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and shall have and may
exercise  such other power and such  authority  as may be delegated to it by the
Board from time to time. All decisions,  determinations,  and interpretations of
the Committee shall be final and conclusive to all persons affected thereby.

      Additional  information  about the Plan and the  Committee may be obtained
from the  Company at the  address of the  Company  listed  under  "General  Plan
Information."  For  a  list  of  the  current  members  of  the  Committee,  see
"Administration" at Appendix A.

Purpose
- -------

      The  purpose of the Plan is to promote  the  interests  of the  Company by
attracting  and  retaining  the  best  available   personnel  for  positions  of
substantial responsibility to serve as officers, directors, and key employees of
the Company and to provide additional incentive to such officers, directors, and
key employees of the Company to promote the success of the Company's business.

Securities to be Offered
- ------------------------

      The  aggregate  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  which may be issued
pursuant to Options granted or to be granted under the Plan is 1,340,379 shares,
subject to certain  adjustments  for  changes in the  capital  structure  of the
Company,  as described  below.  See  "Recapitalization,  Merger,  Consolidation,
Change in Control and  Similar  Transactions."  Any shares  subject to an Option
under  the  Plan  which  expire  or are  terminated  unexercised  will  again be
available for issuance under the Plan.

Eligibility to Participate in Plan
- ----------------------------------

      Options  to  purchase  Common  Stock  under  the  Plan may be  awarded  to
officers,  directors, key employees, and other persons of the Company, the Bank,
and any present or future parent or  subsidiary  corporations.  Incentive  Stock
Options may only be granted to employees of the  Company,  the Bank,  and any of
their parent or subsidiary  corporations.  In selecting  participants  under the
Plan (the "Participants") and in determining the number of Options to be granted
to each Participant, the Committee may consider

                                      2


<PAGE>



the nature of the  services  rendered by each  Participant,  each  Participant's
current and potential contribution to the Company, and such other factors as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem relevant.

      For  a  description  of  the  number  of  persons  currently  eligible  to
participate in the Plan and the number of persons actually  participating in the
Plan, see "Participation in the Plan" at Appendix A.

Purchases of Securities Pursuant to the Plan and Payment for Securities Offered
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      Term of the  Plan.  The  Plan was  effective  July 24,  1996,  and  unless
previously  terminated,  the Plan  shall  continue  in effect  for a term of ten
years,  after which no further Options may be granted.  The future expiration of
the Plan, or its termination by the Board, will not affect any Option previously
granted.

      Stock Option Agreements.  The Options granted under the Plan are evidenced
by stock option agreements (the "Option  Agreements")  substantially in the form
of the Option  Agreements  filed as exhibits to the  Registration  Statement  of
which this  Prospectus  is a part.  Each  Option  Agreement,  and any  amendment
thereto,  will contain terms and conditions  consistent with the requirements of
the  Plan  as  the  Committee  shall  determine.  The  Option  Agreements  shall
constitute the only form of reports which  Participants shall receive related to
the status of Options granted or which are exercisable  under the Plan. The Plan
provides  that the Board of Directors of the Company may authorize the Committee
to direct the execution of an instrument  providing for the  modification of any
outstanding  Option,  provided that no such  modification,  extension or renewal
shall confer on the  Optionee any right or benefit  which could not be conferred
by the grant of a new Option at such time, and shall not materially decrease the
Optionee's benefits under the Option without the Optionee's  consent,  except as
provided under Section 18 of the Plan, which permits  amendment of the Plan. See
"Amendment and Termination of the Plan."

      Option Price.  The exercise price for the purchase of shares subject to an
Incentive  Stock  Option at the date of grant  may not be less than 100  percent
(100%) of the fair market  value of the shares  covered by the  Incentive  Stock
Option on that date. If an Optionee owns Common Stock representing more than ten
percent of the outstanding Common Stock at the time an Incentive Stock Option is
granted,  then the Option Price shall not be less than 110 percent (110%) of the
fair market value of the Common Stock at the time the Incentive  Stock Option is
granted. No more than $100,000 of Incentive Stock Options can become exercisable
for the first time in any one year for any one person. Pursuant to the Plan, the
exercise price per share for Non-Incentive  Stock Options shall be such price as
the  Committee  may  determine in its sole  discretion.  The  exercise  price of
Options  must be paid  for in full in cash  or  shares  of  Common  Stock,  or a
combination of both.

      If the Common  Stock is listed on a national  securities  exchange  at the
time of granting an Incentive  Stock Option,  then the exercise  price per share
shall be not less than the average of the highest  and lowest  selling  price on
such exchange on the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted;  or if there
were no  sales on said  date,  then the  price  shall be not less  than the mean
between  the bid and ask  price on such  date.  If the  Common  Stock is  traded
otherwise than on a national  securities exchange at the time of the granting of
an Incentive  Stock Option,  then the exercise price per share shall be not less
than the mean  between  the bid and ask  price on the date the  Incentive  Stock
Option is granted or, if there is no bid and ask price on said date, then on the
immediately next business day on which there was a bid and ask price. If no such
bid and ask price is  available,  then the  exercise  price  per share  shall be
determined by the Committee.

                                      3


<PAGE>




      Limitations on Grant of Options. Except as may be specifically provided by
the terms of the Plan, the granting of Options is made at the sole discretion of
the Committee.  Further, the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock for
which an employee  may be granted  Incentive  Stock  Options  which become first
exercisable in any calendar year may not exceed  $100,000.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing  limitation,  the  Committee  may  grant  Options  in  excess  of this
limitation, provided said Options are clearly and specifically designated as not
being Incentive Stock Options, as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

      Option Period.  The term of  exercisability of an Option granted under the
Plan shall be  established  by the  Committee,  but may not be for more than ten
years from the date of grant of the  Option,  except in the case of an  Optionee
who owns stock representing more than 10% of the Common Stock outstanding at the
time an  Incentive  Stock  Option is granted,  the term of the  Incentive  Stock
Option  shall not exceed  five years  from the date of the  grant.  In  general,
Options will not be exercisable  after the expiration of their term as set forth
in the Plan and/or an Option Agreement.

      In the  event  that an  Optionee  ceases  to serve as an  employee  of the
Company for any reason other than  permanent and total  disability or death,  an
exercisable Incentive Stock Option will generally continue to be exercisable for
three  months but in no event after the  expiration  date of the Option.  In the
event of the permanent and total  disability or death of an Optionee during such
service,  an exercisable  Incentive Stock Option will continue to be exercisable
for one year in the case of  disability  and two years in the case of death,  to
the extent exercisable by the Optionee immediately prior to his or her permanent
and total disability or death, but in no event after the expiration date of such
Options. The terms and conditions of Non-Incentive Stock Options relating to the
impact  of  an  Optionee's  termination  of  employment,   permanent  and  total
disability  or  death  shall  be  such  terms  as the  Committee,  in  its  sole
discretion,  shall  determine at the time of  termination,  unless  specifically
provided  for by the  terms of an Option  Agreement  at the time of grant of the
Option.

      Under  the  Plan,  the  Committee's  determination  regarding  whether  an
Optionee's  employment has ceased, and the effective date thereof shall be final
and  conclusive  on all  persons  affected  thereby.  A total of six months must
elapse between the date of grant of an Option and the date of the sale of Common
Stock received through the exercise of such Option.

     Non-transferability. No Option granted under the Plan is transferable other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

      Conditions of Exercise.  Options may be exercised  only during the periods
specified in the Plan or the Option Agreement,  certain  information as to which
is provided above (see "Option Period"). Except as described above and as may be
limited  by an  Option  Agreement,  there is no  limitation  upon the  number of
Options that may be exercised in any one year,  and Options not exercised in any
one year may be exercised in subsequent  years over the term of the Option.  The
Committee  may impose  additional  conditions  upon the rights of an Optionee to
exercise any Option which are not  inconsistent  with the terms of the Plan, and
in the case of Incentive Stock Options,  not inconsistent  with the requirements
for qualification under Section 422 of the Code. Incentive Stock Options will be
first exercisable at the rate as specifically set forth in the Optionee's Option
Agreement.

      Payment for Options. Under the Plan, full payment for each share of Common
Stock  purchased  upon the  exercise of any Option  shall be made at the time of
exercise  of such Option and shall be paid in cash (in United  States  dollars),
Common Stock, or a combination of cash and Common Stock.

                                      4


<PAGE>



Common Stock utilized in full or partial  payment of the exercise price shall be
valued at its fair  market  value at the date of  exercise.  The  Company  shall
accept full or partial  payment in Common Stock only to the extent  permitted by
applicable  law. No shares of Common  Stock shall be issued  until full  payment
therefore  has been received by the Company,  and no Optionee  shall have any of
the rights of a shareholder  of the Company until the shares of Common Stock are
issued to him or her.

      Cashless  Exercise.  An  Optionee  who has held an Option for at least six
months  may  engage in the  "cashless  exercise"  of the  Option.  In a cashless
exercise,  an Optionee  gives the Company  written notice of the exercise of the
Option together with an order to a registered  broker-dealer or equivalent third
party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned  Stock and to deliver  enough of the
proceeds to the Company to pay the Option price and any  applicable  withholding
taxes.  If the Optionee  does not sell the Optioned  Stock  through a registered
broker-dealer  or equivalent third party, he can give the Company written notice
of the  exercise of the Option and the third  party  purchaser  of the  Optioned
Stock shall pay the Option price plus any  applicable  withholding  taxes to the
Company.

      Issuance of Common  Stock.  Shares  issued to Optionees  upon  exercise of
Options may be either  authorized  but unissued  shares or treasury  shares.  In
either case, the Optionee shall not pay any fees, commissions,  or other charges
for such  Common  Stock  other than the  exercise  price as stated in the Option
Agreement.  Cash proceeds  from the sale of Common Stock issued  pursuant to the
exercise of Options will be added to the general funds of the Company to be used
for general corporate purposes.  Shares of Common Stock shall not be issued with
respect to any Option granted under the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of
such Common Stock shall comply with all relevant  provisions of law,  including,
without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the
rules and regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  any applicable state securities
law, and the  requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Common Stock may
then be listed.

      Inability of the Company to obtain  approval from any  regulatory  body or
authority  deemed by the  Company or counsel  thereto  to be  necessary  for the
lawful issuance and sale of any Common Stock hereunder shall relieve the Company
of any liability in respect of the non-issuance or sale of such Common Stock. As
a condition  to the  exercise  of an Option,  the Company may require the person
exercising  the Option to make such  representations  and  warranties  as may be
necessary  to  assure  the  availability  of an  exemption  from any  additional
registration requirements of federal or state securities laws.

      Options  Granted to  Directors.  Non-Incentive  Stock  Options to purchase
12,000 shares of Common Stock will be granted to each  non-employee  director of
the Company as of the Effective  Date  (excluding  director  Polly Baca),  at an
exercise  price equal to the fair market  value of the Common Stock on such date
of grant. The Options will be first exercisable at the rate of 20% following one
year  after the date of grant and 20%  annually  thereafter,  during  periods of
continued service as a director or director emeritus.  Thereafter,  such Options
shall  remain   exercisable   for  ten  years  from  the  date  of  grant.   The
exercisability of such Options shall be accelerated in the event of death or the
permanent  and total  disability  of the Optionee or upon a Change in Control of
the Company,  absent  regulatory  objection to such accelerated  vesting at such
time. In the event of such  directors'  death,  such Options may be exercised by
the personal  representative of his estate or person(s) to whom his rights under
such Options  shall have passed by will or by laws of descent and  distribution.
Unless  otherwise  inapplicable,  or  inconsistent  with the  provisions of this
paragraph,  the Options to be granted to directors hereunder shall be subject to
all other provisions of the Plan.

                                      5


<PAGE>



Recapitalization,   Merger,  Consolidation,   Change  in  Control,  and  Similar
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Transactions
- ------------

      Subject to any required action by the shareholders of the Company,  within
the sole discretion of the Committee,  the aggregate  number of shares of Common
Stock for which Options may be granted  under the Plan,  the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option and the exercise price per share
of  Common  Stock of each  Option  shall  be  proportionately  adjusted  for any
increase or decrease  in the number of issued and  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock resulting from a subdivision or  consolidation of shares or the payment of
a stock  dividend on the Common  Stock or any other  increase or decrease in the
number  of  such  shares  of  Common  Stock   effected   without  a  receipt  of
consideration   by  the  Company  (other  than  by  shares  held  by  dissenting
stockholders).

      In  the  event  of  any  change  in  control,  recapitalization,   merger,
consolidation,  exchange  of shares,  spin-off,  reorganization,  tender  offer,
liquidation, or other extraordinary corporate action, the Committee, in its sole
discretion,  shall  have the power,  prior to or  subsequent  to such  action or
events, to (i) appropriately adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to  each  Option,  the  exercise  price  per  share  of  Common  Stock,  and the
consideration  to be given or received by the Company  upon the  exercise of any
outstanding  Options;  (ii)  cancel  any  or  all  previously  granted  Options,
providing that  appropriate  consideration is paid to the Optionee in connection
therewith;  and/or (iii) make such other adjustments in connection with the Plan
as  the  Committee,  in  its  sole  discretion,   deems  necessary,   desirable,
appropriate,  or  advisable.  However,  no action may be taken by the  Committee
which would cause Incentive  Stock Options granted  pursuant to the Plan to fail
to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

      The Committee  has at all times the power to accelerate  the exercise date
of all Options  granted  under the Plan. In the case of any change in control of
the Company as determined by the Committee, all outstanding options shall become
immediately exercisable.  A change in control is defined in the Plan as: (i) the
execution of an  agreement  for the sale of all, or a material  portion,  of the
assets  of the  Company;  (ii) the  execution  of an  agreement  for  merger  or
recapitalization whereby the Company is not the surviving entity; (iii) a change
of  control  of the  Company  as  otherwise  defined  by the  Office  of  Thrift
Supervision  ("OTS") or its regulations;  or (iv) the  acquisition,  directly or
indirectly,  of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of
the 1934 Act and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of 25% or more of
the outstanding voting securities of the Company by any person, trust, entity or
group. This limitation shall not apply to a transaction in which the purchase of
shares by  underwriters in connection with a public offering of Common Stock, or
the purchase of shares of up to 25% of any class of securities of the Company by
a tax-qualified  employee stock benefit plan. The determination of the Committee
as to whether a change in control has occurred shall be conclusive and binding.

Amendment and Termination of the Plan
- -------------------------------------

      The Board of Directors may alter, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, except
that no action of the Board may increase the maximum number of shares  permitted
to be optioned  under the Plan,  materially  increase the  benefits  accruing to
Participants   under  the  Plan  or  materially   modify  the  requirements  for
eligibility for  participation in the Plan unless such action of the Board shall
be subject to approval  or  ratification  by the  shareholders  of the  Company.
Unless otherwise  terminated by the Board of Directors,  the Plan shall continue
in effect for a term of ten years from the Effective Date, after which no future
awards of Options may be granted.

                                      6


<PAGE>



Restrictions on Resale
- ----------------------

      Unless specifically  included as a term and condition of any Option, there
are no  restrictions on the resale of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise of
Options.  The Plan  permits  the  Committee  to  provide as a  condition  to the
exercise of an Option that the shares acquired upon the exercise of such Options
may be subject to a "Right of  Repurchase"  by the  Company.  At this time,  the
Company has no intention to grant Options subject to such "Right of Repurchase."
Shares of Common  Stock,  however,  may be resold  only in  compliance  with the
registration requirements of the 1933 Act, and applicable state securities laws.

      Under the 1933 Act,  affiliates of the Company generally may resell shares
of Common Stock  purchased  pursuant to the Plan only (i) in accordance with the
provisions  of Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, or (ii)  pursuant  to an  applicable
current and effective registration statement under the 1933 Act.

      As defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, an  affiliate of the Company is
a  person  who  directly,  or  indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,
controls,  or is controlled by, or is under common control with the Company. The
determination  of whether a person is an affiliate of the Company is primarily a
factual  one  based  upon  whether  he   possesses,   directly  or   indirectly,
individually  or in  concert  with  others,  the  power to  direct  or cause the
direction  of the  management  or policies of the Company,  whether  through the
ownership of voting stock, by executive position, by membership on the Board, by
contract or  otherwise.  Therefore,  each  Optionee  should  consult his counsel
concerning  whether  he is  an  affiliate  of  the  Company  and  the  attendant
restrictions on the resale under the 1933 Act of Common Stock acquired  pursuant
to the Plan.

      In  addition,  the  receipt of an Option to  purchase  Common  Stock by an
officer or director of the Company,  or the  beneficial  owner of 10% or more of
the outstanding  Common Stock, is a reportable  transaction  under Section 16 of
the 1934 Act, and Forms 3, 4, or 5 are required to be filed with the  Securities
and Exchange  Commission in  connection  with such  transaction.  The sale by an
officer,  director,  or 10% holder of Common Stock issued upon an exercise of an
Option  within six months after the receipt of such Option may create  liability
of such persons to the Company  under the  "short-swing  profit"  provisions  of
Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act.

Federal Income Tax Consequences
- -------------------------------

      Under  present  federal  tax  laws,  awards  under  the Plan will have the
following consequences:

      1.       The  grant  of an  Option  will  not  by  itself  result  in  the
               recognition  of taxable  income to the  Optionee  nor entitle the
               Company to a deduction at the time of such grant.

      2.       The exercise of an Option which is an  "Incentive  Stock  Option"
               within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code generally will not,
               by itself,  result in the  recognition  of taxable  income to the
               Optionee  nor entitle  the Company to a deduction  at the time of
               such exercise. However, the difference between the exercise price
               and the fair  market  value of the  Option  shares on the date of
               exercise  is an item of tax  preference  which  may,  in  certain
               situations, trigger the alternative minimum tax for the Optionee.
               The Optionee will  recognize  capital gain or loss upon resale of
               the shares received upon such exercise, provided that such shares
               are held for at least one year after the Option  exercise  or two
               years after the grant of the Incentive Stock Option, whichever is
               later. Generally, if the

                                      7


<PAGE>



             shares are not held for that period,  the Optionee  will  recognize
             ordinary  income  upon  disposition  in  an  amount  equal  to  the
             difference  between the exercise price and the fair market value on
             the date of exercise, or, if less, the sales proceeds of the shares
             acquired pursuant to the exercise of such Incentive Stock Option.

      3.     The  exercise of a  Non-Incentive  Stock  Option will result in the
             recognition  of  ordinary  income  by the  Optionee  on the date of
             exercise in an amount  equal to the  difference  between the Option
             exercise price and the fair market value,  on the date of exercise,
             of  the  shares   acquired   pursuant  to  the   exercise  of  such
             Non-Incentive Option.

      4.     The  Company  will be  allowed  a tax  deduction  for  federal  tax
             purposes  equal to the amount of ordinary  income  recognized by an
             Optionee at the time the Optionee  recognizes  such ordinary income
             under either an Incentive  Stock Option or a Non-  Incentive  Stock
             Option .

      The foregoing  provides only a general  summary of the federal  income tax
consequences  applicable to Optionees  under the Plan. Each Optionee is urged to
consult his or her own tax advisor for information  regarding applicable federal
and state tax consequences.

Annual Report to Shareholders
- -----------------------------

      The Company's financial statements for the period ended December 31, 1995,
as contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K are incorporated herein
by reference. In the future, the Company's latest Annual Report to Stockholders,
including financial statements,  will be mailed to all stockholders of record as
of the close of business on such record  date.  Any person  wishing to receive a
copy of the Annual  Report to  Stockholders  may  obtain a copy by  writing  the
Company at the address set forth below under "Additional Information."

Additional Information
- ----------------------

      Additional  updating  information with respect to the Common Stock and the
Plan covered herein may be provided in the future to Participants under the Plan
by means of  appendices  to this  Prospectus.  The nature and  frequency  of any
reports to be made to Participants as to their participation in the Plan will be
determined by the Committee.

      The Company upon written or oral request,  will provide  without charge to
any person to whom this  Prospectus is delivered:  a copy of the Plan, a copy of
its latest Annual Report to Stockholders  (when available) and a copy of any and
all of the documents that have been  incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part
II of the  Registration  Statement of which this  Prospectus is a part, and that
such  documents  are deemed  incorporated  by reference in this 1933 Act Section
10(a)  Prospectus.   Further,  other  documents  required  to  be  delivered  to
Participants as specified in Item 9 of Part II of the Registration Statement are
available upon request. Any such request can be oral or in writing and should be
addressed to the Corporate Secretary,  215 South Wadsworth Boulevard,  Lakewood,
Colorado 80226. The Registrant's telephone number is (303) 232-2121.

                                      8


<PAGE>



Legal Opinion
- -------------

      The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby has been passed on for the
Company by Malizia,  Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C., 1301 K Street, N.W., Suite 700
East, Washington, D.C. 20005.



                                      9


<PAGE>



                                   APPENDIX A

                        ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING
                                       THE
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                           (As of September 30, 1996)

Administration
- --------------

      The Board has  appointed  Directors  Hayden,  Nicholl,  and  Burkholder as
members of the Committee  responsible for  administration  of the First Colorado
Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). Grants of Options may be made
under the Plan by the Committee.

Number of Shares Subject to Plan
- --------------------------------

      On September 30, 1996,  Options covering  1,319,000 shares of Common Stock
were outstanding,  which were previously granted at an average exercise price of
$13.5625 per share.  As of the date of this  Appendix A, 21,379 shares of Common
Stock remain issuable under the Plan, which provides for the issuance of Options
for a total of 1,340,379 shares of Common Stock.

Participation in the Plan
- -------------------------

      As  of  September  30,  1996,  the  Company  and  its   subsidiaries   had
approximately 450 employees who, in the opinion of the Company's management, are
eligible to participate in the Plan. Of such persons,  as of September 30, 1996,
46 non-executive  employees held outstanding Incentive Stock Options to purchase
840,000  shares of Common  Stock,  seven (7) executive  officers held  Incentive
Stock Options to purchase 258,055 shares of Common Stock and Non-Incentive Stock
Options to purchase 136,945 shares of Common Stock. Additionally,  Non-Incentive
Stock  Options to purchase  12,000  shares of Common Stock each were held by six
non-employee  members of the Board of the  Company  and the estate of a deceased
non-employee director.

Outstanding Awards
- ------------------

      The following table presents  information  with respect to the outstanding
Options under the Plan as of the date of this Appendix A.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                  Average
                         Number of Shares Presently      Number of Persons    Exercise Price
 Date of Award              Subject to Options           Holding Awards          Per Share
 -------------              ------------------           --------------          ---------

<S>                             <C>                             <C>              <C>     
July 24, 1996                   1,319,000                       60               $13.5625

Total Awards Outstanding        1,319,000                       60               $13.5625

</TABLE>


                                    A-1


<PAGE>



                                     PART II

                 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
- --------------------------------------------------------

       The  Company  is  subject  to  the  informational   requirements  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (the  "1934  Act")  and,  accordingly,  files
periodic  reports  and  other  information  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission").  Reports, proxy statements, and other information
concerning the Company filed with the Commission may be inspected and copies may
be obtained (at present rates) at the  Commission's  Public  Reference  Section,
Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549.

            The following  documents filed with the Commission are  incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement and the Prospectus constituting Part
I of this Registration Statement:

     (1) The Company's  Registration  Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-97228) filed
with the Commission on September 21, 1995 and amendments thereto;

     (2) The  Company's  Registration  Statement  on Form 8-A as filed  with the
Commission on November 1, 1995;

     (3) The  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the  fiscal  year ended
December 31, 1995, as filed with the Commission;

     (4) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the period ended March
31, 1996, and June 30, 1996 as filed with the Commission; and

     (5)  Information  as to the  Options  which will be  included in the future
either in the Company's proxy statements,  annual reports, or appendices to this
Prospectus.

       All documents filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15(d)
of the 1934 Act  after  the date  hereof  and  prior to the  termination  of the
offering  of the shares of Common  Stock shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.
- -----------------------------------

       Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
- ------------------------------------------------

       Not applicable.

                                     II-1


<PAGE>



Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
- ---------------------------------------------------

       Section  7-109-103  of the  Colorado  Business  Corporation  Act ("CBCA")
provides  for  mandatory  indemnification,   if  a  director  or  officer  of  a
corporation  is  successful  on the  merits  or  otherwise,  in  defense  of any
proceeding, whether third party or derivative.

       Colorado law allows a corporation to indemnify its  directors,  officers,
employees,  fiduciaries and agents against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgements,  fines,  and amounts  paid in  settlement  actually  and  reasonably
incurred  in  connection  with an  action  or  proceeding  if that  person to be
indemnified acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in,
or not  opposed  to, the best  interests  of the  corporation.  In the case of a
shareholder  derivative  suit,  the  person  will be  indemnified  if he was not
adjudged  liable  or, in the case of any other  proceeding,  the  person was not
adjudged liable for receiving an improper personal benefit. (CBCA ss.7-109-102).
Indemnification  in a  shareholder  derivative  action is limited to  reasonable
expenses.  With respect to any criminal  action or proceeding,  a person will be
indemnified  if that person did not have  reasonable  cause to believe  that his
conduct was unlawful. (CBCA ss.7-109-102(1)).

       Colorado law also allows for  indemnification  in actions or  proceedings
even if the person to be  indemnified  was adjudged to be liable or did not meet
the standards for  indemnification as described above.  Indemnification  must be
determined  by the same court that  adjudged such person liable or another court
of competent jurisdiction. Only directors and officers are entitled to apply for
mandatory indemnification (CBCA ss.7-109-105, ss.7-109-107).

       Colorado requires that indemnification payments (other than court ordered
payments and  advancement of expenses) may be made only on a case-by-case  basis
(CBCA  ss.7-109-106).  Advance  payments  may be made  covering  expenses if the
individual  to  be  indemnified   furnishes  the  corporation   with  a  written
affirmation  of his good faith  belief  that he has met the  standard of conduct
necessary  for   indemnification  and  undertakes  to  repay  such  payments  if
indemnification  is later  determined  to not be available  to that  individual.
(CBCA ss.7-109-104).

       The  aforementioned  indemnification  provisions  under  Colorado law are
non-exclusive.  Indemnification  of  directors  of  a  Colorado  corporation  is
governed by statute but a Colorado  corporation may grant  additional or greater
indemnification  rights to officers,  employees,  fiduciaries and agents through
its  bylaws,  or  through an  agreement,  a vote of  shareholders,  or a vote of
disinterested directors,  both as to action in a person's official capacity, and
as to action in another capacity while holding office (CBCA ss.53-11-4.1(G)).  A
Colorado  corporation  may also have the power to  purchase  insurance  or other
similar  protection  against liability whether or not the person was entitled to
indemnification as described in the section above (CBCA ss.7-109-107).

       The articles of incorporation of a corporation organized under the law of
Colorado may also contain a provision  which may eliminate or limit the personal
liability  of a director to the  corporation  or its  stockholders  for monetary
damages for breach of fiduciary duty.  However,  no such provision can eliminate
or limit a director's  liability  for (i) for breach of the  director's  duty of
loyalty,  (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving  intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) for willful or negligent conduct
in paying dividends or repurchasing  stock out of other than lawfully  available
funds, or (iv) for any transaction  from which the director  derives an improper
personal benefit (CBCA ss.7-108-401).

       The  Colorado  law  also  states  that no  director  or  officer  will be
personally  liable for any injury to a person or party  unless the  director  or
officer was personally involved in the situation giving rise to

                                     II-2


<PAGE>



the  litigation  or the  director  or officer  committed  a criminal  offense in
connection with the situation (CBCA ss.7-108-402).

       With respect to the performance of a director's  duty,  Colorado allows a
director to rely in good faith on opinions,  information,  reports and financial
data  presented  to him by officers or  employees  of the  company,  counsel and
accountants  as to matters which the director  reasonably  believes to be in the
expert  competence  of such  person,  and  committees  of the board on which the
director does not serve (CBCA ss.7-108-401).

       Colorado  directors have  additional  protection  from liability from the
"conflicting interest  transaction"  provisions of Colorado law which state that
no loan,  contract,  or transaction between a corporation and a director will be
voidable,  enjoined,  set  aside  or  give  rise to an  award  of  damages  in a
proceeding by shareholders,  solely because the conflicting interest transaction
involves a director of the  corporation  or an entity in which a director of the
corporation  is a  director  or officer or has a  financial  interest  or solely
because  the  director  is  present  at or  participates  in the  meeting of the
corporation's  board of directors or of the  committee of the board of directors
which authorizes,  approves, or ratifies the conflicting interest transaction or
solely because the director's vote is counted for such purpose if the director's
interest  was  disclosed  to the  board  of  directors  or  shareholders  of the
corporation (if  shareholders  are entitled to vote on the  transaction) and the
transaction  is fair  to the  corporation  at the  time  it is  approved.  (CBCA
ss.7-108-501)

       The registrant  believes that these provisions  assist the registrant in,
among other  things,  attracting  and retaining  qualified  persons to serve the
registrant and its subsidiary.  However, a result of such provisions could be to
increase the expenses of the  registrant and  effectively  reduce the ability of
stockholders  to sue on behalf of the  registrant  since  certain suits could be
barred or amounts that might  otherwise be obtained on behalf of the  registrant
could be required to be repaid by the registrant to an indemnified party.

       The  Company  has in force a  Directors  and  Officers  Liability  Policy
underwritten  by CNA  Insurance,  Inc.  with a $5.0 million  aggregate  limit of
liability  and an  aggregate  deductible  of  $500,000  per loss both for claims
directly  against  officers  and  directors  and for claims where the Company is
required to indemnify directors and officers.

       Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 ("1933  Act") may be permitted to  directors,  officers,  or persons
controlling the Company  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  the Company has
been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification  is against  public  policy as  expressed in the 1933 Act and is
therefore unforceable.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
- ---------------------------------------------

       Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits
- -----------------

       For a list of all exhibits filed or included as part of this Registration
Statement, see "Index to Exhibits" at the end of this Registration Statement.

                                     II-3


<PAGE>



Item 9.  Undertakings
- ---------------------

       (a)  The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are being
            made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

            (i)   To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the 
            Securities Act of 1933;

            (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising after
            the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
            post-effective  amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or in the
            aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change in the  information  set
            forth in the registration statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
            any  increase or decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the
            total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
            was  registered)  and any deviation  from the low or high and of the
            estimated  maximum  offering  range may be  reflected in the form of
            prospectus filed with the Commission  pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in
            the  aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent  no more
            than 20 percent change in the maximum  aggregate  offering price set
            forth  in  the  "Calculation  of  Registration  Fee"  table  in  the
            effective registration statement;

            (iii) To include any material  information  with respect to the plan
            of  distribution  not  previously   disclosed  in  the  registration
            statement  or  any  material  change  to  such  information  in  the
            registration statement;

provided however,  that paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration  statement  is on Form S-3,  Form S-8 or F-3,  and the  information
required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those  paragraphs  is
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.

            (2) That,  for the purpose of  determining  any liability  under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3)  To  remove  from  registration  by  means  of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

       (b) The undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

       (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification   for  liabilities  arising  under  the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers, and controlling
persons of the registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and

                                     II-4


<PAGE>



Exchange  Commission such  indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Securities  Act of 1933 and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such  liabilities  (other  than the
payment by the registrant of expenses  incurred or paid by a director,  officer,
or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit, or  proceeding)  is asserted by such  director,  officer,  or  controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered,  the registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy expressed in the Securities
Act of 1933 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                     II-5


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

       Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  First
Colorado Bancorp,  Inc. certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing a Registration Statement on Form S-8
and has duly caused this  Registration  Statement  to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Lakewood in the State
of Colorado, on the 24th day of October 1996.

                                        First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.

                                        By: /s/ Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
                                            President, Chief Executive Officer,
                                            and Chairman of the Board
                                            (Duly Authorized Representative)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

       We, the  undersigned  directors and officers of First  Colorado  Bancorp,
Inc., do hereby  severally  constitute and appoint  Malcolm E. Collier,  Jr. our
true and lawful  attorney  and  agent,  to do any and all things and acts in our
names in the capacities  indicated  below and to execute any and all instruments
for us and in our names in the capacities  indicated below which said Malcolm E.
Collier,  Jr. may deem necessary or advisable to enable First Colorado  Bancorp,
Inc.  to comply with the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  and any rules,
regulations  and  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange  Commission,  in
connection with the Registration  Statement on Form S-8 relating to the offering
of the Company's Common Stock, including specifically, but not limited to, power
and authority to sign,  for any of us in our names in the  capacities  indicated
below,  the  Registration  Statement  and  any  and  all  amendments  (including
post-effective  amendments)  thereto;  and we hereby ratify and confirm all that
said Malcolm E. Collier, Jr. shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

       Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                             <C>
By:    /s/ Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.              By: /s/ Brian L. Johnson
       -----------------------------------          -------------------------------------
       Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.                      Brian L. Johnson
       President, Chief Executive Officer,          Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
       and Chairman of the Board                    (Principal Financial and Accounting
       (Principal Executive Officer)                Officer)

Date:  October 24, 1996                         Date: October 24, 1996


By:    /s/ John J. Nicholl                      By: /s/ Robert T. Person, Jr.
       -----------------------------------          --------------------------------------
       John J. Nicholl                              Robert T. Person, Jr.
       Director                                     Director

Date:  October 24, 1996                         Date: October 24, 1996

</TABLE>

<PAGE>






By:    /s/ Leeon E. Haydon                      By: /s/ E. William Foerster, Jr.
       -----------------------------------          ----------------------------
       Leeon E. Haydon                              E. William Foerster, Jr.
       Director                                     Director

Date:  October 24, 1996                         Date:  October 24, 1996


By:    /s/ James R. Wexels                      By: /s/ Polly Baca
       -----------------------------------          ----------------------------
       James R. Wexels                              Polly Baca
       Director                                     Director

Date:  October 24, 1996                         Date: October 24, 1996


By:    /s/ Stephen Burkholer
       -----------------------------------     
       Stephen Burkholder
       Director 

Date:  October 24, 1996


<PAGE>





                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit                           Description                              
- -------                           -----------                              

 4.1              First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan 

 4.2              Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into 
                  with respect to Incentive Stock Options

 4.3              Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into 
                  with respect to Non-Incentive Stock Options

 5.1              Opinion of Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. as to the  
                  validity of the Common Stock being registered

 23.1             Consent of Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. (appears 
                  in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)

 23.2             Consent of Independent Accountants               

 24               Reference is made to the Signatures section of this 
                  Registration Statement for the Power of Attorney
                  contained therein






                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
                             1996 Stock Option Plan


<PAGE>



                                                                     Exhibit A

                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.

                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

      1.  Purpose  of the Plan.  The Plan  shall be known as the First  Colorado
Bancorp,  Inc.  ("Corporation") 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose
of the Plan is to attract and to retain  qualified  personnel  for  positions of
substantial  responsibility  and to provide  additional  incentive  to officers,
directors and key employees of the Corporation,  or any present or future parent
or subsidiary  of the  Corporation  to promote the success of the business.  The
Plan is intended to provide for the grant of "Incentive  Stock Options,"  within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code") and Non-Incentive  Stock Options,  options that do not so qualify.  Each
and every one of the provisions of the Plan relating to Incentive  Stock Options
shall be interpreted to conform to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

       2.   Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply.

            (a) "Award" means the grant by the  Committee of an Incentive  Stock
Option or a Non-Incentive Stock Option, or any combination  thereof, as provided
in the Plan.

            (b) "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or
any successor or parent corporation thereto.

            (c) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

            (d) "Committee"  shall mean the Stock Option Committee  appointed by
the Board in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Plan.

            (e)  "Common  Stock"  shall mean  common  stock,  par value $.10 per
share, of the Corporation, or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

            (f)  "Continuous  Employment" or "Continuous  Status as an Employee"
shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of employment with the
Corporation  or any present or future Parent or  Subsidiary of the  Corporation.
Employment  shall  not be  considered  interrupted  in the  case of sick  leave,
military leave or any other leave of absence  approved by the  Corporation or in
the case of transfers between payroll  locations,  of the Corporation or between
the Corporation, its Parent, its Subsidiaries or a successor.

            (g) "Corporation"  shall mean the First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc., the
parent corporation of the Savings Bank, or any successor or Parent thereof.

            (h) "Director"  shall mean a member of the Board of the Corporation,
or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

            (i) "Director  Emeritus"  shall mean a person  serving as a director
emeritus,  advisory director,  consulting  director or other similar position as
may  be  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Savings  Bank  or the
Corporation from time to time.

                                     A-1


<PAGE>



            (j) "Disability"  means (a) with respect to Incentive Stock Options,
the "permanent and total  disability" of the Employee as such term is defined at
Section  22(e)(3)  of the Code;  and (b) with  respect  to  Non-Incentive  Stock
Options,  any  physical  or mental  impairment  which  renders  the  Participant
incapable of continuing in the  employment or service of the Savings Bank or the
Parent in his then current capacity as determined by the Committee.

            (k)   "Effective Date" shall mean the date specified in Section  15
hereof.

            (l) "Employee"  shall mean any person employed by the Corporation or
any present or future Parent or Subsidiary of the Corporation.

            (m)  "Incentive  Stock  Option"  or "ISO"  shall  mean an  option to
purchase  Shares granted by the Committee  pursuant to Section 8 hereof which is
subject to the limitations and  restrictions of Section 8 hereof and is intended
to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.

            (n)  "Non-Incentive  Stock Option" or "Non-ISO" shall mean an option
to purchase  Shares  granted  pursuant to Section 9 hereof,  which option is not
intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

            (o) "Option" shall mean an Incentive  Stock Option or  Non-Incentive
Stock Option  granted  pursuant to this Plan providing the holder of such Option
with the right to purchase Common Stock.

            (p) "Optioned  Stock" shall mean stock subject to an Option  granted
pursuant to the Plan.

            (q)   "Optionee" shall  mean  any  person  who receives an Option or
Award pursuant to the Plan.

            (r)  "Parent"  shall mean any  present or future  corporation  which
would be a "parent  corporation"  as defined in  Sections  424(e) and (g) of the
Code.

            (s) "Participant" means any director, officer or key employee of the
Corporation  or any Parent or Subsidiary of the  Corporation or any other person
providing  a service to the  Corporation  who is selected  by the  Committee  to
receive an Award, or who by the express terms of the Plan is granted an Award.

            (t)   "Plan" shall mean the First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. 1996  Stock
Option Plan.

            (u) "Savings Bank" shall mean First Federal Bank of Colorado, or any
successor corporation thereto.

            (v)   "Share" shall mean one share of the Common Stock.

            (w) "Subsidiary"  shall mean any present or future corporation which
constitutes a "subsidiary  corporation" as defined in Sections 424(f) and (g) of
the Code.

                                     A-2


<PAGE>



       3.  Shares  Subject  to the Plan.  Except as  otherwise  required  by the
provisions of Section 13 hereof,  the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which Awards may be made pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed  1,340,379.  Such
Shares may either be from  authorized but unissued  shares,  treasury  shares or
shares purchased in the market for Plan purposes.

      If an award should expire,  become  unexercisable  or be forfeited for any
reason  prior to its  exercise,  new Awards  may be granted  under the Plan with
respect to the number of Shares as to which such expiration has occurred.

      4.    Six Month Holding Period.

            Subject to vesting requirements,  if applicable, except in the event
of death or  disability  of the  Optionee,  a minimum of six months  must elapse
between  the  date of the  grant  of an  Option  and the date of the sale of the
Common Stock received through the exercise of such Option.

       5.   Administration of the Plan.

            (a) (i) Composition of the Committee. Except as indicated in Section
5(a)(ii)  below,  the Plan shall be  administered  by the Committee  which shall
consist of at least three non-employee Directors of the Corporation appointed by
the Board and serving at the pleasure of the Board.  All persons  designated  as
members of the Committee shall be "disinterested  persons" within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                  (ii) For the  purpose of  granting  Awards to  directors,  the
selection of any  Director to whom Awards may be granted,  as well as the number
of Shares subject to Awards, must be determined by a "disinterested  committee",
as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

            (b) Powers of the Committee.  The Committee is authorized  (but only
to the  extent  not  contrary  to the  express  provisions  of  the  Plan  or to
resolutions adopted by the Board) to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and
rescind  rules and  regulations  relating to the Plan, to determine the form and
content of Awards to be issued  under the Plan and to make other  determinations
necessary or advisable for the  administration  of the Plan,  and shall have and
may  exercise  such other power and  authority  as may be delegated to it by the
Board from time to time. A majority of the entire  Committee shall  constitute a
quorum and the action of a majority  of the  members  present at any  meeting at
which a quorum is present  shall be deemed the  action of the  Committee.  In no
event may the Committee  revoke  outstanding  Awards  without the consent of the
Participant.

            The Chairman of the  Corporation and such other officers as shall be
designated by the Committee are hereby authorized to execute written  agreements
evidencing Awards on behalf of the Corporation and to cause them to be delivered
to the Participants.  Such agreements shall set forth the Option exercise price,
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, the expiration date
of such Options, and such other terms and restrictions  applicable to such Award
as are determined in accordance with the Plan or the actions of the Committee.

            (c)   Effect of Committee's Decision.  All decisions, determinations
and  interpretations  of  the  Committee  shall  be  final and conclusive on all
persons affected thereby.

                                     A-3


<PAGE>



       6.   Eligibility for Awards and Limitations.

                   (a) The  Committee  shall  from  time to time  determine  the
officers, Directors, key employees and other persons who shall be granted Awards
under  the Plan,  the  number of  Awards  to be  granted  to each such  officer,
Director,  key employee and other  persons  under the Plan,  and whether  Awards
granted  to each such  Participant  under  the Plan  shall be  Incentive  and/or
Non-Incentive  Stock Options.  In selecting  Participants and in determining the
number of Shares of Common  Stock to be  granted to each such  Participant,  the
Committee  may  consider  the  nature  of the  services  rendered  by each  such
Participant,  each such Participant's current and potential  contribution to the
Corporation and such other factors as the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
deem  relevant.  Participants  who have been  granted an Award may, if otherwise
eligible, be granted additional Awards.

                  (b) The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date
the Option is  granted)  of the Shares  with  respect to which  Incentive  Stock
Options are  exercisable for the first time by each Employee during any calendar
year (under all Incentive  Stock Option plans,  as defined in Section 422 of the
Code,  of the  Corporation  or any present or future Parent or Subsidiary of the
Corporation) shall not exceed $100,000.  Notwithstanding the prior provisions of
this  Section 6, the  Committee  may grant  Options  in excess of the  foregoing
limitations,  provided said Options shall be clearly and specifically designated
as not being Incentive Stock Options.

                  (c) In no event  shall  Shares  subject to Options  granted to
non-employee  Directors in the aggregate under this Plan exceed more than 30% of
the total number of Shares  authorized  for delivery under this Plan pursuant to
Section 3 herein or more than 5% to any individual  non-employee Director. In no
event shall Shares subject to Options  granted to any Employee  exceed more than
25% of the total number of Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan.

       7. Term of the Plan.  The Plan shall continue in effect for a term of ten
(10) years from the Effective Date, unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section
18 hereof.  No Option shall be granted  under the Plan after ten (10) years from
the Effective Date.

       8. Terms and  Conditions  of Incentive  Stock  Options.  Incentive  Stock
Options may be granted only to  Participants  who are Employees.  Each Incentive
Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an instrument in
such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve. Each Incentive Stock
Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall comply with,  and be subject to, the
following terms and conditions:

            (a)   Option Price.

                   (i) The price per Share at which each Incentive  Stock Option
granted  under  the  Plan  may be  exercised  shall  not,  as to any  particular
Incentive  Stock Option,  be less than the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date that such Incentive Stock Option is granted.  For such purposes,  if
the Common Stock is traded otherwise than on a national  securities  exchange at
the time of the granting of an Option,  then the exercise price per Share of the
Optioned  Stock  shall be not less  than the mean  between  the last bid and ask
price on the date the  Incentive  Stock Option is granted or, if there is no bid
and ask price on said date, then on the immediately  prior business day on which
there was a bid and ask price.  If no such bid and ask price is available,  then
the exercise price per Share shall be determined by the Committee in good faith.
If the Common Stock is listed on a national  securities  exchange at the time of
the granting of an Incentive  Stock  Option,  then the exercise  price per Share
shall be not less than the average of the highest  and lowest  selling  price on
such exchange on the date such

                                     A-4


<PAGE>



Incentive  Stock Option is granted or, if there were no sales on said date, then
the exercise  price shall be not less than the mean between the last bid and ask
price on such date.

                  (ii)  In  the  case  of an  Employee  who  owns  Common  Stock
representing more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding  Common Stock on the
date that the  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  the  Incentive  Stock Option
exercise  price shall not be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the
fair  market  value of the  Common  Stock on the date that the  Incentive  Stock
Option is granted.

            (b) Payment.  Full payment for each Share of Common Stock  purchased
upon the exercise of any Incentive  Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be
made at the time of exercise of each such  Incentive  Stock  Option and shall be
paid in cash (in United States  Dollars),  Common Stock or a combination of cash
and Common  Stock.  Common  Stock  utilized  in full or  partial  payment of the
exercise price shall be valued at the fair market value at the date of exercise.
The Corporation shall accept full or partial payment in Common Stock only to the
extent  permitted by  applicable  law. No Shares of Common Stock shall be issued
until full payment has been received by the  Corporation,  and no Optionee shall
have any of the  rights of a  stockholder  of the  Corporation  until  Shares of
Common Stock are issued to the Optionee.

            (c) Term of Incentive Stock Option.  The term of  exercisability  of
each Incentive Stock Option granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be not more than
ten (10)  years  from the date  each such  Incentive  Stock  Option is  granted,
provided that in the case of an Employee who owns stock  representing  more than
ten percent  (10%) of the Common  Stock  outstanding  at the time the  Incentive
Stock  Option is granted,  the term of  exercisability  of the  Incentive  Stock
Option shall not exceed five (5) years.

            (d) Exercise  Generally.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 10
hereof,  no Incentive  Stock Option may be exercised  unless the Optionee  shall
have  been in the  employ of the  Corporation  at all times  during  the  period
beginning with the date of grant of any such  Incentive  Stock Option and ending
on the date three (3) months prior to the date of exercise of any such Incentive
Stock Option.  The Committee may impose additional  conditions upon the right of
an Optionee to exercise any Incentive  Stock Option granted  hereunder which are
not   inconsistent   with  the  terms  of  the  Plan  or  the  requirements  for
qualification as an Incentive Stock Option.  Except as otherwise provided by the
terms of the Plan or by action of the  Committee at the time of the grant of the
Options,  the Options  will be first  exercisable  at the rate of 20% on the one
year  anniversary of the date of grant and 20% annually  thereafter  during such
periods of service as an Employee, Director or Director Emeritus.

            (e)  Cashless  Exercise.   Subject  to  vesting   requirements,   if
applicable,  an Optionee who has held an Incentive Stock Option for at least six
months may engage in the  "cashless  exercise"  of the  Option.  Upon a cashless
exercise,  an Optionee gives the  Corporation  written notice of the exercise of
the Option  together with an order to a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent
third party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned Stock and to deliver enough of
the  proceeds  to the  Corporation  to pay the  Option  exercise  price  and any
applicable  withholding  taxes. If the Optionee does not sell the Optioned Stock
through a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent third party, the Optionee can
give the Corporation  written notice of the exercise of the Option and the third
party  purchaser of the Optioned Stock shall pay the Option  exercise price plus
any applicable withholding taxes to the Corporation.

            (f) Transferability.  Any Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to
the Plan shall be exercised  during an Optionee's  lifetime only by the Optionee
to whom it was granted and shall not be  assignable  or  transferable  otherwise
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

                                     A-5


<PAGE>



       9.  Terms  and   Conditions  of   Non-Incentive   Stock   Options.   Each
Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an
instrument in such form as the Committee  shall from time to time approve.  Each
Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall comply with and be
subject to the following terms and conditions.

            (a) Options  Granted to  Directors.  Subject to the  limitations  of
Section 6(c),  Non- Incentive  Stock Options to purchase 12,000 shares of Common
Stock  will  be  granted  to each  Director  who is not an  Employee  (excluding
Director Polly Baca) as of the Effective Date, at an exercise price equal to the
fair  market  value of the Common  Stock on such date of grant.  Options  may be
granted to newly  appointed or elected  non-employee  Directors  within the sole
discretion of the Committee.  The Options will be first  exercisable at the rate
of 20% on the one  year  anniversary  of the  Effective  Date  and 20%  annually
thereafter  during such  periods of service as a Director or Director  Emeritus.
Upon the death or  Disability  of the Director or Director  Emeritus,  or upon a
change in control of the Savings Bank or the  Corporation as provided at Section
13(b) herein,  such Option shall be deemed  immediately  100%  exercisable.  The
exercise  price per  Share of such  Options  granted  shall be equal to the fair
market value of the Common Stock at the time such Options are granted.  For such
purposes,  if the Common Stock is traded otherwise than on a national securities
exchange at the time of the granting of the Options, then the exercise price per
Share of the Optioned Stock shall be not less than the mean between the last bid
and ask price on the date the Options are granted or, if there is no bid and ask
price on said date, then on the next prior business day on which there was a bid
and ask  price.  If no such bid and ask price is  available,  then the  exercise
price per Share shall be  determined  by the  Committee  in good  faith.  If the
Common  Stock is listed on a  national  securities  exchange  at the time of the
granting of an Options, then the exercise price per Share shall be not less than
the average of the highest and lowest selling price on such exchange on the date
such  Options  are  granted  or, if there were no sales on said  date,  then the
exercise  price  shall be not less  than the mean  between  the last bid and ask
price on such date.  Such Options shall continue to be exercisable  for a period
of ten  years  following  the  date of grant  without  regard  to the  continued
services of such Directors as a Director or Director  Emeritus.  In the event of
the   Optionee's   death,   such  Options  may  be  exercised  by  the  personal
representative  of his estate or person or persons to whom his rights under such
Option  shall have  passed by will or by the laws of descent  and  distribution.
Unless  otherwise  inapplicable,  or  inconsistent  with the  provisions of this
paragraph,  the Options to be granted to Directors hereunder shall be subject to
all other provisions of this Plan.

            (b) Option Price.  The exercise  price per Share of Common Stock for
each Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan, other than Options
granted pursuant to Section 9(a) herein, shall be at such price as the Committee
may determine in its sole discretion,  but in no event less than the fair market
value of such Common Stock on the date of grant as  determined  by the Committee
in good faith.

            (c) Payment.  Full payment for each Share of Common Stock  purchased
upon the exercise of any Non-Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall
be made at the time of  exercise  of each such  Non-Incentive  Stock  Option and
shall be paid in cash (in United States Dollars),  Common Stock or a combination
of cash and Common Stock.  Common Stock  utilized in full or partial  payment of
the  exercise  price  shall be  valued at its fair  market  value at the date of
exercise.  The Corporation  shall accept full or partial payment in Common Stock
only to the extent  permitted by applicable law. No Shares of Common Stock shall
be issued  until  full  payment  has been  received  by the  Corporation  and no
Optionee shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation  until
the Shares of Common Stock are issued to the Optionee.

                                     A-6


<PAGE>



            (d) Term. The term of  exercisability  of each  Non-Incentive  Stock
Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be not more than ten (10) years from
the date each such Non-Incentive Stock Option is granted.

            (e)  Exercise   Generally.   The  Committee  may  impose  additional
conditions upon the right of any Participant to exercise any Non-Incentive Stock
Option granted  hereunder which is not inconsistent  with the terms of the Plan.
Except  as  otherwise  provided  by the  terms of the Plan or by  action  of the
Committee  at the time of the grant of the  Options,  the Options  will be first
exercisable at the rate of 20% on the one year  anniversary of the date of grant
and 20%  annually  thereafter  during  such  periods of service as an  Employee,
Director or Director Emeritus.

            (f)  Cashless  Exercise.   Subject  to  vesting   requirements,   if
applicable,  an Optionee who has held a Non-Incentive  Stock Option for at least
six months may engage in the "cashless  exercise" of the Option. Upon a cashless
exercise,  an Optionee gives the  Corporation  written notice of the exercise of
the Option  together with an order to a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent
third party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned Stock and to deliver enough of
the  proceeds  to the  Corporation  to pay the  Option  exercise  price  and any
applicable  withholding  taxes. If the Optionee does not sell the Optioned Stock
through a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent third party, the Optionee can
give the Corporation  written notice of the exercise of the Option and the third
party  purchaser of the Optioned Stock shall pay the Option  exercise price plus
any applicable withholding taxes to the Corporation.

            (g) Transferability. Any Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant
to the  Plan  shall be  exercised  during  an  Optionee's  lifetime  only by the
Optionee  to whom it was  granted and shall not be  assignable  or  transferable
otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

      10.  Effect of Termination of Employment, Disability or Death on Incentive
Stock Options.

            (a)  Termination  of  Employment.  In the event that any  Optionee's
employment  with the  Corporation  shall  terminate  for any reason,  other than
Permanent and Total  Disability (as such term is defined in Section  22(e)(3) of
the Code) or death, all of any such Optionee's  Incentive Stock Options, and all
of any such  Optionee's  rights to  purchase or receive  Shares of Common  Stock
pursuant  thereto,  shall  automatically  terminate on (A) the earlier of (i) or
(ii): (i) the respective  expiration  dates of any such Incentive Stock Options,
or (ii) the  expiration of not more than three (3) months after the date of such
termination  of  employment,  or (B) at such later date as is  determined by the
Committee  at the time of the  grant of such  Award  based  upon the  Optionee's
continuing  status as a Director or Director Emeritus of the Savings Bank or the
Corporation,  but only if, and to the extent that,  the Optionee was entitled to
exercise any such  Incentive  Stock Options at the date of such  termination  of
employment,   and  further  that  such  Award  shall   thereafter  be  deemed  a
Non-Incentive  Stock  Option.  In the  event  that a  Subsidiary  ceases to be a
subsidiary of the  Corporation,  the  employment of all of its employees who are
not  immediately  thereafter  employees  of the  Corporation  shall be deemed to
terminate upon the date such subsidiary so ceases to be a Subsidiary.

            (b) Disability. In the event that any Optionee's employment with the
Corporation  shall terminate as the result of the Permanent and Total Disability
of such Optionee, such Optionee may exercise any Incentive Stock Options granted
to the Optionee pursuant to the Plan at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
respective expiration dates of any such Incentive Stock Options or (ii) the date
which is one (1) year after the date of such termination of employment, but only
if, and to the extent  that,  the  Optionee  was  entitled to exercise  any such
Incentive Stock Options at the date of such termination of employment.

                                     A-7


<PAGE>




            (c) Death.  In the event of the death of an Optionee,  any Incentive
Stock Options granted to such Optionee may be exercised by the person or persons
to whom the  Optionee's  rights under any such  Incentive  Stock Options pass by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution (including the Optionee's estate
during the period of administration) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the
respective expiration dates of any such Incentive Stock Options or (ii) the date
which is two (2) years after the date of death of such Optionee but only if, and
to the extent that,  the  Optionee  was entitled to exercise any such  Incentive
Stock  Options at the date of death.  For  purposes of this Section  10(c),  any
Incentive  Stock Option held by an Optionee  shall be considered  exercisable at
the  date of his  death  if the  only  unsatisfied  condition  precedent  to the
exercisability  of such  Incentive  Stock  Option  at the  date of  death is the
passage of a specified period of time. At the discretion of the Committee,  upon
exercise  of  such  Options  the  Optionee  may  receive  Shares  or  cash  or a
combination thereof. If cash shall be paid in lieu of Shares, such cash shall be
equal to the  difference  between the fair  market  value of such Shares and the
exercise price of such Options on the exercise date.

            (d) Incentive  Stock  Options  Deemed  Exercisable.  For purposes of
Sections  10(a),  10(b) and 10(c) above,  any Incentive Stock Option held by any
Optionee  shall  be  considered  exercisable  at  the  date  of  termination  of
employment if any such  Incentive  Stock Option would have been  exercisable  at
such date of termination of employment without regard to the Permanent and Total
Disability or death of the Participant.

            (e)  Termination  of  Incentive  Stock  Options.  Except  as  may be
specified by the Committee at the time of grant of an Option, to the extent that
any  Incentive  Stock  Option  granted  under  the  Plan to any  Optionee  whose
employment with the Corporation  terminates shall not have been exercised within
the  applicable  period set forth in this Section 10, any such  Incentive  Stock
Option,  and all rights to purchase or receive  Shares of Common Stock  pursuant
thereto,  as the case may be, shall  terminate on the last day of the applicable
period.

      11.  Effect  of  Termination   of  Employment,   Disability  or  Death  on
Non-Incentive  Stock Options.  The terms and conditions of  Non-Incentive  Stock
Options relating to the effect of the termination of an Optionee's employment or
service,  disability  of an  Optionee  or his  death  shall  be such  terms  and
conditions as the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine at the time
of termination or service,  unless specifically provided for by the terms of the
Agreement at the time of grant of the Award.

      12. Right of Repurchase and Restrictions on Disposition. The Committee, in
its sole  discretion,  may include,  as a term of any Incentive  Stock Option or
Non-Incentive   Stock  Option,  the  right,  but  not  the  obligation  for  the
Corporation,  to  repurchase  all or any  amount of the  Shares  acquired  by an
Optionee pursuant to the exercise of any such Options (the "Repurchase  Right").
The intent of the Repurchase  Right is to encourage the continued  employment of
the Optionee.  The  Repurchase  Right shall provide for,  among other things,  a
specified  duration of the Repurchase  Right, a specified  price per Share to be
paid  upon  the  exercise  of the  Repurchase  Right  and a  restriction  on the
disposition  of the Shares by the Optionee  during the period of the  Repurchase
Right.  The  Repurchase  Right may permit the  Corporation to transfer or assign
such  Repurchase  Right to another  party.  The  Corporation  may  exercise  the
Repurchase Right only to the extent permitted by applicable law.

      13.   Recapitalization, Merger, Consolidation, Change in Control and Other
Transactions.

            (a) Adjustment.  Subject to any required action by the  stockholders
of the Corporation,  within the sole discretion of the Committee,  the aggregate
number of Shares of Common Stock for which Options may be granted hereunder, the
number of Shares of Common Stock covered by

                                     A-8


<PAGE>



each  outstanding  Option,  and the exercise  price per Share of Common Stock of
each such  Option,  shall all be  proportionately  adjusted  for any increase or
decrease  in the  number  of issued  and  outstanding  Shares  of  Common  Stock
resulting from a subdivision or  consolidation  of Shares  (whether by reason of
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, split-up, combination
of shares,  or  otherwise)  or the payment of a stock  dividend (but only on the
Common Stock) or any other  increase or decrease in the number of such Shares of
Common Stock  effected  without the receipt or payment of  consideration  by the
Corporation (other than Shares held by dissenting stockholders).

            (b)  Change  in  Control.   All  outstanding   Awards  shall  become
immediately  exercisable in the event of a change in control of the Corporation,
as determined by the Committee,  provided that such  accelerated  vesting is not
inconsistent with applicable  regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision or
other appropriate  banking regulator at the time of such change in control.  The
Optionee shall, at the discretion of the Committee,  be entitled to receive cash
in an amount equal to the fair market  value of the Common Stock  subject to any
Option  over the Option  exercise  price of such  Option,  in  exchange  for the
surrender  of such Options by the Optionee on the date of such change in control
of the  Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 13, "change in control" shall
mean:  (i) the  execution  of an  agreement  for the sale of all,  or a material
portion,  of the assets of the  Corporation;  (ii) the execution of an agreement
for  a  merger  or   recapitalization  of  the  Corporation  or  any  merger  or
recapitalization  whereby the Corporation is not the surviving  entity;  (iii) a
change in control of the Corporation,  as otherwise defined or determined by the
Office of  Thrift  Supervision  or  regulations  promulgated  by it; or (iv) the
acquisition,  directly or indirectly,  of the beneficial  ownership  (within the
meaning of that term as it is used in Section 13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Corporation by
any  person,  trust,  entity or group.  This  limitation  shall not apply to the
purchase  of shares by  underwriters  in  connection  with a public  offering of
Corporation  stock,  or the  purchase  of  shares  of up to 25% of any  class of
securities of the  Corporation  by a  tax-qualified  employee stock benefit plan
which is  exempt  from the  approval  requirements,  set  forth  under 12 C.F.R.
ss.574.3(c)(1)(vi)  as now in effect or as may  hereafter  be amended.  The term
"person"  refers  to  an  individual  or  a  corporation,   partnership,  trust,
association, joint venture, pool, syndicate, sole proprietorship, unincorporated
organization  or any other form of entity not  specifically  listed herein.  The
decision of the  Committee as to whether a change in control has occurred  shall
be conclusive and binding.

            (c) Extraordinary  Corporate Action.  Notwithstanding any provisions
of the Plan to the contrary,  subject to any required action by the stockholders
of the  Corporation,  in the event of any change in  control,  recapitalization,
merger,  consolidation,  exchange of Shares,  spin-off,  reorganization,  tender
offer, partial or complete  liquidation or other extraordinary  corporate action
or event, the Committee, in its sole discretion,  shall have the power, prior or
subsequent to such action or event to:

                   (i) appropriately adjust the number of Shares of Common Stock
subject to each Option, the Option exercise price per Share of Common Stock, and
the  consideration  to be given or received by the Corporation upon the exercise
of any outstanding Option;

                  (ii) cancel any or all previously  granted  Options,  provided
that appropriate  consideration is paid to the Optionee in connection therewith;
and/or

                   (iii) make such other adjustments in connection with the Plan
as  the  Committee,  in  its  sole  discretion,   deems  necessary,   desirable,
appropriate or advisable;  provided,  however,  that no action shall be taken by
the Committee which would cause Incentive Stock Options granted  pursuant to the
Plan to fail to meet the  requirements  of Section  422 of the Code  without the
consent of the Optionee.

                                     A-9


<PAGE>




            Except as  expressly  provided  in Sections  13(a),  13(b) and 13(e)
hereof,  no Optionee shall have any rights by reason of the occurrence of any of
the events described in this Section 13.

            (d) Acceleration. The Committee shall at all times have the power to
accelerate  the  exercise  date of Options  previously  granted  under the Plan;
provided  that such action is not  contrary to  regulations  of the OTS or other
appropriate banking regulator then in effect.

            (e)  Non-recurring  Dividends.  Upon the  payment  of a  special  or
non-recurring  cash  dividend  that has the effect of a return of capital to the
stockholders,   the  Option   exercise   price  per  share   shall  be  adjusted
proportionately.

      14. Time of  Granting  Options.  The date of grant of an Option  under the
Plan  shall,  for all  purposes,  be the date on which the  Committee  makes the
determination of granting such Option. Notice of the grant of an Option shall be
given to each  individual  to whom an Option is so granted  within a  reasonable
time after the date of such grant in a form determined by the Committee.

      15.  Effective  Date.  The Plan shall  become  effective  upon the date of
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Corporation, subject to approval
or  non-objection  by the  Office  of Thrift  Supervision,  if  applicable.  The
Committee may make a determination related to Awards prior to the Effective Date
with such Awards to be effective  upon the date of  stockholder  approval of the
Plan.

      16.   Approval by Stockholders. The Plan shall be approved by stockholders
of the Corporation within twelve (12) months before or after the date the  Plan 
is approved by the Board.

      17.  Modification of Options. At any time and from time to time, the Board
may authorize  the Committee to direct the execution of an instrument  providing
for the modification of any outstanding  Option,  provided no such modification,
extension  or renewal  shall  confer on the  holder of said  Option any right or
benefit  which  could not be  conferred  on the  Optionee  by the grant of a new
Option at such time, or shall not materially  decrease the  Optionee's  benefits
under the Option  without  the  consent of the holder of the  Option,  except as
otherwise permitted under Section 18 hereof.

      18.   Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

            (a) Action by the Board. The Board may alter, suspend or discontinue
the  Plan,  except  that no action of the  Board  may  increase  (other  than as
provided  in Section 13 hereof)  the maximum  number of Shares  permitted  to be
optioned  under  the  Plan,   materially   increase  the  benefits  accruing  to
Participants   under  the  Plan  or  materially   modify  the  requirements  for
eligibility for  participation in the Plan unless such action of the Board shall
be subject to approval or ratification by the stockholders of the Corporation.

            (b) Change in Applicable  Law.  Notwithstanding  any other provision
contained  in the Plan,  in the event of a change in any  federal  or state law,
rule  or  regulation  which  would  make  the  exercise  of all or  part  of any
previously  granted Option  unlawful or subject the  Corporation to any penalty,
the Committee may restrict any such exercise without the consent of the Optionee
or other holder thereof in order to comply with any such law, rule or regulation
or to avoid any such penalty.

                                     A-10


<PAGE>



      19.   Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

      (a) Shares  shall not be issued with respect to any Option  granted  under
the Plan unless the  issuance  and delivery of such Shares shall comply with all
relevant  provisions of  applicable  law,  including,  without  limitation,  the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  the  rules and  regulations  promulgated
thereunder,  any applicable  state  securities laws and the  requirements of any
stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed.

      (b)  The   inability   of  the   Corporation   to  obtain  any   necessary
authorizations,  approvals or letters of non-objection  from any regulatory body
or authority deemed by the  Corporation's  counsel to be necessary to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares issuable hereunder shall relieve the Corporation
of any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of such Shares.

      (c) As a condition  to the  exercise  of an Option,  the  Corporation  may
require  the  person  exercising  the  Option to make such  representations  and
warranties as may be necessary to assure the  availability  of an exemption from
the registration requirements of federal or state securities law.

      (d) Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, upon the termination
of employment or service of an Optionee by the  Corporation or its  Subsidiaries
for "cause" as defined at 12 C.F.R.  563.39(b)(1)  as determined by the Board of
Directors, all Options held by such Participant shall cease to be exercisable as
of the date of such termination of employment or service.

      (e) Upon the  exercise  of an Option  by an  Optionee  (or the  Optionee's
personal  representative),  the Committee,  in its sole and absolute discretion,
may make a cash  payment to the  Optionee,  in whole or in part,  in lieu of the
delivery  of shares of Common  Stock.  Such cash  payment  to be paid in lieu of
delivery  of Common  Stock  shall be equal to the  difference  between  the Fair
Market  Value of the  Common  Stock on the date of the Option  exercise  and the
exercise  price per share of the Option.  Such cash payment shall be in exchange
for the cancellation of such Option.  Such cash payment shall not be made in the
event that such  transaction  would  result in  liability to the Optionee or the
Corporation  under  Section  16(b) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as
amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

      20.   Reservation of Shares.  During the term of the Plan, the Corporation
will reserve and keep available a number of Shares sufficient  to  satisfy  the 
requirements of the Plan.

      21.  Unsecured  Obligation.  No Participant  under the Plan shall have any
interest in any fund or special asset of the  Corporation  by reason of the Plan
or the grant of any  Option  under the Plan.  No trust  fund shall be created in
connection with the Plan or any grant of any Option hereunder and there shall be
no required funding of amounts which may become payable to any Participant.

      22.  Withholding Tax. The Corporation  shall have the right to deduct from
all amounts paid in cash with respect to the cashless  exercise of Options under
the Plan any taxes  required  by law to be  withheld  with  respect to such cash
payments.  Where a  Participant  or other  person is entitled to receive  Shares
pursuant to the exercise of an Option,  the Corporation  shall have the right to
require the  Participant or such other person to pay the  Corporation the amount
of any taxes which the  Corporation is required to withhold with respect to such
Shares,  or, in lieu thereof,  to retain, or to sell without notice, a number of
such Shares sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

                                     A-11


<PAGE>



      23. No Employment  Rights.  No Director,  Employee,  or other person shall
have a right to be selected as a  Participant  under the Plan.  Neither the Plan
nor any action taken by the Board or the Committee in administration of the Plan
shall be construed as giving any person any rights of employment or retention as
an  Employee,  Director,  or in any other  capacity  with the  Corporation,  the
Savings Bank or any other Subsidiary.

     24.    Governing  Law.  The Plan  shall be  governed  by and  construed  in
accordance  with the laws of the State of  Colorado,  except to the extent  that
federal law shall be deemed to apply.

                                     A-12






                                   EXHIBIT 4.2

                Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into
                     with respect to Incentive Stock Options


<PAGE>



                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                  FOR INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS UNDER SECTION 422
                          OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

                           FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

     STOCK  OPTIONS for a total of ________  shares of Common  Stock,  par value
$.10 per share, of First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), which Option is
intended  to qualify as an  Incentive  Stock  Option  under  Section  422 of the
Internal   Revenue   Code  of  1986,   as   amended,   is  hereby   granted   to
____________________  (the  "Optionee") at the price  determined as provided in,
and in all respects subject to the terms, definitions and provisions of the 1996
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")  adopted by the Company which is  incorporated by
reference herein, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

      1.  Option Price. The Option price is $13.5625 for each Share,  being 100%
of the fair market value, as determined by the Committee, of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of this Option (July 24, 1996).

      2.  Exercises of Option.  This Option shall be  exercisable in accordance
with provisions of the Plan,  provided the holder of such Option is an employee,
director or director emeritus of the Corporation as of such date, as follows:

            (a)   Schedule of Rights to Exercise.

                     Date                          Percentage of Total Shares
                     ----                               Awarded Which Are
                                                         Non-forfeitable
                                                         ---------------

Upon grant.....................................                 0%
As of July 24, 1997............................                20%
As of July 24, 1998............................                40%
As of July 24, 1999............................                60%
As of July 24, 2000............................                80%
As of July 24, 2001............................               100%


      Notwithstanding  any  provisions in this Section 2, in no event shall this
Option be exercisable  prior to six months following the date of grant.  Options
shall be 100%  vested  and  exercisable  upon the  death  or  disability  of the
Optionee,  or upon a Change in Control of the Company,  subject to non-objection
by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS").


<PAGE>



           (b) Method of Exercise. This Option shall be exercisable by a written
notice which shall:

                    (i) State the election to exercise the Option, the number of
      Shares with  respect to which it is being  exercised,  the person in whose
      name the stock certificate or certificates for such Shares of Common Stock
      is to be registered,  his address and Social  Security  Number (or if more
      than one,  the  names,  addresses  and  Social  Security  Numbers  of such
      persons);

                   (ii) Contain such  representations  and  agreements as to the
      holder's  investment intent with respect to such shares of Common Stock as
      may be satisfactory to the Company's counsel;

                  (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to exercise
      the Option and, if the Option is being  exercised by any person or persons
      other than the Optionee, be accompanied by proof,  satisfactory to counsel
      for the  Company,  of the right of such person or persons to exercise  the
      Option; and

                   (iv)  Be  in writing and delivered in person or by certified 
      mail to the Treasurer of the Company.

      Payment  of the  purchase  price of any Shares  with  respect to which the
Option is being  exercised  shall be by certified or bank  cashier's or teller's
check.  The certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option shall be exercised  shall be  registered in the name of the person or
persons exercising the Option.

            (c)  Restrictions  on Exercise.  This Option may not be exercised if
the issuance of the Shares upon such  exercise  would  constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the Optionee's  exercise of this Option,  the Company may require
the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

      3.  Non-transferability  of Option.  This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.

                                      2


<PAGE>



      4. Term of Option.  This  Option may not be  exercised  more than ten (10)
years  from the date of grant of this  Option,  as set forth  below,  and may be
exercised  during  such term only in  accordance  with the Plan and the terms of
this Option.

      5.    Related Matters.  Notwithstanding anything herein  to  the contrary,
additional conditions or restrictions related to such Options  may  be contained
in the Plan or the resolutions of the Plan Committee authorizing  such  grant of
Options.

                                           First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.

Date of Grant: July 24, 1996           By:  
               -------------              -----------------------------------



Attest:


- ----------------------------


[SEAL]

                                      3


<PAGE>



                      INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE FORM
                      ------------------------------------

                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                                     ____________________
                                                            (Date)

First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
215 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado  80226

Dear Sir:

     The  undersigned  elects to exercise the Incentive Stock Option to purchase
________________  shares,  par value  $.10,  of Common  Stock of First  Colorado
Bancorp,   Inc.,   under  and  pursuant  to  a  Stock  Option   Agreement  dated
________________, 19____.

      Delivered  herewith is a certified  or bank  cashier's  or teller's  check
and/or shares of Common  Stock,  valued at the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise, as set forth below.

                     $                    of cash or check
                      --------
                                          of Common Stock
                      --------
                     $                    Total
                      --------

      The name or names to be on the stock  certificate or certificates  and the
address and Social Security Number of such person(s) is as follows:

      Name
          ---------------------------------------------------------

      Address
             ------------------------------------------------------

      Social Security Number
                            ---------------------------------------

                                          Very truly yours,



                                          -------------------------







                                   EXHIBIT 4.3

                Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into
                   with respect to Non-Incentive Stock Options


<PAGE>



                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                 FOR NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS PURSUANT TO THE
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

                                  For Officers

     STOCK OPTIONS for a total of  ________________  shares of Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share, of First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company") is hereby
granted to  ______________  (the "Optionee") at the price determined as provided
in, and in all respects subject to the terms,  definitions and provisions of the
1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company which is incorporated
by reference herein, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged. Such Stock Options
do not comply with Options  granted  under  Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

     1. Option Price.  The Option price is $________ for each Share,  being 100%
of the fair market value, as determined by the Committee, of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of this Option (July 24, 1996).

     2. Exercise of Option.  This Option shall be exercisable in accordance with
provisions of the Plan as follows:

        (a)   Schedule of Rights to Exercise.

             Date                                    Percentage of Total Shares
             ----                                          Awarded Which Are
                                         Number             Non-forfeitable
                                         ------             ---------------

Upon grant........................        ____                     0%
As of July 24, 1997...............        ____                    20%
As of July 24, 1998...............        ____                    40%
As of July 24, 1999...............        ____                    60%
As of July 24, 2000...............        ____                    80%
As of July 24, 2001...............        ____                   100%


      Options shall continue to vest annually  provided that such holder remains
an employee,  director or  director's  emeritus of the Company or First  Federal
Bank of Colorado.  Notwithstanding any provisions in this Section 2, in no event
shall  this  Option be  exercisable  prior to six months  following  the date of
grant. Options shall be 100% vested and exercisable upon the death or disability
of the Optionee, or upon a Change in Control of the Company.


<PAGE>



            (b)   Method of Exercise.  This Option shall  be  exercisable  by  a
written notice which shall:

                    (i) State the election to exercise the Option, the number of
      Shares with  respect to which it is being  exercised,  the person in whose
      name the stock certificate or certificates for such Shares of Common Stock
      is to be registered,  his address and Social  Security  Number (or if more
      than one,  the  names,  addresses  and  Social  Security  Numbers  of such
      persons);

                   (ii) Contain such  representations  and  agreements as to the
      holder's  investment intent with respect to such shares of Common Stock as
      may be satisfactory to the Company's counsel;

                  (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to exercise
      the Option and, if the Option is being  exercised by any person or persons
      other than the Optionee, be accompanied by proof,  satisfactory to counsel
      for the  Company,  of the right of such person or persons to exercise  the
      Option; and

                   (iv) Be  in  writing  and delivered in person or by certified
mail to the Treasurer of the Company.

      Payment  of the  purchase  price of any Shares  with  respect to which the
Option is being  exercised  shall be by certified or bank  cashier's or teller's
check.  The certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option shall be exercised  shall be  registered in the name of the person or
persons exercising the Option.

            (c)  Restrictions  on Exercise.  This Option may not be exercised if
the issuance of the Shares upon such  exercise  would  constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the Optionee's  exercise of this Option,  the Company may require
the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

      3.  Non-transferability  of Option.  This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.

                                      2


<PAGE>



      4. Term of Option.  This  Option may not be  exercised  more than ten (10)
years  from the date of grant of this  Option,  as set forth  below,  and may be
exercised  during  such term only in  accordance  with the Plan and the terms of
this Option.

      5.    Related Matters.  Notwithstanding anything herein to  the  contrary,
additional conditions or restrictions related to such Options may be  contained
in the Plan or the resolutions of the Plan Committee authorizing such  grant  of
Options.

                                         First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.

Date of Grant: July 24, 1996        By:
               -------------           ------------------------------- 



Attest:



- -----------------------------
[SEAL]

                                      3


<PAGE>



                    NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE FORM
                    ----------------------------------------

                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------


                                                         ___________________
                                                               (Date)

First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
215 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado  80226

Dear Sir:

     The  undersigned  elects to  exercise  the  Non-Incentive  Stock  Option to
purchase  _______  shares,  par value $.10,  of Common  Stock of First  Colorado
Bancorp,  Inc. under and pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement dated ___________,
19____.

     Delivered  herewith  is a certified  or bank  cashier's  or teller's  check
and/or shares of Common  Stock,  valued at the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise, as set forth below.

                     $                    of cash or check
                      ----------
                                          of Common Stock
                      ----------
                     $                    Total 
                      ==========

      The name or names to be on the stock  certificate or certificates  and the
address and Social Security Number of such person(s) is as follows:

      Name
          ----------------------------------------------------------

      Address
             -------------------------------------------------------

      Social Security Number
                            ----------------------------------------

                                          Very truly yours,



                                          --------------------------




                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

              Opinion of Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C. as to
                the validity of the Common Stock being registered


<PAGE>
                      MALIZIA, SPIDI, SLOANE & FISCH, P.C.
                                Attorneys at Law
                               One Franklin Square
                               1301 K Street, N.W.
                                 Suite 700 East
                             Washington, D.C. 20005
                            Telephone: (202) 434-4660
                           Telecopier: (202) 434-4661



October 24, 1996

Board of Directors
First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
215 South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado  24505

      RE:   Registration Statement on Form S-8:
            -----------------------------------
            First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
            1996 Stock Option Plan

Gentlemen:

      We have acted as special counsel to First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc., a State
of Colorado  corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the preparation of
the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 to be filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended,  relating to 1,340,379  shares of common stock, par value $.10
per share (the  "Common  Stock")  of the  Company  which may be issued  upon the
exercise  of options  granted or which may be granted  under the First  Colorado
Bancorp,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"),  as more fully  described in
the  Registration  Statement.  You have  requested the opinion of this firm with
respect to certain legal aspects of the proposed offering.

      We have examined such  documents,  records,  and matters of law as we have
deemed  necessary for purposes of this opinion and based thereon,  we are of the
opinion  that the Common  Stock when issued  pursuant to the exercise of options
granted  under  and in  accordance  with the  terms of the Plan will be duly and
validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

      We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit to the
Registration  Statement and to references to our firm included under the caption
"Legal Opinion" in the Prospectus which is a part of the Registration Statement.

                                       Sincerely,

                                       /s/Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.
                                       Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.

Washington, D.C.



                                  EXHIBIT 23.2

                         Consent of Independent Auditors


<PAGE>


                       [KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP LETTERHEAD]



                        Consent of Independent Auditors
                        -------------------------------





The Board of Directors
First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.:


We consent to incorporation by reference in this Registration  Statement on Form
S-8 of First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc. related to the First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
1996 Stock  Option  Plan of our report  dated  March 1,  1996,  relating  to the
consolidated  statements of financial condition of First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc.
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the related  consolidated
statements of operations,  stockholders'  equity, and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year  period ended December 31, 1995, which report appears in
the December 31, 1995 annual report on Form 10-K of First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
Our report  refers to changes in accounting  for impaired  loans in 1995 and for
investment, mortgage-backed and other asset-backed securities in 1994.




                              /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP
                              KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP

Denver, Colorado
October 23, 1996







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