FIRSTSPARTAN FINANCIAL CORP
8-K, EX-2.1, 2000-09-08
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
Previous: FIRSTSPARTAN FINANCIAL CORP, 8-K, 2000-09-08
Next: FIRSTSPARTAN FINANCIAL CORP, 8-K, EX-10.1, 2000-09-08




                                                                  Exhibit 2.1




                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

                                     BETWEEN
                          FIRSTSPARTAN FINANCIAL CORP.
                                       and
                                BB&T CORPORATION




<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

ARTICLE I THE MERGER.........................................................1
ARTICLE II THE MERGER........................................................7
   2.1    Merger.............................................................7
   2.2    Filing; Plan of Merger.............................................7
   2.3    Effective Time.....................................................7
   2.4    Closing............................................................8
   2.5    Effect of Merger...................................................8
   2.6    Further Assurances.................................................8
   2.7    Merger Consideration...............................................9
   2.8    Conversion of Shares; Payment of Merger Consideration..............9
   2.9    Conversion of Stock Options.......................................10
   2.10   Merger of Subsidiaries............................................12
   2.11   Anti-Dilution.....................................................12
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF LANCE.........................12
   3.1    Capital Structure.................................................12
   3.2    Organization, Standing and Authority..............................13
   3.3    Ownership of Subsidiaries.........................................13
   3.4    Organization, Standing and Authority of the Subsidiaries..........13
   3.5    Authorized and Effective Agreement................................14
   3.6    Securities Filings; Financial Statements; Statements True.........15
   3.7    Minute Books......................................................15
   3.8    Adverse Change....................................................15
   3.9    Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities................................16
   3.10   Properties........................................................16
   3.11   Environmental Matters.............................................16
   3.12   Loans; Allowance for Loan Losses..................................17
   3.13   Tax Matters.......................................................17
   3.14   Employees; Compensation; Benefit Plans............................19
   3.15   Certain Contracts.................................................22
   3.16   Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals...........................23
   3.17   Compliance with Laws; Filings.....................................24
   3.18   Brokers and Finders...............................................24
   3.19   Repurchase Agreements; Derivatives................................24
   3.20   Deposit Accounts..................................................25
   3.21   Related Party Transactions........................................25
   3.22   Certain Information...............................................25
   3.23   Tax and Regulatory Matters........................................25
   3.24   State Takeover Laws...............................................26
   3.25   Labor Relations...................................................26
   3.26   Fairness Opinion..................................................26
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BB&T...........................27
   4.1    Capital Structure of BB&T.........................................27
   4.2    Organization, Standing and Authority of BB&T......................27
   4.3    Authorized and Effective Agreement................................27
   4.4    Organization, Standing and Authority of BB&T Subsidiaries.........28
   4.5    Securities Documents; Financial Statements; Statements True.......28
   4.6    Certain Information...............................................29
   4.7    Tax and Regulatory Matters........................................29
   4.8    Share Ownership...................................................29
   4.9    Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals...........................29


<PAGE>


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

  4.10   Adverse Change.....................................................30
ARTICLE V COVENANTS.........................................................30
   5.1    Lance Shareholder Meeting.........................................30
   5.2    Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus................30
   5.3    Plan of Merger; Reservation of Shares.............................31
   5.4    Additional Acts...................................................31
   5.5    Best Efforts......................................................32
   5.6    Certain Accounting Matters........................................32
   5.7    Access to Information.............................................32
   5.8    Press Releases....................................................33
   5.9    Forbearances of Lance.............................................33
   5.10   Employment Agreements.............................................36
   5.11   Affiliates........................................................36
   5.12   Section 401(k) Plan; Other Employee Benefits......................36
   5.13   Directors and Officers Protection.................................38
   5.14   Forbearances of BB&T..............................................38
   5.15   Reports...........................................................39
   5.16   Exchange Listing..................................................39
   5.17   Advisory Boards...................................................39
   5.18   Board of Directors of Branch Banking and Trust
           Company of South Carolina........................................40
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.............................................40
   6.1    Conditions Precedent - BB&T and Lance.............................40
   6.2    Conditions Precedent - Lance......................................41
   6.3    Conditions Precedent - BB&T.......................................42
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, DEFAULT, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT......................43
   7.1    Termination.......................................................43
   7.2    Effect of Termination.............................................44
   7.3    Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.............44
   7.4    Waiver............................................................44
   7.5    Amendment or Supplement...........................................45
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS..................................................45
   8.1    Expenses..........................................................45
   8.2    Entire Agreement..................................................45
   8.3    No Assignment.....................................................46
   8.4    Notices...........................................................46
   8.6    Captions..........................................................47
   8.7    Counterparts......................................................47
   8.8    Governing Law.....................................................47



ANNEXES
-------
     Annex A-1    Articles of Merger, with attached Agreement and Plan of Merger
     Annex A-2    Certificate of Merger
     Annex B      Employment Agreement with
                  Billy L. Painter
     Annex C      Employment Agreements with R. Lamar Simpson,  Hugh H. Brantley
                  and J. Stephan Sinclair


                                        2


<PAGE>


                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

         THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF  REORGANIZATION  ("Agreement"),  dated as of
September 5, 2000 is between FIRSTSPARTAN  FINANCIAL CORP.  ("FirstSpartan"),  a
Delaware corporation having its principal office at Spartanburg, South Carolina,
and BB&T CORPORATION ("BB&T"), a North Carolina corporation having its principal
office at Winston-Salem, North Carolina;

                                R E C I T A L S:
                                - - - - - - - -

         The parties desire that FirstSpartan shall be merged with and into BB&T
(said transaction being hereinafter  referred to as the "Merger") pursuant to an
agreement  and plan of merger (the "Plan of Merger")  substantially  in the form
attached  as Annex A-1  hereto,  and the  parties  desire to provide for certain
undertakings,   conditions,   representations,   warranties   and  covenants  in
connection  with  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  As a  condition  and
inducement to BB&T's  willingness to enter into the Agreement,  FirstSpartan  is
concurrently granting to BB&T an option to acquire, under certain circumstances,
740,300 shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of FirstSpartan.

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises and of the mutual
representations,  warranties,  covenants and agreements  herein  contained,  and
intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                              ARTICLE IDEFINITIONS

1.1      Definitions
         -----------

         When used herein,  the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the
following meanings:

         "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person,  any other Person,  who,
directly  or  indirectly  through  one or more  intermediaries,  controls  or is
controlled by, or is under common control with such Person and, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing,  includes any executive  officer or director of
such Person and any Affiliate of such executive officer or director.

         "Articles of Merger"  shall mean the Articles of Merger  required to be
filed with the office of the Secretary of State of North Carolina as provided in
Section 55-11-05 of the NCBCA.

         "Bank Holding  Company Act" shall mean the Federal Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended.

<PAGE>

         "BB&T Common Stock" shall mean the shares of voting  common stock,  par
value $5.00 per share,  of BB&T,  with rights attached issued pursuant to Rights
Agreement  dated  December 17, 1996  between  BB&T and Branch  Banking and Trust
Company,  as Rights  Agent,  relating  to BB&T's  Series B Junior  Participating
Preferred Stock, $5.00 par value per share.

         "BB&T Option  Agreement" shall mean the Stock Option Agreement dated as
of even date  herewith,  as amended  from time to time,  under which BB&T has an
option to purchase shares of FirstSpartan  Common Stock, which shall be executed
immediately following execution of this Agreement.

         "BB&T Subsidiaries" shall mean Branch Banking and Trust Company, Branch
Banking and Trust Company of South Carolina and Branch Banking and Trust Company
of Virginia.

         "Benefit  Plan  Determination  Date" shall mean,  with  respect to each
employee  pension or welfare benefit plan or program  maintained by FirstSpartan
at the Effective  Time, the date determined by BB&T with respect to such plan or
program  which  shall be not later  than  January 1  following  the close of the
calendar year in which the last of the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries which is a bank
or  other  savings   institution  is  merged  into  BB&T  or  one  of  the  BB&T
Subsidiaries.

         "Business  Day" shall mean all days other than  Saturdays,  Sundays and
Federal Reserve holidays.

         "CERCLA"   shall   mean  the   Comprehensive   Environmental   Response
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.

         "Certificate  of  Merger"  shall mean the  Certificate  of Merger to be
filed with the office of the  Secretary  of State of  Delaware  as  provided  in
Section 252(c) of the DGCL.

         "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "CRA" shall mean the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended.

         "DGCL" shall mean the Delaware General Corporation Law.

         "Disclosed"  shall  mean  disclosed  in  the  FirstSpartan   Disclosure
Memorandum,  referencing  the  Section  number  herein  pursuant  to which  such
disclosure is being made.

         "Environmental Claim" means any notice from any governmental  authority
or third party alleging  potential  liability  (including,  without  limitation,
potential  liability for  investigatory  costs,  cleanup or  remediation  costs,
governmental  response  costs,  natural


                                       2
<PAGE>


resources damages, property damages, personal injuries or penalties) arising out
of, based upon, or resulting from a violation of the  Environmental  Laws or the
presence or release into the environment of any Hazardous Substances.

         "Environmental Laws" means all applicable federal, state and local laws
and regulations, as amended, relating to pollution or protection of human health
or the environment  (including  ambient air, surface water,  ground water,  land
surface,  or  subsurface  strata) and which are  administered,  interpreted,  or
enforced  by the United  States  Environmental  Protection  Agency and state and
local agencies with  jurisdiction  over and including  common law in respect of,
pollution or protection of the environment, including without limitation CERCLA,
the Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.,
and other laws and regulations relating to emissions,  discharges,  releases, or
threatened  releases of any Hazardous  Substances,  or otherwise relating to the
manufacture,   processing,  distribution,  use,  treatment,  storage,  disposal,
transport, or handling of any Hazardous Substances.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.

         "Exchange  Act"  shall mean the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

         "FDIC" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

         "Federal  Reserve  Board"  shall  mean the  Board of  Governors  of the
Federal Reserve System.

         "Financial  Advisor"  shall mean  Trident  Securities,  a  division  of
McDonald Investments Inc.

         "Financial  Statements"  shall mean (a) with  respect to BB&T,  (i) the
consolidated  balance sheets (including related notes and schedules,  if any) of
BB&T as of December  31,  1999,  1998,  and 1997,  and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows (including
related notes and schedules,  if any) for each of the three years ended December
31, 1999, 1998, and 1997, as filed by BB&T in Securities  Documents and (ii) the
consolidated  balance sheets of BB&T (including related notes and schedules,  if
any) and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders'
equity and cash flows (including  related notes and schedules,  if any) included
in Securities  Documents filed by BB&T with respect to periods ended  subsequent
to December 31, 1999, and (b) with respect to FirstSpartan, (i) the consolidated
balance sheets (including  related notes and schedules,  if any) of FirstSpartan
as of June 30, 1999, 1998 and 1997, and the related  consolidated  statements of
income,  stockholders'  equity,  and cash  flows  (including  related  notes and
schedules,  if any) for each of the three  years ended June 30,  1999,  1998 and
1997 as filed by FirstSpartan in Securities  Documents and (ii) the consolidated
balance sheets of FirstSpartan  (including related notes and schedules,  if any)
and the related  consolidated  statements of income,


                                       3
<PAGE>


stockholders' equity, and cash flows (including related notes and schedules,  if
any)  included in Securities  Documents  filed by  FirstSpartan  with respect to
periods ended subsequent to June 30, 1999.

         "FirstSpartan  Common  Stock"  shall mean the  shares of voting  common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of FirstSpartan.

         "FirstSpartan  Preferred  Stock"  shall  mean the  shares of  nonvoting
preferred stock, $0.01 par value of FirstSpartan.

         "FirstSpartan Disclosure Memorandum" shall mean the written information
in  one or  more  documents,  each  of  which:  (a)  is  entitled  "FirstSpartan
Disclosure  Memorandum";  (ii) is dated on or before the date of this Agreement;
(iii) was  delivered  not later than the date of execution of this  Agreement by
FirstSpartan  to BB&T;  and (iv)  describes  in  reasonable  detail the  matters
contained  therein.  Each  disclosure  made therein shall be in existence on the
date of this  Agreement and shall  specifically  reference  each Section of this
Agreement  under  which such  disclosure  is made.  Information  disclosed  with
respect to one Section  shall not be deemed to be disclosed  for purposes of any
other Section not specifically referenced.  The inclusion of a given item in the
FirstSpartan Disclosure Memorandum shall not be deemed a conclusion or admission
that such item (or any other item) is material or has a Material Adverse Effect.

         "FirstSpartan Subsidiaries" shall mean First Federal Bank, FirstService
Corporation  and any and all other  Subsidiaries  of FirstSpartan as of the date
hereof and any corporation,  bank,  savings  association,  or other organization
acquired as a  Subsidiary  of  FirstSpartan  after the date hereof and held as a
Subsidiary by FirstSpartan at the Effective Time.

         "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting  principles  applicable
to  financial  institutions  and their  holding  companies,  as in effect at the
relevant date.

         "Hazardous  Substances"  means any substance or material (i) identified
in CERCLA;  (ii) determined to be toxic, a pollutant or a contaminant  under any
applicable federal, state or local statutes, law, ordinance, rule or regulation,
including but not limited to petroleum products; (iii) asbestos; (iv) radon; (v)
poly-chlorinated biphiphenyls and (vi) such other materials, substances or waste
which  are  otherwise  dangerous,  hazardous,  harmful  to human  health  or the
environment.

         "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.

         "Material  Adverse  Effect"  on BB&T or  FirstSpartan  shall mean (i) a
material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition,  results of operations or
business of BB&T and the BB&T Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or FirstSpartan and
the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) the material impairment
of the ability of BB&T or  FirstSpartan  to perform its  obligations  under this
Agreement or to consummate the


                                       4
<PAGE>


Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement;  provided that
"Material  Adverse  Effect"  shall not be deemed to  include  the  impact of (a)
actions  and  omissions  of BB&T or  FirstSpartan  taken with the prior  written
consent of the other in contemplation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby
and (b) the direct  effects of compliance  with this  Agreement on the operating
performance  of the  parties,  including  expenses  incurred  by the  parties in
consummating the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or relating to any
litigation  arising as a result of the  Merger;  provided  that with  respect to
FirstSpartan,  only if and to the  extent  any such  expenses  payable  to third
parties are Disclosed by FirstSpartan or incurred by FirstSpartan  following the
date hereof as permitted by this Agreement.

         "NCBCA"  shall mean the North  Carolina  Business  Corporation  Act, as
amended.

         "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

         "OTS" shall mean the Office of Thrift Supervision

         "Person" shall mean any individual,  corporation,  partnership, limited
liability   company,   joint   venture,   trust,   association,   unincorporated
organization, agency, other entity or group of entities, or governmental body.

         "Proxy   Statement/Prospectus"  shall  mean  the  proxy  statement  and
prospectus, together with any supplements thereto, to be sent to shareholders of
FirstSpartan  to solicit  their votes in  connection  with a proposal to approve
this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

         "Registration  Statement" shall mean the registration statement of BB&T
as declared  effective by the Commission under the Securities Act, including any
post-effective  amendments or  supplements  thereto as filed with the Commission
under the Securities  Act, with respect to the BB&T Common Stock to be issued in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         "Rights" shall mean warrants,  options, rights,  convertible securities
and other  arrangements  or  commitments  which  obligate  an entity to issue or
dispose of any of its capital  stock or other  ownership  interests  (other than
rights pursuant to the Rights Agreement  described under the definition of "BB&T
Common Stock"),  and stock  appreciation  rights,  performance units and similar
stock-based  rights  whether or not they  obligate  the issuer  thereof to issue
stock or other securities or to pay cash.

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         "Securities  Documents"  shall  mean  all  reports,  proxy  statements,
registration  statements  and all  similar  documents  filed,  or required to be
filed,  pursuant to the Securities  Laws,  including but not limited to periodic
and other reports filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act.


                                       5
<PAGE>


         "Securities  Laws" shall mean the Securities Act; the Exchange Act; the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended;  the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as amended;  and, in each case, the
rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

         "Stock Option" shall mean any option to acquire shares of  FirstSpartan
Common  Stock  granted  under the Stock  Option  Plan  that is  outstanding  and
unexercised on the date hereof.

         "Stock Option Plan" shall mean FirstSpartan's 1997 Stock Option Plan.

         "Subsidiaries"  shall  mean all those  corporations,  associations,  or
other business  entities of which the entity in question either owns or controls
50% or more of the outstanding  equity  securities either directly or through an
unbroken  chain of entities  as to each of which 50% or more of the  outstanding
equity  securities is owned directly or indirectly by its parent (in determining
whether  one  entity  owns or  controls  50% or more of the  outstanding  equity
securities  of another,  equity  securities  owned or  controlled in a fiduciary
capacity shall be deemed owned and controlled by the beneficial owner).

         "TILA" shall mean the Truth in Lending Act, as amended.

                  1.2   Terms Defined Elsewhere
                        -----------------------

                  The  capitalized  terms set forth  below  are  defined  in the
                  following sections:

                  Agreement                       Introduction
                  BB&T                            Introduction
                  BB&T Option Plan                Section 2.9(a)
                  Closing                         Section 2.4
                  Closing Date                    Section 2.4
                  Closing Value                   Section 2.7(c)
                  Constituent Corporations        Section 2.1
                  Effective Time                  Section 2.3
                  Employer Entity                 Section 5.12(a)
                  ESOP                            Section 3.14(b)(xviii)
                  Exchange Ratio                  Section 2.7(a)
                  FirstSpartan                    Introduction
                  Merger                          Recitals
                  Merger Consideration            Section 2.7(a)
                  PBGC                            Section 3.14(b)(iv)
                  Plan                            Section 3.14(b)(i)
                  Plan of Merger                  Recitals
                  Surviving Corporation           Section 2.1(a)
                  Transferred Employee            Section 5.12(a)


                                       6
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE II
                                   THE MERGER

2.1      Merger
         ------

         BB&T and FirstSpartan are constituent  corporations  (the  "Constituent
Corporations")  to the Merger as  contemplated by the NCBCA and the DGCL. At the
Effective Time:

         (a)  FirstSpartan  shall be  merged  into BB&T in  accordance  with the
applicable  provisions of the NCBCA and the DGCL,  with BB&T being the surviving
corporate  entity   (hereinafter   sometimes   referred  to  as  the  "Surviving
Corporation").

         (b) The separate  existence of FirstSpartan  shall cease and the Merger
shall in all respects have the effects provided in Section 2.5.

         (c) The Articles of  Incorporation  of BB&T at the Effective Time shall
be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

         (d) The Bylaws of BB&T at the Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation.

2.2      Filing; Plan of Merger
         ----------------------

         The Merger shall not become  effective  unless this  Agreement  and the
Plan of Merger are duly approved by shareholders  holding at least a majority of
the shares of FirstSpartan  Common Stock entitled to vote.  Upon  fulfillment or
waiver  of the  conditions  specified  in  Article  VI and  provided  that  this
Agreement  has not been  terminated  pursuant to Article  VII,  the  Constituent
Corporations will cause the Articles of Merger to be executed and filed with the
Secretary  of State of North  Carolina,  as provided in Section  55-11-05 of the
NCBCA, and the Certificate of Merger to be executed and filed with the Secretary
of State of  Delaware,  as provided in Section  252(c) of the DGCL.  The Plan of
Merger is  incorporated  herein by reference,  and adoption of this Agreement by
the respective Boards of Directors of the Constituent  Corporations and approval
by the shareholders of FirstSpartan  shall  constitute  adoption and approval of
the Plan of Merger.

2.3      Effective Time
         --------------

         The Merger  shall be  effective  at the day and hour  specified  in the
Articles of Merger and  Certificate  of Merger  filed as provided in Section 2.2
(herein sometimes referred to as the "Effective Time").



                                       7
<PAGE>


2.4      Closing
         -------

         The closing of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement (the
"Closing")  shall take place at the offices of Womble Carlyle  Sandridge & Rice,
PLLC,  Winston-Salem,  North  Carolina,  at 10:00 a.m. on the date designated by
BB&T which is within thirty days following the satisfaction of the conditions to
Closing  set forth in  Article  VI (other  than the  delivery  of  certificates,
opinions and other instruments and documents to be delivered at the Closing), or
such later date as the parties may otherwise agree (the "Closing Date").

2.5      Effect of Merger
         ----------------

         From  and  after  the  Effective   Time,  the  separate   existence  of
FirstSpartan  shall cease,  and the Surviving  Corporation  shall  thereupon and
thereafter, to the extent consistent with its Articles of Incorporation, possess
all of the rights, privileges, immunities and franchises, of a public as well as
a private  nature,  of each of the Constituent  Corporations;  and all property,
real,  personal and mixed, and all debts due on whatever account,  and all other
choses in action, and each and every other interest of or belonging to or due to
each of the Constituent Corporations shall be taken and deemed to be transferred
to and vested in the Surviving  Corporation without further act or deed; and the
title to any real  estate  or any  interest  therein  vested  in  either  of the
Constituent Corporations shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of
the Merger.  The Surviving  Corporation shall thenceforth be responsible for all
the   liabilities,   obligations  and  penalties  of  each  of  the  Constituent
Corporations;  and any claim, existing action or proceeding,  civil or criminal,
pending by or against either of the Constituent  Corporations  may be prosecuted
as if the  Merger  had not taken  place,  or the  Surviving  Corporation  may be
substituted  in its  place;  and any  judgment  rendered  against  either of the
Constituent  Corporations  may be enforced  against the  Surviving  Corporation.
Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens upon the property of either of the
Constituent Corporations shall be impaired by reason of the Merger.

2.6      Further Assurances
         ------------------

         If, at any time after the Effective  Time,  the  Surviving  Corporation
shall consider or be advised that any further  deeds,  assignments or assurances
in law or any other actions are necessary,  desirable or proper to vest, perfect
or confirm of record or otherwise,  in the Surviving  Corporation,  the title to
any  property  or  rights  of the  Constituent  Corporations  acquired  or to be
acquired  by  reason  of,  or  as a  result  of,  the  Merger,  the  Constituent
Corporations agree that such Constituent  Corporations and their proper officers
and  directors  shall  and will  execute  and  deliver  all such  proper  deeds,
assignments  and  assurances  in law and do all things  necessary,  desirable or
proper to vest,  perfect  or  confirm  title to such  property  or rights in the
Surviving  Corporation and otherwise to carry out the purpose of this Agreement,
and that the proper  officers and  directors of the  Surviving  Corporation  are
fully  authorized and directed in the name of the  Constituent  Corporations  or
otherwise to take any and all such actions.


                                       8
<PAGE>


2.7      Merger Consideration
         --------------------

         (a) As used  herein,  the term  "Merger  Consideration"  shall mean the
number  of  shares  of BB&T  Common  Stock to be  exchanged  for  each  share of
FirstSpartan  Common Stock issued and  outstanding  as of the Effective Time and
cash (without  interest) to be payable in exchange for any  fractional  share of
BB&T  Common  Stock that would  otherwise  be  distributable  to a  FirstSpartan
shareholder as provided in Section  2.7(b).  The number of shares of BB&T Common
Stock to be issued for each issued and outstanding share of FirstSpartan  Common
Stock (the "Exchange Ratio") shall be 1.0.

         (b) The amount of cash payable with respect to any fractional  share of
BB&T Common Stock shall be determined by multiplying the fractional part of such
share by the Closing Value. The "Closing Value" shall mean the 4:00 p.m. eastern
time  closing  price per share of BB&T  Common  Stock on the NYSE on the Closing
Date as reported on NYSEnet.com.

2.8      Conversion of Shares; Payment of Merger Consideration
         -----------------------------------------------------

         (a) At the  Effective  Time,  by virtue of the Merger and  without  any
action on the part of  FirstSpartan  or the  holders  of record of  FirstSpartan
Common Stock,  each share of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock issued and  outstanding
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall be  converted  into and  shall
represent the right to receive,  upon surrender of the certificate  representing
such share of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock (as provided in subsection (d) below),
the Merger Consideration.

         (b) Each share of BB&T Common Stock issued and outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall continue to be issued and outstanding.

         (c) Until surrendered,  each outstanding certificate which prior to the
Effective Time represented one or more shares of FirstSpartan Common Stock shall
be deemed upon the Effective  Time for all purposes to represent  only the right
to receive the Merger Consideration.  No interest will be paid or accrued on the
Merger  Consideration  upon the  surrender of the  certificate  or  certificates
representing   shares  of  FirstSpartan   Common  Stock.  With  respect  to  any
certificate for FirstSpartan Common Stock that has been lost or destroyed,  BB&T
shall pay the Merger Consideration attributable to such certificate upon receipt
of a surety bond or other  adequate  indemnity  as required in  accordance  with
BB&T's  standard  policy,  and  evidence  reasonably  satisfactory  to  BB&T  of
ownership  of  the  shares  represented  thereby.   After  the  Effective  Time,
FirstSpartan's  transfer  books shall be closed and no transfer of the shares of
FirstSpartan  Common Stock  outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be made on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation.

         (d) Promptly after the Effective Time, BB&T shall cause to be delivered
or mailed to each  FirstSpartan  shareholder a form of letter of transmittal and
instructions  for


                                       9
<PAGE>


use in effecting the surrender of the certificates  which,  immediately prior to
the Effective Time,  represented any shares of FirstSpartan  Common Stock.  Upon
proper surrender of such certificates or other evidence of ownership meeting the
requirements  of Section 2.8(c),  together with such letter of transmittal  duly
executed and completed in accordance  with the  instructions  thereto,  and such
other  documents as may be reasonably  requested,  BB&T shall promptly cause the
transfer to the persons entitled thereto of the Merger Consideration.

         (e)  The  Surviving  Corporation  shall  pay  any  dividends  or  other
distributions  with a record  date  prior to the  Effective  Time that have been
declared or made by  FirstSpartan  in respect of shares of  FirstSpartan  Common
Stock in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement and that remain unpaid at
the Effective Time,  subject to compliance by FirstSpartan  with Section 5.9(b).
To the extent  permitted by law,  former  shareholders of record of FirstSpartan
shall be  entitled  to vote  after the  Effective  Time at any  meeting  of BB&T
shareholders  the number of whole  shares of BB&T Common  Stock into which their
respective  shares of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock are  converted,  regardless of
whether such holders have exchanged their certificates representing FirstSpartan
Common Stock for certificates  representing BB&T Common Stock in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement.  Whenever a dividend or other  distribution is
declared  by BB&T on the BB&T Common  Stock,  the record date for which is at or
after the Effective  Time,  the  declaration  shall  include  dividends or other
distributions  on all shares of BB&T  Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant  to this
Agreement,  but no  dividend  or other  distribution  payable to the  holders of
record of BB&T Common  Stock as of any time  subsequent  to the  Effective  Time
shall be delivered to the holder of any  certificate  representing  FirstSpartan
Common  Stock until such holder  surrenders  such  certificate  for  exchange as
provided in this Section 2.8. Upon surrender of such certificate,  both the BB&T
Common Stock certificate and any undelivered dividends and cash payments payable
hereunder  (without  interest)  shall be delivered  and paid with respect to the
shares of FirstSpartan Common Stock represented by such certificate.

2.9      Conversion of Stock Options
         ---------------------------

         (a) At the  Effective  Time,  each Stock Option then  outstanding  (and
which by its terms does not lapse on or before the Effective  Time),  whether or
not then exercisable,  shall be converted into and become rights with respect to
BB&T Common Stock,  and BB&T shall assume each Stock Option in  accordance  with
the terms of the Stock  Option  Plan,  except that from and after the  Effective
Time  (i)  BB&T  and  its  Compensation   Committee  shall  be  substituted  for
FirstSpartan  and its Compensation  Committee with respect to administering  the
Stock  Option  Plan,  (ii) each Stock  Option  assumed by BB&T may be  exercised
solely  for  shares of BB&T  Common  Stock,  (iii) the  number of shares of BB&T
Common  Stock  subject  to each such Stock  Option  shall be the number of whole
shares of BB&T (omitting any  fractional  share)  determined by multiplying  the
number of shares of  FirstSpartan  Common  Stock  subject to such  Stock  Option
immediately  prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, and (iv) the per
share  exercise price under each such Stock Option shall be adjusted by dividing
the per share  exercise price under


                                       10
<PAGE>


each such Stock  Option by the  Exchange  Ratio and  rounding  up to the nearest
cent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  BB&T may at its election substitute as of
the  Effective  Time  options  under the BB&T  Corporation  1995  Omnibus  Stock
Incentive  Plan or any other duly adopted  comparable  plan (in either case, the
"BB&T  Option  Plan")  for all or a part of the Stock  Options,  subject  to the
following conditions: (A) the requirements of (iii) and (iv) above shall be met;
(B) such substitution shall not constitute a modification,  extension or renewal
of any of the Stock Options;  and (C) the substituted  options shall continue in
effect  on the same  terms  and  conditions  as  provided  in the  Stock  Option
Agreements and the Stock Option Plan governing each Stock Option.  Each grant of
a converted or substitute  option to any individual who subsequent to the Merger
will be a director or officer of BB&T as construed  under  Commission Rule 16b-3
shall,  as a  condition  to such  conversion  or  substitution,  be  approved in
accordance  with the  provisions  of Rule 16b-3.  Each Stock  Option which is an
incentive stock option shall be adjusted as required by Section 424 of the Code,
and the Regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  so as to continue as an incentive
stock option under  Section  424(a) of the Code,  and so as not to  constitute a
modification,  extension, or renewal of the option within the meaning of Section
424(h) of the Code. BB&T and  FirstSpartan  agree to take all necessary steps to
effectuate  the foregoing  provisions of this Section 2.9. BB&T has reserved and
shall continue to reserve adequate shares of BB&T Common Stock for delivery upon
exercise of any converted or substitute  options.  As soon as practicable  after
the  Effective  Time,  if it  has  not  already  done  so,  and  to  the  extent
FirstSpartan  shall have a registration  statement in effect or an obligation to
file a registration statement,  BB&T shall file a registration statement on Form
S-3 or Form  S-8,  as the case  may be (or any  successor  or other  appropriate
forms),  with respect to the shares of BB&T Common Stock subject to converted or
substitute  options  and  shall  use its  reasonable  efforts  to  maintain  the
effectiveness of such registration statement (and maintain the current status of
the prospectus or prospectuses  contained therein) for so long as such converted
or substitute options remain outstanding.  With respect to those individuals, if
any, who  subsequent to the Merger may be subject to the reporting  requirements
under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, BB&T shall  administer the Stock Option
Plan  assumed  pursuant  to this  Section  2.9  (or the  BB&T  Option  Plan,  if
applicable)  in a manner that  complies  with Rule 16b-3  promulgated  under the
Exchange  Act to the extent  necessary  to  preserve  for such  individuals  the
benefits of Rule 16b-3 to the extent such benefits were  available to them prior
to the Effective Time. FirstSpartan hereby represents that the Stock Option Plan
in its current form complies with Rule 16b-3 to the extent,  if any, required as
of the date hereof.

         (b) As soon as  practicable  following the Effective  Time,  BB&T shall
deliver to the participants  receiving  converted  options under the BB&T Option
Plan an appropriate  notice  setting forth such  participant's  rights  pursuant
thereto.

         (c) Eligibility to receive stock option grants  following the Effective
Time with respect to BB&T Common Stock shall be determined by BB&T in accordance
with its plans and procedures as in effect from time to time, and subject to any
contractual obligations.


                                       11
<PAGE>


2.10     Merger of Subsidiaries
         ----------------------

         In the event  that BB&T  shall  request,  FirstSpartan  shall take such
actions, and shall cause the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries to take such actions, as
may be required in order to effect,  at the Effective Time, the merger of one or
more of the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  with and into, in each case, one of the
BB&T Subsidiaries.

2.11     Anti-Dilution
         -------------

         In the event BB&T  changes  the number of shares of BB&T  Common  Stock
issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time as a result of a stock split,
stock  dividend or other similar  recapitalization,  and the record date thereof
(in the case of a stock  dividend) or the effective date thereof (in the case of
a stock  split  or  similar  recapitalization  for  which a  record  date is not
established)  shall be prior to the Effective  Time, the Exchange Ratio shall be
proportionately adjusted.

                                   ARTICLE III
                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRSTSPARTAN

         Except as Disclosed,  FirstSpartan  represents  and warrants to BB&T as
follows (the  representations  and warranties  herein of  FirstSpartan  are made
subject to the  applicable  standard  set forth in Section  6.3(a),  and no such
representation  or  warranty  shall be  deemed  to be  inaccurate  unless  it is
inaccurate to the extent that BB&T would be entitled to refuse to consummate the
Merger pursuant to Section 7.1(b)(ii) on account of such inaccuracy):

3.1      Capital Structure
         -----------------

         The  authorized  capital stock of  FirstSpartan  consists of 12,000,000
shares of FirstSpartan Common Stock and 250,000 shares of FirstSpartan Preferred
Stock. As of the date of this Agreement,  FirstSpartan  has 3,720,270  shares of
FirstSpartan  Common Stock issued and  outstanding and no shares of FirstSpartan
Preferred  Stock issued and  outstanding.  No other  classes of capital stock of
FirstSpartan,  common or preferred, are authorized,  issued or outstanding.  All
outstanding  shares of FirstSpartan  capital stock have been duly authorized and
are validly  issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable.  No shares of capital stock
have been reserved for any purpose, except for (i) shares of FirstSpartan Common
Stock  reserved for  issuance in  connection  with the Stock  Option Plan,  (ii)
740,300 shares of FirstSpartan  Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection
with the BB&T Option  Agreement and (iii) 250,000 shares of FirstSpartan  Common
Stock  reserved  for  issuance  in  connection  with the  FirstSpartan  Dividend
Reinvestment Plan. FirstSpartan has granted options to acquire 421,082 shares of
FirstSpartan  Common  Stock under the Stock Option Plan,  which  options  remain
outstanding  as of the date  hereof.  Except as set forth in this  Section  3.1,
there are no Rights  authorized,  issued or


                                       12
<PAGE>


outstanding  with respect to, nor are there any  agreements,  understandings  or
commitments  relating to the right of any  FirstSpartan  shareholder  to own, to
vote  or  to  dispose  of,  the  capital  stock  of  FirstSpartan.   Holders  of
FirstSpartan Common Stock do not have preemptive rights.

3.2      Organization, Standing and Authority
         ------------------------------------

         FirstSpartan is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now  conducted  and to own,  lease and
operate its properties and assets.  FirstSpartan  is qualified to do business in
the State of South  Carolina  and is not required to be qualified to do business
in any other state of the United States or foreign jurisdiction. FirstSpartan is
registered  as a savings and loan  holding  company  under the Home Owners' Loan
Act.

3.3      Ownership of Subsidiaries
         -------------------------

         Section 3.3 of the FirstSpartan  Disclosure Memorandum lists all of the
FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  and,  with  respect  to each,  its  jurisdiction  of
organization,  jurisdictions  in which it is qualified or otherwise  licensed to
conduct  business,  the  number  of  shares  or  ownership  interests  owned  by
FirstSpartan  (directly or  indirectly),  the percentage  ownership  interest so
owned by FirstSpartan  and its business  activities.  The outstanding  shares of
capital stock or other equity  interests of the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  are
validly  issued  and  outstanding,  fully paid and  nonassessable,  and all such
shares are directly or indirectly  owned by  FirstSpartan  free and clear of all
liens, claims and encumbrances or preemptive rights of any person. No Rights are
authorized,  issued or  outstanding  with respect to the capital  stock or other
equity interests of the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries,  and there are no agreements,
understandings  or commitments  relating to the right of FirstSpartan to own, to
vote or to dispose  of said  interests.  None of the shares of capital  stock or
other equity  interests  of the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  have been issued in
violation  of  the  preemptive  rights  of  any  person.   Section  3.3  of  the
FirstSpartan  Disclosure  Memorandum  also lists all shares of capital  stock or
other securities or ownership interests of any corporation,  partnership,  joint
venture,  or other  organization  (other than the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries and
stock or other  securities  held in a  fiduciary  capacity)  owned  directly  or
indirectly by FirstSpartan.

3.4      Organization, Standing and Authority of the Subsidiaries
         --------------------------------------------------------

         Each  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  that is a depository  institution  is a
federally  chartered savings  association with its deposits insured by the FDIC.
Each of the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its  jurisdiction of  organization.  Each of the  FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries  has full  power  and  authority  to carry on its  business  as now
conducted,  and is duly  qualified to do business  and in good  standing in each
jurisdiction  Disclosed  with  respect  to it.  No  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  is
required to be qualified to do business in any other state of the United  States


                                       13
<PAGE>


or foreign  jurisdiction,  or is engaged in any type of activities that have not
been Disclosed.

3.5      Authorized and Effective Agreement
         ----------------------------------

         (a)  FirstSpartan  has all requisite  corporate  power and authority to
enter into and (subject to receipt of all necessary  governmental  approvals and
the receipt of approval of the  FirstSpartan  shareholders of this Agreement and
the Plan of Merger)  perform all of its obligations  under this  Agreement,  the
Plan of Merger and the BB&T Option Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the BB&T Option Agreement, and consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby,  have been duly and validly
authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action,  except,  in the  case of this
Agreement and the Plan of Merger, the approval of the FirstSpartan  shareholders
pursuant to and to the extent required by applicable  law. This  Agreement,  the
Plan of Merger and the BB&T Option Agreement constitute legal, valid and binding
obligations of  FirstSpartan,  and each is enforceable  against  FirstSpartan in
accordance  with  its  terms,  in each  such  case  subject  to (i)  bankruptcy,
fraudulent transfer, insolvency,  moratorium,  reorganization,  conservatorship,
receivership,  or other similar laws from time to time in effect  relating to or
affecting  the   enforcement   of  the  rights  of  creditors  of   FDIC-insured
institutions or the enforcement of creditors' rights generally; and (ii) general
principles of equity (whether applied in a court of law or in equity).

         (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Plan of
Merger,  or the BB&T Option  Agreement,  nor  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby or thereby,  nor compliance by FirstSpartan with any of the
provisions  hereof or thereof,  shall (i) conflict with or result in a breach of
any provision of the Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of FirstSpartan or
the  comparable  governing  documents  of  any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,   (ii)
constitute  or result in a breach of any term,  condition  or  provision  of, or
constitute  a  default  under,  or  give  rise  to  any  right  of  termination,
cancellation or  acceleration  with respect to, or result in the creation of any
lien,  charge or encumbrance  upon any property or asset of  FirstSpartan or any
FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  pursuant  to,  any note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture,
license, permit, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation, or (iii)
subject to receipt of all required  governmental  approvals,  violate any order,
writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to FirstSpartan
or any FirstSpartan Subsidiary.

         (c) Other than  consents or  approvals  required  from,  or notices to,
regulatory authorities as provided in Section 5.4(b), no notice to, filing with,
or consent of, any public body or authority is necessary for the consummation by
FirstSpartan  of the  Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated  in this
Agreement.


                                       14
<PAGE>


3.6      Securities Filings; Financial Statements; Statements True
         ---------------------------------------------------------

         (a) FirstSpartan has timely filed all Securities  Documents required by
the Securities Laws to be filed since June 30, 1997.  FirstSpartan has Disclosed
or made available to BB&T a true and complete copy of each  Securities  Document
filed by FirstSpartan  with the Commission  after June 30, 1997 and prior to the
date hereof,  which are all of the Securities  Documents that  FirstSpartan  was
required to file during such  period.  As of their  respective  dates of filing,
such  Securities  Documents  complied with the Securities Laws as then in effect
and did not contain any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading.

         (b) The Financial  Statements of  FirstSpartan  fairly  present or will
fairly  present,  as the case may be, the  consolidated  financial  position  of
FirstSpartan and the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the
consolidated   statements   of  income  and   retained   earnings,   changes  in
shareholders'  equity and  statements  of cash flows for the periods  then ended
(subject,  in the case of unaudited interim statements,  to the absence of notes
and to normal  year-end  audit  adjustments  that are not  material in amount or
effect) in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

         (c) No statement, certificate, instrument or other writing furnished or
to be furnished hereunder by FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan Subsidiary to BB&T
contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements  therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3.7      Minute Books
         ------------

         The  minute  books  of  FirstSpartan   and  each  of  the  FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries contain or will contain at Closing accurate records of all meetings
and other  corporate  actions  of their  respective  shareholders  and Boards of
Directors (including  committees of the Board of Directors),  and the signatures
contained  therein are the true signatures of the persons whose  signatures they
purport to be.

3.8      Adverse Change
         --------------

         Since March 31, 2000,  FirstSpartan and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries
have not incurred any liability, whether accrued, absolute or contingent, except
as disclosed in the most recent FirstSpartan  Financial  Statements,  or entered
into any transactions  with Affiliates,  in each case other than in the ordinary
course of  business  consistent  with  past  practices,  nor has there  been any
adverse  change or any event that has  resulted in, or is  reasonably  likely to
result in, an adverse change in the business,  financial condition or results of
operations of FirstSpartan or any of the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries.


                                       15
<PAGE>


3.9      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
         ----------------------------------

         All liabilities (including contingent  liabilities) of FirstSpartan and
the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  are  disclosed  in the  most  recent  Financial
Statements  of  FirstSpartan  or are  normally  recurring  business  obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of its business since the date of FirstSpartan's
most recent Financial Statements.

3.10     Properties
         ----------

         (a)  FirstSpartan  and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  have  good  and
marketable title, free and clear of all liens,  encumbrances,  charges, defaults
or equitable interests,  to all of the properties and assets, real and personal,
tangible and intangible, reflected on the consolidated balance sheet included in
the Financial  Statements of  FirstSpartan as of June 30, 1999 or acquired after
such date, except for (i) liens for current taxes not yet due and payable,  (ii)
pledges to secure  deposits and other liens  incurred in the ordinary  course of
banking business, (iii) such imperfections of title, easements and encumbrances,
if any, as are not material in character, amount or extent, or (iv) dispositions
and encumbrances for adequate consideration in the ordinary course of business.

         (b) All leases  and  licenses  pursuant  to which  FirstSpartan  or any
FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  as lessee or licensee,  leases or licenses  rights to
real or personal  property are valid and  enforceable  in accordance  with their
respective terms.

3.11     Environmental Matters
         ---------------------

         (a) FirstSpartan and the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries are and at all times
have been in compliance with all Environmental  Laws.  Neither  FirstSpartan nor
any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has  received  any  communication  alleging  that
FirstSpartan or the FirstSpartan Subsidiary is not in such compliance, and there
are  no  present   circumstances  that  would  prevent  or  interfere  with  the
continuation of such compliance.

         (b) There are no pending Environmental Claims, neither FirstSpartan nor
any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary has received  notice of any pending  Environmental
Claims,  and there are no conditions or facts existing which might reasonably be
expected  to result  in legal,  administrative,  arbitral  or other  proceedings
asserting Environmental Claims or other claims, causes of action or governmental
investigations  of any nature  seeking to  impose,  or that could  result in the
imposition  of, any  liability  arising  under any  Environmental  Laws upon (i)
FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  (ii) any person or entity whose
liability  for  any  Environmental   Claim   FirstSpartan  or  any  FirstSpartan
Subsidiary  has or may have  retained or  assumed,  either  contractually  or by
operation  of law,  (iii)  any real or  personal  property  owned or  leased  by
FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  or any real or personal  property
which  FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has or is  judged to have
managed or supervised or  participated in the management of, or (iv) any real or
personal property in which  FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary holds a
security  interest  securing a loan recorded on the books


                                       16
<PAGE>


of FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary.  Neither  FirstSpartan nor any
FirstSpartan Subsidiary is subject to any agreement,  order, judgment, decree or
memorandum by or with any court,  governmental  authority,  regulatory agency or
third party imposing any liability under any Environmental Laws.

         (c) FirstSpartan  and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries are in compliance
with all  recommendations  contained in any environmental  audits,  analyses and
surveys  received by  FirstSpartan  relating to all real and  personal  property
owned or leased by FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary and all real and
personal property of which FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan Subsidiary has or is
judged to have managed or supervised or participated in the management of.

         (d) There are no past or present  actions,  activities,  circumstances,
conditions,  events or  incidents  that could  reasonably  form the basis of any
Environmental Claim, or other claim or action or governmental investigation that
could result in the imposition of any liability  arising under any Environmental
Laws, against FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary or against any person
or entity  whose  liability  for any  Environmental  Claim  FirstSpartan  or any
FirstSpartan   Subsidiary   has  or  may  have   retained  or  assumed,   either
contractually or by operation of law.

3.12     Loans; Allowance for Loan Losses
         --------------------------------

         (a) All of the loans on the books of FirstSpartan  and the FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries  are valid and  properly  documented  and were made in the ordinary
course of  business,  and the security  therefor,  if any, is valid and properly
perfected.  Neither the terms of such loans, nor any of the loan  documentation,
nor the  manner in which such loans have been  administered  and  serviced,  nor
FirstSpartan's   procedures   and  practices  of  approving  or  rejecting  loan
applications,  violates any federal,  state or local law,  rule,  regulation  or
ordinance  applicable  thereto,   including,   without  limitation,   the  TILA,
Regulations  O and Z of the Federal  Reserve  Board,  the CRA,  the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, as amended,  and state laws, rules and regulations  relating to
consumer protection, installment sales and usury.

         (b) The  allowances  for  loan  losses  reflected  on the  consolidated
balance sheets included in the Financial  Statements of FirstSpartan are, in the
reasonable,  good faith judgment of  FirstSpartan's  management,  adequate as of
their respective dates under the requirements of GAAP and applicable  regulatory
requirements and guidelines.

3.13     Tax Matters
         -----------

         (a) FirstSpartan  and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries and each of their
predecessors  have timely  filed (or requests  for  extensions  have been timely
filed and any such  extensions  either are pending or have been granted and have
not expired)  all federal,  state and local (and,  if  applicable,  foreign) tax
returns  required  by  applicable  law to be filed by them  (including,  without
limitation,  estimated tax returns, income tax returns,


                                       17
<PAGE>


information  returns, and withholding and employment tax returns) and have paid,
or where  payment is not  required  to have been made,  have set up an  adequate
reserve or accrual for the payment of, all taxes  required to be paid in respect
of the periods  covered by such returns and, as of the Effective Time, will have
paid,  or where  payment is not required to have been made,  will have set up an
adequate  reserve or accrual for the  payment  of, all taxes for any  subsequent
periods ending on or prior to the Effective Time.  Neither  FirstSpartan nor any
FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has or will have any  liability  for any such taxes in
excess  of  the  amounts  so  paid  or  reserves  or  accruals  so  established.
FirstSpartan  and the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  have paid, or where payment is
not  required to have been made have set up an  adequate  reserve or accrual for
payment  of, all taxes  required  to be paid or  accrued  for the  preceding  or
current fiscal year for which a return is not yet due.

         (b) All  federal,  state and local (and,  if  applicable,  foreign) tax
returns filed by FirstSpartan and the FirstSpartan Subsidiaries are complete and
accurate.  Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan Subsidiary is delinquent in
the payment of any tax,  assessment or governmental  charge. No deficiencies for
any tax,  assessment  or  governmental  charge have been  proposed,  asserted or
assessed  (tentatively or otherwise)  against  FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan
Subsidiary  which  have not been  settled  and  paid.  There  are  currently  no
agreements in effect with respect to FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan Subsidiary
to extend the period of limitations for the assessment or collection of any tax.
No audit  examination  or deficiency or refund  litigation  with respect to such
returns is pending.

         (c) Deferred taxes with respect to  FirstSpartan  and the  FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries  have  been  provided  for in  accordance  with  GAAP  consistently
applied.

         (d) Neither FirstSpartan nor any of the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries is a
party to any tax allocation or sharing agreement (other than among  FirstSpartan
and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries) or has been a member of an affiliated group
filing a  consolidated  federal income tax return (other than a group the common
parent  of which  was  FirstSpartan  or a  FirstSpartan  subsidiary)  or has any
liability for taxes of any person (other than  FirstSpartan and the FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries)  under  Treasury  Regulation  Section  1.1502-6  (or  any  similar
provision of state,  local or foreign  law) as a  transferee  or successor or by
contract or otherwise.

         (e)  Each of  FirstSpartan  and  the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  is in
compliance   with,  and  its  records  contain  all  information  and  documents
(including  properly  completed  IRS Forms W-9)  necessary to comply  with,  all
applicable information reporting and tax withholding requirements under federal,
state,  and local tax laws,  and such  records  identify  with  specificity  all
accounts subject to backup withholding under Section 3406 of the Code.

         (f) Neither  FirstSpartan nor any of the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries has
made any  payments,  is  obligated  to make any  payments,  or is a party to any
contract that could


                                       18
<PAGE>


obligate it to make any payments that would be  disallowed as a deduction  under
Section 280G or 162(m) of the Code.

3.14     Employees; Compensation; Benefit Plans
         --------------------------------------

         (a)  Compensation.  FirstSpartan  has  Disclosed a complete and correct
list of the  name,  age,  position,  rate  of  compensation  and  any  incentive
compensation  arrangements,  bonuses or commissions or fringe or other benefits,
whether payable in cash or in kind, of each director,  shareholder,  independent
contractor,  consultant  and  agent  of  FirstSpartan  and of each  FirstSpartan
Subsidiary  and each other  person (in each case other than as an  employee)  to
whom  FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary pays or provides,  or has an
obligation,  agreement  (written or unwritten),  policy or practice of paying or
providing,  retirement,  health,  welfare  or  other  benefits  of any  kind  or
description whatsoever.

         (b)      Employee Benefit Plans.
                  ----------------------

                  (i)  FirstSpartan  has Disclosed an accurate and complete list
         of all Plans, as defined below, contributed to, maintained or sponsored
         by FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  to which FirstSpartan
         or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  is obligated to contribute or has any
         liability or potential liability, whether direct or indirect, including
         all Plans contributed to, maintained or sponsored by each member of the
         controlled  group of  corporations,  within  the  meaning  of  Sections
         414(b), 414(c), 414(m) and 414(o) of the Code, of which FirstSpartan or
         any  FirstSpartan   Subsidiary  is  a  member.  For  purposes  of  this
         Agreement, the term "Plan" shall mean a plan, arrangement, agreement or
         program   described  in  the  foregoing   provisions  of  this  Section
         3.14(b)(i)  that  is:  (A)  a  profit-sharing,  deferred  compensation,
         employee stock ownership, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, pension,
         retainer, consulting, retirement, severance, welfare or incentive plan,
         agreement  or  arrangement,  whether or not  funded and  whether or not
         terminated,  (B) an  employment  agreement,  (C) a personnel  policy or
         fringe  benefit  plan,  policy,  program or  arrangement  providing for
         benefits  or  perquisites  to  current or former  employees,  officers,
         directors  or  agents,  whether  or  not  funded,  and  whether  or not
         terminated,   including,  without  limitation,   benefits  relating  to
         automobiles,  clubs, vacation, child care, parenting,  sabbatical, sick
         leave, severance, medical, dental, hospitalization,  life insurance and
         other types of  insurance,  or (D) any other  employee  benefit plan as
         defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA,  whether or not funded and whether or
         not terminated.

                  (ii)  Neither  FirstSpartan  nor any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary
         contributes to, has an obligation to contribute to or otherwise has any
         liability or potential  liability with respect to (A) any multiemployer
         plan as  defined in  Section  3(37) of ERISA,  (B) any plan of the type
         described  in Sections  4063 and 4064 of ERISA or in Section 413 of the
         Code (and regulations  promulgated  thereunder),  or (C) any plan which
         provides  health,  life  insurance,  accident  or other  "welfare-type"


                                       19
<PAGE>


         benefits  to  current  or  future  retirees  or  former   employees  or
         directors,  their spouses or dependents,  other than in accordance with
         Section 4980B of the Code or  applicable  state  continuation  coverage
         law.

                  (iii)  None  of  the  Plans  obligates   FirstSpartan  or  any
         FirstSpartan  Subsidiary to pay separation,  severance,  termination or
         similar-type   benefits   solely  as  a  result   of  any   transaction
         contemplated  by this  Agreement  or solely as a result of a "change in
         control,"  as  such  term  is used in  Section  280G of the  Code  (and
         regulations promulgated thereunder).

                  (iv) Each Plan, and all related  trusts,  insurance  contracts
         and funds, has been  maintained,  funded and administered in compliance
         in all respects  with its own terms and in  compliance  in all respects
         with all applicable laws and regulations,  including but not limited to
         ERISA and the Code. No actions,  suits,  claims,  complaints,  charges,
         proceedings, hearings, examinations,  investigations, audits or demands
         with respect to the Plans (other than routine  claims for benefits) are
         pending or threatened,  and there are no facts which could give rise to
         or be expected to give rise to any actions, suits, claims,  complaints,
         charges, proceedings, hearings, examinations, investigations, audits or
         demands. No Plan that is subject to the funding requirements of Section
         412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA has incurred  any  "accumulated
         funding  deficiency"  as such term is defined in such Sections of ERISA
         and the Code, whether or not waived, and each Plan has always fully met
         the funding  standards  required under Title I of ERISA and Section 412
         of the Code. No liability to the Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation
         ("PBGC")  (except  for  routine  payment  of  premiums)  has been or is
         expected  to be  incurred  with  respect to any Plan that is subject to
         Title IV of ERISA,  no  reportable  event (as such term is  defined  in
         Section  4043 of ERISA)  for which the PBGC has not  waived  notice has
         occurred with respect to any such Plan,  and the PBGC has not commenced
         or  threatened  the  termination  of any  Plan.  None of the  assets of
         FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is the subject of any lien
         arising  under Section  302(f) of ERISA or Section  412(n) of the Code,
         neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary has been required
         to post any  security  pursuant  to  Section  307 of  ERISA or  Section
         401(a)(29) of the Code,  and there are no facts which could be expected
         to give rise to such lien or such  posting  of  security.  No event has
         occurred and no condition exists that would subject FirstSpartan or any
         FirstSpartan  Subsidiary to any tax under  Sections 4971,  4972,  4976,
         4977 or 4979 of the Code or to a fine or penalty under  Section  502(c)
         of ERISA.

                  (v) Each Plan that is intended to be qualified  under  Section
         401(a) of the Code or, in the case of an employee stock ownership plan,
         qualifies as such under Section  4975(c)(7) of the Code, and each trust
         (if any) forming a part thereof, has received a favorable determination
         letter from the IRS as to the qualification under the Code of such Plan
         and the tax  exempt  status of such  related  trust,  and  nothing  has
         occurred  since  the  date  of such  determination  letter


                                       20
<PAGE>


         that could adversely  affect the  qualification of such Plan or the tax
         exempt status of such related trust.

                  (vi) No  underfunded  "defined  benefit plan" (as such term is
         defined  in  Section  3(35) of ERISA)  has been,  during the five years
         preceding the Closing Date,  transferred out of the controlled group of
         corporations  (within the meaning of Sections 414(b),  (c), (m) and (o)
         of the Code) of which FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is a
         member or was a member during such five-year period.

                  (vii) As of June 30, 1999, the fair market value of the assets
         of each Plan that is a tax  qualified  defined  benefit plan equaled or
         exceeded,  and as of the Closing Date will equal or exceed, the present
         value of all vested and nonvested liabilities  thereunder determined in
         accordance with reasonable  actuarial methods,  factors and assumptions
         applicable to a defined benefit plan on an ongoing basis.  With respect
         to each Plan that is subject to the funding requirements of Section 412
         of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA,  all required  contributions  for
         all  periods  ending  prior  to or as of the  Closing  Date  (including
         periods from the first day of the then-current plan year to the Closing
         Date and including all quarterly  contributions  required in accordance
         with Section 412(m) of the Code) shall have been made.  With respect to
         each  other  Plan,  all  required  payments,  premiums,  contributions,
         reimbursements or accruals for all periods ending prior to or as of the
         Closing  Date  shall  have been  made.  No tax  qualified  Plan has any
         unfunded liabilities.

                  (viii)  No  prohibited   transaction  (which  shall  mean  any
         transaction  prohibited  by Section  406 of ERISA and not exempt  under
         Section 408 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, whether by statutory,
         class or  individual  exemption)  has occurred with respect to any Plan
         which would result in the  imposition,  directly or indirectly,  of any
         excise tax,  penalty or other  liability under Section 4975 of the Code
         or Section  409 or 502(i) of ERISA.  Neither  FirstSpartan  nor, to the
         best  knowledge  of  FirstSpartan,  any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  any
         trustee,  administrator  or other  fiduciary  of any  Plan  (including,
         without  limitation,  The First Federal Bank Employee  Stock  Ownership
         Plan (the "ESOP")), or any agent of any of the foregoing has engaged in
         any  transaction  or acted or  failed  to act in a  manner  that  could
         subject  FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary to any liability
         for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA or any other applicable law.

                  (ix) With  respect to each Plan,  all reports and  information
         required to be filed with any government  agency or distributed to Plan
         participants and their beneficiaries have been duly and timely filed or
         distributed.

                  (x) FirstSpartan and each FirstSpartan Subsidiary has been and
         is  presently in  compliance  with all of the  requirements  of Section
         4980B of the Code.


                                       21
<PAGE>


                  (xi) Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary has
         a  liability  as of June 30,  1999 under any Plan  that,  to the extent
         disclosure is required under GAAP, is not reflected on the consolidated
         balance sheet included in the Financial  Statements of  FirstSpartan as
         of June 30, 1999 or otherwise Disclosed.

                  (xii)  Neither the  consideration  nor  implementation  of the
         transactions  contemplated  under  this  Agreement  will  increase  (A)
         FirstSpartan's  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary's  obligation  to make
         contributions  or any other payments to fund benefits accrued under the
         Plans as of the date of this  Agreement or (B) the benefits  accrued or
         payable with respect to any participant  under the Plans (except to the
         extent  benefits  may  be  deemed  increased  by  accelerated  vesting,
         accelerated  allocation of previously unallocated Plan assets or by the
         conversion of all stock options in accordance with Section 2.9).

                  (xiii) With respect to each Plan,  FirstSpartan  has Disclosed
         or made available to BB&T, true, complete and correct copies of (A) all
         documents  pursuant  to which  the  Plans are  maintained,  funded  and
         administered,  including summary plan descriptions,  (B) the three most
         recent  annual  reports  (Form  5500  series)  filed with the IRS (with
         attachments),  (C) the three most recent actuarial reports, if any, (D)
         the  three  most  recent  financial  statements,  (E) all  governmental
         filings for the last three years, including, without limitation, excise
         tax returns and reportable  events  filings,  and (F) all  governmental
         rulings,  determinations,   and  opinions  (and  pending  requests  for
         governmental  rulings,  determinations,  and opinions)  during the past
         three years.

                  (xiv)  Each of the Plans as applied  to  FirstSpartan  and any
         FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  may be amended or  terminated  at any time by
         action of  FirstSpartan's  Board of Directors,  or such  FirstSpartan's
         Subsidiary's Board of Directors,  as the case may be, or a committee of
         such  Board of  Directors  or duly  authorized  officer,  in each  case
         subject to the terms of the Plan and compliance  with  applicable  laws
         and regulations (and limited,  in the case of  multiemployer  plans, to
         termination  of the  participation  of  FirstSpartan  or a FirstSpartan
         Subsidiary thereunder).

                  (xv) The ESOP was adopted in July 1997. FirstSpartan will take
         all  steps  necessary  to  cause  any loan (as  described  in  Treasury
         Regulation  ss.54.4975-7(b)(1)(ii)) made to the ESOP to be satisfied in
         full as soon as practicable following the Closing Date.

3.15     Certain Contracts
         -----------------

         (a) Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan Subsidiary is a party to,
is  bound  or  affected  by,  or  receives  benefits  under  (i) any  agreement,
arrangement  or  commitment,  written or oral, the default of which would have a
Material Adverse Effect,  whether or not made in the ordinary course of business
(other than loans or loan commitments made or


                                       22
<PAGE>


certificates  or  deposits  received  in the  ordinary  course  of  the  banking
business),  or any agreement  restricting  its business  activities,  including,
without  limitation,  agreements or memoranda of  understanding  with regulatory
authorities, (ii) any agreement, indenture or other instrument, written or oral,
relating  to  the  borrowing  of  money  by  FirstSpartan  or  any  FirstSpartan
Subsidiary or the guarantee by  FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary of
any such obligation,  which cannot be terminated  within less than 30 days after
the Closing Date by FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan Subsidiary (without payment
of any penalty or cost, except with respect to Federal Home Loan Bank or Federal
Reserve Bank advances), (iii) any agreement,  arrangement or commitment, written
or oral, relating to the employment of a consultant,  independent  contractor or
agent,  or the  employment,  election or  retention  in office of any present or
former director or officer,  which cannot be terminated within less than 30 days
after the Closing Date by FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  (without
payment of any penalty or cost), or that provides benefits which are contingent,
or the  application  of which is altered,  upon the  occurrence of a transaction
involving  FirstSpartan of the nature contemplated by this Agreement or the BB&T
Option Agreement,  or (iv) any agreement or plan, written or oral, including any
stock option plans,  stock  appreciation  rights plan,  restricted stock plan or
stock  purchase  plan,  any of the benefits of which will be  increased,  or the
vesting of the benefits of which will be  accelerated,  by the occurrence of any
of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement or the BB&T Option Agreement
or the value of any of the benefits of which will be  calculated on the basis of
any of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or the  BB&T  Option
Agreement.  Each matter  Disclosed  pursuant to this Section  3.15(a) is in full
force and effect as of the date hereof.

         (b) Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is in default
under any agreement, commitment,  arrangement, lease, insurance policy, or other
instrument, whether entered into in the ordinary course of business or otherwise
and whether written or oral, and there has not occurred any event that, with the
lapse of time or giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.

3.16     Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals
         ---------------------------------------

         There are no actions,  suits,  claims,  governmental  investigations or
proceedings  instituted,  pending  or, to the best  knowledge  of  FirstSpartan,
threatened  against  FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary or against any
asset, interest,  Plan or right of FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,
or, to the best  knowledge of  FirstSpartan,  against any  officer,  director or
employee of any of them in their capacity as such.  There are no actions,  suits
or proceedings  instituted,  pending or, to the best knowledge of  FirstSpartan,
threatened  against any present or former director or officer of FirstSpartan or
any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a
claim against  FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary for indemnification.
There  are no actual  or,  to the best  knowledge  of  FirstSpartan,  threatened
actions,  suits or proceedings  that present a claim to restrain or prohibit the
transactions  contemplated  herein or in the BB&T Option Agreement.  To the best
knowledge of FirstSpartan,  no fact or condition relating to FirstSpartan or any
FirstSpartan  Subsidiary exists (including,  without


                                       23
<PAGE>


limitation,  noncompliance with the CRA) that would prevent FirstSpartan or BB&T
from obtaining all of the federal and state  regulatory  approvals  contemplated
herein.

3.17     Compliance with Laws; Filings
         -----------------------------

         Each of FirstSpartan and each FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is in compliance
with all statutes and regulations  (including,  but not limited to, the CRA, the
TILA and regulations promulgated  thereunder,  and other consumer banking laws),
and  has  obtained  and  maintained  all  permits,  licenses  and  registrations
applicable  to the conduct of its  business,  and neither  FirstSpartan  nor any
FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has  received  written  or, to the best  knowledge  of
FirstSpartan, oral notification that has not lapsed, been withdrawn or abandoned
by any agency or department of federal,  state or local government (i) asserting
a violation  or  possible  violation  of any such  statute or  regulation,  (ii)
threatening to revoke any permit,  license,  registration,  or other  government
authorization  or  (iii)  restricting  or in any way  limiting  its  operations.
Neither  FirstSpartan  nor  any  FirstSpartan   Subsidiary  is  subject  to  any
regulatory  or  supervisory  cease  and  desist  order,  agreement,   directive,
memorandum of  understanding  or  commitment,  and none of them has received any
communication requesting that it enter into any of the foregoing. Since June 30,
1997,  FirstSpartan  and each of the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  has  filed all
reports, registrations, notices and statements, and any amendments thereto, that
it  was  required  to  file  with  federal  and  state  regulatory  authorities,
including,  without limitation, the Commission, FDIC, OTS, Federal Reserve Board
and applicable  state  regulators.  Each such report,  registration,  notice and
statement,   and  each  amendment   thereto,   complied  with  applicable  legal
requirements.

3.18     Brokers and Finders
         -------------------

         Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan Subsidiary,  nor any of their
respective officers,  directors or employees, has employed any broker, finder or
financial  advisor or incurred  any  liability  for any fees or  commissions  in
connection with the transactions  contemplated  herein, in the Plan of Merger or
in the BB&T Option Agreement,  except for an obligation to the Financial Advisor
for  investment  banking  services,  the  nature  and  extent  of which has been
Disclosed, and except for fees to accountants and lawyers.

3.19     Repurchase Agreements; Derivatives
         ----------------------------------

         (a) With respect to all agreements  currently  outstanding  pursuant to
which  FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has purchased  securities
subject to an agreement to resell,  FirstSpartan or the FirstSpartan  Subsidiary
has a valid,  perfected  first lien or security  interest in the  securities  or
other  collateral  securing  such  agreement,  and the value of such  collateral
equals or exceeds the amount of the debt  secured  thereby.  With respect to all
agreements   currently   outstanding  pursuant  to  which  FirstSpartan  or  any
FirstSpartan   Subsidiary  has  sold  securities  subject  to  an  agreement  to
repurchase,  neither  FirstSpartan nor the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary


                                       24
<PAGE>


has  pledged  collateral  in excess of the amount  required  to secure the debt.
Neither  FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary has pledged collateral in
excess of the amount  required  under any  interest  rate swap or other  similar
agreement currently outstanding.

         (b) Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is a party to
or has  agreed  to  enter  into an  exchange-traded  or  over-the-counter  swap,
forward,  future, option, cap, floor, or collar financial contract, or any other
interest  rate or foreign  currency  protection  contract  not  included  on its
balance  sheets in the  Financial  Statements,  which is a financial  derivative
contract  (including  various  combinations  thereof),  except for  options  and
forwards  entered into in the ordinary course of its mortgage  lending  business
consistent with past practice and current policy.

3.20     Deposit Accounts
         ----------------

         The  deposit  accounts  of  the  FirstSpartan   Subsidiaries  that  are
depository  institutions are insured by the FDIC to the maximum extent permitted
by federal law,  and the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  have paid all premiums and
assessments and filed all reports  required to have been paid or filed under all
rules and regulations applicable to the FDIC.

3.21     Related Party Transactions
         --------------------------

         FirstSpartan has Disclosed all existing  transactions,  investments and
loans,  including  loan  guarantees  existing  as of the date  hereof,  to which
FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  is a party  with  any  director,
executive officer or 5% shareholder of FirstSpartan or any person,  corporation,
or enterprise controlling, controlled by or under common control with any of the
foregoing.  All such  transactions,  investments  and loans are on terms no less
favorable to FirstSpartan than could be obtained from unrelated parties.

3.22     Certain Information
         -------------------

         When the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  is mailed, and at the time of the
meeting of  shareholders  of FirstSpartan to vote on this Agreement and the Plan
of Merger,  the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and all  amendments or  supplements
thereto,  with  respect  to  all  information  set  forth  therein  provided  by
FirstSpartan,  (i) shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Laws, and (ii) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements  contained therein,  in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading.

3.23     Tax and Regulatory Matters
         --------------------------

         Neither  FirstSpartan  nor any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  has  taken or
agreed to take any action  that would or could  reasonably  be  expected  to (i)
cause the Merger not to  constitute a  reorganization  under  Section 368 of the
Code or (ii)  materially  impede or


                                       25
<PAGE>


delay receipt of any consents of regulatory  authorities  referred to in Section
5.4(b) or result in failure of the condition in Section 6.3(b).

3.24     State Takeover Laws
         -------------------

         FirstSpartan and each FirstSpartan  Subsidiary have taken all necessary
action  to exempt  the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  from any
applicable moratorium, fair price, business combination,  control share or other
anti-takeover laws, and no such law shall be activated or applied as a result of
such  transactions.  Neither the Certificate of Incorporation  nor the Bylaws of
FirstSpartan, nor any other document of FirstSpartan or to which FirstSpartan is
a party,  contains a provision  that requires more than a majority of the shares
of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock  entitled to vote, or the vote or approval of any
other class of capital stock or voting security, to approve the Merger or any of
the other transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

3.25     Labor Relations
         ---------------

         Neither FirstSpartan nor any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary is the subject of
any claim or allegation  that it has committed an unfair labor practice  (within
the meaning of the National  Labor  Relations  Act or  comparable  state law) or
seeking  to compel it to  bargain  with any  labor  organization  as to wages or
conditions of employment,  nor is  FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary
party to any collective bargaining agreement.  There is no strike or other labor
dispute  involving  FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary,  pending  or
threatened,  or to the best  knowledge  of  FirstSpartan,  is there any activity
involving any employees of FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  seeking
to certify a collective  bargaining  unit or engaging in any other  organization
activity.

3.26     Fairness Opinion
         ----------------

         FirstSpartan  has received from the Financial  Advisor an opinion that,
as of the date hereof,  the Merger  Consideration is fair to the shareholders of
FirstSpartan from a financial point of view.

3.27     No Right to Dissent
         -------------------

         Nothing  in  the  Certificate  of   Incorporation   or  the  Bylaws  of
FirstSpartan or the similar governing  documents of any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary
provides  or would  provide to any  person,  including  without  limitation  the
holders of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock,  upon execution of this Agreement or the
Plan of Merger and  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and
thereby, rights of dissent and appraisal of any kind.


                                       26
<PAGE>


                                   ARTICLE IV
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                    OF BB&T

         BB&T   represents  and  warrants  to   FirstSpartan   as  follows  (the
representations and warranties herein of BB&T are made subject to the applicable
standard set forth in Section  6.2(a),  and no such  representation  or warranty
shall be deemed to be  inaccurate  unless it is  inaccurate  to the extent  that
FirstSpartan  would be entitled to refuse to consummate  the Merger  pursuant to
Section 7.1(b)(ii) on account of such inaccuracy):

4.1      Capital Structure of BB&T
         -------------------------

         The authorized  capital stock of BB&T consists of (i) 5,000,000  shares
of preferred  stock,  par value $5.00 per share, of which 2,000,000  shares have
been  designated  as  Series  B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  and the
remainder are undesignated, and none of which shares are issued and outstanding,
and (ii)  500,000,000  shares of BB&T Common Stock of which  399,893,490  shares
were issued and outstanding as of July 31, 2000. All outstanding  shares of BB&T
Common Stock have been duly  authorized and are validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.  The shares of BB&T Common Stock  reserved as provided in Section
5.3 are free of any Rights and have not been reserved for any other purpose, and
such shares are  available  for  issuance  as  provided  pursuant to the Plan of
Merger. Holders of BB&T Common Stock do not have preemptive rights.

4.2      Organization, Standing and Authority of BB&T
         --------------------------------------------

         BB&T is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing  under the laws of the  State of North  Carolina,  with full  corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and to own,  lease
and operate its properties  and assets,  and is duly qualified to do business in
the states of the United  States  where its  ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification. BB&T is registered as a
financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act.

4.3      Authorized and Effective Agreement
         ----------------------------------

         (a) BB&T has all requisite  corporate power and authority to enter into
and (subject to receipt of all necessary  government  approvals)  perform all of
its obligations  under this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.  The execution and
delivery  of this  Agreement  and the Plan of  Merger  and  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  have  been  duly  and  validly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  action in respect thereof on the part of
BB&T. This Agreement and the Plan of Merger attached  hereto  constitute  legal,
valid and binding  obligations of BB&T, and each is enforceable  against BB&T in
accordance with its terms,  in each case subject to (i) bankruptcy,  insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization,  conservatorship, receivership or


                                       27
<PAGE>


other  similar  laws in effect from time to time  relating to or  affecting  the
enforcement  of the rights of creditors;  and (ii) general  principles of equity
(whether applied in a court of law or in equity).

         (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement,  the Plan of
Merger  or  the  Articles  of  Merger  (or  the  Certificate  of  Merger),   nor
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby or thereby, nor compliance
by BB&T with any of the provisions  hereof or thereof shall (i) conflict with or
result in a breach of any provision of the Articles of  Incorporation  or bylaws
of BB&T or any BB&T  Subsidiary,  (ii)  constitute  or result in a breach of any
term,  condition or provision of, or constitute a default under, or give rise to
any right of  termination,  cancellation  or  acceleration  with  respect to, or
result in the creation of any lien,  charge or encumbrance  upon any property or
asset of BB&T or any BB&T  Subsidiary  pursuant  to, any note,  bond,  mortgage,
indenture,  license,  agreement  or other  instrument  or  obligation,  or (iii)
violate  any  order,  writ,  injunction,  decree,  statute,  rule or  regulation
applicable to BB&T or any BB&T Subsidiary.

         (c) Other than  consents or  approvals  required  from,  or notices to,
regulatory authorities as provided in Section 5.4(b), no notice to, filing with,
or consent of, any public body or authority is necessary for the consummation by
BB&T of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated in this Agreement.

4.4      Organization, Standing and Authority of BB&T Subsidiaries
         ---------------------------------------------------------

         Each of the BB&T  Subsidiaries is duly organized,  validly existing and
in good standing under applicable laws. BB&T owns,  directly or indirectly,  all
of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock of each of the BB&T
Subsidiaries.  Each of the BB&T Subsidiaries (i) has full power and authority to
carry on its business as now conducted and (ii) is duly qualified to do business
in the states of the United States and foreign jurisdictions where its ownership
or  leasing  of  property  or  the  conduct  of  its  business   requires   such
qualification.

4.5      Securities Documents; Financial Statements; Statements True
         -----------------------------------------------------------

         (a) BB&T has timely  filed all  Securities  Documents  required  by the
Securities  Laws to be filed since  December  31, 1996.  As of their  respective
dates of filing, such Securities  Documents complied with the Securities Laws as
then in effect,  and did not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the  statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they were
made, not misleading.

         (b) The  Financial  Statements  of BB&T  fairly  present or will fairly
present, as the case may be, the consolidated financial position of BB&T and the
BB&T  Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated  statements of
income,  changes in  shareholders'  equity and cash flows for the  periods  then
ended (subject,  in the case of


                                       28
<PAGE>


unaudited  interim  statements,  to the absence of notes and to normal  year-end
audit  adjustments that are not material in amount or effect) in conformity with
GAAP applied on a consistent basis.

         (c) No statement, certificate, instrument or other writing furnished or
to be  furnished  hereunder  by  BB&T or any  BB&T  Subsidiary  to  FirstSpartan
contains or will contain any untrue  statement of material  fact or will omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements  therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

4.6      Certain Information
         -------------------

         When  the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  is  mailed,  and at  all  times
subsequent  to such  mailing  up to and  including  the time of the  meeting  of
shareholders   of   FirstSpartan   to   vote   on   the   Merger,    the   Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  and all amendments or supplements thereto, with respect to
all  information  set forth therein  relating to BB&T, (i) shall comply with the
applicable  provisions of the  Securities  Laws,  and (ii) shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated  therein or necessary to make the  statements  contained  therein,  in
light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

4.7      Tax and Regulatory Matters
         --------------------------

         Neither  BB&T nor any BB&T  Subsidiary  has taken or agreed to take any
action which would or could  reasonably  be expected to (i) cause the Merger not
to constitute a reorganization under Section 368 of the Code, or (ii) materially
impede or delay receipt of any consents of regulatory authorities referred to in
Section 5.4(b) or result in failure of the condition in Section 6.3(b).

4.8      Share Ownership
         ---------------

         As of the  date of this  Agreement,  BB&T  does  not own  (except  in a
fiduciary capacity) any shares of FirstSpartan Common Stock.

4.9      Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals
         ---------------------------------------

         There  are no  actual  or, to the best  knowledge  of BB&T,  threatened
actions,  suits or proceedings  that present a claim to restrain or prohibit the
transactions  contemplated  herein.  To the best  knowledge of BB&T,  no fact or
condition  relating to BB&T or any BB&T Subsidiary  exists  (including,  without
limitation,  noncompliance with the CRA) that would prevent BB&T or FirstSpartan
from obtaining all of the federal and state  regulatory  approvals  contemplated
herein.


                                       29
<PAGE>


4.10     Adverse Change
         --------------

            Since June 30,  2000,  there has not been any adverse  change or any
event that has  resulted  in, or is  reasonably  likely to result in, an adverse
change in the business,  financial condition or results of operations of BB&T or
any of the BB&T Subsidiaries.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    COVENANTS

5.1      FirstSpartan Shareholder Meeting
         --------------------------------

         FirstSpartan  shall submit this Agreement and the Plan of Merger to its
shareholders  for  approval  at a  meeting  to be held  as  soon  as  reasonably
practicable  following  the  effectiveness  of the  Registration  Statement.  By
approving this Agreement and authorizing  its execution,  the Board of Directors
of FirstSpartan agrees that it shall, at the time the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
is mailed to the  shareholders of  FirstSpartan,  recommend that  FirstSpartan's
shareholders  vote for such approval;  provided,  that the Board of Directors of
FirstSpartan   may   withdraw,   modify,   condition  or  refuse  to  make  such
recommendation only if the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith that
such  recommendation  should  not be  made in  light  of its  fiduciary  duty to
FirstSpartan's  shareholders after  consideration of (i) written advice of legal
counsel  that such  recommendation  or the  failure to  withdraw  or modify such
recommendation  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  constitute  a breach of the
fiduciary duty of the Board of Directors to the  shareholders  of  FirstSpartan,
and (ii) a written  determination  from the  Financial  Advisor  that the Merger
Consideration is not fair or is inadequate to the FirstSpartan shareholders from
a financial point of view, accompanied by a detailed analysis of the reasons for
such determination.

5.2      Registration Statement; Proxy Statement/Prospectus
         --------------------------------------------------

         As promptly as  practicable  after the date hereof,  BB&T shall prepare
and file the  Registration  Statement  with the  Commission.  FirstSpartan  will
furnish to BB&T the  information  required to be  included  in the  Registration
Statement  with respect to its business and affairs  before it is filed with the
Commission and again before any  amendments are filed,  and shall have the right
to review and  consult  with BB&T on the form of, and any  characterizations  of
such  information  included in, the  Registration  Statement prior to the filing
with the Commission.  BB&T shall prepare such Registration  Statement such that,
at the time it becomes  effective and on the Effective  Time, it conforms in all
material  respects to the  requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable
rules and  regulations of the  Commission  (provided that no covenant is made by
BB&T  as  to  information   provided  by  FirstSpartan   for  inclusion  in  the
Registration  Statement).  The Registration  Statement shall include the form of
Proxy  Statement/Prospectus.  BB&T and  FirstSpartan  shall  use all  reasonable
efforts to cause


                                       30
<PAGE>


the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  to be approved by the Commission for mailing to
the FirstSpartan shareholders, and such Proxy Statement/Prospectus shall, on the
date of mailing,  conform in all material  respects to the  requirements  of the
Securities  Laws and the  applicable  rules and  regulations  of the  Commission
thereunder.   BB&T  shall  notify   FirstSpartan,   as  promptly  as  reasonably
practicable  following  BB&T's  receipt  of notice  thereof,  if a stop order is
issued   with   respect   to   the   Registration   Statement   or   the   Proxy
Statement/Prospectus. FirstSpartan shall cause the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to
be  mailed  to  its  shareholders  in  accordance  with  all  applicable  notice
requirements  under the Securities  Laws, the DGCL and the rules and regulations
of the Nasdaq Stock Market.

5.3      Plan of Merger; Reservation of Shares
         -------------------------------------

         At the Effective  Time, the Merger shall be effected in accordance with
the Plan of Merger. In connection  therewith,  BB&T acknowledges that it (i) has
adopted  the Plan of  Merger  and (ii) will pay or cause to be paid when due the
Merger  Consideration.  BB&T has reserved for issuance  such number of shares of
BB&T Common  Stock as shall be  necessary  to pay the Merger  Consideration  and
agrees  not to take  any  action  that  would  cause  the  aggregate  number  of
authorized  shares of BB&T Common Stock available for issuance  hereunder not to
be  sufficient  to effect the  Merger.  If at any time the  aggregate  number of
shares of BB&T Common Stock reserved for issuance hereunder is not sufficient to
effect the Merger,  BB&T shall take all appropriate action as may be required to
increase the number of shares of BB&T Common Stock reserved for such purpose.

5.4      Additional Acts
         ---------------

         (a) FirstSpartan  agrees to take such actions  requested by BB&T as may
be reasonably  necessary to modify the structure of, or to substitute parties to
(so  long as such  substitute  is BB&T or a BB&T  Subsidiary)  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,  provided that such modifications do not change the Merger
Consideration or abrogate the covenants and other  agreements  contained in this
Agreement,  including,  without limitation,  the covenant not to take any action
that would  substantially delay or impair the prospects of completing the Merger
pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

         (b) As  promptly  as  practicable  after  the  date  hereof,  BB&T  and
FirstSpartan  shall  submit  notice or  applications  for prior  approval of the
transactions  contemplated  herein to the Federal Reserve Board, the OTS and any
other federal,  state or local  government  agency,  department or body to which
notice is required or from which  approval is required for  consummation  of the
Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  FirstSpartan and BB&T
each  represents  and  warrants to the other that all  information  included (or
submitted for inclusion) concerning it, its respective Subsidiaries,  and any of
its respective directors, officers and shareholders,  shall be true, correct and
complete in all material  respects as of the date  presented.  FirstSpartan  and
BB&T shall  provide  promptly to each other  copies of all  correspondence  with
regulatory bodies to which notices or applications are submitted.


                                       31
<PAGE>


5.5      Best Efforts
         ------------

         Each of BB&T and FirstSpartan  shall use, and shall cause each of their
respective  Subsidiaries  to use,  its best efforts in good faith to (i) furnish
such  information as may be required in connection with and otherwise  cooperate
in the preparation  and filing of the documents  referred to in Sections 5.2 and
5.4 or elsewhere herein, and (ii) take or cause to be taken all action necessary
or desirable  on its part to fulfill the  conditions  in Article VI,  including,
without  limitation,  executing  and  delivering,  or causing to be executed and
delivered, such representations, certificates and other instruments or documents
as may be reasonably requested by BB&T's legal counsel for such counsel to issue
the opinion  contemplated by Section 6.1(e),  and to consummate the transactions
herein contemplated at the earliest possible date. Neither BB&T nor FirstSpartan
shall  take,  or cause,  or to the best of its ability  permit to be taken,  any
action that would  substantially delay or impair the prospects of completing the
Merger pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

5.6      Certain Accounting Matters
         --------------------------

         FirstSpartan  shall  cooperate with BB&T  concerning (i) accounting and
financial matters necessary or appropriate to facilitate the Merger (taking into
account  BB&T's  policies,   practices  and  procedures),   including,   without
limitation,   issues   arising  in   connection   with  record   keeping,   loan
classification,  valuation  adjustments,  levels of loan loss reserves and other
accounting   practices,   and  (ii)   FirstSpartan's   lending,   investment  or
asset/liability management policies; provided, that any action taken pursuant to
this  Section 5.6 shall not be deemed to  constitute  or result in the breach of
any  representation,  warranty  or covenant of  FirstSpartan  contained  in this
Agreement.  FirstSpartan  shall not be  required  to  modify or change  any such
policies  or  practices,  however,  until the  earlier  of (A) such time as BB&T
acknowledges that all conditions to its obligation to consummate the Merger have
been waived or satisfied (other than the delivery of certificates,  opinions and
other  instruments  and  documents to be delivered at Closing or otherwise to be
dated at the  Effective  Time,  the  delivery  of which  shall  continue to be a
condition to BB&T's  obligation  to  consummate  the Merger) or (B)  immediately
prior to the Effective Time.

5.7      Access to Information
         ---------------------

         FirstSpartan  and BB&T will each keep the other advised of all material
developments  relevant to its business and the  businesses of its  Subsidiaries,
and to  consummation  of the Merger,  and each shall provide to the other,  upon
request,  reasonable  details of any such development.  Upon reasonable  notice,
FirstSpartan  shall  afford to  representatives  of BB&T access,  during  normal
business  hours during the period  prior to the  Effective  Time,  to all of the
properties,  books,  contracts,  commitments and records of FirstSpartan and the
FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  and,  during such period,  shall make  available all
information  concerning  their  businesses  as may be reasonably


                                       32
<PAGE>


requested.  No  investigation  pursuant to this  Section 5.7 shall  affect or be
deemed to modify any  representation  or warranty made by, or the  conditions to
the obligations  hereunder of, either party hereto. Each party hereto shall, and
shall cause each of its directors, officers, attorneys and advisors to, maintain
the confidentiality of all information obtained hereunder which is not otherwise
publicly  disclosed  by the other  party,  said  undertakings  with  respect  to
confidentiality to survive any termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section
7.1. In the event of the termination of this Agreement,  each party shall return
to  the  other  party  upon  request  all  confidential  information  previously
furnished in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

5.8      Press Releases
         --------------

         BB&T and  FirstSpartan  shall  agree with each other as to the form and
substance of any press release  related to this Agreement and the Plan of Merger
or the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and consult with each other
as to the form  and  substance  of other  public  disclosures  related  thereto;
provided,  that nothing contained herein shall prohibit either party,  following
notification to the other party, from making any disclosure which in the opinion
of its counsel is required by law.

5.9      Forbearances of FirstSpartan
         ----------------------------

         Except with the prior written  consent of BB&T (which consent shall not
be arbitrarily  withheld or delayed),  between the date hereof and the Effective
Time,  FirstSpartan  shall  not,  and  shall  cause  each  of  the  FirstSpartan
Subsidiaries not to:

                  (a) carry on its business other than in the usual, regular and
         ordinary  course  in  substantially   the  same  manner  as  heretofore
         conducted,  or establish or acquire any new Subsidiary or engage in any
         new type of activity or expand any existing activities;

                  (b)  declare,  set aside,  make or pay any  dividend  or other
         distribution  in respect of its  capital  stock,  other than  regularly
         scheduled quarterly dividends of $0.25 per share of FirstSpartan Common
         Stock  payable  on record  dates and in  amounts  consistent  with past
         practices; provided that any dividend declared or payable on the shares
         of FirstSpartan  Common Stock in the quarterly  period during which the
         Effective Time occurs shall, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by
         BB&T and  FirstSpartan,  be  declared  with a record  date prior to the
         Effective  Time  only if the  normal  record  date for  payment  of the
         corresponding  quarterly  dividend to holders of BB&T  Common  Stock is
         before the Effective Time;

                  (c) issue any shares of its capital stock (including  treasury
         shares),  except  pursuant to the Stock Option Plan with respect to the
         options  outstanding  on the date hereof or pursuant to the BB&T Option
         Agreement;


                                       33
<PAGE>


                  (d)  issue,  grant or  authorize  any  Rights  or  effect  any
         recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split or like
         change in capitalization;

                  (e) amend its Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;

                  (f)  impose  or  permit  imposition,  of any  lien,  charge or
         encumbrance  on any  share  of  stock  held  by it in any  FirstSpartan
         Subsidiary, or permit any such lien, charge or encumbrance to exist; or
         waive or release any material right or cancel or compromise any debt or
         claim, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business;

                  (g) merge with any other  entity or permit any other entity to
         merge into it, or consolidate  with any other entity;  acquire  control
         over any other entity;  or liquidate,  sell or otherwise dispose of any
         assets or acquire any assets other than in the  ordinary  course of its
         business consistent with past practices;

                  (h) fail to  comply  in any  material  respect  with any laws,
         regulations, ordinances or governmental actions applicable to it and to
         the conduct of its business;

                  (i) increase the rate of compensation of any of its directors,
         officers or employees  (excluding  increases in compensation  resulting
         from the exercise of compensatory  stock options  outstanding as of the
         date of this  Agreement),  or pay or  agree  to pay any  bonus  to,  or
         provide any new employee benefit or incentive to, any of its directors,
         officers or  employees,  except for  increases or payments  made in the
         ordinary course of business  consistent with past practice  pursuant to
         plans or arrangements in effect on the date hereof;

                  (j)  enter  into or  substantially  modify  (except  as may be
         required by  applicable  law or  regulation)  any pension,  retirement,
         stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation right, savings, profit
         sharing, deferred compensation,  consulting,  bonus, group insurance or
         other  employee  benefit,   incentive  or  welfare  contract,  plan  or
         arrangement,  or any trust agreement related thereto, in respect of any
         of its directors, officers or other employees;  provided, however, that
         this  subparagraph  shall not prevent  renewal of any of the  foregoing
         consistent with past practice;

                  (k) solicit or encourage  inquiries or proposals  with respect
         to,  furnish  any  information  relating  to,  or  participate  in  any
         negotiations or discussions concerning,  any acquisition or purchase of
         all or a substantial  portion of the assets of, or a substantial equity
         interest  in,  FirstSpartan  or  any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  or  any
         business  combination with FirstSpartan or any FirstSpartan  Subsidiary
         other than as contemplated by this Agreement; or authorize any officer,
         director,  agent  or  affiliate  of  FirstSpartan  or any  FirstSpartan
         Subsidiary to do any of the above;  or fail to notify BB&T  immediately
         if any such inquiries or proposals are


                                       34
<PAGE>


         received,  any such  information is requested or required,  or any such
         negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated;  provided, that
         this  Section  5.9(k)  shall  not  apply  to  furnishing   information,
         negotiations or discussions  with the offeror  following an unsolicited
         offer if, as a result of such offer, FirstSpartan is advised in writing
         by  legal  counsel  that  the  failure  to so  furnish  information  or
         negotiate  could  reasonably  be expected to constitute a breach of the
         fiduciary duty of FirstSpartan's Board of Directors to the FirstSpartan
         shareholders;

                  (l) enter  into (i) any  material  agreement,  arrangement  or
         commitment  not  made in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  (ii) any
         agreement,  indenture  or other  instrument  not  made in the  ordinary
         course of business  relating to the borrowing of money by  FirstSpartan
         or  a  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  or  guarantee  by  FirstSpartan  or  a
         FirstSpartan  Subsidiary  of  any  obligation,   (iii)  any  agreement,
         arrangement or commitment  relating to the employment or severance of a
         consultant  or the  employment,  severance,  election or  retention  in
         office of any present or former  director,  officer or  employee  (this
         clause shall not apply to the election of directors by  shareholders or
         the  reappointment  of  officers  in the  normal  course),  or (iv) any
         contract, agreement or understanding with a labor union;

                  (m)  change  its  lending,   investment   or   asset/liability
         management  policies  in any  material  respect,  except  (i) as may be
         required by applicable law,  regulation,  or directives,  and (ii) that
         after  approval  of  the  Agreement  and  the  Plan  of  Merger  by its
         shareholders  and after receipt of the requisite  regulatory  approvals
         for the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement and the Plan of
         Merger,  and subject to Section 5.6,  FirstSpartan  shall  cooperate in
         good  faith  with  BB&T to adopt  policies,  practices  and  procedures
         consistent  with those  utilized  by BB&T,  effective  on or before the
         Closing Date;

                  (n) change its  methods  of  accounting  in effect at June 30,
         1999 in any  material  respect,  except as  required by changes in GAAP
         concurred  in by BB&T,  which  concurrence  shall  not be  unreasonably
         withheld,  or  change  any of  its  methods  of  reporting  income  and
         deductions  for federal  income tax purposes from those employed in the
         preparation  of its federal  income tax returns for the year ended June
         30, 1999, except as required by changes in law or regulation;

                  (o)  incur  any  commitments   for  capital   expenditures  or
         obligation to make capital  expenditures in excess of $25,000,  for any
         one expenditure, or $100,000, in the aggregate;

                  (p) incur any indebtedness other than deposits from customers,
         advances  from  the  Federal  Home  Loan  Bank and  reverse  repurchase
         arrangements in the ordinary course of business;


                                       35
<PAGE>


                  (q) take  any  action  which  would  or  could  reasonably  be
         expected  to (i) cause the Merger not to  constitute  a  reorganization
         under Section 368 of the Code as determined by BB&T, (ii) result in any
         inaccuracy of a representation  or warranty herein that would allow for
         a termination of this  Agreement,  or (iii) cause any of the conditions
         precedent to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to fail to
         be satisfied;

                  (r) dispose of any material  assets other than in the ordinary
         course of business; or

                  (s) agree to do any of the foregoing.

5.10     Employment Agreements
         ---------------------

         BB&T (or its specified  BB&T  Subsidiary)  has entered into  employment
agreements with Billy L. Painter in the form of Annex B hereto and with R. Lamar
Simpson, Hugh H. Brantley and J. Stephan Sinclair in the form of Annex C hereto,
all of which shall become effective as of the Effective Time.

5.11     Affiliates
         ----------

         FirstSpartan  shall use its best  efforts to cause all  persons who are
Affiliates of  FirstSpartan to deliver to BB&T promptly  following  execution of
this Agreement,  and in any event prior to the Closing Date, a written agreement
providing that such person will not dispose of BB&T Common Stock received in the
Merger  except  in  compliance  with  the  Securities  Act  and  the  rules  and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

5.12     Section 401(k) Plan; Other Employee Benefits
         --------------------------------------------

         (a)  Effective on the Benefit Plan  Determination  Date with respect to
the 401(k)  plan of  FirstSpartan,  BB&T shall cause such plan to be merged with
the 401(k) plan maintained by BB&T and the BB&T Subsidiaries, or to be frozen or
terminated, in each case as determined by BB&T and subject to the receipt of all
applicable regulatory or governmental  approvals.  Each employee of FirstSpartan
at  the  Effective  Time  who  (i)  is a  participant  in  the  401(k)  plan  of
FirstSpartan,  (ii) becomes an employee immediately following the Effective Time
of BB&T or of any subsidiary of BB&T ("Employer Entity"), and (iii) continues in
the employment of an Employer Entity until the Benefit Plan  Determination  Date
for the 401(k) plan,  shall be eligible to  participate in BB&T's 401(k) plan as
of  such  Benefit  Plan  Determination   Date.  Any  other  former  employee  of
FirstSpartan who is employed by an Employer Entity on or after such Benefit Plan
Determination Date shall be eligible to be a participant in the BB&T 401(k) plan
upon  complying  with  eligibility  requirements.  All rights to  participate in
BB&T's  401(k) plan are subject to BB&T's right to amend or terminate  the plan.
Until such Benefit Plan  Determination  Date,  BB&T shall continue in effect for
the benefit of  participating  employees  the 401(k) plan of  FirstSpartan.  For
purposes of administering  BB&T's



                                       36
<PAGE>


401(k) plan,  service with FirstSpartan and the FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries shall
be deemed to be service with BB&T for participation  and vesting  purposes,  but
not for  purposes  of  benefit  accrual.  Each  employee  of  FirstSpartan  or a
FirstSpartan   Subsidiary  at  the  Effective   Time  who  becomes  an  employee
immediately  following the Effective  Time of an Employer  Entity is referred to
herein as a "Transferred Employee."

         (b) Each Transferred Employee shall be eligible to participate in group
hospitalization,  medical,  dental,  life,  disability and other welfare benefit
plans and programs available to employees of the Employer Entity, subject to the
terms of such plans and programs,  as of the Benefit Plan Determination Date for
each such plan or program,  conditional  upon the Transferred  Employee's  being
employed by an Employer  Entity as of such Benefit Plan  Determination  Date and
subject to complying with  eligibility  requirements of the respective plans and
programs.  With respect to health care coverages,  participation in BB&T's plans
may be subject to availability of HMO options. In any case in which HMO coverage
is not  available,  substitute  coverage  will be provided that may not be fully
comparable  to the HMO  coverage.  With  respect to any welfare  benefit plan or
program  of  FirstSpartan  that  the  Employer  Entity  determines,  in its sole
discretion,  provides benefits of the same type or class as a corresponding plan
or program maintained by the Employer Entity, the Employer Entity shall continue
such  FirstSpartan  plan or program in effect for the benefit of the Transferred
Employees so long as they remain  eligible to  participate  and until they shall
become  eligible to become  participants  in the  corresponding  plan or program
maintained  by the  Employer  Entity  (and,  with  respect  to any such  plan or
program,  subject to complying with eligibility  requirements and subject to the
right of the Employer Entity to terminate such plan or program). For purposes of
administering  the welfare plans and programs  subject to this Section  5.12(b),
(A) service  with  FirstSpartan  shall be deemed to be service with the Employer
Entity for the purpose of determining eligibility to participate and vesting (if
applicable)  in such  welfare  plans and  programs,  but not for the  purpose of
computing  benefits,  if any,  determined in whole or in part with  reference to
service  (except  as  otherwise  provided  in  Section  5.12(c)),  and (B)  each
Transferred  Employee shall receive credit for any deductibles and out-of pocket
expenses paid prior to the applicable  Benefit Plan  Determination  Date (to the
same extent such credit was given under the analogous plan prior to such Benefit
Plan   Determination   Date)  in  satisfying  any   applicable   deductibles  or
out-of-pocket expenses.

         (c) Except to the  extent of  commitments  herein or other  contractual
commitments,  if any,  specifically made or assumed  hereunder by BB&T,  neither
BB&T nor any Employer  Entity shall have any obligation  arising from the Merger
to continue any Transferred Employees in its employ or in any specific job or to
provide to any  Transferred  Employee any specified level of compensation or any
incentive payments,  benefits or perquisites.  Each Transferred  Employee who is
terminated by an Employer Entity subsequent to the Effective Time, excluding any
employee who has a then  existing  contract  providing for severance or who is a
participant in the FirstSpartan  Severance  Compensation Plan, shall be entitled
to severance pay in accordance with the general  severance policy  maintained by
BB&T, if and to the extent that such employee is entitled


                                       37
<PAGE>


to severance pay under such policy. Such employee's service with FirstSpartan or
a FirstSpartan  Subsidiary shall be treated as service with BB&T for purposes of
determining the amount of severance pay, if any, under BB&T's severance policy.

         (d)  BB&T  agrees  to  honor  all  employment   agreements,   severance
agreements  and  deferred  compensation  agreements  that  FirstSpartan  and the
FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  have with their  current  and former  employees  and
directors  and which have been  Disclosed  to BB&T  pursuant to this  Agreement,
except to the extent any such  agreements  shall be  superseded or terminated at
the Closing or following the Closing Date.  Except for the agreements  described
in the preceding sentence and except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.12,
the employee  benefit plans of  FirstSpartan  shall,  in the sole  discretion of
BB&T, be frozen,  terminated or merged into comparable plans of BB&T,  effective
as BB&T shall determine in its sole discretion.

         (e)  Notwithstanding  and without  limiting the  generality  of Section
5.12(d),  as soon as  practicable  following  the date hereof but, in any event,
prior  to the  Effective  Time,  FirstSpartan  shall  take  any and  all  action
necessary  to  terminate  the  ESOP  as of the  Effective  Time,  to  repay  any
outstanding  indebtedness  thereof and to allocate shares of FirstSpartan Common
Stock held  thereby to the  participants  therein in  accordance  with the terms
thereof.  No  purchases  of shares of  FirstSpartan  Common  Stock shall be made
thereunder after the date hereof.

5.13     Directors and Officers Protection
         ---------------------------------

         BB&T or a BB&T Subsidiary  shall provide and keep in force for a period
of three years after the  Effective  Time  directors'  and  officers'  liability
insurance  providing coverage to directors and officers of FirstSpartan for acts
or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time. Such insurance shall provide
at least the same coverage and amounts as contained in FirstSpartan's  policy on
the date  hereof;  provided,  that in no event shall the annual  premium on such
policy exceed 150% of the annual premium  payments on  FirstSpartan's  policy in
effect  as of the date  hereof  (the  "Maximum  Amount").  If the  amount of the
premiums  necessary to maintain or procure such insurance  coverage  exceeds the
Maximum  Amount,  BB&T shall use its  reasonable  efforts to  maintain  the most
advantageous policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance obtainable
for a premium equal to the Maximum Amount.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  BB&T
further  agrees to  indemnify  all  individuals  who are or have been  officers,
directors or employees of FirstSpartan or any  FirstSpartan  Subsidiary prior to
the Effective  Time from any acts or omissions in such  capacities  prior to the
Effective Time, to the extent that such  indemnification is provided pursuant to
the  Certificate of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of FirstSpartan on the date hereof
and is  permitted  under  the  DGCL  and the  NCBCA.  BB&T  shall  also  advance
indemnifiable expenses as incurred to the extent permitted by the Certificate of
Incorporation  or Bylaws of  FirstSpartan on the date hereof and permitted under
the DGCL and the NCBCA.

5.14     Forbearances of BB&T
         --------------------


                                       38
<PAGE>


         Except with the prior written consent of FirstSpartan, between the date
hereof and the Effective  Time neither BB&T nor any BB&T  Subsidiary  shall take
any  action  which  would  or  might  be  expected  to (i)  cause  the  business
combination contemplated hereby not to constitute a reorganization under Section
368 of the Code; (ii) result in any inaccuracy of a  representation  or warranty
herein that would allow for  termination of this  Agreement;  (iii) cause any of
the conditions  precedent to the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement to
fail to be  satisfied;  or (iv) fail to comply in any material  respect with any
laws,  regulations,  ordinances or governmental  actions applicable to it and to
the conduct of its business.

5.15     Reports
         -------

         Each  of  FirstSpartan  and  BB&T  shall  file  (and  shall  cause  the
FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries and the BB&T  Subsidiaries,  respectively,  to file),
between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, all reports  required
to be filed by it with  the  Commission  and any  other  regulatory  authorities
having  jurisdiction over such party, and shall deliver to BB&T or FirstSpartan,
as the case may be,  copies  of all such  reports  promptly  after  the same are
filed. If financial  statements are contained in any such reports filed with the
Commission,  such  financial  statements  will fairly  present the  consolidated
financial  position  of the  entity  filing  such  statements  as of  the  dates
indicated and the consolidated  results of operations,  changes in shareholders'
equity,  and cash  flows for the  periods  then  ended in  accordance  with GAAP
(subject in the case of interim financial statements to the absence of notes and
to normal recurring  year-end  adjustments  that are not material).  As of their
respective  dates,  such reports  filed with the  Commission  will comply in all
material  respects  with the  Securities  Laws and will not  contain  any untrue
statement  of a material  fact or omit to state a material  fact  required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the  circumstances  under which they were made,  not  misleading.  Any financial
statements  contained in any other reports to a regulatory  authority other than
the Commission shall be prepared in accordance with  requirements  applicable to
such reports.

5.16     Exchange Listing
         ----------------

         BB&T  shall  use its  reasonable  best  efforts  to list,  prior to the
Effective Time, on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance,  the shares
of BB&T Common  Stock to be issued to the holders of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock
pursuant  to the  Merger,  and BB&T shall give all  notices and make all filings
with the NYSE required in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

5.17     Advisory Boards
         ---------------

         As of the  Effective  Time,  BB&T shall offer to (i) the members of the
Board of Directors and  directors  emeritus of  FirstSpartan  a seat on the BB&T
Advisory  Board  for  the   Spartanburg,   South  Carolina  area  and  (ii)  the
FirstSpartan  advisory  directors  in Greer,  South  Carolina a seat on the BB&T
Advisory Board for the Greer,


                                       39
<PAGE>


South Carolina area.  For two years  following the Effective  Time, the Advisory
Board members appointed  pursuant to this Section 5.17 and who continue to serve
shall receive, as compensation for service on the Advisory Board, Advisory Board
member's fees (annual  retainer and  attendance  fees) equal in amount each year
(prorated  for  any  partial  year)  to the  annual  retainer  and  schedule  of
attendance  fees for  directors  of  FirstSpartan  in effect on August 1,  2000.
Following such two-year  period,  Advisory  Board  Members,  if they continue to
serve in such capacity,  shall receive fees in accordance  with BB&T's  standard
schedule  of fees for service  thereon as in effect  from time to time.  For two
years  after  the  Effective  Time,  no such  Advisory  Board  member  shall  be
prohibited  from  serving  thereon  because  he or she shall have  attained  the
maximum age for service thereon (currently age 70).  Membership of any person on
any Advisory Board shall be conditional upon execution of an agreement providing
that such person  will not engage in  activities  competitive  with BB&T for two
years following the Effective Time or, if longer, the period that he or she is a
member of the Advisory Board.

5.18    Board of Directors of Branch Banking and Trust Company of South Carolina
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

         As of the  Effective  Time,  Branch  Banking and Trust Company of South
Carolina, a South Carolina banking corporation,  shall elect Billy L. Painter to
its Board of Directors,  to serve until its next annual meeting  (subject to the
right  of  removal  for  cause)  and  thereafter  so long as he is  elected  and
qualifies.  Any member of such Board of Directors who is not an employee of BB&T
or any of its  Affiliates  shall be entitled to receive  fees for service on the
Board in accordance with BB&T's policies as in effect from time to time.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1      Conditions Precedent - BB&T and FirstSpartan
         --------------------------------------------

         The  respective  obligations  of BB&T and  FirstSpartan  to effect  the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to satisfaction or
waiver of the following conditions at or prior to the Effective Time:

         (a) All corporate action necessary to authorize the execution, delivery
and  performance of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger,  and  consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby,  shall have been duly and
validly taken, including,  without limitation,  the approval of the shareholders
of FirstSpartan of the Agreement and the Plan of Merger;

         (b) The Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendments
thereto) shall be effective  under the Securities  Act, no proceedings  shall be
pending or to the knowledge of BB&T  threatened by the Commission to suspend the
effectiveness  of


                                       40
<PAGE>


such  Registration  Statement  and  the  BB&T  Common  Stock  to  be  issued  as
contemplated  in the Plan of Merger  shall have  either  been  registered  or be
subject to exemption from registration under applicable state securities laws;

         (c) The parties shall have received all regulatory  approvals  required
in connection with the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan
of Merger, all notice periods and waiting periods with respect to such approvals
shall have passed and all such approvals shall be in effect;

         (d) None of BB&T, any of the BB&T Subsidiaries,  FirstSpartan or any of
the  FirstSpartan  Subsidiaries  shall  be  subject  to  any  order,  decree  or
injunction  of a court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which  enjoins  or
prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

         (e)  FirstSpartan  and BB&T  shall have  received  an opinion of BB&T's
legal counsel,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to  FirstSpartan  and BB&T,
substantially  to the  effect  that  the  Merger  will  constitute  one or  more
reorganizations  under  Section  368 of the Code and  that the  shareholders  of
FirstSpartan  will  not  recognize  any  gain or loss to the  extent  that  such
shareholders  exchange  shares of  FirstSpartan  Common Stock for shares of BB&T
Common Stock.

6.2      Conditions Precedent - FirstSpartan
         -----------------------------------

         The obligations of FirstSpartan to effect the transactions contemplated
by  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to the  satisfaction  of the  following
additional  conditions  at or prior to the  Effective  Time,  unless  waived  by
FirstSpartan pursuant to Section 7.4:

         (a) All representations and warranties of BB&T shall be evaluated as of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as
of  the  Effective  Time  (or  on  the  date  designated  in  the  case  of  any
representation  and warranty  which  specifically  relates to an earlier  date),
except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in writing by
FirstSpartan.  The  representations and warranties of BB&T set forth in Sections
4.1, 4.2 (except as relates to qualification), 4.3(a), 4.3(b)(i), 4.4 (except as
relates  to  qualification)  and 4.7  shall  be true  and  correct  (except  for
inaccuracies  which are de minimis).  There shall not exist  inaccuracies in the
representations  and warranties of BB&T set forth in this  Agreement  (including
the  representations  and warranties set forth in the Sections designated in the
preceding  sentence) such that the aggregate effect of such inaccuracies has, or
is reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect on BB&T.

         (b) BB&T shall have performed in all material  respects all obligations
and  complied  in all  material  respects  with all  covenants  required by this
Agreement.

         (c) BB&T shall have delivered to FirstSpartan a certificate,  dated the
Closing  Date and signed by its  Chairman  or  President  or an  Executive  Vice
President,  to the effect


                                       41
<PAGE>


that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1(a), 6.1(b), 6.1(c), 6.1(d), 6.2(a)
and 6.2(b), to the extent applicable to BB&T, have been satisfied and that there
are  no  actions,  suits,  claims,  governmental  investigations  or  procedures
instituted, pending or, to the best of such officer's knowledge, threatened that
reasonably  may be  expected to have a Material  Adverse  Effect on BB&T or that
present a claim to restrain or prohibit the transactions  contemplated herein or
in the Plan of Merger.

         (d) FirstSpartan shall have received opinions of counsel to BB&T in the
form reasonably acceptable to FirstSpartan's legal counsel.

         (e) The shares of BB&T  Common  Stock  issuable  pursuant to the Merger
shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE,  subject to official notice of
issuance.

6.3      Conditions Precedent - BB&T
         ---------------------------

         The obligations of BB&T to effect the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  satisfaction  of  the  following   additional
conditions at or prior to the Effective Time,  unless waived by BB&T pursuant to
Section 7.4:

         (a)  All  representations  and  warranties  of  FirstSpartan  shall  be
evaluated  as of the  date of this  Agreement  and as of the  Effective  Time as
though made on and as of the  Effective  Time (or on the date  designated in the
case of any representation and warranty which specifically relates to an earlier
date),  except as otherwise  contemplated  by this  Agreement or consented to in
writing by BB&T. The representations and warranties of FirstSpartan set forth in
Sections  3.1,  3.2 (except as relates to  qualification),  3.3, 3.4 (except the
last  sentence  thereof),  3.5(a),  3.5(b)(i),  3.23 and 3.24  shall be true and
correct (except for  inaccuracies  which are de minimis).  There shall not exist
inaccuracies in the  representations and warranties of FirstSpartan set forth in
this Agreement  (including the  representations  and warranties set forth in the
Sections  designated  in the  preceding  sentence)  such that the effect of such
inaccuracies  individually  or in the aggregate has, or is reasonably  likely to
have, a Material Adverse Effect on FirstSpartan (evaluated without regard to the
Merger).

         (b)  No  regulatory  approval  shall  have  imposed  any  condition  or
requirement  which, in the reasonable opinion of the Board of Directors of BB&T,
would so materially  adversely affect the business or economic  benefits to BB&T
of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement as to render consummation of
such transactions inadvisable or unduly burdensome.

         (c)  FirstSpartan  shall have  performed in all  material  respects all
obligations and complied in all material respects with all covenants required by
this Agreement.

         (d) FirstSpartan shall have delivered to BB&T a certificate,  dated the
Closing  Date and signed by its  Chairman or  President,  to the effect that the
conditions  set forth in Sections  6.1(a),  6.1(c),  6.3(a) and  6.3(c),  to the
extent  applicable to  FirstSpartan,  have


                                       42
<PAGE>


been  satisfied  and that  there are no  actions,  suits,  claims,  governmental
investigations  or  procedures  instituted,  pending  or,  to the  best  of such
officer's  knowledge,  threatened  that  reasonably  may be  expected  to have a
Material Adverse Effect on FirstSpartan (evaluated without regard to the Merger)
or that  present a claim to restrain or prohibit the  transactions  contemplated
herein or in the Plan of Merger.

         (e) BB&T shall have received opinions of counsel to FirstSpartan in the
form reasonably acceptable to BB&T's legal counsel.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                   TERMINATION, DEFAULT, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT

7.1      Termination
         -----------

         This Agreement may be terminated:

         (a) At any time prior to the Effective  Time, by the mutual  consent in
writing of the parties hereto.

         (b) At any time prior to the Effective  Time, by either party hereto in
writing (i) in the event of a material breach by the other party of any covenant
or agreement contained in this Agreement,  or (ii) in the event of an inaccuracy
of any  representation  or  warranty  of  the  other  party  contained  in  this
Agreement,  which inaccuracy would provide the nonbreaching party the ability to
refuse to  consummate  the Merger  under the  applicable  standard  set forth in
Section  6.2(a) in the case of  FirstSpartan  and Section  6.3(a) in the case of
BB&T; and, in the case of (i) or (ii), if such breach or inaccuracy has not been
cured by the earlier of thirty days  following  written notice of such breach to
the party committing such breach or the Effective Time.

         (c) At any time prior to the Effective  Time, by either party hereto in
writing,  if any of the  conditions  precedent to the  obligations  of the other
party to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby cannot be satisfied or
fulfilled  prior to the Closing Date,  and the party giving the notice is not in
material  breach  of  any  of  its  representations,  warranties,  covenants  or
undertakings herein.

         (d) At any time,  by either  party  hereto  in  writing,  if any of the
applications for prior approval  referred to in Section 5.4 are denied,  and the
time period for appeals and requests for reconsideration has run.

         (e) At any time, by either party hereto in writing, if the shareholders
of FirstSpartan do not approve the Agreement and the Plan of Merger at a meeting
called and held for the purpose of voting thereon.


                                       43
<PAGE>


         (f) At any time  following  April 30,  2001 by either  party  hereto in
writing, if the Effective Time has not occurred by the close of business on such
date,  and the party  giving the notice is not in material  breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings herein.

         (g) At any time prior to the Effective Time, by BB&T in writing, if the
Board of Directors of FirstSpartan shall have withdrawn,  modified,  conditioned
or refused to make its  recommendation  to the shareholders of FirstSpartan that
they vote to approve this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

7.2      Effect of Termination
         ---------------------

         In the  event  this  Agreement  and the Plan of  Merger  is  terminated
pursuant to Section 7.1, both this Agreement and the Plan of Merger shall become
void and have no effect,  except  that (i) the  provisions  hereof  relating  to
confidentiality  and expenses  set forth in Sections 5.7 and 8.1,  respectively,
shall survive any such  termination  and (ii) a termination  pursuant to Section
7.1(b) shall not relieve the breaching  party from liability for a breach of the
covenant, agreement, representation or warranty giving rise to such termination.
The BB&T Option  Agreement shall be governed by its own terms,  and no provision
contained  herein  shall limit the ability of BB&T to exercise  its rights under
the BB&T Option Agreement.

7.3      Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants
         -----------------------------------------------------

         All representations,  warranties and covenants in this Agreement or the
Plan of Merger or in any instrument  delivered  pursuant hereto or thereto shall
expire on, and be terminated and extinguished at, the Effective Time, other than
covenants  that by their  terms are to be  performed  after the  Effective  Time
(including  Sections  5.13 and  5.17);  provided  that no such  representations,
warranties or covenants  shall be deemed to be terminated or  extinguished so as
to deprive BB&T or FirstSpartan (or any director,  officer or controlling person
thereof) of any defense at law or in equity which  otherwise  would be available
against the claims of any person, including, without limitation, any shareholder
or  former   shareholder   of  either  BB&T  or   FirstSpartan,   the  aforesaid
representations,   warranties  and  covenants  being  material   inducements  to
consummation by BB&T and FirstSpartan of the transactions contemplated herein.

7.4      Waiver
         ------

         Except with respect to any  required  regulatory  approval,  each party
hereto, by written  instrument signed by an executive officer of such party, may
at any time (whether  before or after  approval of the Agreement and the Plan of
Merger by the FirstSpartan  shareholders) extend the time for the performance of
any of the obligations or other acts of the other party hereto and may waive (i)
any  inaccuracies  of the  other  party  in the  representations  or  warranties
contained  in this  Agreement,  the Plan of  Merger  or any  document  delivered
pursuant  hereto  or  thereto,  (ii)  compliance  with  any  of  the  covenants,


                                       44
<PAGE>


undertakings  or agreements of the other party,  or  satisfaction  of any of the
conditions  precedent  to its  obligations,  contained  herein or in the Plan of
Merger,  or (iii) the  performance by the other party of any of its  obligations
set out  herein or  therein;  provided  that no such  extension  or  waiver,  or
amendment or supplement pursuant to this Section 7.4, executed after approval by
the  FirstSpartan  shareholders of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger,  shall
reduce either the Exchange Ratio or the payment terms for fractional interests.

7.5      Amendment or Supplement
         -----------------------

         This Agreement or the Plan of Merger may be amended or  supplemented at
any time in writing by mutual agreement of BB&T and FirstSpartan, subject to the
proviso to Section 7.4.

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

8.1      Expenses
         --------

         Each party hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by
it  in  connection  with  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement,
including,   without  limitation,   fees  and  expenses  of  its  own  financial
consultants,  accountants and counsel;  provided,  however, that the filing fees
and printing costs incurred in connection  with the  Registration  Statement and
the  Proxy   Statement/Prospectus  shall  be  borne  50%  by  BB&T  and  50%  by
FirstSpartan.

8.2      Entire Agreement
         ----------------

         This Agreement,  including the documents and other writings  referenced
herein or delivered  pursuant hereto,  contains the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the transactions  contemplated  hereunder and thereunder
and supersedes all arrangements or understandings with respect thereto,  written
or oral,  entered into on or before the date hereof. The terms and conditions of
this Agreement and the BB&T Option  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto and thereto and their respective  successors.
Nothing in this Agreement or the BB&T Option Agreement, expressed or implied, is
intended to confer upon any party,  other than the parties  hereto and  thereto,
and  their  respective  successors,   any  rights,   remedies,   obligations  or
liabilities,  except for the rights of directors and officers of FirstSpartan to
enforce rights in Sections 5.13 and 5.17.


                                       45
<PAGE>


8.3      No Assignment
         -------------

         Except for a substitution of parties  pursuant to Section 5.4(a),  none
of the  parties  hereto may assign any of its rights or  obligations  under this
Agreement to any other  person,  except upon the prior  written  consent of each
other party.

8.4      Notices
         -------

         All notices or other  communications  which are  required or  permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered  personally or sent by
nationally  recognized  overnight express courier or by facsimile  transmission,
addressed or directed as follows:

         If to FirstSpartan:

                  Billy L. Painter
                  First Federal Bank
                  380 East Main Street
                  Spartanburg, South Carolina 20604
                  Telephone:  864-582-2391
                  Fax:        864-582-5386

         With a required copy to:

                  Paul M. Aguggia
                  Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette LLP
                  5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
                  Washington, DC  20016
                  Telephone:  202-686-4917
                  Fax:        202-966-9409

         If to BB&T:

                  Scott E. Reed
                  150 South Stratford Road
                  4th Floor
                  Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27104
                  Telephone:  336-733-3088
                  Fax:        336-733-2296

         With a required copy to:

                  William A. Davis, II
                  Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
                  200 West Second Street
                  Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102
                  Telephone:  336-721-3624
                  Fax:        336-733-8364


                                       46
<PAGE>


Any  party  may  by  notice   change  the  address  to  which  notice  or  other
communications to it are to be delivered.

8.5      Specific Performance
         --------------------

         FirstSpartan  acknowledges  that the FirstSpartan  Common Stock and the
FirstSpartan  business and assets are unique,  and that if FirstSpartan fails to
consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement such failure will
cause  irreparable  harm to BB&T for which there will be no  adequate  remedy at
law,  BB&T shall be  entitled,  in  addition  to its other  remedies  at law, to
specific  performance of this Agreement if  FirstSpartan  shall,  without cause,
refuse to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

8.6      Captions
         --------

         The captions contained in this Agreement are for reference only and are
not part of this Agreement.

8.7      Counterparts
         ------------

         This  Agreement and the Plan of Merger may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  and each  such  counterpart  shall be  deemed  to be an  original
instrument,  but  all  such  counterparts  together  shall  constitute  but  one
agreement.

8.8      Governing Law
         -------------

         This  Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of North  Carolina,  without  regard to the  principles of
conflicts of laws, except to the extent federal law may be applicable.

                  [remainder of page intentionally left blank]


                                       47
<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto,  intending to be legally bound
hereby,  have caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly
authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                    BB&T CORPORATION

                                    By:  /s/ John A. Allison IV
                                       --------------------------------------
                                    Name:  John A. Allison IV
                                         ------------------------------------
                                    Title: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
                                          -----------------------------------


                                    FIRSTSPARTAN FINANCIAL CORP.

                                    By:  /s/ Billy L. Painter
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                    Name:  Billy L. Painter
                                         -------------------------------------
                                    Title: President & Chief Executive Officer
                                          ------------------------------------


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission