ZIONS BANCORPORATION /UT/
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                              ZIONS BANCORPORATION
             One South Main, Suite 1380, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                  To Be Held On
                                 April 24, 1998

To the Shareholders:

         The Annual Meeting of the  Shareholders  of Zions  Bancorporation  (the
"Company")  will be held in the Founders' Room of Zions First National Bank, One
South Main Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, April 24, 1998, at 1:30 p.m.
for the following purposes:

          1. To  elect  directors  for the  terms  specified  in the  attached  
Proxy Statement (Proposal 1);

          2. To approve an increase in the number of authorized shares of 
Capital Stock (Proposal 2);

          3. To approve  amendments to the Key Employee  Incentive  Stock Option
Plan (Proposal 3);
 
         4. To approve the  appointment  of  independent  auditors for the year 
1998(Proposal 4); and

         5. To  transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
shareholders (Proposal 5).

         Your  proxy is being  solicited  by the  Board  of  Directors.  For the
reasons stated herein, your Board of Directors  unanimously  recommends that you
vote "for" proposals 1, 2, 3 and 4 and "authority" for proposal 5.

         A Proxy  Statement,  Proxy Card, and a copy of the Annual Report on the
Company's  operations during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997,  accompany
this notice.

         IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT ALL  SHAREHOLDERS  BE REPRESENTED AT THE MEETING.
Shareholders  who are unable to attend in person SHOULD  IMMEDIATELY  SIGN, DATE
AND MAIL the accompanying  form of proxy in the enclosed envelope which requires
no postage.

         The  prompt  return of proxies  will save the  Company  the  expense of
further  requests  for proxies  which might  otherwise  be necessary in order to
ensure a quorum.

By order of the Board of Directors

Dale M. Gibbons
Secretary

Salt Lake City, Utah
March 25, 1998
<PAGE>

                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                              ZIONS BANCORPORATION
             One South Main, Suite 1380, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                                 April 24, 1998


                              VOTING AT THE MEETING
     Your proxy is solicited by your Board of Directors. It will be voted as you
direct. If no contrary direction is given, your proxy will be voted:

          -    FOR the election of directors listed below;
          -    FOR the increase in the number of authorized capital shares as 
               described in this Proxy Statement;
          -    FOR the amendments to the Key Employee Incentive Stock Option 
               Plan; and
          -    FOR approval of the selection of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,  
               Certified  Public  Accountants, as independent auditors for the 
               Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998.

     You may revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by giving  written
notice to the  Secretary,  Zions  Bancorporation,  or by  mailing a  later-dated
proxy, or by voting in person at the meeting.

     The only shares that may be voted are the 69,053,648 shares of common stock
outstanding  at the close of business on February 27, 1998,  the record date for
the meeting. Each share is entitled to one vote.

     Shareholders  may expressly  abstain from voting on Proposals 2, 3 and 4 in
the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders.  Where some or all of
the shares  represented  by the duly executed and returned  proxy of a broker or
other  nominee are not voted on one or more items,  pursuant to the rules of the
national securities exchange of which the nominee is a member or of the National
Association  of Securities  Dealers or otherwise,  the shares will be treated as
represented at the meeting but not voted. On all matters other than the election
of directors,  the action will be approved if a quorum is present and the number
of shares  voted in favor of the  action  exceeds  the  number  of shares  voted
against the action.

     The cost of  soliciting  proxies will be borne by the Company.  The Company
will  reimburse  brokers and others who incur costs to send proxy  materials  to
beneficial owners of stock held in a broker or nominee name. Directors, officers
and  employees  of the  Company  may  solicit  proxies  in  person or by mail or
telephone,  but will  receive  no extra  compensation  for doing so.  This Proxy
Statement is first being mailed to the shareholders of Zions  Bancorporation  on
or about March 25, 1998.
                                                                              1 
<PAGE>
                      NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
                                  (Proposal 1)

     It is intended that the proxies  received will be voted for the election of
nominees for director named herein unless  otherwise  indicated.  In case any of
the  nominees  named  herein is  unable or  declines  to serve,  an event  which
management  does not  anticipate,  proxies  will then be voted for a nominee who
shall be  designated  by the present  Board of Directors  to fill such  vacancy.
Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting,  with the
four persons receiving the highest number of votes to be elected.

     The  following  persons are  nominated  for election as  directors  for the
specified term, and until their successors are elected and qualified,  and will,
together with other directors presently in office, constitute the entire elected
Board of Directors: Three-year Term

                                  Roger Porter
                                  L.E. Simmons
                                   I.J. Wagner

The Board of Directors recommends that the Shareholders vote FOR the election of
the nominees for director set forth above.

The following  information is furnished with respect to each of the nominees for
election as directors,  as well as for directors  whose terms of office will not
expire prior to the Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Present
                                                                                 Director      Term
Nominees                    Principal Occupation During Past Five Years           Since       Expires     Age
- --------                    -------------------------------------------           -----       -------     ---
<S>                         <C>                                                   <C>          <C>        <C>
Roger B. Porter(1)(3)(6)    IBM Professor of Business and Government,             1993         1998       51
                            Harvard  University;  Assistant to the  President
                            for  Domestic  and  Economic  Affairs,  The White
                            House, 1989-1992;  Director,  Rightchoice Managed
                            Care Inc. and Tenneco, Inc.

L.E. Simmons (4) (5)        President,   SCF  Investment   Partners  (Private     1978         1998       51
                            Equity Investment  Management),  Houston,  Texas;
                            Chairman,  Tuboscope  Vetco  International  Corp.
                            and Director, CE Franklin, Ltd.

I.J. Wagner (1) (2) (6)     President,   The  Keystone   Company   (Corporate     1965         1998       82
                            Investments), Salt Lake City, Utah.
2
<PAGE>

DIRECTORS WITH UNEXPIRED TERMS OF OFFICE

Jerry C. Atkin (3)(6)       Chairman,  President and Chief Executive Officer,     1993         1999       49
                            SkyWest  Airlines,  St. George,  Utah;  Director,
                            SkyWest, Inc.

Grant R. Caldwell (1)(6)    Retired,  former Partner, KMG Main Hurdman,  Salt     1993         1999       73
                            Lake City, Utah.

R.D. Cash (2)(6)            Chairman,  President and Chief Executive  Officer     1989         2000       55
                            of Questar  Corporation,  Salt Lake  City,  Utah;
                            Member of the Board of  Directors  of Zions First
                            National Bank; Director, Energen Corporation.

Richard H. Madsen (1)(6)    Chairman,  President and Chief Executive Officer,     1994         2000       59
                            ZCMI.

Robert G. Sarver (4)        Executive Director,  Southwest Value Partners and     1994         2000       36
                            Affiliates;    Chairman   of   Grossmont    Bank;
                            Director, Monterey Homes Corporation;  President,
                            National Bank of Arizona, 1992-1994.

Harris H. Simmons (2)(5)    President  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the     1989         2000       43
                            Company;  Chairman of Zions First  National Bank;
                            Member  of the  Board  of  Directors  of  Questar
                            Corporation and O.C. Tanner Co.

Roy W. Simmons (2)(4)       Chairman of the  Company;  Member of the Board of     1961         1999       82
                            Directors of Zions First  National  Bank;  Member
                            of the  Board of  Directors  of  Beneficial  Life
                            Insurance Co. and Ellison Ranching Co.
</TABLE>

(1) Member of the Audit Committee                     (5) Son of Roy W. Simmons
(2) Member of the Executive Committee                 (6) Independent Directors
(3) Member of the Executive Compensation Committee        Committee
(4) Member of the Credit Review/Compliance Committee

                                                                               3
<PAGE>

                            COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

     The Company's outside directors currently receive a $12,000 annual retainer
and  $600  for  each  regular  and  special  meeting  attended.  Members  of the
committees receive $500 for each committee meeting attended. The Chairman of the
Audit Committee receives an additional $6,000 annual retainer and members of the
Audit Committee receive an additional $3,000 annual retainer.  Directors who are
full-time  compensated  employees  of the  Company  do not  receive  either  the
retainer or any other compensation for meetings of the Board of Directors or its
committees.

     The Company maintains a Deferred  Compensation Plan for directors whereby a
director  may elect to defer  receipt  of all or a portion  of his  compensation
until retirement or resignation from the Board. The director may elect to invest
the deferred fees in an interest-bearing  unsecured note, or in "phantom" stock,
whereby the earnings will be calculated as if the deferred compensation had been
invested in the  Company's  common stock  (although an actual  investment is not
made and settlement is made only in cash).
                      COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The Board of Directors  held seven  meetings  during the fiscal year ending
December  31, 1997.  Of the Board's  four  standing  committees,  the  Executive
Committee  did not meet,  the Audit  Committee  met five  times,  the  Executive
Compensation Committee met once, and the Credit Review/Compliance  Committee met
four times  during the fiscal year ending  December 31,  1997.  The  Independent
Directors  Committee,  which was created solely to deal with potential conflicts
created by the GB  Bancorporation  acquisition,  met twice.  Membership in these
committees is indicated above in the listing of directors. Average attendance at
Board and  committee  meetings  held during the year was 98%. The Company has no
nominating committee and no other established committee acts in that capacity.

     The Executive  Committee reviews projects or proposals which require prompt
action on the part of the Company.  The  Executive  Committee is  authorized  to
exercise all powers of the Board of Directors  with respect to such  projects or
proposals for which it would not be practicable to delay action pending approval
of the entire Board.  The Executive  Committee  does not have authority to amend
the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, adopt a plan of merger, or to recommend
to shareholders the sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets.

     The Audit Committee reviews and discusses the plan for, and results of, the
annual audit with the  Company's  independent  auditors  and approves  non-audit
services  provided by them.  The Committee  also reviews the Company's  internal
auditing,  control and  accounting  systems.  In addition,  the Committee  makes
recommendations to the Board concerning the selection of independent auditors.

     The Executive  Compensation  Committee fixes the  compensation of corporate
executive  officers and approves any  employment  or consulting  contracts  with
corporate officers who are not also directors.

     The Credit Review/Compliance  Committee is a joint committee of the Company
and Zions First National  Bank.  The Committee  monitors the results of internal
credit examinations,  and reviews adherence to policies established by the Board
and by management with respect to lending, as well as general management issues.
4
<PAGE>
                        EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

     The  following  information  is  furnished  with  respect to certain of the
executive officers of the Company.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Individual                 Principal Occupation During Past Five Years(2)                  Officer Since    Age
- ----------                 ----------------------------------------------                  -------------    ---
<S>                        <C>                                                                  <C>          <C>
Roy W. Simmons(1)          Chairman of the Company; Member of the Board of Directors of         1961         82
                           Zions First National Bank; Member of the Board of Directors
                           of Beneficial Life Insurance Co. and Ellison Ranching Co.;
                           prior to January 1998, Chairman of Zions First National Bank.

Harris H. Simmons(1)       President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company;                1981         43
                           Chairman of Zions First National Bank; Member of the Board
                           of Directors of Questar Corporation and O.C. Tanner Co.;
                           prior to January 1998, President and Chief Executive Officer
                           of Zions First National Bank.

A. Scott Anderson          President and Chief Executive Officer of Zions First               1997(3)        51
                           National Bank; prior to January 1998, Executive Vice
                           President of Zions First National Bank.

Danne L. Buchanan          Executive Vice President of the Company; President of Zions          1995         40
                           Data Services Company; prior to March 1995, Senior Vice
                           President and General Manager of Zions Data Services
                           Company; prior to January 1998, Senior Vice President of the
                           Company.

Gerald J. Dent             Executive Vice President of the Company; Executive Vice              1987         56
                           President of Zions First National Bank; prior to January
                           1998, Senior Vice President of the Company.

Dale M. Gibbons            Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and                1996         37
                           Secretary of the Company; Executive Vice President and
                           Secretary of Zions First National Bank; prior to August
                           1996, Senior Vice President of First Interstate Bancorp;
                           prior to January 1998, Senior Vice President of the Company.

John J. Gisi               Senior Vice President of the Company; Chairman and                   1994         52
                           Chief Executive Officer of National Bank of Arizona;
                           Director, ASR Investments Corp.

                                                                               5
<PAGE>

W. David Hemingway         Executive Vice President of the Company; Executive Vice            1997(4)        50
                           President of Zions First National Bank.

Clark B. Hinckley          Senior Vice President of the Company; prior to March 1994,           1994         50
                           President of Zions First National Bank of Arizona.

George Hofmann III         Senior Vice President of the Company; President and  Chief           1995         48
                           Executive Officer of Nevada State Bank; prior
                           to April 1995, Senior Vice President of Zions First
                           National Bank.

Gary S. Judd               Senior Vice President of the Company; President and Chief            1998         57
                           Executive Officer of Vectra Bank.
</TABLE>

(1)  Roy W. Simmons (Chairman of the Company) is the father of Harris H. Simmons
     (President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company) and L. E. Simmons (a
     member of the Board of Directors of the Company).
(2)  Officers are elected for indefinite  terms of office and may be replaced at
     the discretion of the Board of Directors.
(3)  Officer of Zions First National Bank since 1990.
(4)  Officer of Zions First National Bank since 1977.

                     PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF VOTING SECURITIES

The  following  table  sets  forth as of  February  27,  1998,  the  record  and
beneficial  ownership  of the  Company's  common stock by the  principal  common
shareholders of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Common Stock
Name and Address                      Type of Ownership           No. of Shares    % of Class
- ----------------                      -----------------           -------------    ----------
<S>                                   <C>                           <C>              <C>  
Roy W. Simmons                        Record and Beneficial         2,279,815        3.30%
         One South Main Street        Beneficial(1)                 1,991,376        2.88%
         Salt Lake City, Utah 84111                                 ---------        ---- 
                                                                    4,271,191        6.18%

Zions First National Bank             Record(2)                     4,581,741        6.60%
         One South Main Street
         Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
</TABLE>

(1)      Represents Roy W. Simmons'  beneficial  ownership interest in 1,991,376
         shares held by a company in which Mr. Simmons serves as a director.
(2)      These  shares are owned of record as of  February  27,  1998,  by Zions
         First  National  Bank, a subsidiary of the Company,  in its capacity as
         fiduciary for various trust and advisory accounts. Of the shares shown,
         Zions First National Bank has sole voting power with respect to a total
         of  3,296,197  shares  (4.7% of the class) it holds as trustee  for the
         Zions   Bancorporation   Employee   Stock  Savings   Plan,   the  Zions
         Bancorporation   Employee   Investment  Savings  Plan,  and  the  Zions
         Bancorporation Profit Sharing Plan. Zions First National Bank also acts
         as trustee for the Zions  Bancorporation  Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan,
         which  holds  1,007,804  shares  (1.4%  of the  class)  and  the  Zions
         Bancorporation  PAYSOP  Plan,  which holds  277,740  shares (.4% of the
         class) as to which  Zions  First  National  Bank does not have or share
         voting power.
6
<PAGE>

     Set forth below is the  beneficial  ownership,  as of February 27, 1998, of
the Company's common stock by each of the Company's directors, and all directors
and officers as a group.
                                             No. of Shares              % of
           Directors                      Beneficially Owned            Class
           ---------                      ------------------            -----
           A. Scott Anderson                   82,365                     *(1)
           Jerry C. Atkin                       9,800                     *(1)
           Grant R. Caldwell                    7,000                     *(1)
           R. D. Cash(3)                       27,000                     *(1)
           Richard H. Madsen                  197,622                     *(1)
           Roger B. Porter(3)                   3,000                     *(1)
           Robert G. Sarver(3)                992,734                  1.18
           Harris H. Simmons                2,498,662(2)               3.62
           L. E. Simmons(3)                 2,296,229(2)               3.33
           Roy W. Simmons(3)                4,271,191(2)               6.19
           I. J. Wagner(3)                    285,000                     *(1)
           All directors and officers
              as a group (31 persons)       7,945,288                 11.44
 ----------
  (1)    Immaterial percentage of ownership (Less than 1%)
  (2)    Totals include 1,991,376 shares  attributed to each individual  through
         serving as a director in a company  holding such shares in the Company.
         Of such 1,991,376 shares  attributed to Harris H. Simmons,  Mr. Simmons
         holds an option to acquire 186,792 shares,  all of which are vested and
         presently exercisable.
  (3)    These individuals also own phantom stock through the Company's Deferred
         Compensation  Plan for  Directors  which are not  included in the above
         totals. The amount of phantom stock held as of December 31, 1997 was as
         follows: Mr. Cash, 24,134 shares; Mr. Porter, 8,313 shares; Mr. Sarver,
         3,545 shares; Mr. L.E. Simmons,  5,193 shares; Mr. Roy Simmons,  20,137
         shares; and Mr. Wagner, 2,891 shares.

     Section 16(a) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 requires officers and
directors of the Company and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class
of the Company's  equity  securities to file reports of ownership and changes in
their  ownership with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  The secretary of
the Company  acts as a  compliance  officer for such filings of its officers and
directors,  and prepares reports for such persons based on information  supplied
by them.  Based solely on its review of such  information,  the Company believes
that for the period from January 1, 1997 through December 31, 1997, its officers
and directors were in compliance with all applicable filing requirements, except
that Mr.  Robert  Sarver  filed a late  report  on  shares  sold,  donated,  and
transferred, Messrs. W. David Hemingway, Gerald J. Dent and Walter Kelly filed a
late report on stock options exercised, Mr. I.J. Wagner filed a late report on a
transfer of shares, and Messrs. A. Scott Anderson, Gerald J. Dent, L.E. Simmons,
James Jensen,  Richard Madsen, Roy Simmons and Clark Hinckley filed late reports
on their dividend reinvestment plan shares.
                                                                               7
<PAGE>
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The following Summary Compensation Table shows compensation earned from the
Company for services  rendered  during fiscal years 1997,  1996 and 1995 for the
person who was chief  executive  officer at the end of the last fiscal year, and
the four  most  highly  compensated  executive  officers  of the  Company  whose
salaries and bonuses exceeded $100,000 in 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Summary Compensation Table

                                                                Long-term
                                            Annual            Compensation
                                        Compensation(1)          Awards
                                        ---------------    --------------------
                                                           Value-  Securities   All Other
                                       Salary      Bonus  Sharing  Underlying  Compensation
Name and Principal Position     Year ($)(2)(3)(4)($)(4)(5) ($)(7)  Options(#)(6)($)(4)(8)(9)(10)
- ---------------------------     -------------- ----------- ------ ------------- ---------------
<S>                             <C>    <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>         <C>
Harris H. Simmons               1997   385,563             189,150    40,000      54,093
     President and Chief        1996   353,103   200,000   144,950    20,000      53,577
     Executive Officer, Zions   1995   355,326   170,000    84,950    20,000      49,180
     Bancorporation

A. Scott Anderson               1997   207,101             138,225    20,000      27,600
     President and Chief        1996   197,647   100,000   115,960    12,000      24,564
     Executive Officer, Zions   1995   190,349    87,500    67,960     8,000      20,261
     First National Bank

John J. Gisi                    1997   225,500                   0    18,000      17,762
     Chairman and Chief         1996   216,500    98,000         0    12,000      17,552
     Executive Officer,         1995   194,904    90,000         0    20,000      18,054
     National Bank of Arizona

W. David Hemingway              1997   188,101             138,225    16,000      30,123
      Executive Vice President, 1996   173,688    90,000   115,960     9,000      23,125
      Zions Bancorporation      1995   162,689    73,000    67,960     7,000      24,579

Dale M. Gibbons(11)             1997   174,716                   0    12,000           0
     Executive Vice President,  1996    62,805    31,000         0     8,000           0
     Zions Bancorporation       1995         0         0         0         0           0
- ---------------
</TABLE>
(1)   The column for other annual  compensation  has been omitted since the only
      items reportable  thereunder for the named persons are perquisites,  which
      did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of salary and bonus for any of
      the named persons.
(2)   See   "Certain   Relationships   and   Related   Transactions"   regarding
      non-qualified  stock option  income for John J. Gisi  recognized  in 1995,
      1996 and 1997.
(3)   Includes all  contributions to the Company's  Employee Stock Savings Plan,
      Employee  Investment  Savings Plan, and Employee Medical Plan made through
      salary reductions and deferrals.

8
<PAGE>

(4)   All  employees of the Company who have at least one year of service,  have
      worked at least  1,000 hours in the  previous  twelve  months,  and are at
      least twenty-one years of age are eligible to participate in the Company's
      Employee Stock Savings Plan and the Company's Employee  Investment Savings
      Plan, which are defined  contribution  plans qualified under 401(k) of the
      Internal Revenue Code. The plans require  contributions  from participants
      in increments of one percent of  compensation,  up to a maximum of fifteen
      percent.  Contributions  made under the  Employee  Stock  Savings Plan are
      aggregated with contributions  made under the Employee  Investment Savings
      Plan for purposes of  establishing  the maximum  contribution  limitation,
      which  is  fifteen  percent.   If  the  participant  elects  to  have  his
      contributions  invested in the Company's common stock through the Employee
      Stock Savings  Plan,  the Company  shall  contribute to the  participant's
      account  an  amount   equal  to  fifty   percent   of  the   participant's
      contribution,  up to five percent of the participant's  compensation.  The
      Company shall contribute an additional amount equal to twenty-five percent
      of the participant's contribution to the Employee Investment Savings Plan,
      approximately  five  to ten  percent  of the  participant's  compensation.
      Additional contributions of up to five percent of compensation may be made
      by a  participant  but are  not  matched  by the  Company.  The  Company's
      contributions are determined by reference to the employees'  contributions
      and are not  discretionary.  Vesting  occurs upon  contribution;  however,
      distribution  of  Company  contributions  is made  only  upon  retirement,
      permanent  disability,   death,  termination  of  employment,  or  special
      hardship  situations.  Participant  contributions  are included in amounts
      shown  as  "Salary,"  above.  The  Company's  matching  contributions  are
      included under "All Other  Compensation,"  above.  For each of the persons
      named above,  the amounts accrued for 1997, 1996 and 1995 were as follows,
      respectively: Mr. Simmons, 4,701, $3,750 and $14,316; Mr. Anderson, 5,826,
      $1,841 and $3,160;  Mr. Gisi,  6,000,  $5,625 and $7,200;  Mr.  Hemingway,
      6,000, $5,353 and $6,995; and Mr. Gibbons, $0, $0 and $0.
(5)   Cash bonuses are reported in the year earned but are paid in the following
      year.  Bonuses for Mr. Harris H. Simmons are  established by the Executive
      Compensation  Committee  of the  Board  of  Directors  (the  "Compensation
      Committee").  Bonuses for the other named officers are  recommended by Mr.
      Simmons  and  approved  by  the   Compensation   Committee.   Bonuses  are
      discretionary,  but are generally based upon the operating  results of the
      Company and the performance of the individuals.
(6)   Options shown were issued under the Company's Incentive Stock Option Plan.
      The plan is administered by the  Compensation  Committee.  Options granted
      have an  exercise  price  equal  to the fair  market  value on the date of
      grant, vest over a term of three to five years, and expire in six years.
(7)   Does not  include  amounts  accrued by the Company  against its  potential
      future  liability  under  the  Senior  Management  Value-Sharing  Plan,  a
      deferred bonus plan for senior  management.  Awards funds were established
      under the plan in 1991,  1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and members
      of senior  management  were granted units of  participation  in each award
      fund.  Payouts  under the plan with  respect to each award fund occur four
      years  following the  establishment  of such fund,  and are  determined by
      applying a formula  established in connection  with each award fund to the
      Company's average return on equity and average  per-share  earnings during
      the  four-year  period.  The Company  intends to establish  award funds in
      future years.  The Company  estimates its annual  accrual  against  future
      payouts under the plan each year by applying the formula  established  for
      each award fund by the Board of Directors to the Company's  performance in
      the year.  Through  December 31, 1994,  no amounts were paid out under the
      plan.  Payout occurred under the plan in 1997, 1996 and 1995.  Payouts are
      reported in the above table under  "Long-term  Compensation  Awards."  For
      each of the persons named above,  the amounts  accrued for 1997,  1996 and
      1995 were as follows,  respectively:  Mr. Simmons, $390,073,  $390,165 and
      $211,192;  Mr.  Anderson,  $273,705,  $274,519  and  $151,769;  Mr.  Gisi,
      $245,703,  $199,173 and $76,013; Mr. Hemingway,  $256,124,  $259,941,  and
      $147,845;  and Mr. Gibbons,  $201,243, $0 and $0. See "Long-term Incentive
      Plan Awards in Fiscal 1997," that follows.
(8)   Includes  amounts  accrued  under  the  Company's  Supplemental  Executive
      Retirement Plan (SERP) For addtional  details  regarding the SERP,  please
      see page 12. For each of the persons named above,  the amounts accrued for
      1997, 1996 and 1995 were as follows,  respectively:  Mr. Simmons, $45,810,
      $46,466 and $31,504; Mr. Anderson, $18,192, $19,362 and $13,741; Mr. Gisi,
      $8,180,  $8,566 and $7,494; Mr. Hemingway,  $20,541,  $14,411 and $14,224;
      and Mr. Gibbons, $0, $0 and $0.
(9)   Amounts of All Other  Compensation are amounts  contributed or accrued for
      the named  officers  under the  Company's  Employee  Stock  Savings  Plan,
      Employee  Investment  Savings  Plan,  Supplemental  Retirement  Plan,  and
      Employee Profit Sharing Plan.
(10) In 1992, the Board of Directors adopted the Zions  Bancorporation  Employee
     Profit  Sharing  Plan, a defined  contribution  plan,  pursuant to which an
     award is made to all employees as a percentage of salary and bonus when the
     Company achieves annual profits representing a return on equity (net income
     divided by average shareholders' equity) target established by the Board of
     Directors  of at least 14%. The minimum  award is 1% of covered  payroll at
     14% return on equity,  with the award to be a greater percentage of covered
     payroll if the return on equity is greater. Amounts accrued to the accounts
     of employees are invested in Company common stock.  For each of the persons
     named above,  the amounts  accrued for 1997, 1996 and 1995 were as follows,
     respectively: Mr. Simmons, $3,582, $3,361 and $3,360; Mr. Anderson, $3,582,
     $3,361 and $3,360;  Mr. Gisi,  $3,582,  $3,361 and $3,360;  Mr.  Hemingway,
     $3,582, $3,361 and $3,360; and Mr. Gibbons, $0, $0 and $0.
(11) Mr. Gibbons' employment by the Company commenced August 20, 1996.

                                                                               9
<PAGE>

Stock Option Grants in Fiscal Year 1997

     The  following  table  shows the  number of shares  with  respect  to which
options were granted during 1997 to each of the named persons, together with the
percentage  of all  grants to  employees  which  the  grant to the named  person
represents,  the exercise price of such option,  and the expiration  date of the
option.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       Potential Realizable Value at
                                                       Assumed Annual Rates of Stock
                                                          Price Appreciation for
                            Individual Grants                 Option Term(1)
                    -------------------------------   -------------------------------
                              % of Total
                                Options
                     Options  Granted to   Exercise
                     Granted   Employees     Price     Expiration
    Name              (#)(2) in Fiscal Year ($/Sh)        Date       5%($)     10%($)
    ----              ------ -------------- ------     ----------   -------   -------
<S>                   <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>          <C>       <C>    
Harris H. Simmons     40,000      8.77       31.00     03-20-2003   421,719   956,736
A. Scott Anderson     20,000      4.39       31.00     03-20-2003   210,859   478,368
John J. Gisi          18,000      3.95       31.00     03-20-2003   189,773   430,531
W. David Hemingway    16,000      3.51       31.00     03-20-2003   168,687   382,694
Dale M. Gibbons       12,000      2.63       31.00     03-20-2003   126,516   287,021
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1)      Potential  unrealized value is based on an assumption that the price of
         the  common  stock  appreciates  at the annual  rate shown  (compounded
         annually)  from the date of grant until the end of the six-year  option
         term.   These  numbers  are  calculated   based  on  the   requirements
         promulgated  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and do not
         reflect the Company's estimate of future stock price growth.
(2)      The  Company's  Incentive  Stock  Option  Plan is  administered  by the
         Compensation  Committee  of the Board of  Directors.  The  Compensation
         Committee determines the eligibility of employees, the number of shares
         to be granted and the terms of such grants.  All stock options  granted
         in fiscal  year 1997 were  incentive  stock  options,  have an exercise
         price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant, vest 25% per
         year  beginning  one year after  date of grant,  and have a term of six
         years.

In accordance  with the terms of the  Non-Employee  Directors Stock Option Plan,
non-qualified  options were granted to each non-employee  director in 1997. Each
grant is an option to  purchase  4,000  shares at $30.00 per share.  The options
vest and become exercisable in four equal installments of 1,000 shares beginning
six  months  after  the date of  grant  and  continuing  at  one-year  intervals
thereafter. The 1997 options expire on April 27, 2007.

10
<PAGE>

Aggregated Option Exercises in Last Fiscal Year
and Fiscal Year-end Option Values

     The following  table sets forth the number of shares acquired by any of the
named persons upon exercise of stock options in 1997, the value realized through
the exercise of such options, and the number of unexercised options held by such
person,  including both those which are presently  exercisable,  and those which
are not presently exercisable.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       Shares                       Number of             
                      Acquired                  Shares Underlying    Value of Unexercised
                        Upon                       Unexercised              In-the-       
                       Option         Value          Options             Money Options
      Name           Exercise(#)   Realized($)  at 12-31-97(#)(1)      at 12-31-97($)(2)   
      ----           -----------   -----------  -----------------      -----------------   
                                                             Not                    Not
                                            Exercisable  Exercisable Exercisable Exercisable
                                            -----------  ----------- ----------- -----------
<S>                     <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>      
Harris H. Simmons         --          --        30,000      70,000   1,015,000   1,508,125
A. Scott Anderson         --          --        17,500      36,500     592,719     795,656
John J. Gisi            14,400     406,908      37,148      54,652   1,393,690   1,585,738
W. David Hemingway      16,000     546,125      21,844      44,156     787,479   1,258,178
Dale M. Gibbons           --          --         2,000      18,000      46,625     312,375
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1)      Of the shares shown as underlying  unexercised  options for Mr. Gisi, a
         total of 14,400 exercisable and 14,400 unexercisable  represent options
         received in exchange for options of National  Bancorp of Arizona,  Inc.
         upon its acquisition by the Company.

(2)      Potential  unrealized  value is (i) the fair market value at fiscal  
         1997  year-end  ($45.375)  less the option  exercise price, times (ii) 
         the number of shares.

Long-term Incentive Plan Awards in Fiscal 1997

     The following table sets forth certain information regarding awards made in
1997 pursuant to the Company's Senior Management  Value-Sharing Plan, which is a
deferred bonus plan intended to encourage the creation of long-term  shareholder
value and  promote  teamwork  among  subsidiaries  and  divisions.  The plan was
established  in 1991 by the Board of Directors  upon the  recommendation  of the
Compensation  Committee.  Members  of senior  management  are  granted  units of
participation  in each annual award fund.  Payouts under the plan are determined
by  allocating  the award fund among the  holders of units of  participation  in
proportion  to the  number of units  held by the  participant.  The size of each
award  fund is  determined  according  to a  formula  which  uses the  Company's
aggregate  earnings per share ("EPS") over the award period,  with an adjustment
based upon the Company's  average return on equity ("ROE") over the same period.
Both the  aggregate  EPS and average  ROE  numbers  are  adjusted to exclude the
effects of  goodwill  and certain  merger-related  expenses.  Relatively  higher
levels of EPS and ROE will make the award fund larger.  An additional award fund
is proposed to be established  each year,  although future awards are subject to
the discretion of the  Compensation  Committee and the Board of Directors.  Such
award funds have been established annually since the plan's inception.
                                                                              11
<PAGE>

     The award  fund  established  in 1997 is to range in amount  from $0 for an
adjusted EPS growth rate of less than 5% annually over the four years  beginning
in 1997, to a maximum of  $10,006,000,  corresponding  to an adjusted EPS growth
rate of 25% annually for such period.  The award fund will then be adjusted by a
factor  determined  by the average  adjusted ROE for the period.  If the average
adjusted ROE is less than 14%, the award adjustment  factor will be 0, and there
will be no amounts paid under the plan.  If the average  adjusted ROE is between
14% and 17%, the factor will be 1. The award adjustment  factor will increase to
a maximum of 1.33 at average adjusted ROE levels of 22% and above.  Accordingly,
the maximum  aggregate  of all  payments  possible  under the 1997 award fund is
$13,308,000.  Adjustments  are to be made for stock splits,  stock dividends and
other changes to the Company's capitalization.

     Each member of senior management  designated by the Compensation  Committee
to participate in the award fund established for a given period has been awarded
a number of  performance  units in the plan.  The  following  table  sets  forth
estimated  future  payouts  for the  named  individuals  under  the  award  fund
established  in 1997  based  on the  following  assumptions,  respectively:  the
threshold  amount  represents  the minimum  amount  payable under the plan ($0);
Example #1 represents  the amount that would be paid if the  Company's  adjusted
EPS annual  growth  rate  during the period is 13% (as to which  there can be no
assurance) and the average adjusted ROE is 17% (also as to which there can be no
assurance); Example #2 represents the amount that would be paid if the Company's
adjusted EPS annual  growth rate during the period is 16% (as to which there can
be no assurance) and the average  adjusted ROE is be 20% (also as to which there
can be no assurance);  the maximum amount represents the maximum possible amount
payable  to the named  individuals  from the  award  fund  established  in 1997.
Estimated Future Payout
                                                    of Value Sharing Plan
                                            ------------------------------------
                     Number of  Performance          Example   Example
                   Performance Period Until Threshold  #1        #2      Maximum
Name                   Units     Payout        ($)     ($)       ($)       ($)
- ----                   -----     ------        ---   -------   -------   -------
Harris H. Simmons      9,750    4 Years         0    168,938   304,268   865,020
A. Scott Anderson      6,250    4 Years         0    108,294   195,044   554,500
John J. Gisi           6,900    4 Years         0    119,556   215,328   612,168
W. David Hemingway     6,500    4 Years         0    112,626   202,846   576,680
Dale M. Gibbons        6,500    4 Years         0    112,626   202,846   576,680

Retirement Plan

         The  Company's  retirement  plan  covers  substantially  all  full-time
employees  who  have  five  years  or more of  service  with  the  Company.  The
retirement  plan is a cash balance  defined benefit plan. It provides a lump sum
at retirement  for  participating  employees  according to a formula which takes
into account an employee's age and annual  compensation.  Compensation for these
purposes includes salary, bonuses and payouts under incentive plans.

         For each year of credited  service,  cash balance pay credits are equal
to the participant's earnings multiplied by the applicable pay credit percentage
shown in the chart below.  Annual interest credits are based on the GATT 30-year
bond rate (6.48% for 1997).

12
<PAGE>
                AGE                       PAY CREDIT
                Less than 30              2.25%
                30-39                     3%
                40-49                     4%
                50-54                     5.25%
                55-59                     7%
                60 or over                9.25%

The maximum  benefits  payable  pursuant to the  Company's  retirement  plan are
limited by Sections 415 and 401(a)(17) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.  Under  current  regulations,  earnings for the purpose of  determining
benefits cannot exceed $160,000.  Effective January 1, 1994, the Company adopted
its  Executive  Management  Pension  Plan,  which  is a  supplemental  executive
retirement plan (SERP), to restore pension benefits limited by the Code sections
referred  to above.  The SERP is an  unfunded,  nonqualified  plan  under  which
benefits  are paid from the  Company's  general  assets.  The Board of Directors
determines  the  participants  in the SERP from  among  those  employees  of the
Company  who are or have  been,  on or after  the  effective  date of the  SERP,
members of the Company's Executive Management Committee and who (1) are employed
in a management  position with the Company having principal  responsibility  for
the management,  direction and success of the Company as a whole or a particular
business unit thereof,  or (2) are highly  compensated  employees of the Company
within the meaning of ERISA  Section  401.  Each of the named  individuals  is a
participant in the SERP.

         The  following  table  illustrates  the estimated  annual  benefits and
equivalent  Lump Sum Cash  Balance  payable  under the plan at age 65 based on a
combination of the basic pension plan and the SERP. Estimated annual pension and
lump sum cash balance  amounts at age 65 assume the  following:  1) a 7% annuity
rate to convert the  estimated age 65 cash balance to an annual  amount;  2) the
November 1997 treasury bill rate of 6.11% used to calculate all years'  interest
on the Cash Balance; 3) 1997 compensation increasing by 4% per year to age 65.

                                      Estimated      Estimated
                                    Cash Balance       Annual
                                      at Age 65       Benefit
                                      ---------       -------
      Harris H. Simmons              $3,629,739       $343,853
      A. Scott Anderson               1,133,980        107,424
      John J. Gisi                      539,336         51,093
      W. David Hemingway              1,294,939        122,672
      Dale M. Gibbons                 1,150,390        108,979


                                                                              13
<PAGE>

                   PERFORMANCE GRAPH FOR ZIONS BANCORPORATION
              INDEXED COMPARISON OF 5-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN


                           1992     1993     1994     1995     1996     1997
                           ----     ----     ----     ----     ----     ----
S & P 500                 100.00   109.92   111.34   152.66   187.28   249.28
KBW 50 Index              100.00   105.54   100.16   160.41   226.91   331.73
Zions Bancorporation      100.00    99.95   100.04   227.72   298.69   527.93

Note:    Assumes $100 invested on 12-31-92 in Zions Bancorporation, an S & P 500
         stock  market  index and Keefe,  Bruyette  & Woods  (KBW) 50 bank stock
         index. Assumes reinvestment of dividends on a quarterly basis.


                              ZIONS BANCORPORATION
                            RETURN ON AVERAGE EQUITY

                                   PERCENTAGE

                               1993       20.33%
                               1994       18.82%
                               1995       20.22%
                               1996       28.95%
                               1997       19.88%



14
<PAGE>

                          COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

             Summary of Compensation Policies for Executive Officers

The Executive Compensation Committee (the "Compensation Committee") of the Board
of Directors has furnished the following report on executive compensation:

         Under the supervision of the  Compensation  Committee,  the Company has
developed  and  implemented  compensation  policies,  plans and  programs  which
attempt to enhance the profitability of the Company, and thus shareholder value,
by aligning  closely the financial  interests of the Company's  senior  managers
with those of its shareholders.  For the Company,  earnings per share growth and
return  on  average   shareholders'   equity  are   critical   elements  in  the
establishment of long-term incentive programs.  Due to the Company's  relatively
modest  compensation  structure,  the  Compensation  Committee has not adopted a
policy   regarding   the  federal  tax   deductibility   of  certain   executive
compensation.  The process involved in the executive compensation  determination
for fiscal 1997 is summarized below:

o    Compensation  for each of the  persons  named in the  Summary  Compensation
     Table, as well as other senior  executives,  consists of a base salary,  an
     annual bonus and long-term  incentive  compensation.  Long-term  incentives
     consist  primarily  of annual  grants of units of  participation  under the
     Company's Senior Management  Value-Sharing Plan (the "Value-Sharing Plan"),
     supplemented by grants of Incentive Stock Options.  The Value-Sharing  Plan
     is closely  tied to Company  performance  as measured by earnings per share
     and return on shareholders' equity. See "Long-term Incentive Plan Awards in
     Fiscal 1997."

o    The  Compensation  Committee  determines  base salaries and annual  bonuses
     after a subjective  evaluation of various factors,  including salaries paid
     to  senior   managers  with  comparable   qualifications,   experience  and
     responsibilities at other institutions,  individual job performance,  local
     market  conditions and the Committee's  perception of the overall financial
     performance  of  the  Company  (particularly  operating  results),  without
     considering  specific  performance  targets  or  objectives,   and  without
     assigning particular weight to individual factors. As to executive officers
     other than the chief executive  officer,  the  Compensation  Committee also
     considers the recommendations made by the chief executive officer.

o    Information regarding salaries paid by other financial institutions is
     provided annually through an independent  survey,  and normally every three
     years by an independent consultant (most recently for 1996). The consultant
     compares the Company's  compensation  levels with a peer group of financial
     institutions selected by asset size from the consultant's  database. In its
     most recent study, the consultant selected 23 institutions with asset sizes
     ranging  from  $2.5  billion  to $20.1  billion.  Zions  ranked in the 43rd
     percentile  among  the  peer  group  in terms  of  asset  size.  The  study
     indicated,  based on a regression analysis,  that the base and annual bonus
     compensation  in total for the Company's  chief  executive  officer and the
     other executive  officers was somewhat below the median total  compensation
     level for the peer group as adjusted for institution  size. This peer group
     is not the same peer group used in the Performance Graphs.

15
<PAGE>

o    Units of  participation  in the  Value-Sharing  Plan's award funds are
     granted on a discretionary  basis, in a laddered  structure  reflecting the
     position and proportionate  responsibility for overall corporate results of
     each executive officer in the Company. The allocation of units is not based
     on any  measure  of  Company  performance,  but is  based  on a  subjective
     evaluation   of  individual   performance   and  the  scope  of  individual
     responsibilities.  The  Committee  reviewed and approved the  Value-Sharing
     Plan's  target  levels of  earnings  per share and return on equity for the
     1997 award fund as well as the corresponding variation in size of the award
     fund.  In 1997,  as in every  year since the  Value-Sharing  Plan was first
     adopted, the Company's adjusted aggregate EPS and adjusted average ROE have
     been within ranges which, if continued  throughout the applicable four-year
     period covered by each award fund,  would provide payouts under the plan. A
     payout  occurred  under  the  Value-Sharing  Plan in  1997.  (See  "Summary
     Compensation  Table," n.7.) The Company's  consultant  has reported that in
     comparison  to the peer group  selected by the  consultant,  the  Company's
     compensation  package,  for the  Executive  Officers  as a group,  provides
     proportionately   less  compensation  through  salary  and  bonus,  and  an
     appropriately   competitive  level  of  long-term  incentive  compensation,
     consisting  of  the   Value-Sharing   Plan  and  incentive  stock  options.
     Consultant  reports are merely one factor taken into  consideration  by the
     Committee  in  the  process  of  making  an   independent   and  subjective
     determination as to compensation.

o    The Compensation Committee reviews the salary of the chief executive
     officer and compares it to those in peer  positions in companies of similar
     size  and  performance  levels,  using  information  obtained  through  the
     Company's   independent    compensation    consultant   concerning   salary
     competitiveness,  and extrapolating  from information  obtained in previous
     years  when  no  survey  has  been  conducted  for  the  latest  year.  The
     Compensation  Committee  establishes  the chief  executive  officer's  base
     salary and annual bonus based on the  Compensation  Committee's  subjective
     assessment  of  the  chief  executive   officer's  past  performance,   its
     expectation as to his future  contributions in leading the Company, and the
     information provided by the compensation  consultant.  A similar process is
     used by the  Compensation  Committee  to  determine  the number of units of
     participation  the chief executive  officer  receives in the  Value-Sharing
     Plan.

o    The  Company   periodically   grants  incentive  stock  options  to
     executives.  Grants were made in March 1997. Such grants are  discretionary
     with the  Compensation  Committee,  and are  typically  made in a  laddered
     structure  reflecting the position of each executive officer in the Company
     and  that  person's  proportionate  responsibility  for  overall  corporate
     performance. Typically, the chief executive officer recommends the quantity
     and terms of options to be granted to the executive  officers other than to
     himself.  The allocation of stock options among  executive  officers is not
     based on any measure of Company  performance,  but is based on a subjective
     evaluation  of  individual  performance  and the scope of the  individual's
     responsibilities.  Information  regarding  the  quantity and terms of stock
     options  granted by other financial  institutions  has been provided by the
     Company's independent consultant with respect to the peer group selected by
     the consultant.  

Executive  Compensation Committee 

     Jerry C. Atkin, Chairman
     Roger B. Porter

16
<PAGE>



Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

         None

                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         Certain directors and officers and/or their affiliates borrow from time
to time from Zions First National Bank and other subsidiaries of the Company, at
regular rates and terms, and are subject to all rules and regulations applicable
to banks.  Aggregate  loans to the directors,  executive  officers and principal
shareholders  of the  Company  in excess of  $60,000  to any such  persons as of
December 31, 1997,  comprised less than 2% of total shareholders'  equity of the
Company.  Such borrowings  were made in the ordinary course of business,  do not
involve  more-than-normal  risks  of  collectibility,  and  are  made  on  terms
comparable to borrowings by others of similar credit risk.

         In September 1993, the Company  acquired  National  Bancorp of Arizona,
Inc.  ("NBA").  As part of the  acquisition  of NBA by the Company,  the Company
agreed to convert all options for the  purchase of NBA common stock into options
for purchase of common stock of the Company. At the time of the NBA acquisition,
John J. Gisi held an option for the  purchase  of  100,000  shares of NBA common
stock (the "NBA  Option").  Pursuant  to a Stock  Option  Agreement  between the
Company and Mr.  Gisi,  the NBA Option was replaced by an option  entitling  Mr.
Gisi to purchase up to 45,000 shares of the Company (the "New  Option").  During
1997,  1996 and 1995,  Mr.  Gisi  exercised  certain  of the New  Options  which
resulted  in  Mr.  Gisi   recognizing   $406,908,   $909,824   and  $807,632  of
non-qualified stock option income.

       PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES
                         OF CAPITAL STOCK OF THE COMPANY
                                  (Proposal 2)

         The authorized capital stock of the Company now consists of 103,000,000
shares divided into classes as follows:  (1) 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock,
without par value,  of which  69,053,648 are  outstanding as of the record date,
(2) 3,000,000  shares of preferred stock,  without par value,  none of which are
outstanding as of the record date.

                                                                              17
<PAGE>

         The Board of  Directors  believes it would be in the best  interests of
the Company and its  shareholders  to amend the  Articles  of  Incorporation  to
increase the authorized  capital stock from 103,000,000 shares without par value
to 203,000,000  shares divided into  200,000,000  shares of Common Stock without
par value,  and 3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock without par value. To effect
this change,  Article VIII of the Articles of Incorporation  would be amended to
read in its entirety as follows:

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                           The aggregate number of shares of capital stock which
         this corporation shall have authority to issue is 203,000,000,  divided
         into two classes as follows:

         (1)      200,000,000  shares of Common Stock,  without par value, which
                  shares shall be entitled to one vote per share.

         (2)      3,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, without par value.

                  The Board of Directors of this corporation is expressly vested
         with the authority to determine, with respect to any class of Preferred
         Stock,  the  dividend  rights   (including  rights  as  to  cumulative,
         noncumulative  or  partially  cumulative  dividends)  and  preferences,
         dividend rate,  conversion rights,  voting rights,  rights and terms or
         redemption  (including  sinking fund  provisions),  redemption price or
         prices, and the liquidation  preferences of any such class of Preferred
         Stock. As to any series of Preferred  Stock,  the Board of Directors is
         authorized to determine the number of shares  constituting such series,
         and to increase or decrease (but not below the number of shares of such
         series then outstanding) the number of shares of that series.

                  The Board of Directors of this corporation is expressly vested
         with the  authority  to divide the  above-described  class of Preferred
         Stock  into  series  and to fix and  determine  the  variations  in the
         relative rights and preferences of the shares of Preferred Stock of any
         series so established, including, without limitation, the following:

                (i)   the rate of dividend;
                (ii)  the price at and the terms and conditions on which shares
                      may be redeemed;  
                (iii) the amount payable upon shares in event of involuntary
                      liquidation; 
                (iv)  the amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary 
                      liquidation;  
                (v)   sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of 
                      shares;  
                (vi)  the terms and conditions on which shares may be converted,
                      if the shares of any series are issued with the privilege 
                      of conversion; and
                (vii) such other variations in the relative rights and  
                      preferences of such shares which at the time of the 
                      establishment of such series are not prohibited by law.

18
<PAGE>

         The only change effected in Article VIII by the proposed amendment will
be to  increase  the  authorized  shares of capital  stock from  103,000,000  to
203,000,000 and accordingly  increase the  authorization  shares of Common Stock
from 100,000,000 to 200,000,000. The remaining text of Article VIII as set forth
above is unchanged from the text as presently in effect.

         The Board of Directors is proposing to increase the  authorized  Common
Stock to afford the Board of Directors  flexibility  in  responding  promptly to
future financing  requirements of the Company,  including,  without  limitation,
splitting of the common stock,  acquisitions  of other  businesses for shares of
capital stock on the most favorable terms as  opportunities  may arise from time
to time in the future, the raising of additional capital,  and issuance pursuant
to stock option or other employee  benefit or incentive  compensation  plans. If
authorization of any increase in the capital stock is postponed until a specific
need  arises,  the delay and  expense  incident  to  obtaining  the  approval of
stockholders  at that  time  could  impair  the  Company's  ability  to meet its
objectives.  The Company has no immediate need for additional  authorized common
shares. There is no present intention to issue any of the Preferred Stock.

         If the proposed amendment is approved, the additional shares of capital
stock would be generally  available for issuance  without  further action by the
shareholders.  The additional  shares of Common Stock issued  hereafter would be
identical to the Common Stock  currently  outstanding.  No  stockholder  has any
preemptive  rights, and issuance of the additional Common Stock could dilute the
voting rights of present holders of Common Stock. It is possible, depending upon
the transaction in which either Common Stock or Preferred Stock is issued,  that
issuance of such  capital  stock could have a dilutive  effect on  shareholders'
equity and earnings per share attributable to present holders.

         The  Board of  Directors  could  issue the  additional  (as well as the
existing  authorized but unissued)  capital stock to impede any  unsolicited bid
for  control  of the  Company  which  the  Board  believed  was not in the  best
interests  of  the  Company  and  its  stockholders.  The  availability  of  the
additional capital stock as a defensive response to a takeover attempt was not a
motivating  factor in the Board's approval of the proposed  amendment to Article
VIII, and the Board is not aware of any effort to obtain control of the Company.

         The affirmative  vote of a majority of the outstanding  Common Stock is
required for approval of the proposed amendment to Article VIII.

         The  Board  of  Directors  recommends  that  stockholders  vote FOR the
proposed amendments of Article VIII of the Restated Articles of Incorporation to
increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock.

                                                                              19
<PAGE>

                   PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE ZIONS BANCORPORATION
                    KEY EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
                                  (Proposal 3)

         The  Company's Key Employee  Incentive  Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"),
was adopted on December 28,  1981,  by the Board of Directors of the Company and
approved on April 28, 1982,  by the  shareholders  of the Company.  The Plan was
amended by the Company's shareholders on April 27, 1990, and April 28, 1995. The
proposed  amendment to the Plan would  automatically  make available for options
under the Plan,  in any one  calendar  year,  one percent (1%) of the issued and
outstanding  shares of the  Company's  common  stock as of the first day of each
calendar  year for  which the Plan is in  effect.  Any  shares  of common  stock
available  in any year using the one percent  (1%)  formula that are not granted
under  the  Plan  will be  available  for use  under  the  terms  of the Plan in
subsequent  years.  The  common  stock  available  for  issuance  under the Plan
pursuant to the one percent (1%) per year formula will not include  common stock
which the  Company  is now or may  become  obligated  to issue as a result of an
acquisition,  merger or reorganization  involving the Company. The exact wording
of the proposed amendment is set forth below.

         The  purpose of the Plan is to  promote  the  long-term  success of the
Company by providing  financial  incentives  to key employees of the Company and
its subsidiaries who are in positions to make significant  contributions  toward
such success. The Plan is designed to attract individuals of outstanding ability
to employment with the Company or a subsidiary and to encourage key employees to
acquire a proprietary  interest in the Company,  to continue employment with the
Company  or a  subsidiary,  and  to  render  superior  performance  during  such
employment.

         The Plan will expire on March 3, 2005,  unless  extended by approval of
the shareholders.  Currently, the aggregate number of common shares with respect
to which options can be granted under the Plan cannot  exceed  3,224,000  shares
(after adjusting for the 4 to 1 stock split which occurred in 1997).

         The Board of  Directors  believes it would be in the best  interests of
the Company  and its  shareholders  to amend the Plan to provide  for  automatic
increases  in the  aggregate  number of  shares  available  under the Plan.  The
amendment  will allow the Plan to grow along with the growth of the  Company and
insure that the Company has sufficient  stock  available  under the Plan to meet
the stated purposes of the Plan.


         It is proposed that Paragraph  1.3(a) of the Plan be amended to read in
its entirety as follows:

      1.3  Aggregate Limitation

               (a)     The  aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock with
                       respect  to  which  Incentive  Stock  Options  may be
                       granted  under  this  Plan on an annual  basis  shall
                       not  exceed  one  percent  (1%)  of  the  issued  and
                       outstanding  shares of  Common  Stock as of the first
                       day of each  calendar  year for  which the Plan is in
                       effect,  subject to  adjustment  in  accordance  with
                       Section  3.1.  Any  shares   available  in  any  year
                       using this  formula  that are not granted  under this
                       Plan will be available for use in subsequent years.

         The Board of Directors  recommends that the  shareholders  vote FOR the
above proposal.

20
<PAGE>

                     RELATIONSHIP WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
                                  (Proposal 4)

         KPMG Peat  Marwick LLP,  Certified  Public  Accountants,  has served as
independent   auditor  for  the  Company  and  its   subsidiaries   since  1965.
Representatives  of KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP are  expected  to be  present at the
Annual  Meeting  of  Shareholders,  and  will  have  the  opportunity  to make a
statement,  if they  desire  to do so,  and  will be  available  to  respond  to
appropriate questions.

         The Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee,
has appointed KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as the firm of independent  certified public
accountants to audit the books and accounts of the Company and its  subsidiaries
for  the  year  to  end  December  31,  1998,  subject  to  ratification  by the
shareholders.

         The Board of Directors  recommends that the  shareholders  vote FOR the
above proposal.

                                 OTHER BUSINESS
                                  (Proposal 5)

         Except as set forth herein, management has no knowledge of any business
to come before the meeting.  If, however,  any other matters of which management
is now unaware  properly  come before this  meeting,  it is the intention of the
persons named in the Proxy to vote the Proxy in accordance  with their  judgment
on such matters.

                   DATE OF SUBMISSION OF SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
                         FOR 1999 SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING

         The date by which  shareholders'  proposals  must be  submitted  to the
Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement for the 1999 Shareholders'  Meeting
is December 15, 1998.

                                                                              21
<PAGE>

THE COMPANY WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH SHAREHOLDER, ON WRITTEN REQUEST,
A COPY OF THE  COMPANY'S  ANNUAL  REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR  1997,  INCLUDING  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND SCHEDULES  THERETO,  AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION. WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR SUCH INFORMATION SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO
THE CORPORATE SECRETARY, ONE SOUTH MAIN, SUITE 1380, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111.














































 ZIONS BANCORPORATION - ONE SOUTH MAIN, SUITE 1380 - SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84111
                                 (801) 524-4787

22
<PAGE>
                              ZIONS BANCORPORATION
                                                          SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF
PROXY                                                     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     The undersigned  hereby appoints A. SCOTT ANDERSON,  DALE M. GIBBONS and W.
DAVID  HEMINGWAY  or any of them with full  power of  substitution,  the  lawful
attorneys and proxies of the undersigned,  to vote all of the shares held by the
undersigned in Zions  Bancorporaiton at the Annual  Shareholders'  Meeting to be
held on April 25, 1997 and at all  adjournments  thereof upon the matters listed
below.

1.   To elect Directors

     All nominees listed below (except as marked to the contrary)

                                             FOR / /   WITHHOLD AUTHORITY / /

     INSTRUCTION: to withhold authority for any individual, cross a line through
the nominee's name in the list below:

           Roger Porter       L.E. Simmons         I.J. Wagner

2.   To approve the  increase in the number of  authorized  shares of Capital
     Stock of the Company.

                                             FOR / /  AGAINST / /  ABSTAIN / /

3.   To  approve  the  amendment  to the Zions  Bancorporation  Key  Employee
     Incentive Stock Option Plan.

                                             FOR / /  AGAINST / /  ABSTAIN / /

4.   To approve the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP as independent auditors
     for the year 1998.

                                             FOR / /  AGAINST / /  ABSTAIN / /

     UNLESS A  CONTRARY  CHOICE IS  SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE
ELECTION OF  DIRECTORS,  IN FAVOR OF PROPOSALS 2, 3 and 4, and  OTHERWISE IN THE
DISCRETION OF ANY OF THE APPOINTEES AS PROXIES.

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

 Dated ____________, 1997.                         -----------------------------
                                                   Please sign exactly as name
                                                   appears on reverse side.



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