COMPASS BANCSHARES INC
S-3, 1999-06-23
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>

     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 23, 1999
                                                   REGISTRATION NO. 333-

================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                   FORM S-3
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                           COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                  DELAWARE                             63-0593897
        (State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer
        incorporation or organization)              Identification No.)

                             15 SOUTH 20TH STREET
                          BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA  35233
                                (205) 933-3000
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
                                --------------
                           JERRY W. POWELL, ESQUIRE
                                GENERAL COUNSEL
                           COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.
                             15 SOUTH 20TH STREET
                           BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35233
                                (205) 933-3000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)
                                --------------
       Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
    FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES EFFECTIVE.
                                --------------
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]

                                --------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
==============================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED             PROPOSED
      TITLE OF EACH CLASS              AMOUNT            MAXIMUM              MAXIMUM
        OF SECURITIES                  TO BE          OFFERING PRICE         AGGREGATE           AMOUNT OF
       TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED         PER UNIT(1)      OFFERING PRICE (1)   REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                              <C>                    <C>                <C>                     <C>
COMMON STOCK, $2.00 PAR VALUE     375,000  SHARES        $26.4375           $9,914,063              $2,757
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  ESTIMATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING THE REGISTRATION FEE
     PURSUANT TO RULE 457(c) ON THE BASIS OF THE AVERAGE OF THE HIGH AND LOW
     SALES PRICES REPORTED THROUGH THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET SYSTEM ON JUNE 17,
     1999.

     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.

================================================================================
<PAGE>

                                  PROSPECTUS

                                375,000 SHARES

                           COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.
                             15 SOUTH 20TH STREET
                          BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA  35223
                                (205) 993-3000

                                 COMMON STOCK

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

     This prospectus relates to the resale of 375,000 shares of common stock of
Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, offered for the account of
certain selling stockholders.

     Sales of our common stock by the selling stockholder may be effected from
time to time in one or more transactions through the NASDAQ National Market
System or any other exchange on which our common stock is admitted for trading
at prevailing market prices, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at
negotiated prices. The selling stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     We will not receive any proceeds from any resale of our common stock by the
selling stockholders.

     Shares of our common stock are listed for trading on the NASDAQ National
Market System under the symbol "CBSS."  On June 17, 1999, the closing sales
price of our common stock was $26 7/16.


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

     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

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



                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JUNE   , 1999.
<PAGE>

                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  You may read and copy any document
we file at the Commission's public reference rooms located at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and the public reference facilities in
the New York Regional Office, 13th Floor, Seven World Trade Center, New York,
New York 10048, and the Chicago Regional Office, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60621-2511.  Please call the
Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference
room and their copy charges.  You may also write the Commission at Public
Reference Branch, 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549.  Our Commission
filings are also available to the public from the Commission's web site at
http://www.sec.gov.

     We have filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act") with respect to the common stock, par value $2.00 per share
("Common Stock"), offered by this Prospectus.  For further information about us
and the offering, you should refer to our Registration Statement and its
exhibits.  Since this Prospectus may not contain all the information that you
may find important, you should review the full text of the documents included or
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.  You should rely only
on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents previously filed by us with the Commission are
incorporated herein by reference:

     (1)  Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998
          (File No. 0-6032);

     (2)  Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999
          (File No. 0-6032);

     (3)  Our Proxy Statement dated March 30, 1999, relating to our annual
          meeting of stockholders held on April 26, 1999 (File No. 0-6032);

     (4)  Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 25, 1999 (File No. 0-6032);
          and

     (5)  The description of our Common Stock contained in our Proxy Statement
          dated April 16, 1982, relating to our Annual Meeting held May 17, 1982
          (File No. 0-6032).

     All documents filed by us subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and
prior to the termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of the filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in this
Prospectus, in a supplement to this Prospectus, or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed supplement to this Prospectus or
in any document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Prospectus, except as so
modified or superseded.

     You may request a copy of any filings referenced above, excluding exhibits,
at no cost by contacting the Controller of Compass Bancshares at 15 South 20th
Street, Birmingham, Alabama 35223 (telephone no. (205) 558-5740).

                                      -2-
<PAGE>

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     Compass Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of the shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Common
Stock by the holder thereof (the "Selling Stockholder").


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDER

     The Selling Stockholder is a former stockholder of Albrecht & Associates,
Inc., a Texas corporation ("Albrecht").  The Selling Stockholder acquired the
Shares in connection with the merger of Albrecht with and into Albrecht &
Associates of Delaware, Inc.,  a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, on
December 9, 1998, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August
3, 1998, as amended, between the Company and Albrecht (the "Merger Agreement").
In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company and the Selling Stockholder
entered in to a Rights Agreement dated as of December 9, 1998 (the "Rights
Agreement"), pursuant to which the Company agreed to use its best efforts to
register the Shares under the Securities Act promptly following receipt of the
Selling Stockholder's request to do so and to bear the expenses of registration
of the Shares.  The Selling Stockholder will bear any fees and disbursements of
counsel of the Selling Stockholder and any discounts, selling commissions or
other selling expenses allocable to sales of the Shares by the Selling
Stockholder.  The offering of the Shares in accordance with this Prospectus is
made pursuant to the exercise by the Selling Stockholder of his rights under the
Rights Agreement.

     The table below sets forth the name of the Selling Stockholder, the number
of shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Stockholder as of June   , 1999,
the number of shares which may be offered by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to
this Prospectus and the number of shares of Common Stock to be owned by the
Selling Stockholder upon completion of the offering assuming that all of the
Shares are sold and no other shares of Common Stock are acquired by the Selling
Stockholder between June   , 1999, and the date of the completion of the
offering. All share amounts reflect the Company's three-for-two stock split
made on April 2, 1999 to stockholders of record as of March 15, 1999. Any or all
of the shares listed below may be offered for sale by the Selling Stockholder
from time to time.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            Amount of       Amount of        Amount of
                           Securities      Securities      Securities to
                          beneficially     offered for    be beneficially     Percentage
                           owned prior       Selling           owned              of
Selling Stockholder      to offering (1)   Stockholder   after offering (2)     Class
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>               <C>           <C>                  <C>
Robert A. Albrecht         375,000          375,000             -0-              -0-
                        --------------  ---------------  -----------------  ------------
     Total                 375,000          375,000             -0-              -0-
                        ==============  ===============  =================  ============
</TABLE>

(1)  To the knowledge of the Company, the person named in the table has sole
     voting and sole investment power with respect to all shares of Common Stock
     beneficially owned, subject to community property laws where applicable.

(2)  Assumes that all Shares offered hereby by the Selling Stockholder are
     actually sold and no other shares of Common Stock are acquired by the
     Selling Stockholder.


                             PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Sales of Shares by the Selling Stockholder may be effected from time to
time in one or more transactions through the NASDAQ National Market System or
any other exchange on which the Common Stock may be admitted for trading
pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable rules thereof, in block
transactions, negotiated transactions or a combination of any such methods of
sale, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

     The Selling Stockholder may effect such transactions by selling shares of
Common Stock to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may sell the
shares of Common

                                      -3-
<PAGE>

Stock as agent or may purchase such shares of Common Stock as principal and
resell them for their own account pursuant to this Prospectus. Such broker-
dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting documents,
concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholder and/or purchasers of
shares of Common Stock from whom they may act as agent (which compensation may
be in excess of customary commissions).

     The Company has informed the Selling Stockholder that the antimanipulative
rules under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (Rules
10b-6 and 10b-7) may apply to his shares of Common Stock offered by this
Prospectus in the market.  Also, the Company has informed the Selling
Stockholder of the need for delivery of copies of the Prospectus in connection
with any sale of securities registered hereunder in accordance with applicable
prospectus delivery requirements.

     In connection with such sales, the Selling Stockholder and any
participating brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" as defined
in the Securities Act and any profit on the sale by them of the shares of Common
Stock offered by this Prospectus and any discounts and commissions or
concessions received by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.  In addition, any of the shares of Common
Stock that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 may be sold under Rule 144
rather than pursuant to this Prospectus.

     The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the
Selling Stockholder of the shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus.
Certain of the fees and expenses of this Registration Statement will be borne by
the Company.  See "Selling Stockholder."

     In order to comply with certain state securities laws, if applicable, the
shares of Common Stock offered by this Prospectus will not be sold in a
particular state unless such securities have been registered or qualified for
sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is
available and complied with, and, if so required, will only be sold in that
state through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.

     The shares of Common Stock originally issued by the Company to the Selling
Stockholder bear legends as to their restricted transferability.  Upon the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part,
and the transfer by the Selling Stockholder of any of the shares of Common Stock
pursuant thereto, new certificates representing such shares will be issued to
the transferee, free of any such legends unless otherwise required by law.


                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal matters in connection with the Shares offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Jerry W. Powell, Esquire, General Counsel,
Secretary and employee of the Company.  As of April 30, 1999, Mr. Powell was the
beneficial owner of an aggregate of approximately 98,420 shares of Common Stock
and held options to acquire approximately 51,000 shares of Common Stock.


                                    EXPERTS

     The financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1998 have been
incorporated by reference herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance
upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.


                                INDEMNIFICATION

     The Company's By-Laws contain provisions similar to those of Section 145 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, which authorize the Company to indemnify
its officers, directors, employees and agents to the full extent permitted by
law.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the Company, the
Company has been informed that in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is therefore unenforceable.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

     The estimated expenses payable by the Company in connection with the
offering described in this Registration Statement (other than underwriting
discounts and commissions) are as follows:

SEC registration fee                                            $ 2,757
EDGAR and transmission expenses                                   1,800
Accounting fees and expenses                                      1,500
Legal fees and expenses                                           5,000
Miscellaneous                                                     1,000
                                                                -------
     Total                                                      $12,057
                                                                =======

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

     Section 17 of Article V of the Company's By-Laws provides in part as
follows:

          Without limitation, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was
     or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
     pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
     administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a
     director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
     serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee
     or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
     enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines
     and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in
     connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the full extent
     permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, upon such
     determination having been made as to his good faith and conduct as is
     required by said General Corporation Law.  Expenses incurred in defending a
     civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the
     Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
     proceeding to the extent, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in
     accordance with the provisions of said General Corporation Law, officer,
     employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be
     determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation.

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "GCL"),
directors, advisory directors and officers of a Delaware corporation are
entitled to indemnification permitted by the statute as provided in such
corporation's certificate of incorporation, by-laws, resolutions and other
proper action.

     In addition, Article 8 of Compass' Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, provides:

          No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its
     stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty of such
     director, except (i) for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
     Corporation or its  stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
     faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
     law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
     or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
     personal benefit.  No amendment to or repeal of this Article 8 shall apply
     to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director
     of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such
     director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.

This provision is identical to, and is authorized by, 1986 amendments to the
GCL, Section 102(b)(7).

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit
or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been

                                      II-1
<PAGE>

settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

   2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 3, 1998 by and
            between Compass Bancshares, Inc. and Albrecht & Associates, Inc.

   2.2      Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 2,
            1998 by and between Compass Bancshares, Inc., Albrecht & Associates,
            Inc. of Delaware, Inc. and Albrecht & Associates, Inc.

  *3.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc.,
            dated May 17, 1982 (filed with the December 31, 1982 Form 10-K of
            Compass Bancshares, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference)
            (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.2      Certificate of Amendment, dated May 20, 1986, to Restated
            Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (filed as
            Exhibit 4(b) to Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
            33-39095, and incorporated herein by reference) (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.3      Certificate of Amendment, dated May 15, 1987, to Restated
            Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (filed as
            Exhibit 3.1.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
            Statement on Form S-4, Registration No. 33-10797, and incorporated
            herein by reference) (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.4      Certificate of Amendment, dated November 8, 1993, to the Restated
            Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (filed as
            Exhibit 3(d) to Registration Statement on Form S-4, Registration No.
            33-51919, and incorporated herein by reference) (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.5      Certificate of Amendment, dated September 19, 1994, to Restated
            Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (filed as
            Exhibit 3.5 to Registration No. 33-55899, and incorporated herein by
            reference) (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.6      Certificate of Amendment, dated June 2, 1998, to Restated
            Certificate of Incorporation of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (filed as
            Exhibit 4.6 to Registration Statement on Form S-3, Reg. No.
            333-60725, and incorporated herein by reference) (File No. 0-6032)

  *3.7      Bylaws of Compass Bancshares, Inc. (Amended and Restated as of March
            15, 1982) (filed with the December 31, 1982 Form 10-K of Compass
            Bancshares, Inc. and incorporated herein by reference)
            (File No. 0-6032)

   4.1      Rights Agreement dated as of December 9, 1998 by and between Compass
            Bancshares, Inc. and Robert A. Albrecht

   5.1      Opinion and consent of Jerry W. Powell, Esquire, as to the legality
            of the securities being registered

  23.1      Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP

  23.2      Consent of Jerry W. Powell, Esquire (included in the opinion in
            Exhibit 5.1)

  24.1      Power of Attorney

  24.2      Resolutions of the Board of Directors of Compass Bancshares, Inc.

*Incorporated by reference.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.

     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

         ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-
     effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
     registration statement;

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

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

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

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

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

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the
Company has been advised that, in the opinion of the Commission, such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable.  In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless, in the opinion of its counsel, the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Birmingham, the State of Alabama, on June 18, 1999.

                                 COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.


                                 By: *
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                     D. Paul Jones, Jr., Director, Chairman
                                     and Chief Executive Officer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                                  Title                     Date
- ---------                                                  -----                     ----
<S>                                            <C>                                <C>
*                                                   Director, Chairman and        June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------             Chief Executive Officer
D. Paul Jones, Jr.


*                                                  Chief Financial Officer        June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------         (Principal Financial Officer)
Garrett R. Hegel


*                                                      Chief Accounting           June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------                    Officer
Timothy L. Journy


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
Charles W. Daniel


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
W. Eugene Davenport


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
Marshall Durbin, Jr.


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
Tranum Fitzpatrick


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
Carl J. Gessler, Jr., M.D.


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
John S. Stein


*                                                          Director               June 18, 1999
- ---------------------------------------
Robert J. Wright

</TABLE>


* By: /s/ Daniel B. Graves
      ---------------------------------------
      (Daniel B. Graves, Attorney-in-Fact)

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.1


================================================================================







                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                BY AND BETWEEN


                           COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.


                                      AND

                          ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES, INC.


                          Dated as of August 3, 1998






================================================================================
<PAGE>

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          Page

ARTICLE I..................................................................  1
     THE MERGER............................................................  1
         SECTION 1.1   The Merger..........................................  1
         SECTION 1.2   Effective Time......................................  1
         SECTION 1.3   Certain Effects of the Merger.......................  1
         SECTION 1.4   Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws............  2
         SECTION 1.5   Directors and Officers..............................  2
         SECTION 1.6   Conversion of Shares................................  2
         SECTION 1.7   Pooling Transfer Restrictions Agreement.............  3
         SECTION 1.8   Closing.............................................  3

ARTICLE II.................................................................  4
     EXCHANGE OF SHARES....................................................  4
         SECTION 2.1   Exchange of Shares..................................  4

ARTICLE III................................................................  5
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.........................  5
         SECTION 3.1   Organization and Qualification......................  5
         SECTION 3.2   Company Capitalization..............................  5
         SECTION 3.3   Equity Ownership....................................  5
         SECTION 3.4   Authority Relative to the Agreement.................  5
         SECTION 3.5   No Violation........................................  6
         SECTION 3.6   Consents and Approvals..............................  6
         SECTION 3.7   Regulatory Reports..................................  7
         SECTION 3.8   SEC Status; Securities Issuances....................  7
         SECTION 3.9   Financial Statements................................  7
         SECTION 3.10  Absence of Certain Changes..........................  7
         SECTION 3.11  Company Indebtedness................................  9
         SECTION 3.12  Litigation..........................................  9
         SECTION 3.13  Tax Matters.........................................  9
         SECTION 3.14  Employee Benefit Plans.............................. 10
         SECTION 3.15  Employment Matters.................................. 13
         SECTION 3.16  Leases, Contracts and Agreements.................... 13
         SECTION 3.17  Related Company Transactions........................ 13
         SECTION 3.18  Compliance with Laws................................ 14
         SECTION 3.19  Insurance........................................... 14
         SECTION 3.20  Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.................. 14
         SECTION 3.21  Environmental Compliance............................ 14
         SECTION 3.22  Regulatory Actions.................................. 15
         SECTION 3.23  Title to Properties; Encumbrances................... 15

                                     2.1-ii
<PAGE>

         SECTION 3.24  Shareholder List.................................... 16
         SECTION 3.25  Section 368 Representations......................... 16
         SECTION 3.26  Employee Stock Options.............................. 17
         SECTION 3.27  Accounting Matters.................................. 17
         SECTION 3.28  Investment Representations.......................... 17
         SECTION 3.29  Year 2000 Representation............................ 17
         SECTION 3.30  Representations Not Misleading...................... 17

ARTICLE IV................................................................. 18
     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPASS............................. 18
         SECTION 4.1   Organization and Authority.......................... 18
         SECTION 4.2   Authority Relative to Agreement..................... 18
         SECTION 4.3   Financial Reports................................... 19
         SECTION 4.4   Capitalization...................................... 20
         SECTION 4.5   Consents and Approvals.............................. 20
         SECTION 4.6   Availability of Compass Common Stock................ 20
         SECTION 4.7   Representations Not Misleading...................... 20

ARTICLE V.................................................................. 20
     COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.............................................. 20
         SECTION 5.1   Affirmative Covenants of the Company................ 20
         SECTION 5.2   Negative Covenants of the Company................... 22

ARTICLE VI................................................................. 24
     ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................................. 24
         SECTION 6.1   Access To, and Information Concerning, Properties
                       and Records......................................... 24
         SECTION 6.2   Filing of Regulatory Approvals...................... 24
         SECTION 6.3   Miscellaneous Agreements and Consents............... 24
         SECTION 6.4   Company Indebtedness................................ 24
         SECTION 6.5   Best Good Faith Efforts............................. 25
         SECTION 6.6   Exclusivity......................................... 25
         SECTION 6.7   Public Announcement................................. 25
         SECTION 6.8   Employee Benefit Plans.............................. 25
         SECTION 6.9   Certain Tax Matters................................. 26
         SECTION 6.10  Principal Compensation.............................. 27
         SECTION 6.11  Employee Retention/Severance Payments............... 27

ARTICLE VII................................................................ 28
     CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER.............................. 28
         SECTION 7.1   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the
                       Merger.............................................. 28

                                    2.1-iii
<PAGE>

         SECTION 7.2   Conditions to the Obligations of Compass and Compass
                       Texas to Effect the Merger.......................... 28
         SECTION 7.3   Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to
                       Effect the Merger................................... 30

ARTICLE VIII............................................................... 31
     TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER........................................ 31
         SECTION 8.1   Termination......................................... 31
         SECTION 8.2   Effect of Termination............................... 31
         SECTION 8.3   Amendment........................................... 31
         SECTION 8.4   Extension; Waiver................................... 32

ARTICLE IX................................................................. 32
     SURVIVAL.............................................................. 32
         SECTION 9.1   Survival of Representations, Warranties and
                       Covenants........................................... 32

ARTICLE X.................................................................. 32
     MISCELLANEOUS......................................................... 32
         SECTION 10.1  Expenses............................................ 32
         SECTION 10.2  Brokers and Finders................................. 32
         SECTION 10.3  Entire Agreement; Assignment........................ 33
         SECTION 10.4  Further Assurances.................................. 33
         SECTION 10.5  Enforcement of the Agreement........................ 33
         SECTION 10.6  Severability........................................ 33
         SECTION 10.7  Notices............................................. 33
         SECTION 10.8  Governing Law....................................... 35
         SECTION 10.9  Descriptive Headings................................ 35
         SECTION 10.10 Parties in Interest................................. 35
         SECTION 10.11 Counterparts........................................ 35
         SECTION 10.12 Incorporation by References......................... 35
         SECTION 10.13 Certain Definitions................................. 35

ATTACHMENTS

     EXHIBITS

          A.   Letter of Transmittal

          B.   Pooling Transfer Restrictions Agreement

          C.   Pooling of Interest Criteria

          D.   Investment Representations Certificate

                                     2.1-iv
<PAGE>

          E.   Opinion of Counsel for the Company

          F.   Opinion of Counsel for Compass and Compass Texas

          G.   Compass Texas Representations Certificate

          H.   Release

          I.   Release

          J.   Rights Agreement

          K.-1 Employment Agreement

          K.-2 Employment Agreement

          L.   Noncompetition Agreement

LIST OF SCHEDULES

Schedule 3.2           Company Capitalization

Schedule 3.5           Violations of Law; Conflicts of Interest; Share
                       Litigation; Termination of Existence

Schedule 3.6           Company Prior Consents

Schedule 3.9           Financial Statements

Schedule 3.10          Absence of Material Changes or Adverse Effects

Schedule 3.12          Company Legal Proceedings

Schedule 3.13          Tax Liabilities

Schedule 3.14(a)       Employee Welfare Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.14(b)       Employee Pension Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.14(c)       Deferred Compensation, Bonus and Stock Purchase Plans

Schedule 3.14(l)       Additional Payments Due Under Deferred Compensation,
                       Bonus, Employee Welfare Benefit Plans and Employee
                       Pension Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.15          Employment Contracts and Collective Bargaining Agreements

                                     2.1-v
<PAGE>

Schedule 3.16          Leases, Subleases, Contracts and Agreements;
                       Participations; Default of Contracts; Marketable Title

Schedule 3.17          Related Company Transactions

Schedule 3.18          Compliance with Laws

Schedule 3.19          Insurance Policies

Schedule 3.20          Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

Schedule 3.21          Environmental Compliance

Schedule 3.22          Regulatory Actions; Agreements

Schedule 3.23          Title to Properties; Property

Schedule 3.25          Company Shareholders Disposing of Stock

Schedule 4.2           Compass Prior Consents

Schedule 5.1(i)        List of Accounts and Safe Deposit Boxes

Schedule 5.1(j)        List of Liabilities and Obligations of the Company

Schedule 5.2           Disposal of Property

                                     2.1-vi
<PAGE>

                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("Agreement") dated as of August 3, 1998, by
and between Compass Bancshares, Inc. a Delaware corporation ("Compass"), and
Albrecht & Associates, Inc., a Texas corporation ("Company").

     WHEREAS, Compass and the Company believe that the Merger (as defined
herein) of the Company with an existing or to-be-formed subsidiary ("Compass
Texas") of Compass incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware to be
added as a party to this Agreement after the date hereof in the manner provided
by, and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in, this Agreement and all
exhibits, schedules and supplements hereto is desirable and in the best
interests of their respective institutions and shareholders; and

     WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of the Company and Compass have
approved this Agreement and the proposed transactions substantially on the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants
hereinafter set forth, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I.

                                  THE MERGER

      SECTION 1.1   The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, and in accordance with the Texas Business Corporation Act (the "TBCA"),
and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL"), the
Company shall be merged with and into Compass Texas (the "Merger") as soon as
practicable following the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the
conditions set forth in Article VII hereof.  Following the Merger, Compass Texas
shall continue as the surviving company (the "Surviving Company") and the
separate corporate existence of the Company shall cease.  Compass shall not be
deemed a party to the Merger for the purposes of Article 5.06 of the TBCA or the
GCL.

      SECTION 1.2   Effective Time.  The Merger shall be consummated by the
filing by the Texas Secretary of State of Articles of Merger, in the form
required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the TBCA
and by the filing by the Delaware Secretary of State of a Certificate of Merger
in the form required by and executed in accordance with the relevant provisions
of the GCL, and by the issuance of a Certificate of Merger by the Secretary of
State of Texas.  (The date of such issuance and filing or such other time and
date as may be specified in the Articles and Certificate of Merger shall be the
"Effective Time").

      SECTION 1.3   Certain Effects of the Merger.  The Merger shall have the
effects set forth in Article 5.06 of the TBCA and in the GCL.


<PAGE>

      SECTION 1.4   Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws.  The Certificate
of Incorporation and the By-Laws of Compass Texas, in each case as in effect at
the Effective Time, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the
Surviving Company.

      SECTION 1.5   Directors and Officers.  The directors and officers of
Compass Texas at the Effective Time shall be the directors and officers of the
Surviving Company  and shall hold office from the Effective Time until their
respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in the manner
provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Company, or as otherwise provided by law.

      SECTION 1.6   Conversion of Shares.  (a) Each share of the Company's
common stock, par value $1.00 per share ("Company Common Stock" or "Shares"),
issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time ("Common Shares
Outstanding"), shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of the holder thereof, be converted into and represent the right to receive the
consideration payable as set forth below (the "Merger Consideration") to the
holder of record thereof, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the
certificate representing such Share.  For the purposes of determining the number
of Shares issued and outstanding, the number of Shares issued and outstanding
shall be increased by the number and class of Shares that may be acquired upon
exercise or conversion of any warrant, option, convertible debenture or other
security entitling the holder thereof to acquire Shares which is in effect or
outstanding prior to the Effective Time.  At the Closing the Company shall
calculate and certify to Compass the Common Shares Outstanding.

     (b)   (i) Subject to Subsections (ii),  (iii) and (iv) below, in
consideration for the Merger, Compass will issue to the holders of the Shares an
aggregate number of shares of its common stock, par value $2.00 per share which
is quoted under the symbol "CBSS" on the NASDAQ National Market System ("Compass
Common Stock"), which is equal to $10,000,000 divided by the average closing
sale price of the Compass Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ National Market
System for the twenty days of trading preceding the tenth business day prior to
the Effective Time (the "Share Determination Market Value").

     (ii)  In the event that the Share Determination Market Value  would result
in the number of shares of Compass Common Stock to be issued to be greater than
250,000, Compass will issue to the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock
an aggregate number of shares of Compass Common Stock equal to 250,000.

     (iii) In the event the Share Determination Market Value would result in
the number of shares of Compass Common Stock to be issued to be less than
198,333, Compass will issue to the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock
an aggregate number of shares of Compass Common Stock equal to 198,333.

     (iv)  In the event the Share Determination Market Value is less than $35.00
per share, the Company may terminate this Agreement (the "Pricing Termination
Option") by written notice to

                                     2.1-2
<PAGE>

Compass within five business days from the date upon which the Share
Determination Market Value less than $35.00 per share is capable of being
determined. In the event the Company exercises its Pricing Termination Option,
Compass shall have the right to reject such termination of the Agreement by the
Company (the "Termination Rejection") by agreeing to issue an aggregate number
of shares equal to the quotient of $8,750,000 divided by the Share Determination
Market Value ("New Shares") in which event each holder of Company Common Stock
shall receive for each share so held Merger Consideration equal to the quotient
of the New Shares divided by the Common Shares Outstanding. Such Termination
Rejection shall be exercised by notice to the Company within three business days
following the date on which Compass receives notice of the Company's exercise of
the Pricing Termination Option. In the event Compass fails to notify the Company
of its election to reinstate this Agreement within such three business day
period, this Agreement shall then be terminated.

     (v)   The ratio of the number of shares of Compass Common Stock to be
exchanged for each Share, respectively, and the share figures and $35.00 figure
set forth in subsections (ii), (iii) and (iv) above shall be adjusted
appropriately to reflect any dividends payable in stock or splits with respect
to Compass Common Stock, where the record date or payment occurs prior to the
Effective Time.

     (c)   Compass will not issue any certificates for any fractional shares of
Compass Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the Merger.  In lieu of
issuing such fractional shares, Compass shall pay cash to any holder of Shares
otherwise entitled to receive such fractional share.  Such cash payment shall be
based on the Share Determination Market Value.

     (d)   Each share of capital stock of Compass Texas issued and outstanding
immediately before the Effective Time shall not be converted or exchanged by
virtue of the Merger and shall remain outstanding as one share of capital stock
of the Surviving Corporation.

      SECTION 1.7   Pooling Transfer Restrictions Agreement.   Within 30 days
after the date hereof, the Company shall enter into and cause each Company
shareholder who is an "affiliate" (as defined in Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC")  Rule 405) of the Company to enter into with Compass a
written agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto.

      SECTION 1.8   Closing.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, and the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions set
forth in Article VII hereof, the Company and Compass Texas shall execute and
deliver the Articles of Merger, as described in Section 1.2, and the parties
hereto shall take all such other and further actions as may be required by law
to make the Merger effective.  Prior to the filing referred to in this Section,
a closing (the "Closing") will be held at the office of Liddell, Sapp, Zivley,
Hill & LaBoon, L.L.P. in Houston, Texas (or such other place as the parties may
agree) for the purpose of confirming all of the foregoing.

                                     2.1-3
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE II.

                              EXCHANGE OF SHARES

      SECTION 2.1   Exchange of Shares.

      (a)  At least 15 days prior to the Effective Time, Compass shall deliver
to each record holder (the "Shareholders") of an outstanding certificate or
certificates which as of the Effective Time will represent Shares (the
"Certificates"), a form letter of transmittal in substantially the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto approved by the Company and Compass ("Letters of
Transmittal") (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of
loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the
Certificates to Compass) and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of
the Certificates for payment therefor.  If the Shareholders provide Compass with
copies of completed Letters of Transmittal and Certificates, Compass shall
promptly, but in no event later than the fifth business day after the delivery
of such Letters of Transmittal, advise the Company whether any defect, omission
or other issue exists, regarding the Letters of Transmittal or the Certificates,
that would prevent any Shareholder from receiving, at the Effective Time, cash
and Compass Common Stock in the amount provided for in Section 1.6.   Upon
surrender to Compass of a Certificate, together with a properly executed and
completed Letter of Transmittal, the holder of such Certificate shall be
entitled to receive in exchange therefor cash and Compass Common Stock in the
amount provided in Section 1.6, and such Certificate shall forthwith be
canceled.  No interest will be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon
surrender of the Certificate and no dividend will be disbursed with respect to
the shares of Compass Common Stock until the holder's Shares are surrendered in
exchange therefor. If payment or delivery of Compass Common Stock is to be made
to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate surrendered is
registered, it shall be a condition of payment that the Certificate so
surrendered shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for
transfer and that the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or
other taxes required by reason of the payment and delivery of Compass Common
Stock to a person other than the registered holder of the Certificate
surrendered or establish to the satisfaction of the Surviving Company that such
tax has been paid or is not applicable.  Until surrendered in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 2.1, each Certificate shall represent for all
purposes the right to receive the Merger Consideration without any interest
thereon.

     (b)   After the Effective Time, the stock transfer ledger of the Company
shall be closed and there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of
the Company of the Shares which were outstanding immediately prior to such time
of filing.  If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Surviving Company, they shall be promptly presented to Compass and exchanged as
provided in this Article II.

     (c)   At the Closing, Compass shall deliver to the Shareholders who have
submitted to Compass on or prior to the Effective Time their Certificates,
accompanied by properly executed and completed Letters of Transmittal, cash and
Compass Common Stock in the amount provided for in Section 1.6.

                                     2.1-4
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE III

                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth in
this Article III to Compass.  The Company has delivered to Compass the Schedules
to this Agreement referred to in this Article III prior to the date hereof.  The
Company agrees at the Closing to provide Compass and Compass Texas with
supplemental Schedules reflecting any changes thereto between the date of such
Schedules and the date of the Closing.

      SECTION 3.1   Organization and Qualification.  The Company is a Texas
corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Texas. The Company has all requisite corporate power and
authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and to own, lease and
operate its properties and assets as now owned, leased or operated.  Except as
set forth on Schedule 3.17, the Company does not own or control any Affiliate
(as defined in Section 3.17).  True and correct copies of the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, with all amendments thereto through the
date of this Agreement, have been delivered by the Company to Compass.  The
nature of the business of the Company and its  activities, as currently
conducted, do not require it to be qualified to do business in any jurisdiction
other than the State of Texas.

      SECTION 3.2   Company Capitalization.  As of the date hereof, the
authorized capital stock of the Company consists solely of 10,000 shares of
Company Common Stock, of which 6,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and none
of which are held in treasury.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2, there are
no outstanding subscriptions, options, convertible securities, rights, warrants,
calls, or other agreements or commitments of any kind issued or granted by, or
binding upon, the Company to purchase or otherwise acquire any security of or
equity interest in the Company.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2, there are
no outstanding subscriptions, options, rights, warrants, calls, convertible
securities or other agreements or commitments obligating the Company to issue
any shares of the Company, or to the knowledge of the Company, irrevocable
proxies or any agreements restricting the transfer of or otherwise relating to
shares of its capital stock of any class.  All of the Shares that have been
issued have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and non-
assessable, and are or were subject to preemptive rights.  There are no
restrictions applicable to the payment of dividends on the Shares, except
pursuant to the TBCA and applicable banking laws and regulations and all
dividends declared prior to the date hereof have been paid.

      SECTION 3.3   Equity Ownership. The Company does not have and never has
had any equity ownership in any other person.

      SECTION 3.4   Authority Relative to the Agreement.  The Company has full
corporate power and authority and no further proceedings on the part of the
Company are necessary, to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby which have been duly and validly authorized
by its Board of Directors and the shareholders.  This Agreement

                                     2.1-5
<PAGE>

has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and is a duly authorized,
valid, legally binding and enforceable obligation of the Company, subject to the
effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar
laws relating to creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles,
and subject to such approval of regulatory agencies and other governmental
authorities having authority over the Company as may be required by statute or
regulation. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, or
result in any violation or breach of or default under the respective Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws of the Company.

      SECTION 3.5   No Violation.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, neither
the execution, delivery nor performance of this Agreement in its entirety, nor
the consummation of all of the transactions contemplated hereby, following the
receipt of such approvals as may be required from the SEC, the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("FRB"), the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC") and the Texas Banking Commissioner ("Commissioner") will
(i) violate (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time), any
law, order, writ, judgment, injunction, award, decree, rule, statute, ordinance
or regulation applicable to the Company or (ii) be in conflict with, result in a
breach or termination of any provision of, cause the acceleration of the
maturity of any debt or obligation pursuant to, constitute a default (or give
rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or result
in the creation of any security interest, lien, charge or other encumbrance upon
any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, any terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, license, instrument, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust
or other agreement or understanding or any other restriction of any kind or
character, to which the Company is a party or by which any of its assets or
properties are subject or bound.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, there are
no proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against
the Company or involving the Shares, at law or in equity or before or by any
foreign, federal, state, municipal or other governmental court, department,
commission, board, bureau, agency, instrumentality or other person which may
result in liability to Compass or Compass Texas upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby or which would prevent or delay such
consummation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5, or as contemplated hereby,
the corporate existence, business organization, assets, licenses, permits,
authorizations and contracts of the Company will not be terminated or impaired
by reason of the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this
Agreement or consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, assuming the receipt of required regulatory approvals.

      SECTION 3.6   Consents and Approvals.  The Company's Board of Directors
and the Company's shareholders by written consent have approved and adopted this
Agreement. Except as described in Schedule 3.6 hereto, no prior consent,
approval or authorization of, or declaration, filing or registration with any
person, domestic or foreign, is required of the Company in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby, except the filing of the Articles of Merger
under the TBCA, and such approvals as may be required from the SEC, the FRB,
FDIC and the Commissioner.

                                     2.1-6
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.7   Regulatory Reports.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7,
the Company  has filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with
any amendments required to be made thereto, that are required to be filed with
any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over any such persons.

      SECTION 3.8   SEC Status; Securities Issuances.  The Company is not
subject to the registration provisions of Section 12 of the Exchange Act nor the
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, other than anti-fraud provisions of such act.  All issuances of securities
by the Company have been registered under the Securities Act, the Securities Act
of the State of Texas, and all other applicable laws or were exempt from any
such registration requirements.

      SECTION 3.9   Financial Statements.  The Company has provided Compass with
a true and complete copy of the unaudited statement of financial position of the
Company as of December 31, 1997, and the related statements of income,
shareholders' equity and changes in cash flows for the years ended December 31,
1997 and 1996, and the statements of financial position of the Company as of
March 31, 1998 and the related statements of income, shareholders' equity and
changes in cash flows for the three-month periods ended March 31, 1998 and 1997,
(such statements of financial position and the related statements of income,
shareholders' equity and changes in cash flows are collectively referred to
herein as the "Financial Statements").  Except as described in the notes to the
Financial Statements, the Financial Statements, including the consolidated
statement of financial position and the related statements of income,
shareholders' equity and changes in cash flows (including the related notes
thereto) of the Company, fairly present the financial position of the Company as
of the dates thereof and the results of operations and changes in financial
position of the Company for the periods then ended, on a cash basis and
consistent with internal company accounting policies applied on a basis
consistent with prior periods (subject, in the case of the unaudited interim
financial statements, to normal year-end adjustments), except as otherwise noted
therein, and the accounting records underlying the Financial Statements
accurately and fairly reflect in all material respects the transactions of the
Company.  The Company does not have any liabilities or obligations of a type
which should be included in or reflected on the Financial Statements if prepared
in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP") except as
expressly set forth on Schedule 3.9, whether related to tax or non-tax matters,
accrued or contingent, due or not yet due, liquidated or unliquidated, or
otherwise, except as and to the extent disclosed or reflected in the Financial
Statements.  The Company will provide Compass with the unaudited statements of
financial position of the Company as of the end of each month hereafter,
prepared on a basis consistent with prior periods.  The Company has no off
balance sheet liabilities associated with financial derivative products or
potential liabilities associated with financial derivative products.

      SECTION 3.10  Absence of Certain Changes.  Except as and to the extent set
forth on Schedule 3.10 or as otherwise required by this Agreement, since March
31, 1998 (the "Balance Sheet Date") the Company has not:

                                     2.1-7
<PAGE>

     (a)   made any amendment to its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or
changed the character of its business in any material manner;

     (b)   suffered any Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section
10.13(b));

     (c)   entered into any agreement, commitment or transaction except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent practices;

     (d)   except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent
practices, incurred, assumed or become subject to, whether directly or by way of
any guarantee or otherwise, any obligations or liabilities (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise);

     (e)   permitted or allowed any of its property or assets to be subject to
any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, restriction or
charge of any kind (other than statutory liens not yet delinquent) except in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent practices;

     (f)   except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent
practices, canceled any debts, waived any claims or rights, or sold,
transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its properties or assets;

     (g)   disposed of or permitted to lapse any rights to the use of any
trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright, or disposed of or disclosed to
any person other than its employees or agents, any trade secret not theretofore
a matter of public knowledge;

     (h)   except for regular salary increases granted in the ordinary course of
business within the Company's 1998 budget and consistent with prior practices,
granted any increase in compensation or paid or agreed to pay or accrue any
bonus, percentage compensation, service award, severance payment or like benefit
to or for the credit of any director, officer, employee or agent, or entered
into any employment or consulting contract or other agreement with any director,
officer or employee or adopted, amended or terminated any pension, employee
welfare, retirement, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation rights,
termination, severance, income protection, golden parachute, savings or profit-
sharing plan (including trust agreements and insurance contracts embodying such
plans), any deferred compensation, or collective bargaining agreement, any group
insurance contract or any other incentive, welfare or employee benefit plan,
program or agreement maintained by the Company, for the directors, employees or
former employees of the Company ("Employee Benefit Plan");

     (i)   directly or indirectly declared, set aside or paid any dividend or
made any distribution in respect to its capital stock or redeemed, purchased or
otherwise acquired, or arranged for the redemption, purchase or acquisition of,
any shares of its capital stock or other of its securities;

                                     2.1-8
<PAGE>

     (j)   organized or acquired any capital stock or other equity securities or
acquired any equity or ownership interest in any person (except through
settlement of indebtedness, foreclosure, the exercise of creditors' remedies or
in a fiduciary capacity, the ownership of which does not expose the Company to
any liability from the business, operations or liabilities of such person);

     (k)   issued, reserved for issuance, granted, sold or authorized the
issuance of any shares of its capital stock or subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, rights or commitments of any kind relating to the issuance or sale of or
conversion into shares of its capital stock;

     (l)   made any or acquiesced in any change in any accounting methods,
principles or practices;

     (m)   except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as
otherwise permitted hereunder, entered into any transaction, or entered into,
modified or amended any contract or commitment, other than in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with prudent practices; or

     (n)   agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any action the
performance of which would change the representations contained in this Section
3.10 in the future so that any such representation would not be true in all
material respects as of the Closing.

      SECTION 3.11  Company Indebtedness.  The Company does not have any
indebtedness ("Company Indebtedness").

      SECTION 3.12  Litigation.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12, there are
no actions, suits, claims, investigations, reviews or other proceedings pending
or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or involving
any of their respective properties or assets, at law or in equity or before or
by any foreign, federal, state, municipal, or other governmental court,
department, commission, board, bureau, agency, or other instrumentality or
person or any board of arbitration or similar entity ("Proceeding").  The
Company will notify Compass immediately in writing of any Proceedings against
the Company.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12, there are no Proceedings
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, arising out of any
state of facts relating to the sale or purchase of oil and gas or other
properties by the Company or by the Company on behalf of a client or customer.

      SECTION 3.13  Tax Matters.  The Company has duly filed all tax returns
that it was  required to file (the "Filed Returns").   All such Filed Returns
were correct and complete in all material respects.  The Company has paid, or
has established adequate reserves for the payment of, all federal income taxes
and all state and local income taxes and all franchise, property, sales,
employment, foreign or other taxes required to be paid with respect to the
periods covered by the Filed Returns.  With respect to the periods for which
returns have not yet been filed and except as set forth on Schedule 3.13,

                                     2.1-9
<PAGE>

the Company has established adequate reserves determined in accordance with GAAP
for the payment of all federal income taxes and all state and local income taxes
and all franchise, property, sales, employment, foreign or other taxes. Except
as described in Schedule 3.13, the Company does not have any direct or indirect
liability for the payment of federal income taxes, state and local income taxes,
and franchise, property, sales, employment or other taxes in excess of amounts
paid or reserves established. There are no liens for any taxes on any of the
assets of the Company, except for liens for taxes not yet due or for taxes being
contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in
accordance with GAAP. The Company has not entered into any tax sharing agreement
or other agreement regarding the allocation of the tax liability of the Company
or similar arrangement. Set forth on Schedule 3.13 are the dates of filing of
all Filed Returns for all fiscal years since and including January 1, 1990 and
any amendments thereto which relate to federal or state income or franchise
taxes. The Company has not filed any Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Forms 1139
(Application for Tentative Refund). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13, there
are no pending questions raised in writing by the IRS or other taxing authority
for taxes or assessments of the Company, nor are there any outstanding
agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to
any tax assessment or deficiency against the Company for any period. The Company
has withheld from employee wages and paid over to the proper governmental
authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over. The Company is
neither obligated to make any payments, nor is it a party to any agreement that
under certain circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that will not
be deductible under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"). The Company has been a validly electing S corporation
within the meaning of Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code at all times after
January 1, 1991 and will be a validly electing S corporation up to and including
the day before the Closing Date. The Company has no "built-in" gains as
described in Section 1374 of the Code. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.13, the
Company has never agreed to make, nor is the Company required to make, any
adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in the method
of accounting or otherwise. The Company has not, with regard to any assets held,
acquired or to be acquired, filed a consent to the application of Section 341(f)
of the Code. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term "tax" shall include
all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and related governmental charges and
any interest or penalties payable in connection with the payment of taxes.

      SECTION 3.14  Employee Benefit Plans.  With respect to all employee
benefit plans and programs in which employees of the Company participate the
following are true and correct:

     (a)   Schedule 3.14(a) lists each "employee welfare benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended ("ERISA")) maintained by the Company or to which the Company
contributes or is  required to contribute, including any multiemployer welfare
plan (such employee welfare benefit plans being hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Welfare Benefit Plans") and sets forth (i) the amount of any
liability of the Company for contributions more than thirty days past due with
respect to each Welfare Benefit Plan as of the date hereof and as of the end of
any subsequent month ending prior to the Closing and (ii) the annual cost
attributable to each of the Welfare Benefit Plans; no Welfare Benefit Plan
provides for continuing benefits or coverage for any participant, beneficiary or
former employee after such participant's or former employee's termination of
employment except as may be required by Section 4980B of the Code and Sections
601-608 of ERISA;

                                     2.1-10
<PAGE>

     (b)   Schedule 3.14(b) lists each "employee pension benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA and not exempted under Section 4(b) or 201 of
ERISA) maintained by the Company or to which the Company contributes or is
required to contribute, including any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section
3(37) of ERISA) (such employee pension benefit plans being hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Pension Benefit Plans");

     (c)   Schedule 3.14(c) lists each deferred compensation plan, bonus plan,
stock option plan, employee stock purchase plan, restricted stock, excess
benefit plan, incentive compensation, stock bonus, cash bonus, severance pay,
golden parachute, life insurance, all nonqualified deferred compensation
arrangements, rabbi trusts, cafeteria plans, dependent care plans, all unfunded
plans and any other employee benefit plans or programs, agreements, arrangements
or commitments not required under a previous subsection to be listed (other than
normal policies concerning holidays, vacations and salary continuation during
short absences for illness or other reasons) maintained by the Company (referred
to as "Other Programs");

     (d)   All of the Pension Benefit Plans and Welfare Benefit Plans and any
related trust agreements or annuity contracts (or any other funding instruments)
and all Other Programs comply currently, and have complied in the past, both as
to form and operation, with the provisions of ERISA, the Code and with all other
applicable laws, rules and regulations governing the establishment and operation
of the Pension Benefit Plans, Welfare Benefit Plans and all Other Programs; all
necessary governmental approvals relating to the establishment of the Pension
Benefit Plans have been obtained; and with respect to each Pension Benefit Plan
that is intended to be tax-qualified under Section 401(a) or 403(a) of the Code,
a favorable determination letter as to the qualification under the Code of each
such Pension Benefit Plan and each material amendment thereto has been issued by
the Internal Revenue Service (and nothing has occurred since the date of the
last such determination letter which resulted in, or is likely to result in the
revocation of such determination);

     (e)   Each Welfare Benefit Plan, each Pension Benefit Plan and each Other
Program has been administered in compliance with the requirements of the Code,
ERISA and all other applicable laws, and all reports and disclosures required by
ERISA, the Code and any other applicable laws with respect to each Welfare
Benefit Plan,  each Pension Benefit Plan and each Other Program have been timely
filed;

     (f)   On and after January 1, 1975, neither the Company nor any plan
fiduciary of any Welfare Benefit Plan or Pension Benefit Plan has engaged in any
transaction in violation of Section 406 of ERISA (for which transaction no
exemption exists under Section 408 of ERISA) or in any "prohibited transaction"
as defined in Section 4975(c)(1) of the Code (for which no exemption exists
under Section 4975(c)(2) or 4975(d) of the Code);

     (g)   Neither the Company nor any corporation or other trade or business
controlled by or under common control with the Company (as determined under
Sections 414(b) and 414(c) of the Code) ("Common Control Entity") is, or has
been within the past five years, a contributing sponsor

                                     2.1-11
<PAGE>

(as defined in Section 4001(a)(13) of ERISA) of a Pension Benefit Plan subject
to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA, nor has the Company or a Common Control
Entity maintained or participated in any employee pension benefit plan (defined
in Section 3(2) of ERISA) subject to the provision of Title IV of ERISA. In
addition, neither the Company nor a Common Control Entity (i) is a party to a
collective bargaining agreement, (ii) has maintained or contributed to, or has
participated in or agreed to participate in, a multiemployer plan (as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA), or (iii) has made a complete or partial withdrawal from
a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) so as to incur
withdrawal liability as defined in Section 4201 of ERISA (without regard to
subsequent reduction or waiver of such liability under Section 4207 or 4208 of
ERISA);

     (h)   True and complete copies of each Welfare Benefit Plan,  each Pension
Benefit Plan and each Other Program, related trust agreements or annuity
contracts (or any other funding instruments), summary plan descriptions, the
most recent determination letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to each Pension Benefit Plan, the most recent application for a
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each
Pension Benefit Plan and Annual Reports on Form 5500 Series filed with any
governmental agency for each Welfare Benefit Plan, Pension Benefit Plan and
Other Program for the two most recent plan years, have been furnished to
Compass;

     (i)   All Welfare Benefit Plans, Pension Benefit Plans, and Other Programs
related trust agreements or annuity contracts (or any other funding
instruments), are legally valid and binding and in full force and effect and
there are no promised increases in benefits (whether expressed, implied, oral or
written) under any of these plans nor any obligations, commitments or
understandings to continue any of these plans, (whether expressed, implied, oral
or written) except as required by Section 4980B of the Code and Sections 601-608
of ERISA;

     (j)   There are no claims pending with respect to, or under, any Pension
Benefit Plan, Welfare Benefit Plan or any Other Program, other than routine
claims for plan benefits, and there are no disputes or litigation pending or
threatened with respect to any such plans;

     (k)   No action has been taken, nor has there been a failure to take any
action that would subject any person or entity to any liability for any income,
excise or other tax or penalty in connection with any Pension Benefit Plan,
Welfare Benefit Plan or any Other Program, other than for income taxes due with
respect to benefits paid; and

     (l)   Except as otherwise set forth in Schedule 3.14(l), neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transaction
contemplated hereby will (i) result in any payment to be made by the Company
(including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden
parachute (defined in Section 280G of the Code), or otherwise) becoming due to
any employee, director or consultant, or (ii) increase any benefits otherwise
payable under any Welfare Benefit Plan, Pension Benefit Plan, or any Other
Program.

                                     2.1-12
<PAGE>

      SECTION 3.15  Employment Matters.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.15,
the Company is not a party to any oral or written contracts or agreements
granting benefits or rights to employees or any collective bargaining agreement
or to any conciliation agreement with the Department of Labor, the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission or any federal, state or local agency which
requires equal employment opportunities or affirmative action in employment.
There are no unfair labor practice complaints pending against the Company before
the National Labor Relations Board and no similar claims pending before any
similar state, local or foreign agency. To the knowledge of the Company, there
is no activity or proceeding of any labor organization (or representative
thereof) or employee group to organize any employees of the Company, nor of any
strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, lockouts, or threats thereof, by or with
respect to any such employees.  The Company is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable laws respecting employment and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, and the
Company is not engaged in any unfair labor practice.

      SECTION 3.16  Leases, Contracts and Agreements.  Schedule 3.16 sets forth
an accurate and complete description of all leases, subleases, licenses,
contracts and agreements to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
is bound which obligate or may obligate the Company in the aggregate for an
amount in excess of $25,000 over the entire term of any such agreement or
related contracts of a similar nature which in the aggregate obligate or may
obligate the Company in the aggregate for an amount in excess of $25,000 over
the entire term of such related contracts (the "Contracts").  The Company has
delivered to Compass true and correct copies of all Contracts.  All of the
Contracts are legal, valid and binding obligations of the parties to the
Contracts enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws
relating to creditors' rights generally and to general equitable principles, and
are in full force and effect.  Except as described in Schedule 3.16, all rent
and other payments by the Company under the Contracts are current, there are no
existing defaults by the Company under the Contracts and no termination,
condition or other event has occurred which (whether with or without notice,
lapse of time or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would
constitute a default.  The Company has a good and valid leasehold interest in
each parcel of real property leased by it free and clear of all mortgages,
pledges, liens, encumbrances and security interests.  The Company is in
compliance with the terms, of each contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement,
understanding or other instrument to which it is a party with any client or
customer to whom the Company provides services and each such contract,
agreement, commitment, arrangement,  understanding or instrument is in full
force and effect with respect to the applicable customer or client.

      SECTION 3.17  Related Company Transactions.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.17, there are no agreements, instruments, commitments, extensions of
credit, tax sharing or allocation agreements or other contractual agreements of
any kind between or among the Company, whether on its own behalf or in its
capacity as trustee or custodian for the funds of any employee benefit plan (as
defined in ERISA), and any of its Affiliates.  The term "Affiliate" as used in
this Agreement means, with respect to any person, any person that, directly or
indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such
person in question.  For the purposes of this definition,

                                     2.1-13
<PAGE>

"control" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "controlled by" and
"under common control with") as used with respect to any person, shall mean the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

      SECTION 3.18  Compliance with Laws.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18,
the Company is not in default in respect to or is in violation of (i) any
judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court or (ii) any statute,
law, ordinance, rule, order or regulation of any governmental department,
commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, federal, state or local;
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
constitute such a default or violation as to the Company.  The Company has all
permits, licenses, and franchises from governmental agencies required to conduct
its business as it is now being conducted.  The Company is not required to be
registered as investment advisors or brokers under the laws of any jurisdiction
in which the Company performs services.

      SECTION 3.19  Insurance.  The Company has in effect the insurance coverage
(including fidelity bonds) described in Schedule 3.19 and have had similar
insurance in force for the last 5 years.  There have been no claims under such
bonds within the last 5 years and the Company is not aware of any facts which
would form the basis of a claim under such bonds.  The Company has no reason to
believe that the existing fidelity coverage would not be renewed by its carrier
on substantially the same terms.

      SECTION 3.20  Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.20, the Company does not require the use of any material patent,
patent application, invention, process, trademark (whether registered or
unregistered), trademark application, trade name, service mark, copyright, or
any material trade secret for the business or operations of the Company.  The
Company owns or is licensed or otherwise has the right to use the items listed
in Schedule 3.20.

      SECTION 3.21  Environmental Compliance.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.21:

     (a)   The Company and any property owned or operated by it is in compliance
with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined in Section 10.13(c)) and has
obtained and is in compliance with all permits, licenses and other
authorizations (individually a "Permit," and collectively, "Permits") required
under any Environmental Law.  There is no past or present event, condition or
circumstance that could (1) interfere with the conduct of the business of the
Company in the manner now conducted relating to such entity's compliance with
Environmental Laws, (2) constitute a violation of any Environmental Law or (3)
which could have a Material Adverse Effect upon the Company;

     (b)   The Company does not currently lease, operate, own, or exercises
managerial functions at nor has formerly leased, operated, owned, or exercised
managerial functions at any facility or real property that is subject to any
actual, potential, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened Proceeding
under any Environmental Law;

                                     2.1-14
<PAGE>

     (c)   There are no Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company under any Environmental Law, or relating to the
release, threatened release, management, treatment, storage or disposal of, or
exposure to Polluting Substances (as defined in Section 10.13(d)), and the
Company has not received any notice (whether from any regulatory body or private
person) of any claim under, or violation, or potential or threatened violation
of, any Environmental Law;

     (d)   The Company has not generated or arranged for the treatment, storage
or disposal of any Polluting Substances for which it was required under an
Environmental Law to execute any waste disposal manifest or receipt;

     (e)   There has been no release of Polluting Substances at or under any
Property in violation of any Environmental Laws or which would require any
remediation or report or notification to any governmental or regulatory
authority;

     (f)   There is no asbestos containing material present in any Property; and

     (g)   For purposes of this Section 3.21, "Property" includes  any property
(whether real or personal) which the Company currently or in the past has
leased, operated or owned or managed in any manner.

      SECTION 3.22  Regulatory Actions.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22,
there are no actions or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company by or before the Environmental Protection Agency,
the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, or any other nation or
government, any state or political subdivision thereof, or any entity exercising
executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or
pertaining to government.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22, the Company is
not subject to a formal or informal agreement, memorandum of understanding,
enforcement action with or any type of financial assistance by any regulatory
authority having jurisdiction over such entity.  The Company has not taken or
agreed to take any action or has knowledge of any fact or circumstance that
would materially impede or delay receipt of any required regulatory approval.

      SECTION 3.23  Title to Properties; Encumbrances.  Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.23, the Company has unencumbered, good, legal, and indefeasible title
to all its properties and assets, real and personal, including, without
limitation, all the properties and assets reflected in the Financial Statements
except for those properties and assets disposed of for fair market value in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent practice since the date
of the Financial Statements.  The Company does not own any real property.  The
Company has made available to Compass all of the files and information in the
possession of the Company concerning such properties, including any title
exceptions which might affect indefeasible title or value of such property.  The
Company holds good and legal title or good and valid leasehold rights to all
assets that are necessary for it to conduct its business as it is currently
being conducted.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.23,  the Company owns all
furniture, equipment, art and other property used to

                                     2.1-15
<PAGE>

transact business presently located on its premises. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.23, no Property has been deed recorded or otherwise been identified
in public records or should have been recorded or so identified as containing
Polluting Substances.

      SECTION 3.24  Shareholder List.  The Company has provided to  Compass
prior to the date of this Agreement a list of the holders  of Shares and the
holders of any outstanding warrant, option, convertible debenture or other
security entitling the holder thereof to acquire Shares as of  December 31, 1997
containing the names, addresses  and number of Shares or such other securities
held of record, which is accurate in all  respects as of such date, and the
Company will promptly, advise Compass of any significant changes thereto.

      SECTION 3.25  Section 368 Representations.  (a) There is no plan or
intention by any Company shareholder who is anticipated to receive one percent
(1%) or more of the total Merger Consideration ("1% Shareholder") and, to the
knowledge of the Company, and its directors, there is no plan or intention by
any of the remaining Company shareholders, to sell or otherwise dispose of (i)
shares of the Company prior to and in connection with the Merger to the Company,
Compass or any party related to the Company or Compass and (ii) shares of
Compass Common Stock received pursuant to the Merger to Compass or any party
related to Compass that would reduce all such shareholders' holdings to a number
of shares having a total fair market value at the Effective Time of less than
fifty percent (50%) of the total fair market value of all of the Company's
capital stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.  For purposes
of this Section 3.25, shares of the Company's capital stock surrendered by
dissenting shareholders and shares of the Company's capital stock sold, redeemed
or otherwise disposed of prior or subsequent to and as a part of the overall
transaction contemplated by the Merger will be considered to be capital stock of
the Company outstanding immediately prior to the Merger.

     (b)   The Company has provided to Compass true and correct copies of
statements received from each 1% Shareholder with respect to his plan or
intention to sell or otherwise dispose of (i) shares of the Company prior to and
in connection with the merger to the Company, Compass or any party related to
the Company or Compass and (ii) shares of the Compass Common Stock to be
received pursuant to the Merger to Compass or any party related to Compass, and
has set forth on Schedule 3.25 all knowledge of the Company and its directors
about the plans or intentions of any other Company shareholders to sell or
otherwise dispose of the (i) shares of the Company prior to and in connection
with the merger to the Company, Compass or any party related to the Company or
Compass and (ii) shares of Compass Common Stock to be received pursuant to the
Merger to Compass or any party related to Compass.

     (c)   Compass will not assume any debts or obligations of the holders of
the Shares as part of the Merger.

     (d)   Except as set forth on Schedule 3.25, there have not been any sales
or redemptions of the Company's capital stock in contemplation of the Merger.
Schedule 3.25 sets forth all transactions in the capital stock of the Company
since June 1, 1997.

                                     2.1-16
<PAGE>

     (e)   The liabilities of the Company assumed by Compass as a part of the
Merger and the liabilities to which the transferred assets of the Company are
subject were incurred by the Company in the ordinary course of its business.

     (f)   The Company and its shareholders will pay their own expenses which
are incurred in connection with the Merger.

     (g)   Except as set forth on Schedule 3.25, the Company has not disposed of
any assets (either as a dividend or otherwise) constituting more than 10% of the
fair market value of all of its assets (ignoring any liabilities) at any time
either during the past twelve months or in contemplation of the Merger.

     (h)   The Company is not an investment company as defined in Section
368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.

     (i)   The Company is not under the jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11 or
similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

      SECTION 3.26  Employee Stock Options.  There are no Company employee stock
option plans or provisions in any other plan, program, or arrangement providing
for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the capital stock
of the Company.

      SECTION 3.27  Accounting Matters.  Neither the Company nor any of its
affiliates has taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent Compass
from accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests, including, without limitation, any action inconsistent
with the provisions of Exhibit C hereto.

     SECTION 3.28   Investment Representations. The Shareholders have executed
and delivered to Compass investment representations in substantially the form of
Exhibit D attached hereto.

      SECTION 3.29  Year 2000 Representation.  All software, firmware,
microprocessing chips and other data processing devices and services (both as a
recipient and as a provider), capabilities and facilities utilized by, and
material to the business operations or financial condition of, the Company are
or will be able to record and process all calendar dates (whether before, in and
after the year 2000) correctly with four-digit year processing and will be able
to communicate with other applicable systems to accept any two-digit year date
data in a manner that resolves any ambiguities as to century in a properly
defined manner.

     SECTION 3.30   Representations Not Misleading.  No representation or
warranty by the Company in this Agreement, nor any statement, summary, exhibit
or schedule furnished to Compass or Compass Texas by the Company under and
pursuant to, or in anticipation of this Agreement, contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material

                                     2.1-17
<PAGE>

fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, in light of
the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.


                                  ARTICLE IV.

                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                                  OF COMPASS

     Compass hereby makes the representations and warranties set forth in this
Article IV to the Company.

      SECTION 4.1   Organization and Authority.

     (a)   Compass is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and has all requisite
corporate power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted, to own,
lease and operate its properties and assets as now owned, leased or operated and
to enter into and carry out its obligations under this Agreement.

     (b)   Compass is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act
of 1956, as amended, and in good standing under all laws, rules and regulations
applicable to bank holding companies.  Compass is duly qualified or licensed and
in good standing in each jurisdiction which requires such qualification where it
owns or leases properties or conducts business.

      SECTION 4.2   Authority Relative to Agreement.  Compass has full corporate
power and authority and no further corporate proceedings on the part of Compass
are necessary to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, all of which have been duly and validly
authorized by Compass' Board of Directors.  This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by Compass and is a duly authorized, valid, legally
binding and enforceable obligation of Compass, subject to the effect of
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws
relating to creditors' rights generally and general equitable principles, and
subject to such shareholder approvals and such approval of regulatory agencies
and other governmental authorities having authority over Compass as may be
required by statute or regulation.  Compass is not in violation of or default
under its Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any agreement, document or
instrument under which Compass is obligated or bound, or any law, order,
judgment, injunction, award, decree, statute, rule, ordinance or regulation
applicable to Compass or any of its Subsidiaries, the violation or breach of
which could have a Material Adverse Effect on Compass and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, neither the execution,
delivery nor performance of this Agreement in its entirety, nor the consummation
of all the transactions contemplated hereby, following the receipt of such
approvals as may be required from the SEC, the FRB, FDIC, and the Commissioner
will (i) violate (with or without the giving of notice or passage of time), any
law, order, writ, judgment, injunction, award, decree, rule, statute, ordinance
or regulation applicable to Compass, or (ii) be in conflict with,

                                     2.1-18
<PAGE>

result in a breach or termination of any provision of, cause the acceleration of
the maturity of any debt or obligation pursuant to, constitute a default (or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or
result in the creation of any security interest, lien, charge or other
encumbrance upon any property or assets of Compass pursuant to, any terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, license, instrument, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust or other agreement or understanding or any other restriction of
any kind or character, to which Compass is a party or by which any of its assets
or properties are bound. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.2, there are no
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of Compass, threatened, against
Compass, at law or in equity or before any foreign, federal, state, municipal or
other governmental court, department, commission, board, bureau, agency,
instrumentality or other person which may result in liability to the Company on
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or which would prevent
or delay such consummation. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.2, or as
contemplated hereby, the corporate existence, business, organization, assets,
licenses, permits, authorizations and contracts of Compass will not be
terminated or impaired by reason of the execution, delivery or performance by
Compass of this Agreement or consummation by Compass of the transactions
contemplated hereby, assuming receipt of the required regulatory approvals.

      SECTION 4.3   Financial Reports.  Compass has previously furnished the
Company a true and complete copy of (i) the 1997 Annual Report to Shareholders,
which report (the "Compass 1997 Annual Report") includes, among other things,
consolidated balance sheets of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and
(ii) Compass' quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
1998 (the "Quarterly Report") which report includes among other things unaudited
balance sheets of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1998 and 1997,
respectively, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and
cash flows for the three-month periods ending March 31, 1998 and 1997.  The
financial statements contained in the Compass 1997 Annual Report and such
Quarterly Reports have been prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a basis
consistent with prior periods.  The consolidated balance sheets of Compass and
its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 contained in the Compass 1997
Annual Report fairly present the consolidated financial condition of Compass and
its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and the related consolidated
statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows of Compass and its
Subsidiaries contained therein fairly present the results of operations and cash
flows thereof for the fiscal years then ended.  The unaudited consolidated
financial statements of Compass and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1998 and
1997, contained in Compass' Quarterly Report, fairly present the financial
condition, the results of the operations and changes in cash flows thereof as of
such dates and for the periods indicated.  For the purposes of this Agreement,
all financial statements referred to in this Section 4.3 shall be deemed to
include any notes to such financial statements.  Compass has made all filings
required to be made in compliance with the Exchange Act.  None of the
information contained in the Compass 1997 Annual Report or Compass' Quarterly
Report is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omits to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                                     2.1-19
<PAGE>

      SECTION 4.4   Capitalization.  The shares of Compass Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to this Agreement, when so issued, will be duly and validly
authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and not issued in violation
of any preemptive rights.  As of April 30, 1998, Compass had 70,099,325 shares
of common stock, $2.00 per share par value, issued and outstanding.  None of the
shares of Compass Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement will be
subject to any lien, charge, encumbrance, claim, rights of others, mortgage,
pledge or security interest, and none will be subject to any agreements or
understandings among any persons with respect to the voting or transfer of such
shares of Compass Common Stock except as contemplated hereby.

      SECTION 4.5   Consents and Approvals.  No prior consent, approval or
authorization of, or declaration, filing or registration with any person,
domestic or foreign, is required of or by Compass in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by Compass of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby or the resulting change in control of the
Company, except the filing of Articles of Merger under the TBCA, and such
approvals as may be required from the SEC, the FRB, the FDIC, and the
Commissioner.

      SECTION 4.6   Availability of Compass Common Stock.  Compass has available
a sufficient number of authorized and unissued shares of Compass Common Stock to
pay the Merger Consideration, and Compass will not take any action during the
term of this Agreement that will cause it not to have a sufficient number of
authorized and unissued shares of Compass Common Stock to pay the Merger
Consideration.

      SECTION 4.7   Representations Not Misleading.  No representation or
warranty by Compass in this Agreement, nor any statement or exhibit furnished to
the Company under and pursuant to, or in anticipation of this Agreement,
contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading.

                                  ARTICLE V.

                           COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

      SECTION 5.1   Affirmative Covenants of the Company.  For so long as this
Agreement is in effect, the Company shall, from the date of this Agreement to
the Closing, except as specifically contemplated by this Agreement:

     (a)   operate and conduct its business in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with prudent practices;

     (b)   preserve intact its corporate existence, business organization,
assets, licenses, permits, authorizations, and business opportunities;

                                     2.1-20
<PAGE>

     (c)   comply with all material contractual obligations applicable to it;

     (d)   maintain all its properties in good repair, order and condition,
reasonable wear and tear excepted, and maintain the insurance coverages
described in Schedule 3.19 (which shall list all Property insured by such
coverages) or obtain comparable insurance coverages from reputable insurers
which, in respect to amounts, types and risks insured, are adequate for the
business conducted by it and consistent with the existing insurance coverages;

     (e)   in good faith and in a timely manner (i) cooperate with Compass and
Compass Texas in satisfying the conditions in this Agreement, (ii) assist
Compass and Compass Texas in obtaining as promptly as possible all consents,
approvals, authorizations and rulings, whether regulatory, corporate or
otherwise, as are necessary for Compass and Compass Texas and the Company (or
any of them) to carry out and consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including all consents, approvals and authorizations required by any
agreement or understanding existing at the Closing between the Company and any
governmental agency or other third party, (iii) furnish information concerning
the Company not previously provided to Compass required for inclusion in any
filings or applications that may be necessary in that regard and (iv) perform
all acts and execute and deliver all documents necessary to cause the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated at the earliest
possible date;

     (f)   timely file all financial statements and other reports required to be
so filed by it and to the extent permitted by applicable law, promptly
thereafter deliver to Compass copies of all financial statements and other
reports required to be so filed;

     (g)   comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and
regulations, domestic and foreign;

     (h)   between the date of this Agreement and Closing, promptly give written
notice to Compass upon obtaining knowledge of any event or fact that would cause
any of the representations or warranties of the Company contained in or referred
to in this Agreement to be untrue or misleading in any material respect;

     (i)   deliver to Compass a list (Schedule 5.1(i)), dated as of the
Effective Time, showing (i) the name of each bank or institution where the
Company has accounts or safe deposit boxes, (ii) the name(s) in which such
accounts or boxes are held and (iii) the name of each person authorized to draw
thereon or have access thereto;

     (j)   deliver to Compass a list (Schedule 5.1(j)), dated as of the
Effective Time, showing all liabilities and obligations of the Company, except
those arising in the ordinary course of their respective businesses, incurred
since the Balance Sheet Date, certified by an officer of Company;

     (k)   promptly notify Compass of any material change or inaccuracies in any
data previously given or made available to Compass or Compass Texas pursuant to
this Agreement; and

                                     2.1-21
<PAGE>

     (l)   provide access, to the extent that the Company has the right to
provide access, to any or all Property (as defined in Section 3.21) so as to
enable Compass to physically inspect any structure or components of any
structure on such Property, including without limitation surface and subsurface
testing and analyses.

      SECTION 5.2   Negative Covenants of the Company.  Except with the prior
written consent of Compass or as otherwise specifically permitted by this
Agreement, the Company will not from the date of this Agreement to the Closing:

     (a)   make any amendment to its articles of incorporation or association or
bylaws;

     (b)   make any change in the methods used in allocating and charging costs,
except as may be required by applicable law, regulation or cash basis accounting
and after notice to Compass;

     (c)   make any change in the number of shares of the capital stock issued
and outstanding, or issue, reserve for issuance, grant, sell or authorize the
issuance of any shares of its capital stock or subscriptions, options, warrants,
calls, rights or commitments of any kind relating to the issuance or sale of or
conversion into shares of its capital stock;

     (d)   contract to create any obligation or liability (absolute, accrued,
contingent or otherwise) except in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent practices;

     (e)   contract to create any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or
encumbrances, restrictions, or charge of any kind (other than statutory liens
for which the obligations secured thereby shall not become delinquent), except
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with prudent practices;

     (f)   except as set forth on Schedule 5.2(f), cancel any debts, waive any
claims or rights of value or sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its
material properties or assets, except in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent practices;

     (g)   dispose of or permit to lapse any rights to the use of any material
trademark, service mark, trade name or copyright, or dispose of or disclose to
any person other than its employees any material trade secret not theretofore a
matter of public knowledge;

     (h)   subject to Section 6.10 and except for matters set forth on Schedule
3.10, and for regular salary increases granted in the ordinary course of
business within the Company's 1998 budget and consistent with prior practices,
grant any increase in compensation or directors' fees, or pay or agree to pay or
accrue any bonus or like benefit to or for the credit of any director, officer,
employee or other person or enter into any employment, consulting or severance
agreement or other agreement with any director, officer or employee, or adopt,
amend or terminate any Employee Benefit Plan or change or modify the period of
vesting or retirement age for any participant of such a plan;

                                     2.1-22
<PAGE>

     (i)   declare, pay or set aside for payment any dividend or other
distribution or payment in respect of shares of its capital stock;

     (j)   acquire the capital stock or other equity securities or interest of
any person;

     (k)   make any capital expenditure or a series of expenditures of a similar
nature in excess of $25,000 in the aggregate;

     (l)   make any income tax or franchise tax election or settle or compromise
any federal, state, local or foreign income tax or franchise tax liability, or,
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with prudent practices,
make any other tax election or settle or compromise any other federal, state,
local or foreign tax liability;

     (m)   except for negotiations and discussions between the parties hereto
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or as otherwise
permitted hereunder, enter into any transaction, or enter into, modify or amend
any contract or commitment other than in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with prudent practices;

     (n)   except as contemplated by this Agreement, adopt a plan of complete or
partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring,
recapitalization, or other reorganization or business combination of the
Company;

     (o)   make any investments except in the ordinary course of business and in
accordance with prudent practices;

     (p)   incur any Company Indebtedness;

     (q)   sell or contract to sell any part of the Company's premises nor
acquire an interest in any other premises;

     (r)   change any fiscal year or the length thereof;

     (s)   take or agree to take any action that would prevent Compass from
accounting for the business combination to be effected by the Merger as a
pooling of interests, including, without limitation, any action inconsistent
with the provisions of Exhibit C hereto; or

     (t)   acquire or establish any Subsidiary; or

     (u)   enter into any agreement, understanding or commitment, written or
oral, with any other person which is in any manner inconsistent with the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement or any related written
agreement.  Nothing contained in this Section 5.2 or in Section 5.1 is intended
to influence the general management or overall operations of the Company in a
manner

                                     2.1-23
<PAGE>

not permitted by applicable law and the provisions thereof shall automatically
be reduced in compliance therewith.

                                  ARTICLE VI.

                             ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

      SECTION 6.1   Access To, and Information Concerning, Properties and
Records. During the pendency of the transactions contemplated hereby, the
Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, give Compass, its legal counsel,
accountants and other representatives full access, during normal business hours,
throughout the period prior to the Closing, to all of the Company's properties,
books, contracts, commitments and records, permit Compass to make such
inspections (including without limitation physical inspection of the surface and
subsurface of any property thereof and any structure thereon) as they may
require and furnish to Compass during such period all such information
concerning the Company and its affairs as Compass may reasonably request.  All
information disclosed by the Company to Compass which is confidential and is so
identified to Compass as confidential shall be held confidential by Compass and
its representatives, except to the extent counsel to Compass has advised it such
information is required to or should be disclosed in filings with regulatory
agencies or governmental authorities or in proxy materials delivered to
shareholders of the Company.  In the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant
to the provisions of Article VIII, upon the written request of the Company,
Compass agrees to destroy or return to the Company all copies of such
confidential information.

      SECTION 6.2   Filing of Regulatory Approvals.  As soon as reasonably
practicable, Compass shall file all notices and applications to the FRB, the
Commissioner, and the FDIC which Compass deems necessary or appropriate to
complete the transactions contemplated herein.  Compass will deliver to the
Company, and the Company will deliver to Compass, copies of all non-confidential
portions of any such applications.

      SECTION 6.3   Miscellaneous Agreements and Consents.  Subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, Compass and the Company agree to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper, or advisable under applicable
laws and regulations to consummate and make effective, as soon as practicable
after the date hereof, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Compass
and the Company shall use their respective best efforts to obtain or cause to be
obtained consents of all third parties and governmental and regulatory
authorities necessary or desirable for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein.

      SECTION 6.4   Company Indebtedness.  Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall pay all regularly scheduled payments on all Company Indebtedness
and shall cooperate with Compass in taking such actions as are reasonably
appropriate or necessary in connection with the redemption, prepayment,
modification, satisfaction or elimination of any outstanding indebtedness

                                     2.1-24
<PAGE>

of the Company with respect to which a consent is required to be obtained to
effectuate the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
has not been so obtained.

      SECTION 6.5   Best Good Faith Efforts.  All parties hereto agree that the
parties will use their best good faith efforts to secure all regulatory
approvals necessary to consummate the Merger and other transactions provided
herein and to satisfy the other conditions to Closing contained herein.

      SECTION 6.6   Exclusivity.  The Company shall not solicit, entertain or
negotiate with respect to any offer to acquire the Company from any other
person.  During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall not provide
information to any other person in connection with a possible acquisition of the
Company.  Immediately upon receipt of  any such unsolicited offer, the Company
will communicate to Compass the terms of any proposal or request for information
and the identity of parties involved.

      SECTION 6.7   Public Announcement.  Subject to written advice of counsel
with respect to legal requirements relating to public disclosure of matters
related to the subject matter of this Agreement, the timing and content of any
announcements, press releases or other public statements concerning the proposal
contained herein will occur upon, and be determined by, the mutual consent of
the Company and Compass.

      SECTION 6.8   Employee Benefit Plans.  Compass presently intends that,
after the Merger, Compass, the Company will not make additional contributions to
the employee benefit plans that were sponsored by the Company immediately prior
to the Merger.  Compass agrees that the employees of the Company who are
retained as employees of Compass or any affiliate of Compass will be entitled to
participate as newly hired employees in the employee benefit plans and programs
maintained for employees of Compass and its affiliates, in accordance with the
respective terms of such plans and programs, and Compass shall take all actions
necessary or appropriate to facilitate coverage of the Company's employees in
such plans and programs from and after the Effective Time, subject to the
following:

     (i)   Employee Welfare Benefit Plans and Programs:  Each employee of the
Company will be entitled to credit for prior service with the Company for all
purposes under the employee welfare benefit plans and other employee benefit
plans and programs (other than those described in subparagraph (ii) below and
any stock option plans) sponsored by Compass to the extent the Company sponsored
a similar type of plan which the Company employee participated in immediately
prior to the Effective Time.  Any preexisting condition exclusion applicable to
such plans and programs shall be waived with respect to any Company employee.
For purposes of determining each Company employee's benefit for the year in
which the Merger occurs under the Compass vacation program, any vacation taken
by a Company employee preceding the Effective Time for the year in which the
Merger occurs will be deducted from the total Compass vacation benefit available
to such employee for such year. Compass agrees that for purposes of determining
the number of vacation days available with respect to each Company employee for
the year in which

                                     2.1-25

<PAGE>

the Merger occurs, that the number of vacation days for such year shall be
determined under the Company vacation policy in effect as of January 1, 1998.

     (ii)  Employee Pension Benefit Plans:  Each Company employee shall be
entitled to credit for past service with the Company for the purpose of
satisfying any eligibility or vesting periods applicable to the Compass employee
pension benefit plans which are subject to Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the
Code (including, without limitation, the Compass 401(k)/ESOP Plan).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Compass shall not grant any prior years of
service credit to employees of the Company with respect to any defined benefit
pension plans sponsored (or contributed to) by Compass; instead, Company
employees shall be treated as newly hired employees of Compass as of the date
following the Effective Time for purposes of determining eligibility, vesting
and benefit accruals thereunder.

     On or before, but effective as of the Effective Time, the Company may take
such actions as may be necessary to cause each individual employed by the
Company immediately prior to the Effective Time to have a fully vested and
nonforfeitable interest in such employee's account balance under the 401(k) plan
sponsored by the Company as of the Effective Time.

 SECTION 6.9   Certain Tax Matters.

     (a)   Tax Periods ending on or before the Closing Date.

           Compass shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be
filed all tax returns for the Company for all periods ending on or prior to the
Closing Date which are filed after the Closing Date.  Compass shall permit the
Shareholders to review and comment on each such tax return described in the
preceding sentence prior to filing.  To the extent permitted by applicable law,
the Shareholders shall include any income, gain, loss, deduction or other tax
items for such periods on their respective individual tax returns in a manner
consistent with the Schedule K-1s prepared by Compass for such periods.  Except
for any accounting method changes pursuant to applications that are approved by
the IRS and reflected in Schedule 3.13, all tax returns described in this
Section 6.9(a), in the absence of a controlling change in law or circumstance,
shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the elections, accounting methods,
conventions and principles of taxation used for the most recent taxable periods
for which tax returns involving similar tax items have been filed.

     (b)   Cooperation on Tax Matters.

           Compass, the Company and the Shareholders shall cooperate fully, as
and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party, in connection with
the filing of tax returns pursuant to this Section 6.9 and any audit,
litigation, or other proceeding with respect to taxes. Such cooperation shall
include the retention and (upon the other party's request) the provision of
records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such audit,
litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on a mutually
convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any
material provided hereunder.  The Company and the Shareholders agree (i) to

                                     2.1-26
<PAGE>

retain all books and records with respect to tax matters relevant to the Company
relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the
expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified by Compass
or the Shareholders, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable periods,
and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any taxing
authority, and (ii) to give the other party reasonable written notice prior to
transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and, if the
other party so requests, the Company or the Shareholders, as the case may be,
shall allow the other party to take possession of such books and records.
Compass, the Company and the Shareholders further agree, upon request, to use
their best efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any
governmental authority or any other person as may be necessary to mitigate,
reduce or eliminate any tax that could be imposed (including, but not limited
to, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).

      SECTION 6.10  Principal Compensation. The annual base salaries of Robert
A. Albrecht and Harrison Williams (collectively, the "Principals") shall equal
in the aggregate $250,000 for July 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998 and
$500,000 for fiscal years beginning January 1, 1999 and the aggregate amount of
annual bonuses or other distributions to the Principals shall equal 30% of the
amount by which the Net Revenue (as defined in this Section 6.10) of the Company
exceeds $1,250,000 for July 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998 and $2,500,000 for
fiscal years beginning January 1, 1999.  "Net Revenue" for purposes of this
Section 6.10 shall mean the total revenue and income of the Company less all
operating and other expenses, including without limitation, base salary, benefit
expenses of all employees of the Company, and the retention/severance payments
made to employees of the Company (including without limitation, the Principals)
pursuant to Section 6.11 below, but excluding the acquisition costs, brokerage
fees or the amortization of the noncompetition payments made by Compass, Compass
Texas or any affiliates of Compass or Compass Texas to any employee of the
Company or Compass Texas incurred or paid in connection with the Merger, before
taxes.

      SECTION 6.11  Employee Retention/Severance Payments. The Company may pay
$475,000 in retention/severance payments between June 30, 1998 and the Effective
Time from Net Revenue (as defined in this Section 6.11) generated between June
30, 1998 and the Effective Time to employees of the Company other than the
Principals.  "Net Revenue" for purposes of this Section 6.11 shall mean the
total revenue and income of the Company less all operating and other expenses,
including without limitation, base salary and benefit expenses of all employees
of the Company (including without limitation, the Principals), but excluding the
acquisition costs, brokerage fees or the amortization of the noncompetition
payments made by Compass, Compass Texas or any affiliates of Compass or Compass
Texas to any employee of the Company or Compass Texas incurred or paid in
connection with the Merger, before taxes.

                                     2.1-27
<PAGE>

                                 ARTICLE VII.

                   CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

      SECTION 7.1   Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

     (a)   the receipt of regulatory approvals which approvals shall not have
imposed any condition or requirement which in the judgment of Compass would
adversely impact the economic or business benefits of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise would in the judgment of Compass be
so burdensome as to render inadvisable the consummation of the Merger, and the
expiration of any applicable waiting period with respect thereto; and

     (b)   the Closing will not violate any injunction, order or  decree of any
court or governmental body having competent  jurisdiction.

      SECTION 7.2   Conditions to the Obligations of Compass and Compass Texas
to Effect the Merger.

     The obligations of Compass and Compass Texas to effect the Merger  are
subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following  conditions prior to the
Effective Time:

     (a)   all representations and warranties of the Company shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and at and as of the
Closing, with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing;

     (b)   the Company shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations and agreements and in all material respects complied with all
covenants and conditions, contained in this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by it prior to the Effective Time;

     (c)   there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect with respect
to the Company;

     (d)   the directors of the Company shall have delivered to Compass an
instrument in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto dated the Effective Time
releasing the Company from any and all claims of such directors (except as to
their rights of indemnification pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws of the Company) and shall have delivered to Compass their resignations as
directors of the Company;

     (e)   the officers of the Company shall have delivered to Compass an
instrument in the form of Exhibit H attached hereto dated the Effective Time
releasing the Company from any and all claims of such officers (except as to
accrued compensation permitted by their respective agreements

                                     2.1-28
<PAGE>

with the Company and as to their rights of indemnification pursuant to the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company);

     (f)   Compass shall have received the opinions of counsel to the Company
acceptable to it as to the matters set forth on Exhibit E attached hereto;

     (g)   Compass shall have received a letter from KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP,
dated as of the Effective Time, to the effect that the Merger will qualify for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment if closed and consummated in
accordance with this Agreement;

     (h)   there shall be no Company Indebtedness;

     (i)   Compass shall have received from holders of the Company's capital
stock receiving at least 50% of the total Merger Consideration a representation
that they have no plan or intention to sell or otherwise dispose of (i) shares
of the Company prior to and in connection with the Merger to the Company or any
party related to the Company or Compass and (ii) shares of Compass Common Stock
received pursuant to the Merger to Compass or any party related to Compass;

     (j)   Compass shall have received an opinion of counsel satisfactory to it
on the basis of certain facts, representations, and assumptions set forth in
such opinion to the effect that the Merger will qualify as a reorganization
under Section 368(a) of the Code.  In rendering such opinion, such counsel may
require and rely upon and may incorporate by reference representations and
covenants, including those contained in certificates of officers and/or
directors of Compass, the Company, Compass Texas and others;

     (k)   the Company shall have delivered to Compass a schedule of all
transactions in the capital stock (or instruments exercisable for or convertible
into capital stock) of the Company of which the Company has knowledge from and
including the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time;

     (l)   Compass shall have determined, in its sole judgment, that the
liabilities and obligations set forth on Schedule 5.1(j) do not have a Material
Adverse Effect;

     (m)   Compass shall have received an investment representation certificate
in substantially the form of Exhibit D from each of the Shareholders dated as of
the Effective Time;

     (n)   Robert A. Albrecht ("Albrecht") and Harrison Williams ("Williams")
shall have entered into employment agreements (the "Employment Agreements") with
Compass or one of its Affiliates, in substantially the forms of Exhibits K-1 and
K-2 attached hereto;

     (o)   Albrecht shall have entered into a noncompetition agreement with
Compass, in substantially the form of Exhibit L attached hereto;

                                     2.1-29
<PAGE>

     (p)   the Company shall have filed a final franchise tax return;

     (q)   the sole shareholder of the Company shall have approved the payments
to be made to Harrison Williams pursuant to the Employment Agreements;

     (r)   the Company shall have paid any brokerage fees owed to GulfStar
Group, Inc.; and

     (s)   Compass shall have received certificates dated the Closing executed
by the Chairman of the Board and the Secretary of the Company, certifying in
such reasonable detail as Compass may reasonably request, to the effect
described in Sections 7.2(a), (b), (c) and (h).

      SECTION 7.3   Conditions to the Obligations of the Company to Effect the
Merger.  The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger are subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions prior to the Effective Time:

     (a)   all representations and warranties of Compass shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and at and as of the
Closing, with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the Closing;

     (b)   Compass and Compass Texas shall have performed in all material
respects all obligations and agreements and in all material respects complied
with all covenants and conditions contained in this Agreement to be performed or
complied with by either of them prior to the Effective Time; and

     (c)   the Company shall have received the opinion of counsel to Compass and
Compass Texas acceptable to it, as to the matters set forth on Exhibit F
attached hereto;

     (d)   the Company shall have delivered to the directors of the Company an
instrument in the form of Exhibit I attached hereto dated the Effective Time
releasing such directors from any and all claims of the Company (except as to
indebtedness or other contractual liabilities); provided, however, that such
releases shall not release an action against such directors by Compass or
Compass Texas in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;

     (e)   the Shareholders shall have received the Merger Consideration payable
pursuant to Section 1.6(b).

     (f)   Compass or one of its affiliates shall have entered into the
Employment Agreements;

     (g)   the rights agreement, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit J, shall have been executed by Compass; and

                                     2.1-30
<PAGE>

     (h)   the Company shall have received certificates dated the Closing,
executed by an appropriate officers of Compass and Compass Texas, respectively,
certifying, in such detail as the Company may reasonably request, to the effect
described in Sections 7.3(a) and (b).

                                 ARTICLE VIII.

                        TERMINATION; AMENDMENT; WAIVER

      SECTION 8.1   Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the
Merger contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time notwithstanding approval
thereof by the shareholders of the Company, but prior to the Effective Time:

     (a)   by mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards of Directors
of Compass and the Company;

     (b)   by Compass (i) if Compass learns or becomes aware of a state of facts
or breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of the Company
contained in Article III which constitutes a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the
factual substance of any of the warranties set forth in Section 3.21 is not true
and accurate in all material respects irrespective of the knowledge or lack of
knowledge of the Company, or (iii) if any of the conditions to Closing contained
in Section 7.1 or 7.2 are not satisfied or waived in writing by Compass;

     (c)   by the Company if the conditions to Closing contained in Section 7.1
or 7.3 are not satisfied or waived in writing by the Company;

     (d)   by Compass or the Company if the Effective Time shall not have
occurred on or before the expiration of seven months from the date of this
Agreement or such later date agreed to in writing by Compass and the Company; or

     (e)   by Compass or the Company if any court of competent jurisdiction in
the United States or other United States (federal or state) governmental body
shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger and such order,
decree, ruling or other action shall have been final and nonappealable.

      SECTION 8.2   Effect of Termination.  In the event of the termination and
abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1 hereof, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability on the
part of any party or its directors, officers or shareholders, other than the
provisions of this Sections 6.9, 8.2, 9.1, 10.1 and 10.8. Nothing contained in
this Section 8.2 shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of this
Agreement.

      SECTION 8.3   Amendment.  (a) To the extent permitted by applicable law,
this Agreement may be amended by action taken by or on behalf of the Board of
Directors of the Company, Compass and, if required, Compass Texas at any time
before or after adoption of this

                                     2.1-31
<PAGE>

Agreement by the shareholders of the Company but, after any submission of this
Agreement to such shareholders for approval, no amendment shall be made which
reduces the Merger Consideration or which materially and adversely affects the
rights of the Company's shareholders hereunder without any required approval of
such shareholders. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of all the parties.

     (b)   The parties hereto hereby agree to enter into an amendment of this
Agreement for the purpose of adding Compass Texas as a party hereto, which
amendment shall be made prior to any submission of this Agreement to
shareholders of the Company for their approval.  As a condition to the Company's
entry into such an amendment, Compass Texas shall deliver to the Company a
certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit G attached hereto.

      SECTION 8.4   Extension; Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective Time,
the parties may (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other  parties hereto, (ii) waive any
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or in any
document, certificate or writing delivered pursuant hereto, or (iii) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein.  Any
agreement on the part of any party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party.

                                  ARTICLE IX.

                                   SURVIVAL

      SECTION 9.1   Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  The
parties hereto agree that all of their respective representations, warranties
and covenants contained in this Agreement shall not survive after the Effective
Time other than the covenants contained in Sections 2.1, 6.8, 6.9, 10.1, and
10.4.

                                  ARTICLE X.

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

      SECTION 10.1  Expenses.  All costs and expenses incurred in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without
limitation, attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, other professional fees and
costs related to expenses of officers and directors of the Company, shall be
paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses. Each party hereto hereby
agrees to and shall indemnify the other parties hereto against any liability
arising from any such fee or payment incurred by such party.

      SECTION 10.2  Brokers and Finders.  Other than GulfStar Group, Inc. who
has been retained by the Company, all negotiations on behalf of Compass and the
Company relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement have been carried on by the parties hereto and their respective agents
directly without the intervention of any other person in such manner as to give
rise to any claim against Compass, Compass Texas or the Company for financial

                                     2.1-32
<PAGE>

advisory fees, brokerage or commission fees, finder's fees or other like payment
in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

      SECTION 10.3  Entire Agreement; Assignment.  This Agreement (a)
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties or any of them with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and (b) shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise,
provided that Compass may assign its rights and obligations or those of Compass
Texas to any direct or indirect, wholly-owned, subsidiary of Compass, but no
such assignment shall relieve Compass of its obligations hereunder if such
assignee does not perform such obligations.

      SECTION 10.4  Further Assurances.  From time to time as and when requested
by Compass or its successors or assigns, the Company, the officers and directors
of the Company,, shall execute and deliver such further agreements, documents,
deeds, certificates and other instruments and shall take or cause to be taken
such other actions, including those as shall be necessary to vest or perfect in
or to confirm of record or otherwise the Company's title to and possession of,
all of  its property, interests, assets, rights, privileges, immunities, powers,
franchises and authority, as shall be reasonably necessary or advisable to carry
out the purposes of and effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

      SECTION 10.5  Enforcement of the Agreement.  The parties hereto agree that
irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were
otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to
enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to
any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

      SECTION 10.6  Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability  of any
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of
any other provisions of this Agreement, which  shall remain in full force and
effect.

      SECTION 10.7  Notices.  All notices, requests, claims,  demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and  shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered if in person,  by cable, telegram or telex or by
telecopy, or five business days after mailing if delivered by registered or
certified mail  (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties as follows:

                                     2.1-33
<PAGE>

     if to Compass or Compass Texas:

          D. Paul Jones, Jr.
          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
          Compass Bancshares, Inc.
          15 South 20th Street
          Birmingham, Alabama 35233
          Telecopy No.: (205) 933-3043

          Charles E. McMahen
          Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
          Compass Banks of Texas, Inc.
          24 Greenway Plaza
          Houston, Texas 77046
          Telecopy No.:  (713) 993-8500

     with copies to:

          Daniel B. Graves
          Associate General Counsel
          Compass Bancshares, Inc.
          15 South 20th Street
          Birmingham, Alabama 35233
          Telecopy No.:  (205) 933-3043

          and

          Annette L. Tripp
          Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon, L.L.P.
          3400 Chase Tower, 600 Travis
          Houston, Texas 77002
          Telecopy No.:  (713) 223-3717

     if to the Company:

          Robert A. Albrecht
          Albrecht & Associates, Inc.
          1111 Fannin, Suite 1470
          Houston, Texas 77002
          Telecopy No.: (713) 658-0654

                                     2.1-34
<PAGE>

     with a copy to:

          Adrienne Randle Bond
          Bond, Taylor & Lee, LLP
          1021 Main St., Suite 1220
          Houston, Texas 77002
          Telecopy No.: (713) 759-1980

or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above
(provided that notice of any change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt thereof).

      SECTION 10.8  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, regardless of the
laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of
laws thereof, except to the extent that the GCL governs aspects of the Merger.

      SECTION 10.9  Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings are inserted
for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of or to
affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

      SECTION 10.10 Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person any
rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.

      SECTION 10.11 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.

      SECTION 10.12 Incorporation by References.  Any and all schedules,
exhibits, annexes, statements, reports, certificates or other documents or
instruments referred to herein or attached hereto are incorporated herein by
reference hereto as though fully set forth at the point referred to in the
Agreement.

      SECTION 10.13 Certain Definitions.

     (a)   "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries" shall mean, when used with reference
to an entity, any corporation, a majority of the outstanding voting securities
of which are owned directly or indirectly by such entity or any partnership,
joint venture or other enterprise in which any entity has, directly or
indirectly, any equity interest.

                                     2.1-35
<PAGE>

     (b)   "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean any material adverse
circumstance, event or series of events with respect to the financial condition,
assets, liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), reserves,
business or results of operations of the Company (or when the reference is to
Compass, to Compass and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole).

     (c)   "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state and local laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations, guidance documents, directives, and decisions,
interpretations and orders of courts or administrative agencies or authorities,
relating to the release, threatened release, recycling, processing, use,
handling, transportation treatment, storage, disposal, remediation, removal,
inspection or monitoring of Polluting Substances or protection of human health
or safety or the environment (including, without limitation, wildlife, air,
surface water, ground water, land surface, and subsurface strata), including,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"), the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended ("SARA"), the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act of 1976, as amended ("RCRA"), Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments
of 1984, as amended ("HSWA"), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as
amended ("HMTA"), the Toxic Substances Control Act ("TSCA"), Occupational Safety
and Health Act ("OSHA"), Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Air Act, and
any and all regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing.

     (d)   "Polluting Substances" shall mean those substances included within
the statutory or regulatory definitions, listings or descriptions of
"pollutant," "contaminant," "toxic waste," "hazardous substance," "hazardous
waste," "solid waste," or "regulated substance" pursuant to CERCLA, SARA, RCRA,
HSWA, HMTA, TSCA, OSHA, and/or any other Environmental Laws, as amended, and
shall include, without limitation, any material, waste or substance which is or
contains explosives, radioactive materials, oil or any fraction thereof,
asbestos, or formaldehyde. To the extent that the laws or regulations of the
State of Texas establish a meaning for "hazardous substance," "hazardous waste,"
"hazardous materials," "solid waste," or "toxic waste," which is broader than
that specified in any of CERCLA, SARA, RCRA, HSWA, HMTA, TSCA, OSHA or other
Environmental Laws such broader meaning shall apply.

     (e)   "Release" shall mean any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring,
emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping,
disposing, discarding or abandoning.

     (f)   "Knowledge" or "known"  -- An individual shall be deemed to have
"knowledge" of or to have "known" a particular fact or other matter if (i) such
individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter, or (ii) a prudent
individual could be expected to discover or otherwise become aware of such fact
or other matter in the course of conducting a reasonably comprehensive
investigation concerning the truth or existence of such fact or other matter.  A
corporation shall be deemed to have "knowledge" of or to have "known" a
particular fact or other matter if any individual who is serving, or who has at
any time served, as a director or officer (or in any similar capacity) of the
corporation has, or at any time had, knowledge of such fact or other matter.

                                     2.1-36
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the
day and year first above written.


ATTEST:                     COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.



By  /s/ Daniel B. Graves            By  /s/ Garrett R. Hegel
  ----------------------------        -------------------------------
  Its: Assistant Secretary            Its: Chief Financial Officer



ATTEST:                             ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES, INC.



By  /s/ Robert A. Albrecht          By  /s/ Robert A. Albrecht
  ----------------------------        -------------------------------
  Its:                                Its: President

                                     2.1-37

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 2.2


                   AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     This Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger (this "Amendment") dated as
of December 2, 1998 is entered into by and among Compass Bancshares, Inc.
("Compass"), Albrecht & Associates of Delaware, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("A&A"), and Albrecht & Associates, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Company").

     WHEREAS, Compass and the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated as of August 3, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement");

     WHEREAS, the Merger Agreement requires that an existing or new subsidiary
of Compass shall be merged with the Company, with Compass Texas being the
surviving entity;

     WHEREAS, A&A is such existing or new subsidiary;

     WHEREAS, Section 8.3 of the Merger Agreement requires Compass and the
Company to amend the Merger Agreement for the purpose of making A&A a party
thereto; and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to otherwise amend the Merger Agreement;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein and in the Merger Agreement and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

          1.   Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have
the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

          2.   Upon execution of this Amendment, A&A shall become a party to the
Merger Agreement, shall be deemed to be Compass Texas as defined in the Merger
Agreement, and shall succeed to the rights and become subject to the obligations
of Compass Texas as provided in the Merger Agreement.

          3.   The execution of this Amendment shall not relieve Compass of its
obligations under the Merger Agreement.

          4.   Except as herein provided, the terms of the Merger Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect.
<PAGE>

          5.   This Amendment may be executed in several counterparts, and by
the parties on separate counterparts, and all such counterparts, when so
executed and delivered, shall constitute but one and the same agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties have executed this Amendment as of the date
first written above.


ATTEST:                             COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.



By:  /s/ Daniel B. Graves           By:  /s/ Garrett R. Hegel
   ----------------------------        -------------------------------
   Its: Assistant Secretary            Its: Chief Financial Officer



ATTEST:                             ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES
                                    OF DELAWARE, INC., a Delaware corporation



By:  /s/ Daniel B. Graves           By:  /s/ Garrett R. Hegel
   ----------------------------        -------------------------------
   Its: Assistant Secretary            Its: Vice President and Treasurer



ATTEST:                             ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                                    a Texas corporation



By:  /s/ Robert A. Albrecht         By:  /s/ Robert A. Albrecht
   ----------------------------        -------------------------------
   Its:                                 Robert A. Albrecht, President

                                     2.2-2

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
                               RIGHTS AGREEMENT


     This Rights Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the
9th day of December, 1998, by and among Compass Bancshares, Inc. ("Compass") and
Robert A. Albrecht (the "Shareholder").

     WHEREAS, Compass and Albrecht & Associates, Inc. are parties to that
certain Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 3, 1998 , as amended
(the "Merger Agreement"), pursuant to which Albrecht & Associates, Inc. will be
merged with a subsidiary of Compass; and

     WHEREAS, as consideration for the Merger, the Shareholder has received an
aggregate of 250,000 shares (the "Shares") of Compass' Common Stock, par value
$2.00 per share (collectively "Compass Common Stock");

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and promises
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                  ARTICLE I.
                              REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     1.1   Demand Registration. (a)  The Shareholder may request Compass to
register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
all or a portion of the Shares held by such Shareholder for sale in a non-
underwritten public offering ("Demand Registration"). The number of occasions on
which Compass is obligated to register Shares hereunder is only one occasion.

     (b)   Promptly following receipt of any notice under this Section 1.1,
Compass shall use its best efforts to register under the Securities Act, for
public sale in a continuous or "shelf" registration made pursuant to Rule 415
promulgated under the Securities Act, or any similar or successor rule and under
the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction as may be reasonably
required by the Shareholder, the Shares specified in such notice from the
Shareholder. The registration statement shall permit sales of the Shares by the
Shareholder to be effected continuously in one or more transactions on the
NASDAQ National Market System or any stock exchange on which Compass Common
Stock may hereafter be admitted for trading (collectively, "Exchanges") pursuant
to and in accordance with the applicable rules of the Exchanges, in block
transactions on the Exchanges pursuant to and in accordance with the applicable
rules of the Exchanges, otherwise than on the Exchanges, in negotiated
transactions (which may include the pledge or hypothecation of some or all of
the Shares), or in a combination of any such methods of sale, at market prices
prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market
prices or at negotiated prices.  Compass shall not be required to maintain the
effectiveness of any registration statement pursuant to this Agreement beyond
the earlier to occur of (i) two years from the date hereof, and (ii) such lesser
period of time if the Shareholder could sell his shares pursuant to any
amendment to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act (the "Termination
Date").  Without in any way limiting
<PAGE>

the obligation of Compass to keep effective a registration statement or state
registration or qualification in a Demand Registration once it is effective or
once such qualification has been obtained, Compass shall be obligated to
register Shares pursuant to this Section 1.1 on one occasion only; provided that
no request may be made (a) for a period of 90 days after the completion of a
distribution of Compass Common Stock pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten
public offering, or (b) after the Termination Date. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, Compass shall not be obligated to prepare and
file any registration statement pursuant to this Section 1.1, or prepare or file
any amendment or supplement thereto, and may suspend the Shareholder's rights to
make sales of Shares pursuant to an effective registration statement only if
either the registration statement or the prospectus is required to be amended or
supplemented as the result of a material event. The filing of a registration
statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, by Compass cannot be
deferred, and the Shareholder's rights to make sales pursuant to an effective
registration statement cannot be suspended, pursuant to the provisions of the
immediately preceding sentence for more than 60 days after the abandonment or
consummation of any of the foregoing proposals or transactions or, in any event,
for more than 120 days after the date of Compass' determination pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence of this Section 1.1(b).

     (c)   Compass shall be entitled to include in any registration statement
filed pursuant to this Section 1.1 shares of Compass Common Stock (or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for or exercisable for the purchase
of Compass Common Stock to be sold by or for the account of other shareholders
of Compass.

     1.2   Registration Procedures.  If and whenever Compass is required by the
provisions of Section 1.1 to use its best efforts to effect the registration of
any of the Shares under the Securities Act, Compass will as expeditiously as
possible:

     (a)   prepare and file with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC") a
registration statement with respect to the Shares and use its best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become and remain effective until the
Termination Date;

     (b)   prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such
registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be
necessary to keep such registration statement effective until the Termination
Date and as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act
with respect to the disposition of all Shares covered by such registration
statement in accordance with the method of disposition set forth in such
registration statement for such period;

     (c)   furnish to the Shareholder such number of copies of the registration
statement and the prospectus included therein (including each preliminary
prospectus and each document incorporated by reference therein to the extent
then required by the rules and regulations of the SEC) as such persons may
reasonably request in order to facilitate the public sale or other disposition
of the Shares covered by such registration statement;

                                     4.1-2
<PAGE>

     (d)   use its best efforts to register or qualify the Shares covered by
such registration statement under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Shareholder shall reasonably request and to take all
necessary action to keep such registration or qualification effective as
required by this Section 1.2 as to a registration statement filed with the SEC;
provided, that Compass shall not be required to qualify to transact business as
a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it would not otherwise be
required to be so qualified, subject itself to taxation in any such
jurisdiction, or take any action which would subject it to general service of
process in any such jurisdictions in which it is not then so subject;

     (e)   immediately notify in writing the Shareholder, at any time when a
prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act, of the happening of any event as a result of which the prospectus contained
in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light
of the circumstances then existing (in which case, Compass shall promptly
provide the Shareholder with revised or supplemental prospectuses and if so
requested by Compass in writing, the Shareholder shall promptly take action to
cease making any offers of the Shares until receipt and distribution of such
revised supplemental prospectuses); and

     (f)   use its best efforts to keep effective and maintain any registration,
qualification, approval or listing obtained to cover the Shares as may be
necessary for the Shareholder to dispose of such Shares from the effective date
of the registration statement through the Termination Date and shall from time
to time amend or supplement any prospectus used in connection therewith to the
extent necessary in order to comply with applicable law; provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing, Compass shall not be required to file or to keep
effective and maintain any such registration, qualification, approval or listing
for such period that would require it to cause an audit of Compass to be
performed other than as is required by the rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect to reports required to be filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.

     In connection with any registration hereunder the Shareholder will furnish
promptly to Compass in writing such information (together with such supplements
as may be necessary from time to time) with respect to itself and the proposed
distribution by it as shall be reasonably necessary in order to ensure
compliance with federal and applicable state securities laws.

     1.3   Expenses.  Compass shall bear in accordance with this Agreement the
expenses of registration of the Shares; provided, that the Shareholder shall be
responsible for any fees and disbursements of counsel and other representatives
of the Shareholder and any discounts, selling commissions or other selling
expenses allocable to sales of the Shares by the Shareholder.

                                     4.1-3
<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE II.
                                INDEMNIFICATION

     2.1   Indemnification by Compass.  In the event of a registration of any of
the Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to Article I, Compass will
indemnify and hold harmless the Shareholder (the "Exchange Act") against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including reasonable attorneys' fees),
joint or several, to which such Shareholder or controlling person may become
subject under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in
the registration statement under which such Shares were registered under the
Securities Act pursuant to Section 1.1, any preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse the Shareholder, for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that Compass will not be liable in any such case if and to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission so made in
conformity with information furnished by the Shareholder for use in such
registration statement or prospectus; provided, further, that Compass will not
be liable hereunder to the Shareholder for any loss, claim, damage or liability
that arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or any omission or alleged omission contained in any preliminary
prospectus that was corrected by any subsequent prospectus, and the Shareholder
was required to deliver but failed to deliver such prospectus as required by the
Securities Act.

     2.2   Indemnification by the Shareholder. In the event of a registration of
any of the Shares under the Securities Act pursuant to Article I, the
Shareholder will indemnify and hold harmless Compass and each person who
controls Compass within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
each officer of Compass who signs the registration statement, and each director
of Compass, against all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which Compass or such officer or director or controlling person may
become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar
as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in the registration statement under which such
Shares were registered under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 1.1, any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment
or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse
Compass and each such officer, director, and controlling person for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Shareholder will be liable hereunder in any such case if and only to
the

                                     4.1-4
<PAGE>

extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission relating to the Shareholder made in reliance upon and in conformity
with information pertaining to the Shareholder, as such, furnished in writing to
Compass by the Shareholder for use in such registration statement or prospectus
("Shareholder Information"); and provided further, that the liability of the
Shareholder hereunder shall not exceed the amount of the proceeds received by
the Shareholder from the sale of the Shares covered by such registration
statement.

     2.3   Indemnification Procedures.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party hereunder of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party hereunder, notify the indemnifying party in writing thereof,
but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party other than under this
Section 2.3.  In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified
party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof,
the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in and, to the extent it
shall wish, to assume and undertake the defense thereof with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume and undertake the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified
party under this Section 2.3 for any legal expenses subsequently incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof; provided,
however, that (i) if the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and
employ counsel or (ii) if the defendants in any such action include both the
indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be reasonable defenses available to it
that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying
party, then the indemnified party shall have the right to select a separate
counsel and to assume such legal defense and otherwise to participate in the
defense of such action, with the expenses and fees of such separate counsel and
other expenses related to such participation to be reimbursed by the
indemnifying party as incurred.

     2.4   Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 2.4
is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or actions in respect thereof,
then each indemnifying party shall in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of Compass, on the
one hand, and the Shareholder, on the other, in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
actions as well as any other relevant equitable considerations, including the
failure to give any required notice. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by Compass, on the one hand, or the Shareholder,
on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. Compass and
the Shareholder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 2.4 were determined

                                     4.1-5
<PAGE>

by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 2.4.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions in respect thereof referred to above in
this Section 2.4 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Section 2.4, the amount that the Shareholder shall be required to contribute
shall not exceed the total price at which the securities sold by the Shareholder
were offered to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

                                 ARTICLE III.
                           MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     3.1   Nontransferability of Registration Rights.  The Shareholder's
registration rights under Article I shall not inure to the benefit of any person
who acquires such Shares from the Shareholder.

     3.2   Binding Effect.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement
and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit
of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder
shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent
of the other parties.  Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any person or entity other than the parties hereto and
their respective permitted successors and assigns, any right, benefit or
obligations hereunder.

     3.3   Amendments.  This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or
supplemented except upon the execution and delivery of a written agreement
executed by each of the parties hereto.  However, any party may waive any
condition to the obligations of any other party hereunder.

     3.4   Notices.  All notices, requests, claims,  demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and  shall be deemed to have been
duly given when delivered, if delivered in person,  by cable, telegram or telex,
or by telecopy, or five business days after mailing, if delivered by registered
or certified mail  (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective
parties as follows:

                                     4.1-6
<PAGE>

          If to Compass, to:

               Daniel B. Graves
               Associate General Counsel
               Compass Bancshares , Inc.
               15 South 20th Street
               Birmingham, Alabama 35233
               Telecopy No.:  (205) 933-3043

               With a copy to:

               Annette L. Tripp
               Liddell, Sapp, Zivley, Hill & LaBoon, L.L.P.
               3400 Chase Tower
               600 Travis
               Houston, Texas 77002
               Telecopy No.: (713) 223-3717

          If to the Shareholder, to:

               Robert A. Albrecht
               1111 Fannin, Suite 1470
               Houston, Texas 77002

               With a copy to:

               Adrienne Randle Bond
               Bond & Taylor, L.L.P
               1021 Main St., Suite 1220
               Houston, Texas 77002
               Telecopy No.: (713) 759-1980

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the others in
writing in accordance herewith.

     3.5   Applicable Law.  This Agreement and the legal relations among the
parties hereto arising from this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without reference to or
application of any conflicts of law principles.

     3.6   Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or
more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     3.7   Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement,
embody the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect
of the subject matter

                                     4.1-7
<PAGE>

contained herein, and there are no promises, warranties, covenants or
undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings among the parties
with respect to such subject matter.

     3.8   Definition.  The term "person" as used herein shall have the meaning
ascribed thereto in the Securities Act.

     3.9   Conflict. In the event the terms and provisions of this Agreement
conflict with the Merger Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Merger
Agreement shall control.



                           [SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

                                     4.1-8
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
duly executed and made and entered into as of the date first set forth above.

                                    COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.


                                    By: /s/ Garrett R. Hegel
                                       ---------------------------------
                                    Name:  Garrett R. Hegel
                                         -------------------------------
                                    Title: Chief Financial Officer
                                          ------------------------------


                                    /s/ Robert A. Albrecht
                                    ------------------------------------
                                    Robert A. Albrecht

                                     4.1-9

<PAGE>

                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                     [COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC. LETTERHEAD]


June 18, 1999

Board of Directors
Compass Bancshares, Inc.
15 South 20th Street
Birmingham, Alabama 35233

Re:  Compass Bancshares, Inc. -- Registration of 375,000 Shares of Common Stock
     $2.00 Per Share Par Value, on Securities and Exchange Commission Form S-3

Gentlemen:

     In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, of 375,000 shares of common stock, $2.00 per share par value (the
"Company Stock") of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), for issuance and sale in the manner described in the Company's
registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, to which this opinion is an exhibit (the "Registration Statement"),
I, as General Counsel to the Company, have examined such corporate records,
certificates and other documents as I have considered necessary or appropriate
for the purposes of this opinion.

     On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the shares of the
Company Stock offered pursuant to the Registration Statement have been duly and
validly authorized and are duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                         Yours very truly,

                                         /s/ Jerry W. Powell

                                         Jerry W. Powell

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1


                             ACCOUNTANT'S CONSENT


The Board of Directors
Compass Bancshares, Inc.


     We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus.



Birmingham, Alabama                 /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP
June 15, 1999

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     WHEREAS, Compass Bancshares, Inc. (the "Company") has agreed to file a
registration statement and amendments thereto under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, with respect to the issuance and sale of shares of common stock of
the Company in connection with the acquisition by the Company of Albrecht &
Associates, Inc.;

     NOW, THEREFORE, KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the Company and the
undersigned directors and officers of said Company, individually as a director
and/or as an officer of the Company, hereby make, constitute and appoint each of
D. Paul Jones, Jr., Garrett R. Hegel, Jerry W. Powell, and Daniel B. Graves
their true and lawful attorney-in-fact for each of them and in each of their
names, places and steads to sign and cause to be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission said registration statement and any appropriate amendments
thereto, to be accompanied by prospectuses and any appropriately amended
prospectuses and any necessary exhibits.

     The Company hereby authorizes said persons or any one of them to execute
said registration statement and amendments thereto on its behalf as attorney-in-
fact for it and its authorized officers, and to file the same as aforesaid.

     The undersigned directors and officers of the Company hereby authorize said
persons or any one of them to sign said registration statements on their behalf
as attorney-in-fact and to amend, or remedy any deficiencies with respect to,
said registration statements by appropriate amendment or amendments and to file
the same as aforesaid.

     DONE as of this the 30th day of May, 1999.

                                     COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.


                                     By: /s/ D. Paul Jones, Jr.
                                         --------------------------------
                                         D. Paul Jones, Jr.
                                         Its Chairman and Chief Executive
                                           Officer


                                     /s/ D. Paul Jones, Jr.
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     D. Paul Jones, Jr.


                                     /s/ Garrett R. Hegel
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Garrett R. Hegel
<PAGE>

                                     /s/ Timothy L. Journy
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Timothy L. Journy


                                     /s/ Charles W. Daniel
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Charles W. Daniel


                                     /s/ W. Eugene Davenport
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     W. Eugene Davenport


                                     /s/ Marshall Durbin, Jr.
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Marshall Durbin, Jr.


                                     /s/ Tranum Fitzpatrick
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Tranum Fitzpatrick


                                     /s/ Carl J. Gessler, Jr. M.D.
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Carl J. Gessler, Jr., M.D.


                                     /s/ John S. Stein
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     John S. Stein


                                     /s/ Robert J. Wright
                                     ------------------------------------
                                     Robert J. Wright

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.2

               CERTIFICATE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY REGARDING
                     RESOLUTIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                   OF COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC., RELATING TO
             PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF ALBRECHT & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                                HOUSTON, TEXAS

          I, the undersigned Assistant Secretary of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a
     Delaware corporation, and the custodian of the minutes book and other
     records of the Board of Directors of said Corporation, do hereby certify
     that the following resolutions were adopted by the Board of Directors of
     said corporation in a meeting, duly called and held on October 19, 1998:

          RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of Compass Bancshares, Inc., a
     Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), has determined that it is
     desirable and in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders
     to acquire (the "Albrecht Acquisition") Albrecht & Associates, Inc.,
     Houston, Texas ("Albrecht"), the principal offices of which are located in
     Houston, Texas, in accordance with the basic terms of such transaction as
     described to this Board by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the
     Chief Financial Officer, and/or the General Counsel and Secretary of the
     Corporation at the meeting at which these resolutions were adopted; and
     further

          RESOLVED, that the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 3,
     1998, by and between the Corporation and Albrecht is approved, authorized,
     and ratified; and the proper officers of the Corporation, in consultation
     with counsel, are authorized, empowered, and directed to negotiate the
     terms and conditions of any amendments or supplements to such initial
     definitive agreement, among the Corporation, Albrecht, and any subsidiary
     banks or subsidiary corporations of the Corporation now in existence or to
     be formed for the purposes of effectuating the acquisition by the
     Corporation of Albrecht (such initial definitive agreement along with any
     amendments and supplements thereto being referred to collectively herein as
     the "Agreement"), and to execute, attest, and deliver the Agreement in such
     form as they, in their sole discretion, shall approve, such approval to be
     conclusively evidenced by their execution, attestation, and delivery of the
     Agreement; and further

          RESOLVED, that all negotiations and any other actions taken and things
     done heretofore by the officers of the Corporation with respect to the
     execution, attestation, and delivery of written agreements in principle or
     definitive agreements relating to the acquisition of Albrecht are hereby
     ratified and approved; and further

          RESOLVED, that the organization of one or more corporations as a
     subsidiary or subsidiaries of the Corporation or as a subsidiary or
     subsidiaries of an existing affiliate of the Corporation for the purpose of
     effectuating the Albrecht Acquisition is hereby authorized, approved, and
     ratified in the event that it shall be determined or has been determined by
     the officers of the Corporation, after consultation with counsel, that such
     organization of a subsidiary is necessary or appropriate for the
     effectuation of the acquisition of Albrecht; and further

                                     24.2-1
<PAGE>

          RESOLVED, that to the extent that the approval of the Corporation as
     the sole stockholder of any of its subsidiaries is required in connection
     with the Albrecht Acquisition, the Corporation hereby waives any and all
     notice of a meeting or meetings of stockholders of any such subsidiary or
     subsidiaries for the purposes of approving the Albrecht Acquisition or the
     Agreement, and the Board of Directors of the Corporation hereby approves,
     authorizes, and ratifies the Albrecht Acquisition and the Agreement as the
     stockholder of its subsidiaries now existing or to be organized, it being
     the intent of the Board of Directors of the Corporation that the approval
     by the Corporation set forth in this resolution shall constitute any and
     all approval required by law for the approval of the Albrecht Acquisition
     or the Agreement by the Corporation as a stockholder; and further

          RESOLVED, that the Corporation's and the Corporation's subsidiaries'
     officers are authorized, empowered, and directed to prepare, or cause to be
     prepared, and to execute, attest, and file all applications, or requests
     for waiver of application requirements, which they shall deem necessary or
     appropriate with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the
     Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Thrift Supervision,
     the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Alabama State Banking
     Department, the Texas Department of Banking, and any other appropriate bank
     and bank holding company regulatory authorities with respect to the
     Albrecht Acquisition; and further

          RESOLVED, that, in the event that the Agreement shall contemplate that
     the Corporation shall issue as consideration in connection with the
     Albrecht Acquisition shares of its common stock or other securities of the
     Corporation, the proper officers of the Corporation, in consultation with
     counsel, are authorized, if necessary or appropriate, to prepare, execute,
     attest, and file a Registration Statement on Form S-4 or other appropriate
     form for the registration of securities (the "Registration Statement") with
     the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
     relating to the Albrecht Acquisition and the proposed issuance of
     securities of the Corporation as consideration in such transaction; and
     further

          RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation are authorized,
     empowered, and directed for and on behalf of the Corporation to do any and
     all acts and things necessary or appropriate in connection with any such
     filing of the Registration Statement, including the execution, attestation,
     and filing of any amendments or supplements thereto, to effectuate the
     registration of securities of the Corporation to be issued in the Albrecht
     Acquisition and the continuation of the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement; and further

          RESOLVED, that each officer or director who may be required to execute
     the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the
     Registration Statement (whether on behalf of the Corporation or as an
     officer or director thereof) is hereby authorized to constitute and appoint
     D. Paul Jones, Jr., Garrett R. Hegel, Jerry W. Powell, and Daniel B.
     Graves, and each of them acting singularly, his true

                                     24.2-2
<PAGE>

     and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution for
     him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign
     the Registration Statement and any and all amendments and supplements
     thereto; and further

          RESOLVED, that the proper officers of the Corporation are authorized
     in the name and on behalf of the Corporation to take any and all action
     that they deem necessary or appropriate in order to effect the
     registration, qualification, or exemption from registration or
     qualification of securities of the Corporation included in the Registration
     Statement for issue, offer, sale, or trade under the "blue sky" or
     securities laws of any of the states of the United States of America or the
     securities laws of any jurisdiction or foreign country where such action
     may be advisable or necessary, to effect the registration of securities of
     the Corporation to issued in connection with the Albrecht Acquisition, to
     execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file or cause to be published any
     application, surety bonds, reports, irrevocable consents to service of
     process, appointment of attorneys for service of process, and any other
     documents or instruments that may be required under such laws, and to take
     any and all further action that they may deem necessary or advisable in
     order to maintain any such registration, qualification, or exemption for so
     long as they deem necessary as required by law; and further

          RESOLVED, that the Corporation hereby consents to service of process
     in any state or jurisdiction in which such consent is required under the
     blue sky laws as a precondition to the offer and sale of securities of the
     Corporation to be issued in the Albrecht Acquisition, and that Jerry W.
     Powell, General Counsel and Secretary of the Corporation, is hereby
     designated as agent for service of process in connection with the
     Registration Statement and any consent to service of process that may be
     required by the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction as a precondition to the
     offer and sale of such securities; and further

          RESOLVED, that the appropriate officers of the Corporation are hereby
     authorized, empowered, and directed to do any and all other or further
     acts, and to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and to execute, attest, and
     deliver all other or further instruments, certificates, applications,
     reports, and documents, including without limitation obtaining any
     necessary or appropriate regulatory approvals, all on behalf of the
     Corporation as they, in their discretion, may deem necessary or appropriate
     to effectuate the purposes of these resolutions, and that all acts and
     things undertaken and completed heretofore by the proper officers of the
     Corporation in connection with the Albrecht Acquisition as contemplated by
     these resolutions are hereby approved, ratified, and confirmed.

          I further certify that the foregoing resolutions have not been
     modified, amended, or rescinded and that said resolutions are in full force
     and effect as of the date of this certificate.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and the seal of the corporation
     this 20th day of January, 1999.

                                                /s/ DANIEL B. GRAVES
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Daniel B. Graves
                                               Assistant Secretary
                                               Compass Bancshares, Inc.

                                     24.2-3


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