F&M NATIONAL CORP
SC 13D, 1996-05-03
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                                                [Execution Copy]
SCHEDULE 13D

Amendment No.     N/A
Name of Issuer:   Allegiance Banc Corporation
Security:         common stock, par value $1.00 per share
Cusip #:          01747F102
Name of Contact:  Alfred B. Whitt, Senior VP and Secretary
                           F&M National Corporation
                           38 Rouss Avenue
                           Winchester, Virginia  22604
                           (540) 665-4200
Date of event:    April 22, 1996
Filing Fee:       Yes


Cusip #  01747F102
Item 1:  Reporting Person - F&M National Corporation - (Tax ID:  54-0857462)
Item 4:  WC
Item 6:  Commonwealth of Virginia
Item 7:  343,785 (when and if option is exercised)
Item 8:  None
Item 9:  343,785 (when and if option is exercised)
Item 10: None
Item 11: 343,785 (when and if option is exercised)
Item 13: 19.9%
Item 14: CO

         Item 1.  Security and Interest.

                           This  statement  relates  to an  option  to  purchase
shares of common  stock,  $1.00 par  value  per share  (the  "Allegiance  Common
Stock"), of Allegiance Banc Corporation, a Delaware corporation  ("Allegiance").
The  address  of the  principal  office  of  Allegiance  is 4719  Hampden  Lane,
Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

         Item 2.  Identity and Background.

                           This statement is filed by F&M National  Corporation,
a Virginia  corporation  ("F&M"). F&M is a registered bank holding company under
the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. The address of F&M's principal
executive  office is  located at 38 Rouss  Avenue,  P.O.  Box 2800,  Winchester,
Virginia 22604.

                           The name,  residence or business  address,  principal
occupation or employment and principal  business  address of any  corporation or
other  organization  in which such  employment  is  conducted  as to each of the
directors  and  non-director  executive  officers of F&M is set forth on Annex A
hereto and  incorporated  herein by reference.  All such  individuals are United
States citizens.

                           During the last five years,  neither F&M, nor, to the
best  knowledge  of F&M, any  executive  officer or director of F&M has (i) been
convicted in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations and similar
misdemeanors)  or (ii) been a party to a civil  proceeding  before a judicial or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding
was or is  subject  to a  judgment,  decree  or  final  order  enjoining  future
violations  of, or prohibiting  or mandating  activities  subject to, federal or
state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

         Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

                           F&M has the option (the "Option"),  exercisable  only
in certain  circumstances that have not yet occurred,  to acquire up to 19.9% of
the  aggregate  shares of  Allegiance  Common  Stock that  would be  outstanding
immediately after the issuance of shares in respect of the Option, at a price of
$11.50 per share, pursuant to a certain Stock Option Agreement dated as of April
22, 1996, by and between F&M and Allegiance (the "Option Agreement"),  a copy of
which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference.

                           The Option is  exercisable  in whole or in part,  but
subject to any  required  regulatory  approvals,  at any time after a  "Purchase
Event" shall occur. A Purchase Event, as defined in the Option Agreement, is any
of the following:  (1) Allegiance or Allegiance Bank, N.A. (the "Bank"), without
having  received  F&M's  prior  written  consent,  shall  have  entered  into an
agreement with any person to (a) acquire,  merge or  consolidate,  or enter into
any similar  transaction,  with  Allegiance or the Bank, (b) purchase,  lease or
otherwise  acquire all or  substantially  all of the assets of Allegiance or the
Bank or (c) purchase or otherwise acquire securities representing 10% or more of
the voting power of Allegiance  or the Bank,  (2) any person shall have acquired
beneficial ownership or the right to acquire beneficial ownership of 20% or more
of the  outstanding  shares of  Allegiance  Common  Stock  after the date of the
Option  Agreement  (the term  "beneficial  ownership" for purposes of the Option
Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the Securities
and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder
(the "Exchange Act")), or (3) any person shall have made a bona fide proposal to
Allegiance by public  announcement or written  communication  that is or becomes
the subject of public  disclosure  to acquire  Allegiance or the Bank by merger,
share  exchange,  consolidation,  purchase  of all or  substantially  all of its
assets or any other similar  transaction,  and following such bona fide proposal
the  shareholders of Allegiance vote not to approve the "Merger  Agreements" (as
hereafter  defined).  The Option shall terminate on the earliest to occur of (A)
the "Effective Date" of the "Merger"  contemplated by the Merger  Agreements (as
such terms are defined in the Merger  Agreements);  (B) upon  termination of the
Merger  Agreements  in  accordance  with the  provisions  thereof,  other than a
termination  based upon,  following or in connection  with either (i) a material
breach  by  Allegiance  of a  Specified  Covenant  (as  defined  in  the  Option
Agreement) or (ii) the failure of Allegiance to obtain  shareholder  approval of
the Merger  Agreements by the vote required  under  applicable  law, in the case
that either (i) or (ii) follow the  occurrence  of a Purchase  Event;  or (C) 12
months after  termination of the Merger  Agreements based upon a material breach
by  Allegiance  of a Specified  Covenant or the failure of  Allegiance to obtain
shareholder  approval  of the  Merger  Agreements  by the  vote  required  under
applicable law, in either case following the occurrence of a Purchase Event.

                           The grant of the Option by Allegiance was a condition
and  inducement  to F&M's  willingness  to enter into the  Agreement and Plan of
Reorganization  and a related Plan of Merger dated as of April 22, 1996,  by and
between  F&M and  Allegiance  (the  "Merger  Agreements"),  a copy of  which  is
attached hereto as Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference.

                           In the event that F&M acquires  shares of  Allegiance
Common Stock pursuant to the Option Agreement,  it is currently anticipated that
F&M would pay cash for such shares.

                           The  foregoing  summary  of the  terms of the  Option
Agreement  does not purport to be complete  and is  qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of the Option Agreement,  which is attached hereto as
Exhibit A an incorporated herein by reference.

         Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction.

                           The grant of the Option, which is exercisable only in
certain  circumstances,  was a condition and  inducement to F&M's entry into the
Merger Agreements.  Pursuant to the terms of the Merger  Agreements,  Allegiance
will,  subject to certain  conditions being satisfied or waived,  be merged with
and into F&M (the  "Merger"),  and F&M will  survive the merger (the  "Surviving
Corporation").  Upon the effectiveness of the Merger,  each outstanding share of
Allegiance  Common Stock will be  converted  into the number of shares of common
stock, $2.00 par value, of F&M that equals $15.00. Fractional shares will not be
issued,  but the pro rata  portion of the net  proceeds  of the sale of all such
shares  will  be  paid  in  cash  to the  persons  entitled  thereto.  Upon  the
effectiveness  of the Merger,  the  directors  of F&M  immediately  prior to the
Merger will  thereafter be the directors of the  Surviving  Corporation  and the
officers of F&M immediately  prior to the Merger will thereafter be the officers
of the Surviving Corporation.

                           The  foregoing  summary  of the  terms of the  Merger
Agreements  does not purport to be complete  and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the full text of the Merger Agreements, which is attached hereto as
Exhibit B and incorporated herein by reference


         Item 5.  Interest in Securities of Issuer.

                           F&M  has the  Option,  exercisable  only  in  certain
circumstances,  to acquire up to 19.9% of the issued and  outstanding  shares of
Allegiance  Common  Stock.  F&M currently  owns no shares of  Allegiance  Common
Stock.  Based upon the  representations  of  Allegiance  contained in the Merger
Agreements,  there were 1,727,563  shares of Allegiance  Common Stock issued and
outstanding as of April 22, 1996; based upon such representations, the Option is
exercisable  for 343,785  shares of Allegiance  Common Stock,  or  approximately
19.9% of the outstanding  shares of Allegiance Common Stock before giving effect
to the  exercise of the Option.  When and if F&M acquires  such shares,  it will
have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares.

                           To the best knowledge of F&M, none of F&M's directors
and executive officers beneficially own any shares of Allegiance Common Stock.

                           As of the date of the Option  Agreement,  F&M did not
own, either  directly or  beneficially,  any shares of Allegiance  Common Stock.
Subsequently,  F&M purchased  8,000 shares of Allegiance  Common Stock in one or
more open market  transaction(s).  Aside from such purchase,  there have been no
transactions  in shares of the  Allegiance  Common Stock by F&M, or, to the best
knowledge of F&M, by any of F&M's directors and executive  officers,  during the
past 60 days.

         Item 6.  Contracts,  Arrangements,  Understandings  or  Relationships  
with Respect to  Securities of the Issuer.

                           Other than (i) the  Merger  Agreements  described  in
response to Item 4 (which response is incorporated  herein by reference) and the
transactions  contemplated  thereby,  and (ii) the Option Agreement described in
response to Item 3 (which response is  incorporated  herein by reference) an the
transactions  contemplated  thereby,  there  are  no  contracts,   arrangements,
understandings  or  relationships  between F&M and any other person,  or, to the
best  knowledge of F&M, among any of F&M's  executive  officers and directors or
between any of F&M's executive officers and directors and any other person, with
respect to securities of Allegiance.

                           The  foregoing  summaries  of the  terms  of (a)  the
Merger Agreements and (b) the Option Agreement do not purport to be complete and
are  qualified  in their  entirety by  reference  to the full text of the Merger
Agreements and the Option Agreement,  which are attached hereto as Exhibit B and
Exhibit A, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.

         Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

                           (1) Stock Option Agreement dated as of April 22, 1996
by and between F&M and Allegiance.

                           (2) Agreement and Plan of Reorganization  dated as of
April 22, 1996 by and between F&M and Allegiance.


<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

                  After  reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
belief,  I certify  that the  information  set forth in this  statement is true,
complete and correct.


         Dated:   May 1, 1996                        F&M NATIONAL CORPORATION



                                                By: /s/ Alfred B. Whitt
                                                    Alfred B. Whitt, Secretary

<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                  Principal Occupation For the Last
Nominee And (Age)                     Director Since              Five Years and Other Information
<S>                  <C>                   <C>                                                           
Frank Armstrong, III (59)                  1985                   Chairman, President and Chief Executive
                                                                  Officer of National Fruit Product
                                                                  Company, Inc.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2040
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

James L. Bowman (68)                       1970                   Chairman of the Board, F&M Bank-
                                                                  Martinsburg since 1986; retired
                                                                  President   of  Bowman Trucking
                                                                  Company.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 6
                                                                                Stephens City, VA 22655


William H. Clement (68)                    1988                   Vice Chairman, Hidden Creek Industries,
                                                                  Inc.Retired Chairman of the Board of
                                                                  Automotive Industries, Inc. and Vice
                                                                  Chairman of Automotive Industries
                                                                  Holding, Inc.

                                                                  Bus. Address: 117 Forrest Ridge Road
                                                                                Winchester, VA  22602

W. M. Feltner (76)                         1970                   Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                                                  Executive Officer of F&M; Chairman of
                                                                  the Board of F&M Bank-Winchester.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2800
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

William R. Harris (67)                     1986                   Chairman of the Board, F&M Bank-
                                                                  Richmond; Chairman of the Board of
                                                                  Harris Heating & Plumbing, Inc., since
                                                                  1952.

                                                                  Bus. Address: 11020 Richardson Road
                                                                                Ashland, VA   23005

L. David Horner, III (61)                  1986                   Chairman of the Board of Horner
                                                                  Properties, Inc., since 1990

                                                                  Bus. Address: 18 Simara Street
                                                                                Stuart, FL   34996

Jack R. Huyett (63)                        1990                   President and Chief Administrative
                                                                  Officer of F&M since 1992; President of
                                                                  F&M Bank-Blakeley from 1969 to 1992.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2800
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

William A. Julias (61)                     1980                   Chairman of the Board of F&M Bank-
                                                                  Massanutten since 1975; President
                                                                  of the law firm of Julias, Blatt &
                                                                  Wolfe, P. C. Practicing attorney since
                                                                  1960.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 671
                                                                                Harrisonburg, VA 22801

George L. Romine (84)                      1986                   Consultant, Sales Management
                                                                  Retired as Vice President and
                                                                  Director of Abex Corporation; Executive
                                                                  Director of the Winchester-Frederick
                                                                  County Economic Development Commission
                                                                  from 1983 to 1990.

                                                                  Bus. Address: 12 Rouss Avenue
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22601

John S. Scully, III (85)                   1970                   President of Winchester Cold Storage
                                                                  Co., Inc., since 1984.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 45
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

J. D. Shockey, Jr. (53)                    1970                   President of Shockey Industries, Inc.,
                                                                  a general construction contractor.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2530
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

Fred G. Wayland, Jr. (67)                  1994                   Retired in 1992 as President and Chief
                                                                  Executive Officer of PNB Financial
                                                                  Corporation.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 6
                                                                                Orlean, VA   22181



<PAGE>


C. Ridgely White (84)                      1970                   Vice Chairman of the Board of F&M
                                                                  National Corporation, Retired Chairman
                                                                  of the Board of J. V. Arthur, Inc., a
                                                                  general insurance brokerage firm.  Vice
                                                                  Chairman of the board of Directors of
                                                                  F&M National Corporation.

                                                                  Bus. Address: 12 Rouss Avenue
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22601


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>


                         NON-DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER

<S>              <C>                                                                                     
Alfred B. Whitt  (57)                                             Senior Vice President, Senior Financial
                                                                  Officer and Secretary of F&M and F&M
                                                                  Bank-Winchester.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2800
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

Betty H. Carroll (58)                      1986                   Senior Vice President of F&M since
                                                                  1987; President and Chief Executive
                                                                  Officer of F&M Bank-Winchester.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P.O. Box 2800
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604

F. Dixon Whitworth, Jr. (51)               1985                   Executive Vice President of F&M since
                                                                  1985.

                                                                  Bus. Address: P. O. Box 2800
                                                                                Winchester, VA 22604


</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit A

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


                  This STOCK OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated as of April 22, 1996 (the
"Option  Agreement"),  by and between  ALLEGIANCE BANC  CORPORATION,  a Delaware
corporation  ("ABC"),  and F&M  NATIONAL  CORPORATION,  a  Virginia  corporation
("F&M").

                                   WITNESSETH

                  WHEREAS,  the  Boards  of  Directors  of  the  parties  hereto
approved  an  Agreement  and  Plan  of   Reorganization   (the   "Reorganization
Agreement")  and have  adopted a related  Plan of  Merger,  dated as of the date
hereof (together referred to herein as the "Merger  Agreements"),  providing for
the merger of ABC with and into F&M (the "Merger"); and

                  WHEREAS,  as a  condition  to and as  consideration  for F&M's
entry into the Merger  Agreements  and to induce such  entry,  ABC has agreed to
grant to F&M the option  set forth  herein to acquire  authorized  but  unissued
shares of ABC Common Stock;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of  the  premises  herein
contained, the parties agree as follows:

                  1.       Definitions

                  Capitalized  terms used but not defined  herein and defined in
the Merger Agreements shall have the same meanings as in the Merger Agreements.

                  2.       Grant of Option

                  Subject  to the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  ABC
hereby grants to F&M an option (the "Option") to acquire up to 343,785 shares of
ABC  Common  Stock at a price of $11.50  per share  (the  "Exercise  Price")  in
exchange for the consideration provided in Section 4 hereof; provided,  however,
that in the event ABC issues or agrees to issue any  shares of ABC Common  Stock
(other  than as  permitted  under the  Merger  Agreements)  at a price less than
$11.50 per share (as adjusted pursuant to Section 6 hereof),  the Exercise Price
shall be equal  to such  lesser  price.  Notwithstanding  anything  else in this
Option  Agreement  to the  contrary,  the number of shares of ABC  Common  Stock
subject to the Option  shall be reduced if and to the extent  necessary  so that
the number of shares for which this Option is exercisable shall not exceed 19.9%
of the issued and outstanding  shares of ABC Common Stock,  before giving effect
to the exercise of the Option. The number of shares of ABC Common Stock that may
be  received  upon the  exercise of the Option is subject to  adjustment  as set
forth herein.


<PAGE>


                  3.       Exercise of Option

                  (a) Subject to compliance  with applicable law and regulation,
F&M may exercise the Option,  in whole or part, at any time or from time to time
if a Purchase Event (as defined below) shall have occurred and be continuing.

                  (b) ABC shall notify F&M promptly in writing of the occurrence
of any transaction, offer or event giving rise to a Purchase Event. If more than
one of the  transactions,  offers or events  giving rise to a Purchase  Event is
undertaken  or effected by the same person or occurs at the same time,  then all
such transactions, offers and events shall give rise only to one Purchase Event,
which  Purchase Event shall be deemed  continuing for all purposes  hereof until
all such  transactions  are  terminated or abandoned by such person and all such
events have ceased or ended.

                  (c) In the event that F&M wishes to exercise  the  Option,  it
shall send ABC a written  notice (the date of which being herein  referred to as
the "Notice  Date")  specifying  (i) the total  number of shares it will acquire
pursuant  to such  exercise,  and (ii) a place and date not  earlier  than three
business  days nor later  than 60  business  days from the  Notice  Date for the
closing  of such  transaction  (the  "Closing  Date");  provided  that if  prior
notification  to or  approval  of any  federal  or state  regulatory  agency  is
required  in  connection  with such  acquisition,  F&M shall  promptly  file the
required notice or application for approval and shall expeditiously  process the
same and the period of time that  otherwise  would run pursuant to this sentence
shall run instead  from the date on which any required  notification  period has
expired or been  terminated or such approval has been obtained and any requisite
waiting period shall have passed.

                  (d) The Option shall expire and  terminate,  to the extent not
previously exercised, upon the earlier of: (i) the Effective Date of the Merger;
(ii) upon termination of the Merger Agreements in accordance with the provisions
thereof,  other than a termination  based upon,  following or in connection with
either (A) a material  breach by ABC of a Specified  Covenant (as defined below)
or  (B)  the  failure  of ABC  to  obtain  shareholder  approval  of the  Merger
Agreements by the vote required  under  applicable  law, in the case that either
(A) or (B) follow the occurrence of a Purchase  Event;  or (iii) 12 months after
termination of the Merger  Agreements  based upon a material  breach by ABC of a
Specified Covenant or the failure of ABC to obtain  shareholder  approval of the
Merger  Agreements by the vote  required  under  applicable  law, in either case
following the occurrence of a Purchase Event.

                  (e) As used herein,  a "Purchase  Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

                           (1)  ABC  or  Allegiance  Bank,  N.A.  (the  "Bank"),
         without having received F&M's prior written consent, shall have entered
         into an agreement with any person to (i) acquire, merge or consolidate,
         or enter  into any  similar  transaction,  with ABC or the  Bank,  (ii)
         purchase,  lease or otherwise  acquire all or substantially  all of the
         assets  of ABC or the  Bank or (iii)  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire,
         directly from ABC or the Bank,  securities  representing 10% or more of
         the voting power of ABC or the Bank;

                           (2)  any  person  shall  have   acquired   beneficial
         ownership or the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of 20% or more
         of the  outstanding  shares of ABC Common  Stock  after the date hereof
         (the term "beneficial  ownership" for purposes of this Option Agreement
         having the meaning  assigned  thereto in Section  13(d) of the Exchange
         Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder); or

                           (3) any person  shall have made a bona fide  proposal
         to ABC by  public  announcement  or  written  communication  that is or
         becomes the subject of public  disclosure to acquire ABC or the Bank by
         merger, share exchange, consolidation, purchase of all or substantially
         all of its assets or any other similar transaction,  and following such
         bona fide  proposal  the  shareholders  of ABC vote not to approve  the
         Merger Agreements; or

                  (f) As used herein, "Specified Covenant" means any covenant or
agreement contained in the Merger Agreements.

                  4.       Payment and Delivery of Certificates

                  (a) At the Closing Date, F&M shall tender  certified  funds in
an amount equal to the  aggregate  Exercise  Price for the number of shares with
respect to which F&M is exercising the Option.

                  (b) At such closing, ABC shall deliver to F&M a certificate or
certificates representing the number of shares of ABC Common Stock exchanged for
the Exercise Price and F&M shall deliver to ABC a letter  agreeing that F&M will
not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of such shares in violation of applicable
law or the provisions of this Option Agreement.

                  (c)  Certificates  for ABC Common Stock delivered at a closing
hereunder  may  be  endorsed   with  a  restrictive   legend  which  shall  read
substantially as follows:

                                    "The transfer of the shares  represented  by
                  this  Certificate  is  subject  to  certain  provisions  of an
                  agreement  between the registered holder hereof and Allegiance
                  Banc Corporation and to resale restrictions  arising under the
                  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  a copy of which agreement
                  is  on  file  at  the  principal  office  of  Allegiance  Banc
                  Corporation.  A copy of such agreement will be provided to the
                  holder thereof  without charge upon receipt by Allegiance Banc
                  Corporation of a written request."

         It is  understood  and agreed that the above legend shall be removed by
delivery  of  substitute  certificate(s)  without  such legend if F&M shall have
delivered  to ABC a copy of a  letter  from  the  staff  of the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the  "Commission"),  or an opinion of counsel, in form and
substance  satisfactory  to ABC, to the effect that such legend is not  required
for purposes of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act").

                  5.       Representations

                  ABC  hereby  represents,  warrants  and  covenants  to  F&M as
follows:

                  (a) ABC shall at all times maintain sufficient  authorized but
unissued shares of ABC Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised  without
authorization of additional shares of ABC Common Stock.

                  (b) The shares to be issued upon due exercise,  in whole or in
part, of the Option,  when paid for as provided herein, will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                  6.       Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization

                  In the event of any  change in ABC  Common  Stock by reason of
stock dividends, split-ups, mergers, recapitalizations,  combinations, exchanges
of shares or the like, the type and number of shares subject to the Option,  and
the  purchase  price  per  share,   as  the  case  may  be,  shall  be  adjusted
appropriately.  In the event that any additional  shares of ABC Common Stock are
issued or otherwise become  outstanding  after the date of this Option Agreement
(other than  pursuant to this Option  Agreement  or pursuant to the  exercise of
warrants or options to acquire shares of ABC Common Stock  outstanding as of the
date of the Reorganization Agreement or that may be issued after the date of the
Reorganization  Agreement without constituting a breach thereof),  the number of
shares of ABC Common  Stock  subject to the Option  shall be  adjusted  so that,
after such issuance, it equals 19.9% of the number of shares of ABC Common Stock
then  issued and  outstanding  without  giving  effect to any shares  subject or
issued  pursuant to the Option or any shares issued  pursuant to the exercise of
warrants or options to acquire shares of ABC Common Stock  outstanding as of the
date of the Reorganization Agreement or that may be issued after the date of the
Reorganization   Agreement  without  constituting  a  breach  thereof.   Nothing
contained  in this  Section  6 shall be deemed to  authorize  ABC to breach  any
provision of the Merger Agreements.

                  7.       Registration Rights

                  ABC shall, if requested by F&M, as  expeditiously  as possible
file a registration  statement on a form of general use under the Securities Act
if necessary in order to permit the sale or other  disposition  of the shares of
ABC Common Stock that are  acquired  upon  exercise of the Option in  accordance
with the  intended  method of sale or other  disposition  requested  by F&M. F&M
shall provide all information  reasonably  requested by ABC for inclusion in any
registration  statement to be filed hereunder.  ABC will use its best efforts to
cause such  registration  statement first to become effective and then to remain
effective  for such period not in excess of 270 days from the date on which such
registration statement first becomes effective as may be reasonably necessary to
effect such sales or other dispositions.  The first registration  effected under
this Section 7 shall be at ABC's expense except for underwriting commissions and
the fees and disbursements of F&M's counsel  attributable to the registration of
such  ABC  Common  Stock.  A  second  registration  statement  may be  requested
hereunder  at F&M's  expense.  In no event  shall ABC be required to effect more
than two  registrations  hereunder.  The  filing of any  registration  statement
hereunder  may be delayed for such period of time as may  reasonably be required
to facilitate any public  distribution  by ABC of ABC Common Stock. If requested
by F&M, in connection with any such registration, ABC will become a party to any
underwriting  agreement  relating  to the sale of such  shares,  but only to the
extent  of  obligating  itself  in  respect  of   representations,   warranties,
indemnities  and other  agreements  customarily  included  in such  underwriting
agreements. Upon receiving any request from F&M or an assignee of F&M under this
Section 7, ABC agrees to send a copy  thereof to F&M and to any  assignee of F&M
known to ABC, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage prepaid, to the
address of record of the persons entitled to receive such copies.

                  8.       Severability

                  If any term,  provision,  covenant or restriction contained in
this Option Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency
of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms,  provisions and covenants and  restrictions  contained in this Option
Agreement  shall  remain  in full  force  and  effect,  and  shall  in no way be
affected,  impaired or  invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory
agency  determines  that the  Option  Agreement  will not  permit  the holder to
acquire  the full  number of shares of ABC Common  Stock  provided  in Section 2
hereof (as adjusted  pursuant to Section 6 hereof),  it is the express intention
of ABC to allow the holder to  acquire,  or to require ABC to  repurchase,  such
number of shares as may be  necessary  to comply  with such court or  regulatory
agency's  determination  of  the  permissible  number  of  shares,  without  any
amendment or modification hereof.

                  9.       Miscellaneous

                  (a) Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, each of the
parties  hereto shall bear and pay all costs and  expenses  incurred by it or on
its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including
fees  and  expenses  of  its  own  financial  consultants,  investment  bankers,
accountants and counsel.

                  (b) Entire Agreement.  Except as otherwise  expressly provided
herein,  this Option Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties
with respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereto,  written or oral. The terms
and  conditions  of this Option  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties  hereto and their  respective  successors  and assigns.
Nothing in this Option  Agreement,  expressed or implied,  is intended to confer
upon any party,  other than the parties hereto and their  respective  successors
and assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Option Agreement, except as expressly provided herein.

                  (c)  Assignment.  Neither of the parties hereto may assign any
of its rights or obligations  under this Option  Agreement or the Option created
hereunder to any other person,  without the express written consent of the other
party,  except  that F&M may  assign  in whole or in part the  Option  and other
benefits and obligations hereunder without limitation to any of its wholly-owned
subsidiaries,  and F&M may  assign  in  whole or in part the  Option  and  other
benefits and obligations  hereunder  without  limitation in the event a Purchase
Event shall have occurred and F&M shall have delivered to ABC a copy of a letter
from  the  staff  of the  Commission,  or an  opinion  of  counsel,  in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to ABC, to the effect that such  assignment
will not violate the requirements of the Securities Act;  provided that prior to
any such assignment, F&M shall give written notice of the proposed assignment to
ABC, and within 24 hours of such notice of a bona fide proposed assignment,  ABC
may  purchase  the Option at a price and on other terms at least as favorable to
F&M as that set forth in the notice of assignment.

                   (d)  Notices.  All notices or other  communications  that are
required or permitted  hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered
in the manner and to the address  provided  for in or pursuant to Section 7.5 of
the Reorganization Agreement.

                  (e) Counterparts. This Option Agreement may be executed in any
number  of  counterparts,  and each  such  counterpart  shall be deemed to be an
original instrument, but all such counterparts together shall constitute but one
agreement.

                  (f) Specific Performance. The parties agree that damages would
be an inadequate  remedy for a breach of the provisions of this Option Agreement
by either party hereto and that this Option  Agreement may be enforced by either
party hereto through injunctive or other equitable relief.

                  (g) Governing Law. This Option  Agreement shall be governed by
and  construed  in  accordance  with the laws of the  Commonwealth  of Virginia,
without regard to the conflict of law principles  thereof  (except to the extent
that Delaware law governs the validity of the Option).



<PAGE>


                           IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties  hereto has
executed this Option Agreement as of the day and year first written above.


                       ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION



                       By:      _____________________________
                                Leonard L. Abel
                                Chairman of the Board


                       F&M NATIONAL CORPORATION



                       By:      _____________________________
                                Alfred B. Whitt
                                Senior Vice President






<PAGE>


                                                                     Exhibit B











                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION

                                 by and between

                            F&M NATIONAL CORPORATION

                                       and

                           ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION


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

                                 April 22, 1996
                          ----------------------------











<PAGE>


                              TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Page

<S>              <C>                                                                                             <C>
         ARTICLE 1.           THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS......................................................1
                1.1           The Merger       ...................................................................1
                1.2           Conversion of ABC Stock.............................................................1
                1.3           Board of Directors of F&M and Allegiance Bank;
                               Officers and Employees.............................................................2
                1.4           The Effective Date..................................................................2
                1.5           Definitions      ...................................................................2

         ARTICLE 2.           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ABC...............................................3
                2.1           Organization, Standing and Power....................................................3
                2.2           Organization, Standing and Power of Allegiance Bank.................................3
                2.3           Authorized and Effective Agreement; Affiliated
                               Transaction Approval...............................................................3
                2.4           Capital Structure...................................................................4
                2.5           Financial Statements; Books and Records; Minute
                                Books          ...................................................................5
                2.6           Material Adverse Change.............................................................5
                2.7           Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities..................................................5
                2.8           Legal Proceedings; Compliance with Laws.............................................5
                2.9           Tax Matters      ...................................................................6
                2.10          Property         ...................................................................6
                2.11          Employee Benefit Plans..............................................................6
                2.12          Insurance        ...................................................................7
                2.13          Allowance for Loan Losses...........................................................7
                2.14          Environmental Matters...............................................................7
                2.15          Brokers and Finders.................................................................9
                2.16          Statements True and Correct.........................................................9

         ARTICLE 3.           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF F&M...............................................9
                3.1           Organization, Standing and Power....................................................9
                3.2           Organization, Standing and Power of F&M
                                Subsidiaries .................................................................... 9
                3.3           Authorized and Effective Agreement.................................................10
                3.4           Capital Structure..................................................................10
                3.5           Financial Statements; Books and Records; Minute
                               Books           ..................................................................11
                3.6           Material Adverse Change............................................................11
                3.7           Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.................................................11
                3.8           Legal Proceedings; Compliance with Laws............................................11
                3.9           Tax Matters      ..................................................................12
                3.10          Employee Benefit Plans.............................................................12
                3.11          Insurance        ..................................................................12
                3.12          Allowance for Loan Losses..........................................................13
                3.13          Environmental Matters..............................................................13
                3.14          Statements True and Correct........................................................13

         ARTICLE 4.           COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS...........................................................13
                4.1           Investigation and Confidentiality..................................................13
                4.2           Registration Statement; Shareholder Approval.......................................14
                4.3           Operation of the Business of ABC...................................................14
                4.4           Operation of the Business of F&M...................................................15
                4.5           Regulatory Filings.................................................................16
                4.6           Public Announcements...............................................................16
                4.7           Accounting Treatment...............................................................16
                4.8           Affiliates       ..................................................................16
                4.9           Benefit Plan ......................................................................16
                4.10          NYSE Listing  .....................................................................17
                4.11          Indemnification  ..................................................................17
                4.12          ABC Stock Options..................................................................17
                4.13          Stock Option Agreement.............................................................18
                4.14          Restrictions on Trading in F&M Common Stock........................................18

         ARTICLE 5.           CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER...........................................................18
                5.1           General Conditions.................................................................18
                5.2           Conditions to Obligations of F&M...................................................19
                5.3           Conditions to Obligations of ABC...................................................19

         ARTICLE 6.           TERMINATION      ..................................................................20
                6.1           Termination      ..................................................................20
                6.2           Effect of Termination..............................................................21
                6.3           Survival of Representations, Warranties and
                               Covenants       ..................................................................21
                6.4           Expenses         ..................................................................21

         ARTICLE 7.           GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................................................22
                7.1           Entire Agreement ..................................................................22
                7.2           Binding Effect; No Third-Party Rights..............................................22
                7.3           Waiver and Amendment...............................................................22
                7.4           Governing Law    ..................................................................22
                7.5           Notices          ..................................................................22
                7.6           Counterparts     ..................................................................23
                7.7           Severability     ..................................................................23
</TABLE>

         EXHIBIT A -- PLAN OF MERGER




<PAGE>


                      AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION


                  THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (the "Agreement") is
made  and  entered  into as of April  22,  1996,  by and  between  F&M  NATIONAL
CORPORATION,  a Virginia corporation ("F&M"), and ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation ("ABC").

                                   WITNESSETH:

                  WHEREAS,  the  respective  Boards of  Directors of F&M and ABC
have approved the affiliation of their companies  through the merger of ABC with
and into F&M  pursuant  to and  subject  to the  terms  and  conditions  of this
Agreement and the Plan of Merger in the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit A (the
"Plan of Merger"); and

                  WHEREAS,   the   parties   desire  to  provide   for   certain
undertakings,   conditions,   representations,   warranties   and  covenants  in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration  of the mutual  warranties,
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows.

                                    ARTICLE 1
                         THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS

                  1.1      The Merger

                  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  at the
Effective  Date as defined in Section 1.4  hereof,  ABC shall be merged with and
into F&M pursuant to the Plan of Merger  attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a
part  hereof (the  "Merger").  The  separate  corporate  existence  of ABC shall
thereupon cease, and F&M will be the surviving corporation in the Merger.

                  1.2      Conversion of ABC Stock

                  At the Effective Date, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holders thereof, each share of common stock, par value
$1.00 per share, of ABC ("ABC Common Stock") issued and outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Date shall cease to be outstanding and shall be converted
into and exchanged for shares of common stock, par value $2.00 per share, of F&M
("F&M Common Stock") whose aggregate  market value equals $15.00,  plus cash for
fractional shares, pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan of
Merger. Each share of F&M Common Stock issued and outstanding  immediately prior
to the Effective  Date shall continue  unchanged as an outstanding  share common
stock of F&M, as the successor corporation.

                  1.3 Board of Directors of F&M and  Allegiance  Bank;  Officers
and Employees

                  (a) F&M shall take all such  action as shall be  necessary  to
elect or  appoint  Leonard L. Abel (or in the event  that he is  unavailable  to
serve,  Ronald D. Paul, or in the event of his  unavailablity  such other person
selected by the Board of Directors of ABC and acceptable to F&M) to the Board of
Directors of F&M at, or as promptly as practicable after, the Effective Date.

                  (b) The officers and employees of Allegiance  Bank,  N.A., the
national  banking  subsidiary of ABC ("Allegiance  Bank"),  will not change as a
result of the Merger.

                  (c) The Board of Directors of Allegiance Bank in office at the
Effective  Date,  together with a person  designated by F&M,  shall serve as the
Board of Directors of Allegiance  Bank  following  the Effective  Date until the
1997 Annual Meeting of Allegiance Bank and until their  successors shall be duly
elected and qualified.

                  1.4      The Effective Date

                  Subject to the conditions to the obligations of the parties to
effect  the  Merger as set  forth in  Article  5, the  parties  shall  cause the
effective date of the Merger (the "Effective Date") to occur on such date as the
parties  may  agree  within  five  days  (or as soon as  reasonably  practicable
thereafter)  after the receipt of the  approval of  shareholders  of ABC and the
satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to either party's  obligation to effect
the Merger; it being the intent of the parties that all regulatory  approvals be
obtained and all statutory and regulatory  waiting periods have expired prior to
the date on which the ABC shareholder meeting is held.

                  1.5      Definitions

                  Any term  defined  in this  Agreement  and the Plan of  Merger
shall  have the  meaning  ascribed  to it for  purposes  of this  Agreement.  In
addition:

                  (a) the term  "Knowledge"  when used with  respect  to a party
shall mean the current and conscious  knowledge,  after  conducting a reasonable
investigation, of any "Executive Officer" of such party, as such term is defined
in  Regulation  O of the Federal  Reserve  Board.  Any  reference  herein to the
Knowledge of ABC shall also be deemed to include the  Knowledge of any Executive
Officer of Allegiance Bank;

                  (b) the term  "Material  Adverse  Effect",  when  applied to a
party, shall mean any condition, event, change or occurrence (including, without
limitation, (i) the making of any provisions for possible loan and lease losses,
write-downs   of  other  real  estate  and  taxes  and  (ii)  any  breach  of  a
representation or warranty by such party) that individually, or in the aggregate
with any other  condition,  event,  change or  occurrence,  has or is reasonably
likely to have a material  negative  effect  upon (i) the  financial  condition,
results of operations or business of the party and its subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole, or (ii) the ability of a party to perform its obligations  under,  and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement.

                  (c) the term "Previously Disclosed" shall mean information set
forth in a letter  from one party to the  other  party  delivered  and dated not
later than 5:00 p.m. on April 19, 1996,  specifically  designated as information
"Previously Disclosed" pursuant to this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 2
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ABC

                  ABC represents and warrants to F&M as follows:

                  2.1      Organization, Standing and Power

                  ABC is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with full corporate  power
and authority to carry on its business as now conducted.  ABC is duly registered
as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956.

                  2.2      Organization, Standing and Power of Allegiance Bank

                  Allegiance  Bank is the only  subsidiary of ABC  (collectively
with  ABC,  the "ABC  Companies"),  is a duly  organized  and  validly  existing
national  banking  association in good standing under the national  banking laws
with  full  corporate  power  and  authority  to  carry on its  business  as now
conducted and is qualified to do business in each state or other jurisdiction of
the United  States where its  ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
its business  requires  qualification to do business and where the failure to so
qualify would have a Material  Adverse  Effect on ABC on a  consolidated  basis.
Except as Previously  Disclosed,  ABC does not own, directly or indirectly,  any
outstanding  capital stock or other voting securities or ownership  interests of
any corporation, bank or savings association, partnership or other organization,
except  for  Allegiance  Bank.  The  outstanding  shares  of  capital  stock  of
Allegiance  Bank are validly issued and  outstanding and fully paid and all such
shares  are  directly  owned by ABC free and  clear  of all  liens,  claims  and
encumbrances or preemptive rights of any person.

                  2.3 Authorized and Effective Agreement; Affiliated Transaction
Approval

                  (a) ABC has all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority to
enter into and (subject to the receipt of all necessary  governmental  approvals
and the approval of the  shareholders  of ABC of this  Agreement and the Plan of
Merger) to perform  all of its  obligations  under this  Agreement,  the Plan of
Merger and the Stock Option  Agreement of even date herewith between ABC and F&M
(the  "Option  Agreement").  The  execution,   adoption  and  delivery  of  this
Agreement,  the Plan of Merger and the Option  Agreement and the consummation of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and  thereby  have been duly and validly
authorized by all necessary  corporate action on the part of ABC, except, in the
case of this  Agreement  and the Plan of Merger,  the approval of  shareholders.
This Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Option Agreement represent the legal,
valid,  and binding  obligations of ABC,  enforceable  against ABC in accordance
with their respective  terms, in each case subject as to  enforceability  to (i)
bankruptcy,   insolvency,  fraudulent  transfer,   reorganization,   moratorium,
conservatorship,  receivership  and similar laws  affecting the  enforcement  of
rights  of  creditors  of  FDIC-insured   institutions  or  the  enforcement  of
creditors' rights  generally,  (ii) laws relating to the safety and soundness of
depository institutions and their holding companies, (iii) general principles of
equity,  and (iv) in the case of the Option Agreement,  the statutory and common
law of Delaware applicable to corporations organized under Delaware law.

                  (b) Neither the execution  and delivery of this  Agreement the
Plan of Merger and the Option Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein or therein, nor compliance by ABC with any of the provisions
hereof or thereof will: (i) conflict with or result in a breach of any provision
of the  Articles of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of ABC or  Allegiance  Bank;  (ii)
except as Previously Disclosed,  constitute or result in the breach of any term,
condition or provision  of, or constitute a default  under,  or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration with respect to, or result in
the creation of any lien,  charge or encumbrance  upon, any property or asset of
ABC or Allegiance Bank pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, license,
agreement or other instrument or obligation,  or (iii) subject to the receipt of
all required regulatory approvals, violate any order, writ, injunction,  decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to ABC or Allegiance Bank, except insofar
as the statutory and common law of Delaware applicable to corporations organized
under  Delaware  law may affect the  validity  or  enforceability  of the Option
Agreement.

                  (c) In  accordance  with Title 8,  Chapter 1,  Subchapter  VI,
Section 203 et. seq. of the Delaware  Corporation Law Annotated (the "Affiliated
Transactions Statute"), the Board of Directors of ABC has, by resolution adopted
by its Board of Directors, approved this Agreement and the Option Agreement, and
has given prior  approval  of F&M's  becoming an  "interested  stockholder"  (as
defined in Section  203(c)(5) of the Affiliated  Transactions  Statute),  all in
accordance with Section 203(a)(1) of the Affiliated Transactions Statute.

                  2.4      Capital Structure

                  The authorized capital stock of ABC consists of (i) 10,000,000
shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of the date hereof,  there
are 1,727,563 shares of ABC Common Stock issued and outstanding. All outstanding
shares of ABC Common Stock have been duly  authorized  and validly  issued,  are
fully  paid and  nonassessable  and have not been  issued  in  violation  of the
preemptive rights of any person.  As of the date hereof,  there are (a) warrants
held by directors of ABC that represent rights to purchase 102,000 shares of ABC
Common Stock at a price of $5.00 per share and 35,000 shares of ABC Common Stock
at a price of $6.50 per share, and (b) options held by officers and employees of
ABC that  represent  rights to  purchase a total of 73,480  shares of ABC Common
Stock.  Copies of the warrant and stock option  agreements  have been Previously
Disclosed.  No shares of ABC Common  Stock have been  reserved  for any purpose,
except for the 210,480  shares of ABC Common Stock  reserved in connection  with
the options and warrants  described  herein and the 343,785 shares of ABC Common
Stock reserved in connection with the Option Agreement.

                  2.5      Financial Statements; Books and Records; Minute Books

                  The ABC Financial Statements (as defined below) fairly present
or will fairly present, as the case may be, the consolidated  financial position
of ABC as of the dates  indicated and the  consolidated  results of  operations,
changes in  shareholders'  equity and  statements  of cash flows for the periods
then ended  (subject,  in the case of unaudited  interim  statements,  to normal
year-end  audit  adjustments  that are not  material  in  amount or  effect)  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to financial
institutions applied on a consistent basis. The books and records of the ABC and
Allegiance Bank fairly reflect the transactions to which each company is a party
or by which its  properties  are subject or bound.  Such books and records  have
been properly kept and maintained and are in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable legal and accounting  requirements.  The minute books of ABC
and Allegiance Bank contain accurate  records of all corporate  actions of their
respective  shareholders  and Boards of Directors  (including  committees of its
Board  of  Directors).   The  ABC  Financial   Statements  shall  mean  (i)  the
consolidated  balance  sheets of ABC as of  December  31,  1995 and 1994 and the
related consolidated  statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows
for each of the three years ended  December 31, 1995,  1994 and 1993  (including
related notes and schedules, if any) and (ii) the consolidated balance sheets of
ABC and related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows  (including  related notes and schedules,  if any) with respect to periods
ended subsequent to December 31, 1995.

                  2.6      Material Adverse Change

                  Since  December 31, 1995 and except as  Previously  Disclosed,
there  has not  been  any  change  in the  financial  condition  or  results  of
operations of ABC or Allegiance  Bank which,  individually  or in the aggregate,
has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (other than as
a result of changes in banking laws or regulations of general  applicability  or
interpretations thereof).

                  2.7      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities

                  Neither ABC nor Allegiance Bank has any liability  (contingent
or  otherwise)  that is material to ABC on a  consolidated  basis or that,  when
combined  with  all  similar  liabilities,   would  be  material  to  ABC  on  a
consolidated  basis,  except as Previously  Disclosed or as disclosed in the ABC
Financial  Statements and except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course
of business  consistent with past practice since the date of the most recent ABC
Financial Statements.



<PAGE>


                  2.8      Legal Proceedings; Compliance with Laws

                  Except as Previously Disclosed, there are no actions, suits or
proceedings  instituted  or  pending  or, to the  Knowledge  of ABC,  threatened
against ABC or Allegiance Bank or against any property, asset, interest or right
of ABC or Allegiance  Bank, or against any officer,  director or employee of ABC
or  Allegiance  Bank that would,  if  determined  adversely to ABC or Allegiance
Bank,  have a Material  Adverse  Effect on ABC on a consolidated  basis.  To the
Knowledge of ABC, ABC and Allegiance Bank have complied in all material respects
with all laws, ordinances, requirements, regulations or orders applicable to its
business (including environmental laws, ordinances, requirements, regulations or
orders).

                  2.9      Tax Matters

                  ABC has filed all  federal,  state and local tax  returns  and
reports  required to be filed, and all taxes shown by such returns to be due and
payable  have been paid or are  reflected  as a liability  in the ABC  Financial
Statements  or are  being  contested  in good  faith  and have  been  Previously
Disclosed.  Except to the extent that tax liabilities are specifically reflected
in the ABC Financial  Statements or are being contested in good faith, there are
no federal,  state or local tax liabilities of ABC other than  liabilities  that
have arisen since December 31, 1995, all of which have been properly  accrued or
otherwise  provided  for on the books and records of ABC.  Except as  Previously
Disclosed,  no tax  return  or  report  of  ABC  or  Allegiance  Bank  is  under
examination  by any taxing  authority  or the subject of any  administrative  or
judicial  proceeding,  and no unpaid tax  deficiency  has been asserted  against
either ABC or Allegiance Bank by any taxing authority.

                  2.10     Property

                  Except As Previously  Disclosed or reserved against in the ABC
Financial  Statements,  ABC and Allegiance  Bank have good and marketable  title
free  and  clear of all  material  liens,  encumbrances,  charges,  defaults  or
equitable  interests to all of the  properties  and assets,  real and  personal,
reflected in the balance sheet  included in the ABC  Financial  Statements as of
December  31, 1995 or acquired  after such date.  To the  Knowledge  of ABC, all
buildings,  and all fixtures,  equipment, and other property and assets that are
material to its business,  held under leases or subleases,  are held under valid
instruments  enforceable in accordance with their respective  terms,  subject to
bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,  moratorium  and similar  laws. To the
Knowledge of ABC, the buildings, structures, and appurtenances owned, leased, or
occupied by ABC and  Allegiance  Bank are in good  operating  condition and in a
state of good  maintenance  and repair and comply in all material  respects with
applicable zoning and other municipal laws and regulations.

                  2.11     Employee Benefit Plans

                  (a) ABC has Previously  Disclosed true and complete  copies of
all material retirement,  profit-sharing, stock option, bonus, vacation or other
material  incentive plans or agreements,  all material medical,  dental or other
health plans,  all life insurance plans and all other material  employee benefit
plans or fringe  benefit plans,  including,  without  limitation,  all "employee
benefit  plans"  as that  term  is  defined  in  Section  3(3)  of the  Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), currently adopted,
maintained  by,  sponsored in whole or in part by, or  contributed  to by ABC or
Allegiance  Bank for the benefit of employees,  retirees or other  beneficiaries
eligible to participate (collectively,  the "ABC Benefit Plans"). Any of the ABC
Benefit  Plans  which is an  "employee  pension  benefit  plan," as that term is
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA,  is referred to herein as an "ABC ERISA Plan."
No ABC Benefit Plan is or has been a  multi-employer  plan within the meaning of
Section 3(37) of the ERISA.

                  (b) Except as Previously Disclosed,  all ABC Benefit Plans are
in compliance with the applicable terms of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), and any other applicable laws, rules and regulations,  the
breach or violation  of which could  result in a material  liability to ABC on a
consolidated basis.

                  (c) No ABC ERISA Plan that is a defined  benefit  pension plan
has any  "unfunded  current  liability,"  as that  term is  defined  in  Section
302(d)(8)(A)  of ERISA,  and the present  fair market value of the assets of any
such plan exceeds the plan's "benefit  liabilities,"  as that term is defined in
Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, when determined under actuarial factors that would
apply  if the plan was  terminated  in  accordance  with  all  applicable  legal
requirements.

                  2.12     Insurance

                  Each of ABC and Allegiance Bank currently  maintains insurance
in amounts reasonably necessary for its operations and, to the Knowledge of ABC,
similar in scope and coverage to that  maintained  by other  entities  similarly
situated.  Except as Previously  Disclosed,  neither ABC nor Allegiance Bank has
received any notice of a premium  increase or cancellation or a failure to renew
with respect to any insurance  policy or bond and,  within the last three years,
neither ABC nor Allegiance  Bank has been refused any insurance  coverage sought
or  applied  for,  and ABC has no  reason to  believe  that  existing  insurance
coverage  cannot be  renewed as and when the same  shall  expire  upon terms and
conditions  as  favorable  as those  presently  in effect,  other than  possible
increases in premiums or  unavailability of coverage that do not result from any
extraordinary loss experience on the part of ABC or Allegiance Bank.

                  2.13     Allowance for Loan Losses

                  The allowance for loan losses  reflected on the balance sheets
included in the ABC  Financial  Statements,  as of their  respective  dates,  is
adequate in all material  respects under the requirements of generally  accepted
accounting  principles  and  regulatory  accounting  principles  to provide  for
reasonably anticipated losses on outstanding loans.

                  2.14     Environmental Matters

                  (a) Except as  Previously  Disclosed  and to the  Knowledge of
ABC, the ABC Companies are in substantial compliance with all Environmental Laws
(as  defined   below).   Neither  ABC  nor  Allegiance  Bank  has  received  any
communication  alleging  that ABC or Allegiance  Bank is not in such  compliance
and, to the  Knowledge  of ABC,  there are no present  circumstances  that would
prevent or interfere with the continuation of such compliance.

                  (b) ABC and  Allegiance  Bank  have  not  received  notice  of
pending, and are not aware of any threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or
other proceedings,  asserting  Environmental  Claims (as defined below) or other
claims, causes of action or governmental  investigations of any nature,  seeking
to impose,  or that could result in the  imposition  of, any material  liability
arising under any  Environmental  Laws upon (i) ABC or Allegiance Bank, (ii) any
person or entity whose liability for any Environmental  Claim (as defined below)
ABC or  Allegiance  Bank has or may have  retained  either  contractually  or by
operation of law, (iii) any real or personal  property owned or leased by ABC or
Allegiance  Bank, or any real or personal  property which ABC or Allegiance Bank
has  been,  or is,  judged  to have  managed  or to have  supervised  or to have
participated  in the  management  of, or (iv) any real or  personal  property in
which Allegiance Bank holds a security  interest securing a loan recorded on the
books of  Allegiance  Bank.  Neither ABC nor  Allegiance  Bank is subject to any
agreement,  order,  judgment,  decree  or  memorandum  by  or  with  any  court,
governmental  authority,  regulatory  agency or third  party  imposing  any such
liability.

                  (c) With  respect to all real and personal  property  owned or
leased by ABC or Allegiance Bank, or all real and personal property which ABC or
Allegiance Bank has been, or is, judged to have managed or to have supervised or
to have  participated  in the management of, ABC will promptly  provide F&M with
access to copies of any  environmental  audits,  analyses  and surveys that have
been  prepared  relating  to  such  properties  (a list  of  which  will be been
Previously  Disclosed).  To the  Knowledge  of  ABC,  the ABC  Companies  are in
compliance in all material  respects with all  recommendations  contained in any
such environmental audits, analyses and surveys.

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

                  (e) For purposes of this Agreement,  the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

                           (1)  "Environmental  Claim" means any written  notice
         from any  governmental  authority  or third  party  alleging  potential
         liability  (including,  without  limitation,  potential  liability  for
         investigatory  costs,  clean-up,  governmental  response costs, natural
         resources  damages,  property damages,  personal injuries or penalties)
         arising out of, based upon, or resulting from the presence,  or release
         into the environment, of any Materials of Environmental Concern.

                           (2)   "Environmental   Laws"  means  all   applicable
         federal,   state  and  local  laws  and   regulations,   including  the
         Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
         1980,  as amended,  that relate to  pollution  or  protection  of human
         health or the environment.

                           (3)  "Materials  of   Environmental   Concern"  means
         pollutants,  contaminants,  wastes,  toxic  substances,  petroleum  and
         petroleum   products   and  any   other   materials   regulated   under
         Environmental Laws.

                  2.15     Brokers and Finders

                  Neither ABC nor any of its  officers,  directors  or employees
has employed any broker,  finder or financial  advisor or incurred any liability
for any fees or commissions in connection with transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for Scott & Stringfellow, Inc.

                  2.16     Statements True and Correct

                  When the Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration
Statement") to be filed by F&M with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the
"SEC") shall become  effective,  and at all times  subsequent  thereto up to and
including  the  ABC  shareholders'   meeting  to  vote  upon  the  Merger,  such
Registration  Statement and all amendments or supplements thereto,  with respect
to all  information  set forth  therein  furnished  by ABC  relating  to ABC and
Allegiance  Bank, (i) shall comply in all material  respects with the applicable
provisions of the federal and state  securities laws, and (ii) shall not contain
any  untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact
required to be stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements  contained
therein not misleading.


                                    ARTICLE 3
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF F&M

                  F&M represents and warrants to ABC as follows:

                  3.1      Organization, Standing and Power

                  F&M is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
good  standing  under  the  laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia,  with  full
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted.  F&M is
duly  registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956.



<PAGE>


                  3.2      Organization, Standing and Power of F&M Subsidiaries

                  Each   subsidiary   of  F&M  (the  "F&M   Subsidiaries"   and,
collectively  with F&M, the "F&M  Companies") is a duly  organized  corporation,
validly   existing  and  in  good  standing  in  their   respective   states  of
incorporation. Each F&M Subsidiary (i) has full corporate power and authority to
carry on its business as now conducted and (ii) is duly qualified to do business
in the states  where its  ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its
business  requires such  qualification and where the failure to so qualify would
have a material  adverse effect on F&M on a consolidated  basis. The outstanding
shares of capital stock of each of the F&M  Subsidiaries  are validly issued and
outstanding,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and all such shares are directly or
indirectly owned by F&M free and clear of all liens,  claims and encumbrances or
preemptive rights of any person.

                  3.3      Authorized and Effective Agreement

                  (a) F&M has all  requisite  corporate  power and  authority to
enter into and to perform all of its  obligations  under this  Agreement and the
Plan of Merger.  The execution,  adoption and delivery of this Agreement and the
Plan of Merger and the  consummation  of the Merger  have been duly and  validly
authorized by all necessary  corporate action on the part of F&M. This Agreement
and the Plan of Merger represent the legal,  valid,  and binding  obligations of
F&M,  enforceable against F&M in accordance with their respective terms, in each
case subject as to  enforceability  to (i)  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  fraudulent
transfer,  reorganization,  moratorium,  conservatorship,  receivership or other
similar laws affecting the  enforcement  of rights of creditors of  FDIC-insured
institutions  or the  enforcement  of  creditors'  rights  generally,  (ii) laws
relating  to the safety  and  soundness  of  depository  institutions  and their
holding companies, and (iii) general principles of equity.

                  (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,  the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, nor compliance by F&M with
any of the  provisions  hereof will:  (i) conflict with or result in a breach of
any  provision  of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of F&M or any F&M
Subsidiary;  (ii)  constitute or result in the breach of any term,  condition or
provision  of,  or  constitute  a  default  under,  or give rise to any right of
termination,  cancellation  or  acceleration  with  respect to, or result in the
creation of any lien,  charge or encumbrance  upon, any property or asset of F&M
or any F&M Subsidiary pursuant to any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture, license,
agreement or other  instrument or obligation that would have a material  adverse
effect  on  the  business,  operations  or  financial  condition  of  F&M  on  a
consolidated  basis,  or (iii)  violate  any order,  writ,  injunction,  decree,
statute, rule or regulation applicable to F&M or any F&M Subsidiary.

                  3.4      Capital Structure

                  The authorized capital stock of F&M consists of: (i) 5,000,000
shares of preferred  stock, no par value per share, of which none are issued and
outstanding;  and (ii)  30,000,000  shares of common stock,  par value $2.00 per
share, of which 19,095,859 shares were issued and outstanding on March 31, 1996.
All outstanding shares of F&M Common Stock have been duly issued and are validly
outstanding,  fully paid and nonassessable and have not been issued in violation
of the  preemptive  rights of any person.  The shares of F&M Common  Stock to be
issued in  exchange  for shares of ABC Common  Stock  upon  consummation  of the
Merger will have been duly  authorized  and, when issued in accordance  with the
terms of this Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully paid and nonassessable,
will not be issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any person, and will
be duly registered under the applicable federal and state securities laws.

                  3.5      Financial Statements; Books and Records; Minute Books

                  The F&M Financial Statements (as defined below) fairly present
or will fairly present, as the case may be, the consolidated  financial position
of F&M as of the dates  indicated and the  consolidated  results of  operations,
changes in  shareholders'  equity and  statements  of cash flows for the periods
then ended  (subject,  in the case of unaudited  interim  statements,  to normal
year-end  audit  adjustments  that are not  material  in  amount or  effect)  in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to financial
institutions  applied on a  consistent  basis.  The books and records of the F&M
Companies fairly reflect the transactions to which each company is a party or by
which its  properties  are subject or bound.  Such books and  records  have been
properly kept and maintained and are in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable  legal and accounting  requirements.  The minute books of the F&M
Companies  contain accurate records of all corporate actions of their respective
shareholders  and  Boards of  Directors  (including  committees  of its Board of
Directors). The F&M Financial Statements shall mean (i) the consolidated balance
sheets of F&M as of  December  31,  1995 and 1994 and the  related  consolidated
statements of income,  shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three
years ended  December  31,  1995,  1994 and 1993  (including  related  notes and
schedules,  if any) and (ii) the consolidated  balance sheets of F&M and related
consolidated   statements  of  income,   shareholders'  equity  and  cash  flows
(including  related notes and  schedules,  if any) with respect to periods ended
subsequent to December 31, 1995.

                  3.6      Material Adverse Change

                  Since December 31, 1995,  there has not been any change in the
financial  condition  or results of  operations  of F&M or the F&M  Subsidiaries
which,  individually  or in the aggregate,  has had, or is reasonably  likely to
have, a Material  Adverse  Effect  (other than as a result of changes in banking
laws or regulations of general applicability or interpretations thereof).

                  3.7      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities

                  Neither  F&M  nor  any  F&M   Subsidiary   has  any  liability
(contingent  or otherwise)  that is material to F&M on a  consolidated  basis or
that, when combined with all similar liabilities,  would be material to F&M on a
consolidated  basis,  except as disclosed in the F&M  Financial  Statements  and
except for liabilities  incurred in the ordinary  course of business  consistent
with past practice since the date of the most recent F&M Financial Statements.



<PAGE>


                  3.8      Legal Proceedings; Compliance with Laws

                  There  are no  actions,  suits or  proceedings  instituted  or
pending or, to the Knowledge of F&M, threatened against any of the F&M Companies
or against any property, asset, interest or right of any of the F&M Companies or
against any  officer,  director or  employee  of any of the F&M  Companies  that
would,  if determined  adversely to F&M or any F&M  Subsidiary,  have a Material
Adverse Effect on F&M on a consolidated  basis. To the Knowledge of F&M, the F&M
Companies  have  complied in all material  respects  with all laws,  ordinances,
requirements,  regulations or orders  applicable to their respective  businesses
(including environmental laws, ordinances, requirements, regulations or orders).

                  3.9      Tax Matters

                  F&M has filed all  federal,  state and local tax  returns  and
reports  required to be filed, and all taxes shown by such returns to be due and
payable  have been paid or are  reflected  as a liability  in the F&M  Financial
Statements  or are  being  contested  in good  faith  and have  been  Previously
Disclosed.  Except to the extent that tax liabilities are specifically reflected
in the F&M Financial  Statements or are being contested in good faith, there are
no federal,  state or local tax liabilities of F&M other than  liabilities  that
have arisen since December 31, 1995, all of which have been properly  accrued or
otherwise  provided  for on the books and records of F&M.  Except as  Previously
Disclosed,  no tax  return  or  report  of F&M or any F&M  Subsidiary  is  under
examination  by any taxing  authority  or the subject of any  administrative  or
judicial proceeding,  and no unpaid tax deficiency has been asserted against any
of the F&M Companies by any taxing authority.

                  3.10     Employee Benefit Plans

                  (a) All F&M employee  benefit plans are in compliance with the
applicable  terms of ERISA and the Code and any other applicable laws, rules and
regulations,  the  breach or  violation  of which  could  result  in a  material
liability to F&M on a consolidated basis.

                  (b) No F&M  employee  benefit  plan subject to ERISA that is a
defined benefit pension plan has any "unfunded current  liability," as that term
is defined in Section  302(d)(8)(A) of ERISA,  and the present fair market value
of the assets of any such plan exceeds the plan's 'benefit liabilities,' as that
term is defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, when determined under actuarial
factors  that would  apply if the plan was  terminated  in  accordance  with all
applicable legal requirements.

                  3.11     Insurance

                  Each of the F&M  Companies  currently  maintains  insurance in
amounts  reasonably  necessary for its operations  and, to the Knowledge of F&M,
similar in scope and coverage to that  maintained  by other  entities  similarly
situated.  None of the F&M  Companies  has  received  any  notice  of a  premium
increase or  cancellation  or a failure to renew with  respect to any  insurance
policy or bond and,  within the last three years,  none of the F&M Companies has
been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and F&M has no reason
to believe that existing  insurance  coverage  cannot be renewed as and when the
same shall expire upon terms and  conditions as favorable as those  presently in
effect,  other than possible increases in premiums or unavailability of coverage
that do not result from any extraordinary loss experience on the part of the F&M
Companies.

                  3.12     Allowance for Loan Losses

                  The allowance for loan losses  reflected on the balance sheets
included in the F&M  Financial  Statements,  as of their  respective  dates,  is
adequate in all material  respects under the requirements of generally  accepted
accounting  principles  and  regulatory  accounting  principles  to provide  for
reasonably anticipated losses on outstanding loans.

                  3.13     Environmental Matters

                  To the Knowledge of F&M, the F&M Companies are in  substantial
compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined in Section 2.14). None of the
F&M  Companies  has  received  any  communication  alleging  that F&M or any F&M
Subsidiary is not in such  compliance and, to the Knowledge of F&M, there are no
present  circumstances  that would prevent or interfere with the continuation of
such compliance.

                  3.14     Statements True and Correct

                  When the  Registration  Statement  to be filed by F&M with the
SEC shall  become  effective,  and at all  times  subsequent  thereto  up to and
including  the  ABC  shareholders'   meeting  to  vote  upon  the  Merger,  such
Registration  Statement and all amendments or supplements thereto,  with respect
to all information set forth therein  furnished by F&M relating to F&M (i) shall
comply in all material  respects with the  applicable  provisions of the federal
and state  securities laws, and (ii) shall not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading.

                                    ARTICLE 4
                            COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS

                  4.1      Investigation and Confidentiality

                  ABC  will  keep  F&M  advised  of  all  material  developments
relevant to its business and to consummation of the Merger,  and F&M will advise
ABC of any material adverse change in its financial  condition or operations and
all material  developments that may adversely affect consummation of the Merger.
F&M and ABC each may make or cause to be made such further  investigation of the
financial  and legal  condition  of the  other as such  party  reasonably  deems
necessary or advisable in connection with the Merger,  provided,  however,  that
such investigation shall not interfere unnecessarily with normal operations. F&M
and ABC agree to furnish the other and the other's  advisors with such financial
data and other  information  with respect to its business and properties as such
other party shall from time to time reasonably request. Each party hereto shall,
and shall cause each of its  directors,  officers,  attorneys and  advisors,  to
maintain the  confidentiality of all information  obtained in such investigation
which is not otherwise  publicly  disclosed by the other party, such undertaking
with respect to confidentiality to survive any termination of this Agreement. In
the event of the termination of this  Agreement,  each party shall return to the
furnishing party or, at the request of the furnishing party, destroy and certify
the  destruction  of  all  confidential   information  previously  furnished  in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  4.2      Registration Statement; Shareholder Approval

                  (a) Subject to the timely  effectiveness  of the  Registration
Statement to be prepared by F&M, ABC shall submit this Agreement and the Plan of
Merger to its  shareholders  for approval at an annual or special  meeting to be
held on or before  September 30, 1996 or as soon thereafter as practicable  (the
"ABC  Meeting").  Subject to the  fiduciary  duties of the Board of Directors of
ABC,  the ABC Board of Directors  shall  unanimously  recommend  approval of the
Merger and shall use its best efforts to solicit and obtain votes of the holders
of ABC  Common  Stock in favor of the  Merger.  Each  member of the ABC Board of
Directors  agrees to vote all shares of ABC Common  Stock under his control (and
not held in a fiduciary capacity) in favor of the Merger.

                  (b)   F&M   and   ABC   will   prepare   jointly   the   proxy
statement/prospectus  to be used in connection  with the ABC Meeting (the "Proxy
Statement/Prospectus").  F&M will  prepare and file with the SEC a  Registration
Statement,  of which such Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall be a part, and will
use its best efforts to have the Registration  Statement  declared  effective as
promptly as possible.  When the  Registration  Statement  or any  post-effective
amendment  or  supplement  thereto  shall  become  effective  and at  all  times
subsequent  to  such  effectiveness,  up to and  including  the  date of the ABC
Meeting, such Registration  Statement and all amendments or supplements thereto,
with respect to all information  set forth therein  furnished or to be furnished
by ABC  relating  to ABC or  Allegiance  Bank  and by F&M  relating  to the  F&M
Companies,  will conform in all material  respects  with the  provisions  of the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended,  and any other  applicable  statutory  or
regulatory requirements.

                  4.3      Operation of the Business of ABC

                  Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Date, ABC
agrees  that  each  of  ABC  and  Allegiance  Bank  will  operate  its  business
substantially as presently operated and only in the ordinary course and will use
its best efforts to preserve its  properties,  business and  relationships  with
customers, employees and other persons having business dealings with it. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing,  ABC agrees that it will not,  without
the prior written consent of F&M:

                  (a) Make any change in its authorized capital stock, or issue,
grant  or  sell  any  additional  shares  of,  securities  convertible  into  or
exchangeable for, or options, warrants or rights to purchase, its capital stock,
nor shall it purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its outstanding shares
of capital  stock,  except that ABC shall not be restricted  from  acquiring any
shares of ABC Common  Stock that  secure an  extension  of credit made by ABC or
Allegiance Bank that is in default and selling, in the ordinary course, any such
re-acquired  shares or from issuing  shares of ABC Common Stock  pursuant to the
exercise of options and warrants in accordance  with the terms thereof and which
are outstanding on the date hereof;

                  (b) Increase the rate of compensation of any of its directors,
officers or employees, or pay or agree to pay any bonus to, or provide any other
employee  benefit or incentive to, any of its directors,  officers or employees,
except  in a manner  and  amount  consistent  with past  practice,  any of which
changes shall be reported promptly to F&M;

                  (c)  Enter  into  any  bonus,  incentive  compensation,  stock
option,  deferred compensation,  profit sharing,  thrift,  retirement,  pension,
group insurance or other benefit plan or any employment or consulting agreement;

                  (d) Incur any  obligation  or liability  (whether  absolute or
contingent, excluding suits instituted against it), make any pledge, or encumber
any of its assets, nor dispose of any of its assets in any other manner,  except
in the ordinary  course of its business and for adequate  value, or as otherwise
specifically permitted in this Agreement;

                  (e) Solicit or encourage  inquiries or proposals  with respect
to, furnish any information  relating to, or participate in any  negotiations or
discussions  concerning,  any  acquisition  or purchase of all or a  substantial
portion of the assets of, or a substantial equity interest in, ABC or Allegiance
Bank or any business  combination  with ABC other than as  contemplated  by this
Agreement;  (except where the Board of Directors of ABC determines, based on the
advice of counsel,  that failure to furnish such  information  or participate in
such  negotiations or discussions  would constitute a breach of the fiduciary or
legal obligations of ABC's Board of Directors to its shareholders); or authorize
or permit any officer, director, agent or affiliate of ABC or Allegiance Bank to
do any of the above;  or fail to notify F&M immediately if any such inquiries or
proposals are received by ABC;

                  (f) Change its lending, investment, asset/liability management
or other material  banking  policies in any material  respect,  except as may be
required by applicable law;

                  (g)  Alter,   amend  or  repeal  its  Bylaws  or  Articles  of
Incorporation; or

                  (h)  Declare  or pay any  cash or stock  dividend  or make any
other distribution in respect of the ABC Common Stock; or

                  (i)  Propose  or take any other  action  which  would make any
representation or warranty in Article 2 hereof untrue.



<PAGE>


                  4.4      Operation of the Business of F&M

                  Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Date, F&M
agrees that each of the F&M Companies will operate its business substantially as
presently operated and only in the ordinary course and will use its best efforts
to preserve its properties, business and relationships with customers, employees
and other persons having business dealings with it. In addition, F&M agrees that
it will not solicit or encourage inquiries or proposals with respect to, furnish
any information  relating to, or participate in any  negotiations or discussions
concerning,  any acquisition or purchase of all or a substantial  portion of the
assets of, or a substantial equity interest in, F&M or any business  combination
with F&M which may, as a condition  thereof,  result in the  termination of this
Agreement  and the Plan of Merger  (except  where the  failure to  furnish  such
information or participate in such  negotiations  or discussions  would,  on the
advice of counsel,  constitute a breach of the fiduciary or legal obligations of
F&M's  Board of  Directors  to its  shareholders);  or  authorize  or permit any
officer, director, agent or affiliate of F&M to do any of the above.

                  4.5      Regulatory Filings

                  F&M and ABC shall use their best  efforts to prepare  and file
as soon as  practicable  after the date  hereof all  required  applications  for
regulatory  approval  of the  Merger.  F&M shall use its best  efforts to obtain
prompt approval of each required application.

                  4.6      Public Announcements

                  Each party will  consult  with the other  before  issuing  any
press  release or  otherwise  making any public  statements  with respect to the
Merger  and  shall  not issue any such  press  release  or make any such  public
statement prior to such consultations, except as may be required by law.

                  4.7      Accounting Treatment

                  F&M and ABC shall each use their best  efforts to ensure  that
the Merger qualifies for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment.

                  4.8      Affiliates

                  ABC  shall  identify  those  persons  who  may  deemed  to  be
"affiliates"  of ABC  with  the  meaning  of  Rule  145  promulgated  under  the
Securities  Act. ABC shall cause each person so  identified to deliver to F&M at
least 30 days prior to the Effective  Date a written  agreement  providing  that
such person will not dispose of F&M Common Stock received in the Merger,  except
in a manner that (i) complies with the  Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
regulations   promulgated   thereunder,   and  (ii)  is   consistent   with  the
qualification of the transactions  contemplated  hereby for pooling of interests
accounting treatment.



<PAGE>


                  4.9      Benefit Plans

                  Upon consummation of the Merger,  as soon as  administratively
practicable,  employees  of ABC  shall be  entitled  to  participate  in the F&M
pension,  health and welfare  benefit  and  similar  plans on the same terms and
conditions as employees of the F&M Companies,  giving effect to years of service
with ABC as if such service were with F&M.

                  4.10     NYSE Listing

                  F&M shall  list on the New York Stock  Exchange  the shares of
F&M Common Stock to be issued in the Merger.

                  4.11     Indemnification

                  F&M  agrees  that  following  the  Effective  Date,  it  shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless any person who has rights to indemnification
from  ABC,  to the same  extent  and on the same  conditions  as such  person is
entitled  to  indemnification  pursuant to  Virginia  law and ABC's  Articles of
Incorporation  or  Bylaws,  as in effect on the date of this  Agreement,  to the
extent legally  permitted to do so with respect to matters occurring on or prior
to the Effective  Date.  Without  limiting the  foregoing,  in any case in which
corporate approval may be required to effectuate any indemnification,  F&M shall
direct,  at the election of the party to be indemnified,  that the determination
of  permissibility  of  indemnification  shall  be made by  independent  counsel
mutually  agreed upon between F&M and the indemnified  party.  F&M shall use its
reasonable  best efforts to maintain  ABC's  existing  directors'  and officers'
liability  policy,  or some  other  policy,  including  F&M's  existing  policy,
providing  at least  comparable  coverage,  covering  persons who are  currently
covered by such insurance of ABC for a period of three years after the Effective
Date on terms no less favorable than those in effect on the date hereof.

                  4.12     ABC Stock Options

                  From and after the  Effective  Date,  all employee and officer
stock options and director stock warrants to purchase shares of ABC Common Stock
(each,  an "ABC  Stock  Option"  or an  "ABC  Stock  Warrant"),  that  are  then
outstanding  and  unexercised,  shall be  converted  into and become  options to
purchase  shares of F&M Common  Stock,  and F&M shall assume each such ABC Stock
Option  and ABC  Stock  Warrant  in  accordance  with the  terms of the plan and
agreement by which it is evidenced;  provided,  however, that from and after the
Effective  Date (i) each such ABC Stock Option and ABC Stock Warrant  assumed by
F&M may be exercised  solely to purchase  shares of F&M Common  Stock,  (ii) the
number of shares of F&M Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of such ABC Stock
Option or ABC Stock Warrant shall be equal to the number of shares of ABC Common
Stock that were  purchasable  under such ABC Stock  Option or ABC Stock  Warrant
immediately  prior to the Effective  Date  multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio and
rounding  down  to the  nearest  whole  share,  with  cash  being  paid  for any
fractional share interest that otherwise would be purchasable, and (iii) the per
share exercise price under each such ABC Stock Option or ABC Stock Warrant shall
be  adjusted  by dividing  the per share  exercise  price of each such ABC Stock
Option or ABC Stock Warrant by the Exchange  Ratio,  and rounding to the nearest
cent.  The  terms of each ABC  Stock  Option  or ABC  Stock  Warrant  shall,  in
accordance  with its terms,  be subject to further  adjustment as appropriate to
reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend,  recapitalization  or other  similar
transaction  with respect to F&M Common Stock on or  subsequent to the Effective
Date.

                  4.13     Stock Option Agreement

                  ABC shall  grant to F&M an option to  acquire  such  number of
shares  of ABC  Common  Stock  that  would  equate  to 19.9% of the  issued  and
outstanding  common stock of ABC as of the date hereof,  all in accordance  with
the Option Agreement.

                  4.14     Restrictions on Trading in F&M Common Stock

                  Neither  F&M,  ABC,  any  subsidiary  of F&M or  ABC,  nor any
director or  executive  officer of F&M or ABC or their  respective  subsidiaries
shall  directly or  indirectly  purchase or sell on the NYSE, or submit a bid to
purchase or offer to sell on the NYSE,  any shares of F&M Common  Stock,  or any
options,  rights,  warrants or other securities  convertible into or exercisable
for shares of F&M Common Stock during the Exchange  Ratio  Determination  Period
(as such term is defined in Section 2.1(a) of the Plan of Merger).

                                                         ARTICLE 5
                                                  CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER

                  5.1      General Conditions

                  The  respective  obligations  of each of F&M and ABC to effect
the Merger shall be subject to the fulfillment, or waiver in the case of Section
5.1(e) below, at or prior to the Effective Date of the following conditions:

                  (a)  Corporate  Action.  All  corporate  action  necessary  to
authorize  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of  this  Agreement  and
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall have been duly and
validly taken,  including without limitation the approval of the shareholders of
ABC.

                  (b) Registration  Statement.  The Registration Statement shall
have been  declared  effective  and shall not be  subject to a stop order or any
threatened stop order of the SEC or any state securities commissioner.

                  (c) Regulatory Approvals.  F&M and ABC shall have received all
regulatory  approvals required in connection with the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement,  all notice periods and waiting  periods  required after the
granting of any such approvals  shall have passed,  and all such approvals shall
be in effect;  provided,  however, that no such approvals shall have imposed any
condition  or  requirement  which,  in the  reasonable  opinion of the Boards of
Directors of F&M or ABC,  would so materially  adversely  impact the economic or
business  benefits of the  transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  as to
render consummation of the Merger inadvisable or unduly burdensome.

                  (d) Tax Opinion. F&M and ABC shall have received an opinion of
F&M's  counsel in form and substance  satisfactory  to F&M and ABC to the effect
that the Merger will constitute a  reorganization  within the meaning of Section
368 of the Code and that no gain or loss will be recognized by the  shareholders
of ABC to the extent they  receive F&M Common Stock solely in exchange for their
ABC Common Stock in the Merger.

                  (e) Opinions of Counsel.  ABC shall have  delivered to F&M and
F&M shall have  delivered to ABC opinions of counsel,  dated as of the Effective
Date, as to such matters as they may each reasonably request with respect to the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and in a form reasonably acceptable
to each of them.

                  (f) Legal Proceedings. Neither F&M nor ABC shall be subject to
any order,  decree or injunction of a court or agency of competent  jurisdiction
which enjoins or prohibits the consummation of the Merger.

                  5.2      Conditions to Obligations of F&M

                  The  obligations  of F&M to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the  fulfillment or waiver at or prior to the Effective Date of the following
additional conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties  of ABC set  forth in  Article  2 shall be true  and  correct  in all
material  respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Date
as though  made on the  Effective  Date (or on the date when made in the case of
any representation and warranty which specifically  relates to an earlier date),
except as otherwise expressly  contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in
writing by F&M.

                  (b)  Performance of  Obligations.  ABC shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations  required to be performed by it under this
Agreement prior to the Effective Date.

                  (c) Officers'  Certificate.  ABC shall have delivered to F&M a
certificate,  dated the Effective  Date and signed by its Chairman or President,
to the effect  that the  conditions  set forth in  Sections  5.1(a),  5.2(a) and
5.2(b) have been satisfied.

                  (d)  Affiliate  Letters.  F&M shall have  received the written
agreements from the affiliates as specified in Section 4.8 hereof.

                  (e)  Accountants'  Letters.  F&M shall have received a letter,
dated as of the Effective Date, from Yount, Hyde & Barbour,  P.C.,  satisfactory
in  form  and   substance   to  F&M,   that  the   Merger   will   qualify   for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment.



<PAGE>


                  5.3      Conditions to Obligations of ABC

                  The  obligations  of ABC to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the  fulfillment or waiver at or prior to the Effective Date of the following
additional conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
warranties  of F&M set  forth in  Article  3 shall be true  and  correct  in all
material  respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Date
as though  made on the  Effective  Date (or on the date when made in the case of
any representation and warranty which specifically  relates to an earlier date),
except as otherwise expressly  contemplated by this Agreement or consented to in
writing by ABC.

                  (b)  Performance of  Obligations.  F&M shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations  required to be performed by it under this
Agreement prior to the Effective Date.

                  (c) Officers'  Certificate.  F&M shall have delivered to ABC a
certificate,  dated the Effective  Date and signed by its Chairman or President,
to the effect that the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1(a),  5.1(b), 5.1(c),
5.3(a) and 5.3(b) have been satisfied.

                  (d)  Investment  Banking  Letter.  ABC shall have  received an
updated fairness opinion from Scott & Stringfellow,  Inc.,  financial advisor to
ABC,   addressed   to  ABC  and   dated   on  or  about   the  date  the   Proxy
Statement/Prospectus  is mailed to  shareholders  of ABC, to the effect that the
terms of the Merger are fair to the  shareholders  of ABC from a financial point
of view.

                                    ARTICLE 6
                                   TERMINATION

                  6.1      Termination

                  This Agreement and the Plan of Merger may be terminated at any
time before the Effective Date,  whether before or after approval thereof by the
shareholders of ABC, as provided below:

                  (a)  Mutual  Consent.   By  mutual  consent  of  the  parties,
evidenced by their written agreement.

                  (b) Closing Delay. At the election of either party,  evidenced
by written  notice,  if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before January
15,  1997,  or such later  date as shall  have been  agreed to in writing by the
parties;  provided,  however,  that the right to  terminate  under this  Section
6.1(b)  shall not be  available  to either  party  whose  failure  to perform an
obligation  hereunder  has been the cause of, or has resulted in, the failure of
the Closing to occur on or before such date.

                  (c)  Conditions  to F&M  Performance  Not  Met.  By  F&M  upon
delivery  of written  notice of  termination  to ABC if any event  occurs  which
renders  impossible the  satisfaction in any material  respect of one or more of
the  conditions  to the  obligations  of F&M to effect  the  Merger set forth in
Sections 5.1 and 5.2, and such noncompliance is not waived by F&M.

                  (d)  Conditions  to ABC  Performance  Not  Met.  By  ABC  upon
delivery  of written  notice of  termination  to F&M if any event  occurs  which
renders  impossible the  satisfaction in any material  respect of one or more of
the  conditions  to the  obligations  of ABC to effect  the  Merger set forth in
Sections 5.1 and 5.3, and such noncompliance is not waived by ABC.

                  6.2      Effect of Termination

                  In the event this Agreement is terminated  pursuant to Section
6.1 hereof,  both this  Agreement  and the Plan of Merger  shall become void and
have  no  effect,   except   that  (i)  the   provisions   hereof   relating  to
confidentiality,  press releases and expenses set forth in Sections 4.1, 4.7 and
6.4,  respectively,  shall survive any such  termination  and (ii) a termination
pursuant to 6.1(c) or 6.1(d) hereof shall not relieve the  breaching  party from
liability for an uncured  intentional  breach of any provision of this Agreement
giving rise to such termination.

                  6.3      Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants

                  All   representations,   warranties   and  covenants  in  this
Agreement and the Plan of Merger shall not survive the Effective  Date and shall
be  terminated  and  extinguished  at the  Effective  Date.  From and  after the
Effective  Date,  the parties  hereto  shall have no  liability  to the other on
account of any breach of any of those representations, warranties and covenants;
provided,  however,  that the foregoing clause shall not (i) apply to agreements
of the parties  which by their  terms are  intended  to be  performed  after the
Effective  Date,  and (ii) shall not relieve any person for liability for fraud,
deception or intentional misrepresentation.

                  6.4      Expenses

                  (a) Except as provided  below,  each of the parties shall bear
and  pay  all  costs  and  expenses  incurred  by  it  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated  herein,  including  fees  and  expenses  of its  own
financial consultants,  accountants and counsel,  except that F&M agrees to bear
and pay the cost of printing and mailing the Proxy Statement/Prospectus.

                  (b)  Notwithstanding  the provisions of Section 6.4(a) hereof,
if for any reason the Merger is not  approved by ABC's  shareholders  at the ABC
Meeting or any adjournment  thereof, ABC shall reimburse F&M for one-half of all
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  by F&M  in  connection  with  the
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  provided that the maximum amount
that ABC shall be  responsible  to F&M for under this  Section  6.4(b)  shall be
limited to $50,000.

                  (c) If this Agreement is terminated by F&M or ABC because of a
willful  and  material  breach  by the  other of any  representation,  warranty,
covenant,  undertaking  or restriction  set forth herein,  and provided that the
terminating party shall not have been in breach (in any material respect) of any
representation  and warranty,  covenant,  undertaking or  restriction  contained
herein,  then  the  breaching  party  shall  reimburse  the  other  party of all
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses  incurred  by  it  in  connection  with  the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (d) Final settlement with respect to the reimbursement of such
fees and  expenses  by the parties  shall be made  within  thirty days after the
termination of this Agreement.

                                    ARTICLE 7
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                  7.1      Entire Agreement

                  This Agreement contains the entire agreement among F&M and ABC
with respect to the Merger and the related transactions and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.

                  7.2      Binding Effect; No Third Party Rights

                  This  Agreement  shall  bind F&M and ABC and their  respective
successors  and assigns.  Other than Section 4.11,  nothing in this Agreement is
intended  to confer  upon any  person,  other than the  parties  hereto or their
respective  successors,  any  rights  or  remedies  under or by  reason  of this
Agreement.

                  7.3      Waiver and Amendment

                  Any term or  provision  of this  Agreement  may be  waived  in
writing at any time by the party that is, or whose shareholders are, entitled to
the benefits  thereof,  and this Agreement may be amended or  supplemented  by a
written  instrument  duly  executed by the parties  hereto at any time,  whether
before or after the ABC Meeting,  except  statutory  requirements  and requisite
approvals of shareholders and regulatory authorities.

                  7.4      Governing Law

                  This  Agreement   shall  be  governed  by,  and  construed  in
accordance  with, the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia without regard to the
conflict of law principles thereof.

                  7.5      Notices

                  All  notices  or other  communications  that are  required  or
permitted  hereunder shall be in writing and sufficient if delivered  personally
or sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:



<PAGE>


                           If to F&M:
                                    Alfred B. Whitt
                                    F&M National Corporation
                                    38 Rouss Avenue
                                    P. O. Box 2800
                                    Winchester, Virginia 22604

                           Copy to:
                                    George P. Whitley, Esq.
                                    LeClair Ryan
                                    707 East Main Street; 11th Floor
                                    Richmond, Virginia 23219

                           If to ABC:
                                    Ronald D. Paul
                                    Allegiance Banc Corporation
                                    4719 Hampden Lane
                                    Bethesda, Maryland  20814

                           Copy to:

                                    David H. Baris, Esq.
                                    Kennedy & Baris, L.L.P.
                                    4719 Hampden Lane, Suite 300
                                    Bethesda, Maryland  20814

                  7.6      Counterparts

                  This Agreement may be executed in any number of  counterparts,
each of  which  shall  be an  original,  but such  counterparts  together  shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

                  7.7      Severability

                  In the event that any  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
held  invalid or  unenforceable  by any court of  competent  jurisdiction,  such
holding  shall not  invalidate  or  render  unenforceable  any other  provisions
hereof.  Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or  unenforceable  only in
part or degree  shall  remain in full  force and  effect to the  extent not held
invalid or unenforceable.  Further,  the parties agree that a court of competent
jurisdiction  may  reform  any  provision  of this  Agreement  held  invalid  or
unenforceable so as to reflect the intended agreement of the parties hereto.



<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  hereto  have  caused  this
Agreement to be executed in counterparts  by their duly authorized  officers and
their  corporate  seals to be affixed  hereto,  all as of the date first written
above.


                                                  F&M NATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                      Winchester, Virginia



                                                 By: __________________________
                                                         Jack R. Huyett
                                                         President and Chief
                                                         Administrative Officer

         ATTEST:


         By: __________________________
                  Alfred B. Whitt
                  Secretary


                                                  ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION
                                                     Bethesda, Maryland



                                                 By: __________________________
                                                          Leonard L. Abel
                                                          Chairman of the Board


         ATTEST:



         By: __________________________

                  Secretary



<PAGE>



                           ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                      Each of the undersigned  members of the Board of Directors
of Allegiance Banc Corporation agrees to be bound by his personal obligations as
provided  in  Section   4.2(a)  and  4.3(e)  of  the   Agreement   and  Plan  of
Reorganization.




                  Leonard L. Abel                       Dudley C. Dworken

                  William A. Koier                      Ronald D. Paul

                  Thomas L. Phillips



<PAGE>


                                                                 EXHIBIT A
                                                         To the Agreement and
                                                         Plan of Reorganization



                                 PLAN OF MERGER
                                     BETWEEN
                           ALLEGIANCE BANC CORPORATION
                                       AND
                            F&M NATIONAL CORPORATION


                  Pursuant to this Plan of Merger ("Plan of Merger"), Allegiance
Banc Corporation,  a Delaware corporation ("ABC"), shall merge with and into F&M
National Corporation, a Virginia corporation ("F&M").

                                    ARTICLE I
                               TERMS OF THE MERGER

                  1.1      The Merger

                  Subject to the terms and  conditions of the Agreement and Plan
of Reorganization, dated as of April 22, 1996 (the "Agreement"), between F&M and
ABC, at the  Effective  Date ABC shall be merged with and into F&M in accordance
with the  provisions of Virginia and Delaware law and with the effect  specified
in Section  13.1-721 of the Virginia Stock  Corporation Act (the "Merger").  F&M
shall be the  surviving  corporation  of the  Merger.  The Merger  shall  become
effective on such date as may be determined  in  accordance  with Section 1.4 of
the Agreement (the "Effective Date").

                  1.2      Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

                  The  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws of F&M in effect
immediately  prior to the  consummation  of the  Merger  shall  remain in effect
following the Effective Date until otherwise amended or repealed.

                                   ARTICLE II
                           MANNER OF CONVERTING SHARES

                  2.1      Conversion of Shares

                  Upon and by reason of the Merger becoming effective and except
as  set  forth  in  Section  2.3  below,  no  cash  shall  be  allocated  to the
shareholders of ABC and stock shall be issued and allocated as follows:

                  (a) Each share of common stock,  par value $1.00 per share, of
ABC  ("ABC  Common  Stock")  issued  and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the
Effective Date shall,  by operation of law, be  automatically  exchanged for the
number of shares of F&M Common Stock whose aggregate market value equals $15.00.
The  market  value of F&M  Common  Stock will be its  average  closing  price as
reported on the New York Stock  Exchange  (the  "NYSE") for each of the ten full
trading days ending on the second day prior to the Effective  Date (the "Average
Closing Price") (the ten full trading day period during which the Exchange Ratio
will be determined is referred to as the "Exchange Ratio Determination Period").
The  ratio of  shares  of F&M  Common  Stock  that  will be  exchanged  for each
outstanding  share of ABC  Common  Stock  shall be  referred  to  herein  as the
"Exchange  Ratio," which shall be rounded to the nearest  third  decimal  point.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  in the event: (A) F&M shall have entered into an
agreement with any person to (i) acquire,  merge or  consolidate,  or enter into
any similar transaction, with F&M, (ii) purchase, lease or otherwise acquire all
or substantially all of the assets of F&M or (iii) purchase or otherwise acquire
securities  representing  10% or more of the  voting  power  of F&M;  or (B) any
person  shall have made a bona fide  proposal to F&M by public  announcement  or
written  communication  that is or becomes the subject of public  disclosure  to
acquire  F&M  by  merger,  share  exchange,  consolidation,  purchase  of all or
substantially all of its assets or any similar transaction,  the Average Closing
Price will be based on the average closing price of F&M Common Stock for each of
the  ten  trading  days  immediately  preceding  the  public  announcement  of a
transaction or event described in either (A) or (B).

                  (b) Each holder of a  certificate  representing  shares of ABC
Common  Stock upon the  surrender  of his ABC stock  certificates  to F&M,  duly
endorsed for transfer in accordance with Section 2.2 below,  will be entitled to
receive in exchange  therefor a certificate  or  certificates  representing  the
number of shares of F&M Common  Stock that his shares  shall be  converted  into
pursuant to the Exchange Ratio.  Each such holder of ABC Common Stock shall have
the right to receive the consideration described in this Section 2.1 and Section
2.3 upon the surrender of such  certificate  in accordance  with Section 2.2. In
the event F&M  changes  the  number of shares of F&M  Common  Stock  issued  and
outstanding  prior to the Effective  Date as a result of any stock split,  stock
dividend,   recapitalization   or  similar   transaction  with  respect  to  the
outstanding  shares of F&M Common Stock and the record date therefor shall be on
or after the first full trading day of the Exchange Ratio  Determination  Period
but before the Effective Date, the Exchange Ratio shall be  proportionately  and
equitably adjusted.

                  (c)  Shares  of  F&M  Common  Stock  issued  and   outstanding
immediately  prior  to  the  Effective  Date  shall  continue  unchanged  as  an
outstanding share of Common Stock of F&M, as the successor corporation.

                  (d) From and  after  the  Effective  Date,  all  employee  and
officer  stock  options and director  stock  warrants to purchase  shares of ABC
Common Stock (each, an "ABC Stock Option" or an "ABC Stock  Warrant"),  that are
then outstanding and unexercised,  shall be converted into and become options to
purchase  shares of F&M Common  Stock,  and F&M shall assume each such ABC Stock
Option  or ABC  Stock  Warrant  in  accordance  with  the  terms of the plan and
agreement by which it is evidenced;  provided,  however, that from and after the
Effective  Date (i) each such ABC Stock Option or ABC Stock  Warrant  assumed by
F&M may be exercised  solely to purchase  shares of F&M Common  Stock,  (ii) the
number of shares of F&M Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of such ABC Stock
Option or ABC Stock Warrant shall be equal to the number of shares of ABC Common
Stock that were  purchasable  under such ABC Stock  Option or ABC Stock  Warrant
immediately  prior to the Effective  Date  multiplied by the Exchange  Ratio and
rounding  down  to the  nearest  whole  share,  with  cash  being  paid  for any
fractional share interest that otherwise would be purchasable, and (iii) the per
share exercise price under each such ABC Stock Option or ABC Stock Warrant shall
be  adjusted  by dividing  the per share  exercise  price of each such ABC Stock
Option or ABC Stock Warrant by the Exchange  Ratio,  and rounding to the nearest
cent.  The  terms of each ABC  Stock  Option  or ABC  Stock  Warrant  shall,  in
accordance  with its terms,  be subject to further  adjustment as appropriate to
reflect any stock  split,  stock  dividend,  recapitalization  or other  similar
transaction  with respect to F&M Common Stock on or  subsequent to the Effective
Date. It is intended that the foregoing assumption shall be effected in a manner
that is consistent with the  requirements of Section 424 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986,  as amended  (the  "Code") as to any ABC Stock Option or ABC Stock
Warrant that is an  "incentive  stock  option" (as defined in Section 422 of the
Code).

                  2.2      Manner of Exchange of ABC Stock Certificates

                  As promptly as practicable after the Effective Date, F&M shall
cause  American  Stock  Transfer & Trust  Company,  acting as the exchange agent
("Exchange  Agent"),  to  send to  each  former  shareholder  of  record  of ABC
immediately  prior  to the  Effective  Date  transmittal  materials  for  use in
exchanging  such  shareholder's   certificates  of  ABC  Common  Stock  for  the
consideration  set forth in Section 2.1 above and Section 2.3 below.  Any checks
for cash in lieu of fractional shares which an ABC shareholder shall be entitled
to receive in exchange for such  shareholder's  shares of ABC Common Stock,  and
any  dividends  paid on any shares of F&M Common  Stock,  that such  shareholder
shall be entitled to receive prior to the delivery to the Exchange Agent of such
shareholder's  certificates representing all of such shareholder's shares of ABC
Common  Stock will be delivered to such  shareholder  only upon  delivery to the
Exchange Agent of the certificates representing all of such shares (or indemnity
satisfactory to F&M and the Exchange  Agent,  in their judgment,  if any of such
certificates  are lost,  stolen or  destroyed).  No interest will be paid on any
such cash in lieu of  fractional  shares checks or dividends to which the holder
of such shares shall be entitled to receive upon such delivery.

                  2.3      No Fractional Shares

                  No certificates  or scrip for fractional  shares of F&M Common
Stock will be issued. In lieu thereof, F&M will pay the value of such fractional
shares in cash on the basis of the average  closing price of F&M Common Stock as
determined pursuant to Section 2.1(a) hereof.

                  2.4      Dividends

                  No  dividend or other  distribution  payable to the holders of
record of F&M Common Stock at or as of any time after the  Effective  Date shall
be paid to the holder of any certificate representing shares of ABC Common Stock
issued and  outstanding  at the  Effective  Date until  such  holder  physically
surrenders such certificate for exchange as provided in Section 2.2 of this Plan
of Merger,  promptly after which time all such dividends or distributions  shall
be paid (without interest).

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   TERMINATION

                  This Plan of Merger may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective  Date by the parties  hereto as provided in Article 6 of the Agreement
between the parties.


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