<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 24.1
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below hereby constitutes and appoints Lee R. Mitau, Andrew Cecere and Terrance
R. Dolan, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements on Form S-4 of U.S.
Bancorp, and any and all amendments thereto, including post-effective
amendments, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting
unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and
authority to do and perform to all intents and purposes as he or she might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or the substitutes for such
attorneys-in-fact and agents, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
Chairman, President, Chief
/s/ JOHN F. GRUNDHOFER Executive Officer and
------------------------------------------- Director (principal October 24, 2000
John F. Grundhofer executive officer)
/s/ ANDREW CECERE Chief Financial Officer
------------------------------------------- (principal financial October 24, 2000
Andrew Cecere officer)
/s/ TERRANCE R. DOLAN Senior Vice President and
------------------------------------------- Controller (principal October 24, 2000
Terrance R. Dolan accounting officer)
/s/ LINDA L. AHLERS
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Linda L. Ahlers
/s/ HARRY L. BETTIS
------------------------------------------- Director October 24, 2000
Harry L. Bettis
/s/ ARTHUR D. COLLINS, JR.
------------------------------------------- Director October 20, 2000
Arthur D. Collins, Jr.
/s/ PETER H. COORS
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Peter H. Coors
/s/ ROBERT L. DRYDEN
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Robert L. Dryden
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ JOSHUA GREEN III
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Joshua Green III
/s/ DELBERT W. JOHNSON
------------------------------------------- Director October 24, 2000
Delbert W. Johnson
/s/ JOEL W. JOHNSON
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Joel W. Johnson
/s/ JERRY W. LEVIN
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Jerry W. Levin
/s/ LESTER POLLACK
------------------------------------------- Director October 24, 2000
Lester Pollack
/s/ PAUL A. REDMOND
------------------------------------------- Director October 24, 2000
Paul A. Redmond
/s/ RICHARD G. REITEN
------------------------------------------- Director October 18, 2000
Richard G. Reiten
/s/ S. WALTER RICHEY
------------------------------------------- Director October 24, 2000
S. Walter Richey
/s/ WARREN R. STALEY
------------------------------------------- Director October 17, 2000
Warren R. Staley
</TABLE>
