FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORP
S-3, 1996-12-09
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
 
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 9, 1996
 
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
            FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION                             FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
   (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)                    FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL II
                         TENNESSEE                                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL III
      (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR                       FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL IV
                        ORGANIZATION)                         (EXACT NAME OF EACH REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS TRUST
                         62-0803242                                                  AGREEMENT)
            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)                                      DELAWARE
        165 MADISON AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38103               (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
                       (901) 523-4444                                   OR ORGANIZATION OF EACH REGISTRANT)
    (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,                              62-6314154
                    INCLUDING AREA CODE,                                             62-6314155
        OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                                 62-6314156
                                                                                     62-6314157
                                                                        (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                                                                      C/O FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
                                                                    165 MADISON AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38103
                                                                                   (901) 523-4444
                                                                (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                                                                                INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                                                                 OF EACH REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------

                             HARRY A. JOHNSON, III
                  EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
                  165 MADISON AVENUE, MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE 38103
                                 (901) 523-4444
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                    OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF EACH REGISTRANT)
                                WITH COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
                    PATRICIA A. CERUZZI                                             LEE MEYERSON
                    SULLIVAN & CROMWELL                                      SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT
         125 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004                425 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                       (212) 558-4000                                              (212) 455-2000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
                            ------------------------
    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box.  [ ]
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933 other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering.  [ ]
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [ ]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==================================================================================================================================
                                                                             PROPOSED            PROPOSED
               TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                   AMOUNT TO BE     MAXIMUM OFFERING    MAXIMUM AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
             SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                 REGISTERED      PRICE PER UNIT(1)   OFFERING PRICE(1)   REGISTRATION FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>                <C>                <C>                  <C>
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of
  First Tennessee National Corporation(2)............       40,000              $25             $1,000,000             $304
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital I,
  First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee Capital
  III, First Tennessee Capital IV....................     $1,000,000            $25             $1,000,000              NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Tennessee National Corporation Guarantee with
  respect to Preferred Securities(3)(4)..............         NA                NA                  NA                  NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total................................................    $1,000,000(5)         100%            $1,000,000(5)           $304
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
(2) The Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures will be purchased by
    First Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee
    Capital III and First Tennessee Capital IV with the proceeds of the sale of
    the Preferred Securities.
(3) No separate consideration will be received for the First Tennessee National
    Corporation Guarantee.
(4) This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures of First Tennessee National Corporation, the
    rights of holders of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of
    First Tennessee National Corporation under the Indenture, the rights of
    holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital I, First
    Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee Capital III, and First Tennessee
    Capital IV under each Trust Agreement, the rights of holders of the
    Preferred Securities under the Guarantees, which, taken together, fully,
    irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee all of the respective obligations
    of First Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee
    Capital III and First Tennessee Capital IV under the Preferred Securities.
(5) Such amount represents the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at their principal amount and the
    issue price rather than the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at an original issue discount. Such
    amount also represents the initial public offering price of the First
    Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee Capital III
    and First Tennessee Capital IV Preferred Securities.

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

    THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
   INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
   REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
   SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
   OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
   BECOMES EFFECTIVE. NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR THE PROSPECTUS TO
   WHICH IT RELATES SHALL CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN
   OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN
   WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO
   REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.

                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 9, 1996
          PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED DECEMBER   , 1996
LOGO 
                              PREFERRED SECURITIES

                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
                  % CUMULATIVE QUARTERLY INCOME PREFERRED SECURITIES,
                              SERIES A (QUIPSSM)*
 
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
         FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
 
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION

                             ---------------------
 
     The      % Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities, Series A (the
"Series A QUIPS"), offered hereby represent beneficial ownership interests in
First Tennessee Capital I, a trust created under the laws of the State of
Delaware (the "Series A Issuer"). First Tennessee National Corporation, a
Tennessee corporation (the "Corporation"), will be the owner of all the
beneficial ownership interests represented by common securities of the Series A
Issuer ("Series A Common Securities" and, collectively with the Series A QUIPS,
the "Series A Securities"). The Bank of New York is the Property
 
                                                        (Continued on next page)
 
                             ---------------------
 
      SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-6 HEREOF FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION
RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SERIES A QUIPS.

                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
             INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION
             OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
 
                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
  AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
   ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO
     WHICH IT RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
     OFFENSE.
 
                             ---------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     PROCEEDS TO
                             INITIAL PUBLIC       UNDERWRITING      THE SERIES A
                             OFFERING PRICE      COMMISSION(1)      ISSUER(2)(3)
                            ----------------    ---------------    --------------
<S>                        <C>                   <C>                 <C>
Per Preferred Security....       $                     (2)              $
Total.....................    $                        (2)            $
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) The Series A Issuer and the Corporation have each agreed to indemnify the
    Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting".
 
(2) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Series A QUIPS will
    be invested in the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation has
    agreed to pay to the Underwriter as compensation for its arranging the
    investment therein of such proceeds $    per Series A QUIPS (or $        in
    the aggregate). See "Underwriting".
 
(3) Expenses of the offering which are payable by the Corporation are estimated
    to be $        .
 
                             ---------------------
 
     The Series A QUIPS offered hereby are offered by the Underwriters, as
specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their
right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is expected that the Series A
QUIPS will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities
of The Depository Trust Company in New York, New York, on or about             ,
1996, against payment therefor in immediately available funds.
 
- ---------------
 
* "QUIPS" is a service mark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

                             ---------------------
 
          The date of this Prospectus Supplement is December   , 1996.
 
<PAGE>   3
 
(cover page continued)
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SERIES A QUIPS
AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH
TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NASDAQ NATIONAL MARKET SYSTEM, IN THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
                            ------------------------
 
Trustee of the Series A Issuer. The Series A Issuer exists for the sole purpose
of issuing the Series A QUIPS and the Series A Common Securities and investing
the proceeds thereof in      % Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures, Series A (the "Series A Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued by
the Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on
               , 2026, which date may be (i) shortened to a date not earlier
than           , 2001 or (ii) extended to a date not later than                ,
2045, in either case if certain conditions are met (including, in the case of a
shortening of the Stated Maturity (as defined herein), the Corporation having
received prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(the "Federal Reserve") to do so if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies). The Series A QUIPS will have a preference under certain
circumstances with respect to cash distributions and amounts payable on
liquidation or redemption over the Series A Common Securities. See "Description
of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
     Holders of the Series A QUIPS will be entitled to receive preferential
cumulative cash distributions accruing from the date of original issuance and
payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year, commencing March 31, 1997, at the annual rate of      %
of the Liquidation Amount (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) of $25 per
Series A QUIPS ("Distributions"). Subject to certain exceptions, as described
herein, the Corporation has the right to defer payment of interest on the Series
A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not
exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each deferral period (each, an
"Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of
any such Extension Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and
unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of        %, compounded
quarterly, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect
to begin a new Extension Period subject to the requirements set forth herein. If
interest payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures are so deferred,
Distributions on the Series A QUIPS will also be deferred and the Corporation
will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein, to
declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to the Corporation's capital
stock or debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. During an Extension Period, interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of Distributions
to which holders of the Series A QUIPS are entitled will accumulate) at the rate
of      % per annum, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment date for
such interest, and holders of Series A QUIPS will be required to accrue interest
income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Terms of
Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount".
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and subordinated to all
Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus). At September
30, 1996, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding was
approximately $160 million. Because the Corporation is a holding company, the
right of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, including First Tennessee Bank National Association, upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior
claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly,
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   4
 
(cover page continued)
 
the Series A Subordinated Debentures (and therefore the Series A QUIPS) will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders thereof should look only to the assets
of the Corporation for payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
     The Corporation has, through the Series A Guarantee, the Trust Agreement,
the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture (each as defined herein),
taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the
Series A Issuer's obligations under the Series A QUIPS. See "Relationship Among
the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and
the Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee" in the accompanying
Prospectus. The Series A Guarantee of the Corporation guarantees the payment of
Distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption of the Series A QUIPS,
but only in each case to the extent of funds held by the Series A Issuer, as
described herein (the "Series A Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees" in
the accompanying Prospectus. If the Corporation does not make interest payments
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by the Series A Issuer, the Series
A Issuer will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Series A
QUIPS. The Series A Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when the
Series A Issuer has insufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event,
a holder of Series A QUIPS may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture to enforce payment of amounts
equal to such Distributions to such holder. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights By Holders of Preferred
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The obligations of the Corporation
under the Series A Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
 
     The Series A QUIPS are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in
part, upon repayment of Series A Subordinated Debentures at maturity or their
earlier redemption. Subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of
the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies, the Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable
prior to maturity at the option of the Corporation (i) on or after
               , 2001, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or
(ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence and
continuation of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each as defined
herein). In any case the redemption price for the Series A QUIPS will be the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Series A QUIPS plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of redemption. See "Certain Terms of Series A
QUIPS -- Redemption" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption".
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer, subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies. See "Certain Terms of Series A QUIPS -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer
and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders". In the event
of the termination of the Series A Issuer, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law, the holders of
the Series A QUIPS will be entitled to receive a Liquidation Amount of $25 per
Series A QUIPS plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of
payment, which may be in the form of a distribution of such amount in Series A
Subordinated Debentures in exchange therefor, subject to certain exceptions. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     Application will be made to have the Series A QUIPS approved for quotation
on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "       ". If Series A
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of Series A QUIPS in
exchange therefor upon the liquidation of the Series A Issuer, the Corporation
will use its best efforts to have the Series A Subordinated Debentures approved
for
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   5
 
(cover page continued)
 
quotation on the NASDAQ National Market or such stock exchanges or other
automated quotation systems, if any, on which the Series A QUIPS are then listed
or traded.
 
     The Series A QUIPS will be represented by global certificates registered in
the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee. Beneficial
interests in the Series A QUIPS will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by participants in DTC. Except as
described in the accompanying Prospectus, Series A QUIPS in certificated form
will not be issued in exchange for the global certificates. See "Certain Terms
of Series A QUIPS -- Registration of Series A QUIPS".
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   6
 
     The information in this Prospectus Supplement supplements, and should be
read in conjunction with, the information contained in the accompanying
Prospectus. As used herein, (i) the "Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, between the
Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), and
(ii) the "Trust Agreement" means the Trust Agreement relating to the Series A
Issuer among the Corporation, as Depositor, The Bank of New York, as Property
Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware
Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the Administrative Trustees named therein
(collectively, with the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the "Issuer
Trustees"). Each of the other capitalized terms used in this Prospectus
Supplement and not otherwise defined in this Prospectus Supplement has the
meaning set forth in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   7
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Prospective purchasers of the Series A QUIPS should carefully review the
information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in the
accompanying Prospectus and should particularly consider the following matters.
In addition, because holders of Series A QUIPS may receive Series A Subordinated
Debentures in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer,
prospective purchasers of Series A QUIPS are also making an investment decision
with regard to the Series A Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review
all the information regarding the Series A Subordinated Debentures contained
herein.
 
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE AND THE SERIES
A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee issued by
the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series A Securities and under
the Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. At September
30, 1996, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation
outstanding was approximately $160 million. Because the Corporation is a holding
company, the right of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of the
assets of any subsidiary, including First Tennessee Bank National Association,
upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to
the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's
subsidiaries, and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures should look only
to the assets of the Corporation for payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. See "First Tennessee National Corporation". None of the Indenture,
the Series A Guarantee or the Trust Agreement places any limitation on the
amount of secured or unsecured debt, including Senior Indebtedness, that may be
incurred by the Corporation. See "Description of Guarantees -- Status of the
Guarantees" and "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     The ability of the Series A Issuer to pay amounts due on the Series A QUIPS
is solely dependent upon the Corporation making payments on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as and when required.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENT; TAX CONSEQUENCES; MARKET PRICE CONSEQUENCES
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred or is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each
Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such
deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Series A QUIPS by the Series A Issuer
will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which holders of the
Series A QUIPS are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at
the rate of      % per annum, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment
date for such Distributions) during any such Extension Period. During any such
Extension Period, the Corporation may not, and may not permit any subsidiary of
the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Corporation (including other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank
pari passu with or junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures or
(iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such
guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in capital
stock of the Corporation, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with
the implementation of a stockhold-
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   8
 
ers' rights plan or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant
thereto, (c) payments under the Series A Guarantee and (d) purchases of common
stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights or options under any of
the Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees or other
persons within the definition of "employee" for purposes of a registration of
shares for an employee benefit plan of the Corporation, related to the issuance
of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan,
or related to the issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for common stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction).
Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Corporation may
further defer the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extension Period
and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest
thereon at the annual rate of   %, compounded quarterly from the interest
payment date for such interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above
requirements. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation
may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain Terms of Series A
QUIPS -- Distributions" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments".
 
     Should an Extension Period occur, a holder of Series A QUIPS will be
required to accrue income (in the form of original issue discount) in respect of
its pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by the Series A
Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, a holder of
Series A QUIPS will be required to include such income in gross income for
United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash
attributable to such income, and will not receive the cash related to such
income from the Series A Issuer if the holder disposes of the Series A QUIPS
prior to the record date for the payment of Distributions. See "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" and
"-- Sales or Redemption of Series A QUIPS".
 
     The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. However, should
the Corporation elect to exercise such right in the future, the market price of
the Series A QUIPS is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes of its
Series A QUIPS during an Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the same
return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its Series A QUIPS.
 
TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT -- REDEMPTION
 
     Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event (whether occurring before or after             , 2001), the Corporation
has the right to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not
in part) within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Series A QUIPS.
The exercise of such right is subject to the Corporation having received prior
approval of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable
capital guidelines or policies.
 
     A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Series A Issuer of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date of issuance of the Series A QUIPS under the Trust Agreement, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Series A Issuer is, or will be within 90
days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax
with respect to income received or accrued on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes or
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   9
 
(iii) the Series A Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of the
opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
other governmental charges.
 
     A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the Series A QUIPS under the Trust
Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will
not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Series
A QUIPS as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the
capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and
applicable to the Corporation.
 
     See "Risk Factors -- Possible Tax Law Changes Affecting the Series A QUIPS"
for a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give
rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to cause a redemption of
the Series A QUIPS prior to             , 2001.
 
EXCHANGE OF SERIES A QUIPS FOR SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A
Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to the holders of the Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor upon
liquidation of the Series A Issuer. The exercise of such right is subject to the
Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies. See "Certain Terms of
Series A QUIPS -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders".
 
     Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations, a
distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures upon a liquidation of the
Series A Issuer should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A QUIPS.
However, if a Tax Event were to occur which would cause the Series A Issuer to
be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received
or accrued on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, a distribution of the Series
A Subordinated Debentures by the Series A Issuer could be a taxable event to the
Series A Issuer and the holders of the Series A QUIPS. See "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Holders of Series A QUIPS".
 
SHORTENING OF STATED MATURITY OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to shorten the maturity of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures to a date not earlier than             ,
2001 and thereby cause the Series A QUIPS to be redeemed on such earlier date.
The exercise of such right is subject to the Corporation having received prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies.
 
EXTENSION OF STATED MATURITY OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corporation will also have the right to extend the maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures, whether or not the Series A Issuer is
liquidated and the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders
of the Series A QUIPS, to a date no later than the 49th anniversary of the
initial issuance of the Series A QUIPS, provided that the Corporation can extend
the maturity only if at the time such election is made and at the time of such
extension (i) the Corporation is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in
liquidation, (ii) the Corporation is not in default in the payment of any
interest or principal on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, (iii) if the
Series A Issuer has not been liquidated, the Series A Issuer is not in arrears
on payments of Distributions on the Series A QUIPS and no deferred Distributions
are accumulated and (iv) the Series A Subordi-
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   10
 
nated Debentures are rated not less than BBB- by Standard & Poor's Ratings
Services or Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or the equivalent by any
other nationally recognized statistical rating organization and (v) after such
extension, the Series A Subordinated Debentures do not have a remaining term to
maturity of more than 30 years. To the extent that the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures is extended at such time as the Series A QUIPS
are outstanding, the Series A QUIPS would remain outstanding until such extended
date or until redeemed at an earlier date.
 
MARKET PRICES
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Series A QUIPS or
Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for Series
A QUIPS upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer. Accordingly, the Series A QUIPS
that an investor may purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in
the secondary market, or the Series A Subordinated Debentures that a holder of
Series A QUIPS may receive on liquidation of the Series A Issuer, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Series A QUIPS
offered hereby. As a result of the existence of the Corporation's right to defer
interest payments, the market price of the Series A QUIPS (which represent
beneficial ownership interests in the Series A Issuer) may be more volatile than
the market prices of other debt securities that are not subject to such optional
deferrals. In addition, because the Corporation has the right (i) to shorten the
Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures (subject to prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies) or (ii) to extend the maturity of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures (subject to the conditions described above), there can
be no assurance that the Corporation will not exercise its option to change the
maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures as permitted by the terms
thereof and of the Indenture. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures" and "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
RIGHTS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE
 
     The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Securities
the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A Issuer: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Series A
Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price with respect to any Series A
Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has
funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer
(unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Series A Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount
and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the
extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such
time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available
for distribution to holders of the Series A Securities after payment of
creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law. The Series A
Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The Bank of New York will act as
the indenture trustee under the Series A Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for
the purpose of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and will hold the Series
A Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The Bank
of New York will also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and as Property Trustee and The Bank of New York (Delaware) will act
as Delaware Trustee under the Trust Agreement.
 
     The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Series A Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee.
 
                                       S-9
<PAGE>   11
 
Any holder of the Series A Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A Issuer, the
Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation were to
default on its obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of
Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Series A Securities or
otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the Series A Securities would not be
able to rely upon the Series A Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead,
if an event of default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing
and such event is attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest
on or principal of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the applicable
payment date, then a holder of Series A Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or
interest on such Series A Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Securities of such
holder (a "Direct Action"). In connection with such Direct Action, the
Corporation will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the extent of
any payment made by the Corporation to such holder of Series A Securities in the
Direct Action. Except as described herein, holders of Series A Securities will
not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in
respect of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred
Securities," "-- Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantees" in
the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of
Series A Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Series
A Guarantee and the Indenture.
 
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Holders of Series A QUIPS generally will have limited voting rights
relating only to the modification of the Series A QUIPS and the exercise of the
Series A Issuer's rights as holder of Series A Subordinated Debentures and the
Series A Guarantee. Holders of Series A QUIPS will not be entitled to vote to
appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee, and such voting rights are vested exclusively in the
holder of the Series A Common Securities except, with respect to the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, upon the occurrence of certain events
described in the accompanying Prospectus. The Property Trustee, the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation may amend the Trust Agreement
without the consent of holders of Series A QUIPS to ensure that the Series A
Issuer will not be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as
an association taxable as a corporation or will be classified as a grantor trust
unless such action materially and adversely affects the interests of such
holders. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of
Each Trust Agreement" and "-- Removal of Issuer Trustees" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF SERIES A QUIPS
 
     Application will be made to have the Series A QUIPS approved for quotation
on the NASDAQ National Market. The Series A QUIPS may trade at prices that do
not fully reflect the value of accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the
underlying Series A Subordinated Debenture. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sales or
Redemption of Series A QUIPS" for a discussion of the United States federal
income tax consequences that may result from a taxable disposition of the Series
A QUIPS.
 
     As indicated above, application will be made to have the Series A QUIPS
approved for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market. If the Series A QUIPS are
not listed on the NASDAQ National Market or a national securities exchange and
the underwriters do not make a market for the securities, the liquidity of the
Series A QUIPS could be adversely affected.
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>   12
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE SERIES A QUIPS
 
     On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill") was
released which would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions for
interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum weighted
average maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill would also generally deny
interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that
has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness
on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued
to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other
related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on
the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of determining the
weighted average maturity or the term of an instrument, any right to extend
would be treated as exercised. The above-described provisions of the Bill were
proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December
7, 1995. If either provision were to apply to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, the Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate
Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement (the "Joint
Statement") to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of
the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, would be no earlier than the
date of appropriate Congressional action. If the principles contained in the
Joint Statement were followed and the Bill were enacted, such legislation would
not apply to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Although the 104th Congress
adjourned without enacting the Bill there can be no assurance, however, that
future legislative proposals or final legislation will not adversely affect the
ability of the Corporation to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures or otherwise affect the tax treatment of the transaction described
herein. Such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the
Corporation, upon approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies, to cause a redemption of the Series A
QUIPS before           , 2001. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption" in this Prospectus Supplement and "Description of
Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange -- Tax Event Redemption" in the
accompanying Prospectus. See also "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes".
 
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
 
     First Tennessee Capital I (the "Series A Issuer") is a statutory business
trust created under Delaware law pursuant to (i) the Trust Agreement executed by
the Corporation, as Depositor, The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee, The
Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative
Trustees named therein, and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the
Delaware Secretary of State on December 6, 1996. The Series A Issuer's business
and affairs are conducted by the Issuer Trustees: The Bank of New York, as
Property Trustee, and The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and
two individual Administrative Trustees who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Corporation. The Series A Issuer exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Series A QUIPS and Series A Common
Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of Series A QUIPS and Series A
Common Securities to acquire Series A Subordinated Debentures issued by the
Corporation and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary or
incidental thereto (such as registering the transfer of the Series A
Securities). Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be the sole
assets of the Series A Issuer, and payments under the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be the sole revenue of the Series A Issuer. All of the Series A
Common Securities will be owned by the Corporation. The Series A Common
Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata,
with the Series A QUIPS, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an
event of default under the Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default
under the Indenture, the rights of the Corporation as holder of the Series A
Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Series A QUIPS. See "Description of Preferred
Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities"
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>   13
 
in the accompanying Prospectus. The Corporation will acquire Series A Common
Securities in an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to 3% of the total capital
of the Series A Issuer. The Series A Issuer has a term of 55 years, but may
terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive
office of the Series A Issuer is 165 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103,
Attention: Treasurer, and its telephone number is (901) 523-5630. See "The
Issuers" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
 
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
 
     The Corporation is a Tennessee corporation incorporated in 1968 and
registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended (the "BHCA"). Through First Tennessee Bank National Association (the
"Bank") and its other subsidiaries, the Corporation provides a broad range of
financial services. At September 30, 1996, the Corporation had consolidated
total assets of approximately $12.8 billion and consolidated total deposits of
approximately $9.1 billion. As of September 30, 1996, the Corporation was one of
the 50 largest bank holding companies in the United States in asset size and
market capitalization.
 
     The Corporation's principal subsidiary is the Bank, which as of September
30, 1996 was the largest commercial bank headquartered in Tennessee both in
terms of total assets and deposits. At September 30, 1996, the Bank had total
assets of approximately $11.8 billion and total deposits of approximately $8.3
billion. The Corporation through its banking subsidiaries conducts a broad range
of retail and commercial banking and fiduciary services and had 241 banking
locations in Tennessee and 10 locations in northern Mississippi and 8 in
northwest Arkansas at September 30, 1996. The Corporation provides mortgage
banking services in 28 states. Through the Bank and its other subsidiaries, the
Corporation offers a comprehensive range of financial services, including
general banking services, mortgage banking, bond broker/agency services, credit
card products, merchant credit card processing, nation-wide check clearing,
integrated check processing solutions, trust services, brokerage, venture
capital, and credit life insurance. Bond broker/agency services provided by the
Bank consist primarily of the sale and underwriting of bank-eligible securities
and mortgage loans and providing advisory services to other financial
institutions.
 
     The Corporation coordinates the financial resources of the consolidated
enterprise and maintains systems of financial, operational and administrative
control that allow coordination of selected policies and activities. The
Corporation's principal executive offices are located at 165 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103, telephone: (901) 523-4444.
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>   14
 
         CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED
            FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
 
     For purposes of the following ratios, (i) earnings represent income from
continuing operations before income taxes, plus fixed charges, (ii) fixed
charges represent interest expense (excluding interest on deposits where
indicated) plus the estimated interest component of net rental expense and (iii)
combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements represent
interest expense (excluding interest on deposits where indicated), and an amount
equal to the pre-tax earnings required to meet applicable preferred stock
dividend requirements and the estimated interest component of net rental
expense. There were no shares of preferred stock outstanding during any of the
periods below indicated and therefore the ratio of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividend requirements would have been the same as
the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each period indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  NINE MONTHS
                                     ENDED
                                 SEPTEMBER 30,                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                 --------------      -------------------------------------------------
                                      1996           1995       1994       1993       1992       1991
                                 --------------      -----      -----      -----      -----      -----
<S>                              <C>                 <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
  Including Interest on
     Deposits..................       1.59x          1.59x      1.68x      1.63x      1.50x      1.26x
  Excluding Interest on
     Deposits..................       3.01x          2.99x      3.39x      3.40x      4.11x      2.81x
</TABLE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its Junior
Subordinated Debentures (including Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
issued to the Issuers in connection with the investment by the Issuers of all of
the proceeds from the sale of Trust Securities) for general corporate purposes,
including, but not limited to, stock repurchases, the reduction of indebtedness,
investments in or extensions of credit to existing and future subsidiaries and
the financing of acquisitions or such other uses as may be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Corporation is required by the Federal Reserve to maintain certain
levels of capital for bank regulatory purposes. On October 21, 1996, the Federal
Reserve announced that cumulative preferred securities having the
characteristics of the Series A QUIPS could be included as Tier 1 capital for
bank holding companies. Such Tier 1 capital treatment, together with the
Corporation's ability to deduct, for federal income tax purposes, interest
payable on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, will provide the Corporation
with a more cost-effective means of obtaining capital for bank regulatory
purposes than if the Corporation were to issue preferred stock.
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>   15
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and as adjusted to
give effect to the consummation of the offering of the Series A QUIPS. The
following data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto of the Corporation and its subsidiaries
incorporated herein by reference.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                          ----------------------------
                                                                                AS
                                                            ACTUAL           ADJUSTED
                                                          ----------        ----------
        <S>                                               <C>               <C>
                                                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
        Total long-term debt...........................   $  255,998        $
                                                          ----------        ----------
        Corporation Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
          Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trust
          Holding Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable
          Interest Debentures of the Corporation(a)....           --
                                                          ----------        ----------
        Stockholders' Equity
             Preferred Stock...........................           --
             Common Stock..............................       83,929
             Capital Surplus...........................       60,802
             Retained Earnings.........................      786,069
             Net Unrealized Loss on Securities
               Available for Sale Net of Taxes.........       (5,764)
                                                          ----------        ----------
                  Total Stockholders' Equity...........   $  925,036        $
                                                          ----------        ----------
        Total Capitalization...........................   $1,181,034        $
                                                          ==========        ==========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
     (a) As described herein, the sole assets of the Series A Issuer will be
approximately $          principal amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Corporation to the Series A Issuer. The Series A Subordinated
Debentures will bear interest at the rate of   % per annum, will mature on
            , 2026, which date may be shortened to a date not earlier than
               , 2001 or extended to a date not later than             , 2045,
in either case if certain conditions are met. The Corporation owns all of the
Series A Common Securities of the Series A Issuer.
 
     It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>   16
 
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
     For financial reporting purposes, the Series A Issuer will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Corporation and, accordingly, the accounts of the Series A
Issuer will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the
Corporation. The Series A QUIPS will be presented as a separate line item in the
consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation under the caption "Corporation
Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Capital Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding
Solely Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Corporation"
and appropriate disclosures about the Series A QUIPS, the Series A Guarantee and
the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the
consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the
Corporation will record Distributions payable on the Series A QUIPS as an
expense in the consolidated statements of income.
 
     The Corporation has agreed that future financial reports of the Corporation
will: (i) present the Preferred Securities issued by other Issuer trusts on the
Corporation's balance sheet as a separate line term entitled "Guaranteed
Preferred Beneficial Interests in Corporation's Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures"; (ii) include in a footnote to the financial statements
disclosure that the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (specifying as to each trust the principal amount, interest rate and
maturity date of Junior Subordinated Debentures held); and (iii) if Staff
Accounting Bulletin 53 treatment is sought, then include, in an audited footnote
to the financial statements, disclosure that (a) the trusts are wholly owned,
(b) the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(specifying as to each trust the principal amount, interest rate and maturity
date of the Junior Subordinated Debentures held), and (c) the obligations of the
Corporation under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the
relevant trust agreement and the Guarantees, in the aggregate, constitute a full
and unconditional guarantee by the Corporation of the trusts' obligations under
the Preferred Securities issued by each trust.
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>   17
 
                        CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A QUIPS
 
GENERAL
 
     The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A QUIPS
supplements the description of the terms and provisions of the Preferred
Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the heading
"Description of Preferred Securities," to which description reference is hereby
made. This summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A QUIPS, which
describes the material provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and
is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust
Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. The form of the Trust Agreement
has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus Supplement and accompanying Prospectus form a part.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     The Series A QUIPS represent beneficial ownership interests in the Series A
Issuer, and Distributions on each Series A QUIPS will be payable at the annual
rate of   % of the stated Liquidation Amount of $25, payable quarterly in
arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, to the
holders of the Series A QUIPS on the relevant record dates. The record dates for
the Series A QUIPS will be, for so long as the Series A QUIPS remain in
book-entry form, one Business Day (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus)
prior to the relevant Distribution payment date and, in the event the Series A
QUIPS are not in book-entry form, the 15th day of the month in which the
relevant Distribution payment date occurs. Distributions will accumulate from
the date of original issuance. The first Distribution payment date for the
Series A QUIPS will be March 31, 1997. The amount of Distributions payable for
any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which Distributions are payable on the
Series A QUIPS is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distributions payable
on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and
without any additional Distributions or other payment in respect of any such
delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar
year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in
each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was
originally payable. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Distributions"
in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each
Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such
deferral of interest payments by the Corporation, quarterly Distributions on the
Series A QUIPS by the Series A Issuer will also be deferred during any such
Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the Series A QUIPS are
entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the rate per annum
of   % thereof, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment date for such
Distributions. The term "Distributions" as used herein shall include any such
additional Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may
not, and may not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay
any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock,
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation (including other
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in
interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the Corporation of the debt securities
of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or
junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implemen-
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>   18
 
tation of a stockholders' rights plan or the redemption or repurchase of any
such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Series A Guarantee and (d)
purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights or
options under any of the Corporation's benefit plans for its directors,
officers, employees or other persons within the definition of "employee" for
purposes of a registration of shares for an employee benefit plan of the
Corporation, related to the issuance of common stock or rights under a dividend
reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or related to the issuance of common stock
(or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock) as
consideration in an acquisition transaction). Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of   %, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may
elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount".
 
     The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier redemption
as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption
shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined in
the accompanying Prospectus) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days notice prior to the date fixed for repayment or redemption, at
a redemption price, with respect to the Series A QUIPS (the "Redemption Price"),
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Series A QUIPS plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date"). See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or
Exchange" in the accompanying Prospectus. For a description of the Stated
Maturity and redemption provisions of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, see
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- General" and
" -- Redemption".
 
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES A ISSUER AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer. Such right is subject to the Corporation having received prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies.
 
     Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations, a
distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange for the Series A
QUIPS should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A QUIPS. Should
there be a change in law, a change in legal interpretation, a Tax Event or other
circumstances, however, the distribution could be a taxable event to holders of
the Series A QUIPS. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution
of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A QUIPS". If the
Corporation elects neither to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures prior
to maturity nor to liquidate the Series A Issuer and distribute the Series A
Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor,
the Series A QUIPS will remain outstanding until the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures.
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>   19
 
     If the Corporation elects to liquidate the Series A Issuer and thereby
causes the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the
Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer, the
Corporation shall continue to have the right to shorten or extend the maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain conditions as
described under "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- General".
 
LIQUIDATION VALUE
 
     The amount payable on the Series A QUIPS in the event of any liquidation of
the Series A Issuer is $25 per Series A QUIPS plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions, which amount may be paid in the form of a distribution of a like
amount in Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain exceptions. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A QUIPS
 
     The Series A QUIPS will be represented by global certificates registered in
the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Series A QUIPS will
be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by participants in DTC. Except as described below and in the
accompanying Prospectus, Series A QUIPS in certificated form will not be issued
in exchange for the global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
     A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A QUIPS registered in
the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if (i) DTC notifies the
Series A Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for
such global security and no successor depositary shall have been appointed, or
if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered as such under the
Exchange Act at a time when DTC is required to be so registered to act as such
depositary, (ii) the Issuer in its sole discretion determines that such global
security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred and be
continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. Any global security that is exchangeable pursuant to
the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for definitive certificates
registered in such names as DTC shall direct. It is expected that such
instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC from its Participants
(as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) with respect to ownership of
beneficial interests in such global security. In the event that Series A QUIPS
are issued in definitive form, such Series A QUIPS will be in denominations of
$25 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the
offices described below.
 
     Payments on Series A QUIPS represented by a global security will be made to
DTC, as the depositary for the Series A QUIPS. In the event Series A QUIPS are
issued in certificated form, the Liquidation Amount and Distributions will be
payable, the transfer of the Series A QUIPS will be registrable, and Series A
QUIPS will be exchangeable for Series A QUIPS of other denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount, at the corporate office of the Property Trustee in
New York, New York, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent
appointed by the Administrative Trustees, provided that payment of any
Distribution may be made at the option of the Administrative Trustees by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto, by wire transfer or by
direct deposit. In addition, if the Series A QUIPS are issued in certificated
form, the record dates for payment of Distributions will be the 15th day of the
month in which the relevant Distribution payment is scheduled to be paid. For a
description of DTC and the terms of the depositary arrangements relating to
payments, transfers, voting rights, redemptions and other notices and other
matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>   20
 
               CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
GENERAL
 
     The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures supplements the description of the terms and provisions
of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined in the
accompanying Prospectus) set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
heading "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures" to which description
reference is hereby made. The summary of certain terms and provisions of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures set forth below, which describes the material
provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture, to which reference is
hereby made. The form of Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying
Prospectus form a part.
 
     Concurrently with the issuance of the Series A QUIPS, the Series A Issuer
will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Series A Common Securities, in the Series A Subordinated
Debentures issued by the Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will
bear interest at the annual rate of   % of the principal amount thereof, payable
quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing March 31, 1997, to the
person in whose name each Series A Subordinated Debenture is registered, subject
to certain exceptions, at the close of business on the Business Day next
preceding such Interest Payment Date. It is anticipated that, until the
liquidation, if any, of the Series A Issuer, each Series A Subordinated
Debenture will be held in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The amount of interest payable
for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business
Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay),
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was
originally payable. Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable Interest
Payment Date will bear additional interest on the amount thereof (to the extent
permitted by law) at the rate per annum of   % thereof, compounded quarterly
from the relevant Interest Payment Date. The term "interest" as used herein
shall include quarterly interest payments, interest on quarterly interest
payments not paid on the applicable Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums
(as defined below), as applicable.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be issued as a series of junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures under the Indenture.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on               , 2026
(such date, as it may be shortened or extended as hereinafter described, the
"Stated Maturity"). Such date may be shortened at any time by the Corporation to
any date not earlier than             , 2001, subject to the Corporation having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable
capital guidelines or policies. Such date may also be extended at any time at
the election of the Corporation to any date not later than             , 2045,
provided that at the time such election is made and at the time of extension (i)
the Corporation is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation,
(ii) the Corporation is not in default in the payment of any interest or
principal on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, (iii) if the Series A Issuer
has not been liquidated, the Series A Issuer is not in arrears on payments of
Distributions on the Series A QUIPS and no deferred Distributions are
accumulated, (iv) the Series A Subordinated Debentures are rated not less than
BBB- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or Baa3 by Moody's Investors Service,
Inc. or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized statistical rating
organization and (v) after such extension, the Series A Subordinated Debentures
do not have a remaining period to maturity of more than 30 years. In the event
that the Corporation elects to shorten or extend the
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>   21
 
maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, it shall give notice to the
Debenture Trustee, and the Debenture Trustee shall give notice of such
shortening or extension to the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures
no more than 30 and no less than 60 days prior to the effectiveness thereof.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the
Corporation. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus. At September 30,
1996, the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding was approximately
$160 million. Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary,
including the Bank, upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor
of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures
should look only to the assets of the Corporation for payments on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance
of other secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation, including Senior
Indebtedness, whether under the Indenture, any existing indenture or any other
indenture that the Corporation may enter into in the future or otherwise. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture at any time or
from time to time during the term of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to
defer payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures for a period
not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each Extension Period,
provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. At the end of such Extension Period, the
Corporation must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures (together with interest on such unpaid interest at the
annual rate of   %, compounded quarterly from the relevant Interest Payment
Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension Period,
interest will accrue and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures (or holders
of Series A QUIPS while such series is outstanding) will be required to accrue
interest income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount".
 
     During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not, and may not
permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock, (ii) make any payment
of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Corporation (including other series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the
Series A Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with
respect to any guarantee by the Corporation of the debt securities of any
subsidiary of the Corporation if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan,
or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Series A Guarantee, and (d) purchases of common stock related
to the issuance of common stock or rights or options under any of the
Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees or other
persons within the definition of "employee" for purposes of a registration of
shares for an employee benefit plan of the Corporation, related to the issuance
of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan,
or related to the issuance of Common Stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for common stock) as
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>   22
 
consideration in an acquisition transaction. Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of      %, compounded quarterly, to the extent
permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable
during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The Corporation must give
the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee
notice of its election to begin such Extension Period at least one Business Day
prior to the earlier of (i) the date interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin such
Extension Period, (ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are required to give
notice to the NASDAQ National Market or other applicable stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Series A QUIPS are then listed or quoted
or to holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures of the record date or (iii)
the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one
Business Day prior to such record date. The Debenture Trustee shall give notice
of the Corporation's election to begin a new Extension Period to the holders of
the Series A Subordinated Debentures. There is no limitation on the number of
times that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
ADDITIONAL SUMS
 
     If the Series A Issuer is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or
other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Corporation will pay
as additional amounts on the Series A Subordinated Debentures such amounts as
shall be required so that the Distributions payable by the Series A Issuer shall
not be reduced as a result of any such additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the option
of the Corporation (i) on or after               , 2001, in whole at any time or
in part from time to time or (ii) at any time in whole (but not in part) within
90 days following the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event, in either case at a redemption price equal to the accrued and
unpaid interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date
fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     As described under "Certain Terms of Series A QUIPS -- Liquidation of
Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Holders," under certain circumstances involving the termination of the Series A
Issuer, Series A Subordinated Debentures may be distributed to the holders of
the Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as
provided by applicable law. If distributed to holders of Series A QUIPS, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or
more global securities and DTC, or any successor depositary for the Series A
QUIPS, will act as depositary for the Series A Subordinated Debentures. It is
anticipated that the depositary arrangements for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would be substantially identical to those in effect for the Series A
QUIPS. If Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of
Series A QUIPS in exchange therefor upon the liquidation of the Series
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>   23
 
A Issuer, the Corporation will use its best efforts to have the Series A
Subordinated Debentures approved for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market or
such stock exchanges or other automated quotation system, if any, on which the
Series A QUIPS are then listed or quoted. There can be no assurance as to the
market price of any Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to
the holders of Series A QUIPS.
 
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be represented by global
certificates registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests
in the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be shown on, and transfers thereof
will be effected only through, records maintained by participants in DTC. Except
as described below and in the accompanying Prospectus, Series A Subordinated
Debentures in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the global
certificates. See "Book-
Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A Subordinated
Debentures registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only
if (i) DTC notifies the Corporation that it is unwilling or unable to continue
as a depositary for such global security and no successor depositary shall have
been appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered
as such under the Exchange Act at a time when DTC is required to be so
registered to act as such depositary, (ii) the Corporation in its sole
discretion determines that such global security shall be so exchangeable or
(iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under the
Indenture with respect to the Series A Subordinated Debenture. Any global
security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be
exchangeable for definitive certificates registered in such names as DTC shall
direct. It is expected that such instructions will be based upon directions
received by DTC from its Participants (as defined in the accompanying
Prospectus) with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such global
security. In the event that Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued in
definitive form, such Series A Subordinated Debentures will be in denominations
of $25 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the
offices described below.
 
     Payments on Series A Subordinated Debentures represented by a global
security will be made to DTC, as the depositary for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. In the event Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued in
certificated form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will be registrable, and Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be exchangeable for Series A Subordinated Debentures of other
denominations of a like aggregate principal amount, at the corporate office of
the Debenture Trustee in New York, New York, or at the offices of any paying
agent or transfer agent appointed by the Corporation, provided that payment of
interest may be made at the option of the Corporation by check mailed to the
address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In addition, if the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are issued in certificated form, the record
dates for payment of interest will be the 15th day of the last month of each
calendar quarter. For a description of DTC and the terms of the depositary
arrangements relating to payments, transfers, voting rights, redemptions and
other notices and other matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
                                      S-22
<PAGE>   24
 
                      CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A GUARANTEE
 
     The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Securities
the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A Issuer: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Series A
Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price with respect to any Series A
Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has
funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer
(unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Series A Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount
and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the
extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such
time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available
for distribution to holders of the Series A Securities after payment of
creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law. The Series A
Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
Bank of New York will act as the Guarantee Trustee for the purposes of
compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and will hold the Series A Guarantee for
the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The Bank of New York will
also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated Debentures and as
Property Trustee.
 
     The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of
the Series A Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee. Any holder of
the Series A Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation were to default on its
obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the Series A Securities or otherwise, and, in such
event, holders of the Series A Securities would not be able to rely upon the
Series A Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead, if an event of default
under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest on or principal
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the applicable payment date, then a
holder of Series A Securities may institute a Direct Action against the
Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest on such Series A Subordinated
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount
of the Series A Securities of such holder. In connection with such Direct
Action, the Corporation will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the
extent of any payment made by the Corporation to such holder of Series A
Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein, holders of Series A
Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to
the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other
rights in respect of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of
Guarantees" in the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement provides that
each holder of Series A Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the
provisions of the Series A Guarantee and the Indenture.
 
                                      S-23
<PAGE>   25
 
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
     The following is a summary of the principal United States federal income
tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A QUIPS.
This summary only addresses the tax consequences to a person that acquires
Series A QUIPS on their original issue at their original offering price and that
is (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation or partnership organized in or under the laws of the United States
or any state thereof or the District of Columbia or (iii) an estate or trust the
income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of
source (a "United States Person"). This summary does not address all tax
consequences that may be applicable to a United States Person that is a
beneficial owner of Series A QUIPS, nor does it address the tax consequences to
(i) persons that are not United States Persons, (ii) persons that may be subject
to special treatment under United States federal income tax law, such as banks,
insurance companies, thrift institutions, regulated investment companies, real
estate investment trusts, tax-exempt organizations and dealers in securities or
currencies, (iii) persons that will hold Series A QUIPS as part of a position in
a "straddle" or as part of a "hedging," "conversion" or other integrated
investment transaction for federal income tax purposes, (iv) persons whose
functional currency is not the United States dollar or (v) persons that do not
hold Series A QUIPS as capital assets.
 
     The statements of law or legal conclusion set forth in this summary
constitute the opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell, special tax counsel to the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer. This summary is based upon the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury Regulations, Internal
Revenue Service rulings and pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect,
all of which are subject to change at any time. Such changes may be applied
retroactively in a manner that could cause the tax consequences to vary
substantially from the consequences described below, possible adversely
affecting a beneficial owner of Series A QUIPS. In particular, legislation has
been proposed that could adversely affect the Corporation's ability to deduct
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, which may in turn permit the
Corporation to cause a redemption of the Series A QUIPS. See "-- Possible Tax
Law Changes". The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to
various interpretations, and it is therefore possible that the federal income
tax treatment of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A QUIPS may
differ from the treatment described below.
 
     PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS ARE ADVISED TO CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS IN
LIGHT OF THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AS TO THE FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF SERIES A QUIPS, AS WELL AS THE
EFFECT OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SERIES A ISSUER
 
     Under current law and assuming compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement, and certain similar factual matters, the Series A Issuer will not be
classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes. As a result, each beneficial owner of Series A QUIPS (a
"Securityholder") will be required to include in its gross income its pro rata
share of the interest income, including original issue discount, paid or accrued
with respect to the Series A Subordinated Debentures whether or not cash is
actually distributed to the Securityholders. See "Interest Income and Original
Issue Discount".
 
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
 
     Under recently issued Treasury regulations applicable to debt instruments
issued on or after August 13, 1996 (the "Regulations"), a "remote" contingency
that stated interest will not be timely paid will be ignored in determining
whether a debt instrument is issued with original issue discount ("OID"). The
Corporation believes that the likelihood of its exercising its option to defer
payments is remote. Based on the foregoing, the Corporation believes that the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will not be considered to be issued with OID at
the time of their original issuance and,
 
                                      S-24
<PAGE>   26
 
accordingly, a Securityholder should include in gross income such
Securityholder's allocable share of interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. The following discussion assumes that unless and until the
Corporation exercises its options to defer interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will not be considered as
issued with OID.
 
     Under the Regulations, if the Corporation exercised its option to defer any
payment of interest, the Series A Subordinated Debentures would at that time be
treated as issued with OID, and all stated interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID as long as the Series A
Subordinated Debentures remained outstanding. In such event, all of a holder's
taxable interest income with respect to the Series A Subordinated Debentures
would be accounted for as OID on an economic accrual basis regardless of such
Securityholder's method of tax accounting, and actual distributions of stated
interest would not be reported as taxable income. Consequently, a Securityholder
would be required to include in gross income OID even though the Corporation
would not make any actual cash payments during an Extension Period.
 
     The Regulations have not been addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"), and it is possible
that the IRS could take a position contrary to the interpretation herein.
 
     Because income on the Series A QUIPS will constitute interest or OID,
corporate Securityholders will not be entitled to a dividends-received deduction
with respect to any income recognized with respect to the Series A QUIPS.
 
     Subsequent uses of the term "interest" in this summary include income in
the form of OID.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF SERIES A QUIPS
 
     Under current law, a distribution by the Series A Issuer of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption 'Certain Terms of Series
A QUIPS -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders" will be non-taxable and will result in the
Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through the Series A Issuer,
with a holding period and aggregate tax basis equal to the holding period and
aggregate tax basis such Securityholder had in its Series A QUIPS before such
distribution. If, however, the liquidation of the Series A Issuer were to occur
because the Series A Issuer is subject to United States federal income tax with
respect to income accrued or received on the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Securityholders by the
Series A Issuer would be a taxable event to the Series A Issuer and each
Securityholder, and the Securityholder would recognize gain or loss as if the
Securityholder had exchanged its Series A QUIPS for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures it received upon the liquidation of the Series A Issuer. A
Securityholder will include interest in income in respect of Series A
Subordinated Debentures received from the Series A Issuer in the manner
described above under "Interest Income and Original Issue Discount".
 
SALES OR REDEMPTION OF SERIES A PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     A Securityholder that sells (including a redemption for cash) Series A
QUIPS will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between its adjusted
tax basis in the Series A QUIPS and the amount realized on the sale of such
Series A QUIPS. Assuming that the Corporation does not exercise its option to
defer payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, and the
Series A QUIPS are not considered issued with OID, a Securityholder's adjusted
tax basis in the Series A QUIPS generally will be its initial purchase price. If
the Series A Subordinated Debentures are deemed to be issued with OID as a
result of the Corporation's deferral of any interest payment, a Securityholder's
tax basis in the Series A QUIPS generally will be its initial purchase price,
increased by OID previously includible in such Securityholder's gross income to
the date of disposition and decreased by distributions or other payments
received on the Series A QUIPS since and including
 
                                      S-25
<PAGE>   27
 
the date of the first Extension Period. Such gain or loss generally will be a
capital gain or loss (except to the extent any amount realized is treated as a
payment of accrued interest with respect to such holder's pro rata share of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures required to be included in income) and
generally will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the Series A QUIPS have
been held for more than one year.
 
     Should the Corporation exercise its option to defer any payment of interest
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A QUIPS may trade at a price
that does not accurately reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with
respect to the underlying Series A Subordinated Debentures. In the event of such
a deferral, a Securityholder who disposes of its Series A QUIPS between record
dates for payments of distribution thereon will be required to include in income
as ordinary income accrued but unpaid interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures to the date of disposition as OID and to add such amount to its
adjusted tax basis in its pro rata share of the underlying Series A Subordinated
Debentures deemed disposed of. To the extent the selling price is less than the
holder's adjusted tax basis, such Securityholder will recognize a capital loss.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to
offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
     The amount of interest income paid or accrued on the Series A QUIPS held of
record by United States Persons (other than corporations and other exempt
Securityholders) will be reported to the IRS. "Backup" withholding at a rate of
31% will apply to payments of interest to non-exempt United States Persons
unless the Securityholder furnishes its taxpayer identification number in the
manner prescribed in applicable Treasury Regulations, certifies that such number
is correct, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and
meets certain other conditions.
 
     Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Series A QUIPS to or
through the United States office of a broker is subject to information reporting
and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner establishes an
exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
 
     Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Securityholder's
United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS.
 
     It is anticipated that income on the Series A QUIPS will be reported to
holders on Form 1099 and mailed to holders of the Series A QUIPS by January 31
following each calendar year.
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
 
     On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill") was
released which would, among other things, generally deny interest deductions for
interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum weighted
average maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill would also generally deny
interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that
has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness
on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued
to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other
related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on
the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of determining the
weighted average maturity or the term of an instrument, any right to extend
would be treated as exercised. The above-described provisions of the Bill were
proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December
7, 1995. If either provision were to apply to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, the Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairman of the Senate
Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement (the "Joint
Statement") to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of
the President's legislative proposals, if adopted,
 
                                      S-26
<PAGE>   28
 
would be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. If the
principles contained in the Joint Statement were followed and the Bill were
enacted, such legislation would not apply to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. Although the 104th Congress adjourned without enacting the Bill
there can be no assurance, however, that future legislative proposals or final
legislation will not adversely affect the ability of the Corporation to deduct
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures or otherwise affect the tax
treatment of the transaction described herein. Such a change could give rise to
a Tax Event, which would permit the Corporation, upon approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, to
cause a redemption of the Series A QUIPS before                , 2001. See
"Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption" in this
Prospectus Supplement and "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or
Exchange -- Tax Event Redemption" in the accompanying Prospectus. See also
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes".
 
                                      S-27
<PAGE>   29
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting
Agreement, the Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that the Series A
Issuer will sell to Goldman, Sachs & Co. (the "Underwriters"), and the
Underwriters have agreed to purchase from the Series A Issuer, the number of
Series A QUIPS set forth opposite their name below. In the Underwriting
Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth therein, to purchase all the Series A QUIPS offered hereby if any of the
Series A QUIPS are purchased. In the event of a default by an Underwriter, the
Underwriting Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances, the purchase
commitments of the nondefaulting Underwriters may be increased or the
Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           NUMBER OF
                                                                           SERIES A
                                 UNDERWRITERS                                QUIPS
        ---------------------------------------------------------------    ---------
        <S>                                                                <C>
        Goldman, Sachs & Co. ..........................................
                                                                           ---------
                  Total................................................
                                                                           =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriters propose initially to offer the Series A QUIPS to the
public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not
in excess of $.     per Series A QUIPS. The Underwriters may allow, and such
dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $.     per Series A QUIPS to
certain other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public offering
price, concession and discount may be changed.
 
     In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Series A QUIPS
will be used to purchase the Series A Subordinated Debentures issued by the
Corporation, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation will pay
as Underwriters' compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the investment
therein of such proceeds an amount of $.     per Series A QUIPS for the accounts
of the Underwriters.
 
     The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that, during the period
beginning from the date of the Underwriting Agreement and continuing to and
including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions on the
Series A QUIPS, as determined by the Underwriters, and (ii)   days after the
closing date, they will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of any Preferred Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of the
Series A Issuer, or any preferred securities or any other securities of the
Series A Issuer or the Corporation which are substantially similar to the Series
A QUIPS, including any guarantee of such securities, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the right to receive
preferred securities or any such substantially similar securities of either the
Series A Issuer or the Corporation, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters, except for the Series A QUIPS offered in connection with this
offering.
 
     Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Series A
QUIPS. Application will be made to have the Series A QUIPS listed on the Nasdaq
National Market. Trading of the Series A QUIPS on the Nasdaq National Market is
expected to commence within a 30-day period after the initial delivery of the
Series A QUIPS. The Underwriters have advised the Corporation that they intend
to make a market in the Series A QUIPS prior to commencement of trading on the
Nasdaq National Market, but they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue
market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of the trading market for the Series A QUIPS.
 
     The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
     Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have provided from time to
time, and expect to provide in the future, investment or commercial banking
services to the Corporation and its affiliates, for which the Underwriters or
their affiliates have received or will receive customary fees and commissions.
 
                                      S-28
<PAGE>   30
 
                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
 
     Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Series A
QUIPS, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation of the Series
A Issuer will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware
counsel to the Corporation and the Series A Issuer. The validity of the Series A
Guarantee and the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for the
Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York and for the Underwriter
by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes professional
corporations), New York, New York. Certain other matters will be passed upon for
the Corporation by Harry A. Johnson, III, Esq., Executive Vice President and
General Counsel of the Corporation. Sullivan & Cromwell and Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett will rely on the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to matters of
Delaware law and on the opinion of Mr. Johnson as to matters of Tennessee Law.
Certain matters relating to United States federal income tax considerations
described in this Prospectus Supplement will be passed upon for the Corporation
by Sullivan & Cromwell. At December 2, 1996, Mr. Johnson beneficially owned
approximately           shares of the Corporation's common stock.
 
                                      S-29
<PAGE>   31
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 6, 1996

                                   $1,000,000
 
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
                         JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE
                              INTEREST DEBENTURES
 
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL II
                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL III
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL IV
                 PREFERRED SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
                      GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
 
     First Tennessee National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation (the
"Corporation"), may from time to time offer in one or more series or issuances
its junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the "Junior Subordinated
Debentures"). The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination") of the
Corporation. If provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation will have the right to defer payments of interest on any series of
Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment period thereon
at any time or from time to time for up to such number of consecutive interest
payment periods (which shall not extend beyond the Stated Maturity (as defined
herein) of the Junior Subordinated Debentures) with respect to each deferral
period as may be specified in such Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension
Period"). In such circumstance, however, the Corporation would not be permitted,
subject to certain exceptions set forth herein, to declare or pay any dividends,
distributions or other payments with respect to, or repay, repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire, the Corporation's capital stock or debt securities that rank
pari passu with or junior to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" and "-- Restrictions on Certain Payments".
 
     First Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee
Capital III and First Tennessee Capital IV each a trust created under the laws
of the State of Delaware (each, an "Issuer," and collectively, the "Issuers"),
may severally offer, from time to time, preferred securities (the "Preferred
Securities") representing beneficial ownership interests in such Issuer. The
Corporation will be the owner of the common securities (the "Common Securities"
and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities")
representing common beneficial ownership interests in such Issuer. Holders of
the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive preferential cumulative
cash distributions ("Distributions") accumulating from the date of original
issuance and payable periodically as specified in an accompanying Prospectus
Supplement.

     Concurrently with the issuance by an Issuer of its Preferred Securities,
such Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and the proceeds of contributions
received in respect of the Common Securities in a corresponding series of the
Corporation's Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures") with terms corresponding to the terms of that Issuer's
Preferred Securities (the "Related Preferred Securities"). Accordingly, if, as
provided in an accompanying Prospectus
                                                        (continued on next page)
 
  THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
            INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR
                         ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

                             ---------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
       COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
        PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
           OFFENSE.
 
                             ---------------------
 
               The date of this Prospectus is             , 1996.
<PAGE>   32
 
(cover page continued)
 
Supplement, the Corporation has the right to defer the payment of interest on a
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, then, if interest
payments are so deferred, Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities
would also be deferred, but would continue to accumulate at the rate per annum
set forth in the related Prospectus Supplement. See "Description of Preferred
Securities -- Distributions".
 
     Taken together, the Corporation's obligations under each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the related
Trust Agreement and the related Guarantee (each, as defined herein), in the
aggregate, provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments
of Distributions and other amounts due on the Related Preferred Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee".
The payment of Distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities of each
Issuer and payments on liquidation of such Issuer or redemption of such
Preferred Securities, in each case out of funds held by such Issuer, are each
irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation to the extent described herein (each,
a "Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees". The obligations of the
Corporation under each Guarantee will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation.
 
     The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of
each Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the related Expense Agreement will be the only revenue of each Issuer. If so
provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation may, upon
receipt of approval of the Federal Reserve (if such approval is then required
under the applicable capital guidelines or policies), redeem the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (and thereby cause the redemption of the Trust
Securities) or may terminate each Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities
to the creditors of such Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of
the Trust Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of their interests in
such Issuer. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination".
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be offered
in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering;
provided, however, the aggregate initial public offering price of all Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures) and Preferred Securities (including the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures) issued pursuant to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part shall not exceed $1,000,000. Certain specific terms
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is being delivered will be described in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement, including without limitation and where applicable and to
the extent not set forth herein, (a) in the case of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations,
Stated Maturity (including any provisions for the shortening or extension
thereof), interest payment dates, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable)
or method of calculating interest, if any, applicable Extension Period or
interest deferral terms, if any, place or places where principal, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, will be payable, any terms of redemption, any sinking
fund provisions, terms for any conversion or exchange into other securities,
initial offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other
special terms, and (b) in the case of Preferred Securities, the identity of the
Issuer, specific title, aggregate stated liquidation amount, number of
securities, Distribution rate or method of calculating such rate, Distribution
payment dates, applicable Distribution deferral terms, if any, place or places
where Distributions will be payable, any terms of redemption, exchange, initial
offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other special terms.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   33
 
     The Prospectus Supplement also will contain information, as applicable,
about certain United States federal income tax consequences relating to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be sold to
or through underwriters, through dealers, remarketing firms or agents or
directly to purchasers. See "Plan of Distribution." The names of any
underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or agents involved in the sale of
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered and any applicable fee, commission or discount
arrangements with them will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The
Prospectus Supplement will state whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
Preferred Securities will be listed on any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated
quotation system, there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary
market for the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
     This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus
Supplement.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the
Commission located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can also be obtained at
prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549. Certain of such
material may also be accessed electronically by means of the Commission's home
page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.
 
     The Corporation and the Issuers have filed with the Commission a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits
thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities offered hereby.
This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Corporation and the securities offered hereby, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the financial statements,
notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference
therein, which may be inspected at the public reference facilities of the
Commission at the addresses set forth above or, with respect to certain of the
information, through the Commission's home page on the Internet. Statements made
in this Prospectus concerning the contents of any documents referred to herein
are not necessarily complete, and in each instance are qualified in all respects
by reference to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.
 
     No separate financial statements of any Issuer have been included herein.
The Corporation and the Issuers do not consider that such financial statements
would be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because each Issuer is
a newly formed special purpose entity, has no operating history or independent
operations and is not engaged in and does not propose to engage in any activity
other than holding as trust assets the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the Corporation and issuing the Trust Securities. See "The
Issuers", "Description of Preferred Securities," "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordi-
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   34
 
nated Debentures" and "Description of Guarantees". In addition, the Corporation
does not expect that any of the Issuers will be filing reports under the
Exchange Act with the Commission.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Corporation with the Commission are
incorporated into this Prospectus by reference:
 
     1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 and
        Amendment No. 1 thereto on Form 10-K/A, filed June 28, 1996.
 
     2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996,
        June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996.
 
     Each document or report filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of any offering of securities made by this Prospectus shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained herein, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
 
     The Corporation will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference herein (other
than exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference into the texts of such
documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to: First Tennessee
National Corporation, 165 Madison Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38103, Attention:
Treasurer, telephone number (901) 523-5630.
 
                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION
 
     The Corporation is a Tennessee corporation incorporated in 1968 and
registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956,
as amended (the "BHCA"). Through First Tennessee Bank National Association (the
"Bank") and its other subsidiaries, the Corporation provides a broad range of
financial services. At September 30, 1996, the Corporation had consolidated
total assets of approximately $12.8 billion and consolidated total deposits of
approximately $9.1 billion. As of September 30, 1996, the Corporation was one of
the 50 largest bank holding companies in the United States in asset size and
market capitalization.
 
     The Corporation's principal subsidiary is the Bank, which as of September
30, 1996 was the largest commercial bank headquartered in Tennessee both in
terms of total assets and deposits. At September 30, 1996, the Bank had total
assets of approximately $11.8 billion and total deposits of approximately $8.3
billion. The Corporation through its banking subsidiaries conducts a broad range
of retail and commercial banking and fiduciary services and had 241 banking
locations in Tennessee and 10 locations in northern Mississippi and 8 in
northwest Arkansas at September 30, 1996. The Corporation provides mortgage
banking services in 28 states. Through the Bank and its other subsidiaries, the
Corporation offers a comprehensive range of financial services, including
general banking services, mortgage banking, bond broker/agency services, credit
card products, merchant credit card processing, nation-wide check clearing,
integrated check processing solutions, trust services, brokerage, venture
capital, and credit life insurance. Bond broker/agency services
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   35
 
provided by the Bank consist primarily of the sale and underwriting of
bank-eligible securities and mortgage loans and providing advisory services to
other financial institutions.
 
     The Corporation coordinates the financial resources of the consolidated
enterprise and maintains systems of financial, operational and administrative
control that allow coordination of selected policies and activities. The
Corporation's principal executive officers are located at 165 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103; telephone (901) 523-4444.
 
                       CERTAIN REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
 
     The following discussion sets forth certain of the elements of the
comprehensive regulatory framework applicable to bank holding companies and
banks and provides certain specific information relevant to the Corporation and
its subsidiaries. Federal regulation of financial institutions such as the
Corporation and its subsidiaries is intended primarily for the protection of
depositors and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Bank Insurance Fund
rather than shareholders or other creditors. See also "Available Information"
and "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference". To the extent that the
following information describes statutory and regulatory provisions, it is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable statutory and
regulatory provisions. A change in applicable statutes, regulations or
regulatory policy may have a material effect on the business of the Corporation.
 
GENERAL
 
     As a bank holding company, the Corporation is subject to the regulation and
supervision of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the
"Federal Reserve Board") under the BHCA. Under the BHCA, bank holding companies
may not in general directly or indirectly acquire the ownership or control of
more than 5% of the voting shares or substantially all of the assets of any
company, including a bank, without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve
Board. The BHCA also restricts the types of activities in which a bank holding
company and its subsidiaries may engage. Generally, activities are limited to
banking and activities found by the Federal Reserve Board to be so closely
related to banking as to be a proper incident thereto.
 
     In addition, the BHCA permits the Federal Reserve Board to approve an
application by a bank holding company to acquire a bank located outside the
acquiror's principal state of operations without regard to whether the
transaction is prohibited under state law. See "-- Interstate Banking and
Branching Legislation". Effective September 29, 1995, the Tennessee Bank
Structure Act of 1974 was amended to, among other things, prohibit (subject to
certain exceptions) a bank holding company from acquiring a bank for which the
home state is Tennessee (a "Tennessee Bank") if, upon consummation, the company
would directly or indirectly control 30% or more of the total deposits in
insured depository institutions in Tennessee. As of December 31, 1995, the
Corporation estimates that it held approximately 13% of such deposits. Subject
to certain exceptions, the Tennessee Bank Structure Act prohibits a bank holding
company from acquiring a bank in Tennessee which has been in operation for less
than five years. Tennessee law permits a Tennessee Bank to establish branches in
any county in Tennessee. Management cannot predict the extent to which the
business of the Corporation and its subsidiaries may be affected by recent
federal and Tennessee legislation relating to interstate and intrastate
acquisitions and branching activities.
 
     The Corporation's subsidiary banks (the "Subsidiary Banks") are subject to
supervision and examination by applicable federal and state banking agencies.
The Bank, First National Bank of Springdale, Springdale, Arkansas, and First
Tennessee Bank National Association Mississippi, Southaven, Mississippi, are
national banking associations, subject to regulation and supervision by the
Comptroller of the Currency (the "Comptroller") as their primary federal
regulator. The remaining Subsidiary Banks are Cleveland Bank and Trust Company,
Cleveland, Tennessee, and Peoples and Union Bank, Lewisburg, Tennessee, which
are Tennessee state-chartered banks, and Peoples Bank, Senatobia, Mississippi,
and Planters Bank, Tunica, Mississippi, which are Mississippi
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   36
 
state-chartered banks, none of which are members of the Federal Reserve System,
and therefore are subject to the regulations of and supervision by the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") as well as state banking authorities.
In addition, all of the Subsidiary Banks are insured by, and subject to
regulation by, the FDIC. The Subsidiary Banks are subject to various
requirements and restrictions under federal and state law, including
requirements to maintain reserves against deposits, restrictions on the types
and amounts of loans that may be granted and the interest that may be charged
thereon and limitations on the types of investments that may be made, activities
that may be engaged in, and types of services that may be offered. Various
consumer laws and regulations also affect the operations of the Subsidiary
Banks. In addition to the impact of such regulation, commercial banks are
affected significantly by the actions of the Federal Reserve Board as it
attempts to control the money supply and credit availability in order to
influence the economy.
 
PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS
 
     The Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking
and other subsidiaries. The principal source of cash flow of the Corporation,
including cash flow to pay dividends on its stock or principal (premium, if any)
and interest on debt securities, is dividends from the Subsidiary Banks. There
are statutory and regulatory limitations on the payment of dividends by the
Subsidiary Banks to the Corporation, as well as by the Corporation to its
shareholders.
 
     Each Subsidiary Bank that is a national bank is required by federal law to
obtain the prior approval of the Comptroller for the payment of dividends if the
total of all dividends declared by the board of directors of such Subsidiary
Bank in any year will exceed the total of (i) its net profits (as defined and
interpreted by regulation) for that year plus (ii) the retained net profits (as
defined and interpreted by regulation) for the preceding two years, less any
required transfers to surplus. A national bank also can pay dividends only to
the extent that retained net profits (including the portion transferred to
surplus) exceed bad debts (as defined by regulation).
 
     State-chartered banks are subject to varying restrictions on the payment of
dividends under applicable state laws. Tennessee law imposes dividend
restrictions on Tennessee state banks substantially similar to those imposed
under federal law on national banks, as described above. Mississippi law
prohibits Mississippi state banks from declaring a dividend without the prior
written approval of the Mississippi Banking Commissioner.
 
     If, in the opinion of the applicable federal bank regulatory authority, a
depository institution or a holding company is engaged in or is about to engage
in an unsafe or unsound practice (which, depending on the financial condition of
the depository institution or holding company, could include the payment of
dividends), such authority may require that such institution or holding company
cease and desist from such practice. The federal banking agencies have indicated
that paying dividends that deplete a depository institution's or holding
company's capital base to an inadequate level would be such an unsafe and
unsound banking practice. Moreover, the Federal Reserve Board, the Comptroller
and the FDIC have issued policy statements which provide that bank holding
companies and insured depository institutions generally should only pay
dividends out of current operating earnings.
 
     In addition, under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act ("FDIA"), an
FDIC-insured depository institution may not make capital distributions
(including the payment of dividends) or pay any management fees to its holding
company or pay any dividend if it is undercapitalized or if such payment would
cause it to become undercapitalized.
 
     At December 31, 1995, under dividend restrictions imposed under applicable
federal and state laws, the Subsidiary Banks, without obtaining regulatory
approval, could legally declare aggregate dividends of approximately $236
million.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   37
 
     The payment of dividends by the Corporation and the Subsidiary Banks may
also be affected or limited by other factors, such as the requirement to
maintain adequate capital above regulatory guidelines and debt covenants.
 
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES
 
     There are various legal restrictions on the extent to which the Corporation
and its nonbank subsidiaries can borrow or otherwise obtain credit from the
Subsidiary Banks. There are also legal restrictions on the Subsidiary Banks'
purchases of or investments in the securities of and purchases of assets from
the Corporation and its nonbank subsidiaries, a Subsidiary Bank's loans or
extensions of credit to third parties collateralized by the securities or
obligations of the Corporation and its nonbank subsidiaries, the issuance of
guarantees, acceptances and letters of credit on behalf of the Corporation and
its nonbank subsidiaries, and certain bank transactions with the Corporation and
its nonbank subsidiaries, or with respect to which the Corporation and its
nonbank subsidiaries act as agent, participate or have a financial interest.
Subject to certain limited exceptions, a Subsidiary Bank (including for purposes
of this paragraph all subsidiaries of such Subsidiary Bank) may not extend
credit to the Corporation or to any other affiliate (other than another
Subsidiary Bank and certain exempted affiliates) in an amount which exceeds 10%
of the Subsidiary Bank's capital stock and surplus and may not extend credit in
the aggregate to all such affiliates in an amount which exceeds 20% of its
capital stock and surplus. Further, there are legal requirements as to the type,
amount and quality of collateral which must secure such extensions of credit by
the Subsidiary Banks to the Corporation or to such other affiliates. Also,
extensions of credit and other transactions between a Subsidiary Bank and the
Corporation or other such affiliates must be on terms and under circumstances,
including credit standards, that are substantially the same or at least as
favorable to such Subsidiary Bank as those prevailing at the time for comparable
transactions with non-affiliated companies. Also, the Corporation and its
subsidiaries are prohibited from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in
connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of property or furnishing
of services.
 
CAPITAL ADEQUACY
 
     The Federal Reserve Board has adopted risk-based capital guidelines for
bank holding companies. The minimum guideline for the ratio of total capital
("Total Capital") to risk-weighted assets (including certain off-balance-sheet
items, such as standby letters of credit) is 8% and the minimum ratio of Tier 1
Capital (defined below) to risk-weighted assets is 4%. At least half of the
Total Capital must be composed of common stock, minority interests in the equity
accounts of consolidated subsidiaries, noncumulative perpetual preferred stock
and a limited amount of cumulative perpetual preferred stock, less goodwill and
certain other intangible assets ("Tier 1 Capital"). The remainder may consist of
qualifying subordinated debt, certain types of mandatory convertible securities
and perpetual debt, other preferred stock and a limited amount of loan loss
reserves. At September 30, 1996, the Corporation's consolidated Tier 1 Capital
and Total Capital ratios were 9.14% and 12.02%, respectively.
 
     In addition, the Federal Reserve Board has established minimum leverage
ratio guidelines for bank holding companies. These guidelines provide for a
minimum ratio of Tier 1 Capital to quarterly average assets, less goodwill and
certain other intangible assets (the "Leverage Ratio"), of 3% for bank holding
companies that meet certain specific criteria, including having the highest
regulatory rating. All other bank holding companies generally are required to
maintain a Leverage Ratio of at least 3%, plus an additional cushion of at least
100 to 200 basis points. The Corporation's Leverage Ratio at September 30, 1996
was 6.67%. The guidelines also provide that bank holding companies experiencing
internal growth or making acquisitions will be expected to maintain strong
capital positions substantially above the minimum supervisory levels without
significant reliance on intangible assets. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve
Board has indicated that it will consider a "tangible
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   38
 
Tier 1 Capital leverage ratio" (deducting all intangibles) and other indicia of
capital strength in evaluating proposals for expansion or new activities.
 
     Each of the Subsidiary Banks is subject to risk-based and leverage capital
requirements similar to those described above adopted by the Comptroller or the
FDIC, as the case may be. The Corporation believes that each of the Subsidiary
Banks was in compliance with applicable minimum capital requirements as of
September 30, 1996. Neither the Corporation nor any of the Subsidiary Banks has
been advised by any federal banking agency of any specific minimum Leverage
Ratio requirement applicable to it.
 
     Failure to meet capital guidelines could subject a bank to a variety of
enforcement remedies, including the termination of deposit insurance by the
FDIC, and to certain restrictions on its business and in certain circumstances
to the appointment of a conservator or receiver. See "-- Prompt Corrective
Action".
 
     The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 required
each federal banking agency to revise its risk-based capital standards within 18
months of enactment of the statute to ensure that those standards take adequate
account of interest rate risk, concentration of credit risk and the risk of
non-traditional activities, as well as reflect the actual performance and
expected risk of loss on multifamily mortgages. On December 15, 1994, the
federal banking agencies adopted amendments to their respective risk-based
capital requirements that explicitly identify concentration of credit risk and
certain risks arising from non-traditional activities, and the management of
such risks, as important factors to consider in assessing an institution's
overall capital adequacy. The amendments do not, however, mandate any specific
adjustments to the risk-based capital calculations as a result of such factors.
 
     On August 2, 1995, the federal banking agencies published amendments to
their risk-based capital rules that, effective September 1, 1995, include
interest-rate risk as a qualitative factor to be considered in assessing capital
adequacy. Concurrent with the publication of the amendments, the federal banking
agencies proposed a system for measuring interest-rate risk and announced their
intention, after a trial period, to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the
proposed system and to initiate a rulemaking process for the purpose of amending
the risk-based capital rules to include an explicit capital charge for
interest-rate risk that will be based upon the level of a bank's measured
interest-rate risk exposure.
 
     In August 1996, the federal banking regulators adopted amendments to their
risk-based capital rules to incorporate a measure for market risk in foreign
exchange and commodity activities and in the trading of debt and equity
instruments. These amendments, which become effective at year end 1997, will
require banks with relatively large trading activities to calculate a capital
charge for market risk using their own internal value-at-risk models (subject to
parameters set by the regulators) or, alternatively, risk management techniques
developed by the regulators. As a result, in addition to existing capital
requirements for credit risk, certain institutions will be required to hold
capital based on the measure of their market risk exposure. These institutions
will be able to satisfy this additional requirement, in part, by issuing
short-term subordinated debt that qualifies as Tier 3 capital.
 
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE AND SUPPORT OF SUBSIDIARY BANKS
 
     Because the Corporation is a holding company, its right to participate in
the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter's liquidation or reorganization
will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's creditors (including
depositors in the case of the Subsidiary Banks) except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be a creditor with recognized claims against the
subsidiary. In addition, depositors of bank, and the FDIC as their subrogee,
would be entitled to priority over other creditors in the event of liquidation
of a bank subsidiary.
 
     Under Federal Reserve Board policy, the Corporation is expected to act as a
source of financial strength to, and to commit resources to support, each of the
Subsidiary Banks. This support may be
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   39
 
required at times when, absent such Federal Reserve Board policy, the
Corporation may not be inclined to provide it. In addition, any capital loans by
a bank holding company to any of its subsidiary banks are subordinate in right
of payment to deposits and to certain other indebtedness of such subsidiary
banks. In the event of a bank holding company's bankruptcy, any commitment by
the bank holding company to a federal bank regulatory agency to maintain the
capital of a subsidiary bank will be assumed by the bankruptcy trustee and
entitled to a priority of payment.
 
CROSS-GUARANTEE LIABILITY
 
     Under the FDIA, a depository institution insured by the FDIC can be held
liable for any loss incurred by, or reasonably expected to be incurred by, the
FDIC after August 9, 1989 in connection with (i) the default of a commonly
controlled FDIC-insured depository institution or (ii) any assistance provided
by the FDIC to any commonly controlled FDIC-insured depository institution "in
danger of default." "Default" is defined generally as the appointment of a
conservator or receiver and "in danger of default" is defined generally as the
existence of certain conditions indicating that a default is likely to occur in
the absence of regulatory assistance. The FDIC's claim for damages is superior
to claims of shareholders of the insured depository institution or its holding
company but is subordinate to claims of depositors, secured creditors and
holders of subordinated debt (other than affiliates) of the commonly controlled
insured depository institution. The Subsidiary Banks are subject to these
cross-guarantee provisions. As a result, any loss suffered by the FDIC in
respect of any of the Subsidiary Banks would likely result in assertion of the
cross-guarantee provisions, the assessment of such estimated losses against the
Corporation's other Subsidiary Banks and a potential loss of the Corporation's
investment in such other Subsidiary Banks.
 
PROMPT CORRECTIVE ACTION
 
     The FDIA requires, among other things, the federal banking regulators to
take "prompt corrective action" in respect of FDIC-insured depository
institutions that do not meet minimum capital requirements. Under the FDIA,
insured depository institutions are divided into five capital tiers: "well
capitalized," "adequately capitalized," "undercapitalized," "significantly
undercapitalized" and "critically undercapitalized." Under applicable
regulations, an institution is defined to be well capitalized if it maintains a
Leverage ratio of at least 5%, a Tier 1 Capital ratio of at least 6% and a Total
Capital ratio of at least 10% and is not subject to a directive, order or
written agreement to meet and maintain specific capital levels. An institution
is defined to be adequately capitalized if it meets all of the minimum capital
requirements as described above. An institution will be considered
undercapitalized if it fails to meet any minimum required measure; significantly
undercapitalized if it has a Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 6%, a
Tier 1 Risk-Based Capital Ratio of less than 3% or a Leverage Ratio of less than
3%; and critically undercapitalized if it fails to maintain a level of tangible
equity equal to at least 2% of total assets. An institution may be deemed to be
in a capitalization category that is lower than is indicated by its actual
capital position if it receives an unsatisfactory examination rating.
 
     The FDIA generally prohibits a FDIC-insured depository institution from
making any capital distribution (including payment of dividends) or paying any
management fee to its holding company if the depository institution would
thereafter be undercapitalized. Undercapitalized depository institutions are
subject to restrictions on borrowing from the Federal Reserve System. In
addition, undercapitalized depository institutions are subject to growth
limitations and are required to submit capital restoration plans. An insured
depository institution's holding company must guarantee the capital plan, up to
an amount equal to the lesser of 5% of the depository institution's assets at
the time it becomes undercapitalized or the amount of the capital deficiency
when the institution fails to comply with the plan for the plan to be accepted
by the applicable federal regulatory authority. The federal banking agencies may
not accept a capital plan without determining, among other things, that the plan
is based on realistic assumptions and is likely to succeed in restoring the
depository
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   40
 
institution's capital. If a depository institution fails to submit an acceptable
plan, it is treated as if it is significantly undercapitalized.
 
     Significantly undercapitalized insured depository institutions may be
subject to a number of requirements and restrictions, including orders to sell
sufficient voting stock to become adequately capitalized, requirements to reduce
total assets and cessation of receipt of deposits from correspondent banks.
Critically undercapitalized insured depository institutions are subject to
appointment of a receiver or conservator, generally within 90 days of the date
on which they become critically undercapitalized.
 
     The Corporation believes that at September 30, 1996 all of the Subsidiary
Banks had sufficient capital to qualify as "well capitalized" under the
regulatory capital requirements discussed above.
 
INTERSTATE BANKING AND BRANCHING LEGISLATION
 
     The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994
(the "IBBEA") authorizes interstate acquisitions of banks and bank holding
companies without geographic limitation beginning one year after enactment. In
addition, beginning June 1, 1997, a bank may merge with a bank in another state
as long as neither of the states has opted out of interstate branching between
the date of enactment of the IBBEA and May 31, 1997. The IBBEA further provides
that states may enact laws permitting interstate merger transactions prior to
June 1, 1997. A bank may establish and operate a de novo branch in a state in
which the bank does not maintain a branch if that state expressly permits de
novo branching. Once a bank has established branches in a state through an
interstate merger transaction, the bank may establish and acquire additional
branches at any location in the state where any bank involved in the interstate
merger transaction could have established or acquired branches under applicable
federal or state law. A bank that has established a branch in a state through de
novo branching may establish and acquire additional branches in such state in
the same manner and to the same extent as a bank having a branch in such state
as a result of an interstate merger. If a state opts out of interstate branching
within the specified time period, no bank in any other state may establish a
branch in the opting out of state, whether through an acquisition or de novo.
 
FDIC INSURANCE ASSESSMENTS; DIFA
 
     The FDIC reduced the insurance premiums it charges on bank deposits insured
by the Bank Insurance Fund ("BIF") to the statutory minimum of $2,000.00 for
"well capitalized" banks, effective January 1, 1996. Premiums related to
deposits assessed by the Savings Association Insurance Fund ("SAIF"), including
savings association deposits acquired by banks, continued to be assessed at a
rate of between 23 cents and 31 cents per $100.00 of deposits. On September 30,
1996, the Deposit Insurance Funds Act of 1996 ("DIFA") was enacted and signed
into law. DIFA provided for a special assessment to recapitalize the SAIF to
bring the SAIF up to statutory required levels. The assessment imposed a
one-time fee to banks that own previously acquired thrift deposits of $.526 per
$100 of thrift deposits they held at March 31, 1995. The pre-tax cost to the
Corporation of the one-time assessment in the third quarter of 1996 was $3.8
million. DIFA further provides for assessments to be imposed on insured
depository institutions with respect to deposits insured by the BIF (in addition
to assessments currently imposed on depository institutions with respect to
SAIF-insured deposits) to pay for the cost of Financing Corporation ("FICO")
bonds. All banks will be assessed to pay the interest due on FICO bonds starting
on January 1, 1997. The Corporation expects the cost to the Corporation to be
immaterial.
 
     Under the FDIA, insurance of deposits may be terminated by the FDIC upon a
finding that the institution has engaged in unsafe and unsound practices, is in
an unsafe or unsound condition to continue operations or has violated any
applicable law, regulation, rule, order or condition imposed by a federal bank
regulatory agency.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   41
 
DEPOSITOR PREFERENCE
 
     Federal law provides that deposits and certain claims for administrative
expenses and employee compensation against an insured depository institution
would be afforded a priority over other general unsecured claims against such an
institution, including the Junior Subordinated Debentures, in the "liquidation
or other resolution" of such an institution by any receiver.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   42
 
                                  THE ISSUERS
 
     Each Issuer is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement executed by the Corporation, as Depositor of
the Issuer, and the Delaware Trustee and two Administrative Trustees (as defined
herein) of such Issuer and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust and a
restated certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. Each trust
agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety (each, as so amended and
restated, a "Trust Agreement") substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Each Trust
Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Each Issuer exists for the
exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling its Trust Securities, (ii) using
the proceeds from the sale of such Trust Securities to acquire a series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto
(such as registering the transfer of Trust Securities). Accordingly, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of each
Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be the sole revenue of each Issuer.
 
     All of the Common Securities of each Issuer will be owned by the
Corporation. The Common Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and
payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default
under a Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default under the Indenture,
the rights of the Corporation as holder of the Common Securities to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities". The Corporation will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate
Liquidation Amount equal to not less than 3% of the total capital of each
Issuer.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
Issuer has a maximum term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate earlier
as provided in the applicable Trust Agreement. Each Issuer's business and
affairs are conducted by its trustees, each appointed by the Corporation as
holder of the Common Securities. The trustees for each Issuer will be The Bank
of New York, as the Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), The Bank of New
York (Delaware), as the Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and two
individual trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") who are employees or
officers of or affiliated with the Corporation (collectively, the "Issuer
Trustees"). The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee, will act as sole trustee
under each Trust Agreement for purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture
Act. The Bank of New York will also act as trustee under the Guarantees and the
Indenture. See "Description of Guarantees" and "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures". The holder of the Common Securities of an Issuer, or
the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities if an event of default under the Trust Agreement for such Issuer has
occurred and is continuing, will be entitled to appoint, remove or replace the
Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee for such Issuer. In no event will
the holders of the Preferred Securities have the right to vote to appoint,
remove or replace the Administrative Trustees; such voting rights are vested
exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. The duties and obligations
of each of the Issuer Trustees are governed by the applicable Trust Agreement.
The Corporation will pay all fees and expenses related to each Issuer and the
offering of the Preferred Securities and will pay, directly or indirectly, all
ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of each Issuer.
 
     The principal executive office of each Issuer is 165 Madison Avenue,
Memphis, Tennessee 38103 and its telephone number is (901) 523-4444.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   43
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its Junior Subordinated
Debentures (including Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the
Issuers in connection with the investment by the Issuers of all of the proceeds
from the sale of Trust Securities) for general corporate purposes, including,
but not limited to, stock repurchases, the reduction of indebtedness,
investments in or extensions of credit to existing and future subsidiaries and
the financing of acquisitions or such other uses as may be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
                 DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued in one or more series
under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented from time to time (as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), between the Corporation and The Bank of New
York, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). This summary of certain terms and
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, which summarizes the material
provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture, the form of which is
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms
a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act, to each of which reference is hereby
made. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Whenever
particular defined terms of the Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time
to time) are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined
terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
 
GENERAL
 
     Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with all
other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set
forth in the Indenture to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of the Corporation.
See "-- Subordination". Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right
of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, including First Tennessee Bank National Association, upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior
claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent the Corporation may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Corporation for
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as otherwise provided in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture does not limit the
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation,
including Senior Indebtedness, whether under the Indenture, any other existing
indenture or any other indenture that the Corporation may enter into in the
future or otherwise. See "-- Subordination" and the applicable Prospectus
Supplement relating to any offering of Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable in one or more series
pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Indenture or a resolution of the
Corporation's Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
 
     The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures: (1) the title of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable (the "Stated Maturity") or the method
of determination thereof; (4) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Junior
Subordinated Debentures shall bear interest, the dates on which any such
interest shall be payable (the "Interest Payment Dates"), the right, if any, of
the Corporation to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date,
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   44
 
and the record dates for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date (the
"Regular Record Dates") or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be
determined; (5) the place or places where, subject to the terms of the Indenture
as described below under "-- Payment and Paying Agents," the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
payable and where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below
under "-- Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the
place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Corporation in respect
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indentures may be made ("Place of
Payment"); (6) any period or periods within which, or date or dates on which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Junior
Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Corporation or a holder thereof; (7) the obligation or the right, if any, of
the Corporation or a holder thereof to redeem, purchase or repay the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the period or periods within which, the price or
prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units)
in which and the other terms and conditions upon which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation; (8) the denominations in which any Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be issuable if other than denominations of $25 and any integral
multiple thereof; (9) if other than in U.S. Dollars, the currency or currencies
(including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be
payable, or in which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be denominated;
(10) any additions, modifications or deletions in the events of default under
the Indenture or covenants of the Corporation specified in the Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (11) if other than the principal
amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debentures that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof; (12) any additions or changes to the Indenture with respect to
a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures as shall be necessary to permit or
facilitate the issuance of such series in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; (13) any
index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and
premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the manner in which
such amounts will be determined; (14) the terms and conditions relating to the
issuance of a temporary Global Security representing all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series and the exchange of such temporary Global
Security for definitive Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series; (15)
subject to the terms described herein under "-- Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures," whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in
such case, the depositary for such Global Securities, which depositary shall be
a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; (16) the appointment of any
paying agent or agents; (17) the terms and conditions of any obligation or right
of the Corporation or a holder to convert or exchange the Junior Subordinated
Debentures into Preferred Securities; (18) the form of Trust Agreement and
Guarantee Agreement, if applicable; (19) the relative degree, if any, to which
such Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be senior to or be
subordinated to other series of such Junior Subordinated Debentures or other
indebtedness of the Corporation in right of payment, whether such other series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures or other indebtedness are outstanding or not;
and (20) any other terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Indenture.
 
     Junior Subordinated Debentures may be sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which
at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain United States federal
income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     If the purchase price of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if any Junior
Subordinated Debentures are denominated in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   45
 
any Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable in one or more foreign currencies
or currency units, the restrictions, elections, certain United States federal
income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to
such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and such foreign currency or
currency units will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     If any index is used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
special United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
applicable thereto will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series will be exchangeable for other Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the same issue and series, of any authorized
denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same original issue
date and stated maturity and bearing the same interest rate.
 
     Junior Subordinated Debentures may be presented for exchange as provided
above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the appropriate securities registrar or at the
office of any transfer agent designated by the Corporation for such purpose with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and referred to in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Indenture. The
Corporation will appoint the Trustee as securities registrar under the
Indenture. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agents
(in addition to the securities registrar) initially designated by the
Corporation with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent
or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts,
provided that the Corporation maintains a transfer agent in each place of
payment for such series. The Corporation may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     In the event of any redemption, neither the Corporation nor the Debenture
Trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of that series and ending at the close of business on
the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) transfer or
exchange any Junior Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption, except,
in the case of any Junior Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
 
GLOBAL JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures that will
be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary") identified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented thereby, a Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor
Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   46
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, and the
deposit of such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture with or on behalf of the
Depositary, the Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture or its
nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to the accounts of
persons that have accounts with such Depositary ("Participants"). Such accounts
shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or by the Corporation if such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be limited
to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, or
its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for all purposes under
the Indenture governing such Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the series represented by such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in
definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the Indenture.
 
     Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to
the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated
Debentures. None of the Corporation, the Debenture Trustee, any Paying Agent, or
the Securities Registrar for such Junior Subordinated Debentures will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated Debentures or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.
 
     The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of a permanent Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing any of such Junior Subordinated Debentures,
immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of
such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for such Junior Subordinated
Debentures as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The
Corporation also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   47
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures is at any time
unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor
depositary is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days, the Corporation
will issue individual Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange
for the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In addition, the Corporation may at any time and in its
sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Junior Subordinated Debentures, determine not to
have any Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series represented by one or
more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures and, in such event, will issue
certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the
Global Junior Subordinated Debenture. Further, if the Corporation so specifies
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series, an owner of a
beneficial interest in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series may, on terms acceptable to the
Corporation, the Debenture Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture, receive certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be entitled to physical delivery
of certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series represented by such
Global Junior Subordinated Debenture equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Junior Subordinated Debentures registered
in its name. Individual Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series so issued
will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Corporation,
of $25 and integral multiples thereof.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in the City of
New York or at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as the
Corporation may designate from time to time in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, except that at the option of the Corporation payment of any interest
may be made (i) except in the case of Global Junior Subordinated Debentures, by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the securities register or (ii) by wire transfer or direct deposit to
an account maintained by the person entitled thereto as specified in the
securities register, provided that proper transfer instructions have been
received by the Regular Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made to the person in whose name such Junior Subordinated
Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. The Corporation may at
any time designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any
paying agent; however the Corporation will at all times be required to maintain
a paying agent in each place of payment for each series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent, or
then held by the Corporation in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest
has become due and payable shall, at the request of the Corporation, be repaid
to the Corporation and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Debenture shall
thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the Corporation for
payment thereof.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
 
     If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of any series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures to defer
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   48
 
payment of interest for up to such number of consecutive interest payment
periods as may be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement (each, an
"Extension Period"), subject to the terms, conditions and covenants, if any,
specified in such Prospectus Supplement, provided that such Extension Period may
not extend beyond the Stated Maturity of such series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Certain United States federal income tax consequences and special
considerations applicable to any such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Junior
Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation may, at its option and subject to receipt of prior approval by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series in whole at any time or in part from time
to time. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series are so redeemable
only on or after a specified date or upon the satisfaction of additional
conditions, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will specify such date or
describe such conditions. Junior Subordinated Debentures in denominations larger
than $25 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $25. Except
as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the redemption
price for any Junior Subordinated Debenture so redeemed shall equal any accrued
and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, plus 100% of the principal
amount thereof.
 
     Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Debenture Tax Event (as defined below) in respect of a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or a Capital Treatment Event (as defined herein) shall
occur and be continuing, the Corporation may, at its option and subject to
receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at any time within 90 days
following the occurrence of such Debenture Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event,
at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest to the
date fixed for redemption, except as otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
 
     "Debenture Tax Event" means the receipt by the Corporation of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which proposed change, pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the
date of issuance of the applicable series of Junior Subordinated Debentures
under the Indenture, there is more than an insubstantial risk that interest
payable by the Corporation on such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures is
not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion will not be, deductible by
the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax
purposes.
 
     A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the applicable Preferred
Securities under the applicable Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the Liquidation
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   49
 
Amount of the applicable Preferred Securities as "Tier I Capital" (or the then
equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the
Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation.
 
     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date
interest ceases to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures or portions
thereof called for redemption.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
 
     The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, that it will not, and will not permit any subsidiary of
the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or
premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Corporation (including other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank
pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
(iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such
guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the
Corporation, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the
implementation of a stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase
of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under any Guarantee with
respect to the series of Related Preferred Securities and (d) purchases of
common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights or options under
any of the Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers, employees or
other persons within the definition of "employee" for purposes of a registration
of shares for an employee benefit plan of the Corporation, related to the
issuance of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock
purchase plan, or related to the issuance of common stock (or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction) if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any event
of which the Corporation has actual knowledge (a) that with the giving of notice
or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an "Event of Default" under the
Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series and
(b) in respect of which the Corporation shall not have taken reasonable steps to
cure, (ii) if such Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by an Issuer of a
series of Related Preferred Securities, the Corporation shall be in default with
respect to its payment of any obligations under the Guarantee relating to such
Related Preferred Securities or (iii) the Corporation shall have given notice of
its selection of an Extension Period as provided in the Indenture with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series and shall not have
rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall
be continuing.
 
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
 
     From time to time the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may, without
the consent of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
amend, waive or supplement the Indenture for specified purposes, including,
among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies (provided
that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest of the
holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or, in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of the Related
Preferred Securities so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying, or
maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Debenture
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of each outstanding series of Junior Subordinated Debentures
affected, to modify the Indenture in a manner adversely affecting the rights of
the holders of such series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   50
 
any material respect; provided, that no such modification may, without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture so
affected, (i) change the Stated Maturity of any series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures (except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement), or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon or (ii) reduce the percentage of
principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series, the holders of
which are required to consent to any such modification of the Indenture,
provided further that, in the case of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, so long as any Related Preferred Securities remain outstanding, (a)
no such modification may be made that adversely affects the holders of such
Preferred Securities in any material respect, and no termination of the
Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any event of default or compliance with
any covenant under the Indenture may be effective, without the prior consent of
the holders of at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all
outstanding Related Preferred Securities affected unless and until the principal
of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon have been paid in full and certain other conditions have been
satisfied, and (b) where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent
of each holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, no such consent
shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior consent of each holder
of Related Preferred Securities.
 
     In addition, the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may execute, without
the consent of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, any supplemental
Indenture for the purpose of creating any new series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures that has
occurred and is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" with
respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
 
          (i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on such series of Junior
     Subordinated Debentures when due (subject to the deferral of any interest
     payment in the case of an Extension Period); or
 
          (ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on such series
     of Junior Subordinated Debentures when due whether at maturity or upon
     redemption; or
 
          (iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain
     other covenants contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice
     to the Corporation from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least
     25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such affected series of
     outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures; or
 
          (iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
     Corporation.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series affected have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Debenture Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than
25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures
of each series affected may declare the principal due and payable immediately
upon a Debenture Event of Default, and, in the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, should the Debenture Trustee or such holders of such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to make such declaration, the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities shall have such right. The holders of a majority in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series
affected may annul such declaration. In the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, should the holders of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures fail to annul such declaration and waive
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   51
 
such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Related Preferred Securities affected shall have such right.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of each
series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of
the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures, waive any default, except
a default in the payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been
cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and
principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the
Debenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which
under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture. In the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, should the holders of such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to waive such default, the
holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities affected shall have such right. The Corporation is required to file
annually with the Debenture Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the
Corporation is in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to
it under the Indenture.
 
     In case a Debenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing as to a
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee
will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, and any other amounts payable
under the Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other
rights as a creditor with respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     If a Debenture Event of Default with respect to a series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or principal on
such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or
principal is due and payable, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Corporation for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct
Action"). The Corporation may not amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing
right to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent of the holders
of all of the Preferred Securities outstanding. If the right to bring a Direct
Action is removed, the applicable Issuer may become subject to the reporting
obligations under the Exchange Act. The Corporation shall have the right under
the Indenture to set-off any payment made to such holder of Preferred Securities
by the Corporation in connection with a Direct Action.
 
     The holders of the Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph
available to the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures unless there
shall have been an event of default under the Trust Agreement. See "Description
of Preferred Securities -- Events of Default; Notice".
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Indenture provides that the Corporation shall not consolidate with or
merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall
consolidate with or merge into the Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Corporation, unless
(i) in case the Corporation consolidates with or merges into another Person or
conveys or transfers its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
any Person, the successor Person is organized under the laws of the United
States or any state or the District of Columbia, and such successor Person
expressly assumes the Corporation's obligations on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures issued under the Indenture; (ii) immediately after giving effect
thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   52
 
no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become a Debenture
Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; (iii) in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, such transaction is permitted
under the related Trust Agreement and Guarantee and does not give rise to any
breach or violation of the related Trust Agreement or Guarantee, and (iv)
certain other conditions as prescribed by the Indenture are met.
 
     The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Corporation that may adversely affect holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
     The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Junior
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture Trustee for
cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable
at their Stated Maturity within one year, and the Corporation deposits or causes
to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the purpose and
in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
to the date of the deposit or to the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, then
the Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to the Corporation's
obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the Indenture and to provide
the officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described therein), and the
Corporation will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
 
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE
 
     If and to the extent indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may be convertible or exchangeable
into Junior Subordinated Debentures of another series or into Preferred
Securities of another series. The specific terms on which Junior Subordinated
Debentures of any series may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such terms may include provisions for
conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the
option of the Corporation, in which case the number of shares of Preferred
Securities or other securities to be received by the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures would be calculated as of a time and in the manner
stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be subordinate and junior in right
of payment, to the extent set forth in the Junior Subordinated Indenture, to all
Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Corporation. In the event that the
Corporation shall default in the payment of any principal, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on any Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and
payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration
of acceleration or otherwise, then, unless and until such default shall have
been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or all Senior Indebtedness
shall have been paid, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made for
principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or in respect of any redemption, repayment, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     As used herein, "Senior Debt" means any obligation of the Corporation to
its creditors, whether now outstanding or subsequently incurred, other than any
obligation as to which, in the instrument creating or evidencing the obligation
or pursuant to which the obligation is outstanding, it is provided that such
obligation is not Senior Debt. As used herein, "Senior Subordinated Debt" means
any
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   53
 
obligation of the Corporation to its creditors, whether now outstanding or
subsequently incurred, where the instrument creating or evidencing the
obligation or pursuant to which the obligation is outstanding, provides that it
is subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Debt. Senior
Subordinated Debt includes the Corporation's outstanding subordinated debt
securities and any subordinated debt securities issued in the future with
substantially similar subordination terms and does not include the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Senior Debt does not include Senior Subordinated Debt
or the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     As used herein, "Senior Indebtedness" shall include (i) Senior Debt (but
excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business) and (ii) the Allocable Amounts (as defined below) of Senior
Subordinated Debt. As of September 30, 1996, the Corporation had approximately
$160 million of Senior Indebtedness outstanding.
 
     As used herein, "Allocable Amounts," when used with respect to any Senior
Subordinated Debt, means the amount necessary to pay all principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Subordinated Debt in full
less, if applicable, any portion of such amounts which would have been paid to,
and retained by, the holders of such Senior Subordinated Debt (whether as a
result of the receipt of payments by the holders of such Senior Subordinated
Debt from the Corporation or any other obligor thereon or from any holders of,
or trustee in respect of, other indebtedness that is subordinate and junior in
right of payment to such Senior Subordinated Debt pursuant to any provision of
such indebtedness for the payment over of amounts received on account of such
indebtedness to the holders of such Senior Subordinated Debt) but for the fact
that such Senior Subordinated Debt is subordinate or junior in right of payment
to trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course
of business.
 
     In the event of (i) any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar proceeding relating
to the Corporation, its creditors or its property, (ii) any proceeding for the
liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Corporation, voluntary or
involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
(iii) any assignment by the Corporation for the benefit of creditors or (iv) any
other marshalling of the assets of the Corporation, all Senior Indebtedness
(including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such
proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made on account of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In such event, any payment or distribution on account of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities
of the Corporation or any other corporation provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness at the time
outstanding, and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan
of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for the
subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of
Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing among such
holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing
after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall have been paid in full.
 
     In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums
owing with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with the holders of any obligations of the Corporation
ranking on a parity with the Junior Subordinated Debentures, shall be entitled
to be paid from the remaining assets of the Corporation the amounts at the time
due and owing on account of unpaid principal of and premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and such other
obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property
or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or obligations of
the Corporation ranking junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures and such
other obligations. If any payment or distribution on account of the principal of
or interest on the Junior Subordinated
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   54
 
Debentures of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities or
other property (other than securities of the Corporation or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment
of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination
provisions with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the payment of
all Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in
respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment) shall be
received by any holder of any Junior Subordinated Debentures in contravention of
any of the terms hereof and before all the Senior Indebtedness shall have been
paid in full, such payment or distribution or security shall be received in
trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred
to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the time outstanding in accordance
with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to
pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full. By reason of such subordination, in
the event of the insolvency of the Corporation, holders of Senior Indebtedness
may receive more, ratably, and holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
having a claim pursuant to such securities may receive less, ratably, than the
other creditors of the Corporation. Such subordination will not prevent the
occurrence of any Event of Default in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the amount of
additional Senior Indebtedness that may be incurred by the Corporation. The
Corporation expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior Indebtedness.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
 
     The Debenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued in one or
more series of Junior Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture with terms
corresponding to the terms of a series of Related Preferred Securities. In that
event, concurrently with the issuance of each Issuer's Preferred Securities,
such Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Common Securities of such Issuer in such series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation to such
Issuer. Each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in
the principal amount equal to the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the
Related Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such Issuer and will
rank pari passu with all other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders
of the Related Preferred Securities for a series of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures will have the rights, in connection with modifications
to the Indenture or upon occurrence of Debenture Events of Default, as described
under "-- Modification of Indenture" and " -- Debenture Events of Default,"
unless provided otherwise in the Prospectus Supplement for such Related
Preferred Securities.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   55
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event in respect of an Issuer shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation
may, at its option and subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time within 90 days of the
occurrence of such Tax Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the
provisions of the Indenture and whether or not such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures are then otherwise redeemable at the option of the
Corporation. The redemption price for any Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the date fixed for redemption. For so long as the applicable Issuer is the
holder of all the outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series, the proceeds of any such redemption will be used by the Issuer to
redeem the corresponding Trust Securities in accordance with their terms. The
Corporation may not redeem a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures in part unless all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full
on all outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series
for all interest periods terminating on or prior to the Redemption Date.
 
     The Corporation will covenant in the Indenture, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, that if and so long as (i) the
Issuer of the related series of Trust Securities is the holder of all such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of
such Issuer has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Corporation has
elected, and has not revoked such election, to pay Additional Sums (as defined
under "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange") in
respect of such Trust Securities, the Corporation will pay to such Issuer such
Additional Sums. The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (i) to maintain directly or
indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the Issuer to which such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued, provided that
certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the Indenture may succeed to
the Corporation's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to voluntarily
terminate, wind up or liquidate any Issuer, except (a) in connection with a
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of such Issuer,
or (b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, in either such case, if so specified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement upon prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, and
(iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of
the related Trust Agreement, to cause such Issuer to remain classified as a
grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes.
 
                      DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement for each Issuer, the Issuer
Trustees on behalf of such Issuer will issue the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities. The Preferred Securities of a particular issue will represent
beneficial ownership interests in the Issuer and the holders thereof will be
entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect to Distributions
and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the Common Securities of
such Issuer, as well as other benefits as described in the corresponding Trust
Agreement. This summary of certain provisions of the Preferred Securities and
each Trust Agreement, which summarizes the material terms thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of each Trust Agreement, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act, to each of
which reference is hereby made. Wherever particular defined terms of a Trust
Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time) are referred to herein
or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined terms are incorporated herein or
therein by reference. The form of the Trust Agreement has been filed as an
exhibit to the Registration
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   56
 
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Each of the Issuers is a
legally separate entity and the assets of one are not available to satisfy the
obligations of any of the others.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Preferred Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and payments
will be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities of that Issuer except
as described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities." Legal title to the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held by the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred
Securities and Common Securities. Each Guarantee Agreement executed by the
Corporation for the benefit of the holders of an Issuer's Trust Securities (the
"Guarantee") will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the
related Trust Securities but will not guarantee payment of Distributions or
amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of such Trust Securities when the
related Issuer does not have funds on hand available to make such payments. See
"Description of Guarantees".
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will
accumulate from the date of original issuance and will be payable on such dates
as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In the event that any date
on which Distributions are payable on the Preferred Securities is not a Business
Day (as defined below), payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest
or other payment in respect to any such delay) except that, if such Business Day
is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in either case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are
payable in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law
or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office
of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
 
     Each Issuer's Preferred Securities represent beneficial ownership interests
in the applicable Issuer, and the Distributions on each Preferred Security will
be payable at a rate specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement for such
Preferred Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Distributions to which
holders of Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional
Distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The term "Distributions" as used herein includes any such
additional Distributions unless otherwise stated.
 
     If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation has
the right under the Indenture, pursuant to which it will issue the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, to defer the payment of interest at any time or
from time to time on any series of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures for up to such number of consecutive interest payment periods which
will be specified in such Prospectus Supplement relating to such series (each,
an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. As a
consequence of any such deferral, Distributions on the Related Preferred
Securities would be deferred (but would continue to accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate per annum set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement for such Preferred Securities) by the Issuer of such Preferred
Securities during any such Extension Period. During such Extension Period, the
Corporation may not, and may not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to,
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's
capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any,
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that
rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   57
 
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the Corporation of debt securities of
any subsidiary of the Corporation if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or
junior in interest to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (other
than (a) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Guarantee with respect to such
Preferred Securities and (d) purchases of common stock related to the issuance
of common stock or rights or options under any of the Corporation's benefit
plans for its directors, officers, employees or other persons within the
definition of "employee" for purposes of a registration of shares for an
employee benefit plan of the Corporation related to the issuance of common stock
or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or related to
the issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
common stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction).
 
     The revenue of each Issuer available for distribution to holders of its
Preferred Securities will be limited to payments under the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures in which the Issuer will invest the proceeds from the
issuance and sale of its Trust Securities. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures". If the
Corporation does not make interest payments on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to
pay Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities. The payment of
Distributions (if and to the extent the Issuer has funds legally available for
the payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is
guaranteed by the Corporation on the basis set forth herein under "Description
of Guarantees".
 
     Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the register of such Issuer on the relevant record
dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry form,
will be one Business Day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. Subject to any
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the applicable Trust
Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "Book-Entry
Issuance". In the event any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the
relevant record date for such Preferred Securities shall be the date at least 15
days prior to the relevant Distribution Date, as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
 
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
 
     Mandatory Redemption.  Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in
part, of any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity
or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a
Like Amount (as defined below) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price (the "Redemption Price")
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities plus
accumulated but unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date") and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the concurrent redemption of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption". If less than all of any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption
Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to
the redemption pro rata of the related Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon the
redemption of all or any part of any series of any Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the related Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities.
 
     The Corporation will have the right to redeem any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after such date as may be specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   58
 
the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event, in either case subject
to receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies.
 
     Distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.  Subject to
the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so
if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, the
Corporation has the right at any time to liquidate the related Issuer and, after
satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of such Issuer as provided by
applicable law, cause such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in
respect of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued by such issuer
to be distributed to the holders of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Issuer.
 
     Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event Redemption.  If a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event in respect of a series of Preferred Securities and Common
Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation has the right to
redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in
part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Preferred Securities and
Common Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption Price within 90
days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event. In
the event a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event in respect of a series of
Preferred Securities and Common Securities has occurred and is continuing and
the Corporation does not elect to redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Preferred Securities
and Common Securities or to liquidate the related Issuer and cause the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of
such Preferred Securities and Common Securities in exchange therefor upon
liquidation of the Issuer as described above, such Preferred Securities will
remain outstanding and Additional Sums (as defined below) may be payable on the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Possible Tax Law Changes.  On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation
Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), the revenue portion of President Clinton's budget
proposal, was released. The Bill would, among other things, generally deny
interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that
has a maximum weighted average maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill would
also generally deny interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by
a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not
shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the
instrument is issued to a related party (other than a corporation), where the
holder or some other related party issues a related instrument that is not shown
as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of
determining the weighted average maturity or the term of an instrument, any
right to extend would be treated as exercised. The above-described provisions of
the Bill were proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or
after December 7, 1995. If either provision were to apply to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of
the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement
(the "Joint Statement") to the effect that it was their intention that the
effective date of the President's legislative proposals, if adopted, would be no
earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional action. If the principles
contained in the Joint Statement were followed and the Bill was enacted, such
legislation would not apply to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Although the
104th Congress adjourned without enacting the Bill, there can be no assurance,
however, that future legislative proposals or final legislation will not
adversely affect the ability of the Corporation to deduct interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or otherwise affect the tax treatment of the transaction
described herein. Moreover, such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which
may permit the Corporation to cause a redemption of the Related Preferred
Securities.
 
     "Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by an Issuer on the
outstanding Preferred Securities and Common Securities of the Issuer shall not
be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental
charges to which such Issuer has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   59
 
     "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of any series of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities of such series having a Liquidation Amount (as
defined below) equal to that portion of the principal amount of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance
with the Indenture, allocated to the Common Securities and to the Preferred
Securities pro rata based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes
and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust
Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to holders of any series of Trust Securities in exchange
therefor in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the related Issuer,
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures would be distributed.
 
     "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
 
     "Tax Event" with respect to an Issuer means the receipt by the Issuer of a
series of Preferred Securities of an opinion of counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which proposed change,
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of such
Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect
to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on such
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days
of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in
whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such
Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges.
 
     After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures for any series of Preferred Securities (i) such
series of Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii)
the depository or its nominee, as the record holder of such series of Preferred
Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates
representing the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered
upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing such series of
Preferred Securities not held by DTC or its nominee will be deemed to represent
the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the stated Liquidation Amount of such series of Preferred Securities, and
bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
Distributions on such series of Preferred Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for transfer or
reissuance.
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be
distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and
liquidation of an Issuer were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities
that an investor may purchase, or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures that the investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of an
Issuer, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase
the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
 
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
 
     Preferred Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at
the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of
the Preferred Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable
on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the related
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   60
 
Issuer has funds on hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See
also "-- Subordination of Common Securities".
 
     If an Issuer gives a notice of redemption in respect of its Preferred
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably
with DTC funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give
DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
holders of such Preferred Securities. See "Book-Entry Issuance". If such
Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to
the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent
for such Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their
certificates evidencing such Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any
Preferred Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of
such Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates for the related
Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds
deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of the
holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except
the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption
Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Preferred
Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for
redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar
year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In
the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred
Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Issuer or by the Corporation pursuant to the Guarantee as
described under "Description of Guarantees," Distributions on such Preferred
Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by the Issuer for such Preferred
Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the
actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
 
     Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law), the Corporation or its subsidiaries may at any time and
from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the
open market or by private agreement.
 
     Payment of the Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities and any
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of
Preferred Securities shall be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as
they appear on the register for such Preferred Securities on the relevant record
date, which shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date or
liquidation date, as applicable; provided, however, that in the event that any
Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for
such Preferred Securities shall be a date at least 15 days prior to the
Redemption Date or liquidation date, as applicable, as specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     If less than all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued
by an Issuer are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities and Common Securities to be
redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The
particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata
basis not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee
from the outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption,
by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which
may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an
integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the trust registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any
 
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<PAGE>   61
 
Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount
thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of each Trust Agreement, unless the
context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of
Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities
redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
 
     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed at its registered address.
 
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
 
     Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, each Issuer's
Preferred Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro
rata based on the Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption
Date a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no
payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Issuer's
Common Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption,
liquidation or other acquisition of such Common Securities, shall be made unless
payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of
the Issuer's outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods
terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption
Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all of the Issuer's
outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, shall have been
made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or
Redemption Price of, the Issuer's Preferred Securities then due and payable.
 
     In the case of any event of default under the applicable Trust Agreement
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Corporation as holder of such
Issuer's Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with
respect to any such event of default under the applicable Trust Agreement until
the effect of all such events of default with respect to such Preferred
Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all events of
default under the applicable Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of such Preferred Securities
and not on behalf of the Corporation as holder of the Issuer's Common
Securities, and only the holders of such Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
 
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
 
     Pursuant to each Trust Agreement, each Issuer shall automatically terminate
upon expiration of its term and shall terminate on the first to occur of: (i)
certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Holder of the
Common Securities; (ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of its Trust Securities, if the
Corporation, as Depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee
to terminate such Issuer (subject to the Corporation having received prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if so required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies); (iii) redemption of all of the Issuer's Preferred
Securities as described under  -- Redemption or Exchange -- Mandatory
Redemption"; and (iv) the entry of an order for the dissolution of the Issuer by
a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
     If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv)
above, the Issuer shall be liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as
the Issuer Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, to the
holders of such Trust Securities in exchange therefor a Like Amount of the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless such distribution is
determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such
holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Issuer available
for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
such Issuer
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   62
 
as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of
Preferred Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus accrued and
unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because such Issuer has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by such
Issuer on its Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The
holder(s) of such Issuer's Common Securities will be entitled to receive
distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the holders of its
Preferred Securities, except that if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the
Common Securities.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
 
     Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under
each Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities issued thereunder
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary
or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
 
          (i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture
     (see "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
     Default"); or
 
          (ii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any
     Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such
     default for a period of 30 days; or
 
          (iii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Redemption
     Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
 
          (iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect,
     of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in such Trust Agreement
     (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or
     the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and
     continuation of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there
     has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the defaulting Issuer
     Trustee or Trustees by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation
     Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities of the applicable Issuer, a
     written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
     remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under such
     Trust Agreement; or
 
          (v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
     respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Corporation to
     appoint a successor Property Trustee within 90 days thereof.
 
     Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of such Issuer's Preferred
Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation, as Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. The Corporation,
as Depositor, and the Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with
the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance
with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under each Trust
Agreement.
 
     If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities as
described above. See "Subordination of Common Securities" and "-- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination". The existence of an Event of Default does not
entitle the holders of Preferred Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.
 
REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
 
     Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common
Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default
 
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<PAGE>   63
 
has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee
may be removed at such time by the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount
of the outstanding Preferred Securities. In no event will the holders of the
Preferred Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
Corporation as the holder of the Common Securities. No resignation or removal of
an Issuer Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with
the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement.
 
CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
 
     Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time or from time to time, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Corporation, as the holder of the
Common Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint
one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such
capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement. In case a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.
 
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
 
     Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any
Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of
such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee under each Trust Agreement,
provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.
 
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE ISSUERS
 
     An Issuer may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as
described below. An Issuer may, at the request of the Corporation, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of
the Preferred Securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as such under the laws of any
State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all
of the obligations of such Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities or
(b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having
substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor
Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred
Securities in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Corporation expressly appoints a
trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the
Property Trustee as the holder of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor
Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national
securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are
then listed, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities to be
downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization which
gives ratings on the Preferred Securities, (v) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi)
such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Issuer, (vii) prior
to such merger,
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   64
 
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the
Corporation has received an opinion from independent counsel to the Issuer
experienced in such matters to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b)
following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease, neither the Issuer nor such successor entity will be required
to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and (viii) the Corporation or any
permitted successor or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such
successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under
the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Issuer shall not, except with the consent of
holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease
its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or
permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease would cause the Issuer or the successor entity to be
classified as an association taxable as a corporation or as other than a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF EACH TRUST AGREEMENT
 
     Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantees -- Amendments
and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the applicable Trust
Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
 
     Each Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Corporation,
the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent with
any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under such Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent
with the other provisions of such Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate
or add to any provisions of such Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be
necessary to ensure that the Issuer will be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities
are outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer will not be required to register as
an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however,
that in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii), such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of
Preferred Securities, and any amendments of such Trust Agreement shall become
effective when notice thereof is given to the holders of Trust Securities. Each
Trust Agreement may be amended by the Issuer Trustees and the Corporation with
(i) the consent of holders representing not less than a majority (based upon
Liquidation Amounts) of the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by
the Issuer Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment
or the exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with
such amendment will not affect the Issuer's status as a grantor trust or cause
the Issuer to be an association taxable as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes or the Issuer's exemption from status as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act, provided that without the
consent of each holder of Trust Securities, such Trust Agreement may not be
amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii)
restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
 
     So long as any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee, or executing any trust or power
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   65
 
conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the
Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the
principal of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be due and payable or
(iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or
such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be
required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of
a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred
Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would
require the consent of each holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property
Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the corresponding Preferred
Securities. The Issuer Trustees shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities
except by subsequent vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The
Property Trustee shall notify each holder of Preferred Securities of any notice
of default with respect to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. In
addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of the Preferred
Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Issuer Trustees
shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that such action would not cause the Issuer to be classified as other than a
grantor trust or to be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes.
 
     Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter
upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given
to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the manner set forth in each
Trust Agreement.
 
     No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required
for an Issuer to redeem and cancel its Preferred Securities in accordance with
the applicable Trust Agreement.
 
     Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Issuer Trustees or any
affiliate of the Corporation or any Issuer Trustees, shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
 
GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     The Preferred Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in
the form of one or more Global Preferred Securities that will be deposited with,
or on behalf of, the Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement for such series, the Depositary will be DTC. Global Preferred
Securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Preferred Securities represented thereby, a Global Preferred Security
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global
Preferred Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the
Depositary or any nominee to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such
successor.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Preferred Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Preferred Security, and the deposit of such
Global Preferred Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary
for such Global Preferred Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the respective aggregate Liquidation Amounts
of the individual Preferred Securities represented by such Global Preferred
Securities to the accounts of Participants. Such accounts shall be designated by
the dealers,
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   66
 
underwriters or agents with respect to such Preferred Securities or by the
Corporation if such Preferred Securities are offered and sold directly by the
Corporation. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security
will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through
Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Preferred
Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected
only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee
(with respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants
(with respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws
of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may
impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Preferred
Security.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Preferred Security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such Global Preferred Security, such Depositary or
such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Preferred Securities represented by such Global Preferred Security for all
purposes under the Indenture governing such Preferred Securities. Except as
provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Preferred Securities of the
series represented by such Global Preferred Security registered in their names,
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such
Preferred Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
     Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Preferred Securities represented by a Global Preferred Security registered in
the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Preferred
Security representing such Preferred Securities. None of the Corporation, the
Property Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the Securities Registrar for such
Preferred Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of the Global Preferred Security representing such Preferred
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Preferred
Securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of Liquidation Amount,
Redemption Price, premium or Distributions in respect of a permanent Global
Preferred Security representing any of such Preferred Securities, immediately
will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to
their respective beneficial interest in the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
Global Preferred Security for such Preferred Securities as shown on the records
of such Depositary or its nominee. The Corporation also expects that payments by
Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Preferred Security
held through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be
the responsibility of such Participants.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Preferred Securities is at any time unwilling, unable
or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, the Issuer will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security representing such series of Preferred Securities. In addition, the
Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities,
determine not to have any Preferred Securities of such series represented by one
or more Global Preferred Securities and, in such event, will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security or Securities representing such series of Preferred Securities.
Further, if the Issuer so specifies with respect to the Preferred Securities of
a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security
representing Preferred Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the
Issuer, the Property Trustee and the
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   67
 
Depositary for such Global Preferred Security, receive individual Preferred
Securities of such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to
any limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
Preferred Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in
a Global Preferred Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual
Preferred Securities of the series represented by such Global Preferred Security
equal in principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Preferred
Securities registered in its name. Individual Preferred Securities of such
series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by
the Issuer, of $25 and integral multiples thereof.
 
TRUST EXPENSES
 
     Pursuant to each Trust Agreement, the Holder of the Common Securities will
irrevocably and unconditionally agree with each Issuer that holds Junior
Subordinated Debentures that the Corporation will pay to such Issuer, and
reimburse such Issuer for, the full amount of any costs, expenses or liabilities
of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to the holders of any
Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Issuer the amounts due
such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other
similar interests, as the case may be. Such payment obligation will include any
such costs, expenses or liabilities of the Issuer that are required by
applicable law to be satisfied in connection with a termination of such Issuer.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
 
     Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made to the
Depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the
applicable Distribution Dates or, if any Issuer's Preferred Securities are not
held by the Depositary, such payments shall be made by wire transfer, direct
deposit or check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such
address shall appear on the Register. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the paying agent (the "Paying Agent") shall
initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property
Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation. The
Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written
notice to the Property Trustee and the Corporation. In the event that the
Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent, the Administrative
Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company
acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation) to act as Paying
Agent.
 
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred
Securities.
 
     Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of each Issuer, but upon payment of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange. The Issuers will not be required to register or cause to be registered
the transfer of their Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have
been called for redemption.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
 
     The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in each Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must
exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or
use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the
Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in
it by the applicable Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred
Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the
applicable Trust Agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of
the applicable Trust Agreement, and the matter is not
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   68
 
one on which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled under such Trust
Agreement to vote, then the Property Trustee shall take such action as is
directed by the Corporation and if not so directed, shall take such action as it
deems advisable and in the best interests of the holders of the Trust Securities
and will have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful
misconduct.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
     The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate the Issuers in such a way that no Issuer will be
deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act or classified or an association taxable as a corporation
or as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes
and so that the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be treated as
indebtedness of the Corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.
In this connection, the Corporation and the Administrative Trustees are
authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the
certificate of trust of each Issuer or each Trust Agreement, that the
Corporation and the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not
materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the related
Preferred Securities.
 
     Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
 
     No Issuer may borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its
assets.
 
                              BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
 
     DTC will act as securities depositary for all of the Preferred Securities
and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless otherwise referred to in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Preferred Securities and the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the
name of Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One or more fully-registered global
certificates will be issued for the Preferred Securities of each Issuer and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, representing in the aggregate the total number
of such Issuer's Preferred Securities or aggregate principal balance of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, respectively, and will be deposited with DTC.
 
     DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry
changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. "Direct Participants" include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain custodial relationships with Direct
Participants, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
 
     Purchases of Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures within
the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will
receive a credit for the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures
on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each
Preferred Security and each Junior Subordinated Debenture ("Beneficial Owner")
is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records.
Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their
purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   69
 
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions,
as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect
Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased Preferred Securities
or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Transfers of ownership interests in the
Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be accomplished by
entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners.
Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership
interests in Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, except in
the event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer or Junior Subordinated Debentures is discontinued.
 
     DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures; DTC's records reflect only the
identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Preferred Securities
or Junior Subordinated Debentures are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account
of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
 
     Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners and the voting
rights of Direct Participants, Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners will
be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
 
     Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of
the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. If less than all of
an Issuer's Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures are being
redeemed, DTC's current practice is to determine by lot the amount of the
interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
 
     Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is limited to the holders of record of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, in those instances in which a vote
is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect
to Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus Proxy") to the
relevant Trustee as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to
whose accounts such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
 
     Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be made by the relevant Trustee to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date
in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC
has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date.
Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such
Participant and not of DTC, the relevant Trustee, the Issuer thereof or the
Corporation, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of Distributions to DTC is the responsibility
of the relevant Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is
the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
 
     DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to any of the Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time by giving reasonable notice to the relevant Trustee and the
Corporation. In the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, definitive Preferred Security or Junior Subordinated Debenture
certificates representing such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures are required to be printed and delivered. The Corporation, at its
option, may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary). After a Debenture Event of Default, the
holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Preferred Securities or
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures may determine to
discontinue the system of book-entry transfers
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   70
 
through DTC. In any such event, definitive certificates for such Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures will be printed and delivered.
 
     The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Issuers and the Corporation believe to
be accurate, but the Issuers and the Corporation assume no responsibility for
the accuracy thereof. Neither the Issuers nor the Corporation has any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its Participants of their
respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures
governing their respective operations.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES
 
     A Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the Corporation concurrently
with the issuance by each Issuer of its Preferred Securities for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of such Preferred Securities. The Bank of New York
will act as indenture trustee ("Guarantee Trustee") under each Guarantee for the
purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and each Guarantee will be
qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of certain
provisions of the Guarantees, which summarizes the material terms thereof, does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all of the provisions of each Guarantee, including the definitions
therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act, to each of which
reference is hereby made. The form of the Guarantee has been filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Reference
in this summary to Preferred Securities means that Issuer's Preferred Securities
to which a Guarantee relates. The Guarantee Trustee will hold each Guarantee for
the benefit of the holders of the related Issuer's Preferred Securities.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated
basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below)
to the holders of the Preferred Securities, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that such Issuer may have or assert
other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the
Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related
Issuer (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on such Preferred
Securities, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand available therefor
at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand
available therefor at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding up or liquidation of such Issuer (unless the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of such Preferred
Securities in exchange therefor), the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
and (b) the amount of assets of such Issuer remaining available for distribution
to holders of Preferred Securities after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of such Issuer as required by applicable law. The Corporation's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the
required amounts by the Corporation to the holders of the applicable Preferred
Securities or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to such holders.
 
     Each Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
the related Issuer's obligations under the Preferred Securities, but will apply
only to the extent that such related Issuer has funds sufficient to make such
payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.
 
     If the Corporation does not make interest payments on the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer, the Issuer will not be able
to pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities and will not have funds legally
available therefor. Each Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. See "-- Status of the
Guarantees". Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   71
 
participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior
claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Corporation may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the
Corporation's obligations under the Guarantees will be effectively subordinated
to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and
claimants should look only to the assets of the Corporation for payments
thereunder. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Guarantees do not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether
under the Indenture, any other existing indenture or any other indenture that
the Corporation may enter into in the future or otherwise. See the applicable
Prospectus Supplement relating to any offering of Preferred Securities.
 
     The Corporation has, through the applicable Guarantee, the applicable Trust
Agreement, the applicable series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally
guaranteed all of the Issuer's obligations under the Preferred Securities. No
single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all
of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined
operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under the
Preferred Securities. See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees".
 
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES
 
     Each Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Corporation
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation in the same manner as the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Each Guarantee will rank pari passu with all other Guarantees issued by the
Corporation. Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection (i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). Each
Guarantee will be held for the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred
Securities. Each Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the
Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Issuer or upon
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities of the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. None of the Guarantees places a limitation on
the amount of additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation.
The Corporation expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior Debt.
 
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
 
     Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the related Preferred Securities (in which case no vote
will be required), no Guarantee may be amended without the prior approval of the
holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval will
be as set forth under "Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights;
Amendment of Each Trust Agreement". All guarantees and agreements contained in
each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the holders
of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Corporation to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder. The
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
related Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   72
 
in respect of such Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee.
 
     Any holder of the Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under such Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
     The Corporation, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the
Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the
Guarantee.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
 
     The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Corporation in performance of any Guarantee, undertakes to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each Guarantee and,
after default with respect to any Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of
care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his
or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Guarantee Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee at the
request of any holder of any Preferred Securities unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
 
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEES
 
     Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the Redemption Price of the related Preferred Securities, upon
full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Issuer or
upon distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders
of the related Preferred Securities in exchange therefor. Each Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of the related Preferred Securities must restore payment of any
sums paid under such Preferred Securities or such Guarantee.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     Each Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   73
 
                  RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
                THE CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
                               AND THE GUARANTEES
 
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
 
     Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities
(to the extent the Issuer has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation as and to the
extent set forth under "Description of Guarantees". Taken together, the
Corporation's obligations under each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement and the related Guarantee
provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of
payments of distributions and other amounts due on the Related Preferred
Securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with
fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the
combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under the
Related Preferred Securities. If and to the extent that the Corporation does not
make payments on any series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
such Issuer will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on the Related
Preferred Securities. The Guarantees do not cover payment of Distributions when
the related Issuer does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of a series of Preferred Securities is to
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation pursuant to the
terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment of amounts equal to such
Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Corporation under each
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation.
 
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
 
     As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will
be sufficient to cover Distributions and other payments due on the Related
Preferred Securities, primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the
sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities and related Common Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest
and other payment dates on each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures will match the Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment
dates for the Related Preferred Securities; (iii) the Holder of the Common
Securities shall pay for all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of such
Issuer except the Issuer's obligations to holders of its Preferred Securities
under such Preferred Securities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement further provides
that the Issuer will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the
limited purposes of such Issuer.
 
     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the Corporation
has the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder
with and to the extent the Corporation has theretofore made, or is concurrently
on the date of such payment making, a payment under the related Guarantee.
 
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     A holder of any related Preferred Security may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the related
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee, the related Issuer or any other person or entity.
 
     A default or event of default under any Senior Debt of the Corporation
would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the Indenture. However,
in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Indebtedness
of the Corporation, the subordination provisions of the Indenture provide that
no payments may be made in respect of the Corresponding Junior Subordi-
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   74
 
nated Debentures until such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full or any
payment default thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required
payments on any series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures would
constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture.
 
LIMITED PURPOSE OF ISSUERS
 
     Each Issuer's Preferred Securities evidence a beneficial interest in such
Issuer, and each Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing its Preferred
Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference between the
rights of a holder of a Preferred Security and a holder of a Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debenture is that a holder of a Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debenture is entitled to receive from the Corporation the principal
amount of and interest accrued on Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
held, while a holder of Preferred Securities is entitled to receive
Distributions from such Issuer (or from the Corporation under the applicable
Guarantee) if and to the extent such Issuer has funds available for the payment
of such Distributions.
 
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
 
     Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding up or liquidation of
any Issuer involving the liquidation of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of the related Preferred Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of the assets held by such Issuer, the Liquidation Distribution in
cash. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination". Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Corporation, the Property Trustee, as holder of the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, would be a subordinated creditor of the Corporation,
subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness as set forth in the
Indenture, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest,
before any stockholders of the Corporation receive payments or distributions.
Since the Corporation is the guarantor under each Guarantee and the Holder of
the Common Securities is obligated to pay for all costs, expenses and
liabilities of each Issuer (other than the Issuer's obligations to the holders
of its Preferred Securities), the positions of a holder of such Preferred
Securities and a holder of such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the Corporation in the event
of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation are expected to be substantially
the same.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Preferred Securities may be sold
in a public offering to or through underwriters or dealers designated from time
to time. The Corporation and each Issuer may sell its Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities as soon as practicable after effectiveness of
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The names of
any underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered, the amount or number of Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred
Securities to be purchased by any such underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     Underwriters may offer and sell Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to
time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of
Preferred Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer in the form of underwriting
discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions. Underwriters may sell
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions
or commissions from the underwriters.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   75
 
     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Corporation and/or the applicable
Issuer to underwriters in connection with the offering of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities, and any discounts, concessions or
commissions allowed by such underwriters to participating dealers, will be
described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters and dealers
participating in the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters and dealers
may be entitled, under agreement with the Corporation and the applicable Issuer,
to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimbursement by the
Corporation for certain expenses.
 
     In connection with the offering of the Preferred Securities of any Issuer,
such Issuer may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional
Preferred Securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public
offering price (with an additional underwriting commission), as may be set forth
in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. If such Issuer grants any
over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement for such Preferred Securities.
 
     Underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer and/or any of their
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred Securities will be new
issues of securities and will have no established trading market. Any
underwriters to whom Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities are
sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Preferred Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may or may not be listed
on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market. No assurance
can be given as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain
legal matters will be passed upon for the Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell,
counsel to the Corporation, and for the Issuers by Richards, Layton & Finger,
special Delaware counsel to the Issuers and the Corporation. Certain other
matters will be passed upon for the Corporation by Harry A. Johnson, III, Esq.,
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Corporation. The validity of
the Guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for
the Corporation by Sullivan & Cromwell and for the Underwriters by Simpson
Thacher & Bartlett. Sullivan & Cromwell and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett will rely
on the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to matters of Delaware law and on
the opinion of Mr. Johnson as to matters of Tennessee Law. At December 2, 1996,
Mr. Johnson beneficially owned approximately           shares of the
Corporation's common stock.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation included in the
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995,
incorporated herein by reference, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report, dated January 16,
1996, and are incorporated herein by reference, in reliance upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving said report.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   76
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CORPORATION OR BY THE UNDERWRITERS.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE CORPORATION
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO
MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
                               ------------------
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             PAGE
                                             -----
<S>                                          <C>
Risk Factors...............................    S-6
First Tennessee Capital I..................   S-11
First Tennessee National Corporation.......   S-12
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
  Charges and Combined Fixed Charges and
  Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements....   S-13
Use of Proceeds............................   S-13
Capitalization.............................   S-14
Accounting Treatment.......................   S-15
Certain Terms of Series A QUIPS............   S-16
Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
  Debentures...............................   S-19
Certain Terms of Series A Guarantee........   S-23
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences....   S-24
Underwriting...............................   S-28
Validity of Securities.....................   S-29
                    PROSPECTUS
Available Information......................      3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
  Reference................................      4
First Tennessee National Corporation.......      4
Certain Regulatory Considerations..........      5
The Issuers................................     12
Use of Proceeds............................     13
Description of Junior Subordinated
  Debentures...............................     13
Description of Preferred Securities........     25
Book-Entry Issuance........................     38
Description of Guarantees..................     40
Relationship Among the Preferred
  Securities, the Corresponding Junior
  Subordinated Debentures and the
  Guarantees...............................     43
Plan of Distribution.......................     44
Validity of Securities.....................     45
Experts....................................     45
</TABLE>
 
            -------------------------------------------------------
            -------------------------------------------------------
 
- -------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------
 
                                     PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
 
                         % CUMULATIVE QUARTERLY INCOME
                             PREFERRED SECURITIES,
                              SERIES A (QUIPS(SM))
                     FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED,
                            AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
 
                                FIRST TENNESSEE
                              NATIONAL CORPORATION
                            ------------------------
 
                                      LOGO
 
                            ------------------------
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                      REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNDERWRITERS
 
                                          , 1996
 
            -------------------------------------------------------
            -------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   77
 
                                    PART II.
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                                            <C>
    Registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended................  $304
    Blue Sky fees and expenses (including counsel fees)..........................     *
    Fees of rating agencies......................................................     *
    Trustees' fees and expenses..................................................     *
    Printing and engraving.......................................................     *
    Accounting services..........................................................     *
    Legal fees of Registrant's counsel...........................................     *
    Miscellaneous................................................................     *
                                                                                   -----
              Total..............................................................  $  *
                                                                                   =====
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Tennessee Code Annotated, Sections 48-18-501 through 48-18-509 authorizes a
corporation to provide for the indemnification of officers, directors, employees
and agents in terms sufficiently broad to permit indemnification under certain
circumstances for liabilities (including reimbursement for expenses incurred)
arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Corporation has
adopted the provisions of the Tennessee statute pursuant to Article XXVIII of
its Bylaws. Also, the Corporation has a Directors' and Officers' Liability
Insurance Policy which provides coverage sufficiently broad to permit
indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including
reimbursement for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1931,
as amended.
 
     Tennessee Code Annotated Section 48-12-102 permits the inclusion in the
charter of a Tennessee corporation of a provision, with certain exceptions,
eliminating the personal monetary liability of directors to the corporation or
its shareholders for breach of the duty of care. The Corporation has adopted the
provisions of the statute in Article 13 of its charter.
 
     The shareholders of the Corporation have approved an amendment to Article
XXVIII of the Bylaws pursuant to which the Corporation is required to indemnify
each director and any officers designated by the Corporation's Board of
Directors, and advance expenses, to the maximum extent not prohibited by law. In
accordance with the foregoing, the Board is authorized to enter into individual
indemnity agreements with the directors and such officers. Such indemnity
agreements have been approved for all of the directors and certain officers.
 
     Reference is also made to the Underwriting Agreement filed as an Exhibit
hereto, for provisions regarding indemnification of the registrant's officers
and directors against certain liabilities.
 
     Under the Trust Agreement, the Corporation will agree to indemnify each of
the Trustees of the Issuer or any predecessor Trustee for the Issuer, and to
hold the Trustee harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust Agreements,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties under the Trust Agreements.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   78
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  -------
  <C>       <S>
    1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
    4.1     Restated Charter of the Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit 3(i) to the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1995).
    4.2     By-laws, as amended, of the Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)
            of the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended June 30,
            1996).
    4.3     Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture, to be dated as of              , 1996,
            between the Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Debenture Trustee.*
    4.4     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital I.
    4.5     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.
    4.6     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital II.
    4.7     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.
    4.8     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital III.
    4.9     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.
    4.10    Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital IV.
    4.11    Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.
    4.12    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.*
    4.13    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.*
    4.14    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.*
    4.15    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
    4.16    Form of Junior Subordinated Debenture Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.3).*
    4.17    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital I (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.12).*
    4.18    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital II (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.13).*
    4.19    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital III (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.14).*
    4.20    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital IV (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.15).*
    4.21    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital I.*
    4.22    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital II.*
    4.23    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital III.*
    4.24    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital IV.*
    5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
            Guarantees to be issued by the Corporation.*
    5.2     Opinion of special Delaware counsel as to legality of the Preferred Securities to
            be issued by First Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II, First Tennessee
            Capital III and First Tennessee Capital (IV).*
    8       Opinion of counsel as to certain federal income tax matters.*
   12       Statement Regarding Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
            and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements.
   23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   79
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  -------
  <C>       <S>
   23.2     Consent of Counsel to the Corporation. (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
   23.3     Consent of Special Delaware Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.2).*
   23.4     Consent of tax counsel (included in Exhibit 8).*
   24       Powers of Attorney.
   25.1     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Junior Subordinated Indenture.*
   25.2     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.*
   25.3     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.*
   25.4     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.*
   25.5     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
   25.6     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital I.*
   25.7     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital II.*
   25.8     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital III.*
   25.9     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 * To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of a Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or
otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
each Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of each Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, each Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by the controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby also undertakes:
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   80
 
     (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
          (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;
 
          (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
     post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
     Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
     securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
     deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
     may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
     price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
     price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
     effective registration statement; and
 
          (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any
     material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by a Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.
 
     (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
     (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
     (4) to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the
underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such
names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each
purchaser.
 
     (5) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933:
 
          (i) The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
     the form of prospectus filed by the Registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
     or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of
     this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (ii) Each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
     shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the
     securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   81
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Memphis, State of Tennessee, on the 5th day of December, 1996.
 
                                          FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL CORPORATION

 
                                          By: ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR. 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.
                                             Title: Executive Vice President
                                                    and Chief Financial Officer
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           SIGNATURE                            CAPACITY                       DATE
           ---------                            --------                       ----
<C>                                <S>                                  <C>
               *                   Chairman of the Board, President        December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------      and Chief Executive Officer
          Ralph Horn                 (principal executive officer) and
                                     a Director

               *                   Executive Vice President and Chief      December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------      Financial Officer (principal
     Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.           financial officer)

               *                   Senior Vice President and               December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------      Controller (principal accounting
         James F. Keen               officer)

                                   Director                                December  , 1996
- -------------------------------
      Robert C. Blattberg

               *                   Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
        Carlos H. Cantu

               *                   Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
        George E. Cates

                                   Director                                December  , 1996
- -------------------------------
     James A. Haslam, III

               *                   Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
        R. Brad Martin
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   82
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           SIGNATURE                            CAPACITY                       DATE
           ---------                            --------                       ----
<C>                                <S>                                  <C>
                  *                Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
      Joseph Orgill, III

                  *                Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
        Vicki G. Roman

                  *                Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
        Michael D. Rose

                  *                Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
       William B. Sansom

                  *                Director                                December 5, 1996
- -------------------------------
     Gordon P. Street, Jr.
 
*By:   Clyde A. Billings, Jr.
    ---------------------------
       Clyde A. Billings, Jr.
          Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   83
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, First Tennessee
Capital I certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Memphis, and State of Tennessee on the 6th day of December, 1996.
 
                                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I
 
                                          By: First Tennessee National
                                              Corporation, as Depositor
 
                                          By:          TERESA A. FEHRMAN
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, First Tennessee
Capital II certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Memphis, and State of Tennessee on the 6th day of December, 1996.
 
                                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL II
 
                                          By: First Tennessee National
                                              Corporation, as Depositor
 
                                          By:          TERESA A. FEHRMAN
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, First Tennessee
Capital III certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in Memphis, and State of Tennessee on the 6th day of December,
1996.
 
                                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL III
 
                                          By: First Tennessee National
                                              Corporation, as Depositor
 
                                          By:          TERESA A. FEHRMAN
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   84
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, First Tennessee
Capital IV certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in Memphis, and State of Tennessee on the 6th day of December, 1996.
 
                                          FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL IV
 
                                          By: First Tennessee National
                                              Corporation, as Depositor
 
                                          By:          TERESA A. FEHRMAN
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>   85
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  -------
  <C>       <S>
    1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
    4.1     Restated Charter of the Corporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to
            Exhibit 3(i) to the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1995).
    4.2     By-laws, as amended, of the Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii)
            of the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarter ended June 30,
            1996).
    4.3     Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture, to be dated as of              , 1996,
            between the Corporation and The Bank of New York, as Debenture Trustee.*
    4.4     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital I.
    4.5     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.
    4.6     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital II.
    4.7     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.
    4.8     Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital III.
    4.9     Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.
    4.10    Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital IV.
    4.11    Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.
    4.12    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.*
    4.13    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.*
    4.14    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.*
    4.15    Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
    4.16    Form of Junior Subordinated Debenture Certificate (included in Exhibit 4.3).*
    4.17    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital I (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.12).*
    4.18    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital II (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.13).*
    4.19    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital III (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.14).*
    4.20    Form of Preferred Security Certificate for First Tennessee Capital IV (included as
            Exhibit D of Exhibit 4.15).*
    4.21    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital I.*
    4.22    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital II.*
    4.23    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital III.*
    4.24    Form of Guarantee Agreement for First Tennessee Capital IV.*
    5.1     Opinion of counsel as to legality of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
            Guarantees to be issued by the Corporation.*
    5.2     Opinion of special Delaware counsel as to legality of the Preferred Securities to
            be issued by First Tennessee Capital I, First Tennessee Capital II and First
            Tennessee Capital III.*
    8       Opinion of counsel as to certain federal income tax matters.*
   12       Statement Regarding Computation of Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
            and Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividend Requirements.
   23.1     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   86
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  -------
  <C>       <S>
   23.2     Consent of Counsel to the Corporation. (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
   23.3     Consent of Special Delaware Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.2).*
   23.4     Consent of tax counsel (included in Exhibit 8).*
   24       Powers of Attorney.
   25.1     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Junior Subordinated Indenture.*
   25.2     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital I.*
   25.3     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital II.*
   25.4     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital III.*
   25.5     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York to act as trustee under
            the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
   25.6     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital I.*
   25.7     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital II.*
   25.8     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital III.*
   25.9     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York under the Guarantee for
            the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities of First Tennessee Capital IV.*
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 * To be filed by amendment.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.4


                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                            FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I


                  This Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital I (the
"Trust"), dated December 6, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the
undersigned, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business
Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).

                  1. NAME. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
First Tennessee Capital I.

                  2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware
is The Bank of New York (Delaware), 400 White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711.

                  3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be
effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Trust.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust, has
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as
                              Trustee


                              By:________________________________
                                 Name:
                                 Title:

                              ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR., as Trustee


                              By:________________________________


                              TERESA A. FEHRMAN, as Trustee


                              By:________________________________

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.5

                                 TRUST AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                            FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL I


                  TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of December 6, 1996, between First
Tennessee National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, as "Depositor", and
Elbert L. Thomas, Jr. and Teresa A. Fehrman as "Regular Trustees" and The Bank
of New York (Delaware) as "Trustee" (the Trustee and the Regular Trustees
together, the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as
follows:

                  1. The trust created hereby shall be known as First Tennessee
Capital I (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the
extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute
contracts, and sue and be sued.

                  2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets
over to the Trustees the sum of $10. The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of
such amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the
initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust
estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of
Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business
Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the
Trust. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of the Business Trust Act.

                  3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended
and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially
in the form to be included as an exhibit to the Securities Act Registration
Statement (as defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the
Trust created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such
amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.

                  4. The Depositor and the Regular Trustees hereby authorize and
direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the
<PAGE>   2
Trust, (i) to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Securities Act Registration Statement"), including
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
prospectus and the exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof),
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
the Preferred Securities of the Trust and certain other securities and (b) a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "Exchange Act Registration Statement"),
including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof), relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to execute and file with one
or more national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National
Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") in each case on behalf of the Trust a
listing application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on any such Exchange or
the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ"); (iii) to execute and file on
behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable
consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and
documents as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws; (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such Underwriting Agreements
with one or more underwriters relating to the offering of the Preferred
Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable; and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all documents,
papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of the
foregoing. If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD
or state securities or Blue Sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a
Trustee, the Depositor and any trustee of the Trust appointed pursuant to
Section 6 hereof are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and to execute
on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing.

                  5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

                  6. The number of Trustees initially shall be three (3) and
thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase
or

                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required
by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets
the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any of the Trustees at
any time. Any of the Trustees may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the
Depositor provided, however, such notice shall not be required if it is waived
by the Depositor.

                  7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).


                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                             FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL
                                             CORPORATION, as Depositor



                                             By:___________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

                                             THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                             (DELAWARE), as Trustee


                                             By:____________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:


                                             -----------------------
                                             Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.,
                                                  as Regular Trustee



                                             -----------------------
                                             Teresa A. Fehrman,
                                                  as Regular Trustee


                                       -4-
s

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.6


                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL II


                  This Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital II (the
"Trust"), dated December 6, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the
undersigned, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business
Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).

                  1. NAME. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
First Tennessee Capital II.

                  2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware
is The Bank of New York (Delaware), 400 White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711.

                  3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be
effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Trust.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust, has
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.

                                    THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as
                                    Trustee


                                    By:________________________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

                                    ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR., as Trustee


                                    By:________________________________


                                    TERESA A. FEHRMAN, as Trustee


                                    By:________________________________


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.7

                                 TRUST AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL II


                  TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of December 6, 1996, between First
Tennessee National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, as "Depositor", and
Elbert L. Thomas, Jr. and Teresa A. Fehrman as "Regular Trustees" and The Bank
of New York (Delaware) as "Trustee" (the Trustee and the Regular Trustees
together, the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as
follows:

                  1. The trust created hereby shall be known as First Tennessee
Capital II (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the
extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute
contracts, and sue and be sued.

                  2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets
over to the Trustees the sum of $10. The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of
such amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the
initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust
estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of
Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business
Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the
Trust. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of the Business Trust Act.

                  3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended
and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially
in the form to be included as an exhibit to the Securities Act Registration
Statement (as defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the
Trust created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such
amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.

                  4. The Depositor and the Regular Trustees hereby authorize and
direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the
<PAGE>   2
Trust, (i) to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Securities Act Registration Statement"), including
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
prospectus and the exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof),
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
the Preferred Securities of the Trust and certain other securities and (b) a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "Exchange Act Registration Statement"),
including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof), relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to execute and file with one
or more national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National
Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") in each case on behalf of the Trust a
listing application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on any such Exchange or
the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ"); (iii) to execute and file on
behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable
consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and
documents as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws; (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such Underwriting Agreements
with one or more underwriters relating to the offering of the Preferred
Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable; and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all documents,
papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of the
foregoing. If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD
or state securities or Blue Sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a
Trustee, the Depositor and any trustee of the Trust appointed pursuant to
Section 6 hereof are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and to execute
on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing.

                  5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

                  6. The number of Trustees initially shall be three (3) and
thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase
or


                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required
by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets
the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any of the Trustees at
any time. Any of the Trustees may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the
Depositor provided, however, such notice shall not be required if it is waived
by the Depositor.

                  7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).


                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL
                                      CORPORATION, as Depositor



                                      By:___________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                      (DELAWARE), as Trustee


                                      By:____________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      -----------------------
                                      Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.,
                                           as Regular Trustee



                                      -----------------------
                                      Teresa A. Fehrman,
                                           as Regular Trustee


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.8


                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL III


                  This Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital III (the
"Trust"), dated December 6, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the
undersigned, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business
Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).

                  1. NAME. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
First Tennessee Capital III.

                  2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware
is The Bank of New York (Delaware), 400 White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711.

                  3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be
effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Trust.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust, has
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.

                                THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as
                                Trustee


                                By:________________________________
                                   Name:
                                   Title:

                                ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR., as Trustee


                                By:________________________________


                                TERESA A. FEHRMAN, as Trustee


                                By:________________________________


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 4.9


                                 TRUST AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL III


                  TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of December 6, 1996, between First
Tennessee National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, as "Depositor", and
Elbert L. Thomas, Jr. and Teresa A. Fehrman as "Regular Trustees" and The Bank
of New York (Delaware) as "Trustee" (the Trustee and the Regular Trustees
together, the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as
follows:

                  1. The trust created hereby shall be known as First Tennessee
Capital III (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the
extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute
contracts, and sue and be sued.

                  2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets
over to the Trustees the sum of $10. The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of
such amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the
initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust
estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of
Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business
Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the
Trust. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of the Business Trust Act.

                  3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended
and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially
in the form to be included as an exhibit to the Securities Act Registration
Statement (as defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the
Trust created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such
amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.

                  4. The Depositor and the Regular Trustees hereby authorize and
direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the
<PAGE>   2
Trust, (i) to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Securities Act Registration Statement"), including
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
prospectus and the exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof),
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
the Preferred Securities of the Trust and certain other securities and (b) a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "Exchange Act Registration Statement"),
including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof), relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to execute and file with one
or more national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National
Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") in each case on behalf of the Trust a
listing application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on any such Exchange or
the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ"); (iii) to execute and file on
behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable
consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and
documents as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws; (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such Underwriting Agreements
with one or more underwriters relating to the offering of the Preferred
Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable; and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all documents,
papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of the
foregoing. If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD
or state securities or Blue Sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a
Trustee, the Depositor and any trustee of the Trust appointed pursuant to
Section 6 hereof are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and to execute
on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing.

                  5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

                  6. The number of Trustees initially shall be three (3) and
thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase
or


                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required
by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets
the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any of the Trustees at
any time. Any of the Trustees may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the
Depositor provided, however, such notice shall not be required if it is waived
by the Depositor.

                  7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).


                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                      FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL
                                      CORPORATION, as Depositor



                                      By:___________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:

                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                      (DELAWARE), as Trustee


                                      By:____________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


                                      -----------------------
                                      Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.,
                                           as Regular Trustee



                                      -----------------------
                                      Teresa A. Fehrman,
                                           as Regular Trustee


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 4.10


                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL IV


                  This Certificate of Trust of First Tennessee Capital IV (the
"Trust"), dated December 6, 1996, is being duly executed and filed by the
undersigned, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business
Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).

                  1. NAME. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is
First Tennessee Capital IV.

                  2. DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the
trustee of the Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware
is The Bank of New York (Delaware), 400 White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711.

                  3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be
effective upon the filing of this Certificate of Trust.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned trustee of the Trust, has
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.

                                 THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE), as
                                 Trustee


                                 By:________________________________
                                    Name:
                                    Title:

                                 ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR., as Trustee


                                 By:________________________________


                                 TERESA A. FEHRMAN, as Trustee


                                 By:________________________________


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 4.11


                                 TRUST AGREEMENT
                                       OF
                           FIRST TENNESSEE CAPITAL IV


                  TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of December 6, 1996, between First
Tennessee National Corporation, a Tennessee corporation, as "Depositor", and
Elbert L. Thomas, Jr. and Teresa A. Fehrman as "Regular Trustees" and The Bank
of New York (Delaware) as "Trustee" (the Trustee and the Regular Trustees
together, the "Trustees"). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as
follows:

                  1. The trust created hereby shall be known as First Tennessee
Capital IV (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the
extent provided herein, may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute
contracts, and sue and be sued.

                  2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets
over to the Trustees the sum of $10. The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of
such amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the
initial trust estate. The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust
estate in trust for the Depositor. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that the Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of
Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq. (the "Business
Trust Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the
Trust. The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the
provisions of the Business Trust Act.

                  3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended
and restated Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially
in the form to be included as an exhibit to the Securities Act Registration
Statement (as defined below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the
Trust created hereby and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common
Securities referred to therein. Prior to the execution and delivery of such
amended and restated Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or
obligation hereunder or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise
required by applicable law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such
execution and delivery any licenses, consents or approvals required by
applicable law or otherwise.

                  4. The Depositor and the Regular Trustees hereby authorize and
direct the Depositor, as the sponsor of the
<PAGE>   2
Trust, (i) to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission"), in each case on behalf of the Trust (a) the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Securities Act Registration Statement"), including
all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
prospectus and the exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof),
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
the Preferred Securities of the Trust and certain other securities and (b) a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "Exchange Act Registration Statement"),
including all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto (including the
exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof), relating to the
registration of the Preferred Securities of the Trust under Section 12 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to execute and file with one
or more national securities exchanges (each, an "Exchange") or the National
Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") in each case on behalf of the Trust a
listing application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on any such Exchange or
the NASD's Nasdaq National Market ("NASDAQ"); (iii) to execute and file on
behalf of the Trust such applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable
consents, appointments of attorney for service of process and other papers and
documents as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or "Blue
Sky" laws; (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such Underwriting Agreements
with one or more underwriters relating to the offering of the Preferred
Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem necessary or
desirable; and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all documents,
papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of the
foregoing. If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is
required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, any Exchange, the NASD
or state securities or Blue Sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a
Trustee, the Depositor and any trustee of the Trust appointed pursuant to
Section 6 hereof are hereby authorized to join in any such filing and to execute
on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing.

                  5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

                  6. The number of Trustees initially shall be three (3) and
thereafter the number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from
time to time by a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase
or


                                       -2-
<PAGE>   3
decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required
by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets
the requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any of the Trustees at
any time. Any of the Trustees may resign upon thirty days' prior notice to the
Depositor provided, however, such notice shall not be required if it is waived
by the Depositor.

                  7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict
of laws principles).


                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]


                                       -3-
<PAGE>   4
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust
Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                         FIRST TENNESSEE NATIONAL
                                         CORPORATION, as Depositor



                                         By:___________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

                                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                         (DELAWARE), as Trustee


                                         By:____________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                         -----------------------
                                         Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.,
                                              as Regular Trustee



                                         -----------------------
                                         Teresa A. Fehrman,
                                              as Regular Trustee


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12
 
             STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF CONSOLIDATED RATIOS
            OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
                   AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NINE MONTHS
                                           ENDED         AT OR FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                       SEPTEMBER 30,   ------------------------------------------
                                           1996         1995     1994     1993     1992     1991
                                       -------------   ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
                                                              (UNAUDITED)
                                                             (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                    <C>             <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
SUMMARY INCOME STATEMENTS
EARNINGS:
  Net income from continuing
     operations......................     $ 126.6      $164.9   $147.1   $109.7   $ 92.7   $ 71.8
  Plus income taxes..................        72.6        88.1     60.7     65.4     56.9     27.6
  Plus fixed charges.................       336.1       431.9    306.7    276.2    298.8    389.0
                                           ------      ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
     Earnings before interest expense
       on deposits...................       535.3       684.9    514.5    451.3    448.4    488.4
  Less interest expense on
     deposits........................       237.0       305.0    219.8    203.2    250.7    334.0
                                           ------      ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
     Earnings after interest expense
       on deposits...................       298.3       379.9    294.7    248.1    197.7    154.4
                                           ======      ======   ======   ======   ======   ======
FIXED CHARGES:
  Interest expense...................       336.0       431.8    306.6    276.1    298.7    388.9
  Portion of rents representative of
     the interest factor.............         0.1         0.1      0.1      0.1      0.1      0.1
                                           ------      ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
  Fixed charges......................       336.1       431.9    306.7    276.2    298.8    389.0
                                           ======      ======   ======   ======   ======   ======
Fixed charges including interest
  expense on deposits................       336.1       431.9    306.7    276.2    298.8    389.0
  Less interest expense on
     deposits........................       237.0       305.0    219.8    203.2    250.7    334.0
                                           ------      ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
     Fixed charges excluding interest
       expense on deposits...........     $  99.1      $126.9   $ 86.9   $ 73.0   $ 48.1   $ 55.0
                                           ======      ======   ======   ======   ======   ======
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES:
  Charges including interest expense
     on deposits.....................        1.59        1.59     1.68     1.63     1.50     1.26
  Excluding interest expense on
     deposits........................        3.01        2.99     3.39     3.40     4.11     2.81
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-3 of our report dated January
16, 1996, included in First Tennessee National Corporation's 1995 Annual Report
on Form 10-K, and to all references to our firm in this registration statement.
 
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
Memphis, Tennessee,
  December 6, 1996.

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below does hereby constitute and appoint ELBERT L. THOMAS, JR, JAMES F. KEEN,
CLYDE A. BILLINGS, JR., and TERESA A. FEHRMAN, jointly and each of them
severally, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, 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 execute and sign the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, by First Tennessee
National Corporation ("Corporation") together with one or more statutory
business trusts to be formed under the Delaware Business Trust Act (the
"Trusts"), relating to up to $300 million aggregate initial offering price of
(i) the Corporation's junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures, (ii)
preferred securities of the trusts, and (iii) guarantees by the Corporation of
the preferred securities issued by the Trusts and, further, to execute and sign
any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments thereto 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, and each of the, or their or his or her substitute
or substitutes, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act
and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person,
hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                               TITLE                     DATE
                ---------                               -----                     -----
<C>                                         <S>                             <C>
                RALPH HORN                  Chairman of the Board,          December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------  President and Chief Executive
                Ralph Horn                  Officer and a Director
                                            (principal executive officer)

          ELBERT L. THOMAS,  JR.            Executive Vice President and    December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------  Chief Financial Officer
          Elbert L. Thomas, Jr.             (principal financial officer)

               JAMES F. KEEN                Senior Vice President and       December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------  Controller (principal
              James F. Keen                 accounting officer)

                                            Director                        December  , 1996
- ------------------------------------------
           Robert C. Blattberg
                                           
             CARLOS H. CANTU                 Director                        December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
             Carlos H. Cantu

             GEORGE E. CATES                Director                        December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
             George E. Cates

                                            Director                        December  , 1996
- ------------------------------------------
           James A. Haslam, III

               R. BRAD MARTIN               Director                        December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
              R. Brad Martin
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   2
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                    TITLE                DATE
                ---------                    -----                ----
<C>                                         <S>              <C>
            JOSEPH ORGILL, III              Director         December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
            Joseph Orgill, III

              VICKI G. ROMAN                Director         December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
              Vicki G. Roman

             MICHAEL D. ROSE                Director         December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
             Michael D. Rose

            WILLIAM B. SANSOM               Director         December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
            William B. Sansom

          GORDON P. STREET, JR.             Director         December 5, 1996
- ------------------------------------------
          Gordon P. Street, Jr.
</TABLE>


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