MELLON BANK CORP
8-K, 1996-03-06
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
 
                     SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) - February 27, 1996



                           MELLON BANK CORPORATION
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)



             Pennsylvania               1-7410           25-1233834
    (State or other jurisdiction     (Commission      (I.R.S. Employer
          of incorporation)          File Number)    Identification No.)
 

                            One Mellon Bank Center
                               500 Grant Street
                           Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania               15258
                   (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code - (412) 234-5000
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

The following exhibits are filed herewith and incorporated by reference into
Registration Statement No. 33-62151 pertaining to certain debt securities of
Mellon Financial Company and the related guarantees of the Registrant.

Exhibit
Number   Description

1.2      Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 27, 1996, between Mellon
         Financial Company (the "Company"), Mellon Bank Corporation (the
         "Corporation") and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Chase Securities, Inc.,
         relating to the issuance and sale of $250,000,000 aggregate principal
         amount of the Company's 6.70% Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2008
         and the related guarantees of the Corporation, together with the Mellon
         Financial Company Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt)
         dated February 27, 1996.

4.4      Form of 6.70% Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2008.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                           MELLON BANK CORPORATION

Date:  March 5, 1996       By:  STEVEN G. ELLIOTT
                                Steven G. Elliott
                                Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer
                                & Treasurer
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Number   Description                                  Method of Filing

1.2      Underwriting Agreement dated as of
         February 27, 1996 and Standard Provisions
         (Debt) dated February 27, 1996               Filed herewith

4.4      Form of 6.70% Subordinated Debenture
         due March 1, 2008                            Filed herewith

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EX-1.2
 
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                         February 27, 1996



Mellon Financial Company and
   Mellon Bank Corporation
      One Mellon Bank Center
         Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15258

Dear Sirs:

     Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Chase Securities, Inc., as Underwriters (the
"Underwriters"), understand that Mellon Financial Company, a Pennsylvania
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell $250,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of 6.70% Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2008 (the
"Offered Securities"), which are to be unconditionally guaranteed (as described
in the Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus referred to below) as to payments of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, by Mellon Bank Corporation, a
Pennsylvania corporation registered as a bank holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act (the "Guarantor").  Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein or incorporated by reference herein, the Company hereby agrees to
sell, the Guarantor agrees to guarantee, and the Underwriters agree to purchase,
severally and not jointly, the principal amounts of such Offered Securities set
forth opposite their names on Schedule A hereto at 98.942% of their principal
amount, yielding total proceeds at closing of $247,355,000.

     The Underwriters will pay for such Offered Securities in immediately
available funds upon delivery thereof at the offices of Sullivan & Cromwell, 125
Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on March 1,
1996, or at such other time, not later than March 1, 1996, as shall be
designated by the Underwriters.

     The Offered Securities shall have the terms set forth in the Company's and
the Guarantor's Prospectus
<PAGE>
 
Supplement, dated February 27, 1996, and the Prospectus, dated
September 6, 1995, particularly as follows:

               Maturity:                 March 1, 2008

               Interest Rate:            6.70% per annum

               Redemption Provisions:    None

               Interest Payment Dates:   March 1 and September 1,
                                         commencing September 1, 1996

          All the provisions contained in the documents entitled Mellon
Financial Company Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt), dated
February 27, 1996, a copy of which you have previously received, are herein
incorporated by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of
this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in
full herein.

          Please confirm your agreement by having an authorized officer sign a
copy of this Agreement in the appropriate space set forth below.  This Agreement
may be signed in any number of counterparts with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

                         Very truly yours,

                         GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                         CHASE SECURITIES, INC.

                         By:  GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


                              /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
                              ------------------------
                                (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

Accepted:  February 27, 1996

MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
By: /s/ Steven G. Elliot
    -------------------------
    Name:  Steven G. Elliot
    Title: President & Chief Executive Officer


Accepted:  February 27, 1996

MELLON BANK CORPORATION


By: /s/ Steven G. Elliot
    -------------------------
    Name:  Steven G. Elliot
    Title: Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

                                       -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE A
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 
                                               Principal Amount
      Underwriters                             of Securities
      ------------                             ----------------
<S>                                            <C>
 
Goldman, Sachs & Co.......................       $125,000,000
Chase Securities, Inc.....................        125,000,000
                                                 ------------
          Total...........................       $250,000,000
 
</TABLE>

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
 
                            MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                           STANDARD PROVISIONS (DEBT)

                               February 27, 1996


          From time to time Mellon Financial Company, a Pennsylvania corporation
(the "Company"), and Mellon Bank Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation
registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act (the
"Guarantor"), may enter into one or more underwriting agreements that provide
for the sale of designated securities to the several underwriters named herein.
The standard provisions set forth herein may be incorporated by reference in any
such underwriting agreement (an "Underwriting Agreement").  The Underwriting
Agreement, including the provisions incorporated therein by reference, is herein
referred to as "this Agreement".  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined
in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

                                       I.

          The Company proposes to issue from time to time debt securities
consisting of debentures, notes and/or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness
(the "Securities") to be issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture,
dated as of May 2, 1988, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of November 29, 1990, among the Company, the Guarantor and The Chase
Manhattan Bank (National Association), as trustee, and/or the Indenture, dated
as of August 25, 1995, among the Company, the Guarantor and First Interstate
Bank of California, as trustee, as the same may be from time to time amended or
supplemented (the applicable indenture being referred to herein as the
"Indenture" and the trustee thereunder being referred to herein as the
"Trustee").  The Securities will have varying designations, maturities, rates
and times of payment of interest, selling prices and redemption terms.  The
Securities will be guaranteed as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, by the Guarantor.

          The Company and the Guarantor have filed with the  Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement, including a
prospectus relating to the Securities and to the unconditional guarantee by the
Guarantor of 

                                       
<PAGE>
 
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any (the "Guarantees"),
and have filed with, or mailed for filing to, the Commission a prospectus
supplement specifically relating to the Offered Securities and related
Guarantees (the "Offered Guarantees") pursuant to Rule 424 of the rules
and regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities
Act").  The term Registration Statement means the registration statement as
amended to the date of the Underwriting Agreement.  The term Basic Prospectus
means the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.  The term
Prospectus means the Basic Prospectus together with the prospectus supplement
specifically relating to the Offered Securities and Offered Guarantees as filed
with, or mailed for filing to, the Commission pursuant to Rule 424.  The term
preliminary prospectus means a preliminary prospectus supplement specifically
relating to the Offered Securities and Offered Guarantees together with the
Basic Prospectus.  As used herein, the terms "Registration Statement", "Basic
Prospectus", "Prospectus" and "preliminary prospectus" shall include in each
case the material, if any, incorporated by reference therein.

          The term Underwriters' Securities means the Offered Securities to be
purchased by the Underwriters herein.  The term Contract Securities means the
Offered Securities, if any, to be purchased pursuant to the delayed delivery
contracts referred to below.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                                      II.

          If the Prospectus provides for sales of Offered Securities pursuant to
delayed delivery contracts, the Company hereby authorizes the Underwriters to
solicit offers to purchase Contract Securities on the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Prospectus pursuant to delayed delivery contracts
substantially in the form of Schedule I attached hereto ("Delayed Delivery
Contracts") but with such changes therein as the Company may authorize or
approve.  Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors
approved by the Company and of the types set forth in the Prospectus.  On the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the Company will pay the Manager as
compensation, for the accounts of the Underwriters, the fee set forth in the
Underwriting Agreement in respect of the principal amount of Contract
Securities.  The Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the
validity or the performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts.

          If the Company executes and delivers Delayed Delivery Contracts with
institutional investors, the Contract Securities shall be deducted from the
Offered Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters, and the
aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities to be purchased by each
Underwriter shall be reduced pro rata in proportion to the principal amount of
Offered Securities set forth opposite each Underwriter's name in the
Underwriting Agreement, except to the extent that the Manager determines that
such reduction shall be otherwise and so advises the Company.



                                     III.

          The Company is advised by the Manager that the Underwriters propose to
make a public offering of their respective portions of the Underwriters'
Securities as soon after this Agreement is entered into as in the Manager's
judgment is advisable.  The Underwriters will offer the Underwriters' Securities
for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

                                       -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                     IV.

          Payment for the Underwriters' Securities shall be made by certified or
official bank check or checks drawn on a bank approved by the Company and
payable to the order of the Company in New York Clearing House funds at the time
and place set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, upon delivery to the Manager
for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Underwriters'
Securities registered in such names and in such denominations as the Manager
shall request in writing not less than two full business days prior to the date
of delivery.  The time and date of such payment and delivery with respect to the
Underwriters' Securities are herein referred to as the Closing Date.  The
Offered Securities will be made available for checking and packaging at least
twenty-four hours prior to the time for delivery.

                                       V.

          The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to
the following conditions:

          (a)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall be
     pending before or threatened by the Commission, and the Manager shall have
     received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and
     signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the foregoing effect.
     The officer making such certificate may rely upon the best of his
     knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.

          (b)  The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
     of the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel of the Guarantor and
     counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in
     Exhibit A.

          (c)  The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
     Sullivan & Cromwell, as counsel to the Underwriters, dated the Closing
     Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company and the Guarantor,
     the validity

                                       -4-
<PAGE>
 
     of the Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Offered Guarantees, the
     Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
     Manager may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such
     papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to
     pass upon such matters.

          (d)  The Manager shall have received on the Closing Date letters,
     dated the Closing Date and in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Manager, from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent public accountants to the
     Guarantor, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B.

          (e)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Prospectus, there shall not have been any material and adverse change,
     or any development involving a prospective material and adverse change,
     in the creditworthiness of the Company or the Guarantor, otherwise than
     as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which is in
     the reasonable judgment of the Manager so material and adverse as to make
     it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
     delivery of the Offered Securities on the terms and in the manner
     contemplated in the Prospectus.

          (f)  On or after the date of this Agreement (i) no downgrading shall
     have occurred in the rating accorded the debt securities of or guaranteed
     by the Guarantor or the preferred stock of the Guarantor by any
     "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term is
     defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
     Securities Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced
     that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative
     implications, its rating of any debt securities of or guaranteed by the
     Guarantor or preferred stock of the Guarantor. 

          (g)  On or after the date of this Agreement there shall not have
     occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in
     trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a
     general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared
     by either

                                       -5-
<PAGE>
 
     Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or
     escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration
     by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any
     such events specified in this clause (iii) in the judgment of the
     Underwriters makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
     public offering or the delivery of the Securities being delivered on the
     Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus.


                                     VI.

          In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriters
contained in this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantor hereby covenant:

          (a)  to furnish the Manager without charge a signed copy of the
     Registration Statement, including exhibits and materials, if any,
     incorporated by reference therein, and during the period mentioned in
     paragraph (c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus, any documents
     incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments
     thereto as the Manager may reasonably request.  (The terms "supplement"
     and "amendment" or "amend" as used in this Agreement shall include all
     documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") subsequent to the
     date of the Basic Prospectus that are deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus);

          (b)  before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus with respect to the Offered Securities and the Offered
     Guarantees, to furnish the Manager a copy of each such proposed amendment
     or supplement;

          (c)  if, during such period after the date of the first public
     offering of the Offered Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the
     Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered, any event
     shall occur as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement
     the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the

                                       -6-
<PAGE>
 
     circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not
     misleading, or if it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus
     to comply with law, forthwith to prepare and furnish at its own expense
     to the Underwriters, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
     so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented
     will not, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered
     to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply
     with law;

          (d)  to endeavor to qualify the Offered Securities and the Offered
     Guarantees for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
     jurisdictions as the Manager shall reasonably request, provided that, in
     connection therewith, neither the Company nor the Guarantor shall be
     required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent
     to service of process in any jurisdiction, and to pay all expenses
     (including fees and disbursements of counsel) in connection with the
     determination of the eligibility of the Offered Securities and the Offered
     Guarantees for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
     Manager may designate;

          (e)  to make generally available to the Guarantor's security holders
     as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a twelve-month period
     beginning after the date of the Underwriting Agreement, which shall
     satisfy the provision of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act; and

          (f)  during the period beginning on the date of the Underwriting
     Agreement and continuing to and including the Closing Date, not to offer,
     sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued
     or guaranteed by the Guarantor that in the reasonable judgment of the
     Manager are substantially similar to the Offered Securities, without the
     prior written consent of the Manager.

                                       -7-
<PAGE>
 
                                      VII.

          Each of the Company and the Guarantor represents and warrants to each
Underwriter that (i) each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the
Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or will
comply when so filed in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) each part of the
registration statement (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act relating to
the Securities and the Guarantees, when such part became effective, did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iii)
each preliminary prospectus, if any, filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
Securities Act complied when so filed in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder, (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations thereunder and (v) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus do
not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; except that these representations and
warranties do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information
furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter expressly for use
therein.

          The Company and the Guarantor jointly and severally agree to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls such
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities caused by any untrue statement or alleged

                                       -8-
<PAGE>
 
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (if used within the period set forth in
paragraph (c) of Article VI hereof and as amended or supplemented if the Company
shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements in the Registration Statement
not misleading, or the statements in any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus
or any document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such
untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information furnished in writing to the Company or the Guarantor by any
Underwriter expressly for use therein.

          Each Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
the Guarantor, the directors of either, the officers of either who sign the
Registration Statement and any person controlling the Company or the Guarantor
to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Guarantor
to each Underwriter, but only with respect to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus.

          In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs, such person (the
"indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing, and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and
shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding.
In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its
own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the

                                       -9-
<PAGE>
 
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or
(ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation
of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them.  It is understood that the
indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm for all such indemnified parties.  Such
firm shall be designated in writing by the Manager in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to the second preceding paragraph and by the Company in the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first preceding paragraph.  The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent but, if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment.

          If the indemnification provided for in this Article VII is unavailable
to an indemnified party under the second or third paragraphs hereof or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages, or liabilities referred
to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the
Guarantor on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The
relative benefits received (by the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and
the Underwriters on the other) in connection with the offering of the Offered
Securities shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
proceeds from the offering of such Offered Securities received by the Company
(before deducting expenses) bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters in respect thereof.  The relative fault
of the Company and the Guarantor on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the
other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the
untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
and the Guarantor or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statements or omission.

          The Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article VII were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the
immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VII, no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Offered Securities and Offered Guarantees
underwritten and distributed to the public by such Underwriter exceeds the
amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The
Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Article VII are
several, in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Offered Securities
purchased by each of such Underwriters, and not joint.

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
                                    VIII.

          The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Article VII
hereof and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Guarantor
in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless
of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by any
Underwriter or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any
Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, the Guarantor or the directors or
officers or any person controlling the Company or the Guarantor and (iii)
acceptance of any payment for any of the Offered Securities.

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
                                      IX.

          If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Offered Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the Underwriters
may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties
to purchase such Offered Securities on the terms contained herein.  If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Underwriters do not
arrange for the purchase of such Offered Securities, then the Company and the
Guarantor shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which
to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Underwriters to
purchase such Offered Securities on such terms.  In the event that, within the
respective prescribed periods, the Underwriters notify the Company and the
Guarantor that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Offered
Securities, or the Company and the Guarantor notify the Underwriters that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Offered Securities, the Underwriters
or the Company and the Guarantor shall have the right to postpone the Closing
Date for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever
changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company and the
Guarantor agree to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the reasonable opinion of the
Manager may thereby be made necessary.  The term "Underwriters" as used in this
Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section IX with like
effect as if such person has originally been a party to this Agreement with
respect to such Offered Securities.

          If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Offered Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in
the immediately preceding paragraph hereof, the aggregate principal amount of
such Offered Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh
of the aggregate principal amount of all the Offered Securities, then the
Guarantor and the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Offered Securities which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-
defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal
amount of Offered Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase
hereunder) of the Offered Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

          If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Offered Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters as provided in
the first paragraph of this Section IX, the aggregate principal amount of
Offered Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the
aggregate principal amount of all the Offered Securities or if the Guarantor and
the Company shall not exercise the right described in the immediately preceding
paragraph to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Offered Securities
of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement shall thereupon
terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters or
the Company or the Guarantor, except for the expenses to be borne by the
Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters as provided in Section X hereof and
the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section VII hereof; but nothing
herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
                                       X.

          Each of the Guarantor and the Company covenants and agrees with the
several Underwriters that the Company and the Guarantor will pay or cause to be
paid the following:  (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Guarantor's
and the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of
the Offered Securities and the Offered Guarantees under the Securities Act and
all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements
thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and
to dealers; (ii) the cost of printing this Agreement, the Indenture and any Blue
Sky and legal investment memoranda; (iii) all expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Offered Securities and the Offered Guarantees for offering
and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section VI(d) hereof,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and legal
investment surveys; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for
rating the Offered Securities; (v) the cost of preparing the Offered Securities;
(vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any agent of the Trustee and the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the
Indenture, the Offered Securities and the Offered Guarantees; and (vii) all
other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section X.
It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section X and
Sections VII and XI hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and
expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any
of the Offered Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with
any offers they may make.

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
                                      XI.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company or the
Guarantor to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this
Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or the Guarantor shall be unable to
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company and the Guarantor
will reimburse the Underwriters, or such Underwriters as have so terminated
this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably
incurred by such Underwriters in connection with the Offered Securities.

          This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto
and hereto were upon the same instrument.

          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York.

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Schedule I



                           DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT

                                                                          , 199

Dear Sirs:

      The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from Mellon Financial Company, a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the
undersigned
                            $.......................

principal amount of the Company's [state title of issue], which are guaranteed
as to payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, by Mellon
Bank Corporation (the   "Securities"), offered by the Prospectus dated
,  199  and Prospectus Supplement dated            ,  199 , receipt of copies of
which are hereby acknowledged, at a purchase price of    % of the principal
amount thereof plus accrued interest and on the further terms and conditions set
forth in this contract.  The undersigned does not contemplate selling Securities
prior to making payment therefor.

      The undersigned will purchase from the Company Securities in the principal
amounts and on the delivery dates set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 Delivery                     Principal              Plus Accrued
   Date                         Amount               Interest From:
 --------                     ---------              --------------
<S>                     <C>                       <C> 

 ..................      $ ..................      ...................

 ..................      $ ..................      ...................

 ..................      $ ..................      ...................

</TABLE>

Each such date on which Securities are to be purchased hereunder is hereinafter
referred to as a "Delivery Date."

      Payment for the Securities which the undersigned has agreed to purchase on
each Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by certified or
official bank check drawn on a  bank approved by the Company and in New York
Clearing House funds at the office of                      , New York, N.Y., at
10:00 A.M. (New York time) on the Delivery Date, upon delivery to the
undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned on the Delivery
Date, in such denominations and registered in such names as the undersigned may
designate by

                                       
<PAGE>
 
written or telegraphic communication addressed to the Company not less than 
five full business days prior to the Delivery Date.

      The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make payment for
the Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject to the conditions that (1)
the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned shall not at the time
of delivery be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the
undersigned is subject and (2) the Company shall have sold, and delivery shall
have taken place to the underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in the
Prospectus Supplement referred to above, of such part of the Securities as is to
be sold to them.  Promptly after completion of sale and delivery to the
Underwriters, the Company will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address
set forth below notice to such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of
counsel for the Company delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

      Failure to take delivery of and make payment for Securities by any
purchaser under any other Delayed Delivery Contract shall not relieve the
undersigned of its obligations under this contract.

      This contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by either
party hereto without the written consent of the other.

      If this contract is acceptable to the Company, it is requested that the
Company sign the form of acceptance below and mail or deliver one of the
counterparts hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth below.  This
will become a binding contract, as of the date first above written, between the
Company and the undersigned when such counterpart is so mailed or delivered.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
      This contract shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

                                  Very truly yours,

                                  .........................
                                         (Purchaser)

                                  By.......................

                                  .........................
                                           (Title)

                                  .........................

                                  .........................
                                          (Address)
Accepted:

MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY

By.........................



                PURCHASER--PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING


      The name, telephone number and department of the representative of the
Purchaser with whom details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed is
as follows:  (Please print.)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

      Name                  Telephone No.            Department       
     ------             (Including Area Code)        ----------
                        ---------------------
<S>                     <C>                       <C> 
 
 ..................       ..................       ..................

 ..................       ..................       ..................

 ..................       ..................       ..................

 ..................       ..................       ..................

 ..................       ..................       ..................

 ..................       ..................       ..................
 
</TABLE>

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit A

                   Opinion of the Counsel of the Guarantor
                          And Counsel to the Company
                   ---------------------------------------


      The opinion of the General Counsel or Assistant General Counsel of the
Guarantor and counsel to the Company to be delivered pursuant to Article V,
paragraph (b) of the document entitled Mellon Financial Company Underwriting
Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt) shall be to the following effect (all terms
used herein which are defined in the Agreement have the meanings set forth
therein):

      (i)   Each of the Guarantor and the Company has been duly incorporated and
   is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
   Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and each has the corporate power and authority
   to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
   Prospectus; and each of the Guarantor's principal wholly owned banking
   subsidiaries, as described in the prospectus, has been duly established and
   is validly existing as a national banking association or a state bank, as
   the case may be, under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

      (ii)  The Guarantor has an authorized equity capitalization as set forth
   in the Prospectus and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
   Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
   non-assessable and are owned by the Guarantor, free and clear of all liens,
   encumbrances, equities or claims.

      (iii)  The Guarantor has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
   the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each
   other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any
   business, so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material
   liability or disability by reason of failure to be so qualified in any such
   jurisdiction.

      (iv)  All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary
   of the Guarantor has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid
   and non-assessable (except, in the case of each of its national bank
   subsidiaries, as provided in 12 U.S.C. Section 55, as amended), and, except
   for directors' qualifying shares, is

                                       
<PAGE>
 
   owned by the Guarantor, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien,
   encumbrance, claim or equity.

      (v)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge there are no legal or
   governmental proceedings pending to which the Company, the Guarantor or any
   of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company, the
   Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is the subject, other than as set
   forth in the Prospectus, which, taking into account the likelihood of the
   outcome, the damages or other relief sought and other relevant factors,
   would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect
   on the financial position, shareholders' equity or results of operation of
   the Company or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;
   and to the best of such counsel's knowledge no such proceedings are
   threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
   others.

      (vi)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
   the Company and by the Guarantor.

      (vii)  The Offered Securities have been duly authorized, executed,
   authenticated, issued and delivered and  constitute valid and legally binding
   obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
   Indenture; and the Offered Securities, the Offered Guarantees and the
   Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

      (viii)  The Offered Guarantees have been duly authorized, endorsed on the
   Offered Securities and executed, and, upon due execution, authentication and
   delivery of the Offered Securities pursuant to this Agreement, the Offered
   Guarantees will have been duly delivered and will constitute valid and
   legally binding obligations of the Guarantor entitled to the benefits 
   provided by the Indenture.

      (ix)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
   the Guarantor and the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding
   instrument, enforceable against the Company and the Guarantor in accordance
   with its terms,

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
   subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, moratorium, insolvency, fraudulent
   transfer, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to
   or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; the
   Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the
   "Trust Indenture Act"), and all taxes and fees required to be paid with
   respect to the execution of the Indenture and the issuance of the Offered
   Securities and the Offered Guarantees have been paid.

      (x)  The issue and sale of the Offered Securities and the compliance by
   the Company and the Guarantor with all of the provisions of the Offered
   Securities, the Offered Guarantees, the Indenture and this Agreement and the
   consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with
   or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
   default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
   encumbrance upon any of the property or assets of the Company, the Guarantor
   or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage,
   deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such
   counsel to which the Company, the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a
   party or by which the Company, the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is
   bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company, the Guarantor
   or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any
   violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or
   the By-Laws of the Company or of the Guarantor, or any statute or any order,
   rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
   jurisdiction over the Company, the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or
   any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
   registration or qualification of or with any court or any such regulatory
   authority or other governmental body is required for the issue and sale of
   the Offered Securities, the execution and delivery of the Offered Guarantees
   or the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
   the Offered Guarantees or the Indenture, except such as have been obtained
   under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and the Trust
   Indenture Act and the 
                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
   exemption of the Company from the provisions of the Investment Company Act of
   1940, as amended, and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations
   or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws
   in connection with the sale and distribution of the Offered Securities and
   the Offered Guarantees.

      (xi)  The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other
   than the financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such
   counsel need express no opinion), when they were filed with the Commission,
   complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
   Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the rules and
   regulations of the Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no reason to
   believe that any of such documents, when they were so filed, contained an
   untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
   necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
   circumstances under which they were made when such documents were so filed,
   not misleading, in each case after excluding any statement in any such
   document which does not constitute part of the Registration Statement or the
   Prospectus pursuant to Rule 412 of Regulation C under the Securities Act.
 
      (xii)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any further
    amendments and supplements thereto made by the Company or the Guarantor
    prior to the Closing Date (other than the financial statements and related
    schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply
    as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
    Act and the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
    such counsel has no reason to believe that either the Registration
    Statement, as of its effective date and as of the Closing Date, or the
    Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
    Company or the Guarantor prior to the Closing Date, as of the date of the
    most recent amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date,
    contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
    fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
    therein not misleading; and

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
    such counsel does not know of any contracts or other documents of a
    character required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
    required to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or required to
    be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not
    filed or incorporated by reference or described as required.

      (xiii)  The Company is exempt from the registration and other provisions
    of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

      In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to matters of fact
upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, provided
that such counsel shall state that he believes he is justified in relying upon
such certificates.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit B

      Pursuant to Article V, paragraph (d) of the Mellon Financial Company
Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt) (the "Standard Provisions"),
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect
that:

      (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
   Guarantor and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
   applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

      (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
   financial information and schedules audited by them and included or
   incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
   comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
   requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the published
   rules and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review
   in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
   Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial
   statements, selected financial data and/or condensed financial statements
   derived from audited financial statements of the Guarantor for the periods
   specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of
   which have been furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the
   "Representatives");

      (iii)  The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
   consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Guarantor
   for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and included
   or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Guarantor's Annual Report on
   Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the corresponding
   amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the audited consolidated
   financial statements for such fiscal years which were included or
   incorporated by reference in the Guarantor's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for
   such five fiscal years;

      (iv) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an audit in
   accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting of a
   reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information referred
   to below, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements of
   the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, inspection

                                       
<PAGE>
 
   of the minute books of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries since the date of
   the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference
   in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Guarantor and its
   subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other
   inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing came to
   their attention that caused them to believe that:

           (A) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
      consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of changes in
     financial position included or incorporated by reference in the Guarantor's
     Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
     do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
     accounting requirements of the Exchange Act as it applies to Form 10-Q and
     the related published rules and regulations thereunder or are not in
     conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
     substantially consistent with the basis for the audited consolidated
     statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated
     statements of changes in financial position included or incorporated by
     reference in the Guarantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent
     fiscal year;

           (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items
     included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding items in the
     unaudited consolidated financial statements from which such data and items
     were derived, and any such unaudited data and items were not determined on
     a basis substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding
     amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
     incorporated by reference in the Guarantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
     the most recent fiscal year;

           (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in the
     Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed financial
     statements referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited income

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
     referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
     consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included or
     incorporated by reference in the Guarantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
     the most recent fiscal year;

           (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
     statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not
     comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
     requirements of the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder
     or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to the
     historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

           (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the date
     of delivery of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
     capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock pursuant to employee
     stock plans, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions of
     convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of
     the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the
     Guarantor and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in the consolidated amount
     of shareholders' equity or reserve for credit losses or other items
     specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified
     by the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts shown in the
     latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which
     the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described
     in such letter; and

           (F) for the period from the date of the latest complete financial
     statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the
     specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in
     consolidated net interest revenue, net interest revenue after the provision
     for credit losses, net income

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     applicable to common stock or net income per common share or other items
     specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified
     by the Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period
     of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length
     specified by the Representatives, except in each case for increases or
     decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
     which are described in such letter; and

      (v) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included or
   incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures,
   inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in
   subparagraphs (iii) and (iv) above, they have carried out certain specified
   procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
   auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
   financial information specified by the Representatives which are derived from
   the general accounting records of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, which
   appear in the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference) or
   in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement
   specified by the Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in
   the Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain
   such amounts, percentages and financial information with the accounting
   records of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries and have found them to be in
   agreement.

          All references in this Exhibit B to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein), as defined in the Standard Provisions as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Underwriting Agreement for purposes of such letter
and to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Offered
Securities and Offered Guarantees for purposes of the letter delivered at the
Time of Delivery for such Offered Securities and Offered Guarantees.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EX-4.4
 

                               [FACE OF SECURITY]

     If this Security is a Global Security (as indicated below), the following
legend is applicable:

     UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES OF THIS
SERIES IN CERTIFICATED FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A
WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE
DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH
DEPOSITARY.  UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH A TRANSFEROR TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION
OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN
THE NAME OF SUCH A TRANSFEREE OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF SUCH A TRANSFERROR AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO SUCH A
TRANSFEREE, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY
OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, SUCH A
TRANSFEROR, HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

REGISTERED                                                          REGISTERED
No. 
CUSIP: 585510CE8                                           [x] GLOBAL SECURITY

                            MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
                6.70% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE MARCH 1, 2008

          MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY, a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (herein called the "Company",
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or
registered assigns, the principal sum of      Dollars on March 1, 2008, and to 
pay interest thereon from March 1, 1996 or from the most recent Interest Payment
Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on
March 1 and September 1 in each year, commencing September 1, 1996, at the rate
of 6.70% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for
payment, and (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable) at the rate of 6.70% per annum on any overdue principal and premium
and on any overdue installment of interest. The interest so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided
<PAGE>
 
for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid
to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest, which shall be the February 15 or August 15 (whether or not
a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith
cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be
paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for
the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice
whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10
days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other
lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange
on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as
may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

          If this Security is a Global Security (as specified on the face
hereof), this Security is exchangeable in whole for definitive Securities of
this series in registered form ("Registered Securities") of like tenor and of an
equal aggregate principal amount only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company
that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for this Global
Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (ii) the
Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order providing that this
Global Security shall be exchangeable for definitive Registered Securities or
(iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of the series of which this Global Security is a part.
In the event this Global Security is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence, it shall be exchanged in whole for definitive Registered Securities of
this series, of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount in
denominations of U.S. $1,000 and integral multiples thereof; provided that, in
                                                             --------         
the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, definitive Registered Securities of
this series will be issued in exchange for this Global Security only if such
definitive Registered Securities were requested by written notice to the
Security Registrar by or on behalf of a Person who is a beneficial

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
owner of an interest herein given through the Holder hereof. Any definitive
Registered Securities of this series issued in exchange for this Global Security
shall be registered in the name or names of such Person or Persons as the Holder
hereof shall instruct the Security Registrar. Except as provided above, owners
of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive
physical delivery of Securities in definitive form and will not be considered
the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.

          If this Security is a Global Security, except as provided in the next
paragraph, no beneficial owner of any portion of this Global Security shall be
entitled to receive payment of accrued interest hereon until this Global
Security has been exchanged for one or more definitive Registered Securities of
this series, as provided herein and in the Indenture.

          If this Security is a Global Security and if a definitive Registered
Security or Registered Securities of this series are issued in exchange for this
Global Security after the close of business at the office or agency where such
exchange occurs on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the opening of
business at such office or agency on the related Interest Payment Date, or (ii)
any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or
agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest or
interest on Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, accrued interest will not be
payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case
may be, in respect of such Registered Security, but will be payable on such
Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to
the Holder hereof, and the Holder hereof will undertake in such circumstances to
credit such interest to the account or accounts of the Persons who were the
beneficial owners of any portion of this Global Security on such Regular Record
Date or Special Record Date, as the case may be.

          If this Security is a Global Security, payment of the principal of and
any premium or interest hereon will be made on each Interest Payment Date and at
the Maturity Date, as the case may be, by the Trustee by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, in such coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
private debts, to an account of the registered Holder hereof at the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, provided, that, payment at the Maturity Date hereof
                          --------                                           
shall be made against presentation of this Security at the office of the
Trustee's agent, Mellon Securities Transfer Services, currently located at 120
Broadway, 33rd Floor, New York, New York  10271.  If this Security is not a
Global Security, (i) the principal of and any interest and premium hereon
payable at the Maturity Date hereof will be paid in immediately available funds,
in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of
payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts, against
presentation of this Security at the aforementioned office of the Trustee, and
(ii) all interest payments hereon other than interest due at the Maturity Date
hereof will be made by check drawn on the Trustee and mailed by the Trustee to
the person entitled thereto as provided herein, provided, that Holders of
                                                --------                 
$10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series
shall be entitled to receive such payments by wire transfer of immediately
available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in
writing by the Trustee not less than 16 days prior to the applicable Interest
Payment Date.

          Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security
set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes
have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
 
         This Security is not a deposit and is not insured by any federal
agency.

          Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by
the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, or by an Authenticating Agent, by
manual signature, neither this Security nor the Guarantee endorsed hereon shall
be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any
purpose.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed, manually or in facsimile, by its duly authorized officer under its
corporate seal.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
                                                     MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY

Dated:  March 1, 1996

                                                     By: SPECIMEN
                                                         ---------------------
                                                         Name:  W. Keith Smith
                                                         Title: Chairman

Attest:


          SPECIMEN
- -----------------------------
  Secretary


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the
series designated herein referred to
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA,
  as Trustee


By:       SPECIMEN
   -------------------------
     Authorized Officer

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
                             [REVERSE OF SECURITY]

                            MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
                6.70% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE MARCH 1, 2008

          This Security is one of a duly authorized series of Securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), of the series hereinafter specified,
issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 25, 1995 (herein
called the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Guarantor and First Interstate
Bank of California, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee", which term includes
any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the
respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of
the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company and the Guarantor and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms
upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.  The
Securities may be issued in different series, as in the Indenture provided.
This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, issued under
and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and limited (except as otherwise
provided in the Indenture) to an aggregate principal amount of $250,000,000.

          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall
occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture.  Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and
payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal and overdue interest (in
each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and interest on the Securities of this series shall terminate.

          The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided
in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and this Security is
issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each
Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound
by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the
Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided,
the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than 
66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding
of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting
the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of
each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities
of such series, to waive compliance by the Company or the Guarantor with certain
provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and
their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security
shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of
this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer
hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

The Guarantor, or a Subsidiary thereof, may directly assume, by a supplemental
indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest on all the Securities, in which case the Company shall be
released from its liability as obligor on the Securities.

          No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security
or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which
is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or
currency, herein prescribed.

          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on
this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accom-panied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security
Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like
tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount,
will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

          The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized
denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

          No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

          Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of
transfer, the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company,
the Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is
registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be
overdue, and neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent
shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

          All terms used in this Security which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                                 ABBREVIATIONS


          The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face
of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations.

          TEN COM--as tenants in common

          TEN ENT--as tenants by the entireties

          JT TEN--as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as
          tenants in common

          UNIF GIFT MIN ACT--           Custodian 
                              ------------------------------
                              (Cust)                 (Minor)

                    Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

                    ---------------------------------
                               (State)


     Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
                        ------------------------------

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and
transfer(s) unto

Please Insert Social Security or Other
   Identifying Number of Assignee:

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

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


                   PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS
                        INCLUDING ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE:


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

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

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


the within Security and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably
constituting                         and                         appointing
             -----------------------     -----------------------
 
- -------------------------------------------- attorney to transfer said Security
on the Security Register of the Company, with full power of substitution in the
premises.



Dated:  
       -------------------- 
  ------------------------------------

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
                              NOTICE:  The signature to this assignment must
                              correspond with the  name as written upon the
                              face of this Security in every particular, without
                              alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.


                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
                                   GUARANTEE

                                       OF
                                        
                            MELLON BANK CORPORATION


          For value received, Mellon Bank Corporation, a corporation duly
organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
(herein called the "Guarantor"), hereby unconditionally guarantees to the Holder
of the Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed the due and punctual
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on said Security,
when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, by
acceleration or redemption or otherwise, according to the terms thereof and of
the Indenture referred to therein.  In case of the failure of Mellon Financial
Company or any successor thereto (the "Company") punctually to pay any such
principal, premium or interest, the Guarantor hereby agrees to cause any such
payment to be made punctually when and as the same shall become due and payable,
whether at maturity, upon acceleration or redemption or otherwise, and as if
such payment were made by the Company.

          The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be as
principal and not merely as surety, and shall be absolute and unconditional,
irrespective of, and shall be unaffected by, any invalidity, irregularity or
unenforceability of said Security or said Indenture, any failure to enforce the
provisions of said Security or said Indenture, or any waiver, modification,
consent or indulgence granted to the Company with respect thereto, by the Holder
of said Security or the Trustee under said Indenture, the recovery of any
judgment against the Company or any action to enforce the same, or any other
circumstances which may otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a
surety or guarantor.  The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand
of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger, insolvency or
bankruptcy of the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the
Company, protest or notice with respect to said Security or the indebtedness
evidenced thereby and all demands whatsoever, and covenants that this Guarantee
will not be discharged except by

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
payment in full of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on said
Security and the complete performance of all other obligations contained in
said Security.

          The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holder of said
Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid to such Holder by
the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee; provided, however,
                                                            --------  ------- 
that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments
arising out of or based upon, such right of subrogation until the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities of this series issued
under said Indenture shall have been paid in full.

          Subject to the next following paragraph, the Guarantor hereby
certifies and warrants that all acts, conditions and things required to be done
and performed and to have happened precedent to the creation and issuance of
this Guarantee and to constitute the same the valid obligation of the Guarantor
have been done and performed and have happened in due compliance with all
applicable laws.

          Claims under this Guarantee are, to the extent provided in the
Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, and this Guarantee is issued
subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each Holder of
a Security upon which this Guarantee is endorsed, by accepting the same, (a)
agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the
Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

          This Guarantee shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on said Security shall have been signed
manually by or on behalf of the Trustee under said Indenture.

          This Guarantee shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, except as otherwise required by
mandatory provisions of law.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly
executed, manually or in facsimile, by its duly authorized officer under its
corporate seal.


                              MELLON BANK CORPORATION

Dated:  March 1, 1996

                              By:            SPECIMEN
                                  --------------------------------
                                  Name:  W. Keith Smith
                                  Title: Vice Chairman
Attest:


        SPECIMEN
- -------------------------
Secretary


                                     -14-


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