MELLON BANK CORP
8-K, 1998-02-13
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
 
VIA EDGAR


February 13, 1998

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC  20549

Attention:  Filing Desk

RE:  Mellon Bank Corporation
     File No. 1-7410
     Current Report on Form 8-K

Gentlemen:

Accompanying this letter for filing by Mellon Bank Corporation (the
"Corporation") pursuant to Rule 101 of Regulation S-T and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is a conformed copy of a Current Report on
Form 8-K dated February 9, 1998.  A manually signed signature page was executed
prior to the time of this electronic filing and will be retained by the
Corporation for five years.

Please direct any comments or questions you may have to the undersigned at
(412) 234-1564.

Very truly yours,

WILLIAM E. MARQUIS

William E. Marquis
Associate Counsel

Enclosure

cc:  (w/enclosure)
     William C. Friar, Senior Financial Analyst
      Securities and Exchange Commission
     New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
<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 9, 1998



                           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                 15258
                           Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania           (Zip code)
                   (Address of principal executive offices)



      Registrant's telephone number, including area code - (412) 234-5000

                                 Not applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
<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  Description
Number

1.3      Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 9, 1998, between Mellon
         Financial Company (the "Company"), Mellon Bank Corporation (the
         "Corporation") and J. P. Morgan Securities Inc. relating to the
         issuance and sale of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
         Company's 6 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2010 and the
         related guarantees of the Corporation, together with the Mellon
         Financial Company Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt)
         dated February 9, 1998.

4.5      Form of 6 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2010.



                                   SIGNATURES

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:  February 12, 1998           By:  STEVEN G. ELLIOTT
                                        Steven G. Elliott
                                        Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer
                                        & Treasurer
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Number   Description                                            Method of Filing

1.3      Underwriting Agreement dated as of February 9,         Filed herewith 
         1998 and Standard Provisions (Debt) dated
         February 9, 1998
4.5      Form of 6 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due             Filed herewith
         February 15, 2010

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 1.3


                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT



                                               February 9, 1998



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

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Underwriter (the "Underwriter"),
understands that Mellon Financial Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of 6 3/8% Subordinated Debentures due February 15, 2010 (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 Underwriter agrees to purchase
$350,000,000 principal amount of such Offered Securities at 99.034% of their
principal amount, yielding total proceeds at closing of $346,619,000, plus
accrued interest, if any, from February 12, 1998.

     The Underwriter 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 February
12, 1998, or at such other time, not later than February 12, 1998, as shall be
designated by the Underwriter.
<PAGE>
 
     The Offered Securities shall have the terms set forth in the Company's and
the Guarantor's Prospectus Supplement, dated February 9, 1998, and the
Prospectus, dated September 6, 1995, particularly as follows:


     Maturity:                February 15, 2010

     Interest Rate:           6 3/8% per annum

     Redemption Provisions:   None

     Interest Payment Dates:  February 15 and August 15, commencing 
                              August 15, 1998


     All the provisions contained in the documents entitled Mellon
Financial Company Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions (Debt), dated
February 9, 1998, 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.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          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,
          
                                     J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
          
          
                                     By: /s/ Robert D. Post
                                        -----------------------
                                         Name:  Robert D. Post
                                         Title: Vice President


Accepted:  February 9, 1998

MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY


By: /s/ W. Keith Smith
    ------------------------
    Name:  W. Keith Smith
    Title: Chairman


MELLON BANK CORPORATION


By: /s/ W. Keith Smith
    ------------------------
    Name:  W. Keith Smith
    Title: Vice Chairman

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                            MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                           STANDARD PROVISIONS (DEBT)

                                February 9, 1998


          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 therein.
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 The Bank of New York
(as successor to 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 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

<PAGE>
 
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.

                                      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 of the
Underwriters (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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
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.

                                      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.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
          (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 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 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

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     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
     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

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     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.

                                      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

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
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 or the Guarantor 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 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

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
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
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
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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
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.

                                     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.

                                      -9-
<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
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

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
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.

                                       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.

                                      -11-
<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.

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      Schedule I



                           DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT

                                                                               ,

Ladies and Gentlemen:

          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          ,
and Prospectus Supplement dated            ,     , 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 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
<PAGE>
 
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.........................
     

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                 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>
                                  Telephone No.           
            Name             (Including Area Code)           Department     
            ----             ---------------------           ----------  
  <S>                        <C>                        <C>  
  .....................      ......................     ..................... 

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

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

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

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

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



                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit A

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


          The opinion of the General Counsel, Associate 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 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
<PAGE>
 
     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, 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

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     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
     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 and statistical
     information contained or required to be contained 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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     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 and statistical information contained or required to be contained
     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 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.

                                      -4-
<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 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
<PAGE>
 
     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 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


                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          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

               (E) 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 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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     (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>

SPECIMEN
 
                                                                    Exhibit 4.5



                              [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 OF 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 OF 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 TRANSFEROR 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: 585510CG3                                            [X] GLOBAL SECURITY

                           MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
             6 3/8% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE FEBRUARY 15, 2010

    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 February 15, 2010
and to pay interest thereon from February 12, 1998 or from the most recent
Interest Payment Date to which interest had been paid or duly provided for,
semi-annually on February 15 and August 15 in each year, commencing August 15,
1998, at the rate of 6 3/8% 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 3/8% 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 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 1 or August 1 (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

<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
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 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.

                                     -2-

<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
    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 principle 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
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 principal corporate
trust office of the Trustee. 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.

                                     -3-

<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
    Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof, or by an Authentication 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.


                                       MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY



                                       By: /s/ Steven G. Elliott
                                          --------------------------
                                          Name:  Steven G. Elliott
                                          Title: President & Chief
                                                 Executive Officer

Attest:


   /s/ Michele Boxberger
- ------------------------------
   Secretary


Dated: February 12, 1998 


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

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, 
  as Trustee


By: /s/ Lucille Firrincieli
   --------------------------
    Authorized Signatory


                                     -4-

<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
                            [REVERSE OF SECURITY]

                           MELLON FINANCIAL COMPANY
             6 3/8% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE FEBRUARY 15, 2010

    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 The Bank of New
York (as successor to 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 $350,000,000.

    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 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

                                     -5-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
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 the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and 
interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied 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.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
     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.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
                                 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.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

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

     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:
       -----------------------    ----------------------------------------------
                                  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.

                                      -9-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
                                  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 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

                                     -10-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all Securities 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 laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
except as otherwise required by mandatory provisions of law.

                                     -11-
<PAGE>

SPECIMEN

 
    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.

Dated:  February 12, 1998


                                       MELLON BANK CORPORATION

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

Attest:

   /s/ Carl Crasik
- ------------------------------
 Secretary



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