SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION INC /DE/
8-K, EX-2.1, 2001-01-18
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("Agreement") dated as of January 17, 2001, by
and between THE PEOPLES BANCTRUST COMPANY, INC., an Alabama business corporation
("BancTrust"),  and South  Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc.,  an Alabama  business
corporation ("South Alabama").


                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS,  the respective Boards of Directors of BancTrust and South Alabama
are of the opinion that the combination of their  companies  through a tax-free,
stock-for-stock  merger,  under  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth in this
Agreement,  is in  the  best  interests  of the  parties  and  their  respective
shareholders,  and such Boards of Directors have adopted  resolutions  approving
this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS,  neither  the Board of  Directors  of  BancTrust  nor the Board of
Directors of South  Alabama seeks to sell its  respective  company at this time,
but both Boards  desire to merge their  respective  companies  in a  transaction
structured as a merger of equals; and

     WHEREAS,  it is intended that to accomplish this result,  BancTrust will be
merged  with and  into  South  Alabama,  with  South  Alabama  as the  surviving
corporation (the "Merger"), whose name will be changed to "The Peoples BancTrust
Company, Inc."; and

     WHEREAS,  it is  intended  that as soon as  practicable  subsequent  to the
Merger,  subject to required regulatory approvals,  operational issues and other
relevant factors, each of the current South Alabama commercial bank subsidiaries
will be merged with and into  BancTrust's  wholly owned Alabama  commercial bank
subsidiary,  The Peoples Bank and Trust Company ("Peoples  Bank"),  with Peoples
Bank as the surviving corporation; and

     WHEREAS, it is intended that (i) for federal income tax purposes the Merger
shall  qualify  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning of Section  368 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and this Agreement shall
constitute a plan of reorganization pursuant to Section 368 of the Code and (ii)
the Merger shall  qualify for pooling of interests  accounting  treatment  under
generally accepted accounting principles; and

     WHEREAS,  as an inducement to and condition of  BancTrust's  willingness to
enter into this  Agreement  and the  BancTrust  Stock  Option  Agreement,  South
Alabama will grant to BancTrust an option  pursuant to the South  Alabama  Stock
Option  Agreement,  and as an  inducement  to and  condition of South  Alabama's
willingness  to enter into this  Agreement  and the South  Alabama  Stock Option
Agreement,  BancTrust  will  grant  South  Alabama  an  option  pursuant  to the
BancTrust Stock Option  Agreement in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits A and
B, respectively; and

     WHEREAS,  concurrently  with the execution and delivery of this  Agreement,
and as a condition and inducement to the parties' willingness to enter into this
Agreement,  BancTrust  and each of the  directors  of South  Alabama,  and South
Alabama  and each of the  directors  of  BancTrust,  have  entered  into  voting
agreements in the form attached  hereto as Exhibits C and D,  respectively  (the
"Voting Agreements"); and

<PAGE>

     WHEREAS,  the  Boards of  Directors  of  BancTrust  and South  Alabama  (at
meetings duly called and held) have each  determined that this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby are in the best  interests of  BancTrust  and
South Alabama and their respective shareholders and have approved this Agreement
and the Stock Option Agreement; and

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

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto do hereby agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

     "ABCA" shall mean the Alabama Business Corporation Act, as amended.

     "Articles  of Merger"  shall mean the  Articles of Merger to be executed by
South  Alabama  and filed  with the  Secretary  of State of the State of Alabama
relating to the Merger as contemplated by Section 2.1 of this Agreement.

     "BHCA" shall mean the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

     "BancTrust  Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common stock,  par value
$.10 per share, of BancTrust.

     "BancTrust  Subsidiaries"  shall mean the Subsidiaries of BancTrust and any
corporation,  bank,  association,  or other entity  acquired as a Subsidiary  of
BancTrust in the future and owned by BancTrust at the Effective Time.

     "Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "Effective Time" shall mean the time and date specified pursuant to Section
2.8 of this Agreement as the effective time of the Merger.

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

     "Environmental  Laws" shall mean all  applicable  federal,  state and local
laws and regulations dealing with the management, use, treatment and/or disposal
of Hazardous Substances, as defined by the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation  and Liability  Act, as amended,  42 U.S.C.  ss. 9601 et seq.,  and
Hazardous  Waste, as defined by the Resource,  Conservation and Recovery Act, as
amended, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq.

     "ERISA" shall mean the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.

     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                       2
<PAGE>

     "FDIA" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended.

     "FDIC" shall mean the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

     "FRB" shall mean the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,  and
shall also include the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

     "Financial  Statements"  shall mean (a) with respect to South Alabama,  (i)
the consolidated balance sheets (including related notes and schedules,  if any)
of South  Alabama as of December 31, 1999 and 1998 and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  shareholders'  equity and cash flows  (including  related
notes and  schedules,  if any) for each of the last  three  fiscal  years  ended
December 31, 1999 as filed by South Alabama in its Securities Documents and (ii)
the consolidated  balance sheets of South Alabama  (including  related notes and
schedules, if any) and related consolidated statements of income,  shareholders'
equity, and cash flows (including related notes and schedules,  if any) included
in the Securities  Documents filed and to be filed by South Alabama with respect
to the quarterly and annual  periods ended  subsequent to December 31, 1999; and
(b) with respect to BancTrust (i) the  consolidated  balance  sheets  (including
related  notes and  schedules,  if any) of BancTrust as of December 31, 1999 and
1998 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and
cash flows (including related notes and schedules,  if any) for each of the last
three  fiscal  years  ended  December  31,  1999 as  filed by  BancTrust  in its
Securities  Documents  and (ii) the  consolidated  balance  sheets of  BancTrust
(including  related  notes  and  schedules,  if any)  and  related  consolidated
statements of income,  shareholders'  equity and cash flows  (including  related
notes and schedules,  if any) included in the Securities  Documents filed and to
be filed by BancTrust  with respect to the  quarterly  and annual  periods ended
subsequent to December 31, 1999.

     "Knowledge" as used with respect to South Alabama and BancTrust  shall mean
the  actual  knowledge  after due  inquiry  of the  Chairman,  President,  Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Chief Credit Officer, or any Senior
or Executive Vice President of South Alabama or BancTrust, as the case may be.

     "Materials of Environmental  Concern" shall mean pollutants,  contaminants,
wastes,  toxic  substances,  petroleum  and  petroleum  products  and any  other
materials regulated under Environmental Laws.

     "OCC" shall mean the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

     "Prospectus/Joint  Proxy  Statement"  shall  mean the  prospectus  of South
Alabama and the joint proxy  statement of South Alabama and BancTrust,  together
with  any  supplements  thereto,  sent to  shareholders  of  South  Alabama  and
BancTrust  to  solicit  their  votes in  connection  with the  approval  of this
Agreement and the Merger.

     "Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement with respect
to the Surviving Corporation Common Stock as filed with the Commission under the
Securities Act.

     "Rights" shall mean warrants,  options, rights,  convertible securities and
other  arrangements or commitments  which obligate an entity to issue or dispose
of any of its capital stock.

     "Secretary  of State"  shall  mean the  Secretary  of State of the State of
Alabama.

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                                       3
<PAGE>

     "Securities  Documents" shall mean all reports,  offering circulars,  proxy
statements, registration statements and all similar documents filed, or required
to be filed, pursuant to the Securities Laws.

     "Securities  Laws" shall mean the  Securities  Act; the  Exchange  Act; the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940,
as amended;  the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as  amended,  and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     "South  Alabama  Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common  stock,  par
value $.01 per  share,  of South  Alabama  prior to the  Effective  Time and the
change of South Alabama's name to "The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc."

     "South Alabama  Subsidiaries"  shall mean the Subsidiaries of South Alabama
and any corporation, bank, association, or other entity acquired as a Subsidiary
of South Alabama in the future and owned by South Alabama at the Effective Time.

     "Subsidiaries" shall mean all those corporations,  banks, associations,  or
other  entities of which the entity in question  owns or controls 50% or more of
the  outstanding  equity  securities  either  directly or indirectly  through an
unbroken  chain of entities  as to each of which 50% or more of the  outstanding
equity  securities  is owned  directly or  indirectly  by its parent;  provided,
however,  that there shall not be  included  any such  entity  acquired  through
foreclosure  or any such  entity  the  equity  securities  of which are owned or
controlled in a fiduciary capacity.

     "Superintendent"  shall  mean the  Superintendent  of Banks of the State of
Alabama.

     "Surviving  Corporation"  shall mean South Alabama as existing on and after
the Effective Time."

     "Surviving Corporation Common Stock" shall mean the shares of common stock,
par  value  $.01 per  share,  of the  Surviving  Corporation  at and  after  the
Effective Time.

     Other terms used herein are defined in the preamble  and  elsewhere in this
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                         THE MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS

2.1      The Merger

     Subject to the  satisfaction  of the terms and conditions of this Agreement
and  pursuant  to the  applicable  provisions  of the ABCA and the BHCA,  at the
Effective Time,  BancTrust shall be merged with and into South Alabama  pursuant
to the terms and  conditions  set forth  herein,  with  South  Alabama to be the
Surviving  Corporation,  and each share of  BancTrust  Common  Stock  issued and
outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall thereupon and without
further action be converted into one share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock
plus the right to receive 0.35 shares of Surviving  Corporation Common Stock and
cash for fractional  share interests (if any), in compliance with the provisions
of Section 2.7 below.

2.2      Closing and Closing Date

     The Merger shall be consummated at a closing (the  "Closing") to be held at
a location to be determined by mutual consent of the parties to this  Agreement,
on  the  first  business  day  following   satisfaction  of  the  conditions  to
consummation of the Merger set forth in Article VI hereof, or on such later date
within 30 days  thereafter  as the  parties  may  mutually  agree (the  "Closing
Date").

                                       4
<PAGE>

2.3      Effect of Merger

     (a) At the Effective Time, the separate  existence of BancTrust shall cease
and South Alabama, as the Surviving  Corporation,  shall continue unaffected and
unimpaired by the Merger,  subject to the amendments to South Alabama's Articles
of Incorporation to be effected by the Merger.

     (b) The Merger  shall have the effects  described  in Section  11.06 of the
ABCA.

     (c) The names of the  corporations  proposing  to merge are "South  Alabama
Bancorporation, Inc." and "The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc." At and after the
Effective  Time,  the name of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be "The Peoples
BancTrust  Company,  Inc." The Surviving  Corporation  shall be headquartered in
Mobile, Alabama.

2.4      Directors and Officers

     (a) At and after the Effective Time, the initial directors of the Surviving
Corporation  (the  "Initial  Directors"),  who shall  hold  office  until  their
resignation or removal or until their successors have been elected and qualified
in  accordance   with  the  ABCA,  the  Surviving   Corporation's   Articles  of
Incorporation  and Bylaws and this  Agreement,  shall be as  provided in Section
8.4(a) herein.

     (b)  At and  after  the  Effective  Time,  the  executive  officers  of the
Surviving Corporation shall be as provided in Section 8.4(b) herein.

2.5      Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Corporation

     (a) At the Effective Time, the Articles of  Incorporation of South Alabama,
as then in effect,  amended and restated as set forth in Exhibit E hereto, shall
be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation,  until amended as
provided therein or as otherwise permitted by the ABCA.

     (b) The  Bylaws  of  South  Alabama  in  effect  immediately  prior  to the
Effective Time shall be the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

2.6      Capital Stock of South Alabama; Dissenters' Rights

     Each  share of  capital  stock  of South  Alabama  issued  and  outstanding
immediately  prior to the Effective Time shall, at and after the Effective Time,
continue to be issued and  outstanding,  and shall be an  identical  outstanding
share of the Surviving Corporation. Any holder of shares of South Alabama Common
Stock shall be entitled to exercise dissenters' rights of appraisal as specified
in the ABCA if such shareholder complies in all respects with the procedures set
forth in Sections 13.20-13.28 of the ABCA.

2.7      Conversion and Exchange of BancTrust Common Stock; Fractional Share
         Interests

     (a) At the Effective  Time,  except as provided in Sections  2.7(b) and (h)
below,  each share of BancTrust Common Stock issued and outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective  Time shall  thereupon and  thereafter,  by virtue of the
Merger  becoming  effective and without any action on the part of the registered
holder  thereof  (such  registered  holder  being  hereinafter  referred to as a
"Record  Holder") or any other person,  be converted into one share of Surviving
Corporation  Common  Stock plus the right to receive  0.35  shares of  Surviving
Corporation  Common Stock, or 1.35 shares of Surviving  Corporation Common Stock
in the aggregate (the "Exchange Ratio"). Cash will be paid in lieu of fractional
shares pursuant to Section 2.7(j) below.

                                       5
<PAGE>

     (b) At the Effective Time, all shares of BancTrust Common Stock (i) held as
treasury  stock by  BancTrust,  (ii)  owned  beneficially  by  BancTrust  or any
BancTrust  Subsidiary other than in a fiduciary capacity or in connection with a
debt previously  contracted or (iii) owned  beneficially by South Alabama or any
subsidiary of South Alabama other than in a fiduciary  capacity or in connection
with a debt previously contracted shall be cancelled and no cash, stock or other
property shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

     (c) From and after the Effective  Time, each such  outstanding  certificate
that, prior to the Effective Time, represented shares of BancTrust Common Stock,
other  than  shares  as to  which  a  Record  Holder  has  previously  exercised
dissenters'  rights of appraisal  as specified in the ABCA,  shall be deemed for
all  corporate  purposes to evidence the ownership of the number of whole shares
of Surviving Corporation Common Stock into which such shares of BancTrust Common
Stock shall have been converted.  Former holders of BancTrust  Common Stock will
not be required to exchange their certificate(s) for new certificates evidencing
the same number of shares of Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock. All shares of
Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock into which shares of BancTrust Common Stock
shall  have  been  converted  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  issued  in full
satisfaction of all rights  pertaining to such shares.  Within ten (10) business
days after the Effective Time, the Surviving  Corporation's Transfer Agent shall
transmit by U.S. Mail to each Record Holder,  other than a Record Holder who has
previously  exercised  dissenters' rights of appraisal as specified in the ABCA,
certificates  representing  additional  shares of Surviving  Corporation  Common
Stock to which such Record Holder is entitled as a result of the Merger and cash
paid in lieu of fractional share interests.

     (d) After the Effective  Time,  Record Holders may elect at their option to
exchange  their  certificate(s)  that,  prior  thereto,  represented  shares  of
BancTrust Common Stock.  Upon surrender of such  certificate(s) to the Surviving
Corporation's  Transfer Agent,  each Record Holder shall be entitled to receive,
in exchange therefor,  a certificate or certificates  representing the number of
whole  shares of  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock  into  which the  shares
theretofore  represented  by the  surrendered  certificate(s)  shall  have  been
converted,  as provided in Section  2.7(a) above.  In the case of lost or stolen
certificates,  the  Surviving  Corporation  may require  such  Record  Holder to
execute  a bond of the kind and  amount it deems  necessary  or  appropriate  to
indemnify the Surviving  Corporation in a manner  reasonably  satisfactory to it
against  all such  claims,  expenses  and  liabilities  as may  arise out of its
payment to such Record Holder in the absence of the surrender of a certificate.

     (e) Certificate(s)  surrendered for exchange by any person  constituting an
"affiliate"  of BancTrust for purposes of Rule 145(c) under the  Securities  Act
shall not be exchanged for certificates  representing  whole shares of Surviving
Corporation Common Stock until the Surviving  Corporation has received from such
person the  written  agreement  contemplated  by Section  5.11  hereof and shall
contain the legend required by the written letter  agreement  attached hereto as
Exhibit F.

     (f) As of the Effective  Time, the stock transfer books of BancTrust  shall
be closed,  and no  transfers  of  BancTrust  Common  Stock by such holder shall
thereafter be made or recognized.  On the Closing Date,  BancTrust shall deliver
to South Alabama a certified copy of its list of shareholders as of such date.

     (g) In the event that prior to the Effective Time the outstanding shares of
BancTrust Common Stock shall have been increased,  decreased, or changed into or
exchanged   for  a  different   number  or  kind  of  shares  or  securities  by
reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split,
or other like change in  capitalization,  then an appropriate and  proportionate
adjustment  shall  be  made  in the  number  and  kind of  shares  of  Surviving
Corporation Common Stock to be thereafter delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     (h) Any holder of shares of  BancTrust  Common  Stock  shall be entitled to
exercise  dissenters'  rights  of  appraisal  as  specified  in the ABCA if such
shareholder  complies in all respects with the  procedures set forth in Sections
13.20-13.28  of the ABCA.  Shares of  BancTrust  Common Stock that have not been
voted for adoption of the  Agreement and with respect to which  appraisal  shall
have been properly  demanded in accordance with the foregoing  provisions of the
ABCA  ("Dissenting  Shares")  shall not be  converted  into the right to receive
shares of  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock and cash in lieu of  fractional
share  interests  pursuant to Section  2.7(a)  hereof at and after the Effective
Time  unless  and until the holder of  Dissenting  Shares  withdraws  his or her
demand or becomes ineligible for such appraisal.

     (i) Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding,  no party hereto
or agent thereof  shall be liable to a holder of BancTrust  Common Stock for any
amount paid or property delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to
any applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar law.

     (j)  Nothwithstanding  any other  provision  hereof,  each Record Holder of
BancTrust  Common  Stock who would  otherwise  have been  entitled  to receive a
fraction of a share of Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock (after  taking into
account all shares held by such Record Holder) shall  receive,  in lieu thereof,
cash in an amount  equal to the average of the bid and asked price of  Surviving
Corporation  Common Stock as of the close of business on the first  business day
immediately  following  the  Effective  Time.  No such  Record  Holder  shall be
entitled to dividends,  voting rights or any other  shareholder right in respect
of any fractional  share.  All fractional share interests of each Record Holder,
including  fractional  share  interests  relating  to  shares  kept in a  Record
Holder's account under BancTrust's Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan
(the "Dividend Reinvestment Plan"), shall be aggregated.

2.8      Effective Time of the Merger

     Immediately  following and  contingent  upon the occurrence of the Closing,
the Merger shall become effective at the time, and on the date, specified in the
Articles of Merger. Such time and date shall be referred to in this Agreement as
the "Effective Time."

2.9      Conversion of BancTrust Stock Options

     (a) At the  Effective  Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on the part of any holder of an option,  each outstanding option under the stock
option  plans  of  BancTrust  (the  "BancTrust  Option  Plans")  shall  continue
outstanding as an option to purchase,  in place of the purchase of each share of
BancTrust  Common Stock,  the number of shares  (rounded up to the nearest whole
share) of Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock that would have been  received by
the optionee in the Merger had the option been exercised in full (without regard
to any limitations contained therein on exercise) for shares of BancTrust Common
Stock immediately before the Merger upon the same terms and conditions under the
relevant option as were applicable immediately before the Effective Time, except
for appropriate pro rata  adjustments as to the relevant option price for shares
of Surviving Corporation Common Stock substituted therefor so that the aggregate
option exercise price of shares subject to an option  immediately  following the
assumption and  substitution  shall be the same as the aggregate option exercise
price for such shares immediately before such assumption and substitution.  From
and after the  Effective  Time,  each  BancTrust  stock  option  assumed  by the
Surviving   Corporation  may  be  exercised   solely  for  shares  of  Surviving
Corporation  Common  Stock,  and the  Surviving  Corporation  and its  Personnel
Committee shall be substituted  for BancTrust and the Stock Option  Committee of
BancTrust's  Board of  Directors.  The  Surviving  Corporation  shall  take such
actions as may be required to effectuate the foregoing.  It is intended that the
foregoing  assumption  shall be undertaken  consistent with and in a manner that
will not constitute a  modification,  renewal or extension  under Section 424 of
the Internal  Revenue  Code as to any stock  option which is an incentive  stock
option.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     (b) If the Surviving  Corporation's  proposed 2001  Incentive  Compensation
Plan  (the  "2001  Plan")  is  approved  by South  Alabama's  shareholders,  the
Surviving  Corporation  shall substitute at the Effective Time options under the
2001 Plan for the BancTrust  stock options,  subject to the  requirements of the
first and last sentences in Section 2.9(a) above. The substituted  options shall
continue  in effect on the same terms and  conditions  as  provided in the stock
option  agreements and BancTrust  Option Plans  governing  each BancTrust  stock
option.

     (c) Each grant of a converted or substitute  option to any  individual  who
subsequent  to the  Merger  will  be a  director  or  officer  of the  Surviving
Corporation  as  construed  under  Rule  16b-3  shall,  as a  condition  to such
conversion or substitution, be approved in accordance with Rule 16b-3.

     (d) At all times after the Effective Time, the Surviving  Corporation shall
reserve for issuance such number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock
as necessary so as to permit the exercise of options granted under the BancTrust
Option Plans in the manner  contemplated  by this Agreement and the  instruments
pursuant  to which such  options  were  granted.  South  Alabama  shall make all
filings  required  under  federal  and state  securities  laws no later than the
Effective  Time so as to permit the exercise of such options and the sale of the
shares  received by the optionee  upon such  exercise at and after the Effective
Time,  and  the  Surviving  Corporation  shall  continue  to make  such  filings
thereafter as may be necessary to permit the  continued  exercise of options and
sale of such shares.

     (e)  Following  the  Effective  Time,  in  case  of  any  reclassification,
reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock dividend or distribution, subdivision,
combination  or  exchange of the  outstanding  shares of  Surviving  Corporation
Common  Stock  or in  case  of any  consolidation  or  merger  of the  Surviving
Corporation  with or into any other  corporation,  or in the case of any sale or
transfer of all or  substantially  all of the  Surviving  Corporation's  assets,
then,  the rights of the optionees who then hold  outstanding  options under the
BancTrust  Option Plans shall be  appropriately  adjusted so that the  optionees
will be in the same position as if their options had been exercised  immediately
before  such  corporate  action or  transaction.  The  provisions  hereof  shall
similarly  apply  following the Effective Time to successive  reclassifications,
reorganizations,    recapitalizations,   stock   dividends   or   distributions,
subdivisions,  combinations  or  exchanges,  consolidations,  mergers,  sales or
transfers.

     (f) With respect to those  individuals  who subsequent to the Merger may be
subject to reporting  requirements  under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, the
Surviving  Corporation  shall  administer  the  BancTrust  Option Plans  assumed
pursuant to Section  2.9(a) (or the 2001 Plan, if  applicable)  in a manner that
complies  with Rule 16b-3  under the  Exchange  Act to the extent  necessary  to
preserve  for such  individuals  the  benefits  of Rule 16b-3 to the extent such
benefits were available to them prior to the Effective Time.

     (g) As soon as  practicable  following  the Effective  Time,  the Surviving
Corporation  shall deliver to the participants  receiving  converted  options an
appropriate notice setting forth such participant's rights pursuant thereto.

2.10     BancTrust Dividend Reinvestment Plan

     (a) At the  Effective  Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
on  the  part  of  a  participant   therein  (a  "Participant"),   the  Dividend
Reinvestment  Plan shall be assumed by the Surviving  Corporation  upon the same
terms and conditions under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan as shall be applicable
immediately  before the  Effective  Time. It is currently  anticipated  that the
Dividend Reinvestment Plan will be amended prior to the Effective Time to change
the administration of such Plan. Any amendment of the Dividend Reinvestment Plan
will be made with South Alabama's prior consent.

                                       8
<PAGE>

     (b) At and after the  Effective  Time,  the  number of shares of  Surviving
Corporation Common Stock subject to each  Participant's  account in the Dividend
Reinvestment Plan shall be the number of shares of Surviving  Corporation Common
Stock  determined by multiplying the number of shares of BancTrust  Common Stock
(including  fractional interests in shares of BancTrust Common Stock) subject to
such account immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio.

     (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant is also a Record Holder
of BancTrust  Common  Stock,  the total of the shares of BancTrust  Common Stock
held in the Dividend  Reinvestment  Plan for the benefit of the  Participant and
the shares held of record by such person as a Record  Holder shall be multiplied
by the Exchange  Ratio.  Any  additional  share shall be issued  directly to the
Record  Holder and not  credited to the  Participant's  account in the  Dividend
Reinvestment Plan.

2.11     Further Assurances

     If at any time the Surviving  Corporation shall consider or be advised that
any further assignments, conveyances or assurances are necessary or desirable to
vest,  perfect or confirm in the Surviving  Corporation title to any property or
rights of BancTrust,  or otherwise carry out the provisions  hereof,  the proper
officers and directors of BancTrust,  as of the Effective  Time,  and thereafter
the officers of the Surviving Corporation,  acting on behalf of BancTrust, shall
execute  and  deliver  any and all  property  or  assignments,  conveyances  and
assurances, and do all things necessary or desirable to vest, perfect or confirm
title to such  property or rights in the  Surviving  Corporation  and  otherwise
carry out the provisions hereof.

                                   ARTICLE III
                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SOUTH ALABAMA

     South Alabama represents and warrants to BancTrust as follows:

3.1      Capital Structure of South Alabama

     The  authorized  capital stock of South Alabama  consists of (i) 20,000,000
shares of South Alabama Common Stock, of which  8,526,544  shares are issued and
outstanding as of the date hereof,  and (ii) 500,000 shares of preferred  stock,
no par  value,  of which no  shares  are  issued or  outstanding  as of the date
hereof.  All  outstanding  shares of South  Alabama  Common Stock have been duly
issued and are validly outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable. As of the date
hereof,  South Alabama had reserved 319,238 shares of South Alabama Common Stock
for issuance upon the exercise of options  granted under its stock option plans.
Except for stock options under South  Alabama's stock option plans and the South
Alabama Stock Option Agreement  annexed hereto as Exhibit A, there are no Rights
authorized,  issued or  outstanding  with respect to the capital  stock of South
Alabama.  None of the shares of South  Alabama  Common  Stock has been issued in
violation  of the  preemptive  rights of any  person.  Each  share of  Surviving
Corporation  Common Stock that the holders of  BancTrust  Common Stock will have
the right to receive in respect of their shares of BancTrust  Common Stock after
the Effective Time has been duly  authorized and, when issued in accordance with
this Agreement,  will be validly issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable and will
have the same rights as each share of the South Alabama  Common Stock  currently
outstanding.

3.2      Organization, Standing and Authority of South Alabama

     South  Alabama is duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good  standing
under the laws of the State of Alabama with full  corporate  power and authority
to carry on its business as now conducted  and is duly  qualified to do business
in each  jurisdiction  in which its  ownership  or  leasing of  property  or the

                                       9
<PAGE>

conduct of its business requires such  qualification and where the failure to so
qualify would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results
of  operations,  business  or  prospects  of South  Alabama.  South  Alabama  is
registered  as a  bank  holding  company  under  the  BHCA.  South  Alabama  has
previously  delivered to BancTrust  true and complete  copies of the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of South Alabama as of the date hereof.

3.3      South Alabama Subsidiaries

     Set forth on Schedule 3.3 hereto is the name and state of  incorporation of
each of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries.  Each of the South Alabama Subsidiaries
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its state of  incorporation  or the United  States and has all requisite
corporate  power and authority to own,  operate and lease its  properties and to
carry on its business.  Each of the South Alabama Subsidiaries is duly qualified
and  in  good  standing  to  do  business  as  a  foreign  corporation  in  each
jurisdiction  where the nature or  location of such  subsidiary's  assets or its
business makes such qualification  necessary,  except where the failure to be so
qualified  or in good  standing  does not and will not have a  material  adverse
effect on South Alabama and the South Alabama Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The
outstanding  shares of capital stock of each of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries
are duly  authorized,  validly  issued,  fully paid, and (except  pursuant to 12
U.S.C.  Section  55 in the case of  national  banks)  non-assessable,  have been
issued in compliance with all applicable  federal and state securities laws, and
are owned, as set forth on Schedule 3.3, free and clear of all liens,  claims or
encumbrances.  There  are  no  outstanding  options,  warrants,  calls,  rights,
commitments,  or other  agreements of any character  obligating any of the South
Alabama  Subsidiaries to issue any shares of its capital stock or any securities
convertible  into or  evidencing  the right to purchase or acquire any shares of
such capital  stock.  Except for shares of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  and
securities  or other  interests  taken  in  consideration  of  debts  previously
contracted, neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama Subsidiaries owns
or has the right to acquire,  directly or indirectly,  any  outstanding  capital
stock or other  voting  securities  or ownership  interests of any  corporation,
bank, savings association, partnership, joint venture, or other organization.

3.4      Authorized and Effective Agreement

     (a) South Alabama has all requisite  corporate power and authority to enter
into this  Agreement  and  (subject  to  receipt of all  necessary  governmental
approvals and the approval of this Agreement by South Alabama's shareholders) to
perform all of its obligations under this Agreement.  The execution and delivery
of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have
been duly and validly  authorized by all necessary  corporate  action in respect
thereof on the part of South  Alabama,  except the approval of this Agreement by
South  Alabama's  shareholders.  This Agreement  constitutes a legal,  valid and
binding  obligation  of South  Alabama,  enforceable  against  South  Alabama in
accordance  with  its  terms,  subject,  as to  enforceability,  to  bankruptcy,
insolvency  and other laws of general  applicability  relating  to or  affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.

     (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,  nor consummation
of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  nor compliance by South Alabama with
any of the  provisions  hereof shall (i) conflict  with or result in a breach of
any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of South Alabama,  (ii)
constitute  or result in a breach of any term,  condition  or  provision  of, or
constitute  a  default  under,  or  give  rise  to  any  right  of  termination,
cancellation or  acceleration  with respect to, or result in the creation of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any material property or asset of South Alabama
pursuant to, any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,  license,  agreement or other
instrument  or  obligation,   or  (iii)  subject  to  receipt  of  all  required
governmental  approvals,  violate any order, writ, injunction,  decree, statute,
rule or regulation applicable to South Alabama.

                                       10
<PAGE>

3.5      Regulatory Reports

     For the five years preceding the date hereof,  South Alabama has duly filed
with the FRB and the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  have duly filed with the OCC,
Superintendent  and FDIC in correct form in all  material  respects the monthly,
quarterly and annual reports and other  documents  required to be filed with all
applicable governmental authorities, and such reports and other documents comply
in all material respects with applicable law and regulations.  South Alabama has
previously delivered, or will deliver, to BancTrust complete and accurate copies
of all such reports.  In connection  with the most recent  examinations of South
Alabama  and  the  South  Alabama   Subsidiaries   by  the  FRB,  the  OCC,  the
Superintendent  and the FDIC,  and except as  disclosed  on Schedule 3.5 hereto,
neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries was required to
correct or change any action,  procedure or proceeding that South Alabama or any
of the South Alabama Subsidiaries  believes has not been corrected or changed as
required as of the date hereof.

3.6      Securities Documents

     South Alabama has previously  delivered to BancTrust  complete and accurate
copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Annual Report to  Shareholders  for
the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999 and its Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q
for the fiscal  quarters  ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 2000.  South
Alabama has timely filed all  Securities  Documents  required by the  Securities
Laws for the past three years.

3.7      Financial Statements

     The Financial  Statements of South  Alabama  fairly  present or will fairly
present,  as the case  may be,  the  consolidated  financial  position  of South
Alabama,  and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  as of the dates indicated and the
consolidated  results  of  operations,   changes  in  shareholders'  equity  and
statements of cash flows for the periods then ended in conformity with generally
accepted  accounting  principles applied on a consistent basis (except as stated
therein).

3.8      Material Adverse Change

     South Alabama has not suffered any material adverse change in its business,
financial  condition,  results of operations or prospects  since the date of its
most recent audited Financial Statements,  nor are there any circumstances that,
to the Knowledge of South Alabama, could reasonably be expected to result in any
such material adverse change.

3.9      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities

     Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9 hereto,  neither  South Alabama nor any
of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  has any liability  (contingent or otherwise)
that is  material  to South  Alabama or that,  when  combined  with all  similar
liabilities,  would be material to South  Alabama,  except as  disclosed  in the
Financial Statements of South Alabama and except for liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since the date of the most recent audited  Financial
Statements,  nor are there any  circumstances  that,  to the  knowledge of South
Alabama, are reasonably expected to result in any such liability.

3.10     Environmental Matters

     (a)  Schedule  3.10  lists  all  facts,  circumstances  and  events  to the
Knowledge of South  Alabama that relate to any material  noncompliance,  alleged
noncompliance  or potential  noncompliance

                                       11
<PAGE>

by South Alabama or any South Alabama  Subsidiary with any  Environmental Law or
any  material  liability or  potential  liability by South  Alabama or any South
Alabama Subsidiary under any such law.

     (b) Except as  contained  in  Schedule  3.10,  South  Alabama and the South
Alabama   Subsidiaries,   including  the  properties  owned,  leased,   managed,
controlled or operated by South Alabama and the South Alabama Subsidiaries,  are
in compliance in all material respects with all  Environmental  Laws, except for
any  violation(s)  of any  Environmental  Law that would  not,  singly or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,  financial condition,
results of  operations  or  prospects  of South  Alabama  and the South  Alabama
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole.  Neither  South  Alabama  nor any South  Alabama
Subsidiary  has  received  any  communication  alleging  that  it is not in such
compliance  and,  to the  Knowledge  of  South  Alabama,  there  are no  present
circumstances  that would  prevent or interfere  with the  continuation  of such
compliance.

     (c)  Except as  contained  in  Schedule  3.10,  to the  Knowledge  of South
Alabama,  none of the  properties  in which  South  Alabama  or any of the South
Alabama  Subsidiaries  holds a security  interest is in  violation  of or liable
under any  Environmental  Law,  except any such  violations or liabilities  that
would not  singly or in the  aggregate  have a  material  adverse  effect on the
financial  condition,  results of  operations,  business or  prospects  of South
Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries taken as a whole. It is acknowledged
by the  parties to this  Agreement  that South  Alabama  has made no  additional
inquiry in regard to the matters  reflected in this  Section  3.10(c) as to such
properties  for  the  purpose  of  making  the  representations  and  warranties
contained herein.

     (d)  Except as  contained  in  Schedule  3.10,  to the  Knowledge  of South
Alabama,  there  are no  past or  present  actions,  activities,  circumstances,
conditions,  events or  incidents  that could  reasonably  form the basis of any
Environmental Claim or other claim or action or governmental  investigation that
could result in the imposition of any liability  arising under any Environmental
Law against South Alabama or any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  or against
any person or entity whose liability for any  Environmental  Claim South Alabama
or any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  has or may have  retained or assumed
either contractually or by operation of law, except any such that would not have
a material  adverse  effect on the financial  condition,  results of operations,
business or prospects of South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries taken
as a whole.

3.11     Allowance for Loan Losses

     The  allowance  for loan losses  reflected on the  statements  of financial
condition  included in the Financial  Statements of South Alabama is, and in the
case of future  Financial  Statements  will be, in the opinion of  management of
South  Alabama,  adequate  in all  material  respects as of the date of the most
recent Financial Statements of South Alabama under the requirements of generally
accepted accounting principles,  to provide for reasonably anticipated losses on
outstanding loans net of recoveries and other extensions of credit.

3.12     Tax Matters

     (a)  For  the  past  five  years,  South  Alabama  and  the  South  Alabama
Subsidiaries have timely filed all federal, state and local (and, if applicable,
foreign) tax returns  required by applicable law to be filed by them (including,
without  limitation,  estimated  tax returns,  income tax  returns,  information
returns,  and  withholding  and  employment tax returns) and have paid, or where
payment is not  required to have been made,  have set up an adequate  reserve or
accrual  for the  payment  of, all taxes  required  to be paid in respect of the
periods  covered by such returns and, as of the Effective  Time, will have paid,
or where payment is not required to have been made, will have set up an adequate
reserve or accrual  for the  payment  of, all taxes for any  subsequent  periods
ending on or prior to the Effective Time. At the

                                       12
<PAGE>

Effective Time, neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries
will have any material  liability for any such taxes in excess of the amounts so
paid or reserves or accruals so established.

     (b) For the past  five  years,  all  federal,  state  and  local  (and,  if
applicable,  foreign) tax returns  filed by South  Alabama and the South Alabama
Subsidiaries have been complete and accurate in all material  respects.  Neither
South  Alabama nor any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiares  is  delinquent in the
payment of any material  tax,  assessment or tax  obligation,  and neither South
Alabama nor any of the South Alabama Subsidiaries has requested any extension of
time  within  which to file any tax  returns in  respect  of any fiscal  year or
portion  thereof that have not since been filed.  No  deficiencies  for the tax,
assessment  or  governmental  charge  have been  proposed,  asserted or assessed
(tentatively  or  otherwise)  against  South Alabama or any of the South Alabama
Subsidiaries  that have not been  settled  and  paid.  There  are  currently  no
agreements  in effect with respect to South  Alabama or any of the South Alabama
Subsidiaries  to  extend  the  period  of  limitations  for  the  assessment  or
collection  of  any  tax.  As of the  date  hereof,  no  audit,  examination  or
deficiency or refund litigation is pending.  3.13 Legal Proceedings;  Regulatory
Approvals

     Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.13 hereto,  there are no actions,  suits,
claims,  governmental  investigations or proceedings instituted,  pending or, to
the best knowledge of South Alabama, threatened (or unasserted but considered by
South Alabama probable of assertion and that, if asserted, would have at least a
reasonable  probability of a material  adverse  effect) against South Alabama or
any of the South Alabama Subsidiaries or against any asset,  interest,  or right
of South  Alabama  or any of the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  or  against  any
officer,  director or employee of any of them that in any such case,  if decided
adversely,  would have a material  adverse  effect on the  financial  condition,
results of operations,  business or prospects of South Alabama. To the Knowledge
of  South  Alabama,  there  are  no  actual  or  threatened  actions,  suits  or
proceedings  that  present a claim to restrain  or  prohibit  the Merger or that
would  prevent  South  Alabama  from  obtaining  all of the  federal  and  state
regulatory approvals contemplated herein.

3.14     Compliance with Laws

     South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  are in compliance in all
material  respects with all statutes and regulations  applicable and material to
the  conduct of their  respective  businesses  (except  for any  violations  not
material  to  the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations,  business  or
prospects of South Alabama).  Neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama
Subsidiaries has received notification from any agency or department of federal,
state or local government (i) asserting a violation or possible violation of any
such  statute or  regulation  that would have a material  adverse  effect on the
financial  condition,  results of  operations,  business or  prospects  of South
Alabama, (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or government
authorization  or (iii)  restricting  or in any way limiting the  operations  of
South  Alabama or any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries.  Neither South Alabama
nor any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  is  subject  to any  regulatory  or
supervisory cease and desist order, agreement, written directive,  memorandum of
understanding  or  written  commitment,  nor  have  they  received  any  written
communication requesting that any of them enter into any of the foregoing.

                                       13
<PAGE>

3.15     Deposit Insurance

     The deposit accounts of the commercial bank South Alabama  Subsidiaries are
insured by the FDIC to the maximum  extent  permitted by law, and the commercial
bank South Alabama Subsidiaries have paid all premiums and assessments and filed
all reports required under the FDIA.

3.16.    Obstacles to Tax Treatment

     To the Knowledge of South Alabama,  no fact or condition  (including  South
Alabama's record of compliance with the Community  Reinvestment Act) exists that
may  reasonably  be  expected  to prevent or  materially  impede or delay  South
Alabama from (i) obtaining  the  regulatory  approvals and consents  required in
order to consummate the Merger or (ii) based on consultation  with qualified tax
advisors,  obtaining the tax treatment  contemplated  by Section  6.1(e) of this
Agreement,  and, if any such fact or condition  becomes  known to the  executive
officers of South  Alabama,  South Alabama  promptly (and in any event within 10
business days after obtaining such  knowledge)  shall  communicate  such fact or
condition to BancTrust.

3.17     Certain Information

     When the Registration  Statement or any  post-effective  amendment  thereto
shall become effective,  and at all times subsequent to such effectiveness up to
and including the time of the meeting of  shareholders  of South Alabama to vote
upon the Merger,  such Registration  Statement and all amendments or supplements
thereto,  with respect to all information  set forth therein  furnished by South
Alabama relating to South Alabama and the South Alabama Subsidiaries,  (i) shall
comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Securities
Laws, and (ii) shall not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
statements  contained  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they
were made, not misleading.

3.18     Employee Benefit Plans

     (a)  Appended  as  Schedule  3.18  hereto is a  complete  list of all stock
option,  employee  stock  purchase and stock bonus plans,  qualified  pension or
profit-sharing  plans,  any deferred  compensation,  consultant,  bonus or group
insurance  contract and any other incentive,  welfare and employee benefit plans
and agreements  maintained  for the benefit of employees or former  employees of
South Alabama and/or the South Alabama Subsidiaries. South Alabama and the South
Alabama  Subsidiaries shall make available to BancTrust full and complete copies
of all such plans and  agreements,  together with (i) the most recent  actuarial
and financial  reports  prepared with respect to any qualified  plans,  (ii) the
most recent annual  reports filed with any  governmental  agency,  and (iii) all
rulings and  determination  letters and any open requests for rulings or letters
that pertain to any qualified plan.

     (b) Neither South Alabama or any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries nor any
pension plan maintained by South Alabama or the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  and
qualified  under Section 401 of the Code has incurred any material  liability to
the Pension Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation or the Internal  Revenue Service with
respect to any pension plan that South Alabama or the South Alabama Subsidiaries
maintain  for or with  respect to any of their  employees  and that is qualified
under Section 401 of the Code except liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation  pursuant  to  Section  4007 of ERISA,  all of which have been fully
paid.  To the  Knowledge of South  Alabama,  no  reportable  event under Section
4043(b) of ERISA has occurred with respect to any such pension plan.

                                       14
<PAGE>

     (c)  Neither  South  Alabama  nor  any of the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries
participates  in or has incurred any liability under Section 4201 of ERISA for a
complete  or partial  withdrawal  from,  a  multiemployer  plan (as such term is
defined in ERISA).

     (d) A  favorable  determination  letter  has been  issued  by the  Internal
Revenue  Service with  respect to each  "employee  pension  plan" (as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA) of South Alabama  and/or the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries
that is  intended  to qualify  under  Section 401 of the Code to the effect that
such plan is qualified  under  Section 401 of the Code and the trust  associated
with such employee  pension plan is tax exempt under Section 501 of the Code. To
the Knowledge of South Alabama, no such letter has been revoked or threatened to
be revoked, and South Alabama knows of no ground on which such revocation may be
based.  Neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries has any
material  liability  under any such plan that is not  reflected  on the  balance
sheet included in the Financial Statements as of September 30, 2000.

     (e) To the Knowledge of South  Alabama,  no prohibited  transaction  (which
shall mean any  transaction  prohibited  by Section  406 of ERISA and not exempt
under  Section  408 of ERISA or  Section  4975 of the  Code) has  occurred  with
respect to any employee  benefit plan  maintained by South Alabama or any of the
South Alabama Subsidiaries (i) that would result in the imposition,  directly or
indirectly, of a material excise tax under Section 4975 of the Code, or (ii) the
correction  of which  would  have a  material  adverse  effect on the  financial
condition, results of operations, business or prospects of South Alabama.

3.19     Certain Contracts

     (a) Except as  disclosed  on  Schedule  3.19  hereto,  at the date  hereof,
neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  is a party to,
is bound or affected by,  receives,  or is obligated to pay,  benefits under (i)
any  material  agreement,  arrangement  or  commitment  not made in the ordinary
course of business,  including,  without limitation,  agreements or memoranda of
understanding  with  regulatory  authorities,  (ii) any agreement,  indenture or
other  instrument  not made in the ordinary  course of business  relating to the
borrowing of money by South  Alabama or the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  or the
guarantee  by  South  Alabama  or the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  of any such
obligation,  (iii) any  agreement,  arrangement  or  commitment  relating to the
employment of a consultant or the employment, election or retention in office of
any present or former  director or officer,  or (iv) any contract,  agreement or
understanding with a labor union, in each case whether written or oral.

     (b) Neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  is in
default,  which default would have a material adverse effect on South Alabama or
the  transactions   contemplated  herein,   under  any  agreement,   commitment,
arrangement,  lease,  insurance policy, or other instrument whether entered into
the ordinary  course of business or otherwise and whether  written or oral,  and
there  has not  occurred  any  event  that,  with the lapse of time or giving of
notice or both, would constitute such a default.

3.20     Brokers and Finders

     Except for the  retention  of Mercer  Capital,  Memphis,  Tennessee  as its
financial  advisor in connection  with the Merger (the "South Alabama  Financial
Advisor"),  neither South Alabama nor any of the South Alabama  Subsidiaries nor
any of their  respective  officers,  directors or employees has (a) entered into
any agreement with any broker,  finder or financial advisor relating to services
rendered or to be rendered to South Alabama in connection with the Merger or (b)
incurred any  liability  for any fees,  commissions  or other  transaction-based
compensation  in  connection  with the  Merger  (other  than fees to  attorneys,
auditors and similar professionals).

                                       15
<PAGE>

3.21     Insurance

     Set forth on Schedule  3.21 is an accurate  and  complete  list and a brief
description of all policies of insurance, including fidelity and bond insurance,
of South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries.  Neither South Alabama nor
any  of the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  is in  default  with  respect  to the
provisions  of any such  policy or has failed to give  notice or to present  any
claim  thereunder  in a due  and  timely  fashion.  All  such  policies  (a) are
sufficient  for  compliance by South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries
with all requirements of law and all agreements to which South Alabama or any of
the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  is a party,  (b) are  valid,  outstanding  and
enforceable  and (c) will not  terminate  or lapse prior to the  Effective  Time
without similar  policies being obtained that would continue until the Effective
Time.

3.22     No Repurchase Agreements

     Except for  agreements  in the ordinary  course of business,  neither South
Alabama nor any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  is a party to any agreement
pursuant to which South  Alabama or any of the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  has
purchased  securities subject to an agreement to resell, any agreements pursuant
to  which  South  Alabama  or any of the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  has sold
securities  subject to an agreement to repurchase,  or any interest rate swap or
other similar agreement.

3.23     Loans

     Each of the loans reflected in the Financial Statements of South Alabama as
of September  30, 2000,  including  unfunded  portions of  outstanding  lines of
credit and loan  commitments,  was made in all material  respects in  accordance
with  customary  lending  standards  in the  ordinary  course  of  business,  is
evidenced in all material  respects by appropriate and sufficient  documentation
and, to the Knowledge of South Alabama,  in all material  respects,  constitutes
the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein, subject to
bankruptcy,   insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance  and  other  laws  of  general
applicability  relating to or affecting  creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.  To the  Knowledge of South  Alabama,  neither the terms of any such
loans nor any of the loan documentation, nor the manner in which such loans have
been administered and serviced,  violates, in any material respect, any federal,
state or local statute, regulation or ordinance.

3.24     Properties

     All real and personal property owned by South Alabama and the South Alabama
Subsidiaries or presently used by any of them in their respective business is in
an adequate  condition  (ordinary  wear and tear  excepted) and is sufficient to
carry on the business of South Alabama and the South Alabama Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business consistent with their past practices.  South Alabama
and the South Alabama Subsidiaries have good and marketable title free and clear
of all liens,  encumbrances,  charges, defaults or equities (other than equities
of  redemption  under  applicable  foreclosure  laws)  to all  of  the  material
properties  and  assets,  real and  personal,  reflected  on the  statements  of
financial condition included in the most recent audited Financial  Statements of
South  Alabama or acquired  after such date,  except (i) liens for current taxes
not yet due and  payable,  (ii)  pledges  to secure  deposits  and  other  liens
incurred  in  the  ordinary   course  of  its  banking   business,   (iii)  such
imperfections of title, easements and encumbrances,  if any, as are not material
in character,  amount or extent, (iv) dispositions and encumbrances for business
and (v) as disclosed in the Financial  Statements of South Alabama. All material
leases  pursuant to which South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries,  as
lessees,  lease  real  or  personal  property,  are  valid  and  enforceable  in
accordance with their respective terms.

                                       16
<PAGE>

3.25     Minute Books

     The  minute  books of South  Alabama  and the  South  Alabama  Subsidiaries
contain  complete  and  accurate  records of all  meetings  and other  corporate
actions  held or  taken by  their  respective  Boards  of  Directors  (including
committees of their respective Boards of Directors) and shareholders.

3.26     Disclosures

     None of the  representations and warranties of South Alabama, or any of the
information  or documents  furnished or to be furnished by South  Alabama or the
South Alabama  Subsidiaries  to BancTrust in  connection  with the execution and
delivery of this  Agreement and the  consummation  of the Merger,  is or will be
false or  misleading  in any  material  respect or contains or will  contain any
untrue  statement of a material  fact.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.26 and
the other Schedules hereto, to the Knowledge of South Alabama,  there is no fact
that could  materially  adversely  affect the  financial  condition,  results of
operation,  business or prospects of South Alabama on a consolidated  basis.  To
the Knowledge of South Alabama,  copies of all documents  referred to in, and/or
provided  to  BancTrust  pursuant  to this  Article  III are true,  correct  and
complete   copies   thereof  and  include  all   amendments,   supplements   and
modifications thereto and all waivers thereunder.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
                                    BANCTRUST

     BancTrust represents and warrants to South Alabama as follows:

4.1      Capital Structure of BancTrust

     The authorized  capital stock of BancTrust consists of (i) 9,000,000 shares
of BancTrust  Common Stock, of which 5,148,138 shares are issued and outstanding
as of the date hereof,  and (ii) 1,000,000  shares of preferred stock, par value
$.10 per  share,  of which no shares are  issued or  outstanding  as of the date
hereof.  All outstanding  shares of BancTrust Common Stock have been duly issued
and are  validly  outstanding,  fully  paid  and  nonassessable.  As of the date
hereof,  BancTrust  had reserved  121,275  shares of BancTrust  Common Stock for
issuance  upon the exercise of options  granted  under its stock  option  plans.
Except for stock  options  under the  BancTrust  Option Plans and the  BancTrust
Stock  Option  Agreement  annexed  hereto  as  Exhibit  B,  there  are no Rights
authorized,  issued  or  outstanding  with  respect  to  the  capital  stock  of
BancTrust.  None of the  shares of  BancTrust  Common  Stock has been  issued in
violation of the preemptive rights of any person.

4.2      Organization, Standing and Authority of BancTrust

     BancTrust is duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Alabama  with full  corporate  power and  authority  to
carry on its business as now conducted  and is duly  qualified to do business in
each  jurisdiction  in which its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct
of its business requires such  qualification and where the failure to so qualify
would have a material  adverse  effect on the  financial  condition,  results of
operations,  business or prospects of  BancTrust.  BancTrust is  registered as a
bank holding company under the BHCA. BancTrust has previously delivered to South
Alabama true and complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation  and Bylaws of
BancTrust as of the date hereof.

                                       17
<PAGE>

4.3      BancTrust Subsidiaries

     Set forth on Schedule 4.3 hereto is the name and state of  incorporation of
each of the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries.  Each of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of its  state  of  incorporation  and  has all  requisite  corporate  power  and
authority to own, operate and lease its properties and to carry on its business.
Each of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is duly qualified and in good standing to do
business  as a foreign  corporation  in each  jurisdiction  where the  nature or
location of such  subsidiary's  assets or its business makes such  qualification
necessary,  except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing does
not and will not have a material  adverse  effect on BancTrust and the BancTrust
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole. The outstanding  shares of capital stock of each
of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries are duly authorized,  validly issued, fully paid,
and  non-assessable,  have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal
and state securities laws, and are owned, as set forth on Schedule 4.3, free and
clear of all liens,  claims or encumbrances.  There are no outstanding  options,
warrants,  calls,  rights,  commitments  or other  agreements  of any  character
obligating any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries to issue any shares of its capital
stock or any securities  convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase or
acquire any shares of such  capital  stock.  Except for shares of the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries  and securities or other interests taken in  consideration of debts
previously  contracted,  neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust Subsidiaries
owns or has the  right to  acquire,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  outstanding
capital  stock  or  other  voting  securities  or  ownership  interests  of  any
corporation,  bank, savings  association,  partnership,  joint venture, or other
organization.

4.4      Authorized and Effective Agreement

     (a) BancTrust has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement,  and (subject to receipt of all necessary governmental approvals
and the approval of this Agreement by BancTrust's  shareholders)  to perform all
of its  obligations  under this  Agreement.  The  execution and delivery of this
Agreement,  and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby, have
been duly and validly  authorized by all necessary  corporate  action in respect
thereof  on the part of  BancTrust  except the  approval  of this  Agreement  by
BancTrust's shareholders.  This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of BancTrust,  enforceable  against  BancTrust in accordance with its
terms subject, as to enforceability, to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws of
general applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general
equity principles.

     (b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,  nor consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by BancTrust with any of
the  provisions  hereof  shall  (i)  conflict  with or result in a breach of any
provision  of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of  BancTrust,  (ii)
constitute  or result in a breach of any term,  condition  or  provision  of, or
constitute  a  default  under,  or  give  rise  to  any  right  of  termination,
cancellation or  acceleration  with respect to, or result in the creation of any
lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or asset of BancTrust pursuant to,
any note, bond, mortgage,  indenture,  license, agreement or other instrument or
obligation,  or (iii) subject to receipt of all required governmental approvals,
violate  any  order,  writ,  injunction,  decree,  statute,  rule or  regulation
applicable to BancTrust.

4.5.     Regulatory Reports

     For the five years preceding the date hereof, BancTrust has duly filed with
the FRB and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries have duly filed with the Superintendent,
FDIC and FRB in correct form in all material respects the monthly, quarterly and
annual  reports and other  documents  required  to be filed with all  applicable
governmental  authorities,  and such reports and other  documents  comply in all
material respects with applicable law and regulations.  BancTrust has previously
delivered, or will make available,

                                       18
<PAGE>

to South Alabama complete and accurate copies of all such reports. In connection
with the most recent examinations of BancTrust and the BancTrust Subsidiaries by
the FRB and the Superintendent,  and except as disclosed on Schedule 4.5 hereto,
neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries was required to correct
or change any action,  procedure  or  proceeding  that  BancTrust  or any of the
BancTrust Subsidiaries believes has not been corrected or changed as required as
of the date hereof.

4.6      Securities Documents

     BancTrust has previously  delivered to South Alabama  complete and accurate
copies of its Annual Report on Form 10-K and Annual Report to  Shareholders  for
the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1999 and its Quarterly  Reports on Form 10-Q
for the  fiscal  quarters  ended  March  31,  June 30 and  September  30,  2000.
BancTrust has timely filed all Securities  Documents  required by the Securities
Laws for the past three years.

4.7      Financial Statements

     The  Financial  Statements  of  BancTrust  fairly  present  or will  fairly
present,  as the case may be, the consolidated  financial  position of BancTrust
and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries as of the dates  indicated and the  consolidated
results of operations,  changes in  shareholders'  equity and statements of cash
flows  for  the  periods  then  ended  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as stated therein).

4.8      Material Adverse Change

     BancTrust  has not suffered any material  adverse  change in its  financial
condition,  results of operations,  business or prospects  since the date of the
most recent audited Financial Statements,  nor are there any circumstances that,
to the  Knowledge of  BancTrust,  could  reasonably be expected to result in any
such material adverse change.

4.9      Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities

     Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.9 hereto,  neither  BancTrust  nor any of
the BancTrust  Subsidiaries has any liability  (contingent or otherwise) that is
material to BancTrust or that, when combined with all similar liabilities, would
be material to  BancTrust,  except as disclosed in the  Financial  Statements of
BancTrust and except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business
since the date of the most recent Financial  Statements,  nor are there any such
circumstances  that, to the knowledge of BancTrust,  are reasonably  expected to
result in any such liability.

4.10     Environmental Matters

     (a) Schedule 4.10 hereto lists all facts,  circumstances  and events to the
Knowledge  of  BancTrust  that  relate to any  material  noncompliance,  alleged
noncompliance   or  potential   noncompliance  by  BancTrust  or  any  BancTrust
Subsidiary  with any  Environmental  Law or any material  liability or potential
liability by BancTrust or any BancTrust Subsidiary under any such law.

     (b) Except as  contained  in Schedule  4.10,  BancTrust  and the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries,  including the properties owned,  leased,  managed,  controlled or
operated by BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries,  are in compliance in all
material  respects with all  Environmental  Laws, except for any violation(s) of
any  Environmental  Law that  would  not,  singly  or in the  aggregate,  have a
material  adverse  effect  on the  business,  financial  condition,  results  of
operations or prospects of BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  taken as a
whole.   Neither  BancTrust  nor  any  BancTrust  Subsidiary  has  received

                                       19
<PAGE>

any  communication  alleging  that  it is not in  such  compliance  and,  to the
Knowledge of BancTrust, there are no present circumstances that would prevent or
interfere with the continuation of such compliance.

     (c) Except as contained in Schedule  4.10,  to the  Knowledge of BancTrust,
none of the properties in which  BancTrust or any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries
holds a security  interest is in violation of or liable under any  Environmental
Law, except any such  violations or liabilities  that would not singly or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,  results of
operations,  business or prospects of BancTrust and the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries
taken as a whole.  It is  acknowledged  by the  parties to this  Agreement  that
BancTrust has made no additional  inquiry in regard to the matters  reflected in
this  Section  4.10(c)  as to such  properties  for the  purpose  of making  the
representations and warranties contained herein.

     (d) Except as contained in Schedule  4.10,  to the  Knowledge of BancTrust,
there are no past or present  actions,  activities,  circumstances,  conditions,
events or incidents that could  reasonably  form the basis of any  Environmental
Claim or other claim or action or governmental  investigation  that could result
in the imposition of any liability  arising under any  Environmental Law against
BancTrust or any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  or against any person or entity
whose  liability for any  Environmental  Claim BancTrust or any of the BancTrust
Subsidiaries has or may have been retained or assumed either contractually or by
operation of law, except any such that would not have a material  adverse effect
on the  financial  condition,  results of  operations,  business or prospects of
BancTrust and the BancTrust Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

4.11     Allowance for Loan Losses

     The  allowance  for loan losses  reflected on the  statements  of financial
condition included in the Financial  Statements of BancTrust is, and in the case
of future  Financial  Statement  will be, in the  opinion of the  management  of
BancTrust,  adequate in all material  respects as of the date of the most recent
Financial  Statements of BancTrust under the requirements of generally  accepted
accounting   principles,   to  provide  for  reasonably  anticipated  losses  on
outstanding loans net of recoveries and other extensions of credit.

4.12     Tax Matters

     (a) For the past five years,  BancTrust and the BancTrust Subsidiaries have
timely  filed all federal,  state and local (and,  if  applicable,  foreign) tax
returns  required  by  applicable  law to be filed by them  (including,  without
limitation,  estimated tax returns, income tax returns, information returns, and
withholding  and  employment tax returns) and have paid, or where payment is not
required to have been made,  have set up an adequate  reserve or accrual for the
payment of, all taxes  required to be paid in respect of the periods  covered by
such returns and, as of the Effective  Time, will have paid, or where payment is
not required to have been made, will have set up an adequate  reserve or accrual
for the payment of, all taxes for any  subsequent  periods ending on or prior to
the  Effective  Time. At the Effective  Time,  neither  BancTrust nor any of the
BancTrust  Subsidiaries  will have any material  liability for any such taxes in
excess of the amounts so paid or reserves or accruals so established.

     (b) For the past  five  years,  all  federal,  state  and  local  (and,  if
applicable,   foreign)  tax  returns   filed  by  BancTrust  and  the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries have been complete and accurate in all material  respects.  Neither
BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is delinquent in the payment of
any material tax, assessment or tax obligation, and neither BancTrust nor any of
the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  has requested any extension of time within which to
file any tax returns in respect of any fiscal year or portion  thereof that have
not since been filed.  No deficiencies  for the tax,  assessment or governmental
charge  have been  proposed,  asserted or assessed  (tentatively  or  otherwise)
against  BancTrust  or any of the

                                       20
<PAGE>

BancTrust  Subsidiaries that have not been settled and paid. There are currently
no  agreements  in effect  with  respect to  BancTrust  or any of the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries  to  extend  the  period  of  limitations  for  the  assessment  or
collection  of  any  tax.  As of the  date  hereof,  no  audit,  examination  or
deficiency or refund litigation is pending.

4.13     Legal Proceedings; Regulatory Approvals

     Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.13 hereto,  there are no actions,  suits,
claims,  governmental  investigations or proceedings instituted,  pending or, to
the best  knowledge of BancTrust,  threatened  (or  unasserted but considered by
BancTrust  probable of assertion and that, if asserted,  would have a reasonable
probability  of a  material  adverse  effect)  against  BancTrust  or any of the
BancTrust  Subsidiaries or against any asset,  interest or right of BancTrust or
any of the BancTrust Subsidiaries,  or against any officer, director or employee
of any of them that, if decided adversely,  might have a material adverse effect
on the  financial  condition,  results of  operations,  business or prospects of
BancTrust.  To the  Knowledge of  BancTrust,  there are no actual or  threatened
actions,  suits or proceedings  that present a claim to restrain or prohibit the
Merger or that would  prevent  BancTrust  from  obtaining all of the federal and
state regulatory approvals contemplated herein.

4.14     Compliance with Laws

     BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material
respects  with all  statutes  and  regulations  applicable  and  material to the
conduct of their respective  businesses  (except for any violations not material
to the  financial  condition,  results of  operations,  business or prospects of
BancTrust). Neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust Subsidiaries has received
notification from any agency or department of federal, state or local government
(i)  asserting  a  violation  or  possible  violation  of any  such  statute  or
regulation that would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
results of operations,  business or prospects of BancTrust,  (ii) threatening to
revoke any  license,  franchise,  permit or  government  authorization  or (iii)
restricting  or in  any  way  limiting  the  operations  of  BancTrust.  Neither
BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is subject to any regulatory or
supervisory cease and desist order, agreement, written directive,  memorandum of
understanding  or  written  commitment,  nor  have  they  received  any  written
communication requesting that any of them enter into any of the foregoing.

4.15     Deposit Insurance

     The deposit accounts of Peoples Bank are insured by the FDIC to the maximum
extent  permitted by law, and Peoples Bank has paid all premiums and assessments
and filed all reports required under the FDIA.

4.16     Obstacles to Tax Treatment

     To the Knowledge of BancTrust,  no fact or condition (including BancTrust's
record of  compliance  with the  Community  Reinvestment  Act)  exists  that may
reasonably be expected to prevent or materially  impede or delay  BancTrust from
(i)  obtaining  the  regulatory  approvals  and  consents  required  in order to
consummate the Merger or (ii) based on consultation with qualified tax advisors,
obtaining the tax treatment  contemplated  by Section 6.1(e) of this  Agreement,
and, if any such fact or condition  becomes known to the  executive  officers of
BancTrust,  BancTrust  promptly  (and in any event within 10 business days after
obtaining  such  knowledge)  shall  communicate  such fact or condition to South
Alabama.

                                       21
<PAGE>

4.17     Certain Information

     When the Registration  Statement or any  post-effective  amendment  thereto
shall become effective,  and at all times subsequent to such effectiveness up to
and including the time of the meeting of  shareholders of BancTrust to vote upon
the Merger,  such  Registration  Statement  and all  amendments  or  supplements
thereto,  with  respect  to all  information  set  forth  therein  furnished  by
BancTrust relating to BancTrust and the BancTrust Subsidiaries, (i) shall comply
in all material respects with the applicable  provisions of the Securities Laws,
and (ii) shall not contain any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements  contained  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they
were made, not misleading.

4.18     Employee Benefit Plans

     (a)  Appended  as  Schedule  4.18  hereto is a  complete  list of all stock
option,  employee  stock  purchase and stock bonus plans,  qualified  pension or
profit-sharing  plans,  any deferred  compensation,  consultant,  bonus or group
insurance  contract and any other incentive,  welfare and employee benefit plans
and agreements  maintained  for the benefit of employees or former  employees of
BancTrust  and/or  the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries.  BancTrust  and  the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries  shall make available to South Alabama full and complete  copies of
all such plans and agreements,  together with (i) the most recent  actuarial and
financial  reports prepared with respect to any qualified  plans,  (ii) the most
recent annual reports filed with any governmental  agency, and (iii) all rulings
and  determination  letters and any open  requests  for rulings or letters  that
pertain to any qualified plan.

     (b) Neither BancTrust or any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries nor any pension
plan maintained by BancTrust or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  and qualified under
Section  401 of the Code has  incurred  any  material  liability  to the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any
pension plan that BancTrust or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries maintains for or with
respect to any of their employees and that is qualified under Section 401 of the
Code except liabilities to the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation pursuant to
Section 4007 of ERISA,  all of which have been fully paid.  To the  Knowledge of
BancTrust,  no reportable event under Section 4043(b) of ERISA has occurred with
respect to any such pension plan.

     (c) Neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust Subsidiaries participates in
or has  incurred  any  liability  under  Section 4201 of ERISA for a complete or
partial  withdrawal  from,  a  multiemployer  plan (as such term is  defined  in
ERISA).

     (d) A  favorable  determination  letter  has been  issued  by the  Internal
Revenue  Service with  respect to each  "employee  pension  plan" (as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA) of BancTrust  and/or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  that is
intended to qualify  under  Section 401 of the Code to the effect that such plan
is qualified  under Section 401 of the Code and the trust  associated  with such
employee  pension  plan is tax  exempt  under  Section  501 of the Code.  To the
Knowledge  of  BancTrust,  no such letter has been revoked or  threatened  to be
revoked, and BancTrust knows of no ground on which such revocation may be based.
Neither  BancTrust  nor  any of the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries  has  any  material
liability  under  any such  plan  that is not  reflected  on the  balance  sheet
included in the Financial Statements as of September 30, 2000.

     (e) To the Knowledge of BancTrust,  no prohibited  transaction (which shall
mean any  transaction  prohibited  by Section 406 of ERISA and not exempt  under
Section 408 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) has  occurred  with respect to
any employee  benefit  plan  maintained  by  BancTrust  or any of the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries (i) that would result in the imposition, directly or indirectly, of
a material  excise tax under Section 4975 of the Code, or (ii) the correction of
which would have a

                                       22
<PAGE>

material  adverse  effect on the  financial  condition,  results of  operations,
business or prospects of BancTrust.

4.19     Certain Contracts

     (a) Except as  disclosed  on  Schedule  4.19  hereto,  at the date  hereof,
neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is a party to, is bound
or  affected  by,  receives,  or is  obligated  to pay,  benefits  under (i) any
material agreement, arrangement or commitment not made in the ordinary course of
business,   including,   without   limitation,   agreements   or   memoranda  of
understanding  with  regulatory  authorities,  (ii) any agreement,  indenture or
other  instrument  not made in the ordinary  course of business  relating to the
borrowing of money by BancTrust or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  or the guarantee
by BancTrust or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  of any such  obligation,  (iii) any
agreement,  arrangement or commitment relating to the employment of a consultant
or the  employment,  election  or  retention  in office of any present or former
director or officer,  or (iv) any contract,  agreement or  understanding  with a
labor union, in each case whether written or oral.

     (b) Neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is in default,
which  default  would  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  BancTrust  or the
transactions contemplated herein, under any agreement, commitment,  arrangement,
lease,  insurance policy, or other instrument  whether entered into the ordinary
course of business or otherwise and whether  written or oral,  and there has not
occurred  any  event  that,  with the lapse of time or giving of notice or both,
would constitute such a default.

4.20     Brokers and Finders

     Except  for the  retention  of  Sterne,  Agee &  Leach,  Inc.,  Birmingham,
Alabama,  as its financial advisor in connection with the Merger (the "BancTrust
Financial Advisor"), neither BancTrust nor any of the BancTrust Subsidiaries nor
any of their  respective  officers,  directors or employees has (a) entered into
any agreement with any broker,  finder or financial advisor relating to services
rendered or to be rendered to  BancTrust  in  connection  with the Merger or (b)
incurred any  liability  for any fees,  commissions  or other  transaction-based
compensation  in  connection  with the  Merger  (other  than fees to  attorneys,
auditors and similar professionals).

4.21     Insurance

     Set forth on Schedule  4.21 is an accurate  and  complete  list and a brief
description of all policies of insurance, including fidelity and bond insurance,
of BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries.  Neither  BancTrust nor any of the
BancTrust  Subsidiaries is in default with respect to the provisions of any such
policy or has failed to give notice or to present any claim  thereunder in a due
and timely  fashion.  All such  policies (a) are  sufficient  for  compliance by
BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  with all  requirements of law and all
agreements to which  BancTrust or any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries is a party,
(b) are valid,  outstanding  and enforceable and (c) will not terminate or lapse
prior to the Effective Time without  similar  policies being obtained that would
continue until the Effective Time.

4.22     No Repurchase Agreements

     Except for agreements in the ordinary course of business, neither BancTrust
nor any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  is a party to any agreement  pursuant to
which BancTrust or the BancTrust  Subsidiaries has purchased  securities subject
to an agreement to resell,  any  agreements  pursuant to which  BancTrust or the
BancTrust   Subsidiaries  has  sold  securities   subject  to  an  agreement  to
repurchase, or any interest rate swap or other similar agreement.


                                       23
<PAGE>

4.23    Loans

     Each of the loans reflected in the Financial  Statements of BancTrust as of
September 30, 2000,  including  unfunded portions of outstanding lines of credit
and loan  commitments,  was made in all  material  respects in  accordance  with
customary lending standards in the ordinary course of business,  is evidenced in
all material  respects by appropriate and sufficient  documentation  and, to the
Knowledge of BancTrust,  in all material respects,  constitutes the legal, valid
and binding  obligation of the obligor  named  therein,  subject to  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  fraudulent  conveyance  and  other  laws of  general  applicability
relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.  To
the Knowledge of  BancTrust,  neither the terms of any such loans nor any of the
loan  documentation,  nor the manner in which such loans have been  administered
and serviced,  violates, in a any material respect, any federal,  state or local
statute, regulation or ordinance.

4.24     Properties

     All  real  and  personal  property  owned by  BancTrust  and the  BancTrust
Subsidiaries or presently used by any of them in their respective business is in
an adequate  condition  (ordinary  wear and tear  excepted) and is sufficient to
carry  on the  business  of  BancTrust  and the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries  in the
ordinary course of business consistent with their past practices.  BancTrust and
the BancTrust  Subsidiaries have good and marketable title free and clear of all
liens,  encumbrances,  charges,  defaults  or equities  (other than  equities of
redemption under applicable  foreclosure laws) to all of the material properties
and  assets,  real  and  personal,  reflected  on the  statements  of  financial
condition included in the most recent audited Financial  Statements of BancTrust
or acquired after such date,  except (i) liens for current taxes not yet due and
payable,  (ii)  pledges  to secure  deposits  and other  liens  incurred  in the
ordinary  course of its banking  business,  (iii) such  imperfections  of title,
easements and encumbrances,  if any, as are not material in character, amount or
extent,  (iv) dispositions and encumbrances for business and (v) as disclosed in
the Financial  Statements of BancTrust.  All material  leases  pursuant to which
BancTrust and the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries,  as lessees,  lease real or personal
property, are valid and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

4.25     Minute Books

     The  minute  books of  BancTrust  and the  BancTrust  Subsidiaries  contain
complete and accurate  records of all meetings and other corporate  actions held
or taken by their respective Boards of Directors (including  committees of their
respective Boards of Directors) and shareholders.

4.26     Disclosures

     None of the  representations  and  warranties of  BancTrust,  or any of the
information  or  documents  furnished  or to be  furnished  by  BancTrust or the
BancTrust  Subsidiaries  to South Alabama in  connection  with the execution and
delivery of this  Agreement and the  consummation  of the Merger,  is or will be
false or  misleading  in any  material  respect or contains or will  contain any
untrue  statement of a material  fact.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.26 and
the other Schedules hereto, to the Knowledge of BancTrust, there is no fact that
could materially adversely affect the financial condition, results of operation,
business or prospects of BancTrust on a consolidated  basis. To the Knowledge of
BancTrust,  copies of all  documents  referred to in,  and/or  provided to South
Alabama  pursuant  to this  Article IV are true,  correct  and  complete  copies
thereof and include all amendments,  supplements and  modifications  thereto and
all waivers thereunder.

                                       24
<PAGE>
                                    ARTICLE V
                                    COVENANTS

5.1      Shareholder Meeting(s)

     (a) South Alabama and BancTrust shall take all action necessary to properly
call  and  convene  meetings  of  their   shareholders  as  soon  as  reasonably
practicable, including without limitation the preparation of proxy materials for
such meetings of  shareholders.  At both such meetings,  this Agreement shall be
submitted for shareholder approval.

     (b)  Subject  to  compliance  with the legal and  fiduciary  duties of such
directors,  and subject further to the receipt by South Alabama and BancTrust of
opinions of the South  Alabama  Financial  Advisor and the  BancTrust  Financial
Advisor (as defined in Section 5.2 hereof), dated on or immediately prior to the
date of mailing of the  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy  Statement  for the  meetings of
South  Alabama  and  BancTrust  shareholders  at which  this  Agreement  will be
considered and voted upon and not  subsequently  withdrawn prior to such meeting
of shareholders,  to the effect that the terms of this Agreement,  including the
Exchange Ratio,  are fair to such  shareholders  from a financial point of view,
the Boards of Directors of South  Alabama and  BancTrust  shall  recommend  that
their respective shareholders approve this Agreement.

5.2      Prospectus/Joint Proxy Statement; Registration Statement

     BancTrust and South Alabama shall  cooperate in the timely  preparation and
filing of the  Registration  Statement  with the  Commission,  and South Alabama
shall use its best efforts to cause such  Registration  Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act, which Registration Statement, at the time it
becomes  effective,  and at the Effective Time,  shall in all material  respects
conform to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act and the general  rules and
regulations of the  Commission  thereunder.  The  Registration  Statement  shall
include  the  form of  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy  Statement  for the  meetings  of
shareholders  of each of BancTrust  and South Alabama to be held for the purpose
of having such shareholders vote upon approval of this Agreement.  BancTrust and
South Alabama shall cause the  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy Statement to be mailed to
their  shareholders.  BancTrust  shall furnish to South Alabama the  information
required to be included in the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
with respect to its business and affairs  before it is filed with the Commission
and again before any amendment is filed,  and shall have the right to review and
comment  on  the  form  of  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy  Statement  included  in the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto prior to their filing with the
Commission.  South Alabama shall take all actions  required to qualify or obtain
exemptions from such qualification for the Surviving Corporation Common Stock to
be issued in connection with the Merger, under applicable state "Blue Sky" laws,
as appropriate.

5.3      Applications

     (a) As promptly as practicable  after the date hereof,  South Alabama shall
submit  applications for prior approval of the transactions  contemplated herein
to each  federal,  state  or local  government  agency,  department  or body the
approval of which is required for  consummation  of the Merger.  BancTrust shall
have the right to review and comment on the  portions of such  applications  and
amendments  that relate directly to it prior to their filing with any regulatory
agencies,  and South Alabama promptly shall furnish  BancTrust with copies after
filing of applications with these or any other regulatory agencies.  The parties
to this  Agreement  represent  and  warrant to each  other that all  information
concerning  them and their  directors,  officers and  shareholders  included (or
submitted for  inclusion)  in any such  application  shall be true,  correct and
complete in all material respects.

                                       25
<PAGE>

     (b) South Alabama shall use all  reasonable  efforts to cause the shares of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for
listing on the Nasdaq National Market.

5.4      Best Efforts

     BancTrust  and South  Alabama shall each use its best efforts in good faith
to (i)  furnish  such  information  as may be required  in  connection  with and
otherwise  cooperate in the preparation and filing of the documents  referred to
in  Sections  5.2 and 5.3  above,  and (ii) take or cause to be taken all action
necessary or desirable on its part so as to permit consummation of the Merger at
the earliest  practicable date.  Neither BancTrust nor South Alabama shall take,
or cause or to the best of its ability permit to be taken, any action that would
substantially delay or impair the prospects of completing the Merger pursuant to
this Agreement.

5.5      Investigation and Confidentiality

     (a)  South  Alabama  and  BancTrust  will keep each  other  advised  of all
material  developments relevant to their respective business and to consummation
of the Merger,  including any material  adverse  change or material  development
that is likely adversely to affect consummation of the Merger. South Alabama and
BancTrust each may make or cause to be made such  investigation of the financial
and legal  condition of the other as such party  reasonably  deems  necessary or
advisable  in  connection  with  the  Merger;   provided,   however,  that  such
investigation  shall be  reasonably  related to the Merger,  shall not interfere
unnecessarily with normal operations, and shall be conducted and completed on as
prompt a basis as shall be reasonably  possible under the circumstances  and, in
any  event,  shall be  completed  prior to March 1,  2001.  BancTrust  and South
Alabama  agree to furnish  the other and the other's  representatives  with such
financial data and other information with respect to its business and properties
as such other party or its  representatives  shall from time to time  reasonably
request.  Each party  hereto  shall,  and shall cause its  directors,  officers,
attorneys,  and advisors to,  maintain the  confidentiality  of all  information
obtained  which is not  otherwise  publicly  disclosed by the other party,  said
undertaking with respect to  confidentiality  to survive any termination of this
Agreement  pursuant to Section  7.1 hereof.  In the event that the Merger is not
consummated,  each party, and its officers and representatives,  shall return to
the other party all such  non-public  information and all copies thereof whether
in written or other tangible form.

     (b) In the event  BancTrust or South Alabama  becomes aware, as a result of
an  investigation  pursuant  to  Section  5.5(a)  above,  of  a  breach  of  any
representation  or warranty  made by the other party,  which  represents,  or is
reasonably  likely to  represent,  a material  breach of any  representation  or
warranty of the other party or is reasonably  likely to have a material  adverse
effect on the Surviving  Corporation,  BancTrust or South Alabama shall give the
party committing the breach written notice of such breach not later than 30 days
after discovery  thereof.  No investigation  pursuant to Section 5.5(a) above or
notice of a breach  hereunder  by South  Alabama or  BancTrust  shall affect the
termination  rights of such party  under  Section 7.1 of this  Agreement  or the
representations and warranties of the other party, and subject to Section 7.3 of
this  Agreement,  each such  representation  and warranty shall survive any such
investigation and notice.

5.6      Disclosure Supplements

     From time to time prior to the Effective Time,  South Alabama and BancTrust
shall promptly (i) furnish each other copies of all Financial  Statements as and
when they become available, and (ii) supplement or amend any materials disclosed
and delivered to the other party  pursuant to this Agreement with respect to any
matter  hereafter  arising that, if existing,  occurring or known at the date of
this


                                       26
<PAGE>

Agreement,  would have been  required to be set forth or  described in materials
disclosed  herein or on  schedules  hereto or that is  necessary  to correct any
untrue representation or warranty or information in such materials that has been
rendered  materially  inaccurate  thereby.  No  supplement  or amendment to such
materials  shall have any effect for the purpose of determining  satisfaction of
the  conditions  set forth in Article VI or  compliance  with the  covenants set
forth in Section 5.8 hereof.

5.7      Press Releases

     BancTrust  and South Alabama shall agree with each other as to the form and
substance of any press  release  related to this  Agreement or the  transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby,  and consult with each other as to the form and
substance of other public disclosures related thereto;  provided,  however, that
nothing contained herein shall prohibit either party,  following notification to
the other party, from making any disclosure that its counsel deems necessary.

5.8      Forbearance of South Alabama and BancTrust

     Except with the prior  written  consent of the other party,  which  consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld, or as expressly contemplated herein, between
the date hereof and the  Effective  Time,  neither  BancTrust  nor South Alabama
shall:

          (a)  carry  on its  business  other  than in the  usual,  regular  and
     ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted or
     established (including the acquisition of capital assets exceeding $100,000
     in  amount,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  or in the case of
     related  acquisitions,  except in connection with realizing on collateral),
     or acquire any new  subsidiary or cause to permit any  subsidiary to engage
     in any new activity or materially expand any existing activities;

          (b) declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution
     in respect of its  capital  stock  except  for the  payment of its  regular
     dividend;

          (c) issue,  sell or  otherwise  dispose  of any shares of its  capital
     stock, except pursuant to the exercise of currently outstanding options;

          (d)  purchase,  redeem,  retire or otherwise  acquire or  hypothecate,
     pledge or otherwise encumber any shares of its capital stock;

          (e)   issue,   grant  or   authorize   any   Rights  or   effect   any
     recapitalization,  reclassification,  stock  dividend,  stock split or like
     change in capitalization;

          (f)  except  as set  forth on  Schedule  5.8(f)  hereto,  purchase  or
     otherwise acquire, or sell,  encumber,  or otherwise dispose of, any assets
     or incur any  liabilities  other than in the  ordinary  course of  business
     consistent with past practices and policies.

          (g)  except  as set forth on  Schedule  5.8(g)  hereto,  engage in any
     transaction  or  agreement  with any  officer,  director or greater than 5%
     shareholder or any affiliate of any such officer, director or shareholder;

          (h) amend  its  Articles  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws or  equivalent
     documents;  impose, or suffer the imposition, on any share of stock held by
     South Alabama or BancTrust of any material  lien,  charge or encumbrance or
     permit any such lien to exist;  or waive or release any  material  right or
     cancel or comprise  any  material  debt or claim other than in the ordinary
     course of its business;

                                       27
<PAGE>

          (i) fail to comply in any material respect with any laws, regulations,
     ordinances,  or governmental actions applicable to it and to the conduct of
     its  business  except  where South  Alabama or  BancTrust  is in good faith
     contesting the validity of any of the foregoing; or where the failure to so
     comply will not have a material adverse effect on the financial  condition,
     results of operations, business or prospects of South Alabama or BancTrust;

          (j) enter into or  substantially  modify (except as may be required by
     applicable  law) any pension,  retirement,  stock option,  stock  purchase,
     stock appreciation right, savings,  profit sharing,  deferred compensation,
     consulting,  bonus, group insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or
     welfare  contract,  plan or  arrangement,  or any trust  agreement  related
     thereto,  in respect of any of its directors,  officers or other employees,
     or, except as required by applicable  law or  regulation,  renew,  amend or
     modify any such arrangement or plan now in existence;

          (k) solicit or  encourage  inquiries  or  proposals  with  respect to,
     furnish any information  relating to, or participate in any negotiations or
     discussions concerning, any acquisition or purchase of all or a substantial
     portion  of the assets  of, or a  substantial  equity  interest  in,  South
     Alabama or  BancTrust  or any business  combination  with South  Alabama or
     BancTrust other than as  contemplated  by this Agreement  (except as may be
     required if the  directors of South Alabama or BancTrust  receive  reasoned
     advice of their legal counsel based on which such  directors  conclude that
     the failure to furnish such information or participate in such negotiations
     or discussions  would  constitute a breach of the  directors'  fiduciary or
     legal obligations);  or authorize or permit any officer, director, agent or
     affiliate  of it to do any of the above;  or fail to notify the other party
     immediately  if any such  inquiries or proposals  are received by, any such
     information is required from, or any such  negotiations  or discussions are
     sought to be initiated with,  South Alabama or BancTrust  (South Alabama or
     BancTrust  shall provide the other party with  reasonable  detail as to the
     identity of any person or entity from whom such  inquiries or proposals are
     received and the terms of the transaction discussed or proposed);

          (l) enter into (i) any material  agreement,  arrangement or commitment
     not made in the  ordinary  course of  business,  other than  agreements  or
     memoranda of understanding with regulatory authorities, (ii) any agreement,
     indenture or other  instrument  relating to the borrowing of money by South
     Alabama or BancTrust or guarantee by South Alabama or BancTrust of any such
     obligation,  except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
     practice  and except for  drawing on  currently  existing  lines of credit,
     (iii) any agreement,  arrangement or commitment  relating to the employment
     of, or severance of, a consultant or the employment, severance, election or
     retention in office of any present or former director, officer or employee,
     or (iv) any contract, agreement or understanding with a labor union;

          (m) change  its  lending,  investment  or asset  liability  management
     policies in any material  respect  except as may be required by  applicable
     law;

          (n) change its method of  accounting  in effect at December  31, 1999,
     except  as  required  by  changes  in  regulation  or  generally   accepted
     accounting  principles  concurred in by its  independent  certified  public
     accountants,  or  change  any  of  its  methods  of  reporting  income  and
     deductions  for  federal  income tax  purposes  from those  employed in the
     preparation  of its federal  income tax returns for the year ended December
     31, 1999, except as required by changes in law or regulation;

          (o) agree to do any of the foregoing; or

          (p) permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to agree to take or authorize any
     of the foregoing actions.

                                       28
<PAGE>

5.9      Affiliates

     After  execution  of this  Agreement,  South  Alabama and  BancTrust  shall
cooperate and use their best efforts to identify those persons who may be deemed
to be "affiliates" of South Alabama and BancTrust within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities  Act. Each party shall use its  respective  best efforts to
cause to be delivered to the other from each person so identified not later than
thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date, a written letter  agreement,  in the
forms as set forth in Exhibits F and G hereto,  regarding restrictions on resale
of shares of South Alabama, BancTrust and Surviving Corporation Common Stock, to
ensure  compliance  with  applicable  restrictions  imposed  under  the  federal
securities  laws and generally  accepted  accounting  principles  for pooling of
interests  accounting  treatment,  and prior to the  Effective  Time each of the
parties shall use its best efforts to secure such written letter  agreement from
any other person who becomes an affiliate  of it.  Neither  party shall take any
action which would  prevent the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby from (A) qualifying for accounting treatment as a pooling of interests or
(B)  qualifying  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning of Section 368 of the
Internal Revenue Code,  provided that nothing  hereunder shall limit the ability
of either party to exercise its rights under the Stock Option Agreement.

5.10     Employee Benefits

     BancTrust  and South  Alabama  agree that as to employee  benefit  plans as
defined in ERISA ("Benefit  Plans") of BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries
(the  "BancTrust  Benefit  Plans")  and  South  Alabama  and the  South  Alabama
Subsidiaries (the "South Alabama Benefit Plans"), the parties shall negotiate in
good faith to formulate prior to the Effective Time, or within a reasonable time
thereafter,  Benefit Plans for the Surviving  Corporation and its  Subsidiaries,
with respect to employees  who were covered by the  BancTrust  Benefit Plans and
the South Alabama  Benefit Plans,  that provide  benefits for services after the
Effective Time on a basis that does not discriminate  between employees who were
covered by the  BancTrust  Benefit  Plans and  employees who were covered by the
South Alabama Benefit Plans.

5.11     Stock Option Agreements

     As of the  date  hereof,  South  Alabama  has  executed  and  delivered  to
BancTrust the South Alabama Stock Option  Agreement  annexed hereto as Exhibit A
and BancTrust  has executed and  delivered to South Alabama the BancTrust  Stock
Option Agreement annexed hereto as Exhibit B.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

6.1      Conditions Precedent -- All Parties

     The  respective  obligations of the parties to this Agreement to effect the
Merger shall be subject to satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions at
or prior to the Closing Date:

          (a) All  corporate  action  necessary to authorize  the  execution and
     delivery  of  this   Agreement  and   consummation   of  the   transactions
     contemplated  hereby,  including  without  limitation  the approval of this
     Agreement by the requisite  vote by the  shareholders  of South Alabama and
     BancTrust, shall have been duly and validly taken.

          (b) All  approvals of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby from any
     state or federal  government  agency,  department or body,  the approval of
     which is  required  for the  consummation  of the  Merger,  shall have been
     received  (subject  to no  conditions  that in the  reasonable  judgment of

                                       29
<PAGE>

     BancTrust  and South Alabama  would have a material  adverse  effect on the
     condition (financial or other),  business  operations,  assets or prospects
     of, or would  materially  impair the value of, BancTrust or South Alabama),
     all notice periods and waiting  periods  required after the granting of any
     such approvals shall have passed and all such approvals shall be in effect,
     and at the  Closing  Date  neither  BancTrust  nor South  Alabama  shall be
     subject to any regulatory or supervisory cease and desist order, agreement,
     written directive, memorandum of understanding or written commitment.

          (c)  The   Registration   Statement   (including  any   post-effective
     amendments  thereto) shall be effective under the Securities Act, and South
     Alabama shall have  received all state  securities or "Blue Sky" permits or
     other  authorizations,  or  confirmations  as  to  the  availability  of an
     exemption  from   registration   requirements   as  may  be  necessary  for
     consummation of the Merger,  and no proceedings  shall be pending or to the
     knowledge of South Alabama  threatened by the Commission or any state "Blue
     Sky"  securities  administration  to  suspend  the  effectiveness  of  such
     Registration Statement or any state permit or authorization.

          (d) Neither BancTrust nor South Alabama shall be subject to any order,
     decree or  injunction of a court or agency of competent  jurisdiction  that
     enjoins or prohibits consummation of the Merger.

          (e) BancTrust and South Alabama shall have received an opinion of Hand
     Arendall, L.L.C., Mobile, Alabama, dated as of the Closing Date, subject to
     customary  qualifications  and  assumptions and reliance on certificates of
     executive  officers of South Alabama and BancTrust to the effect that,  for
     federal income tax purposes:

               (i) The  Merger  will  qualify as a  "reorganization"  within the
          meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;

               (ii) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by  BancTrust  or South
          Alabama by reason of the Merger;

               (iii) No gain or loss will be  recognized by any  shareholder  of
          BancTrust  to the extent that such  shareholder  exchanges  his or her
          shares of  BancTrust  Common  Stock  solely  for  shares of  Surviving
          Corporation Common Stock in the Merger;

               (iv) The basis of the Surviving Corporation Common Stock received
          by a shareholder  of BancTrust who  exchanges  BancTrust  Common Stock
          solely for  Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock in the Merger will be
          the same as the basis of the  BancTrust  Common Stock  surrendered  in
          exchange therefor  (subject to any adjustments  required as the result
          of  receipt  of  cash  in  lieu of a  fractional  share  of  Surviving
          Corporation Common Stock);

               (v) The holding period of the Surviving  Corporation Common Stock
          received by a shareholder  of BancTrust in the Merger will include the
          holding period of the BancTrust  Common Stock  surrendered in exchange
          therefor  (provided  that such shares of  BancTrust  Common Stock were
          held as a capital asset by such  shareholder  at the Effective  Time);
          and

               (vi)  Cash  received  by a  BancTrust  shareholder  in  lieu of a
          fractional  share  interest of Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock as
          part of the  Merger  will be  treated  as having  been  received  as a
          distribution  in full  payment in exchange  for the  fractional  share

                                       30
<PAGE>

          interest of Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock that such shareholder
          would otherwise be entitled to receive.

          (f) South  Alabama  and  BancTrust  shall have  received  the  written
     agreements from "affiliates" of BancTrust and South Alabama as specified in
     Section 5.9 hereof.

          (g) To the extent that any material contract,  arrangement or lease to
     which BancTrust or any of the BancTrust  Subsidiaries,  on the one hand, or
     South Alabama or any of the South Alabama Subsidiaries,  on the other hand,
     is a party shall  require  the  consent of any other  person to the Merger,
     such consent shall be obtained.

          (h) The holders of not more than 10% of the South Alabama Common Stock
     or 10% of the BancTrust Common Stock  outstanding  immediately prior to the
     Closing  Date  shall  not have  filed  with  South  Alabama  or  BancTrust,
     respectively,  proper  demand for appraisal of and payment for their shares
     pursuant to applicable law, unless such demands have been duly withdrawn.

          (i) The shares of Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock to be issued in
     the Merger  shall have been  approved  for  listing on the Nasdaq  SmallCap
     Market  or the  Nasdaq  National  Market,  subject  to  official  notice of
     issuance.

          (j) South  Alabama and  BancTrust  shall have received an opinion from
     Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP to the effect that the Merger shall qualify for
     accounting treatment as a pooling of interests.

6.2      Conditions Precedent -- South Alabama

     The  obligations  of South Alabama to effect the Merger shall be subject to
satisfaction of the following  additional  conditions at or prior to the Closing
Date, unless waived by South Alabama pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof:

          (a) South Alabama  shall have  completed to its  satisfaction  its due
     diligence investigation of BancTrust pursuant to Section 5.5(a) hereof, and
     the  Board of  Directors  of South  Alabama  shall  not have  made a formal
     determination prior to March 1, 2001, that, in its best judgment,  based on
     the  results  of such due  diligence  review,  consummation  of the  Merger
     pursuant to the terms of this Agreement would be materially  adverse to the
     economic interests of South Alabama's shareholders.

          (b) The  representations  and  warranties  of  BancTrust  set forth in
     Article IV hereof shall be true and correct in all material  respects as of
     the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and
     as of the  Closing  Date  (or on the  date  when  made  in the  case of any
     representation and warranty that specifically  relates to an earlier date),
     except as otherwise  contemplated by this Agreement and except for changes,
     none of which individually or in the aggregate has materially and adversely
     affected the condition (financial or other), business operations, assets or
     prospects of BancTrust.

          (c)  BancTrust  shall  have in all  material  respects  performed  all
     material  obligations and complied with all material  covenants required to
     be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (d) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective  Time,  there
     shall not have been any material adverse change in the financial condition,
     results of  operations,  assets,  properties,  businesses  or operations of
     BancTrust and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole, other than

                                       31
<PAGE>

     any such change  attributable  to or  resulting  from any change in general
     economic  conditions,  law,  regulation  or generally  accepted  accounting
     principles  that impair both BancTrust and South Alabama in a substantially
     similar manner.

          (e)  BancTrust  shall have  delivered to South  Alabama  certificates,
     dated as of the Closing Date and signed by its Chairman, to the effect that
     the conditions set forth in Sections  6.1(a),  6.1(d),  6.1(g),  6.2(c) and
     6.2(e), to the extent applicable to BancTrust, have been satisfied.

          (f) South Alabama shall have received an opinion from Gamble, Gamble &
     Calame,  L.L.C., Selma, Alabama, dated as of the Closing Date, covering the
     matters  set  forth in  Exhibit  H hereto.  Such  opinion  may rely upon an
     opinion  from Kutak Rock LLP,  Washington,  D.C.,  as to matters of federal
     law.

          (g) South  Alabama  shall  have  received  an  opinion  from the South
     Alabama Financial Advisor, dated on or immediately prior to the date of the
     mailing  of the  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy  Statement,  and not  subsequently
     withdrawn at or prior to the Closing  Date, to the effect that the terms of
     this Agreement,  including the Exchange Ratio,  are fair to South Alabama's
     shareholders from a financial point of view.

6.3      Conditions Precedent -- BancTrust

     The  obligations  of  BancTrust  to effect the  Merger  shall be subject to
satisfaction of the following  additional  conditions at or prior to the Closing
Date, unless waived by BancTrust pursuant to Section 7.4 hereof:

          (a)  BancTrust  shall  have  completed  to its  satisfaction  its  due
     diligence investigation of South Alabama pursuant to Section 5.5(a) hereof,
     and the  Board of  Directors  of  BancTrust  shall  not have  made a formal
     determination prior to March 1, 2001, that, in its best judgment,  based on
     the  results  of such due  diligence  review,  consummation  of the  Merger
     pursuant to the terms of this Agreement would be materially  adverse to the
     economic interests of BancTrust's shareholders.

          (b) The  representations  and warranties of South Alabama set forth in
     Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects as of
     the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on and
     as of the  Closing  Date  (or on the  date  when  made  in the  case of any
     representation and warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date),
     except as otherwise  contemplated by this Agreement and except for changes,
     none of which individually or in the aggregate has materially and adversely
     affected the condition (financial or other), business operations, assets or
     prospects of South Alabama.

          (c) South  Alabama shall have in all material  respects  performed all
     material  obligations and complied with all material  covenants required to
     be performed by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

          (d) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective  Time,  there
     shall not have been any material adverse change in the financial condition,
     results of  operations,  assets,  properties,  businesses  or operations of
     South Alabama and the South Alabama  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  other
     than any such  change  attributable  to or  resulting  from any  change  in
     general  economic   conditions,   law,  regulation  or  generally  accepted
     accounting  principles  that impair both  BancTrust  and South Alabama in a
     substantially similar manner.

                                       32
<PAGE>

          (e) South  Alabama  shall have  delivered to BancTrust a  certificate,
     dated as of the  Closing  Date and signed by its  President,  to the effect
     that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.1(a),  6.1(d),  6.1(g), 6.3(b),
     6.3(c) and 6.3(e),  to the extent  applicable to South  Alabama,  have been
     satisfied.

          (f)  BancTrust  shall have  received  an opinion  from Hand  Arendall,
     L.L.C., Mobile, Alabama, dated as of the Closing Date, covering the matters
     set forth in Exhibit I hereto.

          (g)  BancTrust  shall  have  received  an opinion  from the  BancTrust
     Financial Advisor, dated on or immediately prior to the date of the mailing
     of the Prospectus/Joint Proxy Statement,  and not subsequently withdrawn at
     or  prior  to the  Closing  Date,  to the  effect  that  the  terms of this
     Agreement,   including  the  Exchange   Ratio,   are  fair  to  BancTrust's
     shareholders from a financial point of view.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                        TERMINATION, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT

7.1      Termination

     This Agreement may be terminated by action of the Board of Directors of the
applicable party or parties:

          (a) at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, by the mutual consent
     in writing of the parties hereto;

          (b) at any time on or prior  to the  Closing  Date,  by  BancTrust  in
     writing if South  Alabama has, or by South  Alabama in writing if BancTrust
     has, in any material  respect,  breached  (i) any  covenant or  undertaking
     contained herein, or (ii) any  representation or warranty contained herein,
     which breach  materially  and adversely  affects the  financial  condition,
     results of operations, business or prospects of South Alabama or BancTrust,
     in any case if such  breach  has not been  cured by the  earlier of 30 days
     after the date on which written notice of such breach is given to the party
     committing  such breach  (which notice must be given not later than 30 days
     after discovery of such breach) or the Closing Date;

          (c) on the  Closing  Date,  by either  BancTrust  or South  Alabama in
     writing,  if any of the  conditions  precedent to the  obligations  of such
     party to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby have not been
     satisfied or fulfilled,  provided that the terminating party is not then in
     material breach hereunder;

          (d) at any time, by either  BancTrust or South Alabama in writing,  if
     any of the  applications  for prior  approval  referred  to in Section  5.4
     hereof are denied or are approved  contingent upon the  satisfaction of any
     condition or requirement  that, in the  reasonable  opinion of BancTrust or
     South  Alabama,  would so  materially  adversely  affect  the  business  or
     economic  benefits  of the Merger as to render  consummation  of the Merger
     inadvisable  or unduly  burdensome,  and the time  period for  appeals  and
     requests for reconsideration has run;

          (e) at any time, by either  BancTrust or South Alabama in writing,  if
     the  shareholders  of  South  Alabama  or  BancTrust  do not  approve  this
     Agreement  by a vote  taken  thereon  at a  meeting  duly  called  for such
     purpose;

                                       33
<PAGE>

          (f) by either  BancTrust or South  Alabama in writing,  if the Closing
     Date  has not  occurred  within  nine  (9)  months  from  the  date of this
     Agreement;  provided that this right to terminate shall not be available to
     any party whose failure to perform an obligation  under this  Agreement has
     been the  cause  of,  or  resulted  in,  the  failure  of the  Merger to be
     consummated within such nine-month period; and

          (g) at any time, by either  BancTrust or South Alabama in writing,  if
     it determines in good faith that any condition precedent to its obligations
     to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  are  or  would  be
     impossible to satisfy.

7.2      Effect of Termination

     In the event this  Agreement is terminated  pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof,
this  Agreement  shall  become  void and  have no  effect,  except  that (a) the
provisions  relating to  confidentiality  and expenses set forth in Sections 5.6
and 8.1, respectively,  shall survive any such termination and (b) a termination
pursuant to Section 7.l(c) shall not relieve the breaching  party from liability
for an uncured willful breach of the covenant,  undertaking,  representation  or
warranty giving rise to such termination.

7.3      Termination of Representations, Warranties and Covenants

     All  representations,  warranties and covenants in this Agreement or in any
instrument  delivered  pursuant hereto or thereto,  including any rights arising
out of the  breach of such  representations,  warranties  and  covenants,  shall
expire on, and be terminated and  extinguished at, the Effective Time other than
covenants  that by their terms are to be  performed  after the  Effective  Time,
provided that no such  representations,  warranties or covenants shall be deemed
to be terminated or extinguished so as to deprive BancTrust or South Alabama (or
any director, officer or controlling person thereof) of any defense at law or in
equity  which  otherwise  would be  available  against the claims of any person,
including,  without limitation,  any shareholder or former shareholder of either
BancTrust  or South  Alabama,  the  aforesaid  representations,  warranties  and
covenants  being material  inducements to  consummation by the parties hereto of
the transactions contemplated herein.

7.4      Waiver

     Each party hereto, by written  instrument signed by an executive officer of
such party,  may at any time (whether before or after approval of this Agreement
by the  shareholders  of South  Alabama and  BancTrust)  extend the time for the
performance  of any of the  obligations  or other acts of the other party hereto
and may waive (i) any inaccuracies of the other party in the  representations or
warranties  contained in this Agreement or any other document delivered pursuant
hereto, (ii) compliance with any of the covenants, undertakings or agreements of
the other  party,  or  satisfaction  of any of the  conditions  precedent to its
obligations  or  (iii)  the  performance  by  the  other  party  of  any  of its
obligations set out herein or therein; provided, however, that no such waiver or
amendment or supplement  pursuant to Section 7.5 hereof  executed after approval
of this Agreement by the  shareholders  of BancTrust  shall reduce,  without the
requisite approval of the shareholders of BancTrust, either the number of shares
of Surviving  Corporation Common Stock into which each share of BancTrust Common
Stock  shall be  converted  in the Merger or the  payment  terms for  fractional
interests.  Nothing  in this  Section  7.4 will  permit  any  party to waive any
required regulatory approvals or other conditions that, if not satisfied,  would
result in the violation of any law or applicable governmental regulation.

                                       34
<PAGE>

7.5      Amendment or Supplement

     This  Agreement  may be  amended  or  supplemented  at any  time by  mutual
agreement of the parties  hereto,  subject to the proviso to Section 7.4 hereof.
Any  such  amendment  or  supplement  must be in  writing  and  approved  by the
respective Boards of Directors of the parties hereto.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                         CERTAIN POST-MERGER AGREEMENTS

8.1      Registration of Stock Underlying BancTrust Stock Options

     In  order  to  permit  the  exercise  of  options  to  purchase   Surviving
Corporation  Common  Stock which were  originally  granted  under the  BancTrust
Option Plans and are to be substituted and assumed by the Surviving Corporation,
at and after the  Effective  Time,  South Alabama shall take all such actions as
may be necessary or  appropriate  in order to carry out fully the  provisions of
Section 2.9 hereof.

8.2      Reports to the Commission

     Subject to Section 8.6 herein, the Surviving  Corporation shall continue to
file all reports and data with the Commission  necessary to permit  shareholders
of  BancTrust  and South  Alabama who may be deemed  affiliates  of BancTrust or
South Alabama  within the meaning of Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act to sell
Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock held or received by them in connection with
the Merger  pursuant to Rules 144 and 145 under such Act if they would otherwise
be so entitled.  After the Effective Time, the Surviving  Corporation  will file
with the Commission all reports,  statements and other materials required by the
federal securities laws on a timely basis.

8.3      Insurance

     For a period  of six (6)  years  from and after  the  Effective  Time,  the
Surviving  Corporation  shall  cause to be  maintained  in  effect  the  current
policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance maintained by BancTrust
and the BancTrust  Subsidiaries  (provided  that the Surviving  Corporation  may
substitute  therefor policies from financially  capable insurers of at least the
same  coverage  and  amounts   containing   terms  and   conditions   which  are
substantially  no less  advantageous,  or in the event such coverage is provided
through the Surviving  Corporation's  insurer it may be on terms and  conditions
(other than coverage and amounts)  consistent  with the Surviving  Corporation's
coverage)  with respect to claims  arising  from facts or events which  occurred
before the Effective Time.  Following  consummation of the Merger, the directors
and  officers  of South  Alabama  and the South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  shall be
covered by the directors' and officers'  liability  insurance  maintained by the
Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries.

8.4      Directors and Initial Executive Officers of Surviving Corporation

     (a)  At  the  Effective  Time,  the  Initial  Directors  of  the  Surviving
Corporation shall be fixed at twenty-four (24) directors, one-half of whom shall
be selected by the Board of Directors of BancTrust and one-half of whom shall be
selected by the Board of Directors of South  Alabama,  in each case prior to the
Effective Time. As soon as practicable, the Boards of Directors of BancTrust and
South  Alabama  shall each select those persons it is to select who are to serve
on the Board of Directors of the  Surviving  Corporation.  South Alabama and its
Board of  Directors  shall  take all  necessary  corporate  action  prior to the
Effective  Time to  effectuate  this  agreement  of the  parties  including  the
election of the  designated  persons as directors of the Surviving  Corporation,
effective at the Effective Time.

                                       35
<PAGE>

     (b) At the Effective Time, the initial executive  officers of the Surviving
Corporation  shall be Richard P.  Morthland,  Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief
Executive Officer; W. Bibb Lamar, Jr., President and Co-Chief Executive Officer;
Elam P. Holley, Jr., Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Operating
Officer;  and J. Stephen  Nelson,  Vice-Chairman  of the Board of Directors  and
Chairman  of the  Executive  Committee  (collectively,  the  "Initial  Executive
Officers"). The Board of Directors of the Surviving Corporation may appoint such
additional executive officers as it may deem appropriate.

     (c) It is currently  anticipated that two years subsequent to the Effective
Time,  Richard P. Morthland shall continue as Chairman of the Board of Directors
of the  Surviving  Corporation  and W. Bibb  Lamar,  Jr.  shall  assume the sole
responsibilities  of  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the  Surviving
Corporation.

8.5      Agreement for Continuing Directors and Actions of Surviving Corporation

     (a)  It is  the  intention  of  BancTrust  and  South  Alabama,  and  their
respective  Boards of Directors,  that until at least the second  anniversary of
the Effective  Time, the Board of Directors of the Surviving  Corporation  shall
consist of an equal number of persons serving on or  representing  the Boards of
Directors of BancTrust and South Alabama,  respectively,  prior to the Effective
Time. In this regard,  if any Initial  Director (or successor  thereto) does not
continue  to serve as a director  of the  Surviving  Corporation  for any reason
whatsoever  during  such  two-year  period  (a  "Departing  Director"),  his/her
successor will be the person recommended (i) in the case of a Departing Director
who either was a director  of  BancTrust  prior to the  Effective  Time or was a
successor  to such a director,  by the  majority of  remaining  directors of the
Surviving  Corporation  who prior to the  Effective  Time served as directors of
BancTrust and, if applicable,  any successors to those BancTrust  directors,  or
(ii) in the case of a  Departing  Director  who either  was a director  of South
Alabama  prior to the Effective  Time or was a successor to such a director,  by
the majority of remaining  directors of the Surviving  Corporation  who prior to
the Effective Time served as directors of South Alabama and, if applicable,  any
successors to those directors. South Alabama and the Surviving Corporation shall
take  all  necessary  corporate  action,  whether  prior  or  subsequent  to the
Effective Time, to effectuate this agreement of the parties. After the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation's Board of Directors will nominate,  support the
solicitation of proxies in favor of, and otherwise actively use its best efforts
to secure the election of directors on a basis consistent with the foregoing, it
being understood and agreed that the election of directors shall be subject to a
vote of the shareholders of the Surviving Corporation.

     (b) For a period of two (2) years  following the Effective  Time, a vote of
two-thirds  (2/3) of the entire Board of Directors of the Surviving  Corporation
shall be necessary to approve (i) any amendment to the Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation,  (ii) any merger,  acquisition,  sale of
substantially  all of its assets or other  extraordinary  corporate  transaction
involving the Surviving  Corporation or any  significant  financial  institution
subsidiary of the Surviving  Corporation,  or (iii) the dismissal or replacement
of any of the  Initial  Executive  Officers.  South  Alabama  and the  Surviving
Corporation  shall  take  all  necessary  corporate  action,  whether  prior  or
subsequent to the Effective  Time, to effectuate  this agreement of the parties.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  herein,  amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation  specifically provided for
or  contemplated  in this  Agreement  shall require the vote of directors as set
forth in the Surviving Corporation's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws.

                                       36
<PAGE>

8.6      Other Agreements for Continuing Corporate Governance

     BancTrust and South Alabama, their respective Boards of Directors,  and the
Surviving  Corporation's  Board of Directors agree to take all corporate action,
whether prior or subsequent to the Effective  Time, to effectuate  the following
actions:

     (a) For a period of at least two (2) years  following the  Effective  Time,
the Board of  Directors  of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall have an Executive
Committee  of not less than eight (8) persons and such other  committees  as the
Board  shall   establish  in   accordance   with  the  ABCA  and  the  Surviving
Corporation's  Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws.  The number of persons to
serve on the  Executive  Committee  shall be set at ten (10)  persons  as of the
Effective  Time.  The initial  members of the Executive  Committee  shall be: J.
Stephen Nelson  (Chairman),  W. Bibb Lamar,  Jr., Richard P. Morthland,  Elam P.
Holley,  Jr.,  three  (3)  directors  to be  chosen  by  BancTrust  prior to the
Effective  Time,  and three (3) directors to be chosen by South Alabama prior to
the  Effective  Time.  In no event  shall  more  than  four (4)  members  of the
Executive  Committee be employees of  BancTrust,  South  Alabama,  the Surviving
Corporation and their respective Subsidiaries. The Executive Committee shall act
by majority vote to carry out the  policies,  plans,  practices  and  directions
previously  approved  by the Board of  Directors  and to  otherwise  enable  the
Surviving  Corporation  to conduct its business in the normal and regular course
consistent with the Surviving  Corporation's current policies,  plans, practices
and  directions.  The  Executive  Committee  shall be  responsible  for  setting
compensation for senior executive  officers,  budgeting,  strategic planning and
the  resolution  of any dispute  between the  Surviving  Corporation's  Co-Chief
Executive Officers.

     (b) For a period of at least two (2) years  following the  Effective  Time,
the Executive  Committee  shall  consist of an even number of members,  one-half
(1/2) of which shall  consist of directors  who served as directors of BancTrust
prior to the  Effective  Time (or their  successors)  and  one-half  (1/2) shall
consist of  directors  who served as  directors  of South  Alabama  prior to the
Effective Time (or their successors).

     (c)  Prior  to the  Effective  Time,  BancTrust  and  South  Alabama  shall
reasonably  agree as to the initial members of each other committee of the Board
of Directors of the Surviving Corporation. Each of such committees shall have at
the  Effective  Time and for two (2) years  thereafter  at least one  member who
served  as a  director  of  BancTrust  prior to the  Effective  Time  (or  their
successors)  and at least one member who served as a director  of South  Alabama
prior to the Effective Time (or their successors).

     (d) All South  Alabama  Subsidiaries  that are  commercial  banks  shall be
merged with and into  Peoples  Bank,  Selma,  Alabama,  with Peoples Bank as the
surviving  corporation,  as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, taking
into  account  required  regulatory  approvals,  operational  issues,  and other
relevant factors.

8.7      Survival of Certain Post-Merger Agreements

     Those  provisions  of Section  8.5 and 8.6 hereof  intended  to survive the
Effective Time shall survive and remain in effect until the anniversary dates of
the Effective Date set forth therein, terminating thereafter; provided, however,
that prior to such anniversary dates, such post-merger agreements may be amended
by a vote of two-thirds  (2/3) of the entire Board of Directors of the Surviving
Corporation.

8.8      Publication of Combined Results

     The  Surviving  Corporation  shall  publish  financial  results of combined
operations of South Alabama and BancTrust,  as contemplated by and in accordance
with the terms of  Commission

                                       37
<PAGE>

     Accounting  Series Release Nos. 130 and 135, no later than  forty-five (45)
     days after the end of the first fiscal quarter of the Surviving Corporation
     containing the required period of post-Merger combined operations.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

9.1      Expenses

     Each party hereto shall be responsible for all costs and expenses  incurred
by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions  contemplated hereby,
except  that the  costs of  printing  and  mailing  the  Prospectus/Joint  Proxy
Statement shall be shared equally by the parties.  If either  BancTrust or South
Alabama willfully  breaches its obligations  under this Agreement,  or willfully
fails to satisfy a condition  precedent to the closing of the Merger, such party
shall be liable to the other for all of its out-of-pocket  expenses, in addition
to all other rights and remedies such other party may have.

9.2      Entire Agreement

     This  Agreement  contains  the entire  agreement  between the parties  with
respect to the  transactions  contemplated  hereunder and  supersedes  all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereto, written or oral, other than
documents  referred  to herein or  therein.  The  terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties  hereto
and  thereto  and  their  respective  successors.  Nothing  in  this  Agreement,
expressed  or implied,  is  intended  to confer  upon any party,  other than the
parties  hereto  and  thereto,  and their  respective  successors,  any  rights,
remedies, obligations or liabilities.

9.3      No Assignment

     Neither of the parties  hereto may assign any of its rights or  obligations
under this Agreement to any other person.

9.4      Notices

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

         If to BancTrust:

                  The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.
                  310 Broad Street
                  Selma, Alabama 36701
                  Attention: Richard P. Morthland, Chairman of the Board

         With copies to:

                  Gamble, Gamble & Calame, L.L.C.
                  807 Selma Avenue
                  Selma, Alabama 36701
                  Attention:  Harry W. Gamble, Jr., Esq.

                                       38
<PAGE>

                  and:

                  Kutak Rock LLP
                  1101 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 1000
                  Washington, D.C. 20036
                  Attention:  Edward B. Crosland, Jr., Esq.

         If to South Alabama:

                  South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc.
                  P.O. Box 3067 (36652)
                  100 St. Joseph Street
                  Mobile, Alabama 36602
                  Attention: W. Bibb Lamar, Jr., President

         With a copy to:

                  Hand Arendall, L.L.C.
                  P.O. Box 123 (36601)
                  3000 AmSouth Building
                  107 St. Francis Street
                  Mobile, Alabama 36602

                  Attention: R. Preston Bolt, Jr., Esq.

9.5      Captions

     The captions  contained in this  Agreement are for reference  purposes only
and are not part of this Agreement.

9.6      Counterparts

     This  Agreement  may be executed in  multiple  counterparts,  each of which
shall be deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts together
shall constitute one agreement.

9.7      Governing Law

     This Agreement  shall be construed and  interpreted in accordance  with the
laws of the State of Alabama  applicable to  agreements  made and entirely to be
performed within such jurisdiction.

9.8      Severability

     Any term or provision of this Agreement  which is invalid or  unenforceable
in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent
of  such   invalidity  or   unenforceability   without   rendering   invalid  or
unenforceable  the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement or affecting
the  validity  or  enforceability  of any of the  terms  or  provisions  of this
Agreement in any other  jurisdiction.  If any provision of this  Agreement is so
broad as to the unenforceable,  the provision shall be interpreted to be only so
broad as is enforceable.

                                       39
<PAGE>

9.9      Enforcement of Agreement

     The parties hereto agree that  irreparable  damage would occur in the event
that any of the  provisions  of this  Agreement  was not performed in accordance
with its specific terms or was otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that
the  parties  shall be  entitled  to an  injunction  or  injunctions  to prevent
breaches of this Agreement and to enforce  specifically the terms and provisions
hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction,  this
being in  addition to any other  remedy to which they are  entitled at law or in
equity.

                                       40
<PAGE>

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

Attest:                                     THE PEOPLES BANCTRUST COMPANY, INC.


/s/ M. Scott Patterson                      By: /s/ Richard P. Morthland
-------------------------------              ---------------------------------
                                               Richard P. Morthland, Chairman





Attest:                                     SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION, INC.


/s/ F. Michael Johnson                      By: /s/ W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
-------------------------------                ---------------------------------
                                               W. Bibb Lamar, Jr., President

                                       41
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     This STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  January  17,  2001,  is by and
between South Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc.,  an Alabama  business  corporation
("South Alabama"),  and The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc., an Alabama business
corporation ("BancTrust").

     WHEREAS,  South  Alabama and  BancTrust  have entered into an Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated of even date hereof (the "Merger Agreement")  regarding the
merger of BancTrust  with and into South  Alabama,  which shall be the surviving
corporation and change its name to "The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc."; and

     WHEREAS,  in order to induce BancTrust to enter into the Merger  Agreement,
South Alabama has agreed to grant the Stock Option (as hereinafter defined);

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. Grant of Stock  Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein,  South  Alabama  hereby  irrevocably  grants to BancTrust an option (the
"Stock  Option") to  purchase up to  1,696,782  shares of South  Alabama  common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common  Stock"),  at a cash purchase price
of $8.625 per share (the "Exercise Price").

     2. Exercise of Stock Option.

     (a) Subject to the receipt of all necessary  approvals required by, and the
expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under, any federal or
state statutes  regulating or governing the  acquisition or change in control of
banks (the "Bank Regulatory  Acts"),  the Stock Option,  subject to Section 2(b)
below, may be exercised by BancTrust or its permitted  assignee,  in whole or in
part,  at any time or from time to time,  on or before the  termination  of this
Stock Option Agreement (the "Termination  Date").  The Termination Date shall be
the earliest to occur of the following:

          (i) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement);

          (ii)  eighteen  (18) months after the first  occurrence  of an Initial
     Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined); or

          (iii) the date of  termination  of the Merger  Agreement in accordance
     with its terms prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event.

     In the event BancTrust wishes to exercise the Stock Option, BancTrust shall
send a written notice to South Alabama  specifying the total number of shares it
will purchase and a place and date not later than 10 business days from the date
such notice is given for the closing of such purchase.

     (b) BancTrust may exercise the Stock Option, in whole or part, if, but only
if, an Initial  Triggering  Event (as  hereinafter  defined) shall have occurred
prior to the occurrence of the Termination  Date;  provided that BancTrust shall
have sent the written  notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (a) of
this Section 2).

                                       A-1
<PAGE>

     (c) The term  "Initial  Triggering  Event" shall mean any of the  following
events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

          (i) South Alabama,  without having received  BancTrust's prior written
     consent,  shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an  Acquisition
     Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term "person" for
     purposes of this Stock Option Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto
     in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations  thereunder)  other
     than  BancTrust,  or the Board of  Directors  of South  Alabama  shall have
     recommended  that the  shareholders  of South Alabama approve or accept any
     Acquisition Transaction other than as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
     For  purposes of this Stock  Option  Agreement,  "Acquisition  Transaction"
     shall  mean (x) a merger  or  consolidation,  or any  similar  transaction,
     involving South Alabama; (y) a purchase,  lease or other acquisition of all
     or substantially  all of the assets of South Alabama;  or (z) a purchase or
     other  acquisition  (including  by  way  of  merger,  consolidation,  share
     exchange or otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the voting
     power of South Alabama;

          (ii) Any person  other than  BancTrust  or the current  holders of the
     Common  Stock  shall have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  or the right to
     acquire  beneficial  ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding  shares of
     Common Stock (the term  "beneficial  ownership"  for purposes of this Stock
     Option  Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of
     the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder);

          (iii) Any  person  other  than  BancTrust  shall have made a bona fide
     proposal to South Alabama or its  shareholders,  by public  announcement or
     written  communication that is or becomes the subject of public disclosure,
     to engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or

          (iv) Any person other than BancTrust,  other than in connection with a
     transaction to which BancTrust has given its prior written  consent,  shall
     have filed an  application  or notice  with the Board of  Governors  of the
     Federal  Reserve  System,   or  other  federal  or  state  bank  regulatory
     authority,  which  application or notice has been accepted for  processing,
     for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

     (d) South  Alabama  shall  notify  BancTrust  promptly  in  writing  of the
occurrence of any Initial  Triggering Event, it being understood that the giving
of such  notice  by South  Alabama  shall  not be a  condition  to the  right of
BancTrust to exercise the Stock Option.

     3.  Payment and  Delivery  of  Certificate(s).  At any  closing  hereunder,
BancTrust or its permitted  assignee  shall make payment to South Alabama of the
aggregate  Exercise  Price  for the  shares  of  Common  Stock so  purchased  by
certified  or  official  bank  check or wire  transfer  of same day  funds to an
account specified by South Alabama, and South Alabama shall deliver to BancTrust
or its permitted  assignee a certificate or certificates in form satisfactory to
BancTrust  representing  the number of shares of Common Stock being purchased in
the denominations designated by BancTrust in its notice of exercise.

     4.  Representations  and Warranties of South Alabama.  South Alabama hereby
represents and warrants to BancTrust as follows:

          (a) Due  Authorization.  This  Stock  Option  Agreement  has been duly
     authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of South Alabama
     and has been duly executed by a duly  authorized  officer of South Alabama,
     and   constitutes  a  valid  and  binding   obligation  of  South  Alabama,
     enforceable  against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement
     may be limited by bankruptcy,  insolvency, moratorium or other similar laws
     relating to creditors' rights  generally,

                                       A-2
<PAGE>

     and except that the availability of equitable remedies,  including specific
     performance,  is subject to the  discretion  of the court  before which any
     proceeding therefor may be brought.

          (b) Due  Organization.  South Alabama is a corporation duly organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Alabama and has the
     requisite  corporate  power to enter into and  perform  this  Stock  Option
     Agreement.

          (c) Stock Option Shares.  Except for any required  regulatory  filing,
     South  Alabama  has  taken all  necessary  corporate  and  other  action to
     authorize and reserve and to permit it to issue,  and at all times from the
     date hereof  through the  Termination  Date will keep reserved for issuance
     upon exercise of the Stock Option, 1,696,782 shares of Common Stock, all of
     which,  upon issuance  pursuant  hereto,  shall be duly and validly issued,
     fully paid and nonassessable,  and shall be delivered free and clear of all
     charges,  claims,  liens,  encumbrances,  security  interests  or rights of
     others, including any preemptive rights.

          (d)  No  Conflicts.  Subject  to  Section  2(b)  hereof,  neither  the
     execution and delivery of this Stock Option  Agreement nor the consummation
     of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  violate  or result in any
     violation of or be in conflict  with or constitute a default under any term
     of the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of South  Alabama  or of any
     agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or government
     regulation applicable to South Alabama.

     5. Representations and Warranties of BancTrust. BancTrust hereby represents
and warrants to South Alabama as follows:

          (a)  Distribution.  None of the shares of Common Stock  acquired  upon
     exercise of the Stock Option will be  transferred  except in a  transaction
     registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, and any applicable state securities law.

          (b) No  Conflicts.  Neither the  execution  and delivery of this Stock
     Option  Agreement nor the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
     hereby will violate or result in any violation of or be in conflict with or
     constitute  a default  under any term of the Articles of  Incorporation  or
     Bylaws of  BancTrust or of any  agreement,  instrument,  judgment,  decree,
     order, statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to BancTrust.

     6. Bank Regulatory Acts. South Alabama and BancTrust will each,  timely and
promptly after the exercise hereof,  make all filings required under each of the
Bank  Regulatory  Acts and use their best  efforts  to cause the  receipt of all
required  approvals and the  satisfaction  or termination of all waiting periods
under the Bank  Regulatory  Acts applicable to the exercise of the Stock Option.
South  Alabama  and  BancTrust   will  furnish  to  each  other  such  necessary
information and reasonable assistance as may be requested in connection with the
respective  preparation of necessary  filings or submissions to any governmental
agency including, without limitation, any filings necessary under the provisions
of any of the Bank Regulatory Acts. South Alabama and BancTrust will supply each
other with copies of all correspondence, filings or communications (or memoranda
setting forth the substance  thereof) between either of them or their respective
representatives  and any  governmental  agency or  authority or members of their
respective   staffs  with  respect  to  this  Stock  Option   Agreement  or  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     7. Cancellation  Payment. In the event that any person or entity other than
BancTrust or any  affiliate of BancTrust  (as such term is defined in Rule 13e-3
promulgated under the 1934 Act) (a) consummates a tender offer, as determined by
the precedent construing Sections 14(c) and 14(d) of the 1934 Act, for more than
20% and not more  than 25% of the  outstanding  shares  of  South  Alabama,  (b)

                                       A-3
<PAGE>

commences  a tender  offer  for 25% or more of the  outstanding  shares of South
Alabama,  or (c) enters into any  agreement  with South  Alabama to engage in an
Acquisition  Transaction in which the Common Stock would be convertible  into or
exchangeable for securities or assets of another entity or cash,  BancTrust,  at
its election and subject to any required regulatory approvals, shall be entitled
to receive, in consideration for the cancellation of the Stock Option, an amount
in cash (the "Cancellation  Payment") equal to (i) the excess, if any of (A) the
highest  price or  consideration  paid by such  third  party  for any  shares so
acquired less (B) the Exercise Price,  multiplied by (ii) 1,696,782 shares, less
the number of shares (if any) that have  previously been purchased upon exercise
of the Stock Option, or, at the option of BancTrust, such lesser amount, if any,
as may be paid by South  Alabama  without  being  required  to obtain  any prior
regulatory  approval from or to make any filing with the regulatory  agency with
respect to South Alabama's purchase of its equity  securities.  The Cancellation
Payment shall be made within three (3) business days of BancTrust's  election to
receive the  Cancellation  Payment by certified  or official  bank check or wire
transfer of same day funds to such account as BancTrust shall designate.

     8. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization,  Merger, Etc. In the event of
any change in the shares of Common Stock  occurring on or after the date hereof,
by  reason  of  stock  dividends,   stock  splits,  mergers,   recapitalization,
combinations,  conversions, exchanges of shares or the like, the number and kind
of shares or  securities  subject to the Stock  Option,  the Exercise  Price per
share and the Cancellation Payment shall be appropriately adjusted.

     9. Legend.  Certificates  for the shares of Common  Stock  delivered at the
closing  hereunder  shall be endorsed with a restrictive  legend that shall read
substantially as follows:

         "The transfer of the shares  represented by this certificate is subject
         to certain  provisions of an agreement  between the  registered  holder
         thereof  and  South  Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc.,  a copy  of  which
         agreement  is  on  file  at  the  principal  office  of  South  Alabama
         Bancorporation,   Inc.  and  to  resale  restrictions  imposed  by  the
         Securities  Act of 1933. A copy of such  agreement  will be provided to
         the holder without charge upon receipt by South Alabama Bancorporation,
         Inc. of a written request."

     In  addition,  such  certificates  shall  bear any  other  legend as may be
required by law.

     10. Assignment.  Neither of the parties hereto may assign, pledge or convey
any of its rights or obligations  under this Stock Option Agreement or the Stock
Option  created  hereunder  to any other  person or entity,  without the express
written consent of the other party,  provided,  however, that BancTrust's rights
and obligations  under this Stock Option  Agreement and the Stock Option created
hereunder shall be  automatically  transferred to any corporation  succeeding to
the rights and obligations of BancTrust under the Merger Agreement.

     11. Remedies.  BancTrust,  on the one hand, and South Alabama, on the other
hand, each  acknowledges and agrees that the other would be irreparably  damaged
in the event any of the  provisions  of this  Stock  Option  Agreement  were not
performed by the other in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached.  It is  accordingly  agreed  that each party  shall be  entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to redress the breaches of this Stock Option Agreement
and to  specifically  enforce  the terms  and  provisions  hereof in any  action
instituted  in any  court of the  United  States  or any  state  thereof  having
jurisdiction,  in  addition  to any  other  remedy  to which  such  party may be
entitled at law or in equity.  In the event  litigation  shall be  necessary  to
enforce, interpret or rescind the provisions of this Stock Option Agreement, the
prevailing  party shall be entitled to recover from the other party, in addition
to other relief, the prevailing party's reasonable  attorneys' fees for services
before trial, on trial and on any appeal therefrom.

                                       A-4
<PAGE>

     12. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Effect and  Assignment  of  Agreement.  Subject  to the  provisions  of
Section  10 hereof,  this  Stock  Option  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and
enforceable  by and against the parties hereto and their  respective  successors
and assigns.

     (b) Amendments.  This Stock Option Agreement may not be modified,  amended,
altered or  supplemented,  except upon the  execution  and delivery of a written
amendment executed by the parties.

     (c)   Notices.   All   notices,   requests,   claims,   demands  and  other
communications  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile
transmission,  by mail (registered or certified mail,  postage  prepaid,  return
receipt  requested),  or by  courier or  overnight  carrier,  to the  respective
parties as follows:

         If to South Alabama:

                  South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc.
                  P.O. Box 3067 (36652)
                  100 St. Joseph Street
                  Mobile, Alabama  36602

                  Attention:  W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.,
                                President

         with a copy to:

                  Hand Arendall, L.L.C.
                  P.O. Box 123 (36601)
                  3000 AmSouth Building
                  107 St. Francis Street
                  Mobile, Alabama 36602

                  Attention:  R. Preston Bolt, Jr., Esq.

         If to BancTrust:

                  The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.
                  310 Broad Street
                  Selma, Alabama  36701

                  Attention:  Richard P. Morthland,
                                Chairman of the Board

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

         with a copy to:

                  Gamble, Gamble & Calame, L.L.C.
                  807 Selma Avenue
                  Selma, Alabama  36701

                  Attention:  Harry W. Gamble, Jr., Esq.

or to such other  address  as either  party may have  furnished  to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of a change of address shall
only be effective upon receipt.

     (d)  Governing  Law. This Stock Option  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to
the principles of conflict of laws.

     (e) No Prior  Agreements.  This Stock  Option  Agreement  (i)  contains the
entire agreement,  and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings,
both  written and oral,  between the parties  hereto with respect to the subject
matter  hereof,  and (ii) is not  intended to confer upon any other person other
than a permitted assignee any rights or remedies hereunder.

     (f) Severability.  If any term, provision,  covenant or restriction of this
Stock  Option  Agreement  is held by a court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provision, covenants
and  restrictions of this Stock Option  Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

     (g) Expenses.  Each of the parties shall pay its own expenses in connection
with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Stock Option Agreement.

     (h) Effect of Headings.  The section  headings  herein are for  convenience
only and shall not affect the  meanings  or  construction  of this Stock  Option
Agreement.

     (i)  Counterparts.  This Stock Option  Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts,  each of which  shall be an  original,  but all of which  together
shall constitute the same agreement.

                                      A-6

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  South  Alabama and  BancTrust  have caused this Stock
Option Agreement to take effect as of the date set forth above.

                                            SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                                 /s/ W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                     W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
                                                     President



                                            THE PEOPLES BANCTRUST COMPANY, INC.

                                                 /s/ Richard P. Morthland
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                     Richard P. Morthland
                                                     Chairman of the Board

                                      A-7
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     This STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,  dated as of  January  17,  2001,  is by and
between The Peoples  BancTrust  Company,  Inc., an Alabama business  corporation
("BancTrust"),  and South  Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc.,  an Alabama  business
corporation ("South Alabama").

     WHEREAS,  BancTrust  and South  Alabama have entered into an Agreement  and
Plan of Merger dated of even date hereof (the "Merger Agreement")  regarding the
merger of BancTrust  with and into South  Alabama,  which shall be the surviving
corporation and change its name to "The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc."; and

     WHEREAS,  in  order to  induce  South  Alabama  to  enter  into the  Merger
Agreement,  BancTrust  has  agreed  to grant the Stock  Option  (as  hereinafter
defined);

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
covenants contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

     1. Grant of Stock  Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth
herein,  BancTrust  hereby  irrevocably  grants to South  Alabama an option (the
"Stock  Option") to purchase up to 1,024,479  shares of BancTrust  common stock,
par value $.10 per share  (the  "Common  Stock"),  at a cash  purchase  price of
$12.435 per share (the "Exercise Price").

     2. Exercise of Stock Option.

     (a) Subject to the receipt of all necessary  approvals required by, and the
expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under, any federal or
state statutes  regulating or governing the  acquisition or change in control of
banks (the "Bank Regulatory  Acts"),  the Stock Option,  subject to Section 2(b)
below, may be exercised by South Alabama or its permitted assignee,  in whole or
in part, at any time or from time to time, on or before the  termination of this
Stock Option Agreement (the "Termination  Date").  The Termination Date shall be
the earliest to occur of the following:

          (i) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement);

          (ii)  eighteen  (18) months after the first  occurrence  of an Initial
     Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined); or

          (iii) the date of  termination  of the Merger  Agreement in accordance
     with its terms prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event.

     In the event South  Alabama  wishes to  exercise  the Stock  Option,  South
Alabama shall send a written notice to BancTrust  specifying the total number of
shares it will  purchase  and a place and date not later than 10  business  days
from the date such notice is given for the closing of such purchase.

     (b) South Alabama may exercise the Stock Option,  in whole or part, if, but
only if,  an  Initial  Triggering  Event (as  hereinafter  defined)  shall  have
occurred prior to the occurrence of the  Termination  Date;  provided that South
Alabama  shall have sent the written  notice of such  exercise  (as  provided in
subsection (a) of this Section 2).

                                       B-1
<PAGE>

     (c) The term  "Initial  Triggering  Event" shall mean any of the  following
events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

          (i) BancTrust,  without having  received South Alabama's prior written
     consent,  shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an  Acquisition
     Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term "person" for
     purposes of this Stock Option Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto
     in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
     amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations  thereunder)  other
     than South  Alabama,  or the Board of  Directors  of  BancTrust  shall have
     recommended  that the  shareholders  of  BancTrust  approve  or accept  any
     Acquisition Transaction other than as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
     For  purposes of this Stock  Option  Agreement,  "Acquisition  Transaction"
     shall  mean (x) a merger  or  consolidation,  or any  similar  transaction,
     involving BancTrust;  (y) a purchase,  lease or other acquisition of all or
     substantially  all of the assets of  BancTrust;  or (z) a purchase or other
     acquisition (including by way of merger,  consolidation,  share exchange or
     otherwise)  of securities  representing  10% or more of the voting power of
     BancTrust;

          (ii) Any person other than South Alabama or the current holders of the
     Common  Stock  shall have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  or the right to
     acquire  beneficial  ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding  shares of
     Common Stock (the term  "beneficial  ownership"  for purposes of this Stock
     Option  Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of
     the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder);

          (iii) Any person other than South  Alabama shall have made a bona fide
     proposal  to  BancTrust  or its  shareholders,  by public  announcement  or
     written  communication that is or becomes the subject of public disclosure,
     to engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or

          (iv) Any person  other than South  Alabama,  other than in  connection
     with a  transaction  to which  South  Alabama  has given its prior  written
     consent,  shall  have  filed an  application  or  notice  with the Board of
     Governors of the Federal  Reserve  System,  or other  federal or state bank
     regulatory  authority,  which  application  or notice has been accepted for
     processing, for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

     (d)  BancTrust  shall  notify  South  Alabama  promptly  in  writing of the
occurrence of any Initial  Triggering Event, it being understood that the giving
of such  notice  by  BancTrust  shall not be a  condition  to the right of South
Alabama to exercise the Stock Option.

     3. Payment and Delivery of Certificate(s).  At any closing hereunder, South
Alabama or its  permitted  assignee  shall  make  payment  to  BancTrust  of the
aggregate  Exercise  Price  for the  shares  of  Common  Stock so  purchased  by
certified  or  official  bank  check or wire  transfer  of same day  funds to an
account specified by BancTrust,  and BancTrust shall deliver to South Alabama or
its permitted  assignee a certificate or  certificates  in form  satisfactory to
South Alabama  representing the number of shares of Common Stock being purchased
in the denominations designated by South Alabama in its notice of exercise.

     4. Representations and Warranties of BancTrust. BancTrust hereby represents
and warrants to South Alabama as follows:

          (a) Due  Authorization.  This  Stock  Option  Agreement  has been duly
     authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of BancTrust and
     has been duly  executed  by a duly  authorized  officer of  BancTrust,  and
     constitutes  a valid  and  binding  obligation  of  BancTrust,  enforceable
     against it in  accordance  with its  terms,  except as  enforcement  may be
     limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency,

                                       B-2
<PAGE>

     moratorium or other similar laws relating to creditors'  rights  generally,
     and except that the availability of equitable remedies,  including specific
     performance,  is subject to the  discretion  of the court  before which any
     proceeding therefor may be brought.

          (b) Due  Organization.  BancTrust  is a  corporation  duly  organized,
     validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Alabama and has the
     requisite  corporate  power to enter into and  perform  this  Stock  Option
     Agreement.

          (c) Stock Option Shares.  Except for any required  regulatory  filing,
     BancTrust has taken all  necessary  corporate and other action to authorize
     and  reserve  and to  permit it to  issue,  and at all times  from the date
     hereof  through the  Termination  Date will keep reserved for issuance upon
     exercise of the Stock  Option,  1,024,479  shares of Common  Stock,  all of
     which,  upon issuance  pursuant  hereto,  shall be duly and validly issued,
     fully paid and nonassessable,  and shall be delivered free and clear of all
     charges,  claims,  liens,  encumbrances,  security  interests  or rights of
     others, including any preemptive rights.

          (d)  No  Conflicts.  Subject  to  Section  2(b)  hereof,  neither  the
     execution and delivery of this Stock Option  Agreement nor the consummation
     of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  will  violate  or result in any
     violation of or be in conflict  with or constitute a default under any term
     of  the  Articles  of  Incorporation  or  Bylaws  of  BancTrust  or of  any
     agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or government
     regulation applicable to BancTrust.

     5.  Representations  and Warranties of South Alabama.  South Alabama hereby
represents and warrants to BancTrust as follows:

          (a)  Distribution.  None of the shares of Common Stock  acquired  upon
     exercise of the Stock Option will be  transferred  except in a  transaction
     registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, and any applicable state securities law.

          (b) No  Conflicts.  Neither the  execution  and delivery of this Stock
     Option  Agreement nor the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated
     hereby will violate or result in any violation of or be in conflict with or
     constitute  a default  under any term of the Articles of  Incorporation  or
     Bylaws of South Alabama or of any agreement,  instrument, judgment, decree,
     order,  statute,  rule  or  governmental  regulation  applicable  to  South
     Alabama.

     6. Bank Regulatory Acts.  BancTrust and South Alabama will each, timely and
promptly after the exercise hereof,  make all filings required under each of the
Bank  Regulatory  Acts and use their best  efforts  to cause the  receipt of all
required  approvals and the  satisfaction  or termination of all waiting periods
under the Bank  Regulatory  Acts applicable to the exercise of the Stock Option.
BancTrust  and  South  Alabama  will  furnish  to  each  other  such   necessary
information and reasonable assistance as may be requested in connection with the
respective  preparation of necessary  filings or submissions to any governmental
agency including, without limitation, any filings necessary under the provisions
of any of the Bank Regulatory Acts. BancTrust and South Alabama will supply each
other with copies of all correspondence, filings or communications (or memoranda
setting forth the substance  thereof) between either of them or their respective
representatives  and any  governmental  agency or  authority or members of their
respective   staffs  with  respect  to  this  Stock  Option   Agreement  or  the
transactions contemplated hereby.

     7. Cancellation  Payment. In the event that any person or entity other than
South Alabama or any affiliate of South Alabama (as such term is defined in Rule
13e-3  promulgated  under  the 1934  Act) (a)  consummates  a tender  offer,  as
determined by the precedent construing Sections 14(c) and 14(d) of the


                                       B-3
<PAGE>

1934 Act, for more than 20% and not more than 25% of the  outstanding  shares of
BancTrust,  (b)  commences  a tender  offer  for 25% or more of the  outstanding
shares of BancTrust,  or (c) enters into any agreement  with BancTrust to engage
in an  Acquisition  Transaction  in which the Common Stock would be  convertible
into or exchangeable  for securities or assets of another entity or cash,  South
Alabama, at its election and subject to any required regulatory approvals, shall
be entitled to  receive,  in  consideration  for the  cancellation  of the Stock
Option, an amount in cash (the "Cancellation  Payment") equal to (i) the excess,
if any of (A) the highest  price or  consideration  paid by such third party for
any shares so acquired less (B) the Exercise Price, multiplied by (ii) 1,024,479
shares,  less the number of shares (if any) that have  previously been purchased
upon  exercise of the Stock  Option,  or, at the option of South  Alabama,  such
lesser  amount,  if any, as may be paid by BancTrust  without being  required to
obtain  any  prior  regulatory  approval  from or to make  any  filing  with the
regulatory agency with respect to BancTrust's purchase of its equity securities.
The  Cancellation  Payment shall be made within three (3) business days of South
Alabama's election to receive the Cancellation  Payment by certified or official
bank check or wire  transfer of same day funds to such account as South  Alabama
shall designate.

     8. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization,  Merger, Etc. In the event of
any change in the shares of Common Stock  occurring on or after the date hereof,
by  reason  of  stock  dividends,   stock  splits,  mergers,   recapitalization,
combinations,  conversions, exchanges of shares or the like, the number and kind
of shares or  securities  subject to the Stock  Option,  the Exercise  Price per
share and the Cancellation Payment shall be appropriately adjusted.

     9. Legend.  Certificates  for the shares of Common  Stock  delivered at the
closing  hereunder  shall be endorsed with a restrictive  legend that shall read
substantially as follows:

         "The transfer of the shares  represented by this certificate is subject
         to certain  provisions of an agreement  between the  registered  holder
         thereof  and The  Peoples  BancTrust  Company,  Inc.,  a copy of  which
         agreement is on file at the principal  office of The Peoples  BancTrust
         Company,  Inc. and to resale restrictions imposed by the Securities Act
         of  1933.  A copy of such  agreement  will be  provided  to the  holder
         without charge upon receipt by The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc. of a
         written request."

     In  addition,  such  certificates  shall  bear any  other  legend as may be
required by law.

     10. Assignment.  Neither of the parties hereto may assign, pledge or convey
any of its rights or obligations  under this Stock Option Agreement or the Stock
Option  created  hereunder  to any other  person or entity,  without the express
written  consent of the other party,  provided,  however,  that South  Alabama's
rights and  obligations  under this Stock Option  Agreement and the Stock Option
created  hereunder  shall  be  automatically   transferred  to  any  corporation
succeeding  to the  rights and  obligations  of South  Alabama  under the Merger
Agreement.

     11. Remedies.  South Alabama, on the one hand, and BancTrust,  on the other
hand, each  acknowledges and agrees that the other would be irreparably  damaged
in the event any of the  provisions  of this  Stock  Option  Agreement  were not
performed by the other in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached.  It is  accordingly  agreed  that each party  shall be  entitled to an
injunction or injunctions to redress the breaches of this Stock Option Agreement
and to  specifically  enforce  the terms  and  provisions  hereof in any  action
instituted  in any  court of the  United  States  or any  state  thereof  having
jurisdiction,  in  addition  to any  other  remedy  to which  such  party may be
entitled at law or in equity.  In the event  litigation  shall be  necessary  to
enforce, interpret or rescind the provisions of this Stock Option Agreement, the
prevailing  party shall be entitled to recover from the other party, in addition
to other relief, the prevailing party's reasonable  attorneys' fees for services
before trial, on trial and on any appeal therefrom.

                                       B-4
<PAGE>

     12. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Effect and  Assignment  of  Agreement.  Subject  to the  provisions  of
Section  10 hereof,  this  Stock  Option  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon and
enforceable  by and against the parties hereto and their  respective  successors
and assigns.

     (b) Amendments.  This Stock Option Agreement may not be modified,  amended,
altered or  supplemented,  except upon the  execution  and delivery of a written
amendment executed by the parties.

     (c)   Notices.   All   notices,   requests,   claims,   demands  and  other
communications  hereunder  shall be in writing  and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by facsimile
transmission,  by mail (registered or certified mail,  postage  prepaid,  return
receipt  requested),  or by  courier or  overnight  carrier,  to the  respective
parties as follows:

         If to BancTrust:

                  The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.
                  310 Broad Street
                  Selma, Alabama  36701

                  Attention:  Richard P. Morthland,
                                Chairman of the Board

         with a copy to:

                  Gamble, Gamble & Calame, L.L.C.
                  807 Selma Avenue
                  Selma, Alabama  36701

                  Attention:  Harry W. Gamble, Jr., Esq.


         If to South Alabama:

                  South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc.
                  P.O. Box 3067 (36652)
                  100 St. Joseph Street
                  Mobile, Alabama  36602

                  Attention:  W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.,
                                President

         with a copy to:

                  Hand Arendall, L.L.C.
                  P.O. Box 123 (36601)
                  3000 AmSouth Building
                  107 St. Francis Street
                  Mobile, Alabama 36602
                  Attention:  R. Preston Bolt, Jr., Esq.

                                       B-5
<PAGE>

or to such other  address  as either  party may have  furnished  to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of a change of address shall
only be effective upon receipt.

     (d)  Governing  Law. This Stock Option  Agreement  shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to
the principles of conflict of laws.

     (e) No Prior  Agreements.  This Stock  Option  Agreement  (i)  contains the
entire agreement,  and supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings,
both  written and oral,  between the parties  hereto with respect to the subject
matter  hereof,  and (ii) is not  intended to confer upon any other person other
than a permitted assignee any rights or remedies hereunder.

     (f) Severability.  If any term, provision,  covenant or restriction of this
Stock  Option  Agreement  is held by a court  of  competent  jurisdiction  to be
invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provision, covenants
and  restrictions of this Stock Option  Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.

     (g) Expenses.  Each of the parties shall pay its own expenses in connection
with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Stock Option Agreement.

     (h) Effect of Headings.  The section  headings  herein are for  convenience
only and shall not affect the  meanings  or  construction  of this Stock  Option
Agreement.

     (i)  Counterparts.  This Stock Option  Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts,  each of which  shall be an  original,  but all of which  together
shall constitute the same agreement.

                                      B-6
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  BancTrust  and South  Alabama  have caused this Stock
Option Agreement to take effect as of the date set forth above.


                                            THE PEOPLES BANCTRUST COMPANY, INC.

                                                 /s/ Richard P. Morthland
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                     Richard P. Morthland
                                                     Chairman of the Board



                                            SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION, INC.

                                                 /s/ W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                     W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
                                                     President

                                      B-7
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT C


                                VOTING AGREEMENT


                                January 16, 2001


The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.
310 Broad Street
Selma, Alabama  36701

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned is a director of South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc. ("South
Alabama")  and is the  beneficial  holder of  shares  of  common  stock of South
Alabama ("South Alabama Common Stock").

     South Alabama and The Peoples  BancTrust  Company,  Inc.  ("BancTrust") are
considering  the  execution  of an  Agreement  and Plan of Merger  ("Agreement")
contemplating  that  BancTrust  will  merge  with and into  South  Alabama  (the
"Merger"),  pursuant  to which  each of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares of
BancTrust Common Stock shall automatically by operation of law be converted into
a  number  of  shares  of  common  stock of South  Alabama  as set  forth in the
Agreement.  South  Alabama  shall survive the Merger and change its name to "The
Peoples BancTrust Company,  Inc." The execution of the Agreement is, among other
things,  subject in the case of BancTrust to the  execution and delivery of this
letter  agreement  ("letter  agreement").  In  consideration  of the substantial
expenses  that  BancTrust  will  incur  in  connection  with  the   transactions
contemplated  by the Agreement  and in order to induce  BancTrust to execute the
Agreement  and to proceed to incur such  expenses,  the  undersigned  agrees and
undertakes,  in his capacity as a  shareholder  of South  Alabama and not in his
capacity as a director of South  Alabama  (in which  capacity as a director  his
fiduciary duties shall apply), as follows:

     1. The undersigned, while this letter agreement is in effect, shall vote or
cause to be voted  all of the  shares of South  Alabama  Common  Stock  that the
undersigned  shall be entitled to so vote,  whether such shares are beneficially
owned  by  the  undersigned  on  the  date  of  this  letter  agreement  or  are
subsequently  acquired,  whether  pursuant to the  exercise of stock  options or
otherwise,  at the meeting of South Alabama's shareholders to be called and held
following the date hereof, for the approval of the Agreement and the Merger.

     2. The  undersigned  acknowledges  and  agrees  that any  remedy at law for
breach of the foregoing  provisions shall be inadequate and that, in addition to
any  other  relief  which  may be  available,  BancTrust  shall be  entitled  to
temporary  and  permanent  injunctive  relief  without the  necessity of proving
actual damages.

     3. The  foregoing  restrictions  shall not apply to shares with  respect to
which the  undersigned  may have  voting  power as a fiduciary  for  others.  In
addition,  this  letter  agreement  shall  only  apply to  actions  taken by the
undersigned  in his capacity as a shareholder  of South Alabama and shall not in
any way limit or affect  actions the  undersigned  may take in his capacity as a
director of South Alabama.

     4. This letter agreement shall automatically  terminate upon termination of
the Agreement in accordance with its terms.

                                       C-1
<PAGE>

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

                                        Very truly yours,




                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Signature



                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Name (please print)


Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

THE PEOPLES BANCTRUST COMPANY, INC.



By:  _______________________________
       Its

                                      C-2
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT D


                                VOTING AGREEMENT


                                January 16, 2001


South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc.
100 St. Joseph Street
Mobile, Alabama  36602

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The  undersigned  is a director  of The  Peoples  BancTrust  Company,  Inc.
("BancTrust")  and is the beneficial  holder of shares of common stock of Common
Stock").

     BancTrust  and South Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc.  ("South  Alabama") are
considering  the  execution  of an  Agreement  and Plan of Merger  ("Agreement")
contemplating  that  BancTrust  will  merge  with and into  South  Alabama  (the
"Merger"),  pursuant  to which  each of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares of
BancTrust Common Stock shall automatically by operation of law be converted into
a  number  of  shares  of  common  stock of South  Alabama  as set  forth in the
Agreement.  South  Alabama  shall survive the Merger and change its name to "The
Peoples BancTrust Company,  Inc." The execution of the Agreement is, among other
things,  subject in the case of South  Alabama to the  execution and delivery of
this letter agreement ("letter agreement").  In consideration of the substantial
expenses  that South  Alabama  will incur in  connection  with the  transactions
contemplated  by the  Agreement  and in order to induce South Alabama to execute
the Agreement and to proceed to incur such expenses,  the undersigned agrees and
undertakes,  in his  capacity  as a  shareholder  of  BancTrust  and  not in his
capacity  as a director  of  BancTrust  (in which  capacity  as a  director  his
fiduciary duties shall apply), as follows:

     1. The undersigned, while this letter agreement is in effect, shall vote or
cause  to be  voted  all of the  shares  of  BancTrust  Common  Stock  that  the
undersigned  shall be entitled to so vote,  whether such shares are beneficially
owned  by  the  undersigned  on  the  date  of  this  letter  agreement  or  are
subsequently  acquired,  whether  pursuant to the  exercise of stock  options or
otherwise,  at the  meeting of  BancTrust's  shareholders  to be called and held
following the date hereof, for the approval of the Agreement and the Merger.

     2. The  undersigned  acknowledges  and  agrees  that any  remedy at law for
breach of the foregoing  provisions shall be inadequate and that, in addition to
any other  relief which may be  available,  South  Alabama  shall be entitled to
temporary  and  permanent  injunctive  relief  without the  necessity of proving
actual damages.

     3. The  foregoing  restrictions  shall not apply to shares with  respect to
which the  undersigned  may have  voting  power as a fiduciary  for  others.  In
addition,  this  letter  agreement  shall  only  apply to  actions  taken by the
undersigned  in his capacity as a shareholder  of BancTrust and shall not in any
way  limit or affect  actions  the  undersigned  may take in his  capacity  as a
director of BancTrust.

     4. This letter agreement shall automatically  terminate upon termination of
the Agreement in accordance with its terms.

                                       D-1
<PAGE>

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

                                        Very truly yours,




                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Signature



                                        ------------------------------------
                                        Name (please print)


Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written:

SOUTH ALABAMA BANCORPORATION, INC.



By:  _______________________________
       Its

                                      D-2
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT E

            [AMENDMENTS TO SOUTH ALABAMA'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION]

                                      E-1
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT F

                               AFFILIATE AGREEMENT

South Alabama Bancorporation, Inc.
Mobile, Alabama

Attention:        W. Bibb Lamar, Jr.
                  President

Gentlemen:

     The undersigned is a shareholder of The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc., an
Alabama  corporation  ("BancTrust"),  and upon the merger of BancTrust  with and
into South Alabama  Bancorporation,  Inc. ("South Alabama"),  which shall be the
surviving corporation (the "Surviving Corporation"), the undersigned will become
a  shareholder  of the Surviving  Corporation  as described in the Agreement and
Plan of Merger,  dated as of January 17, 2001 (the "Agreement"),  by and between
South Alabama and  BancTrust.  Under the terms of the  Agreement,  the shares of
common stock of BancTrust  ("BancTrust Common Stock") will be converted into and
exchanged  for  shares  of  the  common  stock  of  the  Surviving   Corporation
("Surviving  Corporation Common Stock").  This Affiliate Agreement represents an
agreement between the undersigned and South Alabama regarding certain rights and
obligations of the  undersigned  in connection  with the shares of the Surviving
Corporation to be received by the undersigned as a result of the merger.

     In  consideration  of the  Agreement  and the  mutual  covenants  contained
herein, the undersigned and South Alabama hereby agree as follows:

     1. Affiliate  Status.  The  undersigned  understands  and agrees that as to
BancTrust  he or she is an  "affiliate"  of  BancTrust  under Rule 145(c) and as
defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and  Regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission  ("SEC") under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended ("1933 Act"),
and the  undersigned  anticipates  that he or she will be such an "affiliate" at
the time of the merger.

     2. Initial  Restriction on Disposition.  The undersigned  agrees that he or
she will not sell,  transfer or otherwise dispose of his or her interests in, or
reduce his or her risk relative to, any of the shares of BancTrust  Common Stock
or Surviving  Corporation Common Stock into which his or her shares of BancTrust
Common Stock are converted  upon  consummation  of the merger until such time as
the Surviving  Corporation notifies the undersigned that the requirements of SEC
Accounting  Series  Release  Nos. 130 and 135 ("ASR 130 and 135") have been met.
The  undersigned  understands  that ASR 130 and 135  relate  to  publication  of
financial  results of  post-merger  combined  operations  of South  Alabama  and
BancTrust.  South  Alabama  agrees  that it will  publish  such  results  within
forty-five  (45) days after the end of the first fiscal quarter of the Surviving
Corporation  containing the required period of post-merger  combined  operations
and that it will notify the undersigned promptly following such publication.

     3. Covenants and Warranties of  Undersigned.  The  undersigned  represents,
warrants and agrees that:

          (a) The Surviving Corporation Common Stock received by the undersigned
     as a result of the merger  will be taken for his or her own account and not
     for others, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part.

                                       F-1
<PAGE>

          (b) South Alabama has informed the undersigned  that any  distribution
     by the undersigned of the Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock has not been
     registered  under  the 1933 Act and that  shares of  Surviving  Corporation
     Common  Stock  received  pursuant  to the  merger  can  only be sold by the
     undersigned  (1)  following  registration  under  the 1933  Act,  or (2) in
     conformity   with  the  volume  and  other   requirements  of  Rule  145(d)
     promulgated  by the SEC as the same now exist or may  hereafter be amended,
     or (3) to the extent some other exemption from registration  under the 1933
     Act might be  available.  The  undersigned  understands  that the Surviving
     Corporation  will be under no obligation to file a  registration  statement
     with the SEC  covering  the  disposition  of the  undersigned's  shares  of
     Surviving Corporation Common Stock.

          (c) The undersigned is aware that the Surviving Corporation intends to
     treat the  merger as a tax-free  reorganization  under  Section  368 of the
     Internal  Revenue  Code  ("Code")  for  federal  income tax  purposes.  The
     undersigned  agrees  to treat  the  transaction  in the same  manner as the
     Surviving  Corporation  for federal  income tax purposes.  The  undersigned
     acknowledges  that  the  Income  Tax  Regulations  require  "continuity  of
     interest" in order for the merger to be treated as tax-free  under  Section
     368 of the Code. The undersigned has no  prearrangement,  plan or intention
     to  sell  or  otherwise  dispose  of an  amount  of his  or  her  Surviving
     Corporation Common Stock to be received in the Merger which would cause the
     foregoing requirement not to be satisfied.

     4.  Restrictions on Transfer.  The undersigned  understands and agrees that
stop transfer  instructions with respect to the shares of Surviving  Corporation
Common Stock received by the undersigned pursuant to the merger will be given to
the Surviving  Corporation's Transfer Agent and that there will be placed on the
certificates representing such shares, or shares issued in substitution thereof,
a legend stating in substance:

         The shares  represented by this  certificate  were issued pursuant to a
         business combination which is accounted for as a "pooling of interests"
         and may not be sold,  nor may the owner thereof reduce his or her risks
         relative  thereto in any way, until such time as The Peoples  BancTrust
         Company,  Inc. (the  "Corporation") has published the financial results
         covering at least  thirty (30) days of  combined  operations  after the
         after the  effective  date of the  merger  through  which the  business
         combination was effected.  In addition,  the shares represented by this
         certificate  may not be sold,  transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of
         except or unless (1)  covered by an  effective  registration  statement
         under the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  (2) in accordance  with
         (i) Rule 145(d) (in the case of shares issued to an  individual  who is
         not an affiliate of the  Corporation)  or (ii) Rule 144 (in the case of
         shares issued to an individual who is an affiliate of the  Corporation)
         of the Rules and Regulations  under such Act, or (3) in accordance with
         a legal opinion  satisfactory to counsel for the Corporation  that such
         sale or transfer is otherwise exempt from the registration requirements
         of such Act.

     The  undersigned  further  agrees that such  legend  shall be placed on the
certificates  representing his or her shares of BancTrust Common Stock which are
not  exchanged for  certificates  representing  shares of Surviving  Corporation
Common Stock. The undersigned  will surrender such  certificates to the Transfer
Agent within five (5)  business  days after  receipt of written  notice from the
Surviving   Corporation  of  the  effectiveness  of  the  merger  together  with
appropriate transmittal materials.

     Such legend will also be placed on any certificate  representing  Surviving
Corporation  securities  issued  subsequent  to  the  original  issuance  of the
Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock  pursuant to the merger as a result of any
stock dividend,  stock split, or other recapitalization as long as the Surviving
Corporation  Common Stock issued to the  undersigned  pursuant to the merger has
not been  transferred  in such  manner to  justify  the  removal  of the  legend
therefrom. Upon the request of the undersigned,  the

                                       F-2
<PAGE>

Surviving  Corporation  shall cause the certificates  representing the shares of
Surviving  Corporation Common Stock issued to the undersigned in connection with
the  merger to be  reissued  free of any  legend  relating  to  restrictions  on
transfer  by  virtue  of ASR  130  and 135 as  soon  as  practicable  after  the
requirements of ASR 130 and 135 have been met. In addition, if the provisions of
Rules  144 and 145 are  amended  to  eliminate  restrictions  applicable  to the
Surviving  Corporation Common Stock received by the undersigned  pursuant to the
merger, or at the expiration of the restrictive period set forth in Rule 145(d),
the Surviving Corporation,  upon the request of the undersigned,  will cause the
certificates  representing  the shares of  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock
issued to the  undersigned in connection  with the merger to be reissued free of
any legend relating to the  restrictions  set forth in Rules 144 and 145(d) upon
receipt by the Surviving  Corporation of an opinion of its counsel to the effect
that such legend may be removed.

     5.  Understanding  of  Restrictions  on  Dispositions.  The undersigned has
carefully  read the Agreement and this Affiliate  Agreement and discussed  their
requirements and impact upon his or her ability to sell, transfer,  or otherwise
dispose of the shares of  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock  received by the
undersigned, to the extent he or she believes necessary, with his or her counsel
or counsel for BancTrust.

     6. Filing of Reports by South Alabama.  South Alabama agrees,  for a period
of three years after the effective date of the merger, to file on a timely basis
all  reports  required  to be filed by the  Surviving  Corporation  pursuant  to
Section 13 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  so that the
public information  provisions of Rule 145(d) promulgated by the SEC as the same
are  presently in effect will be available to the  undersigned  in the event the
undersigned desires to transfer any shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock
issued to the undersigned pursuant to the merger.

     7.  Transfer  Under  Rule  145(d).  If the  undersigned  desires to sell or
otherwise transfer the shares of Surviving  Corporation Common Stock received by
him or her in  connection  with the merger at any time  during  the  restrictive
period set forth in Rule 145(d),  the  undersigned  will  provide the  necessary
representation  letter to the Transfer  Agent for Surviving  Corporation  Common
Stock  together  with such  additional  information  as the  Transfer  Agent may
reasonably request. If the Surviving  Corporation's  counsel concludes that such
proposed sale or transfer  complies with the  requirements  of Rule 145(d),  the
Surviving  Corporation  shall cause such counsel to provide such opinions as may
be  necessary  to  the  Surviving  Corporation's  Transfer  Agent  so  that  the
undersigned may complete the proposed sale or transfer.

     8.  Acknowledgments.   The  undersigned  recognizes  and  agrees  that  the
foregoing  provisions  also  apply  to (i) the  undersigned's  spouse,  (ii) any
relative of the undersigned or of the undersigned's spouse who has the same home
as the  undersigned,  (iii) any trust or  estate in which the  undersigned,  the
undersigned's  spouse,  and any such  relative  collectively  own at least a 10%
beneficial  interest  or of  which  any  of the  foregoing  serves  as  trustee,
executor,  or in any  similar  capacity,  and  (iv)  any  corporation  or  other
organization in which the  undersigned,  the  undersigned's  spouse and any such
relative  collectively own at least 10% of any class of equity  securities or of
the equity interest.  The undersigned further recognizes that, in the event that
the  undersigned  is a director,  officer or 10%  shareholder  of the  Surviving
Corporation or becomes a director,  officer or 10%  shareholder of the Surviving
Corporation upon consummation of the merger, among other things, any sale of the
Surviving  Corporation  Common Stock by the undersigned  within a period of less
than six months  following  the  effective  time of the merger may  subject  the
undersigned to liability  pursuant to Section 16(b) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended.

     9.  Miscellaneous.  This  Affiliate  Agreement  is the  complete  agreement
between South Alabama and the undersigned  concerning the subject matter hereof.
Any  notice  required  to be  sent  to any

                                       F-3
<PAGE>

party hereunder  shall be sent by registered or certified  mail,  return receipt
requested,  using the  addresses set forth herein or such other address as shall
be  furnished  in writing by the  parties.  This  Affiliate  Agreement  shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.

     This Affiliate  Agreement is executed as of the ____ day of  _____________,
2001.

                                                     Very truly yours,


                                                     ---------------------
                                                     Signature

                                                     ---------------------
                                                     Print Name

                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT G

                               AFFILIATE AGREEMENT


The Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc.
Selma, Alabama

Attention:        Richard P. Morthland
                  Chairman of the Board and CEO

Gentlemen:

     The  undersigned is a shareholder of South Alabama  Bancorporation  ("South
Alabama"), an Alabama corporation.  Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of
Merger,  dated as of January  17,  2001 (the  "Agreement"),  by and  between The
Peoples BancTrust Company, Inc. ("BancTrust") and South Alabama,  BancTrust will
be merged with and into South Alabama,  which shall be the surviving corporation
(the "Surviving  Corporation"),  and the shares of the common stock of BancTrust
will be converted  into shares of the common stock of the Surviving  Corporation
("Surviving  Corporation Common Stock").  This Affiliate Agreement represents an
agreement  between the  undersigned and BancTrust  regarding  certain rights and
obligations of the undersigned in connection with the merger.

     In  consideration  of the  Agreement  and the  mutual  covenants  contained
herein, the undersigned and BancTrust hereby agree as follows:

     1. Affiliate  Status.  The  undersigned  understands  and agrees that as to
South Alabama he or she is an  "affiliate" of South Alabama under Rule 144(a)(1)
and as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and  Regulations  of the  Securities and
Exchange  Commission ("SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("1933
Act"),  and  the  undersigned  anticipates  that  he or  she  will  be  such  an
"affiliate" at the time of the merger.

     2. Initial  Restriction on Disposition.  The undersigned  agrees that he or
she will not sell,  transfer or otherwise dispose of his or her interests in, or
reduce his or her risk  relative  to, any of his or her shares of South  Alabama
Common  Stock or  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock  until  such time as the
Surviving  Corporation  notifies the  undersigned  that the  requirements of SEC
Accounting  Series  Release  Nos. 130 and 135 ("ASR 130 and 135") have been met.
The  undersigned  understands  that ASR 130 and 135  relate  to  publication  of
financial  results of  post-merger  combined  operations  of South  Alabama  and
BancTrust.  South  Alabama has agreed that it will publish  such results  within
forty-five  (45) days after the end of the first fiscal quarter of the Surviving
Corporation  containing the required period of post-merger  combined  operations
and that it will notify the undersigned promptly following such publication. The
undersigned  understands  that,  prior  to such  notification  by the  Surviving
Corporation,  stop  transfer  instructions  with  respect to shares of Surviving
Corporation  Common Stock beneficially owned by the undersigned will be given to
the Surviving Corporation's Transfer Agent.

     3.  Understanding  of  Restrictions  on  Dispositions.  The undersigned has
carefully  read the Agreement and this Affiliate  Agreement and discussed  their
requirements and impact upon his or her ability to sell, transfer,  or otherwise
dispose of his or her  shares of  Surviving  Corporation  Common  Stock,  to the
extent he or she  believes  necessary,  with his or her  counsel or counsel  for
South Alabama. The undersigned further understands that such restrictions are in
addition  to the  continuing  restrictions  on sales  of stock of the  Surviving
Corporation  applicable to persons who are  "affiliates" (as defined in SEC Rule
405) of the Surviving Corporation.

                                       G-1
<PAGE>

     4.  Acknowledgments.   The  undersigned  recognizes  and  agrees  that  the
foregoing  provisions  also  apply  to (i) the  undersigned's  spouse,  (ii) any
relative of the undersigned or of the undersigned's spouse who has the same home
as the  undersigned,  (iii) any trust or  estate in which the  undersigned,  the
undersigned's  spouse,  and any such  relative  collectively  own at least a 10%
beneficial  interest  or of  which  any  of the  foregoing  serves  as  trustee,
executor,  or in any  similar  capacity,  and  (iv)  any  corporation  or  other
organization in which the  undersigned,  the  undersigned's  spouse and any such
relative  collectively own at least 10% of any class of equity  securities or of
the equity interest.

     5.  Miscellaneous.  This  Affiliate  Agreement  is the  complete  agreement
between BancTrust and the undersigned  concerning the subject matter hereof. Any
notice required to be sent to any party hereunder shall be sent by registered or
certified mail, return receipt  requested,  using the addresses set forth herein
or such other  address as shall be  furnished  in writing by the  parties.  This
Affiliate Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Alabama.

     This Affiliate  Agreement is executed as of the ____ day of  _____________,
2001.

                                                 Very truly yours,

                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Signature

                                                 ---------------------
                                                 Print Name

                                      G-2
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT H

                       LEGAL OPINION MATTERS -- BANCTRUST


     1. BancTrust is a corporation duly organized,  validly existing and in good
standing  under the laws of the State of Alabama with full  corporate  power and
authority  to  carry on the  business  in  which  it is  engaged  and to own the
properties owned by it.

     2. The  execution and delivery of the  Agreement  and  compliance  with its
terms do not and will not violate or contravene any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation  or  Bylaws of  BancTrust  or,  to the best of our  knowledge  but
without any independent  investigation,  result in any conflict with, breach of,
or default or acceleration under any mortgage,  agreement,  lease, indenture, or
other  instrument,  order,  arbitration  award,  judgment  or  decree  to  which
BancTrust is a party or by which BancTrust is bound.

     3. In accordance  with the Bylaws of BancTrust and pursuant to  resolutions
duly adopted by its Board of Directors and shareholders,  the Agreement has been
duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of BancTrust.

     4. The  Agreement  has been duly and  validly  executed  and  delivered  by
BancTrust  and,  assuming valid  authorization,  execution and delivery by South
Alabama,  constitutes a valid and binding agreement of BancTrust  enforceable in
accordance with its terms. This opinion concerning the validity,  binding effect
and enforceability of the Agreement means that (a) the Agreement  constitutes an
effective contract under applicable law, (b) the Agreement is not invalid in its
entirety because of a specific statutory prohibition or public policy and is not
subject in its  entirety  to a  contractual  defense and (c) subject to the last
sentence of this  paragraph,  some remedy is available if a party is in material
default under the Agreement.  This opinion does not mean that (a) any particular
remedy is  available  upon a  material  default  or (b) every  provision  of the
Agreement  will be upheld or  enforced in any or each  circumstance  by a court.
Furthermore,  the validity,  binding effect and  enforceability of the Agreement
may  be  limited  or   otherwise   affected  by  (a)   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium,  fraudulent  conveyance or other similar  statutes,
rules,  regulations or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
and remedies  generally  and (b) the  unavailability  of, or  limitation  on the
availability of, a particular right or remedy (whether in a proceeding in equity
or at law) because of an equitable  principle or a requirement  as to commercial
reasonableness, conscionability or good faith.

     5. The authorized  capital stock of BancTrust  consists of 9,000,000 shares
of BancTrust  Common Stock, of which ________ shares were issued and outstanding
as of ______,  2001, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.10 per
share,  none of which is issued and outstanding.  The shares of BancTrust Common
Stock that are  issued  and  outstanding  were not  issued in  violation  of any
statutory preemptive rights of shareholders, were duly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable under the Alabama Business Corporation Act.

     The  opinion of counsel  need refer only to matters of Alabama  and federal
law and may add other  qualifications  and explanations of counsel's  opinion as
may be reasonably acceptable to South Alabama.


                                      H-1
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT I

                     LEGAL OPINION MATTERS -- SOUTH ALABAMA


     1. South Alabama is a corporation  duly organized,  validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Alabama with full  corporate  power
and  authority  to carry on the  business  in which it is engaged and to own the
properties owned by it.

     2. The  execution and delivery of the  Agreement  and  compliance  with its
terms do not and will not violate or contravene any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation  or Bylaws of South  Alabama or, to the best of our  knowledge but
without any independent  investigation,  result in any conflict with, breach of,
or default or acceleration under any mortgage,  agreement,  lease, indenture, or
other instrument,  order,  arbitration award,  judgment or decree to which South
Alabama is a party or by which South Alabama is bound.

     3. In  accordance  with  the  Bylaws  of  South  Alabama  and  pursuant  to
resolutions  duly  adopted  by its  Board of  Directors  and  shareholders,  the
Agreement  has been duly adopted and approved by the Board of Directors of South
Alabama.

     4. The Agreement has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by South
Alabama and, assuming valid authorization,  execution and delivery by BancTrust,
constitutes  a valid and  binding  agreement  of South  Alabama  enforceable  in
accordance with its terms. This opinion concerning the validity,  binding effect
and enforceability of the Agreement means that (a) the Agreement  constitutes an
effective contract under applicable law, (b) the Agreement is not invalid in its
entirety because of a specific statutory prohibition or public policy and is not
subject in its  entirety  to a  contractual  defense and (c) subject to the last
sentence of this  paragraph,  some remedy is available if a party is in material
default under the Agreement.  This opinion does not mean that (a) any particular
remedy is  available  upon a  material  default  or (b) every  provision  of the
Agreement  will be upheld or  enforced in any or each  circumstance  by a court.
Furthermore,  the validity,  binding effect and  enforceability of the Agreement
may  be  limited  or   otherwise   affected  by  (a)   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium,  fraudulent  conveyance or other similar  statutes,
rules,  regulations or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
and remedies  generally  and (b) the  unavailability  of, or  limitation  on the
availability of, a particular right or remedy (whether in a proceeding in equity
or at law) because of an equitable  principle or a requirement  as to commercial
reasonableness, conscionability or good faith.

     5. The  authorized  capital stock of South  Alabama  consists of 20,000,000
shares of South Alabama  Common Stock,  of which _______  shares were issued and
outstanding  as of _____,  2001,  and _____  shares of preferred  stock,  no par
value,  none of which is issued and  outstanding.  The  shares of South  Alabama
Common Stock that are issued and outstanding were not issued in violation of any
statutory preemptive rights of shareholders, were duly issued and are fully paid
and  nonassessable  under the Alabama  Business  Corporation  Act. The shares of
South  Alabama  Common  Stock to be issued to the  shareholders  of BancTrust as
contemplated by the Agreement are duly  authorized,  have been registered  under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  and when properly  issued and delivered
following  consummation  of the Merger  will be validly  issued,  fully paid and
nonassessable.

     The  opinion of counsel  need refer only to matters of Alabama  and federal
law and may add other  qualifications  and explanations of counsel's  opinion as
may be reasonably acceptable to BancTrust.


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