FCNB CORP
424B1, 1998-07-17
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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PROSPECTUS                                 Registration Statement Nos. 333-52359
                                                                    333-52359-01
                                                Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)



                         1,400,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
                               FCNB CAPITAL TRUST
                   8.25% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
                 (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
                       GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY

                                   ----------

                                    FCNB CORP

     The  8.25%   Cumulative   Trust   Preferred   Securities   (the  "Preferred
Securities")  offered hereby represent preferred undivided  beneficial interests
in the assets of FCNB Capital  Trust,  a statutory  business trust created under
the  laws of the  State  of  Delaware  (the  "Trust").  FCNB  Corp,  a  Maryland
corporation  ("the  Company"),  will own all the common  securities (the "Common
Securities") of the Trust.  The Common  Securities and the Preferred  Securities
(collectively,  the "Trust Securities") represent undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust.
                                                   (continued on following page)
                                   ----------
     Application  has been made to have the  Preferred  Securities  approved for
quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the symbol "FCNBP".

     SEE "RISK FACTORS,"  COMMENCING ON PAGE 11, FOR INFORMATION  THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
                                   ----------
 THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS,
 ARE NOT OBLIGATIONS OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANKING OR NONBANKING AFFILIATE OF
THE COMPANY, ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY
OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF
                                   PRINCIPAL.
                                   ----------
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                                   ----------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================= ===================== ===================== =====================
                                              PRICE TO            UNDERWRITING        PROCEEDS TO FCNB
                                               PUBLIC            COMMISSION(1)           CAPITAL(2)
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
<S>                                         <C>                       <C>               <C>        
Per Preferred Security                         $25.00                 (2)                  $25.00
- --------------------------------------- --------------------- --------------------- ---------------------
Total(3)                                    $35,000,000               (2)               $35,000,000
======================================= ===================== ===================== =====================
</TABLE>

(1)  The Trust and the Company  have each agreed to indemnify  the  Underwriters
     against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
     of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(2)  As the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be invested in
     the Subordinated Debentures, the Company has agreed to pay the Underwriters
     $0.875 per Preferred Security,  or $1,225,000 in the aggregate  ($1,408,750
     if the over-allotment option is exercised in full), as compensation for its
     arranging the investment therein of such proceeds.  See "Underwriting." The
     Company has also agreed to pay the expenses of the offering estimated to be
     $217,500.
(3)  The Trust has granted the Underwriters an option exercisable within 30 days
     from the date of this  Prospectus  to  purchase  up to  210,000  additional
     Preferred  Securities on the same terms and  conditions  set forth above to
     cover over-allotments,  if any. If all such additional Preferred Securities
     are purchased,  the Total Price to Public and Proceeds to FCNB Capital will
     be $40,250,000. See "Underwriting."

     The Preferred Securities are offered by the Underwriters subject to receipt
and  acceptance by them,  prior sale and the  Underwriters'  right to reject any
order in whole or in part and to  withdraw,  cancel or modify the offer  without
notice. It is expected that delivery of the Preferred Securities will be made in
book-entry  form  through the  book-entry  facilities  of the  Depository  Trust
Company on or about July 20,  1998,  against  payment  therefor  in  immediately
available funds.

       Sandler O'Neill                       Legg Mason Wood Walker Incorporated
       & Partners, L.P.


                  The date of this Prospectus is July 15, 1998


<PAGE>



     State  Street Bank and Trust  Company is the  Property  Trustee (as defined
herein) of the Trust.  The Trust exists for the purpose of issuing the Preferred
Securities and investing the proceeds  thereof in an equivalent  amount of 8.25%
Subordinated  Debentures (the  "Subordinated  Debentures")  of the Company.  The
Subordinated  Debentures  will mature on July 31, 2028 (the  "Stated  Maturity")
which date may be  shortened to a date not earlier than July 31, 2003 if certain
conditions are met (including the Company having  received prior approval of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") to do so if
then required  under  applicable  capital  guidelines or policies of the Federal
Reserve).  The  Preferred  Securities  will  have  a  preference  under  certain
circumstances  with  respect  to  cash  distributions  and  amounts  payable  on
liquidation,   redemption  or  otherwise   over  the  Common   Securities.   See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Subordination of Common Securities."

     Holders of  Preferred  Securities  are  entitled  to  receive  preferential
cumulative  cash  distributions,  at the annual rate of 8.25% of the liquidation
amount of $25 per Preferred Security (the "Liquidation  Amount"),  accruing from
July 20, 1998, the date of original  issuance,  and payable quarterly in arrears
on the last day of January,  April,  July and  October of each year,  commencing
October 31, 1998 (the "Distributions"). The Company has the right, so long as no
Debenture  Event of Default (as defined  herein) has occurred and is continuing,
to defer payment of interest on the Subordinated  Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive  quarters with respect to
each deferral period (each, an "Extension  Period");  provided that no Extension
Period may extend  beyond the Stated  Maturity of the  Subordinated  Debentures.
Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts
then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension  Period  subject to the
requirements  set  forth  herein.  If  interest  payments  on  the  Subordinated
Debentures are so deferred,  Distributions on the Preferred Securities will also
be  deferred,  and  the  Company  will  not be  permitted,  subject  to  certain
exceptions  described  herein,  to  declare or pay any cash  distributions  with
respect to its  capital  stock or debt  securities  that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Subordinated Debentures.

     DURING AN EXTENSION  PERIOD,  INTEREST ON THE SUBORDINATED  DEBENTURES WILL
CONTINUE  TO ACCRUE  (AND THE AMOUNT OF  DISTRIBUTIONS  TO WHICH  HOLDERS OF THE
PREFERRED  SECURITIES  ARE ENTITLED  WILL  ACCUMULATE)  AT THE RATE OF 8.25% PER
ANNUM,  COMPOUNDED  QUARTERLY,  AND HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED  SECURITIES WILL BE
REQUIRED  TO INCLUDE  INTEREST  INCOME IN THEIR GROSS  INCOME FOR UNITED  STATES
FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF THE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS WITH
RESPECT TO SUCH  DEFERRED  INTEREST  PAYMENTS.  FOLLOWING  THE  DEFERRAL  OF THE
PAYMENT  OF  INTEREST  ON THE  SUBORDINATED  DEBENTURES,  A HOLDER OF  PREFERRED
SECURITIES  THAT DISPOSES OF ITS PREFERRED  SECURITIES  BETWEEN RECORD DATES FOR
PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS (AND CONSEQUENTLY DOES NOT RECEIVE A DISTRIBUTION FROM
THE TRUST FOR THE PERIOD OF INTEREST  DEFERRAL PRIOR TO SUCH  DISPOSITION)  WILL
NEVERTHELESS  BE  REQUIRED  TO  INCLUDE  ACCRUED  BUT  UNPAID  INTEREST  ON  THE
SUBORDINATED  DEBENTURES  THROUGH THE DATE OF  DISPOSITION IN INCOME AS ORDINARY
INCOME AND TO ADD SUCH AMOUNT TO ITS ADJUSTED TAX BASIS IN ITS PRO RATA SHARE OF
THE UNDERLYING  SUBORDINATED  DEBENTURES DEEMED DISPOSED OF. See "Description of
the Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential  Extension of Interest Payment Period
and Original Issue Discount" and "--Disposition of Preferred Securities."

     The Company and the Trust believe that, taken together,  the obligations of
the  Company  under  the  Guarantee,   the  Trust  Agreement,  the  Subordinated
Debentures,  the Indenture and the Expense  Agreement  (each as defined  herein)
provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a
subordinated  basis,  of all of the obligations of the Trust under the Preferred
Securities.  See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities,  the Subordinated
Debentures  and the  Guarantee--Full  and  Unconditional  Guarantee."  Under the
Guarantee,  the Company  guarantees,  on a  subordinated  basis,  the payment of
Distributions  and  payments  on  liquidation  or  redemption  of the  Preferred
Securities,  but only to the  extent of funds held by the  Trust,  as  described
herein.  See  "Description of the  Guarantee--General."  If the Company does not
make interest  payments on the  Subordinated  Debentures held by the Trust,  the
Trust  will  have  insufficient  funds  to pay  Distributions  on the  Preferred
Securities.  The Guarantee  does not cover  payments of  Distributions  when the
Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event, a
holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the  Company  pursuant  to the terms of the  Indenture  to enforce  payments  of
amounts equal to such  Distributions  to such holder.  See  "Description  of the
Subordinated  Debentures--Enforcement  of  Certain


                                      -2-

<PAGE>



Rights by Holders of the Preferred  Securities."  The obligations of the Company
under the Guarantee and the Preferred  Securities are  subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and  Additional  Senior
Obligations (each as defined herein) of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures
are  unsecured  obligations  of the Company and are  subordinated  to all Senior
Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company.

     The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory  redemption,  in whole or
in part,  upon  repayment of the  Subordinated  Debentures  at maturity or their
earlier redemption.  Subject to Federal Reserve approval, if then required under
applicable  capital   guidelines  or  policies  of  the  Federal  Reserve,   the
Subordinated  Debentures  are  redeemable  prior to the Stated  Maturity  at the
option of the Company:  (i) on or after July 31, 2003,  in whole at any time, or
in part from  time to time;  or (ii) at any  time,  in whole  (but not in part),
within 90 days  following  the  occurrence of a Tax Event,  a Capital  Treatment
Event or an Investment Company Event (each as defined herein).  In each case the
redemption  price will be equal to the accrued and unpaid  interest  through the
date fixed for redemption on the  Subordinated  Debentures to be redeemed,  plus
100%  of the  principal  amount  thereof.  See  "Description  of  the  Preferred
Securities--Redemption or Exchange."

     The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate the
Trust,  subject to the Company  having  received  prior  approval of the Federal
Reserve  to do so, if then  required  under  applicable  capital  guidelines  or
policies of the Federal  Reserve.  In the event of the voluntary or  involuntary
dissolution,  winding up or  termination  of the Trust,  after  satisfaction  of
liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, the holders
of Preferred  Securities will be entitled to receive a Liquidation Amount of $25
per Preferred Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the
date of payment,  which may be in the form of a Subordinated Debenture having an
aggregate  principal  amount equal to the  Liquidation  Amount of such Preferred
Securities (and carrying with it accumulated  interest in an amount equal to the
accumulated  and unpaid  Distributions  then due on such Preferred  Securities),
subject   to   certain   exceptions.   See   "Description   of   the   Preferred
Securities--Redemption   or  Exchange"  and  "--Liquidation   Distribution  Upon
Termination."

     The  Preferred  Securities  will  be  represented  by  global  certificates
registered in the name of the Depository  Trust Company  ("DTC") or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in the Preferred Securities will be shown on, and transfers
thereof will only be effected through, records maintained by participants in DTC
("Participants").   Except  as  described   herein,   Preferred   Securities  in
certificated  form will not be issued in exchange  for the global  certificates.
See "Description of the Preferred  Securities--Book-Entry  Securities;  Delivery
and Form" and "Book-Entry Issuance."

                                   ----------

     The Company will provide to holders of the Preferred  Securities  quarterly
reports containing unaudited financial statements, to the extent and in the form
provided to holders of the Company's common stock, and annual reports containing
financial statements audited by the Company's independent auditors. In addition,
the Company will furnish  annual  reports on Form 10-K and quarterly  reports on
Form 10-Q free of charge to holders of  Preferred  Securities  who so request in
writing addressed to the Secretary of the Company.

                                   ----------

     CERTAIN PERSONS  PARTICIPATING  IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT  STABILIZE,  MAINTAIN  OR  OTHERWISE  AFFECT  THE  PRICE  OF THE  PREFERRED
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY, INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTTING THE PREFERRED SECURITIES AND
BIDDING OR  PURCHASING  SUCH  PREFERRED  SECURITIES  AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH
MIGHT  OTHERWISE  PREVAIL  IN  THE  OPEN  MARKET.  FOR A  DESCRIPTION  OF  THESE
ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING." SUCH STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS, IF COMMENCED, MAY
BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.


                                      -3-

<PAGE>



                                 FCNB CORP LOGO

                                Parent Company of

                                 FCNB Bank logo

                               Map of market area








                                      -4-

<PAGE>



                                                              PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     The  following  summary is qualified  in its entirety by the more  detailed
information   appearing   elsewhere  (or  incorporated  by  reference)  in  this
Prospectus.  Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the  information in this  Prospectus
assumes  that the  Underwriters'  over-allotment  option will not be  exercised.
Prospective  investors should carefully consider the information set forth under
the heading "Risk Factors."

                                    FCNB CORP

     The Company was organized in 1986 to serve as the holding  company for FCNB
Bank (the  "Bank"),  its principal  operating  subsidiary.  The Bank,  which was
originally  chartered in 1818,  was converted  from a national bank charter to a
Maryland  commercial  bank in 1993,  and is engaged in a general  commercial and
consumer banking business, serving individuals and businesses in Frederick, Anne
Arundel,  Carroll, Howard,  Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland.
The Bank is the sixth largest  commercial banking  institution  headquartered in
Maryland.  At March 31,  1998,  the Company had assets of  approximately  $926.9
million, total deposits of approximately $633.0 million, and total shareholders'
equity of  approximately  $79.6 million.  The principal  executive office of the
Company  is located  at 7200 FCNB  Court,  Frederick,  Maryland  21703,  and its
telephone number is (301) 662-2191.

     Over the past five years,  the Company has achieved  significant  growth in
assets. From 1993 to 1997, the Company's assets grew at an 11.1% compound annual
growth rate,  and increased by $8.8 million,  or 0.96% in the first three months
of 1998.  The  Company  has  achieved  its growth  both  internally  and through
acquisition.  In addition to a recently  completed branch purchase  transaction,
the Company has completed three whole bank acquisitions since 1995, consummating
the  acquisition  of Elkridge Bank (March  1995),  Laurel  Federal  Savings Bank
(January 1996) and Odenton Federal Savings and Loan Association (April 1996), as
well as a number of smaller  branch  transactions.  The  Company  has also had a
history of earnings growth. Net income (before  extraordinary charges and merger
related  expenses)  grew at a compound  annual  growth rate of 7.2% from 1993 to
1997. For the five year period from 1993 to 1997,  the Company's  average annual
return on  average  assets  (before  merger-related  expenses)  was  1.15%.  The
annualized  return on average equity and the annualized return on average assets
for the three months ended March 31, 1998 were 12.11% and 1.04%, respectively.

     The Company  routinely  explores  opportunities  for additional  growth and
expansion of its core banking  business and related  activities,  including  the
acquisition  of companies  engaged in banking or other related  activities,  and
internally  generated  growth.  There  can be no  assurance,  however,  that the
Company will be able to grow,  or if it does,  that any such growth or expansion
will result in an increase in the Company's earnings,  dividends,  book value or
market value of its securities.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

     On June  23,  1998,  the  Company  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Reorganization  and  Merger  pursuant  to which it will  acquire  Capital  Bank,
National  Association  ("Capital"),  through the merger of Capital with and into
the Bank. Capital, the main office of which is in Rockville, Maryland, has three
branches,  two located in the  District of  Columbia  and one in Tysons  Corner,
Virginia.  FCNB anticipates that it will issue approximately 1,300,000 shares of
common stock in connection with the transaction,  subject to adjustment,  for an
aggregate deal value of approximately  $42.0 million. At March 31, 1998, Capital
had total assets of  approximately  $156.4 million,  deposits of $128.0 million,
and total  shareholders'  equity of $11.14  million.  For the three months ended
March 31, 1998 and the year ended  December 31, 1997,  Capital had net income of
$386,000 and $1.2 million,  respectively. It is anticipated that the merger will
be accounted for as a pooling of interests. The Company anticipates that it will
incur one-time pretax charges of approximately  $1.75 million upon  consummation
of the merger.  The consummation of the merger remains subject to regulatory and
shareholder  approvals,  and the  satisfaction of a number of other  conditions.
FCNB  currently  anticipates  that the merger will be  consummated in the fourth
quarter of 1998.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



     On June 26, 1998, the Bank  consummated a transaction  pursuant to which it
assumed the deposit liabilities,  and purchased certain assets, relating to four
branches of First Virginia Bank-Maryland located in Montgomery County, Maryland,
and three  branches of its sister bank,  Farmer's  Bank of Maryland,  located in
Baltimore County,  Maryland. The seven branches held approximately $48.0 million
in deposits at December 31, 1997. The purchase and assumption transaction brings
the total number of branches  operated by the Company to 28, its total  deposits
to  approximately  $681.0 million and its total assets to  approximately  $974.9
million.

                               FCNB CAPITAL TRUST

     The Trust is a statutory  business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant
to: (i) the Trust Agreement among the Company,  as depositor,  Wilmington  Trust
Company, as Delaware trustee, and the three individual  Administrative  Trustees
named  therein,  and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary  of State on May 7, 1998.  The Trust  Agreement  will be  amended  and
restated in its  entirety  (as so amended,  the "Trust  Agreement").  All of the
Common  Securities  of the  Trust  will be owned  by the  Company.  The  Trust's
business  and  affairs  will  be   conducted  by  the  Delaware   Trustee,   the
Administrative  Trustees,  each of whom is an  officer,  employee  or  otherwise
affiliated  with the Company,  and following  amendment and  restatement  of the
Trust Agreement,  State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee.  The
Trust exists for the  exclusive  purposes  of: (i) issuing the Trust  Securities
representing  undivided  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust;  (ii)
investing  the  gross  proceeds  of the  Trust  Securities  in the  Subordinated
Debentures  issued  by the  Company;  and (iii)  engaging  in only  those  other
activities  necessary,   advisable,  or  incidental  thereto.  The  Subordinated
Debentures  and  payments  thereunder  will be the only  assets of the Trust and
payments  under the  Subordinated  Debentures  will be the only  revenue  of the
Trust.  The  principal  executive  office of the Trust is  located  at 7200 FCNB
Court, Frederick, Maryland 21703, and its telephone number is (301) 662-2191.

                                  THE OFFERING

Securities Offered..............   1,400,000   Preferred   Securities  having  a
                                   Liquidation   Amount  of  $25  per  Preferred
                                   Security.  The Preferred Securities represent
                                   preferred undivided  beneficial  interests in
                                   the assets of the Trust,  which will  consist
                                   solely  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  and
                                   payments  thereunder.  The Trust has  granted
                                   the   Underwriters  an  option,   exercisable
                                   within  30  days   after  the  date  of  this
                                   Prospectus,  to purchase up to an  additional
                                   210,000  Preferred  Securities at the initial
                                   offering     price,     solely    to    cover
                                   over-allotments, if any.

Distributions...................   The  Distributions  payable on each Preferred
                                   Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of
                                   8.25%  of the  Liquidation  Amount,  will  be
                                   cumulative,  will accrue from July 20,  1998,
                                   the  date  of   original   issuance   of  the
                                   Preferred  Securities,  and  will be  payable
                                   quarterly  in arrears,  on January 31,  April
                                   30,  July 31 and  October  31 of  each  year,
                                   commencing October 31, 1998. See "Description
                                   of the Preferred  Securities -- Distributions
                                   -- Payment of Distributions."

Extension Periods...............   The  Company has the right,  at any time,  so
                                   long as no  Debenture  Event of  Default  has
                                   occurred and is continuing, to defer payments
                                   of  interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures
                                   for a period  not  exceeding  20  consecutive
                                   quarters;  provided that no Extension  Period
                                   may extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of the
                                   Subordinated Debentures. If interest payments
                                   on  the   Subordinated   Debentures   are  so
                                   deferred,   quarterly  Distributions  on  the
                                   Preferred Securities will be deferred (though
                                   such  Distributions  would continue to accrue
                                   with interest thereon  compounded  quarterly,
                                   since


                                      -6-

<PAGE>



                                   interest will continue to accrue and compound
                                   on the  Subordinated  Debentures)  during any
                                   such  Extension  Period.  During an Extension
                                   Period,   the  Company  will  be  prohibited,
                                   subject  to  certain   exceptions   described
                                   herein,  from  declaring  or paying  any cash
                                   distributions  with  respect  to its  capital
                                   stock or debt securities that rank pari passu
                                   with   or   junior   to   the    Subordinated
                                   Debentures.   Upon  the  termination  of  any
                                   Extension  Period  and  the  payment  of  all
                                   amounts  then due, the Company may commence a
                                   new   Extension   Period,   subject   to  the
                                   foregoing  requirements.  See "Description of
                                   the Preferred  Securities -- Distributions --
                                   Extension  Period"  and  "Description  of the
                                   Subordinated  Debentures  -- Option to Extend
                                   Interest Payment Period."

                                   Should an Extension Period occur,  holders of
                                   Preferred  Securities  will  be  required  to
                                   include  deferred  interest  income  in their
                                   gross income for United States federal income
                                   tax  purposes  in  advance  of receipt of the
                                   cash   distributions  with  respect  to  such
                                   deferred interest  payments.  The Company has
                                   no current  intention of exercising its right
                                   to  defer   payments   of   interest  on  the
                                   Subordinated   Debentures  by  extending  the
                                   interest payment period. See "Certain Federal
                                   Income Tax Consequences--Potential  Extension
                                   of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue
                                   Discount."

Redemption......................   The  Preferred   Securities  are  subject  to
                                   mandatory  redemption,  in  whole or in part,
                                   upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures
                                   at  maturity  or  their  earlier  redemption.
                                   Subject to Federal Reserve approval,  if then
                                   required under applicable  capital guidelines
                                   or  policies  of  the  Federal  Reserve,  the
                                   Subordinated  Debentures are redeemable prior
                                   to maturity at the option of the Company: (i)
                                   on or after  July 31,  2003,  in whole at any
                                   time or in part from time to time; or (ii) at
                                   any time, in whole (but not in part),  within
                                   90 days  following  the  occurrence  of a Tax
                                   Event,  a  Capital   Treatment  Event  or  an
                                   Investment Company Event, in each case at the
                                   redemption   price   equal  to  100%  of  the
                                   principal    amount   of   the   Subordinated
                                   Debenture,  together  with  any  accrued  but
                                   unpaid   interest   to  the  date  fixed  for
                                   redemption.    See    "Description   of   the
                                   Subordinated     Debentures--Redemption    or
                                   Exchange."

Distribution of Subordinated
  Debentures....................   The  Company  has the  right  at any  time to
                                   terminate the Preferred  Securities and cause
                                   the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed
                                   to  holders  of   Preferred   Securities   in
                                   liquidation  of  the  Trust,  subject  to the
                                   Company having received prior approval of the
                                   Federal  Reserve  to do so, if then  required
                                   under   applicable   capital   guidelines  or
                                   policies   of  the   Federal   Reserve.   See
                                   "Description  of the Preferred  Securities --
                                   Redemption or Exchange" and  "Description  of
                                   the  Preferred   Securities  --   Liquidation
                                   Distribution Upon Termination."

Guarantee.......................   The  Company  has  guaranteed  the payment of
                                   Distributions  and payments on liquidation or
                                   redemption of the Preferred  Securities,  but
                                   only  to the  extent  of  funds  held  by the
                                   Trust, as described  herein.  The Company and
                                   the Trust believe that,  taken together,  the
                                   obligations   of  the   Company   under   the
                                   Guarantee,    the   Trust   Agreement,    the
                                   Subordinated  Debentures,


                                      -7-

<PAGE>



                                   the  Indenture  and  the  Expense   Agreement
                                   provide,   in   the   aggregate,    a   full,
                                   irrevocable and unconditional guarantee, on a
                                   subordinated basis, of all of the obligations
                                   of the Trust under the Preferred  Securities.
                                   The  obligations  of the  Company  under  the
                                   Guarantee  and the Preferred  Securities  are
                                   subordinate and junior in right of payment to
                                   all  Senior  Debt,   Subordinated   Debt  and
                                   Additional Senior Obligations of the Company.
                                   If the  Company  does not make  principal  or
                                   interest   payments   on   the   Subordinated
                                   Debentures,   the   Trust   will   not   have
                                   sufficient funds to make Distributions on the
                                   Preferred  Securities;  in which  event,  the
                                   Guarantee    will    not    apply   to   such
                                   Distributions  until the Trust has sufficient
                                   funds available therefor. See "Description of
                                   the Guarantee."

Voting Rights...................   The holders of the Preferred  Securities will
                                   have no  voting  rights,  except  in  limited
                                   circumstances.   See   "Description   of  the
                                   Preferred   Securities   --  Voting   Rights;
                                   Amendment of Trust Agreement."

Use of Proceeds.................   The proceeds  from the sale of the  Preferred
                                   Securities  will  be  used  by the  Trust  to
                                   purchase  Subordinated  Debentures  from  the
                                   Company. The net proceeds to the Company from
                                   the sale of the Subordinated  Debentures will
                                   be  used  for  general  corporate   purposes,
                                   including  use  in  the  Bank's  lending  and
                                   investment  activities,  and  to  enable  the
                                   Company  to pursue  opportunities  for future
                                   growth  through  possible  acquisitions.  See
                                   "Use of Proceeds."

Nasdaq National Market Symbol...   Application   has  been   made  to  have  the
                                   Preferred  Securities  approved for quotation
                                   on The Nasdaq Stock Market's  National Market
                                   under the symbol "FCNBP".



                                      -8-

<PAGE>



                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     The following selected consolidated financial data for the five years ended
December 31, 1997 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements
of the Company.  The data for the three month  periods  ended March 31, 1997 and
1998 have been derived from unaudited interim financial  statements and include,
in the  opinion  of  management,  all  adjustments  (consisting  of only  normal
recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the data for such period. The
results of  operations  for the three month  period ended March 31, 1998 are not
necessarily  indicative  of results  which may be expected for any other interim
period or for the full year. The summary  consolidated  financial data set forth
below does not purport to be complete  and should be read in  conjunction  with,
and is qualified in its entirety by, the more detailed information  contained in
the consolidated  financial statements of the Company and related notes, and the
discussion under  "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial  Condition
and  Results  of  Operations,"  included  in  the  Company's  Annual  Report  to
Shareholders  for the year ended December 31, 1997 and Quarterly  Report on Form
10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 1998.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      At or for the three
                                       months ended March   
                                              31,                       At or for the years ended December 31,
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
                                        1998       1997           1997        1996        1995       1994       1993
                                        ----       ----           ----        ----        ----       ----       ----
                                                        (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>     
SUMMARY OF OPERATING RESULTS:        
Total interest income                $ 16,804   $ 14,734      $ 63,191     $ 54,653   $ 51,126    $ 43,892   $ 41,691
Total interest expense(1)               8,596      6,956        31,012       25,014     22,759      17,010     16,054
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income                     8,208      7,778        32,179       29,639     28,367      26,882     25,637
Provision for credit losses               100        231         1,329          318        710         525        765
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
Net interest income after            
                                     
  provision for credit losses           8,108      7,547        30,850       29,321     27,657      26,357     24,872
Net securities gains (losses)             152         87           580          193        123         375    (1,183)
Noninterest income (excluding net    
  securities gains (losses))            1,632      1,206         5,540        4,068      3,795       2,503      4,497
Noninterest expenses                    6,452      6,218        23,949       24,470     20,689      19,191     18,013
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
Income before provision for             3,440      2,622        13,021        9,112     10,886      10,044     10,173
income taxes                         
Provision for income taxes              1,086        772         4,218        3,245      3,888       3,272      3,301
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
Net income                           $  2,354   $  1,850       $ 8,803     $  5,867   $  6,998    $  6,772   $  6,872
Other comprehensive income                737     (1,068)        2,912          (26)     2,680      (3,285)     1,135
(loss)(2)                            
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
Comprehensive income(2)              $  3,091   $    782       $11,715     $  5,841   $  9,678    $  3,487   $  8,007
                                     =======================   ==========================================================
Net income before merger-related     
  expenses                           $  2,354   $  2,065       $ 9,088     $  7,778   $  7,301    $  6,999   $  6,872
                                     =======================   ==========================================================
                                     
PER SHARE DATA:                      
  Basic and diluted earnings         $   0.40   $   0.31       $  1.49     $   0.99   $   1.19    $   1.15   $   1.17
  Basic and diluted earnings before      0.40       0.35          1.54         1.31       1.24        1.19       1.17
    merger-related expenses          
  Cash dividends declared                0.17       0.14          0.57         0.49       0.50        0.44       0.35
  Book value at period-end              13.46      11.70         13.11        11.71      11.36       10.18       9.96
  Shares outstanding at period-end  5,915,442  5,894,416     5,912,284    5,901,016  5,828,197   5,796,869  5,789,812
                                     
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT               
PERIOD-END):                         
  Total loans, net of unearned
    income                           $573,492   $513,140      $574,105     $497,995   $439,794    $390,177   $336,916
  Total assets                        926,898    807,332       918,084      779,169    660,984     627,050    603,497
  Total deposits                      632,971    595,899       616,512      587,074    529,988     505,202    485,543
  Federal funds purchased and 
    securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase                      34,449     46,414        65,163       40,739     21,043      25,103     32,304
                                     
  Other short-term borrowings         173,137     89,213       152,138       76,516     32,426      26,089     13,776
  Long-term debt                           --         --            --           --      5,680       7,000     10,106
  Total shareholders' equity           79,647     68,959        77,518       69,110     66,219      59,037     57,689
                                     
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:                  
  Return on average total assets         1.04 %     0.94 %        1.07 %       0.84 %     1.09 %      1.14 %     1.23 %
  Return on average total assets     
    before                               1.04       1.05          1.09         1.11       1.14        1.17       1.23
    merger-related expenses          
  Return on average shareholders'    
    equity                              12.11      10.72         12.25         8.92      11.21       11.79      12.73
                                     
  Return on average shareholder's equity                            
    before merger-related expenses      12.11      11.96         12.65        11.82      11.70       12.18      12.73
  Net interest margin                    4.00       4.32          4.24         4.52       4.78        4.96       5.08
  Cash dividends declared to net        42.69      43.51         38.77        49.86      41.61       36.62      30.32
     income
</TABLE>

                                      -9-

<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      At or for the three
                                       months ended March   
                                              31,                       At or for the years ended December 31,
                                     -----------------------   ----------------------------------------------------------
                                        1998       1997           1997        1996        1995       1994       1993
                                        ----       ----           ----        ----        ----       ----       ----
                                                        (dollars in thousands, except per share data)
<S>                                  <C>        <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>     

ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:
  Nonperforming assets to total
   loans (net of unearned income)
   and foreclosed  properties at
   period-end(3)                       1.39 %     1.79 %        1.40 %       2.05 %     1.11 %      1.48 %     1.78 %
  Nonperforming assets to total
    assets at period-end(3)            0.86       1.14          0.88         1.32       0.74        0.93       1.00
  Allowance for credit losses to
    nonperforming loans at period-end 99.53      93.76        123.68        71.53     197.51      130.38     125.16
  Net charge-offs (recoveries) to
    average total loans                0.02     (0.03)          0.14         0.19       0.04        0.01       0.07

CAPITAL RATIOS:
  Total capital to risk-weighted 
    assets                            11.95 %    12.81 %       11.92 %      13.57 %    14.12 %     13.67 %    14.87 %
  Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted
    assets                            11.08      11.82         11.03        12.58      12.97       12.64      13.77
  Leverage ratio                       8.03       8.46          8.10         8.74       8.91        8.40       8.25
</TABLE>


- ----------
(1)  Net of $108,000 and $300,000 of capitalized construction period interest in
     1996 and 1995, respectively.

(2)  Statement  of  Financial   Accounting   Standards  No.  130  requires  that
     comprehensive  income be  reported  in  financial  statements  for  periods
     beginning  after  December  15,  1997.  Reclassification  of  prior  period
     statements is required for comparative purposes.

(3)  Nonperforming  assets consist of nonaccrual loans, loans contractually past
     due  90  days  or  more,  loans  with  restructured  terms  and  foreclosed
     properties.



                      RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES(1)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Three Months
                                     Ended March 31,               Years Ended December 31,
                                     -----------------     ------------------------------------------
                                       1998    1997         1997    1996    1995     1994     1993
                                       ----    ----         ----    ----    ----     ----     ----
<S>                                    <C>     <C>          <C>     <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>  
Including interest on deposits         1.40x   1.38x        1.42x   1.36x   1.46x    1.59x    1.63x
Excluding interest on deposits         4.23    5.67         4.96    7.46    9.10    11.35    14.78
</TABLE>

- ----------
(1)  Fixed charges means interest, whether expensed or capitalized.  Earnings is
     defined as pretax income with fixed  charges added back,  but excluding any
     amount of interest capitalized during the period.



                                      -10-

<PAGE>



                                  RISK FACTORS

     Prospective  investors should carefully  consider,  together with the other
information  contained and  incorporated  by reference in this  Prospectus,  the
following  risk factors in evaluating the Company and its business and the Trust
and the Preferred  Securities before purchasing the Preferred Securities offered
hereby.  Prospective investors should note, in particular,  that this Prospectus
contains  forward-looking  statements  within the  meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities  Act"),  and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),  including
statements  of goals,  intentions,  and  expectations,  regarding  or based upon
general economic conditions,  interest rates, developments in national and local
markets,  and  other  matters,  and  which,  by their  nature,  are  subject  to
significant uncertainties. Because of these uncertainties and the assumptions on
which statements in this Prospectus are based,  actual future results may differ
materially from those contemplated by such statements. The considerations listed
below represent  certain important factors the Company believes could cause such
results to differ. These considerations are not intended to represent a complete
list of the general or specific risks that may affect the Company and the Trust.
It should be recognized that other risks may be significant, presently or in the
future,  and the risks set forth below may affect the Company and the Trust to a
greater, or lesser, extent than indicated.

SUBORDINATION OF THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     The  obligations of the Company under the Guarantee  issued for the benefit
of the holders of Preferred Securities and under the Subordinated Debentures are
unsecured  and rank  subordinate  and  junior in right of  payment to all Senior
Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and  Additional  Senior  Obligations  of the  Company,
whether now existing or hereafter incurred. At July 15, 1998, the Company had no
outstanding  Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt or Additional  Senior  Obligations.
Because  the  Company  is a  holding  company,  the  right  of  the  Company  to
participate  in  any  distribution  of  assets  of  the  Bank  upon  the  Bank's
liquidation or  reorganization  or otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of
the  Preferred  Securities  to benefit  indirectly  from such  distribution)  is
subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Bank,  except to the extent that
the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor of the Bank. The Subordinated
Debentures,  therefore,  will be  effectively  subordinated  to all existing and
future  liabilities  of the Bank and  holders  of  Subordinated  Debentures  and
Preferred  Securities should look only to the assets of the Company for payments
on the  Subordinated  Debentures.  Neither the Indenture,  the Guarantee nor the
Trust  Agreement  places any  limitation  on the amount of secured or  unsecured
debt,   including  Senior  Debt,   Subordinated   Debt  and  Additional   Senior
Obligations,  that may be  incurred  by the  Company.  See  "Description  of the
Guarantee--Status  of  the  Guarantee"  and  "Description  of  the  Subordinated
Debentures--Subordination."

     The ability of the Trust to pay amounts due on the Preferred  Securities is
solely dependent upon the Company making payments on the Subordinated Debentures
as and when required.

OPTION TO  EXTEND  INTEREST  PAYMENT  PERIOD;  TAX  CONSEQUENCES;  MARKET  PRICE
CONSEQUENCES

     The  Company  has the right under the  Indenture,  so long as no  Debenture
Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  to defer the  payment  of
interest on the Subordinated Debentures, at any time or from time to time, for a
period not  exceeding 20  consecutive  quarters  with respect to each  Extension
Period;  provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such deferral, quarterly
Distributions on the Preferred Securities by the Trust will be deferred (and the
amount  of  Distributions  to which  holders  of the  Preferred  Securities  are
entitled will accumulate  additional  Distributions thereon at the rate of 8.25%
per  annum,  compounded  quarterly  from  the  relevant  payment  date  for such
Distributions)  during any such  Extension  Period.  During  any such  Extension
Period, the Company may not, subject to limited  exceptions:  (i) declare or pay
any  dividends or  distributions  on, or redeem,  purchase,  acquire,  or make a
liquidation  payment with respect to, any of the Company's  capital stock;  (ii)
make any  payment  of  principal,  interest  or  premium,  if any,  on or repay,
repurchase  or redeem any debt  securities  of the Company  that rank pari passu
with or junior in interest to the Subordinated  Debentures or make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



the debt  securities of any  subsidiary of the Company if such  guarantee  ranks
pari passu with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than
payments under the  Guarantee);  or (iii) redeem,  purchase or acquire less than
all of the Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.  Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period,  the Company may further defer the
payment of interest; provided that no Extension Period may exceed 20 consecutive
quarters or extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of the  Subordinated  Debentures.
Upon the  termination  of any  Extension  Period and the payment of all interest
then accrued and unpaid  (together  with interest  thereon at the annual rate of
8.25%  compounded  quarterly,  to the extent  permitted by applicable  law), the
Company  may  elect  to  begin a new  Extension  Period,  subject  to the  above
requirements.  Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of
times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period.  See "Description
of the Preferred  Securities--Distributions--Extension  Period" and "Description
of the Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."

     Should an Extension Period occur, each holder of Preferred  Securities will
be  required  to accrue  and  recognize  income (in the form of  original  issue
discount  ("OID")) in respect of its pro rata share of the interest  accruing on
the  Subordinated  Debentures held by the Trust for United States federal income
tax purposes.  Under such circumstances,  a holder of Preferred Securities would
be required to include  such income in gross  income for United  States  federal
income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash,  and will not receive the
cash  related  to such  income  from the  Trust if the  holder  disposes  of the
Preferred  Securities  prior to the record  date for the  payment of the related
Distributions. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential Extension
of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue Discount."

     The  Company  has no current  intention  of  exercising  its right to defer
payments  of  interest  by  extending  the  interest   payment   period  on  the
Subordinated  Debentures,  and believes the  likelihood of its  exercising  such
right to be remote. Should the Company elect, however, to exercise such right in
the  future,  the  market  price of the  Preferred  Securities  is  likely to be
adversely affected. A holder that disposes of its Preferred Securities during an
Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its investment
as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred Securities.  As a result of the
existence of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market price of
the  Preferred  Securities  may be more volatile than the market prices of other
securities on which original issue discount accrues that are not subject to such
optional deferrals.

REDEMPTION UPON TAX EVENT, CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT OR INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT

     The Company has the right to redeem the  Subordinated  Debentures  in whole
(but not in part) within 90 days  following  the  occurrence  of a Tax Event,  a
Capital Treatment Event or Investment Company Event (whether occurring before or
after July 31,  2003),  and,  therefore,  cause a  mandatory  redemption  of the
Preferred  Securities.  The  exercise  of such right is  subject to the  Company
having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so, if then required
under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

     "Tax  Event"  means the  receipt  by the  Trust of an  opinion  of  counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to,
or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws of the United
States or any political  subdivision or taxing authority  thereof or therein (or
any  regulations  thereunder),  or as a result  of any  official  administrative
pronouncement  or  judicial  decision  interpreting  or  applying  such  laws or
regulations,  which  amendment or change is effective or such  pronouncement  or
decision  is  announced  on or  after  the  date of  issuance  of the  Preferred
Securities under the Trust Agreement,  there is more than an insubstantial  risk
that:  (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such  opinion,
subject to United States federal  income tax with respect to income  received or
accrued on the Subordinated Debentures;  (ii) interest payable by the Company on
the Subordinated Debentures is not, or, within 90 days of such opinion, will not
be,  deductible by the Company,  in whole or in part,  for United States federal
income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or within 90 days of the date of the
opinion will be, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties
or other governmental  charges.  The Company must request and receive an opinion
with regard to such matters within a reasonable  period of time after it becomes
aware of the possible  occurrence of any of the events  described in clauses (i)
through  (iii)


                                      -12-

<PAGE>



above. See "Risk  Factors--Proposed Tax Legislation" for a discussion of certain
legislative  proposals that, if adopted,  could give rise to a Tax Event,  which
may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Preferred  Securities  prior
to July 31, 2003.

     Prospective  investors  should be aware that Enron  Corporation has filed a
petition with the United States Tax Court challenging the proposed  disallowance
by the  Internal  Revenue  Service  of the  deduction  of  interest  expense  on
securities  issued by Enron  Corporation  in 1993 and 1994 that are  similar to,
although different in a number of respects from, the Subordinated Debentures. It
is  possible  that a decision  in that case could form the basis of a Tax Event,
thereby  permitting  the Company to exchange the  Preferred  Securities  for the
Subordinated Debentures, or to redeem all of the Trust Securities. Additionally,
in 1996 and 1997,  certain  legislative  proposals  were made which if  enacted,
would have adversely affected the ability of the Company to deduct interest paid
on the Subordinated  Debentures.  While these proposals were not enacted,  there
can be no assurance that legislation  enacted, or other developments,  after the
date  hereof  will not  adversely  affect the  ability of the  Company to deduct
interest paid on the Subordinated  Debentures.  See "Risk  Factors--Proposed Tax
Legislation."

     "Capital  Treatment  Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of
counsel  experienced  in such  matters  to the effect  that,  as a result of any
amendment to or any change (including any announced  prospective  change) in the
laws of the United  States or any political  subdivision  thereof or therein (or
any  regulations  thereunder),  or as a result  of any  official  administrative
pronouncement  or  judicial  decision  interpreting  or  applying  such  laws or
regulations,  which  amendment or change is effective or such  proposed  change,
pronouncement  or decision is  announced on or after the date of issuance of the
Preferred  Securities  under  the  Trust  Agreement,   there  is  more  than  an
insubstantial risk of impairment of the Company's ability to treat the aggregate
Liquidation  Amount of the  Preferred  Securities  (or any  substantial  portion
thereof) as "Tier 1 Capital"  (or the then  equivalent  thereof) for purposes of
the capital adequacy  guidelines of the Federal  Reserve,  as then applicable to
the Company,  provided,  however, that the inability of the Company to treat all
or any portion of the Liquidation  Amount of the Preferred  Securities as Tier 1
Capital  shall not  constitute  the basis of a Capital  Treatment  Event if such
inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred capital in excess
of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable
capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve.

     "Investment  Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of
counsel  experienced  in such  matters  to the effect  that,  as a result of the
occurrence  of a change in law or regulation  or a change in  interpretation  or
application of law or regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental
agency  or  regulatory  authority,  the  Trust  is  or  will  be  considered  an
"investment  company"  that is required to be  registered  under the  Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended (the  "Investment  Company  Act"),  which change
becomes  effective  on or after the date of original  issuance of the  Preferred
Securities.

SHORTENING OF STATED MATURITY OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     The Company  has the right,  at any time,  to shorten  the  maturity of the
Subordinated  Debentures to a date not earlier than July 31, 2003.  The exercise
of such right is subject to the Company  having  received  prior approval of the
Federal  Reserve,  if then  required  under  applicable  capital  guidelines  or
policies  of  the  Federal   Reserve.   See  "Description  of  the  Subordinated
Debentures--General."

RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE

     The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Preferred Securities, to the
extent not paid by the Trust: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions  required
to be paid on the Preferred  Securities,  to the extent that the Trust has funds
available  therefor at such time; (ii) the Redemption  Price (as defined herein)
with respect to any Preferred  Securities  called for redemption,  to the extent
that the Trust has funds  available  therefor  at such  time;  and (iii)  upon a
voluntary or  involuntary  dissolution,  winding-up or  liquidation of the Trust
(other than in connection with the  distribution  of Subordinated  Debentures to
the holders of  Preferred  Securities  or a redemption  of all of the  Preferred


                                      -13-

<PAGE>



Securities),  the lesser of (a) the amount of the Liquidation  Distribution  (as
defined  herein),  to the extent the Trust has funds available  therefor at such
time,  and (b) the  amount  of  assets  of the  Trust  remaining  available  for
distribution to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust.
The holders of not less than a majority in  Liquidation  Amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy  available to the Guarantee  Trustee in respect of the
Guarantee  or to direct  the  exercise  of any trust  power  conferred  upon the
Guarantee  Trustee under the Guarantee.  Any holder of the Preferred  Securities
may  institute a legal  proceeding  directly  against the Company to enforce its
rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding  against
the  Trust,  the  Guarantee  Trustee  or any other  Person  (as  defined  in the
Guarantee).  If the  Company  were to default on its  obligation  to pay amounts
payable under the  Subordinated  Debentures,  the Trust would lack funds for the
payment of  Distributions  or amounts  payable on  redemption  of the  Preferred
Securities or  otherwise,  and, in such event,  holders of Preferred  Securities
would not be able to rely upon the  Guarantee  for such  amounts.  In the event,
however,  that a Debenture  Event of Default has occurred and is continuing  and
such event is  attributable  to the failure of the Company to pay interest on or
principal  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  on the  payment  date on which such
payment is due and payable,  then a holder of Preferred Securities may institute
a legal  proceeding  directly  against the Company for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the  principal  of or interest  on such  Subordinated  Debentures
having a  principal  amount  equal to the  aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the
Preferred  Securities  of such holder (a "Direct  Action").  The exercise by the
Company of its right, as described  herein,  to defer the payment of interest on
the Subordinated Debentures does not constitute a Debenture Event of Default. In
connection  with such Direct  Action,  the Company  will have a right of set-off
under the  Indenture  to the extent of any  payment  made by the Company to such
holder of Preferred Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein,
holders of Preferred  Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other
remedy  available  to the  holders  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  or  assert
directly  any other  rights  in  respect  of the  Subordinated  Debentures.  See
"Description of the  Subordinated  Debentures--Enforcement  of Certain Rights by
Holders   of   Preferred   Securities,"   "Description   of   the   Subordinated
Debentures--Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of the Guarantee." The
Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Preferred  Securities by acceptance
thereof agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee and the Indenture.

LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS

     Holders  of  Preferred  Securities  will have no voting  rights,  except in
limited  circumstances  relating  only  to the  modification  of  the  Preferred
Securities  and the  exercise  of the  rights  of the  Trust  as  holder  of the
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee.  Holders of Preferred Securities will
not be entitled to vote to appoint,  remove or replace the  Property  Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, as such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder
of the Common Securities (except upon the occurrence of certain events described
herein). The Property Trustee,  the Administrative  Trustees and the Company may
amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of holders of Preferred Securities
to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax
purposes as a grantor trust even if such action adversely  affects the interests
of such holders.  See "Description of the Preferred  Securities--Voting  Rights;
Amendment   of   Trust    Agreement"   and   "Description   of   the   Preferred
Securities--Removal of the Trustees."

PROPOSED TAX LEGISLATION

     On February 6, 1997,  President  Clinton  proposed  certain tax law changes
(the "1997 Proposed Legislation") that would, among other things, generally deny
corporate  issuers a deduction  for  interest or OID in respect of certain  debt
obligations if such debt  obligations  have a maximum term in excess of 15 years
and are not  shown  as  indebtedness  on the  issuer's  applicable  consolidated
balance sheet.  The 1997 Proposed  Legislation  was not included in the Taxpayer
Relief Act of 1997 as enacted,  and was not included in President Clinton's 1999
budget proposal released in February 1998.

     However, if legislation similar to the 1997 Proposed Legislation is enacted
in the future with retroactive  effect,  the Company would not be entitled to an
interest deduction with respect to the Subordinated Debentures.  There can be no
assurance  that  legislation  enacted  after the date hereof will not  adversely
affect,  in the manner


                                      -14-

<PAGE>



proposed  in the 1997  Proposed  Legislation  or  otherwise,  the ability of the
Company  to  deduct  the  interest  payable  on  the  Subordinated   Debentures.
Consequently,  there can be no assurance  that a Tax Event will not occur. A Tax
Event would permit the Company,  upon approval of the Federal  Reserve,  if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve,
to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities before, as well as after, July
31,  2003.  See  "Description  of  the  Subordinated  Debentures--Redemption  or
Exchange", "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange--Tax
Event Redemption, Capital Treatment Event Redemption or Investment Company Event
Redemption" and "Certain  Federal Income Tax  Consequences--  Effect of Proposed
Changes  in Tax Laws"  and "Risk  Factors--Redemption  Upon Tax  Event,  Capital
Treatment Event or Investment Company Event."

EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate the
Trust and cause the Subordinated  Debentures to be distributed to the holders of
the Preferred  Securities in exchange  therefor in liquidation of the Trust. The
exercise of such right is subject to the Company having  received prior approval
of the Federal Reserve,  if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal  Reserve.  The Company  will have the right,  in certain
circumstances,  to redeem the  Subordinated  Debentures  in whole or in part, in
lieu of a distribution  of the  Subordinated  Debentures by the Trust,  in which
event the Trust will redeem the Trust Securities on a pro rata basis to the same
extent as the  Subordinated  Debentures  are redeemed by the  Company.  Any such
distribution or redemption prior to the Stated Maturity will be subject to prior
approval of the Federal  Reserve,  if then  required  under  applicable  capital
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption  or Exchange--Tax  Event  Redemption,  Capital  Treatment
Event Redemption or Investment Company Event Redemption."

     Under  current  United States  federal  income tax law, a  distribution  of
Subordinated Debentures upon the dissolution of the Trust would not be a taxable
event  to  holders  of the  Preferred  Securities.  If,  however,  the  Trust is
characterized  as an  association  taxable as a  corporation  at the time of the
dissolution of the Trust, the  distribution of the  Subordinated  Debentures may
constitute a taxable event to holders of Preferred  Securities.  Moreover,  upon
occurrence of a Tax Event,  a  dissolution  of the Trust in which holders of the
Preferred  Securities  receive cash may be a taxable event to such holders.  See
"Certain Federal Income Tax  Consequences--Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or
Cash Upon Liquidation of the Trust."

     There  can be no  assurance  as to the  market  prices  for  the  Preferred
Securities or the  Subordinated  Debentures  that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred  Securities  upon a dissolution or  liquidation of the Trust.  The
Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures,  may trade at a discount to
the price that the investor  paid to purchase the Preferred  Securities  offered
hereby.  Because  holders  of  Preferred  Securities  may  receive  Subordinated
Debentures,  prospective  purchasers of Preferred  Securities are also making an
investment  decision  with  regard to the  Subordinated  Debentures  and  should
carefully  review all the  information  regarding  the  Subordinated  Debentures
contained herein.

     If the Subordinated  Debentures are distributed to the holders of Preferred
Securities  upon the  liquidation  of the Trust,  the Company  will use its best
efforts  to list  the  Subordinated  Debentures  on The  Nasdaq  Stock  Market's
National  Market  or such  stock  exchanges,  if any,  on  which  the  Preferred
Securities are then listed.

TRADING PRICE; ABSENCE OF PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

     The Preferred  Securities may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the
value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Subordinated
Debentures.  A holder of  Preferred  Securities  who uses the accrual  method of
accounting (and a cash method holder if the  Subordinated  Debentures are deemed
to be  issued  with  original  issue  discount  ("OID"))  that  disposes  of its
Preferred  Securities  between record dates for payments of  Distributions  (and
consequently does not receive a Distribution from the Trust for the period prior
to such disposition) will nevertheless be required to include accrued but unpaid
interest (or OID) on the Subordinated


                                      -15-

<PAGE>



Debentures  through the date of disposition in income as ordinary  income and to
add the  amount of any  accrued  OID to its  adjusted  tax basis in its pro rata
share of the underlying  Subordinated Debentures deemed disposed of. Such holder
will  recognize a capital  loss to the extent the selling  price  (which may not
fully  reflect  the  value of  accrued  but  unpaid  interest)  is less than its
adjusted  tax basis  (which will  include all accrued  OID).  Subject to certain
limited  exceptions,  capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income
for United States federal income tax purposes.  See "Certain  Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Disposition of Preferred Securities."

     There is no current  public market for the Preferred  Securities.  Although
application  has been made to approve the Preferred  Securities for quotation on
The Nasdaq Stock  Market's  National  Market,  there can be no assurance that an
active public market will develop for the Preferred  Securities or that, if such
market develops, the market price will equal or exceed the public offering price
set forth on the cover page of this  Prospectus.  The public  offering price for
the Preferred  Securities and the Distribution rate have been determined through
negotiations between the Company and the Underwriters.  Prices for the Preferred
Securities  will be determined in the  marketplace and may be influenced by many
factors,  including  prevailing  interest rates, the liquidity of the market for
the  Preferred  Securities,  investor  perceptions  of the  Company  and general
industry and economic conditions.

PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE NOT INSURED

     The Preferred  Securities  are not insured by the Bank  Insurance Fund (the
"BIF") or the Savings  Association  Insurance  Fund (the  "SAIF") of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") or by any other governmental agency.

EXPOSURE TO LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

     Although  the Bank  makes  loans  throughout  the  State of  Maryland,  the
Company's  lending  operations are concentrated  primarily in the Bank's service
areas.  Consequently,  adverse  changes in economic  conditions in those service
areas, including a decline in the real estate market in the Bank's service areas
would impair the Company's  ability to collect loans and would  otherwise have a
negative effect on the financial condition of the Company.

INTEREST RATE RISK

     Changes in interest  rates can have  significant  effects on the  Company's
profitability,  which depends largely on its net interest income, the difference
between the interest income received on interest earning assets and the interest
expense  incurred on interest  bearing  liabilities.  The Company's net interest
income and the market value of its assets and liabilities could be significantly
affected by changes in interest rates.  In a rising  interest rate  environment,
the Company anticipates that its net interest income could be adversely affected
as  liabilities  more  quickly  reprice to market  interest  rates than  assets.
Additionally,  loans and mortgage backed  securities in the Company's  portfolio
may prepay  more  rapidly  than  anticipated,  reducing  interest  income as the
Company is unable to reinvest the  proceeds of such  prepayments  at  comparable
yields.

DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

     The  ability  of the  Company  to  pay  amounts  due  on  the  Subordinated
Debentures is largely  dependent on its receipt of dividends  from the Bank. The
amount of  dividends  that the Bank may pay to the Company is limited by various
federal laws and by the  regulations  promulgated  by their  respective  primary
regulators, which impose certain minimum capital requirements.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>



                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred  Securities will be used by the
Trust to purchase the Subordinated Debentures from the Company. The net proceeds
to the Company from the sale of the Subordinated  Debentures are estimated to be
$35.0 million (or $40.25 million if the Underwriters'  over-allotment  option is
exercised in full) before deducting the Underwriters' compensation and estimated
expenses.  The Company  proposes to use the net proceeds  for general  corporate
purposes,  including use in the Bank's lending and investment activities, and to
allow the Company to pursue  opportunities  for future growth  through  possible
acquisitions.  Pending  such  uses,  the  net  proceeds  from  the  sale  of the
Subordinated  Debentures  may be invested in a variety of short term  investment
securities.


                       MARKET FOR THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

     Application  has been made to have the  Preferred  Securities  approved for
quotation on the Nasdaq National  Market under the symbol "FCNBP".  There can be
no assurance  that such approval will be obtained.  Sandler  O'Neill & Partners,
L.P. and Legg Mason Wood Walker,  Incorporated,  have  informed the Company that
they presently intend to make a market in the Preferred Securities. There can be
no assurance, however, that an active and liquid trading market will develop for
the Preferred  Securities,  or, if developed,  that such a market will continue.
The offering price and  Distribution  rate have been  determined by negotiations
among the Company and the Underwriters,  and the offering price of the Preferred
Securities may not be indicative of the market price following the offering. See
"Underwriting."


                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

     The  Trust  will  be  treated,  for  financial  reporting  purposes,  as  a
subsidiary  of the Company and,  accordingly,  the accounts of the Trust will be
included in the consolidated  financial statements of the Company. The Preferred
Securities  will be  presented as a separate  category of long-term  debt in the
consolidated  statement of financial  condition of the Company under the caption
"Guaranteed  Preferred  Beneficial  Interests  in  the  Company's   Subordinated
Debentures," and appropriate  disclosures  about the Preferred  Securities,  the
Guarantee  and the  Subordinated  Debentures  will be  included  in the notes to
consolidated financial statements. The Company will record Distributions payable
on  the  Preferred  Securities  as  an  interest  expense  in  the  consolidated
statements of operations for financial reporting purposes.

     All future  reports of the Company  filed under the Exchange Act will:  (i)
present the Trust  Securities  issued by the Trust on the statement of financial
condition  as  a  separate  category  of  long-term  debt  entitled  "Guaranteed
Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's  Subordinated  Debentures;" (ii)
include in a  footnote  to the  financial  statements  disclosure  that the sole
assets of the Trust are the Subordinated  Debentures  (including the outstanding
principal  amount,   interest  rate  and  maturity  date  of  such  Subordinated
Debentures);  and  (iii)  include  in a  footnote  to the  financial  statements
disclosure that the Company owns all of the Common  Securities of the Trust, the
sole  assets of the  Trust  are the  Subordinated  Debentures,  and the  back-up
obligations, in the aggregate,  constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by
the Company of the obligations of the Trust under the Preferred Securities.



                                      -17-

<PAGE>



                                 CAPITALIZATION

     The  following  table sets  forth the  consolidated  capitalization  of the
Company at March 31, 1998,  the unaudited pro forma combined  capitalization  of
the Company as of March 31,  1998 as if the merger of Capital  into the Bank had
taken place, and such pro forma  consolidated  capitalization  of the Company as
adjusted  to give  effect to the  issuance of the  Preferred  Securities  by the
Trust, and the sale of the Subordinated  Debentures to the Trust by the Company.
The as adjusted  presentations  assume that the Offering was  completed by March
31, 1998, and that the Underwriters' over-allotment option was not exercised.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Pro Forma Combined
                                                       At March 31, 1998              At March 31, 1998
                                                    -------------------------      -------------------------
                                                                      As                             As
                                                     Actual        Adjusted         Actual        Adjusted
                                                    -------------------------      -------------------------
                                                                    (dollars in thousands)
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>           <C>              <C>    
Long-Term Debt:

  Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the
  Company's subordinated debentures                 $      -         $35,000       $      -         $35,000
                                                    =========================      =========================
Shareholders' Equity:

  Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share;
  1,000,000 authorized none issued                  $      -       $       -       $      -        $      -

  Common  Stock,  par value  $1.00 per share;
  20,000,000  shares  authorized;   5,915,442
  shares issued and outstanding, at March 31,
  1998,  and  7,143,182   shares  issued  and
  outstanding  in March  31,  1998 pro  forma
  combined based on 1.25 conversion  ratio in
  the merger.                                          5,915           5,915          7,143           7,143
  Capital surplus                                     43,445          43,445         50,892          50,892
  Retained earnings                                   26,134          26,134         27,290          27,290
  Accumulated other comprehensive income               4,153           4,153          4,168           4,168
                                                    -------------------------      -------------------------
    Total shareholders' equity                       $79,647         $79,647        $89,493         $89,493
                                                    =========================      =========================

Capital Ratios:

  Leverage ratio(1)(2)                                 8.03%          10.71%          7.89%          10.51%
  Tier 1 capital to risk - weighted assets(2)         11.08%          14.77%         10.95%          14.60%
  Total capital to risk - weighted assets(2)          11.95%          17.33%         11.85%          16.45%
</TABLE>


(1)  The leverage  ratio is Tier 1 capital  divided by quarterly  average  total
     assets less intangibles.

(2)  The total risk-based capital ratio, as adjusted,  is computed including the
     total  estimated net proceeds  from the sale of the  Preferred  Securities.
     Federal Reserve guidelines limit the amount of the Preferred Securities and
     cumulative  perpetual  preferred  stock  included  in Tier 1 capital  to an
     aggregate of 25% of Tier 1 capital, and accordingly the leverage and Tier 1
     capital  ratios are computed  excluding  $11.0 million and $7.25 million of
     the Preferred Securities in the As Adjusted columns for March 31, 1998, and
     Pro Forma Combined, respectively.


                                      -18-

<PAGE>



               UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The unaudited pro forma combined  balance sheet and the unaudited pro forma
combined statements of income of the Company set forth below give effect,  using
the pooling of interests method of accounting, to the proposed merger of Capital
Bank,  National  Association  ("Capital")  with and into the Bank  based upon an
assumed  conversion  ratio of 1.25 shares of Company Common Stock for each share
of Capital  Common  Stock  outstanding  as of each  respective  period end.  The
unaudited  pro forma  balance  sheet is presented as though the proposed  merger
occurred on March 31, 1998. The unaudited pro forma combined  income  statements
are presented as though the proposed merger occurred on January 1, 1995.

     The  unaudited  pro forma  financial  information  set  forth  below is for
illustrative  purposes only and therefore is not  necessarily  indicative of the
financial  condition or results of  operations of the Company as they would have
been had the proposed merger  occurred  during the periods  presented or as they
may be in the future.





                                      -19-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)
March 31, 1998

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Capital          Pro Forma         Pro Forma
                                               Company              Bank           Adjustments         Combined
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
ASSETS                                                              (dollars in thousands)
<S>                                             <C>                <C>             <C>                <C>       
Cash and due from banks                         $  28,986          $   8,618       $         -        $   37,604

Interest-bearing deposits in other banks              811                  -                 -               811
Federal funds sold                                 19,196             12,800                 -            31,996
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Cash and cash equivalents                          48,993             21,418                 -            70,411
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Loans held for sale                                 4,379                  -                 -             4,379
Investment securities held to maturity             44,810                  -                 -            44,810
Investment securities available for sale -        204,098             29,465                 -           233,563
at fair value
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Loans                                             573,557            104,167                 -           677,724
Less:    Allowance for credit losses              (5,711)            (1,067)                 -           (6,778)
Unearned income                                      (65)              (277)                 -             (342)
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Net loans                                         567,781            102,823                 -           670,604
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Bank premises and equipment                        22,416              1,275                 -            23,691
Other assets                                       34,421              1,402                 -            35,823
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Total assets                                     $926,898           $156,383       $         -        $1,083,281
                                               ===========       ============      ============       ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

LIABILITIES
Deposits:

Noninterest-bearing deposits                    $  84,153          $  27,053       $         -        $  111,206
Interest-bearing deposits                         548,818            100,939                 -           649,757
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Total deposits                                    632,971            127,992                 -           760,963
Short-term borrowings:
Federal funds purchased and securities sold
under agreements to repurchase                     34,449             15,970                 -            50,419
Other short-term borrowings                       173,137                747                 -           173,884
Accrued interest and other liabilities              6,694                538             1,290   (a)       8,522
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Total liabilities                                 847,251            145,247             1,290           993,788
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common Stock                                        5,915              5,893           (4,665)   (b)       7,143
Capital surplus                                    43,445              2,782             4,665   (b)      50,892
Retained earnings                                  26,134              2,446           (1,290)   (a)      27,290
Accumulated other comprehensive income              4,153                 15                 -             4,168
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Total shareholders' equity                         79,647             11,136           (1,290)            89,493
                                               -----------       ------------      ------------       -----------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity       $926,898           $156,383       $         -        $1,083,281
                                               ===========       ============      ============       ===========
</TABLE>


The pro forma combined balance sheet has not been adjusted to reflect any of the
improvements in operating efficiencies that the Company anticipates may occur in
the future due to the merger.


                                      -20-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1998


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Pro Forma
                                                          Company         Capital Bank        Combined
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest income:                                            (dollars in thousands, except per share
                                                                            amounts)
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>             <C>    
Interest and fees on loans                                  $12,716             $2,427          $15,143
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
  Taxable                                                     3,639                414            4,053
  Tax exempt                                                     67                  -               67
  Dividends                                                     228                  -              228
Interest on federal funds sold                                  144                271              415
Other interest income                                            10                  -               10
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest income                                      16,804              3,112           19,916
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest expense:

Interest on deposits                                          5,751              1,120            6,871
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under agreements to repurchase                                637                217              854
Interest on other short-term borrowings                       2,208                  9            2,217
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest expense                                      8,596              1,346            9,942
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income                                           8,208              1,766            9,974
Provision for credit losses                                     100                 70              170
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses         8,108              1,696            9,804
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest income:

Service fees                                                    756                156              912
Net securities gains                                            152                  -              152
Gain on sale of loans                                           152                  -              152
Other operating income                                          724                 71              795
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest income                                    1,784                227            2,011
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest expenses:

Salaries and employee benefits                                3,574                641            4,215
Occupancy expenses                                              652                195              847
Equipment expenses                                              585                 68              653
Merger related expenses                                           4                  -                4
Other operating expenses                                      1,637                386            2,023
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest expenses                                  6,452              1,290            7,742
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Income before provision for income taxes                      3,440                633            4,073
Income tax expense                                            1,086                247            1,333
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net income                                                    2,354                386            2,740
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other  comprehensive  net  income,  net of tax:
Unrealized  gains  (losses)  on securities:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period         833               (15)              818
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses)
  included in net income, net of taxes of $56                    96                  -               96
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other comprehensive net income                                  737               (15)              722
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Comprehensive income                                         $3,091               $371           $3,462
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Net income - before merger related expenses                  $2,354               $386           $2,740
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Basic earnings per share                                      $0.40              $0.39            $0.38
Diluted earnings per share                                    $0.40              $0.38            $0.38
Basic earnings per share - before merger related              $0.40              $0.39            $0.38
expenses
Diluted earnings per share  - before merger related           $0.40              $0.39            $0.38
expenses
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding       5,914,562            977,450        7,136,375
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding     5,937,324          1,004,207        7,192,583
</TABLE>

The pro forma combined  statement of income has not been adjusted to reflect any
of the improvements in operating  efficiencies that the Company  anticipates may
occur in the future due to the merger.


                                      -21-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Pro Forma
                                                                    Company         Capital Bank        Combined
                                                                   -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest income:                                                       (dollars in thousands, except per share
                                                                                      amounts)

<S>                                                                   <C>                 <C>              <C>    
Interest and fees on loans                                            $11,350             $2,191           $13,541
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
  Taxable                                                               2,956                344             3,300
  Tax exempt                                                               94                  -                94
  Dividends                                                               149                  -               149
Interest on federal funds sold                                            152                120               272
Other interest income                                                      33                  -                33
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
  Total interest income                                                14,734              2,655            17,389
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Interest expense:

Interest on deposits                                                    5,267                847             6,114
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under agreements to repurchase                                          668                162               830
Interest on other short-term borrowings                                 1,021                  7             1,028
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
  Total interest expense                                                6,956              1,016             7,972
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Net interest income                                                     7,778              1,639             9,417
Provision for credit losses                                               231                 50               281
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses                   7,547              1,589             9,136
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Noninterest income:

Service fees                                                              627                118               745
Net securities gains                                                       87                  2                89
Gain on sale of loans                                                     148                  -               148
Other operating income                                                    431                 55               486
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
  Total noninterest income                                              1,293                175             1,468
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Noninterest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits                                          3,103                607             3,710
Occupancy expenses                                                        620                213               833
Equipment expenses                                                        523                 69               592
Merger related expenses                                                   351                  0               351
Other operating expenses                                                1,621                406             2,027
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
  Total noninterest expenses                                            6,218              1,295             7,513
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Income before provision for income taxes                                2,622                469             3,091
Income tax expense                                                        772                186               958
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Net Income                                                              1,850                283             2,133
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Other comprehensive net income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period               (1,013)              (100)           (1,113)
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses) included in
 net income, net of taxes of $32, $1 and $33, respectively                 55                  1                56
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Other comprehensive net income                                        (1,068)              (101)           (1,169)
                                                                   -----------       ------------      ------------
Comprehensive income                                                     $782               $182              $964
                                                                   ===========       ============      ============
Net income - before merger related expenses                            $2,065               $283            $2,348
                                                                   ===========       ============      ============
Basic earnings per share                                                $0.31              $0.29             $0.30
Diluted earnings per share                                              $0.31              $0.29             $0.30
Basic earnings per share - before merger related expenses               $0.35              $0.29             $0.33
Diluted earnings per share - before merger related expenses             $0.35              $0.29             $0.33
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding                 5,899,521            971,420         7,113,796
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding               5,910,848            986,101         7,143,474
</TABLE>

The pro forma combined  statement of income has not been adjusted to reflect any
of the improvements in operating  efficiencies that the Company  anticipates may
occur in the future due to the merger.


                                      -22-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          Pro Forma
                                                                       Company         Capital Bank        Combined
                                                                      -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest income:                                                         (dollars in thousands, except per share
                                                                                         amounts)
<S>                                                                     <C>                 <C>              <C>    
Interest and fees on loans                                              $48,562             $9,166           $57,728
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
  Taxable                                                                13,181              1,463            14,644
  Tax exempt                                                                341                  -               341
  Dividends                                                                 618                  -               618
Interest on federal funds sold                                              389                807             1,196
Other interest income                                                       100                  -               100
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
  Total interest income                                                  63,191             11,436            74,627
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Interest expense:

Interest on deposits                                                     22,143              4,068            26,211
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under agreements to repurchase                                          2,819                609             3,428
Interest on other short-term borrowings                                   6,050                 32             6,082
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
  Total interest expense                                                 31,012              4,709            35,721
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Net interest income                                                      32,179              6,727            38,906
Provision for credit losses                                               1,329                195             1,524
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses                    30,850              6,532            37,382
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Noninterest income:

Service fees                                                              2,855                548             3,403
Net securities gains                                                        580                  -               580
Gain on sale of loans                                                       407                  -               407
Other operating income                                                    2,278                298             2,576
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
  Total noninterest income                                                6,120                846             6,966
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Noninterest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits                                           12,745              2,471            15,216
Occupancy expenses                                                        2,463                807             3,270
Equipment expenses                                                        2,027                282             2,309
Merger related expenses                                                     460                  -               460
Other operating expenses                                                  6,254              1,784             8,038
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
  Total noninterest expenses                                             23,949              5,344            29,293
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Income before provision for income taxes                                 13,021              2,034            15,055
Income tax expense                                                        4,218                811             5,029
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Net Income                                                                8,803              1,223            10,026
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Other comprehensive net income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period                   3,268               (15)             3,253
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses)
included in net income, net of taxes of $224                                356                  -               356
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Other comprehensive net income                                            2,912               (15)             2,897
                                                                      ----------       ------------      ------------
Comprehensive income                                                    $11,715             $1,208           $12,923
                                                                      ==========       ============      ============
Net income - before merger related expenses                              $9,088             $1,223           $10,311
                                                                      ==========       ============      ============
Basic earnings per share                                                  $1.49              $1.26             $1.41
Diluted earnings per share                                                $1.49              $1.22             $1.40
Basic earnings per share - before merger related expenses                 $1.54              $1.26             $1.45
Diluted earnings per share - before merger related expenses               $1.54              $1.22             $1.44
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding                   5,903,868            972,360         7,119,318
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding                 5,918,571            999,493         7,167,937
</TABLE>

The pro forma combined  statement of income has not been adjusted to reflect any
of the improvements in operating  efficiencies that the Company  anticipates may
occur in the future due to the merger.


                                      -23-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Pro Forma
                                                          Company         Capital Bank        Combined
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest income:                                            (dollars in thousands, except per share
                                                                            amounts)
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>             <C>    
Interest and fees on loans                                  $42,948             $7,284          $50,232
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
  Taxable                                                     9,728              1,316           11,044
  Tax exempt                                                    505                  -              505
  Dividends                                                     539                  -              539
Interest on federal funds sold                                  759                504            1,263
Other interest income                                           174                  -              174
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest income                                      54,653              9,104           63,757
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest expense:

Interest on deposits                                         20,549              3,007           23,556
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under agreements to repurchase                              1,357                527            1,884
Interest on other short-term borrowings                       2,762                 21            2,783
Interest on long-term debt                                      346                  -              346
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest expense                                     25,014              3,555           28,569
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income                                          29,639              5,549           35,188
Provision for credit losses                                     318                 90              408
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses        29,321              5,459           34,780
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest income:

Service fees                                                  2,454                477            2,931
Net securities gains                                            193                  -              193
Gain on sale of loans                                           305                  -              305
Other operating income                                        1,309                254            1,563
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest income                                    4,261                731            4,992
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits                               11,621              2,297           13,918
Occupancy expenses                                            2,419                752            3,171
Equipment expenses                                            1,599                245            1,844
Merger related expenses                                       2,865                  -            2,865
Other operating expenses                                      5,966              1,374            7,340
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest expenses                                 24,470              4,668           29,138
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Income before provision for income taxes                      9,112              1,522           10,634
Income tax expense                                            3,245                591            3,836
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net Income                                                    5,867                931            6,798
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other comprehensive net income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period          92                  -               92
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses)
 included in net income, net of taxes of $75                    118                  -              118
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other comprehensive net income                                 (26)                  -             (26)
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Comprehensive income                                         $5,841               $931           $6,772
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Net income - before merger related expenses                  $7,778               $931           $8,709
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Basic earnings per share                                      $0.99              $0.97            $0.95
Diluted earnings per share                                    $0.99              $0.96            $0.95
Basic earnings per share - before merger related              $1.31              $0.97            $1.22
expenses
Diluted earnings per share - before merger related            $1.31              $0.96            $1.22
expenses
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding       5,919,977            960,200        7,120,227
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding     5,933,411            969,897        7,145,782
</TABLE>

The pro forma combined  statement of income has not been adjusted to reflect any
of the improvements in operating  efficiencies that the Company  anticipates may
occur in the future due to the merger.


                                      -24-

<PAGE>



FCNB CORP AND SUBSIDIARY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Pro Forma
                                                          Company         Capital Bank        Combined
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest income:                                            (dollars in thousands, except per share
                                                                            amounts)
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>             <C>    
Interest and fees on loans                                  $39,341             $5,692          $45,033
Interest and dividends on investment securities:
  Taxable                                                     9,292              1,052           10,344
  Tax exempt                                                  1,211                  -            1,211
  Dividends                                                     414                  -              414
Interest on federal funds sold                                  457                543            1,000
Other interest income                                           411                  -              411
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest income                                      51,126              7,287           58,413
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Interest expense:

Interest on deposits                                         19,361              2,404           21,765
Interest on federal funds purchased and securities sold
  under agreements to repurchase                              1,122                380            1,502
Interest on other short-term borrowings                       1,882                 33            1,915
Interest on long-term debt                                      394                  -              394
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total interest expense                                     22,759              2,817           25,576
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income                                          28,367              4,470           32,837
Provision for credit losses                                     710                370            1,080
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net interest income after provision for credit losses        27,657              4,100           31,757
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest income:

Service fees                                                  2,104                512            2,616
Net securities gains                                            123                  -              123
Gain on sale of loans                                           315                  -              315
Other operating income                                        1,376                264            1,640
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest income                                    3,918                776            4,694
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Noninterest expense:

Salaries and employee benefits                               11,193              2,126           13,319
Occupancy expenses                                            1,683                708            2,391
Equipment expenses                                            1,438                172            1,610
Merger related expenses                                         303                  -              303
Other operating expenses                                      6,072              1,299            7,371
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
  Total noninterest expenses                                 20,689              4,305           24,994
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Income before provision for income taxes                     10,886                571           11,457
Income tax expense                                            3,888              (705)            3,183
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Net Income                                                    6,998              1,276            8,274
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other comprehensive net income, net of tax:
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities:

Unrealized holding gains (losses) arising during period       2,755                195            2,950
Less: reclassification adjustment for gains (losses)
included in net income, net of taxes of $48                      75                  -               75
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Other comprehensive net income                                2,680                195            2,875
                                                         -----------      -------------      -----------
Comprehensive income                                         $9,678             $1,471          $11,149
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Net income - before merger related expenses                  $7,301             $1,276           $8,577
                                                         ===========      =============      ===========
Basic earnings per share                                      $1.19              $1.42            $1.18
Diluted earnings per share                                    $1.19              $1.42            $1.18
Basic earnings per share - before merger related              $1.24              $1.42            $1.22
expenses
Diluted earnings per share - before merger related            $1.24              $1.42            $1.22
expenses
Basic weighted average number of shares outstanding       5,881,129            896,881        7,002,230
Diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding     5,895,803            900,185        7,021,034
</TABLE>

The pro forma combined  statement of income has not been adjusted to reflect any
of the improvements in operating  efficiencies that the Company  anticipates may
occur in the future due to the merger.


                                      -25-

<PAGE>



           NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(a)  Represents the estimated  merger costs that will be incurred by the Company
     and  Capital.  These  costs are not  reflected  in the Pro  Forma  Combined
     Statements  of Income since these items do not have a continuing  impact on
     the Company  following  the merger.  The  following  table  summarizes  the
     financial  impact of the additional  accruals as reflected in the Pro Forma
     Combined Balance Sheet (in thousands):

Merger-Related Costs:

Compensation (severance and related costs)                         $     650
Transaction costs (including investment bankers,
 attorneys and accountants)                                              600
Data processing contract termination                                     200
Miscellaneous expenses                                                   300
                                                                   ----------
Total merger-related costs                                             1,750
Income tax effect                                                        460
                                                                   ----------
Net after tax adjustments                                          $   1,290
                                                                   ==========

     The above  estimated  merger-related  costs  that will be  incurred  by the
     Company and Capital include expenses that are estimated to be incurred from
     the transaction.  Compensation costs include estimated severance to Capital
     employees and other related expenses as a result of merging  administrative
     staff.

(b)  Represents the redemption of Capital's  outstanding  $6.00 per common share
     par value, totalling $5.89 million, the issuance of the Company's $1.00 per
     common share par value,  totalling $1.23 million, based on the assumed 1.25
     conversion ratio, and the net effect on capital surplus.

(c)  Pro Forma  Combined  Company and Capital basic and diluted per Common Share
     data have been  determined  based upon:  (i) the  combined  historical  net
     income of the Company and Capital;  and (ii) the combined historic weighted
     average common equivalent  shares of the Company and Capital.  For purposes
     of this determination,  Capital's historical weighted average common shares
     outstanding  were increased to reflect the assumed 1.25 conversion ratio in
     the merger.



                                      -26-

<PAGE>



                                   THE COMPANY

     The Company was organized in 1986 to serve as the holding  company for FCNB
Bank (the  "Bank"),  its principal  operating  subsidiary.  The Bank,  which was
originally  chartered in 1818,  was converted  from a national bank charter to a
Maryland  commercial  bank in 1993,  and is engaged in a general  commercial and
consumer banking business, serving individuals and businesses in Frederick, Anne
Arundel,  Carroll, Howard,  Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland.
The Bank is the sixth largest  commercial banking  institution  headquartered in
Maryland.

     The Bank is engaged in the  financing of commerce and  industry,  providing
credit facilities and related services principally for businesses located in its
market areas. The Bank offers all forms of commercial  lending,  including lines
of credit,  revolving credits, term loans,  accounts receivable financing,  real
estate loans and other forms of secured financing. The Bank also provides a wide
range of personal banking services to consumers,  including checking and savings
account products,  installment and personal loans, credit cards, home equity and
mortgage loans, automobile loans, safe deposit boxes and other services.

     At March 31, 1998, the Company had assets of approximately  $926.9 million,
total deposits of approximately  $633.0 million,  and total shareholders' equity
of approximately $79.6 million. The principal executive office of the Company is
located at 7200 FCNB Court, Frederick,  Maryland 21703, and its telephone number
is (301) 662-2191.

     Over the past five years,  the Company has achieved  significant  growth in
assets. From 1993 to 1997, the Company's assets grew at an 11.1% compound annual
growth rate,  and increased by $8.8 million,  or 0.96% in the first three months
of 1998.  The  Company  has  achieved  its growth  both  internally  and through
acquisition.  In addition to a recently  completed branch purchase  transaction,
the Company has completed three whole bank acquisitions since 1995, consummating
the  acquisition of Elkridge Bank (March 1995),  of Laurel Federal  Savings Bank
(January 1996) and Odenton Federal Savings and Loan Association (April 1996), as
well as a number of smaller  branch  transactions.  The  Company  has also had a
history of earnings growth. Net income (before  extraordinary charges and merger
related  expenses)  grew at a compound  annual  growth rate of 7.2% from 1993 to
1997. For the five year period from 1993 to 1997,  the Company's  average annual
return on  average  assets  (before  merger-related  expenses)  was  1.15%.  The
annualized  return on average equity and the annualized return on average assets
for the three months ended March 31, 1998 were 12.11% and 1.04%, respectively.

     The Company  routinely  explores  opportunities  for additional  growth and
expansion of its core banking  business and related  activities,  including  the
acquisition  of companies  engaged in banking or other related  activities,  and
internally  generated  growth.  There  can be no  assurance,  however,  that the
Company will be able to grow,  or if it does,  that any such growth or expansion
will result in an increase in the Company's earnings,  dividends,  book value or
market value of its securities.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

     On June  23,  1998,  the  Company  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Reorganization  and  Merger  pursuant  to which it will  acquire  Capital  Bank,
National  Association  ("Capital"),  through the merger of Capital with and into
the Bank. Capital, the main office of which is in Rockville, Maryland, has three
branches,  two located in the  District of  Columbia  and one in Tysons  Corner,
Virginia.  FCNB anticipates that it will issue approximately 1,300,000 shares of
common stock in connection with the transaction,  subject to adjustment,  for an
aggregate deal value of approximately  $42.0 million. At March 31, 1998, Capital
had total assets of  approximately  $156.4 million,  deposits of $128.0 million,
and total  shareholders'  equity of $11.14  million.  For the three months ended
March 31, 1998 and the year ended  December 31, 1997,  Capital had net income of
$386,000 and $1.2 million,  respectively. It is anticipated that the merger will
be accounted for as a pooling of interests. The Company anticipates that it will
incur one-time pretax charges of approximately  $1.75 million upon  consummation
of the merger.  The consummation of


                                      -27-

<PAGE>



the merger remains  subject to regulatory  and  shareholder  approvals,  and the
satisfaction of a number of other  conditions.  FCNB currently  anticipates that
the merger will be consummated in the fourth quarter of 1998.

     On June 26, 1998, the Bank  consummated a transaction  pursuant to which it
assumed the deposit liabilities,  and purchased certain assets, relating to four
branches of First Virginia Bank-Maryland located in Montgomery County, Maryland,
and three  branches of its sister bank,  Farmer's  Bank of Maryland,  located in
Baltimore County,  Maryland. The seven branches held approximately $48.0 million
in deposits at December 31, 1997. The purchase and assumption transaction brings
the total number of branches  operated by the Company to 28, its total  deposits
to  approximately  $681.0 million and its total assets to  approximately  $974.9
million.


                                    THE TRUST

     FCNB Capital Trust (the "Trust") is a statutory business trust formed under
Delaware  law  pursuant  to:  (i) a trust  agreement,  dated as of May 6,  1998,
executed by the Company,  as depositor,  and the trustees of the Trust (together
with the Property  Trustee,  the  "Trustees"),  and (ii) a certificate  of trust
filed with the  Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 7, 1998.  The
initial  trust  agreement  will be amended and  restated in its  entirety (as so
amended and restated, the "Trust Agreement")  substantially in the form filed as
an exhibit to the Registration  Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
The Trust  Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").

     Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities,  the purchasers thereof will own
all of the  Preferred  Securities.  The Company  will  acquire all of the Common
Securities,  which will  represent an aggregate  liquidation  amount equal to at
least 3% of the total capital of the Trust. The Common Securities will rank pari
passu,  and  payments  will  be  made  thereon  pro  rata,  with  the  Preferred
Securities,  except that upon the  occurrence  and during the  continuance of an
Event of Default (as defined herein) under the Trust Agreement  resulting from a
Debenture  Event of  Default,  the rights of the Company as holder of the Common
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the
Preferred     Securities.      See     "Description     of     the     Preferred
Securities--Subordination of Common Securities."

     The Trust  exists for the  exclusive  purposes  of: (i)  issuing  the Trust
Securities  representing  undivided  beneficial  interests  in the assets of the
Trust;  (ii)  investing  the  gross  proceeds  of the  Trust  Securities  in the
Subordinated  Debentures issued by the Company; and (iii) engaging in only those
other activities necessary,  advisable,  or incidental thereto. The Subordinated
Debentures  and  payments  thereunder  will be the only  assets of the Trust and
payments  under the  Subordinated  Debentures  will be the only  revenue  of the
Trust. The Trust has a term of 35 years,  but may terminate  earlier as provided
in the Trust Agreement.

     The principal  executive office of the Trust is located at 7200 FCNB Court,
Frederick, Maryland 21703, and its telephone number is (301) 662-2191.

     The number of Trustees will,  pursuant to the Trust Agreement,  as amended,
initially be five. Three of the Trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") will be
persons  who are  employees  or officers  of, or who are  affiliated  with,  the
Company. The fourth trustee will be a financial institution that is unaffiliated
with the Company,  which trustee will serve as  institutional  trustee under the
Trust Agreement and as indenture trustee for the purposes of compliance with the
provisions of the Trust  Indenture Act (the  "Property  Trustee").  State Street
Bank and Trust Company, a state chartered trust company organized under the laws
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will be the Property Trustee until removed
or replaced by the holder of the Common  Securities.  For purposes of compliance
with the  provisions  of the Trust  Indenture  Act,  State Street Bank and Trust
Company will also act as trustee (the  "Guarantee  Trustee") under the Guarantee
and as Debenture  Trustee (as defined  herein)  under the  Indenture.  The fifth
trustee will be an entity that maintains its principal  place of business in the
State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"). Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
chartered trust company, will act as Delaware Trustee.


                                      -28-

<PAGE>



     The Property Trustee will hold title to the Subordinated Debentures for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust  Securities  and in such  capacity will have
the power to exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the Indenture. The
Property  Trustee  will  also  maintain   exclusive   control  of  a  segregated
non-interest-bearing  bank account (the "Property Account") to hold all payments
made in respect of the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the holders of
the Trust  Securities.  The Property Trustee will make payments of Distributions
and  payments on  liquidation,  redemption  and  otherwise to the holders of the
Trust Securities out of funds from the Property  Account.  The Guarantee Trustee
will  hold  the  Guarantee  for the  benefit  of the  holders  of the  Preferred
Securities.  The Company, as the holder of all the Common Securities,  will have
the right to appoint,  remove or replace any Trustee and to increase or decrease
the number of Trustees.  The Company  will pay all fees and expenses  related to
the Trust and the offering of the Trust Securities.

     The rights of the holders of the Preferred  Securities,  including economic
rights,  rights to  information  and voting  rights,  are set forth in the Trust
Agreement,  the  Delaware  Business  Trust Act (the  "Trust  Act") and the Trust
Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."





                                      -29-

<PAGE>



                     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

     The Preferred  Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust
Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act. The Property Trustee,  State Street Bank and Trust Company,  will
act as indenture trustee for the Preferred  Securities under the Trust Agreement
for purposes of complying  with the  provisions of the Trust  Indenture Act. The
terms of the  Preferred  Securities  will  include  those  stated  in the  Trust
Agreement and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the Trust Indenture Act.
The  following  summary of the material  terms and  provisions  of the Preferred
Securities  and the Trust  Agreement  does not  purport  to be  complete  and is
subject  to,  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to,  the Trust
Agreement,  the Trust Act,  and the Trust  Indenture  Act.  Wherever  particular
defined terms of the Trust  Agreement  are referred to, but not defined  herein,
such defined terms are incorporated  herein by reference.  The form of the Trust
Agreement  has been filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part.

GENERAL

     Pursuant to the terms of the Trust  Agreement,  the Trustees,  on behalf of
the Trust, will issue the Trust Securities. All of the Common Securities will be
owned  by  the  Company.  The  Preferred  Securities  will  represent  preferred
undivided  beneficial  interests  in the  assets of the Trust,  and the  holders
thereof will be entitled to a preference in certain  circumstances  with respect
to  Distributions  and amounts  payable on  redemption or  liquidation  over the
Common  Securities,  as  well  as  other  benefits  as  described  in the  Trust
Agreement.  The Trust Agreement does not permit the issuance by the Trust of any
securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness
by the Trust.

     The Preferred  Securities  will rank pari passu,  and payments will be made
thereon  pro  rata,  with the  Common  Securities,  except  as  described  under
"--Subordination   of  Common  Securities."  Legal  title  to  the  Subordinated
Debentures will be held by the Property  Trustee in trust for the benefit of the
holders of the Trust Securities.  The Guarantee  executed by the Company for the
benefit of the holders of the  Preferred  Securities  will be a  guarantee  on a
subordinated  basis  with  respect  to the  Preferred  Securities,  but will not
guarantee   payment  of  Distributions  or  amounts  payable  on  redemption  or
liquidation of such Preferred  Securities  when the Trust does not have funds on
hand  available to make such payments.  State Street Bank and Trust Company,  as
Guarantee Trustee, will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Guarantee."

DISTRIBUTIONS

     Payment of Distributions.  Distributions on each Preferred Security will be
payable at the annual rate of 8.25% of the stated  Liquidation  Amount,  payable
quarterly in arrears on the last day of January, April, July and October of each
year,  to the holders of the Preferred  Securities on the relevant  record dates
(each date on which  Distributions are payable in accordance with the foregoing,
a  "Distribution  Date").  Distributions  on the  Preferred  Securities  will be
payable to the holders  thereof as they appear on the register of holders of the
Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates, which will be the 15th day of
the month in which the relevant  Distribution  Date occurs.  Distributions  will
accumulate  from  July  20,  1998,  the date of  original  issuance.  The  first
Distribution  Date for the Preferred  Securities  will be October 31, 1998.  The
amount of Distributions  payable for any period will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day  year of twelve  30-day  months.  In the event  that any date on which
Distributions  are payable on the  Preferred  Securities  is not a Business Day,
then payment of the Distributions  payable on such date will be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any additional Distributions,
interest or other  payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and
effect as if made on the date  such  payment  was  originally  due and  payable.
"Business  Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday,  a day on which
banking  institutions  in the City of New York are authorized or required by law
or  executive  order to remain  closed,  or a day on which the  corporate  trust
office of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.


                                      -30-

<PAGE>



     Extension Period. The Company has the right under the Indenture, so long as
no  Debenture  Event of Default has  occurred  and is  continuing,  to defer the
payment of interest on the Subordinated  Debentures at any time, or from time to
time (each, an "Extension Period"),  which, if exercised,  would defer quarterly
Distributions  on the Preferred  Securities  during any such  Extension  Period.
Distributions  to which holders of the Preferred  Securities  are entitled,  but
which are deferred  during the  Extension  Period,  will  accumulate  additional
Distributions  thereon  at the rate  per  annum  of  8.25%  thereof,  compounded
quarterly from the relevant Distribution Date.  "Distributions," as used herein,
includes any such  additional  Distributions.  The right to defer the payment of
interest on the Subordinated  Debentures is limited,  however,  to a period,  in
each instance, not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters and no Extension Period may
extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of the  Subordinated  Debentures.  During any
such Extension Period,  the Company may not: (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions  on, or redeem,  purchase,  acquire or make a liquidation  payment
with respect to, any of the Company's  capital  stock;  (ii) make any payment of
principal,  interest or premium,  if any, on or repay,  repurchase or redeem any
debt  securities  of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest
to the Subordinated  Debentures;  (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect
to any guarantee by the Company of the debt  securities of any subsidiary of the
Company if such  guarantee  ranks pari passu with or junior in  interest  to the
Subordinated  Debentures;  or (iv) redeem,  purchase or acquire less than all of
the Subordinated  Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities (except that the
Company may make: (a) dividends or distributions  payable in common stock of the
Company; (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation
of a  stockholder  rights  plan,  any  issuance  under  any  such  plan,  or the
repurchase or redemption of any such rights pursuant thereto; (c) payments under
the  Guarantee;  and (d)  purchases of common stock of the Company in connection
with the  distribution or sale of shares of Company common stock pursuant to the
benefit plans of the Company and any subsidiary  for its directors,  officers or
employees).  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,  the Company
may further defer the payment of interest;  provided that such Extension  Period
may not exceed 20 consecutive  quarters or extend beyond the Stated  Maturity of
the Subordinated  Debentures.  Upon the termination of any such Extension Period
and the  payment of all amounts  then due,  the Company may elect to begin a new
Extension Period,  subject to the above requirements.  Subject to the foregoing,
there is no  limitation  on the  number of times that the  Company  may elect to
begin an Extension Period.

     The  Company  has no current  intention  of  exercising  its right to defer
payments  of  interest  by  extending  the  interest   payment   period  on  the
Subordinated Debentures.

     Source Of Distributions.  The funds of the Trust available for distribution
to holders of its  Preferred  Securities  will be limited to payments  under the
Subordinated  Debentures  in which the Trust will invest the  proceeds  from the
issuance and sale of its Trust Securities.  See "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures."  Distributions  will be paid through the Property  Trustee who will
hold amounts received in respect of the Subordinated  Debentures in the Property
Account for the benefit of the holders of the Trust  Securities.  If the Company
does not make interest  payments on the  Subordinated  Debentures,  the Property
Trustee will not have funds  available  to pay  Distributions  on the  Preferred
Securities.  The  payment of  Distributions  (if and to the extent the Trust has
funds  legally  available  for  the  payment  of  such  Distributions  and  cash
sufficient to make such payments) is guaranteed by the Company. See "Description
of the Guarantee."

REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE

     General.  The  Subordinated  Debentures  will mature on July 31, 2028.  The
Company  will have the right to redeem the  Subordinated  Debentures:  (i) on or
after July 31, 2003,  in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii)
at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 90 days following the occurrence
of a Tax Event, a Capital  Treatment  Event or an Investment  Company Event,  in
each case subject to receipt of prior approval by the Federal  Reserve,  if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
The Company will not have the right to purchase the Subordinated Debentures,  in
whole or in part, from the Trust until after July 31, 2003. See  "Description of
the Subordinated Debentures--General."


                                      -31-

<PAGE>



     Mandatory  Redemption.  Upon the  repayment or  redemption,  in whole or in
part, of any Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier
redemption as provided in the  Indenture,  the proceeds  from such  repayment or
redemption  will be applied by the Property  Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as
defined herein) of the Trust Securities,  upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
days  notice,  at a  redemption  price  (the  "Redemption  Price")  equal to the
aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of such Trust  Securities,  plus  accumulated but
unpaid Distributions  thereon to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date").
See  "Description of the  Subordinated  Debentures--Redemption  or Exchange." If
less than all of the  Subordinated  Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a
Redemption  Date,  then the proceeds from such  repayment or redemption  will be
allocated to the redemption of the Trust Securities pro rata.

     Distribution  of  Subordinated  Debentures.  Subject to the Company  having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve,  if so required under applicable
capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, the Company will have the
right at any time to  dissolve,  wind-up  or  terminate  the  Trust  and,  after
satisfaction  of the  liabilities  of  creditors  of the  Trust as  provided  by
applicable  law,  cause the  Subordinated  Debentures to be  distributed  to the
holders of Trust  Securities in  liquidation  of the Trust.  See  "--Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination."

     Tax Event  Redemption,  Capital  Treatment  Event  Redemption or Investment
Company  Event  Redemption.  If a Tax  Event,  a Capital  Treatment  Event or an
Investment  Company  Event in  respect  of the Trust  Securities  occurs  and is
continuing,  the Company has the right to redeem the Subordinated  Debentures in
whole (but not in part) and thereby  cause a mandatory  redemption of such Trust
Securities  at any time,  in whole (but not in part,) at the  Redemption  Price,
within 90 days  following the  occurrence of such Tax Event,  Capital  Treatment
Event or Investment Company Event. In the event a Tax Event, a Capital Treatment
Event or an  Investment  Company  Event in respect of the Trust  Securities  has
occurred  and the Company does not elect to redeem the  Subordinated  Debentures
and  thereby  cause a  mandatory  redemption  of  such  Trust  Securities  or to
liquidate the Trust and cause the  Subordinated  Debentures to be distributed to
holders of such Trust  Securities in liquidation of the Trust as described below
under  "--Liquidation  Distribution Upon Termination," such Preferred Securities
will remain  outstanding  and  Additional  Interest  (as defined  herein) may be
payable on the Subordinated Debentures.  See "Risk  Factors--Redemption upon Tax
Event, Capital Treatment Event or Investment Company Event."

     "Additional  Interest" means the additional  amounts as may be necessary in
order that the amount of Distributions  then due and payable by the Trust on the
outstanding  Trust  Securities will not be reduced as a result of any additional
taxes,  duties  and other  governmental  charges  to which the Trust has  become
subject as a result of a Tax Event.

     "Like Amount" means: (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust  Securities,
Trust  Securities  having a  Liquidation  Amount  equal to that  portion  of the
principal amount of Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously  redeemed in
accordance with the Indenture, which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of
such Trust  Securities,  and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Subordinated
Debentures to holders of Trust  Securities in connection  with a dissolution  or
liquidation  of the Trust,  Subordinated  Debentures  having a principal  amount
equal to the  Liquidation  Amount of the Trust  Securities of the holder to whom
such  Subordinated  Debentures  are  distributed.  Each  Subordinated  Debenture
distributed  pursuant  to clause  (ii)  above  will  carry  with it  accumulated
interest in an amount equal to the  accumulated  and unpaid interest then due on
such Subordinated Debentures.

     "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.

     After the  liquidation  date  fixed for any  distribution  of  Subordinated
Debentures for Preferred Securities (i) such Preferred Securities will no longer
be deemed to be outstanding,  and (ii) any certificates  representing  Preferred
Securities  will be deemed to represent  the  Subordinated  Debentures  having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation  Amount of such Preferred  Securities,
and bearing  accrued and unpaid  interest in an amount  equal to the accrued and
unpaid  Distributions on the Preferred  Securities  until such  certificates are
presented  to the  Administrative  Trustees  or  their  agent  for  transfer  or
reissuance.


                                      -32-

<PAGE>



     There  can be no  assurance  as to the  market  prices  for  the  Preferred
Securities or the  Subordinated  Debentures  that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred  Securities if a dissolution  and liquidation of the Trust were to
occur.  The  Preferred  Securities  that  an  investor  may  purchase,   or  the
Subordinated  Debentures  that  an  investor  may  receive  on  dissolution  and
liquidation of the Trust, may, therefore,  trade at a discount to the price that
the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby.

REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

     Preferred  Securities  redeemed on each Redemption Date will be redeemed at
the  Redemption  Price with the  applicable  proceeds  from the  contemporaneous
redemption  of  the  Subordinated  Debentures.   Redemptions  of  the  Preferred
Securities  will be made  and  the  Redemption  Price  will be  payable  on each
Redemption  Date only to the extent  that the Trust has funds on hand  available
for the  payment  of such  Redemption  Price.  See  "--Subordination  of  Common
Securities."

     If the Trust  gives a notice of  redemption  in  respect  of its  Preferred
Securities,  then, by 12:00 noon, eastern standard time, on the Redemption Date,
to the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit
with the paying agent for the Preferred  Securities  funds sufficient to pay the
aggregate  Redemption  Price,  and will give the paying agent for the  Preferred
Securities irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to
the  holders  thereof  upon  surrender  of their  certificates  evidencing  such
Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or
prior to the Redemption Date for any Preferred  Securities called for redemption
will be payable to the  holders of such  Preferred  Securities  on the  relevant
record dates for the related  Distribution  Dates.  If notice of redemption will
have been  given and funds  deposited  as  required,  then upon the date of such
deposit,  all rights of the holders of such  Preferred  Securities so called for
redemption  will  cease,  except  the  right of the  holders  of such  Preferred
Securities  to receive  the  Redemption  Price,  but  without  interest  on such
Redemption Price, and such Preferred Securities will cease to be outstanding. In
the event that any date fixed for  redemption  of Preferred  Securities is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Redemption  Price payable on such date will be
made on the next  succeeding  day  which is a  Business  Day  (and  without  any
additional Distribution, interest or other payment in respect of any such delay)
with the same  force and  effect  as if made on such  date.  In the  event  that
payment of the Redemption  Price in respect of Preferred  Securities  called for
redemption is  improperly  withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust,
or by the Company  pursuant to the  Guarantee,  Distributions  on such Preferred
Securities  will continue to accrue at the applicable  rate, from the Redemption
Date  originally  established by the Trust for such Preferred  Securities to the
date such  Redemption  Price is actually  paid, in which case the actual payment
date  will  be  considered  the  date  fixed  for  redemption  for  purposes  of
calculating the Redemption Price. See "Description of the Guarantee."

     Subject to applicable law  (including,  without  limitation,  United States
federal  securities  law),  and  provided  that the Company  does not and is not
continuing to exercise its right to defer interest payments,  the Company or its
subsidiaries  may at any  time  and  from  time  to  time  purchase  outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

     Payment of the Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities will be made to
the  recordholders  thereof as they  appear on the  register  for the  Preferred
Securities on the record date,  which date will be the date 15 days prior to the
Redemption  Date. In the event of the liquidation of the Trust, the Subordinated
Debentures will be distributed to holders of Preferred Securities as they appear
on the register for the Preferred  Securities on the record date,  which will be
not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date.

     If less than all of the Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption
Date,  then the  aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of such Trust  Securities  to be
redeemed  will be  allocated  pro rata to the Trust  Securities  based  upon the
relative   Liquidation  Amounts  of  such  classes.   The  particular  Preferred
Securities  to be redeemed  will be selected by the  Property  Trustee  from the
outstanding  Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption,  by such
method as the Property  Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide
for the  selection  for  redemption  of  portions  (equal to $25 or an  integral
multiple  of $25 in excess  thereof)  of the  Liquidation  Amount


                                      -33-

<PAGE>



of Preferred  Securities of a denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee
will promptly  notify the  registrar for the Preferred  Securities in writing of
the  Preferred  Securities  selected  for  redemption  and,  in the  case of any
Preferred  Securities  selected for partial  redemption,  the Liquidation Amount
thereof to be  redeemed.  For all  purposes of the Trust  Agreement,  unless the
context  otherwise  requires,  all  provisions  relating  to the  redemption  of
Preferred  Securities  will relate to the portion of the  aggregate  Liquidation
Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days, but not more than
60 days,  before the  Redemption  Date to each holder of Trust  Securities to be
redeemed at its registered  address.  Unless the Company  defaults in payment of
the redemption price on the Subordinated Debentures, on and after the Redemption
Date interest will cease to accrue on such  Subordinated  Debentures or portions
thereof  (and  Distributions  will  cease to  accrue  on the  related  Preferred
Securities or portions thereof) called for redemption.

SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES

     Payment of  Distributions  on, and the  Redemption  Price of, the Preferred
Securities and Common Securities, as applicable,  will be made pro rata based on
the  Liquidation  Amount of the  Preferred  Securities  and  Common  Securities;
provided,  however,  that  if on any  Distribution  Date  or  Redemption  Date a
Debenture  Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing,  no payment of any
Distribution  on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Common  Securities,  and no
other payment on account of the redemption,  liquidation or other acquisition of
such  Common  Securities,  will be made  unless  payment  in full in cash of all
accumulated  and  unpaid  Distributions  on  all of  the  outstanding  Preferred
Securities for all Distribution  periods  terminating on or prior thereto, or in
the case of payment of the Redemption  Price, the full amount of such Redemption
Price on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption,
will have been made or provided  for,  and all funds  available  to the Property
Trustee  will  first  be  applied  to  the  payment  in  full  in  cash  of  all
Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Preferred  Securities then due and
payable.

     In the case of any Event of Default  resulting  from a  Debenture  Event of
Default,  the Company as holder of the Common  Securities will be deemed to have
waived any right to act with  respect  to any such  Event of  Default  under the
Trust  Agreement  until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to
the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated.  Until
any such  Events of  Default  under  the Trust  Agreement  with  respect  to the
Preferred  Securities  has been so cured,  waived or otherwise  eliminated,  the
Property  Trustee  will act  solely on behalf of the  holders  of the  Preferred
Securities and not on behalf of the Company, as holder of the Common Securities,
and only the holders of the Preferred  Securities  will have the right to direct
the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.

LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION

     The  Company  will  have  the  right at any time to  dissolve,  wind-up  or
terminate the Trust and cause the  Subordinated  Debentures to be distributed to
the holders of the Preferred Securities.  Such right is subject, however, to the
Company having  received prior approval of the Federal  Reserve if then required
under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

     Additionally, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, the Trust will automatically
dissolve upon expiration of its term, and will dissolve  earlier on the first to
occur of: (i) certain  events of  bankruptcy,  dissolution or liquidation of the
Company;  (ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Subordinated  Debentures
to the holders of its Trust Securities,  if the Company, as depositor, has given
written  direction  to the  Property  Trustee  to  terminate  the  Trust  (which
direction  is optional  and wholly  within the  discretion  of the  Company,  as
depositor);  (iii)  redemption of all of the  Preferred  Securities as described
under    "Description    of    the    Preferred     Securities--Redemption    or
Exchange--Mandatory  Redemption;"  or  (iv)  the  entry  of  an  order  for  the
dissolution  of the Trust by a court of competent  jurisdiction  (each an "Early
Termination Event").


                                      -34-

<PAGE>



     If an Early  Termination Event described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) of the
preceding  paragraph  occurs,  the Trust will be  liquidated  by the Trustees as
expeditiously as the Trustees  determine to be possible by  distributing,  after
satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable
law, to the holders of such Trust  Securities a Like Amount of the  Subordinated
Debentures,  unless such  distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not
to be practical,  in which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of
the  assets  of  the  Trust  available  for   distribution  to  holders,   after
satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable
law, an amount  equal to, in the case of holders of  Preferred  Securities,  the
aggregate  of the  Liquidation  Amount  plus  accrued  and unpaid  Distributions
thereon  to  the  date  of  payment   (such   amount   being  the   "Liquidation
Distribution").  If  such  Liquidation  Distribution  can be  paid  only in part
because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate
Liquidation Distribution,  then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the
Preferred  Securities  will be paid on a pro rata  basis.  The  Company,  as the
holder of the Common Securities,  will be entitled to receive distributions upon
any such  liquidation  pro rata with the  holders of the  Preferred  Securities,
except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred  Securities  will have a  priority  over the  Common  Securities.  See
"--Subordination of Common Securities."

     Under current United States federal income tax law and  interpretations and
assuming,  as  expected,  that the  Trust  is  treated  as a  grantor  trust,  a
distribution  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  should not be a taxable event to
holders of the Preferred  Securities.  Should there be a change in law, a change
in  legal  interpretation,  a Tax  Event or other  circumstances,  however,  the
distribution  could be a taxable event to holders of the  Preferred  Securities.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Receipt of Subordinated Debentures
or Cash Upon  Liquidation of the Trust." If the Company elects neither to redeem
the  Subordinated  Debentures  prior to maturity nor to liquidate  the Trust and
distribute the Subordinated  Debentures to holders of the Preferred  Securities,
the  Preferred  Securities  will remain  outstanding  until the repayment of the
Subordinated Debentures.

     If the  Company  elects  to  dissolve  the  Trust and  thereby  causes  the
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Preferred Securities
in  liquidation  of the Trust,  the Company  will  continue to have the right to
shorten  the  maturity  of such  Subordinated  Debentures,  subject  to  certain
conditions. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--General."

LIQUIDATION VALUE

     The  amount  of the  Liquidation  Distribution  payable  on  the  Preferred
Securities  in the event of any  liquidation  of the Trust is $25 per  Preferred
Security,  plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment,
which  may be in the  form of a  distribution  of such  amount  in  Subordinated
Debentures,  subject to certain exceptions. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination."

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE

     Any one of the following  events  constitutes an event of default under the
Trust Agreement (an "Event of Default") with respect to the Preferred Securities
(whatever  the  reason  for such  Event of  Default  and  whether  voluntary  or
involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,  decree
or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any  administrative or
governmental body):

     (i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default (see "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default"); or

     (ii)  default by the Trust or the  Property  Trustee in the  payment of any
Distribution  when it becomes due and payable,  and continuation of such default
for a period of 30 days; or

     (iii)  default by the Trust or the  Property  Trustee in the payment of any
Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or


                                      -35-

<PAGE>



     (iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any
covenant  or  warranty  of the  Trustees  in the Trust  Agreement  (other than a
covenant  or  warranty  a default in the  performance  of which or the breach of
which is dealt with in clauses (ii) or (iii) above),  and  continuation  of such
default  or  breach  for a period of 60 days  after  there  has been  given,  by
registered or certified mail, to the defaulting  Trustee(s) by the holders of at
least  25%  in  aggregate   Liquidation  Amount  of  the  outstanding  Preferred
Securities,  a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it
to be remedied and stating  that such notice is a "Notice of Default"  under the
Trust Agreement; or

     (v) the  occurrence of certain  events of  bankruptcy  or  insolvency  with
respect to the  Property  Trustee  and the  failure by the  Company to appoint a
successor Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.

     Within  five  Business  Days after the  occurrence  of any Event of Default
actually  known to the  Property  Trustee,  the Property  Trustee will  transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Preferred Securities,  the
Administrative  Trustees and the  Company,  as  depositor,  unless such Event of
Default  has  been  cured  or  waived.  The  Company,  as  depositor,   and  the
Administrative  Trustees are required to file annually with the Property Trustee
a  certificate  as to  whether  or not  they  are in  compliance  with  all  the
conditions and covenants applicable to them under the Trust Agreement.

     If a  Debenture  Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the
Preferred  Securities  will have a preference  over the Common  Securities  upon
termination of the Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." The
existence  of an Event of Default  does not  entitle  the  holders of  Preferred
Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.

REMOVAL OF THE TRUSTEES

     Unless a Debenture  Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing,  any
Trustee  may be removed  at any time by the  Company as the holder of the Common
Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,  the
Property  Trustee  and the  Delaware  Trustee may be removed at such time by the
holders  of a  majority  in  Liquidation  Amount  of the  outstanding  Preferred
Securities.  In no event,  however, will the holders of the Preferred Securities
have  the  right  to vote to  appoint,  remove  or  replace  the  Administrative
Trustees,  which  voting  rights are vested  exclusively  in the  Company as the
holder of the Common  Securities.  No resignation or removal of a Trustee and no
appointment  of a successor  trustee will be effective  until the  acceptance of
appointment  by the successor  trustee in accordance  with the provisions of the
Trust Agreement.

CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE

     Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing,  at any time or
times, for the purpose of meeting the legal  requirements of the Trust Indenture
Act or of any  jurisdiction  in which any part of the Trust Property (as defined
in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located,  the Company,  as the holder
of the Common  Securities,  will have power along with the  Property  Trustee to
appoint one or more Persons (as defined in the Trust Agreement) either to act as
a  co-trustee,  jointly  with the Property  Trustee,  of all or any part of such
Trust Property,  or to act as separate  trustee of any such Trust  Property,  in
either  case  with  such  powers  as  may  be  provided  in  the  instrument  of
appointment,  and to  vest in such  Person  or  Persons  in  such  capacity  any
property,  title,  right or power deemed necessary or desirable,  subject to the
provisions  of the Trust  Agreement.  In case a  Debenture  Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing,  the Property  Trustee alone will have power to make
such appointment.

MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF TRUSTEES

     Any Person into which the Property  Trustee,  the  Delaware  Trustee or any
Administrative  Trustee that is not a natural  person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be  consolidated,  or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion  or  consolidation  to which such  Trustee is a party,  or any Person
succeeding  to all or


                                      -36-

<PAGE>



substantially  all the corporate  trust  business of such  Trustee,  will be the
successor of such Trustee  under the Trust  Agreement,  provided  such Person is
otherwise qualified and eligible.

MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE TRUST

     The  Trust  may not  merge  with or into,  consolidate,  amalgamate,  or be
replaced  by,  or  convey,   transfer  or  lease  its   properties   and  assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, except as described below. The Trust
may,  at the  request of the  Company,  with the  consent of the  Administrative
Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the Preferred Securities, the
Property  Trustee or the  Delaware  Trustee,  merge  with or into,  consolidate,
amalgamate,  or be replaced by, or convey,  transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as such under the laws
of any State;  provided,  that: (i) such  successor  entity either (a) expressly
assumes  all of the  obligations  of the Trust  with  respect  to the  Preferred
Securities,  or (b) substitutes for the Preferred  Securities  other  securities
having  substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor
Securities") so long as the Successor  Securities rank the same as the Preferred
Securities  rank in priority  with respect to  distributions  and payments  upon
liquidation,  redemption and otherwise;  (ii) the Company  expressly  appoints a
trustee of such  successor  entity  possessing the same powers and duties as the
Property Trustee in its capacity as the holder of the  Subordinated  Debentures;
(iii) the Successor  Securities are listed, or any Successor  Securities will be
listed upon  notification of issuance,  on any national  securities  exchange or
other  organization on which the Preferred  Securities are then listed,  if any;
(iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer
or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Preferred Securities  (including any Successor Securities) in any
material  respect,  (v)  prior  to  such  merger,  consolidation,  amalgamation,
replacement,  conveyance, transfer or lease, the Company has received an opinion
from  independent  counsel to the effect  that (a) such  merger,  consolidation,
amalgamation,  replacement,  conveyance,  transfer  or lease does not  adversely
affect the rights,  preferences  and  privileges of the holders of the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b)
following such merger,  consolidation,  amalgamation,  replacement,  conveyance,
transfer or lease,  neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required
to register as an "investment  company"  under the  Investment  Company Act, and
(vi) the Company owns all of the common  securities of such successor entity and
guarantees  the  obligations  of  such  successor  entity  under  the  Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee,  the Indenture, the
Subordinated  Debentures,   the  Trust  Agreement  and  the  Expense  Agreement.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Trust will not,  except with the consent of
holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities,  consolidate,
amalgamate,  merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey,  transfer or lease
its  properties and assets  substantially  as an entirety to any other Person or
permit any other  Person to  consolidate,  amalgamate,  merge  with or into,  or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified
as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT

     Except   as    provided    below   and    under    "Description    of   the
Guarantee--Amendments  and Assignment" and as otherwise  required by law and the
Trust  Agreement,  the holders of the Preferred  Securities  will have no voting
rights.

     The Trust  Agreement  may be amended from time to time by the Company,  the
Property  Trustee and the  Administrative  Trustees,  without the consent of the
holders  of  the  Preferred  Securities:  (i)  with  respect  to  acceptance  of
appointment  by a  successor  trustee;  (ii) to cure any  ambiguity,  correct or
supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent  with
any other provision,  or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions  arising under the Trust  Agreement  (provided  such  amendment is not
inconsistent  with the other  provisions  of the Trust  Agreement);  or (iii) to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such extent
as is necessary to ensure that the Trust will be  classified  for United  States
federal  income  tax  purposes  as a grantor  trust at all times  that any Trust
Securities  are  outstanding or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to
register as an "investment  company" under the Investment Company Act; provided,
however,  that in the case of clause (ii), such action may not adversely  affect
in any material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, and any
amendments of such Trust Agreement will become  effective when notice thereof is
given to the holders of


                                      -37-

<PAGE>



Trust  Securities.  The Trust  Agreement  may be amended by the Trustees and the
Company with: (i) the consent of holders  representing  not less than a majority
in the aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the outstanding Trust  Securities;  and
(ii)  receipt by the  Trustees  of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such
amendment  or the exercise of any power  granted to the  Trustees in  accordance
with such  amendment  will not affect the Trust's  status as a grantor trust for
United States federal  income tax purposes or the Trust's  exemption from status
as an "investment  company" under the  Investment  Company Act.  Notwithstanding
anything in this  paragraph to the contrary,  without the consent of each holder
of Trust  Securities,  the Trust  Agreement may not be amended to (a) change the
amount or timing  of any  Distribution  on the  Trust  Securities  or  otherwise
adversely affect the amount of any  Distribution  required to be made in respect
of the Trust  Securities as of a specified  date, or (b) restrict the right of a
holder of Trust  Securities to institute  suit for the  enforcement  of any such
payment on or after such date.

     The Trustees will not, so long as any  Subordinated  Debentures are held by
the Property  Trustee:  (i) direct the time,  method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture  Trustee,  or executing any
trust  or  power  conferred  on  the  Property   Trustee  with  respect  to  the
Subordinated Debentures;  (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the
Indenture;  (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration  that the
principal of all the  Subordinated  Debentures will be due and payable;  or (iv)
consent to any  amendment,  modification  or termination of the Indenture or the
Subordinated Debentures,  where such consent is required, without, in each case,
obtaining  the  prior  approval  of  the  holders  of a  majority  in  aggregate
Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred Securities;  provided,  however,
that where a consent under the Indenture  requires the consent of each holder of
Subordinated  Debentures  affected thereby, no such consent will be given by the
Property  Trustee  without  the prior  consent of each  holder of the  Preferred
Securities.  The Trustees  may not revoke any action  previously  authorized  or
approved  by a vote  of  the  holders  of the  Preferred  Securities  except  by
subsequent vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee
will notify each holder of  Preferred  Securities  of any notice of default with
respect to the Subordinated  Debentures.  In addition to obtaining the foregoing
approvals of the holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the
foregoing actions, the Trustees must obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in
such  matters  to the  effect  that  the  Trust  will  not be  classified  as an
association  taxable as a  corporation  for  United  States  federal  income tax
purposes on account of such action.

     Any required approval of holders of Preferred  Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written  consent.  The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which  holders of Preferred  Securities  are entitled to vote,  or of any matter
upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given
to each holder of record of Preferred  Securities in the manner set forth in the
Trust Agreement.

     No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred  Securities will be required
for the Trust to redeem and cancel its Preferred  Securities in accordance  with
the Trust Agreement.

     Notwithstanding the fact that holders of Preferred  Securities are entitled
to vote or consent under any of the  circumstances  described  above, any of the
Preferred  Securities  that  are  owned  by the  Company,  the  Trustees  or any
affiliate  of the Company or any  Trustee,  will,  for  purposes of such vote or
consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES; DELIVERY AND FORM

     The Preferred  Securities  will be issued in the form of one or more global
certificates  ("Global  Preferred  Securities")  registered  in the  name of and
deposited  with,  or on behalf of, the  Depository  Trust  Company as depository
("DTC"). Global Preferred Securities may be issued only in fully registered form
and in either temporary or permanent form. Beneficial interests in the Preferred
Securities  will be shown  on,  and  transfers  thereof  will be  effected  only
through, records maintained by DTC. Except as described below,  certificates for
Preferred Securities will not be issued in exchange for the global certificates.
See "Book-Entry Issuance."


                                      -38-

<PAGE>



     Unless  and until it is  exchanged  in whole or in part for the  individual
Preferred Securities represented thereby, a Global Preferred Security may not be
transferred except as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC, or by a nominee of DTC
to DTC or  another  nominee  of DTC,  or by DTC or any  nominee  to a  successor
depository or any nominee of such successor.

     The Global Preferred Security will be exchangeable for Preferred Securities
registered  in the names of persons  other than DTC or its nominee  only if: (i)
DTC  notifies  the  Trust  that it is  unwilling  or  unable  to  continue  as a
depository for such global security and no successor  depository shall have been
appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the  Exchange Act at a time when DTC is required to be so  registered  to act as
such  depository;  (ii) the Company in its sole discretion  determines that such
global security shall be so exchangeable; or (iii) there shall have occurred and
be continuing a Debenture Event of Default.  Any Global Preferred  Security that
is exchangeable  pursuant to the preceding  sentence shall be  exchangeable  for
definitive  certificates  registered  in such names as DTC shall  direct.  It is
expected that such  instructions  will be based upon directions  received by DTC
from its Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial  interests in such
global security. In the event that Preferred Securities are issued in definitive
form,  such Preferred  Securities will be in  denominations  of $25 and integral
multiples  thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the offices  described
below.

     Payments on Preferred Securities represented by a Global Preferred Security
will be made to DTC, as the  depository  for the  Preferred  Securities.  In the
event  Preferred  Securities are issued in  certificated  form, the  Liquidation
Amount  and  Distributions  will  be  payable,  the  transfer  of the  Preferred
Securities  will be registrable,  and Preferred  Securities will be exchangeable
for Preferred Securities of other denominations of a like aggregate  Liquidation
Amount,  at the corporate office of the Property  Trustee,  or at the offices of
any paying  agent or transfer  agent  appointed by the  Company,  provided  that
payment of any  Distribution  may be made by check  mailed to the address of the
persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer.

     Upon the issuance of a Global Preferred  Security,  and the deposit of such
Global  Preferred  Security  with or on  behalf  of DTC,  DTC  for  such  Global
Preferred  Security or its nominee will credit,  on its book-entry  registration
and  transfer  system,  the  respective  aggregate  Liquidation  Amounts  of the
individual Preferred Securities  represented by such Global Preferred Securities
to the  accounts of  Participants.  Such  accounts  shall be  designated  by the
dealers,  underwriters  or agents  with  respect to such  Preferred  Securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security will be limited
to  Participants  or  persons  that may  hold  interests  through  Participants.
Ownership of  beneficial  interests in such Global  Preferred  Security  will be
shown on, and the  transfer of that  ownership  will be effected  only  through,
records  maintained  by  DTC  or its  nominee  (with  respect  to  interests  of
Participants)  and the records of  Participants  (with  respect to  interests of
persons who hold  through  Participants).  The laws of some states  require that
certain  purchasers of securities  take physical  delivery of such securities in
definite  form.  Such  limits and such laws may impair the  ability to  transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security.

     So long as DTC for a Global  Preferred  Security,  or its  nominee,  is the
registered owner of such Global Preferred Security,  DTC or such nominee, as the
case may be,  will be  considered  the sole  owner or  holder  of the  Preferred
Securities  represented by such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under
the Indenture  governing such Preferred  Securities.  Except as provided  below,
owners  of  beneficial  interests  in a Global  Preferred  Security  will not be
entitled to have any of the individual Preferred Securities  represented by such
Global  Preferred  Security  registered  in their names,  will not receive or be
entitled  to receive  physical  delivery  of any such  Preferred  Securities  in
definitive  form and will not be considered the owners or holders  thereof under
the Indenture.

     Payments of principal of and interest on  individual  Preferred  Securities
represented by a Global Preferred Security  registered in the name of DTC or its
nominee  will  be  made  to DTC or its  nominee,  as the  case  may  be,  as the
registered owner of the Global Preferred  Security  representing  such Preferred
Securities.  None of the Company, the Property Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the
Securities  Registrar for such Preferred Securities will have any responsibility
or  liability  for any aspect of the records  relating  to or  payments  made on
account of  beneficial


                                      -39-

<PAGE>



ownership interests of the Global Preferred Security representing such Preferred
Securities or for maintaining,  supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.

     The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
Liquidation Amount,  Redemption Price,  premium or Distributions in respect of a
permanent  Global  Preferred   Security   representing  any  of  such  Preferred
Securities,  immediately  will credit  Participants'  accounts  with payments in
amounts  proportionate to their respective  beneficial interest in the aggregate
Liquidation  Amount  of  such  Global  Preferred  Security  for  such  Preferred
Securities  as shown on the  records of DTC or its  nominee.  The  Company  also
expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial  interests in such
Global  Preferred  Security held through such  Participants  will be governed by
standing  instructions  and  customary  practices,  as  is  now  the  case  with
securities  held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or  registered  in
"street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.

     If DTC is at any time  unwilling,  unable  or  ineligible  to  continue  as
depository and a successor depository is not appointed within 90 days, the Trust
will issue individual  Preferred Securities in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security.  In  addition,  the Trust  may at any time and in its sole  discretion
determine not to have any Preferred Securities represented by one or more Global
Preferred  Securities  and,  in such  event,  will  issue  individual  Preferred
Securities  in  exchange  for  the  Global  Preferred   Security  or  Securities
representing such Preferred Securities.  Further, if the Trust so specifies with
respect to the  Preferred  Securities,  an owner of a  beneficial  interest in a
Global  Preferred  Security  representing  Preferred  Securities  may,  on terms
acceptable to the Trust,  the Property Trustee and DTC for such Global Preferred
Security,   receive  individual   Preferred  Securities  in  exchange  for  such
beneficial interests. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in
a Global Preferred  Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual
Preferred  Securities  represented  by such Global  Preferred  Security equal in
principal  amount  to  such  beneficial  interest  and to  have  such  Preferred
Securities  registered in its name.  Individual  Preferred  Securities so issued
will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiplies thereof.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY

     Payments in respect of the Preferred  Securities will be made to DTC, which
will credit the relevant  accounts at DTC on the applicable  Distribution  Dates
or, if the Preferred  Securities are not held by DTC, payments in respect of the
Preferred  Securities  will be made by check mailed to the address of the holder
entitled  thereto as such  address will appear on the register of holders of the
Preferred  Securities.  The  paying  agent  for the  Preferred  Securities  will
initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property
Trustee and  acceptable  to the  Administrative  Trustees and the  Company.  The
paying  agent for the  Preferred  Securities  may resign as paying agent upon 30
days' written notice to the Property Trustee and the Company.  In the event that
the Property Trustee no longer is the paying agent for the Preferred Securities,
the  Administrative  Trustees will appoint a successor  (which must be a bank or
trust company acceptable to the Administrative  Trustees and the Company) to act
as paying agent.

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

     The Property  Trustee will act as the registrar and the transfer  agent for
the Preferred Securities. Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will
be effected without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment of any
tax or other  governmental  charges that may be imposed in  connection  with any
transfer or exchange.  The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of Preferred  Securities after such Preferred Securities
have been called for redemption.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE

     The  Property  Trustee,  other  than upon the  occurrence  and  during  the
continuance  of an Event of Default,  undertakes  to perform only such duties as
are  specifically  set forth in the Trust Agreement and, upon the occurrence and
during the continuance of an Event of Default,  must exercise the same degree of
care and skill as a prudent  person would  exercise or use in the conduct of his
or her own affairs.  Subject to this provision, the Property Trustee


                                      -40-

<PAGE>



is under no  obligation  to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Trust
Agreement  at the  request of any holder of  Preferred  Securities  unless it is
offered  reasonable  indemnity against the costs,  expenses and liabilities that
might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
and the Property  Trustee is required to decide  between  alternative  causes of
action, construe ambiguous provisions in the Trust Agreement or is unsure of the
application of any provision of the Trust  Agreement,  and the matter is not one
on which holders of Preferred  Securities are entitled under the Trust Agreement
to vote,  then the Property  Trustee will take such action as is directed by the
Company and if not so directed,  will take such action as it deems advisable and
in the best  interests of the holders of the Trust  Securities  and will have no
liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.

MISCELLANEOUS

     The  Administrative  Trustees  are  authorized  and directed to conduct the
affairs  of and to  operate  the Trust in such a way that the Trust  will not be
deemed  to be an  "investment  company"  required  to be  registered  under  the
Investment Company Act or classified as an association  taxable as a corporation
for United  States  federal  income tax  purposes  and so that the  Subordinated
Debentures  will be treated as  indebtedness  of the Company  for United  States
federal  income tax purposes.  The Company and the  Administrative  Trustees are
authorized,  in this  connection,  to take any  action,  not  inconsistent  with
applicable  law, the  certificate of trust of the Trust or the Trust  Agreement,
that the Company and the  Administrative  Trustees determine in their discretion
to be necessary or desirable for such purposes.

     Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.

     The Trust  Agreement and the Preferred  Securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.


                   DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     Concurrently with the issuance of the Preferred Securities,  the Trust will
invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the Company
for the Common Securities, in the Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company.
The  Subordinated  Debentures  will  be  issued  as  unsecured  debt  under  the
Indenture,  to be dated as of July  20,  1998  (the  "Indenture"),  between  the
Company and State  Street Bank and Trust  Company,  as trustee  (the  "Debenture
Trustee").  The  Indenture  will be qualified  as an  indenture  under the Trust
Indenture Act. The following summary of the material terms and provisions of the
Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference  to, the Indenture and
to the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever  particular  defined terms of the Indenture
are referred to, but not defined  herein,  such defined  terms are  incorporated
herein by  reference.  The form of the Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.

GENERAL

     The Subordinated  Debentures will be limited in aggregate  principal amount
to  approximately  $36,082,500  (or  $41,495,000  if the  over-allotment  option
described under the heading  "Underwriting"  is exercised by the  Underwriters),
such amount  being the sum of the  aggregate  stated  Liquidation  Amount of the
Trust Securities.  The Subordinated  Debentures will bear interest at the annual
rate of 8.25% of the principal amount thereof,  payable  quarterly in arrears on
the last day of  January,  April,  July  and  October  of each  year  (each,  an
"Interest  Payment Date") beginning  October 31, 1998, to the Person (as defined
in the  Indenture)  in whose name each  Subordinated  Debenture  is  registered,
subject to certain exceptions,  at the close of business on the fifteenth day of
the month in which the Interest  Payment Date occurs.  It is  anticipated  that,
until the liquidation of the Trust, the Subordinated  Debentures will be held in
the name of the Property  Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the
Preferred  Securities.  The amount of  interest  payable  for any period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve  30-day  months.  In the event
that any date on which interest is payable on the Subordinated Debentures is not
a


                                      -41-

<PAGE>



Business Day, then payment of the interest  payable on such date will be made on
the next  succeeding  day that is a Business  Day (and  without any  interest or
other  payment in respect of any such delay),  with the same force and effect as
if made on the date such payment was originally  payable.  Accrued interest that
is not  paid on the  applicable  Interest  Payment  Date  will  bear  additional
interest on the amount thereof (to the extent  permitted by law) at the rate per
annum of 8.25%  thereof,  compounded  quarterly.  The term  "interest,"  as used
herein,  includes quarterly  interest  payments,  interest on quarterly interest
payments  not  paid on the  applicable  Interest  Payment  Date  and  Additional
Interest, as applicable.

     The Subordinated  Debentures will mature on July 31, 2028 (such date, as it
may be shortened as hereinafter described, the "Stated Maturity"). Such date may
be  shortened  at any time by the Company to any date not earlier  than July 31,
2003,  subject to the  Company  having  received  prior  approval of the Federal
Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the
Federal  Reserve.  In the event that the  Company  elects to shorten  the Stated
Maturity of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  it will give  notice  thereof to the
Debenture Trustee,  the Trust and to the holders of the Subordinated  Debentures
no more  than  180  days and no less  than 90 days  prior  to the  effectiveness
thereof.  The  Company  will not have the  right to  purchase  the  Subordinated
Debentures,  in whole or in part,  from the Trust  until  after  July 31,  2003,
except if a Tax Event,  Capital  Treatment Event or an Investment  Company Event
has occurred and is continuing.

     The  Subordinated  Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior and be
subordinate  in right of  payment  to all  Senior  Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and
Additional Senior  Obligations of the Company.  Because the Company is a holding
company,  the right of the Company to participate in any  distribution of assets
of the Bank,  upon the Bank's  liquidation or  reorganization  or otherwise (and
thus the ability of holders of the Subordinated Debentures to benefit indirectly
from such distribution), is subject to the prior claim of creditors of the Bank,
except to the extent that the Company may itself be  recognized as a creditor of
the  Bank.  The  Subordinated   Debentures  will,   therefore,   be  effectively
subordinated to all existing and future  liabilities of the Bank, and holders of
Subordinated  Debentures  should  look  only to the  assets of the  Company  for
payments on the Subordinated Debentures.

     The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured  debt of the Company,  including  Senior Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and
Additional  Senior  Obligations,  whether  under the  Indenture  or any existing
indenture or other  indenture that the Company may enter into in the future,  or
otherwise. See "--Subordination." The Indenture does not contain provisions that
afford  holders  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  protection  in the event of a
highly leveraged  transaction or other similar transaction involving the Company
that may adversely affect such holders.

OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD

     The Company has the right under the  Indenture  at any time during the term
of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  so long as no Debenture  Event of Default has
occurred  and is  continuing,  to defer the payment of interest at any time,  or
from time to time (each, an "Extension Period").  The right to defer the payment
of interest on the Subordinated Debentures is limited,  however, to a period, in
each instance, not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters and no Extension Period may
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.  At the end of
each Extension Period, the Company must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together  with  interest  thereon  at the  annual  rate  of  8.25%,  compounded
quarterly,  to the extent  permitted  by  applicable  law).  During an Extension
Period,  interest will continue to accrue and holders of Subordinated Debentures
(or the holders of Preferred Securities if such securities are then outstanding)
will be required to accrue and recognize income for United States federal income
tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential  Extension
of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue Discount."

     During any such Extension  Period,  the Company may not: (i) declare or pay
any  dividends  or  distributions  on, or  redeem,  purchase,  acquire or make a
liquidation  payment with respect to, any of the Company's  capital stock;  (ii)
make any  payment  of  principal,  interest  or  premium,  if any,  on or repay,
repurchase  or redeem any debt securities


                                      -42-

<PAGE>



of the  Company  that  rank  pari  passu  with  or  junior  in  interest  to the
Subordinated  Debentures;  (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any
guarantee by the Company of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Company
if  such  guarantee  ranks  pari  passu  with  or  junior  in  interest  to  the
Subordinated  Debentures;  or (iv) redeem,  purchase or acquire less than all of
the Subordinated  Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities (except that the
Company may make: (a) dividends or distributions  payable in common stock of the
Company; (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation
of a  stockholder  rights  plan,  any  issuance  under  any  such  plan,  or the
repurchase or redemption of any such rights pursuant thereto; (c) payments under
the  Guarantee;  and (d)  purchases of common stock of the Company in connection
with the  distribution or sale of shares of Company common stock pursuant to the
benefit plans of the Company and any subsidiary  for its directors,  officers or
employees).  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,  the Company
may further defer the payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period may
exceed 20  consecutive  quarters  or extend  beyond the Stated  Maturity  of the
Subordinated  Debentures.  Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and
the payment of all amounts then due on any Interest  Payment  Date,  the Company
may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above requirements.  No
interest will be due and payable during an Extension  Period,  except at the end
thereof.  The Company has no present intention of exercising its rights to defer
payments of interest on the Subordinated  Debentures.  The Company must give the
Property Trustee,  the Administrative  Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice
of its election of such Extension Period at least two Business Days prior to the
earlier  of (i) the next  succeeding  date on which  Distributions  on the Trust
Securities  would  have been  payable  except  for the  election  to begin  such
Extension  Period,  or (ii) the date the Trust is required to give notice of the
record date,  or the date such  Distributions  are payable,  to The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market (or other applicable  self-regulatory  organization) or
to holders of the Preferred  Securities,  but in any event at least one Business
Day before such record date. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on
the number of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period.

ADDITIONAL SUMS

     If the Trust or the  Property  Trustee is  required  to pay any  additional
taxes,  duties or other governmental  charges as a result of the occurrence of a
Tax Event,  the Company will pay as  additional  amounts  (referred to herein as
"Additional Interest") on the Subordinated Debentures such additional amounts as
may be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after
paying any such additional taxes, duties or other governmental  charges will not
be less than the  amounts  the Trust  would have  received  had such  additional
taxes, duties or other governmental charges not been imposed.

REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE

     The Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures prior
to maturity (i) on or after July 31, 2003,  in whole at any time or in part from
time to time,  or (ii) at any time in whole  (but not in  part),  within 90 days
following  the  occurrence  of a Tax  Event,  a  Capital  Treatment  Event or an
Investment  Company  Event,  in each  case at a  redemption  price  equal to the
accrued and unpaid  interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures so redeemed to the
date fixed for redemption,  plus 100% of the principal amount thereof.  Any such
redemption prior to the Stated Maturity will be subject to prior approval of the
Federal  Reserve,  if then  required  under  applicable  capital  guidelines  or
policies of the Federal Reserve.

     "Tax  Event"  means the  receipt  by the  Trust of an  opinion  of  counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to,
or change  (including  any  announced  prospective  change) in, the laws (or any
regulations  thereunder)  of the United States or any political  subdivision  or
taxing  authority   thereof  or  therein,   or  as  a  result  of  any  official
administrative  pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such
laws  or   regulations,   which  amendment  or  change  is  effective  or  which
pronouncement  or decision is  announced on or after the date of issuance of the
Preferred  Securities  under  the  Trust  Agreement,   there  is  more  than  an
insubstantial risk that: (i) interest payable by the Company on the Subordinated
Debentures  is not, or within 90 days of the date of such  opinion  will not be,
deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income
tax 


                                      -43-

<PAGE>



purposes;  (ii) the Trust  is, or will be within 90 days  after the date of such
opinion of counsel,  subject to United States federal income tax with respect to
income received or accrued on the  Subordinated  Debentures;  or (iii) the Trust
is, or will be within 90 days after the date of such opinion of counsel, subject
to more than a de minimis  amount of other taxes,  duties,  assessments or other
governmental  charges.  The Company  must  request  and receive an opinion  with
regard to such matters within a reasonable period of time after it becomes aware
of the possible occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i) through
(iii) above.

     "Capital  Treatment  Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of
counsel  experienced  in such  matters  to the effect  that,  as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws
(or  any  regulations   thereunder)  of  the  United  States  or  any  political
subdivision  thereof or therein,  or as a result of any official  administrative
pronouncement  or  judicial  decision  interpreting  or  applying  such  laws or
regulations,  which  amendment or change is effective or such  proposed  change,
pronouncement  or decision is  announced on or after the date of issuance of the
Preferred  Securities  under  the  Trust  Agreement,   there  is  more  than  an
insubstantial risk of impairment of the Company's ability to treat the aggregate
Liquidation  Amount of the  Preferred  Securities  (or any  substantial  portion
thereof) as "Tier 1 Capital"  (or the then  equivalent  thereof) for purposes of
the capital adequacy  guidelines of the Federal  Reserve,  as then in effect and
applicable to the Company, provided,  however, that the inability of the Company
to  treat  all or  any  portion  of  the  Liquidation  Amount  of the  Preferred
Securities  as Tier 1  Capital  shall  not  constitute  the  basis of a  Capital
Treatment  Event if such inability  results from the Company  having  cumulative
preferred  capital in excess of the amount  which may qualify for  treatment  as
Tier 1 Capital  under  applicable  capital  adequacy  guidelines  of the Federal
Reserve.

     "Investment  Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of
counsel  experienced  in such  matters  to the effect  that,  as a result of the
occurrence  of a change in law or regulation  or a change in  interpretation  or
application of law or regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental
agency  or  regulatory  authority,  the  Trust  is  or  will  be  considered  an
"investment  company"  that is required to be  registered  under the  Investment
Company  Act,  which change  becomes  effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities.

     Notice of any redemption  will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Subordinated  Debentures to
be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of
the  redemption  price  for  the  Subordinated  Debentures,  on  and  after  the
redemption  date interest  ceases to accrue on such  Subordinated  Debentures or
portions thereof called for redemption.

     The Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.

DISTRIBUTION UPON LIQUIDATION

     As described under  "Description  of the Preferred  Securities--Liquidation
Distribution  Upon  Termination,"  under  certain  circumstances  involving  the
termination of the Trust, the Subordinated  Debentures may be distributed to the
holders  of  the  Preferred   Securities  in  liquidation  of  the  Trust  after
satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable
law. Any such  distribution  will be subject to receipt of prior approval by the
Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable policies or guidelines of the
Federal Reserve.  If the Subordinated  Debentures are distributed to the holders
of Preferred  Securities upon the liquidation of the Trust, the Company will use
its best  efforts  to list  the  Subordinated  Debentures  on The  Nasdaq  Stock
Market's National Market or such stock exchanges, if any, on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed.  There can be no assurance as to the market price of
any Subordinated  Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of Preferred
Securities.

RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS

     If at any time: (i) there has occurred a Debenture  Event of Default;  (ii)
the Company is in default with respect to its  obligations  under the Guarantee;
or (iii) the Company has given notice of its election of an Extension  Period as
provided in the Indenture  with respect to the  Subordinated  Debentures and has
not rescinded such notice,


                                      -44-

<PAGE>



or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof,  is continuing,  the Company
will not:  (a)  declare or pay any  dividends  or  distributions  on, or redeem,
purchase,  acquire,  or make a  liquidation  payment with respect to, any of the
Company's capital stock; (b) make any payment of principal, interest or premium,
if any, on or repay or repurchase  or redeem any debt  securities of the Company
that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Subordinated  Debentures;
(c) make any guarantee  payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of
the debt  securities of any  subsidiary of the Company if such  guarantee  ranks
pari passu or junior in  interest  to the  Subordinated  Debentures  (other than
payments under the Guarantee);  or (d) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all
of the Subordinated  Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities,  except that
during an Extension  Period the Company may make: (1) dividends or distributions
payable in common stock of the  Company;  (2) any  declaration  of a dividend in
connection with the  implementation  of a stockholder  rights plan, any issuance
under any such plan, or the repurchase or redemption of any such rights pursuant
thereto; and (3) purchases of common stock of the Company in connection with the
distribution  or sale of shares of Company  common stock pursuant to the benefit
plans  of the  Company  and  any  subsidiary  for  its  directors,  officers  or
employees.

SUBORDINATION

     The Indenture  provides that the Subordinated  Debentures issued thereunder
are subordinated and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated
Debt and  Additional  Senior  Obligations  of the  Company.  Upon any payment or
distribution of assets to creditors upon any liquidation,  dissolution,  winding
up,  reorganization,  assignment  for the benefit of  creditors,  marshaling  of
assets or any bankruptcy,  insolvency, debt restructuring or similar proceedings
in connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy  proceedings of the Company, the
holders of Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior  Obligations of
the Company  will first be entitled to receive  payment in full of  principal of
(and premium,  if any) and interest,  if any, on such Senior Debt,  Subordinated
Debt and  Additional  Senior  Obligations  of the Company  before the holders of
Subordinated  Debentures  will be  entitled  to receive or retain any payment in
respect of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures.

     In the  event  of the  acceleration  of the  maturity  of any  Subordinated
Debentures,  the holders of all Senior Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and  Additional
Senior  Obligations of the Company  outstanding at the time of such acceleration
will first be  entitled  to receive  payment in full of all  amounts due thereon
(including  any  amounts  due  upon  acceleration)  before  the  holders  of the
Subordinated  Debentures  will be  entitled  to receive or retain any payment in
respect of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debentures.

     No  payments  on  account  of  principal  or  interest  in  respect  of the
Subordinated  Debentures  may be made if there has occurred and is  continuing a
default  in any  payment  with  respect  to Senior  Debt,  Subordinated  Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company or an event of default with respect
to any Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt or Additional  Senior  Obligations of the
Company  resulting  in the  acceleration  of  the  maturity  thereof,  or if any
judicial proceeding is pending with respect to any such default.

     "Debt" means,  with respect to any Person,  whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of such  Person and whether or not  contingent:  (i) every
obligation  of such person for money  borrowed;  (ii) every  obligation  of such
Person  evidenced  by bonds,  debentures,  notes or other  similar  instruments,
including  obligations  incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses;  (iii) every reimbursement  obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit,  bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person;  (iv) every  obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred  purchase  price of property or services (but  excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued  liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; and (vi) and every
obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) of another  Person
and all dividends of another Person the payment of which,  in either case,  such
Person has guaranteed or is responsible  or liable,  directly or indirectly,  as
obligor or otherwise.

     "Senior  Debt" means,  with respect to the Company,  the  principal of (and
premium,  if any) and interest,  if any (including interest accruing on or after
the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for  reorganization  relating to


                                      -45-

<PAGE>



the Company whether or not such claim for  post-petition  interest is allowed in
such  proceeding),  on  Debt,  whether  incurred  on or prior to the date of the
Indenture  or  thereafter  incurred,  unless,  in  the  instrument  creating  or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided
that such  obligations are not superior in right of payment to the  Subordinated
Debentures  or to other Debt which is pari passu with, or  subordinated  to, the
Subordinated Debentures;  provided, however, that Senior Debt will not be deemed
to include:  (i) any Debt of the Company which when incurred and without respect
to any election under section  1111(b) of the United States  Bankruptcy  Code of
1978,  as amended,  was without  recourse to the  Company;  (ii) any Debt of the
Company  to any of its  subsidiaries;  (iii)  any  Debt to any  employee  of the
Company;  (iv) any Debt  which by its terms is  subordinated  to trade  accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business to the
extent  that  payments  made to the  holders of such Debt by the  holders of the
Subordinated  Debentures  as a result  of the  subordination  provisions  of the
Indenture  would be greater than they  otherwise  would have been as a result of
any obligation of such holders to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade
accounts  payable  or accrued  liabilities  arising  in the  ordinary  course of
business as a result of subordination  provisions to which such Debt is subject;
and (v) Debt which constitutes Subordinated Debt.

     "Subordinated  Debt" means,  with respect to the Company,  the principal of
(and premium,  if any) and interest,  if any (including  interest accruing on or
after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to
the Company whether or not such claim for  post-petition  interest is allowed in
such  proceeding),  on  Debt,  whether  incurred  on or prior to the date of the
Indenture or thereafter incurred, which is by its terms expressly provided to be
junior and subordinate to other Debt of the Company (other than the Subordinated
Debentures).

     "Additional  Senior  Obligations"  means, with respect to the Company,  all
indebtedness,  whether  incurred  on or prior to the  date of the  Indenture  or
thereafter  incurred,  for  claims in  respect of  derivative  products  such as
interest and foreign  exchange rate contracts,  commodity  contracts and similar
arrangements;  provided,  however,  that  Additional  Senior  Obligations do not
include  claims in respect of Senior Debt or  Subordinated  Debt or  obligations
which,  by their  terms,  are  expressly  stated to be not  superior in right of
payment to the Subordinated Debentures or to rank pari passu in right of payment
with the  Subordinated  Debentures.  "Claim,"  as used  herein,  has the meaning
assigned thereto in Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978,
as amended.

     The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt or Additional  Senior  Obligations that may be incurred by the
Company. The Company expects from time to time to incur additional  indebtedness
constituting  Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations.
At July 15, 1998, the Company had no outstanding Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt
or Additional Senior Obligations.  Because the Company is a holding company, the
Subordinated Debentures are effectively  subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of the Company's  subsidiaries,  including obligations to depositors
of the Subsidiary Banks.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS

     Payment of  principal of and any  interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures
will be made at the office of the Company's  paying agent in New York, New York,
except that, at the option of the Company,  payment of any interest may be made:
(i) by check  mailed to the  address  of the  Person  entitled  thereto  as such
address appears in the register of holders of the  Subordinated  Debentures;  or
(ii) by  transfer to an account  maintained  by the Person  entitled  thereto as
specified in the register of holders of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  provided
that proper transfer instructions have been received by the regular record date.
Payment of any interest on Subordinated Debentures will be made to the Person in
whose name such Subordinated Debenture is registered at the close of business on
the  regular  record  date for such  interest,  except in the case of  defaulted
interest. The Company may at any time designate additional paying agents for the
Subordinated  Debentures or rescind the  designation of any paying agent for the
Subordinated  Debentures.  In the event  that the  Company  fails to  maintain a
paying agent in New York, New York, Subordinated Debentures may be presented for
payment of principal and interest at the Corporate Trust Office of the Debenture
Trustee in Boston, Massachusetts.


                                      -46-

<PAGE>



     Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent for the
Subordinated  Debentures,  or then held by the Company in trust, for the payment
of the  principal of or interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures  and remaining
unclaimed  for two years after such  principal  or  interest  has become due and
payable will be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or (if then held in
trust by the Company) will be discharged  from such trust and the holder of such
Subordinated  Debenture will thereafter look, as a general  unsecured  creditor,
only to the Company for payment thereof.

REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

     The Debenture  Trustee will act as the registrar and the transfer agent for
the  Subordinated  Debentures.  Subordinated  Debentures  may be  presented  for
registration  of transfer  (with the form of  transfer  endorsed  thereon,  or a
satisfactory  written instrument of transfer,  duly executed),  in New York, New
York or at the office of the registrar in Boston, Massachusetts. The Company may
at any time  rescind the  designation  of any such  transfer  agent or approve a
change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts; provided that
the Company maintains a transfer agent in New York, New York. The Company may at
any time designate  additional  transfer agents with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures.  In the  event  of any  redemption,  neither  the  Company  nor  the
Debenture  Trustee  will be required to (i) issue,  register  the transfer of or
exchange  Subordinated  Debentures  during a period  beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of  selection  for  redemption  of  Subordinated
Debentures  and  ending at the close of  business  on the day of  mailing of the
relevant  notice of  redemption,  or (ii) transfer or exchange any  Subordinated
Debentures so selected for redemption,  except,  in the case of any Subordinated
Debentures being redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.

     In the event that the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to Holders of
the  Preferred   Securities  in  liquidation  of  the  Trust,  the  Subordinated
Debentures will initially be represented by one or more fully registered  global
certificates   representing  the  full  aggregate  amount  of  the  Subordinated
Debentures,  and the Subordinated Debentures will be transferable,  and payments
of interest on and principal of the Subordinated  Debentures will be effected in
substantially the same manner as with respect to the Preferred  Securities.  The
Subordinated Debentures would remain subject to the book-entry system until such
time as use of the book-entry system is discontinued as set forth herein.

MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE

     The Company and the  Debenture  Trustee may,  from time to time without the
consent  of  the  holders  of  the  Subordinated  Debentures,  amend,  waive  or
supplement the Indenture for specified purposes,  including, among other things,
curing ambiguities,  defects or inconsistencies,  and qualifying, or maintaining
the  qualification  of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Company
and the  Indenture  Trustee may also amend,  waive or  supplement  the Indenture
relating to the Subordinated  Debentures,  without the consent of holders of the
Preferred Securities or Subordinated  Debentures,  to provide for the book-entry
transfer of the  Subordinated  Debentures.  The  Indenture  contains  provisions
permitting  the  Company  and the  Debenture  Trustee,  with the  consent of the
holders  of not less than a  majority  in  principal  amount of the  outstanding
Subordinated  Debentures,  to  modify  the  Indenture;  provided,  that  no such
modification  may,  without  the  consent  of the  holder  of  each  outstanding
Subordinated  Debenture affected by such proposed  modification:  (i) extend the
fixed maturity of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  or reduce the principal amount
thereof,  or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest  thereon;
or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal  amount of  Subordinated  Debentures,
the  holders of which are  required to consent to any such  modification  of the
Indenture;  and provided further that so long as any of the Preferred Securities
remain  outstanding,  no such modification may be made that requires the consent
of the  holders  of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  and  no  termination  of the
Indenture  may occur,  and no waiver of any  Debenture  Event of Default  may be
effective,  without  the prior  consent of the holders of at least a majority of
the aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the Preferred  Securities  and that if the
consent  of  the  holder  of  each  Subordinated  Debenture  is  required,  such
modification  will not be effective  until each holder of Trust  Securities  has
consented thereto.


                                      -47-

<PAGE>



DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     The  Indenture  provides  that any one or more of the  following  described
events with  respect to the  Subordinated  Debentures  that has  occurred and is
continuing  constitutes  an  event  of  default  (each,  a  "Debenture  Event of
Default") with respect to the Subordinated Debentures:

     (i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on the Subordinated Debentures,
when due  (subject to the  deferral of any due date in the case of an  Extension
Period); or

     (ii) failure to pay any principal on the  Subordinated  Debentures when due
whether at maturity, upon redemption by declaration or otherwise; or

     (iii) failure to observe or perform in any material  respect  certain other
covenants  contained in the Indenture  for 90 days after  written  notice to the
Company from the  Debenture  Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures; or

     (iv) certain  events of  bankruptcy,  insolvency or  reorganization  of the
Company.

     The holders of a majority in aggregate  outstanding principal amount of the
Subordinated  Debentures have the right to direct the time,  method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee. The
Debenture Trustee, or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate  outstanding
principal amount of the Subordinated  Debentures,  may declare the principal due
and  payable  immediately  upon a Debenture  Event of Default.  The holders of a
majority  in  aggregate   outstanding   principal  amount  of  the  Subordinated
Debentures  may annul such  declaration  and waive the  default  if the  default
(other than the  non-payment  of the  principal of the  Subordinated  Debentures
which has  become  due  solely by such  acceleration)  has been  cured and a sum
sufficient  to pay all  matured  installments  of  interest  and  principal  due
otherwise than by  acceleration  has been deposited with the Debenture  Trustee.
Should the holders of the Subordinated Debentures fail to annul such declaration
and waive such  default,  the  holders of a majority  in  aggregate  Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities will have such right.

     The Company is  required  to file  annually  with the  Debenture  Trustee a
certificate  as to whether  or not the  Company  is in  compliance  with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Indenture.

     If a  Debenture  Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the
Property  Trustee  will  have the  right to  declare  the  principal  of and the
interest on such  Subordinated  Debentures,  and any other amounts payable under
the  Indenture,  to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other rights
as a creditor with respect to such Subordinated Debentures.

ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

     If a Debenture  Event of Default has  occurred and is  continuing  and such
event is  attributable  to the  failure  of the  Company to pay  interest  on or
principal  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  on the  payment  date on which such
payment is due and payable,  then a holder of Preferred Securities may institute
a legal  proceeding  directly  against the Company for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the  principal  of or interest  on such  Subordinated  Debentures
having a  principal  amount  equal to the  aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the
Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action"). In connection with such
Direct  Action,  the Company will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to
the  extent of any  payment  made by the  Company  to such  holder of  Preferred
Securities  in the Direct  Action.  The Company may not amend the  Indenture  to
remove the foregoing  right to bring a Direct  Action  without the prior written
consent of the holders of all of the Preferred Securities. If the right to bring
a Direct  Action is  removed,  the Trust may  become  subject  to the  reporting
obligations  under  the  Exchange  Act.  The  Company  has the  right  under the
Indenture to set-off any payment made to such holder of Preferred  Securities by
the Company in connection with a Direct Action.


                                      -48-

<PAGE>



     The  holders  of the  Preferred  Securities  will  not be able to  exercise
directly any remedies,  other than those set forth in the  preceding  paragraph,
available to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures unless there has been an
Event of Default under the Trust  Agreement.  See  "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Events of Default; Notice."

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS

     The  Company  may not  consolidate  with or merge into any other  Person or
convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any
Person,  and no Person may  consolidate  with or merge into the Company or sell,
convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to the Company, unless: (i) in the event the Company consolidates
with or merges into another  Person or conveys or transfers its  properties  and
assets  substantially  as an  entirety to any Person,  the  successor  Person is
organized  under the laws of the United  States or any State or the  District of
Columbia,  and such successor Person expressly assumes by supplemental indenture
the  Company's  obligations  on the  Subordinated  Debentures  issued  under the
Indenture;  (ii) immediately after giving effect thereto,  no Debenture Event of
Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become
a Debenture Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing;  and (iii) certain
other conditions as prescribed in the Indenture are met.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

     The  Indenture  will  cease  to be of  further  effect  (except  as to  the
Company's  obligations  to pay certain sums due pursuant to the Indenture and to
provide  certain  officers'  certificates  and  opinions  of  counsel  described
therein) and the Company will be deemed to have  satisfied  and  discharged  the
Indenture when, among other things,  all Subordinated  Debentures not previously
delivered  to the  Debenture  Trustee for  cancellation  (i) have become due and
payable, or (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one
year,  or are to be called  for  redemption  within  one year,  and the  Company
deposits or causes to be deposited with the Debenture  Trustee funds,  in trust,
for the  purpose and in an amount  sufficient  to pay and  discharge  the entire
indebtedness  on the  Subordinated  Debentures not  previously  delivered to the
Debenture Trustee for  cancellation,  for the principal and interest to the date
of the deposit or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be.

GOVERNING LAW

     The  Indenture  and the  Subordinated  Debentures  will be  governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE

     The   Debenture   Trustee  has  and  is  subject  to  all  the  duties  and
responsibilities  specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act.  Subject to such  provisions,  the Debenture  Trustee is under no
obligation  to exercise any of the powers  vested in it by the  Indenture at the
request of any holder of  Subordinated  Debentures,  unless  offered  reasonable
indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might
be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend or risk its
own funds or otherwise incur personal financial  liability in the performance of
its duties if the  Debenture  Trustee  reasonably  believes  that  repayment  or
adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.

MISCELLANEOUS

     The  Company has agreed,  pursuant to the  Indenture,  for so long as Trust
Securities  remain  outstanding:  (i) to maintain  directly or  indirectly  100%
ownership  of  the  Common  Securities  of  the  Trust  (provided  that  certain
successors  which are  permitted  pursuant to the  Indenture  may succeed to the
Company's  ownership  of  the  Common  Securities);   (ii)  not  to  voluntarily
terminate,  wind up or liquidate  the Trust,  except upon prior  approval of the
Federal  Reserve,  if then so required under  applicable  capital  guidelines or
policies of the Federal  Reserve,  and (a) in


                                      -49-

<PAGE>



connection with a distribution of Subordinated  Debentures to the holders of the
Preferred  Securities in  liquidation  of the Trust,  or (b) in connection  with
certain  mergers,   consolidations  or  amalgamations  permitted  by  the  Trust
Agreement;  and (iii) to use its reasonable  efforts,  consistent with the terms
and provisions of the Trust Agreement,  to cause the Trust to remain  classified
as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes.


                               BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

     The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") will act as securities  depository for
all of the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities will be issued only as
fully-registered  securities  registered  in  the  name  of  Cede  & Co.  (DTC's
nominee).  One or more  fully-registered  global certificates will be issued for
the Preferred  Securities of the Trust,  representing in the aggregate the total
number of the Trust's Preferred Securities, and will be deposited with DTC.

     DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking  organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the  Federal  Reserve  System,  a  "clearing  corporation"  within the
meaning  of the New  York  Uniform  Commercial  Code,  and a  "clearing  agency"
registered  pursuant to the  provisions  of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds  securities that its  Participants  deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among Participants of securities transactions,  such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic  computerized book-entry
changes in  Participants'  accounts,  thereby  eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities  certificates.  "Direct  Participants" include securities
brokers and dealers,  banks, trust companies,  clearing corporations and certain
other organizations.  DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by
the New York Stock  Exchange,  Inc., the American Stock  Exchange,  Inc. and the
National  Association of Securities  Dealers,  Inc.  Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies  that clear through or maintain  custodial  relationships  with Direct
Participants, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.

     Purchases of Preferred  Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through  Direct  Participants,  which will  receive a credit  for the  Preferred
Securities on DTC's records.  The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of
each Preferred  Security  ("Beneficial  Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect  Participants'  records.  Beneficial Owners will not receive
written  confirmation  from DTC of their  purchases,  but Beneficial  Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions,
as well as periodic  statements of their  holdings,  from the Direct or Indirect
Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased Preferred Securities.
Transfers  of  ownership  interests  in  the  Preferred  Securities  are  to  be
accomplished  by entries made on the books of  Participants  acting on behalf of
Beneficial Owners.  Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing
their ownership interests in Preferred Securities,  except in the event that use
of the book-entry system for the Preferred Securities is discontinued.

     DTC has no  knowledge  of the  actual  Beneficial  Owners of the  Preferred
Securities;  DTC's records reflect only the identity of the Direct  Participants
to whose accounts such Preferred  Securities are credited,  which may or may not
be the Beneficial  Owners.  The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

     Conveyance   of  notices  and  other   communications   by  DTC  to  Direct
Participants,  by Direct  Participants to Indirect  Participants,  and by Direct
Participants  and  Indirect  Participants  to  Beneficial  Owners and the voting
rights of Direct Participants,  Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners will
be governed by arrangements  among them,  subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

     Redemption  notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered  holder of
the Preferred Securities. If less than all of the Preferred Securities are being
redeemed,  DTC's  current  practice  is to  determine  by lot the  amount of the
interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.


                                      -50-

<PAGE>



     Although voting with respect to the Preferred  Securities is limited to the
holders of record of the  Preferred  Securities,  in those  instances in which a
vote is  required,  neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself  consent or vote with
respect to Preferred Securities.  Under its usual procedures,  DTC would mail an
omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus  Proxy") to the Trust as soon as possible  after the
record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s  consenting or voting rights
to those Direct  Participants  to whose accounts such  Preferred  Securities are
credited on the record  date  (identified  in a listing  attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).

     Distribution  payments  on the  Preferred  Securities  will  be made by the
Trustee to DTC. DTC's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the
relevant  payment date in accordance  with their  respective  holdings  shown on
DTC's records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments
on such payment date.  Payments by  Participants  to  Beneficial  Owners will be
governed  by  standing  instructions  and  customary  practices  and will be the
responsibility  of such  Participant  and not of DTC,  the  Trustee or the Trust
subject to any  statutory or  regulatory  requirements  as may be in effect from
time to time.  Payment  of  Distributions  to DTC is the  responsibility  of the
Trustee,   disbursement   of  such  payments  to  Direct   Participants  is  the
responsibility  of DTC, and  disbursements  of such  payments to the  Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

     DTC may  discontinue  providing its services as securities  depository with
respect  to any of the  Preferred  Securities  at any time by giving  reasonable
notice to the Trustee and the Company. In the event that a successor  securities
depository  is  not  obtained,   definitive   Preferred  Security   certificates
representing such Preferred Securities are required to be printed and delivered.
The  Company,  at its  option,  may decide to  discontinue  use of the system of
book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depository).  After a Debenture
Event of  Default,  the  holders  of a majority  in  liquidation  preference  of
Preferred  Securities  may  determine to  discontinue  the system of  book-entry
transfers  through  DTC. In any such  event,  definitive  certificates  for such
Preferred Securities will be printed and delivered.

     It is anticipated  that if the  Subordinated  Debentures are distributed to
Holders of the Preferred  Securities in liquidation of the Trust,  the Indenture
will  be  amended  to  provide  for  book-entry  issuance  and  transfer  of the
Subordinated  Debentures.  In  such  event,  the  Subordinated  Debentures  will
initially be represented  by one or more fully  registered  global  certificates
representing the full aggregate amount of the Subordinated  Debentures,  and the
Subordinated  Debentures will be  transferable,  and payments of interest on and
principal of the Subordinated  Debentures will be effected in substantially  the
same  manner as with  respect  to the  Preferred  Securities.  The  Subordinated
Debentures would remain subject to the book-entry  system until such time as use
of the book-entry system is discontinued as set forth herein.

     The information in this section  concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been  obtained  from  sources  that the Trust and the Company  believe to be
accurate,  but the  Trust  and the  Company  assume  no  responsibility  for the
accuracy thereof.  Neither the Trust nor the Company has any  responsibility for
the performance by DTC or its  Participants of their  respective  obligations as
described  herein or under the rules and procedures  governing their  respective
operations.


                          DESCRIPTION OF THE GUARANTEE

     The Preferred  Securities  Guarantee  Agreement (the  "Guarantee")  will be
executed  and  delivered  by the Company  concurrently  with the issuance of the
Preferred  Securities,   for  the  benefit  of  the  holders  of  the  Preferred
Securities.  The  Guarantee  will be qualified  as an indenture  under the Trust
Indenture  Act. The  Guarantee  Trustee will act as indenture  trustee under the
Guarantee for purposes of complying with the  provisions of the Trust  Indenture
Act. The Guarantee Trustee,  State Street Bank and Trust Company,  will hold the
Guarantee  for the  benefit of the  holders  of the  Preferred  Securities.  The
following summary of the material terms and provisions of the Guarantee does not
purport to be  complete  and is subject  to, and  qualified  in its  entirety by
reference to, all of the  provisions  of the  Guarantee and the Trust  Indenture
Act. Wherever particular defined terms of the Guarantee are referred to, but not
defined herein,  such defined terms are  incorporated  herein by reference.  The
form of the Guarantee has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus forms a part.


                                      -51-

<PAGE>



GENERAL

     The Company will,  pursuant to the Guarantee,  irrevocably  agree to pay in
full on a subordinated  basis,  to the extent set forth  therein,  the Guarantee
Payments (as defined below) to the holders of the Preferred  Securities,  as and
when due,  regardless of any defense,  right of set-off or counterclaim that the
Trust may have or assert  other  than the  defense  of  payment.  The  following
payments with respect to the Preferred Securities,  to the extent not paid by or
on  behalf of the Trust  (the  "Guarantee  Payments"),  will be  subject  to the
Guarantee:  (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions  required to be paid on the
Preferred Securities,  to the extent that the Trust has funds available therefor
at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that the Trust has funds available therefor
at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution,  winding up
or liquidation of the Trust (other than in connection  with the  distribution of
Subordinated  Debentures to the holders of Preferred  Securities or a redemption
of all of the  Preferred  Securities),  the  lesser  of (a)  the  amount  of the
Liquidation  Distribution,  to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor
at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining  available for
distribution to holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. The
obligation of the Company to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct
payment of the required  amounts by the Company to the holders of the  Preferred
Securities or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.

     The Guarantee will not apply to any payment of Distributions  except to the
extent the Trust has funds  available  therefor.  If the  Company  does not make
interest  payments on the  Subordinated  Debentures held by the Trust, the Trust
will not pay  Distributions on the Preferred  Securities and will not have funds
available therefor.

STATUS OF THE GUARANTEE

     The Guarantee  will  constitute an unsecured  obligation of the Company and
will  rank  subordinate  and  junior in right of  payment  to all  Senior  Debt,
Subordinated Debt and Additional  Senior  Obligations of the Company in the same
manner as the Subordinated Debentures. The Guarantee does not place a limitation
on the amount of additional Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior
Obligations  that may be incurred by the Company.  The Company expects from time
to time to incur additional indebtedness  constituting Senior Debt, Subordinated
Debt and Additional Senior Obligations.

     The Guarantee will  constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection
(that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee  without first instituting
a legal  proceeding  against  any  other  Person).  The  Guarantee  will  not be
discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not
paid by the Trust, or upon  distribution of the  Subordinated  Debentures to the
holders of the Preferred  Securities.  Because the Company is a holding company,
the right of the Company to  participate  in any  distribution  of assets of the
Bank upon the Bank's  liquidation or  reorganization  or otherwise is subject to
the prior claims of creditors of the Bank,  except to the extent the Company may
itself be recognized as a creditor of the Bank. The Company's  obligations under
the Guarantee,  therefore,  will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only
to the assets of the Company for payments thereunder.

AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT

     Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the Preferred Securities (in which case no vote will be
required),  the Guarantee may not be amended  without the prior  approval of the
holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the
outstanding   Preferred   Securities.   See   "Description   of  the   Preferred
Securities--Voting  Rights;  Amendment of Trust  Agreement."  All guarantees and
agreements  contained  in the  Guarantee  will  bind  the  successors,  assigns,
receivers,  trustees  and  representatives  of the Company and will inure to the
benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.


                                      -52-

<PAGE>



EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     An event of default under the Guarantee  will occur upon the failure of the
Company  to perform  any of its  payment or other  obligations  thereunder.  The
holders  of not less than a  majority  in  aggregate  Liquidation  Amount of the
Preferred  Securities  have the right to direct  the time,  method  and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy  available to the Guarantee  Trustee in
respect  of the  Guarantee  or to  direct  the  exercise  of any  trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee.

     Any  holder  of  Preferred  Securities  may  institute  a legal  proceeding
directly  against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee  without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or
any other Person.

     The Company, as guarantor,  is required to file annually with the Guarantee
Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Company is in compliance with all
the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the Guarantee.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

     The Guarantee Trustee,  other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Company in performance of the Guarantee,  undertakes to perform
only such  duties as are  specifically  set forth in the  Guarantee  and,  after
default with respect to the Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of care and
skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own
affairs.  Subject  to  such  provisions,  the  Guarantee  Trustee  is  under  no
obligation  to exercise any of the powers  vested in it by the  Guarantee at the
request  of any  holder  of  any  Preferred  Securities,  unless  it is  offered
reasonable  indemnity against the costs,  expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.

TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEE

     The  Guarantee  will  terminate and be of no further force and effect upon:
(a) full payment of the Redemption Price of the Preferred  Securities;  (b) full
payment  of  the  amounts  payable  upon   liquidation  of  the  Trust;  or  (c)
distribution  of the  Subordinated  Debentures  to the holders of the  Preferred
Securities.  The Guarantee  will continue to be effective or will be reinstated,
as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the Preferred  Securities  must
restore  payment  of any  sums  paid  under  such  Preferred  Securities  or the
Guarantee.

GOVERNING LAW

     The Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.

EXPENSE AGREEMENT

     The Company will,  pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
entered  into  by it  under  the  Trust  Agreement  (the  "Expense  Agreement"),
irrevocably and  unconditionally  guarantee to each person or entity to whom the
Trust  becomes  indebted or liable,  the full payment of any costs,  expenses or
liabilities  of the  Trust,  other than  obligations  of the Trust to pay to the
holders of the Preferred  Securities or other similar  interests in the Trust of
the amounts due such holders  pursuant to the terms of the Preferred  Securities
or such other similar  interests,  as the case may be. Third party  creditors of
the Trust may proceed directly against the Company under the Expense  Agreement,
regardless of whether such creditors had notice of the Expense Agreement.


                                      -53-

<PAGE>



    RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
                                AND THE GUARANTEE

FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE

     Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities
(to  the  extent  the  Trust  has  funds  available  for  the  payment  of  such
Distributions)  are  irrevocably  guaranteed by the Company as and to the extent
set forth  under  "Description  of the  Guarantee."  The  Company  and the Trust
believe  that,  taken  together,  the  obligations  of  the  Company  under  the
Subordinated  Debentures,  the  Indenture,  the  Trust  Agreement,  the  Expense
Agreement,  and the Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and
unconditional  guarantee,  on a subordinated  basis, of payment of Distributions
and other amounts due on the Preferred  Securities.  No single document standing
alone or operating  in  conjunction  with fewer than all of the other  documents
constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents
that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee
of the  obligations of the Trust under the Preferred  Securities.  If and to the
extent that the Company does not make payments on the  Subordinated  Debentures,
the Trust  will not pay  Distributions  or other  amounts  due on the  Preferred
Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when the Trust
does not have sufficient  funds to pay such  Distributions.  In such event,  the
remedy of a holder of Preferred  Securities  is to institute a legal  proceeding
directly against the Company for enforcement of payment of such Distributions to
such holder.  The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee are subordinate
and  junior  in right of  payment  to all  Senior  Debt,  Subordinated  Debt and
Additional Senior Obligations of the Company.

SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS

     As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Subordinated Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover Distributions
and other payments due on the Preferred  Securities,  primarily because: (i) the
aggregate  principal amount of the Subordinated  Debentures will be equal to the
sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; (ii) the
interest  rate  and  interest  and  other  payment  dates  on  the  Subordinated
Debentures will match the  Distribution  rate and Distribution and other payment
dates for the Preferred  Securities;  (iii) the Company will pay for all and any
costs,  expenses and  liabilities  of the Trust (except the  obligations  of the
Trust to  holders of the  Preferred  Securities);  and (iv) the Trust  Agreement
further  provides  that the Trust  will not engage in any  activity  that is not
consistent with the limited purposes of the Trust.

ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

     A  holder  of any  Preferred  Security  may  institute  a legal  proceeding
directly  against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee  without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Trust or
any  other  Person.  A  default  or event of  default  under  any  Senior  Debt,
Subordinated  Debt or  Additional  Senior  Obligations  of the Company would not
constitute  a default or Event of  Default.  In the event,  however,  of payment
defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or Additional
Senior Obligations of the Company, the subordination provisions of the Indenture
provide that no payments may be made in respect of the  Subordinated  Debentures
until such Senior Debt,  Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior  Obligations has
been paid in full or any payment  default  thereunder  has been cured or waived.
Failure  to  make  required  payments  on  the  Subordinated   Debentures  would
constitute an Event of Default.

LIMITED PURPOSE OF THE TRUST

     The Preferred Securities evidence a preferred undivided beneficial interest
in the assets of the Trust. The Trust exists for the exclusive  purposes of: (i)
issuing the Trust Securities  representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust;  (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust  Securities
in the Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company; and (iii) engaging in only
those other activities necessary,  advisable, or incidental thereto. A principal
difference between the rights of a holder of a Preferred Security and the rights
of a holder  of a  Subordinated  Debenture  is that a holder  of a  Subordinated
Debenture  is entitled to receive from the Company the


                                      -54-

<PAGE>



principal amount of and interest accrued on Subordinated  Debentures held, while
a holder of Preferred  Securities is entitled to receive  Distributions from the
Trust (or from the Company  under the  Guarantee) if and to the extent the Trust
has funds available for the payment of such Distributions.

RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION

     Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
the Trust involving the liquidation of the Subordinated Debentures,  the holders
of the Preferred  Securities will be entitled to receive,  out of assets held by
the  Trust,  the  Liquidation  Distribution  in cash.  See  "Description  of the
Preferred  Securities--Liquidation  Distribution  Upon  Termination."  Upon  any
voluntary or involuntary  liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the Property
Trustee,  as  holder of the  Subordinated  Debentures,  would be a  subordinated
creditor of the  Company,  subordinated  in right of payment to all Senior Debt,
Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company (as set forth
in the  Indenture),  but entitled to receive  payment in full of  principal  and
interest  before  any   shareholders   of  the  Company   receive   payments  or
distributions.  Since the Company is the  guarantor  under the Guarantee and has
agreed to pay for all costs,  expenses and  liabilities of the Trust (other than
the  obligations of the Trust to the holders of its Preferred  Securities),  the
positions  of a  holder  of  the  Preferred  Securities  and  a  holder  of  the
Subordinated  Debentures  relative to other creditors and to shareholders of the
Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company are expected to
be substantially the same.


                     CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

GENERAL

     The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax
considerations  that may be relevant to the purchasers of Preferred  Securities,
which has been  passed upon by Kennedy,  Baris & Lundy,  L.L.P.,  counsel to the
Company  and the  Trust,  insofar  as it  relates  to  matters  of law and legal
conclusions.  The conclusions expressed herein are based upon current provisions
of the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended  (the  "Code"),  regulations
thereunder and current administrative rulings and court decisions,  all of which
are subject to change at any time, with possible retroactive effect.  Subsequent
changes may cause tax consequences to vary  substantially  from the consequences
described below. Furthermore,  the authorities on which the following summary is
based are subject to various interpretations,  and it is therefore possible that
the United States federal income tax treatment of the purchase,  ownership,  and
disposition  of Preferred  Securities  may differ from the  treatment  described
below.

     No  attempt  has been made in the  following  discussion  to comment on all
United  States  federal  income tax matters  affecting  purchasers  of Preferred
Securities.  Moreover,  the discussion generally focuses on holders of Preferred
Securities who are individual citizens or residents of the United States and who
acquire Preferred Securities on their original issue at their offering price and
hold  Preferred  Securities as capital  assets.  The discussion has only limited
application  to  dealers  in  securities,   corporations,   estates,  trusts  or
nonresident  aliens and does not  address all the tax  consequences  that may be
relevant to holders who may be subject to special  tax  treatment,  such as, for
example,  banks,  thrifts,  real estate investment trusts,  regulated investment
companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies,  tax-exempt
investors, or persons that will hold the Preferred Securities as a position in a
"straddle,"  as  part  of a  "synthetic  security"  or  "hedge,"  as  part  of a
"conversion  transaction"  or other  integrated  investment,  or as other than a
capital asset.

     The following summary also does not address the tax consequences to persons
that  have a  functional  currency  other  than  the  U.S.  dollar,  or the  tax
consequences to shareholders, partners or beneficiaries of a holder of Preferred
Securities.  Further,  it does not include any  description  of any  alternative
minimum tax consequences, or the tax laws of any state or local government or of
any foreign  government,  that may be applicable  to the  Preferred  Securities.
Accordingly,   each  prospective   investor  should  consult,  and  should  rely
exclusively  on, such  investor's  own tax  advisors in  analyzing  the federal,
state,  local  and  foreign  tax  consequences  of the  purchase,  ownership  or
disposition of Preferred Securities.


                                      -55-

<PAGE>



CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     The Company intends to take the position that the  Subordinated  Debentures
will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as indebtedness
of the Company under  current law,  and, by acceptance of a Preferred  Security,
each holder covenants to treat the  Subordinated  Debentures as indebtedness and
the  Preferred  Securities  as  evidence  of an  indirect  beneficial  ownership
interest in the  Subordinated  Debentures.  No assurance can be given,  however,
that such position of the Company will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue
Service or, if challenged,  that such a challenge  will not be  successful.  The
remainder of this discussion  assumes that the  Subordinated  Debentures will be
classified for United States federal income tax purposes as  indebtedness of the
Company. See "Risk  Factors--Redemption  Upon Tax Event, Capital Treatment Event
or Investment Company Event."

CLASSIFICATION OF THE TRUST

     Under current law and assuming full  compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement and Indenture  (and certain other  documents  described  herein),  the
Trust will be  classified  for United  States  federal  income tax purposes as a
grantor trust and not as an association  taxable as a corporation.  Accordingly,
for  United  States  federal  income  tax  purposes,  each  holder of  Preferred
Securities  generally will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest
in the Subordinated  Debentures,  and each holder will be required to include in
its gross income items of income realized with respect to its allocable share of
the Subordinated Debentures.

POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT

     Applicable Treasury regulations generally provide that stated interest on a
debt instrument is not "qualified  stated  interest" and,  therefore,  will give
rise to original issue discount ("OID") unless such interest is  unconditionally
payable in cash or in property  (other than debt  instruments  of the issuer) at
least   annually  at  a  single  fixed  rate.   Interest  is  considered  to  be
unconditionally payable only if reasonable legal remedies exist to compel timely
payment or the debt instrument otherwise provides terms and conditions that make
the  likelihood  of late payment  (other than late payment that occurs  within a
reasonable grace period) or non-payment a "remote contingency."

     The  Company  has the right,  at any time and from time to time  during the
term of the Subordinated Debentures,  to defer payments of interest by extending
interest  payment  periods for a period not exceeding 20  consecutive  quarters.
Unless  the  likelihood  of  exercise  of such  right to defer  is  remote,  the
Subordinated  Debentures would be treated as issued with OID. A holder of a debt
instrument  issued with OID must include that  discount in income on an economic
accrual  basis  before  the  receipt  of  cash  attributable  to  the  interest,
regardless of its method of  accounting.  Under the  Indenture,  the Company may
not, subject to certain limited exceptions:  (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions  on, or redeem,  purchase,  acquire or make a liquidation  payment
with respect to, any of the Company's  capital  stock;  (ii) make any payment of
principal,  interest or premium, if any, on, or repay,  repurchase or redeem any
debt  securities  of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest
to the Subordinated  Debentures,  or make any guarantee payments with respect to
any  guarantee by the Company of any debt  securities  of any  subsidiary of the
Company,  if such  guarantee  ranks  pari  passu or  junior in  interest  to the
Subordinated Debentures (other than payments on the Guarantee); or (iii) redeem,
purchase or acquire less than all of the  Subordinated  Debentures or any of the
Preferred  Securities.  See "Description of Subordinated  Debentures--Option  to
Extend Interest Payment Period." The Company currently believes that the adverse
impact that the  imposition of such  restrictions  would have on the Company and
the value of its equity  securities,  makes the likelihood of its exercising its
right to defer  payments  of  interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures  remote.
Accordingly,  the Company  believes that the stated interest on the Subordinated
Debentures should be considered unconditionally payable for purposes of the Code
and that the  Subordinated  Debentures  should not be  considered as having been
issued with OID. If so,  stated  interest paid or payable prior to the exercise,
if any,  by the  Company  of its right to defer  payments,  will be  taxable  to
holders as ordinary income,  generally at the time it is received or accrued, in
accordance  with each holder's  regular  method of accounting for federal income
tax purposes.  There can be no assurance that the Internal  Revenue Service will
agree with this position.


                                      -56-

<PAGE>



     If,  notwithstanding the foregoing,  the Company does exercise its right to
defer  payments of interest on the  Subordinated  Debentures,  the  Subordinated
Debentures  will be  considered  to be retired and reissued  for their  adjusted
issue price at such time, and the  Subordinated  Debentures  thereafter  will be
considered  to have been  issued  with OID.  In such case,  all of the  interest
payments  thereafter payable will be treated as OID. If the payments are treated
as OID  (either  because  the  Company  exercises  the  right to defer  interest
payments  or because  the  exercise  of such right was not remote at the time of
issuance),  holders must include that discount in income on an economic  accrual
basis before the receipt of cash  attributable  to the interests,  regardless of
their method of tax accounting.  Any holder who disposes of Preferred Securities
prior to the record date for the  payment of  Distributions  thereon,  following
such Extension Period, will include OID in gross income but will not receive any
cash related thereto from the Trust.  The amount of OID that would accrue in any
quarter will approximately equal the amount of the interest that accrues in that
quarter at the stated  interest  rate.  In the event that the  interest  payment
period is extended, holders will accrue OID approximately equal to the amount of
the  interest  payment  due at the end of the  Extension  Period on an  economic
accrual basis over the length of the Extension Period.

     Holders  of  Preferred  Securities  will  not be  entitled  to a  dividends
received  deduction  with respect to any income  recognized  with respect to the
Preferred Securities.

MARKET DISCOUNT AND ACQUISITION PREMIUM

     Holders of  Preferred  Securities  other than a holder  who  purchased  the
Preferred  Securities upon original  issuance may be considered to have acquired
their undivided interests in the Subordinated  Debentures with "market discount"
or  "acquisition  premium" as such phrases are defined for United States federal
income tax  purposes.  Such holders are advised to consult their tax advisors as
to the income tax consequences of the acquisition,  ownership and disposition of
the Preferred Securities.

RECEIPT OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OR CASH UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST

     Under  certain  circumstances,  as  described  under  "Description  of  the
Preferred  Securities--Redemption  or Exchange" and "--Liquidation  Distribution
Upon Termination," the Subordinated  Debentures may be distributed to holders of
Preferred  Securities  upon a liquidation  of the Trust.  Under  current  United
States  federal  income  tax law,  such a  distribution  would be  treated  as a
nontaxable  event to each such holder and would result in such holder  having an
aggregate tax basis in the Subordinated  Debentures  received in the liquidation
equal  to  such  holder's  aggregate  tax  basis  in  the  Preferred  Securities
immediately   before  the  distribution.   A  holder's  holding  period  in  the
Subordinated  Debentures so received in  liquidation  of the Trust would include
the period for which such holder held the Preferred Securities.

     If, however, a Tax Event occurs which results in the Trust being treated as
an  association  taxable  as  a  corporation,   the  distribution  would  likely
constitute a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. Under certain
circumstances  described herein, the Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed for
cash and the proceeds of such redemption distributed to holders in redemption of
their  Preferred  Securities.  Under current law, such a redemption  would,  for
United States federal income tax purposes,  constitute a taxable  disposition of
the redeemed Preferred Securities,  and a holder would recognize gain or loss as
if the holder sold such Preferred  Securities for cash. See  "Description of the
Preferred  Securities--Redemption  or Exchange" and "--Liquidation  Distribution
Upon Termination."

DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

     A holder that sells Preferred  Securities will recognize gain or loss equal
to the  difference  between  the amount  realized  on the sale of the  Preferred
Securities (other than amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest which
has not yet been included in income,  which will be treated as ordinary  income)
and the holder's  adjusted tax basis in such  Preferred  Securities.  A holder's
adjusted tax basis in the  Preferred  Securities  generally  will be its initial
purchase price increased by OID (if any) previously  includable in such holder's
gross income to the date of


                                      -57-

<PAGE>



disposition  (and the  accrual of market  discount,  if any,  if an  election to
accrue  market  discount in income  currently is made) and decreased by payments
received on the  Preferred  Securities  to the date of  disposition  (other than
payments of qualified  stated  interest).  Such gain or loss will generally be a
capital gain or loss if the Preferred Securities are held as a capital asset.

     The  Preferred  Securities  may trade at a price  that does not  accurately
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid  interest with respect to the underlying
Subordinated  Debentures.  A holder that uses the accrual  method of  accounting
(and a cash method holder if the Subordinated Debentures are deemed to have been
issued with OID) that disposes of its Preferred  Securities between record dates
for payments of  distributions  thereon will be required to include  accrued but
unpaid interest on the Subordinated  Debentures  through the date of disposition
in income as ordinary  income,  and to add such amount to its adjusted tax basis
in its pro rata share of the underlying  Subordinated Debentures deemed disposed
of. To the extent the selling  price  (which may not fully  reflect the value of
accrued but unpaid interest) is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which
basis will  include,  in the form of OID,  all accrued but unpaid  interest),  a
holder will  recognize a capital loss.  Subject to certain  limited  exceptions,
capital  losses  cannot be applied to offset  ordinary  income for United States
federal income tax purposes.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES IN TAX LAWS

     On February 6, 1997,  President  Clinton  proposed  certain tax law changes
that would, among other things, generally deny corporate issuers a deduction for
interest or OID in respect of certain debt  obligations if such debt obligations
have a maximum term in excess of 15 years and are not shown as  indebtedness  on
the  issuer's   applicable   consolidated   balance  sheet.  The  1997  Proposed
Legislation was not included in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 as enacted,  and
was not  included  in  President  Clinton's  1999  budget  proposal  released in
February 1998. However, if legislation similar to the 1997 Proposed  Legislation
is enacted in the future  with  retroactive  effect,  the  Company  would not be
entitled to an interest  deduction with respect to the Subordinated  Debentures.
There can be no assurance  that  legislation  enacted after the date hereof will
not adversely affect, in the manner proposed in the 1997 Proposed Legislation or
otherwise,  the  ability of the  Company to deduct the  interest  payable on the
Subordinated  Debentures.  Consequently,  there can be no  assurance  that a Tax
Event will not occur. A Tax Event would permit the Company, upon approval of the
Federal  Reserve,  if then  required  under  applicable  capital  guidelines  or
policies  of the  Federal  Reserve,  to  cause  a  redemption  of the  Preferred
Securities  before,  as well as after,  July 31, 2003. See  "Description  of the
Subordinated  Debentures--Redemption or Exchange," "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption  or Exchange--Tax  Event  Redemption,  Capital  Treatment
Event   Redemption  or   Investment   Company   Event   Redemption"   and  "Risk
Factors--Redemption  Upon Tax  Event,  Capital  Treatment  Event  or  Investment
Company Event."

BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING

     The amount of interest (or OID) accrued on the Preferred Securities held of
record by  individual  citizens or  residents of the United  States,  or certain
trusts,  estates,  and  partnerships,  will be reported to the Internal  Revenue
Service on Forms 1099, which forms should be mailed to such holders of Preferred
Securities  by January 31 following  each calendar  year.  Payments made on, and
proceeds from the sale of, the Preferred Securities may be subject to a "backup"
withholding  tax  (currently  at 31%) unless the holder  complies  with  certain
identification  and other  requirements.  Any amounts  withheld under the backup
withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the holder's United States
federal income tax liability,  provided the required  information is provided to
the Internal Revenue Service.

     THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED
FOR  GENERAL  INFORMATION  ONLY  AND MAY NOT BE  APPLICABLE  DEPENDING  UPON THE
PARTICULAR SITUATION OF A HOLDER OF PREFERRED  SECURITIES.  HOLDERS OF PREFERRED
SECURITIES   SHOULD   CONSULT  THEIR  TAX  ADVISORS  WITH  RESPECT  TO  THE  TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE PREFERRED
SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL,


                                      -58-

<PAGE>



FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE  EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES
FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.


                              ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

     Employee benefit plans that are subject to the Employee  Retirement  Income
Security  Act of  1974,  as  amended  ("ERISA"),  or  Section  4975 of the  Code
("Plans") generally may purchase Preferred Securities,  subject to the investing
fiduciary's  determination that the investment in Preferred Securities satisfies
ERISA's fiduciary standards and other requirements  applicable to investments by
the Plan.

     In any case,  the Company  and/or any of its affiliates may be considered a
"party in  interest"  (within the meaning of ERISA) or a  "disqualified  person"
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) with  respect to certain  Plans
(generally,  Plans  maintained or sponsored by, or  contributed  to by, any such
persons with  respect to which the Company or an  affiliate  is a fiduciary,  or
Plans for which the Company or an affiliate provides services).  The acquisition
and ownership of Preferred Securities by a Plan (or by an individual  retirement
arrangement  or other Plans  described in Section  4975(e)(1)  of the Code) with
respect to which the Company or any of its  affiliates  is considered a party in
interest  or a  disqualified  person may  constitute  or result in a  prohibited
transaction  under  ERISA or Section  4975 of the Code,  unless  such  Preferred
Securities  are  acquired  pursuant  to and in  accordance  with  an  applicable
exemption.

     As a  result,  Plans  with  respect  to  which  the  Company  or any of its
affiliates  is a party in interest or a  disqualified  person should not acquire
Preferred  Securities unless such Preferred  Securities are acquired pursuant to
and in  accordance  with an  applicable  exemption.  Any  other  Plans  or other
entities  whose assets  include Plan assets  subject to ERISA or Section 4975 of
the Code proposing to acquire Preferred Securities should consult with their own
counsel.


                                  UNDERWRITING

     The Underwriters named below (the  "Underwriters"),  have severally agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement, the
form of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus  forms a part,  to  purchase  from the Trust the number of  Preferred
Securities set forth opposite their  respective  names below.  The  Underwriters
have agreed in the Underwriting  Agreement,  subject to the terms and conditions
set forth therein, to purchase all of the Preferred Securities offered hereby if
any of the Preferred  Securities are purchased.  In the event of a default by an
Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances,
purchase commitments of the nondefaulting  Underwriters may be increased, or the
Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.

                                                     Number of Preferred
                 Underwriter                              Securities
- ----------------------------------------------       ---------------------

      Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.                            700,000
    Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated                          700,000

                    Total                                       1,400,000

     The  Underwriters  have  advised the Trust that they  propose  initially to
offer the Preferred  Securities to the public at the public  offering  price set
forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain dealers at such price
less  a  concession  not  in  excess  of  $0.50  per  Preferred  Security.   The
Underwriters may allow,  and such dealers may reallow,  a discount not in excess
of $0.20 per  Preferred  Security to certain  other  dealers.  After the initial
public  offering,  the public  offering  price,  concession  and discount may be
changed.


                                      -59-

<PAGE>



     In view  of the  fact  that  the  proceeds  of the  sale  of the  Preferred
Securities will be used to purchase the Subordinated  Debentures of the Company,
the Underwriting  Agreement  provides that the Company will pay, as compensation
to the  Underwriters  for arranging  the  investment  therein of such  proceeds,
$0.875 per Preferred Security (or $1,225,000 in the aggregate,  or $1,408,750 in
the aggregate if the Underwriters'  over-allotment  option,  described below, is
exercised  in  full),  in  immediately  available  funds.  In  addition  to such
compensation,  the  Company  has  agreed to pay the  Underwriters'  expenses  in
connection with this Offering, including legal expenses.

     The Trust has  granted  the  Underwriters  an option to  purchase  up to an
additional  210,000  Preferred  Securities at the initial public offering price.
Such  option,  which  expires 30 days from the date of this  Prospectus,  may be
exercised solely to cover  over-allotments.  To the extent that the Underwriters
exercise their option to purchase  additional  Preferred  Securities,  the Trust
will  issue  and  sell  to the  Company  additional  Common  Securities  in such
aggregate  Liquidation Amount as is required for the Company to continue to hold
Common Securities in an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to at least 3% of the
total  capital of the Trust,  and the  Company  will issue and sell to the Trust
Subordinated  Debentures  in an  aggregate  principal  amount equal to the total
aggregate  Liquidation  Amount  of the  additional  Preferred  Securities  being
purchased pursuant to the option and the additional Common Securities.

     In  connection  with  the  offering  of  the  Preferred   Securities,   the
Underwriters and any selling group members and their  respective  affiliates may
engage in  transactions  effected in accordance  with Rule 104 of the Securities
and Exchange Commission's Regulation M that are intended to stabilize,  maintain
or  otherwise  affect  the  market  price  of  the  Preferred  Securities.  Such
transactions may include  over-allotment  transactions in which the Underwriters
create a short  position  for  their  own  account  by  selling  more  Preferred
Securities  than they are committed to purchase from the Trust. In such case, to
cover all or part of the short  position,  the  Underwriters  may  exercise  the
over-allotment  option described above or may purchase  Preferred  Securities in
the open market  following  completion of the initial  offering of the Preferred
Securities.

     The Underwriters may also engage in stabilizing  transactions in which they
bid for and  purchase  Preferred  Securities  at a level  above that which might
otherwise prevail in the open market, for the purpose of preventing or retarding
a decline in the market price of the Preferred Securities. The Underwriters also
may reclaim any selling  concession  allowed to an  Underwriter or dealer if the
Underwriters  repurchase  securities  distributed by that Underwriter or dealer.
Any of the foregoing  transactions  may result in the maintenance of a price for
the Preferred  Securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in
the open  market.  Neither  the  Company  nor any of the  Underwriters  make any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that
the  transactions  described  above  may  have  on the  price  of the  Preferred
Securities.  The  Underwriters  are not  required  to  engage  in the  foregoing
transactions and, if commenced,  such  transactions may be discontinued  without
notice.

     During a period of 180 days from the date of this  Prospectus,  neither the
Trust nor the Company  will,  subject to certain  exceptions,  without the prior
written  consent of the  Underwriters,  directly or indirectly,  sell,  offer to
sell,  grant any  option for sale of, or  otherwise  dispose  of, any  Preferred
Securities,  any security  convertible into or exchangeable  into or exercisable
for Preferred  Securities  or  Subordinated  Debentures  or any debt  securities
substantially  similar  to the  Subordinated  Debentures  or  equity  securities
substantially  similar to the  Preferred  Securities  (except  for  Subordinated
Debentures and the Preferred Securities offered hereby).

     Because the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. (the "NASD")
is  expected  to  view  the  Preferred  Securities  as  interests  in  a  direct
participation program, the offering of the Preferred Securities is being made in
compliance  with the  applicable  provisions of Rule 2810 of the NASD's Rules of
Conduct.

     Application  has been made to have the  Preferred  Securities  approved for
quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market's  National Market.  The Underwriters  have
advised the Trust that they  presently  intend to make a market in the Preferred
Securities  after the  commencement  of  trading on The  Nasdaq  Stock  Market's
National  Market,  but no  assurances  can be made as to the  liquidity  of such
Preferred  Securities or that an active and liquid  trading  market will develop
or, if developed,  that it will continue.  The offering  price and  distribution
rate have been determined


                                      -60-

<PAGE>



by negotiations among  representatives of the Company and the Underwriters,  and
the offering  price of the  Preferred  Securities  may not be  indicative of the
market price following the offering. The Underwriters will have no obligation to
make a market in the Preferred Securities,  however, and may cease market-making
activities, if commenced, at any time.

     The  Trust  and the  Company  have  agreed to  indemnify  the  Underwriters
against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to make
in respect of, certain liabilities,  including  liabilities under the Securities
Act.

     The Underwriters  engage in transactions with, and, from time to time, have
performed  services for, the Company and its subsidiaries in the ordinary course
of business.


                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

     Certain  matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the  Preferred
Securities,  the  enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation of the
Trust will be passed upon by Richards,  Layton & Finger,  P.A., special Delaware
counsel to the Company and the Trust.  Certain legal matters for the Company and
the  Trust,  including  the  validity  of the  Guarantee  and  the  Subordinated
Debentures,  will be passed upon for the Company and the Trust by Kennedy, Baris
& Lundy,  L.L.P.,  Bethesda,  Maryland,  counsel to the  Company  and the Trust.
Certain  legal  matters  will be passed  upon for the  Underwriters  by Breyer &
Aguggia  LLP,  Washington,  D.C.  Kennedy,  Baris & Lundy,  L.L.P.  and Breyer &
Aguggia LLP will rely on the opinion of  Richards,  Layton & Finger,  P.A. as to
matters of Delaware  law.  Certain  matters  relating to United  States  federal
income tax considerations will be passed upon for the Company by Kennedy,  Baris
& Lundy, L.L.P.


                                     EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements at December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for
each of the three years in the period ended  December 31, 1997  incorporated  by
reference  in this  Prospectus  have been  audited  by Keller  Bruner & Company,
L.L.C.  independent  auditors, as stated in its report, which is incorporated by
reference  herein,  and have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of
such firm given its authority as an expert in accounting and auditing.


                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents previously filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are incorporated herein by reference:

     (1)  The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December
          31, 1997;

     (2)  The  Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
          March 31, 1998;

     (3)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 9, 1998;

     (4)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 23, 1998; and

     (5)  The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 14, 1998.

     All reports  filed by the Company with the  Commission  pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and
prior to the  termination  of the offering of the Preferred  Securities  offered
hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to
be a part  hereof  from the date of  filing  of such  documents.  Any  statement
contained in a document  incorporated  or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein  shall be  deemed to be  modified  or  superseded  for  purposes  of this
Prospectus  to the  extent  that


                                      -61-

<PAGE>



a statement  contained herein or in any other  subsequently filed document which
also  is or is  deemed  to be  incorporated  by  reference  herein  modifies  or
supersedes  such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded  shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

     THE  COMPANY  WILL  PROVIDE  WITHOUT  CHARGE  TO EACH  PERSON  TO WHOM THIS
PROSPECTUS  IS DELIVERED,  ON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON,  A
COPY OF ANY OR ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE (OTHER THAN
EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS WHICH ARE NOT SPECIFICALLY  INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
IN SUCH DOCUMENTS).  WRITTEN REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MARK
A.  SEVERSON,  SENIOR VICE  PRESIDENT,  FCNB CORP,  7200 FCNB COURT,  FREDERICK,
MARYLAND 21703. TELEPHONE REQUESTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO (301) 662-2191.


                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     This Prospectus  constitutes a part of a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(together  with  all  amendments  and  exhibits   thereto,   the   "Registration
Statement")  filed by the  Company and the Trust with the  Commission  under the
Securities  Act, with respect to the Preferred  Securities and the  Subordinated
Debentures. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
such  Registration  Statement,  certain parts of which are omitted in accordance
with the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission.  Reference  is made to such
Registration  Statement  and  to  the  exhibits  relating  thereto  for  further
information with respect to the Company, the Trust, the Preferred Securities and
the Subordinated  Debentures.  Any statements  contained  herein  concerning the
provisions of any document filed as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement or
otherwise filed with the Commission or incorporated by reference  herein are not
necessarily  complete,  and, in each instance,  reference is made to the copy of
such document so filed for a more complete  description of the matter  involved.
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.

     The Company is subject to the  informational  requirements  of the Exchange
Act and, in accordance  therewith,  files  reports,  proxy  statements and other
information  with the  Commission.  Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and other
information  can be  inspected  and  copied at the  following  public  reference
facilities  maintained by the Commission:  450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,
D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048; and the
Citicorp  Center,  500  West  Madison  Street,  Suite  1400,  Chicago,  Illinois
60661-2511. Copies of such material may also be obtained by mail from the Public
Reference  Section  of the  Commission  at 450 Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Room 1024,
Washington, DC 20549, upon payment of prescribed rates. The Commission maintains
in Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding issuers who file electronically with the Commission.
The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

     No separate  financial  statements of the Trust have been included  herein.
The Company does not consider that such financial  statements  would be material
to holders of Preferred  Securities because: (i) all of the voting securities of
the Trust will be owned by the Company,  a reporting  company under the Exchange
Act;  (ii) the Trust  has no  independent  operations  but  exists  for the sole
purpose of issuing securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets  of  the  Trust  and  investing  the  proceeds  thereof  in  Subordinated
Debentures  issued by the  Company;  and (iii) the  obligations  of the  Company
described herein to provide certain indemnities in respect of and be responsible
for  certain  costs,  expenses,  debts and  liabilities  of the Trust  under the
Indenture  and  pursuant to the Trust  Agreement,  the  Guarantee  issued by the
Company with respect to the Preferred  Securities,  the Subordinated  Debentures
purchased by the Trust and the related Indenture, taken together, constitute, in
the belief of the Company and the Trust, a full and  unconditional  guarantee of
payments due on the Preferred  Securities.  See "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures" and "Description of the Guarantee."

     The  Trust  is  not  currently   subject  to  the   information   reporting
requirements  of the  Exchange  Act.  The  Trust  will  become  subject  to such
requirements upon the effectiveness of the Registration  Statement,  although it
intends to seek and expects to receive an exemption therefrom.


                                      -62-

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------   
<S>                                 <C>  <C>                                           
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
            TABLE OF CONTENTS                                                           
                                                                                        
                                    Page                                                
                                                                                        
Prospectus Summary                     5                                                
Selected Consolidated Financial Data   9      1,400,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES            
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges    10                                                
Risk Factors                          11            FCNB CAPITAL TRUST                  
Use of Proceeds                       17  8.25% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities   
Market for the Preferred Securities   17 (Liquidation Amount $25 per Preferred Security)
Accounting Treatment                  17    guaranteed, as described herein, by         
Capitalization                        18                                                
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined                                                            
  Financial Information               19                                                
The Company                           27                                                
The Trust                             28                                                
Description of the Preferred                                                            
  Securities                          30                                                
Description of the Subordinated                                                         
  Debentures                          41              FCNB CORP LOGO                    
Book-Entry Issuance                   50                                                
Description of the Guarantee          51                                                
Relationship Among the Preferred                                                        
  Securities Subordinated Debentures                                                    
  and the Guarantee                   54                                                
Certain Federal Income Tax                                                              
  Consequences                        55                                                
ERISA Considerations                  59                                                
Underwriting                          59                                                
Validity of Securities                61            ___________________                 
Experts                               61                                                
Incorporation of Certain Documents by                   Prospectus                      
  Reference                           61                                                
Available Information                 62               July 15, 1998                    
                                                    ___________________                 
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
                                                                                        
NO PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE                                                
ANY   INFORMATION   OR   TO   MAKE   ANY                                                
REPRESENTATION    OTHER    THAN    THOSE                                                
CONTAINED  IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  AND,  IF                                                
GIVEN  OR  MADE,  SUCH   INFORMATION  OR     Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P.           
REPRESENTATIONS  MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON                                                
AS HAVING BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY THE TRUST,                                                
THE COMPANY OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER                                                
THE DELIVERY OF THIS  PROSPECTUS NOR ANY                                                
SALE  MADE  HEREUNDER  SHALL,  UNDER ANY          Legg Mason Wood Walker                
CIRCUMSTANCES,  CREATE  ANY  IMPLICATION               Incorporated                     
THAT  THERE  HAS BEEN NO  CHANGE  IN THE                                                
AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE OF                                                
THIS  PROSPECTUS.  THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES                                                
NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  TO SELL OR A                                                
SOLICITATION  OF AN  OFFER  TO  BUY  ANY                                                
SECURITIES   OFFERED   HEREBY   IN   ANY                                                
JURISDICTION  IN  WHICH  SUCH  OFFER  OR                                                
SOLICITATION  IS  NOT  AUTHORIZED  OR IN                                                
WHICH THE  PERSON  MAKING  SUCH OFFER OR                                                
SOLICITATION  IS NOT  QUALIFIED TO DO SO                                                
OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS  UNLAWFUL  TO                                                
MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.                                                        

- ---------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------   
</TABLE>



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