CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC
S-8 POS, 1998-12-24
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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   As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 24, 1998
                                                      Registration No. 333-65137
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                        POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. ONE
                                   ON FORM S-8
                                   TO FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                           CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          DELAWARE                                        34-1567092
(State or other jurisdiction of             (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)

1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE, CLEVELAND, OHIO                        44114
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

    ALBANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1992 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN FOR KEY EMPLOYEES
  ALBANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1992 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
  ALBANK FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1995 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN FOR OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
            MARBLE FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1986 STOCK OPTION PLAN, AND
               MARBLE FINANCIAL CORPORATION 1994 STOCK OPTION PLAN

                            (Full title of the plan)
                                              -----------------------

                             ROBERT J. VANA, ESQUIRE
                             CHIEF CORPORATE COUNSEL
                           CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.
                              1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE
                              CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114
                     (Name and address of agent for service)
                                 (216) 589-8320
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                         Copy of all communications to:

                            MARTIN L. MEYROWITZ, P.C.
                              DANIEL C. HOLDGREIWE
                         SILVER, FREEDMAN & TAFF, L.L.P.
      (A LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP INCLUDING PROFESSIONAL CORPORATIONS)
                            1100 NEW YORK AVE., N.W.
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 414-6100

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<S>                     <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>

                                          Proposed maximum  Proposed maximum
  Title of securities      Amount to be    offering price       aggregate        Amount of
   to be registered        registered(1)      per share      offering price  registration fee
Common Stock, par value
     $.01 per share      2,438,000 shares        N/A               N/A            N/A(2)
</TABLE>

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

(1)  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  this
     Registration  Statement  covers,  in  addition  to the number of shares set
     forth above, an indeterminate  number of shares which, by reason of certain
     events specified in the Plans, may become subject to the Plans.
(2)  The Registrant  previously  paid  $236,310.20  with the original  filing on
     October 1, 1998 to register  33,000,000  shares,  including  the  2,438,000
     shares which may be issued pursuant to the Stock Plans.



<PAGE>







                              PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

         The purpose of this post-effective amendment is to register on Form S-8
shares of common  stock,  par value  $.01 per share  (the  "Common  Stock"),  of
Charter One Financial,  Inc.  ("Charter One") previously  registered on Form S-4
(No.  333-65137)  for  issuance  pursuant  to options  granted  under the ALBANK
Financial  Corporation  1992  Stock  Incentive  Plan for Key  Employees,  ALBANK
Financial  Corporation 1992 Stock Incentive Plan for Outside  Directors,  ALBANK
Financial  Corporation 1995 Stock Incentive Plan for Outside  Directors,  Marble
Financial  Corporation 1986 Stock Option Plan and Marble  Financial  Corporation
1994  Stock  Option  Plan  (collectively,   the  "Plans")  of  ALBANK  Financial
Corporation ("ALBANK"), pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Agreement and
Plan  of  Merger  dated  as of  June  15,  1998,  by and  between  Charter  One,
Charter-Michigan  Bancorp,  Inc.  and  ALBANK.  The  merger was  consummated  on
November 30, 1998.


                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


         The document(s)  containing the information specified in Part I of Form
S-8 will be sent or given to  participants  in the  Plans as  specified  by Rule
428(b)(1)   promulgated  by  the  Securities   and  Exchange   Commission   (the
"Commission")  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the  "Securities
Act").

         Such  document(s)  are  not  being  filed  with  the  Commission,   but
constitute  (along  with  the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  into  the
Registration  Statement  pursuant to Item 3 of Part II hereof) a prospectus that
meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

                                       I-1

<PAGE>



                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.

         The following documents previously or concurrently filed by Charter One
Financial,  Inc. ("Charter One") with the Commission are hereby  incorporated by
reference  in this  Registration  Statement  and the  prospectus  to which  this
Registration Statement relates (the "Prospectus"):

         1.       The Annual  Report on Form 10-K of Charter  One for the fiscal
                  year ended December 31, 1997 (File No. 0-16311) filed pursuant
                  to Rule  13a-1 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  as
                  amended (the "Exchange Act").

         2.       The  Quarterly  reports  on Form 10-Q of  Charter  One for the
                  quarterly  periods  ended March 31, 1998;  June 30, 1998;  and
                  September 30, 1998;  and Current  Reports on form 8-K filed on
                  June 17,  1998;  July 22, 1998;  August 18, 1998;  October 22,
                  1998 and December 9, 1998.

         3.       The  description of the Charter One Common Stock  contained in
                  Charter One's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated January
                  12, 1988 (and any  amendments or reports filed for the purpose
                  of updating the description).

         All  documents  subsequently  filed by Charter One with the  Commission
pursuant to Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the
date  hereof,  and  prior to the  filing  of a  post-effective  amendment  which
indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold,  shall be deemed incorporated by reference
into this Registration  Statement and the Prospectus and to be a part hereof and
thereof from the date of the filing of such documents.  Any statement  contained
in the documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference herein
or in the  Prospectus  shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes
of this Registration Statement and the Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained  herein or therein or in any other  subsequently  filed document which
also is,  or is deemed  to be,  incorporated  by  reference  herein  or  therein
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 Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

         Charter  One shall  furnish  without  charge to each person to whom the
Prospectus is delivered,  on the written or oral request of such person,  a copy
of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to
such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically  incorporated by reference
to the information that is incorporated).  Requests should be directed to Robert
J. Vana,  Chief Corporate  Counsel and Secretary,  Charter One Financial,  Inc.,
1215 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, telephone number (216) 589-8320.



                                      II-1
<PAGE>



         All  information  appearing  in  this  Registration  Statement  and the
Prospectus is qualified in its entirety by the detailed  information,  including
financial statements,  appearing in the documents incorporated herein or therein
by reference.

Item 4.           Description of Securities.

         Not Applicable.

Item 5.           Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

         Not Applicable.

Item 6.           Indemnification of Directors and Officers.


         Section  145  of  the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law  sets  forth
circumstances under which directors,  officers,  employees and agents of Charter
One may be  insured or  indemnified  against  liability  which they may incur in
their capacities as such:

         ss.145.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,  EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS;
INSURANCE.  (a) A corporation  may indemnify any person who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding,  whether civil,  criminal,  administrative  or investigative
(other  than an action by or in the right of the  corporation)  by reason of the
fact  that  he  is or  was  a  director,  officer,  employee  or  agent  of  the
corporation,  or is or was  serving  at the  request  of  the  corporation  as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint
venture,  trust or other  enterprise,  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'
fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding,  had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action,  suit or proceeding by judgment,  order,  settlement,
conviction,  or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,  shall not, of
itself,  create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner  which  he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best
interests  of the  corporation,  and,  with  respect to any  criminal  action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

         (b) A corporation  may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened,  pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director,  officer,  employee or agent of
the  corporation,  or is or was serving at the request of the  corporation  as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint
venture,  trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by him in  connection  with the  defense or
settlement  of such  action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of the
corporation and except that no  indemnification  shall be made in respect of any
claim,  issue or matter as to which such person  shall have been  adjudged to be
liable to the


                                      II-2

<PAGE>



corporation  unless and only to the  extent  that the Court of  Chancery  or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon  application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

         (c) To the extent  that a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of a
corporation  has been  successful  on the merits or  otherwise in defense of any
action,  suit  or  proceeding  referred  to in  subsections  (a) and (b) of this
section,  or in  defense  of any  claim,  issue or matter  therein,  he shall be
indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection therewith.

         (d) Any  indemnification  under subsections (a) and (b) of this section
(unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation  only as authorized
in the specific case upon a determination that  indemnification of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable  standard  of conduct  set forth in  subsections  (a) and (b) of this
section.  Such  determination  shall  be  made  (1) by a  majority  vote  of the
directors who are not parties to such action,  suit or  proceeding,  even though
less than a quorum, or (2) if there are no such directors,  or if such directors
so direct,  by  independent  legal counsel in a written  opinion,  or (3) by the
stockholders.

         (e)  Expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  incurred by an officer or
director in  defending  any civil,  criminal,  administrative  or  investigative
action,  suit or  proceeding  may be paid by the  corporation  in advance of the
final  disposition  of  such  action,  suit or  proceeding  upon  receipt  of an
undertaking  by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if
it shall  ultimately be determined  that he is not entitled to be indemnified by
the  corporation  as  authorized  in  this  section.  Such  expenses  (including
attorneys' fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such
terms and conditions, if any, as the board of directors deems appropriate.

         (f) The  indemnification  and  advancement of expenses  provided by, or
granted  pursuant to, the other  subsections of this section shall not be deemed
exclusive  of any  other  rights  to  which  those  seeking  indemnification  or
advancement  of expenses  may be entitled  under any bylaw,  agreement,  vote of
stockholders or disinterested  directors or otherwise,  both as to action in his
official  capacity  and as to action in  another  capacity  while  holding  such
office.

         (g) A corporation  shall have power to purchase and maintain  insurance
on behalf of any person who is or was a director,  officer, employee or agent of
the  corporation,  or is or was serving at the request of the  corporation  as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint
venture,  trust or other enterprise  against any liability  asserted against him
and incurred by him in any such capacity,  or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the  corporation  would have the power to  indemnify  him against
such liability under this section.

         (h) For purposes of this section, references to "the corporation" shall
include, in addition to the resulting corporation,  any constituent  corporation
(including  any  constituent of a constituent)  absorbed in a  consolidation  or
merger which, if its separate existence had continued,

                                      II-3

<PAGE>



would have had power and authority to indemnify  its  directors,  officers,  and
employees  or  agents,  so that any person  who is or was a  director,  officer,
employee or agent of such constituent  corporation,  or is or was serving at the
request of such  constituent  corporation  as a director,  officer,  employee or
agent  of  another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust  or other
enterprise,  shall stand in the same position under this section with respect to
the resulting or surviving  corporation  as they would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

         (i) For purposes of this  section,  references  to "other  enterprises"
shall include  employee  benefit plans;  references to "fines" shall include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and
references  to  "serving at the request of the  corporation"  shall  include any
service as a  director,  officer,  employee  or agent of the  corporation  which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee, or
agent  with  respect  to  an  employee   benefit  plan,  its   participants   or
beneficiaries;  and a  person  who  acted  in  good  faith  and in a  manner  he
reasonably  believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an  employee  benefit  plan  shall be deemed to have  acted in a manner  "not
opposed  to the  best  interests  of the  corporation"  as  referred  to in this
section.

         (j) The  indemnification  and  advancement  of expense  provided by, or
granted  pursuant  to,  this  section  shall,  unless  otherwise  provided  when
authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors
and administrators of such a person.

         (k) The Court of Chancery is hereby vested with exclusive  jurisdiction
to hear and determine all actions for advancement of expenses or indemnification
brought under this section or under any bylaw,  agreement,  vote of stockholders
or disinterested  directors,  or otherwise.  The Court of Chancery may summarily
determine a corporation's  obligation to advance expenses (including  attorneys'
fees).

         Article TWELFTH of Charter One's  certificate of incorporation  further
provides as follows:

                  TWELFTH:  Indemnification.

                  A. Actions, Suits or Proceedings Other than by or in the Right
         of the Corporation.  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was
         or is a party or is  threatened to be made a party to or is involved in
         any  threatened,  pending  or  completed  action,  suit or  proceeding,
         whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an
         action  by or in the  right of the  Corporation)  by reason of the fact
         that  he  or  she,  or a  person  of  whom  he  or  she  is  the  legal
         representative, is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer
         of the Corporation,  or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the
         request of the Corporation as a director,  officer,  partner, member or
         trustee of another  corporation,  including,  without  limitation,  any
         Subsidiary of the  Corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or
         other  enterprise,  including  service with respect to employee benefit
         plans, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
         in  such  capacity,   against  costs,   charges,   expenses  (including
         attorneys'   fees  and   related   disbursements),   judgments,   fines
         (including, without limitation, ERISA excise taxes and penalties) and


                                      II-4

<PAGE>



         amounts paid in  settlement  actually and  reasonably  incurred by such
         person or on such person's behalf in connection with such action,  suit
         or proceeding  and any appeal  therefrom,  if such person acted in good
         faith and in a manner  he or she  reasonably  believed  to be in or not
         opposed to the best interests of the  Corporation,  and with respect to
         any criminal action or proceeding,  had no reasonable  cause to believe
         his or her conduct was unlawful;  provided,  however,  that,  except as
         provided in paragraph F hereof with respect to  proceedings  seeking to
         enforce rights of indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify such
         person  seeking  indemnification  with respect to a proceeding (or part
         thereof)  initiated  by such  person  only if such  proceeding  or part
         thereof was authorized by a majority of the Continuing  Directors.  The
         termination  of any action,  suit or  proceeding  by  judgment,  order,
         settlement,  conviction,  or  upon a plea  of  nolo  contendere  or its
         equivalent,  shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person
         did not act in good  faith and in a manner  which he or she  reasonably
         believed  to be in  or  not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of  the
         Corporation,  and, with respect to any criminal  action or  proceeding,
         had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

                  B. Actions or Suits by or in the Right of the Corporation. The
         Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  person  who was or is a party or is
         threatened  to be made a party  to or is  involved  in any  threatened,
         pending  or  completed  action  or  suit  by or in  the  right  of  the
         Corporation  to procure a  judgment  in its favor by reason of the fact
         that  he  or  she,  or a  person  of  whom  he  or  she  is  the  legal
         representative, is or was or has agreed to become a director or officer
         of the Corporation,  or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the
         request of the Corporation as a director,  officer,  partner, member or
         trustee of another  corporation,  including,  without  limitation,  any
         Subsidiary of the  Corporation,  partnership,  joint venture,  trust or
         other  enterprise,  including  service with respect to employee benefit
         plans, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
         in such  capacity,  against  costs,  charges  and  expenses  (including
         attorneys'  fees and related  disbursements)  actually  and  reasonably
         incurred by such person or on such person's  behalf in connection  with
         the  defense  or  settlement  of such  action  or suit  and any  appeal
         therefrom, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
         reasonably  believed to be in or not opposed to the best  interests  of
         the  Corporation,  except  that  no  indemnification  shall  be made in
         respect of any claim,  issue or matter as to which  such  person  shall
         have been adjudged to be liable to the  Corporation  unless and only to
         the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which
         such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application  that,
         despite  the  adjudication  of  such  liability  but in view of all the
         circumstances  of the  case,  such  person  is  fairly  and  reasonably
         entitled to indemnity  for such costs,  charges and expenses  which the
         Court  of   Chancery   or  such  other   court   shall   deem   proper.
         Notwithstanding  the  provisions of this  paragraph B, the  Corporation
         shall indemnify any such person seeking  indemnification  in connection
         with a proceeding  (or part thereof)  initiated by such person  (except
         with   respect   to   proceedings   seeking   to   enforce   rights  to
         indemnification  pursuant to paragraph F), only if such  proceeding (or
         part thereof) was authorized by a majority of the Continuing Directors.

                  C.   Indemnification  for  Costs,   Charges  and  Expenses  of
         Successful Party.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Article
         TWELFTH, to the extent that a director,  officer,  employee or agent of
         the  Corporation  has  been  successful  on the  merits  or  otherwise,
         including,  without  limitation,  the  dismissal  of an action  without
         prejudice,

                                      II-5

<PAGE>



         in defense of any action,  suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs
         A and B of this Article TWELFTH,  or in defense of any claim,  issue or
         matter  therein,  such person shall be  indemnified  against all costs,
         charges  and  expenses   (including   attorneys'   fees)  actually  and
         reasonably  incurred  by such  person  or on such  person's  behalf  in
         connection therewith.

                  D.   Determination   of   Right   to   Indemnification.    Any
         indemnification  under paragraphs A and B of this Article TWELFTH shall
         be made by the  Corporation  as  authorized in the specific case upon a
         determination  (i) by the Board of  Directors  by a majority  vote of a
         quorum of the  directors  who were not parties to such action,  suit or
         proceeding,  or (ii) if such a quorum is not  obtainable,  or,  even if
         obtainable,  if a majority of a quorum of  disinterested  directors  so
         directs,  by  independent  legal  counsel  in a  written  opinion  that
         indemnification of the person seeking  indemnification is proper in the
         circumstances  because  he or she has met the  applicable  standard  of
         conduct set forth in paragraphs A and B of this Article TWELFTH. Should
         a   determination   be  made   by  the   Corporation   hereunder   that
         indemnification is not proper in the  circumstances,  a court may order
         the Corporation to make  indemnification  pursuant to paragraphs A or B
         of this Article TWELFTH.

                  E. Advance of Costs, Charges and Expenses.  Costs, charges and
         expenses (including attorneys' fees and related disbursement)  incurred
         by a person  referred to in paragraphs A or B of the Article TWELFTH in
         defending a civil or criminal action,  suit or proceeding shall be paid
         by the Corporation in advance of the final  disposition of such action,
         suit  or  proceeding,   provided,   however,   that,  if  the  Delaware
         Corporation Law so requires,  the payment of such expenses  incurred by
         an officer or director of the  Corporation  in his or her capacity as a
         director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was
         or is rendered by such  person  while a director or officer,  including
         without limitation,  service to an employee benefit plan) in advance of
         the final disposition of such action,  suit or proceeding shall be made
         only upon receipt of an  undertaking by or on behalf of the director or
         officer to repay all  amounts so  advanced  if it shall  ultimately  be
         determined  that  such  director  or  officer  is  not  entitled  to be
         indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article TWELFTH. A
         majority  of  the  Continuing   Directors  may,  upon  approval  of  an
         indemnified  person,  authorize the Corporation's  counsel to represent
         such  person,  in any action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether or not the
         Corporation is a party to such action, suit or proceeding.

                  F. Procedure for  Indemnification;  Right of Claimant to Bring
         Suit. Any  indemnification  under  paragraphs A, B and C, or advance of
         costs,  charges and expenses under paragraph E of this Article TWELFTH,
         shall be made promptly, and in any event within 60 days (or in the case
         of any advance of costs, charges and expenses under paragraph E, within
         20 days),  upon the written  request of the person  referred to in such
         paragraphs. The right to indemnification or advances as granted by this
         Article  TWELFTH  shall be  enforceable  by the persons  referred to in
         paragraphs A, B, C and E in any court of competent jurisdiction, if the
         Corporation  denies  such  request,  in  whole  or  in  part,  or if no
         disposition thereof is made within the applicable time period specified
         in the  preceding  sentence  hereof.  The costs,  charges and  expenses
         incurred by a person  referred to in  paragraph A or B of this  Article
         TWELFTH in connection with successfully

                                      II-6

<PAGE>



         establishing his or her right to indemnification,  in whole or in part,
         in any such action shall also be  indemnified  by the  Corporation.  It
         shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action  brought to
         enforce a claim for the advance of costs,  charges and  expenses  under
         paragraph E of this Article TWELFTH, where the required undertaking, if
         any, has been  received by the  Corporation)  that the claimant has not
         met the  standard  of conduct  set forth in  paragraphs  A or B of this
         Article TWELFTH, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the
         Corporation.  Neither the  failure of the  Corporation  (including  its
         Board  of  Directors,   its   independent   legal   counsel,   and  its
         stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of
         such  action  that  indemnification  of the  claimant  is proper in the
         circumstances  because the claimant has met the applicable  standard of
         conduct set forth in paragraphs A or B of this Article TWELFTH, nor the
         fact that  there has been an actual  determination  by the  Corporation
         (including  its Board of Directors or its  independent  legal  counsel)
         that the  claimant  has not met such  applicable  standard  of conduct,
         shall be a  defense  to the  action or  create a  presumption  that the
         claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

                  G. Other Rights: Continuation of Right to Indemnification. The
         indemnification  and  advancement of expenses  provided by this Article
         TWELFTH  shall not be deemed  exclusive  of any other rights to which a
         person  seeking  indemnification  or  advancement  of  expenses  may be
         entitled under any law (common or statutory), bylaw, agreement, vote of
         stockholder or disinterested directors or otherwise,  both as to action
         in such person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity
         while  holding  office or while  employed by or acting as agent for the
         Corporation,  and  the  indemnification  and  advancement  of  expenses
         provided by this Article  TWELFTH shall continue as to a person who has
         ceased to serve in a capacity referred to in paragraph A or B and shall
         inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators
         of such person.  Nothing  contained in this  Article  TWELFTH  shall be
         deemed to prohibit,  and the Corporation is specifically  authorized to
         enter into, agreements between the Corporation and directors, officers,
         employees or agents  providing  indemnification  rights and  procedures
         different  from those set forth herein.  All rights to  indemnification
         and  advancement of expenses under this Article TWELFTH shall be deemed
         to be a contract between the Corporation and each person referred to in
         paragraph A or B of this  Article  TWELFTH who serves or served in such
         capacity  at any time while  this  Article  TWELFTH  is in effect.  Any
         repeal  or  modification  of this  Article  TWELFTH  or any  repeal  or
         modification of relevant provisions of the Delaware  Corporation Law or
         any other  applicable  laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to
         indemnification  of any person  referred to in paragraph A or B of this
         Article TWELFTH or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder
         with  respect to any  action,  suit or  proceeding  arising  out of, or
         relating to, any actions,  transactions or facts occurring prior to the
         final adoption of such modification or repeal.

                  H. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.
         The  Corporation  may, to the extent  authorized from time to time by a
         majority vote of the disinterested directors, indemnify any employee or
         agent of the  Corporation  or any person  who is or was  serving or has
         agreed to serve at the  request of the  Corporation  as an  employee or
         agent of any corporation, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary
         of  the  Corporation,   partnership,  joint  venture,  trust  or  other
         enterprise and pay the expenses

                                      II-7

<PAGE>



         incurred by any such person in defending  any  proceeding in advance of
         its final disposition,  to the fullest extent of the provisions of this
         Article TWELFTH.

                  I.  Insurance.  The  Corporation  may  purchase  and  maintain
         insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to become
         a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
         serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the  Corporation  as a
         director,  officer,  partner,  member,  trustee,  employee  or agent of
         another corporation,  including,  without limitation, any Subsidiary of
         the Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
         including  service with respect to employee benefit plans,  against any
         liability  asserted  against such person and incurred by such person or
         on his or her  behalf  in any such  capacity,  or  arising  out of such
         person's status as such,  whether or not the Corporation would have the
         power to  indemnify  such  person  against  such  liability  under  the
         provisions of this Article TWELFTH.

                  J.  Savings  Clause.  If this  Article  TWELFTH or any portion
         hereof  shall be  invalidated  on any ground by any court of  competent
         jurisdiction,  then the Corporation shall  nevertheless  indemnify each
         person  referred to paragraph A or B of this Article  TWELFTH as to any
         cost,  charge  and  expense  (including  attorneys'  fees  and  related
         disbursements),  judgment, fine (including,  without limitation,  ERISA
         excise taxes and penalties) and amount paid in settlement  with respect
         to  any  action,   suit  or  proceeding;   whether   civil,   criminal,
         administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right
         of the  Corporation,  to the full extent  permitted  by any  applicable
         portion of this Article  TWELFTH  that shall not have been  invalidated
         and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

                  K. Subsequent Legislation.  If the Delaware Corporation Law is
         hereafter  amended to further expand the  indemnification  permitted to
         persons  referred to in paragraphs A and B of this Article TWELFTH then
         the  Corporation  shall  indemnify  such persons to the fullest  extent
         permitted by the Delaware Corporation Law, as so amended.

         Charter One has purchased director and officer liability insurance that
insures  directors and officers  against certain  liabilities in connection with
the performance of their duties as directors and officers, and that provides for
payment to Charter One of costs incurred by it in indemnifying its directors and
officers.

Item 7.           Exemption from Registration Claimed.

         Not applicable.

Item 8.           Exhibits.

         See the Index to Exhibits to this Registration Statement.


                                      II-8

<PAGE>



Item 9.           Undertakings.

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                           (1) To file,  during  any  period in which  offers or
                  sales are  being  made,  a  post-effective  amendment  to this
                  registration statement:

                                    (i)    To include any prospectus required by
                           section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

                                    (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts
                           or events  arising  after the  effective  date of the
                           registration    statement   (or   the   most   recent
                           post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually
                           or in the aggregate,  represent a fundamental  change
                           in the  information  set  forth  in the  registration
                           statement;

                                    (iii) To include  any  material  information
                           with  respect  to  the  plan  of   distribution   not
                           previously disclosed in the registration statement or
                           any  material  change  to  such  information  in  the
                           registration statement;

                           provided,  however,  that clauses (i) and (ii) do not
                           apply if the information required to be included in a
                           post-effective   amendment   by  those   clauses   is
                           contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
                           to the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  by the
                           Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
                           the  Exchange  Act of 1934 that are  incorporated  by
                           reference in the registration statement.

                           (2)  That,  for  the  purpose  of   determining   any
                  liability   under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  each  such
                  post-effective   amendment   shall  be  deemed  to  be  a  new
                  registration  statement  relating  to the  securities  offered
                  therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time
                  shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                           (3)  To  remove  from  registration  by  means  of  a
                  post-effective   amendment   any  of  the   securities   being
                  registered  which  remain  unsold  at the  termination  of the
                  offering.

         (b) The undersigned  Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (c)  Insofar  as  indemnification  for  liabilities  arising  under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrant  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the

                                      II-9

<PAGE>



Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  Registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling person of the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person in the successful  defense of any action,  suit or
proceeding)  is  asserted by such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in
connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit  to a  court  of  appropriate  jurisdiction  the  question  whether  such
indemnification  by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                     II-10

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the  requirements for filing on Form S-8 and the Registrant has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto
duly authorized in the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on December __, 1998.

CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.


By: /s/ CHARLES JOHN KOCH
     Charles John Koch, Chairman of the Board,
        President and Chief Executive Officer

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

/s/ CHARLES JOHN KOCH                          Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Charles John Koch, Chairman of the Board
Chairman of the Board, President and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ RICHARD W. NEU                             Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Richard W. Neu
Director and Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ *EUGENE B. CARROLL, SR.                    Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Eugene B. Carroll, Sr., Director

/s/                                            Date:
- -------------------------------------
Herbert G. Chorbajian, Director

/s/ *PHILLIP W. FISHER                         Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Phillip W. Fisher, Director

/s/ *DENISE M. FUGO                            Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Denise M. Fugo, Director

/s/ *MARK D. GROSSI                            Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Mark D. Grossi, Director

/s/ *CHARLES M. HEIDEL                         Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Charles M. Heidel, Director


                                     II-11


<PAGE>




/s/                                            Date:
- -------------------------------------
Karen R. Hitchcock, Director

/s/ *JOHN D. KOCH                              Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
John D. Koch, Director

/s/ *MICHAEL P. MORLEY                         Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Michael P. Morley, Director

/s/ *HENRY R. NOLTE, JR.                       Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Henry R. Nolte, Jr., Director

/s/ *RONALD F. POE                             Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Ronald F. Poe, Director

/s/ *VICTOR A. PTAK                            Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Victor A. Ptak, Director

/s/ *MELVIN J. RACHAL                          Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Melvin J. Rachal, Director

/s/ *JEROME L. SCHOSTAK                        Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Jerome L. Schostak, Director

/s/ *MARK SHAEVSKY                             Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Mark Shaevsky, Director

/s/ *LEONARD S. SIMON                          Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Leonard S. Simon, Director.

/s/ *JOHN P. TIERNEY                           Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
John P. Tierney, Director.

/s/ *ERESTEEN R. WILLIAMS                      Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
Eresteen R. Williams, Director

*By:/s/ RICHARD W. NEU                         Date:  December 22, 1998
- -------------------------------------
(Richard W. Neu, Attorney-in-Fact)


                                     II-12

<PAGE>



                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibit
Number                          Description of Exhibits

4.1         Second  Restated   Certificate  of   Incorporation  of  Charter  One
            Financial,  Inc.,  filed on  November  15,  1995 as  Exhibit  4.1 to
            Registrant's  Current  Report on Form 8-K (File No.  000-16311),  is
            incorporated herein be reference.

 4.2        Certificate   of  Amendment  of  Second   Restated   Certificate  of
            Incorporation of Charter One Financial, Inc., filed on July 28, 1998
            as Exhibit 3.1 to  Registrant's  Registration  Statement on Form S-4
            (File No. 333-60045), is incorporated herein by reference.

4.3         Certificate   of  Amendment  of  Second   Restated   Certificate  of
            Incorporation  of  Charter One  Financial, Inc. adopted November 13,
            1998.

4.4         Bylaws of Charter One  Financial,  Inc., as amended and currently in
            effect,  filed on  August  8, 1997 as  exhibit  3.2 to  Registrant's
            Registration  Statement  on  form  S-4  (File  No.  333-33169),   is
            incorporated herein by reference.

4.5         Form of  Certificate  of  Common Stock, filed on January 22, 1988 as
            Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File
            No. 33-16207), is incorporated herein by reference.

 4.6        Shareholder  Rights  Agreement  dated  November  21,  1989,  between
            Charter One and First National Bank of Boston, as amended on May 26,
            1995,  filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's  Report on Form 10-K for
            the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1994 and  December  31,  1995,
            respectively, is incorporated herein by reference.

5           Opinion of  Silver,  Freedman &  Taff, L.L.P.  as to legality of the
            securities being registered*

23.1        Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

23.2        Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, L.L.P.

23.3        Consent of Silver, Freedman & Taff, L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5)

24          Power of Attorney (contained on signature page)

     * Previously filed.

                                     II-13

<PAGE>



                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

                            CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT

                                       OF

                  SECOND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION


         Charter One Financial, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under

and by virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,

         DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

         FIRST:  That the Board of Directors of said  corporation,  at a meeting

duly held, adopted  resolutions  proposing and declaring advisable the following

amendment  to  the  Second  Restated   Certificate  of   Incorporation  of  said

corporation:

                  FOURTH:  A. Authorized  Shares.  The total number of shares of

         all  classes of stock which the  Corporation  shall have  authority  to

         issue is three hundred  eighty  million  (380,000,000),  of which three

         hundred sixty million  (360,000,000)  shall be common stock,  par value

         $.01 per share,  and twenty  million  (20,000,000)  shall be  preferred

         stock,  par value $.01 per share.  The number of  authorized  shares of

         preferred stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number

         of  shares  thereof  then  outstanding)  by the  affirmative  vote of a

         majority of the stock of the Corporation  entitled to vote generally in

         the election of directors  without a vote of holders of preferred stock

         as a class,  except to the extent that any such vote may be required by

         any resolution providing for the issuance of series of preferred stock.




<PAGE>



         SECOND:  That the  stockholders  approved said amendment at the Special

Meeting of  Stockholders  of Charter One Financial,  Inc.,  held on November 13,

1998, by the requisite votes of the outstanding shares of common stock, pursuant

to notice given in accordance  with the provisions of Section 222 of the General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.


         THIRD:  That the aforesaid  amendments  were duly adopted in accordance

with  the  applicable  provisions  of  Sections  222  and  242  of  the  General

Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.




<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Charter  One  Financial,  Inc.  has  caused  this

certificate  to be signed  by  Charles  J.  Koch,  its  Chairman  of the  Board,

President and Chief  Executive  Officer,  and attested to by Robert J. Vana, its

Chief  Corporate  Counsel and  Corporate  Secretary,  this 30th day of November,

1998.

                                       CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.




                                       By: /s/ Charles J.  Koch
                                           Charles J. Koch
                                           Chairman of the Board, President and
                                             Chief Executive Officer


ATTEST:




By: /s/ Robert J.  Vana
    Robert J. Vana, Senior Vice President,
    Chief Corporate Counsel and
       Corporate Secretary




<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1






                          Independent Auditors' Consent



Charter One Financial, Inc.

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this  Registration  Statement of
Charter One  Financial,  Inc. on Form S-8 of our report  dated  January 27, 1998
(which  expresses  an  unqualified  opinion  and  refers to the  report of other
auditors on the consolidated financial statements of RCSB Financial,  Inc. which
was merged with Charter One Financial,  Inc.), appearing in the Annual Report on
Form 10-K of Charter One Financial, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1997.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche, LLP

Cleveland, Ohio
December 21, 1998





<PAGE>


                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2


[KPMG Peat Marwick LLP letterhead]





                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
Charter One Financial, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation  by reference in the Registration  Statement on Form
S-8 of Charter  One  Financial,  Inc. of our report  dated  December  13,  1996,
relating to the consolidated statements of condition of RCSB Financial, Inc. and
subsidiaries  as of  November  30,  1996 and 1995 and the  related  consolidated
statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of
the years in the  three-year  period ended  November  30, 1996,  which report is
incorporated by reference in the November 30, 1996 annual report on Form 10-K of
RCSB  Financial,  Inc. Our report refers to changes in  accounting  for mortgage
servicing rights in 1995.


/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick, LLP

December 21, 1998




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