CAPITOL BANCORP LTD
S-3, 1997-11-26
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 26, 1997
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ----------------------

                                   FORM S-3

                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                    UNDER

                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          --------------------------

                            CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.,
                               CAPITOL TRUST I
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
          (EXACT NAME OF CO-REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                                      
                                  MICHIGAN
                                  DELAWARE
       (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
       (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
                                 38-2761672
                                 38-3381371
                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)

       200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, 4TH FLOOR, LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933
                               (517) 487-6555
 (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
        REGISTRANT'S AND CO-REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE)

================================================================================

                               JOSEPH D. REID

        CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

                            CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.

                  200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, FOURTH FLOOR

                           LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933

                               (517) 487-6555

(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
================================================================================
                               WITH COPIES TO:


      JOHN SHARP, ESQ.                         DONALD L. JOHNSON, ESQ.     
      STROBL & BORDA, P.C.                     VARNUM, RIDDERING, SCHMIDT &
      300 E. LONG LAKE ROAD, SUITE 200         HOWLETT, LLP                
      BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304               333 BRIDGE STREET, N.W.      
      (248) 540-2300                           GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN 49504
                                               (616) 336-6000              
<PAGE>   2
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon
as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1933, check the following box. / /

     If the registrant elects to deliver its latest annual report to security
holders, or a complete and legible facsimile thereof, pursuant to Item
11(a)(1) of this Form, check the following box. / /

     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /

     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /

     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /

                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       PROPOSED
                                     PROPOSED          MAXIMUM
                         AMOUNT      MAXIMUM           AGGREGATE
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF   TO BE       OFFERING PRICE    OFFERING       AMOUNT OF 
SECURITIES TO BE         REGISTERED  PER UNIT          PRICE        REGISTRATION
REGISTERED                                                            FEE       

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>      <C>       <C>               <C>
Preferred Securities of
Capitol Trust I  2,530,000    $10.00            $25,300,000       $7,667.00
================================================================================
Subordinated Debentures of
Capitol Bancorp Ltd.                  F3, F4
================================================================================

Guarantee of
Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
With Respect to
Preferred Securities                  F4
================================================================================
</TABLE>



<F1>Includes 330,000 Preferred Securities which may be sold by Capitol I to
cover over-allotments.
<F2>The registration fee is calculated in accordance with Rule 457(n) under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
<F3>The Subordinated Debentures will be purchased by Capitol Trust I
with the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities. Such securities may
later be distributed for no additional consideration to the holders of
the Preferred Securities of Capitol Trust I upon its dissolution and
the distribution of its assets.

                                      2



<PAGE>   3

    This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Subordinated Debentures
of Capitol Bancorp Ltd., the rights of holders of Subordinated Debentures of
Capitol Bancorp Ltd., under the Indenture, and the rights of holders of the
Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, the Guarantee and the Expense
Agreement entered into by Capitol Bancorp Ltd.  No separate consideration will
be received for the Guarantee.

THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE
A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
        
                                       3

<PAGE>   4
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER __, 1997
PROSPECTUS

                                                               
                         2,200,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
                                CAPITOL TRUST I

                    % CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $10 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
                      GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY

                              CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.
                              ____________________

                  $22,000,000    % SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OF
                              CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.
                              ____________________

     The ___% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred
Securities") offered hereby represent preferred undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of Capitol Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the
laws of the State of Delaware ("Capitol Trust").  Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a
Michigan corporation (the "Company"), will own all the common securities (the
"Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust
Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
Capitol Trust.                                      (continued on next page)

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

     SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 7 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 NON-BANKING AFFILIATE
       OF THE COMPANY (EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE
        GUARANTEED BY THE COMPANY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN), 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
                                                                               PUBLIC     COMMISSION(1)  CAPITOL TRUST(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                          <C>          <C>            <C>
Per Preferred Security.....................................................  $     10.00       (2)       $       10.00
Total(3)...................................................................  $22,000,000       (2)       $  22,000,000
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Capitol 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)  In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
     Securities will be invested in the Subordinated Debentures, the Company
     has agreed to pay the Underwriters as compensation for its arranging the
     investment therein of such proceeds $    per Preferred Security, or $
     in the aggregate ($     if the over-allotment option is exercised in
     full).  See "Underwriting."  The Company has also agreed to pay the
     expenses of the offering estimated to be $    .

(3)  Capitol Trust has granted the Underwriters an option exercisable within 30
     days from the date of this Prospectus to purchase up to 330,000 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
     Capitol Trust will be $25,300,000.
                              ____________________

     The Preferred Securities are offered by the Underwriters subject to
receipt and acceptance by it, 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 on or about ____, 1997.

<TABLE>
<S>                         <C>                              <C>
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO.       STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY       HOWE BARNES INVESTMENTS, INC. 
  INCORPORATED                     INCORPORATED 
</TABLE>


December __, 1997                    


<PAGE>   5


(continued from previous page)
     The First National Bank of Chicago is the Property Trustee (as defined
herein) of Capitol Trust.  Capitol Trust exists for the purpose of issuing the
Preferred Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount
of     ___% Subordinated Debentures (the "Subordinated Debentures") of the
Company.  The Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 31, 2027, which
date may be (i) shortened to a date not earlier than December 31, 2002, or (ii)
extended to a date not later than December 31, 2036, in each case if certain
conditions are met (including, in the case of shortening the Stated Maturity
(as defined herein), the Company having received prior approval of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "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 (the "Distributions") from Capitol Trust, at the
annual rate of      % of the liquidation amount of $10 per Preferred Security
(the "Liquidation Amount"), accruing from the date of original issuance and
payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and
December of each year, commencing March 31, 1998.  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
calendar quarters with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extended
Interest Payment Period"); provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period
may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.  Upon the
termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest
Payment 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.  WHILE THE
COMPANY INTENDS TO TAKE THE POSITION THAT THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES WILL NOT
BE DEEMED TO BE ISSUED WITH ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT ("OID"), DURING AN EXTENDED
INTEREST PAYMENT 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     % PER ANNUM,
COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY, AND HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE REQUIRED
TO INCLUDE INTEREST INCOME AS OID 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.  A HOLDER OF PREFERRED
SECURITIES WHO DISPOSES OF THAT HOLDER'S PREFERRED SECURITIES BETWEEN RECORD
DATES FOR PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS (AND CONSEQUENTLY DOES NOT RECEIVE A
DISTRIBUTION FROM CAPITOL TRUST FOR THE PERIOD PRIOR TO SUCH DISPOSITION) WILL
NEVERTHELESS BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE ACCRUED BUT UNPAID INTEREST OR OID, IF ANY,
ON THE SUBORDINATED 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.  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 Capitol 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
Capitol Trust under the Preferred Securities.  See "Relationship Among the
Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee--Full and
Unconditional Guarantee."  The Guarantee of the Company guarantees the payment
of Distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption of the Preferred
Securities, but only in each case to the extent of funds held by Capitol Trust,
as described herein.  See "Description of the Guarantee--General."  If the
Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures held by
Capitol Trust, Capitol Trust will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions
on the Preferred Securities.  The Guarantee does not cover payments of
Distributions when Capitol 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 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.




<PAGE>   6


     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 December 31, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from
time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 days
following the occurrence of a Tax Event, a Capital Treatment Event or an
Investment Company Event (each as defined herein), 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.  See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption."

     The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate
Capitol 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 Capitol Trust, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capitol Trust as required by
applicable law, the holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive
a Liquidation Amount of $10 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" and
"--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."

                              ____________________

     The Company will provide Quarterly Reports containing unaudited financial
statements to the holders of Preferred Securities if such reports are furnished
to the holders of the Company's common stock, and Annual Reports containing
financial statements audited by the Company's independent auditors.  The
Company will also 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 Vice President, Investor Relations 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.  SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY INCLUDE OVER-ALLOTMENT, STABILIZING
TRANSACTIONS, THE PURCHASE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES TO COVER SHORT POSITIONS AND
THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS.  FOR A DESCRIPTION OF SUCH ACTIVITIES, SEE
"UNDERWRITING."  SUCH STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

                              ____________________

INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT.  A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.  THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE.  THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.





<PAGE>   7





                        CAPITOL BANCORP BANK AFFILIATES




                                  MAP GRAPHIC






                      1.  ANN ARBOR COMMERCE BANK, ANN ARBOR MI
                      2.  BRIGHTON COMMERCE BANK, BRIGHTON MI
                      3.  CAPITOL NATIONAL BANK, LANSING MI
                      4.  LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED (IN ORGANIZATION)
                      5.  GRAND HAVEN BANK, GRAND HAVEN MI
                      6.  KENT COMMERCE BANK, GRAND RAPIDS MI (IN ORGANIZATION)
                      7.  MACOMB COMMUNITY BANK, CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI
                      8.  MUSKEGON COMMERCE BANK, MUSKEGON MI (IN ORGANIZATION)
                      9.  OAKLAND COMMERCE BANK, FARMINGTON HILLS MI
                      10. PARAGON BANK & TRUST, HOLLAND MI
                      11. PORTAGE COMMERCE BANK, PORTAGE MI
                      12. BANK OF TUCSON, TUCSON AZ
                      13. BILTMORE COMMUNITY BANK, PHOENIX AZ (IN ORGANIZATION)
                      14. SOUTHERN ARIZONA COMMUNITY BANK, TUCSON AZ
                      15. VALLEY FIRST COMMUNITY BANK, SCOTTSDALE AZ







<PAGE>   8


                               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."

                                  THE COMPANY
GENERAL

     Capitol Bancorp Ltd. ( the "Company") is a multi-bank holding company with
its headquarters in Lansing, Michigan.  As of September 30, 1997, the Company
was comprised of eight community banks in Michigan and, through a second tier
holding company based in Arizona, two community banks in the state of Arizona
(collectively the "Banks").  The Company has experienced significant growth in
recent years.  During 1997, two affiliated banks have been added and management
anticipates that two additional de novo (new) banks are likely to be added
prior to year end 1997.  During the twelve month period ended September 30,
1997, total assets increased 42% from $446 million to $634 million.

     The Company is a uniquely structured affiliation of small community banks.
Each bank, which typically has only one location, is focused on meeting the
banking needs of entrepreneurs, professionals and other individuals seeking
individually-tailored service.  Each bank has full local decision-making
authority in making loans and delivery of other banking services.  Each bank is
managed by an on-site president and management team under the direction of its
local board of directors comprised of business leaders from that bank's
community.

     The principal executive office of the Company is located at 200 Washington
Square North, Lansing, Michigan 48933 and its telephone number is (517)
487-6555.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           AS OF AND FOR THE
                                           NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                             SEPTEMBER 30,                                    AS OF AND FOR THE
                                              (UNAUDITED)                                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                        -----------------------         -----------------------------------------------------------
                                              1997         1996            1996           1995        1994         1993      1992
                                              ----         ----            ----           ----        ----         ----      ----
                                                                 (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                   <C>           <C>               <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>
Net income...........................   $     4,058   $   3,427         $   4,636    $    3,073   $    2,076    $   1,055  $  1,600
Total assets.........................       633,826     445,922           492,263       384,070      316,312      253,683   225,024
Stockholders' equity.................        43,829      37,768            40,159        30,865       25,714       18,337    16,545
Return on average equity.............         13.10%      13.75%            12.01%        10.55%        9.45%        5.54%    10.18%
Return on average assets.............          0.97%       1.11%             1.08%         0.87%        0.75%        0.44%     0.86%
</TABLE>

BUSINESS OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGY

     The Company's primary objectives are to achieve growth in assets,
earnings, return on assets and return on equity.  Strategies to accomplish
these objectives include the business of community banking on two primary
fronts:

     BANK DEVELOPMENT:  Since 1991, the Company has added seven banks of
     which two were acquisitions and five were started as de novo banks.
     The Company plans further de novo bank formation with emphasis on
     opening new banks in late 1997 and continuing in 1998.  The
     Company's expansion strategy is focused on identification of dynamic
     communities whereby ongoing consolidation of the banking industry
     creates opportunities for formation of small, customer-focused
     banks.  Such banks will be focused on serving their customer in a
     comprehensive relationship and on a profitable basis, rather than
     achieving significant market share.  Such de novo banks will be
     managed by an on-site president under the leadership of a
     community-based board of directors which is comprised of business
     leaders from that community.  Additionally, such de novo banks, as
     recently evidenced by the Company's expansion strategy, include a
     "partnership de novo" philosophy whereby the Company takes a
     majority ownership position in the bank's common stock with a
     significant investment also being made by local investors in that
     bank's community.



                                      1
<PAGE>   9


     ACTIVE OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF EXISTING AFFILIATED BANKS:  The
     Company is actively involved in capital deployment and ensuring that
     adequate resources are made available to enable its affiliated banks
     to grow and prosper in their communities.  Through efficient
     consolidation of "backroom" operations, such as item processing,
     data processing and the like, the Company provides economical
     support services to its affiliated banks on a day-to-day basis.
     Investments in technology by the Company enable the Banks to obtain
     more sophisticated technology than would typically be available to
     the Banks individually.  Further, appropriate ancillary support
     services such as funds management, audit, risk management and loan
     review are provided by the Company, without interfering with the
     affiliated banks' autonomy.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

     On November 5, 1997, the Company announced a 10% stock dividend (one share
for each ten shares held) for shareholders of record as of December 1, 1997 to
be distributed on or about December 15, 1997.

     In early November 1997, the Company negotiated an increase of $3 million
in its credit facilities (to a maximum availability $13 million) with its
primary lender.  The Company intends to use a portion of the proceeds from the
Preferred Securities to retire certain indebtedness under the credit facility
(see "Use of Proceeds").

OWNERSHIP

     As of February 17, 1997, the directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group owned approximately 25.09% of the Company's common stock
exclusive of stock options (32.03% assuming exercise of stock options
outstanding at that date).







                                      2
<PAGE>   10


                                 CAPITOL TRUST

     Capitol Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement, dated as of November 25, 1997, executed by
the Company, as depositor, and the trustees of Capitol Trust (the "Trustees"),
and (ii) a certificate of trust filed with the Delaware Secretary of State on
November 25, 1997.  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 Capitol 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."  Capitol Trust exists for the
exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Capitol 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 Capitol Trust and payments under the
Subordinated Debentures will be the only revenue of Capitol Trust.  Capitol
Trust has a term of 55 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the
Trust Agreement.  The principal executive office of Capitol Trust is 200
Washington Square North, Lansing, Michigan 48933, and its telephone number is
(517) 487-6555.

     The number of Trustees will, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, 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").  The First
National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, 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, The
First National Bank of Chicago 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").
First Chicago Delaware Inc., a Delaware corporation, will act as Delaware
Trustee.

     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 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 Capitol 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."





                                      3
<PAGE>   11
                                  THE OFFERING

Securities Offered................             2,200,000 Preferred Securities
                                               having a Liquidation Amount of
                                               $10 per Preferred Security.
                                               The Preferred Securities
                                               represent preferred undivided
                                               beneficial interests in the
                                               assets of Capitol Trust, which
                                               will consist solely of the
                                               Subordinated Debentures and
                                               payments thereunder.  Capitol
                                               Trust has granted the
                                               Underwriters an option,
                                               exercisable within 30 days
                                               after the date of this
                                               Prospectus, to purchase up to
                                               an additional 330,000 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
                                               ___% of the Liquidation Amount
                                               of $10 per Preferred Security,
                                               will be cumulative, will accrue
                                               from December __, 1997, the
                                               date of issuance of the
                                               Preferred Securities, and will
                                               be payable quarterly in
                                               arrears, on March 31, June 30,
                                               September 30 and December 31 of
                                               each year, commencing March 31,
                                               1998.  See "Description of the
                                               Preferred Securities--
                                               Distributions--Payment of 
                                               Distributions."
Option to Extend Interest Payment  
  Period...........................            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 calendar quarters;
                                               provided, that no Extended
                                               Interest Payment Period may
                                               extend beyond the Stated
                                               Maturity of the Subordinated
                                               Debentures.  As a consequence
                                               of the extension by the Company
                                               of the interest payment period,
                                               quarterly Distributions on the
                                               Preferred Securities will be
                                               deferred (though such
                                               Distributions would continue to
                                               accrue with interest thereon
                                               compounded quarterly, since
                                               interest will continue to
                                               accrue and compound on the
                                               Subordinated Debentures) during
                                               any such Extended Interest
                                               Payment Period.  During an
                                               Extended Interest Payment
                                               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 Extended
                                               Interest Payment Period and the
                                               payment of all amounts then
                                               due, the Company may commence a
                                               new Extended Interest Payment
                                               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 Extended Interest
                                               Payment 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.  See "Certain Federal
                                               Income Tax Consequences--
                                               Potential Extension of Interest 
                                               Payment Period and Original Issue
                                               Discount."

Maturity and Redemption...........             The Subordinated Debentures
                                               will mature on December 31,
                                               2027 (if not extended to a date
                                               not later than December 31,
                                               2036 if certain conditions are
                                               met).  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 December 31, 2002,
                                               in whole at any time or in part
                                               from time to time, or (ii) at
                                               any time, in whole (but not in
                                               part), within 180 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 Debentures,
                                               together with any accrued but
                                               unpaid interest to the date
                                               fixed for redemption.  See
                                               "Description of the
                                               Subordinated
                                               Debentures--Redemption."


                                      4
<PAGE>   12
Distribution of Subordinated  
   Debentures........................          The Company has the right at
                                               any time to terminate Capitol
                                               Trust and cause the
                                               Subordinated Debentures to be
                                               distributed to holders of
                                               Preferred Securities in
                                               liquidation of Capitol 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 and
                                               --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 in each
                                               case to the extent of funds
                                               held by Capitol Trust, as
                                               described herein.  The Company
                                               and Capitol 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 provide, in the
                                               aggregate, a full, irrevocable
                                               and unconditional guarantee, on
                                               a subordinated basis, of all of
                                               the obligations of Capitol
                                               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,
                                               Capitol 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
                                               Capitol 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
                                               offered hereby will be used by
                                               Capitol Trust to purchase the
                                               Subordinated Debentures issued
                                               by the Company.  The Company
                                               intends to use approximately $9
                                               million of the net proceeds
                                               from the sale of the
                                               Subordinated Debentures to
                                               retire existing debt
                                               obligations (based on amounts
                                               outstanding as of November 24,
                                               1997) under its credit
                                               facilities with an unaffiliated
                                               bank.  The Company intends to
                                               use the remaining net proceeds
                                               from the sale of the
                                               Subordinated Debentures for
                                               general corporate purposes
                                               including, without limitation,
                                               the making of investments in de
                                               novo banks, infusion of capital
                                               into existing banks to
                                               facilitate further growth or
                                               other corporate purposes.
                                               Pending their application for
                                               any or all of such purposes,
                                               the net proceeds may be
                                               invested in investment grade
                                               financial instruments.  See
                                               "The Company--Recent 
                                               Developments" and "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
                                               "CBCLP."



                                      5
<PAGE>   13


                      SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

     The consolidated financial data below summarizes historical consolidated
financial information of the Company for the periods indicated and should be
read in conjunction with the financial statements and other information
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended
December 31, 1996, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.  The
unaudited consolidated financial data below for the interim periods indicated
has been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine-month period ended September 30,
1997, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.  See "Available
Information" and "Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference."  Interim
results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 are not necessarily
indicative of results which may be expected for future periods, including the
year ending December 31, 1997.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 AS OF AND FOR THE
                                                 NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                                   SEPTEMBER 30,                       AS OF AND FOR THE
                                                    (UNAUDITED)                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                1997        1996       1996        1995       1994        1993          1992
                                                ----        ----       ----        ----       ----        ----          ----
                                                                            (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>
SELECTED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS:          
  Interest income........................   $    35,451  $    26,531  $  36,479  $   29,914  $   21,480  $   17,729   $    15,263
  Interest expense.......................        17,633       12,996     17,800      15,079       9,397       8,071         7,356
                                            -----------   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------   -----------
  Net interest income....................        17,818       13,535     18,679      14,835      12,083       9,658         7,907
  Provision for loan losses..............         1,442          751      1,196         839         473         598           553
                                            -----------   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------   -----------
  Net interest income after provision      
   for loan losses.......................        16,376       12,784     17,483      13,996      11,610       9,060         7,354
  Noninterest income.....................         1,702        1,184      1,705       1,272       2,189       1,070           953
  Noninterest expense....................        11,915        8,824     12,307      10,460      10,563       8,643         5,972
                                            -----------   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------   -----------
  Income before income tax expense.......         6,163        5,144      6,881       4,808       3,236       1,487         2,335
  Income tax expense.....................         2,105        1,717      2,245       1,735       1,160         432           735
                                            -----------   ----------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------   -----------
  Net income.............................   $     4,058   $    3,427  $   4,636  $    3,073  $    2,076  $    1,055   $     1,600
                                            ===========   ==========  =========  ==========  ==========  ==========   ===========
PER SHARE DATA:                          
  Earnings per common share:               
    Primary................................ $      0.85   $     0.82  $    1.09  $     0.79  $     0.64  $     0.40   $      0.64
    Fully diluted..........................        0.83         0.81       1.04        0.77        0.64        0.40          0.64
  Cash dividends declared..................        0.30         0.30       0.33        0.25        0.25        0.19          0.18
  Book value...............................        9.28         9.48       8.91        9.09        8.14        7.70          7.50
  Dividend payout ratio (primary)..........       35.29%       36.59%     30.28%      31.65%      39.06%      47.50%        28.13%
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA:             
  Total assets............................. $   633,826   $  445,922  $ 492,263  $  384,070  $  316,312  $  253,683   $   225,024
  Investment securities(1).................      62,357       43,262     48,725      36,329      33,802      20,391        18,439
  Portfolio loans..........................     461,371      332,420    357,623     283,471     241,583     171,514       158,469
  Allowance for loan losses................      (5,758)      (4,261)    (4,578)     (3,687)     (3,220)     (2,500)       (2,319)
  Deposits.................................     563,308      391,946    436,166     340,287     279,650     220,513       201,762
  Debt obligations.........................      11,825        7,062      6,500       8,712       7,924      11,023         3,839
  Stockholders' equity.....................      43,829       37,768     40,159      30,865      25,714      18,337        16,545
PERFORMANCE RATIOS:                      
  Return on average equity.................       13.10%       13.75%     12.01%      10.55%       9.45%       5.54%        10.18%
  Return on average assets.................        0.97         1.11       1.08        0.87        0.75        0.44          0.86
  Net interest margin (fully taxable       
   equivalent).............................        4.57         4.72       4.62        4.46        4.71        4.38          4.47
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS:                    
  Allowance for loan losses to loans.......        1.25%        1.28%      1.28%       1.30%       1.33%       1.46%         1.46%
  Non-performing loans to total loans......        0.83         0.77       0.75        0.47        0.80        1.57          2.44
  Net loan losses to average loans.........        0.06         0.08       0.10        0.14        0.13        0.25          0.21
CAPITAL RATIOS:                          
  Average equity to average assets.........        7.44%        9.35%      8.97%       8.24%       7.93%       7.90%         8.43%
  Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio..........       11.28        12.28      11.91        9.80        9.27        8.80          8.79
  Total risk-based capital ratio...........       12.27        13.24      12.88       10.91       10.51       10.04         10.04
  Leverage ratio...........................        8.13         9.10       8.16        7.16        6.95        6.39          6.46
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES:(2)   
  Including interest on deposits...........        1.35x        1.40x      1.39x       1.32x       1.34x       1.18x         1.32x
  Excluding interest on deposits...........       13.17x       10.92x     13.54x       9.29x       5.28x       2.87x        26.81x
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1)Includes market value adjustment on available-for-sale securities.
(2)Earnings consist of income before income tax plus interest expense.  Fixed
   charges consist of interest expense.  The Company does not currently have
   any preferred stock outstanding.



                                      6
<PAGE>   14


                                  RISK FACTORS

     Prospective investors should carefully consider, together with the other
information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, the
following risk factors 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 and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
that actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such
statements.  These considerations are not intended to represent a complete list
of the general or specific risks that may affect the Preferred Securities, the
Subordinated Debentures, the Company or Capitol Trust.  It should be recognized
that other risks may be significant, now or in the future, and the risks set
forth below may affect the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures,
the Company or Capitol Trust to a greater extent than indicated.

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER 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.  At
September 30, 1997, the Company had several borrowings from an unrelated
financial institution of approximately $9 million outstanding and no other
Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or Additional Senior Obligations outstanding.
Because the Company is a holding company, the right of the Company to
participate in any distribution of assets of its Banks upon the Banks'
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 Banks', except to the extent
that the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor of the Banks.  The
Subordinated Debentures, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future liabilities of the Banks 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 Capitol 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 calendar quarters with respect to each
Extended Interest Payment Period; provided that no Extended Interest Payment
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 Capitol 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 ____% per annum, compounded
quarterly from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any
such Extended Interest Payment Period.  During any such Extended Interest
Payment 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 (other than (a) dividends
or distributions in common stock of the Company, any declaration of a non-cash
dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders' rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption
or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, and (b) purchases of common
stock of the Company related to the rights under any of the Company's benefit
plans for its directors, officers or employees), (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 (provided that this restriction will not
prohibit 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 Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest; provided that no
Extended Interest Payment Period may exceed 20 consecutive calendar quarters or
extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.  Upon the
termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all
interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual
rate of ____% compounded quarterly, to the extent permitted by applicable law),
the Company





                                      7
<PAGE>   15

may elect to begin a new Extended Interest Payment 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 Extended Interest Payment
Period.  See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions-Extension
Period" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend
Interest Payment 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.  Should an Extended Interest Payment Period occur,
however, each holder of Preferred Securities will be required to accrue and
recognize income (in the form of OID) in respect of its pro rata share of the
interest accruing on the Subordinated Debentures held by Capitol Trust for
federal income tax purposes.  A holder of Preferred Securities must, as a
result, 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 Capitol 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."

     Should the Company elect to exercise its right to defer payments of
interest on the Subordinated Debentures 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 Extended Interest Payment
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.

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

     The Company has the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole
(but not in part) within 180 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event, a
Capital Treatment Event or an Investment Company Event (whether occurring
before or after December 31, 2002), 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 Capitol 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 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) Capitol 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) Capitol Trust is,
or will be within 90 days of the date of the opinion, 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) above.

     "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by Capitol 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" and/or "Tier 2 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.

     "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by Capitol 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, Capitol Trust is or will be
considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as



                                      8
<PAGE>   16

amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change becomes effective on or
after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities.

SHORTENING OR EXTENSION 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 December 31, 2002.  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 also has the right to extend the
maturity of the Subordinated Debentures (whether or not Capitol Trust is
terminated and the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Preferred Securities) to a date no later than December 31, 2036, a date
approximately 39 years after the initial issuance of the Preferred Securities.
Such right may only be exercised, however, if at the time such election is made
and at the time of such extension (i) the Company is not in bankruptcy,
otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (ii) the Company is not in default in
the payment of any interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures, and
(iii) Capitol Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on the
Preferred Securities and no deferred Distributions are accumulated.  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 Capitol Trust, (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions
required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent that Capitol
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 Capitol Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and
(iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of
Capitol 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 (as defined herein), to the extent Capitol Trust has funds
available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of Capitol Trust
remaining available for distribution to holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of Capitol 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 Capitol 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,
Capitol 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.

NO VOTING RIGHTS EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES

     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 Capitol 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




                                      9
<PAGE>   17

that Capitol 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 Capitol Trust Trustees."

PROPOSED TAX LEGISLATION

     Certain legislative proposals were made in 1996 and 1997 which, if
enacted, could have adversely affected the ability of the Company to deduct
interest paid on the Subordinated Debentures.  These proposals were not,
however, incorporated into the legislation enacted on August 5, 1997 as the
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.  Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that
other legislation enacted after the date hereof will not otherwise adversely
affect 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, December 31, 2002.  See "Description of
the Subordinated Debentures--Redemption" and "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption--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."

REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate
Capitol Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor in liquidation of
Capitol 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 Capitol Trust, in which event Capitol 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--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 Capitol Trust would not be a
taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities.  If, however, Capitol
Trust were to be recharacterized as an association taxable as a corporation at
the time of the dissolution of Capitol Trust, the distribution of the
Subordinated Debentures may constitute a taxable event to holders of Preferred
Securities.  Moreover, upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, a dissolution of
Capitol 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
Capitol 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 Capitol Trust.
The Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures, may, therefore, 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 Capitol 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 that disposes of its
Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of Distributions (and
consequently does not receive a Distribution from Capitol Trust for the period
prior to such disposition) will nevertheless be required to include accrued but
unpaid interest (or OID) on the Subordinated 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





                                      10
<PAGE>   18

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 have the Preferred Securities approved 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 has been
determined through negotiations between the Company and the Underwriter.
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.

LIMITED COVENANTS

     The covenants in the Indenture are limited, and there are no covenants
relating to the Company in the Trust Agreement.  As a result, neither the
Indenture nor the Trust Agreement protects holders of Subordinated Debentures,
or Preferred Securities, respectively, in the event of a material adverse
change in the Company's financial condition or results of operations or limits
the ability of the Company or any subsidiary to incur additional indebtedness.
Therefore, the provisions of these governing instruments should not be
considered a significant factor in evaluating whether the Company will be able
to comply with its obligations under the Subordinated Debentures or the
Guarantee.

PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE NOT INSURED

     The Preferred Securities are not insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the
Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
or by any other governmental agency.

RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE COMPANY

IMPACT OF INTEREST RATE CHANGES

     The Company's results of operations are derived from the operations of the
Banks and are principally dependent on net interest income, calculated as the
difference between interest earned on loans and investments and the interest
expense paid on deposits and other borrowings.  Like other banks and financial
institutions, the Company's interest income and interest expense are affected
by general economic conditions and by the policies of regulatory authorities,
including the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve.  While management has
taken measures intended to manage the risks of operating in a changing interest
rate environment, there can be no assurance that such measures will be
effective in avoiding undue interest rate risk.

CREDIT RISKS

     As a financial institution, the Company is exposed to the risk that
customers to whom the Banks have made loans will be unable to repay those loans
according to their terms and that collateral securing such loans (if any) may
not be sufficient in value to assure repayment.  Credit losses could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's operating results.

REGULATORY RISK

     The banking industry is heavily regulated.  These regulations are
primarily intended to protect depositors and the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC"), not shareholders or other creditors.  Regulations
affecting the financial institutions industry are undergoing continuous change,
and the ultimate effect of such changes cannot be predicted.  Regulations and
laws affecting the Company and the Banks may be modified at any time, and new
legislation affecting financial institutions may be proposed and enacted.
There is no assurance that such modifications or new laws will not materially
and adversely affect the business, condition or operations of the Company and
the Banks.









                                      11
<PAGE>   19


DEPENDENCE ON DIVIDENDS FROM SUBSIDIARY BANKS

     As a holding company, with the substantial majority of its assets
represented by its equity interest in its subsidiary banks, the Company's
ability to pay interest on the Subordinated Debentures to Capitol Trust (and
consequently Capitol Trust's ability to pay Distributions on the Preferred
Securities and the Company's ability to pay its obligations on the Guarantee)
depends primarily upon the cash dividends the Company receives from the
subsidiary Banks.  Dividend payments from the subsidiary Banks are subject to
regulatory limitations, generally based on current and retained earnings,
imposed by the various regulatory agencies with authority over the respective
subsidiary Banks.  Payment of dividends is also subject to regulatory
restrictions if such dividends would impair the capital of the subsidiary
Banks.  Payment of subsidiary Banks' dividends is also subject to the Banks'
profitability, financial condition and capital expenditures and other cash flow
requirements.  No assurance can be given that the subsidiary Banks will be able
to pay dividends at past levels, or at all, in the future.

COMPETITION

     The banking business is highly competitive.  The Banks compete with other
commercial banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mortgage
banking companies, securities brokerage companies, insurance companies, and
money market mutual funds.  Many of these competitors have substantially
greater resources than the Company and the Banks and offer certain services
that the Company and the Banks do not currently provide.  Such competitors may
also have greater lending limits than the Banks.  The number of competitors may
increase as a result of the easing of restrictions on interstate banking
effected under the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Efficiency Act of 1994.
In addition, non-bank competitors are generally not subject to the extensive
regulations applicable to the Company and the Banks.

EXPOSURE TO LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

     The success of the Company and the Banks is dependent to a certain extent
upon the general economic conditions of the states in which they are located
and the geographic markets served by the Banks.  No assurance can be given that
favorable economic conditions will continue to exist in such markets.

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities offered hereby will
be used by Capitol Trust to purchase the Subordinated Debentures issued by the
Company.  The Company intends to use approximately $9 million of the net
proceeds from the sale of the Subordinated Debentures to retire existing debt
obligations (based on amounts outstanding as of November 24, 1997) under its
credit facilities with an unaffiliated bank.  Such borrowings principally bear
interest at 7.5% up to $8 million of which are convertible into a four year 
term loan payable in quarterly principal installments based on eight-year 
amortization, plus interest.  The Company intends to use the remaining net 
proceeds from the sale of the Subordinated Debentures for general corporate 
purposes including, without limitation, the making of investments in de novo 
banks, infusion of capital into existing banks to facilitate further growth or 
other corporate purposes.  Pending their application for any or all of such 
purposes, the net proceeds may be invested in investment grade financial 
instruments.

                      MARKET FOR THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

     Application has been made to have the Preferred Securities approved for
quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market under the symbol
"CBCLP."  Although the Underwriters have informed the Company that they
presently intend to make a market in the Preferred Securities, there can be no
assurance that an active and liquid trading market will develop or, if
developed, that such a market will continue.  The offering price and
distribution rate have been determined 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.
See "Underwriting."  The Company's common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market under the symbol "CBCL."





                                      12
<PAGE>   20


                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

     Capitol Trust will be treated, for financial reporting purposes, as a
subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of Capitol Trust will
be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company.  The
Preferred Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the
consolidated balance sheet of the Company under the caption "Guaranteed
Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's Subordinated Debentures," or a
similar caption, 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 interest expense in its consolidated
statements of income for financial reporting purposes.

     All reports of the Company filed under the Exchange Act while Preferred
Securities are outstanding will (a) present the Trust Securities issued by
Capitol Trust on the balance sheet under a separate line item entitled
"Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's Subordinated
Debentures" or a similar caption, (b) include in a footnote to the financial
statements disclosure that the sole assets of Capitol Trust are the
Subordinated Debentures (including the outstanding principal amount, interest
rate and maturity date of such Subordinated Debentures ) and payments
thereunder, and (c) include in a footnote to the audited consolidated financial
statements disclosure that the Company owns all of the Common Securities of
Capitol Trust, the sole assets of Capitol 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 Capitol Trust
under the Preferred Securities.





                                      13
<PAGE>   21


                                 CAPITALIZATION

     The following table sets forth (i) the unaudited consolidated
capitalization of the Company at September 30, 1997, (ii) the unaudited
consolidated capitalization of the Company giving effect to the issuance of the
Preferred Securities hereby offered by Capitol Trust and the receipt by the
Company of the net proceeds from the corresponding sale of the Subordinated
Debentures to Capitol Trust (the "Offering"), and (iii) the unaudited
consolidated capitalization of the Company giving effect to the Offering and
partial application of the proceeds therefrom to retire certain prior
indebtedness of the Company, as if each such transaction had been consummated
on September 30, 1997, and assuming the Underwriters' over-allotment option was
not exercised.



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   AS ADJUSTED FOR THE
                                                                       AS ADJUSTED              OFFERING AND RETIREMENT OF
                                                       ACTUAL        FOR THE OFFERING            CERTAIN DEBT OBLIGATIONS
                                                      -------        ----------------           --------------------------
<S>                                                   <C>            <C>                        <C>                   
                                                                          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
DEBT OBLIGATIONS:
   Notes payable to unaffiliated bank................ $  8,825       $    8,825                 $            0
   Other.............................................    3,000            3,000                          3,000
                                                      --------       ----------                 --------------
                                                        11,825           11,825                          3,000
                                                                                                              
GUARANTEED PREFERRED BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THE
   COMPANY'S SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES(1)...............      --           22,000                         22,000

MINORITY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES........   9,817            9,817                          9,817

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Common stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares
     authorized; 4,723,194 shares issued, and
     outstanding.....................................   36,818           36,818                         36,818
                                                                                                              
   Retained earnings.................................    7,856            7,856                          7,856
     Unrealized appreciation on available-for-sale
     securities......................................      170              170                            170
                                                      --------       ----------                 --------------
                                                        44,844           44,844                         44,844
   Less note receivable from ESOP....................   (1,015)          (1,015)                        (1,015)
                                                      --------       ----------                 --------------
        Total stockholders' equity................... $ 43,829       $   43,829                 $       43,829

CAPITAL RATIOS:
   Stockholders' equity to total assets..............     6.91%            6.67%                          6.76%


   Leverage ratio:(2)(3).............................
     Including minority interest in consolidated
        subsidiaries.................................     8.13%           10.47%                         10.61%

     Excluding minority interest in consolidated
        subsidiaries.................................     6.57%            8.97%                          9.09%
   Risk-based capital ratios:(3)(4)
     Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets..........    11.28%           14.35%                         14.62%

     Tier 1 and Tier 2 capital to risk-weighted 
        assets......................................     12.27%           16.33%                         16.63%
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1)  Assuming proceeds from the Offering of $22,000,000 but not including
     estimated expenses of the Offering.
(2)  The leverage ratio is Tier 1 capital divided by total assets, after
     deducting intangible assets and net deferred tax assets in excess of
     regulatory limits.
(3)  The capital ratios are computed including the total estimated net proceeds
     from the sale of the Preferred Securities, in a manner consistent with
     Federal Reserve calculation guidelines and assuming application of such
     proceeds (to the extent not used to retire certain prior debt obligations)
     to the 100% risk-weighted asset category.
(4)  Federal Reserve guidelines for calculation of Tier 1 capital to
     risk-weighted assets limits the amount of cumulative preferred stock which
     can be included in Tier 1 capital to 25% of total Tier 1 capital.
     Approximately $17 million of the aggregate amount of the Preferred
     Securities offered hereby will be included as Tier 1 capital for the
     Company.  To the extent the amount of Preferred Securities are not
     included as Tier 1 capital, such amounts will be included in Tier 2
     capital for the Company.






                                      14
<PAGE>   22


                    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, The First National Bank of Chicago,
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
Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust
of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any
indebtedness by Capitol Trust.

     The Preferred Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made
thereon pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount thereof, with the Common
Securities, except as described under "--Subordination of Common Securities."
Legal title of 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
Capitol Trust does not have funds on hand available to make such payments.  The
First National Bank of Chicago, 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 ____% of the stated Liquidation Amount of $10,
payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31
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").  The record date will be the 15th day of the
month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs.  Distributions will
accumulate from December __, 1997, the date of original issuance.  The first
Distribution Date for the Preferred Securities will be March 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
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.

     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 "Extended Interest Payment Period"), which, if exercised, would
defer quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such
Extended Interest Payment Period.  Distributions to which holders of the
Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions
thereon at the rate per annum of ____% thereof, compounded quarterly from the
relevant Distribution Date.  "Distributions," as used herein, includes any such
additional Distribution.  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 calendar quarters and no Extended Interest Payment
Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.
During any such Extended Interest Payment 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 (other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the
Company, and declaration of a





                                      15
<PAGE>   23

non-cash dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders'
rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the
redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, and (b) purchases
of common stock of the Company related to the rights under any of the Company's
benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees), (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 (provided that this restriction will
not prohibit 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 Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest; provided that
such Extended Interest Payment Period may not exceed 20 consecutive calendar
quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.
Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, and the
payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended
Interest Payment 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 Extended Interest Payment 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 Capitol Trust available for
distribution to holders of its Preferred Securities will be limited to payments
under the Subordinated Debentures in which Capitol 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 Capitol 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."  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.

REDEMPTION

     GENERAL.  The Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 31, 2027.
The Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures (i) on or
after December 31, 2002 (if not extended to a date not later than December 31,
2036 if certain conditions are met), in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 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 is prohibited from redeeming or
purchasing the Subordinated Debentures, in whole or in part, from the Trust
until after December 31, 2002.  See "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures--General."

     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."  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 Capitol Trust and,
after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of Capitol Trust as provided
by applicable law, cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of Capitol 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 in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption Price within 180 days
following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Capital Treatment Event or
Investment Company Event.  In the event a Tax Event, a





                                      16
<PAGE>   24

Capital Treatment Event or an Investment Company Event has occurred with
respect to the Trust Securities and the Company does not elect to redeem the
Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Trust
Securities or to liquidate Capitol Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of Capitol
Trust as described below under"--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination,"
such Preferred Securities will remain outstanding and an Additional Payment (as
defined herein ) may be payable on the Subordinated Debentures.

     "Additional Payment" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in
order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by Capitol Trust on
the outstanding Trust Securities will not be reduced as a result of any
additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which Capitol 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 Capitol 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 $10 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.

     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 Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust has funds on hand
available for the payment of such Redemption Price.  See "--Subordination of
Common Securities."

     If Capitol Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of its Preferred
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, eastern time, on the Redemption Date, to the
extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably 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.  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 Capitol Trust, or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee,
Distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then
applicable





                                      17
<PAGE>   25

rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by Capitol 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 further provided that the Company has not and is
not continuing 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 and any
distribution of Subordinated Debentures to holders of Preferred Securities will
be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the register
for the Preferred Securities on the relevant record date, which date will be
the date 15 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date or liquidation date, as
applicable.

     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 $10 or an integral
multiple of $10 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred
Securities of a denomination larger than $10.  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, shall 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 Capitol Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed
to the holders of the Preferred Securities.  Such right is subject, however, to
the Company





                                      18
<PAGE>   26

having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

     Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Capitol Trust will automatically
terminate upon expiration of its term and will terminate 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 Capitol 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 "--Redemption--Mandatory Redemption," and (iv) the entry of an order for
the dissolution of Capitol Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.

     If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) of
the preceding paragraph, Capitol 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 Capitol 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 practicable, in which event such holders will be entitled to
receive out of the assets of Capitol Trust available for distribution to
holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capitol 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 Capitol Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full
the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by
Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust."  If the Company elects
neither to redeem the Subordinated Debentures prior to maturity nor to
liquidate Capitol 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 liquidate Capitol Trust and thereby causes the
Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of Capitol Trust, the Company will continue to have
the right to shorten or extend 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 Capitol Trust is $10 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 of 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






                                      19
<PAGE>   27


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

       (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 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 Capitol 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 CAPITOL TRUST TRUSTEES

     Unless a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any
Trustee may be removed at any time by 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 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 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.







                                      20
<PAGE>   28


MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF CAPITOL TRUST

     Capitol 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.  Capitol
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 Capitol 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 (including, if applicable, The Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market), 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 Capitol 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capitol
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, merger with or into or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
would cause Capitol 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 the Trust
Act 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), (iii) to
modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such
extent as is necessary to ensure that Capitol 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 Capitol Trust will not
be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act, or (iv) to reduce or increase the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security
and simultaneously to increase or decrease the number of Trust Securities
issued and outstanding solely for the purpose of maintaining the eligibility of
the Preferred Securities for listing or quotation on any national securities
exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then
listed or quoted (including, if applicable, The Nasdaq Stock Market's National
Market); 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 that, in the case of clause (iv), the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities outstanding, upon completion of any
such reduction, must be the same as the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Trust Securities outstanding immediately prior to any such reduction, and any
amendments of such Trust Agreement will become effective when notice thereof is
given to the holders of Trust Securities (or, in the case of an amendment
pursuant to clause (iv), as of the date specified in the notice).  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 status of Capitol Trust as a grantor trust





                                      21
<PAGE>   29

for United States federal income tax purposes or its 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 Capitol 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 Capitol 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.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENT

     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.  In the event that the Property
Trustee no longer is the paying agent for the Preferred Securities, the
Administrative Trustee 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.

GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITIES

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

     A global security shall be exchangeable for Preferred Securities
registered in the names of persons other than the Depositary or its nominee
only if (i) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as a depositary for such global security and no successor
depositary shall have been appointed, or if at any time the Depositary ceases
to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, at a time when the
Depositary is required to be so registered to act as such depositary, (ii) the
Company in its sole discretion determines that such global security shall be so





                                      22
<PAGE>   30

exchangeable, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of
Default under the Indenture.  Any global security that is exchangeable pursuant
to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for definitive certificates
registered in such names as the Depositary shall direct.  It is expected that
such instructions will be based upon directions received by the Depositary 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 $10 and integral multiples thereof and
may be transferred or exchanged at the offices described below.

     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 the Depositary to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor
Depositary or any nominee of such successor.

     Payments on Preferred Securities represented by a global security will be
made to the Depositary, as the depositary for the Preferred Securities.  In the
event Preferred Securities are issued in definitive form, principal 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 in Chicago, Illinois, or at the
offices of any paying agent or transfer agent appointed by the Administrative
Trustees, provided that payment of any Distribution may be made at the option
of the Administrative Trustee by check mailed to the address of the persons
entitled thereto or by wire transfer.  In addition, if the Preferred Securities
are issued in certificated form, the record dates for payment of Distributions
will be the 15th day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date
occurs.  For a description of the terms of the depositary arrangements relating
to payments, transfers, voting rights, redemptions and other notices and other
matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance."

     Upon the issuance of a Global Preferred Security, and the deposit of such
Global Preferred Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary
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 (as defined under
"Book-Entry Issuance").  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 the applicable Depositary 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 definitive form.  Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security.

     So long as the Depositary for a Global Preferred Security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such Global Preferred Security, such Depositary 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 Trust Agreement.

     None of the Company, the Property Trustee, any paying agent, or the
transfer agent 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 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 the Depositary for Preferred Securities or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payment of the Liquidation Amount, Redemption
Price or Distributions in respect of a permanent Global Preferred Security
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 as shown on the records of
such Depositary 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.





                                      23
<PAGE>   31


     If the Depositary for the Preferred Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is
not appointed by the Company within 90 days, Capitol Trust will issue
individual Preferred Securities in exchange for the Global Preferred Security.
In addition, Capitol Trust may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject
to any limitations described herein relating to such Preferred Securities,
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 the Preferred Securities.  Further, if Capitol 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 Company, the Property Trustee and the Depositary for such
Global Preferred Security, receive individual Preferred Securities in exchange
for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations described herein.  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 Liquidation
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, unless otherwise specified by Capitol Trust, of $10
and integral multiples thereof.

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 Capitol Trust, but upon
payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in
connection with any transfer or exchange.  Capitol 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, after such 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 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 Capitol Trust in such a way that Capitol 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 Capitol 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.





                                      24
<PAGE>   32


                              BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

     The Depositary will act as securities depositary for all of the Preferred
Securities.  The Preferred Securities will be issued only as fully-registered
securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depositary's nominee).
One or more fully-registered global certificates will be issued for the
Preferred Securities and will be deposited with the Depositary.

     The Depositary 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.  The Depositary holds securities that its Participants deposit with the
Depositary.  The Depositary 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.
The Depositary 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 Depositary 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 the Depositary and its Participants are on file with
the Commission.

     Purchases of Preferred Securities within the Depositary system must be
made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the
Preferred Securities on the Depositary'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 the Depositary 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 of Capitol Trust is
discontinued.

     The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the
Preferred Securities; the Depositary'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 the Depositary 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, the Depositary will determine by lot or pro rata the amount of
the Preferred Securities of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.

     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 the Depositary nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or
vote with respect to Preferred Securities.  Under its usual procedures, the
Depositary would mail an omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus Proxy") to the relevant
Trustee 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
relevant Trustee to the Depositary.  The Depositary's practice is to credit
Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date in accordance with
their respective holdings shown on the Depositary's records unless the
Depositary 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 the Depositary, the relevant Trustee,





                                      25
<PAGE>   33

Capitol Trust or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.  Payment of Distributions
to the Depositary is the responsibility of the relevant Trustee, disbursement
of such payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of the
Depositary, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the
responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

     The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary with respect to any of the Preferred Securities at any time by
giving reasonable notice to the relevant Trustee and the Company.  In the event
that a successor securities depositary 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 the Depositary (or a
successor depositary).  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 the Depositary.  In any
such event, definitive certificates for such Preferred Securities will be
printed and delivered.

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






                                      26
<PAGE>   34


                   DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

     Concurrently with the issuance of the Preferred Securities, Capitol 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 _________, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the
Company and The First National Bank of Chicago 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 $22,680,420 (or up to $26,082,480 if the 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 ____% of the principal amount thereof, payable quarterly in arrears on March
31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date") beginning March 31, 1998 (and accruing from ________, 1997, the
original date of issuance), 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 last month of
the calendar quarter.  It is anticipated that, until the liquidation, if any,
of Capitol Trust, the Subordinated Debentures will be held in the name of the
Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Trust
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
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 due and 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 ____% 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 Payment, if applicable.

     The Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 31, 2027 (such date,
as it may be shortened or extended as hereinafter described the "Stated
Maturity").  Such date may be shortened at any time by the Company to any date
not earlier than December 31, 2002, 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.  Such date may also be extended
at any time at the election of the Company but in no event to a date later than
December 31, 2036, provided that at the time such election is made and at the
time of extension (i) the Company is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or
in liquidation, (ii) the Company is not in default in the payment of any
interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures, and (iii) Capitol Trust
is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities and
no deferred Distributions are accumulated.  In the event that the Company
elects to shorten or extent the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures,
it will give notice thereof to the Debenture Trustee, Capitol 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
Capitol Trust until after December 31, 2002, unless a Tax Event, a 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 its Banks, upon the Banks' 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 claims of creditors
of the Banks except to the extent that the Company may itself be recognized as
a creditor of the Banks.  The Subordinated Debentures will, therefore, be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Banks,
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."





                                      27
<PAGE>   35



     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 "Extended Interest Payment 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 calendar
quarters and no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.  At the end of each Extended Interest
Payment Period, the Company must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the annual rate of ____%, compounded
quarterly, to the extent permitted by applicable law).  During an Extended
Interest Payment 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 Extended Interest Payment 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 (other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the
Company, any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under
any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto, and (b) purchases of common stock of the Company related to
the rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers
or employees), (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 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 (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 Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may
further defer the payment of interest; provided that no Extended Interest
Payment Period may exceed 20 consecutive calendar quarters or extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures.  Upon the termination of any
such Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all amounts then due
on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended
Interest Payment Period subject to the above requirements.  No interest will be
due and payable during an Extended Interest Payment 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 Extended Interest Payment 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 Extended Interest Payment Period, or (ii) the date
Capitol 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 Extended Interest Payment Period.

ADDITIONAL SUMS

     If Capitol 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 to the recordholders of the Subordinated
Debentures as additional amounts (referred to herein as "Additional Payment")
on the Subordinated Debentures such additional amounts as may be required so
that the net amounts received and retained by Capitol Trust after paying any
such additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges will not be less
than the amounts Capitol Trust would have received had such additional taxes,
duties or other governmental charges not been imposed.

REDEMPTION

     The Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures
prior to maturity (i) on or after December 31, 2002, in whole at any time or in
part from time to time, or (ii) at any time in whole (but not in part), within
180 days





                                      28
<PAGE>   36

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 Capitol Trust of an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendments
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 purposes, (ii) Capitol 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) Capitol 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 Capitol 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" and/or "Tier 2 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.

     "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by Capitol 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, Capitol 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 will cease 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 Capitol Trust, the Subordinated Debentures may be distributed to
the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of Capitol Trust after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capitol 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
Capitol 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.








                                      29
<PAGE>   37

RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS AND CERTAIN OTHER COVENANTS

     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 Extended Interest
Payment Period as provided in the Indenture with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures and has not rescinded such notice, or such Extended Interest Payment
Period, or any extension thereof, is continuing, the Company will not (1)
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 (other than (a) dividends or distributions in common stock of the
Company, any declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the
implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under
any such plan in the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto, and (b) purchases of common stock of the Company related to
the rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers
or employees), (2) 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 or
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 (3) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the
Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.

     The Company will also covenant, for so long as the Preferred Securities
remain outstanding, (i) to maintain 100 percent ownership of the Common
Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company
under the Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the Common
Securities, (ii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain
a statutory business trust, except in connection with the distribution of
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation
of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities of the Trust,
or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the
Declaration, and (b) to continue not to be classified as an association taxable
as a corporation or a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes
and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Preferred
Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the
Subordinated Debentures.

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 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





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<PAGE>   38

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, (the "Bankruptcy Code"), 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 Bankruptcy Code.

     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 indebtedness
constituting Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations.
As of September 30, 1997, the Company had no Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt or
Additional Senior Obligations outstanding except borrowings from an
unaffiliated bank of approximately $9 million.  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 Banks.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS

     Payment of principal of and any interest on the Subordinated Debentures
will be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in Chicago, Illinois,
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; however, the Company will at all times
be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the
Subordinated Debentures.

     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 November 30 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), at the office of
the registrar in Chicago, Illinois.  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





                                      31
<PAGE>   39

acts.  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.

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
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; provided 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.

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 Extended Interest Payment Period); or

       (ii) failure to pay any principal of the Subordinated Debentures when
  due whether at maturity, upon redemption, or 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.





                                      32
<PAGE>   40


     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").  Initially, the
Depositary or its nominee will hold a Global Preferred Security representing
the Preferred Securities and, as long as it is the holder, beneficial owners of
the Preferred Securities will not have a right of 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, Capitol Trust may become subject
to the reporting obligations under the Exchange Act.

     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 any Person may not 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 transfer
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 trust 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 Michigan.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE

     The Debenture Trustee has been and is subject to all of 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





                                      33
<PAGE>   41

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 Capitol 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 Capitol 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 connection with a distribution of
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of Capitol 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 Capitol Trust to remain classified as a grantor trust
and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes.





                                      34
<PAGE>   42


                          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, The First National Bank of Chicago, will
act as indenture trustee under the Guarantee for purposes of complying with the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act and 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.

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
Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust has
funds available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of Capitol 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
Capitol Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of
assets of Capitol Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of
Preferred Securities in liquidation of Capitol 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 Capitol Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.

     The Guarantee will not apply to any payment of Distributions except to the
extent Capitol Trust has funds available therefor.  If the Company does not
make interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures held by Capitol Trust,
Capitol Trust will not pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities and will
not have funds legally 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 Capitol 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 Banks upon the Banks' liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the Banks, except to
the extent the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor of the Banks.
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





                                      35
<PAGE>   43

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.

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 Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Michigan.

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
Capitol Trust becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs,
expenses or liabilities of Capitol Trust, other than obligations of Capitol
Trust to pay to the holders of the Preferred Securities or other similar
interests in Capitol 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 Capitol Trust may proceed directly against
the Company under the Expense Agreement, regardless of whether such creditors
had notice of the Expense Agreement.





                                      36
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                  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 Capitol 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 Capitol
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 Capitol Trust under the Preferred
Securities.  If and to the extent that the Company does not make payments on
the Subordinated Debentures, Capitol Trust will not pay Distributions or other
amounts due on the Preferred Securities.  The Guarantee does not cover payment
of Distributions when Capitol 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.  While the Depositary or its
nominee holds a Global Preferred Security, this right is not available to
beneficial owners of the Preferred Securities.  See "Description of the
Subordinated Debentures--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of the
Preferred Securities."  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 Capitol Trust (except the
obligations of Capitol Trust to holders of the Preferred Securities), and (iv)
the Trust Agreement further provides that Capitol Trust will not engage in any
activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of Capitol 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, Capitol
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 CAPITOL TRUST

     The Preferred Securities evidence a preferred undivided beneficial
interest in the assets of Capitol Trust.  Capitol Trust exists for the sole
purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in
Subordinated Debentures.  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 holder of a Subordinated Debenture is entitled to receive from the
Company the principal amount of and interest accrued on Subordinated Debentures
held, while a holder of Preferred Securities is entitled to receive
Distributions from Capitol Trust (or from the Company under the Guarantee) if
and to the extent Capitol Trust has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions.







                                      37
<PAGE>   45


RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION

     Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation
of Capitol Trust involving the liquidation of the Subordinated Debentures, the
holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive, out of assets
held by Capitol 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 stockholders 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 Capitol Trust
(other than the obligations of Capitol 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 stockholders
of the Company in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company are
expected to be substantially the same.









                                      38
<PAGE>   46


                    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 Strobl & Borda, P.C., special counsel
to the Company 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 upon 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 United
States dollar or the tax consequences to stockholders, 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.

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.

CLASSIFICATION OF CAPITOL TRUST

     Under current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Trust
Agreement and Indenture (and certain other documents described herein), Capitol
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
his gross income any OID accrued with respect to his allocable share of the
Subordinated Debentures whether or not cash is actually distributed to such
holder.

POTENTIAL EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT

     Under recently issued Treasury regulations (the "Regulations"), a debt
instrument will be deemed to be issued with OID if there is more than a
"remote" contingency that periodic stated interest payments due on the
instrument will not be timely paid.  Because the exercise by the Company of its
option to defer the payment of stated interest on the Subordinated Debentures
would prevent the Company from declaring dividends on any class of equity, the
Company believes that the likelihood of its exercising the option is "remote"
within the meaning of the Regulations.  As a result, the Company intends to
take the position that the Subordinated Debentures will not be deemed to be
issued with OID.  Accordingly, based on this





                                      39
<PAGE>   47

position, stated interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures will be
includible in the ordinary income of a holder at the time that such payments
are paid or accrued in accordance with the holder's regular method of
accounting.  Because the Regulations have not yet been addressed in any
published rulings or other published interpretations issued by the Internal
Revenue Service, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could take a
position contrary to the position taken by the Company.

     If the Company were to exercise its option to defer the payment of stated
interest on the Subordinated Debentures, the Subordinated Debentures would be
treated, solely for purposes of the OID rules, as being "reissued" at such time
with OID.  The amount of interest income includible in the taxable income of a
holder of the Subordinated Debentures would be determined on a basis of a
constant yield method over the remaining term of the instrument regardless of
the holder's method of tax accounting and the actual receipt of future payments
of stated interest on the Subordinated Debentures would no longer be separately
reported as taxable income.  Consequently, a holder of Preferred Securities
would be required to include OID in ordinary income, on a current basis, over
the period that the instrument is held even though the Company would not be
making any actual cash payments during the Extended Interest Payment Period.
The amount of OID that would accrue, in the aggregate, during the Extended
Interest Payment Period would be approximately equal to the amount of the cash
payment due at the end of such period.  Moreover, under the Regulations, if the
option to defer the payment of interest income with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures was determined not to be "remote," the Subordinated Debentures would
be treated as having been originally issued with OID.  In such event, all of a
holder's taxable interest income would be accounted for as OID and any OID
included in income would increase a holder's adjusted tax basis in the
Subordinated Debentures and the holder's actual receipt of interest payments
would reduce such basis.

     Because income on the Preferred Securities will constitute interest income
for United States federal income tax purposes, corporate holders of Preferred
Securities will not be entitled to claim a dividends received deduction in
respect of such income.

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 CAPITOL TRUST

     Under certain circumstances, as described under "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Redemption and --Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination," the Subordinated Debentures may be distributed to holders of
Preferred Securities upon a liquidation of Capitol 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
adjusted tax basis in the Subordinated Debentures received in the liquidation
equal to such holder's adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Securities
immediately before the distribution.  A holder's holding period in the
Subordinated Debentures so received in liquidation of Capitol Trust would
include the period for which such holder held the Preferred Securities.

     If, however, a Tax Event occurs which results in Capitol 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 and
- --Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."

DISPOSITION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

     Upon the sale of the Preferred Securities, a holder will recognize a gain
or loss in an amount equal to the difference between his adjusted tax basis in
the Preferred Securities and the amount realized in the sale (except to the
extent of any amount received in respect of accrued but unpaid interest not
previously included in income).  A holder's adjusted tax basis in the Preferred
Securities generally will be its initial purchase price increased by OID (if
any) previously includible in the





                                      40
<PAGE>   48

holder's gross income to the date of disposition and decreased by payments (if
any) received on the Preferred Securities in respect of OID to the date of
disposition.  Such gain or loss generally will be a capital gain or loss.  As a
result of the recently enacted Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, in the case of
non-corporate taxpayers, the tax rates applicable to capital gains from the
disposition of Preferred Securities generally will vary depending upon whether,
at the time of disposition, the Preferred Securities have been held for more
than twelve months or more than eighteen months.

     The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not accurately
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest (or OID if the Subordinated
Debentures are treated as having been issued, or reissued, with OID) with
respect to the underlying Subordinated Debentures.  A holder who disposes of
his Preferred Securities between record payment dates will be required to
include in ordinary income any portion of the amount realized that is
attributable to accrued but unpaid interest (or OID, if any) to the extent not
previously included in income on the holder's pro rata share of the underlying
Subordinated Debentures during the taxable year of sale through the date of
disposition.  Any such income inclusion will increase the holder's adjusted tax
basis in its Preferred Securities disposed of.  To the extent that the amount
realized in the sale is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis, 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

     Certain legislative proposals were made in 1996 and 1997 which, if
enacted, could have adversely affected the ability of the Company to deduct
interest paid on the Subordinated Debentures.  These proposals were not,
however, incorporated into the legislation enacted on August 5, 1997 as the
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.  Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that
other legislation enacted after the date hereof will not otherwise adversely
affect 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, December 31, 2002.  See "Description of
the Subordinated Debentures--Redemption" and "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Redemption--Tax Event Redemption, Capital Treatment Event
Redemption or Investment Company Event Redemption."

BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING

     The amount of interest paid 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, insofar as required by, the
Internal Revenue Service on Forms 1099 (or the then equivalent thereof), which
forms should be mailed to such holders of Preferred Securities by January 31
following each calendar year or such other reporting deadline required by the
Internal Revenue Service.  Payments, including interest, 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 may 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,
FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES
FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.





                                      41
<PAGE>   49


                              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.







                                      42
<PAGE>   50


                                  UNDERWRITING

     Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company,
Incorporated and Howe Barnes Investments, Inc., collectively the
"Underwriters", have 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
2,200,000 Preferred Securities from Capitol Trust.  The Underwriters have
agreed in the Underwriting Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions set
forth therein, to purchase all the Preferred Securities offered hereby if any
of the Preferred Securities are purchased.

     The Underwriters have advised Capitol 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 $        per Preferred Security.  The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess
of $         per Preferred Security to certain other dealers.  After the
initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and discount may
be changed.  Because the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("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 Conduct
Rules.

     In view of the fact that 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 arranging the investment therein of such proceeds $       per
Preferred Security (or $       in the aggregate) for the accounts of the
Underwriters.

     Capitol Trust has granted the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional 330,000 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, Capitol
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 Capitol Trust and the Company will issue and sell to
Capitol 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.

     Application has been made to have the Preferred Securities approved for
quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market.  The Underwriters have
advised Capitol 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 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.

     Capitol 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.

     In order to facilitate the offering of the Preferred Securities, the
Underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise
affect the price of the Preferred Securities.  Specifically, the Underwriters
may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in
the Preferred Securities for their own account.  In addition, to cover
over-allotments or to stabilize the price of the Preferred Securities, the
Underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the Preferred Securities in the open
market.  The Underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to a dealer
for distributing the Preferred Securities in the offering, if the Underwriters
repurchase previously distributed Preferred Securities in transactions to cover
short positions in stabilization transactions or otherwise.  Any of these
activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the Preferred
Securities above independent market levels.  The Underwriters are not required
to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.





                                      43
<PAGE>   51


                             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
Capitol Trust will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, special
Delaware counsel to the Company and Capitol Trust.  Certain legal matters for
the Company and Capitol Trust, including the validity of the Guarantee and the
Subordinated Debentures, will be passed upon for the Company and Capitol Trust
by Strobl & Borda, P.C., Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, counsel to the Company and
Capitol Trust.  Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the Underwriters
by Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett, LLP, Grand Rapids, Michigan, members
of which firm own approximately 20,000 Shares of the Company's common stock.  
Counsel for the Company, Capitol Trust and the Underwriters will rely on the 
opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to matters of Delaware law.  Certain 
matters relating to United States federal income tax considerations will be 
passed upon for the Company by Strobl & Borda, P.C.

                                    EXPERTS

     The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
incorporated herein by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP,
independent certified public accountants, to the extent and for the periods set
forth in their report, incorporated herein by reference, and is incorporated
herein in reliance on such report given upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The following documents, previously filed by the Company with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act,
are incorporated herein by reference:

     (a)  The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December
          31, 1996; and

     (b)  The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
          ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997.

     All reports and any definitive proxy or information statements filed by
the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 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 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 LINDA D. PAVONA, VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTOR RELATIONS, CAPITOL
BANCORP LTD., 200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, LANSING, MICHIGAN 48933.  TELEPHONE
REQUESTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO (517) 487-6555.





                                      44
<PAGE>   52


                             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 Capitol Trust with the Commission under
the Securities Act, with respect to the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated
Debentures and the Guarantee.  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,
although it does include a summary of the material terms of the Trust
Agreement, the Indenture and the Guarantee.  Reference is made to such
Registration Statement and to the exhibits relating thereto for further
information with respect to the Company, Capitol Trust, the Preferred
Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee.  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.  Capitol Trust is not currently subject to the
information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and, although Capitol
Trust will become subject to such requirements upon the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, it is not expected that Capitol Trust will be filing
separate reports under the Exchange Act.  The Company's 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, D.C. 20549, upon payment of prescribed rates.  The
Commission maintains an 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust will be owned by the Company, a reporting company
under the Exchange Act, (ii) Capitol Trust has no independent operations but
exists for the sole purpose of issuing securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of Capitol 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 Capitol 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 Capitol Trust and the
related Indenture, taken together, constitute, in the belief of the Company and
Capitol Trust, a full and unconditional guarantee of payments due on the
Preferred Securities.  See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures" and
"Description of the Guarantee."






                                      45
<PAGE>   53
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS                        PAGE

Prospectus Summary..............................................         1
                                                                
Selected Consolidated Financial Data............................         6
                                                                
Risk Factors....................................................         7
                                                                
Use of Proceeds.................................................        12
                                                                
Market for the Preferred Securities.............................        12
                                                                
Accounting Treatment............................................        13
                                                                
Capitalization..................................................        14
                                                                
Description of the Preferred Securities.........................        15
                                                                
Book-Entry Issuance.............................................        25
                                                                
Description of the Subordinated Debentures......................        27
                                                                
Description of the Guarantee....................................        35
                                                                
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the                
     Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee..................        37
                                                                
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences.........................        39
                                                                
ERISA Considerations............................................        42
                                                                
Underwriting....................................................        43
                                                                
Validity of Securities..........................................        44
                                                                
Experts.........................................................        44
                                                                
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.................        44 
                                                                
Available Information...........................................        45

                           _________________________


NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AND
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY CAPITOL
BANCORP LTD., CAPITOL TRUST I OR THE UNDERWRITERS.  NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF CAPITOL BANCORP
LTD. SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT
AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.  THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN
OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.


                         2,200,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES

                                CAPITOL TRUST I

                    % CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $10 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
                      GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY


                        [CAPITOL BANCORP LIMITED LOGO]


                                    CAPITOL
                                    BANCORP
                                      LTD.

                           _________________________

                                  $22,000,000
                           % SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
                                       OF
                                    CAPITOL
                                    BANCORP
                                      LTD.
                           _________________________
                                   Prospectus
                                     , 1997
                           _________________________

                             ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO.
                                  INCORPORATED

                           STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY
                                  INCORPORATED

                         HOWE BARNES INVESTMENTS, INC.

<PAGE>   54

                PART II--INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14--OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION


SEC Registration
Fee.............................................................$ 7,667

NASD Filing Fee...................................................2,500

Nasdaq Listing Fee...............................................15,000

Blue Sky Qualification Fees and Expenses..........................3,000

Accounting Fees and
Expenses.........................................................10,000

Legal Fees and
Expenses........................................................100,000

Trustees' Fees and
Expenses..........................................................6,500

Printing and Engraving
Expenses.........................................................25,000

Transfer and Registrar
Fees..............................................................5,000

Miscellaneous....................................................50,333

Total..........................................................$225,000

ITEM 15--INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Article VI of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and Article VI of the
Bylaws of the Registrant provide for the indemnification of the officers and
directors of the Registrant in the manner authorized by the Michigan business
Corporation Act.  Generally, these permit the corporation to indemnify officers
and directors against expenses, judgments and other amounts paid in connection
with settlement of actions brought against them by third parties if they acted
in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in the best
interests of the corporation.  They also permit the Registrent to indemnify
officers and directors for certain expenses and amounts paid in settlement in
connection with an action brought by or in the right of the corporation
provided that the officer or director has not been adjudged to be liable for
negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duties to the corporation.

     In so far as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers or
persons controlling the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or
otherwise, the Registrant understands that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such 
<PAGE>   55


indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is therefore unenforceable.

ITEM 16--EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Exhibits

     1.1  Form of Underwriting Agreement.

     4.1  Form of Indenture.

     4.2  Form of Subordinated Debenture (included as an exhibit of
          Exhibit 4.1).

     4.3  Certificate of Trust of CAPITOL TRUST I.

     4.4  Trust Agreement of CAPITOL TRUST I.

     4.5  Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.

     4.6  Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement.

     4.7  Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included as
          an exhibit to Exhibit 4.5).

     4.8  Form of Preferred Securities Certificate.

     5.1  Opinion of Strobl & Borda, P.,C. , as to the validity of the
          issuance of the Subordinated Debentures.

     5.2  Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware
          counsel, as to the legality of the Preferred Securities.

     8.1  Opinion of Strobl & Borda, P.C., as to certain federal income
          tax matters.

    12.1  Statements Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to
          Fixed Charges. [To be filed by Amendment.]

    23.1  Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP, Independent Accountants.

    23.2  Consent of Strobl & Borda, P.C. (included in its opinions
          filed herewith as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).

    23.3  Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in their
          opinion filed herewith as Exhibit 5.2).

    24.1  Power of Attorney (included on the signature page).

    25.1  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank
          of Chicago to act as trustee under the Indenture.

    25.2  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank
          of Chicago to act as trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust
          Agreement.

    25.3  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank
          of Chicago to act as trustee under the Preferred Securities
          Guarantee Agreement.


<PAGE>   56

     (b) Financial Statement Schedules--Not applicable as all required
information is contained in the financial statements and the notes thereto or
in the selected financial data.

ITEM 17--UNDERTAKINGS

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, (the "Act") may be permitted to directors, officers
and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the provisions described
under "Item 15--Indemnification of Directors and Officers" above, or otherwise,
the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the 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 Company
of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of
the Company 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 Company 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.

The Company hereby undertakes that: (1) For purposes of determining any
liability under the Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus
filed as part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this
Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective; and (2) For
the purpose of determining any liability under the Act, each post-effective
amendment that contains a form of prospectus 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.

                                      II-2


<PAGE>   57
                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in Lansing, Michigan on November 25, 1997.

                                      CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.,
                                      A MICHIGAN CORPORATION


                                      By: /s/ JOSEPH D. REID
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             JOSEPH D. REID
                                      Chairman of the Board, President and
                                      Chief Executive Officer

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in Lansing, Michigan on November 25, 1997.

                                      CAPITOL TRUST I

                                      By: /s/ JOSEPH D. REID
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             JOSEPH D. REID
                                             Trustee

                                      By: /s/ ROBERT C. CARR
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             ROBERT C. CARR
                                             Trustee

                                      By: /s/ LINDA D. PAVONA
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             LINDA D. PAVONA
                                             Trustee






                                    II-3


<PAGE>   58
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Joseph D. Reid, Robert C. Carr, David O'Leary
and Lee W. Hendrickson and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, including any Registration
Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to
Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done  in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.
        
     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.



<PAGE>   59

  Signature            Date: November 25, 1997        Title

  /s/ JOSEPH D. REID                        Chairman of the Board, President   
  --------------------------------          and Chief Executive Officer,       
  JOSEPH D. REID                            Director (Principal Executive      
                                            Officer)                           
                                                                               
  /s/ LEE W. HENDRICKSON                    Chief Financial Officer (Principal 
  --------------------------------          Financial and Accounting Officer)  
  LEE W. HENDRICKSON                                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ ROBERT C. CARR                        Treasurer, Director                
  --------------------------------                                             
  ROBERT C. CARR                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ DAVID O'LEARY                         Secretary, Director                
  --------------------------------                                             
  DAVID O'LEARY                                                                
                                                                               
                                            Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  LOUIS G. ALLEN                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ PAUL R. BALLARD                       Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  PAUL R. BALLARD                                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ DAVID L. BECKER                       Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  DAVID L. BECKER                                                              
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ DOUGLAS E. CRIST                      Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  DOUGLAS E. CRIST                                                             
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ RICHARD L. DORNER                     Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  RICHARD L. DORNER                                                            
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ GARY A. FALKENBERG                    Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  GARY A. FALKENBERG                                                           
                                                                               
                                                                               
  /s/ JOEL I. FERGUSON                      Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  JOEL I. FERGUSON                                                             
                                                                               
                                            Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  KATHLEEN A. GASKIN                                                           
                                                                               
  /s/ H. NICHOLAS GENOVA                    Director                           
  --------------------------------                                             
  H. NICHOLAS GENOVA



<PAGE>   60

  /s/ L. DOUGLAS JOHNS                      Director
  --------------------------------                  
  L. DOUGLAS JOHNS                                  
                                                    
  /s/ JAMES R. KAYE                         Director
  --------------------------------                  
  JAMES R. KAYE                                     
                                                    
                                            Director
 ---------------------------------                  
  LEONARD MAAS                                      
                                                    
                                            Director
  --------------------------------                  
  LYLE R. MILLER



<PAGE>   61



                                EXHIBIT INDEX


  EXHIBIT       DESCRIPTION
  NUMBER
  -------

  1.1         Form of Underwriting Agreement.

  4.1         Form of Indenture.

  4.2         Form of Subordinated Debenture (included as an exhibit to 
              Exhibit 4.1).

  4.3         Certificate of Trust of CAPITOL TRUST I.

  4.4         Trust Agreement of CAPITOL TRUST I.

  4.5         Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement.

  4.6         Form of Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement.

  4.7         Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included as an 
              exhibit to Exhibit 4.5).

  4.8         Form of Preferred Securities Certificate

  5.1         Opinion of Strobl & Borda, P.C., as to the validity of the 
              issuance of the Subordinated Debentures.

  5.2         Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel, 
              as to the legality of the Preferred Securities.

  8.1         Opinion of Strobl & Borda, P.C., as to certain federal income tax
              matters.

 12.1         Statements Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed 
              Charges. [To be filed by Amendment.]

 23.1         Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP, Independent Accountants.

 23.2         Consent of Strobl & Borda, P.C.. (included in their opinions filed
              herewith as Exhibits 5.1 and 8.1).

 23.3         Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger (included in their opinion 
              filed herewith as Exhibit 5.2).

 24.1         Power of Attorney (included on the signature page).

 25.1         Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank of 
              Chicago to act as trustee under the Indenture.

 25.2         Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank of 
              Chicago to act as trustee under the Amended and Restated Trust 
              Agreement.

 25.3         Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The First National Bank of 
              Chicago to act as trustee under the Preferred Securities 
              Guarantee Agreement.






<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                CAPITOL TRUST I

                 ______% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                             _______________, 1997



ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY INCORPORATED
HOWE BARNES INVESTMENTS, INC.
c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         SECTION 1.       Introductory. Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan
corporation (the "Company"), and its financing subsidiary Capitol Trust I, a
Delaware business trust (the "Trust," and hereinafter together with the Company
the "Offerors"), propose that the Trust issue and sell 2,200,000 of the Trust's
_____% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities with a liquidation amount of
$10.00 per preferred security representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities"), to be issued under the
Trust Agreement (as hereinafter defined), the terms of which are more fully
described in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) to Robert W. Baird & Co.
Incorporated, Stifel, Nicolaus & Company Incorporated and Howe Barnes
Investments, Inc. (the "Underwriters"), who are acting severally and not
jointly.  The aforementioned Preferred Securities to be sold to the
Underwriters are herein called "Firm Preferred Securities."  In addition, the
Offerors have agreed to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to
330,000 additional Preferred Securities (the "Option Preferred Securities") as
provided in section 5(c) hereof.  The Firm Preferred Securities and, to the
extent such option is exercised, the Option Preferred Securities are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Designated Preferred Securities."

         The Offerors propose that the Trust issue the Designated Preferred
Securities pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement among The First
National Bank of Chicago, as Property Trustee, First Chicago Delaware, Inc., as
Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustee named therein, and the Company in
substantially the form previously delivered to the Underwriters.  This trust
agreement is referred to in this Agreement as the "Trust Agreement."  The
Company will purchase from the Trust its common securities ("Common
Securities").  In connection with the issuance of the Designated Preferred
Securities, the Company proposes (i) to issue its Subordinated Debentures (the
"Debentures") pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of
_____________________________________, 1997, between the Company and The First
National Bank of Chicago as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture") and (ii) to
guarantee the Designated Preferred Securities pursuant to a Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of ___ _________________________________, 1997,  between
the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Guarantee Trustee (the
<PAGE>   2

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 2


"Guarantee"), to the extent described in the Guarantee.  Pursuant to an
Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities, dated as of __________________
__________________, 1997, between the Company and the Trust ("Expense
Agreement"), the Company has guaranteed payment of all of the Trust's costs,
expenses and liabilities other than obligations of the Trust to pay holders of
the Designated Preferred Securities amounts due  such holders pursuant to the
terms of the Designated Preferred Securities.  The Trust Agreement, the
Indenture, Guarantee, Expense Agreement and this Agreement are collectively
referred to in this Agreement as the "Operative Documents."  Capitalized terms
used in this Agreement without definition have the respective meanings
specified in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined).

         The Underwriters have advised the Offerors that the Underwriters
propose to make a public offering of their respective portion of the Designated
Preferred Securities as soon hereafter as in their judgment is advisable and
that the public offering price of the Designated Preferred Securities initially
will be $10.00 per security.

         The Offerors hereby confirm their agreements with the Underwriters as
follows:

         SECTION 2.       Representations and Warranties of the Offerors.  The
Offerors, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, the
several Underwriters, and shall be deemed to represent and warrant to the
several Underwriters on each Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), that:

                 (a)      The Company and each of the subsidiaries of the
Company (both directly and indirectly owned) that are listed in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996, and its
Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for the nine months ended September 30, 1997
("Recent SEC Reports") incorporated by reference into the Registration
Statement (as hereinafter defined) (individually, a "Subsidiary" and
collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, with full corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and described in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined) and the
Registration Statement; each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly
registered and qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws
of, and is in good standing as such in, each jurisdiction in which such
registration or qualification is required, except where the failure to so
register or qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or other), business, property, net worth, results of operations or
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole ("Material
Adverse Effect"); and no proceeding has been instituted in any such
jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or
curtail, such power and authority or qualification.  Complete and correct
copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as amended or restated
("Articles of Incorporation" and "Bylaws," respectively), of the Company and
each of the Subsidiaries as in effect on the date hereof have been delivered to
the Underwriters and no changes thereto will be made on or subsequent to the
date hereof and prior to each Closing Date.  Each of the Company and Sun
Community Bancorp Limited, a second tier
<PAGE>   3

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 3


bank holding company incorporated under the laws of Arizona, is duly registered
as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended ("Bank Holding Company Act").  The deposit accounts of each Subsidiary
that is a bank ("Bank Subsidiary") are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund
administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") up to
the maximum amount provided by law, except to the extent the Prospectus
discloses such deposit accounts are insured by the Savings Association
Insurance Fund administered by the FDIC and to such extent the  deposit
accounts are so insured up to the maximum amount provided by law; and no
proceedings for the modification, termination or revocation of such insurance
are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

                 (b)      The Trust has been duly created and is validly
existing as a statutory business trust in good standing under the Delaware
Business Trust Act with the power and authority (trust and other) to own its
property and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, to issue and sell its common securities to the Company pursuant
to the Trust Agreement, to issue and sell the Designated Preferred Securities,
to enter into and perform its obligations under the Operative Documents, as
applicable, and the Designated Preferred Securities and to consummate the
transactions herein contemplated; the Trust has no subsidiaries and is duly
qualified to transact business; the Trust has conducted and will conduct no
business other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
described in the Prospectus; the Trust is not a party to or bound by any
agreement or instrument other than the applicable Operative Documents and the
agreements and instruments contemplated by the Trust Agreement and described in
the Prospectus; the Trust has no liabilities or obligations other than those
arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Trust
Agreement and described in the Prospectus; the Trust is not a party to or
subject to any action, suit, or proceeding of any nature; the Trust is not, and
at the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date will not be, to the knowledge of
the Offerors, classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes; and the Trust is, and as of the Closing
Date or any Option Closing Date will be, treated as a consolidated subsidiary
of the Company pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles.

                 (c)      The capital stock of the Company and the common
securities of the Trust conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus and the Registration Statement and have been duly authorized and are
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and no such shares were issued in
violation of the preemptive or similar rights of a security holder of either
Offeror.  Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding
options, warrants or other rights of any description, contractual or otherwise,
entitling any person to be issued any class of security of the Company, the
Trust, or any Subsidiary.

                 (d)      Except for the Subsidiaries and the Trust, and as
otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, the Offerors have no subsidiaries and do
not own any equity interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any other
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture,
association, trust or other business organization.  Except as stated in the
Company's Recent SEC Reports, the Company owns directly all of the issued and
outstanding capital securities of the
<PAGE>   4

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 4


Trust and each Subsidiary, free and clear of any and all liens, claims,
encumbrances or security interests, and all such capital securities have been
duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable (except
to the extent provided in 12 U.S.C. Section 55, 12 U.S.C. Section 1831o, or
Section 201 of the Michigan Banking Code of 1969, as amended).  There are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights of any description, contractual
or otherwise, entitling any person to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
capital securities of the Trust or any Subsidiary.

                 (e)      The Company has full corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform this Agreement, and the execution and delivery by the
Company of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations
under the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions
described herein, have been duly authorized with respect to the Company by all
necessary corporate or other action and will not:  (i) violate any provisions
of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or governing documents of the
Company or any Subsidiary; (ii) violate any provisions of, or result in the
breach, modification or termination of, or constitute a default under, any
provision of any agreement, lease, franchise, license, indenture, permit,
mortgage, deed of trust, evidence of indebtedness or other instrument to which
the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any
Subsidiary, or any property owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary,
may be bound or affected; (iii) violate any statute, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary, or order or decree of
any court, regulatory or governmental body, arbitrator, administrative agency
or instrumentality of the United States or other country or jurisdiction having
jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary; or (iv) result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company or any Subsidiary.  No consent, approval, authorization or other
order of any court, regulatory or governmental body, arbitrator, administrative
agency or instrumentality of the United States or other country or jurisdiction
is required for the execution and delivery of the Operative Documents by the
Company, the performance of its obligations under the Operative Documents or
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for compliance
with the Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
regulations thereunder (together, the "Exchange Act"), the Blue Sky Laws
applicable to the public offering of the Designated Preferred Securities by the
several Underwriters and the clearance of such offering and the underwriting
arrangements evidenced hereby with the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").  This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by and on behalf of the Company and is a valid and binding agreement
of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

                 (f)      A registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No.
333-_____________) with respect to the Designated Preferred Securities, the
Guarantee, and up to $26,082,474 aggregate principal amount of Debentures,
including a preliminary form of prospectus, has been carefully prepared by the
Offerors in conformity with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and has been filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  The conditions for
use of Form S-3, set forth in the
<PAGE>   5

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 5


General Instructions thereto, have been satisfied.  Such registration
statement, as finally amended and revised at the time such registration
statement was or is declared effective by the Commission (including the
information contained in the form of final prospectus, if any, filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Act and deemed to be
part of the registration statement if the registration statement has been
declared effective pursuant to Rule 430A(b)) and as thereafter amended by
post-effective amendment, if any, is herein referred to as the "Registration
Statement."  The related final prospectus in the form first filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or, if no such filing is required, as
included in the Registration Statement, or any supplement thereto, is herein
referred to as the "Prospectus."  The prospectus subject to completion in the
form included in the Registration Statement at the time of the initial filing
of the Registration Statement with the Commission, and each such prospectus as
amended from time to time until the date of the Prospectus, is referred to
herein as the "Preliminary Prospectus."  Reference made herein to each
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, shall
include all documents and information incorporated by reference therein and
shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date of
such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, and so
incorporated by reference, under the Exchange Act.  The Offerors have prepared
and filed such amendments to the Registration Statement since its initial
filing with the Commission, if any, as may have been required to the date
hereof, and will file such additional amendments thereto as may hereafter be
required.  There have been delivered to the Underwriters signed copies of the
Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, if any, including any
document filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by
reference into the Registration Statement, together with copies of each exhibit
filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein, and such number of
conformed copies for each of the Underwriters of the Registration Statement and
each amendment thereto, if any (but without exhibits), and of each Preliminary
Prospectus and of the Prospectus as the Underwriters have requested.  The date
on which the Registration Statement becomes effective is hereinafter referred
to as the Effective Date.  Each copy of the Registration Statement and each
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use
in connection with this offering was substantively identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system
("EDGAR").

                 (g)      Neither the Commission nor any state securities
commission has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus, nor, to the knowledge of the Offerors, have any
proceedings for that purpose been initiated or threatened, and each Preliminary
Prospectus filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement as
originally filed or as part of any amendment or supplement thereto complied
when so filed with the requirements of the Act and, as of its date, did not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading.  As of the Effective Date, and at all times subsequent thereto
up to each Closing Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
contained or will contain all statements that are required to be stated therein
in accordance with the Act and conformed or will conform in all respects to the
requirements of the Act, and neither the Registration Statement
<PAGE>   6

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 6


nor the Prospectus included or will include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.  Neither
the Offerors, nor any person that controls, are controlled by (including the
Subsidiaries) or are under common control with the Offerors, has distributed or
will distribute prior to each Closing Date any offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Designated Preferred Securities other than a
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or other
materials permitted by the Act and provided to the Underwriters.

                 (h)      The reports filed with the Commission by the Company
under the Exchange Act at the time they were filed with the Commission,
complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.

                 (i)      The documents that are incorporated by reference in
each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement or
from which information is so incorporated by reference, when they became
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied with
the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and any
document so filed and incorporated by reference subsequent to the effective
date of the Registration Statement shall, when it is filed with the Commission,
comply with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable,
and when read together with the other information included in such Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, as the case may be,
do not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

                 (j)      BDO Seidman LLP which has expressed its opinion with
respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the
Commission or incorporated by reference and included as a part of each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement are
independent accountants as required by the Act.

                 (k)      The consolidated financial statements and the related
notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly the
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the
Subsidiaries as of their respective dates or for the respective periods covered
thereby, all in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved.  The financial statement
schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present fairly the
information required to be stated therein on a basis consistent with the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and Subsidiaries contained
therein.  The Company and Subsidiaries had an outstanding capitalization as set
forth in the Registration Statement and under "Capitalization" in the
Prospectus as of the date indicated therein, and there has been no material
change thereto since such date except as disclosed in the
<PAGE>   7

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 7


Prospectus.  The financial and statistical information and data relating to the
Company and Subsidiaries in each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the
Registration Statement are accurately presented and prepared on a basis
consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements and books and
records of the Company and Subsidiaries.  The consolidated financial statements
and schedules and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by
reference in each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration
Statement are the only such financial statements and schedules required under
the Act to be set forth therein.

                 (l)      The Trust is not in violation of the trust
certificate of the Trust filed with the State of Delaware (the "Trust
Certificate") or the Trust Agreement, and neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries is in violation of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws; none
of the Trust, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the
performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party
or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of its property or
assets is subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for such
defaults under Agreements and Instruments that would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect; and (A) the execution, delivery and performance of the
Operative Documents by the Trust or the Company, as the case may be, (B) the
issuance, sale and delivery of the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated
Debentures, and the Guarantee, (C) the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Operative Documents, and (D) compliance by the Offerors
with the terms of the Operative Documents to which they are a party have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company
and, with respect to the matters described in sub-clauses (A), (B), (C) and (D)
of this Agreement, at the Closing Time, will have been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of the Trust, and none of the actions referred to
in subclause (A) through (C) above violate, conflict with or constitute a
breach of or, default or Repayment Event (as defined below), and will not,
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both,
violate, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event
under, or result in the creation or imposition of any security interest,
mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, encumbrance or equitable right upon any
property or assets of the Trust, the Company, or any of the Company's
Subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such
conflicts, violations, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances
that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action
result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or
By-laws of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the Trust Agreement or the
Trust Certificate or violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any
applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of
any government, government authority, agency or instrumentality or court,
domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the
Michigan Financial Institutions Bureau, the Arizona Department of Banking, and
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (each, a "Government Entity").  As
used in this Agreement, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which
gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or
any person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase,
redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such
<PAGE>   8

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 8


indebtedness by the Trust, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries.
Neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary has received notice of any violation
of any applicable statute, ordinance, order, rule or regulation applicable to
either of the Offerors or any Subsidiary.  The Offerors and each Subsidiary
have obtained and hold, and are in compliance with, all permits, certificates,
licenses, approvals, registrations, franchises, consents and authorizations of
governmental or regulatory authorities required under all laws, rules and
regulations in  connection with their businesses (hereinafter "permit" or
"permits"), and all of such permits are in full force and effect; and the
Offerors and each Subsidiary have fulfilled and performed all of their
respective obligations with  respect to each such permit and no event has
occurred which would result in, or after notice or lapse of time would result
in, revocation or termination of any such permit or result in any other
impairment of the rights of the holder of such permit.  Neither of the Offerors
nor any Subsidiary is or has been (by virtue of any action, omission to act,
contract to which it is a party or other occurrence) in violation of any
applicable foreign, federal, state, municipal or local statutes, laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations or orders (including those  relating to
environmental protection, occupational safety and health and equal employment
practices) heretofore or currently in effect.

                 (m)      There are no legal or governmental proceedings or
investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Offerors, threatened to
which the Offerors or any Subsidiary are or may be a party or to which any
property owned or leased by either of the Offerors or any Subsidiary is or may
be subject, including, without limitation, any such proceedings that are
related to environmental or employment discrimination matters, which are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
are not so described, or which question the validity of this Agreement or any
action taken or to be taken pursuant hereto.  Except as described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, neither of the Offerors nor any
Subsidiary:  (i) is in violation of any statute, ordinance, rule or regulation,
or any decision, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, arbitrator,
administrative agency or other instrumentality of the United States or other
country or jurisdiction having jurisdiction over the Offerors or such
Subsidiary relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic
substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or
human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, "environmental
laws"); (ii) owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance
that is subject to any environmental laws; (iii) is liable for any off-site
disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws; or (iv) is
subject to any claim relating to any environmental laws, which violation,
contamination, liability or claim could have a Material Adverse Effect.

                 (n)      There is no transaction, relationship, contract,
instrument, obligation, agreement or other document required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed or deemed to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement by the Act, which has not
been described or filed as required.  All such contracts or agreements to which
the Offerors or any Subsidiary is a party have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Offerors or such Subsidiary, constitute valid and binding
agreements of the
<PAGE>   9

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 9


Offerors or such Subsidiary, and are enforceable by and against the Offerors or
such Subsidiary, in accordance with the respective terms thereof.

                 (o)      The Company or Subsidiaries have good and valid title
to all property and assets reflected as owned by the Company or such Subsidiary
in the Company's consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement (or elsewhere in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus), free and clear of all liens, claims, mortgages,
security interests or other encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever except
those, if any, reflected in such financial statements (or elsewhere in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus).  All property (real and personal)
held or used by the Company or a Subsidiary under leases, licenses, franchises
or other agreements is held by the Company or such Subsidiary under valid,
subsisting, binding and enforceable leases, franchises, licenses or other
agreements.

                 (p)      Neither of the Offerors nor any person that controls,
is controlled by (including the Subsidiaries) or is under common control with
the Offerors has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or which constituted, or which could cause or
result in, stabilization or manipulation, under the Exchange Act or otherwise,
of the price of any security of either of the Offerors to facilitate the sale
or resale of the Designated Preferred Securities.

                 (q)      Except as described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and prior to each Closing Date:
(i) neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary has or will have incurred any
liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction,
that is material to the Offerors, except as in the ordinary course of business;
(ii) neither of the Offerors has and will not have paid or declared any
dividend or other distribution with respect to its capital securities and
neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary are or will be delinquent in the
payment of principal or interest on any outstanding debt obligation; (iii)
there has not been and will not have been any change in the capital securities,
any material change in the indebtedness of either of the Offerors or any
Subsidiary, or any change or development involving or which could be expected
to involve, a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions
in the ordinary course of business; and (iv) neither of the Offerors nor any of
the Subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business from
fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree
which is material to the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
business, prospects or results of operations of the Offerors and the
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

                 (r)      Neither of the Offerors nor any person that controls,
is controlled by (including the Subsidiaries) or is under common control with
the Offerors has, directly or indirectly:  (i) made any unlawful contribution
to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any
contribution in violation of law; or (ii) made any payment to any federal,
state or foreign governmental officer or official, or other person charged with
similar public or quasi-
<PAGE>   10

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 10


public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the
United States or any jurisdiction thereof or applicable foreign jurisdictions.

                 (s)      No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between
or among the Offerors or the Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors,
officers, trustees, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Offerors or the
Subsidiaries, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) which is not adequately
described therein.

                 (t)      The Offerors or the Subsidiaries own or possess
adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations,
copyrights and licenses presently used in or necessary for the conduct of its
business or ownership of its properties, and neither of the Offerors nor any
Subsidiary has violated or infringed upon the rights of others, or received any
notice of conflict with the asserted rights of others, in respect thereof.

                 (u)      The Offerors or the Subsidiaries have in place and
effective such policies of insurance, with limits of liability in such amounts,
as are normal and prudent in the ordinary course of the business of the
Offerors and its Subsidiaries.

                 (v)      No labor dispute with the employees of the Offerors
or any Subsidiary exists or is imminent, and neither of the Offerors nor any
Subsidiary is a party to any collective bargaining agreement and, no union
organizational attempts have occurred or are pending.  There has been no change
in the relationship of the Offerors or any Subsidiary with any of its principal
suppliers, contractors or customers resulting in or that could result in a
Material Adverse Effect.

                 (w)      Neither the Company, the Trust, nor any Subsidiary is
an "investment company", an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal
underwriter" for, an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

                 (x)      All federal, state and local tax returns required to
be filed by or on behalf of each of the Offerors or any Subsidiary have been
filed (or are the subject of valid extension) with the appropriate federal,
state and local authorities, and all such tax returns, as filed, are accurate
in all material respects; all federal, state and local taxes (including
estimated tax payments) required to be shown on all such tax returns or claimed
to be due from or with respect to the business of the Offerors or such
Subsidiary have been paid or reflected as a liability on the financial
statements of the Offerors or such Subsidiary for appropriate periods; all
deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state or local tax audits
have been paid or finally settled, and no issue has been raised in any such
audit which, by application of the same or similar principles, reasonably could
be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so
audited; no state of facts exist or has existed which would constitute grounds
for the assessment of any tax liability with respect to the periods which have
not been audited by appropriate federal, state or local authorities; there are
no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the
<PAGE>   11

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 11


statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state or local tax
return of any period; and neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary has ever
been a member of an affiliated group of corporations filing consolidated
federal income tax returns, other than a group of which the Company is and has
been the common parent.

                 (y)      Except for the Company's [NAME EACH GROUP HEALTH,
LIFE, DISABILITY OR OTHER WELFARE PLAN] and its contributory employee
retirement savings 401(k) plan and defined contribution employee stock
ownership plan (collectively, the "Plans"), neither of the Offerors nor any
Subsidiary is a participating employer or plan sponsor with respect to any
employee pension benefit plan as defined in Section 3(2) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), or any employee
welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, including, without
limitation, any multiemployer welfare or pension plan.  The Company has no
defined benefit retirement plans.  With respect to the Plans, the Company is in
substantial compliance with all applicable regulations, including ERISA and the
Code.  The Company or the administrator of each of the Plans, as the case may
be, has timely filed the reports required to be filed by ERISA and the Code in
connection with the maintenance of the Plans, and no facts, including, without
limitation, any "reportable event" as defined by ERISA and the regulations
thereunder, exist in connection with the Plans which, under applicable law,
would constitute grounds for the termination of any of the Plans by the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation or for the appointment by the appropriate United
States District Court of a trustee to administer any of the Plans.

                 (z)      The Offerors and each Subsidiary maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that:
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.

                 (aa)     Neither of the Offerors, any Subsidiary, any officer
or director or trustee of the Offerors or any Subsidiary, or any person who
owns, of record or beneficially, any class of securities issued by the Offerors
is:  (i) an officer, director or partner of any brokerage firm, broker or
dealer that is a member of the NASD ("NASD Member"); or (ii) directly or
indirectly, a "person associated with" an NASD member or an "affiliate"  of an
NASD member, as such terms are used in the NASD Rules of Fair Practice.  In
addition, neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary has issued or transferred
any common stock, warrants, options or other securities, or any other items of
value, to any of the Underwriters or any "related person" of any Underwriter,
as such term is used in the NASD Rules of Fair Practice, except as provided in
this Agreement.

                 (bb)     The Company has prepared and filed with the
Commission a Registration Statement for the Designated Preferred Securities
pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act.
<PAGE>   12

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 12


Such registration statement either has been declared effective by the
Commission under the Exchange Act or will be declared effective by the
Commission prior to or concurrently with the commencement of the public
offering of the Designated Preferred Securities.  The Designated Preferred
Securities have been approved for designation upon notice of issuance as a
Nasdaq National Market security on The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq")
concurrently with the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

                 (cc)     Neither of the Offerors, any Subsidiary nor any
affiliate of the Offerors or such Subsidiary does business with the government
of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of
Section 517.075 of the Florida Statutes, and the Offerors agrees to comply with
such Section if, prior to the completion of the distribution of the Designated
Preferred Securities, either of the Offerors, any Subsidiary or any affiliate
of the Offerors or such Subsidiary commences doing such business.

                 (dd)     All offers and sales of the securities of the Company
and each Subsidiary prior to the date hereof were made in compliance with the
Act and all other applicable state and federal laws or regulations.

                 (ee)     The Company has obtained for the benefit of the
Underwriters the agreement, enforceable by the Underwriters, of each of the
officers and directors of the Company, that for a period of 180 days after the
date of the Prospectus, such persons will not, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, offer, sell, transfer, or
pledge, contract to sell, transfer or pledge, or cause or in any way permit to
be sold, transferred, pledged, or otherwise disposed of, any:  (i) Designated
Preferred Securities; (ii) rights to purchase Designated Preferred Securities
(including, without limitation, Designated Preferred Securities that may be
deemed to be beneficially owned by any such shareholder in accordance with the
applicable regulations of the Commission and Designated Preferred Securities
that may be issued upon the exercise of any option, warrant or other
convertible security); or (iii) securities that are convertible or exchangeable
into shares of Designated Preferred Securities.

                 (ff)     The Designated Preferred Securities have been duly
authorized by the Trust and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor
as provided herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable
undivided beneficial ownership interests in the assets of the Trust, and the
issuance of Designated Preferred Securities will not be subject to preemptive
or other similar rights; the holders of the Designated Preferred Securities
will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability under Delaware
law as extended to stockholders of private for profit corporations organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; and the Designated
Preferred Securities will conform in all material respects to the descriptions
thereof in the Prospectus.  None of the Designated Preferred Securities,
immediately prior to delivery, will be subject to any security interest, lien,
mortgage, pledge, encumbrance, restriction upon voting or transfer, preemptive
rights, claim, equity or other defect.
<PAGE>   13

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 13


                 (gg)     This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Offerors.

                 (hh)     The Trust Agreement has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act") and has been duly
authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustees, and assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement by the Trustees,
the Trust Agreement will, at the Closing Time, be a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms.

                 (ii)     The Guarantee has been qualified under the 1939 Act
and has been duly authorized by the Company.  At the Closing Time, the
Guarantee will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and will
constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, and will conform in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

                 (jj)     The Indenture has been qualified under the 1939 Act
and has been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have
been duly executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and
binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms.

                 (kk)     The Debentures have been duly authorized by the
Company.  At the Closing Time the Debentures will have been duly executed by
the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture
and delivered by the Company to the Trust against payment therefor as described
in the Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms and
will conform in all material respects to the description thereof in the
Prospectus.

                 (ll)     The Expense Agreement has been duly authorized by the
Company.  At the Closing Time, the Expense Agreement will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms.

                 (mm)     Each of the Administrative Trustees is an officer or
employee of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute
and deliver the Trust Agreement.

                 (nn)     The Operative Documents conform in all material
respects to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

         SECTION 4.       Information Furnished by the Underwriters.  The
information set forth in the last paragraph on the outside front cover page of
the Prospectus concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters, the
paragraph on the inside front cover page of the Prospectus
<PAGE>   14

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 14


relating to stabilization practices and passive market making, and the
concession and reallowance amounts appearing under the caption "Underwriting"
in the Prospectus constitute all of the information furnished to the Offerors
by and on behalf of the Underwriters for use in connection with the preparation
of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as such information is
referred to in this Agreement.

         SECTION 5.       Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Securities.

                 (a)      On the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Offerors hereby agree that the Trust will issue to the Underwriters
the Firm Preferred Securities, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally
and not jointly, to purchase from the Trust the number of Firm Preferred
Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I
annexed hereto at a purchase price of $10.00 per share.  Because the proceeds
from the sale of the Firm Preferred Securities will be used to purchase from
the Company its Debentures, the Company shall pay to the Underwriters a
commission of $.375 (37.5 cents) per Firm Preferred Security (the "Firm
Preferred Securities Commission").

                 (b)      On the First Closing Date (as hereinafter defined),
the Offerors will deliver to the Underwriters, at the offices of Robert W.
Baird & Co. Incorporated ("Baird"), 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin 53202, for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates
representing the Firm Preferred Securities to be sold by them against payment
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of the purchase price therefor by certified or official
bank check or checks in New York Clearing House (next day) funds payable to the
order of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities being sold by the
Trust.  As referred to in this Agreement, the "First Closing Date" shall be on
the third full business day after the date of the Prospectus, at 9:00 a.m.,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin time, or at such other date or time not later than ten
full business days after the date of the Prospectus as the Underwriters and the
Trust may agree.  The certificates for the Preferred Securities to be so
delivered will be in denominations and registered in the name of Cede & Co.,
the Nominee of the Depositary (as defined in the Prospectus) as the
Underwriters request by notice to the Trust prior to the First Closing Date,
and such certificates will be made available for checking and packaging at 9:00
a.m., Milwaukee, Wisconsin time on the first full business day preceding the
First Closing Date at a location to be designated by the Underwriters.

                 (c)      In addition, on the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Offerors hereby agree to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, shall have the
right at any time within thirty days after the date of the Prospectus to
purchase up to 330,000 Option Preferred Securities from the Trust at the
purchase price per share to be paid for the Firm Preferred Securities, for use
solely in covering any over-allotments made by the Underwriters in the sale and
distribution of the Firm Preferred Securities.  The option granted hereunder
may be exercised upon notice by the Underwriters to the Trust within thirty
days after the date of the Prospectus setting forth the aggregate number of
Option Preferred Securities to be purchased by
<PAGE>   15

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 15


the Underwriters and sold by the Trust, the names and denominations in which
the certificates for such shares are to be registered and the date and place at
which such certificates will be delivered.  Such date of delivery (the "Second
Closing Date") shall be determined by the Underwriters, provided that the
Second Closing Date, which may be the same as the First Closing Date, shall not
be earlier than the First Closing Date and, if after the First Closing Date,
shall not be earlier than three nor later than ten full business days after
delivery of such notice to exercise.  The number of Option Preferred Securities
to be sold by the Offerors pursuant to such notice shall equal that number of
full Option Preferred Securities which (as nearly as practicable in full shares
as determined by the Underwriters) bears the same proportion to the number of
Option Preferred Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters as the number
of Firm Preferred Securities to be sold by the Offerors under this Agreement
bears to the total number of Firm Preferred Securities.  Certificates for the
Option Preferred Securities will be made available for checking and packaging
at 9:00 a.m., Milwaukee, Wisconsin time, on the first full business day
preceding the Second Closing Date at a location to be designated by the
Underwriters.  The manner of payment for and delivery of (including the
denominations of and the names in which certificates are to be registered) the
Option Preferred Securities shall be the same as for the Firm Preferred
Securities.  The Company shall pay to the Underwriters the commission $.375
(37.5 cents) for each Option Preferred Security purchased.

                 (d)      Each Underwriter is authorized to accept delivery of
the Preferred Securities and to make payment therefor.  As referred to in this
Agreement, "Closing Date" shall mean either the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date.

         SECTION 6.       Covenants of the Offerors.  The Offerors, jointly and
severally, covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that:

                 (a)      If the effective time of the Registration Statement
is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Offerors will
use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective at
the earliest possible time and, upon notification from the Commission that the
Registration Statement has become effective, will so advise the Underwriter's
and counsel to the Underwriters promptly.  If the effective time of the
Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule
430A, the Offerors, at the earliest possible time, will furnish the
Underwriters with a copy of the Prospectus to be filed by the Offerors with the
Commission to comply with Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Act and, if the
Underwriters do not object to the contents thereof, will comply with such
Rules. Upon compliance with such Rules, the Offerors will so advise the
Underwriters promptly.  The Offerors will advise the Underwriters and counsel
to the Underwriters promptly of the issuance by the Commission or any state
securities commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of the institution of any proceedings for that
purpose, or of any notification of the suspension of qualification of the
Designated Preferred Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, and will also advise the
Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters promptly of any request of the
Commission for
<PAGE>   16

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 16


amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement, of any Preliminary
Prospectus or of the Prospectus, or for additional information, and the
Offerors will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement (either before or after it becomes effective), to any Preliminary
Prospectus or to the Prospectus (including a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)), or file any document under the Exchange Act before the termination of
the public offering of the Designated Preferred Securities by the Underwriters
if such document would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, if the Underwriters have not been furnished with a copy
prior to such filing (with a reasonable opportunity to review such amendment or
supplement) or if the Underwriters object to such filing.

                 (b)      If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Designated Preferred Securities is required by law to be delivered in
connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result
of which the Prospectus would include an untrue statement of a material fact,
or would omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time
to supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or to file under the
Exchange Act any document which would be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, the
Offerors promptly will advise the Underwriters and counsel to the Underwriters
and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, at its expense, an
amendment to the Registration Statement or file such document which will
correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such
compliance; and, if any Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus after
the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Offerors, upon request of
the Underwriters, will prepare promptly such prospectus or prospectuses as may
be necessary to permit compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of
the Act.  The Offerors consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions
of the Act and with the Blue Sky Laws of the jurisdictions in which the
Designated Preferred Securities are offered by the several Underwriters and by
dealers, of each Preliminary Prospectus.

                 (c)      Neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary will,
prior to the Second Closing Date, if any, incur any liability or obligation,
direct or contingent, or enter into any material transaction, other than in the
ordinary course of business, or enter into any transaction with an "affiliate,"
as defined in Rule 405 under the Act, which is required to be described in the
Prospectus pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Act, except as
described in the Prospectus.

                 (d)      Neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary will,
prior to the Second Closing Date, if any, acquire any of the Designated
Preferred Securities nor will the Offerors declare or pay any dividend or make
any other distribution upon its Designated Preferred Securities payable to
shareholders of record on a date prior to such earlier date, except as
described in the Prospectus.
<PAGE>   17

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
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Page 17


                 (e)      The Company will make generally available to its and
the Trustee's security holders and the Underwriters an earnings statement as
soon as practicable, but in no event later than sixty days after the end of its
fiscal quarter in which the first anniversary of the effective date of the
Registration Statement occurs, covering a period of twelve consecutive calendar
months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement, which
will satisfy the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Act
and Rule 158 promulgated thereunder.

                 (f)      During such period as a prospectus is required by law
to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, the
Offerors will furnish to the Underwriters, at the expense of the Offerors,
copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Preliminary
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to any such documents, including
any document filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, in each case as soon as available and
in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

                 (g)      The Offerors will apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Designated Preferred Securities to be sold by the Trust hereunder
for the purposes set forth in the Prospectus, and will timely file Form SR, and
any amendments thereto, as required by Rule 463 under the Act.

                 (h)      The Offerors will cooperate with the Underwriters and
counsel to the Underwriters in qualifying or registering the Designated
Preferred Securities for sale under the Blue Sky Laws of such jurisdictions as
the Underwriters designate, and will continue such qualifications or
registrations in effect so long as reasonably requested by the Underwriters to
effect the distribution of the Designated Preferred Securities.  The Offerors
shall not be required to qualify as foreign corporations or to file a general
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not
presently qualified.  In each jurisdiction where any of the Designated
Preferred Securities shall have been qualified as provided above, the Offerors
will file such reports and statements as may be required to continue such
qualification for a period of not less than one year from the date of the
Prospectus.  The Offerors shall promptly prepare and file with the Commission,
from time to time, such reports as may be required to be filed by the Act and
the Exchange Act, and the Offerors shall comply in all respects with the
undertakings given by the Offerors in connection with the qualification or
registration of the Designated Preferred Securities for offering and sale under
the Blue Sky Laws.

                 (i)      During the period of three years from the date of the
Prospectus, the Offerors will furnish to each of the Underwriters, as soon as
available, each report, statement or other document of the Company or its Board
of Directors mailed to its shareholders or filed with the Commission, and such
other information concerning the Offerors as the Underwriters may reasonably
request.

                 (j)      The Offerors shall deliver the requisite notice of
issuance to Nasdaq and shall take all necessary or appropriate action within
its power to maintain the authorization for
<PAGE>   18

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 18


trading of the Designated Preferred Securities as a Nasdaq National Market
security, or take such action to authorize the Designated Preferred Securities
for listing on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange, for
a period of at least thirty-six months after the date of the Prospectus.

                 (k)      During a period of 180 days from the date of the
Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Trust will, without the prior written
consent of Baird, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer
or dispose of any Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures (or any equity
or debt securities substantially similar to the Designated Preferred Securities
or Debentures, respectively) or any capital stock of the Company, or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Designated
Preferred Securities or Debentures (or any equity or debt securities
substantially similar to the Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures,
respectively) or file any registration statement under the 1933 Act with
respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other
agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of Designated Preferred
Securities or Debentures (or any equity or debt securities substantially
similar to the Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures, respectively) or
any capital stock of the Company, whether any such swap or transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of
Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures (or any equity or debt securities
substantially similar to the Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures,
respectively) or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.  The foregoing
sentence shall not apply to the Designated Preferred Securities or Debentures
to be sold pursuant to this Agreement.

                 (l)      The Offerors will maintain a transfer agent and, if
required by law or the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market or any national
securities exchange on which the Designated Preferred Securities are listed, a
registrar (which, if permitted by applicable laws and rules, may be the same
entity as the transfer agent) for its Designated Preferred Securities.  Each
Offeror shall, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, use its best
efforts to obtain listing, if not already so listed, in Standard and Poor's
Stock Guide, or such other recognized securities manuals for which it may
qualify for listing, and each Offeror shall use its best efforts to maintain
such listings for at least five years after the First Closing Date.

                 (m)      If at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Designated Preferred Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any
rumor, publication or event relating to of affecting either Offeror shall occur
as a result of which, in the opinion of the Underwriters, the market price of
the Designated Preferred Securities have been or is likely to be materially
affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event necessitates a
supplement to the Prospectus), the Offerors will, after written notice from
Baird advising the Offerors of any of the matters set forth above, promptly
consult with Baird concerning the advisability and substance of, and, if the
Offerors and Baird determine that it is appropriate, disseminate, a press
release or other public statement responding to or commenting on, such rumor,
publication or event.
<PAGE>   19

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 19


                 (n)      If the sale to the Underwriters of the Designated
Preferred Securities is not consummated for any reason other than termination
of this Agreement pursuant to section 12 hereof, without limiting any other
rights the Underwriters may have, the Offerors agrees to reimburse the
Underwriters upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters), that shall have been
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and sale
of the Designated Preferred Securities, and the provisions of sections 8 and 11
hereof shall at all times be effective and apply.

                 (o)      The Offerors will comply or cause to be complied with
the conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters in section 9 hereof.

                 (p)      The Offerors will cooperate with the Underwriters and
use reasonable commercial efforts to permit the Designated Preferred Securities
to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC").

         SECTION 8.       Payment of Expenses.  Whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective, or
if this Agreement is terminated for any reason, the Company will pay the costs,
fees, and expenses incurred in connection with the public offering of the
Designated Preferred Securities.  Such costs, fees and expenses to be paid by
the Company include, without limitation:

                 (a)      All costs, fees and expenses (excluding the expenses
incurred by the Underwriters and the legal fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Underwriters, but including such fees and disbursements described in
subsections (b) and (c) of this section 8) incurred in connection with the
performance of the Offerors's obligations hereunder, including without limiting
the generality of the foregoing: the registration fees related to the filing of
the Registration Statement with the Commission; the fees and expenses related
to the quotation or listing of the Designated Preferred Securities and, if
applicable, the Guarantee and Debentures on Nasdaq or other national securities
exchange; the fees and expenses of the Offerors's counsel, accountants,
transfer agent and registrar; the fees and expenses of the Trustees; the costs
and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, shipping
and delivery of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus (including all exhibits and financial statements) and all agreements
and supplements provided for herein, this Agreement and the Preliminary and
Supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda, including, without limitation, shipping
expenses via overnight delivery and/or courier service to comply with
applicable prospectus delivery requirements; and the costs and expenses
associated with the production of materials related to, and travel expenses
incurred by the management of the Offerors in connection with, the various
meetings to be held between the Offerors's management and prospective
investors.

                 (b)      All registration fees and expenses, including legal
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters incurred in connection
with qualifying or registering all or any part of the Designated Preferred
Securities, Debentures, and the Guarantee for offer and sale
<PAGE>   20

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 20


under the Blue Sky Laws and the clearing of the public offering and the
underwriting arrangements evidenced hereby with the NASD.

                 (c)      Up to $25,000 of the Underwriters' disbursements and
out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with their preparations for the
offering and the offering of the Designated Preferred Securities, including,
without limitation, the fees and expenses of Underwriters' legal counsel not
included under subsection (b) above, travel expenses for meetings with the
Offerors and meetings with the Offerors' management and prospective investors.

                 (d)      All fees and expenses related to printing of the
certificates for the Designated Preferred Securities, and all transfer taxes,
if any, with respect to the sale and delivery of the Designated Preferred
Securities.

                 (e)      The costs and charges of any transfer agent or
registrar and the fees and disbursement of counsel for any transfer agent or
registrar.

                 (f)      All expenses incident to the preparation, execution
and delivery of the Trust Agreements, the Indenture and the Guarantee.

                 (g)      The cost and charges of qualifying the Designated
Preferred Securities with the DTC.

                 (h)      All other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement, the Trust
Agreement, the Indenture or the Guarantee that are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this section 8.

         SECTION 9.
                    Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters.  The
obligations of the several Underwriters under this Agreement shall be subject
to, in the Underwriter's sole discretion, the accuracy of the representations
and warranties on the part of the Offerors herein set forth as of the date
hereof and as of each Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the
Offerors's officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by each of the Offerors of its obligations hereunder, and to the following
additional conditions, unless waived in writing by the Underwriters:

                 (a)      The Registration Statement shall have been declared
effective by the Commission not later than _________________ a./p.m.,]
Washington, D. C. time, of the day prior to the date [on the date] of this
Agreement, or such later time as shall have been consented to by the
Underwriters, which consent shall be deemed to have been given if the
Registration Statement shall have been declared effective on or before the date
and time requested in the acceleration request submitted on behalf of the
Underwriters pursuant to Rule 461 under the Act; all filings required by Rules
424(b) and 430A under the Act shall have been timely made; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued by the Commission or any state securities commission nor, to the
knowledge of the Offerors, shall any
<PAGE>   21

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 21


proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or threatened; and any request
of the Commission or any state securities commission for inclusion of
additional information in the Registration Statement, or otherwise, shall have
been complied with to the satisfaction of the Underwriters.

                 (b)      Since the dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement:

                          (i)     there shall not have occurred any change or
development involving, or which could be expected to involve, a Material
Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
of business; and

                          (ii)    neither of the Offerors shall have sustained
any loss or interference from any labor dispute, strike, fire, flood,
windstorm, accident or other calamity (whether or not insured) or from any
court or governmental action, order or decree,

the effect of which on the Offerors, in any such case described in clause (i)
or (ii) above, is in the opinion of the Underwriters so material and adverse as
to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or
the delivery of the Designated Preferred Securities on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

                 (c)      The Underwriters shall not have advised the Offerors
that the Registration Statement or the Prospectus contains an untrue statement
of fact that, in the opinion of the Underwriters or counsel for the
Underwriters, is material, or omits to state a fact that, in the opinion of the
Underwriters or such counsel, is material and is required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

                 (d)      The Underwriters shall have received an opinion of
Strobl & Borda, P.C., counsel for the Offerors addressed to the Underwriters,
and dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, to the effect that:

                          (i)     The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation and in good standing under the laws of
Michigan, and is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank
Holding Company Act with full corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted and as
described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement; each of the
Offerors is duly registered and qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation under the laws of, and is in good standing as such in, each
jurisdiction in which such registration or qualification is required, except
where the failure to so register or qualify would not have a Material Adverse
Effect;

                          (ii)    The authorized capital stock of the Company
conforms to the description thereof in the Prospectus and the Registration
Statement;
<PAGE>   22

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 22


                          (iii)   The issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company immediately prior to the issuance and sale of the
Designated Preferred Securities have been duly authorized and validly issued,
are fully paid and nonassessable, and there are no preemptive, preferential or,
except as described in the Prospectus, other rights to subscribe for or
purchase any shares of capital stock of the Company, and to such counsel's
knowledge, no shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in
violation of such rights and there are no immediate plans or arrangements to
issue any shares of capital stock of the Company except as described in the
Prospectus;

                          (iv)    Except for the Subsidiaries and the Trust,
the Company has no subsidiaries, and the Company does not own any equity
interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any other corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, trust or other
business organization except as described in the Prospectus and the
Registration Statement; each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporate entity in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, with full corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently
conducted and as described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement;
the Company's Subsidiary, Sun Community Bancorp Limited, a second tier bank
holding company incorporated under the laws of Arizona, is duly registered as a
bank holding company under the Bank  Holding Company Act;  each Subsidiary is
duly registered or qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the
laws of, and is in good standing as such in, each jurisdiction in which such
registration or qualification is required, except where the failure to so
register or qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect; the issued and
outstanding shares of the capital stock of each Subsidiary have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable (except with
respect to Subsidiaries to the extent provided under 12 U.S.C. Section 55, 12
U.S.C. Section 1831o or Section 201 of the Michigan Banking Code) and there are
no preemptive, preferential or, to such counsel's knowledge, other rights to
subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary, and to
such counsel's knowledge, no shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary have
been issued in violation of such rights; except as stated in the Prospectus,
the Company owns directly and, to such counsel's knowledge, beneficially all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary, free and clear of
any and all liens, claims, encumbrances and security interests;

                          (v)     The certificates for the Designated Preferred
Securities to be delivered hereunder are in due and proper form and conform to
the requirements of applicable law; and when duly countersigned by the Trust's
transfer agent, and delivered to the Underwriters or upon the order of the
Underwriters against payment of the agreed consideration therefor in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, the Designated Preferred Securities to
be sold by the Trust represented thereby will be duly authorized and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free of any preemptive, preferential
or other rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of Designated Preferred
Securities;
<PAGE>   23

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 23


                          (vi)    The Registration Statement has become
effective under the Act, and to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or are threatened under the
Act or any Blue Sky Laws; the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
amendment or supplement thereto, including any document incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, (except for the financial statements
and other statistical or financial data included therein as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Act; the conditions for use of Form S-3, set forth
in the General Instructions thereto have been satisfied; no facts have come to
the attention of such counsel which lead it to believe that either the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, including any document incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made
(except for the financial statements and other financial data included therein
as to which such counsel need express no opinion); to such counsel's knowledge,
there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened,
including, without limitation, any such proceedings that are related to
environmental or employment discrimination matters, required to be described in
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which are not so described or
which question the validity of this Agreement, the Trust Agreement, the
Guarantee or the Indenture or any action taken or to be taken pursuant to any
such agreement, nor is there any transaction, relationship, agreement, contract
or other document of a character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, or required to be filed under the Exchange Act if
upon such filing they would be incorporated, in whole or in part, by reference
therein, or to be filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement by the Act, which is not described or filed or
incorporated by reference as required;

                          (vii)   The Company has full corporate power and
authority and the Trust has full trust power and authority to enter into and
perform this Agreement; the performance of the Offerors's obligations hereunder
and the consummation of the transactions described herein have been duly
authorized by each of the Offerors by all necessary corporate or trust action
and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by and on behalf of
each of the Offerors, and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of each of
the Offerors enforceable against each of the Offerors in accordance with its
terms, except that rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by
applicable law and except as enforceability of this Agreement may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, and by equitable principles limiting the right to
specific performance or other equitable relief; no consent, approval,
authorization or other order  or decree of any court, regulatory or
governmental body, arbitrator, administrative agency or other instrumentality
of the United States or other country or jurisdiction having jurisdiction over
either Offeror is required for the
<PAGE>   24

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 24


execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (except for compliance with the
Act, the Exchange Act, applicable Blue Sky Laws and the clearance of the
underwriting arrangements by the NASD);

                          (viii)  The execution, delivery and performance of
each of the Operative Documents by the Trust and the Company, as applicable,
the issuance, sale, and delivery of the Defined Preferred Securities, the
Debentures, and the Guarantee and the consummation by the Company and the
Trust, as applicable, of the transactions contemplated by the Operative
Documents will not:  (A) violate any provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws, or governing documents (including without limitation the
Trust Agreement) of the Offerors or any Subsidiary; (B) violate any provisions
of, or result in the breach, modification or termination of, or constitute a
default under, any agreement, lease, franchise, license, indenture, permit,
mortgage, deed of trust, other evidence of indebtedness or other instrument to
which either Offeror or any Subsidiary is a party or by which either Offeror or
any such Subsidiary, or any of their respective owned or leased property is
bound, and which is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement; or (C) violate any statute, ordinance, order, rule,
decree or regulation of any court, regulatory or governmental body, arbitrator,
administrative agency or other instrumentality of the United States or other
country or jurisdiction having jurisdiction over either Offeror or any
Subsidiary (assuming compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws);

                          (ix)    To such counsel's knowledge, except as
described in the Prospectus, there are no holders of securities of either of
the Offerors, or securities that are convertible or exchangeable into
Designated Preferred Securities or other securities of either of the Offerors,
that have rights to the registration of such securities under the Act or any
Blue Sky Laws;

                          (x)     The Designated Preferred Securities have been
designated for inclusion as a National Market security on The Nasdaq Stock
Market and are registered under the Exchange Act;

                          (xi)    Neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary
is, nor with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would be, in
violation of its respective Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, or other
governing documents (including without limitation the Trust Agreement) or, to
such counsel's knowledge, in default in any material respect in the performance
of any agreement, lease, franchise, license, permit, mortgage, deed of trust,
evidence of indebtedness or other instrument, or any other document that is
filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, to which either of the Offerors or any Subsidiary is subject or
bound;

                          (xii)   Neither of the Offerors nor any Subsidiary is
an "investment company", an "affiliated person" of, or "promoter" or "principal
underwriter" for, an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and,
<PAGE>   25

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 25


upon its receipt of any proceeds from the sale of the Designated Preferred
Securities, no Offeror will become or be deemed to be an "investment company"
thereunder;

                          (xiii)  The description or incorporation by reference
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of statutes, law, regulations,
legal and governmental proceedings, and contracts and other legal documents
described or incorporated by reference therein fairly and correctly present, in
all material respects, the information required to be included therein by the
Act; and

                          (xiv)   All offers and sales by the Company  of its
capital stock and any offer and sale by the Trust of any securities before the
date hereof were at all relevant times duly registered under or exempt from the
registration requirements of the Act, and were duly registered under or the
subject of an available exemption from the registration requirements of any
applicable Blue Sky Laws.

                          (xv)    The Debentures and Guarantee of the Company
and the equity securities of the Trust conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus in all material respects.

                          (xvi)   The issuance, sale and delivery of the
Designated Preferred Securities and Debentures in accordance with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, the Trust Agreement and the Indenture have been
duly authorized by all necessary actions of each of the Offerors.

                          (xvii)  Each of the Indenture, the Trust Agreement
and the Guarantee has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and
legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of
creditors generally and of general principles of equity;

                          (xviii) The Debentures have been duly authorized,
executed, authenticated and delivered by the Company, are entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject
to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
generally and of general principles of equity;

                          (xix)   The Expense Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and legally
binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms,
subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership,
moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors
generally and of general principles of equity;
<PAGE>   26

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 26


                          (xx)    The statements under the captions
"Description of the Preferred Securities", "Description of the Subordinated
Debentures", "Description of the Guarantee", "Relationship Among the Preferred
Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee", "Certain Federal
Income Tax Consequences" and "ERISA Considerations" in the Prospectus, insofar
as such statements constitute a summary of legal and regulatory matters,
documents or proceedings referred to therein are accurate in all material
respects and fairly present the information called for with respect to such
legal matters, documents and proceedings, other than financial and statistical
data as to which said counsel expresses no opinion or belief;

                          (xxi)   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.

In rendering such opinion, counsel for the Offerors may rely, to the extent
counsel deems such reliance proper, as to matters of fact upon certificates of
officers of the Company and of governmental officials, and copies of all such
certificates shall be furnished to the Underwriters and for the Underwriters on
or before each Closing Date.

                 (e)      Richards, Layton & Finger, special Delaware counsel
to the Offerors, shall have furnished to the Underwriters their signed opinion,
dated as of any Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to such
counsel, to the effect that:

                          (i)     The Trust has been duly created and is
validly existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act and, under the Trust Agreement and the Delaware Business
Trust Act, has the trust power and authority to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus.

                          (ii)    The Trust Agreement is a legal, valid and
binding agreement of the Company and the Trustees, and is enforceable against
the Company and the Trustees, in accordance with its terms.

                          (iii)   Under the Trust Agreement and the Delaware
Business Trust Act, the execution and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement by
the Trust, and the performance by the Trust of its obligations thereunder, have
been authorized by all requisite trust action on the part of the Trust.

                          (iv)    The Designated Preferred Securities have been
duly authorized by the Trust Agreement, and when issued and sold in accordance
with the Trust Agreement, the Designated Preferred Securities will be, subject
to the qualifications set forth in paragraph (v) below, fully paid and
nonassessable beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and entitled to
the benefits of the Trust Agreement.

                          (v)     Holders of Designated Preferred Securities,
as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to shareholders of
<PAGE>   27

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 27


private, for-profit corporations organized under the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware.  Such opinion may note that the holders of Designated
Preferred Securities may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the
Trust Agreement.

                          (vi)    Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the
Trust Agreement, the issuance of the Designated Preferred Securities is not
subject to preemptive rights.

                          (vii)   The issuance and sale by the Trust of the
Designated Preferred Securities and the Common Securities, the execution,
delivery and performance by the Trust of this Agreement, and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, do not violate (a) the
Trust Agreement, or (b) any applicable Delaware law, rule or, regulation.

                 (f)      The Underwriters shall have received an opinion of
Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Designated Preferred Securities by the
Offerors, the Registration Statement and other related matters as the
Underwriters may require, and the Offerors shall have furnished to such counsel
such documents and shall have exhibited to them such papers and records as they
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

                 (g)      The Underwriters shall have received on each Closing
Date, a certificate of Joseph D. Reid, Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer, and Lee W. Hendrickson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of
the Company, and a certificate of Joseph D.  Reid and Robert C. Carr as
Administrative Trustees of the Trust to the effect that:

                          (i)     The representations and warranties of the
Offerors set forth in section 2 hereof are true and correct as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the date of such certificate, and each of the Offerors
has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions to be
performed or satisfied by it at or prior to the date of such certificate;

                          (ii)    The Commission has not issued an order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus or any Preliminary
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued; and to the
knowledge of the respective signatories, no proceedings for that purpose have
been initiated or are pending or contemplated under the Act or under the Blue
Sky Laws of any jurisdiction;

                          (iii)   Each of the respective signatories has
carefully examined the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, including any documents filed under the
Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, and such documents contain all statements required to be stated
therein, and do not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and since the date on which the Registration
Statement was initially filed, no event has occurred that was
<PAGE>   28

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 28


required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented prospectus or in an
amendment to the Registration Statement that has not been so set forth, and
there has been no document required to be filed under the Exchange Act that
upon such filing would be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement that has not been so filed; and

                          (iv)    Since the date on which the Registration
Statement was initially filed with the Commission, there shall not have
occurred any change or development involving, or which could be expected to
involve, a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in
the ordinary course of business, except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the
Registration Statement as heretofore amended or (but only if the Underwriters
expressly consent thereto in writing) as disclosed in an amendment or
supplement thereto filed with the Commission and delivered to the Underwriters
after the execution of this Agreement; since such date and except as so
disclosed or in the ordinary course of business, neither of the Offerors has
incurred any liability or obligation, direct or indirect, or entered into any
transaction which is material to the Offerors; since such date and except as so
disclosed, there has not been any change in the outstanding capital securities
of either of the Offerors, or any change that is material to the Offerors in
the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Offerors; since such date and
except as so disclosed, no Offeror has acquired any of the capital securities
of either of the Offerors nor has either of the Offerors declared or paid any
dividend, or made any other distribution, upon its outstanding capital
securities payable to holders of record on a date prior to such Closing Date;
since such date and except as so disclosed, neither Offeror has incurred any
material contingent obligations, and no material litigation is pending or
threatened against either of the Offerors; and, since such date and except as
so disclosed, neither Offeror has sustained any material loss or interference
from any strike, fire, flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity (whether or
not insured) or from any court or governmental action, order or decree.

         The delivery of the certificate provided for in this subsection (g)
shall be and constitute a representation and warranty of the Offerors as to the
facts required in the immediately foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv)
to be set forth in said certificate.

                 (h)      At the time this Agreement is executed and also on
each Closing Date, there shall be delivered to the Underwriters a letter
addressed to the Underwriters from BDO Seidman LLP, the Company's independent
accountants, the first letter to be dated the date of this Agreement, the
second letter to be dated the First Closing Date and the third letter (if
applicable) to be dated the Second Closing Date, which shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall contain information as of
a date within five days of the date of such letter.  There shall not have been
any change or decrease set forth in any of the letters referred to in this
subsection (h) which makes it impracticable or inadvisable in the judgment of
the Underwriters to proceed with the public offering or purchase of the
Designated Preferred Securities as contemplated hereby.

                 (i)      The Designated Preferred Securities shall have been
qualified or registered for sale under the Blue Sky Laws of such jurisdictions
as shall have been specified by the
<PAGE>   29

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 29


Underwriters, the underwriting terms and arrangements for the offering shall
have been cleared by the NASD, and the Designated Preferred Securities shall
have been designated for inclusion as a Nasdaq National Market security on the
Nasdaq Stock Market and shall have been registered under the Exchange Act.

                 (j)      Such further certificates and documents as the
Underwriters may reasonably request (including certificates of officers of the
Company or of Trustees of the Trust).

                 (k)      On or before the First Closing Date, the Underwriters
shall have received duly executed counterparts of the Trust Agreement, the
Guarantee, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement.

         All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents shall be in
compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory to the
Underwriters and to Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP, counsel for the
Underwriters.  The Offerors shall furnish the Underwriters with such manually
signed or conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and
documents as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

         If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations hereunder to be
satisfied prior to or at either Closing Date is not so satisfied, this
Agreement at the election of the Underwriters will terminate upon notification
to the Offerors without liability on the part of any Underwriter, the Offerors
except for the provisions of section 7(n) hereof, the expenses to be paid by
the Offerors pursuant to section 8 hereof and except to the extent provided in
section  11 hereof.

         SECTION 10.  Maintain Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  The
Offerors will use their best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and, if such stop
order is issued, to obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof.

         SECTION 11.  Indemnification.

                 (a)      The Offerors agree to jointly and severally indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each of its directors, officers and
agents and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning
of the Act or the Exchange Act, from and against any losses, claims, damages,
expenses, liabilities or actions in respect thereof ("Claims"), joint or
several, to which such Underwriter or each such controlling person may become
subject under the Act, the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws or other federal or
state statutory laws or regulations, at common law or otherwise (including
payments made in settlement of any litigation), insofar as such Claims arise
out of or are based upon any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant
made by either of the Offerors in this Agreement, or any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or in any application filed under any Blue Sky Law or other
document executed by either of the Offerors for that purpose
<PAGE>   30

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 30


or based upon written information furnished by either of the Offerors and filed
in any state or other jurisdiction to qualify any or all of the Designated
Preferred Securities under the securities laws thereof (any such document,
application or information being hereinafter called a "Blue Sky Application")
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.  The Offerors jointly and severally agree to
reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any legal fees
or other expenses incurred by such Underwriter or any such controlling person
in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim; provided,
however, that the Offerors will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such Claim arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or
supplement thereto or in any Blue Sky Application in reliance upon and in
conformity with the written information furnished to the Offerors pursuant to
section 4 of this Agreement.  The indemnification obligations of the Offerors,
as provided above, are in addition to and in no way limit any liabilities the
Offerors may otherwise have.

                 (b)      Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will
indemnify and hold harmless the Offerors, each of its directors and each of its
officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Offerors within the meaning of the Act or the Exchange Act against
any Claim to which the Offerors, or any such director, officer, or controlling
person may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act, Blue Sky Laws or
other federal or state statutory laws or regulations, at common law or
otherwise (including payments made in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter and Baird),
insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement,
any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application, or arises out of or is based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or in any Blue Sky Application, in reliance
solely upon and in conformity with the written information furnished by the
Underwriters to the Offerors pursuant to section 4 of this Agreement.  Each
Underwriter will severally reimburse any legal fees or other expenses incurred
by the Offerors, or any such director, officer, or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim, and from any and all
Claims solely resulting from failure of an Underwriter to deliver a Prospectus,
if the person asserting such Claim purchased Designated Preferred Securities
from such Underwriter and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended if the
Offerors shall have furnished any amendments thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Designated Preferred Securities to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so
amended) would have cured the defect giving rise to such Claim.  The
indemnification obligations of each Underwriter as provided above are in
addition to any
<PAGE>   31

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 31


liabilities any such Underwriter may otherwise have.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this section, no Underwriter shall be required to indemnify or
reimburse the Offerors, or any officer, director, or controlling person in an
aggregate amount in excess of the total price at which the Designated Preferred
Securities purchased by any such Underwriter hereunder were offered to the
public, less the amount of any damages such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission.

                 (c)      Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
this section of notice of the commencement of any action in respect of a Claim,
such indemnified party will, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made
against an indemnifying party under this section, notify the indemnifying party
in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party will not relieve an indemnifying party from any liability it
may have to any indemnified party under this section or otherwise.  In case any
such action is brought against any indemnified party, and such indemnified
party notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that
he, she or it may wish, jointly with all other indemnifying parties, similarly
notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory
to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such
action include both the indemnified party and any indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal
defenses available to the indemnified party and/or other indemnified parties
which are different from or additional to those available to any indemnifying
party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate
counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the
defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.

                 (d)      Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of the indemnifying party's election to assume the
defense of such action and upon approval by the indemnified party of counsel
selected by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be liable
to such indemnified party under this section for any legal fees or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof, unless:

                          (i)     the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in
accordance with the proviso to the last sentence of subsection (c) of this
section;

                          (ii)    the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent
the indemnified party within a reasonable time after the indemnified party's
notice to the indemnifying party of commencement of the action; or

                          (iii)   the indemnifying party has authorized the
employment of counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party.
<PAGE>   32

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 32


                 (e)      If the indemnification provided for in this section
is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) hereof in
respect of any Claim referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu
of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall, subject to the limitations
hereinafter set forth, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such Claim:

                          (i)     in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors and the Underwriters
from the offering of the Designated Preferred Securities; or

                          (ii)    if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above, but
also the relative fault of the Offerors and the Underwriters in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such Claim, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations.

         The relative benefits received by each of the Offerors and the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be in such proportion so that the Underwriters
are responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the amount
of the underwriting compensations per Designated Preferred Securities appearing
on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the public offering price per
share appearing thereon, and the Offerors (including its officers and directors
and controlling persons), are responsible for the remaining portion.  The
relative fault of the Offerors and the Underwriters shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Offerors or the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.  The amount
paid or payable by a party as a result of the Claims referred to above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in subsection (c) of
this section, any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.

                 (f)      The Offerors and the Underwriters agree that it would
not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this section were
determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method or allocation
which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in
subsection (e) of this section 11.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of
this section, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount that is
greater than the amount by which the total price at which the Designated
Preferred Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
<PAGE>   33

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 33


pursuant to this section are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting commitments and not joint.

                 (g)      The Company agrees to indemnify the Trust against any
and all claims, losses, damages, or liabilities that may become due from the
Trust under this section 11.

         SECTION 12.  Default of Underwriters.  It shall be a condition to the
obligations of each Underwriter to purchase the Designated Preferred Securities
in the manner as described herein, that, except as hereinafter provided in this
section, each of the Underwriters shall purchase and pay for all the Designated
Preferred Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter hereunder upon
tender to the Underwriters of all such Designated Preferred Securities in
accordance with the terms hereof.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters default
in their obligations to purchase Designated Preferred Securities hereunder on
either the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date and the aggregate
number of Designated Preferred Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of
the total number of Designated Preferred Securities which the Underwriters are
obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, the Underwriters may make
arrangements for the purchase of such Designated Preferred Securities by other
persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are
made by such Closing Date the nondefaulting Underwriters shall be obligated
severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase
the Designated Preferred Securities which such defaulting Underwriters agreed
but failed to purchase on such Closing Date.  If any Underwriter or
Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of Designated Preferred
Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur is greater than
ten percent (10%) of the total number of Designated Preferred Securities which
the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Underwriters for the purchase of such
Designated Preferred Securities by other persons are not made within thirty-six
hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on
the part of any nondefaulting Underwriter, except for the expenses to be paid
by the Offerors pursuant to section 8 hereof and except to the extent provided
in section 11 hereof.

         In the event that Designated Preferred Securities to which a default
relates are to be purchased by the nondefaulting Underwriters or by another
party or parties, the Underwriters shall have the right to postpone the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for not more than
seven business days in order that the necessary changes in the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and any other documents, as well as any other
arrangements, may be effected.  As used in this Agreement, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
section.  Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.

         SECTION 13.  Effective Date.  This Agreement shall become effective
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the parties hereto.  Such
execution and delivery shall include
<PAGE>   34

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 34


an executed copy of this Agreement sent by telecopier, facsimile transmission
or other means of transmitting written documents.

         SECTION 14.  Termination.  Without limiting the right to terminate
this Agreement pursuant to any other provision hereof, this Agreement may be
terminated by the Underwriters prior to or on the First Closing Date and the
over-allotment option from the Offerors referred to in section 5 hereof, if
exercised, may be canceled by the Underwriters at any time prior to or on the
Second Closing Date, if in the judgment of the Underwriters, payment for and
delivery of the Designated Preferred Securities is rendered impracticable or
inadvisable because:

                 (a)      additional governmental restrictions, not in force
and effect on the date hereof, shall have been imposed upon trading in
securities generally or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally
established on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange, or
trading in securities generally shall have been suspended or materially limited
on either such exchange or on The Nasdaq Stock Market or a general banking
moratorium shall have been established by either federal or state authorities
in New York, Michigan, Arizona, or Wisconsin;

                 (b)      any event shall have occurred or shall exist which
makes untrue or incorrect in any material respect any statement or information
contained in the Registration Statement or which is not reflected in the
Registration Statement but should be reflected therein to make the statements
or information contained therein not misleading in any material respect; or

                 (c)      an outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other
national or international calamity or any substantial change in political,
financial or economic conditions shall have occurred or shall have accelerated
to such extent, in the judgment of the Underwriters, as to have a material
adverse effect on the financial markets of the United States, or to make it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the sale of and
payment for the Designated Preferred Securities as provided in this Agreement.

         Any termination pursuant to this section shall be without liability on
the part of any Underwriter to the Offerors, or on the part of the Offerors to
any Underwriter, except for expenses to be paid by the Offerors pursuant to
section 8 hereof or reimbursed by the Offerors pursuant to section 6(n) hereof
and except as to indemnification to the extent provided in section  11 hereof.

         SECTION 15.  Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery.  The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties, covenants and
other statements of the each of the Offerors, of its officers, directors, or
trustees and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this
Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or Offeror or any of its or their
partners, officers, directors, trustees or any controlling person, as the case
may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Designated Preferred
Securities sold hereunder.
<PAGE>   35

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 35


         SECTION 16.  Notices.  All communications hereunder will be in writing
and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied (with
receipt confirmed) or telegraphed and confirmed to Robert W. Baird & Co.
Incorporated at 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202,
Attention: Steven P. Kent; with a copy to Donald L. Johnson, Esq., Varnum,
Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP, 17th Floor, 333 Bridge Street, N.W., Grand
Rapids, Michigan 49504; and if sent to either Offeror, will be mailed,
delivered, telecopied (with receipt confirmed) or telegraphed and confirmed to
either Offeror at One Business & Trade Center, 200 Washington Square North,
Lansing, Michigan 48933, Attention: Lee W. Hendrickson, with a copy to John
Sharp, Strobl & Borda, P.C., 300 E. Longlake Road, Suite 200, Bloomfield Hills,
Michigan 48304

         SECTION 17.  Successors.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors,
personal representatives and assigns, and to the benefit of the officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in section 11 hereof and no other
person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall
not include any purchaser of the Designated Preferred Securities as such from
any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.

         SECTION 18.  Partial Unenforceability.  If any section, paragraph,
clause  or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be
invalid or unenforceable, such determination shall not affect the validity or
enforceability of any other section, paragraph clause or provision hereof.

         SECTION 19.  Applicable Law; Counterparts.  This Agreement shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
Wisconsin without reference to conflict of law principles thereunder.  This
Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument, and shall be effective when at least one
counterpart hereof shall have been executed by or on behalf of each party
hereto.

         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, kindly sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Offerors and the several
Underwriters, all in accordance with its terms.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        Capitol Bancorp Ltd.


                                        By:_____________________________________

                                                Its_____________________________

                      [SIGNATURES CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE]
<PAGE>   36

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
December ______, 1997
Page 36


                     [SIGNATURES CONTINUED FROM PRIOR PAGE]


                                        Capitol Trust I


                                        By:_____________________________________

                                           Its__________________________________



The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.

ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED


By:__________________________________
         Authorized Representative


STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY INCORPORATED


By:__________________________________
         Authorized Representative   


HOWE BARNES INVESTMENTS, INC.


By:__________________________________
         Authorized Representative
<PAGE>   37



                                CAPITOL TRUST I

                              CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.

                                   Schedule I


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Number of
                                                                       Firm Preferred
Underwriter                                                              Securities   
- -----------                                                            --------------
<S>                                                                      <C>
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1,210,000
                                                                      
Stifel, Nicolous & Company Incorporated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      660,000
                                                                      
Howe Barnes Investments, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      330,000
                                                                         ---------
                                                                      
                 Total                                                   2,200,000
                                                                         =========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

















                              CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.


                                      AND

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                                   AS TRUSTEE


                                   INDENTURE


                    -----% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027

                         DATED AS OF ----------, 1997.










<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                     Page
                                                                     ----

ARTICLE I.
     DEFINITIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 1.1.     Definitions of Terms. . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE II.
     ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS
     REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF DEBENTURES. . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.1.     Designation and Principal Amount. . . . . . .
     Section 2.2.     Maturity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.3.     Form and Payment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.4.     [Intentionally Omitted] . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.5.     Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.6.     Execution and Authentications . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.7.     Registration of Transfer and Exchange . . . .
     Section 2.8.     Temporary Debentures. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.9.     Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
                      Debentures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.10.    Cancellation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.11.    Benefit of Indenture. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 2.12.    Authentication Agent. . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE III.
     REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 3.1.     Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 3.2.     Special Event Redemption. . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 3.3.     Optional Redemption by Company. . . . . . . .
     Section 3.4.     Notice of Redemption. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 3.5.     Payment Upon Redemption . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 3.6.     No Sinking Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE IV.
     EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 4.1.     Extension of Interest Payment Period. . . . .
     Section 4.2.     Notice of Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 4.3.     Limitation on Transactions. . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE V.
     PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.1.     Payment of Principal and Interest . . . . . .
     Section 5.2.     Maintenance of Agency . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.3.     Paying Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.4.     Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of
                      Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.5.     Compliance with Consolidation Provisions. . .
     Section 5.6.     Limitation on Transactions. . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.7.     Covenants as to the Trust . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 5.8.     Covenants as to Purchases . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE VI.
     DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
     BY COMPANY AND TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


<PAGE>   3
     Section 6.1.     Company to Furnish Trustee Names and
                      Addresses of Debentureholders . . . . . . . .
     Section 6.2.     Preservation of Information
                      Communications with Debentureholders. . . . .
     Section 6.3.     Reports by Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 6.4.     Reports by Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE VII.
     REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
     ON EVENT OF DEFAULT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.1.     Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.2.     Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
                      Enforcement by Trustee. . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.3.     Application of Moneys Collected . . . . . . .
     Section 7.4.     Limitation on Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.5.     Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or
                      Omission not Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.6.     Control by Debentureholders . . . . . . . . .
     Section 7.7.     Undertaking to Pay Costs. . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE VIII.
     FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 8.1.     Form of Debenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 8.2.     Original Issue of Debentures. . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE IX.
     CONCERNING TRUSTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.1.     Certain Duties and Responsibilities of
                      Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.2.     Notice of Defaults. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.3.     Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.4.     Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals,
                      etc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.5.     May Hold Debentures . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.6.     Moneys Held in Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.7.     Compensation and Reimbursement. . . . . . . .
     Section 9.8.     Reliance on Officers' Certificate . . . . . .
     Section 9.9.     Disqualification:  Conflicting Interests. . .
     Section 9.10.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility . . .
     Section 9.11.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of
                      Successor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.12.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. . . .
     Section 9.13.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
                      Succession to Business. . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 9.14.    Preferential Collection of Claims
                      Against the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE X.
     CONCERNING DEBENTUREHOLDERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 10.1.    Evidence of Action by Holders . . . . . . . .
     Section 10.2.    Proof of Execution by Debentureholders. . . .
     Section 10.3.    Who May be Deemed Owners. . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 10.4.    Certain Debentures Owned by Company
                      Disregarded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 10.5.    Actions Binding on Future
                      Debentureholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

<PAGE>   4


ARTICLE XI.
     SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 11.1.    Supplemental Indentures Without the
                      Consent of Debentureholders . . . . . . . . .
     Section 11.2.    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
                      Debentureholders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 11.3.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures . . . . . .
     Section 11.4.    Debentures Affected by Supplemental
                      Indentures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 11.5.    Execution of Supplemental Indentures. . . . .

ARTICLE XII.
     SUCCESSOR CORPORATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 12.1.    Company May Consolidate, etc. . . . . . . . .
     Section 12.2.    Successor Corporation Substituted . . . . . .
     Section 12.3.    Evidence of Consolidation, etc. to
                      Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE XIII.
     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 13.1.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . . .
     Section 13.2.    Discharge of Obligations. . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 13.3.    Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust. . . . .
     Section 13.4.    Payment of Monies Held by Paying Agents . . .
     Section 13.5.    Repayment to Company. . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE XIV.
     IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
     AND DIRECTORS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 14.1.    No Recourse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE XV.
     MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.1.    Effect on Successors and Assigns. . . . . . .
     Section 15.2.    Actions by Successor. . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.3.    Surrender of Company Powers . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.4.    Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.5.    Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.6.    Treatment of Debentures as Debt . . . . . . .
     Section 15.7.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions. . . . .
     Section 15.8.    Payments on Business Days . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.9.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . .
     Section 15.10.   Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.11.   Separability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.12.   Assignment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 15.13.   Acknowledgment of Rights; Right of
                      Setoff  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ARTICLE XVI.
     SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 16.1.    Agreement to Subordinate. . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 16.2.    Default on Senior Debt, Subordinated
                      Debt or Additional Senior Obligations . . . .
     Section 16.3.    Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. . . . .
     Section 16.4.    Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 16.5.    Trustee to Effectuate Subordination . . . . .
     Section 16.6.    Notice by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


<PAGE>   5


     Section 16.7.    Rights of Trustee; Holders of Senior
                      Indebtedness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
     Section 16.8.    Subordination may not be Impaired . . . . . .

                            CROSS REFERENCE TABLE

     SECTION OF TRUST
     INDENTURE ACT OF                                   SECTION OF
     1939, AS AMENDED                                    INDENTURE
     ----------------                                   ----------

     310(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.10
     310(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.9, 9.11
     310(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not Applicable
     311(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.14
     311(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.14
     311(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not Applicable
     312(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.1, 6.2(a)
     312(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.2(c)
     312(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.2(c)
     313(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.4(a)
     313(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.4(b)
     313(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.4(a), 6.4(b)
     313(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.4(c)
     314(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6.3(a)
     314(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not Applicable
     314(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.7
     314(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not Applicable
     314(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.7
     314(f). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Not Applicable
     315(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.1(a), 9.3
     315(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.2
     315(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.1(a)
     315(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.1(b)
     315(e). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.7
     316(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1.1, 7.6
     316(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.4(b)
     316(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.1(b)
     317(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2
     317(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3
     318(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.9

           Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute
                 part of this Indenture and shall not affect the interpretation
                 of any of its terms or provisions.


<PAGE>   6




                                   INDENTURE

     INDENTURE, dated as of -------------, 1997, between CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.,
a Michigan corporation (the "Company"), and THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
a national banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee");

     RECITALS

     WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the
issuance of securities to be known as its ----% Subordinated Debentures due
2027 (hereinafter referred to as the "Debentures"), the form and substance of
such Debentures and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set
forth as provided in this Indenture;

     WHEREAS, Capital Bancorp Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the
"Trust"), has offered to the public up to $25,300,000 aggregate liquidation
amount of its Preferred Securities (as defined herein) and proposes to invest
the proceeds from such offering, together with the proceeds of the issuance and
sale by the Trust to the Company of up to $782,474 aggregate liquidation amount
of its Common Securities (as defined herein), in up to $26,082,474 aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver
this Indenture; and

     WHEREAS, all requirements necessary to make this Indenture a valid
instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Debentures, when
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the
valid obligations of the Company, have been performed, and the execution and
delivery of this Indenture have been duly authorized in all respects; and

     WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Debentures are
to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the
execution of this Indenture; and

     WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of
the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Debentures by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as
follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures:

                                 ARTICLE I.
                                 DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1.    DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.

     The terms defined in this Section 1.1 (except as in this Indenture
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all
purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have
the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1 


<PAGE>   7


and shall include the plural as well as the singular.  All other terms used
in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, or that are by
reference in the Trust Indenture Act defined in the Securities Act (except as
herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires),
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and
in the Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this
instrument. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall
have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.

     "Accelerated Maturity Date" means if the Company elects to accelerate the
Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(c), the date selected by the
Company which is prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date, but is after September
30, 2002.

     "Additional Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

     "Additional Senior Obligations" means all indebtedness of the Company
whether incurred on or prior to the date of this 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 does 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
Debentures or to rank pari passu in right of payment with the Debentures.  For
purposes of this definition, "claim" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in
Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended.

     "Administrative Trustees" shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust
Agreement.

     "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person
directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or
more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the
specified Person; (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting
securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person; (c) any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the specified Person; (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a
general partner; (e) any officer or director of the specified Person; and (f)
if the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified
Person is an officer, director or general partner.

     "Authenticating Agent" means an authenticating agent with respect to the
Debentures appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.12.

     "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or 
state law for the relief of debtors.

     "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any
duly authorized committee of such Board.


<PAGE>   8


     "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board
of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.

     "Business Day" means, with respect to the Debentures, any day other than a
Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which federal or state banking institutions in
the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or required by
law, executive order or regulation to close, or a day on which the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee or the Property Trustee is closed for business.

     "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized banking law practice, 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 "Tier II
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.

     "Certificate" means a certificate signed by the principal executive
officer, the principal financial officer, the principal accounting officer, the
treasurer or any vice president of the Company.  The Certificate need not
comply with the provisions of Section 15.7.

     "Change in 1940 Act Law" shall have the meaning set forth in the
definition of "Investment Company Event."

     "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

     "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust which rank pari passu with the Preferred Securities; provided,
however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights of holders
of Common Securities to payment in respect of (i) distributions, and (ii)
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, are subordinated to the
rights of holders of Preferred Securities.

     "Company" means Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Michigan, and, subject to the provisions of Article XII, shall also include its
successors and assigns.


<PAGE>   9


     "Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which, at any
particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at One First National
Plaze, Suite 0126, Chicago, IL 60670-0126, Attention: Corporate Trust
Department.

     "Coupon Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

     "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, or similar
official under any Bankruptcy Law.

     "Debentures" shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals hereto.

     "Debentureholder," "holder of Debentures," "registered holder," or other
similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular
Debenture shall be registered on the books of the Company or the Trustee kept
for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

     "Debenture Register" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b).

     "Debenture Registrar" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b).

     "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.

     "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of 
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

     "Deferred Payments" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

     "Dissolution Event" means that as a result of the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance
with the Trust Agreement and the Debentures held by the Property Trustee are to
be distributed to the holders of the Trust 


<PAGE>   10
Securities issued by the Trust pro rata in accordance with the Trust Agreement.

     "Distribution" shall have the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.

     "Event of Default" means, with respect to the Debentures, any event
specified in Section 7.1, which has continued for the period of time, if any,
and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated.

     "Exchange Act," means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as
in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

     "Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.

     "Extended Maturity Date" means if the Company elects to extend the
Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the date selected by the
Company which is after the Scheduled Maturity Date but before December 31,
2036.

     "Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.

     "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" means such accounting
principles as are generally accepted at the time of any computation required
hereunder.

     "Governmental Obligations" means securities that are (i) direct
obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full
faith and credit is pledged; or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or
supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States
of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith
and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are
not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also
include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of
the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental
Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such
Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of
such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law)
such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable
to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the
custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of
principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such
depositary receipt.

     "Herein," "hereof," and "hereunder," and other words of similar import,
refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section
or other subdivision.

     "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.


<PAGE>   11


     "Interest Payment Date," shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

     "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

     "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of
Counsel, rendered by a law firm having a recognized tax and securities law
practice, 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 (a
"Change in 1940 Act Law"), the Trust is or shall be considered an "investment
company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act,
which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of original
issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement.

     "Maturity Date" means the date on which the Debentures mature and on which
the principal shall be due and payable together with all accrued and unpaid
interest thereon including Compounded Interest and Additional Payments, if any.

     "Ministerial Action" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President or a
Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller
or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof.
Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section
15.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.

     "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may
be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee
in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the
statements provided for in Section 15.7, if and to the extent required by the
provisions thereof.

     "Outstanding," when used with reference to the Debentures, means, subject
to the provisions of Section 10.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures
theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture,
except (a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent,
or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have
previously been canceled; (b) Debentures or portions thereof for the payment or
redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount
shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent
(other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust
by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided,
however, that if such Debentures or portions of such Debentures are to be
redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have
been given as in Article III provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee
shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Debentures in lieu of or
in substitution for which 

<PAGE>   12

other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the 
terms of Section 2.7.

     "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 5.3.

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint-venture,
joint-stock company, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof.

     "Predecessor Debenture" means every previous Debenture evidencing all or a
portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and,
for the purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered
under Section 2.9 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be
deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture.

     "Preferred Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust;
provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the rights
of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of (i) distributions, and
(ii) payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, are subordinated to
the rights of holders of Preferred Securities.

     "Preferred Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may
enter into with the Trustee or other Persons that operate directly or
indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred Securities.

     "Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Trust Agreement.

     "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice President, the
Secretary, the Treasurer, any trust officer, any corporate trust officer or any
other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be
such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred
because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

     "Scheduled Maturity Date" means December 31, 2027.

     "Securities Act," means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as in
effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

     "Senior Debt" means 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 this 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 Debentures or to other Debt which is pari
passu with, or subordinated to, the Debentures; provided, however, that 


<PAGE>   13


Senior Debt shall 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) Debt to
any employee of the Company; (iv) 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 Debentures as a result of the subordination provisions of this
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.

     "Senior Indebtedness" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 16.1.

     "Special Event" means a Tax Event, a Capital Treatment Event or an
Investment Company Event.

     "Subordinated Debt" means 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 this 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 Debentures).

     "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at
least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or
by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries; (ii) any general
partnership, joint venture, trust or similar entity, at least a majority of
whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned
by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and
one or more of its Subsidiaries; and (iii) any limited partnership of which
such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.

     "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel,
rendered by a law firm having a recognized tax and securities practice, 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) the
Trust is, or shall be within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of Counsel,
subject to United States federal incomes tax with respect to  income received
or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the
Debentures is not, or within 90 days after the date 


<PAGE>   14
of such Opinion of Counsel, shall not be, deductible by the Company, in
whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the
Trust is, or shall be within 90 days after the date of such Opinion of Counsel,
subject to more than a deminimis amount of other taxes, duties, assessments or
other governmental charges.  The Trust or the Company shall request and receive
such Opinion of Counsel with regard to such matters within a reasonable period
of time after the Trust or the Company shall have become aware of any of the
events described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

     "Trust" means Capitol Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust.

     "Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated
____________________, 1997, of the Trust.

     "Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, and, subject to the
provisions of Article IX, shall also include its successors and assigns, and,
if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder,
"Trustee" shall mean each such Person.

     "Trust Indenture Act," means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
subject to the provisions of Sections 11.1, 11.2, and 12.1, as in effect at the
date of execution of this instrument.

     "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and Preferred Securities,
collectively.

     "Voting Stock," as applied to stock of any Person, means shares,
interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however
designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a
majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than
shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only
by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.

                                 ARTICLE II.
                    ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, CONDITIONS
                   REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF DEBENTURES

SECTION 2.1.    DESIGNATION AND PRINCIPAL AMOUNT.

     There is hereby authorized Debentures designated the "------% Subordinated
Debentures due 2027," limited in aggregate principal amount to $26,082,474,
which amount shall be as set forth in any written order of the Company for the
authentication and delivery of Debentures pursuant to Section 2.6.

SECTION 2.2.    MATURITY.

     (a)    The Maturity Date shall be either:

            (i)   the Scheduled Maturity Date; or

            (ii)  if the Company elects to extend the
                  Maturity Date beyond the Scheduled 

<PAGE>   15

                  Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the Extended 
                  Maturity Date; or

            (iii) if the Company elects to accelerate the Maturity Date to be 
                  a date prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date in accordance 
                  with Section 2.2(c), the Accelerated Maturity Date.

      (b)  The Company may at any time before the day which is 90 days
           before the Scheduled Maturity Date, elect to extend the Maturity
           Date to the Extended Maturity Date, provided that the Company has
           received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required
           under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal
           Reserve and further provided that the following conditions in this
           Section 2.2(b) are satisfied both at the date the Company gives
           notice in accordance with Section 2.2(d) of its election to extend
           the Maturity Date and at the Scheduled Maturity Date:

           (i)   the Company is not in bankruptcy,
                 otherwise insolvent or in liquidation;

           (ii)  the Company is not in default in the payment of interest or 
                 principal on the Debentures; and
          
           (iii) the Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on 
                 the Trust Securities issued by it and no deferred 
                 Distributions are accumulated.

     (c)   The Company may at any time before the day which is 90 days
           before the Scheduled Maturity Date and after December 31, 2002, elect
           to shorten the Maturity Date only once to the
           Accelerated Maturity Date provided that the Company has received
           the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
           applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

     (d)   If the Company elects to extend the Maturity Date in accordance
           with Section 2.2(b), the Company shall give notice to the registered
           holders of the Debentures, the Property Trustee and the Trust of the
           extension of the Maturity Date and the Extended Maturity Date at
           least 90 days and no more than 180 days before the Scheduled Maturity
           Date.

     (e)   If the Company elects to accelerate the Maturity Date in
           accordance with Section 2.2(c), the Company shall give notice to the
           registered holders of the Debentures, the Property Trustee and the
           Trust of the acceleration of the Maturity Date and the Accelerated
           Maturity Date at least 90 days and no more than 180 days before the
           Accelerated Maturity Date.



<PAGE>   16


SECTION 2.3.    FORM AND PAYMENT.

     The Debentures shall be issued in fully registered certificated form
without interest coupons.  Principal and interest on the Debentures issued in
certificated form shall be payable, the transfer of such Debentures shall be
registrable and such Debentures shall be exchangeable for Debentures bearing
identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the Trustee;
provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the
Company by check mailed to the holder at such address as shall appear in the
Debenture Register or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the holder
as specified in the Debenture Register, provided that the holder provides
proper transfer instructions by the regular record date.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, so long as the holder of any Debentures is the Property Trustee, the
payment of the principal of and interest (including Compounded Interest and
Additional Payments, if any) on such Debentures held by the Property Trustee
shall be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the
Property Trustee.

SECTION 2.4.    [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].

SECTION 2.5.    INTEREST.

     (a)  Each Debenture shall bear interest at the rate of ------% per annum
(the "Coupon Rate") from the original date of issuance until the principal
thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on
any overdue installment of interest at the Coupon Rate, compounded quarterly,
payable (subject to the provisions of Article IV) quarterly in arrears on March
31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date," commencing on March 31, 1998, the first such Interest Payment
Date to include all interest accrued from the date of issuance), to the Person
in whose name such Debenture or any Predecessor Debenture is registered, at
the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment,
which shall be the fifteenth day of the last month of the calendar quarter.

     (b)  The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of interest
payable for any period shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest
is computed shall be computed on the basis of the number of days elapsed in a
360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any date on which
interest is payable on the Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of
interest payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which 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.

     (c)  If, at any time while the Property Trustee is the holder of any
Debentures, the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than
withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority,
then, in any case, the Company shall pay as additional interest (the
"Additional Payments") on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee, such
additional amounts as shall be required 


<PAGE>   17


so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust and the Property
Trustee after paying such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges shall be equal to the amounts the Trust and the Property Trustee would
have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or other government charges
been imposed.

SECTION 2.6.    EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATIONS.

     (a)  The Debentures shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chief
Executive Officer, President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate
seal attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.  Signatures
may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.  The Company may use the
facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been a Chief Executive
Officer, President or Vice President thereof, or of any Person who shall have
been a Secretary or Assistant Secretary thereof, notwithstanding the fact that
at the time the Debentures shall be authenticated and  delivered or disposed of
such Person shall have ceased to be the Chief Executive Officer, President or a
Vice President, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company.  The
seal of the Company may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be
impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Debentures.  The
Debentures may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law,
stock exchange rule or usage.  Each Debenture shall be dated the date of its
authentication by the Trustee.

     (b)  A Debenture shall not be valid until manually authenticated by an
authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent.  Such
signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has
been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is
entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

     (c)  At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Debentures executed by the Company to
the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company
for the authentication and delivery of such Debentures signed by its Chief
Executive Officer, President or any Vice President and its Treasurer or any
Assistant Treasurer, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order
shall authenticate and deliver such Debentures.

     (d)  In authenticating such Debentures and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 9.1) shall be
fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form
and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of
this Indenture.

     (e)  The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Debentures if
the issue of such Debentures pursuant to this Indenture shall affect the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Debentures and this
Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the
Trustee.

SECTION 2.7.    REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.



<PAGE>   18


     (a)  Debentures may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office
or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, or at the office of the
Debenture Registrar, for other Debentures and for a like aggregate principal
amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section 2.7.  In respect of
any Debentures so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the
Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange
therefor the Debenture or Debentures that the Debentureholder making the
exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously
outstanding.

     (b)  The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency
designated for such purpose, or at the office of the Debenture Registrar, or
such other location designated by the Company a register or registers (herein
referred to as the "Debenture Register") in which, subject to such reasonable
regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Debentures and
the transfers of Debentures as in this Article II provided and which at all
reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.  The registrar
for the purpose of registering Debentures and transfer of Debentures as herein
provided shall initially be the Trustee and thereafter as may be appointed by
the Company as authorized by Board Resolution (the "Debenture Registrar").
Upon surrender for transfer of any Debenture at the office or agency of the
Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee
shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the
transferee or transferees a new Debenture or Debentures for a like aggregate
principal amount.  All Debentures presented or surrendered for exchange or
registration of transfer, as provided in this Section 2.7, shall be accompanied
(if so required by the Company or the Debenture Registrar) by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or
the Debenture Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such
holder's duly authorized attorney in writing.

     (c)  No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debentures, or issue of new Debentures in case of partial
redemption, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges
pursuant to Section 2.8, Section 3.5(b) and Section 11.4 not involving any
transfer.

     (d)  The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register
the transfer of any Debentures during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
less than all the Outstanding Debentures and ending at the close of business on
the day of such mailing; nor (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Debentures or portions thereof called for redemption.

SECTION 2.8.    TEMPORARY DEBENTURES.

     Pending the preparation of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute,
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Debentures (printed,
lithographed, or typewritten).  Such temporary Debentures shall be
substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they
are issued, but with such omissions, 


<PAGE>   19



insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures,
all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Debenture shall be
executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same
conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the
definitive Debentures.  Without unnecessary delay the Company shall execute and
shall furnish definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary
Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the
holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and
the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in
exchange for such temporary Debentures an equal aggregate principal amount of
definitive Debentures, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that
definitive Debentures need not be executed and furnished until further notice
from the Company.  Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall be
entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures
authenticated and delivered hereunder.

SECTION 2.9.    MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN
                DEBENTURES.

     (a)  In case any temporary or definitive Debenture shall become mutilated
or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding
sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company's request the Trustee (subject as
aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a
number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the
mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so
destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every case the applicant for a substituted
Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in
every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to
the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of the applicant's Debenture and of the ownership thereof.  The
Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same
upon the written request or authorization of the Chairman, President or any
Vice-President and the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company. 
Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees
and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.  In case any Debenture that
has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost
or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case
of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the
Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save
them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the
satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

     (b)  Every replacement Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this
Section 2.9 shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the
Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall
be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all
the benefits of this Indenture 


<PAGE>   20


equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued
hereunder.  All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition
that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures, and shall preclude
(to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any
law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.

SECTION 2.10.   CANCELLATION.

     All Debentures surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption,
exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or
any paying agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if
surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be
issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the
provisions of this Indenture.  On request of the Company at the time of such
surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Debentures held by
the Trustee.  In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of
canceled Debentures in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver
a certificate of disposition to the Company.  If the Company shall otherwise
acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a
redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures
unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.11.   BENEFIT OF INDENTURE.

     Nothing in this Indenture or in the Debentures, express or implied, shall
give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and
the holders of the Debentures (and, with respect to the provisions of Article
XVI, the holders of Senior Indebtedness) any legal or equitable right, remedy
or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant,
condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and
provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders
of the Debentures (and, with respect to the provisions of Article XVI, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness).

SECTION 2.12.   AUTHENTICATION AGENT.

     (a)  So long as any of the Debentures remain Outstanding there may be an
Authenticating Agent for any or all such Debentures, which the Trustee shall
have the right to appoint.  Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to
act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Debentures issued upon exchange,
transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Debentures so authenticated shall
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory
for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder.  All references
in this Indenture to the authentication of Debentures by the Trustee shall be
deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent.  Each
Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a
corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported
or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which
it is organized or in which it is doing 


<PAGE>   21


business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under
such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination
by federal or state authorities.  If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign
immediately.

     (b)  Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written
notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at
any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any
Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon resignation, termination or
cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint
an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company.  Any
successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder,
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.


                                 ARTICLE III.
                           REDEMPTION OF DEBENTURES

SECTION 3.1.    REDEMPTION.

     Subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve, if then required under the applicable capital guidelines or policies
of the Federal Reserve, the Company may redeem the Debentures issued hereunder
on and after the dates set forth in and in accordance with the terms of this
Article III.

SECTION 3.2.    SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION.

     Subject to the Company having received the prior approval of the Federal
Reserve, if then required under the applicable capital guidelines or policies
of the Federal Reserve, if a Special Event has occurred and is continuing,
then, notwithstanding Section 3.3, the Company shall have the right upon not
less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice to the holders of the Debentures
to redeem the Debentures, in whole but not in part, for cash within 180 days
following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "180-Day Period") at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such redemption (the
"Redemption Price"), provided that if at the time there is available to the
Company the opportunity to eliminate, within the 180-Day Period, a Tax Event by
taking some ministerial action (a "Ministerial Action"), such as filing a form
or making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure which
has no adverse effect on the Company, the Trust or the holders of the Trust
Securities issued by the Trust, the Company shall pursue such Ministerial
Action in lieu of redemption, and, provided further, that the Company shall
have no right to redeem the Debentures while it is pursuing any Ministerial
Action pursuant to its obligations hereunder, and, provided
further, that, if it is determined that the taking of a Ministerial Action
would not eliminate the Tax Event within the 180-Day Period, the Company's
right to redeem the Debentures shall be restored and it shall have no further
obligations to pursue the Ministerial Action.  The Redemption Price shall be
paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on 


<PAGE>   22



the date of such redemption or such earlier time as the Company determines,
provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to
pay the Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date such
Redemption Price is to be paid.

SECTION 3.3.    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION BY COMPANY.

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3(b), except as otherwise may
be specified in this Indenture, the Company shall have the right to redeem the
Debentures, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after December 31,
2002, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of such
redemption. Any redemption pursuant to this Section 3.3(a) shall be made upon
not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice to the holder of the
Debentures, at the Redemption Price.  If the Debentures are only partially
redeemed pursuant to this Section 3.3, the Debentures shall be redeemed
pro rata or by lot or in such other manner as the Trustee shall deem appropriate
and fair in its discretion.  The Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00
noon, New York time, on the date of such redemption or at such earlier time as
the Company determines provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee
an amount sufficient to pay the Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time,
on the date such Redemption Price is to be paid.

     (b)  If a partial redemption of the Debentures would result in the
delisting of the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from The Nasdaq Stock
Market's National Market or any comparable level or successor listing or any
national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
Securities are then listed or quoted, the Company shall not be permitted to
effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Debentures in whole.

SECTION 3.4.    NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.

     (a)  In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all
or, as the case may be, a portion of the Debentures in accordance with the
right reserved so to do, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to upon
receipt of 45 days' written notice from the Company (which notice shall, in the
event of a partial redemption, include a representation to the effect that such
partial redemption shall not result in the delisting of the Preferred
Securities as described in Section 3.3(b) above), give notice of such
redemption to holders of the Debentures to be redeemed by mailing, first class
postage prepaid, a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more
than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption to such holders at their last
addresses as they shall appear upon the Debenture Register unless a shorter
period is specified in the Debentures to be redeemed.  Any notice that is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have
been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice.  In
any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Debenture
designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice,
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any
other Debentures.  In the case of any redemption of Debentures prior to the
expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such
Debentures or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall 


<PAGE>   23

furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with
any such restriction.  Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date
fixed for redemption and the Redemption Price and shall state that payment of
the Redemption Price shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office, upon
presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date
fixed for redemption shall be paid as specified in said notice and that from and
after said date interest shall cease to accrue.  If less than all the Debentures
are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of the Debentures shall specify
the particular Debentures to be redeemed.  If the Debentures are to be redeemed
in part only, the notice shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon
surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion thereof shall be issued.

     (b)  If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company shall
give the Trustee at least 45 days' notice in advance of the date fixed for
redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed,
and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it
shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion, the portion or portions
(equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Debentures or any integral
multiple thereof) of the Debentures to be redeemed and shall thereafter
promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Debentures to be
redeemed, in whole or in part.  The Company may, if and whenever it shall so
elect pursuant to the terms hereof, by delivery of instructions signed on its
behalf by its President or any Vice President, instruct the Trustee or any
paying agent to call all or any part of the Debentures for redemption and to
give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section 3.4, such
notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such
paying agent may deem advisable.  In any case in which notice of redemption is
to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver
or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such
paying agent, as the case may be, such Debenture Register, transfer books or
other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable
the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required
under the provisions of this Section 3.4.

SECTION 3.5.    PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION.

     (a)  If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as
above provided, the Debentures or portions of Debentures to be redeemed
specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the
place stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, and interest on
such Debentures or portions of Debentures shall cease to accrue on and after
the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment
of such Redemption Price with respect to any such Debenture or portion thereof.
On presentation and surrender of such Debentures on or after the date fixed
for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Debentures
shall be paid and redeemed at the Redemption Price (but if the date fixed for
redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on
such date shall be payable to the 



<PAGE>   24

registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date
pursuant to Section 3.3).

     (b)  Upon presentation of any Debenture that is to be redeemed in part
only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the
office or agency where the Debenture is presented shall deliver to the holder
thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture of authorized
denomination in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the
Debenture so presented.

SECTION 3.6.    NO SINKING FUND.

     The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.


                                 ARTICLE IV.
                     EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD

SECTION 4.1.    EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD.

     So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company
shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the
Debentures, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment
period of such Debentures for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters
(the "Extended Interest Payment Period"), during which Extended Interest
Payment Period no interest shall be due and payable; provided that no Extended
Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date.  Interest, the
payment of which has been deferred because of the extension of the interest
payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, shall bear interest thereon at the
Coupon Rate compounded quarterly for each quarter of the Extended Interest
Payment Period (the "Compounded Interest").  At the end of the Extended
Interest Payment Period, the Company shall calculate (and deliver such
calculation to the Trustee) and pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Debentures, including any Additional Payments and Compounded Interest
(together, the "Deferred Payments") that shall be payable to the holders of the
Debentures in whose names the Debentures are registered in the Debenture
Register on the first record date after the end of the Extended Interest Payment
Period.  Before the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period, the
Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with
all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters, or
extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. Upon the termination of any
Extended Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Payments
then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable
during an Extended Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof, but the
Company may prepay at any time all or any portion of the interest accrued during
an Extended Interest Payment Period.

SECTION 4.2.    NOTICE OF EXTENSION.

     (a)  If the Property Trustee is the only registered holder of the
Debentures at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Company shall give written notice to the Administrative Trustees, the
Property Trustee and the Trustee of its selection of such 



<PAGE>   25


Extended Interest Payment Period two Business Days before the earlier of
(i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Trust Securities
issued by the Trust are payable; 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 issued by the Trust, but
in any event at least one Business Day before such record date.

     (b)  If the Property Trustee is not the only holder of the Debentures at
the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company
shall give the holders of the Debentures and the Trustee written notice
of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period at least two Business
Days before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; or
(ii) the date the Company is required to give notice of the record or payment
date of such interest payment to The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or
other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Debentures.

     (c)  The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a)
or (b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters permitted
in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted under Section 4.1.

SECTION 4.3.    LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS.

     If (i) the Company shall exercise its right to defer payment of interest
as provided in Section 4.1; or (ii) there shall have occurred any Event of
Default, then (a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividend or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of its capital stock (other than (i) dividends or
distributions in common stock of the Company, or any declaration of a non-cash
dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders' rights plan,
or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption
or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, and (ii) purchases of common
stock of the Company related to the rights under any of the Company's benefit
plans for its directors, officers or employees); (b) the Company shall not make
any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company which rank pari passu with
or junior in interest to the Debentures; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the foregoing the Company may make payments pursuant to its
obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and (c) the Company shall
not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the outstanding Debentures or
any of the Preferred Securities.


                                  ARTICLE V.
                       PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF COMPANY

SECTION 5.1.    PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.

     The Company shall duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the
principal of and interest on the Debentures at the time and place and in the
manner provided herein.  Each such payment of the principal of 


<PAGE>   26

or interest on the Debentures shall relate only to the Debentures, shall not be
combined with any other payment of the principal of or interest on any other
obligation of the Company, and shall be clearly and unmistakably identified as
pertaining to the Debentures.

SECTION 5.2.    MAINTENANCE OF AGENCY.

     So long as any of the Debentures remain Outstanding, the Company shall
maintain an office or agency at such location or locations as may be designated
as provided in this Section 5.2, where (i) Debentures may be presented for
payment; (ii) Debentures may be presented as hereinabove authorized for
registration of transfer and exchange; and (iii) notices and demands to or upon
the Company in respect of the Debentures and this Indenture may be given or
served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until
the Company shall, by written notice signed by its President or a Vice President
and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such
purposes or any of them.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any
such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the
address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served
at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints
the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and 
demands.  The Company shall give the Trustee prompt written notice of any such
designation or rescission thereof.

SECTION 5.3.    PAYING AGENTS.

     (a)  The Trustee shall act as the Paying Agent.  If the Company shall
appoint one or more paying agents for the Debentures, other than the Trustee,
the Company shall cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the
Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject
to the provisions of this Section 5.3:

            (i)   that it shall hold all sums held by it as
                  such agent for the payment of the principal of or
                  interest on the Debentures (whether such sums have been
                  paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of
                  such Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the
                  Persons entitled thereto;

            (ii)  that it shall give the Trustee notice of
                  any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of
                  such Debentures) to make any payment of the principal
                  of or interest on the Debentures when the same shall be
                  due and payable;

            (iii) that it shall, at any time during the
                  continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding
                  paragraph (a)(ii) above, upon the written request of
                  the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so
                  held in trust by such Paying Agent; and

            (iv)  that it shall perform all other duties of
                  Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture.


<PAGE>   27
     (b)  If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the
Debentures, it shall on or before each due date of the principal of or interest
on such Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of
the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest
so becoming due on Debentures until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify the Trustee
of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Debentures) 
to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents 
for the Debentures, it shall, prior to each due date of the principal of or 
interest on any Debentures, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to 
pay the principal or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for
the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal or interest, and (unless 
such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee
of this action or failure so to act.

     (c)  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 5.3 to the contrary, (i) the
agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 5.3 is subject to
the provisions of Section 13.3 and 13.4; and (ii) the Company may at any time,
for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the
Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums
to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon
which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such
payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released
from all further liability with respect to such money.

SECTION 5.4.    APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE.

     The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office
of Trustee, shall appoint, in the manner provided in Section 9.10, a Trustee,
so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 5.5.    COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS.

     The Company shall not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding,
consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or
substantially all of its property to any other company unless the provisions of
Article XII hereof are complied with.

SECTION 5.6.    LIMITATION ON TRANSACTIONS.

     If Debentures are issued to the Trust or a trustee of the Trust in
connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust and (i) there
shall have occurred any event that would constitute an Event of Default; (ii)
the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
under the Preferred Securities Guarantee relating to the Trust; or (iii) the
Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest
on such Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided in this
Indenture and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then
(a) the Company shall not declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock (other than (i) dividends or distributions 




<PAGE>   28
in common stock of the Company, or any declaration of a non-cash dividend
in connection with the implementation of a shareholders' rights plan, or the
issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, and (ii) purchases of
common stock of the Company related to the rights under any of the Company's
benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees); (b) the Company shall
not make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Company which rank pari
passu with or junior in interest to the Debentures; provided, however, that the
Company may make payments pursuant to its obligations under the Preferred
Securities Guarantee; and (c) the Company shall not redeem, purchase or acquire
less than all of the outstanding Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 5.7.    COVENANTS AS TO THE TRUST.

     For so long as the Trust Securities of the Trust remain outstanding, the
Company shall (i) maintain 100% direct or indirect ownership of the Common
Securities of the Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the
Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the
Common Securities; (ii) not 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 use
its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a business trust,
except in connection with a distribution of Debentures, the redemption of all
of the Trust Securities of the Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Trust Agreement; and (b) to otherwise
continue not to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation or
partnership for United States federal income tax purposes; and (iii) use its
reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as
owning an individual beneficial interest in the Debentures.  In connection with
the distribution of the Debentures to the holders of the Preferred Securities
issued by the Trust upon a Dissolution Event, the Company shall use its best
efforts to list such Debentures on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or
on such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.

SECTION 5.8.    COVENANTS AS TO PURCHASES.

     Except upon the exercise by the Company of its right to redeem the
Debentures pursuant to Section 3.2 upon the occurrence and continuation of a
Special Event, the Company shall not purchase any Debentures, in whole or in
part, from the Trust prior to December 31, 2002.


                                 ARTICLE VI.
                     DEBENTUREHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS
                            BY COMPANY AND TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.1.    COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF 
                DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on a
quarterly basis on each regular record date (as described in 


<PAGE>   29

Section 2.5) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require,        
of the names and addresses of the holders of the Debentures as of such regular
record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or
cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any
respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company (in
the event the Company fails to provide such list on a quarterly basis, the
Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the most recent list provided by the
Company); and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing
within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of
similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time
such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list
need be furnished if the Trustee shall be the Debenture Registrar.

SECTION 6.2.    PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS WITH
                DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     (a)  The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of
Debentures contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 6.1 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Debentures received
by the Trustee in its capacity as Debenture Registrar for the Debentures (if
acting in such capacity).

     (b)  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 6.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

     (c)  Debentureholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act with other Debentureholders with respect to their rights
under this Indenture or under the Debentures.

SECTION 6.3.    REPORTS BY COMPANY.

     (a)  The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee, within 15
days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies
of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or
copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time
to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company may be required to
file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents
or reports pursuant to either of such sections, then to file with the Trustee
and the Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed
from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic
information, documents and reports that may be required pursuant to Section 13
of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a
national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such
rules and regulations.

     (b)  The Company covenants and agrees to file with the Trustee and the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed from time
to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports
with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants
provided for in this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such
rules and regulations.


<PAGE>   30





     (c)  The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, or reputable over-night delivery service that provides for
evidence of receipt, to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses
appear upon the Debenture Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof
with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this
Section 6.3 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to
time by the Commission.

SECTION 6.4.    REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

     (a)  On or before July 15 in each year in which any of the Debentures are
Outstanding, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid,
to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register, a brief report dated as of the preceding May 15, if and to the extent
required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

     (b)  The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act.

     (c)  A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Debentureholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each stock
exchange upon which any Debentures are listed (if so listed) and also with the
Commission.  The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Debentures
become listed on any stock exchange.


                                ARTICLE VII.
                  REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND DEBENTUREHOLDERS
                             ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 7.1.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

     (a)  Whenever used herein with respect to the Debentures, "Event of
Default" means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is
continuing:

            (i)  the Company defaults in the payment of any
                 installment of interest upon any of the Debentures, as
                 and when the same shall become due and payable, and
                 continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
                 provided, however, that a valid extension of an
                 interest payment period by the Company in accordance
                 with the terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a
                 default in the payment of interest for this purpose;

            (ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal on the 
                 Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable 
                 whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or 
                 otherwise; provided, however, that a valid 



<PAGE>   31


                  extension of the maturity of such Debentures in accordance
                  with the terms of this Indenture shall not constitute a 
                  default in the payment of principal;

            (iii) the Company fails to observe or perform
                  any other of its covenants or agreements with respect
                  to the Debentures for a period of 90 days after the
                  date on which written notice of such failure, requiring
                  the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is
                  a "Notice of Default" hereunder, shall have been given
                  to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or
                  certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by
                  the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
                  Debentures at the time Outstanding;

           (iv)   the Company pursuant to or within the
                  meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary
                  case; (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief
                  against it in an involuntary case; (iii) consents to the
                  appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or
                  substantially all of its property; or (iv) makes a
                  general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

            (v)   a court of competent jurisdiction enters
                  an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for
                  relief against the Company in an involuntary case; (ii)
                  appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or
                  substantially all of its property; or iii) orders the
                  liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree
                  remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days; or

            (vi)  the Trust shall have voluntarily or
                  involuntarily dissolved, wound-up its business or
                  otherwise terminated its existence except in connection
                  with (i) the distribution of Debentures to holders of
                  Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in
                  the Trust; (ii) the redemption of all of the
                  outstanding Trust Securities of the Trust; or (iii)
                  certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each
                  as permitted by the Trust Agreement.

     (b)  In each and every such case referred to in items (i) through (vi) of
Section 7.1(a), unless the principal of all the Debentures shall have already
become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then Outstanding hereunder, by
notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such
Debentureholders) may declare the principal of all the Debentures to be due and
payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and
shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything contained in this
Indenture or in the Debentures.


<PAGE>   32

     (c)  At any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so
declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of
the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has
paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of any and
all Debentures that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest upon such principal, and upon overdue installments of interest, at the
rate per annum expressed in the Debentures to the date of such payment or
deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and (ii)
any and all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the nonpayment of
principal on Debentures that shall not have become due by their terms, shall
have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 7.6. No such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any
right consequent thereon.

     (d)  In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with
respect to Debentures under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been
discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any
other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and
in every such case the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively
to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and
powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such
proceedings had been taken.

SECTION 7.2.    COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT
                BY TRUSTEE.

     (a)  The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the
payment of any installment of interest on any of the Debentures, and such
default shall have continued for a period of 90 Business Days; or (2) in case
it shall default in the payment of the principal of any of the Debentures when
the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the
Debentures or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, then, upon
demand of the Trustee, the Company shall pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of
the holders of the Debentures, the whole amount that then shall have been
become due and payable on all such Debentures for principal or interest, or
both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and (if the
Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, without duplication
of any other amounts paid by the Trust or trustee in respect thereof) upon
overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the
Debentures; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount
payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7.

     (b)  If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts set forth in Section
7.2(a) forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee
of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or
proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and
unpaid, and may prosecute any such 



<PAGE>   33


action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the
Debentures and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the
manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon
the Debentures, wherever situated.

     (c)  In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy,
reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings
affecting the Company or the creditors or property thereof, the Trustee shall
have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that
may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by
law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as
may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of
the holders of the Debentures allowed for the entire amount due and payable by
the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings
and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company
after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property
payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the
deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7; and any
receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby
authorized by each of the holders of the Debentures to make such payments to
the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
such payments directly to such Debentureholders, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due it under Section 9.7.

     (d)  All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the terms established with respect to Debentures, may be enforced
by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Debentures, or the
production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any
such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own
name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 9.7, be
for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.  In case of an Event
of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise,
whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in
this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this
Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the
Trustee by this Indenture or by law.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed
to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on
behalf of any Debentureholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement,
adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures or the rights of any holder
thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Debentureholder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 7.3.    APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED.

     Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VII with
respect to the Debentures shall be applied in the following order, at the date
or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys
on account of principal or interest, upon 



<PAGE>   34

presentation of the Debentures, and notation thereon of the payment, if only
partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:


    FIRST:   To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all
             amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 9.7;

    SECOND:  To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to
             the extent required by Article XVI; and

    THIRD:   To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
             Debentures for principal and interest, in respect of which or for
             the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably,
             without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
             amounts due and payable on such Debentures for principal and
             interest, respectively.


SECTION 7.4.    LIMITATION ON SUITS.

     (a)  Except as provided in section 15.13 hereof, no holder of any
Debenture shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of
this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law
upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a
receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder
previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of
Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Debentures
specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of
not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such
action, suit or proceeding in its own name as trustee hereunder; (iii) such
holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity
as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred
therein or thereby; and (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such
notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such
action, suit or proceeding; and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Debentures do not give the Trustee a
direction inconsistent with the request.

     (b)  Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or
any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of the
Debentures to receive payment of the principal of and interest on the
Debentures, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed
in such Debenture (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without
the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is
expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every
Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one
or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by
virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or
prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such 



<PAGE>   35

Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to
any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all
holders of Debentures.  For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of
this Section 7.4, each and every Debentureholder and the Trustee shall be
entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

SECTION 7.5.    RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION
                NOT WAIVER.

     (a)  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.9, all powers and remedies
given by this Article VII to the Trustee or to the Debentureholders shall, to
the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any
other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the
Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or
observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or
otherwise established with respect to such Debentures.

     (b)  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the
Debentures to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or
shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence
therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, every power and remedy
given by this Article VII or by law to the Trustee or the Debentureholders may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by
the Trustee or by the Debentureholders.

SECTION 7.6.    CONTROL BY DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 10.4, shall have
the right to direct the time, method and  place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Trustee; provided, however, that such direction shall not be
in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture.  Subject to the
provisions of Section 9.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to
follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible
Officer or Officersof the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so
directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.  The holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding
affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 10.4, may on behalf of
the holders of all of the Debentures waive any past default in the performance
of any of the covenants contained herein and its consequences, except (i) a
default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Debentures
as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Debentures otherwise
than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to
pay all matured installments of interest and principal has been deposited with
the Trustee (in accordance with Section 7.1(c)); (ii) a default in the covenants
contained in Section 5.6; or (iii) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof
which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each
Outstanding Debenture affected; provided, however, that if the 



<PAGE>   36

Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in liquidation preference of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have
consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver; provided further, that
if the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Debenture is required, such
waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the
Trust shall have consented to such waiver.  Upon any such waiver, the default
covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture
and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored
to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.

SECTION 7.7.    UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.

     All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Debentures by
such holder's acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court
may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or
remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action
taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such
suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may
in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys'
fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits
and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the
provisions of this Section 7.7 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the
Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Debentureholder, or group of
Debentureholders holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debentures, or to any suit instituted by any Debentureholder for
the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on the
Debentures, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Debenture or
established pursuant to this Indenture.


                                ARTICLE VIII.
                     FORM OF DEBENTURE AND ORIGINAL ISSUE

SECTION 8.1.    FORM OF DEBENTURE.

     The Debenture and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be
endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the forms contained as Exhibit A
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

SECTION 8.2.    ORIGINAL ISSUE OF DEBENTURES.

     Debentures in the aggregate principal amount of $26,082,474 may, upon
execution of this Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the
Trustee for authentication.  If the Underwriters exercise their Option and
there is an Option Closing Date (as such terms are defined in the Underwriting
Agreement, dated -----------, 1997, by and among the Company, the Trust, Robert
W. Baird & Company, Incorporated, Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and
Howe Barnes Investments, Inc.) then, on such Option Closing Date, Debentures in
any amount up to the aggregate principal amount stated above be executed by the
Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication.  In either 



<PAGE>   37

such event, the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said
Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman,
its Vice Chairman, its President, or any Vice President and its Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer, without any further action by the Company.


                                 ARTICLE IX.
                              CONCERNING TRUSTEE

SECTION 9.1.    CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.

     (a)  The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after
the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to
perform with respect to the Debentures such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has
occurred that has not been cured or waived, the Trustee shall exercise such of
the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree
of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use
under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

     (b)  No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the
Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure
to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

     (1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the curing or
waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

                  (i)  the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with 
                       respect to the Debentures be determined solely by the 
                       express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee 
                       shall not be liable with respect to the Debentures 
                       except for the performance of such duties and 
                       obligations as are specifically set forth in this 
                       Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations 
                       shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee;
                       and

                  (ii) in the absence of bad faith on
                       the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with
                       respect to the Debentures conclusively rely, as
                       to the truth of the statements and the
                       correctness of the opinions expressed therein,
                       upon any certificates or opinions furnished to
                       the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of
                       this Indenture; but in the case of any such
                       certificates or opinions that by any provision
                       hereof are specifically required to be furnished
                       to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty
                       to 

<PAGE>   38


                       examine the same to determine whether or not they 
                       conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

     (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good
faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee,          
unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the
pertinent facts;

     (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken
or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Debentures at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture
with respect to the Debentures; and

     (4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there is reasonable ground for believing that the
repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not
reasonably assured to it.

SECTION 9.2.    NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

     Within 90 days after actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the
Debentures, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all holders of the
Debentures, as their names and addresses appear in the Debenture Register,
notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or waived;
provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment
of the principal or interest (including any Additional Payments) on any
Debenture, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so
long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of
the directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee determines in good
faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of
such Debentures; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the
character specified in section 7.1(a)(iii), no such notice to holders of
Debentures need be sent until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. 
For the purposes of this Section 9.2, the term "default" means any event which
is, or after notice or lapse of time or both, would become, an Event of Default
with respect to the Debentures.

SECTION 9.3.    CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

     Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.1:

     (a)  The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, 



<PAGE>   39

bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

     (b)  Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument
signed in the name of the Company by the President or any Vice President and by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer thereof (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically
prescribed herein);

     (c)  The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of a default or an
Event of Default, other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.1(a)(i)
or (ii), unless and until it receives written notification of such Event of
Default from the Company or by holders of at least 25% of the aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding;

     (d)  The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such
counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and
protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in
good faith and in reliance thereon;

     (e)  The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Debentureholders, pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture, unless such Debentureholders shall have offered to the Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall,
however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the
Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to
use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would
exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his
own affairs;

     (f)  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the
discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

     (g)  The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or
other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders
of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debentures
(determined as provided in Section 10.4); provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition
to so proceeding.  The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be
paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company
upon demand; and


<PAGE>   40


     (h)  The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it
hereunder.

SECTION 9.4.    TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, ETC.

     (a)  The Recitals contained herein and in the Debentures shall be taken as
the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for
the correctness of the same.

     (b)  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures.

     (c)  The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by
the Company of any of the Debentures or of the proceeds of such Debentures, or
for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance
with any provision of this Indenture, or for the use or application of any
moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.

SECTION 9.5.    MAY HOLD DEBENTURES.

     The Trustee or any Paying Agent or Debenture Registrar for the Debentures,
in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of
Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying
Agent or Debenture Registrar.

SECTION 9.6.    MONEYS HELD IN TRUST.

     Subject to the provisions of Section 13.5, all moneys received by the
Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for
the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee shall be under
no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as
it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.

SECTION 9.7.    COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

     (a)  The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to, such reasonable compensation (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of
an express trust), as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree
in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts
hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and
duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, the Company shall pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all
reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee
in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and
of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense,
disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith.  The
Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents,
directors and 



<PAGE>   41

employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee and
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this
trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of
liability in the premises.

     (b)  The obligations of the Company under this Section 9.7 to compensate
and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses,
disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder.
Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the
Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as
such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Debentures.

SECTION 9.8.    RELIANCE ON OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE.

     Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.1, whenever in the
administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it
necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking
or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in
the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to
be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to
the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on
the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action
taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this
Indenture upon the faith thereof.

SECTION 9.9.    DISQUALIFICATION:  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

     If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the
meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 9.10.   CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

     There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Debentures
issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing
business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or
Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other
Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such
laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by federal,
state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section 9.10, the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.  The Company may not, nor
may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.  In case at any time the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of 


<PAGE>   42

this Section 9.10, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and
with the effect specified in Section 9.11.

SECTION 9.11.   RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

     (a)  The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed, may at any time
resign by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting
notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the
Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register.  Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall
promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Debentures by written
instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy
of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to
the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and
have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of
resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to
Debentures, or any Debentureholder who has been a bona fide holder of a
Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions
of Section 9.11, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court
may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor trustee.

     (b)  In case at any time any one of the following shall occur

             (i)   the Trustee shall fail to comply with
                   the provisions of Section 9.9 after written request
                   therefor by the Company or by any Debentureholder who
                   has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or
                   Debentures for at least six months; or

             (ii)  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible
                   in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.10 and
                   shall fail to resign after written request therefor by
                   the Company or by any such Debentureholder; or

             (iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of
                   acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent,
                   or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a
                   receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be
                   appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall
                   take charge or control of the Trustee or of its
                   property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation,
                   conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case,
                   the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all
                   Debentures and appoint a successor trustee by written
                   instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the
                   Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall
                   be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to
                   the successor trustee, or, subject to the 


<PAGE>   43

                   provisions of Section 9.9, unless the Trustee's duty to
                   resign is stayed as provided herein, any Debentureholder who
                   has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for
                   at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all
                   others similarly situated, petition any court of competent
                   jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the
                   appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon
                   after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
                   prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
                   trustee.

     (c)  The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee by so
notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee with
the consent of the Company.

     (d)  Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a
successor trustee with respect to the Debentures pursuant to any of the
provisions of this Section 9.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 9.12.

     (e)  Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section 9.11
may be appointed with respect to the Debentures, and at any time there shall be
only one Trustee with respect to the Debentures.

SECTION 9.12.   ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

     (a)  In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with
respect to the Debentures, every successor trustee so appointed shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee
and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

     (b)  Upon request of any successor trustee, the Company shall execute any
and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to
such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in
Section 9.12(a).

     (c)  No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time
of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article IX.

     (d)  Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in
this Section 9.12, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such
trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage 


<PAGE>   44

prepaid, to the Debentureholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the
Debenture Register.  If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten
days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor
trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.

SECTION 9.13.   MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
                BUSINESS.

     Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be
the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be
qualified under the provisions of Section 9.9 and eligible under the provisions
of Section 9.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding.  In case any Debentures shall have been authenticated, but not
delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion
or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication
and deliver the Debentures so authenticated with the same effect as if such
successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Debentures.

SECTION 9.14.   PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE
                COMPANY.

     The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act,
excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act.  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to
Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.


                                  ARTICLE X.
                         CONCERNING DEBENTUREHOLDERS

SECTION 10.1.   EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY HOLDERS.

     (a)  Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a
majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request,
the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action),
the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such
majority or specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced by any
instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such
holders of Debentures in Person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.

     (b)  If the Company shall solicit from the Debentureholders any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the
Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Debentureholders entitled to
give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or
other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a



<PAGE>   45

record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date,
but only the Debentureholders of record at the close of business on the record
date shall be deemed to be Debentureholders for the purposes of determining
whether Debentureholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Debentures
have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the
Outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided,
however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such
Debentureholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall
become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than
six months after the record date.

SECTION 10.2.   PROOF OF EXECUTION BY DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     Subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, proof of the execution of any
instrument by a Debentureholder (such proof shall not require notarization) or
his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the
Debentures shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:

     (a)  The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any
instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.

     (b)  The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register
of such Debentures or by a certificate of the Debenture Registrar thereof.

     (c)  The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred
to in this Section 10.2 as it shall deem necessary.

SECTION 10.3.   WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS.

     Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any
Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent
and any Debenture Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such
Debenture shall be registered upon the books of the Company as the absolute
owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other
than the Debenture Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal of and interest on such Debenture (subject to Section
2.3) and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any Paying Agent nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Debenture Registrar shall
be affected by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 10.4.   CERTAIN DEBENTURES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED.

     In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal
amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under
this Indenture, the Debentures that are owned by the Company or any other
obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor
on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the
purpose of any 


<PAGE>   46

such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver,
only Debentures that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so
disregarded.  The Debentures so owned that have been pledged in good faith may
be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section 10.4, if the
pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right
so to act with respect to such Debentures and that the pledgee is not a Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute
as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel
shall be full protection to the Trustee.

SECTION 10.5.   ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as
provided in Section 10.1, of the taking of any action by the holders
of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a
Debenture that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the
holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice
with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 10.2, revoke
such action so far as concerns such Debenture. Except as aforesaid any such
action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding
upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and
of any Debenture issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer
thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in
regard thereto is made upon such Debenture.  Any action taken by the holders of
the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be
conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the
Debentures.


                                 ARTICLE XI.
                           SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 11.1.   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF
                DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this
Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform
to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the
consent of the Debentureholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

     (a)  to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the
Debentures;

     (b)  to comply with Article X;

     (c)  to provide for uncertificated Debentures in addition to or in place
of certificated Debentures;


<PAGE>   47


     (d)  to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the holders
of all or any of the Debentures or to surrender any right or power herein
conferred upon the Company;

     (e)  to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and
restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue,
authentication, and delivery of Debentures, as herein set forth;

     (f)  to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any
Debentureholder in any material respect;

     (g)  to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and
conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications
required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or of the
Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of the Debentures;

     (h)  qualify or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act; or

     (i)  to evidence a consolidation or merger involving the Company as
permitted under Section 21.1.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of
any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements
and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be
obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 11.1
may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the
holders of any of the Debentures at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any
of the provisions of Section 11.2.

SECTION 11.2.   SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF
                DEBENTUREHOLDERS.

     With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 10.1) of the holders of
not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the
time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by Board Resolutions, and the
Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions
to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this
Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not
covered by Section 11.1 the rights of the holders of the Debentures under this
Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without
the consent of the holders of each Debenture then Outstanding and affected
thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Debentures, reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest
thereon, without the consent of the holder of each Debenture so affected; or
(ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures, the holders of which are
required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further, that
if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such
supplemental 



<PAGE>   48

indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in
liquidation preference of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to
such supplemental indenture; provided further, that if the consent of the
holder of each Outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture
shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust
shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.  It shall not be necessary
for the consent of the Debentureholders affected thereby under this Section
11.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but
it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 11.3.   EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

     Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article XI, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be
modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture
of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be
determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such
modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such
supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and
conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

SECTION 11.4.   DEBENTURES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

     Debentures affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and
delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article XI, may bear a notation in form approved by the
Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any exchange upon which
the Debentures may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such
supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall so determine, new Debentures so
modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the
Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such
supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the
Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then Outstanding.

SECTION 11.5.   EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

     (a)  Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Debentureholders required
to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the
execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture
affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or
otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be
obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture.  The Trustee, subject to
the provisions of Sections 9.1, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article XI
is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article XI
and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article XI
to join in the execution thereof.


<PAGE>   49


     (b)  Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.5, the
Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting
forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the
Debentureholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture
Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect
therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any
such supplemental indenture.


                                ARTICLE XII.
                            SUCCESSOR CORPORATION

SECTION 12.1.   COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.

     Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debentures shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other
corporation or corporations (whether or not affiliated with the Company, as the
case may be), or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company, as
the case may be, or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or
shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the
property of the Company, as the case may be, or its successor or successors as
an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether
or not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be, or its successor or
successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that
the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual
payment, in the case of the Company, of the principal of and interest on all of
the Debentures, according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance
and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept
or performed by the Company as the case may be, shall be expressly assumed, by
supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act, as then in effect) satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed
and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or
into which the Company, as the case may be, shall have been merged, or by the
entity which shall have acquired such property; (ii)  in case 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 (iii) immediately after giving effect thereto, no
Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

SECTION 12.2.   SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED.

     (a)  In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor corporation, by
supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory
in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
interest on all of the Debentures Outstanding and the due and punctual
performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be
performed by the 



<PAGE>   50

Company such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company
herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Debentures.

     (b)  In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer
or other disposition such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Debentures thereafter to be issued as may be
appropriate.

     (c)  Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Debentures shall
prevent the Company from merging into itself or acquiring by purchase or
otherwise all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not
affiliated with the Company).

SECTION 12.3.   EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE.

     The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, may receive an
Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger,
sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption,
comply with the provisions of this Article XII.


                                ARTICLE XIII.
                         SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 13.1.   SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

     If at any time:  (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated  (other than any
Debentures that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have
been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) and Debentures for whose
payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in
trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company (and thereupon repaid to
the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 13.5); or (b)
all such Debentures not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and
payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year
under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and the Company shall deposit or cause to be deposited with the
Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations
sufficient, or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon
redemption all Debentures not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, including principal and interest due or to become due to such
date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the
Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by
the Company; then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect
except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 9.10,
that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case
may be, and Sections 9.6 and 13.5, that shall survive to such date and
thereafter, and the 


<PAGE>   51

Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company,
shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging
this Indenture.

SECTION 13.2.   DISCHARGE OF OBLIGATIONS.

     If at any time all Debentures not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section
13.1 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the
Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations
sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized certified public
accounting firm to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Debentures not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and
interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for
redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to
be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then after the date
such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with
the Trustee, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture shall cease to
be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 5.1,
5.2, 5.3, 9.6, 9.10 and 13.5 hereof that shall survive until such Debentures
shall mature and be paid.  Thereafter, Sections 9.6 and 13.5 shall survive.


SECTION 13.3.   DEPOSITED MONEYS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

     All monies or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant
to Sections 13.1 or 13.2 shall be held in trust and shall be available for
payment as due, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the
Company acting as its own Paying Agent), to the holders of the Debentures for
the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have
been deposited with the Trustee.

SECTION 13.4.   PAYMENT OF MONIES HELD BY PAYING AGENTS.

     In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all
moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any Paying Agent under the
provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the
Trustee and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.

SECTION 13.5.   REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.

     Any monies or Governmental Obligations deposited with any Paying Agent or
the Trustee, or then held by the Company in trust, for payment of principal of
or interest on the Debentures that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the
holders of such Debentures for at least two years after the date upon which the
principal of or interest on such Debentures shall have respectively become due
and payable, shall be repaid to the Company, as the case may be, on May 31 of
each year or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and thereupon the Paying Agent and the Trustee shall be released from all
further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and
the holder of any of the Debentures entitled to 


<PAGE>   52

receive such payment shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor,
look only to the Company for the payment thereof.


                                ARTICLE XIV.
              IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS
                                AND DIRECTORS

SECTION 14.1.   NO RECOURSE.

     No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this
Indenture, or of the Debentures, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in
respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or
director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor
or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such
predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the
obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such
personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the
incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or
of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the
creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debentures or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal
liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by
constitution or statute, and any and all such rights and claims against, every
such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the
creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the
obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of
the Debentures or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released
as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture
and the issuance of such Debentures.


                                 ARTICLE XV.
                          MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 15.1.   EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

     All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture
contained by or on behalf of the Company shall bind their respective successors
and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 15.2.   ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR.

     Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or
required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the
time be the lawful sole successor of the Company.

SECTION 15.3.   SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS.


<PAGE>   53


     The Company by instrument in writing executed by appropriate authority of
its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the
powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered
shall terminate both as to the Company, as the case may be, and as to any
successor corporation.

SECTION 15.4.   NOTICES.

     Except as otherwise expressly provided herein any notice or demand that by
any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served
by the Trustee or by the holders of Debentures to or on the Company may be
given or served by being deposited first class postage prepaid in a post-office
letterbox addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company
with the Trustee), as follows:  c/o Capitol Bancorp Ltd., 200 Washington Square
North, Fourth Floor, Lansing, Michigan 48933, Attention: Chief Executive
Officer.  Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any
Debentureholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at
the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

SECTION 15.5.   GOVERNING LAW.

     This Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the internal laws of the State of Michigan and for all purposes shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

SECTION 15.6.   TREATMENT OF DEBENTURES AS DEBT.

     It is intended that the Debentures shall be treated as indebtedness and
not as equity for federal income tax purposes.  The provisions of this
Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.

SECTION 15.7.   COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

     (a)  Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions
precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have
been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of
such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that
in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of
such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture
relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or
opinion need be furnished.

     (b)  Each certificate or opinion of the Company provided for in this
Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a
condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the
Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such
Person, he has made such examination or investigation as, in the opinion of
such Person, is 



<PAGE>   54

necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or
not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as
to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant
has been complied with.

SECTION 15.8.   PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS.

     In any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any
Debenture or the date of redemption of any Debenture shall not be a Business
Day, then payment of interest or principal may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of
maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such
nominal date.

SECTION 15.9.   CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

     If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.



SECTION 15.10.  COUNTERPARTS.

     This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but
one and the same instrument.

SECTION 15.11.  SEPARABILITY.

     In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or
in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of the Debentures,
but this Indenture and the Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

SECTION 15.12.  ASSIGNMENT.

     The Company shall have the right at all times to assign any of its
respective rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such
assignment, the Company shall remain liable for all such obligations.  Subject
to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of
the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This
Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto.

SECTION 15.13.  ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RIGHTS; RIGHT OF SETOFF.

     (a)  The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Debentures held by
the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, if the Property Trustee fails to enforce   
its rights under this Indenture as the holder of the Debentures held as the
assets of the Trust, any holder of Preferred Securities may institute legal
proceedings directly against the Company 


<PAGE>   55

to enforce such Property Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first
instituting any legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any other
person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 7.4(a) hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay
interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal
is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date),
the Company acknowledges that a holder of Preferred Securities may directly
institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of the
principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder on
or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures.

     (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture,
the Company shall have the right of setoff any payment it is otherwise required
to make hereunder in respect of any Trust Securities to the extent that the
Company has previously made, or is concurrently making, a payment to the holder
of such Trust Securities under the Guarantee or in connection with a proceeding
for enforcement of payment of the principal of or interest on the Debentures
directly brought by holders of any Trust Securities.

                                ARTICLE XVI.
                         SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

SECTION 16.1.   AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE.

     The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures issued
hereunder by such holder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees,
that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article
XVI; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon
transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such
provisions.  The payment by the Company of the principal of and interest on all
Debentures issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter
set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations
(collectively, "Senior Indebtedness") to the extent provided herein, whether
outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.  No provision
of this Article XVI shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of
Default hereunder.

SECTION 16.2.   DEFAULT ON SENIOR DEBT, SUBORDINATED DEBT OR
                ADDITIONAL SENIOR OBLIGATIONS.

     In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in
the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity of any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default,
then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to
the principal (including redemption payments) of or interest on the Debentures.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received
by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding sentence of
this Section 16.2, such payment shall be held in trust for the 


<PAGE>   56

benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees
under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have
been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent
that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of
such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and
only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 16.3.   LIQUIDATION; DISSOLUTION; BANKRUPTCY.

     (a)  Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization
of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in
money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company
on account of the principal or interest on the Debentures; and upon any such
dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the
Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, to which the holders of the Debentures
or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the
provisions of this Article XVI, shall be paid by the Company or by any
receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person
making such payment or distribution, or by the holders of the Debentures or by
the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the
basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as
calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to
the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments
evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness
in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent
payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness,
before any payment or distribution is made to the holders of Debentures or to
the Trustee.

     (b)  In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by
the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or
provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such
payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall
be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their
representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated
by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of
the Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to
pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money 

<PAGE>   57

in accordance with its terms, rafter giving effect to any concurrent payment
or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness.

     (c)  For purposes of this Article XVI, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the
payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this
Article XVI with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, that may at the time be
outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new
corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment;
and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without
the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.
The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into,
another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following
the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as
an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for
in Article XII shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization for the purposes of this Section 16.3 if such other corporation
shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply
with the conditions stated in Article XII. Nothing in Section 16.2 or in this
Section 16.3 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or
pursuant to Section 9.7.

SECTION 16.4.   SUBROGATION.

     (a)  Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, the rights of the holders of the Debentures shall be subrogated to the
rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or
distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may
be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of and interest
on the Debentures shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such
subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the holders of the
Debentures or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this
Article XVI, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XVI
to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by holders of
the Debentures or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors
other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of
the Debentures, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of
such Senior Indebtedness.  It is understood that the provisions of this
Article XVI are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the
relative rights of the holders of the Debentures, on the one hand, and the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand.

     (b)  Nothing contained in this Article XVI or elsewhere in this Indenture
or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company,
its creditors (other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company),
and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the
principal of and interest on the 



<PAGE>   58

Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance
with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the
holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, as the case may be,
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may
be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of
any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable
law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under
this Article XVI of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash,
property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the
exercise of any such remedy.

     (c)  Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article XVI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article IX, and
the holders of the Debentures shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any
order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the holders of the Debentures, for the purposes of ascertaining
the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the
amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed
thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XVI.

SECTION 16.5.   TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.

     Each holder of Debentures by such holder's acceptance thereof authorizes
and directs the Trustee on such holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article XVI and appoints the Trustee such holder's attorney-in-fact for any and
all such purposes.

SECTION 16.6.   NOTICE BY COMPANY.

     (a)  The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making
of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures
pursuant to the provisions of this Article XVI.  Notwithstanding the provisions
of this Article XVI or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall
not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would
prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of
the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XVI, unless and until
a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof
from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any
trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the
Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, shall be entitled in all
respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the
Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 16.6 at
least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any
money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the
payment of the principal of or interest on any Debenture), then, anything
herein contained to the contrary 


<PAGE>   59

notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive
such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received,
and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by
it within two Business Days prior to such date.

     (b)  The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, shall be
entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a
Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the
Company (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice
has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf
of any such holder or holders.  In the event that the Trustee determines in
good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any
Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or
distribution pursuant to this Article XVI, the Trustee may request such Person
to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the
amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which
such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any
other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XVI, and,
if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such
Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive
such payment.

SECTION 16.7.   RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE; HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS.

     (a)  The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article XVI in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at
any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of
its rights as such holder.  The Trustee's right to compensation and
reimbursement of expenses as set forth in Section 9.7 shall not be subject to
the subordination provisions of this Article XVI.

     (b)  With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XVI, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The
Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Section 9.1, the Trustee
shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay
over or deliver to holders of Debentures, the Company or any other Person money
or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by
virtue of this Article XVI or otherwise.

SECTION 16.8.   SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED.

     (a)  No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness
of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in
any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of
the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder,
or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants
of this Indenture, 



<PAGE>   60

regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise 
be charged with.

     (b)  Without in any way limiting the generality of Section 16.8(a), the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to
time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the holders of the
Debentures, without incurring responsibility to the holders of the Debentures
and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article
XVI or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following:  (i)
change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of,
or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement
in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or
any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell,
exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or
otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in
any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or
refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

                                      CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., a Michigan
                                      corporation

                                      By:    _____________________________

                                      Name:  _____________________________

                                      Title: _____________________________

Attest:

_____________________________

Name: _______________________
                                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                      as trustee


                                      By:    _____________________________

                                      Name:  _____________________________

                                      Title: _____________________________

Attest:

_____________________________

Name: _______________________


<PAGE>   61

STATE OF MICHIGAN         )
                          ) ss:
COUNTY OF INGHAM          )



     On this _______ day of _______________________________, 1997, before me
appeared ___________________, to me personally known, who, being by me duly
sworn, did say that he is the ___________________________ of CAPITOL BANCORP
LTD., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION, and that the seal affixed to said instrument is
the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and
sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its board of directors and
said ________________________, acknowledged said instrument to be the free act
and deed of said corporation.

     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official
seal at my office in said county and state the day and year last above written.

                                             _____________________________
                                             Notary Public

                                             My term expires: ____________





STATE OF ILLINOIS         )
                          ) ss:
COUNTY OF COOK            )



     On this _______ day of _______________________________, 1997, before me
appeared ______________________________, to me personally known, who, being by
me duly sworn, did say that he is the _____________________________ of THE
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, and that the seal affixed to said instrument
is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed
and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its board of directors
and said ______________________________, acknowledged said instrument to be the
free act and deed of said corporation.

     In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my official seal at my office in said county and state the day and
year last above written.



                                             _____________________________
                                             Notary Public


[seal]                                       My term expires: ____________

<PAGE>   62
                          ____% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE

                             DUE DECEMBER 31, 2027


Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, (the "Company," which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred
to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to The First National Bank of
Chicago, as Trustee, or registered assigns, the principal sum of
_______________________ dollars ($____________) on December 31, 2027 (the
"Stated Maturity"), and to pay interest on said principal sum from ---------,
1997, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an
"Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for,
quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year commencing  March 31, 1998
at the rate of _____% per annum until the principal hereof shall have become
due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication) on any
overdue installment of interest at the same rate per annum compounded
quarterly.  The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount
of interest for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number
of days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that
any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a business day,
then payment of interest payable on such date shall be made on the next
succeeding day that is a Business Day (as defined in the Indenture) (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the
same force and effect as if made on such date.  The interest installment so
payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date
shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this
Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Debentures, as defined in the Indenture)
is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such
interest installment, which shall be the fifteenth day of the last month of the
calendar quarter in which such Interest Payment Date occurs unless otherwise
provided in the Indenture.  The principal of and the interest on this Debenture
shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that
purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts;
provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the
Company by check mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall
appear in the Debenture Register.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as
the holder of this Debenture is the Trustee, the payment of the principal of
and interest on this Debenture shall be made at such place and to such account
as may be designated by the Trustee.

     The Stated Maturity may be shortened at any time by the Company to any
date not earlier than December 31, 2002, 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.  Such date may also be extended
at any time at the election of the Company for one or more periods, but in no
event to a date later than December 31, 2036, subject to certain limitations
described in the Indenture.


<PAGE>   63


     The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Indebtedness. This Debenture is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each holder of this
Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions; (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided; and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.  Each holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder
of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and
waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

     This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture,
be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the Certificate of
Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee.

     The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof
and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as
though fully set forth at this place.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.

Dated________________, 1997
                                             CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.


                                             By:______________________

                                             Name:____________________

                                             Title:___________________

Attest:

____________________________

Name:_______________________


[FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]

                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

     This is one of the Debentures described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,        ________________________________
as Trustee                                  or Authentication Agent


By______________________________           By______________________________ 
     Authorized Signatory


                                  Exhibit A-3

                          ____% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE
                                  (CONTINUED)

     This Debenture is one of the subordinated debentures of the Company (the
"Debentures"), all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture
dated as of ________, 1997 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered
between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures.  The
Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the
Indenture.

      Company shall have the right, as set forth in the Indenture, to redeem
this Debenture at the option of the Company, without premium or penalty, in
whole or in part at any time on or after December 31, 2002 (an "Optional
Redemption"), or at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a
Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), at a redemption price (the
"Redemption Price") equal to 100% of the principal amount hereof plus any
accrued but unpaid interest hereon, to the date of such redemption.  Any
redemption pursuant to this paragraph shall be made upon not less than 30 days
nor more than 60 days notice, at the Redemption Price.  The Redemption Price
shall be paid at the time and in the manner provided therefor in the Indenture.
If the Debentures are only partially redeemed by the Company pursuant to an
Optional Redemption, the Debentures shall be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by
any other method utilized by the Trustee as described in the Indenture.  In the
event of an Optional Redemption of this Debenture in part only, a new Debenture
or Debentures for the unredeemed portion hereof shall be issued in the name of
the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.





<PAGE>   64

     In case an Event of Default (as defined in the Indenture), shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debentures may be
declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the
Indenture.

     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures at the time Outstanding (as defined in the
Indenture), to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of the Debentures
except as provided in the Indenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or
reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, without the
consent of the holder of each Debenture so affected; or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Debentures, the holders of which are required to
consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders
of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby.  The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the
holders of the Debentures, to waive any past default in the performance of any
of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the
Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the
principal of or interest on any of the Debentures.  Any such consent or waiver
by the registered holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as provided in the
Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future
holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debenture issued in exchange
herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise),
irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made
upon this Debenture.

     No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal and interest on this Debenture
at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

     The Company, as further described in the Indenture, shall have the right
at any time during the term of the Debentures and from time to time to extend
the interest payment period of such Debentures for up to 20 consecutive
quarters (each, an "Extended Interest Payment Period"), at the end of which
period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together
with interest thereon at the rate specified for the Debentures to the extent
that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law).  Before the
termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may
further extend such



<PAGE>   65


Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that such Extended Interest Payment
Period together with all such further extensions thereof shall not exceed 20
consecutive quarters.  At the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
additional amounts then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest
Payment Period.

     As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, this Debenture is transferable by the registered holder hereof on
the Debenture Register (as defined in the Indenture) of the Company, upon
surrender of this Debenture for registration of transfer at the office or
agency of the Trustee accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by
the registered holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and
thereupon one or more new Debentures of authorized denominations and for the
same aggregate principal amount shall be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such transfer, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debenture,
the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent (as defined in the Indenture) and
the Debenture Registrar may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the
absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debenture shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other
than the Debenture Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal hereof and interest due hereon and for all other
purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any
Debentures Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

     No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in
respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any
incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as
such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of
any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the
acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof,
expressly waived and released.

     The Debentures are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $10 and any integral multiple thereof (or such lesser
denomination and any integral multiple thereof as may be deemed necessary by
the Company for the purpose of maintaining the eligibility of the Debentures
for quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or any successor
thereto).

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

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 4.3



                            CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
                                     OF
                               CAPITOL TRUST I

THIS CERTIFICATE OF TRUST OF CAPITOL TRUST I (the "Trust"), dated November 25,
1997, is being duly executed and filed by FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC., a
Delaware corporation, Joseph D. Reid, Robert C. Carr and Linda D. Pavona, each
an individual, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware
Business Trust Act (12 Del. C. Section 3801 et seq.).
        
1.   NAME.  The name of the business trust formed hereby is CAPITOL TRUST I.

2.   DELAWARE TRUSTEE.  The name and business address of the trustee of the
     Trust in the State of Delaware is First Chicago Delaware Inc., 300 King
     St., Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
        
3.   EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Certificate of Trust shall be effective on 
     November 25, 1997.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustees of the Trust, have
executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.
        

                                        FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.
                                        as trustee


                                        By: /s/ John Prendiville
                                           ------------------------

                                           /s/ Joseph D. Reid        
                                           ------------------------
                                             Joseph D. Reid        
                                             as trustee            
                                                                   
                                           /s/ Robert C. Carr
                                           ------------------------
                                             Robert C. Carr
                                             as trustee            
                                                                   
                                           /s/ Linda D. Pavona       
                                           ------------------------
                                             Linda D. Pavona       
                                             as trustee            
                                                                   

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 4.4



                               TRUST AGREEMENT

     This TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of November 25, 1997 (this "Trust
Agreement"), among (i) Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, (the
"Depositor"), (ii)First Chicago Delaware Inc., a Delaware corporation, as
trustee, and (iii) Joseph D. Reid, Robert C. Carr and Linda D. Pavona, each an
individual, as trustees (each of such trustees in (ii) and (iii) a "Trustee"
and collectively, the "Trustees").  The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree
as follows:

     1. The trust created hereby (the "Trust") shall be known as "CAPITOL TRUST
I" in which name the Trustees, or the Depositor to the extent provided herein,
may engage in the transactions contemplated hereby, make and execute contracts,
and sue and be sued.

     2. The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the
Trustees the sum of $10.00.  The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of such
amount in trust from the Depositor, which amount shall constitute the initial
trust estate.  The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust estate
in trust for the Depositor.  It is the intention of the parties hereto that the
Trust created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of Title 12
of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. Section 3801, et seq. (the "Business Trust
Act"), and that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the
Trust.  The Trustees are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a
certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with
the provisions of the Business Trust Act.

     3. The Depositor and the Trustees will enter into an amended and restated
Trust Agreement, satisfactory to each such party and substantially in the form
included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement (as defined
below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby
and the issuance of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to
therein.  Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Trust Agreement, the Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder
or with respect to the trust estate, except as otherwise required by applicable
law or as may be necessary to obtain prior to such execution and delivery of
any licenses, consents or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise.

     4. The Depositor and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the
Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of
the Trust, (a) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act
Registration Statement"), including any pre-effective or post-effective
amendments to the 1933 Act Registration Statement, relating to the registration
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "1933 Act") of the Preferred
Securities of the Trust (including any registration statement for the same
offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
1933 Act), and (b) a Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "1934 Act
Registration Statement") including all pre-effective and post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities of
the Trust under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; (ii) to file
with The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market or 
        
<PAGE>   2

a national stock exchange (each, an "Exchange") and execute on behalf of the
Trust one or more listing applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on any of the
Exchanges; (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such applications,
reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of attorney for
service of process and other papers and documents as shall be necessary or
desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem
necessary or desirable; and (iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust that certain
Underwriting Agreement relating to the Preferred Securities, among the Trust,
the Depositor and the Underwriter named therein, substantially in the form
included as an exhibit to the 1933 Act Registration Statement.  In the event
that any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above is required by
the rules and regulations of the Commission, an Exchange or state securities or
blue sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by one or more of the
Trustees, each of the Trustees, in its or his capacity as a Trustee of the
Trust, is hereby authorized and, to the extent so required, directed to join in
any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the
foregoing, it being understood that First Chicago Delaware Inc. in its capacity
as a Trustee of the Trust shall not be required to join in any such filing or
execute on behalf of the Trust any such document unless required by the rules
and regulations of the Commission, the Exchange or state securities or blue sky
laws.  In connection with the filings referred to above, the Depositor and
Joseph D. Reid, Robert C. Carr and Linda D. Pavona each as Trustees and not in
their individual capacities, hereby constitutes and appoints Joseph D. Reid,
Robert C. Carr and Linda D. Pavona and each of them, as its true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for the Depositor or such Trustee or in the Depositor's or such
Trustees' name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration
Statement and the 1934 Act Registration Statement and to file the same, with
all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Commission, the Exchange and administrators of the state securities or blue sky
laws, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be
done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as the
Depositor or such Trustee might or could to in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in- fact and agents or any of them, or their
respective substitute or substitutes, shall do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
        
     5. This Trust Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts.

     6. The number of Trustees initially shall be four and thereafter the
number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by
a written instrument signed by the Depositor which may increase or decrease the
number of Trustees; provided, however, that to the extent required by the
Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its 
        




                                      2

<PAGE>   3

principal place of business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the
requirements of applicable Delaware law. Subject to the foregoing, the
Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any Trustee at any
time.  The Trustees may resign upon 30 days' prior notice to the Depositor.
        
     7. This Trust Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflict of laws of
principles).






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust agreement to be
duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                        CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.       
                                        as depositor               
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                        By: /s/ Joseph D. Reid         
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Joseph D. Reid         
                                            Chairman of the Board, 
                                            President, and Chief   
                                            Executive Officer      
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                        FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE INC.
                                        as trustee                 
                                                                   
                                                                   
                                        By: /s/ John Prendiville
                                            ------------------------------
                                                                   
                                            /s/ Joseph D. Reid           
                                            ------------------------------
                                              Joseph D. Reid       
                                              as trustee           

                                            /s/ Robert C. Carr       
                                            ------------------------------
                                              Robert C. Carr       
                                              as trustee           
                                                                   
                                            
                                            /s/ Linda D. Pavona      
                                            ------------------------------
                                              Linda D. Pavona      
                                              as Trustee           






                                      3

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5







                                CAPITOL TRUST I


                              AMENDED AND RESTATED


                                TRUST AGREEMENT


                                     AMONG


           CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION, AS DEPOSITOR


           THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE


               FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE, INC., AS DELAWARE TRUSTEE,


                                      AND


                    THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN

                           DATED AS OF --------, 1997



<PAGE>   2


                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    PAGE
<S>                                                                                                 <C>            
ARTICLE I

     DEFINED TERMS


             Section 101.     Definitions

ARTICLE II
          ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST 9

          Section 201         Names
          Section 202         Office of Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business
          Section 203         Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Organizational Expenses
          Section 204         Issuance of Preferred Securities
          Section 205.        Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and 
                              Purchase of Debentures
          Section 206.        Declaration of Trust
          Section 207.        Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions
          Section 208.        Assets of Trust
          Section 209.        Title to Trust Property

ARTICLE III

          PAYMENT ACCOUNT

          Section 301.        Payment Account


ARTICLE IV

          DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION

          Section 401.        Distributions
          Section 402.        Redemption
          Section 403.        Subordination of Common Securities
          Section 404.        Payment Procedures
          Section 405.        Tax Returns and Reports
          Section 406.        Payment of Taxes, Duties, etc. of Trust
          Section 407.        Payments Under Indenture

ARTICLE V

          TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES

          Section 501.        Initial Ownership
          Section 502.        Trust Securities Certificates
          Section 503.        Execution, Authentication and Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates
          Section 504.        Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities
                              Certificates
          Section 505.        Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates
          Section 506.        Persons Deemed Securityholders
          Section 507.        Access to List of Securityholders' Names and 
                              Addresses
</TABLE>


                                       2


<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<S>         <C>              <C>
             Section 508.     Maintenance of Office or Agency
             Section 509.     Appointment of Paying Agent
             Section 510.     Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor
             Section 511.     Preferred Securities Certificates
             Section 512.     [Intentionally Omitted]
             Section 513.     [Intentionally Omitted]
             Section 514.     Rights of Securityholders

ARTICLE VI

             ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING

             Section 601.     Limitations on Voting Rights
             Section 602.     Notice of Meetings
             Section 603.     Meetings of Preferred Securityholders
             Section 604.     Voting Rights
             Section 605.     Proxies, etc
             Section 606.     Securityholder Action by Written Consent
             Section 607.     Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes
             Section 608.     Acts of Securityholders
             Section 609.     Inspection of Records

ARTICLE VII

             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

             Section 701.     Representations and Warranties of Bank and 
                              Property Trustee
             Section 702.     Representations and Warranties of Delaware Person 
                              and Delaware Trustee
             Section 703.     Representations and Warranties of Depositor

ARTICLE VIII

              TRUSTEES 29

              Section 801.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities
              Section 802.    Certain Notices
              Section 803.    Certain Rights of Property Trustee
              Section 804.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance 
                              of Securities
              Section 805.    May Hold Securities
              Section 806.    Compensation; Indemnity; Fees
              Section 807.    Corporate Property Trustee Required; Eligibility 
                              of Trustees
              Section 808.    Conflicting Interests
              Section 809.    Co-Trustees and Separate Trustee
              Section 810.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
              Section 811.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
              Section 812.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession 
                              to Business
              Section 813.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor 
                              or Trust
              Section 814.    Reports by Property Trustee
              Section 815.    Reports to Property Trustee
              Section 816.    Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
              Section 817.    Number of Trustees
</TABLE>


                                       3


<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<S>         <C>              <C>
             Section 818.     Delegation of Power
             Section 819.     Voting

ARTICLE IX

             TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

             Section 901.     Termination Upon Expiration Date
             Section 902.     Early Termination
             Section 903.     Termination
             Section 904.     Liquidation
             Section 905.     Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or 
                              Replacements of Trust

ARTICLE X

             MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

             Section 1001.    Limitation of Rights of Securityholders
             Section 1002.    Amendment
             Section 1003.    Separability
             Section 1004.    Governing law
             Section 1005.    Payments Due on Non-Business Day
             Section 1006.    Successors
             Section 1007.    Headings
             Section 1008.    Reports, Notices and Demands
             Section 1009.    Agreement Not to Petition
             Section 1010.    Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act
             Section 1011.    Acceptance of Terms of Trust Agreement, Guarantee and Indenture

Exhibit A            Certificate of Trust
Exhibit B            [Intentionally Omitted]
Exhibit C            Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit D            Form of Expense Agreement
Exhibit E            Form of Preferred Securities Certificate

</TABLE>

                                       4


<PAGE>   5


                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE


<TABLE>
< Caption>
Section of                                                                                              Section of
Trust Indenture Act                                                                                     Amended and Restated
of 1939, as amended                                                                                     Trust Agreement
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                                    <C>
310(a)(1)                                                                                               807
318(a)                                                                                                  1010           
310(a)(2)                                                                                               807            
310(a)(3)                                                                                               807            
310(a)(4)                                                                                               207(a)(ii)     
310(b)                                                                                                  808            
311(a)                                                                                                  813            
311(b)                                                                                                  813            
312(a)                                                                                                  507            
312(b)                                                                                                  507            
312(c)                                                                                                  507            
313(a)                                                                                                  814(a)         
313(a)(4)                                                                                               814(b)         
313(b)                                                                                                  814(b)         
313(c)                                                                                                  1008           
313(d)                                                                                                  814(c)         
314(a)                                                                                                  815            
314(b)                                                                                                  Not Applicable 
314(c)(1)                                                                                               816            
314(c)(2)                                                                                               816            
314(c)(3)                                                                                               Not Applicable 
314(d)                                                                                                  Not Applicable 
314(e)                                                                                                  101, 816       
315(a)                                                                                                  801(a), 803(a) 
315(b)                                                                                                  802, 1008      
315(c)                                                                                                  801(a)         
315(d)                                                                                                  801, 803       
316(a)(2)                                                                                               Not Applicable 
316(b)                                                                                                  Not Applicable 
316(c)                                                                                                  607            
317(a)(1)                                                                                               Not Applicable 
317(a)(2)                                                                                               Not Applicable 
317(b)                                                                                                  509            
</TABLE>

Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of this Agreement and
should not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

                                       5


<PAGE>   6


                      AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

     AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of --------, 1997 among (i)
CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION, an Michigan corporation
(including any successors or assigns, the "Depositor"), (ii) THE FIRST NATIONAL
BANK OF CHICAGO, a national banking association, as property trustee (the
"Property Trustee" and, in its separate corporate capacity and not in its
capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"), (iii) FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE, INC.,
a Delaware corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State
of Delaware, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee," and, in its separate
corporate capacity and not in its capacity as Delaware Trustee, the "Delaware")
(iv) Joseph D. Reid, an individual, Robert C. Carr, an individual, and Linda D.
Pavona, an individual, each of whose address is c/o Capitol Bancorp Ltd., 200
Washington Square North, Fourth Floor, Lansing, Michigan 48933 (each an
"Administrative Trustee" and, collectively, the "Administrative Trustees") (the
Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees are
referred to collectively as the "Trustees"), and (v) the several Holders (as
hereinafter defined).

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee, and Joseph D. Reid, Robert
c. Carr, and Linda D. Pavona, each as an Administrative Trustee, have
heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the
Delaware Business Trust Act (as hereinafter defined) by the entering into of
that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of November 25, 1997 (the "Original
Trust Agreement"), and by the execution and filing by the Delaware Trustee, the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees with the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on November 25, 1997, the
form of which is attached as Exhibit A; and

     WHEREAS, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the
Administrative Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Trust
Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other
things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities (as defined herein) by the
Trust (as defined herein) to the Depositor; (ii) the issuance and sale of the
Preferred Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement (as defined herein); (iii) the acquisition by the Trust
from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Debentures
(as defined herein); and (iv) the appointment of the Trustees.

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of
the other parties and for the benefit of the Securityholders (as defined
herein), hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its
entirety and agrees as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                                 DEFINED TERMS

     SECTION 101.  DEFINITIONS.

     For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

                                       6


<PAGE>   7



     (a) the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article I and include the plural as well as the singular;

     (b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture
Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to
them therein;

     (c) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an "Article"
or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this
Trust Agreement; and

     (d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

     "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 608.

     "Additional Amount" means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given
Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of additional interest
accrued on interest in arrears and paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of
Debentures for such period.

     "Additional Payments" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the
Indenture.

     "Administrative Trustee" means each of Joseph D. Reid, Robert C. Carr, and
Linda D. Pamone, solely in the capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust
formed and continued hereunder and not in the individual capacity, or such
Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor trustee appointed as herein provided.

     "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any Person
directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding with power to vote 10% or
more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests of the
specified Person, any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting securities
or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned, controlled or
held with power to vote by the specified Person; (c) any Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the
specified Person; (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a general
partner; (e) any officer or director of the specified Person; and (f) if the
specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified Person is
an officer, director or general partner.

     "Authenticating Agent" means an authenticating agent with respect to the
Preferred Securities appointed by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 503.

     "Bank" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement.

     "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:

     (a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the
premises adjudging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
properly filed a petition seeking liquidation or reorganization of or in
respect of such Person under the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as
amended, or any other similar applicable federal or state law, and the

                                       7


<PAGE>   8

continuance of any such decree or order unvacated and unstayed for a period of
90 days; or the commencement of an involuntary case under the United States
Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, in respect of such Person, which shall
continue undismissed for a period of 90 days or entry of an order for relief in
such case; or the entry of a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in
the premises for the appointment on the ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a
receiver, custodian, liquidator, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or
insolvency of such Person or of its property, or for the winding up or
liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall have remained in
force unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or

     (b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a
voluntary bankrupt, or the consent by such Person to the filing of a bankruptcy
proceeding against it, or the filing by such Person of a petition or answer or
consent seeking liquidation or reorganization under the United States
Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended, or other similar applicable Federal or
State law, or the consent by such Person to the filing of any such petition or
to the appointment on the ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver or
custodian or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of
such Person or of its property, or shall make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors.

     "Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 1009.

     "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Depositor to have been duly adopted by the
Depositor's Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or
officers of the Depositor to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of
Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of
such certification, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee.

     "Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday or Sunday, a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law,
executive order or regulation to remain closed, or a day on which the property
Trustee's Corporate Trust Office or the Corporate Trust Office of the Debenture
Trustee is closed for business.

     "Certificate of Trust" means the certificate of trust filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust, as
amended or restated from time to time.

     "Closing Date" means the date of execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to
time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the
execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the
duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

     "Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of
the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $10 and having the rights provided
therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions
and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

                                       8


<PAGE>   9



     "Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership
of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the office at which, at any particular
time, the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Debenture
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be principally administered, which office at
the date hereof, in each such case, is located at One First National Plaza,
Suite 0126, Chicago, IL 60670-0126, Attention: Corporate Trust Department.

     "Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in
Section 7.1 of the Indenture.

     "Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be
redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption under the
Indenture.

     "Debenture Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust Company, a banking
corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and
any successor thereto, as trustee under the Indenture.

     "Debentures" means the $22,680,412 aggregate principal amount (or up to
$26,082,474 aggregate principal amount if the underwriters exercise their
Option and there is an Option Closing Date, as such terms are defined in the
Underwriting Agreement) of the Depositor's ----% Subordinated Debentures due
2027, issued pursuant to the Indenture.

     "Delaware Person" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust
Agreement.

     "Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware
Code, 12 Delaware Code Sections 3801 et seq. as it may be amended from time to
time.

     "Delaware Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified
as the "Delaware Trustee" in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement solely in its
capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and
not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity,
or any successor trustee appointed as herein provided.

     "Depositor" has the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Trust
Agreement.

     "Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 401(a).

     "Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities
as provided in Section 401.

     "Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 902.

     "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the
reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or
involuntary or be 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):

                                       9


<PAGE>   10



     (a) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default; or

     (b) 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

     (c) 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

     (d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any
covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than a
covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of
which is dealt with in clause (b) or (c), 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 or Trustees 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" hereunder; or

     (e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property
Trustee and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a successor Property
Trustee within 60 days thereof.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "Expense Agreement" means the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities
between the Depositor and the Trust, substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit D, as amended from time to time.

     "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 901.

     "Extended Interest Payment Period" has the meaning specified in Section
4.1 of the Indenture.

     "Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.

     "Guarantee" means the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement executed
and delivered by the Depositor and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities, as
amended from time to time.

     "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of ------------, 1997, between
the Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as trustee, as amended or supplemented
from time to time pertaining to the Debentures of the Depositor.

     "Investment Company Act," means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, as in effect at the date of execution of this instrument.

     "Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of
trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest
or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement
of any kind or nature whatsoever.

                                       10


<PAGE>   11



     "Like Amount" means (a) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of
Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture
and the proceeds of which shall be used to pay the Redemption Price of such
Trust Securities; and (b) with respect to a distribution of Debentures to
Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination or liquidation of
the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount
of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.
Each Debenture distributed pursuant to clause (b) above shall carry with it
accumulated interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid interest
then due on such Debenture.

     "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $10 per Trust Security.

     "Liquidation Date" means the date on which Debentures are to be
distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and
liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 904(a).

     "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 904(d).

     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President or a
Vice President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Controller
or an Assistant Controller or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the
Depositor, and delivered to the appropriate Trustee.  One of the officers
signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 816 shall be the
principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor.  Any
Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement shall include:

     (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

     (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers'
Certificate;

     (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and

     (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.

     "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing of legal counsel, who may
be an employee of or counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware
Trustee or the Depositor, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the
Property Trustee.

     "Original Trust Agreement" has the meaning specified in the Recitals to
this Trust Agreement.

     "Outstanding", when used with respect to Preferred Securities, means, as
of the date of determination, all Preferred Securities theretofore executed and
delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:

                                       11


<PAGE>   12



     (a) Preferred Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee
or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;

     (b) Preferred Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the
necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or
any Paying Agent for the Holders of such Preferred Securities; provided that,
if such Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has
been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and

     (c) Preferred Securities which have been paid or in exchange for or in
lieu of which other Preferred Securities have been executed and delivered
pursuant to Sections 504, 505 and 511; provided, however, that in determining
whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the
Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall
be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining
whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred
Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded; and
(b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the outstanding
Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees
and/or any such Affiliate.  Preferred Securities so owned which have been
pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes
to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee's right so to
act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the Pledgee is not the
Depositor or any other Obligor upon the Preferred Securities or a Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.

     "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed
pursuant to Section 509 and shall initially be the Bank.

     "Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust
account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust
department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in
respect of the Debentures shall be held and from which the Property Trustee
shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Sections 401 and
402.

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

     "Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets
of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $10 and having the rights provided
therefor in this Trust Agreement, including the right to receive Distributions
and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

     "Preferred Securities Certificate", means a certificate evidencing
ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit E.

     "Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified
as the "Property Trustee," in the Preamble to this Trust Agreement

                                       12


<PAGE>   13

solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and
continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in
interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as
herein provided.

     "Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Trust Security to be
redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust
Agreement; provided that each Debenture Redemption Date and the stated maturity
of the Debentures shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust
Securities.

     "Redemption Price" means, with respect to any Trust Security, the
Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions to the Redemption Date, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent
redemption of a Like Amount of Debentures, allocated on a pro rata basis (based
on Liquidation Amounts) among the Trust Securities.

     "Relevant Trustee" shall have the meaning specified in Section 810.

     "Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 504.

     "Securityholder" or "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Security
or Securities is registered in the Securities Register; any such Person is a
beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

     "Trust" means the Delaware business trust created and continued hereby and
identified on the cover page to this Trust Agreement.

     "Trust Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, as the
same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable
provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes
of this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and
govern this Trust Agreement and any such modification, amendment or supplement,
respectively.

     "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is
amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by
any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

     "Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures; (b) the rights of the Property
Trustee under the Guarantee; (c) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the
Payment Account; and (d) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing
and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held
by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.

     "Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred
Securities.

     "Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities
Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.

                                       13


<PAGE>   14



     "Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee
and the Administrative Trustees.

     "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of -
- -----------, 1997 among the Trust, the Depositor and the Underwriters named
therein.

                                   ARTICLE II
                             ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST

     SECTION 201.  NAME.

     The Trust created and continued hereby shall be known as "LAKELAND CAPITAL
TRUST," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative
Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the
other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may engage in the transactions
contemplated hereby, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf
of the Trust and sue and be sued.

     SECTION 202.  OFFICE OF DELAWARE TRUSTEE; PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

     The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is c/o FIRST
CHICAGO DELAWARE, INC., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, or such
other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by
written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor.  The principal
executive office of the Trust is c/o CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., 200 Washington
Square North, Fourth Floor, Lansing, Michigan 48933.

     SECTION 203.  INITIAL CONTRIBUTION OF TRUST PROPERTY; ORGANIZATIONAL
EXPENSES

     The Trustees acknowledge receipt in trust from the Depositor in connection
with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of $10, which constituted the
initial Trust Property.  The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the
Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse
such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee.  The Depositor shall
make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.

     SECTION 204.  ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

     On ----------, 1997, the Depositor and an Administrative Trustee, on
behalf of the Trust and pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement, executed  and
delivered the Underwriting Agreement.  Contemporaneously with the execution and
delivery of this Trust Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 502 and deliver in accordance
with the Underwriting Agreement, Preferred Securities Certificates, registered
in the name of the Persons entitled thereto, in an aggregate amount of
2,200,000 Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
$22,000,000 against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred
Securities of $22,000,000, which amount such Administrative Trustee shall
promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.  If the underwriters exercise their
Option and there is an Option Closing Date (as such terms are defined in the
Underwriting Agreement), then an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the
Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 502 and deliver in accordance
with the Underwriting Agreement,

                                       14


<PAGE>   15

additional Preferred Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the
Persons entitled thereto, in an aggregate amount of up to 330,000 Preferred
Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of up to $3,300,000 against
receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities equal to
the product of $10 multiplied by the number of Preferred Securities purchased
pursuant to the Option which amount such Administrative Trustee shall promptly
deliver to the Property Trustee.

     SECTION 205.  ISSUANCE OF THE COMMON SECURITIES; SUBSCRIPTION AND PURCHASE
OF DEBENTURES

     (a) Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust
Agreement, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 502 and deliver to the Depositor, Common Securities
Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount
of 68,041.20 Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of
$680,412 against payment by the Depositor of such amount. Contemporaneously
therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe
to and purchase from the Depositor Debentures, registered in the name of the
Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate principal
amount equal to $22,680,412, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for
such Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to
the Depositor the sum of $22,680,412.

     (b) If the underwriters exercise the Option and there is an Option Closing
Date, then an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in
accordance with Section 502 and deliver to the Depositor, additional Common
Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, in an
aggregate amount of up to 10,206.2 Common Securities having an aggregate
Liquidation Amount of up to $102,062 against payment by the Depositor of an
amount equal to the product of $10 multiplied by the number of additional
Common Securities purchased by the Depositor. Contemporaneously therewith, an
Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase
from the Depositor, Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee
on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount of up to
$3,402,062, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price of such Debentures, the
Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor an
amount equal to the sum of the amounts received from one of the Administrative
Trustees pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 205(b) and the last
sentence of Section 204.

     SECTION 206.  DECLARATION OF TRUST.

     The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the
Debentures; and (b) to engage in those activities necessary, convenient or
incidental thereto.  The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of
the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth
herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment.  The Property Trustee
hereby declares that it shall hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject
to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Securityholders.  The
Administrative Trustees shall  have all rights, powers and duties set forth
herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the
purposes of the Trust.  The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise
any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and
responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the

                                       15


<PAGE>   16

Administrative Trustees set forth herein.  The Delaware Trustee shall be one of
the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

     SECTION 207.  AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

     (a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with
the terms of this Trust Agreement.  Subject to the limitations set forth in
paragraph (b) of this Section 207 and Article VIII, and in accordance with the
following provisions (i) and (ii), the Administrative Trustees shall have the
authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the
Administrative Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express
or implied, otherwise granted to the Administrative Trustees under this Trust
Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without
limitation, the following:

          (i)  As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee,
               acting singly or jointly, shall have the power and authority to
               act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following
               matters:

                (A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;

                (B)  to cause the Trust to enter into, and to
                     execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, the
                     Expense Agreement and such other agreements or documents
                     as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the
                     purposes and function of the Trust;

                (C)  assisting in the registration of the
                     Preferred Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
                     amended, and under state securities or blue sky laws, and
                     the qualification of this Trust Agreement as a trust
                     indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

                (D)  assisting in the listing of the Preferred
                     Securities upon The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market
                     or such securities exchange or exchanges as shall be
                     determined by the Depositor and the registration of the
                     Preferred Securities under the Exchange Act, and the
                     preparation and filing of all periodic and other reports
                     and other documents pursuant to the foregoing;

                (E)  the sending of notices (other than
                     notices of default) and other information regarding the
                     Trust Securities and the Debentures to the Securityholders
                     in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

                (F)  the appointment of a Paying Agent,
                     Authenticating Agent and Securities Registrar in
                     accordance with this Trust Agreement;

                (G)  to the extent provided in this Trust
                     Agreement, the winding  up of the affairs of and
                     liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution
                     and filing of

                                       16


<PAGE>   17

                     the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of
                     State of the State of Delaware;

                (H)  to take all action that may be necessary
                     or appropriate  for the preservation and the continuation
                     of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and
                     privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of
                     the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in
                     which such existence is necessary to protect the limited
                     liability of the Holders of the Preferred Securities or to
                     enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the
                     Trust was created; and

                (I)  the taking of any action incidental to
                     the foregoing as the Administrative Trustees may from time
                     to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect
                     to the terms of this Trust Agreement for the benefit of
                     the Securityholders (without consideration of the effect
                     of any such action on any particular Securityholder).

          (ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall
               have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust
               with respect to the following matters:

                (A)  the establishment of the Payment Account;

                (B)  the receipt of the Debentures;

                (C)  the collection of interest, principal and
                     any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in
                     the Payment Account;

                (D)  the distribution of amounts owed to the
                     Securityholders in respect of the Trust Securities in
                     accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;

                (E)  the exercise of all of the rights, powers
                     and privileges of a holder of the Debentures;

                (F)  the sending of notices of default and
                     other information regarding the Trust Securities and the
                     Debentures to the Securityholders in accordance with this
                     Trust Agreement;

                (G)  the distribution of the Trust Property in
                     accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;

                (H)  to the extent provided in this Trust
                     Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and
                     liquidation of the Trust;

                (I)  after an Event of Default, the taking of
                     any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property
                     Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or
                     advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust

                                       17


<PAGE>   18

                     Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for
                     the benefit of the Securityholders (without consideration
                     of the effect of any such action on any particular
                     Securityholder);

                (J)  registering transfers of the Trust
                     Securities in accordance with this Trust Agreement; and

                (K)  except as otherwise provided in this
                     Section 207(a)(ii), the Property Trustee shall have none
                     of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the
                     Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 207(a)(i).

     (b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the
Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business,
activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated
hereby.  In particular, the Trustees shall not (i) acquire any investments or
engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement; (ii) sell,
assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of
any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Securityholders,
except as expressly provided herein; (iii) take any action that would cause the
Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United States
federal income tax purposes; (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or
issue any other debt; or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in
the placement of a Lien on any of the Trust Property.  The Administrative
Trustees shall defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time
claiming any Lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the
Trust or the Securityholders in their capacity as Securityholders.

     (c) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the
Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with
respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions
taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of
this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):

          (i)  the preparation and filing by the Trust with the
               Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a
               registration statement on the appropriate form in relation to
               the Preferred Securities and the Debentures, including any
               amendments thereto;

          (ii) the determination of the States in which to take
               appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part
               of the Preferred Securities and to do any and all such acts,
               other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the
               Trust, and advise the Trustees of actions they must take on
               behalf of the Trust, and prepare for execution and filing any
               documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of
               the Trust, as the Depositor deems necessary or advisable in
               order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States;

          (iii)the preparation for filing by the Trust and
               execution on behalf of the Trust of an application to The Nasdaq
               Stock

                                       18


<PAGE>   19

               Market's National Market or a national stock exchange or other
               organizations for listing upon notice of issuance of any
               Preferred Securities and to file or cause an Administrative
               Trustee to file thereafter with such exchange or organization
               such notifications and documents as may be necessary from time
               to time;

          (iv) the preparation for filing by the Trust with the
               Commission and the execution on behalf of the Trust of a
               registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration
               of the Preferred Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
               Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto;

          (v)  the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution
               and delivery of, the Underwriting Agreement providing for the
               sale of the Preferred Securities; and

          (vi) the taking of any other actions necessary or
               desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.

     (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative
Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to
operate the Trust so that the Trust shall not be deemed to be an "investment
company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, shall be
classified as a "grantor trust" and not as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the
Debentures shall be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States
federal income tax purposes. In this connection, subject to Section 1002, the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action,
not inconsistent with applicable law or this Trust Agreement, that each of the
Depositor and the Administrative Trustees determines in their discretion to be
necessary or desirable for such purposes.

     SECTION 208.  ASSETS OF TRUST.

     The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.

     SECTION 209.  TITLE TO TRUST PROPERTY.

     Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered
by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Securityholders in accordance
with this Trust Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                PAYMENT ACCOUNT

     SECTION 301.  PAYMENT ACCOUNT.

     (a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish
the Payment Account.  The Property Trustee and any agent of the Property
Trustee shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect
to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits and withdrawals from
the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and
other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall
be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account

                                       19


<PAGE>   20

for the exclusive benefit of the Securityholders and for distribution as herein
provided, including (and subject to) any priority of payments provided for
herein.

     (b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly
upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other
payments or proceeds with respect to, the Debentures.  Amounts held in the
Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending
distribution thereof.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION

     SECTION 401.  DISTRIBUTIONS.

     (a) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall
accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the
payment of Distributions.  Distributions shall accumulate from - -------------,
1997, and, except during any Extended Interest Payment Period with respect to
the Debentures, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30,
September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on September 30, 1997.
If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust
Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall
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 such date (each date on which distributions are payable in
accordance with this Section 401(a), a "Distribution Date").

     (b) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the
Trust Property.  The Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be at a rate
of ------% per annum of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities. The
amount of Distributions payable for any full period shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of Distributions
for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the number of days
elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30 day months.  During any Extended
Interest Payment Period with respect to the Debentures, Distributions on the
Preferred Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extended
Interest Payment Period.  The amount of Distributions payable for any period
shall include the Additional Amounts, if any

     (c) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Property
Trustee solely from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each
Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and
immediately available by 12:30 p.m. on each Distribution Date in the Payment
Account for the payment of such Distributions.

     (d) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution
Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities
Register for the Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be
the 15th day of the month in which the Distribution is payable.

                                       20


<PAGE>   21



     SECTION 402.  REDEMPTION.

     (a) On each Debenture Redemption Date and on the stated maturity of the
Debentures, the Trust shall be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust
Securities at the Redemption Price.

     (b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed, at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register.  The
Property Trustee shall have no responsibility for the accuracy of any CUSIP
number contained in such notice.  All notices of redemption shall state:

          (i)   the Redemption Date;

          (ii)  the Redemption Price;

          (iii) the CUSIP number;

          (iv)  if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are
                to be redeemed, the identification and the aggregate Liquidation
                Amount of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and

          (v)   that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price
                shall become due and payable upon each such Trust Security to be
                redeemed and that Distributions thereon shall cease to
                accumulate on and after said date

     (c) The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be
redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of Debentures.  Redemptions of the Trust Securities shall be made
and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the
extent that the Trust has immediately available funds then on hand and
available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.

     (d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any
Preferred Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
Redemption Date, subject to Section 402(c), the Property Trustee shall deposit
with the Paying Agent funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price
and shall give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay
the Redemption Price to the Holders thereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust
Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust
Securities as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities
on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of
redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the
date of such deposit, all rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities so
called for redemption shall cease, except the right of such Securityholders to
receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable on or prior to the
Redemption Date, but without interest, and such Trust Securities shall cease to
be Outstanding.  In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is
payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on
such date shall 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 such date.  In the event that payment

                                       21


<PAGE>   22

of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities called for
redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust
or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Trust
Securities shall continue to accumulate, at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust Securities
to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual
payment date shall be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating
the Redemption Price.

     (e) Payment of the Redemption Price on the Trust Securities shall be made
to the record holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the
Trust Securities on the relevant record date, which shall be the date 15 days
prior to the relevant Redemption Date.

     (f) Subject to Section 403(a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust
Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated on a
pro rata basis (based on Liquidation Amounts) among the Common Securities and
the Preferred Securities.  The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed
shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the
Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously
called for redemption, by such method (including, without limitation, by lot)
as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide
for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the Liquidation Amount
or an integral multiple thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred
Securities of a denomination larger than such Liquidation Amount.  The Property
Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar 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 this Trust Agreement, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred
Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to
be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred
Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

     SECTION 403.  SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES.

     (a) Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable)
on, and the Redemption Price of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be
made, subject to Section 402(f), pro rata among the Common Securities and the
Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities;
provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date any
Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including
Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or Redemption Price of, any Common
Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or
other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in
cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts,
if applicable) on all 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 Outstanding
Preferred Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or
provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including
Additional Amounts, if applicable) on, or the Redemption Price of, Preferred
Securities then due and payable.

                                       22


<PAGE>   23



     (b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default resulting from a
Debenture Event of Default, the Holder of Common Securities shall be deemed to
have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under
this Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with
respect to the Preferred Securities shall have been cured, waived or otherwise
eliminated.  Until any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement with
respect to the Preferred Securities shall have been so cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and not the Holder of the Common
Securities, and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.

     SECTION 404.  PAYMENT PROCEDURES.

     Payments of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) in
respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Securities Register.  Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be
made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee
and the Common Securityholder.

     SECTION 405.  TAX RETURNS AND REPORTS.

     The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at
the Depositor's expense, and file all United States federal, state and local
tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect
of the Trust.  In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare
and file (or cause to be prepared and filed) the appropriate Internal Revenue
Service form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year
of the Trust; and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and
furnished) to each Securityholder the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form
required to be furnished to such Securityholder or the information required to
be provided on such form.  The Administrative Trustees shall provide the
Depositor with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such
filing or furnishing.  The Property Trustee shall comply with United States
federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting
requirements with respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust
Securities.

     SECTION 406.  PAYMENT OF TAXES, DUTIES, ETC. OF TRUST.

     Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Payments, the Property
Trustee, at the direction of an Administrative Trustee or the Depositor, shall
promptly pay any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatsoever nature
(other than withholding taxes) imposed on the Trust by the United States or any
other taxing authority.

     SECTION 407.  PAYMENTS UNDER INDENTURE.

     Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities shall
be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder has directly
received under the Indenture pursuant to Section 514(b) or (c) hereof.

                                       23


<PAGE>   24


                                   ARTICLE V
                                TRUST SECURITIES

     SECTION 501.  INITIAL OWNERSHIP.

     Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor
pursuant to Section 203 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at
any time during which no Trust Securities are outstanding, the Depositor shall
be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.

     SECTION 502.  TRUST SECURITIES

     The Preferred Securities shall be issued in minimum denominations of the
Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of such Liquidation Amount in excess
thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in
denominations of the Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof.

     The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the
Trust by manual signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Trust
Securities Certificates bearing the manual signatures of individuals who were,
at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on
behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of
this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them
shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust
Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of
such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities
Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights
and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due
registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name
pursuant to Sections 504, 511 and 513.
        
     SECTION 503.  EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF TRUST SECURITIES

     (a) On the Closing Date and on the date on which the Underwriter exercises
the Option, as applicable (the "Option Closing Date"), the Administrative
Trustees shall cause Trust Securities, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as
provided in Sections 204 and 205, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by at
least one of the Administrative Trustees and delivered to or upon the written
order of the Depositor, signed by its Chief Executive Officer, President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer without further
corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.

     (b) A Preferred Securities Certificate shall not be valid until
authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the
Property Trustee.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the
Preferred Securities Certificate has been authenticated under this Trust
Agreement.  Each Preferred Security Certificate shall be dated the date of its
authentication.

     (c) Upon the written order of the Trust signed by the Administrative
Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery the Preferred Securities Certificates.

     (d) The Property Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent acceptable to
the Trust to authenticate the Preferred Securities.  An Authenticating Agent
may authenticate the Preferred Securities whenever the Property Trustee may do
so.  Each reference in this Trust Agreement to authentication by the Property
Trustee includes authentication by such agent.
An Authenticating Agent has the same rights as the Property Trustee to deal
with the Depositor or the Trust.

     SECTION 504.  REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED
SECURITIES CERTIFICATES

     (a) The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 508, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of
Preferred Securities Certificates (herein referred to as the "Securities
Register") in which the registrar designated by the Depositor

                                       24


<PAGE>   25

(the "Securities Registrar"), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may
prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities
Certificates and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 510 in the
case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and
exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided.  The
Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar.

     (b) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred
Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section
508, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver,
in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new
Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount dated the date of execution by such Administrative
Trustee or Trustees.  The Securities Registrar shall not be required to
register the transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for
redemption.  At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may
be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized
denominations of the same class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon
surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the
office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 508.

     (c) Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Property Trustee and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.  Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and subsequently
disposed of by the Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practice.
The Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or
exchange any Preferred Securities during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 calendar days before the date of mailing of a notice of redemption
of any Preferred Securities called for redemption and ending at the close of
business on the day of such mailing; or (ii) register the transfer of or
exchange any Preferred Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in
part, except the unredeemed portion of any such Preferred Securities being
redeemed in part.

     (d) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred
Securities Certificates.

         The Depositor shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency
maintained pursuant to Section 508, a register or registers for the purpose of
registering Trust Securities Certificates and transfers and exchanges of
Preferred Securities Certificates (herein referred to as the "Securities
Register") in which the registrar designated by the Depositor (the "Securities
Registrar"), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall
provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common
Securities Certificates (subject to Section 510 in the case of the Common
Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of
Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall
be the initial Securities Registrar.

         Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities
Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 508, the
Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute and deliver, in the
name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred
Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate
Liquidation Amount dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or
Trustees. The Securities Registrar shall not be required to register the
transfer of any Preferred Securities that have been called for redemption. At
the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for
other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of the same
class and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred
Securities Certificates to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained
pursuant to Section 508.

         Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange shall be accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Property Trustee and the
Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized
in writing. Each Preferred Securities Certificate surrendered for registration
of transfer or exchange shall be canceled and subsequently disposed of by the
Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practice. The Trust shall not
be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Preferred
Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 calendar days
before the date of mailing of a notice of redemption of any Preferred Securities
called for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such
mailing or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred Securities so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any such Preferred Securities being redeemed in part.

         No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred
Securities Certificates.

     SECTION 505.  MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN TRUST SECURITIES
CERTIFICATES.

         If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities certificate shall be surrendered
to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive
evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust
Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities
Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice
that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the
Trust shall execute and make available for delivery, in exchange for or in lieu
of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a
new Trust Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination. In
connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this
Section, the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that
may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Trust Securities
Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence
of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, as if originally
issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities
Certificate shall be found at any time.


                                       25


<PAGE>   26
     SECTION 506.  PERSONS DEEMED SECURITYHOLDERS.

     The Trustees, the Paying Agent and the Securities Registrar shall treat
the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered
in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate
for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes
whatsoever, and neither the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall be
bound by any notice to the contrary.

     SECTION 507.  ACCESS TO LIST OF SECURITYHOLDERS' NAMES AND
ADDRESSES.

     At any time when the Property Trustee is not also acting as the Securities
Registrar, the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish or cause
to be furnished to the Property Trustee (a) semi-annually on or before January
15 and July 15 in each year, a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of the
most recent record date; and (b) promptly after receipt by any Administrative
Trustee or the Depositor of a request therefor from the Property Trustee in
order to enable the Property Trustee to discharge its obligations under this
Trust Agreement, in each case to the extent such information is in the
possession or control of the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor and is
not identical to a previously supplied list or has not otherwise been received
by the Property Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.  The rights of
Securityholders to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their
rights under this Trust Agreement or under the Trust Securities, and the
corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture
Act.  Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, and
each owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold the Depositor, the
Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the
disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such
information was derived.

     SECTION 508.  MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

     The Administrative Trustees shall maintain in a location or locations
designated by the Administrative Trustees, an office or offices or agency or
agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon
the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The
Administrative Trustees initially designate the Corporate Trust Office of the
Property Trustee, Two International Place, 4th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts
02110, as the principal corporate trust office for such purposes.  The
Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and
to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register
or any such office or agency.

                                       26


<PAGE>   27
     SECTION 509.  APPOINTMENT OF PAYING AGENT.

     The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and any
co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee, and acceptable to the
Administrative Trustees and the Depositor.  The Paying Agent shall make
Distributions to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the
amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative
Trustees.  Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds
from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions referred
to above.  The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the
Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the
Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement in any material respect.  Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be
permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the
Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Depositor.  In the event
that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor
Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the
Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is acceptable to the
Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a
bank or trust company).  The Administrative Trustees shall cause such successor
Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative
Trustees to execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such
successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees
that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent
shall hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in
trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums
shall be paid to such Securityholders.  The Paying Agent shall return all
unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and, upon removal of a Paying Agent,
such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property
Trustee.  The provisions of Sections 801, 803 and 806 shall apply to the
Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property
Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other
paying agent appointed hereunder.  Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the
Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires
otherwise.

     SECTION 510.  OWNERSHIP OF COMMON SECURITIES BY DEPOSITOR.

     On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and
record ownership of the Common Securities.  To the fullest extent permitted by
law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities (other than a transfer in
connection with a merger or consolidation of the Depositor into another
corporation pursuant to Section 12.1 of the Indenture) shall be void. The
Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued
to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT
TRANSFERABLE"

     SECTION 511.  BOOK-ENTRY PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES; COMMON
                   SECURITIES  CERTIFICATE.

                  (a) The Preferred Securities Certificates, upon original
issuance, will be issued in the form of a typewritten Preferred Securities
Certificate or Certificates representing Book-Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates, to be delivered to or held on behalf of the Depositary Trust
Company, the initial Clearing Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such
Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate or Certificates shall initially be
registered on the Securities Register in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of
the initial Clearing Agency, and no beneficial owner will receive a Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificate representing such beneficial owner's interest
in such Preferred Securities, except as provided in Section 513, unless and
until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates have been issued to
beneficial owners pursuant to Section 513:

                           (i) the provisions of this Section 511(a) shall be in
full force and effect;

                           (ii) the Securities Registrar, the Paying Agent and
the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes
of this Trust Agreement relating to the Book Entry Preferred Securities
Certificates (including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and
Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities) as the sole Holder of
Book-Entry Preferred Securities and shall have no obligations to the Owners
thereof;

                           (iii) to the extent that the provisions of this
Section 511 conflict with any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, the
provisions of this Section 511 shall control; and

                           (iv) the rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry
Preferred Securities Certificates shall be exercised only through the Clearing
Agency and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between
such Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants.
Pursuant to the Certificate Depository Agreement, unless and until Definitive
Preferred Securities Certificates are issued pursuant to Section 513, the
initial Clearing Agency will make book-entry transfers among the Clearing Agency
Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities to
such Clearing Agency Participants. Any Clearing Agency designated pursuant
hereto will not be deemed an agent of the Trustees for any purpose.

                  (b) A single Common Securities Certificate representing the
Common Securities shall be issued to the Depositor in the form of a definitive
Common Securities Certificate.

                                       27


<PAGE>   28
     SECTION 512.  NOTICES TO CLEARING AGENCY.

     To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is
required under this Trust Agreement, unless and until Definitive Preferred
Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section
513, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications specified
herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no
obligations to the Owners.


     SECTION 513.  DEFINITIVE PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATES.

     If (a) the Depositor advises the Trustees in writing that the Clearing
Agency is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities
with respect to the Preferred Securities Certificates, and the Depositor is
unable to locate a qualified successor, or if at any time the Depositary ceases
to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, at a time when the Depositary is required to be so registered to act as
such depositary, (b) the Depositor at its option advises the Trustees in writing
that it elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency,
or (c) after the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default, owners of Preferred
Securities Certificates representing beneficial interests aggregating at least a
majority of the Liquidation Amount advise the Property Trustee in writing that
the continuation of a book-entry system through the Clearing Agency is no longer
in the best interests of the owners of Preferred Securities Certificates, then
the Property Trustee shall notify the Clearing Agency, and the Clearing Agency
shall notify all Owners of Preferred Securities Certificates, of the occurrence
of any such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities
Certificates to owners of such class or classes, as applicable, requesting the
same. Upon surrender to the Property Trustee of the typewritten Preferred
Securities Certificate or Certificates representing the Book-Entry Preferred
Securities Certificates by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration
instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the
Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions
of the Clearing Agency. Neither the Securities Registrar nor the Trustees shall
be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively
rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions. Upon the
issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall
recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as
Securityholders. The Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall be
printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is
reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by the
execution thereof by the Administrative Trustees or any one of them.

     SECTION 514.  RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

     (a)   The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the
Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 209, and
the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the
undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their
Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or
division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below.
The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights
specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement.  The Trust
Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights.  When issued and
delivered to Holders of the Preferred Securities against payment of the
purchase price therefor, the Preferred Securities shall be fully paid and
nonassessable interests in the Trust.  The Holders of the Preferred Securities,
in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of
personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

     (b) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a
Debenture Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare
the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the
Holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then
Outstanding shall have such right by a notice in writing to the Depositor and
the Debenture Trustee; and upon any such declaration such principal amount of
and the accrued interest on all of the Debentures shall become immediately due
and payable, provided that the payment of principal and interest on such
Debentures shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in the Indenture.

     (c) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if, upon a
Debenture Event of Default arising from the failure to pay interest or
principal on the Debentures, the Holders of any Preferred Securities then
Outstanding shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, have the right to
directly institute proceedings for enforcement of payment to such Holders of
principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holders.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                   ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING

     SECTION 601.  LIMITATIONS ON VOTING RIGHTS.

     (a) Except as provided in this Section 601, in Sections 514, 810 and 1002
and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of

                                       28


<PAGE>   29

Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise
control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the
obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or
contained in the terms of the Trust Securities Certificates, be construed so as
to constitute the Securityholders from time to time as partners or members of
an association.

     (b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, the
Trustees shall not (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 Debenture Trustee with respect to such
Debentures; (ii) waive any past default which is waivable under Article VII of
the Indenture; (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that
the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable; or (iv) consent
to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a majority in
Liquidation Amount of all Outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
Holder of outstanding Debentures affected thereby, no such consent shall be
given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each holder
of Preferred Securities.  The Trustees shall not revoke any action previously
authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Outstanding Preferred
Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities.  The Property Trustee shall notify each Holder of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities of any notice of default received from the
Debenture Trustee with respect to the 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 shall, at the expense of the
Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that the Trust shall continue to be classified as a grantor trust and
not as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income
tax purposes on account of such action.

     (c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the
Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely
affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the
Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Trust Agreement or
otherwise; or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust,
other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of
Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class shall be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of the Holders of at least a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities.  No amendment to this Trust
Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, the Trust would cease
to be classified as a grantor trust or would be classified as an association
taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

     SECTION 602.  NOTICE OF MEETINGS.

     Notice of all meetings of the Preferred Securityholders, stating the time,
place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee
pursuant to Section 1008 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at his
registered address, at least 15 days and not more than 90 days before the
meeting.  At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting

                                       29


<PAGE>   30
may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting.  Any
adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

     SECTION 603.  MEETINGS OF PREFERRED SECURITYHOLDERS.

     (a) No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held.  The
Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to
vote on any matter in respect of which Preferred Securityholders are entitled
to vote upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of 25% of the
Outstanding Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation
Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any
time in their discretion, call a meeting of Preferred Securityholders to vote
on any matters as to which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote.

     (b) Preferred Securityholders of record of 50% of the Outstanding
Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount), present
in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of
Securityholders.

     (c) If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the
Preferred Securityholders of record present, in person or by proxy, holding
more than a majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their aggregate
Liquidation Amount) held by the Preferred Securityholders of record present,
either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of
the Securityholders, unless this Trust Agreement requires a greater number of
affirmative votes.

     SECTION 604.  VOTING RIGHTS.

     Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each dollar value of
Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any
matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote (and such dollar
value shall be $10 per Preferred Security until such time, if any, as the
Liquidation Amount is changed as provided herein).

     SECTION 605.  PROXIES, ETC.

     At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholder entitled to vote 
thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting
unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or
with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees
may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be
taken. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several persons, any one of
them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust
Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in
person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree
as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such
Trust Securities.  A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a
Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its
exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No
proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution.

                                       30


<PAGE>   31


     SECTION 606.  SECURITYHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.

     Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken
without a meeting if Securityholders holding more than a majority of all
Outstanding Trust Securities (based upon their aggregate Liquidation Amount)
entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof
as shall be required by any express provision of this Trust Agreement) shall
consent to the action in writing (based upon their aggregate Liquidation
Amount).

     SECTION 607.  RECORD DATE FOR VOTING AND OTHER PURPOSES.

     For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to
notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to participate
in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date
is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of
any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date,
not more than 90 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or
the payment of Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record
date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for
such purposes.

     SECTION 608.  ACTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

     (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made
or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more
instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in
person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such
instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee.  Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders
signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such
instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for
any purpose of this Trust Agreement and (subject to Section 801) conclusive in
favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section 608.

     (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such
execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by
law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing
such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where
such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or
writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved
in any other manner which any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.

     (c) The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the
Securities Register.

     (d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every
future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder

                                       31


<PAGE>   32

of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in
exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or
suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether
or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.

     (e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to
take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do
so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust
Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so
pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation
Amount.

     (f) A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined
in the Guarantee), the Trust or any Person.

     SECTION 609.  INSPECTION OF RECORDS.

     Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property
Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection and copying by
Securityholders and their authorized representatives during normal business
hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a
Securityholder.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     SECTION 701.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BANK AND PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

     The Bank and the Property Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to
itself, as of the date hereof, and each successor Property Trustee at the time
of the successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Property
Trustee hereunder (the term "Bank" being used to refer to such successor
Property Trustee in its separate corporate capacity) hereby represents and
warrants (as applicable) for the benefit of the Depositor and the
Securityholders that:

     (a) the Bank is a trust company duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts;

     (b) the Bank has full corporate power, authority and legal right to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has
taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
by it of this Trust Agreement;

     (c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Property Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement
of the Property Trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors, rights and to general equity principles;

     (d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate

                                       32


<PAGE>   33

or other action on the part of the Property Trustee and does not require any
approval of stockholders of the Bank and such execution, delivery and
performance shall not (i) violate the Bank's charter or by-laws; (ii) violate
any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse of time, a
default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien on any
properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of, any
indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument
to which the Property Trustee or the Bank is a party or by which it is bound;
or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States
or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as the case may be, governing the banking
or trust powers of the Bank or the Property Trustee (as appropriate in context)
or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the
Bank;

     (e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property
Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions
by the Property Trustee contemplated herein or therein requires the consent or
approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of
any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any
existing federal law governing the banking or trust powers of the Bank or the
Property Trustee, as the case may be, under the laws of the United States or
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

     (f) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Property
Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Bank or the Property
Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or
arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would
materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power
and authority of the Property Trustee to enter into or perform its obligations
as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.

     SECTION 702.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DELAWARE PERSON AND 
DELAWARE TRUSTEE.

     The Delaware Person and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of
and as to itself, as of the date hereof, and each successor Delaware Trustee at
the time of the successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of appointment as
Delaware Trustee hereunder (the term "Delaware Person" being used to refer to
such successor Delaware Trustee in its separate corporate capacity), hereby
represents and warrants (as applicable) for the benefit of the Depositor and
the Securityholders that:

     (a) the Delaware Person is a Delaware corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

     (b) the Delaware Person has full corporate power, authority and legal
right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust
Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution,
delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;

     (c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the valid and legally binding agreement
of the Delaware Trustee enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general

                                       33


<PAGE>   34

applicability relating to or affecting creditors, rights and to general equity
principles;

     (d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of
this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or
other action on the part of the Delaware Trustee and does not require any
approval of stockholders of the Delaware Person and such execution, delivery
and performance shall not (i) violate the Delaware Person's charter or by-laws;
(ii) violate any provision of, or constitute, with or without notice or lapse
of time, a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of, any Lien
on any properties included in the Trust Property pursuant to the provisions of,
any indenture, mortgage, credit agreement, license or other agreement or
instrument to which the Delaware Person or the Delaware Trustee is a party or
by which it is bound; or (iii) violate any law, governmental rule or regulation
of the United States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing
the banking or trust powers of the Delaware Person or the Delaware Trustee (as
appropriate in context) or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the
Delaware Person or the Delaware Trustee;

     (e) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Delaware
Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions
by the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein or therein requires the consent or
approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of
any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any
existing federal law governing the banking or trust powers of the Delaware
Person or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, under the laws of the
United States or the State of Delaware; and

     (f) there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Delaware
Trustee's knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Delaware Person or the
Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or
arbitration board or tribunal which, individually or in the aggregate, would
materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power
and authority of the Delaware Trustee to enter into or perform its obligations
as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.

     SECTION 703.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DEPOSITOR.

     The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the
Securityholders that:

     (a) the Trust Securities Certificates issued on the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, if applicable, on behalf of the Trust have been duly
authorized and shall be, as of such date or dates, if applicable, duly and
validly executed, issued and delivered by the Administrative Trustees pursuant
to the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of,
this Trust Agreement and the Securityholders shall be, as of such date or
dates, if applicable, entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement; and

     (b) there are no taxes, fees or other governmental charges payable by the
Trust (or the Trustees on behalf of the Trust) under the laws of the State of
Delaware Person or any political subdivision thereof in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance by the Bank, the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, of this Trust Agreement.

                                       34


<PAGE>   35


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                    TRUSTEES

     SECTION 801.  CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

     (a) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided
by this Trust Agreement and, in the case of the Property Trustee, by the Trust
Indenture Act.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust
Agreement shall require the Trustees to expend or risk their own funds or
otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their
duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers, if they
shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or
adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to
it.  No Administrative Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be liable for its
act or omissions hereunder except as a result of its own gross negligence or
willful misconduct.  The Property Trustee's liability shall be determined under
the Trust Indenture Act.  Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every
provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the
liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the
provisions of this Section 801.  To the extent that, at law or in equity, the
Delaware Trustee or an Administrative Trustee has duties (including fiduciary
duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to the
Securityholders, the Delaware Trustee or such Administrative Trustee shall not
be liable to the Trust or to any Securityholder for such Trustee's good faith
reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement.  The provisions of this
Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees otherwise existing at law
or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Securityholders to replace
such other duties and liabilities of the Delaware Trustee and the
Administrative Trustees, as the case may be.

     (b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect
of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from
the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient
revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property  Trustee or
a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof.  With
respect to the relationship of each Securityholder and the Trustee, each
Securityholder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it shall
look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent
legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the
Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in
respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any
Trust Security.  This Section 801(b) does not limit the liability of the
Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement or, in the case
of the Property Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act.

     (c) No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the
Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

          (i)  the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
               error of judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of
               the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the
               Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
               facts;

                                       35


<PAGE>   36



          (ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect
               to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
               in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than
               a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities
               relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
               proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or
               exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
               Trustee under this Trust Agreement;

         (iii) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
               custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the
               Debentures and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such
               property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with
               similar property for its own account, subject to the protections
               and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee
               under this Trust Agreement and the Trust Indenture Act;

          (iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any
               interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise
               agree with the Depositor and money held by the Property Trustee
               need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in
               relation to the Payment Account maintained by the Property
               Trustee pursuant to Section 301 and except to the extent
               otherwise required by law; and

          (v)  the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for
               monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the
               Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust
               Agreement, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for the
               negligence, default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees
               or the Depositor.

     SECTION 802.  CERTAIN NOTICES.

     (a) Within 5 Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1008, notice of such Event of
Default to the Securityholders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. For purposes of
this Section 802 the term "Event of Default" means any event that is, or after
notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

     (b) The Administrative Trustees shall transmit to the Securityholders, in
the manner and to the extent provided in Section 1008, notice of the
Depositor's election to begin or further extend an Extended Interest Payment
Period on the Debentures (unless such election shall have been revoked) within
the time specified for transmitting such notice to the holders of the
Debentures pursuant to the Indenture as originally executed.

     SECTION 803.  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

     Subject to the provisions of Section 801:

                                       36


<PAGE>   37



     (a) the Property Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel,
certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of
auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other
evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be
genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

     (b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action;
or (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the
Property Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with other provisions
contained herein; or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of
any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to
which the Preferred Securityholders are entitled to vote under the terms of
this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the
Depositor requesting written instructions of the Depositor as to the course of
action to be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain
from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing
to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided, however, that
if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor
within 10 Business Days after it has delivered such notice, or such reasonably
shorter period of time set forth in such notice (which to the extent
practicable shall not be less than 2 Business Days), it may, but shall be under
no duty to, take or refrain from taking such action not inconsistent with this
Trust Agreement as it shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Securityholders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct;

     (c) any direction or act of the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees
contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an
Officers' Certificate;

     (d) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement, the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be established before
undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee
(unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence
of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's
Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by
the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees;

     (e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or
continuation statement, any filing under tax or securities laws or any filing
under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration
thereof;

     (f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel of its choice (which
counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates) and the
advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good
faith and in reliance thereon and, in accordance with such advice, such counsel
may be counsel to the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any
of its employees; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any
court of competent jurisdiction;

                                       37

<PAGE>   38



     (g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Trust Agreement,
unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Property Trustee
reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

     (h) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into
the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond,
debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Securityholders, but the
Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts
or matters as it may see fit;

     (i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder
or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or
attorneys, provided that the Property Trustee shall be responsible for its own
negligence or recklessness with respect to selection of any agent or attorney
appointed by it hereunder;

     (j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property
Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder the Property
Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Trust Securities
which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in
Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the
Property Trustee under the terms of the Trust Securities in respect of such
remedy, right or action; (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right
or taking such other action until such instructions are received; and (iii)
shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and

     (k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the
Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is
discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement.  No provision of
this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the
Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty
or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall
be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts,
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.  No permissive power
or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

     SECTION 804.  NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

     The Recitals contained herein and in the Trust Securities Certificates
shall be taken as the statements of the Trust, and the Trustees do not assume
any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustees shall not be
accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the
Debentures.

                                       38


<PAGE>   39


     SECTION 805.  MAY HOLD SECURITIES.

     Any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its
individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust
Securities and, subject to Sections 808 and 813 and except as provided in the
definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article I, may otherwise deal with the
Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other
agent.

     SECTION 806.  COMPENSATION; INDEMNITY; FEES.

     The Depositor agrees:

     (a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time reasonable compensation for
all services rendered by them hereunder (which compensation shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of
an express trust);

     (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust
Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct (or, in the case of the Administrative Trustees
or the Delaware Trustee, any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its, his or her gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct); and

     (c) to indemnify each of the Trustees or any predecessor Trustee for, and
to hold the Trustees harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability,
penalty or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part,
arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this
Trust Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against
any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of
its powers or duties hereunder, except any such expense, disbursement or
advance as may be attributable to such Trustee's negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct (or, in the case of the Administrative Trustees or the
Delaware Trustee, any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its, his or her gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct).

     No Trustee may claim any Lien or charge on Trust Property as a result of
any amount due pursuant to this Section 806.

     SECTION 807.  CORPORATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY OF
TRUSTEES.

     (a) There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect
to the Trust Securities.  The Property Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined
capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.  If any such Person publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this
Section 807, the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to
be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.  If at any time the Property Trustee with

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<PAGE>   40

respect to the Trust Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
the provisions of this Section 807, it shall resign immediately in the manner
and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII.

     (b) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees
hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities.  Each Administrative Trustee
shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal
entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that
entity.

     (c) There shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities.  The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person
who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware; or
(ii) a legal entity with its principal place of business in the State of
Delaware Person and that otherwise meets the requirements of applicable
Delaware law that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such
entity.

     SECTION 808.  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

     If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within
the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either
eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by,
and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Trust
Agreement.

     SECTION 809.  CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE TRUSTEE.

     (a) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be 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 may at the time be located, the Depositor shall have power to appoint,
and upon the written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall for
such purpose join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and
performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or proper to appoint,
one or more Persons approved by the Property Trustee either to act as
co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust
Property, or to the extent required by law to act as separate trustee of any
such 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 the
capacity aforesaid, any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or
desirable, subject to the other provisions of this Section 809. If the
Depositor does not join in such appointment within 15 days after the receipt by
it of a request so to do, or in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make such
appointment.  Any co-trustee or separate trustee appointed pursuant to this
Section 809 shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of
age and a resident of the United States; or (ii) a legal entity with its
principal place of business in the United States that shall act through one or
more persons authorized to bind such entity.

     (b) Should any written instrument from the Depositor be required by any
co-trustee or separate trustee so appointed for more fully confirming to such
co-trustee or separate trustee such property, title, right, or power, any and
all such instruments shall, on request, be executed, acknowledged, and
delivered by the Depositor.

                                       40


<PAGE>   41
     (c) Every co-trustee or separate trustee shall, to the extent permitted by
law, but to such extent only, be appointed subject to the following terms,
namely:

          (i)  The Trust Securities shall be executed and delivered
               and all rights, powers, duties and obligations hereunder in
               respect of the custody of securities, cash and other personal
               property held by, or required to be deposited or pledged with,
               the Trustees specified hereunder, shall be exercised, solely by
               such Trustees and not by such co-trustee or separate trustee.

          (ii) The rights, powers, duties and obligations hereby
               conferred or imposed upon the Property Trustee in respect of any
               property covered by such appointment shall be conferred or
               imposed upon and exercised or performed by the Property Trustee
               or by the Property Trustee and such co-trustee or separate
               trustee jointly, as shall be provided in the instrument
               appointing such co-trustee or separate trustee, except to the
               extent that under any law of any jurisdiction in which any
               articular act is to be performed, the Property Trustee shall be
               incompetent or unqualified to perform such act, in which event
               such rights, powers, duties and obligations shall be exercised
               and performed by such co-trustee or separate trustee.

         (iii) The Property Trustee at any time, by an instrument
               in writing executed by it, with the written concurrence of the
               Depositor, may accept the resignation of or remove any
               co-trustee or separate trustee appointed under this Section 809,
               and, in case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
               continuing, the Property Trustee shall have the power to accept
               the resignation of, or remove, any such co-trustee or separate
               trustee without the concurrence of the Depositor.  Upon the
               written request of the Property Trustee, the Depositor shall
               join with the Property Trustee in the execution, delivery and
               performance of all instruments and agreements necessary or
               proper to effectuate such resignation or removal.  A successor
               to any co-trustee or separate trustee so resigned or removed may
               be appointed in the manner provided in this Section 809.

          (iv) No co-trustee or separate trustee hereunder shall be
               personally liable by reason of any act or omission of the
               Property Trustee or any other trustee hereunder.

          (v)  The Property Trustee shall not be liable by reason of
               any act of a co-trustee or separate trustee.

          (vi) Any Act of Holders delivered to the Property Trustee
               shall be deemed to have been delivered to each such co-trustee
               and separate trustee.

     SECTION 810.  RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

     (a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and
no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VIII shall

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<PAGE>   42

become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee
in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 811.

     (b) Subject to the immediately preceding paragraph, the Relevant Trustee
may resign at any time with respect to the Trust Securities by giving written
notice thereof to the Securityholders.  If the instrument of acceptance by the
successor Trustee required by Section 811 shall not have been delivered to the
Relevant Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation,
the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Depositor, any court
of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee
with respect to the Trust Securities.

     (c) Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Common
Securityholder.  If a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may
be removed at such time by Act of the Holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its
individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust).  An Administrative Trustee may
be removed by the Common Securityholder at any time.

     (d) If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting
as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any
cause, at a time when no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder
delivered to the retiring Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee
or Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, and the
successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 811.
If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or
become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when a Debenture Event of Default shall
have occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securityholders, by Act of the
Securityholders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities
then Outstanding delivered to the retiring Relevant Trustee, shall promptly
appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Trust
Securities and the Trust, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 811.  If an Administrative Trustee shall
resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, at
a time when a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
the Common Securityholder, by Act of the Common Securityholder delivered to an
Administrative Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative
Trustee or Administrative Trustees with respect to the Trust Securities and the
Trust, and such successor Administrative Trustee or Administrative Trustees
shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 811.  If no successor
Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities shall have been so
appointed by the Common Securityholder or the Preferred Securityholders and
accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 811, any Securityholder
who has been a Securityholder of Trust Securities on behalf of himself and all
others similarly situated may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust
Securities.

     (e) The Property Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each
removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all
Securityholders in the manner provided in Section 1008 and shall give notice

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<PAGE>   43

to the Depositor.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant
Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property
Trustee.

     (f) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this trust
Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is
a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Depositor, incompetent
or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity
may be filled by (a) the unanimous act of remaining Administrative Trustees if
there are at least two of them; or (b) otherwise by the Depositor (with the
successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement
for Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 807)

     SECTION 811.  ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

     (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee
with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust, the retiring Relevant
Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Trust
Securities shall execute and deliver an instrument hereto wherein each
successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the
Trust Securities and the Trust and upon the execution and delivery of such
instrument the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor
Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant
Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust; but, on request of
the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee such retiring Relevant Trustee
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all
Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant
Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.

     (b) Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall
execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and
confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and
trusts referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

     (c) No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at
the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified
and eligible under this Article VIII.

     SECTION 812.  MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

     Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee 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 Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant Trustee
hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and

                                       43


<PAGE>   44

eligible under this Article VIII, without the execution or filing of any paper
or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

     SECTION 813.  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST DEPOSITOR OR
TRUST.

     If and when the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be or
become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the
Debentures or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be, shall be subject to and shall take all actions
necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act
regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such
other obligor)

     SECTION 814.  REPORTS BY PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

     (a) The Property Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders such reports
concerning the Property Trustee, its actions under this Trust Agreement and the
property and funds in its possession as Property Trustee as may be required
pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided
pursuant thereto.

     (b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Property Trustee with The Nasdaq Stock Market's
National Market, and each national securities exchange or other organization
upon which the Trust Securities are listed, and also with the Commission and
the Depositor.

     SECTION 815.  REPORTS TO PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

     The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall
provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance
certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form,
in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act.

     SECTION 816.  EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

     Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with
any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Trust Agreement that
relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act.  Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to
Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate.

     SECTION 817.  NUMBER OF TRUSTEES.

     (a) The number of Trustees shall be five, provided that the Holder of all
of the Common Securities by written instrument may increase or decrease the
number of Administrative Trustees.  The Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee may be the same Person.

     (b) If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Administrative Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 817(a), or if the
number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 817(a), a vacancy

                                       44

<PAGE>   45

shall occur.  The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in
accordance with Section 810.

     (c) The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence
or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul the
Trust.  Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall
occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative
Trustee in accordance with Section 810, the Administrative Trustees in office,
regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees
and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by
this Trust Agreement.

     SECTION 818.  DELEGATION OF POWER.

     (a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
207(a); and

     (b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to
time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things and
the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names
of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative Trustees may
deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable
law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.

     SECTION 819.  VOTING.

     Except as otherwise provided in this Trust Agreement, the consent or
approval of the Administrative Trustees shall require consent or approval by
not less than a majority of the Administrative Trustees, unless there are
only two, in which case both must consent.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                      TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

     SECTION 901.  TERMINATION UPON EXPIRATION DATE.

     Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on -
- ---------, 2052 (the "Expiration Date") subject to distribution of the Trust
Property in accordance with Section 904.

     SECTION 902.  EARLY TERMINATION.

     The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early Termination
Event:"

     (a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution
or liquidation of, the Depositor;

     (b) delivery of written direction to the Property Trustee by the Depositor
at any time (which direction is wholly optional and within the discretion of
the Depositor) to dissolve the Trust and distribute the Debentures to
Securityholders in exchange for the Preferred Securities in accordance with
Section 904;

                                       45


<PAGE>   46
     (c) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in connection with
the redemption of all of the Debentures; and

     (d) the entrance of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction.

     SECTION 903.  TERMINATION.

     The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the
Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of
the following:  (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders
upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 904, or upon the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 402, of all
amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the
Trust Securities; (b) the payment of any expenses owed by the Trust; (c) the
discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees,
including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the
Trust or the Securityholders; and (d) the filing of a Certificate of
Cancellation by the Administrative Trustee under the Delaware Business Trust
Act.

     SECTION 904.  LIQUIDATION.

     (a) If an Early Termination Event specified in clause (a), (b), or (d) of
Section 902 occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall 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 each Securityholder a Like Amount of Debentures,
subject to Section 904(d).  Notice of liquidation shall be given by the
Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not later than 30
nor more than 60 days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust
Securities at such Holder's address appearing in the Securities Register.  All
notices of liquidation shall:

          (i)  state the Liquidation Date;

          (ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the
               Trust Securities shall no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and
               any Trust Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange
               shall be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Debentures; and

         (iii) provide such information with respect to the
               mechanics by which Holders may exchange Trust Securities
               Certificates for Debentures, or, if Section 904(d) applies,
               receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Administrative
               Trustees or the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.

     (b) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(d) applies, in order to effect the
liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Debentures to Securityholders,
the Property Trustee shall establish a record date for such distribution (which
shall be not more than 45 days prior to the Liquidation Date) and, either
itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate
exchange agent, shall establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to
effect the distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Outstanding Trust
Securities Certificates.

                                       46


<PAGE>   47



     (c) Except where Section 902(c) or 904(d) applies, after the Liquidation
Date, (i) the Trust Securities shall no longer be deemed to be outstanding;
(ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Debentures shall be issued to
holders of Trust Securities Certificates upon surrender of such certificates to
the Administrative Trustees or their agent for exchange; (iii) the Depositor
shall use its reasonable efforts to have the Debentures listed on The Nasdaq
Stock Market's National Market or on such other securities exchange or other
organization as the Preferred Securities are then listed or traded; (iv) any
Trust Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange shall be deemed
to represent a Like Amount of Debentures, accruing interest at the rate
provided for in the Debentures from the last Distribution Date on which a
Distribution was made on such Trust Securities Certificates until such
certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so
surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be made to holders of
Trust Securities Certificates with respect to such Debentures); and (v) all
rights of Securityholders holding Trust Securities shall cease, except the
right of such Securityholders to receive Debentures upon surrender of Trust
Securities Certificates.

     (d) In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions of this
Section 904, whether because of an order for dissolution entered by a court of
competent jurisdiction or otherwise, distribution of the Debentures in the
manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be
practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be
dissolved, wound-up or terminated, by the Property Trustee in such manner as
the Property Trustee determines.  In such event, on the date of the
dissolution, winding-up or other termination of the Trust, Securityholders
shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for
distribution to Securityholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors
of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to
the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution").  If,
upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination, the Liquidation
Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets
available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject
to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust
Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts).
The holder of the Common Securities shall be entitled to receive Liquidation
Distributions upon any such dissolution, winding-up or termination pro rata
(determined as aforesaid) with Holders of Preferred Securities, except that, if
a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities.

     SECTION 905.  MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF
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 corporation or other Person, except
pursuant to this Section 905.  At the request of the Depositor, 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, the
Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, 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,

                                       47

<PAGE>   48

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 Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of
such successor entity possessing substantially the same powers and duties as
the Property Trustee as the holder of the Debentures; (iii) the Successor
Securities are listed or traded, or any Successor Securities shall be listed or
traded 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 Depositor has
received an Opinion of 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 shall be required to register as an "investment company" under
the Investment Company Act; and (vi) the Depositor 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.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall 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 or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor
entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes.

                                   ARTICLE X
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SECTION 1001.  LIMITATION OF RIGHTS OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

     The death or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or
otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust
Agreement, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any
Securityholder for such Person to claim an accounting, take any action or bring
any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding-up of the arrangements
contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and
liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.

     SECTION 1002.  AMENDMENT.

     (a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Trustees
and the Depositor, without the consent of any Securityholders, (i) as provided
in Section 811 with respect to acceptance of appointment by a successor
Trustee; (ii) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any

                                       48


<PAGE>   49

provision herein or therein which may be inconsistent with any other provision
herein or therein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under this Trust Agreement, that shall not be inconsistent
with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement; (iii) to modify, eliminate
or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be
necessary to ensure that the Trust shall 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 shall not be required to
register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act or (iv) to
reduce or increase the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security and simultaneously
to correspondingly increase or decrease the number of Trust Securities issued
and outstanding solely for the purpose of maintaining the eligibility of the
Preferred Securities for quotation or listing on any national securities
exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then
quoted or listed (including, if applicable, The Nasdaq Stock Market's National
Market); provided, however, that in the case of clause (ii), such action shall
not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any
Securityholder and provided further, that in the case of clause (iv), the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities outstanding upon
completion of any such reduction must be the same as the aggregate Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities outstanding immediately prior to such reduction,
and any amendments of this Trust Agreement shall become effective when notice
thereof is given to the Securityholders (or, in the case of an amendment
pursuant to clause (iv), as of the date specified in the notice)

     (b) Except as provided in Section 601(c) or Section 1002(c) hereof, any
provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the
Depositor (i) with the consent of Trust Securityholders representing not less
than a majority (based upon Liquidation Amounts) of the Trust Securities then
Outstanding; and (ii) upon 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 shall not affect the Trust's status
as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's
exemption from status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company
Act.

     (c) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Trust
Agreement, without the consent of each affected Securityholder (such consent
being obtained in accordance with Section 603 or 606 hereof), this Trust
Agreement may not be amended to (i) 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 (ii) restrict the right of a Securityholder to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date;
notwithstanding any other provision herein, without the unanimous consent of
the Securityholders (such consent being obtained in accordance with Section 603
or 606 hereof), this paragraph (c) of this Section 1002 may not be amended.

     (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Trust Agreement, no
Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement
which would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from
status of an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act or to fail
or cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income
tax purposes

                                       49


<PAGE>   50



     (e) Notwithstanding anything in this Trust Agreement to the contrary,
without the consent of the Depositor, this Trust Agreement may not be amended
in a manner which imposes any additional obligation on the Depositor.

     (f) In the event that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the
Administrative Trustees shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such
amendment.

     (g) Neither the Property Trustee nor the Delaware Trustee shall be
required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement which affects its
own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement.  The Property
Trustee shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers'
Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance
with this Trust Agreement.

     SECTION 1003.  SEPARABILITY.

     In case any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Trust Securities
Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality
and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected
or impaired thereby.

     SECTION 1004.  GOVERNING LAW.

     THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE
SECURITYHOLDERS, THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND
GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES).

     SECTION 1005.  PAYMENTS DUE ON NON-BUSINESS DAY.

     If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day
that is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but
may be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day, with the same
force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no
distribution shall accumulate thereon for the period after such date.

     SECTION 1006.  SUCCESSORS.

     This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit
of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee(s),
including any successor by operation of law.  Except in connection with a
consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under
Article XII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.

     SECTION 1007.  HEADINGS.

     The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.

     SECTION 1008.  REPORTS, NOTICES AND DEMANDS.

     (a) Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any
provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or

                                       50

<PAGE>   51

served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in
writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States
mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (i) in
the case of a Preferred Securityholder, to such Preferred Securityholder as
such Securityholder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register;
and (ii) in the case of the Common Securityholder or the Depositor, to Capitol
Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, 200 Washington Square North, Lansing, MI
48933, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, facsimile no.: (517) 374-2576. Any
notice to Preferred Securityholders shall also be given to such owners as have,
within two years preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names and
addresses with the Property Trustee for that purpose.  Such notice, demand or
other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been
sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or
transmission.

     (b) Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of
this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon
the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given
in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as
follows:  (i) with respect to the Property Trustee to First National Bank of
Chicago, One First National Plaza, Suite 0126, Chicago, IL 60670-0126,
Attention: Corporate Trust Department; (ii) with respect to the Delaware
Trustee, to FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE, INC., 300 King Street, Wilmington, Delaware
19801, and (iii) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the
address above for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: Administrative
Trustees of CAPITOL TRUST I, c/o Chief Executive Officer, Capitol Bancorp Ltd.,
a Michigan corporation."  Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon
the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or the
Property Trustee.

     SECTION 1009.  AGREEMENT NOT TO PETITION.

     Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the
Securityholders that, until at least one year and 1 day after the Trust has
been terminated in accordance with Article IX, they shall not file, or join in
the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United
States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws")
or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under
any Bankruptcy Law.  In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of
this Section 1009, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of
Securityholders, that at the expense of the Depositor (which expense shall be
paid prior to the filing), it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or
otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against
the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the
Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped
and precluded therefrom.  The provisions of this Section 1009 shall survive the
termination of this Trust Agreement.

                                       51


<PAGE>   52


     SECTION 1010.  TRUST INDENTURE ACT; CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

     (a) This Trust Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Trust Agreement and shall,
to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

     (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for
the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.

     (c) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another
provision hereof which is required to be included in this Trust Agreement by
any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall
control.  If any provision of this Trust Agreement modifies or excludes any
provision of the Trust Indenture Act which may be so modified or excluded, the
latter provision shall be deemed to apply to this Trust Agreement as so
modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

     (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Trust Agreement
shall not affect the nature of the Trust Securities as equity securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

     SECTION 1011.  ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS OF TRUST AGREEMENT, GUARANTEE AND
INDENTURE.

     THE RECEIPT AND ACCEPTANCE OF A TRUST SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY
OR ON BEHALF OF A SECURITYHOLDER OR ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, WITHOUT ANY SIGNATURE
OR FURTHER MANIFESTATION OF ASSENT, SHALL CONSTITUTE THE UNCONDITIONAL
ACCEPTANCE BY THE SECURITYHOLDER AND ALL OTHERS HAVING A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
SUCH TRUST SECURITY OF ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND
AGREEMENT TO THE SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS AND OTHER TERMS OF THE GUARANTEE AND
THE INDENTURE, AND SHALL CONSTITUTE THE AGREEMENT OF THE TRUST, SUCH
SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS THAT THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS TRUST
AGREEMENT SHALL BE BINDING, OPERATIVE AND EFFECTIVE AS BETWEEN THE TRUST AND
SUCH SECURITYHOLDER AND SUCH OTHERS.

                          CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION
                          as Depositor


                          By: ________________________________________

                          Name: ______________________________________

                          Title: _____________________________________

                          THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                          as Property Trustee


                          By: ________________________________________

                          Name: ______________________________________

                          Title: _____________________________________

                                       52


<PAGE>   53


                          FIRST CHICAGO DELAWARE, INC.
                          As Delaware Trustee


                          By: ________________________________________

                          Name: ______________________________________

                          Title: _____________________________________



                          ____________________________________________
                          Joseph D. Reid, as Administrative Trustee


                          ____________________________________________
                          Robert C. Carr, as Administrative Trustee


                          ____________________________________________
                          Linda D. Pavona, as Administrative Trustee




                                       53
<PAGE>   54
                    AGREEMENT AS TO EXPENSES AND LIABILITIES


     AGREEMENT dated as of December ______, 1997, between Capitol Bancorp Ltd.,
a Michigan corporation (the Company), and Capitol Trust I, a Delaware business
trust (the "Trust").

     WHEREAS, the Trust intends to issue its common securities (the "Common
Securities") to, and receive Debentures from, the Company and to issue and sell
_____% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") with
such powers, preferences and special rights and restrictions as are set forth
in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of 
December ____, 1997, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust
Agreement");

     WHEREAS, the Company will directly or indirectly own all of the Common
Securities of the Trust and will issue the Debentures;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each holder of the
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Company hereby agrees shall benefit
the Company and which purchase the Company acknowledges will be made in
reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company,
including in its capacity as holder of the Common Securities, and the Trust
hereby agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

     SECTION 1.1. GUARANTEE BY THE COMPANY.

     Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Company, including in its
capacity as holder of the Common Securities, hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally guarantees to each person or entity to whom the Trust is now or
hereafter becomes indebted or liable (the "Beneficiaries") the full payment
when and as due, of any and all Obligations (as hereinafter defined) to such
Beneficiaries.  As used herein, "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Trust other than obligations of the Trust to pay to holders
of any Preferred Securities or other similar interests in the Trust the amounts
due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities or such
other similar interests, as the case may be.  This Agreement is intended to be
for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether
or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.

     SECTION 1.2. TERM OF AGREEMENT.

     This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
the later of (a) the date on which full payment has been made of all amounts
payable to all holders of all the Preferred Securities (whether upon
redemption, liquidation, exchange or otherwise) and (b) the date on which there
are no Beneficiaries remaining; provided, however, that this Agreement shall
continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any

<PAGE>   55
time any holder of Preferred Securities or any Beneficiary must restore payment
of any sums paid under the Preferred Securities, under any obligation, under
the Guarantee Agreement dated the date hereof by the Company and The First
National Bank of Chicago as guarantee trustee or under this Agreement for any
reason whatsoever.  This Agreement is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional
and absolute.

     SECTION 1.3. WAIVER OF NOTICE.

     The Company hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Agreement and of
any obligation to which it applies or may apply, and the Company hereby waives
presentment, demand for payment, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of
dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

     SECTION 1.4. NO IMPAIRMENT.

     The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Company under
this Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the
happening from time to time of any of the following:

     (a) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the obligations or for the performance of any other obligation
under, arising out of, or in connection with, the obligations;

     (b) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Beneficiaries to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
remedy conferred on the Beneficiaries with respect to the obligations or any
action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any kind;
or

     (c) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust.

There shall be no obligation of the Beneficiaries to give notice to, or obtain
the consent of, the Company with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.

     SECTION 1.5. ENFORCEMENT.

     A Beneficiary may enforce this Agreement directly against the Company, and
the Company waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought
against the Trust or any other person or entity before proceeding against the
Company.



                                     -2-
<PAGE>   56
                                   ARTICLE II

     SECTION 2.1. BINDING EFFECT.

     All guarantees and agreements contained in this Agreement shall bind the
successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Company and
shall inure to the benefit of the Beneficiaries.

     SECTION 2.2. AMENDMENT.

     So long as there remains any Beneficiary or any Preferred Securities of
any series are outstanding, this Agreement shall not be modified or amended in
any manner adverse to such Beneficiary or to the holders of the Preferred
Securities.

     SECTION 2.3. NOTICES.

     Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be
given hereunder shall be given in writing by delivering the same by facsimile
transmission (confirmed by mail), telex, or by registered or certified mail,
addressed as follows (and if so given, shall be deemed given when mailed or
upon receipt of an answer back, if sent by telex):

     To the Trust:
     C/o The First National Bank of Chicago
     One First National Plaza, Ste. 0126
     Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
     Facsimile No.: 312-407-2747
     Attention:  Corporate Trust Department


     To the Company:
     Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
     200 Washington Square North
     Fourth Floor
     Lansing, Michigan 48933
     Facsimile No.: 517-374-2576
     Attention:      Chief Executive Officer


     Section 2.4. This agreement shall be governed by and construed and
interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan (without
regard to conflict of laws principles).



                     [SIGNATURES ARE ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE]



                                     -3-
<PAGE>   57

      THIS AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                     CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.

                                     By:     ________________________________
                                             Name:Joseph D. Reid
                                             Title:  Chief Executive Officer


                                     CAPITOL TRUST I

                                     By:     _________________________________
                                             Name:   Robert C. Carr
                                             Title:  Administrative Trustee









                                     -4-




<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 4.6   



                    PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT


                                 BY AND BETWEEN


                  CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., A MICHIGAN CORPORATION


                                      AND


                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO




                      DATED AS OF _________________, 1997








_____________________________________________________________________________
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS



     ARTICLE I
           DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

     Section 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation

     ARTICLE II
           TRUST INDENTURE ACT

     Section 2.1.  Trust Indenture Act; Application
     Section 2.2.  Lists of Holders of Securities

     Section 2.3.  Reports by Preferred Guarantee Trustee

     Section 2.4.  Periodic Reports to Preferred Guarantee Trustee

     Section 2.5.  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent

     Section 2.6.  Events of Default; Waiver

     Section 2.7.  Event of Default; Notice

     Section 2.8.  Conflicting Interests




<PAGE>   2


     ARTICLE III
           POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

     Section 3.1.  Powers and Duties of Preferred Guarantee Trustee

     Section 3.2.  Certain Rights of Preferred Guarantee Trustee

     Section 3.3.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee


      ARTICLE IV
           PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

     Section 4.1.  Preferred Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility

     Section 4.2.  Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Preferred
                   Guarantee Trustee

     ARTICLE V
          GUARANTEE
     Section 5.1.  Guarantee

     Section 5.2.  Waiver of Notice and Demand

     Section 5.3.  Obligations not Affected

     Section 5.4.  Rights of Holders

     Section 5.5.  Guarantee of Payment.

     Section 5.6.  Subrogation.

     Section 5.7.  Independent Obligations

     ARTICLE VI
           LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION    

     Section 6.1.  Limitation of Transactions

     Section 6.2.  Ranking

     ARTICLE VII
           TERMINATION
     Section 7.1.  Termination

     ARTICLE VIII
           INDEMNIFICATION
     Section 8.1.  Exculpation

     Section 8.2.  Indemnification

     ARTICLE IX
           MISCELLANEOUS
     Section 9.1.  Successors and Assigns

     Section 9.2.  Amendments

     Section 9.3.  Notices



                                      2
<PAGE>   3

     Section 9.4.  Benefit

     Section 9.5.  Governing Law



                             CROSS REFERENCE TABLE

     Section of Trust                     Section of
     Indenture Act of                     Guarantee
     1939 as amended                      Agreement
     ----------------                     ----------

          310(a)                            4.1(a)
          310(b)                            4.1(c), 2.8
          310(c)                            Not Applicable
          311(a)                            2.2(b)
          311(b)                            2.2(b)
          311(c)                            Not Applicable
          312(a)                            2.2(a)
          312(b)                            2.2(b)
          313                               2.3
          314(a)                            2.4
          314(b)                            Not Applicable
          314(c)                            2.5
          314(d)                            Not Applicable
          314(e)                            1.1, 2.5, 3.2
          314(f)                            2.1, 3.2
          315(a)                            3.1(d)
          315(b)                            2.7
          315(c)                            3.1
          315(d)                            3.1(d)
          316(a)                            1.1, 2.6, 5.4
          316(b)                            5.3
          317(a)                            3.1
          317(b)                            Not Applicable
          318(a)                            2.1(a)
          318(b)                            2.1
          318(c)                            2.1(b)

          Note: This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of this
          Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its
          terms or provisions.




                                      3
<PAGE>   4
                    PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Preferred Securities
Guarantee"), dated as of ______________, 1997 is executed and delivered by
CAPITOL BANCORP LTD., a Michigan corporation, (the "Guarantor"), and  THE FIRST
NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO, a national banking association, as trustee (the
"Preferred Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of
CAPITOL TRUST I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust").



                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement (the "Trust
Agreement"), dated as of _________, 1997, among the trustees of the Trust named
therein, the Guarantor, as depositor, and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, the Trust is issuing
on the date hereof up to 2,530,000 preferred securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $25,300,000, designated the ----% Cumulative Trust
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities");

     WHEREAS, as an incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Preferred Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.

                                   ARTICLE I
                         DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.

     In this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:

     (a) capitalized terms used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee but not
defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
this Section 1.1;

     (b) terms defined in the Trust Agreement as at the date of execution of
this Preferred Securities Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee;

     (c) a term defined anywhere in this Preferred Securities Guarantee has the
same meaning throughout;




                                      4
<PAGE>   5
     (d) all references to "the Preferred Securities Guarantee" or "this
Preferred Securities Guarantee" are to this Preferred Securities Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

     (e) all references in this Preferred Securities Guarantee to Articles and
Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Preferred Securities Guarantee,
unless otherwise specified;

     (f) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and

     (g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

     "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.

     "Business Day" means any day other than a day on which federal or state
banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law,
executive order or regulation to close or a day on which the Corporate Trust
Office of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee is closed for business.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which
office at the date of execution of this Preferred Securities Guarantee is
located at One First National Plaza, Ste. 0126, Chicago, Illinois, 60670-0126.

     "Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of
Preferred Securities.

     "Debentures" means the ----% Subordinated Debentures due December 31, 
2027, of the Debenture Issuer held by the Property Trustee of the Trust.

     "Debenture Issuer" means the Guarantor.

     "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.

     "Guarantor" means Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation

     "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions,
without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent
not paid or made by the Trust:  (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions that
are required to be paid on such Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust
shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all
accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption
Price"), to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor, with respect to
any Preferred Securities called for redemption by the Trust, and (iii) upon a
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
(other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in
exchange for Preferred Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement), the
lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accrued and
unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the
extent the Trust shall have funds available therefor (the 



                                      5
<PAGE>   6
"Liquidation Distribution"), and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Trust.
        
     "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Trust, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that, in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,"Holder" shall not
include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indemnified Person"
means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners,
employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee.

     "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of ___________, 1997 among the
Debenture Issuer and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee, and any
indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to, which ----% Subordinated Debentures
of the Debenture Issuer are to be issued to the Property Trustee of the Trust.

     "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning provided therefor in the
definition of Guarantee Payments.

     "List of Holders" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee.

     "Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities" means the
holders of more than 50% of the Liquidation Amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all of the Preferred Securities.

     "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two authorized officers of such Person.  Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall include:

     (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has
read the covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;

     (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate;

     (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such
officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and

     (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.

     "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever
nature.



                                      6
<PAGE>   7

     "Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago
Company, until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and
has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

     "Redemption Price" has the meaning provided therefor in the definition of
Guarantee Payments.

     "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president,
any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

     "Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.

     "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,  as amended,
as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided,
however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, is
amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by
any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

                                   ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1. TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.

(a)  This Preferred Securities Guarantee is subject to the provisions of the
Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

(b)  If and to the extent that any provision of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.

SECTION 2.2.   LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.

     (a) In the event the Preferred Guarantee Trustee is not also the
Securities Registrar, the Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee with a list, in such form as the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities (the "List of Holders") as of such date, (i) within 1 Business Day
after January 1 and June 30 of each year, and (ii) at any other time within 30
days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for a List of Holders as
of a date no more than 15 days before such List of Holders is given to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the Guarantor 


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<PAGE>   8

shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of
Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee
may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List
of Holders.
        
(b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.3. REPORTS BY PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.

     On or before July 15 of each year, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required
by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the
manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4. PERIODIC REPORTS TO PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.

     The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the
compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.5. EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such evidence of
compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in
Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.  Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the
form of an Officers' Certificate.

SECTION 2.6. EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.

     The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities,
waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such waiver, any
such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.

SECTION 2.7. EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.

     (a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of
Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice;
provided, that the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.



                                      8
<PAGE>   9

     (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default unless the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have
received written notice, or of which a Responsible Officer of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Trust Agreement shall
have obtained actual knowledge.

SECTION 2.8.  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

     The Trust Agreement shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Preferred Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the first
proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                                  ARTICLE III
            POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 3.1. POWERS AND DUTIES OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.

     (a) This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Preferred
Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Preferred Securities
exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
The right, title and interest of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
automatically vest in any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee, and such
vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing
documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such
Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

     (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Preferred Securities Guarantee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.

     (c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read
into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or
waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise
thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in
the conduct of his or her own affairs.

     (d) No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be construed
to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent
action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except
that:

           (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
     curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:




                                      9
<PAGE>   10

                (A) the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee 
Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable
except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically
set forth in this Preferred Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
obligations shall be read into this Preferred Securities Guarantee against the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; and
        
                (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred 
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to
the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed
therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to
examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements
of this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
        
        (ii)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error
of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such
judgment was made;
        
        (iii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect 
to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; and
        
        (iv)  no provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall require
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or
in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such
funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably
assured to it.
        
SECTION 3.2. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.

        (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:

            (i) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and 
shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any
resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,  note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to
have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;
        


                                     10
<PAGE>   11

             (ii)   any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this 
Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate;
        
             (iii)  whenever, in the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request
and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor;

             (iv)   the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see 
to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any rerecording,
refiling or registration thereof);
        
             (v)    the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, 
and the written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in
accordance with such advice or opinion.  Such counsel may be counsel to the
Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees.  The
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
instructions concerning the administration of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction;
        
             (vi)   the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation
to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Preferred
Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such security and
indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against
the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or
direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section
3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and
powers vested in it by this Preferred Securities Guarantee;
        
             (vii)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make 
any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of
indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee Trustee,
in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
facts or matters as it may see fit;
        
             (viii) the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the 
trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or
by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on
the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
        



                                     11
<PAGE>   12

                (ix) any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its
agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred Securities, and the
signature of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be
sufficient and effective to perform any such action.  No third party shall be
required to inquire as to the authority of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to
so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
Preferred Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced
by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;
        
                (x)  whenever in the administration of this Preferred 
Securities Guarantee the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to
receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking
any other action hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may request
instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or
taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall
be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such
instructions.
        
           (b)    No provision of this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
      deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee
      Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or
      obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it
      shall be illegal, or in which the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be
      unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform
      any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
      obligation.  No permissive power or authority available to the Preferred
      Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

SECTION 3.3.   NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE.

      The Recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements
of the Guarantor, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume any
responsibility for their correctness.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                          PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1.   PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.

           (a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee which 
shall:

               (i)  not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and

               (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the 
laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of
the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the
Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of
condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes 
        


                                     12
<PAGE>   13

of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth
in its most recent report of condition so published.
        
        (b)   If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).

        (c)   If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and Guarantor shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.

SECTION 4.2.  APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE
              TRUSTEE.

        (a)   Subject to Section 4.2 (b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.

        (b)   The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance
with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

        (c)   The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold 
office until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
or until its removal or resignation.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor
Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred
Guarantee Trustee.
        
        (d)    If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been 
appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60
days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the
resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee. Such
court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.
        
        (e)    No Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts
or omissions to act of any Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

        (f)    Upon termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or 
removal or resignation of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this
Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee all
amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.
        
                                  ARTICLE V
                                  GUARANTEE



                                     13
<PAGE>   14


SECTION 5.1.  GUARANTEE.

     The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Trust), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert.  The Guarantor's obligation to
make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required
amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Trust to pay such
amounts to the Holders.

SECTION 5.2.  WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.

     The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply,
presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first
against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor,
protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all
other notices and demands.

SECTION 5.3.  OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.

     The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by
reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:

     (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Trust of any express or implied agreement,
covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be
performed or observed by the Trust;

     (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Trust of all or any
portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any
other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension
of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or
in connection with, the Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time
for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or
other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment
period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the
Debentures permitted by the Indenture);

     (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy
conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or
any action on the part of the Trust granting indulgence or extension of any
kind;

     (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
or other similar proceedings affecting, the Trust or any of the assets of the
Trust;

     (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred
Securities;




                                     14
<PAGE>   15
     (f) any failure or omission to receive any regulatory approval or consent
required in connection with the Preferred Securities (or the common equity
securities issued by the Trust), including the failure to receive any approval
of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System required for the
redemption of the Preferred Securities;

         (g) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
hereby incurred; or

         (h) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of
this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be
absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

     There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain
consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.

SECTION 5.4.  RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.

     (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting of
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Preferred Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust or power
conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.

     (b) Any Holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Preferred
Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the
Trust, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.

SECTION 5.5.  GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.

     This Preferred Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not
of collection.

SECTION 5.6.  SUBROGATION.

     The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of
Preferred Securities against the Trust in respect of any amounts paid to such
Holders by the Guarantor under this Preferred Securities Guarantee; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by
mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that
it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other
agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid
under this Preferred Securities Guarantee.  If any amount shall be paid to the
Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold
such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the
Holders.

SECTION 5.7.  INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.

     The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred 


                                     15
<PAGE>   16

Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Preferred
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (h), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.
        

                                   ARTICLE VI
                   LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

SECTION 6.1. LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS.

     So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall
have occurred an Event of Default under this Preferred Securities Guarantee, an
Event of Default under the Trust Agreement or during an Extended Interest
Payment Period (as defined in the Indenture), then (a) the Guarantor shall not
declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock (other
than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Guarantor or any
declaration of a non-cash dividend in connection with the implementation of a
shareholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto,
and (ii) purchases of common stock of the Guarantor related to the rights under
any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees),
(b) the Guarantor shall not make any payment of principal or interest on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Guarantor which
rank pari passu with or junior to the Debentures and (c) the Guarantor shall
not redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the Outstanding Debentures or
any of the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 6.2  RANKING.

     This Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, (ii) pari passu with the
most senior preferred securities or preference stock now or hereafter issued by
the Guarantor and with any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the
Guarantor in respect of any preferred securities or preference stock of any
Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  TERMINATION

SECTION 7.1.  TERMINATION.

     This Preferred Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i) full payment
of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (ii) full payment of the
amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the
Trust, or (iii) distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Preferred
Securities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Preferred Securities Guarantee
shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case may be, if
at any time any Holder of Preferred Securities must restore payment of any sums
paid under the Preferred Securities or under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.



                                     16
<PAGE>   17



                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 8.1.  EXCULPATION.

     (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss,
damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted
by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Preferred
Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by this Preferred Securities Guarantee or by law, except that an
Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred
by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters
the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable
care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports
or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits,
losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from
which Distributions to Holders of Preferred Securities might properly be paid.

SECTION 8.2.  INDEMNIFICATION.

     The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold
each Indemnified Person harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts
hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees
and expenses) of defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers
or duties hereunder.  The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section
8.2 shall survive the termination of this Preferred Securities Guarantee.


                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

     All guarantees and agreements contained in this Preferred Securities
Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities then outstanding.

SECTION 9.2.       AMENDMENTS.

     Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect
the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required),
this Preferred Securities Guarantee may only be amended with the 



                                     17
<PAGE>   18
prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities.  The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement
with respect to meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities apply to the
giving of such approval.
        
SECTION 9.3.  NOTICES.

     All notices provided for in this Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be
in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, telecopied or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:

     (a) If given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, at the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the
Preferred Securities):

                     The First National Bank of Chicago
                     One First National Plaza
                     Suite 0126
                     Chicago, Illinois 60670-0126
                     Attention Corporate Trust Dept.

     (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the
Holders of the Preferred Securities):

                     Capitol Bancorp Ltd.,
                     200 Washington Square North
                     Fourth Floor
                     Lansing, Michigan 48933
                     Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

      (c)  If given to any Holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set 
forth on the books and records of the Trust.

      All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery
or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was
given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on
the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 9.4.  BENEFIT.

      This Preferred Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not
separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 9.5.  GOVERNING LAW.

      THIS PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED
AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.





                                     18
<PAGE>   19



This Preferred Securities Guarantee is executed as of the day and year first
above written.

                                   CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.
                                     as Guarantor


                                   By:___________________________

                                   Name:_________________________

                                   Title:________________________


                                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                                   As Preferred Guarantee Trustee


                                   By:___________________________

                                   Name:_________________________

                                   Title:________________________









                                     19


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.8

         This Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of
the Trust Agreement hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of
The Depository Trust Company, a New York Corporation ("DEPOSITORY TRUST
COMPANY") or a nominee of DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY.  This Preferred Security is
exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the name of a person other
than DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY or its nominee only in the limited circumstances
described in the Trust Agreement (as defined below) and no transfer of this
Preferred Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole
by DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY to a nominee of DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY or by a
nominee of the DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY to DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY or another
nominee of DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY) may be registered except in limited
circumstances.

         Unless this Preferred Security is presented by an authorized
representative of  DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY to Capitol Trust I or its agent for
registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is
registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as is requested by an
authorized representative of DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (and any payment hereon
is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized
representative of DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE
HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.


Certificate Number                              Number of Preferred Securities
      P-1

                                                 CUSIP NO.

          Certificate Evidencing Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities
                                       of
                                Capitol Trust I

                  _____% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities
                (liquidation amount $10 per Preferred Security)


         Capitol Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that CEDE & CO. (the
"Holder") is the registered owner of ___________________________ (_______)
preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust and designated the ____% Cumulative Trust Preferred
Securities (liquidation amount $10 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred
Securities").  The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and
records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as
provided in Section 504 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below).  The
designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences, and other terms
and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this
certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and
<PAGE>   2

shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended
and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust dated as of December __, 1997, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the "Trust Agreement"), including the
designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein.  The
Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Preferred Securities Guarantee
Agreement entered into by Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, and The
First National Bank of Chicago, as guarantee trustee, dated as of December __,
1997 (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein.  The Trust will furnish
a copy of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge
upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or
registered office.

         Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust
Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust
has executed this certificate this ____ day of December, 1997.


                                        CAPITOL TRUST I


                                        By ____________________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:  Administrative Trustee





                                      2

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1




                                November 26, 1997


Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square North
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Attention:  Board of Directors

Capitol Trust I
c/o Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square North
Lansing, Michigan 48933
Attention:  Administrative Trustees

Directors and Trustees:

     We have acted as special counsel to Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan
corporation (the "Company"), and Capitol Trust I, a Delaware statutory business
trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the preparation of a Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company
and the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for the
purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, preferred
securities (the "Preferred Securities") of the Trust's subordinated debentures
(the "Subordinated Debentures") of the Company and the guarantee of the Company
with respect to the Preferred Securities (the
"Guarantee").

     In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, 
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the certificate
of trust (the "Certificate of Trust") filed by the Trust with the Secretary of
State of the State of Delaware on November 25, 1997; (ii) the Trust Agreement,
dated as of November 25, 1997, with respect to the Trust; (iii) the form of the
Amended and Restated Trust Agreement with respect to the Trust; (iv) the form
of the Preferred Securities of the Trust; (v) the form of the Guarantee between
the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee; (vi) the form
of the Subordinated Debentures; and (vii) the form of the indenture (the
"Indenture"), between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee, in each case in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.  We have also examined originals or copies, certified, or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such other documents, certificates, and
records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions
set forth herein.
        

     In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural 
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of
such copies.  In
        

<PAGE>   2





examining documents executed by parties other than the Company or the Trust, we
have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or otherwise, to enter
into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due
authorization by all requisite action, corporate or otherwise, and execution
and delivery by such parties of such documents and that, except as set forth in
paragraphs (1) and (2) below, such documents constitute valid and binding
obligations of such parties.  In addition, we have assumed that the Amended and
Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, the Preferred Securities of the Trust,
the Guarantee, the Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, when executed,
will be executed in substantially the form reviewed by us.  As to any facts
material to the opinions expressed herein which were not independently
established or verified, we have relied upon oral or written statements and
representations of officers, trustees, and other representatives of the
Company, the Trust, and others.
        
     We are members of the bar of the state of Michigan, and we express no
opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and to other qualifications and 
limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

     1.    After the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered, the 
Subordinated Debentures, when duly executed, delivered, authenticated and
issued in accordance with the Indenture and delivered and paid for as
contemplated by the Registration Statement, will be valid and binding
obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the
extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
        
     2.    The Guarantee, when duly executed and delivered by the parties 
thereto, will be a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally, and (ii) general principles of equity
regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity.
        
     We hereby consent to the reference to us under the caption "Validity of 
Securities" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement and
to the inclusion of this legal opinion as an Exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
        



                                        Very truly yours,   
                                                            
                                        /s/ STROBL & BORDA, P.C.




                

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 5.2




                  [LETTERHEAD OF RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER]





                              November 26, 1997


Capitol Trust I
c/o Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square North, Fourth Floor
Lansing, MI 48933

     Re: Capitol Trust I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Capitol Trust I, a Delaware
business trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein.
At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.

     For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination
of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the
following:

     (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate"), as filed in
the office of the Secretary of State of the  State of Delaware (the "Secretary
of State") on November 25, 1997;

     (b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of November 25, 1997, among
Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan corporation, (the "Company"), and the trustees
of the Trust named therein;

     (c) The Registration Statement (the "Registration Statement") on Form S-3,
including a prospectus (the "Prospectus") relating to the ____% Cumulative
Trust Preferred Securities of the Trust representing preferred undivided
beneficial interests in the Trust (each, a "Preferred Security" and
collectively, the "Preferred Securities"), as filed by the Company and the
Trust as set forth therein with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
November , 1997;

     (d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, to be
entered into among the Company, the trustees of the Trust  named therein, and
the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust
(the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement;
and

     (e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated November 25, 1997,
obtained from the Secretary of State.

     Initially capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used
as defined in the Trust Agreement.

     For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other 
than the documents listed above, and we have assumed that there 
<PAGE>   2
Capitol Bancorp Trust I
November 25, 1997
Page 2


exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that bears upon
or is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no
independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon
the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and
the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed
to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
        
     With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the
conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or
forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.

     For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement
constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the
subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation and
termination of the Trust, and that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate are
in full force and effect and have not been amended, (ii) except to the extent
provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation or due organization or due
formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each
party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction
governing its creation, organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of
natural persons who are parties to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each
of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to
execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v)
the due authorization, execution and delivery by all parties thereto of all
documents examined by us, (vi) the receipt by each Person to whom a Preferred
Security is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Preferred Security
Holders") of a Preferred Security Certificate for such Preferred Security and
the payment for the Preferred Security acquired by it, in accordance with the
Trust Agreement and the Prospectus, and (vii) that the Preferred Securities are
issued and sold to the Preferred Security Holders in accordance with the Trust
Agreement and the Prospectus. We have not participated in the preparation of
the Registration Statement and assume no responsibility for its contents.

     This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding
the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and
express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal
laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only
with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder
which are currently in effect.

     Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of
law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or
appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and
exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:


<PAGE>   3
Capitol Bancorp Trust I
November 25, 1997
Page 3



     1.     The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act, 12 Del. C.
Sec. 3801, et seq.

     2.     The Preferred Securities will represent valid and, subject to the
qualifications set forth in paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

     3.     The Preferred Security Holders, as beneficial owners of the Trust,
will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Preferred Security
Holders may be obligated to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.

     We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange
Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we hereby
consent to the use of our name under the heading "Validity of Securities" in
the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that
we come within the category of Persons whose consent is required under Section
7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.  Except as stated above,
without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted
to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose.



                                                Very truly yours,


                                                /s/ Richards, Layton & Finger


GCK/ks

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 8.1



                              November 26, 1997




Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
200 Washington Square, Fourth Floor
Lansing, MI 48933
Attention:  Board of Directors

Directors:

     We have acted as tax counsel to Capitol Bancorp Ltd., a Michigan
corporation, (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed issuance of (i)
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") of Capitol Trust I, a
statutory business trust created under the laws of Delaware (the "Trust"),
pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement between the
Company, The First National Bank of Chicago, First Chicago Delaware Inc., and
the Administrative Trustees named therein, as trustees(the "Trust  Agreement"),
to be offered in an underwritten public offering, (ii) Subordinated Debentures
(the "Debentures") of the Company pursuant to the terms of an indenture from
the Company to The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the
"Indenture"), to be sold by the Company to the Trust, and (iii) the Preferred
Securities Guarantee Agreement of the Company with respect to the Preferred
Securities (the "Guarantee") between the Company and The First National Bank of
Chicago, as trustee.  The Preferred Securities and the Debentures are to be
issued as contemplated by the registration statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") to be filed by the Company and the Trust to register
the issuance of the Preferred Securities, the Debentures and the Guarantee
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). 

     We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified
to our satisfaction, of documents, corporate records and other instruments as
we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion including
(i) the Registration Statement, (ii) the Form of Indenture attached as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, (iii) the Form of the Debentures
attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (iv) the Form of Trust
Agreement attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (v) the Form of
Guarantee attached as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and (vi) the
Form of Preferred Security Certificate attached as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (collectively the "Documents"). In such examination, we
have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals,
the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as
certified or photostatic copies, the authenticity of the originals of such
latter documents, the genuineness of all signatures and the correctness of all
representations made therein.  We have further assumed that there are no
agreements or understandings contemplated therein other than those contained in
the Documents.

<PAGE>   2



     Based upon the foregoing, and assuming (i) the final Documents will be
substantially identical to the forms attached as exhibits to the Registration
statement, and (ii) full compliance with all the terms of the final Documents,
we are of the opinion that the statements contained in the preliminary
prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement under the caption
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences," insofar as such statements
constitute matters of law or legal conclusions, as qualified therein,
constitute an accurate description, in general terms, of the indicated United
States federal income tax consequences to such holders.

     The opinion expressed above is based on existing provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), existing Treasury
regulations, published interpretations of the Code and such Treasury
regulations by the Internal Revenue Service, and existing court decisions, any
of which could be changed at any time.  Any such changes may or may not be
retroactively applied.  We note that there is no authority directly on point
dealing with securities such as the Preferred Securities or of transactions of
the type described herein.  Further, you should be aware that opinions of
counsel are not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or the courts.  We
express no opinion as to any matters not specifically covered by the foregoing
opinions or as to the effect on the matters covered by this opinion of the laws
of any other jurisdiction.  Additionally, we undertake no obligation to update
this opinion in the event there is either a change in the legal authorities, in
the facts (including the taking of any action by any party to any of the
transactions described in the Documents relating to such transactions) or in
the Documents on which this opinion is based, or an inaccuracy in any of the
representations or warranties upon which we have relied in rendering this
opinion.

     This letter is not being delivered for the benefit of, nor may it be
relied upon by, the holders of the Debentures, the Guarantee or the Preferred
Securities or any other party to which it is not specifically addressed or on
which reliance is not expressly permitted hereby.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to reference to our firm under the caption "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences" and "Validity of Securities" in the
preliminary prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,   
                                                            
                                        /s/ STROBL & BORDA, P.C.


<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1


                        




CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Capitol Bancorp Ltd.
Lansing, Michigan

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting a part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report
dated January 31, 1997, relating to the consolidated financial statements of
Capitol Bancorp Ltd. appearing in the Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996.  We also consent to the reference
to us under the caption "Experts" in the Prospectus.


/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
November 26, 1997

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.1



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1
                                    --------

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                     UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) 
                                                           -----
                      ---------------------------------

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                      36-0899825
                                                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                    IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS         60670-0126
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)            (ZIP CODE)

                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                     ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                        CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
           ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
          (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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

                               CAPITOL TRUST I
             (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE                                            38-3381871 
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                      IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, 4TH FLOOR
LANSING, MICHIGAN                                   48933 
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)            (ZIP CODE)


                            PREFERRED SECURITIES
                       (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)
<PAGE>   2

ITEM 1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
         INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

         (A)      NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
         SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

         Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., 
         Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 
         Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of 
         the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

         (B)      WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
         CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

         The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
         trust powers.

ITEM 2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
         IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
         SUCH AFFILIATION.

         No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
         PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

         1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
             trustee now in effect.*

         2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the
             trustee to commence business.*

         3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
             exercise corporate trust powers.*

         4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

         5.  Not Applicable.

         6.  The consent of the trustee required by
             Section 321(b) of the Act.

         7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the
             trustee published pursuant to law or the
             requirements of its supervising or examining
             authority.
                               

                                      2

<PAGE>   3


         8.  Not Applicable.

         9.  Not Applicable.


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of
Chicago and the State of Illinois, on this 25th day of November, 1997.


             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
             TRUSTEE

             By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                 John R. Prendiville
                 Vice President




* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).







                                      3
<PAGE>   4

                                   EXHIBIT 6



                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                               November 25, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

         In connection with the qualification of an indenture between Capitol
Trust I and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned, in accordance
with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, hereby
consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by Federal
or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be furnished by
such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request
therefor.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                                        By   /s/ John R. Prendiville
                                             John R. Prendiville
                                             Vice President




                                      4
<PAGE>   5
                                   EXHIBIT 7

<TABLE>
<S><C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago     Call Date: 06/30/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                          Page RC-1 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670 
FDIC Certificate No.:     0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR JUNE 30, 1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding  as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN                   C400 
                                                                                   THOUSANDS           RCFD     BIL MIL THOU
                                                                               -----------------       ----     ------------
<S>                                                                            <C>                     <C>     <C>          <C>
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)................                            0081      4,415,563    1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2).........................................                            0071      7.049,275    1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)............                            1754              0     2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).........                            1773      4,455,173     2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell                                                                                              1350      4,604,233     3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C)...................................................................     RCFD 2122 24,185,099                           4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses............................     RCFD 3123    423,419                           4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve................................     RCFD 3128          0                           4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c).................................                            2125     23,761,680     4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D).....................................                            3545      6.930.216     5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................                            2145        705,704     6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)............................                            2150          7,960     7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)..........................................                            2130         64,504     8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............                            2155        562,251     9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)..................................                            2143        283,716     10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F).......................................                            2160      1,997,778     11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)................................                            2170     54,837,423     12.
</TABLE>

__________________

(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.



                                      5
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date:  06/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                   Page RC-2 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:             0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
                                                                              DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                                   Thousands                  BIL MIL THOU
                                                                              -----------------               ------------
LIABILITIES
<S>                                                                           <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1).........................................                         RCON 2200   21,852,164    13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)..........................................   RCON 6631  9,474,510                            13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing................................................   RCON 6636 12,377,654                            13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)..................................                         RCFN 2200   13,756,280    13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing.............................................   RCFN 6631    330,030                            13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing................................................   RCFN 6636 13,426,250                            13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                                  RCFD 2800    3.827,159    14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                                     RCON 2840       40,307    15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D).............................                         RCFD 3548    4,985,577    15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With original maturity of one year or less..........................                         RCFD 2332    2,337,018    16.a
    b. With original  maturity of than one year through three years........                              A547      265,393    16.b
    c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ................                              A548      322,175    16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding................                         RCFD 2920      562,251    18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)..................................                         RCFD 3200    1,700,000    19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G).................................                         RCFD 2930      929,875    20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20).........................                         RCFD 2948   50,618,199    21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus..........................                         RCFD 3838            0    23
24. Common stock...........................................................                         RCFD 3230      200,858    24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)...............                         RCFD 3839    2,948,616    25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves..............................                         RCFD 3632    1,059,214    26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities..........................................................                         RCFD 8434       12,788    26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments....................                         RCFD 3284       (2,252)   27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                               RCFD 3210    4,219,224    28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)..........                         RCFD 3300   54,837,423    29
</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<S><C>
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most 
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                       Number

    auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCFD 6724 . . . . .           /N/A/            M.1.

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance           4  =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
    with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified             external auditors (may be required by state chartering
    public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank             authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company          5  =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external
    conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing              auditors
    standards by a certified public accounting firm which           6  =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
    submits a report on the consolidated holding company                  auditors
    (but not on the bank separately)                                7  =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                 8  =  No external audit work
    accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
    by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
    state chartering authority)
</TABLE>
___________________
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits.  
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.





                                      6

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.2

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                  FORM T-1

                          STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                    UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

              CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
              OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(B)(2) _____

                      _________________________________

                     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
             (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                        36-0899825
                                                      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                      IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS           60670-0126
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)              (ZIP CODE)


                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                     ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                        CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
           ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
          (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                     ___________________________________

                             CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.
             (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

MICHIGAN                                              38-2761672
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                       (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                        IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, 4TH FLOOR
LANSING, MICHIGAN                                     48933
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)              (ZIP CODE)


                               DEBT SECURITIES
                       (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)

<PAGE>   2



ITEM 1.          GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
                 INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

                 (A)      NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
                 SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

                 Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
                 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
                 Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
                 the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

                 (B)      WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
                 CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

                 The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
                 trust powers.

ITEM 2.          AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
                 IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
                 SUCH AFFILIATION.

                 No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.         LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
                 PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

                 1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
                     trustee now in effect.*

                 2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the
                     trustee to commence business.*

                 3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
                     exercise corporate trust powers.*

                 4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

                 5.  Not Applicable.

                 6.  The consent of the trustee required by
                     Section 321(b) of the Act.

                 7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the
                     trustee published pursuant to law or the
                     requirements of its supervising or examining
                     authority.

                                      2
<PAGE>   3



                 8.  Not Applicable.

                 9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of
Chicago and the State of Illinois, on this 25th day of November, 1997.


                     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                     TRUSTEE

                     By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                         John R. Prendiville
                         Vice President




* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).

                                      3
<PAGE>   4






                                   EXHIBIT 6



                    THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED BY
                          SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                               November 25, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

         In connection with the qualification of an indenture between Capitol
Bancorp Ltd. and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned, in
accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,
hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned, made by
Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may be
furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.


                               Very truly yours,

                               THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                               By       /s/ John R. Prendiville
                                        John R. Prendiville
                                        Vice President



                                      4
<PAGE>   5





                                   EXHIBIT 7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                        <C>                                           <C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago     Call Date: 06/30/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                        Page RC-1 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670 
FDIC Certificate No.:      0/3/6/1/8

</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR JUNE 30, 1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding  as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                    C400 
                                                                         DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN                          ----
                                                                            THOUSANDS                 RCFD      BIL MIL THOU
                                                                         -----------------            ----      ------------
<S>                                                                          <C>                     <C>          <C>
ASSETS                                                                                                                      
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)..............                            0081        4,415,563    1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2).......................................                            0071        7.049,275    1.b.
2.  Securities                                                                                                                     
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)..........                            1754                0    2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).......                            1773        4,455,173    2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to                                                                
    resell                                                                                            1350        4,604,233    3.  
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:                                                                                         
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule                                                                     
    RC-C).................................................................   RCFD 2122  24,185,099                             4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses..........................   RCFD 3123     423,419                             4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve..............................   RCFD 3128           0                             4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and                                                                    
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)...............................                            2125       23,761,680    4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)...................................                            3545        6.930.216    5.  
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)..............                            2145          705,704    6.  
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)..........................                            2150            7,960    7.  
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated                                                                      
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)........................................                            2130           64,504    8.  
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding..........                            2155          562,251    9.  
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)...........................                                 2143          283,716   10.  
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)................................                                 2160        1,997,778   11.  
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11).........................                                 2170       54,837,423   12.  
</TABLE>

__________________

(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                               <C>                                      <C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago       Call Date:  06/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                       Page RC-2 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:             0/3/6/1/8 .  

</TABLE>

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                               Thousands                     BIL MIL THOU
                                                                           -----------------                 ------------
<S>                                                                 <C>                       <C>             <C>            <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)..............................                              RCON 2200        21,852,164    13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)...............................         RCON 6631  9,474,510                                13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing.....................................         RCON 6636 12,377,654                                13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II).......................                              RCFN 2200        13,756,280    13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing..................................         RCFN 6631    330,030                                13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing.....................................         RCFN 6636 13,426,250                                13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                            RCFD 2800         3.827,159    14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                               RCON 2840            40,307    15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D)........................................        RCFD 3548         4,985,577    15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With original maturity of one year or less.....................................        RCFD 2332         2,337,018    16.a
    b. With original  maturity of than one year through three years                                A547           265,393    16.b
 .   c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ...........................             A548           322,175    16.c
17. Not applicable                                                                                                           
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding.....                              RCFD 2920           562,251    18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)..............                                       RCFD 3200         1,700,000    19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)......................                              RCFD 2930           929,875    20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)..............                              RCFD 2948        50,618,199    21
22. Not applicable                                                                                                           
EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                                                               
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus...............                              RCFD 3838                 0    23
24. Common stock................................................                              RCFD 3230           200,858    24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)....                              RCFD 3839         2,948,616    25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves...................                              RCFD 3632         1,059,214    26.a.
     b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale                                                          
        securities..............................................                              RCFD 8434            12,788    26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments.........                              RCFD 3284            (2,252)   27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                         RCFD 3210         4,219,224    28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)...................          RCFD 3300        54,837,423    29
</TABLE>

Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.

<TABLE>
<S><C>
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the  most
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                        
    
                                                                                                      Number
auditors as of any date during 1996 .............................................RCFD 6724..........  / N/A /

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance               4.= Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
    with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified               external auditors (may be required by state chartering
    public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank           authority)                                            
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company              5 = Review of the bank's financial statements by external
    conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing                auditors
    standards by a certified public accounting firm which               6 = Compilation of the bank's financial statements by
    submits a report on the consolidated holding company                    external auditors
    (but not on the bank separately)                                    7 = Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                    8 = No external audit work                                 
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards                                                                         
     by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
     state chartering authority)                              
                                                              
</TABLE>
___________________
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
deposits.  
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.


                                      6

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.3


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                     UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(B)(2) 
                                                           -----
                       -------------------------------

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                            36-0899825
                                                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                          IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS               60670-0126
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)

                     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                    ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                       CHICAGO, ILLINOIS   60670-0286
           ATTN:  LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
          (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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

                            CAPITOL BANCORP LTD.
             (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

MICHIGAN                                                  38-2761672 
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                           (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                            IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


200 WASHINGTON SQUARE NORTH, 4TH FLOOR
LANSING, MICHIGAN                                         48933 
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)


                             GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
                       (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)
<PAGE>   2

ITEM 1.    GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
           INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

           (A)  NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
           SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

           Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C.,
           Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
           Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
           the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

           (B)  WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
           CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

           The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate
           trust powers.

ITEM 2.    AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
           IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
           SUCH AFFILIATION.

           No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.   LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A
           PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

           1.   A copy of the articles of association of the
                trustee now in effect.*

           2.   A copy of the certificates of authority of the
                trustee to commence business.*

           3.   A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
                exercise corporate trust powers.*

           4.   A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

           5.   Not Applicable.

           6.   The consent of the trustee required by
                Section 321(b) of the Act.

           7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the
                trustee published pursuant to law or the
                requirements of its supervising or examining
                authority.




                                      2
<PAGE>   3


          8.    Not Applicable.

          9.    Not Applicable.


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of
Chicago and the State of Illinois, on this 25th day of November, 1997.


                THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                TRUSTEE

                By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                     John R. Prendiville
                     Vice President




* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS
BEARING IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
OF CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).







                                      3
<PAGE>   4


                                   EXHIBIT 6



                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                               November 25, 1997


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

         In connection with the qualification of a Guarantee Agreement between
Capitol Bancorp Ltd. and The First National Bank of Chicago, the undersigned,
in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the undersigned,
made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such examinations, may
be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon
its request therefor.


                                Very truly yours,

                                THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                                By     /s/ John R. Prendiville
                                       John R. Prendiville
                                       Vice President








                                      4
<PAGE>   5
                                   EXHIBIT 7

<TABLE>
<S><C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago     Call Date: 06/30/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                          Page RC-1 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670 
FDIC Certificate No.:     0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR JUNE 30, 1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars.  Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN                   C400 
                                                                                   THOUSANDS           RCFD     BIL MIL THOU
                                                                               -----------------       ----     ------------
<S>                                                                            <C>                     <C>     <C>          <C>
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule
    RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)................                            0081      4,415,563    1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2).........................................                            0071      7.049,275    1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)............                            1754              0     2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).........                            1773      4,455,173     2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell                                                                                              1350      4,604,233     3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C)...................................................................     RCFD 2122 24,185,099                           4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses............................     RCFD 3123    423,419                           4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve................................     RCFD 3128          0                           4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c).................................                            2125     23,761,680     4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D).....................................                            3545      6.930.216     5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)................                            2145        705,704     6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)............................                            2150          7,960     7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)..........................................                            2130         64,504     8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding............                            2155        562,251     9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)..................................                            2143        283,716     10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F).......................................                            2160      1,997,778     11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)................................                            2170     54,837,423     12.
</TABLE>

__________________

(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.



                                      5
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<S>                               <C>
Legal Title of Bank:              The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date:  06/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031 
Address:                          One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                        Page RC-2 
City, State  Zip:                 Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:             0/3/6/1/8
                                  ---------
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
                                                                              DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                                   Thousands                  BIL MIL THOU
                                                                              -----------------               ------------
LIABILITIES
<S>                                                                           <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1).........................................                         RCON 2200   21,852,164    13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)..........................................   RCON 6631  9,474,510                            13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing................................................   RCON 6636 12,377,654                            13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)..................................                         RCFN 2200   13,756,280    13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing.............................................   RCFN 6631    330,030                            13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing................................................   RCFN 6636 13,426,250                            13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                                  RCFD 2800    3.827,159    14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                                     RCON 2840       40,307    15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D).............................                         RCFD 3548    4,985,577    15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With original maturity of one year or less..........................                         RCFD 2332    2,337,018    16.a
    b. With original maturity of than one year through three years.........                              A547      265,393    16.b
    c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ................                              A548      322,175    16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding................                         RCFD 2920      562,251    18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)..................................                         RCFD 3200    1,700,000    19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G).................................                         RCFD 2930      929,875    20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20).........................                         RCFD 2948   50,618,199    21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus..........................                         RCFD 3838            0    23
24. Common stock...........................................................                         RCFD 3230      200,858    24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)...............                         RCFD 3839    2,948,616    25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves..............................                         RCFD 3632    1,059,214    26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities..........................................................                         RCFD 8434       12,788    26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments....................                         RCFD 3284       (2,252)   27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                               RCFD 3210    4,219,224    28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)..........                         RCFD 3300   54,837,423    29
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S><C>
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most 
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                       Number

    auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCFD 6724 . . . . .           /N/A/            M.1.

1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance           4  =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
    with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified             external auditors (may be required by state chartering
    public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank             authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company          5  =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external
    conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing              auditors
    standards by a certified public accounting firm which           6  =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
    submits a report on the consolidated holding company                  auditors
    (but not on the bank separately)                                7  =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                 8  =  No external audit work
    accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
    by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
    state chartering authority)
</TABLE>
___________________
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits.  
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.


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