COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES INC
S-3/A, 1997-11-24
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>
   
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 24, 1997
    
   
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-37521
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
 
   
                                       TO
    
 
                                    FORM S-3
 
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
 
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                          <C>
 COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES,                         CFB CAPITAL II
             INC.
 (Exact name of registrant as                 (Exact name of co-registrant
  specified in its charter)                   as specified in its charter)
 
           DELAWARE                                     DELAWARE
 (State or other jurisdiction                 (State or other jurisdiction
     of incorporation or                          of incorporation or
        organization)                                organization)
 
          46-0391436                                   45-0447717
       (I.R.S. Employer                             (I.R.S. Employer
     Identification No.)                          Identification No.)
 
       520 Main Avenue                            c/o Community First
Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001                      Bankshares, Inc.
        (701) 298-5600                              520 Main Avenue
 (Address including zip code,                Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001
    and telephone number,                            (701) 298-5600
   including area code, of                    (Address including zip code,
    registrant's principal                       and telephone number,
      executive office)                         including area code, of
                                                 registrant's principal
                                                   executive office)
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
                              Donald R. Mengedoth
                                   President
                        Community First Bankshares, Inc.
                                520 Main Avenue
                         Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001
                                 (701) 298-5600
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number including area code, of
                               agent for service)
 
                         ------------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
Patrick Delaney                           David B. Miller
Martin R. Rosenbaum                       Faegre & Benson, LLP
Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.               2200 Norwest Center
4200 IDS Center                           90 South Seventh Street
80 South 8th Street                       Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402              Telephone: (612) 336-3000
Telephone: (612) 371-3211
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
   CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE ON ADDITIONAL SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED
                                   HEREUNDER
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                             PROPOSED MAXIMUM      PROPOSED ADDITIONAL         AMOUNT OF
    SECURITIES TO BE       ADDITIONAL AMOUNT TO      OFFERING PRICE            AGGREGATE             ADDITIONAL
       REGISTERED            BE REGISTERED(1)          PER UNIT(1)         OFFERING PRICE(1)     REGISTRATION FEE(2)
<S>                        <C>                    <C>                    <C>                    <C>
   % Cumulative Capital
  Securities of CFB
  Capital II.............       800,000(3)               $25.00               $20,000,000              $6,061
   % Junior Subordinated
  Debentures of Community
  First Bankshares, Inc.
  (3)....................           (3)                    --                     --                     --
Guarantee of Community
  First Bankshares, Inc.
  with respect to the   %
  Cumulative Capital
  Securities (4).........           (4)                    --                     --                     --
Total Amount of
  Additional Registration
  Fee....................           --                     --                     --                   $6,061
</TABLE>
    
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee pursuant
    to Rule 457(a).
 
   
(2) Additional fee payable for the additional 800,000 shares registered
    hereunder. A fee of $12,121 was previously paid for the other 1,600,000
    shares registered on this Form S-3.
    
 
(3) The    % Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Junior Subordinated
    Debentures") will be purchased by CFB Capital II, with the proceeds of the
    sale of the    % Cumulative Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities").
    No separate consideration will be received for the Junior Subordinated
    Debentures. The Junior Subordinated Debentures may later be distributed for
    no additional consideration to the holders of the Capital Securities upon
    CFB Capital II's dissolution and the distribution of its assets.
 
(4) This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Junior Subordinated
    Debentures of Community First Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company"), the rights
    of holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the Company under the
    Indenture, the rights of holders of the Capital Securities under the Amended
    and Restated Trust Agreement, the Guarantee, the Expense Agreement entered
    into by the Company and certain backup undertakings as described herein. No
    separate consideration will be received for the Guarantee or such backup
    undertakings.
                            ------------------------
 
    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 THAT SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS 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.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
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>
   
PROSPECTUS       Subject to completion, dated November 24, 1997
    
DATED             , 1997
                          2,400,000 CAPITAL SECURITIES
                                 CFB CAPITAL II
                         % Cumulative Capital Securities
                 (Liquidation Amount $25 per Capital Security)
         Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed, as Described Herein, by
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
The   % Cumulative Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities") offered hereby
represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of CFB Capital II, a
statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware ("CFB
Capital II"). Community First Bankshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), will be the owner of all of the beneficial interests represented by
common securities of CFB Capital II (the "Common Securities" and, collectively
with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities"). CFB Capital II exists for
the sole purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds
thereof in   % Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Junior Subordinated
Debentures") to be issued by the Company. The Junior Subordinated Debentures
will mature on December 15, 2027, which date may be shortened (such date, as it
may be shortened, the "Stated Maturity") to a date not earlier than December 15,
2002 if certain conditions are met (including 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 Capital 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,
which will be held by the Company. See "Description of the Capital Securities --
Subordination of Common Securities of CFB Capital II Held by the Company."
                                                        (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
 
   
SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 14 HEREIN FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.
    
 
THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS OR DEPOSITS AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, BY ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY, OR
OTHERWISE.
 
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>
                                                                                  Proceeds to
                                             Price to         Underwriting      CFB Capital II
                                              Public         Commission (1)         (2)(3)
<S>                                      <C>                <C>                <C>
Per Capital Security...................       $25.00               (2)
Total..................................                            (2)
</TABLE>
    
 
   
(1) The Company and CFB Capital II have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
    named herein against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
    
 
(2) In view of the fact that all of the proceeds of the sale of the Capital
    Securities will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
    Company has agreed to pay the Underwriters as compensation for arranging the
    investment therein of such proceeds, $      per Capital Security, or $
    in the aggregate. See "Underwriting."
 
   
(3) Before deducting offering expenses payable by the Company estimated at
    $255,000.
    
 
   
The Capital Securities are being offered by the Underwriters named herein
subject to prior sale and when, as and if delivered to and accepted by the
Underwriters. It is expected that the Capital Securities will be ready for
delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust
Company in New York, New York, on or about December   , 1997, against payment
therefor in immediately available funds.
    
 
   
PIPER JAFFRAY INC.                                                 DAIN BOSWORTH
                                                                    INCORPORATED
    
<PAGE>
(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)
 
Holders of the Capital Securities will be entitled to receive preferential
cumulative cash distributions accruing from the date of original issuance and
payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and
December of each year (subject to possible deferral as described below),
commencing March 15, 1998, at the annual rate of    % of the Liquidation Amount
of $25 per Capital Security ("Distributions"). The amount of each distribution
due with respect to the Capital Securities will include amounts accrued through
the date the distribution payment is due. The Company will have the right to
defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or
from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with
respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no
Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and
the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a new
Extension Period subject to the requirements set forth herein. If interest
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on
the Capital 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 to make any payment with
respect to its debt securities that rank PARI PASSU with or junior to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. During an Extension Period, interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will continue to accrue (and the amount of Distributions
to which holders of the Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate) at the
rate of   % per annum, compounded quarterly, and holders of the Capital
Securities will be required to accrue income and will be required to pay United
States federal income tax on that income. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
 
The Company has, through the Guarantee, Amended and Restated Trust Agreement,
Junior Subordinated Debentures, Indenture and the Expense Agreement (each as
defined herein), taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally
guaranteed all of CFB Capital II's obligations under the Capital Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Guarantee -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee." Under the Guarantee, the
Company guarantees the payment of Distributions by CFB Capital II and payments
on liquidation of or redemption of the Capital Securities (subordinate to the
right to payment of Senior and Subordinated Debt of the Company, as defined
herein) to the extent of funds held by CFB Capital II. The Guarantee does not
cover payment of Distributions when CFB Capital II does not have sufficient
funds to pay such Distributions. See "Description of Guarantee." If the Company
does not make required payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by
CFB Capital II, CFB Capital II will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions
on the Capital Securities. In such event, a holder of the Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce payment of
such Distributions to such holder. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of the Capital
Securities." The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee and the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
Senior and Subordinated Debt (as defined in "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Subordination") of the Company. The obligations of the Company
under the Guarantee, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and other documents
described herein will rank PARI PASSU with the Company's current and future
obligations under debt securities (and guarantees in respect of those debt
securities) initially issued to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership
or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a
financing vehicle of the Company ("Trust Related Securities") in connection with
the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities.
 
The Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part,
upon repayment of the underlying Junior Subordinated Debentures at maturity or
to the extent of their earlier redemption in an amount equal to the amount of
Junior Subordinated Debentures maturing or being redeemed. The redemption price
will equal the aggregate liquidation preference of the Capital Securities plus
any accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption. The
Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of
the Company, subject to any required prior approval of the Federal Reserve, (i)
on or after December 15, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from time to
time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence and
continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment
Event (each as defined herein), in each case at a redemption price equal to the
accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures to
 
                                                        (CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE)
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
(CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE)
the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. See
"Description of the Capital Securities -- Redemption."
 
   
The Company will have the right at any time to terminate CFB Capital II and
cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the
Trust Securities in liquidation of CFB Capital II, subject to the Company having
received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if required. See "Description of
the Capital Securities -- Redemption." The Junior Subordinated Debentures are
unsecured and subordinated to all Senior and Subordinated Debt. At September 30,
1997, Senior and Subordinated Debt was approximately $103 million. The terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures place no limitation on the amount of Senior
and Subordinated Debt that the Company can issue. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination."
    
 
In the event of the termination of CFB Capital II, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of CFB Capital II as required by applicable law, the
holders of Capital Securities will be entitled to receive a liquidation amount
of $25 per Capital Security ("Liquidation Amount"), plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may be in the form of a
distribution of such Like Amount (as defined herein) of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, subject to certain exceptions. See "Description of the Capital
Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."
 
The Company intends to include the Capital Securities for quotation on the
Nasdaq National Market. Although the Underwriters have indicated an intention to
make a market in the Capital Securities, the Underwriters are not obligated to
make a market in the Capital Securities, and any market making may be
discontinued at any time at the sole discretion of such Underwriters. There can
be no assurance that a market will develop for the Capital Securities. See "Risk
Factors -- Absence of Existing Public Market" and "Underwriting."
 
The Capital Securities will be represented by one or more global certificates
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary") or its
nominee. Beneficial interests in the Capital Securities will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
participants in the Depositary. Except as described herein, the Capital
Securities in certificate form will not be issued in exchange for global
certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance."
 
AS USED HEREIN, (I) THE "INDENTURE" MEANS THE SUBORDINATED INDENTURE DATED AS OF
DECEMBER   , 1997, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, BETWEEN THE
COMPANY AND WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY AS TRUSTEE (THE "INDENTURE TRUSTEE"), UNDER
WHICH THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES WILL BE ISSUED, AND (II) THE "PROPERTY
TRUSTEE" AND "DELAWARE TRUSTEE" UNDER THE TRUST AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY THE
COMPANY, AS DEPOSITOR, WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE, AND THE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED THEREIN, TO BE AMENDED AND RESTATED PURSUANT TO AN
AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT EXECUTED BY SUCH PARTIES (AS AMENDED AND
RESTATED, THE "TRUST AGREEMENT") SHALL MEAN WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY.
                            ------------------------
 
   
Information included or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus includes
"forward looking statements," which can be identified by the use of
forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate,"
"estimate," "continue," "believe," "plan" and "pro forma" or the negative
thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. The statements in
"Risk Factors" beginning on page 14 of the Prospectus and other statements and
disclaimers in the Prospectus constitute cautionary statements identifying
important factors, including certain risks and uncertainties, with respect to
such forward-looking statements that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those reflected in such forward-looking statements.
    
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the offering of the
securities offered hereby. 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.
 
    The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Reports, proxy statements and other information filed by the Company
can be inspected and copies of such material can be obtained at prescribed rates
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following
Regional Offices of the Commission: Chicago Regional Office, Citicorp Center,
500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and New York
Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. The
Commission also maintains a web site (http://www.sec.gov) at which reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company may
be accessed. In addition, such reports, proxy statements and other information
can also be inspected at the offices of The Nasdaq Stock Market, 1735 K Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The following documents have been filed by the Company with the Commission
and are incorporated herein by reference: (i) the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, as amended on Form 10-K/A
filed on May 8, 1997; (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997; and (iii) the
Company's Form 8-K report filed on July 29, 1997, as amended on Form 8-K/A filed
on September 22, 1997.
 
    All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document 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 to constitute a part of this
Prospectus, except as so modified or superseded.
 
    The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, upon the oral or written request of any such
person, a copy of all documents which are incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for such
copies should be directed to Mark A. Anderson, Executive Vice President,
Community First Bankshares, Inc., 520 Main Avenue, Fargo, North Dakota
58124-0001, telephone number (701) 298-5600.
 
                            ------------------------
 
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT
STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES,
INCLUDING OVER-ALLOTMENT AND STABILIZING TRANSACTIONS IN SUCH SECURITIES. FOR A
DESCRIPTION OF THESE ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING."
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
   
                                    SUMMARY
    
 
   
    THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY THE MORE DETAILED
INFORMATION AND CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS OR IN THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED INTO THIS PROSPECTUS BY REFERENCE.
UNLESS THE CONTEXT CLEARLY SUGGESTS OTHERWISE, REFERENCES TO THE COMPANY INCLUDE
THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
    
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
   
    Community First Bankshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is
a multi-bank holding company that as of September 30, 1997 operated banks and
bank branches (the "Banks") in 103 communities in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota,
Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming and had total assets
of approximately $4.2 billion. The Company operates community banks primarily in
small and medium-sized communities and the surrounding market areas. The Company
provides a full range of financial products and services to individuals and
businesses, including commercial and consumer banking, trust, insurance and
investment services.
    
 
   
    The Company's strategy is to operate and continue to acquire banks and bank
branches in communities which generally have populations between 3,000 and
50,000 and are located in the Company's key target acquisition states of
Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Wisconsin and Wyoming, and additionally in the adjacent states of
Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah (this seventeen state
area is collectively referred to as the "Acquisition Area"). Such communities
are believed to provide the Company with the opportunity for a stable,
relatively low-cost deposit base. The individual banks and bank branches sought
to be acquired by the Company generally have approximately $20 million to $150
million in assets.
    
 
   
    On November 6, 1997, the Company entered into an agreement to acquire
Pioneer Bank of Longmont, Longmont, Colorado ("Pioneer"). As of September 30,
1997, Pioneer had total assets of approximately $119 million, deposits of
approximately $110 million and five banking offices in four Colorado
communities. On completion of the merger and subject to adjustments set forth in
the acquisition agreement, the Company expects to issue approximately 700,000
shares of its common stock to the holders of Pioneer common stock. Completion of
the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, approval by the Pioneer
shareholders and other conditions. The transaction is anticipated to be
completed during the first quarter of 1998 and is expected to be accounted for
as a pooling of interests. See "Recent Developments -- Pending Acquisitions."
    
 
   
    On September 10, 1997, the Company entered into an Office Purchase and
Assumption Agreement (the "Branch Purchase Agreement") with three subsidiary
banks of Banc One Corporation (the "Bank One Banks") to acquire 37 banking
offices located in Arizona, Colorado and Utah (the "Bank One Branches"). At
October 24, 1997, the Bank One Banks reported that the Bank One Branches had
total deposits of approximately $760 million and loans of approximately $56
million. The levels of deposits and loans of the Bank One Branches can be
expected to vary prior to closing. Under the terms of the Branch Purchase
Agreement, the Company will pay a purchase price premium equal to 6% of the
deposits of the Bank One Branches at closing. This premium is estimated to be
approximately $46 million, based upon the reported level of deposits at October
24, 1997. Consummation of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and
other customary conditions and is anticipated to occur during the first quarter
of 1998. The acquisition will be accounted for as an acquisition of assets and
assumption of liabilities and will result in the recognition by the Company of
deposit-based intangibles in an amount equal to the purchase price premium,
which is estimated to be approximately $46 million, as described above. See
"Recent Developments -- Pending Acquisitions."
    
 
   
    On August 22 and August 28, 1997, respectively, the Company entered into
separate merger agreements to acquire First National Summit Bankshares, Inc.,
Gunnison, Colorado ("Summit") and Republic National Bancorp, Inc., Phoenix,
Arizona ("Republic"). As of September 30, 1997, Summit had
    
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
   
total assets of approximately $94 million, deposits of approximately $86 million
and banking offices in five Colorado communities, and Republic had total assets
of approximately $52 million, deposits of approximately $46 million and one
banking office in Phoenix, Arizona. On completion of the Republic and Summit
mergers, and subject to adjustments set forth in the respective merger
agreements, the Company expects to issue approximately 368,500 shares of its
common stock to the holders of Republic common stock and approximately 316,000
shares of its common stock to the holders of Summit common stock, respectively.
In addition, the former holders of Summit preferred stock will receive $100 in
cash per share of preferred stock surrendered plus accrued but unpaid dividends
to the effective time of the merger. The necessary regulatory approvals have
been obtained for the Summit and Republic mergers. Consummation of the
acquisition is anticipated to occur during the fourth quarter of 1997 subject to
approval of the respective mergers at special meetings of the shareholders of
Summit and Republic scheduled to be held on December 1, 1997 and November 24,
1997, respectively. Each of these business combinations is expected to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests. See "Recent Developments -- Pending
Acquisitions."
    
 
    On July 14, 1997, the Company acquired KeyBank National Association,
Cheyenne, Wyoming ("KeyBank Wyoming"), a subsidiary of KeyCorp, for a cash
purchase price of approximately $135 million. As of June 30, 1997, KeyBank
Wyoming had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and banking offices in 24
communities in Wyoming. The transaction was accounted for as a business
combination using the purchase method of accounting and resulted in the
recognition of goodwill by the Company of approximately $60 million. See "Recent
Developments -- Significant Acquisitions."
 
   
    On December 18, 1996, the Company acquired Mountain Parks Financial Corp.
("Mountain Parks"), a bank holding company that operated a state chartered bank
with full service commercial banking facilities in 17 Colorado communities. The
facilities in two of these communities were sold following the acquisition. At
September 30, 1996, Mountain Parks had total assets of approximately $581.8
million. The transaction was a business combination accounted for as a pooling
of interests. The Company issued approximately 5.2 million shares of common
stock for a total transaction value of approximately $142.2 million, based on
the market value as of the date of closing. The transaction was a business
combination accounted for as a pooling of interests. See "Recent Developments --
Significant Acquisitions."
    
 
    The Company provides the Banks with the advantages of affiliation with a
multi-bank holding company, such as access to its lines of financial services,
including trust products and administration, insurance and investment services,
data processing services, credit policy formulation and review, investment
management and specialized staff support, while granting substantial autonomy to
managers of the Banks with respect to day-to-day operations, customer service
decisions and marketing. The Banks are encouraged to participate in community
activities, support local charities and community development, and otherwise to
serve their communities.
 
    The Company's principal executive offices are located at 520 Main Avenue,
Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001 and its telephone number is (701) 298-5600. The
Company also maintains a web site at http:// www.cfbx.com.
 
                                 CFB CAPITAL II
 
   
    CFB Capital II is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) the Trust Agreement and (ii) the filing of a certificate of
trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on October 8, 1997. CFB Capital II's
business and affairs are conducted by the Property Trustee, Delaware Trustee and
three individual Administrative Trustees who are officers of the Company. CFB
Capital II exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the
Trust Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities
to acquire the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company, and (iii)
engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental
thereto (such as registering the transfer of
    
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
the Trust Securities). Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
the sole assets of CFB Capital II, and payments by the Company under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Expense Agreement will be the sole revenues of
CFB Capital II. All of the Common Securities will be owned by the Company. The
Common Securities will rank PARI PASSU, and payments will be made thereon pro
rata, with the Capital Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of an event of default under the Trust Agreement resulting from
an event of default under the Indenture, 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 Capital Securities. See "Description of the Capital Securities --
Subordination of Common Securities of CFB Capital II Held by the Company." The
Company will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate liquidation amount equal
to 3% of the total capital of CFB Capital II. CFB Capital II has a term of 31
years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement.
 
    CFB Capital II's principal executive offices are located at 520 Main Avenue,
Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001 and its telephone number is (701) 298-5600.
 
                                  THE OFFERING
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
Capital Securities issuer.........  CFB Capital II
 
Securities offered................  2,400,000 Capital Securities. The Capital Securities
                                    represent undivided beneficial interests in CFB Capital
                                    II's assets, which will consist solely of the Junior
                                    Subordinated Debentures and payments thereunder.
 
Distributions.....................  The Distributions payable on each Capital Security will
                                    be fixed at a rate per annum of       % of the
                                    Liquidation Amount of $25 per Capital Security, will be
                                    cumulative, will accrue from the date of issuance of the
                                    Capital Securities, and will be payable quarterly in
                                    arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and
                                    December of each year, commencing on March 15, 1998
                                    (subject to possible deferral as described below). The
                                    amount of each distribution due with respect to the
                                    Capital Securities will include amounts accrued through
                                    the date the distribution payment is due. See
                                    "Description of the Capital Securities --
                                    Distributions."
 
Extension periods.................  So long as no Debenture Event of Default (as defined
                                    herein) has occurred and is continuing, the Company will
                                    have the right, at any time, to defer payments of
                                    interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures by
                                    extending the interest payment period thereon for a
                                    period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with
                                    respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension
                                    Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend
                                    beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated
                                    Debentures. If interest payments are so deferred,
                                    Distributions on the Capital 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 the Company's
                                    capital stock or debt securities that rank PARI PASSU
                                    with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
                                    During an Extension Period, Distributions will continue
                                    to accrue with income thereon compounded quarterly.
                                    Because
</TABLE>
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    interest would continue to accrue and compound on the
                                    Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the extent permitted
                                    by applicable law, holders of the Capital Securities
                                    will be required to accrue income for United States
                                    federal income tax purposes. See "Description of Junior
                                    Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest
                                    Payment Period" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
                                    Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue
                                    Discount."
 
Maturity..........................  The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on
                                    December 15, 2027, which date may be shortened (such
                                    date, as it may be shortened, the "Stated Maturity") to
                                    a date not earlier than December 15, 2002 if certain
                                    conditions are met (including 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).
 
Redemption........................  The Capital Securities are subject to mandatory
                                    redemption upon repayment of the Junior Subordinated
                                    Debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption in an
                                    amount equal to the amount of Junior Subordinated
                                    Debentures maturing on or being redeemed at a redemption
                                    price equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
                                    Capital Securities plus accumulated and unpaid
                                    Distributions thereon to the date of redemption. Subject
                                    to Federal Reserve approval, if then required under
                                    applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal
                                    Reserve, the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
                                    redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the
                                    Company (i) on or after December 15, 2002, in whole at
                                    any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at any
                                    time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence
                                    and during the continuance of a Tax Event, an Investment
                                    Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, in each case
                                    at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal
                                    amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures so
                                    redeemed, together with any accrued but unpaid interest
                                    to the date fixed for redemption. See "Description of
                                    the Capital Securities -- Redemption" and "Description
                                    of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption."
 
Distribution of Junior
  Subordinated Debentures.........  The Company has the right at any time to terminate CFB
                                    Capital II and cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures
                                    to be distributed to holders of Capital Securities in
                                    liquidation of CFB Capital II, 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 Capital Securities -- Distribution
                                    of Junior Subordinated Debentures."
 
Guarantee.........................  Taken together, the Company's obligations under various
                                    documents described herein, including the Guarantee,
                                    provide a full guarantee of payments by CFB Capital II
                                    of distributions and other amounts due on the Capital
                                    Securities. Under the
</TABLE>
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    Guarantee, the Company guarantees the payment of
                                    Distributions by CFB Capital II and payments on
                                    liquidation of or redemption of the Capital Securities
                                    (subordinate to the right to payment of Senior and
                                    Subordinated Debt of the Company, as defined herein) to
                                    the extent of funds held by CFB Capital II. If CFB
                                    Capital II has insufficient funds to pay Distributions
                                    on the Capital Securities (i.e., if the Company has
                                    failed to make required payments under the Junior
                                    Subordinated Debentures), a holder of the Capital
                                    Securities would have the right to institute a legal
                                    proceeding directly against the Company to enforce
                                    payment of such Distributions to such holder. See
                                    "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures --
                                    Enforcement of Certain Rights of Holders of the Capital
                                    Securities," "Description of Junior Subordinated
                                    Debentures -- Debenture Events of Default" and
                                    "Description of Guarantee."
 
Ranking...........................  The Capital Securities will rank PARI PASSU, and
                                    payments thereon will be made pro rata, with the Common
                                    Securities of CFB Capital II held by the Company, except
                                    as described under "Description of the Capital
                                    Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities of CFB
                                    Capital II held by the Company." The obligations of the
                                    Company under the Guarantee, the Junior Subordinated
                                    Debentures and other documents described herein are
                                    unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of
                                    payment to all current and future Senior and
                                    Subordinated Debt and will rank PARI PASSU with all
                                    current and future Trust Related Securities. At
                                    September 30, 1997 Senior and Subordinated Debt was
                                    approximately $103 million. At September 30, 1997, $60
                                    million in Trust Related Securities were outstanding.
                                    The Company may cause additional Trust Related
                                    Securities to be issued in the future, and there is no
                                    limit on the amount of Senior and Subordinated Debt or
                                    Trust Related Securities that may be issued in the
                                    future. In addition, because the Company is a holding
                                    company, all obligations of the Company relating to the
                                    securities described herein will be effectively
                                    subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of
                                    the Company's subsidiaries, including the Banks.
 
Voting Rights.....................  The holders of the Capital Securities will generally
                                    have limited voting rights relating only to the
                                    modification of the Capital Securities, the dissolution,
                                    winding-up or termination of CFB Capital II and certain
                                    other matters described herein. See "Description of the
                                    Capital Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust
                                    Agreement."
 
Proposed Nasdaq National Market
  Symbol..........................  CFBXZ.
 
Use of Proceeds;
  Purpose of Offering.............  The proceeds to CFB Capital II from the sale of the
                                    Capital Securities offered hereby will be invested by
                                    CFB Capital II in the Junior Subordinated Debentures of
                                    the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds
                                    from the issuance of
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>
                                    the Junior Subordinated Debentures, along with the
                                    proceeds of a proposed Common Stock offering, to
                                    capitalize its bank subsidiaries that are acquiring the
                                    Bank One Branches. The principal purpose of the offering
                                    is to increase the Company's Tier 1 capital under the
                                    capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve in connection
                                    with the acquisition of the Bank One Branches. See "Use
                                    of Proceeds; Purpose of Offering."
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
                      SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
 
   
    The following table sets forth certain consolidated financial data
concerning the Company. The summary financial data for each of the five years
ended December 31, 1996 is derived from the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Company, and related notes thereto, incorporated herein by
reference. The summary financial data as of and for the nine months ended
September 30, 1997 and 1996 have been derived from the Company's unaudited
consolidated financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial
statements reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal
recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of financial condition and
results of operations. The results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997
are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire
year. The summary financial data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the related notes thereto,
and management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of
operations incorporated by reference herein.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                            SEPTEMBER 30,                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                       ------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1997         1996         1996         1995         1994         1993         1992
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                    <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Interest income......................  $   209,706  $   167,912  $   229,426  $   192,868  $   143,237  $   121,146  $   115,309
Interest expense.....................       86,221       69,524       95,234       82,891       53,468       47,271       50,870
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net interest income..................      123,485       98,388      134,192      109,977       89,769       73,875       64,439
Provision for loan losses............        7,817        4,572        6,757        2,711        1,839        2,149        2,433
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net interest income after provision
  for loan losses....................      115,668       93,816      127,435      107,266       87,930       71,726       62,006
Noninterest income...................       30,849       19,132       27,370       22,488       18,992       18,158       14,640
Noninterest expense..................       95,610       72,491      104,288       82,593       70,241       60,854       52,992
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income before income taxes,
  extraordinary item and cumulative
  effect of accounting change........       50,907       40,457       50,517       47,161       36,681       29,030       23,654
Provision for income taxes...........       16,676       13,995       18,007       17,208       13,952       10,775        8,546
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Income before extraordinary item and
  cumulative effect of accounting
  change.............................       34,231       26,462       32,510       29,953       22,729       18,255       15,108
Extraordinary item, net of tax (1)...         (265)          --           --           --           --           --           --
Cumulative effect of accounting
  change.............................           --           --           --           --           --          359           --
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income...........................       33,966       26,462       32,510       29,953       22,729       18,614       15,108
Dividends on preferred stock (2).....           --        1,208        1,610        1,610        1,091           --           --
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Net income applicable to common
  equity.............................  $    33,966  $    25,254  $    30,900  $    28,343  $    21,638  $    18,614  $    15,108
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Earnings per common and common
  equivalent share:
  Primary earnings per share before
    extraordinary item and cumulative
    effect of accounting change......  $      1.84  $      1.53  $      1.85  $      1.82  $      1.48  $      1.29  $      1.07
  Extraordinary item, net of tax
    (1)..............................        (0.01)          --           --           --           --           --           --
  Cumulative effect of accounting
    change...........................           --           --           --           --           --         0.03           --
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Primary earnings per share.........  $      1.83  $      1.53  $      1.85  $      1.82  $      1.48  $      1.32  $      1.07
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Fully diluted earnings per share
    before extraordinary item and
    cumulative effect of accounting
    change...........................  $      1.79  $      1.47  $      1.79  $      1.74  $      1.42  $      1.27  $      1.07
  Extraordinary item, net of tax
    (1)..............................        (0.01)          --           --           --           --           --           --
  Cumulative effect of accounting
    change...........................           --           --           --           --           --         0.03           --
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
  Fully diluted earnings per share...  $      1.78  $      1.47  $      1.79  $      1.74  $      1.42  $      1.30  $      1.07
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
Average common shares outstanding:
  Primary............................   18,561,630   16,532,714   16,699,021   15,543,129   14,580,309   14,098,585   14,080,526
  Fully diluted......................   19,046,963   17,992,255   18,154,966   17,276,050   16,136,433   14,396,532   14,087,606
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                            SEPTEMBER 30,                            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                       ------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                              1997         1996         1996         1995         1994         1993         1992
                                       -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
                                                             (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                    <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
OPERATING RATIOS AND OTHER DATA:
Return on average assets (3).........        1.32%        1.26%        1.13%        1.24%        1.13%        1.10%        1.04%
Return on average common
  stockholders' equity (3)...........       18.35%       17.73%       15.69%       18.19%       16.77%       16.64%       15.10%
Net interest margin (3)..............        5.46%        5.32%        5.32%        5.06%        4.95%        4.74%        4.85%
Net charge-offs to average loans
  (3)................................        0.31%        0.15%        0.22%        0.17%        0.00%        0.08%        0.33%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
  (4):
  Excluding interest on deposits.....        4.54x        5.28x        4.72x        5.24x        6.31x        7.60x        8.53x
  Including interest on deposits.....        1.59x        1.58x        1.53x        1.57x        1.69x        1.61x        1.46x
FINANCIAL CONDITION DATA (END OF
  PERIOD):
Assets...............................  $ 4,248,258  $ 2,999,736  $ 3,116,398  $ 2,769,976  $ 2,130,619  $ 1,883,794  $ 1,576,275
Loans................................    2,617,085    1,976,592    2,064,108    1,767,193    1,330,146    1,037,666      813,550
Investment securities (5)............    1,148,069      736,270      729,236      717,342      613,239      653,722      579,078
Deposits.............................    3,457,537    2,424,315    2,537,440    2,359,716    1,794,565    1,627,989    1,374,859
Long-term debt.......................      120,988       38,898       46,750       81,288       38,092       48,354       18,015
Preferred securities of subsidiary
  (6)................................       60,000           --           --           --           --           --           --
Preferred stockholders' equity (2)...           --       22,997       22,988       23,000       23,000           --           --
Common stockholders' equity..........      271,427      203,782      221,583      181,004      134,701      125,071      103,911
Book value per common share..........        14.57        12.39        12.92        11.25         9.23         8.78         7.64
Tangible book value per common
  share..............................         9.38         9.98        10.63         9.08         8.09         7.93         7.01
FINANCIAL CONDITION RATIOS (END OF
  PERIOD):
Nonperforming assets to total loans
  and OREO...........................        0.80%        0.42%        0.70%        0.31%        0.34%        0.62%        1.13%
Allowance for loan losses to total
  loans..............................        1.43%        1.30%        1.27%        1.29%        1.30%        1.38%        1.38%
Allowance for loan losses to
  nonperforming loans................         216%         416%         201%         608%         537%         296%         224%
REGULATORY CAPITAL RATIOS (END OF
  PERIOD):
Tier 1 capital.......................        7.72%        8.48%        8.88%        8.51%       10.64%       10.16%       10.97%
Total capital........................       11.36%       10.77%       11.10%       11.18%       13.46%       13.44%       12.47%
Leverage ratio.......................        5.50%        6.35%        6.62%        6.10%        7.12%        6.12%        6.40%
NET INCOME AND RATIOS EXCLUDING
  GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE
  ASSETS AMORTIZATION AND BALANCES:
Net income applicable to common
  equity.............................  $    36,877  $    27,216  $    33,714  $    30,522  $    23,194  $    19,948  $    15,896
Fully diluted earnings per share.....  $      1.94  $      1.58  $      1.95  $      1.86  $      1.50  $      1.39  $      1.13
Return on average assets (3).........        1.46%        1.37%        1.25%        1.34%        1.22%        1.18%        1.10%
Return on average common
  stockholders' equity (3)...........       19.92%       19.10%       17.12%       19.58%       17.98%       17.83%       15.89%
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------------
 
(1) Represents the loss from early extinguishment of debt, less applicable
    income taxes of $159,000.
 
(2) The Company redeemed its 7% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock in March
    1997.
 
(3) Annualized based on results for the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
    1996.
 
(4) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
    represent income before income taxes, extraordinary items and fixed charges.
    Fixed charges represent interest expense, including the interest component
    of rental expense.
 
(5) Includes available-for-sale securities and held-to-maturity securities.
 
(6) Consists of company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of
    CFB Capital I, a wholly-owned business trust, which holds solely junior
    subordinated debentures of the Company.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
   
                                     [LOGO]
    
 
   
                           COMMUNITY BANKING MARKETS
    
 
   
    Map of the United States indicating the current states served and the
additional acquisition prospect states of the Company. The map is marked to show
the Company's affiliates, corporate office and pending acquisitions.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                <C>
COMMUNITY FIRST MARKETS SERVED
 
COLORADO
  Colorado Community First National Banks
  24 Markets
 
IOWA
  Community First National Banks
  2 Markets
 
MINNESOTA
  Community First National Banks
  20 Markets
 
NEBRASKA
  Community First National Banks
  12 Markets
 
NORTH DAKOTA
  Community First National Banks
  9 Markets
 
SOUTH DAKOTA
  Community First State Banks
  9 Markets
 
WISCONSIN
  Community First National Banks
  3 Markets
 
WYOMING
  Community First National Banks
  24 Markets
 
PENDING ACQUISITIONS (MARKETS TO BE SERVED)
 
ARIZONA
  Bank One
  25 Markets
 
REPUBLIC NATIONAL BANK
  1 Market
 
COLORADO BANK ONE
  7 Markets
 
FIRST NATIONAL SUMMIT BANK
  5 Markets
 
THE PIONEER BANK OF LONGMONT
  4 Markets
 
UTAH BANK ONE
  4 Markets
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
    PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE FOLLOWING
FACTORS IN CONNECTION WITH A DECISION TO PURCHASE THE CAPITAL SECURITIES.
 
RANKING OF THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
  AND THE GUARANTEE
 
   
    The ability of CFB Capital II to pay amounts due to holders of the Capital
Securities is solely dependent upon the Company making payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as and when required. All obligations of the Company
under the Guarantee, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and other documents
described herein are unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all current and future Senior and Subordinated Debt, the amount of
which is unlimited, and will rank pari passu with all current and future Trust
Related Securities. At September 30, 1997 Senior and Subordinated Debt was
approximately $103 million. At September 30, 1997, $60 million in Trust Related
Securities were outstanding. None of the Indenture, the Guarantee or the Trust
Agreement places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt,
including Senior and Subordinated Debt, that may be incurred by the Company or
its subsidiaries. Further, there is no limitation on the Company's ability to
issue additional Trust Related Securities, and such additional securities would
rank PARI PASSU with the Junior Subordinated Debentures. In addition, because
the Company is a holding company, all obligations of the Company relating to the
securities described herein will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries, including the Banks. As a
holding company, the right of the Company to participate in any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of the Capital Securities to benefit
indirectly from such distribution) is subject to the prior claims of creditors
of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the Company may itself be
recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, holders of the Capital
Securities should look only to the assets of the Company, and not of its
subsidiaries, for principal and interest payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination"
and "Description of Guarantee -- Status of the Guarantee."
    
 
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 Junior Subordinated Debentures to CFB Capital II
(and consequently CFB Capital II's ability to pay Distributions on the Capital
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 bank dividends is also subject to the subsidiary 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.
 
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TAX CONSEQUENCES OF A DEFERRAL OF
  INTEREST PAYMENTS
 
    So long as no Debenture Event of Default (as defined herein) has occurred
and is continuing, the Company has the right under the Indenture to defer the
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to
each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any
such deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Capital Securities by CFB Capital
II will be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which holders of the
Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate additional amounts thereon at
the rate of     % per annum, compounded quarterly, from the relevant payment
date for such Distributions,
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
to the extent permitted by applicable law) during any such Extension Period.
During any such Extension Period, the Company will be prohibited from making
certain payments or distributions with respect to the Company's capital stock
(including dividends on or redemptions of common or preferred stock) and from
making certain payments with respect to any debt securities of the Company that
rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; however, the Company will not be restricted from (a) paying
dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (b) redeeming rights
or taking certain other actions under a stockholders' rights plan, (c) making
payments under the Guarantee or (d) making purchases of common stock related to
the issuance of common stock or rights under any of the Company's benefit plans
for its directors, officers or employees. Further, during an Extension Period,
the Company would have the ability to continue to make payments on Senior and
Subordinated Debt. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company
may further extend such Extension Period provided that such extension does not
cause such Extension Period to exceed 20 consecutive quarters or to extend
beyond the Stated Maturity. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the
payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon
at the annual rate of     %, compounded quarterly, to the extent permitted by
applicable law), the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject
to the above requirements. There is no limitation on the number of times that
the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Description of the
Capital Securities -- Distributions" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."
 
   
    Because the Company believes the likelihood of it exercising its option to
defer payments of interest is remote, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
treated as issued without "original issue discount" for United States federal
income tax purposes. As a result, holders of Capital Securities will include
interest in taxable income under their own methods of accounting (i.e., cash or
accrual). If the Company exercises its right to defer payments of interest, the
holders of Capital Securities will be required to include their pro rata share
of original issue discount in gross income as it accrues for United States
federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash. See "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments
of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. However, should the Company elect to exercise its right to defer
payments of interest in the future, the market price of the Capital Securities
is likely to be adversely affected. A holder that disposes of such holder's
Capital Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the
same return on such holder's investment as a holder that continues to hold the
Capital Securities.
    
 
TAX EVENT REDEMPTION, INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT REDEMPTION OR CAPITAL TREATMENT
  EVENT REDEMPTION
 
    Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Tax Event, an
Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (whether occurring before
or after December 15, 2002), the Company has the right to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at 100% of the principal
amount together with accrued but unpaid interest to the date fixed for
redemption within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment
Company Event or Capital Treatment Event and therefore cause a mandatory
redemption of the Trust 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 guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. See
"Description of the Capital Securities -- Redemption."
 
    A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company and CFB Capital II 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 original issuance of
the Capital Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) CFB
Capital II is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
United States federal income tax with respect to income
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
received or accrued on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable
by the Company on the Junior 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) CFB Capital II 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.
 
    An "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Company and CFB
Capital II of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that, as a result of any 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, CFB Capital II 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 original
issuance of the Capital Securities.
 
   
    A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Company that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any proposed
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 or
administrative pronouncement or action 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 Capital Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is
more than an insubstantial risk of impairment of the Company's ability to treat
the Capital Securities (or any substantial portion thereof) as "Tier 1 Capital"
(or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines
of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company.
    
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
    Congress and the Clinton Administration have recently considered proposals
that would deny corporate issuers a deduction for United States income tax
purposes for the payment of interest on instruments with characteristics similar
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. While no such proposals are currently
pending in Congress, there can be no assurance that similar legislation will not
be enacted in the future or that other legislation enacted after the date hereof
will not adversely affect the ability of the Company to deduct the interest
payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Such a change would give rise to
a Tax Event which may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital
Securities by electing to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of the Capital Securities -- Redemption"; "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption"; and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences."
 
POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF CAPITAL
  SECURITIES
 
    The Company will have the right at any time to terminate CFB Capital II and
cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the
Capital Securities in liquidation of CFB Capital II, subject to the receipt of
any required prior approval of the Federal Reserve. Because holders of the
Capital Securities may receive Junior Subordinated Debentures in liquidation of
CFB Capital II and because Distributions are otherwise limited to payments on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures, prospective purchasers of the Capital
Securities are also making an investment decision with regard to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review all the information
regarding the Junior Subordinated Debentures contained herein. See "Description
of the Capital Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination" and
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Debentures."
 
LIMITATIONS ON DIRECT ACTIONS AGAINST THE COMPANY AND ON RIGHTS UNDER THE
  GUARANTEE
 
    Under the Guarantee, the Company guarantees the payment of Distributions by
CFB Capital II and payments on liquidation of or redemption of the Capital
Securities (subordinate to the right to payment of Senior and Subordinated Debt
of the Company) to the extent of funds held by CFB Capital II. If CFB
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
Capital II has insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Capital Securities
(i.e., if the Company has failed to make required payments under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures), a holder of the Capital Securities would have the
right to institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company for
enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on such
Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action").
Except as described herein, holders of the Capital Securities will not be able
to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
    Under the Guarantee, Wilmington Trust Company will act as indenture trustee
(the "Guarantee Trustee"). The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Capital 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 Agreement.
Any holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against CFB Capital II, the Guarantee Trustee or
any other person or entity. The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of the
Capital Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the
Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights of Holders of Capital Securities"
and "-- Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantee."
 
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 Junior Subordinated
Debentures, or Capital 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures or
the Guarantee.
 
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
 
    Holders of the Capital Securities will generally have limited voting rights
relating only to the modification of the Capital Securities and certain other
matters described herein. In the event that (i) there is a Debenture Event of
Default (as defined herein) with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(see "Description of the Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Events of Default"),
(ii) the Property Trustee fails to pay any distribution on the Capital
Securities for 30 days (subject to deferral of distributions as provided under
"Description of the Capital Securities -- Extension Periods"), (iii) the
Property Trustee fails to pay the redemption price on the Capital Securities
when due upon redemption, (iv) the Property Trustee fails to observe a covenant
in the Trust Agreement for the Capital Securities for 60 days after receiving a
Notice of Default, or (v) the Property Trustee is declared bankrupt or insolvent
and not replaced by the Company within 60 days, the holders of a majority of the
outstanding Capital Securities will be able to remove the Property Trustee and
the Indenture Trustee (but not the Administrative Trustees who may only be
removed by the Company as holder of the Common Securities). See "Description of
the Capital Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of the Trust Agreement" and
"-- Removal of Trustees."
 
ABSENCE OF EXISTING PUBLIC MARKET; MARKET PRICES
 
    There is no existing market for the Capital Securities. The Company intends
to include the Capital Securities for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market.
There can be no assurance that an active and liquid trading market for the
Capital Securities will develop or that a continued listing of the Capital
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
Securities will be available on Nasdaq. Although the Underwriters have informed
CFB Capital II and the Company that the Underwriters intend to make a market in
the Capital Securities offered hereby, the Underwriters are not obligated to do
so and any such market making activity may be terminated at any time without
notice to the holders of the Capital Securities. Future trading prices of the
Capital Securities will depend on many factors including, among other things,
prevailing interest rates, the operating results and financial condition of the
Company, and the market for similar securities. There can be no assurance as to
the market prices for the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated
Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for the Capital Securities if the
Company exercises its right to terminate CFB Capital II. Accordingly, the
Capital Securities that an investor may purchase, or the Junior Subordinated
Debentures that a holder of the Capital Securities may receive in liquidation of
CFB Capital II, may trade at a discount from the price that the investor paid to
purchase the Capital Securities offered hereby.
 
RISKS INVOLVED IN ACQUISITION STRATEGY
 
   
    The Company's acquisitions will continue to present material risks, as the
Company has grown and intends to continue to grow primarily through acquisitions
of banks and other financial institutions. Such acquisitions involve risks of
adversely changing results of operations, unforeseen liabilities or asset
quality problems of acquired entities and other conditions beyond the control of
the Company, such as adverse personnel relations, loss of customers because of
change of identity, and deterioration in local economic conditions. In
connection with the acquisition of financial institutions, the Company may from
time to time acquire new businesses that are different from its core business of
commercial banking and which present operating and strategic risks different
from those confronted in its core business. These various acquisition risks can
be heightened by larger transactions. To date, KeyBank Wyoming and Mountain
Parks are the largest institutions acquired by the Company. The proposed
acquisition of the Bank One Branches also represents a large acquisition for the
Company, and is expected to be consummated shortly after the Summit and Republic
acquisitions and in advance of the acquisition of Pioneer. See "The Company."
These proposed acquisitions are subject to various conditions, and there can be
no assurance that they will be consummated. See "Recent Developments -- Pending
Acquisitions."
    
 
    Managing growth through acquisitions, including absorption and training of
personnel, combination of office and operations procedures and related matters,
is a difficult process. In connection with its recent significant acquisitions,
the Company has experienced challenges with data and item processing conversion,
management training, staffing and other operational integration areas. These
issues have resulted in the need for management and support personnel to
allocate increased time to the integration process, in some cases slowing the
acquired institutions' marketing and business development efforts. Although the
Company has taken steps to address the issues resulting from recent
acquisitions, the Company may experience such issues in connection with future
acquisitions, and there can be no assurance that these problems will not result
in disruption or expense.
 
    Management believes future growth in the assets and earnings of the Company
will depend in significant part on consummation of further acquisitions. The
ability of the Company to pursue this strategy depends in part on its capital
position and, in the case of cash acquisitions, on its cash assets or ability to
acquire cash. Further, acquisition candidates may not be available in the future
on terms favorable to the Company. The Company must compete with a variety of
individuals and institutions, including major regional bank holding companies,
for suitable acquisition candidates. Although the Company has focused its
attention on smaller markets, in which the Company believed there was less
competition from the money center banks and major regional bank holding
companies, the Company recently acquired operations in metropolitan areas. The
Company may make further acquisitions of companies with operations in
metropolitan areas, in which case it will face more competition for such
acquisitions from larger institutions. Further, certain regional holding
companies have focused on the smaller markets traditionally targeted by the
Company, and there can be no assurance that the acquisition activities of
competitors in these markets will not increase. Such competition is likely to
affect the
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
Company's ability to make acquisitions, increase the price that the Company pays
for certain acquisitions and increase the Company's costs in analyzing possible
acquisitions.
 
NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING
 
    The Company's ability to execute its business strategy depends to a
significant degree on its ability to obtain additional indebtedness and equity
capital. Other than as described herein, the Company has no commitments for
additional borrowings or sales of equity capital and there can be no assurance
that the Company will be successful in consummating any such future financing
transactions on terms satisfactory to the Company, if at all. Factors which
could affect the Company's access to the capital markets, or the costs of such
capital, include changes in interest rates, general economic conditions and the
perception in the capital markets of the Company's business, results of
operations, leverage, financial condition and business prospects. Each of these
factors is to a large extent subject to economic, financial, competitive and
other factors beyond the Company's control. In addition, covenants under the
Company's current and future debt securities and credit facilities may
significantly restrict the Company's ability to incur additional indebtedness.
 
    The Company intends to complete an offering of common stock (the "Common
Stock Offering"), with estimated proceeds of $50 million, at approximately the
same time as this offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of these
two offerings to capitalize the Company's subsidiary banks that will acquire the
Bank One Branches. If the acquisition of the Bank One Branches does not occur
when it is anticipated, or at all, the Company will retain the net proceeds of
this offering and the Common Stock Offering for general corporate purposes,
which may include, without limitation, other possible future acquisitions,
funding investments in, or extension of credit to, the Company's subsidiaries,
repayment of maturing obligations and redemption of securities. If the Company
does not complete the Common Stock Offering, the Company may be unable to
consummate the acquisition of the Bank One Branches or to include all of the
Capital Securities as Tier 1 capital, although the Company believes it would be
able to include a substantial majority of the Capital Securities as Tier 1
capital.
 
COMPETITION
 
    Banking is a highly competitive industry. The Banks compete directly with
other banks and lending and financial institutions in their local communities.
The Banks also compete indirectly with regional and national financial
institutions, especially in larger metropolitan market areas in which the
Company has increased its operations as a result of recent acquisitions.
Further, changes in government regulation of banking, particularly recent
legislation which removes restrictions on interstate banking and permits
interstate branching, are likely to increase competition by out-of-state banking
organizations or by other financial institutions in the Company's smaller
markets as well as its metropolitan market areas.
 
REGULATION
 
    As a bank holding company, the Company is subject to extensive regulation by
the Federal Reserve Board. This regulation limits the manner in which the
Company and the Banks conduct their businesses and obtain financing and is
designed primarily to protect depositors and not to benefit holders of
securities of financial institutions. In addition, the Banks are subject to
extensive regulation by various federal and state regulatory authorities. The
banking industry is subject to changing laws and regulations, many of which have
expanded the scope of services that may be offered by the banking industry and
have allowed additional competition in many geographic regions. In September
1994, the Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 ("IBBEA") was
enacted. The IBBEA largely eliminated restrictions on interstate banking and
since June 1, 1997 has permitted interstate branching, subject to certain
options which states may enact by law. The Economics Growth and Regulatory
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 ("EGRPRA") streamlined application processes and
eased regulations in several areas, facilitating acquisitions and expansion of
non-banking activities. The IBBEA and EGRPRA may increase competition by
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
both out-of-state and in-state banking organizations or by other financial
institutions. There can be no assurance that implementation of and changes in
laws and regulations affecting banking will not adversely affect the Company.
 
   
YEAR 2000 ISSUE
    
 
   
    The Company is evaluating the potential impact of what is commonly referred
to as the "Year 2000" issue, concerning the inability of certain information
systems to properly recognize and process dates containing the year 2000 and
beyond. If not corrected, these systems could fail or create erroneous results.
The Company is in the process of determining which of its systems, if any, may
present Year 2000 issues, the magnitude of these issues and the steps that may
be necessary to correct them. Therefore, the potential liabilities and costs
associated with Year 2000 compliance cannot be estimated with certainty at this
time. Regardless of the Year 2000 compliance of the Company's systems, there can
be no assurance that the Company will not be adversely affected by the failure
of others to become Year 2000 compliant. Such risks may include potential losses
related to loans made to third parties whose businesses are adversely affected
by the Year 2000 issue, the disruption or inaccuracy of data provided by
non-Year 2000 compliant third parties and business disruption caused by the
failure of service providers, such as security and data processing companies, to
become Year 2000 compliant. Because of these uncertainties, there can be no
assurance that the Year 2000 issue will not have a material financial impact in
any future period.
    
 
KEY PERSONNEL
 
    Continued profitability of the Banks and the Company are dependent on a
limited number of key persons, including Donald R. Mengedoth, the President and
Chief Executive Officer, Mark A. Anderson, the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, Ronald K. Strand, the Executive Vice President, Banking
Group, and David E. Groshong, the Executive Vice President, Financial Services,
of the Company. There would likely be a difficult transition period in case the
services of any of these individuals were lost to the Company because of death
or other reasons. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to retain
its current key personnel or attract additional qualified key persons as needed.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
PENDING ACQUISITIONS
 
   
    PIONEER BANK, LONGMONT, COLORADO.  On November 6, 1997, the Company entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Pioneer Merger Agreement") to acquire
Pioneer Bank of Longmont Longmont, Colorado ("Pioneer"). As of September 30,
1997, Pioneer had five banking offices in four Colorado communities and had
total assets of approximately $119 million, deposits of approximately $110
million and shareholders' equity of approximately $8 million. On completion of
the merger, and subject to adjustments set forth in the Pioneer Merger
Agreement, the Company expects to issue approximately 700,000 shares of its
common stock to the holders of Pioneer common stock. Completion of the
transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, approval by the Pioneer
shareholders and other conditions. The transaction is anticipated to be
completed during the first quarter of 1998 and is expected to be accounted for
as a pooling of interests.
    
 
   
    BANK ONE BRANCHES.  On September 10, 1997, the Company entered into an
Office Purchase and Assumption Agreement (the "Branch Purchase Agreement") with
three subsidiary banks of Banc One Corporation (the "Banc One Banks") to acquire
37 banking offices located in Arizona (25 locations), Colorado (8 locations in 7
markets) and Utah (4 locations) (individually, a "Bank One Branch" or,
collectively, the "Bank One Branches"). At October 24, 1997, the Bank One Banks
reported that the Bank One Branches had total deposits of approximately $760
million and loans of approximately $56 million. The levels of deposits and loans
of the Bank One Branches can be expected to vary prior to closing. Under the
terms of the Branch Purchase Agreement, the Company will pay a purchase price
premium equal to 6% of the deposits of the Bank One Branches at closing. This
premium is estimated to be approximately $46 million, based upon the reported
levels of deposit at closing. Consummation of the acquisition is subject to
regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and is expected to occur
during the first quarter of 1998. The 25 Arizona offices and four Utah offices
will be merged into the Republic bank being acquired by the Company. The eight
Colorado offices will be merged into the Company's existing Colorado affiliate
bank. The acquisition will be accounted for as an acquisition of assets and
assumption of liabilities and will result in the recognition by the Company of
deposit based intangibles in an amount equal to the purchase price premium,
which is estimated to be approximately $46 million, as described above.
    
 
    In the Branch Purchase Agreement, the Bank One Banks made certain
representations and warranties to the Company as to matters including the
businesses, operations and financial condition of the Bank One Branches. These
representations and warranties generally terminate as of the date of closing,
except such as are contained in bills of sale or related documents. The Company
made representations and warranties to the Bank One Banks as to certain matters,
including lack of any conflicts of the Branch Purchase Agreement with certain
agreements, documents or laws relating to the Company. The Bank One Banks have
agreed (i) with specific exceptions, not to acquire or operate any building,
office or other facility or premises within a three mile radius of any Bank One
Branch office for a period of at least two years after the closing date; (ii)
with specific exceptions, not to solicit deposits or refinancing of certain
loans from customers of the Bank One Branches for a period of at least one year
after the closing date; and (iii) to indemnify the Company from losses arising
out of operations at the Bank One Branches, except that such indemnification
does not apply to any loans or assets of the Bank One Branches acquired by the
Company and is subject to certain other exceptions.
 
   
    The Branch Purchase Agreement is subject to termination by each party upon a
material breach of the agreement by the other party, among other events. In
addition, the agreement may be terminated by the Bank One Banks if the closing
has not occurred on or before January 23, 1998, unless the failure to consummate
the transaction by such time is due to a breach of the agreement by the Bank One
Banks. The Company has deposited $1.5 million with the Bank One Banks, which
they may retain if the Company fails to consummate the acquisition on or before
January 23, 1998. Because the Company does not currently
    
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
   
have an Arizona chartered bank, the regulatory approval of the purchase of the
Arizona Bank One Branches will depend on either completing the Republic
acquisition, described below, on or before January 23, 1998 or obtaining a new
banking charter in Arizona on or before that date. Also, in order to meet the
regulatory capital requirements for completion of the acquisition of the Bank
One Branches, the Company intends to increase its level of Tier 1 capital by at
least $90 million through the completion of this Offering and an anticipated
Common Stock Offering on or before January 23, 1998. See "Use of Proceeds;
Purpose of Offering." The Company believes that it will be able to consummate
the acquisition of the Bank One Branches on or before January 23, 1998; however,
no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to meet this timetable.
If the acquisition is not completed by that date, the Company may be required to
forfeit the deposit paid to the Bank One Banks.
    
 
   
    REPUBLIC NATIONAL BANCORP, INC.  On August 28, 1997, the Company entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended to date, the "Republic Merger
Agreement") with Republic National Bancorp, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona ("Republic")
and Republic Acquisition Corporation. At September 30, 1997, Republic had a
single banking office located in Phoenix, Arizona and had total assets of
approximately $52 million, total deposits of approximately $46 million and total
shareholders' equity of approximately $5 million. On completion of the merger,
and subject to adjustments set forth in the Republic Merger Agreement, the
Company expects to issue approximately 368,500 shares of common stock to the
former holders of Republic common stock. The necessary regulatory approvals have
been obtained, and the Company expects to complete the merger during the fourth
quarter of 1997, subject to approval by the Republic shareholders at a special
meeting scheduled for November 24, 1997. The acquisition is expected to be
accounted for as a pooling of interests.
    
 
   
    FIRST NATIONAL SUMMIT BANKSHARES, INC.  On August 22, 1997, the Company
entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as amended to date, the "Summit
Merger Agreement"), with First National Summit Bankshares, Inc., Gunnison,
Colorado ("Summit") and Summit Acquisition Corporation. At September 30, 1997,
Summit had banking offices in five locations in Colorado and had total assets of
approximately $94 million, total deposits of approximately $86 million and total
shareholders' equity of approximately $7 million. Pursuant to the Summit Merger
Agreement, holders of Summit common stock will receive shares of common stock of
the Company in exchange for their shares of common stock and holders of Summit
preferred stock will receive $100 in cash per share of preferred stock
surrendered plus accrued but unpaid dividends to the effective time of the
merger. On completion of the merger, and subject to adjustments as set forth in
the Summit Merger Agreement, the Company expects to issue approximately 316,000
shares of common stock to the former holders of Summit common stock. The
necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained, and the Company expects to
complete the merger during the fourth quarter of 1997, subject to approval by
the Summit shareholders at a special meeting scheduled for December 1, 1997. The
acquisition is expected to be accounted for as a pooling of interests.
    
 
SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITIONS
 
    In 1997 and 1996, the Company completed the significant acquisitions
described below.
 
   
    KEYBANK WYOMING.  On July 14, 1997, the Company acquired KeyBank National
Association, Cheyenne, Wyoming ("KeyBank Wyoming"), from KeyCorp, its parent
corporation, ("KeyCorp"), for a purchase price of $135 million. KeyBank Wyoming
has been renamed "Community First National Bank." As of June 30, 1997, KeyBank
Wyoming had total assets of approximately $1.1 billion and 28 banking offices
located in 24 communities in Wyoming, including Cheyenne, Laramie, Casper,
Sheridan and Jackson. The Company believes its banking network is the largest in
Wyoming, providing a full range of commercial and consumer banking services
throughout the state. The transaction was accounted for as a business
combination using the purchase method of accounting and resulted in the
recognition of goodwill by the Company of approximately $60 million.
    
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
   
    MOUNTAIN PARKS FINANCIAL CORP.  On December 18, 1996, the Company acquired
Mountain Parks Financial Corp. ("Mountain Parks"), a bank holding company that
operated a state chartered bank with full service commercial banking facilities
in 17 Colorado communities. At September 30, 1996, Mountain Parks had total
assets of approximately $581.8 million and total stockholders' equity of
approximately $57.1 million. Upon completion of the merger, which was accounted
for as a pooling of interests, the Company issued approximately 5.2 million
shares of common stock to the former holders of Mountain Parks common stock. The
market value of the Company's common stock issued in the merger was
approximately $142.2 million, based on the closing price of the Company's common
stock on the Nasdaq National Market on December 18, 1996. The Mountain Parks
banking offices are located in winter ski and summer recreational areas in the
Colorado mountains and in the greater Denver/Boulder metropolitan area. Pursuant
to commitments made with the Federal Reserve to address resulting concentrations
in certain Colorado banking markets, the Company sold Mountain Parks banking
offices in two Colorado communities. The Mountain Parks banking offices' primary
lending focus is on commercial loans, real estate mortgage loans, residential
real estate construction loans and, to a lesser extent, consumer loans.
    
 
                      USE OF PROCEEDS; PURPOSE OF OFFERING
 
   
    All of the proceeds from the sale of Capital Securities will be invested by
CFB Capital II in the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The net proceeds to the
Company from the sale of the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the Company are
estimated to be $57.9 million (net of the estimated underwriting commission and
other estimated offering expenses). The Company also intends to complete the
Common Stock Offering, with estimated gross proceeds of $50 million, at
approximately the same time as this offering. The Company intends to use the net
proceeds of these two offerings to capitalize the Company's subsidiary banks
that will acquire the Bank One Branches. See "Recent Developments -- Pending
Acquisitions."
    
 
    The purpose of this offering of Capital Securities and the Common Stock
Offering is to provide additional Tier 1 capital to satisfy regulatory capital
requirements in connection with the proposed acquisition of the Bank One
Branches. See "Recent Developments -- Pending Acquisitions." The Company is
required by the Federal Reserve to maintain certain levels of capital for bank
regulatory purposes. On October 21, 1996, the Federal Reserve announced that
certain qualifying amounts of cumulative preferred securities having the
characteristics of the Capital Securities could be included as Tier 1 capital
for bank holding companies, subject to certain limitations. Such Tier 1 capital
treatment, together with the Company's ability to deduct, for federal income tax
purposes, interest payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, will provide
the Company with a cost-effective means of obtaining capital for bank regulatory
purposes.
 
    If the acquisition of the Bank One Branches does not occur when it is
anticipated, or at all, the Company will retain the net proceeds of this
offering and the Common Stock Offering for general corporate purposes, which may
include, without limitation, other acquisitions, funding investments in, or
extension of credit to, the Company's subsidiaries, repayment of maturing
obligations and redemption of securities. If the Company does not consummate the
Common Stock Offering, the Company may be unable to consummate the Bank One
Branches acquisition or to include all of the Capital Securities as Tier 1
capital, although the Company believes it would be able to include a substantial
majority of the Capital Securities in Tier 1 capital.
 
    Pending their ultimate application, the net proceeds may be invested in
short term investment grade financial instruments.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
    For financial reporting purposes, CFB Capital II will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of CFB Capital II will
be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Capital
Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company under the caption "Company Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable
Preferred Securities of Subsidiary Trust Holding Solely Junior Subordinated
Debentures," and appropriate disclosures about the Capital Securities, the
Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes
to consolidated financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the
Company will record Distributions payable on the Capital Securities as an
expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
 
    Future reports of the Company filed under the Exchange Act will present
information regarding CFB Capital II and CFB Capital I and will include a
footnote to the financial statements stating that (i) each trust is
wholly-owned, (ii) the sole assets of each trust are the junior subordinated
debentures (specifying the principal amount, interest rate and maturity date of
such junior subordinated debentures), and (iii) the back-up obligations, in the
aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the
obligations of each trust with respect to the preferred securities issued by
such trust. Neither CFB Capital I nor CFB Capital II will provide separate
reports under the Exchange Act.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
   
    The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at
September 30, 1997 and as adjusted to give effect to the proposed issuance of
the Capital Securities. The As Adjusted column also reflects the proposed Common
Stock Offering and the pending Pioneer Merger, Summit Merger and Republic
Merger. There can be no assurance that such offering or acquisitions will be
consummated. See "Recent Developments -- Pending Acquisitions" and "Use of
Proceeds; Purpose of Offering." The pending acquisition of the Bank One Branches
will be accounted for as an acquisition of assets and assumption of liabilities,
and therefore no adjustments are necessary to reflect this acquisition.
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                                                           -----------------------
                                                                                             ACTUAL    AS ADJUSTED
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
                                                                                           (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                                                        <C>         <C>
Capital leases...........................................................................  $    5,053   $   5,053
Long-term debt:
  Long-term bank debt....................................................................      26,400      26,400
  7.30% Subordinated Notes due 2004......................................................      60,000      60,000
  9.00% Exchangeable Subordinated Notes due 2005.........................................      11,500      11,500
  Long-term Federal Home Loan Bank advances and other subsidiary borrowings..............      23,088      23,088
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
    Total long-term debt.................................................................     120,988     120,988
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of business trust
  subsidiaries holding solely junior subordinated debentures (1)(2)......................      60,000     120,000
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued.........          --          --
  Common stock, $.01 par value,
    30,000,000 shares authorized;
    18,676,448 shares issued;
    21,115,948 shares issued, as adjusted (3)(4).........................................         187         212
  Capital surplus........................................................................     101,017     160,116
  Retained earnings......................................................................     171,994     181,983
  Treasury stock, 46,426 shares..........................................................      (1,771)     (1,771)
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
    Total stockholders' equity...........................................................     271,427     340,540
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
      Total capitalization...............................................................  $  457,468   $ 586,581
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
                                                                                           ----------  -----------
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
(1) The Company formed CFB Capital I, a wholly-owned business trust subsidiary
    of the Company, to issue $60 million in stated value of 8 7/8% Cumulative
    Capital Securities in February 1997. The sole assets of CFB Capital I
    consist of approximately $61.8 million principal amount of 8 7/8% Junior
    Subordinated Debentures due 2027 issued by the Company to CFB Capital I.
    Such debentures will mature on February 1, 2027, which date may be shortened
    to a date not earlier than February 1, 2002 if certain conditions are met.
    The Company also formed CFB Capital II, a separate wholly-owned business
    subsidiary of the Company that will issue the Capital Securities hereunder.
    The sole assets of CFB Capital II will consist of approximately $61.8
    million principal amount of    % Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2027 to
    be issued by the Company to CFB Capital II. Such Junior Subordinated
    Debentures will mature on December 15, 2027, which date may be shortened to
    a date not earlier than December 15, 2002 if certain conditions are met. The
    Company owns all of the Common Securities of CFB Capital I and CFB Capital
    II.
    
 
   
(2) The junior subordinated debentures issued or to be issued by the Company to
    CFB Capital I and CFB Capital II are redeemable prior to maturity at the
    option of the Company, subject to any required prior approval of the Federal
    Reserve, (i) on or after February 1, 2002 or December 15, 2002,
    
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
   
    respectively, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at
    any time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence and continuation
    of a Tax Event, Capital Treatment Event or an Investment Company Event (each
    as defined in the relevant indenture).
    
 
   
(3) Reflects the adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock issued and
    outstanding assuming the issuance of (i) approximately 1,055,000 shares in
    the proposed Common Stock Offering (subject to adjustment to result in gross
    proceeds of approximately $50 million), (ii) 316,000 shares in the proposed
    acquisition of Summit, (iii) 368,500 shares in the proposed acquisition of
    Republic, and (iv) 700,000 shares in the proposed acquisition of Pioneer.
    See "Recent Developments -- Pending Acquisitions" and "Use of Proceeds;
    Purpose of Offering."
    
 
   
(4) Excludes (i) 690,257 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance as of
    September 30, 1997 pursuant to options outstanding under the Company's stock
    option plans and (ii) 1,793,305 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
    as of September 30, 1997 pursuant to options which may be granted under the
    Company's stock option plans.
    
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
                                   MANAGEMENT
 
    The executive officers and directors of the Company are as follows:
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME                      AGE                                     POSITION
- -----------------------------------      ---      -----------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>
Donald R. Mengedoth                          53   President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
Mark A. Anderson, CFA                        40   Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and
                                                    Treasurer
David E. Groshong                            49   Executive Vice President -- Financial Services
Ronald K. Strand                             51   Executive Vice President -- Banking Group
Randall L. Dancliff                          50   Senior Vice President and Wyoming Region Manager
Cynthia U. Davis                             45   Senior Vice President and Arizona/Utah Region Manager
Thomas E. Hansen                             45   Senior Vice President and Central Region Manager
Bruce A. Heysse                              46   Senior Vice President -- Acquisitions
Thomas A. Hilt                               55   Senior Vice President -- Operations and Administration
Gary A. Knutson                              50   Senior Vice President and Integration Manager
James R. Krumm                               49   Senior Vice President and Colorado Region Manager
David A. Lee                                 53   Senior Vice President and Eastern Region Manager
Harriette S. McCaul                          46   Senior Vice President -- Human Resources
Patricia J. Staples                          41   Senior Vice President -- Marketing
Patricia A. Adam                             61   Director
James T. Anderson                            58   Director
Patrick E. Benedict                          63   Director
Patrick Delaney                              55   Director
John H. Flittie                              61   Director
Dennis M. Mathisen                           58   Director
Dean E. Smith                                65   Director
Thomas C. Wold                               60   Director
Harvey L. Wollman                            62   Director
</TABLE>
    
 
   
    Donald R. Mengedoth has been President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of
the Board and a director of the Company since its organization in 1986. He was
Senior Vice President of First Bank System, Inc. ("FBS") from 1982 to 1987 and
has worked in the banking business since 1966, including management positions in
retail banking operations, human resources and commercial lending. From 1984 to
1987, Mr. Mengedoth was Regional Managing Director of FBS. From 1979 to 1982,
Mr. Mengedoth was Vice President -- Operations for FBS. Prior to that time, he
held various positions with and most recently served as Senior Vice President of
First Bank Milwaukee.
    
 
    Mark A. Anderson has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,
Secretary and Treasurer of the Company since its organization in 1986. He was
Vice President and Regional Controller for FBS from 1984 to 1987. From 1979 to
1984, he held various positions with FBS-affiliated banks in the finance and
credit analysis areas. Mr. Anderson is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a
Certified Management Accountant and has been designated as Certified in
Financial Management.
 
   
    David E. Groshong has been Executive Vice President -- Financial Services
since May 1996. He was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company's affiliate bank in Alliance, Nebraska from May 1995 to May 1996.
Previously, Mr. Groshong had been President and Chief Executive of the Company's
affiliate bank in Fergus Falls, Minnesota since 1992 and as Senior Vice
President and Senior Loan Officer of the Company's affiliate bank in Fargo,
North Dakota since 1985. He was employed by
    
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
   
Norwest Bank of Minnesota, National Association for a total of eight years and
prior to that worked in the consumer finance industry.
    
 
   
    Ronald K. Strand has been Executive Vice President -- Banking Group since
February 1993. He was previously Senior Vice President and Regional Manager for
South Dakota and North Dakota for the Company from January 1991 to February
1993. Previously, Mr. Strand had been Vice President and Regional Manager for
the Company and President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the
Company's affiliate bank in Wahpeton, North Dakota since 1988. Prior to his
affiliation with the Company, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer
of Norwest Bank of North Dakota, National Association, Wahpeton, from 1985 until
1988. He was employed by Norwest for a total of 15 years, having previously
worked in Norwest banks in Jamestown, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota.
    
 
    Randall L. Dancliff has been Senior Vice President and Wyoming Region
Manager since July 1997. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of KeyBank
Wyoming from April 1995 until the acquisition of KeyBank Wyoming by the Company
in July 1997. Prior to that, he served as President, Chief Operating Officer and
Chief Financial Officer of KeyBank Wyoming from 1992 to April 1995, and as
Regional Vice President of KeyBank Cheyenne from 1985 to 1991. From 1973 through
1985, he served in a variety of capacities with First Wyoming Bank, the
predecessor to KeyBank Wyoming.
 
   
    Cynthia U. Davis has been Senior Vice President and Arizona/Utah Region
Manager since October 1997. From October 1987 to October 1997, she held various
positions for Banc One Corporation, including positions as Vice President,
Retail Delivery for Banc One Corporation and Vice President Region Manager for
36 Bank One banking centers in Northern Arizona. She has a total of 23 years of
banking experience in Arizona, Idaho and California.
    
 
    Thomas E. Hansen has been Senior Vice President and Central Region Manager
since April 1993. He also served as President, Chief Executive Officer and
director of the Company's affiliate bank in Fargo, North Dakota, from April 1993
to December 1996. Previously, he was employed by Norwest Bank Fargo for 19
years, most recently as President.
 
    Bruce A. Heysse has been Senior Vice President -- Acquisitions since July
1996. He was Senior Vice President and Integration Manager of the Company from
November 1995 to June 1996. He was Vice President and Senior Credit Officer of
the Company from 1987 to November 1995. He began his banking career at the
Company's affiliate bank in Wahpeton, North Dakota, and had a total of 11 years
of banking experience prior to joining the Company.
 
    Thomas A. Hilt has been Senior Vice President -- Operations and
Administration of the Company since 1987 and President of Community First
Service Corporation, the Company's data processing subsidiary, since 1988. He
was Vice President and Manager -- Operations Support for the Regional Division
of FBS from 1984 to 1987. Prior to 1984, he held various positions with FBS
since 1967, including responsibility for systems development, programming, audit
and examination functions.
 
    Gary A. Knutson has been Senior Vice President and Integration Manager of
the Company since July 1996 and previously was Senior Vice President and Western
Region Manager since 1993. He was President, Chief Executive Officer and
director of the Company's affiliate bank in Wahpeton, North Dakota from January
1991 to September 1993. He began his banking career at the Company's affiliate
bank in Lidgerwood, North Dakota, and had a total of 14 years of banking
experience prior to joining the Company.
 
    James R. Krumm has been Senior Vice President since December 1996 and
Colorado Region Manager since May 1997. He was Executive Vice President,
Director and Chief Operating Officer of Mountain Parks Financial Corp. from
January 1995 until the acquisition of Mountain Parks by the Company in December
of 1996. He had also served as Vice President and Chief Credit Officer since
1991. Mr. Krumm has worked in the banking business since 1970, holding various
senior management positions with banks in Iowa and Colorado.
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
    David A. Lee has been Senior Vice President and Eastern Region Manager of
the Company since January 1991. He had been a Region Manager of the Company
since 1987. He was President and Chief Executive Officer and a director of the
Company's affiliate bank in Little Falls from 1988 to January 1993. Mr. Lee held
various positions with FBS from 1966 to 1982.
 
    Harriette S. McCaul, Ph.D., has been Senior Vice President -- Human
Resources since February 1997. Previously, she was the Dean of the College of
Business Administration at North Dakota State University ("NDSU") in Fargo,
North Dakota. She joined NDSU in 1983 and held various teaching and
administrative positions in the Business Department and human resources area.
Prior to that time, she was an instructor at Moorhead State University,
Moorhead, Minnesota, and the director of faculty and staff benefits at the
University of Kansas.
 
   
    Patricia J. Staples has been Senior Vice President -- Marketing since July
1994. Previously, Ms. Staples was employed as the public relations manager with
MeritCare Health System for 10 years.
    
 
    Patricia A. Adam is Secretary to the South Dakota Senate and is active in
various service, civic and community organizations in Pierre, South Dakota. Ms.
Adam is or has been a member of the Boards of Directors of the South Dakota
Historical Society, where she serves as President, of the South Dakota Discovery
Center and Aquarium, where she served as President, of the Children's Care
Hospital and School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the University of South Dakota
Foundation, the Associated School Board of South Dakota, where she served as
President for two years, and the Pierre, South Dakota Independent School Board
where she served as President for five years. Ms. Adam previously served as a
member of the Board of Directors of First National Bank, Selby, South Dakota.
She has been a director of the Company since 1987.
 
    James T. Anderson has been the Vice President and Treasurer of U S WEST,
Inc., a telecommunications service provider located in Englewood, Colorado,
since 1984. Mr. Anderson held various positions in the Bell System from 1963 to
1984. Mr. Anderson has been a director of the Company since August 1993.
 
    Patrick E. Benedict is the owner of Benedict Farms, Inc., a 6,000-acre
farming operation in Sabin, Minnesota. Mr. Benedict has been an advisory
director to the Board of Directors of the Company's affiliate bank in Fargo,
North Dakota since 1995 and was a director of the Company's affiliate bank in
Fargo, North Dakota, from 1984 to 1995. Mr. Benedict is chairman of Golden
Growers Coop and of Pro Gold LLC, a North Dakota corn processing company that is
49% owned by Golden Growers. He also serves on the executive committee and Board
of Directors of the Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, the Board of Directors
of MeritCare Health System, and is chairman of Northern Grain Company, all in
Fargo, North Dakota. Mr. Benedict is chairman emeritus of American Crystal Sugar
Company and past chairman of the Moorhead State University Foundation, both in
Moorhead, Minnesota. He has been a director of the Company since 1992.
 
    Patrick Delaney is a partner in the Minneapolis, Minnesota law firm of
Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., counsel to the Company. He has been a lawyer since
1967. Mr. Delaney is the secretary of MTS Systems Corporation, a
Minneapolis-based manufacturer of systems for materials testing, measurement and
simulation. He is also a director and the Secretary of CNS, Inc. and a director
and the Secretary of Applied Biometrics, Inc., both of which companies are
medical device manufacturers based in Minneapolis. He has been a director of the
Company since 1987.
 
    John H. Flittie has been the President and Chief Operating Officer of
ReliaStar Financial Corp., formerly The NWNL Companies, Inc., a
Minneapolis-based insurance and financial services company, since July 1993. Mr.
Flittie held various positions with NWNL and Northwestern National from 1985 to
July 1993. From 1976 to 1985, Mr. Flittie was a partner at Touche Ross & Co., an
audit and consulting firm. Mr. Flittie is a member of the Board of Directors of
ReliaStar Financial Corp. and various subsidiaries of ReliaStar. He has been a
director of the Company since 1993.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    Dennis M. Mathisen served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Mountain Parks from its formation in 1981 until the
acquisition of Mountain Parks by the Company in December 1996. Since 1974, he
served as a director and principal officer of rural and suburban commercial
banks located in Colorado and Minnesota. He has also served as the President of
Marshall Financial Group (a provider of management, financing and merger and
acquisition services) since 1989. Mr. Mathisen is a member of the Board of
Directors of Transportation Corporation of America, a midwestern trucking
company; the Harlem Globetrotters, International, an international sports
entertainment company; and Horizon Asset Management, LLP, a registered asset
management company. Mr. Mathisen has been a director of the Company since
December 1996.
 
    Dean E. Smith, a private investor, was the Managing General Partner of The
Robins Group, a private investment partnership, from 1983 to 1996. Mr. Smith was
a managing partner of R. & D. Investors Co. from 1968 to 1983 and held various
positions with First National Bank of Minneapolis from 1955 to 1967. Mr. Smith
has served previously as a director of Citizens State Bank of Green Isle, Green
Isle, Minnesota, and Resource Bank and Trust Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Mr. Smith has been a director of the Company since 1993.
 
    Thomas C. Wold has been a practicing attorney in Fargo, North Dakota since
1962 and is President and a shareholder of the law firm of Wold Johnson, P.C. He
is active in the development of motels, apartments and other real estate
projects. He has been actively involved in a number of civic and charitable
organizations. He has been a director of the Company since 1987.
 
    Harvey L. Wollman is a farmer in Frankfurt, South Dakota. Mr. Wollman served
in the South Dakota State Senate from 1968 to 1974, was Lieutenant Governor from
1974 to 1977, and served as Governor of South Dakota in 1978. Mr. Wollman has
served on various State government committees and is active in various service,
civic and community organizations. He has been a director of the Company since
1987.
 
                     DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
    The Capital Securities and the Common 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. Initially, Wilmington Trust Company
will be the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee and will act as trustee
for the purpose of complying with the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the
Capital Securities will include those stated in the Trust Agreement and those
made part of the Trust Agreement by the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of
certain terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the Trust Agreement
does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its
entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Trust Agreement, including
the definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever
particular defined terms of the Trust Agreement (as amended or supplemented from
time to time) are referred to herein, such defined terms are incorporated
herein. 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 Administrative Trustees on
behalf of CFB Capital II will issue the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities (collectively, the "Trust Securities"). The Capital Securities will
represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of CFB Capital
II 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 of CFB
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
Capital II (which will be held by the Company), as well as other benefits as
described in the Trust Agreement.
 
    The Capital Securities will rank PARI PASSU, and payments will be made
thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities of CFB Capital II except as
described under "Subordination of Common Securities of CFB Capital II Held by
the Company" below.
 
    Legal title to the Junior 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 Capital Securities (the "Guarantee") will be a guarantee on a
subordinated basis and will not guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the Capital Securities or on liquidation of the Capital
Securities if CFB Capital II does not have funds on hand available to make such
payments. See "Description of Guarantee."
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    PAYMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS.  Distributions on the Capital Securities will be
payable at the annual rate of      % of the stated Liquidation Amount of $25,
payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September, and
December in each year, commencing March 15, 1998 to the holders of the Capital
Securities on the relevant record dates (each date on which Distributions are
payable in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). The amount of
each distribution due with respect to the Capital Securities will include
amounts accrued through the date the distribution payment is due. Distributions
on the Capital Securities will be payable to the holders thereof as they appear
on the register of CFB Capital II on the relevant record date which, for so long
as the Capital Securities remain in book-entry form, will be one Business Day
(as defined below) prior to the relevant Distribution Date and, in the event the
Capital Securities are not in book-entry form, will be the 1st day of the month
in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs. Distributions will accumulate
from the date of original issuance. The first Distribution Date for the Capital
Securities will be March 15, 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 Capital Securities is not a Business Day,
payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect to any such
delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar
year, payment of such Distribution shall be made on the immediately preceding
Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date
such payment was originally payable. As used in this Prospectus, a "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in the State of Minnesota 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 Indenture Trustee is closed for business.
 
    The funds of CFB Capital II available for distribution to holders of its
Capital Securities will be limited to payments by the Company under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in which CFB Capital II will invest the proceeds from
the issuance and sale of its Capital Securities. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures." If the Company does not make interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds
available to pay Distributions on the Capital Securities. The payment of
Distributions (if and to the extent CFB Capital II 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 Guarantee."
 
    EXTENSION PERIOD.  So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing, the Company has the right under the Indenture to defer the
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to
each such period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension
Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. As a consequence of any such
 
                                       31
<PAGE>
election, quarterly Distributions on the Capital Securities will be deferred by
CFB Capital II during any such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders
of Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate additional amounts thereon at
the rate per annum of      % thereof, compounded quarterly from the relevant
Distribution Date, to the extent permitted under applicable law. The term
"Distributions" as used herein shall include any such additional accumulated
amounts. During any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or
pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock (which
includes common and preferred stock) or (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
Junior 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 with or junior in interest to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in
common stock of the Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with the implementation of a stockholders' 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, (c) payments under the Guarantee and (d) purchases of
common stock for issuance under any of the Company's benefit plans for its
directors, officers or employees). Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided
that such extension does not cause such Extension Period to exceed 20
consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity. Upon the termination
of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, and
subject to the foregoing limitations, the Company may elect to begin a new
Extension Period. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number
of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extension Period.
 
    The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
 
REDEMPTION
 
    MANDATORY REDEMPTION.  Upon the repayment or redemption at any time, in
whole or in part, of any Junior Subordinated Debentures, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a
Like Amount (as defined below) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days' notice of a date of redemption (the "Redemption Date"),
at the Redemption Price (as defined below). See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption." If less than all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then
the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to the
redemption of the Trust Securities pro rata.
 
    OPTIONAL REDEMPTION.  The Company will have the right to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after December 15, 2002, in whole at any time
or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to the accrued and
unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date
fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof, or (ii) at any
time, in whole (but not in part), upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, an
Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event at a redemption price
equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount
thereof, 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. See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures --
Redemption."
 
    TAX EVENT REDEMPTION, INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT REDEMPTION, CAPITAL TREATMENT
EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES.  If a Tax
Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event shall occur and
be continuing, the Company has the right to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures in whole (but not in part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption
of the Trust Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption Price (as
defined below) within 90 days
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital
Treatment 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. In the event a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or
Capital Treatment Event has occurred and is continuing and the Company does not
elect to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory
redemption of the Trust Securities or to liquidate CFB Capital II and cause the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Trust
Securities in liquidation of CFB Capital II as described below, such Trust
Securities will remain outstanding and Additional Sums (as defined below) may be
payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
DEFINITIONS.
 
    "Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary to be
paid by the Company with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by CFB Capital II on the
outstanding Trust Securities of CFB Capital II shall not be reduced as a result
of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which CFB
Capital II has become subject.
 
    "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities,
Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount (as defined below) equal to that
portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be
contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, allocated to the
Common Securities and to the Capital Securities based upon the relative
Liquidation Amounts of such classes and the proceeds of which will be used to
pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, and (ii) with respect to a
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of Trust Securities in
connection with a dissolution or liquidation of CFB Capital II, Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are distributed.
 
    "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
 
    "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, allocated on a pro rata basis (based on
Liquidation Amounts) among the Trust Securities.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR 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 liquidate CFB Capital II
and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of CFB Capital II as
provided by applicable law, cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be
distributed to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of CFB Capital II.
After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures for Capital Securities (i) such Capital Securities will no longer be
deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the Depositary or its nominee, as the record
holder of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered global certificate
or certificates representing the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered
upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing Capital
Securities not held by the Depositary or its nominee will be deemed to represent
the Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
Liquidation Amount of such Capital Securities, and bearing accrued and unpaid
interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
Capital 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 Capital Securities
or the Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for
the Capital Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of CFB Capital II were
to occur. Accordingly, the Capital Securities that an investor may purchase, or
the Junior Subordinated Debentures that the investor may receive on dissolution
and
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
liquidation of CFB Capital II, may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Capital Securities offered hereby.
 
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
 
   
    Capital Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the
Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the Capital
Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each
Redemption Date only to the extent that CFB Capital II has funds on hand
available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See "-- Subordination of
Common Securities of CFB Capital II Held by the Company" and "Description of
Guarantee."
    
 
    If CFB Capital II gives a notice of redemption in respect of the Capital
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, Minneapolis time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit with the
Depositary funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price and will give
the Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption
Price to the holders of such Capital Securities. See "Book-Entry Issuance." If
such Capital Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee,
to the extent funds are available, will deposit with the paying agent for such
Capital Securities funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price and
will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the
Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates
evidencing such Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions
payable on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the holders of
such Capital 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 the
holders of the Capital Securities will cease, except the right of the holders of
the Capital Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price, but without
interest on such Redemption Price, and such Capital Securities will cease to be
outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of such Capital
Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable
on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption
Price in respect of Capital Securities called for redemption is improperly
withheld or refused and not paid either by CFB Capital II or by the Company
pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Capital Securities will
continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date
originally established by CFB Capital II for such Capital Securities to the date
such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date
will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption
Price. See "Description of Guarantee."
 
    Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law), the Company may at any time and from time to time
purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by
private agreement.
 
    Payment of the Redemption Price on the Capital Securities and any
distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of Capital Securities
shall be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the
register of such Capital Securities on the relevant record date, which date
shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date or Liquidation
Date, as applicable; provided, however, that in the event that any Capital
Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for such Capital
Securities shall be a date at least 15 days prior to the Redemption Date or
Liquidation Date, as applicable. In the case of a liquidation, the record date
shall be no more than 45 days before the Liquidation Date.
 
    If less than all of the Trust Securities issued by CFB Capital II are to be
redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Redemption Price for such
Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
rata to the Capital Securities and Common Securities based upon the relative
Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Capital Securities to be
redeemed shall be selected by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Capital
Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Property
Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection
for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple thereof) of the
Liquidation Amount of Capital Securities. The Property Trustee shall promptly
notify the Trust Securities registrar in writing of the Capital Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Capital 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 Capital Securities shall relate to the
portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Capital 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 at such
holder's registered address. Unless CFB Capital II defaults in payment of the
applicable Redemption Price, on and after the Redemption Date, Distributions
will cease to accrue on such Capital Securities called for redemption.
 
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES OF CFB CAPITAL II HELD BY THE COMPANY
 
    Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Capital
Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro rata based on
the Liquidation Amounts of the Capital Securities and Common Securities;
provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date a
Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of
any Distribution on, or applicable Redemption Price of, any of the Common
Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or
other acquisition of the Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full
in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding
Capital Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto,
or in the case of payment of the applicable Redemption Price the full amount of
such Redemption Price on all of the outstanding Capital Securities then called
for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds available to
the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of
all Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Capital Securities then due
and payable.
 
    In the case of any Event of Default under the Trust Agreement 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 until the effect of all such Events of Default have been cured, waived
or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default have been so cured,
waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf
of the holders of the Capital Securities and not on behalf of the Company as
holder of the Common Securities, and only the holders of the Capital 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 terminate CFB Capital II and
cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the
Capital Securities. Such right is subject to the Company having received prior
approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. See "-- Distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debentures" above.
    
 
    In addition, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, CFB Capital II shall
automatically terminate upon expiration of its term and shall earlier terminate
on the first to occur of: (i) certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or
liquidation of the Company; (ii) delivery by the Company of written direction to
the Property Trustee to terminate CFB Capital II (which direction is optional
and wholly within the discretion of the Company); (iii) redemption of all of the
Capital Securities as described under "Description of the
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
Capital Securities -- Redemption -- Mandatory Redemption;" and (iv) the entry of
an order for the dissolution of CFB Capital II by a court of competent
jurisdiction.
 
    If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv)
above, CFB Capital II shall be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as
the Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of CFB Capital II as provided by applicable law, to the
holders of such Trust Securities a Like Amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, unless such distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not
to be practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of
the assets of CFB Capital II available for distribution to holders, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of CFB Capital II as provided by
applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of Capital
Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount of $25 per Trust Security
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 CFB Capital II has insufficient assets
available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the
amounts payable directly by CFB Capital II on the Capital Securities shall be
paid on a pro rata basis. The holder(s) of the Common Securities will be
entitled to receive distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the
holders of the Capital Securities, except that if a Debenture Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a priority
over the Common Securities.
 
    Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and
assuming, as expected, CFB Capital II is treated as a grantor trust, a
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures should not be a taxable event
to holders of the Capital 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 Capital Securities. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences." If the Company elects neither to
redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to maturity nor to liquidate CFB
Capital II and distribute the Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of the
Capital Securities, the Capital Securities will remain outstanding until the
repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If the Company elects to
liquidate CFB Capital II and thereby causes the Junior Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to holders of the Capital Securities in liquidation of CFB
Capital II, the Company shall continue to have the right to shorten the maturity
of such Junior Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain conditions. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- General."
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
 
    Any one of the following events that has occurred and is continuing
constitutes an "Event of Default" under the Trust Agreement (an "Event of
Default") with respect to the Capital Securities (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):
 
        (i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture
    (see "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
    Default"); or
 
        (ii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Distribution
    when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a
    period of 30 days; or
 
       (iii) default by the Property Trustee 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 default or breach in the performance of a covenant or warranty which is
    addressed in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and continuation of such default
    or breach, for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered
    or certified mail, to the defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the holders of
    at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
    outstanding Capital 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 shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Capital Securities, the
Administrative Trustees and the Company, unless such Event of Default shall have
been cured or waived. The Company 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 Capital
Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities upon termination
of CFB Capital II as described above. See "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." Upon a Debenture Event of Default, unless the principal of all the
Junior Subordinated Debentures has already become due and payable, either the
Property Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures then outstanding may declare all of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be due and payable immediately by giving
notice in writing to the Company (and to the Property Trustee, if notice is
given by holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures). If the Property Trustee
or the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to declare the
principal of all of the Junior Subordinated Debentures due and payable upon a
Debenture Event of Default, the holders of at least 25% in Liquidation Amount of
the Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to declare the
Junior Subordinated Debentures immediately due and payable. In either event,
payment of principal and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall
remain subordinated to the extent provided in the Indenture. In addition,
holders of the Capital Securities have the right in certain circumstances to
bring a Direct Action (as hereinafter defined). See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Capital
Securities."
 
REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES
 
    Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be 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 Capital Securities. In no
event will the holders of the Capital 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
shall 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 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 Trust Property may at
the time be located, the Company, as the holder of the Common Securities, and
the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint one or more persons
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 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
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.
 
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF TRUSTEES
 
    Any Person (as defined in the Trust Agreement) 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 shall be a party, or any person succeeding to all or substantially
all the corporate trust business of such Trustee, shall be the successor of such
Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such corporation shall be otherwise
qualified and eligible.
 
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF CFB CAPITAL II
 
    CFB Capital II 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 as
described below. CFB Capital II may, at the request of the Company, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of
the Capital Securities, 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 CFB Capital II with respect to the Capital Securities or (b)
substitutes for the Capital Securities other securities having substantially the
same terms as the Capital Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the
Successor Securities rank the same as the Capital 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 as the
holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (iii) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the
Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect,
(iv) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of CFB Capital II,
(v) the Successor Securities will be listed or traded on any national securities
exchange or other organization on which the Capital Securities may then be
listed, (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Company has received an opinion from
independent counsel to CFB Capital II experienced in such matters 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 Capital Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither
CFB Capital II nor such successor entity will be required to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act and (vii) the Company or any
permitted successor or designee 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, CFB Capital II shall not, except with the consent
of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Capital 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 entity or
permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance,
transfer or lease would cause CFB Capital II or the successor entity to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT
 
    Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantee -- Amendments
and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the Trust Agreement, the
holders of the Capital 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 Trust Securities, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provisions in the 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, which shall not be inconsistent
with the other provisions of the Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate
or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be
necessary to ensure that CFB Capital II 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 CFB Capital II will not be required
to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act;
provided, however, that in the case of clause (i), such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of Trust
Securities, and any amendments of the Trust Agreement shall become effective
when notice thereof is given to the holders of the Trust Securities. The Trust
Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the Company with (i) the consent of
holders representing not less than a majority of 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
CFB Capital II's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes or CFB Capital II's exemption from status as an "investment company"
under the Investment Company Act, provided that without the consent of each
holder of Trust Securities, the 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
holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date.
 
    So long as any Junior Subordinated 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 Indenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to
the Junior 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be due and
payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be
required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of
a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding the Capital
Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would
require the consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected
thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the
prior consent of each holder of the Capital Securities. The Trustees shall not
revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of
the Capital Securities except by subsequent vote of the holders of the Capital
Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify each holder of the Capital
Securities of any notice of default with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of such holders of
the Capital Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the
Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that CFB Capital II 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 the Capital Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Capital Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of the Capital 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 the Capital Securities in the manner set forth in
the Trust Agreement.
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
    No vote or consent of the holders of the Capital Securities will be required
for CFB Capital II to redeem and cancel the Capital Securities in accordance
with the Trust Agreement.
 
    Notwithstanding that holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital
Securities that are owned by the Company, the Trustees or any affiliate of the
Company or any Trustees, shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated
as if they were not outstanding.
 
GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
    The Capital Securities will be represented by one or more global
certificates registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee ("Global
Capital Security"). Beneficial interests in the Capital Securities will be shown
on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
participants in the Depositary. Except as described below, Capital 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 Capital 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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 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 Capital Securities are issued in definitive form,
such Capital Securities will be in denominations of $25 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
Capital Securities represented thereby, a Global Capital Securities may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of such the
Depositary or by a nominee of such the 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 Capital Securities represented by a global security will be made
to the Depositary, as the depositary for the Capital Securities. In the event
the Capital Securities are issued in definitive form, Distributions will be
payable, the transfer of the Capital Securities will be registrable, and Capital
Securities will be exchangeable for Capital Securities of other denominations of
a like aggregate Liquidation Amount, at the corporate office of the Property
Trustee, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent appointed by
the Administrative Trustees, provided that payment of any Distribution may be
made at the option of the Administrative Trustees by check mailed to the address
of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In addition, if the Capital
Securities are issued in certificated form, the record dates for payment of
Distributions will be the 1st 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 Capital Security, and the deposit of such
Global Capital Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary for
such Global Capital Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the respective aggregate Liquidation Amounts
of the individual Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital
Securities to the accounts of Participants. Such accounts shall be designated by
the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such Capital Securities.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security will be limited
to Participants or
 
                                       40
<PAGE>
persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Capital 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 Capital Security.
 
    So long as the Depositary for a Global Capital Security, or its nominee, is
the registered owners of such Global Capital Security, such Depositary or such
nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the
Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital Security for all purposes
under the Trust Agreement governing such Capital Securities. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security will not be
entitled to have any of the individual Capital Securities represented by such
Global Capital Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Capital 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
Securities Registrar (defined below) for such Capital 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 Capital
Security representing such Capital Securities or for maintaining supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    The Company expects that the Depositary for Capital Securities or its
nominee, upon receipt of any payment of the Liquidation Amount or Distributions
in respect of a permanent Global Capital Security immediately will credit
Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interest in the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
Global Capital 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 Capital Security held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
 
    If the Depositary for the Capital 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, CFB Capital II will issue individual
Capital Securities in exchange for the Global Capital Security. In addition, CFB
Capital II may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any
limitations described herein relating to such Capital Securities, determine not
to have any Capital Securities represented by one or more Global Capital
Securities and, in such event, will issue individual Capital Securities in
exchange for the Global Capital Security or Securities representing the Capital
Securities. Further, if CFB Capital II so specifies with respect to the Capital
Securities, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security
representing Capital Securities may, on terms acceptable to the Company, the
Property Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Capital Security, receive
individual Capital 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 Capital Security will be entitled to physical
delivery of individual Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital
Security equal in Liquidation Amount to such beneficial interest and to have
such Capital Securities registered in its name. Individual Capital Securities so
issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by CFB
Capital II, of $25 and integral multiples thereof.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
 
    Payments in respect of the Capital Securities shall be made to the
Depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the
applicable Distribution Dates or, if any of the Capital Securities
 
                                       41
<PAGE>
are not held by the Depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to
the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Register. The 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 Company. The Paying Agent shall be permitted
to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee
and the Company. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the
Paying Agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall
be a bank or trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the
Company) to act as Paying Agent.
 
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
 
    The Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the
Capital Securities. Registration of transfers of the Capital Securities will be
effected without charge by or on behalf of CFB Capital II, but upon payment of
any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any
transfer or exchange. CFB Capital II will not be required to register or cause
to be registered the transfer of the Capital Securities after such Capital
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
Capital 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 the Capital Securities
are entitled under the Trust Agreement to vote, then the Property Trustee shall
take such action as is directed by the Company and if not so directed, shall
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 CFB Capital II in such a way that CFB Capital II 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 Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for
United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Company and
the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent
with applicable law, the certificate of trust of CFB Capital II or the Trust
Agreement, that the Company and the Administrative Trustees determine in their
discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such
action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
related Capital Securities. Holders of the Capital Securities have no preemptive
or similar rights.
 
    CFB Capital II may not borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any
of its assets.
 
                                       42
<PAGE>
               DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued under the Subordinated
Indenture, dated as of December   , 1997 (the "Indenture"), between the Company
and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"). The
following summary of the terms and provisions of the Junior 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, which has been
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms
a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture is qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act. Whenever particular defined terms of the Indenture are
referred to herein, such defined terms are incorporated herein or therein by
reference.
 
    Concurrently with the issuance of the Capital Securities, CFB Capital II
will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the
Company for the Common Securities, in Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by
the Company. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued as unsecured debt
under the Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the annual rate of
   % of the principal amount thereof, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th
day of March, June, September and December of each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date"), commencing March 15, 1998, to the person in whose name each
Subordinated Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the
close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Notwithstanding the above, in the event that either the (i) Junior Subordinated
Debentures are held by the Property Trustee and the Capital Securities are no
longer in book-entry only form or (ii) the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
not represented by a Global Subordinated Debenture (as defined herein), the
record date for such payment shall be the 1st day of the month in which such
payment is made. The amount of each interest payment due with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will include amounts accrued through the date the
interest payment is due. It is anticipated that, until the liquidation, if any,
of CFB Capital II, each Junior Subordinated Debenture will be held in the name
of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Capital
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 Junior Subordinated Debentures is not a
Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on
the next Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the date such
payment was originally payable. Accrued interest that is not paid on the
applicable Interest Payment Date will bear additional interest on the amount
thereof (to the extent permitted by law) at the rate per annum of     % thereof,
compounded quarterly. The term "interest" as used herein shall include quarterly
interest payments, interest on quarterly interest payments not paid on the
applicable Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as
applicable.
 
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 15, 2027 (such
date, as it may be shortened as hereinafter described, the "Stated Maturity").
Such date may be shortened once at any time by the Company to any date not
earlier than December 15, 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. In the event that the Company
elects to shorten the Stated Maturity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, it
shall give notice to the Indenture Trustee, and the Indenture Trustee shall give
notice of such shortening or extension to the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures no less than 90 days prior to the effectiveness thereof.
 
   
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior and Subordinated Debt of
the Company. The Junior Subordinated
    
 
                                       43
<PAGE>
   
Debentures will rank PARI PASSU with other Trust Related Securities. Because the
Company is a holding company, the right of the Company to participate in any
distribution of assets of any subsidiaries, including the Company's Banks, upon
any such subsidiaries' liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the
ability of holders of the Capital Securities to benefit indirectly from such
distribution), is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor of
that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Company's
subsidiaries, and holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures should look only to
the assets of the Company for payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured debt of the Company, including Senior and Subordinated Debt and Trust
Related Securities, whether under the Indenture or any existing or other
indenture that the Company may enter into in the future or otherwise. See
"Subordination" below.
    
 
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
 
    So long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company has the right under the Indenture at any time during the term of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to defer the payment of interest at any time or
from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each such
period an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend
beyond the Stated Maturity. At the end of such Extension 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 Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue
and holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be required to accrue
interest income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Potential Extension of Interest Payment
Period and Original Issue Discount."
 
    During any such Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii)
make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company (including other Junior
Subordinated Debentures) that rank PARI PASSU with or junior in interest to the
Junior 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 with or junior in interest to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in
common stock of the Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with the implementation of a stockholders' 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, (c) payments under the Guarantee, and (d) purchases of
common stock related to rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its
directors, officers or employees). Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided
that such extension does not cause such Extension Period to exceed 20
consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity. Upon the termination
of any such Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due on any
Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period
subject to the above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during
an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. The Company must give the
Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Indenture Trustee notice
of its election of any Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the
earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the Capital Securities would have
been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period or
(ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to the
holders of the Capital Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day prior
to such record date. The Indenture Trustee shall give notice of the Company's
election to begin or extend a new Extension Period the holders of the Capital
Securities. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may
elect to begin an Extension Period.
 
                                       44
<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL SUMS
 
    If CFB Capital II is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay as
additional amounts on the Junior Subordinated Debentures such amounts
("Additional Sums") as shall be required so that the Distributions payable by
CFB Capital II shall not be reduced as a result of any such additional taxes,
duties or other governmental charges.
 
REDEMPTION
 
    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 Junior Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to
maturity at the option of the Company (i) on or after December 15, 2002, in
whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at any time in whole
(but not in part), upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Tax
Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, in each case at
a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100%
of the principal amount thereof.
 
    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 Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at such holder's registered address. Unless the
Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption
date interest ceases to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures or
portions thereof called for redemption.
 
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
 
DISTRIBUTION UPON LIQUIDATION
 
    As described under "Description of the Capital Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination," under certain circumstances involving the
termination of CFB Capital II, the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be
distributed to the holders of the Capital Securities in liquidation of CFB
Capital II after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of CFB Capital II as
provided by applicable law. If distributed to holders of the Capital Securities
in liquidation, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in
the form of one or more global securities and the Depositary, or any successor
depositary for the Capital Securities, will act as depositary for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. It is anticipated that the depositary arrangements for
the Junior Subordinated Debentures would be substantially identical to those in
effect for the Capital Securities. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
distributed to the holders of Capital Securities upon the liquidation of CFB
Capital II, there can be no assurance as to the market price of any Junior
Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of Capital
Securities.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
 
    If at any time (i) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company
has actual knowledge that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a Debenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which
the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, or (ii) the Company
shall have given notice of its election of an Extension Period as provided in
the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures and shall not
have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof,
shall be continuing, or (iii) while the Junior Subordinated Debentures are held
by CFB Capital II, the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment
of any obligation under the Guarantee, then 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 or (2)
make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company (including other Junior
Subordinated Debt) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior
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
 
                                       45
<PAGE>
ranks pari passu or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(other than (a) dividends or distributions in Common Stock, (b) any declaration
of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders' 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, (c) payments under
the Guarantee and (d) purchases of Common Stock related to rights under any of
the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees).
 
SUBORDINATION
 
    In the Indenture, the Company has covenanted and agreed that any Junior
Subordinated Debentures issued thereunder will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior and Subordinated Debt to the extent provided in
the Indenture. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with
Trust Related Securities, if any, 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 proceeding of the Company, the
holders of Senior and Subordinated Debt will first be entitled to receive
payment in full of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on
such Senior and Subordinated Debt before the holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment in respect of the
principal of or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
    In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of all Senior and Subordinated Debt 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain
any payment in respect of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; provided, however, that holders of Subordinated Debt
shall not be entitled to receive payment of any such amounts to the extent that
such Subordinated Debt is by its terms subordinated to trade creditors.
 
    No payments on account of principal or interest, if any, in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures may be made if there shall have occurred and be
continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior and Subordinated Debt
or an event of default with respect to any Senior and Subordinated Debt
resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if any judicial
proceeding shall be 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) 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 and 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 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures or to
 
                                       46
<PAGE>
other Debt which is PARI PASSU with, or subordinated to, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; provided, however, that 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) 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 Junior
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,
(v) the Guarantee, and (vi) any other debt securities issued pursuant to the
Indenture.
 
    The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional Senior and
Subordinated Debt or Trust Related Securities that may be issued by the Company.
The Company expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior and Subordinated Debt and may issue additional Trust Related
Securities.
 
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
    The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be represented by global
certificates registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee ("Global
Subordinated Debenture"). Beneficial interests in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by the Depositary. Except as described below, Junior
Subordinated Debentures in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for
the global certificates. See "Book-Entry Issuance."
 
    Unless and until a Global Subordinated Debenture is exchanged in whole or in
part for the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented thereby, it
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global
Subordinated Debenture 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.
 
    A global security shall be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Debentures
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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, 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 exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred and
be continuing an Event of Default under the Indenture with respect to such
global security. 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 from its
Participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such global
security. In the event that Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in
definitive form, such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in denominations of
$25 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or exchanged at the
offices described below.
 
    Payments on Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a global security
will be made to the Depositary, as the depositary for the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. In the event Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in definitive
form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be registrable, and Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Debentures of other denominations
of a like aggregate principal amount, at the corporate office of the Indenture
Trustee, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent appointed
 
                                       47
<PAGE>
by the Company, provided that payment of interest may be made at the option of
the Company by check mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto or by
wire transfer. In addition, if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are issued in
certificated form, the record dates for payment of interest will be the 1st day
of the month in which such payment is to be made. For a description of the
Depositary and the terms of the depositary arrangements relating to payments,
transfers, voting rights, redemptions and other notices and other matters, see
"Book-Entry Issuance."
 
    The Company will appoint the Indenture Trustee as securities registrar under
the Indenture (the "Securities Registrar"). Junior Subordinated Debentures may
be presented for exchange as provided above, and 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 Securities Registrar. The Company may at any time rescind the designation of
any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which any
such transfer agent acts, provided that the Company maintains a transfer agent
in the place of payment. The Company may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
    In the event of any redemption, neither the Company nor the Indenture
Trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange
Junior Subordinated Debentures during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Junior
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
Junior Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption, except, in the case
of any Junior Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any portion
thereof not to be redeemed.
 
GLOBAL JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
    Upon the issuance of the Global Subordinated Debenture, and the deposit of
such Global Subordinated Debenture with or on behalf of the Depositary, the
Depositary for such Global Subordinated Debenture or its nominee will credit, on
its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal
amounts of the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by such
Global Subordinated Debenture to the accounts of persons that have accounts with
such Depositary ("Participants"). Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global
Subordinated Debenture will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold
interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global
Subordinated Debenture 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 Subordinated Debenture.
 
    So long as the Depositary for a Global Subordinated Debenture, or its
nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Subordinated Debenture, such
Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by such Global
Subordinated Debenture for all purposes under the Indenture governing such
Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial
interests in a Global Subordinated Debenture will not be entitled to have any of
the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by such Global
Subordinated Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of any such Junior Subordinated Debentures
in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof
under the Indenture.
 
    Payments of principal of and interest on individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures represented by a Global Subordinated Debenture registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its nominee,
as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Subordinated
 
                                       48
<PAGE>
Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated Debentures. None of the Company,
the Indenture Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the Securities Registrar for such
Junior Subordinated Debentures 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 Subordinated Debenture representing such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    The Company expects that the Depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any
payment of principal or interest in respect of a permanent Global Subordinated
Debenture representing the Junior Subordinated Debentures, immediately will
credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of the Global
Subordinated Debenture 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 Subordinated Debenture held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
 
    If the Depositary 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, the Company will issue individual Junior Subordinated Debentures in
exchange for the Global Subordinated Debenture. In addition, the Company may at
any time and in its sole discretion, determine not to have the Junior
Subordinated Debentures represented by one or more Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures and, in such event, will issue individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures in exchange for the Global Subordinated Debenture. Further, if the
Company so specifies with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, an
owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Subordinated Debenture representing
Junior Subordinated Debentures may, on terms acceptable to the Company, the
Indenture Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Subordinated Debenture,
receive individual Junior Subordinated Debentures in exchange for such
beneficial interests. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in
a Global Subordinated Debenture will be entitled to physical delivery of
individual Junior Subordinated Debentures equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Junior Subordinated Debentures registered
in its name. Individual Junior Subordinated Debentures so issued will be issued
in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Company, of $25 and integral
multiples thereof.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
    Payment of principal of and any interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made at the office of the Indenture Trustee, except that at
the option of the Company payment of any interest may be made (i) except in the
case of Global Junior Subordinated Debentures, by check mailed to the address of
the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the securities
register or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the person entitled
thereto as specified in the securities register, provided that proper transfer
instructions have been received by the regular record date. Payment of any
interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures will be made to the person in whose
name such Junior Subordinated Debenture is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for such interest. The Company may at any time
designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying
Agent; however the Company will at all times be required to maintain a Paying
Agent in each place of payment for the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
    Any moneys deposited with the Indenture Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then
held by the Company in trust, for the payment of the principal of or interest on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures and remaining unclaimed for two years after
such principal or interest has become due and payable shall, at the request of
the Company, be repaid to the Company and the holder of such Junior Subordinated
Debenture shall thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the
Company for payment thereof.
 
                                       49
<PAGE>
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
 
    From time to time the Company and the Indenture Trustee may, without the
consent of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, amend, waive or
supplement the Indenture for specified purposes, including, among other things,
curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies (provided that any such action
does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or the Capital Securities so long as they remain
outstanding) and qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the
Company and the Indenture Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less
than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, to modify the Indenture in a manner affecting the rights of the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures; provided, that no such
modification may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Subordinated Debenture, (i) change the Stated Maturity of the Junior
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 Junior 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 Capital Securities remain outstanding, no
such modification may be made that adversely affects the holders of such Capital
Securities in any material respect, and no termination of the Indenture may
occur, and no waiver of any Debenture Event of Default or compliance with any
covenant under the Indenture may be effective, without the prior consent of the
holders of at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities unless and until the principal of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in full
and certain other conditions are satisfied.
 
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
    The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures that has occurred and
is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures:
 
        (i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on the Junior Subordinated
    Debentures, when due (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of
    an Extension Period); or
 
        (ii) failure to pay any principal on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
    when due whether at maturity, upon redemption by declaration or otherwise;
    or
 
       (iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain other
    covenants contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice to the
    Company from the Indenture Trustee or to the Company and the Indenture
    Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate outstanding principal
    amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures; or
 
        (iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
    Company.
 
    The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Indenture
Trustee. The Indenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Junior 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 Junior
Subordinated Debentures may annul such declaration and waive the default if the
default (other than the non-payment of the principal of the Junior 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 Indenture Trustee.
Should the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to annul such
declaration and waive such default, the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities shall have such right.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>
    In case a Debenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing as to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will have the right to
declare the principal of and the interest on such Junior 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
    The Company is required to file annually with the Indenture 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.
 
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF CAPITAL 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 or principal
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or principal is
otherwise payable, a holder of Capital 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 Junior Subordinated Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities of such holder ("Direct Action"). If the right to bring a
Direct Action is removed, CFB Capital II may become subject to the reporting
obligations under the Exchange Act. The Company shall have the right under the
Indenture to set-off any payment made to such holder of Capital Securities by
the Company in connection with a Direct Action.
 
    The holders of the Capital Securities would not be able to exercise directly
any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph available to
the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures unless there shall have been
an Event of Default under the Trust Agreement. See "Description of Capital
Securities -- Events of Default; Notice."
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
 
    The Indenture provides that the Company shall not consolidate with or merge
into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with
or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless (i) 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 such successor Person expressly assumes the Company's
obligations on the Junior 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, shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii) certain other
conditions as prescribed in the Indenture are met.
 
    The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Company that may adversely affect holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
    The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Junior
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Indenture Trustee for
cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable
at their Stated Maturity within one year, and the Company deposits or causes to
be deposited with the Indenture Trustee trust funds, in trust, for the purpose
and in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Indenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal and interest to the date of the
deposit or to the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, then the Indenture will
cease to be of further effect (except as to the
 
                                       51
<PAGE>
Company's obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the Indenture and to
provide the officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described therein),
and the Company will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
    The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INDENTURE TRUSTEE
 
    The Indenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Indenture Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Indenture 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 Indenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
    The Company will covenant in the Indenture, as to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, that if and so long as (i) CFB Capital II is the holder of all such
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of CFB Capital II
has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Company has elected, and has not
revoked such election, to pay Additional Sums (as defined under "Description of
the Capital Securities -- Redemption") in respect of the Capital Securities, the
Company will pay to CFB Capital II such Additional Sums. The Company will also
covenant, as to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (i) to maintain directly or
indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of CFB Capital II to which
Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued, 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 CFB Capital II, except upon prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve, and except (a) in connection with a distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Capital Securities in liquidation
of CFB Capital II 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 CFB Capital II to remain classified as a grantor trust and not as an
association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes.
 
                              BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
 
    The Depositary will act as securities depositary for all of the Capital
Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The Capital Securities and
the Junior Subordinated Debentures 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 Capital
Securities and the Junior Subordinated Debentures 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
 
                                       52
<PAGE>
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 Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures within the
Depositary system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will
receive a credit for the Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures on
the Depositary's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of
each Capital Securities and each Subordinated Debenture ("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 Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Transfers of ownership interests in the Capital Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures 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 Capital
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, except in the event that use of
the book-entry system for the or Junior Subordinated Debentures is discontinued.
 
    The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the
Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures; the Depositary's records
reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such
Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures 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 Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. If less than all of
the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures are being redeemed,
the Depositary will determine by lot or pro rata the amount of the Capital
Securities of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
 
    Although voting with respect to the Capital Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is limited to the holders of record of the Capital
Securities Junior Subordinated Debentures, in those instances in which a vote is
required, neither the Depositary nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with
respect to Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. 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 Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to
the Omnibus Proxy).
 
    Distribution payments on the Capital Securities or the Junior Subordinated
Debentures 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
 
                                       53
<PAGE>
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, CFB Capital II
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 Capital Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures 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 Capital Securities or Subordinated Debenture
certificates representing such Capital Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures 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 Capital Securities or
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures may determine to
discontinue the system of book-entry transfers through the Depositary. In any
such event, definitive certificates for such Capital Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures 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 CFB Capital
II and the Company believe to be accurate, but CFB Capital II and the Company
assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Neither CFB Capital II 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.
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEE
 
    The Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee") will be
executed and delivered by the Company concurrently with the issuance of the
Capital Securities for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities.
Wilmington Trust Company will act as indenture trustee ("Guarantee Trustee")
under the Guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act,
and the Guarantee will be qualified as an Indenture under the Trust Indenture
Act. The following summary of certain 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 Agreement, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act. The form of
the Guarantee has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus forms a part. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the
Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities.
 
GENERAL
 
    The Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
CFB Capital II's obligations under the Capital Securities, but will apply only
to the extent that CFB Capital II has funds sufficient to make such payments,
and is not a guarantee of collection.
 
    The Company will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated basis,
to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below) to the
holders of the Capital Securities, as and when due, regardless of any defense,
right of set-off or counterclaim that CFB Capital II may have or assert other
than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of CFB Capital II (the
"Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any accumulated and
unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Capital Securities, to the
extent that CFB Capital II has funds on hand available therefor at such time,
(ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption to the extent that CFB Capital II has funds on
 
                                       54
<PAGE>
hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding up or liquidation of CFB Capital II (unless the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Capital Securities),
the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution and (b) the amount of assets of
CFB Capital II remaining available for distribution to holders of Capital
Securities. The Company's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Company to the
holders of the Capital Securities or by causing CFB Capital II to pay such
amounts to such holders.
 
    If the Company does not make interest payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by CFB Capital II, CFB Capital II will not be able to pay
Distributions on the Capital Securities and will not have funds legally
available therefor. The Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior and Subordinated Debt of the Company and PARI PASSU with
all Trust Related Securities. See "Status of the Guarantee" below. Because the
Company is a holding company, the right of the Company to participate in any
distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent the Company may itself be recognized as a
creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Company's obligations under the
Guarantee 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. Except as otherwise described
herein, the Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured
or unsecured debt of the Company, including Senior and Subordinated Debt whether
under the Indenture, any other indenture that the Company may enter into in the
future, or otherwise.
 
    The Company has, through the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement, taken
together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of CFB Capital
II's obligations under the Capital 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 CFB Capital II's obligations under the Capital Securities. See "Relationship
Among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
Guarantee."
 
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 and
Subordinated Debt in the same manner as the Junior Subordinated Debentures and
PARI PASSU with all Trust Related Securities.
 
    The Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
For example, 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 or entity. The Guarantee
will be held for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities. The
Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in
full to the extent not paid by CFB Capital II or upon distribution to the
holders of the Capital Securities of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the
holders of the Capital Securities. The Guarantee does not place a limitation on
the amount of additional Senior and Subordinated Debt or Trust Related
Securities that may be incurred by the Company. The Company expects from time to
time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior and Subordinated Debt
and may issue additional Trust Related Securities.
 
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
 
    Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the Capital 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 such
outstanding Capital Securities. See "Description of the Capital Securities --
Voting Rights; Amendment of
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
Trust Agreement." All guarantees and agreements contained in the Guarantee shall
bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Company and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the Capital 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
Capital 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 the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against CFB Capital II, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
    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 this provision, 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 the Capital 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 full
payment of the Redemption Price of the Capital Securities, upon full payment of
the amounts payable upon liquidation of CFB Capital II or upon distribution of
Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the Capital 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 Capital Securities must restore payment of
any sums paid under the Capital Securities or the Guarantee.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
    The Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of Minnesota.
 
THE EXPENSE AGREEMENT
 
    Pursuant to the Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities entered into by the
Company under the Trust Agreement (the "Expense Agreement"), the Company will
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each person or entity to whom CFB
Capital II becomes indebted or liable, the full payment of any costs, expenses
or liabilities of CFB Capital II, other than obligations of CFB Capital II to
pay to the holders of the Capital Securities or other similar interests in CFB
Capital II of the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital
Securities or such other similar interests, as the case may be.
 
                                       56
<PAGE>
                 RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE CAPITAL SECURITIES, THE
                JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND THE GUARANTEE
 
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
 
    Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Capital Securities
(to the extent CFB Capital II 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 Guarantee." Taken together, the Company's
obligations under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the Trust
Agreement, the Expense Agreement and the Guarantee provide, in the aggregate, a
full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments of distributions and
other amounts due on the Capital 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 those documents
that has the effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee
of CFB Capital II's obligations under the Capital Securities. If and to the
extent that the Company does not make payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, CFB Capital II will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on
the Capital Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions
when CFB Capital II does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of the Capital Securities is to institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of payment of such
Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee
are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior and Subordinated
Debt and PARI PASSU with all Trust Related Securities.
 
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
 
    As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover
Distributions and other payments due on the Capital Securities, primarily
because: (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be equal to the sum of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities and Common Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest
and other payment dates on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will match the
Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment dates for the Capital
Securities; (iii) the Company shall pay for all and any costs, expenses and
liabilities of CFB Capital II except CFB Capital II's obligations to holders of
Capital Securities; and (iv) the Trust Agreement further provides that CFB
Capital II will not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the
limited purposes of CFB Capital II.
 
    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the Company has
the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder
with and to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on
the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantee.
 
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES UNDER THE GUARANTEE
 
    A holder of any the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, CFB Capital
II or any other person or entity,
 
    A default or event of default under any Senior and Subordinated Debt would
not constitute a default or Event of Default. However, in the event of payment
defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior and Subordinated Debt, the
subordination provisions of the Indenture provide that no payments may be made
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures until such Senior and
Subordinated Debt has been paid in full or any payment default thereunder has
been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on Junior Subordinated
Debentures would constitute an Event of Default.
 
                                       57
<PAGE>
LIMITED PURPOSE OF CFB CAPITAL II
 
    The Capital Securities evidence a beneficial interest in CFB Capital II, and
CFB Capital II exists for the sole purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and
investing the proceeds thereof in Junior Subordinated Debentures. A principal
difference between the rights of a holder of the Capital Securities and a holder
of a Subordinated Debenture is that a holder of a Subordinated Debenture is
entitled to receive from the Company the principal amount of and interest
accrued on Junior Subordinated Debentures held, while a holder of the Capital
Securities is entitled to receive Distributions from CFB Capital II (or from the
Company under the Guarantee) if and to the extent CFB Capital II has funds
available for the payment of such Distributions.
 
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
 
    Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding-up or liquidation of
CFB Capital II involving the liquidation of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
the holders of Capital Securities will be entitled to receive, out of assets
held by CFB Capital II, the Liquidation Distribution in cash. See "Description
of the Capital Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." Upon
any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the Company, the
Property Trustee, as holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, would be a
subordinated creditor of the Company, subordinated in right of payment to all
Senior and Subordinated Debt 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 CFB Capital II (other than CFB Capital II's obligations to the
holders of its Capital Securities), the positions of a holder of the Capital
Securities and a holder of Junior 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.
 
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
    In the opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., counsel to the Company
("Counsel"), the following summary accurately describes the material United
States federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Capital Securities. Unless otherwise stated, this
summary deals only with Capital Securities held as capital assets by United
States Persons (defined below) who purchase the Capital Securities upon original
issuance at their original offering price. As used herein, a "United States
Person" means a person that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States,
(ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an
estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; provided,
however, that for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996 (or, if a
trustee so elects, for taxable years ending after August 20, 1996), a "United
States Person" shall include any trust if a court is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more United States
fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such
trust. The tax treatment of holders may vary depending on their particular
situation. This summary does not address all the tax consequences that may be
relevant to a particular holder or to holders who may be subject to special tax
treatment, such as banks, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment
companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, tax-exempt
investors, or foreign investors. In addition, this summary does not include any
description of any alternative minimum tax consequences or the tax laws of any
state, local or foreign government that may be applicable to a holder of Capital
Securities. This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and
administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, as of the date hereof, all
of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
 
                                       58
<PAGE>
    The following discussion does not discuss the tax consequences that might be
relevant to persons that are not United States Persons ("non-United States
Persons") . Non-United States Persons should consult their own tax advisors as
to the specific United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Capital Securities.
 
    The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various
interpretations and the opinions of Counsel are not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service ("Service") or the courts, either of which could take a contrary
position. Moreover, no rulings have been or will be sought from the Service with
respect to the transactions described herein. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that the Service will not challenge the opinions expressed herein or
that a court would not sustain such a challenge. Nevertheless, Counsel has
advised that it is of the view that, if challenged, the opinions expressed
herein would be sustained by a court with jurisdiction in a properly presented
case.
 
    HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE CAPITAL
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. FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBLE REDEMPTION OF THE CAPITAL
SECURITIES UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN TAX EVENTS, SEE "DESCRIPTION OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES -- REDEMPTION."
 
CLASSIFICATION OF CFB CAPITAL II
 
    In connection with the issuance of the Capital Securities, Counsel is of the
opinion that, under current law and assuming compliance with the terms of the
Trust Agreement, and based on certain facts and assumptions contained in such
opinion, CFB Capital II will be classified as a grantor trust and not as an
association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
purposes. As a result, each beneficial owner of the Capital Securities (a
"Securityholder") will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Accordingly, each Securityholder will be
required to include in its gross income its pro rata share of the interest
income or original issue discount that is paid or accrued on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
No amount included in income with respect to the Capital Securities will be
eligible for the dividends received deduction.
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
    The Company intends to take the position that the Junior 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 Capital
Security, each holder covenants to treat the Junior Subordinated Debentures as
indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of an indirect beneficial
ownership interest in the Junior 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 Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be classified for United States federal income tax
purposes as indebtedness of the Company.
 
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
 
    Except as set forth below, stated interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures generally will be included in income by a Securityholder at the time
such interest income is paid or accrued in accordance with such Securityholder's
regular method of tax accounting.
 
    The Company believes that, under the applicable Treasury regulations, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be considered to have been issued with
"original issue discount" ("OID") within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the
Code. If, however, the Company exercises its right to defer Payments of
 
                                       59
<PAGE>
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will become OID instruments at such time and all Securityholders will
be required to accrue the stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
on a daily basis during the Extension Period, even though the Company will not
pay such interest until the end of the Extension Period, and even though some
Securityholders may use the cash method of tax accounting. Moreover, thereafter
the Junior subordinated Debentures will be taxed as OID instruments for as long
as they remain outstanding. Thus, even after the end of the Extension Period,
all Securityholders would be required to continue to include the stated interest
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures in income on a daily economic accrual
basis, regardless of their method of tax accounting and in advance of receipt of
the cash attributable to such interest income. Under the OID economic accrual
rules, a Securityholder would accrue an amount of interest income each year that
approximates the stated interest payments called for under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, and actual cash payments of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures would not be reported separately as taxable income.
 
    The Treasury regulations described above have not yet been addressed in any
rulings or other interpretations by the Service, and it is possible that the
Service could take a contrary position. If the Service were to assert
successfully that the stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures was
OID regardless of whether the Corporation exercises its right to defer payments
of interest on such debentures, all Securityholders would be required to include
such stated interest in income on a daily economic accrual basis as described
above.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
    Under current law, a distribution by CFB Capital II of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption "Description of Capital
Securities -- Liquidation and Distribution Upon Termination" will be non-taxable
and will result in the Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through CFB
Capital II, with a holding period and aggregate tax basis equal to the holding
period and aggregate tax basis such Securityholder had in its Capital Securities
before such distribution. If, however, the liquidation of CFB Capital II were to
occur because CFB Capital II is subject to United States federal income tax with
respect to income accrued or received on the Junior Subordinated Debentures as a
result of a Tax Event or otherwise, the distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to Securityholders by CFB Capital II could be a taxable event to CFB
Capital II and each Securityholder, and a Securityholder would recognize gain or
loss as if the Securityholder had exchanged its Capital Securities for the
Junior Subordinated Debentures it received upon the liquidation of CFB Capital
II. A Securityholder would recognize interest income in respect of Junior
Subordinated Debentures received from CFB Capital II in the manner described
above under "-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
SALES OR REDEMPTION OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
   
    Gain or loss will be recognized by a Securityholder on a sale of Capital
Securities (including a redemption for cash) in an amount equal to the
difference between the amount realized (which for this purpose, will exclude
amounts attributable to accrued interest or OID not previously included in
income) and the Securityholder's adjusted tax basis in the Capital Securities
sold or so redeemed. Gain or loss recognized by a Securityholder on the sale of
Capital Securities will generally be taxable as capital gain or loss providing
the Securityholder held the Capital Securities as capital assets. Amounts
attributable to accrued interest with respect to a Securityholder's pro rata
share of the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously included in income
will be taxable as ordinary income.
    
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
    The amount of OID accrued on the Capital Securities held of record by United
States Persons (other than corporations and other exempt Securityholders), if
any, will be reported to the Service. "Backup" withholding at a rate of 31% will
apply to payments of interest to non-exempt United States Persons unless
 
                                       60
<PAGE>
the Securityholder furnishes its taxpayer identification number in the manner
prescribed in applicable Treasury Regulations, certifies that such number is
correct, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding and meets
certain other conditions. Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such
Securityholder's United States federal income tax liability, provided the
required information is furnished to the Service.
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
 
    Congress and the Clinton Administration have recently considered proposals
that would deny corporate issuers a deduction for United States income tax
purposes for the payment of interest on instruments with characteristics similar
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. While no such proposals are currently
pending in Congress, there can be no assurance that similar legislation will not
be enacted in the future or that other legislation enacted after the date hereof
will not adversely affect the ability of the Company to deduct the interest
payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Such a change would give rise to
a Tax Event which may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Capital
Securities by electing to redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of the Capital Securities -- Redemption" and "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption."
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
    The Underwriters named below have agreed, subject to the terms and
conditions of a Purchase Agreement to purchase from CFB Capital II the
respective number of Capital Securities set forth opposite their names in the
table below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   NUMBER OF
                                                                                    CAPITAL
UNDERWRITER                                                                        SECURITIES
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
Piper Jaffray Inc................................................................
Dain Bosworth Incorporated.......................................................
                                                                                   ----------
                                                                                    2,400,000
                                                                                   ----------
                                                                                   ----------
</TABLE>
 
    The Underwriters have advised the Company and CFB Capital II that they
propose to offer the Capital Securities directly to the public initially at the
public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus and to
selected dealers at such price less a concession not in excess of $        per
Capital Security. The Underwriters may allow and such dealers may reallow a
concession not in excess of $        per Capital Security to certain other
brokers and dealers. After the public offering, the public offering price,
concession and reallowance, and other selling terms may be changed by the
Underwriters.
 
    In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by
the Company, the Purchase Agreement provides that the Company will pay as
compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the investment therein of such
proceeds an amount of $        per Capital Security.
 
    Each of the Company and CFB Capital II has agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters and their controlling persons against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to
contribute to payments the Underwriters may be required to make in respect
thereof.
 
   
    The Underwriters have advised the Company that they do not intend to confirm
sales to any account over which either Underwriter exercises discretionary
authority in excess of 5% of the number of Capital Securities offered hereby. In
connection with the Offer and Sale of the Capital Securities, the Underwriters
will comply with Rule 2810 under the NASD Conduct Rules.
    
 
                                       61
<PAGE>
   
    Piper Jaffray Inc. and Dain Bosworth Incorporated have periodically provided
investment banking services for the Company for which they received customary
compensation.
    
 
    In connection with this offering and in compliance with applicable law and
industry practice, the Underwriters may over allot or effect transactions which
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the Capital
Securities at levels above those which might otherwise prevail in the open
market, including by entering stabilizing bids. A stabilizing bid means the
placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of
pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.
 
    In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization could
cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of
such purchases.
 
    Neither the Company, the Trust nor any of the Underwriters makes any
representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that
the transactions described above may have on the price of the Capital
Securities. In addition, neither the Company, the Trust nor any of the
Underwriters makes any representation that the Underwriters will engage in such
transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued
without notice.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
    Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Capital
Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation of CFB
Capital II will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington,
Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Company and CFB Capital II. The
validity of the Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be passed
upon for the Company by Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota,
counsel to the Company. Patrick Delaney, a holder of common stock and of options
to purchase common stock and a director of the Company, is a partner in
Lindquist & Vennum. Certain legal matters in connection with this Offering will
be passed upon for the Underwriters by Faegre & Benson LLP, Minneapolis,
Minnesota. Lindquist & Vennum and Faegre & Benson LLP will rely on the opinions
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 Lindquist & Vennum.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
   
    The consolidated financial statements of the Company incorporated by
reference in the Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December
31, 1996, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference therein and incorporated
by reference elsewhere herein which (i) as to the years 1995 and 1994, are based
in part on the reports of Arthur Andersen LLP, formerly independent auditors for
Mountain Parks, and (ii) as to the year 1994, are based in part on the reports
of Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C. and Fortner, Bayens, Levkulich and Co., P.C.,
formerly independent auditors for Minowa Bancshares, Inc. and First Community
Bankshares, Inc., respectively. As of the date of their reports and during the
periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported, each of the
foregoing accounting firms were independent certified public accountants with
respect to the Company, Mountain Parks, Minowa Bancshares, Inc. and First
Community Bankshares, Inc., as the case may be, within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder.
The Company has agreed to indemnify Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C., its officers,
directors and employees from any and all damages, fines, legal costs and
expenses that may be incurred by the parties being indemnified in successfully
defending their audit to any person, corporation or governmental entity relying
upon the audit, provided that such indemnification will not apply to any claim,
legal expense, or costs incurred if Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C. has been found
guilty of professional malpractice with respect to such audit. The consolidated
financial statements referred to above are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firms as experts in
accounting and auditing.
    
 
                                       62
<PAGE>
    The financial statements of KeyBank Wyoming as of and for the year ended
December 31, 1996 appearing in Community First Bankshares, Inc.'s Current Report
on Form 8-K/A filed on September 22, 1997 with the Securities and Exchange
Commission have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance on such report given upon the authority of such firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
                                       63
<PAGE>
    NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR EITHER UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE
AN IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN
IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO
MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
 
                           -------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
 
<S>                                                                         <C>
Available Information.....................................................    4
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................    4
Summary...................................................................    5
Summary Consolidated Financial Data.......................................   11
Risk Factors..............................................................   14
Recent Developments.......................................................   21
Use of Proceeds; Purpose of Offering......................................   23
Accounting Treatment......................................................   24
Capitalization............................................................   25
Management................................................................   27
Description of the Capital Securities.....................................   30
Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures.............................   43
Book-Entry Issuance.......................................................   52
Description of Guarantee..................................................   54
Relationship among the Capital Securities, the Junior Subordinated
  Debentures and the Guarantee............................................   57
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences...................................   58
Underwriting..............................................................   61
Legal Matters.............................................................   62
Experts...................................................................   62
</TABLE>
    
 
   
                          2,400,000 CAPITAL SECURITIES
                                 CFB CAPITAL II
                          % Cumulative Capital Securities
                 (Liquidation Amount $25 per Capital Security)
                     Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed,
                            as Described Herein, by
    
 
                                     [LOGO]
 
                               -----------------
                              P R O S P E C T U S
                               ------------------
 
                               PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
 
                                 DAIN BOSWORTH
                                  INCORPORATED
 
                               December   , 1997
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                               <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.............................  $     18,182
NASD fee........................................................................         6,500
Nasdaq fees.....................................................................         8,000
Trustees' fees and expenses.....................................................        12,000
Legal fees and expenses.........................................................       100,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses......................................................         5,000
Accounting fees and expenses....................................................        35,000
Printing expenses...............................................................        50,000
Miscellaneous expenses..........................................................        20,318
                                                                                  ------------
  Total.........................................................................  $    255,000
                                                                                  ------------
                                                                                  ------------
</TABLE>
    
 
    All of the above items except the registration fee are estimated.
 
   
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
    
 
    (a) Exhibits
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>        <C>
      1.1  Form of Purchase Agreement.*
 
      2.1  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of June 25, 1996 between the Registrant and Mountain
           Parks Financial Corp. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's Registration
           Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-14439) as declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
           Commission (the "Commission") on November 6, 1996).
 
      2.2  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 8, 1996 between the Registrant, Trinidad Acquisition
           Corporation and Financial Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Registrant's
           Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-6239) as declared effective by the Commission on
           August 9, 1996).
 
      2.3  Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of February 18, 1997, among the Registrant, KeyCorp and Key Bank of
           the Rocky Mountains, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.8 to the Registrant's Amendment No.
           1 to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, filed with the
           Commission as of May 8, 1997").
 
      2.4  Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 22, 1997, including Agreement and First
           Amendment to Agreement dated as of the same date, between the Registrant and First National Summit
           Bankshares, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Appendices A and B, respectively, to the Proxy
           Statement-Prospectus contained in the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No.
           333-38997) filed with the Commission on October 29, 1997).
 
      2.5  Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of August 28, 1997 between the Registrant and Republic
           National Bancorp, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Proxy Statement-Prospectus
           contained in Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-38225) filed with the
           Commission on October 20, 1997).
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      2.6  Office Purchase and Assumption Agreement by and between Bank One, Arizona, National Association, Bank
           One, Colorado, National Association, Bank One, Utah, National Association and the Registrant dated as
           of the 10th day of September, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the Registrant's
           Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-36091) filed with the Commission on September 22,
           1997).
<S>        <C>
 
      2.7  Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 6, 1997, among the Registrant, Community First
           National Bank and Pioneer Bank of Longmont (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7 to the
           Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-37527) filed with
           the Commission on November 21, 1997).
 
      4.1  Form of Subordinated Indenture dated December   , 1997 to be entered into between the Registrant and
           Wilmington Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee.*
 
      4.2  Form of Junior Subordinated Debenture (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.1).
 
      4.3  Certificate of Trust of CFB Capital II.*
 
      4.4  Trust Agreement of CFB Capital II dated as of October 6, 1997.*
 
      4.5  Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of CFB Capital II, to be dated December   , 1997.*
 
      4.6  Form of Capital Security Certificate of CFB Capital II (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.5).
 
      4.7  Form of Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement.*
 
      4.8  Form of Agreement as to Expenses and Liabilities (included as an exhibit to Exhibit 4.5).
 
      5.1  Opinion and Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.
 
      5.2  Opinion and Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
 
      8.1  Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., counsel to the Registrant, as to certain federal income tax
           matters.
 
     12.1  Statement re Computation of Ratios.
 
     23.1  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.*
 
     23.2  Consent of Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C.*
 
     23.3  Consent of Fortner, Bayens, Levkulich and Co., P.C.*
 
     23.4  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.*
 
     23.6  Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1 above).
 
     23.7  Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in Exhibit 5.2 above)
 
     24.1  A power of attorney is set forth on the signature page of the Registration Statement.*
 
     25.1  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the Amended and
           Restated Trust Agreement.*
 
     25.2  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the Subordinated
           Indenture.*
 
     25.3  Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the Capital
           Securities Guarantee Agreement.*
 
     99.1  Report of Arthur Andersen LLP regarding financial statements of Mountain Parks Financial Corp.
           (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant's Amendment No. 1 to its Registration
           Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-19921) as filed with the Commission on January 30, 1997).
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
   
*   Previously filed.
    
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Fargo and the State of North Dakota, on this day of November, 1997.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>  <C>
                                COMMUNITY FIRST BANKSHARES, INC.
 
                                By:           /s/ DONALD R. MENGEDOTH
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                Donald R. Mengedoth
                                         PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
                                       AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
</TABLE>
 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the 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 Amendment to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Fargo and the State of North Dakota, on this day of November, 1997.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>  <C>
                                CFB CAPITAL II
 
                                By:           /s/ DONALD R. MENGEDOTH
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                Donald R. Mengedoth
                                                      TRUSTEE
 
                                By:             /s/ MARK A. ANDERSON
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                  Mark A. Anderson
                                                      TRUSTEE
</TABLE>
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
has been signed below on the day of November, 1997, by the following persons in
the capacities indicated.
    
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                       TITLE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------
 
<C>                             <S>
                                President, Chief Executive
   /s/ DONALD R. MENGEDOTH        Officer, Chairman of the
- ------------------------------    Board of Directors and
     Donald R. Mengedoth          Director (principal
                                  executive officer)
 
                                Executive Vice President,
     /s/ MARK A. ANDERSON         Chief Financial Officer,
- ------------------------------    Secretary and Treasurer
       Mark A. Anderson           (principal financial and
                                  accounting officer)
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
       Patricia A. Adam
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
      James T. Anderson
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          SIGNATURE                       TITLE
- ------------------------------  --------------------------
 
<C>                             <S>
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
     Patrick E. Benedict
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
       Patrick Delaney
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
       John H. Flittie
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
      Dennis M. Mathisen
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
        Dean E. Smith
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
        Thomas C. Wold
 
              *
- ------------------------------  Director
      Harvey L. Wollman
</TABLE>
 
   
*By:    /s/ MARK A. ANDERSON
      -------------------------
          Mark A. Anderson
          ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT NO.                                                DESCRIPTION
- -------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>            <S>
       1.1     Purchase Agreement*
 
       4.1     Form of Subordinated Indenture*
 
       4.3     Certificate of Trust*
 
       4.4     Trust Agreement*
 
       4.5     Amended and Restated Trust Agreement*
 
       4.7     Form of Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement*
 
       5.1     Opinion and Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.
 
       5.2     Opinion and Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
 
       8.1     Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., as to certain federal income tax matters
 
      12.1     Statement of Computation of Ratios
 
      23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP*
 
      23.2     Consent of Hacker, Nelson & Co., P.C.*
 
      23.3     Consent of Fortner, Bayens, Levkulich and Co., P.C.*
 
      23.4     Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP*
 
      25.1     Form T-1 -- Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the Amended
                 and Restated Trust Agreement*
 
      25.2     Form T-1 -- Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under the
                 Subordinated Indenture*
 
      25.3     Form T-1 -- re Guarantee Statement of Eligibility of Wilmington Trust Company to act as trustee under
                 the Capital Securities Guarantee*
</TABLE>
    
 
- ------------------------
 
*   Previously Filed

<PAGE>


                    [LETTERHEAD]


                                                                     Exhibit 5.1


                                   November 21, 1997


Community First Bankshares
520 Main Avenue
Fargo, ND 58124-0001

    Re:  Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    In connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by
Community First Bankshares, Inc. (the "Company") and CFB Capital II ("CFB
Capital II") with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to a public
offering by CFB Capital II of up to 2,400,000 __% Cumulative Capital Securities
(the "Capital Securities"), please be advised that as counsel to the Company,
upon examination of such corporate documents and records as we have deemed
necessary or advisable for the purposes of this opinion, it is our opinion that:

    1.   The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
         corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.

    2.   The Guarantee, when executed and delivered as contemplated by the
         Registration Statement, and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, when
         issued and paid for as contemplated by the Registration Statement,
         will be validly issued obligations of the Company enforceable in
         accordance with their terms except as such enforceability may be
         limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws
         affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general
         principles of equity.

Capitalized terms used herein shall have the definitions given to such terms in
the Registration Statement.  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under
the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus comprising a part of the
Registration Statement.

                             Very truly yours,



                             LINDQUIST & VENNUM P.L.L.P.

<PAGE>

                            [Richards, Layton & Finger]



                                                            EXHIBIT 5.2



                                November 21, 1997

CFB Capital II
c/o Community First Bankshares, Inc.
520 Main Avenue
Fargo, North Dakota 58124


   Re: CFB Capital II
       --------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

   We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Community First Bankshares, 
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and CFB Capital II, 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, dated October 6, 1997, as 
    filed with the office of the Secretary of the State of Delaware (the 
    "Secretary of State") on October 8, 1997;

(b) The Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of October 6, 1997, 
    between the Company and the trustees of the Trust named therein;

(c) Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (the "Registration
    Statement") on Form S-3, including a preliminary prospectus with respect
    to the Trust (the "Prospectus"), relating to the Capital Securities of
    the Trust representing

<PAGE>

CFB Capital II
November 21, 1997
Page 2

    preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust 
    (each, a "Capital Security" and collectively, the "Capital 
    Securities"), filed by the Company and the Trust with the Securities 
    and Exchange Commission on or about November 21, 1997;

(d) A form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Trust, to be 
    entered into between the Company, the trustees of the Trust named 
    therein, and the holders, from time to time, of the undivided 
    beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (including Exhibits C 
    and E thereto)(the "Trust Agreement"), attached as an exhibit to the 
    Registration Statement; and

(e) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated November 21, 
    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 in paragraphs (a) through (e) above. In particular, 
we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in 
paragraphs (a) through (e) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by 
reference in to the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there 
exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that 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 that (i) the Trust 
Agreement and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and have 
not been amended, (ii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, 
the 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


<PAGE>

CFB Capital II
November 21, 1997
Page 3

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 Capital Security is 
to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the "Capital Security Holders") of a 
Capital Security Certificate for such Capital Security and the payment for 
such Capital Security, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the 
Registration Statement, and (vii) that the Capital Securities are issued and 
sold to the Capital Security Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement 
and the Registration Statement. 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:

    1.   The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
         standing as a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act.

    2.   The Capital Securities of the Trust 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 Capital 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 Capital Security Holders may be obligated 
         to make payments as set forth in the Trust Agreement.

<PAGE>

CFB Capital II
November 21, 1997
Page 4

     We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby 
consent to the use of our name under the heading "Legal Matters" 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,


                              RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.




<PAGE>

                                                               Exhibit 8.1

                               November 21, 1997


Community First Bankshares, Inc.            CFB Capital II 
520 Main Avenue                             c/o Community First Bankshares, Inc.
Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001              520 Main Avenue
                                            Fargo, North Dakota 58124-0001

    RE:  Opinion of Counsel Related to the Material Federal Income Tax
         Consequences of the Purchase and Ownership of Capital Securities
         Issued by CFB Capital II

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    We have acted as counsel to Community First Bankshares, Inc. ("CFB") in 
connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of a 
Form S-3 Registration Statement dated October 9, 1997, as amended (the 
"Registration Statement").  The Registration Statement relates to the offer 
for sale of 2,400,000 __% Cumulative Capital Securities (the "Capital 
Securities") of CFB Capital II, a statutory business trust formed by CFB 
under the laws of the State of Delaware, and the Junior Subordinated 
Debentures to be issued by CFB to CFB Capital II in connection with the sale 
of the Capital Securities.

    This opinion letter relates to the material federal income tax 
consequences of the purchase and ownership of the Capital Securities by 
investors.  All capitalized terms used in this opinion letter and not 
otherwise defined herein are used as described in the Registration Statement. 

    We have examined the Registration Statement and such other documents as 
we have deemed necessary to render our opinion expressed below.  In our 
examination of such material, we have relied upon the current and continued 
accuracy of the factual matters we have considered, and we have assumed the 
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to 
us as originals and the conformity to original documents of all copies of 
documents submitted to us. In addition, we also have assumed that the 
transactions related to the issuance of the Junior Subordinated Debentures 
and the Capital Securities will be consummated in accordance with the terms 
and forms of the documents.  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 CFB, CFB Capital II and others.


<PAGE>

Community First Bankshares, Inc.
November 21, 1997
Page 2

     Based on the foregoing, and assuming that CFB Capital II was formed and
will be maintained in compliance with the terms of the Trust Agreement it is
our opinion that:

     (1)  CFB Capital II will be classified for United States federal income 
tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a 
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, and as a result, 
each beneficial owner of Capital Securities will be treated as owning an 
undivided beneficial interest in the Junior Subordinated Debentures.

     (2)  Stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures generally 
will be included in income by a Securityholder at the time such interest 
income is paid or accrued in accordance with the Securityholder's regular 
method of tax accounting.

     (3)  Gain or loss will be recognized by a Securityholder on a sale of 
Capital Securities (including a redemption for cash) in an amount equal to 
the difference between the amount realized (which for this purpose, will 
exclude amounts attributable to accrued interest or original issue discount 
not previously included in income) and the Securityholder's adjusted tax 
basis in the Capital Securities sold or so redeemed.  Gain or loss recognized 
by the Securityholder on a sale of Capital Securities generally will be 
taxable as capital gain or loss, provided the Capital Securities were held as 
capital assets.

     This opinion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended, the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder and other relevant 
authorities and law, all as in effect on the date hereof.  Consequently, 
future changes in the law may cause the tax treatment of the transactions 
referred to herein to be materially different from that described above.

     Other than the specific tax opinions set forth in this letter, no other 
opinion has been rendered with respect to the tax treatment of the proposed 
issuance and sale of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Capital 
Securities, including, but not limited to, the tax treatment of the proposed 
transactions under other provisions of the Code and the regulations, the tax 
treatment of any conditions existing at the time of, or effects resulting 
from, the proposed transactions that are not specifically covered by the 
above opinions, or the tax treatment of the proposed transactions under 
state, local, foreign or any other tax laws.

<PAGE>

Community First Bankshares, Inc.
November 21, 1997
Page 3

     We hereby consent to the filing of this letter as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and the use of our name in the Registration Statement 
under the captions "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences."  In giving such 
consent, we do not concede that this consent is required under Section 7 of 
the Securities Act of 1933.

                              Very truly yours,

                              LINDQUIST & VENNUM P.L.L.P.

<PAGE>


                 COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              Nine Months Ended September 30,               Year ended December 31,
                                               -------------------------                    -----------------------
                                                   1997       1996              1996        1995       1994        1993      1992
                                                   ----       ----              ----        ----       ----        ----      ----
<S>                                          <C>  <C>        <C>              <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>
Income before taxes & extraordinary
  item and cumulative effect of
  accounting change . . . . . . . . . . . .      $ 50,907   $ 40,457         $ 50,517    $ 47,161   $ 36,681   $ 29,030  $ 23,654
Add: fixed charges. . . . . . . . . . . . .        86,221     69,524           95,234      82,891     53,468     47,271    50,870
                                                   ------     ------           ------      ------     ------     ------    ------
Earnings including interest
  expense - deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . (a)   137,128    109,981          145,751     130,052     90,149     76,301    74,524
Less: interest expense - deposits . . . . .       (71,827)   (60,074)         (81,655)    (71,780)   (46,560)   (42,873)  (47,727)
                                                  --------   --------         --------    --------   --------   --------  --------
Earnings excluding interest
  expense - deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . (b)  $ 65,301   $ 49,907         $ 64,096    $ 58,272   $ 43,589   $ 33,428  $ 26,797
                                                 - ------   - ------         - ------    - ------   - ------   - ------  - ------
                                                 - ------   - ------         - ------    - ------   - ------   - ------  - ------

Fixed charges:
  Interest expense - deposits . . . . . . .      $ 71,827   $ 60,074         $ 81,655    $ 71,780   $ 46,560   $ 42,873  $ 47,727
  Interest expense - borrowings . . . . . .        14,394      9,450           13,579      11,111      6,908      4,398     3,143
  Interest expense on capital leases. . . .             0          0                0           0          0          0         0
                                                        -      -----            -----       -----      -----          -         -
Fixed charges including interest
  expense - deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . (c)    86,221     69,524           95,234      82,891     53,468     47,271    50,870

Less: interest expense - deposits . . . . .       (71,827)   (60,074)         (81,655)    (71,780)   (46,580)   (42,873)  (47,727)
                                                  --------   --------         --------    --------   --------   --------  --------
Fixed charges excluding interest
  expense - deposits. . . . . . . . . . . . (d)  $ 14,394   $  9,450         $ 13,579    $ 11,111   $  6,908   $  4,398  $  3,143
                                                 -  -----   -  -----         - ------    - ------   -  -----   -  -----  -  -----
                                                 -  -----   -  -----         - ------    - ------   -  -----   -  -----  -  -----

Earnings to fixed charges:
  Excluding interest on deposits ((b)/(d)).          4.54x      5.28x            4.72x       5.24x      6.31x      7.60x     8.53x
  Including interest on deposits ((a)/(c)).          1.59x      1.58x            1.53x       1.57x      1.69x      1.61x     1.46x

CALCULATION OF FULLY DILUTED
  EARNINGS WITH REGARD TO
  CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

                                              Nine Months Ended September 30,                Year ended December 31,
                                               -------------------------                      -----------------------
                                                   1997       1996              1996        1995       1994        1993      1992
                                                   ----       ----              ----        ----       ----        ----      ----
<S>                                               <C>        <C>              <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
Income before taxes . . . . . . . . . . . .      $ 50,907   $ 40,457         $ 50,517    $ 47,161   $ 36,681   $ 29,030  $ 23,654
Interest expense on convertible
  debentures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             0          0               86         137        415        126         0
                                                        -          -               --         ---        ---        ---         -
Adjusted income before interest
  on convertible debentures . . . . . . . .        50,907     40,457           50,603      47,298     37,096     29,156    23,654
Adjusted income tax provision . . . . . . .        16,676     13,995           18,058      17,259     14,106     10,822     8,546
                                                   ------      -----           ------      ------     ------     ------     -----
Adjusted net income . . . . . . . . . . . .      $ 34,231   $ 26,462         $ 32,545    $ 30,039   $ 22,990   $ 18,334  $ 15,108
                                                 - ------   - ------         - ------    - ------   - ------   - ------  - ------
                                                 - ------   - ------         - ------    - ------   - ------   - ------  - ------
</TABLE>


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