ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION
DEF 14A, 1997-04-03
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION


     PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934

Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant []

Check the appropriate box:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                              <C>
[]       Preliminary Proxy Statement                             [ ] Confidential.  For use of the 
[X]      Definitive Proxy Statement                                  Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[]       Definitive Additional Materials
[]       Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12
</TABLE>

                         ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                   -------------------------------------------
                    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement
                          if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]      No Fee Required.

[]       Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 
         0-11.

         (1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction 
                  applies:

         (2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

         (3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
                  computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
                  amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it
                  was determined):

         (4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

         (5)      Total fee paid:

[]       Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.




<PAGE>   2


[] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

         (1)      Amount Previously Paid:

         (2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

         (3)      Filing Party:

         (4)      Date Filed:



<PAGE>   3
                                 April 2, 1997



To the Stockholders of Alabama National BanCorporation:

You are invited to attend the 1997  Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  of Alabama
National  BanCorporation,  which  will be held at the  principal  office  of the
Company, 1927 First Avenue North,  Birmingham,  Alabama, on Thursday,  April 24,
1997 at 10:00 a.m., CDT. Formal notice of the Annual Meeting, a Proxy Statement,
and a form of proxy accompany this letter.

Also enclosed is the Company's 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders.

Information  about the meeting and the various matters on which the Stockholders
will act is included in the Notice of Meeting and Proxy  Statement which follow.
Please  carefully  consider the enclosed Proxy  Statement and execute and return
your proxy so that the Company may be assured of the presence of a quorum at the
Annual Meeting.  A postage prepaid  envelope is enclosed for your convenience in
replying.  The  prompt  return  of your  proxy  will be of great  assistance  in
reducing the expense of subsequent  mailings.  If you attend the Annual Meeting,
and so elect, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person.

                                             Sincerely,

                                            /s/ John H. Holcomb, III
                                            -------------------------

                                            John H. Holcomb, III
                                            Chairman of the Board and
                                            Chief Executive Officer




<PAGE>   4



                       ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION
                           1927 FIRST AVENUE NORTH
                          BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA  35203

                   NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD APRIL 24, 1997

TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:

         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the
"Annual  Meeting") of Alabama  National  BanCorporation  ("ANB") will be held at
10:00  a.m.,  local time,  on  Thursday,  April 24,  1997,  at National  Bank of
Commerce of Birmingham, 1927 First Avenue North, Birmingham,  Alabama 35203, for
the following purposes:

         1.       To elect 11 directors of ANB to serve until the next annual 
                  meeting of Stockholders and their successors are elected and 
                  qualified; and

         2.       To transact such other business as may properly come before 
                  the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

         The Board of  Directors  has set March 28,  1997 as the record date for
the Annual  Meeting.  Only  stockholders  of record of ANB's common stock at the
close of  business on the record date will be entitled to notice of, and to vote
at, the Annual Meeting.

         The Annual  Meeting may be adjourned  from time to time without  notice
other than announcement at the meeting or adjournments thereof, and any business
for which notice is hereby given may be transacted at any such adjournment.

         Details  concerning those matters to come before the Annual Meeting are
provided in the accompanying  Proxy Statement.  A copy of ANB's Annual Report to
Stockholders for the year ended December 31, 1996 is enclosed.  We hope you will
find it informative.

         WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL MEETING, PLEASE SIGN, DATE
AND  RETURN THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY CARD IN THE  SELF-ADDRESSED,  STAMPED  ENVELOPE
PROVIDED. RETURNING YOUR PROXY CARD DOES NOT DEPRIVE YOU OF YOUR RIGHT TO ATTEND
THE ANNUAL MEETING AND TO VOTE YOUR SHARES IN PERSON.

                                             By order of the Board of Directors,

                                             /s/ Kimberly Moore
                                             ------------------
                                             Kimberly Moore
                                             Secretary
                                             April 2, 1997




<PAGE>   5



                       ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION
                           1927 FIRST AVENUE NORTH
                          BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203

                               PROXY STATEMENT
                        ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD APRIL 24, 1997


SOLICITATION OF PROXIES

         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
of  proxies by the Board of  Directors  of Alabama  National  BanCorporation,  a
Delaware bank holding corporation  ("ANB"), to be voted at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders  (the "Annual  Meeting") to be held at 10:00 a.m.,  local time,  on
Thursday,  April 24, 1997, at National  Bank of Commerce of Birmingham  ("NBC"),
1927 First Avenue North,  Birmingham,  Alabama 35203,  or at any  adjournment or
postponement  thereof. The Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are first being mailed
to the stockholders of ANB on or about April 2, 1997.

         ANB will bear the cost of the solicitation of proxies. ANB will request
brokers or nominees  to forward  this Proxy  Statement  to their  customers  and
principals  and  will  reimburse  them  for  expenses  so  incurred.  If  deemed
necessary,  ANB may  also  use  its  officers  and  regular  employees,  without
additional compensation, to solicit proxies personally or by telephone.

         The Board of Directors  has set March 28, 1997,  as the record date for
the Annual Meeting.  Only stockholders of record at the close of business on the
record date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting.  At
the close of  business on March 14,  1997,  there were  6,515,418  shares of the
common stock of ANB, par value $1.00 per share ("ANB Common Stock"), outstanding
with each stockholder  entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share
of ANB Common Stock on all matters properly to come before the Annual Meeting.

         Please sign, date and return the Proxy in the enclosed  envelope so the
Common Stock you own will be voted in accordance with your wishes. If you desire
to revoke your Proxy,  you may do so either by attending  the Annual  Meeting in
person or by delivering  written  notice of revocation so that it is received by
ANB or its transfer agent, AmSouth Bank of Alabama, on or before April 23, 1997.
The address for AmSouth  Bank is 730  AmSouth/Harbert  Plaza,  1901 Sixth Avenue
North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203, Attention: Corporate Trust Division.


                            ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

GENERAL

         The Board of Directors of ANB has  nominated 11 persons for election as
directors  to serve  until the next  annual  meeting of  stockholders  and their
successors are elected and qualified.

         The persons named in the enclosed Proxy Card have advised that,  unless
a contrary  direction is indicated  on the enclosed  Proxy Card,  they intend to
vote the  shares  appointing  them as  proxies  in favor of the  nominees  named
herein. If any of the nominees should be unable to serve, and the Board of



<PAGE>   6



Directors does not anticipate  this will occur,  the proxies will be voted for a
substitute  selected by the Board of  Directors,  or the Board of Directors  may
decide not to elect an additional person as a director.  Vacancies that occur on
ANB's Board of Directors may be filled by the remaining directors until the next
annual meeting of stockholders.

         Although ANB's Certificate of Incorporation  provides for 15 directors,
only 11 persons  have been  nominated to serve on the Board of  Directors.  When
National Commerce Corporation ("NCC") and Commerce Bankshares, Inc. ("CBS") were
merged into ANB effective December 29, 1995 (the "Merger"), ANB's Certificate of
Incorporation  was amended to provide for 15  directors in order to allow NCC to
appoint eight of the 15 directors.  The current Board of Directors believes that
a Board of  Directors  of 11 persons is practical  and  efficient.  The Board of
Directors  has no current  intention to fill the four  vacancies on the Board of
Directors  prior  to  the  next  annual  meeting  although  circumstances  could
necessitate  the  appointment  of  additional  directors in the future.  Proxies
cannot be voted  for a  greater  number  of  persons  than the  number of actual
nominees so named.

NOMINATION FOR ELECTION

         Below  is a  description  of each of the  persons  whom  the  Board  of
Directors  has  nominated  for  election as a director of ANB at the 1997 Annual
Meeting to serve until the next annual meeting of Stockholders and his successor
has been elected and qualified. The stock ownership with respect to each nominee
for  election  as a  director  is set  forth  in the  table  entitled  "SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT".

         T. MORRIS HACKNEY, 65, has served as director of ANB since December, 
1995.  Mr. Hackney is currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and a
director of Citation Corporation where he has served since 1975.

         JOHN H.  HOLCOMB,  III, 45, has served as  President,  Chief  Operating
Officer and a director of ANB since December 1995. Effective April 30, 1996, Mr.
Holcomb became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of ANB upon the
resignation  of James A. Taylor,  Sr. Mr.  Holcomb served as President and Chief
Executive  Officer of NBC since July 1990, and as President and Chief  Executive
Officer,  and a director,  of CBS since its incorporation in April 1995. CBS was
merged into ANB effective December 29, 1995.

         JOHN D. JOHNS, 45, has served as a director of ANB since December 
1995.  Mr. Johns is currently the President and Chief Operating Officer of
Protective Life Corporation and has served in such capacity since August 1996. 
From 1993 until 1996, Mr. Johns was Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Protective Life Corporation.  From 1989 until 1993, Mr. Johns was
Vice President and General Counsel of Sonat, Inc.

         C. PHILLIP MCWANE, 39, has served as a director of ANB since December 
1995.  Mr. McWane has served as the President of McWane, Inc. since December
1995, and was Executive Vice President of McWane, Inc. from 1991 until December
1995.

         JOHN J. MCMAHON, JR., 54, has not previously served as a director of 
ANB.  Mr. McMahon is currently the Chairman of the Board of McWane, Inc. and has
served in such position since December 1995.  From 1980 until 1995, Mr. McMahon
was President of McWane, Inc.  Mr. McMahon also serves


                                      2

<PAGE>   7



as a director of John H. Harland Co. and Protective Life Corporation, and he 
has served as a director of NBC since 1979.

         WILLIAM  D.  MONTGOMERY,  48,  has  served as a  director  of ANB since
October,  1996, when Mr. Montgomery was appointed to a newly created position on
ANB's Board of Directors following the closing and pursuant to the provisions of
the Agreement and Plan of Merger by which ANB acquired  FIRSTBANC.  Prior to the
merger of ANB and FIRSTBANC,  Mr. Montgomery served as the Chairman of the Board
of FIRSTBANC.  Mr.  Montgomery is a certified public accountant and is a partner
with the firm of Johnson,  Montgomery and  Associates,  P.A. where he has worked
since 1974.

         DRAYTON NABERS, JR., 56, has served as a director of ANB since December
1995.  Mr.  Nabers  has  served as  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of
Protective  Life  Corporation  since August of 1996, as Chairman,  President and
Chief  Executive  Officer of Protective Life  Corporation  from 1994 to 1996, as
President and Chief Executive  Officer of Protective Life  Corporation from 1992
to 1994,  and as  President  and Chief  Operating  Officer  of  Protective  Life
Corporation  from 1982 to 1993.  Mr. Nabers also serves as a director of Energen
Corporation.

         VICTOR E. NICHOL, JR., 50, has served as a director of ANB since 
December 1995.  Effective April 30, 1996, Mr. Nichol became President and Chief
Operating Officer of ANB to fill the vacancy created upon the promotion of Mr.
Holcomb.  From December 1995 to April 30, 1996, Mr. Nichol served as Executive
Vice President of ANB.  Mr. Nichol is currently the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of NBC and has served in such position since 1994.  From
1992 to 1993, Mr. Nichol was President and Chief Executive Officer of Secor
Bank.  Prior to 1992, Mr. Nichol served as Senior Executive Vice President and
head of Corporate Banking at AmSouth Bank.

         RONALD W. ORSO,  M.D.,  51, has served as a director of ANB since 1988.
Dr. Orso  practices in the field of obstetrics  and  gynecology  in  Birmingham,
Alabama,  and is the Chairman of the  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at
Birmingham Baptist Medical Center Montclair.

         G. RUFFNER PAGE, JR., 37, has served as a director of ANB since 
December 1995.  Mr. Page is currently a Vice President of McWane, Inc. and has
served in such position since 1994.  Mr. Page served as Executive Vice President
and Senior Loan Officer at NBC from 1990 to 1993.  Mr. Page serves as a director
of Protective Investment Company.

         W. STANCIL STARNES, 48, has served as a director of ANB since December 
1995.  Mr. Starnes is currently the senior partner in the law firm of Starnes &
Atchison.  Mr. Starnes earned a doctor of jurisprudence from Cumberland School
of Law in 1972.


THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE STOCKHOLDERS VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE DIRECTORS RECOMMENDED BY THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE AND
NOMINATED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         The Bylaws of ANB provide for four standing committees of the Board of 
Directors: the Executive Committee; the Nominating Committee; the Audit
Committee and the Compensation Committee.  The Executive Committee has the
authority to exercise the full power of the Board of


                                      3

<PAGE>   8

Directors, except that the Executive Committee may not approve any merger,
consolidation or sale of substantially all of the assets of ANB, approve any
amendment to ANB's Certificate of Incorporation or ByLaws, appoint any members
of any committee of the Board of Directors or declare any dividend or
distribution.

         The Nominating Committee meets annually to nominate persons for
election as directors of ANB at the Annual Meeting of the Stockholders.  The
Nominating Committee met in February 1997 to recommend nominees for the
election of such nominees at the 1997 Annual Meeting of the Stockholders.  No
formal procedures whereby individual stockholders can submit recommendations of
persons to be considered for nomination as a director of the Company  have been
instituted.  However, the committee would consider any such recommendations
made to it in writing on a timely basis.

         The Audit Committee recommends to the Board of Directors the
appointment of independent auditors to audit the books, records and accounts of
ANB and each subsidiary bank (the "Banks"); discusses with the independent
auditors the plan and scope of their examination of the books and records of ANB
and the Banks and reviews the results thereof prior to publication; reviews all
recommendations made by the independent auditors regarding accounting methods
used and the system of internal controls utilized by ANB and advises the Board
of Directors with respect thereto. The Audit Committee met three times in 1996.

         The Compensation Committee is authorized to recommend to the Board of
Directors from time-to-time the compensation to be paid to all officers,
directors and committee members ("Executive Compensation") of ANB.  Executive
Compensation may include, but is not limited, to, salary, bonus, performance
share awards, other annual compensation and any mixture thereof as the
Compensation Committee deems appropriate in light of the performance of ANB.
During 1996, the Compensation Committee served as the Performance Committee
pursuant to the ANB Performance Share Plan, which Plan was approved by ANB
stockholders at the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  The Compensation
Committee met three times in 1996.

         During 1996, Messrs. Holcomb, Nichol, Page and McWane served on the
Executive Committee; Messrs. McWane, Nabers, Holcomb and Dr. Muse served on the
Nominating Committee; Drs. Muse, Orso and Andrews and Messrs. Starnes and Kent
served on the Audit Committee; and Messrs. Johns, Hackney, Nabers and Starnes
and Dr. Orso served on the Compensation Committee.  Other than Mr. Johns, none
of the incumbent directors attended less than 75% of the aggregate of (1) the
total number of meetings of the Board of Directors and (2) the total number of
meetings held by all committees of the Board of Directors on which he served.
The ANB Board of Directors met six times in 1996.

SECTION 16(a)  BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

         Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires ANB's
officers and directors, and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of ANB's
Common Stock ("Section 16 Insiders"), to file reports of ownership and changes
in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Section 16
Insiders are required by the SEC regulations to furnish ANB with copies of all
SEC forms required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
("Section 16(a) Forms").  Based solely on a review of the Section 16(a) Forms as
furnished to ANB, ANB believes that for the period from January 1, 1996 through
December 31, 1996, all Section 16 Insiders filed their Section 16(a) Forms in a
timely manner, except that Dr. Andrews and Dr. Muse each filed one Form 4 late.


                                      4

<PAGE>   9




REMUNERATION OF MANAGEMENT

         Summary of  Compensation

         The following  table sets forth a summary of the  compensation  paid or
accrued  during  each of the last three  fiscal  years with  regard to (i) ANB's
Chief  Executive  Officer  and (ii) each  other  executive  officer of ANB whose
salary  and bonus was more  than  $100,000  per year  (collectively  the  "Named
Executive Officers").

                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              Annual Compensation                              Long-Term Compensation
                              -------------------                              ----------------------
                                                                                            Securities
                                                            Other                             Under-
                                                           Annual         Restricted           Lying                         All
  Name and                                                 Compen-           Stock           Options/       LTIP            Other
  Principal                      Salary       Bonus        sation          Award(s)            SARs        Payouts      Compensation
  Position            Year         ($)         ($)           ($)              ($)               (#)          ($)             ($)
  --------            ----         ---         ---           ---              ---               ---          ---             ---
<S>                   <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>                    <C>         <C>       <C>
James A. Taylor,      1996     $100,000    $ 45,000     $61,566(3)          ---                ---           ---     $1,487,756(4)
Chairman and CEO(1)   1995      287,500     172,500      79,615(3)          ---                 34,167       ---        557,275(4)
                      1994      406,830      79,761      68,728(3)          ---                 68,333       ---        112,838(4)

John H., Holcomb, III,1996     $205,000    $112,500       ---           $10,686(6)              ---        $49,688      $ 9,762(8)
Chairman and CEO(1)   1995      160,000     200,000       ---               ---                 ---          ---          8,197
                      1994      160,000     125,000       ---            71,310(7)                           ---          8,941

Victor E. Nichol, Jr. 1996     $185,000    $ 90,000       ---           $10,686(6)              ---        $39,750       $4,497(8)
President and CEO     1995      145,000     175,000       ---                                   ---          ---          4,514
                      1994      145,000      75,000       ---            71,310(7)              21,131       ---           ---

Frank W. Whitehead,   1996     $128,750     $19,296     $36,176(5)          ---                  ---         ---       $172,630(9)
C.P.A., Treasurer,    1995      128,750      19,296      55,106(5)          ---                  6,833       ---           ---
Executive Vice        1994      123,947      18,000      34,883(5)          ---                 27,333       ---           ---
President and CFO(2)
</TABLE>



(1)      In November 1994, Mr. Taylor entered into an employment agreement with 
ANB pursuant to which he agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board and CEO of ANB
and Chairman of each of the ANB Banks (the "Taylor Agreement").  The Taylor
Agreement provided for certain payments to be made to Mr. Taylor, and certain
rights to Mr. Taylor to terminate the Taylor Agreement, in the event of a
"change in control" of ANB.  The Merger resulted in a "change of control" for
purposes of the Taylor Agreement, and Mr. Taylor and ANB terminated the Taylor
Agreement effective April 30, 1996, pursuant to an Agreement dated as of that
date (the "Taylor Separation Agreement").  Upon Mr. Taylor's termination of
employment, Mr. Holcomb was selected as Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer.  See "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS."

(2)      Mr. Whitehead entered into an employment agreement with ANB effective 
March 1, 1995, which provided for his employment as Chief Financial Officer,
Executive Vice President and Treasurer until March 1, 1998 (the "Whitehead
Agreement").  Mr. Whitehead died in February, 1997,

                                      5

<PAGE>   10



and the Whitehead Agreement terminated.  The Whitehead Agreement provided for a
salary of $128,750 with the right to receive a bonus of up to 15% of the base
salary.  The Whitehead Agreement also provided Mr. Whitehead the right to
participate in ANB's stock option plan and retirement plan.

(3) Includes payments by ANB for life insurance premiums on policies owned by
Mr. Taylor in the amount of $35,921 in 1996, $35,921 in 1995, and $35,679 in
1994.  Also includes director and other fees of $8,800 in 1996, $34,500 in 1995
and $16,100 in 1994.

(4) Mr. Taylor is a party to four deferred compensation agreements with three
bank subsidiaries of ANB which provide for payments in the aggregate of up to
$125,000 per year to Mr. Taylor or his designated beneficiary or estate for a
period of fifteen (15) years beginning  April 1, 1997. The present value of the
benefits under these agreements accrued by these banks totaled $128,431 in 1996,
$126,926 in 1995 and $112,838 in 1994.  Pursuant to the Taylor Separation
Agreement, those defined compensation arrangements were continued beyond Mr.
Taylor's termination of employment.  Also included in this compensation category
for Mr. Taylor are payments totaling $860,692 relating to the agreement by Mr.
Taylor to cancel certain future stock option grant rights due to Mr. Taylor
under the Taylor Agreement (the "Taylor Option Cancelation Payment"). The Taylor
Option Cancelation Payment was paid in two installments, $430,346 being paid in
each of 1995 and 1996. In 1996, pursuant to the Taylor Separation Agreement, ANB
made a one-time cash severance payment to Mr. Taylor of $380,316, made a single
payment of $375,000 as consideration for a Consulting Agreement with a term of
two years, and recorded a charge in 1996 for a life insurance contract with a
cash surrender value of $173,663 given to Mr. Taylor. See "CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS."

(5) Includes director and other fees in 1996 of $33,500, in 1995 of $41,700
and in 1994 of $18,900.

(6) Redistribution of 507 shares of restricted stock previously  granted under
the CBS Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan (the  "CBS  Plan") to another
employee upon such employee's termination.

(7) Restricted stock award under the CBS Plan valued at $50,310, plus a one-time
bonus of $21,000 to cover tax obligations associated with the issuance of such
restricted stock.  At December 31, 1996 the shares subject to such award, plus
the shares described in footnote (6), had a market value of $134,013.  These
shares are subject to restrictions on transfer until August 31,  1999.  These
restrictions also provide that no dividends will be paid on such stock.

(8) The amounts shown in this column for Messrs.  Holcomb and Nichol represent
ANB contributions to the ANB 401(k) Retirement Plan in the amount of $2,000
each, and amounts contributed and accrued under the NBC Pension Plan totaling
$7,762 for Mr. Holcomb and $2,497 for Mr. Nichol.  See "Defined Benefit Plan"
under this caption.

(9) As provided for in the Whitehead Agreement, ANB paid Mr. Whitehead $172,630
during 1996 for the elimination of any future option grants after January 1,
1996.


                                      6

<PAGE>   11



         Stock Options Granted

         As a result of the Merger,  ANB assumed the CBS Plan.  The ANB Board of
Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, terminated the ANB
1994 Stock Option Plan and the CBS Plan on April 25, 1996. No option grants were
made in 1996 under the ANB 1994  Stock  Option  Plan or under the CBS Plan.  The
table  below  represents  options  previously  granted  to the  named  executive
officers.

               AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                      AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
                      ---------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Value of
                                                                     Number of Shares             Unexercised
                                                                  Underlying Unexercised     in-the-Money Options
                                 Number Shares                       Options at Fiscal        at Fiscal Year-End
                                  Acquired on         Value        Year-End Exercisable/         Exercisable/
       Name                        Exercise         Realized           Unexercisable           Unexercisable(1)
                                   --------         --------           -------------           ----------------
<S>                                <C>              <C>                  <C>                      <C>                
James A. Taylor                     10,000          $27,500              92,500/0                 $614,364/0

John H. Holcomb, III                  -0-              N/A               0/35,217                 0/$425,104

Victor E. Nichol, Jr.                 -0-              N/A               0/21,131                 0/$254,952

Frank W. Whitehead                    -0-              N/A               34,166/0                 $244,288/0
</TABLE>

(1)      Based on $17.75 per share, the average sale price reported by NASDAQ 
         on December 31, 1996.

         Long-Term Incentive Plans

          LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS - AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR(1)
          ---------------------------------------------------------


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Estimated Future Payouts under Non-Stock
                                             Performance or                    Price-Based Plans
                            Number of      Other Period Until     ----------------------------------------------         
                        Shares, Units or      Maturation or       Threshold            Target            Maximum
Name                    Other Rights (#)         Payout               #                   #                 #
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>                  <C>                  <C>                <C>                <C>
James A. Taylor                -0-                 N/A               N/A                 N/A               N/A
John H. Holcomb, III      3,000 shares         Four years           1,500               3,000             5,100
Victor E. Nichol, Jr.     2,400 shares         Four years           1,200               2,400             4,080
Frank W. Whitehead             -0-                 N/A               N/A                 N/A               N/A
</TABLE>


(1)      On  July  1,  1996,  the  Compensation  Committee  approved  the 
award  of Performance  Share Awards under the ANB Performance Share Plan to
certain senior officers including the grants to Messrs.  Holcomb and Nichol
detailed above. See "COMMITTEE   REPORT  ON  EXECUTIVE   COMPENSATION"  for  a 
description  of  the Performance  Share  Plan and a  description  of the 
formula  to be  applied  in determining amounts payable.


                                      7

<PAGE>   12



         Defined Benefit Plan

                              PENSION PLAN TABLE
                              ------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


      AVERAGE ANNUAL  
       REMUNERATION                                            Years of Service
       ------------                                            ----------------
                                  15                 20               25                30               35
                                  --                 --               --                --               --
<S>                             <C>                <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>

125,500....................     $24,473            $32,630          $40,788           $48,945          $57,103

150,000*...................     $29,250            $39,000          $48,750           $58,500          $68,250
</TABLE>

*Annual compensation for purposes of the NBC Pension Plan is capped at $150,000.

         As a result of the Merger, NBC became a wholly-owned subsidiary of ANB.
NBC has maintained  the NBC Pension Plan for the benefit of its employees  since
January 1, 1982. The NBC Pension Plan pays its participants a monthly retirement
income  equal  to 1.3%  of any  such  participants  "Average  Monthly  Earnings"
multiplied  by the  number  of  years  of  continuous  service  to  NBC of  such
participant.   Average  Monthly   Earnings  equals  the   participant's   annual
compensation converted to a monthly amount and then averaged over the sixty (60)
months immediately  preceding the participant's  "Normal Retirement Date" which,
if employed  before  January 1, 1989,  is the first day of the month  coinciding
with or immediately preceding a participant's  sixty-fifth birthday or, if first
employed  after January 1, 1989, is the later of the  participant's  sixty-fifth
birthday  or  the  first  day of the  month  either  on or  next  following  the
completion  of five years of  continuous  service or, if earlier,  five "service
years." Annual  Compensation means the participant's total compensation during a
plan year that is reflected on such  participant's  W-2 Form excluding  (even if
includable in gross income)  reimbursements or other expense allowances,  fringe
benefits (cash or noncash), moving expenses, deferred compensation,  and welfare
benefits, but including salary reduction  contributions (not includable in gross
income) to certain plans or arrangements that may be maintained by NBC. However,
regardless of a participant's  actual annual  compensation,  each  participant's
annual  compensation  for  purposes of such plan is capped at $150,000  per plan
year beginning on or after January 1, 1994.

         The Summary  Compensation  Table  reflects under the caption "All Other
Compensation" the amounts accrued for the benefit of Messrs.  Holcomb and Nichol
under the NBC  Pension  Plan.  Messrs.  Holcomb  and  Nichol  are the only named
Executive  Officers who  participate  in the NBC Pension Plan, and their current
annual  compensation  and years of  service  attributable  to each of them is as
follows:

                          Current Annual Compensation  Credited Years of Service
                          ------------------------------------------------------

John H. Holcomb, III            $150,000 cap                         17
Victor E. Nichol, Jr.           $150,000 cap                          4*

* Five year vesting  requirement  to participate in the NBC Pension Plan. At the
end of  1997,  Mr.  Nichol  will  have  4  years  credited  toward  his  vesting
requirement.



                                      8

<PAGE>   13

     Director Compensation

     Outside Directors of ANB receive directors' fees of $6,000 per annum
($8,000 per annum for directors who do not also serve on the Board of
Directors of one of ANB's subsidiary banks) and $1,000 for each Board of
Directors meeting and each Committee meeting they attend and are reimbursed
for all reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties as a director. Under the terms of the ANB Deferred Compensation Plan
adopted in 1996, non-employee directors may voluntarily elect to defer to a
specified date receipt of all or any portion of their directors' fees.
Directors' fees so deferred are credited to the directors in cash or ANB Common
Stock equivalents or a combination thereof. Directors who serve on the NBC
Board of Directors receive NBC directors fees of $8,000 per annum plus $200
for each NBC Board meeting and Committee meeting attended. Mr. Montgomery serves
as Chairman of the First Bank of Baldwin County Board of Directors and receives
$1,000 per month for director's fees.



COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

     The Compensation Committee, which establishes the compensation of the 
executive officers of ANB, is comprised of Dr. Orso and Messrs. Johns, Hackney,
Nabers and Starnes. Mr. Carl F. Bailey served on the Compensation Committee
until his resignation on April 25, 1996.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     The Compensation Committee has oversight of the compensation paid to
the Chief Executive  Officer and other senior officers of ANB and its
subsidiaries. Total compensation for these persons is reviewed and set annually
and includes three primary types of compensation: base salary, the Annual
Incentive Plan, and the long-term incentive Performance Share Plan. During 1996,
the Compensation Committee held three meetings. The following comments are
applicable to executive officers of ANB, including the Chief Executive Officer
and the named executive officers, but excluding Messrs. Taylor and Whitehead,
whose compensation had been set by policies established for those individuals in
1995.

     Base Salary. Executive officers' base salaries are determined by 
several factors, but principally by the level of responsibilities required by
the position.  In addition, through the use of an outside compensation 
consultant during 1996, several executive and senior officer positions at
other local banking companies as well as bank holding companies of comparable
size were reviewed. Some of the companies are in the peer group used for the
comparison group for the Performance Share Plan. Individual competence, length
of time within a position, and comparisons to salaries for similar positions in
other comparable companies guide the determination of the appropriate level of
an employee's salary. Company performance may also be a factor in determining
the amount of any base salary increase. The Committee's compensation strategy
for executive officers is to pay salaries at or near the median.
Performance-based cash bonus and performance share awards, when totaled, are
used to provide significant performance-based compensation. Growth in earnings
per share and return on average equity are the two principal measures of
company performance employed by the Compensation Committee. The base salaries
and incentive bonuses for Messrs. Holcomb and Nichol, each of whom is also an
executive officer of NBC, are paid by NBC.

     Annual Incentive Plan. On June 6, 1996, the ANB Stockholders approved 
the ANB Annual Incentive Plan (the "AIP"). The AIP was established for
the purpose of rewarding, retaining, and providing incentive for outstanding
performance through annual bonuses for those employees who contribute most to
the operating progress of ANB. The Compensation Committee sets the total amount
of bonuses for each year and reviews the methodology used to determine
individual bonuses. Employees



                                      9
<PAGE>   14



are selected  and  individual  bonuses are  allotted to them by ANB's  executive
officers  with the approval of the Chief  Executive  Officer.  The  Compensation
Committee  specifically  reviews  and  approves  each  annual  bonus paid to the
executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer.

         Each  participating  employee  is  assigned a target  bonus  percentage
expressed  as  a  percentage  of  each  employee's   salary.  The  target  bonus
percentages  were  set at  amounts  ranging  from  35% to 45%  for  1996  by the
Compensation  Committee.  The target bonus percentage is established by studying
average  practices of certain peer banks as  represented  in available  surveys.
Bonus payments,  when made, may range from 33% to 200% of the target amount.  An
individual's  AIP bonus is based  upon ANB's  performance.  The AIP bonus of the
Chief Executive  Officer and the President is based solely on ANB's  performance
according to a range fixed for the year by the Compensation  Committee  relating
to certain operating earnings-per-share goals.

         The Compensation  Committee believes that its administration of the AIP
relates bonuses paid to the Chief Executive Officer to ANB's performance.

         Performance  Share  Plan.  On  June 6,  1996,  ANB  Stockholders
approved  the ANB Performance  Share Plan (the "PSP").  The PSP is administered
by the Performance Committee,  which is  currently  composed  of the  members
of the  Compensation Committee. The overall purpose of the PSP is to promote the
long term success of ANB and its  subsidiaries.  The PSP  accomplishes  this by
providing  financial incentive  to  key   employees   who  are  in  positions
to  make   significant contributions  towards  such  success.  The PSP is a key
component of executive compensation,  being designed to attract  individuals of
outstanding ability and to encourage key employees to acquire a proprietary
interest in ANB, to continue employment with ANB and to render superior
performance  during such employment. ANB  develops  its  Performance  Share
Award  amounts  under  the PSP  first by determining  the average of the long
term  incentive  opportunities  provided to executives in similar positions at
peer banks.

         The Performance  Committee,  from time to time, may select participants
to  receive  incentive  compensation  awards  under the  Performance  Share Plan
("Performance  Share  Awards").   Each  Performance  Share  Award  granted  will
generally represent one share of ANB Common Stock,  unless otherwise  determined
by the  Performance  Committee,  but in no event may the  Performance  Committee
determine  that a  Performance  Share Award  equals more than 1.25 shares of ANB
Common Stock. No participant may be granted, in the aggregate, Performance Share
Awards which  represent  more than 25% of the ANB Common Stock  reserved for the
Performance  Plan.  Each  Performance  Share Award is awarded as of January 1 of
each  such  year  awarded,  regardless  of the  actual  date of grant  ("Date of
Grant").

         At the time of the Performance  Committee  grants of Performance  Share
Awards,  the Performance  Committee is required to fix an Award Period comprised
of a number of calendar years not to exceed five (5) years.  In its  discretion,
the Performance Committee may subdivide the Award Period into one Interim Period
which  is a  period  of  calendar  years  chosen  by the  Performance  Committee
commencing with any Date of Grant but which is less than the Award Period.

         No Performance  Share Award will be paid unless the  participant  meets
the conditions  established by the Performance Committee during the Award Period
or Interim Period. The Performance  Committee may prescribe different conditions
for different  participants.  These  conditions may be expressed in terms of the
growth in net income per share  during the Award  Period,  or average  return on
average equity in comparison with other banks and bank holding  companies and/or
on other reasonable bases. The



                                      10

<PAGE>   15



Performance  Committee may also  determine  what  percentage of the  Performance
Share Award will be paid and what  conditions must be satisfied at the end of an
Interim  Period.  If,  at the  close  of any  Award  Period  or  Interim  Period
applicable to a Performance  Share Award, the Performance  Committee  determines
that the participant has met the conditions for payment of the Performance Share
Award,  then,  unless  otherwise  directed  by the  Performance  Committee,  the
Performance Share Award will be paid to the participant as promptly as possible.
Generally, all payments of Performance Share Awards to participants will be made
partly in shares of ANB Common  Stock and partly in cash,  with the cash portion
being approximately equal to the amount of Federal,  state and local taxes which
the participant's  employer,  whether ANB or a subsidiary of ANB, is required to
withhold  on  account  of  said  payment.  The  Performance  Committee,  in  its
discretion,  may provide for payment of cash and  distribution  of shares of ANB
Common  Stock in such  other  proportions  as the  Performance  Committee  deems
appropriate,  except that the  Performance  Committee must pay in cash an amount
not less than the tax withholding obligation.

         The  Performance  Share  Awards made during 1996 were  dependent  on an
average percentile  ranking of ANB's prior return on average equity ("ROAE").  A
formula was developed  that provides a particular  grant based on the percentile
level of  performance  as compared to a peer group of comparable  banks and bank
holding companies. The better the performance,  the larger the grant size. Grant
sizes can range from zero to two hundred  percent of an average market grant. If
ANB  ranks in the top 25% of the peer  group  ROAE,  then  125% of the  award is
earned.  If ANB  ranks at the top 10%,  170% of the  award is  earned.  If ANB's
performance is at the median or threshold,  50% of the award is earned. If ANB's
results are below the median,  no portion of the award is earned.  In 1996,  the
Compensation  Committee  established  that the Performance  Share Awards will be
paid in stock  after 4 years and will  include  results  for fiscal  years 1996,
1997, 1998 and 1999.

                  Compensation Committee:

                  John D. Johns, Chairman
                  T. Morris Hackney
                  Drayton Nabers, Jr.
                  Ronald W. Orso, M.D.
                  W. Stancil Starnes

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

         The following graph is included to assess the performance of management
by comparing the market value of ANB's Common Stock with other public  companies
and  with  comparable  public  banking  companies.  The  graph  sets  forth  the
cumulative  total  stockholder  return  (assuming  reinvestment of dividends) to
ANB's  stockholders  during the period  from ANB's  initial  public  offering in
November  1994 and ending on  December  31,  1996,  as well as an overall  stock
market index (NASDAQ Stock Market,  U.S. Companies) and a peer group index of 21
banks, bank holding companies and thrifts which are comparable in asset size and
market capitalization that have been selected by ANB ("1997 ANB Peer Group") for
the  period   beginning   November  22,  1994,  and  ended  December  31,  1996.
Additionally,  since ANB used a slightly different peer group index of 21 banks,
bank  holding  companies  and thrifts as its peer group index for the 1996 Proxy
Statement (the "1996 ANB Peer Group"),  Securities and Exchange Commission rules
require  that the 1997  Proxy  Statement  include in its graph the 1996 ANB Peer
Group  as well as the 1997 ANB  Peer  Group so that the two peer  groups  may be
compared.




                                      11

<PAGE>   16








                                                     PERIOD ENDING
                                  -------------------------------------------
Index                             11/22/94    12/31/94     12/31/95  12/31/96
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama National BanCorporation   $100.00     $ 87.50      $137.30   $184.01
Nasdaq Total Return Index          100.00      101.54       143.59    176.63
1996 ANB Peer Group                100.00       99.45       146.62    198.85
1997 ANB Peer Group                100.00       99.83       145.45    197.32
                                           



                                      12
<PAGE>   17



         Of the 21  companies  included in the 1996 ANB Peer Group,  five are no
longer in existence  because of mergers or  acquisitions,  and are therefore not
included  in the  calculation  of stock  performance  of the 1996 ANB Peer Group
included in the foregoing graph. The 1996 ANB Peer Group is as follows:

Bank Granite Corporation of N.C.     North Fork BanCorporation of New York, Inc.
Carolina First Corporation           Peoples Holding Company
Century South Banks, Inc.            Piedmont BanCorporation, Inc.
First United Bancshares, Inc.        Premier Bankshares Corp.
Horizon BanCorporation, Inc.         Sea Coast Banking Corporation of Florida
Jefferson BanCorporation, Inc.       Simmons 1st National Corporation
LSB Bancshares of North Carolina     Sterling BanCorporation
Leader Financial Corporation         WesBanco, Inc.


         The 1997 ANB Peer Group  consists of the 16  companies  included in the
1996 ANB Peer Group and the following five companies:

         ABC BanCorp
         Capital City Bancgroup, Inc.
         Independent Bancorp
         Republic Bancshares, Inc.
         Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

Because  five  companies  could no longer be included  in the peer group  index,
management  of ANB selected the five new  companies,  creating the 1997 ANB Peer
Group, to maintain a similar peer group size.

         Pursuant to the AIP and PSP adopted during 1996, ANB's annual incentive
compensation  was  predominantly  based  upon  comparisons  of  ANB's  operating
earnings per share and return on average  equity  (rather than total  return) to
that of a comparison group of companies.  See "COMPENSATION  COMMITTEE REPORT ON
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION."

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         The following table sets forth the number and percentage of outstanding
shares  of common  stock  beneficially  owned as of March  14,  1997 by (i) each
person or entity known by ANB to own more than 5% of the  outstanding ANB Common
Stock;  (ii) Named  Executive  Officers of ANB;  (iii) each director of ANB; and
(iv) all executive officers and directors of ANB as a group.




                                      13
<PAGE>   18


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER                           SHARES(1)                  PERCENTAGE(1)
                ------------------------                           ---------                  -------------
<S>                                                                 <C>                            <C>
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS

James R. McWane(2)(3)(13)
23 Inverness Center Parkway
Birmingham, Alabama 35242.......................................    1,528,715                      23.3%

Betty T. McMahon(4)(7)(13)......................................      394,442                       6.0%
3231 Overhill Road
Birmingham, Alabama 35223

DIRECTORS AND CERTAIN EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

John H. Holcomb, III(5)(8)(13)..................................      237,587                       3.6%

Frank W. Whitehead, C.P.A.(5)(6)................................       39,654                         *

Victor E. Nichol, Jr.(5)(13)....................................       77,985                       1.2%

James R. Andrews, M.D.(6).......................................        9,200                         *

T. Morris Hackney(9)............................................        2,817                         *

John D. Johns(10)...............................................       37,217                         *

James Mailon Kent, Jr.(6).......................................       10,612                         *

C. Philip McWane(2)(13).........................................      242,685                       3.7%

Drayton Nabers, Jr..............................................       39,217                         *

Ronald W. Orso, M.D.(11)........................................      100,500                       1.5%

G. Ruffner Page, Jr.(2)(12)(13).................................      301,422                       4.6%

W. Stancil Starnes..............................................       39,275                         *

William D. Montgomery...........................................       35,581                         *

John J. McMahon, Jr. (7)(13)(14)
(nominee for director)..........................................      317,817                       4.8%

All directors & executive officers as a group
(14 persons)....................................................    1,486,081                      22.6%
</TABLE>


(1)      Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the named person has the sole voting and
         dispositive power for the shares indicated.  Percentage of ownership is
         based on 6,565,984  shares of ANB Common Stock  representing  6,515,418
         shares  outstanding as of March 14, 1997, and 50,566 shares  underlying
         options held by persons listed in this table exercisable within 60 days
         from said date. An asterisk means less than 1%.

(2)      Mr. James R. McWane is the father of C. Phillip McWane, Anna McWane 
         and J.R. McWane, Jr.  Mr. McWane disclaims beneficial ownership of any
         shares beneficially




                                      14
<PAGE>   19



         owned by his  children  and each of his  children  disclaim  beneficial
         ownership of any shares held in trust for their respective benefit.

(3)      Includes 417,768 shares held by the McWane Trust for the benefit of 
         C. Phillip McWane and 174,070 held by the McWane Trust for the benefit 
         of Anna McWane.  Mr. McWane is the trustee for each of these Trusts.

(4)      Does not include 2,817 shares owned by Mrs. McMahon's husband,  John J.
         McMahon,  Jr., of which Mrs. McMahon  disclaims  beneficial  ownership.
         Does not  include  15,000  shares  held in trusts  for the  benefit  of
         Phillip McWane's children, of which John J.
         McMahon, Jr. is trustee.

(5)      James A.  Taylor  was the  Chairman  of the Board  and Chief  Executive
         Officer of ANB as well as a director  until April 30,  1996.  Effective
         April 30, 1996,  Mr. Holcomb became the Chairman of the Board and Chief
         Executive  Officer of ANB as well as a director and Mr.  Nichol  became
         President and Chief Operating Officer of ANB as well as a director. Mr.
         Whitehead  served  as  Executive  Vice  President  of ANB as  well as a
         director until his death in February, 1997.

(6)      Includes stock options to purchase a total of 50,566 shares of ANB 
         Common Stock which are individually held as follows: 34,166 shares by 
         the estate of Mr. Whitehead, and 8,200 shares by each of Dr. Andrews 
         and Mr. Kent. All such options are presently exercisable.

(7)      Includes 300,000 shares held in a family partnership  pursuant to which
         Mr. and Mrs.  McMahon share the power to vote and dispose of the shares
         with each other,  with their three  children  and the spouses of two of
         those children.

(8)      Includes 194,819 shares of ANB Common Stock of which Mr. Holcomb has
         beneficial ownership by reason of the irrevocable proxies granted to
         him by James A. Taylor (189,331) and Mr. Whitehead (5,488) in
         accordance with agreements made in conjunction with the Merger.

(9)      Does not include 37,217 shares owned of record by Mr. Hackney's wife, 
         of which Mr. Hackney disclaims beneficial ownership.

(10)     Of these shares, 6,684 shares are owned of record by Mr. Johns and 30,
         533 are beneficially owned by him through his Individual Retirement 
         Account.  Does not include 1,000 shares owned by Mr. John's wife's 
         Individual Retirement Account, 1,500 shares held for the benefit of 
         Mr. John's wife in the James A. Dunlap Children's Trust, Nancy D. 
         Johns Subtrust, or 2,000 shares held by Mr. John's wife as custodian
         for their minor child.  Mr. Johns disclaims beneficial ownership of
         these shares.

(11)     Includes  500  shares  beneficially  owned  by  Dr.  Orso  through  his
         Individual Retirement Account and 100,000 shares held in a pension plan
         of which Dr. Orso serves as trustee.

(12)     Includes 187,995 shares held by the Anna McWane Trust and 88,775 
         shares held by the J.R. McWane, Jr. Trust.  Mr. Page is the trustee 
         for each of these trusts.  Does not


                                      15

<PAGE>   20



         include 5,000 shares owned of record by Mr. Page's wife, of which Mr. 
         Page disclaims beneficial ownership.

(13)     Each of  these  individuals  has  filed a joint  Schedule  13G with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission to acknowledge that they are part of
         a group  formed  for the  purpose  of  acquiring,  holding,  voting and
         disposing of more than 5% of the  outstanding  ANB Common Stock.  These
         individuals have the right to vote, in the aggregate,  2,776,001 shares
         or 42.2% of the outstanding shares of ANB Common Stock.

(14)     Includes 15,000 shares held in three separate trusts for the benefit 
         of Phillip McWane's children. Mr. McMahon is the trustee for each of 
         these trusts.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

         On April 24, 1996, James A. Taylor, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of ANB, resigned from the Board of Directors of ANB effective April 30,
1996.  In connection with Mr. Taylor's resignation.  Mr. Taylor and his wife,
Martha W. Taylor, who served as Secretary of ANB, agreed to terminate their
respective employment agreements in consideration of a lump sum payment of
approximately $900,000, substantially all of which was financed by a loan from
an independent bank. As partial consideration of such payment, Mr. Taylor agreed
to provide consulting services to ANB through April 30, 1998. In addition to the
lump sum payment, ANB agreed to continue certain benefits currently available to
Mr. Taylor under the Taylor Agreement.  Until Mr. Taylor reaches the age of 65,
ANB will pay the premiums on certain life and disability insurance policies on
the life of Mr. Taylor (See Note 3 to the Summary Compensation Table); will
provide Mr. Taylor medical, life and disability insurance comparable to ANB's
current group policies, so long as the annual cost of such coverage does not
exceed the cost for such coverage in the twelve (12) months preceding March 31,
1996; and will continue Mr. Taylor's medical reimbursement plan maintained by
the First National Bank of Ashland (subject to an annual cap of $14,000  per
year).  ANB further agreed to cause certain of its subsidiary banks to pay Mr.
Taylor his deferred compensation (see Note 4 to the Summary Compensation Table)
and to continue its obligation to register the ANB Common Stock owned by Mr.
Taylor under certain circumstances.  The payments made under the settlement
agreements with Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are in lieu of all severance compensation
provided under their respective employment agreements.  

        NBC's main office is occupied  under a lease with an affiliated  party,
Woodward  Properties, of which (i) Mr. James R. McWane, (ii) Mr. McMahon and
(iii) a family partnership, of which Mr. and Mrs. McMahon have beneficial
ownership, are partners.  NBC has leased 61,846 square feet at an annual        
rental rate of $15.00 per square foot through the year 2013, subject to
adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index.  ANB believes this lease
represents an  arms-length rate and terms for comparable space in the
Birmingham market.

         ANB and the Banks have and expect to continue to have banking and other
transactions in the ordinary course of business with directors and executive
officers of ANB and their affiliates, including members of their families or
corporations, partnerships or other organizations in which such directors or
executive officers have a controlling interest, on substantially the same terms
including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for
comparable transactions with unrelated parties.  Such transactions are not
expected to involve more than the normal risk of collectibility nor present
other unfavorable features to ANB and the Banks. Each of the Banks is subject to
limits on the aggregate


                                      16

<PAGE>   21



amount it can lend to the Bank's and ANB's  directors  and  officers as a group.
This limit is currently  equal to two times the applicable  entity's  unimpaired
capital and surplus. Loans to individual directors and officers must also comply
with the bank's lending  policies and statutory  lending  limits,  and directors
with  a  personal  interest  in any  loan  application  are  excluded  from  the
consideration of such loan application.

                           INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

         On  April  25,  1996,   the  Board  of  Directors  of  ANB,   upon  the
recommendation  of its Audit  Committee,  approved the  engagement  of Coopers &
Lybrand LLP as its  independent  auditors for the year ending December 31, 1996.
Coopers  &  Lybrand  LLP  had  served  as the  independent  auditors  for  ANB's
predecessor, NCC and its subsidiaries,  for each of the years ended December 31,
1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991, and was serving as the independent  auditor of NCC in
1995, when their engagement ended on the effective date of the Merger.

         ANB had engaged Ernst & Young LLP as its  independent  auditors for the
years ended  December 31, 1995,  1994 and 1993.  Ernst & Young LLP expressed its
unqualified opinion as to the consolidated  financial  statements of ANB and its
subsidiaries for each of those years in its report dated February 29, 1996.

         Because the Merger  resulted in a change of control,  the  consolidated
financial  statements of the Registrant for the years prior to 1996 include only
the results of operations of NCC. Accordingly,  the report of Ernst & Young LLP,
dated February 29, 1996, with respect to ANB's consolidated financial statements
referenced the  unqualified  opinion of Coopers & Lybrand LLP, dated January 27,
1995, with respect to the  consolidated  statement of condition of ANB (formerly
reported  as NCC)  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  1994,  and the  related
consolidated  statements  of income,  changes in  stockholders'  equity and cash
flows for each of the two years ended December 31, 1994.

         There were no disagreements during 1995 or 1994 between ANB and Ernst &
Young  LLP on any  matter  of  accounting  principles  or  practices,  financial
statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreement,  if not
resolved to the  satisfaction of Ernst & Young LLP, would have caused it to make
reference to the subject matter of the disagreement in its report.

         ANB  retained  Ernst & Young LLP to audit the separate  1996  financial
statements  of  ANB's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  NBC  Securities,  Inc.,  a
registered broker-dealer.

                                OTHER MATTERS

         As of the date of this Proxy  Statement,  the Board of Directors of ANB
does not know of any business which will be presented for  consideration  at the
Annual  Meeting  other  than that  specified  herein and in the Notice of Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, but if other matters are presented, it is the intention
of the persons  designated as proxies to vote in accordance  with their judgment
on such matters.




                                      17
<PAGE>   22


                      DEADLINE FOR SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

         If any Stockholder  wishes to present a proposal for action at the 1998
Annual Meeting of the Stockholders,  the Stockholder must comply with applicable
Securities and Exchange  Commission  Regulations,  including  adequate notice to
ANB. Any proposal  must be submitted in writing not later than November 30, 1997
by Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested to Alabama National BanCorporation,
Attention:  John H. Holcomb, III, 1927 First Avenue North,  Birmingham,  Alabama
35203.

A COPY OF ANB'S 1996 ANNUAL REPORT TO  STOCKHOLDERS  WHICH INCLUDES ANB'S ANNUAL
REPORT  ON FORM  10-K  FOR THE YEAR  ENDED  DECEMBER  31,  1996,  INCLUDING  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL  STATEMENT  SCHEDULES THERETO, AS FILED WITH
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION,  IS ENCLOSED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
IF SUCH ANNUAL REPORT IS NOT SO INCLUDED, PLEASE ADDRESS NOTIFICATION TO ALABAMA
NATIONAL  BANCORPORATION,  ATTENTION:  JUDY  LAWLEY,  1927 FIRST  AVENUE  NORTH,
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203.




                                      18


<PAGE>   23
                                                                APPENDIX

                               REVOCABLE PROXY
                       ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION
                           1927 FIRST AVENUE NORTH
                          BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA 35203


        This Proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Alabama
National BanCorporation ("ANB") for use only at the Annual Meeting of 
Stockholders to be held on April 24, 1997, and at any postponement or 
adjournments thereof (the "Annual Meeting").

        The undersigned, being a Stockholder of ANB, hereby appoints John H.
Holcomb, III and Victor E. Nichol, Jr., and each of them, as Proxies, each with
the power to appoint his substitute, and hereby authorizes them, or either of
them, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting and thereat to act
with respect to all votes that the undersigned would be entitled to cast, if
then personally present, on the following matters in accordance with the
following instructions:

1.      To elect 11 directors to serve on the ANB Board of Directors until the
        next annual meeting and their successors are duly elected and qualified.

        [ ]     FOR All Nominees (Other than as Struck Below)

        [ ]     WITHHOLD AUTHORITY To Vote For All Nominees Listed

NOTE:  To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee strike a line
through the nominee's name in the list below.

T. Morris Hackney; John H. Holcomb, III; John D. Johns; C. Phillip McWane;
William D. Montgomery, Drayton Nabors, Jr.; Victor E. Nichol, Jr.; G. Ruffner
Page, Jr.; W. Stancil Starnes; Ronald W. Orso, M.D.; and John J. McMahon, Jr.

2.      To transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual
        Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

        THIS INSTRUCTION CARD IS CONTINUED ON THE RESERVE SIDE.
         PLEASE SIGN ON THE RESERVE SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.   
<PAGE>   24
        The undersigned acknowledges that the Annual Meeting may be postponed
or adjourned to a date subsequent to the date set forth above, and intends that
this Proxy shall be effective at the Annual Meeting after such postponement(s)
or adjournment(s).  This Proxy is revocable, and the undersigned may revoke it
at any time by delivery of written notice of such revocation to ANB, or its
agent, AmSouth Bank of Alabama, prior to the date of the Annual Meeting, or by
attendance at the Annual Meeting.

This Proxy when properly executed will be voted in the manner directed by the
undersigned.  If no direction is made, this Proxy will be voted FOR all
director nominees.

                                PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS BELOW  

                                DATED:                            , 1997.  
                                       ---------------------------         

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

                                NOTE: Please sign exactly as name appears
                                above.  When signing as attorney, executor,
                                administrator, trustee or guardian,
                                please give full title as such.  If a
                                corporation, please sign in full corporation
                                name by president or other authorized officer. 
                                If a partnership, please sign in partnership
                                name by authorized person.

PLEASE MARK, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY BELOW AND RETURN PROMPTLY USING 
THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.


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