**EXHIBIT 15**

 

Exhibit 15—Letter Re: Unaudited Interim Financial Information 

 

Board of Directors 

AmSouth Bancorporation

 

We are aware of the incorporation by reference in the following RegistrationStatements and in their related Prospectuses, of our report dated April 27, 2004, relating to the unaudited consolidated financial statements of AmSouth Bancorporation and subsidiaries which are included in its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March31, 2004: 

 

Form S-3 No. 33-55683 pertaining to the AmSouthBancorporation Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 33-52113 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation 1989 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 33-35218 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation 1989 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 33-37905 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Thrift Plan;

 

Form S-8 No. 33-2927 (as amended) pertaining to the AmSouthBancorporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-3 No.33-35280 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-02099 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Thrift Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-05631 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation 1996 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-27107 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation EmployeeStock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-41599 pertaining to theAmSouth Bancorporation Deferred Compensation Plan and the Amended and           Restated Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors of AmSouth Bancorporation; 

 

Form S-3 No. 333-44263 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation ShelfRegistration Statement; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-76283 pertaining tothe AmSouth Bancorporation Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89451 pertaining to the First American Corporation 1993 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89455 pertaining to the First American Corporation 1999 Broad-Based Employee Stock 

          Option Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89457 pertaining to the First American Corporation Star Award Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89459 pertaining to the Deposit Guaranty Corporation LongTerm Incentive Plans; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89461 pertaining tothe First American Corporation 1991 Employee Stock Incentive Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-89463 pertaining to the Heritage Federal Bancshares, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee           Directors and 1992 Stock Option Plan and Incentive CompensationPlan for Non-Employee Directors; 

 

Form S-3 No. 333-42542pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-42554 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Thrift Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-42556 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Employee Stock Purchase Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-42558 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Amended andRestated 1991 Employee Stock Incentive           Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-42560 pertaining to the Pioneer Bancshares, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-102581 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors; 

 

Form S-8 No. 333-102586 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation 1996 LongTerm Incentive Compensation Plan; and 

 

Form S-3 No. 333-42542(as amended) pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend           Reinvestment Plan. 

 

/s/    ERNST & YOUNG LLP 

 

Birmingham, Alabama 

April 27, 2004