<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.5
                                                                     -----------


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



                        AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION

                                    OF TRUST

                                       OF

                          SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I





                           DATED AS OF MARCH 31, 2000



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





<PAGE>   2




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         PAGE
                                                                                                         ----
                                                        ARTICLE I
                                             INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

<S>                                                                                                       <C>
         SECTION 1.1    Definitions .......................................................................2


                                                       ARTICLE II
                                                   TRUST INDENTURE ACT

         SECTION 2.1    Trust Indenture Act; Application................................................. 10
         SECTION 2.2    Lists of Holders of Securities ...................................................10
         SECTION 2.3    Reports by the Property Trustee ..................................................10
         SECTION 2.4    Periodic Reports to Property Trustee .............................................11
         SECTION 2.5    Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent .................................11
         SECTION 2.6    Events of Default; Waiver ........................................................11
         SECTION 2.7    Default; Notice ..................................................................12


                                                       ARTICLE III
                                                      ORGANIZATION

         SECTION 3.1    Name .............................................................................13
         SECTION 3.2    Office ...........................................................................13
         SECTION 3.3    Purpose ..........................................................................14
         SECTION 3.4    Authority ........................................................................14
         SECTION 3.5    Title to Property of the Trust ...................................................14
         SECTION 3.6    Powers and Duties of the Administrative Trustees .................................14
         SECTION 3.7    Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees .............................17
         SECTION 3.8    Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee ........................................18
         SECTION 3.9    Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee ......................20
         SECTION 3.10   Certain Rights of Property Trustee ...............................................22
         SECTION 3.11   Delaware Trustee .................................................................24
         SECTION 3.12   Execution of Documents ...........................................................24
         SECTION 3.13   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities ...........................24
         SECTION 3.14   Duration of Trust ................................................................25
         SECTION 3.15   Mergers ..........................................................................25
</TABLE>

                                      -i-

<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       ARTICLE IV
                                                         SPONSOR

<S>                                                                                                      <C>
         SECTION 4.1    Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities ..........................................27
         SECTION 4.2    Responsibilities of the Sponsor ..................................................27
         SECTION 4.3    Right to Proceed .................................................................27
         SECTION 4.4    Right to Dissolve Trust ..........................................................28


                                                        ARTICLE V
                                                        TRUSTEES

         SECTION 5.1    Number of Trustees; Appointment of Co-Trustee ....................................28
         SECTION 5.2    Delaware Trustee .................................................................29
         SECTION 5.3    Property Trustee; Eligibility ....................................................29
         SECTION 5.4    Certain Qualifications of Administrative Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally .30
         SECTION 5.5    Administrative Trustees ..........................................................30
         SECTION 5.6    Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees .................................31
         SECTION 5.7    Vacancies among Trustees .........................................................32
         SECTION 5.8    Effect of Vacancies ..............................................................33
         SECTION 5.9    Meetings .........................................................................33
         SECTION 5.10   Delegation of Power ..............................................................33
         SECTION 5.11   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business ......................34


                                                       ARTICLE VI
                                                      DISTRIBUTIONS

         SECTION 6.1    Distributions ....................................................................34


                                                       ARTICLE VII
                                                 ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

         SECTION 7.1    General Provisions Regarding Securities ..........................................34
         SECTION 7.2    Execution and Authentication .....................................................35
         SECTION 7.3    Form and Dating ..................................................................36
         SECTION 7.4    Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent .......................................37
         SECTION 7.5    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust ..............................................38
         SECTION 7.6    Replacement Securities ...........................................................38
         SECTION 7.7    Outstanding Capital Securities ...................................................38
         SECTION 7.8    Capital Securities in Treasury ...................................................38
         SECTION 7.9    Temporary Securities .............................................................39
         SECTION 7.10   Cancellation .....................................................................40
         SECTION 7.11   CUSIP Numbers ....................................................................40
</TABLE>

                                      -ii-
<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      ARTICLE VIII
                                                  DISSOLUTION OF TRUST

<S>                                                                                                      <C>
         SECTION 8.1    Dissolution of Trust .............................................................40


                                                       ARTICLE IX
                                                  TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

         SECTION 9.1    Transfer of Securities ...........................................................41
         SECTION 9.2    Transfer Procedures and Restrictions .............................................42
         SECTION 9.3    Deemed Security Holders ..........................................................51
         SECTION 9.4    Book-Entry Interests .............................................................51
         SECTION 9.5    Notices to Clearing Agency .......................................................51
         SECTION 9.6    Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency .........................................52


                                                        ARTICLE X
                                               LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
                                        HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS

         SECTION 10.1   Liability ........................................................................52
         SECTION 10.2   Exculpation ......................................................................52
         SECTION 10.3   Fiduciary Duty ...................................................................53
         SECTION 10.4   Indemnification ..................................................................54
         SECTION 10.5   Outside Businesses ...............................................................56


                                                       ARTICLE XI
                                                       ACCOUNTING

         SECTION 11.1   Fiscal Year ......................................................................57
         SECTION 11.2   Certain Accounting Matters .......................................................57
         SECTION 11.3   Banking ..........................................................................57
         SECTION 11.4   Withholding ......................................................................58


                                                       ARTICLE XII
                                                 AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

         SECTION 12.1   Amendments .......................................................................58
         SECTION 12.2   Meetings of the Holders; Action by Written Consent ...............................60
</TABLE>

                                     -iii-

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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      ARTICLE XIII
                                           REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                                                  AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

<S>                                                                                                      <C>
         SECTION 13.1   Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee ...............................61
         SECTION 13.2   Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee ...............................62


                                                       ARTICLE XIV
                                              REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

         SECTION 14.1.  Registration Rights Agreement; Liquidated Damages.................................63


                                                       ARTICLE XV
                                                      MISCELLANEOUS

         SECTION 15.1   Notices ..........................................................................63
         SECTION 15.2   Governing Law ....................................................................64
         SECTION 15.3   Intention of the Parties .........................................................65
         SECTION 15.4   Headings .........................................................................65
         SECTION 15.5   Successors and Assigns ...........................................................65
         SECTION 15.6   Partial Enforceability ...........................................................65
         SECTION 15.7   Counterparts .....................................................................65


ANNEX I
         TERMS OF CAPITAL AND COMMON SECURITIES                                                          I-1

EXHIBIT A-1
         FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE                                                          A-1-1

EXHIBIT A-2
         FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE                                                           A-2-1
</TABLE>

                                      -iv-

<PAGE>   6


                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*


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

              310(a)                                      5.3
              310(b)                                 5.3(c); 5.3(d)
              311(a)                                     2.2(b)
              311(b)                                     2.2(b)
              312(a)                                     2.2(a)
              312(b)                                     2.2(b)
               313                                        2.3
              314(a)                                  2.4; 3.6(j)
              314(c)                                      2.5
              315(a)                                      3.9
              315(b)                                     2.7(a)
              315(c)                                     3.9(a)
              315(d)                                     3.9(b)
              316(a)                                      2.6
              316(c)                                     3.6(e)
              317(a)                                 3.8(e); 3.8(h)
              317(b)                                  3.8(i); 7.5

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

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


                                      -v-

<PAGE>   7

                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                       OF
                          SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I

                           Dated as of March 31, 2000


         AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and
effective as of March 31, 2000, by and among the Trustees (as defined herein),
the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust to be issued pursuant
to this Declaration;

         WHEREAS, certain of the Trustees and the Sponsor established Sky
Financial Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a trust created under the Delaware
Business Trust Act pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of March 31, 2000
(the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 22, 2000, for the sole
purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, investing the proceeds thereof
in certain Debentures of the Debenture Issuer (each as hereinafter defined), and
engaging in only those activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto;

         WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been
issued; and

         WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration,
amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration.

         NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to
continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that
this Declaration constitute the governing instrument of such business trust, the
Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust
for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued
hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration and, in consideration
of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:


<PAGE>   8


                                    ARTICLE I
                         INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1                DEFINITIONS.

         Unless the context otherwise requires:

         (a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the
preamble above or elsewhere herein have the respective meanings assigned to them
in this Section 1.1;

         (b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
throughout;

         (c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to
this Declaration and each Annex and Exhibit hereto, as modified, supplemented or
amended from time to time;

         (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and
Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to
this Declaration unless otherwise specified;

         (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration or unless
the context otherwise requires;

         (f) a term defined in the Indenture (as defined herein) has the same
meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this
Declaration or the context otherwise requires; and

         (g) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

         "ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

         "AFFILIATE" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405
under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

         "AGENT" means any Paying Agent, Registrar or Exchange Agent.

         "AUTHORIZED OFFICER" of a Person means any other Person that is
authorized to legally bind such former Person.

         "BOOK-ENTRY INTEREST" means a beneficial interest in the Global Capital
Security registered in the name of a Clearing Agency or its nominee, ownership
and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book entries by a
Clearing Agency as described in Section 9.4.

         "BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day
on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Marietta, Ohio are
authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   9

         "BUSINESS TRUST ACT" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code,
12 Del. Code Section 3801 ET SEQ., as it may be amended from time to time, or
any successor legislation.

         "CAPITAL SECURITIES" means, collectively, the Series A Capital
Securities and the Series B Capital Securities.

         "CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE" means, collectively, the Series A
Capital Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

         "CAPITAL SECURITY BENEFICIAL OWNER" means, with respect to a Book-Entry
Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Interest, as
reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person
maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency
Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the
rules of such Clearing Agency).

         "CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE" has the meaning set forth in Section
9.4.

         "CLEARING AGENCY" means an organization registered as a "Clearing
Agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depositary
for the Capital Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of that
organization shall be registered a global certificate and which shall undertake
to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Capital Securities.

         "CLEARING AGENCY PARTICIPANT" means a broker, dealer, bank, other
financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing
Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.

         "CLOSING TIME" means the "Closing Time" as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.

         "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.

         "COMMISSION" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
as from time to time constituted, or if at any time after the execution of this
Declaration such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now
assigned to it under applicable federal securities laws, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

         "COMMON SECURITIES" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

         "COMMON SECURITIES GUARANTEE" means the Common Securities Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of the Closing Time, of Sky Financial Group, Inc., in
respect of the Common Securities.

         "COMMON SECURITIES SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT" means the Common Securities
Subscription Agreement, dated as of the Closing Time, between the Trust and Sky
Financial Group, Inc., relating to the Common Securities.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   10

         "COMPANY INDEMNIFIED PERSON" means (a) any Administrative Trustee; (b)
any Affiliate of any Administrative Trustee; (c) any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any
Administrative Trustee; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or
its Affiliates.

         "CORPORATE TRUST OFFICE" means the office of the Property Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of
execution of this Declaration is located at Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North
Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust
Administration.

         "COVERED PERSON" means: (a) any officer, director, shareholder,
partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the
Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.

         "DEBENTURE ISSUER" means Sky Financial Group, Inc., an Ohio
corporation, or any successor entity resulting from any consolidation,
amalgamation, merger or other business combination, in its capacity as issuer of
the Debentures under the Indenture.

         "DEBENTURE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT" means the Debenture Subscription
Agreement, dated as of the Closing Time, between the Debenture Issuer and the
Trust in respect of the Series A Debentures.

         "DEBENTURE TRUSTEE" means Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking
corporation, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed
thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.

         "DEBENTURES" means, collectively, the Series A Debentures and the
Series B Debentures.

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

         "DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITIES" has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3(c).

         "DELAWARE TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

         "DIRECT ACTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(e).

         "DISTRIBUTION" means a distribution payable to Holders in accordance
with Section 6.1.

         "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency.

         "EVENT OF DEFAULT" in respect of the Securities means an Event of
Default (as defined in the Indenture) that has occurred and is continuing in
respect of the Debentures.



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   11

         "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.

         "EXCHANGE AGENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.

         "EXCHANGE OFFER" means the offer that may be made pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement (i) by the Trust to exchange Series B Capital
Securities for Series A Capital Securities and (ii) by the Debenture Issuer to
exchange Series B Debentures for Series A Debentures and the Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee for the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.

         "FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD" means the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System.

         "FIDUCIARY INDEMNIFIED PERSON" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(b).

         "FISCAL YEAR" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1.

         "GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

         "HOLDER" means a Person in whose name a Security or Successor Security
is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the
Business Trust Act.

         "INDEMNIFIED PERSON" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary
Indemnified Person.

         "INDENTURE" means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Time, between
the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, as amended from time to time.

         "INITIAL OPTIONAL REDEMPTION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section
4(b) of Annex I hereto.

         "INVESTMENT COMPANY" means an investment company as defined in the
Investment Company Act.

         "INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

         "INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of
Annex I hereto.

         "LEGAL ACTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).

         "LIKE AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of Annex I hereto.

         "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES" has the meaning set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>   12

         "LIQUIDATED DAMAGES AGREEMENT" means the Liquidated Damages Agreement,
dated as of March 31, 2000, by and among the Debenture Issuer, the Trust and the
Initial Purchaser named therein, as amended from time to time.

         "LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of
Annex I hereto.

         "LIST OF HOLDERS" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

         "MAJORITY IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT " means, with respect to the Trust
Securities, except as provided in the terms of the Capital Securities or by the
Trust Indenture Act, Holders of outstanding Trust Securities voting together as
a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant
class.

         "OFFERING MEMORANDUM" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b)(i).

         "OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, an Executive or Senior Vice President, a Vice President,
the Chief Financial Officer, and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Any
Officers' Certificate delivered by the Trust shall be signed by at least one
Administrative Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to
compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration shall
include:

                  (a) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has
         read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

                  (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
         examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering
         the Certificate;

                  (c) a statement that each such officer has made such
         examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is
         necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to
         whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

                  (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such
         officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

         "OPINION OF COUNSEL" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an
employee of the Sponsor, and who shall be acceptable to the Property Trustee.

         "PARTICIPANTS" has the meaning specified in Section 7.3(b).

         "PAYING AGENT" has the meaning specified in Section 7.4.



                                      -6-
<PAGE>   13

         "PAYMENT AMOUNT" has the meaning specified in Section 6.1.

         "PERSON" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

         "PORTAL" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b) (iii).

         "PROPERTY TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

         "PROPERTY TRUSTEE ACCOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.8(c)(i).

         "PURCHASE AGREEMENT" means the Purchase Agreement relating to the
Series A Capital Securities, dated March 28, 2000, by and among the Trust, the
Debenture Issuer and the Initial Purchaser named therein.

         "QIBS" shall mean qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule
144A.

         "QUORUM" means a majority of the Administrative Trustees or, if there
are only two Administrative Trustees, both of them.

         "REGISTRAR" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.

         "REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means the Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of March 28, 2000, by and among the Trust, the Debenture Trustee and
the Initial Purchaser named therein, as amended from time to time.

         "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

         "REGULATORY CAPITAL EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of
Annex I hereto.

         "RELATED PARTY" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or
indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any other Person that owns,
directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the
Sponsor.

         "RESPONSIBLE OFFICER" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any
officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any managing director,
principal, vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer,
assistant secretary or any other officer of the Property Trustee customarily
performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this
Declaration, and also, with respect to a particular matter, any other officer to
whom such matter is referred because of such officer's knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.



                                      -7-
<PAGE>   14

         "RESTRICTED CAPITAL SECURITY" means a Capital Security required by
Section 9.2 to contain a Restricted Securities Legend.

         "RESTRICTED DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITIES" has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.3(c).

         "RESTRICTED SECURITIES LEGEND" has the meaning set forth in Section
9.2(i).

         "RULE 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act, or any
successor rule or regulation.

         "RULE 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission.

         "RULE 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may
be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter
adopted by the Commission.

         "SECURITIES" or "TRUST SECURITIES" means the Common Securities and the
Capital Securities.

         "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time
to time, or any successor legislation.

         "SECURITIES GUARANTEES" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Capital Securities Guarantee.

         "SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES" has the meaning specified in Section
7.1(a) [and may be alternatively referred to as the 9.34% Capital Securities].

         "SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE" means the guarantee agreement
dated as of March 31, 2000, by the Sponsor in respect of the Series A Capital
Securities.

         "SERIES A DEBENTURES" means the 9.34% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due May 1, 2030, Series A, of the Debenture Issuer issued
pursuant to the Indenture.

         "SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES" has the meaning specified in Section
7.1(a).

         "SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE" means the guarantee agreement
to be entered into in connection with the Exchange Offer by the Sponsor in
respect of the Series B Capital Securities.

         "SERIES B DEBENTURES" means the 9.34% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due May 1, 2030, Series B, of the Debenture Issuer to be
issued pursuant to the Indenture in connection with the Exchange Offer.

         "SPECIAL EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of Annex I
hereto.

         "SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION PRICE" has the meaning set forth in Section
4(c) of Annex I hereto.



                                      -8-
<PAGE>   15

         "SPONSOR" means Sky Financial Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation, or any
successor entity resulting from any merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other
business combination, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.

         "SUCCESSOR DELAWARE TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section
5.6(b)(ii).

         "SUCCESSOR ENTITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b)(i).

         "SUCCESSOR PROPERTY TRUSTEE" has the meaning set forth in Section
3.8(f)(ii).

         "SUCCESSOR SECURITIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b)(i).

         "SUPER MAJORITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a) (ii).

         "TAX EVENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 4(c) of Annex I
hereto.

         "10% IN LIQUIDATION AMOUNT" means, with respect to the Trust
Securities, except as provided in the terms of the Capital Securities or by the
Trust Indenture Act, Holders of outstanding Trust Securities voting together as
a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or
otherwise, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the
voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant
class.

         "TREASURY REGULATIONS" means the income tax regulations, including
temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

         "TRUST INDENTURE ACT" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
from time to time, or any successor legislation.

         "TRUST PROPERTY" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in
or owing to the Property Trustee Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in
respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being
held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to this Declaration.

         "TRUSTEE" or "TRUSTEES" means each Person who has signed this
Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue as a trustee of
the Trust in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may
from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in
accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the
Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as
trustees hereunder.

         "UNRESTRICTED GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY" has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2(b).


                                      -9-
<PAGE>   16

                                   ARTICLE II
                               TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1                TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.

         (a) This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Declaration in order for this
Declaration to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and shall, to the
extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

         (b) The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee that is a trustee
for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.

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

         (d) The application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration
shall not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

SECTION 2.2                LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.

         (a) Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of
the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee, unless the Property Trustee is
Registrar for the Securities, (i) within 14 days after each record date for
payment of Distributions, a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may
reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of
Holders") as of such record date, PROVIDED THAT, neither the Sponsor nor the
Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide
such List of Holders at any time that the List of Holders does not differ from
the most recent List of Holders given to the Property Trustee by the Sponsor and
the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii) at any other time,
within 30 days of receipt by the Trust of a written request for a List of
Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders is given
to the Property Trustee. The Property Trustee shall preserve, in as current a
form as is reasonably practicable, all information contained in Lists of Holders
given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying Agent (if acting in
such capacity), PROVIDED THAT the Property Trustee may destroy any List of
Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

         (b) The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section Section 311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.3                REPORTS BY THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

         On or before July 15 of each year, commencing July 15, 2001, the
Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Capital Securities such
reports as are required by Section 313 of the Trust



                                      -10-
<PAGE>   17

Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by Section 313 of
the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with the
requirements of Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4                PERIODIC REPORTS TO PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

         Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and
information as are required by Section 314 (if any) of the Trust Indenture Act
and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture
Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the
Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.5                EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

         Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent provided for in this Declaration that relate to any of the
matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate
or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of
the Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.

SECTION 2.6                EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.

         (a) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the Capital Securities
and its consequences, PROVIDED THAT, if the underlying Event of Default under
the Indenture:

                           (i) is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of
                  Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or

                           (ii) requires the consent or vote of greater than a
                  majority in aggregate principal amount of the holders of the
                  Debentures (a "Super Majority") to be waived under the
                  Indenture, the Event of Default under the Declaration may only
                  be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the
                  proportion in aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
                  Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the
                  aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.

The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the
Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Upon such waiver, any such
Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Default or an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the Holders of
the Capital Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
Securities shall also be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the
Common Securities of any such Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities for all purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote,
or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>   18

         (b) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common
Securities, waive any past Event of Default with respect to the Common
Securities and its consequences, PROVIDED THAT, if the underlying Event of
Default under the Indenture:

                           (i) is not waivable under the Indenture, except where
                  the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived
                  such Event of Default under this Declaration as provided below
                  in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under this
                  Declaration shall also not be waivable; or

                           (ii) requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority
                  to be waived, except where the Holders of the Common
                  Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default
                  under this Declaration as provided below in this Section
                  2.6(b), the Event of Default under this Declaration may only
                  be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the
                  proportion in aggregate liquidation amount of the Common
                  Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the
                  aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding;

PROVIDED FURTHER, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have waived
any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with respect to the Common
Securities and their consequences if all Events of Default with respect to the
Capital Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and until
such Events of Default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of
the Capital Securities and only the Holders of the Capital Securities will have
the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance with the terms of the
Securities. The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu of
Section Section 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and
such Section Section 316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act
are hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as
permitted by the Trust Indenture Act. Subject to the foregoing provisions of
this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such Default shall cease to exist and
any Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom
shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default
with respect to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.

         (c) A waiver of an Event of Default under the Indenture by the Property
Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of the Capital Securities, constitutes
a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this Declaration. The
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(c) shall be in lieu of Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the
Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.7                DEFAULT; NOTICE.

         (a) The Property Trustee shall, within 90 days after a Responsible
Officer obtains actual knowledge of the occurrence of a Default with respect to
the Securities, transmit by mail, first class



                                      -12-
<PAGE>   19

postage prepaid, to the Holders, notices of all such Defaults, unless such
Defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice or previously waived;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that except in the case of a Default arising from the
nonpayment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, including
Compounded Interest and Additional Sums (as such terms are defined in the
Indenture), if any, or Liquidated Damages, if any (as such term is defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement), on any of the Debentures, the Property
Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a
Responsible Officer in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice
is in the interests of the Holders.

         (b) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
Default or Event of Default except:

                           (i) a Default or Event of Default under Sections
                  5.01(a) (other than the payment or nonpayment of Compounded
                  Interest, Additional Sums and Liquidated Damages) and 5.01(b)
                  of the Indenture; or

                           (ii) any Default or Event of Default as to which the
                  Property Trustee shall have received written notice or of
                  which a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of
                  the Declaration shall have actual knowledge.

         (c) Within ten Business Days after a Responsible Officer obtains actual
knowledge of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Property Trustee shall
transmit notice of such Event of Default to the Holders of the Capital
Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor, unless such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived. The Sponsor and the Administrative
Trustees shall file annually with the Property Trustee a certification as to
whether or not they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants
applicable to them under this Declaration.


                                   ARTICLE III
                                  ORGANIZATION

SECTION 3.1                NAME.

         The Trust is named "Sky Financial Capital Trust I" as such name may be
modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written
notice to the Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Holders. The
Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other
name deemed advisable by the Administrative Trustees.

SECTION 3.2                OFFICE.

         The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Sky Financial
Group, Inc., 221 South Church Street, Bowling Green, Ohio 43402. On ten Business
Days' prior written notice to the Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the
Holders of Securities, the Administrative Trustees may designate another
principal office.



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   20

SECTION 3.3                PURPOSE.

         The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and
sell Securities, (b) to use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to
acquire the Debentures, (c) to issue the Series B Capital Securities in exchange
for the Series A Capital Securities, and (d) except as otherwise limited herein,
to engage in only those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental
thereto, including without limitation, those activities specified in Sections
3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11 and/or 3.12. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue
debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, mortgage or pledge any of
its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity
that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income
tax purposes as a grantor trust.

SECTION 3.4                AUTHORITY.

         Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the
specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees shall have
exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An
action taken by one or more of the Administrative Trustees in accordance with
their powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust and an
action taken by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust in accordance with
its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing
with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to
inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing
with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of
the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration.

SECTION 3.5                TITLE TO PROPERTY OF THE TRUST.

         Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and
the Property Trustee Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal
title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall
not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an
undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.

SECTION 3.6                POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES.

         The Administrative Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and
authority, and are hereby authorized and directed, to cause the Trust to engage
in the following activities:

         (a) to execute, deliver, issue and sell the Securities in accordance
with this Declaration; provided, HOWEVER, that (i) the Trust may issue no more
than two series of Capital Securities and no more than one series of Common
Securities, (ii) there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the
Securities, and (iii) the issuance of Series A Capital Securities and the Common
Securities shall be limited to a simultaneous issuance of both Series A Capital
Securities and Common Securities at the Closing Time;

         (b) in connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities and
the consummation of the Exchange Offer, at the direction of the Sponsor, to:



                                      -14-
<PAGE>   21

                           (i) prepare and execute, if necessary, (A) an
                  offering memorandum (the "Offering Memorandum") in preliminary
                  and final form prepared by the Sponsor, in relation to the
                  offering and sale of Series A Capital Securities to QIBs in
                  reliance on Rule 144A and to institutional "accredited
                  investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7)
                  under the Securities Act), and (B) file with the Commission at
                  such time as is determined by the Sponsor, any Registration
                  Statement in preliminary and final form prepared by the
                  Sponsor, in relation to the Exchange Offer;

                           (ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the
                  Sponsor, or take any acts as determined by the Sponsor to be
                  necessary in order to qualify or register all or part of the
                  Capital Securities in any State in which the Sponsor has
                  determined to qualify or register such Capital Securities for
                  sale;

                           (iii) execute and file an application, prepared by
                  the Sponsor, to permit the Capital Securities to trade or be
                  quoted or listed in or on the Private Offerings, Resales and
                  Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") Market or any
                  other securities exchange, quotation system or the Nasdaq
                  Stock Market's National Market;

                           (iv) execute, enter into, deliver and perform the
                  Common Securities Subscription Agreement, the Purchase
                  Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Liquidated
                  Damages Agreement and letters, documents, or instruments with
                  DTC and other Clearing Agencies relating to the Capital
                  Securities; and

                           (v) if required, execute and file with the Commission
                  a registration statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments
                  thereto, prepared by the Sponsor, relating to the registration
                  of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the
                  Exchange Act, as the case may be.

         (c) to execute, enter into and deliver the Common Securities
Subscription Agreement and the Debenture Subscription Agreement and to acquire
the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital Securities
and the Common Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Administrative Trustees
shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record in the name of
the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders;

         (d) to give the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt written notice
of the occurrence of a Special Event;

         (e) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken
hereunder that require a record date be established, including and with respect
to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act,
Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant
notices to the Holders as to such actions and applicable record dates;

         (f) to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of
the Administrative Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities;



                                      -15-
<PAGE>   22

         (g) to the fullest extent permitted by law, to bring or defend, pay,
collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust
claims or demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to
Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal
Action;

         (h) to employ or otherwise engage employees, agents (who may be
designated as officers with titles), managers, contractors, advisors and
consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services;

         (i) to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the
Trust Indenture Act;

         (j) to give the certificate required by Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust
Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate may be executed by any
Administrative Trustee;

         (k) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any
of the purposes of the Trust;

         (l) to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, Registrar and
Exchange Agent for the Securities or to appoint a Paying Agent for the
Securities as provided in Section 7.4, except for such time as such power to
appoint a Paying Agent is vested in the Property Trustee;

         (m) to give prompt written notice to the Property Trustee and to
Holders of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to
defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment
period under the Indenture;

         (n) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the
preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights,
franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under the laws of the
State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is
necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders or to enable the Trust
to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created;

         (o) to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or with
applicable law, that the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion
to be necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities of the Trust as set
out in this Section 3.6, including, but not limited to:

                           (i) causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an
                  Investment Company required to be registered under the
                  Investment Company Act;

                           (ii) causing the Trust to continue to be classified
                  for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor
                  trust; and

                           (iii) cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure
                  that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the
                  Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax
                  purposes;



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   23

         (p) to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns
and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the
Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of
the Trust; and

         (q) to execute and deliver all documents or instruments, perform all
duties and powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all
matters necessary, advisable or incidental to the foregoing.

         The Administrative Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Administrative Trustees shall not take
any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set
forth in Section 3.3.

         Subject to this Section 3.6, the Administrative Trustees shall have
none of the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in Section
3.8.

         Any expenses incurred by the Administrative Trustees pursuant to this
Section 3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.

SECTION 3.7                PROHIBITION OF ACTIONS BY THE TRUST AND THE TRUSTEES.

         The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee
and the Delaware Trustee) shall not, and the Administrative Trustees shall cause
the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by
this Declaration. The Trust shall not:

                           (i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from
                  holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds
                  to Holders pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of
                  the Securities;

                           (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly
                  provided herein;

                           (iii) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust
                  purpose or execute any mortgage in respect of, or pledge, any
                  Trust Property;

                           (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other
                  than loans represented by the Debentures;

                           (v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way
                  as to vary the Trust Property or the terms of the Securities
                  in any way whatsoever;

                           (vi) issue any securities or other evidences of
                  beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust
                  other than the Securities;

                           (vii) other than as provided in this Declaration or
                  Annex I hereto, (A) direct the time, method and place of
                  conducting any proceeding with respect to any



                                      -17-
<PAGE>   24

                  remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any
                  trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with
                  respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is
                  waivable under the Indenture, or (C) exercise any right to
                  rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the
                  Debentures shall be due and payable; or

                           (viii) consent to any amendment, modification or
                  termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such
                  consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received
                  an opinion of independent tax counsel experienced in such
                  matters to the effect that such amendment, modification or
                  termination will not cause more than an insubstantial risk
                  that the Trust will not be classified as a grantor trust for
                  United States federal income tax purposes.

SECTION 3.8                POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

         (a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of
record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust
and the Holders. The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the
Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be
appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6. Such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with
regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.

         (b) The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Administrative Trustees or to the Delaware
Trustee (if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).

         (c) The Property Trustee shall:

                           (i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest
                  bearing trust account (the "Property Trustee Account") in the
                  name of and under the exclusive control of the Property
                  Trustee on behalf of the Holders and, upon the receipt of
                  payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by
                  the Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property
                  Trustee Account and make payments or cause the Paying Agent to
                  make payments to the Holders from the Property Trustee Account
                  in accordance with Section 6.1; funds in the Property Trustee
                  Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance
                  with this Declaration; and the Property Trustee Account shall
                  be an account that is maintained with a banking institution
                  the rating on whose long-term unsecured indebtedness by a
                  "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as
                  that term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
                  Securities Act, is at least equal to the rating, if any,
                  assigned to the Capital Securities;

                           (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall
                  be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the
                  Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or
                  mature; and



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   25

                           (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by
                  the Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of
                  the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall
                  be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the
                  Debentures to Holders upon the occurrence of certain events.

         (d) The Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties
as may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of
this Declaration and the Securities.

         (e) Subject to Section 3.9(a), the Property Trustee shall take any
Legal Action which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of
which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge or the Property Trustee's
duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act; and if
the Property Trustee shall have failed to take such Legal Action, the Holders of
the Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, take such
Legal Action, to the same extent as if such Holders of Capital Securities held
an aggregate principal amount of Debentures equal to the aggregate liquidation
amount of such Capital Securities, without first proceeding against the Property
Trustee or the Trust; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
Debenture Issuer to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest
(including Compounded Interest and Additional Sums, if any) or Liquidated
Damages, if any on the Debentures on the date such principal, premium, if any,
or interest (including Compounded Interest and Additional Sums, if any) or
Liquidated Damages, if any, is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption,
on the redemption date), then a Holder of Capital Securities may directly
institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest (including Compounded Interest and
Additional Sums, if any) or Liquidated Damages, if any, on the Debentures having
a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due
date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the
Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder
of Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer
to such Holder of Capital Securities in such Direct Action. Except as provided
in the preceding sentences, the Holders of Capital Securities will not be able
to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the
Debentures.

         (f) The Property Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until
either:

                           (i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the
                  proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders
                  pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this Declaration;
                  or

                           (ii) a successor Property Trustee has been appointed
                  and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section
                  5.6 (a "Successor Property Trustee").

         (g) The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the Indenture
and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer occurs and
is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, for the benefit



                                      -19-
<PAGE>   26

of Holders, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights
of the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and the Securities.

         (h) The Property Trustee shall be authorized to undertake any actions
set forth in Section 317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

         (i) For such time as the Property Trustee is the Paying Agent, the
Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons to act as additional Paying
Agents and to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation payments on
behalf of the Trust with respect to all Securities and any such Paying Agent
shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any such additional
Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time the Property
Trustee remains as Paying Agent and a successor Paying Agent or additional
Paying Agents may be (but are not required to be) appointed at any time by the
Property Trustee while the Property Trustee is acting as Paying Agent.

         (j) Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none
of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrative
Trustees set forth in Section 3.6.

         Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to the contrary in this
Declaration or any Annex or Exhibit hereto, (i) the Property Trustee must
exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent
with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and (ii)
the Property Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the
purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3.

SECTION 3.9                CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROPERTY
                           TRUSTEE.

         (a) The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
(of which, other than in the case of Events of Default under Sections 5.01(a)
and 5.01(b) of the Indenture, a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has
actual knowledge) and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default
that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Declaration and in the Securities and no implied
covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Property Trustee. In
case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived
pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge,
the Property Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it
by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in
the conduct of his or her own affairs.

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

                           (i) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default
                  (of which, other than in the case of Events of Default under
                  Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) of the Indenture, a Responsible
                  Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge) and
                  after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that
                  may have occurred:



                                      -20-
<PAGE>   27

                           (A) the duties and obligations of the Property
                           Trustee shall be determined solely by the express
                           provisions of this Declaration and in the Securities
                           and the Property Trustee shall not be liable except
                           for the performance of such duties and obligations as
                           are specifically set forth in this Declaration and in
                           the Securities, and no implied covenants or
                           obligations shall be read into this Declaration
                           against the Property Trustee; and

                           (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
                           Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may
                           conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
                           and the correctness of the opinions expressed
                           therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished
                           to the Property Trustee and conforming to the
                           requirements of this Declaration; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
                           that in the case of any such certificates or opinions
                           that by any provision hereof are specifically
                           required to be furnished to the Property Trustee, the
                           Property Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the
                           same to determine whether or not on their face they
                           conform to the requirements of this Declaration;

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

                           (iii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with
                  respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
                  good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of
                  a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Securities relating to
                  the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for
                  any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising
                  any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under
                  this Declaration;

                           (iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require
                  the Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
                  otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
                  performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
                  its rights or powers;

                           (v) the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to
                  the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the
                  Debentures and the Property Trustee Account shall be to deal
                  with such property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee
                  deals with similar property for its own account, subject to
                  the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the
                  Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust
                  Indenture Act;

                           (vi) the Property Trustee shall have no duty or
                  liability for or with respect to the value, genuineness,
                  existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of
                  any taxes or assessments levied thereon or in connection
                  therewith;

                           (vii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for
                  any interest on any money received by it except as it may
                  otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor. Money held by the
                  Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held
                  by it



                                      -21-
<PAGE>   28

                  except in relation to the Property Trustee Account maintained
                  by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.8(c)(i) and
                  except to the extent otherwise required by law; and

                           (viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible
                  for monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees
                  or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this
                  Declaration, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for any
                  default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees or the
                  Sponsor.

SECTION 3.10               CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

         (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:

                           (i) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and
                  shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting
                  upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument,
                  opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
                  bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
                  paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have
                  been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;

                           (ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the
                  Administrative Trustees contemplated by this Declaration may
                  be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;

                           (iii) whenever in the administration of this
                  Declaration, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that
                  a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or
                  omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless
                  other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
                  absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively
                  rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such
                  request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the
                  Administrative Trustees;

                           (iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see
                  to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument
                  (including any financing or continuation statement or any
                  filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording,
                  refiling or registration thereof;

                           (v) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel or
                  other experts of its selection and the advice or opinion of
                  such counsel and experts with respect to legal matters or
                  advice within the scope of such experts' area of expertise
                  shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
                  respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
                  hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
                  opinion; such counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of
                  its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees, and the
                  Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
                  instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration
                  from any court of competent jurisdiction;



                                      -22-
<PAGE>   29

                           (vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no
                  obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
                  it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any
                  Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Property
                  Trustee security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the
                  Property Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including
                  reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
                  the Property Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
                  liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with
                  such request or direction, including such reasonable advances
                  as may be requested by the Property Trustee; PROVIDED,
                  HOWEVER, that, nothing contained in this Section 3.10(a)(vi)
                  shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee, upon the
                  occurrence of an Event of Default (of which, other than in the
                  case of Events of Default under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b)
                  of the Indenture, a Responsible Officer of the Property
                  Trustee has actual knowledge), of its obligation to exercise
                  the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration;

                           (vii) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make
                  any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
                  resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
                  report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond,
                  debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
                  or document, but the Property Trustee, in its discretion, may
                  make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or
                  matters as it may see fit;

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

                           (ix) any authorized or required action taken by the
                  Property Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust
                  and the Holders, and the signature of the Property Trustee or
                  its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform
                  any such action and no third party shall be required to
                  inquire as to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act
                  or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions
                  of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively
                  evidenced by the Property Trustee's or its agent's taking such
                  action;

                           (x) whenever in the administration of this
                  Declaration the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to
                  receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
                  right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property
                  Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders, which
                  instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same
                  proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be
                  entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the
                  Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii)
                  may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such
                  other action until such instructions are received, and (iii)
                  shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in
                  accordance with such instructions;



                                      -23-
<PAGE>   30

                           (xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this
                  Declaration, the Property Trustee shall not be under any
                  obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the
                  provisions of this Declaration; and

                           (xii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for
                  any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in
                  good faith, without negligence or willful misconduct, and
                  reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the
                  discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this
                  Declaration.

         (b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty
or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.

SECTION 3.11               DELAWARE TRUSTEE.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than
Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers,
nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of
the Trustees described in this Declaration (except as required under the
Business Trust Act). Except as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee
shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the
requirements of Section 3807 of the Business Trust Act. In the event the
Delaware Trustee shall at any time be required to take any action or perform any
duty hereunder, the Delaware Trustee shall be entitled to the benefits of
Section 3.9(b)(ii) to (viii), inclusive, and Section 3.10. No implied covenants
or obligations shall be read into this Declaration against the Delaware Trustee.

SECTION 3.12               EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS.

         Unless otherwise required by applicable law, each Administrative
Trustee, individually, is authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the
Trust any documents, agreements, instruments or certificates that the
Administrative Trustees have the power and authority to execute pursuant to
Section 3.6.

SECTION 3.13               NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF
                           SECURITIES.

         The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be
taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to
the value or condition of the Trust Property or any part thereof. The Trustees
make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration or
the Securities.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>   31

SECTION 3.14               DURATION OF TRUST.

         The Trust, unless dissolved pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII
hereof, shall have existence up to December 31, 2035.

SECTION 3.15               MERGERS.

         (a) The Trust may not merge with or into, convert into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any Person, except as
described in Section 3.15(b) and (c) and except with respect to the distribution
of Debentures to Holders pursuant to Section 8.1(a)(iii) of this Declaration or
Section 3 of Annex I.

         (b) The Trust may, at the request of the Sponsor, with the consent of
the Administrative Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the
Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders, the Delaware
Trustee or the Property Trustee, merge with or into, convert into, consolidate,
amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as
such under the laws of any State; PROVIDED THAT:

                           (i) such successor entity (the "Successor Entity")
                  either:

                           (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the
                           Trust under the Securities; or

                           (B) substitutes for the Securities other securities
                           having substantially the same terms as the Securities
                           (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor
                           Securities rank the same as the Securities rank in
                           priority with respect to Distributions and payments
                           upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

                           (ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the
                  Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as
                  the Property Trustee with respect to the Debentures;

                           (iii) the Successor Securities (excluding any
                  securities substituted for the Common Securities) are listed,
                  quoted or included for trading, or any Successor Securities
                  will be listed, quoted or included for trading upon
                  notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange
                  or with any other organization on which the Capital Securities
                  are then listed, quoted or included;

                           (iv) such merger, conversion, consolidation,
                  amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does
                  not cause the Capital Securities (including any Successor
                  Securities) or the Debentures to be downgraded by any
                  nationally recognized statistical rating organization that
                  publishes a rating on the Capital Securities or the
                  Debentures;



                                      -25-
<PAGE>   32

                           (v) such merger, conversion, consolidation,
                  amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does
                  not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of
                  the Holders (including the holders of any Successor
                  Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect
                  to any dilution of the interests of such Holders or holders,
                  as the case may be, in the Successor Entity);

                           (vi) the Successor Entity has a purpose substantially
                  identical to that of the Trust;

                           (vii) prior to such merger, conversion,
                  consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer
                  or lease, the Sponsor has received an opinion of independent
                  counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect
                  that:

                           (A) such merger, conversion, consolidation,
                           amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
                           lease does not adversely affect the rights,
                           preferences and privileges of the Holders (including
                           the holders of any Successor Securities) in any
                           material respect (other than with respect to any
                           dilution of the interests of such Holders or holders,
                           as the case may be, in the Successor Entity);

                           (B) following such merger, conversion, consolidation,
                           amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
                           lease, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity
                           will be required to register as an Investment
                           Company; and

                           (C) following such merger, conversion, consolidation,
                           amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
                           lease, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will
                           continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
                           United States federal income tax purposes;

                           (viii) the Sponsor or any permitted successor or
                  assignee owns all of the common securities of the Successor
                  Entity and guarantees the obligations of the Successor Entity
                  under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided
                  by the Securities Guarantees; and

                           (ix) there shall have been furnished to the Property
                  Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel,
                  each to the effect that all conditions precedent in this
                  Declaration to such transaction have been satisfied.

         (c) Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with
the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or convert into, be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety to, any other Person or permit any
other Person to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, convert into or
replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, conversion, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the



                                      -26-
<PAGE>   33

Trust or the Successor Entity not to be classified as a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                                     SPONSOR

SECTION 4.1                SPONSOR'S PURCHASE OF COMMON SECURITIES.

         At the Closing Time, pursuant to the Common Securities Subscription
Agreement, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities then issued by
the Trust, in an amount equal to at least 3% of the total capital of the Trust,
at the same time as the Capital Securities are issued and sold.

SECTION 4.2                RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SPONSOR.

         In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:

         (a) to prepare the Offering Memorandum and to prepare for filing by the
Trust with the Commission any Registration Statement, including any amendments
thereto, as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;

         (b) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to
qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any
and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and
advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing
any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems
necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such
States;

         (c) if deemed necessary or advisable by the Sponsor, to prepare for
filing by the Trust an application to permit the Capital Securities to trade or
be quoted or listed in or on the PORTAL market or any other securities exchange,
quotation system or the Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market;

         (d) to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a
registration statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto, relating
to the registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of
the Exchange Act, as the case may be, including any amendments thereto; and

         (e) to negotiate the terms of, execute, enter into and deliver the
Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Liquidated Damages
Agreement.

SECTION 4.3                RIGHT TO PROCEED.

         The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of the Holders of Capital
Securities, in the event that a failure of the Trust to pay Distributions on the
Capital Securities is attributable to the failure of the



                                      -27-
<PAGE>   34

Debenture Issuer to pay the principal of or premium (if any) or interest on the
Debentures, to institute a proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer for
enforcement of its payment obligations in respect of the Debentures.

SECTION 4.4                RIGHT TO DISSOLVE TRUST.

         The Sponsor will have the right at any time to dissolve the Trust and,
after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by
applicable law, to cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders in
liquidation of the Trust. Such right is subject to the Sponsor having received
(i) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such distribution will not cause
the Holders of Capital Securities to recognize gain or loss for United States
federal income tax purposes and (ii) any required regulatory approvals.


                                    ARTICLE V
                                    TRUSTEES

SECTION 5.1                NUMBER OF TRUSTEES; APPOINTMENT OF CO-TRUSTEE.

         The number of Trustees initially shall be five (5), and:

         (a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may,
by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and

         (b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be
increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of
the Common Securities;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than
two (2); provided further that (1) one Trustee, in the case of a natural person,
shall be a person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or that, if not a
natural person, is an entity which has its principal place of business in the
State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"); (2) there shall be at least one
Trustee who is an employee or officer of, or is affiliated with, the Sponsor (an
"Administrative Trustee"); and (3) one Trustee shall be the Property Trustee for
so long as this Declaration is required to qualify as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it
meets the applicable requirements. Notwithstanding the above, unless an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time or times, for the
purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any
jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property may at the time be located,
the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities acting
as a class at a meeting of the Holders 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
the 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 this Declaration. In



                                      -28-
<PAGE>   35

case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee
alone shall have power to make any such appointment of a co-trustee.

SECTION 5.2                DELAWARE TRUSTEE.

         For so long as required by the Business Trust Act, the Delaware Trustee
shall be:

         (a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or

         (b) if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of
applicable law,

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if the Property Trustee has its principal place of
business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements of
applicable law, then the Property Trustee shall also be the Delaware Trustee and
Section 3.11 shall have no application.

         The initial Delaware Trustee shall be:

                  Wilmington Trust Company
                  1100 North Market Street
                  Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
                  Attn:  Corporate Trust Administration

SECTION 5.3                PROPERTY TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) There shall at all times be one Trustee (the "Property Trustee")
which shall act as Property Trustee and which shall:

                           (i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and

                           (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business
                  under the laws of the United States of America or any State or
                  Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a
                  corporation or Person permitted by the Commission to act as an
                  indenture trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized
                  under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
                  combined capital and surplus of at least 10 million U.S.
                  dollars ($10,000,000), and subject to supervision or
                  examination by federal, state, territorial or District of
                  Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of
                  condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
                  requirements of the supervising or examining authority
                  referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section
                  5.3(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such
                  corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and
                  surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
                  published.

         (b) If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately resign in
the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 5.6(c).



                                      -29-
<PAGE>   36

         (c) If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the
Property Trustee and the Holders of the Common Securities (as if it were the
obligor referred to in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.

         (d) The Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310 (b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

         (e) The initial Property Trustee shall be:

                           Wilmington Trust Company
                           1100 North Market Street
                           Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
                           Attn:  Corporate Trust Administration

SECTION 5.4                CERTAIN QUALIFICATIONS OF ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES AND
                           DELAWARE TRUSTEE GENERALLY.

         Each Administrative Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the
Property Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person
who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or
more Authorized Officers.

SECTION 5.5                ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES.

         The initial Administrative Trustees shall be:

                  W. Granger Souder, Jr.
                  Kevin T. Thompson
                  Michael R. Moore
                  c/o Sky Financial Group, Inc.
                  221 South Church Street
                  Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
                  Attention:  W. Granger Souder, Jr., Esq.
                  Telecopier: (419) 254-6345
                  Telephone: (419) 327-6300

         (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if a
meeting of the Administrative Trustees is called with respect to any matter over
which the Administrative Trustees have power to act, any power of the
Administrative Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one
such Administrative Trustee.

         (b) Unless otherwise required by the applicable law, any Administrative
Trustee acting alone is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any
documents which the Administrative Trustees have the power and authority to
cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.



                                      -30-
<PAGE>   37

         (c) An Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his or
her power for the purposes of signing any documents which the Administrative
Trustees have power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to
Section 3.6.

SECTION 5.6                APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF TRUSTEES.

         (a) Subject to Section 5.6(b) hereof and to Section 6(b) of Annex I
hereto, Trustees may be appointed or removed without cause at any time:

                           (i) until the issuance of any Securities, by written
                  instrument executed by the Sponsor;

                           (ii) unless an Event of Default shall have occurred
                  and be continuing after the issuance of any Securities, by
                  vote of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
                  Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the
                  Holders of the Common Securities; and

                           (iii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and
                  be continuing after the issuance of the Securities, with
                  respect to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, by
                  vote of Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the
                  Capital Securities voting as a class at a meeting of Holders
                  of the Capital Securities.

         (b) (i) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed
in accordance with Section 5.6(a) until a Successor Property Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the removed Property Trustee,
the Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor; and

                           (ii) the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall
not be removed in accordance with this Section 5.6(a) until a successor Trustee
possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and
5.4 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee
and delivered to the removed Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee (if the
removed Delaware Trustee is not also the Property Trustee), the Administrative
Trustees and the Sponsor.

         (c) A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his successor
shall have been appointed or until his death, removal or resignation. Any
Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting)
by an instrument in writing signed by the Trustee and delivered to the other
Trustees, the Sponsor and the Trust, which resignation shall take effect upon
such delivery or upon such later date as is specified therein; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that:

                           (i) No such resignation of the Trustee that acts as
                  the Property Trustee shall be effective:



                                      -31-
<PAGE>   38

                           (A) until a Successor Property Trustee has been
                           appointed and has accepted such appointment by
                           instrument executed by such Successor Property
                           Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Sponsor, the
                           Delaware Trustee (if the resigning Property Trustee
                           is not also the Delaware Trustee) and the resigning
                           Property Trustee; or

                           (B) until the assets of the Trust have been
                           completely liquidated and the proceeds thereof
                           distributed to the Holders; and

                           (ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as
                  the Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a Successor
                  Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
                  appointment by instrument executed by such Successor Delaware
                  Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Property Trustee (if
                  the resigning Delaware Trustee is not also the Property
                  Trustee), the Sponsor and the resigning Delaware Trustee.

         (d) The Holders of the Common Securities or, if an Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing after the issuance of the Securities, the
Holders of the Capital Securities shall use their best efforts to promptly
appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property Trustee, as the case
may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee delivers an instrument
of resignation in accordance with this Section 5.6.

         (e) If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee
shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section
5.6 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of resignation or removal,
the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee resigning or being removed, as
applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of
a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
prescribe, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee,
as the case may be.

         (f) No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.

         (g) At the time of resignation or removal of the Property Trustee or
the Delaware Trustee, the Sponsor shall pay to such Trustee any amounts that may
be owed to such Trustee pursuant to Section 10.4.

SECTION 5.7                VACANCIES AMONG TRUSTEES.

         If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.l, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution
certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Administrative Trustees or, if
there are more than two, a majority of the Administrative Trustees shall be
conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be
filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.6.



                                      -32-
<PAGE>   39

SECTION 5.8                EFFECT OF VACANCIES.

         The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to dissolve, liquidate or annul the Trust or to terminate this
Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall
occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative
Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6, the Administrative Trustees in office,
regardless of their number, shall have all the powers granted to the
Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the
Administrative Trustees by this Declaration.

SECTION 5.9                MEETINGS.

         If there is more than one Administrative Trustee, meetings of the
Administrative Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any
Administrative Trustee. Regular meetings of the Administrative Trustees may be
held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Administrative Trustees.
Notice of any in-person meetings of the Administrative Trustees shall be hand
delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard
copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before such meeting. Notice of
any telephonic meetings of the Administrative Trustees or any committee thereof
shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by
facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before
a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and
anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by
telephone) of an Administrative Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver
of notice of such meeting except where an Administrative Trustee attends a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity
on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless
provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Administrative
Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Administrative
Trustees present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with
respect to such matter, PROVIDED THAT, a Quorum is present, or without a meeting
by the unanimous written consent of the Administrative Trustees. In the event
there is only one Administrative Trustee, any and all action of such
Administrative Trustee shall be evidenced by a written consent of such
Administrative Trustee.

SECTION 5.10               DELEGATION OF POWER.

         (a) Any Administrative Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent
with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 his
or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section
3.6, or making any other governmental filing.

         (b) The Administrative Trustees shall have power to delegate from time
to time to such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such
things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or
the names of the Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative
Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by
applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Declaration.


                                      -33-
<PAGE>   40


SECTION 5.11               MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO
                           BUSINESS.

         Any Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or
any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be, may
be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person
resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be a party, or any
Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of
the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the
successor of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be,
hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on
the part of any of the parties hereto (except for filing of an amendment to the
Trust's certificate of trust if required by law), provided such Person shall be
otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 6.1                DISTRIBUTIONS.

         Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable
terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. If and to the extent that the
Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including Compounded Interest and
Additional Sums), premium and/or principal on the Debentures held by the
Property Trustee or Liquidated Damages or any other payments pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement or Liquidated Damages Agreement with respect to
the Debentures held by the Property Trustee (the amount of any such payment
being a "Payment Amount"), the Property Trustee shall and is directed, to the
extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a
"Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders in accordance with the terms of
the Securities.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                             ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 7.1                GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING SECURITIES.

         (a) The Administrative Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one
class of capital securities representing undivided preferred beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex
I (the "Series A Capital Securities") and one class of common securities
representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Common Securities"). The
Administrative Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class of capital
securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the Trust having such
terms as set forth in Annex I (the "Series B Capital Securities") in exchange
for the Series A Capital Securities accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer,
which Series B Capital Securities shall not bear the legends required by Section
9.2(i) unless the Holder of such Series A Capital Securities is either (A) a
broker-dealer who purchased such Series A Capital



                                      -34-
<PAGE>   41

Securities directly from the Trust for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act, (B) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Series A Capital Securities or (C) a Person who is an
affiliate (as defined in Rule 144A) of the Trust. The Trust shall issue no
securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital
Securities and the Common Securities.

         (b) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.

         (c) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration,
the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.

         (d) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Capital
Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this Declaration,
shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall
be bound by, this Declaration.

SECTION 7.2                EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.

         (a) The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by an
Administrative Trustee. In case any Administrative Trustee of the Trust who
shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrative
Trustee before the Securities so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such
Securities nevertheless may be delivered as though the Person who signed such
Securities had not ceased to be such Administrative Trustee; and any Securities
may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of
execution of such Security, shall be the Administrative Trustees of the Trust,
although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Declaration any such
person was not an Administrative Trustee.

         (b) One Administrative Trustee shall sign the Capital Securities for
the Trust by manual or facsimile signature. Unless otherwise determined by an
Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust, such signature shall, in the case
of Common Securities, be a manual signature.

         A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of an authorized signatory of the Property Trustee. The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated
under this Declaration. A Common Security shall be valid upon execution by an
Administrative Trustee without any act of the Property Trustee.

         Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee,
the Property Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original
issue. The aggregate number of Capital Securities outstanding at any time shall
not exceed the number set forth in Annex I hereto except as provided in Section
7.6.

         The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to
the Trust to authenticate Capital Securities. An authenticating agent may
authenticate Capital Securities whenever the Property Trustee may do so. Each
reference in this Declaration to authentication by the Property Trustee includes
authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the
Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Sponsor or an Affiliate.



                                      -35-
<PAGE>   42

SECTION 7.3                FORM AND DATING.

         The Capital Securities shall be evidenced by one or more certificates
substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common Securities shall be
evidenced by one or more certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.
The Property Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in
the form set forth in Exhibit A-1. Certificates representing the Securities may
be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as
is reasonably acceptable to an Administrative Trustee, as evidenced by the
execution thereof. The Securities may have letters, "CUSIP" or other numbers,
notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or
endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust
is subject, if any, or usage, PROVIDED THAT, any such notation, legend or
endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced
by their execution thereof. The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor, shall
furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Property Trustee in
writing. Each Capital Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of
Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this
Declaration and, to the extent applicable, the Property Trustee and the Sponsor,
by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such
terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

         (a) GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY. Capital Securities offered and sold to
QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A, as provided in the Purchase Agreement, shall be
issued in the form of a single permanent global Capital Security in definitive,
fully registered form without distribution coupons with the appropriate global
legends and Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto (the
"Global Capital Security"), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers
of the Capital Securities represented thereby with the Property Trustee, at its
Wilmington, Delaware office, as custodian for the Clearing Agency, and
registered in the name of the Clearing Agency or a nominee of the Clearing
Agency, duly executed by the Trust and authenticated by the Property Trustee as
hereinafter provided. The number of Capital Securities represented by the Global
Capital Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments
made on the records of the Property Trustee and the Clearing Agency or its
nominee as hereinafter provided.

         (b) BOOK-ENTRY PROVISIONS. This Section 7.3(b) shall apply only to the
Global Capital Security and such other Capital Securities in global form as may
be authorized by the Trust to be deposited with or on behalf of the Clearing
Agency.

         An Administrative Trustee shall execute and the Property Trustee shall,
in accordance with this Section 7.3, authenticate and make available for
delivery initially a single Global Capital Security that (i) shall be registered
in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Clearing Agency, or other nominee
of such Clearing Agency and (ii) shall be delivered by the Property Trustee to
such Clearing Agency or pursuant to such Clearing Agency's written instructions
or, if no such written instructions are received by the Property Trustee, held
by the Property Trustee as custodian for the Clearing Agency.

         Members of, or participants in, the Clearing Agency ("Participants")
shall have no rights under this Declaration with respect to the Global Capital
Security held on their behalf by the



                                      -36-
<PAGE>   43

Clearing Agency or by the Property Trustee as the custodian of the Clearing
Agency or under such Global Capital Security, and the Clearing Agency may be
treated by the Trust, the Property Trustee and any agent of the Trust or the
Property Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Capital Security for all
purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent
the Trust, the Property Trustee or any agent of the Trust or the Property
Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other
authorization furnished by the Clearing Agency or impair, as between the
Clearing Agency and its Participants, the operation of customary practices of
such Clearing Agency governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a
beneficial interest in the Global Capital Security.

         (c) DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITIES. Except as provided in Section 7.9 or
9.2(f)(i), owners of beneficial interests in the Global Capital Security will
not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Capital Securities
("Definitive Capital Securities"). Purchasers of Securities who are "accredited
investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities
Act) and who are not QIBs will receive Capital Securities in the form of
individual certificates in definitive, fully registered form without
distribution coupons and with the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in
Exhibit A-1 hereto ("Restricted Definitive Capital Securities"); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that upon registration of transfer of such Restricted Definitive
Capital Securities to a QIB, such Restricted Definitive Capital Securities will,
unless the Global Capital Security has previously been exchanged, be exchanged
for an interest in the Global Capital Security pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9.2. Restricted Definitive Capital Securities will bear the Restricted
Securities Legend set forth on Exhibit A-1 unless removed in accordance with
this Section 7.3 or Section 9.2.

SECTION 7.4                REGISTRAR, PAYING AGENT AND EXCHANGE AGENT.

         The Trust shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware (i) an office or
agency where Capital Securities may be presented for registration of transfer
("Registrar"), (ii) an office or agency where Capital Securities may be
presented for payment ("Paying Agent") and (iii) an office or agency where
Securities may be presented for exchange ("Exchange Agent"). The Registrar shall
keep a register of the Capital Securities and of their transfer. The Trust may
appoint the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Exchange Agent and may appoint
one or more co-registrars, one or more additional Paying Agents and one or more
additional Exchange Agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The
term "Registrar" includes any additional registrar, the term "Paying Agent"
includes any additional paying agent and the term "Exchange Agent" includes any
additional Exchange Agent. The Trust may change any Paying Agent, Registrar,
co-registrar or Exchange Agent without prior notice to any Holder. The Paying
Agent, Registrar and Exchange Agent shall be permitted to resign as such upon 30
days' written notice to the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and
the Sponsor. The Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address
of any Agent not a party to this Declaration. If the Trust fails to appoint or
maintain another entity as Registrar, Paying Agent or Exchange Agent, the
Property Trustee shall act as such. The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act
as Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent. The Trust shall act as Paying
Agent, Registrar and Exchange Agent for the Common Securities.

         The Trust initially appoints the Property Trustee as Registrar, Paying
Agent and Exchange Agent for the Capital Securities.



                                      -37-
<PAGE>   44

SECTION 7.5                PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST.

         The Trust shall require each Paying Agent other than the Property
Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the
benefit of Holders or the Property Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent
for the payment of liquidation amounts or Distributions, and will notify the
Property Trustee if there are insufficient funds for such purpose. While any
such insufficiency continues, the Property Trustee may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee. The Trust at any time may
require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee and
to account for any money disbursed by it. Upon payment over to the Property
Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Trust or an Affiliate of the Trust)
shall have no further liability for the money. If the Trust or the Sponsor or an
Affiliate of the Trust or the Sponsor acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate
and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all money held
by it as Paying Agent.

SECTION 7.6                REPLACEMENT SECURITIES.

         If a Holder claims that a Security owned by it has been lost, destroyed
or wrongfully taken or if such Security is mutilated and is surrendered to the
Trust or in the case of the Capital Securities to the Property Trustee, an
Administrative Trustee shall execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate
and make available for delivery a replacement Security if the Property Trustee's
requirements are met. An indemnity bond must be provided by the Holder which, in
the judgment of the Property Trustee, is sufficient to protect the Trustees, the
Sponsor, the Trust or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them
may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Trust may charge such Holder for the
Trust's expenses in replacing a Security.

SECTION 7.7                OUTSTANDING CAPITAL SECURITIES.

         The Capital Securities outstanding at any time are all of the Capital
Securities authenticated by the Property Trustee except for those canceled by
it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section
as not outstanding.

         If a Capital Security is replaced, paid or purchased pursuant to
Section 7.6 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Property Trustee
receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced, paid or purchased Capital
Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

         If Capital Securities are considered paid in accordance with the terms
of this Declaration, they cease to be outstanding and Distributions on them
shall cease to accumulate.

         A Capital Security does not cease to be outstanding because one of the
Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor holds the Security.

SECTION 7.8                CAPITAL SECURITIES IN TREASURY.

         In determining whether the Holders of the required amount of Securities
have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Capital Securities owned by
the Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, as the case may be, shall
be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except



                                      -38-
<PAGE>   45

that for the purposes of determining whether the Property Trustee shall be fully
protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities
which the Property Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

SECTION 7.9                TEMPORARY SECURITIES.

         (a) Until Definitive Capital Securities are ready for delivery, the
Trust may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Property
Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be
substantially in the form of Definitive Capital Securities, but may have
variations that the Trust considers appropriate for temporary Securities.
Without unreasonable delay, the Trust shall prepare and, in the case of the
Capital Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Capital
Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.

         (b) The Global Capital Security deposited with the Clearing Agency or
with the Property Trustee as custodian for the Clearing Agency pursuant to
Section 7.3 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of
Definitive Capital Securities only if such transfer complies with Section 9.2
and (i) the Clearing Agency notifies the Sponsor that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as Clearing Agency for such Global Capital Security or if at any
time such Clearing Agency ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the
Exchange Act, and, in each case, a clearing agency is not appointed by the
Sponsor within 90 days of receipt of such notice or of becoming aware of such
condition, (ii) a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing
or (iii) the Trust at its sole discretion elects to cause the issuance of
Definitive Capital Securities.

         (c) Any Global Capital Security that is transferable to the beneficial
owners thereof in the form of Definitive Capital Securities pursuant to this
Section 7.9 shall be surrendered by the Clearing Agency to the Property Trustee
to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and
the Property Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, upon
such transfer of each portion of such Global Capital Security, an equal
aggregate liquidation amount of Securities of authorized denominations in the
form of Definitive Capital Securities. Any portion of the Global Capital
Security transferred pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names
as the Clearing Agency shall direct. Any Definitive Capital Security delivered
in exchange for an interest in the Restricted Global Capital Security shall,
except as otherwise provided by Sections 7.3 and 9.1, bear the Restricted
Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-l hereto.

         (d) Subject to the provisions of Section 7.9(c), the Holder of the
Global Capital Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person,
including Participants and Persons that may hold interests through Participants,
to take any action which such Holder is entitled to take under this Declaration
or the Securities.

         (e) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in
Section 7.9(b), the Trust will promptly make available to the Property Trustee a
reasonable supply of certificated Capital Securities in fully registered form
without distribution coupons.


                                      -39-
<PAGE>   46


SECTION 7.10               CANCELLATION.

         The Trust at any time may deliver Capital Securities to the Property
Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent shall
forward to the Property Trustee any Capital Securities surrendered to them for
registration of transfer, redemption, exchange or payment. The Property Trustee
shall promptly cancel all Capital Securities, surrendered for registration of
transfer, redemption, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall
dispose of canceled Capital Securities in accordance with its customary
procedures unless the Trust otherwise directs. The Trust may not issue new
Capital Securities to replace Capital Securities that it has paid or that have
been delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation or that any Holder has
exchanged.

SECTION 7.11               CUSIP NUMBERS.

         The Trust in issuing the Capital Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if
then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall use "CUSIP"
numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders of Capital
Securities; PROVIDED THAT, any such notice may state that no representation is
made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Capital
Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may
be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Capital
Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or
omission of such numbers. The Sponsor will promptly notify the Property Trustee
of any change in the CUSIP numbers.


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                              DISSOLUTION OF TRUST

SECTION 8.1                DISSOLUTION OF TRUST.

         (a) The Trust shall automatically dissolve:

                           (i) upon the bankruptcy of the Sponsor;

                           (ii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution
                  or liquidation or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor;
                  or the revocation of the Sponsor's charter and the expiration
                  of 90 days after the date of revocation without a
                  reinstatement thereof;

                           (iii) following the distribution of a Like Amount of
                  the Debentures to the Holders, PROVIDED THAT, the Property
                  Trustee has received written notice from the Sponsor directing
                  the Property Trustee to dissolve the Trust (which direction is
                  optional, and except as otherwise expressly provided below,
                  within the discretion of the Sponsor) and PROVIDED, FURTHER,
                  that such direction and such distribution is conditioned on
                  (a) the receipt by the Sponsor of any and all required
                  regulatory approvals, and (b) the Sponsor's receipt and
                  delivery to the Administrative Trustees of an opinion of
                  independent tax counsel experienced in such matters, which
                  opinion



                                      -40-
<PAGE>   47

                  may rely on public or private rulings of the Internal Revenue
                  Service, to the effect that the Holders of the Capital
                  Securities will not recognize any gain or loss for United
                  States federal income tax purposes as a result of the
                  dissolution of the Trust and the distribution of Debentures;

                           (iv) upon the entry of a decree of judicial
                  dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction;

                           (v) when all of the Securities shall have been called
                  for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption
                  thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with
                  the terms of the Securities;

                           (vi) upon the redemption or repayment of the
                  Debentures or at such time as no Debentures are outstanding;
                  or

                           (vii) the expiration of the term of the Trust
                  provided in Section 3.14.

         (b) As soon as is practicable upon completion of winding up of the
Trust in accordance with Section 3808 of the Business Trust Act following the
occurrence of an event referred to in Section 8.1(a), the Administrative
Trustees shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of cancellation with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the Business
Trust Act.

         (c) The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the
dissolution of the Trust.


                                   ARTICLE IX
                              TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

SECTION 9.1                TRANSFER OF SECURITIES.

         (a) Subject to this Article IX, Securities may only be transferred, in
whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this
Declaration and in the terms of the Securities. To the fullest extent permitted
by law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in
accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.

         (b) For so long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Sponsor
agrees (i) not to transfer ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust,
provided that any permitted successor of the Sponsor under the Indenture may
succeed to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to cause,
as Sponsor of the Trust, or to permit, as Holder of the Common Securities, the
dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust, except as provided in this
Declaration and (iii) to use its best efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a
business trust, except in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Securities, or
certain mergers, conversions, consolidations or



                                      -41-
<PAGE>   48

amalgamations, each as permitted by other terms of this Declaration, and (b) to
otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal
income tax purposes.

         (d) The Registrar shall provide for the registration of Capital
Securities and of the transfer of Capital Securities, which will be effected
without charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may
require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed
in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Capital
Securities, an Administrative Trustee shall cause one or more new Capital
Securities to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees.
Every Capital Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized
in writing. Each Capital Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall
be delivered to the Registrar and canceled in accordance with Section 7.10. A
transferee of a Capital Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to
the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a
Capital Security. By acceptance of a Capital Security or any interest therein,
each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.

SECTION 9.2                TRANSFER PROCEDURES AND RESTRICTIONS.

         (a) GENERAL. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(b), if Capital
Securities are issued upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Capital
Securities bearing the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1
hereto, or if a request is made to remove such Restricted Securities Legend on
Capital Securities, the Capital Securities so issued shall bear the Restricted
Securities Legend, or the Restricted Securities Legend shall not be removed, as
the case may be, unless there is delivered to the Trust and the Property Trustee
such satisfactory evidence, which shall include an Opinion of Counsel, as may be
reasonably required by the Trust and the Property Trustee, that neither the
Restricted Securities Legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein
are required to ensure that transfers thereof are made pursuant to an exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act or, with respect to
Restricted Capital Securities, that such Securities are not "restricted" within
the meaning of Rule 144. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the
Property Trustee, at the written direction of an Administrative Trustee on
behalf of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver Capital Securities that do
not bear the legend.

         (b) TRANSFERS AFTER EFFECTIVENESS OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT. After
the effectiveness of a Registration Statement with respect to any Capital
Securities, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Capital Securities
will cease to apply (other than the legend requiring that transfers of Capital
Securities be made in blocks having an aggregate liquidation amount of not less
than $100,000) (100 Capital Securities) and multiples of $1,000 in excess
thereof, and beneficial interests in the Global Capital Security without legends
will be available to transferees of such Capital Securities, upon exchange of
the transferring Holder's Restricted Definitive Capital Security or directions
to transfer such Holder's beneficial interest in the Global Capital Security, as
the case may be. No such transfer or exchange of a Restricted Definitive Capital
Security or of an interest in the Global Capital Security shall be effective
unless the transferor delivers to the Property Trustee a certificate in a form
substantially similar to that attached hereto as the form of "Assignment" in
Exhibit A-1. Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(m), after the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement, an Administrative Trustee on behalf
of the Trust shall issue and the Property



                                      -42-
<PAGE>   49

Trustee, upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee,
shall authenticate a Global Capital Security without the Restricted Securities
Legend (the "Unrestricted Global Capital Security") to deposit with the Clearing
Agency to evidence transfers of beneficial interests from the (i) Global Capital
Security and (ii) Restricted Definitive Capital Securities.

         (c) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITIES. When
Definitive Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or co-registrar:

                  (x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Capital
         Securities; or

                  (y) to exchange such Definitive Capital Securities which
         became mutilated, destroyed, defaced, stolen or lost, for an equal
         number of Definitive Capital Securities,

the Registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange
as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Definitive Capital Securities surrendered for
registration of transfer or exchange:

                           (i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a
                  written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory
                  to the Trust and the Registrar or co-registrar, duly executed
                  by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in
                  writing; and

                           (ii) in the case of Definitive Capital Securities
                  that are Restricted Definitive Capital Securities:

                           (A) if such Restricted Capital Securities are being
                           delivered to the Registrar by a Holder for
                           registration in the name of such Holder, without
                           transfer, certification(s) from such Holder to that
                           effect; or

                           (B) if such Restricted Capital Securities are being
                           transferred: (i) certification(s) in a form
                           substantially similar to that attached hereto as the
                           form of "Assignment" in Exhibit A-1, and (ii) if the
                           Trust or Registrar so requests, evidence reasonably
                           satisfactory to them as to the compliance with the
                           restrictions set forth in the Restricted Securities
                           Legend.

         (d) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF A DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITY FOR A
BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY. A Definitive Capital
Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in the Global Capital
Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon
receipt by the Property Trustee of a Definitive Capital Security, duly endorsed
or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to
the Property Trustee, together with:

                           (i) if such Definitive Capital Security is a
                  Restricted Capital Security, certification(s) in a form
                  substantially similar to that attached hereto as the form of
                  "Assignment" in Exhibit A-1; and



                                      -43-
<PAGE>   50

                           (ii) whether or not such Definitive Capital Security
                  is a Restricted Capital Security, written instructions
                  directing the Property Trustee to make, or to direct the
                  Clearing Agency to make, an adjustment on its books and
                  records with respect to the Global Capital Security to reflect
                  an increase in the number of the Capital Securities
                  represented by such Global Capital Security,

then the Property Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Capital Security and
cause, or direct the Clearing Agency to cause, the aggregate number of Capital
Securities represented by the Global Capital Security to be increased
accordingly. If the Global Capital Security is not then outstanding, an
Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust shall issue and the Property
Trustee shall authenticate, upon written order of any Administrative Trustee, a
new Global Capital Security representing an appropriate number of Capital
Securities.

         (e) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF THE GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY. Subject to
Section 9.2(f), the transfer and exchange of Global Capital Security or
beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Clearing Agency in
accordance with this Declaration (including applicable restrictions on transfer
set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Clearing Agency therefor.

         (f) TRANSFER OF A BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THE GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY
FOR A DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITY.

                           (i) Any Person having a beneficial interest in the
                  Global Capital Security may upon request, but only upon 20
                  days' prior notice to the Property Trustee, and if accompanied
                  by the information specified below, exchange such beneficial
                  interest for a Definitive Capital Security representing the
                  same number of Capital Securities. Upon receipt by the
                  Property Trustee from the Clearing Agency or its nominee on
                  behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in the
                  Global Capital Security of written instructions or such other
                  form of instructions as is customary for the Clearing Agency
                  or the Person designated by the Clearing Agency as having such
                  a beneficial interest in a Restricted Capital Security and
                  certification(s) from the transferor in a form substantially
                  similar to that attached hereto as the form of "Assignment" in
                  Exhibit A-1, which may be submitted by facsimile, then the
                  Property Trustee will cause the aggregate number of Capital
                  Securities represented by the Global Capital Security to be
                  reduced on its books and records and, following such
                  reduction, the Trust will execute and the Property Trustee
                  will authenticate and make available for delivery to the
                  transferee a Definitive Capital Security.

                           (ii) Definitive Capital Securities issued in exchange
                  for a beneficial interest in the Global Capital Security
                  pursuant to this Section 9.2(f) shall be registered in such
                  names and in such authorized denominations as the Clearing
                  Agency, pursuant to instructions from its Clearing Agency
                  Participants or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
                  instruct the Property Trustee in writing. The Property Trustee
                  shall deliver such Capital Securities to the Persons in whose
                  names



                                      -44-
<PAGE>   51

                  such Capital Securities are so registered in accordance with
                  such instructions of the Clearing Agency.

         (g) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF THE GLOBAL CAPITAL
SECURITY. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration (other than
the provisions set forth in subsection (h) of this Section 9.2), the Global
Capital Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Clearing Agency
to a nominee of the Clearing Agency or another nominee of the Clearing Agency or
by the Clearing Agency or any such nominee to a successor Clearing Agency or a
nominee of such successor Clearing Agency.

         (h) AUTHENTICATION OF DEFINITIVE CAPITAL SECURITIES. If at any time:

                           (i) a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and
                  is continuing,

                           (ii) the Trust, in its sole discretion, notifies the
                  Property Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the
                  issuance of Definitive Capital Securities under this
                  Declaration, or

                           (iii) the Clearing Agency notifies the Sponsor that
                  it is unwilling or unable to continue as Clearing Agency for
                  such Global Capital Security or if at any time such Clearing
                  Agency ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the
                  Exchange Act, and, in each case, a clearing agency is not
                  appointed by the Sponsor within 90 days of receipt of such
                  notice or of becoming aware of such condition,

then an Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust will execute, and the
Property Trustee, upon receipt of a written order of the Trust signed by one
Administrative Trustee requesting the authentication and delivery of Definitive
Capital Securities to the Persons designated by the Trust, will authenticate and
make available for delivery Definitive Capital Securities, equal in number to
the number of Capital Securities represented by the Global Capital Security, in
exchange for such Global Capital Security.

                  (i) LEGEND.

                           (i) Except as permitted by the following paragraph
                  (ii), each Capital Security Certificate evidencing the Global
                  Capital Security and each Definitive Capital Security (and all
                  Capital Securities issued in exchange therefor or substitution
                  thereof) shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities
                  Legend") in substantially the following form:

                  THIS CAPITAL SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR
                  ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES
                  LAW. NEITHER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
                  PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED,
                  TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN
                  THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS



                                      -45-
<PAGE>   52

                  SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO,
                  REGISTRATION.

                  THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
                  AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL
                  SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION
                  TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE
                  ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH SKY
                  FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. (THE "CORPORATION") OR ANY "AFFILIATE"
                  OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OR
                  ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE
                  CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH
                  HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO
                  LONG AS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT
                  TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A
                  PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
                  BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN
                  ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER
                  TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN
                  RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
                  INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3)
                  OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING
                  THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
                  OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT
                  PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN
                  CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE
                  SECURITIES ACT OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE
                  EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
                  SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL
                  TRUST I (THE "TRUST") AND THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO ANY SUCH
                  OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO
                  REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS
                  AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND
                  (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THAT THE TRANSFEROR
                  DELIVER TO THE TRUST A LETTER FROM THE TRANSFEREE
                  SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF ANNEX A TO THE OFFERING
                  MEMORANDUM DATED APRIL __, 2000. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES
                  THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CAPITAL
                  SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT
                  OF THIS LEGEND.

                           THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE
                  HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN
                  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN
                  OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE



                                      -46-
<PAGE>   53

                  EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED
                  ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF
                  1986, AS AMENDED, (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY
                  WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY
                  PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN
                  ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE CAPITAL SECURITIES
                  OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS
                  ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S.
                  DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION
                  96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE
                  EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF CAPITAL SECURITIES IS
                  NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
                  CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER
                  OR HOLDER OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN
                  WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING
                  THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
                  WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO
                  WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR
                  OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR
                  PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY
                  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR
                  (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION
                  UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR
                  WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE
                  EXEMPTION.

In all circumstances, each Capital Security Certificate shall bear the following
legend:

                           THE CAPITAL SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE
                  TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT
                  LESS THAN $100,000 (100 CAPITAL SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF
                  $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF CAPITAL
                  SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN
                  $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT
                  WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT
                  TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE,
                  INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON
                  SUCH CAPITAL SECURITIES, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL
                  BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH CAPITAL
                  SECURITIES.

                           (ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Restricted
                  Capital Security (including any Restricted Capital Security
                  represented by the Global Capital Security) pursuant



                                      -47-
<PAGE>   54

                  to an effective registration statement under the Securities
                  Act or pursuant to Rule 144:

                           (A) in the case of any Restricted Capital Security
                           that is a Definitive Capital Security, the Registrar
                           shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such
                           Restricted Capital Security for a Definitive Capital
                           Security that does not bear the Restricted Securities
                           Legend and rescind any restriction on the transfer of
                           such Restricted Capital Security; and

                           (B) in the case of any Restricted Capital Security
                           that is represented by the Global Capital Security,
                           the Registrar shall permit the Holder of such Global
                           Capital Security to exchange such Global Capital
                           Security for another Global Capital Security that
                           does not bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

         (j) CANCELLATION OR ADJUSTMENT OF GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY. At such time
as all beneficial interests in the Global Capital Security have either been
exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities to the extent permitted by this
Declaration or redeemed, repurchased or canceled in accordance with the terms of
this Declaration, such Global Capital Security shall be returned to the Clearing
Agency for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Property Trustee. At any
time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in the Global
Capital Security is exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities, Capital
Securities represented by such Global Capital Security shall be reduced and an
adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Property Trustee and
the Clearing Agency or its nominee to reflect such reduction.

         (k) OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES OF CAPITAL
SECURITIES.

                           (i) To permit registrations of transfers and
                  exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Property Trustee
                  shall authenticate Definitive Capital Securities and the
                  Global Capital Security at the Registrar's or co-registrar's
                  request in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.

                           (ii) Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be
                  effected without charge, but only upon payment (with such
                  indemnity as the Trust or the Sponsor may require) in respect
                  of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in
                  relation to it.

                           (iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be
                  required to register the transfer of or exchange of (a)
                  Capital Securities during a period beginning at the opening of
                  business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
                  redemption or any notice of selection of Capital Securities
                  for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day
                  of such mailing or (b) any Capital Security so selected for
                  redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion
                  of any Capital Security being redeemed in part.

                           (iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration
                  of transfer of any Capital Security, the Trust, the Property
                  Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-



                                      -48-
<PAGE>   55

                  registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name a
                  Capital Security is registered as the absolute owner of such
                  Capital Security for the purpose of receiving Distributions on
                  such Capital Security and for all other purposes whatsoever,
                  and none of the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent,
                  the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice
                  to the contrary.

                           (v) All Capital Securities issued upon any
                  registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of
                  this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be
                  entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the
                  Capital Securities surrendered upon such registration of
                  transfer or exchange.

         (l) NO OBLIGATION OF THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

                           (i) The Property Trustee shall have no responsibility
                  or obligation to any Capital Security Beneficial Owner, a
                  Participant in the Clearing Agency or other Person with
                  respect to the accuracy of the records of the Clearing Agency
                  or its nominee or of any Participant thereof, with respect to
                  any ownership interest in the Capital Securities or with
                  respect to the delivery to any Participant, beneficial owner
                  or other Person (other than the Clearing Agency) of any notice
                  (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any
                  amount, under or with respect to such Capital Securities. All
                  notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all
                  payments to be made to Holders under the Capital Securities
                  shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the
                  registered Holders (which shall be the Clearing Agency or its
                  nominee in the case of the Global Capital Security). The
                  rights of Capital Security Beneficial Owners shall be
                  exercised only through the Clearing Agency subject to the
                  applicable rules and procedures of the Clearing Agency. The
                  Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully
                  protected in relying upon information furnished by the
                  Clearing Agency or any agent thereof with respect to its
                  Participants and any Capital Security Beneficial Owners.

                           (ii) The Property Trustee and the Registrar shall
                  have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as
                  to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under
                  this Declaration or under applicable law with respect to any
                  transfer of any interest in any Capital Security (including
                  any transfers between or among Clearing Agency Participants or
                  Capital Security Beneficial Owners in the Global Capital
                  Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates
                  and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required
                  by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms
                  of this Declaration, and to examine the same to determine
                  substantial compliance as to form with the express
                  requirements hereof.

         (m) EXCHANGE OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR SERIES B CAPITAL
SECURITIES. The Series A Capital Securities may be exchanged for Series B
Capital Securities pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Offer. The Property
Trustee shall make the exchange as follows:

                  (1) The Sponsor shall present the Property Trustee with an
Officers' Certificate certifying the following:



                                      -49-
<PAGE>   56

                  (A)      upon issuance of the Series B Capital Securities, the
                           transactions contemplated by the Exchange Offer have
                           been consummated; and

                  (B)      the number of Series A Capital Securities properly
                           tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented
                           by a Global Capital Security and the number of Series
                           A Capital Securities properly tendered in the
                           Exchange Offer that are represented by Definitive
                           Capital Securities, the liquidation amount of Capital
                           Securities properly tendered in the Exchange Offer by
                           each such Holder and the name and address to which
                           Definitive Capital Securities for Series B Capital
                           Securities shall be registered and sent for each such
                           Holder.

                  (2) The Property Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers'
Certificate, (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (x) to the effect that the Series B
Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee have been
registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and the Indenture has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (y) with respect to the matters set
forth in Section 3(q) of the Registration Rights Agreement, and (iii) any
Definitive Capital Securities tendered in the Exchange Offer, shall authenticate
(A) a Global Capital Security, executed and delivered by the Trust to the
Property Trustee, representing Series B Capital Securities in aggregate
liquidation amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of Series A Capital
Securities represented by the Global Capital Security indicated in such
Officers' Certificate as having been properly tendered and (B) Definitive
Capital Securities, executed and delivered by the Trust to the Property Trustee,
representing Series B Capital Securities registered in the names of the Persons,
and in the liquidation amounts, indicated in such Officers' Certificate.

                  (3) If upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, less than all
the outstanding Series A Capital Securities shall have been properly tendered
and not withdrawn, the Property Trustee shall make an endorsement on the Global
Capital Security representing the Series A Capital Securities indicating the
reduction in the number and aggregate liquidation amount represented thereby as
a result of the Exchange Offer.

                  (4) The Trust shall deliver such authenticated Definitive
Capital Securities representing Series B Capital Securities to the Holders
thereof as indicated in such Officers' Certificate.

         (n) MINIMUM TRANSFERS. Capital Securities may only be transferred in
minimum blocks of $100,000 aggregate liquidation amount (100 Capital Securities)
and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of Capital
Securities in a block having an aggregate liquidation amount of less than
$100,000 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such
purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a Holder of such Capital
Securities for any purpose, including, but not limited to, the receipt of
Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such purported transferee shall be
deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities.


                                      -50-
<PAGE>   57


SECTION 9.3                DEEMED SECURITY HOLDERS.

         The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Security shall be
registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole owner and Holder of
such Security for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes
whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or
other claim to or interest in such Security on the part of any Person, whether
or not the Trust shall have actual or other notice thereof.

SECTION 9.4                BOOK-ENTRY INTERESTS.

         The Global Capital Security shall initially be registered on the books
and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Clearing
Agency, and no Capital Security Beneficial Owner will receive physical delivery
of a definitive Capital Security certificate (a "Capital Security Certificate")
representing such Capital Security Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global
Capital Security, except as provided in Section 9.2 and Section 7.9. Unless and
until Definitive Capital Securities have been issued to the Capital Security
Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.2 or Section 7.9:

         (a) the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in full force and
effect;

         (b) the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the
Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration (including the payment of
Distributions on the Global Capital Security and receiving approvals, votes or
consents hereunder) as the sole Holder of the Global Capital Security and shall
have no obligation to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners;

         (c) to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.4 conflict with
any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this Section 9.4
shall control; and

         (d) the rights of the Capital Security Beneficial Owners shall be
exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those
established by law and agreements between such Capital Security Beneficial
Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants, and the
Clearing Agency shall receive and transmit payments of Distributions on the
Global Capital Security to such Clearing Agency Participants; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that solely for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite
amount of Capital Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this
Declaration, the Trustees, with respect to the Global Capital Security, may
conclusively rely on, and shall be protected in relying on, any written
instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Trustees by the Clearing Agency
setting forth the Capital Security Beneficial Owners' votes or assigning the
right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part; and
the Clearing Agency will also make book-entry transfers among the Clearing
Agency Participants.

SECTION 9.5                NOTICES TO CLEARING AGENCY.

         Whenever a notice or other communication to the Capital Security
Holders is required to be given by a Trustee under this Declaration, such
Trustee shall give all such notices and



                                      -51-
<PAGE>   58

communications specified herein to be given to the Holder of the Global Capital
Security to the Clearing Agency and shall have no notice obligations to the
Capital Security Beneficial Owners.

SECTION 9.6                APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR CLEARING AGENCY.

         If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Capital Securities, the Administrative Trustees
may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect
to such Capital Securities.


                                    ARTICLE X
                           LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
                    HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS

SECTION 10.1               LIABILITY.

         (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities
Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:

                           (i) personally liable for the return of any portion
                  of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the
                  Holders, which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust;
                  and

                           (ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder
                  any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.

         (b) The Sponsor shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of
the Trust (other than in respect of the Securities) to the extent not satisfied
out of the Trust's assets.

         (c) Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders
shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 10.2               EXCULPATION.

         (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable
in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence (or, in the
case of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, negligence) or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

         (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the



                                      -52-
<PAGE>   59

Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are
within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been
selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including
information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the
assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the
existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders might
properly be paid.

SECTION 10.3               FIDUCIARY DUTY.

         (a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this
Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the
duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are
agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of
such Indemnified Person.

         (b) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:

                           (i) whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises
                  between any Covered Person and any Indemnified Person, or

                           (ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement
                  contemplated herein or therein provides that an Indemnified
                  Person shall act in a manner that is, or provides terms that
                  are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or any Holder of
                  Securities,

the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such action
or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative interest of each
party (including its own interest) to such conflict, agreement, transaction or
situation and the benefits and burdens relating to such interests, any customary
or accepted industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting
practices or principles. In the absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person,
the resolution, action or term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified
Person shall not constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement
contemplated herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at
law or in equity or otherwise.

         (c) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or
required to make a decision:

                           (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar
                  authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to
                  consider such interests and factors as it desires, including
                  its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to
                  give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting
                  the Trust or any other Person; or

                           (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express
                  standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express
                  standard and shall not be subject to any other or different
                  standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law.



                                      -53-
<PAGE>   60

SECTION 10.4               INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a) (i) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by
law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he is or was a
Company Indemnified Person, against expenses (including attorneys' fees and
expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal
action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent,
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company Indemnified Person
did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
was unlawful.

                  (ii) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted
by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in
the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact
that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Trust and except that no such indemnification shall be
made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Company
Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and
only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite
the adjudication of liability, but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses,
which such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

                  (iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be
successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without
prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in
defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii)
of this Section 10.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he
shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith.

                  (iv) Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
Section 10.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the
Company Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such
determination shall be made (1) by the Administrative Trustees by a majority
vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrative Trustees who were not parties
to such action, suit or proceeding, (2) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or,
even if obtainable, if a Quorum of



                                      -54-
<PAGE>   61

disinterested Administrative Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust.

                  (v) Expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually
and reasonably incurred by a Company Indemnified Person in defending a civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to
in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the Sponsor
in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified Person to
repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled
to be indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section 10.4(a).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a
determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Administrative Trustees
by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrative Trustees, (ii) if
such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of
disinterested Administrative Trustees so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that,
based upon the facts known to the Administrative Trustees, counsel or the Common
Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Company Indemnified
Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that the Common Security Holder did not
believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, or, with
respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Company Indemnified Person
believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no
event shall any advance be made in instances where the Administrative Trustees,
independent legal counsel or Common Security Holder reasonably determine that a
Company Indemnified Person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its
Common or Capital Security Holders.

                  (vi) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital
Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All
rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be deemed to be
provided by a contract between the Sponsor and each Company Indemnified Person
who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in effect.
Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any rights
or obligations then existing.

                  (vii) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified Person
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Debenture
Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Section 10.4(a).

                  (viii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to
"the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any
constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation, merger or conversion, so that any person who is or was a
director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was
serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee,
officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position
under the provisions of this Section 10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or


                                      -55-
<PAGE>   62

surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its
separate existence had continued.

                  (ix) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise
provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a Person who has ceased to
be a Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a Person.

         (b) The Sponsor agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee, (ii) the
Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee or the Delaware
Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners,
employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Property
Trustee or the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through (iv),
including the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee in their respective
individual capacities, being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person")
for, and to hold each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all
loss, liability, damage, action, suit, claim or expense including taxes (other
than taxes based on the income of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred
without negligence or bad faith on the part of such Fiduciary Indemnified
Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of
the Trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending against or investigating any
claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the
powers or duties of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person hereunder. The obligation
to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the resignation
or removal of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and the satisfaction
and discharge of this Declaration.

         (c) The Sponsor agrees to pay the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee, from time to time, such compensation for all services rendered by the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee hereunder as may be mutually agreed
upon in writing by the Sponsor and the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee,
as the case may be, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to
reimburse the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee upon its or their
request for all reasonable expenses (including legal fees and expenses),
disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Property Trustee or the
Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, in accordance with the provisions of this
Declaration, except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be
attributable to its or their negligence or bad faith.

SECTION 10.5               OUTSIDE BUSINESSES.

         Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property
Trustee (subject to Section 5.3(c)) may engage in or possess an interest in
other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with
others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and
the Holders shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such
independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit
of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall
not be deemed wrongful or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware
Trustee, or the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular
investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a
character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any
Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall
have the right to take for its own account



                                      -56-
<PAGE>   63

(individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such
particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware
Trustee and the Property Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or
other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act
as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of
holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates.


                                   ARTICLE XI
                                   ACCOUNTING

SECTION 11.1               FISCAL YEAR.

         The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar
year, or such other year as is required by the Code.

SECTION 11.2               CERTAIN ACCOUNTING MATTERS.

         (a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrative
Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and
supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction
of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of
accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied. The Trust shall use the accrual method of accounting for
United States federal income tax purposes. The books of account and the records
of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal
Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected
by the Administrative Trustees.

         (b) The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and
delivered to each of the Holders any annual United States federal income tax
information statement required by the Code, containing such information with
regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the
Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any
such statement at a later date, the Administrative Trustees shall endeavor to
deliver all such information statements within 30 days after the end of each
Fiscal Year of the Trust.

         (c) The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and
filed with the appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal
income tax return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States
federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be
filed by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or
local taxing authority.

SECTION 11.3               BANKING.

         The Trust may maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for
the sole benefit of the Trust; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all payments of funds in
respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to
the Property Trustee Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited
in the Property Trustee Account. The sole signatories for such accounts



                                      -57-
<PAGE>   64

shall be designated by the Administrative Trustees; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Property Trustee shall designate the signatories for the Property Trustee
Account.

SECTION 11.4               WITHHOLDING.

         The Trust and the Administrative Trustees shall comply with all
withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The
Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or
certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with
respect to each Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be
requested by the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in
fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Administrative Trustees shall cause
to be filed required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an
exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit
amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the
extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any
authority with respect to Distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount
withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding
to the Holder. In the event of any claim of excess withholding, Holders shall be
limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required
to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Trust may
reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding.


                                   ARTICLE XII
                             AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

SECTION 12.1               AMENDMENTS.

         (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration (including Section
7 of Annex I hereto) or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this
Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed
by:

                           (i) the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees (or,
                  if there are more than two Administrative Trustees, a majority
                  of the Administrative Trustees);

                           (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
                  duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee, the
                  Property Trustee; and

                           (iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers,
                  duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the
                  Delaware Trustee.

         (b) No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall
be void and ineffective:

                           (i) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment,
                  the Property Trustee shall have first received an Officers'
                  Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such
                  amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
                  Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);



                                      -58-
<PAGE>   65

                           (ii) unless, in the case of any proposed amendment
                  which affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or
                  immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall
                  have first received:

                           (A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust
                           and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by,
                           and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration
                           (including the terms of the Securities); and

                           (B) an Opinion of Counsel (who may be counsel to the
                           Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is
                           permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
                           Declaration (including the terms of the Securities)
                           and that all conditions precedent to the execution
                           and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Property Trustee shall not be required to sign any
such amendment; and

                           (iii) to the extent the result of such amendment
                  would be to:

                           (A) cause the Trust to fail to continue to be
                           classified for purposes of United States federal
                           income taxation as a grantor trust;

                           (B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers
                           of the Property Trustee in contravention of the Trust
                           Indenture Act; or

                           (C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment
                           Company required to be registered under the
                           Investment Company Act.

         (c) At such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain
outstanding, any amendment that would adversely affect the rights, privileges or
preferences of any Holder (other than an amendment pursuant to (g)(ii) below)
may be effected only with such additional requirements as may be set forth in
the terms of such Securities;

         (d) Section 10.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without
the consent of all of the Holders;

         (e) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders
of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Common Securities;

         (f) The rights of the Holders of the Common Securities under Article V
to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove Trustees shall not
be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Common Securities; and

         (g) Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended
without the consent of the Holders to:



                                      -59-
<PAGE>   66

                           (i) cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any
                  provision in this Declaration that may be inconsistent with
                  any other provision of this Declaration or to make any other
                  provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
                  this Declaration which shall not be inconsistent with the
                  other provisions of this Declaration; and

                           (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of
                  this Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to
                  ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States
                  federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times
                  that any Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the
                  Trust will not be required to register as an Investment
                  Company under the Investment Company Act;

                           (iii) to modify, eliminate or add any provisions of
                  the Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to enable
                  the Trust or the Sponsor to conduct an Exchange Offer in the
                  manner contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of clause (i) above, such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders, and any
such amendments of this Declaration shall become effective when notice thereof
is given to the Holders.

SECTION 12.2 MEETINGS OF THE HOLDERS; ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT.

         (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at
any time by the Administrative Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the
Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of
Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of
the Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital
Securities are listed or admitted for trading. The Administrative Trustees shall
call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders
of at least 10% in Liquidation Amount of such class of Securities. Such
direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrative Trustees one or
more notices in writing stating that the signing Holders wish to call a meeting
and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be
called. Any Holders calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Capital
Security Certificates held by the Holders exercising the right to call a meeting
and only those Securities specified shall be counted for purposes of determining
whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this
paragraph has been met.

         (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the
Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders:

                           (i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all
                  the Holders having a right to vote thereat at least seven days
                  and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting.
                  Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders is
                  permitted or required under this Declaration or the rules of
                  any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed
                  or admitted for trading, such vote, consent or approval may be
                  given at a meeting of the Holders; any action that may be
                  taken at a meeting of the Holders may be taken without a
                  meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so
                  taken is signed by the Holders owning not less than the
                  minimum



                                      -60-
<PAGE>   67

                  amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be
                  necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at
                  which all Holders having a right to vote thereon were present
                  and voting; prompt notice of the taking of action without a
                  meeting shall be given to the Holders entitled to vote who
                  have not consented in writing; and the Administrative Trustees
                  may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Security
                  Holder for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting
                  shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by
                  the Administrative Trustees;

                           (ii) each Holder may authorize any Person to act for
                  it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder is entitled to
                  participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or
                  voting or participating at a meeting; no proxy shall be valid
                  after the expiration of eleven months from the date thereof
                  unless otherwise provided in the proxy; every proxy shall be
                  revocable at the pleasure of the Holder executing it; and,
                  except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to
                  the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by
                  the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating
                  to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the
                  Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders were
                  stockholders of a Delaware corporation;

                           (iii) each meeting of the Holders shall be conducted
                  by the Administrative Trustees or by such other Person that
                  the Administrative Trustees may designate; and

                           (iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration,
                  the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the
                  listing rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital
                  Securities are then listed or trading, otherwise provides, the
                  Administrative Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall
                  establish all other provisions relating to meetings of
                  Holders, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any
                  meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders,
                  waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a
                  meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum
                  requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter
                  with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote.


                                  ARTICLE XIII
                       REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                              AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

SECTION 13.1      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE.

         The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Property Trustee that:



                                      -61-
<PAGE>   68

         (a) the Property Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry
out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;

         (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of
this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Property Trustee; and this Declaration has been duly executed
and delivered by the Property Trustee and under Delaware law (excluding any
securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of
equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of
such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

         (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or
by-laws of the Property Trustee; and

         (d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any federal or Delaware State banking authority governing the trust
powers of the Property Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration.

SECTION 13.2      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DELAWARE TRUSTEE.

         The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and
warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and
each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the
Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its
appointment as Delaware Trustee that:

         (a) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation, duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry
out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;

         (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of
this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the part of the Delaware Trustee; and this Declaration has been duly executed
and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and under Delaware law (excluding any
securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of
equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of
such remedies is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

         (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or
by-laws of the Delaware Trustee; and



                                      -62-
<PAGE>   69

         (d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any federal or Delaware banking authority governing the trust powers
of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance
by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and

         (e) the Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the
State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal
place of business in the State of Delaware, and is a Person that satisfies for
the Trust Section 3807(a) of the Business Trust Act.


                                   ARTICLE XIV
                               REGISTRATION RIGHTS


SECTION 14.1      REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT; LIQUIDATED DAMAGES.

         The Holders of the Series A Capital Securities, the Series A Debentures
and the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee are entitled to the benefit of the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Liquidated Damages Agreement. In certain
limited circumstances set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Liquidated Damages Agreement, the Debenture Issuer shall be required to pay
liquidated damages with respect to the Series A Debentures. Unless otherwise
stated, the term "Distribution," as used in this Declaration, includes any and
all liquidated damages.


                                   ARTICLE XV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 15.1               NOTICES.

         All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by first class mail, overnight courier service or confirmed telecopy, as
follows:

         (a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrative Trustees at
the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust
may give notice of to the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the
Holders):

                           Sky Financial Capital Trust I
                           c/o Sky Financial Group, Inc.
                           221 South Church Street
                           Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
                           Attention:  W. Granger Souder, Jr., Esq.
                           Telecopier: (419)
                           Telephone: (419) 327-6300

         (b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the
Property Trustee and the Holders):



                                      -63-
<PAGE>   70

                           Wilmington Trust Company
                           1100 North Market Street
                           Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
                           Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
                           Telecopier: (302) 651-1000
                           Telephone: (302) 651-8882

         (c) if given to the Property Trustee, at the Property Trustee's mailing
address set forth below (or such other address as the Property Trustee may give
notice of to the Delaware Trustee and the Holders):

                           Wilmington Trust Company
                           1100 North Market Street
                           Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
                           Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
                           Telecopier: (302) 651-1000
                           Telephone: (302) 651-8882

         (d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing
address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of
the Common Securities may give notice to the Trust):

                           Sky Financial Group, Inc.
                           221 South Church Street
                           Bowling Green, Ohio 43402
                           Attention:  W. Granger Souder, Jr., Esq.
                           Telecopier: (419)
                           Telephone: (419) 327-6300


         (e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books
and records of the Trust.

         All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 15.2      GOVERNING LAW.

         This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware
without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof.

                                      -64-
<PAGE>   71

SECTION 15.3      INTENTION OF THE PARTIES.
                  ------------------------

         It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified
for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions
of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the
parties.

SECTION 15.4      HEADINGS.

         Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of
reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any
provision hereof.

SECTION 15.5      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

         Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or
referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be
included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor
and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective
successors and assigns, whether so expressed.

SECTION 15.6      PARTIAL ENFORCEABILITY.

         If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such
provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of
this Declaration, or the application of such provision to Persons or
circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be
affected thereby.

SECTION 15.7      COUNTERPARTS.

         This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature
page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of
each of the Trustees to one or more of such counterpart signature pages. All of
such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall
have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single
signature page.


                                      -65-
<PAGE>   72


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  W. Granger Souder, Jr.,
                                  as Administrative Trustee



                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Kevin T. Thompson,
                                  as Administrative Trustee


                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                  Michael R. Moore,
                                  as Administrative Trustee


                                  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
                                  as Delaware Trustee and Property Trustee

                                  By:___________________________________________
                                  Name:_________________________________________
                                  Title:________________________________________



                                  SKY FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., an Ohio
                                  corporation, as Sponsor and Debenture Issuer

                                  By:___________________________________________
                                  Name:_________________________________________
                                  Title:________________________________________



                                      -66-
<PAGE>   73



                                     ANNEX I
                                     -------

                           TERMS OF SERIES A/SERIES B
                            9.34% CAPITAL SECURITIES
                             9.34% COMMON SECURITIES


         Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust, dated as of March 31, 2000 (as amended from time to time, the
"Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences
and other terms and provisions of the Securities are set out below (each
capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the
Declaration or, if not defined in such Declaration, as defined in the Offering
Memorandum referred to below in Section 2(c) of this Annex I):

         1.       DESIGNATION AND NUMBER.

                  (a) CAPITAL SECURITIES. 60,000 Series A Capital Securities of
the Trust and 60,000 Series B Capital Securities of the Trust, both Series
together, with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the
Trust of sixty million dollars ($60,000,000) and each with a liquidation amount
with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per security are hereby
designated for purposes of identification only as "9.34% Capital Securities,
Series A" and "9.34% Capital Securities, Series B" respectively (collectively,
the "Capital Securities"). The certificates evidencing the Capital Securities
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such
changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by
ordinary usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any exchange or
quotation system on or in which the Capital Securities are listed, traded or
quoted.

                  (b) COMMON SECURITIES. 1,856 Common Securities of the Trust
with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
one million eight hundred fifty-six thousand dollars ($1,856,000) and with a
liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as
"9.34% Common Securities" (the "Common Securities"). The certificates evidencing
the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the
Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as
may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.

         2.       DISTRIBUTIONS.

                  (a) Distributions on each Security will be payable at a fixed
rate per annum of 9.34% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000
per Security (the "Liquidation Amount"), such rate being the rate of interest
payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in
arrears for more than one semi-annual period will bear additional Distributions
thereon compounded semi-annually at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by
applicable law). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Liquidated Damages Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture
Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement and the Liquidated Damages

                                      I-1

<PAGE>   74

Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term "Distributions," as used
herein, includes distributions of any and all such interest, if any, and such
Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable
only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by
the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds legally
available therefor.

                  (b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will
accumulate from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid or,
if no Distributions have been paid, from March 31, 2000 and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing
November 1, 2000 (each, a "Distribution Date"), except as otherwise described
below. Distributions will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day months. As long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing under the Indenture, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the
Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period
at any time and from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding
10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first such semi-annual period
during such period (each an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period
no interest shall be due and payable on the Debentures, PROVIDED THAT no
Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date for the
Debentures or extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. As a
consequence of such deferral, Distributions (other than Liquidated Damages, if
any) will also be deferred. Notwithstanding such deferral, Distributions will
continue to accumulate with additional Distributions thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law but not at a rate greater than the rate at which
interest is then accruing on the Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded
semi-annually during any such Extension Period. Prior to the termination of any
such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of
interest by further extending such Extension Period, PROVIDED THAT such
extension does not cause such Extension Period, together with all such previous
and further extensions within such Extension Period, to exceed 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods, including the first semi-annual period during such
Extension Period, end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date for the
Debentures or extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the
Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements.

                  (c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the
Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the
close of business on the 15th day of the month immediately preceding the month
in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs, which Distribution Dates
correspond to the Interest Payment Dates for the Debentures. Subject to any
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such
payment in respect of the Capital Securities will be made as described under the
heading "Description of Capital Securities-Form, Denomination, Book-Entry
Procedures and Transfer" in the Offering Memorandum dated March 28, 2000 of the
Debenture Issuer and the Trust relating to the Securities and the Debentures.
The relevant record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same as the
record dates for the Capital Securities. Distributions payable on any Securities
that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Date, as a result of the
Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, will
cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant record date, and such
defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such
Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date
determined in accordance with the



                                      I-2
<PAGE>   75

Indenture. If any date on which Distributions are payable on the Securities is
not a Business Day, then payment of the Distributions payable on such date will
be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that if such
next succeeding Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day with the same
force and effect as if made on such date.

                  (d) In the event that there is any money or other property
held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property
shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders.

         3.       LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION.

                  In the event of any dissolution of the Trust, the Trust shall
be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be
possible by distributing to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, a Like Amount (as defined
below) of the Debentures, unless such distribution is determined by the Property
Trustee not to be practicable, in which event such Holders will be entitled to
receive out of the assets of the Trust legally available for distribution to
Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided
by applicable law, an amount equal to the aggregate of the liquidation amount of
$1,000 per Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the
date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution").

                  "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of the
Securities, Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount
of Debentures to be paid in accordance with their terms and (ii) with respect to
a distribution of Debentures upon the liquidation of the Trust, Debentures
having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Securities of
the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.

                  If, upon any such liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution
can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets legally
available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the
amounts payable directly by the Trust on the Securities shall be paid on a Pro
Rata basis.

         4.       REDEMPTION AND DISTRIBUTION.

                  (a) Upon the repayment of the Debentures in whole or in part,
at maturity or otherwise (either at the option of the Debenture Issuer or
pursuant to a Special Event or upon a Conversion Transaction, as described
below), the proceeds from such repayment shall be simultaneously applied by the
Property Trustee (subject to the Property Trustee having received written notice
no later than 45 days prior to such repayment) to redeem a Like Amount of the
Securities at a redemption price equal to (i) in the case of the repayment of
the Debentures on the Maturity Date, the Maturity Redemption Price (as defined
below), (ii) in the case of the optional prepayment of the Debentures prior to
the Initial Optional Redemption Date and upon the occurrence and continuation of
a Special Event, the Special Event Redemption Price (as defined below), and
(iii) in the case of the optional prepayment of the Debentures on or after the
Initial



                                      I-3
<PAGE>   76

Optional Redemption Date, the Optional Redemption Price (as defined below). The
Maturity Redemption Price, the Special Event Redemption Price and the Optional
Redemption Price are referred to collectively as the "Redemption Price." Holders
will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior written notice of
such redemption.

                  (b) (i) The "Maturity Redemption Price," with respect to a
redemption of Securities, shall mean an amount equal to the principal of and
accrued and unpaid interest (including Compounding Interest and Additional Sums,
if any, thereon to the date of redemption) on the Debentures as of the Maturity
Date thereof.

                      (ii) In the case of an optional redemption, if fewer than
all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and
the Capital Securities shall be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to
be redeemed will be determined as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below. Upon the
entry of an order for the dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent
jurisdiction, the Debentures thereafter will be subject to optional redemption,
in whole, but not in part, on or after the Initial Optional Redemption Date.

                  The Debenture Issuer shall have the right (subject to the
conditions in the Indenture) to elect to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after May 1, 2010 (the "Initial Optional Redemption
Date"), and, simultaneous with such redemption, to cause a Like Amount of the
Securities to be redeemed by the Trust at the Optional Redemption Price on a Pro
Rata basis or a method deemed fair and appropriate by the Property Trustee.
"Optional Redemption Price" shall mean a price equal to the percentage of the
liquidation amount of Securities to be redeemed plus accumulated and unpaid
Distributions thereon, if any, to the date of such redemption if redeemed during
the 12-month period beginning May 1st of the years indicated below:

                                                       PERCENTAGE OF
                           YEAR                          PRINCIPAL
                           ----                          ---------
                           2010                          104.670%
                           2011                          104.203%
                           2012                          103.736%
                           2013                          103.269%
                           2014                          102.802%
                           2015                          102.335%
                           2016                          101.868%
                           2017                          101.401%
                           2018                          100.934%
                           2019                          100.467%
                           2020 and thereafter           100.000%



                                      I-4
<PAGE>   77

                  (c) If at any time an Investment Company Event, a Regulatory
Capital Event or a Tax Event (each as defined below, and each a "Special Event")
occurs, the Debenture Issuer shall have the right (subject to the conditions set
forth in the Indenture) at any time prior to the Initial Optional Redemption
Date, to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, within the 90 days
following the occurrence of such Special Event (the 90 Day Period"), and,
simultaneous with such redemption, to cause a Like Amount of the Securities to
be redeemed by the Trust at the Special Event Redemption Price on a Pro Rata
basis.

                  "Investment Company Event" shall mean the receipt by the
Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of independent securities counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that as a result of (a) any amendment
to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws or any
regulation thereunder of the United States or any rules, guidelines or policies
of any applicable regulatory authority for the Debenture Issuer or (b) any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of original
issuance of the Securities, the Trust is, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion will be, considered an Investment Company that is required to be
registered under the Investment Company Act.

                  "Make-Whole Amount" shall mean an amount equal to the greater
of (x) 100% of the principal of Debentures or (y) the sum, as determined by a
Quotation Agent (as defined in the Indenture), of the present values of the
remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Debentures,
discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as
defined in the Indenture), plus, in the case of each of clauses (x) and (y),
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any (including Compounded Interest and
Additional Sums, if any), to the date of redemption.

                  "Regulatory Capital Event" shall mean the receipt by the
Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of independent bank regulatory
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that as a result of (a) any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the
laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any rules,
guidelines or policies of an applicable regulatory authority for the Debenture
Issuer or its Banking Subsidiaries, or (b) any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement or
decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the
Securities, the Capital Securities do not constitute, or within 90 days of the
date of such opinion will not constitute, Tier 1 Capital (or its then equivalent
if the Sponsor were subject to such capital requirement) applied as if the
Debenture Issuer (or its successors) were a bank holding company for purposes of
capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve Board (or any successor
regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank holding companies), or any
capital adequacy guidelines as then in effect and applicable to the Debenture
Issuer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the distribution of the Debentures in connection
with the liquidation of the Trust by the Debenture Issuer shall not in and of
itself constitute a Regulatory Capital Event unless such liquidation shall have
occurred in connection with a Tax Event.

                  "Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to
any redemption of Securities following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal
to the Make-Whole Amount.



                                      I-5
<PAGE>   78

                  "Tax Event" shall occur upon receipt by the Debenture Issuer
and the Trust of an opinion of independent tax 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 which pronouncement or decision is announced
on or after the date of original issuance of the Securities, there is more than
an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect
to income received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) the interest payable by
the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of
such opinion will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in
part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

                  (d) On and from the date fixed by the Administrative Trustees
for any distribution of Debentures and liquidation of the Trust: (i) the
Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the Clearing Agency
or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the Holder
of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution,
and (iii) any certificates representing Securities not held by the Clearing
Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) will be
deemed to represent beneficial interests in a Like Amount of Debentures until
such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for
transfer or reissue.

                  (e) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding
Securities unless all accumulated and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all
Securities for all semi-annual Distribution periods terminating on or before the
date of redemption.

                  (f) The procedure with respect to redemptions or distributions
of Securities shall be as follows:

                           (i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of
         distribution of Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a
         "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to
         each Holder to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than
         60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which,
         in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of
         the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of
         redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given
         pursuant to this Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice
         shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by
         first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders. Each
         Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders at the
         address of each such Holder appearing in the books and records of the
         Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the
         mailing of either thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the
         validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any
         other Holder.



                                      I-6
<PAGE>   79

                           (ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding
         Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed
         shall be selected on a Pro Rata basis or a method deemed fair and
         appropriate by the Property Trustee (based upon Liquidation Amounts)
         not more than 60 nor less than 30 days prior to the date fixed for
         redemption from the outstanding Securities not previously called for
         redemption; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that with respect to Holders that would
         be required to hold less than 100 but more than zero Securities as a
         result of such redemption, the Trust shall redeem Securities of each
         such Holder so that after such redemption such Holder shall hold either
         100 Securities or such Holder no longer holds any Securities, and shall
         use such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the Trust
         shall deem fair and appropriate; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that any such
         redemption may be made on the basis of the aggregate Liquidation Amount
         of Securities held by each Holder thereof and may be made by making
         such adjustments as the Trust deems fair and appropriate in order that
         fractional Securities shall not thereafter remain outstanding. In
         respect of Capital Securities registered in the name of and held of
         record by the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any successor Clearing
         Agency or its nominee) or any nominee, the distribution of the proceeds
         of such redemption will be made to the Clearing Agency and disbursed by
         such Clearing Agency in accordance with the procedures applied by such
         agency or nominee.

                           (iii) If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust
         gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice (which notice will be
         irrevocable), then (A) with respect to Capital Securities issued in
         book-entry form, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption
         date, PROVIDED THAT the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee
         a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption
         or maturity of the Debentures by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
         Maturity Date or the date of redemption, as the case requires, the
         Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Clearing Agency or
         its nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) immediately
         available funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price with
         respect to such Capital Securities and will give the Clearing Agency
         irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to
         the relevant Clearing Agency Participants, and (B) with respect to
         Capital Securities issued in certificated form and Common Securities,
         PROVIDED THAT the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a
         sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or
         maturity of the Debentures, the Property Trustee will irrevocably
         deposit with the paying agent for the Capital Securities (if other than
         the Property Trustee) funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
         Price to the Holders by check mailed to the address of the relevant
         Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the
         redemption date, and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that any such payment shall
         become due only upon surrender by the Holder of the related
         certificated Capital Securities. If a Redemption/ Distribution Notice
         shall have been given and funds deposited as required, if applicable,
         then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such
         deposit, or on the redemption date, as applicable, Distributions will
         cease to accumulate on the Securities so called for redemption and all
         rights of Holders so called for redemption will cease, except the right
         of the Holders of such Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but
         without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Securities shall
         cease to be outstanding.



                                      I-7
<PAGE>   80

                           (iv) Payment of accumulated and unpaid Distributions
         on the Redemption Date of the Securities will be subject to the rights
         of Holders on the close of business on a regular record date in respect
         of a Distribution Date occurring on or prior to such Redemption Date.

                  Neither the Administrative Trustees nor the Trust shall be
required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of (i) any
Securities beginning on the opening of business 15 days before the day of
mailing of a notice of redemption or any notice of selection of Securities for
redemption or (ii) any Securities selected for redemption except the unredeemed
portion of any Security being redeemed. If any date fixed for redemption of
Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable
on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay). If payment
of the Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or
refused and not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Sponsor as
guarantor pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on such
Securities will continue to accumulate from the original redemption date to the
actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered
the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.

                           (v) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by
         the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of
         Capital Securities issued in book-entry form, the Clearing Agency or
         its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), (B) in
         respect of Capital Securities issued in certificated form, to the
         Holders thereof, and (C) in respect of the Common Securities, to the
         Holders thereof.

                           (vi) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law
         (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws
         and banking laws), the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any
         time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by
         tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

         5.       VOTING RIGHTS - CAPITAL SECURITIES.

                  (a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b), 6(b) and 7 and as
otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital
Securities will have no voting rights.

                  (b) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee or
executing any trust or power conferred on such Debenture Trustee with respect to
the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under Section 5.07
of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the Debentures or (iv) consent
to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of all outstanding Capital Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that where a consent
under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Debentures
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without
the prior approval 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



                                      I-8
<PAGE>   81

the Capital Securities except by subsequent vote of such Holders. The Property
Trustee shall notify each Holder of Capital Securities of any notice of default
with respect to the 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 the Trust will continue to be classified as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes after taking any such action
into account.

                  If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and
is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on
the due date (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a
Holder of Capital Securities may institute a proceeding directly against the
Debenture Issuer for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on a Like Amount of Debentures (a "Direct
Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In
connection with such Direct Action, the Common Securities Holder will be
subordinated to the rights of the Holders of Capital Securities to the extent of
any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Capital Securities in
such Direct Action. Except as provided in the second preceding sentence, and,
except as set forth in the first sentence of Section 3.8(e) of the Declaration,
the Holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any
other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.

                  Any approval or direction of Holders of Capital Securities may
be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Capital Securities convened for
such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or
pursuant to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote to be mailed
to each Holder of record of Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a
statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such
action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for
adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such
matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
delivery of proxies or consent.

                  No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities
will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to
distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.

                  Notwithstanding that Holders of 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 Sponsor or any Affiliate of the
Sponsor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

         6.       VOTING RIGHTS - COMMON SECURITIES.

                  (a) Except as provided under Sections 6(b), 6(c), and 7 or as
otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common
Securities will have no voting rights.

                  (b) 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



                                      I-9
<PAGE>   82

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 Sponsor 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 Declaration.

                  (c) So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on such Debenture Trustee with respect to
the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under Section 5.07
of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the Debentures or (iv) consent
to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount
of all outstanding Common Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that where a consent
under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Debentures
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without
the prior approval of each Holder of the Common Securities. The Trustees shall
not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders
of the Common Securities except by subsequent vote of such Holders. The Property
Trustee shall notify each Holder of Common Securities of any notice of default
with respect to the Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals
of such Holders of the Common 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 the Trust will continue to be classified as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes after taking any such action
into account.

                  If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and
is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on
the due date (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a
Holder of Common Securities may institute a Direct Action directly against the
Debenture Issuer for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on a Like Amount of Debentures on or after the
respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct
Action, the rights of the Common Securities Holder will be subordinated to the
rights of the Holders of Capital Securities in respect of any payment from the
Debenture Issuer in such Direct Action. Except as provided in the second
preceding sentence, the Holders of Common Securities will not be able to
exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.

                  Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may
be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such
purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or
pursuant to written consent. The Administrative Trustees will cause a notice of
any meeting at which Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken,
to be mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice
will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date
by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any



                                      I-10
<PAGE>   83

resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are
entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and
(iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.

                  No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities
will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to
distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.

         7.       AMENDMENTS TO DECLARATION.

                  In addition to the requirements set out in Section 12.1 of the
Declaration, the Declaration may be amended from time to time by the Sponsor,
the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees without the consent of the
Holders (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in the
Declaration that may be inconsistent with any other provisions, or to make any
other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the
Declaration, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of the
Declaration; (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the
Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will
be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust
at all times that any Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust
will not be required to register as an Investment Company under the Investment
Company Act; or (iii) to modify, eliminate or add any provisions of the
Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to enable the Sponsor or the
Trust to conduct the Exchange Offer in a manner contemplated by the Registration
Rights Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case of an amendment pursuant
to clauses (i) and (iii) above, such action shall not adversely affect in any
material respect the interests of any Holder, and any such amendments of the
Declaration shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the Holders.
The Declaration may also be amended by the Trustees and the Sponsor (i) with the
consent of Holders representing a Majority in Liquidation Amount of all
outstanding Securities; and (ii) upon receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of
Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted
to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the Trust's
status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or the
Trust's exemption from status as an Investment Company under the Investment
Company Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, without the consent of each Holder of
Trust Securities, the Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or
timing of any Distribution on, or the payment 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.

         8.       PRO RATA.

                  A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment,
distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean PRO RATA to each Holder
according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the
relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all
Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default
under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds
available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital
Securities PRO RATA according to the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital
Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation
amount of all Capital Securities outstanding and then, only after satisfaction
of



                                      I-11
<PAGE>   84

all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of
Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of
Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate
liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.

         9.       RANKING.

                  The Capital Securities rank PARI PASSU with the Common
Securities and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common
Securities, except that, if an Event of Default under the Declaration occurs and
is continuing, no payments in respect of Distributions on, or payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise with respect to, the Common Securities
shall be made until the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be paid in full
the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution and any other
payments to which they are entitled at such time.

         10.      ACCEPTANCE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE, COMMON SECURITIES
                  GUARANTEE. INDENTURE AND DEBENTURES.

                  Each Holder of Capital Securities and Common Securities, by
the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Capital Securities
Guarantee, the Common Securities Guarantee, the Indenture and the Debentures, as
applicable, including the subordination provisions therein.

         11.      NO PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS.

                  The issuance of Capital Securities and the issuance of Common
Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights. The Holders
shall have no preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional
securities.

         12.      MISCELLANEOUS.

                  These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.

                  The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the
Capital Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee, as applicable,
and the Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without
charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business.



                                      I-12
<PAGE>   85

                                   EXHIBIT A-1
                                   -----------

                  FORM OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

                           [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

         [IF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY, INSERT: THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE "CLEARING AGENCY") OR A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING
AGENCY. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTERED
IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN
THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY
THE CLEARING AGENCY TO A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE
CLEARING AGENCY TO THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING
AGENCY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

         UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY TO THE TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION
OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED
IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE &
CO., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO
ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN
INTEREST HEREIN.]

         THIS CAPITAL SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST
OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

         THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE
"RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE
ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH SKY FINANCIAL GROUP,
INC. (THE "CORPORATION") OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE OWNER OF
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO
THE CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN



                                     A-1-1
<PAGE>   86

DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS CAPITAL
SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE
TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
"ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7)
OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR
ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED
INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE
IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT OR (E)
PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I
(THE "TRUST") AND THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THAT THE TRANSFEROR DELIVER TO THE TRUST A
LETTER FROM THE TRANSFEREE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF ANNEX A TO THE OFFERING
MEMORANDUM DATED MARCH 28, 2000. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER
TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

         THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO
AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH
A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON
OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF
ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE CAPITAL SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN,
UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE
UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,
95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND
HOLDING OF CAPITAL SECURITIES IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER
OR HOLDER OF THE CAPITAL SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO
HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER: (A) IT IS NOT
AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH
SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON
BEHALF OF A PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY PLAN TO
FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE; OR (B)



                                     A-1-2
<PAGE>   87

SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF
ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

         THE CAPITAL SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN
BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 (100 CAPITAL
SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF
CAPITAL SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED
TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR
ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON SUCH
CAPITAL SECURITIES, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO
INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH CAPITAL SECURITIES.

         THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
BE BOUND BY THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH 28, 2000, BY AND
AMONG THE TRUST, THE SPONSOR AND THE INITIAL PURCHASER NAMED THEREIN, AS AMENDED
FROM TIME TO TIME.



                                     A-1-3
<PAGE>   88


CERTIFICATE NUMBER: ________                               AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION
                                                           AMOUNT: $ ___________
CUSIP NUMBER: _________

                CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING SERIES CAPITAL SECURITIES

                                       OF

                          SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I

                       9.34% CAPITAL SECURITIES, SERIES A
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)

         Sky Financial Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
_________________ is the registered owner of _____________ Capital Securities,
Series A of the Trust (liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security),
representing undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
designated the 9.34% Capital Securities, Series A (liquidation amount $1,000 per
Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Securities are
transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly
authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in
proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities represented
hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of March 31,
2000, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"),
including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in
Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall
have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy
of the Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Indenture
(including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without charge upon written
request to the Trust at its principal place of business.

         Upon receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder and to the benefits of
the Capital Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.

         By acceptance hereof, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital
Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.



                                     A-1-4
<PAGE>   89

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ____
day of __________, 2000.

                                      SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I


                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                              Name:_____________________________
                                              Administrative Trustee



                PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the 9.34% Capital Securities, Series A of Sky Financial
Capital Trust I referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration.

Dated:  _________________ ____, 20__


                                      WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
                                      not in its individual capacity but solely
                                      as Property Trustee


                                      By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                              Authorized Signatory


                                     A-1-5
<PAGE>   90

                          [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

         Distributions on each Capital Security will be payable at a fixed rate
per annum of 9.34% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per
Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures
to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one
semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded semi-annually at the
Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and Liquidated Damages Agreement, in certain
limited circumstances the Debenture Trustee will be required to pay Liquidated
Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement and Liquidated Damages
Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term "Distributions", as used
herein, includes such cash distributions and any and all such interest, if any,
and such Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is
payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures
held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds
legally available therefor.

         Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will
accumulate from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid or,
if no Distributions have been paid, from March 31, 2000 and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears, on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing
November 1, 2000, except as otherwise described below. Distributions will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. As
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture,
the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of
interest by extending the interest payment period at any time and from time to
time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive calendar
semi-annual periods, including the first such semi-annual period during such
extension period (each an "Extension Period"), PROVIDED THAT no Extension Period
shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date for the Debentures or
extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. As a consequence of such
deferral, Distributions (other than Liquidated Damages, if any) will also be
deferred. Notwithstanding such deferral, semi-annual Distributions will continue
to accumulate with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law,
but not at a rate exceeding the rate of interest then accruing on the
Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded semi-annually during any such
Extension Period. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the
Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of interest by further extending
such Extension Period; PROVIDED THAT such Extension Period, together with all
such previous and further extensions within such Extension Period, may not (i)
exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first semi-annual
period during such Extension Period, (ii) end on a date other than an Interest
Payment Date for the Debentures or (iii) extend beyond the Maturity Date of the
Debentures. Payments of accumulated Distributions will be payable to Holders as
they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately
preceding the end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of any Extension
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture Issuer may
commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.

         Subject to receipt by the Sponsor of any and all required regulatory
approvals and to certain other conditions set forth in the Declaration and the
Indenture, the Property Trustee may, at the direction of the Sponsor, at any
time dissolve the Trust and cause, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, the Debentures to be
distributed to the Holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or,
simultaneously with any redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the
Securities to be redeemed by the Trust.

         The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.


                                     A-1-6
<PAGE>   91


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

                                   ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security
Certificate to:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     (Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           agent
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The
agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

Date:_______________________

Signature:______________________________
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security
Certificate)

Signature Guarantee:___________________________________





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


         Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
         that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit
         union meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements
         include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents
         Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program"
         as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in
         substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended.


                                     A-1-7
<PAGE>   92

In connection with any transfer of any of the Capital Securities evidenced by
this Certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Capital Securities are
being:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

         (1)      |_|      exchanged for the undersigned's own account without
                           transfer; or

         (2)      |_|      transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
                           144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; or

         (3)      |_|      transferred to an institutional "accredited
                           investor" within the meaning of subparagraph (a)(1),
                           (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act
                           of 1933, as amended, that is acquiring the Capital
                           Securities for its own account, or for the account of
                           such an institutional "accredited investor," for
                           investment purposes and not with a view to, or for
                           offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in
                           violation of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
                           or

         (4)      |_|      transferred pursuant to another available exemption
                           from the registration requirements of the Securities
                           Act of 1933, as amended; or

         (5)      |_|      transferred pursuant to an effective registration
                           statement.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Registrar will refuse to register any of
the Capital Securities evidenced by this Certificate in the name of any Person
other than the Holder hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if box (3) or (4) is
checked, the Registrar may require, prior to registering any such transfer of
the Capital Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other
information as the Trust has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer
is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, such as
the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that (i)
if box (2) is checked, by acceptance of this Certificate, the transferee shall
be deemed to have certified that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" (as
defined in Rule 144A) acquiring the Capital Securities for its own account or
for the account of another QIB over which it exercises sole investment
discretion and that it is aware that the Holder is relying upon the exemption
from registration afforded by Rule 144A in respect of the Holder's transfer of
Capital Securities to it or (ii) if box (3) is checked, the transferee must also
provide to the Registrar a Transferee Letter of Representation in the form
attached to the Offering Memorandum of the Trust dated March 28, 2000; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, that after the date that a registration statement has been filed and so
long as such Registration Statement continues to be effective, only then may the
Registrar permit transfers for which box (5) has been checked.

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



                                     A-1-8
<PAGE>   93



                                   EXHIBIT A-2
                                   -----------

                       FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE

         THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS COMMON SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST
OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

         THE HOLDER OF THIS COMMON SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS COMMON SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE
"RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE
ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH SKY FINANCIAL GROUP,
INC. (THE "CORPORATION") OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE OWNER OF
THIS COMMON SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS COMMON SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO
THE CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN
DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS COMMON SECURITY
IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE
144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER"
(AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT
OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS
BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS COMMON SECURITY FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR
INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION
WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO
ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I (THE
"TRUST") AND THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) TO REQUIRE THAT TRANSFEROR DELIVER TO THE TRUST A LETTER
FROM THE TRANSFEREE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FORM OF ANNEX A TO THE OFFERING
MEMORANDUM DATED APRIL __, 2000. SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER
TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS COMMON SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.


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<PAGE>   94


                    CERTIFICATE EVIDENCING COMMON SECURITIES

                                       OF

                          SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I

                             9.34% COMMON SECURITIES
                 (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER COMMON SECURITY)

         Sky Financial Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Sky
Financial Group, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Holder"), is the registered
owner of __________ (____) common securities of the Trust representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the 9.34% Common
Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the "Common
Securities"). Subject to the terms of the Declaration (as defined below), the
Common Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in
person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly
endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges,
restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common
Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust
dated as of March 31, 2000, as the same may be amended from time to time (the
"Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities
as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor
will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without charge upon
written request to the Trust at its principal place of business.

         Upon receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder and to the benefits of
the Common Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.

         By acceptance hereof, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common
Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate
this ___ day of ___________, 2000.

                                                SKY FINANCIAL CAPITAL TRUST I


                                                By:
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                       Name:____________________
                                                       Administrative Trustee



                                     A-2-2
<PAGE>   95

                          [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

         Distributions on each Common Security will be payable at a fixed rate
per annum of 9.34% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per
Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures
to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one
semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded semi-annually at the
Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture
Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Debentures. The term
"Distributions", as used herein, includes such cash distributions and any and
all such interest and Liquidated Damages, if any, payable unless otherwise
stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in
respect of the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the
Property Trustee has funds legally available therefor.

         Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue
from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid or, if no
Distributions have been paid, from March 31, 2000 and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears, on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing
November 1, 2000, except as otherwise described below. Distributions will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. As
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture,
the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of
interest by extending the interest payment period at any time and from time to
time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive calendar
semi-annual periods, including the first such semi-annual period during such
extension period (each an "Extension Period"), PROVIDED THAT no Extension Period
shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date for the Debentures or
extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures. As a consequence of such
deferral, Distributions will also be deferred. Notwithstanding such deferral,
Distributions will continue to accumulate with interest thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law, but not at a rate exceeding the rate of interest
then accruing on the Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded semi-annually
during any such Extension Period. Prior to the termination of any Extension
Period, the Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of interest by further
extending such Extension Period; PROVIDED THAT such Extension Period, together
with all such previous and further extensions within such Extension Period, may
not (i) exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first
semi-annual period during such Extension Period, (ii) end on a date other than
an Interest Payment Date for the Debentures or (iii) extend beyond the Maturity
Date of the Debentures. Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to
Holders as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date
immediately preceding the end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of
any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Debenture
Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.

         Subject to the receipt by the Sponsor of any and all required
regulatory approvals and to certain other conditions set forth in the
Declaration and the Indenture, the Property Trustee may, at the direction of the
Sponsor, at any time dissolve the Trust and cause the Debentures to be
distributed to the Holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or,
simultaneously with any redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the
Securities to be redeemed by the Trust.

         The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.

         Under certain circumstances, the right of the Holders of the Common
Securities shall be subordinate to the rights of the Holders of the Capital
Securities, as provided in the Declaration.


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