Exhibit
(4) - 26
 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT
 by and between
 SUPERIOR BANCORP,
as Guarantor
 and
 THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,
as Guarantee Trustee
 relating to
 SUPERIOR CAPITAL TRUST II
 Dated as of December 11, 2009




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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 PageARTICLE IDEFINITIONSSection 1.1 Definitions
    
    
    1ARTICLE IITRUST INDENTURE ACTSection 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application
    
    
    4Section 2.2 List of Holders
    
    
    4Section 2.3 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee
    
    
    4Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee
    
    
    4Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent
    
    
    5Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver
    
    
    5Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice
    
    
    5Section 2.8 Conflicting Interests
    
    
    5ARTICLE IIIPOWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEESection 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
    
    
    5Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee
    
    
    6Section 3.3 Compensation; Indemnity; Fees
    
    
    8ARTICLE IVGUARANTEE TRUSTEESection 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
    
    
    8Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the
Guarantee Trustee
    
    
    9ARTICLE VGUARANTEESection 5.1 Guarantee
    
    
    9Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand
    
    
    9Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected
    
    
    10Section 5.4 Rights of Holders
    
    
    10Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment
    
    
    10Section 5.6 Subrogation
    
    
    10Section 5.7 Independent Obligations
    
    
    11
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PageARTICLE VICOVENANTS AND SUBORDINATIONSection 6.1 Subordination
    
    
    11Section 6.2 Pari Passu Guarantees
    
    
    11ARTICLE VIITERMINATIONSection 7.1 Termination
    
    
    11ARTICLE VIIIMISCELLANEOUSSection 8.1 Successors and Assigns
    
    
    12Section 8.2 Amendments
    
    
    12Section 8.3 Notices
    
    
    12Section 8.4 Benefit
    
    
    13Section 8.5 Governing Law
    
    
    13Section 8.6 Counterparts
    
    
    13Section 8.7 Incorporation by Reference
    
    
    13Section 8.8 Waiver of Jury Trial
    
    
    13Section 8.9 Force Majeure
    
    
    13




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GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, SUPERIOR BANCORP, a Guarantor , THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, Guarantee Trustee , SUPERIOR CAPITAL TRUST
II, Issuer Trust .
 RECITALS
 WHEREAS, Trust Agreement , Capital Securities ,
 WHEREAS,
 WHEREAS,
 NOW, THEREFORE,
 ARTICLE I
 DEFINITIONS
 Section 1.1 Definitions
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Affiliate
 Board of Directors
 Capital Securities
 Common Securities
 Debentures
 Distributions
 Event of Default
 Guarantee Agreement
 Guarantee Payments
 Guarantee Trustee
 Guarantor
 Holder provided, however,
 Indenture
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Issuer Trust
 Liquidation Distribution
 List of Holders
 Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities
 Officers Certificate
     Person
 Redemption Price
 Responsible Officer
 Successor Guarantee Trustee
 Trust Agreement
 Trust Indenture Act provided, however,
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Vice
President,
 ARTICLE II
 TRUST INDENTURE ACT
 Section 2.1 Trust Indenture Act; Application.
    Section 2.2 List of Holders.
 List of
Holders
  Section 2.3 Reports by the Guarantee Trustee.
  Section 2.4 Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.
 provided
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Section 2.5 Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
  Section 2.6 Events of Default; Waiver.
  Section 2.7 Event of Default; Notice.
 provided
  Section 2.8 Conflicting Interests.
  ARTICLE III
 POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
 Section 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.
    5




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Section 3.2 Certain Rights of Guarantee
Trustee.
     6




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provided
       7




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Section 3.3 Compensation;
Indemnity; Fees.
       ARTICLE IV
 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
 Section 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.
    8




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Section 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.
     ARTICLE V
 GUARANTEE
 Section 5.1 Guarantee.
  Section 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.
  9




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Section 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.
          Section 5.4 Rights of Holders.
  Section 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.
  Section 5.6 Subrogation.
 provided, however,
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Section 5.7 Independent Obligations.
  ARTICLE VI
 COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION
 Section 6.1 Subordination.
 mutatis mutandis,
 Section 6.2 Pari Passu Guarantees.
 pari passu
 ARTICLE VII
 TERMINATION
 Section 7.1 Termination.
  11




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ARTICLE VIII
 MISCELLANEOUS
 Section 8.1 Successors and Assigns.
  Section 8.2 Amendments.
  Section 8.3 Notices.
    
   
   
  12




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Section 8.4 Benefit.
  Section 8.5 Governing Law.
 THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 Section 8.6 Counterparts.
  Section 8.7 Incorporation by Reference.
  Section 8.8 Waiver of Jury Trial.
  Section 8.9 Force Majeure.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF,
 SUPERIOR BANCORP,as GuarantorBy:
    
    /s/ James A. WhiteName:
    
    James A. WhiteTitle:
    
    Chief Financial OfficerTHE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUSTCOMPANY, N.A., as Guarantee TrusteeBy:
    
    /s/ Charles S. Northen IVAuthorized Signature
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