<PAGE>

                                                                      Exhibit 24


                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ J. Harold Chandler
                                    ----------------------
                                    J. HAROLD CHANDLER
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ James E. Dalton
                                    -------------------
                                    JAMES E. DALTON, JR.
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 27th
day of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr.
                                    ------------------------------
                                    EARNEST W. DEAVENPORT, JR.
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Rodney C. Gilbert
                                    ---------------------
                                    RODNEY C. GILBERT
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Elmer B. Harris
                                    -------------------
                                    ELMER B. HARRIS
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by her execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for her and in her name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which she may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Martha R. Ingram
                                    --------------------
                                    MARTHA R. INGRAM
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by her execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, her true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for her and in her name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which she may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set her hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Victoria B. Jackson
                                    -----------------------
                                    VICTORIA B. JACKSON
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Ronald L. Kuehn, Jr.
                                    ------------------------
                                    RONALD L. KUEHN, Jr.
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ James R. Malone
                                    -------------------
                                    JAMES R. MALONE
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Claude B. Nielsen
                                    ---------------------
                                    CLAUDE B. NIELSEN
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ John N. Palmer
                                    ------------------
                                    JOHN N. PALMER
<PAGE>

                                   DIRECTOR'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director of AmSouth
Bancorporation, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), by his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, T. Kurt Miller or Carl L. Gorday and any of them, his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, to execute
and sign the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 to
be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and,
further, to execute and sign any and all amendments to such Form 10-K and any
and all other documents in connection therewith, and to cause any and all such
documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto
said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each
and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could
do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all the acts of said attorney-in-
fact and agent which he may lawfully do in the premises or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand this 1st day
of March, 2001.

                                    /s/ Benjamin F. Payton
                                    ----------------------
                                    BENJAMIN F. PAYTON