<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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of      February      , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of      February       , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of    February        , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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 his execution hereof or
upon an identical counterpart hereof, does hereby constitute and appoint Stephen
A. Yoder, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of      February      , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /s/ Donald E. Hess
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Donald E. Hess


<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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of      February      , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  23rd   day of     February       , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  24th   day of       February     , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
   6th   day of        March       , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /s/ Benjamin F. Payton
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Benjamin F. Payton


<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, Carl L. Gorday or William H. Caughran, Jr. 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, 1996 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
  22nd   day of      February      , 1997.
--------        -------------------

                                        /s/ Herbert A. Sklenar
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Herbert A. Sklenar