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Exhibit 23-a - Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the incorporation by reference of our report dated January 31,
2001, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of AmSouth
Bancorporation and subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2000 in the following Registration
Statements and in the related prospectuses:

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

Form S-8 No. 33-52243 pertaining to the assumption by AmSouth Bancorporation of
FloridaBank Stock Option Plan and FloridaBank Stock Option Plan - 1993;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Form S-8 No. 333-76283 pertaining to the AmSouth Bancorporation Stock Option
Plan for Outside Directors;
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Form S-8 No. 333-89451 pertaining to the First American Corporation 1993 Non-
Employee Director Stock Option Plan;

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

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

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

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

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

Form S-8 No. 333-89633 pertaining to the First American Corporation First
Incentives Reward Savings Thrift Plan;

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

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

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

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

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

                                       /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Birmingham, Alabama
March 26, 2001