<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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.

                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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 26th day
of  February, 1999.



                                                /s/JAMES E. DALTON, JR.
                                                -----------------------
                                                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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



 
                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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 her hand this 1st day
of March, 1999.


                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.
 
                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



                                                /s/FRANCIS A. NEWMAN
                                                ----------------------
                                                FRANCIS A. NEWMAN
<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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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 February, 1999.



 
                                                /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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.


                                                /s/BENJAMIN F. PAYTON
                                                ----------------------  
                                                BENJAMIN F. PAYTON
<PAGE>
 
                            DIRECTOR'S AND OFFICER'S
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                        

     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned Director and Officer
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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



                                                /s/C. DOWD RITTER
                                                ----------------------
                                                C. DOWD RITTER
 
<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, John W. Hopper 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, 1998 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, 1999.



                                                /s/HERBERT A. SKLENAR
                                                ----------------------
                                                HERBERT A. SKLENAR