<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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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 3rd
day of March, 2002.

                                             /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, 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, 2001 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 4th
day of March, 2002.

                                             /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                             /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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 4th
day of March, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                             /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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /s/ Charles D. McCrary
                                            ----------------------
                                            CHARLES D. MCCRARY

<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, 2001 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, 2002.

                                            /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, 2001 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, 2002.

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