EXHIBIT 4.2




                  ===============================================


                        AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION
                                    OF TRUST

                                  by and among

                         U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                            as Institutional Trustee,

                              FLORIDA BANKS, INC.,
                                   as Sponsor,

                                       and

         CHARLES E. HUGHES, JR., T. EDWIN STINSON, JR. and PERRY KENNER,
                               as Administrators,

                            Dated as of June 26, 2003


                  ===============================================





<PAGE>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                -----------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 Page
                                                                                                                 ----

<S>                                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS..........................................................................1
         Section 1.1.      Definitions............................................................................1
                           -----------

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION...........................................................................................7
         Section 2.1.      Name...................................................................................7
                           ----
         Section 2.2.      Office.................................................................................7
                           ------
         Section 2.3.      Purpose................................................................................7
                           -------
         Section 2.4.      Authority..............................................................................7
                           ---------
         Section 2.5.      Title to Property of the Trust.........................................................7
                           ------------------------------
         Section 2.6.      Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators..................8
                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 2.7.      Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.....................11
                           -----------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 2.8.      Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee........................................12
                           ----------------------------------------------
         Section 2.9.      Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Institutional Trustee and Administrators...13
                           -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 2.10.     Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee...............................................14
                           ---------------------------------------
         Section 2.11.     Execution of Documents................................................................16
                           ----------------------
         Section 2.12.     Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................16
                           ------------------------------------------------------
         Section 2.13.     Duration of Trust.....................................................................16
                           -----------------
         Section 2.14.     Mergers...............................................................................16
                           -------

ARTICLE III SPONSOR..............................................................................................18
         Section 3.1.      Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities...............................................18
                           ---------------------------------------
         Section 3.2.      Responsibilities of the Sponsor.......................................................18
                           -------------------------------
         Section 3.3.      Expenses..............................................................................18
                           --------
         Section 3.4.      Right to Proceed......................................................................19
                           ----------------

ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS..............................................................19
         Section 4.1.      Institutional Trustee; Eligibility....................................................19
                           ----------------------------------
         Section 4.2.      Administrators........................................................................20
                           --------------
         Section 4.3.      Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Institutional Trustee and Administrators......20
                           --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 4.4.      Institutional Trustee Vacancies.......................................................21
                           -------------------------------
         Section 4.5.      Effect of Vacancies...................................................................21
                           -------------------
         Section 4.6.      Meetings of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators..........................21
                           ------------------------------------------------------------
         Section 4.7.      Delegation of Power...................................................................22
                           -------------------
         Section 4.8.      Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business...................................22
                           ---------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS..........................................................................................22
         Section 5.1.      Distributions.........................................................................22
                           -------------

ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES................................................................................22
         Section 6.1.      General Provisions Regarding Securities...............................................22
                           ---------------------------------------
         Section 6.2.      Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................23
                           ------------------------------------------
         Section 6.3.      Form and Dating.......................................................................23
                           ---------------
         Section 6.4.      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.....................................24
                           -------------------------------------------------
         Section 6.5.      Temporary Securities..................................................................24
                           --------------------
         Section 6.6.      Cancellation..........................................................................24
                           ------------
</TABLE>


                                       i

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
         Section 6.7.      Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults...........................................24
                           -------------------------------------------

ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST.................................................................26
         Section 7.1.      Dissolution and Termination of Trust..................................................26
                           ------------------------------------

ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS...............................................................................27
         Section 8.1.      General...............................................................................27
                           -------
         Section 8.2.      Transfer Procedures and Restrictions..................................................28
                           ------------------------------------
         Section 8.3.      Deemed Security Holders...............................................................29
                           -----------------------

ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS.....................30
         Section 9.1.      Liability.............................................................................30
                           ---------
         Section 9.2.      Exculpation...........................................................................30
                           -----------
         Section 9.3.      Fiduciary Duty........................................................................31
                           --------------
         Section 9.4.      Indemnification.......................................................................31
                           ---------------
         Section 9.5.      Outside Businesses....................................................................33
                           ------------------
         Section 9.6.      Compensation; Fee.....................................................................33
                           -----------------

ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING.............................................................................................34
         Section 10.1.     Fiscal Year...........................................................................34
                           -----------
         Section 10.2.     Certain Accounting Matters............................................................34
                           --------------------------
         Section 10.3.     Banking...............................................................................34
                           -------
         Section 10.4.     Withholding...........................................................................34
                           -----------

ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS...............................................................................35
         Section 11.1.     Amendments............................................................................35
                           ----------
         Section 11.2.     Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent......................36
                           ----------------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE.............................................................37
         Section 12.1.     Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee...............................37
                           -------------------------------------------------------

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................38
         Section 13.1.     Notices...............................................................................38
                           -------
         Section 13.2.     Governing Law.........................................................................39
                           -------------
         Section 13.3.     Intention of the Parties..............................................................39
                           ------------------------
         Section 13.4.     Headings..............................................................................39
                           --------
         Section 13.5.     Successors and Assigns................................................................39
                           ----------------------
         Section 13.6.     Partial Enforceability................................................................39
                           ----------------------
         Section 13.7.     Counterparts..........................................................................39
                           ------------
</TABLE>




Annex I....................Terms of Securities
Exhibit A-1................Form of Capital Security Certificate
Exhibit A-2................Form of Common Security Certificate
Exhibit B..................Specimen of Initial Debenture
Exhibit C..................Placement Agreement


                                       ii

<PAGE>




                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                       OF
                        FLORIDA BANKS STATUTORY TRUST III
                                  June 26, 2003

     AMENDED  AND  RESTATED  DECLARATION  OF  TRUST  ("Declaration")  dated  and
                                                       -----------
effective as of June 26, 2003, by the Institutional Trustee (as defined herein),
the Administrators  (as defined herein),  the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by
the holders,  from time to time, of undivided  beneficial interests in the Trust
(as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;

     WHEREAS,  the Institutional  Trustee,  the  Administrators  and the Sponsor
established  Florida Banks Statutory Trust III (the "Trust"),  a statutory trust
                                                     -----
under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined  herein)  pursuant to a Declaration of
Trust dated as of June 10, 2003 (the "Original Declaration"),  and a Certificate
                                      --------------------
of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of  Connecticut  on June
10,  2003,  for the sole  purpose  of issuing  and  selling  certain  securities
representing  undivided  beneficial  interests  in the  assets  of the Trust and
investing the proceeds thereof in certain debentures of the Debenture Issuer (as
defined herein);

     WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued;
and

     WHEREAS, the Institutional  Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by
this  Declaration,  amend and restate  each and every term and  provision of the
Original Declaration;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  it being the intention of the parties  hereto to continue
the  Trust as a  statutory  trust  under the  Statutory  Trust Act and that this
Declaration  constitutes the governing  instrument of such statutory  trust, the
Institutional  Trustee declares that all assets contributed to the Trust will be
held in  trust  for the  benefit  of the  holders,  from  time to  time,  of the
securities  representing  undivided  beneficial  interests  in the assets of the
Trust issued  hereunder,  subject to the  provisions  of this  Declaration.  The
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                         INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1.      Definitions.  Unless the context otherwise requires:
                  -----------

     (a)  Capitalized  terms  used in this  Declaration  but not  defined in the
preamble  above have the  respective  meanings  assigned to them in this Section
1.1;

     (b) a term  defined  anywhere  in this  Declaration  has the  same  meaning
throughout;

     (c) all references to "the  Declaration" or "this  Declaration" are to this
Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

     (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes
and  Exhibits  are to Articles  and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this
Declaration unless otherwise specified; and

                                       1

<PAGE>

     (e) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

     "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
      -------------------

     "Administrative  Action"  has the meaning  set forth in  paragraph  4(a) of
      ----------------------
Annex I.

     "Administrators"  means each of Charles E. Hughes,  Jr., T. Edwin  Stinson,
      --------------
Jr. and Perry Kenner,  solely in such Person's  capacity as Administrator of the
Trust  created  and  continued  hereunder  and not in such  Person's  individual
capacity, or such Administrator's successor in interest in such capacity, or any
successor appointed as herein provided.

     "Affiliate"  has the same  meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
      ---------
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

     "Authorized  Officer" of a Person  means any Person that is  authorized  to
      -------------------
bind such Person.

     "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
      ----------------

     (a) a court having  jurisdiction  in the  premises  shall enter a decree or
order for  relief in  respect of such  Person in an  involuntary  case under any
applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other  similar law now or  hereafter  in
effect,  or appointing a receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  custodian,  trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of
its property,  or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such
decree  or  order  shall  remain  unstayed  and in  effect  for a  period  of 90
consecutive days; or

     (b) such  Person  shall  commence a  voluntary  case  under any  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency or other  similar law now or hereafter in effect,  shall
consent  to the entry of an order for  relief in an  involuntary  case under any
such law,  or shall  consent to the  appointment  of or taking  possession  by a
receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  trustee,  custodian,  sequestrator  (or other
similar  official) of such Person of any  substantial  part of its property,  or
shall make any general  assignment  for the benefit of creditors,  or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due.

     "Business Day" means any day other than  Saturday,  Sunday or any other day
      ------------
on which  banking  institutions  in New York City or Hartford,  Connecticut  are
permitted or required by any applicable law to close.

     "Capital  Securities"  has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(a) of Annex
      -------------------
I.

     "Capital  Security  Certificate"  means a definitive  Certificate  in fully
      ------------------------------
registered form  representing a Capital  Security  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit A-1.

     "Capital  Treatment  Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph  4(a) of
      -------------------------
Annex I.

     "Certificate" means any certificate evidencing Securities.
      -----------

     "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Placement Agreement.
      ------------

     "Code"  means the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended from time to
      ----
time, or any successor legislation.

     "Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(b) of Annex I.
      -----------------

                                       2

<PAGE>

     "Common  Security  Certificate"  means a  definitive  Certificate  in fully
      -----------------------------
registered  form  representing a Common  Security  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit A-2.

     "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrator; (b) any Affiliate
      --------------------------
of any  Administrator;  (c)  any  officers,  directors,  shareholders,  members,
partners, employees,  representatives or agents of any Administrator; or (d) any
officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the  Institutional  Trustee at
      ----------------------
which the corporate  trust business of the  Institutional  Trustee shall, at any
particular  time,  be  principally  administered,  which  office  at the date of
execution of this  Declaration is located at 225 Asylum Street,  Goodwin Square,
Hartford, Connecticut 06103.

     "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I.
      -----------

     "Covered  Person"  means:  (a)  any   Administrator,   officer,   director,
      ---------------
shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust
or (ii) any of the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.

     "Creditor" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.
      --------

     "Debenture Issuer" means Florida Banks, Inc., a Florida corporation, in its
      ----------------
capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture.

     "Debenture Trustee" means U.S. Bank National Association,  as trustee under
      -----------------
the Indenture until a successor is appointed  thereunder,  and thereafter  means
such successor trustee.

     "Debentures"  means  the  Floating  Rate  Junior  Subordinated   Deferrable
      ----------
Interest  Debentures  due 2033 to be issued by the  Debenture  Issuer  under the
Indenture.

     "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.
      ------------------

     "Determination  Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph  4(a) of Annex
      -------------------
I.

     "Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(d).
      -------------

     "Distribution"  means a  distribution  payable to Holders of  Securities in
      ------------
accordance with Section 5.1.

     "Distribution  Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) of
      --------------------------
Annex I.

     "Distribution  Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex
      --------------------
I.

     "Distribution  Rate" means, for the period beginning on (and including) the
      ------------------
date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding)  September 26, 2003, the
rate  per  annum of  4.16%,  and for the  period  beginning  on (and  including)
September 26, 2003 and thereafter, the Coupon Rate.

     "Event of Default"  means any one of the  following  events  (whatever  the
      ----------------
reason for such event and whether it shall be  voluntary  or  involuntary  or be
effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order,  rule or regulation of any  administrative  or  governmental
body):

     (a) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or

                                       3

<PAGE>

     (b) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption  Price or Special
Redemption Price of any Security when it becomes due and payable; or

     (c) default in the performance,  or breach, in any material respect, of any
covenant or warranty of the  Institutional  Trustee in this  Declaration  (other
than  those  specified  in clause (a) or (b)  above)  and  continuation  of such
default  or  breach  for a period of 60 days  after  there  has been  given,  by
registered or certified mail to the Institutional  Trustee and to the Sponsor by
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate  liquidation  amount of the outstanding
Capital  Securities,  a written  notice  specifying  such  default or breach and
requiring  it to be  remedied  and  stating  that such  notice  is a "Notice  of
Default" hereunder; or

     (d) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the  Institutional
Trustee if a successor  Institutional  Trustee has not been appointed  within 90
days thereof.

     "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) of Annex I.
      ----------------

     "Federal Reserve" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
      ---------------

     "Fiduciary  Indemnified Person" shall mean the Institutional  Trustee,  any
      -----------------------------
Affiliate   of  the   Institutional   Trustee  and  any   officers,   directors,
shareholders,   members,  partners,  employees,   representatives,   custodians,
nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee.

     "Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
      -----------

     "Guarantee"  means the  guarantee  agreement  to be dated as of the Closing
      ---------
Date, of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities.

     "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security
      ------
is  registered,  such Person being a beneficial  owner within the meaning of the
Statutory Trust Act.

     "Indemnified  Person"  means a Company  Indemnified  Person or a  Fiduciary
      -------------------
Indemnified Person.

     "Indenture"  means the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date,  between the
      ---------
Debenture  Issuer and the  Debenture  Trustee,  and any  indenture  supplemental
thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture and
any supplemental  indenture may be amended,  supplemented or otherwise  modified
from time to time.

     "Indenture  Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the
      ---------------------------
Indenture.

     "Institutional   Trustee"  means  the  Trustee   meeting  the   eligibility
      -----------------------
requirements set forth in Section 4.1.

     "Interest"  means  any  interest  due  on  the  Debentures   including  any
      --------
Additional Interest and Defaulted Interest.

     "Investment  Company"  means  an  investment  company  as  defined  in  the
      -------------------
Investment Company Act.

     "Investment  Company  Act" means the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  as
      ------------------------
amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

     "Investment  Company  Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
      --------------------------
Annex I.

                                       4

<PAGE>

     "Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
      -----------

     "Liquidation  Distribution"  has the  meaning  set forth in  paragraph 3 of
      -------------------------
Annex I.

     "Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the  Securities"  means  Holder(s) of
      ----------------------------------------------------
outstanding  Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may
require,  Holders of  outstanding  Capital  Securities or Holders of outstanding
Common  Securities  voting  separately as a class,  who are the record owners of
more than 50% of the aggregate  liquidation  amount (including the stated amount
that would be paid on  redemption,  liquidation  or otherwise,  plus accrued and
unpaid  Distributions  to  the  date  upon  which  the  voting  percentages  are
determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.

     "Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      -------------

     "Officers'  Certificates"  means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
      -----------------------
signed by two  Authorized  Officers of such Person.  Any  Officers'  Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant  providing for
it in this Declaration shall include:

     (a) a statement  that each  officer  signing the  Certificate  has read the
covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

     (b) a brief  statement  of the  nature  and  scope  of the  examination  or
investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;

     (c) a  statement  that  each such  officer  has made  such  examination  or
investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer
to express an informed  opinion as to whether or not such  covenant or condition
has been complied with; and

     (d) a statement as to whether,  in the opinion of each such  officer,  such
condition or covenant has been complied with.

     "OTS" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I.
      ---

     "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2.
      ------------

     "Person"  means a legal  person,  including  any  individual,  corporation,
      ------
estate, partnership,  joint venture,  association,  joint stock company, limited
liability  company,  trust,  unincorporated  association,  or  government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

     "Placement  Agreement"  means  the  Placement  Agreement  relating  to  the
      --------------------
offering and sale of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C.

     "Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c).
      ----------------

     "Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I.
      --------

     "Quorum" means a majority of the  Administrators  or, if there are only two
      ------
Administrators, both of them.

     "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      ---------------

     "Redemption/Distribution  Notice" has the  meaning  set forth in  paragraph
      -------------------------------
4(e) of Annex I.

     "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      ----------------

                                       5

<PAGE>

     "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
      ---------

     "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any
      -------------------
officer  within  the  Corporate  Trust  Office  of  the  Institutional  Trustee,
including  any  vice-president,  any  assistant  vice-president,  any  assistant
secretary,  the treasurer,  any assistant treasurer,  any trust officer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional  Trustee  customarily
performing  functions  similar to those performed by any of the above designated
officers and also means,  with respect to a particular  corporate  trust matter,
any other  officer to whom such  matter is  referred  because of that  officer's
knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

     "Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(b).
      ----------------------------

     "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act.
      ---------

     "Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act.
      ---------

     "Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.
      ----------

     "Securities  Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
      ---------------
time, or any successor legislation.

     "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      -------------

     "Special  Redemption  Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph  4(a) of
      -------------------------
Annex I.

     "Special  Redemption  Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of
      --------------------------
Annex I.

     "Sponsor"  means  Florida  Banks,  Inc.,  a  Florida  corporation,  or  any
      -------
successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation,  in its capacity as
sponsor of the Trust.

     "Statutory  Trust Act"  means  Chapter  615 of Title 34 of the  Connecticut
      --------------------
General Statutes, Sections 500, et seq. as may be amended from time to time.

     "Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).
      ----------------

     "Successor  Institutional  Trustee"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
      ---------------------------------
4.3(a).

     "Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.14(b).
      --------------------

     "Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex I.
      --------------

     "Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      ---------

     "10%  in  liquidation   amount  of  the  Securities"   means  Holder(s)  of
      --------------------------------------------------
outstanding  Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may
require,  Holders of  outstanding  Capital  Securities or Holders of outstanding
Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10%
or more of the aggregate  liquidation  amount  (including the stated amount that
would be paid on redemption,  liquidation or otherwise,  plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions  to the date upon which the voting  percentages are determined) of
all outstanding Securities of the relevant class.

     "3-Month LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I.
      -------------

     "Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2.
      --------------

                                       6

<PAGE>

     "Treasury   Regulations"  means  the  income  tax  regulations,   including
      ----------------------
temporary  and proposed  regulations,  promulgated  under the Code by the United
States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including
corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).

     "Trust  Property" means (a) the Debentures,  (b) any cash on deposit in, or
      ---------------
owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the
foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to
be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Declaration.

     "U.S.   Person"  means  a  United  States  Person  as  defined  in  Section
      -------------
7701(a)(30) of the Code.

                                  ARTICLE II

                                  ORGANIZATION

     Section 2.1. Name. The Trust is named "Florida Banks  Statutory Trust III,"
                  ----
as such name may be modified from time to time by the  Administrators  following
written notice to the Holders of the Securities.  The Trust's  activities may be
conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed  advisable by the
Administrators.

     Section 2.2.  Office.  The address of the principal  office of the Trust is
                   ------
c/o U.S. Bank National Association, 225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square, Hartford,
Connecticut 06103. On at least 10 Business Days written notice to the Holders of
the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office, which
shall be in a state of the United States or in the District of Columbia.

     Section 2.3. Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are
                  -------
(a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust,  (b) to invest the gross  proceeds from such sale to
acquire the Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the
Trust through issuance of the Common  Securities and the Capital  Securities and
(d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities
necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or
reinvest  proceeds  derived  from  investments,  pledge  any of its  assets,  or
otherwise  undertake (or permit to be undertaken)  any activity that would cause
the Trust not to be classified  for United States federal income tax purposes as
a grantor trust.

     Section  2.4.   Authority.   Except  as   specifically   provided  in  this
                     ---------
Declaration,  the  Institutional  Trustee  shall  have  exclusive  and  complete
authority  to carry  out the  purposes  of the  Trust.  An  action  taken by the
Institutional  Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Institutional Trustee acting on
behalf of the Trust,  no Person shall be required to inquire into the  authority
of the Institutional  Trustee to bind the Trust.  Persons dealing with the Trust
are  entitled  to  rely   conclusively   on  the  power  and  authority  of  the
Institutional Trustee as set forth in this Declaration. The Administrators shall
have  only  those   ministerial   duties  set  forth   herein  with  respect  to
accomplishing  the  purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be trustees or
fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders. The Institutional  Trustee
shall have the right,  but shall not be obligated  except as provided in Section
2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators.

     Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust.  Except as provided in Section
                  ------------------------------
2.8 with  respect to the  Debentures  and the  Property  Account or as otherwise
provided  in this  Declaration,  legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be
vested in the Trust.  The Holders  shall not have legal title to any part of the
assets of the Trust,  but shall have an  undivided  beneficial  interest  in the
assets of the Trust.

                                       7

<PAGE>

     Section  2.6.  Powers  and  Duties  of the  Institutional  Trustee  and the
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
Administrators.
--------------

     (a) The  Institutional  Trustee and the  Administrators  shall  conduct the
affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this  Declaration.  Subject
to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance
with the following  provisions (i) and (ii), the  Institutional  Trustee and the
Administrators  shall  have the  authority  to enter into all  transactions  and
agreements  determined  by  the  Institutional  Trustee  to  be  appropriate  in
exercising  the  authority,   express  or  implied,  otherwise  granted  to  the
Institutional  Trustee  or the  Administrators,  as the case may be,  under this
Declaration,  and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof,  including without
limitation, the following:

          (i) Each  Administrator  shall have the power and  authority to act on
     behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

               (A) the issuance and sale of the Securities;

               (B) to cause the Trust to enter into,  and to execute and deliver
          on  behalf  of the  Trust,  such  agreements  as may be  necessary  or
          desirable in  connection  with the purposes and function of the Trust,
          including agreements with the Paying Agent;

               (C) ensuring compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state
          securities or blue sky laws;

               (D) the sending of notices  (other than notices of default),  and
          other  information  regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the
          Holders in accordance with this Declaration;

               (E) the consent to the  appointment  of a Paying Agent,  Transfer
          Agent and Registrar in accordance with this Declaration, which consent
          shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed;

               (F) execution and delivery of the  Securities in accordance  with
          this Declaration;

               (G)  execution and delivery of closing  certificates  pursuant to
          the   Placement   Agreement  and  the   application   for  a  taxpayer
          identification number;

               (H) unless  otherwise  determined by the Holders of a Majority in
          liquidation  amount of the Securities or as otherwise  required by the
          Statutory  Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting
          alone or together with any or all of the Administrators) any documents
          that the  Administrators  have the power to execute  pursuant  to this
          Declaration;

               (I) the taking of any action  incidental  to the foregoing as the
          Institutional  Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or
          advisable  to give  effect  to the terms of this  Declaration  for the
          benefit of the  Holders  (without  consideration  of the effect of any
          such action on any particular Holder);

               (J) to  establish a record date with respect to all actions to be
          taken hereunder that require a record date be  established,  including
          Distributions,  voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue
          relevant  notices to the Holders of Capital  Securities and Holders of
          Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; and

                                       8

<PAGE>

               (K) to duly prepare and file all  applicable  tax returns and tax
          information  reports that are required to be filed with respect to the
          Trust on behalf of the Trust.

          (ii) As among the Institutional  Trustee and the  Administrators,  the
     Institutional  Trustee  shall have the power,  duty and authority to act on
     behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

               (A) the establishment of the Property Account;

               (B) the receipt of the Debentures;

               (C) the collection of interest,  principal and any other payments
          made in respect of the Debentures in the Property Account;

               (D) the distribution  through the Paying Agent of amounts owed to
          the Holders in respect of the Securities;

               (E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a
          holder of the Debentures;

               (F) the  sending  of notices  of  default  and other  information
          regarding  the  Securities  and  the  Debentures  to  the  Holders  in
          accordance with this Declaration;

               (G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the
          terms of this Declaration;

               (H) to the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of
          the  affairs  of and  liquidation  of the Trust  and the  preparation,
          execution  and  filing of the  certificate  of  cancellation  with the
          Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut;

               (I) after  any  Event of  Default  (provided  that such  Event of
          Default is not by or with  respect to the  Institutional  Trustee) the
          taking of any action  incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional
          Trustee may from time to time  determine  is necessary or advisable to
          give effect to the terms of this  Declaration and protect and conserve
          the  Trust   Property   for  the  benefit  of  the  Holders   (without
          consideration  of the  effect  of any such  action  on any  particular
          Holder); and

               (J) to take all action that may be necessary for the preservation
          and  the  continuation  of  the  Trust's  valid   existence,   rights,
          franchises and  privileges as a statutory  trust under the laws of the
          State of  Connecticut  and of each  other  jurisdiction  in which such
          existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders
          of the  Capital  Securities  or to  enable  the  Trust to  effect  the
          purposes for which the Trust was created.

          (iii) The Institutional  Trustee shall have the power and authority to
     act on behalf of the Trust with respect to any of the duties,  liabilities,
     powers  or the  authority  of  the  Administrators  set  forth  in  Section
     2.6(a)(i)(D),  (E) and (F)  herein but shall not have a duty to do any such
     act unless specifically  requested to do so in writing by the Sponsor,  and
     shall then be fully protected in acting  pursuant to such written  request;
     and in the event of a conflict between the action of the Administrators and
     the action of the  Institutional  Trustee,  the action of the Institutional
     Trustee shall prevail.

                                       9

<PAGE>

     (b) So long as this  Declaration  remains  in  effect,  the  Trust  (or the
Institutional Trustee or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not
undertake any business,  activities or transaction  except as expressly provided
herein or contemplated hereby. In particular,  neither the Institutional Trustee
nor the  Administrators  may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any  investments  or
engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration,  (ii) sell, assign,
transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the
Trust Property or interests therein,  including to Holders,  except as expressly
provided herein,  (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected (x) to
cause the Trust to fail or cease to  qualify  as a  "grantor  trust"  for United
States federal income tax purposes or (y) to require the trust to register as an
Investment Company under the Investment Company Act, (iv) incur any indebtedness
for borrowed  money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action
that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust  Property.  The
Institutional  Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust,  defend
all claims and  demands of all Persons at any time  claiming  any lien on any of
the Trust Property  adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their
capacity as Holders.

     (c) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect
to, or effect on behalf of the Trust,  the  following  (and any actions taken by
the  Sponsor  in  furtherance  of the  following  prior  to  the  date  of  this
Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):

          (i) the taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the
     Securities Act;

          (ii) the  determination  of the  States  in which to take  appropriate
     action  to  qualify  or  register  for  sale  all or  part  of the  Capital
     Securities  and the  determination  of any and all such  acts,  other  than
     actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to
     the  Administrators  of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust,  and
     the  preparation  for  execution and filing of any documents to be executed
     and  filed by the Trust or on behalf of the  Trust,  as the  Sponsor  deems
     necessary or advisable in order to comply with the  applicable  laws of any
     such States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities;

          (iii) the  negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery
     of,  the  Placement  Agreement  providing  for  the  sale  of  the  Capital
     Securities; and

          (iv) the taking of any other  actions  necessary or desirable to carry
     out any of the foregoing activities.

     (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and
the Holders of a Majority in  liquidation  amount of the Common  Securities  are
authorized  and  directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the
Trust so that the  Trust  will not (i) be  deemed  to be an  Investment  Company
required to be registered under the Investment  Company Act, and (ii) fail to be
classified as a "grantor  trust" for United States  federal income tax purposes.
The  Administrators  and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation  amount of the
Common  Securities shall not take any action  inconsistent with the treatment of
the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal
income tax purposes. In this connection, the Administrators and the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation  amount of the Common  Securities are authorized to take
any action,  not inconsistent  with applicable laws, the Certificate of Trust or
this Declaration,  as amended from time to time, that each of the Administrators
and the Holders of a Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the Common  Securities
determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes.

                                       10

<PAGE>

     (e)  All  expenses  incurred  by the  Administrators  or the  Institutional
Trustee pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the
Institutional  Trustee and the  Administrators  shall have no  obligations  with
respect to such expenses.

     (f) The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.

     (g) Legal title to all Trust  Property  shall be vested at all times in the
Institutional  Trustee  (in  its  capacity  as  such)  and  shall  be  held  and
administered by the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators for the benefit
of the Trust in accordance with this Declaration.

     (h)  If  the  Institutional  Trustee  or  any  Holder  has  instituted  any
proceeding  to  enforce  any right or remedy  under  this  Declaration  and such
proceeding  has been  discontinued  or  abandoned  for any  reason,  or has been
determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in
every such case the Sponsor,  the  Institutional  Trustee and the Holders shall,
subject to any  determination  in such  proceeding,  be restored  severally  and
respectively to their former positions hereunder,  and thereafter all rights and
remedies of the  Institutional  Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though
no such proceeding had been instituted.

     Section  2.7.  Prohibition  of Actions  by the Trust and the  Institutional
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
Trustee.
--------

     (a) The Trust  shall not,  and the  Institutional  Trustee  shall cause the
Trust not to,  engage in any activity  other than as required or  authorized  by
this  Declaration.  In  particular,  the Trust  shall not and the  Institutional
Trustee shall cause the Trust not to:

          (i)  invest  any  proceeds  received  by the Trust  from  holding  the
     Debentures,  but shall  distribute  all such  proceeds  to  Holders  of the
     Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;

          (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;

          (iii) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose;

          (iv)  make any  loans or  incur  any  indebtedness  other  than  loans
     represented by the Debentures;

          (v)  possess any power or  otherwise  act in such a way as to vary the
     Trust assets or the terms of the  Securities  in any way  whatsoever  other
     than as expressly provided herein;

          (vi) issue any securities or other  evidences of beneficial  ownership
     of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities;

          (vii) carry on any "trade or  business"  as that phrase is used in the
     Code; or

          (viii) other than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I),
     (A) direct  the time,  method  and place of  exercising  any trust or power
     conferred upon the Debenture  Trustee with respect to the  Debentures,  (B)
     waive any past default that is waivable under the  Indenture,  (C) exercise
     any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the
     Debentures  shall be due and  payable,  or (D)  consent  to any  amendment,
     modification  or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures  where such
     consent  shall be required  unless the Trust shall have  received a written
     opinion of counsel to the effect that such  modification will not cause the
     Trust to cease to be  classified  as a "grantor  trust"  for United  States
     federal income tax purposes.

                                       11

<PAGE>

     Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.
                  -----------------------------------------------

     (a) The legal title to the Debentures  shall be owned by and held of record
in the name of the  Institutional  Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust
and the  Holders  of the  Securities.  The  right,  title  and  interest  of the
Institutional  Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person
who may  hereafter be  appointed as  Institutional  Trustee in  accordance  with
Section 4.3. Such vesting and  cessation of title shall be effective  whether or
not conveyancing  documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and
delivered.

     (b) The  Institutional  Trustee  shall not  transfer  its right,  title and
interest in the Debentures to the Administrators.

     (c) The Institutional Trustee shall:

          (i)  establish  and maintain a segregated  non-interest  bearing trust
     account (the  "Property  Account")  in the name of and under the  exclusive
     control of the Institutional  Trustee,  and maintained in the Institutional
     Trustee's trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and,
     upon the  receipt of  payments  of funds made in respect of the  Debentures
     held by the  Institutional  Trustee,  deposit  such funds into the Property
     Account and make payments,  or cause the Paying Agent to make payments,  to
     the Holders of the Capital  Securities and Holders of the Common Securities
     from the Property  Account in  accordance  with  Section 5.1.  Funds in the
     Property  Account shall be held  uninvested  until  disbursed in accordance
     with this Declaration;

          (ii) engage in such  ministerial  activities  as shall be necessary or
     appropriate  to effect the  redemption  of the Capital  Securities  and the
     Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and

          (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators
     in accordance with the terms of the Securities,  engage in such ministerial
     activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the  distribution
     of the  Debentures to Holders of Securities  upon the occurrence of certain
     circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities.

     (d)  The  Institutional   Trustee  may  bring  or  defend,   pay,  collect,
compromise,  arbitrate,  resort to legal  action with  respect to, or  otherwise
adjust  claims or demands of or  against,  the Trust  which  arises out of or in
connection  with an  Event of  Default  of which a  Responsible  Officer  of the
Institutional  Trustee has actual  knowledge or arises out of the  Institutional
Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration; provided, however, that
if an Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  and  such  event is
attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal
on the  Debentures on the date such  interest or principal is otherwise  payable
(or in the case of  redemption,  on the redemption  date),  then a Holder of the
Capital  Securities  may directly  institute a  proceeding  for  enforcement  of
payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures  having
a principal  amount  equal to the  aggregate  liquidation  amount of the Capital
Securities  of such Holder (a "Direct  Action") on or after the  respective  due
date specified in the  Debentures.  In connection  with such Direct Action,  the
rights of the Holders of the Common  Securities will be subrogated to the rights
of such Holder of the Capital  Securities  to the extent of any payment  made by
the  Debenture  Issuer to such Holder of the Capital  Securities  in such Direct
Action; provided,  however, that no Holder of the Common Securities may exercise
such right of  subrogation  so long as an Event of Default  with  respect to the
Capital Securities has occurred and is continuing.

     (e) The  Institutional  Trustee shall  continue to serve as a Trustee until
either:

                                       12

<PAGE>

          (i) the Trust has been  completely  liquidated and the proceeds of the
     liquidation  distributed to the Holders of the  Securities  pursuant to the
     terms of the Securities and this Declaration; or

          (ii) a  Successor  Institutional  Trustee has been  appointed  and has
     accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.3.

     (f) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of
the  rights,  powers  and  privileges  of a Holder of the  Debentures  under the
Indenture  and,  if  an  Event  of  Default   occurs  and  is  continuing,   the
Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce
its rights as holder of the  Debentures  subject  to the  rights of the  Holders
pursuant  to  this  Declaration  (including  Annex  I)  and  the  terms  of  the
Securities.

     The  Institutional  Trustee  must  exercise  the  powers  set forth in this
Section 2.8 in a manner that is  consistent  with the purposes and  functions of
the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the  Institutional  Trustee shall not take
any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set
out in Section 2.3.

     Section  2.9.  Certain  Duties and  Responsibilities  of the  Institutional
                    ------------------------------------------------------------
Trustee and Administrators.
--------------------------

     (a) The  Institutional  Trustee,  before  the  occurrence  of any  Event of
Default and after the curing or waiving of all such  Events of Default  that may
have occurred,  shall undertake to perform only such duties as are  specifically
set forth in this  Declaration and no implied  covenants shall be read into this
Declaration  against the Institutional  Trustee. In case an Event of Default has
occurred  (that has not been  cured or waived  pursuant  to  Section  6.7),  the
Institutional  Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it
by this  Declaration,  and use the  same  degree  of care  and  skill  in  their
exercise,  as a prudent person would exercise or use under the  circumstances in
the conduct of his or her own affairs.

     (b) The duties and  responsibilities  of the Institutional  Trustee and the
Administrators  shall be as provided by this  Declaration.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  no provision of this  Declaration  shall  require the  Institutional
Trustee or  Administrators  to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur
any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder,  or
in the  exercise  of any of their  rights or powers if it shall have  reasonable
grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate  protection  against
such risk of liability is not  reasonably  assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly  so provided,  every  provision  of this  Declaration  relating to the
conduct  or  affecting  the   liability  of  or  affording   protection  to  the
Institutional  Trustee or  Administrators  shall be subject to the provisions of
this  Article.  Nothing in this  Declaration  shall be  construed  to relieve an
Administrator or the Institutional  Trustee from liability for its own negligent
act, its own  negligent  failure to act, or its own willful  misconduct.  To the
extent that, at law or in equity, the Institutional  Trustee or an Administrator
has  duties  and  liabilities  relating  to the  Trust  or to the  Holders,  the
Institutional  Trustee or such Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or
to any Holder for the Institutional Trustee's or such Administrator's good faith
reliance  on  the  provisions  of  this  Declaration.  The  provisions  of  this
Declaration,  to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the
Administrators  or the  Institutional  Trustee  otherwise  existing at law or in
equity,  are agreed by the Sponsor and the Holders to replace  such other duties
and liabilities of the Administrators or the Institutional Trustee.

     (c) All  payments  made by the  Institutional  Trustee or a Paying Agent in
respect of the Securities  shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from
the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue
or proceeds  from the Trust  Property to enable the  Institutional  Trustee or a
Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof.  Each Holder,
by its acceptance of a Security,  agrees that it will look solely to the revenue
and  proceeds  from the Trust  Property  to the  extent  legally  available  for

                                       13

<PAGE>

distribution to it as herein provided and that the Institutional Trustee and the
Administrators  are not personally liable to it for any amount  distributable in
respect of any Security or for any other  liability in respect of any  Security.
This Section  2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the  Institutional  Trustee
expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration.

     (d) The  Institutional  Trustee  shall  not be  liable  for its own acts or
omissions  hereunder  except as a result of its own  negligent  action,  its own
negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

          (i) the  Institutional  Trustee  shall not be liable  for any error of
     judgment made in good faith by an Authorized  Officer of the  Institutional
     Trustee,  unless  it shall be proved  that the  Institutional  Trustee  was
     negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

          (ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any
     action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance  with
     the  direction  of the Holders of not less than a Majority  in  liquidation
     amount of the Capital Securities or the Common  Securities,  as applicable,
     relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
     remedy available to the Institutional  Trustee,  or exercising any trust or
     power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;

          (iii)  the  Institutional  Trustee's  sole duty  with  respect  to the
     custody,  safekeeping  and physical  preservation of the Debentures and the
     Property Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as
     the  Institutional  Trustee  deals with similar  property for its fiduciary
     accounts generally, subject to the protections and limitations on liability
     afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration;

          (iv) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on
     any money  received by it except as it may otherwise  agree in writing with
     the  Sponsor;  and  money  held by the  Institutional  Trustee  need not be
     segregated  from other funds held by it except in relation to the  Property
     Account  maintained  by  the  Institutional  Trustee  pursuant  to  Section
     2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and

          (v) the Institutional  Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring
     the compliance by the  Administrators  or the Sponsor with their respective
     duties  under  this  Declaration,  nor shall the  Institutional  Trustee be
     liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor.

     Section  2.10.  Certain  Rights of  Institutional  Trustee.  Subject to the
                     ------------------------------------------
provisions of Section 2.9:

     (a) the  Institutional  Trustee  may  conclusively  rely and shall fully be
protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution,
opinion  of  counsel,  certificate,   written  representation  of  a  Holder  or
transferee,  certificate  of  auditors  or  any  other  certificate,  statement,
instrument,   opinion,  report,  notice,  request,  direction,  consent,  order,
appraisal,  bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or  document  believed  by it to be  genuine  and to have been  signed,  sent or
presented by the proper party or parties;

     (b)  if  (i)  in  performing  its  duties  under  this   Declaration,   the
Institutional  Trustee is  required  to decide  between  alternative  courses of
action,  (ii) in  construing  any of the  provisions  of this  Declaration,  the
Institutional  Trustee finds the same ambiguous or  inconsistent  with any other
provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the
application of any provision of this Declaration,  then, except as to any matter
as to which the  Holders of Capital  Securities  are  entitled to vote under the

                                       14

<PAGE>

terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the
Sponsor requesting the Sponsor's written instructions as to the course of action
to be taken and the  Institutional  Trustee  shall take such action,  or refrain
from taking such action,  as the  Institutional  Trustee  shall be instructed in
writing, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except
for its own negligence or willful misconduct;

     (c) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators  contemplated
by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;

     (d) whenever in the  administration of this Declaration,  the Institutional
Trustee shall deem it desirable  that a matter be proved or  established  before
undertaking,  suffering  or omitting  any action  hereunder,  the  Institutional
Trustee  (unless other evidence is herein  specifically  prescribed) may request
and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate as to factual matters which,
upon receipt of such request,  shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the
Administrators;

     (e) the  Institutional  Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
filing  or   registration   of  any  instrument   (including  any  financing  or
continuation  statement  or any  filing  under  tax or  securities  laws) or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof;

     (f) the  Institutional  Trustee may consult with  counsel of its  selection
(which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its  Affiliates)  and the
advice of such counsel shall be full and complete  authorization  and protection
in respect of any action  taken,  suffered  or omitted by it  hereunder  in good
faith  and  in  reliance  thereon  and  in  accordance  with  such  advice;  the
Institutional  Trustee  shall  have the  right at any time to seek  instructions
concerning the  administration  of this  Declaration from any court of competent
jurisdiction;

     (g) the Institutional  Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
of the  rights or powers  vested in it by this  Declaration  at the  request  or
direction  of any of the  Holders  pursuant  to this  Declaration,  unless  such
Holders shall have offered to the  Institutional  Trustee  security or indemnity
reasonably  satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;  provided,
that nothing  contained in this  Section  2.10(g)  shall be taken to relieve the
Institutional  Trustee,  subject to Section  2.9(b),  upon the  occurrence of an
Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), to
exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use
the same degree of care and skill in their  exercise,  as a prudent person would
exercise  or use  under  the  circumstances  in the  conduct  of his or her  own
affairs;

     (h) the Institutional  Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
into the facts or  matters  stated in any  resolution,  certificate,  statement,
instrument,  opinion,  report, notice, request,  consent, order, approval, bond,
debenture,  note or other evidence of  indebtedness  or other paper or document,
unless  requested  in  writing  to  do  so by  one  or  more  Holders,  but  the
Institutional  Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation  into such
facts or matters as it may see fit;

     (i) the  Institutional  Trustee  may  execute  any of the  trusts or powers
hereunder or perform any duties  hereunder  either directly or by or through its
agents or attorneys and the  Institutional  Trustee shall not be responsible for
any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the  supervision of, any such
agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

     (j) whenever in the  administration  of this Declaration the  Institutional
Trustee  shall  deem it  desirable  to  receive  instructions  with  respect  to
enforcing  any  remedy  or  right or  taking  any  other  action  hereunder  the
Institutional  Trustee  (i) may  request  instructions  from the  Holders of the
Capital  Securities  which  instructions may only be given by the Holders of the
same  proportion  in  liquidation  amount of the Capital  Securities as would be
entitled  to direct the  Institutional  Trustee  under the terms of the  Capital

                                       15

<PAGE>

Securities  in respect of such  remedy,  right or action,  (ii) may refrain from
enforcing  such  remedy  or  right  or  taking  such  other  action  until  such
instructions  are  received,  and (iii)  shall be fully  protected  in acting in
accordance with such instructions;

     (k)  except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  in this  Declaration,  the
Institutional  Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that
is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration;

     (l) when the  Institutional  Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection  with a  Bankruptcy  Event,  such  expenses  (including  the fees and
expenses of its counsel) and the  compensation for such services are intended to
constitute  expenses of administration  under any bankruptcy law or law relating
to creditors rights generally;

     (m) the  Institutional  Trustee  shall not be charged with  knowledge of an
Event of  Default  unless a  Responsible  Officer of the  Institutional  Trustee
obtains actual  knowledge of such event or the  Institutional  Trustee  receives
written  notice of such  event from any  Holder,  the  Sponsor or the  Debenture
Trustee;

     (n) any action taken by the  Institutional  Trustee or its agents hereunder
shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the
Institutional  Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient  and effective to
perform  any such  action and no third  party shall be required to inquire as to
the  authority of the  Institutional  Trustee to so act or as to its  compliance
with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be
conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or its agent's taking such
action; and

     (o) no provision of this Declaration  shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on the  Institutional  Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise
any  right,  power,  duty or  obligation  conferred  or  imposed  on it,  in any
jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee
shall be  unqualified  or  incompetent  in accordance  with  applicable  law, to
perform any such act or acts,  or to exercise  any such  right,  power,  duty or
obligation.  No  permissive  power or authority  available to the  Institutional
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

     Section  2.11.  Execution of  Documents.  Unless  otherwise  determined  in
                     -----------------------
writing by the Institutional  Trustee,  and except as otherwise  required by the
Statutory  Trust  Act,  the  Institutional  Trustee,  or any  one or more of the
Administrators,  as the case may be, is  authorized  to execute on behalf of the
Trust any documents that the Institutional Trustee or the Administrators, as the
case may be, have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6.

     Section 2.12. Not Responsible  for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.  The
                   -------------------------------------------------------
recitals  contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the
statements  of the Sponsor,  and the  Institutional  Trustee does not assume any
responsibility  for  their  correctness.  The  Institutional  Trustee  makes  no
representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any
part  thereof.  The  Institutional  Trustee makes no  representations  as to the
validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities.

     Section  2.13.  Duration  of Trust.  The Trust,  unless  earlier  dissolved
                     ------------------
pursuant to the  provisions of Article VII hereof,  shall be in existence for 35
years from the Closing Date.

     Section 2.14. Mergers.
                   -------

     (a) The Trust may not  consolidate,  amalgamate,  merge with or into, or be
replaced  by,  or  convey,   transfer  or  lease  its   properties   and  assets
substantially  as an  entirety  to any  corporation  or other  body,  except  as

                                       16

<PAGE>

described  in  Section  2.14(b)  and (c)  and  except  in  connection  with  the
liquidation  of the Trust and the  distribution  of the Debentures to Holders of
Securities  pursuant to Section  7.1(a)(iv) of the  Declaration  or Section 4 of
Annex I.

     (b) The Trust  may,  with the  consent  of the  Institutional  Trustee  and
without  the  consent of the  Holders of the  Capital  Securities,  consolidate,
amalgamate,  merge with or into,  or be  replaced by a trust  organized  as such
under the laws of any state; provided that:

          (i) if the Trust is not the surviving  entity,  such successor  entity
     (the "Successor Entity") either:
           ----------------

               (A) expressly  assumes all of the  obligations of the Trust under
          the Securities; or

               (B)  substitutes  for  the  Securities  other  securities  having
          substantially  the  same  terms  as  the  Securities  (the  "Successor
                                                                       ---------
          Securities")  so that the  Successor  Securities  rank the same as the
          ----------
          Securities  rank with  respect  to  Distributions  and  payments  upon
          Liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

          (ii) the Sponsor expressly  appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity
     that   possesses   substantially   the  same   powers  and  duties  as  the
     Institutional Trustee as the Holder of the Debentures;

          (iii) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
     adversely  affect the rights,  preferences and privileges of the Holders of
     the  Securities  (including  any  Successor  Securities)  in  any  material
     respect;

          (iv) the  Institutional  Trustee  receives written  confirmation  from
     Moody's  Investor  Services,  Inc.  and  any  other  nationally  recognized
     statistical rating organization that rates securities issued by the initial
     purchaser of the Capital Securities that it will not reduce or withdraw the
     rating  of  any  such  securities  because  of  such  merger,   conversion,
     consolidation, amalgamation or replacement;

          (v) such  Successor  Entity has a purpose  substantially  identical to
     that of the Trust;

          (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement,
     the Trust has  received an opinion of a nationally  recognized  independent
     counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that:

               (A) such merger, consolidation,  amalgamation or replacement does
          not adversely  affect the rights,  preferences  and  privileges of the
          Holders of the Securities  (including any Successor Securities) in any
          material respect;

               (B)  following  such  merger,   consolidation,   amalgamation  or
          replacement,  neither  the  Trust  nor the  Successor  Entity  will be
          required to register as an Investment Company; and

               (C)  following  such  merger,   consolidation,   amalgamation  or
          replacement,  the Trust (or the Successor  Entity) will continue to be
          classified as a "grantor  trust" for United States  federal income tax
          purposes;

          (vii) the Sponsor  guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity
     under the  Successor  Securities  at least to the  extent  provided  by the
     Guarantee;

                                       17

<PAGE>

          (viii) the Sponsor owns 100% of the common securities of any Successor
     Entity; and

          (ix) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement,
     the Institutional  Trustee shall have received an Officers'  Certificate of
     the Administrators  and an opinion of counsel,  each to the effect that all
     conditions  precedent under this Section 2.14(b) to such  transaction  have
     been satisfied.

     (c) Notwithstanding  Section 2.14(b),  the Trust shall not, except with the
consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate  liquidation  amount of the  Securities,
consolidate,  amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity
or permit any other entity to  consolidate,  amalgamate,  merge with or into, or
replace it if such  consolidation,  amalgamation,  merger or  replacement  would
cause the Trust or  Successor  Entity to be  classified  as other than a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

                                  ARTICLE III

                                     SPONSOR

     Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities.  On the Closing Date,
                  ---------------------------------------
the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust in an
amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the
Capital Securities are sold.

     Section 3.2.  Responsibilities of the Sponsor. In connection with the issue
                   -------------------------------
and sale of the Capital  Securities,  the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right
and  responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the
following activities:

     (a) to determine the States in which to take appropriate  action to qualify
or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all
such acts,  other than actions which must be taken by the Trust,  and advise the
Trust of  actions  it must  take,  and  prepare  for  execution  and  filing any
documents to be executed and filed by the Trust,  as the Sponsor deems necessary
or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; and

     (b) to negotiate  the terms of and/or  execute on behalf of the Trust,  the
Placement  Agreement and other related agreements  providing for the sale of the
Capital Securities.

     Section 3.3. Expenses.  In connection with the offering,  sale and issuance
                  --------
of the Debentures to the Trust and in connection with the sale of the Securities
by the Trust, the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, shall:

     (a) pay all reasonable  costs and expenses  owing to the Debenture  Trustee
pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Indenture;

     (b) be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations  (other than
with respect to the  Securities)  and all costs and  expenses of the Trust,  the
offering,  sale and issuance of the Securities  (including fees to the placement
agents in connection  therewith),  the costs and expenses (including  reasonable
counsel fees and expenses) of the Institutional  Trustee and the Administrators,
the costs and  expenses  relating  to the  operation  of the  Trust,  including,
without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or
bookkeeping  services,  expenses  for printing and  engraving  and  computing or
accounting equipment,  Paying Agents, Registrars,  Transfer Agents, duplicating,
travel  and  telephone  and  other  telecommunications  expenses  and  costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition
of Trust assets and the enforcement by the  Institutional  Trustee of the rights
of the Holders (for  purposes of  clarification,  this  Section  3.3(b) does not

                                       18

<PAGE>

contemplate  the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance  or annual  administration
fees owing to the Institutional  Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided
by the Institutional  Trustee under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of
the  Institutional  Trustee's  counsel  in  connection  with the  closing of the
transactions contemplated by this Declaration); and

     (c) pay any and all taxes  (other  than  United  States  withholding  taxes
attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses
with respect to such taxes of the Trust.

     The Sponsor's  obligations  under this Section 3.3 shall be for the benefit
of, and shall be  enforceable  by, any Person to whom such  debts,  obligations,
costs,  expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor")  whether or not such Creditor
                                        --------
has  received  notice  hereof.  Any such  Creditor  may  enforce  the  Sponsor's
obligations  under this Section 3.3 directly against the Sponsor and the Sponsor
irrevocably  waives any right or remedy to require that any such  Creditor  take
any action against the Trust or any other Person before  proceeding  against the
Sponsor.  The Sponsor  agrees to execute such  additional  agreements  as may be
necessary or desirable  in order to give full effect to the  provisions  of this
Section 3.3.

     Section  3.4.  Right to  Proceed.  The Sponsor  acknowledges  the rights of
                    -----------------
Holders to institute a Direct Action as set forth in Section 2.8(d) hereto.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                    INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS

     Section 4.1. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility.
                  ----------------------------------

     (a) There shall at all times be one Institutional Trustee which shall:

          (i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;

          (ii) not offer or provide  credit or credit  enhancement to the Trust;
     and

          (iii) be a banking  corporation  or trust company  organized and doing
     business  under  the laws of the  United  States  of  America  or any state
     thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise
     corporate trust powers,  having a combined  capital and surplus of at least
     50 million U.S.  dollars  ($50,000,000.00),  and subject to  supervision or
     examination by Federal,  state, or District of Columbia authority.  If such
     corporation  publishes reports of condition at least annually,  pursuant to
     law or to  the  requirements  of the  supervising  or  examining  authority
     referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section  4.1(a)(iii),  the
     combined capital and surplus of such corporation  shall be deemed to be its
     combined  capital  and  surplus as set forth in its most  recent  report of
     condition so published.

     (b) If at any time the Institutional  Trustee shall cease to be eligible to
so act under Section 4.1(a), the Institutional  Trustee shall immediately resign
in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.3(a).

     (c) If the  Institutional  Trustee has or shall  acquire  any  "conflicting
interest"  within the meaning of Section  310(b) of the Trust  Indenture  Act of
1939, as amended, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest
or resign,  to the extent and in the  manner  provided  by, and  subject to this
Declaration.

     (d)  The  initial   Institutional  Trustee  shall  be  U.S.  Bank  National
Association.

                                       19

<PAGE>

     Section 4.2. Administrators.  Each Administrator shall be a U.S. Person, 21
                  --------------
years  of age  or  older  and  authorized  to  bind  the  Sponsor.  The  initial
Administrators  shall be Charles E. Hughes, Jr., T. Edwin Stinson, Jr. and Perry
Kenner.  There shall at all times be at least one Administrator.  Except where a
requirement for action by a specific number of  Administrators  is expressly set
forth in this  Declaration  and except with  respect to any action the taking of
which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators,  any action required or
permitted  to be taken by the  Administrators  may be taken by, and any power of
the  Administrators  may be  exercised  by, or with the consent of, any one such
Administrator.

     Section 4.3. Appointment,  Removal and Resignation of Institutional Trustee
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
and Administrators.
------------------

     (a)  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary  in this  Declaration,  no
resignation  or removal of the  Institutional  Trustee and no  appointment  of a
Successor  Institutional Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective
until the acceptance of appointment  by the Successor  Institutional  Trustee in
accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.3.

     Subject to the immediately  preceding paragraph,  the Institutional Trustee
may resign at any time by giving  written  notice  thereof to the Holders of the
Securities  and by  appointing  a  Successor  Institutional  Trustee.  Upon  the
resignation  of the  Institutional  Trustee,  the  Institutional  Trustee  shall
appoint a  successor  by  requesting  from at least  three  Persons  meeting the
eligibility  requirements,  its expenses  and charges to serve as the  successor
Institutional  Trustee on a form provided by the  Administrators,  and selecting
the  Person  who  agrees to the  lowest  expense  and  charges  (the  "Successor
Institutional  Trustee").  If the  instrument  of  acceptance  by the  Successor
Institutional Trustee required by this Section 4.3 shall not have been delivered
to the  Institutional  Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of
resignation or delivery of the instrument of removal, the Institutional  Trustee
may  petition,  at the expense of the Trust,  any Federal,  state or District of
Columbia  court of competent  jurisdiction  for the  appointment  of a Successor
Institutional Trustee. Such court may thereupon,  after prescribing such notice,
if any, as it may deem proper,  appoint a Successor  Institutional  Trustee. The
Institutional  Trustee  shall  have  no  liability  for  the  selection  of such
successor pursuant to this Section 4.3.

     The  Institutional  Trustee  may be removed by the act of the  Holders of a
Majority in  liquidation  amount of the  Capital  Securities,  delivered  to the
Institutional Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust) if
an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.  If the Institutional
Trustee shall be so removed,  the Holders of Capital  Securities,  by act of the
Holders of a Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the  Capital  Securities  then
outstanding  delivered to the  Institutional  Trustee,  shall promptly appoint a
Successor  Institutional Trustee, and such Successor Institutional Trustee shall
comply with the  applicable  requirements  of this  Section 4.3. If no Successor
Institutional  Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a Majority
in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted  appointment in the
manner  required  by this  Section  4.3,  within 30 days  after  delivery  of an
instrument of removal, any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at
least 6 months  may,  on behalf of himself  and all others  similarly  situated,
petition  any  Federal,  state  or  District  of  Columbia  court  of  competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of the Successor  Institutional  Trustee.  Such
court may  thereupon,  after  prescribing  such  notice,  if any, as it may deem
proper, appoint a Successor Institutional Trustee.

     The Institutional  Trustee shall give notice of its resignation and removal
and each appointment of a Successor  Institutional Trustee to all Holders in the
manner  provided in Section  13.1(d) and shall give notice to the Sponsor.  Each
notice shall  include the name of the  Successor  Institutional  Trustee and the
address of its Corporate Trust Office.

     (b) In case  of the  appointment  hereunder  of a  Successor  Institutional
Trustee,  the retiring  Institutional  Trustee and the  Successor  Institutional
Trustee  shall  execute and deliver an amendment  hereto  wherein the  Successor

                                       20

<PAGE>

Institutional  Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) shall contain
such  provisions  as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to,
and to vest in, the  Successor  Institutional  Trustee all the  rights,  powers,
trusts and duties of the  retiring  Institutional  Trustee  with  respect to the
Securities  and the Trust and (ii) shall add to or change any of the  provisions
of this  Declaration  as shall be  necessary  to provide for or  facilitate  the
administration  of the Trust by more than one  Institutional  Trustee,  it being
understood  that  nothing  herein or in such  amendment  shall  constitute  such
Institutional  Trustees  co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such
amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Institutional Trustee shall
become effective to the extent provided therein and each Successor Institutional
Trustee,  without any further act, deed or conveyance,  shall become vested with
all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Institutional Trustee;
but,  on  request  of the  Trust or any  Successor  Institutional  Trustee  such
retiring  Institutional Trustee shall duly assign,  transfer and deliver to such
Successor  Institutional  Trustee all Trust Property,  all proceeds  thereof and
money held by such retiring  Institutional Trustee hereunder with respect to the
Securities and the Trust.

     (c) No  Institutional  Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to
act of any Successor Institutional Trustee.

     (d) The  Holders of the  Capital  Securities  will have no right to vote to
appoint,  remove or replace the  Administrators,  which voting rights are vested
exclusively in the Holder of the Common Securities.

     Section 4.4. Institutional Trustee Vacancies.  If the Institutional Trustee
                  -------------------------------
ceases  to hold  office  for any  reason a vacancy  shall  occur.  A  resolution
certifying the existence of such vacancy by the  Institutional  Trustee shall be
conclusive  evidence of the  existence  of such  vacancy.  The vacancy  shall be
filled with a trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.3.

     Section  4.5.  Effect of  Vacancies.  The death,  resignation,  retirement,
                    --------------------
removal,  bankruptcy,  dissolution,  liquidation,  incompetence or incapacity to
perform the duties of the  Institutional  Trustee shall not operate to dissolve,
terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration.

     Section 4.6. Meetings of the Institutional  Trustee and the Administrators.
                  -------------------------------------------------------------
Meetings of the Administrators  shall be held from time to time upon the call of
an Administrator.  Regular meetings of the  Administrators may be held in person
in the United States or by telephone,  at a place (if applicable) and time fixed
by resolution  of the  Administrators.  Notice of any in-person  meetings of the
Institutional  Trustee with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators
shall  be hand  delivered  or  otherwise  delivered  in  writing  (including  by
facsimile,  with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before
such meeting.  Notice of any telephonic  meetings of the  Institutional  Trustee
with the  Administrators  or meetings  of the  Administrators  or any  committee
thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise  delivered in writing (including by
facsimile,  with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before
a  meeting.  Notices  shall  contain a brief  statement  of the time,  place and
anticipated  purposes  of the  meeting.  The  presence  (whether in person or by
telephone) of the Institutional Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be,
at a meeting  shall  constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting  except where
the  Institutional  Trustee or an  Administrator,  as the case may be, attends a
meeting for the express  purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity
on the grounds that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless
provided otherwise in this Declaration,  any action of the Institutional Trustee
or the Administrators,  as the case may be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of
the  Institutional  Trustee or a  majority  vote of the  Administrators  present
(whether in person or by  telephone)  and  eligible to vote with respect to such
matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous
written consent of the Institutional Trustee or the Administrators.  Meetings of

                                       21

<PAGE>

the  Institutional  Trustee and the  Administrators  together shall be held from
time to time upon the call of the Institutional Trustee or an Administrator.

     Section 4.7. Delegation of Power.
                  -------------------

     (a) Any Administrator may, by power of attorney  consistent with applicable
law,  delegate  to any other  natural  person  over the age of 21 that is a U.S.
Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents  contemplated
in Section 2.6; and

     (b) the  Administrators  shall have power to delegate  from time to time to
such of  their  number  the  doing  of such  things  and the  execution  of such
instruments  either in the name of the Trust or the names of the  Administrators
or  otherwise  as the  Administrators  may deem  expedient,  to the extent  such
delegation is not  prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of
the Trust, as set forth herein.

     Section 4.8.  Conversion,  Consolidation  or  Succession  to Business.  Any
                   -------------------------------------------------------
Person into which the  Institutional  Trustee may be merged or converted or with
which  it  may be  consolidated,  or  any  Person  resulting  from  any  merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee shall be a party,
or any  Person  succeeding  to all or  substantially  all  the  corporate  trust
business  of  the   Institutional   Trustee   shall  be  the  successor  of  the
Institutional  Trustee  hereunder,  provided  such  Person  shall  be  otherwise
qualified and eligible  under this  Article,  without the execution or filing of
any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                  DISTRIBUTIONS

     Section  5.1.   Distributions.   Holders  shall  receive  Distributions  in
                     -------------
accordance  with the  applicable  terms  of the  relevant  Holder's  Securities.
Distributions  shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities
in accordance with the preferences set forth in their  respective  terms. If and
to the extent  that the  Debenture  Issuer  makes a payment of  Interest  or any
principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional
Trustee  shall and is  directed,  to the  extent  funds are  available  for that
purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of such amounts to Holders.
                                    ------------

                                   ARTICLE VI

                             ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

     Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities.
                  ---------------------------------------

     (a) The  Administrators  shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one series of
capital  securities  substantially  in the  form  of  Exhibit  A-1  representing
undivided  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as
are set  forth in  Annex I and one  series  of  common  securities  representing
undivided  beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as
are set forth in Annex I. The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests
in the assets of the Trust  other  than the  Capital  Securities  and the Common
Securities. The Capital Securities rank pari passu to, and payment thereon shall
be made Pro Rata with,  the Common  Securities  except  that,  where an Event of
Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the rights of Holders of the Common
Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption  and  otherwise  are  subordinated  to the  rights to  payment of the
Holders of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I.

                                       22

<PAGE>

     (b) The Certificates  shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more
Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any
Administrator.  In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have signed any
of the Securities shall cease to be such  Administrator  before the Certificates
so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be
delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be
such Administrator,  and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by
such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security,  shall be an
Administrator  of the Trust,  although at the date of the execution and delivery
of the  Declaration  any such  person was not such an  Administrator.  A Capital
Security  shall not be valid  until  authenticated  by the  facsimile  or manual
signature of an Authorized Officer of the Institutional  Trustee. Such signature
shall be conclusive  evidence that the Capital  Security has been  authenticated
under  this  Declaration.  Upon  written  order  of  the  Trust  signed  by  one
Administrator,   the  Institutional   Trustee  shall  authenticate  the  Capital
Securities  for  original  issue.  The  Institutional  Trustee  may  appoint  an
authenticating  agent  that  is  a  U.S.  Person  acceptable  to  the  Trust  to
authenticate  the  Capital  Securities.   A  Common  Security  need  not  be  so
authenticated.

     (c)  The  consideration  received  by the  Trust  for the  issuance  of the
Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall
not constitute a loan to the Trust.

     (d) Upon issuance of the  Securities as provided in this  Declaration,  the
Securities  so issued  shall be deemed to be  validly  issued,  fully  paid and,
except as provided  in Section  9.1(b)  with  respect to the Common  Securities,
non-assessable.

     (e) Every Person,  by virtue of having  become a Holder in accordance  with
the terms of this  Declaration,  shall be deemed to have expressly  assented and
agreed  to the  terms  of,  and  shall be bound  by,  this  Declaration  and the
Guarantee.

     Section 6.2.  Paying Agent,  Transfer Agent and Registrar.  The Trust shall
                   -------------------------------------------
maintain  in  Hartford,  Connecticut,  an  office or  agency  where the  Capital
Securities  may be  presented  for payment  ("Paying  Agent"),  and an office or
                                              -------------
agency  where  Securities  may be  presented  for  registration  of  transfer or
exchange  (the  "Transfer  Agent").  The Trust shall keep or cause to be kept at
                 ---------------
such  office or agency a register  for the  purpose of  registering  Securities,
transfers and exchanges of  Securities,  such register to be held by a registrar
(the  "Registrar").  The  Administrators  may  appoint  the  Paying  Agent,  the
       ---------
Registrar and the Transfer Agent and may appoint one or more  additional  Paying
Agents or one or more  co-Registrars,  or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such
other  locations as it shall  determine.  The term "Paying  Agent"  includes any
                                                    -------------
additional paying agent, the term "Registrar"  includes any additional registrar
                                   ---------
or co-Registrar and the term "Transfer  Agent" includes any additional  transfer
                              ---------------
agent.  The  Administrators  may  change  any Paying  Agent,  Transfer  Agent or
Registrar at any time without  prior  notice to any Holder.  The  Administrators
shall  notify the  Institutional  Trustee of the name and  address of any Paying
Agent,  Transfer  Agent  and  Registrar  not a party  to this  Declaration.  The
Administrators  hereby  initially  appoint the  Institutional  Trustee to act as
Paying Agent,  Transfer  Agent and Registrar for the Capital  Securities and the
Common  Securities.  The  Institutional  Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the
United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar.

     Section 6.3. Form and Dating.  The Capital Securities and the Institutional
                  ---------------
Trustee's  certificate of  authentication  thereon shall be substantially in the
form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common  Securities  shall be  substantially  in the
form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby  incorporated in and expressly made
a part of this Declaration.  Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or
engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is  reasonably  acceptable to
the Administrators,  as conclusively  evidenced by their execution thereof.  The
Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of identification
or designation and such legends or endorsements  required by law, stock exchange
rule,  agreements to which the Trust is subject if any, or usage  (provided that
any  such  notation,  legend  or  endorsement  is in a  form  acceptable  to the

                                       23

<PAGE>

Sponsor).  The Trust at the  direction  of the  Sponsor  shall  furnish any such
legend not  contained  in Exhibit A-1 to the  Institutional  Trustee in writing.
Each   Capital   Security   shall  be  dated  on  or  before  the  date  of  its
authentication.  The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I
and the forms of  Securities  set forth in Exhibits  A-1 and A-2 are part of the
terms  of this  Declaration  and to the  extent  applicable,  the  Institutional
Trustee,  the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of
this  Declaration,  expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound
thereby.  Capital  Securities  will be  issued  only in  blocks  having a stated
liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in
excess thereof.

     The Capital  Securities are being offered and sold by the Trust pursuant to
the Placement Agreement in definitive,  registered form without coupons and with
the Restricted Securities Legend.

     Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
                  -------------------------------------------------

     If:

     (a) any mutilated  Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar,  or
if the Registrar shall receive  evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction,
loss or theft of any Certificate; and

     (b) there shall be delivered to the Registrar,  the  Administrators and the
Institutional  Trustee such  security or indemnity as may be required by them to
keep each of them harmless;

then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by
a protected  purchaser,  an  Administrator  on behalf of the Trust shall execute
(and in the case of a Capital Security  Certificate,  the Institutional  Trustee
shall  authenticate)  and  deliver,  in  exchange  for or in  lieu  of any  such
mutilated,  destroyed,  lost or stolen  Certificate,  a new  Certificate of like
denomination.  In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this
Section 6.4, the  Registrar or the  Administrators  may require the payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed
in connection  therewith.  Any  duplicate  Certificate  issued  pursuant to this
Section shall  constitute  conclusive  evidence of an ownership  interest in the
relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.

     Section 6.5. Temporary  Securities.  Until definitive  Securities are ready
                  ---------------------
for  delivery,  the  Administrators  may prepare and, in the case of the Capital
Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate,  temporary Securities.
Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities
but may  have  variations  that  the  Administrators  consider  appropriate  for
temporary  Securities.  Without  unreasonable  delay, the  Administrators  shall
prepare and, in the case of the Capital  Securities,  the Institutional  Trustee
shall authenticate, definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.

     Section  6.6.  Cancellation.  The  Administrators  at any time may  deliver
                    ------------
Securities to the Institutional  Trustee for  cancellation.  The Registrar shall
forward  to the  Institutional  Trustee  any  Securities  surrendered  to it for
registration of transfer, redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall
promptly  cancel  all  Securities  surrendered  for  registration  of  transfer,
payment,  replacement  or  cancellation  and  shall  dispose  of  such  canceled
Securities as the  Administrators  direct.  The Administrators may not issue new
Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered
to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation.

     Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults.
                  -------------------------------------------

     (a) The legal  title to the Trust  Property  is vested  exclusively  in the
Institutional  Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5,
and the  Holders  shall  not have any  right or  title  therein  other  than the
undivided  beneficial  interest  in the assets of the Trust  conferred  by their
Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of

                                       24

<PAGE>

property,  profits  or rights  of the  Trust  except  as  described  below.  The
Securities  shall be personal  property giving only the rights  specifically set
forth therein and in this  Declaration.  The Securities shall have no preemptive
or similar rights.

     (b) For so long as any Capital  Securities remain  outstanding,  if upon an
Indenture  Event of Default,  the Debenture  Trustee fails or the holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding  Debentures fail to declare
the principal of all of the  Debentures to be immediately  due and payable,  the
Holders of a Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the  Capital  Securities  then
outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing
to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee.

     At any  time  after a  declaration  of  acceleration  with  respect  to the
Debentures  has been made and  before a judgment  or decree  for  payment of the
money  due has  been  obtained  by the  Debenture  Trustee  as  provided  in the
Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails
to annul any such declaration and waive such default,  the Holders of a Majority
in  liquidation  amount of the  Capital  Securities,  by  written  notice to the
Institutional  Trustee,  the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee,  may rescind and
annul such declaration and its consequences if:

          (i) the  Debenture  Issuer has paid or  deposited  with the  Debenture
     Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

               (A)  all  overdue   installments   of  interest  on  all  of  the
          Debentures,

               (B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Debentures,

               (C) the  principal of (and  premium,  if any, on) any  Debentures
          that  have  become  due  otherwise   than  by  such   declaration   of
          acceleration and interest and Additional  Interest thereon at the rate
          borne by the Debentures, and

               (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture  Trustee under the
          Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
          advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their
          agents and counsel; and

          (ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures,  other than
     the  non-payment  of the  principal of the  Debentures  that has become due
     solely by such  acceleration,  have been  cured or  waived as  provided  in
     Section 5.7 of the Indenture.

     The  Holders of at least a Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the Capital
Securities  may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital  Securities,  waive
any past default under the Indenture or any Indenture Event of Default, except a
default or Indenture Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on
the Debentures (unless such default or Indenture Event of Default has been cured
and a sum sufficient to pay all matured  installments  of interest and principal
due  otherwise  than by  acceleration  has been  deposited  with  the  Debenture
Trustee) or a default  under the  Indenture or an Indenture  Event of Default in
respect of a covenant or provision  that under the Indenture  cannot be modified
or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding  Debenture.  No
such  rescission  shall  affect  any  subsequent  default  or  impair  any right
consequent thereon.

     Upon receipt by the Institutional  Trustee of written notice declaring such
an acceleration,  or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of
the Capital  Securities,  a record  date shall be  established  for  determining
Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which
record  date  shall be at the  close of  business  on the day the  Institutional
Trustee  receives  such notice.  The Holders on such record date,  or their duly
designated  proxies,  and only such  Persons,  shall be entitled to join in such

                                       25

<PAGE>

notice,  whether or not such  Holders  remain  Holders  after such record  date;
provided,  that unless such  declaration  of  acceleration,  or  rescission  and
annulment,  as the case may be,  shall have  become  effective  by virtue of the
requisite  percentage  having  joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90
days after such record date,  such notice of  declaration  of  acceleration,  or
rescission and annulment,  as the case may be, shall  automatically  and without
further  action by any Holder be canceled and of no further  effect.  Nothing in
this  paragraph  shall  prevent a Holder,  or a proxy of a Holder,  from giving,
after  expiration of such 90-day period,  a new written notice of declaration of
acceleration,  or rescission and annulment thereof,  as the case may be, that is
identical to a written notice that has been canceled  pursuant to the proviso to
the preceding  sentence,  in which event a new record date shall be  established
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.7.

     (c) Except as otherwise  provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
6.7,  the  Holders of at least a Majority in  liquidation  amount of the Capital
Securities  may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital  Securities,  waive
any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any
such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist,  and any default or Event
of  Default  arising  therefrom  shall be deemed to have been  cured,  for every
purpose of this  Declaration,  but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent
or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                      DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST

     Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust.
                  ------------------------------------

     (a) The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of:

          (i) unless earlier dissolved,  on June 26, 2038, the expiration of the
     term of the Trust;

          (ii) upon a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or
     the Debenture Issuer;

          (iii)  upon  the  filing  of  a  certificate  of  dissolution  or  its
     equivalent  with respect to the Sponsor  (other than in  connection  with a
     merger,   consolidation  or  similar  transaction  not  prohibited  by  the
     Indenture,  this Declaration or the Guarantee,  as the case may be) or upon
     the  revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days
     after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof;

          (iv) upon the  distribution  of the  Debentures  to the Holders of the
     Securities,  upon  exercise  of  the  right  of  the  Holder  of all of the
     outstanding  Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I
     hereto;

          (v) upon the entry of a decree of judicial  dissolution  of the Holder
     of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer;

          (vi) when all of the Securities  shall have been called for redemption
     and the amounts  necessary for  redemption  thereof shall have been paid to
     the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; or

          (vii) before the issuance of any  Securities,  with the consent of the
     Institutional Trustee and the Sponsor.

                                       26

<PAGE>

     (b) As soon as is practicable  after the occurrence of an event referred to
in Section  7.1(a),  and after  satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the
Trust as required by applicable  law,  including of the Statutory Trust Act, and
subject  to the  terms  set forth in Annex I, the  Institutional  Trustee  shall
terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of  cancellation  with the Secretary
of State of the State of Connecticut.

     (c) The  provisions  of  Section  2.9 and  Article  IX  shall  survive  the
termination of the Trust.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

     Section 8.1. General.
                  -------

     (a) Subject to Section  8.1(c),  where Capital  Securities are presented to
the  Registrar  or a  co-registrar  with a request to  register a transfer or to
exchange them for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different
certificates,  the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if
its  requirements  for such  transactions  are met. To permit  registrations  of
transfer  and  exchanges,  the Trust shall issue and the  Institutional  Trustee
shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request.

     (b) Upon issuance of the Common  Securities,  the Sponsor shall acquire and
retain  beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and for so long
as the Securities remain outstanding,  the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership
of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the
Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, under the Indenture that is a U.S.
Person may succeed to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities.

     (c) Capital  Securities  may only be  transferred,  in whole or in part, in
accordance  with the terms and conditions set forth in this  Declaration  and in
the terms of the Securities.  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law,
any transfer or purported  transfer of any Security not made in accordance  with
this  Declaration  shall be null and void and will be  deemed  to be of no legal
effect  whatsoever and any such transferee  shall be deemed not to be the holder
of such Capital  Securities  for any purpose,  including  but not limited to the
receipt of Distributions on such Capital  Securities,  and such transferee shall
be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities.

     (d) The Registrar  shall provide for the  registration of Securities and of
transfers of  Securities,  which will be effected  without  charge but only upon
payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax
or other  governmental  charges  that may be imposed  in  relation  to it.  Upon
surrender for  registration of transfer of any  Securities,  the Registrar shall
cause one or more new  Securities  of the same tenor to be issued in the name of
the  designated  transferee  or  transferees.  Every  Security  surrendered  for
registration  of  transfer  shall be  accompanied  by a  written  instrument  of
transfer in form  satisfactory  to the Registrar  duly executed by the Holder or
such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Security surrendered for
registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional Trustee pursuant
to Section 6.6. A transferee  of a Security  shall be entitled to the rights and
subject  to the  obligations  of a Holder  hereunder  upon the  receipt  by such
transferee of a Security. By acceptance of a Security,  each transferee shall be
deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration.

     (e) The Trust shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of,
or exchange any Securities  during a period beginning at the opening of business
15 days before the day of any selection of Securities  for redemption and ending
at the close of business on the earliest  date on which the  relevant  notice of
redemption  is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the  Securities to be
redeemed,  or (ii) to register  the  transfer  or  exchange  of any  Security so
selected for redemption in whole or in part,  except the  unredeemed  portion of
any Security being redeemed in part.

                                       27

<PAGE>

     Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.
                  ------------------------------------

     (a) The Capital  Securities  shall bear the Restricted  Securities  Legend,
which  shall  not be  removed  unless  there  is  delivered  to the  Trust  such
satisfactory  evidence,  which may include an opinion of counsel satisfactory to
the Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the legend
nor the  restrictions  on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that
transfers  thereof  comply  with the  provisions  of the  Securities  Act.  Upon
provision of such  satisfactory  evidence,  the  Institutional  Trustee,  at the
written  direction  of  the  Trust,   shall  authenticate  and  deliver  Capital
Securities that do not bear the legend.

     (b) Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear
a legend (the "Restricted  Securities  Legend") in  substantially  the following
               ------------------------------
form and a Capital  Security shall not be transferred  except in compliance with
such legend,  unless  otherwise  determined  by the Sponsor,  upon the advice of
counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law:

          THIS  SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF
     1933, AS AMENDED (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
     OTHER APPLICABLE  SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
     PARTICIPATION  HEREIN  MAY  BE  REOFFERED,  SOLD,  ASSIGNED,   TRANSFERRED,
     PLEDGED,  ENCUMBERED  OR  OTHERWISE  DISPOSED  OF IN THE  ABSENCE  OF  SUCH
     REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH  TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO,
     THE  REGISTRATION  REQUIREMENTS  OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE
     STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
     AGREES TO OFFER,  SELL OR OTHERWISE  TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE
     SPONSOR OR THE TRUST,  (B) PURSUANT TO A  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  THAT HAS
     BEEN DECLARED  EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE
     SELLER  REASONABLY  BELIEVES  IS  A  QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL  BUYER  IN  A
     TRANSACTION  MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY
     IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE  PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A,
     (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE
     903 OR RULE 904 (AS  APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT,
     (E)  TO AN  INSTITUTIONAL  "ACCREDITED  INVESTOR"  WITHIN  THE  MEANING  OF
     SUBPARAGRAPH  (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE  SECURITIES  ACT THAT IS  ACQUIRING
     THIS CAPITAL  SECURITY  FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT,  OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN
     INSTITUTIONAL  ACCREDITED INVESTOR,  FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A
     VIEW TO, OR FOR  OFFER OR SALE IN  CONNECTION  WITH,  ANY  DISTRIBUTION  IN
     VIOLATION OF THE  SECURITIES  ACT, OR (F)  PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER  AVAILABLE
     EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT
     TO THE  SPONSOR'S  AND THE TRUST'S  RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER,  SALE OR
     TRANSFER  TO REQUIRE THE  DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,  CERTIFICATION
     AND/OR OTHER  INFORMATION  SATISFACTORY  TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH
     THE  DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR
     OR THE TRUST.  HEDGING  TRANSACTIONS  INVOLVING  THIS  SECURITY  MAY NOT BE
     CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT.

                                       28

<PAGE>

          THE HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY BY ITS  ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF  ALSO  AGREES,
     REPRESENTS  AND  WARRANTS  THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT,  INDIVIDUAL
     RETIREMENT  ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT  SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE
     EMPLOYEE  RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"),  OR
     SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL  REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE")
     (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS"
     BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S  INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY,  AND NO PERSON INVESTING
     "PLAN  ASSETS"  OF ANY  PLAN MAY  ACQUIRE  OR HOLD  THE  SECURITIES  OR ANY
     INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE
     RELIEF  AVAILABLE  UNDER U.S.  DEPARTMENT OF LABOR  PROHIBITED  TRANSACTION
     CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23,  95-60,  91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER  APPLICABLE
     EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY
     SECTION  406 OF ERISA OR  SECTION  4975 OF THE CODE  WITH  RESPECT  TO SUCH
     PURCHASE OR  HOLDING.  ANY  PURCHASER  OR HOLDER OF THE  SECURITIES  OR ANY
     INTEREST  THEREIN  WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE  REPRESENTED  BY ITS PURCHASE AND
     HOLDING  THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN
     THE MEANING OF SECTION  3(3) OF ERISA,  OR A PLAN TO WHICH  SECTION 4975 OF
     THE CODE IS  APPLICABLE,  A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON  ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN
     EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT  PLAN OR PLAN,  OR ANY OTHER  PERSON OR ENTITY  USING THE
     ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH  PURCHASE,  OR
     (ii) SUCH  PURCHASE  WILL NOT  RESULT  IN A  PROHIBITED  TRANSACTION  UNDER
     SECTION  406 OF ERISA OR  SECTION  4975 OF THE CODE FOR  WHICH  THERE IS NO
     APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

          THIS  SECURITY  WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE  TRANSFERRED  ONLY IN BLOCKS
     HAVING A LIQUIDATION  AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN  $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES)
     AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS  THEREOF.  ANY  ATTEMPTED  TRANSFER OF
     SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION  AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00
     SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

          THE  HOLDER  OF THIS  SECURITY  AGREES  THAT IT WILL  COMPLY  WITH THE
     FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

     (c) To permit  registrations  of transfers and  exchanges,  the Trust shall
execute and the Institutional  Trustee shall authenticate  Capital Securities at
the Registrar's request.

     (d)  Registrations  of  transfers  or  exchanges  will be effected  without
charge,  but only upon  payment  (with such  indemnity  as the  Registrar or the
Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that may
be imposed in relation to it.

     (e) All  Capital  Securities  issued upon any  registration  of transfer or
exchange  pursuant  to the terms of this  Declaration  shall  evidence  the same
security and shall be entitled to the same benefits  under this  Declaration  as
the  Capital  Securities  surrendered  upon such  registration  of  transfer  or
exchange.

     Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders.  The Trust, the  Administrators,  the
                  -----------------------
Institutional Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may
treat the Person in whose name any Certificate  shall be registered on the books

                                       29

<PAGE>

and  records  of the  Trust as the sole  holder of such  Certificate  and of the
Securities   represented   by  such   Certificate   for  purposes  of  receiving
Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly,  shall not
be bound to  recognize  any  equitable  or other  claim to or  interest  in such
Certificate or in the Securities  represented by such Certificate on the part of
any Person,  whether or not the Trust,  the  Administrators,  the  Institutional
Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual
or other notice thereof.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                           LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
             HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS

     Section 9.1. Liability.
                  ---------

     (a) Except as expressly  set forth in this  Declaration,  the Guarantee and
the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:

          (i)  personally  liable for the return of any  portion of the  capital
     contributions  (or any return  thereon)  of the  Holders of the  Securities
     which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; or

          (ii)  required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the  Securities
     any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.

     (b) The  Holder of the  Common  Securities  shall be liable  for all of the
debts and  obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the  Securities)
to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.

     (c)  Pursuant  to the  Statutory  Trust Act,  the  Holders  of the  Capital
Securities  shall be  entitled  to the same  limitation  of  personal  liability
extended to stockholders of private  corporations for profit organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Connecticut.

     Section 9.2. Exculpation.
                  -----------

     (a) No  Indemnified  Person shall be liable,  responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss,  damage or
claim  incurred  by reason of any act or omission  performed  or omitted by such
Indemnified  Person in good  faith on  behalf of the Trust and in a manner  such
Indemnified  Person reasonably  believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified  Person by this Declaration or by law, except that
an  Indemnified  Person  shall be  liable  for any such  loss,  damage  or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct
with respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Trust and upon such  information,  opinions,  reports or
statements  presented  to the Trust by any Person as to matters the  Indemnified
Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert
competence  and, if selected by such  Indemnified  Person,  has been selected by
such  Indemnified  Person  with  reasonable  care by or on behalf of the  Trust,
including  information,  opinions,  reports  or  statements  as to the value and
amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent
to the  existence  and amount of assets from which  Distributions  to Holders of
Securities might properly be paid.

                                       30

<PAGE>

     Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty.
                  --------------

     (a) To the extent  that,  at law or in equity,  an  Indemnified  Person has
duties  (including  fiduciary  duties) and liabilities  relating  thereto to the
Trust or to any other Covered  Person,  an Indemnified  Person acting under this
Declaration  shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for
its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of
this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of
an Indemnified  Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the
parties hereto to replace such other duties and  liabilities of the  Indemnified
Person.

     (b)  Whenever in this  Declaration  an  Indemnified  Person is permitted or
required to make a decision:

          (i) in its  "discretion"  or under a grant of similar  authority,  the
     Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors
     as it  desires,  including  its own  interests,  and shall  have no duty or
     obligation  to  give  any  consideration  to  any  interest  of or  factors
     affecting the Trust or any other Person; or

          (ii) in its  "good  faith"  or under  another  express  standard,  the
     Indemnified  Person shall act under such express  standard and shall not be
     subject to any other or different  standard  imposed by this Declaration or
     by applicable law.

     Section 9.4. Indemnification.
                  ---------------

     (a) The Sponsor shall  indemnify,  to the full extent permitted by law, any
Indemnified  Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any threatened,  pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative  (other than an action by or in the
right of the Trust)  arising  out of or in  connection  with the  acceptance  or
administration  of this  Declaration  by reason of the fact that he is or was an
Indemnified Person against expenses  (including  reasonable  attorneys' fees and
expenses),  judgments,  fines  and  amounts  paid  in  settlement  actually  and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
he acted in good faith and in a manner he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not
opposed to the best  interests of the Trust,  and,  with respect to any criminal
action or  proceeding,  had no  reasonable  cause to  believe  his  conduct  was
unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment,  order,
settlement,  conviction,  or upon a plea of nolo  contendere or its  equivalent,
shall not, of itself,  create a presumption that the Indemnified  Person did not
act in good faith and in a manner which he  reasonably  believed to be in or not
opposed to the best  interests of the Trust,  and,  with respect to any criminal
action or  proceeding,  had  reasonable  cause to believe  that his  conduct was
unlawful.

     (b) The Sponsor shall  indemnify,  to the full extent permitted by law, any
Indemnified  Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to
any  threatened,  pending or completed  action or suit by or in the right of the
Trust to procure a judgment in its favor  arising out of or in  connection  with
the acceptance or  administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that
he is or  was an  Indemnified  Person  against  expenses  (including  reasonable
attorneys'  fees  and  expenses)  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by him in
connection  with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Trust;  provided,  however,  that no such  indemnification
shall be made in  respect  of any  claim,  issue  or  matter  as to  which  such
Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and
only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
determine upon  application  that,  despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all the  circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.

                                       31

<PAGE>

     (c) To the extent that an  Indemnified  Person shall be  successful  on the
merits or otherwise  (including  dismissal of an action without prejudice or the
settlement  of an action  without  admission  of  liability)  in  defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section
9.4,  or in  defense  of any  claim,  issue  or  matter  therein,  he  shall  be
indemnified,  to the full extent permitted by law,  against expenses  (including
attorneys'  fees  and  expenses)  actually  and  reasonably  incurred  by him in
connection therewith.

     (d) Any indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this  Section 9.4 (unless  ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that  indemnification of
the  Indemnified  Person is proper in the  circumstances  because he has met the
applicable  standard  of  conduct  set  forth in  paragraphs  (a) and (b).  Such
determination  shall be made (i) by the  Administrators  by a majority vote of a
Quorum  consisting of such  Administrators  who were not parties to such action,
suit or  proceeding,  (ii) if  such a  Quorum  is not  obtainable,  or,  even if
obtainable,  if  a  Quorum  of  disinterested   Administrators  so  directs,  by
independent legal counsel in a written opinion,  or (iii) by the Common Security
Holder of the Trust.

     (e) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including  reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses)  incurred by an Indemnified  Person in defending a
civil,  criminal,  administrative  or investigative  action,  suit or proceeding
referred to in  paragraphs  (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 shall be paid by the
Sponsor in advance of the final  disposition of such action,  suit or proceeding
upon receipt of an  undertaking  by or on behalf of such  Indemnified  Person to
repay such amount if it shall  ultimately be determined  that he is not entitled
to  be   indemnified   by  the  Sponsor  as  authorized  in  this  Section  9.4.
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no advance  shall be made by the  Sponsor if a
determination  is reasonably  and promptly made (i) by the  Administrators  by a
majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (ii) if such a Quorum
is not  obtainable,  or,  even  if  obtainable,  if a  quorum  of  disinterested
Administrators so directs,  by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or
(iii) by the Common  Security  Holder of the Trust,  that,  based upon the facts
known to the  Administrators,  counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time
such  determination is made, such Indemnified  Person acted in bad faith or in a
manner that such Indemnified  Person did not believe to be in the best interests
of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified
Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  In
no event  shall any  advance  be made in  instances  where  the  Administrators,
independent  legal counsel or the Common  Security Holder  reasonably  determine
that such Indemnified Person deliberately  breached his duty to the Trust or its
Common or Capital Security Holders.

     (f) The Institutional Trustee, at the sole cost and expense of the Sponsor,
retains  the right to  representation  by  counsel  of its own  choosing  in any
action,  suit  or  any  other  proceeding  for  which  it is  indemnified  under
paragraphs  (a) and (b) of this  Section  9.4,  without  affecting  its right to
indemnification  hereunder  or  waiving  any  rights  afforded  to it under this
Declaration or applicable law.

     (g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant  to,  the  other  paragraphs  of this  Section  9.4 shall not be deemed
exclusive  of any  other  rights  to which  those  seeking  indemnification  and
advancement  of  expenses  may  be  entitled   under  any  agreement,   vote  of
stockholders  or  disinterested  directors  of the  Sponsor or Capital  Security
Holders of the Trust or  otherwise,  both as to action in his official  capacity
and as to action in another  capacity  while holding such office.  All rights to
indemnification  under  this  Section  9.4 shall be deemed to be  provided  by a
contract  between  the Sponsor  and each  Indemnified  Person who serves in such
capacity  at any time  while  this  Section  9.4 is in  effect.  Any  repeal  or
modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing.

                                       32

<PAGE>

     (h) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain  insurance on behalf
of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted
against  him and  incurred  by him in any such  capacity,  or arising out of his
status as such, whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify him
against such liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4.

     (i) For  purposes of this  Section  9.4,  references  to "the Trust"  shall
include,  in addition to the  resulting or  surviving  entity,  any  constituent
entity (including any constituent of a constituent)  absorbed in a consolidation
or  merger,  so that any Person who is or was a  director,  trustee,  officer or
employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another
entity,  shall stand in the same position  under the  provisions of this Section
9.4 with  respect to the  resulting  or  surviving  entity as he would have with
respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.

     (j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall,  unless otherwise  provided when authorized
or  ratified,  (i)  continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an  Indemnified
Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators
of such a  Person;  and (ii)  survive  the  termination  or  expiration  of this
Declaration or the earlier removal or resignation of an Indemnified Person.

     Section 9.5. Outside  Businesses.  Any Covered Person,  the Sponsor and the
                  -------------------
Institutional  Trustee may engage in or possess an  interest  in other  business
ventures of any nature or description,  independently or with others, similar or
dissimilar  to the  business  of the  Trust,  and the Trust and the  Holders  of
Securities  shall  have no rights by virtue of this  Declaration  in and to such
independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit
of any such venture,  even if competitive with the business of the Trust,  shall
not be deemed wrongful or improper.  None of any Covered Person,  the Sponsor or
the  Institutional   Trustee  shall  be  obligated  to  present  any  particular
investment or other  opportunity  to the Trust even if such  opportunity is of a
character that, if presented to the Trust,  could be taken by the Trust, and any
Covered Person,  the Sponsor and the Institutional  Trustee shall have the right
to take for its own account  (individually  or as a partner or  fiduciary) or to
recommend to others any such  particular  investment or other  opportunity.  Any
Covered Person and the Institutional  Trustee may engage or be interested in any
financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor,
or may act as depositary  for,  trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or
body of  holders  of,  securities  or other  obligations  of the  Sponsor or its
Affiliates.

     Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee. The Sponsor agrees:
                  -----------------

     (a) to pay to the Institutional Trustee from time to time such compensation
for all services  rendered by it hereunder as the parties  shall agree from time
to time  (which  compensation  shall not be limited by any  provision  of law in
regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and

     (b)  except as  otherwise  expressly  provided  herein,  to  reimburse  the
Institutional  Trustee upon request for all reasonable  expenses,  disbursements
and advances  incurred or made by the  Institutional  Trustee in accordance with
any provision of this Declaration (including the reasonable compensation and the
expenses and disbursements of their respective  agents and counsel),  except any
such expense,  disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence,
bad faith or willful misconduct.

     The  provisions  of this Section 9.6 shall survive the  dissolution  of the
Trust and the termination of this  Declaration and the removal or resignation of
the Institutional Trustee.

     No  Institutional  Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any  property of
the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.6.

                                       33

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE X

                                   ACCOUNTING

     Section 10.1.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year  ("Fiscal  Year") of the Trust
                    -----------                      ------------
shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code.

     Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters.
                   --------------------------

     (a) At all times  during the  existence  of the Trust,  the  Administrators
shall  keep,  or cause to be kept at the  principal  office  of the Trust in the
United  States,  as  defined  for  purposes  of  Treasury   Regulations  section
301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall
reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account
shall be  maintained,  at the Sponsor's  expense,  in accordance  with generally
accepted accounting  principles,  consistently applied. The books of account and
the  records  of the  Trust  shall be  examined  by and  reported  upon  (either
separately or as part of the Sponsor's regularly prepared consolidated financial
report) as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of  independent
certified public accountants selected by the Administrators.

     (b) The  Administrators  shall cause to be duly  prepared and  delivered to
each of the Holders of  Securities  Form 1099 or such other annual United States
federal income tax information  statement required by the Code,  containing such
information  with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by
the Code and the Treasury Regulations.  Notwithstanding any right under the Code
to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators shall endeavor
to deliver all such statements  within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year
of the Trust.

     (c) The  Administrators,  at the Sponsor's expense,  shall cause to be duly
prepared at the principal office of the Sponsor in the United States, as `United
States' is defined in Section 7701(a)(9) of the Code (or at the principal office
of the Trust if the Sponsor has no such principal  office in the United States),
and filed an annual  United States  federal  income tax return on a Form 1041 or
such other form required by United States  federal income tax law, and any other
annual income tax returns required to be filed by the  Administrators  on behalf
of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority.

     Section 10.3.  Banking.  The Trust shall maintain in the United States,  as
                    -------
defined for purposes of Treasury  Regulations  section  301.7701-7,  one or more
bank  accounts  in the name and for the sole  benefit  of the  Trust;  provided,
                                                                       --------
however,  that all  payments of funds in respect of the  Debentures  held by the
-------
Institutional  Trustee  shall be made  directly to the  Property  Account and no
other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the  Property  Account.  The sole
signatories  for  such  accounts  (including  the  Property  Account)  shall  be
designated by the Institutional Trustee.

     Section 10.4.  Withholding.  The Institutional  Trustee or any Paying Agent
                    -----------
and the  Administrators  shall comply with all  withholding  requirements  under
United States  federal,  state and local law. The  Institutional  Trustee or any
Paying Agent shall request,  and each Holder shall provide to the  Institutional
Trustee or any Paying  Agent,  such forms or  certificates  as are  necessary to
establish  an exemption  from  withholding  with respect to the Holder,  and any
representations  and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Institutional
Trustee or any Paying  Agent to assist it in  determining  the extent of, and in
fulfilling, its withholding obligations.  The Administrators shall file required
forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is
properly  established by a Holder,  shall remit amounts withheld with respect to
the Holder to  applicable  jurisdictions.  To the extent that the  Institutional
Trustee or any Paying  Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to
any authority with respect to  distributions  or allocations to any Holder,  the
amount  withheld  shall be  deemed  to be a  Distribution  in the  amount of the
withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed overwithholding,  Holders

                                       34

<PAGE>

shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount
required to be withheld was not withheld  from actual  Distributions  made,  the
Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent Distributions by
the amount of such withholding.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                             AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

     Section 11.1. Amendments.

     (a) Except as otherwise  provided in this  Declaration or by any applicable
terms of the  Securities,  this  Declaration  may only be  amended  by a written
instrument approved and executed by the Institutional Trustee.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this Article XI, an amendment
may be made, and any such purported  amendment shall be valid and effective only
if:

          (i) the Institutional Trustee shall have first received

               (A) an  Officers'  Certificate  from  each of the  Trust  and the
          Sponsor  that such  amendment  is  permitted  by, and conforms to, the
          terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and

               (B) an opinion of counsel  (who may be counsel to the  Sponsor or
          the Trust) that such  amendment is permitted  by, and conforms to, the
          terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and

          (ii) the result of such amendment would not be to

               (A) cause the Trust to cease to be  classified  for  purposes  of
          United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; or

               (B) cause the  Trust to be  deemed  to be an  Investment  Company
          required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.

     (c) Except as provided in Section  11.1(d),  (e) or (h), no amendment shall
be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective,  unless
the Holders of a Majority in liquidation  amount of the Capital Securities shall
have consented to such amendment.

     (d)  In  addition  to and  notwithstanding  any  other  provision  in  this
Declaration,  without the consent of each affected Holder,  this Declaration may
not be amended to (i)  change  the amount or timing of any  Distribution  on the
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the  Securities  as of a  specified  date or change any
conversion  or exchange  provisions  or (ii)  restrict  the right of a Holder to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.

     (e)  Sections  9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended
without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities.

     (f) Article III shall not be amended  without the consent of the Holders of
a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities.

                                       35

<PAGE>

     (g) The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities under Article IV to
appoint and remove the  Institutional  Trustee shall not be amended  without the
consent of the  Holders  of a  Majority  in  liquidation  amount of the  Capital
Securities.

     (h) This  Declaration may be amended by the  Institutional  Trustee and the
Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the
consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to:

          (i) cure any ambiguity;

          (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this  Declaration that may
     be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration;

          (iii)  add  to  the  covenants,  restrictions  or  obligations  of the
     Sponsor; or

          (iv) modify,  eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to
     such extent as may be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified
     for United  States  federal  income tax  purposes at all times as a grantor
     trust  and  will not be  required  to  register  as an  Investment  Company
     (including  without  limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule
     3a-7 or any other  applicable  rule  under the  Investment  Company  Act or
     written change in interpretation or application  thereof by any legislative
     body,  court,  government  agency or regulatory  authority) which amendment
     does not have a  material  adverse  effect on the  rights,  preferences  or
     privileges of the Holders of Securities;

     provided,  however,  that no such  modification,  elimination  or  addition
     --------   -------
referred to in clauses (i), (ii),  (iii) or (iv) shall  adversely  affect in any
material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of Holders of Capital
Securities.

     Section  11.2.  Meetings  of the Holders of  Securities;  Action by Written
                     -----------------------------------------------------------
Consent.
-------

     (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any
time by the  Administrators  (or as provided in the terms of the  Securities) to
consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities  are
entitled  to act  under  the  terms  of this  Declaration  or the  terms  of the
Securities. The Administrators shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class
if  directed to do so by the  Holders of at least 10% in  liquidation  amount of
such class of  Securities.  Such  direction  shall be given by delivering to the
Administrators  one or more calls in a writing  stating that the signing Holders
of the Securities  wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific
purpose  for which the meeting is to be called.  Any  Holders of the  Securities
calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates  held by the Holders
of the  Securities  exercising  the  right  to call a  meeting  and  only  those
Securities  represented  by such  Certificates  shall be counted for purposes of
determining  whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of
this paragraph has been met.

     (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities,
the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities:

          (i) notice of any such  meeting  shall be given to all the  Holders of
     the Securities  having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more
     than 60 days before the date of such meeting.  Whenever a vote,  consent or
     approval of the Holders of the  Securities  is permitted or required  under
     this Declaration,  such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting
     of the Holders of the Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting
     of the  Holders  of the  Securities  may be taken  without a  meeting  if a
     consent  in  writing  setting  forth  the  action so taken is signed by the
     Holders  of the  Securities  owning  not less  than the  minimum  amount of



                                       36

<PAGE>

     Securities  in  liquidation  amount that would be necessary to authorize or
     take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities having
     a right to vote  thereon  were  present  and voting.  Prompt  notice of the
     taking of action  without a meeting  shall be given to the  Holders  of the
     Securities  entitled  to vote  who  have  not  consented  in  writing.  The
     Administrators may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Holders
     of the  Securities  for the purpose of taking any action  without a meeting
     shall  be  returned  to  the  Trust  within  the  time   specified  by  the
     Administrators;

          (ii) each Holder of a Security may  authorize any Person to act for it
     by proxy on all  matters in which a Holder of  Securities  is  entitled  to
     participate,  including  waiving  notice  of  any  meeting,  or  voting  or
     participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of
     11 months from the date  thereof  unless  otherwise  provided in the proxy.
     Every  proxy  shall be  revocable  at the  pleasure  of the  Holder  of the
     Securities  executing it. Except as otherwise  provided herein, all matters
     relating to the giving,  voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by
     the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State  of  Connecticut  relating  to
     proxies, and judicial  interpretations  thereunder,  as if the Trust were a
     Connecticut corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders
     of a Connecticut corporation; each meeting of the Holders of the Securities
     shall be conducted by the  Administrators  or by such other Person that the
     Administrators may designate; and

          (iii) unless the Statutory Trust Act, this  Declaration,  or the terms
     of the Securities  otherwise provides,  the  Administrators,  in their sole
     discretion,  shall establish all other  provisions  relating to meetings of
     Holders of Securities,  including  notice of the time,  place or purpose of
     any  meeting  at which any  matter is to be voted on by any  Holders of the
     Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting,
     the establishment of a record date, quorum  requirements,  voting in person
     or by proxy or any other  matter with  respect to the  exercise of any such
     right to vote; provided,  however,  that each meeting shall be conducted in
                    --------   -------
     the United States (as that term is defined in Treasury  Regulations section
     301.7701-7).

                                  ARTICLE XII

                    REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE

     Section 12.1.  Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee. The
                    -------------------------------------------------------
initial  Institutional  Trustee  represents and warrants to the Trust and to the
Sponsor  at the  date of this  Declaration,  and  each  Successor  Institutional
Trustee  represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the
Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Institutional
Trustee, that:

     (a) the Institutional  Trustee is a national banking association with trust
powers,  duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States
of America with trust power and  authority to execute and deliver,  and to carry
out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration;

     (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of
this  Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate action on
the part of the Institutional  Trustee.  This Declaration has been duly executed
and delivered by the Institutional  Trustee,  and it constitutes a legal,  valid
and binding obligation of the Institutional  Trustee,  enforceable against it in
accordance  with its terms,  subject to applicable  bankruptcy,  reorganization,
moratorium,  insolvency,  and other  similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights
generally and to general  principles of equity (regardless of whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law);

                                       37

<PAGE>

     (c) the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this  Declaration by the
Institutional  Trustee  does not  conflict  with or  constitute  a breach of the
charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and

     (d) no  consent,  approval or  authorization  of, or  registration  with or
notice to, any state or federal banking authority is required for the execution,
delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration.

                                  ARTICLE XIII

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 13.1.  Notices.  All notices provided for in this Declaration shall
                    -------
be in  writing,  duly  signed  by the party  giving  such  notice,  and shall be
delivered,  telecopied  (which telecopy shall be followed by notice delivered or
mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as follows:

     (a) if given to the Trust,  in care of the  Administrators  at the  Trust's
mailing  address  set forth  below (or such other  address as the Trust may give
notice of to the Holders of the Securities):

                  Florida Banks Statutory Trust III
                  c/o Florida Banks, Inc.
                  5210 Belfort Road
                  Jacksonville, Florida  32256
                  Attention:  T. Edwin Stinson, Jr.
                  Telecopy:  904-296-2820

     (b) if given to the Institutional  Trustee, at the Institutional  Trustee's
mailing  address  set forth  below (or such other  address as the  Institutional
Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):

                  U.S. Bank National Association
                  225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square
                  Hartford, Connecticut  06103
                  Attention:  Vice President, Corporate Trust Services Division
                  Telecopy:  860-241-6889

                  With a copy to:

                  U.S. Bank National Association
                  1 Federal Street - 3rd Floor
                  Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                  Attention:  Paul D. Allen, Corporate Trust Services Division
                  Telecopy:  617-603-6665

     (c) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address
of the  Sponsor  set forth  below (or such  other  address  as the Holder of the
Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust):

                  Florida Banks, Inc.
                  5210 Belfort Road
                  Jacksonville, Florida  32256
                  Attention:  T. Edwin Stinson, Jr.
                  Telecopy:  904-296-2820

                                       38

<PAGE>

     (d) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and
records of the Trust.

     All such  notices  shall be deemed  to have been  given  when  received  in
person,  telecopied  with  receipt  confirmed,  or mailed by first  class  mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered  because of a changed  address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.

     Section 13.2. Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights of the parties
                   -------------
hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of the
State of Connecticut  and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws
without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of Connecticut
or any other  jurisdiction that would call for the application of the law of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Connecticut;  provided, however, that there
shall  not be  applicable  to the  Trust,  the  Institutional  Trustee  or  this
Declaration  any  provision  of the laws  (statutory  or common) of the State of
Connecticut  pertaining  to  trusts  that  relate  to or  regulate,  in a manner
inconsistent with the terms hereof (a) the filing with any court or governmental
body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b)
affirmative  requirements  to post  bonds  for  trustees,  officers,  agents  or
employees  of  a  trust,   (c)  the  necessity  for  obtaining  court  or  other
governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real
or personal  property,  (d) fees or other sums  payable to  trustees,  officers,
agents or employees of a trust,  (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures
to income or principal,  or (f)  restrictions  or limitations on the permissible
nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to
the titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing trust assets.

     Section 13.3.  Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the parties
                    ------------------------
hereto  that the Trust be  classified  for  United  States  federal  income  tax
purposes  as a  grantor  trust.  The  provisions  of this  Declaration  shall be
interpreted to further this intention of the parties.

     Section 13.4. Headings. Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted
                   --------
for convenience of reference only and do not affect the  interpretation  of this
Declaration or any provision hereof.

     Section 13.5.  Successors and Assigns.  Whenever in this Declaration any of
                    ----------------------
the parties  hereto is named or referred to, the  successors and assigns of such
party shall be deemed to be included,  and all covenants and  agreements in this
Declaration by the Sponsor and the Institutional Trustee shall bind and inure to
the  benefit  of their  respective  successors  and  assigns,  whether or not so
expressed.

     Section 13.6. Partial Enforceability. If any provision of this Declaration,
                   ----------------------
or the  application  of such provision to any Person or  circumstance,  shall be
held invalid,  the remainder of this  Declaration,  or the  application  of such
provision  to  persons  or  circumstances  other  than those to which it is held
invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

     Section  13.7.  Counterparts.  This  Declaration  may contain more than one
                     ------------
counterpart  of the signature page and this  Declaration  may be executed by the
affixing  of  the   signature   of  each  of  the   Institutional   Trustee  and
Administrators  to  any  of  such  counterpart  signature  pages.  All  of  such
counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the
same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
page.

                     Signatures appear on the following page

                                       39

<PAGE>



     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  have  caused  these  presents to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                            U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                            as Institutional Trustee


                            By:  /s/ Paul D. Allen
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                     Name:  Paul D. Allen
                                     Title: Vice President


                            FLORIDA BANKS, INC., as Sponsor


                            By:  /s/ T. Edwin Stinson, Jr.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                     Name:  T. Edwin Stinson, Jr.
                                     Title: Chief Financial Officer


                            FLORIDA BANKS STATUTORY TRUST III


                            By:  /s/  Charles E. Hughes, Jr.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                  Administrator


                            By:  /s/  Perry Kenner
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                  Administrator


                            By:  /s/ T. Edwin Stinson, Jr.
                               -------------------------------------------------
                                  Administrator

                                       40

<PAGE>


                                     ANNEX I

                               TERMS OF SECURITIES

     Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated  Declaration  of Trust,
dated as of June 26, 2003 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the
designation, rights, privileges,  restrictions,  preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below
(each  capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in
the Declaration):

     1. Designation and Number.
        ----------------------

     (a) 3,000 Floating Rate Capital Securities of Florida Banks Statutory Trust
III (the "Trust"),  with an aggregate stated  liquidation amount with respect to
the assets of the Trust of three million  dollars  ($3,000,000.00)  and a stated
liquidation  amount  with  respect to the assets of the Trust of  $1,000.00  per
Capital Security,  are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only
as the "Capital Securities".  The Capital Security  Certificates  evidencing the
        ------------------
Capital  Securities  shall be  substantially  in the form of Exhibit  A-1 to the
Declaration,  with such changes and additions thereto or deletions  therefrom as
may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.

     (b)  93  Floating  Rate  Common   Securities  of  the  Trust  (the  "Common
                                                                          ------
Securities") will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates  substantially in
----------
the form of Exhibit A-2 to the  Declaration,  with such  changes  and  additions
thereto or deletions  therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage,  custom or
practice.

     2. Distributions.
        -------------

     (a) Distributions will be payable on each Security for the period beginning
on (and  including) the date of original  issuance and ending on (but excluding)
September 26, 2003 at a rate per annum of 4.16% and shall bear interest for each
successive  period  beginning on (and  including)  September 26, 2003,  and each
succeeding  Distribution  Payment Date,  and ending on (but  excluding) the next
succeeding  Distribution Payment Date (each, a "Distribution  Period") at a rate
                                                --------------------
per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR,  determined as described below, plus 3.10%
(the "Coupon Rate"); provided,  however, that prior to June 26, 2008, the Coupon
      -----------    --------   -------
Rate shall not exceed 11.75%,  applied to the stated liquidation amount thereof,
such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the
Institutional  Trustee.  Distributions  in arrears  will bear  interest  thereon
compounded  quarterly  at  the  applicable  Distribution  Rate  (to  the  extent
permitted by law). Distributions, as used herein, include cash distributions and
any such  compounded  distributions  unless  otherwise  noted. A Distribution is
payable only to the extent that  payments are made in respect of the  Debentures
held by the Institutional  Trustee and to the extent the  Institutional  Trustee
has funds available therefor. In the event that any date on which a Distribution
is  payable  on the  Securities  is not a  Business  Day,  then  payment  of the
Distribution payable on such date shall be made on the next succeeding day which
is a Business Day (and  without any interest or other  payment in respect of any
such  delay),  except  that,  if such  Business  Day is in the  next  succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately  preceding Business
Day,  in each  case with the same  force and  effect as if made on the date such
payment was originally payable.  The amount of the Distribution  payable for any
Distribution  Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the
stated  liquidation  amount  outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution
Period and  multiplying  each such  amount by the  actual  number of days in the
Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any
calculations  on the Capital  Securities will be rounded,  if necessary,  to the
nearest one  hundred-thousandth  of a percentage point, with five one-millionths
of a percentage  point rounded  upward (e.g.,  9.876545%  (or  .09876545)  being

                                      I-1

<PAGE>

rounded to 9.87655% (or  .0987655),  and all dollar amounts used in or resulting
from such  calculation  will be rounded to the nearest cent (with  one-half cent
being rounded upward)).

     (b)  Distributions  on the Securities will be cumulative,  will accrue from
the date of original  issuance,  and will be payable,  subject to  extension  of
distribution payment periods as described herein,  quarterly in arrears on March
26, June 26, September 26 and December 26 of each year,  commencing on September
26, 2003 (each a  "Distribution  Payment  Date") when,  as and if available  for
                   ---------------------------
payment.  The  Debenture  Issuer  has the  right  under the  Indenture  to defer
payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Indenture Event of Default
has occurred  and is  continuing,  by  deferring  the payment of interest on the
Debentures  for up to 20  consecutive  quarterly  periods  (each  an  "Extension
                                                                       ---------
Period") at any time and from time to time, subject to the conditions  described
------
below,  during  which  Extension  Period no interest  shall be due and  payable.
During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures,
and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the
Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly
from  the  date  such  interest  would  have  been  payable  were it not for the
Extension  Period,  to the extent  permitted by law (such  interest  referred to
herein as "Additional  Interest").  No Extension  Period may end on a date other
           --------------------
than a Distribution  Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period,  the
Debenture  Issuer  shall  pay  all  interest  then  accrued  and  unpaid  on the
Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon);  provided, however, that
                                                         --------  -------
no Extension  Period may extend beyond the Maturity  Date and provided  further,
                                                              --------  -------
however,  that during any such Extension  Period,  the Debenture  Issuer and its
-------
Affiliates  shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or  distributions  on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Debenture Issuer's or its Affiliates'  capital stock (other than payments of
dividends  or  distributions  to the  Debenture  Issuer)  or make any  guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing, or (ii) make any payment of principal of
or  interest  or premium,  if any,  on or repay,  repurchase  or redeem any debt
securities of the Debenture  Issuer or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures  (other than, with respect
to  clauses  (i)  and  (ii)  above,  (a)   repurchases,   redemptions  or  other
acquisitions  of shares of capital stock of the  Debenture  Issuer in connection
with any employment contract,  benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or
for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in
connection  with the  issuance  of  capital  stock of the  Debenture  Issuer (or
securities   convertible   into  or  exercisable  for  such  capital  stock)  as
consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Extension Period,  (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series  of the  Debenture  Issuer's  capital  stock (or any  capital  stock of a
subsidiary  of the  Debenture  Issuer) for any class or series of the  Debenture
Issuer's  capital  stock or of any  class or series  of the  Debenture  Issuer's
indebtedness  for any class or series of the Debenture  Issuer's  capital stock,
(c) the purchase of  fractional  interests in shares of the  Debenture  Issuer's
capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange  provisions of such capital
stock or the security  being  converted or exchanged,  (d) any  declaration of a
dividend in connection  with any  stockholders'  rights plan, or the issuance of
rights,  stock or other  property  under any  stockholders'  rights plan, or the
redemption  or repurchase of rights  pursuant  thereto,  (e) any dividend in the
form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the
stock  issuable upon exercise of such  warrants,  options or other rights is the
same stock as that on which the  dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with
or  junior to such  stock and any cash  payments  in lieu of  fractional  shares
issued in connection  therewith,  or (f) payments  under the Capital  Securities
Guarantee).  Prior to the  termination  of any Extension  Period,  the Debenture
Issuer may further extend such period,  provided that such period  together with
all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20
consecutive  quarterly  periods,  or extend beyond the Maturity  Date.  Upon the
termination  of any  Extension  Period and upon the  payment of all  accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new
Extension  Period,  subject  to  the  foregoing  requirements.  No  interest  or
Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period,  except
at the end thereof,  but each  installment of interest that would otherwise have
been  due and  payable  during  such  Extension  Period  shall  bear  Additional

                                      I-2

<PAGE>

Interest. During any Extension Period,  Distributions on the Securities shall be
deferred  for a period  equal to the  Extension  Period.  If  Distributions  are
deferred,  the  Distributions  due  shall be paid on the date  that the  related
Extension  Period  terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the
books and records of the Trust on the record  date  immediately  preceding  such
date.  Distributions  on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after
giving  effect to any  Extension  Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds
available for the payment of such  distributions  in the Property Account of the
Trust.  The  Trust's  funds  available  for  Distribution  to the Holders of the
Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture  Issuer.  The
payment of  Distributions  out of moneys held by the Trust is  guaranteed by the
Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.

     (c)  Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof
as they  appear on the books and  records  of the Trust on the  relevant  record
dates.  The  relevant  record  dates  shall  be  15  days  before  the  relevant
Distribution Payment Date.  Distributions payable on any Securities that are not
punctually paid on any  Distribution  Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture
Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be,
when due (taking into account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to
the Person in whose name such  Securities are registered on the relevant  record
date, and such defaulted  Distribution  will instead be payable to the Person in
whose name such  Securities  are  registered on the special record date or other
specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which
Distributions  are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day, then payment
of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other  payment in respect of
any such delay)  except that,  if such  Business  Day is in the next  succeeding
calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately  preceding Business
Day,  in each case with the same  force  and  effect as if made on such  payment
date.

     (d) In the event that there is any money or other  property  held by or for
the  Trust  that  is  not  accounted  for  hereunder,  such  property  shall  be
distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities.

     3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of the voluntary
        -----------------------------------------
or involuntary liquidation,  dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust
(each  a  "Liquidation")  other  than in  connection  with a  redemption  of the
           -----------
Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the
assets of the Trust  available for  distribution  to Holders of the  Securities,
after  satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not
satisfied by the Debenture Issuer),  distributions equal to the aggregate of the
stated  liquidation  amount of $1,000.00  per  Security  plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
                                                                     -----------
Distribution"), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the Debentures in an
------------
aggregate  stated  principal  amount equal to the aggregate  stated  liquidation
amount of such Securities,  with an interest rate equal to the Distribution Rate
of, and bearing  accrued and unpaid  interest in an amount  equal to the accrued
and  unpaid  Distributions  on,  and  having  the  same  record  date  as,  such
Securities,  after paying or making  reasonable  provision to pay all claims and
obligations  of the Trust in accordance  with the Statutory  Trust Act, shall be
distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for
such Securities.

     The Sponsor,  as the Holder of all of the Common Securities,  has the right
at any time to  dissolve  the Trust  (including,  without  limitation,  upon the
occurrence of a Special Event),  subject to the receipt by the Debenture  Issuer
of prior approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal  Reserve System and
any successor  federal agency that is primarily  responsible  for regulating the
activities  of the Sponsor  (the  "Federal  Reserve"),  if the Sponsor is a bank
                                   ----------------
holding  company,  or from the Office of Thrift  Supervision  and any  successor
federal  agency that is primarily  responsible  for regulating the activities of
Sponsor,  (the "OTS") if the Sponsor is a savings and loan holding  company,  in
                ---
either case if then required under applicable  capital guidelines or policies of
the  Federal  Reserve  or  OTS,  as  applicable,   and,  after  satisfaction  of

                                      I-3

<PAGE>

liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to
the  Holders  of the  Securities  on a Pro  Rata  basis in  accordance  with the
aggregate stated liquidation amount thereof.

     If a  Liquidation  of the Trust occurs as  described  in clause (i),  (ii),
(iii) or (v) in Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated
by the Institutional Trustee as expeditiously as it determines to be possible by
distributing,  after  satisfaction  of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to
the Holders of the Securities,  the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent
not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by
the Institutional Trustee not to be practical,  in which event such Holders will
be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution
to the Holders,  after  satisfaction of liabilities of creditors of the Trust to
the  extent  not  satisfied  by the  Debenture  Issuer,  an amount  equal to the
Liquidation  Distribution.  An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause
(iv) of  Section  7.1(a) of the  Declaration  shall  occur if the  Institutional
Trustee  determines  that such  Liquidation is possible by  distributing,  after
satisfaction  of  liabilities  to creditors of the Trust,  to the Holders of the
Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs.

     If, upon any such Liquidation the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because the Trust has  insufficient  assets available to pay in full the
aggregate  Liquidation  Distribution,  then the amounts payable  directly by the
Trust on such  Capital  Securities  shall be paid to the  Holders  of the  Trust
Securities on a Pro Rata basis,  except that if an Event of Default has occurred
and is  continuing,  the Capital  Securities  shall have a  preference  over the
Common Securities with regard to such distributions.

     After the date for any  distribution of the Debentures upon  dissolution of
the  Trust  (i) the  Securities  of the  Trust  will be  deemed  to be no longer
outstanding,  (ii) upon  surrender of a Holder's  Securities  certificate,  such
Holder of the Securities will receive a certificate  representing the Debentures
to be delivered upon such distribution,  (iii) any certificates representing the
Securities still  outstanding will be deemed to represent  undivided  beneficial
interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate  principal amount equal
to the aggregate  stated  liquidation  amount with an interest rate identical to
the  Distribution  Rate of, and  bearing  accrued and unpaid  interest  equal to
accrued and unpaid  distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Debenture  Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance  (and
until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal
shall be made to  Holders of  Securities  in  respect  of any  payments  due and
payable under the Debentures;  provided,  however that such failure to pay shall
not be deemed to be an Event of Default  and shall not entitle the Holder to the
benefits of the Guarantee),  and (iv) all rights of Holders of Securities  under
the  Declaration  shall  cease,  except  the right of such  Holders  to  receive
Debentures upon surrender of certificates representing such Securities.

     4. Redemption and Distribution.
        ---------------------------

     (a) The  Debentures  will mature on June 26, 2033.  The  Debentures  may be
redeemed  by the  Debenture  Issuer,  in whole or in part,  at any  Distribution
Payment Date on or after June 26, 2008, at the  Redemption  Price.  In addition,
the Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer at the Special Redemption
Price,  in whole but not in part, at any  Distribution  Payment  Date,  upon the
occurrence  and  continuation  of a Special Event within 120 days  following the
occurrence of such Special Event at the Special  Redemption Price, upon not less
than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to holders of such  Debentures  so long as
such  Special  Event is  continuing.  In each case,  the right of the  Debenture
Issuer to redeem  the  Debentures  is  subject to the  Debenture  Issuer  having
received prior approval from the Federal  Reserve (if the Debenture  Issuer is a
bank holding company) or prior approval from the OTS (if the Debenture Issuer is
a  savings  and loan  holding  company),  in each  case if then  required  under
applicable capital guidelines or policies of the applicable federal agency.

     "3-Month  LIBOR"  means the  London  interbank  offered  interest  rate for
      --------------
three-month,  U.S.  dollar deposits  determined by the Debenture  Trustee in the
following order of priority:

                                      I-4

<PAGE>

          (1) the rate  (expressed  as a percentage  per annum) for U.S.  dollar
     deposits  having a three-month  maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750
     as of 11:00  a.m.  (London  time)  on the  related  Determination  Date (as
     defined below).  "Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page
     3750" on the Dow Jones  Telerate  Service or such other page as may replace
     Page 3750 on that  service or such  other  service  or  services  as may be
     nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for
     the purpose of displaying  London  interbank  offered rates for U.S. dollar
     deposits;

          (2) if such rate cannot be  identified  on the  related  Determination
     Date,  the Debenture  Trustee will request the principal  London offices of
     four leading  banks in the London  interbank  market to provide such banks'
     offered  quotations  (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in
     the London  interbank  market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month
     maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such  Determination  Date. If at
     least two  quotations  are provided,  3-Month LIBOR will be the  arithmetic
     mean of such quotations;

          (3) if fewer than two such  quotations  are  provided as  requested in
     clause (2) above,  the  Debenture  Trustee will request four major New York
     City  banks  to  provide  such  banks'  offered  quotations  (expressed  as
     percentages per annum) to leading  European banks for loans in U.S. dollars
     as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination  Date. If at least two
     such quotations are provided,  3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of
     such quotations; and

          (4) if fewer than two such  quotations  are  provided as  requested in
     clause (3) above,  3-Month  LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR  determined  with
     respect to the  Distribution  Period  immediately  preceding  such  current
     Distribution Period.

     If the rate for U.S.  dollar  deposits  having a three-month  maturity that
initially  appears on Telerate  Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m.  (London time) on the
related  Determination  Date  is  superseded  on the  Telerate  Page  3750  by a
corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination  Date, then the
corrected rate as so  substituted on the applicable  page will be the applicable
3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

     The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher
than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified
by United States law.

     "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the
      -----------------------
Trust of an opinion of counsel  experienced  in such matters to the effect that,
as a result of the  occurrence  of any amendment  to, or change  (including  any
announced  prospective  change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United
States or any political  subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any
official or administrative  pronouncement or action or decision  interpreting or
applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective
or which pronouncement,  action or decision is announced on or after the date of
original  issuance of the Debentures,  there is more than an insubstantial  risk
that the  Sponsor  will  not,  within  90 days of the date of such  opinion,  be
entitled to treat an amount  equal to the  aggregate  liquidation  amount of the
Capital  Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its then equivalent) for purposes of
the capital adequacy  guidelines of the Federal  Reserve,  as then in effect and
applicable to the Sponsor (or if the Sponsor is not a bank holding company, such
guidelines  applied  to the  Sponsor  as if the  Sponsor  were  subject  to such
guidelines);  provided,  however, that the inability of the Sponsor to treat all
              --------   -------
or any portion of the  liquidation  amount of the Capital  Securities  as Tier l
Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital  Treatment  Event,  if such
inability results from the Sponsor having cumulative  preferred stock,  minority
interests  in  consolidated  subsidiaries,  or any other  class of  security  or
interest which the Federal  Reserve or OTS, as applicable,  may now or hereafter
accord  Tier 1  Capital  treatment  in  excess  of the  amount  which may now or
hereafter  qualify for  treatment  as Tier 1 Capital  under  applicable  capital
adequacy  guidelines;  provided  further,  however,  that  the  distribution  of
                       --------  -------   -------

                                      I-5

<PAGE>

Debentures in connection  with the  Liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of
itself  constitute a Capital  Treatment Event unless such Liquidation shall have
occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event.

     "Determination  Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e.,
      -------------------
a business day in which  dealings in deposits in U.S.  dollars are transacted in
the London interbank  market) preceding the particular  Distribution  Period for
which a Coupon Rate is being determined.

     "Investment  Company  Event" means the receipt by the Debenture  Issuer and
      --------------------------
the Trust of an  opinion of counsel  experienced  in such  matters to the effect
that, as a result of the  occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written
change  (including  any  announced  prospective  change)  in  interpretation  or
application of law or regulation by any legislative  body,  court,  governmental
agency or regulatory  authority,  there is more than an insubstantial  risk that
the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion,  will be considered
an  Investment  Company that is required to be registered  under the  Investment
Company Act which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become
effective,  as the case  may be,  on or after  the date of the  issuance  of the
Debentures.

     "Maturity Date" means June 26, 2033.
      -------------

     "Redemption  Date" shall mean the date fixed for the  redemption of Capital
      ----------------
Securities,  which shall be any March 26, June 26,  September  26 or December 26
commencing June 26, 2008.

     "Redemption  Price" means 100% of the  principal  amount of the  Debentures
      -----------------
being  redeemed,  plus  accrued and unpaid  Interest on such  Debentures  to the
Redemption Date.

     "Special Event" means a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital
      -------------
Treatment Event.

     "Special  Redemption Date" means a date on which a Special Event redemption
      ------------------------
occurs, which shall be any March 26, June 26, September 26 or December 26.

     "Special  Redemption Price" means (i) 107.5% of the principal amount of the
      -------------------------
Debentures  being redeemed on a Special  Redemption Date that occurs before June
26, 2008 and (ii) 100% of the principal  amount of the Debentures being redeemed
on a Special  Redemption  Date that occurs on June 26, 2008 or after,  plus,  in
each case,  accrued  and  unpaid  Interest  on such  Debentures  to the  Special
Redemption Date.

     "Tax Event" means the receipt by the  Debenture  Issuer and the Trust of an
      ---------
opinion of counsel  experienced  in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of any amendment to or change  (including any announced  prospective  change) in
the laws or any  regulations  thereunder  of the United  States or any political
subdivision  or  taxing  authority  thereof  or  therein,  or as a result of any
official  administrative  pronouncement  (including  any private  letter ruling,
technical advice memorandum,  field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice
or  announcement  including any notice or  announcement  of intent to adopt such
procedures or regulations)  (an  "Administrative  Action") or judicial  decision
                                  ----------------------
interpreting  or applying such laws or  regulations,  regardless of whether such
Administrative  Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a
proceeding  involving  the  Debenture  Issuer or the Trust  and  whether  or not
subject  to  review  or  appeal,   which   amendment,   clarification,   change,
Administrative Action or decision is enacted,  promulgated or announced, in each
case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures,  there is more
than an insubstantial  risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of
the date of such  opinion,  subject  to United  States  federal  income tax with
respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures;  (ii) interest  payable
by the Debenture  Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date
of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in
part, for United States  federal income tax purposes;  or (iii) the Trust is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such  opinion,  subject  to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

                                      I-6

<PAGE>

     (b) Upon the  repayment  in full at maturity or  redemption  in whole or in
part of the Debentures  (other than following the distribution of the Debentures
to the Holders of the  Securities),  the proceeds from such repayment or payment
shall  concurrently  be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable  Redemption
Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, Securities having an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to the aggregate  principal amount of the Debentures so
repaid or redeemed;  provided, however, that holders of such Securities shall be
given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of such  redemption  (other
than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures).

     (c) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the
Common  Securities and the Capital  Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the
Capital  Securities to be redeemed will be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of
Capital Securities.

     (d) The  Trust  may not  redeem  fewer  than  all the  outstanding  Capital
Securities  unless all  accrued and unpaid  Distributions  have been paid on all
Capital  Securities  for all quarterly  Distribution  periods  terminating on or
before the date of redemption.

     (e) Redemption or Distribution Procedures.
         -------------------------------------

          (i)  Notice of any  redemption  of, or notice of  distribution  of the
     Debentures  in exchange  for, the  Securities  (a  "Redemption/Distribution
                                                         -----------------------
     Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities to
     ------
     be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the
     date fixed for  redemption  or  exchange  thereof  which,  in the case of a
     redemption,  will be the date fixed for redemption of the  Debentures.  For
     purposes of the  calculation  of the date of redemption or exchange and the
     dates on which  notices are given  pursuant to this  paragraph  4(e)(i),  a
     Redemption/Distribution  Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such
     notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid,  to Holders of
     such Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution  Notice shall be addressed to
     the Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing
     on   the   books   and   records   of  the   Trust.   No   defect   in  the
     Redemption/Distribution  Notice or in the mailing  thereof  with respect to
     any  Holder  shall  affect  the  validity  of the  redemption  or  exchange
     proceedings with respect to any other Holder.

          (ii)  If the  Securities  are to be  redeemed  and the  Trust  gives a
     Redemption/  Distribution  Notice,  which  notice may only be issued if the
     Debentures  are redeemed as set out in this  paragraph 4 (which notice will
     be  irrevocable),  then,  provided  that the  Institutional  Trustee  has a
                               --------
     sufficient  amount of cash in  connection  with the related  redemption  or
     maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant
     Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders
     of such  Securities  by check  mailed to the  address  of each such  Holder
     appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the Redemption  Date. If
     a Redemption/Distribution  Notice shall have been given and funds deposited
     as required then immediately  prior to the close of business on the date of
     such deposit Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called
     for redemption  and all rights of Holders of such  Securities so called for
     redemption  will cease,  except the right of the Holders of such Securities
     to receive the  applicable  Redemption  Price or Special  Redemption  Price
     specified in paragraph 4(a), but without  interest on such Redemption Price
     or Special Redemption Price. If any date fixed for redemption of Securities
     is not a Business Day, then payment of any such Redemption Price or Special
     Redemption Price payable on such date will be next succeeding day that is a
     Business Day (and  without any interest or other  payment in respect of any
     such delay)  except that,  if such  Business Day falls in the next calendar
     year, such payment will be made on the immediately  preceding Business Day,

                                      I-7

<PAGE>

     in each case with the same  force and  effect as if made on such date fixed
     for redemption.  If payment of the Redemption  Price or Special  Redemption
     Price in respect of any  Securities is  improperly  withheld or refused and
     not paid  either  by the  Trust or by the  Debenture  Issuer  as  guarantor
     pursuant to the Guarantee,  Distributions  on such Securities will continue
     to accrue at the Distribution Rate from the original Redemption Date to the
     actual  date of  payment,  in which  case the actual  payment  date will be
     considered the date fixed for  redemption  for purposes of calculating  the
     Redemption  Price  or  Special  Redemption  Price.  In  the  event  of  any
     redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust
     shall not be required to (i) issue,  register  the  transfer of or exchange
     any Security  during a period  beginning at the opening of business 15 days
     before any selection for redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at
     the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant  notice of
     redemption  is deemed  to have been  given to all  Holders  of the  Capital
     Securities  to be so redeemed or (ii)  register the transfer of or exchange
     any Capital  Securities  so selected for  redemption,  in whole or in part,
     except for the unredeemed  portion of any Capital Securities being redeemed
     in part.

          (iii)   Redemption/Distribution   Notices   shall   be   sent  by  the
     Administrators  on  behalf of the Trust to (A) in  respect  of the  Capital
     Securities,   the  Holders  thereof  and  (B)  in  respect  of  the  Common
     Securities, the Holder thereof.

          (iv) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law  (including,  without
     limitation,  United States federal  securities laws), and provided that the
     acquiror is not the Holder of the Common  Securities  or the obligor  under
     the Indenture,  the Sponsor or any of its  subsidiaries may at any time and
     from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the
     open market or by private agreement.

     5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities.
        ----------------------------------

     (a)  Except  as  provided  under  paragraphs  5(b)  and 7 and as  otherwise
required by law and the Declaration,  the Holders of the Capital Securities will
have no voting rights.  The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the
Holders of the  Capital  Securities  if directed to do so by Holders of at least
10% in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.

     (b)  Subject  to  the  requirements  of  obtaining  a tax  opinion  by  the
Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of
this paragraph,  the Holders of a Majority in liquidation  amount of the Capital
Securities,  voting  separately  as a class,  have the right to direct the time,
method,  and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy  available to the
Institutional  Trustee,  or  exercising  any trust or power  conferred  upon the
Institutional  Trustee under the Declaration,  including the right to direct the
Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies
available  under the Indenture as the holder of the  Debentures,  (ii) waive any
past default that is waivable under the  Indenture,  (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be
due and  payable  or (iv)  consent on behalf of all the  Holders of the  Capital
Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
Debentures where such consent shall be required;  provided, however, that, where
a consent or action under the Indenture  would require the consent or act of the
holders of greater  than a simple  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of
Debentures (a "Super Majority") affected thereby, the Institutional  Trustee may
only give such  consent  or take such  action at the  written  direction  of the
Holders  of at  least  the  proportion  in  liquidation  amount  of the  Capital
Securities  outstanding  which the relevant  Super  Majority  represents  of the
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures  outstanding.  If the Institutional
Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures  after the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation  amount of such Capital  Securities have so directed the
Institutional  Trustee,  to the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the
Capital  Securities  may  institute  a legal  proceeding  directly  against  the
Debenture  Issuer  to  enforce  the  Institutional  Trustee's  rights  under the

                                      I-8

<PAGE>

Debentures   without  first   instituting  any  legal  proceeding   against  the
Institutional  Trustee  or any  other  person  or  entity.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event
is  attributable  to the  failure of the  Debenture  Issuer to pay  interest  or
principal on the Debentures on the date the interest or principal is payable (or
in the case of redemption,  the Redemption Date or the Special  Redemption Date,
as applicable),  then a Holder of record of the Capital  Securities may directly
institute a proceeding for  enforcement  of payment,  on or after the respective
due dates specified in the Debentures,  to such Holder directly of the principal
of or interest on the Debentures  having an aggregate  principal amount equal to
the aggregate  liquidation  amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The
Institutional  Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any
default  actually  known  to  the  Institutional  Trustee  with  respect  to the
Debentures  unless (x) such  default  has been cured prior to the giving of such
notice  or (y) the  Institutional  Trustee  determines  in good  faith  that the
withholding  of such notice is in the  interest  of the Holders of such  Capital
Securities,  except where the default  relates to the payment of principal of or
interest on any of the  Debentures.  Such notice shall state that such Indenture
Event of Default also  constitutes  an Event of Default  hereunder.  Except with
respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a
remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in
clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the  Institutional  Trustee has obtained
an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that,  as a result of such  action,  the
Trust will not be  classified  as other than a grantor  trust for United  States
federal income tax purposes.

     In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the
Debentures,  is required  under the  Indenture  with  respect to any  amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture,  the  Institutional  Trustee shall
request the  direction  of the Holders of the  Securities  with  respect to such
amendment,  modification  or  termination  and shall  vote with  respect to such
amendment,  modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Securities voting together as a single class;  provided,  however,
                                                             --------   -------
that  where a  consent  under the  Indenture  would  require  the  consent  of a
Super-Majority,  the  Institutional  Trustee  may only give such  consent at the
direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the
Securities  outstanding  which the  relevant  Super-Majority  represents  of the
aggregate  principal  amount of the Debentures  outstanding.  The  Institutional
Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance  with the directions of the
Holders of the  Securities  unless the  Institutional  Trustee  has  obtained an
opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust
will not be classified  as other than a grantor trust for United States  federal
income tax purposes.

     A waiver of an Indenture  Event of Default will  constitute a waiver of the
corresponding Event of Default hereunder.  Any required approval or direction of
Holders of the Capital  Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders
of the Capital Securities  convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the
Holders of the  Securities  in the Trust or  pursuant  to written  consent.  The
Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the
Capital  Securities  are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by
written  consent of such Holders is to be taken,  to be mailed to each Holder of
record of the Capital  Securities.  Each such  notice  will  include a statement
setting forth the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date
by which  such  action  is to be taken,  (ii) a  description  of any  resolution
proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote
or of such matter upon which  written  consent is sought and (iii)  instructions
for the  delivery of proxies or  consents.  No vote or consent of the Holders of
the  Capital  Securities  will be  required  for the Trust to redeem  and cancel
Capital  Securities or to  distribute  the  Debentures  in  accordance  with the
Declaration and the terms of the Securities.

     Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the  circumstances  described  above, any of the Capital
Securities  that are owned by the Sponsor or any  Affiliate of the Sponsor shall
not entitle the Holder  thereof to vote or consent  and shall,  for  purposes of
such  vote or  consent,  be  treated  as if such  Capital  Securities  were  not
outstanding.

                                      I-9

<PAGE>

     In no event will Holders of the Capital  Securities  have the right to vote
to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested
exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common  Securities of the
Trust.  Under certain  circumstances as more fully described in the Declaration,
Holders  of  Capital  Securities  have the right to vote to  appoint,  remove or
replace the Institutional Trustee.

     6. Voting Rights - Common Securities.
        ---------------------------------

     (a) Except as provided under  paragraphs  6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise
required by law and the Declaration,  the Common  Securities will have no voting
rights.

     (b) The Holders of the Common  Securities are entitled,  in accordance with
Article  IV of the  Declaration,  to vote to  appoint,  remove  or  replace  any
Administrators.

     (c) Subject to Section 6.7 of the  Declaration and only after each Event of
Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured,  waived,
or otherwise  eliminated and subject to the  requirements  of the second to last
sentence of this paragraph,  the Holders of a Majority in liquidation  amount of
the  Common  Securities,  voting  separately  as a class,  may  direct the time,
method,  and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy  available to the
Institutional  Trustee,  or  exercising  any trust or power  conferred  upon the
Institutional  Trustee under the Declaration,  including (i) directing the time,
method,  place of  conducting  any  proceeding  for any remedy  available to the
Debenture  Trustee,  or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture
Trustee  with respect to the  Debentures,  (ii) waiving any past default and its
consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any right
to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall
be due and payable; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the
                    --------  -------
Indenture would require a Super  Majority,  the  Institutional  Trustee may only
give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of
at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the
relevant  Super  Majority  represents of the aggregate  principal  amount of the
Debentures  outstanding.  Notwithstanding this paragraph 6(c), the Institutional
Trustee shall not revoke any action previously  authorized or approved by a vote
or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities.  Other than with respect to
directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the  Institutional  Trustee or the  Debenture  Trustee as set forth
above,  the  Institutional  Trustee shall not take any action  described in (i),
(ii) or (iii) above, unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of
tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States  federal income
tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of
such action. If the Institutional  Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
Declaration  to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law, any Holder of the Common
Securities  may  institute  a legal  proceeding  directly  against any Person to
enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Declaration,  without first
instituting a legal proceeding  against the  Institutional  Trustee or any other
Person.

     Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common  Securities may be given
at a separate  meeting of Holders  of the Common  Securities  convened  for such
purpose,  at a meeting of all of the Holders of the  Securities  in the Trust or
pursuant  to  written  consent.  The  Administrators  will cause a notice of any
meeting at which  Holders of the Common  Securities  are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written  consent of such Holders is to be taken,
to be mailed to each  Holder of the Common  Securities.  Each such  notice  will
include a statement  setting  forth (i) the date of such  meeting or the date by
which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution  proposed
for  adoption at such  meeting on which such  Holders are entitled to vote or of
such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii)  instructions for the
delivery of proxies or consents.

                                      I-10

<PAGE>

     No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required
for the Trust to redeem  and  cancel  Common  Securities  or to  distribute  the
Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.

     7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.
        ---------------------------------------

     (a) In addition to any requirements  under Section 11.1 of the Declaration,
if any proposed amendment to the Declaration  provides for, or the Institutional
Trustee,  Sponsor or Administrators  otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action
that would  adversely  affect the powers,  preferences  or special rights of the
Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii)
the  Liquidation  of the Trust,  other than as  described  in Section 7.1 of the
Declaration,  then the Holders of outstanding  Securities,  voting together as a
single  class,  will be entitled to vote on such  amendment or proposal and such
amendment  or proposal  shall not be  effective  except with the approval of the
Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities, affected
thereby;  provided,  however, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause
          --------   -------
(i) above would adversely affect only the Capital  Securities or only the Common
Securities,  then  only the  affected  class  will be  entitled  to vote on such
amendment  or proposal  and such  amendment  or proposal  shall not be effective
except with the  approval of a Majority in  liquidation  amount of such class of
Securities.

     (b) In the event the consent of the Institutional  Trustee as the holder of
the  Debentures is required  under the Indenture  with respect to any amendment,
modification   or   termination  of  the  Indenture  or  the   Debentures,   the
Institutional  Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the
Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall
vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by
a Majority in liquidation  amount of the Securities  voting together as a single
class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require
       --------  -------
a Super Majority,  the  Institutional  Trustee may only give such consent at the
direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the
Securities  which  the  relevant  Super  Majority  represents  of the  aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures outstanding.

     (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made
to the Declaration if such amendment or  modification  would (i) cause the Trust
to be classified for purposes of United States federal income  taxation as other
than a grantor trust,  (ii) reduce or otherwise  adversely  affect the powers of
the  Institutional  Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an  Investment
Company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.

     (d)  Notwithstanding  any  provision of the  Declaration,  the right of any
Holder of the Capital  Securities to receive payment of distributions  and other
payments upon redemption or otherwise,  on or after their  respective due dates,
or to institute a suit for the  enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates,  shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such
Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision,  each and
every Holder of the Capital  Securities  shall be entitled to such relief as can
be given either at law or equity.

     8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the  Securities  to any payment,
        --------
distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder
                                    --------
of  the  Securities  according  to  the  aggregate  liquidation  amount  of  the
Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate  liquidation
amount of all Securities then outstanding  unless, in relation to a payment,  an
Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  in which  case any  funds
available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital
Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities  held by the relevant  Holder  relative to the aggregate  liquidation
amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all
amounts  owed to the  Holders of the Capital  Securities,  to each Holder of the
Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate  liquidation amount of the

                                      I-11

<PAGE>

Common  Securities  held  by the  relevant  Holder  relative  to  the  aggregate
liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.

     9. Ranking. The Capital Securities rank pari passu with and payment thereon
        -------
shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of
Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  the rights of Holders of the Common
Securities to receive payment of  Distributions  and payments upon  liquidation,
redemption  and otherwise are  subordinated  to the rights of the Holders of the
Capital  Securities with the result that no payment of any  Distribution  on, or
Redemption Price (or Special  Redemption Price) of, any Common Security,  and no
other payment on account of  redemption,  liquidation  or other  acquisition  of
Common  Securities,  shall  be  made  unless  payment  in  full  in  cash of all
accumulated and unpaid  Distributions on all outstanding  Capital Securities for
all  distribution  periods  terminating on or prior  thereto,  or in the case of
payment of the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) the full amount of
such Redemption Price (or Special  Redemption Price) on all outstanding  Capital
Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and
all funds  immediately  available to the  Institutional  Trustee  shall first be
applied  to the  payment  in  full  in  cash  of all  Distributions  on,  or the
Redemption Price (or Special  Redemption Price) of, the Capital  Securities then
due and payable.

     10.  Acceptance  of  Guarantee  and  Indenture.  Each Holder of the Capital
          -----------------------------------------
Securities  and the Common  Securities,  by the  acceptance of such  Securities,
agrees  to  the  provisions  of  the  Guarantee,   including  the  subordination
provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture.

     11. No  Preemptive  Rights.  The  Holders of the  Securities  shall have no
         ----------------------
preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities.

     12.  Miscellaneous.  These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.  The
          -------------
Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture
to a Holder  without  charge on written  request to the Sponsor at its principal
place of business.

                                      I-12

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A-1

                      FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

                           [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

     THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED  (THE  "SECURITIES  ACT"),  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  LAWS  OR  ANY  OTHER
APPLICABLE   SECURITIES   LAW.   NEITHER  THIS  SECURITY  NOR  ANY  INTEREST  OR
PARTICIPATION  HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED,  SOLD, ASSIGNED,  TRANSFERRED,  PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED  OR  OTHERWISE  DISPOSED  OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH  REGISTRATION  OR
UNLESS SUCH  TRANSACTION  IS EXEMPT  FROM,  OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE  REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE
HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  BY ITS  ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF  AGREES  TO OFFER,  SELL OR
OTHERWISE  TRANSFER  THIS  SECURITY  ONLY (A) TO THE  SPONSOR OR THE TRUST,  (B)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION  STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE
SECURITIES  ACT,  (C) TO A  PERSON  WHOM THE  SELLER  REASONABLY  BELIEVES  IS A
QUALIFIED  INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE
144A SO LONG AS THIS  SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE  FOR RESALE  PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S.  PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE  TRANSACTION
IN ACCORDANCE  WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS  APPLICABLE)  OF REGULATION S UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN  INSTITUTIONAL  "ACCREDITED  INVESTOR"  WITHIN THE
MEANING  OF  SUBPARAGRAPH  (A) OF RULE  501  UNDER  THE  SECURITIES  ACT THAT IS
ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT,  OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH
AN INSTITUTIONAL  ACCREDITED  INVESTOR,  FOR INVESTMENT  PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A
VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION  WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION
OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION  REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES  ACT,  SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND
THE  TRUST'S  RIGHT  PRIOR TO ANY SUCH  OFFER,  SALE OR  TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE
DELIVERY  OF AN OPINION  OF  COUNSEL,  CERTIFICATION  AND/OR  OTHER  INFORMATION
SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY
OF WHICH MAY BE  OBTAINED  FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST.  HEDGING  TRANSACTIONS
INVOLVING  THIS  SECURITY MAY NOT BE  CONDUCTED  UNLESS IN  COMPLIANCE  WITH THE
SECURITIES ACT.

     THE  HOLDER  OF  THIS  SECURITY  BY  ITS  ACCEPTANCE  HEREOF  ALSO  AGREES,
REPRESENTS  AND  WARRANTS  THAT  IT  IS  NOT  AN  EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT,  INDIVIDUAL
RETIREMENT  ACCOUNT  OR  OTHER  PLAN OR  ARRANGEMENT  SUBJECT  TO TITLE I OF THE
EMPLOYEE  RETIREMENT  INCOME  SECURITY  ACT OF 1974,  AS AMENDED  ("ERISA"),  OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH
A "PLAN"),  OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON
OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF
ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH
PURCHASER  OR HOLDER IS  ELIGIBLE  FOR  EXEMPTIVE  RELIEF  AVAILABLE  UNDER U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED  TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38,
90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER  APPLICABLE  EXEMPTION  OR ITS  PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF
THIS  SECURITY IS NOT  PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE
CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH  PURCHASE OR HOLDING.  ANY  PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE
SECURITIES  OR ANY INTEREST  THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE  REPRESENTED  BY ITS
PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT PLAN
WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA,  OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF

                                     A-1-1

<PAGE>

THE CODE IS  APPLICABLE,  A  TRUSTEE  OR OTHER  PERSON  ACTING  ON  BEHALF OF AN
EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF
ANY  EMPLOYEE  BENEFIT  PLAN OR PLAN TO  FINANCE  SUCH  PURCHASE,  OR (ii)  SUCH
PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED  TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA
OR  SECTION  4975 OF THE CODE FOR  WHICH  THERE IS NO  APPLICABLE  STATUTORY  OR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

     THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A
LIQUIDATION  AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN  $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES
OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK
HAVING A LIQUIDATION  AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID
AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

     THE HOLDER OF THIS  SECURITY  AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

     IN CONNECTION  WITH ANY TRANSFER,  THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR
AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY
THE  DECLARATION  TO  CONFIRM  THAT THE  TRANSFER  COMPLIES  WITH THE  FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

     Certificate Number P-1                     3,000 Capital Securities

                                  June 26, 2003

             Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities

                                       of

                        Florida Banks Statutory Trust III

               (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security)

     Florida Banks Statutory Trust III, a statutory trust created under the laws
of the State of Connecticut (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Hare & Co. (the
"Holder"),  as the nominee of The Bank of New York,  indenture trustee under the
Indenture  dated as of June 26, 2003 among  Preferred  Term  Securities X, Ltd.,
Preferred  Term  Securities X, Inc. and The Bank of New York, is the  registered
owner of  capital  securities  of the Trust  representing  undivided  beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust,  (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital
security) (the "Capital  Securities").  Subject to the  Declaration  (as defined
below),  the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the
Trust  in  person  or by a duly  authorized  attorney,  upon  surrender  of this
Certificate  duly  endorsed  and  in  proper  form  for  transfer.  The  Capital
Securities  represented  hereby are  issued  pursuant  to, and the  designation,
rights, privileges, restrictions,  preferences and other terms and provisions of
the Capital  Securities  shall in all respects be subject to, the  provisions of
the Amended and Restated  Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of June 26,
2003, among Charles E. Hughes,  Jr., T. Edwin Stinson,  Jr. and Perry Kenner, as
Administrators,  U.S.  Bank  National  Association,  as  Institutional  Trustee,
Florida Banks, Inc., as Sponsor,  and the holders from time to time of undivided
beneficial  interests in the assets of the Trust,  including the  designation of
the terms of the Capital  Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and
restated  declaration  as the  same  may be  amended  from  time  to  time  (the
"Declaration").  Capitalized  terms used herein but not  defined  shall have the
meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of
the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of
the Declaration,  the Guarantee,  and the Indenture to the Holder without charge
upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.

                                     A-1-2

<PAGE>

     Upon receipt of this Security,  the Holder is bound by the  Declaration and
is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

     By acceptance  of this  Security,  the Holder  agrees to treat,  for United
States  federal  income tax purposes,  the  Debentures as  indebtedness  and the
Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures.

     This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of  Connecticut,  without  regard to principles of conflict of
laws.

                       Signatures appear on following page





                                     A-1-3

<PAGE>



     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.

                        FLORIDA BANKS STATUTORY TRUST III



                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                              Name:
                              Title: Administrator


                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

         This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Declaration.


                        U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
                        as the Institutional Trustee


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                                                Authorized Officer

                                     A-1-4

<PAGE>



                      [FORM OF REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY]

     Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual
rate equal to 4.16% beginning on (and  including) the date of original  issuance
and ending on (but excluding)  September 26, 2003 and at an annual rate for each
successive  period  beginning on (and  including)  September 26, 2003,  and each
succeeding  Distribution  Payment Date,  and ending on (but  excluding) the next
succeeding  Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution  Period"),  equal to
3-Month LIBOR,  determined as described  below,  plus 3.10% (the "Coupon Rate");
provided, however, that prior to June 26, 2008, the Coupon Rate shall not exceed
--------  -------
11.75%,  applied to the  stated  liquidation  amount of  $1,000.00  per  Capital
Security,  such rate being the rate of interest  payable on the Debentures to be
held by the Institutional  Trustee.  Distributions in arrears will bear interest
thereon  compounded  quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted
by  applicable  law).  The term  "Distributions"  as used herein  includes  cash
distributions  and any such compounded  distributions  unless otherwise noted. A
Distribution  is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the  Debentures  held  by  the  Institutional  Trustee  and to  the  extent  the
Institutional   Trustee  has  funds   available   therefor.   As  used   herein,
"Determination  Date" means the date that is two London  Banking  Days (i.e.,  a
business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the
London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution
Period.  In the event that any date on which a  Distribution  is payable on this
Capital  Security  is not a Business  Day,  then a payment  of the  Distribution
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business
Day (and  without any  interest or other  payment in respect of any such delay),
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding  calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the  immediately  preceding  Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally
payable. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will
be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount
outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution  Period and multiplying each
such amount by the actual number of days in the  Distribution  Period  concerned
divided by 360.

     "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest
rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in
the following  order of priority:  (i) the rate  (expressed as a percentage  per
annum) for U.S. dollar  deposits  having a three-month  maturity that appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m.  (London time) on the related  Determination
Date  ("Telerate  Page 3750" means the display  designated as "Page 3750" on the
Dow Jones  Telerate  Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other  service or  services as may be  nominated  by the British
Bankers'  Association  as the  information  vendor for the purpose of displaying
London  interbank  offered rates for U.S.  dollar  deposits);  (ii) if such rate
cannot be identified on the related  Determination  Date, the Debenture  Trustee
will request the  principal  London  offices of four leading banks in the London
interbank  market to  provide  such  banks'  offered  quotations  (expressed  as
percentages  per annum) to prime banks in the London  interbank  market for U.S.
dollar deposits having a three-month  maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on
such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided,  3-Month LIBOR
will be the  arithmetic  mean of such  quotations;  (iii) if fewer than two such
quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee
will  request  four  major New York City banks to provide  such  banks'  offered
quotations  (expressed as percentages  per annum) to leading  European banks for
loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.
If at  least  two  such  quotations  are  provided,  3-Month  LIBOR  will be the
arithmetic mean of such  quotations;  and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations
are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month
LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution  Period immediately  preceding
such current  Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month  maturity that  initially  appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m.  (London  time) on the  related  Determination  Date is  superseded  on the
Telerate  Page 3750 by a  corrected  rate by 12:00  noon  (London  time) on such
Determination  Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable
page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

                                     A-1-5

<PAGE>

     The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher
than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified
by United States law.

     All percentages  resulting from any calculations on the Capital  Securities
will be  rounded,  if  necessary,  to the nearest  one  hundred-thousandth  of a
percentage point, with five  one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward
(e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all
dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

     Except  as  otherwise   described  below,   Distributions  on  the  Capital
Securities  will be cumulative,  will accrue from the date of original  issuance
and will be payable  quarterly in arrears on March 26, June 26, September 26 and
December 26 of each year, commencing on September 26, 2003. The Debenture Issuer
has the  right  under  the  Indenture  to  defer  payments  of  interest  on the
Debentures,  so long as no  Indenture  Event  of  Default  has  occurred  and is
continuing,  by extending the interest  payment  period for up to 20 consecutive
quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time
on the  Debentures,  subject to the  conditions  described  below,  during which
Extension  Period no interest  shall be due and  payable.  During any  Extension
Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such
accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in
effect for each such Extension Period,  compounded  quarterly from the date such
interest  would have been payable were it not for the Extension  Period,  to the
extent  permitted  by law (such  interest  referred  to  herein  as  "Additional
Interest").  No  Extension  Period may end on a date  other than a  Distribution
Payment  Date. At the end of any such  Extension  Period,  the Debenture  Issuer
shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures  (together with
Additional Interest thereon);  provided,  however,  that no Extension Period may
extend  beyond the Maturity  Date.  Prior to the  termination  of any  Extension
Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period,  provided that such
period  together  with all such  previous  and  further  consecutive  extensions
thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive  quarterly periods, or extend beyond the
Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment
of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer
may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing  requirements.  No
interest or  Additional  Interest  shall be due and payable  during an Extension
Period,  except at the end thereof,  but each installment of interest that would
otherwise  have been due and payable  during such  Extension  Period  shall bear
Additional Interest.  During any Extension Period,  Distributions on the Capital
Securities  shall be deferred for a period  equal to the  Extension  Period.  If
Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that
the related  Extension Period  terminates,  to Holders of the Securities as they
appear on the books and  records  of the Trust on the  record  date  immediately
preceding such date.  Distributions  on the Securities must be paid on the dates
payable  (after giving  effect to any  Extension  Period) to the extent that the
Trust has funds available for the payment of such  distributions in the Property
Account of the Trust.  The  Trust's  funds  available  for  Distribution  to the
Holders  of the  Securities  will be  limited  to  payments  received  from  the
Debenture  Issuer.  The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust
is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.

     The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.

                                     A-1-6

<PAGE>



                                   ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  undersigned  assigns and transfers  this Capital
Security Certificate to:

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
                                                                     -----------

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------



     (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------



     agent to transfer  this Capital  Security  Certificate  on the books of the
Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

     Date:
          ---------------------------------------

     Signature:
               ----------------------------------

          (Sign  exactly as your name  appears on the other side of this Capital
     Security Certificate)

         Signature Guarantee:1


--------

1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor  institution" that is a
bank,  stockbroker,  savings and loan  association  or credit union  meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities  Transfer Agents Medallion  Program ("STAMP") or
such other  "signature  guarantee  program" as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution  for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                     A-1-7

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT A-2

                       FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE

     THIS COMMON  SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN  REGISTERED  UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION.

     THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE  EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 8.1
OF THE DECLARATION.

     Certificate Number C-1                            93 Common Securities

                                  June 26, 2003

             Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Common Securities

                                       of

                        Florida Banks Statutory Trust III

     Florida Banks Statutory Trust III, a statutory trust created under the laws
of the State of Connecticut (the "Trust"),  hereby certifies that Florida Banks,
Inc. (the  "Holder") is the registered  owner of common  securities of the Trust
representing  undivided  beneficial  interests  in the  assets of the Trust (the
"Common  Securities").  The  Common  Securities  represented  hereby  are issued
pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,  preferences
and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be
subject to, the  provisions of the Amended and Restated  Declaration of Trust of
the Trust dated as of June 26,  2003,  among  Charles E.  Hughes,  Jr., T. Edwin
Stinson,   Jr.  and  Perry  Kenner,  as   Administrators,   U.S.  Bank  National
Association,  as Institutional Trustee, Florida Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the
holders from time to time of undivided  beneficial interest in the assets of the
Trust  including the  designation  of the terms of the Common  Securities as set
forth in Annex I to such  amended and restated  declaration,  as the same may be
amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but
not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration.  The Holder is
entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent  provided  therein.  The
Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration,  the Guarantee and the Indenture
to the  Holder  without  charge  upon  written  request  to the  Sponsor  at its
principal place of business.

     As set forth in the Declaration,  when an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing,  the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect
of  Distributions  and payments  upon  Liquidation,  redemption or otherwise are
subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital Securities.

     Upon receipt of this  Certificate,  the Holder is bound by the  Declaration
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

     By acceptance of this  Certificate,  the Holder agrees to treat, for United
States  federal  income tax purposes,  the  Debentures as  indebtedness  and the
Common  Securities  as  evidence  of  undivided   beneficial  ownership  in  the
Debentures.

     This Common Security is governed by, and construed in accordance  with, the
laws of the State of  Connecticut,  without  regard to principles of conflict of
laws.

                                     A-2-1

<PAGE>



        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.

                        FLORIDA BANKS STATUTORY TRUST III


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------------------------
                           Name:
                           Title: Administrator

                                     A-2-2

<PAGE>



                      [FORM OF REVERSE OF COMMON SECURITY]

     Distributions  payable on each Common Security will be payable at an annual
rate equal to 4.16% beginning on (and  including) the date of original  issuance
and ending on (but excluding)  September 26, 2003 and at an annual rate for each
successive  period  beginning on (and  including)  September 26, 2003,  and each
succeeding  Distribution  Payment Date,  and ending on (but  excluding) the next
succeeding  Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution  Period"),  equal to
3-Month LIBOR,  determined as described  below,  plus 3.10% (the "Coupon Rate");
provided, however, that prior to June 26, 2008, the Coupon Rate shall not exceed
--------  -------
11.75%,  applied  to the  stated  liquidation  amount of  $1,000.00  per  Common
Security,  such rate being the rate of interest  payable on the Debentures to be
held by the Institutional  Trustee.  Distributions in arrears will bear interest
thereon  compounded  quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted
by  applicable  law).  The term  "Distributions"  as used herein  includes  cash
distributions  and any such compounded  distributions  unless otherwise noted. A
Distribution  is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the  Debentures  held  by  the  Institutional  Trustee  and to  the  extent  the
Institutional   Trustee  has  funds   available   therefor.   As  used   herein,
"Determination  Date" means the date that is two London  Banking  Days (i.e.,  a
business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the
London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution
Period.  In the event that any date on which a  Distribution  is payable on this
Common  Security  is not a  Business  Day,  then a payment  of the  Distribution
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business
Day (and  without any  interest or other  payment in respect of any such delay),
except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding  calendar year, such
payment shall be made on the  immediately  preceding  Business Day, in each case
with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally
payable. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will
be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount
outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution  Period and multiplying each
such amount by the actual number of days in the  Distribution  Period  concerned
divided by 360.

     "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest
rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in
the following  order of priority:  (i) the rate  (expressed as a percentage  per
annum) for U.S. dollar  deposits  having a three-month  maturity that appears on
Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m.  (London time) on the related  Determination
Date  ("Telerate  Page 3750" means the display  designated as "Page 3750" on the
Dow Jones  Telerate  Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that
service or such other  service or  services as may be  nominated  by the British
Bankers'  Association  as the  information  vendor for the purpose of displaying
London  interbank  offered rates for U.S.  dollar  deposits);  (ii) if such rate
cannot be identified on the related  Determination  Date, the Debenture  Trustee
will request the  principal  London  offices of four leading banks in the London
interbank  market to  provide  such  banks'  offered  quotations  (expressed  as
percentages  per annum) to prime banks in the London  interbank  market for U.S.
dollar deposits having a three-month  maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on
such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided,  3-Month LIBOR
will be the  arithmetic  mean of such  quotations;  (iii) if fewer than two such
quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee
will  request  four  major New York City banks to provide  such  banks'  offered
quotations  (expressed as percentages  per annum) to leading  European banks for
loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.
If at  least  two  such  quotations  are  provided,  3-Month  LIBOR  will be the
arithmetic mean of such  quotations;  and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations
are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month
LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution  Period immediately  preceding
such current  Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month  maturity that  initially  appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00
a.m.  (London  time) on the  related  Determination  Date is  superseded  on the
Telerate  Page 3750 by a  corrected  rate by 12:00  noon  (London  time) on such
Determination  Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable
page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

                                     A-2-3

<PAGE>

     The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher
than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified
by United States law.

     All percentages  resulting from any  calculations on the Common  Securities
will be  rounded,  if  necessary,  to the nearest  one  hundred-thousandth  of a
percentage point, with five  one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward
(e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all
dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

     Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities
will be cumulative,  will accrue from the date of original  issuance and will be
payable  quarterly in arrears on March 26, June 26, September 26 and December 26
of each year,  commencing  on September 26, 2003.  The Debenture  Issuer has the
right under the Indenture to defer  payments of interest on the  Debentures,  so
long as no  Indenture  Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing,  by
extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods
(each  an  "Extension  Period")  at any  time  and  from  time  to  time  on the
Debentures,  subject to the conditions  described below,  during which Extension
Period no  interest  shall be due and  payable.  During  any  Extension  Period,
interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued
interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution  Rate in effect
for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest
would have been  payable  were it not for the  Extension  Period,  to the extent
permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No
Extension  Period may end on a date other than a  Distribution  Payment Date. At
the end of any  such  Extension  Period,  the  Debenture  Issuer  shall  pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid on the  Debentures  (together  with  Additional
Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the  Maturity  Date.  Prior to the  termination  of any  Extension  Period,  the
Debenture  Issuer may further  extend  such  period,  provided  that such period
together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall
not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued
and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a
new  Extension  Period,  subject to the foregoing  requirements.  No interest or
Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period,  except
at the end thereof,  but each  installment of interest that would otherwise have
been  due and  payable  during  such  Extension  Period  shall  bear  Additional
Interest.  During any Extension  Period,  Distributions on the Common Securities
shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension  Period.  If Distributions
are deferred,  the  Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related
Extension Period terminates,  to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the
books and records of the Trust on the record  date  immediately  preceding  such
date.  Distributions  on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after
giving  effect to any  Extension  Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds
available for the payment of such  distributions  in the Property Account of the
Trust.  The  Trust's  funds  available  for  Distribution  to the Holders of the
Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer.

     The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.

                                     A-2-4

<PAGE>



                                   ASSIGNMENT

     FOR VALUE  RECEIVED,  the  undersigned  assigns and  transfers  this Common
Security Certificate to:

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)
                                                                     -----------

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

         (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints

     ----------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                           agent
          -----------------------------------------------------------------
          to  transfer  this  Common  Security  Certificate  on the books of the
          Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

          Date:
               ------------------------------------------------

          Signature:
                    -------------------------------------------

          (Sign  exactly as your name  appears on the other side of this  Common
          Security Certificate)

          Signature:
                    -------------------------------------------

          (Sign  exactly as your name  appears on the other side of this  Common
          Security Certificate)

     Signature Guarantee2


----------
2 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor  institution" that is a
bank,  stockbroker,  savings and loan  association or credit union,  meeting the
requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Securities  Transfer Agents Medallion  Program ("STAMP") or
such other  "signature  guarantee  program" as may be determined by the Security
registrar in addition to, or in substitution  for, STAMP, all in accordance with
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

                                     A-2-5

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT B

                          SPECIMEN OF INITIAL DEBENTURE

                                (See Tab No. 16)





                                      B-1

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT C

                               PLACEMENT AGREEMENT

                                 (See Tab No. 1)





                                       C-1