Document:

EX-10.(R) DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

 

Exhibit 10(r)

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

FOR

COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.

AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2003

ARTICLE I

Purpose and Adoption of Plan

     1.1 Adoption: Compass Bancshares, Inc. and the other Employing Companies adopted and
established the Deferred Compensation Plan for Compass Bancshares, Inc. effective as of February 1,
1996. The Plan is an unfunded deferred compensation arrangement whose benefits shall be paid
solely from the general assets of the Employing Companies.

     1.2 Purpose: The Plan is designed to permit a select group of management or highly
compensated employees to elect to defer a portion of their Compensation during each payroll period
until their death, disability, retirement, or termination of employment with their Employing
Company.

     1.3 Purpose of Amendment and Restatement: The purpose of the amendment and restatement
is to incorporate an amendment allowing for the transfer of other deferred compensation plan
accounts of Participants to this Plan under certain conditions and subject to the procedures of
this Plan.

ARTICLE II

Definitions

     For purposes of the Deferred Compensation Plan the following terms shall have the following
meanings unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

     2.1 “Account” shall mean the account or accounts established and maintained by the Company in
its books and records to reflect the interest of a Participant in the Plan resulting from a
Participant’s deferred Compensation and as a record of the hypothetical adjustments thereto to
reflect income, gains, losses, and other credits or charges.

     2.2 “Administrative Committee” shall mean the committee referred to in Section 3.1.

     2.3 “Basic Compensation” shall mean the monthly rate of an Employee’s base wages or salary
paid by any Employing Company to an Employee, including amounts contributed by an Employing Company
to the Compass Bancshares, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan as salary deferral contributions
pursuant to the Employee’s exercise of his deferral option made in accordance with Section 401(k)
of the Internal Revenue Code, amounts contributed by an Employing Company to the Compass
Bancshares, Inc. Flexible Benefits Plan (“Superflex”) on behalf of the Employee pursuant to his
salary reduction election under such plan and in accordance with Section 125 of the Internal
Revenue Code and amounts contributed to a qualified parking plan under Section 132(f) of the Code;
but disregarding overtime, bonuses,

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incentive pay and such amounts which are reimbursements to an
Employee paid by any Employing Company including, but not limited to, reimbursement for such items
as moving expenses, automobile expenses, tax preparation expenses, travel and entertainment
expenses, and health and life insurance premiums.

     2.4 “Beneficiary” shall mean any person, estate, trust, or organization entitled to receive
any payment under the Plan upon the death of a Participant.

     2.5 “Board of Directors” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

     2.6 “Closing Price” shall mean the closing price on any trading day of a share of the Common
Stock based on consolidated trading as defined by the Consolidated Tape Association and reported as
part of the consolidated trading prices of stock exchange on which the Common Stock is traded.

     2.7 “Common Stock” shall mean the common stock of the Company.

     2.8 “Company” shall mean Compass Bancshares, Inc.

     2.9 “Compensation” shall mean an Employee’s Basic Compensation and Incentive Compensation.

     2.10 “Deferral Election” shall mean the Participant’s written election to defer a portion of
his Compensation pursuant to Article III.

     2.11 “Effective Date” shall mean the first day of the first payroll period the Administrative
Committee shall permit a Participant to defer Compensation under the Plan.

     2.12 “Employee” shall mean any person who is currently employed by an Employing Company.

     2.13 “Employing Company” shall mean the Company, or each affiliate or subsidiary (direct or
indirect) of Compass Bancshares, Inc., which shall have Employees selected for participation in the
Plan.

     2.14 “Enrollment Date” shall mean the Effective Date, January 1 of each Plan Year, and such
other dates as may be determined from time to time by the Administrative Committee.

     2.15 “Incentive Compensation” shall mean bonuses, commissions, and other forms of
extraordinary compensation that are supplemental to Basic Compensation and are dependent upon the
Employee’s exceeding individual or corporate performance goals or upon other work-related
achievements and performance.

     2.16 “Investment Request” shall mean the Participant’s expressed preference to have his
deferred Compensation invested pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 and which is approved by the
Administrative Committee.

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     2.17 “Participant” shall mean an Employee or former Employee of an Employing Company who is
eligible to receive benefits under the Plan.

     2.18 “Plan” shall mean the Deferred Compensation Plan for Compass Bancshares, Inc, as amended
from time to time.

     2.19 “Plan Year” shall mean the twelve (12) month period commencing January 1st and ending on
the last day of December next following except that the first Plan Year shall be February 1, 1996
through December 31, 1996.

     The words in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and words in
the singular shall include the plural and words in the plural shall include the singular.

ARTICLE III

Administration of Plan

     3.1 The general administration of the Plan shall be placed in the Administrative Committee.
Members shall be appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company. Any member may resign or be
removed by the Board of Directors and new members may be appointed by the Board of Directors. The
Administrative Committee shall select a chairman and may select a secretary (who may, but need not,
be a member of the Administrative Committee) to keep its records or to assist it in the discharge
of its duties. A majority of the members of the Administrative Committee shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at any meeting. Any determination or action of the Administrative
Committee may be made or taken by a majority of the members present at any meeting thereof, or
without a meeting by resolution or written memorandum concurred in by a majority of the members.

     3.2 No member of the Administrative Committee shall receive any compensation from the Plan
for his service.

     3.3 The Administrative Committee shall administer the Plan in accordance with its terms and
shall have all powers necessary to carry out the provisions of the Plan more particularly set forth
herein. It shall interpret the Plan and shall determine all questions arising in the
administration, interpretation and application of the Plan. Any such determination by it shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons. It may adopt such regulations as it deems desirable for the
conduct of its affairs. It may appoint such accountants, counsel, actuaries, specialists and other
persons as it deems necessary or desirable in connection with the administration of this Plan, and
shall be the agent for the service of process.

     3.4 The Administrative Committee shall be reimbursed by the Employing Companies for all
reasonable expenses incurred by it in the fulfillment of its duties. Such expenses shall include
any expenses incident to its functioning, including, but not limited to, fees of accountants,
counsel, actuaries, and other specialists, and other costs of administering the Plan.

     3.5 (a) The Administrative Committee is responsible for the daily administration of the Plan.
It may appoint other persons or entities to perform any of its fiduciary functions. The
Administrative Committee and any such appointee may employ advisors and other persons

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necessary or convenient to help it carry out its duties, including its fiduciary duties. The Administrative
Committee shall review the work and performance of each such appointee, and shall have the right to
remove any such appointee from his position. Any person, group of persons or entity may serve in
more than one fiduciary capacity.

          (b) The Administrative Committee shall maintain accurate and detailed records and accounts of
Participants and of their rights under the Plan and of all receipts, disbursements, transfers and
other transactions concerning the Plan. Such accounts, books and records relating thereto shall be
open at all reasonable times to inspection and audit by the Board of Directors and by persons
designated thereby.

          (c) The Administrative Committee shall take all steps necessary to ensure that the Plan
complies with the law at all times. These steps shall include such items as the preparation and
filing of all documents and forms required by any governmental agency; maintaining of adequate
Participants’ records; recording and transmission of all notices required to be given to
Participants and their Beneficiaries; the receipt and dissemination, if required, of all reports
and information received from an Employing Company; and doing such other acts necessary for the
proper administration of the Plan. The Administrative Committee shall keep a record of all of its
proceedings and acts, and shall keep all such books of account, records and other data as may be
necessary for proper administration of the Plan. The Administrative Committee shall notify the
Company upon its request of any action taken by it, and when required, shall notify any other
interested person or persons.

3.6 The procedures for filing claims for payments under the Plan are described below:

          (a) It is the intent of the Company to make payments under the Plan without the Participant
having to complete or submit any claim forms. However, a Participant who believes he or she is
entitled to a payment under the Plan may submit a claim for payment to the Administrative
Committee. Any claim for payments under the Plan must be made by the Participant or his or her
Beneficiary in writing and state the claimant’s name and nature of benefits payable under the Plan.
The claimant’s claim shall be deemed to be filed when delivered to a member of the Administrative
Committee. The Administrative Committee shall respond to the claimant as soon as possible, but in
no event later than ninety (90) days after the claim is filed. If for any reason a claim for
payments under the Plan is denied, the Administrative Committee shall deliver to the claimant a
written explanation, in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, setting forth the
specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent provisions of the Plan on
which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information necessary for
the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is
necessary, and information on the procedures to be followed by the claimant in obtaining a review
of his or her claim.

          (b) The claimant shall have sixty (60) days following his or her receipt of the denial of the
claim to file with the Board of Directors of the Company a written request for review of the
denial. The Board of Directors of the Company shall decide the issue on review and furnish the
claimant with a written response within sixty (60) days of receipt of the claimant’s request for
review of the claimant’s claim. The response shall include specific reasons for the decision,
written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant, as well as specific references to
the pertinent provisions in the Plan on which the decision is based. If a

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decision is not so furnished to the claimant within such sixty (60) days, the claim shall be deemed denied on review.

          (c) In no event may a claimant commence legal action for benefits the claimant believes are
due the claimant until the claimant has exhausted all of the remedies and procedures afforded the
claimant by this Section 3.6.

ARTICLE IV

Eligibility

     4.1 Any Employee whose Basic Compensation and anticipated Incentive Compensation equals or
exceeds such minimum amount as may be established by the Administrative Committee from time to
time, may elect to participate in the Plan beginning on any Enrollment Date by electing to have his
Basic Compensation and/or Incentive Compensation reduced and such amounts contributed to the Plan
in accordance with Article V, and expressing his preference as to the investment of such
contributions in accordance with Article VI. The Administrative Committee shall be authorized to
establish the minimum Basic Compensation and anticipated Incentive Compensation required for
eligibility to participate in the Plan to be effective as of the first day of the next succeeding
Plan Year.

     4.2 Notwithstanding the above, the Administrative Committee shall be authorized to modify the
minimum Compensation amount and rescind the eligibility of any Participant if necessary to insure
that the Plan is maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to a
select group of management or highly compensated employees under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended.

     4.3 If the Administrative Committee shall determine a Participant shall no longer be eligible
to participate in the Plan, his Deferral Election shall terminate and he shall make no more
contributions under the Plan until it is again determined he is eligible to participate. The
Account of such a Participate shall continue to be adjusted by the provisions of Article VI until
the Account is distributed under Article VII.

ARTICLE V

Election for Deferral of Payment

     5.1 A Participant may elect to defer payment of a portion of his Compensation otherwise
payable to him during each payroll period after his Effective Date and by any whole percentage of
his Basic Compensation, and any whole percentage of his Incentive Compensation, such amount to be
credited to his Account under the Plan.

     5.2 An Account shall be established for each Participant by the Company as of the effective
date of such Participant’s initial Deferral Election.

     5.3 The Deferral Election shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the Company and
said Deferral Election shall state:

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          (a) That the Participant wishes to make an election to defer the
receipt of a portion of his Basic Compensation and/or Incentive Compensation;
and

          (b) The whole percentage of such compensation to be deferred.

     5.4 The initial Deferral Election of a new Participant shall be made by written notice signed
by the Participant and delivered to the Participant’s Employing Company not later than thirty (30)
days after the later of the Plan’s effective date or when the Employee first becomes eligible to
participate in the Plan. Any subsequent Deferral Election shall be made by written notice signed
by the Participant and delivered to the Participant’s Employing Company not later than the last day
of the month prior to the next succeeding Plan Year and shall be effective on the first day of such
succeeding Plan Year. A Deferral Election with respect to the deferral of future Basic
Compensation and Incentive Compensation shall be an annual election for each Plan Year unless
otherwise modified or revoked as provided herein. The termination of participation in the Plan
shall not affect Compensation previously deferred by a Participant under the Plan.

     At the time of the initial election, a Participant shall elect the form of payment to be
received upon his retirement or termination of employment, such form to be either (a) a lump sum,
or (b) monthly, quarterly, or annual installments over a period not to exceed fifteen (15) years.
The initial Deferral Election with respect to the form of payments shall govern the distribution of
such Participant’s Account, except as provided in Section 5.6. If a Participant fails to specify a
form of payment, his Account shall be distributed in a lump sum.

     5.5 Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.4 of the Plan, the Administrative Committee,
in its sole discretion upon written application by a Participant, may authorize the suspension of a
Participant’s Deferral Election in the event of an unforeseeable emergency. An unforeseeable
emergency is an unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the
Participant and that would result in severe financial hardship if suspension was not permitted.
Any suspension authorized by the Administrative Committee shall become effective as of the first
payroll period beginning thirty (30) days after receipt by the Participant’s Employing Company of
the suspension application, or as soon as practicable after the receipt of such application. Such
suspension shall be effective for the remainder of the Plan Year and shall be deemed an annual
election for each succeeding Plan Year unless modified under Section 5.4 of the Plan.

     5.6 With the approval of the Administrative Committee, a Participant may amend a prior
Deferral Election on a form provided by the Administrative Committee in order to change the form of
the distribution of his Account in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Any such amendment to a
prior Deferral Election shall be contingent upon the Participant’s completion of a one year term of
employment, except in the event of the Participant’s death or total and permanent disability as
determined by the Social Security Administration or by the Company’s insurance carrier under its
Long Term Disability Benefit Plan.

     5.7 Upon the request of a Participant and subject to the approval of the Administrative
Committee, an account held in another non-qualified deferred compensation plan sponsored by a
former employer of the Participant which former employer either became an Employing Company or was
acquired by an Employing Company, may be transferred to this Plan for accounting purposes, provided
that (a) the other non-qualified deferred compensation

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plan allows for such a transfer, and (b) the
transfer is made to the Company in cash and in an amount equal to the balance in the account of the
Participant under the other non-qualified deferred compensation plan at the time of the transfer.
Any such transfer received by the Company shall be credited for bookkeeping purposes to the
Participant’s balance in his Account and shall be governed by the terms and conditions of this
Plan. Under no circumstances shall the transfer mechanism under this Section 5.7 result in the
account of the Participant under another non-qualified deferred compensation plan nor in the
Participant’s Account being made available or distributable to the Participant.

ARTICLE VI

Investment of Accounts

     6.1 The Account of each Participant shall be credited as of the last day of each calendar
quarter with investment earnings based upon the assets in the Account or on such more frequent
basis as shall be authorized by the Administrative Committee. Participants before the beginning
of each Plan Year may request how the deferred amounts are to be invested. The investment
preference shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the Company and shall be delivered to
the Company at least ten (10) days prior to the Enrollment Date of the next succeeding Plan Year,
as appropriate, and shall be effective on such Enrollment Date or the first day of such succeeding
Plan Year. The Investment Request made in accordance with this Article VI shall continue from Plan
Year to Plan Year unless the Participant changes the Investment Request by submitting a written
request to the Company on a form prescribed by the Company not later than the tenth (10th) day
prior to the next succeeding Plan Year. Any such change shall become effective as of the first day
of the Plan Year next following the Plan Year in which such request is submitted to the Company.
The Administrative Committee shall be authorized to permit more frequent changes in investment
preferences to be effective on such dates as it shall specify. The Administrative Committee shall
consider the Investment Request but is not obligated to follow such request.

     6.2 Participants shall be permitted to request the investment options available to
participants in the Compass Bancshares, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan or any such other
investment options as the Administrative Committee may approve in its discretion and can allocate
their deferred Compensation among such options for the Plan Year. Dividends, interest and other
distributions deemed to be received with respect to an investment option shall be deemed to be
reinvested in the same investment option on such valuation system as shall be approved by the
Administrative Committee. No Participant shall be entitled to any voting rights with respect to
any shares of Company stock credited to his Account.

     6.3 At the end of each Plan Year (or on a more frequent basis as determined by the
Administrative Committee), a report shall be issued to each Participant who has an Account and said
report will set forth the value in such Account.

     6.4 The Accounts under the Plan shall be hypothetical in nature and shall be maintained for
bookkeeping purposes only. Neither the Plan nor any Account shall be required to hold any actual
fund or asset.

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ARTICLE VII

Distribution of Accounts

     7.1 When a Participant retires or terminates his employment with the Company, said Participant
shall be entitled to receive the balance of his Account in cash in a lump sum or in equal monthly,
quarterly or annual installments not to exceed a fifteen (15) year period as specified on the
Participant’s Deferral Election form.

     In the event the value of any Participant’s Account at the time distribution is to commence is
$10,000 or less, the Account shall be distributed in cash in a lump sum notwithstanding a
Participant’s election to have his Account distributed in installments under the Plan. All
payments due under this Section 7.1 shall be made or shall commence as soon as reasonably feasible
following retirement or termination of employment. Any amounts deemed to be invested in a Company
stock fund shall be equal to the market value of any shares of Common Stock reported in a
Participant’s Account, based on the Closing Price of such Common Stock during the day on which the
distribution is processed immediately preceding a lump sum distribution. No portion of a
Participant’s Account shall be distributed in Common Stock. The portion of an Account attributable
to investments deemed to be made in investments other than Common Stock shall be valued on the date
a distribution is processed. The transfer by a Participant between Employing Companies shall not
be deemed to be a termination of employment with an Employing Company for purposes of this Plan.

     7.2 Upon the death of Participant or former Participant prior to the payment of his Account,
the balance of his Account shall be paid in lump sum or in equal monthly, quarterly or annual
installments not to exceed a fifteen (15) year period as specified on the Participant’s designation
of beneficiary form to the designated beneficiary of the Participant or former Participant with
such payment to be made or payments to commence in the case of installment distributions within
sixty (60) days following the close of the calendar quarter in which the Administrative Committee
is provided evidence of the Participant’s death (or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter);
provided, however, if the value of the Account at the time an installment distribution is to
commence is $10,000 or less, the Account shall be distributed in a lump sum. In the event a
beneficiary designation is not on file or the designated beneficiary is deceased or cannot be
located, payment will be made to the estate of the Participant or former Participant. The market
value of any shares of Common Stock credited to a Participant’s Account shall be based on the
Closing Price of such Common Stock during the day on which the distribution is processed
immediately preceding the date of any lump sum or installment distribution. No portion of a
Participant’s Account shall be distributed in Common Stock. The portion of an Account attributable
to investments other than Common Stock shall be valued on the date a distribution is processed. If
a Participant who has elected to have his Account distributed in installments under the terms of
the Plan dies subsequent to the commencement of such installment payments but prior to the
completion of such payments, the installments shall continue and shall be paid to the beneficiary
as if the Participant had not died.

     7.3 The beneficiary designation may be changed by the Participant or former Participant at any
time without the consent of the prior beneficiary.

     7.4 A Participant may request a distribution due to an unforeseeable emergency by submitting a
written request to the Administrative Committee accompanied by evidence to

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demonstrate that the
circumstances being experienced qualify as an unforeseeable emergency. An unforeseeable emergency
is an unanticipated emergency that is caused by an event beyond the control of the Participant and
that would result in severe financial hardship if early withdrawal was not permitted. The
Administrative Committee shall have the authority to require such evidence as it deems necessary to
determine if a distribution is warranted. If an application for a hardship distribution due to an
unforeseeable emergency is approved, the distribution is limited to an amount sufficient to meet
the emergency. The allowed distribution shall be payable in a method determined by the
Administrative Committee as soon as possible after approval of such distribution.

     7.5 Upon a change of control of Compass Bancshares, Inc. a Participant shall be entitled to
receive the balance of his Account in a lump sum within sixty (60) days following the close of the
calendar quarter in which the change of control occurs. For purposes of this Section 7.5, a
“change of control” shall mean, for this purpose, (i) the acquisition by any individual, entity or
group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (a “Person”), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than 50% of either the then outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Common Stock”) or the combined voting power of the
then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors (the “Outstanding Voting Securities”), or (ii) consummation by the Company of a
reorganization, merger or consolidation, or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company, unless, following such acquisition of beneficial ownership or
transaction more than 60% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Person resulting
from such reorganization, merger or consolidation, or the Person acquiring such beneficial
ownership or assets, and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of
such Person entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, is then beneficially owned,
directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners, respectively, of Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities
immediately prior to such acquisition or transaction, in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of Outstanding Common Stock and Outstanding Voting Securities prior to such event.

ARTICLE VIII

Miscellaneous Provisions

     8.1 Neither the Participant, his beneficiary, nor his legal representative shall have any
rights to commute, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise convey the right to receive any payments
hereunder, which payments and the rights thereto are expressly declared to be nonassignable and
nontransferable. Any attempt to assign or transfer the right to payments of this Plan shall be
void and have no effect.

     8.2 The assets from which Participant benefits shall be paid shall at all times be subject to
the claims of the creditors of the Company and a Participant shall have no right, claim or interest
in any assets as to which account is deemed to be invested or credited under the Plan. The Plan
shall at all times be considered entirely unfunded for both tax purposes and for purposes of Title
I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) and no provision
shall at any time be made with respect to segregating assets of any

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Participant for payment of any
amounts hereunder. The Plan constitutes a mere promise of the Company to make payments to
Participants in the future and Participants have rights only as general unsecured creditors of the
Company.

     8.3 The Plan may be amended, modified, or terminated by the Board of Directors of the Company
in its sole discretion at any time and from time to time; provided, however, that no such
amendment, modification, or termination shall impair any rights to benefits under the Plan prior to
such amendment, modification, or termination. The Plan may also be amended or modified by the
Administrative Committee if such amendment or modification does not involve a substantial increase
in cost to the Company.

     8.4 It is expressly understood and agreed that the payments made in accordance with the Plan
are in addition to any other benefits or compensation to which a Participant may be entitled or for
which he may be eligible, whether funded or unfunded, by reason of his employment by the Company.

     8.5 The Company makes no representations with respect to the state, federal, financial, estate
planning or the securities implications of the Plan. Participants should consult with their own
tax, financial and legal advisors with respect to their participation in the Plan.

     8.6 There shall be deducted from each payment under the Plan the amount of any tax required by
any governmental authority to be withheld and paid over by the Company to such governmental
authority for the account of the person entitled to such distribution.

     8.7 Any Basic Compensation deferred by a Participant while employed by the Company shall not
be considered compensation earned currently for purposes of the Compass Bancshares, Inc. Employee
Stock Ownership Plan or the Compass Bancshares, Inc. Retirement Plan. Distributions from a
participant’s Account shall not be considered wages, salaries or compensation under any other
employee benefit plan.

     8.8 No provision of this Plan shall be construed to affect in any manner the existing rights
of the Company to suspend, terminate, alter, modify, whether or not for cause, the employment
relationship of the Participant and the Company.

     8.9 This Plan, and all its rights under it, shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Alabama.

10EX-10.(AE) DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

 

Exhibit 10(ae)

$2,000,000,000

Senior and Subordinated Bank Notes

Distribution Agreement

March 13, 2006

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

787 7th Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue, Fifth Floor

New York, New York 10019

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

World Financial Center

North Tower

New York, New York 10281

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

919 Third Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Compass Bank, an Alabama banking corporation (the “Bank”), and Compass Bancshares, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Holding Company”), confirm their agreement with each of you
(individually an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”) on the terms set forth in this agreement
with respect to the issuance and sale by the Bank of its bank notes (the “Securities”) in an
aggregate principal amount outstanding at any one time of up to $2,000,000,000.

     Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and to the reservation by the Bank of the
right to sell Securities directly on its own behalf, the Bank hereby (i) appoints each Agent as an
agent of the Bank for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Securities from
the Bank pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof and (ii) agrees that, except as otherwise contemplated
herein, whenever it determines to sell Securities directly to any Agent as principal, it will enter
into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”), substantially in the form of Annex I hereto,
relating to such sale in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof. This Distribution Agreement shall
not be construed to create either an obligation on the part of the Bank to sell any Securities or
an obligation of any of the Agents to purchase Securities as principal.

     The Securities will be issued under a issuing and paying agency agreement, dated as of March
13, 2006 (the “Issuing Agency Agreement”), between the Bank and Compass Bank, as

 

 

Issuing and Paying Agent (the “Issuing and Paying Agent”). The Securities shall have the
maturity ranges, interest rates, if any, redemption provisions, if any, and other terms set forth
in the Offering Circular referred to below as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time,
and the specific maturity, interest rate, if any, redemption provisions, if any, and other terms
set forth in, with respect to any particular issuance of the Securities, the final pricing
supplement (the “Final Pricing Supplement”) with respect to such issuance and the summary of terms
of each such issuance of Securities (a “Term Sheet”). The Securities will be issued, and the terms
and rights thereof established, from time to time by the Bank in accordance with the Issuing Agency
Agreement.

     1. The Bank represents and warrants to each Agent as of the date hereof, as of the date of
each acceptance by the Bank of an offer for the purchase of Securities (whether to the Agent as
principal or through the Agent as agent), as of the date of each delivery of Securities (whether to
such Agent as principal or through such Agent as agent) (the date of each such delivery to an Agent
as principal being hereafter referred to as a “Settlement Date”), as of the Applicable Time (as
defined below) and as of the times the Offering Circular (as defined below) shall be amended or
supplemented or there is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) or
any bank regulatory agency any document incorporated by reference into the Offering Circular or the
Disclosure Package (as defined below) (each of the times referenced above being referred to
hereafter as a “Representation Date”), as follows:

     (a) An offering circular, dated March 13, 2006 (the “Offering Circular”), including the
Annual Report of the Holding Company on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2005; and its Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 3, 2006 and January 17, 2006, as
well as the Bank’s quarterly reports regarding its financial condition and operations on
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council Form 31 (“Call Reports”) for periods in
the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, which are incorporated by reference in or otherwise made a
part of the Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package, has been prepared in connection
with the offering of the Securities; any reference to the Offering Circular shall be deemed
to refer to and include (i) the Holding Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and
all subsequent documents filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “Commission”) pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the United States Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), on or prior to the date of the
Offering Circular and (ii) the Bank’s Call Reports for the periods referred to above and all
Call Reports subsequently filed with the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
(the “FFIEC”) on or prior to the date of the Offering Circular; any reference to the
Offering Circular as amended or supplemented as of any specified date shall be deemed to
include (i) any documents filed under the Exchange Act after the date of the Offering
Circular and prior to such date and (ii) any documents filed with the FFIEC after the date
of the Offering Circular and prior to such date; all documents filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and so deemed to be included
in the Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto are hereinafter called the
“Exchange Act Reports”; all documents filed with the FFIEC and so deemed to be included in
the Offering Circular or any amendment or supplement thereto are hereinafter called the
“Call Reports”; the Exchange Act Reports, when they were or are filed with the Commission,
conformed or will conform in all material respects to the

2

 

applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder; the Call Reports, when they were or are filed with the FFIEC,
conformed or will conform in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) and the
FFIEC. (A) The Offering Circular, together with a Final Pricing Supplement, and any
amendments or supplements thereto do not and, as of the applicable Representation Date, will
not, and the Exchange Act Reports and Call Reports did not and will not, as of their
respective dates, include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; (B) the Disclosure Package as of its date or as
of the Applicable Time will not include any untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (C) any individual
Supplemental Offering Materials (as defined below), when considered together with the
Disclosure Package, will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in the Offering
Circular and the Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Bank by an Agent expressly for use therein.

     “Applicable Time” means such time as agreed between the Bank and the Agents to whom or
through whom the applicable issue of Securities are being sold in (i) a Terms Agreement, or
(ii) any other written agreement of the Bank and such Agents.

     “Disclosure Package” means, with respect to any particular issuance of Securities, the
(i) Offering Circular, together with (ii) any preliminary pricing supplement (a “Preliminary
Pricing Supplement”) used in connection with the issue of such Securities and (iii) a Term
Sheet used in connection with the issue of such Securities (or otherwise as identified as
being part of the Disclosure Package in a Terms Agreement or any other written agreement of
the Bank and the Agents to whom or through whom the applicable issue of Securities are being
sold).

     (b) The Bank has been duly incorporated and is an existing banking corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Alabama, with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular; and the Bank
is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other
jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification.

     (c) Each subsidiary of the Bank has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with
corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in
the Offering Circular; and each subsidiary of the Bank is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or
lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification; all of the

3

 

issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Bank has been duly
authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of
each subsidiary owned by the Bank, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from
liens, encumbrances and defects.

     (d) Each “significant subsidiary” of the Bank (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)) (each a
“Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular and
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to
qualify or to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Bank and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole; except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Circular,
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Bank,
directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Significant Subsidiaries was issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any
securityholder of such Significant Subsidiary. The other subsidiaries of the Bank other
than Significant Subsidiaries, considered in the aggregate as a single subsidiary, do not
constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the
Securities Act.

     (e) The Bank has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Offering Circular,
and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Bank have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or
indirectly by the Holding Company (except for directors’ qualifying shares, if any), free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

     (f) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for
pursuant to this Agreement, the Issuing Agency Agreement and any relevant Terms Agreement
will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered will conform to the
descriptions thereof in the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure
Package and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Bank enforceable
against the Bank in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the
Issuing Agency Agreement under which they are to be issued, subject to bankruptcy,
liquidation, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium and other
laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally or
of creditors of depository institutions the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC and to
general equity principles; the Issuing Agency Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Bank and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument,
enforceable against the Bank in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
liquidation, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium and other
laws of general applicability relating

4

 

to or affecting the rights of creditors generally or of creditors of depository
institutions the accounts of which are insured by the FDIC and to general equity principles.

     (g) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental
agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement or the
Disclosure Package in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Bank
except such as have been made with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or such other
regulatory agencies and such as may be required under state securities law.

     (h) The execution, delivery and performance of the Issuing Agency Agreement and this
Agreement do not, and the completion, execution and issuance of each particular Security in
accordance with the Issuing Agency Agreement, the sale by the Bank of such Security in
accordance with this Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the
Disclosure Package and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not, result in
a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court,
domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Bank or any subsidiary of the Bank or any
of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the Bank or any such subsidiary
is a party or by which the Bank or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties of the Bank or any such subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the
Bank or any such subsidiary, and the Bank has full power and authority to authorize, issue
and sell the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

     (i) This Agreement (including any agreement with respect to the offering and sale of
particular Securities) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Bank.

     (j) The Bank and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates, authorities or permits
issued by appropriate governmental agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation
or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit that, if determined adversely
to the Bank or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties or
results of operations of the Bank and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     (k) The Bank and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms,
adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents,
copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively,
“intellectual property rights”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or
presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if
determined adversely to the Bank or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
aggregate have a material adverse effect on the Bank and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

5

 

     (l) Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no pending actions, suits
or proceedings against or affecting the Bank, any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Bank or any of its subsidiaries,
would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Bank and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the
Bank to perform its obligations under the Issuing Agency Agreement or this Agreement, or
which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities; and to the Bank’s
knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

     (m) The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Offering
Circular and the Disclosure Package present fairly the financial position of the Bank and
its respective consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of
operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and, except as otherwise disclosed in the
Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package, such financial statements have been prepared
in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied
on a consistent basis. The financial data included in the incorporated Call Reports has
been prepared in conformity with the regulatory accounting principles and instructions of
the FFIEC consistently applied throughout the periods involved.

     (n) Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, since the date of the latest
financial statements included in the Offering Circular there has been no material adverse
change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Bank
and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and except as disclosed in or contemplated by the
Offering Circular, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made by the Bank on any class of its capital stock.

     (o) The statements set forth in the Offering Circular under the caption “Description of
Bank Notes”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities,
and under the captions “Supervision, Regulation and Other Matters,” “Certain United States
Federal Income Tax Consequences” and “Plan of Distribution”, insofar as they purport to
describe the provisions of the laws, regulations and documents referred to therein, are
accurate and complete in all material respects;

     (p) The obligations of the Bank under the Securities that are Senior Bank Notes rank
pari passu with its other unsecured, unsubordinated liabilities, except
deposit obligations;

     (q) The Bank is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities
and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering Circular and the
Disclosure Package, will not be an “investment company,” as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940.

     (r) The Securities are exempt securities under Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Act”), and neither registration of the Securities under the Act nor
qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended

6

 

(the “Trust Indenture Act”), is required in connection with the offer, sale, issuance
or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;

     (s) The Bank is an insured bank under the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Act, as amended (“FDIA”), and no proceedings for the termination of such insurance are
pending or, to threatened.

     2. The Holding Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Agent that:

     (a) The Holding Company has authorized the Bank to incorporate by reference in the
Offering Circular the Exchange Act Reports; the Exchange Act Reports, when they were or are
filed with the Commission, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement, the Disclosure
Package and any Supplemental Offering Materials, and any amendments or supplements thereto,
as each pertains to the Holding Company, and the Exchange Act Reports did not and will not,
as of their respective dates, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions in the Offering
Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement, the Disclosure Package or any Supplemental Offering
Materials made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
the Bank by an Agent expressly for use therein.

     (b) The Holding Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power
and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering
Circular, and is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended (the “Holding Company Act”).

     (c) PricewaterhouseCoopers, who have certified certain financial statements of the
Holding Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, are independent accountants as required
by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

     (d) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental
agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement or the
Disclosure Package in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Bank
except such as have been made with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or such other
regulatory agencies and such as may be required under state securities law.

     (e) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement does not, and the
completion, execution and issuance of each particular Security in accordance with the
Issuing Agency Agreement, the sale by the Bank of such Security in accordance with this

7

 

Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package
and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will not, result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute,
any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Holding Company or any subsidiary of the Holding
Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to which the Holding
Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the Holding Company or any such
subsidiary is bound or to which any of the properties of the Holding Company or any such
subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the Holding Company or any such
subsidiary, and the Bank has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

     (f) This Agreement (including any agreement with respect to the offering and sale of
particular Securities) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Holding
Company.

     (g) Except as disclosed in the Offering Circular, there are no pending actions, suits
or proceedings against or affecting the Holding Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of
their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Holding Company or any of
its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on
the condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the
Holding Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or would materially and adversely
affect the ability of the Holding Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement,
or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities; and to the
Holding Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

     (h) As of the date hereof, to the knowledge of the Holding Company, there is and has
been no failure on the part of the Holding Company and any of the Holding Company’s
directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the
Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith
(the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906
related to certifications, it being understood that the management of the Holding Company
has not conducted an evaluation of such compliance for any period after December 31, 2005.

     3. (a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, each of the Agents hereby severally and not jointly agrees,
as agent of the Bank, to use its reasonable efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase the
Securities from the Bank upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Offering Circular, a Final
Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package, each as amended or supplemented from time to time.
So long as this Agreement shall remain in effect with respect to any Agent, except as provided
below, the Bank shall not, without the consent of such Agent, solicit or accept offers to purchase,
or sell, any debt securities (other than deposit obligations) with a maturity at the time of
original issuance of 7 days or more except pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or
except in connection with a firm commitment underwriting pursuant to an underwriting agreement that
does not provide for a continuous offering of

8

 

medium-term debt securities. However, the Bank reserves the right to sell, and may solicit
and accept offers to purchase, Securities directly on its own behalf in transactions with other
persons (provided such sales are in accordance with the applicable law), and, in the case of any
such sale not resulting from a solicitation made by any Agent, no commission will be payable with
respect to such sale. It is understood that if from time to time the Bank is approached by a
prospective agent offering to solicit a specific purchase of Securities, the Bank may also engage
such agent with respect to such specific purchase; provided that the Agents are given
notice of such purchase promptly, including the terms thereof, in each case after the purchase is
agreed; provided further, however that such agent shall make in writing the
representations and agreements of an Agent set forth herein and that the Bank and such agent shall
otherwise agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Agreement. These provisions shall
not limit Section 5(e) hereof or any similar provision included in any Terms Agreement.

     Procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of Securities, the solicitation of
offers to purchase Securities and the payment in each case therefor shall be as set forth in the
Administrative Procedure attached hereto as Annex II as it may be amended from time to time by
written agreement between the Agents and the Bank (the “Administrative Procedure”). The provisions
of the Administrative Procedure shall apply to all transactions contemplated hereunder other than
those made pursuant to a Terms Agreement. Each Agent and the Bank agree to perform the respective
duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by each of them in the Administrative
Procedure. The Bank will furnish to the Issuing and Paying Agent a copy of the Administrative
Procedure as from time to time in effect.

     The Bank reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to instruct the Agents to suspend at any
time, for any period of time or permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities
from the Bank. As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than one business day in New
York City, after receipt of notice from the Bank, the Agents will suspend solicitation of offers to
purchase Securities from the Bank until such time as the Bank has advised the Agents that such
solicitation may be resumed. During such period, the Bank shall not be required to comply with the
provisions of Sections 5(h) and 5(i). Upon advising the Agents that such solicitation may be
resumed, however, the Bank shall simultaneously provide the documents required to be delivered by
Sections 5(h) and 5(i), and the Agents shall have no obligation to solicit offers to purchase the
Securities until such documents have been received by the Agents. In addition, any failure by the
Bank to comply with its obligations hereunder, including without limitation its obligations to
deliver the documents required by Sections 5(h) and 5(i), shall automatically terminate the Agents’
obligations hereunder, including without limitation their obligations to solicit offers to purchase
the Securities hereunder as agent or to purchase Securities hereunder as principal.

     The Bank agrees to pay each Agent a commission, at the time of settlement of any sale of a
Security by the Bank as a result of a solicitation made by such Agent, in an amount equal, except
as otherwise agreed by the Bank and such Agent, to the following applicable percentage of the
principal amount of such Security sold:

9

 

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	SENIOR NOTES	 	SUBORDINATED NOTES
	 	 	PERCENT OF	 	PERCENT OF
	MATURITY RANGES	 	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT	 	PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
	From 7 days to less than 9 months

	 	To be negotiated at
time of sale.
	 	NA

	From 9 months to less than 1 year

	 	 	.125	%	 	NA

	From 1 year to less than 18
months

	 	 	.150	%	 	NA

	From 18 months to less than 2
years

	 	 	.200	%	 	NA

	From 2 years to less than 3 years

	 	 	.250	%	 	NA

	From 3 years to less than 4 years

	 	 	.350	%	 	NA

	From 4 years to less than 5 years

	 	 	.450	%	 	NA

	From 5 years to less than 6 years

	 	 	.500	%	 	 	.500	%
	From 6 years to less than 7 years

	 	 	.550	%	 	 	.550	%
	From 7 years to less 10 years

	 	 	.600	%	 	 	.600	%
	From 10 years to less than 12
years

	 	 	.625	%	 	 	.650	%
	From 12 years to less than 15
years

	 	 	.625	%	 	 	.675	%
	From 15 years to less than 20
years

	 	 	.700	%	 	 	.750	%
	From 20 years to less than 30
years

	 	 	.750	%	 	 	.875	%
	From 30 years and greater

	 	Negotiated at
time of sale
	 	Negotiated at
time of sale

     (b) Each sale of Securities to any Agent as principal shall be made in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and (unless the Bank and such Agent shall otherwise agree) a
Terms Agreement which will provide for the sale of such Securities to, and the purchase
thereof by, such Agent. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to
the reoffering of such Securities by such Agent. The commitment of any Agent to purchase
Securities as principal, whether pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall be
deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Bank and
the Holding Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the principal amount of Securities to be
purchased by any Agent pursuant

10

 

thereto, the price to be paid to the Bank for such Securities, any provisions relating
to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such Agent in the reoffering
of the Securities and the time and date and place of delivery of and payment for such
Securities. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of
counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

     (c) For each sale of Securities to an Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a
Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of such
Securities and payment therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedure. For
each such sale of Securities to an Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, the Bank agrees to pay such Agent a commission (or grant an equivalent discount)
as provided in Section 3(a) hereof and in accordance with the schedule set forth therein.

     Each time and date of delivery of and payment for Securities to be purchased by an
Agent as principal, whether set forth in a Terms Agreement or in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure, is referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”.

     4. The documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof on the Commencement
Date (as defined below) shall be delivered to the Agents at the offices of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw
LLP, 71 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of
this Agreement, which date and time of such delivery may be postponed by agreement between the
Agents and the Bank but in no event shall be later than the day prior to the date on which
solicitation of offers to purchase Securities is commenced or on which any Terms Agreement is
executed (such time and date being referred to herein as the “Commencement Date”).

     5. The Bank and the Holding Company covenant and agree, jointly and severally, with each
Agent:

     (a) (i) To make no amendment or supplement to the Offering Circular, Disclosure Package
or a Final Pricing Supplement (excluding any Exchange Act Reports or Call Reports) (A) prior
to the Commencement Date which shall be disapproved by any Agent promptly after reasonable
notice thereof or (B) after the date of any Terms Agreement or other agreement by an Agent
to purchase Securities as principal and prior to the related Time of Delivery which shall be
disapproved by any Agent party to such Terms Agreement or so purchasing as principal
promptly after reasonable notice thereof; (ii) to prepare, with respect to any Securities to
be sold through or to such Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Preliminary Pricing
Supplement, a Term Sheet (if requested) and a Final Pricing Supplement, and a Terms
Agreement (if requested), with respect to such Securities in a form previously approved by
such Agent; (iii) to make no amendment or supplement to the Offering Circular or the
Disclosure Package (excluding any Exchange Act Reports or Call Reports) at any time prior to
having afforded each Agent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon; (iv) to
file promptly, in the case of the Bank, all Call Reports required to be filed by the Bank
pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and the FFIEC;
(v) to file promptly, in the case of the Holding Company, all reports and any definitive
proxy or information

11

 

statements required to be filed by the Holding Company with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; (vi) to advise each of the Agents as
promptly as practicable of the institution by any federal or state bank or securities
regulatory authority of any proceedings in respect of the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing
Supplement or the Disclosure Package (including any proceeding relating to any Exchange Act
Reports or Call Reports) or the offering of the Securities and to use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any order interfering with the offering of the Securities and to
obtain as soon as possible its lifting, if issued and (vii) to use best efforts to prevent
the issuance of any order or similar action interfering with the offering or sale of the
Securities or the use of the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement or the Disclosure
Package and, if issued, to use best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal
thereof;

     (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as such Agent may reasonably request
(i) to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as such Agent may designate and (ii) to comply with such laws so as to permit
the continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to complete
the distribution or sale of the Securities; provided, however, that in connection therewith
the Bank shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation, file a general consent
to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject itself to taxation as a foreign
corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject;

     (c) To furnish such Agent with a copy of the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing
Supplement and the Disclosure Package and each amendment or supplement thereto signed by an
authorized officer of the Bank and of the Holding Company, and additional copies of the
Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package, and each amendment
or supplement thereto (except as may be provided in the Administrative Procedure), in such
quantities as such Agent may reasonably request from time to time; and if, at any time while
this Agreement is in effect, or, in the event this Agreement is terminated, at any time an
Agent is holding Securities it purchased as principal, any event shall have occurred as a
result of which the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package
as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made existing at any Representation Date or the
time it is delivered to a purchaser not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
necessary or required during such same period to amend or supplement the Offering Circular,
a Final Pricing Supplement or the Disclosure Package, to promptly notify such Agent and
request such Agent, in its capacity as agent of the Bank, to suspend solicitation of offers
to purchase Securities from the Bank (and, if so notified, such Agent shall cease such
solicitations as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than one business day
later); and upon the request of an Agent, shall promptly prepare and furnish without charge
an amendment or supplement to the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement or the
Disclosure Package, as applicable, as then amended or supplemented that will correct such
statement or omission;

12

 

     (d) So long as any Securities are outstanding, to furnish to such Agent copies of all
reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to the Holding Company’s
stockholders, and deliver to such Agent as soon as they are available, copies of any reports
and financial statements not otherwise available through the Commission’s or the Holding
Company’s website furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
exchange on which any class of securities of the Holding Company is listed;

     (e) From the date of any Terms Agreement with such Agent or other agreement by such
Agent to purchase Securities as principal and continuing to and including the later of (i)
the termination of the trading restrictions for the Securities purchased thereunder, as
notified to the Bank by such Agent and (ii) the related Time of Delivery, not to offer,
sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Bank (other than
deposit obligations) which both mature more than 7 days after such Time of Delivery and are
substantially similar to the Securities, without the prior written consent of such Agent;

     (f) That each acceptance by the Bank of an offer to purchase Securities hereunder
(including any purchase by such Agent as principal not pursuant to a Terms Agreement), and
each execution and delivery by the Bank of a Terms Agreement with such Agent, shall be
deemed to be an affirmation to such Agent that the representations and warranties of the
Bank and the Holding Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and
correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, as
though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and
warranties will be true and correct as of the settlement date for the Securities relating to
such acceptance or as of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as
though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be
deemed to relate to the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure
Package, each as amended and supplemented relating to such Securities);

     (g) That each time the Bank sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a
Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of an opinion or opinions by
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, counsel to the Agents, as a condition to the purchase of
Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Bank shall furnish to such counsel such
papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to furnish to such
Agent the opinion or opinions referred to in Section 7(a) hereof;

     (h) That each time the Offering Circular or the Disclosure Package shall be amended or
supplemented (other than (x) by a Preliminary or Final Pricing Supplement or Term Sheet
providing solely for the interest rates or maturities of the securities or the principal
amount of securities remaining to be sold or similar changes, (y) as a result of the filing
of a Call Report with the FFIEC or (z) as a result of the filing with the Commission a
Current Report on Form 8-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, but specifically including as a
result of filing with the Commission an Annual Report on Form 10-K) and each time the Bank
sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant

13

 

to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of an opinion
under this Section 5(h) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms
Agreement, the Bank shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to such Agent written
opinions of Jerry W. Powell, General Counsel and Secretary of the Holding Company and Balch
& Bingham LLP or other counsel for the Bank approved as satisfactory to such Agent (provided
that such approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), dated the date of such amendment,
supplement or Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in form
satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion of such
counsel referred to in Section 7(b) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent to the
same extent as though it were dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except
that the statements in such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Offering Circular
and the Disclosure Package, each as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of
such opinion, an opinion of the same tenor as the opinion of such counsel referred to in
Section 7(b) hereof but modified to relate to the Offering Circular and the Disclosure
Package, each as amended and supplemented to such date;

     (i) That each time the Offering Circular or the Disclosure Package shall be amended or
supplemented (other than (x) by a Preliminary or Final Pricing Supplement or Term Sheet
providing solely for the interest rates or maturities of the securities or the principal
amount of securities remaining to be sold or similar changes, (y) as a result of the filing
of a Call Report with the FFIEC or (z) as a result of the filing with the Commission a
Current Report on Form 8-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, but specifically including as a
result of filing with the Commission an Annual Report on Form 10-K), and each time the Bank
sells Securities to such Agent as principal and the applicable Terms Agreement specifies the
delivery of a certificate under this Section 5(i) as a condition to the purchase of
Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the Bank shall furnish or cause to be furnished
forthwith to such Agent a certificate, dated the date of such supplement, amendment or Time
of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in such form and executed by such
officers of the Bank as shall be satisfactory to such Agent (provided that any of the Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or Executive Vice President, Treasury
Division, or any other officer as authorized by the Board of Directors shall be deemed as
satisfactory to such Agent), to the effect that the statements contained in the certificates
referred to in Section 7(e) hereof which were last furnished to such Agent are true and
correct at such date as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements
shall be deemed to relate to the Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package, each as
amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such certificate, certificates of the
same tenor as the certificates referred to in said Section 7(e) modified to relate to the
Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package, each as amended and supplemented to such date;

     (j) That each time that the Offering Circular is amended or supplemented to (x) include
additional financial information (other than by an amendment or supplement relating solely
to the issuance and/or offering of securities other than the Securities) or (y) (in
connection with the purchase of Securities from the Bank by one or more Agents as principal)
the Bank sells Securities to one or more Agents as principal, the Bank shall furnish or
cause to be furnished promptly to each of the Agents a comfort letter of

14

 

independent public accountants, dated the date of the filing with the Commission or the
date of such amendment or supplement, as applicable, or the date of such sale, as the case
may be, in form satisfactory to each of the Agents;

     (k) To offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Securities from the Bank as the
result of an offer to purchase solicited by such Agent the right to refuse to purchase and
pay for such Securities if, on the related settlement date fixed pursuant to the
Administrative Procedure, any condition set forth in Section 7(c) or 7(d) hereof shall not
have been satisfied (it being understood that the judgment of such person with respect to
the impracticability or inadvisability of such purchase of Securities shall be substituted,
for purposes of this Section 5(k), for the respective judgments of an Agent with respect to
certain matters referred to in Section 7(c) and 7(d), and that such Agent shall have no duty
or obligation whatsoever to exercise the judgment permitted under Sections 7(c) and 7(d) on
behalf of any such person);

     (l) The Bank will not, unless the Bank obtains the prior written consent of the Agents
to whom or through whom a particular issue of Securities is to be sold, use any Supplemental
Offering Materials with respect to such Securities. As used herein, “Supplemental Offering
Materials” means any “written communication” (within the meaning of the regulations of the
Commission under the Securities Act), other than the Offering Circular and the Disclosure
Package, prepared by or on behalf of the Bank, or used or referred to by the Bank, that
constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities, including
without limitation any such written communication that would, if the sale of the Securities
were conducted as a public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed with the
Commission, constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the
Securities Act; and

     (m) On the date hereof, the Holding Company shall have executed a letter agreement with
the Agents, dated the date hereof (the “Letter Agreement”), in substantially the form of
Exhibit A hereto.

     6. The Bank covenants and agrees with each Agent that the Bank will pay or cause to be paid
the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Bank’s counsel and accountants in
connection with the issuance of the Securities, in connection with the preparation and printing of
the Offering Circular, the Disclosure Package, any Supplemental Offering Materials and any
Preliminary or Final Pricing Supplements or Term Sheets, and all other amendments and supplements
thereto, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to such Agent; (ii) the reasonable fees,
disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Agents in connection with the establishment of the
program contemplated hereby, any opinions to be rendered by such counsel hereunder and under any
Terms Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder and under any Terms Agreement; (iii)
the cost of printing, producing or reproducing this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, any Issuing
Agency Agreement, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any
compilation thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and
delivery of the Securities; (iv) all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualification of
the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b)
hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents in connection with such
qualification and in

15

 

connection with the Blue Sky and legal investment surveys; (v) any fees charged by securities
rating services for rating the Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the
fees and expenses of any Issuing and Paying Agent and any agent of any Issuing and Paying Agent and
any transfer or paying agent of the Bank and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any Issuing
and Paying Agent or such agent in connection with any Issuing Agency Agreement and the Securities;
(viii) any advertising expenses connected with the solicitation of offers to purchase and the sale
of Securities so long as such advertising expenses have been approved by the Bank; and (ix) all
other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not
otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. Except as provided in Sections 8 and 9
hereof, each Agent shall pay all other expenses it incurs.

     7. The obligation of any Agent, as agent of the Bank, at any time (“Solicitation Time”) to
solicit offers to purchase the Securities and the obligation of any Agent to purchase Securities as
principal, pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall in each case be subject, in such
Agent’s discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements
of the Bank and the Holding Company herein (and, in the case of an obligation of an Agent under a
Terms Agreement, in or incorporated by reference in such Terms Agreement) are true and correct at
and as of the Commencement Date and any applicable date referred to in Section 5(i) hereof that is
prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, and at and as of such
Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the condition that prior to such
Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Bank shall have performed all of its
obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

     (a) Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, counsel to the Agents, shall have furnished to such
Agent (i) such opinion or opinions, dated the Commencement Date, with respect to such
matters as such Agent may reasonably request, and (ii) if and to the extent requested by
such Agent, with respect to each applicable date referred to in Section 5(g) hereof that is
on or prior to such Time of Delivery an opinion or opinions, dated such applicable date, to
the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion or opinions which were last furnished to
such Agent pursuant to this Section 7(a) to the same extent as though it or they were dated
the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that the statements in such last
opinion or opinions shall be deemed to relate to the Offering Circular, as amended and
supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such an opinion or opinions, an opinion or
opinions of the same tenor as the opinion or opinions referred to in clause (i) but modified
to relate to the Offering Circular, as amended and supplemented to such date; and in each
case such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably
request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

     (b) (A) Balch & Bingham LLP, special counsel for the Bank, or other counsel for the
Bank approved as satisfactory to such Agent (provided that such approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld), shall have furnished to such Agent their written opinions, dated the
Commencement Date and dated each applicable date referred to in Section 5(h) hereof that is
on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, each in form
and substance satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that:

16

 

          (i) The Bank has been duly incorporated and is an existing banking corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Alabama, with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular and the
Disclosure Package. The Holding Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power
and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering
Circular and the Disclosure Package and is duly registered as a bank holding company under
the Holding Company Act;

          (ii) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with, any governmental
agency or body or any court is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement or the
Disclosure Package in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities by the Bank
except such as have been made with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta or such other
regulatory agencies and such as may be required under state securities law.

          (iii) The statements set forth in the Offering Circular under the caption “Description
of Bank Notes”, insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the
Securities, and under the caption “Supervision, Regulation and Other Matters”, insofar as
they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, are
accurate and complete in all material respects.

          (iv) The statements set forth in the Offering Circular under the caption “Certain
United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” insofar as they purport to constitute
summaries of matters of United States federal tax law and regulations or legal conclusions
with respect thereto are accurate and complete in all material respects.

          (v) The Exchange Act Reports (other than the financial statements and related schedules
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they were filed with the
Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and such counsel
has no reason to believe that any of such documents (other than the financial statements and
related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no view), when they were so
filed, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading.

          (vi) No registration of the Securities under the Act is required for the offer and sale
of the Securities by the Agents by virtue of the exemption provided by Section 3(a)(2) of
the Act; and no qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act is required with
respect thereto.

          (vii) The Bank is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Offering

17

 

Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package, will not be an
“investment company,” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

          (viii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, no order directed to any document
incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package has been
issued and no challenge has been made to the accuracy or adequacy of any such document by
any regulatory or other government agency.

     (B) Jerry W. Powell, General Counsel and Secretary of the Holding Company or other
counsel for the Bank satisfactory to such Agent, shall have furnished to such Agent their
written opinion dated the Commencement Date and dated each applicable date referred to in
Section 5(h) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as
the case may be, each in form and substance satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that:

          (i) The Bank has been duly incorporated and is an existing banking corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Alabama, with corporate power and authority to own
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Offering Circular and the
Disclosure Package and the Bank is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in
good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification; and the Holding Company has been duly
incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business
as described in the Offering Circular and the Disclosure Package and is duly registered as a
bank holding company under the Holding Company Act;

          (ii) The Bank has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Offering Circular,
and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Bank have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or
indirectly by the Holding Company (except for directors’ qualifying shares, if any), free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

          (iii) To the best of such counsel’s knowledge and except as disclosed in the Offering
Circular, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Bank,
the Holding Company or any of their subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that,
if determined adversely to the Bank, the Holding Company or any of their subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial
or other), business, properties or results of operations of the Bank and its subsidiaries or
the Holding Company and its subsidiaries, as the case may be, taken as a whole, or would
materially and adversely affect the ability of the Bank or the Holding Company, as the case
may be, to perform its obligations under the Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement or this
Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Securities; and
the best of such counsel’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened.

18

 

          (iv) This Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Holding Company and the Bank.

          (v) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Bank and, when the terms of the
Securities and of their issue and sale have been duly established in accordance with this
Agreement and the Issuing Agency Agreement so as not to violate any applicable law or
agreement or instrument then binding on the Bank, and the Securities have been duly executed
and issued by the Bank and duly authenticated by the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance
with the Issuing Agency Agreement, and upon payment and delivery in accordance with this
Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Bank enforceable
against the Bank in accordance with their terms and entitled to the benefits provided by the
Issuing Agency Agreement, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting the rights of creditors generally or of creditors of depository institutions the
accounts of which are insured by the FDIC and to general equity principles (in rendering the
opinion set forth in this paragraph (vi), such counsel may assume that, at the time of any
issuance and sale of any of the Securities, the Board of Directors of the Bank (or any
committee thereof acting pursuant to authority properly delegated to such committee by the
Board of Directors) has not taken any action to rescind or otherwise reduce its prior
authorization of the issuance of the Securities and an officer of the Bank, as stated in the
resolutions of the Board of Directors (or any such committee) relating to the Securities,
has executed and delivered such Securities).

          (vi) The Issuing Agency Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Bank and constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Bank, enforceable
against the Bank in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the rights
of creditors generally or of creditors of depository institutions the accounts of which are
insured by the FDIC and to general equity principles.

          (vii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Issuing Agency Agreement and this
Agreement do not, and the completion, execution and issuance of each particular Security in
accordance with the Issuing Agency Agreement, the sale by the Bank of such Security in
accordance with this Agreement and compliance with the terms and provisions thereof will
not, result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body
or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Holding Company, the Bank or
any subsidiary of the Bank or the Holding Company or any of their properties, or any
agreement or instrument to which the Bank or the Holding Company or any such subsidiary is a
party or by which the Holding Company, the Bank or any such subsidiary is bound or to which
any of the properties of the Holding Company, the Bank or any such subsidiary is subject, or
the charter or by-laws of the Holding Company, the Bank or any such subsidiary, and the Bank
has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the Securities as contemplated by
this Agreement.

19

 

          (viii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, no order directed to any document
incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular or the Disclosure Package has been issued
and no challenge has been made to the accuracy or adequacy of any such document by any
regulatory or other government agency.

          (ix) The obligations of the Bank under the Securities that are Senior Bank Notes rank
pari passu with its other unsecured and unsubordinated liabilities, except
deposit obligations

          (x) The Bank is an insured bank under the applicable provisions of the FDIA.

          (xi) Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Offering Circular and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would
not have a material adverse effect on the Bank and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; except
as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Circular, all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Bank, directly or through subsidiaries, free and
clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none
of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries was issued in
violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Significant
Subsidiary.

     (C) Any legal opinion delivered pursuant to this Section 7 shall also include the
following statement (or shall be accompanied by a letter including): “No facts have come to
our attention that cause us to believe that as of the Applicable Time, the Disclosure
Package (except for the financial statements and related schedules and other financial data
included or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make
no statement) included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. “

     (c) There shall not have occurred from (A) the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Offering Circular, in the case of the following clause (i), or
(B) the date of any acceptance of an offer to purchase Securities, in the case of the
following clauses (ii) — (v), to the related settlement date, (i) any change, or any
development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Bank, Holding Company or any of their
subsidiaries which, in the judgment of such Agent, as to itself only (or, in the case of a
syndicated issue, as to the entire syndicate if the bookrunning lead managing Agent(s) so
terminate), is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
the solicitation by such Agent of offers to purchase Securities from the

20

 

Bank or the purchase by such Agent of Securities from the Bank as principal, as the
case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Offering Circular, a Final
Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any
debt securities of the Bank or Holding Company by any “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act), or any public
announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any
debt securities of the Bank or Holding Company (other than an announcement with positive
implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such
rating); (iii) any suspension or limitation of trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any
suspension of trading of any securities of the Bank or Holding Company on any exchange or in
the over-the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or New
York authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of major hostilities in which the United
States is involved, any declaration of war by Congress or any other substantial national or
international calamity or emergency if, in the sole judgment of such Agent, as to itself
only (or, in the case of a syndicated issue, as to the entire syndicate if the bookrunning
lead managing Agent(s) so terminate), the effect of any such outbreak, escalation,
declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
solicitations of offers to purchase Securities or the purchase of the Securities from the
Bank as principal or enforce contracts for the sale of Securities pursuant to the applicable
terms Agreement or otherwise, as the case may be, on the terms and the manner contemplated
in the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure Package.

     (d) With respect to any Security denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar,
more than one currency or a composite currency or any Security the principal or interest of
which is indexed to such currency, currencies or composite currency, there shall not have
occurred a suspension or material limitation in foreign exchange trading in such currency,
currencies or composite currency by a major international bank, a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities in the country or countries issuing such currency, currencies
or composite currency, the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving, the occurrence
of any material adverse change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions
of, or the declaration of war or a national emergency by, the country or countries issuing
such currency, currencies or composite currency or the imposition or proposal of exchange
controls by any governmental authority in the country or countries issuing such currency,
currencies or composite currency.

     (e) The Bank shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to such Agent certificates
of officers of the Bank and of the Holding Company dated the Commencement Date and each
applicable date referred to in Section 5(i) hereof in such form and executed by such
officers of the Bank and of the Holding Company as shall be satisfactory to such Agent
(provided that any of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or
Executive Vice President, Treasury Division, or any other officer as authorized by the Board
of Directors shall be deemed as satisfactory to such Agent) to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Bank and the Holding Company herein at and as of the
Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be, as to the performance by the
Bank and the Holding Company of all of their

21

 

respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Commencement Date
or such applicable date, as the case may be, as to the matters set forth in subsection (c)
of this Section 7, and as to such other matters as such Agent may reasonably request.

     (f) Each Agent shall have received a comfort letter, satisfactory to each Agent, from
the Bank’s independent certified public accountants.

     8. (a) The Bank and the Holding Company, jointly and severally will indemnify and hold
harmless each Agent against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Agent may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Offering Circular, the Disclosure
Package, a Final Pricing Supplement or any Supplemental Offering Materials, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any related preliminary offering circular, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such Agent for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Agent in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred;
provided, however, that the Bank and the Holding Company will not be liable to such
Agent in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Bank and the Holding Company by such Agent specifically for use in the Offering Circular,
the Disclosure Package, a Final Pricing Supplement or any Supplemental Offering Materials, unless
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of the offer or sale of Securities occurring after
the Agent has notified the Bank and the Holding Company in writing that such information should no
longer be used therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by
any Agent consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

          (b) Each Agent will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Bank or the
Holding Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Bank or the Holding
Company may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Offering Circular, the Disclosure
Package, a Final Pricing Supplement or any Supplemental Offering Materials, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or any related preliminary offering circular, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Bank and the
Holding Company by such Agent specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Bank and the Holding Company in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are incurred,
unless such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of the offer or sale of Securities
occurring after the Agent has notified the Bank and the Holding Company in writing that such
information should no longer be used in the

22

 

Offering Circular, the Disclosure Package, a Final Pricing Supplement or any Supplemental
Offering Materials, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any
Agent consists of the following information in the Offering Circular, the Disclosure Package, a
Final Pricing Supplement or any Supplemental Offering Materials furnished on behalf of each Agent:
the information contained in the fifth and twelfth paragraphs in the Offering Circular under the
caption “Plan of Distribution”.

          (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying
party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under
subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified
party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not
be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action.

          (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient to
hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Bank and the Holding Company on the
one hand and any Agent on the other from the offering pursuant to this Agreement of the Securities
which are the subject of the action or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Bank and the Holding
Company on the one hand and any Agent on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Bank and the Holding Company on
the one hand and any Agent on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportions as the total
net proceeds from the offering pursuant to this Agreement of the Securities which are the subject
of the action (before deducting expenses) received by the Bank and the Holding Company bear to the
total discounts and commissions received by such Agent from the offering of such Securities
pursuant to this Agreement. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to

23

 

information supplied by the Bank or the Holding Company on the one hand or by any such Agent
and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d)
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of
this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Agent shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the
Securities which are the subject of the action and which were distributed to the public through it
pursuant to this Agreement or upon resale of Securities purchased by it from the Bank exceeds the
amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
obligations of each Agent in this subsection (d) to contribute are several, in the same proportion
which the amount of the Securities which are the subject of the action and which were distributed
through such Agent pursuant to this Agreement bears to the total amount of such Securities
distributed through all of the Agents pursuant to this Agreement, and not joint.

          (e) The obligations of the Bank and the Holding Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Bank or the Holding Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls each Agent within
the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of each Agent under this Section 8 shall be in addition
to any liability which each Agent may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each office and director of the Bank and to each person, if any, who controls the
Bank within the meaning of the Act.

     9. Each Agent, in soliciting offers to purchase Securities from the Bank and in performing the
other obligations of such Agent hereunder (other than in respect of any purchase by an Agent as
principal, pursuant to a Terms Agreement or otherwise), is acting solely as agent for the Bank and
not as principal. Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist the Bank in obtaining
performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Securities from the Bank was solicited by
such Agent and has been accepted by the Bank, but such Agent shall not have any liability to the
Bank in the event such purchase is not consummated for any reason. If the Bank shall default on
its obligation to deliver Securities to a purchaser whose offer it has accepted, the Bank shall (i)
hold each Agent harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such
default by the Bank and (ii) notwithstanding such default, pay to the Agent that solicited such
offer any commission to which it would be entitled in connection with such sale.

     10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements
by any Agent, the Bank and the Holding Company set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the
results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Agent or any controlling person of any Agent, or the
Bank, the Holding Company or any officer or director or any controlling person of the Bank or the
Holding Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any of the Securities.

24

 

     11. The provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase
Securities from the Bank may be suspended and this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the
Bank as to any Agent or by any Agent as to such Agent upon the giving of written notice of such
suspension or termination to such Agent or the Bank, as the case may be. In the event of such
suspension or termination with respect to any Agent, (x) this Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect with respect to any Agent as to which such suspension or termination has not occurred,
(y) this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect with respect to the rights and obligations
of any party which have previously accrued or which relate to Securities which are already issued,
agreed to be issued or the subject of a pending offer at the time of such suspension or termination
and (z) in any event, this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect insofar as the fourth
paragraph of Section 3(a), and Sections 5(c), 5(d), 5(e), 6, 8, 9 and 10 hereof are concerned.

     12. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in the Administrative Procedure, all
statements, requests, notices and advices hereunder shall be in writing, or by telephone if
promptly confirmed in writing, and shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by
facsimile transmission or registered mail as follows: if to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to 388
Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013, attention of Medium-Term Note Department, Facsimile
(212) 816-7912, and if to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. to 787 7th Avenue, New York, New
York 10019, Facsimile (212) 541-6644, Attention: Debt Capital Markets, and if to Lehman Brothers
Inc. to Lehman Brothers Inc., Attention: Debt Capital Markets, Financial Institutions Group, 745
Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019, Facsimile (212) 526-0943, Attention: MTN Product
Origination (with a copy to the General Counsel at the same address) and if to Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated to World Financial Center, North Tower, 11th Floor,
New York, New York 10281, Facsimile (212) 449-0599, Attention: Product Management Department, and
if to Sandler, O’Neill & Partners, L.P. to 919 Third Avenue, 6th Floor, New York, New
York 10022, and if to the Bank or the Holding Company to Compass Bank, 15 South 20th
Street Plaza Level, Birmingham, Alabama 35233, Attention: Treasurer, Facsimile (205) 297-5521.

     13. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the
benefit of, each Agent, the Bank and the Holding Company, and to the extent provided in Sections 8,
9 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Bank and the Holding Company and any person who
controls any Agent or the Bank or the Holding Company, and their respective personal
representatives, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under
or by virtue of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
through or from any Agent hereunder shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such
purchase.

     14. The Bank acknowledges and agrees that (i) any purchase and sale of Securities pursuant to
this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, including the determination of terms of the Securities and
any related discounts and commissions, are arm’s-length commercial transactions between the Bank,
on the one hand, and the Agent(s), on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offerings
contemplated hereby and the process leading to any such transaction each Agent is and has been
acting solely as a principal and is not the agent (except to the extent expressly set forth herein)
or fiduciary of the Bank or its shareholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) no
Agent has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary

25

 

responsibility in favor of the Bank with respect to the offerings contemplated hereby or the
process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Agent has advised or is currently advising
the Bank on other matters) and no Agent has any obligation to the Bank with respect to any offering
contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Agent(s)
and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve
interests that differ from those of the Bank, and (v) no Agent has provided any legal, accounting,
regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offerings contemplated hereby and the Bank has
consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed
appropriate

     15. Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement.

     16. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.

     17. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of
such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

26

 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us
counterpart signatures hereof, whereupon this letter and the acceptance by each of you thereof
shall constitute a binding agreement between the Bank and each of you in accordance with its terms.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPASS BANK	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:	 	/s/ Richard O. Hughes 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

Name: Richard O. Hughes
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title: Executive Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:	 	/s/ Richard O. Hughes 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

Name: Richard O. Hughes
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title: Executive Vice President	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Accepted in New York, New York,
as of the date hereof:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ S. Kenneth McPhail 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: S. Kenneth McPhail
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Managing Director	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ Maurice Beshcian IV 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: Maurice Beshcian IV
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Managing Director	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ John Jedlicka 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: John Jedlicka
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Managing Director	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	/s/ Jason Brownstein 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: Jason Brownstein
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Vice President	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SANDLER, O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:

	 	/s/ Robert A. Kleinart 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name: Robert A. Kleinart
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title: Officer	 	 	 	 	 	 

27

 

EXHIBIT A

Holding Company Letter Agreement

Dear Sirs:

     Compass Bancshares, Inc. (the “Holding Company”), a bank holding company with securities
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), in order to
induce you (each referred to as an “Agent” and collectively referred to as the “Agents”) to enter
into a Distribution Agreement of even date herewith (the “Agreement”) with respect to the issue and
sale from time to time by Compass Bank, an Alabama banking corporation (the “Bank”), of up to
$2,000,000,000 principal amount of its senior and subordinated debt obligations not insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation called Bank Notes (the “Notes”), hereby agrees with the
Agents as follows (capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Agreement).

     1. Representations and Warranties.

     The Holding Company represents and warrants to each Agent as follows:

     (a) Authorization to Incorporate by Reference. The Holding Company has
authorized the Bank to incorporate by reference in the Offering Circular (i) its Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, (ii) its Current Reports on Form
8-K dated January 3, 2006 and January 17, 2006 and (ii) any reports filed by it with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder subsequent to the date hereof and
prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes (collectively, the “Incorporated
Documents”).

     (b) Incorporated Documents; Financial Statements. The Incorporated Documents,
at the time they were or hereafter are filed by the Holding Company with the Commission
complied or when so filed will comply, as the case may be, in all material respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and,
when read together with the other information in the Offering Circular (as of each
applicable Representation Date) and the Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did
not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading.

     (c) Due Organization, Valid Existence and Good Standing. The Holding Company
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware and is licensed, registered or qualified to conduct the business in
which it is engaged in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
ownership or the leasing of property requires such license, registration or qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so licensed, registered or qualified or to be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Holding Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole.

1

 

     (d) Authorization of Agreement. The Agreement and this Letter Agreement have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Holding Company.

     (e) No Material Adverse Change. Except as set forth or contemplated in the
Offering Circular, since the date of its latest financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Offering Circular, there has not been any material adverse
change in the financial condition, business or results of operations of the Holding Company
and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

     2. Representations and Warranties to Survive Delivery.

     All representations and warranties contained in this Letter Agreement shall remain operative
and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or
any controlling person of the Agents, or by or on behalf of the Holding Company and shall survive
each delivery of and payment for any of the Notes.

     3. Termination.

     This Letter Agreement may be terminated for any reason without notice, at any time the
Agreement is contemporaneously terminated in its entirety in accordance with the provisions
thereof. In the event of such termination, the provisions of Section 2 hereof shall remain in
effect.

     4. Notices.

     All notices and other communications related to this Letter Agreement shall be delivered in
accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Agreement and, if to the Holding Company or the
Bank, shall be delivered to Compass Bank, 15 South 20th Street Plaza Level, Birmingham,
Alabama 35233, Attention: Treasurer, Facsimile Transmission No. (205) 297-5521.

     5. Governing Law.

     This Letter Agreement and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to
be performed within such State.

2

 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign
and return to the Holding Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument along with all
counterparts will become a binding agreement between you and the Holding Company in accordance with
its terms.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	Very truly yours,	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Accepted in New York, New York,
as of the date hereof:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
INCORPORATED	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	SANDLER, O’NEILL & PARTNERS, L.P.	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 

3

 

ANNEX I

Compass Bank

Bank Notes

Terms Agreement

                    , 20

[Citigroup Global Markets Inc

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

787 7th Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Lehman Brothers Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue, Fifth Floor

New York, New York 10019

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated

World Financial Center

North Tower

New York, New York 10281

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

919 Third Avenue, 6th Floor

New York, New York 10022]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Compass Bank (the “Bank”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in
the Distribution Agreement, dated March 13, 2006 (the “Distribution Agreement”), between the Bank
and Compass Bancshares, Inc. on the one hand and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Keefe, Bruyette &
Woods, Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Sandler,
O’Neill & Partners, L.P., on the other, to issue and sell to [Name(s) of Agent(s)] (the “Agents”)
the securities specified in the Schedule hereto (the “Purchased Securities”). Each of the
provisions of the Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the
Agents, as agents of the Bank, of offers to purchase Securities is incorporated herein by reference
in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if
such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Nothing contained herein or in the Distribution
Agreement shall make any party hereto an agent of the Bank or make such party subject to the
provisions therein relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Bank,
solely by virtue of its execution of this Terms Agreement. Each of the representations and
warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms
Agreement, except that each representation and warranty in Sections 1 and 2 of the Distribution
Agreement which makes reference to the Offering Circular shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty as of the date of the Distribution Agreement

I-1

 

in relation to the Offering Circular (as therein defined), and also a representation and
warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement in relation to the Offering Circular as amended and
supplemented to relate to the Purchased Securities. Each of the representations and warranties
which makes reference to the Disclosure Package shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the
Applicable Time.

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Distribution Agreement
incorporated herein by reference, the Bank agrees to issue and sell to [Name(s) of Agent(s)] and
[Name(s) of Agent(s)] agree[s] to purchase from the Bank the Purchased Securities, at the time (the
“Settlement Date”) and place, in the principal amount and at the purchase price set forth in the
Schedule hereto.

     [In the event the Bank and a syndicate of Agents have entered into this Terms Agreement and
one or more of the Agents shall fail to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to
purchase (the “Defaulted Securities”) at the Settlement Date, then the nondefaulting Agents shall
have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one of them or one or more
other Agents or placement agents to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted
Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth;
provided, however, that if such arrangements shall not have been completed within
such 24-hour period, then:

     (a) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the
Settlement Date, the nondefaulting Agents shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective initial purchase
obligations bear to the purchase obligations of all nondefaulting Agents, or

     (b) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of Securities to be so purchased by all of such Agents on the
Settlement Date, such agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
nondefaulting Agent.

     No action taken pursuant to this shall relieve any defaulting Agent from liability in respect
of its default.

     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of such agreement,
either the nondefaulting Agents or the Bank shall have the right to postpone the Settlement Date
for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Offering
Circular or the Distribution Agreement or in any other documents or arrangements.]

I-2

 

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us [___]
counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including those provisions of the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall
constitute a binding agreement among you, the Bank and the Holding Company.

	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPASS BANK	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	COMPASS BANCSHARES, INC.	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 

Name:
	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	Title:	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	Accepted	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	[Name(s) of Agent(s)]	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	By:
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 

Name:
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 	 	 

I-3

 

Schedule to Annex I

Title of Purchased Securities:

     [ %] Bank Notes

Aggregate Principal Amount:

     [$............... or units of other Specified Currency]

[Price to Public:]

Purchase Price by [Name(s) of Agent(s)]:

     % of the principal amount of the Purchased Securities[, plus accrued interest from ............ to
        ...........] [and accrued amortization, if any, from .............. to .............]

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

     [By certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the order of the Bank, in [[New
York] [Clearing House] [immediately available] funds]

     [By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Bank in [next day] [immediately
available] funds]

Applicable Time:

Time of Delivery:

Disclosure Package:

Supplemental Offering Materials:

Closing Location for Delivery of Securities:

Maturity:

Interest Rate: [ %]

Interest Payment Dates:

     [months and dates]

Documents to be Delivered:

     The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a
condition to the Closing:

	 	 	 	[(1) The opinion or opinions of counsel to the Agents referred to in Section 5(g).]
	 
	 	 	 	[(2) The opinion of counsel to the Bank referred to in Section 5(h).]

I-4

 

	 	 	 	[(3) The officers’ certificate referred to in Section 5(i).]
	 
	 	 	 	[(4) The accountants’ letter(s) referred to in Section 5(j).]

Other Provisions (including Syndicate Provisions, if applicable):

I-5

 

ANNEX II

Compass Bank

Administrative Procedure

     This Administrative Procedure relates to the Securities defined in the Distribution Agreement,
dated [      ], 2006 (the “Distribution Agreement”), among Compass Bank (the “Bank”),
Compass Bancshares, Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc. and Sandler, O’Neill & Partners,
L.P. (together, the “Agents”), to which this Administrative Procedure is attached as Annex II.
Defined terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the
Distribution Agreement, the Offering Circular, a Final Pricing Supplement and the Disclosure
Package, each as amended or supplemented or the Issuing Agency Agreement.

     The procedures to be followed with respect to the settlement of sales of Securities directly
by the Bank to purchasers solicited by an Agent, as agent, are set forth below. The terms and
settlement details related to a purchase of Securities by an Agent, as principal, from the Bank
will be set forth in a Terms Agreement pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, unless the Bank and
such Agent otherwise agree as provided in Section 3(b) of the Distribution Agreement, in which case
the procedures to be followed in respect of the settlement of such sale will be as set forth below.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bank and an Agent or syndicate of Agents may mutually agree to
any other method of settlement of sales of Securities, either in connection with a sale of
Securities directly by the Bank to purchasers solicited by an Agent, as agent, or a purchase of
Securities by an Agent, as principal, from the Bank. An Agent, in relation to a purchase of a
Security by a purchaser solicited by such Agent, is referred to herein as the “Selling Agent” and,
in relation to a purchase of a Security by such Agent as principal other than pursuant to a Terms
Agreement, as the “Purchasing Agent”.

     The Bank will advise each Agent in writing of those persons with whom such Agent is to
communicate regarding offers to purchase Securities and the related settlement details.

     Each Security will be issued only in fully registered form and will be represented by either a
global security (a “Global Security”) delivered to The Depository Trust Company (the “Depositary”)
and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (a “Book-Entry Security”) or a
certificate issued in definitive form (a “Certificated Security”) by the Issuing and Paying Agent,
as agent for the Depositary, delivered to a person designated by an Agent, as set forth in the
applicable Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet. An owner of a Book-Entry Security will not be
entitled to receive a certificate representing such a Security, except as provided in the Issuing
Agency Agreement.

     Book-Entry Securities may be issued in accordance with the Administrative Procedure set forth
in Part I hereof, and Certificated Securities may be issued in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure set forth in Part II hereof, in either case except as may otherwise be mutually agreed
upon by the Bank and an Agent or syndicate of Agents.

II-1

 

PART I: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

     In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry Securities for eligibility in the
book-entry system maintained by the Depositary, the Issuing and Paying Agent will perform the
custodial; document control and administrative functions described below (or as otherwise agreed),
in accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representation from the Bank and
the Issuing and Paying Agent to the Depositary, dated the date hereof, and a Medium-Term Note
Certificate Agreement between the Issuing and Paying Agent and the
Depositary, dated as of [       ]
(the “Certificate Agreement”), and its obligations as a participant in the Depositary, including
the Depositary’s Same-Day Funds Settlement System (“SDFS”).

Posting Rates by the Bank:

     The Bank and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates of interest per annum to be
borne by and the maturity of Book-Entry Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation
of offers by an Agent. The Bank may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities for an
offering period (“posting”). If the Bank decides to change already posted rates, it will promptly
advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of offers until the new posted rates have been
established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by the Bank:

     Each Agent will promptly advise the Bank by telephone or other appropriate means of all
reasonable offers to purchase Book-Entry Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent. Each
Agent may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in
part. Each Agent also may make offers to the Bank to purchase Book-Entry Securities as a
Purchasing Agent. The Bank will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Book-Entry
Securities and may reject any such offer in whole or in part.

     The Bank will promptly notify the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of
its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase Book-Entry Securities. If the Bank accepts an
offer to purchase Book-Entry Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to the Selling
Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Issuing and Paying Agent.

Communication of Sale Information to the Bank by Agent and Settlement Procedures:

     A. After the acceptance of an offer by the Bank, the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the
case may be, will communicate promptly, but in no event later than the time set forth under
“Settlement Procedure Timetable” below, the following details of the terms of such offer (the “Sale
Information”) to the Bank by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means:

	 	(1)	 	Principal Amount of Book-Entry Securities to be purchased;
	 
	 	(2)	 	If a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Security, the interest rate and initial interest
payment date;
	 
	 	(3)	 	Trade Date;

II-2

 

	 	(4)	 	Settlement Date;
	 
	 	(5)	 	Maturity Date;
	 
	 	(6)	 	Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is other than U.S. dollars,
the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified Currency (it being understood that
currently the Depositary accepts deposits of Global Securities denominated in U.S.
dollars only);
	 
	 	(7)	 	Indexed Currency, the Base Rate and the Exchange Rate Determination Date, if
applicable;
	 
	 	(8)	 	Issue Price;
	 
	 	(9)	 	Selling Agent’s commission or Purchasing Agent’s discount, as the case may be;
	 
	 	(10)	 	Net Proceeds to the Bank;
	 
	 	(11)	 	If a redeemable Book-Entry Security, such of the following as are applicable:

	 	(i)	 	Redemption Commencement Date,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Initial Redemption Price (% of par), and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price shall decline (but
not below par) on each anniversary of the Redemption Commencement Date;

	 	(12)	 	If a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security, such of the following as are
applicable:

	 	(i)	 	Interest Rate Basis,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Index Maturity,
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Spread or Spread Multiplier,
	 
	 	(iv)	 	Maximum Rate,
	 
	 	(v)	 	Minimum Rate,
	 
	 	(vi)	 	Initial Interest Rate,
	 
	 	(vii)	 	Interest Reset Dates,
	 
	 	(viii)	 	Calculation Dates,
	 
	 	(ix)	 	Interest Determination Dates,
	 
	 	(x)	 	Interest Payment Dates,
	 
	 	(xi)	 	Regular Record Dates, and
	 
	 	(xii)	 	Calculation Agent;

	 	(13)	 	Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the registered owner(s);
	 
	 	(14)	 	Denomination of certificates to be delivered at settlement;
	 
	 	(15)	 	Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security; and

II-3

 

	 	(16)	 	Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

     B. After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the
case may be, the Bank will communicate such Sale Information to the Issuing and Paying Agent by
facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means. The Issuing and Paying Agent will assign
a CUSIP number to the Global Security from a list of CUSIP numbers previously delivered to the
Issuing and Paying Agent by the Bank representing such Book-Entry Security and then advise the Bank
and the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of such CUSIP number.

     C.

     (1) In the event the Bank is considered a “fast settlement bank” with the Depositary,
the Issuing and Paying Agent will enter a pending deposit message through the Depositary’s
Participant Terminal System, providing the following settlement information to the
Depositary, and the Depositary shall forward such information to such Agent and Standard &
Poor’s Corporation:

	 	a.	 	The applicable Sale Information;
	 
	 	b.	 	CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry
Security;
	 
	 	c.	 	Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry
Security (to the extent known at such time);
	 
	 	d.	 	Number of the participant account maintained by the Depositary on
behalf of the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be;
	 
	 	e.	 	The interest payment period; and
	 
	 	f.	 	Initial Interest Payment Date for such Book-Entry Security, number of
days by which such date succeeds the record date for the Depositary’s purposes (or,
in the case of Floating Rate Securities which reset daily or weekly, the date five
calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date and, in
the case of all other Book-Entry Securities, the Regular Record Date, as defined in
the Security) and, if calculable at that time, the amount of interest payable on
such Interest Payment Date.

     (2) In the event the Bank is not considered a “fast settlement bank” with the
Depositary, the Issuing and Paying Agent and the Bank will provide the following settlement
information to the Depositary in such manner as is mutually agreed upon by the Issuing and
Paying Agent and the Bank, and as acceptable to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall
forward such information to such Agent and Standard & Poor’s Corporation:

	 	a.	 	The applicable Sale Information;
	 
	 	b.	 	CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry
Security;
	 
	 	c.	 	Whether such Global Security will represent any other Book-Entry
Security (to the extent known at such time);
	 
	 	d.	 	Number of the participant account maintained by the Depositary on
behalf of the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be and only if
applicable;
	 
	 	e.	 	The interest payment period; and

II-4

 

	 	f.	 	Initial Interest Payment Date for such Book-Entry Security, number of
days by which such date succeeds the record date for the Depositary’s purposes (or,
in the case of Floating Rate Securities which reset daily or weekly, the date five
calendar days immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date and, in
the case of all other Book-Entry Securities, the Regular Record Date, as defined in
the Security) and, if calculable at that time, the amount of interest payable on
such Interest Payment Date.

     The Issuing and Paying Agent and the Bank will provide to the Depositary a Letter
of Representation, the Global Security as referenced in D below and the Offering
Circular, Final Pricing Supplement and/or Term Sheet, as applicable (or any portion
thereof), and any other information as the Depositary may request or require (including
any questionnaire as may be requested by the Depositary and as not otherwise supplied by
the Agent), in order to provide the information identified in this subsection C(2).

     D. The Issuing and Paying Agent will complete and authenticate the Global Security previously
delivered by the Bank representing such Book-Entry Security.

     E. (1) In the event the Bank is not considered a “fast settlement bank” with the Depositary,
the Issuing and Paying Agent will deliver the executed and authenticated Global Security
representing such Book-Entry Security to the Depositary.

          (2) In the event the Bank is considered a “fast settlement bank” with the Depositary, the
Depositary will credit such Book-Entry Security to the Issuing and Paying Agent’s participant
account at the Depositary.

     F. The Issuing and Paying Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through the Depositary’s
Participant Terminal System, or in such other manner as mutually agreed upon by the Issuing and
Paying Agent and the Bank, and as acceptable to the Depositary, instructing the Depositary to (i)
debit such Book-Entry Security to the Issuing and Paying Agent’s participant account and credit
such Book-Entry Security to such Agent’s participant account and (ii) debit such Agent’s settlement
account and credit the Issuing and Paying Agent’s settlement account for an amount equal to the
price of such Book-Entry Security less such Agent’s commission. The entry of such a deliver order
shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Issuing and Paying Agent to the Depositary
that (a) the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security has been issued and
authenticated and (b) the Issuing and Paying Agent is holding such Global Security pursuant to the
Certificate Agreement. In the event the Bank is not considered a “fast settlement bank” with the
Depositary, the Issuing and Paying Agent agrees to enter the SDFS deliver order described in this
Section F in a manner other than through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System.

     G. Such Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal
System, or in such other manner as mutually agreed upon by the Bank and the Agent, and as
acceptable to the Depositary, instructing the Depositary (i) to debit such Book-Entry Security to
such Agent’s participant account and credit such Book-Entry Security to the participant accounts of
the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security and (ii) to debit

II-5

 

the settlement accounts of such participants and credit the settlement account of such Agent
for an amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security. In the event the Bank is not
considered a “fast settlement bank” with the Depositary, the Agent will enter the SDFS deliver
order described in this Section F in a manner other than through the Depositary’s Participant
Terminal System.

     H. In the event the Bank is considered a “fast settlement bank” with the Depositary, transfers
of funds in accordance with SDFS deliver orders described in Settlement Procedures “F” and “G” (if
applicable) will be settled in accordance with SDFS operating procedures in effect on the
settlement date. In the event the Bank is not considered a “fast settlement bank” with the
Depositary, the Issuing and Paying Agent and the Agent will settle transfers of funds in a manner
as mutually agreed to by the parties.

     I. Upon confirmation of receipt of funds, the Issuing and Paying Agent will transfer to the
account of the Bank maintained at the Bank or such other account as the Bank may have previously
specified to the Issuing and Paying Agent, in funds available for immediate use in the amount
transferred to the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance with Settlement Procedure “F”.

     J. Such Agent will confirm the purchase of such Book-Entry Security to the purchaser either by
transmitting to the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security a confirmation order or
orders through the Depositary’s institutional delivery system or by mailing a written confirmation
to such purchaser.

     K. Upon request, the Issuing and Paying Agent will send to the Bank a statement setting forth
the principal amount of Book-Entry Securities outstanding as of that date under the Issuing and
Paying Agency Agreement.

     L. The Depositary will, at any time, upon request of the Bank or the Issuing and Paying Agent,
promptly furnish to the Bank or the Issuing and Paying Agent a list of the names and addresses of
the participants for whom the Depositary has credited Book-Entry Securities.

Preparation of Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet:

     If the Bank accepts an offer to purchase a Book-Entry Security, it will prepare a Final
Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet reflecting the terms of such Book-Entry Security and arrange to
have delivered to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of
such Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Business Day following the Trade Date (as defined below), or if the Bank and the purchaser agree to
settlement on the Business Day following the date of acceptance of such offer, not later than noon,
New York City time, on such date.

Delivery of Confirmation and Offering Circular and Disclosure Package: to Purchasers by Selling
Agent:

     The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a Book-Entry Security a written
confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent
will deliver to such purchaser or its agent the Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented

II-6

 

(and a Final Pricing Supplement) in relation to such Book-Entry Security prior to or together
with the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the confirmation of sale or
(b) the Book-Entry Security. The Bank shall provide a copy of the Disclosure Package (as not
otherwise available through the Commission’s, the Holding Company’s or FFIEC’s website) as promptly
as practicable to the Selling Agents for delivery to each purchaser or its agent.

Date of Settlement:

     The receipt by the Bank of immediately available funds in payment for a Book-Entry Security
and the authentication and issuance of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security
shall constitute “settlement” with respect to such Book-Entry Security. All orders of Book-Entry
Securities solicited by a Selling Agent or made by a Purchasing Agent and accepted by the Bank on a
particular date (the “Trade Date”) will be settled on a date (the “Settlement Date”) which is the
third Business Day after the Trade Date pursuant to the “Settlement Procedure Timetable” set forth
below, unless the Bank and the purchaser agree to settlement on another Business Day which shall be
no earlier than the next Business Day after the Trade Date.

Settlement Procedure Timetable:

     For orders of Book-Entry Securities solicited by a Selling Agent and accepted by the Bank for
settlement on the third Business Day after the Trade Date, Settlement Procedures “A” through “J”
set forth above shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times (New
York City time) set forth below:

Settlement Procedure Timetable:

	 	 	 	 	 
	A - B

	 	3:00 p.m.
	 	on the Trade Date
	C

	 	4:00 p.m.
	 	on the Trade Date
	D

	 	3:00 p.m.
	 	on the Business Day immediately preceding the Settlement Date
	E1

	 	9:00 a.m.
	 	on the Settlement Date
	E2

	 	10:00 a.m.
	 	on the Settlement Date
	F - H

	 	1:30 p.m.
	 	on the Settlement Date
	I - J

	 	5:00 p.m.
	 	on the Settlement Date

     If the initial interest rate for a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security has not been determined
at the time that Settlement Procedure “A” is completed, Settlement Procedures “B” and “C” shall be
completed as soon as such rate has been determined. Settlement Procedure “H” is subject to
extension in accordance with any extension of Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events
specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect on the Settlement Date.

     If settlement of a Book-Entry Security is rescheduled or canceled, the Issuing and Paying
Agent, upon obtaining knowledge thereof, will deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s
Participant Terminal System, a cancellation message to such effect as soon as practicable.

II-7

 

Failure to Settle:

     If the Issuing and Paying Agent fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect to a
Book-Entry Security pursuant to Settlement Procedure “F”, the Issuing and Paying Agent may deliver
to the Depositary, through the Depositary’s Participant Terminal System, as soon as practicable a
withdrawal message instructing the Depositary to debit such Book-Entry Security to the Issuing and
Paying Agent’s participant account, provided that the Issuing and Paying Agent’s participant
account contains a principal amount of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security
that is at least equal to the principal amount to be debited. If a withdrawal message is processed
with respect to all the Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global Security, the Issuing and
Paying Agent will mark such Global Security “canceled”, make appropriate entries in the Issuing and
Paying Agent’s records and send such canceled Global Security to the Bank. The CUSIP number
assigned to such Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be
canceled and not immediately reassigned. If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to one
or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global Security, the Issuing
and Paying Agent will exchange such Global Security for two Global Securities, one of which shall
represent such Book-Entry Security or Securities and shall be canceled immediately after issuance
and the other of which shall represent the remaining Book-Entry Securities previously represented
by the surrendered Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global
Security.

     If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Security is not timely paid to the participants with
respect to such Book-Entry Security by the beneficial purchaser thereof (or a person, including an
indirect participant in the Depositary, acting on behalf of such purchaser), such participants and,
in turn, the Agent for such Book-Entry Security may enter deliver orders through the Depositary’s
Participant Terminal System debiting such Book-Entry Security to such participant’s account and
crediting such Book-Entry Security to such Agent’s account and then debiting such Book-Entry
Security to such Agent’s participant account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to the Issuing
and Paying Agent’s participant account and shall notify the Bank and the Issuing and Paying Agent
thereof. Thereafter, the Issuing and Paying Agent will (i) immediately notify the Bank of such
order and the Bank shall transfer to such Agent funds available for immediate use in an amount
equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security which was credited to the account of the Bank
maintained at the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance with Settlement Procedure I, and (ii)
deliver the withdrawal message and take the related actions described in the preceding paragraph.
If such failure shall have occurred for any reason other than default by the applicable Agent to
perform its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the Bank will reimburse such
Agent on an equitable basis for the loss of its use of funds during the period when the funds were
credited to the account of the Bank.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with respect to a Book-Entry
Security, the Depositary may take any actions in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then
in effect. In the event of a failure to settle with respect to one or more, but not all, of the
Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by a Global Security, the Issuing and Paying Agent
will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure “D”, for the authentication and issuance of a
Global Security representing the other Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by such
Global Security and will make appropriate entries in its records. The Bank

II-8

 

will, from time to time, furnish the Issuing and Paying Agent with a sufficient quantity
of Securities. In the event the Bank is not considered a “fast settlement bank” with the
Depositary, the Issuing and Paying Agent, the Bank and the Agent will mutually agree to an
alternative resolution of any failure to settle in the event the above procedure(s) is not
available.

PART II: ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATED SECURITIES

Posting Rates by Bank:

     The Bank and the Agents will discuss from time to time the rates of interest per annum to be
borne by and the maturity of Certificated Securities that may be sold as a result of the
solicitation of offers by an Agent. The Bank may establish a fixed set of interest rates and
maturities for an offering period (“posting”). If the Bank decides to change already posted rates,
it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of offers until the new posted rates
have been established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by Bank:

     Each Agent will promptly advise the Bank by telephone or other appropriate means of all
reasonable offers to purchase Certificated Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent.
Each Agent may, in its discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or
in part. Each Agent also may make offers to the Bank to purchase Certificated Securities as a
Purchasing Agent. The Bank will have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Certificated
Securities and may reject any such offer in whole or in part.

     The Bank will promptly notify the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of
its acceptance or rejection of an offer to purchase Certificated Securities. If the Bank accepts
an offer to purchase Certificated Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to the
Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Issuing and Paying Agent.

Communication of Sale Information to Bank by Agent:

     After the acceptance of an offer by the Bank, the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the
case may be, will communicate the following details of the terms of such offer (the “Sale
Information”) to the Bank by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means:

	 	(1)	 	Principal Amount of Certificated Securities to be purchased;
	 
	 	(2)	 	If a Fixed Rate Certificated Security, the interest rate and initial interest
payment date;
	 
	 	(3)	 	Trade Date;
	 
	 	(4)	 	Settlement Date;
	 
	 	(5)	 	Maturity Date;
	 
	 	(6)	 	Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is other than U.S. dollars,
the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified Currency;
	 
	 	(7)	 	Indexed Currency, the Base Rate and the Exchange Rate Determination Date, if
applicable;
	 
	 	(8)	 	Issue Price;

II-9

 

	 	(9)	 	Selling Agent’s commission or Purchasing Agent’s discount, as the case may be;
	 
	 	(10)	 	Net Proceeds to the Bank;
	 
	 	(11)	 	If a redeemable Certificated Security, such of the following as are applicable:

	 	(i)	 	Redemption Commencement Date,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Initial Redemption Price (% of par), and
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price shall decline (but not below par)
on each anniversary of the Redemption Commencement Date;

	 	(12)	 	If a Floating Rate Certificated Security, such of the following as are applicable:

	 	(i)	 	Interest Rate Basis,
	 
	 	(ii)	 	Index Maturity,
	 
	 	(iii)	 	Spread or Spread Multiplier,

	 
	 	(iv)	 	Maximum Rate,
	 
	 	(v)	 	Minimum Rate,
	 
	 	(vi)	 	Initial Interest Rate,
	 
	 	(vii)	 	Interest Reset Dates,
	 
	 	(viii)	 	Calculation Dates,
	 
	 	(ix)	 	Interest Determination Dates,
	 
	 	(x)	 	Interest Payment Dates,
	 
	 	(xi)	 	Regular Record Dates, and
	 
	 	(xii)	 	Calculation Agent;

	 	(13)	 	Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the registered owner(s);
	 
	 	(14)	 	Denomination of certificates to be delivered at settlement;
	 
	 	(15)	 	Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security; and
	 
	 	(16)	 	Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent.

Preparation of Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet by Bank:

     If the Bank accepts an offer to purchase a Certificated Security, it will prepare a Final
Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet reflecting the terms of such Certificated Security and arrange to
have delivered to the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of
such Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the
Business Day following the Trade Date, or if the Bank and the purchaser agree to settlement on the
date of acceptance of such offer, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date.

Delivery of Confirmation and Offering Circular to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

     The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a Certificated Security a written
confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment instructions. In addition, the Selling Agent
will deliver to such purchaser or its agent the Offering Circular, as amended or supplemented
(including the Final Pricing Supplement and Term Sheet) in relation to such Certificated Security
prior to or together with the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the
confirmation of sale or (b) the Certificated Security.

II-10

 

Date of Settlement:

     All offers of Certificated Securities solicited by a Selling Agent or made by a Purchasing
Agent and accepted by the Bank will be settled on a date (the “Settlement Date”) which is the third
Business Day after the date of acceptance of such offer, unless the Bank and the purchaser agree to
settlement (a) on another Business Day after the acceptance of such offer or (b) with respect to an
offer accepted by the Bank prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of such acceptance.

Instruction from Bank to Issuing and Paying Agent for Preparation of Certificated Securities:

     After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case
may be, the Bank will communicate such Sale Information to the Issuing and Paying Agent by
telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means.

     The Bank will instruct the Issuing and Paying Agent by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means to authenticate and deliver the Certificated Securities no later than 2:15
p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date. Such instruction will be given by the Bank prior
to 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day immediately preceding the Settlement Date
unless the Settlement Date is the date of acceptance by the Bank of the offer to purchase
Certificated Securities in which case such instruction will be given by the Bank by 11:00 a.m., New
York City time.

Preparation and Delivery of Certificated Securities by Issuing and Paying Agent and Receipt of
Payment Therefor:

     The Issuing and Paying Agent will prepare each Certificated Security and appropriate receipts
that will serve as the documentary control of the transaction.

     In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a purchaser solicited by a Selling Agent,
the Issuing and Paying Agent will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date,
deliver the Certificated Securities to the Selling Agent for the benefit of the purchaser of such
Certificated Securities against delivery by the Selling Agent of a receipt therefor. On the
Settlement Date the Selling Agent will deliver payment for such Certificated Securities in
immediately available funds to the Bank in an amount equal to the issue price of the Certificated
Securities less the Selling Agent’s commission; provided that the Selling Agent reserves the right
to withhold payment for which it has not received funds from the purchaser. The Bank shall not use
any proceeds advanced by a Selling Agent to acquire securities.

     In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a Purchasing Agent, the Issuing and Paying
Agent will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated
Securities to the Purchasing Agent against delivery of payment for such Certificated Securities in
immediately available funds to the Bank in an amount equal to the issue price of the Certificated
Securities less the Purchasing Agent’s discount.

II-11

 

Failure of Purchaser to Pay Selling Agent:

     If a purchaser (other than a Purchasing Agent) fails to make payment to the Selling Agent for
a Certificated Security, the Selling Agent will promptly notify the Issuing and Paying Agent and
the Bank thereof by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means. The Selling Agent will immediately return the Certificated Security to
the Issuing and Paying Agent. Immediately upon receipt of such Certificated Security by the
Issuing and Paying Agent, the Bank will return to the Selling Agent an amount equal to the amount
previously paid to the Bank in respect of such Certificated Security. The Bank will reimburse the
Selling Agent on an equitable basis for its loss of the use of funds during the period when they
were credited to the account of the Bank. The Issuing and Paying Agent will cancel the
Certificated Security in respect of which the failure occurred, make appropriate entries in its
records and, unless otherwise instructed by the Bank, destroy the Certificated Security.

II-12

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