Document:

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
                          2002 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

SECTION 1.  General Purpose of Plan
-----------------------------------

The name of this plan is the Synovus Financial Corp. 2002 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to enable Synovus Financial Corp.
(the "Corporation") and its Subsidiaries to attract, retain, motivate, and
reward employees and non-employee directors who make a significant contribution
to the Corporation's long-term success, and to enable such employees and
non-employee directors to acquire and maintain an equity interest in Synovus
Financial Corp.

SECTION 2.  Definitions
-----------------------

For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth
below:

      a.    "Award" means any award of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
            Restricted Stock, or Performance Awards, whether in cash or stock or
            a combination thereof, authorized by the Committee under this Plan.

      b.    "Board" means the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  or the
            Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

      c.    "Cause" means a felony conviction of a Participant or the failure of
            a Participant to contest prosecution for a felony, or a
            Participant's willful misconduct, dishonesty, embezzlement, fraud,
            deceit or civil rights violations, any of which acts cause the
            Corporation or any Subsidiary liability or loss, as determined by
            the Board.

      d.    "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
            any successor thereto.

      e.    "Committee" means the Compensation Committee, or any other committee
            of the Board appointed for the purpose of administering the Plan,
            which committee shall consist exclusively of two or more
            Disinterested Persons, at least two of whom are directors of both
            the Corporation and of TSYS. In the context of Awards made to
            employees of TSYS, the term "Committee" shall mean only those
            members of the Committee who are directors of both the Corporation
            and of TSYS.

      f.    "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      g.    "Corporation" means Synovus Financial Corp.

      h.    "Disability" means total and permanent physical or mental disability
            or incapacity of an employee to fulfill at any time or from time to
            time his normal duties as an employee, as certified in writing by
            two competent physicians, one of which shall be selected by the
            Committee and the other of which shall be selected by the employee
            or his duly appointed guardian or legal or personal representative.
            In addition, for purposes of determining Disability as it applies to
            any Incentive Stock Option, the term "Disability" shall be
            interpreted consistently with Code Sections 421-424.

      i.    "Disinterested Person" is a person who meets both (i) the definition
            of "disinterested person" as set forth in Rule 16b-3 as promulgated
            by the Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor

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            definition adopted by the Commission, and (ii) the definition of
            "outside director" as set forth in Code Section 162(m), as amended
            from time to time.

      j.    "Early Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the
            Corporation or any Subsidiary pursuant to the early retirement
            provisions of the applicable Corporation or Subsidiary pension plan.

      k.    "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
            amended, and any successor thereto.

      l.    "Fair Market Value" means, as of any given date, the closing price
            of the Stock on such date (or if no transactions were reported on
            such date on the next preceding date on which transactions were so
            reported) in the principal market in which such Stock is traded on
            such date as reported in The Wall Street Journal (or any other
            publication designated by the Committee) except that, with respect
            to grants of Restricted Stock, "Fair Market Value" for Restricted
            Stock on the date of grant shall be determined as of the time and
            date of the Restricted Stock grant by the Compensation Committee.

      m.    "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended to be and
            designated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of
            Section 422 of the Code.

      n.    "Non-Employee  Director" means a member of the Board who is
            not an  employee  of the Corporation  or its Subsidiaries.

      o.    "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an
            Incentive Stock Option.

      p.    "Normal Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the
            Corporation or any Subsidiary on or after the normal retirement date
            specified in the applicable Corporation or Subsidiary pension plan.

      q.    "Participant"  means any employee of the Corporation and its
            Subsidiaries or Non-Employee Director designated  by the Committee
            to receive an Award under the Plan.

      r.    "Performance Award" means an award of shares of Stock or cash to a
            Participant pursuant to Section 9 contingent upon achieving certain
            performance goals.

      s.    "Plan" means this Synovus Financial Corp. 2002 Long-Term Incentive
            Plan.

      t.    "Restricted Stock" means an award of shares of Stock that are
            subject to restrictions under Section 8.

      u.    "Retirement" means Normal or Early Retirement under the applicable
            Corporation or Subsidiary pension plan.

      v.    "Stock" means the common stock of the Corporation or any successor
            corporation.

      w.    "Stock Appreciation Right" means a right granted under Section 7,
            which entitles the holder to receive a cash payment or an award of
            Stock or, if applicable, as a credit against the purchase price of a
            related Stock Option, in an amount equal to the difference between
            (i) the Fair Market Value of the Stock covered by such right at the
            date the right is granted and (ii) the Fair Market Value

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            of the Stock covered by such right at the date the right is
            exercised, unless otherwise determined by the Committee pursuant to
            Section 7, multiplied by the number of shares covered by the right.

      x.    "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted
            to Participants pursuant to Section 6.

      y.    "Subsidiary" means any corporation (other than Synovus Financial
            Corp.) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
            Corporation if each of the corporations (other than the last
            corporation in the unbroken chain) owns stock possessing 50% or more
            of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of
            the other corporations in the chain.

      z.    "TSYS" means Total System  Services,  Inc., a Subsidiary of the
            Corporation of which approximately 19% of the stock is publicly
            held.

SECTION 3.  Administration
--------------------------

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, at least two of whom are
directors of both the Corporation and of TSYS, which Committee shall at all
times consist of not less than two Disinterested Persons. Whenever under this
Plan, any act or decision is to be made with respect to Awards made to employees
of TSYS, including without limitation the selection of TSYS employees for the
grant of Awards and the establishment, administration and certification of
attainment of relevant performance goals, if any, such act or decision shall be
made by, and the term "Committee" in that context shall mean, only those members
of the Committee who are directors of both the Corporation and of TSYS.

The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant to eligible
Participants, pursuant to the terms of the Plan: (i) Stock Options; (ii) Stock
Appreciation Rights; (iii) Restricted Stock; or (iv) Performance Awards.

In particular, the Committee shall have the authority:

      (i)        to select the employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries
                 and Non-Employee Directors to whom Stock Options, Stock
                 Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, or Performance Awards or
                 a combination of the foregoing from time to time will be
                 granted hereunder;

      (ii)       to grant Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options,
                 Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, or Performance
                 Awards, or a combination of the foregoing, hereunder;

      (iii)      to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by
                 each such Award granted hereunder;

      (iv)       to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
                 the terms of the Plan, of any Award granted hereunder
                 including, but not limited to, any restriction on any Award
                 and/or the shares of Stock relating thereto based on
                 performance and/or such other factors as the Committee may
                 determine, in its sole discretion, and any vesting acceleration
                 features based on performance and/or such other factors as the
                 Committee may determine, in its sole discretion;

      (v)        to determine whether, to what extent and under what
                 circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to
                 an Award under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically
                 or at

                                       3

                 the election of a Participant, including providing for
                 and determining the amount (if any) of deemed earnings on any
                 deferred amount during any deferral period.

Subject to Section 10, the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter
and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the
Plan as it shall, from time to time, deem advisable; to interpret the terms and
provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any agreements
relating thereto); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan.

All decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall
be final and binding on all persons, including the Corporation and all Plan
Participants.

SECTION 4.  Stock Subject to Plan
---------------------------------

The total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for distribution
under the Plan shall be 14,000,000. Such shares may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

If any shares of Stock that have been subject to option cease to be subject to
option without having been exercised, or if any shares subject to any Restricted
Stock, Stock Appreciation Rights, or Performance Awards granted hereunder are
forfeited or such Awards are otherwise terminated without having been exercised,
such shares shall again be available for distribution in connection with future
Awards under the Plan in each case to the full extent available pursuant to the
rules and interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In the event that prior to the Award's
cancellation, termination, expiration, or lapse, the holder of the Award at any
time received one or more "benefits of ownership" pursuant to such Award (as
defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to any rule or
interpretation promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act), the Stock
subject to such Award shall not be available for regrant under the Plan.

In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization,
stock dividend, or other change in corporate structure affecting the Stock, a
substitution or adjustment shall be made in the aggregate number of shares
reserved for issuance under the Plan, in the number and option price of shares
subject to outstanding Stock Options granted under the Plan and in the number of
shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Performance
Awards granted under the Plan as may be determined to be appropriate by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, in order to preserve each Participant's
rights substantially proportionate to the Participant's rights existing prior to
such event, provided that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always
be a whole number. Such adjusted option price shall also be used to determine
the amount payable by the Corporation upon the exercise of any Stock
Appreciation Rights associated with any Stock Option the price of which is
adjusted.

Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, the maximum number of
shares of Stock with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any
one Participant in any calendar year shall be 2,000,000.

SECTION 5.  Eligibility
-----------------------

Any employee of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or any Non-Employee
Director is eligible to be granted Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
Restricted Stock or Performance Awards. The Participants under the Plan shall be
selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole discretion, from among
those

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eligible, and the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the
number of shares covered by each Award or grant.

SECTION 6.  Stock Options
-------------------------

Stock Options may be granted either alone or in addition to other Awards granted
under the Plan. Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be in such form as
the Committee may from time to time approve, and the provisions of Stock Option
Awards need not be the same with respect to each optionee.

The Stock Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive
Stock Options (subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan) and (ii)
Non-Qualified Stock Options.

The Committee shall have the authority to grant any optionee Incentive Stock
Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options (in each
case with or without Option Price Adjustment Rights or Stock Appreciation
Rights); provided, however, that Non-Employee Directors shall be eligible to
receive only Non-Qualified Stock Options, and shall not be eligible to receive
Incentive Stock Options. To the extent that any Stock Option does not qualify as
an Incentive Stock Option, it shall constitute a separate Non-Qualified Stock
Option.

Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of this Plan
relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted, amended or altered,
nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be so exercised, so
as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422
of the Code.

Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:

     (a)  Option Price. The option price per share of Stock purchasable under a
          Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of
          grant. The option price per share of Stock may be equal to or more or
          less than the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant,
          except that the option price for any Incentive Stock Option shall be
          not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date
          of the grant of the Stock Option (determined without regard to any
          Stock Appreciation Rights). If the option is an Incentive Stock Option
          and if the employee to whom the Incentive Stock Option is granted owns
          directly or indirectly more than 10% of the total combined voting
          power of all classes of Stock immediately before the grant of the
          option, then the option price per share of Stock must be at least 110%
          of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.

     (b)  Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the
          Committee, but no Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten
          years after the date such Stock Option is granted. If the option is an
          Incentive Stock Option and if the employee to whom the Incentive Stock
          Option is granted owns directly or indirectly more than 10% of the
          total combined voting power of all classes of Stock immediately before
          the grant of the option, then the term of the option may not exceed
          five years.

     (c)  Exercisability. Subject to paragraph (j) of this Section 6 with
          respect to Incentive Stock Options, Stock Options shall be exercisable
          at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as
          shall be determined by the Committee at grant, provided, however, that
          except as provided in paragraphs (f) and (g) of Section 6, unless a
          longer vesting period is otherwise determined by the

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          Committee at grant, no Stock Option shall be exercisable for a period
          of six months after the date of the grant of the option. If the
          Committee provides, in its discretion, that any Stock Option is
          exercisable only in installments, the Committee may waive such
          installment exercise provision at any time in whole or in part based
          on performance and/or such other factors as the Committee may
          determine in its sole discretion.

     (d)  Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part
          at any time during the exercise period described in Section 6(c) by
          giving written notice of exercise to the Corporation specifying the
          number of shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in full of
          the purchase price, in cash, by check or such other instrument as may
          be acceptable to the Committee. If approved and as determined by the
          Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, payment in full
          or in part may also be made in the form of unrestricted Stock owned by
          the optionee (based on the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date
          the option is exercised, as determined by the Committee). Payment of
          the exercise price of a Stock Option and any withholding tax due at
          exercise also may be made through any program or procedure (including
          but not limited to a broker-dealer cashless exercise program) if
          approved by the Committee. No shares of Stock resulting from the
          exercise of a Stock Option shall be issued until full payment therefor
          has been made. An optionee shall have the rights to dividends or other
          rights of a stockholder with respect to shares subject to the option
          when the optionee has given written notice of exercise and has paid in
          full for such shares.

     (e)  Transferability of Options.

          (1)  Incentive Stock Options. No Incentive Stock Option shall be
               transferable by the optionee, otherwise than by will or by the
               laws of descent and distribution, or be subject to attachment,
               execution or similar process. All Incentive Stock Options shall
               be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the
               optionee.

          (2)  Non-Qualified Stock Options. Non-Qualified Stock Options shall
               likewise be non-transferable by the optionee, otherwise than by
               will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and not subject
               to attachment, execution or similar process; provided, however,
               that the Committee may by resolution or after grant designate
               existing or future Non-Qualified Stock Options as "transferable,"
               meaning that the optionee may sign an agreement which transfers
               all or a portion of such Non-Qualified Stock Option (either
               exercisable or non-exercisable) to (A) a member of the optionee's
               Immediate Family, (B) any trust or trusts in which members of the
               optionee's Immediate Family have more than a fifty percent (50%)
               beneficial interest, (C) any entity in which optionee and/or
               members of the optionee's Immediate Family own more than fifty
               percent (50%) of the voting interests, or (D) any foundation in
               which optionee and/or optionee's Immediate Family members control
               the management of the foundation's assets, subject to such terms
               and conditions as the Committee may establish. The form of
               agreement pursuant to which such options are transferred must be
               approved by the Committee and executed by the optionee,
               transferee and the Company. Following transfer, any such options
               shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as
               were applicable immediately prior to transfer, except that the
               term "optionee" shall be deemed to refer to the transferee
               subject to any terms and conditions established by the Committee.
               Subsequent transfers of such transferred options shall be
               prohibited, except by will or the laws of descent and
               distribution. For purposes of this Subsection, "Immediate Family"
               means the optionee's child, stepchild, grandchild, parent,
               stepparent, grandparent, spouse, former spouse, sibling,
               mother-in-law, father-in-law,

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               son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law,
               nephew or niece of the optionee (including by adoption), and any
               person sharing the optionee's household (other than a tenant or
               employee).

     (f)  Termination by Death (other than by suicide). Unless otherwise
          determined by the Committee at or after grant, if: (i) any optionee
          who is an employee terminates employment with the Corporation or any
          Subsidiary by reason of death (other than by suicide), or (ii) any
          optionee who is a Non-Employee Director terminates service on the
          Board by reason of death (other than by suicide), then any Stock
          Option held by such optionee may thereafter be immediately exercised,
          to the extent then exercisable (or on such accelerated basis as the
          Committee shall determine at or after grant), by the legal
          representative of the estate or by the legatee of the optionee under
          the will of the optionee until the expiration of the stated term of
          such Stock Option.

     (g)  Termination by Reason of Disability. Unless otherwise determined by
          the Committee at or after grant, if: (i) any optionee who is an
          employee terminates employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary
          by reason of Disability, or (ii) any optionee who is a Non-Employee
          Director terminates service on the Board by reason of Disability, then
          any Stock Option held by such optionee may thereafter be exercised, to
          the extent it was exercisable at the time of termination due to
          Disability (or on such accelerated basis as the Committee shall
          determine at or after grant), until the expiration of the stated term
          of such Stock Option. In the event of termination of employment by
          reason of Disability, if an Incentive Stock Option is exercised after
          the expiration of the exercise periods that apply for purposes of
          Section 422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated
          as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

     (h)  Termination by Reason of Retirement. Unless otherwise determined by
          the Committee at or after grant, if: (i) any optionee who is an
          employee terminates employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary
          by reason of Normal or Early Retirement, or (ii) any optionee who is a
          Non-Employee Director retires from the Board pursuant to the
          provisions of the Corporation's By-laws, then any Stock Option held by
          such optionee may thereafter be exercised to the extent it was
          exercisable at the time of such Retirement (or on such accelerated
          basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant), but may not
          be exercised after the expiration of the stated term of such Stock
          Option; and, provided that if the optionee dies within such period any
          unexercised Stock Option held by such optionee shall thereafter be
          exercisable, to the extent to which it was exercisable at the time of
          death (or on such accelerated basis as the Committee shall determine
          at or after grant), for the remainder of the stated term of the Stock
          Option. In the event of termination of employment of an optionee who
          is an employee by reason of Retirement, if an Incentive Stock Option
          is exercised after the exercise periods that apply for purposes of
          Section 422 of the Code, such Stock Option will thereafter be treated
          as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

     (i)  Other Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or
          after grant, if: (i) an optionee who is an employee terminates
          employment with the Corporation or any Subsidiary for Cause or for
          death by reason of suicide or for any reason other than Disability or
          Normal or Early Retirement or death other than by suicide, or (ii) any
          optionee who is a Non-Employee Director terminates service with the
          Board for any reason other than death (excluding suicide), Disability
          or retirement pursuant to the provisions of the Corporation's By-laws,
          then any Stock Option held by such optionee shall thereupon terminate,
          except that such Stock Option held by an employee optionee may be
          exercised to the extent such Stock Option could have been exercised on
          the date of cessation of employment for the lesser of three months
          from the date of termination or the balance of such Stock Option's
          term if the optionee's employment with the Corporation or any
          Subsidiary is involuntarily terminated by the optionee's employer
          without Cause.

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     (j)  Limit on Value of Incentive Stock Options First Exercisable Annually.
          The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of
          the Stock for which "incentive stock options" within the meaning of
          Section 422 of the Code are exercisable for the first time by an
          optionee during any calendar year under the Plan (and/or any other
          stock option plans of the Corporation or any Subsidiary) shall not
          exceed $100,000.

SECTION 7.  Stock Appreciation Rights
-------------------------------------

     (a)  Grant and Exercise When Granted in Conjunction With Stock Options.
          Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted alone or in conjunction with
          all or part of any Stock Option granted under the Plan and may contain
          terms and conditions different from those of the related Stock Option,
          except as otherwise provided below. In the case of a Non-Qualified
          Stock Option, such rights may be granted either at or after the time
          of the grant of such Non-Qualified Stock Option. In the case of an
          Incentive Stock Option, such rights may be granted only at the time of
          the grant of such Incentive Stock Option.

          A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted
          with respect to a given Stock Option shall terminate and no longer
          be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related
          Stock Option, except that, unless otherwise provided by the
          Committee at the time of grant, a Stock Appreciation Right granted
          with respect to less than the full number of shares covered by a
          related Stock Option shall only be reduced if and to the extent
          that the number of shares covered by the exercise or termination
          of the related Stock Option exceeds the number of shares not
          covered by the Stock Appreciation Right.

          A Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised by an optionee, in
          accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section 7, by surrendering
          the applicable portion of the related Stock Option. Upon such
          exercise and surrender, the optionee shall be entitled to receive
          an amount determined in the manner prescribed in paragraph (c) of
          this Section 7. Stock Options which have been so surrendered, in
          whole or in part, shall no longer be exercisable to the extent the
          related Stock Appreciation Rights have been exercised.

     (b)  Grant and Exercise When Granted Alone. Stock Appreciation Rights may
          be granted at the discretion of the Committee in a manner not related
          to an award of a Stock Option. The Committee shall have the discretion
          to determine the terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Rights
          not related to a Stock Option Award. A Stock Appreciation Right
          granted under this Section 7(b) is not exercisable for a period of six
          months from the date of grant, unless a longer period is otherwise
          determined by the Committee. The Stock Appreciation Right, granted
          under Section 7(b), shall be exercisable in accordance with Section
          7(c) over a period not to exceed ten years. Any Stock Appreciation
          Right which is outstanding on the last day of the exercisable period
          shall be automatically exercised on such date for cash or Common
          Stock, as determined by the Committee, without any action by the
          holder if, on that date, the Fair Market Value of the Stock exceeds
          the exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Right.

     (c)  Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to
          such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
          Plan, as shall be determined from time to time by the
          Committee, including the following:

                                       8

          (i)  Stock Appreciation Rights granted pursuant to Section 7(a) shall
               be exercisable only at such time or times and to the extent that
               the Stock Options to which the Stock Appreciation Rights relate
               shall be exercisable in accordance with the provisions of Section
               6 and this Section 7 of the Plan; provided, however, that any
               Stock Appreciation Right granted subsequent to the grant of the
               related Stock Option shall not be exercisable during the first
               six months of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, except
               that this additional limitation shall not apply in the event of
               death other than by suicide or Disability of the optionee prior
               to the expiration of the six-month period.

          (ii) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant
               to Section 7(a), an optionee shall be entitled to receive an
               amount in cash or shares of Stock equal in value to the excess of
               the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock over the option price
               per share specified in the related Stock Option, multiplied by
               the number of shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation
               Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the
               right to determine the form of payment. Upon the exercise of a
               Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to Section 7(b), the
               holder shall be entitled to receive an amount in cash or shares
               of Stock equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of
               one share of Stock over the Fair Market Value of one share of
               Stock at the date the Stock Appreciation Right was granted
               multiplied by the number of shares in respect of which the Stock
               Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee
               having the right to determine the form of payment.

          (iii)No Stock Appreciation Right shall be transferable by the holder,
               other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or be
               subject to attachment, execution or similar process. All Stock
               Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable, during the holder's
               lifetime, only by the holder.

          (iv) Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant
               to Section 7(a), the Stock Option or part thereof to which such
               Stock Appreciation Right is related shall be deemed to have been
               exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth in Section
               4 of the Plan on the number of shares of Stock to be issued under
               the Plan.

          (v)  A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an
               Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 7(a), may be exercised
               only if and when the market price of the Stock subject to the
               Incentive Stock Option exceeds the exercise price of such Stock
               Option.

          (vi) In its sole discretion, the Committee may provide, at the time of
               grant of a Stock Appreciation Right under this Section 7, that
               such Stock Appreciation Right can be exercised only in the event
               of a "Change of Control" (as defined in Section 12 below).
               Furthermore, the Committee may provide, at the time of grant of
               any Stock Appreciation Right, that such Stock Appreciation Right
               can be exercised only upon the attainment of specified
               performance goals or other such criteria as the Committee may
               determine in its sole discretion.

          (vii)In the discretion of the Committee, if the Plan is approved by
               the shareholders of the Corporation in accordance with Section 15
               of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may provide that any
               exercise by a Participant of all or a portion of a Stock
               Appreciation Right for cash, may only be made during the period
               beginning on the

                                      9

               third business day following the date of the Corporation's
               release of its quarterly or annual summary statements of earnings
               to the public and ending on the twelfth business day following
               such date; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not apply
               to any exercise by a Participant of a Stock Appreciation Right
               for cash where the date of exercise is automatic or fixed in
               advance under the Plan and is outside the control of the
               Participant.

SECTION 8.  Restricted Stock
----------------------------

     (a)  Administration. Shares of Restricted Stock may be issued either alone
          or in addition to other Awards granted under the Plan. The Committee
          shall determine the employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries
          and Non-Employee Directors to whom, and the time or times at which,
          grants of Restricted Stock will be made, the number of shares to be
          awarded, the price, if any, to be paid by the recipient of Restricted
          Stock (subject to Section 8(b) hereof), the time or times within which
          such Awards may be subject to forfeiture, the nature of the
          restrictions, including any performance requirements, the
          circumstances under which restrictions will lapse and all other
          conditions of the Awards. The Committee may also condition the grant
          of Restricted Stock upon the attainment of specified performance
          goals, or such other criteria as the Committee may determine, in its
          sole discretion. The provisions of Restricted Stock Awards need not be
          the same with respect to each recipient.

     (b)  Awards and Certificates. The prospective recipient of an Award of
          shares of Restricted Stock shall not have any rights with respect to
          such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed an agreement
          evidencing the Award (a "Restricted Stock Award Agreement") and has
          delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Corporation, and has
          otherwise complied with the then applicable terms and conditions.

          (i)  Awards of Restricted Stock must be accepted within a period of
               thirty days (or such shorter period as the Committee may specify)
               after the Award date by executing a Restricted Stock Award
               Agreement and paying whatever price, if any, is required.

          (ii) Each Participant who is awarded Restricted Stock shall be issued
               a stock certificate in respect of such shares of Restricted Stock
               to be held in escrow as described below.

               Such certificate shall be registered in the name of the
               Participant, and shall bear an appropriate legend
               referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions
               applicable to such Award, substantially in the
               following form:

                "The transferability of this certificate and the
                shares of stock represented hereby are subject to
                the terms and conditions (including forfeiture)
                of the Synovus Financial Corp. 2002 Long-Term
                Incentive Plan and a Restricted Stock Award
                Agreement entered into between the registered
                owner and Synovus Financial Corp. Copies of such
                Plan and Agreement are on file in the offices of
                Synovus Financial Corp., One Arsenal Place, 901
                Front Avenue, Suite 301, Columbus, Georgia, 31901."

          (iii)The Committee shall require that the stock certificate
               evidencing such shares be held in escrow by Synovus Trust Company
               ("STC"), or any other escrow agent designated by the Committee
               until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a

                                       10

               condition of any Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall
               have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the
               Stock covered by such Award. In the event the Participant has
               obtained a loan to purchase the Restricted Stock or to pay any
               taxes due with respect to the Restricted Stock, STC or other
               escrow agent shall have the right to require that the shares
               continue to be held in escrow until such loan is repaid.

     (c)  Restrictions and Conditions. The shares of Restricted Stock awarded
          pursuant to this Section 8 shall be subject to the following
          restrictions and conditions:

          (i)  Subject to the provisions of this Plan and Restricted Stock Award
               Agreements, during the period of six months after the Award or
               such longer period as may be set by the Committee commencing on
               the grant date (the "Restriction Period"), the Participant shall
               not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge or assign shares of
               Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan. Within these limits, the
               Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide for the lapse of
               such restrictions in installments and may accelerate or waive
               such restrictions in whole or in part based on performance and/or
               such other factors as the Committee may determine, in its sole
               discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the minimum
               Restriction Period for the lapse of all restrictions on
               Restricted Stock shall be three (3) years.

          (ii) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(i) of this Section 8, the
               Participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Restricted
               Stock, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Corporation,
               including the right to receive any dividends, unless the
               Committee shall declare otherwise at the time of the Award.

               Dividends paid in cash with respect to shares of
               Restricted Stock shall not be subject to any
               restrictions or subject to forfeiture. Dividends paid
               in Stock of the Corporation or Stock received in
               connection with a stock split with respect to
               Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same
               restrictions as on such Restricted Stock. Certificates
               for shares of unrestricted Stock shall be delivered to
               the Participant promptly after, and only after, the
               period of forfeiture shall expire without forfeiture in
               respect of such shares of Restricted Stock and the
               repayment of any loans obtained to purchase the
               Restricted Stock or to pay any taxes due with respect
               to the Restricted Stock.

          (iii)Subject to the provisions of the Restricted Stock Award Agreement
               and this Section 8, upon termination of employment for any reason
               during the Restriction Period, all shares still subject to
               restriction (together with any price paid for such shares by the
               Participant) shall be forfeited by the Participant, unless
               otherwise determined by the Committee.

          (iv) The Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive in whole or in
               part any or all restrictions with respect to any Participant's
               shares of Restricted Stock, such as in the event of the
               Participant's Retirement, Disability or Death or in the other
               extraordinary, nonrecurring situations.

SECTION 9.  Performance Awards
------------------------------

     (a)  Administration. Shares of Stock and/or a payment in cash may be
          distributed under the Plan to an employee upon the attainment of
          performance objectives, as a Performance Award. The

                                       11

          Committee shall determine the employees of the Corporation and its
          Subsidiaries and Non-Employee Directors to whom Performance Awards are
          granted, the terms and conditions of the performance objectives, the
          term of the performance period (the minimum performance period term
          shall be one year), and the value and form of the payment of the
          Performance Award.

     (b)  Performance Objectives. The Committee, in its sole discretion may
          establish, under this Section 9, performance objectives either in
          terms of Corporation-wide objectives or in terms of objectives that
          are related to the specific performance of an employee or a bank, a
          group, division, department, or Subsidiary within the Corporation in
          which a Participant who is an employee is employed. A minimum level of
          performance, at the discretion of the Committee, may be established.

          If, at the end of the performance period, the specified objectives
          have been attained, the Participant is deemed to have fully earned
          the Performance Award. If such performance objectives are only
          partially attained, the Participant may be deemed by the Committee
          to have partly earned the Performance Award and would become
          eligible to receive a portion of the total Award, as determined by
          the Committee. If a required minimum level of achievement has not
          been met, as determined by the Committee, the Participant is
          entitled to no portion of the Performance Award. If, at the end of
          the performance period, performance exceeds the target, the
          Participant, at the Committee's discretion, may receive a multiple
          of the Performance Award. The Committee may adjust the payment of
          Awards or the performance objectives if events occur or
          circumstances arise which would cause a particular payment or set
          of performance objectives to be inappropriate as a measure of
          performance.

     (c)  Terms and Conditions. A Participant to whom a Performance Award has
          been granted is given performance objectives to be reached over a
          specified period, the "performance period." Generally this period
          shall be not less than one year.

          Any Participant granted a Performance Award pursuant to this
          Section 9 who by reason of death (other than by suicide),
          Disability or Retirement (or, in the case of a Non-Employee
          Director, retires from the Board pursuant to the provisions of the
          Corporation's By-laws) either terminates employment or ceases
          service as a member of the Board before the end of the performance
          period is entitled to receive a portion of any earned Performance
          Award. The Committee, in its discretion, will determine the amount
          of the Performance Award earned, if any, and the time at which
          payment will be made.

          A Participant who terminates employment for any other reason,
          including death by suicide, forfeits all rights under the
          Performance Award.

SECTION 10.  Amendments and Termination
---------------------------------------

The Board may amend, alter, or discontinue the Plan at any time, but no
amendment, alteration, or discontinuation shall be made which affects an
existing Award under the Plan without the optionee's or Participant's consent.
If stockholder approval of this Plan is obtained, no amendment, alteration or
discontinuation shall be made by the Board which, without the approval of the
stockholders, would:

     (a)  increase the total number of shares reserved for the purpose of the
          Plan, except as provided for in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan;

                                       12

     (b)  decrease the option price of any Stock Option to less than 100% of the
          Fair Market Value on the date of the granting of the option, except as
          provided for in accordance with Section 4 of the Plan;

     (c)  change the Participants or class of Participants eligible to
          participate in the Plan;

     (d)  extend the maximum option period under paragraph (b) of Section 6 of
          the Plan; or

     (e)  materially increase in any other way the benefits accruing to
          Participants.

The Committee may amend the terms of any Award or option theretofore granted,
prospectively or retroactively, but no such amendment shall affect an existing
Award under the Plan without the Participant's consent. In addition, no such
amendment shall have the effect of repricing previously granted Stock Options by
lowering the exercise price of any previously granted Stock Options, or
cancelling outstanding Stock Options with subsequent replacements or regrant of
Stock Options with lower exercise prices.

SECTION 11.  Change of Control
------------------------------

The following provisions shall apply in the event of a "Change of Control," as
defined in this Section 11:

     (a)  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, in the event of
          a "Change of Control" as defined in paragraph (c) of this Section 11,
          the vesting of any outstanding Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
          Rights, Restricted Stock or Performance Awards shall be accelerated so
          that all Awards not previously exercisable and vested are fully
          exercisable and vested.

     (b)  Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at grant, if a
          Participant who is an employee terminates employment for any reason
          following a Change of Control, any outstanding Stock Options, Stock
          Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Performance Awards granted to
          the Participant that are not fully exercisable and vested shall become
          fully exercisable and vested as of the date of such termination of
          employment and any obligations to pay amounts to the Corporation or
          any Subsidiary in connection with an Award shall be terminated as of
          the date of such termination of employment.

     (c)  For purposes of this Section 11, a "Change of Control" means the
          happening of any of the following:

          (i)  when any "person," as such term is used in Section 13(d) and
               14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Corporation or a
               Subsidiary or any Corporation employee benefit plan (including
               its trustee)), is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined
               in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly of
               securities of the Corporation representing 20% or more of the
               combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding
               securities;

          (ii) the occurrence of a transaction requiring stockholder approval
               for the acquisition of the Corporation by an entity other than
               the Corporation or a Subsidiary through purchase of assets, or by
               merger, or otherwise;

          (iii)the filing of an application with any regulatory authority
               having jurisdiction over the ownership of the Corporation by any
               "person," as defined in the preceding paragraph,

                                       13

               to acquire 20% or more of the combined voting power of the
               Corporation's then outstanding securities; or

          (iv) the occurrence of a "Triggering Event" as such term is defined in
               the Rights Agreement dated April 28, 1999, by and between the
               Corporation and Trust Company Bank, the provisions of which are
               incorporated herein by this reference.

     (d)  For purposes of this Section 11, a "Change of Control" shall not
          result from any transaction precipitated by the Corporation's
          insolvency, appointment of a conservator, or determination by a
          regulatory agency that the Corporation is insolvent, nor from any
          transaction initiated by the Corporation in regard to creating a
          holding company of which the Corporation would be a primary entity,
          nor from any transaction initiated by the Corporation in regard to
          converting from a publicly traded company to a privately held company.

SECTION 12.  General Provisions
-------------------------------

     (a)  All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall be
          subject to such stock transfer orders and other restrictions as the
          Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other
          requirements of the Commission, any stock exchange upon which the
          Stock is then listed, and any applicable Federal or state securities
          or other laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be
          put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such
          restrictions.

     (b)  Nothing set forth in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting
          other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder
          approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be
          either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The
          Corporation and its Subsidiaries specifically reserve the right to
          terminate (whether by dismissal, discharge, retirement or otherwise)
          any Participant's employment with the Company or a Subsidiary at any
          time at will. Neither the granting of an Award nor the adoption of the
          Plan shall confer upon any employee of the Corporation or its
          Subsidiaries any right to continued employment with the Corporation or
          a Subsidiary, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way
          with the right of the Corporation or a Subsidiary to terminate the
          employment of any of its employees at any time.

     (c)  Each Participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value
          of an Award first becomes includable in the gross income of the
          Participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Corporation,
          or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment
          of, any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to
          be withheld with respect to the Award. The obligations of the
          Corporation under the Plan shall be conditional on such payment or
          arrangements and the Corporation (and, where applicable, its
          Subsidiaries), shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right
          to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to
          the Participant. A Participant may irrevocably elect to have the
          withholding tax obligations or, in the case of all Awards hereunder
          except Stock Options which have related Option Price Adjustment Rights
          or Stock Appreciation Rights, if the Committee so determines, any
          additional tax obligation with respect to any Awards hereunder
          satisfied by (a) having the Corporation withhold shares of Stock
          otherwise deliverable to the Participant with respect to the Award or
          (b) delivering to the Corporation shares of unrestricted Stock;
          provided, however, that if the Participant is an "officer" of the
          Corporation within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, no
          such election shall be made (i) unless the Plan has been approved by
          shareholders in

                                       14

          accordance with Section 15 of the Plan and (ii) such election is made
          either (a) during one of the "window" periods described in section
          (c)(3)(iii) of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or (b)
          at least six months prior to the date income is recognized with
          respect to the Award.

     (d)  No members of the Board or the Committee, nor any officer or employee
          of the Corporation acting on behalf of the Board or the Committee,
          shall be personally liable for any action, determination, or
          interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan,
          and all members of the Board or the Committee and each and any officer
          or employee of the Corporation acting on their behalf shall, to the
          extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the
          Corporation in respect of any such action, determination or
          interpretation provided such individual first gives the Corporation an
          opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend any legal action
          before such individual undertakes to handle and defend such legal
          action.

     (e)  The existence of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted
          Stock and Performance Awards shall not affect the right or power of
          the Corporation and its shareholders to make adjustments,
          recapitalizations, reorganizations, or other changes to the
          Corporation's capital structure or its business; issue bonds,
          debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks affecting the
          Corporation's Common Stock or the rights thereof; dissolve or
          liquidate the Corporation, or sell or transfer any part of its assets
          or business; or any other corporate act, whether of a similar
          character or otherwise.

     (f)  The validity, interpretation, and administration of the Plan and of
          any rules, regulations, determinations, or decisions made thereunder,
          and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any
          interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in
          accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia, except where those
          laws may be superseded by the laws of the United States of America.
          Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the period within
          which any action in connection with the Plan must be commenced shall
          be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia.

     (g)  The obligation of the Corporation to make payment of Awards in Stock
          shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to
          such approvals by government agencies as may be required. The
          Corporation shall be under no obligation to register under the
          Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time ("1993 Act"), any
          of the shares of Stock paid under the Plan. If the Stock paid under
          the Plan may in certain circumstances be exempt from registration
          under the 1933 Act, the Corporation may restrict the transfer of such
          Stock in such manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability
          of any such exemption.

SECTION 13.  Cash Awards and Loans
----------------------------------

The Committee, in its sole discretion, at any time may authorize special cash
Awards to Participants to enable them to fund the exercise price of a Stock
Option or any taxes that must be paid or withheld upon the exercise of a Stock
Option or Stock Appreciation Right to fund the purchase price (if any) of
Restricted Stock or any taxes that must be paid or withheld with respect to
Restricted Stock, or to fund any taxes that must be paid or withheld with
respect to any Performance Award. The Committee in its sole discretion, at any
time, may assist a Participant in obtaining a loan for any funds required in
connection with any aspect of the Plan, including without limitation the
exercise or purchase price of any Award and any taxes that must be paid or
withheld in connection with any Award.

                                       15

SECTION 14.  Accounting
-----------------------

It is the intent of the Board that the accounting expenses for any Awards under
this Plan to employees of Subsidiaries be charged to the Subsidiaries employing
such employees and not to the Corporation. The Board of Directors and the
Committee shall have the right to adopt any policies and procedures required in
order to carry out this intent.

SECTION 15.  Effective Date of Plan
-----------------------------------

The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier of its adoption by the Board of
Directors or by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that Incentive Stock Options awarded hereunder shall be automatically
converted into Non-Qualified Stock Options if shareholder approval of the Plan
is not obtained within twelve months of the Plan's effective date.

SECTION 16.  Term of Plan
-------------------------

No Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock or Performance Award
shall be granted pursuant to the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the
effective date of the Plan, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond
that date.

SECTION 17.  Execution
----------------------

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Plan to be signed by its
duly authorized officers effective as of this 1st day of March, 2002.

                                          SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

                                          By:/s/G. Sanders Griffith, III

                                          Title: Senior Executive Vice President
                                                 General Counsel and Secretary

                                       16SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
                      DIRECTORS' DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

     Effective as of the 1st day of January,  2002, Synovus Financial Corp. (the
"Company")  hereby approves and adopts the Synovus  Financial  Corp.  Directors'
Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Plan").

                             BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

     A. Goal. The Company  desires to provide  members of its Board of Directors
with an opportunity (i) to defer the receipt and income taxation of a portion of
such  directors'  retainers,  fees, and other  compensation  as described in the
Plan; and (ii) to receive an investment return on those deferred amounts.

     B.  Purpose.  The  purpose  of the  Plan  is to set  forth  the  terms  and
conditions pursuant to which these deferrals may be made and deemed invested and
to describe  the nature and extent of the  directors'  rights to their  deferred
amounts.

     C. Type of Plan. The Plan  constitutes an unfunded,  nonqualified  deferred
compensation plan.

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

     For purposes of the Plan,  each of the following  terms,  when used with an
initial  capital  letter,  shall  have the  meaning  set  forth  below  unless a
different meaning plainly is required by the context.

     1.1 "Account" shall mean, with respect to a Participant or Beneficiary, the
total dollar amount or value  evidenced by the last balance posted in accordance
with the terms of the Plan to the record  established  for such  Participant  or
Beneficiary  with respect to the Deferral  Contributions of such Participant for
any Plan Year.

     1.2 "Beneficiary" shall mean, with respect to a Participant,  the person(s)
determined in accordance with Section 5.5 to receive any death benefits that may
be payable under the Plan upon the death of the Participant.

     1.3 "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of Synovus Financial Corp.

     1.4 "Business Day" shall mean each day on which the New York Stock Exchange
operates and is open to the public for trading.

     1.5 "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

     1.6 "Company" or "Synovus"  shall mean Synovus  Financial  Corp., a Georgia
corporation.

     1.7  "Compensation"  shall  mean  the  total  of the  directors'  fees  and
retainers  which  actually  would be payable  to a  Director  during a Plan Year
absent a Deferral Election under this Plan.

     1.8 "Deferral  Contributions"  shall mean, for each Plan Year, that portion
of a Participant's Compensation deferred under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.2.

     1.9 "Deferral  Election" shall mean a written election form provided by the
Plan  Administrator on which a Director may elect to defer under the Plan all or
a portion of such individual's Compensation for a Plan Year.

     1.10 "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

     1.11 "Effective  Date" shall  mean January 1, 2002, the original  effective
date of the Plan.

     1.12 "Election Deadline" shall mean, with respect to a Plan Year:

          (a) For a Director who is then a member of the Board, the  December 20
     (or if December 20 is not a Business Day, the last Business Day immediately
     preceding  December  20) immediately preceding  the  first day of such Plan
     Year.

          (b) For  a  Director  who is first elected to be a member of the Board
     after  (or within thirty  (30) days before) the Election Deadline described
     in  Section  1.12(a) above  with  respect to a Plan Year, the date which is
     thirty (30) days after the date on which the Director is elected.

     1.13  "Election  Package"  shall  mean a package  consisting  of a Deferral
Election,  an Investment Election and such other forms and documents distributed
to Directors by the Plan Administrator for the purpose of allowing them to elect
to actively participate in the Plan for a Plan Year.

     1.14  "Investment  Election" shall mean a written election form provided by
the Plan  Administrator on which a Director may elect to have such  individual's
Deferral Contributions for a Plan Year (and all investment earnings attributable
thereto) invested to the extent permitted under the terms of the Plan.

     1.15 "Investment Options" shall mean (a) any designated open-end registered
investment  company  for which  Putnam  Investment  Management,  Inc.  serves as
investment  advisor or for which  Putnam  Mutual  Funds Corp.  is the  principal
underwriter,   and  (b)  any  other  investment  option  selected  by  the  Plan
Administrator,  to include the Synovus  Intermediate Term Bond Fund, the Synovus
Mid Cap Value Fund, and the Synovus Large Cap Core Equity Fund.

     1.16 "Participant" shall mean any person participating in the Plan pursuant
to the provisions of Article II.

     1.17 "Plan"  shall mean the Synovus  Financial  Corp.  Directors'  Deferred
Compensation Plan, as contained herein and all amendments hereto.

     1.18 "Plan Administrator" shall mean the Company's  Compensation  Committee
and any individual or committee the Board  designates to act on the Compensation
Committee's  behalf with respect to any or all of the  Compensation  Committee's
responsibilities hereunder.

     1.19 "Plan Year" shall mean each calendar year period  beginning on January
1 and ending on December 31.

     1.20  "Valuation  Date"  shall  mean (i) for  purposes  of  Article V, each
December 31 (or, if December 31 is not a business  day,  the last  Business  Day
immediately preceding December 31,), and (ii) for all other purposes, each March
31,  June 30,  September  30,  and  December  31 (or if any  such  date is not a
Business Day, the last Business Day immediately  preceding such date),  and each
other day declared by the Plan Administrator to be a Valuation Date.

                                   ARTICLE II
                          ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION

     2.1 Annual Participation. Each individual who is a Director as of the first
day of a Plan Year and is a member of the Board  before  the  beginning  of such
Plan Year  shall be  eligible  to defer all or a  portion  of such  individual's
Compensation and thereby to actively participate in the Plan for such Plan Year.
Such  individual's  participation  shall become effective as of the first day of
such Plan Year,  assuming  such  individual  properly and timely  completes  the
election procedures described below.

     2.2 Interim Plan Year Participation. Each individual who becomes a Director
during a Plan Year shall be immediately eligible to make a Deferral Election and
thereby to participate actively in the Plan for the remainder of such Plan Year.

     2.3  Election  Procedures.  Each  Director  shall  elect to defer  all or a
portion  of  such  individual's   Compensation  and  thereby  become  an  active
Participant for a Plan Year by delivering a completed  Deferral  Election and an
Investment  Election by the Election  Deadline.  The Plan Administrator also may
require  the  Director to complete  other  forms and  provide  other data,  as a
condition of participation in the Plan.

     2.4 Cessation of Eligibility. A Director's active participation in the Plan
shall  terminate,  and  such  individual  shall  not be  eligible  to  make  any
additional  Deferral  Contributions for any portion of a Plan Year following the
date such individual's service as a Director with Synovus Financial Corp. ceases
(unless such  individual once again becomes a Director later in such Plan Year).
In addition,  an individual who actively  participated  in the Plan during prior
Plan  Years  but  who is not a  Director  or  does  not  complete  the  election
procedures,  for a subsequent Plan Year, shall cease active participation in the
Plan for such subsequent Plan Year. Even if an individual's active participation
in the Plan ends,  such individual  shall remain an inactive  Participant in the
Plan  until the  earlier  of (i) the date the full  amount of such  individual's
Accounts is distributed  from the Plan, or (ii) the date such  individual  again
becomes a Director and recommences active  participation in the Plan. During the
period of time that an individual is an inactive  Participant in the Plan,  such
individual's Accounts shall continue to be credited with earnings as provided in
the Plan.
                                   ARTICLE III
                 PARTICIPANTS' ACCOUNTS; DEFERRAL CONTRIBUTIONS

     3.1 Participants' Accounts.

               (a)  Establishment  of  Accounts.  The Plan  Administrator  shall
     establish  and maintain an Account on behalf of each  Participant  for each
     Plan Year for which the Participant makes Deferral Contributions.  The Plan
     Administrator   shall   credit   each   Participant's   Account   with  the
     Participant's  Deferral  Contributions  for such  Plan  Year  and  earnings
     attributable  thereto,  and shall  maintain  such  Account  until the value
     thereof  has been  distributed  to or on behalf of the  Participant  or the
     Participant's Beneficiary.

     3.2 Deferral  Contributions.  Each Director may  irrevocably  elect to have
Deferral  Contributions  made for a Plan Year by completing in a timely manner a
Deferral  Election and an  Investment  Election  and  following  other  election
procedures as provided in Section 2.3. Subject to any  modifications,  additions
or  exceptions  that  the Plan  Administrator,  in its  sole  discretion,  deems
necessary,  appropriate  or  helpful,  the  following  terms shall apply to such
Deferral Elections:

               (a) Effective Date. A Participant's  Deferral Election for all or
     a  portion  of a Plan  Year  shall be  effective  beginning  with the first
     Compensation   (i)  in  such  Plan  Year  with  respect  to  a  Participant
     participating  for the  entire  Plan  Year,  and  (ii)  with  respect  to a
     Participant  participating  for a portion of a Plan Year,  in the  calendar
     month  following  the  calendar  month in  which  the  Participant  makes a
     Deferral Election. To be effective,  a Participant's Deferral Election must
     be made by the  Election  Deadline.  Any  Director  who fails to  deliver a
     Deferral  Election,  or to  complete  any of the other  requisite  election
     procedures,  in a timely  manner,  shall be deemed to have  elected  not to
     participate in the Plan for that Plan Year.

               (b)  Term.  Each   Participant's   Deferral  Election   regarding
     Compensation  for a Plan Year  shall  remain in effect  with  respect  to a
     portion of all  Compensation  paid or payable  during  such Plan Year,  but
     shall not apply to any subsequent Plan Year.

               (c) Deferral Amount. To defer Compensation, a Director's Deferral
     Election shall specify the percentage of Compensation for a Plan Year to be
     deferred.  A Director may defer for any Plan Year either:  (1) zero percent
     (0%) or one hundred  percent  (100%) of the  Director's  retainer  fees and
     other director fees, or (2) zero percent (0%) or one hundred percent (100%)
     of only the Director's  retainer fees for such Plan Year. The percentage so
     elected  shall be  withheld  from each  payment of  Compensation  otherwise
     payable  to  such  Director  during  the  Plan  Year.  Notwithstanding  any
     provision of this Plan or a Deferral Election to the contrary, however, the
     amount  withheld  from  any  payment  of  Compensation   shall  be  reduced
     automatically,  if necessary, so that it does not exceed the amount of such
     payment net of all withholding,  allotments and deductions,  other than any
     reduction pursuant to such Deferral Election.  No amounts shall be withheld
     during  any  period an  individual  ceases  to  receive  Compensation  as a
     Director for any reason during the Plan Year.  No adjustment  shall be made
     in the amount to be withheld from any  subsequent  payment of  Compensation
     for a Plan Year to compensate for any missed or reduced withholding amounts
     above.

               (d) Revocation.  Once made for a Plan Year, a Participant may not
     revoke a Deferral Election for such Plan Year.

               (e) Crediting of Deferral  Contributions.  The Plan Administrator
     shall  credit to each  Participant's  Account for a Plan Year the amount of
     Compensation  reflected on the  Participant's  Deferral  Election as of the
     date(s) on which such  Compensation  would have been paid if not subject to
     the Participant's Deferral Election.

     3.3  Vesting.  A  Participant  shall at all  times be fully  vested in such
Participant's   Deferral   Contributions  and  all  deemed  investment  earnings
attributable thereto.
                                   ARTICLE IV
                DETERMINATION AND CREDITING OF INVESTMENT RETURN

     4.1  General  Investment  Parameters.  The rate of return  credited to each
Participant's  Accounts  shall be  determined  on the  basis  of the  Investment
Option(s) applicable to the Participant's Accounts.

     4.2 Investment of Existing Account  Balances.  A Participant may change the
percentage  of an existing  Account  balance that will be invested in Investment
Options in accordance with procedures established by the Plan Administrator.

     4.3   Investment   Subaccounts.   For  the  sole   purpose  of  tracking  a
Participant's   investment   elections  and  calculating   investment   earnings
attributable to a Participant's Account for a Plan Year pursuant to the terms of
this  Article IV, the Plan  Administrator  may  establish  and maintain for such
Participant for such Plan Year separate subaccounts,  as necessary, the total of
which shall equal such Participant's Account for such Plan Year.

                                    ARTICLE V
                           PAYMENT OF ACCOUNT BALANCES

         5.1      Benefit Amounts.

               (a)  Benefit  Entitlement.  As the benefit  under the Plan,  each
     Participant (or Beneficiary)  shall be entitled to receive the total amount
     of the Participant's (or Beneficiary's) Accounts, determined as of the most
     recent  Valuation  Date,  and  payable  at such  times and in such forms as
     described in this Article V.

               (b) Valuation of Benefit.  For purposes hereof, each Account of a
     Participant as of any Valuation Date shall be equal to (i) the total amount
     of all of such Participant's  Deferral Contributions credited thereto; plus
     or  minus  (as   applicable)   (ii)  all  investment   earnings  or  losses
     attributable thereto;  minus (iii) the total amount of all benefit payments
     previously made therefrom.

     5.2 Elections of Timing and Form. In conjunction  with, and at the time of,
completing a Deferral  Election for each Plan Year, a Director  shall select the
timing  and form of the  distribution  that will  apply to the  Account  of such
Director  for  Deferral  Contributions  (and  investment  earnings  attributable
thereto) for such Plan Year. The terms applicable to this selection  process are
as follows:

               (a) Timing.  For a Participant's  Account for each Plan Year, the
     Participant may elect that distribution will be made or commence as of: (1)
     any  January 1  following a special  date,  (2) the  January 1  immediately
     following the date a Director attains a specified age, or (3) the January 1
     immediately  following the Director's cessation of service as a Director of
     the Company.  The special  date or age selected  above must be at least two
     years after the Plan Year for which the Deferral Contributions are made.

               (b) Form of  Distribution.  For a Participant's  Account for each
     Plan Year, the Participant may elect that the distribution  will be paid in
     one of the following forms:

                           (i)      a single lump-sum cash payment; or

                           (ii) substantially equal annual installments
                  (adjusted for investment earnings or losses between payments
                  in the manner described in Article IV) over a period of five
                  (5) to ten (10) years.

               (c)  Multiple  Selections.  A  Director  may  select a  different
     benefit   payment  or   commencement   date  and/or  a  different  form  of
     distribution  with respect to such  Director's  Account for each Plan Year.
     For ease of administration, the Plan Administrator may combine Accounts and
     subaccounts of a Participant to which the same benefit payment/commencement
     date and the same form of distribution apply.

         5.3      Benefit Payments to a Participant.

               (a) Timing.  A  Participant  shall  receive or begin  receiving a
     distribution  of each of such  Participant's  Accounts  as of the January 1
     selected by such  Participant with respect to each such Account pursuant to
     the terms of Section 5.2(a).  An amount payable "as of" any January 1 shall
     be made as soon as practicable after such January 1 and, unless extenuating
     circumstances arise, no later than January 31.

               (b) Form of  Distribution.  A Participant  shall receive or begin
     receiving a distribution of each of such Participant's  Accounts in cash in
     the form selected by such Participant with respect to such Account pursuant
     to the terms of Section 5.2(b).

               (c)  Valuation  of  Single  Lump-Sum  Payments.  The  amount of a
     Participant's  single lump-sum  distribution  of any of such  Participant's
     Accounts as of any applicable January 1 shall be equal to the value of such
     Account as of the Valuation  Date  immediately  preceding the date on which
     such distribution is paid.

               (d)   Valuation  of   Installment   Payments.   For  purposes  of
     determining  the  amount  of any  installment  payment  to be  paid as of a
     January 1 from an  Account,  the  Account  balance  shall be divided by the
     number of remaining  installments  to be paid from such Account  (including
     the current installment).

         5.4      Death Benefits.

               (a) General.  If a Participant  dies before  receiving the entire
     amount of the benefit under the Plan, such Participant's  Beneficiary shall
     receive distribution of amounts remaining in the Participant's  Accounts in
     the form, as elected by the Participant on a Beneficiary  designation  form
     described in Section 5.5, of either:

                   (i)     a single lump-sum cash payment of  the entire balance
                in the  Participant's  Accounts as of  the January 1 immediately
                following the date of the Participant's death; or

                   (ii)   (A) for  Accounts  with  respect to which distribution
                has  not  commenced  under  Section  5.2  at  the  time  of  the
                Participant's  death,  substantially  equal  annual installments
                (adjusted for investment earnings between payments in the manner
                described  in  Article IV) over a period of five (5) to ten (10)
                years, commencing as of the January 1  immediately following the
                Participant's death; and (B) for Accounts with  respect to which
                distribution has commenced in the form of installments described
                in  Section  5.2(b)(ii) at  the time of the Participant's death,
                continuation of such installment payment schedule.

     An  amount  payable "as  of" any  January  1  shall  be  made  as  soon  as
     practicable  after such  January 1 and,  unless  extenuating  circumstances
     arise, no later than January 31.

               (b)  Valuation.  The  valuation  rules  described in  subsections
     5.3(c) and 5.3(d) shall apply to payments described in this Section 5.4.

         5.5      Beneficiary Designation.

               (a) General.  A  Participant  shall  designate a  Beneficiary  or
     Beneficiaries for all of such Participant's Accounts by completing the form
     prescribed  for this  purpose  for the Plan by the Plan  Administrator  and
     submitting  such  form as  instructed  by the  Plan  Administrator.  Once a
     Beneficiary  designation  is made,  it shall  continue  to apply  until and
     unless such  Participant  makes and submits a new  Beneficiary  designation
     form for this Plan.

               (b) No  Designation  or Designee  Dead or  Missing.  In the event
     that:

                   (i)     a Participant dies without designating a Beneficiary;

                   (ii)    the  Beneficiary   designated  by  a  Participant  is
                  not  surviving or in existence when payments are to be made or
                  commence  to  such  designee under the Plan, and no contingent
                  Beneficiary, surviving  or  in existence, has been designated;
                  or

                   (iii)   the   Beneficiary   designated   by   a   Participant
                  cannot be located by the Plan Administrator within 1 year from
                  the date benefit payments are  to  be made or commence to such
                  designee;

         then, in any of such events, the Beneficiary of such Participant shall
         be the Participant's surviving spouse, if any, who can then be located,
         and if not, the estate of the Participant.  The  entire balance in  the
         Participant's Accounts shall be paid to such Beneficiary in the form of
         a single lump-sum cash payment described in Section 5.4(a)(i).

               (c) Death of  Beneficiary.  If a  Beneficiary  who  survives  the
     Participant,  and to whom payment of Plan benefits  commences,  dies before
     complete distribution of the Participant's  Accounts, the entire balance in
     such Accounts  shall be paid to the estate of such  Beneficiary in the form
     of a single lump-sum cash payment as of the January 1 immediately following
     such Beneficiary's  death. An amount payable "as of" any January 1 shall be
     made as soon as practicable  after such January 1 and,  unless  extenuating
     circumstances  arise,  no  later  than  January  31.  The  valuation  rules
     described in  subsection  5.3(c)  shall apply to any payments  described in
     this subsection 5.5(c).

     5.6 Severe  Financial  Emergency.  A Participant  who believes he or she is
suffering a severe financial emergency may apply to the Plan Administrator for a
distribution  under  the Plan in order to  alleviate  such  emergency.  The Plan
Administrator,  in its sole  discretion  (but after taking into  account,  among
other  factors,  the nature and  foreseeability  of the alleged  emergency,  the
Participant's  other  resources,  and the effect of making a distribution on the
intended  tax  status of the  deferrals  made  under the  Plan),  may direct the
Company to pay to the  Participant an amount which it determines is necessary or
appropriate,  not to exceed the Participant's  Account balance, and the Employer
shall pay such amount to the Participant in a single lump sum cash payment.

     5.7 Taxes. If the whole or any part of any  Participant's  or Beneficiary's
benefit  hereunder  shall  become  subject to any estate,  inheritance,  income,
employment  or other tax which a Company  shall be required to pay or  withhold,
the Company shall have the full power and authority to withhold and pay such tax
out of any  monies  or  other  property  in its  hand  for  the  account  of the
Participant or Beneficiary whose interests  hereunder are so affected.  Prior to
making any  payment,  the Company may require such  releases or other  documents
from any lawful taxing authority as it shall deem necessary.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                     CLAIMS

     6.1 Initial Claim. Claims for benefits under the Plan may be filed with the
Plan  Administrator  on forms or in such other  written  documents,  as the Plan
Administrator  may  prescribe.  The  Plan  Administrator  shall  furnish  to the
claimant  written notice of the  disposition of a claim within 90 days after the
application  therefor is filed. In the event the claim is denied,  the notice of
the disposition of the claim shall provide the specific  reasons for the denial,
citations of the pertinent  provisions of the Plan, and, where  appropriate,  an
explanation as to how the claimant can perfect the claim and/or submit the claim
for review.

     6.2 Appeal.  Any  Participant or Beneficiary  who has been denied a benefit
shall be entitled, upon request to the Plan Administrator,  to appeal the denial
of the claim.  The claimant  (or a duly  authorized  representative)  may review
pertinent  documents  related  to  the  Plan  and in  the  Plan  Administrator's
possession in order to prepare the appeal. The request for review, together with
written  statement  of the  claimant's  position,  must be  filed  with the Plan
Administrator no later than 60 days after receipt of the written notification of
denial of a claim provided for in Section 6.1. The Plan Administrator's decision
shall be made within 60 days following the filing of the request for review.  If
unfavorable, the notice of the decision shall explain the reasons for denial and
indicate the  provisions  of the Plan or other  documents  used to arrive at the
decision.

     6.3 Satisfaction of Claims.  The payment of the benefits due under the Plan
to a Participant or Beneficiary shall discharge the Company's  obligations under
the Plan, and neither the Participant nor the Beneficiary shall have any further
rights under the Plan upon receipt by the appropriate person of all benefits. In
addition,  (i) if any  payment  is made to a  Participant  or  Beneficiary  with
respect  to  benefits  described  in the Plan from any  source  arranged  by the
Company including,  without limitation,  any fund, trust, insurance arrangement,
bond, security device, or any similar arrangement,  such payment shall be deemed
to be in full and complete  satisfaction  of the obligation of the Company under
the Plan to the extent of such payment as if such payment had been made directly
by such Company;  and (ii) if any payment from a source  described in clause (i)
shall be made,  in whole  or in part,  prior to the time  payment  would be made
under the terms of the  Plan,  such  payment  shall be  deemed  to  satisfy  the
Company's obligation to pay Plan benefits beginning with the benefit which would
next become payable under the Plan and continuing in the order in which benefits
are so payable, until the payment from such other source is fully recovered. The
Plan  Administrator  or the Company,  as a condition to making any payment,  may
require  such  Participant  or  Beneficiary  to  execute a receipt  and  release
therefor in such form as shall be  determined by the Plan  Administrator  or the
Company.  If receipt and release is required but the  Participant or Beneficiary
(as  applicable)  does not provide such  receipt and release in a timely  enough
manner to permit a timely  distribution in accordance with the general timing of
distribution  provisions in the Plan,  the payment of any affected  distribution
may be delayed  until the Plan  Administrator  or the Company  receives a proper
receipt and release.
                                   ARTICLE VII
                               PLAN ADMINISTRATION

     7.1  Rights and Duties of the Plan  Administrator.  The Plan  Administrator
shall administer the Plan and shall have all powers necessary to accomplish that
purpose, including (but not limited to) the following:

               (a) to construe, interpret and administer the Plan;

               (b) to make determinations  required by the Plan, and to maintain
     records regarding Participants' and Beneficiaries' benefits hereunder;

               (c) to compute  and  certify  to Company  the amount and kinds of
     benefits  payable to Participants and  Beneficiaries,  and to determine the
     time and manner in which such benefits are to be paid;

               (d) to authorize  all  disbursements  by Company  pursuant to the
     Plan;

               (e) to maintain all the necessary  records of the  administration
     of the Plan;

               (f) to  make  and  publish  such  rules  and  procedures  for the
     regulation of the Plan as are not inconsistent with the terms hereof;

               (g) to delegate  to other  individuals  or entities  from time to
     time the  performance of any of its duties or  responsibilities  hereunder;
     and

               (h) to hire agents, accountants, actuaries, consultants and legal
     counsel to assist in operating and administering the Plan.

         The Plan Administrator shall  have the exclusive right  to construe and
         interpret the Plan, to decide all questions of eligibility for benefits
         and to determine the amount of such benefits, and its decisions on such
         matters shall be final and conclusive on all parties.

     7.2 Bond;  Compensation.  The Plan  Administrator  and (if  applicable) its
members shall serve as such without bond and without  compensation  for services
hereunder. All expenses of the Plan Administrator shall be paid by the Company.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                            AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

     8.1 Amendments.  Subject to Section 8.3, the Board shall have the right, in
its sole discretion,  to amend the Plan in whole or in part at any time and from
time to time. In addition,  the Plan Administrator  shall have the right, in its
sole discretion,  to amend the Plan at any time and from time to time so long as
such amendment will not result in a material increase in liabilities  associated
with the Plan.

     8.2 Termination of Plan.  Subject to Section 8.3, the Company  reserves the
right to  discontinue  and terminate the Plan at any time,  for any reason.  Any
action to  terminate  the Plan shall be taken by the Board and such  termination
shall be binding on the Company, Participants and Beneficiaries.

     8.3 Limitation on Authority.  Except as otherwise  provided in this Section
8.3, no contractual  right created by and under any Deferral Election made prior
to the effective date of any amendment or termination  shall be abrogated by any
amendment or termination of the Plan, absent the express, written consent of the
Participant who made the Deferral Election.

               (a) Plan  Amendments.  The  limitation on authority  described in
     this  Section  8.3 shall not apply to any  amendment  of the Plan  which is
     reasonably  necessary,  in the  opinion of  counsel,  (i) to  preserve  the
     intended  income tax  consequences of the Plan described in Section 9.1, or
     (ii) to guard against other material  adverse impacts on  Participants  and
     Beneficiaries,  and which, in the opinion of counsel,  is drafted primarily
     to preserve such intended consequences, or status, or to guard against such
     adverse impacts.

               (b) Plan  Termination.  The limitation on authority  described in
     this  Section  8.3 shall not  apply to any  termination  of the Plan as the
     result  of a  determination  that,  in  the  opinion  of  counsel  or of an
     accounting firm,  Participants and  Beneficiaries  generally are subject to
     federal  income  taxation on  Deferral  Contributions  or other  amounts in
     Participant Accounts prior to the time of distribution of amounts under the
     Plan but only if such termination is reasonably  necessary to guard against
     material adverse impacts on Participants and Beneficiaries, or the Company.
     Upon such  termination,  the entire amount in each  Participant's  Accounts
     shall  be  distributed  in  a  single  lump-sum  distribution  as  soon  as
     practicable after the date on which the Plan is terminated.  In such event,
     the Plan  Administrator  shall declare that the date of termination (or, if
     such day is not a Business Day, the last Business Day immediately preceding
     such day) shall be a  Valuation  Date and all  distributions  shall be made
     based on the value of the Accounts as of such Valuation Date.

               (c) Opinions. In each case in which an opinion is contemplated in
     this Section 8.3,  such  opinion  shall be in writing and  delivered to the
     Board,  rendered by a nationally recognized law or accounting firm selected
     or approved by the Board.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     9.1 Taxation.  It is the intention of the Company that the benefits payable
hereunder  shall not be deductible by the Company nor taxable for federal income
tax purposes to  Participants or  Beneficiaries  until such benefits are paid by
the  Participating  Company to such  Participants  or  Beneficiaries.  When such
benefits  are so paid,  it is the  intention  of the Company  that they shall be
deductible by the Company under Code Section 162.

     9.2  Withholding.  All  payments  made  to  a  Participant  or  Beneficiary
hereunder shall be reduced by any applicable federal, state or local withholding
or other taxes or charges as may be required under applicable law.

     9.3 No Continued  Directorship.  Nothing herein contained is intended to be
nor shall be construed as constituting a contract or other  arrangement  between
the  Company and any  Participant  to the effect  that the  Participant  will be
employed by the Company or continue to be a Director for any specific  period of
time.

     9.4 Headings. The headings of the various articles and sections in the Plan
are  solely  for  convenience  and shall not be relied  upon in  construing  any
provisions  hereof.  Any  reference to a section shall refer to a section of the
Plan unless specified otherwise.

     9.5  Gender  and  Number.  Use of any  gender in the Plan will be deemed to
include all genders when  appropriate,  and use of the  singular  number will be
deemed to include the plural when appropriate, and vice versa in each instance.

     9.6  Assignment of Benefits.  The right of a Participant  or Beneficiary to
receive  payments  under  the  Plan  may not be  anticipated,  alienated,  sold,
assigned,  transferred,  pledged, encumbered, attached or garnished by creditors
of such Participant or Beneficiary, except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and then only to the extent permitted under the terms of the Plan.

     9.7 Legally  Incompetent.  The Plan Administrator,  in its sole discretion,
may direct  that  payment be made to an  incompetent  or  disabled  person,  for
whatever reason,  to the guardian of such person or to the person having custody
of such  person,  without  further  liability on the part of the Company for the
amount of such payment to the person on whose account such payment is made.

     9.8 Entire Document.  This Plan document sets forth the entire Plan and all
rights and limits.  Except for a formal  amendment  hereto,  no  document  shall
modify the Plan or create any additional rights or benefits.

     9.9 Governing Law. The Plan shall be construed,  administered  and governed
in all respects in accordance with applicable federal law and, to the extent not
preempted by federal law, in  accordance  with the laws of the State of Georgia.
If any  provisions  of this  instrument  shall be held by a court  of  competent
jurisdiction to be invalid or  unenforceable,  the remaining  provisions  hereof
shall continue to be fully effective.

     9.10 No Funding. The Plan constitutes a mere promise by the Company to make
benefit  payments  to such  Participants  and  Beneficiaries  in the  future and
Participants  and  Beneficiaries  shall  have the  status of  general  unsecured
creditors of the Company.  Any Accounts  established  pursuant to the Plan shall
remain the property of the Company  until  distributed,  and nothing in the Plan
will otherwise be construed to create a trust or to obligate the Employer or any
other person to  segregate a fund,  purchase an  insurance  contract,  or in any
other way currently to fund the future  payment of any benefits  hereunder,  nor
will  anything  herein be  construed  to give any  employee or any other  person
rights to any specific assets of the Company or of any other person. The Company
may,  in its sole  discretion,  create a  grantor  trust to pay its  obligations
hereunder,  but shall  have no  obligation  to do so. In all  events,  it is the
intent of the  Company  that the Plan be treated as unfunded  for tax  purposes.
This Plan is not subject to the  provisions  of the Employee  Retirement  Income
Security Act of 1974.

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