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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

Compass Bancshares, Inc.

(205) 297-3000

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) of THE ACT:

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:
  YES    NO 

      Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  

As of January 31, 2001, the aggregate market value of voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates was $2,732,935,151.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s class of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Table of Contents

PART I

ITEM 1 — BUSINESS

      Compass Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) is a financial services company with its principal place of business in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company was organized in 1970 and commenced business in late 1971 upon the acquisition of Central Bank & Trust Co. and State National Bank. The Company subsequently acquired substantially all of the outstanding stock of additional banks located in Alabama, 11 of which were merged in late 1981 to create Central Bank of the South, Alabama’s first statewide bank. In November 1993, the Company changed its name from Central Bancshares of the South, Inc. to Compass Bancshares, Inc. and Central Bank of the South, the Company’s lead bank subsidiary, changed its name to Compass Bank (“Compass Bank”). In February 1987, the Company acquired First National Bank of Crosby near Houston, Texas, and became the first out-of-state bank holding company to acquire a bank in Texas. The Company first expanded into Florida in July 1991, when it acquired Citizens & Builders Federal Savings, F.S.B., in Pensacola, Florida. In December 1998, the Company expanded into the state of Arizona with the acquisition of Tucson-based Arizona Bank. In January 2000, the Company expanded into New Mexico with the acquisition of Albuquerque-based Western Bancshares, Inc. In April 2000, the Company expanded into Colorado with the acquisition of Denver-based MegaBank Financial Corp., Inc. In January 2001, the Company expanded into Nebraska with the acquisition of FirsTier Corporation.

      In addition to Compass Bank, the Company also owns Central Bank of the South, an Alabama banking corporation headquartered in Anniston, Alabama. Central Bank of the South has limited activities. The bank subsidiaries of the Company are referred to collectively herein as the “Subsidiary Banks.”

      The principal role of the Company is to supervise and coordinate the activities of its subsidiaries and to provide them with capital and services of various kinds. The Company derives substantially all of its income from dividends from its subsidiaries. Such dividends are determined on an individual basis, generally in relation to each subsidiary’s earnings and capital position.

Subsidiary Banks

      Compass Bank conducts a general commercial banking and trust business at 340 bank offices, including 117 in Texas, 87 in Alabama, 60 in Arizona, 40 in Florida, 25 in Colorado, 9 in New Mexico and 2 in Nebraska. In addition, the Company operates a loan production office in both Georgia and Tennessee. The Subsidiary Banks perform banking services customary for full service banks of similar size and character. Such services include receiving demand and time deposit accounts, making personal and commercial loans and furnishing personal and commercial checking accounts. The Asset Management Division of Compass Bank offers its customers a variety of fiduciary services, including portfolio management and the administration and investment of funds of estates, trusts and employee benefit plans. Through Texas Insurance Agency, and Compass Bancshares Insurance, Inc., wholly-owned subsidiaries of Compass Bank, the Subsidiary Banks make available to their customers and others, as agent for a variety of insurance companies, term life insurance, fixed-rate annuities and other insurance products.

      Compass Bank provides correspondent banking services, including educational seminars and operational and investment services, to approximately 1,000 financial institutions located throughout the United States. Through the Correspondent and Investment Services Division of Compass Bank, the Subsidiary Banks distribute or make available a variety of investment services and products to institutional and individual investors including institutional sales, bond accounting, safekeeping and interest rate risk analysis services. Through Compass Brokerage, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Compass Bank, the Subsidiary Banks also provide discount brokerage services, mutual funds and variable annuities to individuals and businesses. Through Compass Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary, Compass Financial Corporation, the Subsidiary Banks provide lease financing services to individuals and businesses.

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Nonbanking Subsidiaries

      Through wholly owned subsidiaries, the Company is engaged in providing insurance products to customers of the Subsidiary Banks and owning real estate for bank premises. Revenues from operation of these subsidiaries do not presently constitute a significant portion of the Company’s total operating revenues. The Company may subsequently engage in other activities permissible for registered financial services companies when suitable opportunities develop. Proposals for such further activities are subject to approval by appropriate regulatory authorities. Refer to “Supervision and Regulation.”

Lines of Business

      The Company is currently aligned along lines of business. Each line of business is a strategic unit that serves a particular group of customers that have certain common characteristics, through various products and services. The Company’s primary operating segments are Corporate Banking, Retail Banking, Asset Management, and Treasury.

      The Corporate Banking segment is responsible for providing a full array of banking and investment services to business banking, commercial banking, and other institutional clients in each of the Company’s major metropolitan markets. The Corporate Banking segment also includes a National Industries unit that is responsible for serving larger national accounts, principally in targeted industries. In addition to traditional credit and deposit products, the Corporate Banking segment also supports its customers with capabilities in treasury management, leasing, accounts receivable purchasing, asset-based lending, international services, and interest rate protection and investment products.

      The Retail Banking segment serves the Company’s consumer customers through its 340 full-service banking offices and through the use of alternative delivery channels such as PC Banking, the internet, and telephone banking. The Retail Banking segment provides individuals with comprehensive products and services, including home mortgages, credit cards, deposit accounts, mutual funds, and brokerage and insurance. In addition, Retail Banking also serves the Company’s small business customers, is responsible for the indirect automobile portfolio and provides the Company’s non-metropolitan markets with the same products and services offered by the Corporate Banking and Asset Management segments.

      The Asset Management segment provides specialized investment portfolio management, traditional credit products, financial counseling, and customized services to the Company’s private clients and foundations as well as investment management and retirement services to companies and their employees. The Asset Management segment is also the discretionary investment manager of Expedition Funds®, the Company’s family of proprietary mutual funds.

      The Treasury segment’s primary function is to manage the investment securities portfolio, certain residential real estate loans, public entity deposits, and the liquidity and funding positions of the Company.

Business Combinations and Divestitures

      The Company may seek to combine with other financial services companies, banks and banking offices when suitable opportunities develop. Discussions are held from time to time with institutions about their possible affiliation with the Company. It is impossible to predict accurately whether any discussions will lead to agreement. Any bid or proposal for the combination of additional banks is subject to approval by appropriate regulatory authorities. Refer to “Supervision and Regulation.” Since 1987, the Company has combined with approximately 50 financial institutions and engaged in numerous asset and deposit purchase and sale transactions.

      On January 4, 2001, the Company completed the merger with FirsTier Corporation (“FirsTier”). FirsTier was the parent of FirsTier Bank, an approximately $815 million asset bank primarily located in the greater Denver area, and Firstate Bank, an $85 million bank in Nebraska. FirsTier shareholders received 6,800,000 shares of Compass common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of FirsTier. The transaction will be accounted for under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting.

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      On January 13, 2000, the Company completed the merger with Western Bancshares, Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with assets in excess of $300 million. The transaction was accounted for under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting. All prior information has been restated.

      On April 3, 2000, the Company completed the merger with MegaBank Financial Corporation in Denver, Colorado, with assets of approximately $300 million. The transaction was accounted for under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting. Prior-period information has not been restated due to immateriality.

      On July 17, 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of Founders Bank of Arizona (“Founders”) in Phoenix, with assets of approximately $400 million. The Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Founders in exchange for approximately $80 million in cash. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Intangible assets resulting from the purchase totaled approximately $70 million.

      On December 14, 2000, the Company completed the acquisition of Texas Insurance Agency, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Texas. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas Insurance Agency specializes in providing property and casualty insurance, personal insurance, employee benefit plans and financial planning for businesses and private banking customers as well as home and automobile insurance for retail customers. Compass acquired Texas Insurance in a cash transaction. Intangible assets resulting from the purchase totaled approximately $5 million.

      During 2000, the Company completed the sale of eight non-strategic branches in Texas with deposits of approximately $205 million. As part on the transaction, the Company recorded a gain of $16.7 million, which is included in other income on the income statement.

      On April 19, 1999, the Company completed the purchase of 15 branches in Arizona from another financial institution. These branches, primarily in the Phoenix area, added approximately $400 million in deposits. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Intangible assets resulting from the purchase totaled approximately $70 million.

      On October 20, 1999, the Company completed the acquisition of Hartland Bank, N.A., in Austin, Texas, with assets of approximately $300 million. The Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Hartland Bank, N.A., in exchange for approximately $90 million in cash. The transaction was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Intangible assets resulting from the purchase totaled approximately $70 million.

Competition

      The Subsidiary Banks encounter intense competition in their businesses, generally from other banks located in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas and adjoining states, and compete for interest bearing funds with other banks, mutual funds, and many non-bank issuers of commercial paper and other securities. In substantially all of the markets served by the Subsidiary Banks, Compass Bank encounters intense competition from other financial institutions that are substantially larger in terms of assets and deposits. Competition for the correspondent banking and securities sales business also exists from commercial and investment banks and brokerage firms. In the case of larger customers, competition exists with financial institutions in major metropolitan areas in the United States, many of which are larger in terms of capital, resources and personnel. Increasingly, in the conduct of certain aspects of their businesses, the Subsidiary Banks compete with finance companies, savings and loan associations, credit unions, mutual funds, factors, insurance companies and similar financial institutions.

      There is significant competition among financial services companies in most of the markets served by the Subsidiary Banks. The Company believes that intense competition for banking business among bank holding companies with operations in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas will continue. During 2001, the competition may further intensify if additional financial services companies enter such states through the acquisition of local financial institutions.

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Employees

      At December 31, 2000, the Company and its subsidiaries had approximately 6,700 full-time equivalent employees. The Company and its subsidiaries provide a variety of benefit programs including retirement and stock ownership plans as well as group life, health, accident, and other insurance. The Company also maintains training, educational and affirmative action programs designed to prepare employees for positions of increasing responsibility.

Government Monetary Policy

      The Company and the Subsidiary Banks are affected by the credit policies of monetary authorities including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”). An important function of the Federal Reserve is to regulate the national supply of bank credit. Among the instruments of monetary policy used by the Federal Reserve to implement these objectives are open market operations in U.S. Government securities, changes in the discount rate, reserve requirements on member bank deposits, and funds availability regulations. These instruments are used in varying combinations to influence the overall growth of bank loans, investments, and deposits and may also affect interest rates charged on loans or paid on deposits.

      The monetary policies of the Federal Reserve authorities have had a significant effect on the operating results of financial institutions in the past and will continue to do so in the future. In view of changing conditions in the national economy and money markets, as well as the effect of actions by monetary and fiscal authorities, no prediction can be made as to the future impact that changes in interest rates, deposit levels, or loan demand may have on the business and income of the Company and the Subsidiary Banks.

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SUPERVISION AND REGULATION

The Company

      During 2000, the Company filed a declaration with the Federal Reserve to be certified as a financial holding company (“FHC”) under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Modernization Act of 1999 (“GLB Act”) which is described below under “Supervision and Regulation — Recent Legislation.” The Company is required to file with the Federal Reserve an annual report and such additional information as the Federal Reserve may require pursuant to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (“BHC Act”). The Federal Reserve also may make examinations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries. In addition, certain financial activities of the Company which are permitted by the GLB Act are subject to functional regulations by other state and federal regulatory authorities as described below.

      The Company continues to be regulated by the BHC Act which requires a financial holding company to obtain the prior approval of the Federal Reserve before it may acquire substantially all the assets of any bank or ownership or control of any voting shares of any bank if, after such acquisition, it would own or control, directly or indirectly, more than five percent of the voting shares of any such bank. The Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 (“Interstate Act”), facilitates branching and the establishment of agency relationships across state lines and permits bank holding companies to acquire banks located in any state without regard to whether the transaction is prohibited under any state law, subject to certain state provisions, including the establishment by states of a minimum age of their local banks subject to interstate acquisition by out-of-state companies. The minimum age of local banks subject to interstate acquisition is limited to a maximum of five years.

      The States of Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, where the Company currently operates banking offices, each have laws relating specifically to acquisitions of banks, bank holding companies, and other types of financial institutions in those states by financial institutions that are based in, and not based in, those states. In 1995, the State of Alabama enacted an interstate banking act. In general, the Alabama statute implements the Interstate Act, specifying five years as the minimum age of banks which may be acquired and participating in interstate branching beginning May 31, 1997. The laws of each of Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas currently permit out-of-state bank holding companies to acquire banks in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas, regardless of where the acquiror is based, subject to the satisfaction of various provisions of state law, including the requirement that the bank to be acquired has been in existence at least five years in Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas and two years in Florida.

      The Federal Reserve Act generally imposes certain limitations on extensions of credit and other transactions by and between banks which are members of the Federal Reserve and other affiliates (which includes any holding company of which such bank is a subsidiary and any other non-bank subsidiary of such holding company). Banks which are not members of the Federal Reserve also are subject to these limitations. Further, federal law prohibits a bank holding company and its subsidiaries from engaging in certain tie-in arrangements in connection with any extension of credit, lease or sale of property or the furnishing of services.

      In December 1991, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991 (“FDICIA”) was enacted. This act recapitalized the Bank Insurance Fund (“BIF”), of which the Subsidiary Banks are members, and the Savings Association Insurance Fund (“SAIF”), which insures certain of the Subsidiary Banks’ deposits; substantially revised statutory provisions, including capital standards; restricted certain powers of state banks; gave regulators the authority to limit officer and director compensation; and required holding companies to guarantee the capital compliance of their banks in certain instances. Among other things, FDICIA requires the federal banking agencies to take “prompt corrective action” with respect to banks that do not meet minimum capital requirements. FDICIA established five capital tiers: “well capitalized,” “adequately capitalized,” “undercapitalized,” “significantly undercapitalized,” and “critically undercapitalized,” as defined by regulations adopted by the Federal Reserve, the FDIC, and the other federal depository institution regulatory agencies. A depository institution is well capitalized if it significantly exceeds the minimum level required by regulation for each relevant capital measure, adequately capitalized if it meets such measure, undercapitalized if it fails to meet any such measure, significantly undercapitalized if it is significantly below such measure, and critically

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      If a depository institution fails to meet regulatory capital requirements, the regulatory agencies can require submission and funding of a capital restoration plan by the institution, place limits on its activities, require the raising of additional capital and, ultimately, require the appointment of a conservator or receiver for the institution. The obligation of a controlling financial holding company under FDICIA to fund a capital restoration plan is limited to the lesser of five percent of an undercapitalized subsidiary’s assets or the amount required to meet regulatory capital requirements. If the controlling financial holding company fails to fulfill its obligations under FDICIA and files (or has filed against it) a petition under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, the FDIC’s claim may be entitled to a priority in such bankruptcy proceeding over third party creditors of the bank holding company.

      An insured depository institution may not pay management fees to any person having control of the institution nor may an institution, except under certain circumstances and with prior regulatory approval, make any capital distribution (including the payment of dividends) if, after making such payment or distribution, the institution would be undercapitalized. FDICIA also restricts the acceptance of brokered deposits by insured depository institutions and contains a number of consumer banking provisions, including disclosure requirements and substantive contractual limitations with respect to deposit accounts.

      At December 31, 2000, the Subsidiary Banks were “well capitalized” and were not subject to any of the foregoing restrictions, including, without limitation, those relating to brokered deposits. The Subsidiary Banks do not rely upon brokered deposits as a primary source of deposit funding; although, such deposits are sold through the Correspondent and Investment Services Division of Compass Bank.

The Subsidiary Banks

      In general, federal and state banking laws and regulations govern all areas of the operations of the Subsidiary Banks, including reserves, loans, mortgages, capital, issuances of securities, payment of dividends and establishment of branches. Federal and state banking regulatory agencies also have the general authority to limit the dividends paid by insured banks and bank holding companies if such payments may be deemed to constitute an unsafe and unsound practice. Federal and state banking agencies also have authority to impose penalties, initiate civil and administrative actions and take other steps intended to prevent banks from engaging in unsafe or unsound practices.

      Compass Bank, organized under the laws of the State of Alabama, is a member of the Federal Reserve. As such, it is supervised, regulated and regularly examined by the Alabama State Banking Department and the Federal Reserve. The Subsidiary Banks are subject to the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and to examination by and regulations of the FDIC.

      Compass Bank is governed by Alabama laws restricting the declaration and payment of dividends to 90 percent of annual net income until its surplus funds equal at least 20 percent of capital stock. Compass Bank has surplus in excess of this amount. As a member of the Federal Reserve, Compass Bank is subject to dividend limitations imposed by the Federal Reserve that are similar to those applicable to national banks.

      Federal law further provides that no insured depository institution may make any capital distribution, including a cash dividend, if, after making the distribution, the institution would not satisfy one or more of its minimum capital requirements. Moreover, the federal bank regulatory agencies also have the general authority to limit the dividends paid by insured banks if such payments may be deemed to constitute an unsafe and unsound practice. Insured banks are prohibited from paying dividends on their capital stock while in default in the payment of any assessment due to the FDIC except in those cases where the amount of the assessment is in dispute and the insured bank has deposited satisfactory security for the payment thereof.

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      The Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 (“CRA”) and the regulations of the Federal Reserve and the FDIC implementing that act are intended to encourage regulated financial institutions to help meet the credit needs of their local community or communities, including low and moderate income neighborhoods, consistent with the safe and sound operation of such financial institutions. The CRA and such regulations provide that the appropriate regulatory authority will assess the records of regulated financial institutions in satisfying their continuing and affirmative obligations to help meet the credit needs of their local communities as part of their regulatory examination of the institution. The results of such examinations are made public and are taken into account upon the filing of any application to establish a domestic branch or to merge or to acquire the assets or assume the liabilities of a bank. In the case of a bank holding company, the CRA performance record of the banks involved in the transaction are reviewed in connection with the filing of an application to acquire ownership or control of shares or assets of a bank or to merge with any other bank holding company. An unsatisfactory record can substantially delay or block the transaction.

Recent Legislation

      The GLB Act was enacted on November 12, 1999. The GLB Act permits bank holding companies meeting certain management, capital and community reinvestment standards to engage in a substantially broader range of non-banking activities than were permitted previously, including insurance underwriting and merchant banking activities. The Company has certified that it meets this criteria. The GLB Act repeals sections 20 and 32 of the Glass Steagall Act, permitting affiliations of banks with securities firms and registered investment companies. The Act authorizes FHCs which permit banks to be under common control with securities firms, insurance companies, investment companies and other financial interests. Some of these affiliations also are permissible for bank subsidiaries. The GLB Act gives the Federal Reserve broad authority to regulate FHCs, but provides for functional regulation of subsidiary activities by the Securities Exchange Commission, Federal Trade Commission, state insurance and securities authorities and similar regulatory agencies.

      The GLB Act includes significant provisions regarding the privacy of financial information. These new financial privacy provisions generally require a financial institution to adopt a privacy policy regarding its practices for sharing nonpublic personal information and to disclose such policy to their customers, both at the time the customer relationship is established and at least annually during the relationship. These provisions also prohibit the Company from disclosing nonpublic personal financial information to third parties unless customers have the opportunity to opt out of the disclosure.

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ITEM 1 — STATISTICAL DISCLOSURE

ITEM 2 — PROPERTIES

      The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns or leases buildings that are used in the normal course of business. The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 15 South 20th Street, Birmingham, Alabama, in a 289,000 square-foot office building. The Subsidiary Banks own or lease various other offices and facilities in Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas with remaining lease terms of 1 to 20 years exclusive of renewal options. In addition, the Company owns a 306,000 square-foot administrative headquarters facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. The Company also owns the River Oaks Bank Building in Houston, Texas, a 14-story, 168,000 square-foot office building. Compass Bank currently occupies approximately 35 percent of the River Oaks Bank Building. The remaining space is leased to multiple tenants.

ITEM 3 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      The Company and its subsidiaries are defendants in legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Some of these proceedings which relate to lending, collections, servicing, investment, trust and other activities seek substantial sums as damages.

      Among the actions which are pending are actions filed as class actions in the State of Alabama. The actions are similar to others that have been brought in recent years in Alabama and Texas against financial institutions in that they seek substantial compensatory and punitive damages in connection with transactions involving relatively small amounts of actual damages. In recent years, juries in certain Alabama and Texas state courts have rendered large damage awards in such cases.

      It may take a number of years to finally resolve some of these pending legal proceedings due to their complexity and other reasons. It is difficult to determine with any certainty at this time the potential exposure from the proceedings. However, based upon the advice of legal counsel, management is of the opinion that the ultimate resolution of these legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

ITEM 4 — SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      No matter was submitted to a vote of security holders by solicitation of proxies or otherwise during the fourth quarter of 2000.

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PART II

      The following table sets forth the high and low closing prices of the common stock of the Company as reported through the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation National Market System and the dividends paid thereon during the periods indicated. The prices shown do not reflect retail mark-ups, markdowns, or commissions. All share prices have been rounded to the nearest 1/8 of one dollar.

      As of January 31, 2001, there were approximately 6,400 shareholders of record of common stock of which approximately 5,500 were residents of either Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nebraska, New Mexico or Texas.

ITEM 6 — SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

      The following table sets forth selected financial data for the last five years.

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CASH BASIS DISCLOSURES

      The selected financial data presented in the following table details certain information highlighting the performance of the Company for each of the three years ended December 31, 2000, adjusted to exclude the amortization of goodwill and other intangibles considered nonqualifying in regulatory capital calculations, and related balances of goodwill and other intangibles resulting from business combinations recorded by the Company under the purchase method of accounting. Had these business combinations qualified for accounting under the pooling-of-interests method, no intangible assets would have been recorded. Since the amortization of goodwill and other intangibles does not result in a cash expense, the economic value to shareholders under either accounting method is essentially the same. Additionally, such amortization does not impact the Company’s liquidity and funds management activities.

      Cash basis financial data is particularly relevant in that it provides an additional basis for measuring a company’s ability to support future growth and pay dividends. Cash basis financial data, as defined herein, has not been adjusted to exclude the impact of merger and integration related expenses or other noncash items such as depreciation and provision for loan losses, except as noted below. This is the only section of this report in which the Company’s financial results are discussed on a cash basis.

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      The purpose of this discussion is to focus on significant changes in the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries during the past three years. The discussion and analysis are intended to supplement and highlight information contained in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and the selected financial data presented elsewhere in this report. Prior information has been restated to reflect the Western Bancshares, Inc. acquisition accounted for using the pooling-of-interests accounting method. Financial institutions acquired by the Company during the past three years and accounted for as purchases and immaterial pooling-of-interests are reflected in the financial position and results of operations of the Company since the date of their acquisition.

      This report may contain forward-looking statements which are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements pertaining to future periods are subject to uncertainty because of the possibility of changes in underlying factors and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in or implied by such forward-looking statements for a variety of factors including: sharp and/ or rapid changes in interest rates; significant changes in the economic scenario from the current anticipated scenario which could materially change anticipated credit quality trends and the ability to generate loans; significant delay in or inability to execute strategic initiatives designed to grow revenues and/ or control expenses; unanticipated issues during the integration of acquisitions; and significant changes in accounting, tax or regulatory policies or requirements.

Summary

      In 2000, the Company reported record net income of $241 million, a 7 percent increase over the Company’s previous high of $224 million in 1999, which represented a 19 percent increase over 1998. Basic earnings per share for 2000 was $2.01 per share, also a record, compared with $1.90 per share in 1999 and $1.61 per share in 1998, representing a 6 percent increase in 2000 and an 18 percent increase in 1999. Diluted earnings per share increased to $2.00 per share in 2000, a 6 percent increase, from $1.88 per share in 1999. Diluted earnings per share in 1999 increased 19 percent over 1998. Pretax income for 2000 was up $18 million, or five percent, over 1999 while income tax expense increased one percent over the same period reflecting a decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate from 33.8 percent in 1999 to 32.5 percent in 2000.

Earning Assets

      Average earning assets in 2000 increased six percent over 1999 due principally to a nine percent increase in average loans. In addition, funds from the sales, calls, maturities and paydowns of the Company’s securities portfolio were reinvested into higher yielding loans through its securitization program. During 2000, the Company securitized approximately $1.2 billion of residential mortgage loans and transferred substantially all the balances to available-for-sale securities. During 1999, the Company securitized and transferred to available-for-sale securities substantially all of approximately $500 million of residential mortgages and approximately $500 million of indirect automobile loans. The average earning asset mix in 2000 was similar to 1999 with loans at 65 percent and 63 percent and investment securities and investment securities available for sale at 35 percent and 36 percent for 2000 and 1999, respectively. In 1998, loans were 69 percent, investment securities and investment securities available for sale were 30 percent. The mix of earning assets is monitored on a continuous basis in order to place the Company in a position to react to interest rate movements and to maximize the return on earning assets.

Loans

      Average loans increased nine percent in 2000. Total loans outstanding at year-end increased five percent over previous year-end levels. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans, which were 34 percent of total loans, increased 13 percent in 2000 compared to the previous year. Real estate construction loans increased 16 percent while commercial mortgage loans increased 15 percent from year-end 1999 to year-end 2000. Residential

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      Total loans outstanding at December 31, 1999, increased seven percent over previous year-end levels. Commercial, financial and agricultural loans, which were 32 percent of total loans, increased 11 percent in 1999 compared to the previous year. Real estate construction loans increased 40 percent while commercial mortgage loans increased 16 percent from year-end 1998 to year-end 1999. Residential mortgage and consumer installment loans decreased 5 percent and 14 percent, respectively, compared to 1998 levels due to the Company’s 1999 securitization activity.

      Average managed loans, which include loans that have been securitized, increased to $13.6 billion at December 31, 2000, an 11 percent increase over 1999. Of the $7.8 billion in commercial loans at December 31, 2000, $4 billion is typical commercial and industrial lending. Compass focuses primarily on small and middle market businesses whose typical credit requirement is between $1 and $5 million. The remaining portion of the commercial portfolio is split evenly between real estate construction lending and commercial real estate. Both of these portfolios have experienced double digit growth over the past two years. The consumer portion of the managed loan portfolio totals approximately $5.8 billion, with $3.9 billion in residential mortgages, home equity loans and home equity lines. During the past two years Compass has consciously kept 1-4 family lending fairly flat due to thin margins and concentrated more on home equity loans and lines. The remainder of the consumer portfolio is made up of approximately $400 million of in-market credit cards and $1.5 billion of consumer installment loans, about half of which is indirect auto lending. Similar to 1-4 family residential loans, Compass views the indirect auto lending business as a commodity business and has kept the volume fairly flat.

      The Loan Portfolio table presents the classifications of loans by major category at December 31, 2000, and for each of the preceding four years. The second table presents maturities of certain loan classifications at December 31, 2000, and an analysis of the rate structure for such loans with maturities greater than one year.

Loan Portfolio

				December 31
				2000								1999								1998								1997
								Percent								Percent								Percent								Percent
								of								of								of								of
				Amount				Total				Amount				Total				Amount				Total				Amount				Total
				(in Thousands)
Commercial loans:
	Commercial, financial and agricultural			$	3,963,082				34.5	%		$	3,492,882				32.0	%		$	3,137,738				30.6	%		$	2,408,067				24.8	%
	Real estate — construction				1,968,635				17.1				1,697,674				15.5				1,215,809				11.9				827,411				8.5
	Commercial real estate — mortgage				1,884,786				16.4				1,632,565				14.9				1,402,549				13.7				1,216,318				12.6
		Total commercial loans			7,816,503				68.0				6,823,121				62.4				5,756,096				56.2				4,451,796				45.9
Consumer loans:
	Residential real estate — mortgage