Exhibit 2.1 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and between FIRSTAR CORPORATION

Exhibit 2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and between

FIRSTAR CORPORATION

and

U.S. BANCORP

DATED AS OF OCTOBER 3, 2000

TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

1.1 THE MERGER............................................................1
1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME........................................................2
1.3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER.................................................2
1.4 CONVERSION OF STOCK...................................................2
1.5 OPTIONS...............................................................3
1.6 FIRSTAR OPTIONS.......................................................4
1.7 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION..........................................4
1.8 BY-LAWS...............................................................4
1.9 TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES.......................................4
1.10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS...................................................5
1.11 HEADQUARTERS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION................................5

ARTICLE II

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

2.1 EXCHANGE OF OLD CERTIFICATES FOR NEW CERTIFICATES.....................5
2.2 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES...................................................5

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRSTAR

3.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION................................................7
3.2 CAPITALIZATION........................................................7
3.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION...............................................8
3.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS................................................9
3.5 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.................................................9
3.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................10
3.7 BROKER'S FEES........................................................10
3.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.................................10
3.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS....................................................11
3.10 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS...............................................11
3.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS..............................................12
3.12 SEC REPORTS.........................................................13
3.13 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW......................................14
3.14 CERTAIN CONTRACTS...................................................14
3.15 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.............................................14
3.16 INSURANCE...........................................................15

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3.17 CHARTER PROVISIONS; STATE TAKEOVER LAWS; FIRSTAR RIGHTS AGREEMENT...15
3.18 REORGANIZATION; POOLING OF INTERESTS................................15

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF U.S. BANCORP

4.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION...............................................15
4.2 CAPITALIZATION.......................................................16
4.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION..............................................17
4.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS...............................................17
4.5 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE................................................18
4.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.................................................18
4.7 BROKER'S FEES........................................................19
4.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.................................19
4.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS....................................................19
4.10 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS...............................................20
4.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS..............................................21
4.12 SEC REPORTS.........................................................22
4.13 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW......................................22
4.14 CERTAIN CONTRACTS...................................................22
4.15 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.............................................23
4.16 INSURANCE...........................................................23
4.17 CHARTER PROVISIONS; STATE TAKEOVER LAWS.............................23
4.18 REORGANIZATION; POOLING OF INTERESTS................................24

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESSES PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME....................24
5.2 FORBEARANCES.........................................................24

ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1 REGULATORY MATTERS...................................................27
6.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION................................................28
6.3 SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVALS..............................................28
6.4 LEGAL CONDITIONS TO MERGER...........................................29
6.5 AFFILIATES; PUBLICATION OF COMBINED FINANCIAL RESULTS................29
6.6 STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING...............................................29
6.7 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS...............................................29
6.8 INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INSURANCE..................30
6.9 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS................................................31
6.10 ADVICE OF CHANGES...................................................31
6.11 DIVIDENDS...........................................................31
6.12 EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 16(B). FIRSTAR INSIDERS......32

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6.13 EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 16(B). U.S. BANCORP INSIDERS.32
6.14 LIST OF OPTION HOLDERS..............................................32

ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

7.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER...........33
7.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. BANCORP............................34
7.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF FIRSTAR.................................34

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

8.1 TERMINATION..........................................................35
8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION................................................35
8.3 AMENDMENT............................................................36
8.4 EXTENSION; WAIVER....................................................36

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1 CLOSING............................................................36
9.2 NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS..........36
9.3 EXPENSES...........................................................36
9.4 NOTICES............................................................37
9.5 INTERPRETATION.....................................................38
9.6 COUNTERPARTS.......................................................38
9.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT...................................................38
9.8 GOVERNING LAW......................................................38
9.9 PUBLICITY..........................................................38
9.10 ASSIGNMENT; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES..............................38

Exhibit A - U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement
Exhibit B - Firstar Option Agreement
Exhibit 6.5(a)(1) - Form of Affiliate Letter Addressed to U.S. Bancorp
Exhibit 6.5(a)(2) - Form of Affiliate Letter Addressed to Firstar

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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS

Section Page No.
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Agreement.................................... Recitals............ 1
BHC Act...................................... 3.1(a).............. 7
Closing...................................... 9.1................. 36
Closing Date................................. 9.1................. 36
Code......................................... 1.5(b).............. 4
Confidentiality Agreement.................... 6.2(b).............. 28
Delaware Certificate......................... 1.2................. 2
Delaware Secretary........................... 1.2................. 2
DGCL......................................... 1.1(a).............. 1
DPC Shares................................... 1.4(b).............. 3
DRIP Suspension Date......................... 4.2................. 16
Effective Time............................... 1.2................. 2
Employees.................................... 6.7(a) ............. 29
ERISA........................................ 3.11(a)............. 12
Exchange Act................................. 3.6................. 10
Exchange Agent............................... 2.1................. 5
Exchange Ratio............................... 1.4(a).............. 2
Federal Reserve Board........................ 3.4................. 9
Firstar...................................... Recitals............ 1
Firstar 10-K................................. 3.6................. 10
Firstar Articles............................. 1.7................. 4
Firstar Benefit Plans........................ 3.11(a)............. 12
Firstar Capital Stock........................ 3.2................. 7
Firstar Common Stock......................... 1.4(a).............. 2
Firstar Contract............................. 3.14(a)............. 14
Firstar Disclosure Schedule.................. 3................... 7
Firstar ERISA Affiliate...................... 3.11(a)............. 12
Firstar Insiders............................. 6.12................ 32
Firstar Option............................... 1.6................. 4
Firstar Option Agreement..................... Recitals............ 1
Firstar Preferred Stock...................... 3.2................. 7
Firstar Regulatory Agreement................. 3.5(b).............. 10
Firstar Reports.............................. 3.12(b)............. 13
Firstar Rights............................... 3.2................. 8
Firstar Rights Agreement..................... 1.4(b).............. 3
Firstar Section 16 Information............... 6.12................ 32
Firstar Shareholder Rights................... 1.4(b).............. 3
Firstar Stock Plans.......................... 3.2................. 8
GAAP......................................... 1.9................. 4
Governmental Entity.......................... 3.4................. 9
HSR Act...................................... 3.4................. 9
Indemnified Parties.......................... 6.8(a).............. 30

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Section Page No.
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IRS.......................................... 3.10(a)............. 11
Joint Proxy Statement........................ 3.4................. 9
Material Adverse Effect...................... 3.1(a).............. 7
Merger....................................... Recitals............ 1
Merger Consideration......................... 1.1(b).............. 2
New Benefit Plans............................ 6.7(a).............. 29
New Certificates............................. 1.4(c).............. 3
Non-Subsidiary Affiliate..................... 3.3(b).............. 8
NYSE......................................... 2.2(f).............. 6
Old Certificates............................. 1.4(c).............. 3
Option Agreements............................ Recitals............ 1
Regulatory Agencies.......................... 3.5................. 9
Requisite Regulatory Approvals............... 7.1(c).............. 33
S-4.......................................... 3.4................. 9
SEC.......................................... 3.1................. 7
Securities Act............................... 3.12(b)............. 13
SRO.......................................... 3.4................. 9
State Approvals.............................. 3.4................. 9
State Regulator.............................. 3.5................. 9
Subsidiary................................... 3.1(a).............. 7
Surviving Corporation........................ Recitals............ 1
Surviving Corporation Common Stock........... 1.4(a) ............. 2
Tax.......................................... 3.10(b)............. 12
Taxes........................................ 3.10(b)............. 12
Term Preferred Stock......................... 1.4(a) ............. 2
Trust Account Shares......................... 1.4(b).............. 3
U.S. Bancorp................................. Recitals............ 1
U.S. Bancorp 10-K............................ 4.6................. 18
U.S. Bancorp Certificate..................... 4.1(a).............. 15
U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans................... 4.11(a)............. 21
U.S. Bancorp Capital Stock................... 4.2................. 16
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock.................... 1.4(a).............. 2
U.S. Bancorp Contract........................ 4.14(a)............. 23
U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule............. 4................... 15
U.S. Bancorp DRIP............................ 4.2................. 16
U.S. Bancorp ERISA Affiliate................. 4.11(a)............. 21
U.S. Bancorp Insiders........................ 6.13................ 32
U.S. Bancorp Option.......................... 1.5(a) ............. 3
U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement................ Recitals............ 1
U.S. Bancorp Preferred Stock................. 4.2................. 16
U.S. Bancorp Regulatory Agreement............ 4.5(b).............. 18
U.S. Bancorp Reports......................... 4.12(a)............. 22
U.S. Bancorp Rights.......................... 4.2................. 16
U.S. Bancorp Section 16 Information.......... 6.13................ 32

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Section Page No.
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U.S. Bancorp Stock Plans..................... 4.2................. 16
WBCL......................................... 1.1(a).............. 1
Wisconsin Articles........................... 1.2................. 2
Wisconsin Department......................... 1.2................. 2

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, dated as of October 3, 2000 (this
"Agreement"), by and between FIRSTAR CORPORATION, a Wisconsin corporation
("Firstar"), and U.S. BANCORP, a Delaware corporation ("U.S. Bancorp").

W I T N E S S E T H :
- - - - - - - - - -

WHEREAS, the boards of directors of each of Firstar and U.S. Bancorp have
determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and
their shareholders to consummate the strategic business combination transaction
provided for herein in which Firstar will, subject to the terms and conditions
set forth herein, merge with and into U.S. Bancorp (the "Merger"), so that U.S.
Bancorp is the surviving corporation (hereinafter sometimes referred to in such
capacity as the "Surviving Corporation") in the Merger; and

WHEREAS, as a condition to, and immediately after, the execution of this
Agreement, and as a condition to the execution of the Firstar Option Agreement,
U.S. Bancorp and Firstar are entering into a stock option agreement with U.S.
Bancorp as issuer, and Firstar as grantee, of the stock option contemplated
thereby (the "U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement") in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A; and

WHEREAS, as a condition to, and immediately after, the execution of this
Agreement, and as a condition to the execution of the U.S. Bancorp Option
Agreement, U.S. Bancorp and Firstar are entering into a stock option agreement
with Firstar as issuer, and U.S. Bancorp as grantee, of the stock option
contemplated thereby (the "Firstar Option Agreement"; and together with the U.S.
Bancorp Option Agreement, the "Option Agreements") in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B; and

WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that the Merger be accounted
for as a "pooling of interests" under generally accepted accounting principles
and constitute a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties
and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain
conditions to the Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations,
warranties and agreements contained herein, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

1.1 THE MERGER. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, in accordance with the Business Corporation Law of the State of
Wisconsin (the "WBCL") and the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "DGCL"), at the Effective Time, Firstar shall

merge with and into U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bancorp shall be the Surviving
Corporation in the Merger, and shall continue its corporate existence under the
laws of the State of Delaware. Upon consummation of the Merger, the separate
corporate existence of Firstar shall terminate.

(b) Firstar and U.S. Bancorp may, upon mutual agreement, at any time
change the method of effecting the combination of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar
(including without limitation the provisions of this Article I) if and to the
extent they deem such change to be desirable, including without limitation, to
provide for a merger of either party with a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the
other; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such change shall (i) alter or change the
amount of consideration to be provided to holders of either Firstar Common Stock
or U.S. Bancorp Common Stock as provided for in this Agreement (the "Merger
Consideration"), (ii) adversely affect the tax treatment of shareholders as a
result of receiving the Merger Consideration or (iii) materially impede or delay
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

1.2 EFFECTIVE TIME. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in
articles of merger (the "Wisconsin Articles") that shall be filed with the
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (the "Wisconsin Department"),
and in the certificate of merger (the "Delaware Certificate") that shall be
filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware
Secretary"), in each case on the Closing Date. The term "Effective Time" shall
be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective, as set forth in the
Wisconsin Articles and the Delaware Certificate.

1.3 EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. At and after the Effective Time, the
Merger shall have the effects set forth in the WBCL and the DGCL.

1.4 CONVERSION OF STOCK. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of U.S. Bancorp, Firstar or the
holder of any of the following securities:

(a) Subject to Sections 2.2(d) and 2.2(f), (i) each share of the common
stock, par value $1.25 per share, of U.S. Bancorp (the "U.S. Bancorp Common
Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into 1.265 shares (the "Exchange Ratio") of the common stock, par
value $1.25 per share, of the Surviving Corporation (the "Surviving Corporation
Common Stock"); and (ii) each share of Term Participating Preferred Stock, par
value $1.00 per share, of U.S. Bancorp (the "Term Preferred Stock"), issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall remain outstanding,
but the "Reference Package" referred to in the terms thereof shall be adjusted
to comprise 12.65 shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock or such other
number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock as may be required from
time to time pursuant to Section 4 of the Certificate of Designation and Terms
of the Term Preferred Stock as in effect as of the date hereof.

(b) Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.4(e), at and after the
Effective Time, each share of Firstar common stock, par value $0.01 per share
(together with the Firstar Shareholder Rights attached thereto, the "Firstar
Common Stock") issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time,
except for shares of Firstar Common Stock owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S.
Bancorp or Firstar or any of their respective wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other
than (i) shares of Firstar Common Stock held, directly or indirectly, in trust
accounts, managed accounts and the like, or otherwise held in a fiduciary
capacity, that are beneficially owned by

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third parties (any such shares, whether held directly or indirectly by U.S.
Bancorp or Firstar, as the case may be, being referred to herein as "Trust
Account Shares") and (ii) any shares of Firstar Common Stock held by U.S.
Bancorp or Firstar or any of their respective Subsidiaries in respect of a debt
previously contracted (any such shares of Firstar Common Stock, and shares of
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock that are similarly held, whether held directly or
indirectly, by U.S. Bancorp or Firstar, being referred to herein as "DPC
Shares"), shall be converted into one share of the Surviving Corporation Common
Stock. As used herein, "Firstar Shareholder Rights" shall mean the preferred
share purchase rights issued to the holders of Firstar Common Stock pursuant to
the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 20, 1998 (as such may be amended,
supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time), between Firstar and
Firstar Bank, N.A. (the "Firstar Rights Agreement").

(c) Holders of certificates formerly representing Firstar Common Stock
shall not be required to exchange such certificates for certificates
representing Surviving Corporation Common Stock, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if an
exchange of such certificates is required by law or applicable rule or
regulation, the parties will cause the Surviving Corporation to arrange for such
exchange on a one-share-for-one-share basis. Holders of certificates
representing U.S. Bancorp Common Stock referred to in Article II ("Old
Certificates") shall exchange such Old Certificates for certificates
representing shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock ("New Certificates")
in the manner described in Section 2.2.

(d) If, prior to the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Firstar
Common Stock or U.S. Bancorp Common Stock shall have been increased, decreased,
changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities
as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar change in
capitalization, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made to the
Exchange Ratio.

(e) At the Effective Time, all shares of Firstar Common Stock that are
owned, directly or indirectly, by U.S. Bancorp or Firstar or any of their
respective wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Trust Account Shares and DPC
Shares) shall be canceled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall
be delivered in exchange therefor. All shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock that
are owned by Firstar or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries (other than Trust
Account Shares and DPC Shares) shall as of the Effective Time become authorized
but unissued shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock.

1.5 OPTIONS. (a) At the Effective Time, without any action on the part of
any holder of any such option, each option to purchase shares of U.S. Bancorp
Common Stock (each, a "U.S. Bancorp Option") that is outstanding and unexercised
immediately prior thereto shall cease to represent a right to acquire shares of
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock and shall be converted automatically into an option to
purchase shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in an amount and at an
exercise price determined as provided below (and otherwise subject to the terms
of the U.S. Bancorp Stock Plans (as defined in Section 4.2) and the agreements
evidencing grants thereunder):

(i) The number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to
be subject to the new option shall be equal to the product of (A) the
number of shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock purchasable upon exercise of
the original U.S. Bancorp

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Option and (B) the Exchange Ratio, the product being rounded, if
necessary, up or down, to the nearest whole share; and

(ii) The exercise price per share of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock under the new option shall be equal to the exercise price per share
of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock under the original U.S. Bancorp Option
divided by the Exchange Ratio, PROVIDED that such exercise price shall be
rounded to the nearest whole cent.

(b) The adjustment provided in Section 1.5(a) with respect to any options
that are "incentive stock options" (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) shall be and is intended to be
effected in a manner that is consistent with Section 424(a) of the Code. The
duration and other terms of the new option shall be the same as the original
option.

1.6 FIRSTAR OPTIONS. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of any holder of any such option, each option to
purchase shares of Firstar Common Stock (each, a "Firstar Option") that is
outstanding and unexercised immediately prior thereto shall be assumed by the
Surviving Corporation and shall cease to represent the right to acquire shares
of Firstar Common Stock and shall be converted into an option to purchase shares
of Surviving Corporation Common Stock, on the same terms and conditions as are
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, except that all references to
Firstar shall be deemed to be references to the Surviving Corporation.

1.7 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation shall be in the form to be mutually agreed upon by the
parties hereto as promptly as practicable following the date hereof and in any
event prior to the mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement, PROVIDED that such
Certificate of Incorporation shall be substantially identical (providing for
changes required to conform to requirements of the DGCL and to accommodate the
Term Preferred Stock) to the Articles of Incorporation of Firstar (the "Firstar
Articles"), with such changes as the parties may mutually agree upon, PROVIDED
FURTHER that the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall
provide that the name of the Surviving Corporation is "U.S. Bancorp" and the
number of authorized shares of common stock and preferred stock shall be
4,000,000,000, par value $1.25 per share, and 50,000,000, par value $1.00 per
share, respectively.

1.8 BY-LAWS. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the
Effective Time, the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation shall be in the form to
be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto as promptly as practicable
following the date hereof and in any event prior to the mailing of the Joint
Proxy Statement, PROVIDED that such By-Laws shall be substantially identical
(providing for changes required to conform to requirements of the DGCL) to the
By-Laws of Firstar, with such changes as the parties may mutually agree upon.

1.9 TAX AND ACCOUNTING CONSEQUENCES. It is intended that the Merger shall
constitute a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code,
that this Agreement shall constitute a "plan of reorganization" for the purposes
of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code and that the Merger shall be accounted for
as a "pooling of interests" under generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP").

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1.10 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. At the Effective Time, the directors of the
Surviving Corporation shall be comprised of 25 individuals, 11 named by U.S.
Bancorp and 14 named by Firstar. The directors of the Surviving Corporation at
the Effective Time shall each hold office in accordance with the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are
duly elected or appointed and qualified.

1.11 HEADQUARTERS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION. From and after the
Effective Time, the location of the headquarters and principal executive
offices of the Surviving Corporation shall be Minneapolis, Minnesota.

ARTICLE II

EXCHANGE OF SHARES

2.1 EXCHANGE OF OLD CERTIFICATES FOR NEW CERTIFICATES. (a) From the
Effective Time until the end of the 18-month period following the Effective
Time, the Surviving Corporation shall make available to an exchange agent (which
may be a Subsidiary bank of the Surviving Corporation) appointed prior to the
Effective Time by U.S. Bancorp and Firstar jointly on behalf of the Surviving
Corporation (the "Exchange Agent") New Certificates and cash in amounts
sufficient to allow the Exchange Agent to make all deliveries of New
Certificates and payments that may be required in exchange for Old Certificates
pursuant to this Article II. At the end of such 18-month period, any such New
Certificates and cash remaining in the possession of the Exchange Agent
(together with any dividends or earnings in respect thereof) shall be returned
to the Surviving Corporation. Any former holders of Old Certificates who have
not theretofore exchanged their Old Certificates for New Certificates and cash
pursuant to this Article II shall thereafter be entitled to look exclusively to
the Surviving Corporation for the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock
(or any unpaid dividends and distributions thereon) and any cash to which they
become entitled upon exchange of their Old Certificates pursuant to this
Article II, without any interest thereon. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of
U.S. Bancorp, Firstar, the Surviving Corporation, the Exchange Agent or any
other person shall be liable to any holder of shares of U.S. Bancorp Common
Stock for any amount delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

2.2 EXCHANGE PROCEDURES. (a) Promptly after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail or deliver to each
person who was, immediately prior to the Effective Time, a holder of record of
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock, a form (mutually agreed upon by U.S. Bancorp and
Firstar) of letter of transmittal containing instructions for use in effecting
the surrender of Old Certificates in exchange for New Certificates and any
payments pursuant to this Article II. Upon surrender to the Exchange Agent of an
Old Certificate for cancellation together with such letter of transmittal, duly
executed and completed in accordance with the instructions thereto, the holder
of such Old Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a New
Certificate representing the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock, and a
check in the amount, if any, to which such holder is entitled pursuant to this
Article II, and the Old Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.
No interest will be paid or will accrue on any amount payable upon surrender of
Old Certificates.

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(b) If any New Certificate is to be issued in a name other than that in
which the Old Certificate or Old Certificates surrendered in exchange therefor
is or are registered, it shall be a condition of the issuance thereof that the
Old Certificate or Old Certificates so surrendered shall be properly endorsed
(or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer) and otherwise in
proper form for transfer, and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay
to the Exchange Agent in advance any transfer or other Taxes required by reason
of the issuance of a New Certificate in any name other than that of the
registered holder of the Old Certificate or Old Certificates surrendered, or
required for any other reason, or shall establish to the satisfaction of the
Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

(c) After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock
transfer books of Firstar of the shares of Firstar Common Stock that were issued
and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no
certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of Surviving Corporation
Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Old
Certificates, no dividend or distribution with respect to Surviving Corporation
Common Stock shall be payable on or with respect to any fractional share, and
such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner thereof to vote or
to any other rights of a shareholder of Surviving Corporation.

(e) In the event any Old Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming
such Old Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if reasonably required
by Surviving Corporation, the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as
Surviving Corporation may determine is reasonably necessary as indemnity against
any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Old Certificate, the
Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Old
Certificate the shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock and any cash in
lieu of fractional shares deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this
Agreement.

(f) Upon giving effect to the conversion described in Section 1.4(a), the
resulting number of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock of each
registered holder of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock shall be rounded down to the
nearest whole number and each such registered holder shall be entitled to
receive from the Surviving Corporation in lieu of any fractional share of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock prior to such rounding down an amount
(without interest) equal to the product obtained by multiplying (i) the fraction
of a share of Surviving Corporation Common Stock to which such holder would
otherwise be entitled and (ii) the average of the closing price per share of
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock for the ten trading days most recently preceding the
Closing Date as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE")
Composite Transactions reporting system. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
fractional shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock that would be issued
into a dividend reinvestment plan, 401(k) plan, employee stock plan or other
similar stock plan maintained by U.S. Bancorp prior to the Effective Time shall
be issued within such plan as a fractional share of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock at theEffective Time, to the extent such plan provides for fractional
shares.

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ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF FIRSTAR

Except as disclosed in the Firstar disclosure schedule delivered to U.S.
Bancorp concurrently herewith (the "Firstar Disclosure Schedule") Firstar hereby
represents and warrants to U.S. Bancorp as follows:

3.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION. (a) Firstar is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin.
Firstar has the corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted,
and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which
the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the
properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or
qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified
would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Firstar. As used in this Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect"
means, with respect to U.S. Bancorp, Firstar or the Surviving Corporation, as
the case may be, a material adverse effect on (i) the business, operations,
results of operations or financial condition of such party and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, except to the extent such effect is attributable to the
execution of this Agreement and the announcement thereof or (ii) the ability of
such party to timely consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. As used in
this Agreement, the word "Subsidiary" means "Significant Subsidiary" as defined
in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC") with respect to either party hereto or any entity of which at least a
majority of the securities or ownership interests having by their terms ordinary
voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing
body are owned or controlled directly or indirectly by such party. Firstar is
duly registered as a bank holding company and has become a financial holding
company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"),
and meets the requirements of Section 4(l) of the BHC Act.

(b) Each Firstar Subsidiary (i) is duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly qualified to do
business and in good standing in all jurisdictions (whether federal, state,
local or foreign) where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
its business requires it to be so qualified and in which the failure to be so
qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar and (iii) has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and
assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

3.2 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of Firstar consists of
(i) 2,000,000,000 shares of Firstar Common Stock, of which, as of October 3,
2000, 984,397,677 shares were issued and outstanding and 27,803,224 shares were
held in treasury, (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per
share (the "Firstar Preferred Stock" and, together with the Firstar Common
Stock, the "Firstar Capital Stock"), of which, as of October 3, 2000, no shares
were issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Firstar
Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability
attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the date of this Agreement, except (i)
pursuant to the terms of the Firstar Option Agreement, (ii) options and

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stock issued pursuant to employee and director stock plans of Firstar in effect
as of the date hereof (the "Firstar Stock Plans") and (iii) the Firstar Rights
Agreement, Firstar does not have and is not bound by any outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any
character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of Firstar Capital
Stock or any other equity securities of Firstar or any securities representing
the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Firstar Capital Stock
(collectively, including the items contemplated by clauses (i) through (iii) of
this sentence, the "Firstar Rights"). As of October 3, 2000, no shares of
Firstar Capital Stock were reserved for issuance. Since October 3, 2000, Firstar
has not issued any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible
into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, other than as expressly
permitted by Section 5.2 and pursuant to the Firstar Option Agreement.

3.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION. (a) Firstar has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the Option
Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Option Agreements and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly
and validly approved by the board of directors of Firstar. The board of
directors of Firstar has directed that this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby be submitted to Firstar's shareholders for approval at a
meeting of such shareholders and, except for the approval of this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of Firstar Common Stock entitled to vote
thereon, no corporate proceedings on the part of Firstar are necessary to
approve this Agreement and the Option Agreements and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Firstar and (assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by U.S. Bancorp) constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of Firstar, enforceable against Firstar in accordance with its terms
(except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization
or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the availability
of equitable remedies).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Firstar nor
the consummation by Firstar of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor
compliance by Firstar with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will (i)
violate any provision of the Firstar Articles or By-Laws or (ii) assuming that
the consents and approvals referred to in Section 3.4 are duly obtained, (A)
violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ,
decree or injunction applicable to Firstar, any of its Subsidiaries or its
Non-Subsidiary Affiliates (as defined below) or any of their respective
properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any
provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event
that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under,
result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under,
accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien
upon any of the respective properties or assets of Firstar, any of its
Subsidiaries or Non-Subsidiary Affiliates under, any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license,
lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Firstar, any of its
Subsidiaries or its Non-Subsidiary Affiliates is a party, or by which they or
any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except in
the case of clause (B) above for such violations, conflicts, breaches or
defaults that, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Material
Adverse Effect on Firstar. The term "Non-Subsidiary Affiliate" means, with
respect to U.S. Bancorp, Firstar or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may

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be, a material investment of such party or a Subsidiary thereof in a
corporation, joint venture, partnership, limited liability company and other
entity thereof other than a Subsidiary.

3.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Except for (a) the filing of applications and
notices, as applicable, with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the "Federal Reserve Board") under the BHC Act and approval of such
applications and notices, (b) the pre-merger notification requirements of the
▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇▇ Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
Act"), (c) the filing of any required applications or notices with any state or
foreign agencies and approval of such applications and notices, including in
connection with U.S. Bancorp's Canadian branch (the "State Approvals"), (d) the
filing with the SEC of a joint proxy statement in definitive form relating to
the meetings of U.S. Bancorp's and Firstar's shareholders to be held in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (the
"Joint Proxy Statement"), and of the registration statement on Form S-4 (the
"S-4") in which the Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus and
any filings under the Securities Act (as defined in Section 3.12(b)) required in
connection with the issuance of shares of Firstar Common Stock pursuant to the
Firstar Option Agreement, (e) the filing of the Wisconsin Articles with the
Wisconsin Department pursuant to the WBCL, (f) the filing of the Delaware
Certificate with the Delaware Secretary pursuant to the DGCL, (g) any consents,
authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance
with the applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws relating to
the regulation of broker-dealers, insurance companies and agents, investment
advisers or transfer agents, and federal commodities laws relating to the
regulation of futures commission merchants and the rules and regulations
thereunder and of any applicable industry self-regulatory organization ("SRO"),
and the rules of the NYSE, or that are required under consumer finance, mortgage
banking and other similar laws and (h) such filings and approvals as are
required to be made or obtained under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of
various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of Surviving
Corporation Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement or the resale of shares of
Firstar Common Stock as contemplated by the Firstar Option Agreement, no
consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any court,
administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority or
instrumentality (each a "Governmental Entity") are necessary in connection with
(i) the execution and delivery by Firstar of this Agreement and (ii) the
consummation by Firstar of the transactions contemplated hereby, except to the
extent that the absence of any such consent, authorization, approval, filing or
exemption would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Firstar or the Surviving Corporation.

3.5 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. (a) Except for normal examinations conducted by
a Regulatory Agency (as defined below) in the ordinary course of the business of
Firstar and its Subsidiaries, no Regulatory Agency has initiated any proceeding
or, to the best knowledge of Firstar, investigation into the business or
operations of Firstar or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 1998, except
where such proceedings or investigation will not, either individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar. There is no unresolved
violation, criticism, or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any
report or statement relating to any examinations of Firstar or any of its
Subsidiaries that, in the reasonable judgment of Firstar, will, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar. The
term "Regulatory Agencies" means (i) the Federal Reserve Board, (ii) the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation, (iii) any state regulatory authority (each a
"State Regulator"), (iv) the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, (v) the
SEC and (vi) any SRO.

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(b) Neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written
agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party
to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order
or directive by, or has been since January 1, 1997, a recipient of any
supervisory letter from, or since January 1, 1997, has adopted any board
resolutions at the request of any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity
that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or
that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit
policies, its management or its business (each, whether or not set forth in the
Firstar Disclosure Schedule, a "Firstar Regulatory Agreement"), nor has Firstar
or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 1997, by any Regulatory
Agency or other Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing or requesting
any such Firstar Regulatory Agreement.

3.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Copies of the consolidated balance sheets of
Firstar and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, for the fiscal years 1998 and
1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years 1997 through 1999,
inclusive, as reported in Firstar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1999 (the "Firstar 10-K") filed with the SEC under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), in each case
accompanied by the audit report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants with respect to Firstar, have previously been made available to U.S.
Bancorp. The December 31, 1999 consolidated balance sheet of Firstar (including
the related notes, where applicable) fairly presents in all material respects
the consolidated financial position of Firstar and its Subsidiaries as of the
date thereof, and the other financial statements referred to in this Section 3.6
(including the related notes, where applicable) fairly present in all material
respects the results of the consolidated operations and changes in shareholders'
equity and consolidated financial position of Firstar and its Subsidiaries for
the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth;
each of such statements (including the related notes, where applicable) complies
in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto; and each of
such statements (including the related notes, where applicable) has been
prepared in all material respects in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such
statements or in the notes thereto. The books and records of Firstar and its
Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in
accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements
and reflect only actual transactions.

3.7 BROKER'S FEES. Except for Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, none
of Firstar nor any Firstar Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers or
directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any
broker's fees, commissions or finder's fees in connection with the Merger or
related transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Option Agreements.

3.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. (a) Except as publicly disclosed in
Firstar Reports filed prior to the date hereof, since June 30, 2000, no event or
events have occurred that have had, either individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

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(b) Except as publicly disclosed in Firstar Reports filed prior to the
date hereof, since June 30, 2000, Firstar and its Subsidiaries have carried on
their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course.

3.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. (a) Neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the best of Firstar's knowledge,
threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings, claims,
actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against
Firstar or any of its Subsidiaries or challenging the validity or propriety of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Firstar Option Agreement
as to which, in any such case, there is a reasonable probability of an adverse
determination and that, if adversely determined, will, either individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

(b) There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or regulatory
restriction (other than those that apply generally to financial holding
companies, bank holding companies or banks) imposed upon Firstar, any of its
Subsidiaries or the assets of Firstar or any of its Subsidiaries that has had,
or will have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on Firstar or the Surviving Corporation.

3.10 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS. (a) Each of Firstar and its Subsidiaries has
duly filed all federal, state, foreign and local information returns and tax
returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the date hereof (all such
returns being accurate and complete in all material respects) and has duly paid
or made provisions for the payment of all Taxes and other governmental charges
that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal,
state, foreign or local taxing authorities on or prior to the date of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, if and to the extent applicable, those
due in respect of its properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits,
franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls) other than (i) Taxes or other charges
that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith and have not
been finally determined, or (ii) information returns, tax returns, Taxes or
other governmental charges as to which the failure to file, pay or make
provision for will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on Firstar. The federal and material state income tax returns of
Firstar and its Subsidiaries have been examined by the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") or the relevant state taxing authorities, as the case may be, for
all years to and including 1993 and any liability with respect thereto has been
satisfied and any liability with respect to deficiencies asserted as a result of
such examination has been reserved against in accordance with GAAP. There are no
material disputes pending, or claims asserted for, Taxes or assessments upon
Firstar or any of its Subsidiaries for which Firstar has not established
reserves in accordance with GAAP. In addition, (A) proper and accurate amounts
have been withheld by Firstar and its Subsidiaries from their employees for all
prior periods in compliance in all material respects with the tax withholding
provisions of applicable federal, state and local laws, except where failure to
do so will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Firstar, (B) federal, state, and local returns that are accurate and
complete in all material respects have been filed by Firstar and its
Subsidiaries for all periods for which returns were due with respect to income
tax withholding, Social Security and unemployment taxes, except where failure to
do so will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on Firstar, (C) the amounts shown on such federal, state or local returns
to be due and payable have been paid in full or provision therefor has been
included by Firstar in its consolidated financial statements in

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accordance with GAAP, except where failure to do so will not, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar and
(D) there are no Tax liens upon any property or assets of Firstar or its
Subsidiaries except liens for current Taxes not yet due or liens that will not,
either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
Firstar. Neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries has been required to
include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481 of the Code by reason
of a voluntary change in accounting method initiated by Firstar or any of its
Subsidiaries, and the IRS has not initiated or proposed in writing any such
adjustment or change in accounting method, in either case that has had or will
have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
Firstar. Except as set forth in the financial statements described in
Section 3.6 (including the related notes, where applicable), neither Firstar nor
any of its Subsidiaries has entered into a transaction that is being accounted
for as an installment obligation under Section 453 of the Code, that will have,
either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

(b) As used in this Agreement, the term "Tax" or "Taxes" means all
federal, state, local, and foreign income, excise, gross receipts, gross income,
AD VALOREM, profits, gains, property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll,
employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise, backup
withholding, and other taxes, charges, levies or like assessments together with
all penalties and additions to tax and interest thereon.

(c) No deduction has been disallowed under Section 162(m) of the Code for
employee remuneration of any amount paid or payable by Firstar or any Subsidiary
of Firstar under any contract, plan, program, arrangement or understanding,
except for such disallowed deductions that will not, either individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

3.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. (a) The Firstar Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of each material employee or director benefit,
employment or compensation plan, arrangement or agreement that is maintained, or
contributed to, as of the date of this Agreement (the "Firstar Benefit Plans")
by Firstar, any of its Subsidiaries or by any trade or business, whether or not
incorporated (a "Firstar ERISA Affiliate"), all of which together with Firstar
would be deemed a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 4001 of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA").

(b) True and complete copies of each of the Firstar Benefit Plans
have previously been made available to U.S. Bancorp. The copies of the
Firstar Benefit Plans filed as exhibits to the Firstar 10-K are true and
complete copies thereof.

(c) (i) Each of the Firstar Benefit Plans has been operated and
administered in all material respects in compliance with applicable laws,
including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of the Firstar
Benefit Plans intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a)
of the Code is so qualified, and, to the knowledge of Firstar, there are no
existing circumstances or any events that have occurred that will adversely
affect the qualified status of any such Firstar Benefit Plan, (iii) with respect
to each Firstar Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, the present
value of accrued benefits under such Firstar Benefit Plan, based upon the
actuarial assumptions used for funding purposes in the most recent actuarial
report prepared by such Firstar Benefit Plan's actuary with respect to such
Firstar Benefit Plan, did not, as of its

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latest valuation date, exceed the then-current value of the assets of such
Firstar Benefit Plan allocable to such accrued benefits, (iv) no Firstar Benefit
Plan provides benefits, including, without limitation, death or medical benefits
(whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees or
directors of Firstar or its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other
termination of service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable law, (B)
death benefits or retirement benefits under any "employee pension plan" (as such
term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), (C) deferred compensation benefits
accrued as liabilities on the books of Firstar or its Subsidiaries or (D)
benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or former employee or
director (or his or her beneficiary), (v) no material liability under Title IV
of ERISA has been incurred by Firstar, its Subsidiaries or any Firstar ERISA
Affiliate that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists that
presents a material risk to Firstar, its Subsidiaries or any Firstar ERISA
Affiliate of incurring a material liability thereunder, (vi) no Firstar Benefit
Plan is a "multiemployer pension plan" (as such term is defined in Section 3(37)
of ERISA), (vii) all contributions or other amounts payable by Firstar or its
Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with respect to each Firstar Benefit Plan
in respect of current or prior plan years have been paid or accrued in
accordance with GAAP and Section 412 of the Code, (viii) none of Firstar, its
Subsidiaries or any other person, including any fiduciary, has engaged in a
transaction in connection with which Firstar, its Subsidiaries or any Firstar
Benefit Plan will be subject to either a material civil penalty assessed
pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a material tax imposed pursuant to
Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code, and (ix) to the best knowledge of Firstar
there are no pending, threatened or anticipated claims (other than routine
claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any of the Firstar Benefit
Plans or any trusts related thereto that could reasonably be expected to have,
either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

(d) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
shareholder approval or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result (either
alone or upon the occurrence of any additional acts or events) in any payment
(including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, "excess
parachute payment" (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), forgiveness
of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of
Firstar or any of its affiliates from Firstar or any of its affiliates under any
Firstar Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii) increase or affect the calculation of
the amount of any benefits otherwise payable under any Firstar Benefit Plan,
(iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such
benefits, (iv) require the funding of any trust or other funding vehicle or (v)
limit or prohibit the ability to amend, merge, terminate, or receive a reversion
of assets from, any Firstar Benefit Plan or related trust.

3.12 SEC REPORTS. An accurate and complete copy of each (a) final
registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule and definitive proxy
statement filed since January 1, 1997 by Firstar with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act
(the "Firstar Reports") and prior to the date hereof and (b) communication
mailed by Firstar to its shareholders since January 1, 1997 and prior to the
date hereof, has previously been made available to U.S. Bancorp, and no such
Firstar Report or communication, as of the date thereof, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light
of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except that
information as of a later date (but before the date hereof) shall be deemed to
modify information as of an earlier

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date. Since January 1, 1997, as of their respective dates, all Firstar Reports
filed under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act complied in all material
respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto.

3.13 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. Firstar and each of its Subsidiaries
hold all material licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations necessary for
the lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and pursuant to each,
and have complied in all material respects with and are not in default in any
material respect under any, applicable law, statute, order, rule, regulation,
policy and/or guideline of any Governmental Entity relating to Firstar or any of
its Subsidiaries, except where the failure to hold such license, franchise,
permit or authorization or such noncompliance or default will not, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

3.14 CERTAIN CONTRACTS. (a) Neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to or bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
(whether written or oral) (i) with respect to the employment of any directors,
officers or employees, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, (ii) that is a "material contract" (as such term is defined
in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to be performed after the date
of this Agreement that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the
Firstar Reports, (iii) that materially restricts the conduct of any line of
business by Firstar or upon consummation of the Merger will materially restrict
the ability of the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business in
which a financial holding company or bank holding company may lawfully engage or
(iv) with or to a labor union or guild (including any collective bargaining
agreement). Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of the type
described in this Section 3.14(a) and in Section 3.11(a), whether or not set
forth in the Firstar Disclosure Schedule, is referred to herein as a "Firstar
Contract," and neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries knows of, or has
received notice of, any violation of the above by any of the other parties
thereto that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
Effect on Firstar.

(b) (i) Each Firstar Contract is valid and binding on Firstar or any of
its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and in full force and effect, (ii) Firstar and
each of its Subsidiaries has in all material respects performed all obligations
required to be performed by it to date under each Firstar Contract, except where
such noncompliance, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a
Material Adverse Effect on Firstar, and (iii) no event or condition exists that
constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a
material default on the part of Firstar or any of its Subsidiaries under any
such Firstar Contract, except where such default, either individually or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

3.15 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except for those liabilities that are fully
reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of Firstar
included in the Firstar December 31, 1999 Form 10-K and for liabilities incurred
in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, since December
31, 1999, neither Firstar nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability
of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and
whether due or to become due) that, either individually or in the aggregate, has
had or will have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar.

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3.16 INSURANCE. Firstar and its Subsidiaries have in effect insurance
coverage with reputable insurers that in respect of amounts, premiums, types and
risks insured, constitutes reasonably adequate coverage against all risks
customarily insured against by bank holding companies and their subsidiaries
comparable in size and operations to Firstar and its Subsidiaries.

3.17 CHARTER PROVISIONS; STATE TAKEOVER LAWS; FIRSTAR RIGHTS Agreement.
(a) The provisions of Section 1131 of the WBCL are not applicable to this
Agreement, the Firstar Option Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby. The board of directors of Firstar has approved the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Firstar Option Agreement for purposes of
Article V of the Firstar Articles and Section 1141 of the WBCL such that the
provisions of such Article V and such Section 1141 will not apply to this
Agreement or Firstar Option Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby.

(b) Firstar has taken all action, if any, necessary or appropriate so that
the entering into of this Agreement and the Firstar Option Agreement, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and
will not result in the ability of any person to exercise any Firstar Shareholder
Rights under the Firstar Rights Agreement or enable or require the Firstar
Shareholder Rights to separate from the shares of Firstar Common Stock to which
they are attached or to be triggered or become exercisable. No "Distribution
Date" or "Shares Acquisition Date" (as such terms are defined in the Firstar
Rights Plan) has occurred.

3.18 REORGANIZATION; POOLING OF INTERESTS. As of the date of this
Agreement, Firstar has no reason to believe that the Merger will not qualify as
a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and as a
"pooling of interests" for accounting purposes.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF U.S. BANCORP

Except as disclosed in the U.S. Bancorp disclosure schedule delivered
to Firstar concurrently herewith (the "U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule")
U.S. Bancorp hereby represents and warrants to Firstar as follows:

4.1 CORPORATE ORGANIZATION. (a) U.S. Bancorp is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State
of Delaware. U.S. Bancorp has the corporate power and authority to own or
lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the
character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it
makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except where the failure to
be so licensed or qualified would not, either individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp. U.S. Bancorp is
duly registered as a bank holding company and has become a financial holding
company under the BHC Act, and meets the requirements of Section 4(l) of the
BHC Act. True and complete copies of the Certificate of Incorporation of
U.S. Bancorp (the "U.S. Bancorp Certificate") and By-Laws of U.S. Bancorp, as
in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made
available by U.S. Bancorp to Firstar.

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(b) Each U.S. Bancorp Subsidiary (i) is duly organized and validly
existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly
qualified to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions (whether
federal, state, local or foreign) where its ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and in which the
failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp,
and (iii) has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted.

4.2 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of U.S. Bancorp consists
of 1,500,000,000 shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock, of which, as of
October 3, 2000, 743,413,381 shares were issued and outstanding and 14,780,780
shares were held in treasury, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $1.00 per share (the "U.S. Bancorp Preferred Stock" and, together with the
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock, the "U.S. Bancorp Capital Stock"), of which, as of
October 3, 2000, 53,739 shares were issued and outstanding. All of the issued
and outstanding shares of U.S. Bancorp Capital Stock have been duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. As of the
date of this Agreement, except pursuant to the terms of the U.S. Bancorp Option
Agreement, the U.S. Bancorp Stock Plans as in effect as of the date hereof
(including reload options that may be issued under the terms of such plans or
the award agreements thereunder), outstanding warrants to the extent reserved
for as described in clause (v) of the following sentence and the U.S. Bancorp
DRIP (as defined below), U.S. Bancorp does not have and is not bound by any
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements
of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of U.S.
Bancorp Capital Stock or any other equity securities of U.S. Bancorp or any
securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of
U.S. Bancorp Capital Stock (collectively, the "U.S. Bancorp Rights"). As of
October 3, 2000, no shares of U.S. Bancorp Capital Stock were reserved for
issuance except for (i) 147,939,263 shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock reserved
for issuance upon exercise of the U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement, (ii) 91,215,337
shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to employee
and director stock plans in effect as of the date hereof (the "U.S. Bancorp
Stock Plans"), (iii) 819,876 shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the rights
agreement, dated as of January 4, 1999, by and between U.S. Bancorp and U.S.
Bank National Association, (iv) 6,002,452 shares reserved for issuance pursuant
to the U.S. Bancorp Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase
Plan (the "U.S. Bancorp DRIP"), and (v) 206,141 shares reserved for issuance
pursuant to warrants granted. Since October 3, 2000, U.S. Bancorp has not issued
any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, other than as expressly
permitted by Section 5.2 and pursuant to (A) the exercise of employee and
director stock options granted and warrants issued prior to such date, (B) the
U.S. Bancorp DRIP and (C) pursuant to the U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement. U.S.
Bancorp shall terminate or suspend the U.S. Bancorp DRIP prior to the next
record date to be declared following the date hereof with respect to the
quarterly dividend payable on shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock (currently
anticipated to be on or about December 1, 2000) such that no shares of U.S.
Bancorp Capital Stock shall thereafter be issued or become issuable pursuant
thereto (the date of such termination or suspension, the "DRIP Suspension
Date"). As of the date hereof, the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp has taken
all action necessary to provide that (1) the payroll period ending on the date
following the date hereof shall be the last day of the last Purchase Period
under the U.S. Bancorp

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Employee Stock Purchase Plan of 1984 (as amended and restated) and (2) no new
Purchase Periods shall commence under such Plan.

4.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION. (a) U.S. Bancorp has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the Option
Agreements and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each of the Option Agreements
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have
been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors of U.S. Bancorp. The
Board of Directors of U.S. Bancorp has directed that this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby be submitted to U.S. Bancorp's shareholders for
adoption at a meeting of such shareholders and, except for the approval of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby by the affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock
entitled to vote thereon, no corporate proceedings on the part of U.S. Bancorp
are necessary to approve this Agreement and the Option Agreements and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has
been duly and validly executed and delivered by U.S. Bancorp and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by Firstar) constitutes the valid and
binding obligation of U.S. Bancorp, enforceable against U.S. Bancorp in
accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally and the availability of equitable remedies).

(b) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by U.S. Bancorp,
nor the consummation by U.S. Bancorp of the transactions contemplated hereby,
nor compliance by U.S. Bancorp with any of the terms or provisions hereof, will
(i) violate any provision of the U.S. Bancorp Certificate or By-Laws, or (ii)
assuming that the consents and approvals referred to in Section 4.4 are duly
obtained, (A) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to U.S. Bancorp, any of its
Subsidiaries or Non-Subsidiary Affiliates or any of their respective properties
or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of
or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in
the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate
the performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien upon any of
the respective properties or assets of U.S. Bancorp, any of its Subsidiaries or
its Non-Subsidiary Affiliates under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement
or other instrument or obligation to which U.S. Bancorp, any of its Subsidiaries
or Non-Subsidiary Affiliates is a party, or by which they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except (in the case of
clause (B) above) for such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults that
either individually or in the aggregate will not have a Material Adverse Effect
on U.S. Bancorp.

4.4 CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. Except for (a) the filing of applications and
notices, as applicable, with the Federal Reserve Board under the BHC Act and
approval of such applications and notices, (b) the pre-merger notification
requirements of the HSR Act, (c) the State Approvals, (d) the filing with the
SEC of the Joint Proxy Statement and the S-4 in which the Joint Proxy Statement
will be included as a prospectus and any filings under the Securities Act
required in connection with the issuance of shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock
pursuant to the U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement, (e) the filing of the Wisconsin
Articles with the Wisconsin Depart-

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ment pursuant to the WBCL, (f) the filing of the Delaware Certificate with the
Delaware Secretary pursuant to the DGCL, (g) any consents, authorizations,
approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the
applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws relating to the
regulation of broker-dealers, insurance companies and agents, investment
advisers or transfer agents, and federal commodities laws relating to the
regulation of futures commission merchants and the rules and regulations
thereunder and of any applicable SRO, and the rules of the NYSE, or that are
required under consumer finance, mortgage banking and other similar laws and (h)
such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection with the issuance
of shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement or
the resale of shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock as contemplated by the U.S.
Bancorp Stock Option Agreement, no consents or approvals of or filings or
registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with (i)
the execution and delivery by U.S. Bancorp of this Agreement and (ii) the
consummation by U.S. Bancorp of the transactions contemplated hereby, except to
the extent that the absence of any such consent, authorization, approval, filing
or exemption would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp or the Surviving Corporation.

4.5 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. (a) Except for normal examinations
conducted by a Regulatory Agency in the ordinary course of the business of
U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries, no Regulatory Agency has initiated any
proceeding or, to the best knowledge of U.S. Bancorp, investigation into the
business or operations of U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries since
January 1, 1998, except where such proceedings or investigation will not
have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on
U.S. Bancorp. There is no unresolved violation, criticism, or exception by
any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any
examinations of U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries that, in the
reasonable judgment of U.S. Bancorp, will have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(b) Neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written
agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party
to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order
or directive by, or has been since January 1, 1997, a recipient of any
supervisory letter from, or since January 1, 1997, has adopted any board
resolutions at the request of any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity
that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or
that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its credit
policies, its management or its business (each, whether or not set forth in the
U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule, a "U.S. Bancorp Regulatory Agreement"), nor
has U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 1997,
by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that it is considering
issuing or requesting any such U.S. Bancorp Regulatory Agreement.

4.6 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Copies of the consolidated balance sheets of
U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, for the fiscal years 1998
and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years 1997 through 1999,
inclusive, as reported in U.S. Bancorp's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1999 filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act
(the "U.S. Bancorp 10-K"), in each case accompanied by the audit report of Ernst
& Young LLP, in-

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dependent accountants with respect to U.S. Bancorp, have previously been made
available to Firstar. The December 31, 1999 consolidated balance sheet of U.S.
Bancorp (including the related notes, where applicable) fairly presents in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of U.S. Bancorp and its
Subsidiaries as of the date thereof, and the other financial statements referred
to in this Section 4.6 (including the related notes, where applicable) fairly
present in all material respects the results of the consolidated operations and
changes in shareholders' equity and consolidated financial position of U.S.
Bancorp and its Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal periods or as of the
respective dates therein set forth; each of such statements (including the
related notes, where applicable) complies in all material respects with
applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect thereto; and each of such statements (including the
related notes, where applicable) has been prepared in all material respects in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except,
in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. The books
and records of U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being,
maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other
applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual
transactions.

4.7 BROKER'S FEES. Except for ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., none of U.S.
Bancorp nor any U.S. Bancorp Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers
or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for
any broker's fees, commissions or finder's fees in connection with the Merger
or related transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Option
Agreements.

4.8 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. (a) Except as publicly
disclosed in U.S. Bancorp Reports (as defined below) filed prior to the date
hereof, since June 30, 2000, no event or events have occurred that has had,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(b) Except as publicly disclosed in U.S. Bancorp Reports filed prior to
the date hereof, since June 30, 2000, U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries have
carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary
course.

4.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. (a) Neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the best of U.S.
Bancorp's knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other
proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
nature against U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries or challenging the
validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement as to which, in any such case, there is a
reasonable probability of an adverse determination and that, if adversely
determined, will have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(b) There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or regulatory
restriction (other than those that apply generally to financial holding
companies, bank holding companies or banks) imposed upon U.S. Bancorp, any of
its Subsidiaries or the assets of U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries that
has had or will have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp or the Surviving Corporation.

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4.10 TAXES AND TAX RETURNS. (a) Each of U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries
has duly filed all federal, state, foreign and local information returns and tax
returns required to be filed by it on or prior to the date hereof (all such
returns being accurate and complete in all material respects) and has duly paid
or made provisions for the payment of all Taxes and other governmental charges
that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal,
state, foreign or local taxing authorities on or prior to the date of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, if and to the extent applicable, those
due in respect of its properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits,
franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls) other than (i) Taxes or other charges
that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith and have not
been finally determined, or (ii) information returns, tax returns, Taxes or
other governmental charges as to which the failure to file, pay or make
provision for will not have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp. The U.S. federal income tax returns of U.S.
Bancorp and its Subsidiaries have been examined by the IRS for all years to and
including 1993 or, in the case of West One Bancorp, 1987; the material state
income tax returns of U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries have been examined by
the relevant state taxing authorities as follows: for U.S. Bancorp by the State
of Minnesota for all years to and including 1993; for Former U.S. Bancorp of
Portland, Ore. by the State of Oregon for all years to and including 1985 and by
the State of Idaho for all years to and including 1994; for West One Bancorp by
the State of Idaho for all years to and including 1994; and any liability with
respect thereto has been satisfied and any liability with respect to
deficiencies asserted as a result of such examination has been reserved against
in accordance with GAAP. There are no material disputes pending, or claims
asserted for, Taxes or assessments upon U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries
for which U.S. Bancorp has not established reserves in accordance with GAAP. In
addition, (A) proper and accurate amounts have been withheld by U.S. Bancorp and
its Subsidiaries from their employees for all prior periods in compliance in all
material respects with the tax withholding provisions of applicable federal,
state and local laws, except where failure to do so will not, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S.
Bancorp, (B) federal, state and local returns that are accurate and complete in
all material respects have been filed by U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries for
all periods for which returns were due with respect to income tax withholding,
Social Security and unemployment taxes, except where failure to do so will not,
either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S.
Bancorp, (C) the amounts shown on such federal, state or local returns to be due
and payable have been paid in full or provision therefor has been included by
U.S. Bancorp in its consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP,
except where failure to do so will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp and (D) there are no Tax liens upon any
property or assets of U.S. Bancorp or its Subsidiaries except liens for current
Taxes not yet due or liens that will not have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp. Neither U.S. Bancorp nor
any of its Subsidiaries has been required to include in income any adjustment
pursuant to Section 481 of the Code by reason of a voluntary change in
accounting method initiated by U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries, and the
IRS has not initiated or proposed in writing any such adjustment or change in
accounting method, in either case, that has had or will have, either
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.
Except as set forth in the financial statements described in Section 4.6
(including the related notes, where applicable), neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of
its Subsidiaries has entered into a transaction that is being accounted for as
an installment obligation under Section

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453 of the Code, that will have, either individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(b) No deduction has been disallowed under Section 162(m) of the Code for
employee remuneration of any amount paid or payable by U.S. Bancorp or any
Subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp under any contract, plan, program, arrangement or
understanding, except for such disallowed deductions that will not, either
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S.
Bancorp.

4.11 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. (a) The U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and complete list of each material employee or director benefit,
employment or compensation plan, arrangement or agreement that is maintained, or
contributed to, as of the date of this Agreement (the "U.S. Bancorp Benefit
Plans") by U.S. Bancorp, any of its Subsidiaries or by any trade or business,
whether or not incorporated (a "U.S. Bancorp ERISA Affiliate"), all of which
together with U.S. Bancorp would be deemed a "single employer" within the
meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA.

(b) True and complete copies of each of the U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans
have previously been made available to Firstar. The copies of the U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plans set forth as exhibits to the U.S. Bancorp 10-K are true and
complete copies thereof.

(c) (i) Each of the U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans has been operated and
administered in all material respects in compliance with applicable laws,
including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, (ii) each of the U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plans intended to be "qualified" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of
the Code is so qualified, and, to the knowledge of U.S. Bancorp, there are no
existing circumstances or any events that have occurred that will adversely
affect the qualified status of any such U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan, (iii) with
respect to each U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV of ERISA,
the present value of accrued benefits under such U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan,
based upon the actuarial assumptions used for funding purposes in the most
recent actuarial report prepared by such U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan's actuary
with respect to such U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan, did not, as of its latest
valuation date, exceed the then current value of the assets of such U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plan allocable to such accrued benefits, (iv) no U.S. Bancorp Benefit
Plan provides benefits, including, without limitation, death or medical benefits
(whether or not insured), with respect to current or former employees or
directors of U.S. Bancorp or its Subsidiaries beyond their retirement or other
termination of service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable law, (B)
death benefits or retirement benefits under any "employee pension plan" (as such
term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), (C) deferred compensation benefits
accrued as liabilities on the books of U.S. Bancorp or its Subsidiaries or (D)
benefits the full cost of which is borne by the current or former employee or
director (or his or her beneficiary), (v) no material liability under Title IV
of ERISA has been incurred by U.S. Bancorp, its Subsidiaries or any U.S. Bancorp
ERISA Affiliate that has not been satisfied in full, and no condition exists
that presents a material risk to U.S. Bancorp, its Subsidiaries or any U.S.
Bancorp ERISA Affiliate of incurring a material liability thereunder, (vi) no
U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan is a "multiemployer pension plan" (as such term is
defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA), (vii) all contributions or other amounts
payable by U.S. Bancorp or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with
respect to each U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan
years have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP and Section 412 of the

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Code, (viii) none of U.S. Bancorp, its Subsidiaries or any other person,
including any fiduciary, has engaged in a transaction in connection with which
U.S. Bancorp, its Subsidiaries or any U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan will be subject
to either a material civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of
ERISA or a material tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 or 4976 of the Code,
and (ix) to the best knowledge of U.S. Bancorp there are no pending, threatened
or anticipated claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of
or against any of the U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans or any trusts related thereto
that could reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(d) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the
shareholder approval or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result (either
alone or upon the occurrence of any additional acts or events) in any payment
(including, without limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, "excess
parachute payment" (within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code), forgiveness
of indebtedness or otherwise) becoming due to any director or any employee of
U.S. Bancorp or any of its affiliates from U.S. Bancorp or any of its affiliates
under any U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan or otherwise, (ii) increase or affect the
calculation of the amount of any benefits otherwise payable under any U.S.
Bancorp Benefit Plan, (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or
vesting of any such benefits, (iv) require the funding of any trust or other
funding vehicle or (v) limit or prohibit the ability to amend, merge, terminate
or receive a reversion of assets from any U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan or related
trust.

4.12 SEC REPORTS. An accurate and complete copy of each (a) final
registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule and definitive proxy
statement filed since January 1, 1997 by U.S. Bancorp with the SEC pursuant to
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the "U.S. Bancorp Reports") and prior to
the date hereof and (b) communication mailed by U.S. Bancorp to its shareholders
since January 1, 1997 and prior to the date hereof, has previously been made
available to Firstar, and no such U.S. Bancorp Report or communication, as of
the date thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
made, not misleading, except that information as of a later date (but before the
date hereof) shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. Since
January 1, 1997, as of their respective dates, all U.S. Bancorp Reports filed
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act complied in all material respects
with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

4.13 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. U.S. Bancorp and each of its
Subsidiaries hold all material licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations
necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and
pursuant to each, and have complied in all material respects with and are not in
default in any material respect under any, applicable law, statute, order, rule,
regulation, policy and/or guideline of any Governmental Entity relating to U.S.
Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries, except where the failure to hold such
license, franchise, permit or authorization or such noncompliance or default
will not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

4.14 CERTAIN CONTRACTS. (a) Neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of its
Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or
understanding (whether written or

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oral) (i) with respect to the employment of any directors, officers or employees
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,
(ii) that is a "material contract" (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10)
of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to be performed after the date of this Agreement
that has not been filed or incorporated by reference in the U.S. Bancorp
Reports, (iii) that materially restricts the conduct of any line of business by
U.S. Bancorp or upon consummation of the Merger will materially restrict the
ability of the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business in which
a financial holding company or bank holding company may lawfully engage or
(iv) with or to a labor union or guild (including any collective bargaining
agreement). Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of the type
described in this Section 4.14(a) and in Section 4.11(a), whether or not set
forth in the U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule, is referred to herein as a "U.S.
Bancorp Contract", and neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of its Subsidiaries knows
of, or has received notice of, any violation of the above by any of the other
parties thereto that will have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

(b) (i) Each U.S. Bancorp Contract is valid and binding on U.S. Bancorp or
any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and in full force and effect, (ii) U.S.
Bancorp and each of its Subsidiaries has in all material respects performed all
obligations required to be performed by it to date under each U.S. Bancorp
Contract, except where such noncompliance, either individually or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp, and (iii) no
event or condition exists that constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or
both, will constitute, a material default on the part of U.S. Bancorp or any of
its Subsidiaries under any such U.S. Bancorp Contract, except where such
default, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Material
Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

4.15 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except for those liabilities that are fully
reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of U.S. Bancorp
included in the U.S. Bancorp December 31, 1999 Form 10-K and for liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, since
December 31, 1999, neither U.S. Bancorp nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred
any liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise and whether due or to become due) that, either individually or in the
aggregate, has had or will have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp.

4.16 INSURANCE. U.S. Bancorp and its Subsidiaries have in effect
insurance coverage with reputable insurers, that in respect of amounts,
premiums, types and risks insured, constitutes reasonably adequate coverage
against all risks customarily insured against by bank holding companies and
their Subsidiaries comparable in size and operations to U.S. Bancorp and its
Subsidiaries.

4.17 CHARTER PROVISIONS; STATE TAKEOVER LAWS. The board of directors of
U.S. Bancorp has approved the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement for purposes of Article Eighth of the U.S.
Bancorp Certificate and Section 203 (a)(1) of the DGCL such that the provisions
of Article Eighth of the U.S. Bancorp Certificate or Section 203 of the DGCL
will not apply to this Agreement or the U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

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4.18 REORGANIZATION; POOLING OF INTERESTS. As of the date of this
Agreement, U.S. Bancorp has no reason to believe that the Merger will not
qualify as a "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code and as a "pooling of interests" for accounting purposes.

ARTICLE V

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

5.1 CONDUCT OF BUSINESSES PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME. During the period
from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including the Firstar Disclosure
Schedule and the U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule) or the Option Agreements,
each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall, and shall cause each of their respective
Subsidiaries to, (a) conduct its business in the ordinary course, (b) use
reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business
organization, employees and advantageous business relationships and (c) take no
action that would adversely affect or delay the ability of either U.S. Bancorp
or Firstar to obtain any necessary approvals of any Regulatory Agency or other
Governmental Entity required for the transactions contemplated hereby or to
perform its covenants and agreements under this Agreement or the Option
Agreements or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

5.2 FORBEARANCES. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
Effective Time, except as set forth in the U.S. Bancorp Disclosure Schedule or
the Firstar Disclosure Schedule, as the case may be, and, except as expressly
contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or the Option Agreements or as
otherwise indicated in this Section 5.2, neither U.S. Bancorp nor Firstar shall,
and neither U.S. Bancorp nor Firstar shall permit any of their respective
Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of the other party to this
Agreement (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed):

(a) other than in the ordinary course of business, incur any material
amount of indebtedness for borrowed money (other than short-term indebtedness
incurred to refinance short-term indebtedness (it being understood that for
purposes of this Section 5.2(a) "short-term" shall mean maturities of six months
or less) and indebtedness of U.S. Bancorp or any of its Subsidiaries to U.S.
Bancorp or any of its wholly-owned Subsidiaries), assume, guarantee, endorse or
otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any
other individual, corporation or other entity, or make any loan or advance (it
being understood and agreed that incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary
course of business shall include, without limitation, the creation of deposit
liabilities, purchases of federal funds, sales of certificates of deposit and
entering into repurchase agreements);

(b) (i) adjust, split, combine or reclassify any capital stock, (ii) make,
declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on, or directly or
indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital
stock or any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently
convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of
certain events) into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock (except
(A) in the case of Firstar, for regular quarterly cash dividends at a rate not
in excess of $.1625 per share of Firstar Common Stock, (B) in the case of U.S.
Bancorp, for regular quarterly cash dividends on U.S. Bancorp Common Stock at a
rate not in excess of $.215 per share of U.S. Bancorp Common

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Stock and for dividends required by the terms of the Term Preferred Stock as in
effect as of the date hereof and (C) dividends paid by any of the Subsidiaries
of each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar to U.S. Bancorp or Firstar or any of their
wholly-owned Subsidiaries, respectively), (iii) grant any stock appreciation
rights or similar rights the value or payment of which is based upon the price
of any capital stock thereof, or grant any individual, corporation or other
entity any stock option (other than reload options issued in connection with the
exercise of stock options outstanding as of the date hereof), warrant,
convertible security or other right to acquire any shares of its capital stock;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, U.S. Bancorp may, to the
extent consistent with the treatment of the Merger as a "pooling of interests,"
issue new options for up to 1 million shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock in
connection with hires and counteroffers after consultation with Firstar, or (iv)
issue any additional shares of capital stock except pursuant to (A) the exercise
of stock options or warrants outstanding as of the date hereof or of reload
options issued in connection with the exercise of such stock options or (B) the
U.S. Bancorp Option Agreement, in the case of U.S. Bancorp, or the Firstar
Option Agreement, in the case of Firstar; or

(c) sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any
material part of its business or any of its material properties or assets to any
individual, corporation or other entity other than a Subsidiary, or cancel,
release or assign any indebtedness to any such person or any claims held by any
such person, except in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to contracts
or agreements in force at the date of this Agreement;

(d) except for transactions in the ordinary course of business or pursuant
to contracts or agreements in force at the date of or permitted by this
Agreement, make any material investment (either by purchase of stock or
securities, contributions to capital, property transfers, or purchase of any
property or assets) in any other individual, corporation or other entity other
than a Subsidiary thereof;

(e) except for transactions in the ordinary course of business, terminate,
or waive any material provision of, any Firstar Contract or U.S. Bancorp
Contract, as applicable, or make any change in any instrument or agreement
governing the terms of any of its securities, or material lease or contract,
other than normal renewals of contracts and leases without material adverse
changes of terms;

(f) (i) other than in the ordinary course of business or as required by
agreements and plans as in effect as of the date hereof, increase in any manner
the compensation or fringe benefits of any of its employees or directors or (ii)
pay any pension or retirement allowance not required by any existing plan or
agreement to any such employees or directors or (iii) become a party to, amend
or commit itself to any pension, retirement, profit-sharing, consulting, change
of control, severance or welfare benefit plan or agreement (or any individual
agreements evidencing grants or awards thereunder) or employment agreement with
or for the benefit of any employee or director, or (iv) accelerate the vesting
of, or the lapsing of restrictions with respect to, any stock options or other
stock-based compensation;

(g) solicit or encourage from any third party or enter into any
negotiations, discussions or agreement in respect of, or authorize any
individual, corporation or other entity to solicit or encourage from any third
party or enter into any negotiations, discussions or agreement in re-

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spect of, or provide or cause to be provided any confidential information in
connection with, any inquiries or proposals relating to the disposition of all
or substantially all of its business or assets, or the acquisition of its voting
securities, or the merger or consolidation of it or any of its Subsidiaries with
any corporation or other entity, other than as provided by this Agreement (and
it has discontinued any such negotiations or discussions initiated prior to the
date hereof and shall promptly notify the other party hereto of all of the
relevant details relating to all inquiries and proposals that it may receive
from and after the date hereof through and excluding the Effective Time relating
to any of such matters); PROVIDED that it may, and may permit its employees,
agents and representatives to, furnish or cause to be furnished confidential
information and participate in such negotiations or discussions to the extent
that that such actions are required in order to comply with the fiduciary duties
of it and its directors under applicable law; PROVIDED further that prior to
providing any non-public information permitted to be provided pursuant to the
foregoing proviso, it shall have entered into a confidentiality agreement with
such third party on terms at least as favorable to it as the Confidentiality
Agreement (as defined in Section 6.2(b));

(h) settle any material claim, action or proceeding involving money
damages, except in the ordinary course of business, or involving any restriction
on the conduct of its business;

(i) knowingly take any action that would prevent or impede the Merger from
qualifying (i) for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment or (ii) as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that nothing contained herein shall limit the ability of U.S. Bancorp
or Firstar to exercise its rights under the Firstar Option Agreement or the U.S.
Bancorp Option Agreement, as the case may be;

(j) amend its certificate of incorporation or its by-laws;

(k) other than in consultation with the other party to this Agreement,
materially restructure or change its investment securities portfolio or its gap
position, through purchases, sales or otherwise, or the manner in which the
portfolio is classified or reported;

(l) take any action that is intended or that would reasonably be expected
to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not
being satisfied or in a violation of any provision of this Agreement, except, in
every case, as may be required by applicable law;

(m) implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles,
practices or methods, other than as may be required by GAAP or regulatory
guidelines;

(n) file or amend any tax return except in the ordinary course of business
and consistent with past practice, settle or compromise any material tax
liability, make, change or revoke any material tax election, or change any
method of tax accounting except as required by applicable law; or

(o) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions
of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited to it by
this Section 5.2.

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ARTICLE VI

ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1 REGULATORY MATTERS. (a) U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall promptly
prepare and file with the SEC the Joint Proxy Statement and U.S. Bancorp shall
promptly prepare and file with the SEC the S-4, in which the Joint Proxy
Statement will be included as a prospectus. Each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar
shall use their reasonable best efforts to have the S-4 declared effective under
the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing, and U.S.
Bancorp and Firstar shall thereafter mail or deliver the Joint Proxy Statement
to their respective shareholders. U.S. Bancorp shall also use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or "Blue Sky" permits
and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and Firstar shall furnish all information concerning Firstar and the
holders of Firstar Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection
with any such action.

(b) The parties hereto shall cooperate with each other and use their
reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare and file all necessary
documentation, to effect all applications, notices, petitions and filings, to
obtain as promptly as practicable all permits, consents, approvals and
authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Entities that are necessary
or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including, without limitation, the Merger) and the Option Agreements, and to
comply with the terms and conditions of all such permits, consents, approvals
and authorizations of all such Governmental Entities. U.S. Bancorp and Firstar
shall have the right to review in advance, and, to the extent practicable, each
will consult the other on, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to
the exchange of information, all the information relating to Firstar or U.S.
Bancorp, as the case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that
appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third
party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing rights of review and
consultation, each of the parties hereto shall act reasonably and as promptly as
practicable. The parties hereto agree that they will consult with each other
with respect to the obtaining of all permits, consents, approvals and
authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Entities necessary or
advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Option Agreements and each party will keep the other apprised of the status of
matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated herein.

(c) U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall, upon request, promptly furnish each
other with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries, directors,
officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary
or advisable in connection with the Joint Proxy Statement, the S-4 or any other
statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of U.S. Bancorp,
Firstar or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in
connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.

(d) U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall promptly advise each other upon
receiving any communication from any Governmental Entity whose consent or
approval is required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the Option Agreements that causes such party to believe that there
is a reasonable likelihood that any Requisite Regulatory

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Approval (as defined in Section 7.1(c)) will not be obtained or that the receipt
of any such approval will be materially delayed.

6.2 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. (a) Upon reasonable notice and subject to
applicable laws relating to the exchange of information, each of U.S. Bancorp
and Firstar, for the purposes of verifying the representations and warranties of
the other and preparing for the Merger and the other matters contemplated by
this Agreement, shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to,
afford to the officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other
representatives of the other party, access, during normal business hours during
the period prior to the Effective Time, to all its properties, books,
contracts, commitments and records and, during such period, each of U.S. Bancorp
and Firstar shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, make
available to the other party (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration
statement and other document filed or received by it during such period pursuant
to the requirements of federal securities laws or federal or state banking laws
(other than reports or documents that U.S. Bancorp or Firstar, as the case may
be, is not permitted to disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all other
information concerning its business, properties and personnel as such party may
reasonably request. Neither U.S. Bancorp nor Firstar nor any of their respective
Subsidiaries shall be required to provide such access or to disclose such
information where such access or disclosure would violate or prejudice the
rights of U.S. Bancorp's or Firstar's, as the case may be, customers, jeopardize
the attorney-client privilege of the institution in possession or control of
such information or contravene any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement entered into prior to the date of
this Agreement. The parties hereto will make appropriate substitute disclosure
arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding
sentence apply.

(b) Each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall hold all information furnished
by or on behalf of the other party or any of such party's Subsidiaries or
representatives pursuant to Section 6.2(a) in confidence to the extent required
by, and in accordance with, the provisions of confidentiality agreement, dated
September 30, 2000, between U.S. Bancorp and Firstar (the "Confidentiality
Agreement").

(c) No investigation by either of the parties or their respective
representatives shall affect the representations and warranties of the other set
forth herein.

6.3 SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVALS. Each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall call a
meeting of its shareholders to be held as soon as reasonably practicable for the
purpose of voting upon the requisite shareholder approvals required in
connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and
each shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such meetings to occur as
soon as reasonably practicable and on the same date. The boards of directors of
each of Firstar and U.S. Bancorp shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain
from such shareholders the vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement
required by the WBCL, in the case of Firstar, or by the DGCL and, as applicable,
the rules of the NYSE, in the case of U.S. Bancorp, to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby; PROVIDED that the use of such reasonable best
efforts shall not be deemed to require a party to maintain in place a
recommendation that such party's shareholders adopt this Agreement and approve
the transactions contemplated hereby to the extent such action is inconsistent
with the fiduciary duties of such party's board of directors under applicable
law.

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6.4 LEGAL CONDITIONS TO MERGER. Each of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall,
and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use their reasonable best efforts (a) to
take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary, proper or advisable to comply
promptly with all legal requirements that may be imposed on such party or its
Subsidiaries with respect to the Merger and, subject to the conditions set forth
in Article VII, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and (b) to obtain (and to cooperate with the other party to obtain) any material
consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any
Governmental Entity and any other third party that is required to be obtained by
Firstar or U.S. Bancorp or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection
with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

6.5 AFFILIATES; PUBLICATION OF COMBINED FINANCIAL RESULTS. (a) Each of
U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause each
director, executive officer and other person who is an "affiliate" (as
applicable, for purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act and for purposes
of qualifying the Merger for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment) of
such party to deliver to the other party hereto, as soon as practicable after
the date of this Agreement, and prior to the date of the shareholders' meetings
called by U.S. Bancorp and Firstar to approve this Agreement, a written
agreement, in the form of Exhibit 6.5(a)(1) or (2), as applicable, hereto,
providing that such person will not sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock or Firstar Common Stock held by such
"affiliate" and, in the case of the "affiliates" of Firstar, the shares of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be received by such "affiliate" in the
Merger.

(b) The Surviving Corporation shall use its best efforts to publish as
promptly as reasonably practical, but in no event later than 90 days after the
end of the first month after the Effective Time in which there are at least 30
days of post-Merger combined operations (which month may be the month in which
the Effective Time occurs), combined sales and net income figures as
contemplated by and in accordance with the terms of SEC Accounting Series
Release No. 135.

6.6 STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. U.S. Bancorp shall cause the shares of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved
for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the
Effective Time.

6.7 EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. (a) From and after the Effective Time, unless
otherwise mutually determined, the Firstar Benefit Plans and U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plans in effect as of the date of this Agreement shall remain in effect
with respect to employees of Firstar or U.S. Bancorp (or their Subsidiaries),
respectively, covered by such plans at the Effective Time until such time as the
Surviving Corporation shall, subject to applicable law, the terms of this
Agreement and the terms of such plans, adopt new benefit plans with respect to
employees of the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "New Benefit
Plans"). Prior to the Closing Date, Firstar and U.S. Bancorp shall cooperate in
reviewing, evaluating and analyzing the U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans and Firstar
Benefit Plans with a view towards developing appropriate New Benefit Plans for
the employees covered thereby. From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving
Corporation will recognize the prior service with U.S. Bancorp, Firstar or their
respective Subsidiaries of each employee of U.S. Bancorp, Firstar or any of
their respective subsidiaries as of the Effective Time (the "Employees") in
connection with all employee benefit plans in which such Employees are eligible
to participate following the Effective Time, for purposes of eligibility,
vesting

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and levels of benefits (but not for purposes of benefit accruals under
any defined benefit pension plan). From and after the Effective Time, the
Surviving Corporation will (i) cause any pre-existing conditions or limitations
and eligibility waiting periods under any group health plans of Surviving
Corporation to be waived with respect to the Employees and their eligible
dependents (to the extent such conditions, limitations or waiting periods have
been otherwise satisfied under the applicable U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan or
Firstar Benefit Plan) and (ii) give each Employee credit for the plan year in
which the Effective Time occurs towards applicable deductibles and annual
out-of-pocket limits for eligible expenses incurred under the applicable U.S.
Bancorp Benefit Plan or Firstar Benefit Plan prior to the Effective Time.

(b) The foregoing notwithstanding, the Surviving Corporation agrees to
honor and cause to be paid in accordance with their terms all benefits vested as
of the Effective Time under the Firstar Benefit Plans and the U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plans, including change-of-control benefits related to the Merger as
required by plans and agreements as in effect on the date hereof; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that, with respect to the U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plans, the U.S. Bancorp
board of directors or the appropriate committee thereof has taken all action
necessary (to the extent such action is not inconsistent with Section 5.2(i)) to
deem the transactions contemplated hereby to be no more than a "partial change
of control" for purposes of each U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan to which such concept
applies, including those set forth in Section 6.7(b) of the U.S. Bancorp
Disclosure Schedule, and has not and shall not cause or permit the funding of
any rabbi or grantor trust associated with any U.S. Bancorp Benefit Plan.

(c) Nothing in this Section 6.7 shall be interpreted as preventing the
Surviving Corporation from amending, modifying or terminating any U.S. Bancorp
Benefit Plans, Firstar Benefit Plans, or other contracts, arrangements,
commitments or understandings, in accordance with their terms and applicable
law.

6.8 INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INSURANCE. (a) In the event
of any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation,
whether civil, criminal or administrative, including, without limitation, any
such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation in which any individual
who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date of this Agreement, or who
becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director or officer or employee of
Firstar, U.S. Bancorp or any of their respective subsidiaries, (the "Indemnified
Parties"), is, or is threatened to be, made a party based in whole or in part
on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to (i) the fact that he
or she is or was a director, officer or employee of U.S. Bancorp or Firstar or
any of their subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors or (ii) this
Agreement, the Option Agreements or any of the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby, whether in any case asserted or arising before or after the
Effective Time, the parties hereto agree to cooperate and use their best efforts
to defend against and respond thereto. It is understood and agreed that after
the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless,
as and to the fullest extent permitted by law, each such Indemnified Party
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses (including
reasonable attorney's fees and expenses in advance of the final disposition of
any claim, suit, proceeding or investigation to each Indemnified Party to the
fullest extent permitted by law upon receipt of any undertaking required by
applicable law), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation.

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(b) The Surviving Corporation shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the individuals serving as officers and directors of U.S. Bancorp,
Firstar, and each of their respective subsidiaries immediately prior to the
Effective Time to be covered for a period of six years from the Effective Time
(or the period of the applicable statute of limitations, if longer) by the
directors' and officers' liability insurance policy maintained by U.S. Bancorp
(PROVIDED that Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies of at
least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are not
less advantageous than such policy) with respect to acts or omissions occurring
prior to the Effective Time that were committed by such officers and directors
in their capacity as such.

(c) In the event the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or
assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties
and assets to any person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary,
proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the
Surviving Corporation assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.8.

(d) The provisions of this Section 6.8 shall survive the Effective Time
and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each
Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives.

6.9 ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. In case at any time after the Effective Time
any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, any merger between a Subsidiary of
Firstar, on the one hand, and a Subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, on the other hand)
or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full title to all properties, assets,
rights, approvals, immunities and franchises of any of the parties to the
Merger, the proper officers and directors of each party to this Agreement and
their respective Subsidiaries shall take all such necessary action as may be
reasonably requested by, and at the sole expense of, Firstar.

6.10 ADVICE OF CHANGES. U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall each promptly
advise the other party of any change or event (i) having a Material Adverse
Effect on it or (ii) that it believes would or would be reasonably likely to
cause or constitute a failure of any of the conditions to consummation of the
Merger contained herein.

6.11 DIVIDENDS. After the date of this Agreement, each of U.S. Bancorp and
Firstar shall coordinate with the other the declaration of any dividends in
respect of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock and Firstar Common Stock and the record
dates and payment dates relating thereto, it being the intention of the parties
hereto that holders of neither Firstar Common Stock nor U.S. Bancorp Common
Stock shall receive two dividends, or fail to receive one dividend, for any
quarter with respect to their shares of Firstar Common Stock or U.S. Bancorp
Common Stock, as the case may be, and any shares of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock any such holder receives in exchange therefor in the Merger. It is
understood that the parties intend that the first regular quarterly dividend of
Surviving Corporation following consummation of the Merger shall be increased in
accordance with past practices, subject to approval by the board of directors.

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6.12 EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 16(B). FIRSTAR INSIDERS.
Assuming that Firstar delivers to U.S. Bancorp the Firstar Section 16
Information (as defined below) in a timely fashion prior to the Effective Time,
the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp, or a committee of Non-Employee Directors
thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3(d) under the
Exchange Act), shall reasonably promptly thereafter and in any event prior to
the Effective Time adopt a resolution providing in substance that the receipt by
the Firstar Insiders (as defined below) of Surviving Corporation Common Stock in
exchange for shares of Firstar Common Stock, and of options to purchase shares
of Surviving Corporation Common Stock upon conversion of options to purchase
shares of Firstar Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the transactions
contemplated hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in the Firstar
Section 16 Information, are intended to be exempt from liability pursuant to
Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act such that any such receipt shall be so
exempt. "Firstar Section 16 Information" shall mean information accurate in all
respects regarding the Firstar Insiders, the number of shares of Firstar Common
Stock held by each such Firstar Insider and expected to be exchanged for
Surviving Corporation Common Stock in the Merger, and the number and description
of the options to purchase shares of Firstar Common Stock held by each such
Firstar Insider and expected to be converted into options to purchase shares of
Surviving Corporation Common Stock in connection with the Merger. "Firstar
Insiders" shall mean those officers and directors of Firstar who are subject to
the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and who are
listed in the Firstar Section 16 Information.

6.13 EXEMPTION FROM LIABILITY UNDER SECTION 16(B). U.S. BANCORP INSIDERS.
The board of directors of U.S. Bancorp, or a committee of Non-Employee Directors
thereof (as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 16b-3(d) under the
Exchange Act), shall adopt a resolution providing in substance that the receipt
by the U.S. Bancorp Insiders (as defined below) of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock in exchange for shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock, and of options to
purchase shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock upon conversion of options
to purchase shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock, in each case pursuant to the
transactions contemplated hereby and to the extent such securities are listed in
the U.S. Bancorp Section 16 Information, are intended to be exempt from
liability pursuant to Section 16(b) under the Exchange Act such that any such
receipt shall be so exempt. "U.S. Bancorp Section 16 Information" shall mean
information accurate in all respects regarding the U.S. Bancorp Insiders, the
number of shares of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock held by each such U.S. Bancorp
Insider and expected to be exchanged for Surviving Corporation Common Stock in
the Merger, and the number and description of the options to purchase shares of
U.S. Bancorp Common Stock held by each such U.S. Bancorp Insider and expected to
be converted into options to purchase shares of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock in connection with the Merger. "U.S. Bancorp Insiders" shall mean those
officers and directors of U.S. Bancorp who are subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act and who are listed in the U.S.
Bancorp Section 16 Information.

6.14 LIST OF OPTION HOLDERS. Within five business days of the date hereof,
each party shall provide the other party with a list of its option holders, the
date of each option to purchase U.S. Bancorp Common Stock or Firstar Common
Stock, as the case may be, granted, the number of shares subject to each such
option, the expiration date of each such option and the price at which each such
option may be exercised under the applicable stock plan.

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ARTICLE VII

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

7.1 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER. The
respective obligations of the parties to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:

(a) SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been approved by the respective requisite
affirmative votes of the holders of Firstar Common Stock and U.S. Bancorp
Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

(b) NYSE LISTING. The shares of Surviving Corporation Common Stock that
shall be issued upon consummation of the Merger shall have been authorized for
listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

(c) OTHER APPROVALS. All regulatory approvals required to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and shall remain in
full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall
have expired (all such approvals and the expiration of all such waiting periods
being referred to herein as the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals").

(d) S-4. The S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4 shall have been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
SEC.

(e) NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS; ILLEGALITY. No order, injunction or
decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal
restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect.
No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or decree shall have been
enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity that
prohibits, materially restricts or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

(f) FEDERAL TAX OPINION. Firstar shall have received an opinion from
Wachtell, Lipton, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, and U.S. Bancorp shall have received an opinion
from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Firstar and U.S. Bancorp, respectively, in each case dated the Closing Date
(as defined in Section 9.1), substantially to the effect that, on the basis of
facts, representations and assumptions set forth in each such opinion that are
consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time: (i) the
Merger will constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code, and U.S. Bancorp and Firstar will each be a party to the
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code; (ii) no gain or
loss will be recognized by U.S. Bancorp or Firstar as a result of the Merger;
and (iii) no gain or loss will be recognized by shareholders who exchange all of
their U.S. Bancorp Common Stock or Firstar Common Stock, as the case may be,
solely for Surviving Corporation Common Stock pursuant to the Merger (except
with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share interest in
Surviving Corporation Common Stock). In rendering such opinions, counsel may
require and rely upon representations contained in certificates of officers of
U.S. Bancorp, Firstar and others.

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(g) POOLING OF INTERESTS. U.S. Bancorp and Firstar shall each have
received a letter from their respective independent accountants addressed to
Firstar or U.S. Bancorp, as the case may be, to the effect that the Merger
will qualify for "pooling of interests" accounting treatment.

7.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. BANCORP. The obligation of
U.S. Bancorp to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or
waiver by U.S. Bancorp, at or prior to the Effective Time, of the following
conditions:

(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties of
Firstar set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material
respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for
purposes of this paragraph, such representations and warranties (other than the
representations set forth in Section 3.2, which shall be true in all material
respects) shall be deemed to be true and correct unless the failure or failures
of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct, either
individually or in the aggregate, and without giving effect to any qualification
as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect set forth in such representations
or warranties, has had or will have a Material Adverse Effect on Firstar or the
Surviving Corporation. U.S. Bancorp shall have received a certificate signed on
behalf of Firstar by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer
of Firstar to the foregoing effect.

(b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF FIRSTAR. Firstar shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and U.S. Bancorp shall have received
a certificate signed on behalf of Firstar by the chief executive officer and the
chief financial officer of Firstar to such effect.

7.3 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF FIRSTAR. The obligation of Firstar to
effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Firstar at
or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and warranties of
U.S. Bancorp set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent
such representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date) as of the
Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that for purposes of this paragraph, such representations and warranties (other
than the representations set forth in Section 4.2, which shall be true in all
material respects) shall be deemed to be true and correct unless the failure or
failures of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct,
either individually or in the aggregate, and without giving effect to any
qualification as to materiality set forth in such representations or warranties,
has had or will have a Material Adverse Effect on U.S. Bancorp. Firstar shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of U.S. Bancorp by the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer of U.S. Bancorp to the
foregoing effect.

(b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF U.S. BANCORP. U.S. Bancorp shall
have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be
performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and
Firstar shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of U.S.

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Bancorp by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of U.S.
Bancorp to such effect.

ARTICLE VIII

TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

8.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior
to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the matters
presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of U.S. Bancorp
or Firstar:

(a) by mutual consent of U.S. Bancorp and Firstar in a written
instrument, if the board of directors of each so determines by a vote of a
majority of the members of its entire board;

(b) by either the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp or the board of
directors of Firstar if any Governmental Entity that must grant a Requisite
Regulatory Approval has denied approval of the Merger and such denial has become
final and nonappealable or any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction
shall have issued a final nonappealable order permanently enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) by either the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp or the board of
directors of Firstar if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before
the date that is nine months after the date of this Agreement, unless the
failure of the Closing (as defined in Section 9.1) to occur by such date shall
be due to the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to
perform or observe the covenants and agreements of such party set forth herein;
or

(d) by either the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp or the board of
directors of Firstar (PROVIDED that the terminating party is not then in breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein)
if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any
of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of
Firstar, in the case of a termination by U.S. Bancorp, or U.S. Bancorp, in the
case of a termination by Firstar, which breach, either individually or in the
aggregate, would constitute, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the
failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be,
and that is not cured within 45 days following written notice to the party
committing such breach or by its nature or timing cannot be cured prior to the
Closing Date.

8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this Agreement
by either U.S. Bancorp or Firstar as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and none of U.S. Bancorp,
Firstar, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of the officers or
directors of any of them shall have any liability of any nature whatsoever
hereunder, or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, except
that (i) Sections 6.2(b), 8.2, 9.2 and 9.3 shall survive any termination of this
Agreement, and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, neither U.S. Bancorp nor Firstar shall be relieved or released from
any liabilities or damages arising out of its willful breach of any provision of
this Agreement.

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8.3 AMENDMENT. Subject to compliance with applicable law, this Agreement
may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their
respective boards of directors, at any time before or after approval of the
matters presented in connection with Merger by the shareholders of U.S. Bancorp
and Firstar; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after any approval of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement by the respective shareholders of U.S. Bancorp or
Firstar, there may not be, without further approval of such shareholders, any
amendment of this Agreement that changes the amount or the form of the
consideration to be delivered hereunder to the holders of U.S. Bancorp Common
Stock or Firstar Common Stock, other than as contemplated by this Agreement.
This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on
behalf of each of the parties hereto.

8.4 EXTENSION; WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective board of
directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties hereto,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (c) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that after any approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by
the respective shareholders of U.S. Bancorp or Firstar, there may not be,
without further approval of such shareholders, any extension or waiver of this
Agreement or any portion thereof that reduces the amount or changes the form of
the consideration to be delivered to the holders of U.S. Bancorp Common Stock or
Firstar Common Stock hereunder, other than as contemplated by this Agreement.
Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any such extension or waiver
shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of
such party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict
compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not
operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other
failure.

ARTICLE IX

GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1 CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date
and at a place to be specified by the parties, which shall be no later than five
business days after the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of
the latest to occur of the conditions set forth in Article VII, unless extended
by mutual agreement of the parties (the "Closing Date").

9.2 NONSURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS. None of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in this Agreement or in
any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement (other than the Option
Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall terminate in
accordance with the terms thereof) shall survive the Effective Time, except for
Section 6.8 and for those other covenants and agreements contained herein and
therein that by their terms apply in whole or in part after the Effective Time.

9.3 EXPENSES. All costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such expense, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the costs and expenses of
printing and mailing the Joint Proxy Statement, and all

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filing and other fees paid to the SEC in connection with the Merger, shall be
borne equally by U.S. Bancorp and Firstar.

9.4 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied (with
confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested)
or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties at the
following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified
by like notice):

(a) if to U.S. Bancorp, to:

U.S. Bancorp
U.S. Bank Place
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇ ▇. Mitau, Executive Vice President --
Corporate Development and General Counsel
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

with a copy to:

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

and

(b) if to Firstar, to:

Firstar Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

with a copy to:

Wachtell, Lipton, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

-▇▇-

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇

9.5 INTERPRETATION. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of or
Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of
contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement. Whenever the words "include", "includes" or "including" are used in
this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation." This Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed to require any
person to take any action, or fail to take any action, if to do so would violate
any applicable law or regulation.

9.6 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective
when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the
other parties, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same
counterpart.

9.7 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the documents and the
instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes
all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof other than the Option
Agreements and the Confidentiality Agreement.

9.8 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any
applicable conflicts of law principles.

9.9 PUBLICITY. Except as otherwise required by applicable law or the rules
of the NYSE, neither U.S. Bancorp or Firstar shall, or shall permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other
public announcement with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement
concerning, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the consent
of Firstar, in the case of a proposed announcement or statement by U.S. Bancorp,
or U.S. Bancorp, in the case of a proposed announcement or statement by Firstar,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

9.10 ASSIGNMENT; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Neither this Agreement nor any
of the rights, interests or obligations shall be assigned by any of the parties
hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written
consent of the other parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise specifically
provided in Section 6.8, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments
referred to herein) is not intended to confer upon any person other than the
parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, U.S. Bancorp and Firstar have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the
date first above written.

FIRSTAR CORPORATION

By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
President and Chief
Executive Officer

U.S. BANCORP

By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer

[Agreement and Plan of Merger]

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Exhibit 2.1 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and between FIRSTAR CORPORATION

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