SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              WASHINGTON, DC 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

 X   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
- ---  ACT OF 1934 ----- For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002

                                       OR

     TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13 OR  15(d)  OF THE  SECURITIES
- ---  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     For the transition period from                      to
                                    ---------------------  ---------------------

Commission file number               0-5519
                      ----------------------------------------------------------

                              Associated Banc-Corp
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

          Wisconsin                                       39-1098068
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdictionof                (IRS employer identification no.)
 incorporation or organization)

1200 Hansen Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin                            54304
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                        (Zip code)

                                 (920) 491-7000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Former name, former address and former
                   fiscal year, if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                 Yes   X    No
                                      ---      ---

                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

The number of shares outstanding of registrant's common stock, par value $0.01
per share, at July 31, 2002, was 75,600,471 shares.



                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                        Page No.
                                                                        --------
PART I.  Financial Information

         Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited):

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets -
                  June 30, 2002, June 30, 2001 and December 31, 2001        3

                  Consolidated Statements of Income -
                  Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001         4

                  Consolidated Statement of Changes in
                  Stockholders' Equity - Six Months Ended June 30, 2002     5

                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -
                  Six Months Ended June 30, 2002 and 2001                   6

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                7

         Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operations            17

         Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About
                  Market Risk                                              33

PART II. Other Information

         Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders      35

         Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                         36

 Signatures                                                                37



                         PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.  Financial Statements:

                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                           Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                                   June 30,        June 30,      December 31,
                                                                     2002            2001           2001
                                                               -----------------------------------------------
                                                                      (In Thousands, except share data)
                                                                                         
ASSETS
Cash and due from banks                                        $    346,708    $    309,521    $    587,994
Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions            11,853           4,692           5,427
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements
  to resell                                                          51,275          42,350          12,015
Investment securities available for sale, at fair value           3,424,127       3,249,373       3,197,021
Loans held for sale                                                 123,520         128,192         301,707
Loans                                                             9,882,669       8,983,678       9,019,864
Allowance for loan losses                                          (148,733)       (126,390)       (128,204)
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Loans, net                                                      9,733,936       8,857,288       8,891,660
Premises and equipment                                              134,766         122,592         119,528
Goodwill                                                            211,611          95,638          92,397
Other intangible assets                                              47,239          41,118          37,991
Other assets                                                        391,457         361,525         358,634
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Total assets                                                 $ 14,476,492    $ 13,212,289    $ 13,604,374
                                                               ============================================

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Noninterest-bearing deposits                                   $  1,566,487    $  1,175,615    $  1,425,109
Interest-bearing deposits, excluding Brokered CDs                 7,225,789       7,001,753       6,897,502
Brokered CDs                                                        233,968         322,858         290,000
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Total deposits                                                  9,026,244       8,500,226       8,612,611
Short-term borrowings                                             2,301,853       2,958,835       2,643,851
Long-term debt                                                    1,513,131         522,234       1,103,395
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
  preferred securities                                              174,636             ---             ---
Accrued expenses and other liabilities                              185,383         180,316         174,101
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Total liabilities                                              13,201,247      12,161,611      12,533,958

Stockholders' equity
  Preferred stock                                                       ---             ---             ---
  Common stock (par value $0.01 per share,
    authorized 100,000,000 shares, issued
    76,727,110, 73,042,372 and 72,791,792 shares,
    respectively)                                                       767             664             662
  Surplus                                                           682,519         297,289         289,751
  Retained earnings                                                 552,230         710,052         760,031
  Accumulated other comprehensive income                             72,171          51,857          47,176
  Treasury stock, at cost (981,469, 326,759 and 922,902
    shares, respectively)                                           (32,442)         (9,184)        (27,204)
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Total stockholders' equity                                      1,275,245       1,050,678       1,070,416
                                                               --------------------------------------------
  Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                   $ 14,476,492    $ 13,212,289    $ 13,604,374
                                                               ============================================


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



ITEM 1.  Financial Statements Continued:

                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                        Consolidated Statements of Income
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                                 Three Months Ended       Six Months Ended
                                                                      June 30,                June 30,
                                                                  2002        2001        2002        2001
                                                               -----------------------------------------------
                                                                    (In Thousands, except per share data)
                                                                                        
INTEREST INCOME
  Interest and fees on loans                                   $ 158,321   $ 178,236    $ 309,670   $ 362,611
  Interest and dividends on investment securities:
    Taxable                                                       33,114      37,082       65,886      75,654
    Tax exempt                                                     9,988      10,042       19,968      20,206
  Interest on deposits in other financial institutions               258          94          345         215
  Interest on federal funds sold and securities
    purchased under agreements to resell                             176         194          294         641
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
    Total interest income                                        201,857     225,648      396,163     459,327
INTEREST EXPENSE
  Interest on deposits                                            45,560      78,965       93,789     170,392
  Interest on short-term borrowings                               13,840      38,140       27,495      81,444
  Interest on long-term debt, including preferred securities      16,689       4,591       31,684       6,536
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
    Total interest expense                                        76,089     121,696      152,968     258,372
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
NET INTEREST INCOME                                              125,768     103,952      243,195     200,955
  Provision for loan losses                                       12,003       6,365       23,254      11,947
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
  Net interest income after provision for loan losses            113,765      97,587      219,941     189,008
NONINTEREST INCOME
  Trust service fees                                               7,722       7,339       15,093      15,411
  Service charges on deposit accounts                             11,733       9,550       21,613      18,295
  Mortgage banking                                                 9,637      15,504       22,241      24,689
  Credit card and other nondeposit fees                            7,094       7,121       13,166      13,896
  Retail commissions                                               5,885       4,265       10,501       8,749
  Bank owned life insurance income                                 3,469       3,184        6,739       6,318
  Asset sale gains, net                                               41         383          372         915
  Investment securities gains (losses), net                          ---          (4)         ---         242
  Other                                                            4,322       3,687        7,578       6,833
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest income                                      49,903      51,029       97,303      95,348
NONINTEREST EXPENSE
  Personnel expense                                               48,764      41,233       93,758      81,538
  Occupancy                                                        6,650       5,927       12,787      12,281
  Equipment                                                        3,727       3,650        7,217       7,330
  Data processing                                                  5,304       4,822       10,107       9,665
  Business development and advertising                             3,126       3,191        6,572       6,192
  Stationery and supplies                                          1,786       2,330        3,830       4,062
  FDIC expense                                                       402         446          774         880
  Mortgage servicing rights expense                                3,874       2,710        6,771       6,609
  Goodwill amortization expense                                      ---       1,385          ---       2,769
  Intangible amortization expense                                    884         717        1,599       1,434
  Legal and professional fees                                      1,461         777        2,753       1,669
  Other                                                           15,459      15,090       27,936      26,299
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
    Total noninterest expense                                     91,437      82,278      174,104     160,728
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes                                        72,231      66,338      143,140     123,628
Income tax expense                                                20,048      20,319       39,658      35,523
                                                               ----------------------------------------------
NET INCOME                                                     $  52,183   $  46,019    $ 103,482   $  88,105
                                                               ==============================================

Earnings per share:
  Basic                                                        $    0.69   $    0.63    $    1.39   $    1.21
  Diluted                                                      $    0.68   $    0.63    $    1.37   $    1.20
Average shares outstanding:
  Basic                                                           75,922      72,760       74,540      72,763
  Diluted                                                         77,041      73,360       75,510      73,344



See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



ITEM 1.  Financial Statements Continued:

                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
            Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                                                Accumulated
                                                                                   Other
                                              Common                Retained   Comprehensive   Treasury
                                              Stock     Surplus     Earnings       Income        Stock        Total
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              (In Thousands, except per share data)
                                                                                        
Balance, December 31, 2001                  $  662     $ 289,751    $ 760,031     $ 47,176    $ (27,204)  $ 1,070,416
Comprehensive income:
  Net income                                   ---           ---      103,482          ---          ---       103,482
  Net unrealized holding loss on
    derivative instruments,
    net of tax of $2.4 million                 ---           ---          ---       (3,642)         ---        (3,642)
  Net unrealized holding gains on
    securities available for
    sale, net of tax of $16.4 million          ---           ---          ---       28,637          ---        28,637
                                                                                                           -----------
      Comprehensive income                                                                                    128,477
                                                                                                           -----------
Cash dividends, $0.59 per share                ---           ---      (43,739)         ---          ---       (43,739)
Common stock issued:
  Business combinations                         37       133,892          ---          ---          ---       133,929
  Incentive stock options                      ---           ---       (8,904)         ---       21,001        12,097
  10% stock dividend                            70       258,570     (258,640)         ---          ---           ---
Purchase and retirement of treasury stock
  in connection with repurchase program         (2)       (3,960)         ---          ---          ---        (3,962)
Purchase of treasury stock                     ---           ---          ---          ---      (26,239)      (26,239)
Tax benefit of stock options                   ---         4,266          ---          ---          ---         4,266
                                            --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance, June 30, 2002                      $  767     $ 682,519    $ 552,230     $ 72,171    $ (32,442)  $ 1,275,245
                                            ==========================================================================


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



ITEM 1.  Financial Statements Continued:

                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                      Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                       For the Six Months Ended June 30,
                                                            2002            2001
                                                       ---------------------------------
                                                               ($ in Thousands)
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                                                                  
Net income                                               $   103,482    $    88,105
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
  provided by operating activities:
  Provision for loan losses                                   23,254         11,947
  Depreciation and amortization                                9,247          9,526
  Amortization (accretion) of:
    Mortgage servicing rights                                  6,771          6,609
    Goodwill and other intangible assets                       1,599          4,203
    Investment premiums and discounts                          4,938           (368)
    Deferred loan fees and costs                                 419         (1,190)
  Gain on sales of securities, net                              --             (242)
  Gain on sales of assets, net                                  (372)          (915)
  Gain on sales of loans held for sale, net                  (12,051)        (9,545)
  Mortgage loans originated and acquired for sale         (1,099,984)    (1,008,849)
  Proceeds from sales of mortgage loans held for sale      1,307,327        914,795
  Increase in interest receivable and other assets           (27,457)        (6,963)
  Increase in interest payable and other liabilities           1,319         33,697
                                                         --------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities                    318,492         40,810
                                                         --------------------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Net increase in loans                                       (114,367)       (76,638)
Capitalization of mortgage servicing rights                  (11,518)        (9,735)
Purchases of:
  Securities available for sale                             (575,928)      (292,255)
  Premises and equipment, net of disposals                    (6,106)        (3,945)
Proceeds from:
  Sales of securities available for sale                        --           57,384
  Maturities of securities available for sale                551,932        305,138
  Sales of other real estate owned and other assets            2,239         13,467
Net cash acquired in business combination                     17,982           --
                                                         --------------------------
Net cash used by investing activities                       (135,766)        (6,584)
                                                         --------------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Net decrease in deposits                                    (369,811)      (791,420)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings            (444,761)       360,632
Repayment of long-term debt                                  (27,262)          (186)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt                     525,351        400,000
Cash dividends                                               (43,739)       (39,695)
Proceeds from exercise of incentive stock options             12,097          3,468
Purchase and retirement of treasury stock                     (3,962)          --
Purchase of treasury stock                                   (26,239)        (6,982)
                                                         --------------------------
Net cash used by financing activities                       (378,326)       (74,183)
                                                         --------------------------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                   (195,600)       (39,957)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period             605,436        396,520
                                                         --------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period               $   409,836    $   356,563
                                                         ==========================
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
  Cash paid during the period for:
  Interest                                               $   157,989    $   270,221
  Income taxes                                                45,529         32,856
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing activities:
  Securities held to maturity transferred to
    securities available for sale                               --          372,873
  Loans transferred to other real estate                       1,873          1,740


See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.



ITEM 1.  Financial Statements Continued:

                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

These interim consolidated  financial statements have been prepared according to
the rules  and  regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and,
therefore,  certain information and footnote  disclosures  normally presented in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America  have been  omitted or  abbreviated.  The  information  contained in the
consolidated financial statements and footnotes in the Corporation's 2001 annual
report on Form 10-K,  should be  referred to in  connection  with the reading of
these unaudited interim financial statements.

NOTE 1: Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management,  the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial
statements  contain  all  adjustments  necessary  to present  fairly  Associated
Banc-Corp's  ("Corporation") financial position, results of operations,  changes
in stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the periods presented,  and all such
adjustments  are  of a  normal  recurring  nature.  The  consolidated  financial
statements include the accounts of all subsidiaries.  All material  intercompany
transactions  and balances are  eliminated.  The results of  operations  for the
interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for
the full year.

In preparing the consolidated  financial  statements,  management is required to
make estimates and  assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and
liabilities  as of the date of the balance  sheet and  revenues and expenses for
the period.  Actual  results could differ  significantly  from those  estimates.
Estimates that are  particularly  susceptible to significant  change include the
determination  of the  allowance  for loan losses,  mortgage  servicing  rights,
derivative financial instruments and hedging activities, and income taxes.

On April 24, 2002, the Board of Directors  declared a 10% stock dividend payable
on May 15, 2002, to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 29,
2002. Any fractional  shares  resulting from the dividend were paid in cash. All
share and per share  financial  information  has been  restated  to reflect  the
effect of this stock dividend (see Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial
statements).

NOTE 2: Reclassifications

Certain items in the prior period  consolidated  financial  statements have been
reclassified to conform with the June 30, 2002 presentation.

NOTE 3: Adoption of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS")

Effective  July 1,  2001,  the  Corporation  adopted  SFAS  No.  141,  "Business
Combinations,"  ("SFAS  141").  The  Corporation  also  adopted  SFAS  No.  142,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," ("SFAS 142") effective January 1, 2002.

SFAS 141 requires  that all  business  combinations  be accounted  for using the
purchase method. Identifiable intangible assets such as core deposit intangibles
and mortgage  servicing  rights are recognized  separately  from goodwill on the
consolidated  balance  sheet  as other  intangible  assets.  Other  identifiable
intangible assets with a definite life are amortized over their estimated useful
lives and are also tested for impairment  periodically.  Goodwill represents the
excess of the price paid for the acquisition of subsidiaries over the fair value
of the net  assets  acquired.  Under  SFAS 142,  goodwill  and  indefinite  life
intangibles  are no longer  amortized but are subject to impairment  tests on at
least an annual  basis.  Any  impairment  of  goodwill  or  intangibles  will be
recognized as an expense in the period of impairment.



The Corporation was required to complete the  transitional  goodwill  impairment
test within six months of adoption of SFAS 142 and to record the impairment,  if
any, by the end of the fiscal year.  Any loss  resulting  from the  transitional
impairment  test  will  be  recorded  as a  cumulative  effect  of a  change  in
accounting  principle and charged to net income for the three months ended March
31, 2002. The Corporation completed the transitional goodwill impairment test in
the second  quarter of 2002 as of January 1, 2002 and May 1, 2002. No impairment
loss has been recorded as of January 1, 2002 or May 1, 2002. See Notes 4, 5, and
6 for  disclosures  about  the  impact  SFAS  141  and  SFAS  142  have  on  the
Corporation's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 144,  "Accounting for the Impairment or
Disposal of Long-Lived Assets," ("SFAS 144") which supersedes both SFAS No. 121,
"Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to
Be Disposed Of," and the accounting and reporting  provisions of APB Opinion No.
30,  "Reporting the Results of Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of
a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary,  Unusual, and Infrequently Occurring
Events and  Transactions,"  ("Opinion  30") for the  disposal  of a segment of a
business.  SFAS  144  addresses  financial  accounting  and  reporting  for  the
impairment  or disposal of  long-lived  assets.  This  Statement  requires  that
long-lived  assets be  reviewed  for  impairment  whenever  events or changes in
circumstances  indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  of an  asset  may  not  be
recoverable.  Recoverability  of  assets  to be held and used is  measured  by a
comparison of the carrying  amount of an asset to future net cash flows expected
to be generated by the asset.  If the  carrying  amount of an asset  exceeds its
estimated  future cash flows, an impairment  charge is recognized for the amount
by which the carrying  amount of the assets exceeds the fair value of the asset.
SFAS 144 requires  companies to separately  report  discontinued  operations and
extends that reporting to a component of an entity that either has been disposed
of (by sale,  abandonment,  or in a distribution  to owners) or is classified as
held for  sale.  Assets  to be  disposed  of are  reported  at the  lower of the
carrying amount or fair value, less costs to sell. The Corporation  adopted SFAS
144 on  January  1,  2002,  as  required.  The  adoption  had no  effect  on the
Corporation's financial position or results of operations.

In April 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 145,  "Rescission of FASB Statements No.
4, 44, and 64,  Amendment of FASB Statement No. 13, and Technical  Corrections,"
("SFAS 145").  SFAS 145 rescinds  Statement No. 4 ("SFAS 4"), which required all
gains  and  losses  from   extinguishment   of  debt  to  be  classified  as  an
extraordinary  item,  net of the related  income tax effect,  if material in the
aggregate.  Due to the rescission of SFAS 4, the criteria in Opinion 30 will now
be used to classify those gains and losses. Statement No. 64 amended SFAS 4, and
is no longer  necessary  because of the  rescission of SFAS 4. Statement No. 44,
which  established  accounting   requirements  for  the  effects  of  transition
provisions of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, is no longer necessary  because the
transition has been completed. SFAS 145 also amends Statement No. 13 ("SFAS 13")
to require that certain lease  modifications  that have economic effects similar
to  sale-leaseback   transactions  be  accounted  for  in  the  same  manner  as
sale-leaseback  transactions.   In  addition,  SFAS  145  also  makes  technical
corrections to existing  pronouncements  which are generally not  substantive in
nature.  The  provisions  of SFAS 145  related to the  rescission  of SFAS 4 are
effective  for fiscal years  beginning  after May 15, 2002.  Any gain or loss on
extinguishment  of debt that was  classified as an  extraordinary  item in prior
periods  presented  that does not meet the  criteria  for  classification  as an
extraordinary  item will be reclassified.  The provisions of SFAS 145 related to
SFAS 13 are effective for  transactions  occurring after May 15, 2002. All other
provisions of SFAS 145 shall be effective for financial  statements issued on or
after May 15, 2002.  The adoption had no effect on the  Corporation's  financial
position or results of operations.

NOTE 4:  Earnings Per Share

Basic  earnings  per share is  calculated  by dividing  net income  available to
common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding.
Diluted  earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted
average number of shares adjusted for the dilutive  effect of outstanding  stock
options.

On April 24, 2002, the Board of Directors declared a 10% stock dividend, payable
May 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 29. All share
and per share data in the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements has
been adjusted to reflect the declaration of the 10% stock dividend.  As a result
of the stock dividend,  the Corporation  distributed  approximately  7.0 million
shares of common stock.  Any fractional  shares resulting from the dividend were
paid in cash.

Presented below are the  calculations  for basic and diluted earnings per share,
as  reported,  as well as  adjusted  to exclude  the  amortization  of  goodwill
affected by adopting SFAS 142.



                                               Three Months Ended      Six Months Ended
                                                    June 30,               June 30,
                                                 2002       2001        2002        2001
                                               --------------------------------------------
                                                   (In Thousands, except per share data)
                                                                     
Net income, as reported                        $ 52,183   $ 46,019   $ 103,482   $  88,105
Adjustment: Goodwill amortization                   ---      1,385         ---       2,769
                                               -------------------------------------------
Net income, adjusted                           $ 52,183   $ 47,404   $ 103,482   $  90,874
                                               ===========================================

Weighted average shares outstanding              75,922     72,760      74,540      72,763
Effect of dilutive stock options outstanding      1,119        600         970         581
                                               -------------------------------------------
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding      77,041     73,360      75,510      73,344
                                               ===========================================

Basic earnings per share:
Basic earnings per share, as reported          $   0.69   $   0.63   $    1.39   $    1.21
Adjustment: Goodwill amortization                   ---       0.02         ---        0.04
                                               -------------------------------------------
Basic earnings per share, adjusted             $   0.69   $   0.65   $    1.39   $    1.25
                                               ===========================================

Diluted earnings per share:
Diluted earnings per share, as reported        $   0.68   $   0.63   $    1.37   $    1.20
Adjustment: Goodwill amortization                   ---       0.02         ---        0.04
                                               -------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per share, adjusted           $   0.68   $   0.65   $    1.37   $    1.24
                                               ===========================================


NOTE 5: Business Combination

There was one completed  business  combination during 2002 and none during 2001.
The acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting; thus,
the results of operations prior to the consummation date are not included in the
accompanying   consolidated   financial  statements.   Goodwill,   core  deposit
intangibles,  and other purchase  accounting  adjustments  are recorded upon the
consummation of a purchase acquisition where the purchase price exceeds the fair
value of net assets acquired.

On February 28, 2002, the Corporation consummated its acquisition of 100% of the
outstanding common shares of Signal Financial  Corporation,  a financial holding
company headquartered in Mendota Heights, Minnesota ("Signal").  Signal operated
banking branches in nine locations in the Twin Cities and Eastern Minnesota.  As
a result of the acquisition,  the Corporation  expanded its Minnesota  presence,
particularly in the Twin Cities area.

The Signal transaction was consummated through the issuance of approximately 4.1
million shares of common stock and $58.4 million in cash for a purchase price of
$192.5 million.  The value of the shares was determined  using the closing stock
price of the  Corporation's  stock on September 10, 2001, the initiation date of
the transaction.



The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired
and liabilities assumed at the date of the acquisition.

                                                                 $ in Millions
                                                                 -------------

Investment securities available for sale                          $    163.8
Loans                                                                  760.0
Allowance for loan losses                                              (12.0)
Other assets                                                           118.1
Intangible asset                                                         5.6
Goodwill                                                               119.7
                                                                  ----------
  Total assets acquired                                           $  1,155.2

Deposits                                                          $    784.8
Borrowings                                                             165.5
Other liabilities                                                       12.4
                                                                  ----------
  Total liabilities assumed                                       $    962.7
                                                                  ----------
Net assets acquired                                               $    192.5
                                                                  ==========

The  intangible  asset  represents  a core  deposit  intangible  with a ten-year
weighted-average useful life. The $119.7 million of goodwill was assigned to the
banking  segment  during first  quarter of 2002, as part of the adoption of SFAS
142.

The following represents  supplemental pro forma disclosure required by SFAS 141
of total  revenue,  net income,  and  earnings  per share as though the business
combination  had been  completed at the  beginning  of the  earliest  comparable
period.

                                                Six months ended June 30,
                                                2002                2001
                                          -------------------------------------
                                          (In Thousands, except per share data)

Total revenue                                $ 350,322           $ 323,511
Net income                                     102,592              93,077
Basic earnings per share                          1.35                1.21
Diluted earnings per share                        1.33                1.20

NOTE 6: Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Upon the adoption of SFAS 142 effective  January 1, 2002,  the  Corporation  had
unamortized  goodwill in the amount of $92.4 million,  of which $85.0 million is
no longer being amortized under SFAS 142 and $7.4 million which will continue to
be  amortized  under  the  provisions  of  SFAS  72,   "Accounting  for  Certain
Acquisitions of Banking and Thrift Institutions," as an identifiable  intangible
asset subject to  amortization.  Also, at January 1, 2002, the  Corporation  had
other intangible assets  consisting of core deposit  intangibles of $5.9 million
and  mortgage  servicing  rights  of $32.1  million  that  will  continue  to be
amortized. The goodwill, core deposit intangibles, and mortgage servicing rights
are assigned to the Corporation's banking segment.



The change in the carrying amount of goodwill was as follows.



                                                                              As of and for the year
                                         As of and for the six months ended           ended
Goodwill                                  June 30, 2002      June 30, 2001       December 31, 2001
                                      -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            ($ in Thousands)
                                                                           
Balance at beginning of year               $  92,397          $  98,908             $  98,908
  Goodwill acquired during period            119,715                ---                   ---
  Goodwill amortization (non-SFAS 72)            ---             (2,769)               (5,509)
  Goodwill amortization (SFAS 72)               (501)              (501)               (1,002)
                                      -------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period                   $ 211,611          $  95,638             $  92,397
                                      =============================================================



Amortization  of goodwill  (not  related to SFAS 72) was zero for the six months
ended June 30, 2002,  $2.8  million for the six months ended June 30, 2001,  and
$5.5 million for the year ended  December  31, 2001.  See Note 4 of the notes to
consolidated  financial  statements  for  disclosure of net income and per share
amounts excluding goodwill amortization, net of any income tax effects.

Other intangible  assets are comprised of core deposit  intangibles and mortgage
servicing rights. The change in the carrying amount of core deposit intangibles,
gross  carrying  amount,  accumulated  amortization,  and net book  value was as
follows.



                                                                             As of and for the year
                                         As of and for the six months ended           ended
Core deposit intangibles                  June 30, 2002      June 30, 2001       December 31, 2001
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                            ($ in Thousands)
                                                                            
Balance at beginning of year               $   5,925          $   7,792             $   7,792
  Additions                                    5,600                ---                   ---
  Amortization                                (1,098)              (933)               (1,867)
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period                   $  10,427          $   6,859             $   5,925
                                        ===========================================================

Gross carrying amount                      $  28,166          $  22,565             $  22,565
Accumulated amortization                      17,739             15,706                16,640
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
Net book value                             $  10,427          $   6,859             $   5,925
                                        ===========================================================


A summary of changes in the balance of the mortgage  servicing  rights asset and
the mortgage servicing rights valuation allowance was as follows:



                                                                             As of and for the year
                                         As of and for the six months ended           ended
Mortgage servicing rights                 June 30, 2002      June 30, 2001       December 31, 2001
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
                                                            ($ in Thousands)
                                                                           
Balance at beginning of year               $  32,065          $  36,269             $  36,269
  Additions                                   11,518              9,735                20,919
  Sales of servicing                             ---             (5,136)               (5,136)
  Amortization                                (6,021)            (4,403)               (9,267)
  Change in valuation allowance                 (750)            (2,206)              (10,720)
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period                   $  36,812          $  34,259             $  32,065
                                        ===========================================================

Mortgage servicing rights valuation
  allowance
Balance at beginning of year               $ (10,720)         $     ---               $   ---
  Additions                                     (750)            (2,206)              (10,720)
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of period                   $ (11,470)         $  (2,206)            $ (10,720)
                                        ===========================================================


Intangible  amortization  expense was $1.6 million for the six months ended June
30, 2002, (of which,  $1.1 million  related to the  amortization of core deposit
intangibles and $0.5 million  related to the  amortization of SFAS 72 goodwill),
$1.4 million for the six months  ended June 30,  2001,  and $2.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2001.  Mortgage servicing rights  amortization  expense,
which  includes  the  amortization  of the mortgage  servicing  rights asset and
increases or decreases to the valuation  allowance  associated with the mortgage
servicing  rights  asset,  was $6.8  million and $6.6 million for the six months
ended June 30,  2002 and 2001  respectively,  and $20.0  million  for year ended
December 31, 2001. The following table shows the estimated  future  amortization
expense for  amortizing  intangible  assets.  The  projections  of  amortization
expense are based on existing  asset  balances  and the existing  interest  rate
environment as of June 30, 2002. The actual amortization expense the Corporation
recognizes in any given period may be  significantly  different  depending  upon
changes  in  mortgage  interest  rates,   market   conditions,   and  regulatory
requirements.



Estimated amortization expense ($ in Thousands)
                                                                     
Year ended December 31,          SFAS 72 Goodwill   Core Deposit Intangible   Mortgage Servicing Rights
                                 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
      2002                           $  1,002              $  2,398                   $ 16,716
      2003                              1,002                 1,962                     13,453
      2004                                992                 1,734                     10,283
      2005                                887                 1,264                      7,348
      2006                                887                 1,162                        482
                                 ======================================================================


NOTE 7: Derivatives and Hedging Activities

SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," as
amended by SFAS No. 138,  "Accounting  for Certain  Derivative  Instruments  and
Certain  Hedging   Activities,"   (collectively   referred  to  as  "SFAS  133")
establishes  accounting  and  reporting  standards for  derivative  instruments,
including certain derivative  instruments  embedded in other contracts,  and for
hedging activities. All derivatives, whether designated in hedging relationships
or not, are required to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.

In accordance with the statement,  the Corporation measures the effectiveness of
its hedges on a periodic basis. Any difference  between the fair value change of
the hedge  versus the fair value change of the hedged item is  considered  to be
the "ineffective"  portion of the hedge. The ineffective portion of the hedge is
recorded  as  an  increase   or  decrease  in  the  related   income   statement
classification of the item being hedged.  Ineffective portions of changes in the
fair  value of cash  flow  hedges  are  recognized  in  earnings.  For  mortgage
derivatives,  which are not accounted  for as hedges,  changes in fair value are
recorded as an adjustment to mortgage banking income.

The Corporation uses derivative  instruments  primarily to hedge the variability
in  interest  payments or protect  the value of certain  assets and  liabilities
recorded in its  consolidated  balance sheet from changes in interest rates. The
predominant  activities  affected by the statement include the Corporation's use
of interest  rate  swaps,  interest  rate caps,  and  certain  mortgage  banking
activities.  Swaps used as cash flow hedges allow the  Corporation  to hedge the
variability in interest payments of a variable rate financial  instrument,  such
as converting  variable rate debt to a fixed rate debt. Swaps used as fair value
hedges allow the Corporation to hedge the exposures to a change in fair value of
the  underlying  asset or  liability,  particularly  converting  a fixed  coupon
financial instrument (such as loans or debt) to a variable rate.





                                                             Estimated Fair
                                                Notional      Market Value                  Weighted Average
                                                 Amount       Gain / (Loss)    Receive Rate     Pay Rate     Maturity
                                               ------------ ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -------------
June 30, 2002                                        ($ in Thousands)
                                                                                                 
Interest Rate Risk Management hedges:
Swaps-receive variable / pay fixed (1), (3)      $ 400,000        $ (15,096)       1.98%         5.73%       55 months
Swaps-receive fixed / pay variable (2), (4)        375,000           (8,940)       7.21%         3.83%      230 months
Caps-written (1), (5)                              200,000            5,499  Strike 4.72%         ---        50 months

Swaps-receive variable / pay fixed (2), (6)        163,203           (3,816)       4.07%         6.99%       56 months
                                               =========================================================================
June 30, 2001

Interest Rate Risk Management hedges:
Swaps-receive variable / pay fixed (1), (7)      $ 500,000           (2,506)       4.73%         5.61%       55 months

Swaps-receive variable / pay fixed (2), (6)         28,828               128       6.09%         7.48%       63 months
                                               ==========================================================================


(1)  Cash flow hedges
(2)  Fair value hedges
(3)  Hedges $400 million of variable rate, long-term debt
(4)  Hedges $375 million of fixed rate, long-term debt
(5)  Hedges variable rate, long-term debt
(6)  Hedges longer-term fixed rate commercial loans
(7)  Hedged $400 million of variable  rate,  long-term  debt and $100 million of
     institutional CDs

Commitments to sell loans to various  investors and commitments to fund loans to
individual borrowers represent the Corporation's mortgage derivatives,  the fair
value of which are included in other  liabilities  on the  consolidated  balance
sheet.  The net fair value of these mortgage  derivatives was a net gain of $1.7
million and $0.9 million, as of June 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The change
in fair value of these  derivatives  was a $2.4  million loss and a $0.9 million
gain for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively.



NOTE 8: Long-term Debt

Long-term debt at June 30 is as follows:

                                                       2002             2001
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                        ($ in Thousands)
Federal Home Loan Bank advances
  (3.30% to 6.81%, fixed rate, maturing in
   2002 through 2017 for 2002; 4.27% to
   7.63%, fixed rate, maturing in 2001
   through 2014 for 2001) (1)                     $ 1,065,537       $  316,579
Bank notes (2)                                        250,000          200,000
Subordinated debt (3)                                 190,059              ---
Other borrowed funds                                    7,535            5,655
                                                  ----------------------------
     Total long-term debt                         $ 1,513,131       $  522,234
                                                  ============================

(1)  The  Corporation  entered into a cash flow hedge to hedge the interest rate
     risk on $100  million of Federal  Home Loan Bank  advances.  As of June 30,
     2002, the fair value of the hedge was a $1.2 million loss.
(2)  On April 4, 2001, the Corporation issued $200 million of variable rate bank
     notes that mature on April 10, 2003.  The notes reprice  quarterly at LIBOR
     plus 22 basis points and was 2.21% at June 30, 2002.  On May 16, 2002,  the
     Corporation  issued an  additional  $50 million of variable rate bank notes
     that mature on November 17, 2003. The May notes reprice  quarterly at LIBOR
     plus 25 basis  points  and was 2.15% at June 30,  2002.  During  2001,  the
     Corporation  entered into a cash flow hedge to hedge the interest rate risk
     on $200 million of bank notes.  As of June 30, 2002,  the fair value of the
     hedge was a $12.4 million loss.
(3)  On August 6, 2001,  the  Corporation  issued $200  million of  subordinated
     debt.  This debt has a fixed  interest  rate of 6.75% and matures on August
     15, 2011.  During 2001, the Corporation  entered into a fair value hedge to
     hedge the interest rate risk on the subordinated debt. As of June 30, 2002,
     the fair value of the hedge was a $8.6 million loss. The subordinated  debt
     qualifies under the risk-based  capital  guidelines as Tier 2 supplementary
     capital for regulatory purposes.

NOTE 9: Company-obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Securities

On May 30,  2002,  ASBC Capital I (the ASBC Trust),  a Delaware  business  trust
wholly owned by the  Corporation,  completed  the sale of $175 million of 7.625%
preferred  securities  (the  Preferred  Securities).  The  ASBC  Trust  used the
proceeds  from  the  offering  to  purchase  a  like  amount  of  7.625%  Junior
Subordinated Debentures (the Debentures) of the Corporation.  The Debentures are
the sole  assets of the ASBC Trust and are  eliminated,  along with the  related
income statement effects, in the consolidated financial statements.

The Preferred Securities accrue and pay dividends quarterly at an annual rate of
7.625% of the  stated  liquidation  amount of $25 per  Preferred  Security.  The
Corporation has fully and  unconditionally  guaranteed all of the obligations of
the ASBC Trust. The guarantee covers the quarterly distributions and payments on
liquidation or redemption of the Preferred Securities, but only to the extent of
funds held by the ASBC Trust.

The Preferred  Securities are  mandatorily  redeemable  upon the maturity of the
Debentures,  on June 15,  2032 or upon  earlier  redemption  as  provided in the
Indenture.  The  Corporation  has the right to redeem the Debentures on or after
May 30, 2007.

The Preferred Securities qualify under the risk-based capital guidelines as Tier
1 capital for regulatory  purposes.  The Corporation  used the proceeds from the
sales of the Debentures for general corporate purposes. Also during May 2002 the
Corporation  entered into a fair value hedge to hedge the interest  rate risk on
the  Debentures.  As of June 30,  2002,  the fair  value of the hedge was a $0.4
million loss.

Signal  Financial  Corporation on January 16, 1997 formed United Capital Trust I
(the UCTI Trust), a Delaware business trust wholly owned by the Corporation, and
completed  the sale of $11  million  of 9.75%  preferred  securities  (the 9.75%
Preferred  Securities).  The UCTI Trust used the  proceeds  from the offering to
purchase  a like  amount of 9.75%  Junior  Subordinated  Debentures  (the  9.75%
Debentures) of the Corporation.  The 9.75% Preferred Securities were mandatorily
redeemable  upon the  maturity of the 9.75%  Debentures,  on January 15, 2027 or
upon earlier  redemption as provided in the Indenture.  The  Corporation had the
right to redeem the 9.75%  Debentures  on or after January 15, 2002. On June 20,
2002, the Corporation  exercised this right and called the 9.75%  Debentures for
redemption.

NOTE 10: Segment Reporting

SFAS  No.  131,  "Disclosures  about  Segments  of  an  Enterprise  and  Related
Information,"  requires  selected  financial and descriptive  information  about
reportable  operating  segments.  The  statement  uses a  "management  approach"
concept  as the  basis  for  identifying  reportable  segments.  The  management
approach is based on the way that  management  organizes the segments within the
enterprise for making operating decisions,  allocating resources,  and assessing
performance.  Consequently,  the segments are evident from the  structure of the
enterprise's  internal  organization,  focusing on financial information that an
enterprise's  chief  operating  decision-makers  use to make decisions about the
enterprise's operating matters.

The  Corporation's  primary segment is banking,  conducted  through its bank and
lending  subsidiaries.  For purposes of segment disclosure under this statement,
these have been combined as one segment, as these segments have similar economic
characteristics  and  the  nature  of  their  products,   services,   processes,
customers,  delivery  channels and regulatory  environment are similar.  Banking
includes:  a) community  banking - lending and deposit  gathering to  businesses
(including  business-related  services such as cash management and international
banking services) and to consumers  (including  mortgages and credit cards); and
b) corporate  banking - specialized  lending  (such as commercial  real estate),
leasing and banking to larger  businesses  and metro or niche  markets;  and the
support to deliver banking services.

The  "Other"  segment  is comprised of Wealth  Management (including  insurance,
brokerage, and trust/asset management), as well as intersegment eliminations and
residual  revenues and expenses,  representing  the  difference  between  actual
amounts incurred and the amounts allocated to operating segments.

Selected segment information is presented below.

                                                               Consolidated
                                     Banking         Other         Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of and for the six months ended            ($ in Thousands)
June 30, 2002

Goodwill                           $    211,611   $       ---   $    211,611
Total assets                       $ 14,447,643   $    28,849   $ 14,476,492
                                   =========================================

Net interest income                $    242,973   $       222   $    243,195
Provision for loan losses                23,254           ---         23,254
Noninterest income                       73,702        23,601         97,303
Depreciation and amortization            17,491           126         17,617
Other noninterest expense               140,058        16,429        156,487
Income taxes                             39,047           611         39,658
                                   -----------------------------------------
  Net income                       $     96,825   $     6,657   $    103,482
                                   =========================================

As of and for the six months ended
June 30, 2001

Goodwill                           $     95,638   $       ---   $     95,638
Total assets                       $ 13,185,401   $    26,888   $ 13,212,289
                                   =========================================

Net interest income                $    200,574   $       381   $    200,955
Provision for loan losses                11,947           ---         11,947
Noninterest income                       71,716        23,632         95,348
Depreciation and amortization            20,191           147         20,338
Other noninterest expense               124,777        15,613        140,390
Income taxes                             35,190           333         35,523
                                   -----------------------------------------
  Net income                       $     80,185   $     7,920   $     88,105
                                   =========================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Consolidated
                                     Banking         Other         Total
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of and for the three months ended          ($ in Thousands)
June 30, 2002

Goodwill                           $    211,611   $       ---   $    211,611
Total assets                       $ 14,447,643   $    28,849   $ 14,476,492
                                   =========================================

Net interest income                $    125,570   $       198   $    125,768
Provision for loan losses                12,003           ---         12,003
Noninterest income                       37,366        12,537         49,903
Depreciation and amortization             9,462            77          9,539
Other noninterest expense                73,191         8,707         81,898
Income taxes                             19,666           382         20,048
                                   -----------------------------------------
  Net income                       $     48,614   $     3,569   $     52,183
                                   =========================================

As of and for the three months ended
June 30, 2001

Goodwill                           $     95,638   $      ---    $     95,638
Total assets                       $ 13,185,401   $   26,888    $ 13,212,289
                                   =========================================

Net interest income                $    103,764   $      188    $   103,952
Provision for loan losses                 6,365          ---          6,365
Noninterest income                       39,685       11,344         51,029
Depreciation and amortization             9,472           69          9,541
Other noninterest expense                65,045        7,692         72,737
Income taxes                             20,283           36         20,319
                                   ----------------------------------------
  Net income                       $     42,284   $    3,735    $    46,019
                                   ========================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



ITEM 2.  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis of Financial  Condition  and the
         Results of Operations

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking  statements  have been made in this document that are subject to
risks and uncertainties.  These forward-looking statements describe future plans
or strategies and include Associated Banc-Corp's  expectations of future results
of operations.  The words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," or other similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements.

Shareholders  should  note that  many  factors,  some of which may be  discussed
elsewhere  in this  document,  could  affect  the  future  financial  results of
Associated Banc-Corp (the "Corporation") and could cause those results to differ
materially from those expressed in forward-looking  statements contained in this
document. These factors include the following:

- -    operating, legal, and regulatory risks;
- -    economic,  political,  and competitive  forces affecting the  Corporation's
     banking, securities, asset management, and credit services businesses; and
- -    the risk that the Corporation's analyses of these risks and forces could be
     incorrect  and/or that the  strategies  developed  to address them could be
     unsuccessful.

These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements,
and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements.

Overview

The   following   discussion   and  analysis  is  presented  to  assist  in  the
understanding  and  evaluation  of the  Corporation's  financial  condition  and
results of operations.  It is intended to complement the unaudited  consolidated
financial  statements,  footnotes,  and  supplemental  financial  data appearing
elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction therewith.

On April 24, 2002, the Board of Directors  declared a 10% stock dividend payable
on May 15, 2002 to  shareholders of record at the close of business on April 29,
2002. Any fractional  shares  resulting from the dividend were paid in cash. All
share and per share  financial  information  has been  restated  to reflect  the
effect of this stock dividend (see Note 4 of the notes to consolidated financial
statements).

Management  continually evaluates strategic acquisition  opportunities and other
various  strategic  alternatives  that could involve the sale or  acquisition of
branches or other assets, or the consolidation or creation of subsidiaries.

Critical Accounting Policies

In preparing the consolidated  financial  statements,  management is required to
make estimates and  assumptions  that affect the reported  amounts of assets and
liabilities  as of the date of the balance  sheet and  revenues and expenses for
the period.  Actual  results could differ  significantly  from those  estimates.
Estimates that are  particularly  susceptible to significant  change include the
determination  of the  allowance  for loan losses,  mortgage  servicing  rights,
derivative financial instruments and hedging activities, and income taxes.

The   consolidated   financial   statements   of   Associated   Banc-Corp   (the
"Corporation") are prepared in conformity with accounting  principles  generally
accepted in the United States of America and follow general practices within the
industries in which it operates.  This preparation  requires  management to make
estimates,  assumptions  and judgments  that affect the amounts  reported in the
financial  statements and accompanying  notes. These estimates,  assumptions and
judgments  are based on  information  available as of the date of the  financial
statements;  accordingly,  as this information changes, the financial statements
could reflect different estimates,  assumptions and judgments.  Certain policies
inherently  have a greater  reliance on the use of  estimates,  assumptions  and
judgments and, as such,  have a greater  possibility  of producing  results that
could be materially different than originally reported.  Management believes the
following  policies  are  both  important  to the  portrayal  of  the  company's
financial  condition and results and require subjective or complex judgments and
therefore,   management  considers  the  following  to  be  critical  accounting
policies.

Subject to the use of  estimates,  assumptions  and  judgments  is  management's
evaluation  process used to determine  the  adequacy of the  allowance  for loan
losses which combines several factors:  management's  ongoing review and grading
of the loan portfolio,  consideration  of past loan loss  experience,  trends in
past  due  and  nonperforming   loans,  risk   characteristics  of  the  various
classifications  of  loans,  existing  economic  conditions,  the fair  value of
underlying  collateral,  and other  factors which could affect  probable  credit
losses.  Because  current  economic  conditions can change and future events are
inherently  difficult  to predict,  the  anticipated  amount of  estimated  loan
losses, and therefore the adequacy of the allowance, could change significantly.
The Corporation  believes the allowance for loan losses is adequate and properly
recorded in the financial statements. See section "Allowance for Loan Losses."

The fair value of the Corporation's mortgage servicing rights asset is important
to the  presentation of the consolidated  financial  statements in that mortgage
servicing rights are subject to a fair value-based impairment standard. Mortgage
servicing  rights do not trade in an active open market with readily  observable
prices. As such, like other  participants in the mortgage banking business,  the
Corporation  relies on an internal  discounted  cash flow model to estimate  the
fair value of its mortgage servicing rights. While the Corporation believes that
the values  produced by its internal  model are  indicative of the fair value of
its mortgage servicing rights portfolio,  these values can change  significantly
depending  upon the then current  interest rate  environment  and other economic
conditions.  The proceeds that might be received should the Corporation actually
consider a sale of the mortgage servicing rights portfolio could differ from the
amounts  reported at any point in time.  The  Corporation  believes the mortgage
servicing  rights asset is properly  recorded in the financial  statements.  See
Note  6,  "Goodwill  and  Other  Intangible  Assets"  and  section  "Noninterest
Expense."

In various  aspects of its business the Corporation  uses  derivative  financial
instruments  to reduce  exposure to changes in interest  rates and market prices
for  financial  instruments.  Substantially  all of these  derivative  financial
instruments  are  designated as hedges for  financial  reporting  purposes.  The
application of the hedge accounting  policy requires  judgment in the assessment
of hedge  effectiveness,  identification  of similar  hedged item  groupings and
measurement  of changes in the fair value of hedged  items.  However,  if in the
future the derivative  financial  instruments  used by the Corporation no longer
qualify for hedge accounting treatment and, consequently, the change in the fair
value of  hedged  items  could be  recognized  in  earnings,  the  impact on the
consolidated  results of operations and reported  earnings could be significant.
The  Corporation  believes  hedge  effectiveness  is  evaluated  properly in the
consolidated  financial  statements.   See  Note  7,  "Derivatives  and  Hedging
Activities."

The assessment of tax  liabilities  involves the use of estimates,  assumptions,
interpretations,  and judgments concerning certain accounting pronouncements and
federal and state codes.  There can be no assurance that future events,  such as
court decisions or positions of federal and state taxing  authorities,  will not
differ  from  management's  current  assessment,  the  impact of which  could be
significant to the consolidated results of operations and reported earnings. The
Corporation  believes the tax liabilities are adequate and properly  recorded in
the consolidated financial statements. See section "Income Taxes."

Segment Review

As described  in Note 10,  "Segment  Reporting,"  the  Corporation's  reportable
segment is banking, conducted through its bank and lending subsidiaries. Banking
includes:  a) community  banking - lending and deposit  gathering to  businesses
(including  business-related  services such as cash management and international
banking services) and to consumers  (including  mortgages and credit cards); and
b) corporate  banking - specialized  lending  (such as commercial  real estate),
leasing and banking to larger  businesses  and metro or niche  markets;  and the
support to deliver banking services.

The  Corporation's  profitability  is  primarily  dependent  on the net interest
income,  noninterest  income,  the  level  of the  provision  for  loan  losses,
noninterest  expense  and  taxes  of  its  banking  segment.   The  consolidated
discussion is therefore predominantly describing our banking segment results.

Results of Operations - Summary

Net income for the first six months of 2002 totaled $103.5 million, or $1.39 and
$1.37 for basic and diluted  earnings per share.  Comparatively,  net income for
the first six months of 2001 was $88.1 million, or $1.21 and $1.20 for basic and
diluted  earnings  per  share,  respectively.   See  Note  4  of  the  notes  to
consolidated  financial  statements  for  disclosure of net income and per share
amounts  excluding  goodwill  amortization,  net  of  any  income  tax  effects.
Year-to-date  2002 results  generated an annualized  return on average assets of
1.50% and an annualized  return on average  equity of 17.52%,  compared to 1.36%
and 17.61%, respectively,  for the same period in 2001. For the first six months
of 2002 net  interest  margin  was 3.94%  compared  to 3.45% for the  comparable
period in 2001.

The  following  discussion  refers  to the  Corporation's  business  combination
activity that may impact the comparability of certain financial data (see Note 5
of  the  notes  to  consolidated  financial  statements).  Results  include  the
contribution of the former Signal Financial Corporation  ("Signal") of Minnesota
since its acquisition on February 28, 2002. Signal,  which added $1.1 billion in
total  assets,  $765 million in loans,  and $783 in deposits,  was  successfully
integrated into the Corporation's operating platform during June 2002. While the
comparability of certain line items are affected,  Signal had a modest impact on
the Corporation's overall results through June 30, 2002.



- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    TABLE 1 (1)
                                       Summary Results of Operations: Trends
                                       ($ in Thousands, except per share data)
                                                      Three months ended         Six months ended
                                                 ---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
                                                   June 30, 2002    June 30, 2001    June 30, 2002    June 30, 2001
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                            
Net income, as reported                             $   52,183       $   46,019       $   103,482       $   88,105
Net income, as adjusted (2)                             52,183           47,404           103,482           90,874

Earnings per share - basic, as reported             $     0.69       $     0.63       $      1.39       $     1.21
Earnings per share - basic, as adjusted (2)               0.69             0.65              1.39             1.25

Earnings per share - diluted, as reported           $     0.68       $     0.63       $      1.37       $     1.20
Earnings per share - diluted, as adjusted (2)             0.68             0.65              1.37             1.24

Return on average assets, as reported                     1.47%            1.42%             1.50%            1.36%
Return on average assets, as adjusted (2)                 1.47             1.46              1.50             1.41

Return on average equity, as reported                    16.73%           18.02%            17.52%           17.61%
Return on average equity, as adjusted (2)                16.73            18.56             17.52            18.16

Return on tangible average equity, as reported (3)       20.36%           20.05%            20.68%           19.65%
Return on tangible average equity, as adjusted
  (2), (3)                                               20.36            20.65             20.68            20.27

Efficiency ratio, as reported (4)                        50.33%           51.38%            49.43%           52.48%
Efficiency ratio, as adjusted (2), (4)                   50.33            50.51             49.43            51.57

Net interest margin                                       3.96%            3.56%             3.94%            3.45%

(1)  All per share financial information has been restated to reflect the effect
     of the stock dividend.

(2)  Selected 2001 financial data has been adjusted to exclude the  amortization
     of goodwill affected by adopting SFAS 142 in 2002.

(3)  Net income divided by average  stockholders'  equity excluding goodwill and
     core deposit intangibles. (4) Noninterest expense divided by sum of taxable
     equivalent  net  interest  income  plus   noninterest   income,   excluding
     investment  securities  gains  (losses),  net, and asset sales gains,  net.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




Net Interest Income and Net Interest Margin

Net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis for the six months ended
June 30, 2002,  was $255.3  million,  an increase of $43.2 million or 20.4% over
the  comparable  period  last  year,  with the Signal  acquisition  contributing
approximately  $14 million.  As  indicated in Tables 2 and 3, the $43.2  million
increase in fully taxable  equivalent net interest  income was  attributable  to
rate (as the impact of changes in the interest rate  environment  improved fully
taxable  equivalent  net  interest  income by $35.0  million)  and,  to a lesser
degree,  volume (with balance sheet growth and differences in the mix of average
earning assets and average  interest-bearing  liabilities adding $8.2 million to
fully taxable equivalent net interest income).

The net interest  margin for the first six months of 2002 was 3.94%, up 49 basis
points  ("bp") from 3.45% for the  comparable  period in 2001.  This  comparable
period increase is attributable to a 67 bp increase in interest rate spread (the
net of a 206 bp decrease in the cost of  interest-bearing  liabilities and a 139
bp decrease in the yield on earning  assets),  partially offset by a 18 bp lower
contribution from net free funds.

Interest rates fell significantly  between the comparable six-month periods. The
average Federal funds rate of 1.75% for year-to-date  2002 was 321 bp lower than
the average for  year-to-date  2001. Both fully taxable  equivalent net interest
income  and  net  interest  margin   benefited  from  the  lower  interest  rate
environment, particularly by lower costs of interest-bearing liabilities.

The yield on earning assets was 6.31% for  year-to-date  2002,  down 139 bp from
the  comparable  six-month  period  last  year.  Competitive  pricing on new and
refinanced  loans,  as well as the  repricing of variable  rate loans in a lower
interest rate environment put downward pressure on loan yields. The average loan
yield was  6.42%,  down 162 bp from  year-to-date  2001.  The  average  yield on
investments and other earning assets was 5.98%, down 75 bp.

The cost of  interest-bearing  liabilities was 2.75% for year-to-date 2002, down
206 bp compared to the first six months of 2001,  impacted by the  significantly
lower rate  environment in 2002. The average cost of  interest-bearing  deposits
excluding   brokered  CDs  was  2.54%,  down  189  bp  from  year-to-date  2001,
benefitting from a larger mix of lower-costing  transaction accounts, as well as
from lower rates on all  interest-bearing  deposit products in year-to-date 2002
versus  year-to-date  2001.  Brokered CD balances  declined to represent 2.8% of
interest-bearing  liabilities  (versus 4.7% for year-to-date 2001) and had lower
costs (down 425 bp to 2.08% for year-to-date  2002). The cost of wholesale funds
(comprised of short-term  borrowings and long-term  debt) was 3.22% (down 219 bp
from  year-to-date  2001),  also  primarily   attributable  to  the  lower  rate
environment between comparable periods.

Average  earning  assets  increased by $722 million  (5.9%) over the  comparable
period last year. The growth in earning assets came primarily from loans,  up an
average of $631 million (7.0%). The Corporation  maintains a commercial focus to
the composition of its loan portfolio;  commercial  loans  represented  59.2% of
average loans for  year-to-date  2002 compared to 52.5% for  year-to-date  2001.
Average  investments  and other  earning  assets  increased  $91 million to $3.3
billion.

Average  interest-bearing  liabilities  increased  $380 million  (3.5%) over the
comparable  period last year. While the growth in  interest-bearing  liabilities
was modest, the mix is significantly  different between comparable periods.  The
use of brokered CDs, a  comparatively  costly  funding  source during 2001,  was
intentionally  reduced 39.1% (down $197 million),  representing  2.8% of average
interest-bearing liabilities versus 4.7% for year-to-date 2001. Interest-bearing
deposits  excluding  brokered CDs were up slightly,  but with a notable shift in
year-to-date 2002 from time deposits to transaction accounts.  Average wholesale
funding  increased $416 million  (predominantly  in long-term  debt) to 32.7% of
interest-bearing  liabilities  for  year-to-date  2002  compared  to  30.0%  for
year-to-date  2001.  To take  advantage of the lower rate  environment,  improve
liquidity  and  mitigate  interest  rate risk,  the  Corporation  increased  its
long-term debt, on average, to 12.7% of interest-bearing liabilities compared to
2.1% for year-to-date 2001. The growth in long-term debt since year-to-date 2001
included  the  issuance of $200  million of fixed rate  subordinated  debt,  $50
million of variable  rate bank notes,  increased  use of long-term  Federal Home
Loan Bank advances, and $175 million of trust preferred debt.





- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       TABLE 2
                                Net Interest Income Analysis-Taxable Equivalent Basis
                                                   ($ in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Six Months ended June 30, 2002           Six Months ended June 30, 2001
                                                        Interest     Average                     Interest     Average
                                          Average        Income/     Yield/        Average        Income/     Yield/
                                          Balance        Expense      Rate         Balance        Expense      Rate
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 
Loans (1)                              $  9,655,626    $ 310,249      6.42%     $  9,024,936    $ 363,185      8.04%
Investments and other (1)                 3,278,759       98,014      5.98         3,187,837      107,284      6.73
                                       -------------------------                -------------------------
  Total earning assets                   12,934,385      408,263      6.31        12,212,773      470,469      7.70
Other assets, net                           972,877                                  811,744
                                       ------------                               ----------
  Total assets                         $ 13,907,262                             $ 13,024,517
                                       ============                             ============

Interest-bearing deposits,
  excluding brokered CDs               $  7,202,585    $  90,615      2.54%     $  7,040,467    $ 154,527      4.43%
Brokered CDs                                307,796        3,174      2.08           505,257       15,866      6.33
Wholesale funding                         3,652,863       59,179      3.22         3,237,342       87,979      5.41
                                       -------------------------                -------------------------
  Total interest-bearing liabilities     11,163,244      152,968      2.75        10,783,066      258,372      4.81
                                                       ---------                                  -------
Demand, non-interest bearing              1,373,361                                1,100,142
Other liabilities                           179,594                                  132,438
Stockholders' equity                      1,191,063                                1,008,871
                                       ------------                             ------------
  Total liabilities and equity         $ 13,907,262                             $ 13,024,517
                                       ============                             ============

Interest rate spread                                                  3.56%                                    2.89%
Net free funds                                                        0.38                                     0.56
                                                                      ----                                     ----
Net interest income, taxable
  equivalent, and net interest margin                  $ 255,295      3.94%                     $ 212,097      3.45%
                                                       ===================                      ===================
Tax equivalent adjustment                                 12,100                                   11,142
                                                       ---------                                ---------
Net interest income, as reported                       $ 243,195                                $ 200,955
                                                       =========                                =========

(1)  The  yield  on  tax  exempt   loans  and   securities   is  computed  on  a
     tax-equivalent  basis using a tax rate of 35% for all periods presented and
     is net of the effects of certain disallowed interest deductions.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 TABLE 2 (continued)
                                Net Interest Income Analysis-Taxable Equivalent Basis
                                                    ($ in Thousands)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Three Months ended June 30, 2002         Three Months ended June 30, 2001
                                                        Interest     Average                     Interest     Average
                                          Average        Income/     Yield/        Average        Income/     Yield/
                                          Balance        Expense      Rate         Balance        Expense      Rate
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  
Loans (1)                              $  9,902,462    $ 158,595      6.37%     $  9,063,780     $ 178,525     7.84%
Investments and other (1)                 3,346,128       49,299      5.89         3,164,578        52,664     6.66%
                                       -------------------------                --------------------------
   Total earning assets                  13,248,590      207,894      6.25        12,228,358       231,189     7.53%
Other assets, net                         1,024,642                                  808,237
                                       ------------                             ------------
   Total assets                        $ 14,273,232                             $ 13,036,595
                                       ============                             ============

Interest-bearing deposits,
  excluding brokered CDs               $  7,343,444    $  44,027      2.40%     $  7,040,448     $  73,778     4.20%
Brokered CDs                                289,676        1,533      2.12           348,965         5,187     5.96
Wholesale funding                         3,767,182       30,529      3.21         3,371,135        42,731     5.01
                                       -------------------------                --------------------------
  Total interest-bearing liabilities     11,400,302       76,089      2.66        10,760,548       121,696     4.51
                                                       ---------                                   -------
Demand, non-interest bearing              1,448,314                                1,115,347
Other liabilities                           173,868                                  136,413
Stockholders' equity                      1,250,748                                1,024,287
                                       ------------                             ------------
   Total liabilities and equity        $ 14,273,232                             $ 13,036,595
                                       ============                             ============
Interest rate spread                                                  3.59%                                    3.02%
Net free funds                                                        0.37                                     0.54
                                                                      ----                                     ----
Net interest income, taxable
  equivalent, and net interest
  margin                                               $ 131,805      3.96%                      $ 109,493     3.56%
                                                       ===================                       ==================
Tax equivalent adjustment                                  6,037                                     5,541
                                                       ---------                                 ---------
Net interest income, as reported                       $ 125,768                                 $ 103,952
                                                       =========                                 =========
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------







- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          TABLE 3
                     Volume / Rate Variance - Taxable Equivalent Basis
                                      ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Comparison of
                                                 Six months ended June 30, 2002 versus 2001
                                                    Income/    Variance Attributable to
                                                    Expense
                                                   Variance *     Volume       Rate
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST INCOME
                                                                    
Loans                                              $ (52,936)   $  16,830    $ (69,766)
Investments and other                                 (9,270)       2,100      (11,370)
                                                   -----------------------------------
   Total interest income                             (62,206)      18,930      (81,136)

INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest-bearing deposits excluding brokered CDs   $ (63,912)   $   2,039    $ (65,951)
Brokered CDs                                         (12,692)      (2,036)     (10,656)
Wholesale funding                                    (28,800)      10,747      (39,547)
                                                   -----------------------------------
   Total interest expense                           (105,404)      10,750     (116,154)
                                                   -----------------------------------
   Net interest income                             $  43,198    $   8,180    $  35,018
                                                   ===================================

*    The  change in  interest  due to both rate and  volume  has been  allocated
     proportionately   to  volume  variance  and  rate  variance  based  on  the
     relationship     of    the    absolute     dollar     change    in    each.
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------







- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     TABLE 3 (continued)
                     Volume / Rate Variance - Taxable Equivalent Basis
                                      ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Comparison of
                                                 Six months ended June 30, 2002 versus 2001
                                                    Income/    Variance Attributable to
                                                    Expense
                                                   Variance *     Volume       Rate
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEREST INCOME
                                                                    
Loans                                              $ (19,930)   $  11,940    $ (31,870)
Investments and other                                 (3,365)       2,234       (5,599)
                                                   -----------------------------------
  Total interest income                              (23,295)      14,174      (37,469)

INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest-bearing deposits excluding brokered CDs   $ (29,751)   $   1,932    $ (31,683)
Brokered CDs                                          (3,654)        (309)      (3,345)
Wholesale funding                                    (12,202)       5,248      (17,450)
                                                   -----------------------------------
  Total interest expense                             (45,607)       6,871      (52,478)
                                                   -----------------------------------
  Net interest income                              $  22,312    $   7,303    $  15,009
=============================================================================================


Provision for Loan Losses

The provision for loan losses for year-to-date 2002 was $23.3 million,  up $11.3
million from year-to-date  2001 of $11.9 million.  The provision for loan losses
reflects the increase in  nonperforming  assets and charge offs.  Annualized net
charge-offs  as a percent of average loans for  year-to-date  2002  increased to
0.31% from  0.13% for  year-to-date  2001 and 0.22% for the full year 2001.  The
ratio of the allowance  for loan losses to total loans was 1.50%,  up from 1.41%
at June 30, 2001 and 1.42% at December 31, 2001. See Table 8.

The provision  for loan losses is  predominantly  a function of the  methodology
used to determine the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses which focuses on
changes in the size and  character of the loan  portfolio,  changes in levels of
impaired and other  nonperforming  loans,  historical  losses on each  portfolio
category,  the risk  inherent  in  specific  loans,  concentrations  of loans to
specific borrowers or industries,  existing economic conditions,  the fair value
of underlying collateral,  and other factors which could affect potential credit
losses. See additional discussion under the "Allowance for Loan Losses" section.

Noninterest Income

Year-to-date  2002  noninterest  income was $97.3  million,  with Signal  adding
approximately  $5  million  to 2002  results.  Compared  to  year-to-date  2001,
noninterest income was up $2.0 million, or 2.1%. Increases in service charges on
deposit accounts and retail  commissions were offset, in part, by lower mortgage
banking revenue.





- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         TABLE 4
                                                   Noninterest Income
                                                     ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    2nd Qtr.   2nd Qtr.    Dollar       Percent    YTD        YTD      Dollar     Percent
                                      2002       2001      Change       Change     2002       2001     Change     Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          
Trust service fees                 $  7,722   $  7,339    $    383        5.2%  $ 15,093   $ 15,411   $   (318)     (2.1)%
Service charges on deposit fee
  accounts                           11,733      9,550       2,183       22.9     21,613     18,295      3,318      18.1
Mortgage banking                      9,637     15,504      (5,867)     (37.8)    22,241     24,689     (2,448)     (9.9)
Credit card & other nondeposit fees   7,094      7,121         (27)      (0.4)    13,166     13,896       (730)     (5.3)
Retail commissions                    5,885      4,265       1,620       38.0     10,501      8,749      1,752      20.0
Bank owned life insurance income      3,469      3,184         285        9.0      6,739      6,318        421       6.7
Asset sale gains, net                    41        383        (342)     (89.3)       372        915       (543)    (59.3)
Other                                 4,322      3,687         635       17.2      7,578      6,833        745      10.9
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal                         $ 49,903   $ 51,033    $ (1,130)      (2.2)% $ 97,303   $ 95,106   $  2,197       2.3%
Investment securities gains
(losses), net                           ---           (4)          4     (100.0)     ---        242       (242)   (100.0)
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total noninterest income           $ 49,903   $ 51,029    $ (1,126)      (2.2)% $ 97,303   $ 95,348   $  1,955       2.1%
                                   =====================================================================================
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Trust service fees  decreased  $0.3  million,  or 2.1%,  between the  comparable
six-month  periods.  The  change  was the net of an  increase  in tax return fee
revenue and decreases in servicing  fees on personal and employee  benefit plans
due to the lower market value of assets under  management  (from $4.1 billion at
June  30,  2001 to $3.7  billion  at June  30,  2002),  reflecting  both  market
conditions and competitive factors.

Service charges on deposit accounts were up $3.3 million, or 18.1%,  between the
comparable  six-month  periods.  The increase  was a function of higher  service
charges on business accounts and higher fees on  overdrafts/nonsufficient  funds
due, in part, to an increase in fee rates during the first quarter of 2002.

Mortgage banking income consists of servicing fees, the gain or loss on sales of
mortgage  loans to the  secondary  market,  gains on  sales  of  servicing,  and
production-related  fees  (origination,  underwriting  and escrow  waiver fees).
Mortgage  banking income decreased $2.4 million compared to the first six months
of 2001.  The  decrease  was  primarily a result of $4.0 million in gains on the
sales of  mortgage  servicing  rights  during  year-to-date  2001 versus none in
year-to-date  2002.  Secondary  mortgage  loan  production  was $1.1  billion in
year-to-date  2002  versus  $1.0  billion  in  year-to-date  2001.  As a result,
production-related  fees were up $2.7 million. Gains on sales of loans were down
$0.8  million,  primarily a function of loan sale  pricing and  decreases in the
fair value of mortgage derivatives. Servicing fees on the portfolio serviced for
others were down slightly ($0.3 million) between comparable  periods,  given the
minimal change in the average balance serviced.

Credit  card and other  nondeposit  fees were  $13.2  million  for the first six
months of 2002,  a  decrease  of $0.7  million or 5.3% from  year-to-date  2001,
primarily in miscellaneous retail loan fees.

Retail  commission  income  (which  includes   commissions  from  insurance  and
brokerage  product  sales) was $10.5  million,  up $1.8 million  compared to the
first  six  months  of 2001.  This  increase  was  attributable  principally  to
commissions on fixed annuities, a more attractive product to consumers given the
lower rate environment.

Other  noninterest  income  increased $0.7 million,  or 10.9% from  year-to-date
2001.  The sale of stock in a regional  ATM  network  resulted in a gain of $0.5
million during the first quarter of 2002.

Noninterest Expense

Noninterest expense was $174.1 million, up $13.4 million or 8.3% compared to the
first six  months of 2001,  with  Signal  adding  approximately  $11  million of
expense. Adjusting for goodwill amortization, which ceased on January 1, 2002 as
a result of  adopting  SFAS 142,  noninterest  expense  was up $16.1  million or
10.2%.  Large  increases were in personnel and occupancy  costs,  given a larger
employee base and broader branch network as the Corporation assimilated Signal's
businesses  and  operations.   The  Corporation  expects  to  realize  operating
efficiency  savings,  particularly  following the  integration,  which  occurred
during the second  quarter of 2002, of Signal's  banking  subsidiaries  with and
into Associated Bank Minnesota, to operate under a single national charter named
Associated Bank Minnesota, National Association.





- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         TABLE 5
                                                   Noninterest Expense
                                                     ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    2nd Qtr.   2nd Qtr.    Dollar       Percent    YTD        YTD      Dollar     Percent
                                      2002       2001      Change       Change     2002       2001     Change     Change
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          
Personnel expense                  $  48,764  $  41,233   $  7,531       18.3%  $  93,758  $  81,538  $ 12,220      15.0%
Occupancy                              6,650      5,927        723       12.2      12,787     12,281       506       4.1
Equipment                              3,727      3,650         77        2.1       7,217      7,330      (113)     (1.5)
Data processing                        5,304      4,822        482       10.0      10,107      9,665       442       4.6
Business development & advertising     3,126      3,191        (65)      (2.0)      6,572      6,192       380       6.1
Stationery and supplies                1,786      2,330       (544)     (23.3)      3,830      4,062      (232)     (5.7)
FDIC expense                             402        446        (44)      (9.9)        774        880      (106)    (12.0)
Mortgage servicing rights expense      3,874      2,710      1,164       43.0       6,771      6,609       162       2.5
Intangible amortization expense          884        717        167       23.3       1,599      1,434       165      11.5
Legal and professional fees            1,461        777        684       88.0       2,753      1,669     1,084      64.9
Other                                 15,459     15,090        369        2.4      27,936     26,299     1,637       6.2
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Subtotal                         $  91,437  $  80,893   $ 10,544       13.0%  $ 174,104  $ 157,959  $ 16,145      10.2%
Goodwill amortization expense            ---      1,385     (1,385)    (100.0)        ---      2,769    (2,769)   (100.0)
                                   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Total noninterest expense        $  91,437  $  82,278   $  9,159       11.1%  $ 174,104  $ 160,728  $ 13,376      8.3%
                                   ====================================================================================
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Personnel  expense increased $12.2 million or 15.0% over the first six months of
2001, and represented  53.9% of total  noninterest  expense in year-to-date 2002
compared to 50.7% in year-to-date 2001. Average full-time  equivalent  employees
were 4,043 for  year-to-date  2002 (with  Signal  adding,  on  average,  239 for
year-to-date  2002) compared to 3,850 for year-to-date  2001, an increase of 5%.
Total  salary  expense  increased  $8.9 million or 14.0% (4%  excluding  Signal)
between  comparable  periods,  primarily a function of merit  increases  between
years,  and higher base  salaries and incentive  compensation  given the overall
increase in full-time  equivalent  employees.  Fringe  benefits  increased  $3.3
million or 18.3% (12% without Signal) over year-to-date 2001,  attributable also
to the larger  employee  base,  and to higher  profit  sharing  expenses and the
increased cost of premium based benefits.

Occupancy   expense   increased  4.1%  to  support  the  larger  branch  network
attributable mostly to the Signal acquisition. Data processing costs were up due
to the conversion of Signal to the Corporation's  common operating  platforms in
the second quarter of 2002.

Mortgage servicing rights expense includes both the amortization of the mortgage
servicing  rights asset and  increases or decreases to the  valuation  allowance
associated with the mortgage  servicing rights asset.  Mortgage servicing rights
expense increased by $0.2 million between comparable periods,  the net of a $1.6
million increase in the amortization of the mortgage  servicing rights asset and
a $1.4 million  smaller  addition to the valuation  allowance  between  periods.
Mortgage servicing rights are considered a critical accounting policy given that
estimating the fair value of the mortgage  servicing  rights involves  judgment,
particularly of estimated prepayment speeds of the underlying mortgages serviced
and the overall level of interest rates. A valuation allowance is established to
the extent the  carrying  value of the  mortgage  servicing  rights  exceeds the
estimated fair value.  Net income could be affected if management's  estimate of
the  prepayment   speeds  or  other  factors  differ   materially   from  actual
prepayments.  Mortgage servicing rights,  included in other intangible assets on
the  consolidated  balance sheet,  were $36.8  million,  net of an $11.5 million
valuation allowance at June 30, 2002. See Note 6, "Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets" for additional disclosure.

Legal and professional fees were up $1.1 million between comparable periods with
most categories  showing  increases (legal fees,  consultant fees and exam/audit
fees). Other expense was $27.9 million,  up $1.6 million from year-to-date 2001,
due primarily to higher loan expenses  (notably  credit card and commercial loan
expenses) and higher office  expense  (predominantly  courier and  communication
expenses).  Goodwill  amortization  expense  decreased  $2.8  million due to the
adoption of SFAS 142, which required the  amortization of goodwill to cease. See
Note 3, "Adoption of Statements of Financial  Accounting  Standards" and Note 6,
"Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" for additional disclosure.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the first six months of 2002 was $39.7  million,  up $4.1
million or 11.6% from the  comparable  period in 2001.  The  effective  tax rate
(income  tax  expense  divided by income  before  taxes) was 27.7% and 28.7% for
year-to-date  2002 and  year-to-date  2001,  respectively.  The  decline  in the
effective  tax rate was a result of tax  benefits  realized due to the merger of
the Wisconsin banks into a single national  charter during 2001 and the adoption
of SFAS 142 in 2002, which required the amortization of goodwill to cease.

Income tax expense recorded in the consolidated statement of income involves the
interpretation and application of certain accounting  pronouncements and federal
and state tax codes, and is, therefore, considered a critical accounting policy.
The Corporation  undergoes examination by various regulatory taxing authorities.
Such agencies may require that changes in the amount of tax expense or valuation
allowance  be  recognized  when  their  interpretations  differ  from  those  of
management,  based on their judgments about information available to them at the
time of their examinations.

Balance Sheet

At June 30, 2002, total assets were $14.5 billion,  an increase of $1.3 billion,
or 9.6%, over June 30, 2001.  Signal,  acquired on February 28, 2002, added $1.1
billion in total assets,  $765 million in loans, and $783 million in deposits on
the date of  acquisition.  Loan growth  since June 30, 2001 was $899  million or
10.0%, predominantly attributable to the Signal acquisition. The growth in loans
was primarily in commercial loans,  which grew $1.1 billion and now comprise 61%
of total  loans.  However,  overall  loan growth was  tempered by a $499 million
decline  in  residential  real  estate  loans,  attributable  to high  refinance
activity  and sales of  current  production  into the  secondary  market.  Total
deposits were up $526 million or 6.2%,  principally  due to the  acquisition  of
Signal.  Demand  deposits grew $391 million  (33.2%),  to represent 17% of total
deposits, compared to 14% a year earlier. Given the low rate environment,  other
time deposit  balances have  declined,  as maturing  balances have moved to more
liquid  deposit  products  or  to  alternative  investment  options.  Short-term
borrowings  decreased  $657 million,  primarily in short-term  Federal Home Loan
Bank advances,  as  longer-term  funding  sources were utilized.  Since June 30,
2001,  long-term  debt grew $991  million due to the issuance of $200 million of
subordinated debt, $50 million of bank notes, and the increased use of long-term
Federal Home Loan Bank advances. Additionally, during the second quarter of 2002
the Corporation issued $175 million of company-obligated  mandatorily redeemable
preferred securities.

Since year-end 2001, total assets grew $872 million,  again  attributable to the
Signal acquisition, with loans up $863 million predominantly in commercial loans
(up $801 million).  Deposits  increased $414 million to $9.0 billion at June 30,
2002, led by  interest-bearing  demand  deposits,  which  increased $191 million
since  year-end  2001.  See  Tables 6 and 7 for  period  end  loan  and  deposit
composition, respectively.



- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       TABLE 6
                                             Period End Loan Composition
                                                   ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        June 30,      % of     June 30,     % of     Dec. 31,     % of
                                          2002        Total      2001       Total      2001        Total
- ------------------------------------------ -------------- ---------- --------------- --------- ----------
                                                                                 
Commercial, financial &agricultural  $ 2,127,665       21%  $ 1,774,451      20%  $ 1,783,300       20%
Real estate-construction                 821,658        8       749,185       8       797,734        9
Commercial real estate                 3,037,284       31     2,401,869      27     2,630,964       29
Lease financing                           38,212        1        14,026      --        11,629       --
                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------
  Commercial                           6,024,819       61     4,939,531      55     5,223,627       58
Residential real estate                2,364,373       24     2,863,382      32     2,524,199       28
Home equity                              777,347        8       535,525       6       609,254        7
                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------
  Residential mortgage                 3,141,720       32     3,398,907      38     3,133,453       35
Consumer                                 716,130        7       645,240       7       662,784        7
                                      ----------------------------------------------------------------
Total loans                          $ 9,882,669      100%  $ 8,983,678     100%  $ 9,019,864      100%
                                      ================================================================
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       TABLE 7
                                           Period End Deposit Composition
                                                   ($ in Thousands)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        June 30,      % of     June 30,     % of     Dec. 31,     % of
                                          2002        Total      2001       Total      2001        Total
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 
Noninterest-bearing demand           $ 1,566,487       17%  $ 1,175,615      14%  $ 1,425,109       17%
Savings                                  912,019       10       839,538      10       801,648        9
Interest-bearing demand                1,113,342       12       762,910       9       922,164       11
Money market                           1,888,165       21     1,759,104      21     1,814,098       21
Brokered CDs                             233,968        3       322,857       4       290,000        3
Other time                             3,312,263       37     3,640,202      42     3,359,592       39
                                     -----------------------------------------------------------------
Total deposits                       $ 9,026,244      100%  $ 8,500,226     100%  $ 8,612,611      100%
                                     =================================================================
Total deposits, excluding
  Brokered CDs                       $ 8,792,276       97%  $ 8,177,369      96%  $ 8,322,611       97%
                                     =================================================================
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Allowance For Loan Losses

The loan  portfolio is the  Corporation's  primary asset subject to credit risk.
Credit risk is controlled and monitored through the use of lending standards,  a
thorough  review of potential  borrowers,  and  on-going  review of loan payment
performance.  Active asset quality administration,  including early problem loan
identification  and timely resolution of problems,  further ensures  appropriate
management of credit risk and minimization of loan losses.



- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                TABLE 8
                          Allowance for Loan Losses and Nonperforming Assets
                                           ($ in Thousands)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     At and for the        At and for the
                                                                    Six months ended         year ended
                                                                          June 30,          December 31,
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    2002          2001          2001
                                                                 --------------------------------------
Allowance for Loan Losses:
                                                                                    
Balance at beginning of period                                   $ 128,204     $ 120,232     $ 120,232
Balance related to acquisition                                      11,985           ---           ---
Provision for loan losses                                           23,254        11,947        28,210
Charge-offs                                                        (16,787)       (7,216)      (22,639)
Recoveries                                                           2,077         1,427         2,401
                                                                 -------------------------------------
    Net charge-offs                                                (14,710)       (5,789)      (20,238)
                                                                 -------------------------------------
Balance at end of period                                         $ 148,733     $ 126,390     $ 128,204
                                                                 =====================================

Nonperforming Assets:
Nonaccrual loans                                                 $  82,474     $  49,147     $  48,238
Accruing loans past due 90 days or more                              4,683         3,779         3,649
Restructured loans                                                     115           143           238
                                                                 -------------------------------------
Total nonperforming loans                                           87,272        53,069        52,125
Other real estate owned                                              2,610         2,603         2,717
                                                                 -------------------------------------
      Total nonperforming assets                                 $  89,882     $  55,672     $  54,842
                                                                 =====================================
Ratios:
Allowance for loan losses to net charge-offs (annualized)            5.01x        10.83x         6.33x
Net charge-offs to average loans (annualized)                         0.31%         0.13%         0.22%
Allowance for loan losses to total loans                              1.50%         1.41%         1.42%
Nonperforming loans to total loans                                    0.88%         0.59%         0.58%
Nonperforming assets to total assets                                  0.62%         0.42%         0.40%
Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans                       170%          238%          246%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------




As of June  30,  2002,  the  allowance  for  loan  losses  was  $148.7  million,
representing 1.50% of loans outstanding, compared to $126.4 million, or 1.41% of
loans, at June 30, 2001, and $128.2 million,  or 1.42% at year-end 2001. At June
30, 2002, the allowance for loan losses was 170% of nonperforming loans compared
to 238%  and  246%  at June 30 and  December  31,  2001,  respectively.  Table 8
provides  additional  information  regarding  activity in the allowance for loan
losses.

The allowance for loan losses at June 30, 2002 increased  $22.3 million  (17.7%)
since June 30, 2001 and $20.5  million  (16.0%)  since  December 31, 2001,  with
approximately   $12  million  of  the  increase   attributable   to  the  Signal
acquisition. The remainder of the increase is, in part, in response to continued
growth in total loans, the increase in  nonperforming  loans and net charge offs
between  comparable  periods (see Table 8 and section  "Nonperforming  Loans and
Other Real Estate Owned), and the continued soft economic  conditions.  Loans at
June 30, 2002 grew $899 million  (10.0%) since June 30, 2001,  predominantly  in
commercial loans (see commercial,  financial and  agricultural;  commercial real
estate and real estate construction loans included in Table 6). Period end loans
grew $863 million since  year-end.  The mix of commercial  loans  increased as a
percent of total loans to 61% at June 30, 2002  compared to 55% at June 30, 2001
and 58% at December 31, 2001.

Gross  charge-offs  were $16.8  million for the six months  ended June 30, 2002,
$7.2 million for the  comparable  period ended June 30, 2001,  and $22.6 million
for the year 2001,  while  recoveries  for the  corresponding  periods were $2.1
million,  $1.4 million, and $2.4 million,  respectively.  The rise in net charge
offs is  largely  due to the  charge off of  several  large  commercial  credits
(accountable for approximately  $9.1 million of the charge offs) during 2002. As
a result,  the ratio of net charge-offs to average loans on an annualized  basis
was 0.31%,  0.13%, and 0.22% for year-to-date  2002,  year-to-date 2001, and for
the year 2001, respectively.

The  allowance  for loan losses  represents  management's  estimate of an amount
adequate to provide for  probable  credit  losses in the loan  portfolio  at the
balance sheet date. Management's evaluation of the adequacy of the allowance for
loan  losses is based on  management's  ongoing  review and  grading of the loan
portfolio,  consideration of past loan loss  experience,  trends in past due and
nonperforming  loans, risk  characteristics  of the various  classifications  of
loans,  existing economic conditions,  the fair value of underlying  collateral,
and other factors which could affect  probable  credit losses.  Assessing  these
numerous factors involves judgment.  The change in the allowance for loan losses
is a function  of a number of factors,  including  but not limited to changes in
the loan portfolio (see Table 6), net charge-offs and  nonperforming  loans (see
Table  8 and  section  "Nonperforming  Loans  and  Other  Real  Estate  Owned").
Management considers the allowance for loan losses a critical accounting policy.

Management  believes  the  allowance  for loan losses to be adequate at June 30,
2002. While management uses available  information to recognize losses on loans,
future  adjustments  to the allowance for loan losses may be necessary  based on
changes  in  economic   conditions   and  the  impact  of  such  change  on  the
Corporation's  borrowers.  As an  integral  part of their  examination  process,
various  regulatory  agencies also review the  allowance  for loan losses.  Such
agencies may require that certain loan balances be charged off when their credit
evaluations  differ from those of  management,  based on their  judgments  about
information available to them at the time of their examination.

Nonperforming Loans And Other Real Estate Owned

Management is committed to promptly  identifying  and resolving  nonaccrual  and
problem loans.  This philosophy is embodied  through the ongoing  monitoring and
reviewing  of all pools of risk in the loan  portfolio  to ensure  that  problem
loans are identified quickly and the risk of loss is minimized.

Nonperforming loans are considered an indicator of potential future loan losses.
Nonperforming  loans are defined as nonaccrual loans, loans 90 days or more past
due but still accruing and  restructured  loans.  The  Corporation  specifically
excludes  student  loan  balances  that are 90 days or more  past due and  still
accruing and that have  contractual  government  guarantees  as to collection of
principal  and  interest,  from  its  definition  of  nonperforming  loans.  The
Corporation had $20 million,  $18 million and $21 million of these student loans
at June 30, 2002, June 30, 2001, and December 31, 2001, respectively.

Table 8 provides detailed  information  regarding  nonperforming  assets.  Total
nonperforming  loans at June 30, 2002 were up $34.2  million  and $35.1  million
from June 30 and  December 31, 2001,  respectively.  The ratio of  nonperforming
loans to total loans was .88% at June 30, 2002,  as compared to .59% and .58% at
June 30 and December 31, 2001,  respectively.  Nonaccrual  loans account for the
majority of the $34.2 million increase in nonperforming loans between comparable
June 30 periods,  with nonaccrual  loans increasing $33.3 million and loans past
due 90 or more days increasing $0.9 million. The increase in nonaccrual loans is
predominantly  attributable to the addition,  during the second quarter of 2002,
of one commercial manufacturing credit (totaling $22 million) for which payments
are  current;   however,  the  Corporation  has  doubts  concerning  the  future
collectibility  of the loan given the current  economic  conditions  and has set
aside $10 million of the allowance  for loan losses for this credit.  Nonaccrual
loans  also  account  for  the  majority  of  the  $35.1  million   increase  in
nonperforming  loans since  year-end  2001.  Nonaccrual  loans  increased  $34.2
million (again  primarily  attributable to the credit  discussed  above),  while
accruing loans past due 90 or more days increased $1.0 million.

Other real estate owned was $2.6 million at June 30, 2002,  unchanged  from June
30, 2001 and down $0.1 million from December 31, 2001.

Potential  problem  loans are loans  where there are doubts as to the ability of
the borrower to comply with present  repayment terms. The decision of management
to place loans in this category does not  necessarily  mean that the Corporation
expects losses to occur but that  management  recognizes that a higher degree of
risk is associated  with these  performing  loans.  At June 30, 2002,  potential
problem  loans  totaled  $205  million.  The loans  that have been  reported  as
potential  problem  loans  are  not  concentrated  in  a  particular   industry.
Management  does not presently  expect  significant  losses from credits in this
category.

Liquidity

Effective liquidity  management ensures the cash flow requirements of depositors
and borrowers, as well as the operating cash needs of the Corporation,  are met.
Funds  are  available  from  a  number  of  sources,  including  the  securities
portfolio,  the core deposit base, lines of credit with major banks, the ability
to acquire large and brokered deposits, and the ability to securitize or package
loans for sale.  Additionally,  liquidity is provided from loans and  investment
securities repayments and maturities.

The subsidiary  banks are subject to regulation and, among other things,  may be
limited  in their  ability  to pay  dividends  or  transfer  funds to the parent
company.  Accordingly,  consolidated cash flows as presented in the consolidated
statements of cash flows may not represent  cash  immediately  available for the
payment of cash dividends to the  Corporation's  stockholders  or for other cash
needs.

For the six  months  ended  June 30,  2002,  net cash  provided  from  operating
activities was $318.5 million, while investing and financing activities used net
cash of $135.8 million and $378.3 million,  respectively,  for a net decrease in
cash and cash  equivalents of $195.6  million since  year-end  2001.  Generally,
during year-to-date 2002,  anticipated  maturities of time deposits occurred and
net asset growth since year-end 2001 was up due to the Signal acquisition. Other
funding  sources were  utilized,  particularly  long-term  debt,  to finance the
Signal  acquisition,  replenish the net decrease in deposits,  repay  short-term
borrowings,  to provide for common  stock  repurchases,  and for payment of cash
dividends to the Corporation's stockholders.

For the six  months  ended  June 30,  2001,  net cash  provided  from  operating
activities was $40.8 million,  while investing and financing activities used net
cash of $6.6 million and $74.2 million, respectively, for a net decrease in cash
and cash  equivalents of $40.0 million since year-end  2000.  Generally,  during
year-to-date  2001,  anticipated  maturities of time deposits  (predominantly in
brokered CDs) occurred, while total asset growth since year-end 2000 was minimal
(less than 1%). Other financing sources increased,  particularly  long-term debt
and other short-term borrowings,  to replace the net decrease in deposits and to
provide  for common  stock  repurchases  and  payment of cash  dividends  to the
Corporation's stockholders.

The parent company manages its liquidity position to provide the funds necessary
to  pay  dividends  to  stockholders,  service  debt,  invest  in  subsidiaries,
repurchase  common stock, and satisfy other operating  requirements.  The parent
company's  primary  funding  sources  to meet  its  liquidity  requirements  are
dividends and management  fees from  subsidiaries,  borrowings with major banks,
commercial paper issuance, and proceeds from the issuance of equity.

In addition to affiliate  dividends,  the parent  company has  multiple  funding
sources  that  could  be used  to  increase  liquidity  and  provide  additional
financial  flexibility.  These  sources  include a  revolving  credit  facility,
commercial  paper,  and two  shelf  registrations  to issue  debt and  preferred
securities or a  combination  thereof.  The parent  company has available a $100
million  revolving  credit  facility  with  established  lines  of  credit  from
nonaffiliated  banks,  of which $100 million was  available at June 30, 2002. In
addition,  $200 million of commercial paper was available at June 30, 2002 under
the parent company's commercial paper program.

In May 2002,  the parent  company  filed a  registration  statement to utilize a
"shelf"  registration,  under  which  the  parent  company  may offer up to $300
million of trust preferred securities.  In May 2002, the parent company obtained
$175 million of trust  preferred  securities,  bearing a 7.625%  coupon rate. At
June 30, 2002, $125 million was available  under the trust  preferred  shelf. In
May 2001, the parent company filed a registration  statement utilizing a "shelf"
registration process, whereby the parent company may offer up to $500 million of
any combination of the following securities, either separately or in units: debt
securities,  preferred stock,  depositary shares, common stock, and warrants. In
August 2001,  the parent company  obtained $200 million in a  subordinated  note
offering,  bearing a 6.75% coupon rate and 10-year  maturity.  At June 30, 2002,
$300 million was available under the shelf registration.

Investment  securities  are an  important  tool to the  Corporation's  liquidity
objective.  As of June 30, 2002,  all securities are classified as available for
sale.  Of the $3.4  billion  investment  portfolio,  $1.8 billion was pledged as
collateral for repurchase  agreements,  public deposits,  treasury, tax and loan
notes, and other requirements. The remaining securities could be pledged or sold
to enhance liquidity if necessary.

During 2000,  the four  largest  subsidiary  banks  (Associated  Bank  Illinois,
National  Association,  Associated  Bank  Milwaukee,  Associated Bank Green Bay,
National Association, and Associated Bank North) established a $2.0 billion bank
note program.  During 2001 the  Corporation  merged its  Wisconsin  banks into a
single national  charter named  Associated  Bank,  National  Association;  thus,
subsequently  the program is associated with Associated Bank Illinois,  National
Association  and  Associated  Bank,  National  Association.  Under this program,
short-term and long-term debt may be issued.  As of June 30, 2002,  $250 million
of long-term, variable rate bank notes were outstanding ($50 million were issued
in May 2002 and $200  million  were  issued in April  2001),  and $1.75  billion
remains  available under this program.  The banks have also established  federal
fund lines with major  banks  totaling  approximately  $2.9  billion at June 30,
2002.

The parent company and certain banks were rated by Moody's,  Standard and Poor's
(S&P), and Fitch.  These ratings,  along with the  Corporation's  other ratings,
provide  opportunity  for greater  funding  capacity  and funding  alternatives.
During the second quarter of 2002, all three of the rating agencies affirmed the
Corporation's   year-end  2001  ratings.  Also  affirmed  were  the  ratings  of
Associated  Bank,  National  Association and Associated Bank Illinois,  National
Association.

Capital

On April 24, 2002, the Board of Directors declared a 10% stock dividend, payable
May 15 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 29. All share
and per share data in the  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements has
been adjusted to reflect the 10% stock  dividend  paid. As a result of the stock
dividend, the Corporation distributed approximately 7.0 million shares of common
stock. Any fractional shares resulting from the dividend were paid in cash.

Stockholders'  equity at June 30, 2002  increased to $1.3  billion,  compared to
$1.1  billion at June 30, 2001.  The increase in equity  between the two periods
was  primarily  composed of the  retention of  earnings,  the issuance of common
stock in  connection  with the Signal  acquisition,  and the  exercise  of stock
options,  with offsetting  decreases to equity from the payment of dividends and
the repurchase of common stock.  Additionally,  stockholders' equity at June 30,
2002,  included  $72.2  million  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive   income,
predominantly  related to unrealized gains on securities available for sale, net
of the tax effect. At June 30, 2001, stockholders' equity included $51.9 million
of accumulated other comprehensive income, primarily related to unrealized gains
on  securities  available  for  sale,  net of  the  tax  effect.  The  ratio  of
stockholders'  equity to assets  was 8.81% and 7.95% at June 30,  2002 and 2001,
respectively.

Stockholders'  equity grew $204.8  million since  year-end 2001. The increase in
equity  between the two  periods was  primarily  composed  of the  retention  of
earnings,   the  issuance  of  common  stock  in  connection   with  the  Signal
acquisition,  and the exercise of stock options,  with  offsetting  decreases to
equity  from the  payment  of  dividends  and the  repurchase  of common  stock.
Additionally,  stockholders'  equity at year-end 2001 included  $47.2 million of
accumulated  other  comprehensive  income,  predominantly  related to unrealized
gains on  securities  available for sale,  net of the tax effect.  Stockholders'
equity to assets at June 30, 2002 was 8.81%,  compared to 7.87% at December  31,
2001.

Cash dividends of $0.5918 per share were paid in year-to-date 2002,  compared to
$0.5454 per share in year-to-date 2001, representing an increase of 8.5%.

The Board of Directors has  authorized  management  to repurchase  shares of the
Corporation's  common stock each quarter in the market, to be made available for
issuance in connection with the Corporation's  employee  incentive plans and for
other  corporate  purposes.   During  year-to-date  2002,  730,000  shares  were
repurchased  under this  authorization,  at an average cost of $34.78 per share,
while during  year-to-date  2001 220,000  shares were  repurchased at an average
cost of $31.32 per share. Additionally,  under two separate actions in 2000, the
Board  of  Directors   authorized  the  repurchase  and   cancellation   of  the
Corporation's outstanding shares, not to exceed 7.3 million shares on a combined
basis.  Under  these  authorizations  123,750  shares  were  repurchased  during
year-to-date 2002, at an average cost of $32.01 per share,  while  approximately
3.3 million  shares remain  authorized to repurchase at June 30, 2002. No shares
were repurchased under the 2000  authorizations  during  year-to-date  2001. The
repurchase  of shares  will be based on market  opportunities,  capital  levels,
growth prospects, and other investment opportunities.

The adequacy of the Corporation's  capital is regularly  reviewed to ensure that
sufficient  capital  is  available  for  current  and  future  needs  and  is in
compliance  with  regulatory  guidelines.  The  assessment  of  overall  capital
adequacy  depends on a variety of factors,  including asset quality,  liquidity,
stability of earnings,  changing  competitive  forces,  economic  conditions  in
markets served and strength of management. The capital ratios of the Corporation
and its banking  affiliates  are greater than  minimums  required by  regulatory
guidelines. The Corporation's capital ratios are summarized in Table 9.






- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       TABLE 9
                                                    Capital Ratios
                                        (In Thousands, except per share data)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            June 30,       March 31,      Dec. 31,       Sept. 30,      June 30,
                                              2002           2002           2001           2001           2001
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                       
Total stockholders' equity                $ 1,275,245    $ 1,230,820    $ 1,070,416    $ 1,078,874    $ 1,050,678
Tier 1 capital                              1,155,995        969,888        924,871        913,281        896,276
Total capital                               1,498,328      1,309,433      1,253,036      1,238,673      1,020,620
Market capitalization                       2,856,382      2,622,307      2,305,672      2,230,131      2,379,119
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Book value per common share               $     16.84    $     16.23    $     14.89    $     14.90    $     14.45
Cash dividend per common share                   0.31           0.28           0.28           0.28           0.28
Stock price at end of period                    37.71          34.57          32.08          30.81          32.72
Low closing stock price for the period          33.63          30.37          28.89          27.12          28.75
High closing stock price for the period         38.25          35.29          32.71          33.55          32.72
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total equity/assets                              8.81%          8.59%          7.87%          7.95%          7.95%
Tangible common equity/assets                    7.39           7.15           7.20           7.27           7.23
Tier 1 leverage ratio                            8.23           7.28           7.03           7.02           6.93
Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio                 10.96           9.43           9.71           9.73           9.64
Total risk-based capital ratio                  14.20          12.73          13.15          13.19          10.98
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Shares outstanding (period end)                75,746         75,849         71,869         72,386         72,716
Basic shares outstanding (average)             75,922         73,142         72,137         72,692         72,760
Diluted shares outstanding (average)           77,041         74,042         72,746         73,297         73,360
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Second Quarter Results

Net income for second quarter 2002 was $52.2  million,  up $6.2 million from the
$46.0 million net income earned in the second  quarter of 2001.  ROE was 16.73%,
down 129 bp from the  second  quarter  of 2001,  while  ROA  remained  virtually
unchanged with an increase of 5 bp to 1.47%.

Fully taxable  equivalent net interest income for the second quarter of 2002 was
$131.8  million,  $22.3  million  higher than the second  quarter of 2001,  with
approximately  $10 million from Signal.  The net interest margin of 3.96% in the
second quarter of 2002 was 40 bp higher than the net interest margin of 3.56% in
the second quarter of 2001 (see Tables 2 and 3). Changes in the rate environment
contributed  $15.0  million to taxable  equivalent  net interest  income,  while
changes in the volume and mix of average  earning  assets  also  impacted  fully
taxable  equivalent net interest income favorably by $7.3 million (see Table 3).
Growth  in  average  earning  assets  (up $1.0  billion  to $13.2  billion)  and
interest-bearing  liabilites  (up $640 million to $11.4  billion) was  primarily
attributable to the  acquisition of Signal in February 2002.  Average loans grew
9.3% to $9.9 billion,  while  noninterest-bearing  demand deposits grew 29.9% to
$1.4 billion and wholesale  funding  increased $396 million to $3.8 billion (and
represented 33.0% of interest-bearing liabilities for the second quarter of 2002
compared to 31.3% for the second quarter of 2001).

The net  interest  margin  rose 40 bp to 3.96% for the  second  quarter of 2002,
attributed  primarily to falling  interest rates (the average Fed funds rate for
the second  quarter  of 2002 was 257 bp lower than the second  quarter of 2001).
The 40 bp increase in net interest  margin was the result of a 57 bp improvement
in interest  rate  spread  (i.e.  a 185 bp decrease in rate on  interest-bearing
liabilities, partially offset by a 128 bp drop in earning asset yield) and 17 bp
lower contribution from net free funds.

The  provision  for loan losses was up $5.6 million over the  provision  for the
second quarter of 2001, in part due to loan growth,  particularly  in commercial
loans (commercial, financial and agricultural loans; commercial real estate; and
real estate  construction  loans),  the increase in nonperforming  loans and net
charge  offs  between  comparable  periods,  and  the  continued  soft  economic
conditions.  The  allowance  for loan losses to loans at June 30, 2002 was 1.50%
compared  to 1.41%  at June  30,  2001.  See  Tables  6 and 8. See also  Section
"Nonperforming  Loans and Other Real Estate Owned" which  discusses the increase
in nonperforming loans at June 30, 2002.

Noninterest  income was $49.9 million for the second quarter of 2002,  down $1.1
million from the second quarter of 2001 (see Table 4), with Signal  contributing
approximately $4 million in the second quarter of 2002.  Mortgage banking income
was down $5.9  million,  primarily  due to a $2.9  million gain from the sale of
mortgage  servicing during the second quarter of 2001 (versus none in the second
quarter of 2002) and a decrease in  secondary  mortgage  loan  production  ($409
million  for the  second  quarter of 2002  versus  $665  million  for the second
quarter of 2001), resulting in reduced  production-related  fees and lower gains
on the sale of mortgage  loans.  Service charges on deposit  accounts  increased
$2.2  million  as the  result of changes  in the  service  charge fee  structure
between  comparable  quarters.  Retail  commissions  were up $1.6 million,  with
insurance  commissions  (including  fixed  annuity  income) up $1.8  million and
brokerage commissions down $0.2 million.  Trust service fees were up $.4 million
due to increased rates on tax return fee revenue.

Noninterest  expense for the second quarter of 2002 was up $9.2 million over the
second quarter of 2001 (see Table 5), directly  influenced by the acquisition of
Signal,  which  added  approximately  $9 million in the second  quarter of 2002.
Large increases were in personnel and occupancy  costs,  given a larger employee
base  and  broader  branch  network  as  the  Corporation  assimilated  Signal's
businesses and operations.  Personnel  expense increased $7.5 million (of which,
$5.8 million was due to higher salary expense and $1.7 million was  attributable
to higher  fringe  benefits).  Mortgage  servicing  rights  expense  was up $1.2
million,  the result of a $1.0 million  increase in the amortization of mortgage
servicing rights and a $0.2 million larger addition to the valuation  allowance.
Occupancy  expense grew $0.7  million due to the  addition of the Signal  branch
network.   Legal  and  professional  fees  increased  $0.7  million,  with  most
categories showing increases (legal fees, consultant fees, and exam/audit fees).

Income  taxes were down $0.3 million  between  comparable  quarters,  due to the
decrease  in the  effective  tax rate,  at 27.8% for the second  quarter of 2002
compared to 30.6% for the second  quarter of 2001.  The decline in the effective
tax  rate  was a  result  of tax  benefits  realized  due to the  merger  of the
Wisconsin banks into a single  national  charter during 2001 and the adoption of
SFAS 142 in 2002, which required the amortization of goodwill to cease.

Current Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2002 the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standard ("SFAS")
No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities." The
standard requires  companies to recognize costs associated with exit or disposal
activities  when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an
exit or disposal  plan.  The  Corporation is required to adopt the provisions of
SFAS 146 for exit or disposal activities  initiated after December 31, 2002. The
adoption is not expected to be material to the Corporation's  financial position
or results of operations.

Subsequent Event

On July 24,  2002,  the Board of Directors  declared a $0.31 per share  dividend
payable August 15, 2002, to shareholders of record as of August 1, 2002.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk arises from exposure to changes in interest  rates,  exchange rates,
commodity prices,  and other relevant market rate or price risk. The Corporation
faces market risk in the form of interest  rate risk through  other than trading
activities.  Market  risk from  other  than  trading  activities  in the form of
interest  rate risk is  measured  and managed  through a number of methods.  The
Corporation uses financing  modeling  techniques that measure the sensitivity of
future earnings due to changing rate environments to measure interest rate risk.
Policies established by the Corporation's Asset/Liability Committee and approved
by the  Corporation's  Board of  Directors  limit  exposure of earnings at risk.
General  interest  rate  movements  are  used  to  develop  sensitivity  as  the
Corporation  feels it has no primary  exposure to a specific  point on the yield
curve. These limits are based on the Corporation's  exposure to a 100 bp and 200
bp immediate and sustained parallel rate move, either upward or downward.

In order to measure earnings sensitivity to changing rates, the Corporation uses
static gap analysis.  The static gap analysis starts with contractual  repricing
information for assets,  liabilities,  and off-balance sheet instruments.  These
items  are then  combined  with  repricing  estimations  for  administered  rate
(interest-bearing  demand  deposits,  savings,  and money market  accounts)  and
non-rate  related  products (demand deposit  accounts,  other assets,  and other
liabilities)  to create a baseline  repricing  balance sheet. In addition to the
contractual   information,   residential   mortgage   whole  loan  products  and
mortgage-backed   securities  are  adjusted  based  on  industry   estimates  of
prepayment  speeds that capture the expected  prepayment of principal  above the
contractual  amount based on how far away the contractual  coupon is from market
coupon rates.

The  following  table  represents  the  Corporation's  consolidated  static  gap
position as of June 30, 2002.

Interest Rate Sensitivity Analysis



                                                                         June 30, 2002
                                        -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  Interest Sensitivity Period
                                                        91-180        181-365      Total Within
                                          0-90 Days      Days          Days          1 Year      Over 1 Year      Total
                                        ------------ ------------ ------------- -------------- ------------- --------------
                                                                        ($ in Thousands)
Earning assets:
                                                                                           
  Loans, held for sale                  $   123,520   $      ---   $       ---   $    123,520   $       ---  $    123,520
  Investment securities, at fair value      599,883      166,106       306,250      1,072,239     2,351,888     3,424,127
  Loans                                   5,425,385      479,582       761,625      6,666,592     3,216,077     9,882,669
  Other earning assets                       63,128          ---           ---         63,128           ---        63,128
                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total earning assets                    $ 6,211,916   $  645,688   $ 1,067,875   $  7,925,479   $ 5,567,965  $ 13,493,444
                                        =================================================================================
Interest-bearing liabilities:
  Interest-bearing deposits(1) (2)      $ 1,346,139   $  985,565   $ 1,424,163   $  3,755,867   $ 5,036,409  $  8,792,276
  Other  interest-bearing
    liabilities (2)                       2,600,258      293,268       185,425      3,078,951     1,144,637     4,223,588
  Interest rate swaps                       (25,000)     200,000           ---        175,000      (175,000)          ---
                                        ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total interest-bearing liabilities      $ 3,921,397  $ 1,478,833   $ 1,609,588   $  7,009,818   $ 6,006,046  $ 13,015,864
                                        =================================================================================
Interest sensitivity gap                $ 2,290,519  $  (833,145)  $  (541,713)  $    915,661   $  (438,081) $    477,580
Cumulative interest sensitivity gap     $ 2,290,519  $ 1,457,374   $   915,661

12 Month cumulative gap as a
  percentage of earning assets
  at June 30, 2002                             17.0%        10.8%          6.8%
                                        =================================================================================


(1)  The interest rate  sensitivity  assumptions  for demand  deposits,  savings
     accounts,  money  market  accounts,  and  interest-bearing  demand  deposit
     accounts  are  based  on  current  and  historical   experiences  regarding
     portfolio  retention and interest rate repricing  behavior.  Based on these
     experiences, a portion of these balances are considered to be long-term and
     fairly stable and are therefore included in the "Over 1 Year" category.

(2)  For analysis purposes, Brokered CDs of $234 million have been included with
     other  interest-bearing  liabilities  and  excluded  from  interest-bearing
     deposits.

The static gap  analysis in the table  above  provides a  representation  of the
Corporation's  earnings sensitivity to changes in interest rates. It is a static
indicator that does not reflect various  repricing  characteristics  and may not
necessarily  indicate  the  sensitivity  of net  interest  income in a  changing
interest rate  environment.  Since December 31, 2001, the  Corporation has moved
from a liability  sensitive balance sheet to an asset sensitive balance sheet as
measured at the 12 month  cumulative gap position.  The predominant  reasons for
this  change in market  risk  since  year-end  include  the impact of the Signal
acquisition, higher loan prepayment, and the continued replacement of short-term
borrowings with long-term debt.



                              ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                           PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 4:   Submission of matters to a vote of security holders

          (a)  The corporation  held its Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April
               24,  2002.  Proxies  were  solicited  by  corporation  management
               pursuant to Regulation 14A under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
               1934.

          (b)  Directors   elected  at  the  Annual   Meeting  were  William  R.
               Hutchinson, George R. Leach, and John C. Seramur.

          (c)  The  matters  voted upon and the  results  of the voting  were as
               follows:

               (i)  Election  of  the  below-named  nominees  to  the  Board  of
                    Directors of the Corporation:

                                                 FOR                  WITHHELD

                    All Nominees:             54,007,961              671,015

                    By Nominee:

                    William R. Hutchinson     53,700,908              978,868
                    George R. Leach           53,579,658            1,100,118
                    John C. Seramur           53,990,895              688,881

               (ii) Approval of the  Associated  Banc-Corp  Amended and Restated
                    Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan.

                       FOR                     AGAINST                ABSTAIN

                    47,507,059                6,338,564               834,153

               (iii)Ratification  of the  selection  of KPMG LLP as  independent
                    auditors  of  Associated  for the year ending  December  31,
                    2002.

                       FOR                     AGAINST                ABSTAIN

                    53,091,629                1,398,176               189,971

          (d)  Not applicable



ITEM 6:   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

          (a)  Exhibits:

               Exhibit  11,   Statement   regarding   computation  of  per-share
               earnings.  See  Note 4 of the  notes  to  consolidated  financial
               statements in Part I Item I.

               Exhibit  99,  Certification  by the Chief  Executive  Officer and
               Chief Financial  Officer  Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350, as
               Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
               is attached hereto.

          (b)  Reports on Form 8-K:

               A report on Form 8-K dated May 23, 2002,  was filed under Item 5,
               Other  Events,  and  under  Item  7,  Financial   Statements  and
               Exhibits,    indicating   Associated's   announcement   that   an
               Underwriting  Agreement  and a Terms  Agreement  had been entered
               into between  Associated  Banc-Corp  and Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,
               Fenner & Smith Incorporated. As a result of these agreements, the
               Corporation  was  authorized to issue up to $300 million of trust
               preferred securities,  of which, $175 million were issued at June
               30, 2002.





                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        ASSOCIATED BANC-CORP
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        (Registrant)


Date:  August 14, 2002                  /s/ Robert C. Gallagher
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert C. Gallagher
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer


Date:  August 14, 2002                  /s/ Joseph B. Selner
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Joseph B. Selner
                                        Chief Financial Officer




                                   Exhibit 99

        Certification by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
         Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant
                to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


Pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  Section 1350,  as adopted  pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002,  each of the  undersigned  officers  of  Associated
Banc-Corp, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), does hereby certify that:

1. The accompanying  Quarterly Report of the Company on Form 10-Q for the period
ended June 30, 2002 (the  "Report"),  fully  complies with the  requirements  of
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.  Information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all  material
respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.



                                        /s/ Robert C. Gallagher
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Robert C. Gallagher
                                        Chief Executive Officer
                                        August 14, 2002



                                        /s/ Joseph B. Selner
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Joseph B. Selner
                                        Chief Financial Officer
                                        August 14, 2002