EXHIBIT 12.1 BANK UNITED CORP. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) SIX MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, -------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- 1999 1998 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- EARNINGS Income before income taxes, minority interest, and extraordinary loss... $ 98,977 $ 67,649 $ 158,353 $ 157,833 $ 67,836 $ 90,111 $ 86,081 Fixed charges, excluding interest expense on deposits................ 177,015 163,842 316,947 290,377 320,450 296,623 119,906 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before income taxes and fixed charges............................ $ 275,992 $ 231,491 $ 475,300 $ 448,210 $ 388,286 $ 386,734 $ 205,987 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= FIXED CHARGES Interest expense, excluding interest expense on deposits................ $ 174,102 $ 161,174 $ 311,905 $ 283,303 $ 312,558 $ 288,394 $ 111,890 One-third net rental expense......... 2,696 2,467 4,641 6,172 6,892 7,253 7,039 Amortization of debt expense......... 217 201 401 902 1,000 976 977 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges, excluding interest expense on deposits....... $ 177,015 $ 163,842 $ 316,947 $ 290,377 $ 320,450 $ 296,623 $ 119,906 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Bank Preferred Stock Series A dividends, pre-tax basis........... 6,911 6,922 13,826 14,058 14,711 14,011 14,006 Bank Preferred Stock Series B dividends, pre-tax basis........... 7,668 7,680 15,339 15,597 16,321 3,152 -- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Combined fixed charges and Preferred Stock dividends (Series A and B)... $ 191,594 $ 178,444 $ 346,112 $ 320,032 $ 351,482 $ 313,786 $ 133,912 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Earnings to fixed charges ratio, excluding interest expense on deposits........................... 1.56 1.41 1.50 1.54 1.21 1.30 1.72 Earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred Stock dividends, excluding interest expense on deposits........................... 1.44 1.30 1.37 1.40 1.10 1.23 1.54 EARNINGS Income before income taxes, minority interest, and extraordinary loss... $ 98,977 $ 67,649 $ 158,353 $ 157,833 $ 67,836 $ 90,111 $ 86,081 Fixed charges, including interest expense on deposits................ 322,085 305,847 617,707 553,138 592,670 560,989 328,940 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before income taxes and fixed charges............................ $ 421,062 $ 373,496 $ 776,060 $ 710,971 $ 660,506 $ 651,100 $ 415,021 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= FIXED CHARGES Interest expense, including interest expense on deposits................ $ 319,172 $ 303,179 $ 612,665 $ 546,064 $ 584,778 $ 552,760 $ 320,924 One-third net rental expenses........ 2,696 2,467 4,641 6,172 6,892 7,253 7,039 Amortization of debt expense......... 217 201 401 902 1,000 976 977 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Total fixed charges, including interest expense on deposits....... $ 322,085 $ 305,847 $ 617,707 $ 553,138 $ 592,670 $ 560,989 $ 328,940 --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Bank Preferred Stock Series A dividends, pre-tax basis........... 6,911 6,922 13,826 14,058 14,711 14,011 14,006 Bank Preferred Stock Series B dividends, pre-tax basis........... 7,668 7,680 15,339 15,597 16,321 3,152 -- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Combined fixed charges and Preferred Stock dividends (Series A and B)... $ 336,664 $ 320,449 $ 646,872 $ 582,793 $ 623,702 $ 578,152 $ 342,946 ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= Earnings in fixed charges ratio, including interest expense on deposits........................... 1.31 1.22 1.26 1.29 1.11 1.16 1.26 Earnings to combined fixed charges and Preferred Stock dividends, including interest expense on deposits........................... 1.25 1.17 1.20 1.22 1.06 1.13 1.21