EXHIBIT 99.1

                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
                                 FBS CAPITAL I
                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                           8.09% CAPITAL SECURITIES
          WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                      FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                           8.09% CAPITAL SECURITIES
               (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
                          PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS
                       DATED                     , 1996


THE  EXCHANGE OFFER  AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS  WILL EXPIRE AT  5:00 P.M., NEW
YORK CITY TIME, ON             , 199__, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.

                 THE EXCHANGE AGENT FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS:
                           WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY


                       BY MAIL/OVERNIGHT DELIVERY/HAND:

                           Wilmington Trust Company
                           Corporate Trust Operation
                              Rodney Square North
                           1100 North Market Street
                       Wilmington, Delaware  19890-0001
                               Attn:  Jill Rylee

                  TO CONFIRM BY TELEPHONE OR FOR INFORMATION:

                                (302) 651-8867

                           FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS:

                                (302) 651-1079

     DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE TO A
NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

     THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

     Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning
given them in the Prospectus (as defined below).

     This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Old Capital
Securities (as defined below) either if Old Capital Securities are to be
forwarded herewith or if tenders of Old Capital Securities are to be made by
book-entry transfer to an account maintained by Wilmington Trust Company (the
"Exchange Agent") at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") pursuant to the
procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus.

     Holders of Old Capital Securities whose certificates (the "Certificates")
for such Old Capital Securities are not immediately available or who cannot
deliver their Certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange
Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Prospectus) or who
cannot complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must
tender 


their Old Capital Securities according to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus.

     DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT.

                    NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
             PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY



                    ALL TENDERING HOLDERS COMPLETE THIS BOX


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                DESCRIPTION OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
                                                                 OF OLD CAPITAL
                                                                   SECURITIES          NUMBER OF
                                                                  TENDERED (IF        BENEFICIAL
   PLEASE PRINT NAME AND                     OLD CAPITAL            PRINCIPAL        HOLDERS FOR
   ADDRESS OF REGISTERED                     SECURITIES              AMOUNT            WHOM OLD
         HOLDER                               TENDERED           OF OLD CAPITAL         CAPITAL
       (PLEASE FILL        CERTIFICATE  (ATTACH ADDITIONAL LIST    SECURITIES         SECURITIES
        IF BLANK)            NUMBER(S)*      IF NECESSARY)      LESS THAN ALL)**       ARE HELD
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        



- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL AMOUNT TENDERED:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
____________
*   Need not be completed by book-entry holders.

**  Old Capital Securities may be tendered in whole or in part in denominations
    of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, provided
    that if any Old Capital Securities are tendered for exchange in part, the
    untendered principal amount thereof must be $100,000 or any integral
    multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. All Old Capital Securities held shall
    be deemed tendered unless a lesser number is specified in this column.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


           (BOXES BELOW TO BE CHECKED BY ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)

  [_]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY
       BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT
       WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

       Name of Tendering Institution
                                    -------------------------------------------
       DTC Account Number
                         ------------------------------------------------------
       Transaction Code Number
                              -------------------------------------------------

  [_]  CHECK HERE AND ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
       IF TENDERED OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A
       NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND
       COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

                                      -2-

 
       Name of Registered Holders(s)
                                    -------------------------------------------
       Window Ticket Number (if any)
                                    -------------------------------------------
       Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
                                                         ----------------------
       Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery
                                                    ---------------------------

         If Guaranteed Delivery is to be made By Book-Entry Transfer:

       Name of Tendering Institution
                                    -------------------------------------------
       DTC Account Number
                         ------------------------------------------------------
       Transaction Code Number
                              -------------------------------------------------


  [_]  CHECK HERE IF TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON-EXCHANGED OLD
       CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE DTC ACCOUNT NUMBER
       SET FORTH ABOVE.

  [_]  CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED THE OLD CAPITAL
       SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET MAKING OR OTHER
       TRADING ACTIVITIES (A "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER") AND WISH TO RECEIVE
       10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
       SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

  Name:
       ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Address:
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -3-

 
Ladies and Gentlemen:

     The undersigned hereby tenders to FBS Capital I, a Delaware business trust
(the "Trust") and First Bank System, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, as Depositor
("FBS"), the above described aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust's 8.09%
Capital Securities due November 15, 2026 (the "Old Capital Securities") in
exchange for a like aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Trust's 8.09% Capital
Securities due November 15, 2026 (the "New Capital Securities") which have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus
dated_______________, 1996 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, the "Prospectus"), receipt of which is acknowledged, and in this Letter
of Transmittal (which, together with the Prospectus, constitute the "Exchange
Offer").

     Subject to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange of all or any
portion of the Old Capital Securities tendered herewith in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including, if the Exchange Offer is
extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or
amendment), the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the
order of the Trust all right, title and interest in and to such Old Capital
Securities as are being tendered herewith. The undersigned hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as its agent and attorney-in-fact
(with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent is also acting as agent of FBS and
the Trust in connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect to the tendered
Old Capital Securities, with full power of substitution (such power of attorney
being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), subject only
to the right of withdrawal described in the Prospectus, to (i) deliver
Certificates for Old Capital Securities to FBS or the Trust together with all
accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or upon the order of,
the Trust, upon receipt by the Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of
the New Capital Securities to be issued in exchange for such Old Capital
Securities, (ii) present Certificates for such Old Capital Securities for
transfer, and to transfer the Old Capital Securities on the books of the Trust,
and (iii) receive for the account of the Trust all benefits and otherwise
exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Old Capital Securities, all
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer.

     THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT THE UNDERSIGNED HAS FULL
POWER AND AUTHORITY TO TENDER, EXCHANGE, SELL, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER THE OLD
CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY AND THAT, WHEN THE SAME ARE ACCEPTED FOR
EXCHANGE, THE TRUST WILL ACQUIRE GOOD, MARKETABLE AND UNENCUMBERED TITLE
THERETO, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, RESTRICTIONS, CHARGES AND ENCUMBRANCES,
AND THAT THE OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY
ADVERSE CLAIMS OR PROXIES.  THE UNDERSIGNED WILL, UPON REQUEST, EXECUTE AND
DELIVER ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS DEEMED BY FBS, THE TRUST OR THE EXCHANGE AGENT
TO BE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE, ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER
OF THE OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY, AND THE UNDERSIGNED WILL COMPLY
WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT.
THE UNDERSIGNED HAS READ AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER.

     The name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) of the Old Capital
Securities tendered hereby should be printed above, if they are not already set
forth above, as they appear on the Certificates representing such Old Capital
Securities. The Certificate number(s) and the Old Capital Securities that the
undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the appropriate boxes above.

     If any tendered Old Capital Securities are not exchanged pursuant to the
Exchange Offer for any reason, or if Certificates are submitted for more Old
Capital Securities than are tendered or accepted for exchange, Certificates for
such nonexchanged or nontendered Old Capital Securities will be returned (or, in
the case of Old Capital Securities tendered by book-entry transfer, such Old
Capital Securities will be credited to an account maintained at DTC), without
expense to the tendering holder, promptly following the expiration or
termination of the Exchange Offer.
 
                                      -4-

 
     The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Capital Securities pursuant
to any one of the procedures described in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for
Tendering Old Capital Securities" in the Prospectus and in the instruction, FBS
hereto will, upon FBS's and the Trust's acceptance for exchange of such tendered
Old Capital Securities, constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned,
FBS and the Trust upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange
Offer. The undersigned recognizes that, under certain circumstances set forth in
the Prospectus, FBS and the Trust may not be required to accept for exchange any
of the Old Capital Securities tendered hereby.

     Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Issuance
Instructions" below, the undersigned hereby directs that the New Capital
Securities be issued in the name(s) of the undersigned or, in the case of a
book-entry transfer of Old Capital Securities, that such New Capital Securities
be credited to the account indicated above maintained at DTC.  If applicable,
substitute Certificates representing Old Capital Securities not exchanged or not
accepted for exchange will be issued to the undersigned or, in the case of a
book-entry transfer of Old Capital Securities, will be credited to the account
indicated above maintained at DTC.  Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under
"Special Delivery Instructions," please deliver New Capital Securities to the
undersigned at the address shown below the undersigned's signature.

     BY TENDERING OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES AND EXECUTING THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL, THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT (I) THE
UNDERSIGNED IS NOT AN "AFFILIATE" OF FBS OR THE TRUST, (II) ANY NEW CAPITAL
SECURITIES TO BE RECEIVED BY THE UNDERSIGNED ARE BEING ACQUIRED IN THE ORDINARY
COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS, (III) THE UNDERSIGNED HAS NO ARRANGEMENT OR
UNDERSTANDING WITH ANY PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN A DISTRIBUTION (WITHIN THE
MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT) OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES TO BE RECEIVED IN THE
EXCHANGE OFFER, AND (IV) IF THE UNDERSIGNED IS NOT A BROKER-DEALER, THE
UNDERSIGNED IS NOT ENGAGED IN, AND DOES NOT INTEND TO ENGAGE IN, A DISTRIBUTION
(WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT) OF SUCH NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES. BY
TENDERING OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND EXECUTING
THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, A HOLDER OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES WHICH IS A 
BROKER-DEALER REPRESENTS AND AGREES, CONSISTENT WITH CERTAIN INTERPRETIVE
LETTERS ISSUED BY THE STAFF OF THE DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO THIRD PARTIES, THAT (A) SUCH OLD CAPITAL
SECURITIES HELD BY THE BROKER-DEALER ARE HELD ONLY AS A NOMINEE, OR (B) SUCH OLD
CAPITAL SECURITIES WERE ACQUIRED BY SUCH BROKER-DEALER FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT AS A
RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND IT WILL
DELIVER THE PROSPECTUS (AS AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME) MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY RESALE OF SUCH NEW
CAPITAL SECURITIES (PROVIDED THAT, BY SO ACKNOWLEDGING AND BY DELIVERING A
PROSPECTUS, SUCH BROKER-DEALER WILL NOT BE DEEMED TO ADMIT THAT IT IS AN
"UNDERWRITER" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT).

     FBS AND THE TRUST HAVE AGREED THAT, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE
CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS, AS IT MAY BE
AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, MAY BE USED BY A PARTICIPATING 
BROKER-DEALER (AS DEFINED BELOW) IN CONNECTION WITH RESALES OF NEW CAPITAL
SECURITIES RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES, WHERE SUCH OLD
CAPITAL SECURITIES WERE ACQUIRED BY SUCH PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES, FOR
A PERIOD ENDING 90 DAYS AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (SUBJECT TO EXTENSION UNDER
CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS) OR, IF EARLIER, WHEN
ALL SUCH NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES HAVE BEEN DISPOSED OF BY SUCH PARTICIPATING
BROKER-DEALER. IN THAT REGARD, EACH BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED OLD CAPITAL
SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT AS A
                                     -5-

 
RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES (A "PARTICIPATING BROKER-
DEALER"), BY TENDERING SUCH OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES AND EXECUTING THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL, AGREES THAT, UPON RECEIPT OF NOTICE FROM FBS OR THE TRUST OF THE
OCCURRENCE OF ANY EVENT OR THE DISCOVERY OF ANY FACT WHICH MAKES ANY STATEMENT
CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE PROSPECTUS UNTRUE IN ANY MATERIAL
RESPECT OR WHICH CAUSES THE PROSPECTUS TO OMIT TO STATE A MATERIAL FACT
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAKE THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
THEREIN, IN LIGHT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THEY WERE MADE, NOT
MISLEADING OR OF THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS SPECIFIED IN THE CAPITAL
SECURITIES REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER WILL
SUSPEND THE SALE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS UNTIL FBS
AND THE TRUST HAVE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED THE PROSPECTUS TO CORRECT SUCH
MISSTATEMENT OR OMISSION AND HAS FURNISHED COPIES OF THE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED
PROSPECTUS TO THE PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER OR FBS OR THE TRUST HAS GIVEN
NOTICE THAT THE SALE OF THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES MAY BE RESUMED, AS THE CASE
MAY BE. IF FBS OR THE TRUST GIVES SUCH NOTICE TO SUSPEND THE SALE OF THE NEW
CAPITAL SECURITIES, IT SHALL EXTEND THE 90-DAY PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE DURING
WHICH PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALERS ARE ENTITLED TO USE THE PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE RESALE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS
DURING THE PERIOD FROM AND INCLUDING THE DATE OF THE GIVING OF SUCH NOTICE TO
AND INCLUDING THE DATE WHEN PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALERS SHALL HAVE RECEIVED
COPIES OF THE SUPPLEMENTED OR AMENDED PROSPECTUS NECESSARY TO PERMIT RESALES OF
THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES OR TO AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH FBS OR THE
TRUST HAS GIVEN NOTICE THAT THE SALE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES MAY BE RESUMED,
AS THE CASE MAY BE.

     Holders of Old Capital Securities whose Old Capital Securities are accepted
for exchange will not receive accrued interest on such Old Capital Securities
for any period from and after the last Interest Payment Date to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for on such Old Capital Securities prior to the
original issue date of the New Capital Securities or, if no such interest has
been paid or duly provided for, will not receive any accrued interest on such
Old Capital Securities, and the undersigned waives the right to receive any
interest on such Old Capital Securities accrued from and after such Interest
Payment Date or, if no such interest has been paid or duly provided for, from
and after May 15, 1997.

     All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of
Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and any
obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs,
executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy,
legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.  Except as
stated in the Prospectus, this tender is irrevocable.

                                      -6-

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE
                         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 2, 5 AND 6)
               (PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 ON PAGE 14)
     (NOTE: SIGNATURE(S) MUST BE GUARANTEED IF REQUIRED BY INSTRUCTION 2)

     Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on
Certificate(s) for the Old Capital Securities hereby tendered or on a security
position listing, or by any person(s) authorized to become the registered
holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith (including such
opinions of counsel, certifications and other information as may be required by
the Trust or the Trustee for the Old Capital Securities to comply with the
restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Capital Securities). If signature
is by an attorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, officer
of a corporation or another acting in a fiduciary capacity or representative
capacity, please set forth the signer's full title. See Instruction 5.

  ._________________________________________________________________________.


  ._________________________________________________________________________.

                          (SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S))

Date:  ________________________, 199__

Name(s)  ______________________________________________________________________

         ______________________________________________________________________
                                    (PLEASE PRINT)

Capacity (full title) _________________________________________________________

Address  ______________________________________________________________________
         ______________________________________________________________________
         ______________________________________________________________________
                                  (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

Area Code and Telephone Number ________________________________________________

 ______________________________________________________________________________
              (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS(S))

                           GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                          (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 2 AND 5)

  ._________________________________________________________________________.
                             (AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE)

Date:  ________________________, 199__

Name of Firm __________________________________________________________________

Capacity (full title) _________________________________________________________
                                (PLEASE PRINT)

Address  ______________________________________________________________________
         ______________________________________________________________________
         ______________________________________________________________________
                               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

Area Code and Telephone Number ________________________________________________

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                      -7-

 
                         SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
                         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5 AND 6)

To be completed ONLY if the New Capital Securities are to be issued in the name
of someone other than the registered holder of the Old Capital Securities whose
name(s) appear(s) above.


Issue New Capital Securities to:
[_] Old Capital Securities not tendered
[_] Exchange Capital Securities, to:

Name(s)  
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Address  
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------

         -----------------------------------------------------------------------

         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                              (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

Area Code and
 Telephone Number 
                  --------------------------------------------------------------

                  --------------------------------------------------------------

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL
                             SECURITY NUMBERS(S))


                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
                         (SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1, 5 AND 6)

To be completed ONLY if New Capital Securities are to be sent to someone other
than the registered holder of the Old Capital Securities whose name(s) appear(s)
above, or such registered holder(s) at an address other than that shown above.

Mail New Capital Securities to:
[_] Old Capital Securities not tendered
[_] Exchange Capital Securities, to:

Name(s)  
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Address  
         -----------------------------------------------------------------------

         -----------------------------------------------------------------------

         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (INCLUDE CODE)

Area Code and
 Telephone Number 
                  --------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL
                             SECURITY NUMBERS(S))

                                      -8-

 
                                 INSTRUCTIONS

        FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     1.   DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTIFICATES; GUARANTEED
DELIVERY PROCEDURES. This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed either if (a)
Certificates are to be forwarded herewith or (b) tenders are to be made pursuant
to the procedures for tender by book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities" in the Prospectus.
Certificates, or timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Old
Capital Securities into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC, as well as this
Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly
executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other documents
required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent
at its address set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration Date. Old Capital
Securities may be tendered in whole or in part in the principal amount of
$100,000 (100 Capital Securities) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess
thereof, provided that, if any Old Capital Securities are tendered for exchange
in part, the untendered principal amount thereof must be $100,000 (100 Capital
Securities) or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

     Holders who wish to tender their Old Capital Securities and (i) whose Old
Capital Securities are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver
their Old Capital Securities, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required
documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) who
cannot complete the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely
basis, may tender their Old Capital Securities by properly completing and duly
executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures: (i) such
tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution (as defined below);
(ii) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,
substantially in the form made available by the Company, must be received by the
Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date; and (iii) the Certificates
(or a book-entry confirmation (as defined in the Prospectus)) representing all
tendered Old Capital Securities, in proper form for transfer, together with a
Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly
executed, with any required signature guarantees and any other documents
required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent
within five New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days after the date of
execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in "The
Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities" in the
Prospectus.

     The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or transmitted
by facsimile or mail to the Exchange Agent, and must include a guarantee by an
Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such Notice. For Old Capital
Securities to be properly tendered pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedure, the Exchange Agent must receive a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery on or
prior to the Expiration Date. As used herein and in the Prospectus, "Eligible
Institution" means a firm or other entity identified in Rule 17Ad-15 under the
Exchange Act as "an eligible guarantor institution," including (as such terms
are defined therein) (i) a bank; (ii) a broker, dealer, municipal securities
broker or dealer or government securities broker or dealer; (iii) a credit
union; (iv) a national securities exchange, registered securities association or
clearing agency; or (v) a savings association that is a participant in a
Securities Transfer Association.

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER
AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED,
PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS

                                      -9-

 
RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY
DELIVERY.

     Neither FBS nor the Trust will accept any alternative, conditional or
contingent tenders. Each tendering holder, by execution of a Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waives any right to receive any notice of
the acceptance of such tender.

     2.   GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES. No signature guarantee on this Letter of
Transmittal is required if:

          (i)   this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder
                (which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any
                participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position
                listing as the owner of the Old Capital Securities) of Old
                Capital Securities tendered herewith, unless such holder(s) has
                completed either the box entitled "Special Issuance
                Instructions" or the box entitled "Special Delivery
                Instructions" above, or

          (ii)  such Old Capital Securities are tendered for the account of a
                firm that is an Eligible Institution.

     In all other cases, an Eligible Institution must guarantee the signature(s)
on this Letter of Transmittal. See Instruction 5.

     3.   INADEQUATE SPACE. If the space provided in the box captioned
"Description of Old Capital Securities" is inadequate, the Certificate number(s)
and/or the principal amount of Old Capital Securities and any other required
information should be listed on a separate signed schedule which is attached to
this Letter of Transmittal.

     4.   PARTIAL TENDERS AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS. Tenders of Old Capital
Securities will be accepted only in the principal amount of $100,000 (100
Capital Securities) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, provided
that if any Old Capital Securities are tendered for exchange in part, the
untendered principal amount thereof must be $100,000 (100 Capital Securities) or
any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. If less than all the Old
Capital Securities evidenced by any Certificate submitted are to be tendered,
fill in the principal amount of Old Capital Securities which are to be tendered
in the box entitled "Principal Amount of Old Capital Securities Tendered (if
less than all)." In such case, new Certificate(s) for the remainder of the Old
Capital Securities that were evidenced by your old Certificate(s) will only be
sent to the holder of the Old Capital Security, promptly after the Expiration
Date. All Old Capital Securities represented by Certificates delivered to the
Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

     Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Old Capital Securities may
be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date. In order for a
withdrawal to be effective on or prior to that time, a written, telegraphic,
telex or facsimile transmission of such notice of withdrawal must be timely
received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth above or in the
Prospectus on or prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal
must specify the name of the person who tendered the Old Capital Securities to
be withdrawn, the aggregate principal amount of Old Capital Securities to be
withdrawn, and (if Certificates for Old Capital Securities have been tendered)
the name of the registered holder of the Old Capital Securities as set forth on
the Certificate for the Old Capital Securities, if different from that of the
person who tendered such Old Capital Securities. If Certificates for the Old
Capital Securities have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange
Agent, then prior to the physical release of such Certificates for the Old
Capital Securities, the tendering holder must submit the serial numbers shown on
the particular Certificates for the Old Capital Securities to be withdrawn and
the signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution, except in the case of Old Capital Securities tendered for the
account of an

                                     -10-

 
Eligible Institution. If Old Capital Securities have been tendered pursuant to
the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange Offer--
Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities," the notice of withdrawal must
specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the
withdrawal of Old Capital Securities, in which case a notice of withdrawal will
be effective if delivered to the Exchange Agent by written, telegraphic, telex
or facsimile transmission. Withdrawals of tenders of Old Capital Securities may
not be rescinded. Old Capital Securities properly withdrawn will not be deemed
validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer, but may be retendered at
any subsequent time on or prior to the Expiration Date by following any of the
procedures described in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for
Tendering Old Capital Securities."

     All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of
receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be determined by FBS and the Trust, in
their sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on
all parties. FBS and the Trust, any affiliates or assigns of FBS and the Trust,
the Exchange Agent or any other person shall not be under any duty to give any
notification of any irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any
liability for failure to give any such notification. Any Old Capital Securities
which have been tendered but which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder
thereof without cost to such holder promptly after withdrawal.

     5.   SIGNATURES ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, ASSIGNMENTS AND ENDORSEMENTS. If
this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Old
Capital Securities tendered hereby, the signature(s) must correspond exactly
with the name(s) as written on the face of the Certificate(s) without
alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

     If any of the Old Capital Securities tendered hereby are owned of record by
two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

     If any tendered Old Capital Securities are registered in different name(s)
on several Certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as
many separate Letters of Transmittal (or facsimiles thereof) as there are
different registrations of Certificates.

     If this Letter of Transmittal or any Certificates or bond powers are signed
by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers
of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such
persons should so indicate when signing and must submit proper evidence
satisfactory to FBS and the Trust, in their sole discretion, of such persons'
authority to so act.

     When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s) of the
Old Capital Securities listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsement(s) of
Certificate(s) or separate bond power(s) are required unless New Capital
Securities are to be issued in the name of a person other than the registered
holder(s). Signature(s) on such Certificate(s) or bond power(s) must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered owner(s) of the Old Capital Securities listed, the Certificates must
be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, signed exactly as the
name or names of the registered owner(s) appear(s) on the Certificates, and also
must be accompanied by such opinions of counsel, certifications and other
information as FBS, the Trust or the Trustee for the Old Capital Securities may
require in accordance with the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old
Capital Securities. Signatures on such Certificates or bond powers must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     6.   SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS. If New Capital Securities
are to be issued in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of
Transmittal, or if New Capital Securities are to be sent to someone other than
the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to an address other than that shown
above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of Transmittal should be completed.
Certificates for Old Capital Securities not exchanged will be returned by mail
or, if

                                     -11-

 
tendered by book-entry transfer, by crediting the account indicated above
maintained at DTC. See Instruction 4.

     7.   IRREGULARITIES. FBS and the Trust will determine, in their sole
discretion, all questions as to the form of documents, validity, eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of Old
Capital Securities, which determination shall be final and binding on all
parties. FBS and the Trust reserve the absolute right to reject any and all
tenders determined by either of them not to be in proper form or the acceptance
of which, or exchange for, may, in the view of counsel to FBS and the Trust, be
unlawful. FBS and the Trust also reserve the absolute right, subject to
applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth
in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer" or any conditions or irregularity in any tender of Old Capital Securities
of any particular holder whether or not similar conditions or irregularities are
waived in the case of other holders. FBS's and the Trust's interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal
and the instructions hereto) will be final and binding. No tender of Old Capital
Securities will be deemed to have been validly made until all irregularities
with respect to such tender have been cured or waived. FBS, the Trust, any
affiliates or assigns of FBS, the Trust, the Exchange Agent, or any other person
shall not be under any duty to give notification of any irregularities in
tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

     8.   QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONAL COPIES. Questions
and requests for assistance may be directed to the Exchange Agent at its address
and telephone number set forth on the front of this Letter of Transmittal.
Additional copies of the Prospectus, the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and the
Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Exchange Agent or from your
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee.
 
     9.   31% BACKUP WITHHOLDING; SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9. Under U.S. Federal income
tax law, a holder whose tendered Old Capital Securities are accepted for
exchange is required to provide the Exchange Agent with such holder's correct
taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on Substitute Form W-9 below. If the
Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the Internal Revenue
Service (the "IRS") may subject the holder or other payee to a $50 penalty. In
addition, payments to such holders or other payees with respect to Old Capital
Securities exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be subject to 31% backup
withholding.

     The box in Part 2 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be checked if the
tendering holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends
to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 2 is checked, the
holder or other payee must also complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer
Identification Number below in order to avoid backup withholding.
Notwithstanding that the box in Part 2 is checked and the Certificate of
Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number is completed, the Exchange Agent will
withhold 31% of all payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is
provided to the Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent will retain such amounts
withheld during the 60 day period following the date of the Substitute Form W-9.
If the holder furnishes the Exchange Agent with its TIN within 60 days after the
date of the Substitute Form W-9, the amounts retained during the 60 day period
will be remitted to the holder and no further amounts shall be retained or
withheld from payments made to the holder thereafter. If, however, the holder
has not provided the Exchange Agent with its TIN within such 60 day period,
amounts withheld will be remitted to the IRS as backup withholding. In addition,
31% of all payments made thereafter will be withheld and remitted to the IRS
until a correct TIN is provided.

     The holder is required to give the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g., social
security number or employer identification number) of the registered owner of
the Old Capital Securities or of the last transferee appearing on the transfers
attached to, or endorsed on, the Old Capital Securities. If the Old Capital
Securities are registered in more than one name or are not in the name of the
actual owner, consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for additional guidance on which
number to report.

                                     -12-

 
     Certain holders (including, among others, corporations, financial
institutions and certain foreign persons) may not be subject to these backup
withholding and reporting requirements. Such holders should nevertheless
complete the attached Substitute Form W-9 below, and write "exempt" on the face
thereof, to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. A foreign person may
qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8,
signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that holder's exempt status.
Please consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for additional guidance on which
holders are exempt from backup withholding.

     Backup withholding is not an additional U.S. Federal income tax. Rather,
the U.S. Federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup withholding
will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an
overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.

     10.  LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES. If any Certificate(s)
representing Old Capital Securities have been lost, destroyed or stolen, the
holder should promptly notify the Exchange Agent. The holder will then be
instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the
Certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be
processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen
Certificate(s) have been followed.

     11.  SECURITY TRANSFER TAXES. Holders who tender their Old Capital
Securities for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in
connection therewith. If, however, New Capital Securities are to be delivered
to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Old Capital Securities tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed
for any reason other than the exchange of Old Capital Securities in connection
with the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer tax (whether
imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the
tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption
therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

     IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR FACSIMILE THEREOF) AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE.

                                     -13-

 
                            TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL
                           TENDERING SECURITYHOLDERS

                              (SEE INSTRUCTION 9)

                    PAYER'S NAME:  WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY


SUBSTITUTE
FORM W-9

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

PAYOR'S REQUEST FOR TAXPAYER
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (TIN) AND CERTIFICATION

PART 1-PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN ON THE LINE AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND
DATING BELOW

TIN _________________
Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number

NAME     (Please Print)

ADDRESS

CITY                  STATE          ZIP CODE

PART 2
Awaiting
TIN  [_]

Part 3 - CERTIFICATION - UNDER THE PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT (1) the
number shown on this form is my correct taxpayer identification number (or I am
waiting for a number to be issued to me), (2) I am not subject to backup
withholding either because (i) I am exempt from backup withholding, (ii) I have
not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that I am subject to
backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends,
or (iii) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup
withholding, and (3) any other information provided on this form is true and
correct.
 
SIGNATURE _________________ DATE _______
 
You must cross out item (iii) in Part (2) above if you have been notified by the
IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of underreporting
interest or dividends on your tax return and you have not been notified by the
IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding.


NOTE:  FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY AMOUNTS PAID TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE
EXCHANGE  OFFER. PLEASE  REVIEW  THE ENCLOSED  GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

     I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number
has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an
application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate
Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (2)
I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future.  I understand
that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of
payment, 31% of all payments made to me on account of the New Capital Securities
shall be retained until I provide a taxpayer identification number to the
Exchange Agent and that, if I do not provide my taxpayer identification number
within 60 days, such retained amounts shall be remitted to the Internal Revenue
Service as backup withholding and 31% of all reportable payments made to me
thereafter will be withheld and remitted to the Internal  Revenue Service until
I provide a taxpayer identification number.


Signature  ___________________________________  Date  ____________________, 1996

                                     -14-