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                                                                   EXHIBIT 20(a)

FINANCIAL CONTACT:        FIRST AMERICAN CORP.: CARROLL KIMBALL, 615/748-2455,
                          FAX 615/748-2755
                          HERITAGE FEDERAL: BILL RICHMOND, 615/378-2810
MEDIA CONTACT:            FIRST AMERICAN CORP.: VICKI KESSLER 615/748-2912,
                          FAX 615/748-2535 
                          HERITAGE FEDERAL: BILL KREIS, 615/378-8003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

     HERITAGE FEDERAL BANCSHARES TO MERGE WITH FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION

         NASHVILLE, TENN., FEB. 21, 1995 --  First American Corporation and
Heritage Federal Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ:HFBS) today announced plans for
Heritage Federal to merge with First American in a transaction valued at
approximately $89 million.

          Heritage Federal is a $520 million savings bank headquartered in
Kingsport, Tenn.  Heritage Federal has 13 offices located primarily in the East
Tennessee areas of Tri-Cities, Anderson County and Roane County.

         First American has entered into a definitive merger agreement under
which all of the outstanding shares of Heritage Federal will be exchanged for
First American common stock at a rate of $28 per share, or $89 million, based
upon 3.18 million shares outstanding at Dec. 31, 1994.  First American
anticipates repurchasing up to 80% of the common stock in open market
transactions.  The transaction is expected to be anti-dilutive to First
American's earnings in the first full year following integration.

         Dennis C. Bottorff, chairman and CEO of First American, and William E.
Kreis, president and CEO of Heritage Federal, made the joint announcement.

         "The addition of Heritage is an excellent strategic move for First
American as we increase our presence and investment in two outstanding, growing
Tennessee markets," Bottorff said.  "This merger will increase our already
strong franchise in East Tennessee and allow us to better serve the individual
consumers and small-to mid-sized businesses in this market."

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HERITAGE FEDERAL TO MERGE WITH FIRST AMERICAN CORPORATION -- PAGE 2

         As a result of the merger, the combined company will have the leading
market share in Sullivan County (Kingsport, Tenn.) and will have the second
highest market share in Anderson County and Roane County.

         Kreis said,  "We are excited about joining forces with another
Tennessee-based institution.  Our customers will clearly benefit from the
broader product and services line that First American can offer, including
investment products, debit cards and 24-hour a day customer service.  Together
we can more effectively serve the financial services needs of the local
economies."

         The merger is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of
1995, subject to approval by regulatory authorities and a vote of Heritage
Federal shareholders.

         First American plans to merge Heritage Federal's 13 offices into the
existing First American network, and the Heritage Federal offices will carry
the First American name.  First American currently has 13 offices in Tri-Cities
and 7 offices in Anderson and Roane Counties.   First American expects to
achieve cost savings of approximately $6 million from the consolidation of up
to ten of the combined company's 33 offices.

         Heritage Federal's net income for the six months ended December 31,
1994 was $2.9 million.  Its return on average assets (ROA) was 1.11 percent
(annualized) and its return on average equity (ROE) was 11.52 percent
(annualized) for the period.   In addition, the equity to assets ratio equaled
9.77 percent and nonperforming assets to total loans and foreclosed properties
equaled 0.21 percent at Dec. 31, 1994.

         At Dec. 31, 1994, First American's total assets were $7.8 billion;
loans net of unearned discount, $4.9 billion; deposits, $5.9 billion; and
shareholders' equity, $630.1 million.

         First American Corporation is the Nashville-based parent company of
First American National Bank, First American National Bank of Kentucky and
First American Trust Company.  Approximately 3,300 people work for First
American in 142 banking offices.

         First American's stock is traded in the over-the-counter securities
market and is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market System under the symbol
FATN.