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                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                           FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
                          FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II


                               CAPITAL SECURITIES
             GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THE GUARANTEES BY

                               FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

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


                             Underwriting Agreement
                                                                  March 13, 1997


Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Smith Barney Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
   Securities Corporation,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc,
UBS Securities LLC,
As Representatives of the several Underwriters 
  named in Schedule I to the respective 
  Pricing Agreements hereinafter described 
  c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
      85 Broad Street,
      New York, New York 10004.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

      From time to time Fifth Third Capital Trust I or Fifth Third Capital Trust
II, each a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of
Delaware (each a "Trust" and collectively, the "Trusts"), and Fifth Third
Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), as depositor of each trust and as
guarantor, propose to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing
Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as
the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions
stated herein and therein, that the Trust identified in the applicable Pricing
Agreement (such Trust being the "Designated Trust" with respect to such Pricing
Agreement) issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I to the applicable
Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to
such Pricing Agreement and the securities specified therein) certain of its
preferred securities (the "Securities") representing
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undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Designated Trust. The
Securities specified in such Pricing Agreement are referred to as the "Firm
Designated Securities" with respect to such Pricing Agreement. If specified in
such Pricing Agreement, the Designated Trust may grant the Underwriters the
right to purchase at their election an additional number of Securities,
specified as provided in such Pricing Agreement as provided in Section 3 hereof
(the "Optional Designated Securities"). The Firm Designated Securities and any
Optional Designated Securities are collectively called the "Designated
Securities." The proceeds of the sale of the Designated Securities to the public
and of common securities of the Designated Trust (the "Common Securities") to
the Company concurrently with the sale of the Designated Securities are to be
invested in junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company
(the "Subordinated Debentures") identified in the Pricing Agreement with respect
to such Designated Securities (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the
"Designated Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued pursuant to a junior
subordinated indenture to be dated as of March 20, 1997 (the "Indenture")
between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Indenture
Trustee"). The Designated Securities may be exchangeable into Designated
Subordinated Debentures, as specified in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement.
The Designated Securities will be guaranteed by the Company to the extent set
forth in the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities (the
"Designated Guarantee") (all such Designated Guarantees together, the
"Guarantees").

      The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the amended and restated trust agreement identified in such Pricing
Agreement (with respect to such Pricing Agreement, the "Trust Agreement") .

      1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, for whom the firms designated
as representatives of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities in the
Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the
"Representatives"). The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm
acting as sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who act
without any firm being designated as their representative. This Underwriting
Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of any Trust to sell any of
the Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of
the Securities. The obligation of any Trust to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate number of the Firm Designated Securities, the maximum number of
Optional Designated Securities, if any, the initial public offering price of
such Firm and Optional Designated Securities or the manner of determining such
price, the terms of the Designated Securities, including the terms on which and
terms of the securities into which the Designated Securities will be
exchangeable, the purchase price to the Underwriters of such Designated
Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the
names of the Representatives of such Underwriters, the number of such Designated
Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter and the commission, if any,
payable to the Underwriters with respect thereto and shall set forth the date,
time and manner of delivery of such Firm and Optional Designated Securities, if
any, and payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to the
extent not set forth in the registration statement and prospectus with respect
thereto) the terms of such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be
in the form of an executed writing (which may

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be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic
communications or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a
written record of communications transmitted. The standard provisions set forth
herein will be incorporated by reference in any Pricing Agreement. The
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.

      2. The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, each
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters that:

           (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-22905) (the
      "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities, the
      Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees (including the Designated
      Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
      Guarantees) has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
      (the "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any
      post-effective amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or
      to be delivered to the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to such
      registration statement, but including all documents incorporated by
      reference in the prospectus included therein, to the Representatives for
      each of the other Underwriters has been declared effective by the
      Commission in such form; other than a registration statement, if any,
      increasing the size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration
      Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of
      1933, as amended (the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other
      document with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or document
      incorporated by reference therein has heretofore been filed, or
      transmitted for filing, with the Commission (other than prospectuses filed
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the Commission
      under the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered to the
      Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
      Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or
      the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no
      proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the
      Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial
      Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
      424(a) under the Act is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the
      various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
      Registration Statement, if any, including (i) the information contained in
      the form of final prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
      424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof and deemed by
      virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to be part of the Initial Registration
      Statement at the time it was declared effective or such part of the Rule
      462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
      effective, (ii) all exhibits thereto and (iii) the documents incorporated
      by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement at
      the time such part of the registration statement became effective but
      excluding Forms T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the
      registration statement became effective, are hereinafter collectively
      called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the
      Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees, in the form in
      which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the
      Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter
      called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary
      Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
      documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable
      form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or
      Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or
      supplement

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      to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
      to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary
      Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities
      Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by
      reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may
      be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be
      deemed to refer to and include any annual report of any Trust, if any, and
      the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
      after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is
      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference
      to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to
      the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
      Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
      hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of
      the date of such filing);

           (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
      they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
      be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
      the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
      Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
      to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
      misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
      reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement
      thereto, when such documents become effective or are filed with the
      Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to
      the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the
      rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an
      untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
      not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty
      shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and
      in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Designated
      Trust or the Company by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through
      the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or
      supplemented relating to such Securities;

          (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
      further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
      Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
      the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
      Indenture Act"), and the rules and regulations of the Commission
      thereunder and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as
      to the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the
      applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or
      supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
      to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
      make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that this
      representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions
      made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
      writing to the Designated Trust or the Company by an Underwriter of
      Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
      Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;

           (d) Neither the Company nor any of the Company's subsidiaries has
      sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
      included or incorporated by reference in the 

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      Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire,
      explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
      or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or
      decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus;
      and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any change
      in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development involving
      a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the general
      affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results
      of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
      forth or contemplated in the Prospectus and except for changes in the
      capital stock of the Company as a result of share repurchases on the
      public market by the Company and issuance of shares pursuant to the
      Company's employee stock option plan;

           (e) The Designated Trust has been duly created and is validly
      existing as a business trust in good standing under the laws of the State
      of Delaware, with power and authority to own, lease and operate its
      properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; the
      Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
      corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Ohio, with
      power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its
      properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;

           (f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
      Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
      have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
      non-assessable; all the outstanding beneficial interests in the Designated
      Trust have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
      non-assessable and conform to the descriptions thereof contained in the
      Prospectus;

           (g) Each subsidiary of the Company which is a significant subsidiary,
      as defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the regulations promulgated
      under the 1933 Act (each, a "Significant Subsidiary") has been duly
      incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
      under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or has been duly
      organized and is validly existing as a bank in good standing under the
      laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, as the case may be, has
      power and authority (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its
      properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
      is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
      good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
      required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
      conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good
      standing would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
      financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of the Company
      and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and all of the issued
      and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
      authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and all
      such shares owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, are
      owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
      encumbrance, claim or security;

           (g) The Designated Securities have been duly and validly authorized,
      and, when the Firm Designated Securities are issued and delivered pursuant
      to this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to such
      Designated Securities and, in the case of any Optional 

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      Designated Securities, pursuant to Over-allotment Options (as defined in
      Section 3 hereof) with respect to such Securities, such Designated
      Securities will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
      non-assessable beneficial interests in the Designated Trust entitled to
      the benefits provided by the applicable Trust Agreement, which will be
      substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
      Statement; the Designated Securities conform to the description thereof
      contained in the Registration Statement and the Designated Securities will
      conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended
      or supplemented with respect to such Designated Securities;

           (h) The holders of the Designated Securities (the "Securityholders")
      will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
      stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the
      General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware;

           (i) The Common Securities of the Designated Trust have been duly
      authorized on behalf of the Designated Trust by the Company, as depositor
      of the Designated Trust, and upon delivery by the Designated Trust to the
      Company against payment therefor as set forth in the Trust Agreement, will
      be duly and validly issued and non-assessable beneficial interests in the
      Designated Trust and will conform to the description thereof contained in
      the Prospectus; the issuance of the Common Securities of the Designated
      Trust is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; the Common
      Securities conform to the description thereof contained in the
      Registration Statement; and at each Time of Delivery, all of the issued
      and outstanding Common Securities of the Designated Trust will be directly
      owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
      pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity;

           (j) The Designated Guarantee, the Trust Agreement for the Designated
      Trust, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture (the
      Designated Guarantee, such Trust Agreement, the Designated Subordinated
      Debentures and the Indenture being collectively referred to as the
      "Company Agreements") have each been duly authorized and when validly
      executed and delivered by the Company and, in the case of the Designated
      Guarantee, by the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee), in the
      case of the Trust Agreement, by the Trustees (as defined in the Trust
      Agreement) and, in the case of the Indenture, by the Indenture Trustee,
      and, in the case of the Company Subordinated Debentures, when validly
      issued by the Company and duly authenticated and delivered by the
      Indenture Trustee, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
      of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms,
      subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and
      other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
      rights and to general equity principles; the Trust Agreement, the
      Indenture and the Designated Guarantee have each been duly qualified under
      the Trust Indenture Act; the Designated Subordinated Debentures are
      entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Company Agreements,
      which will be in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the
      Registration Statement, will conform to the descriptions thereof in the
      Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to the Designated
      Securities to which they relate;

          (k) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities by the Designated
      Trust, the compliance by the Designated Trust with all of the provisions
      of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement and each Over-allotment Option,
      if any, the Designated Securities and the Trust 

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      Agreement, the purchase of the Designated Subordinated Debentures by the
      Designated Trust, the execution, delivery and performance by the
      Designated Trust of the Trust Agreement and the consummation of the
      transactions contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or
      result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
      constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
      agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Trust is a party
      or by which such Trust is bound or to which any of the property or assets
      of such Trust is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of
      the provisions of the Trust Agreement or any statute or any order, rule or
      regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
      over such Trust or any of its properties; and no consent, approval,
      authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such
      court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of
      the Designated Securities and the Common Securities by such Trust, the
      purchase of the Subordinated Debentures by the such Trust or the
      consummation by such Trust of the transactions contemplated by this
      Agreement, the Pricing Agreement or any Over-allotment Option or the Trust
      Agreement, except such as have been, or will have been, prior to each Time
      of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof), obtained under the Act and
      the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
      registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities
      or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
      Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

           (l) The issuance by the Company of the Guarantees and the
      Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of the
      provisions of this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement and each
      Over-allotment Option, if any, the Guarantees, the Subordinated
      Debentures, the Trust Agreements and the Indenture, the execution,
      delivery and performance by the Company of the Company Agreements, and the
      consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will not
      conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
      provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
      deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which
      the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
      or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
      assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except for
      such conflict, breach, violation or default which does not have a material
      adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, nor
      will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended
      Article of Incorporation or Code of Regulations of the Company or the
      charter or by-laws of any of its subsidiaries or any statute or any order,
      rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having
      jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
      properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
      or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body
      is required for the issue of the Guarantees or the Subordinated Debentures
      or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated
      by this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement or the Company Agreements, except
      such as have been or will have been, prior to each Time of Delivery,
      obtained under the Act or the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
      approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
      required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
      issuance by the Company of the Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures;

           (m) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
      governmental proceedings pending to which the Designated Trust, the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries is

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      a party or of which any of their properties is the subject, which, if
      determined adversely to the Designated Trust, the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a material
      adverse effect on the current or future consolidated financial position,
      stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Designated Trust, the
      Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of the Designated Trust's
      and the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
      contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

           (n) None of the Designated Trust, the Company nor any of its
      subsidiaries, as applicable, is in violation of the Trust Agreement for
      the Designated Trust, the Certificate of Trust for the Designated Trust,
      or the Amended Articles of Incorporation or Code of Regulations of the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries or in default in the performance or
      observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
      contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease
      or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or
      any of its properties may be bound;

           (o) The Company and its subsidiaries possess such certificates,
      authorities or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign
      regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now
      operated by them, except where the failure to possess such certificates,
      authorities or permits would not have a material adverse effect on the
      condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of
      the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and neither
      the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
      proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
      certificate, authority or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
      subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially
      and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
      earnings or business affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries
      considered as one enterprise;

           (p) The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated
      subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the
      consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated
      subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
      their operations for the periods specified; and, except as stated therein,
      said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally
      accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a
      consistent basis;

           (q) The statements set forth in (i) the Prospectus under the captions
      "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures", "Description of Preferred
      Securities", "Description of Guarantees" and "Relationship Among the
      Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
      the Expense Agreements and the Guarantees", and (ii) in the Prospectus as
      amended or supplemented under the captions "Certain Terms of Series __
      Capital Securities", "Certain Terms of Series __ Subordinated Debentures"
      and "Certain Terms of Series __ Guarantee", insofar as they constitute a
      summary of the terms of the Securities, Subordinated Debentures, the
      Guarantees and the Company Agreements (including the Designated
      Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
      Guarantees), and (x) in the Prospectus under the caption "Plan of
      Distribution" and (y) in the Prospectus as amended or 


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      supplemented under the caption "Underwriting", insofar they purport to
      describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, in
      each case are accurate, complete and fair;

           (r) Neither the Designated Trust nor the Company is or, after giving
      effect to the offering and sale of the Securities, will be, an "investment
      company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such
      terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
      "Investment Company Act");

           (s) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial
      statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
      accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
      Commission thereunder; and

           (t) The Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated Securities
      (incorporating the provisions hereof) and this Agreement each have been
      duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Designated
      Trust.

      3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
the Firm Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the
Firm Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented.

      The Designated Trust may specify in the Pricing Agreement applicable to
any Designated Securities that the Designated Trust thereby grants to the
Underwriters the right (an "Over-allotment Option") to purchase at their
election up to the number of Optional Designated Securities set forth in such
Pricing Agreement, on the terms set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole
purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Designated
Securities. Any such election to purchase Optional Designated Securities may be
exercised by written notice from the Representatives to the Designated Trust and
the Company, given within a period specified in the Pricing Agreement, setting
forth the aggregate number of Optional Designated Securities to be purchased and
the date on which such Optional Designated Securities are to be delivered, as
determined by the Representatives but in no event earlier than the First Time of
Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless the Representatives, the
Designated Trust and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than or
later than the respective number of business days after the date of such notice
set forth in such Pricing Agreement.

      The number of Optional Designated Securities to be added to the number of
Firm Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in
Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement applicable to such Designated Securities
shall be, in each case, the number of Optional Designated Securities which the
Designated Trust and the Company have been advised by the Representatives have
been attributed to such Underwriter; provided that, if the Designated Trust and
the Company have not been so advised, the number of Optional Designated
Securities to be so added shall be, in each case, that proportion of Optional
Designated Securities which the number of Firm Designated Securities to be
purchased by such Underwriter under such Pricing Agreement bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Designated Securities (rounded as the Representatives
may determine to the nearest 100 securities). The total number of Designated
Securities to be purchased by all the Underwriters pursuant to such Pricing
Agreement shall be the aggregate number of Firm 


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Designated Securities set forth in Schedule I to such Pricing Agreement plus the
aggregate number of Optional Designated Securities which the Underwriters elect
to purchase.

      As compensation to the Underwriters of the Designated Securities for their
commitments hereunder and under the Pricing Agreement, and in view of the fact
that the proceeds of the sale of the Designated Securities will be used by the
Designated Trust to purchase the Designated Subordinated Debentures of the
Company, the Company agrees to pay at each Time of Delivery to Goldman, Sachs &
Co., for the accounts of the several Underwriters, the amount set forth in the
Pricing Agreement per capital security for the Designated Securities to be
delivered at each Time of Delivery.

      4. Certificates for the Firm Designated Securities and the Optional
Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the
Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing
Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to
the Designated Trust and the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the
Designated Trust to the Representatives for the account of such Underwriter,
against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price
therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same day) Funds to an account designated
by the Designated Trust, (i) with respect to the Firm Designated Securities, all
in the manner and at the place and time and date specified in such Pricing
Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives, the
Designated Trust and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date
being herein called the "First Time of Delivery" and (ii) with respect to the
Optional Designated Securities, if any, in the manner and at the time and date
specified by the Representatives in the written notice given by the
Representatives of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Optional
Designated Securities, or at such other time and date as the Representatives,
the Designated Trust and the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and
date, if not the First Time of Delivery, herein called the "Second Time of
Delivery". Each such time and date for delivery is herein called a "Time of
Delivery".

      5.   The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, agrees
with each of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities:

           (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended and supplemented in relation
      to such Designated Securities in a form approved by the Representatives
      and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not
      later than the Commission's close of business on the second business day
      following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement relating to
      the Designated Securities or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be
      required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any supplement to
      the Registration Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after
      the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities and prior to
      any Time of Delivery for such Securities which shall be disapproved by the
      Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable notice
      thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or
      supplement after any Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities and
      furnish the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all
      reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be
      filed by the Designated Trust or the Company with the Commission pursuant
      to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as
      the delivery of a prospectus is required in

                                       10
   11
      connection with the offering or sale of the Designated Securities, and
      during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it
      receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the
      Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any
      supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with
      the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of
      any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to
      the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of the Designated
      Securities or the Designated Subordinated Debentures for offering or sale
      in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
      for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending
      or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
      additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop
      order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any
      prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such
      qualification, promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
      of such order;

           (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
      Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Designated
      Securities or the Designated Subordinated Debentures for offering and sale
      under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may
      request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
      sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be
      necessary to complete the distribution of such Designated Securities,
      provided that in connection therewith neither the Designated Trust nor the
      Company shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a
      general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

           (c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business
      Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
      Securities or some other day as agreed by the Company and the Underwriters
      and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the
      Prospectus in New York City as amended or supplemented in such quantities
      as the Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
      prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale
      of the Designated Securities or the Designated Subordinated Debentures and
      if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the
      Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
      statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
      in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
      under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not
      misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such
      same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the
      Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in
      order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act,
      to notify the Representatives and upon their request to file such document
      and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any
      dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time
      to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the
      Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
      compliance;

           (d) In the case of the Company, to make generally available to its
      security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
      eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as
      defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act), an earnings statement of the
      Company and its subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with
      Section 11(a) of the 


                                       11
   12
      Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including,
      at the option of the Company, Rule 158);

           (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
      Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including
      the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such
      Designated Securities, as notified to the Designated Trust and the Company
      by the Representatives and (ii) 30 days after the last Time of Delivery
      for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
      otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder, any Securities, any
      other beneficial interests in the assets of any Trust, or any capital
      securities or any other securities of any Trust or the Company, as the
      case may be, that are substantially similar to such Designated Securities
      (including any guarantee of such securities) or any securities that are
      convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to
      receive securities, capital securities or any such substantially similar
      securities of either any Trust or the Company without the prior written
      consent of the Representatives (other than shares of common stock of the
      Company);

           (f) In the case of the Company, to issue the Guarantee concurrently
      with the issue and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein or in the
      Pricing Agreement;

           (g) If the Trust and the Company elect to rely upon Rule 462(b), the
      Trust and the Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with
      the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington,
      D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Trust and the Company
      shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee
      for the rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable
      instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the
      Act.

           6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters
that it will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the
registration of the Securities, the Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures
under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation,
printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of
printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any
Pricing Agreement, any Company Agreement, the Securities and the Subordinated
Debentures, any Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any
compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Securities, the Guarantees and the Subordinated
Debentures for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the
Blue Sky survey(s); (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for
rating the Securities and the Subordinated Debentures; (v) any filing fees
incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with, any required reviews by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities and the issuance of the
Guarantees and the Subordinated Debentures; (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities and the Subordinated Debentures; (vii) the fees and expenses of any
Trustee, Indenture Trustee and Guarantee Trustee, and any agent


                                       12
   13
of any trustee and the fees and disbursements of counsel for any trustee in
connection with any Trust Agreement, Indenture, Guarantee and the Securities;
(viii) the cost of qualifying the Securities with The Depository Trust Company;
(ix) any fees and expenses in connection with listing the Securities and the
Subordinated Debentures and the cost of registering the Securities under Section
12 of the Exchange Act; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder and under any Over-allotment Options
which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section . It is
understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section , and Sections 8
and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses,
including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the
Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they
may make.

      7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Designated Trust and
the Company in or incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Designated Securities are, at and as of each Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Designated Trust
and the Company shall have performed all of their respective obligations
hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

           (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to such
      Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant
      to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such
      filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with
      Section 5(a) hereof; if the Trust and the Company have elected to rely
      upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become
      effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
      Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
      Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for
      that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;
      and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission
      shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable
      satisfaction;

           (b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
      Representatives such opinion or opinions (a draft of each such opinion is
      attached as Annex III(a) hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such
      Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
      the validity of the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
      Guarantee, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
      supplemented, as well as such other related matters as the Representatives
      may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers
      and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon
      such matters;

           (c) Counsel for the Designated Trust and the Company satisfactory to
      the Representatives shall have furnished to the Representatives their
      written opinions (a draft of each such opinion is attached as Annex III(b)
      hereto), dated each Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities,
      respectively, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives,
      to the effect that:

                                       13
   14
                (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
           existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
           State of Ohio, and each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
           incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
           standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
           has been duly organized and is validly existing as a bank in good 
           standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, as 
           the case may be, with power and authority (corporate and other) to 
           own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
           described in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

                (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
           in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, and all of the issued
           shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
           authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the
           Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the Company as
           depositor on behalf of the Designated Trust; and the Designated
           Securities conform to the description of the Securities contained in
           the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

               (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as
           set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
           proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
           is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its
           subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
           Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
           aggregate have a material adverse effect on the current or future
           consolidated financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
           operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; to the best of such
           counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
           pending to which the Designated Trust is a party or of which any
           property of the Designated Trust is the subject; and to the best of
           such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
           contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

                (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
           the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
           delivered by the Designated Trust and the Company;

                (v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the
           Company as depositor on behalf of the Designated Trust; the issuance
           by the Company of the Designated Guarantee and the Designated
           Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of
           the provisions of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and the
           Company Agreements, the execution, delivery and performance by the
           Company of the Company Agreements and the consummation of the
           transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with
           or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions
           of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of
           trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such
           counsel to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
           by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which
           any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
           subsidiaries is subject, nor will such actions result in any
           violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to
           such counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
           jurisdiction over the Designated Trust, the Company or any of its
           subsidiaries or any of their properties;

                                       14
   15
              (vi) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
           qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or
           body is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities
           being delivered at such Time of Delivery or the issuance of the
           Designated Guarantee and the Designated Subordinated Debentures or
           the consummation by the Designated Trust or the Company of the
           transactions contemplated by this Agreement or such Pricing Agreement
           and the Company Agreements, except such as have been obtained under
           the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals,
           authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required
           under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
           purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the
           Underwriters or the issuance of the Designated Guarantee and
           Designated Subordinated Debentures by the Company;

            (vii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
           violation of its charter, Code of Regulations or by-laws (as the case
           may be) or in default in the performance or observance of any
           material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
           any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or
           other agreement or instrument of which it is a party or by which it
           or any of its properties may be bound; the Designated Trust is not in
           violation of its Trust Agreement or in default in the performance or
           observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
           condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
           agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a
           party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;

           (viii) The statements set forth (i) in the Prospectus under the
           captions "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures",
           "Description of Preferred Securities", "Description of Guarantees"
           and "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding
           Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Expense Agreements and the
           Guarantees", and (ii) in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
           under the captions "Certain Terms of Series __ Capital Securities,"
           "Certain Terms of Series __ Subordinated Debentures" and "Certain
           Terms of Series __ Guarantee", insofar as they constitute a summary
           of the terms of the Securities, Subordinated Debentures, the
           Guarantees and the Company Agreements (including the Designated
           Securities, the Designated Subordinated Debentures and the Designated
           Guarantees), and (x) in the Prospectus under the caption "Plan of
           Distribution" and (y) in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
           under the caption "Underwriting", insofar they purport to describe
           the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, in each
           case are accurate, complete and fair;

            (ix) The Designated Subordinated Debentures are in the form
           prescribed in or pursuant to the Indenture, have been duly and
           validly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action
           and, when completed, executed and authenticated as specified in or
           pursuant to the Indenture and issued and delivered, will be valid and
           binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
           their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
           reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to
           affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles;

            (x) The Company Agreements have each been duly authorized, executed
           and delivered by the parties thereto and constitute valid and legally
           binding instruments, enforceable in 

                                       15
   16
           accordance with their respective terms, subject, as to enforcement,
           to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
           applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to 
           general equity principles; and the Indenture, the Designated
           Guarantee and the Designated Trust Agreement have been duly qualified
           under the Trust Indenture Act;

             (xi) The issuance by the Company of the Guarantee and the
           Subordinated Debentures, the compliance by the Company with all of
           the provisions of this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and the
           Company Agreements, the execution, delivery and performance by the
           Company of the Company Agreements and the consummation of the
           transactions herein and therein contemplated will not result in any
           violation of the provisions of the Company's Amended Articles of
           Incorporation or Code of Regulations;

            (xii) The Designated Trust is not an "investment company" or an
           entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are
           defined in the Investment Company Act;

           (xiii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
           amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
           related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
           opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
           Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material
           respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
           applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
           thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any of such
           documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case
           may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which
           became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material
           fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
           therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
           or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the Act or
           the Exchange Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a
           material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order
           to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
           under which they were made when such documents were so filed, not
           misleading; and

           (xiv) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
           supplemented, and any further amendments and supplements thereto made
           by the Designated Trust or the Company prior to such Time of Delivery
           (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein,
           as to which such counsel need express no opinion), comply as to form
           in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the
           rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume any
           responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
           statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
           except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (viii) of
           this Section 7(c), they have no reason to believe that, as of its
           effective date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment
           thereto made by the Designated Trust or the Company prior to such
           Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and related
           schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
           contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
           a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
           the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date, the
           Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment or
           supplement thereto made by the Designated

                                       16
   17
           Trust or the Company prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the
           financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such
           counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a
           material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make
           the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
           they were made, not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery,
           either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
           supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by
           the Designated Trust or the Company prior to such Time of Delivery
           (other than the financial statements and related schedules therein,
           as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue
           statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
           necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
           circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and they do
           not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to
           be filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required
           to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required
           to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or
           supplemented or required to be described in the Registration
           Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not
           filed or incorporated by reference or described as required;

           (d) Special Delaware Counsel to the Designated Trust and the Company
      satisfactory to the Representatives, shall have furnished to you, the
      Company and the Designated Trust their written opinion (a draft of such
      opinion is attached as Annex III(c) hereto), dated the respective Time of
      Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that

                (i) The Designated Trust has been duly created and is validly
           existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware
           Business Trust Act, and all filings required under the laws of the
           State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid existence of
           the Designated Trust as a business trust have been made;

               (ii) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
           Agreement, the Designated Trust has the power and authority to own
           property and conduct its business, all as described in the
           Prospectus;

              (iii) The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding
           obligation of the Company and the Trustees, enforceable against the
           Company and the Trustees, in accordance with its terms, subject, as
           to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
           reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability
           relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
           principles;

               (iv) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
           Agreement, the Designated Trust has the power and authority to (a)
           execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under this
           Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and (b) issue and perform its
           obligations under the Designated Securities and the Common Securities
           of the Designated Trust;

                (v) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
           Agreement, the execution and delivery by the Designated Trust of this
           Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, and the


                                       17
   18
           performance by the Designated Trust of its obligations hereunder and
           thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the
           part of the Designated Trust;

               (vi) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized by the
           Trust Agreement and are duly and validly issued and, subject to the
           qualifications set forth herein, fully paid and non-assessable
           beneficial interests in the Designated Trust and are entitled to the
           benefits provided by the Trust Agreement; the Securityholders, as
           beneficial owners of the Designated Trust, will be entitled to the
           same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
           private corporations for profit organized under the General
           Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; provided that such counsel
           may note that the Securityholders may be obligated, pursuant to the
           Trust Agreement, to (a) provide indemnity and/or security in
           connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from
           transfers or exchanges of Securities Certificates and the issuance of
           replacement Securities Certificates and (b) provide security and
           indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the
           Property Trustee (as defined in the Trust Agreement) to exercise its
           rights and remedies under the Trust Agreement;

              (vii) The Common Securities of the Designated Trust have been duly
           authorized by the Trust Agreement and are validly issued and
           represent beneficial interests in the Designated Trust;

             (viii) Under the Delaware Business Trust Act and the Trust
           Agreement, the issuance of the Designated Securities and the Common
           Securities of the Designated Trust is not subject to preemptive
           rights;

               (ix) The issuance and sale by the Designated Trust of Designated
           Securities and the Common Securities of the Designated Trust, the
           execution, delivery and performance by the Designated Trust of this
           Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, the consummation by the
           Designated Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby and
           compliance by the Designated Trust with its obligations thereunder
           will not violate (a) any of the provisions of the Certificate of
           Trust of the Designated Trust or the Trust Agreement, or (b) any
           applicable Delaware law or administrative regulation;

                (x) Assuming that the Designated Trust derives no income from or
           connected with services provided within the State of Delaware and has
           no assets, activities (other than maintaining the Delaware Trustee
           and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State of the State
           of Delaware) or employees in the State of Delaware, no authorization,
           approval, consent or order of any Delaware court or governmental
           authority or agency is required to be obtained by the Designated
           Trust solely in connection with the issuance and sale of the
           Designated Securities and the Common Securities of the Designated
           Trust. (In rendering the opinion expressed in this paragraph (x),
           such counsel need express no opinion concerning the securities laws
           of the State of Delaware.); and

               (xi) Assuming that the Designated Trust derives no income from or
           connected with services provided within the State of Delaware and has
           no assets, activities (other than maintaining the Delaware Trustee
           and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State


                                       18
   19
           of the State of Delaware) or employees in the State of Delaware, the
           Securityholders (other than those holders of the Securities who
           reside or are domiciled in the State of Delaware) will have no
           liability for income taxes imposed by the State of Delaware solely as
           a result of their participation in the Designated Trust, and the
           Designated Trust will not be liable for any income tax imposed by the
           State of Delaware.

           (e) Tax counsel for the Designated Trust and the Company satisfactory
      to the Representatives shall have furnished to you their written opinion
      (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex III(d) hereto), dated the
      respective Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to
      the effect that such firm confirms its opinion set forth in the Prospectus
      under the caption "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences";

           (f) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
      Securities at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with
      respect to the Designated Securities and at each Time of Delivery for such
      Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have
      certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
      included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall
      have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date
      of the Registration Statement or the date of the most recent report filed
      with the Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by
      reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such report is
      later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery,
      respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect
      to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as
      the Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance
      satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter
      delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex
      II(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
      effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration
      statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex II(b)
      hereto);

           (g) (i) None of the Designated Trust, the Company or any of the
      Company's subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest
      audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
      Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating
      to the Designated Securities any loss or interference with its business
      from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
      insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
      order, decree or regulation, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated
      in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement
      relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the respective dates
      as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended prior to the
      date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities there
      shall not have been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of
      the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development
      involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs,
      management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
      operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
      forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented prior
      to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
      Securities, the effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i)
      or (ii), is in the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse
      as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
      offering or the 


                                       19
   20
     delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
     contemplated in the Prospectus as amended relating to the Designated
     Securities;

              (h) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
     the Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the
     rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
     "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term
     is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
     Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that
     it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative
     implications, its rating of any of the Company's debt securities or
     preferred stock;

           (i) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
      Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following:
      (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally
      on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation
      in trading in the Company's securities in the over-the-counter market;
      (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by
      either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or
      escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration
      by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any
      such event specified in this Clause (iv) in the judgment of the
      Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
      public offering or the delivery of the Firm Designated Securities or
      Optional Designated Securities or both on the terms and in the manner
      contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating
      to the Designated Securities;

           (j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section
      5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York
      Business Day next succeeding the date of the Pricing Agreement for such
      Designated Securities; and

           (k) The Designated Trust and the Company shall have furnished or
      caused to be furnished to the Representatives at each Time of Delivery for
      the Designated Securities certificates of officers of the Designated Trust
      and the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of
      the representations and warranties of the Designated Trust and the Company
      herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the
      Designated Trust and the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be
      performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set
      forth in subsections (a) and (g) of this Section and as to such other
      matters as the Representatives may reasonably request.

      8. (a) The Designated Trust and the Company, jointly and severally, will
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject,
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Designated Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for any
legal or other expenses reasonably

                                       20
   21
incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that
neither the Designated Trust nor the Company shall be liable in any such case to
the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is
based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus
supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Designated Trust and the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities.

      (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Trust
and the Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the
Designated Trust may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Designated Securities, or
any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in
each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Designated Trust and
the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use
therein; and will reimburse the Designated Trust and the Company for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Designated Trust in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

      (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party
shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified
party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be
brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and,
after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be
liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of
other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent

                                       21
   22
to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action
or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i)
includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include any statement as
to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf
of any indemnified party.

      (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Designated Trust and the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of
the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated
Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect
thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Designated Trust and the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Designated Trust and the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on
the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Designated Trust
and the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by such Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Designated Trust and the Company on the
one hand or such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission. The Designated Trust, the Company and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The 

                                       22
   23
obligations of the Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint.

      (e) The obligations of the Designated Trust and the Company under this
Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Designated Trust and
the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and
conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8
shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
officer and director of the Designated Trust and the Company and to each person,
if any, who controls the Designated Trust and the Company within the meaning of
the Act.

      9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities which it has agreed
to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities, the
Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party
or other parties to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If
within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the
Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Designated
Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, then the
Designated Trust shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours
within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the
Representatives to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that,
within the respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the
Designated Trust that they have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities,
or the Designated Trust notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for
the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Designated Trust
shall have the right to postpone a Time of Delivery for such Securities for a
period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may
thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the
Designated Trust agrees to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the
Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in
this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like
effect as if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement
with respect to such Designated Securities.

      (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the
Designated Trust as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the
aggregate number of the Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated
Securities, as the case may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of
Delivery, then the Designated Trust shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Firm Designated Securities
or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, which such Underwriter
agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to
purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Firm Designated Securities
or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, which such Underwriter
agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Firm Designated

                                       23
   24
Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be, of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.

      (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the
Designated Trust as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate number of
Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case may
be, which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of
the Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the case
may be, to be purchased at the respective Time of Delivery, as referred to in
subsection (b) above, or if the Designated Trust shall not exercise the right
described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to
purchase Firm Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities, as the
case may be, of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Firm Designated Securities or the Over-allotment
Option relating to such Optional Designated Securities, as the case may be,
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Designated Trust or the Company, except for the expenses to
be borne by the Designated Trust and the Company and the Underwriters as
provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in
Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.

      10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Designated Trust or the Company and the several
Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them,
respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof)
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any
Underwriter, or the Designated Trust or the Company, or any officer or director
or controlling person of the Designated Trust or the Company, and shall survive
delivery of and payment for the Securities.

      11. If any Pricing Agreement or Over-allotment Option shall be terminated
pursuant to Section 9 hereof, neither the Designated Trust nor the Company shall
then be under any liability to any Underwriter with respect to the Firm
Designated Securities or Optional Designated Securities with respect to which
such Pricing Agreement shall have been terminated except as provided in Sections
6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, Designated Securities are not
delivered by or on behalf of the Designated Trust or the Company as provided
herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives
for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the
Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such
Designated Securities, but the Designated Trust or the Company shall then be
under no further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated
Securities except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

      12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given


                                       24
   25
by such Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as
may be designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.

      All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Designated Trust or the Company shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the
Designated Trust or the Company, respectively, set forth in the Registration
Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an
Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in
its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which
address will be supplied to the Designated Trust and the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

      13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, each Designated Trust, the
Company and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers
and directors of each Designated Trust, the Company and each person who controls
any Designated Trust or the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective
heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person
shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such
Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

      14.  Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement.  As used 
herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office
in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

      15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

      16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one
or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.


                                       25
   26
           If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please
sign and return to us ten counterparts hereof.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       FIFTH THIRD BANCORP


                                       By:    /s/ P. Michael Brumm
                                              ------------------------------
                                              Name: P. Michael Brumm
                                              Title: Executive Vice President

                                       FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST I
                                       By:    Fifth Third Bancorp
                                              as Depositor


                                       By:    /s/ P. Michael Brumm
                                              ------------------------------
                                              Name: P. Michael Brumm
                                              Title: Executive Vice President

                                       FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST II
                                       By:    Fifth Third Bancorp
                                              as Depositor


                                       By:    /s/ P. Michael Brumm
                                              ------------------------------
                                              Name: P. Michael Brumm
                                              Title: Executive Vice President

         Accepted on behalf of ourselves and the other Underwriters listed in
Schedule I to the Pricing Agreement:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Smith Barney Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
   Securities Corporation
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
UBS Securities LLC

By:  /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.
     ---------------------------
       (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

                                       26
   27
                                PRICING AGREEMENT

                                                                         ANNEX I


Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Smith Barney Inc.,
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
   Securities Corporation,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated,
Salomon Brothers Inc,
UBS Securities LLC,
 As Representatives of the several
    Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.

                                                          Date: __________, 199_
Ladies and Gentlemen:

      Fifth Third Capital Trust [I][II], a statutory business trust formed under
the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Designated Trust") and Fifth Third
Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), propose, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated March [__],
1997 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Designated Trust, Capital Trust
[I][II] and the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc., Smith Barney Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Salomon
Brothers Inc and UBS Securities LLC, on the other hand, to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the Securities
specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities" consisting of Firm
Designated Securities and any Optional Designated Securities the Underwriters
may elect to purchase). The principal asset of the Trust consists of debt
securities of the Company (the "Subordinated Debentures"), as specified in
Schedule II to this Agreement. The Designated Securities will be guaranteed by
the Company to the extent set forth in this Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities (the "Guarantee"). Each of the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and
shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such
provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations
and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of
the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty
which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall
be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a
representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated
Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to
the Representative herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise
defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as
therein defined. The Representative designated to act on behalf of the
Representatives and on behalf of
   28
each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of
the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in
such Section 12 are set forth in Schedule II hereto.

      An amendment to the Initial Registration Statement or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

      Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, (a) the Designated
Trust agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Designated
Trust, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set
forth in Schedule II hereto, the number of Firm Designated Securities set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and, (b) in the event
and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase
Optional Designated Securities, as provided below, the Designated Trust agrees
to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Designated Trust at the
purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto that portion
of the number of Optional Designated Securities as to which such election shall
have been exercised.

      The Designated Trust hereby grants to each of the Underwriters the right
to purchase at their election up to the number of Optional Designated Securities
set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto on the
terms referred to in the paragraph above for the sole purpose of covering
over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Designated Securities. Any such election
to purchase Optional Designated Securities may be exercised by written notice
from the Representatives to the Designated Trust and the Company given within a
period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Pricing Agreement, setting
forth the aggregate number of Optional Designated Securities to be purchased and
the date on which such Optional Designated Securities are to be delivered, as
determined by the Representatives, but in no event earlier than the First Time
of Delivery or, unless the Representatives and the Designated Trust otherwise
agree in writing, no earlier than two or later than ten business days after the
date of such notice.

                                        2
   29
      If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us [ ] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Designated Trust and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance
of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to
the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of
which shall be submitted to the Designated Trust and the Company for
examination, upon request, but without warranty on the part of the
Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              FIFTH THIRD BANCORP



                                              By:
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:


                                              FIFTH THIRD CAPITAL TRUST [I][II]
                                              By:    Fifth Third Bancorp,
                                                     as Depositor


                                              By:
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                     Name:
                                                     Title:

Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Smith Barney Inc.
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
   Securities Corporation
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
           Incorporated
Salomon Brothers Inc
UBS Securities LLC
As Representatives of the Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto

By:
    -------------------------------


                                       3
   30
              (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

                                        4
   31
                                   SCHEDULE I


                                                                                                        Maximum Number
                                                                                                          of Optional
                                                                                Number of                 Designated
                                                                             Firm Designated           Securities Which
                                                                               Securities                   May be
                             Underwriter                                     to be Purchased               Purchased
                             -----------                                     ---------------               ---------
                                                                       
Goldman, Sachs & Co...................................................
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc............................................
Smith Barney Inc......................................................
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
   Securities Corporation.............................................
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                              Incorporated............................
Salomon Brothers Inc..................................................
UBS Securities LLC....................................................
                                                                           ------------------

Total                                                                      ==================



                                        1
   32
                                   SCHEDULE II


DESIGNATED TRUST:

         Capital Trust [I][II]

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

         [___%] [Floating Rate] Capital Securities, Series _

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:

         Aggregate principal amount of Designated
         Securities to be sold: $

PRICE TO PUBLIC:

         ___% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:

         _______% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities

UNDERWRITERS' COMPENSATION:

         As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments hereunder,
         and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Designated
         Securities will be used by the Designated Trust to purchase the
         Subordinated Debentures of the Company, the Company hereby agrees to
         pay at each Time of Delivery to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the accounts
         of the several Underwriters, an amount equal to $__________ per capital
         security for the Designated Securities to be delivered at each Time of
         Delivery.

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:

         Federal (same day) Funds

ACCOUNTANTS' LETTER TO BE DELIVERED ON DATE OF PRICING AGREEMENT:

         Yes.

TRUST AGREEMENT:

         Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of March [__], 1997,
         between the Company and the Trustees named therein


                                        2
   33
INDENTURE:

         Indenture dated as of March [__], 1997, between the Company and
         Wilmington Trust Company, as Indenture Trustee (the "Indenture")

GUARANTEE:

         Guarantee Agreement dated as of March [__], 1997, between Company and
         Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee

MATURITY:

         ________ __, 2027

INTEREST RATE:



INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:



EXTENSION PERIOD:

         [20 quarters] [10 semi-annual periods]

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

         [The redemption provisions set forth in Section 402 of the Trust 
         Agreement shall apply to the Designated Securities.]

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:

         [No sinking fund provisions.]

TIME OF DELIVERY:

         10:00 a.m., New York City time
         __________, 1997

CLOSING LOCATION:

         Sullivan & Cromwell
         125 Broad Street
         New York, New York 10004


                                         3
   34
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

         Goldman, Sachs & Co.
         85 Broad Street
         New York, New York 10004

         J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

         Smith Barney Inc.

         Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
            Securities Corporation

         Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                      Incorporated

         Salomon Brothers Inc

         UBS Securities LLC

                                        4
   35
                                                                        ANNEX II

         Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

             (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect
         to the Designated Trust and the Company and its subsidiaries within the
         meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations
         thereunder;

             (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
         supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable,
         financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by
         them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
         Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects
         with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange
         Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and regulations
         thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance
         with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
         Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements,
         selected financial data, pro forma financial information, financial
         forecasts and/or condensed financial statements derived from audited
         financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such
         letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
         been separately furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters
         (the "Representatives");

             (iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards
         established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
         of the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
         consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
         included in the Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly
         reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as
         indicated in their reports thereon copies of which have been separately
         furnished to the Representatives; and on the basis of specified
         procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who have
         responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding whether
         the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements referred to
         in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material
         respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
         Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing
         came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited
         condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in
         all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
         the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
         regulations;

             (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to
         the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
         Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the
         Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the
         Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year
         agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where
         applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for such
         five fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in
         the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
   36
              (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
         selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K
         and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing
         came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that
         caused them to believe that this information does not conform in all
         material respects with the disclosure requirements of items 301, 302,
         402 and 503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;

             (vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
         examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
         consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
         information referred to below, a reading of the latest available
         interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,
         inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries
         since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
         the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
         accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
         specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused
         them to believe that:

             (A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
         consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
         included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference
         in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
         reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
         respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange
         Act and the related published rules and regulations, or (ii) any
         material modifications should be made to the unaudited condensed
         consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
         consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus or
         included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated
         by reference in the Prospectus, for them to be in conformity with
         generally accepted accounting principles;

             (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
         items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding
         items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
         such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items
         were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
         for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial
         statements included or incorporated by reference in the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

             (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in
         the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
         financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited income
         statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
         referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
         consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included
         or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
         10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

             (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
         statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
         not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
         accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and

                                        2
   37
         regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
         properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
         statements;

             (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
         date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
         capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of
         options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
         shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case
         which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included
         or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any increase in the
         consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any
         decreases in consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity or
         other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
         items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
         amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
         reference in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases
         or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur
         or which are described in such letter; and

             (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
         included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to the
         specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in
         consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per share
         amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by the
         Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
         Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of
         the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length
         specified by the Representatives, except in each case for increases or
         decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
         which are described in such letter; and

             (vii) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
         included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
         procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
         referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
         certain specified procedures, not constituting an examination in
         accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to
         certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
         Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records
         of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus
         (excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or
         in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by
         the Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the
         Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain
         of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the
         accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found
         them to be in agreement.

         All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated
Securities for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities.


                                        3
   38
                                                                    ANNEX III(A)



                       [Draft Sullivan & Cromwell Opinion]

                                        4
   39
                                                                    ANNEX III(B)



                   [Draft Designated Trust's Counsel Opinion]

                                        5
   40
                                                                    ANNEX III(C)



                    [Draft Special Delaware Counsel Opinion]

                                        6
   41
                                                                    ANNEX III(D)



                           [Draft Tax Counsel Opinion]

                                        7