Exhibit 4.2

                           (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY)


         THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE OF A DEPOSITARY. THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED
IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE
LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED
EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITARY.

No.                                                  CUSIP No. 040125 AA 4
                                                               -----------

                               ARGO BANCORP, INC.

                 _____% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST
                             DEBENTURE DUE ________

                  ARGO Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company",
which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Wilmington Trust
Company, as Property Trustee for Argo Capital Trust Co. or registered assigns,
the principal sum of $____________ on ________ (the "Maturity Date"), unless
previously redeemed, and to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount
hereof from ____________, or from the most recent interest payment date (each
such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on
April 15, July 15, October 15 and January 15 of each year, commencing on
____________, at the rate of _____% per annum until the principal hereof shall
have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and premium, if any,
and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is
enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the
same rate per annum compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any
Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months and, for any period less than a full calendar month, the number of
days elapsed in such month based on a 30-day month. In the event that any date
on which the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on this Security is
payable is not a Business Day, then the payment payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest
or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that if such next
succeeding Business Day falls in the next calendar year, then such payment shall
be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date. Pursuant to the Indenture, in certain
circumstances the Company will be required to pay Additional Sums and Compounded
Interest (each as defined in the Indenture) with respect to this Security.







                  The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or
duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the
Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close
of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which
shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth day of the month preceding
the month in which the relevant interest payment date falls. Any such interest
installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
payable to the holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person
in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the
Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be
given to the holders of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such special
record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such
exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

                  The principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including
Compounded Interest and Additional Sums, if any), on this Security shall be
payable at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in
any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment
is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however,
that, payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by (i) check
mailed to the holder at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or
(ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto,
provided that proper written transfer instructions have been received by the
relevant record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of
this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest (including Compounded Interest and Additional
Sums, if any), on this Security will be made at such place and to such account
as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

                  The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent
provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Security is issued
subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of
this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of
Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives
reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

                  This Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on
behalf of the Trustee.







                  The provisions of this Security are continued on the reverse
side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as
though fully set forth at this place.

                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to
be duly executed and sealed.


Dated:                 , 1998
      -----------------

                                                    ARGO BANCORP, INC.

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



Attest:

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










                     (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)

                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

                  This is one of the Securities referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.



Wilmington Trust Company                        Dated:         , 1998
as Trustee                                            ---------



By
   --------------------
   Authorized Signatory








                          (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY)

                  This Security is one of the Securities of the Company (herein
sometimes referred to as the "Securities"), specified in the Indenture, all
issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of
______________ (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the
Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), to which
Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations
of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of the Securities.

                  Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior
to ___________ (the "Initial Optional Redemption Date"), the Company shall have
the right, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event, to redeem this Security in whole (but not in part) at the Special Event
Redemption Price. "Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to
any redemption of the Securities following a Special Event, an amount in cash
equal to the Make Whole Amount. The "Make Whole Amount" shall mean an amount
equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed or (ii)
the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent, of the present values of remaining
scheduled payments of principal and interest, discounted to the prepayment date
on a quarterly basis (assuming a 360- day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in the case of each of clauses (i)
and (ii), any accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Compounded Interest
and Additional Sums, if any), to the date of such redemption.

                  In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem this
Security, in whole or in part, at any time on or after the Initial Optional
Redemption Date (an "Optional Redemption"), at 100% or the principal amount
thereof plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including
Additional Sums and Compounded Interest, if any), to the date of redemption (the
"Optional Redemption Price").

         The Optional Redemption Price or the Special Event Redemption Price, as
the case requires, shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date
of such redemption or at such earlier time as the Company determines, provided,
that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the
applicable Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York City, on the date such
Redemption Price is to be paid. Any redemption pursuant to this paragraph will
be made upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice. If the
Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company pursuant to an Optional
Redemption, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro
rata basis, by lot or such other method that the Trustee shall utilize, not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption from the outstanding
Securities not previously called for redemption,

                  In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a
new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in
the name of the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.








                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Securities by
the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any required regulatory approval.

                  In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture,
shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Securities
may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

                  The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and
the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding, as defined in the
Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
the Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the
Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of each holder of Securities then outstanding and affected
thereby, (i) change the Maturity Date of any Securities, or reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof, or reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon (subject to Article
XVI of the Indenture), or make the principal of, or interest or premium on, the
Securities payable in any coin or currency other than U.S. dollars, or impair or
affect the right of any holder of Securities to institute suit for the payment
thereof, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of
which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture
also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding affected thereby, on
behalf of all of the holders of the Securities, to waive any past default in the
performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established
pursuant to the Indenture, and its consequences, except a default in the payment
of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities or
a default in respect of any covenant or provision under which the Indenture
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of Securities
then outstanding. Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Security
(unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Security and of
any Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by
registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

                  No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this
Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the
Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and
premium, if any, and interest (including Compounded Interest and Additional
Sums, if any), on this Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the
money herein prescribed.

                  So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time
during the term of the







Securities, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment
period of such Securities for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarterly
periods, including the first such quarterly period during such extension period,
and not extending beyond the Maturity Date of the Securities (an "Extended
Interest Payment Period") or ending on a date other than an Interest Payment
Date, at the end of which period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued
and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate specified for the
Securities to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law). Before the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by further extending
such Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that such Extended Interest
Payment Period, together with all such previous and further extensions within
such Extended Interest Payment Period, (i) shall not exceed 20 consecutive
quarterly periods, including the first quarterly period during such Extended
Interest Payment Period, (ii) shall not end on any date other than an Interest
Payment Date, and (iii) shall not extend beyond the Maturity Date of the
Securities. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period
and the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any additional amounts
then due, the Company may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period,
subject to the foregoing requirements.

                  The Company has agreed that it will not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock (which
includes common and preferred stock), (ii) make any payment of principal,
interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to
any guarantee by the Company of the debt securities of any Subsidiary of the
Company if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to the
Securities (other than (a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options,
warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock of the
Company, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation
of a stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in
the future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto,
(c) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee, (d) as a result of a
reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or the
conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock, for another
class or series of the Company's capital stock, (e) the purchase of fractional
interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the exchange or
conversion of such capital stock or the security being exchanged or converted
and (f) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common Stock or
rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors, officers or
employees or any of the Company's dividend reinvestment plans) if at such time
(1) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company has actual
knowledge that (a) is or, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would be, an Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Company
shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (2) if the Securities are held by
ARGO Capital Trust Co., the Company shall be in default with respect to its
payment obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (3) the Company
shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right to extend
the interest payment period and any such extension shall be continuing.







                  Subject to (i) the receipt of any required regulatory approval
and (ii) the receipt by the Company of an opinion of counsel to the effect that
such distribution will not be a taxable event to holders of Capital Securities,
the Company will have the right at any time to liquidate ARGO Capital Trust Co.
and cause the Securities to be distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities in liquidation of the Trust.

                  The Securities are issuable only in registered form without
coupons. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions
limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this
Security is transferable by the holder hereof on the Security Register of the
Company, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in the City of Summit and the State of Illinois
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the holder hereof or
his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new
Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No
service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

                  Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this
Security, the Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent,
any transfer agent and the registrar may deem and treat the holder hereof as the
absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other
than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and (subject to the
Indenture) interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the
Company nor the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any paying agent nor
any transfer agent nor any registrar shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

                  No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on this Security, or for any claim based hereon,
or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture,
against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or
future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor Person,
whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being,
by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance
hereof, expressly waived and released.

                  All terms used in this Security that are defined in the
Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

                  THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REGARD TO
CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.