AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 3, 1999
    
   
                                                                 (NO. 333-75603)
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                            ------------------------
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                  U.S. BANCORP
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

                                                        
          DELAWARE                         6711                        41-0255900
(State or other jurisdiction   (Primary Standard Industrial         (I.R.S. Employer
     of Incorporation or        Classification Code Number)      Identification Number)
        Organization)

 

                                                       
                      U.S. BANCORP                                           LEE R. MITAU, ESQ.
                    U.S. BANK PLACE                                           U.S. BANK PLACE
                601 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH                                   601 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
           MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402-4302                         MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA 55402-4302
                     (612) 973-1111                                            (612) 973-1111
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,        (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
including area code, of registrant's principal executive     number, including area code, of agent for service)
                        offices)

 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 

                                            
          ELIZABETH C. HINCK, ESQ.                       KURT L. KICKLIGHTER, ESQ.
            Dorsey & Whitney LLP                          FRANKLIN T. LLOYD, ESQ.
           2200 South Sixth Street                      Higgs, Fletcher & Mack LLP
        Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402                   401 West A Street, Suite 2600
               (612) 340-8877                           San Diego, California 92101
                                                              (619) 236-1551

 
    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the
public: as soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes
effective.
 
    If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box: / /
 
    If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act"), check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: / /
 
   
    If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering: / /
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                    PART II
 
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
    Under Delaware law, U.S. Bancorp will indemnify its directors and officers
under certain circumstances against all expenses and liabilities incurred by
them as a result of suits brought against them as such directors and officers.
The indemnified directors and officers must act in good faith and in a manner
they reasonably believe to be in the best interests of USB, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, have no reasonable cause to believe their
conduct was unlawful. USB will not indemnify directors and officers for expenses
in respect of any matter as to which the indemnified directors and officers
shall have been adjudged to be liable to USB, unless the court in which such
action or suit was brought shall otherwise determine. USB may indemnify officers
and directors only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by
the stockholders or disinterested directors that indemnification is proper
because the indemnitee has met the applicable statutory standard of conduct.
 
    Article Ninth of the USB Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended,
provides that a director shall not be liable to USB or its stockholders for
monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for
liability: (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to USB or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under the Delaware
statutory provision making directors personally liable for unlawful payment of
dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions, or (iv) for any
transaction from which the directors derived an improper personal benefit.
 
    The Bylaws of USB provide that the officers and directors of USB shall be
indemnified to the full extent permitted by Delaware law, as amended from time
to time. The Board of Directors has discretion to indemnify any employee of USB
for actions arising by reason of the employee's employment with USB. USB shall
pay expenses incurred by officers and directors in defending actions in advance
of any final disposition if such officer or director agrees to repay such
amounts if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be
indemnified under Delaware law. USB maintains a standard policy of officers' and
directors' liability insurance.
 
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
   

        
       (A) EXHIBITS.
 
      2.1  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated February 18, 1999, as amended and restated
           as of March 26, 1999, by and between USB and BOC. (Included in Proxy
           Statement/Prospectus as Appendix A.) The registrant agrees to furnish a supplemental
           copy of omitted schedules to the Commission upon request.
 
      4.1  Certificate of Designation and Terms of Term Participating Preferred Stock of U.S.
           Bancorp (Previously Filed).
 
      4.2  Bylaws of USB, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the report on
           Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.)
 
      4.3  [Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining
           the rights of holders of long-term debt are not filed. U.S. Bancorp agrees to furnish
           a copy thereof to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.]
 
      4.4  Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 2, 1995, between U.S. Bancorp and First Chicago
           Trust Company of New York, as Warrant Agent and Form of Warrant. (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibits 4.18 and 4.19 to Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No.
           33-61667.)

    
 
                                      II-1

   

        
      4.5  Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 20, 1990, between Metropolitan Financial
           Corporation and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Warrant Agent;
           Supplemental Warrant Agreement, dated as of January 24, 1995, between U.S. Bancorp and
           American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Warrant Agent; and Form of Warrant.
           (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4E to report on Form 10-K for the year ended
           December 31, 1996.)
 
      5.1  Opinion and consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of the securities being
           registered (Filed herewith).
 
      8.1  Opinion and consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to the correctness of the tax
           disclosure sections in this Form S-4 (Filed herewith).
 
       12  Statement re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (Incorporated by
           reference to Exhibit 12 to report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.)
 
     23.1  Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1.)
 
     23.2  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (relating to financial statements of USB) (Previously
           Filed).
 
     23.3  Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP (relating to financial statements of BOC)
           (Previously Filed).
 
     24.1  Powers of Attorney (Previously Filed).
 
       27  Financial Data Schedule. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 27 to report on Form
           10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.)
 
     99.1  Form of Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BOC (Previously Filed).
 
     99.2  Articles of Incorporation of BOC (Previously Filed).
 
     99.3  Bylaws of BOC, as amended (Previously Filed).
 
     99.4  Opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (Included as Appendix B to the Proxy
           Statement/ Prospectus.).
 
       (B) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
           None.
 
       (C) REPORTS, OPINIONS AND APPRAISALS.
 
           None.

    
 
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
    (a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
        (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
    a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
            (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
       Securities Act of 1933;
 
            (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
       the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
       post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
       aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
       the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase
       or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
       securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
       deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering
       range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
       Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
       volume and price
 
                                      II-2

       represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
       price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
       effective registration statement.
 
           (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
       distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
       any material change to such information in the registration statement.
 
        (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
    Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
    to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
    therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to
    be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
        (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
    any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
    termination of the offering.
 
    (b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
    (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to its articles, bylaws or otherwise, the registrant has
been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
    (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of
such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or
other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the
date of responding to the request.
 
    (e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the
company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.
 
                                      II-3

                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to
the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Minneapolis, State of Minnesota, on
May 3, 1999.
    
 

                               
                                U.S. BANCORP
 
                                By:            /s/ JOHN F. GRUNDHOFER
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                                 John F. Grundhofer
                                        CHAIRMAN, PRESIDENT, CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                                OFFICER AND DIRECTOR

 
    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
   


              SIGNATURE AND TITLE                          DATE
- ------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
 
                                               
 
             /s/ JOHN F. GRUNDHOFER                    May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               John F. Grundhofer
      Chairman, President, Chief Executive
             Officer, and Director
         (principal executive officer)
 
              /s/ SUSAN E. LESTER                      May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Susan E. Lester
          Executive Vice President and
            Chief Financial Officer
         (principal financial officer)
 
             /s/ TERRANCE R. DOLAN                     May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Terrance R. Dolan
      Senior Vice President and Controller
         (principal accounting officer)
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Linda L. Ahlers
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Harry L. Bettis
                    Director

    
 
                                      II-4

   


              SIGNATURE AND TITLE                          DATE
- ------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
 
                                               
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Gerry B. Cameron
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
             Carolyn Silva Chambers
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
             Arthur D. Collins, Jr.
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                 Peter H. Coors
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Robert L. Dryden
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Joshua Green III
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                 Roger L. Hale
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Delbert W. Johnson
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Joel W. Johnson
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
              Richard L. Knowlton
                    Director

    
 
   
                                      II-5
    

   


              SIGNATURE AND TITLE                          DATE
- ------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
 
                                               
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                 Jerry W. Levin
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Edward J. Phillips
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Paul A. Redmond
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Richard G. Reiten
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                S. Walter Richey
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Richard L. Schall
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
               Walter Scott, Jr.
                    Director
 
                       *                               May 3, 1999
     --------------------------------------
                Warren R. Staley
                    Director
 
         *By:      /s/ SUSAN E. LESTER
      -----------------------------------
                Susan E. Lester
         Pro se and as Attorney-in-Fact

    
 
                                      II-6

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
   


                                                                                                                    PAGE
                                                                                                                    -----
                                                                                                           
 
      2.1  Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated February 18, 1999, as amended and restated as of March
           26, 1999, by and between USB and BOC. (Included in Proxy Statement/ Prospectus as Appendix A.) The
           registrant agrees to furnish a supplemental copy of omitted schedules to the Commission upon
           request.
 
      4.1  Certificate of Designation and Terms of Term Participating Preferred Stock of U.S. Bancorp
           (Previously Filed).
 
      4.2  Bylaws of USB, as amended. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the report on Form 10-Q for
           the quarter ended June 30, 1998.)
 
      4.3  [Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, copies of instruments defining the rights of
           holders of long-term debt are not filed. U.S. Bancorp agrees to furnish a copy thereof to the
           Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.]
 
      4.4  Warrant Agreement, dated as of October 2, 1995, between U.S. Bancorp and First Chicago Trust Company
           of New York, as Warrant Agent and Form of Warrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.18 and
           4.19 to Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 33-61667.)
 
      4.5  Warrant Agreement, dated as of November 20, 1990, between Metropolitan Financial Corporation and
           American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as Warrant Agent; Supplemental Warrant Agreement, dated
           as of January 24, 1995, between U.S. Bancorp and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, as
           Warrant Agent; and Form of Warrant. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4E to report on Form 10-K
           for the year ended December 31, 1996.)
 
      5.1  Opinion and consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to legality of the securities being registered (Filed
           herewith).
 
      8.1  Opinion and consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP as to the correctness of the tax disclosure sections in
           this Form S-4 (Filed herewith).
 
       12  Statement re: Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. (Incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit 12 to report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.)
 
     23.1  Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.1.)
 
     23.2  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (relating to financial statements of USB) (Previously Filed).
 
     23.3  Consent of Deloitte & Touche, LLP (relating to financial statements of BOC) (Previously Filed).
 
     24.1  Powers of Attorney (Previously Filed).
 
       27  Financial Data Schedule. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 27 to report on Form 10-K for the
           year ended December 31, 1998.)
 
     99.1  Form of Proxy for Annual Meeting of Shareholders of BOC (Previously Filed).
 
     99.2  Articles of Incorporation of BOC (Previously Filed).
 
     99.3  Bylaws of BOC, as amended (Previously Filed).
 
     99.4  Opinion of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (Included as Appendix B to the Proxy
           Statement/Prospectus.).