Rule 424 (b)(1)
Registration No. 333-18655
Registration No. 333-18655-01

PROSPECTUS
1,750,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES

IFC CAPITAL TRUST I

9.25% CUMULATIVE TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
(LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY) LOGO GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY

IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION


$43,750,000 9.25% SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
OF
IRWIN FINANCIAL CORPORATION


The 9.25% Cumulative Trust Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") offered hereby represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of IFC Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Capital Trust"). Irwin Financial Corporation, an Indiana corporation

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The Preferred Securities have been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National MarketSM under the symbol "IRWNP."


SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 15 FOR INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS.


THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS ARE NOT SAVINGS OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS, ARE NOT OBLIGATIONS OF OR GUARANTEED BY ANY BANKING OR NONBANKING AFFILIATE OF THE COMPANY (EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE GUARANTEED BY THE COMPANY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN), ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISKS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.


THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRE-
SENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.



                                    PRICE TO   UNDERWRITING      PROCEEDS TO
                                    PUBLIC(1)  COMMISSION(1) CAPITAL TRUST(2)(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Preferred Security...........    $25.00     $0.9375(2)         $25.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total(4).........................  $43,750,000 $1,640,625(2)     $43,750,000



(1) Capital Trust and the Company have each agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(2) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be invested in the Subordinated Debentures, the Company has agreed to pay the Underwriters as compensation for their arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, $0.9375 per Preferred Security, or $1,640,625 in the aggregate, ($1,875,000 if the over-allotment option is exercised in full). See "Underwriting."
(3) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company, estimated to be $200,000.
(4) Capital Trust has granted the Underwriters an option exercisable within 30 days from the date of this Prospectus to purchase up to 250,000 additional Preferred Securities on the same terms and conditions set forth above to cover over-allotments, if any. If all such additional Preferred Securities are purchased, the total Price to Public and Proceeds to Capital Trust will be $50,000,000. See "Underwriting."


The Preferred Securities are offered by the Underwriters subject to receipt and acceptance by them, prior sale and the Underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice. It is expected that delivery of certificates for the Preferred Securities will be on or about January 17, 1997.

STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY
INCORPORATED

January 13, 1997


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(the "Company"), will own all the common securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Capital Trust. State Street Bank and Trust Company is the Property Trustee (as defined herein) of Capital Trust. Capital Trust exists for the purpose of issuing the Preferred Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in an equivalent amount of 9.25% Subordinated Debentures (the "Subordinated Debentures") of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures will mature on March 31, 2027, which date may be (i) shortened to a date not earlier than March 31, 2002, or (ii) extended to a date not later than March 31, 2046, in each case if certain conditions are met (including, in the case of shortening the Stated Maturity (as defined herein), the Company having received prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ("Federal Reserve") to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve). The Preferred Securities will have a preference under certain circumstances with respect to cash distributions and amounts payable on liquidation, redemption or otherwise over the Common Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Subordination of Common Securities."

Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to receive preferential cumulative cash distributions, at the annual rate of 9.25% of the liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security (the "Liquidation Amount"), accruing from the date of original issuance and payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing March 31, 1997 (the "Distributions"). The Company has the right, so long as no Debenture Event of Default (as defined herein) has occurred and is continuing, to defer payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extended Interest Payment Period"); provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period subject to the requirements set forth herein. If interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on the Preferred Securities will also be deferred, and the Company will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein, to declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to its capital stock or debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated Debentures. DURING AN EXTENDED INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD, INTEREST ON THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES WILL CONTINUE TO ACCRUE (AND THE AMOUNT OF DISTRIBUTIONS TO WHICH HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE ENTITLED WILL ACCUMULATE) AT THE RATE OF 9.25% PER ANNUM, COMPOUNDED QUARTERLY, AND HOLDERS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE INTEREST INCOME IN THEIR GROSS INCOME FOR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX PURPOSES IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF THE CASH DISTRIBUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH DEFERRED INTEREST PAYMENTS. A HOLDER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES THAT DISPOSES OF ITS PREFERRED SECURITIES BETWEEN RECORD DATES FOR PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS (AND CONSEQUENTLY DOES NOT RECEIVE A DISTRIBUTION FROM CAPITAL TRUST FOR THE PERIOD PRIOR TO SUCH DISPOSITION) WILL NEVERTHELESS BE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE ACCRUED BUT UNPAID INTEREST ON THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES THROUGH THE DATE OF DISPOSITION IN INCOME AS ORDINARY INCOME AND TO ADD SUCH AMOUNT TO ITS ADJUSTED TAX BASIS IN ITS PRO RATA SHARE OF THE UNDERLYING SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES DEEMED DISPOSED OF. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period," "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue Discount" and "--Dispositions of Preferred Securities."

The Company and Capital Trust believe that, taken together, the obligations of the Company under the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the Expense Agreement (each as defined herein), provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guaranty, on a subordinated basis, of all of the obligations of Capital Trust under the Preferred Securities. See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee--Full and Unconditional Guarantee." The Guarantee of the Company guarantees the payment of Distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption of the Preferred Securities, but only in each case to the extent of funds held by Capital Trust, as described herein. See "Description of the Guarantee--General." If the Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures held by Capital Trust, Capital Trust will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on

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the Preferred Securities. The Guarantee does not cover payments of Distributions when Capital Trust does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such event, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company pursuant to the terms of the Indenture to enforce payments of amounts equal to such Distributions to such holder. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of the Preferred Securities." The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee and the Preferred Securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations (each as defined herein) of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures are unsecured obligations of the Company and are subordinated to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company.

The Preferred Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment of the Subordinated Debentures at maturity or their earlier redemption. Subject to Federal Reserve approval, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, the Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the option of the Company (i) on or after March 31, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each as defined herein), in each case at a redemption price equal to the accrued and unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures so redeemed to the date fixed for redemption, plus 100% of the principal amount thereof. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange."

The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Capital Trust subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. In the event of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or termination of Capital Trust, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capital Trust as required by applicable law, the holders of Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive a Liquidation Amount of $25 per Preferred Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may be in the form of a distribution of such amount of a Subordinated Debenture having an aggregate principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities (and carrying with it accumulated interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions then due on such Preferred Securities), subject to certain exceptions. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange" and "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."


The Company will make available to the holders of the Preferred Securities quarterly reports containing unaudited financial information and annual reports containing financial statements audited by the Company's independent auditors to the same extent provided to holders of the Company's Common Stock. The Company will also furnish annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q free of charge to holders of the Preferred Securities who so request in writing addressed to the Secretary of the Company.


IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.

3

Map Showing Irwin Financial Corporation and Subsidiary Office Locations

4


PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this Prospectus assumes that the Underwriters' over- allotment option will not be exercised. Prospective investors should carefully consider the information set forth under the heading "RISK FACTORS."

THE COMPANY

The Company is a diversified financial services company organized as an Indiana bank holding company. The Company is engaged in several interrelated lines of business, the most significant ones of which include: mortgage banking, commercial banking, home equity lending and equipment leasing. The principal executive office of the Company is 500 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201 and its telephone number is (812) 376-1020.

As an interrelated group of specialized financial services companies, the Company has implemented a business strategy which focuses on serving selected markets and optimizing the productivity of its capital base. The four principal components of the Company's strategy are:

. EMPHASIZE SPECIALIZED FINANCIAL SERVICES. The delivery of financial services to consumer and commercial customers is the principal set of skills which unites the activities of the Company. Having evolved from a base in commercial banking, the core competencies of the Company's employees are in financial services. The Company continually seeks opportunities to leverage such core competencies. Diversification opportunities are evaluated on the basis of whether the Company's skills provide the requisite foundation for potential success in the proposed new business.

. MANAGE AN INTERRELATED FINANCIAL SERVICES GROUP. The Company employs
functional reporting and decentralized management in the operation of its businesses. Each of the Company's operating companies has its own management team and sets individual performance targets, normally on the basis of return on equity. This structure allows the senior management of each line of business to focus their efforts on understanding their customers and meeting the needs of the markets they serve. The Company believes this approach promotes creativity, responsiveness, motivation, and accountability among the managers of each enterprise.

At the same time, the Company works actively to capture the synergies available from operating companies as part of an interrelated group. For example, the program through which Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company (the "Bank") invests temporarily in mortgages held for sale and originated by the Company's mortgage banking subsidiary, Inland Mortgage Corporation ("Inland"), is combined with the results of Inland to make up the "mortgage banking" line of business for management and reporting purposes. This program--and similar ones between the Bank and the Company's home equity lending and equipment leasing subsidiaries--gives the Company a lower net cost of funds with which to compete in geographically diverse markets and a reliable source of financing for its growth.

. TARGET SELECTED MARKETS. The ability to focus on defensible market segments where a sustainable competitive advantage can be created is another important concept in the Company's strategy. In the financial services marketplace, small competitors can be at a significant disadvantage against large regional and national providers unless they are able to identify a target market and differentiate their product offering. In the strategic plans of each line of business, the Company follows a discipline of defining, as clearly as possible, the market served and the basis on which it differentiates its service and product offerings to that market.

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. OPTIMIZE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE COMPANY'S CAPITAL BASE. As a bank
holding company, the Company is regulated with a focus on various ratios of equity to assets, primarily for the consolidated corporation and the Bank on a stand-alone basis. Therefore, the size of shareholders' equity limits the amount of assets the Company can carry on its balance sheet if it is to maintain an adequate cushion above the minimum regulatory capital standards. Accordingly, the Company seeks to balance growth between: (i) businesses that require it to carry assets on its balance sheet (and are, therefore, capital- intensive), and (ii) businesses that produce additional revenues and profits without adding proportionately to asset size (less capital- intensive opportunities).

The Company's activities are conducted principally through its subsidiaries, Inland, the Bank, Irwin Home Equity Corporation ("Home Equity") and Affiliated Capital Corp. ("Affiliated"). At September 30, 1996, the Company had consolidated assets of $1.2 billion. The Company had total revenues of $143.5 million for the nine month period ended September 30, 1996. The following table sets forth information illustrating the revenues earned by each of the Company's four principal subsidiaries for the nine month period ended September 30, 1996:

                                                                  % OF
BUSINESS                                             REVENUE  TOTAL REVENUE
--------                                             -------- -------------
                                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Mortgage banking.................................... $112,300       78%
Commercial banking..................................   19,600       14%
Home equity lending.................................    7,000        5%
Equipment leasing...................................    3,200        2%

As a result of its emphasis on mortgage banking, a much larger proportion of the Company's revenues are derived from fee income (77% in the first nine months of 1996) and a lesser proportion from net interest income (23% in the first nine months of 1996). The Company has averaged 22.97% return on average equity over the past five years. The compound annual growth rate on net income and net income per share as shown in the table below was 31.8% and 31.2%, respectively.

The following table sets forth certain financial information for the Company and illustrates the financial strength and earnings capacity of the Company over the last five years.

                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                              SEPTEMBER 30,                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          -----------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------
                             1996         1995        1995         1994        1993        1992        1991
                          -----------  ----------  -----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
                                          (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
Net income..............  $    15,519  $   14,785  $    20,083  $   18,216  $   15,588  $   12,866  $    6,651
Net income per share....         1.33        1.29         1.75        1.55        1.33        1.12        0.59
Shareholders' equity....      112,611      93,531       99,216      81,104      70,093      55,343      42,478
Mortgage originations...    3,803,631   2,419,012    3,559,310   2,812,962   4,273,933   3,441,347   1,926,841
Mortgage servicing port-
 folio..................   10,875,458   9,684,199   10,301,914   8,818,502   7,922,299   5,470,505   2,990,808
Return on average equi-
 ty.....................        19.47%      22.92%       22.60%      23.91%      24.91%      26.51%      16.93%
Return on average as-
 sets...................         1.80%       2.40%        2.28%       2.43%       2.15%       1.97%       1.30%

PRINCIPAL OPERATING SUBSIDIARIES

Mortgage Banking. Inland originates, purchases and services conventional and government agency backed (i.e., FHA and VA) residential mortgage loans. Inland generates assets for sale in the secondary markets and services such assets for investors. Substantially all mortgages are either insured by an agency of the federal government, or in the case of a conventional mortgage, meet the requirements for resale to the Federal National Mortgage Association or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. At September 30, 1996, Inland operated 101 production offices in 27 states and had an owned mortgage servicing portfolio of $10.9 billion and

6

capitalized mortgage servicing rights valued at $67.0 million. In the mortgage banking business, the Company's strategy is to originate, package, distribute and service financial assets rather than hold these assets to maturity.

Commercial Banking. The Bank, organized in 1871, is a full-service commercial bank headquartered in Columbus, Indiana. It operates through 15 locations in six south central Indiana counties. The Bank offers a wide variety of financial products and services, including insurance agency services, retail brokerage services and trust services, to individual, business, institutional, and governmental customers. At September 30, 1996, the Bank held total assets, loans and shareholders' equity of $451.2 million, $346.1 million and $32.6 million, respectively. Commercial banking is the Company's most capital- intensive business. The Company has chosen to concentrate its banking efforts in the non-metropolitan markets in southern Indiana where the Company believes there is high name recognition of the Bank. The Bank's aim is to look and feel like "the local bank" in these markets. The Bank differentiates its services by being more responsive to the local customers than "out-of-town" banks, by a long-term commitment to the communities it serves, and by its knowledge of local market conditions.

Home Equity Lending. Home Equity was formed in 1994 and is located in San Ramon, California. Home Equity originates and services home equity loans and lines of credit nationwide via direct mail and telemarketing to a target market of active debt users. The home equity lending program is designed to originate loans which the Bank may choose to hold in its portfolio or sell into the secondary market. To date, Home Equity has securitized $191.6 million of the approximately $250.4 million in home equity loans and lines of credit originated.

Equipment Leasing. Affiliated, acquired in 1990 and located in Northbrook, Illinois, is engaged in the small-ticket equipment leasing and commercial lending business. Affiliated offers non-recourse, non-operating, full payout leases and commercial lines of credit to physicians and other health care professionals. At present, all of the leases generated by Affiliated are held either on its balance sheet or that of the Bank. In the future the Company may consider using available off-balance sheet funding sources.

OWNERSHIP

As of December 31, 1996, the directors and executive officers of the Company and their immediate families owned approximately 53.8% of the Company's Common Stock and, as a result, exercise substantial control over the Company.

CAPITAL TRUST

Capital Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to (i) a trust agreement, dated as of December 20, 1996, executed by the Company, as depositor, and the trustees of Capital Trust (together with the Property Trustee, the "Trustees"), and (ii) a certificate of trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 20, 1996. The initial trust agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety (as so amended and restated, the "Trust Agreement") substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities, the purchasers thereof will own all of the Preferred Securities. The Company will acquire all of the Common Securities which will represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3% of the total capital of Capital Trust. The Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default (as defined herein) under the Trust Agreement resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the rights of the Company as holder of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Subordination of Common Securities." Capital Trust exists for

7

the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Capital Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company, and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary, advisable, or incidental thereto. The Subordinated Debentures will be the only assets of Capital Trust and payments under the Subordinated Debentures will be the only revenue of Capital Trust. Capital Trust has a term of 55 years, but may terminate earlier as provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive office of Capital Trust is 500 Washington Street, Columbus, Indiana 47201 and its telephone number is (812) 376-1020.

The number of the Trustees will, pursuant to the Trust Agreement, initially be five. Three of the Trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") will be persons who are employees or officers of, or who are affiliated with, the Company. The fourth trustee will be a financial institution that is unaffiliated with the Company, which trustee will serve as institutional trustee under the Trust Agreement and as indenture trustee for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Property Trustee"). State Street Bank and Trust Company, a state chartered trust company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, will be the Property Trustee until removed or replaced by the holder of the Common Securities. For purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, State Street Bank and Trust Company will also act as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee") under the Guarantee and as Debenture Trustee (as defined herein) under the Indenture. The fifth trustee will be an entity that maintains its principal place of business in the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"). Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware chartered trust company, will act as Delaware Trustee.

The Property Trustee will hold title to the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities and in such capacity will have the power to exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the Indenture. The Property Trustee will also maintain exclusive control of a segregated non- interest-bearing bank account (the "Property Account") to hold all payments made in respect of the Subordinated Debentures for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee will make payments of Distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust Securities out of funds from the Property Account. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Company, as the holder of all the Common Securities, will have the right to appoint, remove or replace any Trustee and to increase or decrease the number of the Trustees. The Company will pay all fees and expenses related to Capital Trust and the offering of the Trust Securities.

The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic rights, rights to information and voting rights, are set forth in the Trust Agreement, the Delaware Business Trust Act (the "Trust Act") and the Trust Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."

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THE OFFERING

Securities Offered............  1,750,000 Preferred Securities having a
                                Liquidation Amount of $25.00 per Preferred
                                Security. The Preferred Securities represent
                                preferred undivided beneficial interests in the
                                assets of Capital Trust, which will consist
                                solely of the Subordinated Debentures and
                                payments thereunder. Capital Trust has granted
                                the Underwriters an option, exercisable within
                                30 days after the date of this Prospectus, to
                                purchase up to an additional 250,000 Preferred
                                Securities at the initial offering price,
                                solely to cover over-allotments, if any.

Payment of Distributions......  The Distributions payable on each Preferred
                                Security will be fixed at a rate per annum of
                                9.25% of the Liquidation Amount of $25 per
                                Preferred Security, will be cumulative, will
                                accrue from January 17, 1997, the date of
                                issuance of the Preferred Securities, and will
                                be payable quarterly in arrears, on March 31,
                                June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
                                year, commencing March 31, 1997. See
                                "Description of the Preferred Securities--
                                Distributions--Payment of Distributions."

Extension of Interest Payment   The Company has the right, at any time, so long
Period........................  as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred
                                and is continuing, to defer payments of
                                interest on the Subordinated Debentures for a
                                period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters;
                                provided, that no Extended Interest Payment
                                Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of
                                the Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence
                                of the extension by the Company of the interest
                                payment period, quarterly Distributions on the
                                Preferred Securities will be deferred (though
                                such Distributions would continue to accrue
                                with interest thereon compounded quarterly,
                                since interest will continue to accrue and
                                compound on the Subordinated Debentures) during
                                any such Extended Interest Payment Period.
                                During an Extended Interest Payment Period, the
                                Company will be prohibited, subject to certain
                                exceptions described herein, from declaring or
                                paying any cash distributions with respect to
                                its capital stock or debt securities that rank
                                pari passu with or junior to the Subordinated
                                Debentures. Upon the termination of any
                                Extended Interest Payment Period and the
                                payment of all amounts then due, the Company
                                may commence a new Extended Interest Payment
                                Period, subject to the foregoing requirements.
                                See "Description of the Preferred Securities--
                                Distributions--Extended Interest Payment
                                Period" and "Description of the Subordinated
                                Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment
                                Period."

                                Should an Extended Interest Payment Period
                                occur, holders of Preferred Securities will be
                                required to include deferred interest income in
                                their gross income for United States federal
                                income tax purposes in advance of receipt of
                                the cash distributions with

                                       9



                                respect to such deferred interest payments. See
                                "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--
                                Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period
                                and Original Issue Discount."

Optional Redemption...........
                                The Preferred Securities are subject to
                                redemption, in whole or in part, upon repayment
                                of the Subordinated Debentures at maturity or
                                their earlier redemption. Subject to Federal
                                Reserve approval, if then required under
                                applicable capital guidelines or policies of
                                the Federal Reserve, the Subordinated
                                Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at
                                the option of the Company (i) on or after March
                                31, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from
                                time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole
                                (but not in part), within 180 days following
                                the occurrence of a Tax Event or an Investment
                                Company Event, in each case at the redemption
                                price equal to 100% of the principal amount of
                                the Subordinated Debenture, together with any
                                accrued but unpaid interest to the date fixed
                                for redemption. See "Description of the
                                Subordinated Debentures--Redemption or
                                Exchange."

Distribution of Subordinated
Debentures....................
                                The Company has the right at any time to
                                terminate the Preferred Securities and cause
                                the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed
                                to holders of Preferred Securities in
                                liquidation of Capital Trust, subject to the
                                Company having received prior approval of the
                                Federal Reserve to do so if then required under
                                applicable capital guidelines or policies of
                                the Federal Reserve. See "Description of the
                                Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange"
                                and "Description of the Preferred Securities--
                                Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."

Guarantee.....................
                                The Company has guaranteed the payment of
                                Distributions and payments on liquidation or
                                redemption of the Preferred Securities, but
                                only in each case to the extent of funds held
                                by Capital Trust, as described herein. The
                                Company and Capital Trust believe that, taken
                                together, the obligations of the Company under
                                the Guarantee, the Trust Agreement, the
                                Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the
                                Expense Agreement provide, in the aggregate, a
                                full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee,
                                on a subordinated basis, of all of the
                                obligations of Capital Trust under the
                                Preferred Securities. The obligations of the
                                Company under the Guarantee and the Preferred
                                Securities are subordinate and junior in right
                                of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated
                                Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the
                                Company. If the Company does not make principal
                                or interest payments on the Subordinated
                                Debentures, Capital Trust will not have
                                sufficient funds to make distributions on the
                                Preferred Securities; in which event, the
                                Guarantee will not apply to such Distributions
                                until Capital Trust has sufficient funds
                                available therefor. See "Description of the
                                Guarantee."

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Voting Rights.................  The holders of the Preferred Securities will
                                have no voting rights except in limited
                                circumstances. See "Description of the
                                Preferred Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment
                                of Trust Agreement."

Use of Proceeds...............  The proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
                                Securities offered hereby will be used by
                                Capital Trust to purchase the Subordinated
                                Debentures issued by the Company. The Company
                                intends to add the net proceeds from the sale
                                of the Subordinated Debentures to its general
                                funds, to be used for general corporate
                                purposes, including the repayment of certain
                                short term borrowings of the Company. See "Use
                                of Proceeds."

The Nasdaq National MarketSM    The Preferred Securities have been approved for
Symbol........................  quotation on the Nasdaq National MarketSM under
                                the symbol "IRWNP."

11


SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

                            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                              SEPTEMBER 30,                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          ----------------------  -------------------------------------------------------
                             1996        1995        1995        1994       1993       1992       1991
                          -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
                                      (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
SELECTED RESULTS OF
 OPERATIONS
 Interest income........  $    64,849  $  45,257  $    64,161  $  49,186  $  49,066  $  48,661  $  40,305
 Interest expense.......       29,363     18,649       28,568     17,633     16,688     19,228     20,672
 Net interest income....       35,486     26,608       35,593     31,553     32,378     29,433     19,633
 Provision for loan
  losses................        2,774      2,140        3,073      1,727      1,577      1,910      1,054
 Net interest income
  after provision for
  possible loan losses..       32,712     24,468       32,520     29,826     30,801     27,523     18,579
 Net gains on sale of
  loans.................       25,427     11,258       21,006      2,219     14,225     10,337      2,876
 Other noninterest
  income................       85,400     69,099       94,838     84,863     74,340     57,073     38,550
 Noninterest expense....      117,405     81,791      115,915     86,844     93,803     73,811     49,216
 Income before income
  tax expense...........       26,135     23,034       32,449     30,064     25,563     21,122     10,789
 Income tax expense.....       10,616      8,249       12,366     11,848      9,975      8,256      4,138
                          -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
 Net income.............  $    15,519  $  14,785  $    20,083  $  18,216  $  15,588  $  12,866  $   6,651
                          ===========  =========  ===========  =========  =========  =========  =========
PER SHARE DATA(1)
 Net income
 Primary................  $      1.33  $    1.29  $      1.75  $    1.55  $    1.33  $    1.12  $    0.59
 Fully diluted..........         1.33       1.29         1.74       1.55       1.33       1.11       0.59
 Cash dividends
  declared..............         0.18       0.17         0.22       0.18       0.15       0.10       0.08
 Book value.............         9.91       8.27         8.76       7.21       6.03       4.82       3.77
 Dividend payout ratio..        13.17%     12.58%       12.36%     11.38%     11.12%      8.88%     13.52%
SELECTED BALANCE SHEET
 DATA
 Assets.................  $ 1,161,735  $ 978,947  $ 1,038,307  $ 659,671  $ 881,864  $ 602,465  $ 598,024
 Securities(2)..........       69,552     63,822       60,869     77,357     95,350     46,673     50,549
 Total mortgage
  servicing rights......       66,606     40,544       48,535     18,834     11,505     10,156      8,045
 Loans held for sale....      318,282    352,941      378,658    154,964    370,755    218,080    264,740
 Loans and leases.......      575,983    413,594      412,525    308,411    256,116    210,359    180,789
 Allowance for loan and
  lease losses..........        6,111      4,463        4,620      3,863      3,293      3,220      2,282
 Deposits...............      613,713    551,645      563,999    439,918    500,370    389,323    337,927
 Shareholders' equity...      112,611     93,531       99,216     81,104     70,093     55,343     42,478
 Long-term debt.........       19,515     21,525       21,575     24,029     17,781     12,302      6,848
SELECTED MORTGAGE DATA
 Mortgage originations..    3,803,631  2,419,012    3,559,310  2,812,962  4,273,933  3,441,347  1,926,841
 Total mortgage loans
  serviced..............   10,875,458  9,684,199   10,301,914  8,818,502  7,922,299  5,470,505  2,990,808
PERFORMANCE RATIOS(3)
 Return on average
  equity................        19.47%     22.92%       22.60%     23.91%     24.91%     26.51%     16.93%
 Return on average
  assets................         1.80       2.40         2.28       2.43       2.15       1.97       1.30
 Net interest margin....         4.88       5.02         4.93       5.03       5.19       5.10       4.49
ASSET QUALITY RATIOS
 Allowance for possible
  loan losses to loans..         1.06%      1.08%        1.12%      1.25%      1.29%      1.53%      1.26%
 Nonperforming loans to
  loans.................         0.61       0.61         0.58       0.90       1.38       1.68       0.54
 Allowance for possible
  loan losses to
  nonperforming loans...         1.74       1.78         1.93       1.39       0.94       0.91       2.34
 Nonperforming assets to
  total loans...........         0.70       0.71         0.65       1.06       1.62       2.20       0.65
 Net loan losses to
  average loans(3)......         0.29       0.59         0.57       0.41       0.65       0.50       0.41
 Provision for loan
  losses to average
  loans(3)..............         0.75       0.82         0.83       0.62       0.68       0.98       0.63
CAPITAL RATIOS
 Average equity to
  average assets........         9.24%     10.46%       10.07%     10.17%      8.62%      7.45%      7.67%
 Tier 1 risk-based
  capital ratio.........        12.16      13.45        13.80      18.31      14.97      15.59      12.56
 Total risk-based
  capital ratio.........        12.90      14.15        14.49      19.18      15.68      16.50      13.24
 Leverage ratio.........         8.62      10.47        10.57      10.82       9.63       8.48       8.23
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO
 FIXED CHARGES(4)
 Including interest on
  deposits..............        1.89x      2.24x        2.14x      2.70x      2.53x      2.10x      1.52x
 Excluding interest on
  deposits..............         2.64       3.80         3.37       4.53       3.99       3.20       2.72



(1) Per share data has been adjusted to give retroactive effect to two-for-one stock splits in 1996, 1993 and 1992 and a three-for-two stock split in 1991.
(2) Includes securities available for sale.
(3) Ratios for the nine-month periods are annualized.
(4) Earnings consist of income before income tax plus interest expense. Fixed charges consist of interest expense. The Company does not currently have any preferred stock outstanding.

12


USE OF PROCEEDS

Capital Trust will use the gross proceeds received from the sale of the Preferred Securities to purchase Subordinated Debentures from the Company. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Subordinated Debentures to reduce certain short-term borrowings of the Company having an average maturity under one year and for which interest rates during 1996 ranged from approximately 5.5% to 8.25%. Following such repayment, additional funds will be available to the Company for borrowing under such facilities, which amounts may be used by the Company from time to time for general corporate purposes.

ACCOUNTING TREATMENT

Capital Trust will be treated, for financial reporting purposes, as a subsidiary of the Company and, accordingly, the accounts of Capital Trust will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company. The Preferred Securities will be presented as a separate line item in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company under the caption "Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's Subordinated Debentures," and appropriate disclosures about the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to consolidated financial statements.

All future reports of the Company filed under the Exchange Act will (a) present the Trust Securities issued by Capital Trust on the balance sheet as a separate line-item entitled "Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in the Company's Subordinated Debentures," (b) include in a footnote to the financial statements disclosure that the sole assets of Capital Trust are the Subordinated Debentures (including the outstanding principal amount, interest rate and maturity date of such Subordinated Debentures), and (c) include in a footnote to the financial statements disclosure that the Company owns all of the Common Securities of Capital Trust, the sole assets of Capital Trust are the Subordinated Debentures, and the back-up obligations, in the aggregate constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by the Company of the obligations of Capital Trust under the Preferred Securities.

13


CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth (i) the consolidated capitalization of the Company at September 30, 1996, and (ii) the consolidated capitalization of the Company giving effect to the issuance of the Preferred Securities hereby offered by Capital Trust and application by the Company of the net proceeds from the corresponding sale of the Subordinated Debentures to Capital Trust, as if the sale of the Preferred Securities had been consummated on September 30, 1996, and assuming the Underwriters' over-allotment option was not exercised.

                                                       SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                     --------------------------
                                                      ACTUAL      AS ADJUSTED
                                                     -----------  -------------
                                                     (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
SHORT-TERM DEBT:
  Total short-term debt payable..................... $   359,513      $317,604
                                                     ===========   ===========
LONG-TERM DEBT:
  Total long-term debt payable...................... $    19,515   $    19,515
                                                     -----------   -----------
GUARANTEED PREFERRED BENEFICIAL INTERESTS IN THE
 COMPANY'S SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES:(1)
  Guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in the
   Company's subordinated debentures................ $       --    $    43,750
  Less expenses relating to the issuance of the
   Preferred Securities.............................         --         (1,841)
                                                     -----------   -----------
    Net proceeds received from the sale of
     guaranteed preferred beneficial interests in
     the Company's subordinated debentures.......... $       --    $    41,909
                                                     -----------   -----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
  Preferred stock; no par value-- authorized 50,000
   shares; none issued.............................. $       --    $       --
  Common Stock; no par value-- authorized 40,000,000
   shares; 11,701,040 shares, including 339,564 in
   treasury.........................................      29,965        29,965
  Unrealized loss on investment securities..........         (11)          (11)
  Retained earnings.................................      87,882        87,882
  Treasury Stock....................................      (5,225)       (5,225)
                                                     -----------   -----------
    Total shareholders' equity......................     112,611       112,611
                                                     -----------   -----------
    Total capitalization............................ $   132,126   $   174,035
                                                     ===========   ===========
CAPITAL RATIOS:
  Shareholders' equity to total assets..............        9.69%         9.69%
  Leverage ratio(2)(3)(4)...........................        8.62%        11.50%
  Risk-based capital ratios(3)(4)
    Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets..........       12.16%        16.22%
    Total risk-based capital to risk-weighted
     assets.........................................       12.90%        16.96%



(1) Preferred Securities representing beneficial interests in an aggregate principal amount of $43,750,000 of the 9.25% Subordinated Debentures of the Company. The Subordinated Debentures will mature on March 31, 2027, which date may be, if certain conditions are met, (a) shortened to a date not earlier than March 31, 2002, or (b) extended to a date not later than March 31, 2046.
(2) The leverage ratio is Tier 1 capital divided by the difference between quarterly average total assets less intangibles.
(3) The capital ratios, as adjusted, are computed including the total estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Preferred Securities, in a manner consistent with Federal Reserve guidelines.
(4) Federal Reserve guidelines for calculation of Tier 1 capital limit the amount of cumulative preferred stock which can be included in Tier 1 capital to 25% of total Tier 1 capital.

14


RISK FACTORS

Prospective investors should carefully consider, together with the other information contained and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, the following risk factors before purchasing the Preferred Securities offered hereby. Prospective investors should note, in particular, that this Prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and that actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such statements. These considerations are not intended to represent a complete list of the general or specific risks that may affect the Preferred Securities, the Subordinated Debentures or the Company and Capital Trust. It should be recognized that other risks may be significant, presently or in the future.

RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GUARANTEE AND THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

The obligations of the Company under the Guarantee issued for the benefit of the holders of Preferred Securities and under the Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company. At September 30, 1996, the consolidated outstanding Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations of the Company was approximately $379.0 million. The right of the Company to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability of holders of the Preferred Securities to benefit indirectly from such distribution) is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the Company may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. The Subordinated Debentures, therefore, will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the subsidiaries and holders of Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities should look only to the assets of the Company for payments on the Subordinated Debentures. Neither the Indenture, the Guarantee nor the Trust Agreement places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt, including Senior Debt, Subordinated Debt and Additional Senior Obligations, that may be incurred by the Company. See "Description of the Guarantee--Status of the Guarantee" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Subordination."

The ability of Capital Trust to pay amounts due on the Preferred Securities is solely dependent upon the Company making payments on the Subordinated Debentures as and when required.

OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TAX CONSEQUENCES; MARKET PRICE CONSEQUENCES

The Company has the right under the Indenture, so long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters with respect to each Extended Interest Payment Period; provided that no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of any such deferral, quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities by Capital Trust will be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to which holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the rate of 9.25% per annum, compounded quarterly from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any such Extended Interest Payment Period. During any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may 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 (other than the reclassification of any class of the Company's capital stock into another class of capital stock), (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures or 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 with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than payments under the Guarantee), or (iii) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities. Prior to the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest; provided that no Extended

15

Interest Payment Period may exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual rate of 9.25% compounded quarterly, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the above requirements. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extended Interest Payment Period. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions-- Extended Interest Payment Period" and "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period."

Should an Extended Interest Payment Period occur, each holder of Preferred Securities will be required to accrue and recognize income (in the form of original issue discount) in respect of its pro rata share of the interest accruing on the Subordinated Debentures held by Capital Trust for United States federal income tax purposes. A holder of Preferred Securities must, as a result, include such income in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the receipt of cash, and will not receive the cash related to such income from Capital Trust if the holder disposes of the Preferred Securities prior to the record date for the payment of the related Distributions. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Potential Extension of Interest Payment Period and Original Issue Discount."

The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Subordinated Debentures. Should the Company elect, however, to exercise such right in the future, the market price of the Preferred Securities is likely to be adversely affected. A holder that disposes of its Preferred Securities during an Extended Interest Payment Period, therefore, might not receive the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its Preferred Securities. As a result of the existence of the Company's right to defer interest payments, the market price of the Preferred Securities may be more volatile than the market prices of other securities on which original issue discount accrues that are not subject to such optional deferrals.

TAX EVENT OR INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT; REDEMPTION

The Company has the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) within 180 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Investment Company Event (whether occurring before or after March 31, 2002), and, therefore, cause a mandatory redemption of the Preferred Securities. The exercise of such right is subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

"Tax Event" means the receipt by Capital Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Subordinated Debentures is not, or, within 90 days of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of the opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. The Company must request and receive an opinion with regard to such matters within a reasonable period of time after the Company becomes aware of the possible occurrence of any of the events described in clauses (i) through (iii) above.

"Investment Company Event" means the receipt by Capital Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or

16

regulatory authority, Capital Trust is or will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), which change becomes effective on or after the date of original issuance of the Preferred Securities.

See "Risk Factors--Proposed Tax Legislation" for a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if adopted, could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Company to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities prior to March 31, 2002.

SHORTENING OR EXTENSION OF STATED MATURITY OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

The Company has the right, at any time, to shorten the maturity of the Subordinated Debentures to a date not earlier than March 31, 2002. The exercise of such right is subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. The Company also has the right to extend the maturity of the Subordinated Debentures (whether or not Capital Trust is terminated and the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Preferred Securities) to a date no later than March 31, 2046, the 49th anniversary of the initial issuance of the Preferred Securities. Such right may only be exercised, however, if at the time such election is made and at the time of such extension (i) the Company is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in liquidation, (ii) the Company is not in default in the payment of any interest or principal on the Subordinated Debentures, and (iii) Capital Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on the Preferred Securities and no deferred Distributions are accumulated. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--General."

RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE

The Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid by Capital Trust, (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent that Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined herein) with respect to any Preferred Securities called for redemption, to the extent that Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of Capital Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of Subordinated Debentures to the holders of Preferred Securities or a redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the amount of the Liquidation Distribution (as defined herein), to the extent Capital Trust has funds available therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of Capital Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of Capital Trust. The holders of not less than a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Guarantee. Any holder of the Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against Capital Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person (as defined in the Guarantee). If the Company were to default on its obligation to pay amounts payable under the Subordinated Debentures, Capital Trust would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Preferred Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of Preferred Securities would not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for such amounts. In the event, however, that a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest on or principal of the Subordinated Debentures on the payment date on which such payment is due and payable, then a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest on such Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action"). The exercise by the Company of its right, as described herein, to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures does not constitute a Debenture Event of Default. In connection with such Direct Action, the Company will have a right of set-off under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the Company to such holder of Preferred Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein, holders of Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Subordinated Debentures or assert

17

directly any other rights in respect of the Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred Securities," "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of the Guarantee." The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee and the Indenture.

NO VOTING RIGHTS EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES

Holders of Preferred Securities will have no voting rights except in limited circumstances relating only to the modification of the Preferred Securities and the exercise of the rights of Capital Trust as holder of the Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantee. Holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities (except upon the occurrence of certain events described herein). The Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Company may amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of holders of Preferred Securities to ensure that Capital Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust even if such action adversely affects the interests of such holders. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights; Amendment of Trust Agreement" and "Description of the Preferred Securities--Removal of Capital Trust Trustees."

PROPOSED TAX LEGISLATION

On March 19, 1996, President Clinton proposed certain tax law changes that would, among other things, generally deny corporate issuers a deduction for interest in respect of certain debt obligations issued on or after December 7, 1995 (the "Proposed Legislation") if such debt obligations have a maximum term in excess of 20 years and are not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's applicable consolidated balance sheet. On March 29, 1996, Senate Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer issued a joint statement (the "Joint Statement") indicating their intent that certain legislative proposals initiated by the Clinton administration, including the Proposed Legislation, that may be adopted by either of the tax-writing committees of Congress would have an effective date that is no earlier than the date of "appropriate Congressional action." In addition, subsequent to the publication of the Joint Statement, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Representatives Sam M. Gibbons and Charles B. Rangel wrote letters to Treasury Department officials concurring with the views expressed in the Joint Statement (the "Democrat Letters"). Based upon the Joint Statement and the Democrat Letters, it is expected that if the Proposed Legislation were to be enacted, such legislation would not apply to the Subordinated Debentures. There can be no assurances, however, that the effective date guidance contained in the Joint Statement and the Democrat Letters will be incorporated into the Proposed Legislation, if enacted, or that other legislation enacted after the date hereof will not otherwise adversely affect the ability of the Company to deduct the interest payable on the Subordinated Debentures. There can, therefore, be no assurance that a Tax Event will not occur. A Tax Event would permit the Company, upon approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, to cause a redemption of the Preferred Securities before, as well as after, March 31, 2002. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Redemption or Exchange--Tax Event Redemption or Investment Company Event Redemption" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Effect of Proposed Changes in Tax Laws."

REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

The Company has the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Capital Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor in liquidation of Capital Trust. The exercise of such right is subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. The Company will have the right, in certain circumstances, to redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole or in part, in lieu of a distribution of the Subordinated Debentures by Capital Trust, in which event Capital Trust will redeem the Trust Securities on a pro rata basis to the same extent as the Subordinated Debentures are

18

redeemed by the Company. Any such distribution or redemption prior to the Stated Maturity will be subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange--Tax Event Redemption or Investment Company Event Redemption."

Under current United States federal income tax law, a distribution of Subordinated Debentures upon the dissolution of Capital Trust would not be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. If, however, Capital Trust is characterized as an association taxable as a corporation at the time of the dissolution of Capital Trust, the distribution of the Subordinated Debentures may constitute a taxable event to holders of Preferred Securities. Moreover, upon occurrence of a Tax Event, a dissolution of Capital Trust in which holders of the Preferred Securities receive cash may be a taxable event to such holders. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of Capital Trust."

There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities upon a dissolution or liquidation of Capital Trust. The Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures, may, therefore, trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. Because holders of Preferred Securities may receive Subordinated Debentures, prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities are also making an investment decision with regard to the Subordinated Debentures and should carefully review all the information regarding the Subordinated Debentures contained herein.

If the Subordinated Debentures are distributed to the holders of Preferred Securities upon the liquidation of Capital Trust, the Company will use its best efforts to list the Subordinated Debentures on the Nasdaq National Market or such stock exchanges, if any, on which the Preferred Securities are then listed.

TRADING PRICE; ABSENCE OF PRIOR PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Preferred Securities may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Subordinated Debentures. A holder of Preferred Securities that disposes of its Preferred Securities between record dates for payments of Distributions (and consequently does not receive a Distribution from Capital Trust for the period prior to such disposition) will nevertheless be required to include accrued but unpaid interest on the Subordinated Debentures through the date of disposition in income as ordinary income and to add such amount to its adjusted tax basis in its pro rata share of the underlying Subordinated Debentures deemed disposed of. Such holder will recognize a capital loss to the extent the selling price (which may not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest) is less than its adjusted tax basis (which will include all accrued but unpaid interest). Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences-- Disposition of Preferred Securities."

There is no current public market for the Preferred Securities. Although application has been made to have the Preferred Securities approved for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market, there can be no assurance that an active public market will develop for the Preferred Securities or that, if such market develops, the market price will equal or exceed the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus. The public offering price for the Preferred Securities has been determined through negotiations between the Company and the Underwriters. Prices for the Preferred Securities will be determined in the marketplace and may be influenced by many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the liquidity of the market for the Preferred Securities, investor perceptions of the Company and general industry and economic conditions.

PREFERRED SECURITIES ARE NOT INSURED

The Preferred Securities are not insured by the Bank Insurance Fund or the Savings Association Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other governmental agency.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, will act as indenture trustee for the Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement for purposes of complying with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of the Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Trust Agreement and those made part of the Trust Agreement by the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary of the material terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities and the Trust Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Trust Agreement, the Trust Act, and the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever particular defined terms of the Trust Agreement are referred to, but not defined herein, such defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. The form of the Trust Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.

GENERAL

Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, the Trustees, on behalf of Capital Trust, will issue the Trust Securities. All of the Common Securities will be owned by the Company. The Preferred Securities will represent preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of Capital Trust and the holders thereof will be entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect to Distributions and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the Common Securities, as well as other benefits as described in the Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement does not permit the issuance by Capital Trust of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the incurrence of any indebtedness by Capital Trust.

The Preferred Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities, except as described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities." Legal title to the Subordinated Debentures will be held by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The Guarantee executed by the Company for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the Preferred Securities, but will not guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of such Preferred Securities when Capital Trust does not have funds on hand available to make such payments. State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, will hold the Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Guarantee."

DISTRIBUTIONS

PAYMENT OF DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions on each Preferred Security will be payable at the annual rate of 9.25% of the stated Liquidation Amount of $25, payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, to the holders of the Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates (each date on which Distributions are payable in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). The record date will be the 15th day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs. Distributions will accumulate from the date of original issuance. The first Distribution Date for the Preferred Securities will be March 31, 1997. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which Distributions are payable on the Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Distributions payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any additional Distributions, interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was originally due and payable. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.

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EXTENDED INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD. The Company has the right under the Indenture, so long as no Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures at any time, or from time to time (each, an "Extended Interest Payment Period"), which, if exercised, would defer quarterly Distributions on the Preferred Securities during any such Extended Interest Payment Period. Distributions to which holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the rate per annum of 9.25% thereof, compounded quarterly from the relevant Distribution Date. "Distributions," as used herein, includes any such additional Distributions. The right to defer the payment of interest on the Subordinated Debentures is limited, however, to a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters and no Extended Interest Payment Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. During any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may 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 (other than the reclassification of any class of the Company's capital stock into another class of capital stock), (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures or 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 with or junior in interest to the Subordinated Debentures (other than payments under the Guarantee), or (iii) redeem, purchase or acquire less than all of the Subordinated Debentures or any of the Preferred Securities. Prior to the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest; provided that such Extended Interest Payment Period may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Company may elect to begin a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the above requirements. Subject to the foregoing, there is no limitation on the number of times that the Company may elect to begin an Extended Interest Payment Period.

The Company has no current intention of exercising its right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Subordinated Debentures.

SOURCE OF DISTRIBUTIONS. The funds of Capital Trust available for distribution to holders of its Preferred Securities will be limited to payments under the Subordinated Debentures in which Capital Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance and sale of its Trust Securities. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures." Distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee who will hold amounts received in respect of the Subordinated Debentures in the Property Account for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. If the Company does not make interest payments on the Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities. The payment of Distributions (if and to the extent Capital Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is guaranteed by the Company. See "Description of the Guarantee."

Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders thereof as they appear on the register of holders of the Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates, which date will be the 15th day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs. Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the Trust Agreement, each such payment will be made as described above under "--Distributions--Payment of Distributions."

REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE

GENERAL. The Subordinated Debentures will mature on March 31, 2027. The Company will have the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after March 31, 2002, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole (but not in part), within 180 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event, in each case subject to receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve. The Company will not have the right to purchase the Subordinated Debentures, in whole or in part, from Capital Trust until after March 31,

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2002, except if a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event has occurred and is continuing. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--General."

MANDATORY REDEMPTION. Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of any Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption will be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined herein) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price (the "Redemption Price") equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities plus accumulated but unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Date"). See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Redemption or Exchange." If less than all of the Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption will be allocated to the redemption of the Trust Securities pro rata.

DISTRIBUTION OF SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES. Subject to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, the Company will have the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Capital Trust and, after satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of Capital Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."

TAX EVENT REDEMPTION OR INVESTMENT COMPANY EVENT REDEMPTION. If a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event in respect of the Trust Securities occurs and is continuing, the Company has the right to redeem the Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Trust Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption Price within 180 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Investment Company Event. In the event a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event in respect of the Trust Securities has occurred and the Company does not elect to redeem the Subordinated Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Trust Securities or to liquidate Capital Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of Capital Trust as described below under "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination," such Preferred Securities will remain outstanding and Additional Interest (as defined herein) may be payable on the Subordinated Debentures.

"Additional Interest" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by Capital Trust on the outstanding Trust Securities will not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental charges to which Capital Trust has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.

"Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to that portion of the principal amount of Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance with the Indenture, which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Subordinated Debentures to holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of Capital Trust, Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom such Subordinated Debentures are distributed. Each Subordinated Debenture distributed pursuant to clause (ii) above will carry with it accumulated interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid interest then due on such Subordinated Debenture.

"Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.

After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Subordinated Debentures for Preferred Securities (i) such Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and (ii) any certificates representing Preferred Securities will be deemed to represent the Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount

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equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities until such certificates are presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for transfer or reissuance.

There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred Securities or the Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of Capital Trust were to occur. The Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase, or the Subordinated Debentures that an investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of Capital Trust, may, therefore, trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby.

REDEMPTION PROCEDURES

Preferred Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date will be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption of the Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of the Preferred Securities will be made and the Redemption Price will be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that Capital Trust has funds on hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See "--Subordination of Common Securities."

If Capital Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of its Preferred Securities, then the Property Trustee, to the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the aggregate Redemption Price and will give the paying agent for the Preferred Securities irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates evidencing such Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Preferred Securities called for redemption will be payable to the holders of such Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption will have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of the holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Preferred Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any additional Distribution, interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by Capital Trust, or by the Company pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by Capital Trust for such Preferred Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price. See "Description of the Guarantee."

Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities law) and further provided, that the Company has not and is not continuing to exercise its right to defer interest payments, the Company or its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.

Payment of the Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities and any distribution of Subordinated Debentures to holders of Preferred Securities will be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as they appear on the register for the Preferred Securities on the relevant record date, which date will be the date 15 days prior to the Redemption Date or liquidation date, as applicable.

If less than all of the Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities to be redeemed will be allocated pro rata to the Trust Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be selected by the Property Trustee from the outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for

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redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee deems fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee will promptly notify the registrar for the Preferred Securities in writing of the Preferred Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of the Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities will relate to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price on the Subordinated Debentures, on and after the Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on such Subordinated Debentures or portions thereof (and Distributions will cease to accrue on the related Preferred Securities or portions thereof) called for redemption.

SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES

Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, will be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption Date a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of such Common Securities, will be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all of the outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, will have been made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee will first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable.

In the case of any Event of Default resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Company as holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under the Trust Agreement until the effect of all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Events of Default under the Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities has been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will act solely on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Company, as holder of the Common Securities, and only the holders of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.

LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION

The Company will have the right at any time to dissolve, wind-up or terminate Capital Trust and cause the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities. Such right is subject, however, to the Company having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.

Pursuant to the Trust Agreement, Capital Trust will automatically terminate upon expiration of its term and will terminate earlier on the first to occur of (i) certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Subordinated Debentures to the holders of its Trust Securities, if the Company, as depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate Capital Trust (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Company, as depositor), (iii) redemption of all of the Preferred Securities as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Redemption or Exchange--Mandatory Redemption," or (iv) the entry of an order for the dissolution of Capital Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.

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If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv) of the preceding paragraph, Capital Trust will be liquidated by the Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, to the holders of such Trust Securities a Like Amount of the Subordinated Debentures, unless such distribution is determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of Capital Trust available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of Capital Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of holders of Preferred Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because Capital Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by Capital Trust on the Preferred Securities will be paid on a pro rata basis. The Company, as the holder of the Common Securities, will be entitled to receive distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the holders of the Preferred Securities, except that, if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities will have a priority over the Common Securities. See "--Subordination of Common Securities."

Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and assuming, as expected, that Capital Trust is treated as a grantor trust, a distribution of the Subordinated Debentures should not be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. Should there be a change in law, a change in legal interpretation, a Tax Event or other circumstances, however, the distribution could be a taxable event to holders of the Preferred Securities. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Receipt of Subordinated Debentures or Cash Upon Liquidation of Capital Trust." If the Company elects neither to redeem the Subordinated Debentures prior to maturity nor to liquidate Capital Trust and distribute the Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities will remain outstanding until the repayment of the Subordinated Debentures.

If the Company elects to liquidate Capital Trust and thereby causes the Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of Capital Trust, the Company will continue to have the right to shorten or extend the maturity of such Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain conditions. See "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--General."

LIQUIDATION VALUE

The amount of the Liquidation Distribution payable on the Preferred Securities in the event of any liquidation of Capital Trust is $25 per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may be in the form of a distribution of such amount in Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain exceptions. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination."

EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE

Any one of the following events constitutes an event of default under the Trust Agreement (an "Event of Default") with respect to the Preferred Securities (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether voluntary or involuntary or effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default (see "Description of the Subordinated Debentures--Debenture Events of Default"); or

(ii) default by Capital Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of 30 days; or

(iii) default by Capital Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or

(iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in the Trust Agreement (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is dealt with in clauses (ii) or (iii) above), and continuation of such default or breach

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for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustee(s) by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under the Trust Agreement; or

(v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Company to appoint a successor Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.

Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee will transmit notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Company, as depositor, unless such Event of Default has been cured or waived. The Company, as depositor, and the Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under the Trust Agreement.

If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities will have a preference over the Common Securities upon termination of Capital Trust. See "--Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." The existence of an Event of Default does not entitle the holders of Preferred Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.

REMOVAL OF CAPITAL TRUST TRUSTEES

Unless a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities. In no event, however, will the holders of the Preferred Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Company as the holder of the Common Securities. No resignation or removal of a Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee will be effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE

Unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at any time or times, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust Property (as defined in the Trust Agreement) may at the time be located, the Company, as the holder of the Common Securities, will have power to appoint one or more Persons (as defined in the Trust Agreement) either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate trustee of any such Trust Property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such Person or Persons in such capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable, subject to the provisions of the Trust Agreement. In case a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone will have power to make such appointment.

MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF TRUSTEES

Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural Person may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee is a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Trustee, will be the successor of such Trustee under the Trust Agreement, provided such Person is otherwise qualified and eligible.

MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF CAPITAL TRUST

Capital Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as

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described below. Capital Trust may, at the request of the Company, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of Capital Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities, or (b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Company expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee in its capacity as the holder of the Subordinated Debentures,
(iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed (including, if applicable, the Nasdaq National MarketSM), if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (v) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Company has received an opinion from independent counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, and (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither Capital Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act, and (vi) the Company owns all of the common securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Capital Trust will not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause Capital Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT

Except as provided below and under "Description of the Guarantee--Amendments and Assignment" and as otherwise required by the Trust Act and the Trust Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.

The Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Company, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the holders of the Preferred Securities (i) with respect to acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee, (ii) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent with any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Trust Agreement (provided such amendment is not inconsistent with the other provisions of the Trust Agreement), or (iii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Trust Agreement to such extent as is necessary to ensure that Capital Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to ensure that Capital Trust will not be required to register as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case of clause (ii), such action may not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of Trust Securities, and any amendments of such Trust Agreement will become effective when notice thereof is given to the holders of Trust Securities. The Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustees and the Company with (i) the consent of holders representing not less than a majority in the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect Capital Trust's status as a grantor trust for United

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States federal income tax purposes or Capital Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act. Notwithstanding anything in this paragraph to the contrary, without the consent of each holder of Trust Securities, the Trust Agreement may not be amended to (a) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, or (b) restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.

The Trustees will not, so long as any Subordinated Debentures are held by the Property Trustee, (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Subordinated Debentures will be due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Subordinated Debentures, where such consent is required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture requires the consent of each holder of Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no such consent will be given by the Property Trustee without the prior consent of each holder of the Preferred Securities. The Trustees may not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities except by subsequent vote of the holders of the Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee will notify each holder of Preferred Securities of any notice of default with respect to the Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees must obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that Capital Trust will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.

Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the manner set forth in the Trust Agreement.

No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required for Capital Trust to redeem and cancel its Preferred Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement.

Notwithstanding the fact that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned by the Company, the Trustees or any affiliate of the Company or any Trustee, will, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY

Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities will be made by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled thereto as such address will appear on the register of holders of the Preferred Securities. The paying agent for the Preferred Securities will initially be the Property Trustee and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company. The paying agent for the Preferred Securities may resign as paying agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee and the Company. In the event that the Property Trustee no longer is the paying agent for the Preferred Securities, the Administrative Trustees will appoint a successor (which must be a bank or trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Company) to act as paying agent.


REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT

The Property Trustee will act as the registrar and the transfer agent for the Preferred Securities. Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of Capital Trust, but upon

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payment of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange. Capital Trust will not be required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have been called for redemption.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE

The Property Trustee, other than upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent Person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the Trust Agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of the Trust Agreement, and the matter is not one on which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled under the Trust Agreement to vote, then the Property Trustee will take such action as is directed by the Company and if not so directed, will take such action as it deems advisable and in the best interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of and to operate Capital Trust in such a way that Capital Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the Investment Company Act or classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States federal income tax purposes. The Company and the Administrative Trustees are authorized, in this connection, to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of Capital Trust or the Trust Agreement, that the Company and the Administrative Trustees determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes.

Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.

The Trust Agreement and the Preferred Securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES

Concurrently with the issuance of the Preferred Securities, Capital Trust will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the Company for the Common Securities, in the Subordinated Debentures issued by the Company. The Subordinated Debentures will be issued as unsecured debt under the Indenture, to be dated as of January 17, 1997 ("Indenture"), between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). The Indenture will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The following summary of the material terms and provisions of the Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture and to the Trust Indenture Act. Wherever particular defined terms of the Indenture are referred to, but not defined herein, such defined terms are incorporated herein by reference. The form of the Indenture has been filed as an exhib