Notification of Merger with AREA Bancshares Corporation

Filed by BB&T Corporation
Pursuant to Rule 425 under the
Securities Act of 1933
Commission File No.: 001-10853
Subject Company: AREA Bancshares Corporation


Nov. 8, 2001

BB&T to acquire AREA Bancshares Corporation of Owensboro, Ky.

     WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - BB&T Corporation (NYSE: BBT) today said it plans to buy AREA Bancshares Corporation (Nasdaq: AREA) of Owensboro, Ky., in a $450.6 million stock swap. Area Bancshares is the largest independent bank holding company in Kentucky.

     AREA Bancshares, with $2.95 billion in assets, operates 72 banking offices in 39 communities in Kentucky through its banking subsidiary AREA Bank. It also operates a trust company and retail brokerage.

     The announcement comes on the same day BB&T said it would buy Louisville, Ky.-based MidAmerica Bancorp, with $1.8 billion in assets. MidAmerica operates 30 banking offices in the Louisville metropolitan statistical area through the Bank of Louisville, its primary subsidiary. Together, the mergers would increase BB&T's Kentucky assets to more than $5 billion and move BB&T from 29th to fourth place in market share in the state. BB&T wants to be among the top five in every market it serves.

     The transaction, approved by the directors of both companies, is valued at $18.71 per AREA Bancshares share based on BB&T's closing price Wednesday of $34.01. The exchange ratio will be fixed at .55 of a share of BB&T stock for each AREA Bancshares share.

     Kentucky ranked first nationally in annualized 10-year percentage change in median household income and ninth nationally in percentage increase of estimated average yearly wage. It ranked second in the nation in new jobs created and 10th in capital investments per one million residents from 1998-2000, and is the third largest auto manufacturing state.

     "AREA Bancshares Corporation is a high-quality community bank dedicated to the highest standard of client service," said BB&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Allison. "This acquisition provides BB&T with a solid statewide presence in economically attractive Kentucky markets."

     BB&T will create a total of three new community banking regions: two regions will be formed from AREA Bancshares operations, and one additional region will be formed from MidAmerica's branch operations in Louisville. BB&T divides its banking network into autonomous regions - each with its own president - which operate like community banks. Nearly all lending decisions are made locally.

     "We are very pleased to be joining not only one of the elite banking institutions in the entire country, but also one that shares our corporate values and culture," said Tom Brumley, president of AREA Bancshares. "At AREA Bancshares, we have a passion for outstanding service to our customers. It's great to be teaming up with a bank that shares that same commitment and also believes strongly that local bankers know how to best serve their customers."

     Customers in and around the 39 Kentucky communities served by AREA Bancshares will be able to take advantage of BB&T's broad product and services line. It includes: insurance, mutual funds, trust, online banking, annuities, investment banking, retail brokerage, treasury services, international banking and leasing.

     AREA Bancshares currently has about 300,000 customer relationships, serving 140,000 households and 21,000 businesses of all sizes.

     The chairman of AREA Bancshares, C.M. Gatton, will join the board of directors of Branch Banking and Trust Company. The AREA Bancshares Corporation Board of Directors will join a new BB&T advisory board for Kentucky.

     The merger, which is subject to the approval of AREA Bancshares shareholders and banking regulators, is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2002.

      Winston-Salem-based BB&T Corporation, with $70.3 billion in assets, operates more than 1,000 banking offices in the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Washington, D.C.

     BB&T Corporation is the fourth largest financial holding company in the Southeast and 16th largest in the nation. More information is available at www.BBandT.com.

#

     This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by federal securities laws. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections.

     Please refer to BB&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a summary of important factors that could affect BB&T's forward-looking statements. BB&T undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this press release.

     The foregoing may be deemed to be offering materials of BB&T Corporation in connection with BB&T's proposed acquisition of AREA Bancshares Corporation, on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated Nov. 7, 2001, between BB&T and AREA Bancshares Corp. This disclosure is being made in connection with Regulation of Takeovers and Security Holder Communications (Release Nos. 33-7760 and 34-42055) adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

     Shareholders of AREA Bancshares and other investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4, which BB&T will file with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger because it will contain important information about BB&T, AREA Bancshares, the merger, the persons soliciting proxies in the merger and their interests in the merger and related matters.

     After it is filed with the SEC, the proxy statement/prospectus will be available for free, both on the SEC web site (http://www.sec.gov) and from BB&T and AREA Bancshares as follows:

     Alan W. Greer, Shareholder Reporting, BB&T Corporation, P.O. Box 1290, Winston-Salem, NC, 27102. Telephone: (336) 733-3021.

     John A. Ray, Chief Operating Officer, AREA Bancshares Corporation, P.O. Box 10001, Owensboro, KY, 42302-9001. Telephone: (270) 688-7753.

     In addition to the proposed registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus, BB&T and AREA Bancshares file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by either company at the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20549 or at the SEC's other public reference rooms in New York and Chicago.

     Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. BB&T and AREA Bancshares filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.


BB&T

and
AREA Bancshares Corporation
Owensboro, Kentucky
Expanding a Great Franchise

Analyst Presentation
November 8, 2001


Forward-Looking Information

BB&T has made forward-looking statements in the accompanying analyst presentation materials that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of BB&T, and on the information available to management at the time the analyst presentation materials were prepared. In particular, the analyst materials in this report include statements regarding estimated earnings per share of BB&T on a stand alone basis, expected cost savings from the merger, estimated restructuring charges relating to the merger, estimated increases in AREA Bancshares Corporation's fee income ratio, the anticipated accretive effect of the merger, and BB&T's anticipated performance in future periods. With respect to estimated cost savings and restructuring charges, BB&T has made assumptions about, among other things, the extent of operational overlap between BB&T and AREA Bancshares Corporation, the amount of general and administrative expense consolidation, costs relating to converting AREA Bancshares Corporation's bank operations and data processing to BB&T's systems, the size of anticipated reductions in fixed labor costs, the amount of severance expenses, the extent of the charges that may be necessary to align the companies' respective accounting reserve policies, and the cost related to the merger. The realization of cost savings and the amount of restructuring charges are subject to the risk that the foregoing assumptions are inaccurate.

Any statements in the accompanying exhibit regarding the anticipated accretive effect of the merger and BB&T's anticipated performance in future periods are subject to risks relating to, among other things, the following possibilities: (1) expected cost savings from this merger or other previously announced mergers may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; (2) deposit attrition, customer loss or revenue loss following proposed mergers may be greater than expected; (3) competitive pressure among depository and other financial institutions may increase significantly; (4) costs or difficulties related to the integration of the businesses of BB&T and its merger partners, including AREA Bancshares Corporation, may be greater than expected; (5) changes in the interest rate environment may reduce margins; (6) general economic or business conditions, either nationally or regionally, may be less favorable than expected, resulting in, among other things, a deterioration in credit quality, or a reduced demand for credit; (7) legislative or regulatory changes, including changes in accounting standards, may adversely affect the businesses in which BB&T and AREA Bancshares Corporation are engaged; (8) adverse changes may occur in the securities markets; and (9) competitors of BB&T and AREA Bancshares Corporation may have greater financial resources and develop products that enable such competitors to compete more successfully than BB&T and AREA Bancshares Corporation.

BB&T believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Such statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The future results and shareholder value of BB&T following completion of the merger may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine these results and values are beyond management's ability to control or predict.


Outline


BB&T Corporation (BBT)


      For 3 months
ended 9/30/01**		  
 
o  ROA  1.62%
o  Cash Basis ROA  1.73%
o  ROE  19.05%
o  Cash Basis ROE  23.57%
o  Cash Basis Efficiency Ratio  49.58%

*Includes the pending acquisition of Community First Banking Company
** Recurring earnings



AREA Bancshares Corporation
(AREA)


      For 3 months
ended 9/30/01**		  
 
o  ROA  1.22%
o  Cash Basis ROA  1.45%
o  ROE  11.49%
o  Cash Basis ROE  16.58%
o  Cash Basis Efficiency Ratio  55.90%

*Recurring earnings



Pro Forma Company Profile**

Size:    $75.6 billion in assets
           $16.2 billion in market capitalization**

Offices:  NC: 337    
 VA: 278  
 GA: 135  
 KY: 111  
 WV: 98  
 MD: 94  
 SC: 93  
 TN: 39  
 DC: 8  
 AL: 2  
 IN: 1  
 Total 1,196  

*Includes the pending acquisition of Community First Banking Company, as well as the acquisition of MidAmerica Bancorp, which is being announced concurrently with this transaction
**Based on closing prices as of 11/07/01


Terms of the Transaction


Terms of the Transaction


o   Purchase price:   $18.71 per share*  
o  Aggregate value:  $450.6 million* 
o  Consideration:  Fixed exchange ration of .55 of a share of BB&T common stock for each share of AREA common stock 
o  Structure:  Tax-free exchange of stock equal to 100% of purchase price 
o  Lock-up provision:  Stock option agreement 
o  Expected closing:  Second quarter 2002 

*Based on BB&T's closing stock price of $34.01 as of 11/07/01


Pricing


o   Purchase price   $18.71  
o  Premium/market  8.8 %*
o  Price/9-30-01 stated book  1.46 x 
o  Price/LTM EPS  13.86 x 
o  Price/LTM Cash EPS  11.84 x 
o  Price/LTM Core EPS  14.06 x 
o  BB&T shares issued  13.2 million **

*Based on AREA's closing stock price of $17.20 as of 11/07/01
**BB&T shares issued based on AREA shares outstanding adjusted for stock options using the treasury method
BB&T expects to repurchase approximately 2.1% of the shares issued in the transaction


Acquisition Comparables*

Comparable Acquisitions Announced in the Southeast since March 1, 2001
with Seller Assets over $250 Million

Deal Pr/
Date Seller Deal Value/ Deal Pr/ Deal Deal Pr/ LTM Core
Buyer Seller Announced Total Assets Deal Value Assets Stock Pr Pr/Bk Tg Bk EPS
($M) ($M) (%) (%) (%) (%) (x)
First Virginia Banks Inc. James River Bankshares Inc. 3/5/2001  516.1  110.7  21.5  59.4  195.6  207.4  18.4 
Mid-State Bancshares Americorp 4/9/2001  266.5  64.1  24.1  65.5  236.0  236.2  16.6 
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation National City Bancorporation 4/30/2001  1,203.8  261.6  21.7  59.5  148.2  148.5  14.3 
Allegiant Bancorp, Inc. Southside Bancshares Corp. 5/1/2001  737.4  123.7  16.8  18.9  169.4  178.1  18.8 
Chemical Financial Corporation Bank West Financial Corporation 5/1/2001  284.3  29.8  10.5  21.1  124.7  124.7  19.2 
SouthTrust Corporation CENIT Bancorp, Inc. 5/4/2001  664.8  121.6  18.3  65.2  231.2  244.5  18.4 
BNP Paribas Group BancWest Corporation 5/7/2001  19,419.5  2,483.2  22.9  40.1  213.4  338.8  21.3 
Financial Federal MHC, Inc. Success Bancshares, Inc. 5/21/2001  592.1  48.1  8.1  27.7  152.7  152.7  22.6 
Banknorth Group, Inc. Andover Bancorp, Inc. 6/11/2001  1,799.0  339.6  18.9  25.9  201.0  212.4  15.4 
Banknorth Group, Inc. MetroWest Bank 6/11/2001  914.4  166.3  18.2  17.9  262.6  262.6  15.1 
NBT Bancorp Inc. CNB Financial Corp. 6/19/2001  964.4  137.5  14.3  33.2  209.6  288.2  18.1 
First Banks, Incorporated BYL Bancorp 6/22/2001  278.7  49.0  17.6  26.3  158.7  165.2  12.0 
Greater Bay Bancorp SJNB Financial Corp. 6/25/2001  648.1  181.9  28.1  6.1  245.6  256.4  14.7 
Regions Financial Corporation Park Meridian Financial Corp 6/27/2001  283.8  49.0  17.3  18.8  201.3  201.3  18.0 
SouthTrust Corporation Community Bankshares, Incorporated 6/29/2001  406.6  119.1  29.3  31.5  280.0  280.0  19.5 
BB&T Corporation Community First Banking Company 7/10/2001  548.1  128.0  23.4  27.9  331.0  340.6  19.0 
 
Maximum     19,419.5 2,483.2 29.3 65.5 331.0 340.6 22.6
Minimum     266.5 29.8 8.1 6.1 124.7 124.7 12.0
Average     1,845.5 275.8 19.4 34.0 210.1 227.3 17.6
Median     620.1 122.7 18.6 27.8 205.5 224.3 18.2
 
Deal Price: $18.71
BB&T Corp AREA Bancshares Corporation   2,946.0 450.6 15.3 8.8 145.6 180.2 14.1
 
Over/(Under) Average Comparables         (4.1) (25.3) (64.5) (47.1) (3.5)

*Source for Acquisition Comparables: SNL Securities.






Financial Data






Financial Summary*

BB&T AREA
(9/30/01) (9/30/01)
ROA   1.62 % 1.22 %
Cash Basis ROA  1.73   1.45  
ROE  19.05   11.49  
Cash Basis ROE  23.57   16.58  
Net interest margin (FTE)  4.19   4.51  
CB Efficiency ratio  49.58   55.90  
Net charge-offs  0.37   0.36  
Reserve/NPLs  238.05   279.46  
NPAs/assets  0.45   0.36  

*Recurring earnings


Capital Strength

BB&T  AREA
(9/30/01) (9/30/01)
Equity/assets 8.5%    10.4%         
Leverage capital ratio 7.1%    8.0%         
Total risk-based capital 13.2%    13.2%         

Rationale For Acquisition


Strategic Objectives

The key strategic objectives achieved in this acquisition:

Franchise Enhancement


Efficiency Improvement


Targeted Annual Cost Savings
$17.1 million or approximately
20% of AREA's expense base*


*Expense base net of AREA's annual intangible amortization of approximately $7 million


After-Tax One-Time Charges


One-time after-tax merger-related charges
$16.0 million



Branch Locations




Economic Vitality Map




Market Characteristics




BB&T Investment Criteria



Criteria are listed in order of importance. There are sometimes trade-offs among criteria.


Assumptions



Earnings Per Share Impact


Accretion Accretion
(Dilution) Pro Forma (Dilution)
Pro Forma Pro Forma Cash Basis Pro Forma
EPS Shares EPS Shares
2002   $2.82   $ (0.01 ) $2.86   $0.02  
2003  3.17   (0.00 )  3.20   0.03  
2004  3.56   0.01   3.59   0.03  
2005  4.00   0.02   4.02   0.04  
2006  4.49   0.04   4.51   0.05  
2007  5.04   0.05   5.06   0.07  
2008  5.65   0.07   5.67   0.08  
2009  6.33   0.08   6.35   0.08  
2010  7.09   0.08   7.10   0.09  
2011   7.94   0.09   7.95   0.10  
 
   Internal rate of return     21.36 % 

ROE Impact*


Pro Forma
Pro Forma Cash Basis
ROE (%) Change ROE (%) Change
2002   20.61   (0.89 )  25.04   0.15  
2003  22.03   (0.87 )  26.36   0.05  
2004  21.51   (0.68 )  25.01   0.03  
2005  21.04   (0.52 )  23.89   0.03  
2006  20.63   (0.39 )  22.98   0.04  
2007  20.29   (0.28 )  22.24   0.06  
2008  20.01   (0.17 )  21.65   0.10  
2009  19.73   (0.11 )  21.12   0.12  
2010  19.50   (0.05 )  20.68   0.13  
2011  19.29   (0.01 )  20.30   0.15  

* The decrease in ROE results from the build up in equity relative to assets. If consistent with attaining and maintaining a leverage capital ratio of at least 7%, BB&T may choose to leverage the balance sheet further through future purchase acquisitions.


ROA Impact


Pro Forma
Pro Forma Cash Basis
ROA (%) Change ROA (%) Change
2002   1.75   (0.04 ) 1.79   (0.01 )
2003  1.76   (0.03 ) 1.79   (0.01 )
2004  1.76   (0.02 ) 1.80   (0.01 )
2005  1.77   (0.02 ) 1.80   0.00  
2006  1.78   (0.01 ) 1.80   (0.00 ) 
2007  1.79   (0.00 )  1.81   0.00  
2008  1.79   0.00   1.81   0.01  
2009  1.80   0.00   1.81   0.01  
2010  1.80   0.00   1.81   0.01  
2011  1.80   0.00   1.81   0.01  

Book Value/Capital Impact


Pro Forma
Book Value Per Share Pro Forma*
Accretion Leverage
Stated (Dilution) Ratio
2002   13.91   0.57   7.19 % 
2003  15.99   0.56   7.58  
2004  18.39   0.56   7.95  
2005  21.08   0.57   8.28  
2006  24.11   0.59   8.58  
2007  27.46   0.57   8.83  
2008  31.23   0.56   9.05  
2009  35.41   0.52   9.24  
2010  40.11   0.49   9.42  
2011  45.38   0.45   9.57  

*BB&T's goal is to manage its leverage ratio to between 7% and 8%


Summary




Appendix


o Historical Financial Data
o Glossary
o Where to go for additional information about BB&T, AREA Bancshares Corporation and the merger

AREA Bancshares Corporation
Financial Summary

Nine months 9/30/01
ended vs.
% % % September 30 9/30/00
1998 Change 1999 Change 2000 Change 2001 % change
Earnings Summary (In thousands)
Interest Income (FTE)
Interest on loans & leases   $113,857   2.1 % $130,683   14.8 % $171,719   31.4 % $123,402   -2.4 % 
Interest & dividends on securities  30,409   1.6 % 31,639   4.0 % 39,030   23.4 % 33,784   16.6 %
Interest on temporary investments  3,468   161.3 % 1,343   -61.3 %  464   -65.5 %  655   127.4 %
    Total interest income (FTE)  147,734   3.5 % 163,665   10.8 % 211,213   29.1 % 157,841   1.4 %
Interest Expense 
Interest expense on deposit accounts  59,099   9.3 % 59,035   -0.1 %  77,935   32.0 % 58,490   3.6 %
Interest on short-term borrowings  5,027   -18.0 %  6,961   38.5 % 8,833   26.9 % 11,127   -31.5 % 
Interest on long-term debt  3,764   9.0 % 4,342   15.4 % 12,726   193.1 % --   N/A  
    Total interest expense  67,890   6.7 % 70,338   3.6 % 99,494   41.5 % 69,617   -4.3 % 
Net interest income (FTE)  79,844   0.9 % 93,327   16.9 % 111,719   19.7 % 88,224   6.3 %
     Less taxable equivalency adjustment  4,158   18.7 % 4,420   6.3 % 5,126   16.0 % 4,182   6.6 %
Net interest income  75,686   0.1 % 88,907   17.5 % 106,593   19.9 % 84,042   6.3 %
Provision for loan losses  1,628   -50.2 %  736   -54.8 %  2,523   242.8 % 2,700   120.6 %
Net interest income after provision  74,058   2.4 % 88,171   19.1 % 104,070   18.0 % 81,342   4.5 %
Noninterest Income 
Service charges on deposit accounts  7,548   13.1 % 9,374   24.2 % 12,914   37.8 % 10,758   13.8 %
Non-deposit fees and commissions  11,135   19.7 % 11,238   0.9 % 13,647   21.4 % 10,430   0.8 %
Gain on sale of loans  1,336   N/A   1,266   -5.2 %  1,021   -19.4 %  1,111   132.9 %
Other operating income  410   -56.9 %  846   106.3 % 2,090   147.0 % 992   -44.1 % 
    Total noninterest income  20,429   11.5 % 22,724   11.2 % 29,672   30.6 % 23,291   5.6 %
Noninterest Expense 
Personnel  30,032   3.1 % 35,276   17.5 % 40,263   14.1 % 31,516   3.6 %
Occupancy & equipment  8,390   -2.0 %  11,552   37.7 % 13,530   17.1 % 10,439   7.0 %
FDIC premiums  253   6.3 % 303   19.8 % 405   33.7 % 307   5.5 %
Other operating expenses  25,137   7.3 % 27,677   10.1 % 35,417   28.0 % 27,575   2.6 %
    Total noninterest expense  63,812   4.0 % 74,808   17.2 % 89,615   19.8 % 69,837   3.7 %
Net income before taxes  30,675   4.7 % 36,087   17.6 % 44,127   22.3 % 34,796   7.0 %
Income taxes   8,859       10,509     13,556     10,311
Net income before nonrecurring charges  21,816   4.8 % 25,578   17.2 % 30,571   19.5 % 24,485   8.1 %
Nonrecurring charges  810     12,681     7,162     604
    Net income $  22,626 8.7 %     $ 38,259 69.1 %     $ 37,733 -1.4 %     $ 25,089   -16.3 % 
Basic EPS $ 0.97   7.8 %     $ 1.52 56.4 %     $ 1.54 1.6 %     $ 1.03 -15.5 % 
Diluted EPS  0.95   6.5 % 1.50   57.9 % 1.53   2.3 % 1.03   -15.0 % 
Diluted EPS before nonrecurring charges  0.91   3.1 % 1.00   9.5 % 1.24   24.0 % 1.01   10.5 %
Diluted Cash EPS before nonrecurring charges  1.03   4.0 % 1.14   10.3 % 1.52   33.0 % 1.18   9.3 %
 
Book value $ 10.13 20.5 %     $ 10.78 6.4 %     $ 11.79 9.4 %     $ 12.85 13.2 %
 
EOP shares  23,505     24,769   24,318   23,906
Basic shares  23,459       25,220   24,491     24,293
Diluted shares  23,873     25,566     24,640     24,354

AREA Bancshares Corporation
Financial Summary

Nine months 9/30/01
ended vs.
% % % September 30 9/30/00
1998 Change 1999 Change 2000 Change 2001 Change
Average Balance Sheet
(In thousands)
Assets
Loans     $ 1,256,499     5.6 % $ 1,543,221     22.8 % $ 1,915,731     24.1 % $ 1,923,115     0.7 %
Securities       466,459     5.4 %   519,827     11.4 %   580,780     11.7 %   596,116     7.1 %
Other earning assets       65,699     167.2 %   27,736     -57.8 %    8,237     -70.3 %    58,831     74.0 %
    Total interest-earning assets       1,788,657     7.9 %   2,090,784     16.9 %   2,504,748     19.8 %   2,578,062     3.1 %
Goodwill & other intangibles       24,827     51.5 %   33,299     34.1 %   47,819     43.6 %   63,296     -8.5 % 
Other assets       98,502     2.6 %   134,337     36.4 %   157,258     17.1 %   134,770     1.2 %
    Total assets     $ 1,911,986     8.1 % $ 2,258,420     18.1 % $ 2,709,825     20.0 % $ 2,776,128     2.7 %
Net interest margin       4.46 %       4.46 %  4.46 %  4.58 %
Liabilities & Shareholders' Equity    
Interest-bearing deposits:    
Money Market & NOW     $ 237,753     -1.6 %  $ 296,464     24.7 % $ 326,575     10.2 % $ 402,781     24.0 %
Savings       327,687     26.6 %   402,240     22.8 %   452,376     12.5 %   391,350     -14.3 % 
CD's and other time       759,503     7.3 %   795,624     4.8 %   983,730     23.6 %   1,047,589     8.2 %
    Total interest-bearing deposits       1,324,943     9.6 %   1,494,328     12.8 %   1,762,681     18.0 %   1,841,720     5.3 %
Short-term borrowed funds       103,312     -12.7 %    157,514     52.5 %   156,550     -0.6 %    145,585     -3.5 % 
Long-term debt       61,893     N/A     68,217     N/A     186,820     N/A     170,434     -13.6 % 
    Total interest-bearing liabilities       1,490,148     7.7 %   1,720,059     15.4 %   2,106,051     22.4 %   2,157,739     2.9 %
Demand deposits       185,391     5.1 %   243,277     31.2 %   301,270     23.8 %   292,861     -3.0 % 
Other liabilities       23,410     -10.1 %    29,315     25.2 %   26,470     -9.7 %    27,301     -4.1 % 
    Total liabilities       1,698,949     7.2 %   1,992,651     17.3 %   2,433,791     22.1 %   2,477,901     2.1 %
Common equity       213,037     15.9 %   265,769     24.8 %   276,034     3.9 %   298,227     8.9 %
    Total equity       213,037     15.9 %   265,769     24.8 %   276,034     3.9 %   298,227     8.9 %
Total liabilities & shareholders' equity     $ 1,911,986     8.1 % $ 2,258,420     18.1 % $ 2,709,825     20.0 % $ 2,776,128     2.7 %

AREA Bancshares Corporation
Financial Summary

Nine months 9/30/01
ended vs.
% % % September 30 9/30/00
1998 Change 1999 Change 2000 Change 2001 Change
Ratio Analysis
Cash ROA   1.29 %     1.29 %     1.38 %     1.38 %    
ROA   1.14 %     1.13 %     1.13 %     1.18 %
Cash ROCE  11.58 %     10.97 %     13.54 %     12.89 %
ROCE  10.24 %     9.62 %     11.08 %     10.98 %
Cash Efficiency ratio   60.8 %     61.4 %     58.6 %     58.8 %
Efficiency ratio   63.6 %     64.5 %     63.4 %     62.6 %
Adj. noninterest income / Adj. revenues   20.4 %     19.6 %     21.0 %     20.9 %
Average equity / Average assets   11.1 %     11.8 %     10.2 %     10.7 %
 
Credit Quality  
(In thousands)  
Beginning $ 19,887 $ 21,651 $ 23,055 $ 27,630
Provision   1,628 736 2,523 2,700
Acquired allowance   1,137 1,857 4,323 --
Net charge-offs   (1,001 ) (1,189 ) (2,271 ) (3,739 )
Ending allowance $ 21,651 $ 23,055 $ 27,630 $ 26,591
 
Allowance  1.52 % 1.41 % 1.42 % 1.35 %
Charge-off rate  0.08 % 0.08 % 0.12 % 0.26 %
 
Period end loans & leases $ 1,426,775   15.3 %     $ 1,640,078   15.0 %     $ 1,943,145   18.5 %     $ 1,970,343   1.7 %
 
Period end common equity $ 238,213   21.2 %     $ 266,964   12.1 %     $ 286,639   7.4 %     $ 307,198   10.6 %
 
Period end total assets $ 2,132,365   12.1 %     $ 2,340,521   9.8 %     $ 2,768,470   18.3 %     $ 2,945,953   7.3 %

Glossary

Return on Assets - recurring earnings for the period as a percentage of average assets for the period.

Return on Equity - recurring earnings for the period as a percentage of average common equity for the period.

Cash Basis Performance Results and Ratios - These calculations exclude the effect on net income of amortization expense applicable to certain intangible assets. The ratios also exclude the effect of the unamortized balances of these intangibles from assets and equity.

Efficiency Ratio - calculated as recurring noninterest expense as a percentage of the sum of recurring net interest income on a fully taxable equivalent basis and recurring noninterest income.

Leverage Capital Ratio - Common shareholders' equity excluding unrealized securities gains and losses and certain intangible assets as a percentage of average assets for the most recent quarter less certain intangible assets.

Total Risk-Based Capital Ratio - The sum of shareholders' equity, a qualifying portion of subordinated debt and a qualifying portion of the allowance for loan and lease losses as a percentage of risk-weighted assets.

Net Charge-Off Ratio - Loan losses net of recoveries as a percentage of average loans and leases.

Internal Rate of Return - The interest rate that equates the present value of future returns to the investment outlay. An investment is considered acceptable if its IRR exceeds the required return. The investment is defined as the market value of the stock and/or other consideration to be received by the selling shareholders.

Recurring Results or Ratios - earnings excluding charges and expenses principally related to completing mergers and acquisitions.

Certain of the ratios discussed above may be annualized if the applicable periods are less than a full year.

The foregoing may be deemed to be offering materials of BB&T Corporation in connection with BB&T's proposed acquisition of AREA Bancshares Corporation on the terms and subject to the conditions in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated November 7, 2001, between BB&T and AREA Bancshares. This filing is being made in connection with Regulation of Takeovers and Security Holder Communications (Release #'s 33-7760 and 34-42055) adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

Shareholders of AREA Bancshares and other investors are urged to read the proxy statement/prospectus that will be included in the registration statement on Form S-4 which BB&T will file with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger because it will contain important information about BB&T, AREA Bancshares, the merger, the persons soliciting proxies in the merger and their interests in the merger and related matters. After it is filed with the SEC, the proxy statement/prospectus will be available for free, both on the SEC's web site (http://www.sec.gov) and from AREA and BB&T as follows:

John A. Ray Alan W. Greer
Chief Operating Officer Shareholder Reporting
AREA Bancshares Corporation BB&T Corporation
P. O. Box 786 Post Office Box 1290
Owensboro, Kentucky 42302 Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27102
Phone: (270) 688-7753 Phone: (336) 733-3021

In addition to the proposed registration statement and proxy statement/prospectus, BB&T and AREA file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by either company at the SEC's public reference rooms at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 or at the SEC's other public reference rooms in New York, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. BB&T's and AREA's filings with the SEC are also available to the public from commercial document-retrieval services and on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.