EXHIBIT 99.1

CERTIFICATION OF PERIODIC REPORT

In connection with the Quarterly Report of AmSouth Bancorporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the period ending September 30, 2002 (the “Report”), I, C. Dowd Ritter, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

1)  The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2)  The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

/s/    C. DOWD RITTER        

C. Dowd Ritter

Chief Executive Officer

November 6, 2002