EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, Alabama National BanCorporation (the “Company”) proposes to file a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the issuance of shares of common stock of the Company, under or pursuant to the Performance Share Plan for Certain Members of the Madison County Advisory Board of Directors of First American Bank.

NOW, THEREFORE, KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the Company and the undersigned directors and officers of said Company, individually as a director and/or as an officer of the Company, hereby make, constitute and appoint each of John H. Holcomb, III and Victor E. Nichol, Jr. their true and lawful attorney-in-fact for each of them and in each of their names, places and steads to sign and cause to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said registration statement and any appropriate amendments thereto, together with all necessary exhibits.

The Company hereby authorizes said persons or any one of them to execute said registration statement and amendments thereto on its behalf as attorney-in-fact for it and its authorized officers, and to file the same as aforesaid.

The undersigned directors and officers of the Company hereby authorize said persons or any one of them to sign said registration statement on their behalf as attorney-in-fact and to amend or remedy any deficiencies with respect to said registration statement by appropriate amendment or amendments and to file the same as aforesaid.

Dated as of December 18, 2002.

ALABAMA NATIONAL BANCORPORATION

/s/    JOHN H. HOLCOMB, III

John H. Holcomb, III

Chief Executive Officer and Director

/s/    VICTOR E. NICHOL, JR.

Victor E. Nichol, Jr.

Vice Chairman and Director

/s/    DAN M. DAVID

Dan M. David

Vice Chairman and Director

/s/    RICHARD MURRAY, IV

Richard Murray, IV

President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

/s/    WILLIAM E. MATTHEWS, V

William E. Matthews, V

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

/s/    SHELLY S. WILLIAMS

Shelly S. Williams

Senior Vice President and Controller

/s/    W. RAY BARNES

W. Ray Barnes

Director

/s/     JOHN V. DENSON

John V. Denson

Director

T. Morris Hackney

Director

/s/    JOHN D. JOHNS

John D. Johns

Director

/s/    JOHN J. MCMAHON, JR.

John J. McMahon, Jr.

Director

C. Phillip McWane

Director

/s/    WILLIAM D. MONTGOMERY, SR.

William D. Montgomery, Sr.

Director

/s/    DRAYTON NABERS, JR.

Drayton Nabers, Jr.

Director

/s/    C. LLOYD NIX

C. Lloyd Nix

Director

/s/    G. RUFFNER PAGE, JR.

G. Ruffner Page, Jr.

Director

/s/    WILLIAM E. SEXTON

William E. Sexton

Director

/s/    W. STANCIL STARNES

W. Stancil Starnes

Director