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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                            -----------------------

                                   FORM 11-K


                                 ANNUAL REPORT
                        PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996

Commission file number 1-13300

            CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION ASSOCIATE SAVINGS PLAN

                            2980 Fairview Park Drive
                                   Suite 1300
                       Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4525


                         -----------------------------

                       CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                            2980 Fairview Park Drive
                                   Suite 1300
                       Falls Church, Virginia 22042-4525
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Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)      Financial Statements

The Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan (the "Plan",
formerly the Capital One Financial Corporation Employee Savings Plan) became
effective as of January 1, 1995.  Filed as a part of this report on Form 11-K
are the audited financial statements of the Plan as of and for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995.

(b)      Exhibit

         (1)     Consent of Independent Auditors





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                                   SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have
duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto duly authorized.


                                           CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL
                                           CORPORATION ASSOCIATE
                                           SAVINGS PLAN                       
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           (Name of Plan)
                                  
                                  
                                  
                                           By: /s/ JAMES M. ZINN
                                               -------------------------------
                                           Name:  James M. Zinn
                                                   on behalf of the Benefits
                                                   Committee, as Plan
                                                   Administrator


Dated:  June 27, 1997





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                              Financial Statements
                           and Supplemental Schedules

                       Capital One Financial Corporation
                             Associate Savings Plan

                     Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
                      with Report of Independent Auditors





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            Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan

                              Financial Statements
                           and Supplemental Schedules

                     Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995




CONTENTS Report of Independent Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Audited Financial Statements Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information . . . . . . . . 6 Notes to Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Supplemental Schedules Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Schedule of Reportable Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
6 Report of Independent Auditors Benefits Committee Capital One Financial Corporation We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan (formerly the Capital One Financial Corporation Employee Savings Plan) as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets held for investment purposes as of December 31, 1996, and reportable transactions for the year then ended, are presented for purposes of complying with the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and are not a required part of the basic financial statements. The Fund Information in the statements of net assets available for benefits and the statements of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. The supplemental schedules and Fund Information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. June 24, 1997 /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP 7 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information December 31, 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN AMERICAN CAPITAL EXPRESS EXPRESS ONE TRUST TRUST COMPANY SIGNET MONEY EQUITY STOCK STOCK MARKET INDEX POOLED FUND POOLED FUND FUND II FUND II -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Units of Capital One Company Stock Pooled Fund $11,444,971 Units of Signet Stock Pooled Fund $2,612,609 Shares of registered investment companies $5,718,747 $4,028,636 Participant notes receivable -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total investments 11,444,971 2,612,609 5,718,747 4,028,636 Receivables: Employer's contributions 215,017 373,249 111,063 Participants' contributions 72,485 41,885 35,858 Accrued income 24,824 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total receivables 287,502 439,958 146,921 Cash and cash equivalents -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total assets 11,732,473 2,612,609 6,158,705 4,175,557 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- LIABILITIES Administrative expenses payable -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $11,732,473 $2,612,609 $6,158,705 $4,175,557 ==========================================================================
2 8
FUND INFORMATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IDS Y IDS Y IDS Y (AMERICAN (AMERICAN (AMERICAN EXPRESS) EXPRESS) EXPRESS) AIM TEMPLETON FEDERAL MUTUAL STOCK CONSTELLATION FOREIGN PARTICIPANT INCOME FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND NOTES OTHER TOTAL - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $11,444,971 2,612,609 $829,434 $334,200 $2,874,448 $4,499,932 $792,575 19,077,972 $1,877,469 1,877,469 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 829,434 334,200 2,874,448 4,499,932 792,575 1,877,469 35,013,021 26,009 27,066 73,258 146,336 39,026 1,011,024 7,754 7,763 22,582 46,682 12,197 247,206 24,824 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33,763 34,829 95,840 193,018 51,223 1,283,054 $ 5,485 5,485 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 863,197 369,029 2,970,288 4,692,950 843,798 1,877,469 5,485 36,301,560 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 36,749 36,749 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $863,197 $369,029 $2,970,288 $4,692,950 $843,798 $1,877,469 $(31,264) $36,264,811 ====================================================================================================================================
See accompanying notes. 3 9 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Statement of Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information December 31, 1995
------------------------------------------------------- CAPITAL ONE COMPANY SIGNET VIRTUS STOCK STOCK STYLE POOLED POOLED MANAGER FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------------- ASSETS Investments, at fair value: Units of Capital One Stock Pooled Fund $6,031,120 Units of Signet Stock Pooled Fund $2,655,273 Shares of registered investment companies $1,509,467 Common trust fund Participant notes receivable ------------------------------------------------------- Total investments 6,031,120 2,655,273 1,509,467 Receivables: Employer's contributions 406,198 98,455 Participants' contributions 50,762 14,650 Accrued income ------------------------------------------------------- Total receivables 456,960 113,105 Cash and cash equivalents 1,671 284 ------------------------------------------------------- Net assets available for benefits $6,489,751 $2,655,557 $1,622,572 =======================================================
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FUND INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN VIRTUS VIRTUS CENTURY- TREASURY U.S. TWENTIETH VANGUARD SIGNET MONEY GOVERNMENT CENTURY INDEX TRUST STABLE MARKET SECURITIES ULTRA 500 VALUE PARTICIPANT FUND FUND FUND PORTFOLIO FUND NOTES TOTAL ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $ 6,031,120 2,655,273 $3,579,685 $562,273 $1,956,433 $1,909,249 9,517,107 $341 341 $1,089,355 1,089,355 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3,579,685 562,273 1,956,433 1,909,249 341 1,089,355 19,293,196 272,992 47,112 162,860 147,997 1,135,614 32,082 5,815 26,754 26,949 157,012 2,558 2 2,560 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 305,074 55,485 189,614 174,946 2 1,295,186 524 1,990 2,168 6,637 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ $3,885,283 $617,758 $2,148,037 $2,086,363 $343 $1,089,355 $20,595,019 ==============================================================================================================================
See accompanying notes. 5 11 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information Year Ended December 31, 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAPITAL AMERICAN AMERICAN ONE EXPRESS TRUST EXPRESS COMPANY SIGNET MONEY TRUST STOCK STOCK MARKET EQUITY INDEX POOLED FUND POOLED FUND FUND II FUND II -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Additions to net assets attributed to: Investment Income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $3,147,315 $651,232 $405,569 Interest 40,372 24,673 $22,299 Dividends 69,965 58,329 212,548 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,257,652 734,234 234,847 405,569 Contributions: Employer's 1,759,386 2,075,115 854,296 Participants' 1,378,472 824,757 812,712 Rollovers 170,899 89,028 105,678 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,308,757 2,988,900 1,772,686 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total additions 6,566,409 734,234 3,223,747 2,178,255 Deductions from net assets attributed to: Benefits paid to participants (359,567) (124,125) (417,154) (199,490) Administrative expenses (83,922) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total deductions (359,567) (124,125) (501,076) (199,490) Net increase (decrease) prior to interfund transfers 6,206,842 610,109 2,722,671 1,978,765 Interfund transfers (net) (964,120) (653,057) 3,436,034 2,196,792 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net increase (decrease) 5,242,722 (42,948) 6,158,705 4,175,557 Net assets available for benefits: Beginning of year 6,489,751 2,655,557 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of year $11,732,473 $2,612,609 $6,158,705 $4,175,557 ==========================================================================
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FUND INFORMATION --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IDS Y IDS Y (AMERICAN IDS Y (AMERICAN VIRTUS VIRTUS EXPRESS) (AMERICAN EXPRESS) AIM TEMPLETON STYLE TREASURY FEDERAL EXPRESS) STOCK CONSTELLATION FOREIGN MANAGER MONEY MARKET INCOME FUND MUTUAL FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND FUND --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $(83,088) $(1,937) $43,234 $127,856 $34,822 $(13,008) 2,283 16 49 1,392 22 $8,397 44,762 27,249 183,260 150,458 28,600 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (36,043) 25,328 226,543 279,706 63,444 (13,008) 8,397 205,863 97,720 481,757 968,835 138,873 163,153 81,118 370,321 886,159 123,489 40,495 43,212 123,541 173,157 47,156 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 409,511 222,050 975,619 2,028,151 309,518 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 373,468 247,378 1,202,162 2,307,857 372,962 (13,008) 8,397 (18,723) (12,234) (106,350) (106,058) (8,908) (5,970) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (18,723) (12,234) (106,350) (106,058) (8,908) (5,970) 354,745 235,144 1,095,812 2,201,799 364,054 (13,008) 2,427 508,452 133,885 1,874,476 2,491,151 479,744 (1,609,564) (3,887,710) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 863,197 369,029 2,970,288 4,692,950 843,798 (1,622,572) (3,885,283) 1,622,572 3,885,283 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $863,197 $369,029 $2,970,288 $4,692,950 $843,798 ===========================================================================================================================
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---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN CENTURY- TWENTIETH VANGUARD INDEX CENTURY TRUST ULTRA 500 PARTICIPANT FUND PORTFOLIO NOTES OTHER TOTAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $(76,724) $(29,826) $44 $4,205,489 $103,512 5,485 208,500 6 1,659 776,836 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (76,718) (29,826) 103,512 7,188 5,190,825 6,581,845 4,640,181 793,166 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12,015,192 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (76,718) (29,826) 103,512 7,188 17,206,017 (56,975) (1,415,554) (36,749) (120,671) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (56,975) (36,749) (1,536,225) (76,718) (29,826) 46,537 (29,561) 15,669,792 (2,071,319) (2,056,537) 741,577 (619,804) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2,148,037) (2,086,363) 788,114 (649,365) 15,669,792 2,148,037 2,086,363 1,089,355 618,101 20,595,019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $1,877,469 $(31,264) $36,264,811 ==============================================================================================================
See accompanying notes. 7 14 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits, with Fund Information Year Ended December 31, 1995
------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAPITAL ONE VIRTUS COMPANY SIGNET VIRTUS TREASURY STOCK STOCK STYLE MONEY POOLED POOLED MANAGER MARKET FUND FUND FUND FUND ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Additions to net assets attributed to: Investment income: Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments $1,566,314 $1,459,413 $ (6,466) Interest $ 82,462 Dividends 177,141 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,566,314 1,459,413 170,675 82,462 Contributions: Employer's 845,877 (8,762) 159,637 434,951 Participants' 1,140,907 166,254 375,514 Rollovers 421,708 28,268 62,872 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2,408,492 (8,762) 354,159 873,337 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total additions 3,974,806 1,450,651 524,834 955,799 Deductions from net assets attributed to: Benefits paid to participants (308,306) (158,389) (68,762) (100,775) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net increase (decrease) prior to interfund transfers 3,666,500 1,292,262 456,072 855,024 Interfund transfers (net) 2,513,252 (2,781,804) 1,166,500 2,221,429 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net increase (decrease) 6,179,752 (1,489,542) 1,622,572 3,076,453 Transfer of net assets from predecessor plan 309,999 4,145,099 808,830 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net assets available for benefits $6,489,751 $2,655,557 $1,622,572 $3,885,283 ========================================================================
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FUND INFORMATION - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AMERICAN VIRTUS CENTURY- VANGUARD U.S. TWENTIETH INDEX SIGNET GOVERNMENT CENTURY TRUST STABLE VIRTUS SECURITIES ULTRA 500 VALUE PARTICIPANT STOCK FUND FUND PORTFOLIO FUND NOTES FUND TOTAL - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $ 21,727 $ 245,670 $ 348,365 $98,487 $ 3,733,510 $ 54,577 137,039 22,196 86,852 38,991 $103,919 2,269 431,368 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 43,923 332,522 387,356 103,919 54,577 100,756 4,301,917 89,420 307,720 315,825 152,658 38,441 2,335,767 118,140 448,500 465,522 376,034 91,012 3,181,883 30,785 135,141 84,618 26,451 2,070 791,913 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 238,345 891,361 865,965 555,143 131,523 6,309,563 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 282,268 1,223,883 1,253,321 659,062 54,577 232,279 10,611,480 (18,246) (101,977) (80,972) (157,969) (68,545) (17,962) (1,081,903) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 264,022 1,121,906 1,172,349 501,093 (13,968) 214,317 9,529,577 96,777 342,267 177,183 (2,750,859) 399,492 (1,384,237) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 360,799 1,464,173 1,349,532 (2,249,766) 385,524 (1,169,920) 9,529,577 256,959 683,864 736,831 2,250,109 703,831 1,169,920 11,065,442 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $617,758 $2,148,037 $2,086,363 $343 $1,089,355 $20,595,019 ==========================================================================================================================
See accompanying notes. 9 16 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Notes to Financial Statements December 31, 1996 NOTE 1--DESCRIPTION OF PLAN Effective January 1, 1995, Capital One Financial Corporation (the "Corporation") established and adopted the Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan (the "Plan", formerly the Capital One Financial Corporation Employee Savings Plan) for the benefit of its eligible associates. The Plan is a continuation of the Signet Banking Corporation ("Signet") Employee Savings Plan for participants who transferred employment from Signet to the Corporation on or within twelve months after the date of distribution of the Corporation's stock to shareholders of Signet on February 28, 1995. Balances of Corporation associates in the Signet plan were transferred to the Plan effective as of January 1, 1995. The market value of the assets attributable to those participant accounts transferred from the Signet plan on January 1, 1995 was $11,065,442. The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. GENERAL The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all associates of the Corporation and provides for pension, disability, death and termination benefits. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). 10 17 CONTRIBUTIONS Each year, participants may contribute 1% to 15% of pre-tax annual compensation, as defined in the Plan. Such contributions may be pre-tax dollars, or a combination of pre- and after-tax dollars. Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans ("rollover contributions"). The Corporation contributes 50% of the first 6% of the participant's annual compensation that a participant contributes to the Plan. Beginning January 1, 1996, the Corporation contributes 3% of participants' eligibile salaries, regardless of participation in the Plan. Additional amounts equal to 3% of the participants' eligible salaries for those participants making pre-tax contributions to the Plan at year end may be contributed at the option of the Corporation's Board of Directors. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contributions and allocations of the Corporation's contributions and Plan earnings. Allocations are based upon the number of units of the Plan in each participant's account. Forfeited balances of terminated participants' nonvested accounts are used to pay administrative expenses of the Plan, to the extent available. Plan expenses in excess of forfeitures, if any, are absorbed by the Corporation. Excess forfeitures, if any, are applied as employer contributions made in advance, and reduce the Corporation's future contributions. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant's account. Participant accounts are represented by units of ownership in the Plan which are valued daily. As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, there were 9,336,407 and 5,832,730 participant units outstanding with a net asset value of $3.88 and $3.53 per unit, respectively. VESTING Participants are immediately vested in their contributions plus actual earnings thereon. Vesting in the Corporation contribution portion of their accounts plus actual earnings thereon is based on years of continuous service. A participant is 100% vested after two years of service. INVESTMENT OPTIONS Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant may direct employer and employee contributions in any of eight investment options. Participants may change their investment options at any time. Current investment options, as well as options previously available through the former investment manager, are described below. Current Options: CAPITAL ONE COMPANY STOCK POOLED FUND (PREVIOUSLY CAPITAL ONE STOCK UNITIZED INVESTMENT FUND) - Monies are invested by the Trustee in a unitized trust fund which invests in shares of the Corporation's common stock. The Trustee shall also be permitted to invest in short-term temporary investments, including pooled funds which bear interest at market rates. 11 18 AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST MONEY MARKET FUND II - Monies are invested primarily in short-term debt securities. AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST EQUITY INDEX FUND II - Ninety percent of the monies held by this fund are invested in common stock and the balance is invested in S&P 500 stock index futures. IDS Y (AMERICAN EXPRESS) FEDERAL INCOME FUND - Monies are invested in U.S. government agency securities. IDS Y (AMERICAN EXPRESS) MUTUAL FUND - Monies are invested in common stocks and senior securities, such as bonds and preferred stocks. IDS Y (AMERICAN EXPRESS) STOCK FUND - Monies are invested in large capitalization, blue chip stocks and investment grade bonds. AIM CONSTELLATION FUND - Monies are invested in the common stock of primarily small and medium-sized companies. TEMPLETON FOREIGN FUND - Monies are invested primarily in the common stock of companies outside the U.S. Previous Options: SIGNET STOCK POOLED FUND (PREVIOUSLY SIGNET STOCK UNITIZED INVESTMENT FUND) - Monies are invested in a unitized trust fund that invested in shares of Signet's common stock. Participants may continue to hold this investment; however, future investment in the Fund is prohibited. VIRTUS STYLE MANAGER FUND (PREVIOUSLY VIRTUS STRATEGIC STOCK FUND) - Monies were invested in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of U.S. corporations. VIRTUS TREASURY MONEY MARKET FUND - Monies were invested in U.S. Treasury obligations maturing in one year or less, with an average maturity of 60 days or less. VIRTUS U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND - Monies were invested in a diversified portfolio of short to intermediate term fixed income U.S. Government securities. AMERICAN CENTURY-TWENTIETH CENTURY ULTRA FUND (PREVIOUSLY TWENTIETH CENTURY ULTRA INVESTORS FUND) - Monies were invested in small to medium-sized companies, with accelerating earnings and revenues, that appear to have begun their upward trend, as evidenced by increased trading volume. VANGUARD INDEX TRUST 500 PORTFOLIO - Monies were invested in all of the stocks in the Standard & Poors 500 Index in approximately the proportions as they are represented in the Index. SIGNET STABLE VALUE FUND - Monies were invested in a common trust fund that invested in a diversified portfolio of guaranteed insurance contracts. 12 19 PARTICIPANT NOTES RECEIVABLE Participants may elect to borrow from their fund accounts a minimum of $1,000; up to a maximum of the lesser of $50,000, or 50% of their account balance. Loan transactions are treated as a transfer from (to) the investment fund to (from) the loan fund. Loan terms range from 1 to 5 years or up to 10 years for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant's account and bear interest at a rate commensurate with local prevailing rates as determined by the Benefits Committee. Principal and interest are paid ratably through monthly payroll deductions. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS On termination of service, a participant may elect to receive an amount equal to the vested value of his or her account through a lump-sum distribution or equal, or nearly equal, payments made at least annually for a period not to exceed 15 years. If the participant has invested in the Capital One or Signet Stock pooled funds, he or she may elect to receive distributions of whole shares of common stock with fractional shares paid in cash. NOTE 2--SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual method of accounting. USE OF ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates. VALUATION AND INCOME RECOGNITION The Plan's investments are stated at fair value. Units in the Capital One and Signet Stock pooled funds are valued based upon the stock price at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the plan year. The shares of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net asset values of shares held by the Plan as of year-end. Money market funds and participant notes receivable are valued at cost, which approximates fair value. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. 13 20 NOTE 3--INVESTMENTS The Plan's investments are held in a trust fund administered by American Express Trust Company. The fair values of the following individual investments represented 5% or more of the Plan's net assets as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:
DECEMBER 31, 1996 1995 --------------------------------------- Capital One Company Stock Pooled Fund $11,444,971 $6,031,120 American Express Trust Money Market Fund II 5,718,747 AIM Constellation Fund 4,499,932 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 4,028,636 IDS Y (American Express) Stock Fund 2,874,448 Signet Stock Pooled Fund 2,612,609 2,655,273 Participant Notes 1,877,469 1,089,355 Virtus Treasury Money Market Fund 3,579,685 American Century - Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 1,956,433 Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio 1,909,249 Virtus Style Manager Fund 1,509,467
NOTE 4--PLAN TERMINATION Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Corporation has the right to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become 100% vested in their accounts. NOTE 5--TAX STATUS The Internal Revenue Service ruled on April 1, 1997 that the Plan qualifies under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and, therefore, the related trust is not subject to tax under present income tax law. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the IRC to maintain its qualification. The Benefits Committee is not aware of any course of action or events that have occurred that might adversely affect the Plan's qualified status. NOTE 6--TRANSACTIONS WITH PARTIES-IN-INTEREST Effective January 1, 1996, American Express Trust Company was named trustee of the Plan and investment manager of the Plan assets. During January 1996, investments held by the previous trustee Signet Trust Company, and managed by Virtus Capital Management, Inc., ("Virtus"), were transferred to American Express Trust Company. The market value of the assets attributable to those participant accounts transferred from the Signet Trust Company was $19,223,330. Cash transferred from Signet to American 14 21 Express Trust Company was invested temporarily in short-term interest-bearing investments until purchase of registered investment companies were made. Interest earned on these investments was allocated pro rata to all funds. The Plan's trustee during 1995 was Signet Trust Company, a subsidiary of Signet. The Plan's investments in registered investment companies were managed in 1995 by Virtus, a subsidiary of Signet. During 1995, the Plan earned $388,202 on amounts invested with Signet Trust Company or managed by Virtus. The amount invested with Signet Trust Company or managed by Virtus had a fair value of $14,338,159 as of December 31, 1995. As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, the Plan had invested $11,444,971 and $6,031,120, at fair value, in the Capital One Stock pooled fund and $2,612,609 and $2,655,273, at fair value, in the Signet Stock pooled fund. 15 22 Supplemental Schedules 23 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes December 31, 1996
UNITS/ FAIR SHARES COST VALUE ------------------------------------------------------ Capital One Company Stock Pooled Fund 771,398 $8,236,567 $11,444,971 Signet Stock Pooled Fund 189,182 1,888,036 2,612,609 Registered Investment Companies: American Express Trust Money Market Fund II 5,718,747 5,718,747 5,718,747 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 206,649 3,439,800 4,028,636 IDS Y (American Express) Federal Income Fund 166,587 840,483 829,434 IDS Y (American Express) Mutual Fund 24,796 336,473 334,200 IDS Y (American Express) Stock Fund 126,963 2,669,963 2,874,448 AIM Constellation Fund 178,145 4,171,208 4,499,932 Templeton Foreign Fund 76,503 759,510 792,575 ------------------------------------ 17,936,184 19,077,972 Participant Notes 1,877,469 1,877,469 1,877,469 ------------------------------------ Total $29,938,256 $35,013,021 ====================================
16 24 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Schedule of Reportable Transactions Year Ended December 31, 1996
PURCHASE SELLING NET DESCRIPTION OF ASSETS UNITS/SHARES PRICE PRICE COST FAIR VALUE GAIN(LOSS) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category (i) - individual transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Virtus Style Manager Fund 144,307 $1,516,661 $1,567,885 $1,516,661 $ (51,224) Virtus Treasury Money Market Fund 3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752 Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio 33,846 1,920,743 1,665,394 1,920,743 255,349 American Century - Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 76,604 1,917,636 1,797,137 1,917,636 120,499 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 122,107 $1,920,743 1,920,743 1,920,743 IDS Y (American Express) Federal Income Fund 75,659 1,516,661 1,516,661 1,516,661 American Express Trust Money Market Fund II 3,637,551 3,637,551 3,637,551 3,637,551 AIM Constellation Fund 87,444 1,917,636 1,917,636 1,917,636
17 25 Capital One Financial Corporation Associate Savings Plan Schedule of Reportable Transactions Year Ended December 31, 1996
PURCHASE SELLING NET DESCRIPTION OF ASSETS UNITS/SHARES PRICE PRICE COST FAIR VALUE GAIN/(LOSS) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Category (iii) - series of transactions in excess of 5 percent of plan assets: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Virtus Style Manager Fund 144,307 $1,516,661 $1,567,885 $1,516,661 $ (51,224) Virtus Treasury Money Market Fund 3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752 Vanguard Index Trust 500 Portfolio 33,846 1,920,743 1,665,394 1,920,743 255,349 American Century - Twentieth Century Ultra Fund 76,604 1,917,636 1,797,137 1,917,636 120,499 American Express Trust Money Market Fund II 7,365,790 $7,365,790 7,365,790 7,365,790 American Express Trust Money Market Fund II 1,646,975 1,646,975 1,646,975 1,646,975 Capital One Company Stock Pooled Fund 363,765 4,214,790 4,214,790 4,214,790 Capital One Company Stock Pooled Fund 155,238 1,954,665 1,590,012 1,954,665 364,653 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 233,663 3,876,629 3,876,629 3,876,629 American Express Trust Equity Index Fund II 27,013 477,701 436,829 477,701 40,872 IDS Y (American Express) Federal Income Fund 205,407 1,037,107 1,037,107 1,037,107 IDS Y (American Express) Federal Income Fund 38,819 192,317 196,624 192,317 (4,307) AIM Constellation Fund 191,462 4,475,739 4,475,739 4,475,739 AIM Constellation Fund 13,317 329,428 304,531 329,428 24,897 IDS Y (American Express) Stock Fund 137,677 2,889,679 2,889,679 2,889,679 IDS Y (American Express) Stock Fund 10,714 237,093 219,716 237,093 17,377 Participant Notes 1,325,080 1,325,080 1,325,080 1,325,080 Participant Notes 508,770 508,770 508,770 508,770
All transactions were made on the market. There were no category (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions during 1996. 18 26 EXHIBITS INDEX
Exhibit Number Description Page Number - ------ ----------- ----------- 23 Consent of Independent Auditors 19
   1


                                                                      EXHIBIT 23


                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration
Statements of our report dated June 24, 1997, with respect to the financial
statements and schedules of the Capital One Financial Corporation Associate
Savings Plan (formerly the Capital One Financial Corporation Employee Savings
Plan) included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended 
December 31, 1996:

Registration Statement Number Form Description ------ ---- ----------- 33-80263 Form S-8 Marketing and Management Services Agreement 33-86874 Form S-8 Employee Stock Purchase Plan 33-86876 Form S-8 Employee Savings Plan 33-86986 Form S-8 1994 Stock Incentive Plan 33-91790 Form S-8 1995 Non-Employees Directors Stock Incentive Plan 33-97032 Form S-8 Amendment to 1994 Stock Incentive Plan 33-99748 Form S-3 Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan 333-3580 Form S-3 Debt Securities and Preferred Stock 333-4586 Form S-8 Amendment to 1994 Stock Incentive Plan
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP Washington, D.C. June 24, 1997