Form 11-K Payshelter 401(k)




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 11-K
 
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005
 
 
OR
 
[   ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 for the transition period from ___________ to ___________
 
 
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER ……………………………………………………………………0-2610
 
A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:
 
ZIONS BANCORPORATION PAYSHELTER 401(K) AND
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:
 
ZIONS BANCORPORATION
One South Main, Suite 1134
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111











INDEX


   
Page
     
(a)
Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules
Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
 
 
F-1
     
(b)
Signatures
F-2
     
(c)
Exhibit 23 Consent of Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
 
F-3






















Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules

ZIONS BANCORPORATION PAYSHELTER 401(K) AND
EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN

As of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for the
Year Ended December 31, 2005

with Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm







 
F-1




Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules

As of December 31, 2005 and 2004 and for the
Year Ended December 31, 2005




Contents
            
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm  

Audited Financial Statements  

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
1
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
2
Notes to Financial Statements
3

Supplemental Schedules  

Schedule H, Line 4i Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
10
Schedule H, Line 4j Schedule of Reportable Transactions
11
 



 







Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Benefits Committee
Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005. 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 audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and 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 Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan at December 31, 2005 and 2004, and the changes in its net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedules of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2005 and reportable transactions for the year then ended are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. These supplemental schedules are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. The supplemental schedules have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of the financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.

                                    /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
June 26, 2006


 





Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits


December 31, 
   
2005
   
2004
Assets
         
Investments:
         
Zions Bancorporation common stock
$
251,765,703
 
$
224,732,109
Guaranteed income fund
 
32,235,270
   
26,973,175
Pooled separate accounts
 
131,828,388
   
104,675,439
Participant loans
 
5,303,044
   
4,276,394
   
421,132,405
   
360,657,117
           
Receivables:
         
Participant contributions
 
780,989
   
303,812
Employer contributions
 
13,971,848
   
9,716,912
Interest
 
    
   
4,314
   
14,752,837
   
10,025,038
Net assets available for benefits
$
435,885,242
 
$
370,682,155
           

 



See accompanying notes to financial statements.




 

1


Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits

Year Ended December 31, 2005

 
Additions
   
Investment income:
   
Net appreciation in fair value of investments
$
33,654,088
Dividends
 
4,828,615
Interest
 
1,267,883
   
39,750,586
     
Contributions:
   
Participant
 
26,009,803
Employer
 
25,670,313
Rollovers
 
1,357,070
   
53,037,186
     
Transfers from affiliated plans
 
3,779,306
Total additions
 
96,567,078
     
Deductions
   
Benefits paid directly to participants
 
31,363,991
     
Net increase
 
65,203,087
     
Net assets available for benefits:
   
Beginning of year
 
370,682,155
End of year
$
435,885,242
     




 See accompanying notes to financial statements.
 




 

2

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 2005


1. Description of Plan

The following description of the Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“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 single employer defined contribution plan designed to provide retirement benefits for eligible employees under a pretax salary reduction arrangement with a specified employer matching contribution and a discretionary noncontributory profit sharing feature. The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). From time to time, the Plan has been amended and restated. Prudential Financial, Inc. is the trustee of the Plan. Zions Bancorporation (“the Company”) is the Plan sponsor. The Company’s Benefits Committee (“the Benefits Committee”) administers the Plan.

Eligibility

Participation in the Plan is voluntary. Any nonexcluded employee (as defined in the Plan provisions) at least 21 years of age is eligible to participate. To be eligible for the noncontributory profit sharing feature, participants must meet other criteria, including 1,000 hours of service.

Contributions

Participants may contribute from 1% to 5% of their pretax annual compensation for which the Company provides a matching contribution of 100% for the first 3% of the participant’s compensation and 50% for the remaining 2%. Overall, participants may contribute up to 50% of their pretax annual compensation subject to the annual maximum allowed participant contribution, which was $14,000 for 2005. Under applicable law, participants attaining the age of 50 during or prior to 2005 are eligible to make catch-up contributions.





 

3

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 

 


1. Description of Plan (continued)

Contributions (continued)

Contributions by the Company under the noncontributory profit sharing feature are discretionary and may range up to 6.0% of participants’ compensation, based on the Company’s return on average common equity, as defined, for the Plan year. Subsequent to the end of the Plan year, the Company approved and contributed $13,578,691 and $9,549,104 under the noncontributory profit sharing feature for the 2005 and 2004 Plan years, respectively. Included in these amounts are forfeitures of $378,691 for 2005 and $95,002 for 2004. The amounts were 4.0% and 3.0%, respectively, of participants’ compensation and were included with employer contributions receivable in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

The Plan allows rollovers by participants from nonaffiliated qualifying plans.

Participant Accounts

Each participant’s fund account is credited with the participant’s contributions and allocations of the Company’s contributions and Plan earnings. Investment income or loss is allocated based on the investment shares held in the participant’s account in relation to the total investment shares of the Plan. Certain investment transaction expenses are charged to the participants’ accounts.

Vesting and Payment of Benefits

Participant and Company matching contributions plus investment earnings are immediately vested; however, Company contributions under the noncontributory profit sharing feature do not vest until the participant attains 5 years of vesting service. Nonvested amounts forfeited by terminated participants are used to reduce future Company profit sharing contributions. Participants are 100% vested if employed by the Company when normal retirement age is attained. Benefits are paid upon death, disability, retirement, or termination of employment, or may be paid earlier subject to Plan provisions. Benefits are paid in shares of stock, cash, or a combination of the two, depending on the participant’s investment options.




 

4

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



1. Description of Plan (continued)

Investment Options

Participant contributions can be directed subject to Plan provisions into various Plan investment options, which do not include the Company’s common stock. The Company’s matching contributions and amounts contributed under the noncontributory profit sharing feature are invested in the Company’s common stock. Participants with 5 years of service may diversify certain of their existing investments in the Company’s common stock to other Plan investments.

Participant Loans

Participants may borrow from their fund accounts in amounts from $1,000 up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. Loan terms cannot exceed 5 years, or 10 years if used for the purchase of a primary residence. The loans are secured by the balance in the participants’ accounts and are repaid at a reasonable rate of interest through direct payroll deductions.

Plan Termination

Although the Company has not expressed any intent to do so, it has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. If the Plan were terminated, each participant would become 100% vested and would receive a distribution of assets equal to the value of the participant’s account.

2. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying financial statements are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting.

Valuation of Investments and Income Recognition

The Company’s common stock is valued at the last reported sales price on the last business day of the Plan year. The guaranteed income fund is an investment contract that pays interest at a fixed rate for a defined period of time. Because the fund has fully benefit-responsive features, it is stated at contract value as determined by the trustee,

 

5

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



2. Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

which approximates fair value. The fund is credited with earnings from the underlying investments and charged for participants’ withdrawals and administrative expenses. However, withdrawals influenced by Company-initiated events, such as the sale of a business, may result in a distribution at other than contract value. There is no reserve against the contract value for credit risk of contract issuers or otherwise. Participation units in the pooled separate accounts are stated at redemption values provided on the last business day of the Plan year by an insurance company affiliated with the trustee. Both the guaranteed income fund and the pooled separate accounts are held by the trustee’s insurance company. Participant loans are valued at their outstanding balances, which approximate fair value.

Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis.

Administrative Expenses

The Company currently pays administrative expenses; however, the Plan may pay these expenses, as determined by the Benefits Committee.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Concentration of Investments

The Plan’s net assets available for benefits at December 31, 2005 and 2004 include investments in the Company’s common stock of $251,765,703 (3,331,997 shares) and $224,732,109 (3,303,086 shares), respectively. These investments represent a 3.17% and 3.68% ownership of the Company’s outstanding common stock at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The fair value of these investments is subject to market fluctuations.


 

6

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



3. Recent Accounting Pronouncement

In December 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) Nos. AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Investment Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans. The FSP modifies existing accounting and disclosure guidance for defined contribution plans with respect to fully benefit-responsive investment contracts. The effective date for the FSP is for annual periods ending after December 15, 2006. Earlier application is permitted. When adopted, the guidance in the FSP should be applied retroactively to all periods presented. The Plan will adopt the FSP for the year ended December 31, 2006. While adoption of the FSP may require increased disclosure, the Benefits Committee does not expect the accounting impact of the FSP to be significant to the Plan’s financial statements.

4. Investments

The trustee of the Plan, as identified in Note 1, holds the Plan’s investments and executes all investment transactions. Investments that represent 5% or more of the fair value of the Plan’s net assets available for benefits are as follows:


December 31, 
 
2005
 
2004
Zions Bancorporation common stock*
$   251,765,703
$   224,732,109
Prudential Retirement Insurance
     
Guaranteed Income Fund
32,235,270
 
26,973,175
       
* Nonparticipant-directed
     

The net guaranteed crediting interest rate for the Prudential Retirement Insurance Guaranteed Income Fund was 3.45% and 3.60% at December 31, 2005 and 2004, respectively. The crediting interest rate is reset every January 1 and July 1 and is guaranteed against change during each six-month period. The estimated average yield for the year ended December 31, 2005 was 3.45%. The crediting interest rate will always be greater than or equal to zero percent.



 

7

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



4. Investments (continued)

During 2005, the Plan’s investments (including investments purchased and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated in fair value as determined by quoted market prices and by redemption values provided by the trustee’s insurance company as follows:


Zions Bancorporation common stock
$   25,484,167
Pooled separate accounts
 8,169,921
 
$   33,654,088

The Plan’s investment activity in the Company’s common stock includes nonparticipant-directed and participant-directed transactions. Because the investment activity cannot be split between these types of transactions, the entire investment is reflected as nonparticipant-directed.

Significant changes in net assets during 2005 relating to nonparticipant-directed and participant-directed transactions of the Company’s common stock are as follows:


Net appreciation in fair value
 $      25,484,167
 
Dividends
4,828,615
 
Contributions
21,390,933
 
Net transfers to other investments
(8,918,382
)
Benefits paid directly to participants
(15,751,739
)
Net increase in net assets
27,033,594
 
     
Net assets at beginning of year
224,732,109
 
Net assets at end of year
$    251,765,703
 
     

5. Transfers from Affiliated Plans

Transfers from the remaining assets of affiliated plans were comprised of $2,508,608 from the Eldorado Bancshares, Inc. 401(k) Plan on May 6, 2005, $1,260,681 from the Antelope Valley Bank Savings Plan and $10,017 from the Frontier State Bank 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan on October 21, 2005. The transfers were made in accordance with ERISA provisions and with the respective plan and applicable transfer agreements. The associated banks had previously merged with banking subsidiaries of the Company.


 

8

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



6. Transactions with Parties-in-Interest

During 2005, the Plan received dividends from the Company of $4,828,615. Purchases and sales of the Company’s common stock in 2005 were $26,093,574 and $24,801,676, respectively.

7. Risks and Uncertainties

The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.

8. Income Tax Status

The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) dated September 9, 2005 stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”) and, therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Once qualified, the Plan is required to operate in conformity with the Code to maintain its qualification. The plan administrator believes that the Plan is being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code and, therefore, believes that the Plan is qualified and that the related trust is tax exempt.




 

9

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Schedule H, Line 4i Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
EIN: 87-0227400   Plan: 006

December 31, 2005

 
 
   
(b)
     
(d)
     
   
Identity of Issue, Borrower,
 
(c)
 
Cost of Remain-
 
 (e)
(a)
 
Lessor, or Similar Party
 
Description of Investment
 
ing Assets (1)
 
 Current Value
                     
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
GUARANTEED INCOME FUND (1,103,460 units)
     
 
 $
    32,235,270
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
CORE BOND ENHANCED INDEX (305,256 shares)
         
4,501,960
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
CORE BOND BSAM FUND (715,184 shares)
         
10,287,302
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LIFETIME20 (162,369 shares)
         
2,472,210
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LIFETIME30 (227,300 shares)
         
3,470,409
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LIFETIME40 (458,438 shares)
         
6,880,345
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LIFETIME50 (499,745 shares)
         
7,526,514
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LIFETIME60 (133,106 shares)
         
2,004,761
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
OPPENHEIMER CAPITAL APPRECIATION CL A (353,010 shares)
   
15,234,291
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
S&P 500 INDEX (168,700 shares)
         
12,213,293
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
MID CAP GROWTH/ARTISAN PARTNERS (1,374,923 shares)
   
15,381,169
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
MID CAP VALUE/WELLINGTON MGMT (380,493 shares)
         
7,073,142
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
SMALL CAP GROWTH/TIMESSQUARE (255,670 shares)
         
6,123,234
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
SMALL CAP VALUE/KENNEDY CAPITAL (389,582 shares)
         
4,996,489
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
SSGA RUSSELL 2000 INDEX (200,147 shares)
         
4,289,437
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
SSGA EAFE INDEX (654,138 shares)
         
10,702,894
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
SSGA S&P MIDCAP FUND SERIES A (78,796 shares)
   
1,995,539
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
LARGE CAP VALUE/LSV ASSET MGMT (883,824 shares)
   
14,871,559
*
 
PRUDENTIAL RETIREMENT INS
 
INTERN VAL/LSV ASSET MGMT (156,528 shares)
         
1,803,840
*
 
ZIONS BANCORPORATION
 
ZIONS BANCORPORATION COMMON STOCK (3,331,997 shares)
 
 $
163,418,986
   
251,765,703
*
 
PARTICIPANT LOANS
 
Interest rates ranging from 4.00% to 10.00%, with maturities
           
       
through December 2015
         
5,303,044
               
 
 $
   421,132,405
 
* Indicates party-in-interest to the Plan.
(1)  
Only provided for nonparticipant-directed investments.

 

10

Zions Bancorporation Payshelter 401(k) and
Employee Stock Ownership Plan

Schedule H, Line 4j Schedule of Reportable Transactions
EIN: 87-0227400   Plan: 006

Year Ended December 31, 2005


 
                   
(h)
   
(a)
 
(b)
 
(c)
 
(d)
 
(g)
 
Current Value
 
(i)
Identity of Party
 
Description of
 
Purchase
 
Selling
 
Cost of
 
of Asset on
 
Net Gain
Involved
 
Assets
 
Price
 
Price
 
Asset
 
Transaction Date
 
(Loss)
                         
Category (iii) a series of transactions with the same issue in excess of 5% of Plan assets:
       
                         
                         
Zions Bancorporation
 
Zions Bancorporation
                   
   
Common Stock
 
$ 26,093,574
 
N/A
 
$ 26,093,574
 
$ 26,093,574
 
$               
                         
   
Zions Bancorporation
                   
   
Common Stock
 
N/A
 
$ 24,801,676
 
$ 16,686,444
 
$ 24,801,676
 
$ 8,115,232
 
No category (i), (ii) or (iv) reportable transactions occurred during 2005.
Columns (e) and (f) are not applicable.





 
11

 



SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Benefits Committee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

     
 
ZIONS BANCORPORATION PAYSHELTER 401(K)
AND EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: June 27, 2006 By:   /s/ Doyle L. Arnold
 
DOYLE L. ARNOLD,
 
Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of Zions Bancorporation




 
F-2