S-3ASR

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2024

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	36-2517428
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2500 Lake Cook Road

Riverwoods, Illinois 60015

Telephone: (224) 405-0900

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Hope D. Mehlman

Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Discover Financial Services

2500 Lake Cook Road

Riverwoods, Illinois 60015

Telephone: (224) 405-0900

(Name and address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copy to:

Jared M. Fishman

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

125 Broad Street

New York, New York 10004

(212) 558-4000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐

If this form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☒

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer	☒		Accelerated filer	☐
Non-accelerated filer	☐	(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller Reporting Company	☐
			Emerging Growth Company	☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

PROSPECTUS

Senior Debt Securities

Subordinated Debt Securities

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

Warrants

Hybrid Securities Combining Elements of the Foregoing

This prospectus relates to senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants and hybrid securities combining elements of the foregoing that we may sell from time to time in one or more transactions. This prospectus contains a general description of the securities that we may offer for sale. The specific terms of the securities will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell the securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. A prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DFS.” On June 18, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $126.93 per share. You are urged to obtain current market quotations of the common stock. We have not yet determined whether any of the other securities that may be offered by this prospectus will be listed on any exchange, inter-dealer quotation system or over-the-counter market.

Our securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from time to time by us, or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents or underwriters are involved in the sale of any of our securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them, will be set forth or will be calculable in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials.

Investing in the securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus and in the accompanying prospectus supplement, in addition to the risk factors that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the securities offered hereby or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The securities offered hereby are not deposits or other obligations of a bank or savings association and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

The date of this prospectus is June 20, 2024

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About This Prospectus	ii
The Company	1
Risk Factors	2
Special Notes Concerning Forward-Looking Statements	3
Use of Proceeds	5
General Description of Securities	6
Description of Debt Securities	7
Description of Capital Stock	20
Description of Depositary Shares	26
Description of Warrants	30
Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units	31
Plan of Distribution	32
Legal Matters	34
Experts	34
Where You Can Find More Information	34
Documents Incorporated By Reference	35

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of an automatic shelf registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may from time to time offer and sell, in one or more offerings, the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If the information in this prospectus is inconsistent with a prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in that prospectus supplement. Please carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any accompanying prospectus supplement and issuer free writing prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should only assume that the information in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement or issuer free writing prospectus is accurate only as of their respective dates. You should only assume that any information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or issuer free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Each reference in this prospectus to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Discover” or “the Company” means Discover Financial Services and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise.

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THE COMPANY

Discover Financial Services is a digital banking and payment services company that was incorporated in Delaware in 1960 and is a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 and a financial holding company under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. Therefore, we are subject to oversight, regulation and examination by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. We provide digital banking products and services and payment services through our subsidiaries. We offer our customers credit card loans, personal loans, home loans and deposit products. We had $126.6 billion in total loan receivables and $87.3 billion in deposits issued through direct-to-consumer channels and affinity relationships at March 31, 2024. We also operate the Discover Network, the PULSE network (“PULSE”) and Diners Club International (“Diners Club”), collectively known as the Discover Global Network. The Discover Network processes transactions for Discover-branded credit and debit cards and provides payment transaction processing and settlement services. PULSE operates an electronic funds transfer network, providing financial institutions issuing debit cards on the PULSE network with access to automated teller machines domestically and internationally, as well as merchant acceptance throughout the United States for debit card transactions. Diners Club is a global payments network of licensees, which are generally financial institutions, that issue Diners Club branded credit and charge cards and/or provide card acceptance services.

We manage our business activities in two segments: Digital Banking and Payment Services. Our Digital Banking segment includes Discover-branded credit cards issued to individuals on the Discover Network and other consumer products and services, including private student loans, personal loans, home loans and other consumer lending and deposit products. Our Payment Services segment includes PULSE, Diners Club and our Network Partners business, which provides payment transaction processing and settlement services on the Discover Network.

On February 19, 2024, we entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Capital One Financial Corporation (“Capital One”), under which we will combine with Capital One in an all-stock merger (the “Merger”) which valued Discover at $35.3 billion based on the price of Capital One common stock on the last trading day before the public announcement of the Merger. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, our common stock will be converted into the right to receive 1.0192 shares of Capital One common stock. Capital One shareholders will own approximately 60% of the combined company and Discover shareholders will own approximately 40% of the combined company. The Merger Agreement contains customary representations and warranties, covenants and closing conditions. The Board of Directors of the combined company will have fifteen directors, consisting of twelve Capital One board members and three Discover board members. For more information about Merger, please refer to the information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference.”

Our principal executive offices are located at 2500 Lake Cook Road, Riverwoods, Illinois 60015, and our telephone number is (224) 405-0900.

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RISK FACTORS

Our business, and an investment in the securities, is subject to uncertainties and risks. You should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including the risk factors incorporated by reference from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as updated by other SEC filings filed after such reports, as well as any risks described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The occurrence of any of these risks may cause you to lose all or part of your investment.

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SPECIAL NOTES CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, contain or will contain certain statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, our forward-looking statements. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates” and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “should,” “would” and “could” are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. You should not rely solely on the forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the important factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, including under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” as updated by our other SEC filings filed after such Annual Report, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. You should consider all uncertainties and risks contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

Possible events or factors that could cause results or performance to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include the following:

• the availability of consumer credit, the housing market, energy costs, the number and size of personal bankruptcy filings, the rate of unemployment, the levels of consumer confidence and consumer debt and investor sentiment;

• the impact of current, pending and future legislation, regulation, supervisory guidance and regulatory and legal actions, including, but not limited to, those related to accounting guidance, tax reform, financial regulatory reform, consumer financial services practices, anti-corruption and funding, capital and liquidity;

• risks related to the proposed Merger with Capital One including, among others, (i) failure to complete the merger with Capital One or unexpected delays related to the merger or the inability of the parties to obtain regulatory approvals or satisfy other closing conditions required to complete the merger, (ii) regulatory approvals resulting in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the transaction, (iii) diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business operations and opportunities, (iv) cost and revenue synergies from the merger may not be fully realized or may take longer than anticipated to be realized, (v) the integration of each party’s management, personnel and operations will not be successfully achieved or may be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected, (vi) deposit attrition, customer or employee loss and/or revenue loss as a result of the announcement of the proposed merger, (vii) expenses related to the proposed merger being greater than expected, and (viii) shareholder litigation that could prevent or delay the closing of the proposed merger or otherwise negatively impact our business and operations;

• the actions and initiatives of current and potential competitors;

• our ability to manage our expenses; our ability to successfully achieve card acceptance across our networks and maintain relationships with network participants and merchants;

• our ability to sustain our card and personal loan growth;

• our ability to complete the proposed sale of the Discover Student Loan portfolio;

• our ability to increase or sustain Discover card usage or attract new customers;

• difficulty obtaining regulatory approval for, financing, closing, transitioning, integrating or managing the expenses of acquisitions of or investments in new businesses, products or technologies;

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• our ability to manage our credit risk, market risk, liquidity risk, operational risk, compliance and legal risk and strategic risk;

• the availability and cost of funding and capital;

• access to deposit, securitization, equity, debt and credit markets;

• the impact of rating agency actions; the level and volatility of equity prices, commodity prices and interest rates, currency values, investments, other market fluctuations and other market indices;

• losses in our investment portfolio;

• limits on our ability to pay dividends and repurchase our common stock; limits on our ability to receive payments from our subsidiaries;

• fraudulent activities or material security breaches of our or others’ key systems; our ability to remain organizationally effective; our ability to maintain relationships with merchants;

• the effect of political, economic and market conditions, geopolitical events, climate change, pandemics and unforeseen or catastrophic events;

• our ability to introduce new products and services;

• our ability to manage our relationships with third-party vendors, as well as those with which we have no direct relationship such as our employees’ internet service providers; our ability to maintain current technology and integrate new and acquired systems and technology;

• our ability to collect amounts for disputed transactions from merchants and merchant acquirers; our ability to attract and retain employees; our ability to protect our reputation and our intellectual property;

• our ability to comply with regulatory requirements; and

• new lawsuits, investigations or similar matters or unanticipated developments related to current matters.

• We routinely evaluate and may pursue acquisitions of, investments in or divestitures from businesses, products, technologies, loan portfolios or deposits, which may involve payment in cash or our debt or equity securities.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exclusive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement. These factors expressly qualify all subsequent oral and written forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf. Except for any ongoing obligations to disclose material information as required under U.S. federal securities laws, we do not have any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements after we distribute this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include: working capital needs, investments in, or extensions of credit to, our subsidiaries, possible repayment, repurchase or redemption of existing debt, expansion of existing businesses, possible acquisitions of businesses and possible investments in other business opportunities. Pending such use, we intend to invest the net proceeds in interest-bearing investment-grade securities.

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GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

We may offer under this prospectus: debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants to purchase debt securities, common stock or preferred stock; or any combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units consisting of two or more securities.

The following description of the terms of these securities sets forth some of the general terms and provisions of securities that we may offer. The particular terms of securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which the general terms set forth below do not apply to those securities, will be described in the related prospectus supplement. In addition, if we offer securities as units, the terms of the units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the information contained in the prospectus supplement differs from the following description, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities under one of two separate indentures. Our senior debt securities are to be issued under a senior indenture, dated as of June 12, 2007, by and between Discover Financial Services and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee as supplemented by the second supplemental indenture dated as of November 2, 2023 by and between Discover Financial Services and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association), copies of which are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, to which this prospectus forms a part, as exhibits. Our subordinated debt securities are to be issued under a subordinated indenture, dated as of September 8, 2015, by and between Discover Financial Services and U.S. Bank National Trust Company Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee, a copy of which is incorporated by reference into the registration statement, to which this prospectus forms a part, as an exhibit. The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are referred to in this prospectus individually as the “Indenture” and collectively as the “Indentures” and the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the debt securities. The Indentures may be supplemented from time to time.

If the Merger is completed and pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Capital One will assume the due and punctual performance and observance of our covenants and other obligations to be performed under the definitive documents governing our indebtedness and other instruments related thereto and the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest thereon, which includes the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities issued under the Indentures described in this section. If the Merger is not completed, our outstanding senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities will remain outstanding in accordance with their terms.

The following section is a summary of certain provisions of the Indentures. This summary does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indentures, including the definitions in the Indentures of certain terms. We encourage you to read the Indentures and our debt securities for provisions that may be important to you. Wherever this summary refers to particular sections or defined terms of an Indenture, it is intended that such sections or defined terms shall be incorporated into this prospectus by reference. All capitalized terms included in this summary shall have the same meanings specifically set forth in the applicable Indenture. In this section, “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar words refer to Discover Financial Services and not any of its subsidiaries.

Our debt securities may be issued as part of a stock purchase unit. Stock purchase units are summarized in this prospectus under the heading “Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units.”

General

The Indentures provide that the debt securities issuable thereunder shall be issuable in series. The aggregate principal amount of debt securities issuable under each Indenture is unlimited, and debt securities may be issued from time to time. The senior debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations. The subordinated debt securities will be our direct unsecured obligations and will be subordinated to all of our senior debt as described below under the heading “Subordination.” The debt securities issued under the Indentures will be subordinate to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness and structurally subordinated to existing and future claims of creditors of our subsidiaries. Except as described below under the heading “Certain Covenants,” the Indentures do not limit other indebtedness or securities which may be incurred or issued by us or any of our subsidiaries or contain financial or similar restrictions on us or our subsidiaries.

The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to resolutions of our board of directors (and to the extent established other than in a board resolution, in an officer’s certificate detailing such establishment) or pursuant to a supplemental indenture. If we offer debt securities, we will prepare and distribute

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a prospectus supplement that describes the specific terms of such debt securities. We do not have to issue all of the debt securities of one series at the same time and, unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, we may reopen a series, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of that series, for issuances of additional debt securities of that series. The applicable prospectus supplement may provide the following terms of the debt securities being offered, if applicable:

• the designation of the securities;

• the aggregate principal amount and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the securities;

• if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which the securities are denominated;

• the date or dates on which principal of the securities is payable;

• the rate or rates at which the securities shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, on which interest shall be payable and, in the case of registered securities, on which a record date shall be taken for determining holders to whom interest is payable and/or the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;

• if other than the offices of the applicable Trustee, the place where the principal of and interest on the securities will be payable;

• our right, if any, to redeem the securities, in whole or in part, at our option and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions, including the notice period, upon which the securities may be so redeemed, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

• our obligation, if any, to redeem, purchase or repay the securities pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and any terms and conditions upon which the securities shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

• if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the securities will be issuable;

• if other than the principal amount of such security, the portion of the principal amount payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;

• if other than the coin or currency in which the securities are denominated, the coin or currency in which payment of the principal of or interest on the securities shall be payable;

• if the principal of or interest on the securities are to be payable, at our election or a holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the securities are denominated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

• if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the securities may be determined with reference to an index based on a coin or currency other than that in which the securities are denominated, or with reference to any currencies, securities or baskets of securities, commodities or indices, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

• if the holders of the securities may convert or exchange the securities into or for other of our or another entity’s securities or for other property (or the cash value thereof), the specific terms of and period during which such conversion or exchange may be made;

• whether the securities shall be issued as registered securities, and if so whether such securities will be issuable in the form of a registered global security, or unregistered (with or without coupons) or any combination thereof;

• whether the securities are senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and, if subordinated debt securities, the specific subordination provisions applicable thereto;

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• in the case of subordinated debt securities, provisions specifying the relative degree, if any, to which such subordinated debt securities of the series will be senior to or be subordinated in right of payment to other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, whether such other series of subordinated debt securities or other indebtedness is outstanding or not;

• any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale, transfer, exchange or delivery of unregistered or registered securities or the payment of interest thereon and, if applicable, the terms upon which unregistered securities may be exchanged for registered securities and vice versa;

• whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts on the securities held by a non-U.S. Person in respect of tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem such securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

• if the securities are to be issued in definitive form only upon the receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

• the identity of any trustees, depositories, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect to the securities;

• any other events of default or covenants with respect to the securities, including any additions to or changes in the events of default, covenants or acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or the Indentures; and

• any other specific terms of the securities, including any which may modify, delete, supplement or add any provision of the Indentures as it applies to that series.

Certain Covenants

Negative Pledge. Unless otherwise provided in any series of debt securities, the senior indenture provides that we will not, and will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, create, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a pledge, lien or other encumbrance (except for Permitted Liens, as defined below) on:

• the Voting Securities (defined below) of Discover Bank or any subsidiary succeeding to any substantial part of the business now conducted by Discover Bank; or

• the Voting Securities of a subsidiary that owns, directly or indirectly, the voting securities of Discover Bank or any subsidiary succeeding to any substantial part of the business now conducted by Discover Bank, other than directors’ qualifying shares,

in either case without making effective provisions so that the debt securities issued under the senior indenture will be secured equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) indebtedness so secured. For these purposes, “subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership or other entity of which at the time of determination we own or control directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of the voting stock or equivalent interest, and “Voting Securities” means the stock of any class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of the relevant subsidiary, other than stock that carries only the conditional right to vote upon the happening of an event, whether or not that event has happened. “Permitted Liens” means (i) liens for taxes or assessments or governmental charges or levies not then due and delinquent or the validity of which is being contested in good faith or which are less than $1,000,000 in amount, (ii) liens created by or resulting from any litigation or legal proceeding which is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or which involves claims of less than $1,000,000, (iii) deposits to secure (or in lieu of) surety, stay, appeal or customs bonds and (iv) such other liens as our board of directors determines do not materially detract from or interfere with the present value or control of the Voting Securities subject thereto or affected thereby.

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The subordinated indenture does not contain any limitations on liens.

Restrictions on Consolidations, Mergers and Sales of Assets. Unless otherwise provided in any series of debt securities, the Indentures provide that we will not merge or consolidate with any other person and will not sell, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to any other person (other than the sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of the our assets to one or more of our subsidiaries), unless:

• we will be the continuing corporation; or

• the successor corporation or person that acquires all or substantially all of our assets:

• will be a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, a state of the United States or the District of Columbia; and

• will expressly assume the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all of our debt securities issued under the applicable Indenture and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of the Indentures to be performed or observed by us, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the applicable Trustee, executed and delivered to the applicable Trustee by such corporation; and

• immediately after the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or conveyance, we, that person or that successor corporation will not be in default in the performance of the covenants and conditions of the Indenture.

Other than as described above or in any prospectus supplement, there are no covenants or other provisions in the Indentures that would afford holders of our debt securities additional protection in the event of a recapitalization transaction, a change of control of our company or a highly leveraged transaction. The merger covenant described above would only apply if the recapitalization transaction, change of control or highly leveraged transaction were structured to include our merger or consolidation or a sale, lease or conveyance of all or substantially all of our assets.

Reports. We are required to file with each Trustee, within 15 days after we are required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that we may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or pursuant to Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

Events of Default

The Indentures provide holders of our debt securities with remedies if we fail to perform specific obligations or if we become bankrupt. You should review these provisions and the related provisions in the applicable prospectus supplement and understand which of our actions trigger an event of default and which actions do not.

Each of the following constitutes an event of default with respect to each series of senior debt securities:

• default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

• default in the payment of all or any part of the principal on any of the debt securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

• a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of us in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of us or for any substantial part of our property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days;

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• we shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of us or for any substantial part of our property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

• any other event of default provided with respect to the debt securities of such series pursuant to any supplemental indenture or in the form of such debt securities.

An event of default under the subordinated indenture with respect to subordinated debt securities of any series will occur only upon the occurrence of certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization involving us. There will be no “event of default,” and holders of the subordinated debt securities will not be entitled to accelerate the maturity of the subordinated debt securities, in the case of a default in the performance of any covenant or obligation with respect to the subordinated debt securities, including a default in the payment of principal or interest.

Acceleration of Debt Securities upon an Event of Default. The senior indenture provides that if an event of default applicable to any series of senior debt securities occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of such series by notice in writing to us and to the Trustee, if given by security holders, may declare the principal of all the senior debt securities of such series and interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately. The subordinated indenture provides that acceleration is automatic upon the occurrence of an event of default applicable to the subordinated debt securities.

Waiver of Defaults. The Indentures provide that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series with respect to which an event of default (or covenant breach in the case of the senior indenture) has occurred and is continuing may on behalf of the holders of all such debt securities of such series waive any past default or event of default (or covenant breach in the case of the senior indenture) and its consequences, other than a default in the payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been cured and an amount sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the applicable Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision in the Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected. In the case of any such waiver, we, the applicable Trustee, and the holders of all such debt securities shall be restored to their former positions and rights under the applicable Indenture, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Collection of Indebtedness. If a default in the payment of principal of, or any interest on, debt securities of any series issued under the Indentures occurs and is continuing and we fail to pay the full amount then due and payable with respect to all debt securities of such series immediately upon the demand of the applicable Trustee, such Trustee is entitled to institute an action or proceeding to collect the amount due and unpaid. If any default occurs and is continuing, the applicable Trustee may pursue legal action to enforce the performance of any provision in the Indenture to protect the rights of such Trustee and the holders of the debt securities of such series issued under the Indenture.

Indemnification of Trustee for Actions Taken on Your Behalf. The Indentures contain a provision entitling the Trustees, subject to the duty of the Trustees during a default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the holders of debt securities issued under the Indentures before proceeding to exercise any trust or power at the request of such holders. Subject to these provisions and some other limitations, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustees, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustees with respect to such series.

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Limitation on Actions by You as an Individual Holder. The Indentures provide that no individual holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us, except actions for payment of overdue principal and interest, unless the following actions have occurred:

• the holder must have previously given written notice to the applicable Trustee of the continuing default;

• the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must have (1) made a written request upon the applicable Trustee to institute that action and (2) offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby;

• the Trustee must have failed to institute that action within 60 days after receipt of the request referred to above; and

• the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series must not have given directions to the Trustee inconsistent with those of the holders referred to above.

Annual Certification. The Indentures contain a covenant that we will file annually with the Trustees a certificate of no default or a certificate specifying any default that exists.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We have the ability to eliminate most or all of our obligations on debt securities of any series prior to maturity if we comply with the following provisions.

Discharge of Indenture. If at any time we have:

• paid or caused to be paid the principal of and interest on all of the outstanding debt securities of any series as and when the same shall have become due and payable;

• delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation all of the outstanding debt securities of such series theretofore authenticated; or in the case of any series of debt securities where the exact amount (including currency of payment) of principal of and interest due can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (B) below, (A) all the debt securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the applicable Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the applicable Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption (or, in the case of debt securities that do not bear a fixed interest rate, within the remaining term of the then current interest period) and (B) we shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the applicable Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash (other than moneys repaid by the applicable Trustee or any paying agent to us), or, in the case of any series of debt securities the payment on which may only be made in dollars, direct obligations of the United States of America, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the applicable Trustee, to pay (1) the principal and interest on all debt securities of such series on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and the debt securities of such series; and if, in any such case, we also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable by us under the Indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series, then the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the debt securities of such series, except as to certain rights and with respect to the transfer and exchange of the debt securities of such series, rights of the holders to receive payment and certain other rights and the applicable Trustee, on our demand accompanied by an officer’s certificate and opinion of counsel and at our cost and expense, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction of and discharging the Indenture as

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to such series; provided that the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive amounts in respect of principal of and interest on the securities held by them shall not be delayed longer than required by then-applicable mandatory rules or policies of any securities exchange upon which the debt securities are listed. We will reimburse the applicable Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred and compensate the applicable Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by such Trustee in connection with the applicable Indenture or the debt securities of such series.

Defeasance at Any Time. We may elect (i) to be discharged from all of our obligations (other than as to (1) transfers and exchanges of debt securities and our right of optional redemption, if any, (2) replacement of lost, mutilated, defaced, stolen or destroyed debt securities (3) rights of holders to receive payment of the principal and interest on such debt securities at the dates when due, (4) rights, obligations and duties to the Trustee and (5) rights of holders thereof to the property deposited with the Trustee in furtherance of such defeasance and (6) our obligations with respect to maintaining an office for payment) with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series, which is referred to as “defeasance” or (ii) to be released from our obligation to comply with the provisions of the Indentures described above under “—Certain Covenants” with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (and, if so specified, any other obligation or restrictive covenant added for the benefit of the holders of such series of debt securities) which is referred to as “covenant defeasance,” in either case, if we satisfy each of the following conditions:

• We irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the applicable Trustee in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the debt securities, (A) cash in an amount, or (B) in the case of any series of debt securities the payments on which may only be made in dollars, U.S. government obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the applicable Trustee, to pay (1) the principal and interest on all debt securities of such series and (2) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and the outstanding debt securities of such series.

• Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the applicable Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound.

• We deliver to the applicable Trustee an officer’s certificate (only in the case of a covenant defeasance) and an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. In the case of a defeasance, but not in the case of covenant defeasance, the opinion must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in U.S. federal income tax law occurring after the date of the applicable Indenture, since that result would not occur under current tax law.

• We deliver to the applicable Trustee an officer’s certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

Additionally, in the case of covenant defeasance, we must satisfy the following additional conditions:

• No event of default. covenant breach or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default or covenant breach with respect to the debt securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as certain subsections of the Indenture pertaining to bankruptcy or insolvency provisions are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit.

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• Such covenant defeasance does not cause the applicable Trustee to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any of our securities.

• Such covenant defeasance does not cause any debt securities then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted.

Modification and Waiver

Modification Without Consent of Holders. We and the applicable Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities of a series to:

• convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the applicable Trustee as security for the debt securities of one or more series any property or assets;

• evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations;

• add covenants for the protection of the holders of such debt securities and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the Indentures; provided, that in respect of any such addition we may provide for a different grace period after default, may provide for an immediate enforcement, or may limit the remedies available to the applicable Trustee or may limit the right of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series to waive such an event of default;

• cure any ambiguity or correct or supplement any provision contained in the applicable Indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained in the applicable Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions as we may deem necessary or desirable, provided that no action shall adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities;

• establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series as permitted by specific sections of the applicable Indenture; and

• evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the applicable Indenture by a successor trustee with respect to the debt securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of the applicable Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts by more than one trustee.

Modification with Consent of Holders. We and the applicable Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series, may, from time to time and at any time, enter into supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, the applicable Indenture or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities of such series. However, we and the applicable Trustee may not make any of the following changes to any outstanding debt securities without the consent of each holder that would be affected by such change:

• extend the final maturity of the principal;

• reduce the principal amount;

• reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

• reduce any amount payable on redemption;

• change the currency in which the principal, premium (if any) or interest thereon is payable;

• impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due or, if the debt securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the holder;

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• reduce the percentage of debt securities the consent of whose holders is required for modification of the Indenture; or

• in the case of the subordinated indenture, modify the provisions of the subordinated indenture with respect to the subordination provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of the subordinated debt securities.

Subordination

The subordinated indenture provides that the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior indebtedness in accordance with the terms therein. In the event of any dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntarily or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, then and in any such event the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of all senior indebtedness, or provision will be made for such payment in cash, before the holders of our subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive or retain any payment on account of principal of, or any premium or interest on, our subordinated debt securities. To that end the holders of senior indebtedness will be entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or distribution of any kind or character, which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the subordinated debt securities in any such case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up event, whether in cash, property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any of our other indebtedness being subordinated to the payment of our subordinated debt securities. By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency of the Company, holders of senior indebtedness and holders of our other obligations that are not subordinated to senior indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the holders of our subordinated debt securities.

Subject to the payment in full of all senior indebtedness, the rights of the holders of our subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of the senior indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such senior indebtedness by virtue of such subordination until the principal of, and any premium and interest on, our subordinated debt securities have been paid in full.

No payment of principal (including redemption and sinking fund payments) of, or any premium or interest on, our subordinated debt securities may be made (1) in the event and during the continuation of any default by us in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other amount due on any of our senior indebtedness or (2) if the maturity of any our senior indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default.

Our subordinated indenture does not limit or prohibit us from incurring additional senior indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to our subordinated debt securities, but subordinate to our other obligations. Our senior debt securities will constitute senior indebtedness under our subordinated indenture.

The term “senior indebtedness” means:

(1) all of our obligations for borrowed or purchased money;

(2) all of our obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes;

(3) all of our capital lease obligations;

(4) all of our obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all of our conditional sale obligations and all of our obligations under any conditional sale or title retention agreement, but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business;

(5) all of our obligations, contingent or otherwise, in respect of any letters of credit, banker’s acceptances, security purchase facilities or similar credit transactions;

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(6) all of our obligations associated with derivative products such as interest rate and foreign exchange contracts, commodity contracts and similar arrangements;

(7) all of our obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) above of other persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and

(8) all of our obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (7) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset, whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company,

in each case, whether outstanding on the date the subordinated indenture became effective, or created, assumed or incurred after that date, except for:

(a) the subordinated debt securities; and

(b) any indebtedness or any guarantee that is by its terms subordinated to, or ranks equally with, the subordinated debt securities and the issuance of which (x) has received the concurrence or approval of the staff of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or the staff of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or (y) does not at the time of issuance prevent the subordinated debt securities from qualifying for Tier 2 capital treatment (irrespective of any limits on the amount of the Company’s Tier 2 capital) under the applicable capital adequacy guidelines, regulations, policies or published interpretations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The subordinated indenture provides that the foregoing subordination provisions, insofar as they relate to any particular issue of our subordinated debt securities, may be changed prior to such issuance. Any such change would be described in the related prospectus supplement.

Book Entry System, Delivery and Form

We may issue the debt securities in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue the global securities in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.

We anticipate that global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company and that global debt securities will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. Holders may hold their interests in a global security directly through Euroclear Bank SA/NV, as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”) and Clearstream Banking, S.A. (“Clearstream”), if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Euroclear and Clearstream will hold interests in a global security on behalf of their participants through their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in the global security in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. We also anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to global debt securities. Additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

DTC has advised us that it is:

• a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law;

• a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law;

• a member of the Federal Reserve System;

• a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and

• a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

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DTC was created to hold securities of institutions that have accounts with DTC, referred to as “participants,” and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry transfers and pledges between participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC’s participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies, referred to as the “indirect participants,” that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, whether directly or indirectly. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC.

We expect that, pursuant to procedures established by DTC upon the deposit of a global security with DTC, DTC will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the principal amount of securities represented by such global security to the accounts of participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of those beneficial interests will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to participants’ interests), the participants and the indirect participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the global security.

So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of a global security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable Indenture and debt securities. In addition, no owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with the applicable procedures of DTC. Except as set forth below, as an owner of a beneficial interest in the global security, you will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in your name, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated securities and will not be considered to be the owner or holder of any debt securities under the global security. We understand that under existing industry practice, if an owner of a beneficial interest in the global security desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of the global security, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the participants to take such action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

We will make payments of principal, premium or interest on the debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of and held by DTC or its nominee to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder of the global security. Neither we, the applicable Trustee nor any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or any interest amounts on, a global security, will credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants or indirect participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through such participants or indirect participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants or indirect participants, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. We will not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial interests in the global security for any note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests or for any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its participants or indirect participants or the relationship between such participants or indirect participants and the owners of beneficial interests in the global security owning through such participants.

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Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures. Cross-market transfers between DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other, will be effected by DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (Brussels time). Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in a global security in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.

Because of the time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in the global security from a DTC participant will be credited during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be) immediately following the DTC settlement date, and such credit of any transaction’s interests in the global security settled during such processing day will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant on such day. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a global security by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date, but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Euroclear and Clearstream hold securities for participating organizations. They also facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between their respective participants through electronic book-entry changes in the accounts of such participants. Euroclear and Clearstream provide various services to their participants, including the safekeeping, administration, clearance, settlement, lending and borrowing of internationally traded securities. Euroclear and Clearstream interface with domestic securities markets. Euroclear and Clearstream participants are financial institutions such as underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and certain other organizations. Indirect access to Euroclear or Clearstream is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear or Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.

DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of debt securities only at the direction of one or more participants to whose account the DTC interests in the global security is credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of debt securities as to which such participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if DTC notifies us that it is unwilling to be a depository for a global security or ceases to be a clearing agency or there is an event of default under the debt securities relating to that global security, DTC will exchange the global security for certificated securities which it will distribute to its participants.

Although we expect that DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream will follow the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global security among participants of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system, as well as information regarding Euroclear and Clearstream, has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we do

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not take any responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. We assume no responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear, Clearstream or their respective participants of their respective obligations, including obligations that they have under the rules and procedures that govern their operations.

Governing Law

Our senior indenture and our subordinated indenture are and any debt securities issued under either Indenture will be, governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory provisions of law.

Concerning our Relationship with the Trustees

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association) is the trustee of the Discover Card Execution Note Trust and the Discover Card Master Trust I under Discover Bank’s amended and restated pooling and servicing agreement, and the trustee of The Student Loan Corporation’s securitization trust.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

We have provided below a summary description of our capital stock. This description is not complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws. You should read the full text of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as well as the provisions of applicable Delaware law.

General

Under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, we have authority to issue 2,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 200,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of June 18, 2024, 250,778,407 shares outstanding shares of our common stock were outstanding and 10,700 shares of our preferred stock were outstanding, including 5,700 shares of our Series C Preferred Stock and 5,000 shares of our Series D Preferred Stock, as described below. If the Merger is completed and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, (i) each share of our common stock will be converted into the right to receive 1.0192 shares of Capital One common stock and (ii) each share of our Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger will be converted into the right to receive one share of an applicable newly created series of preferred stock of Capital One having terms that are not materially less favorable than the Discover Series C Preferred Stock or Discover Series D Preferred Stock, as applicable. If the Merger is not completed, our common stock and the Series C Preferred Stock and Series D Preferred Stock will remain outstanding.

Offered and Existing Common Stock

General. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock.

Voting Rights. The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by stockholders. Holders of shares of common stock are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters to be voted on by stockholders must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of common stock present in person or represented by proxy, voting together as a single class, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any preferred stock.

Dividend Rights. Holders of common stock will share equally on a pro rata basis in any dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for that purpose, subject to any preferential rights of holders of any outstanding shares of preferred stock and any other class or series of stock having preference over the common stock as to dividends.

Preemptive Rights. No shares of common stock are subject to redemption or have preemptive rights to purchase additional shares of common stock or other securities of our company. There are no other subscription rights or conversion rights, and there are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

Other Rights. Upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, after payment in full of the amounts required to be paid to creditors and holders of any preferred stock that may be then outstanding, all holders of common stock are entitled to share equally on a pro rata basis in all remaining assets.

Listing. Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “DFS.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare.

Existing Preferred Stock

On October 31, 2017, Discover Financial Services issued and sold 570,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock,

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Series C, par value $0.01 per share, with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per depositary share (equivalent to $100,000 per share of Series C Preferred Stock) (the “Series C Preferred Stock”).

On June 22, 2020, Discover Financial Services issued and sold 500,000 depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of 6.125% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D with a liquidation preference of $1,000 per depositary share (equivalent to $100,000 per share of Series D Preferred Stock) (the “Series D Preferred Stock” and, together with the Series C Preferred Stock, the “Existing Preferred Stock”)).

Rank. The Existing Preferred Stock ranks senior to our common stock and at least equally with each other series of preferred stock we may issue if provided for in the certificate of designations relating to such preferred stock or otherwise (except for any senior stock that may be issued with the requisite consent of the holders of the Existing Preferred Stock and all other parity stock, if any), with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In addition, we will generally be able to pay dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up only out of lawfully available assets for such payment after satisfaction of all claims for indebtedness and other non-equity claims. The shares of the Existing Preferred Stock are fully paid and nonassessable and have no preemptive rights.

Conversion. The Existing Preferred Stock is not convertible into, or exchangeable for, common stock or other securities of ours.

Dividends. Holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, cash dividends payable from, and including, the date of issuance to, but excluding, October 30, 2027 semi-annually at a rate of 5.500% per annum. In accordance with the Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act (the “LIBOR Act”) and the final regulations issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on December 16, 2022 implementing the LIBOR Act (the “LIBOR Rule”), on October 28, 2027 (the first applicable date following the LIBOR cessation date of June 30, 2023), the Series C Preferred Stock will transition to 3-month Term SOFR (as administered by CME Group Benchmark Administration, Ltd.) plus the relevant tenor spread adjustment of 0.26161%, provided Discover does not exercise its option to redeem the Series C Preferred Stock on or before the first applicable date. Holders of the Series D Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when, as, and if declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors, cash dividends payable from, and including, the date of issuance to, but excluding, September 23, 2025, after which the dividend rate will reset every five years to a fixed annual rate equal to the 5-year Treasury plus a spread of 5.783%

Dividends on the Existing Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. If our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors does not declare a dividend on the Existing Preferred Stock in respect of a dividend period before the related dividend payment date, then Discover Financial Services will have no obligation to pay any dividend for that dividend period, whether or not our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of our board of directors declares a dividend on the Existing Preferred Stock for any future dividend period.

We will not declare or pay or set apart funds for the payment of dividends on any securities which rank equally with the Existing Preferred Stock (“parity stock”), if any, unless we have paid or set apart funds for the payment of dividends on the Existing Preferred Stock. When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Existing Preferred Stock and parity stock, if any, all dividends declared upon shares of Existing Preferred Stock and parity stock, if any, will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current dividend period per share on Existing Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, if any, on parity stock, if any, bear to each other.

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Subject to some additional exceptions set forth in the certificate of designations for the Existing Preferred Stock, unless we have paid full accrued dividends on the outstanding shares of the Existing Preferred Stock for the latest dividend payment period, we may not during a dividend period:

• declare or pay a dividend or distribution on common stock or any preferred stock that ranks junior to the Existing Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or

• redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire our common stock or any preferred stock that ranks junior to the Existing Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Redemption. The Existing Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. The Series C Preferred Stock is redeemable, at our option, (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after October 30, 2027 or (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days of certain changes to regulatory capital requirements. The Series D Preferred stock is redeemable, at our option, (i) in whole or in part during the three-month period prior to, and including, each reset date (as defined in the certificate of designations for the Series D Preferred Stock) or (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time within 90 days of certain changes to regulatory capital requirements

Liquidation Rights. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution of $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends before we make any distribution of assets to the holders of our common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Existing Preferred Stock. In the event we liquidate, dissolve or wind-up our business and affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, holders of the Series D Preferred Stock are entitled to receive a liquidating distribution of $100,000 per share (equivalent to $1,000 per depositary share), plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to any undeclared dividends before we make any distribution of assets to the holders of our common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Existing Preferred Stock.

Distributions will be made only to the extent of Discover Financial Services’ assets that are available after satisfaction of all liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any securities ranking senior to the Existing Preferred Stock.

In any such distribution, if the assets of Discover Financial Services are not sufficient to pay the liquidation preferences plus declared and unpaid dividends in full to all holders of the Existing Preferred Stock and all holders of parity stock, if any, as to such distribution with the Existing Preferred Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Existing Preferred Stock and parity stock, if any, will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders. After we have paid the full amount of the liquidating distribution to which they are entitled, the holders of the Existing Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any further participation in any distribution of assets by Discover Financial Services.

Voting Rights. Except as provided below, the holders of the Existing Preferred Stock have no voting rights.

Right to Elect Two Directors Upon Nonpayment. If we fail to pay, or declare and set apart for payment, dividends on outstanding shares of the Existing Preferred Stock for six quarterly dividend periods, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors on the board of directors of Discover Financial Services shall be increased by two at its first annual meeting of the shareholders held thereafter, and at such meeting and at each subsequent annual meeting, the holders of shares of Existing Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class together with holders of any other equally ranked series of preferred stock that have similar voting rights, if any, to elect such two additional members of the board of directors of Discover Financial Services to hold office for a term of one year. These voting rights will continue for the Existing Preferred Stock until dividends on such

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shares have been fully paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment of such dividends shall have been set aside for such payment) for at least one year following the non-payment. The term of office of all directors elected by the holders of the Existing Preferred Stock will terminate immediately upon the termination of the right of holders of the Existing Preferred Stock to vote for directors.

Other Voting Rights. So long as any shares of Existing Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of all outstanding shares of the Existing Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be required to:

• authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue shares of, any class or series of stock ranking senior to the Existing Preferred Stock, or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares;

• amend the provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Discover Financial Services so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the Existing Preferred Stock, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued Existing Preferred Stock or authorized common stock or preferred stock or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of other series of preferred stock ranking equally with or junior to the Existing Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Discover Financial Services will not be deemed to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of the Existing Preferred Stock; or

• consummate a binding share-exchange or reclassification involving the Existing Preferred Stock, or a merger or consolidation of Discover Financial Services with or into another entity unless (i) the shares of the Existing Preferred Stock remain outstanding or are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the new surviving entity and (ii) the shares of the remaining Existing Preferred Stock or new preferred securities have terms that are not materially less favorable than the Existing Preferred Stock.

Offered Preferred Stock

Our board of directors has the authority, without action by our stockholders, to designate and issue our preferred stock in one or more series and to designate the rights, preferences and privileges of each series, which may be greater than the rights of our common stock. It is not possible to state the actual effect of the issuance of any shares of our preferred stock upon the rights of holders of our common stock until our board of directors determines the specific rights of the holders of our preferred stock. The material terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer through a prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement. However, the effects might include, among other things:

• restricting dividends on our common stock;

• diluting the voting power of our common stock;

• impairing the liquidation rights of our common stock; or

• delaying or preventing a change in control of our company without further action by our stockholders.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, Delaware Law and Federal Banking Law

Some provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make the following more difficult:

• acquisition of us by means of a tender offer or merger;

• acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or

• removal of our incumbent officers and directors.

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These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions also are designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our board of directors. We believe that the benefits of the potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging those proposals because negotiation of them could result in an improvement of their terms.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock or any other series or class of stock, any action required or permitted to be taken by our stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting.

Amendments to our Governing Documents. The amendment of any provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation requires approval by our board of directors and a majority vote of stockholders, other than any amendment to the provisions requiring that amendments to our bylaws require the approval of either a majority of our board of directors or holders of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the outstanding capital stock in the election of our board of directors, for which an amendment requires the approval by our board and holders of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the outstanding capital stock in the election of our board of directors. Any amendment to our bylaws requires the approval of either a majority of our board of directors or holders of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by the outstanding capital stock in the election of our board of directors.

Stockholder Meetings. Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock or any other series or class of stock as set forth in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our secretary at the direction of and pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors.

Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals. Our amended and restated bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not exempt us from the application of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, an anti-takeover law.

In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person that, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own, 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. This may have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by our board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of our common stock.

No Cumulative Voting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.

Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorization of our undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for our board of directors to issue our preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deferring hostile takeovers or delaying changes of control of our management.

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Federal Banking Law. The Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, prohibits a person or group of persons from acquiring “control” of a bank holding company unless:

• the Federal Reserve has been given 60 days’ prior written notice of such proposed acquisition containing the information requested by the Federal Reserve; and

• within that time period the Federal Reserve has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition or extending the period during which such a disapproval may be issued.

An acquisition may be made prior to the expiration of the disapproval period if the Federal Reserve issues written notice of its intent not to disapprove the action. An acquirer is conclusively deemed to have acquired control if it owns, controls, or has the power to vote 25 percent or more of a class of voting securities. In addition, under a rebuttable presumption established by the Federal Reserve, the acquisition of 10% or more of a class of voting securities of a bank holding company with securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, such as us, would be presumed to constitute the acquisition of control. In addition, any “company” would be required to obtain the approval of the Federal Reserve under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, before acquiring 25% (5% in the case of an acquiror that is, or is deemed to be, a bank holding company) or more of any class of voting securities, or a lesser number of shares if the acquirer otherwise is deemed to have control over us by the Federal Reserve, and may be subject to ongoing regulation and supervision as a bank holding company.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

We may offer depositary receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest in a share of a particular series of a class of our preferred stock, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Preferred stock of each series of each class represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the preferred stock depositary named in the deposit agreement and the holders from time to time of our depositary receipts. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a share of the particular series of a class of our preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by such depositary shares (including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement. Immediately following our issuance and delivery of the preferred stock to the preferred stock depositary, we will cause the preferred stock depositary to issue, on our behalf, the depositary receipts. Copies of the applicable form of deposit agreement and depositary receipt may be obtained from us upon request.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the related depositary shares in proportion to the number of such depositary receipts owned by such holder, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred stock depositary.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts entitled to the property, subject to certain obligations of holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges and expenses to the preferred stock depositary, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Withdrawal of Shares

Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary (unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption), the holders of the depositary receipts will be entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon such holder’s order, of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. Holders of depositary receipts will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related preferred stock on the basis of the proportion of preferred stock represented by each depositary share as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, but holders of such preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to receive depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing such excess number of depositary shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

Whenever we redeem preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock so redeemed, provided we shall have paid in full to the preferred stock depositary the redemption price of the

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preferred stock to be redeemed plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends (except, with respect to noncumulative shares of preferred stock, dividends for the current dividend period only) of the preferred stock to the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the redemption price and any other amounts per share payable with respect to the preferred stock. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the preferred stock depositary will select the depositary shares to be redeemed by lot.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares so called for redemption will cease, except the right to receive any moneys payable upon such redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of such depositary receipts were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender of the depositary receipts to the preferred stock depositary.

Voting of the Underlying Preferred Stock

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of our preferred stock are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares which represent such preferred stock. Each record holder of depositary receipts evidencing depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of preferred stock represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will vote the amount of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which may be deemed necessary by the preferred stock depositary in order to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting the amount of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from holders of our depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, each holder of our depositary receipts will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share evidenced by such depositary receipt, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion of Preferred Stock

The depositary shares, as such, are not convertible into our common stock or any of our securities or property. Nevertheless, if so specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to an offering of depositary shares, the depositary receipts may be surrendered by depositary receipt holders to the preferred stock depositary with written instructions to the preferred stock depositary instructing us to cause conversion of our preferred stock represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts into whole shares of common stock, other preferred stock or other shares of our capital stock, and we have agreed that upon receipt of such instructions and any amounts payable in respect of such instructions, we will cause the conversion of the preferred stock represented by depositary shares utilizing the same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred stock to effect such conversion. If the depositary shares evidenced by a depositary receipt are to be converted in part only, one or more new depositary receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted. No fractional shares of our common stock will be issued upon conversion, and if such conversion will result in a fractional share being issued, an amount will be paid in cash by us equal to the value of the fractional interest based upon the closing price of our common stock on the last business day prior to the conversion.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares which represent the preferred stock and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between us and the preferred stock

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depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary receipts will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the existing holders of at least a majority of our depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts then outstanding.

The deposit agreement may be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the preferred stock depositary if a majority of the holders of each class of our depositary shares affected by such termination consents to such termination, whereupon the preferred stock depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary receipts, upon surrender of the depositary receipts held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional shares of our preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by such depositary receipts. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

• all outstanding depositary shares shall have been redeemed;

• there shall have been a final distribution in respect of the related preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us and such distribution shall have been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares representing such preferred stock; or

• each related share of preferred stock shall have been converted into our capital stock not so represented by depositary shares.

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the deposit agreement. In addition, we will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred stock depositary in connection with the performance of its duties under the deposit agreement. However, holders of our depositary receipts will pay the fees and expenses of the preferred stock depositary for any duties requested by such holders to be performed which are outside of those expressly provided for in the deposit agreement.

Resignation and Removal of Preferred Stock Depositary

The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the preferred stock depositary. Any such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment of a preferred stock depositary successor. A preferred stock depositary successor must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

Miscellaneous

The preferred stock depositary will forward to holders of our depositary receipts any reports and communications from us that are received by the preferred stock depositary with respect to the related preferred stock.

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if we are prevented from or delayed in, by law or any circumstances beyond our control, performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and the obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performing our respective duties under the deposit agreement in good faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct, and neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary receipts, depositary shares or preferred stock represented by the depositary shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, or information provided by persons presenting preferred stock represented by the depositary shares for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information, and on documents believed to be genuine and signed by a proper party.

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If the preferred stock depositary shall receive conflicting claims, requests or instructions from any holders of depositary receipts, on the one hand, and us, on the other hand, the preferred stock depositary shall be entitled to act on such claims, requests or instructions received from us.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under one or more warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the prospectus supplement.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will include specific terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or all of the following:

• the title of the warrants;

• the aggregate number of warrants offered;

• the designation, number and terms of the debt securities, shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

• the exercise price of the warrants;

• the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

• the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued;

• if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date on and after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

• if the exercise price is not payable in U.S. dollars, the foreign currency, currency unit or composite currency in which the exercise price is denominated;

• any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

• any terms relating to the modification of the warrants; and

• any terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange or exercise of the warrants.

The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the warrant agreements which will be filed with the SEC.

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates, which we refer to in this prospectus as “Stock Purchase Contracts.” The price per share of common stock and number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the Stock Purchase Contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula set forth in the Stock Purchase Contracts. The Stock Purchase Contracts may be issued separately or as a part of units consisting of a Stock Purchase Contract and our debt securities or debt obligations of third parties, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the shares of common stock under the Stock Purchase Contracts, which we refer to in this prospectus as “Stock Purchase Units.” The Stock Purchase Contracts may require holders to secure their obligations thereunder in a specified manner. The Stock Purchase Contracts also may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the Stock Purchase Units or vice-versa and such payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete, and reference will be made to the Stock Purchase Contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the Stock Purchase Contracts or Stock Purchase Units. Material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the Stock Purchase Units and the Stock Purchase Contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We or a selling securityholder may sell the securities inside and outside the United States from time to time (a) through underwriters, dealers or agents, (b) directly to one or more purchasers, including our affiliates, (c) through agents, or (d) through a combination of any of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms and the method of distribution of these securities, including the following information, if applicable:

• the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

• the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters;

• the purchase price of the securities from us;

• the net proceeds to us from the sale of the securities;

• any delayed delivery arrangements;

• any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

• any initial public offering price;

• any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

• any commissions paid to agents.

General

Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms that participate in the distribution of the securities may be “underwriters” as defined in the Securities Act. Any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profits they receive on the resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any underwriters, dealers or agents and describe their commissions, fees or discounts in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Sale Through Underwriters or Dealers

If we use underwriters in a sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions. These sales will be made at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of the sale.

We may offer the securities to the public through an underwriting syndicate or through a single underwriter.

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions contained in an underwriting agreement that we will enter into with the underwriters. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities of the series offered if any of the securities are purchased, unless the applicable prospectus supplement says otherwise. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed, re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If we use dealers in a sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.

Direct Sales and Sales Through Agents

We may choose to sell the securities directly. In this case, no underwriters or agents would be involved. We may also sell the securities through agents we designate from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, we will

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name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities, and we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.

We may sell the securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the

Securities Act with respect to any sale of those securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.

Delayed Delivery Contracts

If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers from certain types of institutions to purchase securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.

Indemnification

We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms and each of their respective affiliates to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms, and their affiliates, may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. This includes commercial banking and investment banking transactions.

Market Making, Stabilization and Other Transactions

Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, each series of securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to apply to list any series of securities on an exchange. Any underwriters that we use in the sale of securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market making at any time without notice. Therefore, we cannot assure you that the securities will have a liquid trading market.

In connection with the distribution of the securities offered under this prospectus, we may enter into swap or other hedging transactions with, or arranged by, underwriters or agents or their affiliates, which may include short sales of the securities by counterparties or option, forward or other types of transactions that require delivery of securities to a counterparty, who may resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus.

Underwriters and others who are deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the entry of stabilizing bids or syndicate covering transactions or the imposition of penalty bids. Any such underwriters and distribution participants may be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the associated rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of shares by the selling securityholders. Furthermore, under Regulation M, persons engaged in a distribution of securities are prohibited from simultaneously engaging in market making and certain other activities with respect to such securities for a specified period of time prior to the commencement of such distributions, subject to special exceptions or exemptions. In addition, the anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of the securities in the market. All of these limitations may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The financial statements of Discover Financial Services as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and the effectiveness of Discover Financial Services’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports. Such financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov and on the investor relations page of our website at http://www.discover.com. The information available at our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus. You may also read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also obtain copies of the documents upon the payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room. You may also request a copy of our SEC filings, or the documents we incorporate by reference herein, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

Discover Financial Services

2500 Lake Cook Road

Riverwoods, Illinois 60015

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: (224) 405-0900

This prospectus omits some information contained in the registration statement in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. You should review the information and exhibits included in the registration statement for further information about us and the securities we are offering. Statements in this prospectus concerning any document we filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or that we otherwise filed with the SEC are not intended to be comprehensive and are qualified by reference to these filings. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information or to make any representations other than as contained in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement. We are not making any offer of these securities in any state or jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference much of the information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those publicly available documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the initial filing of the registration statement related to this prospectus until the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus; provided, however, that we are not incorporating by reference any documents, portions of documents or other information that is deemed to have been “furnished” and not “filed” with the SEC:

• our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023;

• our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024;

• our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January  29, 2024, February  1, 2024, February  20, 2024, February  22, 2024, March  27, 2024, and May 10, 2024; and

• the description of our common stock under the heading “Description of our Capital Stock,” in our Information Statement included with Amendment No. 4 to our Form 10 filed with the SEC on June 1, 2007, including any subsequently filed amendments and reports updating such description.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the offering described in this registration statement:

SEC registration fee		*
Legal fees and expenses		**
Trustee fees and expenses		**
Printing fees and expenses		**
Accountants’ fees and expenses		**
Miscellaneous expenses		**
Total	$

* Omitted because the registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and 457(r).

** These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability:

• for any breach of their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

• or acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

• under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or

• for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under the federal or state securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies, such as injunctive relief or rescission.

The Registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that each person who was or is a director or officer shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws also provide that each person who was or is a director or officer of the Registrant or a director or officer of a subsidiary of the Registrant shall be indemnified to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. The certificate of incorporation and the bylaws of the Registrant further provide that the Registrant may, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Registrant’s board of directors, indemnify any employees and agents of the Registrant and each person who is, or was, serving at the Registrant’s request as an officer or employee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise. The Registrant’s amended and restated bylaws also permit the Registrant to secure and maintain insurance on behalf of any director, officer, employee or agent of the Registrant and each person who is, or was, serving at the Registrant’s request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise for any liability asserted against and incurred by such person in any such capacity.

The Registrant has obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance providing coverage to its directors and officers.

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Item 16. Exhibits

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
1.1	Form of Underwriting Agreement*
2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February  19, 2024, by and among Discover Financial Services, Capital One Financial Corporation and Vega Merger Sub, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 22, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference thereto)
4.1	Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Discover Financial Services (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 21, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.2	Amended and Restated By-Laws of Discover Financial Services, as amended and restated on October 26, 2023 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on October 26, 2023 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.3	Certificate of Designations of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October  31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.4	Certificate of Designations of Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.5	Deposit Agreement (Series C), dated October  31, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.6	Form of Certificate Representing the Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.7	Deposit Agreement (Series D), dated June 22, 2020 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.8	Form of Certificate Representing the Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series D (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 22, 2020 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.9	Senior Indenture, dated as of June  12, 2007, by and between Discover Financial Services and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank, National Association), as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 12, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference thereto)
4.10	Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November  2, 2023, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Discover Financial Services’ Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February  23, 2024 and incorporated herein by reference thereto).
4.11	Subordinated Indenture, dated as of September  8, 2015, by and between Discover Financial Services and U.S. Bank Trust Company National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Discover Financial Services’ Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 8, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference thereto)
4.12	Form of Certificate of Designations for preferred stock (together with preferred share stock certificate)*

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Exhibit No.		Description
	4.13	Form of Warrant Agreement (together with form of warrant certificate)*
	4.14	Form of Stock Purchase Contract Agreement*
	4.15	Form of Depositary Agreement*
	4.16	Form of Pledge Agreement*
	5.1	Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP with respect to legality
	23.1	Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
	23.2	Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (set forth in Exhibit 5.1)
	24.1	Powers of attorney (included in the signature pages hereto)
	25.1	Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 for U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association
	107.1	Filing Fee Table

* To be filed by amendment or by a report on Form 8-K pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b).

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement;

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference into the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

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(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is,

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therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(6) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the “TIA”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the TIA.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Riverwoods, State of Illinois, on the 20^th day of June, 2024.

DISCOVER FINANCIAL SERVICES
By:	/s/ John T. Greene
Name:	John T. Greene
Title:	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears immediately below constitutes and appoints John T. Greene and Hope D. Mehlman, and any one or more of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments, exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) to this Registration Statement and any registration statement (including exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith) filed by the Registrant under Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 which relates to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on the 20^th day of June, 2024 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

Signature	Title
/s/ J. Michael Shepherd J. Michael Shepherd	Interim Chief Executive Officer and President, Director (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ John T. Greene John T. Greene	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
/s/ Shifra C. Kolsky Shifra C. Kolsky	Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Thomas G. Maheras Thomas G. Maheras	Chairman of the Board
/s/ Candace H. Duncan Candace H. Duncan	Director
/s/ Joseph F. Eazor Joseph F. Eazor	Director

Signature	Title
/s/ Kathy L. Lonowski Kathy L. Lonowski	Director
/s/ Daniela O’Leary-Gill Daniela O’Leary-Gill	Director
/s/ John B. Owen John B. Owen	Director
/s/ David L. Rawlinson II David L. Rawlinson II	Director
/s/ Beverley A. Sibblies Beverley A. Sibblies	Director
/s/ Jennifer L. Wong Jennifer L. Wong	Director

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

[Letterhead of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP]

June 20, 2024

Discover Financial Services,

2500 Lake Cook Road,

Riverwoods, Illinois 60015.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel to Discover Financial Services, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the filing of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act”). The Registration Statement registers senior and subordinated debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares representing interests in the preferred stock of the Company, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants and hybrid securities combining elements of the foregoing (all of the foregoing being referred to herein as the “Securities”).

In connection with the filing of the Registration Statement, we, as your counsel, have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents, including the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors authorizing the filing of the Registration Statement and the registration of the Securities (the “Resolutions”), the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), currently in effect, the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company (the “By-laws”) currently in effect, and such questions of law as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our opinion,

(1) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (being referred to herein as the “Indenture Securities”) and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Senior Indenture relating to the senior debt securities, dated June 12, 2007 (the “Senior Debt Indenture”), by and between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 2, 2023, by and between the Company and the Trustee or the Subordinated Indenture relating to the subordinated debt securities, dated September 8, 2015 (the “Subordinated Debt Indenture” and each of the Subordinated Debt Indenture and the Senior Debt Indenture, an “Indenture”) by and between the Company and the Trustee, as applicable, and when the Indenture Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable Indenture and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to the authority granted in resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors adopted in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions, authorizing any necessary indenture supplement to the applicable Indenture and the terms, issuance and sale of such Indenture Securities, as contemplated and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Indenture Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The debt securities covered by the opinion in this paragraph include any debt securities that may be issued as part of the stock purchase units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities, as well as any stock purchase units that may be issued under the Indentures relating to the debt securities.

(2) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, the terms of the sale of the common stock have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, and the common stock has been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any

requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the common stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The common stock covered in the opinion in this paragraph includes any common stock of the Company that may be issued as part of the stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities.

(3) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, when the terms of the preferred stock of the Company and of its issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, when an appropriate certificate of designations with respect to the preferred stock has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and when the preferred stock has been duly issued and sold as contemplated by the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the preferred stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The preferred stock covered in the opinion in this paragraph includes any preferred stock of the Company that may be represented by depositary shares or may be issued as part of the units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities.

(4) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, when the terms of the deposit agreements under which the depositary shares are to be issued have been duly established and such deposit agreements have been duly executed and delivered, when the terms of the depositary shares and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable deposit agreement, when the preferred stock represented by the depositary shares has been duly delivered to the applicable depositaries and when the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares have been duly issued against deposit of the preferred stock in accordance with the applicable deposit agreements and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the depositary shares and the applicable deposit agreements, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The depositary shares covered by the opinion in this paragraph include any depositary shares that may be issued as part of the units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities.

(5) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, when the terms of the governing instruments or agreements under which the stock purchase contracts are to be issued have been duly established and such governing instruments or agreements have been duly executed and delivered, when the terms of such stock purchase contracts and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable governing instruments or agreements and when such stock purchase contracts have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable governing instruments or agreements and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such stock purchase contracts will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The stock purchase contracts covered by the opinion in this paragraph include any stock purchase contracts that may be issued as part of the stock purchase units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities, but they do not include any Indenture Securities.

(6) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, when the terms of the governing instruments or agreements under the stock purchase units are to be issued have been duly established and such governing instruments or agreements have been duly executed and delivered, when the terms of such stock purchase units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable governing instruments or agreements and when such stock purchase units have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable governing instruments or agreements and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such stock purchase units will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The stock purchase units covered by the opinion in this paragraph include any units that may be issued upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities, but they do not include any Indenture Securities.

(7) When the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act, when the terms of the warrant agreements under which the warrants are to be issued have been duly established and the warrant agreements have been duly executed and delivered, when the terms of such warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable warrant agreement and when such warrants have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the applicable warrant agreement and issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, and if all the foregoing actions are taken pursuant to resolutions adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-laws and the Resolutions and so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, such warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles. The warrants covered by the opinion in this paragraph include any warrants that may be issued as part of the units or upon exercise or otherwise pursuant to the terms of any other Securities, but they do not include any Indenture Securities.

We note that, as of the date of this opinion, a judgment for money in an action based on a Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit in a Federal or state court in the United States ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in United States dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of the foreign currency or currency unit in which a particular Security is denominated into United States dollars will depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment. A state court in the State of New York rendering a judgment on such Security would be required under Section 27 of the New York Judiciary Law to render such judgment in the foreign currency in which the Security is denominated, and such judgment would be converted into United States dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United States and the laws of the State of New York and the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

Also, we have relied as to certain factual matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have assumed, without independent verification, that each Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the trustee thereunder, that all other governing documents under which the Securities are to be issued, as well as the purchase contracts, if applicable, will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by all parties thereto other than the Company and that the signatures on documents examined by us are genuine. Finally, we have assumed that the authority granted in the Resolutions will remain in effect at all relevant times and that Securities will be issued and other actions will be taken pursuant to any applicable limits contained in resolutions adopted from time to time.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading “Validity of the Securities” in the prospectus contained therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ SULLIVAN & CROMWELL LLP

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our reports dated February 23, 2024 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Discover Financial Services and the effectiveness of Discover Financial Services’ internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Discover Financial Services for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Chicago, Illinois

June 20, 2024

1

EX-25.1

Exhibit 25.1

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM T-1

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939

OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

☐ Check If An Application to Determine Eligibility of A Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

91-1821036

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

800 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota	55402
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

K. Wendy Kumar

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

100 Wall Street, Suite 600

New York, NY 10005

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

Discover Financial Services

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

Delaware	36-2517428
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

2800 Lake Cook Road Riverwoods, Illinois	60015
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip Code)

Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

FORM T-1

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 1.

2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

3. A copy of the authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, included as Exhibit 2.

4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee, attached as Exhibit 4.

5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of March 31, 2024, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, State of New York on the 3^rd day of June, 2024

By:	/s/ K. Wendy Kumar
	K. Wendy Kumar
	Vice President

Exhibit 1

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

OF

U. S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

For the purpose of organizing an association (the “Association”) to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned enter into the following Articles of Association:

FIRST. The title of this Association shall be U. S. Bank Trust Company, National Association.

SECOND. The main office of the Association shall be in the city of Portland, county of Multnomah, state of Oregon. The business of the Association will be limited to fiduciary powers and the support of activities incidental to the exercise of those powers. The Association may not expand or alter its business beyond that stated in this article without the prior approval of the Comptroller of the Currency.

THIRD. The board of directors of the Association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, the exact number to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the Association or of a holding company owning the Association, with an aggregate par, fair market, or equity value of not less than $1,000, as of either (i) the date of purchase, (ii) the date the person became a director, or (iii) the date of that person’s most recent election to the board of directors, whichever is more recent. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the Association or holding company may be used.

Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may increase the number of directors up to the maximum permitted by law. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director’s term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.

Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the Association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determined the number of directors of the Association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.

FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the Bylaws, or if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the

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Association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases, at least 10 days’ advance notice of the meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.

In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares he or she owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.

A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the Association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

A director may be removed by the shareholders at a meeting called to remove him or her, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove him or her is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect him or her under cumulative voting is voted against his or her removal.

FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of the Association shall be 1,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of ten dollars ($10) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States. The Association shall have only one class of capital stock.

No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the Association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the Association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the Association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix.

Transfers of the Association’s stock are subject to the prior written approval of a federal depository institution regulatory agency. If no other agency approval is required, the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency must be obtained prior to any such transfers.

Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the Articles of Association must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.

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Unless otherwise specified in the Articles of Association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval.

Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.

The Association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether subordinated, which may be issued by the Association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.

SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this Association and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors’ and shareholders’ meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the Association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this Association. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the Bylaws.

The board of directors shall have the power to:

(1) Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

(2) Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the Association.

(3) Fix the compensation and enter employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law.

(4) Dismiss officers and employees.

(5) Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof.

(6) Ratify written policies authorized by the Association’s management or committees of the board.

(7) Regulate the manner any increase or decrease of the capital of the Association shall be made; provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the Association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital.

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(8) Manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association.

(9) Adopt initial Bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the Articles of Association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the Association.

(10) Amend or repeal Bylaws, except to the extent that the Articles of Association reserve this power in whole or in part to the shareholders.

(11) Make contracts.

(12) Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform.

SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any authorized branch within the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of the Association for a location outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of the city of Portland, Oregon, but not more than thirty miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any office or offices of the Association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.

EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this Association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.

NINTH. The board of directors of the Association, or any shareholder owning, in the aggregate, not less than 25 percent of the stock of the Association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws or the laws of the United States, or waived by shareholders, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed at least 10, and no more than 60, days prior to the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record at his/her address as shown upon the books of the Association. Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.

TENTH. These Articles of Association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the Association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount; provided, that the scope of the Association’s activities and services may not be expanded without the prior written approval of the Comptroller of the Currency. The Association’s board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the Articles of Association for submission to the shareholders.

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In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this 11^th of June, 1997.

/s/ Jeffrey T. Grubb

Jeffrey T. Grubb

/s/ Robert D. Sznewajs

Robert D. Sznewajs

/s/ Dwight V. Board

Dwight V. Board

/s/ P. K. Chatterjee

P. K. Chatterjee

/s/ Robert Lane

Robert Lane

Exhibit 2

Exhibit 4

U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

Meetings of Shareholders

Section 1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and the transaction of any other proper business, shall be held at a time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. Notice of such meeting shall be given not less than ten (10) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to the date thereof, to each shareholder of the Association, unless the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) determines that an emergency circumstance exists. In accordance with applicable law, the sole shareholder of the Association is permitted to waive notice of the meeting. If, for any reason, an election of directors is not made on the designated day, the election shall be held on some subsequent day, as soon thereafter as practicable, with prior notice thereof. Failure to hold an annual meeting as required by these Bylaws shall not affect the validity of any corporate action or work a forfeiture or dissolution of the Association.

Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, special meetings of the shareholders may be called for any purpose, at any time by a majority of the board of directors (the “Board”), or by any shareholder or group of shareholders owning at least ten percent of the outstanding stock.

Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called upon not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior notice stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 1.3. Nominations for Directors. Nominations for election to the Board may be made by the Board or by any shareholder.

Section 1.4. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting and any adjournments of such meeting and shall be filed with the records of the meeting.

Section 1.5. Record Date. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting will be thirty days before the date of such meeting, unless otherwise determined by the Board.

Section 1.6. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Association.

Section 1.7. Inspectors. The Board may, and in the event of its failure so to do, the Chairman of the Board may appoint Inspectors of Election who shall determine the presence of quorum, the validity of proxies, and the results of all elections and all other matters voted upon by shareholders at all annual and special meetings of shareholders.

Section 1.8. Waiver and Consent. The shareholders may act without notice or a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all shareholders.

Section 1.9. Remote Meetings. The Board shall have the right to determine that a shareholder meeting not be held at a place, but instead be held solely by means of remote communication in the manner and to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II

Directors

Section 2.1. Board of Directors. The Board shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the Association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the Association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board.

Section 2.2. Term of Office. The directors of this Association shall hold office for one year and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.

Section 2.3. Powers. In addition to the foregoing, the Board shall have and may exercise all of the powers granted to or conferred upon it by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws and by law.

Section 2.4. Number. As provided in the Articles of Association, the Board of this Association shall consist of no less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the Association from the twenty-five- member limit. The Board shall consist of a number of members to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of the Board or the shareholders at any meeting thereof, in accordance with the Articles of Association. Between meetings of the shareholders held for the purpose of electing directors, the Board

by a majority vote of the full Board may increase the size of the Board but not to more than a total of twenty-five directors, and fill any vacancy so created in the Board; provided that the Board may increase the number of directors only by up to two directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was fifteen or fewer, and by up to four directors, when the number of directors last elected by shareholders was sixteen or more. Each director shall own a qualifying equity interest in the Association or a company that has control of the Association in each case as required by applicable law. Each director shall own such qualifying equity interest in his or her own right and meet any minimum threshold ownership required by applicable law.

Section 2.5. Organization Meeting. The newly elected Board shall meet for the purpose of organizing the new Board and electing and appointing such officers of the Association as may be appropriate. Such meeting shall be held on the day of the election or as soon thereafter as practicable, and, in any event, within thirty days thereafter, at such time and place as the Chairman or President may designate. If, at the time fixed for such meeting, there shall not be a quorum present, the directors present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum is obtained.

Section 2.6. Regular Meetings. The regular meetings of the Board shall be held, without notice, as the Chairman or President may designate and deem suitable.

Section 2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time, at any place and for any purpose by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Association, or upon the request of a majority of the entire Board. Notice of every special meeting of the Board shall be given to the directors at their usual places of business, or at such other addresses as shall have been furnished by them for the purpose. Such notice shall be given at least twelve hours (three hours if meeting is to be conducted by conference telephone) before the meeting by telephone or by being personally delivered, mailed, or electronically delivered. Such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting.

Section 2.8. Quorum and Necessary Vote. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board, except when otherwise provided by law; but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice. Unless otherwise provided by law or the Articles or Bylaws of this Association, once a quorum is established, any act by a majority of those directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board.

Section 2.9. Written Consent. Except as otherwise required by applicable laws and regulations, the Board may act without a meeting by a unanimous written consent by all directors, to be filed with the Secretary of the Association as part of the corporate records.

Section 2.10. Remote Meetings. Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone, video or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

Section 2.11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, the remaining members of the Board may appoint a director to fill such vacancy at any regular meeting of the Board, or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

ARTICLE III

Committees

Section 3.1. Advisory Board of Directors. The Board may appoint persons, who need not be directors, to serve as advisory directors on an advisory board of directors established with respect to the business affairs of either this Association alone or the business affairs of a group of affiliated organizations of which this Association is one. Advisory directors shall have such powers and duties as may be determined by the Board, provided, that the Board’s responsibility for the business and affairs of this Association shall in no respect be delegated or diminished.

Section 3.2. Trust Audit Committee. At least once during each calendar year, the Association shall arrange for a suitable audit (by internal or external auditors) of all significant fiduciary activities under the direction of its trust audit committee, a function that will be fulfilled by the Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association. The Association shall note the results of the audit (including significant actions taken as a result of the audit) in the minutes of the Board. In lieu of annual audits, the Association may adopt a continuous audit system in accordance with 12 C.F.R. § 9.9(b).

The Audit Committee of the financial holding company that is the ultimate parent of this Association, fulfilling the function of the trust audit committee:

(1) Must not include any officers of the Association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the Association’s fiduciary activities; and

(2) Must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the Association.

Section 3.3. Executive Committee. The Board may appoint an Executive Committee which shall consist of at least three directors and which shall have, and may exercise, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all the powers of the Board between meetings of the Board or otherwise when the Board is not meeting.

Section 3.4. Trust Management Committee. The Board of this Association shall appoint a Trust Management Committee to provide oversight of the fiduciary activities of the Association. The Trust Management Committee shall determine policies governing fiduciary activities. The Trust Management Committee or such sub-committees, officers or others as may be duly designated by the Trust Management Committee shall oversee the processes related to fiduciary activities to assure conformity with fiduciary policies it establishes, including ratifying the acceptance and the closing out or relinquishment of all trusts. The Trust Management Committee will provide regular reports of its activities to the Board.

Section 3.5. Other Committees. The Board may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more persons who need not be directors, for such purposes and with such powers as the Board may determine; however, the Board will not delegate to any committee any powers or responsibilities that it is prohibited from delegating under any law or regulation. In addition, either the Chairman or the President may appoint, from time to time, committees of one or more officers, employees, agents or other persons, for such purposes and with such powers as either the Chairman or the President deems appropriate and proper. Whether appointed by the Board, the Chairman, or the President, any such committee shall at all times be subject to the direction and control of the Board.

Section 3.6. Meetings, Minutes and Rules. An advisory board of directors and/or committee shall meet as necessary in consideration of the purpose of the advisory board of directors or committee, and shall maintain minutes in sufficient detail to indicate actions taken or recommendations made; unless required by the members, discussions, votes or other specific details need not be reported. An advisory board of directors or a committee may, in consideration of its purpose, adopt its own rules for the exercise of any of its functions or authority.

ARTICLE IV

Officers

Section 4.1. Chairman of the Board. The Board may appoint one of its members to be Chairman of the Board to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Chairman shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.2. President. The Board may appoint one of its members to be President of the Association. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside at any meeting of the Board. The President shall have general executive powers, and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the office of President, or imposed by these Bylaws. The President shall also have and may exercise such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board.

Section 4.3. Vice President. The Board may appoint one or more Vice Presidents who shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board and to perform the duties of the President on those occasions when the President is absent, including presiding at any meeting of the Board in the absence of both the Chairman and President.

Section 4.4. Secretary. The Board shall appoint a Secretary, or other designated officer who shall be Secretary of the Board and of the Association, and shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws to be given; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the Association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the Association; shall, upon request, authenticate any records of the Association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, to the Secretary, or imposed by these Bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board. The Board may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries with such powers and duties as the Board, the President or the Secretary shall from time to time determine.

Section 4.5. Other Officers. The Board may appoint, and may authorize the Chairman, the President or any other officer to appoint, any officer as from time to time may appear to the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other

officer to be required or desirable to transact the business of the Association. Such officers shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by these Bylaws, the Board, the Chairman, the President or such other authorized officer. Any person may hold two offices.

Section 4.6. Tenure of Office. The Chairman or the President and all other officers shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office, subject to the right of the Board or authorized officer to discharge any officer at any time.

ARTICLE V

Stock

Section 5.1. The Board may authorize the issuance of stock either in certificated or in uncertificated form. Certificates for shares of stock shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time prescribe. If the Board issues certificated stock, the certificate shall be signed by the President, Secretary or any other such officer as the Board so determines. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the Association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall, in proportion to such person’s shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. Each certificate of stock shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the Association properly endorsed. The Board may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the Association for stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings, and related matters, and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.

ARTICLE VI

Corporate Seal

Section 6.1. The Association shall have no corporate seal; provided, however, that if the use of a seal is required by, or is otherwise convenient or advisable pursuant to, the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction, the following seal may be used, and the Chairman, the President, the Secretary and any Assistant Secretary shall have the authority to affix such seal:

ARTICLE VII

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 7.1. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, checks, drafts, orders, indentures, notes, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, endorsements, assignments, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, guarantees, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, countersigned, executed, acknowledged, endorsed, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Association, whether in a s capacity or otherwise, by any officer of the Association, or such employee or agent as may be designated from time to time by the Board by resolution, or by the Chairman or the President by written instrument, which resolution or instrument shall be certified as in effect by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Association. The provisions of this section are supplementary to any other provision of the Articles of Association or Bylaws.

Section 7.2. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws as revised or amended from time to time and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board, and standing committees of the Board, shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for the purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the Secretary, or other officer appointed to act as Secretary of the meeting.

Section 7.3. Trust Files. There shall be maintained in the Association files all fiduciary records necessary to assure that its fiduciary responsibilities have been properly undertaken and discharged.

Section 7.4. Trust Investments. Funds held in a fiduciary capacity shall be invested according to the instrument establishing the fiduciary relationship and according to law. Where such instrument does not specify the character and class of investments to be made and does not vest in the Association a discretion in the matter, funds held pursuant to such instrument shall be invested in investments in which corporate fiduciaries may invest under law.

Section 7.5. Notice. Whenever notice is required by the Articles of Association, the Bylaws or law, such notice shall be by mail, postage prepaid, e- mail, in person, or by any other means by which such notice can reasonably be expected to be received, using the address of the person to receive such notice, or such other personal data, as may appear on the records of the Association.

Except where specified otherwise in these Bylaws, prior notice shall be proper if given not more than 30 days nor less than 10 days prior to the event for which notice is given.

ARTICLE VIII

Indemnification

Section 8.1. The Association shall indemnify such persons for such liabilities in such manner under such circumstances and to such extent as permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as now enacted or hereafter amended. The Board may authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance and/or the execution of individual agreements for the purpose of such indemnification, and the Association shall advance all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding to all persons entitled to indemnification under this Section 8.1. Such insurance shall be consistent with the requirements of 12 C.F.R. § 7.2014 and shall exclude coverage of liability for a formal order assessing civil money penalties against an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u).

Section 8.2. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, however, (a) any indemnification payments to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), for an administrative proceeding or civil action initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be reasonable and consistent with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. § 1828(k) and the implementing regulations thereunder; and (b) any indemnification payments and advancement of costs and expenses to an institution-affiliated party, as defined at 12 U.S.C. § 1813(u), in cases involving an administrative proceeding or civil action not initiated by a federal banking agency, shall be in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law and consistent with safe and sound banking practices.

ARTICLE IX

Bylaws: Interpretation and Amendment

Section 9.1. These Bylaws shall be interpreted in accordance with and subject to appropriate provisions of law, and may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed, at any regular or special meeting of the Board.

Section 9.2. A copy of the Bylaws and all amendments shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the principal office of the Association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during Association hours.

ARTICLE X

Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Association shall begin on the first day of January in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following.

Section 10.2. Governing Law. This Association designates the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, as the governing law for its corporate governance procedures, to the extent not inconsistent with Federal banking statutes and regulations or bank safety and soundness.

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(February 8, 2021)

Exhibit 6

CONSENT

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

Dated: June 3, 2024

By:	/s/ K. Wendy Kumar
	K. Wendy Kumar
	Vice President

Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

as of 3/31/2024

($000’s)

	3/31/2024
Assets
Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions	$	1,429,213
Securities		4,389
Federal Funds		0
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables		0
Fixed Assets		1,270
Intangible Assets		577,915
Other Assets		161,425
Total Assets	$	2,174,212
Liabilities
Deposits	$	0
Fed Funds		0
Treasury Demand Notes		0
Trading Liabilities		0
Other Borrowed Money		0
Acceptances		0
Subordinated Notes and Debentures		0
Other Liabilities		361,240
Total Liabilities	$	361,240
Equity
Common and Preferred Stock		200
Surplus		1,171,635
Undivided Profits		641,137
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries		0
Total Equity Capital	$	1,812,972
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital	$	2,174,212

EX-FILING FEES

Exhibit 107.1

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

Form S-3ASR

(Form Type)

Discover Financial Services

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

	Security  Type	Security Class Title (1)(2)	Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule	Amount  Registered	Proposed  Maximum  Offering  Price Per  Unit	Maximum  Aggregate  Offering  Price	Fee  Rate	Amount of  Registration  Fee	Carry  Forward  Form  Type		Carry  Forward  File  Number		Carry  Forward  Initial  Effective  Date		Filing Fee Previously Paid In Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward
Newly Registered Securities
Fees to be Paid	Debt	Senior Debt Securities (3)	Rule 456(b)  and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Debt	Subordinated Debt Securities (3)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Equity	Common Stock(3)(4)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Equity	Preferred Stock (3)(4)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Equity	Depositary Shares(3)(5)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Other	Warrants (6)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Other	Stock Purchase Contracts (7)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Other	Stock Purchase Units (8)	Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Fees Previously Paid	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A
Carry Forward Securities
Carry Forward Securities	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		N/A				N/A		N/A		N/A		N/A
	Total Offering Amounts					(1)		(1)
	Total Fees Previously Paid							N/A
	Total Fee Offsets							N/A
	Net Fee Due							(1)

(1) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities. In reliance on and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

(2) The securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement and may include hybrid securities consisting of a combination of features of any of the securities listed in the table.

(3) Senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock, depositary shares and common stock, as may be issuable upon conversion or redemption, or upon the exercise of warrants registered under this registration statement, of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock or depositary shares, as the case may be, registered under this registration statement.

(4) Shares of common stock and preferred stock may also be issued by the Registrant upon settlement of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units of the Registrant.

(5) Depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to a deposit agreement. In the event the Registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered under this registration statement, depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under the deposit agreement.

(6) Warrants may represent rights to purchase debt securities, preferred stock or common stock registered under this registration statement.

(7) Stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as stock purchase units.

(8) Stock purchase units may consist of a stock purchase contract and debt securities or preferred stock registered under this registration statement or debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock or preferred stock under the stock purchase contracts.

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