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                                                                    Exhibit 4.20



                     FIRST AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                              EQ CAPITAL TRUST III



         THIS First Amendment to Certificate of Trust, dated August 25, 2000
(the "First Amendment to Certificate of Trust"), is being duly executed and
filed by the undersigned, as trustee, pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust
Act (12 Del. Code Sections 3801 et seq.).

         1. Name. The name of the business trust is EQ Capital Trust III.

         2. Amendment. Paragraph 1 of the Certificate of Trust of EQ Capital
Trust III, dated January 14, 1998, is hereby amended in its entirety as follows:

         "Name. The name of the business trust being formed hereby is AXA
         Financial Capital Trust III."

         3. Effective Date. This First Amendment to Certificate of Trust shall
be effective as of its filing.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being one of the trustees of the
Trust, has executed this First Amendment to Certificate of Trust as of the date
first above written.



                                                /s/ Kevin R. Byrne
                                                ------------------
                                                as Trustee