JAMES E. GOULD EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

WHEREAS, the Bank and the Executive wish to set forth the terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment;

During the term of this Agreement the Executive: (i) shall devote all his time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his duties hereunder; provided, however, that from time to time, the Executive may serve on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices or positions in, companies or organizations which will not present any conflict of interest with the Company and the Bank or any of their subsidiaries or affiliates, unfavorably affect the performance of the Executive’s duties pursuant to this Agreement, or violate any applicable statute or regulation and (ii) shall not engage in any business or activity contrary to the business affairs or interests of the Company and the Bank.

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall prevent or limit the Executive’s right to invest in the capital stock or other securities of any business dissimilar from that of the Company and the Bank, or, solely as a passive, minority investor, in any business.

The Executive agrees to maintain the confidentiality of any and all information concerning the operation or financial status of the Company and the Bank; the names or addresses of any of its borrowers, depositors and other customers; any information concerning or obtained from such customers; and any other information concerning the Company and the Bank to which he may be exposed during the course of his employment. The Executive further agrees that, unless required by law or specifically permitted by the Board in writing, he will not disclose to any person or entity, either during or subsequent to his employment, any of the above-mentioned information which is not generally known to the public, nor shall he employ such information in any way other than for the benefit of the Company and the Bank.

Death. The Executive’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate upon his death during the term of this Agreement, in which event the Executive’s estate shall be entitled to receive the compensation due to the Executive through the last day of the calendar month in which his death occurred.

Retirement. This Agreement will terminate on the Executive’s Retirement Date. For purposes of this Agreement, Retirement Date is defined as the date the Executive retires from the Bank under the retirement benefit plan or plans in which he participates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement.

Disability.

The Board or the Executive may terminate the Executive’s employment after having determined the Executive has a Disability. For purposes of this Agreement, “Disability” means a physical or mental infirmity that impairs the Executive’s ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement and that results in becoming eligible for long-term disability benefits under any long-term disability plans of the Company and the Bank (or, if there are no such plans in effect, that impairs the Executive’s ability to substantially perform his duties under this Agreement for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days). The Board shall determine whether or not the Executive is and continues to be permanently disabled for purposes of this Agreement in good faith, based upon competent medical advice and other factors that they reasonably believe to be relevant. As a condition to any benefits, the Board may require the Executive to submit to such physical or mental evaluations and tests as it deems reasonably appropriate.

In the event of such Disability, the Executive’s obligation to perform services under this Agreement will terminate. The Bank will pay the Executive, as Disability pay, an amount equal to sixty-six and two thirds percent (66 2/3%) of the Executive’s bi-weekly rate of base salary in effect as of the date of his termination of employment due to Disability. Disability payments will be made on a monthly basis and will commence on the first day of the month

following the effective date of the Executive’s termination of employment for Disability and end on the earlier of: (A) the date the Executive returns to full-time employment at the Bank in the same capacity as he was employed prior to his termination for Disability; (B) the Executive’s death; (C) the Executive’s attainment of age 65; or (D) the date the Agreement would have expired had the Executive’s employment not terminated by reason of Disability. Such payments shall be reduced by the amount of any short- or long-term disability benefits payable to the Executive under any other disability programs sponsored by the Company and the Bank. In addition, during any period of the Executive’s Disability, the Executive and his dependents shall, to the greatest extent possible, continue to be covered under all benefit plans (including, without limitation, retirement plans and medical, dental and life insurance plans) of the Company and the Bank, in which the Executive participated prior to his Disability on the same terms as if the Executive were actively employed by the Company and the Bank.

Termination for Cause.

The Board may, by written notice to the Executive in the form and manner specified in this paragraph, immediately terminate his employment at any time, for “Cause.” The Executive shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Cause except for vested benefits. Termination for Cause shall mean termination because of, in the good faith determination of the Board, the Executive’s:

Personal dishonesty;

Incompetence;

Willful misconduct;

Breach of fiduciary duty involving personal profit;

Intentional failure to perform stated duties under this Agreement;

Willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) that reflects adversely on the reputation of the Company and the Bank, any felony conviction, any violation of law involving moral turpitude, or any violation of a final cease-and-desist order; or

Material breach by the Executive of any provision of this Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive shall not be deemed to have been terminated for Cause by the Company and the Bank unless there shall have been delivered to the Executive a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of such Board called and held for the purpose (after reasonable notice to the Executive and an opportunity for the Executive to be heard before the Board with counsel), of finding that, in the good faith opinion of the Board, the Executive was guilty of the conduct described above and specifying the particulars thereof.

Voluntary Termination by the Executive. In addition to his other rights to terminate under this Agreement, the Executive may voluntarily terminate employment during the term of this Agreement upon at least sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Board, in which case the Executive shall receive only his compensation, vested rights and employee benefits up to the date of his termination of employment.

Without Cause or With Good Reason.

In addition to termination pursuant to Sections 11a. through 11e., the Board may, by written notice to the Executive, immediately terminate his employment at any time for a reason other than Cause (a termination “Without Cause”) and the Executive may, by written notice to the Board, immediately terminate this Agreement at any time within ninety (90) days following an event constituting “Good Reason,” as defined below (a termination “With Good Reason”).

Subject to Section 12 of this Agreement, in the event of termination under this Section 11f., the Executive shall be entitled to receive a severance benefit equal to the sum of two (2) times the sum of the Executive’s (i) current base salary and (ii) the most recent bonus paid to the Executive by the Company and/or the Bank. The Executive’s severance benefit shall be payable ratably over a two (2) year period through the Bank’s regular payroll. In addition, the Executive shall receive continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage, upon terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Company and the Bank during the twenty-four (24) month period following his termination date. In the event that the Company and the Bank are unable to provide such coverage by reason of the Executive no longer being an employee, the Company and the Bank shall provide the Executive with comparable coverage on an individual policy basis. The severance payments and benefits provided under this subparagraph (ii) are subject to Section 11f.(v) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” shall exist if, without the Executive’s express written consent, the Company and the Bank materially breach any of their respective obligations under this Agreement. Without limitation, such a material breach shall be deemed to occur upon any of the following:

A material reduction in the Executive’s responsibilities or authority in connection with his employment with the Company or the Bank;

Assignment to the Executive of duties of a non-executive nature or duties for which he is not reasonably equipped by his skills and experience;

A reduction in salary or benefits contrary to the terms of this Agreement, or, following a Change in Control as defined in Section 12 of this Agreement, any reduction in salary or material reduction in benefits below the amounts to which the Executive was entitled prior to the Change in Control;

Termination of incentive and benefit plans (other than the Bank’s tax-qualified plans), programs or arrangements, or reduction of the Executive’s participation to such an extent as to materially reduce their aggregate value below their aggregate value as of the Effective Date;

A relocation of the Executive’s principal business office by more than thirty (30) miles from its current location; or

Liquidation or dissolution of the Company or the Bank.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a reduction or elimination of the Executive’s benefits under one or more benefit plans maintained by the Company or the Bank as part of a good faith, overall reduction or elimination of such plans or benefits thereunder applicable to all participants in a manner that does not discriminate against the Executive (except as such discrimination may be necessary to comply with law) shall not constitute an event of Good Reason or a material breach of this Agreement, provided that benefits of the same type or to the same general extent as those offered under such plans are not available to other officers of the Company and the Bank, or any company that controls either of them, under a plan or plans in or under which the Executive is not entitled to participate subsequent to such reduction or elimination of benefits.

The parties to this Agreement intend for the payments to satisfy the short-term deferral exception under Section 409A of the Code or, in the case of health and welfare benefits, not constitute deferred compensation (since such amounts are not taxable to the Executive). However, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent payments do not meet the short-term deferral exception of Section 409A of the Code and, in the event the Executive is a “Specified Employee” (as defined herein) no payment shall be made to the Executive under this Agreement prior to the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination in excess of the “permitted amount” under Section 409A of the Code. For these purposes the “permitted amount” shall be an amount that does not exceed two times the lesser of: (A) the sum of the Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay for services provided to the Company for the calendar year preceding the year in which the Executive has an Event of Termination, or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a tax-qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the calendar year in which occurs the Event of Termination. The payment of the “permitted amount” shall be made within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of the Event of Termination. Any payment in excess of the permitted amount shall be made to the Executive on the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination. “Specified Employee” shall be interpreted to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall mean a key employee within the meaning of Section 416(i) of the Code (without regard to paragraph 5 thereof), but an individual shall be a “Specified Employee” only if the Company is a publicly-traded institution or the subsidiary of a publicly-traded holding company.

Continuing Covenant Not to Compete or Interfere with Relationships. Regardless of anything herein to the contrary, following a termination by the Company and the Bank or the Executive pursuant to Section 11f.:

The Executive’s obligations under Section 10c. of this Agreement will continue in effect; and

During the period ending one year after such termination of employment, the Executive shall not serve as an officer, director or employee of any bank holding company, bank, savings bank, savings and loan holding company, or mortgage company (any of which, a “Financial Institution”) which Financial Institution offers products or services competing with those offered by the Bank from any office within thirty (30) miles from the main office or any branch of the Bank and shall not interfere with the relationship of the Company and the Bank and any of its employees, agents, or representatives.

For purposes of this Agreement, a “Change in Control” means any of the following events:

Merger: The Company or the Bank merges into or consolidates with another corporation, or merges another corporation into the Company or the Bank, and as a result less than a majority of the combined voting power of the resulting corporation immediately after the merger or consolidation is held by persons who were stockholders of the Company or the Bank immediately before the merger or consolidation.

Acquisition of Significant Share Ownership: There is filed, or required to be filed, a report on Schedule 13D or another form or schedule (other than Schedule 13G) required under Sections 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if the schedule discloses that the filing person or persons acting in concert has or have become the beneficial owner of 25% or more of a class of the Company’s voting securities, but this clause (b) shall not apply to beneficial ownership of Company voting shares held in a fiduciary capacity by an entity of which the Company directly or indirectly beneficially owns 50% or more of its outstanding voting securities.

Change in Board Composition: During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who constitute the Company’s or the Bank’s Board of Directors at the beginning of the two-year period cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Company’s or the Bank’s Board of Directors; provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (iii), each director who is first elected by the board (or first nominated by the board for election by the stockholders) by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors who were directors at the beginning of the two-year period shall be deemed to have also been a director at the beginning of such period; or

Sale of Assets: The Company or the Bank sells to a third party all or substantially all of its assets.

Termination. If within the period ending twelve (12) months after a Change in Control, (i) the Company and the Bank shall terminate the Executive’s employment Without Cause, or (ii) the Executive voluntarily terminates his employment With Good Reason, the Company and the Bank shall, within ten (10) calendar days of the termination of the Executive’s employment, make a lump-sum cash payment to him equal to three (3) times the sum of the Executive’s (i) base salary and (ii) the most recent bonus paid by the Company and/or Bank. Also, in such event, the Executive shall, for a thirty-six (36) month period following his termination of employment, receive continued medical, dental and life insurance coverage upon terms no less favorable than the most favorable terms provided to senior executives of the Bank during such period. In the event that the Company or the Bank is unable to provide such coverage by reason of the Executive no longer being an employee, the Company and the Bank shall provide the Executive with comparable coverage under an individual policy. The parties to this Agreement intend for the payments to satisfy the short-term deferral exception under Section 409A of the Code or, in the case of health and welfare benefits, not constitute deferred compensation (since such amounts are not taxable to the Executive). However, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, to the extent payments do not meet the short-term deferral exception of Section 409A of the Code and, in the event the Executive is a “Specified Employee” (as defined herein) no payment shall be made to the Executive under this Agreement prior to the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination in excess of the “permitted amount” under Section 409A of the Code. For these purposes the “permitted amount” shall be an amount that does not exceed two times the lesser of: (A) the sum of the Executive’s annualized compensation based upon the annual rate of pay for services provided to the Company for the calendar year preceding the year in which the Executive has an Event of Termination, or (B) the maximum amount that may be taken into account under a tax-qualified plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(17) of the Code for the calendar year in which occurs the Event of Termination. The payment of the “permitted amount” shall be made within sixty (60) days of the occurrence of the Event of Termination. Any payment in excess of the permitted amount shall be made to the Executive on the first day of the seventh month following the Event of Termination. “Specified Employee” shall be interpreted to comply with Section 409A of the Code and shall mean a key employee within the meaning of Section 416(i) of the Code (without regard to paragraph 5 thereof), but an individual shall be a “Specified Employee” only if the Company is a publicly-traded institution or the subsidiary of a publicly-traded holding company.

The provisions of Section 12 and Sections 14 through 27, including the defined terms used in such sections, shall continue in effect until the later of the expiration of this Agreement or one (1) year following a Change in Control.

Indemnification. The Company and the Bank agree to indemnify the Executive (and his heirs, executors, and administrators), and to advance expenses related thereto, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law and regulations against any and all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit, or proceeding in which he may be involved by reason of his having been a director or executive of the Company, the Bank or any of their subsidiaries (whether or not he continues to be a director or executive at the time of incurring any such expenses or liabilities) such expenses and liabilities to include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs, and attorneys’ fees and the costs of reasonable settlements, such settlements to be approved by the Board, if such action is brought against the Executive in his capacity as an executive or director of the Company and the Bank or any of their subsidiaries. Indemnification for expenses shall not extend to matters for which the Executive has been terminated for Cause. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to provide indemnification prohibited by applicable law or regulation. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the obligations of this Section 13 shall survive the term of this Agreement by a period of six (6) years.

Insurance. During the period in which indemnification of the Executive is required under this Section, the Company and the Bank shall provide the Executive (and his heirs, executors, and administrators) with coverage under a directors’ and officers’ liability policy at the expense of the Company and the Bank, at least equivalent to such coverage provided to directors and senior executives of the Company and the Bank.

This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon any corporate or other successor to the Company and the Bank which shall acquire, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, all or substantially all of the assets or stock of the Company and the Bank.

Since the Company and the Bank are contracting for the unique and personal skills of the Executive, the Executive shall be precluded from assigning or delegating his rights or duties hereunder without first obtaining the written consent of the Company and the Bank.

The Board may terminate the Executive’s employment at any time, but any termination by the Bank, other than termination for Cause, shall not prejudice the Executive’s right to compensation or other benefits under this Agreement. The Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for any period after termination for Cause.

If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by a notice served under Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); the Bank’s obligations under this Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank may in its discretion: (i) pay the Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended; and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in part) any of the obligations which were suspended.

If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank’s affairs by an order issued under Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be affected.

If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1813(x)(1) all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.

All obligations under this Agreement shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the contract is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank: (i) by the Director of the OTS (or his or her designee), at the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. §1823(c); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS (or his or her designee) at the time the Director (or his designee) approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to the operations of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the Director to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.

Any payments made to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. §1828(k) and FDIC regulation 12 C.F.R. Part 359, Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments.

 

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