FIRST COLORADO BANCORP INC
DEF 14A, 1998-03-30
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
           Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                      Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )


Filed by the registrant [x]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement    [ ]  Confidential, for use of the Commission
                                        Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[x] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
  [x]   No fee required.
  [ ]   Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and
        0-11.

         (1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (3) Per unit price or other  underlying  value of transaction  computed
pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11.  (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is calculated and state how it was determined.)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (5) Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ]    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  [ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as  provided  by  Exchange  Act
Rule  0-11(a)(2)  and identify the filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration  statement  number, or
the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

         (1) Amount previously paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (3) Filing Party:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         (4) Date Filed:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>



                       [FIRST COLORADO BANCORP LETTERHEAD]








March 31, 1998


To Our Stockholders:

     We are pleased to invite you to attend the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders
(the  "Meeting") of First Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company") to be held at
the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada,
Colorado, on Monday, May 4, 1998, at 3:00 p.m.

         The enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement  describe the
formal  business to be  transacted at the Meeting.  During the Meeting,  we will
also report on the  operations  of the  Company.  Directors  and officers of the
Company,  as well as a  representative  of our independent  auditors,  KPMG Peat
Marwick  LLP,  are  expected  to be present to  respond  to any  questions  that
stockholders may have.

         Also enclosed for your  reference is the Annual Report to  Stockholders
for  the  fiscal  year  ending  December  31,  1997,  which  contains   detailed
information concerning the activities and operating performance of the Company.

         WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING,  PLEASE  COMPLETE,  SIGN
AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURN IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING  POSTAGE-PAID
ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.  This will not prevent you from  attending the
Meeting  and voting in person but will  assure  that your vote is counted if you
are unable to attend the Meeting. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.

                                            Sincerely,


                                            /s/ Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
                                            Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
                                            Chairman


<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                          215 SOUTH WADSWORTH BOULEVARD
                            LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80226
                                 (303) 232-2121
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         NOTICE IS HEREBY  GIVEN that the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the
"Meeting") of First Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company") will be held at the
Arvada Center for the Arts and  Humanities,  6901 Wadsworth  Boulevard,  Arvada,
Colorado, on Monday, May 4, 1998, at 3:00 p.m. The Meeting is for the purpose of
considering and acting upon:

         1.       The election of three directors of the Company;

         2.       The  ratification  of the First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc. 1996
                  Stock Option Plan;

         3.       The  ratification  of  the  First  Federal  Bank  of  Colorado
                  Management Stock Bonus Plan and Trust Agreement; and

         4.       The  ratification  of the appointment of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                  as auditor for the Company for the fiscal year ending December
                  31, 1998.

         The  transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournments  thereof will also be considered and acted upon. The
Board of  Directors  is not  aware of any  other  business  to come  before  the
Meeting. Pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company, the Board of Directors has fixed
the close of business on March 24, 1998, as the record date for determination of
the stockholders entitled to vote at the Meeting and any adjournments thereof.

         You are requested to complete and sign the enclosed form of proxy which
is solicited by the Board of Directors and to return it promptly in the enclosed
envelope.  The proxy  will not be used if you  attend  the  Meeting  and vote in
person.

         EACH STOCKHOLDER, WHETHER OR NOT HE OR SHE PLANS TO ATTEND THE MEETING,
IS REQUESTED TO COMPLETE,  SIGN,  DATE,  AND PROMPTLY  RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
CARD IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID  ENVELOPE.  ANY PROXY GIVEN BY THE STOCKHOLDER
MAY BE REVOKED BY FILING WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY A WRITTEN  REVOCATION
OR A DULY EXECUTED  PROXY BEARING A LATER DATE. ANY  STOCKHOLDER  PRESENT AT THE
MEETING  MAY REVOKE HIS OR HER PROXY AND VOTE IN PERSON ON EACH  MATTER  BROUGHT
BEFORE THE  MEETING.  HOWEVER,  IF YOU ARE A  STOCKHOLDER  WHOSE  SHARES ARE NOT
REGISTERED IN YOUR OWN NAME, YOU WILL NEED  ADDITIONAL  DOCUMENTATION  FROM YOUR
RECORD HOLDER TO VOTE IN PERSON AT THE MEETING.

                                          BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                          /s/ Elaine M. Samuelson
                                          ELAINE M. SAMUELSON
                                          SECRETARY
Lakewood, Colorado
March 31, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT:  PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND RETURN PROMPTLY THE ENCLOSED PROXY.
AN ADDRESSED  ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED
IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       OF
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.
                          215 SOUTH WADSWORTH BOULEVARD
                            LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80226
                                 (303) 232-2121
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                   MAY 4, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     GENERAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of common stock, $0.10 par
value  per  share  ("Common  Stock"),  of  First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.  (the
"Company")  which acquired all of the outstanding  common stock of First Federal
Bank of Colorado (the "Bank") issued in connection  with the conversion from the
mutual to stock form of  organization  of First  Savings  Capital,  M.H.C.  (the
"Mutual Holding Company"),  the former mutual holding company parent of the Bank
(the  "Conversion"),  and the  reorganization of the Bank into the stock holding
company form of organization (the "Reorganization"). Proxies are being solicited
by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company to be used at the Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders  of the Company (the  "Meeting"),  which will be held at the Arvada
Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard,  Arvada, Colorado,
on Monday,  May 4, 1998, at 3:00 p.m. The accompanying  Notice of Annual Meeting
of Stockholders  and this Proxy Statement are being first mailed to stockholders
on or about March 31, 1998.

         On March 9, 1998,  the Company  announced  that it had  entered  into a
merger agreement with Commercial  Federal  Corporation  whereby the Company will
merge with Commercial Federal Corporation and each share of Common Stock will be
exchanged for a certain amount of Commercial Federal Corporation common stock in
accordance  with  the  merger  agreement  (the  "Merger").  The  Merger  will be
submitted for approval by the  stockholders  of the Company at a special meeting
of stockholders anticipated to be held later in 1998.

         At the  Meeting,  stockholders  will  consider  and  vote  upon (i) the
election  of  three  directors,  (ii) the  ratification  of the  First  Colorado
Bancorp,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Stock Option Plan"),  (iii) the
ratification to the First Federal Bank of Colorado  Management  Stock Bonus Plan
and Trust Agreement  ("MSBP"),  and (iv) the  ratification of the appointment of
the Company's independent auditor. The Board of Directors knows of no additional
matters that will be presented for consideration at the Meeting.  Execution of a
proxy,  however,   confers  on  the  designated  proxyholder  the  discretionary
authority to vote the shares  represented by such proxy in accordance with their
best judgment on such other business,  if any, that may properly come before the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       VOTING AND REVOCABILITY OF PROXIES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Stockholders who execute proxies retain the right to revoke them at any
time. Unless so revoked,  the shares represented by signed proxies will be voted
at the Meeting and all adjournments  thereof.  Proxies may be revoked by written
notice  delivered  in person or mailed to the  Secretary  of the  Company at the
address of the Company shown above or by the filing of a later-dated proxy prior
to a vote being taken on a particular  proposal at the Meeting. A proxy will not
be voted if a  stockholder  attends  the  Meeting  and votes in person.  Proxies
solicited by the Board of Directors will be voted in accordance


<PAGE>



with the directions given therein.  Where no instructions are indicated,  signed
proxies will be voted "FOR" the proposals set forth in this Proxy  Statement for
consideration at the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

         The proxy confers discretionary  authority on the persons named therein
to vote with  respect to the  election  of any  person as a director  should the
nominee  be unable to serve,  or for good  cause,  will not serve,  and  matters
incident to the conduct of the Meeting.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business  on March 24, 1998
(the "Voting Record Date") are entitled to one vote for each share then held. As
of the Voting  Record Date,  the Company had  16,826,798  shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding.

         As  provided  in the  Articles of  Incorporation  of the  Company  (the
"Articles")  for a period of five years from the date of the  Conversion and the
Reorganization,  which was  consummated  on  December  29,  1995,  no person may
directly or indirectly offer to acquire or acquire  beneficial  ownership of any
class of equity  securities  of the Company in excess of 10% of the  outstanding
shares of the class (the "Limit"). Furthermore, as provided in the Articles, any
person or entity who directly or  indirectly  beneficially  owns Common Stock in
excess of the Limit will not be entitled or  permitted  to any vote with respect
to such  shares of Common  Stock  held in excess of the  Limit,  and in  certain
circumstances,  voting rights may be reduced below the Limit. A person or entity
is deemed to beneficially own shares owned by an affiliate of, as well as shares
owned by persons  acting in  concert  with such  person or entity,  but does not
include shares  beneficially  owned by any employee  stock  ownership or similar
plan of the Company or any subsidiary.

         The  presence  in  person  or by proxy of at  least a  majority  of the
outstanding  shares of Common  Stock  entitled  to vote (after  subtracting  any
shares  held in  excess of the  Limit,  if any,  pursuant  to the  Articles)  is
necessary  to  constitute  a quorum at the  Meeting.  In the event there are not
sufficient  votes for a quorum or to approve  any  proposals  at the time of the
Meeting, the Meeting may be adjourned in order to permit further solicitation of
proxies.

         As to the election of directors as stated under "Proposal I -- Election
of Directors,"  the proxy card being provided by the Board enables a stockholder
to vote for the election of the nominees  proposed by the Board,  or to withhold
authority to vote for one or more of the nominees being proposed.  Directors are
elected  by a  plurality  of votes  cast,  without  respect to either (i) broker
non-votes or (ii)  proxies as to which  authority to vote for one or more of the
nominees being proposed is withheld.

         As  to  the  ratification  of  the  1996  Stock  Option  Plan  and  the
ratification  of the  MSBP,  which  are  submitted  as  Proposals  II  and  III,
respectively,  a  stockholder  may; (i) vote "FOR" the  ratification,  (ii) vote
"AGAINST" the ratification, or (iii) "ABSTAIN" with respect to the ratification.
With  respect to  Proposals  II and III,  such votes  shall be  determined  by a
majority of the total votes cast  affirmatively  or  negatively  on such matters
without  regard to broker  non-votes.  Votes  for  which  the  "ABSTAIN"  box is
selected  for  Proposals II and III shall have the effect of a vote against such
proposals.

         As to the  ratification  of auditors as set forth under "Proposal IV --
Ratification  of  Appointment of Auditors," by checking the  appropriate  box, a
stockholder may; (i) vote "FOR" the ratification, (ii)

                                        2

<PAGE>



vote  "AGAINST"  the  ratification,  or  (iii)  "ABSTAIN"  with  respect  to the
ratification.  Unless  otherwise  required  by  law,  the  ratification  of  the
appointment  of  auditors  shall be  determined  by a  majority  of  votes  cast
affirmatively  or  negatively  without  regard to (a) broker  non-votes,  or (b)
proxies marked "ABSTAIN" as to that matter.

         As to all other  matters  that may  properly  come before the  Meeting,
unless otherwise required by law, the Articles, or the Bylaws, a majority of the
votes cast by stockholders shall be sufficient to pass on the matter.

         Persons  and  groups  owning in excess  of 5% of the  Common  Stock are
required  to file  certain  reports  regarding  such  ownership  pursuant to the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended  (the "1934  Act").  Other than as
noted below,  management knows of no person or entity,  including any "group" as
that term is used in ss.13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, who or which is the beneficial
owner of more than 5% of the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock on the Voting
Record Date.  Information  concerning  the security  ownership of  management is
included under "Proposal I - Election of Directors."

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


Name and Address                          Amount and Nature of       Percent of Shares of
of Beneficial Owner                       Beneficial Ownership      Common Stock Outstanding
- -------------------                       --------------------      ------------------------

<S>                                           <C>                         <C>   
First Federal Bank of Colorado                1,722,205(1)                10.23%
Employee Stock Ownership Plan
215 South Wadsworth Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado 80226
</TABLE>


- ------------------
(1)      The ESOP  purchased  such  shares  for the  exclusive  benefit  of plan
         participants.  These shares are held in a suspense  account and will be
         allocated   among   ESOP   participants   annually   on  the  basis  of
         compensation.  As of the Voting Record Date,  669,901  shares have been
         previously  allocated  under  the  ESOP to  participant  accounts.  See
         "Director and Executive Officer  Compensation -- Other  Compensation --
         Employee Stock Ownership Plan."

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Common Stock is  registered  pursuant to Section  12(g) of the 1934
Act. The executive  officers and directors of the Company and beneficial  owners
of greater than 10% of the Common Stock ("10%  beneficial  owners") are required
to file reports on Forms 3, 4, and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
("SEC")  disclosing  changes in beneficial  ownership of the Common Stock. Based
solely on the Company's review of such ownership reports, no director, executive
officer,  or 10% beneficial  owners failed to file such  ownership  reports on a
timely basis during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997.


                                        3

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             INTEREST OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Employees,  officers,  and directors of the Company have an interest in
certain matters being presented for  stockholder  ratification.  Ratification of
the 1996 Stock Option Plan and the MSBP are being  presented as Proposals II and
III,  respectively.  See "Voting  Securities and Principal  Holders Thereof" for
information  regarding  the  voting  control  of shares of Common  Stock held by
executive officers and directors.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Directors

         The Company  currently  has nine  directors  serving on its Board.  The
Articles  require that directors be divided into three classes,  as nearly equal
in number as  possible,  each  class to serve  for a term of three  years,  with
approximately one-third of the directors elected annually.  Three directors will
be elected at the Meeting to serve for a three-year period.

         Leeon E. Hayden, E. William Foerster,  Jr., and Robert W. Richards have
been nominated by the Board of Directors each to serve for a three-year term, or
until  their  respective  successors  have been  elected and  qualified.  If any
nominee is unable to serve, the shares  represented by all valid proxies will be
voted  for the  election  of such  substitute  as the  Board  of  Directors  may
recommend or the size of the Board may be reduced to eliminate  the vacancy.  At
this time,  the Board knows of no reason why any nominee might be unavailable to
serve.

         The  following  table sets  forth for the  nominees  and the  directors
continuing in office,  such  individual's  name, age, the year the nominee first
became a  director  of the  Company  or the Bank,  and the  number of shares and
percentage of the Common Stock beneficially  owned. Each director of the Company
is also a director of the Bank.

                                        4

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     SHARES OF
                                                    YEAR FIRST       CURRENT        COMMON STOCK          PERCENT
                                                    ELECTED OR        TERM          BENEFICIALLY            OF
NAME                               AGE(1)            APPOINTED       EXPIRES       OWNED(2)(3)(4)          CLASS
- ----                               -----             ---------       -------       --------------          ------

BOARD NOMINEES FOR TERMS TO EXPIRE IN 2001

<S>                                 <C>               <C>              <C>            <C>                   <C>  
E. William Foerster, Jr.            67                1973             1998           8,046(5)              0.05%

Leeon E. Hayden                     75                1956             1998         125,865(5)(6)(7)        0.75%

Robert W. Richards                  48                1996             1998          78,930(8)              0.47%

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT NOMINEES BE ELECTED AS DIRECTORS

DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE

Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.             60                1966             1999         500,686(9)             2.98%

John J. Nicholl                     64                1969             1999           8,642(5)(6)(10)      0.05%

Robert T. Person, Jr.               55                1975             1999           9,918(5)             0.06%

Polly Baca                          56                1995(11)         2000          12,774                0.08%

Stephen A. Burkholder               56                1987             2000          38,223(5)(6)          0.23%

James R. Wexels                     58                1993             2000           8,604(5)             0.05%

All Executive Officers and                                                        1,108,173(12)            6.59%
  Directors as a Group
  (14 persons)
</TABLE>


- ---------------
(1)      As of December 31, 1997.
(2)      As of the Voting Record Date.
(3)      Unless  otherwise  noted,  all shares are owned  directly  by the named
         individual  or by their spouses and minor  children,  over which shares
         the named individuals  effectively  exercise sole voting and investment
         power.
(4)      Includes  shares of Common Stock that have been awarded under the First
         Federal Bank of Colorado 1992 Management  Recognition  Plan ("MRP") and
         1996  Management  Stock  Bonus  Plan  ("MSBP")  which  are  subject  to
         forfeiture  under certain  circumstances.  Also includes shares held by
         the Bank's  Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan ("ESOP")  allocated to such
         individual's account.
(5)      Includes  2,400 stock  options to purchase an equal number of shares of
         Common Stock that are  exercisable  within 60 days of the Voting Record
         Date.
(6)      Excludes shares held by the ESOP for which directors  Hayden,  Nicholl,
         and  Burkholder  serve as ESOP  Trustees.  The Plan  Trustees  may vote
         unallocated  shares  (presently  1,052,304) and up to 669,901 allocated
         shares,   if  no  timely   voting   direction  is  received  from  plan
         participants,  within their  fiduciary  capacity.  Also excludes shares
         held by the MRP and the MSBP for which Directors Hayden,  Nicholl,  and
         Burkholder  serve  as  Plan  Trustees.   The  Plan  Trustees  may  vote
         unallocated  shares  (presently  84,498)  and up to  228,386  allocated
         shares,   if  no  timely   voting   direction  is  received  from  Plan
         participants, within their fiduciary capacity.
(7)      Includes 5,000 shares of Common Stock owned by the spouse of Mr. Hayden
         for which Mr. Hayden disclaims beneficial ownership,  but may be deemed
         to beneficially own.
(8)      Includes  20,064 stock options to purchase an equal number of shares of
         Common Stock that are  exercisable  within 60 days of the Voting Record
         Date.  Includes 3,773 shares of Common Stock owned by the spouse of Mr.
         Richards for which Mr. Richards disclaims beneficial ownership, but may
         be deemed to beneficially own.
(9)      Includes  69,201 stock options to purchase an equal number of shares of
         Common Stock that are  exercisable  within 60 days of the Voting Record
         Date. Includes 39,654 shares of Common Stock owned by the spouse of Mr.
         Collier and 16,547  shares of Common Stock owned by the children of Mr.
         Collier for which Mr. Collier disclaims beneficial  ownership,  but may
         be deemed to beneficially own.

                                        5

<PAGE>



(10)     Includes  3,146  shares  of  Common  Stock  owned by the  spouse of Mr.
         Nicholl for which Mr. Nicholl disclaims beneficial  ownership,  but may
         be deemed to beneficially own.
(11)     Ms. Baca was  previously a director of the Bank from 1990 until January
         1994 when she left due to a  relocation  to  Washington,  D.C.  She was
         re-appointed to the Board on February 15, 1995.
(12)     Includes 171,789 stock options to purchase an equal number of shares of
         Common Stock that are  exercisable  within 60 days of the Voting Record
         Date. Excludes 1,052,304 shares of unallocated Common Stock held by the
         ESOP.  Includes  73,757  shares of Common Stock owned by the spouses or
         children  of  the  executive  officers  and  directors  for  which  the
         executive officers and directors disclaim beneficial ownership, but may
         be deemed to beneficially own.

Executive Officers

         The  following  individuals  hold the  offices in the Company set forth
below opposite their names.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Name                                          Age(1)          Positions Held With the  Company
- ----                                       ------------       ---------------------------------

<S>                                             <C>           <C>
Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.                         60            President, Chief Executive Officer
                                                              and Chairman of the Board

Robert W. Richards                              48            Vice President

Brian L. Johnson                                46            Executive Vice President/Treasurer

Elaine M. Samuelson                             51            Secretary
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1)      At December 31, 1997.

         The  executive  officers of the Company are elected  annually  and hold
office until their  respective  successors  have been  elected and  qualified or
until death, resignation, or removal by the Board of Directors.

Biographical Information

         The principal  occupation  during the past five years of each director,
nominee for director,  and executive  officer of the Company is set forth below.
All  directors,  nominees,  and  executive  officers  have  held  their  present
positions for five years unless otherwise stated.

         Directors

         E. William Foerster, Jr. has been a director of the Bank since 1973 and
a director of the Company since its formation in September 1995. Mr. Foerster is
the President and majority  stockholder  of EZT Fastener Co.,  Inc.,  Englewood,
Colorado,  and three other companies,  all of which engage in manufacturing  and
distributing.

         Leeon E.  Hayden  has been a  director  of the  Bank  since  1956 and a
director of the Company since its formation in September 1995. Mr. Hayden was an
attorney with the firm of Leeon E. Hayden,  P.C. and performed  occasional legal
work for the Bank,  consisting  mainly of  foreclosures  on real  property.  Mr.
Hayden retired from this position in June 1996.

         Robert W.  Richards  has been a director of the Bank and of the Company
since 1996. Mr. Richards has been President and Chief  Operating  Officer of the
Bank since April 1996 and has served the Bank in various  officer  and  employee
positions  since 1976. Mr. Richards was named a Vice President of the Company in
April 1997.

                                        6

<PAGE>




         Malcolm E. Collier,  Jr. has been a director of the Bank since 1966 and
has been Chairman and Chief  Executive  Officer of the Bank since 1989 and 1972,
respectively,  and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since its
formation in September  1995.  Mr.  Collier was  President of the Bank from July
1995 to April 1996. Mr. Collier has served in various  officer  capacities  with
the Bank since 1962.

         John J.  Nicholl  has  been a  director  of the Bank  since  1969 and a
director of the Company since its formation in September  1995. Mr. Nicholl is a
retired  County  Commissioner  of Arapahoe  County.  Mr.  Nicholl served in this
position from 1989 until his  retirement in January 1997 and also served in that
position from 1965 to 1980. Mr. Nicholl was  self-employed  (semi-retired)  from
1981 to 1988.  Prior to that  time,  Mr.  Nicholl  owned and  operated  Arapahoe
Surveys, a land survey company.

         Robert T. Person,  Jr. has been a director of the Bank since 1975 and a
director of the Company  since its formation in September  1995.  Mr. Person has
been the sole owner of Robert  Person  Communications,  a management  consulting
practice in Denver,  Colorado  since 1991.  Mr. Person was Vice President of the
Public  Service  Company  of  Colorado,  a gas and  electric  utility in Denver,
Colorado, from 1978 to 1991.

         Polly Baca has been a director of the Bank since 1995 and a director of
the Company  since its  formation in September  1995.  Ms. Baca is presently the
Regional  Administrator  of the United States  General  Services  Administration
Rocky  Mountain  Region  headquartered  in Denver,  Colorado.  Previously,  from
February  1994 to  November  1994,  Ms. Baca  served as a Special  Assistant  to
President  Clinton and Director of the United States Office of Consumer Affairs.
Ms. Baca has been  Executive  Director of the  Colorado  Institute  for Hispanic
Education and Economic Development, Denver, Colorado, from 1989 to January 1994.
Ms. Baca was  President and sole  proprietor  of Sierra Baca Systems,  Thornton,
Colorado,  a  consulting  firm from  1985 to 1989.  Ms.  Baca is a former  State
Senator, State of Colorado, serving from 1979 to 1986.

         Stephen  Burkholder  has been a  director  of the Bank since 1987 and a
director of the Company since its formation in September  1995.  Mr.  Burkholder
has been the sole owner of the A&S Group, a marketing and  distribution  firm in
Lakewood,  Colorado  since  April  1994.  Mr.  Burkholder  was a long  term care
specialist  with AMEX Life  Assurance  Company  from  August 1993 to March 1994.
Prior to that time, Mr.  Burkholder  served as the Western  Regional Manager for
Hirsch USA, a watch  company,  commencing in 1991,  the Western  Regional  Sales
Manager for CSC Time Corporation  commencing in 1990, and a sales representative
for Seiko Time Corporation from 1973 to 1990.

         James R.  Wexels  has been a  director  of the  Bank  since  1993 and a
director of the Company  since its formation in September  1995.  Mr. Wexels has
been  employed by the Public  Service  Company of  Colorado,  a gas and electric
utility,  since 1966, and currently  serves as Managing  Director,  Governmental
Affairs,  for New  Century  Energies,  the  holding  company  of Public  Service
Company.

         Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors
         ----------------------------------------

         Brian L. Johnson has been  employed by the Bank in various  officer and
employee  capacities  since 1974 and has served as Executive  Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer since April 1996 and April 1992, respectively. From 1984
through April 1992, Mr. Johnson  served as Vice  President and  Controller.  Mr.
Johnson was Vice President and Treasurer of the Company since its formation from
September  1995 until  April  1997,  at which time he was named  Executive  Vice
President and Treasurer of the Company.

                                        7

<PAGE>




         Elaine M.  Samuelson has been  employed by the Bank in various  officer
and employee  capacities  since 1970 and has served as Senior Vice  President in
charge of lending since June 1996. From 1989 to June 1996, Ms.  Samuelson served
as Senior Vice  President in charge of loan  administration.  Ms.  Samuelson has
been the Secretary of the Bank since 1975 and of the Company since its formation
in September 1995.

Nominations for Directors

         Nomination  of  candidates  for  election  as  directors  at any annual
meeting of  stockholders  may be made (a) by, or at the direction of, a majority
of the Board of  Directors  or (b) by any  stockholder  entitled to vote at such
annual  meeting.  Only persons  nominated in accordance  with the procedures set
forth in the Articles and Bylaws may be eligible for election as directors at an
annual meeting.

         Nominations,  other than those made by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors, must be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary
of the Company.  To be timely, a stockholder's  notice shall be delivered to, or
mailed and received at, the principal  executive offices of the Company not less
than 60 days prior to the anniversary  date of the immediately  preceding annual
meeting of  stockholders  of the Company.  Such  stockholder's  notice shall set
forth (a) as to each  person  whom the  stockholder  proposes  to  nominate  for
election  or  re-election  as a director  and as to the  stockholder  giving the
notice  (i) the name,  age,  business  address,  and  residence  address of such
person,  (ii) the principal  occupation or employment of such person,  (iii) the
number of shares of Common Stock that are beneficially  owned (as defined in the
Articles) by such person on the date of such  stockholder  notice,  and (iv) any
other  information  relating to such person that is required to be  disclosed in
solicitations  of proxies  with  respect to nominees  for  election as directors
pursuant to the 1934 Act, including, but not limited to, information which would
be required to be filed with the SEC; and (b) as to the  stockholder  giving the
notice (i) the name and address,  as they appear on the Company's books, of such
stockholder  and  any  other  stockholders  known  by  such  stockholder  to  be
supporting  such nominees and (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock that are
beneficially  owned by such stockholder on the date of such  stockholder  notice
and, to the extent known, by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to
be  supporting  such  nominees on the date of such  stockholder  notice.  At the
request of the Board of Directors,  any person nominated by, or at the direction
of, the Board for  election as a director at an annual  meeting  must furnish to
the  Secretary  of the Company  that  information  required to be set forth in a
stockholder's notice of nomination that pertains to the nominee.

         The Board may reject any nomination by a stockholder not timely made in
accordance with the  requirements of the Articles and Bylaws.  A stockholder may
be given the opportunity to correct a notice not meeting the requirements of the
Articles and Bylaws as provided in the Bylaws.  Notwithstanding  the  procedures
set  forth in the  Bylaws,  if  neither  the Board  nor such  committee  makes a
determination  as to the  validity  of any  nominations  by a  stockholder,  the
presiding  officer of the annual  meeting  shall  determine  and  declare at the
annual meeting  whether the nomination was made in accordance  with the terms of
the Articles and Bylaws. If the presiding  officer  determines that a nomination
or proposal  was made in  accordance  with the terms of the Articles and Bylaws,
such  officer  shall so declare  at the  annual  meeting  and  ballots  shall be
provided for use at the meeting with respect to such nominee or proposal. If the
presiding  officer  determines  that a  nomination  or proposal  was not made in
accordance  with the terms of the  Articles and Bylaws,  such  officer  shall so
declare at the annual meeting and the defective  nomination or proposal shall be
disregarded.


                                        8

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Director Compensation

         The Company does not presently compensate its directors.  Each director
of the Company is also a director of the Bank and receives fees accordingly.

         Non-officer  members of the Board of Directors of Bank received fees of
$750 per month during the fiscal year December 31, 1997.  Non-officer members of
the Board of Directors of the Bank also  received a fee of $100 for each special
meeting of the Board of  Directors  during the fiscal year  December  31,  1997.
Because of her position in the Federal government, Director Polly Baca serves on
the  Board  of the Bank  without  compensation.  Members  of the  Board's  Audit
Committee were paid $100 for each meeting  attended during fiscal 1997.  Members
of the Board who are not  officers  of the Bank are paid  $100 per  meeting  for
other  committees  and are  paid  $100 to $200 for  meetings  of the  Boards  of
Directors of subsidiary  companies.  In addition,  Director Hayden received $250
per month for his  performance as Secretary to the Board of Directors.  The Bank
paid a total of $58,250 in  directors'  and  committee  fees for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1997.

         Stock  Awards.  On July  24,  1996,  the  stockholders  of the  Company
approved the 1996 Stock  Option Plan and the MSBP.  Pursuant to the terms of the
1996  Stock  Option  Plan,  certain  non-employee  directors  (i.e.,  Directors,
Burkholder,  Foerster, Hayden, Nicholl, Person, and Wexels) received on the date
of stockholder approval options to purchase 12,000 shares of Common Stock. Under
the MSBP, the same  non-employee  directors  received 1,000 shares of restricted
stock  on the  date of  stockholder  approval.  The  options  granted  to  these
non-employee  directors become first  exercisable at a rate of 20% one year from
the date of grant and 20% annually thereafter. Restricted stock granted to these
non-employee  directors  will  vest 20% one year  from the date  awarded  and an
additional 20% annually, thereafter.

Executive Compensation

         Summary  Compensation  Table.  The  following  table sets forth for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, and 1995, certain  information as to
the total remuneration received by the chief executive officer of the Company or
any  subsidiary who served in these  capacities  during such period and received
total cash  compensation  in excess of $100,000 for the year ended  December 31,
1997.

                                        9

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Long Term Compensation
                                  Annual Compensation(1)                            Awards
                         --------------------------------------------     --------------------------
                                                                                          Securities
                                                                          Restricted      Underlying
Name and Principal                                     Other Annual         Stock          Options/      All Other
Position                 Year     Salary     Bonus    Compensation(2)     Award(s)(3)       SARs(#)     Compensation
- ------------------       ----     ------     -----    ---------------     -----------       -------     ------------

<S>                      <C>    <C>        <C>        <C>                 <C>                <C>        <C>        
Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.  1997   $273,000   $23,649    $ 8,547             $        --             --    $ 28,908(4)
President, Chairman,     1996    251,000     8,894      8,723                 343,750         90,000      30,000(4)
  and CEO                1995    251,000     9,422      9,091                      --             --      30,002(4)


Robert W. Richards(5)    1997    109,000     9,433      4,379                      --             --      19,693(6)
President and Chief
  Operating Officer
  of the Bank
</TABLE>

- ----------------
(1)      All compensation was paid by the Bank.
(2)      Excludes compensation applicable to the vesting of awards of restricted
         stock and  receipt of income  attributable  to  dividends  paid on such
         awards under the Bank's Management  Recognition Plan as of December 31,
         1997,  1996 and 1995 of $189,711,  $133,247 and $79,986,  respectively,
         for Mr.  Collier and of $37,117 in 1997 for Mr.  Richards.  Such awards
         were made in 1992. Excludes  compensation  applicable to the vesting of
         restricted  stock and receipt of income  attributable to dividends paid
         on such awards  under the MSBP as of  December  31, 1997 of $75,043 and
         $56,282 for Mr.  Collier and Mr.  Richards,  respectively.  Such awards
         were made in 1996.
(3)      At December  31,  1997,  Mr.  Collier and Mr.  Richards  held shares of
         restricted  stock with fair  market  values of $397,000  and  $297,750,
         respectively,  (calculated  by  multiplying  the number of shares  that
         remained  restricted by $24.8125 per share,  the average of the bid and
         ask price of the Company's unrestricted stock on December 31, 1997).
(4)      Includes  cost of shares of Common Stock  awarded  under the ESOP as of
         December  31,  1997,  1996,  and 1995 of $27,068,  $30,000 and $10,305,
         respectively,   to  Mr.  Collier  and   contributions   to  the  Bank's
         Profit-Sharing  Plan on  behalf of Mr.  Collier  for plan  years  ended
         December  31,  1997,  1996,  and  1995  of  $1,840,  $0,  and  $19,697,
         respectively.
(5)      Mr.  Richards'  total annual salary and bonus for 1996 and 1995 did not
         exceed $100,000.
(6)      Includes  cost of shares of Common Stock  awarded  under the ESOP as of
         December  31, 1997 of $18,440 and  contributions  to the Bank's  Profit
         Sharing Plan on behalf of Mr. Richards for the plan year ended December
         31, 1997 of $1,253.

         Change in Control Severance Agreements. The Bank entered into severance
agreements  with  Malcolm E.  Collier,  Jr.,  Chairman  of the Board,  Robert W.
Richards,  President and the Bank,  and certain other key executive  officers (a
total of seven  persons).  The severance  agreements are each for terms of three
years.  The agreements are terminable by the Bank for "just cause" as defined in
the  agreements.  If the Bank  terminates the employee  without just cause,  the
employee  will be  entitled  to a  continuation  of his salary  from the date of
termination through the remaining term of the agreement. Such agreements contain
a  provision  stating  that in the event of the  termination  of  employment  in
connection  with any change in control of the Bank or the Company,  the employee
will be paid in a lump sum an  amount  equal to 2.99  times the  average  of the
employee's most recent five years annual taxable compensation.  If such payments
were to be made under the  agreements  as of December  31, 1997,  such  payments
would equal  approximately  $2.9 million,  of which  approximately  $1.2 million
would be allocated to Mr. Collier and  approximately  $350,000 to Mr.  Richards.
The  aggregate  payments  that  would  be made to such  individuals  would be an
expense to the Company, thereby reducing net income and the Company's capital by
that amount.  The agreements  may be renewed  annually by the Board of Directors
upon a determination of satisfactory performance and that such agreements should
be renewed.


                                       10

<PAGE>



Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

         During 1997, Directors  Burkholder,  Foerster,  Person, Wexels and Baca
served as the Compensation Committee for the Company and the Bank.

Board Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

         The Company's  executive  officers  consist of Mr. Collier  (President,
Chairman,  and Chief Executive  Officer),  Robert W. Richards (Vice  President),
Brian L.  Johnson  (Executive  Vice  President  and  Treasurer),  and  Elaine M.
Samuelson  (Secretary).  The Bank's  executive  officers  consist of Mr. Collier
(Chairman and Chief Executive Officer),  Robert W. Richards (President and Chief
Operating Officer), James M. Rooney (Executive Vice President), Brian L. Johnson
(Executive  Vice  President and Chief  Financial  Officer),  Elaine M. Samuelson
(Senior  Vice  President  and  Secretary),  and Robert A.  Francis and Robert P.
Easterly (Senior Vice Presidents).  All of these persons are executive  officers
of the Bank,  therefore the Compensation  Committee of the Bank determines their
compensation.  The  Compensation  Committee  meets in  December  of each year to
determine the level of any salary increase to take effect as of January 1 of the
following year. The Compensation Committee also approves any perquisites payable
to these executive officers.

         The Compensation  Committee determines the level of salary increase, if
any, to take effect on January 1 of the following year after  reviewing  various
published surveys of compensation paid to executives  performing  similar duties
for depository institutions and their holding companies, with a particular focus
on the level of compensation  paid by comparable  institutions in and around the
Bank's market area.  Although the committee did not set compensation  levels for
executive officers based on whether particular financial goals had been achieved
by the Bank,  the committee did consider the overall  profitability  of the Bank
when making these decisions.  With respect to each particular executive officer,
his or her  particular  contributions  to the Bank  over the past  year are also
evaluated.

         Mr. Collier's base salary for 1997 was $273,000.  At the meeting of the
committee  that  determined  Mr.  Collier's  salary for calendar year 1997,  the
committee  referred to various  published  compensation  surveys.  The committee
particularly  noted the average annual  compensation paid to chief executive and
chief operating officers of financial  institutions in the State of Colorado and
nationally  with assets of between  $1.0 billion to $1.5  billion.  Although the
committee  did  not  set  Mr.  Collier's  1997  compensation  based  on  whether
particular  financial  goals  had  been  achieved  by the  Bank,  the  committee
considered the overall profitability of the Bank when making this decision.

         During the last fiscal year, the Bank paid bonuses as determined by the
Compensation  Committee  equal to 2% of the net income of the Bank. Such bonuses
were paid to all employees of the Bank based on their pro rata  compensation for
fiscal 1997.

         The Compensation Committee:

         Polly Baca                         Robert T. Person, Jr.
         Stephen Burkholder                 James R. Wexels
         E. William Foerster, Jr.

                                       11

<PAGE>




         The  following  table  sets  forth the year ended  December  31,  1997,
information  regarding  options awarded pursuant to the 1992 Option Plan and the
1996  Stock  Option  Plan  to  the  named  executive  officers  in  the  Summary
Compensation Table and the year end value of such outstanding options.

         AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END
                                OPTION/SAR VALUES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Number of Securities
                                                                          Underlying Unexercised              Value of Unexercised
                                   Shares                                      Options/SARs                in-the-Money Options/SARs
                                Acquired on             Value               at Fiscal Year-End                 at Fiscal Year-End
                                  Exercise            Realized                    (#)(1)                             ($)(1)
           Name                     (#)                  ($)             Exercisable/Unexercisable         Exercisable/Unexercisable
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                  <C>                <C>                        <C>                       <C> 
Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.              10,000             $226,125(2)                51,201/0                   $1,157,783/$0(2)
                                          0                    0                   18,000/72,000              $ 202,500/$810,000(3)


Robert W. Richards                        0             $      0                    6,064/0                   $137,122/$0(2)
                                          0                    0                   14,000/56,000              $157,500/$630,000(3)

</TABLE>


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

(1)      No Stock Appreciation  Rights ("SARs") have been awarded under the 1992
         Stock Option Plan or the 1996 Stock Option Plan.
(2)      1992 Stock Option Plan - Based upon an exercise  price of $2.20 and the
         average bid and ask price of $24.8125 as of December 31, 1997.
(3)      1996 Stock Option Plan - Based on an exercise price of $13.5625 and the
         average bid and ask price of $24.8125 as of December 31, 1997.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                PERFORMANCE GRAPH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on
an initial investment in common stock of First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. subsequent
to the Conversion and Reorganization with that of (a) the total return index for
domestic  companies  listed on the Nasdaq  Stock Market and (b) the total return
index for banks listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market. These total return indices of
the Nasdaq Stock  Market are  computed by the Center for Research in  Securities
Prices ("CRSP") at the University of Chicago.  All three investment  comparisons
assume the investment of $100 at the close of the market on January 2, 1996 (the
date the common stock of First Colorado Bancorp,  Inc. was first traded) and the
reinvestment of dividends as paid. The graph provides comparisons as of December
31, 1997,  the last day of trading for the year ended  December 31, 1997.  Stock
performance   information  regarding  the  Bank  prior  to  the  Conversion  and
Reorganization  has not been  provided due to the lack of  comparability  of the
trading prices of the two stocks.

         There can be no assurance  that the Company's  stock  performance  will
continue  with the same or similar  trends as that of the Company as depicted in
the graph  below.  The Company  will not make or endorse any  predictions  as to
future stock performance.



                                       12

<PAGE>

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

==================================================================================================
                                                1/2/96              12/31/96       12/31/97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                  <C>           <C>    
CRSP Nasdaq Bank Index                          $100.00              $133.02       $223.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CRSP Nasdaq U.S. Index                          $100.00              $122.00       $151.00
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Colorado Bancorp, Inc.                    $100.00              $151.00       $216.00
==================================================================================================
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The  Bank  had no  "interlocking"  relationships  existing  on or after
January 1, 1995 in which (i) any  executive  officer is a member of the Board of
Directors/Trustees  of another  entity,  one of whose  executive  officers  is a
member  of the  Board of  Directors  of the Bank,  or where  (ii) any  executive
officer is a member of the  compensation  committee  of another  entity,  one of
whose executive officers is a member of Board of Directors of the Bank.

         The Bank,  like many financial  institutions,  has followed a policy of
offering  residential  mortgage loans for the financing of personal  residences,
share  loans,   consumer  loans,  and  overdraft  protection  to  its  officers,
directors,  and employees. The loans are made in the ordinary course of business
and are made on substantially the same terms and conditions,  including interest
rate and collateral,  as those of comparable transactions prevailing at the time
with  other  persons,   and  do  not  include  more  than  the  normal  risk  of
collectibility or present other unfavorable features. At December 31, 1997 loans
to

                                       13

<PAGE>



executive  officers  and  directors  of the  Company  and the  Bank,  and  their
immediate  family  members,  approximated  $700,000  or 0.34%  of the  Company's
stockholders' equity.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            PROPOSAL II -- RATIFICATION OF THE 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General

         The Board of  Directors  adopted  the 1996  Stock  Option  Plan and the
Company's  stockholders  subsequently  approved it on July 24, 1996  ("Effective
Date"). Pursuant to the 1996 Stock Option Plan, up to 1,340,379 shares of Common
Stock,  are reserved for issuance by the Company upon  exercise of stock options
awarded or to be granted to officers, directors, key employees and other persons
from time to time.  The purpose of the 1996 Stock  Option Plan is to attract and
retain qualified  personnel for positions of substantial  responsibility  and to
provide additional incentive to certain officers,  directors,  key employees and
other persons to promote the business success of the Company and the Bank.

         Pursuant to  regulations of the Office of the Thrift  Supervision  (the
"OTS") applicable to stock benefit plans  established or implemented  within one
year  following the  completion of a  mutual-to-stock  conversion of a federally
chartered  savings  institution  such as the Bank,  including the 1995 corporate
reorganization  and holding company formation of the Bank as a subsidiary of the
Company  ("Reorganization"),   the  1996  Stock  Option  Plan  contains  certain
restrictions and  limitations.  The 1996 Stock Option Plan provides that options
granted to employees or directors become first  exercisable no more rapidly than
ratably over a five-year period (with acceleration upon death or disability or a
Change in Control  (as such terms are  defined in the 1996 Stock  Option  Plan);
provided,  however,  that such accelerated  vesting is not inconsistent with the
regulations  of  the  OTS  at  the  time  of  such  acceleration).   Recent  OTS
interpretive  letters permit awards under such stock benefit plans to accelerate
vesting of awards upon a Change in Control;  provided that  stockholders  ratify
such  plan  provisions  by  action  of  stockholders  taken  more  than one year
following  the  completion  of the  mutual-to-stock  conversion.  The  Board  of
Directors is seeking  ratification  of the 1996 Stock Option Plan (as previously
approved  by the  stockholders  in 1996) as a means  of  complying  with the OTS
interpretive letters.

         The Company  has  approved an  Agreement  of Merger and  Reorganization
("Merger Agreement") with Commercial Federal Corporation.  Although there can be
no assurance that all conditions  contained in the Merger  Agreement  (including
approval by the stockholders of the Company and Commercial Federal  Corporation,
and regulatory  approval) will be met and the  transaction  will be consummated,
the Board has determined that the  ratification of the 1996 Stock Option Plan as
a means of complying with the OTS interpretive  letters is in the best interests
of the  stockholders  of the Company,  as well as the  officers,  directors  and
employees of the Company.  The transaction  contemplated by the Merger Agreement
will  constitute  a "Change in  Control"  of the  Company as defined in the 1996
Stock Option Plan. A summary of the 1996 Stock Option Plan is provided below and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 1996 Stock Option Plan.

         Ratification of the 1996 Stock Option Plan does not increase the number
of shares  reserved  for issuance  under the 1996 Stock  Option Plan,  alter the
classes of individuals  eligible to participate in such plan, or otherwise amend
or modify the terms of the plan. In the event that the 1996 Stock Option Plan is
not ratified by  stockholders  at the  Meeting,  the 1996 Stock Option Plan will
nevertheless  remain in effect.  However,  any  employees  or  directors  of the
Company or the Bank that have their service  terminated  prior to the vesting of
their option  awards may forfeit  such  unvested  awards to the extent  required
under  applicable OTS regulations and policies.  In light of the proposed merger
with Commercial

                                       14

<PAGE>



Federal  Corporation,  the potential for a termination  of service among current
option holders may have increased.  Therefore, absent acceleration of vesting of
such  awards  upon a  Change  in  Control  of the  Company  or  the  Bank,  such
individuals  have an increased  likelihood of  forfeiting  option awards made in
accordance with the 1996 Stock Option Plan, which was previously  adopted by the
Board and subsequently approved by the Company's stockholders.

         The 1996 Stock Option Plan is administered by the Board of Directors or
a  committee  of not  less  than two  non-employee  directors  appointed  by the
Company's  Board of  Directors  and  serving at the  pleasure  of the Board (the
"Option   Committee").   Members  of  the  Option   Committee  shall  be  deemed
"Non-Employee  Directors"  within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 pursuant to the 1934
Act. The Option  Committee may select the officers and employees to whom options
are to be granted  and the number of  options to be granted  based upon  several
factors including prior and anticipated future job duties and  responsibilities,
job  performance,  the Bank's  financial  performance and a comparison of awards
given by other  institutions.  A majority of the members of the Option Committee
shall constitute a quorum and the action of a majority of the members present at
any  meeting  at which a quorum is  present  shall be deemed  the  action of the
Option Committee.

         Officers, directors, key employees and other persons who are designated
by the Option  Committee  are eligible to receive,  at no cost to them,  options
under the Option Plan (the  "Optionees").  Each option  granted  pursuant to the
Option  Plan  shall be  evidenced  by an  instrument  in such form as the Option
Committee  shall  from time to time  approve.  Option  shares may be paid for in
cash, shares of Common Stock, or a combination of both. The Company will receive
no monetary  consideration  for the granting of stock  options  under the Option
Plan.  Further,  the Company will receive no consideration other than the option
exercise  price per share for Common Stock issued to Optionees upon the exercise
of those options.

         Shares of Common Stock issuable under the 1996 Stock Option Plan may be
from authorized but unissued shares or shares  purchased in the open market.  An
option which  expires,  becomes  unexercisable,  or is forfeited  for any reason
prior to its exercise will again be available for issuance  under the 1996 Stock
Option  Plan.  No Option or any  right or  interest  therein  is  assignable  or
transferable  except by will or the laws of descent and  distribution.  The 1996
Stock  Option  Plan  shall  continue  in effect for a term of ten years from the
Effective Date.

Stock Options

         The  Option  Committee  may grant  either  Incentive  Stock  Options or
Non-Incentive  Stock Options.  In general,  if an Optionee ceases to serve as an
employee  of the  Company  for any reason  other than  disability  or death,  an
exercisable  Incentive  Stock  Option may continue to be  exercisable  for three
months but in no event after the  expiration  date of the option,  except as may
otherwise be determined by the Option Committee at the time of the award. In the
event  of  the  disability  or  death  of  an  Optionee  during  employment,  an
exercisable  Incentive Stock Option will continue to be exercisable for one year
and  two  years,  respectively,  to  the  extent  exercisable  by  the  Optionee
immediately prior to the Optionee's  disability or death but only if, and to the
extent that, the Optionee was entitled to exercise such Incentive  Stock Options
on  the  date  of  termination  of  employment.  The  terms  and  conditions  of
Non-Incentive Stock Options relating to the effect of an Optionee's  termination
of employment or service, disability, or death shall be such terms as the Option
Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine at the time of termination of
service,  disability  or death,  unless  specifically  determined at the time of
grant of such options.


                                       15

<PAGE>



         Currently,  the 1996 Stock Option Plan requires that options granted to
employees or directors  become  first  exercisable  no more rapidly than ratably
over a five-year period (with  acceleration upon death or disability or a Change
in Control (as such terms are defined in the 1996 Stock Option Plan);  provided,
however,  that such accelerated vesting is not inconsistent with the regulations
of the OTS at the time of such  acceleration).  Ratification  of the 1996  Stock
Option Plan at the Meeting will conform the  acceleration  of vesting of options
upon a  Change  in  Control  with  applicable  OTS  interpretive  letters.  Such
stockholder  ratification  will be effective with respect to previously  awarded
options and any options that may be granted in the future.  Pursuant to the 1996
Stock Option Plan, upon a Change in Control,  all options previously granted and
outstanding  as of the date of a Change in  Control  will  automatically  become
exercisable and non-forfeitable.

         No shares of Common  Stock  shall be  issued  upon the  exercise  of an
option until full  payment  therefor  has been  received by the Company,  and no
Optionee  shall have any of the rights of a  stockholder  of the  Company  until
shares of Common  Stock are issued to such  Optionee.  Upon the  exercise  of an
option by an Optionee (or the Optionee's  personal  representative),  the Option
Committee,  in its sole and absolute discretion,  may make a cash payment to the
Optionee,  in whole or in part,  in lieu of the  delivery  of  shares  of Common
Stock. Such cash payment to be paid in lieu of delivery of Common Stock shall be
equal to the difference between the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
date of the option exercise and the exercise price per share of the option.  Any
cash payment shall be in exchange for the  cancellation  of such option.  A cash
payment  shall not be made in the event that such  transaction  would  result in
liability to the Optionee and the Company  under  Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act,
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         The 1996 Stock Option Plan  provides that the Board of Directors of the
Company  may  authorize  the  Option  Committee  to direct the  execution  of an
instrument  providing  for  the  modification,   extension  or  renewal  of  any
outstanding  option,  provided that no such  modification,  extension or renewal
shall confer on the  Optionee any right or benefit  which could not be conferred
on the  Optionee  by the  grant of a new  option  at such  time,  and  shall not
materially  decrease  the  Optionee's  benefits  under the  option  without  the
Optionee's  consent,  except as otherwise  provided  under the 1996 Stock Option
Plan.

Awards Under the 1996 Stock Option Plan

         The Board or the Option Committee shall from time to time determine the
officers,  directors,  key  employees  and other  persons  who shall be  granted
options under the 1996 Stock Option Plan, the number of options to be granted to
any plan participant,  and whether options granted to each such plan participant
shall  be  Incentive  Stock  Options  and/or  Non-Incentive  Stock  Options.  In
selecting  participants  and in determining the number of shares of Common Stock
subject to options to be granted to each such plan participant, the Board or the
Option  Committee  may  consider the nature of the past and  anticipated  future
services rendered by each such plan participant,  each participant's current and
potential  contribution  to the Company  and any other  factors as may be deemed
relevant.  Participants  who have been  granted  an  option  may,  if  otherwise
eligible,  be granted  additional  options.  In no event shall  shares of Common
Stock  subject to options  granted to  non-employee  directors in the  aggregate
under the 1996 Stock  Option Plan  exceed  more than 30% of the total  number of
shares of Common Stock authorized for delivery under the 1996 Stock Option Plan,
and no more than 5% of the total  available  shares of Common  Stock  related to
options  may be awarded to any  individual  non-employee  director.  In no event
shall shares of Common Stock subject to options  granted to any employee  exceed
more than 25% of the total  number of  shares  of Common  Stock  authorized  for
delivery under the 1996 Stock Option Plan.


                                       16

<PAGE>



         The table  below  presents  information  related to options  previously
awarded by the Company  under the 1996 Stock  Option Plan.  Ratification  of the
1996 Stock Option Plan does not impact the number of options previously awarded.
Stockholder  ratification  of the 1996 Stock Option Plan confirms the provisions
of the 1996 Stock  Option  Plan,  previously  approved  by  stockholders  of the
Company.  In accordance with the 1996 Stock Option Plan, all outstanding options
shall become immediately  exercisable in the event of a Change in Control of the
Company or the Bank.

                           PREVIOUSLY AWARDED BENEFITS
                             1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

                                                           Number of Options
Name and Position                                       Previously Granted(1)(2)
- -----------------                                       ------------------------
Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
  Chairman of the Board, President and
  CEO of the Company...................................        90,000(3)
Robert W. Richards
  President of the Bank................................        70,000(3)
Executive Officer Group
  (7 persons)..........................................       395,000(3)
Non-Executive Officer Director Group
  (6 persons)..........................................        72,000(4)
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group
  (51 persons).........................................       873,379(3)



(1)      The exercise price of such options is equal to the fair market value of
         the Common Stock on the date of grant.
(2)      Options  shall vest  immediately  upon the death or  disability  of the
         participant or upon a change in control of the Company or the Bank.
(3)      Options  awarded to officers and employees are  exercisable as follows:
         Options are first exercisable at the rate of 20% one year from the date
         of grant and 20% annually thereafter. Options shall vest during periods
         of continued service as an employee,  director,  or director  emeritus.
         Upon vesting,  awards shall remain  exercisable  for ten years from the
         date of grant  during  periods of  continued  service  as an  employee,
         director, or director emeritus.
(4)      Options  awarded to each of six  non-employee  directors  (except Polly
         Baca) are first  exercisable  at a rate of 20% as of July 24, 1997, and
         20% annually thereafter, during such period of service as a director or
         director  emeritus and shall remain  exercisable for ten years from the
         date of grant  without  regard to  continued  service as a director  or
         director emeritus.

Effect of Mergers, Change of Control and Other Adjustments

         Subject to any  required  action by the  stockholders  of the  Company,
within the sole  discretion of the Option  Committee,  the  aggregate  number of
shares of Common Stock for which options may be granted  hereunder or the number
of  shares  of Common  Stock  represented  by each  outstanding  option  will be
proportionately  adjusted  for any  increase or decrease in the number of issued
and  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock  resulting  from  a  subdivision  or
consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock dividend or any other increase
or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without the receipt
or payment of  consideration  by the Company.  Subject to any required action by
the

                                       17

<PAGE>



stockholders   of  the  Company,   in  the  event  of  any  change  in  control,
recapitalization,   merger,   consolidation,   exchange  of  shares,   spin-off,
reorganization,   tender  offer,   partial  or  complete  liquidation  or  other
extraordinary  corporate  action or event,  the  Option  Committee,  in its sole
discretion,  shall  have the power,  prior to or  subsequent  to such  action or
events, to (i) appropriately adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to  each  option,  the  exercise  price  per  share  of  such  option,  and  the
consideration  to be given or received by the Company  upon the  exercise of any
outstanding options; (ii) cancel any or all previously granted Options, provided
that appropriate  consideration is paid to the Optionee in connection therewith;
and/or  (iii)  make such other  adjustments  in  connection  with the 1996 Stock
Option Plan as the Option  Committee,  in its sole discretion,  deems necessary,
desirable,  appropriate  or  advisable.  However,  no action may be taken by the
Option  Committee which would cause Incentive Stock Options granted  pursuant to
the 1996 Stock  Option Plan to fail to meet the  requirements  of Section 422 of
the Internal Revenue Code ("Code") without the consent of the Optionee. The 1996
Stock  Option  Plan  provision  to  accelerate  the  exercise of options and the
immediate  exercisability  of  options in the case of a Change in Control of the
Company  could  have an  anti-takeover  effect by making  it more  costly  for a
potential  acquiror to obtain control of the Company due to the higher number of
shares outstanding following such exercise of options.

         The power of the Option  Committee to make  adjustments  in  connection
with the 1996  Stock  Option  Plan,  including  adjusting  the  number of shares
subject to options and canceling options, prior to or after the occurrence of an
extraordinary  corporate  action,  allows the Option Committee to adapt the 1996
Stock Option Plan to operate in changed circumstances,  to adjust the 1996 Stock
Option Plan to fit a smaller or larger  company,  and to permit the  issuance of
options  to  new  management  following  such  extraordinary  corporate  action.
However,  this  power of the  Option  Committee  may also have an  anti-takeover
effect, by allowing the Option Committee to adjust the 1996 Stock Option Plan in
a manner to allow the present management of the Company to exercise more options
and hold more shares of the Common Stock, and to possibly decrease the number of
options available to new management of the Company.

Amendment and Termination of the 1996 Stock Option Plan

         The Board of Directors may alter, suspend or discontinue the 1996 Stock
Option  Plan,  except  that no action of the Board  shall  increase  the maximum
number of shares of Common  Stock  issuable  under the 1996 Stock  Option  Plan,
materially  increase  the benefits  accruing to  Optionees  under the 1996 Stock
Option  Plan  or  materially   modify  the   requirements  for  eligibility  for
participation  unless such action of the Board shall be subject to  ratification
by the stockholders of the Company.

Possible Dilutive Effects of the 1996 Stock Option Plan

         The Common  Stock to be issued  upon the  exercise  of options  awarded
under the 1996 Stock Option Plan may either be authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock or shares purchased in the open market. Because the stockholders of
the Company do not have preemptive  rights, to the extent that the Company funds
the 1996 Stock Option Plan, in whole or in part,  with  authorized  but unissued
shares,  the  interests  of current  stockholders  will be diluted.  If upon the
exercise of all of the  outstanding  nonvested  options as of the Voting  Record
Date, the Company delivers newly issued shares of Common Stock (i.e.,  1,066,979
shares of Common  Stock),  then the impact to current  stockholders  would be to
dilute their current ownership  percentages by approximately 6.0%.  Ratification
of the 1996 Stock  Option Plan does not  increase  the maximum  number of shares
issuable   under  the  1996  Stock  Option  Plan  as   previously   approved  by
stockholders.


                                       18

<PAGE>



Federal Income Tax Consequences

         Under present federal tax laws, awards under the 1996 Stock Option Plan
will have the following consequences:

         1.       The  grant of an  option  will  not by  itself  result  in the
                  recognition  of taxable  income to an Optionee nor entitle the
                  Company to a tax deduction at the time of such grant.
         2.       The exercise of an option which is an "Incentive Stock Option"
                  within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code  generally  will
                  not, by itself, result in the recognition of taxable income to
                  an Optionee nor entitle the Company to a deduction at the time
                  of such exercise.  However,  the difference between the option
                  exercise  price and the fair market  value of the Common Stock
                  on the date of  exercise  is an item of tax  preference  which
                  may, in certain  situations,  trigger the alternative  minimum
                  tax for an Optionee.  An Optionee will recognize  capital gain
                  or loss upon  resale of the  shares of Common  Stock  received
                  pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options,  provided
                  that such shares are held for at least one year after transfer
                  of the  shares  or two years  after  the grant of the  option,
                  whichever is later.  Generally, if the shares are not held for
                  that period,  the Optionee will recognize ordinary income upon
                  disposition in an amount equal to the  difference  between the
                  exercise  price and the fair market  value of the Common Stock
                  on the date of exercise,  or, if less,  the sales  proceeds of
                  the shares acquired pursuant to the option.
         3.       The  exercise of a  Non-Incentive  Stock Option will result in
                  the recognition of ordinary income by the Optionee on the date
                  of exercise in an amount equal to the  difference  between the
                  exercise  price and the fair market  value of the Common Stock
                  acquired pursuant to the option.
         4.       The Company  will be allowed a tax  deduction  for federal tax
                  purposes equal to the amount of ordinary income  recognized by
                  an Optionee at the time the Optionee  recognizes such ordinary
                  income.
         5.       In accordance  with Section  162(m) of the Code, the Company's
                  tax deductions for  compensation  paid to the most highly paid
                  executives  named  in the  Company's  Proxy  Statement  may be
                  limited to no more than $1 million per year, excluding certain
                  "performance-based"  compensation. The Company intends for the
                  award of  Options  under the  Option  Plan to comply  with the
                  requirement  for an  exception  to Section  162(m) of the Code
                  applicable  to  stock  option  plans  so  that  the  Company's
                  deduction for compensation  related to the exercise of options
                  would not be subject to the deduction  limitation set forth in
                  Section 162(m) of the Code.

Accounting Treatment

         Neither the grant nor the  exercise  of an option  under the 1996 Stock
Option Plan  currently  requires any charge  against  earnings  under  generally
accepted accounting principles. In certain circumstances,  Common Stock issuable
pursuant  to  outstanding  options  which are  exercisable  under the 1996 Stock
Option Plan will be considered  outstanding for purposes of calculating earnings
per share on a fully diluted basis.


                                       19

<PAGE>



Stockholder Ratification

         Stockholder  ratification of the 1996 Stock Option Plan is being sought
in accordance with the interpretive letters of the OTS. An affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes cast at the Meeting on the matter,  in person or by proxy,
is required to  constitute  stockholder  ratification  of the 1996 Stock  Option
Plan, submitted as Proposal II.

         THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  A  VOTE  "FOR"  THE
RATIFICATION OF THE 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    PROPOSAL III -- RATIFICATION OF THE MSBP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

General

         The Board of Directors of the Company has  previously  implemented  the
MSBP as a method of providing directors, officers, and key employees of the Bank
with a  proprietary  interest in the Company in a manner  designed to  encourage
such persons to remain in the  employment  or service of the Bank. As previously
approved  by  stockholders  of the  Company in July 1996,  the Bank  contributed
sufficient  funds to the MSBP to purchase up to 268,075  shares of Common Stock.
All of the Common Stock  purchased by the MSBP was  purchased at the fair market
value of such stock on the date of purchase.  Awards under the MSBP were made in
recognition of prior and expected  future services to the Bank by its directors,
officers  and key  employees  responsible  for  implementation  of the  policies
adopted by the Bank's Board of  Directors  and as a means of providing a further
retention incentive.

         Pursuant to  regulations  of the OTS  applicable to stock benefit plans
established  or  implemented  within  one year  following  the  completion  of a
mutual-to-stock   conversion,   the  MSBP  contains  certain   restrictions  and
limitations. The MSBP provides that stock awards ("Awards") granted to employees
or directors  become vested no more rapidly than ratably over a five-year period
(with  acceleration  upon death or  disability  or a Change in Control  (as such
terms are defined in the MSBP); provided, however, that such accelerated vesting
is not  inconsistent  with  the  regulations  of the  OTS at the  time  of  such
acceleration).  Recent OTS  interpretive  letters permit awards under such stock
benefit  plans to  accelerate  the  vesting of awards  upon a change in control,
provided that stockholders  ratify such plan provisions at a stockholder meeting
held  more  than  one  year  following  the  completion  of  the   institution's
mutual-to-stock  conversion.  The Board of Directors is seeking  ratification of
the MSBP (as  previously  approved  by the  stockholders  in 1996) as a means of
complying with the OTS interpretive letters.

         Although there can be no assurance that all conditions contained in the
Merger  Agreement  (including  approval by the  stockholders  of the Company and
Commercial  Federal  Corporation,  and regulatory  approval) will be met and the
transaction will be consummated,  the Board has determined that the ratification
of the MSBP as a means of complying with the OTS interpretive  letters is in the
best  interests of the  stockholders  of the Company,  as well as the  officers,
directors  and employees of the Company.  The  transaction  contemplated  by the
Merger Agreement will constitute a "Change in Control" of the Company as defined
in the MSBP.  A summary of the MSBP is provided  below and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to the MSBP.

         Ratification  of the MSBP  does  not  increase  the  number  of  shares
reserved for issuance  thereunder,  alter the classes of individuals eligible to
participate in the MSBP, or otherwise  amend or modify the terms of the MSBP. In
the event that the MSBP is not ratified by stockholders at the Meeting, the MSBP

                                       20

<PAGE>



will  nevertheless  remain in effect.  However,  any employee or director of the
Company or the Bank that has their  service  terminated  prior to the vesting of
such stock  awards may forfeit  such  unvested  awards to the extent that may be
required under applicable OTS regulations and policies. In light of the proposed
merger with Commercial Federal  Corporation,  the potential for a termination of
service  among  stock  award  holders  may  have  increased.  Therefore,  absent
acceleration  of vesting of such stock  awards upon a Change in  Control,  these
individuals  have an increased  likelihood  of  forfeiting  stock awards made in
accordance  with the MSBP,  which  was  previously  authorized  by the Board and
approved by the Company's stockholders.

Awards Under the MSBP

         Currently,  the MSBP  requires  that  Awards  granted to  employees  or
directors become first exercisable no more rapidly than ratably over a five-year
period (with  acceleration  upon death or  disability or a Change in Control (as
such terms are defined in the MSBP);  provided,  however,  that such accelerated
vesting is not inconsistent  with the regulations of the OTS at the time of such
acceleration).  Ratification  of  the  MSBP  at the  Meeting  will  conform  the
acceleration  of vesting of Awards upon a Change in Control with  applicable OTS
interpretive  letters.  Such  stockholder  ratification  will be effective  with
respect to previously  granted  Awards and any Awards that may be granted in the
future.  Pursuant to the MSBP, upon a Change in Control,  all Awards  previously
granted and outstanding as of the date of a Change in Control will automatically
become exercisable and non-forfeitable.

         Benefits  under the MSBP ("Plan  Share  Awards")  may be granted at the
sole discretion of a committee  comprised of not less than two directors who are
not employees of the Bank or the Company (the "MSBP Committee") appointed by the
Bank's Board of Directors. The MSBP is managed by trustees (the "MSBP Trustees")
who are  non-employee  directors  of the  Bank or the  Company  and who have the
responsibility  to invest all funds contributed by the Bank to the trust created
for the  MSBP  (the  "MSBP  Trust").  Unless  the  terms of the MSBP or the MSBP
Committee  specify  otherwise,  awards  under  the  MSBP  will be in the form of
restricted  stock  payable  as  the  Plan  Share  Awards  shall  be  earned  and
non-forfeitable.  Twenty  percent  (20%)  of such  awards  shall be  earned  and
non-forfeitable on the one year anniversary of the date of grant of such awards,
and 20% annually thereafter, provided that the recipient of the award remains an
employee,  Director or Director Emeritus during such period. A recipient of such
restricted  stock will not be entitled  to voting  rights  associated  with such
shares prior to the  applicable  date such shares are earned.  Dividends paid on
Plan Share  Awards shall be held in arrears and  distributed  upon the date such
applicable Plan Share Awards are earned. Any shares held by the MSBP Trust which
are not yet earned shall be voted by the MSBP Trustees,  as directed by the MSBP
Committee.  If a recipient of such  restricted  stock  terminates  employment or
service for reasons other than death, disability,  or a Change in Control of the
Company or the Bank,  the  recipient  forfeits  all  rights to the awards  under
restriction.  If the recipient's  termination of employment or service is caused
by death,  disability,  or a Change in Control of the  Company or the Bank,  all
restrictions expire and all shares allocated shall become  unrestricted.  Awards
of restricted  stock shall be immediately  non-  forfeitable in the event of the
death or  disability  of such  recipient,  or upon a Change  in  Control  of the
Company or the Bank,  and  distributed as soon as  practicable  thereafter.  The
transaction  contemplated  by the Merger  Agreement will bring about a Change in
Control  of the  Company  as defined  in the MSBP.  The Board of  Directors  may
terminate the MSBP at any time, and if it does so, any shares not allocated will
revert to the Company.

         Plan  Share  Awards  under  the  MSBP  will be  determined  by the MSBP
Committee. In no event shall any Employee receive Plan Share Awards in excess of
25% of the aggregate Plan Shares  authorized  under the MSBP.  Plan Share Awards
may be granted to newly elected or appointed non-employee

                                       21

<PAGE>



Directors of the Bank  subsequent to the effective date (as defined in the MSBP)
provided  that the Plan Share Awards made to  non-employee  Directors  shall not
exceed 30% of total Plan Share Reserve in the aggregate  under the MSBP or 5% of
the total Plan Share Reserve to any individual non-employee Director.

         The aggregate number of Plan Shares available for issuance  pursuant to
the Plan Share  Awards  and the  number of shares to which any Plan Share  Award
relates  shall be  proportionately  adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
total number of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock  issued  subsequent  to the
effective  date (as defined in the MSBP) of the MSBP  resulting  from any split,
subdivision or  consolidation  of the Common Stock or other capital  adjustment,
change or exchange of Common Stock,  or other increase or decrease in the number
or kind of shares effected  without receipt or payment of  consideration  by the
Company.

         The following  table  presents  information  related to the  previously
granted  awards of Common  Stock  under the MSBP as  authorized  pursuant to the
terms of the  MSBP.  Ratification  of such MSBP does not  change  the  number of
shares  awarded or other  terms.  Such  ratification  of the MSBP  confirms  the
provisions of the MSBP previously approved by the stockholders of the Company.

                             PRIOR AWARDS UNDER THE MSBP

                                                          Number of Shares
                                                             Previously
Name and Position                                           Granted(1)(2)
- -----------------                                           -------------
Malcolm E. Collier, Jr.
  Chairman of the Board, President and CEO
of the Company.........................................        20,000
Robert W. Richards
  President of the Bank................................        15,000
Executive Officer Group (7 persons)....................        89,000
Non-Executive Officer Director Group
  (6 persons)..........................................         6,000(3)
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group
  (51 persons).........................................       100,000


- --------------------
(1)      All Plan Share Awards  presented  herein shall be earned at the rate of
         20% one year from  date of  grant,  and 20%  annually  thereafter.  All
         awards  become  immediately  100%  vested upon  death,  disability,  or
         termination of service following a change in control (as defined in the
         MSBP).
(2)      Plan Share Awards shall  continue to vest during  periods of service as
         an employee, director, or director emeritus.
(3)      Each of six  non-employee  directors  of the Bank  were  awarded  1,000
         shares as of July 24, 1996. 

Amendment and Termination of the MSBP

         The Board  may amend or  terminate  the MSBP at any time.  However,  no
action of the Board may increase the maximum number of Plan Shares  permitted to
be awarded  under the MSBP,  except for  adjustments  in the Common Stock of the
Company,  materially  increase the benefits  accruing to Participants  under the
MSBP or materially  modify the requirements for eligibility for participation in
the MSBP unless such action of the Board shall be subject to ratification by the
stockholders of the Company.


                                       22

<PAGE>



Federal Income Tax Consequences

         Common  Stock  awarded  under  the  MSBP is  generally  taxable  to the
recipient at the time that such awards  become 100% vested and  non-forfeitable,
based  upon the fair  market  value of such  stock at the time of such  vesting.
Alternatively, a recipient may make an election pursuant to Section 83(b) of the
Code  within 30 days of the date of transfer of the award to elect to include in
gross income for the current taxable year the fair market value of such stock as
of the date of  transfer  of the  award.  Such  election  must be filed with the
Internal  Revenue  Service  within 30 days of the date of  transfer of the stock
award. The Company will be allowed a tax deduction for federal tax purposes as a
compensation  expense  equal to the amount of ordinary  income  recognized  by a
recipient  of Plan Share  Awards at the time the  recipient  recognizes  taxable
ordinary  income.  A recipient of a Plan Share Award may elect to have a portion
of such  award  withheld  by the MSBP Trust in order to meet any  necessary  tax
withholding obligations.

Accounting Treatment

         For  accounting  purposes,  the Company will  recognize a  compensation
expense in the amount of the fair market  value of the Common  Stock  subject to
Plan  Share  Awards at the date of the  award pro rata over the  period of years
during which the awards are earned.

Stockholder Ratification

         The Company is submitting the MSBP to stockholders  for ratification in
accordance  with  interpretive  letters  of the OTS.  An  affirmative  vote of a
majority of the votes cast at the Meeting on the matter,  in person or by proxy,
is required to constitute  stockholder  ratification  of the MSBP,  submitted as
Proposal III.

         THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS  UNANIMOUSLY  RECOMMENDS  A  VOTE  "FOR"  THE
RATIFICATION OF THE MSBP.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             PROPOSAL IV -- RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         KPMG Peat Marwick LLP was the Company's  independent  certified  public
accountant  for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1997. The Board of Directors
has approved the renewal of the  Company's  arrangements  with KPMG Peat Marwick
LLP to be its auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1998,  subject to
ratification  by the  Company's  stockholders.  A  representative  of KPMG  Peat
Marwick LLP is expected to be present at the Meeting to respond to stockholders'
questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if so desired.

         The  ratification of the appointment of the Company's  auditors must be
approved by a majority of the votes cast by the  stockholders  of the Company at
the Meeting.  The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote "FOR" the
ratification  of the  appointment  of KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP as the  Company's
auditors.

                                       23

<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 ANNUAL REPORTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Company's  Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1997, including consolidated financial statements,  has been mailed
to all  persons  who were  listed as  stockholders  of record as of the close of
business on the Voting Record Date. Any  stockholder who has not received a copy
of such  Annual  Report may obtain a copy by writing  the  Company.  Such Annual
Report is not to be treated as a part of the proxy  solicitation  material or as
having been incorporated herein by reference.

         A Copy of the Form 10-K as filed with the SEC will be furnished without
charge to  stockholders  as of the  record  date  upon  written  request  to the
Secretary,   First  Colorado  Bancorp,  Inc.,  215  South  Wadsworth  Boulevard,
Lakewood,  Colorado 80226.  Such Form 10-K is not to be treated as a part of the
proxy solicitation material or as having been incorporated herein by reference.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  proxy materials
for next year's Annual Meeting of Stockholders, any stockholder proposal to take
action at such  meeting  must be  received at the  Company's  main office at 215
South Wadsworth Boulevard,  Lakewood,  Colorado 80226, no later than December 1,
1998.  Any such  proposals  shall be subject to the  requirements  of Rule 14a-8
under the 1934 Act.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  OTHER MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The Board of  Directors is not aware of any business to come before the
Meeting  other  than those  matters  described  above in this  Proxy  Statement.
However, if any other matters should properly come before the Meeting, including
any adjournments  thereof,  it is intended that proxies in the accompanying form
will be voted in respect  thereof in accordance  with the judgment of the person
or persons voting the proxies.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  MISCELLANEOUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         The cost of solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the Company.  The
Company will  reimburse  brokerage  firms and other  custodians,  nominees,  and
fiduciaries for reasonable  expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
to the beneficial  owners of Common Stock. In addition to solicitations by mail,
directors,  officers,  and regular  employees of the Company may solicit proxies
personally  or  by  telegraph  or  telephone   without   payment  of  additional
compensation.   The  Company  has  retained  Morrow  &  Co.  to  assist  in  the
solicitation  of  proxies  at a cost not  anticipated  to  exceed  $3,500,  plus
reimbursement of certain incurred expenses.

                                             BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                             /s/ Elaine M. Samuelson
                                             ELAINE M. SAMUELSON
                                             SECRETARY

Lakewood, Colorado
March 31, 1998

                                       24



                                 REVOCABLE PROXY
                          FIRST COLORADO BANCORP, INC.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                   MAY 4, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         The  undersigned  hereby  appoints the official proxy  committee of the
Board of Directors of the First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") with full
powers of substitution to act, as attorneys and proxies for the undersigned,  to
vote all shares of common stock of the Company that the  undersigned is entitled
to vote at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"), to be held at the
Arvada Center for the Arts and the Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada,
Colorado,  on Monday,  May 4, 1998, at 3:00 p.m. and at any and all adjournments
thereof, as follows:


                                                          FOR         WITHHELD

1.        The election as director of all nominees
          listed below:                                    |_|            |_|

          Leeon E. Hayden
          E. William Foerster, Jr.
          Robert W. Richards

INSTRUCTIONS:  To  withhold  your vote for any  individual  nominee,  insert the
nominee's name on the line provided below.

          ----------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                               FOR       AGAINST      ABSTAIN
<S>                                                            <C>         <C>          <C>
2.        The ratification of the First Colorado
          Bancorp, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan.                |_|         |_|          |_|

3.        The ratification of the First Federal Bank
          of Colorado Management Stock Bonus Plan and
          Trust Agreement.                                     |_|         |_|          |_|

4.        The  ratification  of the  appointment  of KPMG  
          Peat  Marwick  LLP as independent auditors of 
          First Colorado Bancorp, Inc. for the fiscal year 
          ending December 31, 1998.                            |_|         |_|          |_|
</TABLE>

In their discretion, such attorneys and proxies are authorized to vote upon such
other  business as may  properly  come  before the  Meeting or any  adjournments
thereof.

         The  Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote  "FOR"  all of the  listed
propositions.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED,  BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS  ARE SPECIFIED,  A
SIGNED  PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE  PROPOSITIONS  STATED.  IF ANY OTHER
BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED IN
THIS PROXY IN THEIR BEST  JUDGMENT.  AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KNOWS OF NO OTHER  BUSINESS  TO BE  PRESENTED  AT THE  MEETING.  THIS PROXY ALSO
CONFERS  DISCRETIONARY  AUTHORITY ON THE OFFICIAL  PROXY  COMMITTEE TO VOTE WITH
RESPECT TO MATTERS INCIDENT TO THE CONDUCT OF THE MEETING.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         Should the undersigned be present and elects to vote at the Meeting, or
at any  adjournment  thereof,  and after  notification  to the  Secretary of the
Company at the Meeting of the  stockholder's  decision to terminate  this proxy,
the power of said  attorneys  and proxies shall be deemed  terminated  and of no
further force and effect. The undersigned may also revoke this proxy by filing a
subsequently  dated proxy or by written  notification  to the  Secretary  of the
Company of his or her decision to terminate this proxy.

         The  undersigned  acknowledges  receipt from the Company,  prior to the
execution of this proxy,  of Notice of the Meeting and a proxy  statement  dated
March 31, 1998.


Dated:                    , 1998    |_|  Please check here if you plan to attend
       -------------------               the Meeting.


- ---------------------------------        -----------------------------------
SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER                 SIGNATURE OF STOCKHOLDER


- ---------------------------------        -----------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER                PRINT NAME OF STOCKHOLDER

Please sign exactly as your name appears on the enclosed  card.  When signing as
attorney, executor,  administrator,  trustee, or guardian, please give your full
title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN, AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY
                    IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PREPAID ENVELOPE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------







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