WASHINGTON BANCORP
DEF 14A, 1999-09-24
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                               WASHINGTON BANCORP
                              102 East Main Street
                             Washington, Iowa 52353
                                 (319) 653-7256

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                         To be Held on October 19, 1999

Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  (the "Meeting")
of  Washington  Bancorp (the  "Company")  will be held at the  Company's  office
located at 102 East Main Street, Washington, Iowa at 4:00 p.m., Washington, Iowa
time, on October 19, 1999.

A proxy card and a proxy statement for the Meeting are enclosed.

The Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

1.   The election of two directors of the Company;

2.   The  ratification  of the  appointment  of  McGladrey & Pullen,  LLP as the
     auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000;

and  such  other  matters  as may  properly  come  before  the  Meeting,  or any
adjournments  thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business
to come before the Meeting.

Any action may be taken on the  foregoing  proposals  at the Meeting on the date
specified  above, or on any date or dates to which the Meeting may be adjourned.
Stockholders  of record  at the close of  business  on August  31,  1999 are 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  on behalf of the Board of  Directors,  and to mail it promptly in the
enclosed  envelope.  The proxy  will not be used if you  attend  and vote at the
Meeting in person.

                       BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                           /s/ Stan Carlson
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Stan Carlson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer


Washington, Iowa
September 21, 1999

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT  RETURN OF PROXIES  WILL SAVE THE  COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF
FURTHER REQUESTS FOR PROXIES TO ENSURE A QUORUM AT THE MEETING. A SELF-ADDRESSED
ENVELOPE  IS  ENCLOSED  FOR YOUR  CONVENIENCE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF MAILED
WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>




                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                               WASHINGTON BANCORP
                              102 East Main Street
                             Washington, Iowa 52353
                                 (319) 653-7256

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                October 19, 1999


This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the  solicitation on behalf
of the Board of  Directors of  Washington  Bancorp  ("Washington,"  and with its
subsidiaries,  the "Company"),  the parent company of Washington Federal Savings
Bank  ("Washington  Federal")  and  Rubio  Savings  Bank of  Brighton  ("Rubio,"
collectively with Washington Federal, the "Banks"), of proxies to be used at the
Annual Meeting of  Stockholders  of the Company (the  "Meeting"),  which will be
held at the Company's office located at 102 East Main Street,  Washington,  Iowa
on October 19, 1999, at 4:00 p.m.,  Washington,  Iowa time, and all adjournments
of the Meeting.  The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting,  proxy card and this
proxy statement are first being mailed to stockholders on or about September 21,
1999.

At the Meeting, stockholders of the Company are being asked to consider and vote
upon the election of two directors and the  ratification  of the  appointment of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as auditors for the Company.

Vote Required and Proxy Information

All shares of the Company's  common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"),  represented at the Meeting by properly executed proxies received prior
to or at the  Meeting,  and  not  revoked,  will  be  voted  at the  Meeting  in
accordance with the  instructions  thereon.  If no  instructions  are indicated,
properly  executed proxies will be voted for the director nominees and the other
proposal  set forth in this proxy  statement.  The Company  does not know of any
matters,  other than as described in the Notice of Annual  Meeting,  that are to
come before the  Meeting.  If any other  matters are  properly  presented at the
Meeting for action,  the persons  named in the enclosed form of proxy and acting
thereunder  will have the discretion to vote on such matters in accordance  with
their best judgment.

Directors  shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present or
represented  by proxy at the Meeting.  The  ratification  of the  appointment of
McGladrey & Pullen,  LLP as auditors requires the affirmative vote of a majority
of the votes  present  in  person or  represented  by proxy at the  Meeting  and
entitled to vote on the matter.  Proxies marked to abstain and broker  non-votes
have no effect on the vote. One-third of the shares of the Common Stock, present
in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the
Meeting.   Abstentions  and  broker   non-votes  are  counted  for  purposes  of
determining a quorum.

A proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked at any time before it
is voted.  Proxies  may be  revoked  by: (i) filing  with the  Secretary  of the
Company at or before the Meeting a written notice of revocation  bearing a later
date than the proxy, (ii) duly executing a subsequent proxy relating to the same
shares  and  delivering  it to the  Secretary  of the  Company  at or before the
Meeting,  or  (iii)  attending  the  Meeting  and  voting  in  person  (although
attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself  constitute  revocation of a
proxy).  Any  written  notice  revoking  a  proxy  should  be  delivered  to the
Secretary, Washington Bancorp, 102 East Main Street, Washington, Iowa 52353.



<PAGE>


Voting Securities and Certain Holders Thereof

Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business  on August 31, 1999 will be
entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock then held.  As of that date,
the Company had  600,198  shares of Common  Stock  issued and  outstanding.  The
following table sets forth  information  regarding share ownership of: (i) those
persons or  entities  known by  management  to  beneficially  own more than five
percent of the Common Stock, (ii) the Company's Chief Executive Officer and each
other executive officer whose salary and bonus for fiscal 1999 exceeded $100,000
(the "Named Officers") and (iii) all directors,  nominees and executive officers
of the Company as a group.

                                                          Shares
                                                        Beneficially    Percent
          Beneficial Owner                                 Owned        of Class
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Over 5% Beneficial Owners

Washington Bancorp Employee Stock Ownership Plan ....     52,602(1)       8.76%
102 East Main Street
Washington, Iowa 52353

Jeffrey L. Gendell ..................................     59,600(2)       9.93%
200 Park Avenue, Suite 3900
New York, New York 10166

Named Officers

Stan Carlson ........................................     32,475(3)       5.41%
102 East Main Street
Washington, Iowa 52353

Directors and executive officers of the Company .....    118,149(4)      19.68%
 as a group (12 persons)
- ----------------------
(1)  The amount reported  represents shares held by the Employee Stock Ownership
     Plan  ("ESOP"),  of  which  12,376  have  been  allocated  to  accounts  of
     participants.  First Bankers Trust Company,  N.A.,  Quincy,  Illinois,  the
     trustee of the ESOP, may be deemed to  beneficially  own the shares held by
     the ESOP  which  have not  been  allocated  to  accounts  of  participants.
     Participants  in the ESOP are  entitled to  instruct  the trustee as to the
     voting of shares  allocated to their accounts  under the ESOP.  Unallocated
     shares held in the ESOP's suspense account or allocated shares for which no
     voting  instructions  are  received  are voted by the  trustee  in the same
     proportion as allocated shares voted by participants.

(2)  Mr.  Jeffrey  L.  Gendell   individually  as  managing  member  of  Tontine
     Management,  L.L.C.,  Tontine  Management,  L.L.C.  as a general partner of
     Tontine  Financial  Partners,  L.P., and Tontine Financial  Partners,  L.P.
     claimed  shared  voting and  dispositive  power in regards to 59,600 shares
     held by Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.

(3)  Includes shares held directly and jointly with family  members,  as well as
     shares which are held in retirement accounts, or held by certain members of
     the  named  individual's  family,  or held by  trusts  of which  the  named
     individual is a trustee or substantial  beneficiary,  with respect to which
     shares  the named  individual  may be deemed to have sole or shared  voting
     and/or dispositive powers. Also includes 9,861 shares, which are subject to
     options  currently  exercisable or exercisable  within 60 days after August
     31, 1999,  granted under the Company's Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the
     "Stock Option Plan"),  and 5,261 restricted  shares of Common Stock awarded
     under the Company's Recognition and Retention Plan (the "RRP").

(4)  Includes shares held directly and jointly with family  members,  as well as
     shares  held in  retirement  accounts,  or by certain  members of the named
     individuals' families, or held by trusts of which the named individual is a
     trustee  or  substantial  beneficiary,  with  respect  to which  shares the
     respective  individuals  may be deemed to have sole or shared voting and/or
     dispositive  power.  Also includes (i) 3,945,  901,  675, 675, 675,  2,192,
     1,315,  675, 1,315,  675 and 675 restricted  shares of Common Stock awarded
     under the RRP to Mr. Carlson,  Mr.  Edwards,  Mr. Gorham,  Mr. Graber,  Mr.
     Hofer,  Mr. Harmon,  Mr.  Johnson,  Ms. Levy, Ms. Linge,  Mr. Weeks and Mr.
     Wiley,  respectively,  which have not yet vested as of the record  date but
     over which such individuals have sole voting power, and (ii) 9,861,  1,128,
     1,692,  1,692,  1,096,  1,692, 3,288, 1,692, 3,288, 1,692 and 1,692 shares,
     subject to options granted under the Stock Option Plan to Mr. Carlson,  Mr.
     Edwards,  Mr. Gorham, Mr. Graber,  Mr. Harmon, Mr. Hofer, Mr. Johnson,  Ms.
     Levy, Ms. Linge, Mr. Weeks and Mr. Wiley, respectively, which are currently
     exercisable  or  exercisable  within 60 days  after  August 31,  1999.
<PAGE>



                       PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

The  Company's  Board of  Directors  is  presently  composed  of eight  members.
Directors of the Company are generally elected to serve for a three-year term or
until  their  respective  successors  shall  have been  elected  and  qualified.
Approximately one-third of the directors are elected annually.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Company's Board
of  Directors,  including  their terms of office and  nominees  for  election as
directors.  It is intended that the proxies  solicited on behalf of the Board of
Directors  (other  than  proxies in which the vote is withheld as to one or more
nominees)  will be  voted  at the  Meeting  for  the  election  of the  nominees
identified in the following table. If any nominee is unable to serve, the shares
represented  by all  such  proxies  will  be  voted  for  the  election  of such
substitute as the Board of Directors may  recommend.  At this time, the Board of
Directors  knows of no reason why any of the nominees  might be unable to serve,
if elected.  There are no arrangements or understandings between any director or
nominee  and any other  person  pursuant  to which such  director or nominee was
selected.
<TABLE>
                                                                                           Shares of Common
                                                                                          Stock Beneficially   Percent
                                                                      Director   Term to       Owned at         of
Name                          Age  Positions Held in the Company      Since(1)   Expire   August 31, 1999(2)   Class
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>  <C>                                <C>        <C>      <C>                  <C>

NOMINEES
- --------

Richard L. Weeks ......       77   Director                             1978     2002          21,074         3.51%
J. Richard Wiley ......       63   Director                             1978     2002           4,094           *



DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
- ------------------------------

Stan Carlson ..........       42   President, Chief Executive Officer   1993     2000          32,475         5.41%
                                   and Director
Dean Edwards ..........       63   Director                             1968     2001           3,255           *
James D. Gorham .......       61   Director                             1991     2001           3,319           *
Myron L. Graber .......       51   Director                             1992     2000           9,914         1.65%
Rick R. Hofer .........       51   Chairman of the Board                1988     2000          10,819         1.80%
Mary Levy .............       45   Director                             1993     2001           9,819         1.64%

<FN>
*    Less than 1%.

(1)  Includes service as a director of one of the Banks.

(2)  Includes shares held directly, as well as, in retirement accounts,  held by
     certain members of the named  individuals'  families,  or held by trusts of
     which the named  individual is a trustee or substantial  beneficiary,  with
     respect to which the named  individuals  may be deemed to have sole  voting
     and investment power.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


The business  experience  of each  director  and  director  nominee is set forth
below.  All directors  have held their  present  positions for at least the past
five years, except as otherwise indicated.

Richard L. Weeks is President  and Owner of Sitler  Electric  Supply,  Inc.,  an
electrical  wholesaler and operator of two lighting  showrooms in Washington and
Marion,  Iowa.  Mr. Weeks is also a member of Noon  Kiwanis,  Methodist  Church,
Country Club, YMCA, Masonic Lodge,  Shriners,  Washington County I-Club, and the
Athletic Club of Iowa City. Mr. Weeks is also a director of Washington Federal.

J.  Richard  Wiley is  retired.  Prior to  retirement,  Mr.  Wiley  owned  Wiley
Computers,  a computer  retailer in  Washington,  Iowa.  Prior to founding Wiley
Computers,  Mr.  Wiley was the  manager of Apex  Computer  Systems in Iowa City,
Iowa, the owner of Wiley's Mere Farm, a family farm  corporation,  and the owner
of Iowa Computer Solutions,  Inc., a computer retailer in Washington,  Iowa. Mr.
Wiley is also a member of United  Presbyterian  Church,  Noon Kiwanis,  and Farm
Bureau. Mr. Wiley is also a director of Washington Federal.

Stan Carlson is the President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of  Washington  and
Washington  Federal.  He was elected  President and Chief  Executive  Officer of
Washington  Federal in 1993 and of the Company upon its formation in 1995. Prior
to 1993, he was a Vice  President of Northwoods  State Bank. Mr. Carlson is also
president of Optimists  Club, a past  president of Washington  Athletic  Booster
Club,  a past  president  of the Rotary Club and a member of  Immanuel  Lutheran
Church. Mr. Carlson is a director of Washington Federal and a director of Rubio.

Dean Edwards has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Rubio since 1981.
He is a past President of Iowa Bankers  Association  Group 11 and past member of
their Board of Directors.  He is Treasurer of the Lake Darling  Youth Center,  a
member of the Brighton City Council,  and charter  member of the Brighton  Lions
Club.  Mr.  Edwards  is a  director  of Rubio and the  Chairman  of the Board of
Washington Federal.

James D. Gorham is a past District Agent for Northwestern  Mutual Life Insurance
Co. and is currently a sales agent for  Northwest  Mutual Life  Insurance Co. in
Washington,  Iowa.  Mr. Gorham is a past  President of the  Washington  Economic
Development Group and also a member of Rotary,  Sierra Club, Nature Conservatory
and  Washington  County  Historical  Society.  Mr.  Gorham is also a director of
Washington Federal.

Myron L.  Graber is  President  of Graber  Home  Improvement,  Inc.,  a building
materials  supply  company in  Washington,  Iowa. Mr. Graber is also a member of
Habitat  for  Humanity,  Washington  Concert  Association,   Optimist  Club  and
Washington  Mennonite  Church.  Mr.  Graber  is also a  director  of  Washington
Federal.

Rick R.  Hofer has been the  personnel  and credit  manager  of Sitler  Electric
Supply in Washington, Iowa since 1993. Prior to that time, he was the manager of
Spurgeon's  Department  Store for 20 years.  Mr.  Hofer is also a member of Noon
Kiwanis  and St.  James  Church.  Mr.  Hofer is also a  director  of  Washington
Federal.

Mary Levy is treasurer and co-owner of Mose Levy Co., Inc., a steel  distributor
in Washington,  Iowa. Ms. Levy is also a member of Washington  County Historical
Society,  American  Cancer  Society,  Iowa  Natural  Heritage  Foundation,   and
YWCA/YMCA. Ms. Levy is also a director of Washington Federal.

Board of Directors' Meetings and Committees

Board and Committee Meetings of the Company.  Meetings of the Company's Board of
Directors are generally held on a quarterly basis. The Board of Directors of the
Company held eight  meetings  during the year ended June 30, 1999.  No incumbent
director  attended  fewer than 75% of the total  number of meetings  held by the
Board of Directors  and by all  committees of the Board of Directors on which he
or she served during the year.

The Board of  Directors  of the  Company  has the same  standing  committees  as
Washington Federal. None of the Company-level  committees met during fiscal year
1999.

The Board of Directors of the Company has no standing nominating committee.  The
full Board of Directors acts as the nominating  committee.  While the Board will
consider nominees  recommended by others,  the Board has not actively  solicited
nominations nor established any procedures for this purpose.
<PAGE>


Board and  Committee  Meetings of  Washington  Federal.  Meetings of  Washington
Federal's Board of Directors are held on at least a monthly basis.  The Board of
Directors met 28 times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999. During fiscal
1999, no incumbent director of Washington Federal attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of Board  meetings or the total number of meetings
held by the committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served.  The
principal  committees of the Board of Directors of Washington Federal are Audit,
Compensation, Planning, Investment and Loan Committees.

The Audit  Committee  is  comprised  of  Directors  Graber and Weeks.  The Audit
Committee is responsible for selecting the  independent  accountants and meeting
with the independent  accountants to outline the scope and review the results of
the annual audit.  The Audit  Committee  met twice during fiscal year 1999.  The
Audit  Committee  also performs  periodic cash audits,  in addition to reviewing
loan files and appraisers for Washington Federal.

The  Compensation  Committee  is comprised  of  Directors  Gorham and Levy.  The
Compensation Committee is responsible for continual review of the performance of
the management group consisting of the President/Chief Executive Officer and the
Vice  Presidents.  It also sets levels of  compensation  for all employees.  The
Compensation Committee met three times in fiscal year 1999.

The Planning  Committee is comprised of Directors Wiley and Graber. The Planning
Committee  approves the budget and strategic  plan.  The Planning  Committee met
four times in fiscal year 1999.

The  Investment  Committee  is  comprised  of  Directors  Weeks and Gorham.  The
investment  committee  functions as the  asset/liability  committee and monitors
Washington Federal's interest rate spread and interest rate risk. The investment
committee  also makes  recommendations  on  purchases  and  sales,  and sets the
interest rates to be paid on deposits.  The Investment Committee met 33 times in
fiscal 1999.

The Loan Committee is comprised of Directors Gorham,  Levy, Hofer and Wiley. The
Loan  Committee  approves  all real estate  loans and  ratifies all consumer and
commercial  loans as well as home equity and home improvement  loans.  They also
set the interest  rates  charged on loans.  The Loan  Committee  met 33 times in
fiscal year 1999.

Board and  Committee  Meetings of Rubio.  Meetings of Rubio's Board of Directors
are held on at least a monthly basis. The Board of Directors met 13 times during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.  During fiscal 1999, no incumbent  director
of  Washington  Federal  attended  fewer  than 75% of the total  number of Board
meetings.

Director Compensation

Cash Compensation of the Company.  During fiscal 1999, the Board of Directors of
Washington were not paid for their service in such capacity.

Cash Compensation of Washington  Federal.  Each member of the Board of Directors
of Washington  Federal  receives $500 for each monthly and one annual meeting of
the Board attended. There are no fees paid for service on any Board committee.

Cash  Compensation  of Rubio.  Each  member of the Board of  Directors  of Rubio
receives  $225 for each  monthly and one annual  meeting of the Board  attended.
There are no fees paid for service on any Board Committee.

Each non-employee member of the Board of Directors of the Company received a one
time award of an option to purchase  2,818  shares  pursuant to the Stock Option
Plan and a restricted stock award of 1,127 shares under the RRP.

Executive Compensation

Washington  has not paid any  compensation  to its executive  officers since its
formation.  Washington does not presently  anticipate paying any compensation to
such persons.

The following  table sets forth the  compensation  paid or accrued by Washington
Federal for  services  rendered by the Chief  Executive  Officer.  No  executive
officer of Washington made in excess of $100,000 during fiscal 1999.


<PAGE>




                                                  SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
                                                                                          Long-Term
                     Annual Compensation                                                 Compensation
                                                                                    -----------------------
                                                                                             Awards
                                                                                    -----------------------
                                                                                    Restricted   Securities
                                                                     Other Annual      Stock     Underlying      All Other
    Name and Principal Position       Year      Salary      Bonus    Compensation    Award(s)      Options      Compensation
                                                ($)(1)       ($)        ($)(2)        ($)(3)         (#)             ($)
============================================================================================================================
<S>                                   <C>      <C>         <C>       <C>            <C>          <C>            <C>

Stan Carlson, President, Chief        1999     $88,175     $  500         ---             ---          ---          ---
Executive Officer and Director        1998     $84,250     $1,250         ---             ---          ---          ---
                                      1997     $76,500     $2,197         ---       $73,980(4)      16,437          ---
<FN>
(1)  Includes director fees.

(2)  Does not include  perquisites which did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or
     10% of Mr. Carlson's salary and bonus.

(3)  Based on the $15.19 closing price per share of the Common Stock on June 30,
     1999, the 3,945 restricted  shares held by Mr. Carlson as of June 30, 1999,
     had an aggregate market value of $59,925.

(4)  Represents the dollar value, based on the $11.25 closing price per share of
     the Common  Stock on October  15,  1996,  the date of grant.  The shares of
     restricted  stock  vest in five equal  annual  installments,  provided  the
     individual maintains  "Continuous Service" (as defined in the RRP) with the
     Company or a subsidiary of Washington. Dividends are paid on the restricted
     shares  to the  extent  and on the same date as  dividends  are paid on all
     other outstanding shares of Common Stock.
</FN>
</TABLE>

No stock appreciation  rights or limited stock appreciation  rights were granted
to the named executive  officer under the Stock Option Plan or the RRP. No stock
options or restricted  stock awards were granted to the named officer during the
fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.

The following  table sets forth certain  information  concerning  the number and
value of  in-the-money  (when the fair market value of the common stock  exceeds
the  exercise  price of the option)  stock  options at June 30, 1999 held by the
named executive officer and stock options exercised during fiscal 1999.


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

                                                     Number of Securities Underlying               Value of Unexercised
                                                        Unexercised Options at FY-End        In-the-Money Options at FY-End
                Shares Acquired                      -----------------------------------   -------------------------------------
Name            on Exercise (#)   Value Realized($)  Exercisable (#)   Unexercisable (#)   Exercisables($)(1)   Unexercisable ($)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>             <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>                 <C>                  <C>

Stan Carlson          ---               ---              9,861               6,576              38,852              25,909
<FN>

(1)  Represents  the  aggregate  (market  value market price of the Common Stock
     less the exercise  price) of the options held based upon the average of the
     high and low sales price of the Company's  Common Stock of $15.19 per share
     as quoted on the National Daily Quotation Service by the National Quotation
     Bureau on June 30, 1999,  the last day on which the Company's  Common Stock
     traded in fiscal 1999, less the respective exercise price.
</FN>
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


Employment Agreement. During 1995, Washington Federal entered into an employment
agreement  with  President  Stan  Carlson.  The agreement is for a term of three
years  and  has a base  salary  of  $60,000.  The  agreement  is  terminable  by
Washington  Federal  for  just  cause,  defined  in the  agreement  as  personal
dishonesty,  incompetence,  willful  misconduct,  any breach of  fiduciary  duty
involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties, willful
violation of any law,  rule,  or  regulation  (other than traffic  violations or
similar  offenses) or final cease and desist  order,  or material  breach of any
provision of the  employment  agreement.  Any request by a bank  regulator  that
President  Stan  Carlson be  removed  shall also be deemed  just  cause.  If the
agreement is terminated for just cause, the employee only receives his salary up
to the date of  termination.  If  Washington  Federal  terminates  the agreement
without just cause,  the employee is entitled to a  continuation  of salary from
the date of termination through the remaining term of the agreement.

The  agreement  provides  that  in  the  event  of  involuntary  termination  of
employment in connection  with, or within one year after,  any change in control
of the Company or Washington Federal, the employee will be paid a lump sum equal
to approximately  three times the employee's annual "base" salary. If a lump sum
payment had been made as of June 30, 1999,  Mr.  Carlson  would have  received a
payment of approximately  $217,000. The agreement may be renewed annually if the
Board of Directors  determines that the executive has met its  requirements  and
standards.

Benefit Plans

Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan.  Washington  has  established an employee stock
ownership  plan  (the  "ESOP")  for  the  exclusive   benefit  of  participating
employees.  Participating employees are employees who have completed one year of
service with Washington or its subsidiaries and have attained the age of 21.

The ESOP is funded by  contributions  made by  Washington  in cash or its common
stock.  Benefits  may be paid  either  in  shares  of  common  stock or in cash.
Washington  Federal  contributes  approximately  $45,600 annually to the ESOP to
meet principal  obligations under the ESOP loan, as proposed,  and an additional
amount  for  accrued  interest  on the  loan.  It is  anticipated  that all such
contributions shall be tax-deductible.

Contributions  to the ESOP and shares  released  from the  suspense  account are
allocated  among  participants  on the  basis of total  compensation,  excluding
bonuses.  All participants  must be employed at least 1,000 hours in a plan year
and be  employed  on the  last  day of the plan  year in  order  to  receive  an
allocation.  Participant  benefits  become  100%  vested  after  seven  years of
service.  Employment  prior to the adoption of the ESOP counts  toward  vesting.
Vesting  will be  accelerated  upon  retirement,  death,  disability,  change of
control  of the  Company,  or  termination  of the  ESOP.  Forfeitures  will  be
reallocated to participants on the same basis as other contributions in the plan
year. Benefits may be payable in the form of a lump sum upon retirement,  death,
disability or separation from service.  Washington's  contributions  to the ESOP
are  discretionary  and may cause a reduction  in other  forms of  compensation.
Therefore, benefits payable under the ESOP cannot be estimated.

The Board of Directors has appointed all outside  directors to the  Compensation
Committee to administer  the ESOP. The  Compensation  Committee may instruct the
ESOP Trustee  regarding  investments of funds  contributed to the ESOP. The ESOP
Trustee must vote all allocated  shares held in the ESOP in accordance  with the
instructions of the participating  employees.  Unallocated  shares and allocated
shares  for  which no timely  direction  is  received  will be voted by the ESOP
Trustee, subject to the Trustee's fiduciary duties.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

The Banks  have  followed  a policy of  granting  loans to  eligible  directors,
officers, employees and members of their immediate families for the financing of
their personal  residences and for consumer  purposes.  As of June 30, 1999, all
loans or extensions of credit to executive  officers and directors  were made on
substantially the same terms, including interest rates and collateral,  as those
prevailing at the time for comparable  transactions  with the general public and
do not  involve  more  than  the  normal  risk of  repayment  or  present  other
unfavorable  features.  Loans to officers and directors of Washington  and their
affiliates,   amounted  to  approximately   $950,000  or  8.9%  of  Washington's
stockholders' equity at June 30, 1999.
<PAGE>


              PROPOSAL II - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

At the Annual Meeting of Stockholders,  the stockholders  will consider and vote
on the  ratification  of the  appointment  of  McGladrey  &  Pullen,  LLP as the
Company's  independent  auditors for the  Company's  fiscal year ending June 30,
2000.

The Board of  Directors  of the Company  has  heretofore  renewed the  Company's
arrangement  for McGladrey & Pullen,  LLP to be the  Company's  auditors for the
fiscal year ending  June 30,  2000,  subject to  ratification  by the  Company's
stockholders.  Representatives of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP are expected to attend
the Meeting to respond to appropriate  questions and to make a statement if they
so desire.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION
OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MCGLADREY & PULLEN,  LLP AS THE COMPANY'S AUDITORS FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2000.


SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

Section  16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934  requires the  Company's
directors  and  executive  officers,  and  persons  who own more than 10% of the
Company's Common Stock (or any other equity securities, of which there is none),
to file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC") initial reports
of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of the Company's  Common Stock.
Officers,  directors  and  greater  than 10%  shareholders  are  required by SEC
regulations  to furnish the Company with copies of all Section  16(a) forms they
file.

To the  Company's  knowledge,  based  solely on a review  of the  copies of such
reports  furnished  to the  Company and  written  representations  that no other
reports were  required  during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999,  all Section
16(a) filing requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater than
10% beneficial owners were complied with.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  proxy  materials for the
next year's Annual Meeting of  Stockholders,  any  stockholder  proposal to take
action at such meeting must be received at the Company's  office  located at 102
East Main Street,  Washington,  Iowa 52353, no later than May 25, 2000. Any such
proposal shall be subject to the  requirements  of the proxy rules adopted under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. If a proposal does not meet the
above requirements for inclusion in the Company's proxy materials, but otherwise
meets the Company's eligibility  requirements to be presented at the next Annual
Meeting of  Stockholders,  the persons  named in the enclosed  form of proxy and
acting  thereon  will  have  the  discretion  to vote on any  such  proposal  in
accordance with their best judgment if the proposal is received at the Company's
main office no later than July 24,  2000;  provided  however,  that in the event
that notice or prior  disclosure  of the date of next year's  annual  meeting is
given or made to stockholders  after July 12, 2000, notice by the stockholder to
be timely must be received  not later than the close of business on the 10th day
following  the day on which such  notice of the date of the annual  meeting  was
mailed or when such disclosure was made.


                                  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 matter should  properly  come before the Meeting,  it is intended that
holders of the proxies will act in accordance with their best judgment.

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  solicitation  by mail,
directors,  officers and regular  employees  of the Company may solicit  proxies
personally or by telegraph or telephone without additional compensation.


Washington, Iowa
September 21, 1999
<PAGE>


                                 REVOCABLE PROXY

                               WASHINGTON BANCORP
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                October 19, 1999

         The  undersigned  hereby  appoints the Board of Directors of Washington
Bancorp (the "Company"),  and its survivor, with full power of substitution,  to
act as attorneys  and proxies for the  undersigned  to vote all shares of common
stock of the  Company  which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"), to be held on Tuesday, October 19, 1999
at the Company's main office, located at 102 East Main Street, Washington, Iowa,
at 4:00 p.m. local time, and at any and all adjournments thereof, as follows:

I.         The election of directors of all
nominees listed (except as marked to the
contrary below):

                                                     FOR ALL
                                    FOR   WITHHOLD   EXCEPT


RICHARD L. WEEKS (3-year term)      ---   --------   --------

J. RICHARD WILEY (3-year term)      ---   --------   --------

(INSTRUCTION:  To withhold  authority to vote for any individual  nominee,  mark
"FOR ALL EXCEPT")


                                                  FOR   AGAINST  ABSTAIN


II.  The ratification of the appointment          ---   -------  -------
     of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent
     auditors for the Company for the fiscal
     year ending June 30, 2000

In their  discretion,  the proxies are  authorized to vote on any other business
that may properly come before the Meeting or any adjournment thereof.

The Board of  Directors  recommends  a vote  "FOR"the  election of the  nominees
listed  above and  "FOR"the  ratification  for the  appointment  of  McGladrey &
Pullen, LLP.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS
PROXY  WILL  BE  VOTED  FOR  EACH  OF THE  NOMINEES  LISTED  ABOVE  AND  FOR THE
RATIFICATION  OF THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  MCGLADREY  &  PULLEN,  LLP.  IF ANY OTHER
BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THIS  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.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>


           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


This proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted by: (i) filing with the
Secretary of the Company at or before the Meeting a written notice of revocation
bearing a later date than the proxy;  (ii) duly  executing  a  subsequent  proxy
relating to the same shares and delivering it to the Secretary of the Company at
or before the  Meeting;  or (iii)  attending  the  Meeting  and voting in person
(although  attendance  at the  Meeting  will  not in  and of  itself  constitute
revocation of a proxy).  If this proxy is properly  revoked as described  above,
then the power of such  attorneys and proxies shall be deemed  terminated and of
no further force and effect.

The undersigned acknowledges receipt from the Company, prior to the execution of
this  proxy,  of a Notice  of the  Annual  Meeting,  a proxy  statement  and the
Company's Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1999.




                                            Dated:  ____________________________






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






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

                                            Please  sign  exactly  as your  name
                                            appears  above  on this  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 PROMPTLY COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY IN
                       THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------




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