GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP
8-K, 1999-08-11
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549




                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934





Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 9, 1999





                           GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)




     North Carolina                  0-27620             56-1951478
- ----------------------------      --------------        ------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction      (SEC File No.)        (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                                  Identification
                                                            Number)




241 Green Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina             28301-5051
- -----------------------------------------------            ---------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code:    (910) 483-3681
                                                       ---------------



                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last Report)


<PAGE>








                           GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP

                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT
                      ------------------------------------



Item 5.  Other Events

         A copy of a press release  issued  August 9, 1999 by the  registrant is
attached  hereto as Exhibit 99 and is  incorporated  herein by  reference in its
entirety.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information
         and Exhibits

Exhibit 2 -- Agreement  and Plan of Merger,  dated August 9, 1999,  by and among
NewSouth Bancorp, Inc., NewSouth Bank, and Washington Financial, Inc.; and Green
Street Financial Corp and Home Federal Savings and Loan Association.

The  following  is a list  briefly  identifying  the  contents  of  all  omitted
schedules:

         2.1      Organization, Good Standing, Authority, Insurance, Etc.
         2.2      Capitalization
         2.3      Ownership of Subsidiaries
         2.4      Financial Statements and Reports
         2.7      No Broker's or Finder's Fees
         2.8      Litigation and Other Proceedings
         2.11     Authority
         2.12     Employment Arrangements
         2.13     Employee Benefits
         2.15     Property and Assets
         2.16     Agreements and Instruments
         2.18     Tax Matters
         2.19     Environmental Matters
         2.20     Loan Portfolio: Portfolio Management
         2.22     Derivatives Contracts
         2.23     Insurance
         Exhibit A
         Exhibit B
         Exhibit 5.2(a)
         Exhibit 5.3(a)
         Exhibit 7.1
         Exhibit 7.3
         Exhibit 8.9

The Registrant  agrees to furnish  supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule
to the Commission upon request.


Exhibit 99 -- Press Release dated August 9, 1999.



<PAGE>





                                   SIGNATURES


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this Report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.


                                         GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP



Date: August 9, 1999                     By: /s/ H. D. Reaves, Jr.
                                             -----------------------------------
                                         H.D. Reaves, Jr.
                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                            and President















                                                   EXHIBIT 2


<PAGE>










                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                  By And Among

                             NEWSOUTH BANCORP, INC.,
                                  NEWSOUTH BANK
                                       AND
                           WASHINGTON FINANCIAL, INC.


                                       And


                           GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP
                                       AND
                    HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION



                           Dated as of August 9, 1999







<PAGE>





                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


         THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER  ("Agreement")  is dated as of August
9,  1999,  by  and  among  NEWSOUTH  BANCORP,   INC.,  a  Virginia   corporation
("NewSouth"),  NEWSOUTH BANK, a North Carolina  commercial bank and wholly owned
subsidiary  of  NewSouth  ("Bank"),  and  WASHINGTON  FINANCIAL,  INC.,  a North
Carolina  corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Bank ("New Sub"); and GREEN
STREET  FINANCIAL  CORP,  a North  Carolina  corporation  ("Company"),  and HOME
FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION,  a Federally chartered savings association
and wholly owned subsidiary of Company ("Savings").

         WHEREAS,  NewSouth,  a bank holding company,  with principal offices in
Washington, North Carolina, owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock
of Bank, with its principal offices in Washington, North Carolina, and Bank owns
all the issued and outstanding capital stock of New Sub.

         WHEREAS,  Company, a non-diversified,  unitary savings and loan holding
company, with principal offices in Fayetteville, North Carolina, owns all of the
issued and outstanding  capital stock of Savings,  with its principal offices in
Fayetteville, North Carolina.

         WHEREAS,  NewSouth  and  Company  desire to  combine  their  respective
holding companies and bank subsidiaries;

         WHEREAS,  the parties have determined that it would be desirable and in
their  respective  best  interests,   including  the  best  interests  of  their
respective  shareholders,  for (i) New Sub to merge with and into  Company  (the
"Company  Merger"),  pursuant to which each of the issued and outstanding shares
of common stock of Company  ("Company  Common Stock") shall be  automatically by
operation of law converted into the right to receive $15.25 in cash (the "Merger
Consideration")  and the issued and  outstanding  shares of New Sub common stock
shall be  converted  by  operation  of law into an equal  number of newly issued
shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  all of which  shall  be owned by Bank,  (ii)
immediately  following the Company Merger,  the Company shall be liquidated into
the Bank (the  "Liquidation")  and (iii) immediately  following the Liquidation,
Savings shall be merged with and into the Bank (the "Bank Merger").

         WHEREAS,  the Boards of  Directors  of  NewSouth  and the  Company  (at
meetings  duly  called and held) have  determined  that this  Agreement  and the
transactions  contemplated  hereby are in the best interests of NewSouth and the
Company,  respectively, and their respective stockholders and have approved this
Agreement.

         WHEREAS,  as a condition and inducement to  NewSouth's,  the Bank's and
New Sub's willingness to enter into this Agreement,  NewSouth has entered into a
separate Voting Agreement (attached as Exhibit A) with each of the directors and
executive officers of the Company providing

                                        1

<PAGE>



that each such person  shall vote,  or cause to be voted,  all shares of Company
Common  Stock which such person  beneficially  owns for  approval of the Company
Merger as contemplated herein.

         NOW THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and mutual  promises
hereinafter set forth, and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,  the parties hereto, intending
to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:


                                    ARTICLE I
                     THE COMPANY MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS

         1.1 The Company  Merger.  At the Effective  Time (as defined in Section
1.2  hereof),  New Sub shall be merged  with and into  Company  pursuant  to the
provisions  herein.  The Company Merger shall be effected in accordance with any
and all applicable  provisions of the North Carolina  Business  Corporation  Act
(the "NCBCA").  Company shall thereafter  continue as the surviving  corporation
under the name of "Green  Street  Financial  Corp".  Company after the Effective
Time is sometimes referred to in this Agreement as the "Surviving  Corporation."
At and after the Effective Time:

          (1)  The separate existence of New Sub shall cease.

          (2)  The Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of Company in effect
               immediately  prior to the Company  Merger  shall  continue as the
               Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
               after the Company Merger.

          (3)  The directors and executive  officers of the Company  immediately
               prior to the Effective Time shall, as of the such Effective Time,
               submit their written  resignation and the directors and executive
               officers of the Company immediately following the Company Merger,
               until their successors shall be duly elected and qualified, shall
               be such persons as are appointed by the Bank.

          (4)  From and after the Effective  Time, the Company Merger shall have
               the effects as set forth in Section 55-11-06 of the NCBCA.

         1.2 Effective Time of the Company Merger.  As soon as practicable after
each of the  conditions  set forth in Article V hereof  have been  satisfied  or
waived, New Sub and Company will file, or cause to be filed,  articles of merger
with the Secretary of State of North Carolina, which articles of merger shall be
in  the  form  required  by and  executed  in  accordance  with  the  applicable
provisions of the NCBCA.  The Company Merger shall become  effective at the time
the articles of merger are filed with the  Secretary of State of North  Carolina
or at such later time as is set forth in the articles of merger (the  "Effective
Time"), which shall be immediately  following the Closing (as defined in Section
1.11) and on the same day as the Closing if practicable.


                                        2

<PAGE>



         1.3 Conversion of Shares. The manner and basis of the conversion of the
respective  outstanding  shares of capital  stock of Company and New Sub and the
consideration  which the respective  record holders thereof shall be entitled to
receive pursuant to the Company Merger shall be as follows:

                  (a)      Company Common Stock.

                           (i) At the  Effective  Time  each  share  of  Company
         Common Stock issued and outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective
         Time (except  Dissenting  Shares (as defined in Section 1.4) and shares
         referred  to in  subparagraph  (ii)  of  this  Section  1.3(a)),  shall
         automatically by virtue of the  effectiveness of the Company Merger and
         without the necessity of any action on the part of the holder  thereof,
         be  canceled  and  converted  into the  right  to  receive  the  Merger
         Consideration  of $15.25 in cash. After the Effective Time, the holders
         of certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock shall cease
         to have any rights as stockholders of the Company,  except the right to
         receive the Merger  Consideration  as  provided  herein and except with
         respect to rights applicable to Dissenting Shares.

                           (ii) Any shares of  Company  Common  Stock  which are
         owned or held by Company or any of its subsidiaries (except shares held
         in any 401(k) plan or employee  stock  ownership plan of the Company or
         any of its subsidiaries or other shares held in a fiduciary capacity or
         shares held by Savings'  Restricted  Stock Plan)  including  any shares
         held in a grantor  trust  associated  with any of Company's or Savings'
         Employee  Plans or Benefit  Arrangements  (as such terms are defined in
         Section 2.13 hereof) or by NewSouth or any of  NewSouth's  subsidiaries
         (other than in a fiduciary  capacity) at the Effective Time shall cease
         to exist,  and the  certificates  for such shares  shall as promptly as
         practicable be canceled and no Merger  Consideration shall be issued or
         exchanged therefor.

                  (b) New Sub Common  Stock.  Each share of common  stock of New
Sub  issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  shall,
automatically  by virtue of the  effectiveness of the Company Merger and without
necessity  of any  action on the part of the holder  thereof,  be  canceled  and
converted  into an equal  number of newly  issued  shares of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.

                  (c)  Company  Stock  Options.  Upon  the  satisfaction  of all
conditions set forth in Article V of this  Agreement,  immediately  prior to the
Effective  Time, each holder of an option  outstanding  under the Company's 1996
Stock Option Plan, as amended on January 28, 1998 (the "Company  Option  Plan"),
whether or not the option is then exercisable, shall receive from the Company in
cancellation  of such option  (such  cancellation  to be  reflected in a written
agreement) a cash payment in an amount  determined by multiplying  the number of
shares of Company  Common  Stock  subject to option by such  holder by an amount
equal to the  difference  between  the  Merger  Consideration  and the per share
exercise  price of such  option,  net of any cash which must be  withheld  under
federal and state income tax requirements. Immediately thereafter, Company

                                        3

<PAGE>



shall cancel each such  option.  No cash  payment for  cancellation  of existing
stock options shall be payable without the prior review of NewSouth.

                  (d) Restricted Stock Plan. With respect to Savings' Restricted
Stock  Plan and  awards  for 83,888  shares of  Company  Common  Stock  pursuant
thereto,  which as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will not be deemed
earned and non-forfeitable, upon the satisfaction of all conditions set forth in
Article V of this Agreement,  Savings shall  immediately  prior to the Effective
Time pay, to each  participant in such  Restricted  Stock Plan who has agreed to
surrender such awards for a cash payment,  for each share subject to award which
is not then earned and  non-forfeitable,  cash in an amount equal to $15.25 plus
any dividend equivalents payable with respect to such shares up to the Effective
Time.

         1.4  Dissenting  Shares.  Any shares of Company  Common Stock held by a
holder who  dissents  from the  Company  Merger and  becomes  entitled to obtain
payment for the value of such  shares of Company  Common  Stock  pursuant to the
applicable  provisions of the NCBCA shall be herein called "Dissenting  Shares."
Any Dissenting  Shares shall not, after the Effective  Time, be entitled to vote
for any purpose or receive any  dividends or other  distributions,  shall not be
entitled to receive the Company Merger  Consideration and shall be entitled only
to such rights as are set forth in the NCBCA;  provided however,  that shares of
Company Common Stock held by a dissenting stockholder who subsequently withdraws
a demand for payment,  fails to comply fully with the requirements of the NCBCA,
or otherwise  fails to establish  the right of such  stockholder  to be paid the
value of such  stockholders'  shares  under  the  NCBCA  shall be  deemed  to be
converted  into the right to receive  the Merger  Consideration  pursuant to the
terms and conditions referred to above. All negotiations with respect to payment
for Dissenting Shares shall be handled by NewSouth.

         1.5 Right to Revise the Structure of the  Transaction.  NewSouth,  Bank
and New Sub shall, in their reasonable discretion,  have the unilateral right to
revise  the  structure  of the  corporate  reorganization  contemplated  by this
Agreement  in order to achieve tax  benefits or for any other  reason which they
may deem advisable; provided, however, that NewSouth, Bank and New Sub shall not
have the right to make any revision to the structure of the reorganization which
(i)  changes the form or amount of the  consideration  payable  hereunder,  (ii)
would unreasonably impede or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein or (iii) would  result in  treatment  for Federal  income tax purposes of
receipt by a shareholder of Company of the Merger Consideration set forth herein
as a taxable  dividend.  NewSouth,  Bank and New Sub may exercise  this right of
revision by giving written notice to Company and Savings in the manner  provided
in  Section  8.4 of this  Agreement,  which  notice  shall  be in the form of an
amendment to this Agreement.


                                        4

<PAGE>



         1.6      Exchange of Shares for Cash

                  (a) The  parties  hereto  agree  that the Bank will act as the
exchange agent (the "Exchange  Agent") for the exchange by Company  stockholders
of their shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger  Consideration,  pursuant
to the terms of the letter  agreement  between the Bank and the Company attached
hereto as Exhibit B.

                  (b)  After  the  Effective   Time,   holders  of  certificates
theretofore  evidencing  outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock (other than
Dissenting Shares or as provided in Section 1.3(a)(ii)),  upon surrender of such
certificates  to the Exchange  Agent,  shall be entitled to receive cash payable
for the Merger Consideration,  all as provided in Section 1.3 hereof. As soon as
practicable  after the Effective Time, but not more than three (3) business days
thereafter,  the Exchange Agent will send a notice and transmittal  form to each
Company  shareholder  of record at the Effective Time whose Company Common Stock
shall  have  been  converted  into  the  Merger   Consideration   advising  such
shareholder  of the  effectiveness  of the Company  Merger and the procedure for
surrendering to the Exchange Agent outstanding  certificates formerly evidencing
Company Common Stock in exchange for the Merger  Consideration.  Upon surrender,
each certificate evidencing Company Common Stock shall be canceled. The Exchange
Agent  shall pay by check to the  Company  shareholders  who submit  their stock
certificates  pursuant  to these  instructions  an  amount  equal to 100% of the
Merger  Consideration  for each of their shares  within three (3) business  days
following  receipt of the stock  certificate(s).  Such  checks  shall be sent by
first class mail.

                  (c) All  payments to Company  shareholders  pursuant to clause
(b) of this Section 1.6 shall be sent to the  shareholder's  address as shown on
the stock records of the Company,  or to such other address as a shareholder may
specify  in  a  written  instruction  submitted  with  the  shareholder's  stock
certificates.

                  (d) The  Merger  Consideration  paid  upon the  surrender  for
exchange  of  Company  Common  Stock in  accordance  with the  above  terms  and
conditions  shall be  deemed to have been  issued  in full  satisfaction  of all
rights  pertaining to such shares of Company  Common Stock.  No interest will be
paid or accrued on the cash payable upon surrender of such certificates.

                  (e) If payment for Company  Common  Stock is to be made to any
person other than the registered  holder of Company Common Stock  surrendered as
aforesaid, the amount of any stock transfer or similar taxes (whether imposed on
the  registered  holder or such  person)  payable on account of the  transfer of
Company Common Stock will be deducted from the amount to be paid by the Exchange
Agent or the Exchange Agent may refuse to make such payment unless  satisfactory
evidence of the payment of such taxes, or exemption  therefrom,  is submitted to
the Exchange Agent. Shares as to which dissenting shareholders' rights have been
properly perfected shall be treated in the manner provided by Section 1.4.

                  (f) In the event any  certificate  for  Company  Common  Stock
shall have been lost,  stolen or  destroyed,  the Exchange  Agent shall issue in
exchange for such lost, stolen or

                                        5

<PAGE>



destroyed  certificate,  upon the  making  of an  affidavit  of that fact by the
holder thereof,  the Merger  Consideration  as may be required  pursuant hereto;
provided,  however,  that  NewSouth  may, in its  discretion  and as a condition
precedent to the  issuance  thereof,  require the owner of such lost,  stolen or
destroyed  certificate to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably direct
as indemnity against any claim that may be made against  NewSouth,  the Company,
the Exchange Agent or any other party with respect to the certificate alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

         1.7  Status of  Certificates.  At and after the  Effective  Time,  each
outstanding  certificate which previously  represented  shares of Company Common
Stock (except any Dissenting Shares,  which Dissenting Shares will evidence only
the  rights  specified  in  Section  1.4  hereof,  and as set  forth in  Section
1.3(a)(ii)  hereof),  shall  until  surrendered  for  exchange  pursuant to this
Article I be deemed for all purposes to evidence  only the right to receive cash
in accordance  with the  provisions of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to
confer  upon the  holder  thereof  any  voting,  dividend  or other  rights of a
shareholder of the Surviving Corporation.  After the Effective Time, there shall
be no  further  registration  or  transfer  on  the  records  of  the  Surviving
Corporation of shares of Company Common Stock (except the shares of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation issued pursuant to Section 1.3(b) hereof), and if a
certificate formerly representing such shares is presented to NewSouth, it shall
be forwarded to the Exchange Agent for  cancellation and exchange for the Merger
Consideration.

         1.8  Shareholders'   Meeting.   The  Company  shall,  at  the  earliest
practicable date, hold a meeting of its shareholders (the "Company Shareholders'
Meeting") to submit for  shareholder  approval  this  Agreement  and the Company
Merger and all related matters necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.

         1.9      Proxy Statement.

                  (a) For the  purpose  of  holding  the  Company  Shareholders'
Meeting, the parties hereto shall cooperate in the preparation of an appropriate
proxy  statement  satisfying  all  applicable  requirements  of  the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the rules and  regulations
thereunder (the "Proxy Statement").

                  (b)  NewSouth  shall  furnish  such   information   concerning
NewSouth and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 3.1 hereof) as is
necessary in order to cause the Proxy  Statement,  insofar as it relates to such
corporations,  to comply with Section 1.9(a) hereof. NewSouth agrees promptly to
advise the Company if at any time prior to the Company Shareholders' Meeting any
information  provided by NewSouth in the Proxy  Statement  becomes  incorrect or
incomplete  in any  material  respect and to provide the  information  needed to
correct such inaccuracy or omission.

                  (c) NewSouth shall have the right to review and comment on the
form of Proxy  Statement  prior  to its  filing  with  the SEC and  prior to its
mailing to Company shareholders.


                                        6

<PAGE>



         1.10 Cooperation; Regulatory Approvals. The parties shall cooperate and
use reasonable best efforts to complete the transactions  contemplated hereunder
at the  earliest  practicable  date.  Each  party  shall  cause  each  of  their
affiliates and  subsidiaries  to cooperate in the  preparation and submission by
them, as promptly as reasonably  practicable,  of such applications,  petitions,
and other  documents and materials as any of them may reasonably  deem necessary
or  desirable  to the  Office of Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS"),  Federal  Deposit
Insurance  Corporation  ("FDIC"),  Federal  Reserve  Board  ("FRB"),  the  North
Carolina  Office of the  Commissioner  of Banks  ("Commission"),  Federal  Trade
Commission ("FTC"),  Department of Justice ("DOJ"), SEC, applicable Secretary of
State,  other  regulatory  authorities,  holders of the voting  shares of common
stock of  NewSouth  and the  Company,  and any other  persons for the purpose of
obtaining any approvals or consents  necessary to  consummate  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. At the date hereof, none of the parties is aware
of any  reason  that the  Governmental  Approvals  (as such term is  defined  in
Section 5.1(c) herein)  required to be obtained by it would not be obtained in a
timely manner.

         1.11 Closing. If (i) Company shareholder  approvals have been received,
and (ii) all  conditions  of this  Agreement  have been  satisfied or waived,  a
closing (the "Closing")  shall take place as promptly as practicable  thereafter
at the principal office of NewSouth or at such other place as the parties hereto
may  mutually  agree at which the  parties  hereto will  exchange  certificates,
opinions,  letters  and other  documents  as  required  hereby and will make the
filings described in Section 1.2 hereof. Such Closing will take place as soon as
practicable as agreed by the parties, provided,  however, that the Closing shall
be no more  than  thirty  (30)  days  after  the  satisfaction  or waiver of all
conditions and/or obligations contained in Article V of this Agreement.

         1.12 Closing of Transfer  Books.  At the Effective  Time,  the transfer
books for  Company  Common  Stock  shall be closed and no  transfer of shares of
Company Common Stock shall thereafter be made on such books.

         1.13  Liquidation  Account.  The  liquidation  account  established  by
Savings pursuant to the plan of conversion  adopted by it in connection with its
conversion from a mutual federal savings and loan association to a stock savings
and loan  association  shall,  to the extent  required  by  applicable  law,  be
maintained  by Bank after the Bank Merger for the  benefit of those  persons and
entities  who were savings  account  holders of Savings on the  eligibility  and
supplemental eligibility record dates for such conversion and who continue, from
time to time, to have rights therein.


                                   ARTICLE II
              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY AND SAVINGS

         Company and Savings represent and warrant to NewSouth, the Bank and New
Sub that,  except as  disclosed  in  Schedule I attached  hereto and except that
Savings does not make any representation or warranty regarding the Company:

                                        7

<PAGE>



         2.1 Organization, Good Standing, Authority, Insurance, Etc. The Company
is a corporation organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of  the  State  of  North  Carolina.  Section  2.1  of  Schedule  I  lists  each
"subsidiary"   of  the  Company  and  Savings  within  the  meaning  of  Section
10(a)(1)(G) of HOLA,  (individually a "Company  Subsidiary" and collectively the
"Company  Subsidiaries")  (unless  otherwise  noted herein all  references  to a
"Company  Subsidiary" or to the "Company  Subsidiaries"  shall include Savings).
Each of the Company  Subsidiaries is organized,  validly  existing,  and in good
standing  under  the  laws of the  respective  jurisdiction  under  which  it is
organized,  as set forth in Section  2.1 of  Schedule  I. The  Company  and each
Company  Subsidiary has all requisite  power and authority and is duly qualified
and licensed to own,  lease and operate its  properties and conduct its business
as it is now being  conducted.  The  Company has  delivered  to NewSouth a true,
complete and correct copy of the certificate of incorporation, charter, or other
organizing  document  and of the  bylaws,  as in  effect  on the  date  of  this
Agreement, of Company and each Company Subsidiary.  The Company and each Company
Subsidiary is qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation  and is in good
standing  in  each  jurisdiction  in  which  qualification  is  necessary  under
applicable  law, except to the extent that any failures to so qualify would not,
in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse  effect on the business,  financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and the Company  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.  Savings is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Atlanta and all eligible  accounts  issued by Savings are insured by the
Savings  Association  Insurance  Fund ("SAIF") to the maximum  extent  permitted
under applicable law. Savings is a "domestic  building and loan  association" as
defined in Section 7701(a)(19) of the Code and is a "qualified thrift lender" as
defined in Section 10(m) of the HOLA and the Thrift Regulations.  The Company is
registered as a savings and loan holding company under the HOLA.

         The minute books of the Company and the Company's  Subsidiaries contain
complete and accurate  records of all meetings and other corporate  actions held
or taken by their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including the
committees of such Boards).

         2.2  Capitalization.  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  the  Company
consists  of (i)  10,000,000  shares of common  stock,  no par  value,  of which
3,879,269  shares were issued and  outstanding as of the date of this Agreement,
and (ii) 1,000,000  shares of Preferred  Stock, no par value, of which no shares
were  outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.  All  outstanding  shares of
Company  Common  Stock  are  duly  authorized,   validly  issued,   fully  paid,
nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.  Except for outstanding  options to
purchase  429,812  shares of Company  Common Stock under the Company Option Plan
and  awards  for  103,147  shares of  Company  Common  Stock  under the  Savings
Restricted  Stock Plan, which awards as of the date hereof are not deemed earned
and  non-forfeitable,  as of the date of this  Agreement,  there are no options,
convertible  securities,  warrants, or other rights (preemptive or otherwise) to
purchase or acquire any of the  Company's  capital stock from the Company and no
oral  or  written  agreement,  contract,  arrangement,  understanding,  plan  or
instrument of any kind (collectively,  "Stock Contract") to which the Company or
any of its  affiliates  is subject with respect to the  issuance,  voting (other
than the Voting  Agreement  contemplated  herein) or sale of issued or  unissued
shares of the Company's  capital  stock. A true and complete copy of the Company
Option Plan, as in effect on the date of this Agreement,  is attached as Section
2.2 of Schedule I.

                                        8

<PAGE>



         2.3  Ownership  of  Subsidiaries.  All the  outstanding  shares  of the
capital  stock of the  Company  Subsidiaries  are  validly  issued,  fully paid,
nonassessable  and owned  beneficially and of record by the Company or a Company
Subsidiary free and clear of any lien, claim, charge, restriction or encumbrance
(collectively, "Encumbrance"). Except as set forth in Section 2.3 of Schedule I,
there  are  no  options,  convertible  securities,  warrants,  or  other  rights
(preemptive  or  otherwise)  to purchase  or acquire  any  capital  stock of any
Company  Subsidiary  and  no  contracts  to  which  the  Company  or  any of its
affiliates is subject with respect to the issuance,  voting or sale of issued or
unissued shares of the capital stock of any of the Company Subsidiaries. Neither
the Company nor any  Company  Subsidiary  owns any  material  investment  of the
capital stock or other equity securities  (including  securities  convertible or
exchangeable into such securities) of or profit  participations in any "company"
(as defined in Section 10(a)(1)(C) of the HOLA) other than the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Atlanta except as set forth in Section 2.3 of Schedule I.

         2.4      Financial Statements and Reports.

                  (a) No registration  statement,  proxy statement,  schedule or
report  filed by the  Company  with the SEC  under  the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act
("SEC Reports"),  on the date of effectiveness in the case of such  registration
statements,  or on the date of filing in the case of such reports or  schedules,
or on the date of mailing in the case of such proxy  statements,  contained  any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in light of
the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  The Company and
the Company Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports and documents required to
be filed by them with the SEC, the OTS, or the FDIC under various securities and
banking laws and  regulations for the last five years (or such shorter period as
they may have been  subject to such filing  requirements),  except to the extent
that all  failures  to so file,  in the  aggregate,  would  not have a  material
adverse effect on the business,  financial condition or results of operations of
the Company and the Company Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole. All such documents,
as  finally  amended,   complied  in  all  material   respects  with  applicable
requirements  of law and,  as of their  respective  date or the date as amended,
with  respect to the SEC  Reports,  did not  contain any untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated  therein or
necessary to make the statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under
which they were made, not misleading  and, with respect to reports and documents
filed with banking regulatory agencies,  were accurate in all material respects.
Except to the extent  stated  therein,  all financial  statements  and schedules
included in the  documents  referred  to in the  preceding  sentences  (or to be
included in similar documents to be filed after the date hereof) (i) are or will
be (with  respect to  financial  statements  in respect of periods  ending after
March 31, 1999) in accordance  with the Company's books and records and those of
any of the Company Subsidiaries,  and (ii) present (and in the case of financial
statements  in respect of periods  ending  after March 31, 1999,  will  present)
fairly the  consolidated  statement of financial  condition and the consolidated
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and the
Company Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with
prior periods  (except for the omission of notes to unaudited  statements,  year
end adjustments to interim results and changes to generally accepted  accounting
principles). The consolidated financial statements of the Company

                                        9

<PAGE>



at  September  30, 1998 and for the three years then ended and the  consolidated
financial  statements  for all periods  thereafter up to the Closing  reflect or
will reflect,  as the case may be, all liabilities  (whether accrued,  absolute,
contingent,  unliquidated  or  otherwise,  whether  due  or to  become  due  and
regardless of when asserted),  as of their respective  dates, of the Company and
the Company  Subsidiaries  required to be reflected in such financial statements
according  to generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and in the opinion of
Company management contain or will contain adequate reserves for losses on loans
and  properties  acquired in settlement of loans,  taxes and all other  material
accrued liabilities and for all reasonably  anticipated  material losses, if any
as of such date. There exists no set of  circumstances  that could reasonably be
expected to result in any liability or obligation material to the Company or the
Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as disclosed in such consolidated
financial  statements  at  September  30, 1998 or for  transactions  effected or
actions  occurring  or omitted to be taken after  September  30, 1998 (i) in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) as permitted by this Agreement.

                  (b) The Company  has  delivered  to  NewSouth  each SEC Report
filed,  used or  circulated  by it with respect to periods  since  November 1996
through  the date of this  Agreement  and will  promptly  deliver  each such SEC
Report  filed,  used or  circulated  after  the  date  hereof,  each in the form
(including  exhibits and any amendments  thereto) filed with the SEC (or, if not
so filed, in the form used or circulated),  including,  without limitation,  its
Annual Reports on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

                  (c) Except (i) as disclosed in Section 2.4 of Schedule I, (ii)
as reflected,  noted or adequately reserved against in the financial  statements
referred to in this Section 2.4, or (iii) for deposits  incurred in the ordinary
course of  business  consistent  with past  practice,  Company  and the  Company
Subsidiaries do not have any material  liabilities  (whether accrued,  absolute,
contingent or otherwise).

         2.5      Absence of Changes.

                  (a) Except as  disclosed  in Section  2.4 of Schedule I, since
September  30,  1998 and  through  the date  hereof,  there has been no material
adverse  change in the business,  properties,  financial  condition,  results of
operations  or assets of the Company and the  Company  Subsidiaries,  taken as a
whole.  Except as  disclosed in Section 2.4 of Schedule I, since  September  30,
1998 and through the date hereof,  there is no occurrence,  event or development
of any nature  existing or, to the best  knowledge  of the Company,  threatened,
which may  reasonably  be  expected to have a material  adverse  effect upon the
business, properties,  financial condition,  operations or assets of the Company
or any Company Subsidiary, taken as a whole.

                  (b) Since  September  30,  1998,  each of the  Company and the
Company Subsidiaries has owned and operated their respective assets,  properties
and  businesses  in the  ordinary  course of business and  consistent  with past
practice.

         2.6 Proxy  Statement.  At the time the Proxy Statement is mailed to the
shareholders  of the Company for the  solicitation  of proxies for the approvals
referred to in Section 1.8 hereof and

                                       10

<PAGE>



at all times  subsequent  to such mailings up to and including the times of such
approval, such Proxy Statement (including any supplements thereto), with respect
to all  information  set forth therein  relating to the Company  (including  the
Company  Subsidiaries),  its  shareholders and  representatives,  Company Common
Stock and all other transactions contemplated hereby, will:

                  (a) Comply in all material respects with applicable provisions
of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations under such Act; and

                  (b) Not contain any statement  which, at the time and in light
of the circumstances under which it is made, is false or misleading with respect
to any  material  fact or which omits to state any  material  fact  necessary in
order to make the  statements  therein not false or  misleading  or necessary to
correct  any  statement  in  any  earlier  communication  with  respect  to  the
solicitation of a proxy for the Company  Shareholders'  Meeting which has become
false or misleading.

         2.7 No Broker's or Finder's Fees. Except as set forth in Section 2.7 of
Schedule I (which shall also  include a copy of any  engagement  agreement),  no
agent,  broker,  investment  banker,  person  or firm  acting on behalf or under
authority  of the  Company  or any of the  Company  Subsidiaries  is or  will be
entitled to any broker's or finder's fee or any other  commission or similar fee
directly  or  indirectly  in  connection  with the  Company  Merger or any other
transaction contemplated hereby.

         2.8  Litigation and Other  Proceedings.  Except as set forth in Section
2.8 of Schedule I and except for matters which would not have a material adverse
effect on the  business,  financial  condition or results of  operations  of the
Company and the Company  Subsidiaries taken as a whole,  neither the Company nor
any Company Subsidiary is a defendant in, nor is any of its property subject to,
any  pending,  or,  to the best  knowledge  of the  management  of the  Company,
threatened, claim, action, suit, investigation, or proceeding, or subject to any
judicial order, judgment or decree.

         2.9      Compliance with Law.

                  (a) The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in compliance
in all material  respects with all material laws and  regulations  applicable to
their respective business or operations or with respect to which compliance is a
condition of engaging in the business  thereof,  and neither the Company nor any
Company  Subsidiary  has  received  notice  from  any  federal,  state  or local
government  or  governmental  agency of any material  violation of, and does not
know of any material violations of, any of the above.

                  (b) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have all material
permits, licenses,  certificates of authority, orders and approvals of, and have
made all material  filings,  applications and  registrations  with, all federal,
state and local  governmental or regulatory bodies that are required in order to
permit  them to  carry  on  their  respective  business  as they  are  presently
conducted.

                                       11

<PAGE>



         2.10     Corporate Actions.

                  (a) The Boards of  Directors  of the Company and Savings  have
duly authorized their respective  officers to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to take all action  necessary to consummate the Company Merger and the other
transactions  contemplated  hereby. The Board of Directors of the Company has by
appropriate  resolutions  made the  provisions  of Article XIII of the Company's
Articles of Incorporation  inapplicable to this Agreement and the Company Merger
and has authorized and directed the  submission  for  shareholders'  approval of
this Agreement,  together with the Company Merger and any other action requiring
such  approvals.  All corporate  authorization  by the Board of Directors of the
Company required for the consummation of the Company Merger has been obtained or
will be given when required by applicable law.  Savings has taken, or shall take
prior to the Effective Time, all necessary  actions to approve and effectuate an
amendment  to Section 9 of its  Federal  Stock  Charter  to make its  provisions
inapplicable  to  NewSouth  and the  Company  Merger  and the Bank  Merger  (the
"Charter Amendment").

                  (b) The  Company's  Board of Directors  has taken or will take
all necessary  action to exempt this  Agreement,  the Company  Merger,  the Bank
Merger and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  and  thereby  from,  (i) any
applicable  state  takeover  laws,  (ii) any North  Carolina  laws  limiting  or
restricting  the voting rights of  shareholders,  (iii) any North  Carolina laws
requiring a shareholder approval vote in excess of the vote normally required in
transactions  of similar  type not  involving  a "related  person,"  "interested
shareholder"  or person or entity of similar type, and (iv) any provision in its
or any of  the  Company  Subsidiaries'  articles/certificate  of  incorporation,
charter or bylaws  requiring a  shareholder  approval vote in excess of the vote
normally  required  in  transactions  of similar  type not  involving a "related
person,"  interested  shareholder" or person or entity of similar type.  Without
limiting the above,  the Company's  Board of Directors has made  inapplicable to
the Company Merger the higher  shareholder vote requirement set forth in Article
XIV of the Company's Articles of Incorporation.

         2.11 Authority.  Except as disclosed in Section 2.11 of Schedule I, the
execution, delivery and performance of their obligations under this Agreement by
the  Company  and  Savings  and the Bank  Merger by Savings  does not violate or
conflict with any of the  provisions of, or constitute a breach or default under
or give any  person  the right to  terminate,  cancel or  accelerate  payment or
performance  under or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon (i) subject
to the Charter Amendment, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company
or  the  certificate  of  incorporation,   charter  or  bylaws  of  any  Company
Subsidiary,  (ii) any law, rule, ordinance,  or regulation or judgment,  decree,
order, award or governmental or  non-governmental  permit or license to which it
or any of  the  Company  Subsidiaries  is  subject,  (iii)  any  other  material
agreement,   material  lease,  material  contract,  note,  mortgage,  indenture,
arrangement or other obligation or instrument  ("Contract") to which the Company
or any of the Company  Subsidiaries  is a party or is subject or by which any of
their  properties or assets is bound or (iv) any property or asset of Company or
Savings pursuant to any note, bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  license agreement or
other instrument or obligation. The parties acknowledge that the consummation of
the Company Merger and the other transactions  contemplated hereby is subject to
various regulatory  approvals.  Subject to the approval and effectiveness of the
Charter Amendment, the

                                       12

<PAGE>



Company and Savings,  as  applicable,  have all  requisite  corporate  power and
authority  to  enter  into  this  Agreement  and  to  perform  their  respective
obligations hereunder and thereunder, except, with respect to this Agreement and
the Company Merger, the approval of the Company's shareholders of this Agreement
required under applicable law. Other than the receipt of Governmental  Approvals
(as defined in Section 5.1(c)),  the approval of shareholders of this Agreement,
and the  consents  specified  in Schedule I with  respect to the  Contracts,  no
consents or approvals are required on behalf of Company in  connection  with the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and the Bank
Merger.  This  Agreement  constitutes  the valid and binding  obligation  of the
Company and Savings,  as applicable,  and each is enforceable in accordance with
its terms,  except as enforceability  may be limited by applicable laws relating
to bankruptcy,  insolvency or creditors rights generally and general  principles
of equity.

         2.12  Employment  Arrangements.  Except as disclosed in Section 2.12 of
Schedule I, there are no  employment,  severance or other  agreements,  plans or
arrangements  with any current or former  directors,  officers or  employees  of
Company or any Company  Subsidiary  which may not be terminated  without penalty
(including  any  augmentation  or  acceleration  of benefits) on 30 days or less
notice to such  person.  Except as  disclosed  in Section 2.12 of Schedule I, no
payments  to  directors,  officers  or  employees  of the Company or the Company
Subsidiaries resulting from the transactions  contemplated hereby will cause the
imposition  of excise taxes under  Section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code") or the  disallowance of a deduction to the Company
or any Company Subsidiary pursuant to Sections 162 or 280G of the Code.

         2.13     Employee Benefits.

                  (a) Neither  the  Company nor any of the Company  Subsidiaries
maintains any funded  deferred  compensation  plans  (including  profit sharing,
pension,   savings  or  stock  bonus  plans),   unfunded  deferred  compensation
arrangements  or  employee  benefit  plans as  defined  in  Section  3(3) of the
Employee  Retirement  Income Security Act of 1974, as amended  ("ERISA"),  other
than any plans ("Employee  Plans") set forth in Section 2.13 of Schedule I (true
and correct copies of which have been delivered to NewSouth). None of Company or
any of the Company  Subsidiaries has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any
liability  to the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty  Corporation  except for  required
premium  payments  which,  to the extent due and  payable,  have been paid.  The
Employee Plans intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of the Code are so
qualified, and Company is not aware of any fact which would adversely affect the
qualified status of such plans.  Except as set forth in Section 2.13 of Schedule
I, neither the Company nor any of the Company  Subsidiaries (a) provides health,
medical,  death or  survivor  benefits  to any former  employee  or  beneficiary
thereof, or (b) maintains any form of current (exclusive of base salary and base
wages) or deferred compensation,  bonus, stock option, stock appreciation right,
benefit,  severance  pay,  retirement,  incentive,  group or  individual  health
insurance,  welfare or similar plan or arrangement for the benefit of any single
or  class of  directors,  officers  or  employees,  whether  active  or  retired
(collectively  "Benefit  Arrangements").  With respect to each Employee Plan and
Benefit  Arrangement of the Company or any Company  Subsidiary,  Section 2.13 of
Schedule I sets forth as of the date of this Agreement: (i) any and all payments
more than 30 days past due, (ii) the actuarial  present  value,  determined  and
prepared

                                       13

<PAGE>



in  accordance  with  GAAP  (based,  where  applicable,  on the  same  actuarial
assumptions as those previously used for funding  purposes,  other than turnover
assumptions,  and  computed on the basis of a terminated  plan),  of any accrued
benefits or other  obligations not listed elsewhere in this schedule,  including
without  limitation,  premiums  and  contributions  for which the Company or any
Company  Subsidiary  is or may be  directly or  indirectly  liable to present or
former employees,  officers,  directors, and their beneficiaries,  (iii) the net
fair market value of the assets held in any fund,  policy, or other arrangement,
and (iv) the amount of any contribution or other obligation  paid,  accrued,  or
payable,  or  reasonably  expected  to be  payable,  between  the  date  of this
Agreement and the Closing, including but not limited to contributions by Savings
to its Employee Stock  Ownership Plan (the "Savings  ESOP") to repay its loan in
accordance  with past  practices  (pro rated  through the  Closing),  subject to
applicable tax law limitations.

                  (b) Except as set forth in  Section  2.13 of  Schedule  I, all
Employee Plans and Benefit  Arrangements  which  presently are in effect were in
effect for substantially all of calendar year 1998 to date and there has been no
material  amendment  thereof  (other  than  amendments  required  to comply with
applicable law) or no material  increase in the cost thereof or benefits payable
thereunder on or after October 1, 1998.

                  (c) Each  Company and  Company  Subsidiary  Employee  Plan and
Benefit  Arrangement  has been  administered  to date, and will be  administered
until the Closing,  in accordance  with their terms and in  compliance  with the
Code,  ERISA, and all other  applicable  rules and regulations.  With respect to
each Employee Plan and Benefit Arrangement,  Company and the Company Subsidiary,
as applicable (i) have, in a timely, accurate, and proper manner, both filed all
required government reports and made all required employee  communications,  and
(ii) between the date of this Agreement and the Closing,  will complete and file
all such required reports. No condition exists that could constitute grounds for
the termination of any Employee Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA; no "prohibited
transaction,"  as defined in Section 406 of ERISA and Section  4975 of the Code,
has occurred with respect to any Employee  Plan, or any other  employee  benefit
plan maintained by Company or any Company Subsidiary which is covered by Title I
of ERISA,  which could subject any person to liability under Title I of ERISA or
to the imposition of any tax under Section 4975 of the Code nor has any Employee
Plan subject to Part III of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code, or both,  incurred any  "accumulated  funding  deficiency,"  as defined in
Section 412 of the Code,  whether or not waived;  nor has Company or any Company
Subsidiary  failed to make any  contribution  or pay any amount due and owing as
required  by the terms of any  Employee  Plan or  Benefit  Arrangement.  Neither
Company nor any Company Subsidiary has incurred or expects to incur, directly or
indirectly,  any  liability  under  Title IV of ERISA or  otherwise  arising  in
connection with the termination  of, or a complete or partial  withdrawal  from,
any plan  covered  or  previously  covered  by Title  IV of  ERISA  which  could
constitute  a liability of NewSouth,  or any of its  affiliates  at or after the
Effective Time.

                  (d) Except as set forth in  Section  2.13 of  Schedule  I, the
assets  of  Savings'   defined  benefit  pension  plan  do  not  include  equity
securities.


                                       14

<PAGE>



                  (e) Awards for  171,925  shares of Company  Common  Stock have
previously  been  awarded to  employees  and  directors  of Savings  pursuant to
Savings  Restricted  Stock Plan,  of which  awards for 68,778  shares of Company
Common  Stock  became  earned  and  non-forfeitable  prior  to the  date of this
Agreement.  Awards for the  remaining  103,147  shares of Company  Common Stock,
including  dividend  equivalents  payable  with respect to such shares up to the
Effective Time pursuant to such  Restricted  Stock Plan,  will become earned and
non-forfeitable  in  accordance  with the  schedule set forth in Section 2.13 of
Schedule I.

         2.14  Information  Furnished.  No statement  contained in any schedule,
certificate or other document  furnished  (whether prior to or subsequent to the
date of this Agreement) or to be furnished in writing by or on behalf of Company
to NewSouth  pursuant  to this  Agreement  contains  or will  contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or any material omission.  No information  material
to the  Company  Merger or the Bank  Merger and which is  necessary  to make the
representations and warranties not misleading has been withheld from NewSouth.

         2.15 Property and Assets. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have
marketable  title to all of  their  real  property  reflected  in the  Company's
consolidated  financial statements at September 30, 1998, referred to in Section
2.4 hereof, or acquired subsequent thereto,  free and clear of all Encumbrances,
except for (a) such items  shown in such  financial  statements  or in the notes
thereto,  (b) liens for  current  real  estate  taxes  not yet  delinquent,  (c)
customary title  exceptions that have no material  adverse effect upon the value
of such property,  (d) property sold or  transferred  in the ordinary  course of
business since the date of such financial  statements,  and (e) pledges or liens
incurred in the ordinary course of business. Neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary  leases as either  lessor or lessee  any  interest  in real  property
except as set forth in Exhibit  2.15 of  Schedule I. No consent of the lessor of
any material personal property lease is required for consummation of the Company
Merger  except as set forth in  Section  2.15 of  Schedule  I. There has been no
material  physical  loss,  damage or  destruction,  whether  or not  covered  by
insurance, affecting the real properties of Company and the Company Subsidiaries
since September 30, 1998, except such loss, damage or destruction which does not
have a material  adverse  effect on the Company  and the  Company  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.  All  property  and  assets  material  to their  business  and
currently  used by Company and the  Company  Subsidiaries  are, in all  material
respects, in good operating condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted.

         2.16 Agreements and Instruments. Except as set forth in Section 2.16 of
Schedule I, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is a party to (a) any
material agreement, arrangement or commitment not made in the ordinary course of
business,  (b) any agreement which involves annual payments in excess of $10,000
or has a remaining  term of one year or more, in each case whether or not in the
ordinary course,  (c) any agreement,  indenture or other instrument  relating to
the borrowing of money by the Company or any Company Subsidiary or the guarantee
by the  Company or any Company  Subsidiary  of any such  obligation  (other than
Federal  Home Loan Bank  advances  with a maturity  of one year or less from the
date hereof), (d) any agreements to make loans or for the provision, purchase or
sale of goods,  services or property  between Company or any Company  Subsidiary
and any director or officer of Company or Savings, or any

                                       15

<PAGE>



member of the  immediate  family or affiliate of any of the  foregoing,  (e) any
agreements  with or  concerning  any  labor or  employee  organization  to which
Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party, (f) any agreements between Company
or any Company  Subsidiary and any five percent or more  shareholder of Company,
and (g) any agreements,  directives,  orders, or similar arrangements between or
involving the Company or any Company Subsidiary and any state or federal savings
institution regulatory authority.

         2.17 Material  Contract  Defaults.  Neither the Company nor any Company
Subsidiary  nor, to the best  knowledge  of the Company and  Savings,  the other
party  thereto is in  default  in any  respect  under any  contract,  agreement,
commitment,  arrangement,  lease, insurance policy, or other instrument to which
the  Company  or a  Company  Subsidiary  is a party or by which  its  respective
assets,  business,  or operations  may be bound or affected or under which it or
its respective assets,  business,  or operations  receives  benefits,  and which
default is reasonably expected to have either individually or in the aggregate a
material  adverse effect on the Company and any Company  Subsidiary,  taken as a
whole,  and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the
giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.

         2.18     Tax Matters.

                  (a) The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have duly
and properly filed all federal,  state,  local and other tax returns required to
be filed by them and have made  timely  payments  of all taxes due and  payable,
whether  disputed or not;  the current  status of audits of such  returns by the
Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") and other  applicable  agencies is as set forth
in Section  2.18 of Schedule I; and there is no  agreement by the Company or any
Company Subsidiary for the extension of time or for the assessment or payment of
any  taxes  payable.  Neither  the IRS nor any  other  taxing  authority  is now
asserting  or, to the best  knowledge  of  Company,  threatening  to assert  any
deficiency or claim for  additional  taxes (or interest  thereon or penalties in
connection therewith),  nor is the Company aware of any basis for any such asser
tion or claim. The Company and each of the Company Subsidiaries have complied in
all material  respects with applicable IRS backup  withholding  requirements and
have filed all appropriate  information  reporting returns for all tax years for
which the statute of  limitations  has not closed.  The Company and each Company
Subsidiary have complied in all material  respects with all applicable state law
sales and use tax collection and reporting requirements.

                  (b) Adequate  provision for any federal,  state or local taxes
due or to become due for the Company or any of the Company  Subsidiaries for any
period or periods through and including September 30, 1998, has been made and is
reflected on the  September  30, 1998  audited  Company  consolidated  financial
statements and has been or will be made in accordance  with  generally  accepted
accounting principles with respect to periods ending after September 30, 1998.

         2.19  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in  Section  2.19 of
Schedule I,  neither the Company nor any Company  Subsidiary  owns or leases any
properties  affected by toxic waste, radon gas or other hazardous  conditions or
constructed  in part  with the use of  asbestos.  Neither  the  Company  nor any
Company Subsidiary has knowledge of, nor has the Company or any

                                       16

<PAGE>



Company  Subsidiary  received written notice from any governmental or regulatory
body of, any conditions,  activities, practices or incidents which is reasonably
likely to interfere  with or prevent  compliance  or continued  compliance  with
hazardous  substance  laws  or  any  regulation,   order,  decree,  judgment  or
injunction,  issued, entered,  promulgated or approved thereunder,  or which may
give rise to any common law or legal  liability,  or otherwise form the basis of
any  claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding,  hearing or  investigation  based on or
related to the manufacture,  processing,  distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal,  transport,  or  handling,  or the  emission,  discharge,  release  or
threatened  release  into the  environment,  of any  pollutant,  contaminant  or
chemical,  or  industrial,  toxic or hazardous  substance or waste.  There is no
civil,  criminal or administrative claim, action, suit,  proceeding,  hearing or
investigation pending or, to Company's knowledge,  threatened against Company or
any Company Subsidiary  relating in any way to such hazardous  substance laws or
any  regulation,   order,  decree,   judgment  or  injunction  issued,  entered,
promulgated or approved thereunder.

         2.20     Loan Portfolio:  Portfolio Management.

                  (a) All evidences of  indebtedness  reflected as assets in the
consolidated  statement  of financial  condition of Company as of September  30,
1998,  or acquired  since such date,  are (except  with  respect to those assets
which are no longer  assets of the  Company or any Company  Subsidiary)  binding
obligations of the respective  obligors named therein except as enforcement  may
be limited  by  bankruptcy,  insolvency  or other  similar  laws  affecting  the
enforcement of creditors rights  generally,  and except that the availability of
equitable remedies, including specific performance, is subject to the discretion
of the court before which any proceeding  may be brought,  and the payment of no
material  amount  thereof  (either  individually  or in the aggregate with other
evidences of indebtedness) is subject to any defenses which have been threatened
or asserted against the Company or any Company Subsidiary. All such indebtedness
which is  secured  by an  interest  in real  property  is secured by a valid and
perfected mortgage lien having the priority specified in the loan documents. All
loans  originated  or  purchased by Savings were at the time entered into and at
all times  since  have been in  compliance  in all  material  respects  with all
applicable laws (including,  without  limitation,  all consumer protection laws)
and  regulations.   Savings  administers  its  loan  and  investment  portfolios
(including, but not limited to, adjustments to adjustable mortgage loans) in all
material respects in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and the
terms of  applicable  instruments.  The records of Savings  regarding  all loans
outstanding  on its books are  accurate in all  material  respects  and the risk
classification  system has been  established in accordance with the requirements
of the OTS.

                  (b) Section 2.20 of Schedule I sets forth a list, accurate and
complete in all material respects, of the aggregate amounts of loans, extensions
of  credit  and other  assets of  Savings  and its  subsidiaries  that have been
adversely  designated,  criticized  or  classified  by it as of March 31,  1999,
separated   by   category   of   classification   or   criticism   (the   "Asset
Classification");  and no amounts of loans, extensions of credit or other assets
that have been  adversely  designated,  classified  or criticized as of the date
hereof by any  representative  of any  government  entity as "Special  Mention,"
"Substandard," "Doubtful," "Loss" or words of similar

                                       17

<PAGE>



import are  excluded  from the amounts  disclosed  in the Asset  Classification,
other than  amounts of loans,  extensions  of credit or other  assets  that were
charged off by it or any of the Company Subsidiaries before the date hereof.

         2.21 Real Estate Loans and Investments.  Except for properties acquired
in settlement of loans, there are no facts, circumstances or contingencies known
to the Company or any  Company  Subsidiary  which  exist  which would  require a
material reduction under generally accepted accounting principles in the present
carrying  value  of  any  of  the  real  estate  investments,   joint  ventures,
construction  loans,  other  investments  or other  loans of the  Company or any
Company Subsidiary (either individually or in the aggregate with other loans and
investments).

         2.22  Derivatives  Contracts.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  of  its
Subsidiaries  is a party to or has  agreed to enter into an  exchange-traded  or
over-the-counter  swap, forward,  future, option, cap, floor or collar financial
contract or any other  contract  not  included  on its Balance  Sheet which is a
derivatives   contract  (including  various   combinations   thereof)  (each,  a
"Derivatives  Contract")  or owns  securities  that  are  identified  in  Thrift
Bulletin  No.  65  or  otherwise  referred  to  as  structured  notes  (each,  a
"Structured Note"),  except for those Derivatives Contracts and Structured Notes
set forth in Section 2.22 of Schedule I, including a list, as applicable, of any
of its or any of its Subsidiaries'  assets pledged as security for a Derivatives
Contract.

         2.23 Insurance. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries have in effect
insurance  coverage  which, in respect to amounts,  types and risks insured,  is
reasonably  adequate  for the  business  in which the  Company  and the  Company
Subsidiaries are engaged.  A schedule of all insurance  policies in effect as to
the Company and the Company  Subsidiaries  (the "Insurance  Policies") is as set
forth on Section 2.23 of Schedule I (other than policies  pertaining to mortgage
loans made in the ordinary  course of business).  All Insurance  Policies are in
full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto covering all periods up
to and  including  the date of this  Agreement  have been  paid,  such  premiums
covering all periods from the date hereof up to and including the Effective Date
shall have been paid on or before the Effective Date, to the extent then due and
payable (other than retrospective  premiums which may be payable with respect to
worker's  compensation  insurance  policies,  adequate  reserves  for  which are
reflected in the Company's  financial  statements).  The Insurance  Policies are
valid, outstanding and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and
will not in any way be affected by, or terminated or lapsed solely by reason of,
the  transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement.  Neither the Company nor any
Company  Subsidiary  has been refused any insurance with respect to any material
properties,  assets  or  operations,  nor  has  any  coverage  been  limited  or
terminated  by any  insurance  carrier  to  which  it has  applied  for any such
insurance or with which it has carried insurance during the last three years.

         2.24 Year 2000. (a) Company and Savings' computer hardware and software
systems  used for the storage and  processing  of data (as used in this  Section
2.24,  "Systems") are or will be, Millennium  Compliant as required by all FFIEC
Year 2000  compliance  guidelines,  specifically  including  all  FFIEC-mandated
interim deadlines for testing and other Year 2000 compliance activities;  (b) to
the Company's knowledge,  none of Company's or any Company Subsidiary's Systems,
operations or business  functions will be materially  adversely  affected by the
failure of any third party with whom Company or Savings has consistent  dealings
to be Millennium

                                       18

<PAGE>



Compliant;  (c) to the  best of  Company's  and  Savings'  knowledge  after  due
inquiry,  all  of  its  suppliers,  customers  and  third  party  providers  are
Millennium Compliant;  and (d) Company and Savings' have taken all necessary and
appropriate action to address and remedy any known deficiencies in Company's and
Savings' Systems from becoming Millennium Compliant.  As used herein "Millennium
Compliant" shall mean the ability of Systems to provide the following functions,
without human intervention,  individually and in combination with other products
or systems:  (i) consistently handle data information  before,  during and after
January 1, 2000,  including but not limited to accepting  data input,  providing
data output and  performing  calculations  on dates or  portions of dates;  (ii)
function accurately and without interruption before, during and after January 1,
2000  (including  leap year  computations),  without  any  change in  operations
associated with the advent of a new century; (iii) respond to two-digit input in
a way that  resolves any  ambiguity  as to century in a  disclosed,  defined and
predetermined  manner;  and (iv) store and provide output of date information in
ways that are unambiguous as to century.

         2.25 Delays.  The Company is not aware of any matter that could cause a
delay in  receiving  the  approval  required  by the Company  Merger,  including
without  limitation,  non-compliance  with the  Truth in  Lending  Act,  capital
compliance, or any provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act.

                                   ARTICLE III
        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NEWSOUTH, THE BANK AND NEW SUB

         NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub  represent  and  warrant to Company and
Savings that, except as disclosed in Schedule II attached hereto and except that
the  Bank  and New Sub do not  make any  representation  or  warranty  regarding
NewSouth:

         3.1 Organization, Good Standing, Authority, Insurance, Etc. NewSouth is
a corporation duly organized,  validly existing,  and in good standing under the
laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Virginia.  Each of the  subsidiaries  of NewSouth
within the meaning of Section 2(d) of the Bank Holding  Company Act of 1956,  as
amended (the "BHCA")  (individually a "NewSouth Subsidiary" and collectively the
"NewSouth  Subsidiaries")  is  duly  organized,  validly  existing,  and in good
standing  under  the  laws of the  respective  jurisdiction  under  which  it is
organized.  NewSouth and each NewSouth  Subsidiary  has all requisite  power and
authority  and is duly  qualified  and  licensed  to own,  lease and operate its
properties and conduct its business as it is now being  conducted.  NewSouth and
each NewSouth  Subsidiary  is qualified to do business as a foreign  corporation
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which qualification is necessary
under applicable law, except to the extent that any failures to so qualify would
not, in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, financial
condition or results of  operations  of NewSouth and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole. The Bank is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan
Bank of Atlanta, and all eligible accounts issued by the Bank are insured by the
SAIF to the maximum extent  permitted  under  applicable  law.  NewSouth is duly
registered as a bank holding company under the BHCA.

         The minute  books of NewSouth  and the  NewSouth  Subsidiaries  contain
complete and accurate  records of all meetings and other corporate  actions held
or taken by their respective shareholders and Boards of Directors (including the
committees of such Boards).


                                       19

<PAGE>



         3.2  Capitalization.  The authorized capital stock of NewSouth consists
of 8,000,000 shares of NewSouth common stock, par value $.01 per share, of which
3,720,501 shares, excluding 643,543 treasury shares, were issued and outstanding
as of the date of this Agreement and 1,000,000  shares of preferred  stock,  par
value of $.01 per share,  of which no shares were  outstanding as of the date of
this  Agreement.  All  outstanding  shares  of  NewSouth  common  stock are duly
authorized,  validly issued,  fully paid,  nonassessable  and free of preemptive
rights.

         3.3      Financial Statements and Reports.

                  (a) No registration  statement,  proxy statement,  schedule or
report filed by NewSouth or any NewSouth  Subsidiary with the SEC under the 1933
Act,  or the  1934  Act,  on the  date  of  effectiveness  in the  case  of such
registration statements, or on the date of filing in the case of such reports or
schedules,  or on the  date of  mailing  in the case of such  proxy  statements,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,
in light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading.  For
the past five  years (or such  shorter  period as they may have been  subject to
such filing  requirements),  NewSouth and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries have timely
filed all  documents  required  to be filed by them with the SEC,  the FRB,  the
Commission,  or the FDIC under various securities and financial institution laws
and  regulations,  except to the extent  that all  failures  to so file,  in the
aggregate,  would not have a material adverse effect on the business,  financial
condition or results of  operations  of NewSouth and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole; and all such documents,  as finally  amended,  complied in all
material  respects  with  applicable  requirements  of  law  and,  as  of  their
respective date or the date as amended, with respect to the SEC Reports, did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements  therein,  in
light of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading and, with
respect to reports and documents filed with banking  regulatory  agencies,  were
accurate in all material  respects.  Except to the extent  stated  therein,  all
financial  statements and schedules included in the documents referred to in the
preceding  sentences  (or to be included in similar  documents to be filed after
the date  hereof) (i) are or will be (with  respect to financial  statements  in
respect of periods  ending after March 31, 1999) in accordance  with  NewSouth's
books and records and those of any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) present (and in
the case of financial  statements  in respect of periods  ending after March 31,
1999 will present) fairly the consolidated  statement of financial condition and
the consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders' equity and cash flows
of NewSouth  and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries  as of the dates and for the periods
indicated in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting  principles (except
for the  omission of notes to  unaudited  statements,  year end  adjustments  to
interim results and changes in generally accepted  accounting  principles).  The
consolidated  financial  statements of NewSouth as of September 30, 1998 and for
the three years then ended and the  consolidated  financial  statements  for all
periods thereafter up to the Closing disclose or will disclose,  as the case may
be, all liabilities  (whether  accrued,  absolute,  contingent,  unliquidated or
otherwise, whether due or due to become due and regardless of when asserted), as
of their respective dates, of NewSouth and the NewSouth Subsidiaries required to
be  reflected in such  financial  statements  according  to  generally  accepted
accounting  principles,  other than liabilities which are not, in the aggregate,
material to NewSouth

                                       20

<PAGE>



and the NewSouth Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, and contain or will contain in
the opinion of management  adequate  reserves for losses on loans and properties
acquired  in  settlement  of  loans,   taxes  and  all  other  material  accrued
liabilities and for all reasonably  anticipated  material  losses,  if any as of
such  date.  There  exists no set of  circumstances  that  could  reasonably  be
expected to result in any  liability or  obligation  material to NewSouth or the
NewSouth   Subsidiaries,   taken  as  a  whole,  except  as  disclosed  in  such
consolidated  financial  statements at September  30, 1998, or for  transactions
effected or actions  occurring or omitted to be taken after  September 30, 1998,
(i) in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) as permitted by this Agreement.

                  (b)  NewSouth  has made  available to the Company all periodic
reports  filed with the SEC under the 1934 Act for periods  since  December  31,
1996  through the date hereof and will  through  Closing  upon  written  request
promptly deliver copies of 1934 Act reports for future periods.

                  (c) Except (i) as  disclosed  in Section 3.4 of  Schedule  II,
(ii) as  reflected,  noted  or  adequately  reserved  against  in the  financial
statements  referred to in this Section  3.4, or (iii) for deposits  incurred in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice,  NewSouth and the
NewSouth  Subsidiaries do not have any material  liabilities  (whether  accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise).

         3.4 Absence of Changes.  Since  September  30, 1998,  there has been no
material  adverse  change  in the  business,  properties,  financial  condition,
results of operations or assets of NewSouth and the NewSouth Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole.  Since  September 30, 1998 and through the date hereof,  there is no
occurrence,  event  or  development  of any  nature  existing  or,  to the  best
knowledge of NewSouth,  threatened  which may  reasonably  be expected to have a
material  adverse  effect upon the business,  properties,  financial  condition,
operations or assets of NewSouth or any NewSouth Subsidiary, taken as a whole.

         3.5 Proxy  Statement.  At the time the Proxy Statement is mailed to the
shareholders  of the Company for the  solicitation  of proxies for the approvals
referred to in Section 1.8 hereof and at all times  subsequent  to such mailings
up to and including the times of such approval,  such Proxy Statement (including
any  amendments or supplements  thereto),  with respect to all  information  set
forth therein provided by NewSouth for inclusion  therein,  will not contain any
statement which, at the time and in light of the circumstances under which it is
made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact or which omits to
state any material fact  necessary in order to make the  statements  therein not
false or  misleading  or  necessary  to correct  any  statement  in any  earlier
communication  with  respect  to the  solicitation  of a proxy  for the  Company
Shareholders' Meeting which has become false or misleading.

         3.6 No Broker's or Finder's Fees. No agent, broker,  investment banker,
person or firm  acting on behalf or under  authority  of  NewSouth or any of the
NewSouth  Subsidiaries is or will be entitled to any broker's or finder's fee or
any other  commission or similar fee directly or  indirectly in connection  with
the Company Merger or any other transaction contemplated hereby,

                                       21

<PAGE>



except NewSouth has engaged Ferguson & Company,  an investment  banking firm, to
provide financial advisory services to NewSouth.

         3.7 Compliance With Law. NewSouth and the NewSouth  Subsidiaries are in
compliance  in all  material  respects  with all material  laws and  regulations
applicable to their  respective  business or operations or with respect to which
compliance  is a  condition  of engaging in the  business  thereof,  and neither
NewSouth nor any NewSouth Subsidiary has received notice from any federal, state
or local  government or  governmental  agency of any material  violation of, and
does not know of any material violations of, any of the above.

         3.8 Corporate  Actions.  The Boards of Directors of NewSouth,  the Bank
and New Sub have duly  authorized  their  respective  officers  to  execute  and
deliver  this  Agreement  and to take all action  necessary  to  consummate  the
Company Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  All corporate
authorizations  by the  Board of  Directors  of  NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub
required for the  consummation  of the Company  Merger have been  obtained.  The
shareholders  of NewSouth are not required to approve  either the Company Merger
or the other  transactions  contemplated  hereby in accordance with Virginia and
North Carolina  corporate  law. In its capacity as sole  shareholder of New Sub,
the Bank has approved the Company Merger.

         3.9  Authority.  The  execution,   delivery  and  performance  of  this
Agreement by NewSouth, the Bank and New Sub and the Bank Merger by Bank does not
violate or conflict  with any of the  provisions  of, or  constitute a breach or
default  under or give any person the right to  terminate,  cancel or accelerate
payment or performance  under or result in the creation of any Encumbrance  upon
(i) the articles of incorporation or bylaws of NewSouth,  the Bank or New Sub or
the articles of incorporation or bylaws of any other NewSouth  Subsidiary,  (ii)
any law,  rule,  ordinance or regulation or judgment,  decree,  order,  award or
governmental or  non-governmental  permit or license to which NewSouth or any of
the  NewSouth  Subsidiaries  is subject,  (iii) any  material  Contract to which
NewSouth or any of the NewSouth  Subsidiaries  is a party or is subject to or by
which any of their  properties  or assets is bound or (iv) any property or asset
of NewSouth or Bank pursuant to any note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  license
agreement or other instrument or obligation which breach, default,  termination,
cancellation  or  acceleration  would  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the
financial  condition,  business or results of  operations  of  NewSouth  and the
NewSouth  Subsidiaries,  taken  as a whole.  The  parties  acknowledge  that the
consummation  of the  Company  Merger  and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby is subject to various  regulatory  approvals.  NewSouth,  New Sub and the
Bank  have all  requisite  corporate  power  and  authority  to enter  into this
Agreement and to perform their obligations hereunder.  Other than the receipt of
Governmental  Approvals,  no consents  or  approvals  are  required on behalf of
NewSouth or any NewSouth  Subsidiary in connection with the  consummation of the
transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  or  the  Company  Merger.  This
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of NewSouth,  New Sub and
the Bank, as applicable, and is enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as  enforceability  may be limited by applicable  laws  relating to  bankruptcy,
insolvency or creditors' rights generally and general principles of equity.


                                       22

<PAGE>



         3.10  Information  Furnished.  No statement  contained in any schedule,
certificate or other document  furnished  (whether prior to or subsequent to the
date of this  Agreement)  or to be  furnished  in  writing  by or on  behalf  of
NewSouth to Company  pursuant  to this  Agreement  contains or will  contain any
untrue  statement of a material fact or any material  omission.  No  information
material  to  the   Company   Merger  and  which  is   necessary   to  make  the
representations  and  warranties  not  misleading,  to  the  best  knowledge  of
NewSouth, has been withheld from the Company.

         3.11  Agreements  and  Instruments.  As of the date of this  Agreement,
there are no agreements,  directives,  orders or similar arrangements between or
involving  NewSouth or any NewSouth  Subsidiary and any state or federal savings
institution regulatory authority.

         3.12  Year  2000.  NewSouth's  and the  Bank's  computer  hardware  and
software  systems used for the storage and  processing  of data (as used in this
Section 3.12,  "Systems") are or will be Millennium Compliant as required by all
FFIEC Year 2000 compliance guidelines, specifically including all FFIEC-mandated
interim deadlines for testing and other Year 2000 compliance activities;  (b) to
NewSouth's  knowledge,  none of NewSouth's or any NewSouth Subsidiary's Systems,
operations or business  functions will be materially  adversely  affected by the
failure  of any  third  party  with  whom  NewSouth  or the Bank has  consistent
dealings  to be  Millennium  Compliant;  (c) to the best of  NewSouth's  and the
Bank's knowledge, all of its suppliers,  customers and third party providers are
Millennium Compliant; and (d) NewSouth and the Bank have taken all necessary and
appropriate  action to address and remedy any known  deficiencies  in NewSouth's
and the Bank's  Systems  from  becoming  Millennium  Compliant.  As used  herein
"Millennium  Compliant"  shall  mean the  ability of  NewSouth's  and the Bank's
Systems  to  provide  the  following  functions,   without  human  intervention,
individually and in combination with other products or systems: (i) consistently
handle data information before,  during and after January 1, 2000, including but
not limited to  accepting  data  input,  providing  data  output and  performing
calculations on dates or portions of dates; (ii) function accurately and without
interruption  before,  during  and after  January 1, 2000  (including  leap year
computations),  without any change in operations associated with the advent of a
new  century;  (iii)  respond  to  two-digit  input in a way that  resolves  any
ambiguity as to century in a disclosed,  defined and predetermined  manner;  and
(iv) store and provide output of date  information in ways that are  unambiguous
as to century.

         3.13  Funding.  The Bank  shall have no later than one day prior to the
Effective  Time   sufficient   cash  on  hand  to  fund  the  aggregate   Merger
Consideration payable hereunder.

         3.14  Delays.  NewSouth  is not aware of any matter  that could cause a
delay in  receiving  the  approval  required  by the Company  Merger,  including
without  limitation,  non-compliance  with the  Truth in  Lending  Act,  capital
compliance, or any provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act.



                                       23

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE IV
                                    COVENANTS

         4.1  Investigations;  Access  and  Copies.  Between  the  date  of this
Agreement and the Effective  Time,  each party agrees to give to the other party
and its respective representatives and agents full access (to the extent lawful)
to all of the premises,  books, records and employees of it and its subsidiaries
at all  reasonable  times,  upon not less than three days'  prior  notice to the
chief  executive  officer  of the  other  party,  and to  furnish  and cause its
subsidiaries  to  furnish  to the  other  party  and its  respective  agents  or
representatives  access to and true and complete  copies of such  financial  and
operating data, all documents with respect to matters to which reference is made
in Articles II or III of this Agreement or on any list,  schedule or certificate
delivered or to be delivered in connection  herewith,  and such other documents,
records,  or  information  with respect to the business and properties of it and
its subsidiaries as the other party or its respective  agents or  representative
shall from time to time reasonably  request;  provided,  however,  that any such
inspection   (a)  shall  be  conducted  in  such  manner  as  not  to  interfere
unreasonably  with the operation of the business of the entity inspected and (b)
shall not affect any of the representations and warranties hereunder. Each party
will  also  give  prompt  written  notice  to the  other  party of any  event or
development  (x)  which,  had it  existed  or  been  known  on the  date of this
Agreement,  would have been required to be disclosed under this  Agreement,  (y)
which would cause any of its representations and warranties  contained herein to
be inaccurate or otherwise materially misleading, or (z) which materially relate
to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article V of this Agreement.

         4.2 Conduct of  Business  of the Company and the Company  Subsidiaries.
Between the date of this  Agreement and the earlier of the Effective Time or the
date this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms,  the Company and
Savings agree:

                  (a)  That  the  Company  and the  Company  Subsidiaries  shall
conduct their business only in the ordinary course, and maintain their books and
records in accordance  with past practices and not to take any action that would
(i) adversely  affect the ability to obtain the  Governmental  Approvals or (ii)
adversely  affect the Company's  ability to perform its  obligations  under this
Agreement;

                  (b) That the  Company  shall not,  without  the prior  written
consent of  NewSouth:  (i)  declare,  set aside or pay any  dividend or make any
other  distribution  with respect to  Company's  capital  stock,  except for the
declaration  and payment of regular  quarterly cash dividends in accordance with
past  practice and in an amount not to exceed $0.13 per share of Company  Common
Stock with respect to any full  calender  quarter  after the date  hereof;  (ii)
reacquire any of Company's  outstanding  shares of capital stock; (iii) issue or
sell  or buy  any  shares  of  capital  stock  of  the  Company  or any  Company
Subsidiary,  except  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  or  bought  (in
accordance with past practice) as contemplated  pursuant to Savings'  Restricted
Stock   Plan;   (iv)   effect  any  stock   split,   stock   dividend  or  other
reclassification  of Company's  Common Stock;  or (v) grant any options or issue
any warrants  exercisable  for or securities  convertible or  exchangeable  into
capital stock of Company or any Company Subsidiary or grant

                                       24

<PAGE>



any stock  appreciation  or other rights with respect to shares of capital stock
of Company or of any Company Subsidiary;

                  (c) That  Company  and the  Company  Subsidiaries  shall  not,
without  the prior  written  consent  of  NewSouth:  (i) sell or  dispose of any
significant assets of the Company or of any Company Subsidiary other than in the
ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past  practices;  (ii)  merge or
consolidate the Company or any Company  Subsidiary with or otherwise acquire any
other  entity,  or file any  applications  or make any contract  with respect to
branching by Savings (whether de novo, purchase,  sale or relocation) or acquire
or construct, or enter into any agreement to acquire or construct,  any interest
in real  property  (other than with respect to security  interests in properties
securing  loans and  properties  acquired in settlement of loans in the ordinary
course) or  improvements  to real property except as provided in this Agreement;
(iii) change the articles or certificate of incorporation,  charter documents or
other governing instruments of the Company or any Company Subsidiary,  except as
provided  in this  Agreement;  (iv)  except  as set forth in  Section  4.2(c) of
Schedule I grant to any executive  officer,  director or employee of the Company
or any Company Subsidiary any increase in annual  compensation,  any award under
any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement or any bonus type payment,  except that
Savings  may  continue  its 1999  bonus  plan as set  forth in  Section  2.13 of
Schedule I for the  benefit  of its  employees  and  continue  to make  accruals
thereunder  for each month through the month in which the Effective  Time occurs
in a manner  consistent  with such schedule,  and if the Effective Time does not
occur before December 10, 1999, Savings may pay the 1999 bonus amounts specified
in Section  2.13 of Schedule I to the  specified  employees  at any time between
December 10, 1999 and December 31, 1999;  (v) adopt any new or amend (except for
any  amendments  required by law) or terminate  any existing  Employee  Plans or
Benefit  Arrangements  of any type  except  as  contemplated  herein or make any
payment or contribution to any Employee Plans or Benefit  Arrangements except as
set forth in Section 2.13 of Schedule I; (vi)  authorize  severance pay or other
benefits  for any  officer,  director  or  employee  of Company  or any  Company
Subsidiary; (vii) incur any material indebtedness or obligation or enter into or
extend or amend any material  agreement or lease,  which cannot be canceled upon
one month notice or which involves annual payments in excess of $10,000;  (viii)
engage in any lending  activities  other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices;  (ix) form any new subsidiary or cause or permit
a  material  change  in  the  activities  presently  conducted  by  any  Company
Subsidiary or make  additional  investments  in  subsidiaries;  (x) purchase any
investments or debt securities, except that Company and the Company Subsidiaries
may purchase federal funds or make overnight deposits with the Federal Home Loan
Bank  of  Atlanta  and  may  purchase  securities  pursuant  to any  contractual
obligation  in  existence  as of the  date  of  this  Agreement,  all  of  which
contractual  obligations  are set  forth in  Section  2.13 of  Schedule  I; (xi)
purchase any equity  securities  other than Federal Home Loan Bank stock;  (xii)
make any  investment  which  would cause  Savings  not to be a qualified  thrift
lender under Section  10(m) of the HOLA,  or not to be a "domestic  building and
loan association" as defined in Section 7701(a)(19) of the Code; (xiii) make any
loan with a  principal  balance of  $500,000 or more;  (xiv)  authorize  capital
expenditures  other  than in the  ordinary  course of  business;  (xv)  adopt or
implement any change in its  accounting  principles,  practices or methods other
than as may be required by  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  or by a
regulatory  authority  or  adopt or  implement  any  change  in its  methods  of
accounting for

                                       25

<PAGE>



Federal  income  tax  purposes;  or (xvi)  make any loan in which  participation
interests  therein  are to be sold to other  persons  or  entities  or acquire a
participation  interest in a loan  originated by another  person or entity.  The
limitations  contained in this Section 4.2(c) shall also be deemed to constitute
limitations  as to the  making  of any  commitment  with  respect  to any of the
matters set forth in this Section 4.2(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Savings
may engage in any of the foregoing activities exclusively with the Bank.

                  (d) From and after the date of this Agreement, the Company and
Savings,  on the one hand,  and NewSouth and the Bank, on the other hand,  shall
coordinate policies with respect to their investment securities portfolios.

                  (e) Prior to the Effective  Time,  neither Company nor Savings
shall  take any  action to  contact  holders  of stock  certificates  evidencing
outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock for the purpose of permitting  those
stockholders to submit their stock  certificates to the Company for cancellation
upon the Effective Time in exchange for the Merger Consideration.

         4.3 No  Solicitation.  From  the  date  of  this  Agreement  until  the
Effective  Time or the  termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant  to its terms,
whichever  occurs  earlier,  the Company agrees that it will not authorize,  and
will not authorize  any of its  Subsidiaries,  or any of its or their  officers,
directors,  employees,  agents or other representatives  ("Representatives") to,
directly or indirectly, (A) initiate, solicit, encourage or otherwise facilitate
(including by way of furnishing information), any inquiries or the making of any
proposal or offer that constitutes,  or may reasonably be expected to lead to, a
Takeover  Proposal,  or (B) enter into or maintain or  continue  discussions  or
negotiate  with any  person  in  furtherance  of such  inquiries  or to obtain a
Takeover Proposal, or (C) agree to, approve,  recommend, or endorse any Takeover
Proposal,   or  authorize  or  permit  any  of  its  or  their  Subsidiaries  or
Representatives  to take  any  such  action;  provided,  however,  that  nothing
contained in this  Agreement  shall prohibit the Company Board of Directors from
(i) furnishing  information to, or engaging in discussions or negotiations with,
any person in response to an unsolicited  bona fide written  Takeover  Proposal,
(ii) recommending such an unsolicited bona fide written Takeover Proposal to the
stockholders  of the Company or (iii)  entering  into any agreement or letter of
intent with any person with respect to a Takeover  Proposal,  if and only to the
extent in each case that (a) the Company  Board of  Directors  concludes in good
faith  (after  consultation  with its  financial  advisors)  that such  Takeover
Proposal  would  constitute  a  Superior  Proposal,  (b) the  Company  Board  of
Directors  determines  in good faith  (after  consultation  with  outside  legal
counsel)  that the failure to take such action  would  result in a breach by the
Company Board of Directors of its fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders
under  applicable  law,  and (c) prior to  furnishing  such  information  to, or
entering  into  discussions  or  negotiations  with,  such  person,  the Company
provides  prompt  written notice to NewSouth to the effect that it is furnishing
information to, or entering into  discussions or negotiations  with, such person
(which notice shall identify the nature and material terms of the proposal). The
Company  agrees that it will  immediately  cease and cause to be terminated  any
activities, discussions, or negotiations with any parties regarding any Takeover
Proposal  existing as of the date of this Agreement.  The Company agrees to keep
NewSouth fully and timely  informed of the status of any  inquiries,  proposals,
discussions, negotiations, furnishing of non-public information, or other

                                       26

<PAGE>



activities  relating  to a Takeover  Proposal.  As used in this  Agreement  with
respect to the Company,  (i) "Takeover Proposal" shall mean any proposal,  other
than  as  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  for a  merger  or  other  business
combination  involving  the  Company  or  any  Company  Subsidiary  or  for  the
acquisition of a ten percent (10%) or greater equity  interest in Company or any
Company  Subsidiary,  or for the  purchase,  lease  or  other  acquisition  of a
substantial  portion of the assets of Company or any Company  Subsidiary  (other
than  loans or  securities  sold in the  ordinary  course),  and (ii)  "Superior
Proposal"  means a bona fide  Takeover  Proposal  made by a third party that the
Company  Board of  Directors  determines  in its good faith  judgment to be more
favorable  to the  Company's  stockholders  than the Company  Merger  (following
consultation  with the Company's  independent  financial  advisor) and for which
financing, to the extent required, is then committed or which, in the good faith
judgment of the Company  Board of  Directors  (following  consultation  with the
Company's  independent  financial  advisor),  is  reasonably  capable  of  being
obtained by such third person.

         4.4 Shareholder  Approvals.  Subject to Sections 1.8 and 4.3 herein and
the   fiduciary   duties  of  the  Company's   Board  of  Directors   (including
consideration, among other things, of whether or not an updated fairness opinion
has been received by the Company from its financial advisor),  the Company shall
call the meeting of its  shareholders  to be held for the purpose of voting upon
the Company Merger and related matters, as referred to in Section 1.8 hereof, as
soon as  practicable,  but in no event  later than sixty (60) days after the SEC
has completed its review of the Company's proxy soliciting materials;  provided,
that Company  shall receive an opinion dated within five (5) days of mailing the
Proxy Statement that the Company Merger is fair to Company  shareholders  from a
financial  point of view.  The  Company  agrees  that it will  file  such  proxy
soliciting  materials  with the SEC  within  60 days  from the date  hereof.  In
connection  with such meeting,  the Company Board of Directors  shall  recommend
approval of the Company Merger,  except as the fiduciary duties of the Company's
Board of Directors may otherwise require. The Company shall use its best efforts
to solicit  from its  shareholders  proxies in favor of approval and to take all
other action  necessary or helpful to secure a vote of the holders of the shares
of Company Common Stock in favor of the Company Merger,  except as the fiduciary
duties of the Boards of Directors may otherwise require.

         4.5 Filing of Applications  for the  Governmental  Approvals.  NewSouth
shall use its best efforts to promptly  prepare,  submit and file within 45 days
after the date hereof all  applications  necessary  to receive the  Governmental
Approvals in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         4.6 Consents. Company and Savings will use their best efforts to obtain
the  consent or  approval of each  person  whose  consent or  approval  shall be
required  in  order to  permit  Company  or  Savings,  as the  case  may be,  to
consummate the Company Merger and the Bank Merger.

         4.7  Publicity.  Between the date of this  Agreement  and the Effective
Time, neither NewSouth,  Company or any of their subsidiaries shall, without the
prior  approval of the other,  issue or make, or authorize any of its directors,
employees, officers or agents to issue or make,

                                       27

<PAGE>



any press release,  disclosure or statement to the press or any third party with
respect to the Company Merger or the transactions contemplated hereto, except as
required by law. The parties  shall  cooperate  when issuing or making any press
release,  disclosure  or  statement  with  respect  to  Company  Merger  or  the
transactions contemplated hereby, except as required by law.

         4.8 Cooperation  Generally.  Between the date of this Agreement and the
Effective Time,  NewSouth,  Company and their  subsidiaries shall use their best
efforts,  and take all actions  necessary  or  appropriate,  to  consummate  the
Company Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement at the
earliest practicable date. NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub, on one hand, and the
Company and Savings,  on the other hand,  agree not to knowingly take any action
that  would  (i)  adversely  effect  their  respective  ability  to  obtain  the
Governmental  Approvals or (ii)  adversely  affect their  respective  ability to
perform  their  obligations  under  this  Agreement.  Each of the  parties  will
promptly  furnish each other with copies of written  communications  received by
them or any of their  respective  subsidiaries  from, or delivered by any of the
foregoing to any governmental entity in respect of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

         4.9 Additional  Financial Statements and Reports. As soon as reasonably
practicable  after they become publicly  available,  each party shall furnish to
the other its  statement  of  financial  condition  and  related  statements  of
operations,  cash flows and  stockholders'  equity for all periods  prior to the
Closing. Such financial statements will be prepared in conformity with generally
accepted accounting  principles applied on a consistent basis and fairly present
the  financial  condition,  results  of  operations  and cash flows of the party
(subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements,  to (a) normal year-end
audit  adjustments,  (b) any other  adjustments  described  therein  and (c) the
absence of notes which,  if presented,  would not differ  materially  from those
included in its most recent audited consolidated balance sheet), and all of such
financial  statements  will be prepared in conformity  with the  requirements of
Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as the case may be, under the 1934 Act. Each party shall
also  furnish to the other  within two days after the  meeting at which they are
distributed  to  that  party's   directors,   such  internal  monthly  financial
statements as are  furnished to the  directors  and  executive  officers of that
party.

         4.10 Allowance for Loan and Real Estate Owned Losses. At the request of
NewSouth, immediately prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Savings shall
in an amount  specified by NewSouth,  establish such  additional  provisions for
loan and real estate owned losses as may be necessary in the sole  determination
of NewSouth to conform the  Company's  and  Savings'  loan and real estate owned
allowance  practices  and  methods  to those of  NewSouth  and the Bank (as such
practices  and methods  are to be applied to Company and Savings  from and after
the Effective Time);  provided,  however,  that Company and Savings shall not be
required to take such action until:  (i) Company and Savings provide to NewSouth
a written  statement  certified by the Chairman of the Board,  the President and
the Chief Financial  Officer of the Company and Savings,  that the conditions in
Sections  5.1 and 5.2 to be  satisfied by the Company or Savings or both of them
have been satisfied by either or both of them or,  alternatively,  setting forth
in detail the  circumstances  that have  prevented  such  conditions  from being
satisfied (the "Reliance  Certificate") and NewSouth and the Bank provide to the
Company  and Savings a Reliance  Certificate  relating  to  satisfaction  of the
conditions in Section 5.1 and 5.3; (ii) NewSouth, the Bank and New Sub, after

                                       28

<PAGE>



reviewing  the Reliance  Certificate,  provide the Company and Savings a written
waiver of any right any entity may have to terminate the Agreement, which waiver
shall  contain an express  condition  precedent  that  Company and Savings  have
established  such  additional  provisions  for loan and real  estate  losses  as
requested by NewSouth pursuant to this Section 4.10; and (iii) in no event until
the day prior to the date of the Closing.  No additional  provision for loan and
real estate owned losses taken by Savings pursuant to this Section 4.10 shall be
deemed  in and of  itself to be a breach  or  violation  of any  representation,
warranty, covenant, condition or other provision of this Agreement.

         4.11 D&O Indemnification and Insurance.  For a period of five (5) years
following the  Effective  Time  NewSouth and Bank shall  indemnify,  and advance
expenses  in matters  that may be subject to  indemnification  to,  persons  who
served  as   directors  or  officers  of  Company  or  Savings  or  any  Company
Subsidiaries  on or before the Effective  Time  ("Indemnities")  with respect to
liabilities and claims (and related  expenses,  including fees and disbursements
of counsel) made against them  resulting from their service as such prior to the
Effective  Time in  accordance  with and subject to the  requirements  and other
provisions of the Articles of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of NewSouth and Bank in
effect on the date of this  Agreement  and  applicable  provisions of law to the
same  extent as  NewSouth  is  obligated  thereunder  to  indemnify  and advance
expenses to its own  directors  and  officers  with respect to  liabilities  and
claims made against  them  resulting  from their  service for NewSouth and Bank.
NewSouth shall cause the persons serving as officers or directors of the Company
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time to be covered for a period of five (5)
years  from  the  Effective  Time  by the  directors'  and  officers'  liability
insurance  policy   maintained  by  the  Company  (provided  that  NewSouth  may
substitute  therefor  policies  of  at  least  the  same  coverage  and  amounts
containing terms and conditions which are not materially less  advantageous than
such policy) with respect to acts or omissions  occurring prior to the Effective
Time which were  committed by such officers and  directors in their  capacity as
such; provided,  however,  that in no event shall NewSouth be required to expend
more than $35,000 to maintain or procure insurance  coverage for such five years
period pursuant hereto.  This Section 4.11 shall be construed as an agreement as
to which the  directors  and officers of Company and Savings  referred to herein
are intended to be third party  beneficiaries  and shall be  enforceable by such
persons and their heirs and representatives.

         4.12  Update  Disclosure.  From and  after  the date  hereof  until the
Effective  Time,  the  Company  shall  promptly,  but not less  frequently  than
monthly,  update  Schedule I hereto by notice to NewSouth to reflect any matters
which have  occurred  from and after the date hereof  which,  if existing on the
date hereof,  would have been required to be described therein and which, in the
case of all such updates  other than the last such update prior to the Effective
Time,  reflect a material change from the information  provided in Schedule I as
of the date  hereof;  provided,  however,  that no such update  shall affect the
conditions  to  the   obligation  of  Company  and  Savings  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated hereby, and any and all changes reflected in any such
update shall be  considered in  determining  whether such  conditions  have been
satisfied.


                                       29

<PAGE>



         4.13     Company's Employee Plans and Benefit Arrangements.

                  (a) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
neither the Company nor any Company  Subsidiary will make any  contribution,  or
undertake  any  obligation  to  contribute  any amount to any  Employee  Plan or
Benefit  Arrangement  other than as set forth in Section  2.13 of  Schedule I to
this Agreement.

                  (b) On or before 15 days after execution  hereof,  the Company
will provide  NewSouth with true and complete copies of the following  documents
where  applicable  to any Employee  Plan or Benefit  Arrangement:  (i) each plan
document or agreement, and any amendments thereto, and related trust agreements,
insurance  contracts  and  policies,  annuity  contracts,  and any other funding
arrangement;  (ii) the most  recent  summary  plan  description  and  summary of
material modifications,  along with disclosure of the date of their distribution
to  participants  and filing with the  Department of Labor;  (iii) for the three
most recent plan years,  Form 5500 Annual  Return/Report  and all  actuarial and
financial  reports and  appraisals;  (iv) the most recent  determination  letter
received from the Internal Revenue Service, plus any open requests and all other
rulings  received  from any  governmental  agency;  and (v) with  respect to any
action taken within the current and three preceding plan years, a certified copy
of all Board of Directors  resolutions.  Within 75 days of the date hereof,  the
Company  or  Savings  shall  provide  NewSouth  with  documentation,  reasonably
satisfactory to NewSouth,  demonstrating  that for the last three completed Plan
years the  requirements of Sections 404, 410, 412, 415, and 416 of the Code have
been  satisfied by each  Employee Plan that is intended to qualify under Section
401 of the Code.

                  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,  if NewSouth
so requests,  the Company and any Company  Subsidiary  shall  develop a plan and
timetable for terminating  each Employee Plan and Benefit  Arrangement as of the
date of Closing or the  immediately  preceding day and, with the advance written
consent of NewSouth,  which consent shall not be  unreasonably  withheld,  shall
proceed with the  implementation  of said  termination  plan and timetable.  The
Company  shall  be  solely  responsible  for  all  costs,  expenses,  and  other
obligations  whatsoever  arising out of or  resulting  from  termination  of any
Employee  Plan or Benefit  Arrangement.  Neither  the  Company  nor any  Company
Subsidiary nor any trust in their direct or indirect  control will establish any
new benefit plan or arrangement for directors,  officers, or employees, or amend
or commit to distribute any assets from any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement
without NewSouth's prior written approval,  except that the Company or a Company
Subsidiary may make such  distribution as may be required under the terms of any
existing Employee Plan or Benefit  Arrangement in connection with the retirement
or other termination of an employee.

                  (d) With respect to any benefit plan that provides for vesting
of benefits, there shall be no discretionary  acceleration of vesting,  provided
that vesting shall  accelerate as of the Effective  Time in accordance  with the
terms of any Employee Plan or Benefit Arrangement that provides for an automatic
acceleration  of vesting  upon a change in control  transaction  such as the one
contemplated hereby.


                                       30

<PAGE>



                  (e) (i) As of the Effective Time,  NewSouth and the Bank agree
that the employment of and the Employment  Agreement  between Jerry L. Robertson
and Savings (as disclosed in Section 2.12 of Schedule I to this Agreement) shall
be terminated by Savings.  In connection with such  termination,  Mr.  Robertson
shall be entitled to receive  payment as  contemplated  in Section 12(a) of such
Employment Agreement, subject to the limitations set forth therein to be paid by
Savings.

                      (ii) Employees of Savings who become employees of the Bank
shall be  entitled  to carry over to Bank up to three days of accrued but unused
vacation  time but no unused sick leave.  The  vacation  time for any of Savings
employees  who become  employees of Bank will carry over past December 31, 1999,
but must be taken prior to December  31,  2000.  Employees of Savings who become
employees of Bank will not be permitted to take any vacation during the first 15
days of January 2000.

                  (f) Savings' ESOP shall be  terminated in accordance  with its
terms.  Savings shall develop a written description and timetable within 60 days
of the date hereof  which shall be provided to and  approved by NewSouth and its
counsel,  which approval shall not be unreasonably  withheld,  setting forth all
actions necessary to terminate Savings' ESOP and submit Savings' ESOP to the IRS
for a determination letter that the Savings' ESOP, as so amended and terminated,
continues to be a qualified  retirement  plan and employee stock  ownership plan
under Sections 401(a) and 4975(e)(7) of the Code. Upon  development and approval
by NewSouth of said written  description and timetable,  Savings shall take such
actions as described  therein as are approved by NewSouth.  Distribution  of the
shares  and any other  asset of the ESOP  shall (i) not  occur  until  after the
receipt of the  foregoing IRS  determination  letter and (ii) occur prior to the
Effective  Time only with the  express  written  consent of  NewSouth  not to be
unreasonably denied.

                  (g) The Company and  Savings  shall use their best  efforts to
cause each participant in Savings'  Restricted Stock Plan to agree in writing to
surrender  any of their  outstanding  awards for shares of Company  Common Stock
which will not as of or  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time be earned and
non-forfeitable  in  exchange  for the  consideration  set forth in Section  1.3
herein,  provided  that no payment  may be made to any  participant  in Savings'
Restricted Stock Plan without the prior written  authorization of NewSouth.  The
Company  and  Savings  shall use their best  efforts to cause each  holder of an
option under the Company  Option Plan to agree in writing to cancel any of their
outstanding  options to acquire  shares of Company  Common Stock in exchange for
the consideration set forth in Section 1.3 herein,  provided that no payment may
be  made to any  option  holder  without  the  prior  written  authorization  of
NewSouth.

                  (h) Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
the parties shall cooperate to take steps  necessary to permit Savings'  pension
plan to be merged into Bank's  pension  plan at the  Effective  Time,  including
making any necessary or desirable  plan  amendments  and filings with the IRS as
determined  by Bank with the approval of Savings,  which  approval  shall not be
unreasonably withheld.



                                       31

<PAGE>



         4.14 Amendment of Savings' Federal Stock Charter.  Subject to the Board
of  Directors'  fiduciary  duties,  Company  and  Savings  will take all actions
necessary to effectuate the Charter Amendment, provided that Company and Savings
may make such amendment contingent upon consummation of the Company Merger.

         4.15 Payments.  No later than thirty (30) days prior to consummation of
the Company  Merger,  the Company  shall  furnish  NewSouth for its review (i) a
computation  of  the  amounts  expected  to  be  payable  under  the  employment
agreements  disclosed  in Section  2.12 of Schedule I as a result of the Company
Merger, and (ii) a schedule  reasonably  satisfactory to NewSouth  demonstrating
that no "disqualified individual" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code
will be receiving  payments in contravention of the  representation set forth in
the second sentence to Section 2.12 herein.

         4.16 Environmental  Reports. The Company shall undertake within 15 days
of the date hereof to order, and shall use its best efforts to receive within 40
days (subject to extension with the consent of NewSouth)  after ordering a Phase
I  Environmental  Risk  Report  (as  contemplated  in OTS Thrift  Bulletin  #16)
("Report")  on (i) all  commercial  real  estate  owned by, (ii) all offices and
premises used as facilities by, and (iii) all properties which serve as security
for any commercial real estate loan having an original  principal  balance of $1
million or more of the Company or Savings.  In the event that NewSouth  believes
in good faith that such Reports  indicate a reasonable  likelihood there will be
material  costs  associated  with bringing any such property or properties  into
material  compliance with applicable  environmental laws, NewSouth shall, within
15 days of its receipt of such Reports,  provide  Company with written notice to
that effect.  Failure of NewSouth to provide such written notice with respect to
a property  within such 15 days period shall  constitute  waiver of its right to
terminate this Agreement  pursuant to Section 5.4(h) herein with respect to such
property  only.  The  Company  shall  thereafter  undertake  to order a Phase II
Environmental  Risk Report (as  contemplated  in OTS Thrift Bulletin #16) on any
property as directed by  NewSouth.  NewSouth  and the Bank agree that they shall
pay fifty (50) percent of the expenses  incurred  with respect to procuring  the
Phase I Reports and NewSouth will pay all of the expenses  incurred with respect
to  procuring  the  Phase  II  Reports.  NewSouth  and the  Bank  agree  to keep
confidential   the   contents  and  results  of  these  Phase  I  and  Phase  II
Environmental Risk Reports.


                                    ARTICLE V
           CONDITIONS TO THE COMPANY MERGER; TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

         5.1 General Conditions.  The obligations of NewSouth,  the Bank and New
Sub and the Company and Savings to effect the Company Merger and the Bank Merger
shall be subject to the following conditions:

                  (a)  Stockholder   Approval  and   Effectiveness   of  Charter
Amendment.  The holders of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock shall
have approved this Agreement

                                       32

<PAGE>



and the  Company  Merger as  specified  in Section  1.8 hereof and as  otherwise
required by applicable law and the Charter  Amendment  shall be effective  under
applicable law.

                  (b) No Proceedings.  No order, decree or injunction shall have
been entered and remain in force  restraining or prohibiting the Company Merger,
in the Liquidation or the Bank Merger in any legal, administrative, arbitration,
investigatory or other proceedings (collectively, "Proceedings").

                  (c) Government Approvals. To the extent required by applicable
law or regulation,  all approvals of or filings with any governmental  authority
(collectively,  "Governmental Approvals"), including without limitation those of
the OTS, the FDIC, FRB, the Commission,  the Federal Trade Commission,  DOJ, the
SEC, and any state securities or Blue Sky authorities, as applicable, shall have
been  obtained or made and any waiting  periods shall have expired in connection
with the  consummation  of the  Company  Merger,  the  Liquidation  and the Bank
Merger.   All  other  statutory  or  regulatory   requirements   for  the  valid
consummation  of the Company  Merger,  the  Liquidation  and the Bank Merger and
related transactions shall have been satisfied.

         5.2  Conditions  to  Obligations  of  NewSouth,  Bank and New Sub.  The
obligations  of  NewSouth,  Bank and New Sub to effect the Company  Merger,  the
Liquidation,  the Bank Merger and the transactions  contemplated herein shall be
subject to the following additional conditions to the extent not waived:

                  (a)  Opinion  of  Counsel  for  Company.  NewSouth  shall have
received  from Malizia Spidi & Fisch,  PC,  special  counsel to the Company,  an
opinion  dated as of the  Closing  covering  the  matters  set forth in  Exhibit
5.2(a).

                  (b) Required Consents. In addition to Governmental  Approvals,
Company and Savings shall have obtained all  necessary  third party  consents or
approvals in connection  with the Company  Merger,  the Liquidation and the Bank
Merger,  the absence of which would  materially and adversely affect Company and
the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (c) No  Material  Adverse  Change.  Between  the  date of this
Agreement  and the date of Closing,  there shall not have  occurred any material
adverse change in the financial  condition,  business,  results of operations or
assets of Company and the Company Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole other than any
such change  attributable to or resulting from year 2000 compliance,  changes in
economic  conditions  applicable  to  depository  institutions  generally  or in
general  levels of interest  rates  affecting both the Company and NewSouth to a
similar extent and in a similar manner. No payments made or expenses incurred in
accordance  with Section  4.13 herein  shall be deemed to  constitute a material
adverse change under this Section 5.2(c).

                  (d) Representations and Warranties to be True;  Fulfillment of
Covenants and Conditions.  The representations and warranties of the Company and
Savings shall be true in all material  respects at the  Effective  Time with the
same effect as though made at the Effective Time

                                       33

<PAGE>



(or on the date when made in the case of any  representation  or warranty  which
specifically  relates  to an  earlier  date);  Company  and  Savings  shall have
performed  all  obligations  and complied  with each  covenant,  in all material
respects, and all conditions under this Agreement on their parts to be performed
or complied  with at or prior to the  Effective  Time;  and  Company  shall have
delivered to NewSouth a certificate,  dated the Effective Time and signed by its
chief executive officer and chief financial officer, to such effect.

                  (e)  No  Litigation.  Neither  the  Company  nor  any  Company
Subsidiary shall be a party to any pending  litigation,  reasonably  probable of
being determined adversely to the Company or any Company Subsidiary, which would
have a material adverse effect on the business,  financial  condition or results
of operations of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (f) Governmental Approval. All Governmental Approvals required
hereunder to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall have been
obtained without the imposition of any conditions  which NewSouth,  the Bank and
New Sub reasonably and in good faith determine to be unduly  burdensome upon the
conduct of the business of NewSouth,  the Bank or New Sub and, in the reasonable
judgment  of  NewSouth,  substantially  diminish  the  benefits  expected  to be
received by NewSouth from the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (g)  Stock  Options.  All of  the  outstanding  Company  Stock
Options shall have been terminated or canceled as contemplated in Section 1.3(c)
herein.

                  (h) Environmental  Reports.  NewSouth shall have received,  to
its  reasonable   satisfaction,   any  Phase  II  Environmental  Reports  as  is
contemplated in Section 4.16 herein subject to Section 5.4(g) herein.

                  (i) Restricted Stock  Agreements.  All participants in Savings
Restricted  Stock Plan whose awards for shares of Company  Common Stock pursuant
thereto which as of immediately  prior to the Effective Time shall not be deemed
earned  and  non-forfeitable  shall  have  entered  into the  written  surrender
agreement contemplated in Section 4.13(g) hereto.

                  (j) Dissenting  Shares.  No greater than 7% of the outstanding
shares of Company  Common  Stock  entitled to vote at the  meeting of  Company's
shareholders  as is  contemplated in Section 1.8 herein shall have delivered the
written notice of intent to demand payment pursuant to Article 13 of the NCBCA.

                  (k) Tax Opinion.  NewSouth and the Company shall have received
an opinion of NewSouth's  tax counsel or tax  accountants  substantially  to the
effect that (i) NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub and the Company and Savings will
not recognize any gain or loss upon the  acquisition of the Company Common Stock
in the Company Merger, (ii) the Company will not recognize any gain or loss upon
its distribution of all its assets to, and the assumption of all its liabilities
by, the Bank in the Liquidation;  (iii) NewSouth and the Bank will not recognize
any gain or loss  upon  receipt  of all the  assets  and  assumption  of all the
liabilities of the Company in the

                                       34

<PAGE>



Liquidation;  and (iv)  NewSouth,  the Bank,  the Company  and Savings  will not
recognize any gain or loss as a result of the Bank Merger.

                  (l) Resignation of Directors and Officers. Each of the persons
serving as a director  or officer of Company and  Savings or any  subsidiary  of
either shall, at the Closing,  submit his/her written resignation,  effective as
of the Effective Time.

         5.3 Conditions to Obligations of Company and Savings.  The  obligations
of  Company  and  Savings  to effect the  Company  Merger  and the  transactions
contemplated herein shall be subject to the following  additional  conditions to
the extent not waived.

                  (a)  Opinion  of  Counsel  for  NewSouth.  Company  shall have
received from Housley Kantarian & Bronstein,  P.C., special counsel to NewSouth,
an opinion  dated as of the  Closing  covering  the matters set forth in Exhibit
5.3(a).

                  (b) Representations and Warranties to be True;  Fulfillment of
Covenants and Conditions. The representations and warranties of NewSouth and the
Bank shall be true in all material  respects at the Effective Time with the same
effect as  though  made at the  Effective  Time (or on the date when made in the
case of any representation or warranty which specifically  relates to an earlier
date);  NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub shall have performed all obligations and
complied with each covenant, in all material respects,  and all conditions under
this  Agreement on their parts to be  performed or complied  with at or prior to
the Effective  Time; and NewSouth shall have delivered to Company a certificate,
dated the  Effective  Time and signed by its chief  executive  officer and chief
financial officer, to such effect.

                  (c) Receipt of Merger Consideration. The Exchange Agent in its
fiduciary  capacity  shall  have  certified  receipt  of  the  aggregate  Merger
Consideration for all shares of Company Common Stock to be acquired hereunder.

                  (d) Required Consents. In addition to Governmental  Approvals,
NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub shall have  obtained all  necessary  third party
consents or  approvals in  connection  with the Company  Merger,  the absence of
which  would   materially  and  adversely   affect  NewSouth  and  the  NewSouth
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

                  (e)  No  Restriction  on  Payment.  There  shall  not  be  any
restriction with respect to the payments contemplated in Section 1.3 herein.

         5.4 Termination of Agreement and  Abandonment of Company  Merger.  This
Agreement  and the Company  Merger and the Bank Merger may be  terminated at any
time before the Effective  Time,  whether  before or after  approval  thereof by
shareholders of the Company, as provided below:

                  (a)  Mutual  Consent.   By  mutual  consent  of  the  parties,
evidenced by their written agreement.

                                       35

<PAGE>



                  (b) Closing Delay. At the election of either party,  evidenced
by written notice, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before March 31,
2000, or such later date as shall have been agreed to in writing by the parties;
provided,  however,  that the right to terminate under this Section 5.4(b) shall
not be available to any party whose failure to perform an  obligation  hereunder
has been the cause of, or has  resulted  in, the failure of the Closing to occur
on or before such date.

                  (c)  Conditions to NewSouth  Performance  Not Met. By NewSouth
upon delivery of written  notice of  termination  to Company if any event occurs
which renders impossible the satisfaction in any material respect one or more of
the conditions to the  obligations  of NewSouth,  the Bank and New Sub to effect
the  Company  Merger or the Bank  Merger set forth in  Sections  5.1 and 5.2 and
noncompliance  is not waived by NewSouth,  provided,  however,  that such notice
shall  include a statement  of the  grounds  thereof and the Company and Savings
shall have thirty (30) days thereafter to cure the event or conditions  cited in
such  notice (to the extent  curable)  and if the  Company or Savings  cures the
events or  conditions  giving the rise to such  grounds to the  satisfaction  of
NewSouth,  NewSouth shall not have any right to terminate  this Agreement  based
upon such specified events or conditions, and provided,  however, that the right
to terminate  under this Section 5.4(c) shall not be available to NewSouth where
NewSouth's,  Bank's or New Sub's failure to perform an obligation  hereunder has
been the cause of, or has resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or
before such date.

                  (d) Conditions to Company  Performance Not Met. By the Company
upon delivery of written  notice of  termination to NewSouth if any event occurs
which renders  impossible of satisfaction in any material respect one or more of
the  conditions to the  obligations of Company and Savings to effect the Company
Merger  set forth in  Sections  5.1 and 5.3 and  noncompliance  is not waived by
Company,  provided,  however,  that such notice shall include a statement of the
grounds  thereof and NewSouth,  the Bank, and NewSub shall have thirty (30) days
thereafter to cure the events or conditions  cited in such notice (to the extent
curable) and if  NewSouth,  the Bank,  or NewSub cures the events or  conditions
giving the rise to such grounds to the satisfaction of the Company,  the Company
shall not have any right to terminate this  Agreement  based upon such specified
events or conditions,  and provided,  however, that the right to terminate under
this Section 5.4(d) shall not be available to the Company where the Company's or
Savings'  failure to perform an  obligation  hereunder has been the cause of, or
has resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before such date.

                  (e) Other  Agreements.  By Company in connection with entering
into a definitive  agreement or letter of intent with any person with respect to
a Takeover  Proposal in  accordance  with  Section  4.3 herein,  provided it has
complied with all provisions  thereof,  in which case NewSouth shall be entitled
to the fee specified in Section 6.2(b) hereof.

                  (f) NewSouth  Board.  At any time prior to the Effective Time,
by NewSouth,  if (i) the Company  Board of  Directors  withdraws or modifies its
recommendation  of this Agreement or the Company  Merger in a manner  materially
adverse to NewSouth or shall have resolved or publicly announced or disclosed to
any third party its intention to do any of the

                                       36

<PAGE>



foregoing  or the  Company  Board of  Directors  shall have  recommended  to the
stockholders  of the Company any Takeover  Proposal or resolved to do so; (ii) a
tender offer or exchange offer for 25 percent or more of the outstanding  shares
of Company  Common Stock is commenced or a  registration  statement with respect
thereto shall have been filed and the Company Board of Directors, within 10 days
after such  tender  offer or exchange  offer is so  commenced,  either  fails to
recommend   against   acceptance  of  such  tender  or  exchange  offer  by  its
stockholders  or takes no position with respect to the acceptance of such tender
or  exchange  offer by its  stockholders;  or (iii) the  Company  enters  into a
definitive agreement with respect to a Takeover Proposal.

                  (g) Environmental  Reports.  By NewSouth at any time within 10
days of receipt of the last Phase II Report to be delivered as  contemplated  in
Section 4.16 herein if the costs to bring the properties  (either  singularly or
together with other  properties)  which are the subject of such Phase II Reports
into material  compliance  with  applicable  environmental  laws is projected to
exceed $350,000.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                 TERMINATION OF OBLIGATIONS; PAYMENT OF EXPENSES

         6.1 Termination; Lack of Survival of Representations and Warranties. In
the event of the  termination  and  abandonment  of this  Agreement  pursuant to
Section 5.4 of this  Agreement,  this  Agreement  shall  become void and have no
effect,  except that (i) the  provisions  of Sections  2.7 and 3.6  (Brokers and
Finders),  4.7  (Publicity),   6.2  (Expenses),  4.16  (Environmental)  and  8.2
(Confidentiality)  of this  Agreement  shall  survive any such  termination  and
abandonment,  and (ii) a termination pursuant to Sections 5.4 (c) or (d) of this
Agreement  shall not relieve the breaching  party from  liability for an uncured
intentional  and willful  breach of a  representation,  warranty,  covenant,  or
agreement giving rise to such termination.

         The representations, warranties and agreements of the parties set forth
in this Agreement  shall not survive the Effective Time, and shall be terminated
and  extinguished  at the Effective  Time, and from and after the Effective Time
none of the parties  hereto shall have any  liability to the other on account of
any breach or failure of any of those representations, warranties and agreement;
provided,  however,  that the foregoing clause shall not (i) apply to agreements
of the parties  which by their  terms are  intended  to be  performed  after the
Effective  Time,  and (ii) shall not relieve any person for liability for fraud,
deception or intentional misrepresentation.

         6.2      Payment of Expenses.

                  (a) Each of the  parties  hereto  shall bear and pay all costs
and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereunder.

                  (b) In order to induce NewSouth, the Bank and New Sub to enter
into this Agreement and as a means of  compensating  NewSouth,  the Bank and New
Sub for the  substantial  direct and indirect  monetary and other costs incurred
and to be  incurred  in  connection  with this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby, the Company and Savings agree that if this

                                       37

<PAGE>



Agreement is terminated in accordance with Sections 5.4(b),  5.4(c) (but only on
account  of  failure of any of the  conditions  set forth in Section  5.1(a) and
paragraphs (a), (d), (g), (i), (j) (except that for the $2,000,000 payment to be
owed following  failure solely of the condition set forth in Section 5.2(j) then
at least 20% of the outstanding  shares of Company Common stock entitled to vote
shall  have  delivered  notice  pursuant  to  Article 13 of the NCBA) and (l) of
Section 5.2 herein),  5.4(e) or 5.4(f)  hereof and prior to such  termination  a
Termination  Event,  as defined in paragraph (c) of this Section 6.2, shall have
occurred, the Company or Savings will upon demand pay to NewSouth or the Bank in
immediately available funds $2,000,000,  inclusive of any other amounts that may
otherwise be due and payable in accordance with Section 6.2 hereunder;  provided
however,  no such payment shall be due or payable hereunder prior to Company and
Savings  entering into a written  definitive  agreement  with a third party with
respect  to a  Takeover  Proposal  within 15  months  after  termination  of the
Agreement  or  within  such 15 month  period  any  third-party  person or entity
acquires 25% or more of the Company's outstanding Common Stock

                  (c) For purposes of this Agreement,  a Termination Event shall
mean either of the following:

                      (i) The Company or any Company Subsidiary,  without having
received  NewSouth's  prior written  consent,  shall have entered into a written
agreement to engage in a Takeover  Proposal  with any person (the term  "person"
for purposes of this Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in Sections
3(a)((9) and 13(d)(3) of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder)
other than  NewSouth or any  affiliate  of NewSouth  (the term  "affiliate"  for
purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned thereto in Rule 405 under
the 1933 Act) or the Board of  Directors of the Company  shall have  recommended
that the  shareholders  of the Company  approve or accept any Takeover  Proposal
with any person other than NewSouth or any affiliate of NewSouth; or

                      (ii)  After a bona fide  written  proposal  is made by any
person  other than  NewSouth or any  affiliate of NewSouth to the Company or its
shareholders to engage in a Takeover Proposal, either (A) the Company shall have
breached any covenant or obligation  contained in this Agreement and such breach
would entitle  NewSouth to terminate this Agreement,  (B) the holders of Company
Common  Stock  shall not have  approved  this  Agreement  at the meeting of such
shareholders held for the purpose of voting on this Agreement, a proxy statement
has not been  mailed to the holders of Company  Common  Stock as a result of the
Board of Directors' exercise of its fiduciary duties as set forth in Section 4.4
of this  Agreement,  such meeting shall not have been held in a timely manner or
shall have been  postponed,  delayed or enjoined  prior to  termination  of this
Agreement except as a result of a judicial or  administrative  proceeding or the
Company's  Board of Directors  shall have (i)  withdrawn or modified in a manner
materially  adverse to NewSouth the  recommendation  of the  Company's  Board of
Directors with respect to this Agreement, or announced or disclosed to any third
party  its  intention  to do so or (ii)  failed to  recommend,  in the case of a
tender offer or exchange offer for the Company Common Stock,  against acceptance
of such tender offer or exchange offer to its  shareholders or takes no position
with  respect  to  acceptance  of such  tender  offer or  exchange  offer by its
stockholders or (C) the

                                       38

<PAGE>



Company Board of Directors  makes the  provisions of Article XIII or Article XIV
of the  Company's  Articles  of  Incorporation  inapplicable  to  such  Takeover
Proposal.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                         CERTAIN POST-MERGER AGREEMENTS

         7.1 Employees.  (i) Except as set forth in paragraphs (vi) and (vii) of
this  Section 7.1,  employees of the Company or Savings who become  employees of
NewSouth or the Bank after the Effective Time (the "Continuing Employees") shall
be eligible to  participate  in all benefit  plans  sponsored by NewSouth or the
Bank to the same extent as other similarly  situated NewSouth or Bank employees,
recognizing   prior   service  with   Savings  for   purposes  of   eligibility,
participation  and vesting;  provided  that  NewSouth  shall (i) not subject the
Continuing   Employees  to  any  uninsured   waiting  period  or  exclusion  for
pre-existing  conditions  that was not in effect on the Effective Time under the
medical  plan  maintained  by the  Company or  Savings,  and (ii)  provide for a
carry-over  during  1999  or  2000  (as may be  applicable)  to the  replacement
NewSouth  or Bank  medical  plan of all  deductibles  and  annual  out of pocket
contributions incurred during the period beginning January 1, 1999 or January 1,
2000 (as be may be applicable) through the Effective Time.

                  (ii)  Salaries  for  employees  of  Savings  who are to become
employees of the Bank immediately  following the Effective Time are set forth in
Exhibit 7.1 hereto. The Bank shall also honor the existing  agreements set forth
in Exhibit 7.1 hereto.

                  (iii) With respect to those employees of Savings identified in
Exhibit  7.1 hereto who  continue to be employed by the Bank for a period of one
year from the Effective  Time,  such employees will be paid a retention bonus in
the  amount  set forth in Exhibit  7.1 on the one year  anniversary  date of the
Effective Time.

                  (iv)  NewSouth  shall  pay (or  cause to be paid) a  severance
benefit in accordance  with Exhibit 7.1 hereto to any person who was a full time
employee of Savings immediately prior to the Effective Time and whose employment
with NewSouth or the Bank is  involuntarily  terminated  during the one (1) year
period  commencing as of the Effective Time. The severance  payment  obligations
under this  Section 7.1 shall not apply to (a) any person who has an  Employment
Agreement  with Company or Savings,  or (b) any employee who is  terminated  for
cause.

                  (v) In the event the  Effective  Time occurs prior to December
10,  1999,  on or before  December  20,  1999  NewSouth  will pay to the Savings
employees  listed on Exhibit  7.1 who  continue to be  employees  of NewSouth on
December  20, 1999 or who are  terminated  by NewSouth  without  cause after the
Effective  Time and prior to December 20, 1999 the 1999 bonus  amounts set forth
in Exhibit 7.1.


                                       39

<PAGE>



                  (vi) The Continuing Employees shall be eligible to participate
in NewSouth's  Employee  Stock  Ownership Plan  ("NewSouth  ESOP") no later than
October 1, 2001. In connection  with their  participation  in the NewSouth ESOP,
such  employees  shall receive credit for prior years of service with Savings or
the  Company,  as well as  service  with  NewSouth  or  Bank,  for  purposes  of
determining eligibility to participate, and vesting, if applicable.

                  (vii) At the Effective  Time,  Saving's  pension plan shall be
merged  with and into  Bank's  pension  plan,  and  thereafter  each  Continuing
Employee  shall be entitled to  participate  in Bank's  pension plan to the same
extent as other similarly  situated NewSouth or Bank employees.  Such Continuing
Employees shall receive credit under Bank's pension plan for their prior periods
of service to Company or Savings for  purposes of  determining  eligibility  and
vesting, and no participant's  accrued benefit under Savings' pension plan shall
be  reduced  as a result of the merger of  Savings'  pension  plan with and into
Bank's  pension plan.  Continuing  Employees  will accrue  benefits under Bank's
pension plan for service with NewSouth and Bank after the Effective Time.

         7.2 Directors.  As of the Effective  Time, Mr. H.D.  Reaves,  Jr. shall
become a Director of NewSouth and the Bank. All of the non-employee directors of
Savings  as of the  Effective  Time  shall  be  invited  by the  Bank  to join a
community advisory board of directors to advise and assist the Bank with respect
to the communities served by Savings. Such appointment shall be for a three year
basis and each person  agreeing  to serve on such  advisory  board of  directors
shall  receive  fees of $400 per month if the  advisory  board meets  monthly or
$1,200 per quarter if the advisory board meets quarterly.

         7.3  Employment  Agreements.  As of the  Effective  Time,  the existing
employment  agreements between Savings and each of H.D. Reaves,  Jr., Anthony R.
Strickland  and  Allen  Lloyd  will  be  terminated,  and in lieu  thereof  such
individuals will enter into new employment  agreements with the Bank in the form
attached at Exhibit 7.3 hereto.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                     GENERAL

         8.1  Amendments.  Subject to  applicable  law,  this  Agreement  may be
amended,  whether before or after any relevant  approval of shareholders,  by an
agreement  in  writing  executed  in the  same  manner  as  this  Agreement  and
authorized  or  ratified  by the  Boards of  Directors  of the  parties  hereto,
provided that,  after the adoption of the Agreement by the  shareholders  of the
Company, no such amendment without further  shareholder  approval may reduce the
amount or change the form of the  consideration  to be  received  by the Company
shareholders in the Company Merger.

         8.2 Confidentiality.  All information  disclosed hereafter by any party
to this  Agreement  to any other  party to this  Agreement,  including,  without
limitation,  any information  obtained pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof,  shall be
kept  confidential by such other party and shall not be used by such other party
otherwise than as herein contemplated except to the extent that (i) it was known
by such other party when  received,  (ii) it is or  hereafter  becomes  lawfully
obtainable from other sources,  (iii) it is necessary or appropriate to disclose
to the OTS, the FDIC, the FRB, the Commission or any other regulatory  authority
having jurisdiction over the parties or their

                                       40

<PAGE>



subsidiaries  or as may otherwise be required by law, or (iv) to the extent such
duty as to  confidentiality  is waived by the other  party.  In the event of the
termination of this  Agreement,  each party shall use all reasonable  efforts to
return  upon  request to the other  parties  all  documents  (and  reproductions
thereof)  received from such other  parties (and, in the case of  reproductions,
all such reproductions made by the receiving party) that include information not
within the exceptions contained in the first sentence of this Section 8.2.

         8.3 Governing Law. This Agreement and the legal  relations  between the
parties shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance  with the laws of the
State of North Carolina without taking into account a provision regarding choice
of law,  except to the extent certain  matters may be governed by federal law by
reason of preemption.

         8.4 Notices. Any notices or other communications  required or permitted
hereunder  shall be  sufficiently  given if sent by registered mail or certified
mail, postage prepaid, addressed, if to NewSouth or Bank, to

                                    NewSouth Bancorp, Inc.
                                    1311 Carolina Avenue
                                    Washington, North Carolina 27889
                                    Attention: Thomas A. Vann, President

                  with a copy to:

                                    Housley Kantarian & Bronstein, P.C.
                                    Suite 700
                                    1220 19th Street, N.W.
                                    Washington, DC  20036
                                    Attention: Gary R. Bronstein, Esquire

                  and if to Company or Savings, to

                                    Green Street Financial Corp
                                    241 Green Street
                                    Fayetteville, North Carolina 28301
                                    Attention: H.D. Reaves, Jr., President

                  with a copy to:

                                    Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC
                                    One Franklin Square
                                    1301 K Street, N.W.
                                    Suite 700 East
                                    Washington, DC  20005
                                    Attention:  Richard Fisch, Esquire

or such other  address as shall be furnished  in writing by any such party,  and
any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given two business
days after the date of such mailing (except that the notice of change of address
shall not be deemed to have been given until

                                       41

<PAGE>



received  by the  addressee).  Notices  may  also be sent  by  telegram,  telex,
facsimile  transmission  or hand  delivery  and in such event shall be deemed to
have been given as of the date received.

         8.5 No  Assignment.  This  Agreement  may not be assigned by any of the
parties  hereto,  by operation of law or  otherwise,  without the prior  written
consent of the other parties.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement
will be binding upon,  inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties
and their respective successors and assigns.

         8.6  Headings.  The  description  heading of the several  Articles  and
Sections  of  this  Agreement  are  inserted  for  convenience  only  and do not
constitute a part of this Agreement.

         8.7  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  extended  in  one or  more
counterparts,  all of which shall be considered  one and the same  agreement and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of
the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto.

         8.8 Construction and  Interpretation.  Except as the context  otherwise
requires,  (a) all references  herein to any state or federal  regulatory agency
shall also be deemed to refer to any  predecessor or successor  agency,  and (b)
all references to state and federal statutes or regulations shall also be deemed
to refer to any successor statute or regulation.

         8.9 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement,  together with the  schedules,
lists,  exhibits and certificates  required to be delivered  hereunder,  and any
amendment  hereafter  executed  and  delivered in  accordance  with Section 8.1,
constitutes  the entire  agreement  of the  parties,  and  supersedes  any prior
written or oral  agreement  or  understanding  among any of the  parties  hereto
pertaining  to the  Company  Merger,  except for the  Confidentiality  Agreement
between the Company and NewSouth dated October 5, 1998, attached at Exhibit 8.9,
which shall remain in full force and effect.  This  Agreement is not intended to
confer  upon any other  persons  any  rights  or  remedies  hereunder  except as
expressly set forth herein.

         8.10 Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement
shall  be  interpreted  in  such  manner  as to be  effective  and  valid  under
applicable  law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited
by or invalid under  applicable law, such provision will be ineffective  only to
the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of such provision or the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

         8.11 No Third  Party  Beneficiaries.  Nothing in this  Agreement  shall
entitle any person (other than the Company,  Savings,  NewSouth, the Bank or New
Sub and their respective  successors and assigns permitted hereby) to any claim,
cause of  action,  remedy or right of any kind,  except as  otherwise  expressly
provided  herein,  including the  Indemnities  described in Section 4.11 of this
Agreement.

         8.12   Enforcement   of  Agreement.   The  parties  hereto  agree  that
irreparable  damage would occur in the event that any of the  provisions of this
Agreement  was not  performed  in  accordance  with  its  specific  terms or was
otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall

                                       42

<PAGE>



be  entitled  to an  injunction  or  injunctions  to  prevent  breaches  of this
Agreement and to enforce  specifically  the terms and  provisions  hereof in any
court of the  United  States or any state  having  jurisdiction,  this  being in
addition  to any other  remedy to which they are  entitled  at law or in equity;
except that no such rights shall attach in  circumstances  where the Company and
Savings  shall have paid  NewSouth,  Bank or NewSub the  $2,000,000  payment set
forth in Section 6.2(b) herein.


                                       43

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be
executed on its behalf by its officers thereunder duly authorized, all as of the
date set forth above.

NEWSOUTH BANCORP, INC.                 GREEN STREET FINANCIAL CORP

    /s/ Thomas A. Vann                     /s/ H.D. Reaves, Jr
By: ---------------------------------  By: ------------------------------------
Name: Thomas A. Vann                   Name: H.D. Reaves, Jr.
Title:  President                      Title:   President



NEWSOUTH BANK                          HOME FEDERAL SAVINGS AND
                                            LOAN ASSOCIATION

    /s/ Thomas A. Vann                      /s/ H.D. Reaves, Jr
By: ---------------------------------  By: ------------------------------------
Name: Thomas A. Vann                   Name: H.D. Reaves, Jr.
Title:  President                      Title:   President



WASHINGTON FINANCIAL, INC.

    /s/ Thomas A. Vann
By: ---------------------------------
Name: Thomas A. Vann
Title:  President


                                       44





                                                    EXHIBIT 99


<PAGE>



                  Press Release of Green Street Financial Corp
                               relating to merger

For:     Green Street Financial Corp
         Home Federal Savings and Loan Association
         Fayetteville, North Carolina
                                       Contact:   H.D. Reaves, Jr. (President)
                                                  (910) 483-3681

Fayetteville, N.C.-August 9, 1999-- Green Street Financial Corp. ("Green Street"
NASDAQ:  GSFC) today  announced  the signing of a definitive  merger  agreement.
Green Street in the parent company of Home Federal Savings and Loan  Association
located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

Under the terms of the  agreement,  each share in common  stock of Green  Street
will  be  acquired  for  $15.25  by  NewSouth  Bancorp,  Inc.  and  its  banking
subsidiary,   NewSouth  Bank,  a  North   Carolina-chartered   commercial   bank
headquartered in Washington, North Carolina.

H.D.  Reaves,  Jr.,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of Green  Street,
remarked,  "We are pleased  that our new  partner  will enable us to enhance our
product  offerings and to better serve our  communities.  NewSouth Bank provides
the same kind of personal  service that has been the  foundation of our success.
We are confident that our customers will benefit from this affiliation."

"NewSouth  Bancorp is very  enthusiastic  about its agreement to purchase  Green
Street Financial Corp," stated Tom Vann,  President of NewSouth Bancorp. "We are
excited  about the growth  potential  this market holds and the  opportunity  to
offer our existing products to new customers. "

Consummation of the merger is subject to approval by bank regulatory authorities
and the  shareholders  of Green  Street and is expected to be  completed  in the
fourth quarter of 1999.

NewSouth Bancorp, Inc. is a $299 million asset bank holding company. Its banking
subsidiary  is  NewSouth  Bank,  a North  Carolina  -chartered  commercial  bank
headquartered  in Washington,  North  Carolina.  Green Street is the savings and
loan  holding  company for Home Federal  Savings and Loan, a $166 million  asset
bank which operates offices in Fayetteville and Lumberton, North Carolina.




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