UNITED CAROLINA BANCSHARES CORP
S-8, 1996-04-04
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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     As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 4, 1995

                                                      Registration No. 33-



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


                                 UNITED CAROLINA
                             BANCSHARES CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           North Carolina                             56-0954530
(State or other Jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                     Identification No.)



                               Post Office Box 682
                             127 West Webster Street
                        Whiteville, North Carolina 28472
          (Address of principal executive offices, including Zip Code)



                        1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan
                            (Full title of the plan)



                           HOWARD V. HUDSON, JR., Esq.
                     United Carolina Bancshares Corporation
                               Post Office Box 632
                             127 West Webster Street
                        Whiteville, North Carolina 28472
                                 (910) 642-5131
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:
                          WILLIAM R. LATHAN, JR., Esq.
                              Ward and Smith, P.A.
                               1001 College Court
                               Post Office Box 867
                         New Bern, North Carolina 28560
                                 (919) 633-1000


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                    Proposed           Proposed
                                                     Maximum            Maximum          Amount of
     Title of Securities         Amount to       Offering Price        Aggregate       Registration
      to be Registered       be Registered (1)    Per Share (2)   Offering Price (2)      Fee (2)
<S>                         <C>                 <C>             <C>                   <C>   

Common Stock,
$4.00 par value                    28,571             $7.3228           $209,220            $100
</TABLE>

(1)      This Registration  Statement  registers  securities offered pursuant to
         terms which provide for an adjustment in the number of securities being
         offered  to  prevent  dilution  resulting  from  stock  splits,   stock
         dividends  or  similar  transactions  and will be  deemed  to cover the
         additional  securities  offered or issued in  connection  with any such
         provision.

(2)      Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the registration fee has been calculated on
         the basis of the weighted average price per share at which shares could
         be purchased upon the exercise of options granted under the plan.



<PAGE>



           PART II. INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.   Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

        The following  documents  filed by Registrant  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") are incorporated herein by reference:

                  (i)  Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995;

                 (ii)  Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January
25, 1996;

                (iii) Description of Registrant's  common stock contained in its
Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended by Registrant's subsequent reports
riled under the Exchange Act.

        All  documents  subsequently  filed with the  Commission  by  Registrant
pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the
filing of a  post-effective  amendment which indicates that all securities being
offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold
shall be deemed to be  incorporated  herein by reference and to be a part hereof
from the dates of filing of such documents.

Item 4.   Description of Securities

        Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel

        Ward and Smith,  P.A., New Bern,  North Carolina has rendered an opinion
as to certain legal matters regarding the shares of Registrant's common stock to
which  this  Registration  Statement  relates.  Certain  members  of  that  firm
beneficially  own an aggregate  of  approximately  9,180 shares of  Registrant's
common stock.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        The North Carolina  Business  Corporation Act (the "NCBCA") provides for
indemnification  by a  corporation  of its  officers,  directors,  employees and
agents,  and any person who is or was serving at the corporation's  request as a
director,  officer,  employee or agent of another  entity or  enterprise or as a
trustee or administrator  under an employee benefit plan,  against liability and
expenses,  including  reasonable  attorney's fees, in any proceeding  (including
without  limitation  a  proceeding  brought  by or on behalf of the  corporation
itself)  arising out of their status as such or their  activities  in any of the
foregoing capacities.

        Permissible Indemnification.  Under the NCBCA, a corporation may, but is
not  required  to,  indemnify  or agree to  indemnify  any such  person  against
liability  and expenses  incurred in any such  proceeding,  provided such person
conducted himself or herself in good faith and (i) in the case of conduct in his
or her official corporate capacity,

                                                           2

<PAGE>



reasonably  believed  that  his or her  conduct  was in the  corporation's  best
interests,  and (ii) in all other  cases,  reasonably  believed  that his or her
conduct was at least not opposed to the  corporation's  best interests;  and, in
the case of a criminal  proceeding,  where he or she had no reasonable  cause to
believe  his or her  conduct  was  unlawful.  However,  a  corporation  may  not
indemnify such person either in connection  with a proceeding by or in the right
of the corporation in which such person was adjudged liable to the  corporation,
or in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to
such person (whether or not involving  action in an official  capacity) in which
such  person  was  adjudged  liable  on the  basis  that  personal  benefit  was
improperly received.

        Mandatory Indemnification.  Unless limited by the corporation's charter,
the NCBCA  requires a  corporation  to  indemnify  a director  or officer of the
corporation who is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense
of any proceeding to which such person was a party because he or she is or was a
director or officer of the corporation  against reasonable  expenses incurred in
connection with the proceeding.

        Advance for Expenses. Expenses incurred by a director, officer, employee
or  agent  of the  corporation  in  defending  a  proceeding  may be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final  disposition of the proceeding as authorized
by the board of directors in the specific  case, or as authorized by the charter
or bylaws or by any  applicable  resolution  or  contract,  upon  receipt  of an
undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay amounts  advanced  unless it
ultimately is determined  that such person is entitled to be  indemnified by the
corporation against such expenses.

        Court-Ordered   Indemnification.   Unless  otherwise   provided  in  the
corporation's  charter,  a director or officer of the corporation who is a party
to a  proceeding  may apply for  indemnification  to the  court  conducting  the
proceeding  or to  another  court of  competent  jurisdiction.  On receipt of an
application,  the court, after giving any notice the court deems necessary,  may
order  indemnification  if it determines either (i) that the director or officer
is entitled to mandatory  indemnification  as described above, in which case the
court also will order the corporation to pay the reasonable expenses incurred to
obtain the court-ordered  indemnification,  or (ii) that the director or officer
is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant
circumstances,  whether or not such person met the requisite standard of conduct
or was adjudged  liable to the corporation in connection with a proceeding by or
in the  right of the  corporation  or on the basis  that  personal  benefit  was
improperly  received in connection with any other proceeding so charging (but if
adjudged so liable, indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses incurred).

        Voluntary  Indemnification.  In addition to and  separate and apart from
"permissible"  and "mandatory"  indemnification  described  above, a corporation
may,  by  charter,  bylaw,  contract  or  resolution,m  "indemnify  or  agree to
indemnify  any one or more of its  officers,  directors,  employees  and  agents
against liability and expenses in any proceeding (including without limitation a
proceeding brought by or

                                                           3

<PAGE>



on behalf of the  corporation  itself)  arising  out of their  status as such or
their activities in any of the foregoing  capacities.  However,  the corporation
may not indemnify or agree to indemnify a person  against  liability or expenses
he may incur on account  of  activities  which  were at the time taken  known or
believed by such person to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the
corporation. Any provision in a corporation's charter or bylaws or in a contract
or  resolution  may include  provisions  for recovery  from the  corporation  of
reasonable   costs,   expenses  and  attorneys'  fees  in  connection  with  the
enforcement of rights to indemnification granted therein and may further include
provisions establishing reasonable procedures for determining and enforcing such
rights.

        Parties  Entitled to  Indemnification.  The NCBCA defines  "director" to
include  ex-directors and the estate or personal  representative  of a director.
Unless its charter provides  otherwise,  a corporation may indemnify and advance
expenses to an officer,  employee or agent of the corporation to the same extent
as to a director  and also may  indemnify  and  advance  expenses to an officer,
employee or agent who is not a director to the  extent,  consistent  with public
policy,  as may be  provided  in its  charter or bylaws,  by general or specific
action of its board of directors, or by contract.

        Indemnification  by  Registrant.  Subject  to such  restrictions  as are
provided  by  federal   securities   law,   Registrant's   Bylaws   provide  for
indemnification of its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
law and  require  its  Board of  Directors  to take all  actions  necessary  and
appropriate to authorize such indemnification. In addition, Registrant currently
maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance.

Item 7.  Exemption From Registration Claimed

        Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits

        The  following  exhibits are filed  herewith or  incorporated  herein by
reference as part of this Registration Statement:

        4           Specimen of Registrant's Common Stock certificate
                    (incorporated by reference from Registrant's 1988 Annual
                    Report on Form 10-K).

        5           Opinion of Ward and Smith, P.A. as to the legality of the
                    securities being registered (filed herewith).

        23(a)       Consent  of  KPMG  Peat  Marwick  LLP  to  incorporation  by
                    reference of its report on Registrant's financial statements
                    (filed herewith).

        23(b)       Consent of Ward and Smith, P.A. (contained in its opinion
                    filed herewith as Exhibit 5).

        24          Power of Attorney.

        99          Copy of 1993 Incentive Stock Option Plan.

                                                           4

<PAGE>




Item 9.  Undertakings

        (a)  Rule 415 Offering.  The undersigned Registrant hereby
undertakes:

                    (1)         To file,  during any  period in which  offers or
                                sales are being made, a post-effective amendment
                                to this Registration Statement:

                                (i)    to include any Prospectus required by
                                       Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of
                                       1933;

                                (ii)   to  reflect  in the  Prospectus  any
                                       facts or  events  arising  after the
                                       effective  date of the  Registration
                                       Statement   (or  the   most   recent
                                       post-effective   amendment  thereof)
                                       which,   individually   or  in   the
                                       aggregate,  represent a  fundamental
                                       change in the  information set forth
                                       in the Registration Statement;

                                (iii)  to include any material  information
                                       with   respect   to  the   plan   of
                                       distribution      not     previously
                                       disclosed   in   the    Registration
                                       Statement or any material  change to
                                       such information in the Registration
                                       Statement;

                         provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
                         (a)(1)(ii)  do  not  apply  if  the  information
                         required  to  be  included  in a  post-effective
                         amendment  by those  paragraphs  is contained in
                         periodic   reports   filed  by  the   Registrant
                         pursuant  to Section 13 or Section  15(d) of the
                         Securities   Exchange   Act  of  1934  that  are
                         incorporated  by reference  in the  Registration
                         Statement.

                    (2)  That, for purposes of determining any liability under
                         the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective
                         amendment shall be deemed to be a new Registration
                         Statement relating to the securities offered therein,
                         and the offering of such securities at that time shall
                         be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
                         thereof.

                    (3)  To  remove  from  registration  by  means  of  a
                         post-effective  amendment any of the  securities
                         being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at the
                         termination of the offering.

        (b)  Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by
        Reference.

        The  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for purposes of
        determining  any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing
        of the  Registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
        15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is

                                                           5

<PAGE>



        incorporated by reference in the Registration  Statement shall be deemed
        to be a new Registration  Statement  relating to the securities  offered
        therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time  shall be
        deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (h)  Request for Acceleration of Effectiveness or Filing of
        Registration Statement on Form S-8

        Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
        Act of 1933 may be permitted  to  directors,  officers  and  controlling
        persons of the  Registrant  pursuant  to the  foregoing  provisions,  or
        otherwise,  the  Registrant  has been advised that in the opinion of the
        Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is against
        public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,  unenforceable.
        In the event that a claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities
        (other than the payment by the  Registrant of expenses  incurred or paid
        by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Registrant in the
        successful  defense of any action,  suit or  proceeding)  is asserted by
        such  director,  officer or  controlling  person in connection  with the
        securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in the opinion
        of its counsel  the matter has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,
        submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction the question whether such
        indemnification  by it is against  public policy as expressed in the Act
        and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                                           6

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Whiteville,  State of North Carolina,  on March 29 ,
1996.

                                       UNITED CAROLINA BANCSHARES CORPORATION
                                       (Registrant)


                                      By: S/ Kenneth L. Miller
                                          Kenneth L. Miller
                                          President

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

     Signature                     Title                Date




   S/ E. Rhone Sasser       Chief Executive         March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------   Officer (principal                            
E. Rhone Sasser                executive officer)


   S/ Ronald C. Monger      Executive Vice          March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------   President and Chief                            
Ronald C. Monger            Financial Officer
                            (principal financial
                            officer)

   S/ John F. Watson        Controller (principal   March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------   accounting officer)
John F. Watson              



*  S/ J. W. Adams           Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                              
J. W. Adams



*  S/ John V. Andrews       Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                              
John V. Andrews



*  S/ Russell M. Carter     Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                
Russell M. Carter



                                                             7

<PAGE>


*  S/ W. E. Carter          Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                               
W. E. Carter



*  S/ Alfred E. Cleveland   Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                               
Alfred E. Cleveland



*  S/ James L. Cresimore    Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                               
James L. Cresimore



*  S/ Thomas P. Dillon      Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                 
Thomas P. Dillon



*  S/ C. Frank Griffin      Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                
C. Frank Griffin



*  S/ James C. High         Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                
James C. High



*  S/ Jack E. Shaw          Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                 
Jack E. Shaw



*  S/ Harold B. Wells       Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                               
Harold B. Wells



*  S/ Charles M. Winston    Director                March  29 , 1996
- -------------------------                                
Charles M. Winston





* By:    S/ Howard V. Hudson, Jr.
            Howard V. Hudson, Jr.
            Attorney-in-Fact


                                                             8

<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit                                                  Sequential
Number                 Description                      Page Number



  4                 Specimen of Registrant's Common Stock   
                    certificate (incorporated herein by  
                    reference  from  Exhibit  IV  to
                    Registrant's 1988 Annual Report on 
                    Form 10-K).

  5                 Opinion of Ward and Smith, P.A. as to
                    the legality of the securities being
                    registered (filed herewith).

23(a)               Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP to
                    incorporation by reference of its
                    report on Registrant's financial
                    statements (filed herewith).

23(b)               Consent of Ward and Smith, P.A.
                    (included in its opinion filed
                    herewith as Exhibit 5).

24                  Power of Attorney.

99                  Copy of 1993 Incentive Stock Option 
                    Plan, together with form of option 
                    agreement with Option Holders.

<PAGE>



<PAGE>


                                                   April 1, 1995






The Board of Directors
United Carolina Bancshares Corporation
Post Office Box 632
Whiteville, North Carolina  28472

RE:  Our File 80-0785(R)

Gentlemen:

You have asked for our opinion  regarding  28,571 shares of common stock,  $4.00
par  value  (the  "Shares"),  of United  Carolina  Bancshares  Corporation  (the
"Corporation")  that are  proposed to be issued and sold to the holders and upon
the exercise of options (the "Options")  previously  granted by Seaboard Savings
Bank,  Inc.,  SSB (the "Bank") under its 1993  Incentive  Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") and which  remained  outstanding  at the effective time of the merger of
the Bank into the Corporation's  wholly-owned  bank subsidiary,  United Carolina
Bank  ("UCB").  The  Agreement  and  Plan of  Reorganization  and  Merger  dated
September 19, 1995 between the Bank, UCB and the Corporation  (the  "Agreement")
provided that, when the merger became effective,  the Options would be converted
(as described  therein) into options to purchase common stock of the Corporation
and the Corporation would assume the Bank's obligations thereunder.

We have examined the  Agreement,  the Plan and certified  copies of  resolutions
adopted  by the  Corporation's  Board  of  Directors  approving  the  Agreement,
ratifying  and  approving  the  assumption  of the Options,  and  reserving  and
authorizing the Shares for issuance upon exercise of the Options.  Additionally,
we have examined such other records and documents and have had such  discussions
with  officers of the  Corporation  as we deemed  necessary  with respect to the
organization of the Corporation and other matters.  Based upon such examination,
and provided that (i) the Options  originally  were properly issued by the Bank,
(ii)  the  Corporation's  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-8  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission relating to the Shares shall have become and
shall  remain  effective,  and  (iii) the  Shares  covered  by the  Registration
Statement  shall have been issued and sold upon the exercise  and in  accordance
with the terms of the Options and following  receipt by the  Corporation  of the
purchase  price of such  Shares,  then the  Shares  so  issued  and sold will be
validly authorized, legally 



<PAGE>

The Board of Directors
United Carolina Bancshares Corporation
Page 2

issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion is furnished by us solely for your benefit and in  connection  with
the  filing of the  above  Registration  Statement.  Without  our prior  express
written  consent this opinion may not used for any other  purpose and may not be
quoted or relied upon by, nor may copies be  delivered  to, any other  person or
entity.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5 to the Registration
Statement.

                                               Yours truly,

                                               S/ Ward and Smith, P.A.

                                               WARD and SMITH, P.A.



<PAGE>


<PAGE>



                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT



The Board of Directors
United Carolina Bancshares Corporation

We consent to incorporation  by reference in the Registration  Statement on Form
S-8 of United Carolina Bancshares  Corporation (the  "Corporation")  relating to
the 1993 Incentive  Stock Option Plan of Seaboard  Savings Bank,  Inc.,  SSB, as
assumed by United Carolina Bancshares  Corporation,  of our report dated January
17,  1996,  relating  to the  consolidated  balance  sheets of  United  Carolina
Bancshares  Corporation  and  subsidiaries as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and
the related  consolidated  statements of income,  stockholders'  equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the  three-year  period ended  December 31, 1995,
which  report  appears in the  December  31, 1995 annual  report on Form 10-K of
United Carolina  Bancshares  Corporation.  Out report dated January 1788,  1996,
refers to the fact that on  December  31,  1993,  the  Corporation  adopted  the
provisions of the Financial  Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards No. 115,  "Accounting for Certain  Investments in Debt and
Equity  Securities",  and on  January  1,  1993,  the  Corporation  adopted  the
provisions of the Financial  Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards No. 109,  "Accounting  for Income  Taxes." Our report also
refers  to the fact  that on  January  1,  1994,  the  Corporation  adopted  the
provisions of the Financial  Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial
Accounting   Standards  No.112,   "Employers'   Accounting  for   Postemployment
Benefits."



                            S/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                              KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Raleigh, North Carolina
April 1, 1996


<PAGE>

<PAGE>



STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA

COUNTY OF COLUMBUS
                                                     POWER OF ATTORNEY

                    KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned
directors and executive officers of UNITED CAROLINA BANCSHARES  CORPORATION (the
"Corporation")  has made,  constituted  and  appointed  and, by these  presents,
hereby makes,  constitutes and appoints HOWARD V. HUDSON, JR., RONALD C. MONGER,
WILLIAM R.  LATHAN,  JR. and  RAYMOND W.  HINES,  and each of them,  jointly and
severally, his true and lawful agents and attorneys-in-fact,  with full power of
substitution and  resubstitution,  and with full power and authority for him and
in his name,  place and stead,  to sign for the undersigned and in his name as a
director or officer of the Corporation a Registration  Statement on Form S-8, as
well as any Amendments to such Registration Statement, and to file the same with
the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under the  Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to the shares of common stock of the Corporation which will be
offered and sold upon the exercise of options to purchase  previously  issued by
Seaboard  Savings Bank,  Inc., SSB (the "Savings Bank") under the Savings Bank's
1993  Nonstatutory  Stock Option Plan for  Directors  and 1993  Incentive  Stock
Option Plan,  and which  options were assumed by the  Corporation  and converted
into  options to  purchase  shares of the  Corporation's  common  stock upon the
merger  of the  Savings  Bank  into  and  with  the  Corporation's  wholly-owned
subsidiary  bank and the  conversion  of the  outstanding  shares of the Savings
Bank's common stock into shares of the Corporation's common stock.

                    Further,  each  of the  undersigned  hereby  grants  to said
agents and  attorneys-in-fact,  and each of them, full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in
and about the  premises as fully and to all intents and  purposes as he might or
could do in person,  hereby  ratifying and  confirming  all that said agents and
attorneys-in-fact  or  either  of them,  or their  or his or her  substitute  or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

                    IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned  have hereunto signed
their names on the dates indicated.

     Signature                     Title                Date


S/ E. Rhone Sasser       President and Chief    February  29 , 1996
- ----------------------   Executive Officer                               
E. Rhone Sasser          (principal executive
                         officer)

S/ Ronald C. Monger      Executive Vice         February  29 , 1996
- ----------------------   President and Chief                                
Ronald C. Monger         Financial Officer
                         (principal financial
                         officer)

S/ John F. Watson        Controller (principal  February  29 , 1996
- ----------------------   accounting officer)
John F. Watson           


<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ J. W. Adams                    Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                              
J. W. Adams

                                                         2

<PAGE>



                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ John V. Andrews                Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                               
John V. Andrews

                                                         3

<PAGE>



                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Russell M. Carter              Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                               
Russell M. Carter

                                                         4

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ W. E. Carter                   Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                             
W. E. Carter

                                                         5

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Alfred E. Cleveland            Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                             
Alfred E. Cleveland

                                                         6

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ James L. Cresimore             Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                           
James L. Cresimore

                                                         7

<PAGE>



                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Thomas P. Dillon               Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                             
Thomas P. Dillon

                                                         8

<PAGE>


                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ C. Frank Griffin               Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                           
C. Frank Griffin

                                                         9

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ James C. High                  Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                              
James C. High

                                                        10

<PAGE>


                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Jack E. Shaw                   Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                             
Jack E. Shaw

                                                        11

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Harold B. Wells                Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                              
Harold B. Wells

                                                        12

<PAGE>




                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned has hereunto signed his
name to the foregoing Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.


     Signature                     Title                Date




S/ Charles M. Winston             Director      February  29 , 1996
- --------------------------                              
Charles M. Winston


<PAGE>





                        SEABOARD SAVINGS BANK, INC., SSB
                        1993 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN


                    Seaboard   Savings  Bank,   Inc.,   SSB,  a  North  Carolina
corporation  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Corporation"),  does herein set
forth the terms of the Seaboard  Savings Bank,  Inc., SSB 1993  Incentive  Stock
Option Plan  (hereinafter  referred to as this "Plan")  which was adopted by the
Corporation's  Board  of  Directors  (hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Board")
subject to approval by the  Corporation's  shareholders as provided in Paragraph
22 hereof.

                    1.  Purpose  of the  Plan.  The  purpose  of this Plan is to
provide for the grant of Incentive  Stock  Options  (hereinafter  referred to as
"Option" or "Options")  qualifying for the tax treatment afforded by Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  and in certain  circumstances
the right to surrender such Options for cash, to eligible officers and employees
of the Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "Eligible Employees") who wish to
invest in the  Corporation's  common stock  (hereinafter  referred to as "Common
Stock").  The Corporation  believes that  participation  in the ownership of the
Corporation  by  Eligible  Employees  will  be to  the  mutual  benefit  of  the
Corporation  and  Eligible  Employees.  The  existence of this Plan will make it
possible for the Corporation and its subsidiaries to attract capable individuals
to employment in key employee positions.

                    2.          Administration of the Plan.

                                (a)   This Plan shall be administered by the
Stock  Option   Committee  of  the  Board   (hereinafter   referred  to  as  the
"Committee").  The Committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Board all
of whom shall qualify as disinterested  persons as provided in Section 16(b) and
the rules and regulations  thereunder of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.  The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board and shall
serve at the pleasure of the Board,  which may remove  members from, add members
to, or fill vacancies in the Committee.

                                (b)   The Committee shall decide to whom Options
shall be granted under this Plan, the number of shares as to which Options shall
be granted,  the Option Price (as hereinafter  defined) for such shares and such
additional  terms  and  conditions  for  such  Options  as the  Committee  deems
appropriate. Also, the Committee shall determine when Limited Stock Appreciation
Rights (as  hereinafter  described)  shall be available in place of  outstanding
Options.

                                (c)    A majority of the Committee shall
constitute  a quorum and the acts of a majority  of the  members  present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present, or acts approved unanimously in writing by
the Committee, shall be considered as valid actions by the Committee.

                                (d)    The Board may designate any officers or
employees of the Corporation to assist in the administration of this Plan.  The 
Board may authorize such individuals to execute documents on its behalf and may
delegate to them such other


<PAGE>



ministerial and limited discretionary duties as the Board may deem fit.

                    3. Shares of Commons Stock  Subject to the Plan.  The number
of shares of Common Stock that shall be available  initially  for Options  under
this Plan is twenty four thousand six hundred and twenty five  (24,625)  shares,
subject to  adjustment  as provided in  Paragraph 16 hereof.  Shares  subject to
Options which expire or terminate  prior to the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock shall again be available for future grants of Options under this Plan.

                    4.  Eligibility.  Options  under this Plan may be granted to
any Eligible  Employee as determined by the  Committee.  An individual  may hold
more than one Option under this or other plans adopted by the Corporation.

                    5.          Grant of Options.

                                (a)       Upon the conversion of the Corporation
from   a   North   Carolina-chartered   mutual   savings   bank   to   a   North
Carolina-chartered   stock  savings  bank   (hereinafter   referred  to  as  the
"Conversion"),  the  Committee  has  authorized  that  Options  for twenty  four
thousand  six hundred and twenty five  (24,625)  shares of Common Stock shall be
granted to certain  current  officers  and  employees of the  Corporation  which
Options  shall  be  granted  based  upon  the  past  service  and the  continued
participation of those individuals in the management of the Corporation.

                                (b)         Upon the forfeiture of an Option for
whatever  reason  prior to the  expiration  of the Option  Period (as defined in
Paragraph 9 hereof)  the shares of Common  Stock  covered by a forfeited  Option
shall be available for the granting of additional  Options to Eligible Employees
during the remaining  term of this Plan upon such terms and conditions as may be
determined by the Committee.  The number of additional  Options to be granted to
specific Eligible  Employees during the term of this Plan shall be determined by
the Committee as provided in Subparagraph 2(b) hereof.

                    6.          Option Price.

                                (a)   The price per share of each Option granted
under this Plan  (hereinafter  called the "Option Price") shall be determined by
the Committee as of the effective date of grant of such Option,  but in no event
shall the  Option  Price be less than  100% of the fair  market  value of Common
Stock on the date of grant. If an Optionee (as hereinafter  defined) at the time
that an Option is granted owns stock  possessing  more than ten (10%) percent of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, then
the Option  Price per share of each Option  granted  under this Plan shall be no
less than 110% of the fair market value of Common Stock on the date of grant and
such Option shall not be  exercisable  more than five (5) years from the date of
grant.  An Option shall be  considered as granted on the date that the Committee
acts to grant such Option or such later date as the  Committee  shall specify in
an Option Agreement (as hereinafter defined).

                                                         2

<PAGE>




                                (b)   The fair market value of a share of Common
Stock  shall be  determined  as  follows:  (i) if on the  date as of which  such
determination is being made, Common Stock being valued is admitted to trading on
a securities  exchange or exchanges  for which actual sale prices are  regularly
reported,  or actual sale prices are  otherwise  regularly  published,  the fair
market  value of a share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be equal to the mean
of the  closing  sale price as  reported  on each of the five (5)  trading  days
immediately preceding the date as of which such determination is made; provided,
however,  that, if a closing sale price is not reported for each of the five (5)
trading days  immediately  preceding the date as of which such  determination is
made,  then the fair market value shall be equal to the mean of the closing sale
prices on those  trading days for which such price is  available,  or (ii) if on
the date as of which such determination is made, no such closing sale prices are
reported,  but quotations for Common Stock being valued are regularly  listed on
the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers  Automated  Quotation  System
("NASDAQ")  or another  comparable  system,  the fair market value of a share of
Common  Stock  shall be  deemed  to be equal to the mean of the  average  of the
closing bid and asked prices for such Common Stock quoted on such system on each
of the five (5) trading days  preceding the date as of which such  determination
is made,  but if a closing bid and asked price is not  available for each of the
five (5) trading days,  then the fair market value shall be equal to the mean of
the average of the closing bid and asked prices on those trading days during the
five-day  period  for  which  such  prices  are  available,  or (iii) if no such
quotations are available, the fair market value of a share of Common Stock shall
be deemed to be the average of the closing bid and asked  prices  furnished by a
professional  securities  dealer making a market in such shares,  as selected by
the  Committee,  for the trading date first  preceding the date as of which such
determination is made. If the Committee  determines that the price as determined
above does not represent  the fair market value of a share of Common Stock,  the
Committee may then consider such other factors as it deems  appropriate and then
fix the fair market value for the purposes of this Plan.

                    7. Payment of Option Price. Payment for shares subject to an
Option may be made either in cash or, with the  approval  of the  Committee,  in
other  stock of the  Corporation  owned by the  person to whom such  Option  was
granted or such other  person as may be entitled to exercise  such  Option.  Any
shares of the Corporation's stock that are delivered in payment of the aggregate
Option Price shall be valued at their fair market  value,  as  determined by the
Committee, on the date of the exercise of such Option.

                    8. Terms and  Conditions  of Grant of  Options.  Each Option
granted  pursuant to this Plan shall be evidenced by a written  Incentive  Stock
Option  Agreement  (hereinafter  referred  to as "Option  Agreement")  with each
Eligible Employee  (hereinafter  referred to as "Optionee") to whom an Option is
granted;  such agreement shall be  substantially  in the form attached hereto as
"Exhibit  A",  unless the  Committee  shall adopt a different  form and, in each
case, may contain such other,  different,  or additional terms and conditions as
the Committee may determine.

                                                         3

<PAGE>




                    9. Option Period.  Each Option  Agreement  shall set forth a
period during which such Option may be exercised (hereinafter referred to as the
"Option Period"); provided, however, that the Option Period shall not exceed ten
(10)  years  after the date of grant of such  Option as  specified  in an Option
Agreement.

                    10.   Limitation  on  Grant  of  Incentive   Stock  Options.
Notwithstanding  any other provision of this Plan, no person shall be granted an
Option under this Plan which would cause such person's  "annual  vesting amount"
to exceed  $100,000.00.  With respect to any calendar  year, a person's  "annual
vesting amount" is the aggregate fair market value of stock subject to incentive
stock  options with respect to which such options are first  exercisable  during
such calendar  year.  For purposes of the  foregoing,  the aggregate fair market
value of  stock  with  respect  to  which  incentive  stock  options  are  first
exercisable  during any calendar year shall be determined by taking into account
all such options  granted to such person under all incentive  stock option plans
of the Corporation or of any of its parent or subsidiary corporations.

                    11.         Change in Control; Limited Stock Appreciation
Rights.

                                (a)   In connection with the grant of any Option
under this Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion,  provide an Optionee with
the right (herein sometimes referred to as "Limited Stock Appreciation Rights"),
following  a "change in control" of the  Corporation  and without  regard to any
restrictions  on  exercise  that  would   otherwise   apply,  to  surrender  any
unexercised  portion of such  Option as such  Optionee  then may have for a cash
payment equal to the amount by which the fair market value (as determined by the
Committee)  of the number of shares of Common  Stock then subject to such Option
exceeds the aggregate Option Price therefor.

                                (b)     When used herein, the phrase "change in
control" refers to (i) the acquisition by any person, group of persons or entity
of the  beneficial  ownership or power to vote more than twenty (20%) percent of
the  Corporation's  outstanding  stock  or (ii)  during  any  period  of two (2)
consecutive  years, a change in the majority of the Board unless the election of
each new Director  was approved by at least  two-thirds  of the  Directors  then
still in office who were Directors at the beginning of such two (2) year period.

                                (c)   Limited Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercised  by written  notice to the  Corporation  as provided in  Paragraph  12
hereof at any time prior to the  earlier  of (i) the date  which is thirty  (30)
days after the date of notice of a change in control or (ii) the last day of the
Option  Period  provided  in the  Option  Agreement,  but in no event  shall the
expiration date be more than ten (10) years after the date of grant of an Option
as provided in Paragraph 9 above.

                                (d)     Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be
exercised only when the market value of Common Stock subject to an

                                                         4

<PAGE>



Option exceeds the aggregate  Option Price determined as provided in Paragraph 6
above.

                    12.  Exercise of Incentive  Stock Options.  An Option or the
right to  surrender  an Option for cash as provided in Paragraph 11 hereof shall
be exercised by written notice to the Committee signed by an Optionee or by such
other  person as may be entitled to exercise  such Option or to  surrender  such
Option. In the case of the exercise of an Option, the aggregate Option Price for
the shares being  purchased  may be paid either in cash or, with the approval of
the Committee, in shares of the Corporation's stock (valued as determined by the
Committee as of the date of exercise) or any combination  thereof and the notice
of exercise  shall  specify how payment will be made.  The written  notice shall
state the number of shares with respect to which an Option is being exercised or
surrendered  and,  in the case of the  exercise  of an Option,  shall  either be
accompanied  by the  payment of the  aggregate  Option  Price for such shares or
shall fix a date (not  more  than ten (10)  business  days from the date of such
notice) by which the  payment of the  aggregate  Option  Price will be made.  An
Optionee  shall not exercise an Option to purchase less than 100 shares,  unless
the  Committee  otherwise  approves  or unless the  partial  exercise is for the
remaining  shares available under such Option. A certificate or certificates for
the shares of Common  Stock  purchased  by the  exercise  of an Option  shall be
issued in the regular  course of  business  subsequent  to the  exercise of such
Option and the payment therefor. During the Option Period, no person entitled to
exercise  any  Option  granted  under  this Plan shall have any of the rights or
privileges of a shareholder  with respect to any shares of Common Stock issuable
upon exercise of such Option, until certificates  representing such shares shall
have  been  issued  and  delivered  and  the  individual's  name  entered  as  a
shareholder of record on the books of the Corporation for such shares.

                    13.         Effect of Termination of Employment, Retirement,
Disability or Death.

                                (a)         In the event of the termination of
employment of an Optionee either by reason of (i) being  discharged for cause or
(ii)  voluntary  separation on the part of such Optionee for a reason other than
retirement or  disability,  any Option or Options  granted to the Optionee under
this Plan, to the extent not previously exercised or surrendered by the Optionee
or expired, shall immediately terminate. The phrase "discharged for cause" shall
include  termination  at the  sole  discretion  of the  Board  because  of  such
Optionee's personal  dishonesty,  incompetence,  willful  misconduct,  breach of
fiduciary duty involving personal profit,  intentional failure to perform stated
duties,  willful  violation of any law, rule or  regulation  (other than traffic
violations or similar  offenses),  a final cease and desist  order,  or material
breach of any provision of any employment  agreement that such Optionee may have
with the Corporation.

                                (b)         In the event of the termination of
employment  of an  Optionee  as a result  of such  Optionee's  retirement,  such
Optionee  shall have the right to exercise any Option or Options  granted to the
Optionee under this Plan, to the extent  that they 

                                                         5

<PAGE>



have not  previously  been  exercised or surrendered by the Optionee or expired,
for a period of three (3) months after the date of  retirement,  but in no event
may any Option or the right to surrender any Option for cash be exercised  later
than  the  end of the  Option  Period  provided  in  such  Option  Agreement  in
accordance  with  Paragraph  9  hereof.   Notwithstanding  any  other  provision
contained herein, or in any Option Agreement,  upon retirement,  any Option then
held by an Optionee  shall be  exercisable  immediately in full. For purposes of
this Plan,  the term  "retirement"  shall mean (i)  termination of an Optionee's
employment  under  conditions  which would  constitute  retirement under any tax
qualified   retirement  plan  maintained  by  the  Corporation  or  any  of  its
subsidiaries or (ii) attaining age 65.

                                (c)         In the event of the termination of
employment of an Optionee by reason of such Optionee's disability, such Optionee
shall have the right to exercise any Option or Options held by the Optionee,  to
the extent that they  previously  have not been  exercised or surrendered by the
Optionee or expired,  notwithstanding  any limitations placed on the exercise of
such Options by this Plan or an Option Agreement, immediately in full and at any
time  within  twelve  (12)  months  after the last date on which  such  Optionee
provides  services as an officer or an employee of the Corporation  before being
disabled,  but in no event may any Option be exercised later than the end of the
Option Period  provided in such Option  Agreement in accordance with Paragraph 9
hereof. For purposes of this Plan, the term "disability" shall be defined in the
same manner as such term is defined in Section  22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended.

                                (d)     In the event that an Optionee should die
while employed by the  Corporation or any of its  subsidiaries,  or within three
(3) months after retirement, any Option or Options granted to the Optionee under
this Plan and not previously exercised or surrendered by the Optionee or expired
shall vest and shall be exercisable, according to their respective terms, by the
personal  representative  of such  Optionee  or by any  person  or  persons  who
acquired   such  Options  by  bequest  or   inheritance   from  such   Optionee,
notwithstanding  any limitations  placed on the exercise of such Options by this
Plan or an Option  Agreement,  immediately in full and at any time within twelve
(12) months  after the date of death of such  Optionee,  but in no event may any
Option or the right to surrender any Option for cash be exercised later than the
end of the Option Period  provided in such Option  Agreement in accordance  with
Paragraph 9 hereof.  Any  references  herein to an  Optionee  shall be deemed to
include any person  entitled to exercise an Option  under the terms of this Plan
after the death of such Optionee under the terms of this Plan.

                    14. Effect of Plan on Employment  Status.  The fact that the
Committee has granted an Option to an Optionee  under this Plan shall not confer
on such Optionee any right to employment  with the  Corporation or to a position
as an officer or an employee of the Corporation, nor shall it limit the right of
the  Corporation  to remove such Optionee from any position held by the Optionee
or to terminate the Optionee's employment at any time.


                                                         6

<PAGE>



                    15.         Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization;
Dissolution or Liquidation.

                                (a)    In the event of a change in the number of
shares of Common Stock  outstanding by reason of a stock dividend,  stock split,
recapitalization,  reorganization,  merger, exchange of shares, or other similar
capital adjustment,  prior to the termination of an Optionee's rights under this
Plan, equitable proportionate  adjustments shall be made by the Committee in (i)
the number and kind of shares  which remain  available  under this Plan and (ii)
the number,  kind, and the Option Price of shares subject to unexercised Options
under this Plan. The adjustments to be made shall be determined by the Committee
and shall be consistent with such change or changes in the  Corporation's  total
number of outstanding shares; provided, however, that no adjustment shall change
the aggregate Option Price for the exercise of Options granted under this Plan.

                                (b)   The grant of Options under this Plan shall
not affect in any way the right or power of the Corporation or its  shareholders
to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization,  reorganization, or other
change in the Corporation's  capital structure or its business, or any merger or
consolidation of the Corporation,  or to issue bonds,  debentures,  preferred or
other preference stock ahead of or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof,
or the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, or any sale or transfer of
all or any part of the Corporation's assets or business.

                                (c)   Upon the effective date of the dissolution
or  liquidation  of  the  Corporation,  or  of  a  reorganization,   merger,  or
consolidation  of the Corporation  with one or more other  corporations in which
the  Corporation  is not the  surviving  corporation,  or the transfer of all or
substantially  all of the assets or shares of the  Corporation to another person
or entity (any such transaction being hereinafter  referred to as a "Terminating
Event"),  this Plan and any Options granted  hereunder,  including,  if any, the
right to  surrender  such  Options for cash as provided in  Paragraph 11 hereof,
shall  terminate  unless  provision is made in writing in  connection  with such
Terminating  Event for the  continuance  of this Plan and for the  assumption of
Options granted  hereunder,  or the substitution for such Options of new options
for the  shares  of the  successor  corporation,  or a  parent  or a  subsidiary
thereof, with such appropriate adjustments,  as may be determined or approved by
the  Committee or the  successor to the  Corporation,  to the number and kind of
shares subject to such substituted  options in which event this Plan and Options
granted hereunder,  or the new options substituted  therefor,  shall continue in
the  manner  and  under  the  terms  so  provided.  Upon the  occurrence  of any
Terminating  Event in which  provision is not made for the  continuance  of this
Plan and for the assumption of Options granted  hereunder,  or the  substitution
for such Options of new options for the shares of a successor  corporation  or a
parent or a subsidiary thereof, each Optionee to whom an Option has been granted
under this Plan (or such  person's  personal  representative,  the  executor  or
administrator of such person's  estate,  or any person who acquired the right to
exercise such Option from such person by

                                                         7

<PAGE>



bequest or  inheritance)  shall be entitled,  prior to the effective date of any
such  Terminating  Event,  (i) to exercise,  in whole or in part, the Optionee's
rights  under any  Option  granted  to the  Optionee  without  any regard to any
restrictions  on exercise that would  otherwise  apply, or (ii) to surrender any
such Option to the Corporation in exchange for receipt of cash equivalent to the
amount by which the fair market  value of the shares of Common Stock such person
would have  received had such person  exercised  the Option in full  immediately
prior to consummation of such Terminating Event exceeds the applicable aggregate
Option Price. To the extent that a person,  pursuant to this Subparagraph 15(c),
has a right to  exercise  or  surrender  any Option on account of a  Termination
Event which such person  otherwise  would not have had at that time,  such right
shall be contingent upon the consummating of such Terminating Event.

                    16. Non-Transferability.  Any Option granted under this Plan
shall not be assignable or transferable  except,  in the case of the death of an
Optionee,  by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution.  In the event of
the death of an  Optionee,  the  personal  representative,  the  executor or the
administrator of such Optionee's  estate,  or the person or persons who acquired
by bequest or  inheritance  the rights to exercise such Option,  may exercise or
surrender any Option or portion  thereof to the extent not previously  exercised
or surrendered by an Optionee or expired, in accordance with its terms, prior to
the expiration of the exercise period as specified in Subparagraph 13(d) hereof.

                    17. Tax  Withholding.  The  employer of a person  granted an
Option  under  this Plan shall  have the right to deduct or  otherwise  effect a
withholding of any amount  required by federal or state laws to be withheld with
respect to the grant,  exercise or surrender  for cash of any Option or the sale
of stock  acquired  upon the  exercise of an Option in order for the employer to
obtain a tax  deduction  otherwise  available  as a  consequence  of such grant,
exercise, surrender for cash, or sale, as the case may be.

                    18. Listing and  Registration  of Option Shares.  Any Option
granted under the Plan shall be subject to the  requirement  that if at any time
the  Committee  shall   determine,   in  its   discretion,   that  the  listing,
registration, or qualification of the shares covered thereby upon any securities
exchange  or under any state or federal  law or the  consent or  approval of any
governmental  regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection  with,  the  granting of such  Option or the  issuance or purchase of
shares  thereunder,  such Option may not be exercised in whole or in part unless
and until such listing, registration,  qualification, consent, or approval shall
have been  effected or obtained  free of any  conditions  not  acceptable to the
Committee.

                    19. Exculpation and Indemnification. In connection with this
Plan,  no member of the  Committee  shall be  personally  liable  for any act or
omission to act in such person's capacity as a member of the Committee,  nor for
any mistake in judgment made in good faith,  unless arising out of, or resulting
from, such person's own bad faith,  gross  negligence,  willful  misconduct,  or
criminal acts. To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulation,

                                                         8

<PAGE>



the Corporation  shall indemnify and hold harmless the members of the Committee,
and each other  officer or  employee  of the  Corporation  or of any  subsidiary
thereof  to  whom  any  duty  or  power  relating  to  the   administration   or
interpretation  of this Plan may be assigned or delegated,  from and against any
and all liabilities (including any amount paid in settlement of a claim with the
approval  of the  Board)  and any costs or  expenses  (including  counsel  fees)
incurred by such persons  arising out of, or as a result of, any act or omission
to  act  in  connection   with  the   performance   of  such  person's   duties,
responsibilities,  and obligations under this Plan, other than such liabilities,
costs,  and expenses as may arise out of, or result from,  the bad faith,  gross
negligence, willful misconduct, or criminal acts of such persons.

                    20. Amendment and Modification of the Plan. The Board may at
any time and from time to time amend or modify this Plan  (including the form of
Option  Agreement)  in any  respect;  provided,  however,  that no  amendment or
modification  shall be made that increases the total number of shares covered by
this Plan or effects  any change in the  categories  of persons  who may receive
Options  under  this Plan or  materially  increases  the  benefits  accruing  to
Optionees  under this Plan  unless  such  change is approved by the holders of a
majority of shares of Common Stock  present or  represented  at a  shareholders'
meeting at which a quorum is present. Any amendment or modification of this Plan
shall not materially reduce the benefits under any Option theretofore granted to
an  Optionee  under  this Plan  without  the  consent  of such  Optionee  or the
transferee thereof in the event of the death of such Optionee.

                    21. Termination and Expiration of the Plan. This Plan may be
abandoned, suspended, or terminated at any time by the Board; provided, however,
that abandonment,  suspension,  or termination of this Plan shall not affect any
Options then outstanding under this Plan. No Option shall be granted pursuant to
this Plan after ten (10) years from the effective  date of this Plan as provided
in Paragraph 22 hereof.

                    22. Effective Date; Shareholder Approval. This Plan has been
adopted by the Board to be effective as of the date of the Conversion. This Plan
shall not be effective  until approved by the holders of a majority of shares of
Common Stock present or represented at a shareholders' meeting at which a quorum
is present;  which  shareholder  vote shall be taken at the next  meeting of the
shareholders of the  Corporation to occur  following such Board  approval.  Such
next meeting of  shareholders  shall be held within twelve (12) months after the
Conversion.

                    23. Captions and Headings;  Gender and Number.  Captions and
paragraph headings used herein are for convenience only, do not modify or affect
the meaning of any provision herein,  are not a part hereof, and shall not serve
as a basis for  interpretation  or in construction of this Plan. As used herein,
the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter,  the singular number
the plural, and vice versa, whenever such meanings are appropriate.


                                                         9

<PAGE>



                    24.  Expenses  of  Administration  of Plan.  All  costs  and
expenses  incurred in the  operation  and  administration  of this Plan shall be
borne by the Corporation or one or more of its subsidiaries.

                    25.  Governing  Law.  Without  regard to the  principles  of
conflicts  of laws,  the laws of the State of North  Carolina  shall  govern and
control the validity, interpretation, performance, and enforcement of this Plan.

                    26.  Inspection  of  Plan.  A copy  of  this  Plan,  and any
amendments thereto or modification thereof, shall be maintained by the Secretary
of the  Corporation and shall be shown to any proper person making inquiry about
it.

                                                        10

<PAGE>



STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
                                                                       EXHIBIT A
COUNTY OF WASHINGTON

                                                INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

                    This Incentive Stock Option Agreement  (hereinafter referred
to as this  "Agreement")  is made  and  entered  into as of this     day  of   
                     , 1993, between SEABOARD SAVINGS BANK, INC., SSB, a North 
Carolina   corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation"), and
        , a resident of                  County, North Carolina
(hereinafter referred to as the "Optionee").

                    WHEREAS,   the  Board  of  Directors   of  the   Corporation
(hereinafter  referred to as the "Board") has adopted the Seaboard Savings Bank,
Inc.,  SSB 1993  Incentive  Stock  Option Plan  (hereinafter  referred to as the
"Plan") subject to approval by the Corporation's shareholders; and

                    WHEREAS,  the Plan provides that the Stock Option  Committee
(hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") of the Board will make available to
certain officers and employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries  (any one
of which, as may be appropriate,  is hereinafter  referred to as the "Employer")
the right to purchase  shares of the  Corporation's  common  stock  (hereinafter
referred to as "Common Stock") and, when so notified by the Committee, the right
to surrender such shares for cash; and

                    WHEREAS,  the  Committee  has  determined  that the Optionee
should be granted an option to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Plan;

                    NOW,  THEREFORE,  the  Corporation and the Optionee agree as
follow:

                    1. Date of Grant of Option.  The date of grant of the option
granted under this Agreement is the     day of                , 1993.

                    2. Grant of Option.  Pursuant to the Plan,  the  Corporation
grants to the Optionee the right  (hereinafter  referred to as the  "Option") to
purchase from the  Corporation  all or any part of an aggregate of           ( )
shares of Common Stock  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Option  Shares") 
which shall be authorized but unissued shares.

                    3. Option Price.  The price to be paid for the Option Shares
shall be                         Dollars ($           ) per share (hereinafter 
referred to as the "Option Price") which is the fair market value of the Option
Shares as determined by the Committee as of the date of grant of this Option.

                    4. When and Extent to which Option may be Exercised. Subject
to any further  restrictions  in this  Agreement,  the right of the  Optionee to
exercise the Option to purchase the Option  Shares,  either in whole or in part,
shall be conditioned upon the

                                                        11

<PAGE>



completion by the Optionee of one (1) full year of service in the  employment of
the Employer  following the date of grant of the Option set forth in paragraph 1
hereof.  At such time as the Option shall become  exercisable in accordance with
this Agreement, the Optionee, in his discretion, may exercise all or any portion
of the Option,  subject to  paragraph 6 hereof.  The Option  shall  terminate as
provided in paragraph 7 hereof.

                    5.          Change in Control

                                (a)         In connection with the grant of the
Option,  the Committee does hereby grant to the Optionee the right,  following a
"change in  control"  (as  defined in the Plan) of the  Corporation  and without
regard to any  restrictions on exercise that would otherwise apply, to surrender
the Option or any unexercised  portion thereof as the Optionee then may hold for
a cash payment equal to the amount by which the fair market value (as determined
by the  Committee)  of the number of shares of Common  Stock then subject to the
Option exceeds the aggregate Option Price therefor.

                                (b)         The Optionee shall have the right to
surrender the Option by giving written notice to the  Corporation as provided in
paragraph  6 hereof at any time  prior to the  earlier  of (i) the date which is
thirty  (30) days  after the date of notice of a change in  control  or (ii) the
date  which is ten (10)  years from the date of grant of the Option set forth in
paragraph 1 hereof.

                                (c)       The Option may be surrendered for cash
pursuant to this  paragraph 5 only when the market value of Common Stock subject
to the Option  exceeds the  aggregate  Option  Price as provided in  paragraph 3
above.

                                (d)    If the Optionee surrenders the Option for
cash, the cash payment due to the Optionee  shall be made by the  Corporation no
more than ten (10)  business days after the date of the receipt by the Committee
of the notice of surrender of such Option.

                    6. Method of Exercise.  The Option or the right to surrender
the Option for cash as provided  in  paragraph 5 hereof  shall be  exercised  by
written  notice to the Committee  signed by the Optionee or by such other person
as may be entitled to exercise or to  surrender  the Option.  In the case of the
exercise  of the  Option,  the  aggregate  Option  Price  for the  shares  being
purchased may be paid either in cash or, with the approval of the Committee,  in
shares of the  Corporation's  stock (valued as determined by the Committee as of
the date of  exercise)  or any  combination  thereof  and the notice of exercise
shall  specify how payment  will be made.  The  written  notice  shall state the
number  of  shares  with  respect  to which the  Option  is being  exercised  or
surrendered  and, in the case of the  exercise of the  Option,  shall  either be
accompanied  by the  payment of the  aggregate  Option  Price for such shares or
shall fix a date (not  more  than ten (10)  business  days from the date of such
notice) by which the payment of the  aggregate  Option  Price will be made.  The
Optionee  shall not exercise the Option to purchase  less than one hundred (100)
shares,  unless the Committee  otherwise approves or unless the partial exercise
is for the remaining shares

                                                        12

<PAGE>



available  under the Option.  A certificate  or  certificates  for the shares of
Common  Stock  purchased  by the  exercise of the Option  shall be issued in the
regular  course of  business  subsequent  to the  exercise of the Option and the
payment  therefor.  During the Option Period, no person entitled to exercise the
Option granted under this  Agreement  shall have any of the rights or privileges
of a  shareholder  with  respect to any  shares of Common  Stock  issuable  upon
exercise of the Option,  until certificates  representing such shares shall have
been issued and delivered and the individual's  name entered as a shareholder of
record on the books of the Corporation for such shares.

                    7.          Termination of Option.  The Option and any right
to surrender the Option for cash shall terminate as follows:

                                (a)     Except as provided in subparagraphs (b),
(c) and (d) below,  the Option granted under this Agreement,  to the extent that
it has not been  exercised,  surrendered  or  expired,  shall  terminate  on the
earlier of (i) the date that the Optionee is discharged for cause, (ii) the date
the Optionee  gives notice that the Optionee  terminates  his or her  employment
with the Employer for a reason other than  retirement or disability or (iii) the
date  which is ten (10)  years from the date of grant of the Option set forth in
paragraph 1 hereof. The phrase "discharged for cause" shall include  termination
at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Employer of the Optionee
because of the Optionee's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct,
breach of fiduciary  duty  involving  personal  profit,  intentional  failure to
perform stated duties,  willful  violation of any law, rule or regulation (other
than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease and desist order, or
material  breach of any provision of any employment  agreement that the Optionee
may have with the Employer.

                                (b)   In the event the Optionee retires prior to
the date  which is ten (10)  years  after the date of grant of the  Option,  the
Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option,  to the extent that it has
not been exercised or  surrendered  by the Optionee or expired,  notwithstanding
any  limitation  placed  on the  exercise  of the  Option by the Plan or by this
Agreement, immediately in full and at any time within three (3) months after the
date of retirement, but in no event may the Option or the right to surrender the
Option for cash be  exercised  later than ten (10) years after the date of grant
of the Option set forth in paragraph 1 hereof.  For purposes of this  Agreement,
the term  "retirement"  shall mean (i) termination of the Optionee's  employment
under  conditions  which would  constitute  retirement  under any tax  qualified
retirement plan maintained by the Employer or (ii) attaining age 65.

                                (c)   In the event the Optionee becomes disabled
prior to the date which is ten (10) years after the date of grant of the Option,
the Optionee shall have the right to exercise the Option,  to the extent that it
has  not  been   exercised   or   surrendered   by  the   Optionee  or  expired,
notwithstanding  any limitation placed on the exercise of the Option by the Plan
or by this  Agreement,  immediately  in full and at any time within  twelve (12)
months after

                                                        13

<PAGE>



the last  date on which the  Optionee  provided  services  as an  officer  or an
employee of the Employer before being  disabled,  but in no event may the Option
or the right to surrender  the Option for cash be exercised  later than ten (10)
years after the date of grant of the Option set forth in paragraph 1 hereof. For
purposes of this Agreement,  the term "disability"  shall be defined in the same
manner as such term is defined in Section  22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.

                                (d)   In the event the Optionee should die while
employed by the Employer or within three (3) months after  retirement  but prior
to the date which is ten (10) years after the date of grant of the  Option,  the
Option,  to the extent it has not been  exercised or surrendered by the Optionee
or  expired,  shall be  exercisable,  according  to its terms,  by the  personal
representative,  the executor or administrator of the Optionee's  estate, or any
person or persons who  acquired  the Option by bequest or  inheritance  from the
Optionee, notwithstanding any limitation placed on the exercise of the Option by
the Plan or by this Agreement, immediately in full and at any time within twelve
(12)  months  after the date of death of the  Optionee,  but in no event may the
Option or the right to surrender the Option for cash be exercised later than ten
(10)  years  from the date of grant of the  Option as set forth in  paragraph  1
hereof.

                    8. Effect of Agreement on Employment Status of Optionee. The
fact that the  Committee  has  granted  the  Option to the  Optionee  under this
Agreement  shall not confer on the  Optionee  any right to  employment  with the
Employer  or to a position as an officer or an  employee  of the  Employer,  nor
shall it limit  the  right of the  Employer  to  remove  the  Optionee  from any
position held by the Optionee or to terminate his or her employment at any time.

                    9.          Listing and Registration of Option Shares

                                (a)        The Corporation's obligation to issue
shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Option is expressly conditioned upon
(i) the completion by the Corporation of any registration or other qualification
of such shares under any state or federal law or  regulations  or rulings of any
government regulatory body or (ii) the making of such investment representations
or other  representations  and agreements by the Optionee or any person entitled
to exercise the Option in order to comply with the requirements of any exemption
from any such registration or other qualification of the Option Shares which the
Committee  shall,  in  its  sole   discretion,   deem  necessary  or  advisable.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Corporation shall be under no obligation to
register  or qualify  the Option  Shares  under any state or  federal  law.  The
required   representations   and   agreements   referenced   above  may  include
representations  and agreements that the Optionee,  or any other person entitled
to exercise the Option,  (i) is purchasing  such shares on his or her own behalf
as an investment and not with a present intention of distribution or re-sale and
(ii) agrees to have placed upon any certificates  representing the Option Shares
a legend setting forth any  representations and agreements which have been given
to the Committee or a reference thereto and stating that such shares may
not be transferred  except in accordance  with all 
                                                        14

<PAGE>



applicable  state and  federal  securities  laws and  regulations,  and  further
representing  that, prior to making any sale or other  disposition of the Option
Shares, the Optionee,  or any other person entitled to exercise the Option, will
give the  Corporation  notice of the intention to sell or dispose of such shares
not less than five (5) days prior to such sale or disposition.

                    10.         Adjustment Upon Change in Capitalization;
Dissolution or Liquidation

                                (a)    In the event of a change in the number of
shares of Common Stock  outstanding by reason of a stock dividend,  stock split,
recapitalization,  reorganization,  merger, exchange of shares, or other similar
capital adjustment, prior to the termination of the Optionee's rights under this
Agreement, equitable proportionate adjustments shall be made by the Committee in
the number,  kind,  and the Option  Price of shares  subject to the  unexercised
portion of the Option granted under this  Agreement.  The adjustments to be made
shall be determined by the Committee and shall be consistent with such change or
changes in the  Corporation's  total  number of  outstanding  shares;  provided,
however,  that no  adjustment  shall change the  aggregate  Option Price for the
exercise of the Option granted under this Agreement.

                                (b)         The grant of the Option under this
Agreement  shall not affect in any way the right or power of the  Corporation or
its  shareholders  to  make  or  authorize  any  adjustment,   recapitalization,
reorganization,  or other change in the  Corporation's  capital structure or its
business, or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation,  or to issue bonds,
debentures,  preferred or other  preference  stock ahead of or affecting  Common
Stock  or  the  rights  thereof,  or  the  dissolution  or  liquidation  of  the
Corporation,  or any sale or  transfer  of all or any part of the  Corporation's
assets or business.

                                (c)   Upon the effective date of the dissolution
or  liquidation  of  the  Corporation,  or  of  a  reorganization,   merger,  or
consolidation  of the Corporation  with one or more other  corporations in which
the  Corporation  is not the  surviving  corporation,  or the transfer of all or
substantially  all of the assets or shares of the  Corporation to another person
or entity,  the Option granted under this Agreement and the right to exercise or
to  surrender  the  Option  for cash in the  event of a  "Terminating  Event" as
provided in the Plan shall terminate.

                    11.  Nontransferability.   The  Option  granted  under  this
Agreement  shall not be assignable or transferable  except,  in the event of the
death of the Optionee,  by will or by the laws of descent and  distribution.  In
the  event of the  death  of the  Optionee,  the  personal  representative,  the
executor or the administrator of the Optionee's estate, or the person or persons
who acquired by bequest or inheritance the right to exercise or to surrender the
Option may exercise or surrender the unexercised Option or a portion thereof, in
accordance  with the terms  hereof,  prior to the date  which is ten (10)  years
after the date of grant of Option as set forth in paragraph 1 hereof.

                                                        15

<PAGE>




                    12. Notices. Any notice or other communications  required or
permitted  to be given  under this  Agreement  shall be in writing  and shall be
deemed  to have  been  sufficiently  given  when  delivered  personally  or when
deposited in the United States mail as Certified Mail, return receipt requested,
properly addressed with postage prepaid,  if to the Corporation at its principal
office at 124 East Water Street,  Plymouth, North Carolina 27962; and, if to the
Optionee to his or her last address appearing on the books of the Employer.  The
Employer  and the  Optionee  may change  their  address or  addresses  by giving
written  notice  of  such  change  as  provided  herein.  Any  notice  or  other
communication  hereunder shall be deemed to have been given on the date actually
delivered or as of the third (3rd)  business day following  the date mailed,  as
the case may be.

                    13. Construction Controlled by Plan. This Agreement shall be
construed so as to be consistent  with the Plan;  and the provisions of the Plan
shall be deemed to be controlling in the event that any provision  hereof should
appear to be inconsistent therewith. The Optionee hereby acknowledges receipt of
a copy of the Plan from the Corporation.

                    14. Severability.  Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement  shall be interpreted in such a manner as to be valid and  enforceable
under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is determined to be
unenforceable,  invalid or illegal, the validity of any other provisions or part
thereof,  shall not be affected  thereby and this Agreement shall continue to be
binding  on the  parties  hereto as if such  unenforceable,  invalid  or illegal
provision or part thereof had not been included herein.

                    15. Modification of Agreement; Waiver. This Agreement may be
modified, amended,  suspended, or terminated, and any terms,  representations or
conditions may be waived,  but only by written  instrument signed by each of the
parties hereto.  No waiver  hereunder shall  constitute a waiver with respect to
any  subsequent  occurrence  or  other  transaction  hereunder  or of any  other
provision hereof.

                    16. Captions and Headings;  Gender and Number.  Captions and
paragraph headings used herein are for convenience only, do not modify or affect
the meaning of any provision herein,  are not a part hereof, and shall not serve
as a basis for  interpretation  or in construction  of this  Agreement.  As used
herein, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, the singular
number the plural, and vice versa, whenever such meanings are appropriate.

                    17. Governing Law; Venue and Jurisdiction. Without regard to
the  principles  of conflicts of laws,  the laws of the State of North  Carolina
shall  govern  and  control  the  validity,  interpretation,   performance,  and
enforcement of this Agreement.  The parties hereto agree that any suit or action
relating to this  Agreement  shall be instituted and prosecuted in the courts of
the County of Washington,  State of North  Carolina,  and each party hereby does
waive any right or defense relating to such jurisdiction and venue.

                                                        16

<PAGE>




                    18. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the Corporation,  its successors and assigns,  and
shall be  binding  upon and inure to the  benefit  of the  Optionee,  his heirs,
legatees, personal representatives, executors, and administrators.

                    19.  Entire  Agreement.   This  Agreement   constitutes  and
embodies  the entire  understanding  and  agreement  of the parties  hereto and,
except  as  otherwise  provided  hereunder,  there  are no other  agreements  or
understandings,  written or oral, in effect between the parties hereto  relating
to the matters addressed herein.

                    20.  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in any
number of  counterparts,  each of which when  executed  and  delivered  shall be
deemed an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same instrument.

                    IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation,   has  caused  this
instrument to be executed in its corporate name by its President,  or one of its
Vice  Presidents,  and  attested  by its  Secretary  or  one  of  its  Assistant
Secretaries,  and its corporate seal to be hereto  affixed,  all by authority of
its Board of Directors  first duly given,  and the Optionee has hereunto set his
or her hand and adopted as his or her seal the typewritten word "SEAL" appearing
beside his or her name, all done this the day and year first above written.


                                            SEABOARD SAVINGS BANK, INC., SSB


                                            By:
                                                ___________________________
                                                Samuel J. Styons, President

ATTEST:


________________________________
Amber Bland, Corporate Secretary



[CORPORATE SEAL]




               _______________________________
               _______________________________, Optionee



                                                        17

<PAGE>




                                    EXHIBIT A


                              NOTICE OF EXERCISE OF
                             INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION


        To:         The Stock Option Committee of the Board of Directors of
                    Seaboard Savings Bank, Inc., SSB.


                    The  undersigned  hereby elects to purchase         whole 
shares of Common Stock of Seaboard Savings Bank, Inc., SSB (the "Corporation") 
pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option granted to the undersigned in that 
certain  Incentive Stock Option Agreement between the Corporation and the 
undersigned dated the                day of              , 1993. The aggregate 
purchase price for such Shares is $         , which amount is (i) being tendered
herewith, (ii) will be  tendered  on or before               , 199  (cross out 
provision  which does not apply) in cash and/or stock of the Corporation  owned 
by me, and I request that a value as of the date of exercise of this Option be
placed on any stock being  tendered in payment of the purchase  price.  The 
effective  date of this election shall be             , 199   , or the date of 
receipt of this Notice by the Corporation if later.

                    Executed this       day of                 , 199    , at
                                          
                                                           .



 (Social Security Number)

                                           18
<PAGE>


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