RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
DEF 14A, 1997-05-12
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                     Information Required in Proxy Statement

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
                    Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a)
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant:        Yes.

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant:  No.

Check the appropriate box:

[ ]      Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ]      Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as Permitted by
         Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X]      Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ]      Definitive Additional Materials
[ ]      Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
         Section 240.14a-12

                              RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
                (Name Of Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
                   (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

[X]      No fee required
[ ]      Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
         and 0-11
         (1)      Title of each class of securities to which transaction
                  applies:             N/A
         (2)      Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
                  applies:             N/A
         (3)      Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
                  computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth
                  the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and
                  state how it was determined):     N/A
         (4)      Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:     N/A
         (5)      Total fee paid:
[ ]      Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
[ ]      Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
         Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
         the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the previous
         filing by registration statement number, or the Form or
         Schedule and the date of its filing.       N/A
         (1)      Amount Previously Paid:
         (2)      Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
         (3)      Filing Party:
         (4)      Date Filed:



<PAGE>
                              River Valley Bancorp
                                303 Clifty Drive
                                  P.O. Box 626
                             Madison, Indiana 47250
                                 (812) 273-4949

                    ----------------------------------------
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                    ----------------------------------------

                           To Be Held On June 23, 1997



     Notice is hereby  given that the Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of River
Valley  Bancorp (the "Holding  Company")  will be held at the Holding  Company's
office at 303 Clifty Drive, Madison,  Indiana, on Monday, June 23, 1997, at 3:00
p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

     The Annual Meeting will be held for the following purposes:

     1.   Election of  Directors.  Election of all seven of the directors of the
          Holding  Company to serve staggered terms with terms expiring in 1998,
          1999 and 2000.

     2.   Approval of Stock Option Plan.  Approval and ratification of the River
          Valley Bancorp Stock Option Plan (the "Option Plan").

     3.   Approval of  Recognition  and Retention  Plan and Trust.  Approval and
          ratification  of the River Valley  Bancorp  Recognition  and Retention
          Plan and Trust (the "RRP").

     4.   Other  Business.  Such other  matters as may properly  come before the
          meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     Shareholders  of  record  at the  close of  business  on May 6,  1997,  are
entitled to vote at the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

     We urge you to read the enclosed Proxy Statement  carefully so that you may
be informed  about the business to come before the meeting,  or any  adjournment
thereof. At your earliest  convenience,  please sign and return the accompanying
proxy in the postage-paid envelope furnished for that purpose.

     A copy of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, is
enclosed.  The  Annual  Report  is not a part of the proxy  soliciting  material
enclosed with this letter.



                                             By Order of the Board of Directors


                                             /s/ James E. Fritz
                                             James E. Fritz, President


Madison, Indiana
May 12, 1997



IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PROXIES BE RETURNED PROMPTLY. THEREFORE, WHETHER OR NOT
YOU PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN PERSON AT THE ANNUAL  MEETING,  PLEASE SIGN,  DATE AND
COMPLETE  THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY AND  RETURN  IT IN THE  ENCLOSED  ENVELOPE  WHICH
REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.




<PAGE>


                              River Valley Bancorp
                                303 Clifty Drive
                                  P.O. Box 626
                             Madison, Indiana 47250
                                 (812) 273-4949

                                 PROXY STATEMENT
                                       FOR

                         ------------------------------
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                         ------------------------------

                                  June 23, 1997

     This Proxy  Statement is being  furnished  to the holders of common  stock,
without par value (the "Common  Stock"),  of River Valley  Bancorp (the "Holding
Company"),  an Indiana  corporation,  in  connection  with the  solicitation  of
proxies  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Holding  Company to be voted at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at 3:00 p.m.,  Eastern  Standard Time,
on June 23, 1997, at the Holding Company's office at 303 Clifty Drive,  Madison,
Indiana,  and at any  adjournment of such meeting.  The principal  assets of the
Holding Company  consist of 100% of the issued and outstanding  shares of common
stock, $.01 par value per share, of Madison Federal Savings and Loan Association
(the  "Thrift")  and 97% of the  common  stock,  $8.00 par value per  share,  of
Citizens National Bank of Madison (the "Bank"). This Proxy Statement is expected
to be mailed to the  shareholders  of the  Holding  Company  on or about May 12,
1997.

     The proxy solicited  hereby, if properly signed and returned to the Holding
Company and not revoked prior to its use,  will be voted in accordance  with the
instructions  contained  therein.  If no contrary  instructions are given,  each
proxy received will be voted for each of the matters  described  below and, upon
the  transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting,
in accordance with the best judgment of the persons appointed as proxies.

     Any  shareholder  giving a proxy  has the  power to  revoke  it at any time
before it is exercised by (i) filing with the  Secretary of the Holding  Company
written  notice  thereof  (Lonnie D. Collins,  303 Clifty  Drive,  P.O. Box 626,
Madison,  Indiana 47250),  (ii) submitting a duly executed proxy bearing a later
date,  or (iii) by  appearing  at the Annual  Meeting  and giving the  Secretary
notice of his or her intention to vote in person.  Proxies  solicited hereby may
be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment thereof and will not
be used for any other meeting.

                 VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

     Only  shareholders  of  record  at the  close of  business  on May 6,  1997
("Voting Record Date"),  will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.  On the
Voting Record Date,  there were 1,190,250  shares of the Common Stock issued and
outstanding,  and the Holding  Company  had no other class of equity  securities
outstanding.  Each share of Common  Stock is  entitled to one vote at the Annual
Meeting on all matters properly presented at the Annual Meeting.  The holders of
over 50% of the outstanding  shares of Common Stock as of the Voting Record Date
must be  present in person or by proxy at the Annual  Meeting  to  constitute  a
quorum.  In determining  whether a quorum is present,  shareholders who abstain,
cast broker  non-votes,  or withhold  authority to vote on one or more  director
nominees will be deemed present at the Annual Meeting.

     The following table sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Common Stock as of May 6, 1997,  by each person who is known by
the Holding Company to own  beneficially 5% or more of the Common Stock.  Unless
otherwise indicated,  the named beneficial owner has sole voting and dispositive
power with respect to the shares.

<PAGE>

                                              Number of Shares
          Name and Address                     of Common Stock          Percent
       of Beneficial Owner(1)                Beneficially Owned        of Class
   -------------------------------           ------------------        ---------
   Jeffrey L.  Gendell
   Tontine Partners, L.P.
   31 West 52nd Street, 17th Floor
   New York, NY 10019                           118,000 (1)(2)           9.9%

   First Bankers Trust Company
   1201 Broadway
   Quincy, IL 62301                              95,220 (3)              8.0%

(1)  The  information  in this chart is based on Schedule 13D and 13G  Report(s)
     filed by the  above-listed  person(s)  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
     Commission (the "SEC")  containing  information  concerning  shares held by
     them. It does not reflect any changes in those shareholdings which may have
     occurred since the date of such filings.

(2)  These  shares  are held by  Tontine  Partners,  L.P.,  a  Delaware  limited
     partnership.  Tontine  Management,  L.L.C.  is its general  partner and Mr.
     Gendell is the managing member of the general partner.  These persons share
     voting and investment power with respect to the shares.

(3)  These shares are held by the Trustee of the River Valley  Bancorp  Employee
     Stock Ownership Plan and Trust (the "ESOP"). The Employees participating in
     that Plan are  entitled to instruct  the Trustee how to vote shares held in
     their  accounts  under  the Plan.  Unallocated  shares  held in a  suspense
     account under the Plan are required under the Plan terms to be voted by the
     Trustee in the same proportion as allocated shares are voted.  Prior to the
     initial  allocation  of shares,  the ESOP  shares will be voted by the ESOP
     committee.

                       PROPOSAL I -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

     The Board of Directors consists of seven members.  The By-Laws provide that
the Board of Directors  is to be divided  into three  classes as nearly equal in
number as  possible.  The  members of each class are to be elected for a term of
three years and until their  successors are elected and qualified.  One class of
directors is to be elected  annually.  Since this is the first Annual Meeting of
Shareholders  following the organization of the Holding Company, it is necessary
to elect all of the directors for the terms set forth below.

     Unless  otherwise   directed,   each  proxy  executed  and  returned  by  a
shareholder  will be voted for the election of the nominees listed below. If any
person named as a nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for election at
the time of the Annual  Meeting,  the proxy holders will nominate and vote for a
replacement  nominee  recommended  by the Board of Directors.  At this time, the
Board of Directors  knows of no reason why the nominees  listed below may not be
able to serve as directors if elected.

     The following table sets forth certain  information  regarding the nominees
for the position of director of the Holding  Company,  including  the number and
percent of shares of Common Stock  beneficially  owned by such persons as of the
Voting Record Date. Unless otherwise indicated, each nominee has sole investment
and/or  voting power with respect to the shares shown as  beneficially  owned by
him. No nominee for  director  is related to any other  nominee for  director or
executive officer of the Holding Company by blood,  marriage,  or adoption,  and
there are no  arrangements or  understandings  between any nominee and any other
person  pursuant to which such nominee was  selected.  The table also sets forth
the number of shares of  Holding  Company  Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by
Robert D. Hoban, one of the Holding  Company's  executive  officers,  and by all
directors and executive officers of the Holding Company as a group.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Common Stock
                              Expiration of        Director of the      Beneficially
                                 Term as               Holding           Owned as of                Percentage
       Name                     Director            Company Since        May 6, 1997                of Class(1)
- --------------------          -------------         -------------        --------------           -------------
<S>                               <C>                   <C>                 <C>                    <C> 
Director Nominees
Robert W.  Anger                  2000                  1996                2,800  (2)               .24%
Jonnie L.  Davis                  1998                  1997                  500  (3)               .04%
Cecil L.  Dorten                  1998                  1996               20,000  (3)              1.68%
James E.  Fritz                   2000                  1996                8,395                    .71%
Michael J.  Hensley               1999                  1996                5,000  (3)               .42%
Earl W.  Johann                   1998                  1996                8,828                    .74%
Fred W.  Koehler                  1999                  1996               20,000                   1.68%
Executive Officer
Robert D. Hoban                                                             1,185                    .10%
All directors and
executive officers
as a group (14 persons)                                                    96,815                   8.13%
</TABLE>

(1)      Based upon information  furnished by the respective  director nominees.
         Under  applicable  regulations,  shares are  deemed to be  beneficially
         owned by a person if he or she directly or indirectly has or shares the
         power to vote or  dispose  of the  shares,  whether  or not she has any
         economic power with respect to the shares. Includes shares beneficially
         owned by members of the immediate families of the directors residing in
         their homes.

(2)      Of these shares, 1,000 are held jointly by Mr. Anger and his spouse.

(3)      These shares are held jointly by the director and his or her spouse.

     Presented below is certain information  concerning the director nominees of
the Holding Company:

         Robert W. Anger (age 59) has served as the Thrift's  Vice  President --
Lending  since  August,  1995.  Prior to that,  Mr. Anger served as the Thrift's
President and Chief Executive Officer.

         Jonnie L. Davis (age 62). From July, 1995 to August 1996, she served as
an administrative  assistant with Fewel, Pettitt and Bender, a surveying firm in
Madison, Indiana. From July 1994 to July 1995, Ms. Davis served as an accounting
clerk for Stockdale Motors,  an automobile  retailer in Madison,  Indiana.  From
April 1984 to December  1994,  Ms. Davis served as a  bookkeeping  clerk for D&B
Enterprises,  a partnership involved in owning and operating apartment complexes
and other nonresidential real estate ventures. From September 1991 to June 1993,
Ms.  Davis  served  as a Vice  President  and  Assistant  to the  President  and
performed  all  accounting  and  financial  functions  for the Gust.  K. Newberg
Company, a general construction contractor in Madison, Indiana.

         Cecil L.  Dorten  (age 52) has served as the  President  of Ohio Valley
Contractors,  Inc., a highway and utility contracting firm, since 1983, and is a
Major General in the Indiana National Guard.

         James E. Fritz (age 34) has served as the Thrift's  President and Chief
Executive  Officer  since  August,  1995.  Prior to that Mr. Fritz served as the
Chief  Financial  Officer of First Federal Savings Bank of Kokomo until January,
1995,  and as a consultant to National City  Corporation  from January,  1995 to
August, 1995.

         Michael J.  Hensley (age 41) has  practiced  law since  January,  1989.
Prior to that,  Mr.  Hensley  served as a Compliance  Officer,  Assistant  Trust
Officer and the General Counsel to The Madison Bank & Trust Company from 1980 to
January, 1989.

         Earl W. Johann (age 65) has served as the President and Chairman of the
Board of Madison Distributing Co. since 1979.

         Fred W.  Koehler  (age 56) is the former  owner of Koehler  Tire Co., a
tire and  automotive  parts  store in Madison,  Indiana,  and is the Auditor for
Jefferson County.


<PAGE>

         THE  DIRECTORS  SHALL BE ELECTED  UPON  RECEIPT OF A PLURALITY OF VOTES
CAST AT THE ANNUAL  SHAREHOLDERS  MEETING.  PLURALITY MEANS THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO
RECEIVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VOTES CAST ARE ELECTED UP TO THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
DIRECTORS  TO BE CHOSEN  AT THE  MEETING.  ABSTENTIONS,  BROKER  NON-VOTES,  AND
INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ACCOMPANYING  PROXY TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ONE OR
MORE OF THE  NOMINEES  WILL RESULT IN THE  RESPECTIVE  NOMINEE  RECEIVING  FEWER
VOTES.  HOWEVER,  THE NUMBER OF VOTES OTHERWISE RECEIVED BY THE NOMINEE WILL NOT
BE REDUCED BY SUCH ACTION.

The Board of Directors and its Committees

     During the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996,  the Board of Directors of
the Holding  Company acted by written  consent or held  meetings four times.  No
director  attended  fewer than 75% of the  aggregate  total  number of  meetings
during the last fiscal  year of the Board of  Directors  of the Holding  Company
held while he served as director and of meetings of  committees  which he served
during that fiscal year.  The Board of  Directors of the Holding  Company has an
Audit  Committee  and a Stock  Compensation  Committee,  among its  other  Board
Committees. All committee members are appointed by the Board of Directors.

     The   Audit   Committee,    comprised   of   all   directors   except   the
employee-directors,   James  E.  Fritz  and  Robert  W.  Anger,  recommends  the
appointment of the Holding  Company's  independent  accountants,  and meets with
them to to outline  the scope and review the  results of such  audit.  The Audit
Committee did not meet during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.

     The Stock  Compensation  Committee  administers the Option Plan and the RRP
which are being  submitted to a vote of the  shareholders at the Annual Meeting.
The members of that Committee are all directors  except the employee  directors,
James E. Fritz and Robert W. Anger.  It did not meet during  fiscal 1996 because
the plans were not adopted until April 29, 1997.

     The  Board of  Directors  of the  Holding  Company  nominated  the slate of
directors set forth in the Proxy  Statement.  Although the Board of Directors of
the Holding Company will consider nominees  recommended by shareholders,  it has
not actively solicited recommendations for nominees from shareholders nor has it
established  procedures  for  this  purpose.   Directors  must  satisfy  certain
qualification  requirements set forth in the Holding Company's By-Laws.  Article
III,  Section 12 of the Holding  Company's  By-Laws  provides that  shareholders
entitled to vote for the election of directors may name nominees for election to
the Board of Directors but there are certain requirements that must be satisfied
in order to do so. Among other things,  written notice of a proposed  nomination
must be received by the Secretary of the Holding  Company not less than 120 days
prior to the Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than
130 days'  notice or public  disclosure  of the date of the  meeting is given or
made to shareholders (which notice or public disclosure includes the date of the
Annual Meeting  specified in the Holding Company's By-Laws if the Annual Meeting
is held on such  date),  notice  must be  received  not later  than the close of
business on the 10th day  following  the day on which such notice of the date of
the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made.

Management Remuneration and Related Transactions

     Remuneration of Named Executive Officer

     During the fiscal year ended  December 31, 1996, no cash  compensation  was
paid directly by the Holding Company to any of its executive  officers.  Each of
such officers was compensated by the Thrift or the Bank.

     The  following  tables set forth  information  as to annual,  long term and
other  compensation  for services in all  capacities  to the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Holding Company for the two fiscal years ended December
31, 1995 and 1996, and to the President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Bank
(the "Named Executive Officers").  There were no other executive officers of the
Holding Company, as of December 31, 1996, who earned over $100,000 in salary and
bonuses during the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Summary Compensation Table
                                                              Annual Compensation
                                                -------------------------------------------------
     Name and Principal          Fiscal                                           Other Annual            All Other
          Position                Year            Salary             Bonus       Compensation(3)        Compensation
          --------                ----            ------             -----       ---------------        ------------
<S>                               <C>            <C>               <C>               <C>                <C>                 
James E. Fritz, President and     1996           $  72,200 (2)      $3,900             --                    --
   Chief Executive Officer        1995           $  28,388 (1)(2)   $2,539             --                    --
   of the Thrift
Robert D. Hoban, President and    1996           $100,000            ____              --                $6,000 (4)
   Chief Executive Officer        1995           $100,000            ____              --                $6,000 (4)
   of the Bank
- ------------
</TABLE>
(1)      Mr. Fritz joined the Thrift as President and Chief Executive Officer in
         August, 1995.
(2)      Includes directors fees.
(3)      Each of Mr. Fritz and Mr. Hoban received certain  perquisites,  but the
         incremental  cost of  providing  such  perquisites  did not  exceed the
         lesser of $50,000 or 10% of his salary and bonus.
(4)      Constitutes matching contributions made by the Bank to the 401(k) Plan.

     Stock Options

     No stock options were granted during fiscal 1996 to, or held as of December
31, 1996 by, the Named Executive Officers.  For information concerning grants of
stock  options  made in fiscal  1997,  including  a grant of a stock  option for
14,283  shares of the  Common  Stock to James E.  Fritz and a stock  option  for
11,903 shares of the Common Stock to Robert D. Hoban,  see  "Proposal  II--Stock
Option Plan."

     Employment Contracts

     Effective January 1, 1996, the Thrift entered into an employment  agreement
with James E. Fritz, the Thrift's President and Chief Executive Officer, and the
Bank  entered  into an  employment  agreement  with Robert D. Hoban,  the Bank's
President and Chief Executive Officer.  The agreements are for a three-year term
and extend annually for an additional one-year term to maintain their three-year
term if the employer's Board of Directors  determines to so extend it. Under the
agreements,  the  employees  receive an  initial  annual  salary  equal to their
current  salary  subject to increases  approved by the Board of  Directors.  The
agreements also provide, among other things, for the employees' participation in
other bonus and fringe benefit plans available to other employees. The employees
may terminate  their  employment  upon ninety (90) days' prior written notice to
their  employer.  The  employers  may discharge the employees for just cause (as
defined  in the  agreement)  at any  time  or in  certain  events  specified  by
applicable  law  or  regulations.  If the  employers  terminate  the  employees'
employment  for  other  than  just  cause or the  employees  are  constructively
discharged  and such  termination  does not occur within  twelve  months after a
change in  control  of the  employers  or the  Holding  Company,  the  agreement
provides  for the  employees'  receipt of a lump-sum or  periodic  payment of an
amount  equal  to the  sum of (A)  their  base  salary  through  the  end of the
then-current  term,  plus (B) their base salary for an  additional  twelve-month
period,  plus (C) in the  employees'  sole  discretion  and in lieu of continued
participation in their employers'  fringe benefit plans, cash in an amount equal
to the cost of obtaining  all health,  life,  disability  and other  benefits in
which the employees would otherwise be eligible to participate. In the event the
employers  terminate the employees'  employment for other than just cause or the
employee is constructively discharged within twelve months following a change in
control of the employer or the Holding Company,  the agreement  provides for the
employee's  receipt of a lump-sum  payment of an amount equal to the  difference
between (A) the  product of 2.99 times his "base  amount" (as defined in Section
280G(b)(3)  of the  Code) and (B) the sum of any other  parachute  payments,  as
determined  under Section  280G(b)(2) of the Code. If the payments  provided for
under the  agreement,  together with any other payments made to the employees by
the  employer,  are  determined  to be  payments  in  violation  of the  "golden
parachute"  rules of the Code,  such  payments  will be reduced  to the  largest
amount  which  would not cause the  employer  to lose a tax  deduction  for such
payments under those rules. As of the date hereof,  the cash  compensation  that
would be paid to the  employees  under the  agreements if such  agreements  were
terminated  after a change in control of the employers would be $224,250 for Mr.
Fritz and $299,000 for Mr. Hoban.

Special Termination Agreements

         Effective as of December 20, 1996, the Thrift and the Bank entered into
Termination   Agreements   with  certain  of  their   employees   (the  "Covered
Employees").  The  Termination  Agreements  have  terms of one year,  subject to
annual  extension  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Thrift  or the Bank,  and
provide that upon the  termination  of a Covered  Employee's  employment  by the
<PAGE>

employer  for other  than  cause or by the  Covered  Employee  for  constructive
termination,  within  18  months  after  December  20,  1996 or within 12 months
following a "change in control" (as defined in the Termination Agreements) which
occurs during the term of the  applicable  Termination  Agreement,  such Covered
Employee  shall be  entitled  to a lump sum  payment  of 100% of his or her base
amount of compensation, as determined pursuant to Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code
(the  "Termination  Benefit").  Covered  Employees  may  elect  to  receive  the
Termination  Benefit in  semi-monthly  payments over a twelve month period.  The
Termination  Agreements also provide for continued  life,  health and disability
coverage for Covered  Employees until the expiration of twelve months  following
the  termination of employment or until the Covered  Employee  obtains  coverage
from another  employer,  whichever  occurs first. If a Covered  Employee obtains
coverage from another employer, and does not have substantially  identical life,
health  and  disability  coverage,   the  Thrift  or  the  Bank  shall  maintain
substantially  identical coverage on behalf of the Covered Employee for a period
of twelve months.

Compensation of Directors

         Directors of the Holding  Company are currently paid directors' fees of
$250 for each meeting attended.

         All  directors of the Thrift are entitled to receive  monthly  director
fees in the amount of $600 for their  services.  Jerry Allen also  receives $600
per month as a Director Emeritus of the Thrift.  Outside directors of the Thrift
also receive  fees in the amount of $150 for each special  meeting of the Board.
Total fees paid to  directors  of the  Thrift  and Mr.  Allen for the year ended
December 31, 1996 were approximately $60,700.

         All  outside  directors  of the Bank are  entitled  to receive  monthly
director  fees in the  amount of $125 for  their  services.  Total  fees paid to
directors of the Bank for the year ended  December  31, 1996 were  approximately
$6,000.

         The Thrift's directors and directors emeritus may, pursuant to deferred
compensation agreements, defer payment of some or all of such monthly directors'
fees or salary for a maximum period of five years.  Upon reaching the retirement
age specified in their respective joinder agreements,  directors who participate
in the deferred  compensation plan receive fixed monthly payments for a specific
period  ranging  from 60 to 180 months,  depending  on the  specific  director's
election in his joinder agreement,  but may also elect to receive their benefits
in a lump sum in the event of financial  hardship.  The agreements  also provide
for death and disability benefits.

         The  Thrift  has  purchased  paid-up  life  insurance  on the  lives of
directors and directors emeritus participating in the deferred compensation plan
to fund benefits payable thereunder. The insurance is provided by Pacific Mutual
and Transamerica. At December 31, 1996, the cash surrender value of the policies
was  carried  on the books of the  Thrift at an amount  equal to  $747,000.  The
Thrift expensed  $3,000 in connection  with these  agreements for the year ended
December 31, 1996.

         Transactions With Certain Related Persons

         The Bank and the Thrift  have  followed a policy of  offering  to their
directors,  officers,  and employees real estate mortgage loans secured by their
principal residence and other loans. These loans are made in the ordinary course
of business with the same collateral,  interest rates and underwriting  criteria
as those of  comparable  transactions  prevailing at the time and do not involve
more  than the  normal  risk of  collectibility  or  present  other  unfavorable
features.

         Lonnie D. Collins,  Secretary of the Holding Company and of the Thrift,
serves  as  counsel  to and  provides  routine  legal  work for the  Thrift.  In
connection  with his services in such  capacity,  Mr.  Collins is paid an annual
retainer of $3,000.  Mr.  Collins  received no other fees for his legal work for
the Thrift for the year ended  December 31, 1996. Mr. Collins also receives $600
per month for his service as Secretary to the Thrift's  Board of Directors.  The
Thrift  intends to continue using Mr.  Collins'  services for routine legal work
during 1997.


<PAGE>

                        PROPOSAL II -- STOCK OPTION PLAN

     The Board of  Directors  of the Holding  Company  adopted the River  Valley
Bancorp Stock Option Plan (the "Option  Plan") on April 29, 1997.  The essential
features of the Option  Plan are  summarized  below,  but the Option Plan is set
forth in full in Exhibit A to this Proxy  Statement,  and all statements made in
this summary are qualified by reference to the full text of the Option Plan.

Purpose

     The purpose of the Option Plan is to provide to certain directors, officers
and other  key  employees  of the  Holding  Company  and its  subsidiaries  (the
"Subsidiaries")  (currently approximately 29 persons) a favorable opportunity to
acquire Common Stock of the Holding  Company and thereby  increase the incentive
of such  persons  to  work  for  the  success  of the  Holding  Company  and its
subsidiaries  and better  enabling  such  entities to attract or retain  capable
directors and executive personnel.

     The Option Plan  provides  for the grant of both  incentive  stock  options
(options that afford  favorable tax treatment to recipients upon compliance with
certain  restrictions  and that do not normally  result in tax deductions to the
Holding  Company)  and  options  that  do not so  qualify  (non-qualified  stock
options).

Administration

     The Option Plan is  administered,  construed and interpreted by a committee
consisting of at least two members of the Holding  Company's Board of Directors.
Currently,  the  Holding  Company's  Stock  Compensation  Committee  (the "Stock
Compensation  Committee")  administers  the Option Plan. The Stock  Compensation
Committee selects the individuals to whom options will be granted and determines
the time of grant,  the number of shares of stock to be covered by each  option,
the option price,  the period within which the option may be exercised,  whether
the option is an incentive stock option or non-qualified  stock option,  and any
other  terms  and  conditions  of the  options  granted.  Members  of the  Stock
Compensation Committee must be nonemployee directors of the Holding Company. The
current  members  of that  Committee  are  set  forth  on  page 4 of this  Proxy
Statement.

Reservation of Shares

     The Holding  Company has  reserved  119,025  shares of its Common Stock for
issuance upon exercise of options to be granted under the Option Plan, and stock
options for 116,648 of such shares have  already  been  granted,  subject to and
effective as of the date the Holding Company's  shareholders  approve the Option
Plan.  Shares issued under the Option Plan may be authorized but unissued shares
or treasury  shares of the Holding  Company.  In the event of corporate  changes
affecting  the  Holding  Company's  Common  Stock,   such  as   reorganizations,
recapitalizations,  stock splits, stock dividends, mergers,  consolidations,  or
liquidations,  the Stock Compensation Committee may make appropriate adjustments
in the  number  and kind of shares  reserved  under the  Option  Plan and in the
option price under,  and the number and kind of shares  covered by,  outstanding
options  granted  under the Option Plan.  Any shares  subject to an option which
expires or is  terminated  before  exercise will again be available for issuance
under the Option Plan.

     Options may be granted to officers  (including  officers who are members of
the Board of Directors)  and other key employees of the Holding  Company and its
subsidiaries  who are materially  responsible for the management or operation of
the  business  of the  Holding  Company or its  subsidiaries  and have  provided
valuable services to the Holding Company or its  subsidiaries.  Such individuals
may be granted more than one option under the Option Plan.

     Since its adoption by the Board of Directors, the following incentive stock
options have been granted  under the Option Plan.  All such options were granted
effective as of the date the Holding Company's  shareholders  approve the Option
Plan,  have an option price per share equal to the average  between the high and
low sales  prices for a share of the Holding  Company's  Common  Stock  ("Market
Value") on that date (or the closest trading date if there is no trading on that
date), and have ten-year terms.  These options become exercisable at the rate of
20% per year  beginning  on the  anniversary  of the date of grant,  subject  to
earlier  vesting in the event of the death or disability  of the option  holder.
Such grants of incentive stock options are as follows:

<PAGE>

                                                          Shares Subject
         Optionee                                         To Options
     ----------------------------------------------       --------------
     James E. Fritz                                          14,283
     Robert D. Hoban                                         11,903
     All other executive officers as a group
         (7 persons)                                         35,708
     All other employees as a group (12 persons)             23,809
     Non-employee directors of the Bank (3 persons)           5,355
                                                             ------
         Total                                               91,058
                                                             ======

     In addition,  pursuant to the terms of the Option Plan, non-qualified stock
options  were granted to the five  directors of the Holding  Company who are not
employees  of the Holding  Company or its  subsidiaries  ("Outside  Directors").
These options for such Outside  Directors were granted  effective as of the date
the Holding  Company's  shareholders  approve the Option Plan, are non-qualified
stock options to purchase  5,951 shares of the Holding  Company Common Stock for
Fred W. Koehler, 5,356 shares of the Holding Company Common Stock for Michael J.
Hensley,  Cecil L. Dorten,  and Earl W. Johann,  and 3,571 shares of the Holding
Company Common Stock for Jonnie L. Davis,  at the Market Value of such shares on
such date.  The terms of these  options end ten years and one day  following the
date of grant,  and became  exercisable at the rate of 20% per year beginning on
the  anniversary  of the date of the grant,  subject  to earlier  vesting in the
event of the death or disability of the option holder. Outside Directors are not
eligible to receive any other option  grants  under the Option  Plan.  At May 5,
1997, the last sale price for a share of the Holding  Company's Common Stock was
$14.25 per share.

Terms of the Options

     Stock  Option  Price.  The price to be paid for shares of Common Stock upon
the  exercise of each  incentive  stock  option  shall not be less than the fair
market  value of such  shares  on the  date on  which  the  option  is  granted.
Incentive  stock  options  granted to  holders of more than 10% of the  combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Holding Company may be granted at an
option price no less than 110% of the fair market value of the stock on the date
of grant.

     Option  Term.  No option may have a term  longer than ten years and one day
from the date of grant.  However,  under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended (the  "Code"),  incentive  stock options may not have terms in excess of
ten years.  Options  issued to Outside  Directors must be for terms of ten years
and one day from the date of grant.  Incentive  stock options granted to holders
of more than 10% of the  combined  voting  power of all  classes of stock of the
Holding Company may not have terms in excess of five years.

     Exercise of Option.  The option  price of each share of stock is to be paid
in full in cash at the time of exercise. Under certain circumstances, the Option
Plan  permits  optionees  to deliver a notice to their  broker to deliver to the
Holding Company the total option price in cash and the amount of any taxes to be
withheld from the optionee's  compensation  as a result of any  withholding  tax
obligation of the Holding  Company.  Beginning on December 21, 1999,  payment of
the option price may also be effected by  tendering  whole shares of the Holding
Company's Common Stock owned by the Optionee and cash having a fair market value
equal to the cash exercise  price of the shares with respect to which the option
is being exercised.  Options may be exercisable in full at any time during their
term or in such  installments,  on a cumulative basis, as the Stock Compensation
Committee may  determine,  except that no option may be exercised at any time as
to fewer  than 100  shares  unless  the  exercise  is with  respect to an entire
residue of fewer than 100 shares,  no option may be  exercised  during the first
six months of its term,  and options  become  exercisable at the rate of 20% per
year beginning on the anniversary of the date of grant of such options.

     Exercise  of  Options  by Other  Than  Outside  Directors  or  Non-Employee
Directors of a Subsidiary  ("Subsidiary  Directors").  Except as provided below,
upon termination of an optionholder's  employment by the Holding Company and its
subsidiaries,  all rights under any options granted to him but not yet exercised
terminate.  In the event that an optionee  retires pursuant to any then existing
pension  plan of the  Holding  Company  or its  subsidiaries,  his option may be
exercised  by him in whole or in part within  three  years after his  retirement
until the  expiration of the option term fixed by the  Committee,  to the extent
the option was otherwise exercisable by him at his date of retirement; provided,
however,  that if he remains a director  or  director  emeritus  of the  Holding
Company he may exercise such option until the later of (a) three years after his
retirement  or (b) six  months  after he ceases  to be a  director  or  director
emeritus of the Holding  Company.  If an  optionee's  employment  by the Holding
Company  and its  subsidiaries  terminates  by  reason  of  permanent  and total
disability,  his option may be  exercised  by him in whole or in part within one
year  after  such  termination  of  employment,  whether  or not the  option was

<PAGE>

otherwise  exercisable by him at the time of such termination of employment.  If
the optionee  dies while  employed by the Holding  Company or its  subsidiaries,
within three years after his retirement (or, if later,  six months following his
termination  of  service as a  director  or  director  emeritus  of the  Holding
Company),  or within one year after his  termination  of  employment  because of
permanent and total disability,  his option may be exercised by his estate or by
the person or persons  entitled  thereto  by will or by the  applicable  laws of
descent  or  distribution  at any time  within  one year  after the date of such
death,  whether or not the option was otherwise  exercisable  by the optionee at
the date of his death. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may any option
be  exercised  after  the  expiration  of the  option  term  set  by  the  Stock
Compensation Committee.

     Exercise of Options by Outside Directors or Subsidiary  Directors.  Options
granted to Outside Directors or Subsidiary  Directors terminate six months after
the date such Outside  Director or Subsidiary  Director  ceases to be a director
and  director  emeritus of the  Holding  Company  and the  Subsidiaries  for any
reason. If an optionee who is an Outside Director or Subsidiary  Director ceases
to be a director  and a director  emeritus by reason of  disability,  any option
granted  to him may be  exercised  in whole or in part  within  one year of such
termination of service,  whether or not the option was otherwise  exercisable by
him at the time of such termination of service.  In the event of the death of an
Outside Director or Subsidiary  Director while serving as a director or director
emeritus  of the Holding  Company or a  Subsidiary,  within six months  after he
ceases to be a director or a director  emeritus  of the  Holding  Company or the
Subsidiaries, or within one year after he ceases to be a director and a director
emeritus of the Holding  Company or a Subsidiary  by reason of  disability,  any
option granted to him may be exercised by his estate or by the person or persons
entitled thereto by will or by the applicable laws of descent or distribution at
any time within one year after the date of such death, whether or not the option
was  exercisable by the optionee at the date of his death.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  in no event may any option be exercised  after the expiration of the
option term set by the Stock Compensation Committee.

     Nontransferability of Option. Options may not be transferred except by will
or the laws of descent and  distribution  or  pursuant  to a qualified  domestic
relations order. During the lifetime of an optionee,  they may be exercised only
by him or his guardian or legal representative.

     Maximum  Incentive Stock Options.  The aggregate fair market value of stock
with respect to which incentive stock options are exercisable for the first time
by an  optionee  during any  calendar  year under the Option Plan may not exceed
$100,000.  For  purposes of these  computations,  the fair  market  value of the
shares is to be  determined as of the date the option is granted and computed in
the manner determined by the Stock  Compensation  Committee  consistent with the
requirements of the Code. This limitation does not apply to non-qualified  stock
options granted under the Option Plan.

Other Provisions

     The  Stock  Compensation  Committee  may  provide  for  such  other  terms,
provisions and conditions of an option as are not  inconsistent  with the Option
Plan. The Stock Compensation Committee may also prescribe,  and amend, waive and
rescind rules and  regulations  relating to the Option Plan,  may accelerate the
vesting  of stock  options  granted  the Option  Plan,  may make  amendments  or
modifications  in the terms and  conditions  (including  exercisability)  of the
options  relating to the effect of  termination  of employment of the optionees,
and may waive any  restrictions  or  conditions  applicable to any option or the
exercise thereof.

Amendment and Termination

     The Board of  Directors  of the  Holding  Company may amend the Option Plan
from  time to time,  and,  with the  consent  of the  optionee,  the  terms  and
provisions of his option, provided,  however, that (1) no amendment may, without
the consent of an  optionee,  make any changes in any  outstanding  option which
would  adversely  affect the rights of the optionee and (2) without  approval of
the holders of at least a majority of the shares of the Holding  Company  voting
in person or by proxy at a duly constituted meeting, or adjournment thereof, the

<PAGE>

following  changes in the Option Plan may not be made: an increase in the number
of shares  reserved for  issuance  under the Option Plan (except as permitted by
the  antidilutive  provisions  in the Option  Plan);  an extension of the option
terms to more than 10 years and one day from the date of grant of the option; or
a material  modification  of the class of employees  eligible to receive options
under the  Option  Plan.  The Board of  Directors  of the  Holding  Company  may
terminate the Option Plan at any time. In any event,  no incentive stock options
may be granted under the Stock Option Plan after April 29, 2007.

Federal Income Tax Consequences

     The grant of incentive and non-qualified stock options will have no federal
tax  consequences  to the  Holding  Company  or the  optionee.  Moreover,  if an
incentive  stock option is  exercised  (a) while the employee is employed by the
Holding Company or its subsidiaries,  (b) within three months after the optionee
ceases to be an employee of the Holding Company or its  subsidiaries,  (c) after
the optionee's  death, or (d) within one year after the optionee ceases to be an
employee of the Holding Company or its subsidiaries if the optionee's employment
is terminated  because of permanent and total disability  (within the meaning of
ss.  22(e)(3) of the Code),  the  exercise of the  incentive  stock  option will
ordinarily have no federal income tax consequences to the Holding Company or the
optionee.  However,  the amount by which the fair market  value of the shares at
the time of exercise  exceeds the option  price of the option  will,  along with
other specified  items, be considered  taxable income in the taxable year of the
optionee  in which the option was  exercised  for  purposes of  determining  the
applicability  of the alternative  minimum tax. As a result,  the exercise of an
incentive  stock  option may subject an optionee to an  alternative  minimum tax
depending on that optionee's particular circumstances.

     On the other hand, the recipient of a non-qualified  stock option generally
will realize taxable ordinary income at the time of exercise of his option in an
amount  equal to the excess of the fair market  value of the shares  acquired at
the time of such  exercise  over the option  price.  A like amount is  generally
deductible  by the Holding  Company for federal  income tax  purposes as of that
date, as long as the Holding Company  withholds  federal income tax with respect
to that taxable amount,  assuming the optionholder's income is subject to income
tax witholding by the Holding  Company.  The Option Plan permits,  under certain
circumstances,  holders of  non-qualified  stock  options  (other  than  Outside
Directors)  to satisfy  their  withholding  obligation by having shares equal in
value to the  applicable  withholding  taxes withheld from the shares which they
would otherwise receive upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option.

     Upon the sale of the shares  acquired  upon the  exercise  of an  incentive
stock  option no  sooner  than two years  after the grant of the  option  and no
sooner than one year after  receipt of the shares by the  optionee,  any capital
gain recognized would be taxed to the optionee at long-term rates. Upon the sale
of shares  acquired upon the exercise of an incentive  stock option prior to two
years  after the grant of an option or prior to one year  after  receipt  of the
shares by the optionee,  the optionee will generally  recognize,  in the year of
disposition,  ordinary  income equal to the lesser of (a) the spread between the
fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise and the exercise  price;
and (b) the gain realized  upon the  disposition  of those  shares.  The Holding
Company will be entitled to a deduction equal to the amount of income recognized
as ordinary  income by the optionee,  so long as the Holding  Company  withholds
federal  income  tax  with  respect  to  that  taxable   amount   (assuming  the
optionholder's  income  is  subject  to income  tax  witholding  by the  Holding
Company).  If the spread is the basis for  determining  the  amount of  ordinary
income  realized  by  the  optionee,  there  will  be  additional  long-term  or
short-term  capital  gain  realized  if the  proceeds  of such sale  exceed such
spread.

     Upon  the   subsequent   sale  of  shares   acquired  upon  exercise  of  a
non-qualified  stock option,  the optionholder will recognize  long-term capital
gain or loss if the  shares are deemed to have been held for more than one year,
and  short-term  capital gain or loss in all other cases.  Currently,  long-term
capital gains for  noncorporate  taxpayers are generally taxed at a maximum rate
of 28%.  However,  there are several  proposals  which have been  introduced  in
Congress which would modify or cause a reduction in the capital gains tax.

Financial Accounting Consequences

     At this time, neither the grant of incentive or non-qualified stock options
nor the  issuance  of shares  upon  exercise  of such  options  will result in a
compensation  expense  charge to the Holding  Company's  earnings for  financial
accounting purposes.  Option proceeds from the exercise of these options and tax
savings from non-qualified stock options are credited to capital.  The Financial
Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") has adopted rules that require increased
disclosure  about the value of stock  options in  financial  statements  for the
Holding Company, including their impact on earnings.


<PAGE>

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE TO APPROVE AND
RATIFY THE OPTION PLAN.  SUCH ACTION  REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THE HOLDERS OF AT
LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OF THE HOLDING COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK ENTITLED TO
VOTE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, OR ANY ADJOURNMENT  THEREOF.  ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER
NON-VOTES  WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES PRESENT AND ENTITLED TO VOTE
ON THE PROPOSAL AND ACCORDINGLY TREATED AS "NO" VOTES.

            PROPOSAL III -- RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST

     The Board of Directors of the Holding  Company  adopted the Recognition and
Retention Plan and Trust (the "RRP") on April 29, 1997. The central  features of
the RRP are summarized  below,  but the RRP is set forth in full in Exhibit B to
this Proxy  Statement,  and all statements made in this summary are qualified by
reference to the full text of the RRP.

Purpose

     The  purpose of the RRP is to retain  directors  and key  employees  of the
Holding  Company  and  its   subsidiaries  by  providing  such  persons  with  a
proprietary   interest  in  the  Holding  Company,  as  compensation  for  their
contributions to the Holding Company and its subsidiaries and as an incentive to
make such contributions in the future.

Administration

     The RRP is  administered  by the Stock  Compensation  Committee (the "Stock
Compensation Committee") of the Holding Company's Board of Directors, which must
at all times consist of at least two directors of the Holding  Company,  each of
whom is a  non-employee  director  within the meaning of the  definition of that
term contained in Rule 16b-3  promulgated  under the Securities  Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). The current members of the Stock Compensation
Committee  are  set  forth  on  page  4  of  this  Proxy  Statement.  The  Stock
Compensation  Committee selects  recipients and establishes terms of awards made
under  the  RRP.  The  Stock  Compensation   Committee's   interpretations   and
constructions  of the RRP  provisions  or any award made under the RRP are final
and binding.

     The Committee may adopt rules or regulations  under the RRP. The Trustee of
the RRP is First Bankers Trust Company,  Quincy, Illinois. The Trustee acquires,
holds and distributes  shares of Common Stock and other RRP assets in accordance
with the terms of the RRP.

     The Holding  Company has agreed to  indemnify  the Trustee,  the  Committee
members,  and any  director  of the  Holding  Company,  the Bank,  or the Thrift
against liability for good faith  determinations made under the RRP. The Holding
Company has also agreed to indemnify  the Trustee for actions  under the RRP not
constituting negligence or willful misconduct.

Eligibility

     Employees of the Holding Company and its affiliated  corporations who elect
to participate in the RRP  ("Affiliates"),  are eligible to receive awards under
the RRP. The Committee is to consider the position and  responsibilities  of the
eligible  employees,  the length  and value of their  services,  their  level of
compensation,  and any other factors the Committee deems relevant.  In addition,
certain  Outside  Directors of the Holding  Company  have been granted  specific
awards under the terms of the RRP.  Such Outside  Directors  may not receive any
further awards under the RRP.

Contributions

     The Boards of Directors of the Bank and the Thrift  determine the amount or
method of computing  the amount of cash  contributions  to be made to the RRP by
the Bank or the Thrift. No employee contributions are permitted.

Investment of Contributions

     Contributions  made to the RRP are to be  invested by the Trustee in Common
Stock, to the fullest extent  possible.  At the time the Plan became  effective,
47,610 shares of the Holding  Company's  Common Stock were reserved for purchase
under the RRP.  Such shares may be  authorized  but  unissued  shares,  treasury
shares, or issued and outstanding shares. In the event additional authorized but
unissued  shares or treasury  shares are acquired by the RRP,  the  interests of
existing shareholders will be diluted.  Earnings,  gains and losses with respect
to Trust assets (including  dividends and distributions  payable with respect to

<PAGE>

shares of Common Stock) will be allocated to  recipients  of RRP awards,  to the
extent  allocable to awards made to those  recipients,  and,  otherwise,  to the
general account of the Trust.  All expenses and costs of  administering  the RRP
are to be paid by the Holding Company or its Affiliates.

     If the RRP is approved by  shareholders,  the Bank and the Thrift will make
contributions to the RRP in an amount necessary to purchase 35,936 shares of the
Holding  Company's Common Stock on the open market to fund the RRP. Based on the
market  price  of  such  Common  Stock  on May  5,  1997,  the  amount  of  such
contribution  is estimated  to be $512,088.  Effective as of the date the RRP is
approved by the Holding  Company's  shareholders,  shares will be awarded to the
following persons in the following amounts:

  Recipient of Award                                    Number of Shares Awarded
  ------------------                                    ------------------------
  James E. Fritz                                                5,493
  Robert D. Hoban                                               4,578
  All other executive officers as a group (7 persons)          13,962
  Non-employee directors of the Bank                            2,061
                                                               ------
       Total                                                   26,094
                                                               ======

These  awards  vest at a rate of 20% per  year  commencing  with the date of the
award, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the death or disability of the
grantee.

     In addition, each of the five Outside Directors of the Holding Company will
receive  awards  of shares as of the date the Plan is  approved  by the  Holding
Company's  shareholders.  In the case of Fred W. Koehler, the award is for 2,289
shares,  in the case of Michael J. Hensley,  Cecil L. Dorten and Earl W. Johann,
those awards are for 2,060 shares, and in the case of Jonnie L. Davis, the award
is for 1,373 shares. These awards also vest at a rate of 20% per year commencing
with the date of the award, subject to earlier vesting in the event of the death
or disability of the grantee.

Awards

     Under the RRP,  awards are granted to eligible  employees  and directors in
the form of shares of Common Stock held by the RRP.  Awards are  nontransferable
and nonassignable, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and during the lifetime of the
recipient may only be earned by and paid to him.  Unless the Committee  provides
otherwise, at the time an RRP award is granted, the shares which are the subject
of the award are to vest and be  earned by the  recipient  at the rate of 20% of
the shares awarded at the end of each full 12 months of service with the Bank or
the Thrift after the date of grant of the award. Awards are adjusted for capital
changes  such as stock  dividends  and stock  splits.  Awards are subject to the
claims of the creditors of the Bank or the Thrift until distributed.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing,  awards will be 100% vested upon termination
of  employment  or service as a director  or director  emeritus  due to death or
disability.  In the event that a grantee terminates  employment with the Holding
Company and an Affiliate and service as a director and director emeritus for any
other  reason,  the  nonvested  awards  will  be  forfeited.  If  an  employee's
employment or a director's or or director  emeritus'  service is terminated  for
cause  (as  defined  in  the  RRP),  or if  his  conduct  would  have  justified
termination  for  cause,  shares  not  already  delivered  to him under the RRP,
whether or not vested,  may be forfeited by resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Holding Company, the Bank or the Thrift. Earned shares are distributed to
recipients  as soon as  practicable  following the day on which they are earned.
When shares become vested and are actually  distributed  in accordance  with the
RRP, the participants  will also receive amounts equal to any accrued  dividends
and other earnings or distributions payable with respect thereto.

Voting

     Prior to  vesting,  shares held in the RRP will be voted by the RRP Trustee
taking into account the best interests of the award recipients.


<PAGE>

Federal Income Tax Consequences

     The Trust should be treated as a grantor trust under the Code and, thus, in
computing the taxable income and credits of the Holding Company,  those items of
income,  deductions  and credits  which are  attributable  to the Trust shall be
taken  into  account  by the  Holding  Company.  When  shares  become  vested in
accordance  with the RRP, the  participants  will recognize  income equal to the
fair  market  value of the Common  Stock at that  time;  provided  however  that
participants may make a ss. 83(b) election under the Code with respect to all or
part of their awards prior to vesting and in such  situations  restricted  stock
certificates will be delivered to such participants and those  participants will
be taxed on the the fair  market  value of the shares at the time the ss.  83(b)
election is made. The amount of income  recognized by the participants will be a
deductible  expense  for tax  purposes  for the  Holding  Company  assuming  the
employer  satisfies  its  withholding  tax  obligation  with  respect to persons
subject to such withholding.

Accounting Treatment

     When the Stock  Compensation  Committee makes an RRP award, an amount equal
to the fair market value at the date of grant of the awarded stock is charged to
compensation expense over the period of the restriction. The unearned portion of
the award is included in the Holding  Company's  balance sheet as a reduction of
shareholders' equity.

Amendment or Termination

     The Board of Directors of the Holding  Company,  the Bank or the Thrift may
amend or  terminate  the RRP.  The RRP remains in effect until the earlier of 21
years from its effective date, termination by the Board of Directors as provided
above, or the distribution of all Trust assets.

     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE TO APPROVE THE
RRP. SUCH ACTION  REQUIRES THE APPROVAL OF THE HOLDERS OF AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF
THE SHARES OF THE HOLDING  COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK ENTITLED TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING,  OR ANY ADJOURNMENT  THEREOF.  ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES WILL BE
INCLUDED IN THE NUMBER OF SHARES  PRESENT AND  ENTITLED TO VOTE ON THE  PROPOSAL
AND ACCORDINGLY TREATED AS "NO" VOTES.

                                   ACCOUNTANTS

     Grant  Thornton LLP has served as auditors  for the Thrift since 1992,  and
for the Holding Company since its formation in 1996. A  representative  of Grant
Thornton LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting with the  opportunity to make
a  statement  if he so  desires.  He will also be  available  to  respond to any
appropriate  questions  shareholders  may have.  The Board of  Directors  of the
Holding  Company has not yet completed  the process of selecting an  independent
public  accounting firm to audit its books,  records and accounts for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1997.

             SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

     Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act requires that the Holding Company's  officers
and directors and persons who own more than 10% of the Holding  Company's Common
Stock file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC").  Officers,  directors  and greater  than 10%
shareholders are required by SEC regulations to furnish the Holding Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms that they file.

     Based  solely on its  review of the copies of such  forms  received  by it,
and/or written  representations  from certain  reporting persons that no Forms 5
were required for those persons,  the Holding  Company  believes that during the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, all filing  requirements  applicable to its
officers,  directors  and greater  than 10%  beneficial  owners with  respect to
Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act were satisfied in a timely manner.

<PAGE>

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Any  proposal  which a  shareholder  wishes to have  presented  at the next
Annual Meeting of the Holding Company must be received at the main office of the
Holding  Company for inclusion in the proxy  statement no later than 120 days in
advance of May 12, 1998.  Any such  proposal  should be sent to the attention of
the Secretary of the Holding Company at 303 Clifty Drive, P.O. Box 626, Madison,
Indiana 47250.


                                  OTHER MATTERS

     Management  is not aware of any business to come before the Annual  Meeting
other than those matters described in the Proxy Statement. However, if any other
matters should properly come before the Annual Meeting,  it is intended that the
proxies  solicited  hereby will be voted with respect to those other  matters in
accordance with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.

     The cost of solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the Holding  Company.
The  Holding  Company  will  reimburse  brokerage  firms and  other  custodians,
nominees and  fiduciaries  for reasonable  expenses  incurred by them in sending
proxy  material to the  beneficial  owners of the Common  Stock.  In addition to
solicitation by mail, directors,  officers, and employees of the Holding Company
may solicit proxies personally or by telephone without additional compensation.

     Each  shareholder is urged to complete,  date and sign the proxy and return
it promptly in the enclosed envelope.

                                         By Order of the Board of Directors


                                         /s/ James E. Fritz
                                         James E. Fritz


May 12, 1997


<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A
                                                                       ---------

                              RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN

         1. Purpose.  The purpose of the River Valley  Bancorp Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") is to provide to  directors,  officers  and other key  employees of
River  Valley  Bancorp  (the  "Holding  Company")  and  its  majority-owned  and
wholly-owned  subsidiaries  (individually a "Subsidiary"  and  collectively  the
"Subsidiaries"),  including,  but not limited to, Madison First Federal  Savings
and Loan  Association  ("Madison First  Federal") and Citizens  National Bank of
Madison  ("Citizens"),  who are  materially  responsible  for the  management or
operation  of the  business  of the  Holding  Company or a  Subsidiary  and have
provided valuable  services to the Holding Company or a Subsidiary,  a favorable
opportunity to acquire Common Stock,  without par value ("Common Stock"), of the
Holding Company,  thereby providing them with an increased incentive to work for
the success of the Holding Company and its Subsidiaries and better enabling each
such entity to attract and retain capable directors and executive personnel.

         2.  Administration  of  the  Plan.  The  Plan  shall  be  administered,
construed and  interpreted  by a committee  (the  "Committee")  consisting of at
least two members of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company, each of whom
is a "Non-Employee  Director"  within the meaning of the definition of that term
contained in Reg. ss. 16b-3  promulgated  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  as amended  (the "1934  Act").  The  members  of the  Committee  shall be
designated  from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Holding  Company.
The decision of a majority of the members of the Committee shall  constitute the
decision  of the  Committee,  and the  Committee  may act either at a meeting at
which a  majority  of the  members of the  Committee  is present or by a written
consent  signed by all members of the  Committee.  The Committee  shall have the
sole, final and conclusive  authority to determine,  consistent with and subject
to the provisions of the Plan:

                  (a) the  individuals  (the  "Optionees")  to whom  options  or
         successive options shall be granted under the Plan;

                  (b) the time when options shall be granted hereunder;

                  (c) the number of shares of Common  Stock to be covered  under
         each option;

                  (d) the  option  price to be paid  upon the  exercise  of each
         option;

                  (e) the period within which each such option may be exercised;

                  (f) the extent to which an option is an incentive stock option
         or a non-qualified stock option; and

                  (g) the terms and conditions of the  respective  agreements by
         which options granted shall be evidenced.

The Committee shall also have authority to prescribe,  amend, waive, and rescind
rules and  regulations  relating to the Plan, to  accelerate  the vesting of any
stock  options  granted  hereunder  (subject  to Office  of  Thrift  Supervision
regulations),  to make amendments or  modifications  in the terms and conditions
(including  exercisability) of the options relating to the effect of termination
of  employment  of the  optionee  (subject  to the last  sentence  of  Section 9
hereof), to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any option or the
exercise thereof, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable in
the administration of the Plan.

         3. Eligibility.  The Committee may, consistent with the purposes of the
Plan,  grant options to officers and other key employees of the Holding  Company
or of a Subsidiary  and to directors  of a Subsidiary  (other than  non-employee
directors of the Holding  Company) who in the opinion of the  Committee are from
time to time  materially  responsible  for the  management  or  operation of the
business of the Holding  Company or of a Subsidiary  and have provided  valuable
services to the Holding Company or a Subsidiary;  provided,  however, that in no
event may any employee who owns (after application of the ownership rules in ss.
425(d) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) shares of
stock  possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all

<PAGE>

classes of stock of the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries be granted an
incentive stock option  hereunder  unless at the time such option is granted the
option price is at least 110% of the fair market  value of the stock  subject to
the option and such option by its terms is not exercisable  after the expiration
of five (5) years from the date such option is granted. Directors of the Holding
Company who are not employees of the Holding Company  ("Outside  Directors") who
were  serving  as  such  on  the  date  Madison  First  Federal  converted  (the
"Conversion") from mutual to stock form (the "Conversion Date") or were added to
the Board of Directors  following such  Conversion  shall each be granted on the
date of the Holding Company's first Shareholder Meeting following the Conversion
which shall be held no earlier than six (6) months following the Conversion (the
"First Shareholder  Meeting Date"),  assuming he or she is serving as an Outside
Director on such date,  a  non-qualified  option to purchase the number of whole
shares of Common Stock of the Holding  Company  determined  by  multiplying  the
total number of shares issued by the Holding  Company on the Conversion  Date by
the following percentages, and rounding to the nearest whole share:

                                                     Percentage of  Shares
                Outside Director                      Issued In Conversion
                 Fred W. Koehler                             .50%
               Michael J. Hensley                            .45%
                 Cecil L. Dorten                             .45%
                 Earl W. Johann                              .45%
                 Jonnie L. Davis                             .30%

          Such options shall have an exercise  price per share equal to the fair
market value of a share of such Common Stock,  as  determined by the  Committee,
consistent with Treas.  Req. ss.  20.2031-2,  on the First  Shareholder  Meeting
Date.  Outside Directors are not entitled to receive any other awards under this
Plan.  Subject to the  foregoing  and the  provisions  of  Section 7 hereof,  an
individual who has been granted an option under the Plan (an "Optionee"),  if he
is otherwise  eligible,  may be granted an  additional  option or options if the
Committee shall so determine.

         4. Stock Subject to the Plan. There shall be reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of options  granted  under the Plan,  shares of Common Stock of the
Holding  Company  equal to 10% of the total  number  of  shares of Common  Stock
issued by the Holding  Company upon the conversion of Madison First Federal from
mutual to stock form,  which may be authorized  but unissued  shares or treasury
shares of the Holding Company. Subject to Section 7 hereof, the shares for which
options  may be  granted  under the Plan shall not exceed  that  number.  If any
option shall expire or terminate or be surrendered for any reason without having
been exercised in full, the unpurchased shares subject thereto shall (unless the
Plan shall have terminated) become available for other options under the Plan.

         5.  Terms of  Options.  Each  option  granted  under the Plan  shall be
subject  to the  following  terms and  conditions  and to such  other  terms and
conditions not  inconsistent  therewith as the Committee may deem appropriate in
each case:

                      (a) Option Price. The price to be paid for shares of stock
           upon the exercise of each option shall be determined by the Committee
           at the time such option is granted,  but such price in no event shall
           be less than the fair market  value,  as  determined by the Committee
           consistent with Treas. Reg. ss. 20.2031-2 and any requirements of ss.
           422A of the Code,  of such stock on the date on which such  option is
           granted.

                      (b) Period for Exercise of Option.  An option shall not be
           exercisable  after the expiration of such period as shall be fixed by
           the Committee at the time of the grant thereof, but such period in no
           event shall  exceed ten (10) years and one day from the date on which
           such  option is  granted;  provided,  that  incentive  stock  options
           granted  hereunder  shall  have terms not in excess of ten (10) years
           and options issued to Outside  Directors shall be for a period of ten
           (10) years and one day from the date of grant thereof.  Options shall
           be subject to earlier termination as hereinafter provided.


<PAGE>

              (c)  Exercise of Options.  The option price of each share of stock
         purchased  upon exercise of an option shall be paid in full at the time
         of such exercise.  Payment may be in (i) cash, (ii) if the Optionee may
         do so in  conformity  with  Regulation  T (12 C.F.R.  ss.  220.3(e)(4))
         without  violating ss. 16(b) or ss. 16(c)of the 1934 Act, pursuant to a
         broker's cashless exercise procedure, by delivering a properly executed
         exercise notice together with  irrevocable  instructions to a broker to
         promptly  deliver to the Holding Company the total option price in cash
         and,  if  desired,  the  amount  of any taxes to be  withheld  from the
         Optionee's  compensation  as a result of any withholding tax obligation
         of the Holding Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as specified in such
         notice,  or (iii)  beginning  on a date which is three years  following
         Madison First  Federal's  conversion from mutual to stock form and with
         the approval of the Committee, by tendering whole shares of the Holding
         Company's  Common  Stock owned by the  Optionee  and cash having a fair
         market  value  equal to the cash  exercise  price  of the  shares  with
         respect to which the option is being exercised.  For this purpose,  any
         shares so tendered by an Optionee shall be deemed to have a fair market
         value equal to the mean between the highest and lowest  quoted  selling
         prices  for the  shares on the date of  exercise  of the  option (or if
         there  were no sales on such  date the  weighted  average  of the means
         between the highest and lowest quoted  selling prices for the shares on
         the nearest date before and the nearest date after the date of exercise
         of the option as prescribed by Treas. Reg. ss. 20.2031-2),  as reported
         in The Wall  Street  Journal or a similar  publication  selected by the
         Committee.  The  Committee  shall have the  authority to grant  options
         exercisable  in full at any time during their term, or  exercisable  in
         such  installments at such times during their term as the Committee may
         determine;  provided,  however,  that options shall not be  exercisable
         during the first six (6) months of their  term,  and  provided  further
         that,  subject  to the  foregoing  restriction,  options  shall  become
         exercisable at the rate of 20% per year beginning on the anniversary of
         the  date of grant  of such  options.  Installments  not  purchased  in
         earlier  periods  shall be cumulated  and be available  for purchase in
         later periods.  Subject to the other provisions of this Plan, an option
         may be  exercised  at any time or from time to time  during the term of
         the option as to any or all whole shares  which have become  subject to
         purchase  pursuant  to the terms of the option or the Plan,  but not at
         any time as to fewer than one hundred (100) shares unless the remaining
         shares which have become subject to purchase are fewer than one hundred
         (100) shares.  An option may be exercised only by written notice to the
         Holding  Company,  mailed to the attention of its Secretary,  signed by
         the Optionee (or such other person or persons as shall  demonstrate  to
         the  Holding  Company  his or their  right  to  exercise  the  option),
         specifying  the  number  of  shares  in  respect  of  which it is being
         exercised,  and  accompanied  by payment  in full in either  cash or by
         check in the  amount  of the  aggregate  purchase  price  therefor,  by
         delivery of the irrevocable broker instructions  referred to above, or,
         if the  Committee  has  approved  the  use of the  stock  swap  feature
         provided for above,  followed as soon as practicable by the delivery of
         the option price for such shares.

              (d)  Certificates.  The certificate or certificates for the shares
         issuable  upon an exercise of an option  shall be issued as promptly as
         practicable after such exercise.  An Optionee shall not have any rights
         of a shareholder in respect to the shares of stock subject to an option
         until  the  date of  issuance  of a stock  certificate  to him for such
         shares.  In no case may a fraction  of a share be  purchased  or issued
         under the Plan,  but if, upon the  exercise of an option,  a fractional
         share would  otherwise be issuable,  the Holding Company shall pay cash
         in lieu thereof.

              (e)  Termination of Option.  If an Optionee (other than an Outside
         Director  or  a  non-employee  director  of a  Subsidiary  ("Subsidiary
         Director"))  ceases to be an employee  of the  Holding  Company and the
         Subsidiaries for any reason other than retirement,  permanent and total
         disability  (within the meaning of ss. 22(e)(3) of the Code), or death,
         any option granted to him shall forthwith  terminate.  Leave of absence

<PAGE>

         approved by the Committee shall not constitute cessation of employment.
         If  an  Optionee  (other  than  an  Outside  Director  or a  Subsidiary
         Director)  ceases to be an  employee  of the  Holding  Company  and the
         Subsidiaries by reason of retirement,  any option granted to him may be
         exercised  by him in whole or in part within  three (3) years after the
         date  of his  retirement,  to  the  extent  the  option  was  otherwise
         exercisable at the date of his retirement;  provided,  however, that if
         such  employee  remains a director or director  emeritus of the Holding
         Company,  the option granted to him may be exercised by him in whole or
         in part  until the  later of (a) three (3) years  after the date of his
         retirement,  or (b) six (6) months  after his  service as a director or
         director  emeritus  of  the  Holding  Company  terminates.   (The  term
         "retirement"  as used herein means such  termination  of  employment as
         shall entitle such  individual to early or normal  retirement  benefits
         under  any then  existing  pension  plan of the  Holding  Company  or a
         Subsidiary.)  If  an  Optionee  (other  than  an  Outside  Director  or
         Subsidiary  Director)  ceases to be an employee of the Holding  Company
         and the  Subsidiaries  by reason  of  permanent  and  total  disability
         (within the meaning of ss. 22(e)(3) of the Code), any option granted to
         him may be  exercised  by him in whole or in part  within  one (1) year
         after  the date of his  termination  of  employment  by  reason of such
         disability  whether or not the option was otherwise  exercisable at the
         date of such  termination.  Options granted to Outside  Directors or to
         Subsidiary Directors shall cease to be exercisable six (6) months after
         the date such Outside  Director or  Subsidiary  Director is no longer a
         director  or  director   emeritus  of  the  Holding   Company  and  the
         Subsidiaries  for any  reason  other than  death or  disability.  If an
         Optionee who is an Outside Director or Subsidiary Director ceases to be
         a  director  or  director  emeritus  of the  Holding  Company  and  the
         Subsidiaries by reason of disability,  any option granted to him may be
         exercised  in whole or in part  within  one (1) year after the date the
         Optionee ceases to be a director or director emeritus by reason of such
         disability, whether or not the option was otherwise exercisable at such
         date.  In the event of the death of an Optionee  while in the employ or
         service as a director or director  emeritus of the Holding Company or a
         Subsidiary,  or,  if  the  Optionee  is  not  an  Outside  Director  or
         Subsidiary  Director,  within  three  (3)  years  after the date of his
         retirement  (or, if later,  six months  following  his  termination  of
         service as a director or director  emeritus of the Holding  Company) or
         within one (1) year after the  termination  of his employment by reason
         of permanent and total  disability  (within the meaning of ss. 22(e)(3)
         of the Code),  or, if the Optionee is an Outside Director or Subsidiary
         Director,  within  six (6) months  after he is no longer a director  or
         director  emeritus  of the  Holding  Company  or the  Subsidiaries  for
         reasons  other  than  disability  or,  within  one (1) year  after  the
         termination  of his service as such a director by reason of disability,
         any option  granted to him may be  exercised in whole or in part at any
         time  within one (1) year after the date of such death by the  executor
         or  administrator of his estate or by the person or persons entitled to
         the option by will or by  applicable  laws of descent and  distribution
         until the  expiration  of the  option  term as fixed by the  Committee,
         whether or not the option was otherwise  exercisable at the date of his
         death. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection (e),
         no option shall in any event be exercisable after the expiration of the
         period fixed by the Committee in accordance with subsection (b) above.

              (f)  Nontransferability of Option. No option may be transferred by
         the  Optionee  otherwise  than  by  will or the  laws  of  descent  and
         distribution  or pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations  order as
         defined  by the  Code or  Title  I of the  Employee  Retirement  Income
         Security Act, or the rules  thereunder,  and during the lifetime of the
         Optionee  options  shall be  exercisable  only by the  Optionee  or his
         guardian or legal representative.

              (g) No Right to Continued Service.  Nothing in this Plan or in any
         agreement  entered into pursuant  hereto shall confer on any person any
         right to continue  in the employ or service of the  Holding  Company or
         its  Subsidiaries  or  affect  any  rights  the  Holding   Company,   a
         Subsidiary,  or the  shareholders  of the  Holding  Company may have to
         terminate his service at any time.

              (h) Maximum  Incentive  Stock  Options.  The aggregate fair market
         value of stock with respect to which  incentive  stock options  (within
         the meaning of ss. 422A of the Code) are exercisable for the first time
         by an  Optionee  during any  calendar  year under the Plan or any other
         plan of the  Holding  Company  or its  Subsidiaries  shall  not  exceed
         $100,000.  For this purpose, the fair market value of such shares shall
         be  determined  as of the date  the  option  is  granted  and  shall be
         computed  in such  manner  as shall  be  determined  by the  Committee,
         consistent with the requirements of ss. 422A of the Code.

              (i)  Agreement.  Each option  shall be  evidenced  by an agreement
         between the Optionee and the Holding Company which shall provide, among
         other  things,  that,  with respect to  incentive  stock  options,  the
         Optionee will advise the Holding Company  immediately  upon any sale or
         transfer of the shares of Common Stock  received  upon  exercise of the
         option to the extent  such sale or  transfer  takes  place prior to the
         later of (a) two (2)  years  from the date of grant or (b) one (1) year
         from the date of exercise.

              (j)  Investment  Representations.  Unless the shares subject to an
         option are registered  under  applicable  federal and state  securities
         laws, each Optionee by accepting an option shall be deemed to agree for

<PAGE>

         himself and his legal  representatives  that any option  granted to him
         and any and all shares of Common Stock  purchased  upon the exercise of
         the option shall be acquired for  investment and not with a view to, or
         for the sale in connection  with, any  distribution  thereof,  and each
         notice of the exercise of any portion of an option shall be accompanied
         by a  representation  in writing,  signed by the  Optionee or his legal
         representatives,  as the case may be,  that the shares of Common  Stock
         are being acquired in good faith for investment and not with a view to,
         or for sale in connection  with, any  distribution  thereof  (except in
         case of the Optionee's legal representatives for distribution,  but not
         for  sale,  to  his  legal  heirs,   legatees  and  other  testamentary
         beneficiaries).  Any shares issued pursuant to an exercise of an option
         may bear a legend evidencing such representations and restrictions.

         6. Incentive  Stock Options and  Non-Qualified  Stock Options.  Options
granted under the Plan may be incentive stock options under ss. 422A of the Code
or non-qualified stock options, provided,  however, that Outside Directors shall
be granted only non-qualified stock options.  All options granted hereunder will
be clearly  identified as either incentive stock options or non-qualified  stock
options.  In no event will the exercise of an incentive  stock option affect the
right to exercise any non-qualified  stock option, nor shall the exercise of any
non-qualified  stock  option  affect the right to exercise any  incentive  stock
option.  Nothing  in this  Plan  shall be  construed  to  prohibit  the grant of
incentive  stock  options and  non-qualified  stock  options to the same person,
provided,  further, that incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options
shall not be granted in a manner whereby the exercise of one non-qualified stock
option or incentive stock option affects the exercisability of the other.

         7. Adjustment of Shares. In the event of any change after the effective
date of the Plan in the  outstanding  stock of the Holding  Company by reason of
any reorganization,  recapitalization,  stock split, stock dividend, combination
of shares,  exchange of shares,  merger or  consolidation,  liquidation,  or any
other change after the effective date of the Plan in the nature of the shares of
stock of the Holding  Company,  the Committee shall  determine what changes,  if
any, are  appropriate in the number and kind of shares  reserved under the Plan,
and the Committee shall  determine what changes,  if any, are appropriate in the
option  price  under and the  number and kind of shares  covered by  outstanding
options  granted under the Plan. Any  determination  of the Committee  hereunder
shall be conclusive.

         8.  Tax  Withholding.  Whenever  the  Holding  Company  proposes  or is
required to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock under the Plan, the Holding
Company  shall  have the  right to  require  the  Optionee  or his or her  legal
representative  to remit to the Holding Company an amount  sufficient to satisfy
any federal,  state  and/or  local  withholding  tax  requirements  prior to the
delivery of any certificate or certificates for such shares,  and whenever under
the Plan  payments  are to be made in  cash,  such  payments  shall be net of an
amount  sufficient to satisfy any federal,  state and/or local  withholding  tax
requirements.   If  permitted  by  the  Committee  and  pursuant  to  procedures
established  by the  Committee,  an Optionee who is not an Outside  Director may
make a written  election to have shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair
market value, as determined by the Committee,  consistent with the  requirements
of Treas. Reg. ss. 20.2031-2,  sufficient to satisfy the applicable  withholding
taxes,  withheld from the shares otherwise to be received upon the exercise of a
non-qualified option.

         9. Amendment.  Subject to ss. 13 hereof,  the Board of Directors of the
Holding  Company  may amend the Plan from time to time and,  with the consent of
the Optionee,  the terms and  provisions of his option,  except that without the
approval  of the  holders  of at least a majority  of the shares of the  Holding
Company  voting  in  person  or  by  proxy  at a  duly  constituted  meeting  or
adjournment thereof:

              (a) the  number  of  shares of stock  which  may be  reserved  for
         issuance  under the Plan may not be  increased  except as  provided  in
         Section 7 hereof;

              (b) the period  during which an option may be exercised may not be
         extended  beyond ten (10) years and one day from the date on which such
         option was granted; and

              (c) the class of persons to whom options may be granted  under the
         Plan shall not be modified materially.

         No  amendment  of the Plan,  however,  may,  without the consent of the
Optionees, make any changes in any outstanding options theretofore granted under
the Plan which would adversely affect the rights of such Optionees.


<PAGE>

         10.  Termination.  The Board of  Directors  of the Holding  Company may
terminate the Plan at any time and no option shall be granted  thereafter.  Such
termination,  however,  shall not affect the validity of any option  theretofore
granted under the Plan. In any event,  no incentive  stock option may be granted
under the Plan after the date which is ten (10) years from the effective date of
the Plan.

         11.  Successors.  This Plan shall be binding  upon the  successors  and
assigns of the Holding Company.

         12.  Governing Law. The terms of any options granted  hereunder and the
rights and obligations hereunder of the Holding Company, the Optionees and their
successors in interest  shall,  except to the extent governed by federal law, be
governed by Indiana law.

         13.  Government and Other  Regulations.  The obligations of the Holding
Company to issue or transfer and deliver shares under options  granted under the
Plan shall be subject to compliance with all applicable laws, governmental rules
and  regulations  (including  Office of  Thrift  Supervision  regulations),  and
administrative  action.  In  particular,  grants of stock options under the Plan
shall comply with the requirements of 12 C.F.R.  ss.563b.3(g)(4)(vi)  as long as
those  requirements are in effect.  That regulation  currently  requires that no
individual  shall receive stock options for more than 25% of the shares reserved
for  issuance  under the Plan and  Outside  Directors  shall not  receive  stock
options for more than 5%  individually,  or 30% in the aggregate,  of the shares
reserved for issuance under the Plan.

         14.  Effective Date. The Plan shall become  effective on the date it is
approved  by the  holders  of at least a majority  of the shares of the  Holding
Company entitled to vote at a duly constituted  meeting or adjournment  thereof.
The options granted pursuant to the Plan may not be exercised until the Board of
Directors of the Holding  Company has been advised by counsel that such approval
has been obtained and all other applicable legal requirements have been met.

<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                                                       ---------

                              RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
                    RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST


                                    ARTICLE I
                       ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN AND TRUST

     1.01 River Valley Bancorp hereby  establishes the Recognition and Retention
Plan  (the  "Plan")  and Trust  (the  "Trust")  upon the  terms  and  conditions
hereinafter  stated in this  Recognition  and Retention Plan and Trust Agreement
(the "Agreement").

     1.02 The Trustee,  which  initially  shall be First Bankers Trust  Company,
hereby  accepts this Trust and agrees to hold the Trust  assets  existing on the
date of this Agreement and all additions and  accretions  thereto upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter stated.

                                   ARTICLE II
                               PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

     2.01 The purpose of the Plan is to retain directors and executive  officers
in key positions by providing  such persons with a  proprietary  interest in the
Holding Company (as hereinafter defined) as compensation for their contributions
to the Holding Company and to the Affiliates (as hereinafter  defined) and as an
incentive to make such  contributions  and to promote the Holding  Company's and
the Affiliates' growth and profitability in the future.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   DEFINITIONS

     The  following  words and  phrases  when used in this Plan with an  initial
capital letter,  unless the context clearly indicates otherwise,  shall have the
meanings set forth below.  Wherever  appropriate,  the  masculine  pronoun shall
include the feminine pronoun and the singular shall include the plural.

     3.01 "Affiliate"  means the Thrift and Bank and such other  subsidiaries or
affiliates of the Holding Company which, with the consent of the Board, agree to
participate in this Plan.

     3.02 "Bank" shall mean Citizens National Bank of Madison.

     3.03 "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Recipient to
receive any  benefits  payable  under the Plan in the event of such  Recipient's
death.  Such person or persons shall be designated in writing on forms  provided
for this  purpose  by the  Committee  and may be  changed  from  time to time by
similar  written  notice  to  the  Committee.   In  the  absence  of  a  written
designation,  the Beneficiary shall be the Recipient's surviving spouse, if any,
or, if none, his estate.

     3.04 "Board"  means the Board of Directors of the Holding  Company or of an
Affiliate.

     3.05 "Committee"   means the Stock  Compensation  Committee of the Board of
Directors of the Holding Company. At all times during its administration of this
Plan,  the  Committee  shall  consist of two or more  directors  of the  Holding
Company,  each of whom shall be a "Non-Employee  Director" within the meaning of
the  definition  of that term  contained  in  Regulation  16b-3  ("Rule  16b-3")
promulgated  under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended (the "1934
Act").

     3.06 "Common Stock" means shares of the common stock, without par value, of
the Holding Company.

     3.07 "Conversion"  shall mean the conversion of the Thrift from  the mutual
to stock form of organization and the simultaneous  acquisition of the Thrift by
the Holding Company.


<PAGE>

     3.08 "Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate or
the Holding Company.  

     3.09 "Director  Emeritus" shall mean an honorary  non-voting  member of the
Board of Directors of an Affiliate or the Holding Company.

     3.10 "Disability"  means any  physical or mental impairment which qualifies
an Employee for disability  benefits under the applicable  long-term  disability
plan maintained by an Affiliate.

     3.11 "Employee"  means  any person,  including  officers,  who is currently
employed by the the Holding  Company or an Affiliate  and shall also include the
Secretary of the Thrift.

     3.12 "Holding Company" shall mean River Valley Bancorp.

     3.13 "Outside  Director"  means a  member of the Board of  Directors of the
Holding Company, who is not also an Employee.

     3.14 "Plan  Shares"  means  shares of Common  Stock  held in the Trust and
issued or issuable to a Recipient pursuant to the Plan.

     3.15 "Plan Share Award" or "Award" means a right granted under this Plan to
earn Plan Shares.

     3.16 "Plan  Share  Reserve"  means the  shares of Common  Stock held by the
Trustee pursuant to Sections 5.03 and 5.04.

     3.17 "Recipient"  means  an Employee or Director  who receives a Plan Share
Award under the Plan.

     3.18 "Retirement"  as to an  Employee,  means a  termination  of employment
which constitutes a "retirement" under any applicable  qualified pension benefit
plan maintained by the Affiliate  which employs the Recipient,  or, if such plan
is not applicable,  which would constitute "retirement" under such plan were the
Recipient  covered by such plan and, as to a Director,  means a retirement  from
service on the Board after attaining age 70.

     3.19 "Subsidiary  Director"  shall  mean  a  non-employee  director  of an
Affiliate who is not an Outside Director.

     3.20 "Thrift"   shall  mean  Madison   First  Federal   Savings  and  Loan
Association.

     3.21 "Trustee"  means that  person(s) or entity  nominated by the Committee
and approved by the Board pursuant to Sections 4.01 and 4.02 to hold legal title
to the Plan assets for the purposes set forth herein.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

     4.01 Role of the Committee.  The Plan shall be administered and interpreted
by the Committee, which shall have all of the powers allocated to it in this and
other Sections of the Plan. The interpretation and construction by the Committee
of any provisions of the Plan or of any Plan Share Award granted hereunder shall
be final and binding.  The Committee  shall act by vote or written  consent of a
majority of its members.  Subject to the express  provisions and  limitations of
the Plan, the Committee may adopt such rules,  regulations  and procedures as it
deems  appropriate  for the conduct of its affairs.  If permitted by  applicable
law,  the  Committee,  with the  consent of  Recipients  may change the  vesting
schedule  for  Awards  after  the date of grant  thereof.  The  Committee  shall
recommend  to the Board one or more  persons  or  entities  to act as Trustee in
accordance  with the  provisions of this Plan and Trust and the terms of Article
VIII hereof.

     4.02 Role of the Board.  The members of the Committee and the Trustee shall
be  appointed  or approved  by, and will serve at the  pleasure of, the Board of
Directors of the Holding Company.  The Board of Directors of the Holding Company
may in its discretion  from time to time remove members from, or add members to,
the Committee, and may remove, replace or add Trustees.

     4.03 Limitation on Liability.  Neither a Director nor the Committee nor the
Trustee shall be liable for any determination made in good faith with respect to
the Plan or any Plan Shares or Plan Share Awards granted under it. If a Director
or the  Committee or any Trustee is a party or is  threatened to be made a party
to any  threatened,  pending or completed  action,  suit or proceeding,  whether
civil, criminal,  administrative or investigative, by reason of anything done or
not done by him in such capacity  under or with respect to the Plan, the Holding

<PAGE>

Company shall  indemnify  such person  against  expenses  (including  attorneys'
fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the best interests
of the Holding  Company and its  Affiliates  and,  with  respect to any criminal
action or proceeding,  if he had no reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful.  The  indemnification of officers and directors of the Thrift pursuant
to this Section 4.03 shall be subject to 12 C.F.R ss. 545.121.

                                    ARTICLE V

                        CONTRIBUTION; PLAN SHARE RESERVE

     5.01 Amount and Timing of Contributions.  The Affiliates shall be permitted
to  contribute  to the Trust an amount  sufficient  to  purchase up to 4% of the
shares of Common  Stock  issued by the Holding  Company in  connection  with the
Conversion.  Such  amounts  shall be paid to the  Trustee no later than the date
required to purchase  shares of Common Stock for Awards made under this Plan. No
contributions by Employees or Directors shall be permitted.

     5.02 Initial  Investment.  Any amounts held by the Trust until such amounts
are invested in accordance  with Section 5.03,  shall be invested by the Trustee
in such  interest-bearing  account or accounts at the  Affiliates as the Trustee
shall determine to be appropriate.

     5.03 Investment of Trust Assets; Creation of Plan Share Reserve. As soon as
practicable  following  the first  shareholder  meeting of the  Holding  Company
following  the  Conversion,  which shall be held no earlier  than six (6) months
following the Conversion ("First  Shareholder  Meeting Date"), the Trustee shall
invest all of the Trust's  assets  exclusively in the number of shares of Common
Stock designated by the Holding Company and the Affilitates as subject to Awards
made under this Plan, which may be purchased  directly from the Holding Company,
on the open market, or from any other source; provided,  however, that the Trust
shall not invest in an amount of Common Stock greater than 4.0% of the shares of
the Common Stock sold in the Conversion,  which shall constitute the "Plan Share
Reserve" and provided,  further that if the Trustee is required to purchase such
shares on the open  market or from the  Holding  Company for an amount per share
greater  than the price per share at which  shares were  trading on the date the
contributions  therefor were made to the Trust,  the Holding  Company shall have
the discretion to reduce the number of shares to be awarded and  purchased.  The
Trust may hold cash in  interest-bearing  accounts pending  investment in Common
Stock for  periods  of not more than one year after  deposit.  The  Trustee,  in
accordance with applicable rules and regulations and Section 5.01 hereof,  shall
purchase  shares  of  Common  Stock in the open  market  and/or  shall  purchase
authorized  but  unissued  shares of the Common  Stock from the Holding  Company
sufficient to acquire the requisite  percentage of shares. Any earnings received
or  distributions  paid with  respect  to Common  Stock  held in the Plan  Share
Reserve shall be held in an interest-bearing  account.  Any earnings received or
distributions  paid with respect to Common  Stock  subject to a Plan Share Award
shall  be  held in an  interest-bearing  account  on  behalf  of the  individual
Recipient.

     5.04  Effect of  Allocations,  Returns  and  Forfeitures  Upon  Plan  Share
Reserves.  Upon the allocation of Plan Share Awards under Sections 6.02 and 6.03
after  acquisition  by the  Trustee  of  such  shares,  or the  decision  of the
Committee to return Plan Shares to the Holding  Company,  the Plan Share Reserve
shall be reduced by the number of Plan  Shares so  allocated  or  returned.  Any
shares  subject to an Award which may not be earned  because of a forfeiture  by
the  Recipient  pursuant to Section  7.01 shall be returned  (added) to the Plan
Share Reserve.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                            ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS

     6.01  Eligibility.  Employees  and  Subsidiary  Directors  are  eligible to
receive  Plan Share  Awards  provided in Section  6.02.  Outside  Directors  are
eligible to receive Plan Share Awards provided for in Section 6.03.

     6.02  Allocations.  The Committee may determine  which of the Employees and
Subsidiary Directors referenced in Section 6.01 above will be granted Plan Share
Awards and the number of Plan  Shares  covered by each Award,  including  grants
effective upon the First Shareholder Meeting Date, provided,  however,  that the
number of Plan  Shares  covered by such Awards may not exceed the number of Plan
Shares in the Plan Share Reserve  immediately prior to the grant of such Awards,

<PAGE>

and  provided  further,  that in no event  shall any  Awards be made  which will
violate the Articles of Incorporation,  Articles of Association, Charter, Bylaws
or Plan of Conversion of the Holding Company or the Affiliates or any applicable
federal or state law or regulation  and provided  further that Awards may not be
granted  at any time in  which  the  Affiliates  fail to meet  their  applicable
minimum  capital  requirements.  In the event Plan Shares are  forfeited for any
reason and unless the Committee decides to return the Plan Shares to the Holding
Company,  the Committee may, from time to time, determine which of the Employees
or  Subsidiary  Directors  referenced  in  Section  6.01  above  will be granted
additional  Plan Share  Awards to be awarded  from  forfeited  Plan  Shares.  In
selecting those Employees or Subsidiary Directors to whom Plan Share Awards will
be granted and the number of Plan Shares  covered by such Awards,  the Committee
shall consider the position and  responsibilities  of the eligible Employees and
Subsidiary Directors,  the length and value of their services to the Affiliates,
the compensation paid to such Employees and Subsidiary Directors,  and any other
factors the Committee may deem relevant.

     6.03 Allocations - Outside Directors. The following Outside Directors shall
be awarded a Plan Share Award on the First Shareholder Meeting Date, assuming he
or she is still serving as an Outside Director on such date, equal to the number
of whole shares rounded to the nearest whole number  constituting  the following
percentage of the number of shares of Common Stock issued in the Conversion (the
"Fixed Award"); provided, however, that the Affiliates shall have the discretion
to reduce such  percentages if the Trustee is required to purchase shares on the
open market or from the Holding Company for an amount per share greater than the
price per share at which shares are sold in the Conversion:

                                                      Percentage of Shares
            Outside Director                          Issued in Conversion
            ----------------                          --------------------
           Fred W. Koehler                                  .1923%
           Michael J. Hensley                               .1731%
           Cecil L. Dorten                                  .1731%
           Earl W. Johann                                   .1731%
           Jonnie L. Davis                                  .11535%

     6.04 Form of Allocation.  As promptly as practicable  after a determination
is made  pursuant to Section 6.02 or 6.03 that a Plan Share Award is to be made,
the  Committee  shall notify the Recipient in writing of the grant of the Award,
the number of Plan  Shares  covered  by the Award,  and the terms upon which the
Plan Shares subject to the Award may be earned.  The stock certificates for Plan
Share Awards shall be registered in the name of the Recipient until forfeited or
transferred  by the  Recipient  after such Award has been earned.  The Committee
shall maintain records as to all grants of Plan Share Awards under the Plan.

     6.05 Allocations Not Required.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
Sections 6.01 and 6.02, no Employee or Subsidiary  Director shall have any right
or entitlement to receive a Plan Share Award hereunder, such Awards being at the
total  discretion  of the  Committee,  nor shall  the  Employees  or  Subsidiary
Directors as a group have such a right. No Outside Director shall have any right
or entitlement to reserve a Plan Share Award  hereunder,  except as provided for
in Section 6.03 hereof.  The Committee  may, with the approval of the Board (or,
if so directed by the Board,  shall)  return all Common  Stock in the Plan Share
Reserve not yet allocated to the Holding  Company at any time, and cease issuing
Plan Share Awards.

     6.06. Distribution Election Before Plan Shares Are Earned.  Notwithstanding
anything  contained in the Plan to the  contrary,  an Employee or a Director who
has  received an  allocation  of Plan Shares in  accordance  with Article VI may
request in writing that the Committee  authorize the  distribution to him or her
of all or a portion of the Plan Shares awarded before the date on which the Plan
Shares become earned in accordance  with Article VII. The decision as to whether
to  distribute  to any Employee or Director who requests  distribution  shall be
made by the Committee,  in its sole  discretion.  In addition,  the distribution
shall be subject to the following parameters:


<PAGE>

                  (a)  The  Committee  shall  be  required  to  make a  separate
         determination  for each request received by an Employee or Director for
         distribution.

                  (b) Any Plan Shares awarded shall be required to have a legend
         on the Plan  Shares  confirming  that the Plan  Shares  are  subject to
         restriction  and transfer in accordance with the terms set forth in the
         Plan.  This  legend  may not be  removed  until  the date that the Plan
         Shares become earned in accordance with Article VII.

                  (c) The Plan Shares  distributed shall be voted by the Trustee
         in accordance with Section 7.04 until the date that the Plan Shares are
         earned.

                  (d) Any cash dividends or other cash  distributions  paid with
         respect to the Plan  Shares  before  the date that the Plan  Shares are
         earned  shall be paid to the  Trustee  to be held for the  Employee  or
         Director,  whichever is applicable, until the date that the Plan Shares
         are earned.

                  (e) At the  date on which  the Plan  Shares  are  earned,  the
         Trustee  may   withhold   from  any  cash   dividends   or  other  cash
         distributions  held on behalf of such  Employee or Director  the amount
         needed to cover any applicable withholding and employment taxes arising
         at the time that the Plan Shares are earned. If the amount of such cash
         dividends or distributions is insufficient, the Trustee may require the
         Employee or  Director  to pay to the Trustee the amount  required to be
         withheld as a condition of removing the legend on the Plan Shares.


                                   ARTICLE VII
             EARNING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS

     7.01  Earning Plan Shares; Forfeitures.

     (a)  General  Rules.  Plan Shares  subject to an Award shall be earned by a
          Recipient at the rate of twenty percent (20%) of the aggregate  number
          of Shares  covered by the Award at the end of each full twelve  months
          of consecutive service with the Holding Company or the Affiliate after
          the date of grant of the Award.  If the term of service of a Recipient
          terminates as an Employee,  as a Director,  and as a Director Emeritus
          prior to the fifth  anniversary  (or such later date as the  Committee
          shall  determine)  of the date of grant  of an  Award  for any  reason
          (except as specifically provided in Subsection (b) below or in Section
          4.01 hereof), the Recipient shall forfeit the right to earn any Shares
          subject  to the Award  which  have not  theretofore  been  earned.  In
          determining  the number of Plan Shares  which are  earned,  fractional
          shares shall be rounded  down to the nearest  whole  number,  provided
          that such  fractional  shares shall be aggregated  and earned,  on the
          fifth anniversary of the date of grant.

     (b)  Exception   for    Terminations   due   to   Death   and   Disability.
          Notwithstanding  the general rule contained in Section  7.01(a) above,
          all Plan  Shares  subject  to a Plan Share  Award held by a  Recipient
          whose term of service as an  Employee  and as a Director  or  Director
          Emeritus with the Holding Company and the Affiliates terminates due to
          death or Disability  shall be deemed earned as of the Recipient's last
          day of service with the Holding Company and the Affiliates as a result
          of such death or Disability. If the recipient's service as an Employee
          and as a Director or Director  Emeritus  terminates  due to Disability
          within one year of the effective  date of the  Conversion,  the Shares
          earned by the Receipent may not be disposed of by the Recipient during
          the one-year period  following the Conversion,  and stock  certificate
          legends to that effect may be placed on the stock certificates for any
          such shares.

     (c)  Revocation for Misconduct. Notwithstanding anything hereinafter to the
          contrary,  the Board may by resolution immediately revoke, rescind and
          terminate any Plan Share Award, or portion thereof, previously awarded
          under this Plan,  to the extent Plan  Shares  have not been  delivered
          thereunder to the Recipient, whether or not yet earned, in the case of
          an Employee who is discharged  from the employ of the Holding  Company
          or an  Affiliate  for  cause  (as  hereinafter  defined),  or  who  is
          discovered after  termination of employment to have engaged in conduct
          that would have justified  termination for cause or, in the case of an
          Outside Director,  Director Emeritus,  or Subsidiary Director,  who is
          removed  from the Board of  Directors  of the  Holding  Company  or an
          Affiliate  for cause (as  hereinafter  defined),  or who is discovered
          after  termination  of  service  as  an  Outside  Director,   Director
          Emeritus,  or  Subsidiary  Director to have  engaged in conduct  which
          would have justified removal for cause. "Cause" is defined as personal

<PAGE>

          dishonesty, willful misconduct, any breach of fiduciary duty involving
          personal profit,  intentional failure to perform stated duties, or the
          willful  violation of any law,  rule,  regulation  (other than traffic
          violations  or similar  offenses) or order which  results in a loss to
          the Holding  Company or any  Affiliate  or in a final cease and desist
          order.

     7.02 Accrual of Dividends.  Whenever Plan Shares are paid to a Recipient or
Beneficiary  under Section 7.03,  such  Recipient or  Beneficiary  shall also be
entitled to receive,  with  respect to each Plan Share paid,  an amount equal to
any cash dividends or cash  distributions and a number of shares of Common Stock
equal to any stock  dividends,  and any other asset  distributions  declared and
paid with  respect to a share of Common  Stock  between the date the Plan Shares
are being  distributed  and the date the Plan Shares were  granted.  There shall
also be distributed an appropriate amount of net earnings,  if any, of the Trust
with respect to any cash dividends or cash  distributions so paid out. Until the
Plan Shares are vested and  distributed  to any such  Recipient or  Beneficiary,
such  dividends,  distributions  and net  earnings  thereon,  if any,  shall  be
retained by the Trust.

     7.03  Distribution of Plan Shares.

     (a)  Timing  of   Distributions:   General  Rule.  Except  as  provided  in
          Subsection  (b)  below,  Plan  Shares  shall  be  distributed  to  the
          Recipient  or  his  Beneficiary,  as the  case  may  be,  as  soon  as
          practicable after they have been earned.

     (b)  Timing: Exception for 10% Stockholders. Notwithstanding Subsection (a)
          above,  no Plan Shares may be  distributed  prior to the date which is
          five (5) years from the effective date of the Conversion to the extent
          the Recipient or Beneficiary,  as the case may be, would after receipt
          of such  shares  own in excess of ten (10)  percent  of the issued and
          outstanding  shares of Common Stock.  Any Plan Shares remaining unpaid
          solely by reason of the operation of this Subsection (b) shall be paid
          to the  Recipient  or his  Beneficiary  on the date  which is five (5)
          years from the effective date of the Conversion.

     (c)  Form of  Distribution.  All Plan  Shares,  together  with  any  shares
          representing  stock  dividends,  shall be  distributed  in the form of
          Common  Stock.  One share of Common Stock shall be given for each Plan
          Share  earned and  payable.  Payments  representing  accumulated  cash
          dividends and cash or other distributions (and earnings thereon) shall
          be made in cash or in the form of such non-cash distributions.

     (d)  Withholding. The Trustee may withhold from any payment or distribution
          made  under this Plan  sufficient  amounts of cash or shares of Common
          Stock to cover any applicable withholding and employment taxes, and if
          the amount of such  payment is  insufficient,  the Trustee may require
          the Recipient or Beneficiary to pay to the Trustee the amount required
          to  be  withheld  as  a  condition  of  delivering  the  Plan  Shares.
          Alternatively,  a Recipient may pay to the Trustee that amount of cash
          necessary  to be  withheld  in  taxes  in lieu of any  withholding  of
          payments or distribution under the Plan. The Trustee shall pay over to
          the Holding  Company,  or the Affiliate which employs or employed such
          Recipient  any such amount  withheld  from or paid by the Recipient or
          Beneficiary.

     (e)  Cessation of Payment.  The Trustee  shall cease payment of benefits to
          Recipients or, if applicable,  their Beneficiaries in the event of the
          Bank's or Thrift's insolvency.  The Bank or Thrift shall be considered
          insolvent  for purposes of this RRP if the Bank or Thrift is unable to
          pay its debts as they become due or if a receiver is appointed for the
          Bank or Thrift under  applicable  law. If payments  cease by reason of
          this subsection,  payments will be resumed,  with appropriate  make-up
          payments,  once the Bank or Thrift  ceases to be insolvent but only to
          the extent the payments were not made directly by the Bank, the Thrift
          or their Affiliates.

     7.04 Voting of Plan  Shares.  All shares of Common  Stock held by the Trust
shall be voted by the  Trustee,  taking into  account the best  interests of the
Plan Share Award recipients.


<PAGE>

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                      TRUST

     8.01 Trust. The Trustee shall receive,  hold,  administer,  invest and make
distributions and disbursements from the Trust in accordance with the provisions
of the  Plan  and  Trust  and the  applicable  directions,  rules,  regulations,
procedures and policies established by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.

     8.02  Management  of Trust.  It is the intent of this Plan and Trust  that,
subject  to the  provisions  of this  Plan,  the  Trustee  shall  have  complete
authority and discretion with respect to the management,  control and investment
of the Trust, and that the Trustee shall invest all assets of the Trust,  except
those attributable to cash dividends paid with respect to Plan Shares, in Common
Stock to the  fullest  extent  practicable,  and except to the  extent  that the
Trustee  determines  that the holding of monies in cash or cash  equivalents  is
necessary to meet the obligation of the Trust.  Neither the Holding  Company nor
any Affiliate  shall  exercise any direct or indirect  control or influence over
the time when, or the prices at which, the Trustee may purchase such shares, the
number of shares  to be  purchased,  the  manner in which the  shares  are to be
purchased, or the broker (if any) through whom the purchases may be executed. In
performing  its duties,  the  Trustee  shall have the power to do all things and
execute such  instruments  as may be deemed  necessary or proper,  including the
following powers:

         (a)      To invest up to one hundred percent (100%) of all Trust assets
                  in Common Stock without  regard to any law now or hereafter in
                  force limiting  investments for Trustees or other fiduciaries.
                  The  investment   authorized   herein  and  in  paragraph  (b)
                  constitutes  the only  investment of the Trust,  and in making
                  such investment,  the Trustee is authorized to purchase Common
                  Stock from the  Holding  Company or an  Affiliate  or from any
                  other  source,  and  such  Common  Stock so  purchased  may be
                  outstanding, newly issued, or treasury shares.

         (b)      To  invest  any  Trust  assets  not   otherwise   invested  in
                  accordance  with  (a)  above  in such  deposit  accounts,  and
                  certificates  of  deposit   (including   those  issued  by  an
                  Affiliate),   securities   of  any   open-end  or   closed-end
                  management  investment  company or investment trust registered
                  under the Investment  Company Act of 1940,  whether or not the
                  Trustee or any  affiliate of the Trustee is being  compensated
                  for providing  services to the investment  company or trust as
                  investment  advisor or  otherwise,  obligations  of the United
                  States government or its agencies or such other investments as
                  shall be considered the equivalent of cash.

         (c)      To sell,  exchange or otherwise dispose of any property at any
                  time held or acquired by the Trust.

         (d)      To cause stocks, bonds or other securities to be registered in
                  the  name  of  a  nominee,   without  the  addition  of  words
                  indicating  that such  security  is an asset of the Trust (but
                  accurate  records  shall  be  maintained   showing  that  such
                  security is an asset of the Trust).

         (e)      To hold cash without interest in such amounts as may be in the
                  opinion of the Trustee  reasonable for the proper operation of
                  the Plan and Trust and to hold cash pending investment.

         (f)      To  employ  brokers,  agents,   custodians,   consultants  and
                  accountants.

         (g)      To hire counsel to render advice with respect to their rights,
                  duties  and  obligations  hereunder,   and  such  other  legal
                  services or representation as they may deem desirable.

         (h)      To hold funds and  securities  representing  the amounts to be
                  distributed  to a  Recipient  or his or her  Beneficiary  as a
                  consequence  of a  dispute  as  to  the  disposition  thereof,
                  whether in a  segregated  account or held in common with other
                  assets of the Trust.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein  contained to the  contrary,  the Trustee
shall not be required to make any  inventory,  appraisal or settlement or report
to any  court,  or to secure  any order of court for the  exercise  of any power
herein contained, or give bond.

     8.03 Records and Accounts. The Trustee shall maintain accurate and detailed
records and accounts of all transactions of the Trust,  which shall be available
at all reasonable  times for inspection by any legally entitled person or entity
to the extent required by applicable law, or any other person  determined by the
Committee.


<PAGE>

     8.04 Earnings. All earnings,  gains and losses with respect to Trust assets
shall be allocated,  in accordance  with a reasonable  procedure  adopted by the
Committee,  to bookkeeping  accounts for Recipients or to the general account of
the Trust,  depending on the nature and allocation of the assets generating such
earnings,  gains and losses.  In  particular,  any earnings on cash dividends or
distributions received with respect to shares of Common Stock shall be allocated
to accounts for Recipients,  if such shares are the subject of outstanding  Plan
Share  Awards,  or otherwise  to the Plan Share  Reserve.  Recipients  (or their
Beneficiaries)  shall not be  entitled  to any such  allocations  until the Plan
Share Awards to which they relate are vested and distributed to those Recipients
(or their Beneficiaries).

     8.05  Expenses.  All costs  and  expenses  incurred  in the  operation  and
administration of this Plan,  including those incurred by the Trustee,  shall be
borne by the Affiliates or the Holding Company.

     8.06 Indemnification.  The Holding Company shall indemnify, defend and hold
the Trustee harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of
or related to the  exercise of the  Trustee's  powers and the  discharge  of its
duties  hereunder,  unless  the same shall be due to its  negligence  or willful
misconduct.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     9.01 Adjustments for Capital  Changes.  The aggregate number of Plan Shares
available  for  issuance  pursuant to the Plan Share  Awards  (which,  as of the
effective date of this Plan,  shall not exceed,  4% of the shares of the Holding
Company's  Common Stock issued in the  Conversion),  and the number of shares to
which any Plan Share Award  relates  shall be  proportionately  adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the total number of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock
issued  subsequent to the effective  date of the Plan  resulting  from any stock
dividend   or  split,   recapitalization,   merger,   consolidation,   spin-off,
reorganization,  combination  or exchange of shares,  or other  similar  capital
adjustment,  or other  increase  or decrease  in such  shares  effected  without
receipt or payment of consideration, by the Committee.

     9.02 Amendment and  Termination  of Plan. The Board may, by resolution,  at
any time amend or  terminate  the Plan.  The power to amend or  terminate  shall
include the power to direct the Trustee to return to the Holding  Company all or
any part of the assets of the Trust,  including  shares of Common  Stock held in
the Plan  Share  Reserve,  as well as shares of  Common  Stock and other  assets
subject to Plan Share  Awards  but not yet  earned by the  Employees  or Outside
Directors or  Subsidiary  Directors  to whom they are  allocated.  However,  the
termination  of  the  Trust  shall  not  affect  a  Recipient's   right  to  the
distribution  of Common  Stock  relating to Plan Share  Awards  already  earned,
including  earnings  thereon,  in accordance with the terms of this Plan and the
grant by the Committee.

     9.03 Nontransferable. Plan Share Awards and rights to Plan Shares shall not
be  transferable  by a  Recipient  other than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations order as defined by
the  Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as  amended,  or Title I of the  Employee
Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder, and during the lifetime
of the  Recipient,  Plan Shares may only be earned by and paid to the  Recipient
who was  notified in writing of the Award by the  Committee  pursuant to Section
6.04.  The  assets of the RRP,  prior to the  distribution  of Plan  Shares to a
Recipient or his or her Beneficiary, shall be subject to the claims of creditors
of the Bank and/or the Thrift.  Unless Plan Shares are distributed in accordance
with  Section  6.06 or  7.03  to a  Recipient  or his or her  Beneficiary,  such
Recipient or, if applicable, Beneficiary shall not have any right in or claim to
any specific assets of the RRP or Trust and shall only be an unsecured  creditor
of the Bank and/or the Thrift,  nor shall any  Affiliate be subject to any claim
for benefits hereunder.

     9.04  Employment  Rights.  Neither  the Plan nor any grant of a Plan  Share
Award  or Plan  Shares  hereunder  nor any  action  taken  by the  Trustee,  the
Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right on the
part of any  Employee  to  continue  in the  employ  of, or of any  Director  to
continue in the service of, the Holding Company or any Affiliate thereof.

     9.05 Voting and  Dividend  Rights.  No  Recipient  shall have any voting or
dividend  rights or other rights of a stockholder  in respect of any Plan Shares
covered by a Plan Share Award, except as expressly provided in Sections 7.02 and
7.04 above, prior to the time said Plan Shares are actually distributed to him.


<PAGE>

     9.06  Governing  Laws.  The Plan and Trust shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Indiana,  except to the extent  governed by federal law,  including
regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision.  In particular,  grants of Plan
Share  Awards  under the Plan shall  comply with the  requirements  of 12 C.F.R.
ss.563b.3(g)(4)(vi) as long as those requirements are in effect. That regulation
currently  requires that no  individual  shall receive more than 25% of the Plan
Share Awards available for grant under the Plan and Outside  Directors shall not
receive  Plan  Share  Awards  for  more  than  5%  individually,  or  30% in the
aggregate, of the Plan Share Awards available for grant under the Plan.

     9.07  Effective  Date.  This Plan shall be  effective as of the date of its
approval by the shareholders of the Holding Company.

     9.08 Term of Plan.  This Plan shall  remain in effect  until the earlier of
(1) 21 years from its effective  date, (2)  termination by the Board, or (3) the
distribution  of all  assets of the  Trust.  Termination  of the Plan  shall not
affect any Plan Share Awards  previously  granted,  and such Awards shall remain
valid and in effect  until  they have been  earned and paid,  or by their  terms
expire or are forfeited.

     9.09 Tax Status of Trust. It is intended that the trust established  hereby
be treated as a grantor trust of the Holding  Company and the  Affiliates  under
the provisions of Section 671, et seq., of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

     9.10.  Compensation.  The Trustee  shall be  entitled  to receive  fair and
reasonable  compensation for its services hereunder, as agreed to by the Trustee
and the Holding  Company,  and shall also be entitled to be  reimbursed  for all
reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses,  including,  but not by way of  limitation,
legal,  actuarial and accounting expenses and all costs and expenses incurred in
prosecuting  or  defending  any action  concerning  the Plan or the Trust or the
rights or  responsibilities  of any person hereunder,  brought by or against the
Trustee. Such reasonable  compensation and expenses shall be paid by the Holding
Company or the Affiliates.

     9.11.  Resignation of Trustee. The Trustee may resign at any time by giving
sixty (60) calendar days' prior written notice to the Holding  Company,  and the
Trustee may be removed,  with or without cause,  by the Holding Company on sixty
(60)  calendar  days' prior  written  notice to the Trustee.  Such prior written
notice  may be  waived  by the  party  entitled  to  receive  it.  Upon any such
resignation  or removal  becoming  effective,  the Trustee  shall  render to the
Holding  Company a written  account  of its  administration  of the Plan and the
Trust  for the  period  since  the  last  written  accounting  and  shall do all
necessary  acts to transfer the assets of the Trust to the successor  Trustee or
Trustees.


<PAGE>


REVOCABLE PROXY               RIVER VALLEY BANCORP
                         Annual Meeting of Shareholders
                                  June 23, 1997

   The  undersigned  hereby  appoints  Lonnie D. Collins and Traci A. Bridgford,
with full  powers of  substitution,  to act as  attorneys  and  proxies  for the
undersigned to vote all shares of common stock of River Valley Bancorp which the
undersigned is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
at 303 Clifty Drive,  Madison,  Indiana, on Monday, June 23, 1997, at 3:00 p.m.,
and at any and all adjournments thereof, as follows:

1. The election as directors of all nominees listed below, 
   except as marked to the contrary               |_|  FOR    |_|  VOTE WITHHELD

INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee, strike a
line through the nominee's name on the list below:

Cecil L. Dorten                 Jonnie L. Davis                   Earl W. Johann
                           (each for a one year term)

             Michael J. Hensley                        Fred W. Koehler
                           (each for a two year term)

              Robert W. Anger                           James E. Fritz
                          (each for a three year term)

2. Approval and Ratification of the River Valley Bancorp Stock Option Plan
                                            |_| FOR   |_| AGAINST   |_|  ABSTAIN

3. Approval and Ratification of the River Valley Bancorp Recognition and 
   Retention Plan and Trust.                |_| FOR   |_| AGAINST   |_|  ABSTAIN

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

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

           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


<PAGE>


This Proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the voting thereof.

The undersigned  acknowledges  receipt from River Valley  Bancorp,  prior to the
execution of this Proxy,  of a Notice of the Meeting,  a Proxy  Statement and an
Annual Report to Shareholders.

THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED, BUT IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE SPECIFIED, THIS
PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF THE PROPOSITIONS  STATED.  IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS
IS  PRESENTED AT SUCH  MEETING,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED BY THOSE NAMED IN THIS
PROXY IN THEIR BEST JUDGMENT.  AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS KNOWS
OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE MEETING.  

                                                 ______________________,199_____





                      -------------------------        -------------------------
                      Print Name of Shareholder        Print Name of Shareholder


                      -------------------------        -------------------------
                      Signature of Shareholder          Signature of Shareholder

                      Please sign as your name  appears on the envelope in which
                      this card was mailed. When signing as attorney,  executor,
                      administrator,  trustee or guardian, please give your full
                      title.  If shares are held  jointly,  each  holder  should
                      sign.



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