HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN INC
8-K, 1998-06-15
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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


         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 2, 1998



                           HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC.
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

       Delaware                       0-28696                    36-4090333     
    (State or other               (Commission File              (IRS Employer   
    jurisdiction of                   Number)                Identification No.)
    incorporation)     


                  16 NORTH SPRING STREET, ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (847) 742-3800


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


================================================================================



<PAGE>






ITEMS 1-4.        NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 5.           OTHER EVENTS.

         On June 2, 1998, Home Bancorp of Elgin, Inc. ("HBE"), entered into an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") between HBE and State
Financial Services Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation ("SFSC"). SFSC is a bank
holding company that currently owns banks in Wisconsin and Illinois. A copy of
the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1. The Merger Agreement
provides, among other things, that HBE will merge with and into SFSC, with SFSC
being the surviving corporation (the "Merger"). It is expected that Home Federal
Savings and Loan Association of Elgin will remain a separate subsidiary
following completion of SFSC's pending acquisition of HBE.

         Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each share of HBE common stock ("HBE
Common Stock") issued and outstanding at the Effective Time (as defined in the
Merger Agreement) will be exchanged for shares of SFSC common stock having a
value of $19.50 per share.

         The total transaction is valued at $133.7 million based upon HBE shares
valued at $19.50 per share for the 6,855,799 shares of HBE Common Stock. Based
on SFSC's market value per share of $25.07 (as calculated pursuant to the
formula set forth in the definitive agreement), SFSC will exchange 5,331,549
shares of its Common stock resulting in an exchange ratio of 0.77767. The actual
exchange ratio will be calculated based upon SFSC's shares valued at the average
closing price of SFSC Common Stock for twenty consecutive trading days prior to
closing the transaction.

         The preceding exchange ratio formula will be used in the event the
market value determined for SFSC `s Common Stock is between $22.625 and $30.00.
The actual exchange ratio is also subject to certain caps. In the event that
SFSC's market value is between $21.125 and $22.625, the exchange ratio will be
fixed at 0.857143. In the event that SFSC's market value is between $20.00 and
$21.125, the exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.86. If SFSC's market value falls
below $20.00, if both parties agree HBE and SFSC can elect to close the
transaction at the 0.86 exchange ratio, an Optional Exchange Ratio assigning
$17.50 as the value to HBE's shares, or HBE can unilaterally elect to terminate
the transaction, subject to certain notification requirements between the
parties. If SFSC's market value is between $30.00 and $31.375, the exchange
ratio will be fixed at 0.65 and if SFSC's market value exceeds $31.375, the
exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.64.

         In connection with the Merger Agreement, HBE and SFSC also entered into
a Stock Option Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit 4.1, which, under certain defined circumstances, would enable
SFSC to purchase up to 19.9% of the shares of authorized and unissued HBE Common
Stock.

         Consummation of the Merger is expected to occur in the fourth quarter
of calendar year 1998 and is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions,
including approval of the shareholders of HBE and SFSC, approval of the
appropriate regulatory agencies and other customary conditions. The transaction
is expected to be treated as a tax-free exchange to holders of HBE Common Stock
and be accounted for as a pooling of interests.



<PAGE>


         HBE and SFSC publicly announced the Merger in a press release dated
June 2, 1998, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

ITEM 6.  NOT APPLICABLE.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

                  a.       Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired.
                           Not Applicable

                  b.       Pro forma Financial Information.
                           Not Applicable

                  c.       Exhibits: The following Exhibits are filed as part of
                           this report:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                       EXHIBIT NO.                                                DESCRIPTION
                       -----------                                                -----------
<S>                        <C>                              <C>                               
                            2.1                             Agreement  and  Plan of  Merger,  dated  June 2,  1998,
                                                            between  Home  Bancorp  of  Elgin,   Inc.,   and  State
                                                            Financial Services Corporation.

                            4.1                             Stock  Option  Agreement,  dated  as of June  2,  1998,
                                                            between  Home  Bancorp  of  Elgin,   Inc.,   and  State
                                                            Financial Services Corporation.

                           99.1                             Press Release issued June 2, 1998.
</TABLE>


ITEM 8.  NOT APPLICABLE.


ITEM 9.  NOT APPLICABLE.


<PAGE>


                                      -3-

         SIGNATURES

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


                                          HOME  BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC.


                                          By: /s/ George L. Perucco
                                              -----------------------------
                                              George L. Perucco,
                                              President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer

Date:    June 15, 1998




<PAGE>






                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



       EXHIBIT                  DESCRIPTION
       -------                  -----------
          2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated June 2, 1998, between
                    State Financial Services Corporation and Home Bancorp of
                    Elgin, Inc.

          4.1       Stock Option Agreement, dated as of June 2, 1998 between
                    State Financial Services Corporation and Home Bancorp of
                    Elgin, Inc.

         99.1       Press Release issued June 2, 1998.



                                                                     Exhibit 2.1
                                                                     -----------



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                     BETWEEN

                      STATE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

                                       AND

                           HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC.







                                  JUNE 1, 1998


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                                                                                               Page
                                                                                               ----


<S>                                                                                              <C>
ARTICLE I ....................................................................................   1
         I.1      The Merger .................................................................   1
         I.2      Effective Time .............................................................   1
         I.3      Effects of the Merger ......................................................   2
         I.4      Conversion of HBE Common Stock; Treatment of SFS Common Stock ..............   2
         I.5      Stock Options ..............................................................   4
         I.6      Articles of Incorporation ..................................................   5
         I.7      By-Laws ....................................................................   5
         I.8      Tax Consequences ...........................................................   5
         I.9      Board of Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation ...............   5
         I.10     Adjustments for Dilution and Other Matters .................................   6
         I.11     Closing ....................................................................   6

ARTICLE II ....................................................................................  6

         II.1     SFS to Make Shares Available ...............................................   6
         II.2     Exchange of Certificates ...................................................   6

ARTICLE III...................................................................................   8
         III.1    Corporate Organization ....................................................    9
         III.2    Capitalization ............................................................    9
         III.3    Authority; No Violation ...................................................   10
         III.4    Consents and Approvals ....................................................   11
         III.5    Reports ...................................................................   11
         III.6    Financial Statements ......................................................   11
         III.7    Broker's Fees .............................................................   12
         III.8    Absence of Certain Changes or Events ......................................   12
         III.9    Legal Proceedings .........................................................   13
         III.10   Taxes and Tax Returns .....................................................   13
         III.11   Employees .................................................................   14
         III.12   SEC Reports ...............................................................   15
         III.13   Compliance with Applicable Law ............................................   15
         III.14   Certain Contracts .........................................................   15
         III.15   Agreements with Regulatory Agencies .......................................   16
         III.16   Other Activities of HBE and the HBE Bank ..................................   17
         III.17   Investment Securities .....................................................   17
         III.18   Undisclosed Liabilities ...................................................   17
         III.19   Insurance .................................................................   17
         III.20   Loan Loss Reserves ........................................................   17
         III.21   Environmental Liability ...................................................   18
         III.22   Approval Delays ...........................................................   18
         III.23   Vote Required .............................................................   18
         III.24   Ownership of SFS Common Stock .............................................   18
         III.25   Tax Matters and Pooling ...................................................   18
         III.26   Saleability of Mortgage Loans in Secondary Market .........................   18
</TABLE>

                                       i

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                                                             <C>
ARTICLE IV...................................................................................   18

         IV.1     Corporate Organization ....................................................   18
         IV.2     Capitalization ............................................................   19
         IV.3     Authority; No Violation ...................................................   20
         IV.4     Consents and Approvals ....................................................   21
         IV.5     Reports ...................................................................   21
         IV.6     Financial Statements ......................................................   22
         IV.7     Broker's Fees .............................................................   22
         IV.8     Absence of Certain Changes or Events ......................................   22
         IV.9     Legal Proceedings .........................................................   23
         IV.10    Taxes and Tax Returns .....................................................   23
         IV.11    Employees .................................................................   24
         IV.12    SEC Reports ...............................................................   25
         IV.13    Compliance with Applicable Law ............................................   25
         IV.14    Certain Contracts .........................................................   25
         IV.15    Agreements with Regulatory Agencies .......................................   26
         IV.16    Other Activities of SFS and its SFS Subsidiaries ..........................   27
         IV.17    Investment Securities .....................................................   27
         IV.18    Undisclosed Liabilities ...................................................   27
         IV.19    Insurance .................................................................   27
         IV.20    Loan Loss Reserves ........................................................   27
         IV.21    Environmental Liability ...................................................   28
         IV.22    Approval Delays ...........................................................   28
         IV.23    Vote Required .............................................................   28
         IV.24    Ownership of HBE Common Stock .............................................   28
         IV.25    Tax Matters and Pooling ...................................................   28

ARTICLE V....................................................................................   28
         V.1      Conduct of Businesses Prior to the Effective Time..........................   28
         V.2      Forbearances...............................................................   29

ARTICLE VI...................................................................................   31
         VI.1     Regulatory Matters; Cooperation with Respect to Filing ....................   31
         VI.2     Access to Information; Due Diligence ......................................   32
         VI.3     Shareholders' Approvals ...................................................   33
         VI.4     Legal Conditions to Merger ................................................   34
         VI.5     Listing of Shares .........................................................   34
         VI.6     Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance .......................   34
         VI.7     Additional Agreements .....................................................   36
         VI.8     Advice of Changes .........................................................   36
         VI.9     No Conduct Inconsistent with this Agreement ...............................   36
         VI.10    Employee Matters ..........................................................   37
         VI.11    Tax Treatment and Pooling .................................................   39
         VI.12    Dividends .................................................................   39
         VI.13    Rule 145 Affiliates .......................................................   40
         VI.14    Disclosure Schedules ......................................................   40
         VI.15    Filing and Other Fees .....................................................   40

ARTICLE VII..................................................................................   40
         VII.1    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger.................   40

                                       ii
<PAGE>

         VII.2    Conditions to Obligations of HBE...........................................   42
                  (a)      Representations and Warranties ...................................   42
                  (b)      Performance of Obligations of SFS ................................   42
                  (c)      No Material Adverse Change .......................................   42
                  (d)      Opinion of Counsel to Sfs ........................................   42
                  (e)      Comfort Letters ..................................................   42
                  (f)      Fairness Opinion .................................................   42
         VII.3    Conditions to Obligations of SFS...........................................   42
                  (a)      Representations and Warranties ...................................   43
                  (b)      Performance of Obligations of HBE ................................   43
                  (c)      No Material Adverse Change .......................................   43
                  (d)      Opinion of Counsel to HBE ........................................   43
                  (e)      Comfort Letters ..................................................   43
                  (f)      Fairness Opinion .................................................   43
                  (g)      Affiliate Agreements .............................................   43

ARTICLE VIII.................................................................................   43
         VIII.1   Termination ...............................................................   44
         VIII.2   Effect of Termination .....................................................   45
         VIII.3   Remedies and Expenses Upon Breach or Willful Breach .......................   46
         VIII.4   Amendment .................................................................   46
         VIII.5   Extension; Waiver .........................................................   46

ARTICLE IX...................................................................................   47
         IX.1     Non-survival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements ................   47
         IX.2     Notices ...................................................................   47
         IX.3     Interpretation; Definitions ...............................................   48
         IX.4     Counterparts ..............................................................   49
         IX.5     Entire Agreement ..........................................................   49
         IX.6     Governing Law .............................................................   49
         IX.7     Severability ..............................................................   49
         IX.8     Publicity .................................................................   49
         IX.9     Assignment; Third Party Beneficiaries .....................................   49
         IX.10    Enforcement ...............................................................   49
</TABLE>



                                      iii


<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of
June 1, 1998, by and between State Financial Services Corporation, a Wisconsin
corporation ("SFS"), and Home Bancorp of Elgin, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("HBE").

                  WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of SFS and HBE have
determined that it is in the best interests of their respective corporations and
their shareholders to consummate a merger in which HBE will merge with and into
SFS (the "Merger"), so that SFS is the resulting corporation (hereinafter
sometimes called the "Surviving Corporation") in the Merger;

                  WHEREAS, as a condition to, and immediately after the
execution of this Agreement, SFS and HBE are entering into a Stock Option
Agreement (the "HBE Stock Option Agreement"), attached hereto as EXHIBIT A; and

                  WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations,
warranties and agreements in connection with, and to prescribe certain
conditions, to the Merger.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,
representations, warranties and agreements contained herein, and other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

                    I.1    THE MERGER.

                    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and
the Plan of Merger, a copy of which is attached hereto substantially in the form
of EXHIBIT B (the "Plan of Merger"), in accordance with the Wisconsin Business
Corporation Law (the "WBCL") and the Delaware General Corporation Law, at the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2), HBE shall merge with and into SFS,
and SFS shall survive the Merger and shall continue its corporate existence
under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. Upon consummation of the Merger, the
separate corporate existence of HBE shall terminate and the name of the
Surviving Corporation shall be "State Financial Services Corporation."

                  The parties agree that HBE and SFS will execute a Plan of
Merger substantially in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT B which provides for
the terms of the Merger and the mode of carrying same into effect.

                    I.2    EFFECTIVE TIME.

                    The Merger shall become effective upon the later of (a) the
time of filing of Articles of Merger with the Department of Financial
Institutions of the State of Wisconsin

                                       1

<PAGE>

(the "Wisconsin Department"), (b) the time of filing a Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and (c) the effective date
and time of the Merger as set forth in such Certificate of Merger and Articles
of Merger. The parties shall each use reasonable efforts to cause Articles of
Merger and a Certificate of Merger to be filed on the Closing Date (as defined
in Section 1.11). The term "Effective Time" shall be the date and time when the
Merger becomes effective, in accordance with this Section 1.2.

                    I.3    EFFECTS OF THE MERGER. At and after the Effective
Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 180.1106 of the
WBCL and Section 252 of the Delaware General Corporation law.

                    I.4    CONVERSION OF HBE COMMON STOCK; TREATMENT OF SFS
                           COMMON STOCK

(a)                 At the Effective Time, subject to Section 2.2, by virtue of
                    the Merger and without any action on the part of HBE, or the
                    holder of any securities of HBE, each share of the common
                    stock, $.01 par value, of HBE (the "HBE Common Stock")
                    issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
                    Time (other than shares canceled pursuant to Section 1.4(c))
                    shall be converted into the right to receive the number of
                    shares of the common stock, par value $.10 per share, of SFS
                    (the "SFS Common Stock") equal to the Exchange Ratio
                    determined as set forth in subparagraph (b) below (the
                    "Exchange Ratio").

(b)                 If the Market Value of SFS Common Stock (as defined below)
                    on the Decision Date is as set forth below, then the
                    Exchange Ratio shall be as indicated:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               MARKET VALUE                                            EXCHANGE RATIO

<S>        <C>                                                                   <C>
           (i)    less than or equal to $21.125                           (i)    .86

           (ii)   greater than $21.125 and less                           (ii)   .857143
                  than or equal to $22.625      

           (iii)  greater than $22.625 and less Market Value              (iii)  the quotient obtained by
                  of SFS than or equal to $30.00 Common Stock                    dividing $19.50 by the

           (iv)   greater than $30.00 and less                            (iv)   .65
                  than or equal to $31.375                                

           (v)    greater than $31.375                                    (v)    .64
</TABLE>


(c)                 For purposes of this Agreement the "Market Value of SFS
                    Common Stock," on any date, will be equal to the average
                    closing sale price of SFS Common Stock as

                                       2

<PAGE>

                    reported on the Nasdaq National Market System ("NASDAQ-NMS")
                    for the twenty (20) consecutive trading days immediately
                    preceding the five (5) business days immediately preceding
                    such date.

(d)                 The term "Decision Date" shall mean the first business day
                    on which the last of the following events shall have
                    occurred: (i) receipt of all necessary state and federal
                    regulatory approvals and the expiration of all required
                    waiting periods, (ii) approval of the transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement by the shareholders of HBE,
                    (iii) approval of the transactions contemplated by this
                    Agreement by the shareholders of SFS, and (iv) the date,
                    after the last to occur of subsections (i) through (iii)
                    above but not more than thirty (30) days thereafter, on
                    which the Market Value of SFS Common Stock is greater than
                    or equal to $20.00.


(e)                 If the Market Value of SFS Common Stock on the Decision Date
                    is less than $20.00, HBE may notify SFS in writing, which
                    must be received by SFS within three business days after the
                    Decision Date, that it is not willing to close on the basis
                    of the Exchange Ratio set forth in Section l.4(b)(i) above.
                    If HBE fails to give such notice by such time, it shall be
                    deemed to have agreed to close on the basis of the Exchange
                    Ratio set forth in Section l.4(b)(i) above. Upon receipt of
                    such notice, SFS may elect (i) to close on the basis of an
                    Exchange Ratio equal to the quotient obtained by dividing
                    $17.25 by the Market Value of SFS Common Stock on the
                    Decision Date (the "Optional Exchange Ratio"), or (ii) to
                    require closing on the basis of the Exchange Rate set forth
                    in Section l.4(b)(i) above, in any case by notice in
                    writing, which must be received by HBE within three business
                    days after SFS's receipt of such notice from HBE. If SFS
                    fails to make such election, it shall be deemed to have
                    agreed to close on the basis of the Optional Exchange Ratio.
                    If SFS elects clause (ii) above, then HBE may elect to
                    terminate this Agreement by notice in writing, which must be
                    received by SFS within three business days after HBE's
                    receipt of such notice from SFS. If HBE fails to give such
                    notice of termination by such time, it shall be deemed to
                    have agreed to close on the basis of the Exchange Ratio set
                    forth in Section l.4(b)(i) above.

(f)                 All of the shares of HBE Common Stock converted into SFS
                    Common Stock pursuant to this Article I shall no longer be
                    outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall
                    cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and each
                    certificate (each an "HBE Common Stock Certificate")
                    previously representing any such shares of HBE Common Stock
                    shall thereafter represent only the right to receive (i) a
                    certificate representing the number of whole shares of SFS
                    Common Stock (each a "SFS Common Stock Certificate") and
                    (ii) cash in lieu of fractional shares into which the shares
                    of HBE Common Stock previously represented by such HBE
                    Common Stock Certificate have been converted pursuant to
                    this Section 1.4, Section 2.2 and the Plan of Merger. HBE
                    Common Stock Certificates previously representing shares of
                    HBE Common Stock shall be exchanged for SFS Common Stock
                    Certificates representing whole shares of SFS Common Stock
                    and cash in lieu of fractional shares issued in
                    consideration therefor upon the surrender of such HBE Common
                    Stock Certificates in accordance with Section 2.2, without
                    any interest thereon. 

                                       3

<PAGE>

(g)                 At the Effective Time, all shares of HBE Common Stock that
                    are owned by HBE as treasury stock, owned by the HBE RRP (as
                    defined herein) and not allocated to participants thereunder
                    or owned by SFS, if any, shall be canceled and shall cease
                    to exist, and no stock of SFS or other consideration shall
                    be delivered in exchange therefor. 


(h)                 At and after the Effective Time, each share of SFS Common
                    Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
                    Effective Time shall remain an issued and outstanding share
                    of common stock of the Surviving Corporation and shall not
                    be affected by the Merger.


                    I.5 STOCK OPTIONS.

(a)                 At the Effective Time, each option granted by HBE under the
                    terms of the Home Bancorp of Elgin, Inc. 1997 Stock Option
                    Plan (the "HBE Option Plan") to purchase shares of HBE
                    Common Stock which is outstanding and unexercised
                    immediately prior thereto shall cease to represent a right
                    to acquire shares of HBE Common Stock and shall be converted
                    automatically into an option to purchase shares of SFS
                    Common Stock in an amount and at an exercise price
                    determined pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 1.5
                    (the "Converted Option"), subject to the terms of the HBE
                    Option Plan and the agreements evidencing grants of such
                    options thereunder.

(b)                 From and after the Effective Time, SFS shall assume any and
                    all obligations of HBE under the HBE Option Plan, and the
                    HBE Option Plan shall remain in effect.


(c)                 (i) The number of shares of SFS Common Stock to be subject
                    to each Converted Option shall be equal to the product of
                    the number of shares of HBE Common Stock subject to the
                    original option and the "HBE Exchange Ratio" (as defined
                    below), PROVIDED that any fractional shares of SFS Common
                    Stock resulting from such multiplication shall be rounded up
                    to the nearest whole share; and (ii) the exercise price per
                    share of SFS Common Stock under the Converted Option shall
                    be equal to the exercise price per share of HBE Common Stock
                    under the original option divided by the HBE Exchange Ratio,
                    PROVIDED that such exercise price shall be rounded down to
                    the nearest whole cent. The term "HBE Exchange Ratio" shall
                    mean whichever of the Exchange Ratio or the Optional
                    Exchange Ratio is implemented at the Effective Time for the
                    exchange of HBE Common Stock in accordance with Section 1.4
                    hereof. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1.5(c)(i)
                    and (ii) above, each Converted Option which is intended to
                    be an "incentive stock option" shall be adjusted as required
                    by Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
                    ("Code"), and the regulations promulgated thereunder, so as
                    not to constitute a modification, extension or renewal of
                    the Converted Option within the meaning of Section 424(h) of
                    the Code, and all Converted Options shall be adjusted, if
                    necessary so as not to impair the eligibility of the Merger
                    for "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment. SFS and HBE
                    agree to take all steps necessary to effect the foregoing
                    provisions of this Section 1.5(c).

                                       4

<PAGE>


(d)                 Promptly after the execution of this Agreement, HBE shall
                    take such action, which shall be reasonably satisfactory to
                    SFS, as HBE may deem necessary in order that each Converted
                    Option shall be, at the Effective Time, assumed by SFS and
                    shall from and after the Effective Time no longer entitle
                    the holder thereof to purchase shares of HBE Common Stock
                    but shall be converted into and shall become by virtue of
                    the Merger, automatically and without any action on the part
                    of the holder thereof, a stock option to purchase such
                    number of shares of SFS Common Stock at such exercise price
                    as determined pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 1.5.

(e)                 As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, SFS shall
                    deliver to each participant in the HBE Option Plan an
                    appropriate notice setting forth such participant's rights
                    pursuant thereto; the Converted Options shall remain subject
                    to the terms of the HBE Option Plan and shall continue in
                    effect after the Effective Time on the same terms and
                    conditions as those in effect prior to the Effective Time,
                    including without limitation, the duration thereof, subject
                    to the adjustments required by Section 1.5(c) hereof, after
                    giving effect to the Merger. The foregoing provisions are
                    intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable
                    by, each party to, or beneficiary of, the foregoing
                    agreements or arrangements, and his or her representatives.

(f)                 SFS shall reserve shares to be issued upon the exercise of
                    Converted Options prior to the Effective Time. As soon as
                    practicable after the Effective Time, and in any event no
                    more than ten (10) days after the Effective Time, SFS shall
                    file a registration statement on Form S-8 or S-3, as the
                    case may be, (or other successor or appropriate forms) with
                    respect to the shares of SFS Common Stock subject to the
                    Converted Options and SFS shall use its best efforts to
                    maintain the current status of the prospectus or
                    prospectuses contained therein for so long as such Converted
                    Options remain outstanding. The foregoing provisions are
                    intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable
                    by, each party to, or beneficiary of, the foregoing
                    agreements or arrangements, and his or her representatives.

                    I.6 ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. The Articles of Incorporation
of SFS in effect as of the Effective Time shall be the Articles of Incorporation
of the Surviving Corporation after the Merger until thereafter amended in
accordance with applicable law.

                    I.7 BY-LAWS. The By-Laws of SFS in effect as of the
Effective Time, shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving Corporation after the
Merger until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.

                    I.8 TAX CONSEQUENCES. It is intended that the Merger shall 
constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and that this Agreement
and the Plan of Merger shall constitute a "plan of reorganization" for the
purposes of Section 368 of the Code.

                    I.9 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING
CORPORATION. The directors of SFS immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the directors of the Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time, each
to hold office in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of
the Surviving Corporation. The officers of SFS immediately

                                       5

<PAGE>


prior to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation
at the Effective Time, in each case until their respective successors are duly
elected or appointed.

                    I.10 ADJUSTMENTS FOR DILUTION AND OTHER MATTERS. If prior to
the Effective Time, (i) HBE shall declare a stock dividend or distribution upon
or subdivide, split up, reclassify or combine the HBE Common Stock, or declare a
dividend or make a distribution on HBE Common Stock in any security convertible
into HBE Common Stock, or (ii) SFS shall declare a stock dividend or
distribution upon or subdivide, split up, reclassify or combine the SFS Common
Stock or declare a dividend or make a distribution on SFS Common Stock in any
security convertible into SFS Common Stock, appropriate adjustment or
adjustments will be made to the Exchange Ratio (and, if applicable, the Optional
Exchange Ratio) and the method for calculating the Exchange Ratio as set forth
in Section I.4 hereof.

                    I.11 CLOSING. Subject to the terms and conditions of this 
Agreement and the Plan of Merger, including but not limited to the provisions of
Article VII of this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will
take place at 10:00 a.m. Central Time on a date and at a place to be specified
by the parties, which shall be no later than the first business day in the
calendar month immediately following the month in which the last of the
conditions precedent to the Merger set forth in Article VII hereof is satisfied
or waived, or at such other time, date and place as HBE and SFS shall mutually
agree (the "Closing Date").

                                   ARTICLE II

                              CONVERSION OF SHARES

                    II.I SFS TO MAKE SHARES AVAILABLE. At or prior to the 
Effective Time, SFS shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with a bank,
trust company or other entity reasonably acceptable to HBE, which may be an
affiliate of SFS, (the "Exchange Agent"), for the benefit of the holders of HBE
Common Stock Certificates, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, SFS
Common Stock Certificates and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of SFS
Common Stock (such cash and SFS Common Stock Certificates, together with any
dividends or distributions with respect thereto paid after the Effective Time,
being hereinafter referred to as the "Conversion Fund") to be issued pursuant to
Section 1.4 and paid pursuant to Section 2.2(a) in exchange for outstanding
shares of HBE Common Stock.

                    II.2 EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.

(a)                 As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, and in no
                    event later than ten (10) business days thereafter, the
                    Surviving Corporation shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail
                    to each holder of record of one or more HBE Common Stock
                    Certificates a letter of transmittal (which shall specify
                    that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title
                    to the HBE Common Stock Certificates shall pass, only upon
                    delivery of the HBE Common Stock Certificates to the
                    Exchange Agent) and instructions for use in effecting the
                    surrender of the HBE Common Stock Certificates in exchange
                    for SFS Common Stock Certificates and any cash in lieu of
                    fractional shares into which the shares of HBE Common Stock
                    represented by such HBE Common Stock Certificate or
                    Certificates shall have been converted pursuant to this
                    Agreement and the Plan of Merger. Upon proper surrender of
                    an HBE Common Stock Certificate for

                                       6

<PAGE>

                    exchange and cancellation to the Exchange Agent, together
                    with such properly completed letter of transmittal, duly
                    executed, the holder of such HBE Common Stock Certificate
                    shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor, as
                    applicable, (i) a SFS Common Stock Certificate representing
                    that number of whole shares of SFS Common Stock to which
                    such holder of HBE Common Stock shall have become entitled
                    pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.4 hereof, and (ii) a
                    check representing the amount of any cash in lieu of
                    fractional shares that such holder has the right to receive
                    in respect of such HBE Common Stock Certificate, and the HBE
                    Common Stock Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be
                    canceled. No interest will be paid or accrued on any cash in
                    lieu of fractional shares payable to holders of HBE Common
                    Stock Certificates.

(b)                 If any SFS Common Stock Certificate is to be issued in a
                    name other than that in which the HBE Common Stock
                    Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered,
                    it shall be a condition of the issuance thereof that the HBE
                    Common Stock Certificate so surrendered shall be properly
                    endorsed (or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of
                    transfer) and otherwise in proper form for transfer, and
                    that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the
                    Exchange Agent in advance any transfer or other taxes
                    required by reason of the issuance of an SFS Common Stock
                    Certificate in any name other than that of the registered
                    holder of the HBE Common Stock Certificate surrendered, or
                    required for any other reason, or shall establish to the
                    satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been
                    paid or is not payable.

(c)                 After the Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the
                    stock transfer books of HBE of the shares of HBE Common
                    Stock which were issued and outstanding immediately prior to
                    the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, HBE Common
                    Stock Certificates are presented for transfer to the
                    Exchange Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for SFS
                    Common Stock Certificates representing shares of SFS Common
                    Stock as provided in this Article II.

(d)                 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
                    no certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of
                    SFS Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for
                    exchange of HBE Common Stock Certificates, no dividend or
                    distribution with respect to SFS Common Stock shall be
                    payable on or with respect to any fractional share, and such
                    fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner
                    thereof to vote or to any other rights of a shareholder of
                    the Surviving Corporation. In lieu of the issuance of any
                    such fractional share, the Surviving Corporation shall pay
                    to each former shareholder of HBE who otherwise would be
                    entitled to receive such fractional share an amount in cash
                    determined by multiplying (i) the Market Value of SFS Common
                    Stock on the Decision Date by (ii) the fraction of a share
                    (rounded to the nearest tenth when expressed as an Arabic
                    number) of SFS Common Stock to which such holder would
                    otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to Section 1.4.

(e)                 Any portion of the Conversion Fund that remains unclaimed by
                    the shareholders of HBE for twelve (12) months after the
                    Effective Time shall be paid to the Surviving Corporation.
                    Any shareholders of HBE who have not theretofore complied
                    with this 

                                       7

<PAGE>

                    Article II shall thereafter look only to the Surviving
                    Corporation for the issuance of certificates representing
                    shares of SFS Common Stock and the payment of cash in lieu
                    of any fractional shares and any unpaid dividends and
                    distributions on the SFS Common Stock deliverable in respect
                    of each share of HBE Common Stock such shareholder holds as
                    determined pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of
                    Merger, in each case, without any interest thereon.
                    Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of SFS, HBE, the
                    Exchange Agent or any other person shall be liable to any
                    former holder of shares of HBE Common Stock, for any amount
                    delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to
                    applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.

(f)                 In the event any HBE Common Stock Certificate shall have
                    been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an
                    affidavit of that fact by the person claiming such HBE
                    Common Stock Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed
                    and, if reasonably required by the Surviving Corporation,
                    the posting by such person of a bond in such amount as the
                    Exchange Agent may determine is reasonably necessary as
                    indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with
                    respect to such HBE Common Stock Certificate, the Exchange
                    Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
                    destroyed HBE Common Stock Certificate an SFS Common Stock
                    Certificate representing the shares of SFS Common Stock and
                    any cash in lieu of fractional shares deliverable in respect
                    thereof pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

(g)                 In the case of any shareholder of HBE who did not vote for
                    or consent to the Merger and who demands appraisal as
                    provided in Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation
                    Law, each share of HBE Common Stock held by such shareholder
                    will be converted into the right to receive the value of the
                    share as provided in such statute. At the Closing Date, the
                    holders of HBE Common Stock will cease to have any rights
                    with respect to such stock other than the rights to receive
                    SFS Common Stock, cash in lieu of fractional shares or the
                    value of the stock as herein provided or as provided by law.

(h)                 No transfer taxes shall be payable by any shareholders of
                    HBE in respect of the issuance of certificates for SFS
                    Common Stock and no expenses shall be imposed on any
                    shareholder of HBE in connection with the conversion of
                    shares of HBE Common Stock into shares of SFS Common Stock
                    and the delivery of such shares to the former holder of HBE
                    Common Stock entitled thereto, except that, if any
                    certificate for shares of SFS Common Stock is to be issued
                    in a name other than that in which a certificate or
                    certificates for shares of HBE Common Stock surrendered
                    shall have been registered, it shall be a condition to such
                    issuance that the person requesting such issuance shall pay
                    to SFS any transfer taxes payable by reason thereof or of
                    any prior transfer of such surrendered certificate or
                    certificates or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of
                    the Exchange Agent that such taxes have been paid or are not
                    payable. 3.


                                  ARTICLE III
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF HBE

                  HBE hereby represents and warrants to SFS as follows:

                                       8

<PAGE>

                    III.1  CORPORATE ORGANIZATION

(a)                 HBE is a corporation duly organized and validly existing
                    under the laws of the State of Delaware. HBE has the
                    corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its
                    properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
                    now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do
                    business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
                    business conducted by it or the character or location of the
                    properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such
                    licensing or qualification necessary, except where the
                    failure to be so licensed or qualified would not have a
                    Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section IX.3 below)
                    on HBE. HBE is duly registered as a savings and loan holding
                    company under the Home Owners' Loan Act ("HOLA"). True and
                    complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
                    of HBE, as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have
                    previously been made available by HBE to SFS.

(b)                 As of the date of this Agreement, HBE has, as its sole
                    direct or indirect Subsidiary, Home Federal Savings and Loan
                    Association of Elgin ("HBE Bank"), a federally-chartered
                    savings and loan association. Except as set forth on
                    SCHEDULE 3.1(B) of the disclosure schedules to this
                    Agreement prepared and delivered by HBE (the "HBE Disclosure
                    Schedules"), HBE does not own any voting stock or equity
                    securities of any bank, corporation, partnership, limited
                    liability company, or other organization, whether
                    incorporated or unincorporated, other than the HBE Bank.

(c)                 Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.1(C), the HBE Bank (i) is
                    duly organized and validly existing as a corporation under
                    the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly
                    qualified to do business and in good standing in all
                    jurisdictions (whether federal, state, local or foreign)
                    where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
                    its business requires it to be so qualified and in which the
                    failure to be so qualified would have a Material Adverse
                    Effect on HBE, and (iii) has all requisite corporate power
                    and authority to own or lease its properties and assets and
                    to carry on its business as now conducted. Except as set
                    forth in SCHEDULE 3.1(C) of the HBE Disclosure Schedules,
                    the HBE Bank does not own any voting stock or equity
                    securities of any bank, corporation, partnership, limited
                    liability company, or other organization, whether
                    incorporated or unincorporated.

(d)                 The minute books of HBE and of the HBE Bank have been made
                    available to SFS and accurately reflect in all material
                    respects all corporate meetings held or actions taken since
                    January 1, 1994 by the shareholders and Boards of Directors
                    of HBE and the HBE Bank, respectively (including committees
                    of the Boards of Directors of HBE and the HBE Bank).

                    III.2   CAPITALIZATION

(a)                 The authorized capital stock of HBE consists of 12,000,000
                    shares of HBE Common Stock, $.01 par value per share, of
                    which, as of May 28, 1998, 6,855,799 shares were issued and
                    outstanding (which number excludes six (6) shares of HBE
                    Common Stock held by the Home Bancorp of Elgin, Inc. 1997
                    Recognition and Retention Plan (the "HBE RRP") which have
                    not been awarded to 

                                       9

<PAGE>


                    participants thereunder) and 3,000,000 shares of preferred
                    stock, $.01 par value, of which, as of May 28, 1998, none
                    were issued and outstanding. As of May 28, 1998, 153,451
                    shares of HBE Common Stock were held in treasury. All of the
                    issued and outstanding shares of HBE Common Stock have been
                    duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
                    nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. Except for the
                    HBE Stock Option Agreement and as set forth on SCHEDULE
                    -------- 3.2(A) of the HBE Disclosure Schedules, HBE does
                    not have and is not bound by any outstanding ------
                    subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or
                    agreements of any character calling for the purchase or
                    issuance of any shares of HBE Common Stock or any other
                    equity securities of HBE or any securities representing the
                    right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of the
                    capital stock of HBE. No shares of HBE Common Stock have
                    been reserved for issuance, other than the shares of HBE
                    Common Stock reserved for issuance under the HBE Stock
                    Option Agreement and HBE Option Plan. Since May 28, 1998,
                    HBE has not issued any shares of its capital stock or any
                    securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of
                    its capital stock except upon exercise of stock options
                    pursuant to the HBE Option Plan outstanding as of May 28,
                    1998 and except with respect to the HBE Stock Option
                    Agreement.

(b)                 HBE owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and
                    outstanding shares of capital stock of the HBE Bank, free
                    and clear of any liens, pledges, charges, encumbrances and
                    interests whatsoever ("Liens"). All of the shares of capital
                    stock of the HBE Bank are duly authorized and validly issued
                    and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
                    rights. The HBE Bank is not bound by any outstanding
                    subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or
                    agreements of any character calling for the purchase or
                    issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity
                    security of the HBE Bank or any securities representing the
                    right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital
                    stock or any other equity security of the HBE Bank.


                    III.3    AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION. HBE has full corporate
power and authority to execute and deliver each of this Agreement, the Plan of
Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement and, subject to shareholder and
regulatory approvals, to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and
the HBE Stock Option Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved by the Board
of Directors of HBE. The Board of Directors of HBE has directed that this
Agreement and the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby be submitted to HBE's shareholders for approval at a meeting of such
shareholders and, except for the adoption of this Agreement and the Plan of
Merger by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of HBE Common Stock, no other corporate proceedings on the part of HBE
are necessary to approve this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock
Option Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement and the HBE Stock Option Agreement have been duly and
validly executed and delivered by HBE and (assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by SFS) constitute valid and binding obligations of HBE,
enforceable against HBE in accordance with their respective terms. Furthermore,
the Plan of Merger, when executed and delivered by HBE and (assuming due

                                       10
<PAGE>

authorization, execution and delivery by SFS), shall constitute a valid and
binding obligation of HBE, enforceable against HBE in accordance with its terms.

                    III.4   CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. No consents or approvals of
or filings or registrations with any court, administrative agency or commission
or other governmental authority or instrumentality (each a "Governmental
Entity") or with any third party are necessary in connection with the execution
and delivery by HBE of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock
Option Agreement and the consummation by HBE of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby except for (a) the filing by SFS of
an application with the Federal Reserve Board under The Bank Holding Company Act
and the approval of such application (the "Federal Reserve Application"), (b)
the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") of a joint
proxy statement in definitive form relating to the meetings of HBE's and SFS's
shareholders to be held in connection with this Agreement and the Plan of Merger
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (the "Joint Proxy
Statement") and the registration statement on Form S-4 (the "S-4") in which such
Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus, (c) the filing of
Articles of Merger with the Wisconsin Department under the WBCL and the filing
of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware,
(d) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection with the issuance
of the shares of SFS Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of
Merger, (e) the approval of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger by the
requisite vote of the shareholders of HBE and SFS, and (f) any necessary filings
with the Office of Thrift Supervision or any state regulatory agencies.

                    III.5   REPORTS. HBE and each of the HBE Bank have timely
filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with any amendments
required to be made with respect thereto, that they were required to file since
January 1, 1994 with (i) the OTS, (ii) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
(the "FDIC"), (iii) any state regulatory authority (each a "State Regulator"),
(iv) the SEC, and (v) any self-regulatory organization ("SRO") with jurisdiction
over any of the activities of HBE or the HBE Bank (collectively "Regulatory
Agencies"), and all other reports and statements required to be filed by them
since January 1, 1994, including, without limitation, any report or statement
required to be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the United
States, any state, or any Regulatory Agency, and have paid all fees and
assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except where the failure to
file such report, registration or statement or to pay such fees and assessments,
either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect
on HBE. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency in the
regular course of the business of HBE and the HBE Bank, no Regulatory Agency has
initiated any proceeding or, to the best knowledge of HBE, investigation into
the business or operations of HBE or the HBE Bank since January 1, 1994. There
is no unresolved written violation, written criticism, or written exception by
any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any
examinations of HBE or the HBE Bank, which is likely, either individually or in
the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE.

                    III.6    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. HBE has previously made 
available to SFS copies of (a) the consolidated statements of financial
condition of HBE and the HBE Bank as of 

                                       11

<PAGE>


December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1996
and 1997, inclusive, as reported in HBE's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the "HBE Form 10-K") filed with the SEC
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), in
each case accompanied by the audit report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
public accountants with respect to HBE, and (b) the unaudited consolidated
statements of financial condition of HBE and the HBE Bank as of March 31, 1998,
and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, stockholders'
equity and cash flows for the three-month period then ended as reported in HBE's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 1998 filed with the
SEC under the Exchange Act (the "HBE First Quarter 10-Q"). The December 31, 1997
consolidated statements of financial condition of HBE (including the related
notes, where applicable) fairly present the consolidated financial position of
HBE and the HBE Bank as of the dates thereof, and the other financial statements
referred to in this Section 3.6 or included in the HBE Reports (including the
related notes, where applicable) fairly present the results of the consolidated
operations and stockholders' equity and consolidated financial position of HBE
and the HBE Bank for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates
therein set forth, subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to
recurring audit adjustments normal in nature and amount; each of such statements
(including the related notes, where applicable) comply in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto; and each of such statements
(including the related notes, where applicable) has been prepared in all
material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case,
as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto or, in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q.

                    III.7   BROKER'S FEES. Other than HBE's arrangement with 
Hovde Financial, Inc. to serve as a financial advisor to HBE in connection with
the Merger and related transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan
of Merger, neither HBE nor the HBE Bank nor any of their respective officers or
directors has employed any financial advisor, broker or finder or incurred any
liability for any financial advisory fees, broker's fees, commissions or
finder's fees in connection with the Merger or related transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.
 
                    III.8   ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.

(a)                 Except as publicly disclosed in the HBE Reports (as defined
                    in Section 3.12) filed prior to the date hereof or as set
                    forth in SCHEDULE 3.8(A), since December 31, 1997, (i) HBE
                    and the HBE Bank taken as a whole have not incurred any
                    material liability, except in the ordinary course of their
                    respective businesses, and (ii) no event has occurred which
                    has had, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
                    Adverse Effect on HBE or will have a Material Adverse Effect
                    on HBE.

(b)                 Except as publicly disclosed in the HBE Reports filed prior
                    to the date hereof, since December 31, 1997, HBE and the HBE
                    Bank have conducted their respective businesses in all
                    material respects in the ordinary and usual course.


                                       12

<PAGE>

                    III.9 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

(a)                 Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.9, there are no pending
                    or, to the best of HBE's knowledge, threatened, legal,
                    administrative, arbitration or other proceedings, claims,
                    actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
                    nature against HBE or the HBE Bank or challenging the
                    validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by
                    this Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the HBE Stock Option
                    Agreement.

(b)                 There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or
                    regulatory restriction (other than regulatory restrictions
                    that apply to similarly situated savings and loan holding
                    companies or savings associations) imposed upon HBE, the HBE
                    Bank or the assets of HBE or the HBE Bank.


                    III.10  TAXES AND TAX RETURNS.

(a)                 Each of HBE and the HBE Bank has duly filed all federal,
                    state, county, foreign and, to the best of HBE's knowledge,
                    local information returns and tax returns required to be
                    filed by it (all such returns being accurate and complete in
                    all material respects) and has duly paid or made provisions
                    for the payment of all Taxes (as defined in Section 3.10(b))
                    and other governmental charges which have been incurred or
                    are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state,
                    county, foreign or local taxing authorities on or prior to
                    the date of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
                    if and to the extent applicable, those due in respect of its
                    properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits,
                    franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls) other than Taxes
                    or other charges which are not yet delinquent or are being
                    contested in good faith and have not been finally
                    determined. The income tax returns of HBE and the HBE Bank
                    remain open for the applicable statutory time periods and
                    any deficiencies, penalties or assessments have been paid or
                    provided for in HBE's consolidated financial statements.
                    There are no material disputes pending with respect to, or
                    claims asserted for, Taxes or assessments upon HBE or the
                    HBE Bank for which HBE does not have adequate reserves, nor
                    has HBE or the HBE Bank given any currently effective
                    waivers extending the statutory period of limitation
                    applicable to any federal, state, county, foreign or local
                    income tax return for any period. In addition, (i) proper
                    and accurate amounts have been withheld by HBE and the HBE
                    Bank from their employees for all prior periods in
                    compliance in all material respects with the tax withholding
                    provisions of applicable federal, state, foreign and local
                    laws, except where failure to do so would not have a
                    Material Adverse Effect on HBE, (ii) federal, state,
                    foreign, county and local returns which are accurate and
                    complete in all material respects have been filed by HBE and
                    the HBE Bank for all periods for which returns were due with
                    respect to income tax withholding, Social Security and
                    unemployment taxes, (iii) the amounts shown on such federal,
                    state, foreign, local or county returns to be due and
                    payable have been paid in full or adequate provision
                    therefor has been included by HBE in its consolidated
                    financial statements as of December 31, 1997, and (iv) there
                    are no Tax liens upon any property or assets of HBE or the
                    HBE Bank except liens for current taxes not yet due. Except
                    as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.10(A), neither HBE nor the HBE
                    Bank has been required to include in income any
                    adjustment pursuant to 

                                       13

<PAGE>

                    Section 481 of the Code by reason of a voluntary change in
                    accounting method initiated by HBE or the HBE Bank, and the
                    Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") has not initiated or
                    proposed any such adjustment or change in accounting method.
                    Except as set forth in the financial statements described in
                    Section 3.6, neither HBE nor the HBE Bank has entered into a
                    transaction which is being accounted for as an installment
                    obligation under Section 453 of the Code.

(b)                 As used in this Agreement, the term "Tax" or "Taxes" means
                    all federal, state, county, local, and foreign income,
                    excise, gross receipts, gross income, ad valorem, profits,
                    gains, property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll,
                    employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles,
                    franchise, backup withholding, and other taxes, charges,
                    levies or like assessments together with all penalties and
                    additions to tax and interest thereon.

                    III.11  EMPLOYEES.

(a)                 SCHEDULE 3.11(A) of the HBE Disclosure Schedules sets forth
                    a true and complete list of each employee benefit plan,
                    arrangement, commitment, agreement or understanding that is
                    maintained as of the date of this Agreement (the "HBE
                    Benefit Plans") (i) by HBE or the HBE Bank or (ii) by any
                    trade or business, whether or not incorporated which (A) is
                    under "common control," as described in Section 414(c) of
                    the Code, with HBE, (B) is a member of a "controlled group,"
                    as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code, or (C) is a member
                    of an "affiliated service group," as defined in Section
                    414(m) of the Code, which includes HBE (an "HBE ERISA
                    Affiliate"), all of which together with HBE would be deemed
                    a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 4001 of
                    the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
                    amended ("ERISA").

(b)                 HBE has heretofore delivered to SFS true and complete copies
                    of each of the HBE Benefit Plans and certain related
                    documents, including, but not limited to, (i) the Annual
                    Report Form 5500 for such HBE Benefit Plan (if applicable)
                    for each of the last two years, and (ii) the most recent
                    determination letter from the IRS (if applicable) for such
                    HBE Benefit Plan. 


(c)                 (i) Each of the HBE Benefit Plans has been operated and
                    administered in all material respects with applicable laws,
                    including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, (ii) each
                    of the HBE Benefit Plans intended to be "qualified" within
                    the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has been operated
                    and administered in all material respects with the
                    requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code, (iii) except as
                    provided in SCHEDULE 3.11(A), no HBE Benefit Plan provides
                    benefits, including, without limitation, death or medical
                    benefits (whether or not insured), with respect to current
                    or former employees of HBE, the HBE Bank or any HBE ERISA
                    Affiliate beyond their retirement or other termination of
                    service, other than (A) coverage mandated by applicable law,
                    (B) death benefits, disability benefits or retirement
                    benefits under any "employee pension plan" (as such term is
                    defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), (C) deferred compensation
                    benefits accrued as liabilities on the books of HBE, the HBE
                    Bank or the HBE ERISA Affiliates, or (D) benefits the full
                    cost of which is borne by the current or former employee (or
                    his beneficiary), (iv)


                                    14

<PAGE>


                    except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.11(A), neither HBE, the
                    HBE Bank nor any HBE ERISA Affiliate maintains or has ever
                    maintained a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, (v) neither
                    HBE, the HBE Bank nor any HBE ERISA Affiliate contributes to
                    or has ever contributed to a "Multiemployer" pension plan
                    (as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, (vi) all
                    contributions or other amounts payable by HBE or the HBE
                    Bank as of the Effective Time with respect to each HBE
                    Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan years have
                    been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP and Section 412
                    of the Code, (vii) neither HBE, the HBE Bank nor any HBE
                    ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction in connection
                    with which HBE, the HBE Bank or any HBE ERISA Affiliate
                    reasonably could be subject to either a material civil
                    penalty assessed pursuant to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA
                    or a material tax imposed pursuant to Sections 4975 or 4976
                    of the Code, and (viii) to the best knowledge of HBE, there
                    are no pending, threatened or anticipated claims (other than
                    routine claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any
                    of the HBE Benefit Plans or any trusts related thereto which
                    are, in the reasonable judgment of HBE, likely, either
                    individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse
                    Effect on HBE.


                    III.12   SEC REPORTS. HBE and the HBE Bank has made
available to SFS an accurate and complete copy of each (a) final registration
statement, prospectus, report, schedule and definitive proxy statement filed
since December 31, 1995 by HBE with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Exchange Act (collectively, "HBE
Reports"), and (b) communication mailed by HBE to its shareholders since
December 31, 1995. None of the HBE Reports or such communications to
shareholders, as of their respective dates, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading. Since December 31, 1995,
HBE has timely filed all HBE Reports and other documents required to be filed by
it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and, as of their respective
dates, all HBE Reports complied in all material respects with the published
rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

                    III.13   COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. HBE and the HBE 
Bank hold all licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations necessary for the
lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and pursuant to all, and
have complied with and are not in default under any, applicable laws, statutes,
orders, rules, regulations, policies and/or guidelines of any Governmental
Entity relating to HBE or the HBE Bank, except where the failure to hold such
license, franchise, permit or authorization or such noncompliance or default
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on
HBE.

                    III.14   CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

(a)                 Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.14(A) of the HBE
                    Disclosure Schedules, neither HBE nor the HBE Bank is a
                    party to or bound by:

                    (i)  any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral) with respect to the
                         employment or compensation of any directors, officers
                         or employees;

                                       15

<PAGE>

                    (ii) any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral) which, upon the consummation
                         of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
                         the Plan of Merger will (either alone or upon the
                         occurrence of any additional acts or events) result in
                         any payment (including, without limitation, severance,
                         unemployment compensation, golden parachute or
                         otherwise) becoming due from HBE, SFS, the Surviving
                         Corporation, or any of their respective Subsidiaries to
                         any officer, director or employee thereof or to the
                         trustee under any "rabbi trust" or similar arrangement;

                   (iii) any contract, arrangement, commitment or
                         understanding (whether written or oral) which
                         materially restricts the conduct of any line of
                         business by HBE; or

                    (iv) any contract, arrangement, commitment or
                         understanding (whether written or oral), including any
                         stock option plan, stock appreciation rights plan,
                         restricted stock plan or stock purchase plan, any of
                         the benefits of which will be increased or be required
                         to be paid, or the vesting of the benefits of which
                         will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the
                         transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan
                         of Merger, or the value of any of the benefits of which
                         will be calculated on the basis of any of the
                         transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan
                         of Merger. 

                    HBE has previously made available to SFS true and correct
                    copies of all employment and deferred compensation
                    arrangements which are in writing and to which HBE or the
                    HBE Bank is a party. Each contract, arrangement, commitment
                    or understanding of the type described in this Section
                    3.14(a), is referred to herein as an "HBE Contract," and
                    neither HBE nor the HBE Bank knows of, or has received
                    notice of, any violation of any HBE Contract by any of the
                    other parties thereto, which, individually or in the
                    aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE. 

(b)                 (i) Each HBE Contract is valid and binding on HBE or the HBE
                    Bank, as the case may be, and is in full force and effect,
                    (ii) each of HBE and the HBE Bank has performed all
                    obligations required to be performed by it to date under
                    each HBE Contract to which it is a party, except where such
                    noncompliance, individually or in the aggregate, would not
                    have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE, and (iii) no event or
                    condition exists which constitutes or, after notice or lapse
                    of time or both, would constitute, a default on the part of
                    HBE or the HBE Bank under any such HBE Contract, except
                    where any such default, individually or in the aggregate,
                    would not have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE.

                    III.15   AGREEMENTS WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES. Neither HBE
nor the HBE Bank is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or
is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of
understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar
undertaking to, or, is subject to any order or directive by, except as set forth
in SCHEDULE 3.15 or has been Since December 31, 1995, a recipient of any
supervisory letter from, or since December 31, 1995, has adopted any board
resolutions at the request of any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity
that 

                                       16

<PAGE>



currently restricts the conduct of its business or that relates to its
capital adequacy, compliance with laws, its credit policies, its management or
its business (each, whether or not set forth in the HBE Disclosure Schedules, an
"HBE Regulatory Agreement"), nor has HBE or the HBE Bank been advised since
December 31, 1995 by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that it
is considering issuing or requesting any such HBE Regulatory Agreement.

                    III.16   OTHER ACTIVITIES OF HBE AND THE HBE BANK. Neither 
HBE nor the HBE Bank that is neither a savings association, a savings
association operating subsidiary or a savings association service corporation
directly or indirectly engages in any activity prohibited by the OTS. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, no equity investment of HBE or the HBE
Bank that is neither a savings association, a savings association operating
subsidiary nor a savings association service corporation is prohibited by the
OTS.

                    III.17   INVESTMENT SECURITIES. Each of HBE and the HBE Bank
has good and marketable title to all securities held by it (except securities
sold under repurchase agreements or held in any fiduciary or agency capacity),
free and clear of any Lien, except to the extent such securities are pledged in
the ordinary course of business consistent with prudent banking practices to
secure obligations of HBE or the HBE Bank. Such securities are valued on the
books of HBE and the HBE Bank in accordance with GAAP.

                    III.18   UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except for those 
liabilities that are fully reflected or reserved against on the consolidated
statement of financial condition of HBE included in the HBE First Quarter 10-Q,
liabilities disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.18 of the HBE Disclosure Schedules, and
liabilities incurred in the course of business consistent with past practice
since March 31, 1998, neither HBE nor the HBE Bank has incurred any liability of
any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and
whether due or to become due) that, either alone or when combined with all
similar liabilities, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a
Material Adverse Effect on HBE.

                    III.19   INSURANCE. SCHEDULE 3.19 of the HBE Disclosure 
Schedules describes all policies of insurance in which HBE or the HBE Bank is
named as an insured party or which otherwise relate to or cover any assets or
properties of HBE or the HBE Bank. Each of such policies is in full force and
effect, and the coverage provided under such properties complies with the
requirements of any contracts binding on HBE or the HBE Bank relating to such
assets or properties. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.19 of the HBE Disclosure
Schedules, neither HBE nor the HBE Bank has received any notice of cancellation
or termination with respect to any material insurance policy of HBE or the HBE
Bank.

                    III.20   LOAN LOSS RESERVES. The reserve for possible loan 
losses shown on the March 31, 1998 call report filed for the HBE Bank is
adequate in all material respects under the requirements of GAAP to provide for
possible losses, net of recoveries relating to loans previously charged off, on
loans outstanding as of March 31, 1998. The aggregate loan balances of the HBE
Bank at such date in excess of such reserves are, to the best knowledge and
belief of HBE, collectible in accordance with their terms.

                                       17


<PAGE>


                    III.21   ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY. Except as set forth in 
SCHEDULE 3.21, there are no legal, administrative, arbitration or other
proceedings, claims, actions, causes of action, private environmental
investigations or remediation activities or governmental investigations of any
nature pending or, to the best of HBE's knowledge, threatened against HBE
seeking to impose, or that could reasonably result in the imposition, on HBE of
any liability or obligation arising under common law or under any local, state,
federal or foreign environmental statute, regulation or ordinance including,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA") which, insofar as reasonably can be
foreseen, could have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE.

                    Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.21, to the best of 
HBE's knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any proceeding, claim, action
or governmental investigation that would impose any such liability or obligation
which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, could have a Material Adverse
Effect on HBE. HBE is not subject to any agreement, order, judgment, decree,
letter or memorandum by or with any court, governmental authority, regulatory
agency or third party imposing any such liability or obligation which, insofar
as reasonably can be foreseen, could have a Material Adverse Effect on HBE.

                    III.22  APPROVAL DELAYS. HBE knows of no reason why any of 
the Requisite Regulatory Approvals (as defined in Section 7.1(b)) should be
denied or unduly delayed.

                    III.23  VOTE REQUIRED. The approval by the holders of a 
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of HBE Common Stock to
approve the Merger is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the
capital stock of HBE required for any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement.

                    III.24  OWNERSHIP OF SFS COMMON STOCK. Except as set forth 
in SCHEDULE 3.24 of the HBE Disclosure Schedules, HBE does not "beneficially
own" (as such term is defined for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act)
any shares of SFS Common Stock.

                    III.25  TAX MATTERS AND POOLING. Neither HBE nor, to the 
best of HBE's knowledge, any of its affiliates has through the date of this
Agreement taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Merger from
qualifying as (i) a reorganization under Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code or
(ii) for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment under GAAP.

                    III.26  SALEABILITY OF MORTGAGE LOANS IN SECONDARY MARKET.
Except for the loans identified on SCHEDULE 3.26, as a general matter, to the
best of HBE's knowledge and belief, a substantial portion of the loans in the
HBE Bank's portfolio of residential, owner-occupied mortgage loans substantially
conform to secondary market underwriting standards and, accordingly, are
saleable in the secondary market.



                                   ARTICLE IV
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SFS

                    SFS hereby represents and warrants to HBE as follows:

                    IV.1  CORPORATE ORGANIZATION.

                                       18

<PAGE>


(a)                 SFS is a corporation duly organized and validly existing
                    under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. SFS has the
                    corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its
                    properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is
                    now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do
                    business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the
                    business conducted by it or the character or location of the
                    properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such
                    licensing or qualification necessary, except where the
                    failure to be so licensed or qualified would not have a
                    Material Adverse Effect on SFS. SFS is duly registered as a
                    bank holding company under The Bank Holding Company Act of
                    1956. True and complete copies of the Articles of
                    Incorporation and By-Laws of SFS, as in effect as of the
                    date of this Agreement, have previously been made available
                    by SFS to HBE.

(b)                 As of the date of this Agreement, SFS has, as its sole
                    direct or indirect subsidiaries, State Financial Bank, a
                    Wisconsin-chartered bank, State Financial Bank, an
                    Illinois-chartered bank, State Financial Bank-Waterford, a
                    Wisconsin-chartered bank (collectively, the "SFS Banks" and
                    each an "SFS Bank"), Hales Corners Development Corporation,
                    a Wisconsin corporation, Hales Corners Investment
                    Corporation, a Nevada corporation, Waterford Investment
                    Corporation, a Nevada corporation, State Financial Mortgage
                    Company, a Wisconsin corporation, Richmond Bancorp, Inc., an
                    Illinois corporation, State Financial Insurance Agency, a
                    Wisconsin corporation, and Richmond Financial Services,
                    Inc., a Florida corporation (collectively with the SFS
                    Banks, the "SFS Subsidiaries" and each an "SFS Subsidiary").
                    Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.1(B) of the disclosure
                    schedules to this Agreement prepared and delivered by SFS
                    (the "SFS Disclosure Schedules"), SFS does not own any
                    voting stock or equity securities of any bank, corporation,
                    partnership, limited liability company, or other
                    organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, other
                    than the SFS Subsidiaries.


(c)                 Each SFS Subsidiary (i) is duly organized and validly
                    existing as a corporation under the laws of its jurisdiction
                    of organization, (ii) is duly qualified to do business and
                    in good standing in all jurisdictions (whether federal,
                    state, local or foreign) where its ownership or leasing of
                    property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so
                    qualified and in which the failure to be so qualified would
                    have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS, and (iii) has all
                    requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its
                    properties and assets and to carry on its business as now
                    conducted. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.1(C) of the SFS
                    Disclosure Schedules, none of the SFS Subsidiaries owns any
                    voting stock or equity securities of any bank, corporation,
                    partnership, limited liability company, or other
                    organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated. 

(d)                 The minute books of SFS and of each of the SFS Subsidiaries
                    have been made available to HBE and accurately reflect in
                    all material respects all corporate meetings held or actions
                    taken since January 1, 1994 by the shareholders and Boards
                    of Directors of SFS and each SFS Subsidiary, respectively
                    (including committees of the Boards of Directors of SFS and
                    the SFS Subsidiaries).

                    IV.2  CAPITALIZATION.


                                       19

<PAGE>

(a)                 The authorized capital stock of SFS consists of 10,000,000
                    shares of common stock, $.10 par value per share, of which,
                    as of May 28, 1998, 3,882,195 shares were issued and
                    outstanding and 100,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par
                    value per share, of which, as of May 28, 1998, none were
                    issued and outstanding. As of May 28, 1998, no shares of SFS
                    Common Stock were held in treasury. All of the issued and
                    outstanding shares of SFS Common Stock have been duly
                    authorized and validly issued and are fully paid,
                    nonassessable (except as otherwise provided by Section
                    180.0622(2)(b) of the WBCL) and free of preemptive rights.
                    Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.2(A) of the SFS Disclosure
                    Schedules, SFS does not have and is not bound by
                    any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls,
                    commitments or agreements of any character calling for the
                    purchase or issuance of any shares of SFS Common Stock or
                    any other equity securities of SFS or any securities
                    representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any
                    shares of the capital stock of SFS. No shares of SFS Common
                    Stock have been reserved for issuance, other than the shares
                    of SFS Common Stock reserved for issuance under the SFS 1990
                    Directors Stock Option Plan, the SFS 1990 Stock Option/Stock
                    Appreciation Right and Restricted Stock Plan for Key
                    Officers and Employees and the SFS 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
                    (the "SFS Option Plan"). Since May 28, 1998, SFS has not
                    issued any shares of its capital stock or any securities
                    convertible into or exercisable for any shares of its
                    capital stock except upon exercise of stock options pursuant
                    to the SFS Option Plan outstanding as of May 28, 1998.

(b)                 SFS owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and
                    outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the SFS
                    Subsidiaries, free and clear of any Liens. All of the shares
                    of capital stock of each SFS Subsidiary are duly authorized
                    and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable (except
                    as otherwise provided by Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the WBCL)
                    and free of preemptive rights. No SFS Subsidiary has or is
                    bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants,
                    calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling
                    for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock
                    or any other equity security of such SFS Subsidiary or any
                    securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise
                    receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity
                    security of such SFS Subsidiary.

                    IV.3 AUTHORITY; NO VIOLATION. SFS has full corporate power 
and authority to execute and deliver each of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger
and the HBE Stock Option Agreement, subject to shareholder and regulatory
approvals, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE
Stock Option Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved by the Board of Directors
of SFS. The Board of Directors of SFS has directed that this Agreement and the
Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby be submitted
to SFS's shareholders for approval at a meeting of such shareholders and, except
for the adoption of this Agreement and the Plan of Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of SFS Common Stock, no other corporate
proceedings on the part of SFS are necessary to approve this Agreement, the Plan
of Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement and the HBE Stock Option
Agreement


                                       20
<PAGE>

have been duly and validly executed and delivered by SFS and (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by HBE) constitute valid and binding
obligations of SFS, enforceable against SFS in accordance with their respective
terms. Furthermore, the Plan of Merger, when executed and delivered by SFS and
(assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by HBE), shall constitute a
valid and binding obligation of SFS, enforceable against SFS in accordance with
its terms.

                    IV.4  CONSENTS AND APPROVALS. No consents or approvals of or
filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity or with any third party
are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by SFS of this
Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement and the
consummation by SFS of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby except for (a) the filing by SFS of an application with The Federal
Reserve under The Bank Holding Company Act and the approval of the Federal
Reserve Application, (b) the filing with the SEC of the Joint Proxy Statement in
definitive form relating to the meetings of HBE's and SFS's shareholders to be
held in connection with this Agreement and the Plan of Merger and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and the S-4 in which such Joint
Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus, (c) the filing of Articles of
Merger with the Wisconsin Department under the WBCL and the filing of a
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (d)
such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the
securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection with the issuance
of the shares of SFS Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and the Plan of
Merger, (e) the approval of this Agreement and Plan of Merger by the requisite
vote of the shareholders of SFS and HBE, and (f) any necessary filings with the
Office of Thrift Supervision or any state regulatory agencies.

                    IV.5  REPORTS. SFS and each of the SFS Subsidiaries have
timely filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with any
amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they were required to
file since January 1, 1994 with the Regulatory Agencies, and all other reports
and statements required to be filed by them since January 1, 1994, including,
without limitation, any report or statement required to be filed pursuant to the
laws, rules or regulations of the United States, any state, or any Regulatory
Agency, and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection
therewith, except where the failure to file such report, registration or
statement or to pay such fees and assessments, either individually or in the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS. Except for normal
examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency in the regular course of the
business of SFS or the SFS Subsidiaries, no Regulatory Agency has initiated any
proceeding or, to the best knowledge of SFS, investigation into the business or
operations of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries since January 1, 1994. There is
no unresolved written violation, written criticism, or written exception by any
Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any
examinations of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries, which is likely, either
individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.


                                       21

<PAGE>


                    IV.6  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. SFS has previously made 
available to HBE copies of (a) the consolidated statements of financial
condition of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and
the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, inclusive, as
reported in SFS's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1997 (the "SFS Form 10-K") filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act, in
each case accompanied by the audit report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent
public accountants with respect to SFS, and (b) the unaudited consolidated
statements of financial condition of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries as of March
31, 1998, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the three-month period then ended as
reported in SFS's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31,
1998 filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act (the "SFS First Quarter 10-Q").
The December 31, 1997 consolidated statements of financial condition of SFS
(including the related notes, where applicable) fairly present the consolidated
financial position of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof, and
the other financial statements referred to in this Section 4.6 or included in
the SFS Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) fairly present
the results of the consolidated operations and shareholders' equity and
consolidated financial position of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries for the
respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth,
subject, in the case of the unaudited statements, to recurring audit adjustments
normal in nature and amount; each of such statements (including the related
notes, where applicable) comply in all material respects with applicable
accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC
with respect thereto; and each of such statements (including the related notes,
where applicable) has been prepared in all material respects in accordance with
GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as
indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto or, in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q.

                    VI.7  BROKER'S FEES. Other than SFS's arrangement with
Everen Securities to serve as a financial advisor to SFS in connection with the
Merger and related transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of
Merger, neither SFS nor any SFS Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers
or directors has employed any financial advisor, broker or finder or incurred
any liability for any financial advisory fees, broker's fees, commissions or
finder's fees in connection with the Merger or related transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

                    IV.8  ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.

(a)                 Except as publicly disclosed in the SFS Reports (as defined
                    in Section 4.12) filed prior to the date hereof or as set
                    forth in SCHEDULE 4.8(A), since December 31, 1997, (i) SFS
                    and the SFS Subsidiaries taken as a whole have not incurred
                    any material liability, except in the ordinary course of
                    their businesses, and (ii) no event has occurred which has
                    had, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse
                    Effect on SFS or will have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.

(b)                 Except as publicly disclosed in the SFS Reports filed prior
                    to the date hereof, since December 31, 1997, SFS and each
                    SFS Subsidiary have carried on their respective businesses
                    in all material respects in the ordinary and usual course.

                                       22
<PAGE>

                    IV.9  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

(a)                 Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.9, there are no pending
                    or, to the best of SFS's knowledge, threatened, legal,
                    administrative, arbitration or other proceedings, claims,
                    actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any
                    nature against SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries or
                    challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the
                    HBE Stock Option Agreement.

(b)                 There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or
                    regulatory restriction (other than regulatory restrictions
                    that apply to similarly situated bank holding companies or
                    banks) imposed upon SFS, any of the SFS Subsidiaries or the
                    assets of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries.

                    IV.10  TAXES AND TAX RETURNS. Each of SFS and the SFS 
Subsidiaries has duly filed all federal, state, county, foreign and, to the best
of SFS's knowledge, local information returns and tax returns required to be
filed by it on or prior to the date hereof (all such returns being accurate and
complete in all material respects) and has duly paid or made provisions for the
payment of all Taxes and other governmental charges which have been incurred or
are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, county, foreign or local
taxing authorities on or prior to the date of this Agreement (including, without
limitation, if and to the extent applicable, those due in respect of its
properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits, franchises, licenses,
sales and payrolls) other than Taxes or other charges which are not yet
delinquent or are being contested in good faith and have not been finally
determined. The income tax returns of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries remain open
for the applicable statutory time periods and any deficiencies, penalties or
assessments have been paid or provided for in SFS's consolidated financial
statements. There are no material disputes pending with respect to, or claims
asserted for, Taxes or assessments upon SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries for
which SFS does not have adequate reserves, nor has SFS or any of the SFS
Subsidiaries given any currently effective waivers extending the statutory
period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, county, foreign or local
income tax return for any period. In addition, (i) proper and accurate amounts
have been withheld by SFS and each of the SFS Subsidiaries from their employees
for all prior periods in compliance in all material respects with the tax
withholding provisions of applicable federal, state, foreign and local laws,
except where failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS,
(ii) federal, state, foreign, county and local returns which are accurate and
complete in all material respects have been filed by SFS and each of the SFS
Subsidiaries for all periods for which returns were due with respect to income
tax withholding, Social Security and unemployment taxes, (iii) the amounts shown
on such federal, state, foreign, local or county returns to be due and payable
have been paid in full or adequate provision therefor has been included by SFS
in its consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997, and (iv) there
are no Tax liens upon any property or assets of SFS or any of the SFS
Subsidiaries except liens for current taxes not yet due. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 4.10(A), neither SFS nor any of the SFS Subsidiaries has been required
to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481 of the Code by
reason of a voluntary change in accounting method initiated by SFS or any of the
SFS Subsidiaries, and the IRS has not initiated or proposed any such adjustment
or change in accounting method. Except as set forth in the

                                       23

<PAGE>

financial statements described in Section 4.6, neither SFS nor any of the SFS
Subsidiaries has entered into a transaction which is being accounted for as an
installment obligation under Section 453 of the Code.

                    IV.11  EMPLOYEES.

(a)                 SCHEDULE 4.11 of the SFS Disclosure Schedules sets forth a
                    true and complete list of each employee benefit plan,
                    arrangement, commitment, agreement or understanding that is
                    maintained as of the date of this Agreement (the "SFS
                    Benefit Plans") (i) by SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries or
                    (ii) by any trade or business, whether or not incorporated,
                    which (A) is under "common control," as described in Section
                    414(c) of the Code, with SFS, (B) is a member of a
                    "controlled group," as defined in Section 414(b) of the
                    Code, or (C) is a member of an "affiliated service group,"
                    as defined in Section 414(m) of the Code which includes SFS
                    (an "SFS ERISA Affiliate"), all of which together with SFS
                    would be deemed a "single employer" within the meaning of
                    Section 4001 of ERISA.

(b)                 SFS has heretofore delivered to HBE true and complete copies
                    of the SFS Benefit Plans and certain related documents,
                    including, but not limited to, (i) the Annual Report Form
                    5500 for such SFS Benefit Plan (if applicable) for each of
                    the last two years, and (ii) the most recent determination
                    letter from the IRS (if applicable) for such SFS Benefit
                    Plan. 

(c)                 (i) Each of the SFS Benefit Plans has been operated and
                    administered in all material respects with applicable laws,
                    including, but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, (ii) each
                    of the SFS Benefit Plans intended to be "qualified" within
                    the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has been operated
                    and administered in all material respects with the
                    requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code, (iii) no SFS
                    Benefit Plan provides benefits, including, without
                    limitation, death or medical benefits (whether or not
                    insured), with respect to current or former employees of
                    SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries or any SFS ERISA Affiliate beyond
                    their retirement or other termination of service, other than
                    (A) coverage mandated by applicable law, (B) death benefits,
                    disability benefits or retirement benefits under any
                    "employee pension plan" (as such term is defined in Section
                    3(2) of ERISA), (C) deferred compensation benefits accrued
                    as liabilities on the books of SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries or
                    the SFS ERISA Affiliates, or (D) benefits the full cost of
                    which is borne by the current or former employee (or his
                    beneficiary), (iv) neither SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries nor any
                    SFS ERISA Affiliate maintains or has ever maintained a plan
                    subject to Title IV of ERISA, (v) neither SFS, the SFS
                    Subsidiaries nor any SFS ERISA Affiliate contributes to or
                    has ever contributed to a "Multiemployer" pension plan (as
                    such term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA, (vi) all
                    contributions or other amounts payable by SFS or the SFS
                    Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time with respect to each
                    SFS Benefit Plan in respect of current or prior plan years
                    have been paid or accrued in accordance with GAAP and
                    Section 412 of the Code, (vii) neither SFS, the SFS
                    Subsidiaries nor any SFS ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a
                    transaction in connection with which SFS, the SFS
                    Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate reasonably could be
                    subject to either a material civil penalty assessed pursuant
                    to Section 409 or 502(i) of ERISA or a material tax imposed
                    pursuant to Sections

                                       24

<PAGE>


                    4975 or 4976 of the Code, and (viii) to the best knowledge
                    of SFS, there are no pending, threatened or anticipated
                    claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on
                    behalf of or against any of the SFS Benefit Plans or any
                    trusts related thereto which are, in the reasonable judgment
                    of SFS, likely, either individually or in the aggregate, to
                    have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.

(d)                 There are no current employment agreements, employee
                    retention agreements or change in control agreements,
                    contracts or arrangements between SFS (or any SFS
                    Subsidiary) and any director, officer or employee of SFS (or
                    any SFS Subsidiary) and any director, officer or employee of
                    SFS (or any SFS Subsidiary) containing terms that would
                    provide for the accelerated vesting and payment by SFS (or
                    the SFS Subsidiary, as applicable) of compensation and
                    benefits to any such director, officer or employee as a
                    result of either (i) the approval of this Agreement by a
                    majority of the shareholders of SFS or (ii) the consummation
                    to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.



                    IV.12  SEC REPORTS. SFS and each of the SFS Subsidiaries has
made available to HBE an accurate and complete copy of each (a) final
registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule and definitive proxy
statement filed since December 31, 1995 by SFS with the SEC pursuant to the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act (collectively, the "SFS Reports"), and (b)
communication mailed by SFS to its shareholders since December 31, 1995. None of
the SFS Reports or such communications to shareholders, as of their respective
dates, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading. Since December 31, 1995, SFS has timely filed all SFS Reports and
other documents required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, and, as of their respective dates, all SFS Reports complied in all
material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with
respect thereto.

                    IV.13  COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW. SFS and each of the 
SFS Subsidiaries hold all licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations
necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and
pursuant to all, and have complied with and are not in default under any,
applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules, regulations, policies and/or
guidelines of any Governmental Entity relating to SFS or any of the SFS
Subsidiaries, except where the failure to hold such license, franchise, permit
or authorization or such noncompliance or default would not, individually or in
the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.

                    IV.14  CERTAIN CONTRACTS.

(a)                 Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.14(A) of the SFS
                    Disclosure Schedules, neither SFS nor any of the SFS
                    Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by:

                    (i)  any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral) with respect to the
                         employment or compensation of any directors, officers
                         or employees;

                                       25

<PAGE>

                    (ii) any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral) which, upon the consummation
                         of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
                         the Plan of Merger will (either alone or upon the
                         occurrence of any additional acts or events) result in
                         any payment (including, without limitation, severance,
                         unemployment compensation, golden parachute or
                         otherwise) becoming due from HBE, SFS, the Surviving
                         Corporation, or any of their respective Subsidiaries to
                         any officer, director or employee thereof or to the
                         trustee under any "rabbi trust" or similar arrangement;

                   (iii) any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral) which materially restricts
                         the conduct of any line of business by SFS; or

                    (iv) any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
                         (whether written or oral), including any stock option
                         plan, stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock
                         plan or stock purchase plan, any of the benefits of
                         which will be increased or be required to be paid, or
                         the vesting of the benefits of which will be
                         accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the
                         transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan
                         of Merger, or the value of any of the benefits of which
                         will be calculated on the basis of any of the
                         transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Plan
                         of Merger.


                    SFS has previously made available to HBE true and correct
                    copies of all employment and deferred compensation
                    arrangements which are in writing and to which SFS or an SFS
                    Subsidiary is a party. Each contract, arrangement,
                    commitment or understanding of the type described in this
                    Section 4.14(a), is referred to herein as an "SFS Contract,"
                    and neither SFS nor any of the SFS Subsidiaries knows of, or
                    has received notice of, any violation of any SFS Contract by
                    any of the other parties thereto, which, individually or in
                    the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.
                    ii. 

(b)                 (i) each SFS Contract is valid and binding on SFS or the
                    applicable SFS Subsidiary, as the case may be, and is in
                    full force and effect, (ii) SFS and each of the SFS
                    Subsidiaries has performed all obligations required to be
                    performed by it to date under each SFS Contract to which it
                    is a party, except where such noncompliance, individually or
                    in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect
                    on SFS, and (iii) no event or condition exists which
                    constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
                    constitute, a default on the part of SFS or any of the SFS
                    Subsidiaries under any such SFS Contract, except where any
                    such default, individually or in the aggregate, would not
                    have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.

                   IV.15  AGREEMENTS WITH REGULATORY AGENCIES. Neither SFS nor 
any of the SFS Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order
issued by, or (except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.15 of the SFS Disclosure
Schedules) is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum
of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar
undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has been since
December 31, 1995, a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or since December
31, 1995, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Regulatory

                                       26

<PAGE>


Agency or other Governmental Entity that currently restricts the conduct of its
business or that relates to its capital adequacy, compliance with laws, its
credit policies, its management or its business (each, whether or not set forth
in the SFS Disclosure Schedules, a "SFS Regulatory Agreement") nor has SFS or
any of the SFS Subsidiaries been advised since December 31, 1995 by any
Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing or
requesting any such SFS Regulatory Agreement.

                    IV.16 OTHER ACTIVITIES OF SFS AND ITS SFS SUBSIDIARIES. 
Neither SFS nor any of the SFS Subsidiaries that is neither a bank, bank
operating subsidiary or a bank service corporation directly or indirectly
engages in any activity prohibited by the Federal Reserve. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, no equity investment of SFS or any SFS Subsidiary
that is neither a bank, a bank operating subsidiary nor a bank service
corporation is prohibited by the Federal Reserve.

                    IV.17  INVESTMENT SECURITIES. Each of SFS and the SFS 
Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all securities held by it (except
securities sold under repurchase agreements or held in any fiduciary or agency
capacity), free and clear of any Lien, except to the extent such securities are
pledged in the ordinary course of business consistent with prudent banking
practices to secure obligations of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries. Such
securities are valued on the books of SFS and the SFS Subsidiaries in accordance
with GAAP.

                    IV.18  UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except for those liabilities
that are fully reflected or reserved against on the consolidated statement of
financial condition of SFS included in the SFS First Quarter 10-Q, liabilities
disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.18 of the SFS Disclosure Schedules, and liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since
March 31, 1998, neither SFS nor any of the SFS Subsidiaries has incurred any
liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise and whether due or to become due) that, either alone or when combined
with all similar liabilities, has had, or could reasonably be expected to have,
a Material Adverse Effect on SFS.

                    IV.19  INSURANCE. SCHEDULE 4.19 of the SFS Disclosure 
Schedules describes all policies of insurance in which SFS or any of the SFS
Subsidiaries is named as an insured party or which otherwise relate to or cover
any assets or properties of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries. Each of such
policies is in full force and effect, and the coverage provided under such
properties complies with the requirements of any contracts binding on SFS or any
of the SFS Subsidiaries relating to such assets or properties. Except as set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.19 of the SFS Disclosure Schedules, neither SFS nor any of
the SFS Subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation or termination with
respect to any material insurance policy of SFS or any of the SFS Subsidiaries.

                    IV.20  LOAN LOSS RESERVES. The reserve for possible loan 
losses shown on the March 31, 1998 call report filed for each SFS Bank is
adequate in all material respects under the requirements of GAAP to provide for
possible losses, net of recoveries relating to loans previously charged off, on
loans outstanding as of March 31, 1998. The aggregate loan balances of each SFS
Bank at such date in excess of such reserves of each SFS Bank are, to the best
knowledge and belief of SFS, collectible in accordance with their terms.

                                       27

<PAGE>


                    IV.21  ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 4.21, there are no legal, administrative, arbitration or other
proceedings, claims, actions, causes of action, private environmental
investigations or remediation activities or governmental investigations of any
nature pending or, to the best of SFS's knowledge, threatened against SFS
seeking to impose, or that could reasonably result in the imposition, on SFS of
any liability or obligation arising under common law or under any local, state,
federal or foreign environmental statute, regulation or ordinance including,
without limitation, CERCLA which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, could
have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.21, to
the best of SFS's knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any such
proceeding, claim, action or governmental investigation that would impose any
such liability or obligation which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, could
have a Material Adverse Effect on SFS. SFS is not subject to any agreement,
order, judgment, decree, letter or memorandum by or with any court, governmental
authority, regulatory agency or third party imposing any such liability or
obligation which, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, could have a Material
Adverse Effect on SFS.

                    IV.22  APPROVAL DELAYS. SFS knows of no reason why any of 
the Requisite Regulatory Approvals (as defined in Section 7.1(b)) should be
denied or unduly delayed.

                    IV.23  VOTE REQUIRED. The approval by the holders of a 
majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of SFS Common Stock to
approve the Merger (including the issuance of shares of SFS Common Stock in
connection therewith) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of
the capital stock of SFS required for any of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement.

                    IV.24  OWNERSHIP OF HBE COMMON STOCK. Except as set forth in
SCHEDULE 4.24 of the SFS Disclosure Schedules and except pursuant to the terms
of the HBE Stock Option Agreement, SFS does not "beneficially own" (as such term
is defined for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) any shares of HBE
Common Stock.

                    IV.25  TAX MATTERS AND POOLING. 

                    Neither SFS nor, to SFS's knowledge, any of its affiliates
has through the date of this Agreement taken or agreed to take any action that
would prevent the Merger from qualifying (i) as a reorganization under Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code or (ii) for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment
under GAAP.

                                   ARTICLE V
                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

                    V.1  CONDUCT OF BUSINESSES PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME. 
During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except
as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger
(including the HBE Disclosure Schedules and the SFS Disclosure Schedules), each
of SFS and HBE shall, and shall cause the SFS Subsidiaries and the HBE Bank ,
respectively, to (a) conduct its business in good faith in the usual, regular
and ordinary course consistent with past practice, (b) use reasonable efforts to
maintain and preserve intact its business organization, employees and

                                       28

<PAGE>


advantageous business relationships and retain the services of its key officers
and key employees, and (c) take no action which would adversely affect or delay
the ability of either SFS or HBE to obtain any necessary approvals of any
Regulatory Agency or other governmental authority required for the transactions
contemplated hereby or to perform its covenants and agreements under this
Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the HBE Stock Option Agreement.

                    V.2  FORBEARANCES. During the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as set forth in the HBE Disclosure
Schedules or the SFS Disclosure Schedules, as the case may be, and, except as
expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the
HBE Stock Option Agreement, neither SFS nor HBE shall, nor shall SFS or HBE
permit the SFS Subsidiaries or the HBE Bank, respectively to, without the prior
written consent of the other:

(a)                 other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
                    with past practice, (i) incur any indebtedness for borrowed
                    money (other than pursuant to existing lines of credit or
                    short-term indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
                    business consistent with past practice, indebtedness of HBE
                    to the HBE Bank or of the HBE Bank to HBE, or indebtedness
                    of SFS to any of the SFS Subsidiaries or of any of the SFS
                    Subsidiaries to SFS, it being understood and agreed that
                    incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of
                    business shall include, without limitation, the creation of
                    deposit liabilities, purchases of Federal funds, Federal
                    Home Loan Bank borrowings, sales of certificates of deposit
                    and entering into repurchase agreements), (ii) assume,
                    guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become
                    responsible for the obligations of any other individual,
                    corporation or other entity; or (iii) make any loan or
                    advance;

(b)                 (i) adjust, split, combine or reclassify any capital stock,
                    (ii) make, declare or pay any dividend or make any other
                    distribution on, any shares of its capital stock or any
                    securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable
                    for any shares of its capital stock (except (A) in the case
                    of SFS, for regular quarterly cash dividends at a rate not
                    in excess of $0.12 per share of SFS Common Stock, and (B) in
                    the case of HBE, for regular quarterly cash dividends at a
                    rate not in excess of $0.10 per share of HBE Common Stock);
                    (iii) directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise
                    acquire any shares of capital stock or any securities or
                    obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any shares
                    of its capital stock; (iv) grant any stock appreciation
                    rights or grant any individual, corporation or other entity
                    any right to acquire any shares of its capital stock, or (v)
                    issue any additional shares of capital stock (except
                    pursuant to (A) the exercise of stock options outstanding as
                    of the date of this Agreement, or (B) the HBE Stock Option
                    Agreement);

(c)                 sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of
                    any of its properties or assets to any individual,
                    corporation or other entity other than a Subsidiary, or
                    cancel, release or assign any indebtedness to any such
                    person or any claims held by any such person, except in the
                    ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or
                    pursuant to contracts or agreements in force at the date of
                    this Agreement;

                                       29

<PAGE>

(d)                 except for transactions in the ordinary course of business
                    consistent with past practice or pursuant to contracts or
                    agreements in force at the date of this Agreement, make any
                    material investment either by purchase of stock or
                    securities, contributions to capital, property transfers, or
                    purchase of any property or assets of any other individual,
                    corporation or other entity other than a Subsidiary thereof
                    or any existing joint venture to which HBE or SFS is a
                    party;

(e)                 except for transactions in the ordinary course of business
                    consistent with past practice, enter into or terminate any
                    material contract or agreement, or make any change in any of
                    its material leases or contracts, other than renewals of
                    contracts and leases without material adverse changes of
                    terms; 

(f)                 other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
                    with past practice, or as required by law, increase in any
                    manner the compensation or fringe benefits of any of its
                    employees, or pay any pension or retirement allowance not
                    required by any existing plan or agreement to any such
                    employees or become a party to, amend or commit itself to
                    any pension, retirement, profit-sharing or welfare benefit
                    plan or agreement or employment agreement with or for the
                    benefit of any employee;

(g)                 grant, amend or modify in any material respect any stock
                    option, stock awards or other stock based compensation,
                    except as contemplated in Section 1.5(c) hereof;

(h)                 pay, discharge or satisfy any material claims, liabilities
                    or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or
                    unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the
                    payment, discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course
                    of business consistent with past practice (which includes
                    the payment of final and unappealable judgments) or in
                    accordance with their terms, of liabilities reflected or
                    reserved against in, or contemplated by, the most recent
                    consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of
                    such party included in such party's reports filed with the
                    SEC, or incurred in the ordinary course of business
                    consistent with past practice; 

(i)                 take any action that would prevent or impede the Merger from
                    qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
                    368 of the Code; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing contained
                    herein shall limit the ability of HBE or SFS to exercise its
                    rights under the HBE Stock Option Agreement;

(j)                 amend its articles of incorporation (other than, in the case
                    of SFS, to increase the amount of its authorized common
                    stock) or its bylaws; 

(k)                 other than in prior consultation with the other party to
                    this Agreement, restructure or materially change its
                    investment securities portfolio or its gap position, through
                    purchases, sales, or otherwise, or the manner in which the
                    portfolio is classified or reported;

(l)                 take any action that is intended or may reasonably be
                    expected to result in any of its representations and
                    warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming
                    untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the
                    Effective Time, or in any of the conditions to the Merger
                    set forth in Article VII not being satisfied or in a

                                       30

<PAGE>


                    violation of any provision of this Agreement, the Plan of
                    Merger or the HBE Stock Option Agreement, except, in every
                    case, as may be required by applicable law; or

(m)                 agree to, or make any commitment to, take any of the actions
                    prohibited by this Section 5.2.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

                    VI.1  REGULATORY MATTERS; COOPERATION WITH RESPECT TO FILING

(a)                 (i) SFS shall promptly prepare and file with the SEC the
                    Joint Proxy Statement in preliminary form; (ii) SFS shall
                    promptly prepare and file an application with the Federal
                    Reserve and any necessary state applications, for approval
                    to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
                    Agreement, the Plan of Merger and, to the extent required,
                    the HBE Stock Option Agreement. Each of SFS and HBE shall
                    use all reasonable efforts to have the S-4, in which the
                    Joint Proxy Statement will be included as a prospectus,
                    declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as
                    practicable after such filing and to mail or deliver the
                    Joint Proxy Statement to their respective shareholders. SFS
                    shall also use all reasonable efforts to obtain all
                    necessary state securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and
                    approvals required to carry out the transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger, and
                    HBE shall furnish all information concerning HBE and the
                    holders of the HBE Common Stock as may be reasonably
                    requested by SFS in connection with any such action.

(b)                 The parties hereto shall cooperate with each other and shall
                    each use reasonable efforts to promptly prepare and file all
                    necessary documentation, to effect all applications,
                    notices, petitions and filings, to obtain as promptly as
                    practicable all permits, consents, approvals and
                    authorizations of all third parties and Governmental
                    Entities which are necessary or advisable to consummate the
                    transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of
                    Merger (including, without limitation, the Merger), and to
                    comply with the terms and conditions of all such permits,
                    consents, approvals and authorizations of all such
                    Governmental Entities. SFS and HBE shall have the right to
                    review in advance, and, to the extent practicable, each will
                    consult the other on, in each case subject to applicable
                    laws relating to the exchange of information, all the
                    information relating to SFS or HBE, as the case may be, and
                    the SFS Subsidiaries and the HBE Bank, respectively, which
                    appears in any filing made with, or written materials
                    submitted to, any third party or any Governmental Entity in
                    connection with the transactions contemplated by this
                    Agreement and the Plan of Merger. In exercising the
                    foregoing right, each of the parties hereto shall act
                    reasonably and as promptly as practicable. The parties
                    hereto agree that they will consult with each other with
                    respect to the obtaining of all permits, consents, approvals
                    and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental
                    Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the
                    transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of
                    Merger, and each party will keep the other apprised of the
                    status of matters relating to completion of the transactions
                    contemplated herein. 

                                       31

<PAGE>

(c)                 SFS and HBE shall, upon request, furnish each other with all
                    information concerning themselves, and the SFS Subsidiaries
                    and the HBE Bank, respectively, directors, officers and
                    shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably
                    necessary or advisable in connection with the Joint Proxy
                    Statement, the S-4 or any other statement, filing, notice or
                    application made by or on behalf of SFS or HBE or the SFS
                    Subsidiaries and the HBE Bank, as the case may be, to any
                    Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the
                    other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
                    Plan of Merger. SFS covenants and agrees that none of the
                    information which is furnished by SFS for inclusion, or
                    which is included, in the S-4, the Joint Proxy Statement or
                    any other statement, filing, notice or application made by
                    or on behalf of SFS or HBE or the SFS Subsidiaries or the
                    HBE Bank, as the case may be, to any Governmental Entity in
                    connection with the Merger and the other transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger will,
                    at the respective times such documents are filed and, in the
                    case of the S-4, when it becomes effective and, with respect
                    to the Joint Proxy Statement, when mailed or at the time of
                    the meetings of the shareholders of SFS and HBE, be false or
                    misleading with respect to any material fact or shall omit
                    to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
                    statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which
                    they were made, not misleading. HBE covenants and agrees
                    that none of the information which is furnished by HBE for
                    inclusion, or which is included, in the S-4, the Joint Proxy
                    Statement or any other statement, filing, notice or
                    application made by or on behalf of SFS or HBE or the SFS
                    Subsidiaries or the HBE Bank, as the case may be, to any
                    Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the
                    other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
                    Plan of Merger will, at the respective times such documents
                    are filed and, in the case of the S-4, when it becomes
                    effective and, with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement,
                    when mailed or at the time of the meetings of the
                    shareholders of SFS and HBE, be false or misleading with
                    respect to any material fact or shall omit to state any
                    material fact necessary in order to make the statements
                    therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were
                    made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, SFS
                    shall have no responsibility for the truth or accuracy of
                    any information with respect to HBE or the HBE Bank included
                    in the S-4, the Joint Proxy Statement, or any other
                    statement, filing, notice or application filed with any
                    Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the
                    other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
                    Plan of Merger, and HBE shall have no responsibility for the
                    truth or accuracy of any information with respect to SFS or
                    the SFS Subsidiaries included in the S-4, the Joint Proxy
                    Statement, or any other statement, filing, notice or
                    application filed with any Governmental Entity in connection
                    with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
                    this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

(d)                 SFS and HBE shall promptly advise one another upon receiving
                    any communication from any Governmental Entity whose consent
                    or approval is required for consummation of the transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement and the Plan of Merger which
                    causes such party to believe that there is a reasonable
                    likelihood that any Requisite Regulatory Approval will not
                    be obtained or that the receipt of any such approval will be
                    materially delayed.


                    VI.2   ACCESS TO INFORMATION; DUE DILIGENCE.

                                       32

<PAGE>


(a)                 Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws
                    relating to the exchange of information, each of SFS and HBE
                    shall, and shall cause the SFS Subsidiaries and the HBE
                    Bank, respectively, to, afford to the officers, employees,
                    accountants, counsel and other representatives of the other
                    party, access, during normal business hours during the
                    period prior to the Effective Time, to all its properties,
                    books, contracts, commitments and records and, during such
                    period, each of SFS and HBE shall, and shall cause the SFS
                    Subsidiaries and the HBE Bank, respectively, to, make
                    available to the other party (i) a copy of each report,
                    schedule, registration statement and other document filed or
                    received by it during such period pursuant to the
                    requirements of federal securities laws or federal or state
                    banking laws, and (ii) all other information concerning its
                    business, properties and personnel as such party may
                    reasonably request. Neither SFS, HBE, the SFS Subsidiaries
                    nor the HBE Bank shall be required to provide access to or
                    to disclose information where such access or disclosure
                    would (A) violate or prejudice the rights of SFS's or HBE's,
                    as the case may be, customers or contravene any law, rule,
                    regulation, order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or
                    binding agreement entered into prior to the date of this
                    Agreement, or (B) impair any attorney-client privilege of
                    the disclosing party. The parties hereto will make
                    appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under
                    circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding
                    sentence apply.

(b)                 Each of SFS and HBE shall hold all information furnished by
                    or on behalf of the other party or the SFS Subsidiaries or
                    the HBE Bank, as the case may be, or their representatives
                    pursuant to Section 6.2(a) in confidence and shall return
                    all documents containing any information concerning the
                    properties, business and assets of each other party that may
                    have been obtained in the course of negotiations or
                    examination of the affairs of each other party either prior
                    or subsequent to the execution of this Agreement (other than
                    such information as shall be in the public domain or
                    otherwise ascertainable from public or outside sources) and
                    shall destroy any information, analyses or the like derived
                    from such confidential information. Each of SFS and HBE
                    shall use such information solely for the purpose of
                    conducting business, legal and financial reviews of the
                    other party and for such other purposes as may be related to
                    this Agreement and the Plan of Merger.

(c)                 No investigation by either of the parties or their
                    respective representatives shall affect the representations
                    and warranties of the other set forth herein. Without
                    limitation of the foregoing, each party shall promptly
                    notify the other party of any information obtained by such
                    party during the course of any due diligence conducted by
                    such party or its representatives in accordance with this
                    Section 6.2 which is materially inconsistent with any
                    representation or warranty made by the other party under
                    this Agreement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that either party's
                    failure to provide such notice to the other party shall not,
                    in turn, be deemed to constitute a material breach of such
                    party's obligations under this Agreement and the Plan of
                    Merger.

                    VI.3   SHAREHOLDERS' APPROVALS. Each of SFS and HBE shall 
call a meeting of its shareholders to be held as soon as reasonably practicable
for the purpose of voting upon this Agreement and the Plan of Merger (and, in
the case of SFS, the issuance of shares of 

                                       33

<PAGE>

SFS Common Stock in the Merger and the reserve of shares of SFS Common Stock for
the HBE Option Plan), and each shall use all reasonable efforts to obtain
shareholder approval of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the Merger.

                    VI.4  LEGAL CONDITIONS TO MERGER. Each of SFS and HBE shall,
and shall cause the SFS Subsidiaries and the HBE Bank, respectively, to use
reasonable efforts (a) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary,
proper or advisable to comply promptly with all legal requirements which may be
imposed on such party with respect to the Merger and, subject to the conditions
set forth in Article VII hereof, to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the Plan of Merger and (b) to obtain (and to cooperate with
the other party to obtain) any consent, authorization, order or approval of, or
any exemption by, any Governmental Entity and any other third party which is
required to be obtained by SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries, HBE or the HBE Bank in
connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the HBE Stock Option Agreement.

                    VI.5 LISTING OF SHARES. SFS shall use all reasonable efforts
to cause the shares of SFS Common Stock issuable in the Merger to be approved
for listing on the NASDAQ-NMS.

                    VI.6  Indemnification; Directors' and Officers' Insurance.

(a)                 In the event of any threatened or actual claim, action,
                    suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal
                    or administrative, including, without limitation, any such
                    claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation in which
                    any individual who is now, or has been at any time prior to
                    the date of this Agreement, or who becomes prior to the
                    Effective Time, a director or officer or employee of SFS,
                    the SFS Subsidiaries, HBE or the HBE Bank (the "Indemnified
                    Parties"), is, or is threatened to be, made a party based in
                    whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of,
                    or pertaining to (i) the fact that he or she is or was a
                    director, officer or employee of SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries,
                    HBE or the HBE Bank or any of their respective predecessors,
                    or (ii) this Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the HBE Stock
                    Option Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
                    hereby or thereby, whether in any case asserted or arising
                    before or after the Effective Time, the parties hereto agree
                    to cooperate and use reasonable efforts to defend against
                    and respond thereto. It is understood and agreed that after
                    the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall
                    indemnify and hold harmless, as and to the fullest extent
                    permitted by law, each such Indemnified Party against any
                    losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses
                    (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses in
                    advance of the final disposition of any claim, suit,
                    proceeding or investigation incurred by each Indemnified
                    Party to the fullest extent permitted by law, including the
                    full scope of indemnification available to officers and
                    directors of federally chartered thrift institutions with
                    respect to HBE, upon receipt of any undertaking required by
                    applicable law), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
                    settlement in connection with any such threatened or actual
                    claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, and in the
                    event of any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit,
                    proceeding or investigation (whether asserted or arising
                    before or after the Effective Time), the Indemnified Parties
                    may retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to them

                                       34

<PAGE>

                    after consultation with the Surviving Corporation; PROVIDED,
                    HOWEVER, that (A) the Surviving Corporation shall have the
                    right to assume the defense thereof and upon such assumption
                    the Surviving Corporation shall not be liable to any
                    Indemnified Party for any legal expenses of other counsel or
                    any other expenses subsequently incurred by any Indemnified
                    Party in connection with the defense thereof, except that if
                    the Surviving Corporation elects not to assume such defense
                    or counsel for the Indemnified Parties reasonably advises
                    the Indemnified Parties that there are issues which raise
                    conflicts of interest between the Surviving Corporation and
                    the Indemnified Parties, the Indemnified Parties may retain
                    counsel reasonably satisfactory to them after consultation
                    with the Surviving Corporation, and the Surviving
                    Corporation shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of
                    such counsel for the Indemnified Parties, (B) the Surviving
                    Corporation shall be obligated pursuant to this paragraph to
                    pay for only one firm of counsel for all Indemnified
                    Parties, unless an Indemnified Party shall have reasonably
                    concluded, based on the advice of counsel, that there is a
                    material conflict of interest between the interests of such
                    Indemnified Party and the interests of one or more other
                    Indemnified Parties and that the interests of such
                    Indemnified Party will not be adequately represented unless
                    separate counsel is retained, in which case, the Surviving
                    Corporation shall be obligated to pay such separate counsel,
                    (C) the Surviving Corporation shall not be liable for any
                    settlement effected without its prior written consent (which
                    consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) and (D) the
                    Surviving Corporation shall have no obligation hereunder to
                    any Indemnified Party when and if a court of competent
                    jurisdiction shall ultimately determine, and such
                    determination shall have become final and nonappealable,
                    that indemnification of such Indemnified Party in the manner
                    contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law. Any
                    Indemnified Party wishing to claim Indemnification under
                    this Section 6.6, upon learning of any such claim, action,
                    suit, proceeding or investigation, shall notify the
                    Surviving Corporation thereof, provided that the failure to
                    so notify shall not affect the obligations of the Surviving
                    Corporation under this Section 6.6 except to the extent such
                    failure to notify materially prejudices the Surviving
                    Corporation. The Surviving Corporation's obligations under
                    this Section 6.6 shall continue in full force and effect for
                    a period of five years from the Effective Time (or the
                    period of the applicable statute of limitations, if longer);
                    PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all rights to indemnification in
                    respect of any claim (a "Claim") asserted or made within
                    such period shall continue until the final disposition of
                    such Claim.

(b)                 The Surviving Corporation shall use reasonable efforts (i)
                    to obtain, after the Effective Time, directors' and
                    officers' liability insurance coverage for the officers and
                    directors of the Surviving Corporation, to the extent that
                    the same is economically practicable, and (ii) either (A) to
                    cause the individuals serving as officers and directors of
                    SFS, the SFS Subsidiaries, HBE or the HBE Bank immediately
                    prior to the Effective Time to be covered for a period of
                    three years from the Effective Time by the directors' and
                    officers' liability insurance policies maintained by the
                    Surviving Corporation, or to (B) substitute therefor
                    policies of at least the same coverage and amounts
                    containing terms and conditions which are not less
                    advantageous than the policies previously maintained by SFS
                    and HBE, respectively, with respect to acts or omissions
                    occurring prior to the Effective Time which were committed
                    by such officers and directors in their capacity as such;

                                       35

<PAGE>

                    PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall the Surviving
                    Corporation be required to expend per year an amount in
                    excess of 200% of the premium for such insurance paid by SFS
                    during its 1997 fiscal year (the "Insurance Amount") to
                    maintain or procure insurance coverage pursuant to clause
                    (ii) of this sentence, and provided further that if the
                    Surviving Corporation is unable to maintain or obtain the
                    insurance called for by clause (ii) of this sentence, the
                    Surviving Corporation shall use reasonable efforts to obtain
                    as much comparable insurance as available for the Insurance
                    Amount. 

(c)                 In the event the Surviving Corporation or any of its
                    successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into
                    any other person and shall not be the continuing or
                    surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
                    merger, or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially
                    all of its properties and assets to any person, then, and in
                    each such case, to the extent necessary, proper provision
                    shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the
                    Surviving Corporation assume the obligations set forth in
                    this Section 6.6. 

(d)                 The provisions of this Section 6.6 are intended to be for
                    the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each
                    Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives.


                    VI.7  ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.  In case at any time after the
Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the
purposes of this Agreement, the Plan of Merger or the HBE Stock Option Agreement
or to vest SFS with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals,
immunities and franchises of any of the parties to the Merger, the proper
officers and directors of each party to this Agreement shall take, or cause the
proper officers and directors of the SFS Subsidiaries or the HBE Bank to take,
as the case may be, all such necessary action as may be reasonably requested by
SFS.

                    VI.8  ADVICE OF CHANGES. Between the date hereof and the
Effective Time, SFS and HBE shall promptly provide notice to the other party of
any change or event having a Material Adverse Effect on it or which it believes
would or would be reasonably likely to cause or constitute a material breach of
any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained herein.

                    VI.9  NO CONDUCT INCONSISTENT WITH THIS AGREEMENT.

(a)                 HBE shall not from the date hereof through the Effective
                    Time or the termination of this Agreement:

                    (i)  solicit, encourage or authorize any individual,
                         corporation or other entity to solicit from any third
                         party any inquires or proposals relating to the
                         disposition of its business or assets, or the
                         acquisition of its capital stock, or the merger of it
                         or the HBE Bank, respectively, with any corporation or
                         other entity other than as provided by this Agreement
                         except pursuant to a written direction from a
                         regulatory authority; or

                    (ii) negotiate with or entertain any proposals from any
                         other person for any such transaction wherein the
                         business, assets or capital stock of it or the HBE
                         Bank, respectively, would be acquired, directly or
                         indirectly, by any party 



                                       36

<PAGE>

                         other than as provided by this Agreement, except
                         pursuant to a written direction from any regulatory
                         authority or upon the receipt of an unsolicited offer
                         from a third party where the Board of Directors of HBE
                         reasonably believes, upon the written opinion of
                         counsel, that its fiduciary duties require it to enter
                         into discussions with such party. HBE shall promptly
                         notify SFS of all of the relevant details relating to
                         all inquiries and proposals which it may receive
                         relating to any proposed disposition of its business or
                         assets, or the acquisition of its capital stock, or the
                         merger of it or the HBE Bank, respectively, with any
                         corporation or other entity other than as provided by
                         this Agreement and shall keep SFS informed of the
                         status and details of any such inquiry or proposal, and
                         shall give SFS five days' advance notice of any
                         agreement to be entered into with, or any information
                         to be supplied to, any person making such inquiry or
                         proposal; or

(b)                 Nothing contained herein shall prohibit HBE from disclosing
                    to its shareholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a)
                    under the Exchange Act with respect to a tender offer for
                    HBE Common Stock, or satisfying any other applicable
                    disclosure obligations under the federal securities laws.

                    VI.10  Employee Matters.

(a)                 At the Effective Time, SFS shall assume and honor the
                    written terms and conditions of the existing written
                    employment agreements and employee retention agreements
                    ("HBE Employment Contracts") with officers and employees of
                    HBE and HBE Bank that are included in the HBE Disclosure
                    Schedules. SFS acknowledges that the consummation of the
                    transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall trigger
                    the "change in control" provisions in the HBE Employment
                    Contracts and may require payments to be made thereunder.
                    SFS agrees to honor the terms of these Employment Contracts
                    and agrees to make all payments, as and when required
                    thereunder. SFS acknowledges that George L. Perucco and Lyle
                    N. Dolan will terminate employment with HBE and HBE Bank as
                    of the Effective Time and will be paid in full all amounts
                    due under their respective HBE Employment Contracts on that
                    date. At the Effective Time, SFS shall enter into a
                    consulting agreement with George L. Perucco attached hereto
                    as Exhibit C. The provisions of - the foregoing Section are
                    intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable
                    by, each party to, or beneficiary of, the foregoing HBE
                    Employment Contracts, and his or her representatives.

(b)                 The Merger shall not effect any interruption in the
                    employment of employees of HBE Bank (hereinafter each an
                    "HBE Employee"). SFS agrees to assume and honor the terms
                    and conditions of the Severance Pay Plan of Home Federal
                    Savings and Loan Association of Elgin ("HBE Severance Plan")
                    included in the HBE Disclosure Schedules. SFS also agrees
                    that, in connection with reviewing applicants for employment
                    positions, it shall give any HBE Employee who is terminated
                    within three (3) months after the Effective Time, the same
                    priority consideration with respect to hiring, that is given
                    to SFS employees for such positions in accordance with any
                    formal or informal policies of SFS for a period of three (3)
                    months from such date of termination. The foregoing
                    provisions are intended to be for the



                                       37

<PAGE>

                    benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each party to, or
                    beneficiary of, the foregoing agreements and arrangements,
                    and his or her representatives.

(c)                 Effective as of the Effective Time, SFS shall assume
                    sponsorship of the HBE ESOP as the successor employer to
                    HBE. Prior to the date on which a "change in control" (as
                    such term is defined in the HBE ESOP, hereinafter "ESOP
                    Change in Control") occurs, the HBE ESOP will be amended (i)
                    to eliminate Section 14.3(b); (ii) to eliminate Section
                    14.4; (iii) to amend Article XIV of the HBE ESOP to provide
                    for the allocation of excess assets remaining after its
                    outstanding loan is satisfied to be made to the HBE ESOP
                    participants and beneficiaries in the same manner as
                    earnings received by the ESOP on investments allocated to
                    participants' accounts are allocated; and (iv) to adopt any
                    other amendments to the HBE ESOP that are deemed necessary
                    to accomplish all of the foregoing and the final allocation
                    of all the HBE ESOP's remaining assets to all of the ESOP's
                    participants and their beneficiaries. Following the
                    Effective Time, and subject to receipt of a favorable
                    determination from the Internal Revenue Service that the
                    merger does not adversely affect qualification of the merged
                    plan, the HBE ESOP will be merged into the SFS 401k Savings
                    Plan. In the event that between the date of the execution of
                    this Agreement and the Effective Time, it is determined, to
                    the satisfaction of HBE and SFS, that the HBE ESOP is not an
                    "affiliate" within the meaning of Rule 145 of the Securities
                    Act of 1933, as amended ("Securities Act"), the HBE ESOP
                    Trustee shall be permitted to sell unallocated shares of HBE
                    Common Stock held in its suspense account at any time and
                    all such times as the Trustee shall deem to be prudent on or
                    after the date the ESOP Change in Control has occurred in
                    order to repay the HBE ESOP's outstanding loan. In the event
                    that the HBE ESOP or the trust which forms part thereof is
                    determined to be an affiliate of HBE within the meaning of
                    Rule 145 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
                    Commission under the Securities Act, no provision of Article
                    XIV of the HBE ESOP shall be interpreted to require the sale
                    of shares of HBE Common Stock held by the trust during the
                    period beginning thirty (30) days prior to the Effective
                    Time and ending immediately after the release by SFS of
                    financial results covering at least thirty (30) days of
                    post-Merger combined operations by means of filing a Form
                    10-Q, 10-K or 8-K under the Securities Act of 1934, as
                    amended, the issuance of a quarterly earnings report, or any
                    other public issuance which satisfies the requirements of
                    Accounting Series Release 135, as amended by Staff
                    Accounting Bulletins Nos. 65 and 76. Effective as of the
                    Effective Time, SFS and HBE agree that former participants
                    in the HBE ESOP shall be treated as new hires for purposes
                    of the State Financial Services Corporation Employee Stock
                    Ownership Plan. The foregoing provisions are intended to be
                    for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each party
                    to, or beneficiary of, the foregoing agreements and
                    arrangements, and his or her representatives. 

(d)                 At the Effective Time, each HBE Employee shall immediately
                    become eligible to participate in the State Financial
                    Services Corporation and Subsidiaries Money Purchase Plan
                    (the "Pension Plan"). The Surviving Corporation will give
                    each HBE Employee full credit for prior service with HBE or
                    the HBE Bank for purposes of eligibility to participate
                    under the Pension Plan. HBE employees will be treated as new
                    hires for vesting purposes under the Pension Plan. SFS
                    agrees to take, prior to the Effective Time, all actions
                    necessary to cause amendments to be made to the 

                                       38

<PAGE>

                    Plan in order to give effect to the preceding sentences. The
                    foregoing provisions are intended to be for the benefit of,
                    and shall be enforceable by, each party to, or beneficiary
                    of, the foregoing agreements and arrangements, and his or
                    her representatives.

(e)                 At the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation will give
                    each HBE Employee full credit for prior service with HBE or
                    the HBE Bank for purposes of eligibility to participate and
                    vesting in the State Financial Service Corporation 401(k)
                    Savings Plan and the Effective Time will be a special entry
                    date thereunder for HBE employees. SFS agrees to take, prior
                    to the Effective Time, all actions necessary to cause
                    amendments to be made to the Plan in order to give effect to
                    the preceding sentences. The foregoing provisions are
                    intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable
                    by, each party to, or beneficiary of, the foregoing
                    agreements and arrangements, and his or her representatives.

(f)                 At the Effective Time, each HBE Employee shall immediately
                    become eligible to participate in all employee welfare
                    benefit plans and other fringe benefits programs offered or
                    maintained by the Surviving Corporation on the same terms
                    and conditions that the Surviving Corporation may make
                    available to officers and employees of the SFS Banks,
                    including, without limitation, any health, life, long-term
                    disability, short-term disability, severance, vacation or
                    paid time off programs (the "SFS Welfare Plans"). Any
                    expenses incurred by an HBE Employee under the HBE or an HBE
                    Bank employee welfare benefit plans (such as deductibles or
                    co-payments), shall be counted for all purposes under the
                    SFS Welfare Plans. SFS Bank shall provide insurance coverage
                    (for which SFS or SFS Bank may act as the self-insurer) for
                    pre-existing medical conditions (to the extent such
                    condition is currently covered under the HBE plan, and such
                    condition would be covered under SFS Bank's plan if it were
                    no pre-existing), subject to deductibles and/or copayment
                    provisions generally applicable to such coverage. The
                    foregoing provisions are intended to be for the benefit of,
                    and shall be enforceable by, each party to, or beneficiary
                    of, the foregoing agreements and arrangements, and his or
                    her representatives.

(g)                 At the Effective Time, SFS shall assume all of the
                    obligations under the HBE RRP and HBE Option Plan, and all
                    shares of HBE Common Stock owned by the HBE RRP, which have
                    not been awarded, shall be canceled at or prior to the
                    Effective Time.

                    VI.11 TAX TREATMENT AND POOLING. Each of HBE and SFS will 
use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify for
pooling-of-interests accounting treatment and as a reorganization under Section
368(a)(1)(A) of the Code.

                    VI.12 DIVIDENDS. After the date of this Agreement, each of
SFS and HBE shall coordinate with the other the declaration of any dividends in
respect of SFS Common Stock and HBE Common Stock and the record dates and
payment dates relating thereto, it being the intention of the parties hereto
that holders of SFS Common Stock or HBE Common Stock shall not receive two
dividends, or fail to receive one dividend, for any quarter with respect to
their shares of SFS Common Stock and/or HBE Common Stock and

                                       39

<PAGE>

any shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation any holder of HBE Common
Stock receives in exchange therefor in the Merger.

                    VI.13  RULE 145 AFFILIATES. Within 30 days before the 
Closing Date, HBE shall identify in a letter to SFS all persons who are, and to
HBE's knowledge who will be at the Closing Date, "affiliates" of HBE as such
term is used in Rule 145 under the Securities Act. HBE shall use all reasonable
efforts to cause its affiliates (including any person who may be deemed to have
become an affiliate after the date of the letter referred to in the prior
sentence) to deliver to SFS on or prior to the Closing Date a written agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as EXHIBIT F.

                    VI.14 DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES.  On the date hereof,

(a)                 SFS has delivered to HBE the SFS Disclosure Schedules,
                    accompanied by a certificate signed by the Chief Financial
                    officer of SFS stating the SFS Disclosure Schedules are
                    being delivered pursuant to this Section 6.14.

(b)                 HBE has delivered to SFS the HBE Disclosure Schedules,
                    accompanied by a certificate signed by the Chief Financial
                    Officer of HBE stating the HBE Disclosure Schedules are
                    being delivered pursuant to this Section 6.14. O. FILING AND
                    OTHER FEES.

                    VI.15  All filing and other fees paid to the SEC, the
Federal Reserve, the OTS or any State Regulatory Agency in connection with the
Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the costs and
expenses of printing and mailing the Joint Proxy Statement shall be borne
equally by SFS and HBE.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

                    VI.14 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE
MERGER. The respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following
conditions:

(a)                 SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. This Agreement, the Plan of Merger and
                    the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall have
                    been approved and adopted by the respective requisite
                    affirmative votes of the holders of HBE Common Stock and SFS
                    Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

(b)                 OTHER APPROVALS. All regulatory approvals required to
                    consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
                    been obtained, on terms and conditions reasonably
                    satisfactory to each of HBE and SFS, and shall remain in
                    full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in
                    respect thereof shall have expired (all such approvals and
                    the expiration of all such waiting periods being referred to
                    herein as the "Requisite Regulatory Approvals"). 

(c)                 REGISTRATION STATEMENTS. The S-4 shall have become effective
                    under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the
                    effectiveness of the S-4 shall have been issued and no
                    proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or,
                    to the knowledge of SFS or HBE, threatened by the SEC.

                                       40
<PAGE>

(d)                 NO INJUNCTIONS OR RESTRAINTS; ILLEGALITY. No order,
                    injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of
                    competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or
                    prohibition (an "Injunction") preventing the consummation of
                    the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by
                    this Agreement or the Plan of Merger shall be in effect. No
                    statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or decree shall
                    have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any
                    Governmental Entity which prohibits, materially restricts or
                    makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

(e)                 FEDERAL TAX OPINION. HBE and SFS shall each have
                    received an opinion of their respective counsel, in form and
                    substance reasonably satisfactory to each, dated as of the
                    Effective Time, substantially to the effect that on the
                    basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set
                    forth in such opinion which are consistent with the state of
                    facts existing at the Effective Time, the merger will
                    constitute for federal income tax purposes a reorganization
                    under Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code and that accordingly:
                    
                    (i)  No gain or loss will be recognized by HBE or SFS as
                         a result of the Merger;

                    (ii) Except to the extent of any cash received in lieu of a
                         fractional share interest in SFS Common Stock, no gain
                         or loss will be recognized by the shareholders of HBE
                         who exchange their HBE Common Stock for SFS Common
                         Stock pursuant to the Merger;

                    (iii)The aggregate tax basis of SFS Common Stock received by
                         shareholders who exchange their HBE Common Stock for
                         SFS Common Stock in the Merger will be the same as the
                         aggregate tax basis of HBE Common Stock surrendered
                         pursuant to the Merger, reduced by any amount allocable
                         to a fractional share interest for which cash is
                         received and increased by any gain recognized on the
                         exchange; and

                    (iv) The holding period of SFS Common Stock received by each
                         shareholder in the Merger will include the holding
                         period of HBE Common Stock exchanged therefor, provided
                         that such shareholder held such HBE Common Stock as a
                         capital asset on the date of the Merger.

                    Such opinion may be based on, in addition to the review of
                    such matters of fact and law as such counsel consider
                    appropriate, (i) representations made at the request of such
                    counsel by HBE and SFS, or either of them and (ii)
                    certificates provided at the request of such counsel by
                    officers of HBE, SFS and other appropriate persons. 


(f)                 POOLING OF INTERESTS.HBE shall have received a letter of
                    HBE's independent accountants, dated as of the Effective
                    Time, stating that HBE is an entity that qualifies for
                    pooling-of-interests accounting treatment pursuant to GAAP.
                    SFS shall also have received a letter of SFS's independent
                    accountants, dated the Effective Time, stating that the
                    transactions effective pursuant to this Agreement will
                    qualify as a pooling-of-interests pursuant to GAAP.

                                       41

<PAGE>

                    VII.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF HBE. The obligation of 
HBE to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by HBE,
at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
                    warranties of SFS set forth in this Agreement shall be true
                    and correct (i) on and as of the date hereof and (ii) on and
                    as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such
                    representations and warranties had been made on and as of
                    the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties
                    that expressly speak only as of a specific date or time
                    other than the date hereof or the Closing Date which need
                    only be true and correct as of such date or time) except in
                    each of cases (i) and (ii) for such failures of
                    representations or warranties to be true and correct
                    (without regard to any materiality qualifications contained
                    therein) which, individually or in the aggregate do not, and
                    insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, would not, result in
                    an SFS Material Adverse Effect. HBE shall have received a
                    certificate signed on behalf of SFS by the Chief Executive
                    Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SFS to the foregoing
                    effect.

(b)                 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF SFS. SFS shall have performed 
                    in all material respects all obligations required to be
                    performed by it under this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and
                    the HBE Stock Option Agreement at or prior to the Closing
                    Date, and HBE shall have received a certificate signed on
                    behalf of SFS by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
                    Financial Officer of SFS to such effect.

(c)                 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since the date of this 
                    Agreement, (i) no event shall have occurred which has had a
                    Material Adverse Effect on SFS, and (ii) no condition (other
                    than general economic or competitive conditions generally
                    affecting bank holding companies and banks of a size or in
                    locations comparable to those of SFS or the SFS
                    Subsidiaries), event, circumstances, fact or other
                    occurrence shall have occurred that may reasonably be
                    expected to have or result in such a Material Adverse Effect
                    on SFS.

(d)                 OPINION OF COUNSEL TO SFS. HBE shall have received from 
                    Foley & Lardner, counsel to SFS, an opinion, dated the
                    Closing Date, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT L.


(e)                 COMFORT LETTERS. HBE shall have received from Ernst & Young 
                    "comfort letters" dated the date of mailing of the Joint
                    Proxy Statement and the Closing Date, covering matters
                    customary to transactions such as the Merger and in form and
                    substance reasonably satisfactory to HBE.

(f)                 FAIRNESS OPINION. HBE shall have received from Hovde 
                    Financial, Inc., a fairness opinion, dated the date of
                    mailing of the Joint Proxy Statement and in form and
                    substance reasonably satisfactory to HBE, to the effect that
                    the consideration to be received in the Merger by the
                    shareholders of HBE is fair, from a financial point of view,
                    to the shareholders of HBE.

                    VII.3  CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF SFS. The obligation of
SFS to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by SFS,
at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

                                       42

<PAGE>




(a)                 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
                    warranties of HBE set forth in this Agreement shall be true
                    and correct (i) on and as of the date hereof and (ii) on and
                    as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though such
                    representations and warranties had been made on and as of
                    the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties
                    that expressly speak only as of a specific date or time
                    other than the date hereof or the Closing Date which need
                    only be true and correct as of such date or time) except in
                    each of cases (i) and (ii) for such failures of
                    representations or warranties to be true and correct
                    (without regard to any materiality qualifications contained
                    therein) which, individually or in the aggregate do not, and
                    insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, would not, result in
                    an HBE Material Adverse Effect. SFS shall have received a
                    certificate signed on behalf of HBE by the Chief Executive
                    Officer and Chief Financial Officer of HBE to the foregoing
                    effect. 


(b)                 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF HBE. HBE shall have performed
                    in all material respects all obligations required to be
                    performed by it under this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and
                    the HBE Stock Option Agreement at or prior to the Closing
                    Date, and SFS shall have received a certificate signed on
                    behalf of HBE by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief
                    Financial Officer of HBE to such effect.


(c)                 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Since the date of this
                    Agreement, (i) no event shall have occurred which has had a
                    Material Adverse Effect on HBE, and (ii) no condition (other
                    than general economic or competitive conditions generally
                    affecting savings and loan holding companies and savings
                    associations of a size or in locations comparable to those
                    of HBE or the HBE Bank), event, circumstances, fact or other
                    occurrence shall have occurred that may reasonably be
                    expected to have or result in such a Material Adverse Effect
                    on HBE. 

(d)                 OPINION OF COUNSEL TO HBE. SFS shall have received from
                    Thacher, Proffitt & Wood, counsel to HBE, an opinion, dated
                    the Closing Date, in substantially the form of EXHIBIT M.

(e)                 COMFORT LETTERS. SFS and HBE shall have received from KPMG
                    Peat Marwick LLP "comfort letters" dated the date of mailing
                    of the Joint Proxy Statement and the Closing Date, covering
                    matters customary to transactions such as the Merger and in
                    form and substance reasonably satisfactory to SFS and HBE.

(f)                 FAIRNESS OPINION. SFS shall have received from Everen
                    Securities (or another recognized investment banking firm) a
                    fairness opinion, dated the date of mailing of the Joint
                    Proxy Statement and in form and substance reasonably
                    satisfactory to SFS, to the effect that the consideration
                    received by SFS shareholders pursuant to the Merger is fair,
                    from a financial point of view, to the shareholders of SFS.

(g)                 AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. SFS shall have received Affiliate
                    Agreements, duly executed by each affiliate of HBE,
                    substantially in the form of EXHIBIT F. 


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                       TERMINATION, EXPENSES AND AMENDMENT


                                       43
<PAGE>

                    VII.1 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated prior to
                    the Effective Time:

(a)                 at any time, whether before or after approval of the matters
                    presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders
                    of SFS or HBE, by written agreement between SFS and HBE, if
                    the Board of Directors of each so determines;

(b)                 at any time, whether before or after approval of the matters
                    presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders
                    of SFS or HBE, by either the Board of Directors of SFS or
                    the Board of Directors of HBE if (i) any Governmental Entity
                    which must grant a Requisite Regulatory Approval (A) has
                    denied approval of the Merger and such denial has become
                    final and nonappealable or (B) has advised the parties of
                    its unwillingness to grant such a Requisite Regulatory
                    Approval on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to
                    the parties, notwithstanding the parties' fulfillment of
                    their obligations to take reasonable efforts to obtain such
                    Requisite Regulatory Approval, or (ii) any Governmental
                    Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final
                    nonappealable order permanently enjoining or otherwise
                    prohibiting the consummation of the transactions
                    contemplated by this Agreement; 

(c)                 by either the Board of Directors of SFS or the Board of
                    Directors of HBE if the Merger shall not have been
                    consummated on or before January 31, 1999, unless the
                    failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to
                    the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement
                    to perform or observe the covenants and agreements of such
                    party set forth herein; 

(d)                 by either SFS or HBE if any approval of the shareholders of
                    SFS or HBE required for the consummation of the Merger shall
                    not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain
                    the required vote at a duly held meeting of shareholders or
                    at any adjournment or postponement thereof;

(e)                 by HBE, by written notice to SFS, if 

                    (i)  there exists any breach or breaches of the
                         representations and warranties of SFS made herein,
                         which breaches, individually or in the aggregate have
                         or, insofar as reasonably can be foreseen, would have,
                         a SFS Material Adverse Effect, and such breaches shall
                         not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after
                         receipt by SFS of notice in writing from HBE,
                         specifying the nature of such breaches and requesting
                         that they be remedied;


                    (ii) SFS shall have failed to perform and comply with, in
                         all material respects, its agreements and covenants
                         hereunder and such failure to perform or comply shall
                         not have been remedied within thirty (30) days after
                         receipt by SFS of notice in writing from HBE,
                         specifying the nature of such failure and requesting
                         that it be remedied; or

                    (iii)the Board of Directors of SFS or any committee thereof:

                              (A) shall fail to reaffirm such approval or 
                                  recommendation upon HBE's request,


                                       44
<PAGE>

                              (B) shall approve or recommend any Business
                                  Combination involving SFS other than the
                                  Merger or any tender offer or share exchange
                                  for shares of capital stock of SFS, in each 
                                  case, by or involving a party other than HBE
                                  or any of its affiliates or 

                              (C) shall resolve to take any of the actions 
                                  specified in clause (A) or (B); or 

                  (f) by SFS, by written notice to HBE, if

                     (i) there exists any breach or breaches of the
                         representations and warranties of HBE made herein or in
                         the HBE Stock Option Agreement which breaches,
                         individually or in the aggregate have, or insofar as
                         reasonably can be foreseen, would have, an HBE Material
                         Adverse Effect and such breaches shall not have been
                         remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt by HBE
                         of notice in writing from SFS, specifying the nature of
                         such breaches and requesting that they be remedied;

                     (ii)HBE shall have failed to perform and comply with,
                         in all material respects, its agreements and covenants
                         hereunder or under the HBE Stock Option Agreement and
                         such failure to perform or comply shall not have been
                         remedied within thirty (30) days after receipt by HBE
                         of notice in writing from SFS, specifying the nature of
                         such failure and requesting that it be remedied; or 

                    (iii)the Board of Directors of HBE or any committee
                         thereof: 

                              (A) shall withdraw or modify in any manner
                                  adverse to SFS its approval or recommendation
                                  of this Agreement or the Merger,

                              (B) shall fail to reaffirm such approval or 
                                  recommendation upon SFS's request, 

                              (C) shall approve or recommend any Business 
                                  Combination involving HBE other than the 
                                  Merger involving HBE or any tender offer or
                                  share exchange for shares of capital stock of
                                  HBE, in each case, by or involving a party
                                  other than SFS or any of its affiliates or 

                              (D) shall resolve to take any of the actions
                                  specified in clause (A), (B) or (C). 

                  (g) by HBE, pursuant and subject to Section I.4(e) in the
                      event that the Market Value of SFS Common Stock, as of the
                      Decision Date, is less than $20.00 per share.

                    VIII.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. Subject to Section 8.3, in the
event of termination of this Agreement by HBE or SFS pursuant to Section 8.1
there shall be no liability on the part of either HBE or SFS or their respective
officers or directors hereunder, except that Section 6.2(b), Section 6.15,
Section 8.2 and Section 8.3 shall survive the termination.


                                       45

<PAGE>


                    VIII.3  REMEDIES AND EXPENSES UPON BREACH OR WILLFUL BREACH.


(a)                 REMEDIES. If this Agreement is terminated at such time that
                    this Agreement is terminable pursuant to one (but not both)
                    of (A) Section 8.1(e)(i) or (ii), or (B) Section 8.1(f)(i)
                    or (ii) then the breaching party shall promptly (but no
                    later than five (5) business days after receipt of notice
                    from the non-breaching party) pay to the non-breaching party
                    in cash an amount equal to all documented out-of-pocket
                    expenses and fees incurred by the non-breaching party
                    (including, without limitation, fees and expenses payable to
                    all legal, accounting, financial, public relations and other
                    professional advisors arising out of, in connection with or
                    related to the Merger or the transactions contemplated by
                    this Agreement) not in excess of $350,000; PROVIDED,
                    HOWEVER, that, if this Agreement is terminated by a party as
                    a result of a willful breach by the other party, the
                    non-breaching party may pursue any remedies available to it
                    at law or in equity and shall, in addition to its documented
                    out-of-pocket expenses and fees (which shall be paid as
                    specified above and shall not be limited to $350,000), be
                    entitled to recover such additional amounts as such
                    non-breaching party may be entitled to receive at law or in
                    equity.

(b)                 EXPENSES. If one party fails to promptly pay to any other
                    party any amount due hereunder, the defaulting party shall
                    pay the costs and expenses (including legal fees and
                    expenses) in connection with any action, including the
                    filing of any lawsuit or other legal action, taken to
                    collect payment, together with interest on the amount of any
                    unpaid fee at the publicly announced prime rate as published
                    in the Wall Street Journal (Midwest Edition) from the date
                    such fee was required to be paid.

                    VIII.4 AMENDMENT. Subject to compliance with applicable law,
this Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto, by action taken or
authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after
approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the
shareholders of SFS or HBE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after any approval of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the respective shareholders of
SFS or HBE, there may not be, without further approval of such shareholders, any
amendment of this Agreement which changes the amount or the form of the
consideration to be delivered to the holders of HBE Common Stock hereunder other
than as contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended except
by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

                    VIII.4 EXTENSION; WAIVER.  At any time prior to the 
Effective Time, the parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their
respective Board of Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend
the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the
other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and
(c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after any approval of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement by the respective shareholders of SFS or HBE, there may not be,
without further approval of such shareholders, any extension or waiver of this
Agreement or any portion thereof which reduces the amount or changes the form of
the consideration to be delivered to the holders of HBE Common Stock hereunder
other than as contemplated by this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a
party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only 

                                       46

<PAGE>


if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party, but such
extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an
obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of,
or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.


                                   ARTICLE IX
                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

                    IX.1 NON-SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND
AGREEMENTS. None of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements in this Agreement or the Plan of Merger (or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, which shall terminate in accordance with
its terms) shall survive the Effective Time, except for those covenants and
agreements contained herein and therein which by their terms apply in whole or
in part after the Effective Time. Without by implication limiting the foregoing,
none of the directors or officers of the parties hereto shall have any liability
for any of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained
herein.

                    IX.2 NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally,
telecopied (with confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return
receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):

(a)                 if to HBE, to:

                    Home Bancorp of Elgin, Inc.
                    16 North Spring Street
                    Elgin, Illinois 60120-5569
                    Attention:        George L. Perucco
                    Telephone:        (847) 742-3800
                    Telecopier:       (847) 742-0793
 

with a copy to:

                    Thacher Proffitt & Wood
                    1500  K Street, NW Suite 200
                    Washington, D.C.  20005
                    Attention:        V. Gerard Comizio, Esq.
                                      Matthew Dyckman, Esq.
                    Telephone:        (202) 347-8400
                    Telecopier:       (202) 347-6238

and

(a)                 if to SFS, to:


                    State Financial Services Corporation

                                       47

<PAGE>


                    10708 W. Janesville Road
                    Hales Corners, WI 53130
                    Attn:             Michael J. Falbo
                    Telephone:        (414) 425-1600
                    Telecopier:       (414) 425-8939

with a copy to:

                    Foley & Lardner
                    Firstar Center
                    777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                    Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-5367
                    Attention:        Ulice Payne, Jr.
                                      Rodney H. Dow
                    Telephone:        (414) 271-2400
                    Telecopier:       (414) 297-4900

                    IX.3 INTERPRETATION; DEFINITIONS. When a reference is made 
in this Agreement to Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to
a section of or exhibit or schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include," "includes" or
"including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words "without limitation." No provision of this Agreement shall be
construed to require HBE, the HBE Bank, SFS or the SFS Subsidiaries or
affiliates to take any action which would violate any applicable law, rule or
regulation. As used in this Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" means,
with respect to HBE or SFS, as the case may be, a material adverse effect (i) on
the business, assets, properties, results of operations, financial condition, or
(insofar as they can reasonably be foreseen) prospects of such party and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) on the consummation of the Merger;
provided, however, that the following shall not constitute or contribute to a
Material Adverse Effect: (i) changes in the financial condition, business, or
results of operations of a person resulting directly or indirectly from (1)
changes attributable to or resulting from changes in general economic conditions
affecting banks, savings institutions or their holding companies generally,
including changes in the prevailing level of interest rates (provided that HBE
is in substantial compliance with its Interest Rate Risk Management Policy as
disclosed to SFS prior to the date of this Agreement, as the same may be revised
thereafter with SFS's concurrence), or (2) changes in state and federal
regulations or legislation affection Wisconsin or Illinois banks; or (ii)
matters related to changes in federal, state or local tax status,
characteristics, or attributes or the ability to use such attributes.
Notwithstanding the above, fees and expenses reasonably related to this
transaction (such as any additional insurance coverages, employment and
consulting services, legal, accounting, and investment banking fees and
expenses, and severance and retention provisions) shall not be included in any
determination of a Material Adverse Effect. The word "Subsidiary" when used with
respect to any party means any bank, corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or other organization, whether

                                       48
<PAGE>

incorporated or unincorporated, which is consolidated with such party for
financial reporting purposes.

                    IX.4 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the parties
and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that all parties need
not sign the same counterpart.

                    IX.5 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the
documents and the instruments referred to herein) constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written
and oral, among the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

                    IX.6 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and the exhibits attached
hereto shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State
of Wisconsin, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law.

                    IX.7 SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement
which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to that
jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or
unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms
and provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity or enforceability of
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction. If
any provision of this Agreement is so broad as to be unenforceable, the
provision shall be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable.

                    IX.8 PUBLICITY. Except as otherwise required by applicable
law or the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market, neither HBE nor SFS shall, nor
shall HBE or SFS permit the HBE Bank or the SFS Subsidiaries, respectively, to
issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement
with respect to, or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the consent of the other
party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

                    IX.9 ASSIGNMENT; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations of the parties under
this Agreement shall be assigned by any of the parties hereto (whether by
operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other
parties. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective
successors and assigns. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this
Section 9.9 and in Section 6.6, Section 1.5 and Section 7.10, this Agreement
(including the documents and instruments referred to herein) is not intended to
confer upon any person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies
hereunder.

                    IX.10 ENFORCEMENT. The parties agree that irreparable damage
would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions hereof, this being in addition to any other remedy to
which they are entitled at law or in equity.

                                       49

<PAGE>


                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, SFS and HBE have caused this Agreement to
be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the
date first above written.


STATE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION


By
  -------------------------------------------
         Michael J. Falbo
         President and CEO


HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC.


By
  -------------------------------------------
         George L. Perucco
         President and CEO



                                       50

                                                                     Exhibit 4.1
                                                                     -----------


                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

         STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated June 1, 1998, between State Financial
Services Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation ("Grantee"), and Home Bancorp of
Elgin, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Issuer").

                                   WITNESSETH:

         WHEREAS, Grantee and Issuer have entered into an Agreement and Plan of
Merger (the "Merger Agreement");

         WHEREAS, as a condition and an inducement to Grantee's entering into
the Merger Agreement, Issuer is granting Grantee the Option (as hereinafter
defined); and

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Issuer has approved the grant of the
Option and the Merger Agreement:

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein and in the Merger Agreement, the
parties hereto agree as follows:

         1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable
option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to an
aggregate of 1,371,159 (as adjusted or set forth in Sections 1(b) and 5(b)
hereof) fully paid and nonassessable shares of the common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of Issuer ("Issuer Common Stock") at a price per share of $17.00 (the
"Option Price"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event Issuer issues or agrees to
issue any shares of Issuer Common Stock (other than shares of Issuer Common
Stock issued pursuant to stock options granted pursuant to any director or
employee benefit or stock option plan prior to the date hereof) at a price less
than $17.00 (as adjusted pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 5 hereof), the
Option Price shall be equal to such lesser price; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that in no
event shall the number of shares for which this Option is exercisable exceed
19.9% of the issued and outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock. The number of
shares of Issuer Common Stock that may be received upon the exercise of the
Option at Option Price are subject to adjustment as herein set forth.

         b. In the event that any additional shares of Issuer Common Stock are
issued or otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other
than pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event described in
Section 5(a) hereof), the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance, such number together
with any shares of Issuer Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals
19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and outstanding
without giving effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option.
Nothing contained in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be
deemed to

                                        1

<PAGE>


authorize Issuer to issue shares of Issuer Common Stock in breach of any
provision of the Merger Agreement.

         2. (a) Grantee may exercise the Option, in whole or part if, but only
if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) and a Subsequent
Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) shall have occurred prior to the
occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as hereinafter defined); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that Grantee shall have sent the written notice of such exercise (as
provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within three (3) months following
such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10
hereof). Each of the following shall be an Exercise Termination Event: (i) the
Effective Time of the Merger; (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement in
accordance with the provisions thereof if such termination occurs prior to the
occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event except a termination by Grantee
pursuant to Section 8.l(f) of the Merger Agreement, or by Grantee or Issuer
pursuant to Section 8.1(d) of the Merger Agreement if prior to or within three
months after, the duly held meeting of the shareholders of the Issuer at which
the required vote to approve the Merger was not obtained it shall have been
publicly announced or disclosed that any person (other than Grantee or any
Grantee Subsidiary (as defined below)) shall have made, or disclosed an
intention to make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition Transaction (as
defined below) (each, a "Listed Termination"); or (iii) the passage of twelve
(12) months (or such longer period as provided in Section 10) after termination
of the Merger Agreement if such termination follows the occurrence of an Initial
Triggering Event or is a Listed Termination. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained herein, (i) the Option may not be exercised at any time when
Grantee shall be in material breach of any of its representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement or in the Merger Agreement
such that, in the case of the Merger Agreement, Issuer shall be entitled to
terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.l(e)(i) and (ii) thereof
and (ii) this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the proper
termination of the Merger Agreement by Issuer either pursuant to Section 8.l(e)
thereof as a result of the material breach by Grantee of its covenants or
agreements contained in the Merger Agreement or pursuant to Section 8.l(g)
thereof. Notwithstanding the occurrence of an exercise Termination Event,
Grantee shall be entitled to purchase those shares of Issuer Common stock with
respect to which it has exercised the Option in accordance with the terms hereof
prior to the Exercise Termination event.

         (b) The term "Initial Triggering Event" shall mean any of the following
events or transactions occurring on or after the date hereof:

             (i)  Issuer or any subsidiary of Issuer (an "Issuer Subsidiary"),
                  without having received Grantee's prior written consent,
                  shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an
                  Acquisition Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any
                  person (the term "person" for purposes of this Agreement
                  having the meaning assigned thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and
                  13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
                  (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations thereunder)
                  other than Grantee or any of the subsidiaries of Grantee
                  (each a "Grantee Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of
                  Issuer (the "Issuer Board") shall have 

                                       2

<PAGE>



                  recommended that the shareholders of Issuer approve or
                  accept any Acquisition Transaction other than the Merger (as
                  defined in the Merger Agreement). For purposes of this
                  Agreement, "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean either (x) a
                  merger or consolidation, or any similar transaction,
                  involving Issuer or Home Federal Savings and Loan
                  Association of Elgin (other than internal mergers,
                  consolidations or similar transactions involving solely
                  Issuer and/or one or more existing wholly-owned Issuer
                  Subsidiaries, PROVIDED, that any such transaction is not
                  entered into in violation of the terms of the Merger
                  Agreement), (y) a purchase, lease or other disposition of
                  15% or more of the consolidated assets, net revenues or net
                  income of Issuer (on a consolidated basis), or (z) an
                  issuance, sale or other disposition (including by way of
                  merger, consolidation, share exchange or otherwise) of
                  securities representing 10% or more of the voting power of
                  Issuer or Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Elgin
                  (notwithstanding the foregoing, the beneficial ownership by
                  any current stockholders of Issuer of greater than 10% of
                  voting stock of Issuer as of the date of this Agreement
                  shall not constitute an Initial Triggering Event);

             (ii) Any person (other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary)
                  shall have acquired beneficial ownership (as such term is
                  defined in Rule I 3d-3 under the 1934 Act) or the right to
                  acquire beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such
                  term is defined under the 1934 Act) shall have been formed
                  which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire
                  beneficial ownership of, 20% or more of the then outstanding
                  shares of Issuer Common Stock (other than shares held in
                  accounts related to Issuer's employee benefit plans);

            (iii) The shareholders of Issuer shall have voted and failed to
                  approve the Merger Agreement and the Merger at a meeting
                  which has been held for that purpose, or such meeting, in
                  violation of the Merger Agreement, shall not have been held,
                  or such meeting shall have been cancelled prior to
                  termination of the Merger Agreement if, in any event, prior
                  to such meeting (or if such meeting shall not have been held
                  or shall have been cancelled, prior to the termination of
                  the Merger Agreement), it shall have been publicly announced
                  or disclosed that any person (other than Grantee or any
                  Grantee Subsidiary) shall have made, or disclosed an
                  intention to make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition
                  Transaction;


             (iv) The Board of Directors of the Issuer shall have withdrawn or
                  modified (or publicly announced its intention to withdraw or
                  modify), in any manner adverse in any respect to Grantee,
                  its recommendation that the shareholders of Issuer approve
                  the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or
                  Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary shall have authorized,
                  recommended, proposed (or publicly announced its intention

                                       3

<PAGE>

                  to authorize, recommend or propose) an agreement to engage
                  in an Acquisition Transaction with any person other than
                  Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary;

              (v)  Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
                   shall have made a proposal to Issuer or its shareholders to
                   engage in an Acquisition Transaction and such proposal shall
                   have been publicly announced;

             (vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
                  shall have commenced (as such term is defined in Rule 17d-2
                  under the 1934 Act), or shall have filed with the SEC a
                  registration statement under the 1934 Act or tender offer
                  materials with respect to, a potential exchange offer or
                  tender offer to purchase any shares of Issuer Common Stock
                  such that, upon consummation of such offer, such person or a
                  "group" (as such term is defined under the 1934 Act) of
                  which such person is a member, would acquire beneficial
                  ownership (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 of the 1934
                  Act), or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 20%
                  or more of the then outstanding shares of Issuer Common
                  Stock:

            (vii) Issuer shall have willfully breached any covenant or
                  obligation contained in the Merger Agreement in anticipation
                  of and in order to facilitate engaging in an Acquisition
                  Transaction, and following such breach Grantee would be
                  entitle to terminate the Merger Agreement (whether
                  immediately or after the giving of notice or passage of time
                  or both); or

           (viii) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
                  shall have filed an application or notice with the Board of
                  Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal
                  Reserve Board"), the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS"),
                  or other federal or state bank regulatory or antitrust
                  authority, which application or notice has been accepted for
                  processing. for approval to engage in an Acquisition
                  Transaction.

         (c) The term "Subsequent Triggering Event" shall mean any of the
following events or transactions occurring after the date hereof:

             (i)  The acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any
                  Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 30% or more
                  of the then outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock; or

             (ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described in
                  clause (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that
                  the percentage referred to in clause (z) of the second
                  sentence thereof shall be 30%.


         (d) lssuer shall notify Grantee promptly in writing of the occurrence
of any Initial Triggering Event or Subsequent Triggering Event (together, a
"Triggering Event") to the 

                                       4
<PAGE>

extent that such Triggering Event is known to the Issuer, it being understood
that the giving of such notice by Issuer shall not be a condition to the right
of Grantee to exercise the Option.

         (e) In the event Grantee is entitled to and wishes to exercise the
Option (or any portion thereof), it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the
date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date") specifying (i) the
total number of shares it will purchase pursuant to such exercise and (ii) a
place and date not earlier than three business days nor later than 30 business
days from the Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date");
PROVIDED, that if the closing of the purchase and sale pursuant to the Option
cannot be consummated by reason of any applicable judgment, decree, order, law
or regulation, the period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to this
sentence shall run instead from the date on which such restriction or
consummation has expired or been terminated; and, PROVIDED, FURTHER, without
limiting the foregoing, that if prior notification to or approval of the Federal
Reserve Board, OTS or any other regulatory or antitrust authority is required in
connection with such purchase, Grantee shall promptly file the required notice
or application for approval, shall promptly notify Issuer of such filing (and
the Issuer shall fully cooperate with Grantee in the filing of any notice or
application and the obtaining of any such approval), and shall expeditiously
process the same. and the period of time that otherwise would run pursuant to
this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any required notification
periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals have been obtained,
and in either event, any requisite waiting period or periods shall have passed.
Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating
thereto.

     (f)  At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this Section 2,
Grantee shall (i) pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of
Issuer Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by
Issuer and (ii) present and surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal
executive offices; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the failure or refusal of the Issuer
to designate such a bank account or accept surrender of this Agreement shall not
preclude Grantee from exercising the Option.

         (g) At such closing, simultaneously with the delivery of immediately
available funds as provided in subsection (f) of this Section 2, Issuer shall
deliver to Grantee a certificate or certificates representing the number of
shares of Issuer Common Stock purchased by Grantee and, if the Option should be
exercised in part only, a new Option evidencing the rights of Grantee thereof to
purchase the balance of the shares purchasable hereunder.

         (h) Certificates for lssuer Common Stock delivered at a closing
hereunder may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read
substantially as follows:

         "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN
         REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE
         SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS, AND MAY BE REOFFERED OR SOLD ONLY IF
         SO REGISTERED OR IF AN EXEMPTION FROM SUCH REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.
         SUCH SECURITIES ARE ALSO

                                       5

<PAGE>

         SUBJECT TO ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AS SET FORTH IN THE
         STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 1, 1998, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE
         OBTAINED FROM THE ISSUER UPON REQUEST."

         It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale
restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), in the
above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without
such reference if Grantee shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from
the staff of the SEC. or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the 1993 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do not
require the retention of such reference in the opinion of counsel to Grantee,
which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to Issuer; and (iii) the legend
shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the preceding clauses (i)
and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such certificates shall bear any other
legend as may be required by law.

         (i) Upon the giving by Grantee to Issuer of the written notice of
exercise of the Option provided for under subsection (e) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately available funds, the
Issuer shall deliver to Grantee a certificate or certificates in definitive form
representing the shares of Issuer Common Stock issued upon such exercise, which
shares shall be free and clear of all liens, claims, charges and encumbrances of
any kind whatsoever, and Grantee shall be deemed to be the holder of record of
such shares, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of Issuer shall then
be closed. Issuer shall pay its out-of-pocket expenses payable in connection
with the preparation, issue and delivery of stock certificates under this
Section 2 in the name of Grantee or its assignee, transferee or designee.

         3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive tights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of
Issuer Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without additional
authorization of Issuer Common Stock after giving effect to all other options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Issuer Common
Stock; (ii) that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization,
consolidation, merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary
act, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the
covenants, stipulations or conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by
Issuer; (iii) promptly to take all action as may from time to time be required
(including (x) complying with all applicable premerger notification, reporting
and waiting period requirements specified in 15 U.S.C. Section 18a and
regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) in the event, under any state or
federal banking law, prior approval of or notice to the Federal Reserve Board,
OTS or to any state or other federal regulatory authority is necessary before
the Option may be exercised, cooperating fully with Grantee in preparing such
applications or notices and providing such information to the Federal Reserve
Board, OTS or such state or other federal regulatory authority as they may
require) in order to permit Grantee to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and
effectively to issue shares of

                                       6

<PAGE>

Issuer Common Stock pursuant hereto; and (iv) promptly to take all
action provided herein to protect the rights of Grantee against dilution.

         4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of Grantee, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling Grantee to purchase, on the
same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set forth therein, in the
aggregate the same number of shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable
hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any
Agreements and related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby) may be exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this
Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably
satisfactory indemnification, and upon surrender and cancellation of this
Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute
an additional contractual obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the
Agreement so lost, stolen, destroyed mutilated shall at any time be enforceable
by anyone.

         5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Issuer
Common Stock that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to
Section 1 of this Agreement, the number of shares of Issuer Common stock
purchasable upon the exercise of the Option and the Option Price shall be
subject to adjustment from time to time as provided in this Section 5.

         (a) In the event of any change in, or distributions (other than the
payment of cash dividends in the ordinary course consistent with past practice)
in respect of, the Issuer Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups,
mergers, recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges
of shares or the like, the type and number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchasable upon exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted and proper
provision shall be made so that, in the event that any additional shares of
Issuer Common Stock are to be issued or otherwise become outstanding as a result
of any such change (other than pursuant to an exercise of the Option), the
number of shares of Issuer Common Stock that remain subject to the Option shall
be increased so that, after such issuance and together with shares of Issuer
Common Stock previously issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option (as
adjusted on account of any of the foregoing changes in the Issuer Common Stock),
it equals 19.9% of the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock then issued and
outstanding.

         (b) Whenever the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable
upon exercise hereof is adjusted as provided in this Section 5, the Option Price
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be equal to the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchasable prior to the adjustment and the denominator of which shall be equal
to the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock purchasable after the adjustment.


<PAGE>

         6.(a) Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs
prior to an Exercise Termination Event Grantee may, within twelve (12) months
(or such later period as provided in Section 10) of such Subsequent Triggering
Event, by written notice (the "Registration Notice") to Issuer request Issuer to
register under the 1933 Act all or any part of the shares of capital stock of
Issuer acquired by Grantee pursuant to this Agreement beneficially owned by
Grantee (the "Registrable Securities").

         (b) Issuer shall thereupon have the option exercisable by written
notice delivered to Grantee within three (3) business days after the receipt of
the Registration Notice, irrevocably to agree to purchase all or any part of the
Registrable Securities proposed to be so sold for cash at a price equal to the
product of (i) the number of Registrable Securities to be so purchased by the
Issuer and (ii) the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a share of such
Registrable Securities. As used herein, the "Fair Market Value" of any share of
Registrable Securities shall be the average of the daily closing sales price for
a share of Issuer Common Stock on the Nasdaq National Market during the five (5)
trading days prior to the date on which the Registration Notice for such share
is received by Issuer.

         (c) Any purchase of Registrable Securities by Issuer under Section 6(b)
shall take place at a closing to be held at the principal executive offices of
Issuer or at the offices of its counsel at any reasonable date and time
designated by Issuer in such notice with ten (10) business days after delivery
of such notice, and payment of the purchase price for the shares to be so
purchase shall be made by delivery at the time of such closing in immediately
available funds.

         (d) If Issuer does not elect to exercise its option pursuant to this
Section 6 with respect to all Registrable Securities, it shall use its best
efforts to effect, as promptly as practicable, and keep current the registration
under the 1933 Act of the unpurchased Registrable Securities proposed to be
sold. Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration
statement promptly to become effective and then to remain effective for such
period not in excess of 120 days from the day such registration statement first
becomes effective or such shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect
the sale or other disposition of the Registrable Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that

              (i)  Grantee shall not be entitled to demand more than one (1)
                   effective registration statements hereunder, and

              (ii) Issuer will not be required to file any such registration
                   statement during any period of time (not to exceed 90 days
                   after such request in the case of clauses (A) and (B) below
                   or 120 days in the case of clause (C) below) when

                   (A) Issuer is in possession of material non-public
                       information which it reasonably believes would be
                       detrimental to be disclosed at such time and, in the
                       opinion of counsel to Issuer, such information

                                       8

<PAGE>

                       would be required to be disclosed if a registration
                       statement were filed at that time;

                   (B) Issuer is required under the 1933 Act to include audited
                       financial statements for any period in such registration
                       statement and such financial statements are not yet
                       available for inclusion in such registration statement;
                       or

                   (C) Issuer determines, in its reasonable judgment, that such
                       registration would interfere with any financing,
                       acquisition or other material transaction involving
                       Issuer or any of its affiliates.

         (e) Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any
Registrable Securities registered pursuant to this Section 6 to be qualified for
sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions as Grantee
may reasonably request and shall continue such registration or qualification in
effect in such jurisdiction; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Issuer shall not be
required to qualify to do business in, or consent to general service of process
in, any jurisdiction by reason of this provision.

         (f) The registration rights set forth in this Section 6 are subject to
the condition that Grantee shall provide Issuer with such information with
respect to the Registrable securities, the plans for the distribution thereof,
and such other information with respect to such holder as, in the reasonable
judgment of counsel for Issuer, is necessary to enable Issuer to include in such
registration statement all material facts required to be disclosed with respect
to a registration thereunder.

         (g) A registration effected under this Section 6 shall be effected at
Issuer's expense, except for underwriting discounts and commissions, broker's
fees and the fees and the expenses of counsel and other advisors to Grantee.


         (h) In connection with any registration effected under this Section 6,
the parties agree 

             (i)  to indemnify each other in the customary manner, and

             (ii) to take all reasonable further actions which shall be
                  reasonably necessary to effect such registration and sale.

         (i) If Issuer Common Stock or any other securities to be acquired upon
exercise of the Option are then listed on the Nasdaq National Market or a
national securities exchange, Issuer, upon the request of Grantee, will promptly
file an application to list the shares of Issuer Common Stock or other
securities to be acquired upon exercise of the Option on the Nasdaq National
Market or a national securities exchange, as the case may be, and will its best
efforts to obtain approval of such listing as soon as practicable.

                                       9

<PAGE>

         7. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as
defined below), (i) at the request of Grantee, delivered prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or
any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from Grantee at a price (the
"Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (A) the market/offer
price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price, multiplied by the number
of shares for which this Option may then be exercised and (ii) at the request of
Grantee delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period
as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase
such number of the Option Shares from Grantee as Grantee shall designate at a
price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the market/offer price
multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated. The term "market/offer
price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per share of Issuer Common Stock
at which a tender or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii) the price per
share of Issuer Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an
agreement with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price for shares of Issuer
Common Stock within the six-month period immediately preceding the date Grantee
gives notice of the required repurchase of this Option or Grantee gives notice
of the required repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the
event of a sale of all or any substantial part of Issuer's assets or deposits,
the sum of the net price paid in such sale for such assets or deposits and the
current market value of the remaining net assets of Issuer as determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee and reasonably
acceptable to Issuer, divided by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock of
Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale. In determining the market/offer
price, the value of consideration other than cash shall be determined by a
nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Grantee and reasonably
acceptable to Issuer.

         (b) Grantee may exercise its right to require Issuer to repurchase the
Option and any Option Shares pursuant to this Section 7 by surrendering for such
purpose to Issuer, at its principal office, a copy of this Agreement or
certificates for Option Shares, as applicable, accompanied by a written notice
or notices stating that Grantee elects to require Issuer to repurchase this
Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within five business
days after the surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option
Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto, Issuer shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to Grantee the Option Repurchase Price and/or
to Grantee the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion thereof
that Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation from so
delivering.

         (c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from repurchasing the
Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify
Grantee and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to
Grantee the portion of the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share
Repurchase Price, respectively, that it is no longer prohibited from delivering,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of repurchase pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation, or as a 

                                       10

<PAGE>


consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to Grantee the Option
Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price in full (and Issuer
hereby undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all required
regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as promptly as
practicable in order to accomplish such repurchase), Grantee may revoke its
notice of repurchase of the Option and/or the Option Shares whether in whole or
to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer shall
promptly (i) deliver to Grantee that portion of the Option Repurchase Price
and/or the Option Shares Repurchase Price that Issuer is not prohibited from
delivering; and (ii) deliver to Grantee either (A) a new Agreement evidencing
the right of Grantee to purchase that number of shares of Issuer Common Stock
obtained by multiplying the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for which
the surrendered Agreement was exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice
of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase
Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to Grantee and the
denominator of which is the Option Repurchase Price, and/or (B) a certificate
for the Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an Exercise
Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice by Issuer
described in the first sentence of this subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to
occur at any time before the expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day
after such date. Grantee shall nonetheless have the right to exercise the Option
until the expiration of such 30-day period.

         (d) For purposes of this Section 7, a "Repurchase Event" shall be
deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events or
transactions after the date hereof:

             (i)  the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any
                  Grantee Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more
                  of the then outstanding Issuer Common Stock; or

             (ii) the consummation of any Acquisition Transaction described in
                  Section 2(b)(i) hereof, except that the percentage referred
                  to in clause (z) shall be 50%.

         8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any person.
("other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary), or engage in a plan of exchange
with any person (other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary) and Issuer shall
not be the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger
or the acquirer in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person, other

                                       11

<PAGE>


than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, to merge into Issuer or be acquired by
Issuer in a plan of exchange and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving or
acquiring corporation, but, in connection with such merger or plan of exchange,
the then outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock shall be changed into or
exchanged for stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other
property or the then outstanding shares of Issuer Common Stock shall after such
merger or plan or exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and
share equivalents of the merged or acquiring company, or (iii) to sell or
otherwise transfer all or a substantial part of its or an Issuer Subsidiary's
assets or deposits to any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary,
then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make
proper provision so that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such
transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted
into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of
Grantee, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y)
any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.

         (b)   The following terms have the meanings indicated:

               (i)  "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or
                    surviving person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer
                    (if other than Issuer), (ii) the acquiring person in a plan
                    of exchange in which Issuer is acquired, (iii) the Issuer in
                    a merger or plan of exchange in which Issuer is the
                    continuing or surviving or acquiring person. and (iv) the
                    transferee of all or a substantial part of Issuer's assets
                    or deposits (or the assets or deposits of the Issuer
                    Subsidiary).

               (ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock issued
                    by the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the
                    Substitute Option.

              (iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the market/offer price, as
                    defined in Section 7.

               (iv) "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
                    share of the Substitute Common Stock for one year
                    immediately preceding the consolidation, merger or sale
                    referred to in Section 8(a), but in no event higher than the
                    closing price of the shares of Substitute Common Stock on
                    the day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale;
                    PROVIDED, that if Issuer is the issuer of the Substitute
                    Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect to
                    a share of common stock issued by the person merging into
                    Issuer or by any company which controls or is controlled by
                    such person. as Grantee may elect.

               (v)  "Person" as used in this Agreement shall have the meaning
                    specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
                    Act. 


         (c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option:
PROVIDED, that the exercise price therefor and number of shares subject thereto
shall be as set forth in this Section 8; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that the Substitute
Option shall be exercisable immediately upon issuance without the occurrence of
a Triggering Event; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that if the terms of the Substitute
Option cannot, for legal reasons, be the same as the Option. such terms shall be
as similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to Grantee. The issuer
of the Substitute Option shall also enter into an agreement with Grantee in
substantially the same form as this Agreement (subject to the variations
described in the foregoing provisos), which agreement shall be applicable to the
Substitute Option.


                                       12

<PAGE>

         (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
shares of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value multiplied
by the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for which the Option was
exercisable immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of
Section 8(a), divided by the Average Price, rounded up to the nearest whole
share. The exercise price of the Substitute Option per share of Substitute
Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option Price multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Issuer Common Stock for
which the Option was exercisable immediately prior to the event described in the
first sentence of Section 8(a) and the denominator of which shall be the number
of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option is
exercisable.

         (e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of Substitute
Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise of the Substitute Option. In the
event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the
shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to exercise but for this
Section 8(e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the "Substitute Option
Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Grantee equal to the excess of (i) the
value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the limitation in this
Section 8(e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after giving effect to
the limitation in this Section 8(e). This difference in value shall be
determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
Grantee.

         (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection
(a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder and take all other actions that may be necessary so that the
provisions of this Section 8 are given full force and effect (including, without
limitation, any action that may be necessary so that the holders of the other
shares of common stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer are not entitled to
exercise any rights by reason of the issuance of exercise of the Substitute
Option and the shares of Substitute Common Stock are otherwise in no way
distinguishable from or have lesser economic value than other share of common
stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer (other than any diminution in value
resulting from the fact that the shares of Substitute Common Stock are
restricted securities, as defined in Rule 144 under the 1934 Act or any
successor provision)).

         9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Option from the Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute
Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing
Price (as hereinafter defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute
Option, multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which
the Substitute Option may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner
(the "Substitute Share Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the
"Substitute Shares"), the Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the
Substitute Shares at a price (the "Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to
the Highest Closing Price multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so
designated. The term "Highest Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing
price for shares of Substitute Common Stock within the six-month period
immediately

                                       13

<PAGE>


preceding the date the Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the required
repurchase of the Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives notice
of the required repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.

         (b) The Substitute Option Holder and Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, may exercise its respective rights to require the Substitute Option
Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares pursuant to
this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute Option Issuer,
at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option (or, in the
absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement) and/or certificates for
Substitute Shares accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the
Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be,
elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute
Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9. As promptly as practicable and in any event within five business days
after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates representing
Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto,
the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or to the
Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share Repurchase Price therefor or the
portion thereof which the Substitute Option Issuer is not then prohibited under
applicable law and regulation from so delivering.

         (c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from
repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in
full, the Substitute Option Issuer shall immediately so notify the Substitute
Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and thereafter deliver or cause
to be delivered, from time to time, to the Substitute Option Holder and/or the
Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price and/or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively,
which it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five (5) business days
after the date on which the Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after
delivery of a notice of repurchase pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9
prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, from delivering to the Substitute Option Holder and/or
the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute Option Repurchase
Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and the
Substitute Option Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to receive all
required regulatory and legal approvals as promptly as practicable in order to
accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option Holder and/or Substitute
Share Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the Substitute Option or the
Substitute Shares either in whole or to the extent of prohibition. whereupon, in
the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the
Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, that portion
of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase
Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and
(ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Substitute Option Holder, a new
Substitute Option evidencing the right of the Substitute Option Holder to
purchase that number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock obtained by
multiplying the number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock for which the
surrendered Substitute Option was exercisable at the time of

                                       14

<PAGE>


delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the Substitute Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore
delivered to the Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of which is the
Substitute Option Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a
certificate for the Substitute Option Shares it is then so prohibited from
repurchasing. If an Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the
date of the notice by the Substitute Option Issuer described in the first
sentence of this subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any time
before the expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date,
the Substitute Option Holder shall nevertheless have the right to exercise the
Substitute Option until the expiration of such 30-day period.

         10. The 30-day, 3-month, 6-month, or 12-month periods for exercise of
certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7 and 9 shall be extended: (i) to the extent
necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the exercise of such rights
(for so long as Grantee. Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share owner, as
the case may be, is using commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such
regulatory approvals), and for the expiration of all statutory waiting periods;
and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid liability under Section 16(b) of the
1934 Act by reason of such exercise.

         11. (a) Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

             (i)  Issuer has full corporate power and authority to execute and
                  deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
                  contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this
                  Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
                  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by
                  the Issuer Board prior to the date hereof and no other
                  corporate proceedings on the part of the Issuer are
                  necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
                  transactions so contemplated. This Agreement has been duly
                  and validly executed and delivered by Issuer.

             (ii) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize
                  and reserve and to permit it to issue, and at all times from
                  the date hereof through the termination of this Agreement in
                  accordance with its terms will have reserved for issuance
                  upon the exercise of the Option, that number of shares of
                  Issuer Common Stock equal to the maximum number of shares of
                  Issuer Common Stock at any time and from time to time
                  issuable hereunder, and all such shares, upon issuance
                  pursuant thereto, will be duly authorized, validly issued,
                  fully paid, nonassessable, and will be delivered free and
                  clear of all claims, liens, encumbrance and security
                  interests and not subject to any preemptive rights.

(b)  Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer as follows:

             (i)  Grantee has corporate power and authority to execute and
                  deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
                  hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by
                  Grantee and the performance of its 

                                       15

<PAGE>

                  obligations hereunder by Grantee have been duly and validly
                  authorized by the Board of Directors of Grantee and no other
                  corporate proceedings on the part of grantee are necessary
                  to authorize this Agreement or for Grantee to perform its
                  obligations hereunder. This Agreement has been duly and
                  validly executed and delivered by Grantee.

             (i)  Any Option Shares acquired upon exercise of this Option by
                  Grantee will be acquired for Grantee's own account and for
                  investment purposes only. This Option is not being, and any
                  Option Shares or other securities acquired by Grantee upon
                  exercise of the Option will not be, acquired with a view to
                  the public distribution thereof and will not be transferred
                  or otherwise disposed of except in a transaction registered
                  or exempt from registration under the 1933 Act.

         12. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party. Certificates
representing shares sold in a registered public offering pursuant to Section 9
shall not be required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2(h).

         13. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
make all filings with, and to obtain consents of. all third parties and
governmental authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, applying to the
Federal Reserve Board and OTS for approval to acquire the shares issuable
hereunder, but Grantee shall not be obligated to apply to state banking
authorities for approval to acquire the shares of Issuer Common Stock issuable
hereunder until such time, if ever, as it deems appropriate to do so.

         14. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate
remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the
obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief, this being in addition to any
other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In connection
therewith both parties waive the posing of any bond or similar requirement.

         15. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that Grantee is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to
repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of Issuer Common
Stock provided in Section 1(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section 1(b) or
Section 5 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow Grantee to
acquire or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may
be permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.

                                       16
<PAGE>

         16. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other communications
hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered in person, by
fax, telecopy, or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) at the respective addresses of the parties set forth in the
Merger Agreement.

         17. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof.

         18. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement.

         19. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each of the parties
hereto shall bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder, including fees and
expenses of its own financial consultants, investment bankers, accountants and
counsel.

         20. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the Merger
Agreement, this Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereunder and supersedes all prior
arrangements or understandings with respect thereof, written or oral. The terms
and conditions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assignees.
Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any
party, other than the parties hereto, and their respective successors except as
assignees, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein. 

         21. Each party shall execute and deliver such other documents and
instruments and take such further action that may be necessary in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.


                                       17

<PAGE>


         22. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Merger Agreement.


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


                                   HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC.

                                   By:
                                       ---------------------------
                                          George L. Perucco
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer



                                   STATE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION

                                   By:
                                       ---------------------------
                                          Michael J. Falbo
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer




[GRAPHIC]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

PRESS RELEASE
P.O. Box 467, Hales Corners, WI 53130
(414) 425-1600
Nasdaq National Market System Trading Symbol:        SFSW
<S>                             <C>                           <C>                          <C>
For more information call...    Michael J. Falbo      or      Michael A. Reindl     or     Donna M. Bembenek  
                                President & CEO               Senior Vice                  Vice President and 
                                                              President,                   Director of Marketing 
                                                              Controller & CFO 
</TABLE>


                    STATE FINANCIAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND
                      HOME BANCORP OF ELGIN, INC. TO MERGE

         HALES CORNERS, WISCONSIN (JUNE 2, 1998) State Financial Services
Corporation ("State"), a bank holding company headquartered in Hales Corners,
Wisconsin, and Home Bancorp of Elgin, In. ("Home"), a thrift holding company
headquartered in Elgin, Illinois, today announced the two companies have
executed a Definitive Agreement merging the two organizations. The organization
resulting from the merger will retain the name of State Financial Services
Corporation. The merger will be accounted for as a pooling of interests and is
subject to several contingencies, including, SEC registration, regulatory
approval, and shareholder approval from both State and Home shareholders. The
transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 1998. State and Home
have also entered into a Stock Option Agreement whereby, subject to certain
conditions, Home would grant to State an option to acquire up to 19.9% of Home's
outstanding shares.

         The total transaction is valued at $133.7 million based upon Home
shares valued at $19.50 per share for the 6,855,799 shares of Home Common Stock.
Based on State's market value per share of $25.07 (as calculated pursuant to the
formula set forth in the definitive agreement) State will exchange 5,331,549
shares of its Common stock resulting in an exchange ratio of 0.77767. The actual
exchange ratio will be calculated based upon State's shares valued at the
average closing price of State Common Stock for twenty consecutive trading days
prior to closing the transaction.

         The preceding exchange ratio formula will be used in the event the
market value determined for State's Common Stock is between $22.625 and $30.00.
The actual exchange ratio is also subject to certain caps. In the event that
State's market value is between $21.125 and $22.625, the exchange ratio will be
fixed at 0.857143. In the event that State's market value is between $20.00 and
$21.125, the exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.86. If State's market value falls
below $20.00, Home and State can elect to close the transaction at the 0.86
exchange ratio, an Optional Exchange Ratio assigning $17.50 as the value to
Home's shares, or Home can elect to terminate the transaction, subject to
certain notification requirements between the parties. If State's market value
is between $30.00 and $31.375, the exchanged ratio will be fixed at 0.65 and if
State's market value exceeds $31.375, the exchange ratio will be fixed at 0.64.

         State and Home expect to take approximately $12.0 million in one time
pre-tax charges at closing related to the acquisition. These include costs
related to professional fees, employment contracts, and investment banking fees
aggregating approximately $7.5 million, and $4.5 million related to the
termination of Home's Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Based upon its analysis,
State expects to effectuate

<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE
JUNE 2, 1998
PAGE 2

approximately $4.0 million in pre-tax near-term earning improvements related to
diversification of Home's balance sheet and revenue sources, elimination of
duplicate expenses, expense reductions in Home's Recognition and Retention Plan
and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, and consolidation of various administrative
functions. Furthermore, State expects ongoing revenue enhancement to occur as
State implement its business plan regarding the integration of Home. Based upon
its assumptions, and dependent upon timing, the transaction may be mildly
dilutive to basic earnings per share in the first year of operations follow the
merger, which State expects to be no more than 6%, and accretive to earnings
thereafter.

         State's President and Chief Executive Office Michael J. Falbo stated,
"we are extremely pleased to be joining forces with Home Bancorp of Elgin and
its subsidiary, Home Federal Savings. This merger will expand State Financial's
presence in Illinois, complimenting our recently completed acquisition of State
Financial Bank (formerly Richmond Bank) with offices in Richmond and
Libertyville, Illinois. Home Federal has built an excellent customer base by
delivering residential first mortgages, retail deposit products, and
personalized service through its five branch locations. Our intention is to work
with Home to expand the products and services offered by Home Federal. We expect
to introduce home equity, consumer loan, commercial products, and related
non-banking services to Home's customer base and communities to provide its
customers with a wider range of products and services while simultaneously
diversifying its balance sheet and revenue stream. Home will bring considerable
mortgage lending experience to our organization, allowing us to collective
expand our mortgage banking operation. We will continue to operate Home as a
separate entity, retaining its thrift charter. In the current financial services
environment, we believe adding a thrift charter to State Financial provides us
with a great deal of flexibility to adapt to whatever changes result from
charter consolidation and financial modernization. We look to maintain and build
on Home's commitment to the communities it serves and further capitalize on the
community banking opportunities presented in Home's markets. We look forward to
the contributions Home will make to the future success of State Financial and
are proud to continue the community banking traditions developed at Home
Federal."

         Home's President George L. Perucco said, "we feel that a merger with
State Financial Services Corporation will provide tremendous opportunities for
our customers, employees and shareholders. Our customers will benefit from
State's expertise in offering diversified loan and deposit products through its
fine network of community banks. As a result, Home's customers will enjoy
additional products and services which we have not previously offered. State has
built an excellent organization rooted in the traditions of community banking.
By merging with State Financial, we are confident our customers will continue to
receive the personalized service and attention to which they have become
accustomed. State and Home are similar in our ability to attract and retain
quality employees as evidenced by the history of employee longevity at each of
our respective organizations. Our shareholders will now enjoy ownership in a
significantly larger organization. We have been very impressed with the
proactive manner which State approaches it relationship with its institutional
and retail shareholders and market makers. We believe that the integration of
our two fine organizations, combined with State's market experience will provide
long-term benefit to our collective shareholders."

         Jerome J. Holz will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board, Michael
J. Falbo will continue to serve as President and Chief Executive Office, and
Michael A Reindl will continue as Chief Financial Officer of State Financial
Services Corporation following completion of the merger. George L. Perucco will
serve as Chairman Emeritus of Home Federal Savings and as a senior advisor to
State Financial Services Corporation following the merger. Mr. Falbo will also
serve as Board Chairman for Home Federal Savings and Daniel L. Westrope will
assume the responsibility of President and Chief Executive Officer and continue
to serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of State Financial
Bank in Richmond and Libertyville, Illinois (formerly Richmond Bank) as well as
Senior Vice President of State. Messrs. Holz, Falbo, and Westrope will become
members of Home Federal's Board of Directors, which will include 



<PAGE>

PRESS RELEASE
JUNE 2, 1998
PAGE 3


continuing representation from local business and civic leaders in Home
Federal's market area.

         State Financial Service Corporation is a bank holding company serving
Wisconsin and Illinois with three community banks - State Financial Bank, with
offices in Hales Corners, Muskego, Milwaukee, Greenfield, Glendale, Brookfield,
and Waukesha, Wisconsin; State Financial Bank - Waterford with offices in
Waterford and Burlington, Wisconsin; and State Financial Bank (formerly Richmond
Bank) with offices in Richmond and Libertyville, Illinois. State's shares are
traded on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol "SFSW." As of March
31, 1998, State had consolidated total assets of $417.4 million. Home is the
parent thrift holding company of Home Federal Savings of Elgin, a community
thrift organization serving Elgin, South Elgin, Bartlett, Crystal Lake, and
Roselle, Illinois. As of March 31, 1998, Home had consolidated total assets of
$369.0 million. Home's shares are traded on the Nasdaq National Market System
under the symbol "HBEI."

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

         When used in this Press Release, the words, "believes," "expects," and
other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.
Factors which could cause such a variance to occur include, but are not limited
to, changes in interest rates, local market competition, customer loan and
deposit preferences, regulation, and other general economic conditions.



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