GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC
8-K, 1997-08-26
BLANK CHECKS
Previous: MARQUEE GROUP INC, SC 13E3/A, 1997-08-26
Next: SOUTHPOINT STRUCTURED ASSETS INC, 8-A12B, 1997-08-26



















                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, D.C. 20549


                              _____________________

                                     FORM 8-K

                                  CURRENT REPORT

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

        Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):  August 17, 1997

                             GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.                     
              (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware               333-28037           95-4642135  
      (State of Incorporation)   (Commission File      (IRS Employer 
                                  Number)              Identification
                                                       Number)       

       414 North Central Avenue
         Glendale, California                               91203    
      (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


      Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (818) 500-2000<PAGE>







         Item 5.   Other Events.

                   On August 17, 1997, Golden State Bancorp, Inc. 
         ("Golden State") entered into an Agreement and Plan of 
         Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with CEN-
         FED Financial Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("CENFED"),
         pursuant to which Golden State will acquire CENFED through
         the merger of a wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden State with
         CENFED (the "Merger").  As a result of the Merger, each out-
         standing share of CENFED's common stock, par value $.01 per
         share ("CENFED Common Stock"), will be converted into the right
         to receive 1.2 shares of common stock of Golden State, par
         value $1.00 per share ("Registrant Common Stock").  The Merger
         is conditioned upon, among other things, the receipt of all
         necessary regulatory approvals, the adoption and approval of
         the Merger Agreement by stockholders of CENFED and certain
         other customary conditions.  The Merger is expected to be com-
         pleted in the first quarter of calendar 1998.  The Merger
         Agreement is attached as Exhibit 2.1 hereto and is hereby in-
         corporated herein by reference.

                   As a condition to entering into the Merger Agreement,
         on August 17, 1997, Golden State and CENFED entered into a
         Stock Option Agreement (the "Stock Option Agreement") between
         CENFED, as issuer, and Golden State, as grantee, pursuant to
         which CENFED granted to Golden State the right, upon the terms
         and subject to the conditions set forth therein, to purchase up
         to 19.9% of the outstanding shares of CENFED Common Stock at a
         price of $34.00 per share.  The Stock Option Agreement is at-
         tached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto, and is hereby incorporated
         herein by reference.

                   On August 18, 1997, Golden State and CENFED issued
         a press release and held a conference call with financial ana-
         lysts relating to the Merger Agreement and the related transac-
         tions.  A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2
         hereto and a copy of the written presentation made to the fi-
         nancial analysts is attached as Exhibit 99.3 hereto, and each
         is hereby incorporated herein by reference.<PAGE>








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

                   The following exhibits are filed as part of this re
                   port:

         2.1       Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 17,
                   1997, by and between Golden State and CENFED Finan-
                   cial Corporation.

         99.1      Stock Option Agreement, dated as of August 17, 1997,
                   by and between CENFED Financial Corporation, as is-
                   suer, and Golden State, as grantee.

         99.2      Press release, dated August 18, 1997.

         99.3      Analyst presentation, dated August 18, 1997.


































                                       -2-<PAGE>







                                    SIGNATURE



                   Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the
         Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Golden State has duly caused
         this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned here-
         unto duly authorized.


         Dated:  August 25, 1997

                                      GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.



                                      By:/s/ John E. Haynes                
                                        Name: John E. Haynes
                                        Title: Chief Financial Officer

































                                       -3-<PAGE>







                                 EXHIBIT INDEX

         Exhibit
         Number              Description

         2.1                 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
                             August 17, 1997, by and between the Golden
                             State and CENFED Financial Corporation.

         99.1                Stock Option Agreement, dated as of Au-
                             gust 17, 1997, by and between CENFED Fi-
                             nancial Corporation, as issuer, and Gol-
                             den State, as grantee.

         99.2                Press release, dated August 18, 1997.

         99.3                Analyst presentation, dated August 18,
                             1997.


































                                       -4-









                                                     Exhibit 2.1

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










                           AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                     Between

                            GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.

                                       And

                           CENFED FINANCIAL CORPORATION








                           Dated as of August 17, 1997










         ==============================================================<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                    PAGE

         RECITALS.....................................................1

         ARTICLE I.

              The Merger..............................................2
              1.1.   Procedure and Effective Time of Merger...........2
              1.2.   Closing..........................................2
              1.3.   Effects of Merger................................2
              1.4.   Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction.......3

         ARTICLE II.

              Effect of Merger on Capital Stock of Constituent
              Corporations; Exchange of Certificates..................3
              2.1.   Effect on Capital Stock..........................3
              2.2.   Exchange of Certificates.........................5

         ARTICLE III.

              REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES..........................8
              3.1.   Disclosure Letters...............................8
              3.2.   Standards........................................8
              3.3.   Representations and Warranties of CENFED.........8
              3.4.   Representations and Warranties of Golden State..21

         ARTICLE IV.

              CONDUCT PENDING MERGER.................................26
              4.1.   Conduct of Business Prior to Effective Time.....26
              4.2.   Forbearance by CENFED...........................26

         ARTICLE V.

              COVENANTS..............................................29
              5.1.   Acquisition Proposals...........................29
              5.2.   Certain Policies of CENFED......................30
              5.3.   Employees.......................................30
              5.4.   Access to Information...........................32
              5.5.   Regulatory Matters..............................33
              5.6.   Other Actions...................................34
              5.7.   Publicity.......................................34
              5.8.   Preparation of Form S-4 and Proxy Statement.....34
              5.9.   Letter of CENFED Accountants....................35
              5.10.  Letter of Golden State Accountants..............35
              5.11.  Stockholder Action..............................35
              5.12.  Notification of Certain Matters.................35



                                       -i-<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)

                                                                    PAGE


              5.13.  Tax Matters.....................................36
              5.14.  Updated Disclosure Letters......................36
              5.15.  Affiliates......................................36
              5.16.  Stock Exchange Listing..........................37
              5.17.  Bank Merger.....................................37
              5.18.  Corporate Governance............................37
              5.19.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.......37

         ARTICLE VI.

              CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION.............................38
              6.1.   Conditions to All Parties' Obligations..........38
              6.2.   Conditions to Obligations of Golden State.......39
              6.3.   Conditions to Obligations of CENFED.............40

         ARTICLE VII.

              TERMINATION............................................41
              7.1.   Termination.....................................41
              7.2.   Effect of Termination...........................43

         ARTICLE VIII.

              OTHER MATTERS..........................................44
              8.1.   Certain Definitions; Interpretation.............44
              8.2.   Survival........................................44
              8.3.   Waiver..........................................45
              8.4.   Counterparts....................................45
              8.5.   Governing Law...................................45
              8.6.   Expenses........................................45
              8.7.   Notices.........................................45
              8.8.   Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries..46
              8.9.   Parties Bound; Assignment.......................47
              8.10.  Severability....................................47
              8.11.  Captions........................................47













                                       -ii-<PAGE>





              AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER dated as of August 17, 1997
         ("Agreement"), by and between GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC., a
         Delaware corporation ("Golden State"), and CENFED FINANCIAL
         CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("CENFED").


                                      RECITALS

              WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Golden State and CENFED
         have approved, and deem it advisable and in the best interests of
         their respective stockholders to consummate, the business
         combination provided for herein, in which a wholly-owned
         subsidiary of Golden State ("Merger Sub") is to be merged with and
         into CENFED and CENFED is thereby to become a wholly-owned
         subsidiary of Golden State (the "Merger");

              WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to make certain
         representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the
         Merger and also desire to prescribe various conditions thereto;

              WHEREAS, as a condition to Golden State's willingness to
         enter into this Agreement, Golden State has required that CENFED
         enter into a Stock Option Agreement, dated as of the date hereof
         (the "Stock Option Agreement"), providing for the grant by CENFED
         to Golden State of an option to purchase shares of CENFED Common
         Stock (as defined herein), and, as an inducement to Golden State
         to enter into this Agreement, CENFED has agreed to enter into the
         Stock Option Agreement;

              WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a
         reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the
         Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");

              WHEREAS, it is intended that the Merger shall be accounted
         for as a pooling of interests under generally accepted accounting
         principles; and

              WHEREAS, Golden State and CENFED contemplate that their
         respective depository institution subsidiaries, Glendale Federal
         Bank, Federal Savings Bank and CenFed Bank (referred to herein as
         "Glendale Bank" and "CenFed Bank", respectively) will be merged
         (the "Bank Merger") concurrently with or promptly after the
         completion of the Merger.

              NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
         respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
         set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:









                                         -1-<PAGE>





                                     ARTICLE I.

                                     THE MERGER

              Section 1.1.  Procedure and Effective Time of Merger.  As of
         the Effective Time (as defined below), Merger Sub shall be merged
         with and into CENFED, with CENFED to be the surviving corporation
         in the Merger, in accordance with the following:  Subject to the
         provisions of this Agreement, a certificate of merger (the
         "Certificate of Merger") shall be duly prepared, executed and
         acknowledged by the Surviving Corporation (as defined in Section
         1.3(b)) and thereafter delivered to the Secretary of State of the
         State of Delaware for filing as provided in the Delaware General
         Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), as soon as practicable on the
         Closing Date (as defined in Section 1.2).  The Merger shall become
         effective at the time of the filing of the Certificate of Merger
         with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such
         other time as is provided in the Certificate of Merger (such time
         being referred to herein as the "Effective Time").

              Section 1.2.  Closing.  The completion of the transactions
         provided for herein (the "Closing") shall take place at 10:00 a.m.
         on the date (referred to herein as the "Closing Date") that is the
         first day after December 31, 1997 that is at least two business
         days after satisfaction or appropriate waiver of each of the
         conditions set forth in Article VI at the offices of Mayer, Brown
         & Platt, 350 South Grand Avenue, 25th Floor, Los Angeles,
         California 90071-1503, or at such other time, date and place as
         may be agreed to in writing by the parties hereto.

              Section 1.3.  Effects of Merger.  (a)  At the Effective Time,
         (i) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and
         Merger Sub shall be merged with and into CENFED, (ii) the
         certificate of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect
         immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the certificate
         of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, (iii) the by-laws
         of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
         shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation, and (iv) the
         directors of Merger Sub shall become the directors of the
         Surviving Corporation.

              (b)  As used in this Agreement, "Constituent Corporations"
         shall mean Merger Sub and CENFED and "Surviving Corporation" shall
         mean CENFED.

              (c)  At and after the Effective Time, the Merger will have
         the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.

              Section 1.4.  Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction.
         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Golden






                                         -2-<PAGE>





         State may at any time change the method of effecting the
         acquisition of CENFED by Golden State (and CENFED shall cooperate
         in such efforts), including to provide for a merger of CENFED with
         and into Golden State, or to provide for mergers among certain of
         the Subsidiaries of Golden State and CENFED to occur substantially
         simultaneously with, or promptly following, the Effective Time;
         provided, however, that no such change shall (a) alter or change
         the amount or kind of consideration to be issued to holders of
         CENFED Common Stock as provided for in this Agreement (the "Merger
         Consideration"), (b) adversely affect the proposed accounting
         treatment for the Merger or the tax treatment to CENFED's
         stockholders as a result of receiving the Merger Consideration or
         (c) materially delay receipt of any approval referred to in
         Section 6.1(b) or the consummation of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.


                                     ARTICLE II.

                        EFFECT OF MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK OF
                 CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES

              Section 2.1.  Effect on Capital Stock.  As of the Effective
         Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
         of any holder of shares of capital stock of Merger Sub or CENFED
         Common Stock (as defined in Section 3.3(c)):

              (a)  Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock.  Each issued and
         outstanding share of the capital stock of Merger Sub shall be
         converted into one share of the common stock, par value $.01 per
         share, of the Surviving Corporation.

              (b)  Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Stock Owned by Golden
         State.  All shares of CENFED Common Stock that are owned by CENFED
         as treasury stock and all shares of CENFED Common Stock that are
         owned by Golden State or any wholly-owned subsidiary of Golden
         State, other than shares in trust accounts, managed accounts,
         custodial accounts and the like that are beneficially owned by
         third parties (any shares of stock held in any of such capacities
         being referred to herein as "trust account shares"), shall be
         canceled and retired and shall cease to exist and no stock of
         Golden State or other consideration shall be delivered in exchange
         therefor.  All shares of Golden State Common Stock (as defined in
         Section 3.4(b)) that are owned by CENFED or any subsidiary (other
         than trust account shares) shall remain outstanding and shall not
         be affected by the Merger.

              (c)  Conversion of CENFED Common Stock.  Subject to Section
         2.2(e), each issued and outstanding share of CENFED Common Stock
         (other than shares canceled in accordance with Section 2.1(b))
         shall be converted into 1.2 fully paid and nonassessable shares





                                         -3-<PAGE>





         of Golden State Common Stock (the ratio of such number of shares
         of Golden State Common Stock for each share of CENFED Common Stock
         being referred to herein as the "Exchange Ratio").  All such
         shares of CENFED Common Stock shall cease to be outstanding and
         shall automatically be canceled and retired, and each certificate
         previously representing any such shares shall thereafter represent
         the shares of Golden State Common Stock into which such CENFED
         Common Stock has been converted.  Certificates previously
         representing shares of CENFED Common Stock shall be exchanged for
         certificates representing whole shares of Golden State Common
         Stock issued in consideration therefor upon the surrender of such
         certificates in accordance with Section 2.2. If prior to the
         Effective Time the outstanding shares of Golden State Common Stock
         shall have been increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged
         for a different number or kind of shares or securities as a result
         of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
         dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, or other similar
         change in the capitalization of Golden State, or if Golden State
         shall declare any extraordinary dividend with a record date that
         is prior to the Effective Time, then an appropriate and
         proportionate adjustment, as mutually agreed by Golden State and
         CENFED, shall be made to the Exchange Ratio, which adjustment may
         include, as appropriate, the issuance of securities, property or
         cash on the same basis as that on which any of the foregoing shall
         have been issued, distributed or paid to the holders of Golden
         State Common Stock generally.

              (d)  Effect on CENFED Stock Option Plans.  At the Effective
         Time, each then outstanding and unexercised option to purchase
         shares of CENFED Common Stock granted under the CENFED Stock Plans
         (as defined below) (each, a "CENFED Stock Option"), whether vested
         or unvested (it being understood that, under the terms of the
         CENFED Stock Plans, all such options will become vested as a
         result of the transaction provided for in this Agreement), shall
         be converted, subject to the penultimate sentence of this Section
         2.1(d), into an option (a "Replacement Option") to acquire, on the
         same terms and conditions as were applicable under such CENFED
         Stock Option, the number of shares of Golden State Common Stock
         equal to (a) the number of shares of CENFED Common Stock subject
         to the CENFED Stock Option, multiplied by (b) the Exchange Ratio
         (such product to be rounded down to the nearest whole number) at
         an exercise price per share (rounded up to the nearest whole cent)
         equal to (y) the aggregate exercise price for the shares of CENFED
         Common Stock which were purchasable pursuant to such CENFED Stock
         Option divided by (z) the number of full shares of Golden State
         Common Stock subject to such Replacement Option in accordance with
         the foregoing.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, each CENFED Stock
         Option which is intended to be an "incentive stock option" (as
         defined in Section 422 of the Code) shall be adjusted in
         accordance with the requirements of Section 424 of the Code.  At
         or prior to the Effective Time, CENFED shall





                                         -4-<PAGE>





         take all such action, if any, as shall be necessary with respect
         to the CENFED Stock Plans to permit the replacement of the
         outstanding CENFED Stock Options by Golden State pursuant to this
         Section.  At the Effective Time Golden State shall assume the
         CENFED Stock Option Plans; provided, that such assumption shall be
         only in respect of the Replacement Options and that Golden State
         shall have no obligation with respect to any awards under the
         CENFED Stock Plans other than the Replacement Options and shall
         have no obligation to make any additional grants or awards under
         such assumed CENFED Stock Plans.  As used herein, the term "CENFED
         Stock Plans" shall mean each of the CENFED Financial Corporation
         1992 Long-Term Incentive Plan, the CENFED Financial Corporation
         1994 Long-Term Incentive Plan and the CENFED Financial Corporation
         1994 Directors' Stock Option Plan.

              Section 2.2.  Exchange of Certificates. (a)  Exchange Agent.
         As of the Effective Time, Golden State shall deposit, or shall
         cause to be deposited, with a bank, trust company or other entity
         which regularly performs the functions provided for in this
         Section 2.2 that is designated by Golden State and reasonably
         acceptable to CENFED (the "Exchange Agent"), for the benefit of
         the holders of shares of CENFED Common Stock, and for exchange in
         accordance with this Article II through the Exchange Agent,
         certificates representing the shares of Golden State Common Stock
         (such certificates for shares of Golden State Common Stock,
         together with any dividends or distributions with respect thereto,
         being hereinafter referred to as the "Exchange Fund") issuable
         pursuant to Section 2.1.

              (b)  Exchange Procedures.  As soon as practicable but in no
         event later than five days after the Effective Time, Golden State
         shall cause  the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record
         of a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the
         Effective Time represented outstanding shares of CENFED Common
         Stock (the "Certificates") whose shares were converted into shares
         of Golden State Common Stock pursuant to Section 2.1 (i) a letter
         of transmittal (which shall specify that delivery shall be
         effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall
         pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent
         and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Golden
         State and CENFED may reasonably specify), and (ii) instructions
         for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange
         for certificates representing shares of Golden State Common Stock.
         Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Exchange
         Agent together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the
         holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in
         exchange therefor a certificate representing that number of whole
         shares of Golden State Common Stock which such holder has the
         right to receive in respect of the Certificate surrendered
         pursuant to the provisions of this Article II (after taking into
         account all shares of CENFED common





                                         -5-<PAGE>





         stock then held by such holder), and the Certificate so
         surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.  In the event of a
         transfer of ownership of CENFED Common Stock which is not
         registered in the transfer records of CENFED, a certificate
         representing the proper number of shares of Golden State Common
         Stock may be issued to a transferee if the Certificate
         representing such CENFED Common Stock is presented to the Exchange
         Agent accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect
         such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer
         taxes have been paid.  Until surrendered as contemplated by this
         Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after
         the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon
         such surrender the certificate representing shares of Golden State
         Common Stock and cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Golden
         State Common Stock as contemplated by this Section 2.2.

              (c)  Distributions with Respect to Unexchanged Shares.  No
         dividends or other distributions declared or made after the
         Effective Time with respect to Golden State Common Stock with a
         record date after the Effective Time shall be paid to the holder
         of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of
         Golden State Common Stock represented thereby, and no cash payment
         in lieu of fractional shares shall be paid to any such holder
         pursuant to Section 2.2(e), until such Certificate shall be
         surrendered by the holder thereof.  Subject to the effect of
         applicable laws, following surrender of any such Certificate,
         there shall be paid to the holder of the certificates representing
         whole shares of Golden State Common Stock issued in exchange
         therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the
         amount of any cash payable with respect to a fractional share of
         Golden State Common Stock to which such holder is entitled
         pursuant to Section 2.2(e) and the amount of dividends or other
         distributions with a record date after the Effective Time
         theretofore paid or made with respect to such whole shares of
         Golden State Common Stock, and (ii) at the appropriate payment
         date, the amount of dividends or other distributions with a record
         date after the Effective Time but prior to such surrender and a
         payment or distribution date subsequent to such surrender payable
         or distributable with respect to such whole shares of Golden State
         Common Stock.

              (d)  No Further Ownership Rights in CENFED Common Stock. All
         shares of Golden State Common Stock issued upon conversion of
         shares of CENFED Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof
         (and any cash paid pursuant to Section 2.2(c) or 2.2(e)) shall be
         deemed to have been issued and paid in full satisfaction of all
         rights pertaining to such shares of CENFED Common Stock; subject,
         however, to the Surviving Corporation's obligation to pay any
         dividends or make any other distributions with a record date prior
         to the Effective Time which may have been declared or made






                                         -6-<PAGE>





         by CENFED on such shares of CENFED Common Stock not in violation
         of the terms of this Agreement on or prior to the Effective Time
         and which remain unpaid or have not been made at the Effective
         Time, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on
         the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the
         shares of CENFED Common Stock which were outstanding immediately
         prior to the Effective Time.  If, after the Effective Time,
         Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation for any
         reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this
         Article II.

              (e)  No Fractional Shares.  (i)  No certificates or scrip
         representing fractional shares of Golden State Common Stock shall
         be issued upon the surrender of Certificates for exchange, and
         such fractional share interests shall not entitle the owner
         thereof to vote or to any rights of a stockholder of Golden State.

                   (ii)  In lieu of the issuance of fractional shares of
         Golden State Stock, Golden State shall pay or cause to be paid to
         each holder of CENFED Common Stock an amount in cash equal to the
         product obtained by multiplying the fractional share interest to
         which such holder (after taking into account all shares of CENFED
         Common Stock then held by such holder) would otherwise be entitled
         by the average of the closing prices for a share of Golden State
         Common Stock on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape for the ten
         trading days ending on the second trading day immediately
         preceding the Effective Time.

                   (iii)  As soon as practicable after the determination of
         the amount of cash, if any, to be paid to holders of CENFED Common
         Stock with respect to any fractional share interests, the Exchange
         Agent shall make available such amounts to such holders of CENFED
         Common Stock subject to and in accordance with the terms of
         Section 2.2(c).

              (f)  Termination of Exchange Fund.  Any portion of the
         Exchange Fund which remains undistributed to the stockholders of
         CENFED for twelve months after the Effective Time shall be
         delivered to Golden State upon demand, and any stockholders of
         CENFED who have not theretofore complied with this Article II
         shall thereafter look only to Golden State for payment of their
         claims for Golden State Common Stock and, if applicable, any cash
         in lieu of fractional shares of Golden State Common Stock and any
         dividends or distributions with respect to Golden State Common
         Stock.

              (g)  No Liability.  Neither Golden State nor CENFED shall be
         liable to any holder of shares of CENFED Common Stock or Golden
         State Common Stock, as the case may be, for such shares (or
         dividends or distributions with respect thereto) or cash from the






                                         -7-<PAGE>





         Common Shares Trust delivered to a public official pursuant to any
         applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.            


                                    ARTICLE III.
                           REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

              Section 3.1.  Disclosure Letters.  On or prior to the date of
         the execution and delivery hereof, CENFED and Golden State have
         each delivered a letter to the other (the "CENFED Disclosure
         Letter" and the "Golden State Disclosure Letter," respectively,
         and each a "Disclosure Letter") setting forth, among other things,
         facts, circumstances and events the disclosure of which is
         required or appropriate in relation to its representations and
         warranties set forth in Section 3.3 or 3.4, as applicable, and
         making specific reference to the Section or Sections of this
         Agreement to which they relate.  The inclusion of a fact,
         circumstance or event in either Disclosure Letter, however, shall
         not be deemed an admission that such item represents a material
         exception or that the absence of such item would cause the
         representation or warranty to which it relates to be untrue or
         incorrect.

              Section 3.2.  Standards.  No representation or warranty of
         CENFED or Golden State contained in Sections 3.3 or 3.4,
         respectively, shall be deemed untrue or incorrect, and no party
         hereto shall be deemed to have breached a representation or
         warranty, on account of the existence of any fact, circumstance or
         event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or
         taken together with all other facts, circumstances or events
         inconsistent with any paragraph of Sections 3.3 or 3.4, (i) is
         material and adverse to the business, financial condition or
         results of operations of CENFED or Golden State, as applicable,
         and its respective subsidiaries, in each case, taken as a whole,
         (ii) materially and adversely affects the ability of CENFED or
         Golden State, as applicable, to consummate the Merger by the
         Termination Date or to perform its material obligations hereunder
         or (iii) enables any person to prevent or materially delay the
         consummation of the Merger.

              Section 3.3.  Representations and Warranties of CENFED.
         Except as set forth in the CENFED Disclosure Letter, CENFED
         represents and warrants to Golden State that:

              (a)  Organization.  (i)  CENFED has been duly organized and
         is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation under
         the laws of the State of Delaware. CENFED has all requisite
         corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is
         now being conducted and to own its properties and assets.  







                                         -8-<PAGE>





                   (ii)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         CenFed Bank is duly chartered and in good standing as a federal
         savings bank organized in capital stock form.  The customer
         deposit accounts of CenFed Bank are insured by the Savings
         Association Insurance Fund (the "SAIF") of the Federal Deposit
         Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC") to the extent provided for
         member institutions of the SAIF generally in the Federal Deposit
         Insurance Act, without any special limitation or restriction.
         CenFed Bank has all requisite corporate and other power and
         authority (including all federal, state and local administrative
         and other governmental and regulatory authorizations) to carry on
         its business as it is now being conducted and to own its
         properties and assets.

              (b)  Qualifications.  CENFED is duly qualified and in good
         standing in all jurisdictions in which such qualification is
         required to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and
         to own all its properties and assets.

              (c)  Capital Stock.  The authorized capital stock of CENFED
         consists solely of 14,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
         $.01 per share (the "CENFED Common Stock"), of which 5,732,581
         shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this
         Agreement, and 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01
         per share, of which no shares are issued or outstanding as of the
         date of this Agreement.  CENFED has no outstanding voting
         securities other than the outstanding shares of CENFED Common
         Stock referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph. Except
         for shares of CENFED Common Stock that are issuable pursuant to
         the employee stock options listed in the CENFED Disclosure Letter,
         the Stock Option Agreement and the Rights Agreement referred to in
         the CENFED Disclosure Letter (the "CENFED Rights Plan") no shares
         of capital stock of CENFED are reserved for issuance upon the
         exercise of, or are otherwise subject to, any outstanding options,
         warrants or other rights of any kind or upon conversion of or in
         exchange for any other securities or pursuant to any other
         contractual arrangement or understanding.  All outstanding shares
         of capital stock of CENFED and its subsidiaries are duly
         authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-
         assessable.  None of the shares of authorized capital stock of
         CENFED is subject to any statutory or contractual preemptive or
         similar rights.

              (d)  CenFed Bank; Significant Investments.  All of the
         outstanding shares of capital stock of each subsidiary of CENFED
         are owned, directly or indirectly, and not subject to any lien,
         charge, encumbrance, restriction on transfer or adverse ownership
         or other claim of any third party, solely by CENFED.  CenFed Bank
         is the sole direct subsidiary (as defined in Section 8.1) of
         CENFED and all of the direct and indirect subsidiaries of CenFed
         Bank are listed in the CENFED Disclosure Letter.  No equity





                                         -9-<PAGE>





         securities of any subsidiary of CENFED are or may become required
         to be issued (other than to CENFED or its subsidiaries) by reason
         of any securities or obligations convertible into or exercisable
         or exchangeable for, or giving any person any right to subscribe
         for or acquire, or any options, calls or commitments relating to,
         or any stock appreciation right or other instrument the value of
         which is determined in whole or in part by reference to the market
         price or value of such equity securities (each of the foregoing, a
         "Right"); there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
         arrangements by which any of the subsidiaries of CENFED is or may
         be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any shares of the capital
         stock of any such subsidiary (other than to CENFED or its
         subsidiaries); and there are no contracts, commitments,
         understandings or arrangements relating to its rights to vote or
         to dispose of such shares (other than to CENFED or its
         subsidiaries).

              (e)  Authority and Stockholder Approvals.  Each of this
         Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby is a valid
         and binding agreement of CENFED enforceable against CENFED in
         accordance with its terms, subject as to enforcement to
         bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
         moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to
         or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
         Upon the receipt of the stockholder approval of this Agreement by
         the holders of CENFED Common Stock required by the DGCL, the
         completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
         have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of CENFED.
         The CENFED Rights Plan has been amended so as to provide that
         Golden State will not become an "Acquiring Person" and that no
         "Shares Acquisition Date" or "Distribution Date" (as such terms
         are defined in the CENFED Rights Agreement) will occur as a result
         of the approval, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the
         Stock Option Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the
         acquisition of shares of CENFED Common Stock by Golden State
         pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement or any other transaction
         contemplated hereby or thereby.  CENFED has taken all action
         required to be taken by it (including approval by the appropriate
         number of members of the CENFED Board of Directors) in order to
         exempt this Agreement and the CENFED Stock Option Agreement and
         the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the
         foregoing are exempt from, (x) the requirements of Section 203 of
         the Delaware General Corporation Law and (y) the "higher vote"
         requirement of Article Seventh of the CENFED Certificate of
         Incorporation.  Article Thirteenth of the CENFED Certificate of
         Incorporation does not apply to this Agreement, the CENFED Stock
         Option Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or
         thereby. 

              (f)  No Violations.  The execution, delivery and performance
         of this Agreement by CENFED do not, and the consummation of the





                                        -10-<PAGE>





         transactions contemplated hereby by CENFED will not, constitute
         (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, any law, rule or
         regulation or any judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or
         license, or agreement, indenture or instrument of CENFED or to
         which CENFED or any of its properties is subject, or enable any
         person to enjoin the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
         hereby, (B) a breach or violation of, or a default under, the
         certificate of incorporation or by-laws of CENFED or (C) a breach
         or violation of, or a default under (or an event which with the
         giving of notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a
         default under), or result in the termination of, accelerate the
         performance required by, or result in the creation of any lien,
         pledge, security interest, charge or other encumbrance upon any of
         the properties or assets of CENFED under, any of the terms,
         conditions or provisions of any note, bond, indenture, deed of
         trust, loan agreement or other agreement, instrument or obligation
         to which CENFED is a party, or by which any of its properties or
         assets may be bound or affected; and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby will not require CENFED to obtain
         any approval, consent or waiver under any such law, rule,
         regulation, judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or
         license or the approval, consent or waiver of any other party to
         any such agreement, indenture or instrument, other than the
         required approvals, consents and waivers of governmental
         authorities or other persons referred to in Section 6.1(b), the
         approval of the stockholders of CENFED referred to in Section
         3.3(e), and such approvals, consents or waivers as are required
         under federal and state securities laws in connection with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

              (g)  Reports.  (i)  As of their respective dates, neither the
         Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by CENFED with the Securities and
         Exchange Commission (the "SEC") relating to the year ended
         December 31, 1996 (including the audited financial statements of
         CENFED included therein), nor any other report filed by CENFED
         subsequent to December 31, 1994 (including, without limitation,
         reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K) with the SEC, the Office of
         Thrift Supervision (the "OTS") or the FDIC (all of the financial
         statements and reports of the types referred to in this clause (i)
         being collectively referred to in this Agreement as "Reports"),
         contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
         state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
         to make the statements made therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  True
         and complete copies of all such Reports filed on or after December
         31, 1994 have been made available to Golden State, and CENFED
         shall provide Golden State with true and complete copies of all
         Reports filed after the date hereof promptly after such Reports
         are filed and each such Report filed with the SEC complied or will
         comply as to form with the






                                        -11-<PAGE>





         applicable requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange
         Act.  Each of the statements of financial condition contained or
         incorporated by reference in the Reports (including in each case
         any related notes and schedules) fairly presented or will fairly
         present, as the case may be, the financial position of the entity
         or entities to which it relates as of its date and each of the
         statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders'
         equity, contained or  incorporated by reference in the Reports
         (including in each case any related notes and schedules), fairly
         presented or will fairly present, as the case may be, the results
         of operations, cash flows, and changes in  stockholders' equity of
         the entity or entities to which it relates for the periods set
         forth therein, in each case in accordance with generally accepted
         accounting principles or applicable regulatory accounting
         principles and instructions consistently applied throughout the
         periods involved, except as may be stated therein (and subject, in
         the case of unaudited interim statements, to normal year-end audit
         adjustments that are not material in amount or effect and to the
         lack of complete footnotes). 

                   (ii)  CENFED and its subsidiaries, including CenFed
         Bank, have timely filed all reports and statements, together with
         any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, with the
         SEC, the OTS, the FDIC and any other applicable Government
         Regulators (as defined in Section 3.3(k)), and all other material
         reports and statements required to be filed by them and have paid
         all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith.

              (h)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as
         disclosed in the Reports filed prior to the date hereof and except
         as contemplated by this Agreement or disclosed in the CENFED
         Disclosure Letter, since December 31, 1996:  (i) CENFED has not
         incurred any liability, other than in the ordinary course of its
         business consistent with past practice; (ii) CENFED has conducted
         its business only in the ordinary and usual course of such
         business; and (iii) there has not been any change in the financial
         condition, properties, business, or results of operations of
         CENFED which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would
         reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
         CENFED, including its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

              (i)  Taxes.  All federal, state, local, and foreign tax
         returns required to be filed by or on behalf of CENFED have been
         timely filed or requests for extensions have been timely filed,
         any such requested extensions have been granted and have not
         expired, and all such filed returns are complete and accurate in
         all material respects.  All taxes shown on such returns to be due
         have been paid in full or adequate provision has been made for the
         payment of any such taxes in the financial statements of CENFED in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  There
         is no audit, examination, deficiency





                                        -12-<PAGE>





         assessment, or refund litigation currently pending with respect to
         any taxes of CENFED.  All taxes, interest, additions and penalties
         due with respect to completed and settled examinations or
         concluded litigation relating to CENFED have been paid in full or
         adequate provision has been made for the payment of any such taxes
         in the financial statements of CENFED in accordance with generally
         accepted accounting principles.  No extensions or waivers of
         statutes of limitations have been given by or requested with
         respect to any taxes of CENFED. 

              (j)  Absence of Claims.  There is no pending claim, action or
         proceeding against CENFED before any court or administrative
         agency, nor, to the knowledge of CENFED, have any of the foregoing
         been threatened, nor, to the knowledge of CENFED, is there any
         reasonable basis therefor.  

              (k)  Absence of Regulatory Actions.  Neither CENFED nor
         CenFed Bank is a party to any cease and desist order, written
         agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any
         commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any
         order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary
         supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions
         relating to the foregoing at the request of, federal or state
         governmental authorities, including without limitation the SEC and
         regulatory agencies charged with the supervision or regulation of
         depository institutions or depository institution holding
         companies or engaged in the insurance of bank and/or savings and
         loan deposits (collectively, "Government Regulators"), nor has
         CENFED or CenFed Bank  been advised by any Government Regulator
         that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering
         the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order,
         directive, written agreement, memorandum of understanding,
         extraordinary supervisory letter, commitment letter, board
         resolutions or similar undertaking. CENFED is not aware of any
         facts or circumstances relating to CENFED or CenFed Bank that have
         not been disclosed to Golden State that would cause any of the
         Government Regulators or any other person or entity to fail to
         give any of the approvals, consents or waivers referred to in
         Section 5.1(b).

              (l)  Contracts.  (i)  Except for arrangements made in the
         ordinary course of business, CENFED is not bound by any material
         contract to be performed after the date hereof that is not listed
         in the CENFED Disclosure Letter. CENFED is not a party to an oral
         or written (A) agreement containing covenants that limit the
         ability of CENFED to compete in any line of business or with any
         person, or that involve any restriction on the geographic area in
         which, or the method by which, CENFED (including any successor
         thereof) may carry on its business (other than as may be required
         by law or any regulatory agency), (B) agreement not referred to in
         the preceding clause and providing for the payment by CENFED of





                                        -13-<PAGE>





         $100,000 or more per annum or (C) except as filed as an exhibit to
         its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
         1996, agreement that is a "material contract" within the meaning
         of Item 601(b)(10) of SEC Regulation S-K.

                   (ii)  CENFED is not in default under or in violation of
         any provision of the contracts or any note, bond, indenture,
         mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement
         to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of
         its respective properties or assets is subject, and, to the
         knowledge of CENFED, there has not occurred any event that with
         the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute
         such a default.

              (m)  Labor Matters.  CENFED is not a party to, or bound by,
         any collective bargaining agreement, contract, or other agreement
         or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is
         CENFED the subject of any proceeding asserting that it has
         committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to
         bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of
         employment, nor is any strike, other labor dispute or
         organizational effort involving CENFED pending or, to the
         knowledge of CENFED, threatened.

              (n)  Employee Agreements.  The CENFED Disclosure Letter
         contains a complete list of all employment agreements and all
         pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock
         ownership, savings, stock appreciation right, profit sharing,
         deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance,
         employment, termination, severance, medical, health and other
         benefit plans, contracts, agreements, arrangements, including, but
         not limited to, "employee benefit plans," as defined in Section
         3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
         amended ("ERISA"), incentive and welfare policies, contracts,
         plans and arrangements and all trust agreements related thereto in
         respect of any present or former directors, officers, or other
         employees of CENFED or with respect to which CENFED or any entity
         that would be treated as a single employer with CENFED under
         Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (which entities are referred to
         herein as "ERISA Affiliates") may have any liability (all of the
         foregoing being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
         "Employee Agreements").  Except as set forth in the CENFED
         Disclosure Letter, (i) all of the Employee Agreements comply, and
         have been administered in all material respects in compliance,
         with all applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code, and all other
         applicable laws and regulations, and no event has occurred which
         will or could cause any such Employee Agreement to fail to comply
         with such requirements and no notice has been issued by any
         governmental authority questioning or challenging such compliance;
         (ii) none of CENFED or any of its ERISA Affiliates has an
         obligation to





                                        -14-<PAGE>





         accelerate the time of payment or vesting of any benefit or
         compensation payable under any Employee Agreement; (iii) a true
         and correct copy of each of the Employee Agreements and all
         contracts relating thereto, or to the funding thereof, including,
         without limitation, all trust agreements, insurance contracts,
         administration contracts, investment management agreements,
         subscription and participation agreements, and recordkeeping
         agreements, each as in effect on the date hereof, has been made
         available to Golden State; (iv) to the extent applicable, a true
         and correct copy of the most recent annual report, actuarial
         report, accountant's opinion of the plan's financial statements,
         summary plan description and Internal Revenue Service
         determination letter with respect to each Employee Agreement has
         been made available to Golden State and there have been no
         material changes in the financial condition of the respective
         plans from that stated in the annual reports and actuarial reports
         supplied; (v) all Employee Agreements which are employee pension
         benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) comply in form
         and in operation with all applicable requirements of Sections
         401(a) and 501(a) of the Code, there have been no amendments to
         such plans which are not the subject of a favorable determination
         letter issued with respect thereto by the Internal Revenue Service
         and no event has occurred which will or could give rise to
         disqualification of any such plan under such sections or to a tax
         under Section 511 of the Code; (vi) there have been no "prohibited
         transactions" (as described in Section 406 of ERISA or Section
         4975 of the Code) with respect to any Employee Agreement and none
         of CENFED or any of its ERISA Affiliates has engaged in any
         prohibited transaction; (vii) there have been no acts or omissions
         by CENFED or any of its ERISA Affiliates which have given rise to
         or may give rise to fines, penalties, taxes or related charges
         under Section 502 of ERISA or Chapters 43, 47 or 68 of the Code
         for which CENFED or any of its ERISA Affiliates may be liable;
         (viii) there are no actions, suits or claims (other than routine
         claims for benefits) pending or threatened involving any Employee
         Agreement or assets thereof and to the best knowledge of CENFED no
         facts exist which could give rise to any such actions, suits or
         claims (other than routine claims for benefits); (ix) no Employee
         Agreement is subject to Title IV of ERISA and no Employee
         Agreement is a multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of
         ERISA); (x) none of CENFED or any of its ERISA Affiliates has any
         liability or contingent liability for providing, under any
         Employee Agreement or otherwise, any post-retirement medical or
         life insurance benefits, other than statutory liability for
         providing group health plan continuation coverage under Part 6 of
         Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code; and (xi)
         shareholder approval, or the consummation, of the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement would not directly or indirectly
         (including as a result of any termination of employment)
         reasonably be expected to (A) entitle any current or former
         director, officer or





                                        -15-<PAGE>





         employee to any payment or any increase in compensation, (B)
         result in the vesting or acceleration of any benefits under any
         Employee Agreement, (C) result in any material increase in
         benefits under any Employee Agreement or (D) result in the payment
         of any "excess parachute payments" under Section 280G of the Code.

              (o)  Title to Assets.   CENFED does not own any real estate
         or interest therein (other than real property security interests)
         that is not described in the CENFED Disclosure Letter. CENFED has
         good (and as to real property, marketable) title to its properties
         and assets (including any trademark, service mark, trade name,
         copyright or other intellectual property used in its business),
         other than (i) as reflected in the Reports, (ii) properties or
         assets as to which CENFED is a lessee or licensee and (iii) real
         estate owned as a result of foreclosure, transfer in lieu of
         foreclosure or other transfer in satisfaction of a debtor's
         obligation previously contracted. Such properties and assets are
         subject to no liens, mortgages, security interests, encumbrances,
         pledges or charges of any kind, except (i) as reflected in the
         Reports filed prior to the date hereof; (ii) statutory liens for
         taxes not yet delinquent; (iii) landlord's liens; and (iv) minor
         defects and irregularities in title and encumbrances that do not
         materially impair the use thereof for the purposes for which they
         are held.  CENFED and its subsidiaries as lessee have the
         unqualified right under valid and subsisting leases to occupy,
         use, possess and control all property leased by CENFED and its
         subsidiaries.

              (p)  Compliance with Law.  Each of CENFED and CenFed Bank:

                   (i)  has all permits, licenses, certificates of
         authority, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings,
         applications and registrations with, federal, state, local and
         foreign governmental or regulatory bodies that are required in
         order to permit it to carry on its business as it is presently
         conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority,
         orders and approvals are in full force and effect, and, to the
         knowledge of CENFED and CenFed Bank, no suspension or cancellation
         of any of them is threatened; and

                   (ii)  is in material compliance in the conduct of its
         business with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign
         statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders
         or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting such
         businesses, including, without limitation, the Equal Credit
         Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment
         Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Americans With
         Disabilities Act, and all other fair lending laws or other laws
         relating to discrimination, and the Bank Secrecy Act.







                                        -16-<PAGE>





              (q)  Fees.  Other than financial advisory services performed
         for CENFED by Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. in the amount and pursuant
         to the agreement both disclosed to Golden State prior to the
         execution and delivery of this Agreement, CENFED has not employed
         any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any financial
         advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions, or finder's fees in
         connection with the transaction provided for in this Agreement. 

              (r)  Environmental Matters.

                   (i)  With respect to environmental matters:

                        A.   To the knowledge of CENFED, CENFED is in
              material compliance with all Environmental Laws (as defined
              below);

                        B.   CENFED does not have knowledge of any material
              noncompliance with any Environmental Laws relating to any of
              the Loan Properties (as defined below) other than as may be
              set forth in the standard loan files of CenFed Bank;

                        C.   There is no suit, claim, action, demand,
              executive or administrative order, directive, investigation
              or proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of CENFED,
              threatened, before any court, governmental agency or board or
              other forum against CENFED (x) for alleged noncompliance
              (including by any predecessor) with, or liability under, any
              Environmental Law or (y) relating to the presence of or
              release into the environment of any Hazardous Material (as
              defined below), whether or not occurring at or on a site
              owned, leased or operated by CENFED;

                        D.   To the knowledge of CENFED, there is no suit,
              claim, action, demand, executive or administrative order,
              directive, investigation or proceeding pending or threatened
              before any court, governmental agency or board or other forum
              relating to or against any Loan Property (or CENFED in
              respect of such Loan Property) (x) relating to alleged
              noncompliance (including by any predecessor) with, or
              liability under, any Environmental Law or (y) relating to the
              presence of or release into the environment of any Hazardous
              Material whether or not occurring at or on a site owned,
              leased or operated by a Loan Property;

                        E.   To the knowledge of the CENFED, there are no
              existing facts or circumstances that could reasonably be
              expected to give rise to any suit, claim, action, demand,
              executive or administrative order, directive or proceeding of
              a type described in Section 3.3(r)(i)(B) or (C) above;







                                        -17-<PAGE>





                        F.   To the knowledge of CENFED, the properties
              currently or formerly owned or operated by CENFED (including,
              without limitation, soil, groundwater or surface water on,
              under or adjacent to the properties, and buildings thereon)
              are not contaminated with and, with the exception of
              commercially available office and cleaning supplies, do not
              otherwise contain any Hazardous Material that could
              reasonably be expected to give rise to liability to CENFED;

                        G.   CENFED has not received any notice, demand
              letter, executive or administrative order, directive or
              request for information from any federal, state, local or
              foreign governmental entity or any third party indicating
              that it may be in violation of, or liable under, any
              Environmental Law;

                        H.   To the knowledge of CENFED, during the period
              of CENFED's ownership or operation of any of its currently
              owned properties, there has been no contamination by or
              release of Hazardous Material in, on, under or affecting such
              properties which constituted a violation of any Environmental
              Laws.  To the knowledge of CENFED, prior to the period of
              CENFED's ownership or operation of any of their respective
              current properties, there was no contamination by or release
              of Hazardous Material or oil in, on, under or affecting any
              such property which constituted a violation of any
              Environmental Laws and as to which CENFED may have liability;
              and

                        I.   CENFED does not participate in the management
              of a Loan Property to an extent that it would be deemed an
              "owner or operator" as defined in 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 or
              any similar Environmental Law.

                   (ii)  The following definitions apply for purposes of
         this Section 3.3(r):  (w) "Loan Property" means any property in
         which CENFED holds a security interest, and, where required by the
         context, includes the owner or operator of such property, but only
         with respect to such property; (x) "Environmental Law" means (i)
         any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule,
         regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval,
         consent, order, directive, executive or administrative order,
         judgment, decree, injunction, requirement or agreement with any
         governmental entity, relating to (A) the protection, preservation
         or restoration of the environment (which includes, without
         limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking
         water supply, structures, soil, surface land, subsurface land,
         plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or (B) the
         exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment,
         generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling,
         production, release or disposal of, Hazardous Materials, in each





                                        -18-<PAGE>





         case as amended and as now or hereafter in effect, including all
         current Environmental Laws, all future interpretations of current
         Environmental Laws and all future Environmental Laws and
         subsequent interpretations thereof.  The term "Environmental Law"
         includes (i) all federal, state and local laws, rules, regulations
         or requirements relating to the protection of the environment,
         including the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
         Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendments
         and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the federal Water Pollution
         Control Act of 1972, the federal Clean Air Act, the federal Clean
         Water Act, the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of
         1976 (including the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto),
         the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act and the federal Toxic
         Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
         Rodenticide Act, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of
         1970, the Federal Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, or any
         so-called "Superfund" or "Superlien" law, each as amended and as
         now or hereafter in effect, and (ii) any common law or equitable
         doctrine (including, without limitation, injunctive relief and
         tort doctrines such as negligence, nuisance, trespass and strict
         liability) that may impose liability or obligations for injuries
         or damages due to, or threatened as a result of, the presence of
         or exposure to any Hazardous Material; and (y) "Hazardous
         Material" means any substance in any concentration which is or
         could be detrimental to human health or safety or to the
         environment, currently or hereafter listed, defined, designated or
         classified as hazardous, toxic, radioactive or dangerous, or
         otherwise regulated, under any Environmental Law, whether by type
         or by quantity, including any substance containing any such
         substance as a component.  The term "Hazardous Material" includes
         any toxic waste, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance,
         toxic substance, hazardous waste, special waste, industrial
         substance, oil or petroleum or any derivative or by-product
         thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos, asbestos-
         containing material, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, lead,
         lead-based paint and polychlorinated biphenyl.

              (s)  Classified Assets.  CENFED has annexed to the CENFED
         Disclosure Letter a loan schedule identifying certain loan
         agreements, notes and borrowing arrangements (the "CENFED Loan
         Schedule") between its subsidiaries and borrowers of its
         subsidiaries.  Except as specifically noted on the CENFED Loan
         Schedule, no subsidiary was, as of July 31, 1997, a party to any
         written or oral (i) loan agreement, note or borrowing arrangement,
         other than loans the unpaid balance of which does not exceed
         $100,000 per loan, under the terms of which the obligor is over 60
         days delinquent in payment of principal or interest or loan
         agreement, note or borrowing arrangement which has been classified
         as "substandard," "doubtful," "loss," or "other loans specially
         mentioned" or any comparable






                                        -19-<PAGE>





         classification by CENFED, a CENFED subsidiary, the OTS or the FDIC
         or (ii) loan agreement, note or borrowing arrangement including
         any loan guaranty, with any director, executive officer or ten
         percent stockholder of CENFED or, to the knowledge of CENFED, any
         person, corporation or enterprise controlling, controlled by or
         under common control with any of the foregoing.

              (t)  Material Interests of Certain Persons.  No officer or
         director of CENFED, or any "associate" (as such term is defined in
         Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act")) of any such officer or director, has any
         material interest in any material contract or property (real or
         personal), tangible or intangible, used in or pertaining to the
         business of CENFED.

              (u)  Insurance.  All policies of insurance or indemnity
         maintained by CENFED for its benefit in its business are listed in
         the CENFED Disclosure Letter.  All of the insurance policies and
         bonds so listed are in full force and effect, CENFED is not in
         default thereunder and all material claims thereunder have been
         filed in due and timely fashion.  Between the date hereof and the
         Effective Time, CENFED will use commercially reasonable efforts to
         maintain the levels of insurance coverage in effect on the date
         hereof.

              (v)  Books and Records.  The books and records of CENFED have
         been maintained in accordance with all applicable legal,
         regulatory and accounting requirements and reflect in all material
         respects the substance of the events and transactions that are
         required to be included therein.

              (w)  Corporate Documents.  CENFED has delivered to Golden
         State true and complete copies of its certificate of incorporation
         and by-laws, and the charter and by-laws of CenFed Bank, as each
         of them is in effect on the date hereof.

              (x)  Indemnification.  Other than pursuant to the provisions
         of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of CENFED and the
         similar or corresponding organizational documents of CenFed Bank
         and the other subsidiaries of CENFED, neither CENFED nor any such
         subsidiary, is a party to any indemnification agreement with any
         of its present or former directors, officers, employees, agents or
         other persons who serve or served in any other capacity with any
         other enterprise at the request of CENFED or any such subsidiary.

              (y)  Derivatives Contracts; Structured Notes; Etc.  CENFED is
         not a party to and has not agreed to enter into, after the date
         hereof, any exchange traded or over-the-counter equity, interest
         rate, foreign exchange or other swap, forward, future, option,
         cap, floor or collar or other contract of the types






                                        -20-<PAGE>





         commonly referred to as derivative contracts, including various
         combinations thereof (each a "Derivatives Contract") and CENFED
         does not own securities that are referred to generically as
         "structured notes," "high risk mortgage derivatives" (as defined
         for federal banking regulatory purposes), "capped floating rate
         notes" or "capped floating rate mortgage derivatives", except for
         those Derivatives Contracts and such other instruments listed (as
         of the date hereof) in the CENFED Disclosure Letter or disclosed
         in its Reports filed on or prior to the date hereof.  All
         Derivative Contracts, whether entered into for CENFED's own
         account, or for the account of one or more of its subsidiaries or
         their customers, were entered into (i) in accordance with
         applicable laws, rules and regulations and (ii) with
         counterparties believed to be financially responsible at the time.
         Neither CENFED nor its subsidiaries, nor to its knowledge any
         other party thereto, is in breach of any of its obligations under
         any Derivative Contract.  

              (z)  Accounting Matters.  None of CENFED nor, to CENFED's
         best knowledge, any of its affiliates has taken or agreed to take
         any action that would prevent Golden State from accounting for the
         transactions contemplated hereby as a "pooling of interests" under
         GAAP and SEC regulations, and CENFED has no reason to believe that
         such transactions will not qualify as a "pooling of interests" for
         accounting purposes.

              (aa)  Disclosure.  The written statements, certificates,
         schedules, lists and other written information furnished by or on
         behalf of CENFED to Golden State pursuant to this Agreement,
         including all information supplied in connection with the
         preparation of the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement (each as
         defined in Section 5.8), do not contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact or, taken as a whole, omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

              Section 3.4  Representations and Warranties of Golden State.
         Except as set forth in the Golden State Disclosure Letter, Golden
         State represents and warrants to CENFED that:

              (a)  Organization.  (i) Golden State has been duly organized
         and is validly existing and in good standing as a corporation
         under the laws of the State of Delaware.  Golden State has all
         requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business
         as it is now being conducted and to own its properties and assets.  

                   (ii)  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
         Glendale Bank is duly chartered and in good standing as a federal
         savings bank organized in capital stock form.  The customer
         deposit accounts of Glendale Bank are insured by the SAIF to the






                                        -21-<PAGE>





         extent provided for member institutions of the SAIF generally in
         the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, without any special limitation
         or restriction.  Glendale Bank has all requisite corporate and
         other power and authority (including all federal, state and local
         administrative and other governmental and regulatory
         authorizations) to carry on its business as it is now being
         conducted and to own its properties and assets.

              (b)  Capital Stock.  The authorized capital stock of Golden
         State consists solely of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, par
         value $1.00 per share (the "Golden State Common Stock"), of which
         50,382,460 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of
         this Agreement, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
         value $1.00 per share, of which 4,621,982 shares, denominated
         "Noncumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A" are issued
         and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.  Golden State
         has no outstanding voting securities other than the outstanding
         shares of Golden State Common Stock referred to in the first
         sentence of this paragraph.  Except as described in the Golden
         State Disclosure Letter, no shares of capital stock of Golden
         State are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding
         options, warrants or other rights of any kind or upon conversion
         of or in exchange for any other securities or pursuant to any
         other contractual arrangement or understanding.  All outstanding
         shares of capital stock of Golden State and its subsidiaries are,
         and all of the shares of Golden State Common Stock to be issued in
         the Merger will, when so issued pursuant to the terms hereof, be
         duly authorized, validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
         non-assessable.  None of the shares of authorized capital stock of
         Golden State is subject to any statutory or contractual preemptive
         or similar rights.  All of the outstanding shares of capital stock
         of Glendale Bank are owned directly or indirectly, and not subject
         to any lien, charge, encumbrance, restriction on transfer or
         adverse ownership or other claim of any third party, solely by
         Golden State.

              (c)  Authority and Stockholder Approvals.  This Agreement is
         a valid and binding agreement of Golden State enforceable against
         Golden State in accordance with its terms, subject as to
         enforcement to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer,
         reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
         general equity principles.  No approval of this Agreement is
         required under applicable law, the certificate of incorporation or
         by-laws of Golden State or for any other reason, to be obtained
         from the stockholders of Golden State to enable Golden State to
         complete the transactions provided for herein.    

              (d)  No Violations.  The execution, delivery and performance
         of this Agreement by Golden State do not, and the consummation of
         the transactions contemplated hereby by Golden State will not,





                                        -22-<PAGE>





         constitute (A) a breach or violation of, or a default under, any
         law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order,
         governmental permit or license, or agreement, indenture or
         instrument of Golden State or to which Golden State (or any of its
         properties) is subject, or enable any person to enjoin the Merger
         or the other transactions contemplated hereby, (B) a breach or
         violation of, or a default under, the certificate of incorporation
         or by-laws of Golden State or (C) a breach or violation of, or a
         default under (or an event which with the giving of notice or
         lapse of time or both would constitute a default under), or result
         in the termination of, accelerate the performance required by, or
         result in the creation of any lien, pledge, security interest,
         charge or other encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets
         of Golden State under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions
         of any note, bond, indenture, deed of trust, loan agreement or
         other agreement, instrument or obligation to which Golden State is
         a party, or by which any of its properties or assets may be bound
         or affected; and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
         hereby will not require Golden State to obtain any approval,
         consent or waiver under any such law, rule, regulation, judgment,
         decree, order, governmental permit or license or the approval,
         consent or waiver of any other party to any such agreement,
         indenture or instrument, other than the required approvals,
         consents and waivers of governmental authorities or other persons
         referred to in Section 6.1(b), and such approvals, consents or
         waivers as are required under federal and state securities laws in
         connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

              (e)  Reports.  As of their respective dates, neither the
         Annual Report on Form 10-K filed by Glendale Bank, as the
         predecessor of Golden State, with the OTS relating to its fiscal
         year ended June 30, 1996 (including the audited financial
         statements of Glendale Bank, as such predecessor, included
         therein) nor the unaudited financial statements of Glendale Bank
         as the predecessor of Golden State, as of March 31, 1997 and for
         the nine months then ended contained in the Quarterly Report on
         Form 10-Q filed by Glendale Bank with the OTS, and no other report
         filed by Glendale Bank or Golden State subsequent to June 30,
         1994, with the OTS, the SEC or the FDIC contained any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading.  True and complete copies of all such
         reports filed on or after June 30, 1994 have been made available
         to CENFED, and Golden State shall provide CENFED with true and
         complete copies of all reports filed after the date hereof
         promptly after such reports are filed.  Each of the statements of
         financial condition contained or incorporated by reference in the
         reports referred to in this Section 3.4(e) (including in each case
         any related notes and schedules) fairly presented or will






                                        -23-<PAGE>





         fairly present, as the case may be, the financial position of the
         entity or entities to which it relates as of its date and each of
         the statements of operations, cash flows and changes in
         stockholders' equity, contained or incorporated by reference in
         the reports (including in each case any related notes and
         schedules), fairly presented or will fairly present, as the case
         may be, the results of operations, cash flows, and changes in
         stockholders' equity, of the entity or entities to which it
         relates for the periods set forth therein, in each case in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or
         applicable regulatory accounting principles and instructions
         consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as
         may be stated therein (and subject, in the case of unaudited
         interim statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments that are
         not material in amount or effect and to the lack of complete
         footnotes). 

              (f)  Absence of Certain Changes or Events.  Except as
         disclosed in the reports referred to in Section 3.4(e) and except
         as contemplated by this Agreement or disclosed in the Golden State
         Disclosure Letter, since June 30, 1996:  (i) Golden State has not
         incurred any liability, other than in the ordinary course of its
         business consistent with past practice; (ii) Golden State has
         conducted its business only in the ordinary and usual course of
         such business; and (iii) there has not been any change in the
         financial condition, properties, business, or results of
         operations of Golden State which, individually or in the
         aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a
         material adverse effect on Golden State, including its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

              (g)  Taxes.  All material federal, state, local, and foreign
         tax returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Golden State
         have been timely filed or requests for extensions have been timely
         filed, any such requested extensions have been granted and have
         not expired, and all such filed returns are complete and accurate
         in all material respects.  All taxes shown on such returns to be
         due have been paid in full or adequate provision for the payment
         of has been made for any such taxes in the financial statements of
         Golden State in accordance with generally accepted accounting
         principles.  There is no audit, examination, deficiency
         assessment, or refund litigation currently pending with respect to
         any taxes of Golden State.  All taxes, interest, additions and
         penalties due with respect to completed and settled examinations
         or concluded litigation relating to Golden State have been paid in
         full or adequate provision for the payment of has been made for
         any such taxes in the financial statements of Golden State in
         accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  No
         extensions or waivers of statutes of limitations have been given
         by or requested with respect to any taxes of Golden State. 






                                        -24-<PAGE>





              (h)  Absence of Claims.  There is no pending claim, action or
         proceeding against Golden State before any court or administrative
         agency, nor, to the knowledge of Golden State, have any of the
         foregoing been threatened, nor, to the knowledge of Golden State,
         is there any reasonable basis therefor.  

              (i)  Absence of Regulatory Actions.  Neither Golden State nor
         Glendale Bank is a party to any cease and desist order, written
         agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any
         commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any
         order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary
         supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions
         relating to the foregoing at the request of, any of the Government
         Regulators nor has Golden State or Glendale Bank been advised by
         any Government Regulator that it is contemplating issuing or
         requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or
         requesting) any such order, directive, written agreement,
         memorandum of understanding, extraordinary supervisory letter,
         commitment letter, board resolutions or similar undertaking.
         Golden State is not aware of any facts or circumstances relating
         to Golden State or Glendale Bank that have not been disclosed to
         CENFED that would cause any of the Government Regulators or any
         other person or entity to fail to give any of the approvals,
         consents or waivers referred to in Section 5.1(b).

              (j)  Compliance with Law.  Each of Golden State and Glendale
         Bank:

                   (i)  has all permits, licenses, certificates of
         authority, orders and approvals of, and has made all filings,
         applications and registrations with, federal, state, local and
         foreign governmental or regulatory bodies that are required in
         order to permit it to carry on its business as it is presently
         conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority,
         orders and approvals are in full force and effect, and, to the
         knowledge of Golden State and Glendale Bank, no suspension or
         cancellation of any of them is threatened; and

                   (ii)  is in material compliance in the conduct of its
         business with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign
         statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, rules, judgments, orders
         or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting such
         businesses, including, without limitation, the Equal Credit
         Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment
         Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Americans With
         Disabilities Act, and all other fair lending laws or other laws
         relating to discrimination, and the Bank Secrecy Act.









                                        -25-<PAGE>





              (k)  Fees.  Golden State has not incurred any liability for
         any financial advisory fees, brokerage fees, commissions, or
         finder's fees in connection with the transaction provided for in
         this Agreement that could in any manner be asserted to be payable
         by CENFED. 

              (l)  Books and Records.  The books and records of Golden
         State have been maintained in accordance with all applicable
         legal, regulatory and accounting requirements and reflect in all
         material respects the substance of the events and transactions
         that are required to be included therein.

              (m)  Disclosure.  The written statements, certificates,
         schedules, lists and other written information furnished by or on
         behalf of Golden State to CENFED pursuant to this Agreement,
         including all information supplied in connection with the
         preparation of the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement, do not
         contain any untrue statement of a material fact or, taken as a
         whole, omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
         were made, not misleading.


                                     ARTICLE IV.
                               CONDUCT PENDING MERGER

              Section 4.1.  Conduct of Business Prior to Effective Time.
         Except as required by applicable law, rule or regulation, as
         expressly provided in this Agreement, as agreed to in writing by
         Golden State or as set forth in Section 4.1 of the CENFED
         Disclosure Letter, CENFED shall (i) conduct its business and
         maintain its books and records in the usual, regular and ordinary
         course, and in a manner consistent with past practice, (ii) use
         all commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve
         intact its business organization, properties, leases, and
         advantageous business relationships and to retain the services of
         its officers and employees, (iii) take no action which could
         reasonably be expected to affect adversely or delay the ability of
         CENFED or Golden State to obtain any necessary approvals, consents
         or waivers of any governmental authority or other person required
         for the transactions contemplated hereby or to perform its
         covenants and agreements on a timely basis under this Agreement,
         and (iv) take no action that could reasonably be expected to have
         a material adverse effect on CENFED.

              Section 4.2.  Forbearance by CENFED.  During the period from
         the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, and except as
         contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section 4.2 of
         the CENFED Disclosure Letter with respect to certain employee
         compensation plans of CENFED, CENFED shall not, without the prior






                                        -26-<PAGE>





         written consent of Golden State (which consent shall not be
         unreasonably withheld or delayed), do any of the following:

              (a)  incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or assume,
         guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become
         responsible for the obligations of any other person other than in
         the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and,
         in any event, subject to the following limitations:  (i) CENFED
         will not enter into new borrowings, or accept brokered
         certificates of deposits with maturities greater than six months,
         except that, after consultation with Golden State, it may obtain
         up to $150,000,000 of  Federal Home Loan Bank advances with
         maturities of up to two years, of which no more than $100,000,000
         may have maturities exceeding one year;

              (b)  issue any shares of its capital stock, except pursuant
         to options outstanding as of the date hereof to purchase shares of
         CENFED Common Stock that are listed in the CENFED Disclosure
         Letter; adjust, split, combine or reclassify any shares of capital
         stock; declare or pay any dividends, other than normal quarterly
         dividends at a rate per share not exceeding that of the most
         recently declared quarterly cash dividend of CENFED prior to the
         date hereof, or make any other distribution on, or directly or
         indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of
         its capital stock, or any securities or obligations convertible
         into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock (except,
         if Golden State and CENFED so agree, for redemption of the
         "Rights" provided for in the CENFED Rights Plan); or grant any
         stock appreciation rights or grant, sell or issue to any
         individual, corporation or other person any right or option to
         acquire, or securities evidencing a right to convert into or
         acquire, any shares of its capital stock;

              (c)  other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
         with past practice and with the other terms, covenants and
         conditions of this Agreement, sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber
         or otherwise dispose of any of its properties, leases or assets to
         any person (it being agreed that sales in accordance with CENFED's
         past practice of real estate acquired through foreclosure or by
         deed or other transfer in lieu of foreclosure shall be considered
         to be in the ordinary course of business), or cancel, release or
         assign any indebtedness of any such person, except pursuant to
         contracts or agreements requiring the same that are in force at
         the date of this Agreement and have been disclosed to Golden State
         in the CENFED Disclosure Letter;

              (d)  hire any employee above the level of Assistant Vice
         President (other than such replacement employees, if any, as
         CENFED determines to be necessary to conduct its business); enter
         into, renew or amend any employment agreement with any employee or
         director, increase in any manner the compensation or fringe





                                        -27-<PAGE>





         benefits of any of its employees or directors, or create or
         institute, or make any payments pursuant to, any severance plan or
         package, or pay any pension or retirement allowance, in each case
         not required by any existing plan or agreement, to any such
         employees or directors, or become a party to, amend, commit itself
         to, or establish, any trust or account related to, any Employee
         Agreement (as defined in Section 3.3(n)), with or for the benefit
         of any employee, other than general increases in compensation in
         the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or
         accelerate the vesting of any stock options or other compensation
         or benefit or declare or pay any bonus (except that CENFED shall
         be permitted to pay annual bonuses in accordance with CENFED's
         existing compensation policies and bonus plans disclosed to Golden
         State in the CENFED Disclosure Letter);

              (e)  other than in the ordinary course of business consistent
         with past practice (it being agreed that credit bids for
         collateral shall be considered to be in the ordinary course of
         business), make any investment in any person or entity, whether by
         purchase of stock or other securities or contributions to the
         capital of such entity, make any property transfers to any person
         or entity, or purchase any property or assets of any person or
         entity; 

              (f)  enter into or renew any contract or agreement that
         requires payment by CENFED of more than $50,000 in any year, that
         is of more than one year in duration, or that is not cancelable
         without penalty on not more than sixty days notice (except for any
         contract to sell real estate by foreclosure or by deed or other
         transfer in lieu of foreclosure entered into in the ordinary
         course of business) or amend, modify or terminate any material
         leases or contracts of CENFED;

              (g)  enter into any settlement or compromise of any material
         claim, action or proceeding involving any liability of CENFED for
         money damages that would have a material adverse effect or that
         would involve material restrictions upon the operations of any
         CENFED subsidiary, or waive or release any material rights or
         claims; provided, that Golden State may not withhold its consent
         to any such settlement unless it concurrently agrees in writing to
         indemnify and hold CENFED harmless from and against any liability,
         and subsequently incurred litigation expenses, in connection with
         such matter that exceeds in the aggregate the amount for which
         CENFED had proposed to settle such matter and that would not have
         been incurred but for Golden State's withholding of such consent;

              (h)  except in the ordinary course of business, make,
         renegotiate, renew, increase, modify, extend or purchase any loan,
         lease, advance, credit enhancement or other extension of







                                        -28-<PAGE>





         credit, or make any commitment in respect of any of the foregoing;

              (i)  change any of its methods of accounting as the same were
         in effect at December 31, 1996, except as required by changes in
         generally accepted accounting principles, as concurred in by the
         independent auditors of CENFED, or as required by regulatory
         accounting principles or other regulatory requirements;

              (j)  enter into any new activities or lines of business,
         cease to conduct any material activities or lines of business that
         it conducts on the date hereof, or conduct any material business
         activity not consistent with past practice;

              (k)  amend its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or
         adopt any plan of liquidation, consolidation, merger or
         reorganization whether formal or informal;

              (l)  make any capital expenditure other than in the ordinary
         course of business or as necessary to maintain its assets, and in
         any event, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, not
         exceeding $30,000;

              (m)  take any action that would prevent or impede the Merger
         from qualifying (i) for "pooling of interests" accounting
         treatment or (ii) as a "reorganization" within the meaning of
         Section 368 of the Code; or

              (n)  enter into any Derivatives Contracts or purchase any of
         the types of securities referred to in Section 3.3(y), except that
         CENFED may purchase or acquire mortgage-backed securities rated
         "AA" or a more favorable rating category by Standard & Poor's, or
         comparable rating categories of other nationally recognized
         investment rating firms, so long as its aggregate investment in
         mortgage-backed securities does not exceed 102.5% of the aggregate
         amount of such investments as of the date hereof; or (ii) purchase
         or acquire municipal securities, except that CENFED may purchase
         municipal securities rated "AAA" by Standard & Poor's or a more
         favorable rating category, or comparable rating categories of
         other nationally recognized investment rating firms, so long as
         the aggregate amount of its investments in such securities does
         not exceed the aggregate amount of such investments as of the date
         hereof.

              (o)  agree, or make any commitment, to take any of the
         actions prohibited by this Section 4.2.











                                        -29-<PAGE>





                                     ARTICLE V.
                                      COVENANTS

              Section 5.1.  Acquisition Proposals.  CENFED agrees that
         neither it nor any of its officers or directors shall, and CENFED
         shall use its best efforts to cause its employees, agents and
         representatives (including, without limitation, any investment
         banker, attorney or accountant retained by it or any of its
         subsidiaries) not to, directly or indirectly, initiate, solicit,
         or encourage any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer
         (including, without limitation, any proposal or offer to
         stockholders of CENFED) with respect to a merger, consolidation or
         similar transaction involving, or any purchase of all or any
         significant portion of the consolidated assets, deposits or any
         equity securities of, CENFED (any such proposal or offer being
         hereinafter referred to as an "Acquisition Proposal") or, except
         to the extent legally required for compliance by the directors of
         CENFED with their fiduciary duties, in the written opinion of
         outside legal counsel, with respect to an unsolicited offer from a
         third party, engage in any negotiations concerning or provide any
         confidential information or data to, or have any discussions with,
         any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise
         facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an
         Acquisition Proposal.  CENFED shall immediately cease and cause to
         be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations
         with any parties (other than Golden State) conducted heretofore
         with respect to any of the foregoing.  CENFED will take the
         necessary steps to inform promptly the appropriate individuals or
         entities referred to in the first sentence hereof of the
         obligations undertaken in this Section 5.1.  CENFED agrees that it
         will notify Golden State immediately if any such inquiries,
         proposals or offers are received by, any such information is
         requested from, or any such negotiations or discussions are sought
         to be initiated or continued with CENFED.  CENFED also agrees that
         it shall promptly request each person (other than Golden State)
         that has heretofore executed a confidentiality or standstill
         agreement in connection with its consideration of acquiring CENFED
         to return all confidential information heretofore furnished to
         such person by or on behalf of CENFED and enforce any such
         confidentiality or standstill agreements.

              Section 5.2.  Certain Policies of CENFED.  At the request of
         Golden State, CENFED shall, to the extent consistent with
         generally accepted accounting principles, modify its loan,
         litigation or real estate valuation policies and practices
         (including loan classifications and levels of reserves) after the
         date on which all required regulatory approvals are received for
         completion of the Merger and not earlier than 15 days prior to nor
         later than the day prior to, the Effective Time so as to be
         consistent with those of Golden State, taking into account Golden
         State's intended operations after the closing; provided, however,





                                        -30-<PAGE>





         that CENFED shall not be required to take such action unless
         Golden State agrees in writing that all conditions to Golden
         State's obligation to consummate the Merger have been satisfied
         and that Golden State will complete the Merger.  CENFED's
         representations, warranties and covenants contained in this
         Agreement shall not be deemed to be untrue or breached in any
         respect for any purpose as a consequence of any modifications or
         changes undertaken solely on account of this Section 5.2.

              Section 5.3.  Employees.  (a)  As soon as practicable after
         the date hereof and, in any event, prior to the Closing Date,
         Golden State shall evaluate the employees and existing operations
         of CENFED to determine which positions in and employees of CENFED
         will be required for the continuing operations of the Surviving
         Corporation and Glendale Bank as of and after the Effective Time.
         CENFED shall cooperate in good faith with Golden State in
         assisting Golden State's investigation by, among other things,
         making available to Golden State employee evaluations and other
         records to the extent permitted by law, and facilitating
         interviews with CENFED employees.

              (b)  As soon as practicable after the date hereof, Golden
         State shall identify to CENFED those employees of CENFED to whom
         Golden State desires to offer employment as of and after the
         Effective Time.  Those employees whose positions will be
         eliminated and to whom Golden State determines not to offer
         employment shall be given notice prior to the Closing Date by
         CENFED and Golden State of their termination and the effective
         dates thereof.  Golden State shall endeavor in good faith to
         identify employment opportunities for any such employees with
         Golden State.  Such efforts shall include posting of employment
         opportunities with Golden State and interviewing any such employee
         of CENFED who desires to be considered for such a position with
         Golden State.

              (c)  It is the intention of Golden State to train all
         employees of CENFED that Golden State expects to employ with
         Golden State in Golden State's procedures prior to the Closing
         Date.  CENFED shall cooperate in good faith with Golden State in
         facilitating such training, including, without limitation by
         making such employees available for such training for reasonable
         periods during normal business hours.

              (d)  Employees accepting employment with Golden State will
         not receive a guarantee of any minimum period of employment, it
         being the intention and understanding of the parties hereto that
         such employment shall be solely at the will of Golden State on the
         same basis as all other employees of Golden State who do not have
         contractual rights of employment; provided, that notwithstanding
         anything that may appear to be to the contrary herein, no






                                        -31-<PAGE>





         provision shall be deemed to terminate or modify any provision of
         any employment, severance or similar agreement of any person with
         CENFED or any of its subsidiaries.  Employees who are employed by
         Golden State after the Effective Time will receive credit for
         their prior service with CENFED for purposes of eligibility and
         vesting only, and not for purposes of determining the amount of
         benefits payable, under Golden State's existing employee benefit
         plans and programs, except that such employees shall receive prior
         service credit for purposes of determining (i) eligibility for
         annual amounts of permitted vacation time, (ii) numbers of accrued
         sick days, and (iii) amounts payable as severance payments under
         the applicable severance plan of Golden State in the case of
         employees of CENFED who remain employed by Golden State for more
         than one year following the Effective Time.

              (e)  Full time and part time employees of CENFED on the date
         hereof who are involuntarily terminated, other than for cause, on
         or within one year after the Closing Date, including those
         employees of CENFED who are terminated as of a date prior to the
         Effective Time pursuant to paragraph (b) above, shall be eligible
         for benefits to the extent and as provided under the CENFED
         Severance Plan as in effect at the date hereof.  In addition to
         amounts that may be payable pursuant to the CENFED Severance Plan,
         Golden State and CENFED have agreed that CENFED will establish a
         Retention Bonus Plan in accordance with the letter agreement (the
         "Benefits Letter") between Golden State and CENFED entered into
         contemporaneously herewith.  

              (f)  This Agreement is intended to result solely in the
         acquisition by Golden State of CENFED and is not intended to
         confer any continuing rights to employment on the part of the
         employees of CENFED after the Effective Time.  CENFED shall make
         no representations to its employees regarding employment by Golden
         State.  CENFED shall remain solely responsible for its employees,
         representatives and agents during their employment with CENFED
         prior to the Effective Time and with respect to all matters
         arising from such employment with CENFED during such period,
         including, without limitation, the payment of any accrued vacation
         pay, sick pay, severance payments or other payments to which such
         employees may be entitled (it being acknowledged that the
         Surviving Corporation, or Glendale Bank, as applicable, shall
         succeed to such obligations by operation of law upon, but only in
         the event of, the completion of the Merger or the Bank Merger, as
         applicable).  Such payments and CENFED's obligations to make such
         payments shall be fully and fairly reflected in CENFED's financial
         statements prior to and as of the Effective Time to the extent
         required by generally accepted accounting principles.

              Section 5.4.  Access to Information.  (a)  Upon reasonable
         notice during the period prior to the Effective Time, each party
         hereto shall afford the other parties access to the officers,





                                        -32-<PAGE>





         employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives of such
         party, during normal business hours (provided such access does not
         unreasonably interfere with the operations of Glendale Bank or
         CenFed Bank) to all its properties, books, contracts, commitments,
         records, officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other
         representatives and, during such period, such party shall make
         available to each 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 or
         state securities laws or federal or state banking laws (other than
         any reports or documents which such party is not permitted to
         disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all other information
         concerning its business, properties and personnel as a party
         hereto may reasonably request.  The parties hereto shall not,
         however, be required to provide access to or to disclose
         information to the extent that such access or disclosure would
         violate the rights of such party's customers, jeopardize any
         attorney-client privilege or contravene any law, rule, regulation,
         order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement
         entered into prior to the date of this Agreement; provided, that
         such party shall make appropriate substitute disclosure
         arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the
         preceding sentence apply that will provide all information to the
         other party that may be relevant to its assessment of its
         obligation to complete the Merger.  The parties hereto will hold
         all such information in confidence in accordance with the
         provisions of the confidentiality agreement, dated June 26, 1997,
         between Golden State and CENFED (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

              (b)  No investigation by any party hereto shall affect the
         representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the other
         parties hereto.

              (c)  CENFED shall promptly after the end of each month inform
         Golden State of any new classification of its assets (as referred
         to in Section 3.3(s)) that is determined or modified at any time
         after the date hereof and of any changes in CENFED's allowance for
         loan and lease losses from the prior month-end, including an
         explanation of the reasons therefor.

              Section 5.5.  Regulatory Matters.  (a)  The parties hereto
         shall cooperate with each other and use their best efforts
         promptly to prepare and file within thirty days of the date hereof
         all necessary applications, and thereafter to effect all
         documentation, notices, petitions and filings, and to obtain as
         promptly as practicable all permits, consents, approvals and
         authorizations of all third parties and governmental authorities
         which are necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.  CENFED and Golden State shall
         have the right to review in advance, and to the extent






                                        -33-<PAGE>





         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 CENFED or Golden State, as the case
         may be, and any of their respective subsidiaries, which appear in
         any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third
         party or any governmental authority in connection with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  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 authorities necessary or
         advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
         Agreement and each party will keep the other apprised of the
         status of matters relating to completion of the transactions
         contemplated herein.

              (b)  Golden State and CENFED shall, upon request, furnish
         each other with all information concerning themselves, their
         subsidiaries, directors, officers and shareholders and such other
         matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection
         with the Form S-4 and the Proxy Statement (each as defined in
         Section 5.8) or any other statement, filing, notice or application
         made by or on behalf of Golden State or CENFED to any governmental
         authority in connection with the Merger and the other transactions
         contemplated by this Agreement.

              Section 5.6.  Other Actions.  Subject to the terms and
         conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to
         use its best efforts to take promptly, or cause to be taken
         promptly, all actions and to do promptly, or cause to be done
         promptly, all things necessary, proper or advisable under
         applicable laws and regulations to consummate and make effective
         the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as
         practicable, including using efforts to obtain all necessary
         actions or non-actions, extensions, waivers, consents and
         approvals set forth in Section 5.6 of the CENFED Disclosure Letter
         and from all applicable governmental entities, effecting all
         necessary registrations, applications and filings (including,
         without limitation, filings under federal and any applicable state
         securities laws) and obtaining any required contractual consents
         and approvals (which shall be the obligation of the party hereto
         bound by the contract in question), and cause the Closing of the
         transactions contemplated hereby to occur as soon as practicable
         after the receipt of all approvals, consents and waivers required
         by Section 6.1(b).  Without limiting the generality of the
         foregoing, Golden State shall take all appropriate action to
         incorporate Merger Sub under the DGCL, to cause Merger Sub to
         become a party signatory to this Agreement and to perform its
         obligations under this Agreement in a timely manner.  In addition,
         each of Golden State and CENFED shall appoint a person who shall
         be responsible for coordinating with






                                        -34-<PAGE>





         the other party in order to consider and respond to any requests
         for consents hereunder and otherwise to complete the transactions
         contemplated hereby as soon as practicable.  

              Section 5.7.  Publicity.  The initial press release
         announcing this Agreement shall be mutually agreed and,
         thereafter, subject to the provisions of applicable law, CENFED
         and Golden State shall mutually agree with each other prior to
         issuing any press releases or public statements with respect to
         the other or the transactions contemplated hereby and in making
         any filings with any governmental entity or with any national
         securities exchange with respect thereto. 

              Section 5.8.  Preparation of Form S-4 and Proxy Statement.
         Golden State and CENFED, acting jointly, shall promptly prepare
         and file with the SEC an appropriate form of proxy statement (the
         "Proxy Statement") in compliance with the requirements of the
         Exchange Act and a registration statement under the Securities Act
         on Form S-4 (the "Form S-4") in which the Proxy Statement will be
         included as a prospectus.  Each of Golden State and CENFED shall
         use all reasonable efforts to have the Proxy Statement authorized
         for use pursuant to the Exchange Act and the Form S-4 declared
         effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable
         after such filing.  Golden State shall also take any such action
         (other than qualifying to do business in any jurisdiction in which
         it is now not so qualified) as may be required to be taken under
         any applicable state securities laws in connection with the
         issuance of Golden State Common Stock in the Merger and CENFED
         shall furnish all information concerning CENFED and the holders of
         CENFED Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection
         with any such action. 

              Section 5.9.  Letter of CENFED Accountants.  CENFED shall use
         its best efforts to cause to be delivered to Golden State a letter
         of CENFED's independent auditors, dated as of a date within two
         business days before the date on which the Form S-4 shall become
         effective and addressed to Golden State, and a written
         reconfirmation of such letter dated as of the Closing Date, in
         each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Golden
         State, and in scope and substance consistent with applicable
         professional standards for letters delivered by independent public
         accountants in connection with registration statements similar to
         Form S-4. 

              Section 5.10.  Letter of Golden State Accountants.  Golden
         State shall use its best efforts to cause to be delivered to
         CENFED a letter of Golden State's independent auditors, dated as
         of a date within two business days before the date on which the
         Form S-4 shall become effective and addressed to CENFED, and a
         written reconfirmation of such letter dated as of the Closing
         Date, in each case in the form and substance reasonably





                                        -35-<PAGE>





         satisfactory to CENFED, and in scope and substance consistent with
         applicable professional standards for letters delivered by
         independent public accountants in connection with registration
         statements similar to the S-4. 

              Section 5.11.  Stockholder Action.  CENFED shall take all
         action necessary, in accordance with applicable law and
         regulations, and its certificate of incorporation and by-laws, to
         obtain, as promptly as practicable, approval of this Agreement and
         the transactions contemplated hereby by the vote of stockholders
         of CENFED required under applicable law and regulations.  Except
         to the extent legally required for the discharge by such board of
         directors of its fiduciary duties, in the written opinion of
         outside legal counsel, the Board of Directors of CENFED shall
         recommend to the holders of the CENFED Common Stock that they vote
         in favor of and approve the Merger and adopt and approve this
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

              Section 5.12.  Notification of Certain Matters.  Each party
         hereto shall give prompt notice to the other of:  (a) any notice
         of, or other communication relating to, a default or event that,
         with notice or lapse of time or both, would become a default,
         received by them subsequent to the date of this Agreement and
         prior to the Effective Time, under any contract material to the
         financial condition, properties, businesses or results of
         operations of such party and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to
         which either of them is a party or is subject; (b) any material
         adverse change in the financial condition, properties, business or
         results of operations of such party and its subsidiaries taken as
         a whole or the occurrence of any event which, so far as reasonably
         can be foreseen at the time of its occurrence, is reasonably
         likely to result in any such change; and (c) any event or
         occurrence which may adversely affect the likelihood that a
         condition set forth in Article VI will be satisfied.  Each party
         hereto shall give prompt notice to the other of any notice or
         other communication from any third party alleging that the consent
         of such third party is or may be required in connection with the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

              Section 5.13.  Tax Matters.  CENFED shall keep Golden State
         apprised of its progress in the preparation of its tax returns and
         shall provide to Golden State copies of draft returns prior to
         filing.  In addition, CENFED agrees that it shall consult with
         Golden State prior to making any significant decisions with
         respect to tax reporting or other tax matters, in order to ensure
         to the extent possible that such decisions are consistent with the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

              Section 5.14.  Updated Disclosure Letters.  Each party hereto
         shall provide the other party hereto with an updated






                                        -36-<PAGE>





         Disclosure Letter within two days prior to the Effective Date;
         provided, however, that no such Updated Disclosure Letter shall be
         deemed to alter any party's representations and warranties or
         other obligations herein for purposes of Articles VI or VII
         hereof.

              Section 5.15.  Affiliates.  (a)  Each of Golden State and
         CENFED shall use its best efforts to cause each director,
         executive officer and other person who is an "affiliate" (for
         purposes of Rule 145 under the Securities Act and for purposes of
         qualifying the Merger for "pooling of interests" accounting
         treatment) of such party to deliver to the other party hereto, as
         soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, and prior to
         the date of the stockholder meeting called by CENFED to approve
         this Agreement, a written agreement, in the form of Exhibit A(1)
         hereto (in the case of affiliates of Golden State) or A(2) hereto
         (in the case of affiliates of CENFED), as applicable, providing
         that such person will not sell, pledge, transfer or otherwise
         dispose of any shares of capital stock of Golden State or capital
         stock of CENFED held by such "affiliate" and, in the case of the
         "affiliates" of CENFED, the shares of Golden State Common Stock to
         be received by such "affiliate" in the Merger:  (i) in the case of
         shares of Golden State Common Stock to be received by "affiliates"
         of CENFED in the Merger, except in compliance with the applicable
         provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
         thereunder; and (ii) except to the extent and under the conditions
         permitted therein, during the period commencing 30 days prior to
         the Effective Time and ending at the time of the publication of
         financial results covering at least 30 days of combined operations
         of Golden State and CENFED.

              (b)  Golden State shall use its best efforts to publish no
         later than 90 days after the end of the first month after the
         Effective Time in which there are at least 30 days of post-Merger
         combined operations (which month may be the month in which the
         Effective Time occurs), combined sales and net income figures as
         contemplated by and in accordance with the terms of SEC Accounting
         Series Release No. 135. 

              Section 5.16.  Stock Exchange Listing.  Golden State shall
         use all reasonable efforts to cause the shares of Golden State
         Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for listing
         on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the
         Effective Date.

              Section 5.17.  Bank Merger.  The parties agree to use their
         reasonable efforts between the date of this Agreement and the
         Closing to take all actions necessary or desirable, including the
         filing of any regulatory applications, so that the Bank Merger
         will occur as soon as possible after the Effective Time.






                                        -37-<PAGE>





              Section 5.18.  Corporate Governance.  Golden State's Board of
         Directors shall take appropriate action to elect D. Tad Lowrey to
         the Board of Directors of Golden State and of Glendale Bank, such
         election to be effective as of the Effective Time.

              Section 5.19.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
         Golden State agrees that all rights to indemnification or
         excupation now existing in favor of the directors, officers,
         employees and agents of CENFED and its subsidiaries as provided in
         their respective certificates of incorporation, charter, by-laws
         or similar charter documents in effect as of the date hereof with
         respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time,
         including matters relating to the negotiation, execution, delivery
         and performance of this Agreement, shall survive the Merger and
         shall continue in full force and effect at all times thereafter.
         Golden State further agrees (i) that to the full extent permitted
         by applicable law, regulations and the certificate of
         incorporation and by-laws of Golden State as in effect on the date
         hereof, it shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person
         who was an officer or director of CENFED or its subsidiaries prior
         to the Effective Time for any claim or loss arising out of their
         actions while serving as such director or officer, including any
         acts relating to this Agreement, and shall pay, as and when
         incurred, the expenses, including attorneys' fees, of such
         individual in advance of the final resolution of any claim,
         provided that such individuals shall first, to the extent required
         by law, execute an undertaking to return such advances in the
         event it is finally determined by appropriate judicial proceedings
         that such indemnification is not permitted under applicable law;
         and (ii) to cause each of the persons referred to in the preceding
         clause (i) to be covered for a period of six years from the
         Effective Time by the directors' and officers' liability insurance
         policy maintained by CENFED, provided that Golden State may
         substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and
         amounts containing terms and conditions that are not less
         advantageous than such policy with respect to acts or omissions
         occurring prior to the Effective Time committed by such officers
         and directors in their capacity as such; provided, however, that
         in no event shall Golden State be required to expend more than
         200% of the current annual amount expended by CENFED to maintain
         or procure insurance coverage pursuant hereto.  In the event
         Golden State, CENFED or any of their respective successors or
         assigns (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other person
         and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity
         of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) shall transfer or convey
         all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
         person, then, and in each such case, proper provision shall be
         made, to the extent necessary, so that the successors and assigns
         of Golden State or CENFED, respectively, shall assume the
         obligation set forth in this Section 5.19.  The provisions of this
         Section 5.19 are intended





                                        -38-<PAGE>





         to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each person
         entitled to indemnification as provided herein and his or her
         heirs and representatives. 


                                     ARTICLE VI.
                             CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION

              Section 6.1.  Conditions to All Parties' Obligations.  The
         respective obligations of Golden State and CENFED to effect the
         Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent
         permitted by applicable law, waiver prior to the Effective Time of
         the following conditions:

              (a)  This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
         shall have been approved by the requisite vote of the stock
         holders of CENFED in accordance with applicable law and its
         certificate of incorporation and by-laws.

              (b)  All necessary regulatory approvals, consents and waivers
         with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
         hereby shall have been received and shall remain in full force and
         effect, and all applicable statutory waiting periods shall have
         expired; provided, however, that no approval, consent or waiver
         referred to in this Section 5.1(b) shall be deemed to have been
         received if it shall include any condition or requirement that,
         individually or in the aggregate, would so materially and
         adversely impact the economic and business benefits of the
         transactions contemplated hereby to Golden State so as to render
         it inadvisable in the judgment of Golden State to proceed with the
         transactions contemplated hereby.

              (c)  Any other requirements prescribed by law which are
         necessary to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement shall have been satisfied.

              (d)  No party hereto shall be subject to any order, decree or
         injunction of a court or agency of competent jurisdiction which
         enjoins or prohibits the consummation of the Merger or any other
         transaction contemplated by this Agreement, and no litigation or
         proceeding shall be pending against Golden State or CENFED brought
         by any governmental agency seeking to prevent consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby.

              (e)  No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted,
         promulgated, interpreted, applied or enforced by any governmental
         authority which prohibits, or makes illegal consummation of the
         Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

              (f)  The shares of Golden State Common Stock issuable to
         CENFED stockholders pursuant to this Agreement upon the





                                        -39-<PAGE>





         completion of the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on
         the NYSE upon official notice of issuance.

              (g)  The Form S-4 shall have become effective under the
         Securities Act and shall not be the subject of any stop order or
         proceedings seeking a stop order.

              (h)  Each of the letters from independent accountants, and
         written confirmations thereof, referred to in Sections 5.9 and
         5.10 shall have been received at the times and in the form
         described in such Sections.

              Section 6.2.  Conditions to Obligations of Golden State. The
         obligations of Golden State to effect the Merger shall be subject
         to the satisfaction prior to the Effective Time of the following
         additional conditions, any or all of which conditions may be
         waived by Golden State:

              (a)  Each of the representations and warranties of CENFED set
         forth in this Agreement shall have been true and correct in all
         material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date
         as if made on such date (or on the date when made in the case of
         any representation or warranty which specifically relates to an
         earlier date); CENFED shall have performed, in all material
         respects, each of its covenants and agreements contained in this
         Agreement; there shall have been no material adverse change in the
         financial condition, business or assets of CENFED and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole since December 31, 1996; and Golden
         State shall have received a certificate signed by the chief
         executive officer and the chief financial officer of CENFED, dated
         the Closing Date, to the foregoing effect.

              (b)  Golden State shall have received the opinion of
         Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, counsel to Golden State, dated the
         Closing Date, to the effect that the Merger will be treated for
         federal income tax purposes as a reorganization within the meaning
         of Section 368(a) of the Code, that Golden State and CENFED will
         each be a party to that reorganization within the meaning of
         Section 368(b) of the Code, that no gain or loss will be
         recognized by holders of CENFED Common Stock upon the receipt of
         Golden State Common Stock in the Merger (except with respect to
         cash received in lieu of fractional shares) and that no gain or
         loss will be recognized by Golden State or CENFED as a result of
         the Merger.  In rendering such opinion, such counsel may require
         and rely upon representations contained in certificates of CENFED,
         Golden State and stockholders of CENFED.

              (c)  Golden State shall have received the updated CENFED
         Disclosure Letter from CENFED required by Section 5.14.







                                        -40-<PAGE>





              (d)  None of the events provided for in the CENFED Rights
         Plan shall have occurred which would make the Rights provided for
         therein nonredeemable or which would make such Rights exercisable
         or cause them to trade separately from the CENFED Common Stock. 

              Section 6.3.  Conditions to Obligations of CENFED.  The
         obligation of CENFED to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
         satisfaction prior to the Effective Time of the following
         additional conditions, any or all of which conditions may be
         waived by CENFED:

              (a)  Each of the representations and warranties of Golden
         State set forth in this Agreement shall have been true and correct
         in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the
         Closing Date as if made on such date (or on the date when made in
         the case of any representation or warranty which specifically
         relates to an earlier date); Golden State shall have performed, in
         all material respects, each of its covenants and agreements
         contained in this Agreement; there shall have been no material
         adverse change in the financial condition, business or assets of
         Golden State and its subsidiaries taken as a whole since December
         31, 1996.  CENFED shall have received a certificate signed by the
         chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of Golden
         State, dated the Effective Date, to the foregoing effect.

              (b)  CENFED shall have received the opinion of Mayer, Brown &
         Platt, counsel to CENFED, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
         that the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as
         a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code,
         that Golden State and CENFED will each be a party to that
         reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(b) of the Code,
         that no gain or loss will be recognized by holders of CENFED
         Common Stock upon the receipt of Golden State Common Stock in the
         Merger (except with respect to cash received in lieu of fractional
         shares) and that no gain or loss will be recognized by Golden
         State or CENFED as a result of the Merger.  In rendering such
         opinion, such counsel may require and rely upon representations
         contained in certificates of CENFED, Golden State and stockholders
         of CENFED.

              (c)  CENFED shall have received the updated Golden State
         Disclosure Letter required by Section 5.14.


                                    ARTICLE VII.
                                     TERMINATION

              Section 7.1.  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated,
         and the Merger abandoned, prior to the Effective







                                        -41-<PAGE>





         Time, either before or after its approval by the stockholders of
         CENFED:

              (a)  by the mutual consent of Golden State and CENFED;

              (b)  by Golden State or CENFED, if its Board of Directors so
         determines by vote of a majority of the members thereof, in the
         event of (i) the failure of the stockholders of CENFED to approve
         this Agreement, or (ii) a material breach by the other party
         hereto of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement
         contained herein which is not cured or not curable within 45 days
         after written notice of such breach is given to the party
         committing such breach by the other party; provided, however, that
         neither party shall have the right to terminate this Agreement
         pursuant to clause (ii) of this Section 7.1(b) unless any breach
         of representation or warranty asserted as the basis for such
         termination, together with all other such breaches, would entitle
         the party receiving such representation or warranty under Section
         6.2(a) (in the case of a breach of representation or warranty by
         CENFED) or Section 6.3(a) (in the case of a breach of
         representation or warranty by Golden State) not to consummate the
         transactions contemplated hereby;

              (c)  by Golden State or CENFED by written notice to the other
         party if either (i) the condition set forth in Section 6.1(b)
         shall not have been satisfied by the Termination Date; or (ii) any
         governmental authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued
         a final, unappealable order enjoining or otherwise prohibiting
         consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

              (d)  by Golden State or CENFED, if its Board of Directors so
         determines by vote of a majority of the members thereof, in the
         event that the Merger is not consummated by the Termination Date,
         unless the failure to so consummate by such time is due to the
         breach of any material representation, warranty or covenant
         contained in this Agreement by the party seeking to terminate.
         The term "Termination Date" shall mean April 30, 1998; provided,
         however, that either party hereto shall have the right to extend
         such Termination Date for up to an additional 45 days if, prior to
         the Termination Date, such party notifies the other party in
         writing that such party believes that the approvals, consents or
         waivers to be obtained by such party are imminent and a reasonable
         factual basis for such party's belief that such approvals,
         consents or waivers are imminent is set forth in such written
         notice;

              (e)  by CENFED if both (i) the Final Golden State Stock Price
         is less than $24.40, and (ii) the quotient obtained by dividing
         the Final Golden State Stock Price by $28.69 does not equal at
         least 85% of the quotient obtained by dividing the






                                        -42-<PAGE>





         average Index Price during the 10 trading days for Golden State
         Common Stock (on which shares of Golden State Stock were traded)
         preceding the proposed Closing Date (the "Determination Period")
         by the average Index Price during the 10 trading days for Golden
         State Common Stock preceding August 15, 1997.  As used herein, (i)
         the "Final Golden State Stock Price" shall mean the average of the
         per share closing prices of Golden State Common Stock on the NYSE
         Composite Transactions List (as reported in the Wall Street
         Journal or, in the absence thereof, as reported by another
         authoritative source mutually agreed upon by CENFED and Golden
         State) during the Determination Period, (ii) the "Index Price"
         shall mean, on any given date, the weighted average (weighted in
         accordance with the factors listed in the following clause (iii))
         of the closing prices of the companies comprising the Index Group,
         and (iii) the "Index Group" shall mean the thrift holding
         companies listed below, the common stocks of all of which shall be
         publicly traded and as to which there shall not have been, since
         August 15, 1997 and before the date of determination of an Index
         Price, any public announcement of a proposal for such company to
         be acquired or for such company to acquire another company or
         companies in transactions with a value exceeding 25% of the
         acquiror's market capitalization.  In the event that any such
         company or companies fails to meet any of the foregoing criteria,
         such company shall be deemed removed from the Index Group, and the
         weights (which shall be determined based upon the number of each
         company's outstanding shares of common stock) shall be
         redistributed proportionately for purposes of determining the
         Index Price.  If any company belonging to the Index Group or
         Golden State declares or effects a stock dividend,
         reclassification, recapitalization, split-up, combination,
         exchange of shares, or similar transaction, the prices for the
         common stock of such company or Golden State shall be
         appropriately adjusted for the purposes of applying this Section
         7.1(e).  The thrift holding companies and the weights to be
         attributed to them are as follows:
         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
                                                         Weighting
                   Company Name                          Index
                   -------------------------------       ---------
                   <S>                                      <C>
                   Ahmanson & Company (H.F.)                9.38%
                   Astoria Financial Corp.                  2.02%
                   Bank United Corp.                        3.04%
                   Charter One Financial                    4.45%
                   Coast Savings Financial                  1.79%
                   Commercial Federal Corp.                 2.08%
                   Dime Bancorp Inc.                        9.99%
                   Downey Financial Corp.                   2.58%
                   Golden State Bancorp. Inc.               4.85%
                   Golden West Financial Corp.              5.47%
                   GreenPoint Financial Corp.               4.34%
                   Long Island Bancorp Inc.                 2.31%




                                        -43-<PAGE>





                   MAF Bancorp Inc.                         1.48%
                   New York Bancorp Inc.                    2.08%
                   People's Bank (MHC)                      5.88%
                   Peoples-Heritage Financial Group         2.64%
                   Queens County Bancorp Inc.                .98%
                   Roslyn Bancorp Inc.                      4.20%
                   Soverign Bancorp Inc.                    6.74%
                   St. Paul Bancorp. Inc.                   3.27%
                   Washington Federal Inc.                  4.57%
                   Washington Mutual Inc.                  12.17%
                   Webster Financial Corp.                  1.15%
                   Westcorp                                 2.52%
         </TABLE>
                   Total                                  100.00%
                                                          =======
                   
         Section 7.2.  Effect of Termination.  In the event of the
         termination of this Agreement by either Golden State or CENFED, as
         provided above, this Agreement shall thereafter become void and,
         subject to the last sentence of Section 8.2, there shall be no
         liability on the part of any party hereto or their respective
         officers or directors, except that any such termination shall be
         without prejudice to the rights of any party hereto arising out of
         the intentional breach by any other party hereto of any covenant
         or intentional misrepresentation in any of the representations and
         warranties set forth in this Agreement including, without
         limitation, rights to recover any out of pocket or transaction-
         related expenses arising from the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement.


                                    ARTICLE VIII.
                                    OTHER MATTERS

              Section 8.1.  Certain Definitions; Interpretation.

              (a)  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
         have the meanings indicated:

              "knowledge" when used with respect to a party to this
              Agreement means the actual knowledge of the executive
              officers of such party after appropriate inquiry of the
              person or persons employed by such party who have
              responsibility for the matter being referred to.

              "person" includes an individual, corporation, partnership,
              limited liability company, association, trust or
              unincorporated organization; and

              "subsidiary," with respect to a person, means any other
              person controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person.





                                        -44-<PAGE>





              (b)  Except as the context may otherwise require, references
         in this Agreement to "Golden State" and to "CENFED" include each
         of their respective direct and indirect subsidiaries, including
         Glendale Bank and CenFed Bank, respectively, and references to
         "Golden State" shall mean Glendale Bank when used with reference
         to periods prior to the time that Glendale Bank became a wholly-
         subsidiary of Golden State.

              (c)  When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles
         or Sections such reference shall be to an Article or a Section of
         this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of contents
         and headings, contained in this Agreement are for ease of
         reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation
         of this Agreement.  Whenever the words "include," "includes," or
         "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed
         followed by the words "without limitation", whether or not so
         stated.  Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to
         include the plural, and any plural term the singular.

              Section 8.2.  Survival.  Only those agreements and covenants
         of the parties that are by their terms applicable in whole or in
         part after the Effective Time shall survive the Effective Time. If
         this Agreement shall be terminated, the agreements of the parties
         in the last sentence of Section 5.4(a) and in Section 8.6 shall
         survive such termination.

              Section 8.3.  Waiver.  Any provision of this Agreement may
         (to the extent permitted by applicable law) be:  (i) waived by the
         party benefited by the provision, or (ii) as permitted by
         applicable law, amended or modified (including the structure of
         the transaction), either prior to or after this Agreement and the
         transactions contemplated hereby are approved by the stockholders
         of CENFED; provided, that any such waiver, amendment or
         modification shall be effective only if given or made by an
         agreement in writing between the parties hereto approved or
         authorized by their respective boards of directors, but such
         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
         noncompliance.

              Section 8.4.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed
         in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to constitute an
         original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
         same instrument.

              Section 8.5.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be
         governed by, and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the
         State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of laws
         provisions and principles thereof.  






                                        -45-<PAGE>





              Section 8.6.  Expenses.  Each party hereto will pay all
         expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the
         transactions contemplated hereby, it being agreed that all
         regulatory application fees shall be expenses of Golden State and
         that the costs of printing and mailing the Form S-4 shall be borne
         equally by Golden State and CENFED.

              Section 8.7.  Notices.  All notices, requests,
         acknowledgments and other communications hereunder to a party, or
         changes to this notice provision, shall be in writing and shall be
         deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or private
         courier, or when transmitted by telecopy or telegram to such party
         at its address set forth below or such other address as such party
         may specify by notice to the other party hereto.

                   If to Golden State:

                        Golden State Bancorp Inc.
                        414 North Central Avenue
                        Glendale, California 91203
                        Attention:  Richard A. Fink 
                                    Vice Chairman
                        Facsimile:  (626) 409-3151


                   With a copy to:

                        Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
                        51 West 52nd Street
                        New York, New York 10019
                        Attention:  Craig M. Wasserman, Esq.
                        Facsimile:  (212) 403-2000

                   If to CENFED:

                        CENFED Financial Corporation
                        199 North Lake Avenue
                        Pasadena, California 91101
                        Attention:  D. Tad Lowrey 
                                    President and Chief Executive Officer
                        Facsimile:  (626) 585-2580















                                        -46-<PAGE>





                   With a copy to:

                        Mayer, Brown & Platt
                        350 South Grand Avenue
                        25th Floor
                        Los Angeles, California  90071
                        Attention:  James R. Walther, Esq.
                        Facsimile:  (213) 625-0248

              Section 8.8.  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries.
         This Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement referenced in
         Section 5.4(a) the Stock Option Agreement and the Benefit Letter
         referenced in Section 5.3(e) represent the entire agreement and
         understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the
         transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any and all other
         oral or written agreements heretofore made.  Nothing in this
         Agreement, other than the provisions of Section 5.19, is intended
         to confer upon any person other than Golden State and CENFED any
         rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of
         this Agreement.

              Section 8.9.  Parties Bound; Assignment.  All terms and
         provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure
         to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
         permitted successors and assigns.  This Agreement may not be
         assigned by any party hereto without the written prior consent of
         the other parties hereto.

              Section 8.10.  Severability.  The provisions of this
         Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity or
         unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
         enforceability of the other provisions hereof.  If any provision
         of this Agreement, or the application thereof to any person or any
         circumstance, is invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this
         Agreement and the application of such provision to other persons
         or circumstances shall not be affected by such invalidity or
         unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability
         affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the
         application thereof, in any other jurisdiction.

              Section 8.11.  Captions.  The Article, Section and paragraph
         captions herein are for convenience of reference only, do not














                                        -47-<PAGE>





         constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit
         or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof.

              IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
         Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of
         the day and year first above written.



         GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.         CENFED FINANCIAL CORPORATION


              /s/ Richard A. Fink               /s/ D. Tad Lowrey
         By:  ---------------------------  By:  ------------------------
              Richard A. Fink                   D. Tad Lowrey
              Vice Chairman                     President and Chief 
                                                Executive Officer







































                                        -48-<PAGE>
         







                                                       Exhibit 99.1

                              STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of August 17, 1997
    ("Agreement"), is made and entered into by and between GOLDEN STATE
    BANCORP INC., a Delaware corporation ("Golden State") and CENFED
    FINANCIAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("CENFED").

         WHEREAS, Golden State and CENFED are entering into an Agreement and
    Plan of Merger with respect to a business combination of Golden State and
    CENFED (the "Merger Agreement") concurrently herewith; and

         WHEREAS, as a condition to its willingness to enter into the Merger
    Agreement, Golden State has required that CENFED agree, and in order to
    induce Golden State to enter into the Merger Agreement, CENFED has
    agreed, to grant an option to Golden State to purchase certain shares of
    the common stock, par value $.01 per share of CENFED (the "CENFED Common
    Stock");

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, and the
    representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein
    and in the Merger Agreement, and intending to be legally bound, the
    parties hereto agree as follows:

         1.   Grant of Option.  CENFED hereby grants to Golden State an
    irrevocable option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms
    hereof, up to 1,140,784 fully paid and nonassessable shares (the "Option
    Shares") of CENFED Common Stock, which Option shall be exercisable by
    giving notice and making payment of the Option Price (as defined in
    Section 4 hereof) in the manner provided herein.  The number of shares of
    CENFED Common Stock that may be received upon the exercise of the Option
    and the Option Price is subject to adjustment as set forth herein.

         2.   Exercise of Option.

         (a)  Golden State may, subject to the provisions of this Section 2
    and subject to the conditions of exercise contained in Section 3 hereof,
    exercise the Option, in whole or in part, at any time during the period
    following the occurrence of an Exercise Event and prior to the Expiration
    Date (as defined in Section 3 hereof).

         (b)  Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
    contrary, in no event shall Golden State have a right to purchase under
    the terms of this Agreement more than the number of Option Shares that
    has a Spread Value (as defined in Section 11 hereof) of $11,000,000.  In
    the event that the Spread Value exceeds $11,000,000 at the time Golden
    State wishes to exercise the Option, the number of Option Shares that
    Golden State is entitled to purchase on the date of the Closing (as
    defined herein) shall be reduced to the extent necessary to reduce the
    Spread Value following such reduction to an amount equal to or less than
    $11,000,000.



                                        1<PAGE>





         3.   Conditions to Exercise; Expiration.

         (a)  It shall be a condition to Golden State's exercise of the
    Option that, at the time of such exercise (i) Golden State is not in
    breach of any covenant or obligation set forth herein or in the Merger
    Agreement and (ii) there is not in effect any preliminary or permanent
    injunction or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction which
    prevents or restrains the issuance and delivery of the Option Shares.

         (b)  The right to exercise any part of the Option not previously
    exercised shall expire, terminate and be of no further force or effect
    upon the earliest to occur (the date of such earliest occurring event
    being referred to herein as the "Expiration Date") of (i) the Effective
    Time of the Merger, (ii) the date the Merger Agreement is terminated
    pursuant to Sections 7.1(a) or (e) thereof; (iii) the date the Merger
    Agreement is terminated by CENFED or Golden State pursuant to Sections
    7.1(b), (c) or (d) thereof, if such date is prior to the occurrence of an
    Exercise Event or Preliminary Acquisition Transaction; or (iv) 18 months
    following the earliest to occur of (A) the date of any termination of the
    Merger Agreement other than as described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of
    this sentence or (B) the date of the first occurrence of an Exercise
    Event.

         4.   Manner of Exercise.

         (a)  In the event that Golden State wishes to exercise the Option,
    in whole or in part, Golden State shall send a written notice (the date
    of such notice being herein referred to as the "Notice Date") to CENFED
    specifying the number of Option Shares to be purchased and a place and
    date not earlier than three nor later than ten business days following
    any such Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing");
    provided that, if prior notification to or approval of the Office of
    Thrift Supervision (the "OTS") or any other regulatory agency is required
    in connection with such purchase, each party hereto shall cooperate with
    the other party hereto in the filing of the required notice or
    application for approval and shall expeditiously process the same and use
    its best efforts to obtain any required approval, 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 any requisite waiting
    period or periods shall have passed.

         (b)  At any Closing, Golden State shall make payment to CENFED for
    the Option Shares so purchased at such date by delivery of immediately
    available funds to CENFED equal to $34.00 per Option Share (the "Option
    Price").  If the Option is exercised in part only, Golden State shall
    also deliver all originally executed copies of this Agreement to CENFED
    at the Closing in exchange for a new agreement duly authorized and
    executed by CENFED identical to this Agreement evidencing the right to
    purchase the remaining balance of the Option Shares.

         (c)  Upon payment of the Option Price, CENFED shall immediately
    deliver to Golden State a certificate or certificates representing such
    Option Shares registered in the name of Golden State or its assignee or
    designee.


                                        2<PAGE>





         (d)  Certificates for Option Shares delivered at a Closing hereunder
    may be endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially
    as follows:

         "The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
         subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered
         holder hereof and the issuer and to resale restrictions arising
         under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  A copy of such
         agreement is on file at the principal office of the issuer and will
         be provided to the holder hereof without charge upon receipt by
         Issuer of a written request therefor."

         It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale
    restrictions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
    Act"), in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute
    certificate(s) without such reference if Golden State shall have
    delivered to CENFED a letter from the staff of the Securities and
    Exchange Commission ("SEC"), or an opinion of counsel, in form and
    substance reasonably satisfactory to CENFED, to the effect that such
    legend is not required for purposes of the Securities Act; and (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 addition, such certificates
    shall bear any other legend that may be required by law.

         5.   Registration of Shares.

         (a)  In the event that the Option has become exercisable in
    accordance with Section 2 hereof, then, as promptly as practicable upon
    Golden State's request, but, in any event, within six months from the
    date of Golden State's request, CENFED agrees to prepare and file a
    registration statement ("Registration Event") under the Securities Act,
    and any applicable state securities laws, with respect to any proposed
    disposition by Golden State of any or all of the Option Shares and to use
    its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective
    as expeditiously as possible and to keep such registration effective for
    a period of not less than 180 days, unless, in the written opinion of
    counsel to CENFED, addressed to Golden State and reasonably satisfactory
    in form and substance to Golden State and its counsel, registration is
    not required for such proposed distribution of the Option Shares.
    Notwithstanding the foregoing, CENFED shall have the right to delay (the
    "Delay Right") a Registration Event for a period of up to sixty days in
    the event it receives a request from Golden State to effect a
    Registration Event if CENFED (i) is involved in a material transaction,
    (ii) determines, in the good faith exercise of its reasonable business
    judgment, that such registration and offering could adversely affect or
    interfere with bona fide material financing plans of CENFED or would
    require disclosure of information the premature disclosure of which could
    materially adversely affect CENFED or any transaction under active
    consideration by CENFED, or (iii) reasonably requires such delay in order
    to prepare audited financial statements required to be included in such
    registration statement.  CENFED may exercise its Delay Right not more
    than once in any twelve-month period.  All fees, expenses and charges
    incurred by CENFED in connection with the registration of the Option
    Shares pursuant to this Section 5 shall be borne and paid by CENFED.
    CENFED shall indemnify and hold harmless Golden State, its affiliates and
    its officers, directors, attorneys and agents from and against any and
    all losses, claims, damages,


                                        3<PAGE>





    liabilities and expenses (including, without limitation, all out-of-
    pocket expenses, investigation expenses, expenses incurred with respect
    to any judgment and fees, charges and disbursements of counsel and
    accountants) arising out of or based upon any statements contained in, or
    omissions or alleged omissions from, each registration statement (and
    related prospectus) required to be filed pursuant to this Section 5,
    other than any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising
    out of or based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
    omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement or
    prospectus in reliance upon information furnished to CENFED by Golden
    State.

         (b)  Golden State shall be limited to the benefit of two effective
    demand registrations as described in Section 5(a), which demand
    registrations may only be requested during the three  years following the
    date of the first Exercise Event, but shall have an unlimited number of
    so-called "piggyback" registration rights.  CENFED agrees, if requested
    by Golden State, to enter into a Registration Rights agreement with
    Golden State consistent with the terms and conditions hereof and
    containing customary terms, including appropriate indemnities, which
    shall only allow underwriters the ability to cut back the number of
    shares Golden State seeks to have registered on pro rata basis.

         6.   Representations and Warranties of CENFED.  CENFED hereby
    represents and warrants to, and agrees with, Golden State as follows:

              (a)  Authority Relative to this Agreement.  CENFED 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 Board of Directors of CENFED and no other
         corporate proceedings on the part of CENFED are necessary to
         authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions so
         contemplated. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
         delivered by CENFED and, assuming that this Agreement has been duly
         and validly authorized, executed and delivered by Golden State, this
         Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of CENFED,
         enforceable against CENFED in accordance with its terms.

              (b)  Option Shares.  CENFED 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 Expiration Date will have
         reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Option, 1,140,784 shares
         of CENFED Common Stock, each of which, upon delivery pursuant
         hereto, shall be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
         nonassessable, and shall be delivered free and clear of all claims,
         liens, encumbrances and security interests and not be subject to any
         preemptive rights.  CENFED will take all necessary corporate action
         to authorize and reserve for issuance upon exercise of the Option
         such additional shares as may be required pursuant to Section 9
         hereof.  CENFED will not take any action which could reasonably have
         the effect of preventing or disabling CENFED from (i) delivery of
         the Option Shares to Golden State upon exercise of the Option or
         (ii) otherwise performing its obligations under this Agreement.


                                        4<PAGE>





              (c)  Conflicting Instruments; Consents.  Neither the execution
         and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby will violate or result in any
         violation of or be in conflict with or constitute a default under
         any term of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of CENFED,
         or of any material agreement, instrument, judgment, decree, order,
         statute, rule or governmental regulation applicable to CENFED.  No
         consent or approval by any governmental authority, other than
         compliance with applicable federal and state securities and banking
         laws, including the regulations of the OTS, is required of CENFED in
         connection with the execution and delivery by CENFED of this
         Agreement or the consummation by CENFED of the transactions
         contemplated hereby.

              (d)  Notice.  CENFED shall give notice to Golden State
         promptly, but in any event within two business days, of CENFED's
         first obtaining knowledge of any Exercise Event or Repurchase Event.

         7.   Representations and Warranties of Golden State.  Golden State
    hereby represents and warrants to CENFED as follows:

              (a)  Golden State 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 Board of
         Directors of Golden State and no other corporate proceedings on the
         part of Golden State are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to
         consummate the transactions so contemplated.  This Agreement has
         been duly and validly executed and delivered by Golden State and,
         assuming this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized,
         executed and delivered by CENFED, this Agreement constitutes a valid
         and binding agreement of Golden State, enforceable against Golden
         State in accordance with its terms.

              (b)  Golden State will acquire the Option Shares issued upon
         exercise of the Option for its own account, without a view toward
         the distribution thereof, and will not sell such Option Shares
         unless such sale is registered as required by the Securities Act or
         unless an exemption from such registration requirement is available.

         8.   Notification of Record Date; Postponement of Meeting.  At any
    time during the period that this Option may become exercisable by Golden
    State, CENFED shall give Golden State thirty business days' (or such
    shorter time as is possible under the circumstances) prior written notice
    of any record date for determining the holders of CENFED Common Stock of
    record and entitled to vote on any matter, to receive any dividend or
    distribution, or to receive any other benefit or right, or for any other
    purpose that a record date is taken or declared with respect to the
    CENFED Common Stock.  In the event that Golden State, in accordance with
    this Agreement, elects to exercise the Option granted hereunder by
    delivery of the notice required pursuant to Section 4 after the record
    date set by CENFED for any such shareholders' meeting, then CENFED shall,
    upon request by Golden State, cancel the scheduled meeting and its
    related record date and reschedule it


                                        5<PAGE>





    for a later date; provided, however, that the record date for such
    rescheduled meeting shall be a date that is not fewer than ten nor more
    than thirty business days after the cancellation of the originally
    scheduled shareholders' meeting.

         9.   Adjustment upon Changes in Capitalization, Etc.

         (a)  In the event of any dividend, stock split, split-up,
    recapitalization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or
    similar transaction or event with respect to the CENFED Common Stock, the
    type and number of shares or securities subject to the Option, and the
    Option Price therefor, shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper
    provision shall be made in the agreements governing such transaction so
    that Golden State shall receive, upon exercise of the Option, the number
    and class of shares or other securities or property that Golden State
    would have received in respect of CENFED Common Stock if the Option had
    been exercised immediately prior to such event, or the record date
    therefor, as applicable.  If any shares of CENFED Common Stock are issued
    after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to an event
    described in the first sentence of this Section 9(a)), the number of
    shares of CENFED Common Stock subject to the Option shall be adjusted so
    that, after such issuance, such number, together with any shares of
    CENFED Common Stock previously issued to Golden State pursuant hereto,
    equals 19.9% of the number of shares of CENFED Common Stock then issued
    and outstanding, without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued
    pursuant to this Option.

         (b)  In the event that CENFED shall, prior to the Expiration Date,
    enter in an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any person,
    other than Golden State or one of its Subsidiaries, and shall not be the
    continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger, (ii)
    to permit any person, other than Golden State or one of its Subsidiaries,
    to merge into CENFED and CENFED shall be the continuing or surviving
    corporation, but, in connection with such merger, the then outstanding
    shares of CENFED Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for
    stock or other securities of CENFED or any other person or cash or any
    other property and the outstanding shares of CENFED Common Stock
    immediately prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less
    than 50% of the outstanding shares and share equivalents of the
    continuing or surviving corporation, or (iii) to sell or otherwise
    transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, other than
    Golden State or one of its Subsidiaries, then, and in each such case, the
    agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provisions 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
    Golden State, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation (as defined below),
    (y) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation, or (z) in the
    case of a merger described in clause (ii), CENFED (in each case, such
    person being referred to as the "Substitute Option Issuer").

         (c)  The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
    provided that, if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal or
    regulatory reasons, be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as
    similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to Golden State.
    The Substitute Option Issuer shall also enter into an agreement with the
    then-holder or holders of the Substitute Option in substantially the same
    form as this Agreement, which shall be applicable to the


                                        6<PAGE>





    Substitute Option.

         (d)  The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of
    shares of the Substitute Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as is
    equal to the Assigned Value (as hereinafter defined) multiplied by the
    number of shares of the CENFED Common Stock for which the Option was
    theretofore exercisable, divided by the Average Price (as hereinafter
    defined).  The exercise price of the Substitute Option per share of the
    Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Option Price") shall then be
    equal to the Option Price multiplied by a fraction in which the numerator
    is the number of shares of the CENFED Common Stock for which the Option
    was theretofore exercisable and the denominator is the number of shares
    for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.

         (e)  The following terms have the meanings indicated:

              (i)  "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (x) the continuing or
         surviving corporation of a consolidation or merger with CENFED (if
         other than CENFED), (y) CENFED in a merger in which CENFED is the
         continuing or surviving corporation, and (z) the transferee of all
         or any substantial part of CENFED's assets (or the assets of its
         Subsidiaries).

              (ii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the highest of (x) the price
         per share of the CENFED Common Stock at which a Tender Offer or
         Exchange Offer therefor has been made by any person (other than
         Golden State or its Subsidiaries or affiliates), (y) the price per
         share of the CENFED Common Stock to be paid by any person (other
         than Golden State or its Subsidiaries or affiliates) pursuant to an
         agreement with CENFED, and (z) the highest closing sale price per
         share of CENFED Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq National Market
         (or if CENFED Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq National
         Market, the highest bid price per share on any day as quoted on the
         principal trading market or securities exchange on which such shares
         are traded as reported by a recognized source chosen by Golden
         State) within the six-month period immediately preceding any such
         agreement; provided, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
         CENFED's assets, the Assigned Value shall be the sum of the price
         paid in such sale for such assets and the current market value of
         the remaining assets of CENFED as determined in good faith by a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Golden
         State and reasonably acceptable to CENFED, divided by the number of
         shares of the CENFED Common Stock outstanding at the time of such
         sale.  In the event that an Exchange Offer is made for the CENFED
         Common Stock or an agreement is entered into for a merger or
         consolidation involving consideration other than cash, the value of
         the securities or other property issuable or deliverable in exchange
         for the CENFED Common Stock shall be determined in good faith by a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm mutually selected by
         Golden State and CENFED (or, if applicable, Acquiring Corporation),
         provided, that if a mutual selection cannot be made as to such
         investment banking firm, it shall be selected by Golden State.

              (iii)     "Average Price" shall mean the average closing price
         of a share of the Substitute Common Stock for the one-year period
         immediately preceding the consolidation, 


                                        7<PAGE>





         merger or sale in question, but in no event higher than the closing
         price of the shares of the Substitute Common Stock on the day
         preceding such consolidation, merger or sale, provided, that if
         CENFED is the issuer of the Substitute Option, the Average Price
         shall be computed with respect to a share of common stock issued by
         CENFED, the person merging into CENFED or by any company which
         controls or is controlled by such merging person, as Golden State
         may elect.

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

         (f)  In no event pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs shall
    the Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the aggregate
    of the shares of the Substitute Common Stock outstanding prior to
    exercise of the Substitute Option. 

         (g)  CENFED shall not enter into any transaction described in
    subsection (b) of this Section 9 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any
    person that controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the
    obligations of CENFED hereunder and take all other actions that may be
    necessary so that the provisions of this Section 9 are given full force
    and effect (including, without limitation, any action that may be
    necessary so that the shares of Substitute Common Stock are in no
    material way distinguishable from or have less economic value than other
    shares of common stock issued by the Substitute Option Issuer).

         10.  Repurchase at the Option of Golden State.

         (a)  At the written request of Golden State at any time commencing
    upon the first occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as defined in Section
    10(d)), CENFED shall repurchase the Option from Golden State and, to the
    extent permitted by applicable law, all shares of CENFED Common Stock
    purchased by Golden State pursuant hereto with respect to which Golden
    State then has Beneficial Ownership.  The date on which Golden State
    exercises its rights under this Section 10 is referred to as the "Request
    Date", and the Request Date must be no later than 12 months after the
    first occurrence of a Repurchase Event.  Such repurchase shall be at an
    aggregate price (the "Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

              (i)  the aggregate Option Price paid by Golden State for any
         shares of CENFED Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Option with
         respect to which Golden State then has Beneficial Ownership;

              (ii) the excess, if any, of (x) the Applicable Price (as
         defined below) for each share of CENFED Common Stock over (y) the
         Option Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9),
         multiplied by the number of shares of CENFED Common Stock with
         respect to which the Option has not been exercised; and

              (iii)     the excess, if any, of the Applicable Price over the
         Option Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 9) paid (or,
         in the case of Option Shares with respect to


                                        8<PAGE>





         which the Option has been exercised but the Closing has not
         occurred, payable) by Golden State for each share of CENFED Common
         Stock with respect to which the Option has been exercised and with
         respect to which Golden State then has Beneficial Ownership,
         multiplied by the number of such shares; provided, that the amount
         calculated pursuant to clause (ii) and (iii) of this Section 10(a)
         shall not exceed $11,000,000.

         (b)  If Golden State exercises its rights under this Section 10,
    CENFED shall, within ten business days after the Request Date, pay the
    Repurchase Consideration to Golden State in immediately available funds,
    and contemporaneously with such payment Golden State shall surrender to
    CENFED the Option and the certificates evidencing the shares of CENFED
    Common Stock purchased thereunder with respect to which Golden State then
    has Beneficial Ownership, and Golden State shall represent and warrant
    that it has sole record and Beneficial Ownership of such shares, that it
    has not granted any rights to purchase or otherwise acquire such shares
    to any person, and that the same are then free and clear of all liens,
    claims, charges and encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.  Notwithstanding
    the foregoing, to the extent that prior notification to or approval of
    the OTS or any other regulatory authority is required in connection with
    the payment of all or any portion of the Repurchase Consideration, Golden
    State shall have the ongoing option to revoke its request for repurchase
    pursuant to this Section 10, in whole or in part, or to require that
    CENFED deliver from time to time that portion of the Repurchase
    Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying and promptly
    file the required notice or application for approval with the respect to
    the balance and expeditiously process the same (and each party shall
    cooperate with the other in the filing of any such notice or application
    and the obtaining of any such approval).  If the OTS or any other
    regulatory authority disapproves of any part of CENFED's proposed
    repurchase pursuant to this Section 10, CENFED shall promptly give notice
    of such fact to Golden State.  If the OTS or such other regulatory agency
    prohibits the repurchase in part but not in whole, then Golden State
    shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase request or (ii) to the
    extent permitted by the OTS or such other regulatory agency, determine
    whether the repurchase should apply to the Option and/or Option Shares
    and to what extent to each, and Golden State shall thereupon have the
    right to exercise the Option as to the number of Option Shares for which
    the Option was exercisable at the Request Date less the sum of the number
    of shares covered by the Option in respect of which payment has been made
    pursuant to Section 10(a)(ii) and the number of shares covered by the
    portion of the Option (if any) that has previously been repurchased.
    Golden State shall notify CENFED of its determination under the preceding
    sentence within five business days of receipt of notice of disapproval of
    the repurchase.

         Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, all of Golden
    State's rights with respect to any unexercised Options under this Section
    10 shall terminate on the Expiration Date.

         (c)  For purposes of this Agreement, the "Applicable Price" means
    the highest of (i) the highest price per share of CENFED Common Stock
    paid for any such share by the person or groups described in Section
    10(d)(i), (ii) the price per share of CENFED Common Stock received by
    holders of CENFED Common Stock in connection with any merger or other
    business combination transaction described in Section 9(b)(i), (ii) or
    (iii), or (iii) the highest closing sales price per share of CENFED
    Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq National Market (or if CENFED Common
    Stock


                                        9<PAGE>





    is not quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, the highest bid price per
    share as quoted on the principal trading market or securities exchange on
    which such shares are traded as reported by a recognized source chosen by
    Golden State) during the 60 business days preceding the Request Date;
    provided, however, that in the event of a sale of less than all of
    CENFED's assets, the Applicable Price shall be the sum of the price paid
    in such sale for such assets and the current market value of the
    remaining assets of CENFED as determined in good faith by an independent
    nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Golden State
    and reasonably acceptable to CENFED (which determination shall be
    conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement), divided by the number of
    shares of the CENFED Common Stock outstanding at the time of such sale.
    If the consideration to be offered, paid or received pursuant to either
    of the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in cash, the
    value of such consideration shall be determined in good faith by an
    independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by
    Golden State and reasonably acceptable to CENFED, which determination
    shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

         (d)  As used herein, a "Repurchase Event" shall be deemed to occur
    if (i) any person (other than Golden State or any Subsidiary or affiliate
    of Golden State) shall have acquired Beneficial Ownership, or the right
    to acquire Beneficial Ownership, or any "group" (as such term is defined
    under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which Beneficially Owns or
    has the right to acquire Beneficial Ownership, of 50% or more of the then
    outstanding shares of CENFED Common Stock, (ii) any of the transactions
    described in Section 9(b)(i), 9(b)(ii) or 9(b)(iii) shall have been
    consummated, or (iii) following an Exercise Event, Golden State receives
    official notice that an approval of the OTS or any other regulatory
    authority required for the exercise of the Option and purchase of the
    Option Shares will not be issued or granted.

         11.  Definitional Matters.

         (a)  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the
    meanings ascribed thereto in the Merger Agreement.

         (b) The following definitions shall have the meanings set forth
    herein: 

         "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean:

              (i)  a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving
         CENFED or any of its Subsidiaries (other than internal transactions
         solely involving CENFED and any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries);

              (ii) except as expressly permitted by the Merger Agreement, the
         disposition, by sale, lease, exchange or otherwise, of assets or
         deposits of CENFED or any of its Subsidiaries representing all or a
         substantial portion of the consolidated assets or deposits of CENFED
         and its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary course of business;

              (iii)     the issuance, sale or other disposition of (including
         by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar
         transaction) securities representing 20% or


                                        10<PAGE>





         more of the voting power of CENFED or any of its Subsidiaries;   

              (iv) the acquisition by any person or group of persons (other
         than by Golden State or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates) of
         Beneficial Ownership of, or the right to acquire beneficial
         ownership of, 20% or more of the then-outstanding shares of CENFED
         Common Stock; or

              (v)  any substantially similar transaction.

         "Beneficial Ownership" or "Beneficially Owns" shall be defined by,
    or have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
    Exchange Act.

         "Exercise Event" means the (i) occurrence of an Acquisition
    Transaction; (ii) the public authorization, recommendation or endorsement
    by CENFED of an Acquisition Transaction; (iii) a public announcement by
    CENFED of an intention to authorize, recommend or announce an Acquisition
    Transaction described in paragraphs (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) definition of
    Acquisition Transaction; or (iv) the entering into by CENFED of any
    agreement with any person or group of persons to effect an Acquisition
    Transaction.

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

         "Preliminary Acquisition Transaction" shall mean:

              (i)  the commencement (as such term is defined in Rule 14d-2
         promulgated under the Exchange, Act) by any person (other than
         Golden State or any Subsidiary or affiliate of Golden State) of, or
         the filing by any person (other than Golden State or any Subsidiary
         or affiliate of Golden State) of a registration statement under the
         Securities Act with respect to, a tender offer or exchange offer to
         purchase shares of CENFED Common Stock such that, upon consummation
         of such offer, such person would own or control 20% or more of the
         then-outstanding shares of CENFED Common Stock (such an offer being
         referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange Offer,"
         respectively); or

              (ii) the shareholders of CENFED shall have voted and failed to
         approve the Merger and the Merger Agreement at any meeting of such
         shareholders which has been held for that, purpose, including any
         adjournment or postponement thereof, the failure of such a
         shareholder meeting to occur prior to termination of the Merger
         Agreement, or the withdrawal or modification of the recommendation
         of CENFED's Board of Directors that the shareholders of CENFED
         approve the Merger and Merger Agreement, in each case after there
         shall have been a public announcement that any person (other than
         Golden State or any Subsidiary or affiliate of Golden State) shall
         have (A) made, or disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to
         engage in an Acquisition Transaction, (B) commenced a Tender Offer
         or filed a registration statement under the Securities Act with
         respect to an Exchange Offer, or (C) filed an application (or given
         a notice), whether in draft or final form, with the OTS


                                        11<PAGE>





         or under any federal or state thrift institution or banking law or
         regulation, for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

         "Spread Value" shall mean the difference between (i) the product of
    (A) the sum of the number of Option Shares that Golden State intends to
    purchase at a Closing pursuant to the exercise of the Option and the
    number of Option Shares that Golden State has previously purchased
    pursuant to the prior exercise of the Option, and (B) the closing price
    of CENFED Common Stock as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market on the
    last trading day immediately preceding the Closing Date, and (ii) the
    product of (A) the total number of Option Shares that Golden State
    intends to purchase on the day of the Closing pursuant to the exercise of
    the Option and the number of Option Shares that Golden State has
    previously purchased pursuant to the prior exercise of the Option and (B)
    the applicable Option Price of such Option Shares.

         12.  Consents.  Each of the parties hereto will use its best efforts
    to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this
    Agreement.

         13.  Further Assurances.  CENFED and Golden State will execute and
    deliver all such further documents and instruments and take all such
    further action as may be necessary in order to consummate the
    transactions contemplated hereby.

         14.  Entire Agreement; Assignment.  This Agreement and the Merger
    Agreement (including the separate agreements referred to therein) (a)
    constitute the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the
    subject matter hereof and supersede all other prior agreements and
    understandings, both written and oral, between the parties with respect
    to the subject matter hereof, (b) shall not be amended, altered or
    modified in any manner whatsoever, except by a written instrument
    executed by the parties hereto and (c) shall not, without the express
    written consent of the other party hereto, be assigned by operation of
    law or otherwise; provided, however, that Golden State may assign its
    rights and obligations to any wholly owned Subsidiary of Golden State,
    but such assignment shall not relieve Golden State of its obligations
    hereunder.

         15.  Validity.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
    of this Agreement or of any provision of the Merger Agreement shall not
    affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this
    Agreement, each of which shall remain in full force and effect.

         16.  Notices.  Any notices or other communications required or
    permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given
    upon (a) transmitter's confirmation of a receipt of a facsimile
    transmission, (b) confirmed delivery by a standard overnight carrier or
    (c) the expiration of five business days after the day mailed, when
    mailed by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, addressed as
    follows (or at such other address or addresses as the parties hereto
    shall specify by like notice): 




                                        12<PAGE>





         If to CENFED:

         CENFED Financial Corporation
         199 North Lake Avenue
         Pasadena, CA 91101
         Attention:  D. Tad Lowrey
                     President and 
                     Chief Executive Officer
         Facsimile:  (626) 585-2580

         with a copy to:

         Mayer Brown & Platt
         350 South Grand Avenue, 25th Floor 
         Los Angeles, California 90071
         Attention: James R. Walther, Esq.
         Facsimile: (213) 625-0248 

         If to Golden State:

         Golden State Bancorp Inc.     
         414 North Central Avenue
         Glendale, CA 91203
         Attention:  Richard A. Fink
                     Vice Chairman
         Facsimile:  (818) 409-3151

         With a copy to:

         Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
         51 West 52nd Street
         New York, NY  10019-6119
         Attention:  Craig M. Wasserman, Esq.
         Facsimile:  (212) 403-2000

    or to such other address as the person to whom notice is given may have
    previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth
    above.

         17.  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
    interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware without
    regard to the conflict of laws provisions and principles thereof. 

         18.  Descriptive Headings.  The descriptive headings herein are
    inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be
    part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this










                                        13<PAGE>





    Agreement.

         19.  Parties in Interest.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
    inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and nothing in this
    Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other
    person or any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by
    reason of this Agreement.

         20.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in several
    counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of
    which shall constitute one and the same agreement.

         21.  Expenses.  Except as set forth in Section 5 hereof, all costs
    and expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by
    this Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses. 

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be
    executed on their behalf by their officers thereunto duly authorized, all
    as of the day and year first written above.



    CENFED Financial Corporation                GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.

    By: /s/ D. Tad Lowrey                       By: /s/ Richard A. Fink       
        D. Tad Lowrey                               Richard A. Fink
        President and Chief Executive Officer       Vice Chairman





























                                        14









                                                       Exhibit 99.2

         NEWS                GOLDEN STATE BANCORP



         FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
                             Ken Preston    (818) 409-4550
                             Jeff Misakian  (818) 500-2824


         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                GOLDEN STATE BANCORP TO ACQUIRE CENFED FINANCIAL CORP.
            --Acquisition to be accretive to earnings during first year--
          --Merger to create greater opportunities for small businesses and 
               consumers--
         --Merger will accelerate achievement of GSB financial objectives and 
               expand franchise--
         --Glendale Federal to become fourth largest servicer of SBA loans in 
               California--


              GLENDALE, CA, August 18, 1997 - Golden State Bancorp Inc.

         (NYSE: GSB), parent company of Glendale Federal Bank, and

         CENFED Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:CENF), parent company of CenFed

         Bank, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement for

         Golden to acquire CENFED.

              Terms of the transaction call for a tax-free exchange of

         1.20 shares of Golden State common stock for each share of

         CENFED's outstanding common stock.  Based on Friday August 15,

         1997 closing market prices, this ratio represents a price of

         $34.43 per share of CENFED common stock.  At that price, the

         transaction has an initial value of $210 million, equal to 1.76

         times CENFED's book value as of June 30, 1997.  The combined

         companies would have a pro forma fully diluted market

         capitalization as of August 15, 1997 of $2.2 billion.  In

         connection with the transaction, CENFED has granted Golden

         State an option to acquire up to 1.14 million shares of CENFED

         common stock.

              Stephen J. Trafton, chairman and chief executive officer

         of Golden State Bancorp, stated:  "This transaction will

         enhance Golden State shareholder value in several ways.  It is

         immediately accretive to earnings; accelerates the achievement

         of our financial objectives, including increasing our return on

         equity by more than 80 basis points; increases total deposits

         by 16 percent; makes Glendale Federal the fourth largest SBA

         servicer in the state; and provides both increased market share

         in, and an important strategic in-fill to, our Southern

         California branch system."

              On a pro forma basis as of June 30, 1997, Golden State

         would have consolidated assets of $18.5 billion, total deposits

         of $10.9 billion and 193 banking offices.  The transaction is

         expected to be neutral in regard to Golden State's tangible

         book value per share.

              The transaction, which will be accounted for as a pooling

         of interests, is expected to close in early 1998.  At that

         time, CenFed Bank will be merged with Glendale Federal Bank.

                                      -more-<PAGE>







                                       -2-

              Trafton added, "The transaction will also benefit the

         communities served by CenFed Bank.  Glendale Federal will bring

         a highly effective, energized marketing focus and an expanded

         product line to the former CenFed Bank offices that includes

         single-family residential lending, consumer lending, and

         products and services for small- to medium-sized businesses.

         Several of these products and services have been designed to

         particularly benefit low- to moderate-income residents, such as

         our California Partners mortgage loan program, micro loans of

         between $2,000 and $10,000 for small businesses and the full

         array of small business products and services."

              The acquisition of CENFED will provide entry for Glendale

         Federal into several markets in which it does not presently

         operate, including Cypress, Chino Hills, Marina Del Rey and

         Placentia.  In addition, when the acquisition is completed,

         Glendale Federal will become one of the largest banks serving

         the City of Pasadena with five current branches and a new Old

         Town Pasadena branch to open next month.  These branches will

         have over $600 million in deposits.

              Trafton noted Glendale Federal will continue to operate in

         all markets served by CenFed Bank.  "Unlike California's major

         banks, we will not pack up and leave low-income areas or any

         other market served by CenFed Bank," Trafton said.  "While we

         expect to consolidate offices in close proximity to each other,

         we will do so with an eye toward building a stronger presence

         in the area and providing enhanced service to the customer,

         including expanded branch hours and an extensive ATM network."

              CENFED has a portfolio of approximately $125 million in

         Small Business Administration (SBA) loans.  When the

         acquisition is completed, Glendale Federal will become the

         state's fourth largest servicer of SBA loans.  Potential SBA

         loan recipients will benefit from the bank's anticipated

         statewide status as an SBA preferred lender.  The designation

         will allow the bank to approve SBA-guaranteed loan applications

         in all SBA districts in California, without prior SBA approval.

              D. Tad Lowrey, president and chief executive officer of

         CENFED, commented:  "We are excited about the opportunities for

         our customers presented by this acquisition.  We are equally

         proud of what we have achieved for our shareholders since our

         public offering in late 1991.  Shareholders who purchased

         shares in CENFED at that time will have experienced significant

         appreciation in the value of their shares.  In this tax-free

         exchange, CENFED's shareholders will receive shares in a

         statewide banking institution with strong, positive momentum

         and an excellent outlook."

              Following completion of the acquisition, Lowrey will join

         Golden State Bancorp's and Glendale Federal Bank's boards of

         directors.

                                      -more-<PAGE>







                                       -3-

              In connection with the acquisition, CENFED's board of

         directors terminated the 5 percent stock repurchase program

         that was announced in January 1997.  CENFED had repurchased

         68,470 shares of its common stock as of the date of this

         announcement.

              Golden State Bancorp expects to record pre-tax charges of

         approximately $30 million in conjunction with the merger.

              Headquartered in Pasadena, California, CenFed Bank is a

         federal savings bank which operates 18 branch offices in Los

         Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties in

         Southern California.

              Glendale Federal Bank is California's leading community

         bank, serving the business and consumer banking needs of

         Californians through 175 banking offices and 25 loan offices.

         Customers can reach the bank by calling 1-800-41FEDUP, or get

         information through its Internet site at http://

         www.glenfed.com.

                                       ###

         This  news  release  contains  estimates  of  future  financial
         condition,  and  certain  future  earnings  results, for Golden
         State Bancorp Inc. and CENFED Financial Corporation  on  a  pro
         forma  combined  basis,  as  well  as  statements regarding the
         expected structure and Impact of the  proposed  Merger.   These
         estimates  and statements constitute forward-looking statements
         (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
         Act   of   1995),   which   involve   significant   risks   and
         uncertainties.  Actual results may differ materially  from  the
         results discussed in these forward-looking statements.  Factors
         that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited
         to:   (1) expected cost savings from the Merger cannot be fully
         realized or  realized  within  the  expected  time  frame;  (2)
         revenues  following  the  Merger  are  lower than expected; (3)
         competitive pressures among  depository  institutions  increase
         significantly;   (4)  costs  or  difficulties  related  to  the
         integration of the business of  Golden  State  and  CENFED  are
         greater  than  expected;  (5)  changes  in  the  interest  rate
         environment reduce interest margins, (6) general  economic  and
         credit  conditions, either nationally or in the region in which
         the combined company will be doing business, are less favorable
         than  expected; (7) legislative or regulatory changes adversely
         affect the business in which  the  combined  company  would  be
         engaged;  and  (8) the outcome of Glendale Federal's "goodwill"
         litigation against the United States.


                                      -more-<PAGE>







                                       -4-
         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
                   GOLDEN STATE BANCORP/CENFED FINANCIAL CORP.
                                MERGER HIGHLIGHTS
                               as of June 30, 1997
         (assets, deposits, equity, market capitalization in $ millions)


                                       GOLDEN
                                        STATE        CENFED    PRO FORMA
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                           <C>           <C>       <C>
         Total assets                  $16,218       $2,296    $18,497 (1)

         Total deposits                 $9,357       $1,544    $10,901

         Total equity                   $1,012         $119     $1,114 (1)

         Fully diluted tangible         $14.35                  $14.31 (1)
         book value per share

         ROE                             11.3% (2)               12.2% (1)(2)

         ROA                             0.73% (2)               0.76% (1)(2)

         Banking offices                   175           18        193

         Lending offices                    25            2         27

         Closing stock price as of 
         8/15/97                        $28.69       $34.00

         Market capitalization as 
         of 8/15/97                     $2,008         $208     $2,218











         <FN>
         -----------------------
              (1)  Net of $30 million of pre-tax merger-related charges
              (2)  Based on annualized operating results for the quarter
         ended June 30, 1997
         </TABLE>





                                      -more-<PAGE>







                                       -5-



              LIST OF CENFED BANK BRANCH LOCATIONS


         LOS ANGELES COUNTY
              City of Industry
              La Canada Flintridge
              Los Angeles
              Marina Del Rey
              Pasadena (4 offices)
              Santa Monica

         ORANGE COUNTY
              Anaheim
              Cypress
              Placentia

         RIVERSIDE COUNTY
              Hemet (2 offices)
              Riverside (2 offices)
              Sun City

         SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
              Chino Hills























                                      -more-







                                                     Exhibit 99.3





                              [Graphic of a cheetah]





                            GOLDEN STATE BANCORP INC.


                                  Acquisition of


                                      CENFED
                              _____________________

                              FINANCIAL CORPORATION









                                 AUGUST 18, 1997<PAGE>






         FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT                                     
         ______________________________________________________________

         This presentation contains estimates of future operating
         results for 1998 and 1999 for both Golden State Bancorp Inc.
         and CENFED Financial Corporation on a stand-alone and pro forma
         combined basis, as well as estimates of financial condition and
         operating efficiencies on a combined basis.  These estimates
         constitute forward-looking statements (within the meaning of
         the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which
         involve significant risks and uncertainties.  Actual results
         may differ materially from the results discussed in these
         forward-looking statements.  Factors that might cause such a
         difference include, but are not limited to:  (1) expected cost
         savings from the Merger cannot be fully realized or realized
         within the expected time frame; (2) revenues following the
         Merger are lower than expected; (3) competitive pressures among
         depository institutions increase significantly; (4) costs or
         difficulties related to the integration of the business of
         Golden State and CENFED are greater than expected; (5) changes
         in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins; (6)
         general economic and credit conditions, either nationally or in
         the region in which the combined company will be doing busi-
         ness, are less favorable than expected; (7) legislation or reg-
         ulatory changes adversely affect the business in which the com-
         bined company would be engaged; and (8) the outcome of Golden
         State's "goodwill" litigation against the United States.





















         [Logo of                      1                       [Logo of
         Golden State                                            Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                        Financial
                                                           Corporation]<PAGE>





         TRANSACTION RATIONALE                                         
         ______________________________________________________________

            Financially attractive, low risk transaction

              $0.14 per share accretive in first full year

              Accretion predicated upon in market cost savings

            Accelerates achievement of GSB'S financial goals

              Increases ROAE by over 80 basis points

              Leverages GSB'S core competencies

            Enhances GSB'S California franchise

              Increases market penetration through expansion and
                Consolidation

              Increases deposit base by 16%

              Creaes 4TH largest SBA servicer in California



























         [Logo of                      2                       [Logo of
         Golden State                                            Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                        Financial
                                                           Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         TRANSACTION SUMMARY                                           
         ______________________________________________________________

         <S>                              <C>
         FIXED EXCHANGE RATIO:            1.20 GSB Shares / CENF Share

         ACCOUNTING TREATMENT:            Pooling of Interests

         PRICE / CENF SHARE:              $34.43*

         PREMIUM TO MARKET:               1.3%

         TOTAL DEAL VALUE:                $210 MM

         CENF PRO FORMA OWNERSHIP:        9.5%

         EXPECTED CLOSING DATE:           Early 1998

         BOARD COMPOSITION:               CENF CEO to join GSB Board


         <FN>
         * Based on closing price for GSB of $28.69 on August 15, 1997.
         </TABLE>























         [Logo of                      3                       [Logo of
         Golden State                                            Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                        Financial
                                                           Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         TRANSACTION PRICING                                           
         __________________________________________________________________________________

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

                                      DEAL MULTIPLES               TRANSACTION ECONOMICS   
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                   CENF           AVG. OF       CENF MULT.
                                 ANNOUNCE.      COMPARABLE     ADJ. FOR COST   GSB TRADING
                                 MULTIPLES    TRANSACTIONS(1)     SAVINGS       MULTIPLES       
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


         Acquisition Price to:

            <S>                  <C>          <C>              <C>
            1997E EPS                13.6x           16.3x            8.4x          19.5x

            1998E EPS                12.3            15.9             7.9           15.2

            Book Value               1.76            2.02             1.76          1.83

            Tang. Book Value         1.76            2.09             1.76          2.00


         Deposit Premium              5.9%           15.2%             5.9%         10.6%
         <FN>
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (1)  Based on thrift acquisitions announced since January 1, 1997 with deal sizes
         between $100 million and $1 billion.
         </TABLE>















         [Logo of                         4                            [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         EARNINGS IMPACT
         __________________________________________________________________________________



            Transaction accretive before taking into account cost savings
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                   FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,   
                                               -----------------------------------------        
                                                        1998                1999             
                                                 ----------------      -----------------
                                                   $MM       EPS         $MM        EPS
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                                    <C>         <C>       <C>          <C>
         GSB Net Income(1)                      $114.1      $1.64     $148.2       $2.13



         CENF Net Income(2)                       16.3         -        18.1         -       
                                                ---------   -------    --------    -------

           Combined Net Income                   130.4      $1.70      166.3       $2.16

         Add:  After Tax Impact of Cost 
           Savings(3)                              4.8         -         9.9         -

         Less:  After Tax Impact of Deposit 
           Run-Off(4)                             (0.8)        -        (1.5)        -       
                                                ---------   --------   --------    --------

           Pro Forma Net Income                 $134.4      $1.75     $174.7       $2.27

           Accretion                                -        6.6%         -         6.6%

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <FN>
         (1)     Based on First Call estimates of $1.64 for FY1998 and $2.13 for FY1999.
         (2)     Based on First Call estimates of $2.67 for CY1998 and $2.97 for CY1999, and 12%
         annual growth thereafter.
         (3)       Based on cost savings equal to 50% of CENF expense base, phased-in 50% in
         fiscal 1998 and 100% thereafter.
         (4) Assumes potential deposit run-off equal to 18% of CENF deposit base at a 0.92% pre-
         tax spread.
         </TABLE>

         [Logo of                           5                          [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         COST SAVINGS ESTIMATES
         __________________________________________________________________________________


            Cost savings equal to 50% of CENF's operating expense base
            achievable within 6 months of closing

         (Dollars in Thousands)                                                             
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                          CENF PRE-TAX                      TOTAL
                                            OPERATING            %        PROJECTED
         FUNCTION                           EXPENSES          SAVINGS      SAVINGS          

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

         <S>                              <C>                 <C>         <C>
         Compensation and Benefits            $16,672           55%         $9,170

         Occupancy                              5,696           50           2,848

         Data and Check Processing              1,344            -               -

         Deposit Insurance                        996            -               -

         Marketing                                690            -               -

         Other                                  6,412           60           3,847
                                              -------                      -------
            Total Operating Expenses          $31,810           50%        $15,865
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         </TABLE>















         [Logo of                           6                          [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         PROVEN INTEGRATION TRACK RECORD
         __________________________________________________________________________________



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

                                                     UNION               TRANS
                                                    FEDERAL              WORLD             
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                                        <C>                  <C>
         Deposit Size                               $812 MM              $347 MM

         Cost Savings Achieved                      70%                  40%

         Closing Date                               June, 1995           May, 1997

         Integration Date                           August, 1995         May, 1997

         Months to Integration                      2 Months             0
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


























         [Logo of                           7                          [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         ACCELERATES ACHIEVEMENT OF STRATEGIC GOALS
         ____________________________________________________________________________



           Transaction meaningfully accelerates the achievement of
           GSB's profitability goals

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



                                                        GSB              GSB
                                       TARGET    6/30/97 RESULT(1)  PRO FORMA(2)      
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                           <C>       <C>                <C>
         ROAA                            1.00%          0.73%          0.76%

         ROAE                            15.0           11.3           12.2

         EFFICIENCY RATIO               <50.0           54.8           52.6


         Fee Income/Expenses             >42.0%          35.4%          35.3%

         Interest Rate Spread            >3.00           2.68           2.67

         Checking Accounts/Deposits      >20.0           12.8           12.1

         NPAs/Assets                     <1.00           1.26           1.27

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <FN>
         (1) Based on operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 1997.
         (2) Based on pro forma operating results for the quarter ended June 30,
             1997, with full phase in of cost savings and impact of 18% deposit
             run-off.  ROAE statistic includes impact of $30 million pre-tax
             merger-related expenses, taken in conjunction with the merger.
         </TABLE>








         [Logo of                           8                          [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         ACCELERATES ACHIEVEMENT OF STRATEGIC GOALS
         ____________________________________________________________________________

              Improvement in operating results not at the expense of
              GSB's capital ratios or book value per share statistics


         (Data as of June 30, 1997)
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                   GSB                     GSB
                                             STAND ALONE(1)           PRO FORMA(2)
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                                 <C>                      <C>
         Total Assets                            $16,218               $18,497(3)

         Total Equity                              1,012                 1,114(3)

         ROAE                                      11.3%                   12.2%

         ROAA                                      0.73                    0.76

         TANGIBLE BOOK VALUE / SHARE(4)           $14.35                  $14.31

         TANGIBLE LEVERAGE RATIO                    5.66%                   5.51%
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <FN>
         (1)  Based on annualized operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 1997.
         (2)  Based on annualized operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, with
         fully phased-in cost savings.
         (3)  Net of $30 million pre-tax merger-related expenses, taken in conjunction with the
         merger.
         (4)  Fully diluted.
         </TABLE>













         [Logo of                           9                          [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         LEVERAGES GSB'S CORE COMPETENCIES
         __________________________________________________________________________________

              GSB's proven ability to add value to traditional thrift franchises not
              taken into account in projections

         (Dollars in Thousands)
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                         GSB STAND ALONE               %
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                    6/30/96          6/30/97        GROWTH
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                                      <C>              <C>              <C>
         Net Interest Income                        $333,065         $378,984            14%
         
         Interest Rate Spread                          2.41%            2.68%            11 

         Checking Accounts
            Balances                                $778,980       $1,198,011            54%
            Number of Accounts                       246,646          313,499            27 

         Transaction Accounts(1)
            Balances                              $2,212,096       $2,571,778            16%
            Number of Accounts                       234,276          301,281            29 

         Consumer Loans
            Commitments                             $137,989         $302,289           119%
            Outstandings                              17,906           70,757           295 

         Business Loans
            Commitments                               $7,754         $229,390         2,933%
            Outstandings                               2,291           95,087         4,051 

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <FN>
         (1)  Includes savings and money market accounts.
         </TABLE>










         [Logo of                           10                         [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         <TABLE>
         <CAPTION>
         ENHANCES SHAREHOLDER VALUE
         __________________________________________________________________________________

            Meaningful accretion significantly enhances shareholder value

         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      AFTER TAX VALUE OF GOODWILL
                                                         LAWSUIT PER GSB SHARE         
                                              -----------------------------------------
                                                  $5.00        $7.50      $10.00                
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         <S>                                      <C>          <C>        <C>
         Accretion / GSB Share, Fiscal 1999       $0.14        $0.14       $0.14

         P/E Multiple Applied to 1999 Accretion   12.0x        12.0x       12.0x

            Accretion Value per GSB Share         $1.68        $1.68       $1.68

         Less:  Impact of Goodwill Lawsuit Dilution (0.48)     (0.71)      (0.95)

            NET VALUE CREATED / GSB SHARE         $1.20        $0.97       $0.73
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------























         [Logo of                           11                         [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]<PAGE>





         MARKET CONSOLIDATION
         ______________________________________________________________

           7 of 18 branches within a 1 mile radius of a Glendale branch

              Overlap underpins transaction synergies

           Provides increased market share in existing markets

           Creates the 4th largest SBA servicer in California







































         [Logo of                      12                      [Logo of
         Golden State                                            Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                        Financial
                                                           Corporation]<PAGE>





         MARKET EXPANSION
         _____________________________________________________________



           Provides growth opportunities in attractive new markets

           Market demographics conducive to business/consumer product
           growth

           Represents fill-in locations within existing footprint

           Provide GSB's enhanced product line to new and existing cus-
           tomers



































         [Logo of                      13                      [Logo of
         Golden State                                            Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                        Financial
                                                           Corporation]<PAGE>





         CONCLUSION
         _______________________________________________________________________________



         Financially attractive,       Accelerates achievement of     Enhances GSB's
           low risk transaction           GSB's financial goals    California franchise


           [down arrow]                       [down arrow]             [down arrow]



                                        ENHANCES SHAREHOLDER VALUE



































         [Logo of                           14                         [Logo of
         Golden State                                                    Cenfed
         Bancorp Inc.]                                                Financial
                                                                   Corporation]

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission