DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORP
DEF 14A, 1998-07-17
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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DELAWARE FIRST
FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                              400 Delaware Ave.               [302] 421-9090
                              Wilmington, DE 19801-1588       [302] 984-1520 fax



                                                                   July 17, 1998


Dear Stockholder:

         You are cordially  invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of Delaware First Financial  Corporation  (the  "Company").  The meeting will be
held at the Dupont Country Club, Rockland Road,  Wilmington,  Delaware 19803, on
Wednesday,  August  19,  1998 at 4:00  p.m.,  Eastern  Time.  The  matters to be
considered  by   stockholders  at  the  Annual  Meeting  are  described  in  the
accompanying materials.

         It is very  important  that you be  represented  at the Annual  Meeting
regardless of the number of shares you own or whether you are able to attend the
meeting in person. We urge you to mark, sign, and date your proxy card today and
return  it in the  envelope  provided,  even if you plan to  attend  the  Annual
Meeting.  This will not prevent you from voting in person,  but will ensure that
your vote is counted if you are unable to attend.  For the  reasons set forth in
the Proxy Statement,  the Board unanimously  recommends that you vote "FOR" each
matter to be considered.

         Your  continued  support of and  interest in Delaware  First  Financial
Corporation are sincerely appreciated.

                                   Sincerely,

                                /s/Ernest J. Peoples

                                   Ernest J. Peoples
                                   Interim President and Chief Executive Officer

<PAGE>
                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                               400 Delaware Avenue
                           Wilmington, Delaware 19801
                                 (302) 421-9090


                                   -----------

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          To Be Held on August 19, 1998

                                   -----------


         NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Meeting of Stockholders ("Annual
Meeting") of Delaware First Financial  Corporation  (the "Company") will be held
at the Dupont  Country Club,  Rockland  Road,  Wilmington,  Delaware  19803,  on
Wednesday,  August  19,  1998 at 4:00  p.m.,  Eastern  Time,  for the  following
purposes,  all of which are more completely set forth in the accompanying  Proxy
Statement:

         (1) To elect  one  director  for a term of three  years  and  until his
successor is elected and qualified;


         (2) To consider and approve the adoption of the 1998 Stock Option Plan;

         (3) To consider  and approve the adoption of the 1998  Recognition  and
Retention Plan and Trust Agreement;

         (4) To ratify the  appointment  by the Board of Directors of Deloitte &
Touche LLP as the Company's  independent  auditors for the year ending  December
31, 1998;

         (5) To transact  such other  business as may  properly  come before the
meeting or any  adjournment  thereof.  Management is not aware of any other such
business.

         The Board of  Directors  has fixed July 10,  1998 as the voting  record
date for the determination of stockholders  entitled to notice of and to vote at
the  Annual  Meeting.  Only  those  stockholders  of  record  as of the close of
business on that date will be entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

                                              BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

                                              /s/Lori N. Richards

                                              Lori N. Richards
                                              Secretary

Wilmington, Delaware
July 17, 1998

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU ARE CORDIALLY  INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING.  IT IS IMPORTANT  THAT
YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER YOU OWN. EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO
BE PRESENT, YOU ARE URGED TO COMPLETE,  SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY
PROMPTLY  IN THE  ENVELOPE  PROVIDED.  IF YOU ATTEND THE  MEETING,  YOU MAY VOTE
EITHER IN PERSON OR BY PROXY.  ANY PROXY  GIVEN MAY BE REVOKED BY YOU IN WRITING
OR IN PERSON AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE THEREOF.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                 PROXY STATEMENT


                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

                                 August 19, 1998

         This Proxy Statement is furnished to holders of common stock,  $.01 par
value per share ("Common Stock"),  of Delaware First Financial  Corporation (the
"Company"),  the holding  company of Delaware First Bank, FSB (the "Bank").  The
Company  acquired all of the Bank's common stock issued in  connection  with the
conversion of the Bank from mutual to stock form in December  1997.  Proxies are
being solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company to be used at
the Annual Meeting of Stockholders  ("Annual  Meeting") to be held at the Dupont
Country Club, Rockland Road,  Wilmington,  Delaware 19803, on August 19, 1998 at
4:00 p.m.,  Eastern  Time,  for the  purposes  set forth in the Notice of Annual
Meeting  of  Stockholders.  This  Proxy  Statement  is  first  being  mailed  to
stockholders on or about July 17, 1998.

         The proxy  solicited  hereby,  if properly  signed and  returned to the
Company and not revoked prior to its use,  will be voted in accordance  with the
instructions  contained  therein.  If no contrary  instructions are given,  each
proxy  received  will be voted FOR the  matters  described  below and,  upon the
transaction of such other  business as may properly come before the meeting,  in
accordance  with the best  judgment of the  persons  appointed  as proxies.  Any
stockholder  giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time  before it is
exercised by (i) filing with the Secretary of the Company written notice thereof
(Lori N. Richards, Secretary, Delaware First Financial Corporation, 400 Delaware
Avenue,  Wilmington,  Delaware  19801);  (ii) submitting a  duly-executed  proxy
bearing a later date;  or (iii)  appearing at the Annual  Meeting and giving the
Secretary  notice of his or her intention to vote in person.  Proxies  solicited
hereby may be exercised only at the Annual Meeting and any  adjournment  thereof
and will not be used for any other meeting.

                                     VOTING

         Only  stockholders  of record at the close of business on July 10, 1998
("Voting  Record Date") will be entitled to vote at the Annual  Meeting.  On the
Voting Record Date, there were 1,157,000 shares of Common Stock  outstanding and
the Company had no other class of equity securities outstanding. The presence in
person or by proxy of at least a majority of the issued and  outstanding  shares
of capital  stock  entitled to vote is necessary  to  constitute a quorum at the
Annual  Meeting.  Each share of  capital  stock is  entitled  to one vote at the
Annual Meeting on all matters properly  presented at the meeting.  Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast with a quorum present.  Abstentions are
considered  in  determining  the  presence  of a quorum  and will not affect the
plurality vote required for the election of directors.  The affirmative  vote of
the holders of a majority  of the total  votes  present in person or by proxy is
required to ratify the appointment of the independent  auditors.  Under rules of
the New York Stock  Exchange,  the proposal for  ratification of the auditors is
considered a  "discretionary"  item upon which brokerage firms may vote in their
discretion on behalf of their clients if such clients have not furnished  voting
instructions and for which there will not be "broker non-votes."

         The  affirmative  vote of the  holders of a majority of the total votes
eligible to be cast in person or by proxy at the Annual  Meeting is required for
approval of the  proposals  to approve the 1998 Stock  Option Plan (the  "Option
Plan") and the 1998  Recognition  and Retention  Plan and Trust  Agreement  (the
"Recognition Plan"). Under rules applicable to broker-dealers,  the proposals to
approve  the  Option  Plan  and  the  Recognition   Plan  are  considered  "non-
discretionary" items upon which brokerage firms may not vote in their discretion
on  behalf  of  their  clients  if  such  clients  have  not  furnished   voting
instructions  and for which  there may be  "broker  non-votes"  at the  meeting.
Because of the required votes,  abstentions  and broker  non-votes will have the
same effect as a vote  against the  proposals to approve the Option Plan and the
Recognition Plan.
<PAGE>
                INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
                             AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Election of Directors

         The Bylaws of the Company presently provide that the Board of Directors
shall consist of not less than five nor more than 15 persons. In accordance with
the  Bylaws,  the Board  currently  consists  of six  members.  The  Articles of
Incorporation  and Bylaws of the  Company  presently  provide  that the Board of
Directors  shall be  divided  into three  classes  as nearly  equal in number as
possible.  The members of each class are to be elected for a term of three years
or until their successors are elected and qualified, with one class of directors
to be elected annually.  There are no arrangements or understandings between the
Company  and any  person  pursuant  to which  such  person  has been  elected  a
director.  Stockholders of the Company are not permitted to cumulate their votes
for the election of directors.

         Other than J. Bayard  Cloud , who is the father of Thomas B. Cloud,  no
director or executive officer of the Company is related to any other director or
executive officer of the Company by blood, marriage or adoption, and each of the
nominees currently serve as a director of the Company.

         Unless  otherwise  directed,  each proxy  executed  and  returned  by a
stockholder  will be voted for the election of the nominee for  director  listed
below. If the person named as nominee should be unable or unwilling to stand for
election at the time of the Annual  Meeting,  the proxies will nominate and vote
for a replacement nominee  recommended by the Board of Directors.  At this time,
the Board of Directors  knows of no reason why the nominee  listed below may not
be able to serve as a director if elected.  Ages are  reflected  as of March 31,
1998.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Nominee for Director for Three-Year Term Expiring in 2001



                                                                 Positions Held with                    Director
                Name                      Age                        the Company                          Since
- ---------------------------------    -----------     -----------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                                  <C>             <C>                                         <C>
Ernest J. Peoples                          65           Interim President and Chief Executive             1964
                                                              Officer and Vice Chairman

</TABLE>

The Board of  Directors  recommends  that you vote FOR the election of the above
nominee for director.


Members of the Board of Directors Continuing in Office

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Directors Whose Terms Expire in 1999


                                                                Positions Held with                    Director
               Name                        Age                      the Company                          Since
- --------------------------------     -----------    -----------------------------------------    -------------------
<S>                                  <C>            <C>                                          <C>
J. Bayard Cloud                            85                        Chairman                            1945
Alan B. Levin                              43                        Director                            1993
</TABLE>


                                        2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       Directors Whose Terms Expire in 2000


                                                                Positions Held with                    Director
               Name                        Age                      the Company                          Since
- --------------------------------     -----------    -----------------------------------------    -------------------
<S>                                  <C>            <C>                                          <C>
Thomas B. Cloud                            49                        Director                            1972
Larry D. Gehrke                            52                        Director                            1988
Dr. Robert L. Schweitzer                   48                        Director                            1997
</TABLE>

         Set  forth  below  is   information   with  respect  to  the  principal
occupations of the above listed individuals during at least the last five years,
unless otherwise noted.

         J. Bayard Cloud has been  Chairman of the Board since  January 1, 1983.
He  previously  served as  President  of the Bank  from 1961 to 1982.  He is the
father of Thomas B. Cloud.

         Thomas B.  Cloud has been  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of
United  Electric  Supply  Company,  Inc.  since  December 1, 1995. Mr. Cloud was
employed  by this firm in 1973 and has  served  the firm in  various  capacities
including Controller,  Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer and
Executive Vice President.  The firm employs over 190 individuals and distributes
electric  products to  industrial,  institutional  and  electrical  construction
customers in a five state area. Mr. Cloud is the son of J. Bayard Cloud.

         Larry D. Gehrke is a director and Vice  President  of Bellevue  Holding
Company of Wilmington,  Delaware, a real estate development concern. He has been
employed  there since 1972.  He holds real estate  brokerage  licenses  from the
State of Delaware and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

         Alan B. Levin is Chairman,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of
Happy  Harry's,   Inc.,  a  privately  held  pharmacy  chain  in  Delaware  with
approximately  1,100 employees.  He is a member of the Delaware Bar and a former
chairman of the Delaware  Workforce  Development  Council and  Delaware  Private
Industry  Council.  He was  formerly  a member of the State  Attorney  General's
Office in Delaware.

         Ernest J. Peoples is the Interim President, Chief Executive Officer and
Vice Chairman of the Board.

         Dr. Robert W.  Schweitzer is Professor of Finance at the  University of
Delaware, located in Newark, Delaware. He also serves as a faculty member of the
Stonier  School of Banking  and the  National  School of  Banking  at  Fairfield
University.

Stockholder Nominations

         Article II of the Company's Bylaws governs  nominations for election to
the Board of Directors and requires all such nominations,  other than those made
by the Board,  to be made at a meeting of  stockholders  called for  election of
directors, and only by a stockholder who has complied with the notice provisions
in that  section.  The Bylaws set forth  specific  requirements  with respect to
stockholder nominations.

Committees and Meeting of the Board of Company and the Bank

         The Board of Directors of the Company  meets on a monthly basis and may
have additional  special meetings.  During the year ended December 31, 1997, the
Board of Directors of the Company held 12 regular meetings. No director attended
fewer than 75% of the total number of Board  meetings or  committee  meetings on
which he served that were held during this period, except Mr. Levin who attended
52% of  such  meetings.  The  standing  committees  of  the  Board  include  the
following:

                                        3
<PAGE>
         Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee meets as needed. It makes
recommendations to the full Board and acts on policies adopted by the full Board
in the absence of the meeting of the entire full Board.  The  committee  did not
meet during the year ended  December  31,  1997.  The  committee  is composed of
Messrs. Peoples (Chairman), J. Bayard Cloud and Thomas Cloud.

         Appraisal  Committee.  The  Appraisal  Committee  consists  of  Messrs.
Peoples  (Chairman),  J. Bayard Cloud and Gehrke.  The members of the  committee
review the  appraisals  of the real estate  collateral  for certain  loans.  The
Appraisal Committee met four times in 1997.

         Personnel  Committee.  The  Personnel  Committee  reviews and  prepares
recommendations  for annual salary  adjustment  and bonuses.  The committee also
administers  the Bank's  various  benefit plans.  It consists of Messrs.  Gehrke
(Chairman), Levin and Dr. Schweitzer. The committee met four times during 1997.

         Audit   Committee.   The  Audit  Committee  meets  with  the  Company's
independent  certified public accountants  annually to review the results of the
annual audit and other related matters. This committee, which met twice in 1997,
presently consists of Messrs. J. Bayard Cloud (Chairman), Peoples and Levin.

         Asset/Liability    Committee.   The   Asset/Liability   Committee   was
established in 1997 and currently meets monthly. It consists of Mr. Thomas Cloud
(Chairman)  and Dr.  Schweitzer.  The  Asset/Liability  Committee is principally
responsible for management of the Company's interest rate risk.

Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

         The following  executive  officers do not serve on the Board. There are
no arrangements or understandings between the Company and any person pursuant to
which such person serves as an executive officer.

         Jerome P. Arrison has been  employed by the Bank since August 1989.  He
is  currently  the  Chief  Operating  Officer,   Executive  Vice  President  and
Treasurer.

         Genevieve B. Marino joined the Bank in November 1995 as the Director of
Marketing and Communications.  She assumed her current position,  Vice President
of Retail Banking  Services,  in July 1997.  From November 1993 to November 1995
she was the Advertising and  Communications  Manager of Wilmington  Savings Fund
Society,  FSB. Prior to that,  she served in other  capacities in the Wilmington
Savings Fund Society marketing department.

         Lori N.  Richards  assumed her current  position as Vice  President  of
Finance and Administration in July 1997. From June 1996 to July 1997 she was the
Controller of the Bank.  From  September 1994 to June 1996 she was an accounting
supervisor at Lanxide Corporation located in Newark,  Delaware. From May 1991 to
September 1994 she served as a senior  financial  accountant at TA  Instruments,
Inc. in New Castle, Delaware. She is a Certified Public Accountant.

SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

         Section 16(a) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"1934 Act"), requires the Company's officers and directors,  and persons who own
more than 10% of the Company's  Common  Stock,  to file reports of ownership and
changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Officers, directors and greater
than 10%  stockholders  are required by  regulation  to furnish the Company with
copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.  The Company knows of no person who
owns 10% more of the Company's Common Stock.

         Based  sole on review  of the  copies of such  forms  furnished  to the
Company, or written representations from its officers and directors, the Company
believes that during, and with respect to, the year ended December 31, 1997, the
Company's   officers  and  directors   satisfied   the  reporting   requirements
promulgated under Section 16(a) of the 1934 Act.

                                        4
<PAGE>
                      BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
                   BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

         The following table sets forth,  as of the Voting Record Date,  certain
information  as to the Common  Stock  beneficially  owned by (i) each  person or
entity,  including  any "group" as that term is used in Section  13(d)(3) of the
1934 Act,  who or which was known to the Company to be the  beneficial  owner of
more than 5% of the issued and outstanding  Common Stock,  (ii) the directors of
the  Company,  (iii) those  executive  officers of the Company  whose salary and
bonus exceeded  $100,000 in 1997, and (iv) all directors and executive  officers
of the Company and the Bank as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Common Stock Beneficially Owned as of
                Name of Beneficial Owner                                  July 10, 1998(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------     ----------------------------------------------

                                                                    No.                       %
                                                          ---------------------    ----------------------

<S>                                                       <C>                      <C>
Delaware First Financial Corporation  Employee                   83,304(2)                 7.2%
Stock Ownership Plan and Trust
  400 Delaware Avenue
  Wilmington, Delaware 19801

Jeffrey L. Gendell, et al.                                        114,500(3)               9.9
  200 Park Avenue
  Suite 3900
  New York, New York 10166

Directors:


J. Bayard Cloud                                                       1000                *
Thomas B. Cloud                                                     6,154(4)              *
Larry D. Gehrke                                                     5,000(5)              *
Alan B. Levin                                                        1,500                *
Ernest J. Peoples                                                    1,000                *

Executive Officer:

Jerome P. Arrison                                                   1,234(6)              *


All directors and executive officers of the Company                 20,790                1.8
and the Bank as a group (nine persons)
</TABLE>

- ------------------------------------
*        Represents less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.

(1)      Based  upon  filings  made  pursuant  to the 1934  Act and  information
         furnished by the respective individuals.  Under regulations promulgated
         pursuant  to the 1934 Act,  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock are
         deemed to be  beneficially  owned by a person if he or she  directly or
         indirectly has or shares (i) voting power,  which includes the power to
         vote or to direct the voting of the shares,  or (ii) investment  power,
         which includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the
         shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the named beneficial owner has sole
         voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares.



                                              (Footnotes continued on next page)

                                        5
<PAGE>
(2)      The Delaware First Employee  Stock  Ownership Plan Trust  ("Trust") was
         established  pursuant to the Delaware First  Employee  Stock  Ownership
         Plan ("ESOP") by an agreement  between the Company and Wilmington Trust
         Company  who acts as  trustee of the plan  ("Trustee").  As of July 10,
         1998,  9,256  shares  held in the  Trust  have  been  allocated  to the
         accounts of participating employees. The 83,304 unallocated shares held
         in the  Trust as of July 10,  1998  will be  voted  by the  Trustee  in
         accordance  with its  fiduciary  duty as Trustee.  The amount of Common
         Stock  beneficially  owned by all directors and executive officers as a
         group does not include the shares held by the Trust.

(3)      Mr. Gendell is the managing  member of Tontine  Management,  L.L.C.,  a
         limited  liability  company  organized  under  the laws of the State of
         Delaware  ("TM") and Tontine  Overseas  Associates,  L.L.C.,  a limited
         liability  company  organized  under the laws of the State of  Delaware
         ("TOA"). TM is the general partner of Tontine Financial Partners, L.P.,
         a Delaware limited  partnership  ("TFP").  TOA serves as the investment
         manager to TFP Overseas Funds, Ltd., a company organized under the laws
         of the Cayman  Islands  ("TFPO").  TFP and TFPO directly own 93,750 and
         20,750 shares of the Company's Common Stock, respectively. The business
         address of Mr.  Gendell and TM, TOA,  TFP and TFPO is 200 Park  Avenue,
         Suite 3900, New York, New York 10166.

(4)      Includes 1,768 shares held by Mr. Cloud's spouse and 100 shares held by
         each of Mr. Cloud's children.

(5)      Includes 500 shares held by Mr. Gehrke's spouse.

(6)      Includes  1,134 shares of the Company's  common stock  allocated to Mr.
         Arrison under the ESOP which the Trustees will vote in accordance  with
         Mr. Arrison's instructions.



                                        6
<PAGE>
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


         Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth a summary of
certain  information  concerning the compensation  paid by the Bank for services
rendered in all  capacities  during the year ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 to
the former  President and Chief Executive  Officer and to the current  Executive
Vice President and Chief Operating  Officer.  No other executive officers of the
Company or the Bank had total annual  compensation  in excess of $100,000 during
fiscal 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================================
                                                   Annual Compensation                     Long-Term
                                                                                          Compensation
                                          --------------------------------------      --------------------
                                                                        Other         Restricted
                                                                       Annual           Stock                    All Other
         Name and             Year        Salary         Bonus      Compensation       Awards      Options      Compensation
    Principal Position                                                   (1)                                        (2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>        <C>           <C>           <C>                 <C>          <C>         <C>    
Ronald P. Crouch              1997       $ 120,000     $        0    $         0         $ 0          0           $11,341
President and Chief           1996         116,595         11,132         12,873           0          0                 0
Executive Officer (3)                                                                   

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

Jerome P. Arrison             1997       $ 101,000     $        0    $         0         $ 0          0           $11,341
Executive Vice President      1996          96,606          8,921         12,840           0          0                 0
and Chief Operating                                                                     
Officer                                                                                 
============================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

- ---------------
(1)      Amounts  reflect the Bank's  contribution  to its defined  contributory
         pension plan on behalf of the employee during 1996. Annual compensation
         does not include amounts  attributable to other miscellaneous  benefits
         received by the executive officers.  The costs to the Bank of providing
         such other miscellaneous benefits during 1997 did not exceed the lesser
         of $50,000 or 10% of the total  salary and bonus paid to or accrued for
         the benefit of such individual executive officer.

(2)      Consists of amounts  allocated  during the year ended December 31, 1997
         on behalf of each individual pursuant to the ESOP.

(3)      Mr.  Crouch  served as  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of the
         Company and the Bank until his  resignation  from such positions on May
         20, 1998. Ernest J. Peoples has been appointed as the Interim President
         and Chief  Executive  Officer  of both the  Company  and the  Bank.  In
         connection  with Mr.  Crouch's  resignation,  the  Bank and Mr.  Crouch
         entered  into an  Agreement  and  General  Release  (the  "Agreement").
         Pursuant to the  Agreement,  the Bank has agreed to continue to pay Mr.
         Crouch's  base salary  through March 31, 1999.  However,  if Mr. Crouch
         obtains  employment  between  January  1, 1999 and March 31,  1999 at a
         lower  base  salary,  the  Bank  will  be  obligated  to pay  only  the
         difference  between Mr. Crouch's new base salary and his base salary at
         the time of resignation.  In addition,  the Bank has agreed to continue
         to  pay  for  miscellaneous   benefits,   including  medical,   dental,
         disability  and life  insurance  through  March  31,  1999 or until Mr.
         Crouch obtains  comparable  benefits,  whichever comes first.  The Bank
         estimates  that  the  aggregate  cost of the  Agreement  to the Bank is
         approximately  $118,000,  all of which will be  expensed in the quarter
         ended June 30, 1998.

         Bonus Compensation.  The Bank has a bonus compensation plan pursuant to
which  officers can receive bonus  compensation  up to 20% of their  salaries if
certain  performance  goals are met at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
During 1997, Mr. Crouch and Mr. Arrison did not receive bonuses.

         401(k) Plan. In 1997, the Bank established a contributory  savings plan
for employees  which meets the  requirements  of Section  401(k) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). All employees who are at least 21
years  old and who have  completed  at least  one year of  service  may elect to
contribute a percentage of their  compensation  to the plan each year subject to
certain maximums imposed by federal law. The Bank matches 25% of each employee's
contribution, on the first 2% of that employee's contribution.  Participants are
fully  vested in the amounts they  contribute  to the 401(k).  Participants  are
fully vested in amounts  contributed  to the plan on their behalf by the Bank as
employer matching contributions after seven years of service. Benefits under the
401(k) plan

                                        7
<PAGE>
are payable in the event of a participant's  retirement,  death, disability,  or
termination  of  employment.  Normal  retirement age under the 401(k) plan is 65
years of age.

         Pension Plan.  The Bank  terminated its  noncontributory  tax-qualified
defined pension benefit plan effective  December 17, 1997. The excess funds will
be distributed pro rata to the participants.

         Employee Stock  Ownership  Plan.  The Bank has  established an employee
stock ownership plan (the "ESOP") to allow  participating  employees to share in
its growth and  profits.  Participating  employees  are all  employees  who have
completed one year of service with the Bank and have attained the age of 21.

         The ESOP is funded by tax-deductible  contributions made by the Bank in
cash or common stock.  All  contributions  to the ESOP will be held in the trust
which is part of the  ESOP and will be  invested  primarily  in  Company  Common
Stock.

         To receive an allocation,  a participant must be credited with at least
1,000  hours of service  during the year and be employed by the Bank on the last
day of the year, or have  terminated  employment  during the year as a result of
death,  disability (as defined in the ESOP) or retirement at or after  attaining
age 65. A participant becomes vested in his account balance as follows:  after 1
year of  service - 20%,  2 years - 40%, 3 years - 60%, 4 years - 80%, 5 years or
more - 100%.  Full vesting is  accelerated  upon  retirement at or after age 65,
death, disability, or termination of the ESOP, provided such acceleration is not
prohibited by applicable law.

         The  Board of  Directors  has  appointed  the  Personnel  Committee  to
administer the ESOP and to serve as the ESOP Committee. Wilmington Trust Company
has been engaged as the ESOP Trustee. The Personnel Committee is responsible for
administering  the  ESOP and for  instructing  the ESOP  Trustee  regarding  the
investment of any ESOP funds which cannot be invested in Company Common Stock.

Director Compensation

         Each  of the  non-employee  directors  is paid an  annual  retainer  of
$2,000.  Additionally,  each non-employee  director receives $300 for each board
meeting attended and $300 for each committee meeting  attended.  The maximum fee
for  meetings  attended for any director is $300 per day so that if both a board
and  committee  meeting  are  held on the  same  day  the  maximum  payment  for
attendance is $300.

         J. Bayard Cloud, the Chairman of the Board, receives a special retainer
of $28,800 per year and Ernest J. Peoples, the Vice Chairman, receives a special
retainer of $27,000 per year. These retainers are paid based on their service as
Chair  and  Vice  Chair  of the  Board  and  for  their  review  of  appraisals.
Additionally,  a supplemental  pension  benefit is paid to J. Bayard Cloud.  For
1997 the amount of that  benefit was $15,468.  Wilmington  wage tax is also paid
for all non-employee  directors.  This tax is currently 1.25% of gross earnings.
Wilmington wage  withholding  for 1997 was $1,183.  Total aggregate fees paid to
the current directors for the year ended December 31, 1997 were $117,915.

Deferred Non-employee Director Compensation Program

         The Bank has a deferred  non-employee  director  compensation  program,
whereby directors may defer their fees.  Currently,  Mr. Gehrke  participates in
this program.  Pursuant to this program,  directors defer their fees until their
retirement  or  resignation  from the  Board of  Directors.  For the year  ended
December 31, 1997, $8,101 of fees were deferred  pursuant to this program.  Fees
deferred  pursuant to this  program  are  subject to the  general  rights of the
Bank's creditors.


                                        8
<PAGE>
Transactions With Certain Related Persons

         The Company offers loans to its directors and officers. These loans are
currently  made in the  ordinary  course of business  with the same  collateral,
interest  rates and  underwriting  criteria as those of comparable  transactions
prevailing  at the  time  and do not  involve  more  than  the  normal  risk  of
collectibility  or present  other  favorable  features.  Under  current law, the
Company's  loans to directors and executive  officers are required to be made on
substantially the same terms,  including interest rates, as those prevailing for
comparable  transactions  and must not  involve  more  than the  normal  risk of
repayment or present other favorable features.  Additionally,  all loans to such
persons must be approved in advanced by a disinterested majority of the Board of
Directors.  At December 31, 1997, the Company's loans to directors and executive
officers  totaled  approximately  $511,000,  or 3.2% of the  Company's  retained
earnings at that date.


                  PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE 1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN


General

         The Board of Directors has adopted the Option Plan which is designed to
attract and retain  qualified  personnel in key positions,  provide officers and
key employees with a proprietary  interest in the Company and as an incentive to
contribute  to  the  success  of  the  Company  and  reward  key  employees  for
outstanding performance. If stockholder approval is obtained, options to acquire
shares of Common Stock will be awarded to officers,  key employees and directors
of the  Company  and the Bank with an  exercise  price  equal to the fair market
value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

Description of the Option Plan

         The following  description of the Option Plan is a summary of its terms
and is  qualified  in its  entirety by  reference  to the Option Plan, a copy of
which is attached hereto as Appendix A.

         Administration. The Option Plan will be administered and interpreted by
a committee of the Board of Directors  ("Committee") that is comprised solely of
two or more non-employee directors.  The members of the Committee will initially
consist of Messrs. Gehrke, Levin and Dr. Schweitzer.

         Stock  Options.  Under the Option  Plan,  the Board of Directors or the
Committee  will  determine  which  officers,   key  employees  and  non-employee
directors  will be granted  options,  whether  such options will be incentive or
compensatory  options (in the case of options granted to employees),  the number
of shares  subject to each option,  the exercise  price of each option,  whether
such  options may be exercised  by  delivering  other shares of Common Stock and
when  such  options  become  exercisable.  The per  share  exercise  price of an
incentive  stock option shall at least equal to the fair market value of a share
of Common  Stock on the date the option is granted,  and the per share  exercise
price of a  compensatory  stock  option  shall at least equal the greater of par
value or the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date the option
is granted.

         Unless stated  otherwise at the time of grant,  all options  granted to
participants  under the Option Plan shall become vested and  exercisable  at the
rate of 20% per year on each annual  anniversary  of the date the  options  were
granted,  and the right to exercise  shall be  cumulative.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  no vesting  shall occur on or after a  participant's  employment  or
service  with the Company is  terminated  for any reason other than his death or
disability.  Unless the Committee or Board of Directors shall specifically state
otherwise at the time an option is granted,  all options granted to participants
shall become vested and  exercisable in full on the date an optionee  terminates
his  employment or service with the Company or a subsidiary  company  because of
his death or disability.  In addition,  all stock options will become vested and
exercisable in full on the date an optionee terminates his employment or service
with the Company or a subsidiary company due to retirement or as the result of a
change in

                                        9
<PAGE>
control of the Company if, as of such date of retirement or change in control of
the Company:  (i) such  treatment is either  authorized or is not  prohibited by
applicable  laws  and  regulations,  or (ii) an  amendment  to the  Option  Plan
providing  for such  treatment  has been  approved  by the  stockholders  of the
Company  at a  meeting  of  stockholders  held  more  than  one year  after  the
consummation of the Conversion.

         Each stock option or portion  thereof shall be  exercisable at any time
on or after it vests and is exercisable until the earlier of ten years after its
date of grant or three months after the date on which the optionee  ceases to be
employed  (or  in  the  service  of the  Board  of  Directors  in  the  case  of
non-employee  directors) by the Company, unless extended by the Committee or the
Board of Directors to a period not to exceed three years from such  termination.
However,  failure to exercise  incentive stock options within three months after
the date on which the optionee's employment terminates may result in adverse tax
consequences  to the optionee.  If an optionee dies while serving as an employee
or a  non-employee  director or terminates  employment or service as a result of
disability  without  having fully  exercised  his  options,  the optionee or the
optionee's  executors,  administrators,  legatees or  distributees of his estate
shall have the right to exercise  such options  during the  twelve-month  period
following the earlier of his death or termination due to disability, provided no
option will be exercisable more than ten years from the date it was granted.

         Stock  options  are  non-transferable  except  by will  or the  laws of
descent and distribution.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  an optionee who holds
non-qualified  options may transfer  such  options to his or her spouse,  lineal
ascendants,  lineal descendants,  or to a duly established trust for the benefit
or one or more of these  individuals.  Options so transferred  may thereafter be
transferred  only to the  optionee  who  originally  received the grant or to an
individual or trust to whom the optionee  could have initially  transferred  the
option.  Options which are so transferred shall be exercisable by the transferee
according to the same terms and conditions as applied to the optionee.

         Payment for shares  purchased  upon the exercise of options may be made
either in cash,  or, if permitted by the  Committee or the Board with respect to
awards to employees,  by  delivering  shares of Common Stock  (including  shares
acquired  pursuant to the exercise of an option) or other  property  with a fair
market value equal to the total option price, by withholding  some of the shares
of Common Stock which are being  purchased  upon  exercise of an option,  or any
combination of the foregoing.  To the extent an optionee  already owns shares of
Common  Stock prior to the  exercise of his or her option,  such shares could be
used (if permitted by Committee or the Board) as payment for the exercise  price
of the option.  If the fair market  value of a share of Common Stock at the time
of exercise is greater than the  exercise  price per share,  this feature  would
enable the optionee to acquire a number of shares of Common Stock upon  exercise
of the option  which is greater  than the number of shares  delivered as payment
for the exercise price. In addition,  an optionee can exercise his or her option
in whole or in part and then deliver the shares  acquired upon such exercise (if
permitted by the  Committee  or the Board) as payment for the exercise  price of
all or part of his options. Again, if the fair market value of a share of Common
Stock at the time of exercise is greater than the exercise price per share, this
feature  would  enable  the  optionee  to either  (1)  reduce the amount of cash
required to receive a fixed number of shares upon  exercise of the option or (2)
receive a greater  number of shares  upon  exercise  of the  option for the same
amount of cash that  would have  otherwise  been used.  Because  options  may be
exercised  in part from time to time,  the  ability to deliver  Common  Stock as
payment of the  exercise  price could  enable the  optionee to turn a relatively
small number of shares into a large number of shares.

         Stock  Appreciation  Rights.  Under  the  Option  Plan,  the  Board  of
Directors or the Committee is  authorized  to grant rights to optionees  ("stock
appreciation  rights")  under which an optionee may  surrender  any  exercisable
incentive  stock option or  compensatory  stock option or part thereof in return
for payment by the Company to the  optionee of cash or Common Stock in an amount
equal to the  excess of the fair  market  value of the  shares  of Common  Stock
subject  to  option  at the time  over the  option  price of such  shares,  or a
combination of cash and Common Stock. Stock  appreciation  rights may be granted
concurrently  with  the  stock  options  to  which  they  relate  or at any time
thereafter which is prior to the exercise or expiration of such options.

         Number of Shares  Covered by the Option Plan. A total of 115,700 shares
of Common  Stock has been  reserved for future  issuance  pursuant to the Option
Plan. In the event of a stock split, reverse stock split, subdivision, stock

                                       10
<PAGE>
dividend or any other capital  adjustment,  the number of shares of Common Stock
under the Option  Plan,  and the  exercise  price per share  under any option or
stock  appreciation right shall be adjusted to reflect such increase or decrease
in the  total  number of shares of  Common  Stock  outstanding  or such  capital
adjustment.  The Option  Plan  provides  that grants to each  employee  and each
non-employee  director shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common Stock
available  under the Option  Plan,  respectively.  Awards  made to  non-employee
directors in the aggregate may not exceed 30% of the number of shares  available
under the Option Plan.

         Amendment and Termination of the Option Plan. Unless sooner terminated,
the Option  Plan shall  continue  in effect for a period of ten years from April
22, 1998,  the date that the Option Plan was adopted by the Board of  Directors.
Termination of the Option Plan shall not affect any previously granted Awards.

         Federal Income Tax Consequences.  Under current provisions of the Code,
as regards incentive stock options, an optionee who meets certain holding period
requirements  will not recognize  income at the time the option is granted or at
the time the option is exercised,  and a federal income tax deduction  generally
will not be  available  to the  Company  any time as a result  of such  grant or
exercise.

         Section 162(m) of the Code  generally  limits the deduction for certain
compensation  in  excess  of $1  million  per  year  paid  by a  publicly-traded
corporation  to its chief  executive  officer  and the four  other  most  highly
compensated   executive  officers  ("covered   executive").   Certain  types  of
compensation,  including  compensation  based on performance goals, are excluded
from the $1 million deduction  limitation.  In order for compensation to qualify
for this  exception:  (i) it must be paid solely on account of the attainment of
one or more  preestablished,  objective  performance goals; (ii) the performance
goal must be established by a compensation committee consisting solely of two or
more outside  directors,  as defined;  (iii) the material  terms under which the
compensation is to be paid,  including  performance  goals, must be disclosed to
and approved by stockholders in a separate vote prior to payment; and (iv) prior
to payment,  the compensation  committee must certify that the performance goals
and  any  other  material  terms  were  in fact  satisfied  (the  "Certification
Requirement").

         Final   Treasury   regulations   issued  in  July  1996   provide  that
compensation attributable to a stock option is deemed to satisfy the requirement
that  compensation  be paid solely on account of the  attainment  of one or more
performance  goals  if:  (i)  the  grant  is made  by a  compensation  committee
consisting solely of two or more outside  directors,  as defined;  (ii) the plan
under  which the option is  granted  states the  maximum  number of shares  with
respect  to which  options  may be  granted  during a  specified  period  to any
employee;  and (iii) under the terms of the option,  the amount of  compensation
the  employee  could  receive is based solely on an increase in the value of the
stock after the date of grant or award.  The  Certification  Requirement  is not
necessary if these other requirements are satisfied.

         The Option Plan has been designed to meet the  requirements  of Section
162(m) of the Code and, as a result,  the  Company  believes  that  compensation
attributable  to stock options  granted under the Option Plan in accordance with
the foregoing  requirements will be fully deductible under Section 162(m) of the
Code.  If the  non-excluded  compensation  of a covered  executive  exceeded  $1
million, however,  compensation attributable to other awards, such as restricted
stock, may not be fully  deductible  unless the grant or vesting of the award is
contingent on the attainment of a performance  goal determined by a compensation
committee  meeting  specified  requirements and disclosed to and approved by the
stockholders of the Company. The Board of Directors believes that the likelihood
of any impact on the Company from the deduction  limitation contained in Section
162(m) of the Code is remote at this time.

         The  above  description  of  tax  consequences  under  federal  law  is
necessarily  general in nature and does not  purport to be  complete.  Moreover,
statutory  provisions are subject to change, as are their  interpretations,  and
their   application  may  vary  in  individual   circumstances.   Finally,   the
consequences  under  applicable  state and local  income tax laws may not be the
same as under the federal income tax laws.

         Accounting  Treatment.  Neither  the  grant  nor  the  exercise  of  an
incentive  stock option or a  non-qualified  stock option under the Stock Option
Plan currently  requires any charge against  earnings under  generally  accepted
accounting principles. In October 1995, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
("FASB") issued Statement of Financial

                                       11
<PAGE>
Accounting   Standards   ("SFAS")   No.   123,   "Accounting   for   Stock-Based
Compensation,"  which is effective for transactions  entered into after December
15,  1995.  This  Statement   establishes  financial  accounting  and  reporting
standards for stock-based employee  compensation plans. This Statement defines a
fair value method of accounting  for an employee  stock option or similar equity
instrument  and  encourages  all entities to adopt that method of accounting for
all of their  employee  stock  compensation  plans.  However,  it also allows an
entity to  continue  to  measure  compensation  cost for those  plans  using the
intrinsic  value  method  of  accounting  prescribed  by  APB  Opinion  No.  25,
"Accounting  for  Stock  Issued to  Employees."  Under  the fair  value  method,
compensation  cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award
and is recognized over the service period,  which is usually the vesting period.
Under the intrinsic value method,  compensation  cost is the excess,  if any, of
the quoted  market  price of the stock at grant date or other  measurement  date
over the  amount  an  employee  must  pay to  acquire  the  stock.  The  Company
anticipates  that it will use the  intrinsic  value  method,  in which event pro
forma  disclosure  will be included in the footnotes to the Company's  financial
statements to show what net income and earnings per share would have been if the
fair value method had been  utilized.  If the Company elects to utilize the fair
value method, its net income and earnings per share may be adversely affected.

         Stockholder Approval.  Stockholder ratification of the Option Plan will
satisfy National  Association of Securities  Dealers Automated  Quotation System
("NASDAQ")  listing,  federal  tax and  Office  of  Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS")
requirements.

         Regulatory Requirements.  The Option Plan and the Recognition Plan (the
"Plans") comply with applicable OTS regulations and are required to be submitted
to the OTS after  approval  by  stockholders.  No  assurance  can be given as to
whether  the OTS  will  raise  any  objections  to the  Plans  as  presented  to
stockholders  or whether  the OTS may  require  modifications  to be made to the
Plans.  A vote  for  approval  of the  Plans  shall be  deemed  to be a vote for
approval  of the Plans as the same may be  required  to be  modified by the OTS,
provided  that the change is not  material as  determined  by the  Company.  The
Company  will not make any  modification  to the Plans which would  increase the
level of benefits  from that  presented.  Non-objection  to the Plans by the OTS
shall not constitute approval or endorsement of the Plans by the OTS.

         Under OTS  regulations,  certain  stock benefit  plans  established  or
implemented  within  one year  following  the  completion  of a mutual  to stock
conversion are required to contain certain  restrictions and limitations,  which
are contained in the Plans.  Specifically,  the OTS regulations  provide,  among
other  provisions,  that awards begin  vesting no earlier than one year from the
date the plans are approved by stockholders,  shall not vest at a rate in excess
of 20% per year and shall not provide for accelerated vesting except in the case
of disability or death.  Recently,  the OTS has  authorized  the  elimination of
these  provisions  more  than  one  year  after  a  conversion,   provided  that
stockholder  approval of such  amendments  to the plans is  obtained.  The Plans
provide  that in the  event of  termination  of  service  following  a change in
control of the Company or retirement,  vesting of awards would accelerate if, as
of such date:  (i) such  treatment is either  authorized or is not prohibited by
applicable law and  regulations,  or (ii)  amendments to the Plans providing for
such treatment has been approved by the stockholders of the Company at a meeting
of  stockholders  held  more  than  one  year  after  the  consummation  of  the
Conversion.  The Company  currently  plans to submit  amendments to the Plans to
stockholders  at its  first  meeting  of  stockholders  held one year  after the
Conversion in order to remove these  restrictions and to provide that new awards
granted after such stockholder approval shall vest at the rate determined by the
Board or the  Committee  at the time of grant  and that  both  existing  and new
awards shall accelerate and vest upon termination of service to the Company upon
retirement or following a change in control of the Company.

         The Board of Directors  recommends that  stockholders vote FOR adoption
of the 1998 Stock Option Plan.

                                       12
<PAGE>
                     PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE 1998 RECOGNITION
                     AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT

General

         The Board of Directors of the Company has adopted the Recognition Plan,
the  objective  of which is to enable  the  Company  to  provide  officers,  key
employees  and directors  with a  proprietary  interest in the Company and as an
incentive to  contribute to its success.  Officers,  key employees and directors
(including  emeritus  directors) of the Company and the Bank who are selected by
the Board of Directors of the Company or members of a committee appointed by the
Board will be  eligible  to receive  benefits  under the  Recognition  Plan.  If
stockholder  approval  is  obtained,  shares  will be granted to  officers,  key
employees  and  directors  as  determined  by  the  Committee  or the  Board  of
Directors.

Description of the Recognition Plan

         The following  description of the Recognition  Plan is a summary of its
terms and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the  Recognition  Plan, a
copy of which is attached hereto as Appendix B.

         Administration.  A committee  of the Board of  Directors of the Company
will  administer  the  Recognition  Plan,  which  shall  consist of at least two
non-employee  directors  of the  Company.  The  members  of the  Committee  will
initially  consist of Messrs.  Gehrke,  Levin and Dr.  Schweitzer  who will also
serve as trustees of the trust  established  pursuant  to the  Recognition  Plan
("Trust").  The  trustees  will  have the  responsibility  to  invest  all funds
contributed by the Company to the Trust.

         Upon  stockholder  approval of the  Recognition  Plan, the Company will
acquire Common Stock on behalf of the Recognition  Plan, in an amount  necessary
to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock equal to 4% of the Common Stock
or 46,280 shares. It is currently anticipated that these shares will be acquired
through  open market  purchases  to the extent  available,  although the Company
reserves the right to issue previously unissued shares or treasury shares to the
Recognition Plan. The issuance of new shares by the Company would be dilutive to
the voting rights of existing  stockholders  and to the Company's book value per
share and earnings per share.

         Grants.  Unless stated otherwise at the time of grant, shares of Common
Stock granted pursuant to the Recognition Plan will be in the form of restricted
stock payable over a five-year  period at a rate of 20% per year,  beginning one
year from the anniversary date of the grant. A recipient will be entitled to all
voting and other  stockholder  rights  with  respect  to shares  which have been
earned and allocated under the Recognition Plan. However, until such shares have
been earned and allocated,  they may not be sold,  pledged or otherwise disposed
of and are required to be held in the Trust. In addition,  any cash dividends or
stock dividends declared in respect of unvested share awards will be held by the
Trust for the  benefit  of the  recipients  and such  dividends,  including  any
interest  thereon,  will  be  paid  out  proportionately  by  the  Trust  to the
recipients thereof as soon as practicable after the share awards become earned.

         If a recipient  terminates  employment  or service with the Company for
reasons other than death,  disability or retirement,  the recipient will forfeit
all rights to the allocated shares under  restriction.  All shares subject to an
award held by a recipient  whose  employment  or service with the Company or any
subsidiary  terminates  due to death or disability  shall be deemed earned as of
the  recipient's  last day of  employment  or  service  with the  Company or any
subsidiary  and  shall be  distributed  as soon as  practicable  thereafter.  In
addition, in the event that a recipient's employment or service with the Company
or any subsidiary  terminates due to retirement or following a change in control
of the  Company  all shares  subject to an award  held by a  recipient  shall be
deemed earned as of the  recipient's  last day of employment  with or service to
the Company or any  subsidiary  and shall be  distributed as soon as practicable
thereafter, provided that as of the date of such retirement or change in control
such treatment is either  authorized or is not prohibited by applicable laws and
regulations.

         Federal  Income Tax  Consequences.  Pursuant to Section 83 of the Code,
recipients  of  Recognition  Plan awards will  recognize  ordinary  income in an
amount equal to the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock granted

                                       13
<PAGE>
to them at the time that the shares vest and become transferable. A recipient of
a Recognition Plan award may also elect,  however, to accelerate the recognition
of income  with  respect  to his or her grant to the time when  shares of Common
Stock are first transferred to him or her,  notwithstanding the vesting schedule
of such awards. The Company will be entitled to deduct as a compensation expense
for tax  purposes  the same  amounts  recognized  as  income  by  recipients  of
Recognition  Plan  awards in the year in which  such  amounts  are  included  in
income.

         Accounting  Treatment.  For a discussion of SFAS No. 123, see "Proposal
to Adopt the 1998 Stock  Option Plan -  Description  of Option Plan - Accounting
Treatment." Under the intrinsic value method,  the Company will also recognize a
compensation  expense  as  shares  of  Common  Stock  granted  pursuant  to  the
Recognition  Plan  vest.  The  amount of  compensation  expense  recognized  for
accounting  purposes is based upon the fair market  value of the Common Stock at
the date of grant to  recipients,  rather than the fair market value at the time
of vesting  for tax  purposes.  The  vesting of plan share  awards will have the
effect of increasing the Company's compensation expense.

         Stockholder  Approval.  No shares will be granted under the Recognition
Plan unless the Recognition Plan is approved by stockholders.

         Shares to be Granted. The Board of Directors of the Company adopted the
Recognition  Plan and the  Committee  established  thereunder  intends  to grant
shares  to  executive  officers,   key  employees  and  non-employee   directors
(including  emeritus  directors)  of the  Company  and the  Bank.  However,  the
individual  recipients  and  specific  amounts of such  awards have not yet been
determined.  The Recognition Plan provides that grants to each employee and each
non-employee  director shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common Stock
available under the Recognition Plan, respectively.  Awards made to non-employee
directors in the aggregate may not exceed 30% of the number of shares  available
under the Recognition Plan.

         Regulatory  Requirements.  For a  discussion  of the  OTS  requirements
related to the  Recognition  Plan see  "Proposal  to Adopt the 1998 Stock Option
Plan - Description of the Option Plan - Regulatory Requirements."

         The Board of Directors  recommends that  stockholders vote FOR adoption
of the 1998 Recognition and Retention Plan and Trust Agreement.

                     RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

         The Board of Directors of the Company has  appointed  Deloitte & Touche
LLP,  independent  certified  public  accountants,  to perform  the audit of the
Company's  financial  statements  for the year ending  December  31,  1998,  and
further directed that the selection of auditors be submitted for ratification by
the stockholders at the Annual Meeting.

         The Company has been advised by Deloitte & Touche LLP that neither that
firm nor any of its  associates  has any  relationship  with the  Company or its
subsidiaries other than the usual  relationship that exists between  independent
certified public accountants and clients. Deloitte & Touche LLP will have one or
more  representatives at the Annual Meeting who will have an opportunity to make
a  statement,  if they so  desire,  and who  will be  available  to  respond  to
appropriate questions.

         The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the ratification of
the  appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as  independent  auditors for the year
ending December 31, 1998.

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

         Any proposal  which a stockholder  wishes to have included in the proxy
materials of the Company  relating to the next annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company,  which is scheduled to be held in May 1999, must be received at the
principal  executive  offices of the Company,  400 Delaware Avenue,  Wilmington,
Delaware 19801, Attention: Lori N. Richards,  Secretary, no later than March 20,
1999.  If such proposal is in compliance  with all of the  requirements  of Rule
14a-8 under the 1934 Act, it will be  included  in the proxy  statement  and set
forth on the form

                                       14
<PAGE>
of proxy issued for such annual  meeting of  stockholders.  It is urged that any
such proposals be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested.

                                 ANNUAL REPORTS

         A copy of the  Company's  Annual  Report to  Stockholders  for the year
ended December 31, 1997 accompanies this Proxy Statement.  Such annual report is
not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

         Upon  receipt of a written  request,  the Company  will  furnish to any
stockholder  without charge a copy of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for 1997 required to be filed under the 1934 Act. Such written  requests  should
be  directed  to Herbert P.  Bowersock,  III,  Investor  Relations  Coordinator,
Delaware First Financial Corporation, 400 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington,  Delaware
19801. The Form 10-KSB is not part of the proxy solicitation materials.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         Each proxy solicited hereby also confers discretionary authority on the
Board of Directors of the Company to vote the proxy with respect to the election
of any person as a director  if the nominee is unable to serve or for good cause
will not serve,  matters  incident to the conduct of the meeting,  and upon such
other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting.  Management is not
aware of any business  that may properly  come before the Annual  Meeting  other
than the matters described above in this Proxy Statement.  However, if any other
matters should properly come before the meeting, it is intended that the proxies
solicited hereby will be voted with respect to those other matters in accordance
with the judgment of the persons voting the proxies.

         The cost of the  solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the Company.
The Company has retained Regan & Associates,  a professional  proxy solicitation
firm, to assist in the solicitation of proxies.  Such firm will be paid a fee of
$4,500, plus reimbursement for out-of-pocket  expenses up to $2,500. The Company
will reimburse  brokerage firms and other  custodians,  nominees and fiduciaries
for reasonable  expenses  incurred by them in sending the proxy materials to the
beneficial owners of the Company's Common Stock. In addition to solicitations by
mail,  directors,  officers  and  employees  of the Company may solicit  proxies
personally or by telephone without additional compensation.


         YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT! WE URGE YOU TO SIGN AND DATE THE ENCLOSED PROXY
CARD AND RETURN IT TODAY IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.



                                       15
<PAGE>
                                                                      APPENDIX A


                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                STOCK OPTION PLAN

                                    ARTICLE I
                            ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN

        Delaware  First  Financial   Corporation  (the   "Corporation")   hereby
establishes  this Stock Option Plan (the  "Plan") upon the terms and  conditions
hereinafter stated.


                                   ARTICLE II
                               PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

        The purpose of this Plan is to improve the growth and  profitability  of
the  Corporation  and  its  Subsidiary  Companies  by  providing  Employees  and
Non-Employee  Directors  with a proprietary  interest in the  Corporation  as an
incentive to contribute  to the success of the  Corporation  and its  Subsidiary
Companies,  and rewarding  those  Employees  for  outstanding  performance.  All
Incentive  Stock Options  issued under this Plan are intended to comply with the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, and the regulations thereunder, and all
provisions hereunder shall be read, interpreted and applied with that purpose in
mind.


                                   ARTICLE III
                                   DEFINITIONS

         3.01  "Award"  means an Option  or Stock  Appreciation  Rights  granted
pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

        3.02 "Bank" means Delaware  First Bank, FSB the wholly owned  subsidiary
of the Corporation.

        3.03 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  or of the
Bank.

        3.04  "Change  in Control  of the  Corporation"  shall be deemed to have
occurred if: (i) any  "person" as such term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)
of the  Exchange  Act  (other  than the  Corporation  and any  trustee  or other
fiduciary   holding   securities   under  any  employee   benefit  plan  of  the
Corporation),  is or becomes  the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under  the  Exchange  Act),  directly  or  indirectly,   of  securities  of  the
Corporation  representing  25% or  more  of the  combined  voting  power  of the
Corporation's  then  outstanding  securities;  (ii)  during  any  period  of two
consecutive  years (not including any period prior to the adoption of the Plan),
individuals  who at the  beginning  of  such  period  constitute  the  Board  of
Directors,  and any new  director  whose  election by the Board of  Directors or
nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by a vote
of at least  two-thirds  of the  directors  then still in office who either were
directors  at  the  beginning  of the  two-year  period  or  whose  election  or
nomination  for election  was  previously  so approved,  cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; (iii) the stockholders
of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any
other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the
voting  securities  of the  Corporation  outstanding  immediately  prior thereto
continuing to represent  (either by remaining  outstanding or by being converted
into voting  securities of the  surviving  entity) more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation;  or (iv) the stockholders of the Corporation
approve a plan of complete  liquidation  of the  Corporation or an agreement for
the sale or disposition by the  Corporation of all or  substantially  all of the
Corporation's  assets.  If any of the events  enumerated  in clauses (i) through
(iv)  occur,  the Board  shall  determine  the  effective  date of the Change in
Control resulting therefrom for purposes of the Plan.

                                       A-1
<PAGE>
        3.05 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        3.06 "Committee" means a committee of two or more directors appointed by
the Board  pursuant to Article IV hereof,  each of whom shall be a  Non-Employee
Director as defined in Rule  16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Exchange Act or any successor
thereto.

         3.07 "Common  Stock" means shares of the common  stock,  $.01 par value
per share, of the Corporation.

        3.08  "Disability"   means  any  physical  or  mental  impairment  which
qualifies an Employee for disability  benefits  under the  applicable  long-term
disability plan maintained by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company, or, if no
such plan applies,  which would qualify such  Employee for  disability  benefits
under the Federal Social Security System.

        3.09  "Effective  Date" means the day upon which the Board approves this
Plan.

        3.10 "Employee" means any person who is employed by the Corporation or a
Subsidiary Company, or is an Officer of the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company,
but not including  directors who are not also Officers of or otherwise  employed
by the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company.

        3.11  "Exchange  Act"  means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

        3.12 "Fair  Market  Value"  shall be equal to the fair market  value per
share of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock on the date an Award is granted.  For
purposes  hereof,  the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the
closing  sale price of a share of Common  Stock on the date in question  (or, if
such day is not a trading  day in the U.S.  markets,  on the  nearest  preceding
trading day), as reported with respect to the principal market (or the composite
of the  markets,  if more than one) or national  quotation  system in which such
shares are then traded,  or if no such  closing  prices are  reported,  the mean
between the high bid and low asked  prices that day on the  principal  market or
national  quotation  system then in use, or if no such quotations are available,
the price furnished by a professional  securities dealer making a market in such
shares selected by the Committee.

        3.13  "Incentive  Stock Option" means any Option granted under this Plan
which the Board  intends (at the time it is granted)  to be an  incentive  stock
option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto.

        3.14  "Non-Employee  Director" means a member of the Board who is not an
Officer or  Employee  of the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary  Company and shall
include any individual  who, at any time after the date of adoption of the Plan,
serves the Board in an advisory or emeritus capacity.

         3.15  "Non-Qualified  Option" means any Option  granted under this Plan
which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

        3.16  "Offering"  means  the  offering  of  Common  Stock to the  public
pursuant to a Plan of Conversion adopted by the Corporation and the Bank.

        3.17 "Officer"  means an Employee  whose position in the  Corporation or
Subsidiary Company is that of a corporate officer, as determined by the Board.

        3.18 "Option"  means a right granted under this Plan to purchase  Common
Stock.

        3.19  "Optionee"  means an Employee or  Non-Employee  Director or former
Employee or Non-Employee Director to whom an Option is granted under the Plan.

        3.20  "Retirement"  means a  termination  of  employment  upon or  after
attainment of age sixty-five (65) or such earlier age as may be specified in any
applicable  plans or policies  maintained  by the  Corporation  or a  Subsidiary
Company.

                                       A-2
<PAGE>
        3.21 "Stock  Appreciation Right" means a right to surrender an Option in
consideration  for a payment by the  Corporation in cash and/or Common Stock, as
provided in the discretion of the Committee in accordance with Section 8.11.

        3.22 "Subsidiary Companies" means those subsidiaries of the Corporation,
including the Bank, which meet the definition of "subsidiary  corporations"  set
forth in Section  425(f) of the Code,  at the time of  granting of the Option in
question.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        4.01  Duties  of the  Committee.  The  Plan  shall be  administered  and
interpreted  by the  Committee,  as  appointed  from  time to time by the  Board
pursuant to Section 4.02. The Committee shall have the authority to adopt, amend
and rescind such rules,  regulations  and procedures as, in its opinion,  may be
advisable in the  administration  of the Plan,  including,  without  limitation,
rules,  regulations  and  procedures  which  (i) deal  with  satisfaction  of an
Optionee's tax  withholding  obligation  pursuant to Section 12.02 hereof,  (ii)
include  arrangements  to facilitate the Optionee's  ability to borrow funds for
payment of the  exercise  or purchase  price of an Award,  if  applicable,  from
securities brokers and dealers, and (iii) include arrangements which provide for
the payment of some or all of such  exercise  or  purchase  price by delivery of
previously-owned  shares of Common Stock or other property and/or by withholding
some of the shares of Common Stock which are being acquired.  The interpretation
and  construction  by the  Committee of any  provisions  of the Plan,  any rule,
regulation or procedure  adopted by it pursuant thereto or of any Award shall be
final and binding in the absence of action by the Board of Directors.

        4.02  Appointment  and  Operation of the  Committee.  The members of the
Committee  shall be appointed  by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board.
The Board from time to time may remove  members  from,  or add  members  to, the
Committee,  provided  the  Committee  shall  continue  to consist of two or more
members of the Board,  each of whom shall be a Non-Employee  Director as defined
in  Rule  16b-3(b)(3)(i)  of the  Exchange  Act or any  successor  thereto.  The
Committee  shall act by vote or written  consent of a majority  of its  members.
Subject to the express provisions and limitations of the Plan, the Committee may
adopt such rules,  regulations  and procedures as it deems  appropriate  for the
conduct of its affairs. It may appoint one of its members to be chairman and any
person,  whether or not a member,  to be its  secretary or agent.  The Committee
shall report its actions and decisions to the Board at appropriate  times but in
no event less than one time per calendar year.

        4.03 Revocation for Misconduct.  The Board of Directors or the Committee
may by resolution  immediately  revoke,  rescind and  terminate  any Option,  or
portion  thereof,  to the extent not yet vested,  previously  granted or awarded
under  this  Plan to an  Employee  who is  discharged  from  the  employ  of the
Corporation or a Subsidiary Company for cause, which, for purposes hereof, shall
mean termination  because of the Employee's personal  dishonesty,  incompetence,
willful  misconduct,   breach  of  fiduciary  duty  involving  personal  profit,
intentional  failure to perform  stated  duties,  willful  violation of any law,
rule, or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final
cease-and-desist  order.  Options  granted  to a  Non-Employee  Director  who is
removed for cause pursuant to the  Corporation's  Certificate  of  Incorporation
shall terminate as of the effective date of such removal.

        4.04  Limitation  on  Liability.  Neither  the  members  of the Board of
Directors  nor any  member of the  Committee  shall be liable  for any action or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan, any rule,  regulation
or procedure  adopted pursuant thereto or for any Awards granted  hereunder.  If
any members of the Board of Directors or a member of the Committee is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by
reason  of  anything  done or not  done by him in such  capacity  under  or with
respect to the Plan,  the  Corporation  shall,  subject to the  requirements  of
applicable laws and  regulations,  indemnify such member against all liabilities
and expenses (including attorneys' fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in
settlement  actually  and  reasonably  incurred by him in  connection  with such
action,  suit or  proceeding  if he  acted  in good  faith  and in a  manner  he
reasonably  believed  to be in the best  interests  of the  Corporation  and its
Subsidiary Companies and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

        4.05 Compliance with Law and Regulations.  All Awards granted  hereunder
shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations
and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may

                                       A-3
<PAGE>
be  required.  The  Corporation  shall not be  required  to issue or deliver any
certificates  for  shares  of  Common  Stock  prior  to  the  completion  of any
registration  or  qualification  of or obtaining  of consents or approvals  with
respect to such shares under any federal or state law or any rule or  regulation
of any government  body,  which the Corporation  shall, in its sole  discretion,
determine  to  be  necessary  or  advisable.   Moreover,   no  Option  or  Stock
Appreciation  Right may be  exercised  if such  exercise  would be  contrary  to
applicable laws and regulations.

        4.06  Restrictions on Transfer.  The Corporation may place a legend upon
any  certificate  representing  shares  acquired  pursuant  to an Award  granted
hereunder  noting  that  the  transfer  of  such  shares  may be  restricted  by
applicable laws and regulations.


                                    ARTICLE V
                                   ELIGIBILITY

        Awards may be granted to such Employees or Non-Employee Directors of the
Corporation and its Subsidiary  Companies as may be designated from time to time
by the  Board of  Directors  or the  Committee.  Awards  may not be  granted  to
individuals  who are not  Employees  or  Non-Employee  Directors  of either  the
Corporation  or  its  Subsidiary  Companies.  Non-Employee  Directors  shall  be
eligible to receive only Non-Qualified Options.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                        COMMON STOCK COVERED BY THE PLAN

        6.01 Option Shares. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
may be issued  pursuant  to this Plan,  subject to  adjustment  as  provided  in
Article IX,  shall be 115,700  shares,  which is equal to 10.0% of the shares of
Common Stock issued in the Offering. None of such shares shall be the subject of
more  than  one  Award  at any  time,  but if an  Option  as to  any  shares  is
surrendered  before  exercise,  or expires or terminates  for any reason without
having been exercised in full, or for any other reason ceases to be exercisable,
the number of shares  covered  thereby  shall again become  available  for grant
under the Plan as if no Awards had been previously  granted with respect to such
shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Option is surrendered in connection
with the exercise of a Stock  Appreciation  Right,  the number of shares covered
thereby  shall not be available  for grant under the Plan.  During the time this
Plan remains in effect,  grants to each Employee and each Non-Employee  Director
shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common  Stock  available  under the
Plan, respectively.

        6.02 Source of Shares.  The shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan
may be authorized but unissued shares,  treasury shares, shares purchased by the
Corporation  on the open market or from private  sources for use under the Plan,
or, if applicable, shares held in a grantor trust created by the Corporation.


                                   ARTICLE VII
                                DETERMINATION OF
                         AWARDS, NUMBER OF SHARES, ETC.

        The  Board of  Directors  or the  Committee  shall,  in its  discretion,
determine from time to time which Employees and  Non-Employee  Directors will be
granted  Awards under the Plan,  the number of shares of Common Stock subject to
each  Award,  whether  each  Option  will  be an  Incentive  Stock  Option  or a
Non-Qualified  Stock  Option  and the  exercise  price of an  Option.  In making
determinations  with respect to Employees  there shall be taken into account the
duties,  responsibilities  and  performance  of each  respective  Employee,  his
present  and  potential   contributions   to  the  growth  and  success  of  the
Corporation,  his salary and such other factors as the Board of Directors or the
Committee shall deem relevant to accomplishing the purposes of the Plan.

                                       A-4
<PAGE>
                                  ARTICLE VIII
                      OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

        Each  Option  granted  hereunder  shall be on the  following  terms  and
conditions:

        8.01  Stock  Option  Agreement.  The  proper  Officers  on behalf of the
Corporation and each Optionee shall execute a Stock Option Agreement which shall
set forth the total number of shares of Common  Stock to which it pertains,  the
exercise  price,  whether it is a  Non-Qualified  Option or an  Incentive  Stock
Option,  and such other terms,  conditions,  restrictions  and privileges as the
Board of Directors or the  Committee in each  instance  shall deem  appropriate,
provided they are not inconsistent with the terms,  conditions and provisions of
this Plan.  Each  Optionee  shall  receive a copy of his  executed  Stock Option
Agreement.

        8.02 Awards to Employees and Non-Employee Directors.  Specific Awards to
Employees and Non- Employee  Directors shall be made to such persons and in such
amounts as are determined by the Board of Directors or the  Committee.  However,
the aggregate amount of Awards made to all Non-Employee Directors may not exceed
34,710 shares (or 30% of the number of shares  available under this Plan) and no
individual  Non-Employee  Director may receive  Awards in excess of 5,785 shares
(or 5% of the number of shares available under this Plan).

        8.03   Option Exercise Price.

               (a)  Incentive  Stock  Options.  The per share price at which the
subject Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option
shall be no less than one hundred  percent  (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock at the time such Incentive Stock Option is granted, except
as  provided  in  Section  8.10(b),  and  subject to any  applicable  adjustment
pursuant to Article IX hereof.

               (b)  Non-Qualified  Options.  The per  share  price at which  the
subject  Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of a  Non-Qualified  Option
shall be no less than one hundred  percent  (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common  Stock at the time such  Non-Qualified  Option is  granted,  and
subject to any applicable adjustment pursuant to Article IX hereof.

        8.04  Vesting and Exercise of Options.

               (a) General  Rules.  Incentive  Stock  Options and  Non-Qualified
Options granted hereunder shall become vested and exercisable at the rate of 20%
per year on each annual anniversary of the date the Option was granted,  and the
right to exercise shall be cumulative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no vesting
shall occur on or after an Employee's  employment  with the  Corporation and all
Subsidiary  Companies  is  terminated  for any  reason  other  than his death or
Disability.  In determining the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to
which Options are vested and/or  exercisable,  fractional shares will be rounded
up to the nearest whole number if the fraction is 0.5 or higher,  and down if it
is less.

               (b) Accelerated Vesting.  Unless the Committee shall specifically
state otherwise at the time an Option is granted,  all Options granted hereunder
shall become vested and  exercisable in full on the date an Optionee  terminates
his  employment  with or  service to the  Corporation  or a  Subsidiary  Company
because  of  his  death  or  Disability.  All  options  hereunder  shall  become
immediately vested and exercisable in full on the date of a Change in Control of
the Company or on the date an Optionee  terminates  his employment or service to
the Corporation or a Subsidiary Company due to Retirement if, as of such date of
such  Retirement  or Change in Control of the  Corporation,  such  treatment  is
either authorized or is not prohibited by applicable laws and regulations.

        8.05  Duration of Options.

               (a) General  Rule.  Except as  provided  in Sections  8.05(b) and
8.10,  each Option or portion  thereof  granted to  Employees  and  Non-Employee
Directors  shall be  exercisable  at any time on or after it vests  and  becomes
exercisable  until the  earlier of (i) ten (10) years after its date of grant or
(ii) three (3) months after the date on which the Optionee ceases to be employed
(or in the  service  of the  Board  of  Directors  in the  case of  Non-Employee
Directors) by the Corporation and all Subsidiary Companies,  unless the Board of
Directors or the Committee in its

                                       A-5
<PAGE>
discretion  decides at the time of grant or  thereafter to extend such period of
exercise  upon  termination  of employment or service from three (3) months to a
period not exceeding three (3) years.

               (b)  Exceptions.  If an Employee  dies while in the employ of the
Corporation  or  a  Subsidiary   Company  or  terminates   employment  with  the
Corporation  or a Subsidiary  Company as a result of Disability  without  having
fully  exercised  his Options,  the Optionee or the  executors,  administrators,
legatees  or  distributees  of his  estate  shall  have the  right,  during  the
twelve-month  period  following the earlier of his death or  termination  due to
Disability,  to exercise such  Options.  If a  Non-Employee  Director dies while
serving as a Non-Employee  Director or terminates his service to the Corporation
or a Subsidiary Company as a result of Disability without having fully exercised
his  Options,  the  Non-Employee  Director  or  the  executors,  administrators,
legatees  or  distributees  of his  estate  shall  have the  right,  during  the
twelve-month  period  following the earlier of his death or  termination  due to
Disability,  to exercise such Options. In no event, however, shall any Option be
exercisable more than ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

        8.06 Nonassignability.  Options shall not be transferable by an Optionee
except by will or the laws of descent or distribution,  and during an Optionee's
lifetime shall be exercisable  only by such Optionee or the Optionee's  guardian
or legal representative.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,  or any other provision
of this Plan,  an Optionee who holds  Non-Qualified  Options may  transfer  such
Options to his or her spouse,  lineal ascendants,  lineal  descendants,  or to a
duly  established  trust for the  benefit  of one or more of those  individuals.
Options so transferred  may  thereafter be transferred  only to the Optionee who
originally  received the grant or to an individual or trust to whom the Optionee
could have  initially  transferred  the Option  pursuant to this  Section  8.06.
Options which are transferred pursuant to this Section 8.06 shall be exercisable
by the  transferee  according to the same terms and conditions as applied to the
Optionee.

        8.07 Manner of  Exercise.  Options may be  exercised in part or in whole
and at one time or from time to time.  The  procedures for exercise shall be set
forth in the written Stock Option Agreement provided pursuant to Section 8.01.

        8.08  Payment  for  Shares.  Payment in full of the  purchase  price for
shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of any Option shall be
made to the Corporation upon exercise of such Option.  All shares sold under the
Plan shall be fully paid and  nonassessable.  Payment  for shares may be made by
the  Optionee in cash or, at the  discretion  of the Board of  Directors  or the
Committee in the case of Awards to  Employees,  by  delivering  shares of Common
Stock (including shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option) or other
property  equal in Fair Market Value to the  purchase  price of the shares to be
acquired  pursuant to the Option,  by  withholding  some of the shares of Common
Stock which are being  purchased upon exercise of an Option,  or any combination
of the foregoing.

        8.09 Voting and Dividend  Rights.  No Optionee  shall have any voting or
dividend  rights or other  rights of a  stockholder  in respect of any shares of
Common Stock covered by an Option prior to the time that his name is recorded on
the  Corporation's  stockholder  ledger as the  holder of record of such  shares
acquired pursuant to an exercise of such Option.

        8.10 Additional Terms Applicable to Incentive Stock Options. All Options
issued under the Plan as Incentive Stock Options will be subject, in addition to
the terms  detailed in Sections 8.01 to 8.09 above,  to those  contained in this
Section 8.10.

               (a) Notwithstanding  any contrary provisions  contained elsewhere
in this Plan and as long as required by Section 422 of the Code,  the  aggregate
Fair  Market  Value,  determined  as of the time an  Incentive  Stock  Option is
granted,  of the Common Stock with respect to which  Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by the Optionee  during any calendar year,  under
this Plan and stock options that satisfy the  requirements of Section 422 of the
Code under any other stock option plan or plans  maintained  by the  Corporation
(or any parent or Subsidiary Company), shall not exceed $100,000.

               (b)  Limitation on Ten Percent  Stockholders.  The price at which
shares of Common Stock may be  purchased  upon  exercise of an  Incentive  Stock
Option granted to an individual  who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is
granted, owns, directly or indirectly,  more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined  voting  power of all classes of stock  issued to  stockholders  of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary Company, shall be no less than one

                                       A-6
<PAGE>
hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Common
Stock of the  Corporation at the time of grant,  and such Incentive Stock Option
shall by its terms not be exercisable  after the earlier of the date  determined
under  Section  8.04 or the  expiration  of five (5)  years  from the date  such
Incentive Stock Option is granted.

               (c) Notice of Disposition; Withholding; Escrow. An Optionee shall
immediately notify the Corporation in writing of any sale, transfer,  assignment
or other disposition (or action constituting a disqualifying  disposition within
the meaning of Section 421 of the Code) of any shares of Common  Stock  acquired
through  exercise of an Incentive  Stock  Option  within two (2) years after the
grant  of such  Incentive  Stock  Option  or  within  one  (1)  year  after  the
acquisition  of such shares,  setting forth the date and manner of  disposition,
the  number  of  shares  disposed  of and the price at which  such  shares  were
disposed of. The Corporation shall be entitled to withhold from any compensation
or other  payments then or thereafter due to the Optionee such amounts as may be
necessary  to satisfy any  withholding  requirements  of federal or state law or
regulation  and,  further,  to collect from the Optionee any additional  amounts
which may be required for such purpose.  The Committee  may, in its  discretion,
require  shares of Common  Stock  acquired  by an Optionee  upon  exercise of an
Incentive  Stock Option to be held in an escrow  arrangement  for the purpose of
enabling compliance with the provisions of this Section 8.10(c).

        8.11   Stock Appreciation Rights.

               (a) General Terms and  Conditions.  The Board of Directors or the
Committee may, but shall not be obligated to, authorize the Corporation, on such
terms and  conditions as it deems  appropriate  in each case, to grant rights to
Optionees  to  surrender  an  exercisable  Option,  or any portion  thereof,  in
consideration  for the  payment  by the  Corporation  of an amount  equal to the
excess of the Fair  Market  Value of the shares of Common  Stock  subject to the
Option,  or portion  thereof,  surrendered over the exercise price of the Option
with respect to such shares (any such  authorized  surrender  and payment  being
hereinafter referred to as a "Stock Appreciation  Right").  Such payment, at the
discretion of the Board of Directors or the Committee,  may be made in shares of
Common Stock valued at the then Fair Market Value thereof, or in cash, or partly
in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock.

        The terms and conditions set with respect to a Stock  Appreciation Right
may include  (without  limitation),  subject to other provisions of this Section
8.11 and the Plan,  the period during  which,  date by which or event upon which
the Stock  Appreciation Right may be exercised (which shall be on the same terms
as the  Option to which it relates  pursuant  to Section  8.04  hereunder);  the
method for valuing  shares of Common Stock for purposes of this Section  8.11; a
ceiling  on the  amount  of  consideration  which  the  Corporation  may  pay in
connection with exercise and cancellation of the Stock  Appreciation  Right; and
arrangements for income tax withholding. The Board of Directors or the Committee
shall have  complete  discretion  to determine  whether,  when and to whom Stock
Appreciation Rights may be granted.

               (b) Time Limitations.  If a holder of a Stock  Appreciation Right
terminates  service with the Corporation,  the Stock  Appreciation  Right may be
exercised  only within the period,  if any,  within which the Option to which it
relates may be  exercised.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any election by an
Optionee to exercise the Stock  Appreciation  Rights provided in this Plan shall
be made during the period  beginning  on the third  business day  following  the
release for publication of quarterly or annual financial information required to
be prepared and disseminated by the Corporation  pursuant to the requirements of
the Exchange Act and ending on the twelfth business day following such date. The
required release of information  shall be deemed to have been satisfied when the
specified financial data appears on or in a wire service, financial news service
or  newspaper  of  general  circulation  or is  otherwise  first  made  publicly
available.

               (c) Effects of Exercise of Stock Appreciation  Rights or Options.
Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation  Right, the number of shares of Common
Stock  available under the Option to which it relates shall decrease by a number
equal to the  number of  shares  for  which  the  Stock  Appreciation  Right was
exercised.  Upon the exercise of an Option, any related Stock Appreciation Right
shall  terminate as to any number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock
Appreciation  Right that exceeds the total number of shares for which the Option
remains unexercised.

               (d)  Time  of  Grant.  A  Stock  Appreciation  Right  granted  in
connection with an Incentive Stock Option must be granted  concurrently with the
Option to which it relates, while a Stock Appreciation Right granted

                                       A-7
<PAGE>
in connection with a Non-Qualified  Option may be granted  concurrently with the
Option to which it relates or at any time  thereafter  prior to the  exercise or
expiration of such Option.

               (e)  Non-Transferable.  The holder of a Stock  Appreciation Right
may not transfer or assign the Stock  Appreciation  Right otherwise than by will
or in  accordance  with the  laws of  descent  and  distribution,  and  during a
holder's  lifetime a Stock  Appreciation  Right may be  exercisable  only by the
holder.



                                   ARTICLE IX
                         ADJUSTMENTS FOR CAPITAL CHANGES

        The  aggregate  number of shares of Common Stock  available for issuance
under  this  Plan,  the  number of shares  to which  any Award  relates  and the
exercise   price  per  share  of  Common   Stock  under  any  Option   shall  be
proportionately  adjusted  for any  increase or decrease in the total  number of
outstanding  shares of Common Stock issued  subsequent to the effective  date of
this Plan resulting from a split,  subdivision or consolidation of shares or any
other capital adjustment, the payment of a stock dividend, return of capital, or
other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt or payment of
consideration   by  the   Corporation.   If,   upon  a  merger,   consolidation,
reorganization,  liquidation,  recapitalization  or the like of the Corporation,
the  shares of the  Corporation's  Common  Stock  shall be  exchanged  for other
securities of the  Corporation or of another  corporation,  each recipient of an
Award shall be entitled, subject to the conditions herein stated, to purchase or
acquire such number of shares of Common Stock or amount of other  securities  of
the Corporation or such other corporation as were exchangeable for the number of
shares of Common Stock of the  Corporation  which such optionees would have been
entitled  to  purchase  or  acquire  except  for such  action,  and  appropriate
adjustments  shall  be made to the  per  share  exercise  price  of  outstanding
Options. In the event the Corporation declares a special cash dividend or return
of capital in an amount per share which  exceeds 10% of the fair market value of
a share of Common Stock as of the date of  declaration,  the per share  exercise
price of all previously  granted Awards which remain  unexercised as of the date
of such  declaration  shall be  proportionately  adjusted to give effect to such
special  cash  dividend  or return of  capital as of the date of payment of such
special cash dividend or return of capital; provided that the adjustments to the
per shares  exercise  price  shall  satisfy the  criteria  set forth in Emerging
Issues Task Force 90-9 (or any successor thereto) so that the adjustments do not
result in  compensation  expense,  and provided  further that if such adjustment
with respect to incentive  stock options would be treated as a  modification  of
the  outstanding  incentive  stock options with the effect that, for purposes of
Section 422 and 425(h) of the Code,  and the rules and  regulations  thereunder,
new incentive stock options would be deemed to be granted, then no adjustment to
the per share  exercise price of  outstanding  incentive  stock options shall be
made.


                                    ARTICLE X
                      AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

        The Board may, by  resolution,  at any time  terminate or amend the Plan
with  respect to any  shares of Common  Stock as to which  Awards  have not been
granted,  subject to any  applicable  regulatory  requirements  and any required
stockholder  approval or any stockholder approval which the Board may deem to be
advisable for any reason,  such as for the purpose of obtaining or retaining any
statutory  or  regulatory  benefits  under  tax,  securities  or  other  laws or
satisfying any applicable  stock exchange  listing  requirements.  The Board may
not,  without the  consent of the holder of an Award,  alter or impair any Award
previously granted or awarded under this Plan as specifically authorized herein.


                                   ARTICLE XI
                                EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS

        Neither  the Plan nor the grant of any Awards  hereunder  nor any action
taken by the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any
right on the part of any Employee or Non-Employee Director of the Corporation or
a Subsidiary Company to continue in such capacity.

                                       A-8
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE XII
                                   WITHHOLDING

        12.01  Tax  Withholding.  The  Corporation  may  withhold  from any cash
payment  made  under  this  Plan  sufficient  amounts  to cover  any  applicable
withholding  and  employment  taxes,  and if the amount of such cash  payment is
insufficient, the Corporation may require the Optionee to pay to the Corporation
the amount  required  to be withheld as a  condition  to  delivering  the shares
acquired  pursuant to an Award.  The  Corporation  also may  withhold or collect
amounts with respect to a  disqualifying  disposition  of shares of Common Stock
acquired  pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option,  as provided in
Section 8.10(c).

        12.02  Methods  of  Tax  Withholding.  The  Board  of  Directors  or the
Committee is authorized to adopt rules,  regulations or procedures which provide
for  the  satisfaction  of an  Optionee's  tax  withholding  obligation  by  the
retention  of shares of Common Stock to which the  Employee  would  otherwise be
entitled   pursuant  to  an  Award   and/or  by  the   Optionee's   delivery  of
previously-owned shares of Common Stock or other property.


                                  ARTICLE XIII
                        EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN; TERM

        13.01  Effective Date of the Plan.  This Plan shall become  effective on
the  Effective  Date,  and Awards may be  granted  hereunder  as of or after the
Effective  Date and  prior to the  termination  of the  Plan,  provided  that no
Incentive Stock Option issued pursuant to this Plan shall qualify as such unless
this Plan is approved by the  requisite  vote of the holders of the  outstanding
voting shares of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation
held within  twelve  (12)  months of the  Effective  Date.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Plan, the  implementation  of this
Plan and any Awards granted  pursuant  hereto shall be subject to the receipt of
any applicable regulatory approvals or non-objections and to the approval of the
Corporation's stockholders.

        13.02 Term of Plan. Unless sooner terminated,  this Plan shall remain in
effect for a period of ten (10)  years  ending on the tenth  anniversary  of the
Effective Date.  Termination of the Plan shall not affect any Awards  previously
granted and such Awards  shall  remain  valid and in effect until they have been
fully  exercised  or earned,  are  surrendered  or by their terms  expire or are
forfeited.


                                   ARTICLE XIV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        14.01  Governing  Law. To the extent not governed by federal  law,  this
Plan shall be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

        14.02  Pronouns.  Wherever  appropriate,  the  masculine  pronoun  shall
include the feminine pronoun, and the singular shall include the plural.

                                       A-9
<PAGE>
                                                                      APPENDIX B


                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
               RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST AGREEMENT

                                    ARTICLE I
                       ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN AND TRUST

        1.01 Delaware First Financial  Corporation  (the  "Corporation")  hereby
establishes  a  Recognition  and  Retention  Plan (the  "Plan")  and Trust  (the
"Trust") upon the terms and conditions  hereinafter  stated in this  Recognition
and Retention Plan and Trust Agreement (the "Agreement").

        1.02 The Trustee  hereby accepts this Trust and agrees to hold the Trust
assets  existing on the date of this  Agreement and all additions and accretions
thereto upon the terms and conditions hereinafter stated.

                                   ARTICLE II
                               PURPOSE OF THE PLAN

        2.01 The purpose of the Plan is to retain  personnel of  experience  and
ability in key positions by providing  Employees and  Non-Employee  Directors of
the  Corporation and of Delaware First Bank, FSB (the "Bank") with a proprietary
interest in the  Corporation  as  compensation  for their  contributions  to the
Corporation,  the Bank, and any other  Subsidiaries  and as an incentive to make
such contributions in the future.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   DEFINITIONS

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

        3.01 "Bank" means Delaware First Bank, FSB, the wholly-owned  subsidiary
of the Corporation.

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

        3.03 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the  Corporation  or of the
Bank.

        3.04  "Change  of Control  of the  Corporation"  shall be deemed to have
occurred if: (i) any  "person" as such term is used in Sections  13(d) and 14(d)
of the  Exchange  Act  (other  than the  Corporation  and any  trustee  or other
fiduciary   holding   securities   under  any  employee   benefit  plan  of  the
Corporation),  is or becomes  the  "beneficial  owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under  the  Exchange  Act),  directly  or  indirectly,   of  securities  of  the
Corporation  representing  25% or  more  of the  combined  voting  power  of the
Corporation's  then  outstanding  securities;  (ii)  during  any  period  of two
consecutive  years (not including any period prior to the adoption of the Plan),
individuals  who at the  beginning  of  such  period  constitute  the  Board  of
Directors,  and any new  director  whose  election by the Board of  Directors or
nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was approved by a vote
of at least  two-thirds  of the  directors  then still in office who either were
directors  at  the  beginning  of the  two-year  period  or  whose  election  or
nomination  for election  was  previously  so approved,  cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors; (iii) the stockholders
of the Corporation approve a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any
other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation that would result in the
voting  securities  of the  Corporation  outstanding  immediately  prior thereto
continuing to represent  (either by remaining  outstanding or by being converted
into voting  securities of the  surviving  entity) more than 50% of the combined
voting power of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately
after such merger or consolidation; or (iv) the stockholders of the

                                       B-1
<PAGE>
Corporation  approve a plan of complete  liquidation  of the  Corporation  or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Corporation of all or substantially
all of the Corporation's  assets. If any of the events enumerated in clauses (i)
through (iv) occur,  the Board shall  determine the effective date of the Change
in Control resulting therefrom for purposes of the Plan.

        3.05 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

        3.06 "Committee" means the committee  appointed by the Board pursuant to
Article IV hereof.

         3.07 "Common  Stock" means shares of the common  stock,  $.01 par value
per share, of the Corporation.

        3.08  "Disability"   means  any  physical  or  mental  impairment  which
qualifies an Employee for disability  benefits  under the  applicable  long-term
disability  plan  maintained by the Corporation or any Subsidiary or, if no such
plan applies,  which would qualify such Employee for  disability  benefits under
the Federal Social Security System.

        3.09  "Effective  Date" means the day upon which the Board approves this
Plan.

        3.10 "Employee" means any person who is employed by the Corporation, the
Bank, or any Subsidiary,  or is an officer of the Corporation,  the Bank, or any
Subsidiary,  including  officers or other  employees who may be directors of the
Corporation.

        3.11  "Exchange  Act"  means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
amended.

        3.12  "Non-Employee  Director" means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee,  and shall include any  individual  who, at any time after the date of
adoption of the Plan, serves the Board in an advisory or emeritus capacity.

        3.13 "Plan Shares" or "Shares"  means shares of Common Stock held in the
Trust which may be distributed to a Recipient pursuant to the Plan.

        3.14 "Plan Share Award" or "Award" means a right granted under this Plan
to  receive  a  distribution  of Plan  Shares  upon  completion  of the  service
requirements described in Article VII.

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

        3.16  "Retirement"  means a  termination  of  employment  upon or  after
attainment  of age  sixty-five  (65) or such  earlier age as may be specified in
applicable  plans  or  policies  of  the  Corporation,  a  Subsidiary  or  in  a
Recipient's Plan Share Award.

        3.17  "Subsidiary"   means  Delaware  First  Bank,  FSB  and  any  other
subsidiaries  of the  Corporation  or the Bank  which,  with the  consent of the
Board, agree to participate in this Plan.

        3.18 "Trustee" means such firm,  entity or persons approved by the Board
of Directors to hold legal title to the Plan for the purposes set forth herein.

                                       B-2
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE IV
                           ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

        4.01  Role  of  the  Committee.  The  Plan  shall  be  administered  and
interpreted by the Committee,  which shall consist of two or more members of the
Board,  each of  whom  shall  be a  Non-Employee  Director  as  defined  in Rule
16b-3(b)(3)(i) of the Exchange Act or any successor thereto. The Committee shall
have all of the powers  allocated to it in this and other  Sections of the Plan.
The  interpretation  and  construction by the Committee of any provisions of the
Plan or of any Plan Share Award granted  hereunder shall be final and binding in
the absence of action by the Board of Directors. The Committee shall act by vote
or  written  consent  of a  majority  of its  members.  Subject  to the  express
provisions  and  limitations  of the Plan,  the  Committee may adopt such rules,
regulations  and  procedures  as it deems  appropriate  for the  conduct  of its
affairs.  The Committee  shall report its actions and decisions  with respect to
the Plan to the Board at appropriate  times,  but in no event less than one time
per calendar year.

        4.02 Role of the Board.  The  members of the  Committee  and the Trustee
shall be appointed or approved by, and will serve at the pleasure of, the Board.
The Board may in its  discretion  from time to time remove  members from, or add
members to, the Committee, and may remove or replace the Trustee,  provided that
any directors who are selected as members of the Committee shall be Non-Employee
Directors.

        4.03  Limitation on  Liability.  No member of the Board or the Committee
shall be liable for any  determination  made in good  faith with  respect to the
Plan or any Plan Shares or Plan Share  Awards  granted  under it. If a member of
the Board or the Committee is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened,  pending or completed  action,  suit or  proceeding,  whether civil,
criminal,  administrative  or  investigative,  by reason of anything done or not
done by him in such capacity under or with respect to the Plan, the  Corporation
shall, subject to the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, indemnify
such member against all liabilities and expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred
by him in  connection  with such action,  suit or proceeding if he acted in good
faith and in a manner he reasonably  believed to be in the best interests of the
Corporation  and any  Subsidiaries  and, with respect to any criminal  action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

        4.04 Compliance with Laws and Regulations.  All Awards granted hereunder
shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations
and to such approvals by any government or regulatory agency as may be required.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                  CONTRIBUTIONS

        5.01 Amount and Timing of  Contributions.  The Board shall determine the
amount (or the method of computing  the amount) and timing of any  contributions
by the Corporation  and any  Subsidiaries  to the Trust  established  under this
Plan. Such amounts may be paid in cash or in shares of Common Stock and shall be
paid to the Trust at the designated time of  contribution.  No  contributions by
Employees or Directors shall be permitted.

        5.02  Investment  of Trust  Assets;  Number of Plan  Shares.  Subject to
Section  8.02  hereof,  the  Trustee  shall  invest  all of the  Trust's  assets
primarily in Common  Stock.  The aggregate  number of Plan Shares  available for
distribution pursuant to this Plan shall be 46,280 shares of Common Stock, which
shares shall be purchased from the Corporation and/or from stockholders  thereof
by the Trust with funds  contributed  by the  Corporation.  During the time this
Plan remains in effect,  Awards to each Employee and each Non-Employee  Director
shall not exceed 25% and 5% of the shares of Common  Stock  available  under the
Plan, respectively.

                                       B-3
<PAGE>
                                   ARTICLE VI
                            ELIGIBILITY; ALLOCATIONS

        6.01 Awards to Non-Employee Directors. Plan Share Awards to Non-Employee
Directors shall be made to such persons and in such amounts as determined by the
Board of Directors  of the  Committee.  However,  Plan Share Awards up to 13,884
shares (or 30% of the number of shares  available under this Plan) shall be made
to Non-  Employee  Directors in the  aggregate  and no  individual  Non-Employee
Director  may receive  Plan Share Awards in excess of 2,314 shares (or 5% of the
number of shares available under this Plan).

        6.02  Awards  to  Employees.  Plan  Share  Awards  may be  made  to such
Employees  as may be selected by the Board of  Directors  or the  Committee.  In
selecting  those  Employees  to whom Plan Share  Awards  may be granted  and the
number of Shares  covered by such  Awards,  the  Committee  shall  consider  the
duties,  responsibilities  and  performance  of each  respective  Employee,  his
present  and  potential   contributions   to  the  growth  and  success  of  the
Corporation,  his salary and such other  factors as shall be deemed  relevant to
accomplishing  the purposes of the Plan. The Board of Directors or the Committee
may but shall not be required to request the written recommendation of the Chief
Executive  Officer  of the  Corporation  other  than with  respect to Plan Share
Awards to be granted to him.

        6.03  Form  of   Allocation.   As  promptly  as   practicable   after  a
determination  is made pursuant to Sections 6.01 or 6.02 that a Plan Share Award
is to be  issued,  the Board of  Directors  or the  Committee  shall  notify the
Recipient  in  writing  of the grant of the  Award,  the  number of Plan  Shares
covered by the Award,  and the terms upon which the Plan  Shares  subject to the
Award  shall be  distributed  to the  Recipient.  The date on which the Board of
Directors or the Committee  makes the  determination  with respect to Plan Share
Awards shall be considered the date of grant of the Plan Share Award.  The Board
of Directors or the Committee  shall  maintain  records as to all grants of Plan
Share Awards under the Plan.

        6.04 Allocations Not Required to any Specific Employee.  Notwithstanding
anything to the  contrary in Section  6.02  hereof,  no Employee  shall have any
right or entitlement to receive a Plan Share Award hereunder,  such Awards being
at the total discretion of the Board of Directors or the Committee.


                                   ARTICLE VII
             EARNING AND DISTRIBUTION OF PLAN SHARES; VOTING RIGHTS

        7.01   Earning Plan Shares; Forfeitures.

               (a) General Rules. Subject to the terms hereof, Plan Share Awards
shall be  earned  by a  Recipient  at the rate of  twenty  percent  (20%) of the
aggregate number of Shares covered by the Award as of each annual anniversary of
the date of grant of the Award. If the employment of an Employee or service as a
Non-Employee  Director is terminated prior to the fifth (5th) annual anniversary
of the  date  of  grant  of a  Plan  Share  Award  for  any  reason  (except  as
specifically  provided in  subsections  (b), (c) and (d) below),  the  Recipient
shall  forfeit  the right to any  Shares  subject  to the Award  which  have not
theretofore been earned. In the event of a forfeiture of the right to any Shares
subject to an Award by an Employee, such forfeited Shares shall become available
for  allocation  pursuant  to  Section  6.02  hereof  as if no  Award  had  been
previously  granted with respect to such Shares.  No fractional  shares shall be
distributed pursuant to this Plan.

               (b)  Exception  for  Terminations  Due to  Death,  Disability  or
Retirement.  Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a),  all
Plan Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Recipient  whose  employment
with or service to the Corporation or any Subsidiary  terminates due to death or
Disability  shall be deemed earned as of the Recipient's  last day of employment
with or service to the Corporation or any Subsidiary and shall be distributed as
soon  as  practicable  thereafter;  provided,  however,  that  Awards  shall  be
distributed in accordance with Section 7.03(a). In addition, in the event that a
Recipient's  employment  with or service to the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary
terminates due to Retirement, all Plan Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held
by a  Recipient  shall  be  deemed  earned  as of the  Recipient's  last  day of
employment  with or service to the  Corporation  or any  Subsidiary and shall be
distributed as soon as practicable  thereafter;  provided,  however, that Awards
shall be distributed in accordance  with Section  7.03(a) and, as of the date of
such  Retirement,  such  treatment is either  authorized or is not prohibited by
applicable laws and regulations.

                                       B-4
<PAGE>
               (c) Exception for  Terminations  after a Change in Control of the
Corporation.  Notwithstanding the general rule contained in Section 7.01(a), all
Plan Shares subject to a Plan Share Award held by a Recipient shall be deemed to
be earned in the event of a Change in Control of the  Corporation  if, as of the
date of such  Change in Control of the  Corporation,  such  treatment  is either
authorized or is not prohibited by applicable laws and regulations.

               (d)   Revocation   for   Misconduct.   Notwithstanding   anything
hereinafter  to the contrary,  the Board may by resolution  immediately  revoke,
rescind and  terminate  any Plan Share  Award,  or portion  thereof,  previously
awarded  under this Plan,  to the extent Plan  Shares have not been  distributed
hereunder,  whether  or not  yet  earned,  in the  case  of an  Employee  who is
discharged  from the employ of the  Corporation  or any Subsidiary for cause (as
hereinafter  defined).  Termination for cause shall mean termination  because of
the Employee's personal dishonesty,  incompetence, willful misconduct, breach of
fiduciary duty involving personal profit,  intentional failure to perform stated
duties,  willful  violation of any law, rule, or regulation  (other than traffic
violations  or similar  offenses) or final  cease-and-desist  order.  Plan Share
Awards granted to a  Non-Employee  Director who is removed for cause pursuant to
the Corporation's  Articles of Incorporation shall terminate as of the effective
date of such removal.

        7.02 Distribution of Dividends.  Any cash dividends  (including  special
large and nonrecurring  dividends  including one that has the effect of a return
of capital to the  Corporation's  stockholders)  or stock dividends  declared in
respect  of each  unvested  Plan  Share  Award will be held by the Trust for the
benefit of the  Recipient  on whose behalf such Plan Share Award is then held by
the Trust and such dividends,  including any interest thereon,  will be paid out
proportionately  by the Trust to the  Recipient  thereof as soon as  practicable
after the Plan Share Awards become earned. Any cash dividends or stock dividends
declared  in respect of each vested Plan Share held by the Trust will be paid by
the Trust,  as soon as practicable  after the Trust's  receipt  thereof,  to the
Recipient on whose behalf such Plan Share is then held by the Trust.

        7.03   Distribution of Plan Shares.

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

               (b) Form of  Distributions.  All Plan Shares,  together  with any
Shares representing stock dividends,  shall be distributed in the form of Common
Stock.  One share of Common  Stock shall be given for each Plan Share earned and
distributable. Payments representing cash dividends shall be made in cash.

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

               (d) Restrictions on Selling of Plan Shares. Plan Share Awards may
not be sold,  assigned,  pledged or otherwise disposed of prior to the time that
they are earned and  distributed  pursuant to the terms of this Plan.  Following
distribution,  the Board of Directors or the Committee may require the Recipient
or his  Beneficiary,  as the case  may be,  to  agree  not to sell or  otherwise
dispose  of his  distributed  Plan  Shares  except in  accordance  with all then
applicable  federal and state securities laws, and the Board of Directors or the
Committee  may  cause  a  legend  to  be  placed  on  the  stock  certificate(s)
representing  the  distributed  Plan Shares in order to restrict the transfer of
the distributed Plan Shares for such period of time or under such  circumstances
as the Board of Directors or the Committee, upon the advice of counsel, may deem
appropriate.

        7.04 Voting of Plan Shares.  After a Plan Share Award has been made, the
Recipient  shall be  entitled to direct the Trustee as to the voting of the Plan
Shares  which are  covered by the Plan  Share  Award and which have not yet been
earned and  distributed to him,  subject to rules and procedures  adopted by the
Committee for this  purpose.  All shares of Common Stock held by the Trust which
have not been  awarded  under a Plan  Share  Award and  shares  which  have been
awarded as to which  Recipients  have not  directed the voting shall be voted by
the Trustee in the same

                                       B-5
<PAGE>
proportion  as voted by the Trustee for shares  allocated  and which the Trustee
receives directions for such vote by Recipients.


                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                      TRUST

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

        8.02  Management of Trust.  It is the intent of this Plan and Trust that
the Trustee shall have complete  authority  and  discretion  with respect to the
arrangement,  control and  investment  of the Trust,  and that the Trustee shall
invest  all  assets  of  the  Trust  in  Common  Stock  to  the  fullest  extent
practicable, except to the extent that the Trustee determine that the holding of
monies in cash or cash  equivalents is necessary to meet the  obligations of the
Trust.  In performing  their duties,  the Trustee shall have the power to do all
things  and  execute  such  instruments  as may be deemed  necessary  or proper,
including the following powers:

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

               (b)  To  invest  any  Trust  assets  not  otherwise  invested  in
accordance  with (a)  above,  in such  deposit  accounts,  and  certificates  of
deposit,  obligations  of the United  States  Government or its agencies or such
other investments as shall be considered the equivalent of cash.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                       B-6
<PAGE>
        8.03  Records and  Accounts.  The Trustee  shall  maintain  accurate and
detailed records and accounts of all  transactions of the Trust,  which shall be
available at all reasonable  times for inspection by any legally entitled person
or entity  to the  extent  required  by  applicable  law,  or any  other  person
determined by the Board of Directors or the Committee.

        8.04  Expenses.  All costs and expenses  incurred in the  operation  and
administration  of this  Plan  shall  be  borne by the  Corporation  or,  in the
discretion of the Corporation, the Trust.

        8.05 Indemnification. Subject to the requirements of applicable laws and
regulations,  the  Corporation  shall  indemnify,  defend  and hold the  Trustee
harmless against all claims,  expenses and liabilities arising out of or related
to the  exercise  of the  Trustee's  powers  and  the  discharge  of its  duties
hereunder,  unless the same shall be due to the  Trustee's  gross  negligence or
willful misconduct.


                                   ARTICLE IX
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        9.01  Adjustments  for Capital  Changes.  The  aggregate  number of Plan
Shares  available  for  distribution  pursuant to the Plan Share  Awards and the
number of Shares to which any Plan Share Award relates shall be  proportionately
adjusted for any increase or decrease in the total number of outstanding  shares
of Common Stock issued  subsequent to the effective  date of the Plan  resulting
from any  split,  subdivision  or  consolidation  of  shares  or  other  capital
adjustment,  or other  increase  or decrease  in such  shares  effected  without
receipt or payment of consideration by the Corporation.

        9.02 Amendment and Termination of Plan. The Board may, by resolution, at
any time amend or terminate the Plan and the Trust  (including  amendments which
may result in the  merger of the Plan or the Trust with and into other  plans or
trusts of the  Corporation  or  successor  thereto),  subject to any  applicable
regulatory requirements and any required stockholder approval or any stockholder
approval  which the Board may deem to be advisable  for any reason,  such as for
the purpose of obtaining or retaining any statutory or regulatory benefits under
tax,  securities  or other laws or  satisfying  any  applicable  stock  exchange
listing  requirements.  The Board may not, without the consent of the Recipient,
alter or impair his Plan Share Award except as specifically  authorized  herein.
Upon  termination  of the Plan,  the  Recipient's  Plan  Share  Awards  shall be
distributed to the Recipient in accordance with the terms of Article VII hereof.

        9.03 Nontransferable.  During the lifetime of the Recipient, Plan Shares
may only be earned by and paid to the  Recipient  who was notified in writing of
the Award  pursuant to Section 6.03,  provided that Plan Share Awards and rights
to Plan Shares shall be transferable by a Recipient to his or her spouse, lineal
ascendants,  lineal  descendants,  or to a duly  established  trust.  Plan Share
Awards so transferred  may not again be transferred  other than to the Recipient
who  originally  received the grant of Plan Share Awards or to an  individual or
trust to whom such Recipient could have  transferred  Plan Share Awards pursuant
to this Section 9.03. Plan Share Awards which are  transferred  pursuant to this
Section  9.03 shall be subject  to the same terms and  conditions  as would have
applied to such Plan Share Awards in the hands of the Recipient  who  originally
received the grant of such Plan Share Award.  No Recipient or Beneficiary  shall
have any right in or claim to any  assets  of the Plan or  Trust,  nor shall the
Corporation or any Subsidiary be subject to any claim for benefits hereunder.

        9.04 Employment or Service  Rights.  Neither the Plan nor any grant of a
Plan Share Award or Plan Shares  hereunder  nor any action taken by the Trustee,
the Committee or the Board in connection with the Plan shall create any right on
the part of any Employee or Non-Employee Director to continue in such capacity.

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

                                       B-7
<PAGE>
        9.06  Governing Law. To the extent not governed by federal law, the Plan
and Trust shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

        9.07  Effective  Date.  This Plan shall be effective as of the Effective
Date, and Awards may be granted  hereunder as of or after the Effective Date and
as long as the Plan remains in effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything
to the  contrary in this Plan,  the  implementation  of this Plan and any Awards
granted pursuant hereto are subject to the receipt of any applicable  regulatory
approvals or non-objections and approval of the Corporation's stockholders.

        9.08 Term of Plan. This Plan shall remain in effect until the earlier of
(1) ten (10) years from the Effective Date, (2) termination by the Board, or (3)
the distribution to Recipients and Beneficiaries of all assets of the Trust.

        9.09 Tax  Status of Trust.  It is  intended  that the trust  established
hereby be treated as a Grantor Trust of the Corporation  under the provisions of
Section 671 et seq. of the Code, as the same may be amended from time to time.

        IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Corporation  has caused this  Agreement to be
executed by its duly  authorized  officers and the corporate  seal to be affixed
and duly attested, and the initial Trustee established pursuant hereto have duly
and validly executed this Agreement, all as of this 22nd day of April 1998.

                                  DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                            By    /s/ Ernest J. Peoples
                                  ---------------------
                                  Ernest J. Peoples
                                  Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:

By: /s/ Lori N. Richards
    ---------------------
      Lori N. Richards                                 TRUSTEE

                                                 By:    /s/ Larry D. Gehrke
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Larry D. Gehrke

                                                 By:    /s/ Alan B. Levin
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Alan B. Levin

                                                 By:    /s/ Robert L. Schweitzer
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        Dr. Robert L. Schweitzer


                                       B-8
<PAGE>
                                 REVOCABLE PROXY
                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

   [X]  PLEASE MARK VOTES
        AS IN THIS EXAMPLE

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                 AUGUST 19, 1998

         The  undersigned,  being a  stockholder  of  Delaware  First  Financial
Corporation ("Company") as of July 10, 1998, hereby authorizes Jerome P. Arrison
and Lori N.  Richards or any  successors  thereto as proxies with full powers of
substitution, to represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders
of the Company to be held at the DuPont Country Club, Rockland Road, Wilmington,
Delaware 19803 on Wednesday,  August 19, 1998 at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and at
any  adjournment  of said meeting,  and thereat to act with respect to all votes
that the undersigned would be entitled to cast, if then personally  present,  as
follows:

1. ELECTION OF DIRECTOR

   Nominee for a three-year term expiring 2001:

   Ernest J. Peoples

   [   ] For      [   ] Withhold

2. PROPOSAL to adopt the 1998 Stock Option Plan.

   [   ] For        [   ] Against       [   ] Abstain

3. PROPOSAL to adopt the Company's Recognition and Retention Plan and Trust.

   [   ] For        [   ] Against       [   ] Abstain

4. PROPOSAL to ratify the  appointment  of the Board of  Directors of Deloitte &
   Touche LLP as the Company's  independent  auditors for the fiscal year ending
   December 31, 1998.

   [   ] For        [   ] Against       [   ] Abstain

5. In their  discretion,  the  proxies  are  authorized  to vote upon such other
   business as may properly come before the meeting.

  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  A VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE ABOVE  PROPOSALS.
THIS PROXY IS  SOLICITED  ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY FOR
USE AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF  STOCKHOLDERS  TO BE HELD ON AUGUST 19, 1998 AND AT
ANY ADJOURNMENT THEREOF.

  SHARES OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED.  IF RETURNED,
BUT NOT  OTHERWISE  SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' NOMINEE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR THE 1998 STOCK OPTION
PLAN, FOR THE RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN AND TRUST,  FOR RATIFICATION OF THE
COMPANY'S INDEPENDENT AUDITORS,  AND OTHERWISE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES,
YOU MAY  REVOKE  THIS  PROXY  AT ANY  TIME  PRIOR TO THE TIME IT IS VOTED AT THE
ANNUAL MEETING.
<PAGE>
                         Please be sure to sign and date
                          this Proxy in the box below.



                         -------------------------------
                                      Date


                         -------------------------------
                             Stockholder sign above


                         -------------------------------
                          Co-holder (if any) sign above



    Detach above card, sign, date and mail in postage paid envelope provided.

                      DELAWARE FIRST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

         PLEASE SIGN ABOVE EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR(S) ON THIS PROXY. WHEN
SIGNING IN A REPRESENTATIVE  CAPACITY,  PLEASE GIVE FULL TITLE.  WHEN SHARES ARE
HELD JOINTLY, ONLY ONE HOLDER NEED SIGN.

                               PLEASE ACT PROMPTLY
                     SIGN, DATE & MAIL YOUR PROXY CARD TODAY


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