ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP INC
DEF 14A, 1998-09-04
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
Previous: EL PASO ENERGY CAPITAL TRUST II, POS AM, 1998-09-04
Next: VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND, SC 13E4/A, 1998-09-04



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

[ X ] Filed by the registrant

[   ] Filed by a party other than the registrant      


Check the appropriate box:

[   ] Preliminary Proxy Statement

[   ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
      (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[ X ] Definitive Proxy Statement

[   ] Definitive Additional Materials

[   ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to ss. 240.14a-11(c) or ss. 240.14a-12


                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
<PAGE> 
[GRAPHIC-LOGO]
            [ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC. LETTERHEAD]





                                                 September 4, 1998







Dear Fellow Stockholder:

         On  behalf of the  Board of  Directors  and  management  of  Adirondack
Financial  Services  Bancorp,  Inc.(the  "Company"),  we cordially invite you to
attend a Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  of the Company.  The meeting will be
held at 3:15 p.m.,  New York time,  on October 7, 1998 at the main office of the
Company located at 52 North Main Street, Gloversville, New York 12078.

         An important  aspect of the meeting process is the stockholder  vote on
corporate  business  items. We urge you to exercise your rights as a stockholder
to vote  and  participate  in this  process.  Stockholders  are  being  asked to
consider  and vote upon the  proposals  to ratify the adoption of the 1998 Stock
Option and Incentive Plan and 1998  Recognition and Retention Plan. The Board of
Directors has  carefully  considered  both of these  proposals and believes that
their  approval  will  enhance  the ability of the Company to recruit and retain
quality  directors  and  management.   Accordingly,   your  Board  of  Directors
unanimously recommends that you vote "For" both of the proposals.

         We  encourage  you to attend the meeting in person.  Whether or not you
plan to attend, please read the enclosed Proxy Statement and then complete, sign
and date the  enclosed  proxy  card and  return it in the  accompanying  postage
prepaid  return  envelope as promptly  as  possible.  This will save the Company
additional  expense in  soliciting  proxies and will ensure that your shares are
represented at the meeting.

                                                     Sincerely,



                                                     /s/Lewis E. Kolar
                                                     --------------
                                                     Lewis E. Kolar
                                                     Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.
                              52 North Main Street
                        Gloversville, New York 12078-3084
                                 (518) 725-6331


                    NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          To be held on October 7, 1998

         Notice is hereby  given  that a Special  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the
"Special  Meeting")  of  Adirondack   Financial  Services  Bancorp,   Inc.  (the
"Company")  will be held at the main  office of the  Association  located  at 52
North  Main  Street,  Gloversville,  New York,  on October 7, 1998 at 3:15 p.m.,
Gloversville, New York time.

         A Proxy Card and Proxy Statement for the Meeting are enclosed.

         The Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

         1.    The  ratification  of the  adoption of the  Company's  1998 Stock
               Option and Incentive Plan;

         2.    The   ratification   of  the  adoption  of  the  Company's   1998
               Recognition and Retention Plan; and

such other  business as may  properly  come  before the  Special  Meeting or any
adjournment  thereof.  The Board of  Directors  is not  aware of any such  other
business.

         Any action may be taken on the  foregoing  proposals  at the Meeting on
the date  specified  above,  or on any date or dates to which the Meeting may be
adjourned.  Stockholders  of record at the close of  business on August 20, 1998
are  the  stockholders  entitled  to vote at the  Meeting  and any  adjournments
thereof.

         You are requested to complete and sign the enclosed form of Proxy which
is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors, and to mail it promptly in the
enclosed  envelope.  The Proxy  will not be used if you  attend  and vote at the
Meeting in person.


                                              BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


                                              /s/Richard D. Ruby
                                              ---------------
                                              Richard D. Ruby
                                              Chairman of the Board


Gloversville, New York
September 4, 1998

        YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR
  RATIFICATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE COMPANY'S 1998 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE
  PLAN AND FOR THE COMPANY'S 1998 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN BY COMPLETING
      THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND RETURNING IT IN THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID
           ENVELOPE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
<PAGE>
                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.

                              52 North Main Street
                          Gloversville, New York 12078

          SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON OCTOBER 7, 1998

                               PURPOSE OF MEETING


         This Proxy  Statement is being  furnished to you in connection with the
solicitation  on  behalf  of the  Board of  Directors  of  Adirondack  Financial
Services Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company") of the proxies to be voted at the Special
Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") of the Company to be held at the
Company's  main office located at 52 North Main Street,  Gloversville,  New York
12078-3084,  on  October  7,  1998 at  3:15  p.m.,  New  York  time,  and at any
adjournments  thereof.  The  accompanying  Notice  of  Meeting  and  this  Proxy
Statement are first being mailed to  stockholders on or about September 4, 1998.
Certain information  provided herein relates to Gloversville Federal Savings and
Loan Association (the "Association"),  a wholly owned subsidiary and predecessor
of the Company. The Special Meeting is being held for the purpose of considering
and ratifying the adoption of the Company's 1998 Stock Option and Incentive Plan
(the "Stock Option Plan") and the Company's 1998  Recognition and Retention Plan
(the "RRP").

Vote Required and Proxy Information

         All shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common  Stock"),  represented  at the  Meeting  by  properly  executed  proxies
received  prior  to or at the  Meeting,  and not  revoked,  will be voted at the
Meeting in accordance with the  instructions  thereon.  If no  instructions  are
indicated,  properly  executed proxies will be voted for the proposals set forth
in this Proxy  Statement.  The Company does not know of any matters,  other than
those  described in the Notice of Special  Meeting,  that are to come before the
Meeting.  If any other matters are properly presented at the Meeting for action,
the persons named in the enclosed form of proxy and acting  thereunder will have
the discretion to vote on such matters in accordance with their best judgment.

         Proposals  to ratify the  adoption of the Stock Option Plan and the RRP
require the  affirmative  vote of a majority  of shares  entitled to vote at the
Meeting.  Proxies  marked to abstain with respect to any proposal  have the same
effect as votes against the  proposal.  Broker  non-votes  have no effect on the
vote.  One-third  of the  shares  of the  Common  Stock,  present  in  person or
represented  by proxy,  shall  constitute  a quorum for purposes of the Meeting.
Abstentions  and broker  non-votes  are counted for  purposes of  determining  a
quorum.

         A proxy given pursuant to the  solicitation  may be revoked at any time
before it is voted.  Proxies may be revoked by: (i) filing with the Secretary of
the Company at or before the Meeting a written  notice of  revocation  bearing a
later date than the proxy,  (ii) duly  executing a subsequent  proxy relating to
<PAGE>
the same shares and  delivering  it to the Secretary of the Company at or before
the  Meeting,  or (iii)  attending  the Meeting  and voting in person  (although
attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself  constitute  revocation of a
proxy).  Any written  notice  revoking a proxy  should be  delivered to Menzo D.
Case,   Executive  Vice  President,   Chief  Financial  Officer  and  Secretary,
Adirondack Financial Services Bancorp, Inc., 52 North Main Street, Gloversville,
New York 12078.

Voting Securities and Certain Holders Thereof

         Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business on August 20, 1998
will be  entitled  to one vote for each share of Common  Stock then held.  As of
that  date,   the  Company  had  661,250  shares  of  Common  Stock  issued  and
outstanding.   The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  share
ownership of (i) those persons or entities  known by management to  beneficially
own more than  five  percent  of the  Common  Stock  ("Five  Percent  Beneficial
Owners"),  (ii) each  member of the  Company's  board of  directors,  (iii) each
officer  of the  Company  and the  Association  who made in excess  of  $100,000
(salary and bonus) (the "Named  Officers")  during the 1997 fiscal year ("fiscal
1997");  and (iv) all directors  and  executive  officers of the Company and the
Association as a group.



<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Shares Beneficially Owned       Percent
                           Beneficial Owner                                 at August 20, 1998         of Class
                           ----------------                                 ------------------         --------
<S>                                                                                <C>                    <C>  
Five Percent Beneficial Owners
- ------------------------------

Gloversville Federal Savings and Loan Association Employee Stock                   52,900                 8.00%
Ownership Plan.


Directors and Named Officers
- ----------------------------

Lewis E. Kolar, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer                     7,702                 1.16%

Menzo D. Case, Executive Vice-President,                                            2,488                 0.38%
   Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

Priscilla J. Bell, Director                                                         4,250                 0.64%

Timothy E. Delaney, Director                                                       15,000                 2.27%

Donald I. Lee, Director                                                              500                  0.08%

Richard D. Ruby, Chairman of the Board                                             16,000                 2.42%

Robert J. Sofarelli, Director                                                       1,420                 0.21%

All Directors and Officers as a Group (8 persons)                                  48,360                 7.31%

</TABLE>


Director Compensation

         The Company does not  compensate the directors for serving on the Board
of the Company.  Directors of the Association are paid a fee of $950 per meeting
for serving on the Board of  Directors,  and the Chairman of the Board is paid a
fee of $1,050 per meeting. These fees are paid only to Board members who are not
employees.

         For  information  regarding  option and  restricted  stock awards to be
granted to directors  pursuant to the Stock Option Plan and the RRP,  subject to
stockholder  approval of such plans,  see "Proposal I - Ratification of the 1998
Stock Option and  Incentive  Plan" and "Proposal II -  Ratification  of the 1998
Recognition and Retention Plan."


                                        2
<PAGE>
Executive Compensation

         The following table sets forth information  concerning the compensation
paid or granted to the Named  Officers in fiscal 1997. No executive  officer had
compensation (salary and bonus) in excess of $100,000 in fiscal 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

                                                                                             Long-Term Compensation
                                                       Annual Compensation(1)                         Awards
                                                  --------------------------------     --------------------------------------
                                                                                       Restricted
                                                                      Other Annual       Stock       Options/     All Other
     Name and Principal Position        Year      Salary     Bonus    Compensation      Award(s)       SARs      Compensation
                                                   ($)        ($)          ($)               ($)       (#)           ($)
     ---------------------------        ----     -------    ------    ------------      --------     -------    ------------
<S>                                     <C>      <C>        <C>            <C>             <C>         <C>        <C> 
Lewis E. Kolar                          1997     $83,077    $8,400         ---             N/A         N/A        11,731(2)
</TABLE>
- --------------- 
(1)    In accordance with the revised rules on executive compensation disclosure
       adopted  by the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  ("SEC"),  Summary
       Compensation  information is excluded for the fiscal years ended December
       31, 1995 and 1996.

(2)    Pursuant to SEC rules,  the table above  excludes  perquisites  and other
       personal  benefits  which do not  exceed  the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of
       salary and bonus.

Change in Control Severance Agreements

      The  Association has entered into change in control  severance  agreements
with Messrs.  Kolar and Case. The  agreements  provide for an initial term of 24
months and 12 months, respectively. The agreements provide for extensions of one
year, on each  anniversary of the effective date of the agreement,  subject to a
formal performance evaluation performed by disinterested members of the Board of
Directors of the Association.  The agreement  provides for termination for cause
or in certain events specified by OTS regulations.

      The agreements provide for a lump sum payment to Mr. Kolar and Mr. Case of
200% and 100% of their  respective  annual base  compensation  and the continued
payment for the  remaining  term of the  contract  of life and health  insurance
coverage  maintained  by the  Association  in the event  there is a  "change  in
control" of the Association where employment terminates  involuntarily following
such change in control.  This termination payment is subject to reduction to the
extent  non-deductible for federal income tax purposes.  For the purposes of the
agreements,  a "change in control"  is defined as any event which would  require
the filing of an application  for  acquisition of control or notice of change in
control pursuant to 12 C.F.R. ss. 574.3 or 4 or any successor  regulation.  Such
events are generally triggered prior to the acquisition of control of 10% of the
Company's Common Stock.

Benefit Plans

      General.  The Association  currently  provides  insurance  benefits to its
employees,  including health and life insurance,  subject to certain deductibles
and copayments.
<PAGE>
      Employee Severance Compensation Plan. The Association's Board of Directors
has established the Gloversville  Federal Employee  Severance  Compensation Plan
("Severance  Compensation  Plan")  which will  provide  certain  employees  with
severance pay benefits in the event of a change in control of the Association or
the Company.  Management  personnel with change in control severance  agreements
are not eligible to participate in the Severance  Compensation Plan. The purpose
of the Severance  Compensation  Plan is to recognize  the valuable  services and
contributions of the Association's  employees and the uncertainties  relating to
continuing  employment,   reduced  employee  benefits,  management  changes  and
relocations in the event of a change in control.  The Association  believes that
the  Severance  Compensation  Plan will assist it in  attracting  and  retaining
highly  qualified  individuals  and reduce the  distractions  and other  adverse
effects on the employees'  performance in the event of a change in control.  The
Severance Compensation Plan vests in each participant a contractual right to the
benefits  such  participant  is  entitled  to  thereunder.  Under the  Severance
Compensation  Plan,  in the  event of a change  in  control  as  defined  in the
Severance  Compensation  Plan,  eligible  employees  who are  terminated  or who
voluntarily  terminate  employment  (for reasons  specified  under the Severance
Compensation  Plan),  within one year of a change in control will be entitled to
receive a severance  payment.  Payments  pursuant to the Severance  Compensation
Plan are equal to the  product of two weeks  Annual  Compensation  (as  defined)
times the number of years of service up to a maximum of twelve years in the case
of officers or seven years

                                        3

<PAGE>
in the case of other  employees.  Such payments may tend to discourage  takeover
attempts by increasing costs to be incurred by the Association in the event of a
takeover.   As  it  is  management's   belief  that  substantially  all  of  the
Association's  employees  would be retained in the event of a change in control,
and that any amount payable under the Severance  Compensation  Plan,  therefore,
would be  considerably  less than the total  amount that could  possibly be paid
under the Severance  Compensation Plan, management cannot estimate the potential
effect of the Severance  Compensation Plan. The Severance  Compensation Plan may
be amended or  terminated  by the Board of Directors  by a majority  vote at any
time  prior  to a  change  in  control  but may  not be  amended  or  terminated
thereafter.

      Employee  Stock  Ownership  Plan.  The  Association  and the Company  have
adopted an ESOP for the benefit of employees of Gloversville Federal Savings and
Loan  Association.  The ESOP was  funded  with a loan  from the  Company  in the
original  amount of $529,000  (8% of the  proceeds  from the  Company's  initial
public  offering).  The ESOP is also  designed  to meet the  requirements  of an
employee stock ownership plan as described at Section 4975(e)(7) of the Code and
Section  407(d)(6) of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA").

      All employees of the  Association  are eligible to participate in the ESOP
after they attain age 21 and  complete  one year of service.  The  Association's
contribution to the ESOP is allocated  among  participants on the basis of their
relative  compensation.  Each  participant's  account is credited  with cash and
shares of Company  Common Stock based upon  compensation  earned during the year
with  respect to which the  contribution  is made.  Contributions  credited to a
participant's  account  become fully vested upon such  participant's  completing
five years of  service.  Credit is given for prior  years of service for vesting
purposes.  ESOP  participants are entitled to receive  distributions  from their
ESOP accounts only upon termination of service.  Distributions  are made in cash
and in whole shares of the  Company's  Common Stock.  Fractional  shares will be
paid in cash.  Participants do not incur a tax liability until a distribution is
made.

      Each  participating  employee is  entitled to instruct  the trustee of the
ESOP as to how to vote the shares  allocated to his or her account.  The trustee
will not be affiliated with the Company or the Association.

      The  ESOP  may be  amended  by the  Board  of  Directors,  except  that no
amendment may be made which would reduce the interest of any  participant in the
ESOP trust fund or divert any of the assets of the ESOP trust fund for  purposes
other than the benefit of participants or their beneficiaries.

      401(k) Savings Plan. The Association has a qualified,  tax-exempt  savings
plan with a cash or  deferred  feature  qualifying  under  Section  401(k)  (the
"401(k)  Plan") of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended (the "Code").
All employees  who have  completed  the service  requirement,  during which they
worked at least 1,000 hours,  are eligible to  participate.  The 401(k) Plan has
been amended to permit  self-directed  investments by participants  into Company
stock.

      Stock Option and Incentive  Plan. The Stock Option Plan was adopted by the
Board of Directors,  subject to ratification by stockholders of the Meeting. See
"Proposal I - Ratification of the 1998 Stock Option Incentive Plan."
<PAGE>
      Recognition  and Retention  Plan. The  Recognition  and Retention Plan was
adopted by the Board of Directors,  subject to  ratification  by stockholders of
the  Meeting.  See  "Proposal  II -  Ratification  of the 1998  Recognition  and
Retention Plan."

Certain Transactions

      The  Association  follows a policy of granting loans to the  Association's
directors, officers and employees. The loans to executive officers and directors
are made in the ordinary course of business and on the same terms and conditions
as those of comparable  transactions  prevailing at the time, in accordance with
the  Association's  underwriting  guidelines  and do not  involve  more than the
normal risk of collectibility or present other  unfavorable  features;  provided
however, that under the Association's current policy, employees are eligible for
a 50 basis point  reduction on interest  rates on  residential  mortgage  loans.
Loans to all directors and executive  officers and their  associates,  including
outstanding  balances and commitments  totaled  $405,000 at June 30, 1998, which
was 12% of the Association's retained earnings at that date.


                                        4
<PAGE>
      PROPOSAL I - RATIFICATION OF THE 1998 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN

General

      Establishment  and  implementation  of the Stock Option Plan is subject to
ratification  by  stockholders.  The Stock Option Plan is in compliance with OTS
regulations; however, the OTS has not endorsed or approved the Stock Option Plan
and no written or oral representation to the contrary is made hereby.

      The Stock  Option Plan has been  adopted by the Board of  Directors of the
Company, subject to ratification by stockholders at the Meeting. Ratification by
stockholders  of the  adoption  of the Stock  Option Plan will ratify the awards
proposed  thereunder  and as described  in "Awards  Under the Stock Option Plan"
herein,  and will  ratify the  granting  of  additional  awards  pursuant to the
provisions  of the Stock  Option Plan.  Pursuant to the Stock  Option Plan,  the
Company will reserve for issuance thereunder either from authorized but unissued
shares or from issued  shares  reacquired  and held as treasury  shares,  66,125
shares of the  Common  Stock  (10% of the  shares  issued  in the  Association's
Conversion).  Management may, to the extent  practicable and feasible,  fund the
Stock  Option  Plan from  issued  shares  reacquired  by the Company in the open
market. To the extent the Company utilizes  authorized but unissued Common Stock
to fund the Stock  Option  Plan,  the  exercise of stock  options  will have the
effect of diluting  the holdings of persons who own the Common  Stock.  Assuming
all options  under the Stock Option Plan are awarded and  exercised  through the
use of authorized  but unissued  Common  Stock,  current  stockholders  would be
diluted by  approximately  9.1%.  Upon  ratification of the Stock Option Plan by
stockholders,  it is proposed  that  options to purchase an  aggregate of 62,820
shares of Common Stock will be awarded,  which will leave available 3,305 shares
for future awards.

      The Board of Directors  believes that it is appropriate for the Company to
adopt a flexible and comprehensive  Stock Option Plan which permits the granting
of a variety of long-term incentive awards to directors,  officers and employees
as a means of enhancing and  encouraging  the recruitment and retention of those
individuals on whom the continued success of the Company most depends.  However,
because the awards are granted only to persons affiliated with the Company,  the
adoption of the Stock Option Plan could make it more difficult for a third party
to acquire control of the Company and therefore could discourage  offers for the
Company's stock that may be viewed by the Company's  stockholders to be in their
best  interest.  In  addition,  certain  provisions  included  in the  Company's
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws  may  discourage  potential  takeover
attempts,  particularly  those that have not been  negotiated  directly with the
Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company.  Included  among  these  provisions  are
provisions (i) limiting the voting power of shares held by persons owning 10% or
more of the Common Stock,  (ii) requiring a  supermajority  vote of stockholders
for approval of certain business  combinations,  (iii)  establishing a staggered
Board of Directors,  (iv)  permitting  special  meetings of  stockholders  to be
called only by the Board of Directors  and (v)  authorizing a class of preferred
stock with terms to be established by the Board of Directors.  These  provisions
could  prevent  the sale or merger of the  Company  even where a majority of the
stockholders approve of such transaction.

      In addition, federal regulations prohibit the beneficial ownership of more
than 10% of the stock of a converted savings  institution or its Company without
prior approval of the OTS. Federal law and regulations also require OTS approval
prior to the acquisition of "control" (as defined in the OTS  regulations) of an
insured institution,  including a Company thereof.  These regulations could have
the effect of discouraging takeover attempts of the Company.
<PAGE>
      Attached as Exhibit A to this Proxy  Statement is the complete text of the
Stock  Option  Plan.  The  principal  features  of the  Stock  Option  Plan  are
summarized below.

Principal Features of the Stock Option Plan

      The Stock Option Plan  provides  for awards in the form of stock  options,
stock  appreciation  rights  ("SARs")  and  limited  stock  appreciation  rights
("LSARs"). Each award shall be on such terms and conditions, consistent with the
Stock Option Plan and applicable OTS regulations, as the committee administering
the Stock Option Plan may  determine.  Subject to certain  exceptions  described
herein,  awards made under such plan generally vest at a rate of no quicker than
one-fifth of the initial award per year, subject to the participant  maintaining
continuous service to the Company or its subsidiaries from the date of grant.

      Pursuant to OTS regulations, each non-employee director of the Company and
all  non-employee  directors of the Company as a group,  may not be awarded more
than 5% and 30% of the total shares subject to the Stock Option


                                        5
<PAGE>
Plan,  respectively.  In  addition,  no  individual  may be granted  awards with
respect to more than 25% of the total shares subject to the Stock Option Plan.

      Shares awarded pursuant to the Stock Option Plan may be either  authorized
but unissued  shares or  reacquired  shares held by the Company in its treasury.
Any shares subject to an award which expires or is terminated  unexercised  will
again be available for issuance under the Stock Option Plan or any other plan of
the Company or its  subsidiaries.  Generally,  no award or any right or interest
therein is assignable or transferable  except under certain  limited  exceptions
set forth in the Stock Option Plan.

      The Stock Option Plan is  administered  by the Stock Plan Committee of the
Board of  Directors  of the  Company  (the  "Stock  Plan  Committee"),  which is
comprised of non-employee directors of the Company. The outside directors of the
Company serve as members of the Stock Plan  Committee.  Pursuant to the terms of
the Stock Option Plan,  any director,  officer or employee of the Company or its
affiliates  is eligible to  participate  in the Stock Option Plan.  Accordingly,
there are currently 30 persons  eligible to participate in the Plan. In granting
awards under the Stock Option Plan,  the Stock Plan Committee  considers,  among
other things, position and years of service, value of the participant's services
to the  Company  and the  Association  and the  added  responsibilities  of such
individuals as employees, directors and officers of a public company.

Stock Options

      Under the terms of the SOP,  the Stock  Plan  Committee  may grant  either
"incentive  stock  options"  as defined  under  Section 422 of the Code or stock
options not intended to qualify as such ("non-qualified stock options").

      In general,  stock options will not be exercisable after the expiration of
their terms. The term of stock options may not exceed ten years from the date of
grant. Unless otherwise  determined by the Stock Plan Committee,  in the event a
participant  ceases to  maintain  continuous  service  (as  defined in the Stock
Option  Plan)  with  the  Company  or one  of its  affiliates,  for  any  reason
(excluding  death,  disability and termination for cause),  an exercisable stock
option will continue to be  exercisable  for three months  thereafter  but in no
event after the expiration date of the option.  Unless otherwise provided by the
Stock Plan  Committee,  in the event that  continuous  service  terminates  as a
result of the  disability  of a  participant,  all options not then  exercisable
shall become  exercisable in full and remain  exercisable  for a period of three
months from the date of such disability.  Unless otherwise provided by the Stock
Plan  Committee,  in the event of death of a  participant,  all options not then
exercisable shall become  exercisable in full. Unless otherwise  provided by the
Stock Plan  Committee,  in the event of the death of a  participant  during such
service or within the three-month  period described above following  termination
of  service  described  above,  an  exercisable   option  will  continue  to  be
exercisable for one year, to the extent  exercisable by the participant upon his
death, but in no event later than ten years after grant.  Following the death of
any  participant,  the Stock Plan  Committee  may,  as an  alternative  means of
settlement  of an option,  elect to pay to the holder  thereof an amount of cash
equal to the  amount by which the  market  value of the  shares  covered  by the
option on the date of exercise  exceeds the exercise  price. A stock option will
automatically  terminate  and will no  longer  be  exercisable  as of the date a
participant is notified of termination for cause.
<PAGE>
      The exercise price for the purchase of shares subject to a stock option at
the date of grant may not be less than 100% of the  market  value of the  shares
covered by the option on that date.  The exercise  price must be paid in full in
cash or, if permitted by the Stock Plan Committee,  shares of Common Stock, or a
combination of both.

      The Stock  Option Plan  provides  for the grant of a  non-qualified  stock
option to purchase  3,306 shares of Common  Stock to each  director who is not a
full-time employee of the Company, as of the date of stockholder ratification of
the  Stock  Option  Plan.  Such  options  have a  term  of ten  years,  are  not
transferable,  and vest at the rate of 20% per year  commencing  on the one-year
anniversary  of the date of grant.  The exercise price per share of such options
shall  be  equal to the fair  market  value of the  Common  Stock on the date of
grant.

Stock Appreciation Rights

      The Stock Plan  Committee  may grant SARs at any time,  whether or not the
participant  then holds stock options,  granting the right to receive the excess
of the market value of the shares  represented by the SARs on the date exercised
over the exercise  price.  SARs  generally will be subject to the same terms and
conditions and  exercisable  to the same extent as stock  options,  as described
above.  Upon the exercise of a SAR, the participant  will receive the amount due
in cash or shares,  or a  combination  of both,  as determined by the Stock Plan
Committee. SARs may be related to stock

                                        6
<PAGE>
options ("tandem  SARs"),  in which case the exercise of one will reduce to that
extent the number of shares represented by the other.

      SARs will  require an expense  accrual  by the  Company  each year for the
appreciation on the SARs which it is anticipated  will be exercised.  The amount
of the accrual is  dependent  upon  whether and the extent to which the SARs are
granted and the amount,  if any, by which the market  value of the SARs  exceeds
the exercise price.

Limited Stock Appreciation Rights

      Limited SARs will be exercisable only for a limited period in the event of
a tender or exchange offer for shares of the Company's Common Stock,  other than
by the Company, where 25% or more of the outstanding shares are acquired in that
offer or any other offer which expires within 60 days of that offer.  The amount
paid on exercise of a Limited SAR will be the excess of (a) the market  value of
the shares on the date of exercise,  or (b) the highest  price paid  pursuant to
the offer, over the exercise price.  Payment upon exercise of a Limited SAR will
be in cash.

      Limited  SARs may be granted  at the time of, and must be related  to, the
grant of a stock  option or SAR.  The exercise of one will reduce to that extent
the number of shares represented by the other.  Subject to vesting  requirements
contained in OTS  regulations,  Limited SARs will be exercisable only for the 45
days  following  the  expiration of the tender or exchange  offer,  during which
period the related stock option or SAR will be exercisable.  However, no Limited
SAR will be exercisable by a director,  Senior Officer or Ten Percent Beneficial
Owner of the Company within six months of the date of its grant.

Effect of Merger and Other Adjustments

      Shares as to which awards may be granted under the Stock Option Plan,  and
shares then subject to awards, will be adjusted  appropriately by the Stock Plan
Committee   in  the  event  of  any   merger,   consolidation,   reorganization,
recapitalization   (including  a  return  of  capital,  whether  non-taxable  or
otherwise),  combination or exchange of shares,  stock dividend,  stock split or
other change in the corporate structure or Common Stock of the Company.

      In the event of any merger,  consolidation  or  combination of the Company
with or into another company or other entity,  whereby either the Company is not
the continuing  entity or its  outstanding  shares of Common Stock are converted
into or exchanged for different securities, cash or property, or any combination
thereof, pursuant to a plan or agreement the terms of which are binding upon all
stockholders,  any participant to whom a stock option or SAR has been granted at
least six months  prior to such event will have the right upon  exercise  of the
option  or SAR  (subject  to the terms of the  Stock  Option  Plan and any other
limitation  or vesting  period  applicable  to such  option or SAR) to an amount
equal  to the  excess  of fair  market  value  on the  date of  exercise  of the
consideration  receivable  in the  merger,  consolidation  or  combination  with
respect to the shares covered or represented by the stock option or SAR over the
exercise  price of the option or SAR  multiplied  by the  number of shares  with
respect to which the option or SAR has been exercised.

Amendment and Termination

      The Board of  Directors  of the Company may at any time amend,  suspend or
terminate  the Stock Option Plan or any portion  thereof,  subject to compliance
with OTS  regulations,  but may  not,  without  the  prior  ratification  of the
<PAGE>
stockholders,  make any amendment which shall (i) increase the aggregate  number
of  securities  which may be  issued  under the Stock  Option  Plan  (except  as
specifically set forth under the Stock Option Plan),  (ii) materially change the
requirements  as to eligibility  for  participation  in the Stock Option Plan or
(iii) change the class of persons  eligible to  participate  in the Stock Option
Plan, provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension or termination shall
impair the rights of any  participant,  without his  consent,  in any award made
pursuant to the Stock  Option  Plan.  Unless  previously  terminated,  the Stock
Option  Plan shall  continue  in effect for a term of ten years,  after which no
further awards may be granted under the Stock Option Plan.


                                        7
<PAGE>
Federal Income Tax Consequences

      Under present federal income tax laws,  awards under the Stock Option Plan
will have the following consequences:

(1)   The grant of an award,  by itself,  will  generally  neither result in the
      recognition of taxable income to the  participant  nor entitle the Company
      to a deduction at the time of such grant.

(2)   In order to qualify as an Incentive  Stock Option,  a stock option awarded
      under the Stock Option Plan must meet the conditions  contained in Section
      422 of the Code,  including the requirement  that the shares acquired upon
      the  exercise of the stock  option be held for at least one year after the
      date of exercise and at least two years after the grant of the option. The
      exercise  of an  Incentive  Stock  Option will  generally  not, by itself,
      result in the recognition of taxable income to the participant nor entitle
      the  Company to a deduction  at the time of such  exercise.  However,  the
      difference  between the  exercise  price and the fair market  value of the
      option shares on the date of exercise is an item of adjustment  which may,
      in certain situations, trigger the alterative minimum tax. The alternative
      minimum tax is incurred  only when it exceeds the regular  income tax. The
      alternative  minimum  tax will be  payable at the rate of 26% on the first
      $175,000 of  "alternative  minimum  taxable  income"  above the  exemption
      amount ($33,750 for a single individual or $45,000 for married individuals
      filing  jointly).  This tax  applies at a flat rate of 28% on  alternative
      minimum  taxable income more than $175,000 above the applicable  exemption
      amounts. If a taxpayer has alternative minimum taxable income in excess of
      $150,000  (married   individuals   filing  jointly)  or  $112,500  (single
      individual),  the  $45,000  or  $33,750  exemptions  will be reduced by an
      amount equal to 25% of the amount by which the alternative minimum taxable
      income of the taxpayer exceeds $150,000 or $112,500, respectively.

(3)   If the shares are held by the  participant for at least one year after the
      Incentive  Stock  Option is  exercised  and two years after the  Incentive
      Stock  Option was granted,  the  participant  will  recognize a middle- or
      long-term  capital  gain or loss upon  disposition  of the  shares and the
      Company  will not be entitled to a  corresponding  deduction.  The capital
      gain will be considered  middle-term  if the shares are held for more than
      one year and not more than 18 months prior to  disposition,  and long-term
      if they are held for more than 18 months.  The amount of such gain or loss
      will be  equal  to the  difference  between  the  amount  realized  by the
      participant  upon  disposition  of the shares  and the amount  paid by the
      participant for such shares.

(4)   If the shares  acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option are not
      held  for  at  least  one  year  after  transfer  of  such  shares  to the
      participant  and two years after the grant of the Incentive  Stock Option,
      the  participant  generally  will recognize  ordinary  income or loss upon
      disposition of the shares in an amount equal to the difference between the
      exercise  price  and the fair  market  value of the  shares on the date of
      exercise.  In such an event,  the Company will  generally be entitled to a
      corresponding  deduction,  provided  the  Company  meets its  federal  tax
      reporting obligations. The participant will also recognize capital gain or
      loss in an amount of the  difference,  if any,  between the sale price and
      the  fair  market  value of the  shares  on the  date of  exercise  of the
      Incentive Stock Option; such capital gain or loss will be characterized as
      short-,  middle- or  long-term  depending  on how long the shares are held
      after the date of exercise of the Incentive Stock Option. The Company will
      not be entitled to a  corresponding  deduction  for such  capital  gain or
      loss.
<PAGE>
(5)   The  exercise  of  a  Non-Qualified   Stock  Option  will  result  in  the
      recognition of ordinary  income by the participant on the date of exercise
      in an amount equal to the  difference  between the exercise  price and the
      fair market value on the date of exercise of the shares acquired  pursuant
      to the stock  option.  The Company will be allowed a deduction at the time
      and in the amount of any ordinary  income  recognized  by the  participant
      upon the exercise of a  Non-Qualified  Stock Option,  provided the Company
      meets its  federal  tax  reporting  obligations.  Upon sale of the  shares
      acquired upon exercise of a Non-Qualified  Stock Option,  any appreciation
      or depreciation in the value of such shares from the time of exercise will
      result in the  recognition  of a capital gain or loss by the  participant.
      Such gain or loss will be short-,  middle- or  long-term  capital  gain or
      loss depending  upon how long the  participant  held the shares  following
      exercise of the Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(6)   The exercise of an SAR will result in the  recognition of ordinary  income
      by the  participant  on the date of exercise in an amount of cash,  and/or
      the fair market value on that date of the shares, acquired pursuant to the
      exercise.  The  Company  will be  entitled  to a  corresponding  deduction
      provided that it meets its federal tax reporting obligations.


                                        8
<PAGE>
Awards Under the Stock Option Plan

         The  following  table  presents  information  at August  20,  1998 with
respect to the number of awards,  all of which are options,  which are currently
intended  to be granted  under the Stock  Option  Plan,  subject to  stockholder
ratification  of the Stock  Option  Plan,  to (i) the Named  Officers,  (ii) all
executive  officers  of the  Company  and  the  Association  as a  group,  (iii)
directors who are not executive officers of the Company and the Association as a
group,  and (iv) all  non-executive  officer  employees  of the  Company  or the
Association as a group. The last known sales price on the OTC Bulletin Board was
$12.50 per share on August 31, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         1998 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN


                             Name and Position                                    Dollar Value(1)    Number of Shares
                             -----------------                                    ---------------    ----------------
<S>                                                                                    <C>                  <C>   
Lewis E. Kolar, President and Chief Executive Officer.......................           $ ---                13,225
Executive Officer Group (3 persons).........................................             ---                31,950
Non-Executive Director Group (5 persons)....................................             ---                16,530
Non-Executive Officer and Employee Group (9 persons)........................             ---                14,340
</TABLE>
 
(1)    Any value realized will be the difference  between the exercise price and
       the market value upon exercise.  Since the options have not been granted,
       there is no current value.


         Subject to the conditions of the Stock Option Plan, the proposed awards
described in the  preceding  table will vest in five equal  annual  installments
with the first  installment  vesting on the one-year  anniversary of the date of
grant  and the  additional  installments  vesting  ratably  on  each  subsequent
anniversary  of the date of grant.  Pursuant  to the  terms of the Stock  Option
Plan, all options are required to be granted with an exercise price equal to not
less than the fair  market  value of the  shares  on the date of  grant.  To the
extent  permitted  under  applicable  law,  all options  granted to officers are
intended to be incentive stock options. All awards to directors who are not full
time employees of the Company will be non-qualified stock options.

         THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  STOCKHOLDERS  VOTE "FOR" THE
RATIFICATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 1998 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN.


      PROPOSAL II - RATIFICATION OF THE 1998 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN

General

         Establishment and  implementation of the RRP is subject to ratification
by stockholders. The RRP complies with OTS regulations, however, the OTS has not
endorsed  or  approved  the RRP and no  written  or oral  representation  to the
contrary is made hereby.

         The RRP has been  adopted  by the Board of  Directors  of the  Company,
subject to stockholder  ratification.  The RRP is designed to provide directors,
officers and employees  with a  proprietary  interest in the Company in a manner
designed  to  encourage  such  individuals  to remain  with the  Company and the
<PAGE>
Association. Ratification by stockholders of the adoption of the RRP will ratify
the awards  proposed  thereunder  as described in "Awards under the RRP" herein,
and will ratify the granting of additional  restricted  stock awards pursuant to
the  provisions of the RRP.  Pursuant to the RRP,  26,450 shares of Common Stock
(or 4.0% of the shares sold in the Association's Conversion), funded from either
authorized but unissued shares or issued shares subsequently reacquired and held
as treasury shares,  will be available for awards.  The Board currently intends,
to the extent  practicable  and  feasible,  to fund the RRP from  issued  shares
reacquired by the Company in the open market. To the extent the Company utilizes
authorized  but  unissued  shares  to fund the RRP,  the  interests  of  current
stockholders  will be diluted.  Assuming all RRP Shares are awarded  through the
use of authorized  but unissued  Common  Stock,  current  stockholders  would be
diluted by approximately 3.85%. Upon ratification of the RRP by stockholders, it
is proposed  that an aggregate of 25,123  shares of Common Stock will be awarded
to directors,  officers and employees of the Company and the Association,  which
will leave 1,327 shares available for future awards.


                                        9
<PAGE>
         Attached as Exhibit B to this Proxy  Statement is the complete  text of
the form of the RRP. The principal features of the RRP are summarized below.

Principle Features of the RRP

         The RRP provides for the award of shares of Common Stock ("RRP Shares")
subject to the restrictions  described  below.  Each award under the RRP will be
made on such  terms  and  conditions,  consistent  with the terms of the RRP and
applicable OTS regulations, as the Stock Plan Committee shall determine.

         The RRP is  administered  by the Company's  Stock Plan  Committee.  The
Stock Plan Committee will select the recipients and terms of awards  pursuant to
the RRP.  For  information  regarding  the  membership  of this  Committee,  see
"Proposal I -  Ratification  of the 1998 Stock  Option and  Incentive  Plan." In
determining to whom and in what amount to grant awards, the Stock Plan Committee
considers the position and responsibilities of eligible  individuals,  the value
of their services to the Company and the  Association and other factors it deems
relevant. Pursuant to the terms of the RRP, any director, officer or employee of
the Company or its  affiliates  may be selected by the Stock Plan  Committee  to
participate  in the RRP.  As of the date  hereof,  there  are  approximately  30
persons eligible to participate in the RRP.

         The RRP provides  that RRP Shares used to fund awards under the RRP may
be either  authorized  but  unissued  shares or  reacquired  shares  held by the
Company  in its  treasury.  Any RRP  Shares  which are  forfeited  will again be
available for issuance under the RRP.

         As required by OTS  regulations,  award  recipients earn (i.e.,  become
vested  in)  awards,  over a period  of time as  determined  by the  Stock  Plan
Committee at the time of grant, provided that no award may vest earlier than one
year from the date of  stockholder  approval of the RRP and shall vest at a rate
not to exceed 20% of the initial  award per year except in the event of death or
disability.  Pursuant to OTS Regulations,  no director who is not an employee of
the Company  shall be granted  awards with  respect to more than 5% of the total
shares  subject to the RRP. All  non-employee  directors of the Company,  in the
aggregate,  may not be granted awards with respect to more than 30% of the total
RRP Shares and no individual  shall be granted  awards with respect to more than
25% of the  total  RRP  Shares.  It is  intended  that no  award  granted  to an
executive officer of the Company or its affiliates shall vest in any fiscal year
(and  shall  be  carried  over to the  subsequent  fiscal  year)  in  which  the
Association fails to meet all of its fully phased-in capital requirements.

         Subject to compliance  with OTS  regulations,  the Stock Plan Committee
may, in its  discretion,  accelerate  the time at which any or all  restrictions
will  lapse,  or may  remove  any or all of the  restrictions.  In the  event  a
participant  ceases to  maintain  continuous  service  with the  Company  or the
Association  by reason of death or  disability,  RRP  Shares  still  subject  to
restrictions will be free of these  restrictions and shall not be forfeited.  In
the event of termination for any other reason,  all shares will be forfeited and
returned to the Company.

         Holders of RRP Shares may not vote or sell, assign, transfer, pledge or
otherwise  encumber any of the RRP Shares during the restricted  period.  During
the restricted  period,  RRP Shares will be voted by an independent  trustee and
not by the holder of such shares. In addition,  all dividends  declared and paid
on RRP Shares still  subject to  restrictions  will be deferred and held for the
account  of  the  participant   thereof  until  the  earlier  to  lapse  of  the
restrictions on such shares or the death or disability of the participant.
<PAGE>
         Finally,  the RRP provides  for an award as of the date of  stockholder
ratification  of the RRP of 1,322 Shares to each director who is not a full-time
employee of the Company  ("non-employee  director").  As provided in the RRP, no
RRP Shares granted to a non-employee  director shall not be earned in any fiscal
year (and  shall be carried  over to the  subsequent  fiscal  year) in which the
Association fails to meet all of its fully phased-in capital requirements.

Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization

         RRP Shares  awarded  under the RRP will be  adjusted  by the Stock Plan
Committee in the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, stock split, stock
dividend,  combination  or exchange of shares,  merger,  consolidation  or other
change in corporate structure or the Common Stock of the Company.


                                       10
<PAGE>
Federal Income Tax Consequences

         Holders of  Restricted  Stock  will  recognize  ordinary  income on the
earlier of the date that the Restricted  Stock is  transferable  or is no longer
subject to a  substantial  risk of  forfeiture,  in an amount  equal to the fair
market value of the shares on that date. In certain circumstances,  a holder may
elect to recognize  ordinary  income and determine such fair market value on the
date of the grant of the Restricted Stock. Holders of Restricted Stock will also
recognize  ordinary  income  equal  to their  dividend  or  dividend  equivalent
payments  when such  payments  are  received.  Generally,  the  amount of income
recognized by participants will be a deductible expense for tax purposes for the
Company as long as the Company meets its federal tax reporting obligations.

Amendment to the RRP

         The Board of Directors  of the Company may amend,  suspend or terminate
the  RRP  or any  portion  thereof  at any  time,  subject  to OTS  Regulations,
provided,  however,  that no such  amendment,  suspension or  termination  shall
impair  the  rights  of any  participant,  without  his  consent,  in any  award
theretofore made pursuant to the RRP.

Awards Under the RRP

         The  following  table  presents  information  at August  20,  1998 with
respect to the number of RRP Shares which are  currently  intended to be granted
under the RRP, subject to stockholder  ratification of the RRP, to (i) the Named
Officers,  (ii) all executive  officers of the Company and the  Association as a
group,  (iii)  directors  who are not  executive  officers of the Company or the
Association  as a group,  and (iv) all  non-executive  officer  employees of the
Company or the Association as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                       1998 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN

                           Name and Position                            Dollar value(1)     Shares of Restricted Stock
                           -----------------                            ---------------     --------------------------
<S>                                                                         <C>                      <C>  
Lewis E. Kolar, President and Chief Executive Officer...................    $82,663                   6,613
Executive Officer Group (3 persons).....................................    157,063                  12,565
Non-Executive Director Group (5 persons)................................     82,625                   6,610
Non-Executive Officer and Employee Group (22 persons)...................     74,350                   5,948
</TABLE>
- -----------

(1)    Assumes an  aggregate  market  value of the RRP Shares  based on the last
       known sales price of the Common  Stock of $12.50 as  indicated on the OTC
       Bulletin Board on August 31, 1998.


         THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  STOCKHOLDERS  VOTE "FOR" THE
RATIFICATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE 1998 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN.
<PAGE>

                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

         In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  proxy materials
for next year's Annual Meeting of Shareholders, any shareholder proposal to take
action at such meeting must be received at the Company's  executive office at 52
North Main Street, Gloversville, New York 12078-3084 no later than September 21,
1998. Any such proposal shall be subject to the  requirements of the proxy rules
adopted under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Otherwise,  any
shareholder  proposal  to take  action at such  meeting  must be received at the
Company's  executive  office at 52 North  Main  Street,  Gloversville,  New York
12078-3084 by November 21, 1998; provided,  however,  that in the event that the
date of the annual  meeting is held before  December 21, 1998 or after  February
18, 1999, the shareholder  proposal must be received not later than the close of
business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual  meeting or the tenth
day  following  the day on which  notice of the date of the annual  meeting  was
mailed or public  announcement  of the date of such meeting was first made.  All
shareholder  proposals  must also comply with the Company's  bylaws and Delaware
law.



                                       11
<PAGE>
                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of  Directors is not aware of any business to come before the
Meeting  other  than those  matters  described  above in this  Proxy  Statement.
However,  if any other matter  should  properly  come before the Meeting,  it is
intended  that  holders of the proxies  will act in  accordance  with their best
judgment.

         The cost of solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the Company.  The
Company  will  reimburse  brokerage  firms and other  custodians,  nominees  and
fiduciaries for reasonable  expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
to the  beneficial  owners of Common  Stock.  The Company has  retained  Regan &
Associates  to assist in the  solicitation  of  proxies  for a fee not to exceed
$3,000,  plus  out-of-pocket  expenses,  not  to  exceed  $1,500.  In  addition,
directors,  officers and regular employees of the Company and/or the Association
may solicit proxies  personally or by telegraph or telephone without  additional
compensation.


September 4, 1998

                                       12
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.

                      1998 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN


      1. Plan  Purpose.  The  purpose  of the Plan is to promote  the  long-term
interests  of the  Corporation  and its  stockholders  by  providing a means for
attracting  and retaining  directors,  advisory  directors,  directors  emeriti,
officers and employees of the  Corporation  and its  Affiliates.  It is intended
that  designated  Options  granted  pursuant  to the provi sions of this Plan to
persons  employed by the Corporation or its Affiliates will qualify as Incentive
Stock  Options.  Options  granted  to  persons  who  are not  employees  will be
Non-Qualified Stock Options.

      2.  Definitions.  The following definitions are applicable to the Plan:

      "Affiliate" - means any "parent  corporation" or "subsidiary  corporation"
of the  Corporation,  as such  terms are  defined  in  Section  424(e)  and (f),
respectively, of the Code.

      "Bank" - means  Gloversville  Federal  Savings & Loan  Association and any
successor entity.

      "Award" - means the grant of an Incentive  Stock Option,  a  Non-Qualified
Stock Option, a Stock Appreciation  Right, a Limited Stock Appreciation Right or
any combination thereof, as provided in the Plan.

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

      "Committee" - means the Committee referred to in Section 3 hereof.

      "Continuous   Service"  -  means  the  absence  of  any   interruption  or
termination  of service as a director,  advisory  director,  director  emeritus,
officer or employee of the  Corporation  or an Affiliate,  except that when used
with respect to any Options or Rights which at the time of exercise are intended
to be  Incentive  Stock  Options,  continuous  service  means the absence of any
interruption  or termination of service as an employee of the  Corporation or an
Affiliate.  Service  shall  not be  considered  interrupted  in the case of sick
leave,  military leave or any other leave of absence approved by the Corporation
or in the case of transfers  between  payroll  locations of the  Corporation  or
between the Corporation,  its parent,  its  subsidiaries or its successor.  With
respect to any advisory director or director emeritus,  continuous service shall
mean availability to perform such functions as may be required of such persons.

      "Corporation"  - means  Adirondack  Financial  Services  Bancorp,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation.

      "Employee" - means any person,  including  an officer or director,  who is
employed by the Corporation or any Affiliate.

      "ERISA" - means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
<PAGE>
      "Exercise Price" - means (i) in the case of an Option, the price per Share
at which the Shares  subject to such Option may be  purchased  upon  exercise of
such Option and (ii) in the case of a Right, the price per Share (other than the
Market  Value per Share on the date of exercise and the Offer Price per Share as
defined in Section 10 hereof) which, upon grant, the Committee  determines shall
be utilized in  calculating  the aggregate  value which a  Participant  shall be
entitled to receive  pursuant  to  Sections 9, 10 or 12 hereof upon  exercise of
such Right.

      "Incentive  Stock Option" - means an option to purchase  Shares granted by
the Committee  pursuant to Section 6 hereof which is subject to the  limitations
and  restrictions  of Section 8 hereof and is intended to qualify  under Section
422(b) of the Code.

      "Limited Stock Appreciation Right" - means a stock appreciation right with
respect to Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to Sections 6 and 10 hereof.
<PAGE>
      "Market  Value" - means the average of the high and low quoted sales price
on the date in question  (or, if there is no reported  sale on such date, on the
last  preceding  date on which any  reported  sale  occurred)  of a Share on the
Composite  Tape for the New York Stock  Exchange-Listed  Stocks,  or, if on such
date the  Shares  are not quoted on the  Composite  Tape,  on the New York Stock
Exchange,  or, if the  Shares  are not  listed or  admitted  to  trading on such
Exchange,  on the principal United States securities  exchange  registered under
the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 on which the Shares are listed or admitted
to trading,  or, if the Shares are not listed or admitted to trading on any such
exchange,  the mean between the closing high bid and low asked  quotations  with
respect to a Share on such date on the NASDAQ System, or any similar system then
in use, or, if no such  quotations are available,  the fair market value on such
date of a Share as the Committee shall determine.

      "Non-Employee  Director"  - means a director  who a) is not  currently  an
officer or  employee  of the  Corporation;  b) is not a former  employee  of the
Corporation who receives compensation for prior services (other than from a tax-
qualified  retirement  plan); c) has not been an officer of the Corporation;  d)
does not receive remuneration from the Corporation in any capacity other than as
a director;  and e) does not possess an interest in any other transactions or is
not engaged in a business  relationship  for which  disclosure would be required
under Item 404(a) or (b) of Regulation S-K.

      "Non-Qualified  Stock Option" - means an option to purchase Shares granted
by the  Committee  pursuant to Section 6 hereof which is not intended to qualify
under Section 422(b) of the Code.

"Option" - means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

      "Participant" - means any director,  advisory director, director emeritus,
officer or employee of the  Corporation  or any Affiliate who is selected by the
Committee to receive an Award or who is granted an Award  pursuant to Section 19
hereof.

      "Plan"  -  means  the  1998  Stock  Option  and  Incentive   Plan  of  the
Corporation.

      "Related" - means (i) in the case of a Right,  a Right which is granted in
connection  with,  and to the extent  exercis able, in whole or in part, in lieu
of, an Option or another Right and (ii) in the case of an Option, an Option with
respect to which and to the extent a Right is exercisable,  in whole or in part,
in lieu thereof has been granted.

      "Right" - means a Limited Stock Appreciation Right or a Stock Appreciation
Right.

      "Shares" - means the shares of common stock of the Corporation.

      "Stock Appreciation Right" - means a stock appreciation right with respect
to Shares granted by the Committee pursuant to Sections 6 and 9 hereof.

      "Ten Percent  Beneficial  Owner" - means the beneficial owner of more than
ten  percent  of any class of the  Corporation's  equity  securities  registered
pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
<PAGE>
      3.  Administration.   The  Plan  shall  be  administered  by  a  Committee
consisting  of two or  more  members,  each  of  whom  shall  be a  Non-Employee
Director.  The  members  of the  Committee  shall be  appointed  by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. Except as limited by the express provisions of the
Plan,  the  Committee  shall have sole and complete  authority  and  discretion,
subject to Office of Thrift Supervision Regulations,  to (i) select Participants
and grant Awards;  (ii) determine the number of Shares to be subject to types of
Awards generally,  as well as to individual Awards granted under the Plan; (iii)
determine the terms and conditions  upon which Awards shall be granted under the
Plan;  (iv) prescribe the form and terms of instruments  evidencing such grants;
and (v) establish from time to time  regulations for the  administration  of the
Plan,  interpret  the Plan,  and make all  determinations  deemed  necessary  or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.

      A majority of the Committee shall  constitute a quorum,  and the acts of a
majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present,  or
acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting, shall
be acts of the Committee.


                                        2
<PAGE>
      4.  Participation in Committee Awards.  The Committee may select from time
to time  Participants  in the Plan  from  those  directors  (including  advisory
directors and directors  emeriti),  officers and employees of the Corporation or
its  Affiliates  who, in the opinion of the  Committee,  have the  capacity  for
contributing to the successful performance of the Corporation or its Affiliates.

      5. Shares  Subject to Plan.  Subject to  adjustment  by the  operation  of
Section 11 hereof, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may
be  made  under  the  Plan  is 10% of the  total  Shares  issued  in the  Bank's
conversion  to the capital  stock form.  The Shares with respect to which Awards
may be made  under  the Plan may be either  authorized  and  unissued  shares or
issued shares  heretofore or hereafter  reacquired and held as treasury  shares.
Shares which are subject to Related Rights and Related  Options shall be counted
only once in  determining  whether the maximum  number of Shares with respect to
which Awards may be granted under the Plan has been exceeded. An Award shall not
be  considered  to have been made  under the Plan with  respect to any Option or
Right which terminates and new Awards may be granted under the Plan with respect
to the number of Shares as to which such termination has occurred.

      6. General Terms and Conditions of Options and Rights. The Committee shall
have full and complete  authority  and  discretion,  subject to Office of Thrift
Supervision  Regulations  and except as expressly  limited by the Plan, to grant
Options and/or Rights and to provide the terms and conditions (which need not be
identical  among  Participants)  thereof.  In  particular,  the Committee  shall
prescribe  the following  terms and  conditions:  (i) the Exercise  Price of any
Option or Right,  which shall not be less than the Market Value per Share at the
date of grant of such Option or Right, (ii) the number of Shares subject to, and
the expiration  date of, any Option or Right,  which  expiration  date shall not
exceed  ten  years  from the date of  grant,  (iii)  the  manner,  time and rate
(cumulative  or  otherwise)  of exercise  of such Option or Right,  and (iv) the
restrictions,  if any,  to be placed  upon such  Option or Right or upon  Shares
which may be issued upon exercise of such Option or Right. As required by Office
of Thrift Supervision Regulations, each non-employee director of the Corporation
may not be  granted  Awards  with  respect  to more than 5% of the total  shares
subject to the Plan and all non-employee  directors of the  Corporation,  in the
aggregate,  may not be granted Awards with respect to more than 30% of the total
shares  subject  to the Plan.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  and  subject  to
compliance  with  applicable  Office  of  Thrift  Supervision  Regulations,   no
individual  shall be granted  Awards in any  calendar  year with respect to more
than 25% of the total shares  subject to the Plan in any calendar year or during
the entire term of the Plan.

      Any Award  made  pursuant  to this  Plan,  which  Award is  subject to the
requirements  of Office of Thrift  Supervision  Regulations,  shall vest in five
equal annual  installments with the first installment vesting no sooner than the
one-year  anniversary  of the date of  grant,  except  in the  event of death or
disability.  In the event Office of Thrift  Supervision  Regulations are amended
(the "Amended  Regulations") to permit shorter vesting  periods,  any Award made
pursuant  to this  Plan,  which  Award is subject  to the  requirements  of such
Amended  Regulations,  may vest,  at the sole  discretion of the  Committee,  in
accordance with such Amended Regulations.

      Furthermore, at the time of any Award, the Participant shall enter into an
agreement with the Corporation in a form specified by the Committee, agreeing to
the terms and  conditions of the Award and such other matters as the  Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall determine (the "Option Agreement").
<PAGE>
      7.     Exercise of Options or Rights.

(a)   Except as provided herein, an Option or Right granted under the Plan shall
      be exercisable  during the lifetime of the Participant to whom such Option
      or Right was granted only by such  Participant  and, except as provided in
      paragraphs  (c) and (d) of this  Section 7, no such Option or Right may be
      exercised  unless at the time such  Participant  exercises  such Option or
      Right, such Participant has maintained  Continuous  Service since the date
      of grant of such Option or Right.

(b)   To  exercise an Option or Right under the Plan,  the  Participant  to whom
      such  Option  or Right  was  granted  shall  give  written  notice  to the
      Corporation  in  form  satisfactory  to the  Committee  (and,  if  partial
      exercises have been  permitted by the Committee,  by specifying the number
      of Shares with respect to which such  Participant  elects to exercise such
      Option or Right)  together with full payment of the Exercise Price, if any
      and to the  extent  required.  The date of  exercise  shall be the date on
      which such  notice is  received  by the  Corporation.  Payment,  if any is
      required, shall be made either (i) in cash (including check, bank draft or
      money  order)  or (ii) by  delivering  (A)  Shares  already  owned  by the
      Participant  and  having  a fair  market  value  equal  to the  applicable
      exercise price, such

                                        3
<PAGE>
      fair market value to be  determined in such  appropriate  manner as may be
      provided by the Committee or as may be required in order to comply with or
      to conform to requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, or (B) a
      combination of cash and such Shares.

(c)   If a  Participant  to whom an Option or Right was  granted  shall cease to
      maintain  Continuous  Service for any reason (excluding death,  disability
      and  termination  of  employment by the  Corporation  or any Affiliate for
      cause),  such  Participant may, but only within the period of three months
      immediately  succeeding  such  cessation of  Continuous  Service and in no
      event after the  expiration  date of such Option or Right,  exercise  such
      Option  or Right to the  extent  that such  Participant  was  entitled  to
      exercise  such  Option or Right at the date of such  cessation,  provided,
      however, that such right of exercise after cessation of Continuous Service
      shall  not  be  available  to a  Participant  if the  Committee  otherwise
      determines  and so provides in the  applicable  instrument or  instruments
      evidencing the grant of such Option or Right.  If a Participant to whom an
      Option or Right was granted shall cease to maintain  Continuous Service by
      reason of death or  disability  then,  unless  the  Committee  shall  have
      otherwise provided in the instrument  evidencing the grant of an Option or
      Right,  all Options and Rights  granted  and not fully  exercisable  shall
      become  exercisable  in full upon the  happening  of such  event and shall
      remain so exercisable  (i) in the event of death for the period  described
      in paragraph (d) of this Section 7 and (ii) in the event of disability for
      a period of one year following  such date. If the Continuous  Service of a
      Participant  to whom an Option or Right was granted by the  Corporation is
      terminated  for  cause,  all  rights  under  any  Option  or Right of such
      Participant  shall  expire  immediately  upon the  effective  date of such
      termination.

(d)   In the event of the death of a Participant while in the Continuous Service
      of the  Corporation  or an  Affiliate  or within  the  three-month  period
      referred  to in  paragraph  (c) of this  Section 7, the person to whom any
      Option  or  Right  held by the  Participant  at the  time of his  death is
      transferred  by will or the laws of descent  and  distribution,  or in the
      case of an Award  other than an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  pursuant  to a
      qualified  domestic  relations order, as defined in the Code or Title 1 of
      ERISA or the rules thereunder may, but only to the extent such Participant
      was  entitled to exercise  such Option or Right upon his death as provided
      in paragraph (c) above, exercise such Option or Right at any time within a
      period of one year succeeding the date of death of such  Participant,  but
      in no event  later than ten years from the date of grant of such Option or
      Right.  Following  the  death of any  Participant  to whom an  Option  was
      granted  under the Plan,  irrespective  of whether any Related Right shall
      have  theretofore  been granted to the  Participant  or whether the person
      entitled to exercise  such Related  Right  desires to do so, the Committee
      may, as an alternative means of settlement of such Option, elect to pay to
      the person to whom such  Option is  transferred  by will or by the laws of
      descent  and  distribution,  or in the  case of an  Option  other  than an
      Incentive Stock Option,  pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order,
      as  defined in the Code or Title I of ERISA or the rules  thereunder,  the
      amount by which the Market Value per Share on the date of exercise of such
      Option shall exceed the Exercise  Price of such Option,  multiplied by the
      number of Shares with respect to which such Option is properly  exercised.
      Any such  settlement  of an Option shall be considered an exercise of such
      Option for all purposes of the Plan.
<PAGE>
      8. Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to
Participants  who are  Employees.  Any  provision  of the  Plan to the  contrary
notwithstanding,  (i) no  Incentive  Stock Option shall be granted more than ten
years  from the  date  the Plan is  adopted  by the  Board of  Directors  of the
Corporation  and no Incentive  Stock Option shall be  exercisable  more than ten
years from the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (ii) the Exercise
Price of any Incentive  Stock Option shall not be less than the Market Value per
Share on the date such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  (iii) any Incentive
Stock Option shall not be transferable by the Participant to whom such Incentive
Stock  Option  is  granted  other  than  by  will or the  laws  of  descent  and
distribution,  and shall be exercisable during such Participant's  lifetime only
by such  Participant,  (iv) no  Incentive  Stock  Option shall be granted to any
individual who, at the time such Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  owns stock
possessing  more than ten  percent  of the total  combined  voting  power of all
classes of stock of the  Corporation or any Affiliate  unless the Exercise Price
of such  Incentive  Stock Option is at least 110 percent of the Market Value per
Share at the date of grant and such  Incentive  Stock Option is not  exercisable
after the expiration of five years from the date such Incentive  Stock Option is
granted,  and (v) the  aggregate  Market  Value  (determined  as of the time any
Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive
Stock  Options  are  exercisable  for the  first  time by a  Participant  in any
calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.

      9. Stock  Appreciation  Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right shall, upon its
exercise,  entitle the  Participant  to whom such Stock  Appreciation  Right was
granted to receive a number of Shares or cash or combination thereof, as the

                                        4
<PAGE>
Committee in its discretion shall determine, the aggregate value of which (i.e.,
the sum of the  amount of cash  and/or  Market  Value of such  Shares on date of
exercise)  shall  equal (as nearly as  possible,  it being  understood  that the
Corporation  shall not  issue any  fractional  shares)  the  amount by which the
Market  Value per Share on the date of such  exercise  shall exceed the Exercise
Price of such Stock Appreciation Right,  multiplied by the number of Shares with
respect of which such Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall have been  exercised.  A
Stock  Appreciation  Right  may be  Related  to an  Option  or  may  be  granted
independently  of any  Option as the  Committee  shall from time to time in each
case determine.  At the time of grant of an Option the Committee shall determine
whether and to what extent a Related Stock  Appreciation  Right shall be granted
with respect thereto, provided, however, and notwithstanding any other provision
of the Plan,  that if the  Related  Option is an  Incentive  Stock  Option,  the
Related  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  satisfy  all  the  restrictions  and
limitations of Section 8 hereof as if such Related Stock Appreciation Right were
an Incentive  Stock Option and as if other rights which are Related to Incentive
Stock Options were  Incentive  Stock Options.  In the case of a Related  Option,
such Related  Option shall cease to be  exercisable  to the extent of the Shares
with respect to which the Related Stock Appreciation  Right was exercised.  Upon
the exercise or termination of a Related Option,  any Related Stock Appreciation
Right  shall  terminate  to the extent of the Shares  with  respect to which the
Related Option was exercised or terminated.

      10. Limited Stock  Appreciation  Rights. At the time of grant of an Option
or Stock  Appreciation  Right to any Participant,  the Committee shall have full
and  complete  authority  and  discretion  to also grant to such  Participant  a
Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right  which is  Related  to such  Option or Stock
Appreciation Right, provided, however and notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan, that if the Related Option is an Incentive  Stock Option,  the Related
Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall  satisfy  all  the  restrictions  and
limitations  of Section 8 hereof as if such Related  Limited Stock  Appreciation
Right  were an  Incentive  Stock  Option  and as if all other  Rights  which are
Related to Incentive  Stock Options were  Incentive  Stock  Options.  Subject to
vesting  requirements  contained in 12 C.F.R. ss.  563b.3(g)(4) or any successor
regulation,  a Limited Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only during
the period  beginning on the first day  following  the date of expiration of any
"offer" (as such term is hereinafter  defined) and ending on the forty-fifth day
following such date.

      A Limited Stock Appreciation  Right shall, upon its exercise,  entitle the
Participant to whom such Limited Stock Appreciation Right was granted to receive
an amount of cash equal to the  amount by which the "Offer  Price per Share" (as
such  term is  hereinafter  defined)  or the  Market  Value  on the date of such
exercise,  as shall have been provided by the Committee in its discretion at the
time  of  grant,   shall  exceed  the  Exercise  Price  of  such  Limited  Stock
Appreciation  Right,  multiplied  by the number of Shares with  respect to which
such  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right  shall have been  exercised.  Upon the
exercise  of a Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right,  any Related  Option  and/or
Related Stock  Appreciation Right shall cease to be exercisable to the extent of
the Shares  with  respect to which such  Limited  Stock  Appreciation  Right was
exercised. Upon the exercise or termination of a Related Option or Related Stock
Appreciation Right, any Related Limited Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate
to the extent of the Shares with respect to which such Related Option or Related
Stock Appreciation Right was exercised or terminated.
<PAGE>
      For the  purposes  of this  Section  10, the term  "Offer"  shall mean any
tender  offer  or  exchange  offer  for  Shares  other  than  one  made  by  the
Corporation,  provided that the  corporation,  person or other entity making the
offer acquires  pursuant to such offer either (i) 25% of the Shares  outstanding
immediately  prior to the  commencement of such offer or (ii) a number of Shares
which,  together with all other Shares  acquired in any tender offer or exchange
offer (other than one made by the  Corporation)  which expired within sixty days
of the  expiration  date of the  offer in  question,  equals  25% of the  Shares
outstanding  immediately prior to the commencement of the offer in question. The
term "Offer  Price per Share" as used in this  Section 10 shall mean the highest
price per Share paid in any Offer  which  Offer is in effect any time during the
period  beginning on the sixtieth day prior to the date on which a Limited Stock
Appreciation  Right is  exercised  and ending on the date on which such  Limited
Stock Appreciation Right is exercised. Any securities or property which are part
or all of the  consideration  paid for  Shares in the  Offer  shall be valued in
determining the Offer Price per Share at the higher of (A) the valuation  placed
on such securities or property by the corporation, person or other entity making
such Offer or (B) the  valuation  placed on such  securities  or property by the
Committee.

      11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any change
in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by reason
of  any   reorganization,   recapitalization,   stock  split,   stock  dividend,
combination or exchange of shares,  merger,  consolidation  or any change in the
corporate  structure or Shares of the Corporation,  the maximum aggregate number
and class of shares as to which Awards may be granted under the Plan

                                        5
<PAGE>
and the number,  class and exercise price of shares with respect to which Awards
theretofore have been granted under the Plan shall be appropriately  adjusted by
the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive.

      12.  Effect  of  Merger.  In the  event of any  merger,  consolidation  or
combination  of  the  Corporation   (other  than  a  merger,   consolidation  or
combination in which the Corporation is the continuing entity and which does not
result in the outstanding Shares being converted into or exchanged for different
securities,  cash or other property,  or any combination  thereof) pursuant to a
plan or agreement  the terms of which are binding upon all  stockholders  of the
Corporation (except to the extent that dissenting  stockholders may be entitled,
under  statutory  provisions  or  provisions  contained  in the  certificate  or
articles  of  incorporation,  to receive  the  appraised  or fair value of their
holdings),  any Participant to whom an Option or Right has been granted at least
six months prior to such event shall have the right  (subject to the  provisions
of the Plan and any  limitation or vesting  period  applicable to such Option or
Right),  thereafter and during the term of each such Option or Right, to receive
upon  exercise of any such Option or Right an amount  equal to the excess of the
fair market value on the date of such exercise of the securities,  cash or other
property, or combination thereof, receivable upon such merger,  consolidation or
combination  in  respect  of a Share  over the  Exercise  Price of such Right or
Option,  multiplied by the number of Shares with respect to which such Option or
Right shall have been exercised. Such amount may be payable fully in cash, fully
in one or  more  of the  kind or  kinds  of  property  payable  in such  merger,
consolidation  or  combination,  or partly in cash and  partly in one or more of
such kind or kinds of property, all in the discretion of the Committee.

      13.  Assignments  and  Transfers.  No Award nor any right or interest of a
Participant under the Plan in any instrument evidencing any Award under the Plan
may be assigned,  encumbered or transferred except, in the event of the death of
a Participant, by will or the laws of descent and distribution or in the case of
Awards  other than  Incentive  Stock  Options  pursuant to a qualified  domestic
relations  order,  as  defined  in the Code or  Title I of  ERISA  or the  rules
thereunder.

      14. Employee Rights Under the Plan. No director, officer or employee shall
have a right to be selected as a Participant nor, having been so selected, to be
selected  again as a  Participant  and no director,  officer,  employee or other
person  shall have any claim or right to be  granted an Award  under the Plan or
under any other  incentive or similar plan of the  Corporation or any Affiliate.
Neither the Plan nor any action  taken  thereunder  shall be construed as giving
any  employee any right to be retained in the employ of the  Corporation  or any
Affiliate.

      15. Delivery and  Registration of Stock. The  Corporation's  obligation to
deliver Shares with respect to an Award shall, if the Committee so requests,  be
conditioned upon the receipt of a representation as to the investment  intention
of the Participant to whom such Shares are to be delivered,  in such form as the
Committee  shall  determine  to be  necessary  or  advisable  to comply with the
provisions of the Securities  Act of 1933 or any other  Federal,  state or local
securities legislation or regulation. It may be provided that any representation
requirement shall become  inoperative upon a registration of the Shares or other
action  eliminating the necessity of such  representation  under such Securities
Act or other securities  legislation.  The Corporation  shall not be required to
deliver any Shares  under the Plan prior to (i) the  admission of such shares to
listing  on any  stock  exchange  or other  system on which  Shares  may then be
listed,  and (ii) the completion of such registration or other  qualification of
such Shares under any state or Federal law, rule or regulation, as the Committee
shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
<PAGE>
      16.  Withholding Tax. The Corporation  shall have the right to deduct from
all amounts  paid in cash with respect to the exercise of a Right under the Plan
any taxes  required by law to be withheld  with  respect to such cash  payments.
Where a Participant  or other person is entitled to receive  Shares  pursuant to
the exercise of an Option or Right pursuant to the Plan, the  Corporation  shall
have the  right to  require  the  Participant  or such  other  person to pay the
Corporation  the  amount  of any taxes  which the  Corporation  is  required  to
withhold with respect to such Shares, and may, in its sole discretion,  withhold
sufficient Shares to cover the amount of taxes which the Corporation is required
to withhold.

      17.  Amendment or  Termination.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may amend,  suspend or  terminate  the Plan or any portion  thereof at any time,
subject to Office of Thrift Supervision Regulations,  but (except as provided in
Section  11  hereof)  no  amendment  shall  be  made  without  approval  of  the
stockholders of the Corporation which shall (i) increase the aggregate number of
Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan,  (ii) materially
increase the benefits  accruing to  Participants,  (iii)  materially  change the
requirements as to eligibility for  participation in the Plan or (iv) change the
class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan; provided, however, that no
such

                                        6
<PAGE>
amendment, suspension or termination shall impair the rights of any Participant,
without his consent, in any Award theretofore made pursuant to the Plan.

      18.  Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon
its ratification by stockholders of the Corporation. It shall continue in effect
for a term of ten years unless sooner terminated under Section 17 hereof.

      19. Initial Grant. By, and  simultaneously  with, the ratification of this
Plan by the  stockholders  of the  Corporation,  each  member  of the  Board  of
Directors of the  Corporation  at the time of stockholder  ratification  of this
Plan who is not a full-time Employee is hereby granted a ten-year  Non-Qualified
Stock Option to purchase .5% of the shares sold in the Conversion at an Exercise
Price per share equal to the Market Value per share of the Shares on the date of
grant.  Each such Option  shall be  evidenced  by a  Non-Qualified  Stock Option
Agreement in a form  approved by the Board of Directors  and shall be subject in
all respects to the terms and  conditions of this Plan,  which are  controlling.
All Options  granted  pursuant to this  section  shall vest in five equal annual
installments with the first installment  vesting on the first anniversary of the
date of grant, subject to the Director  maintaining  Continuous Service with the
Corporation  or its  Affiliates  since the date of grant.  All  Options  granted
pursuant to this Section 19 shall be rounded down to the nearest  whole share to
the extent  necessary to ensure that no Options to purchase  stock  representing
fractional shares are granted.



                                        7
<PAGE>
                                                                       EXHIBIT B


                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.

                       1998 RECOGNITION AND RETENTION PLAN


      1. Plan  Purpose.  The  purpose  of the Plan is to promote  the  long-term
interests  of the  Corporation  and its  stockholders  by  providing a means for
attracting  and  retaining  directors,  executive  officers and employees of the
Corporation and its Affiliates.

      2. Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the Plan:

      "Award" - means the grant of  Restricted  Stock  pursuant  to the terms of
Section 12 of the Plan or by the Committee, as provided in the Plan.

      "Affiliate" - means any "parent  corporation" or "subsidiary  corporation"
of the  Corporation,  as such  terms are  defined  in  Section  424(e)  and (f),
respectively, of the Code.

      "Bank" - means Gloversville Federal Savings & Loan Association,  a savings
institution and its successors.

      "Beneficiary" - means the person or persons designated by a Participant to
receive any benefits  payable under the Plan in the event of such  Participant'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  Participant's  surviving spouse, if
any, or if none, his estate.

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

      "Committee"  - means  the  Committee  of the  Board  of  Directors  of the
Corporation referred to in Section 6 hereof.

      "Continuous   Service"  -  means  the  absence  of  any   interruption  or
termination  of service as a director,  director  emeritus,  advisory  director,
executive officer or employee of the Corporation or any Affiliate. Service shall
not be considered  interrupted in the case of sick leave,  military leave or any
other leave of absence  approved by the  Corporation  or any Affiliate or in the
case of transfers between payroll locations of the Corporation or its Affiliates
or between the Corporation, its Affiliates or its successor. With respect to any
director  emeritus  or  advisory   director,   continuous   service  shall  mean
availability to perform such functions as may be required of such individuals.

      "Conversion"  - means the  conversion  of the Bank from the  mutual to the
stock form of organization.

      "Corporation"  - means  Adirondack  Financial  Services  Bancorp,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation.
<PAGE>
      "Disability" - means any physical or mental  impairment which qualifies an
employee,  director,  director  emeritus  or  advisor  director  for  disability
benefits under any applicable  long-term  disability plan maintained by the Bank
or an Affiliate,  or, if no such plan applies to such individual,  which renders
such employee or director,  in the judgment of the Committee,  unable to perform
his customary duties and responsibilities.

      "ERISA" - means the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of 1974, as
amended.


<PAGE>
      "Non-Employee  Director"  - means a director  who a) is not  currently  an
officer or  employee  of the  Corporation;  b) is not a former  employee  of the
Corporation  who receives  compensation  for prior  services  (other than from a
tax-qualified  retirement  plan); c) has not been an officer of the Corporation;
d) does not receive remuneration from the Corporation in any capacity other than
as a director;  and e) does not possess an interest in any other transactions or
is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required
under Item 404(a) or (b) of Regulation S-K.

      "Participant" - means any director,  director emeritus, advisory director,
executive  officer  or  employee  of the  Corporation  or any  Affiliate  who is
selected by the  Committee  to receive an Award or a director  who is granted an
award pursuant to Section 12.

      "Plan" - means the 1998 Recognition and Retention Plan of the Corporation.

      "Restricted  Period" - means the period of time  selected by the Committee
for the purpose of determining  when  restrictions are in effect under Section 3
hereof with respect to Restricted Stock awarded under the Plan.

      "Restricted Stock" - means Shares which have been contingently  awarded to
a  Participant  by the  Committee  subject to the  restrictions  referred  to in
Section 3 hereof, so long as such restrictions are in effect.

      "Shares"  - means the common  stock,  par value  $0.01 per  share,  of the
Corporation.

      3. Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock. The Committee shall have full
and complete authority,  subject to the limitations of the Plan, to grant Awards
and, in addition to the terms and conditions contained in paragraphs (a) through
(f) of this  Section 3, to provide such other terms and  conditions  (which need
not be identical among  Participants) in respect of such Awards, and the vesting
thereof,  as  the  Committee  shall  determine,  subject  to  Office  of  Thrift
Supervision Regulations.

(a)   At the time of an award of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall establish
      for  each  Participant  a  Restricted  Period,  during  which  or  at  the
      expiration of which,  as the Committee  shall determine and provide in the
      agreement  referred  to in  paragraph  (d) of this  Section  3, the Shares
      awarded as  Restricted  Stock  shall  vest,  and subject to any such other
      terms and conditions as the Committee shall provide,  shares of Restricted
      Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred,  pledged, voted or otherwise
      encumbered by the Participant,  except as hereinafter provided, during the
      Restricted Period. Except for such restrictions, and subject to paragraphs
      (c) and (e) of this  Section 3 and Section 4 hereof,  the  Participant  as
      owner of such shares shall have all the rights of a stockholder.

      No director  who is not an employee  of the  Corporation  shall be granted
      Awards  with  respect to more than 5% of the total  shares  subject to the
      Plan. All non-employee directors of the Corporation, in the aggregate, may
      not be granted  Awards with  respect to more than 30% of the total  shares
      subject to the Plan and no individual shall be granted Awards with respect
      to more than 25% of the total shares  subject to the Plan. No Awards shall
      begin vesting  earlier than one year from the date the Plan is approved by
      stockholders  of the  Corporation  and no  Award  shall  vest at a rate in
      excess of 20% per year, except in the event of death or disability. In the
      event Office of Thrift  Supervision  Regulations are amended (the "Amended
      Regulations") to permit shorter vesting  periods,  any Award made pursuant
      to this Plan,  which Award is subject to the  requirements of such Amended
      Regulations,  may  vest,  at the  sole  discretion  of the  Committee,  in
      accordance with such Amended Regulations.
<PAGE>
      Subject to compliance with Office of Thrift Supervision  Regulations,  the
      Committee shall have the authority,  in its discretion,  to accelerate the
      time at which any or all of the  restrictions  shall lapse with respect to
      an Award,  or to remove any or all of such  restrictions,  whenever it may
      determine that such

                                        2
<PAGE>
      action is appropriate by reason of changes in applicable tax or other laws
      or other changes in circum stances  occurring  after the  commencement  of
      such Restricted Period.

(b)   Except  as  provided  in  Section  5 hereof,  if a  Participant  ceases to
      maintain   Continuous   Service  for  any  reason  (other  than  death  or
      disability), unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, all Shares of
      Restricted Stock theretofore  awarded to such Participant and which at the
      time  of  such  termination  of  Continuous  Service  are  subject  to the
      restrictions  imposed by  paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 shall upon such
      termination  of  Continuous  Service  be  forfeited  and  returned  to the
      Corporation.  If a Participant  ceases to maintain  Continuous  Service by
      reason of death or  disability,  Restricted  Stock then  still  subject to
      restrictions  imposed by  paragraph  (a) of this Section 3 will be free of
      those restrictions.

(c)   Each  certificate  in respect of Shares of Restricted  Stock awarded under
      the Plan shall be registered in the name of the  Participant and deposited
      by the  Participant,  together with a stock power endorsed in blank,  with
      the Corporation and shall bear the following (or a similar) legend:

               The  transferability  of this certificate and the shares of stock
           represented hereby are subject to the terms and conditions (including
           forfeiture)  contained in the 1998  Recognition and Retention Plan of
           Adirondack  Financial Services Bancorp,  Inc. Copies of such Plan are
           on file in the  offices  of the  Secretary  of  Adirondack  Financial
           Services Bancorp, Inc., 52 North Main Street, Gloversville,  New York
           l2078

(d)   At the time of any Award,  the  Participant  shall enter into an Agreement
      with the Corporation in a form specified by the Committee, agreeing to the
      terms and conditions of the Award and such other matters as the Committee,
      in  its  sole   discretion,   shall  determine  (the   "Restricted   Stock
      Agreement").

(e)   The  payment  to the  Participant  of  dividends  or  other  distributions
      declared or paid on such shares by the Corporation shall be deferred until
      the  lapsing  of the  restrictions  imposed  under  paragraph  (a) of this
      Section 3, and such dividends or other  distributions shall be held by the
      Corporation  for the  account of the  Participant  until such time.  There
      shall be credited at the end of each year (or portion thereof) interest on
      the amount of the deferred dividends or other  distributions at a rate per
      annum as the  Committee,  in its  discretion,  may  determine.  Payment of
      deferred dividends or other distributions,  together with interest accrued
      thereon,  shall be made upon the  earlier  to occur of the  lapsing of the
      restrictions  imposed under  paragraph (a) of this Section 3 or upon death
      or disability of the  Participant.  Shares of Restricted  Stock subject to
      restriction  on the  date of any  shareholder  vote  shall  be voted by an
      independent party to be named by the Committee.

(f)   At the  lapsing  of the  restrictions  imposed  by  paragraph  (a) of this
      Section 3, the Corporation  shall deliver to the Participant (or where the
      relevant  provision of paragraph (b) of this Section 3 applies in the case
      of a deceased  Participant,  to his legal  representative,  beneficiary or
      heir) the  certificate(s)  and stock power  deposited  with it pursuant to
      paragraph  (c) of  this  Section  3 and  the  Shares  represented  by such
      certificate(s) shall be free of the restrictions  referred to in paragraph
      (a) of this Section 3.
<PAGE>
      4. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.  In the event of any change
in the outstanding Shares subsequent to the effective date of the Plan by reason
of  any   reorganization,   recapitalization,   stock  split,   stock  dividend,
combination or exchange of shares,  merger,  consolidation  or any change in the
corporate  structure or Shares of the Corporation,  the maximum aggregate number
and class of shares as to which  Awards  may be  granted  under the Plan and the
number and class of shares with  respect to which Awards  theretofore  have been
granted under the Plan shall be appropriately  adjusted by the Committee,  whose
determination  shall be  conclusive.  Any  shares  of stock or other  securities
received as a result of any of the  foregoing by a  Participant  with respect to
Restricted   Stock   shall  be  subject  to  the  same   restrictions   and  the
certificate(s) or other

                                        3
<PAGE>
instruments  representing  or  evidencing  such  shares or  securities  shall be
legended and deposited with the  Corporation in the manner provided in Section 3
hereof.

      5. Assignments and Transfers.  During the Restricted  Period, no Award nor
any  right  or  interest  of a  Participant  under  the  Plan in any  instrument
evidencing  any Award under the Plan may be assigned,  encumbered or transferred
except  (i) in the event of the death of a  Participant,  by will or the laws of
descent and  distribution,  or (ii) pursuant to a qualified  domestic  relations
order as defined in the Code or Title I of ERISA or the rules thereunder.

      6.  Administration.   The  Plan  shall  be  administered  by  a  Committee
consisting  of two or  more  members,  each  of  whom  shall  be a  Non-Employee
Director.  The  members  of the  Committee  shall be  appointed  by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation. Except as limited by the express provisions of the
Plan,  the  Committee  shall have sole and complete  authority  and  discretion,
subject to Office of Thrift Supervision Regulations,  to (i) select Participants
and grant Awards;  (ii) determine the number of Shares to be subject to types of
Awards  generally,  as well as individual  Awards granted under the Plan;  (iii)
determine the terms and conditions  upon which Awards shall be granted under the
Plan;  (iv) prescribe the form and terms of instruments  evidencing such grants;
and (v) establish from time to time  regulations for the  administration  of the
Plan,  interpret  the Plan,  and make all  determinations  deemed  necessary  or
advisable for the  administration  of the Plan. The Committee may maintain,  and
update from time to time as appropriate,  a list designating  selected directors
as  Non-Employee  Directors.  The purpose of such list shall be to evidence  the
status of such individuals as Non-Employee  Directors and the Board of Directors
may  appoint  to  the  Committee  any  individual   actually   qualifying  as  a
Non-Employee Directors regardless of whether identified as such on said list.

      A majority of the Committee shall  constitute a quorum,  and the acts of a
majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present,  or
acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting, shall
be acts of the Committee.

      7. Shares  Subject to Plan.  Subject to  adjustment  by the  operation  of
Section 4 hereof,  the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may
be made  under the Plan is 4% of the total  Shares  issued in the  Association's
Conversion.  The Shares with  respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan
may be either  authorized  and unissued  Shares or issued  Shares  heretofore or
hereafter  reacquired  and  held as  treasury  Shares.  An  Award  shall  not be
considered  to have been made under the Plan with  respect to  Restricted  Stock
which is forfeited  and new Awards may be granted under the Plan with respect to
the number of Shares as to which such forfeiture has occurred.

      The  Corporation's  obligation to deliver  Shares with respect to an Award
shall,  if the  Committee  so  requests,  be  conditioned  upon the receipt of a
representation  as to the investment  intention of the  Participant to whom such
Shares are to be delivered,  in such form as the Committee shall determine to be
necessary or advisable to comply with the  provisions of the  Securities  Act of
1933 or any other Federal,  state or local securities legislation or regulation.
It may be provided that any representation  requirement shall become inoperative
upon a registration  of the Shares or other action  eliminating the necessity of
such representation  under such Securities Act or other securities  legislation.
The Corporation shall not be required to deliver any Shares under the Plan prior
to (i) the  admission  of such shares to listing on any stock  exchange on which
Shares may then be listed, and (ii) the completion of such registration or other
qualification of such Shares under any state or Federal law, rule or regulation,
as the Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable.
<PAGE>
      8.  Employee  Rights  Under  the Plan.  No  director,  director  emeritus,
advisory  director,  officer or employee  shall have a right to be selected as a
Participant nor, having been so selected,  to be selected again as a Participant
and no director, officer, employee or other person shall have any claim or right
to be granted an Award  under the Plan or under any other  incentive  or similar
plan of the Corporation or any Affiliate. Neither

                                        4
<PAGE>
the Plan nor any  action  taken  thereunder  shall be  construed  as giving  any
officer or employee  any right to be retained in the employ of the  Corporation,
the Bank or any Affiliate.

      9.  Withholding  Tax. Upon the  termination of the Restricted  Period with
respect to any shares of Restricted Stock (or at such earlier time, if any, that
an election is made by the  Participant  under Section 83(b) of the Code, or any
successor  provision  thereto,  to include  the value of such  shares in taxable
income), the Corporation may, in its sole discretion,  withhold from any payment
or distribution  made under this Plan sufficient  Shares or withhold  sufficient
cash to cover any applicable  withholding and employment  taxes. The Corporation
shall have the right to deduct from all dividends paid with respect to shares of
Restricted  Stock the amount of any taxes which the  Corporation  is required to
withhold with respect to such dividend  payments.  No discretion or choice shall
be conferred upon any Participant with respect to the form,  timing or method of
any such tax withholding.

      10.  Amendment or  Termination.  The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may amend,  suspend or  terminate  the Plan or any portion  thereof at any time,
subject to Office of Thrift Supervision Regulations,  but (except as provided in
Section  4  hereof)  no  amendment  shall  be  made  without   approval  of  the
stockholders of the Corporation which shall (i) increase the aggregate number of
Shares with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan,  (ii) materially
increase the benefits  accruing to  Participants,  (iii)  materially  change the
requirements as to eligibility for  participation in the Plan or (iv) change the
class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan; provided, however, that no
such  amendment,  suspension  or  termination  shall  impair  the  rights of any
Participant,  without his consent, in any Award theretofore made pursuant to the
Plan.

      11. Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon its ratification by
the stockholders of the  Corporation.  It shall continue in effect for a term of
ten years unless sooner terminated under Section 11 hereof.

      12. Director Awards. By, and simultaneously with, the ratification of this
Plan by the  stockholders  of the  Corporation,  each  member  of the  Board  of
Directors of the Corporation who is not a full-time  employee of the Corporation
is hereby  granted an Award equal to .5% of the shares  sold in the  Conversion.
Each of the  Awards  granted  in this  Section  12 shall be earned in five equal
annual installments, with the first installment vesting on the first anniversary
of the date of grant, as long as the director maintains  Continuous Service with
the Corporation or its  affiliates,  provided,  however,  that no Award shall be
earned  in any  fiscal  year in which  the Bank  fails to meet all of its  fully
phased-in capital requirements.


                                        5
<PAGE>
                                 REVOCABLE PROXY
                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.

        [ X ] PLEASE MARK VOTES AS IN THIS EXAMPLE


                         SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                 October 7, 1998

  The undersigned hereby appoints the Board of Directors of Adirondack Financial
Services  Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Company"),  and its survivor,  with full power of
substitution,  to act as attorneys and proxies for the  undersigned  to vote all
shares of common stock of the Company which the  undersigned is entitled to vote
at the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Meeting"), to be held on October 7,
1998 at the  main  office  of the  Company  located  at 52  North  Main  Street,
Gloversville, New York, at 3:15 P.M. local time, and at any and all adjournments
thereof, as follows;

I. The  ratification  of the  adoption of the  Company's  1998 Stock  Option and
Incentive Plan.

                [   ] FOR      [   ] AGAINST      [   ] ABSTAIN

II. The  ratification  of the adoption of the  Company's  1998  Recognition  and
Retention Plan.

                [   ] FOR      [   ] AGAINST      [   ] ABSTAIN


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

       The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the listed proposals


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

          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

  The stockholder may revoke this proxy by: (i) filing with the Secretary of the
Company at or before the Meeting a written notice of revocation  bearing a later
date than the proxy; (ii) duly executing a subsequent proxy relating to the same
shares  and  delivering  it to the  Secretary  of the  Company  at or before the
Meeting;  or  (iii)  attending  the  Meeting  and  voting  in  person  (although
attendance at the Meeting will not of itself constitute revocation of a proxy).

  The undersigned  acknowledges receipt from the Company, prior to the execution
of this Proxy,  of Notice of the Meeting and a Proxy Statement dated on or about
September 4, 1998.

  Please  sign  exactly  as your name  appears  on this  card.  When  signing as
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian or corporate officer please
give your full title. If shares are held jointly, each holder should sign.
<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.

                   ADIRONDACK FINANCIAL SERVICES BANCORP, INC.

            PLEASE PROMPTLY COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN & MAIL THIS PROXY IN
                       THE ENCLOSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.


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