THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS CO
S-8, 1999-08-03
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 1999.
                                                  Registration No. 333-_________
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                           Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
                           ---------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

        Pennsylvania                                   23-2960768
        ------------                                   ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of                    (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                   Identification No.)

                                6060 Ridge Avenue
                        Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

               Thistle Group Holdings, Co. 1999 Stock Option Plan
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                               Richard Fisch, Esq.
                              Evan M. Seigel, Esq.
                            Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC
                              1301 K Street, N.W.
                                 Suite 700 East
                             Washington, D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 434-4660
                    -----------------------------------------
            (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===============================================================================================================
Title of                                         Proposed Maximum         Proposed Maximum        Amount of
Securities to                Amount to be            Offering            Aggregate Offering      Registration
be Registered               Registered (1)        Price Per Share             Price (2)            Fee (2)
- -------------               --------------        ---------------             ----------          --------
<S>                        <C>                         <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Common Stock
$0.10 par value
per share                   785,637 shares              (2)                  $6,949,965           $1,932.09
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      The maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon awards to be
         granted  under the Thistle Group  Holdings,  Co. 1999 Stock Option Plan
         (the  "Plan")  consists of 785,637  shares  which are being  registered
         under this  Registration  Statement and for which a registration fee is
         being paid. Additionally,  an indeterminate number of additional shares
         which may be  offered  and issued to prevent  dilution  resulting  from
         stock splits, dividends or similar transactions.
(2)      Under  Rule  457(h)  of the  1933  Act,  the  registration  fee  may be
         calculated, inter alia, based upon the price at which the stock options
         may be exercised.  An aggregate of 785,637 shares are being  registered
         hereby,  of which 403,420 shares are under option at a weighted average
         exercise price of $8.9375 per share ($3,605,566 in the aggregate).  The
         remainder of such shares,  which are not  presently  subject to options
         (382,217  shares),  are being  registered based upon the average of the
         high and low selling  prices of the Common Stock of the  Registrant  as
         reported on the Nasdaq  National  Market on august 2, 1999 of $8.75 per
         share ($3,344,399 in the aggregate) for a total offering of $6,949,965.

         This Registration  Statement shall become effective  automatically upon
the date of filing,  in accordance  with Section 8(a) of the  Securities  Act of
1933 ("1933 Act") and Rule 462 of the 1933 Act.


<PAGE>



                                     PART I
              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

Item 1.  Plan Information. *
- ------

Item 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information. *
- ------

         *This  Registration  Statement  relates to the  registration of 785,637
shares of Thistle Group  Holdings,  Co. (the "Company" or  "Registrant")  common
stock,  $.10 par value per share (the  "Common  Stock")  issuable to  employees,
officers and directors of the Registrant or its subsidiary as  compensation  for
services in accordance  with the Thistle Group  Holdings,  Co. 1999 Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan").  Documents  containing the information  required by Part I of
this Registration Statement will be sent or given to participants in the Plan as
specified by Rule  428(b)(1).  Such  documents are not filed with the Securities
and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission")  either as part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus  supplements pursuant to Rule 424, in
reliance on Rule 428.

                                     PART II
               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
- ------

         The Company became  subject to the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934  (the  "1934  Act")  on  May  29,  1998  and,
accordingly,  files periodic reports and other  information with the Commission.
Reports,  proxy  statements and other  information  concerning the Company filed
with the  Commission  may be inspected and copies may be obtained (at prescribed
rates) at the  Commission's  Public  Reference  Section,  Room  1024,  450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.

         The following  documents filed by the Company are  incorporated in this
Registration Statement by reference:

         (a) The Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998, as filed with the Commission;

         (b) The Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, as filed with the Commission;

         (c) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, as filed with the Commission;

         (d) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended
March 31, 1999, as filed with the Commission;

         (e) Current  Report on Form 8-K (Date of Event:  January 15, 1999),  as
filed with the Commission on January 20, 1999; and

         (f) The  description  of the  Company's  securities as contained in the
Company's  Registration  Statement on Form 8-A, as filed with the  Commission on
May 29, 1998.


                                        2

<PAGE>



         All documents  subsequently  filed by the Company  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14,  and  15(d)  of the  1934  Act,  prior  to the  filing  of a
post-effective  amendment which indicates that all securities  offered have been
sold or which  deregisters all securities then remaining  unsold shall be deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration  Statement and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.
- ------

         Not Applicable

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
- ------

         Not Applicable

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
- ------

         Sections 1741 through 1747 of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law
provide that an officer,  director,  employee or agent may be indemnified by the
Company  from and against  expenses,  judgments,  fines,  settlements  and other
amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with threatened,  pending
or  contemplated  proceedings  (other  than an  action by or in the right of the
Company)  if such  person  acted in good faith and in a manner  that such person
reasonably  believes  to be in, or not  opposed  to, the best  interests  of the
Company.

         Provisions regarding indemnification of directors,  officers, employees
or agents of the Company are contained in Article 10 of the  Company's  Articles
of Incorporation.

         Under a directors' and officers' liability insurance policy,  directors
and officers of the Company are insured against certain  liabilities,  including
certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         The Registrant believes that these provisions assist the Registrant in,
among other  things,  attracting  and retaining  qualified  persons to serve the
Registrant and its subsidiary.  However, a result of such provisions could be to
increase the expenses of the  Registrant and  effectively  reduce the ability of
stockholders  to sue on behalf of the Registrant  because certain suits could be
barred or amounts that might  otherwise be obtained on behalf of the  Registrant
could be required to be repaid by the Registrant to an indemnified party.

         The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person
who is or was a director,  officer,  employee,  or agent of the Company or is or
was serving at the request of the Company as a director,  officer,  employee, or
agent of  another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust,  or other
enterprise against any liability asserted against the person and incurred by the
person in any such capacity or arising out of his status as such, whether or not
the Company would have the power to indemnify the person  against such liability
under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 ("1933  Act") may be permitted to  directors,  officers,  or persons
controlling the Company  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  the Company has
been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification  is against  public  policy as  expressed in the 1933 Act and is
therefore unenforceable.


                                        3

<PAGE>



Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.
- ------

         Not Applicable

Item 8.  Exhibits.
- ------

         For a  list  of  all  exhibits  filed  or  included  as  part  of  this
Registration Statement,  see "Index to Exhibits" at the end of this Registration
Statement.

Item 9.  Undertakings.
- ------

         (a)      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

                  (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are
                  being made, a  post-effective  amendment to this  Registration
                  Statement;

                  (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                  the 1933 Act;

                  (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus any facts or events arising
                  after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
                  most   recent   post-effective   amendment   thereof)   which,
                  individually  or in the  aggregate,  represent  a  fundamental
                  change  in the  information  set  forth  in  the  Registration
                  Statement;

                  (iii) To include any material  information with respect to the
                  plan  of   distribution   not  previously   disclosed  in  the
                  Registration   Statement  or  any  material   change  to  such
                  information in the Registration Statement;

provided  however,  that paragraphs  (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do no apply if the
Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8, and the information required to
be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those  paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed by the Registrant  pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
1934 Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

                  (2) That, for the purpose of determining  any liability  under
the 1933 Act,  each such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
Registration  Statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

                  (3) To remove from  registration by means of a  post-effective
amendment  any of the  securities  being  registered  which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

         (b) The undersigned  Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining  any  liability  under the 1933 Act each filing of the  Registrant's
annual  report  pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the 1934 Act (and,
where  applicable,  each  filing of an employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report
pursuant to section 15(d) of the 1934 Act) that is  incorporated by reference in
the Registration  Statement shall be deemed to be a new  Registration  Statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


                                        4

<PAGE>



         (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to
be delivered with the prospectus,  to each person to whom the prospectus is sent
or given, the latest annual report,  to security holders that is incorporated by
reference  in  the  prospectus  and  furnished   pursuant  to  and  meeting  the
requirements  of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the 1934 Act; and, where interim
financial information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X is
not set forth in the  prospectus,  to deliver,  or cause to be delivered to each
person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report that
is  specifically  incorporated  by reference in the  prospectus  to provide such
interim financial information.

         (d) Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities  arising under the 1933
Act may be permitted to  directors,  officers,  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and
is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for  indemnification
against such  liabilities  (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the Registrant
in the  successful  defense of any action,  suit, or  proceeding) is asserted by
such director,  officer, or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered,  the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter  has  been  settled  by  controlling  precedent,  submit  to a  court  of
appropriate  jurisdiction  the question  whether such  indemnification  by it is
against  public  policy  expressed  in the 1933 Act and will be  governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.



                                        5

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of Philadelphia in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,  as
of August 3, 1999.

                                  Thistle Group Holdings, Co.


                                  By:      /s/John F. McGill, Jr.
                                           John F. McGill, Jr.
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
                                           (Duly Authorized Representative)


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         We, the  undersigned  directors and officers of Thistle Group Holdings,
Co., do hereby severally  constitute and appoint John F. McGill, Jr. as our true
and lawful attorney and agent, to do any and all things and acts in our names in
the capacities indicated below and to execute any and all instruments for us and
in our names in the capacities  indicated  below which said John F. McGill,  Jr.
may deem necessary or advisable to enable Thistle Group Holdings, Co., to comply
with the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  and any rules,  regulations  and
requirements of the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  in connection with the
Registration  Statement on Form S-8  relating to the  offering of the  Company's
Common Stock, including specifically, but not limited to, power and authority to
sign,  for  any of us in  our  names  in the  capacities  indicated  below,  the
Registration  Statement  and any and all  amendments  (including  post-effective
amendments)  thereto;  and we hereby  ratify and  confirm  all that said John F.
McGill, Jr. shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

         Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933,  this
Registration  Statement  has been signed below by the  following  persons in the
capacities indicated as of the date indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                          <C>
/s/John F. McGill, Jr.                                        /s/Jerry A. Naessens
- -------------------------------------------------             --------------------------------------------
John F. McGill, Jr.                                           Jerry A. Naessens
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman              Chief Financial Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)                                 (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


August 3, 1999                                                     August 3, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------             --------------------------------------------
(Date)                                                        (Date)

/s/Francis E. McGill, III                                     /s/Add B. Anderson, Jr.
- -------------------------------------------------             --------------------------------------------
Francis E. McGill, III                                        Add B. Anderson, Jr.
Secretary and Director                                        Director

August 3, 1999                                                August 3, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------             --------------------------------------------
(Date)                                                        (Date)

/s/ William A. Lamb, Sr.
- -------------------------------------------------
William A. Lamb, Sr.
Director

August 3, 1999
- -------------------------------------------------
(Date)

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS




Exhibit                   Description
- -------                   -----------

     4.1          Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
                  1999 Stock Option Plan

     4.2          Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into with
                  respect to Incentive Stock Options

     4.3          Form of Stock Option Agreement to be entered into with
                  respect to Non-Incentive Stock Options

     4.4          Form of Stock Award Tax Notice

     5.1          Opinion of Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC as to the validity of the
                  Common Stock being registered

    23.1          Consent of Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC (appears in their opinion
                  filed as Exhibit 5.1)

    23.2          Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP

     24           Reference is made to the Signatures section of this
                  Registration Statement for the Power of Attorney contained
                  therein







                                   EXHIBIT 4.1

                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


<PAGE>





                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.

                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


         1.  Purpose of the Plan.  The Plan shall be known as the Thistle  Group
Holdings,  Co.  ("Company") 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan").  The purpose of
the  Plan  is to  attract  and  retain  qualified  personnel  for  positions  of
substantial  responsibility  and to provide  additional  incentive  to officers,
directors, key employees and other persons providing services to the Company, or
any present or future parent or subsidiary of the Company to promote the success
of the  business.  The Plan is intended  to provide for the grant of  "Incentive
Stock Options,"  within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and Non-Incentive  Stock Options,  options that
do not so  qualify.  The  provisions  of the Plan  relating to  Incentive  Stock
Options shall be  interpreted to conform to the  requirements  of Section 422 of
the Code.

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

                  (a) "Award"  means the grant by the  Committee of an Incentive
Stock Option or a Non-Incentive  Stock Option,  or any combination  thereof,  as
provided in the Plan.

                  (b) "Board"  shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company,
or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

                  (c) "Change in Control"  shall mean: (i) the sale of all, or a
material   portion,   of  the  assets  of  the  Company;   (ii)  the  merger  or
recapitalization of the Company whereby the Company is not the surviving entity;
(iii) a change in control of the Company,  as otherwise defined or determined by
the Office of Thrift  Supervision or regulations  promulgated by it; or (iv) the
acquisition,  directly or indirectly,  of the beneficial  ownership  (within the
meaning of that term as it is used in Section 13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of twenty-five
percent (25%) or more of the outstanding voting securities of the Company by any
person,  trust, entity or group. This limitation shall not apply to the purchase
of shares by underwriters in connection with a public offering of Company stock,
or the purchase of shares of up to 25% of any class of securities of the Company
by a tax-qualified employee stock benefit plan which is exempt from the approval
requirements,  set forth under 12 C.F.R.  ss.574.3(c)(1)(vi) as now in effect or
as may  hereafter be amended.  The term  "person"  refers to an  individual or a
corporation,  partnership,  trust, association,  joint venture, pool, syndicate,
sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or any other form of entity not
specifically listed herein. The decision of the Committee as to whether a Change
in Control has occurred shall be conclusive and binding.

                  (d) "Code"  shall mean the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended, and regulations promulgated thereunder.




                                        1

<PAGE>



                  (e)  "Committee"  shall  mean the  Board or the  Stock  Option
Committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 5(a) of the Plan.

                  (f) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company,
or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

                  (g) "Company" shall mean the Thistle Group Holdings,  Co., the
parent corporation of the Savings Bank, or any successor or Parent thereof.

                  (h)  "Continuous  Employment"  or  "Continuous  Status  as  an
Employee"  shall  mean  the  absence  of  any  interruption  or  termination  of
employment with the Company or any present or future Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company.  Employment  shall not be  considered  interrupted  in the case of sick
leave,  military leave or any other leave of absence  approved by the Company or
in the case of transfers  between payroll  locations,  of the Company or between
the Company, its Parent, its Subsidiaries or a successor.

                  (i) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board of the Company
or the Savings Bank, or any successor or parent corporation thereto.

                  (j)  "Director  Emeritus"  shall  mean a person  serving  as a
director emeritus,  advisory  director,  consulting  director,  or other similar
position as may be  appointed  by the Board of  Directors of the Savings Bank or
the Company from time to time.

                  (k)  "Disability"  means (a) with respect to  Incentive  Stock
Options,  the "permanent  and total  disability" of the Employee as such term is
defined at Section  22(e)(3) of the Code; and (b) with respect to  Non-Incentive
Stock Options,  any physical or mental  impairment which renders the Participant
incapable of continuing in the  employment or service of the Savings Bank or the
Parent in his then current capacity as determined by the Committee.

                  (l) "Effective  Date" shall mean the date specified in Section
14 hereof.

                  (m) "Employee"  shall mean any person  employed by the Company
or any present or future Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (n) "Fair Market Value" shall mean: (i) if the Common Stock is
traded otherwise than on a national  securities  exchange,  then the Fair Market
Value per Share shall be equal to the mean between the last bid and ask price of
such  Common  Stock on such  date or,  if there is no bid and ask  price on said
date,  then on the  immediately  prior business day on which there was a bid and
ask price. If no such bid and ask price is available, then the Fair Market Value
shall be determined by the Committee in good faith;  or (ii) if the Common Stock
is listed on a national  securities  exchange,  then the Fair  Market  Value per
Share shall be not less than the average of the highest and lowest selling price
of such Common Stock on such exchange on such date, or if there were no sales on
said date,  then the Fair Market  Value shall be not less than the mean  between
the last bid and ask price on such date.

                  (o) "Incentive  Stock Option" or "ISO" shall mean an option to
purchase  Shares granted by the Committee  pursuant to Section 8 hereof which is
subject to the limitations and  restrictions of Section




                                        2
<PAGE>

8 hereof and is intended to qualify as an incentive  stock option under  Section
422 of the Code.

                  (p)  "Non-Incentive  Stock Option" or "Non-ISO"  shall mean an
option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 9 hereof,  which option is
not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Code.

                  (q)  "Option"   shall  mean  an  Incentive   Stock  Option  or
Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to this Plan providing the holder of
such Option with the right to purchase Common Stock.

                  (r)  "Optioned  Stock"  shall mean stock  subject to an Option
granted pursuant to the Plan.

                  (s) "Optionee" shall mean any person who receives an Option or
Award pursuant to the Plan.

                  (t)  "Parent"  shall mean any  present  or future  corporation
which would be a "parent  corporation"  as defined in Sections 424(e) and (g) of
the Code.

                  (u) "Participant" means any director,  officer or key employee
of the Company or any Parent or  Subsidiary  of the Company or any other  person
providing a service to the Company who is selected by the  Committee  to receive
an Award, or who by the express terms of the Plan is granted an Award.

                  (v)  "Plan"  shall  mean  the Thistle Group Holdings, Co. 1999
Stock Option Plan.

                  (w)  "Retirement"  shall  mean  termination  of service in all
capacities as an Employee,  Director and Director Emeritus following  attainment
of not less than age 55 and  completion of not less than ten years of Service to
the Company or the  Savings  Bank.  Service to the  Company or the Savings  Bank
rendered  prior  to the  Effective  Date  shall  be  recognized  in  determining
eligibility to meet the requirements of Retirement under the Plan.

                  (x) "Savings Bank" shall mean Roxborough-Manayunk Bank, or any
successor corporation thereto.

                  (y) "Share" shall mean one share of the Common Stock.

                  (z) "Subsidiary"  shall mean any present or future corporation
which  constitutes a "subsidiary  corporation" as defined in Sections 424(f) and
(g) of the Code.

          3. Shares  Subject to the Plan.  Except as  otherwise  required by the
provisions of Section 12 hereof,  the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which Awards may be made pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed  785,637  Shares.
Such  Shares  may  either  be from  authorized  but  unissued  shares  or shares
purchased  in the market for Plan  purposes.  If an Award shall  expire,  become
unexercisable,  or be forfeited for any reason prior to its exercise, new Awards
may be granted  under the Plan with  respect to the number of Shares as to which
such expiration has occurred.


                                        3
<PAGE>



         4.       Six Month Holding Period.

                  Subject to vesting requirements,  if applicable, except in the
event of death or  Disability  of the  Optionee  or a Change in  Control  of the
Company, a minimum of six months must elapse between the date of the grant of an
Option  and the  date of the  sale of the  Common  Stock  received  through  the
exercise of such Option.

          5.      Administration of the Plan.

                  (a)   Composition  of  the   Committee.   The  Plan  shall  be
administered by the Board of Directors of the Company or a Committee which shall
consist of not less than two Directors of the Company appointed by the Board and
serving at the pleasure of the Board.  All persons  designated as members of the
Committee shall meet the  requirements of a "Non-Employee  Director"  within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as
found at 17 CFR ss.240.16b-3.

                  (b) Powers of the Committee.  The Committee is authorized (but
only to the extent not  contrary  to the  express  provisions  of the Plan or to
resolutions adopted by the Board) to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend and
rescind  rules and  regulations  relating to the Plan, to determine the form and
content of Awards to be issued  under the Plan and to make other  determinations
necessary or advisable for the  administration  of the Plan,  and shall have and
may  exercise  such other power and  authority  as may be delegated to it by the
Board from time to time. A majority of the entire  Committee shall  constitute a
quorum and the action of a majority  of the  members  present at any  meeting at
which a quorum is present  shall be deemed the  action of the  Committee.  In no
event may the Committee  revoke  outstanding  Awards  without the consent of the
Participant.

                  The President of the Company and such other  officers as shall
be  designated  by the  Committee  are  hereby  authorized  to  execute  written
agreements  evidencing  Awards on behalf of the  Company and to cause them to be
delivered  to the  Participants.  Such  agreements  shall set  forth the  Option
exercise price, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Option, the
expiration  date  of  such  Options,  and  such  other  terms  and  restrictions
applicable to such Award as are  determined  in accordance  with the Plan or the
actions of the Committee.

                  (c)   Effect   of   Committee's   Decision.   All   decisions,
determinations  and   interpretations  of  the  Committee  shall  be  final  and
conclusive on all persons affected thereby.

          6.      Eligibility for Awards and Limitations.

                   (a) The  Committee  shall  from  time to time  determine  the
officers, Directors, key employees and other persons who shall be granted Awards
under the Plan,  the number of Awards to be granted  to each such  persons,  and
whether  Awards  granted  to each  such  Participant  under  the  Plan  shall be
Incentive and/or  Non-Incentive Stock Options. In selecting  Participants and in
determining  the  number of Shares of Common  Stock to be  granted  to each such
Participant,  the Committee may consider the nature of the prior and anticipated
future  services  rendered  by each such  Participant,  each such  Participant's
current and potential  contribution to the Company and such other factors as the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, deem relevant. Participants who have been
granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be



                                        4

<PAGE>



granted additional Awards.

                  (b) The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date
the Option is  granted)  of the Shares  with  respect to which  Incentive  Stock
Options are  exercisable for the first time by each Employee during any calendar
year (under all Incentive  Stock Option plans,  as defined in Section 422 of the
Code,  of the  Company or any  present  or future  Parent or  Subsidiary  of the
Company) shall not exceed $100,000. Notwithstanding the prior provisions of this
Section  6,  the  Committee  may  grant  Options  in  excess  of  the  foregoing
limitations,  provided said Options shall be clearly and specifically designated
as not being Incentive Stock Options.

                  (c) In no event  shall  Shares  subject to Options  granted to
non-employee  Directors in the aggregate under this Plan exceed more than 25% of
the total number of Shares  authorized  for delivery under this Plan pursuant to
Section 3 herein.  In no event shall  Shares  subject to Options  granted to any
Employee  exceed  more than 30% of the total  number  of Shares  authorized  for
delivery under the Plan.

          7. Term of the Plan.  The Plan shall  continue in effect for a term of
ten (10) years from the Effective  Date,  unless sooner  terminated  pursuant to
Section 17  hereof.  No Option  shall be  granted  under the Plan after ten (10)
years from the Effective Date.

          8. Terms and Conditions of Incentive  Stock Options.  Incentive  Stock
Options may be granted only to  Participants  who are Employees.  Each Incentive
Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an instrument in
such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve. Each Incentive Stock
Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall comply with,  and be subject to, the
following terms and conditions:

                  (a)      Option Price.

                            (i)     The price per Share at which each  Incentive
Stock Option granted by the Committee under the Plan may be exercised shall not,
as to any particular  Incentive Stock Option, be less than the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock on the date that such Incentive Stock Option is granted.

                           (ii)     In the case of an Employee who  owns  Common
Stock  representing more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding  Common Stock
at the time the Incentive  Stock Option is granted,  the Incentive  Stock Option
exercise  price shall not be less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the
Fair  Market  Value of the  Common  Stock on the date that the  Incentive  Stock
Option is granted.

                  (b)  Payment.  Full  payment  for each  Share of Common  Stock
purchased upon the exercise of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan
shall be made at the time of exercise of each such  Incentive  Stock  Option and
shall be paid in cash (in United States Dollars),  Common Stock or a combination
of cash and Common Stock.  Common Stock  utilized in full or partial  payment of
the  exercise  price  shall be  valued at the Fair  Market  Value at the date of
exercise.  The Company shall accept full or partial payment in Common Stock only
to the extent  permitted by  applicable  law. No Shares of Common Stock shall be
issued  until full  payment has been  received by the  Company,  and no Optionee
shall have any of the rights of a  stockholder  of the Company  until  Shares of
Common Stock are issued to the Optionee.



                                        5


<PAGE>



                  (c) Term of Incentive Stock Option. The term of exercisability
of each Incentive  Stock Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be not more
than ten (10) years from the date each such  Incentive  Stock Option is granted,
provided that in the case of an Employee who owns stock  representing  more than
ten percent  (10%) of the Common  Stock  outstanding  at the time the  Incentive
Stock  Option is granted,  the term of  exercisability  of the  Incentive  Stock
Option shall not exceed five (5) years.

                  (d)  Exercise  Generally.  Except  as  otherwise  provided  in
Section  10 hereof,  no  Incentive  Stock  Option  may be  exercised  unless the
Optionee  shall have been in the employ of the  Company at all times  during the
period  beginning with the date of grant of any such Incentive  Stock Option and
ending on the date three (3) months  prior to the date of  exercise  of any such
Incentive Stock Option. The Committee may impose additional  conditions upon the
right of an Optionee to exercise any Incentive  Stock Option  granted  hereunder
which are not  inconsistent  with the terms of the Plan or the  requirements for
qualification as an Incentive Stock Option.  Except as otherwise provided by the
terms of the Plan or by action of the  Committee at the time of the grant of the
Options, the Options will be first exercisable at the rate of 20% on the date of
grant and 20% annually thereafter during such periods of service as an Employee,
Director or Director Emeritus.

                  (e) Cashless  Exercise.  Subject to vesting  requirements,  if
applicable,  an Optionee who has held an Incentive Stock Option for at least six
months may engage in the  "cashless  exercise"  of the  Option.  Upon a cashless
exercise,  an Optionee shall give the Company  written notice of the exercise of
the Option  together with an order to a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent
third party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned Stock and to deliver enough of
the proceeds to the Company to pay the Option  exercise price and any applicable
withholding  taxes.  If the Optionee does not sell the Optioned  Stock through a
registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent  third party, the Optionee can give the
Company  written  notice of the  exercise  of the  Option  and the  third  party
purchaser of the  Optioned  Stock shall pay the Option  exercise  price plus any
applicable withholding taxes to the Company.

                  (f)   Transferability.   An  Incentive  Stock  Option  granted
pursuant to the Plan shall be exercised  during an  Optionee's  lifetime only by
the Optionee to whom it was granted and shall not be assignable or  transferable
otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

          9.  Terms  and  Conditions  of  Non-Incentive   Stock  Options.   Each
Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an
instrument in such form as the Committee  shall from time to time approve.  Each
Non-Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall comply with and be
subject to the following terms and conditions.

                  (a) Options  Granted to Directors.  Subject to the limitations
of Section  6(c),  Non-  Incentive  Stock  Options to purchase  15,000 shares of
Common  Stock will be granted to each  Director who is not an Employee as of the
Effective  Date,  at an exercise  price  equal to the Fair  Market  Value of the
Common Stock on such date of grant. The Options will be first exercisable at the
rate of 331/3% on the date of grant and 331/3% annually  thereafter  during such
periods of service  as a Director  or  Director  Emeritus.  Such  Options  shall
continue to be exercisable for a period of ten years following the date of grant
without  regard to the  continued  services  of such  Director  as a Director or
Director Emeritus.  Upon a Change in Control of the Savings Bank or the Company,
such Options shall be deemed  immediately 100% exercisable.  In the event of the
Optionee's death, such exercisable Options may be exercised by the personal



                                        6

<PAGE>



representative  of his estate or person or persons to whom his rights under such
Option  shall have  passed by will or by the laws of descent  and  distribution.
Options  may be granted to newly  appointed  or elected  non-employee  Directors
within the sole  discretion of the  Committee.  The exercise  price per Share of
such Options granted shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
at the  time  such  Options  are  granted.  Unless  otherwise  inapplicable,  or
inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph, the Options to be granted to
Directors hereunder shall be subject to all other provisions of this Plan.

                  (b) Option Price. The exercise price per Share of Common Stock
for each  Non-Incentive  Stock Option  granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be at
such price as the  Committee  may  determine in its sole  discretion,  but in no
event less than the Fair Market  Value of such Common Stock on the date of grant
as determined by the Committee in good faith.

                  (c)  Payment.  Full  payment  for each  Share of Common  Stock
purchased upon the exercise of any Non-Incentive  Stock Option granted under the
Plan  shall be made at the time of  exercise  of each such  Non-Incentive  Stock
Option and shall be paid in cash (in United States  Dollars),  Common Stock or a
combination  of cash and Common Stock.  Common Stock utilized in full or partial
payment of the  exercise  price shall be valued at its Fair Market  Value at the
date of exercise.  The Company  shall  accept full or partial  payment in Common
Stock only to the extent  permitted by applicable law. No Shares of Common Stock
shall be issued  until full  payment  has been  received  by the  Company and no
Optionee  shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company until the
Shares of Common Stock are issued to the Optionee.

                  (d) Term.  The term of  exercisability  of each  Non-Incentive
Stock Option granted  pursuant to the Plan shall be not more than ten (10) years
from the date each such Non-Incentive Stock Option is granted.

                  (e) Exercise  Generally.  The Committee may impose  additional
conditions upon the right of any Participant to exercise any Non-Incentive Stock
Option granted  hereunder which is not inconsistent  with the terms of the Plan.
Except  as  otherwise  provided  by the  terms of the Plan or by  action  of the
Committee  at the time of the grant of the  Options,  the Options  will be first
exercisable at the rate of 20% on the date of grant and 20% annually  thereafter
during such periods of service as an Employee, Director or Director Emeritus.

                  (f) Cashless  Exercise.  Subject to vesting  requirements,  if
applicable,  an Optionee who has held a Non-Incentive  Stock Option for at least
six months may engage in the "cashless  exercise" of the Option. Upon a cashless
exercise,  an Optionee shall give the Company  written notice of the exercise of
the Option  together with an order to a registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent
third party,  to sell part or all of the Optioned Stock and to deliver enough of
the proceeds to the Company to pay the Option  exercise price and any applicable
withholding  taxes.  If the Optionee does not sell the Optioned  Stock through a
registered  broker-dealer  or equivalent  third party, the Optionee can give the
Company  written  notice of the  exercise  of the  Option  and the  third  party
purchaser of the  Optioned  Stock shall pay the Option  exercise  price plus any
applicable withholding taxes to the Company.

                  (g)  Transferability.  Any Non-Incentive  Stock Option granted
pursuant to the Plan shall be exercised  during an  Optionee's  lifetime only by
the Optionee to whom it was granted and shall not be assignable or  transferable
otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.




                                        7
<PAGE>



         10.      Effect  of  Termination  of  Employment, Disability, Death and
Retirement on Incentive Stock Options.

                  (a)   Termination  of  Employment.   In  the  event  that  any
 Optionee's  employment with the Company shall  terminate for any reason,  other
 than Disability or death, all of any such Optionee's
Incentive Stock Options,  and all of any such  Optionee's  rights to purchase or
receive Shares of Common Stock pursuant thereto,  shall automatically  terminate
on (A) the earlier of (i) or (ii):  (i) the respective  expiration  dates of any
such Incentive Stock Options,  or (ii) the expiration of not more than three (3)
months after the date of such  termination of  employment;  or (B) at such later
date as is  determined  by the  Committee at the time of the grant of such Award
based upon the Optionee's  continuing  status as a Director or Director Emeritus
of the Savings  Bank or the Company,  but only if, and to the extent  that,  the
Optionee was entitled to exercise any such  Incentive  Stock Options at the date
of such termination of employment,  and further that such Award shall thereafter
be deemed a Non-Incentive Stock Option. In the event that a Subsidiary ceases to
be a Subsidiary of the Company,  the  employment of all of its employees who are
not immediately thereafter employees of the Company shall be deemed to terminate
upon the date such Subsidiary so ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company.

                  (b)  Disability.  In the event that any Optionee's  employment
with the  Company  shall  terminate  as the  result  of the  Disability  of such
Optionee,  such Optionee may exercise any Incentive Stock Options granted to the
Optionee  pursuant  to the Plan at any  time  prior  to the  earlier  of (i) the
respective expiration dates of any such Incentive Stock Options or (ii) the date
which is one (1) year after the date of such termination of employment, but only
if, and to the extent  that,  the  Optionee  was  entitled to exercise  any such
Incentive Stock Options at the date of such termination of employment.

                  (c)  Death.  In the  event of the  death of an  Optionee,  any
Incentive  Stock Options granted to such Optionee may be exercised by the person
or persons to whom the Optionee's  rights under any such Incentive Stock Options
pass  by  will  or by the  laws  of  descent  and  distribution  (including  the
Optionee's estate during the period of  administration) at any time prior to the
earlier  of (i) the  respective  expiration  dates of any such  Incentive  Stock
Options or (ii) the date which is two (2) years  after the date of death of such
Optionee  but only if, and to the extent  that,  the  Optionee  was  entitled to
exercise any such Incentive Stock Options at the date of death.  For purposes of
this Section  10(c),  any  Incentive  Stock Option held by an Optionee  shall be
considered  exercisable  at the  date  of his  death  if  the  only  unsatisfied
condition  precedent to the exercisability of such Incentive Stock Option at the
date of death is the passage of a specified period of time. At the discretion of
the Committee,  upon exercise of such Options the Optionee may receive Shares or
cash or a  combination  thereof.  If cash shall be paid in lieu of Shares,  such
cash shall be equal to the  difference  between  the Fair  Market  Value of such
Shares and the exercise price of such Options on the exercise date.

                  (d) Incentive Stock Options Deemed  Exercisable.  For purposes
of Sections 10(a), 10(b) and 10(c) above, any Incentive Stock Option held by any
Optionee  shall  be  considered  exercisable  at  the  date  of  termination  of
employment if any such  Incentive  Stock Option would have been  exercisable  at
such date of termination of employment without regard to the Disability or death
of the Participant.




                                        8

<PAGE>



                  (e)  Termination  of  Incentive  Stock  Options;  Vesting Upon
Retirement.  Except as may be specified by the Committee at the time of grant of
an Option,  to the extent that any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan
to any Optionee whose employment with the Company terminates shall not have been
exercised  within the  applicable  period set forth in this Section 10, any such
Incentive  Stock Option,  and all rights to purchase or receive Shares of Common
Stock pursuant  thereto,  as the case may be, shall terminate on the last day of
the  applicable  period.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the  Committee  may
authorize  at the time of the  grant  of an  Option  that  such  Award  shall be
immediately 100% exercisable upon the Retirement of the Optionee.

         11.  Effect  of  Termination  of  Employment,   Disability,   Death  or
Retirement  on  Non-Incentive  Stock  Options.   The  terms  and  conditions  of
Non-Incentive  Stock Options  relating to the effect of the  Retirement or other
termination of an Optionee's employment or service, Disability of an Optionee or
his death shall be such terms and conditions as the Committee shall, in its sole
discretion, determine at the time of termination of service, unless specifically
provided for by the terms of the Agreement at the time of grant of the Award.

         12.      Recapitalization, Merger, Consolidation, Change in Control and
Other Transactions.

                  (a)  Adjustment.   Subject  to  any  required  action  by  the
stockholders of the Company,  within the sole  discretion of the Committee,  the
aggregate  number of Shares of Common  Stock for which  Options  may be  granted
hereunder,  the number of Shares of Common  Stock  covered  by each  outstanding
Option,  and the  exercise  price per Share of Common Stock of each such Option,
shall all be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number
of issued and outstanding Shares of Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or
consolidation   of  Shares   (whether   by  reason  of  merger,   consolidation,
recapitalization,   reclassification,   split-up,   combination  of  shares,  or
otherwise) or the payment of a stock  dividend (but only on the Common Stock) or
any other  increase or  decrease  in the number of such  Shares of Common  Stock
effected  without the receipt or payment of  consideration by the Company (other
than Shares held by dissenting stockholders).

                  (b) Change in Control.  All  outstanding  Awards  shall become
immediately  exercisable in the event of a Change in Control of the Company.  In
the event of such a Change in Control,  the Committee and the Board of Directors
will take one or more of the following actions to be effective as of the date of
such Change in Control:

                           (i)    provide that such Options shall be assumed, or
equivalent options shall be substituted, ("Substitute Options") by the acquiring
or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), provided that: (A) any such
Substitute  Options  exchanged  for  Incentive  Stock  Options  shall  meet  the
requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code, and (B) the shares of stock issuable
upon  the  exercise  of such  Substitute  Options  shall  constitute  securities
registered in accordance  with the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  ("1933
Act") or such  securities  shall be exempt from such  registration in accordance
with  Sections  3(a)(2) or 3(a)(5) of the 1933 Act,  (collectively,  "Registered
Securities"),  or in  the  alternative,  if the  securities  issuable  upon  the
exercise of such Substitute Options shall not constitute Registered  Securities,
then the  Optionee  will  receive  upon  consummation  of the  Change in Control
transaction a cash payment for each Option  surrendered  equal to the difference
between (1) the Fair Market Value of the  consideration  to be received for each
share of Common Stock in the Change in Control  transaction  times the number of
shares




                                        9
<PAGE>



of Common  Stock  subject to such  surrendered  Options,  and (2) the  aggregate
exercise price of all such surrendered Options, or

                           (ii)    in the event of a transaction under the terms
of which the  holders of the  Common  Stock of the  Company  will  receive  upon
consummation  thereof a cash  payment  (the  "Merger  Price")  for each share of
Common  Stock  exchanged  in the  Change in Control  transaction,  to make or to
provide for a cash payment to the Optionees equal to the difference  between (A)
the  Merger  Price  times the number of shares of Common  Stock  subject to such
Options held by each Optionee (to the extent then  exercisable  at prices not in
excess of the Merger  Price) and (B) the  aggregate  exercise  price of all such
surrendered Options in exchange for such surrendered Options.

                  (c)  Extraordinary   Corporate  Action.   Notwithstanding  any
provisions  of the Plan to the contrary,  subject to any required  action by the
stockholders   of  the  Company,   in  the  event  of  any  Change  in  Control,
recapitalization,   merger,   consolidation,   exchange  of  Shares,   spin-off,
reorganization,   tender  offer,   partial  or  complete  liquidation  or  other
extraordinary  corporate action or event, the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall have the power, prior or subsequent to such action or event to:

                            (i)     appropriately adjust the number of Shares of
Common Stock  subject to each  Option,  the Option  exercise  price per Share of
Common Stock, and the  consideration to be given or received by the Company upon
the exercise of any outstanding Option;

                           (ii)    cancel any or all previously granted Options,
provided that  appropriate  consideration  is paid to the Optionee in connection
therewith; and/or

                           (iii) make such other  adjustments in connection with
the Plan as the Committee, in its sole discretion,  deems necessary,  desirable,
appropriate or advisable;  provided,  however,  that no action shall be taken by
the Committee which would cause Incentive Stock Options granted  pursuant to the
Plan to fail to meet the  requirements  of Section  422 of the Code  without the
consent of the Optionee.

                  (d)  Acceleration.  The Committee  shall at all times have the
power to accelerate  the exercise date of Options  previously  granted under the
Plan.

                  (e) Non-recurring Dividends.  Upon the payment of a special or
non-recurring  cash  dividend  that has the effect of a return of capital to the
stockholders,   the  Option   exercise   price  per  share   shall  be  adjusted
proportionately and in an equitable manner.

         Except as expressly provided in Sections 12(a), 12(b) and 12(e) hereof,
no  Optionee  shall  have any rights by reason of the  occurrence  of any of the
events described in this Section 12.

         13. Time of Granting Options.  The date of grant of an Option under the
Plan  shall,  for all  purposes,  be the date on which the  Committee  makes the
determination of granting such Option. Notice of the grant of an Option shall be
given to each  individual  to whom an Option is so granted  within a  reasonable
time after the date of such grant in a form determined by the Committee.





                                       10

<PAGE>



         14.  Effective  Date. The Plan shall become  effective upon the date of
approval of the Plan by the stockholders of the Company.  The Committee may make
a  determination  related to Awards prior to the Effective Date with such Awards
to be effective upon the date of stockholder approval of the Plan.

         15.   Approval  by   Stockholders.   The  Plan  shall  be  approved  by
stockholders  of the Company  within twelve (12) months before or after the date
the Plan is approved by the Board.

         16.  Modification  of Options.  At any time and from time to time,  the
Board may  authorize  the  Committee to direct the  execution  of an  instrument
providing  for the  modification  of any  outstanding  Option,  provided no such
modification, extension or renewal shall confer on the holder of said Option any
right or benefit  which could not be conferred on the Optionee by the grant of a
new  Option  at such  time,  or shall not  materially  decrease  the  Optionee's
benefits  under the Option  without  the  consent  of the holder of the  Option,
except as otherwise permitted under Section 17 hereof.

         17. Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

                  (a)  Action by the  Board.  The Board may  alter,  suspend  or
discontinue  the Plan,  except that no action of the Board may  increase  (other
than as provided in Section 12 hereof) the maximum number of Shares permitted to
be  optioned  under the Plan,  materially  increase  the  benefits  accruing  to
Participants   under  the  Plan  or  materially   modify  the  requirements  for
eligibility for  participation in the Plan unless such action of the Board shall
be subject to approval or ratification by the stockholders of the Company.

                  (b)  Change  in  Applicable  Law.  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision  contained  in the Plan,  in the event of a change in any  federal  or
state law,  rule or  regulation  which would make the exercise of all or part of
any previously  granted  Option  unlawful or subject the Company to any penalty,
the Committee may restrict any such exercise without the consent of the Optionee
or other holder thereof in order to comply with any such law, rule or regulation
or to avoid any such penalty.

         18. Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares; Limitations on Option Exercise;
Cancellation of Option Rights.

                  (a)  Shares  shall not be issued  with  respect  to any Option
granted  under the Plan unless the  issuance  and  delivery of such Shares shall
comply with all  relevant  provisions  of  applicable  law,  including,  without
limitation,  the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  the rules and  regulations
promulgated   thereunder,   any  applicable   state   securities  laws  and  the
requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Shares may then be listed.

                  (b) The  inability  of the  Company  to obtain  any  necessary
authorizations,  approvals or letters of non-objection  from any regulatory body
or  authority  deemed by the  Company's  counsel to be  necessary  to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares issuable  hereunder shall relieve the Company of
any liability with respect to the non-issuance or sale of such Shares.

                  (c) As a condition to the  exercise of an Option,  the Company
may require the person  exercising the Option to make such  representations  and
warranties as may be necessary to assure the  availability  of an exemption from
the registration requirements of federal or state securities law.




                                       11
<PAGE>


                  (d) Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, upon the
termination  of  employment  or service  of an  Optionee  by the  Company or its
Subsidiaries  for "cause" as defined at 12 C.F.R.  563.39(b)(1) as determined by
the Board of Directors,  all Options held by such Participant  shall cease to be
exercisable as of the date of such termination of employment or service.

                  (e) Upon the  exercise  of an  Option by an  Optionee  (or the
Optionee's  personal  representative),  the Committee,  in its sole and absolute
discretion,  may make a cash payment to the  Optionee,  in whole or in part,  in
lieu of the delivery of shares of Common Stock.  Such cash payment to be paid in
lieu of delivery of Common  Stock shall be equal to the  difference  between the
Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the Option exercise and the
exercise  price per share of the Option.  Such cash payment shall be in exchange
for the cancellation of such Option.  Such cash payment shall not be made in the
event that such  transaction  would  result in  liability to the Optionee or the
Company under Section 16(b) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         19.  Reservation  of Shares.  During the term of the Plan,  the Company
will  reserve and keep  available a number of Shares  sufficient  to satisfy the
requirements of the Plan.

         20. Unsecured Obligation.  No Participant under the Plan shall have any
interest  in any fund or special  asset of the  Company by reason of the Plan or
the grant of any  Option  under the Plan.  No trust  fund  shall be  created  in
connection with the Plan or any grant of any Option hereunder and there shall be
no required funding of amounts which may become payable to any Participant.

         21.  Withholding  Tax. The Company  shall have the right to deduct from
all amounts paid in cash with respect to the cashless  exercise of Options 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,  the  Company  shall have the right to
require the  Participant  or such other  person to pay the Company the amount of
any taxes which the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Shares,
or, in lieu  thereof,  to retain,  or to sell without  notice,  a number of such
Shares sufficient to cover the amount required to be withheld.

         22. No Employment  Rights. No Director,  Employee or other person shall
have a right to be selected as a  Participant  under the Plan.  Neither the Plan
nor any action  taken by the  Committee in  administration  of the Plan shall be
construed  as giving  any person any rights of  employment  or  retention  as an
Employee,  Director or in any other capacity with the Company,  the Savings Bank
or other Subsidiaries.

         23.  Governing  Law.  The Plan shall be  governed by and  construed  in
accordance  with the laws of the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  except to the
extent that federal law shall be deemed to apply.

                                       12





                                   EXHIBIT 4.2

                FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO
                     WITH RESPECT TO INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS


<PAGE>




                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                  FOR INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS UNDER SECTION 422
                          OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

                           FOR OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

      STOCK OPTIONS for a total of ___________ shares of Common Stock of Thistle
Group Holdings,  Co. (the "Company"),  which Option is intended to qualify as an
Incentive  Stock Option under Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, is hereby granted to _____________,  (the "Optionee"),  at the price
determined as provided in, and in all respects subject to the terms, definitions
and provisions of the 1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") adopted by the Company
which  is  incorporated  by  reference  herein,   receipt  of  which  is  hereby
acknowledged.

         1. Option Price.  The Option price is $____ for each Share,  being 100%
of the fair market value, as determined by the Committee, of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of this Option.

         2. Exercises of Option.  This Option shall be exercisable in accordance
with provisions of the Plan,  provided the holder of such Option is an employee,
director or director emeritus of the Company as of such date, as follows:

                  (a)      Schedule of Rights to Exercise.

                                                                Percentage of
                                                                 Total Shares
                                                                 Awarded Which
                                                               Are Exercisable/
                Date                          Options           Non-forfeitable
                ----                          -------           ---------------

Upon grant.............................       _______               33 1/3 %
As of ____________________.............       _______               66 2/3 %
As of ____________________.............       _______              100     %

         Options  awarded to the Optionee shall continue to vest annually during
such period  that he serves as an  employee,  director  or director  emeritus of
Roxborough-Manayunk  Bank  (the  "Bank")  or the  Company.  Notwithstanding  any
provisions in this Section 2, in no event shall this Option be exercisable prior
to six months  following  the date of grant.  Options  shall be 100%  vested and
exercisable upon the death,  disability or Retirement of the Optionee, or upon a
Change in Control of the Company or the Bank.


<PAGE>



                  (b) Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by a
written notice which shall:

                             (i) State the election to exercise the Option,  the
         number of  Shares  with  respect  to which it is being  exercised,  the
         person in whose name the stock  certificate  or  certificates  for such
         Shares of Common  Stock is to be  registered,  his  address  and Social
         Security  Number (or if more than one, the names,  addresses and Social
         Security Numbers of such persons);

                            (ii) Contain such  representations and agreements as
         to the holder's investment intent with respect to such shares of Common
         Stock as may be satisfactory to the Company's counsel;

                           (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to
         exercise the Option and, if the Option is being exercised by any person
         or  persons  other  than  the  Optionee,   be   accompanied  by  proof,
         satisfactory to counsel for the Company, of the right of such person or
         persons to exercise the Option; and

                            (iv) Be in  writing  and  delivered  in person or by
         certified mail to the Treasurer of the Company.

         Payment of the  purchase  price of any Shares with respect to which the
Option is being  exercised  shall be by certified or bank  cashier's or teller's
check.  The certificate or  certificates  for shares of Common Stock as to which
the Option shall be exercised  shall be  registered in the name of the person or
persons exercising the Option.

                  (c) Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised
if the issuance of the Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the Optionee's  exercise of this Option,  the Company may require
the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

         3. Non-transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.



<PAGE>



         4. Term of Option.  This Option may not be exercised more than ten (10)
years  from the date of grant of this  Option,  as set forth  below,  and may be
exercised  during  such term only in  accordance  with the Plan and the terms of
this Option.

         5. Related  Matters.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary,
additional  conditions or restrictions  related to such Options may be contained
in the Plan or the resolutions of the Plan Committee  authorizing  such grant of
Options.


                                                     Thistle Group Holdings, Co.



Date of Grant: ____________________                  By: _______________________



Attest:



__________________________

[SEAL]

<PAGE>
                      INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE FORM

                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                                                   -------------
                                                                      (Date)


Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
6060 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19128

Dear Sir:

         The  undersigned  elects to  exercise  the  Incentive  Stock  Option to
purchase ___________ shares  of Common  Stock of  Thistle  Group  Holdings,  Co.
under and pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement dated ________________.

         Delivered  herewith is a certified or bank  cashier's or teller's check
and/or shares of Common  Stock,  valued at the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise, as set forth below.


                    $_________             of cash or check
                     _________             of Common Stock
                    $                      Total
                     =========


         The name or names to be on the stock  certificate or  certificates  and
the address and Social Security Number of such person(s) is as follows:

         Name _____________________________________________

         Address __________________________________________

         Social Security Number ___________________________

                                                     Very truly yours,



                                                     ___________________________





                                   EXHIBIT 4.3

                FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO
                   WITH RESPECT TO NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS


<PAGE>

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------

                         FOR NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS CO.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                             ----------------------

                             NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS


         STOCK  OPTIONS for a total of ______________ shares of Common  Stock of
Thistle Group Holdings,  Co. (the  "Company") is hereby granted to _____________
(the  "Optionee")  at the price  determined  as provided in, and in all respects
subject to the terms,  definitions  and provisions of the 1999 Stock Option Plan
(the "Plan") adopted by the Company which is  incorporated by reference  herein,
receipt of which is hereby  acknowledged.  Such Stock Options do not comply with
Options  granted  under  Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended.

         1. Option Price. The Option price is $______ for each Share, being 100%
of the fair market value, as determined by the Committee, of the Common Stock on
the date of grant of this Option.


         2. Exercise of Option.  This Option shall be  exercisable in accordance
with provisions of the Plan as follows:

                  (a)      Schedule of Rights to Exercise.


                                                      Percentage of Total Shares
                                                            Awarded Which Are
                      Date           Options                 Non-forfeitable

Upon grant......................      _____                       33 1/3 %
As of _______________...........      _____                       66 2/3 %
As of _______________...........      _____                       100    %

         Options  shall  continue  to vest  annually  provided  that such holder
remains a director or director emeritus of Roxborough-Manayunk Bank (the "Bank")
or the Company.  Notwithstanding  any  provisions in this Section 2, in no event
shall  this  Option be  exercisable  prior to six months  following  the date of
grant.  Options shall be 100% vested and exercisable  upon the Change in Control
of the Bank or the Company.






<PAGE>



                  (b) Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by a
written notice which shall:

                             (i) State the election to exercise the Option,  the
         number of  Shares  with  respect  to which it is being  exercised,  the
         person in whose name the stock  certificate  or  certificates  for such
         Shares of Common  Stock is to be  registered,  his  address  and Social
         Security  Number (or if more than one, the names,  addresses and Social
         Security Numbers of such persons);

                            (ii) Contain such  representations and agreements as
         to the holder's investment intent with respect to such shares of Common
         Stock as may be satisfactory to the Company's counsel;

                           (iii) Be signed by the person or persons  entitled to
         exercise the Option and, if the Option is being exercised by any person
         or  persons  other  than  the  Optionee,   be   accompanied  by  proof,
         satisfactory to counsel for the Company, of the right of such person or
         persons to exercise the Option; and

                            (iv) Be in  writing  and  delivered  in person or by
         certified mail to the Treasurer of the Company.

         Payment of the  purchase  price of any Shares with respect to which the
Option is being  for  shares of  Common  Stock as to which the  Option  shall be
exercised  shall be registered  in the name of the person or persons  exercising
the Option.

                  (c) Restrictions on Exercise. This Option may not be exercised
if the issuance of the Shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of
any applicable federal or state securities or other law or valid regulation.  As
a condition to the Optionee's  exercise of this Option,  the Company may require
the person exercising this Option to make any representation and warranty to the
Company as may be required by any applicable law or regulation.

         3. Non-transferability of Option. This Option may not be transferred in
any manner otherwise than by will or the laws of descent or distribution and may
be exercised during the lifetime of the Optionee only by the Optionee. The terms
of this  Option  shall be binding  upon the  executors,  administrators,  heirs,
successors and assigns of the Optionee.

         4. Term of Option.  This Option may not be exercised more than ten (10)
years  from the date of grant of this  Option,  as set forth  below,  and may be
exercised  during  such term only in  accordance  with the Plan and the terms of
this Option.



<PAGE>



         5. Related  Matters.  Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary,
additional  conditions or restrictions  related to such Options may be contained
in the Plan or the resolutions of the Plan Committee  authorizing  such grant of
Options.

                                                     Thistle Group Holdings, Co.




Date of Grant: ________________________              By: _______________________


Attest:


___________________________

[SEAL]




<PAGE>


                    NON-INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION EXERCISE FORM
                    ----------------------------------------

                                 PURSUANT TO THE
                           THISTLE GROUP HOLDINGS, CO.
                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN


                                                                 _______________
                                                                      (Date)


Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
6060 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128

Dear Sir:

         The undersigned  elects to exercise the  Non-Incentive  Stock Option to
purchase  ______________  shares of Common Stock of Thistle Group Holdings,  Co.
under and pursuant to a Stock Option Agreement dated _________________.

         Delivered  herewith is a certified or bank  cashier's or teller's check
and/or shares of Common  Stock,  valued at the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise, as set forth below.


                    $____________          of cash or check
                     ____________          of Common Stock
                    $                      Total
                     ============


         The name or names to be on the stock  certificate or  certificates  and
the address and Social Security Number of such person(s) is as follows:

         Name _____________________________________________

         Address __________________________________________

         Social Security Number ___________________________

                                                    Very truly yours,



                                                    ____________________________









                                   EXHIBIT 4.4

                         FORM OF STOCK AWARD TAX NOTICE


<PAGE>



                 TAX ISSUES RELATED TO EXERCISE OF STOCK OPTIONS


         This   memorandum   reviews  the  tax  effects  upon  the  exercise  of
"Non-Incentive  Stock Options"  ("NSOs")  (those options awarded to non-employee
directors and perhaps to some officers) and "Incentive  Stock Options"  ("ISOs")
(those options generally awarded to officers and employees).

A.       Exercise of an NSO
         ------------------

         Upon the  exercise of an NSO, the amount by which the fair market value
of the shares on the date of exercise  exceeds the exercise  price will be taxed
to the optionee as ordinary income.  The Company will be entitled to a deduction
in  the  same  amount,  provided  it  makes  all  required  withholdings  on the
compensation  element of the exercise.  In general,  the optionee's tax basis in
the shares  acquired by  exercising  an NSO is equal to the fair market value of
such shares on the date of exercise.  Upon a subsequent  sale of any such shares
in a  taxable  transaction,  the  optionee  will  realize  capital  gain or loss
(long-term  or  short-term,  depending  on whether the shares were held for more
than 12 months before the sale) in an amount equal to the difference between his
or her basis in the shares and the sale price.

         Special  rules  apply if an  optionee  pays  the  exercise  price  upon
exercise of NSOs with previously  acquired shares of stock.  Except as described
below with respect to shares  acquired  pursuant to ISOs,  such a transaction is
treated as a  tax-free  exchange  of the old  shares for the same  number of new
shares.  To that extent,  the optionee's  basis in the new shares is the same as
his or her basis in the old shares, i.e., there is a carryover of basis, and the
capital gain holding period runs without interruption from the date when the old
shares were  acquired.  The value of any new shares  received by the optionee in
excess of the number of old shares  surrendered  less any cash the optionee pays
for the new shares will be taxed as ordinary income. The optionee's basis in the
additional  shares is equal to the fair market  value of such shares on the date
the shares were  transferred,  and the capital gain holding period  commences on
the same date.  The effect of these  rules is to defer the date when any gain in
the old  shares  that  are used to buy new  shares  must be  recognized  for tax
purposes.  Stated  differently,  these  rules  allow an  optionee to finance the
exercise of an NSO by using shares of stock that he or she already owns, without
paying  current  tax on any  unrealized  appreciation  in the  value of all or a
portion of those old shares.

B.       Exercise of an ISO
         ------------------

         The holder of an ISO will not be subject to federal income tax upon the
exercise of the ISO, and the Company will not be entitled to a tax  deduction by
reason of such  exercise,  provided  that the  holder is still  employed  by the
Company  (or  terminated  employment  no longer  than  three  months  before the
exercise date).  Additional exceptions to this exercise timing requirement apply
upon the death or disability of the optionee. A sale of the shares received upon
the  exercise of an ISO which  occurs both more than one year after the exercise
of the ISO and more than two years after the grant of the ISO will result in the
realization  of long-term  capital gain or loss in the amount of the  difference
between the amount  realized on the sale and the exercise price for such shares.
Generally,  upon a sale or  disposition  of the  shares  prior to the  foregoing
holding  requirements  (referred  to  as  a  "disqualifying  disposition"),  the
optionee  will  recognize  ordinary  income,  and the  Company  will  receive  a
corresponding deduction equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market
value of the shares on the date of transfer to the  optionee  over the  exercise
price,  or (ii) the excess of the amount  realized on the  disposition  over the
exercise  price for such shares.  Currently,  ISO exercises are exempt from FICA
and  FUTA  taxes  and  a  disqualifying  disposition  is  exempt  from  employer
withholding.

         A special rule applies if an optionee  pays all or part of the exercise
price  of an ISO by  surrendering  shares  of  stock  that he or she  previously
acquired by exercising any other ISO. If the optionee has not held


<PAGE>



the old shares for the full duration of the  applicable  holding  periods before
surrendering  them,  then the  surrender  of such shares to exercise the new ISO
will be treated as a disqualifying  disposition of the old shares.  As described
above,  the result of a  disqualifying  disposition is the loss of favorable tax
consequences  with respect to the  acquisition of the old shares pursuant to the
previously exercised ISO.

         Where the applicable holding period requirements have been met, the use
of previously  acquired  shares of stock to pay all or a portion of the exercise
price of an ISO may offer significant tax advantages, particularly a deferral of
the recognition of any appreciation in the surrendered shares in the same manner
as discussed above with respect to NSOs.

C.       Alternative Minimum Tax
         -----------------------

         The  "alternative  minimum  tax"  is  paid  when  such  tax  exceeds  a
taxpayer's regular federal income tax. The alternative minimum tax is calculated
based on alternative minimum taxable income, which is taxable income for federal
income tax  purposes,  modified  by certain  adjustments  and  increased  by tax
preference items.

         The spread  under an ISO - i.e.,  the  difference  between (a) the fair
market  value  of the  shares  at  exercise  and  (b)  the  exercise  price - is
classified  as  alternative  minimum  taxable  income for the year of  exercise.
Alternative  minimum  taxable income may be subject to the  alternative  minimum
tax.  However,  a  disqualifying  disposition  of the shares  subject to the ISO
during the same year in which the ISO was exercised  will  generally  cancel the
alternative minimum taxable income generated upon exercise of the ISO.

         When a taxpayer  sells stock  acquired  through the exercise of an ISO,
generally only the difference between the fair market value of the shares on the
date of  exercise  and the  date of sale is used in  computing  the  alternative
minimum  tax. The portion of a taxpayer's  minimum tax  attributable  to certain
items of tax  preference  (including the spread upon the exercise of an ISO) can
be  credited  against the  taxpayer's  regular  liability  in later years to the
extent that liability exceeds the alternative minimum tax.







                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

                   OPINION OF MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC AS TO
                THE VALIDITY OF THE COMMON STOCK BEING REGISTERED


<PAGE>










August 3, 1999

Board of Directors
Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
6060 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  19128

            RE:            Registration Statement on Form S-8:
                           ----------------------------------
                           Thistle Group Holdings, Co. 1999 Stock Option Plan

 Gentlemen:

         We have acted as special  counsel to  Thistle  Group  Holdings,  Co., a
Pennsylvania corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the preparation of
the  Registration  Statement  on Form S-8 to be filed  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission (the "Registration  Statement") under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, relating to 785,637 shares of common stock, par value $.10 per
share (the "Common  Stock") of the Company which may be issued upon the exercise
of options granted or which may be granted under the Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
1999 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"), as more fully described in the Registration
Statement.  You have  requested the opinion of this firm with respect to certain
legal aspects of the proposed offering.

         We have examined such documents, records, and matters of law as we have
deemed  necessary for purposes of this opinion and based thereon,  we are of the
opinion that the Common Stock when issued  pursuant to the stock awards  granted
under and in  accordance  with the  terms of the Plan  will be duly and  validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable.

         We hereby  consent to the  filing of this  opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8.

                                                    Sincerely,



                                                    /s/Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC
                                                    Malizia Spidi & Fisch, PC







                                  EXHIBIT 23.1

                      CONSENT OF MALIZIA SPIDI & FISCH, PC
                 (APPEARS IN THEIR OPINION FILED AS EXHIBIT 5.1)






                                  EXHIBIT 23.2

                        CONSENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP





<PAGE>








                      [LETTERHEAD OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP]

                        INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT



The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Thistle Group Holdings, Co.
6060 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19128


         We consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement  of  Thistle  Group  Holdings,  Co.  on Form S-8 of our  report  dated
February 5, 1999, incorporated by reference in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of
Thistle Group Holdings, Co. for the year ended December 31, 1998.



                                                     /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
                                                     Deloitte & Touche LLP



July 29, 1999

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





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