SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP
8-K, 2000-02-28
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 16, 2000

                              SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

United States of America             0-24811                   13-4029393
- --------------------------       -------------------        -----------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction    (Commission File No.)       (I.R.S. Employer
      of Incorporation)                                    Identification No.)


300 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck, New York                        10543
- ------------------------------------------                      --------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                       (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:           (914) 698-6400
                                                              --------------



                                 Not Applicable
           ------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



                                        1

<PAGE>



Item 5.           Other Events
                  ------------

         On February 16, 2000 Sound Federal Bancorp (the  "Registrant")  entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement') with Peekskill  Financial
Corporation  ("Peekskill").  Peekskill is the holding  company for First Federal
Savings Bank, Peekskill,  New York. Under the terms of the Agreement,  Peekskill
will be merged into a subsidiary of the Registrant,  all shares and of Peekskill
will be cancelled, and the Registrant will pay $22.00 per share in cash for each
of the 1,762,228  outstanding shares of Peekskill's common stock. Each option to
purchase  Peekskill's  common stock shall be converted into the right to receive
in cash an amount equal to the difference (if a positive  number) between $22.00
and the exercise price of the option.

         As a result of the merger,  First Federal  Savings Bank will merge into
Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association,  the wholly-owned  subsidiary of the
Registrant,  and  Peekskill's  main office and two branch  locations will become
branch  offices of Sound  Federal  Savings and Loan  Association.  The aggregate
purchase price for the transaction (including cash payments for the cancellation
of options) is  approximately  $41.7 million.  The transaction will be accounted
for using the purchase method.

         In connection  with the execution of the Agreement,  the Registrant and
Peekskill entered into a Stock Option Agreement,  dated as of February 16, 2000,
pursuant  to which  Peekskill  granted  the  Registrant  an option to  purchase,
subject to certain terms and conditions contained therein, up to an aggregate of
19.9% of the  outstanding  shares of  Peekskill's  common stock.  The option was
granted  as an  inducement  to the  Registrant's  willingness  to enter into the
Agreement.  A copy of the Stock Option  Agreement is attached  hereto as Exhibit
2.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

         Consummation  of the  merger is  subject  to  approval  by  Peekskill's
shareholders  and  the  receipt  of all  required  regulatory  approvals.  It is
anticipated  that the  transaction  will be  completed  by the end of the  third
quarter of the year 2000.  At December 31, 2000,  Peekskill  had total assets of
$212.7 million and total deposits of $152.7 million.

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

       The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No.  Description
- -----------  -----------

2.1          Agreement and Plan of Merger by and Between Sound  Federal Bancorp,
             Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association and Peekskill Financial
             Corporation Dated as of February 16, 2000

2.2          Stock Option Agreement

99.1         Press Release of Sound Federal Bancorp




                                        2

<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                   SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP



DATE: February 25, 2000            By: /S/ Richard P. McStravick
                                       -------------------------
                                       Richard P. McStravick
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer


































                                         3

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

The following Exhibits are filed as part of this report:

Exhibit No.    Description
- -----------    -----------

2.1            Agreement and Plan of Merger by and Between Sound Federal
               Bancorp, Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association and Peekskill
               Financial Corporation Dated as of February 16, 2000

2.2            Stock Option Agreement

99.1           Press Release of Sound Federal Bancorp











                                       4






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                 By and Between

                              SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP

                   SOUND FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION

                                       And

                         PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORPORATION




                          Dated as of February 16, 2000









<PAGE>




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                    ARTICLE I
                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01 Definitions..............................................2

                          ARTICLE II
               THE MERGER AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES
Section 2.01 Effects of Merger; Surviving Corporation.................6
Section 2.02 Conversion of Shares.....................................7
Section 2.03 Exchange Procedures......................................8
Section 2.04 Stock Options/Restricted Stock...........................9

                          ARTICLE III
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PFC

Section 3.01 Organization............................................10
Section 3.02 Capitalization..........................................11
Section 3.03 Authority; No Violation.................................11
Section 3.04 Consents. ..............................................12
Section 3.05 Financial Statements....................................12
Section 3.06 Taxes.  ................................................13
Section 3.07 No Material Adverse Effect. ............................13
Section 3.08 Contracts...............................................14
Section 3.09 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage...............15
Section 3.10 Legal Proceedings.......................................16
Section 3.11 Compliance With Applicable Law..........................16
Section 3.12 ERISA/Employee Compensation.............................17
Section 3.13  Brokers, Finders and Financial Advisors................18
Section 3.14 Environmental Matters. .................................18
Section 3.15 Loan Portfolio..........................................20
Section 3.16 Information to be Supplied..............................21
Section 3.17 Securities Documents....................................21
Section 3.18 Related Party Transactions..............................21
Section 3.19 Schedule of Termination Benefits........................21
Section 3.20 Deposits................................................22
Section 3.21 Antitakeover Provisions Inapplicable....................22
Section 3.22 Fairness Opinion........................................22




<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE IV
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP

 Section 4.01 Organization....................................................22
 Section 4.02 Authority; No Violation.........................................23
 Section 4.03 Consents. ......................................................24
 Section 4.04 Compliance With Applicable Law..................................24
 Section 4.05 Information to be Supplied. ....................................25
 Section 4.06 Financing.......................................................25

                            ARTICLE V
                    COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

 Section 5.01 Conduct of PFC's Business.......................................25
 Section 5.02 Access; Confidentiality.........................................28
 Section 5.03 Regulatory Matters and Consents.................................29
 Section 5.04 Taking of Necessary Action......................................30
 Section 5.05 Certain Agreements..............................................31
 Section 5.06 No Other Bids and Related Matters...............................31
 Section 5.07 Duty to Advise; Duty to Update PFC's Disclosure Schedules.......32
 Section 5.08 Conduct of Sound Federal Bancorp's Business.....................33
 Section 5.09 Board and Committee Minutes.....................................33
 Section 5.10 Undertakings by PFC and Sound Federal Bancorp...................33
 Section 5.11 Employee and Termination Benefits; Directors and Management.....35
 Section 5.12 Duty to Advise; Duty to Update Sound Federal
              Bancorp's Disclosure Schedules..................................37
 Section 5.13 Amendment of First Federal's Federal Stock Charter..............37

                           ARTICLE VI
                           CONDITIONS

 Section 6.01 Conditions to PFC's Obligations under this Agreement............37
 Section 6.02 Conditions to Sound Federal Bancorp's Obligations
              under this Agreement............................................38

                           ARTICLE VII
                TERMINATION, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT

 Section 7.01 Termination.....................................................39
 Section 7.02 Effect of Termination...........................................40





<PAGE>




                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.01 Expenses.........................................................40
Section 8.02 Non-Survival of Representations and Warranties...................41
Section 8.03 Amendment, Extension and Waiver..................................41
Section 8.04 Entire Agreement.................................................41
Section 8.05 No Assignment....................................................41
Section 8.06 Notices..........................................................42
Section 8.07 Captions.........................................................42
Section 8.08 Counterparts.....................................................42
Section 8.09 Severability.....................................................43
Section 8.10 Governing Law....................................................43


Exhibits:

         Exhibit A                  Agreement of Company Merger
         Exhibit B                  Plan of Bank Merger
         Exhibit C                  Plan of Complete Liquidation and Dissolution
         Exhibit D                  Form of PFC Voting Agreement
         Exhibit E                  Stock Option Agreement










<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"),  dated as of February
16, 2000, is by and among Sound Federal Bancorp, a federal  corporation  ("Sound
Federal  Bancorp"),  Sound  Federal  Savings and Loan  Association,  a federally
chartered  savings  association  ("Sound  Federal"),   and  Peekskill  Financial
Corporation,  a Delaware  corporation  ("PFC").  Each of Sound Federal  Bancorp,
Sound Federal and PFC is sometimes individually referred to herein as a "party,"
and Sound Federal  Bancorp,  Sound  Federal and PFC are  sometimes  collectively
referred to herein as the "parties."

                                    RECITALS

     WHEREAS,  Sound  Federal  Bancorp,  a  registered  saving and loan  holding
company, with principal offices in Mamaroneck,  New York, owns all of the issued
and outstanding  capital stock of Sound Federal, a  federally-chartered  savings
bank organized  under the laws of the United States,  with principal  offices in
Mamaroneck, New York.

     WHEREAS, PFC, a registered savings and loan holding company, with principal
offices in Peekskill,  New York, owns all of the issued and outstanding  capital
stock of First Federal  Savings Bank ("First  Federal "), a  federally-chartered
savings  bank  organized  under the laws of the United  States,  with  principal
offices in Peekskill, New York.

     WHEREAS,  the Boards of Directors of the respective  parties hereto deem it
advisable  and in the best  interests  of the  respective  companies  and  their
stockholders  to consummate the business  combination  transaction  contemplated
herein in which:  (i) Sound  Federal shall  incorporate a to-be- formed  company
which shall be merged into PFC (the "Merger") and in connection  therewith,  and
subject to the rights of  dissenting  stockholders  which have been asserted and
duly  perfected in  accordance  with the  provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL,
each share of PFC Common  Stock and each option to purchase  such stock  granted
pursuant to the PFC Option Plans,  outstanding  immediately prior to the Closing
Date shall be canceled in  exchange  for the right to receive the cash  payments
specified herein, (ii) simultaneously with (i), PFC shall be liquidated with the
result that Sound Federal will acquire all the assets and liabilities of PFC and
PFC shall cease to exist, and (ii) First Federal shall merge with and into Sound
Federal,  with Sound  Federal  surviving  the merger  with the result that Sound
Federal will acquire all the assets and  liabilities  of First Federal and First
Federal  shall  cease to exist  (the  transactions  are  sometimes  collectively
referred to as the "Merger");

     WHEREAS,  in  connection  with  the  execution  of  this  Agreement,  as an
inducement to Sound Federal Bancorp to enter into this Agreement,  PFC and Sound
Federal Bancorp have entered into a Stock Option Agreement dated as of even date
herewith  pursuant  to which PFC will grant Sound  Federal  Bancorp the right to
purchase certain shares of PFC Common Stock; and





<PAGE>



     WHEREAS,  the parties  hereto  desire to provide for certain  undertakings,
conditions,  representations,  warranties  and covenants in connection  with the
Merger, and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock
Option Agreement (collectively, the "Merger Documents").

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  premises  and  of  the  mutual
representations,  warranties and covenants  herein contained and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the parties hereto do hereby agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     Section 1.01 Definitions.  Except as otherwise  provided herein, as used in
this  Agreement,  the following  terms shall have the indicated  meanings  (such
meanings to be equally  applicable  to both the singular and plural forms of the
terms defined):

               "Affiliate" means any Person who directly, or indirectly, through
          one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
          common control with, such Person and,  without limiting the generality
          of the foregoing,  includes any executive  officer or director of such
          Person and any Affiliate of such executive officer or director.

               "Agreement" means this agreement, and any amendment or supplement
          hereto,  which  constitutes  a "plan of merger"  between Sound Federal
          Bancorp, Sound Federal, a to-be- formed interim company and PFC.

               "Applications"  means the  applications  for regulatory  approval
          which are required by the transactions contemplated hereby.

               "Bank  Merger"  means the merger of First  Federal  with and into
          Sound Federal, with Sound Federal as the surviving institution.

               "Bank Merger  Effective Date" shall mean the date, after the Bank
          Merger is approved by the Office of Thrift Supervision  ("OTS"),  that
          all filings are made with the OTS to perfect the Bank Merger.

               "Closing  Date"  means  the  date  determined  by  Sound  Federal
          Bancorp,  in its sole  discretion,  upon five (5) days  prior  written
          notice to PFC,  but in no event later than fifteen (15) days after the
          last condition precedent pursuant to this Agreement has been fulfilled
          or waived (including the expiration of any applicable waiting period),
          or such other date as to which  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  and PFC shall
          mutually agree.

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



                                        2

<PAGE>



               "DGCL" means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

               "DOL" means the U.S. Department of Labor.

               "Environmental  Law" means any  Federal  or state  law,  statute,
          rule, regulation, code, order, judgement,  decree, injunction,  common
          law or  agreement  with any  Federal or state  governmental  authority
          relating to (i) the  protection,  preservation  or  restoration of the
          environment  (including air, water vapor, surface water,  groundwater,
          drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal
          life or any other natural  resource),  (ii) human health or safety, or
          (iii)  exposure  to,  or  the  use,  storage,  recycling,   treatment,
          generation,    transportation,    processing,    handling,   labeling,
          production, release or disposal of, hazardous substances, in each case
          as amended and now in effect.

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

               "Exchange  Act" means the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
          amended,  and the rules and regulations  promulgated from time to time
          thereunder.

               "Exchange  Agent"  means the  entity  selected  by Sound  Federal
          Bancorp and agreed to by PFC,  as provided in Section  2.03(a) of this
          Agreement.

               "FDIA" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended.

               "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

               "FHLB" means the Federal Home Loan Bank.

               "GAAP"  means  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  as in
          effect at the relevant date and consistently applied.

               "Hazardous  Material" means any substance (whether solid,  liquid
          or gas) which is or could be  detrimental to human health or safety or
          to the environment, currently or hereafter listed, defined, designated
          or classified  as  hazardous,  toxic,  radioactive  or  dangerous,  or
          otherwise  regulated,  under any Environmental Law, whether by type or
          by quantity,  including any substance containing any such substance as
          a component.  Hazardous Material  includes,  without  limitation,  any
          toxic  waste,  pollutant,  contaminant,   hazardous  substance,  toxic
          substance,  hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance,  oil
          or  petroleum,   or  any  derivative  or  by-product  thereof,  radon,
          radioactive material,  asbestos,  asbestos-containing  material,  urea
          formaldehyde foam insulation, lead and polychlorinated biphenyl.

               "HOLA" means the Home Owners' Loan Act, as amended.



                                        3

<PAGE>



               "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

               "Loan  Property"  shall  have the  meaning  given to such term in
          Section 3.14(b) of this Agreement.

               "Material  Adverse  Effect"  shall  mean,  with  respect to Sound
          Federal  Bancorp or PFC, any adverse  effect on its assets,  financial
          condition  or results of  operations  which is material to its assets,
          financial  condition or results of operations on a consolidated basis,
          except for any material adverse effect caused by (i) any change in the
          market value of the assets of Sound  Federal  Bancorp or PFC resulting
          from a change in interest  rates  generally or (ii) any  individual or
          combination of changes  occurring after the date hereof in any federal
          or state law, rule or regulation or in GAAP, which change(s) affect(s)
          financial institutions generally,  including any changes affecting the
          Bank  Insurance  Fund or the Savings  Association  Insurance  Fund, or
          (iii) any action  taken by PFC or a PFC  Subsidiary  at the request of
          Sound  Federal  Bancorp,  or (iv)  expenses  incurred to complete  the
          transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

               "Merger  Effective  Date"  means that date upon which the last of
          the  corporate   transactions   which   comprise  the  Merger  becomes
          effective, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

               "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision.

               "Participation Facility"shall have the meaning given to such term
          in Section 3.14(b) of this Agreement.

               "Person" means any individual,  corporation,  partnership,  joint
          venture, association,  trust or "group" (as that term is defined under
          the Exchange Act).

               "PFC Common  Stock" has the meaning given to that term in Section
          3.02(a) of this Agreement.

               "PFC  Disclosure   Schedules"  means  the  Disclosure   Schedules
          delivered by PFC to Sound Federal  Bancorp  pursuant to Article III of
          this Agreement.

               "PFC  Financials"  means (i) the audited  consolidated  financial
          statements of PFC as of June 30, 1998 and 1999 and for the three years
          ended  June  30,  1999,  including  the  notes  thereto,  and (ii) the
          unaudited interim consolidated  financial statements of PFC as of each
          calendar quarter thereafter included in Securities  Documents filed by
          PFC.

               "PFC Regulatory  Reports" means the Thrift  Financial  Reports of
          First Federal and accompanying  schedules,  as filed with the OTS, for
          each calendar  quarter  beginning  with the quarter ended December 31,
          1999, through the Closing Date, and all Annual, Quarterly and


                                        4

<PAGE>



         Current Reports filed on Form H-(b)11 with the OTS by PFC from December
         31, 1999 through the Closing Date.

               "PFC  Subsidiary"  means  any  corporation,  50% or  more  of the
          capital stock of which is owned, either directly or indirectly, by PFC
          or First Federal, except any corporation the stock of which is held as
          security  by First  Federal  in the  ordinary  course  of its  lending
          activities.

               "Proxy  Statement" means the proxy  statement,  together with any
          supplements  thereto, to be transmitted to holders of PFC Common Stock
          in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

               "Regulatory  Agreement"  has the  meaning  given to that  term in
          Section 3.11 of this Agreement.

               "Regulatory  Authority"  means any  agency or  department  of any
          federal or state government, including without limitation the OTS, the
          FDIC, the FRB, the SEC or the respective staffs thereof.

               "Rights" means warrants,  options, rights, convertible securities
          and other capital stock  equivalents which obligate an entity to issue
          its securities.

               "SAIF"  means  the  Savings   Association   Insurance   Fund,  as
          administered by the FDIC.

               "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

               "Securities  Act" means the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,
          and  the  rules  and  regulations   promulgated   from  time  to  time
          thereunder.

               "Securities   Documents"  means  all   registration   statements,
          schedules,  statements,  forms,  reports,  proxy  material,  and other
          documents required to be filed under the Securities Laws.

               "Securities  Laws" means the  Securities Act and the Exchange Act
          and  the  rules  and  regulations   promulgated   from  time  to  time
          thereunder.

               "Sound Federal Bancorp Disclosure Schedules" means the Disclosure
          Schedules  delivered  by Sound  Federal  Bancorp  to PFC  pursuant  to
          Article IV of this Agreement.

               "Sound  Federal  Bancorp   Financials"   means  (i)  the  audited
          consolidated financial statements of Sound Federal Bancorp as of March
          31,  1998 and 1999 and for the  three  years  ended  March  31,  1999,
          including the notes thereto, and (ii) the unaudited interim


                                        5

<PAGE>



         consolidated  financial  statements of Sound Federal Bancorp as of each
         calendar quarter thereafter  included in Securities  Documents filed by
         Sound Federal Bancorp.

               "Sound Federal Bancorp Subsidiary" means any corporation,  50% or
          more of the  capital  stock of  which is  owned,  either  directly  or
          indirectly,  by Sound  Federal  Bancorp or Sound  Federal,  except any
          corporation the stock of which is held as security by Sound Federal in
          the ordinary course of its lending activities.

               "Sound Federal  Bancorp Option" means the option granted to Sound
          Federal  Bancorp to acquire shares of PFC Common Stock pursuant to the
          Stock Option Agreement.

               "Stock Option  Agreement"  means the Stock Option Agreement dated
          as of even  date  herewith  pursuant  to which PFC has  granted  Sound
          Federal  Bancorp  the right to purchase  certain  shares of PFC Common
          Stock and which is attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E thereto.

               "Subsidiary"  means any  corporation,  50% or more of the capital
          stock of which is owned,  either  directly or  indirectly,  by another
          entity,  except any corporation the stock of which is held as security
          by either  Sound  Federal  Bancorp or PFC,  as the case may be, in the
          ordinary course of its lending activities.

                                   ARTICLE II
                        THE MERGER AND EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     Section 2.01 Effects of Merger; Surviving Corporation.

     (a) (i) On the Merger  Effective  Date, a  to-be-formed  company  formed by
Sound  Federal  ("Interim")  shall be  merged  with and into PFC;  the  separate
existence of Interim shall cease; PFC shall be the surviving  corporation in the
Merger (the  "Surviving  Corporation")  and a  wholly-owned  subsidiary of Sound
Federal; and all of the property (real, personal and mixed),  rights, powers and
duties and obligations of Interim shall be taken and deemed to be transferred to
and vested in PFC, as the Surviving  Corporation in the Merger,  without further
act or deed; all in accordance with federal law.

                  (ii)  On  the  Merger   Effective  Date:  the  Certificate  of
Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and restated to read
in its entirety as the Charter of Interim, as in effect immediately prior to the
Merger  Effective  Date;  and the Bylaws of the Surviving  Corporation  shall be
amended and restated to read in their  entirety as the Bylaws of Interim,  as in
effect immediately prior to the Merger Effective Date, until thereafter altered,
amended or repealed in accordance with applicable law.

                  (iii) On the Merger  Effective  Date, the directors of Interim
duly elected and holding office immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be
the directors of the Surviving


                                        6

<PAGE>



Corporation  in the Merger,  each to hold office  until his or her  successor is
elected and  qualified  or  otherwise  in  accordance  with the  Certificate  of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation.

                  (iv) On the Merger  Effective  Date,  the  officers of Interim
duly elected and holding office immediately prior to the Effective Date shall be
the officers of the  Surviving  Corporation  in the Merger,  each to hold office
until his or her  successor is elected and  qualified or otherwise in accordance
with  the  Certificate  of  Incorporation   and  the  Bylaws  of  the  Surviving
Corporation.

         (b)  Notwithstanding  any provision of this  Agreement to the contrary,
Sound Federal Bancorp and Sound Federal may elect,  subject to the filing of all
necessary applications and the receipt of all required regulatory approvals,  to
modify the structure of the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and the parties
shall  enter  into such  alternative  transactions,  so long as (i) there are no
adverse tax  consequences to any of the  stockholders of PFC as a result of such
modification,  (ii) the Merger  Consideration  is not thereby changed in kind or
reduced in amount because of such  modification and (iii) such modification will
not be  likely  to  materially  delay  or  jeopardize  receipt  of any  required
regulatory approvals.

     Section 2.02 Conversion of Shares.

     (a) At the Merger  Effective  Date, by virtue of the merger of Interim with
and into PFC and  without any action on the part of PFC or the holders of shares
of PFC Common Stock:

                  (i) Each  outstanding  share of PFC  Common  Stock  issued and
outstanding at the Merger Effective Date,  except as provided in clause (ii) and
(iii) of this Section,  shall cease to be outstanding,  shall cease to exist and
shall be converted into the right to receive $22.00 in cash ( the
"Merger Consideration").

                  (ii) Any shares of PFC Common Stock which are owned or held by
either party  hereto or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries  (other than in a
fiduciary  capacity or in connection  with debts  previously  contracted) at the
Merger  Effective Date shall cease to exist,  the  certificates  for such shares
shall as promptly as practicable be canceled, such shares shall not be converted
into the Merger  Consideration,  and no cash or shares of capital stock of Sound
Federal Bancorp shall be issued or exchanged therefor.

                  (iii) The Surviving  Corporation shall pay for any Dissenters'
Shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, and the holders thereof shall
not be entitled to receive any Merger Consideration; provided, that if appraisal
rights  under  Section 262 of the DGCL with  respect to any  Dissenters'  Shares
shall have been effectively  withdrawn or lost, such shares will thereupon cease
to be treated as  Dissenters'  Shares and shall be  converted  into the right to
receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.02.



                                        7

<PAGE>



                  (iv) Each share of Sound Federal  Bancorp  Common Stock issued
and  outstanding  immediately  before the Merger  Effective Date shall remain an
outstanding share of Common Stock
of Sound Federal Bancorp.

                  (v) The  holders of  certificates  representing  shares of PFC
Common  Stock  (any  such  certificate  being  hereinafter   referred  to  as  a
"Certificate")  shall cease to have any rights as  stockholders  of PFC,  except
such rights, if any, as they may have pursuant to applicable law.

     Section 2.03 Exchange Procedures.

     (a) As promptly as  practicable  after the Effective  Date (but in no event
later than five (5) business days after the Effective  Date),  an Exchange Agent
designated  by Sound  Federal  Bancorp  shall prepare and mail to each holder of
record  of  an  outstanding  share  Certificate  or  Certificates  a  Letter  of
Transmittal  containing  instructions  for the surrender of the  Certificate  or
Certificates  held by such holder for payment  therefor.  Upon  surrender of the
Certificate  or  Certificates  to the  Exchange  Agent  in  accordance  with the
instructions set forth in the Letter of Transmittal,  such holder shall promptly
receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration, without interest thereon.
Approval  of  this  Agreement  by  the  stockholders  of  PFC  shall  constitute
authorization  for Sound Federal  Bancorp to designate and appoint such Exchange
Agent.  Neither Sound Federal  Bancorp nor the Exchange Agent shall be obligated
to deliver the Merger  Consideration  to a former  stockholder of PFC until such
former  stockholder  surrenders  his  Certificate  or  Certificates  or, in lieu
thereof, any such appropriate affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement and bond
as may be reasonably required by Sound Federal Bancorp.

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

     (c) On or prior to the Merger  Effective Date,  Sound Federal Bancorp shall
deposit or cause to be deposited, in trust with the Exchange Agent, an amount of
cash equal to the aggregate Merger Consideration that the PFC stockholders shall
be entitled to receive on the Merger  Effective  Date  pursuant to Section  2.02
hereof.

     (d)  The  payment  of the  Merger  Consideration,  and  cash in lieu of any
fractional  shares,  upon the conversion of PFC Common Stock in accordance  with
the above terms and  conditions  shall be deemed to have been issued and paid in
full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such PFC Common Stock.



                                        8

<PAGE>



     (e)  Promptly  following  the date which is twelve  months after the Merger
Effective  Date, the Exchange  Agent shall deliver to Sound Federal  Bancorp all
cash,  certificates  and  other  documents  in its  possession  relating  to the
transactions described in this Agreement,  and the Exchange Agent's duties shall
terminate. Thereafter, each holder of a Certificate formerly representing shares
of PFC Common Stock may surrender such  Certificate to Sound Federal Bancorp and
(subject to applicable abandoned property,  escheat and similar laws) receive in
consideration  therefor  the Merger  Consideration  multiplied  by the number of
shares of PFC Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate, without any
interest or dividends thereon.

     (f) After the close of business on the Merger  Effective Date , there shall
be no transfers on the stock  transfer  books of PFC of the shares of PFC Common
Stock which are outstanding  immediately prior to the Merger Effective Date, and
the stock transfer books of PFC shall be closed with respect to such shares. If,
after the Merger  Effective  Date,  Certificates  representing  such  shares are
presented  for  transfer  to the  Exchange  Agent,  they shall be  canceled  and
exchanged for the Merger Consideration as provided in this Article II.

     (g) In the event any certificate for PFC Common Stock shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall deliver in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate,  upon the making of an affidavit of the fact by
the holder  thereof,  the cash to be paid in the Merger as provided  for herein;
provided, however, that Sound Federal Bancorp may, in its sole discretion and as
a condition  precedent to the delivery thereof,  require the owner of such lost,
stolen or  destroyed  certificate  to deliver a bond in such  reasonable  sum as
Sound  Federal  Bancorp may require as  indemnity  against any claim that may be
made against PFC,  Sound Federal  Bancorp or any other party with respect to the
certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

     (h)  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  is  hereby  authorized  to  adopt  additional
requirements  with  respect to the matters  referred to in this Section 2.03 not
inconsistent  with the provisions of this Agreement or unduly  burdensome to the
shareholders of PFC.

     Section 2.04 Stock Options/Restricted Stock.

     (a) At the  Merger  Effective  Date,  each  option  granted  by PFC (a "PFC
Option") to purchase shares of PFC Common Stock issued and outstanding  pursuant
to the Peekskill  Financial  Corporation  1996 Stock Option Plan (the "PFC Stock
Option Plan"), whether or not such option is exercisable on the Merger Effective
Date,  shall,  by reason of the merger of Interim with and into PFC, cease to be
outstanding  and be converted  into the right to receive in cash an amount equal
to (i) the  difference  (if a positive  number)  between  (A) $22.00 and (B) the
exercise  price of each such option  multiplied  by (ii) the number of shares of
PFC Common Stock subject to the option.

     (b) At the Merger  Effective Date, each unvested share of restricted  stock
awarded  pursuant to the Peekskill  Financial  Corporation  1996 Recognition and
Retention Plan shall automatically vest and the holder thereof shall be entitled
to receive $22.00 per share.


                                        9

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE III
                      REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PFC

     PFC  represents  and warrants to Sound Federal  Bancorp that the statements
contained  in this  Article III are correct and  complete as of the date of this
Agreement  and will be correct and  complete  as of the Closing  Date (as though
made then and as though the Closing Date were  substituted  for the date of this
Agreement  throughout  this  Article  III),  except  as set  forth  in  the  PFC
Disclosure Schedules delivered by PFC to Sound Federal Bancorp prior to the date
hereof.  PFC has made a good faith effort to ensure that the  disclosure on each
schedule of the PFC Disclosure  Schedules  corresponds to the section  reference
herein.  However,  for  purposes  of the  PFC  Disclosure  Schedules,  any  item
disclosed on any schedule  therein is deemed to be fully  disclosed with respect
to all schedules under which such item may be relevant.

     Section 3.01 Organization.

     (a) PFC is a  corporation  duly  organized  ,validly  existing  and in good
standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware,  and is duly  registered as a
savings and loan holding  company under the HOLA. PFC has full  corporate  power
and  authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is duly licensed or
qualified  to do  business  in the  states  of the  United  States  and  foreign
jurisdictions  where its  ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed
or qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect on PFC.

     (b) First Federal is a federal savings bank organized and validly  existing
under the laws of the  United  States.  Except  as set  forth in PFC  DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE  3.01(b),  First  Federal is the only PFC  Subsidiary.  The deposits of
First  Federal  are insured by the FDIC  through the SAIF to the fullest  extent
permitted  by law,  and all  premiums  and  assessments  required  to be paid in
connection  therewith have been paid when due by First  Federal.  Each other PFC
Subsidiary  is a  corporation  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in  good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.

     (c) First  Federal is a member in good  standing of the  Federal  Home Loan
Bank of New York and owns the requisite amount of stock therein.

     (d) Except as disclosed in PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.01(d),  the respective
minute books of PFC and each PFC Subsidiary  accurately  record, in all material
respects,  all material  corporate actions of their respective  shareholders and
boards of directors (including committees) through the date of this Agreement.

     (e) Prior to the date of this Agreement, PFC has delivered to Sound Federal
Bancorp true and correct copies of the certificate of incorporation, charter and
bylaws of PFC and First Federal.




                                       10

<PAGE>



     Section 3.02 Capitalization.

     (a) The  authorized  capital  stock of PFC consists of 4,900,000  shares of
common stock,  $0.01 par value ("PFC Common Stock"),  of which 1,762,228  shares
are  outstanding,  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable  and free of
preemptive  rights,  and 2,337,522  shares are held by PFC as treasury stock and
100,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which no shares
are issued and  outstanding.  Neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary has or is bound
by any Right of any  character  relating  to the  purchase,  sale or issuance or
voting of, or right to receive dividends or other distributions on any shares of
PFC Common Stock,  or any other security of PFC or any  securities  representing
the right to vote,  purchase or otherwise receive any shares of PFC Common Stock
or any other security of PFC, other than shares issuable under the Sound Federal
Bancorp  Option and other than shares  issuable under the PFC Stock Option Plans
and other than as set forth in reasonable detail in the PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE
3.02(a).  PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.02(a) sets forth the name of each holder of
options to purchase PFC Common Stock,  the number of shares each such individual
may acquire pursuant to the exercise of such options, the vesting dates, and the
exercise price  relating to the options held.  PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.02 (a)
also sets forth the name of each  holder of  restricted  stock and the number of
shares of restricted stock held by such person.

     (b) PFC owns all of the capital stock of First  Federal,  free and clear of
any lien or encumbrance.  Except for the PFC Subsidiaries, PFC does not possess,
directly or indirectly, any material equity interest in any corporation,  except
for equity  interests  held in the  investment  portfolios of PFC  Subsidiaries,
equity  interests held by PFC Subsidiaries in a fiduciary  capacity,  and equity
interests held in connection with the lending activities of PFC Subsidiaries.

     (c) To PFC's  knowledge,  no  Person  or  "group"  (as that term is used in
Section  13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), is the  beneficial  owner (as defined in
Section  13(d) of the Exchange Act) of 5% or more of the  outstanding  shares of
PFC Common Stock, except as disclosed in the PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.02(c).

     (d) PFC has outstanding  options to purchase a maximum of 296,483 shares of
PFC Common Stock.

     Section 3.03 Authority; No Violation.

     (a) PFC has full corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby. The execution
and  delivery  of this  Agreement  by PFC and the  completion  by PFC and  First
Federal  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby  have been duly and  validly
approved by the Board of  Directors  of PFC and First  Federal  and,  except for
approval of the shareholders of PFC, no other corporate  proceedings on the part
of PFC are  necessary to complete the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This
Agreement  has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by PFC, and subject
to approval by the shareholders of PFC and receipt of the required  approvals of
Regulatory Authorities described in Section 4.03 hereof, constitutes the


                                       11

<PAGE>



valid and binding obligations of PFC, enforceable against PFC in accordance with
its  terms,  subject to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and  similar  laws
affecting  creditors' rights generally,  and subject,  as to enforceability,  to
general principles of equity.

     (b) (A) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by PFC, (B) subject to
receipt of approvals from the Regulatory Authorities referred to in Section 4.03
hereof and PFC's and Sound  Federal  Bancorp's  compliance  with any  conditions
contained therein, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
(C)  compliance  by PFC and First  Federal  with any of the terms or  provisions
hereof  will not  except as set forth in PFC  Disclosure  Schedule  3.03(b)  (i)
conflict  with or result  in a breach of any  provision  of the  certificate  of
incorporation  or bylaws of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary or the charter and bylaws
of First Federal ; (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance,  rule, regulation,
judgment,  order,  writ,  decree  or  injunction  applicable  to PFC or any  PFC
Subsidiary or any of their  respective  properties or assets;  or (iii) violate,
conflict with, result in a breach of any provisions of, constitute a default (or
an event  which,  with  notice or lapse of time,  or both,  would  constitute  a
default),  under,  result in the  termination  of,  accelerate  the  performance
required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration or the creation
of any lien,  security  interest,  charge or other  encumbrance  upon any of the
properties or assets of PFC or First Federal under, any of the terms, conditions
or provisions of any material note, bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  deed of trust,
license,  lease,  agreement or other  investment  or  obligation to which PFC or
First Federal is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties
or assets may be bound or affected.

     Section 3.04 Consents. Except for the consents, waivers, approvals, filings
and registrations from or with the Regulatory Authorities referred to in Section
4.03  hereof and  compliance  with any  conditions  contained  therein,  and the
approval of this Agreement by the requisite vote of the  shareholders of PFC, no
consents,  waivers  or  approvals  of, or  filings or  registrations  with,  any
governmental authority are necessary,  and, to PFC's knowledge,  as set forth in
PFC Disclosure Schedule 3.04 no consents, waivers or approvals of, or filings or
registrations  with, any other third parties are necessary,  in connection  with
(a) the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by PFC, and (b) the completion
by PFC and First Federal of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  PFC has no
reason to  believe  that (i) any  required  consents  or  approvals  will not be
received, or that (ii) any public body or authority,  the consent or approval of
which is not required or any filing with which is not  required,  will object to
the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 3.05 Financial Statements.

     (a)  PFC  has  previously  delivered  to  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  the  PFC
Regulatory  Reports.  The PFC Regulatory Reports have been, or will be, prepared
in all material  respects in accordance  with applicable  regulatory  accounting
principles and practices throughout the periods covered by such statements,  and
fairly  present,   or  will  fairly  present  in  all  material  respects,   the
consolidated   financial   position,   results  of  operations  and  changes  in
shareholders'  equity  of PFC as of and  for  the  periods  ended  on the  dates
thereof, in accordance with applicable  regulatory accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis.



                                       12

<PAGE>



         (b) PFC has  previously  delivered  to Sound  Federal  Bancorp  the PFC
Financials.  The PFC  Financials  have been, or will be,  prepared in accordance
with GAAP, and (including the related notes where applicable) fairly present, or
will fairly present,  in each case in all material respects (subject in the case
of the  unaudited  interim  statements  to  normal  year-end  adjustments),  the
consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of PFC and
the PFC  Subsidiaries  as of and for the respective  periods ending on the dates
thereof,  in  accordance  with GAAP  applied on a  consistent  basis  during the
periods  involved,  except as indicated in the notes thereto,  or in the case of
unaudited statements, as permitted by Form 10-Q.

         (c) At the date of each balance sheet included in the PFC Financials or
the PFC Regulatory Reports,  PFC did not have, or will not have any liabilities,
obligations or loss  contingencies  of any nature  (whether  absolute,  accrued,
contingent  or  otherwise)  of a type  required  to be  reflected  in  such  PFC
Financials or PFC Regulatory  Reports or in the footnotes  thereto which are not
fully  reflected or reserved  against  therein or fully  disclosed in a footnote
thereto,  except for liabilities,  obligations and loss contingencies  which are
not  material  individually  or in the  aggregate  or which are  incurred in the
ordinary  course of  business,  consistent  with past  practice,  and except for
liabilities,  obligations  and loss  contingencies  which are within the subject
matter of a specific representation and warranty herein and subject, in the case
of any unaudited  statements,  to normal,  recurring  audit  adjustments and the
absence of footnotes.

         Section  3.06 Taxes.  PFC and the PFC  Subsidiaries  are members of the
same affiliated  group within the meaning of IRC Section  1504(a).  PFC has duly
filed all federal,  state and material local tax returns required to be filed by
or with respect to PFC and all PFC  Subsidiaries on or prior to the Closing Date
(all such amounts shown to be due have been paid) and has duly paid or will pay,
or made or will make, provisions for the payment of all material federal,  state
and local taxes which have been incurred by or are due or claimed to be due from
PFC and any PFC  Subsidiary  by any taxing  authority or pursuant to any written
tax sharing  agreement on or prior to the Closing Date other than taxes or other
charges which (i) are not delinquent, (ii) are being contested in good faith, or
(iii)  have not yet been  fully  determined.  As of the date of this  Agreement,
there is no audit  examination,  deficiency  assessment,  tax  investigation  or
refund  litigation with respect to any taxes of PFC or any of its  Subsidiaries,
and no claim has been made by any authority in a  jurisdiction  where PFC or any
of its  Subsidiaries  do not file tax returns that PFC or any such Subsidiary is
subject to taxation in that jurisdiction.  Except as set forth in PFC DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE 3.06, PFC and its Subsidiaries have not executed an extension or waiver
of any statute of  limitations  on the  assessment or collection of any material
tax due  that is  currently  in  effect.  PFC and each of its  Subsidiaries  has
withheld  and  paid  all  taxes  required  to have  been  withheld  and  paid in
connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,  independent  contractor,
creditor, stockholder or other third party, and PFC and each of its Subsidiaries
has timely complied with all applicable information reporting requirements under
Part III,  Subchapter A of Chapter 61 of the Code and similar  applicable  state
and local information reporting requirements.

         Section 3.07 No Material Adverse Effect.  PFC and the PFC Subsidiaries,
taken as a whole,  have not suffered any Material Adverse Effect since September
30, 1999.


                                       13

<PAGE>



         Section 3.08 Contracts.

         (a) Except as set forth in PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.08(a), neither PFC
nor  any PFC  Subsidiary  is a  party  to or  subject  to:  (i) any  employment,
consulting  or  severance  contract  or  material  arrangement  with any past or
present officer,  director or employee of PFC or any PFC Subsidiary,  except for
"at  will"  arrangements;  (ii)  any  plan,  material  arrangement  or  contract
providing for bonuses,  pensions,  options,  deferred  compensation,  retirement
payments,  profit sharing or similar material  arrangements for or with any past
or present officers,  directors or employees of PFC or any PFC Subsidiary; (iii)
any collective  bargaining  agreement with any labor union relating to employees
of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary;  (iv) any agreement which by its terms limits the
payment of dividends by PFC or First Federal;  (v) any instrument  evidencing or
related  to  material  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money  whether  directly  or
indirectly,  by  way of  purchase  money  obligation,  conditional  sale,  lease
purchase,  guaranty or otherwise,  in respect of which PFC or any PFC Subsidiary
is  an  obligor  to  any  person,  which  instrument  evidences  or  relates  to
indebtedness other than deposits,  repurchase agreements,  bankers' acceptances,
advance  from  the  FHLB of New  York,  and  "treasury  tax and  loan"  accounts
established  in the  ordinary  course of business and  transactions  in "federal
funds" or which contains financial  covenants or other restrictions  (other than
those relating to the payment of principal and interest when due) which would be
applicable  on or after the Closing Date to Sound  Federal  Bancorp or any Sound
Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary;  or (vi) any contract  (other than this Agreement)
limiting the freedom, in any material respect, of PFC or First Federal to engage
in any type of banking or  bank-related  business  which PFC or First Federal is
permitted to engage in under applicable law as of the date of this Agreement.

         (b)  True  and  correct   copies  of  agreements,   plans,   contracts,
arrangements and instruments referred to in Section 3.08(a),  have been provided
to Sound  Federal  Bancorp  on or  before  the date  hereof,  are  listed on PFC
DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.08(a) and are in full force and effect on the date hereof
and neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary  (nor, to the knowledge of PFC, any other
party to any such contract,  plan,  arrangement  or  instrument)  has materially
breached any  provision  of, or is in default in any respect  under any term of,
any such contract,  plan, arrangement or instrument.  Except as set forth in the
PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  3.08(b),  no party to any  material  contract,  plan,
arrangement  or  instrument  will have the right to terminate  any or all of the
provisions of any such contract,  plan, arrangement or instrument as a result of
the execution of, and the transactions  contemplated by, this Agreement.  Except
as  set  forth  in PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  3.08(b),  none  of  the  employees
(including  officers)  of  PFC or any  PFC  Subsidiary,  possess  the  right  to
terminate  their  employment  and  receive  or be paid (or  cause PFC or any PFC
Subsidiary  to  accrue  on their  behalf)  benefits  solely  as a result  of the
execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby.  Except  as set  forth in PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  3.08(b),  no plan,
contract,  employment agreement,  termination agreement, or similar agreement or
arrangement  to which PFC or any PFC Subsidiary is a party or under which PFC or
any PFC Subsidiary may be liable contains provisions which permit an employee or
independent  contractor  to  terminate  it without  cause and continue to accrue
future  benefits  thereunder.  Except  as set forth in PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE
3.08(b),  no such  agreement,  plan,  contract,  or arrangement (x) provides for
acceleration in the vesting of benefits or


                                       14

<PAGE>



payments due thereunder  upon the occurrence of a change in ownership or control
of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary or upon the occurrence of a subsequent  event;  or
(y) requires PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary  to provide a benefit in the form of PFC
Common Stock or determined by reference to the value of PFC Common Stock. Except
as set forth in PFC  Disclosure  Schedule  3.08(b)  no such  agreement,  plan or
arrangement  with respect to officers or  directors of PFC or to its  employees,
provides  for  benefits  which may cause an "excess  parachute  payment"  or the
disallowance of a federal income tax deduction under IRC Section 280G.

     Section 3.09 Ownership of Property; Insurance Coverage.

     (a) Except as disclosed in PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  3.09, PFC and the PFC
Subsidiaries  have  good  and,  as to real  property,  marketable  title  to all
material assets and properties owned by PFC or any PFC Subsidiary in the conduct
of their  businesses,  whether such assets and  properties are real or personal,
tangible or intangible,  including assets and property  reflected in the balance
sheets  contained in the PFC  Regulatory  Reports and in the PFC  Financials  or
acquired  subsequent  thereto  (except  to  the  extent  that  such  assets  and
properties have been disposed of in the ordinary  course of business,  since the
date of such  balance  sheets),  subject  to no  material  encumbrances,  liens,
mortgages,  security  interests or pledges,  except (i) those items which secure
liabilities for public or statutory  obligations or any discount with, borrowing
from or other obligations to FHLB of New York, inter-bank credit facilities,  or
any  transaction  by a PFC  Subsidiary  acting  in a  fiduciary  capacity,  (ii)
statutory  liens for amounts not yet delinquent or which are being  contested in
good  faith,  and  (iii)  items  permitted  under  Article  V.  PFC  and the PFC
Subsidiaries,  as lessee,  have the right under valid and  subsisting  leases of
real and personal  properties used by PFC and its Subsidiaries in the conduct of
their businesses to occupy or use all such properties as presently  occupied and
used by each of them. Except as disclosed in PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.09, such
existing leases and commitments to lease constitute or will constitute operating
leases for both tax and financial  accounting purposes and the lease expense and
minimum rental commitments with respect to such leases and lease commitments are
as disclosed in the Notes to the PFC Financials.

     (b) With  respect to all material  agreements  pursuant to which PFC or any
PFC Subsidiary has purchased  securities  subject to an agreement to resell,  if
any,  PFC or such PFC  Subsidiary,  as the case may be,  has a lien or  security
interest  (which to PFC's  knowledge  is a valid,  perfected  first lien) in the
securities or other collateral securing the repurchase agreement,  and the value
of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured thereby.

     (c) PFC and each PFC Subsidiary currently maintains insurance considered by
PFC to be reasonable for their  respective  operations,  in accordance with good
business  practice.  PFC has not received notice from any insurance carrier that
(i) such insurance will be canceled or that coverage  thereunder will be reduced
or eliminated,  or (ii) premium costs with respect to such policies of insurance
will be substantially increased.  There are presently no material claims pending
under such  policies of  insurance  and no notices  have been given by PFC under
such policies. All such insurance is valid and enforceable and in full force and
effect, and within the last three years PFC


                                       15

<PAGE>



has received each type of insurance coverage for which it has applied and during
such  periods  has not  been  denied  indemnification  for any  material  claims
submitted under any of its insurance
policies.

     Section  3.10 Legal  Proceedings.  Except as  disclosed  in PFC  DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE  3.10,  neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary is a party to any, and there
are  no  pending  or,  to  the  best  of  PFC's  knowledge,   threatened  legal,
administrative,  arbitration or other  proceedings,  claims (whether asserted or
unasserted),  actions or governmental  investigations or inquiries of any nature
(i) against PFC or any PFC Subsidiary, (ii) to which PFC or any PFC Subsidiary's
assets are or may be subject, (iii) challenging the validity or propriety of any
of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  or  (iv)  which  could
adversely affect the ability of PFC to perform under this Agreement,  except for
any proceedings,  claims,  actions,  investigations or inquiries  referred to in
clauses (i) or (ii)  which,  if  adversely  determined,  individually  or in the
aggregate, could not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
PFC and the PFC Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     Section 3.11 Compliance With Applicable Law.

     (a) PFC and PFC  Subsidiaries  hold all licenses,  franchises,  permits and
authorizations  necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective  businesses
under,  and have  complied  in all  material  respects  with,  applicable  laws,
statutes,   orders,  rules  or  regulations  of  any  federal,  state  or  local
governmental  authority  relating to them, other than where such failure to hold
or such  noncompliance  will  neither  result in a  limitation  in any  material
respect on the conduct of their respective businesses.

     (b) Except as disclosed in PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  3.11,  neither PFC nor
any PFC  Subsidiary  has received any  notification  or  communication  from any
Regulatory  Authority  (i)  asserting  that PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary is not in
material  compliance with any of the statutes,  regulations or ordinances  which
such  Regulatory  Authority  enforces;  (ii)  threatening to revoke any license,
franchise,  permit or governmental authorization which is material to PFC or any
PFC  Subsidiary;  (iii)  requiring  or  threatening  to  require  PFC or any PFC
Subsidiary,  or indicating  that PFC or any PFC Subsidiary  may be required,  to
enter into a cease and desist order, agreement or memorandum of understanding or
any other agreement with any federal or state  governmental  agency or authority
which is charged with the  supervision  or regulation of banks or engages in the
insurance of bank deposits restricting or limiting, or purporting to restrict or
limit,  in any material  respect the  operations  of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary,
including  without  limitation any  restriction on the payment of dividends;  or
(iv) directing,  restricting or limiting,  or purporting to direct,  restrict or
limit,  in any manner the  operations  of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary,  including
without limitation any restriction on the payment of dividends (any such notice,
communication,  memorandum,  agreement or order  described  in this  sentence is
hereinafter  referred to as a "Regulatory  Agreement").  Neither PFC nor any PFC
Subsidiary has consented to or entered into any currently  effective  Regulatory
Agreement,  except as set forth in PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.11. The most recent
regulatory  rating  given  to First  Federal  as to  compliance  with the CRA is
satisfactory or better.


                                       16

<PAGE>



     Section 3.12 ERISA/Employee Compensation.

     (a) PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.12 contains a complete and accurate list of
all pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock ownership, savings,
stock appreciation right,  profit sharing,  deferred  compensation,  consulting,
bonus, group insurance, severance and other benefit plans, contracts, agreements
and  arrangements,  including,  but not limited to, "employee benefit plans," as
defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee  Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended  ("ERISA"),  incentive  and welfare  policies,  contracts,  plans and
arrangements  and all trust  agreements  related  thereto  with  respect  to any
present or former  directors,  officers or other  employees of PFC or any of its
Subsidiaries (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "PFC Employee Plans").
If the plan,  contract,  agreement or  arrangement  is funded through a trust or
third party funding vehicle,  such as an insurance contract, a copy of the trust
or other funding  arrangement  (including all amendments thereto) and the latest
financial statements thereof.

     All of the PFC  Employee  Plans comply in all  material  respects  with all
applicable  requirements of ERISA,  the IRC and other applicable laws; there has
occurred  no  "prohibited  transaction"  (as  defined in Section 406 of ERISA or
Section  4975 of the IRC)  which is likely to  result in the  imposition  of any
penalties or taxes under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the IRC upon
PFC or any of its Subsidiaries. No liability to the PBGC has been or is expected
by PFC or  any of its  Subsidiaries  to be  incurred  with  respect  to any  PFC
Employee  Plan  which is subject  to Title IV of ERISA,  or with  respect to any
"single-employer  plan" (as defined in Section  4001(a) of ERISA)("  PFC Pension
Plan") currently or formerly maintained by PFC or any entity which is considered
one employer  with PFC under  Section  4001(b)(1) of ERISA or Section 414 of the
IRC (an  "ERISA  Affiliate").  Except  as set forth in PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE
3.12(a), no PFC Pension Plan had an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined
in Section 302 of ERISA),  whether or not waived,  as of the last day of the end
of the most recent plan year ending  prior to the date  hereof;  the fair market
value of the assets of each PFC Pension  Plan  exceeds the present  value of the
"benefit  liabilities"  (as defined in Section  4001(a)(16) of ERISA) under such
PFC Pension  Plan as of the end of the most recent plan year with respect to the
respective  PFC Pension Plan ending prior to the date hereof,  calculated on the
basis of the actuarial  assumptions used in the most recent actuarial  valuation
for such PFC Pension Plan as of the date hereof;  and no notice of a "reportable
event"  (as  defined in  Section  4043 of ERISA) for which the 30-day  reporting
requirement  has not been  waived  has  been  required  to be filed  for any PFC
Pension Plan within the 12-month  period ending on the date hereof.  Neither PFC
nor any of its Subsidiaries has provided, or is required to provide, security to
any PFC  Pension  Plan or to any  single-employer  plan  of an  ERISA  Affiliate
pursuant to Section  401(a)(29) of the IRC. Neither PFC, its  Subsidiaries,  nor
any ERISA Affiliate has contributed to any  "multiemployer  plan," as defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA, on or after September 26, 1980.

     (b) Each PFC Employee Plan that is an "employee  pension  benefit plan" (as
defined in Section  3(2) of ERISA) and which is intended to be  qualified  under
Section  401(a) of the IRC (a "PFC  Qualified  Plan") has  received a  favorable
determination  letter from the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), and PFC and its
Subsidiaries are not aware of any circumstances likely to result in


                                       17

<PAGE>



revocation of any such favorable  determination  letter. There is no pending or,
to PFC's knowledge,  threatened litigation,  administrative action or proceeding
relating to any PFC Employee Plan.  There has been no announcement or commitment
by PFC or any of its  Subsidiaries to create an additional PFC Employee Plan, or
to amend any PFC Employee Plan, except for amendments required by applicable law
which do not materially increase the cost of such PFC Employee Plan; and, except
as  specifically   identified  in  PFC's  DISCLOSURE   SCHEDULE,   PFC  and  its
Subsidiaries do not have any obligations for  post-retirement or post-employment
benefits  under any PFC Employee Plan that cannot be amended or terminated  upon
60 days' notice or less without incurring any liability  thereunder,  except for
coverage  required by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the IRC, or
similar state laws, the cost of which is borne by the insured individuals.  With
respect to each PFC Employee Plan,  PFC has supplied to Sound Federal  Bancorp a
true and correct  copy of (A) the annual  report on the  applicable  form of the
Form 5500  series  filed with the IRS for the most recent  three plan years,  if
required to be filed, (B) such PFC Employee Plan,  including amendments thereto,
(C) each  trust  agreement,  insurance  contract  or other  funding  arrangement
relating to such PFC Employee Plan,  including  amendments thereto, (D) the most
recent summary plan  description and summary of material  modifications  thereto
for such PFC Employee  Plan,  if the PFC Employee  Plan is subject to Title I of
ERISA,  (E) the most recent  actuarial  report or valuation if such PFC Employee
Plan  is a PFC  Pension  Plan  and  any  subsequent  changes  to  the  actuarial
assumptions  contained  therein  and (F) the most  recent  determination  letter
issued by the IRS if such Employee Plan is a Qualified Plan.

     (c) Except as set forth in PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.12(c), no compensation
payable by PFC and any PFC  Subsidiary to any of their  employees  under any PFC
Employee Plan (including by reason of the transactions contemplated hereby) will
be subject to disallowance under Section 162(m) of the IRC.

     Section 3.13  Brokers,  Finders and  Financial  Advisors.  Except for PFC's
engagement of Capital  Resources  Group,  Inc. in connection  with  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary,  nor any of
their  respective  officers,  directors,  employees or agents,  has employed any
broker,  finder  or  financial  advisor  in  connection  with  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement,  or, except for its commitments disclosed in PFC
DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.13,  incurred any liability or commitment for any fees or
commissions to any such person in connection with the transactions  contemplated
by this Agreement, which has not been reflected in the PFC Financials.

         Section 3.14 Environmental Matters.

     (a) With respect to PFC and each of the PFC Subsidiaries, and except as set
forth in PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.14:

                  (i)  Each  of PFC  and  its  Subsidiaries,  the  Participation
Facilities,  and, to PFC's knowledge, the Loan Properties are, and have been, in
substantial compliance with, and are not liable under, any Environmental Laws;


                                       18

<PAGE>



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

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

                  (iv) To PFC's  knowledge,  the properties  currently  owned or
operated by PFC or any of the PFC Subsidiaries  (including,  without limitation,
soil, groundwater or surface water on, under or adjacent to the properties,  and
buildings  thereon) are not contaminated  with and do not otherwise  contain any
Hazardous Material other than as permitted under applicable Environmental Law;

                  (v) Neither PFC nor any of the PFC  Subsidiaries  has received
any notice,  demand  letter,  executive or  administrative  order,  directive or
request for information from any federal,  state, local or foreign  governmental
entity or any third party  indicating  that it may be in violation of, or liable
under, any Environmental Law;

                  (vi) To PFC's  knowledge,  there  are no  underground  storage
tanks on, in or under any properties  owned or operated by PFC or any of the PFC
Subsidiaries  or  any  Participation Facility,  and no underground storage tanks
have been closed or removed from any properties owned or operated  by PFC or any
of the PFC  Subsidiaries  or any  Participation Facility; and

                  (vii) To PFC's  knowledge,  during  the period of (s) PFC's or
any of the PFC  Subsidiaries'  ownership or operation of any of their respective
current properties or (t) PFC's or any of the PFC Subsidiaries' participation in
the management of any Participation Facility, there has been no contamination by
or release of Hazardous Materials in, on, under or affecting such properties. To
PFC's  knowledge,  prior  to  the  period  of  (x)  PFC's  or  any  of  the  PFC
Subsidiaries'  ownership  or  operation  of  any  of  their  respective  current
properties  or (y) PFC's or any of the PFC  Subsidiaries'  participation  in the
management  of any  Participation  Facility,  there was no  contamination  by or
release of Hazardous Material in, on, under or affecting such properties.

         (b) "Loan  Property"  means any property in which the applicable  party
(or a Subsidiary of it) holds a security  interest,  and,  where required by the
context,  includes the owner or operator of such property, but only with respect
to such property. "Participation Facility" means any facility in


                                       19

<PAGE>



which  the  applicable  party  (or a  Subsidiary  of  it)  participates  in  the
management  (including  all property  held as trustee or in any other  fiduciary
capacity) and, where required by the context,  includes the owner or operator of
such property, but only with respect to such property.

     Section 3.15 Loan Portfolio.

     (a) With  respect to each loan owned by PFC or any of the PFC  Subsidiaries
in whole or in part (each, a "Loan"), to the best knowledge of PFC:

                  (i) the  note  and the  related  security  documents  are each
legal,  valid  and  binding   obligations  of  the  maker  or  obligor  thereof,
enforceable against such maker or obligor in accordance with their terms;

                  (ii)  neither  PFC nor any of the  PFC  Subsidiaries,  nor any
prior holder of a Loan,  has  modified  the note or any of the related  security
documents in any material  respect or satisfied,  canceled or  subordinated  the
note or any of the related security documents except as otherwise
disclosed by documents in the applicable Loan file;

                  (iii) PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary  is the sole  holder of legal
and beneficial title to each Loan (or PFC's applicable  participation  interest,
as applicable), except as otherwise referenced on
the books and records of PFC;

                  (iv) the note and the related  security  documents,  copies of
which  are  included  in the Loan  files,  are true and  correct  copies  of the
documents  they purport to be and have not been  suspended,  amended,  modified,
canceled or otherwise changed except as otherwise disclosed by
documents in the applicable Loan file;

                  (v) there is no pending or threatened  condemnation proceeding
or similar proceeding affecting the property that serves as security for a Loan,
except as otherwise referenced on the books
and records of PFC and its Subsidiaries;

                  (vi)  there  is  no  litigation   or  proceeding   pending  or
threatened  relating to the  property  that  serves as security  for a Loan that
would have a Material  Adverse Effect upon the related Loan, except as otherwise
disclosed by documents in the applicable Loan file; and

                  (vii)  with   respect  to  a  Loan  held  in  the  form  of  a
participation,  the  participation  documentation is legal,  valid,  binding and
enforceable, except as otherwise disclosed by documents
in the applicable Loan file.

         (b) The  allowance  for  possible  losses  reflected  in PFC's  audited
statement of condition at September 30, 1999 was, and the allowance for possible
losses shown on the balance  sheets in PFC's  Securities  Documents  for periods
ending after September 30, 1999 have been and will be,
adequate, as of the dates thereof, under GAAP.


                                       20

<PAGE>



     (c) PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.15 sets forth by category the amounts of all
loans,  leases,  advances,  credit  enhancements,  other  extensions  of credit,
commitments and  interest-bearing  assets of PFC and the PFC  Subsidiaries  that
have been  classified  (whether  regulatory  or internal) as "Special  Mention,"
"Substandard,"  "Doubtful,"  "Loss"  or words of  similar  import as of June 30,
1999. The other real estate owned ("OREO") included in any non-performing assets
of PFC or any of the PFC Subsidiaries is carried net of reserves at the lower of
cost or fair value, less estimated selling costs,  based on current  independent
appraisals or  evaluations  or current  management  appraisals  or  evaluations;
provided, however, that "current" shall mean within the past 12 months.

     Section 3.16 Information to be Supplied.  The information to be provided by
PFC for  inclusion  in the  Proxy  Statement  will  not,  at the time the  Proxy
Statement  is mailed to PFC  shareholders,  contain  any untrue  statement  of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading.  The information supplied, or to be supplied,
by PFC for inclusion in the  Applications  will, at the time such  documents are
filed with any Regulatory Authority, be accurate in all material aspects.

     Section 3.17  Securities  Documents.  PFC has  delivered  to Sound  Federal
Bancorp  copies of its (i) annual  reports on Form 10-K for the years ended June
30, 1999,  1998 and 1997,  (ii) quarterly  reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended  September 30, 1999 and December 31, 1999, and (iii) proxy  materials used
or for use in connection  with its meetings of  shareholders  held in 1999, 1998
and 1997. Such reports and such proxy materials complied, at the time filed with
the SEC or as the same may have been amended, in all material respects, with the
Securities Laws.

     Section  3.18  Related  Party  Transactions.  Except  as  disclosed  in PFC
DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.18, or as described in PFC's Proxy Statement  distributed
in connection with the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders (which has previously
been provided to Sound Federal Bancorp), neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary is a
party to any transaction (including any loan or other credit accommodation) with
any Affiliate of PFC or any PFC Affiliate. Except as disclosed in PFC DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE 3.18,  all such  transactions  (a) were made in the ordinary  course of
business,  (b) were made on  substantially  the same terms,  including  interest
rates  and  collateral,   as  those   prevailing  at  the  time  for  comparable
transactions  with other  Persons,  and (c) did not involve more than the normal
risk of  collectability  or present other  unfavorable  features.  Except as set
forth on PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.18, no loan or credit  accommodation  to any
Affiliate of PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary  is presently in default or,  during the
three year period  prior to the date of this  Agreement,  has been in default or
has been restructured,  modified or extended. Neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary
has been notified  that  principal and interest with respect to any such loan or
other  credit  accommodation  will not be paid  when due or that the loan  grade
classification   accorded   such  loan  or  credit   accommodation   by  PFC  is
inappropriate.

     Section 3.19 Schedule of Termination Benefits. PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 3.19
includes a schedule of all termination  benefits and related payments that would
be payable to the  individuals  identified  thereon,  excluding  any  options to
acquire  PFC  Common  Stock  granted  to  such  individuals,  under  any and all
employment agreements, special termination agreements,


                                       21

<PAGE>



supplemental   executive  retirement  plans,   deferred  bonus  plans,  deferred
compensation plans, salary continuation plans, or any compensation  arrangement,
or other pension  benefit or welfare  benefit plan  maintained by PFC or any PFC
Subsidiary for the benefit of officers or directors of PFC or any PFC Subsidiary
(the "Benefits Schedule"), assuming their employment or service is terminated as
of July 31, 2000 and the Closing Date occurs prior to such termination. No other
individuals are entitled to benefits under any such plans.

     Section 3.20 Deposits. None of the deposits of PFC or any PFC Subsidiary is
a "brokered" deposit as defined in 12 U.S. Code Section 1831f(g).

     Section 3.21 Antitakeover Provisions  Inapplicable.  Except as set forth on
PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.21, the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
are not subject to any applicable state takeover law.

     Section 3.22  Fairness  Opinion.  PFC has  received a written  opinion from
Capital  Resources  Group,  Inc.  to the  effect  that,  subject  to the  terms,
conditions and  qualifications  set forth therein,  as of the date thereof,  the
Merger  Consideration to be received by the stockholders of PFC pursuant to this
Agreement  is fair to such  stockholders  from a financial  point of view.  Such
opinion has not been amended or rescinded as of the date of this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE IV
             REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP

     Sound Federal  Bancorp  represents  and warrants to PFC that the statements
contained  in this  Article IV are correct  and  complete as of the date of this
Agreement  and will be correct and  complete  as of the Closing  Date (as though
made then and as though the Closing Date were  substituted  for the date of this
Agreement  throughout this Article IV), except as set forth in the Sound Federal
Bancorp Disclosure  Schedules delivered by Sound Federal Bancorp to PFC prior to
the date hereof.  Sound  Federal  Bancorp has made a good faith effort to ensure
that the  disclosure on each schedule of the Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Disclosure
Schedules corresponds to the section reference herein.  However, for purposes of
the Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Disclosure  Schedules,  any item  disclosed  on any
schedule  therein is deemed to be fully  disclosed with respect to all schedules
under which such item may be relevant.

         Section 4.01 Organization.

     (a) Sound  Federal  Bancorp is a  corporation  duly  organized  and validly
existing  under  the laws of the  United  States,  and is duly  registered  as a
savings and loan holding company under the HOLA.  Sound Federal Bancorp has full
corporate  power and  authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is
duly licensed or qualified to do business in the states of the United States and
foreign  jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct
of its business requires such  qualification,  except where the failure to be so
licensed or qualified would not have a Material  Adverse Effect on Sound Federal
Bancorp.


                                       22

<PAGE>



          (b) Sound Federal is a stock  savings bank duly  organized and validly
existing under the laws of the United States.  The deposits of Sound Federal are
insured by the FDIC through the SAIF to the fullest extent permitted by law, and
all premiums and  assessments  required to be paid in connection  therewith have
been paid when due by Sound Federal. Each other Sound Federal Bancorp Subsidiary
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization.

     (c) Sound  Federal is a member in good  standing of the  Federal  Home Loan
Bank of New York and owns the requisite amount of stock therein.

     (d)  Prior  to the  date of  this  Agreement,  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  has
delivered  to PFC true and  correct  copies of the  charter  and bylaws of Sound
Federal Bancorp.

     Section 4.02 Authority; No Violation.

     (a) Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal have full corporate  power and
authority  to  execute  and  deliver  this   Agreement  and  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
by Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal and the  completion by Sound Federal
Bancorp and Sound Federal of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
and validly  approved by the Board of  Directors  of Sound  Federal  Bancorp and
Sound Federal and, no other  corporate  proceedings on the part of Sound Federal
Bancorp or Sound Federal other than the  incorporation  of Interim are necessary
to complete the transactions  contemplated  hereby. This Agreement has been duly
and validly  executed and delivered by Sound  Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal
and,  subject to receipt of the  required  approvals of  Regulatory  Authorities
described in Section 4.03 hereof,  constitutes the valid and binding  obligation
of Sound  Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal  enforceable  against Sound Federal
Bancorp and Sound  Federal in accordance  with its terms,  subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally.

     (b) (A) The  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by Sound  Federal
Bancorp  and Sound  Federal,  (B)  subject  to  receipt  of  approvals  from the
Regulatory  Authorities  referred to in Section  4.03 hereof and PFC's and Sound
Federal Bancorp's and Sound Federal's  compliance with any conditions  contained
therein,  the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and (C)
compliance by Sound  Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal with any of the terms or
provisions  hereof  will not (i)  conflict  with or  result  in a breach  of any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Sound Federal Bancorp
or any Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary  or the  charter  and bylaws of Sound
Federal; (ii) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation,  judgment,
order,  writ,  decree or injunction  applicable to Sound Federal  Bancorp or any
Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary  or any of their  respective  properties  or
assets;  or (iii) violate,  conflict with,  result in a breach of any provisions
of,  constitute a default (or an event which,  with notice or lapse of time,  or
both,  would  constitute  a  default),  under,  result  in the  termination  of,
accelerate the  performance  required by, or result in a right of termination or
acceleration  or the creation of any lien,  security  interest,  charge or other
encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of Sound Federal Bancorp


                                       23

<PAGE>



or Sound Federal under, any of the terms,  conditions or provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage,  indenture,  deed of trust, license,  lease,  agreement or other
investment or  obligation  to which Sound Federal  Bancorp or Sound Federal is a
party, or by which they or any of their  respective  properties or assets may be
bound or affected, except for such violations,  conflicts,  breaches or defaults
under  clause  (ii)  or  (iii)  hereof  which,  either  individually  or in  the
aggregate, will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Sound Federal Bancorp.

     Section  4.03  Consents.  Except  for  consents,   approvals,  filings  and
registrations  from or with the FDIC, SEC, OTS and state "blue sky" authorities,
and compliance with any conditions  contained therein,  and the approval of this
Agreement by the shareholders of PFC, the filing of a certificate of merger with
the OTS, and the  certificate of merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of Delaware,  no consents or approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any
public body or  authority  are  necessary,  and no consents or  approvals of any
third parties are  necessary,  or will be, in connection  with (a) the execution
and delivery of this Agreement by Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal,  and
(b)  the  completion  by  Sound  Federal   Bancorp  and  Sound  Federal  of  the
transactions contemplated hereby. Sound Federal Bancorp has no reason to believe
that (i) any  required  consents  or  approvals  will not be received or will be
received with  conditions,  limitations or  restrictions  unacceptable  to it or
which would  adversely  impact Sound Federal  Bancorp's  ability to complete the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or that (ii) any public  body or
authority,  the consent or approval of which is not  required or any filing with
which  is not  required,  will  object  to the  completion  of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     Section 4.04 Compliance With Applicable Law.

     (a) Sound Federal Bancorp and the Sound Federal Bancorp  Subsidiaries  hold
all licenses,  franchises,  permits and authorizations  necessary for the lawful
conduct of their businesses  under,  and have complied in all material  respects
with,  applicable laws,  statutes,  orders, rules or regulations of any federal,
state or local  governmental  authority  relating to them, other than where such
failure to hold or such noncompliance will neither result in a limitation in any
material  respect  on the  conduct  of their  businesses  nor  otherwise  have a
Material Adverse Effect on Sound Federal Bancorp and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole.

     (b)  Except  as set  forth in Sound  Federal  Bancorp  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE
4.04(b),  neither Sound Federal Bancorp nor any Sound Federal Bancorp Subsidiary
has received any notification or communication from any Regulatory Authority (i)
asserting that Sound Federal Bancorp or any Sound Federal Bancorp  Subsidiary is
not in compliance with any of the statutes, regulations or ordinances which such
Regulatory   Authority  enforces;   (ii)  threatening  to  revoke  any  license,
franchise,  permit or  governmental  authorization  which is  material  to Sound
Federal  Bancorp or any Sound Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary;  (iii)  requiring or
threatening  to  require  Sound  Federal  Bancorp or any Sound  Federal  Bancorp
Subsidiary,  or  indicating  that Sound  Federal  Bancorp  or any Sound  Federal
Bancorp  Subsidiary  may be  required,  to enter into a cease and desist  order,
agreement or memorandum of understanding  or any other agreement  restricting or
limiting,  or purporting to restrict or limit,  in any manner the  operations of
Sound Federal Bancorp or any Sound Federal


                                       24

<PAGE>



Bancorp Subsidiary,  including without limitation any restriction on the payment
of  dividends;  or (iv)  directing,  restricting  or limiting,  or purporting to
direct, restrict or limit, in any manner the operations of Sound Federal Bancorp
or any Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary,  including  without  limitation  any
restriction  on the  payment  of  dividends  (any  such  notice,  communication,
memorandum,  agreement  or  order  described  in this  sentence  is  hereinafter
referred to as a "Regulatory Agreement").  Neither Sound Federal Bancorp nor any
Sound  Federal  Bancorp  Subsidiary  is a party  to,  nor has  consented  to any
Regulatory  Agreement.  The most recent regulatory rating given to Sound Federal
as to compliance with the CRA is satisfactory or better.

     Section 4.05 Information to be Supplied.  The information to be supplied by
Sound Federal Bancorp for inclusion in the Proxy Statement will not, at the time
the Proxy Statement is mailed to PFC shareholders,  contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the  statements  therein not  misleading.  The  information  supplied,  or to be
supplied,  by Sound Federal Bancorp for inclusion in the  Applications  will, at
the time such documents are filed with any Regulatory Authority,  be accurate in
all material aspects.

     Section 4.06 Financing. As of the date hereof Sound Federal has, and at the
Merger  Effective  Date,  Sound Federal will have funds which are sufficient and
available to meet its  obligations  under this  Agreement and to consummate in a
timely manner the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                                    ARTICLE V
                            COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

     Section 5.01 Conduct of PFC's Business.

     (a) From the date of this  Agreement to the Closing Date,  PFC and each PFC
Subsidiary  will conduct their  business and engage in  transactions,  including
extensions  of credit,  only in the  ordinary  course and  consistent  with past
practice and  policies,  except as otherwise  required or  contemplated  by this
Agreement  or with the written  consent of Sound  Federal  Bancorp.  PFC,  First
Federal , and each of the PFC  Subsidiaries  will use its reasonable  good faith
efforts, to (i) preserve their business organizations intact, (ii) maintain good
relationships with employees, and (iii) preserve for themselves the good will of
their customers and others with whom business relationships exist. From the date
hereof to the Closing  Date,  except as  otherwise  consented  to or approved by
Sound  Federal  Bancorp  in  writing  or as  contemplated  or  required  by this
Agreement, PFC will not, and PFC will not permit any PFC Subsidiary to:

                  (i)   amend  or  change  any p rovision of its  certificate of
incorporation, charter, or bylaws;

                  (ii) change the number of  authorized  or issued shares of its
capital stock or issue or grant any right or agreement of any character relating
to its  authorized or issued capital stock or any  securities  convertible  into
shares of such stock, or split, combine or reclassify any shares of


                                       25

<PAGE>



capital stock, or declare,  set aside or pay any dividend or other  distribution
in respect of capital stock,  other than the quarterly cash dividend of $.09 per
share  payable  by PFC (with  payment  and  record  dates  consistent  with past
practice),  or redeem or otherwise  acquire any shares of capital stock,  except
that (A) PFC may issue  shares of PFC Common Stock upon the valid  exercise,  in
accordance with the  information  set forth in PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE 3.02, of
presently  outstanding  options to acquire PFC Common  Stock under the PFC Stock
Option Plans;

                  (iii)  grant  or  agree  to  pay  any  bonus,   severance   or
termination  to, or enter  into or amend  any  employment  agreement,  severance
agreement, supplemental executive agreement, or similar agreement or arrangement
with any of its directors,  officers or employees, or increase in any manner the
compensation or fringe benefits of any employee,  officer or director, except as
may be required  pursuant to legally  binding  commitments  existing on the date
hereof and set forth on PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES 3.08 and 3.12;

                  (iv) enter into or,  except as may be required by law,  modify
any pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation right,
stock  grant,  savings,  profit  sharing,  deferred  compensation,  supplemental
retirement,  consulting,  bonus,  group  insurance  or other  employee  benefit,
incentive  or welfare  contract,  plan or  arrangement,  or any trust  agreement
related  thereto,  in respect of any of its  directors,  officers  or  employees
(other than to create and fund a rabbi trust for the benefit of PFC's  President
for amounts  previously  accrued  pursuant to the PFC  President's  Supplemental
Employee  Retirement  Agreement);  or  make  any  contributions  to any  defined
contribution  or defined  benefit  plan not in the  ordinary  course of business
consistent with past practice;  or materially amend any PFC Employee Plan except
to the extent such  modifications  or amendments do not result in an increase in
cost;

                  (v) merge or consolidate  PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary  with any
other corporation; sell or lease all or any substantial portion of the assets or
business  of PFC or any  PFC  Subsidiary;  make  any  acquisition  of all or any
substantial  portion  of the  business  or  assets of any  other  person,  firm,
association,  corporation or business organization other than in connection with
foreclosures,  settlements  in  lieu  of  foreclosure,  troubled  loan  or  debt
restructuring,  or the collection of any loan or credit arrangement between PFC,
or any  PFC  Subsidiary,  and  any  other  person;  enter  into a  purchase  and
assumption  transaction  with  respect to deposits and  liabilities;  permit the
revocation or surrender by any PFC Subsidiary of its certificate of authority to
maintain,  or file an application  for the  relocation  of, any existing  branch
office, or file an application for a certificate of authority to establish a new
branch office;

                  (vi) sell or otherwise  dispose of the capital stock of PFC or
sell or  otherwise  dispose of any asset of PFC or of any PFC  Subsidiary  other
than in the ordinary course of business  consistent with past practice;  subject
any asset of PFC or of any PFC Subsidiary to a lien,  pledge,  security interest
or  other  encumbrance  (other  than in  connection  with  deposits,  repurchase
agreements,  bankers acceptances,  FHLB of New York advances,  "treasury tax and
loan" accounts  established in the ordinary course of business and  transactions
in "federal funds" and the satisfaction of legal requirements in the exercise of
trust powers) other than in the ordinary course of business


                                       26

<PAGE>



consistent  with past practice;  incur any  indebtedness  for borrowed money (or
guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money), except in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;

                  (vii)  take  any  action  which  would  result  in  any of the
representations  and  warranties  of PFC set  forth in this  Agreement  becoming
untrue as of any date  after the date  hereof  or in any of the  conditions  set
forth in Article VI hereof not being satisfied, except in each case as
may be required by applicable law;

                  (viii) change any method, practice or principle of accounting,
except  as may be  required  from  time to time by GAAP  (without  regard to any
optional  early  adoption  date) or any  Regulatory  Authority  responsible  for
regulating PFC;

                  (ix) waive, release,  grant or transfer any material rights of
value or  modify  or  change  in any  material  respect  any  existing  material
agreement or indebtedness  to which PFC or any PFC Subsidiary is a party,  other
than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice;

                  (x) purchase any security  for its  investment  portfolio  not
rated "A" or higher by either Standard & Poor's  Corporation or Moody's Investor
Services,  Inc. or otherwise alter, in any material respect,  the mix, maturity,
credit or interest rate risk profile of its  portfolio of investment  securities
or its portfolio of mortgage-backed securities;

                  (xi)  make any new loan or other  credit  facility  commitment
(including  without  limitation,  lines of credit and  letters of credit) to any
borrower  or  group  of  affiliated  borrowers  in  excess  of  $250,000  in the
aggregate, or increase, compromise, extend, renew or modify any existing loan or
commitment  outstanding  in  excess  of  $250,000,  except  for  any  commitment
disclosed on the PFC DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 5.01(xi).

                  (xii)  except  as set  forth  on the PFC  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE
5.01(a)(xii), enter into, renew, extend or modify any other transaction with any
Affiliate;

                  (xiii) enter into any futures contract,  option, interest rate
caps, interest rate floors,  interest rate exchange agreement or other agreement
or  take  any  other  action  for  purposes  of  hedging  the  exposure  of  its
interest-earning  assets and  interest-bearing  liabilities to changes in market
rates of interest;

                  (xiv)  except  for the  execution  of this  Agreement  and the
documents  related to this  Agreement  take any action that would give rise to a
right of payment to any individual under any employment  agreement,  or take any
action that would give rise to a right of payment to any
individual under any PFC Employee Plan;

                  (xv) make any change in policies  with regard to the extension
of credit,  the  establishment  of reserves  with respect to the  possible  loss
thereon or the charge off of losses incurred


                                       27

<PAGE>



thereon,  investment,  asset/liability  management  or  other  material  banking
policies  in any  material  respect  except as may be  required  by  changes  in
applicable law or regulations or in GAAP;

                  (xvi)  except  as  set  forth  in  PFC   DISCLOSURE   SCHEDULE
5.01(xix),  make any capital  expenditures in excess of $15,000  individually or
$40,000 in the aggregate, other than pursuant to binding commitments existing on
the date hereof and other than expenditures necessary
to maintain existing assets in good repair;

                  (xvii)  purchase or  otherwise  acquire,  or sell or otherwise
dispose  of, any  assets or incur any  liabilities  other  than in the  ordinary
course of business consistent with past practices and policies;

                  (xviii)  sell any REO or loan; or

                  (xix) agree to do any of the foregoing.

     For purposes of this Section 5.01,  unless provided for in a business plan,
budget or similar document  delivered to Sound Federal Bancorp prior to the date
of this Agreement, it shall not be considered in the ordinary course of business
for PFC or any PFC  Subsidiary  to do any of the  following:  (i)  except as set
forth in PFC DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE  5.01,  make any sale,  assignment,  transfer,
pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of any assets having a book or market
value,  whichever is greater, in the aggregate in excess of $15,000,  other than
pledges of assets to secure government deposits, to exercise trust powers, sales
of assets received in satisfaction of debts previously  contracted in the normal
course of business,  issuance of loans, sales of previously purchased government
guaranteed loans, or transactions in the investment  securities portfolio by PFC
or a PFC Subsidiary or repurchase agreements made, in each case, in the ordinary
course of  business;  or (ii)  undertake  or enter any lease,  contract or other
commitment for its account,  other than in the normal course of providing credit
to customers as part of its banking business,  involving a payment by PFC or any
PFC Subsidiary of more than $10,000 annually, or containing a material financial
commitment and extending beyond 12 months from the date hereof.

     Section 5.02 Access; Confidentiality.

     (a) Each of PFC and the PFC Subsidiaries shall permit Sound Federal Bancorp
and its representatives  reasonable access to its properties, and shall disclose
and make available to them all books, papers and records relating to the assets,
properties, operations, obligations and liabilities of PFC and its subsidiaries,
including,  but not  limited  to, all books of account  (including  the  general
ledger),  tax records,  minute books of meetings of boards of directors (and any
committees  thereof)(other  than minutes of any confidential  discussion of this
Agreement  and  the  transactions   contemplated   hereby),   and  stockholders,
organizational  documents,  bylaws,  material contracts and agreements,  filings
with any  regulatory  authority,  accountants'  work papers,  litigation  files,
except as necessary to preserve any attorney/client  privilege,  plans affecting
employees, and any other business activities or prospects in which Sound Federal
Bancorp may have a reasonable interest.


                                       28

<PAGE>



PFC and First Federal shall make their respective officers, employees and agents
and  authorized   representatives  (including  counsel  and  independent  public
accountants)   available   to  confer  with  Sound   Federal   Bancorp  and  its
representatives.  PFC and First Federal shall permit a  representative  of Sound
Federal  Bancorp to attend any meeting of PFC and/or  First  Federal's  Board of
Directors or the Executive  Committees  thereof  (provided  that neither PFC nor
First  Federal   shall  be  required  to  permit  the  Sound   Federal   Bancorp
representative  to remain  present  during any  confidential  discussion  of the
Agreement and the transactions  contemplated thereby). The parties will hold all
such  information  delivered  in  confidence  to the extent  required by, and in
accordance with, the provisions of the confidentiality  agreement, dated January
11, 2000, among PFC and Sound Federal Bancorp (the "Confidentiality Agreement").

     (b)  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  agrees to  conduct  such  investigations  and
discussions  hereunder  in a manner  so as not to  interfere  unreasonably  with
normal operations and customer and employee relationships of the other party.

     (c) In addition to the access permitted by subparagraph (a) above, from the
date of this  Agreement  through the Closing Date,  PFC and each PFC  Subsidiary
shall permit employees of Sound Federal Bancorp reasonable access to information
relating to problem  loans,  loan  restructurings  and loan work-outs of PFC and
First Federal.

     (d) If  the  transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement  shall  not be
consummated,  PFC and Sound  Federal  Bancorp  will each  destroy  or return all
documents  and  records  obtained  from the other  party or its  representatives
during  the course of its  investigation  and will  cause all  information  with
respect to the other party obtained  pursuant to this Agreement or preliminarily
thereto to be kept confidential,  except to the extent such information  becomes
public through no fault of the party to whom the information was provided or any
of its representatives or agents and except to the extent disclosure of any such
information is legally  required.  PFC and Sound Federal Bancorp shall each give
prompt written notice to the other party of any  contemplated  disclosure  where
such disclosure is so legally required.

     Section 5.03 Regulatory Matters and Consents.

     (a) Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound Federal will prepare all  Applications
and make all filings  for,  and use their best  efforts to obtain as promptly as
practicable after the date hereof, all necessary permits,  consents,  approvals,
waivers and authorizations of all Regulatory  Authorities necessary or advisable
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b) PFC will furnish Sound Federal Bancorp with all information  concerning
PFC and PFC Subsidiaries as may be necessary or advisable in connection with any
Application  or  filing  made by or on behalf of Sound  Federal  Bancorp  to any
Regulatory  Authority in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement.



                                       29

<PAGE>



     (c) Sound  Federal  Bancorp and PFC will  promptly  furnish each other with
copies of all material written  communications  to, or received by them from any
Regulatory Authority in respect of the transactions  contemplated hereby, except
information which is filed by either party which is designated as confidential.

     (d) The parties  hereto  agree that they will  consult with each other with
respect to the obtaining of all permits, consents,  approvals and authorizations
of all third parties and  Regulatory  Authorities.  Sound  Federal  Bancorp will
furnish  PFC with (i)  copies  of all  Applications  prior  to  filing  with any
Regulatory Authority and provide PFC a reasonable opportunity to provide changes
to such Applications and (ii) copies of all Applications  filed by Sound Federal
Bancorp.

     (e) PFC and Sound  Federal  Bancorp will  cooperate  with each other in the
foregoing  matters and will furnish the  responsible  party with all information
concerning  it and  its  subsidiaries  as  may  be  necessary  or  advisable  in
connection with any Application or filing (including the Proxy Statement and any
report filed with the SEC) made by or on behalf of Sound Federal  Bancorp or PFC
to any Regulatory Authority in connection with the transactions  contemplated by
this  Agreement,  and such  information  will be  accurate  and  complete in all
material respects. In connection therewith, each party will provide certificates
and other documents reasonably requested by the other.

     Section 5.04 Taking of Necessary Action.

     (a) Sound  Federal  Bancorp and PFC shall each use its best efforts in good
faith,  and each of them shall cause its  Subsidiaries to use their best efforts
in good faith, to (i) furnish such  information as may be required in connection
with the  preparation  of the  documents  referred  to in  Section  5.03 of this
Agreement,  and (ii) take or cause to be taken all action necessary or desirable
on its part using its best efforts so as to permit  completion of the Merger and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,  including, without limitation,
(A)  obtaining  the  consent  or  approval  of  each  individual,   partnership,
corporation,  association or other business or professional entity whose consent
or approval  is  required or  desirable  for  consummation  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby  (including  assignment  of leases  without  any  change in
terms), provided that neither PFC nor any PFC Subsidiary shall agree to make any
payments or  modifications  to agreements in  connection  therewith  without the
prior written consent of Sound Federal Bancorp,  and (B) requesting the delivery
of appropriate  opinions,  consents and letters from its counsel and independent
auditors.  No party hereto shall take,  or cause,  or to the best of its ability
permit to be taken, any action that would substantially  impair the prospects of
completing the Merger pursuant to this  Agreement;  provided that nothing herein
contained shall preclude Sound Federal Bancorp or PFC from exercising its rights
under this Agreement or the Option Agreement.

     (b) PFC shall prepare,  subject to the review, and consent of Sound Federal
Bancorp  with  respect to matters  relating to Sound  Federal  Bancorp,  a Proxy
Statement  to be filed by PFC with the SEC and to be mailed to the  shareholders
of PFC in  connection  with the meetings of its  shareholders  and  transactions
contemplated hereby, which Proxy statement shall conform to all applicable legal


                                       30

<PAGE>



requirements.  The parties shall  cooperate  with each other with respect to the
preparation  of the Proxy  Statement.  PFC shall,  as  promptly  as  practicable
following the preparation thereof, file the Proxy Statement with the SEC and PFC
shall  use all  reasonable  efforts  to  have  the  Proxy  Statement  mailed  to
stockholders  as promptly as  practicable  after such filing.  PFC will promptly
advise Sound Federal Bancorp of the time when the Proxy Statement has been filed
and  mailed,  or of any  comments  from  the SEC or any  request  by the SEC for
additional information.

     Section 5.05 Certain Agreements.

     (a) Sound Federal Bancorp shall use its reasonable best efforts to maintain
in effect for three years from the Effective  Time,  if  available,  the current
directors' and officers'  liability insurance policy maintained by PFC (provided
that Sound Federal Bancorp may substitute therefor policies of at least the same
coverage   containing  terms  and  conditions  which  are  not  materially  less
favorable)  with  respect  to  matters  occurring  prior  to the  Closing  Date;
provided,  however,  that in no event shall Sound Federal Bancorp be required to
expend  pursuant to this  Section 5.05 more than the amount equal to 150% of the
current annual amount expended by PFC to maintain or procure insurance  coverage
pursuant  hereto.  In connection with the foregoing,  PFC and First Federal each
agrees to provide such insurer or substitute  insurer with such  representations
as such insurer may request with respect to the reporting of any prior claims.

     (b) In addition, Sound Federal Bancorp acknowledges that the obligations of
PFC to indemnify  its directors and officers (who are made a party or threatened
to be made a party or otherwise  involved  with respect to any action,  suit, or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal,  administrative or investigative, by reason
of the fact  that he or she was a  director  of PFC at or  prior to the  Closing
Date) under its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, as they exist as of the
date of this Agreement,  including the obligation to advance expenses,  shall be
assumed by Sound Federal by reason of the Merger.

     (c) The  provisions of this Section 5.05 are intended to be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and
representatives.

     Section  5.06 No Other Bids and  Related  Matters.  From and after the date
hereof until the  termination of this  Agreement,  neither PFC, First Federal or
any PFC Subsidiary, nor any of their respective officers, directors,  employees,
representatives,  agents  or  affiliates  (including,  without  limitation,  any
investment  banker,  attorney  or  accountant  retained  by  PFC  or  any of its
Subsidiaries),  will,  directly or  indirectly,  initiate,  solicit or knowingly
encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information or assistance),
or  facilitate  knowingly,  any  inquiries  or the making of any  proposal  that
constitutes,  or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal
(as  defined  below),  or enter into or  maintain  or  continue  discussions  or
negotiate  with any  person or entity in  furtherance  of such  inquiries  or to
obtain an Acquisition Proposal or agree to or endorse any Acquisition  Proposal,
or authorize or permit any of its  officers,  directors,  or employees or any of
its  subsidiaries  or  any  investment  banker,  financial  advisor,   attorney,
accountant or other  representative  retained by any of its subsidiaries to take
any such action, and PFC shall notify Sound Federal


                                       31

<PAGE>



Bancorp  orally  (within  one  business  day) and in  writing  (as  promptly  as
practicable)  of all of the  relevant  details  relating  to all  inquiries  and
proposals  which it or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any such officer,  director,
employee,  investment banker, financial advisor,  attorney,  accountant or other
representative may receive relating to any of such matters,  provided,  however,
that  nothing  contained  in this  Section  5.06  shall  prohibit  the  Board of
Directors  of  PFC  from  (i)  furnishing   information  to,  or  entering  into
discussions or negotiations  with any person or entity that makes an unsolicited
written,  bona fide  proposal  to acquire  PFC or First  Federal  pursuant  to a
merger, consolidation,  share exchange, business combination, tender or exchange
offer or other  similar  transaction,  if, and only to the extent that,  (A) the
Board of Directors of PFC  receives an opinion  from its  independent  financial
advisor  that such  proposal  may be  superior  to the Merger  from a  financial
point-of-view  to PFC's  stockholders,  (B) the Board of Directors of PFC, after
consultation with and after considering the advice of independent legal counsel,
determines in good faith that failure to take such action may cause the Board of
Directors of PFC to breach its fiduciary duties to stockholders under applicable
law (such  proposal  that  satisfies  (A) and (B) being  referred to herein as a
"Superior  Proposal");  (C) prior to furnishing such information to, or entering
into discussions or negotiations  with, such person or entity,  PFC (x) provides
reasonable  notice to Sound Federal  Bancorp to the effect that it is furnishing
information to, or entering into  discussions or negotiations  with, such person
or  entity  and  (y)   receives   from  such   person  or  entity  an   executed
confidentiality  agreement in reasonably customary form; and (D) the PFC Special
Meeting of  Stockholders  convened to approve this  Agreement  has not occurred,
(ii) complying with Rule 14e-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to
a tender  or  exchange  offer  or (iii)  prior  to the PFC  Special  meeting  of
Stockholders  convened to approve the Agreement,  failing to make or withdrawing
or modifying its  recommendation  and entering into a Superior Proposal if there
exists a Superior Proposal and the Board of Directors of PFC, after consultation
with and after considering the advice of independent  legal counsel,  determined
in good faith that failure to take such action may cause such Board of Directors
to breach  its  fiduciary  duties to  stockholders  under  applicable  law.  For
purposes  of  this  Agreement,  "Acquisition  Proposal"  shall  mean  any of the
following (other than the transactions  contemplated hereunder) involving PFC or
any of its subsidiaries: (i) any merger, consolidation, share exchange, business
combination,  or other similar  transactions;  (ii) any sale,  lease,  exchange,
mortgage,  pledge, transfer or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of
PFC or First Federal , taken as a whole,  in a single  transaction  or series of
transactions;  (iii) any tender  offer or exchange  offer for 10% or more of the
outstanding  shares of  capital  stock of PFC or the  filing  of a  registration
statement under the Securities Act in connection  therewith;  or (iv) any public
announcement of a proposal,  plan or intention to do any of the foregoing or any
agreement to engage in any of the foregoing.

     Section 5.07 Duty to Advise; Duty to Update PFC's Disclosure Schedules. PFC
shall  promptly  advise  Sound  Federal  Bancorp of any change or event having a
Material  Adverse  Effect on it or on any PFC  Subsidiary  or which it  believes
would or would be reasonably  likely to cause or constitute a material breach of
any of its representations,  warranties or covenants set forth herein. PFC shall
update  PFC's  DISCLOSURE   SCHEDULES  as  promptly  as  practicable  after  the
occurrence of an event or fact which,  if such event or fact had occurred  prior
to the date of this  Agreement,  would have been disclosed in the PFC DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULES. The delivery of


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<PAGE>



such updated Schedule shall not relieve PFC from any breach or violation of this
Agreement  and shall not have any effect for the  purposes  of  determining  the
satisfaction of the condition set forth
in Sections 6.02(c) hereof.

     Section 5.08 Conduct of Sound Federal Bancorp's Business.  From the date of
this  Agreement to the Closing  Date,  Sound  Federal  Bancorp will use its best
efforts to (x) preserve its business  organizations  intact,  (y) maintain  good
relationships  with  employees,  and (z)  preserve  for itself the  goodwill  of
customers of Sound Federal. From the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date,
neither Sound Federal  Bancorp nor Sound Federal will (i) amend its  certificate
of incorporation,  charter or bylaws in any manner  inconsistent with the prompt
and timely consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii)
take any action which would result in any of the  representations and warranties
of Sound Federal  Bancorp or Sound Federal set forth in this Agreement  becoming
untrue as of any date  after the date  hereof  or in any of the  conditions  set
forth in Article VI hereof  not being  satisfied,  except in each case as may be
required by applicable law; or (iii) agree to do any of the foregoing.

     Section 5.09 Board and Committee Minutes.  PFC and First Federal shall each
provide to Sound Federal  Bancorp,  within thirty (30) days after any meeting of
their respective  Board of Directors,  or any committee  thereof,  or any senior
management  committee,  a copy of the  minutes of such  meeting,  excluding  any
matters  related to this  Agreement  or the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,
except  that with  respect to any meeting  held  within  thirty (30) days of the
Closing Date,  such minutes shall be provided to each party prior to the Closing
Date.

     Section 5.10 Undertakings by PFC and Sound Federal Bancorp.

         (a)      From and after the date of this Agreement:

                  (i) Voting by Directors. Each member of the Board of Directors
of PFC shall vote all shares of PFC Common  Stock over which each such  director
has voting control, in favor of this Agreement. Concurrent with the execution of
this Agreement, PFC's Directors shall each enter into the agreement set forth as
Exhibit D to this Agreement;

                  (ii)     Proxy Solicitor.   PFC shall retain a proxy solicitor
in connection with the solicitation of shareholder approval of this Agreement;

                  (iii) Timely Review.  If requested by Sound Federal Bancorp at
Sound Federal Bancorp's sole expense, PFC shall cause its independent  certified
public accountants to perform a review of its unaudited  consolidated  financial
statements as of the end of any calendar  quarter,  in accordance with Statement
of  Auditing  Standards  No. 36,  and to issue  their  report on such  financial
statements as soon as is practicable thereafter;

                  (iv) Outside Service Bureau  Contracts.  If requested to do so
by Sound Federal Bancorp,  PFC shall use its best efforts to obtain an extension
of any contract with an outside service


                                       33

<PAGE>



bureau or other  vendor of  services to PFC,  on terms and  conditions  mutually
acceptable to PFC and Sound Federal Bancorp;

                  (v) List of  Nonperforming  Assets.  PFC shall  provide  Sound
Federal  Bancorp,  within  ten (10) days of the end of each  calendar  month,  a
written  list of  nonperforming  assets (the term  "nonperforming  assets,"  for
purposes  of  this   subsection,   means  (i)  loans  that  are  "troubled  debt
restructuring" as defined in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 15,
"Accounting  by Debtors and  Creditors for Troubled  Debt  Restructuring,"  (ii)
loans on nonaccrual, (iii) real estate owned, (iv) all loans ninety (90) days or
more past due) as of the end of such month and (iv) and impaired loans; and

                  (vi)  Reserves  and  Merger-Related  Costs.  On or before  the
Effective  Date,  and at the request of Sound Federal  Bancorp and to the extent
not  inconsistent  with GAAP, PFC shall establish such  additional  accruals and
reserves as may be necessary to conform the  accounting  reserve  practices  and
methods  (including  credit loss practices and methods) of PFC to those of Sound
Federal Bancorp (as such practices and methods are to be applied to PFC from and
after the Closing  Date) and Sound Federal  Bancorp's  plans with respect to the
conduct of the  business of PFC  following  the Merger and  otherwise to reflect
Merger-related  expenses and costs incurred by PFC, provided,  however, that PFC
shall not be required to take such action unless Sound Federal Bancorp agrees in
writing  that all  conditions  to closing  set forth in  Section  6.02 have been
satisfied  or  waived  (except  for the  expiration  of any  applicable  waiting
periods); prior to the delivery by Sound Federal Bancorp of the writing referred
to in the preceding  clause,  PFC shall provide Sound Federal  Bancorp a written
statement,  certified without personal  liability by the chief executive officer
of PFC and  dated  the date of such  writing,  that the  representation  made in
Section 3.15 hereof is true as of such date or, alternatively,  setting forth in
detail the circumstances that prevent such  representation from being true as of
such date; and no accrual or reserve made by PFC or any PFC Subsidiary  pursuant
to this subsection,  or any litigation or regulatory  proceeding  arising out of
any such  accrual or reserve,  shall  constitute  or be deemed to be a breach or
violation  of  any  representation,   warranty,  covenant,  condition  or  other
provision of this  Agreement or to  constitute  a  termination  event within the
meaning of Section 7.01(b) hereof.

                  (vii) Shareholders Meeting. Subject to Section 5.06, PFC shall
submit this Agreement to its  shareholders  for approval at a meeting to be held
within  90  days  of the  date of this  Agreement  or as soon  thereafter  as is
practicable,  and its  Board  of  Directors  shall  recommend  approval  of this
Agreement to the PFC  shareholders.  PFC shall  promptly  inform  Sound  Federal
Bancorp of any  shareholder who makes a written demand upon PFC for an appraisal
of his shares of PFC Common Stock in connection with the Merger.

     (b) From and after the date of this  Agreement,  Sound Federal  Bancorp and
PFC shall each:

                  (i) Filings  and  Approvals.  Cooperate  with the other in the
preparation and filing, as soon as practicable, of (A) the Applications, (B) the
Proxy Statement, (C) all other documents


                                       34

<PAGE>



necessary  to obtain any other  approvals  and  consents  required to effect the
completion of the Merger,  and the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
(D) all other documents contemplated by this
Agreement;

                  (ii)   Public   Announcements.   Cooperate   and  cause  their
respective officers, directors, employees and agents to cooperate in good faith,
consistent  with their  respective  legal  obligations,  in the  preparation and
distribution  of, and agree upon the form and  substance  of, any press  release
related to this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and any
other  public   disclosures   related  thereto,   including  without  limitation
communications to shareholders, internal announcements and customer disclosures,
but  nothing  contained  herein  shall  prohibit  either  party from  making any
disclosure which its counsel deems necessary, provided that the disclosing party
notifies  the other party  reasonably  in advance of the timing and  contents of
such disclosure;

                  (iv)  Maintenance  of  Insurance.  Maintain,  and cause  their
respective Subsidiaries to maintain, insurance in such amounts as are reasonable
to cover such risks as are  customary in relation to the  character and location
of its properties and the nature of its business;

                  (v)  Maintenance  of Books and  Records.  Maintain,  and cause
their  respective  Subsidiaries  to  maintain,  books of account  and records in
accordance  with generally  accepted  accounting  principles  applied on a basis
consistent  with those  principles  used in preparing the  financial  statements
heretofore delivered;

                  (vi)  Delivery of Securities  Documents. Deliver to the other,
copies of all Securities Documents simultaneously with the filing thereof;

                  (vii) Taxes.  File all federal,  state,  and local tax returns
required to be filed by them or their  respective  Subsidiaries on or before the
date such returns are due (including any  extensions) and pay all taxes shown to
be due on such returns on or before the date such payment is due; or

     Section 5.11 Employee and Termination Benefits; Directors and Management.

     (a) Employee Benefits. Except as set forth below, as of or after the Merger
Effective  Date,  and at Sound  Federal  Bancorp's  election  and subject to the
requirements  of the IRC, the PFC Employee  Plans may continue to be  maintained
separately,  or consolidated,  or terminated. In the event of a consolidation of
any or all of such  plans or in the  event of  termination  of any PFC  Employee
Plan, PFC employees who continue  employment  with Sound Federal  Bancorp or any
Sound Federal Bancorp Subsidiary  ("Continuing  Employees") shall receive credit
for service with PFC (for purposes of eligibility and vesting  determination but
not for benefit  accrual  purposes)  under any existing  Sound  Federal  Bancorp
benefit plan, or new Sound Federal  Bancorp benefit plan in which such employees
would be eligible to enroll. In the event of any termination or consolidation of
any PFC health plan with any Sound Federal  Bancorp  health plan,  Sound Federal
Bancorp  and/or Sound  Federal  shall make  available  employer-provided  health
coverage on the same basis as it provides such coverage to Sound Federal Bancorp
or Sound Federal employees. In the event of a


                                       35

<PAGE>



termination or  consolidation  of any PFC health plan,  terminated PFC employees
and qualified beneficiaries will have the right to continue coverage under group
health plans of Sound Federal Bancorp and/or Sound Federal Bancorp  subsidiaries
in accordance  with IRC Section  4980B(f).  In the event of any  termination  or
consolidation of any PFC health plan with any Sound Federal Bancorp health plan,
any pre-existing condition,  eligibility waiting period, limitation or exclusion
in the  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  health  plans  shall  not  apply to  Continuing
Employees or their covered dependents who are covered under a PFC health Plan on
the Merger  Effective  Date and who then change that  coverage to Sound  Federal
Bancorp's  health plan at the time such  Continuing  Employee is first given the
option to enroll in such Sound Federal Bancorp health plan. During calendar year
2000,  Sound Federal Bancorp shall credit employees of PFC or any PFC Subsidiary
at the Merger  Effective  Date with  amounts paid as  deductibles  under the PFC
health plan.

     (b) At the Merger  Effective  Date, any terminated  employees of PFC or any
PFC Subsidiary  whose employment is terminated,  other than for cause,  shall be
provided  with  severance  benefits  equal to two (2) weeks  for  every  year of
service with PFC or any PFC Subsidiary up to 26 weeks.

     (c) Sound Federal Bancorp shall establish a First Federal Advisory Board of
Directors to consist of those persons who currently serve on the PFC Board,  and
such  persons  shall  commence  service  on  the  Advisory  Board  of  Directors
immediately  following the Merger  Effective  Date.  The Advisory Board shall be
maintained for at least one year  following the Merger  Effective Date and shall
be  compensated  at a rate of  $500  per  meeting.  Such  meetings  will be held
monthly.

     (d) The Peekskill Financial  Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the
"PFC ESOP") shall be terminated as of the Merger Effective Date (all shares held
by  the  ESOP  shall  be  converted   into  the  right  to  receive  the  Merger
Consideration),  all outstanding PFC ESOP indebtedness  shall be repaid, and the
balance  shall be allocated to PFC  employees,  as provided for in the PFC ESOP,
subject to the Code and ERISA, and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
In connection  with the termination of the PFC ESOP, PFC shall promptly apply to
the IRS for a favorable  determination letter on the tax-qualified status of the
PFC ESOP on termination  and any  amendments  made to the PFC ESOP in connection
with its  termination  or  otherwise,  if such  amendments  have not  previously
received a favorable  determination  letter  from the IRS with  respect to their
qualification  under Code Section 401(a). Any and all distributions from the PFC
ESOP after its  termination  shall be made  consistent  with the  aforementioned
determination letter.

     (e) PFC's Chairman of the Board at the Merger Effective Date shall be named
a director of Sound  Federal  Bancorp.  The PFC  Chairman  of the Board's  prior
service  on  PFC's  and  First  Federal's  Board  of  Directors  will be used to
determine credited service under the Sound Federal Director Emeritus Plan.

     (f)  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  an  existing  employment  or
severance  agreement between PFC, First Federal and PFC's Chairman of the Board,
President, and two Vice Presidents, respectively, such persons shall, in lieu of
certain payments due under their employment


                                       36

<PAGE>



and severance  agreements,  be entitled to receive payments set forth in the PFC
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE 5.11.

     (g) Concurrent  with the Merger  Effective Date Sound Federal shall appoint
PFC's  President as Regional  Vice  President for a period of one year and at an
annual salary of $80,000.

     (h)  Concurrent  with the Merger  Effective  Date PFC's  Vice  President  -
Finance  shall be  offered a  position  with  Sound  Federal  with a title to be
determined.  Such  position  shall  report  directly  to Sound  Federal's  Chief
Financial Officer.  This position shall become effective at the Merger Effective
Date.  In  consideration  thereof  Sound  Federal  agrees  to pay the  PFC  Vice
President-Finance  a bonus of $60,000 to be paid in six equal  monthly  payments
plus a salary not less than the PFC's  Vice  President--Finance's  current  base
salary.  Sound  Federal  agrees to keep this  position  available  to PFC's Vice
President--Finance for a sufficient time for such individual to receive the full
$60,000 bonus payment.

     Section  5.12  Duty to  Advise;  Duty to  Update  Sound  Federal  Bancorp's
Disclosure  Schedules.  Sound Federal  Bancorp shall promptly  advise PFC of any
change or event having a Material  Adverse  Effect on it or on any Sound Federal
Bancorp  Subsidiary or which it believes would or would be reasonably  likely to
cause or constitute a material breach of any of its representations,  warranties
or covenants set forth herein.  Sound Federal Bancorp shall update Sound Federal
Bancorp's  DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULES as promptly as practicable after the occurrence
of an event or fact which,  if such event or fact had occurred prior to the date
of this  Agreement,  would  have been  disclosed  in the Sound  Federal  Bancorp
DISCLOSURE  SCHEDULE.  The delivery of such updated  Schedules shall not relieve
Sound Federal  Bancorp from any breach or violation of this  Agreement and shall
not have any effect for the  purposes of  determining  the  satisfaction  of the
condition set forth in Sections 6.01(c) hereof.

     Section 5.13 Amendment of First  Federal's  Federal Stock Charter.  PFC and
First Federal shall take all action  necessary to amend First Federal's  charter
in order to delete  Section 8 thereof.  PFC and First  Federal shall ensure that
such amendment is effective at the Merger Effective Date.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   CONDITIONS

     Section 6.01  Conditions to PFC's  Obligations  under this  Agreement.  The
obligations of PFC hereunder shall be subject to satisfaction at or prior to the
Closing Date of each of the following conditions,  unless waived by PFC pursuant
to Section 8.03 hereof:

     (a) Corporate  Proceedings.  All action  required to be taken by, or on the
part of, Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound  Federal to authorize  the  execution,
delivery  and  performance  of  this  Agreement,  and  the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated by this  Agreement,  shall have been duly and validly
taken by Sound Federal  Bancorp and Sound  Federal;  and PFC shall have received
certified copies of the resolutions evidencing such authorizations;


                                       37

<PAGE>



     (b) Covenants.  The  obligations and covenants of Sound Federal Bancorp and
Sound  Federal  required by this  Agreement  to be  performed  by Sound  Federal
Bancorp and Sound  Federal at or prior to the Closing  Date shall have been duly
performed and complied with in all material respects;

     (c)  Representations  and  Warranties.  Each  of  the  representations  and
warranties  of  Sound  Federal  Bancorp  and  Sound  Federal  set  forth in this
Agreement  which is  qualified as to  materiality  shall be true and correct and
each such  representational  warranty that is not so qualified shall be true and
correct in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement,
and as of the Closing  Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except
as to any  representation or warranty which  specifically  relates to an earlier
date);

     (d) Approvals of Regulatory  Authorities.  Sound Federal Bancorp shall have
received all  required  approvals of  Regulatory  Authorities  of the Merger and
delivered  copies  thereof to PFC; and all notice and waiting  periods  required
thereunder shall have expired or been terminated;

     (e) No  Injunction.  There  shall not be in  effect  any  order,  decree or
injunction  of a court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which  enjoins  or
prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

     (f) Officer's  Certificate.  Sound Federal  Bancorp shall have delivered to
PFC  a  certificate,  dated  the  Closing  Date  and  signed,  without  personal
liability,  by its  chairman of the board or  president,  to the effect that the
conditions  set forth in  subsections  (a) through (f) of this Section 6.01 have
been satisfied, to the best knowledge of the officer executing the same; and

     (g) Approval of PFC's Shareholders. This Agreement shall have been approved
by the shareholders of PFC by such vote as is required under applicable Delaware
law,  PFC's   certificate  of  incorporation   and  bylaws,   and  under  Nasdaq
requirements applicable to it.

     Section 6.02 Conditions to Sound Federal  Bancorp's  Obligations under this
Agreement.  The obligations of Sound Federal Bancorp  hereunder shall be subject
to  satisfaction  at or  prior  to the  Closing  Date of  each of the  following
conditions,  unless  waived by Sound  Federal  Bancorp  pursuant to Section 8.03
hereof:

     (a) Corporate  Proceedings.  All action  required to be taken by, or on the
part of, PFC to  authorize  the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this
Agreement,  and  the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by  this
Agreement,  shall have been duly and  validly  taken by PFC;  and Sound  Federal
Bancorp shall have received certified copies of the resolutions  evidencing such
authorizations;

     (b) Covenants. The obligations and covenants of PFC and each PFC Subsidiary
required by this Agreement to be performed at or prior to the Closing Date shall
have been duly performed and complied with in all material respects;


                                       38

<PAGE>



     (c)  Representations  and  Warranties.  Each  of  the  representations  and
warranties of PFC and each PFC Subsidiary  set forth in this Agreement  which is
qualified  as  to   materiality   shall  be  true  and  correct  and  each  such
representation  and warranty that is not so qualified  shall be true and correct
in all material respects, in each case as of the date of this Agreement,  and as
of the Closing  Date as though made on and as of the Closing  Date (except as to
any representation or warranty which specifically relates to an earlier date);

     (d) Approvals of Regulatory  Authorities.  Sound Federal Bancorp shall have
received all required approvals of Regulatory Authorities of the Merger (without
the imposition of any conditions that are in Sound Federal Bancorp's  reasonable
judgement unduly burdensome) and delivered copies thereof to PFC; and all notice
and waiting periods required thereunder shall have expired or been terminated;

     (e) No  Injunction.  There  shall not be in  effect  any  order,  decree or
injunction  of a court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which  enjoins  or
prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

     (f) No Material  Adverse Effect.  Since September 30, 1999, there shall not
have occurred any Material Adverse Effect with respect to PFC; and

     (g)  Officer's  Certificate.  PFC shall  have  delivered  to Sound  Federal
Bancorp a  certificate,  dated the  Closing  Date and signed,  without  personal
liability,  by its  chairman of the board or  president,  to the effect that the
conditions  set forth in  subsections  (a) through (f) of this Section 6.02 have
been satisfied, to the best knowledge of the officer executing the same.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                        TERMINATION, WAIVER AND AMENDMENT

     Section 7.01  Termination.  This  Agreement  may be terminated on or at any
time prior to the Closing Date:

     (a) By the mutual written consent of the parties hereto;

     (b) By either Sound Federal Bancorp or PFC acting individually:

                  (i)  if  there  shall  have  been  a  material  breach  of any
representation,  warranty,  covenant or other obligation of the other party, and
such  breach  cannot be, or shall not have been,  remedied  within 30 days after
receipt by such other party of notice in writing specifying the nature
of such breach and requesting that it be remedied;

                  (ii) if the Closing Date shall not have  occurred on or before
September 30, 2000,  unless the failure of such  occurrence  shall be due to the
failure of the party seeking to terminate this


                                       39

<PAGE>



Agreement  to perform or observe  its  obligations  set forth in this  Agreement
required  to be  performed  or  observed  by such party on or before the Closing
Date;

                  (iii) if  either  party  has been  informed  in  writing  by a
Regulatory  Authority  whose  approval or consent has been  requested  that such
approval  or consent  is  unlikely  to be  granted,  unless the  failure of such
occurrence  shall be due to the failure of the party  seeking to terminate  this
Agreement to perform or observe its agreements  set forth herein  required to be
performed or observed by such party on or before the Closing Date;

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

     (c) By Sound  Federal  Bancorp if (i) as provided in Section  5.10(a)(vii),
the Board of Directors of PFC withdraws its  recommendation  of this  Agreement,
fails to make such recommendation or modifies or qualifies its recommendation in
a manner adverse to Sound Federal Bancorp,  or (ii) as provided in Section 5.06,
the Board of  Directors  of PFC enters  into an  agreement  involving a Superior
Proposal; provided, however, that a termination pursuant to this Section 7.01(c)
shall not  effect  the right of Sound  Federal  Bancorp  to  exercise  the Sound
Federal Bancorp Option pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement.

     Section 7.02 Effect of  Termination.  Except as otherwise  provided in this
Agreement, if this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.01 hereof, this
Agreement  shall  forthwith  become void (other than Section 5.02(a) and (d) and
Section  8.01 hereof,  which shall  remain in full force and effect),  and there
shall be no further liability on the part of Sound Federal Bancorp or PFC to the
other,  except that no party shall be relieved or released from any  liabilities
or damages arising out of its willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     Section 8.01  Expenses.  (a) Except as provided  herein,  each party hereto
shall bear and pay all costs and expenses  incurred by it in connection with the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  including  fees  and  expenses  of its  own
financial consultants, accountants and counsel.

     (b) In the event of any  termination of this Agreement  pursuant to Section
7.01(b)(i)  hereof  because of a breach of this Agreement by one of the parties,
and in addition to any other  damages and remedies  that may be available to the
non-breaching  party, the  non-breaching  party shall be entitled to payment of,
and the breaching party shall pay to the non-breaching  party, all out-of-pocket
costs and expenses, including, without limitation,  reasonable legal, accounting
and investment banking fees and expenses, incurred by the non-breaching party in
connection  with  entering  into this  Agreement and carrying out of any and all
acts contemplated hereunder; provided,


                                       40

<PAGE>



however,  that this  clause  shall not be  construed  to  relieve  or  release a
breaching  party from any additional  liabilities or damages  arising out of its
willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

     Section  8.02   Non-Survival  of   Representations   and  Warranties.   All
representations,  warranties  and,  except to the extent  specifically  provided
otherwise herein, agreements and covenants, other than those covenants set forth
in Sections  5.05,  and  5.11(a),  (b),  (c),  (e),  (f), (g) and (h) which will
survive the Merger, shall terminate on the Closing Date.

     Section 8.03 Amendment, Extension and Waiver. Subject to applicable law, at
any time prior to the  consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement, the parties may (a) amend this Agreement, (b) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of either party hereto,  (c)
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained herein or
in any document  delivered  pursuant hereto, or (d) waive compliance with any of
the agreements or conditions contained in Articles V and VI hereof or otherwise.
This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing  authorized
by the respective Boards of Directors and signed,  by duly authorized  officers,
on behalf of the parties hereto.  Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to
any  extension  or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an  instrument  in
writing signed by a duly  authorized  officer on behalf of such party,  but such
waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with such obligation, covenant,
agreement  or  condition  shall not  operate  as a waiver of, or  estoppel  with
respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

     Section 8.04 Entire Agreement. This Agreement,  including the documents and
other writings  referred to herein or delivered  pursuant  hereto,  contains the
entire  agreement and  understanding  of the parties with respect to its subject
matter.  This Agreement  supersedes all prior  arrangements  and  understandings
between the parties,  both  written or oral with respect to its subject  matter.
This  Agreement  shall inure to the  benefit of and be binding  upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors;  provided, however, that nothing in this
Agreement,  expressed  or implied,  is intended to confer upon any party,  other
than the parties hereto and their respective successors,  any rights,  remedies,
obligations or liabilities other than pursuant to Sections 2.02(a)(i),  2.03 and
5.05 and Section 5.11(c), (e), (f), (g) and (h).

     Section  8.05 No  Assignment.  Neither  party  hereto may assign any of its
rights or obligations  hereunder to any other person,  without the prior written
consent of the other party hereto.




                                       41

<PAGE>



     Section 8.06 Notices. All notices or other  communications  hereunder shall
be in  writing  and shall be deemed  given if  delivered  personally,  mailed by
prepaid  registered or certified  mail (return  receipt  requested),  or sent by
telecopy, addressed as follows:

                  (a)      If to Sound Federal Bancorp to:

                           Sound Federal Bancorp
                           300 Mamaroneck Avenue
                           Mamaroneck, New York 10543-2647
                           Attention:     Richard P. McStravick
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer


         with a copy to:    Luse Lehman Gorman Pomerenk & Schick, PC
                            5335 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
                            Suite 400
                            Washington, D.C. 20015
                            Attention: Eric Luse, Esq.
                                       Alan Schick, Esq.


                  (b)      If to PFC, to:

                           Peekskill Financial Corp.
                           1019 Park Street
                           Peekskill, New York 10566
                           Attn:    Eldorus Maynard
                                    Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


         with a copy to:   Silver Freedman & Taff, P.C.
                           1100 New York Avenue, N.W.
                           Washington, D.C. 20005-3934
                           Attention: Kip Weissman, Esq.
                                      Beth Freedman, Esq.

     Section 8.07  Captions.  The captions  contained in this  Agreement are for
reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement.

     Section 8.08 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts,  and each  such  counterpart  shall be  deemed  to be an  original
instrument,  but  all  such  counterparts  together  shall  constitute  but  one
agreement.



                                       42

<PAGE>



         Section 8.09  Severability.  If any provision of this  Agreement or the
application   thereof  to  any  person  or  circumstance  shall  be  invalid  or
unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement and the application
of such  provisions  to other  persons or  circumstances  shall not be  affected
thereby and shall be enforced to the greatest extent permitted by law.

     Section  8.10  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be  governed  by and
construed in accordance  with the domestic  internal law  (including  the law of
conflicts of law) of the State of New York.



                                       43

<PAGE>



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

                               SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP



                               By:      /s/ Richard P. McStravick
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Richard P. McStravick
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer



                               SOUND FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN
                               ASSOCIATION



                               By:      /s/ Richard P. McStravick
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Richard P. McStravick
                                        President and Chief Executive Officer



                               PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORP.



                               By:      /s/ Eldorus Maynard
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        Eldorus Maynard
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer




                                       44


<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBIT A

                           AGREEMENT OF COMPANY MERGER




<PAGE>





                           AGREEMENT OF COMPANY MERGER

     AGREEMENT OF COMPANY  MERGER,  dated as of  _______________,  2000,  by and
among  Sound  Federal  Savings  and  Loan  Association   ("Sound  Federal"),   a
federally-chartered savings bank, Sound Federal Acquisition Corp. ("Interim"), a
Delaware   corporation   formed  by  Sound  Federal  solely  to  facilitate  the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,  defined below, and Peekskill
Financial Corp. ("Company"), a Delaware corporation. Interim and the Company are
hereinafter sometimes collectively referred to as the "Merging Corporations".

     This  Agreement  of Company  Merger is being  entered  into  pursuant to an
Agreement  and Plan of  Merger,  dated as of  February  ___,  2000 (the  "Merger
Agreement") by and among Sound Federal and the Company.

     In consideration  of the premises,  and the mutual covenants and agreements
contained  herein and in the  Merger  Agreement,  the  parties  hereto  agree as
follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

     Except as otherwise  provided herein, the capitalized terms set forth below
shall have the following meanings:

     1.1 "Effective  Time" shall mean the date at which the Merger  contemplated
by this Agreement of Merger becomes effective as provided in Section 2.2 hereof.

     1.2 "Interim Common Stock" shall mean the common stock,  par value $.01 per
share, of Interim owned by Sound Federal.

     1.3 "Company  Common  Stock" shall mean the common stock par value $.01 per
share, of the Company.

     1.4 The  "Merger"  shall  refer to the merger of Interim  with and into the
Company as provided in Section 2.1 of this Agreement of Company Merger.

     1.5 "Stockholder Meeting" shall mean the meeting of the stockholders of the
Company held pursuant to Section 7.1.

     1.6  "Surviving  Corporation"  shall refer to the Company as the  surviving
corporation of the Merger.


                                       1

<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE II
                               TERMS OF THE MERGER

     2.1 The Merger. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger
Agreement,  on the  Effective  Time,  Interim  shall be merged with and into the
Company  pursuant and subject to Section 251 of the General  Corporation  Law of
the State of Delaware ( "DGCL"). The Company shall be the Surviving  Corporation
of the  Merger and shall  continue  to be  governed  by the laws of the State of
Delaware.  On the Effective Time, the Surviving  Corporation shall be considered
the same business and corporate  entity as each of the Merging  Corporations and
thereupon and thereafter,  all the property, rights, powers, and franchises of a
public as well as a private  nature of each of the  Merging  Corporations  shall
vest in the Surviving Corporation and the Surviving Corporation shall be subject
to and be deemed to have assumed all of the debts, liabilities,  obligations and
duties of each of the Merging  Corporations  and shall have  succeeded to all of
each of their  relationships,  fiduciary or otherwise,  as fully and to the same
extent  as if such  property,  right,  privileges,  powers,  franchises,  debts,
obligations,  duties and relationships had been originally acquired, incurred or
entered into by the Surviving Corporation.  In addition, any reference to either
of the Merging Corporations in any contract, will or document,  whether executed
or taking  effect  before or after the  Effective  Time,  shall be  considered a
reference  to the  Surviving  Corporation  if not  inconsistent  with the  other
provisions of the contract,  will or document;  and any pending  action or other
judicial  proceeding  to which  either of the Merging  Corporations  is a party,
shall  not be deemed to have  abated  or to have  discontinued  by reason of the
Merger,  but may be  prosecuted to final  judgment,  order or decree in the same
manner as if the Merger had not been made; or the Surviving  Corporation  may be
substituted as a party to such action or proceeding,  and any judgment, order or
decree may be rendered  for or against it that might have been  rendered  for or
against either of the Merging Corporations if the Merger had not occurred.

     2.2 Effective  Time.  The Merger shall become  effective on the date and at
the time that a  Certificate  of Merger  pursuant  to Section 251 of the DGCL is
executed and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant
to Section  103 of the DGCL,  unless a later date and time is  specified  as the
Effective Time in the Certificate of Merger.

     2.3  Name  of  the  Surviving  Corporation.   The  name  of  the  Surviving
Corporation shall be "Peekskill Financial Corp."

     2.4 Certificate of  Incorporation.  The Certificate of Incorporation of the
Company as in effect on the  Effective  Time,  shall  continue in full force and
effect  following the Effective Time as the Certificate of  Incorporation of the
Surviving Corporation.

     2.5 Bylaws. The Bylaws of the Company,  as in effect on the Effective Time,
shall  continue  in  full  force  and  effect  as the  Bylaws  of the  Surviving
Corporation until amended in accordance with applicable law

                                       2

<PAGE>



     2.6 Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation.  The directors and
officers of Interim  shall become the  directors  and officers of the  Surviving
Corporation as of the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance with the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws of the  Surviving  Corporation  until
changed in accordance therewith.

                                   ARTICLE III
                              CONVERSION OF SHARES

     3.1 Conversion of The Company  Common Stock and Options to Purchase  Common
Stock.

     (a) At the Effective Time,  each share of Company Common Stock,  issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time (other  than  Dissenting
Shares as hereinafter  defined)  shall,  by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive
$22 in cash (such amount hereinafter referred to as the "Purchase Price").

     (b) At or immediately prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding  option
to purchase  Company Common Stock issued  pursuant to the Company's Stock Option
Plans shall be canceled, and each holder of any such option, whether or not then
vested or  exercisable,  shall be entitled to receive from Sound  Federal at the
Effective  Time for each  option an amount  determined  by  multiplying  (i) the
excess,  if any, of the Purchase  Price over the  applicable  exercise price per
share of such  option  by (ii) the  number of shares  of  Company  Common  Stock
subject to such option.

     3.2 Exchange of Shares.

     (a)  Immediately  following the Effective Time and the  consummation of the
transaction  provided for in the Plan of Complete  Liquidation  and  Dissolution
included  as  Exhibit  C to the  Merger  Agreement,  Sound  Federal  shall  make
available  in its role as exchange  agent  ("Exchange  Agent") cash in an amount
equal to the aggregate Purchase Price.

     (b) As soon as  practicable  after the Effective  Time,  the Exchange Agent
will send to each holder of record of a certificate or certificates  (other than
holders of Dissenting  Shares)  which,  immediately  prior to the Effective Time
represented  outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock  ("Certificates"),  a
letter of transmittal for use in exchanging such  Certificates  for the Purchase
Price. The letter of transmittal  shall specify that delivery shall be effected,
and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of
the  Certificates  to the Exchange  Agent.  Upon surrender of a Certificate  for
exchange and  cancellation to the Exchange  Agent,  together with such letter of
transmittal,  duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to
promptly receive in exchange  therefor the Purchase Price as provided in Section
3.1 hereof and the Certificates so surrendered  shall be canceled.  The Exchange
Agent shall not be  obligated  to deliver or cause to be delivered to any holder
of Company  Common  Stock the  Purchase  Price to which  such  holder of Company
Common  Stock would  otherwise  be entitled  until such  holder  surrenders  the
Certificate

                                       3

<PAGE>



for  exchange  or, in default  thereof,  an  appropriate  Affidavit  of Loss and
Indemnity  Agreement  and/or  a bond  as may be  required  in  each  case by the
Surviving Corporation.  Neither the Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be
liable to any holder of  Certificates  for any amount paid to a public  official
pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law. Except as
required by law, no interest shall be payable with respect to the Purchase Price
payable for the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock

     (c) After the  Effective  Time,  there shall be no  transfers  on the stock
transfer  books of the Company of the shares of Company  Common Stock which were
outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time and, if any  Certificates
representing  such shares are presented for transfer to the Company,  they shall
be canceled and  exchanged  for the Purchase  Price  provided for in Section 3.1
hereof.

     (d) If payment of the  Purchase  Price  pursuant  to Section 3.1 hereof for
shares of Company  Common Stock is to be made in a name other than that in which
the Certificate  surrendered in exchange  therefor is registered,  it shall be a
condition of such payment that the Certificate so surrendered  shall be properly
endorsed (or accompanied by an appropriate instrument of transfer) and otherwise
in proper form for transfer,  and that the person  requesting such payment shall
pay to the  Exchange  Agent in advance any  transfer or other taxes  required by
reason of the payment to a person  other than that of the  registered  holder of
the Certificate  surrendered or required for any other reason or shall establish
to the  satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such tax has been paid or is not
payable.

     3.3  Dissenting  Shares.  Each share of  Company  Common  Stock  issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, the holder of which has not
voted in favor of the Merger  Agreement and this Agreement of Company Merger and
who has properly perfected his dissenters' rights of appraisal by satisfying all
of the applicable requirements of Section 262 of the DGCL, is referred to herein
as a "Dissenting  Share." Dissenting Shares owned by each holder thereof who has
not  exchanged  his  Certificates  for the Purchase  Price or otherwise  has not
effectively  withdrawn or lost his  dissenter's  rights,  shall not be converted
into or represent  the right to receive the Purchase  Price  pursuant to Section
3.1 hereof and shall be entitled  only to such rights as are  available  to such
holder  pursuant  to the  applicable  provisions  of the  DGCL.  Each  holder of
Dissenting  Shares  shall be entitled  to receive  the value of such  Dissenting
Shares held by him in  accordance  with the  applicable  provisions of the DGCL,
provided such holder complies with the procedures  contemplated by and set forth
in the  applicable  provisions of the DGCL.  If any holder of Dissenting  Shares
shall have  failed to perfect or shall have  effectively  withdrawn  or lost his
dissenter's rights under the applicable  provisions of the DGCL, such Dissenting
Shares  shall be converted  into the right to receive the Purchase  Price at the
Effective Time in accordance  with the  provisions of Section 3.1 hereof.  Sound
Federal agrees to make, or cause to he made,  payment in cash for any Dissenting
Shares.


                                       4

<PAGE>


     3.4  Interim  Common  Stock.  Each share of Interim  Common  Stock which is
issued  and  outstanding  immediately  prior  to the  Effective  Time  shall  be
converted automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof
into  an  issued  and  outstanding  share  of  Common  Stock  of  the  Surviving
Corporation.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     4.1 Conditions  Precedent.  The respective  obligations of each party under
this Plan of Company Merger shall be subject to the  satisfaction,  or waiver by
the party  permitted to do so, of the conditions set forth in Articles V and VI
of the Merger Agreement.

     4.2  Stockholder  Approval.  By executing this Agreement of Company Merger,
Sound Federal shall be deemed to have approved this  Agreement of Company Merger
in its capacity as sole stockholder of Interim.

     4.3 Termination.  This Agreement of Company Merger shall be terminated upon
the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with Article VIII thereof;
provided,  that any such  termination  of this Agreement of Company Merger shall
not relieve any party hereto from liability on account of a breach by such party
of any of the terms hereof or thereof.

     4.4  Amendments.  To the extent  permitted by law, this Agreement of Merger
may be amended by a subsequent  writing signed by all of the parties hereto upon
the approval of the Board of Directors of each of the parties hereto;  provided,
however,  that the provisions of Article III of this Agreement of Company Merger
relating to the  consideration to be paid for the shares of Company Common Stock
shall not be amended  after the  approval  of the  stockholders  of the  Company
referred to in Section 5.04 of the Merger Agreement so as to decrease the amount
or  change  the  form  of  such  consideration   without  the  approval  of  the
stockholders of the Company.

     4.5  Successors.  This  Agreement of Company Merger shall be binding on the
successors of Sound Federal, Interim and the Company.



                                       5

<PAGE>




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Sound Federal, Interim and the Company have caused this
Agreement of Company Merger to be executed by their duly authorized officers and
their corporate seals to be hereunto affixed as of the date first above written.

Attest:                               SOUND FEDERAL SAVINGS
                                      AND LOAN ASSOCIATION



________________________________      By: ________________________________
                                          Richard P.  McStravick
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer


                                      SOUND FEDERAL ACQUISITION
CORP.
Attest:



________________________________      By:________________________________
                                          Richard P.  McStravick
                                          President and Chief Executive Officer


Attest:                               PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORP.



_______________________________       By:________________________________
                                          John Williams
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer




                                       6

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT B

                               PLAN OF BANK MERGER



<PAGE>



                                 PLAN OF MERGER

                                     BETWEEN

                   SOUND FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION

                                       AND

                           FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK

                       DATED AS OF ________________, 2000






<PAGE>




     This  Plan of Merger  dated as of  __________________,  2000  (the  "Merger
Plan")  is  entered  into by and  among:  (i)  SOUND  FEDERAL  SAVINGS  AND LOAN
ASSOCIATION,  a  savings  association  and a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of Sound
Federal  Bancorp  ("Sound  Federal");  and (ii) FIRST  FEDERAL  SAVINGS  BANK, a
federally  chartered  savings  bank,  a wholly  owned  Subsidiary  of  Peekskill
Financial Corp. ("PFC") which is wholly owned by Sound Federal. This Merger Plan
is being entered into in connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and
among Sound Federal  Bancorp,  Sound  Federal and PFC. The Merger  Agreement has
been  approved by at least a majority  vote of the Boards of  Directors of Sound
Federal and First Federal.  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

     In  consideration  of the mutual  covenants and agreements set forth herein
and subject to the terms and  conditions  of the Merger  Agreement,  the parties
hereto agree as follows:

     Section 1. Definition. Except as otherwise provided herein, the capitalized
terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:

     1.1 "Effective  Time" shall mean the date at which the Merger  contemplated
by this Merger Plan becomes effective as provided in Section 2 hereof.

     1.2 "First  Federal  Common Stock" shall mean the common  stock,  par value
$.01 per share, of First Federal.

     1.3 "Merger" shall refer to the merger of First Federal with and into Sound
Federal as provided in Section 2 of this Merger Plan.

     1.4 "Surviving  Institution"  shall refer to Sound Federal as the surviving
institution of the Merger.

     Section 2. The Merger.  At the Effective Time, First Federal will be merged
with and into Sound Federal with Sound Federal as the Surviving Institution (the
"Merger").  The separate  corporate  existence of First Federal shall  thereupon
cease. Sound Federal as the Surviving  Institution shall continue to be governed
by the laws of the United  States,  and its  existence  with all of its  rights,
privileges,  immunities,  powers and franchises shall continue unaffected by the
Merger.

     Section  3.  Name of  Surviving  Institution.  The  name  of the  Surviving
Institution shall be Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association.

     Section 4.  Location of Main Office and Branch  Officers.  At the Effective
Time,  the main office of Sound  Federal,  and each of its  branches,  including
branches  acquired from First  Federal,  shall remain open.  The main office and
branch locations of Sound Federal following consummation of the Merger shall be:


                                        1

<PAGE>




Main Office:                  Branch Office:                      Branch Office:



















Branch Office:              Branch Office:
















     Section 5. Assets and  Liabilities.  At the Effective  Time, all assets and
property (real, personal, and mixed, tangible and intangible, chooses in action,
rights,  and credits),  then owned by First Federal shall immediately become the
property of the Surviving Institution. The Surviving Institution shall be deemed
to be a continuation of First Federal, the rights and obligations of which shall
succeed to such rights and obligations and the duties and liabilities  connected
therewith.

                                        2

<PAGE>




     Section 6. Directors of Surviving  Institution.  At the Effective Time, the
directors  of Sound  Federal  shall  remain as the  directors  of the  Surviving
Institution.  The names and addresses, and terms of such directors are set forth
below.

         Name                  Address                            Term Expires















     Section 7. Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. At the Effective Time, the
articles of incorporation and bylaws of Sound Federal shall remain in effect and
shall  become  the  articles  of  incorporation  and  bylaws  of  the  Surviving
Institution.

     Section 8.  Counterparts.  This  Merger Plan may be executed in one or more
counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed to be an original  and all of which
taken together shall constitute one instrument.

     Section 9.  Amendments.  This  Merger  Plan may be  amended by the  parties
hereto,  by or pursuant to action taken by their respective boards of directors.
This  Merger  Plan  may  not be  amended  except  by an  instrument  in  writing
specifically  referring  to this  Section 9 and  signed on behalf of each of the
parties hereto.

     Section  10.  Severability.  Any  provision  of this  Merger  Plan which is
prohibited  or  unenforceable  shall  be  ineffective  to  the  extent  of  such
prohibition or unenforceability  without  invalidating the remaining  provisions
hereof.

     Section 11.  Governing  Law.  This  Merger  Plan shall be governed  by, and
interpreted  in  accordance  with,  the laws of the State of New  York,  without
regard to conflicts of laws principles.

     Section 12. Captions and References.  The captions contained in this Merger
Plan are for convenience of reference only and do not form a part of this Merger
Plan.

                                        3

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this Merger Plan to be
duly executed as of the date first above written.


                                SOUND FEDERAL SAVINGS AND
                                LOAN ASSOCIATION


                                By: _________________________________
                                      Richard P.  McStravick
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


                                FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK


                                By: _________________________________
                                      Richard P.  McStravick
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer





                                        4

<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT C
                          PLAN OF COMPLETE LIQUIDATION
                                 AND DISSOLUTION


<PAGE>




                           CERTIFICATE OF DISSOLUTION
                                       OF
                            PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORP.

                                      ****

     Peekskill Financial Corp. a corporation organized and existing under and by
virtue of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware,



DOES HEREBY CERTIFY:

FIRST:   That dissolution was authorized on __________, 2000.

SECOND:  That dissolution has been authorized by the Board of Directors and
         stockholders of the corporation in accordance with the provisions of
         subsections (a) and (b) of section 275 of the General Corporation Law
         of the State of Delaware.

THIRD:   That the names and addresses of the directors and officers of Peekskill
         Financial Corp.  are as follows:


                                    DIRECTORS
                                    ---------

         NAMES                                                ADDRESSES










<PAGE>





                                    OFFICERS
                                    --------

          NAMES                                                ADDRESSES























<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT D

                              PFC VOTING AGREEMENT


<PAGE>






                                February 16, 2000

Sound Federal Bancorp
220 Mamaroneck Avenue
Mamaroneck, New York 10543

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Sound Federal Bancorp,  Sound Federal Savings and Loan Association  ("Sound
Federal"),  and Peekskill Financial Corp. ("PFC") have entered into an Agreement
and Plan of Merger  dated as of  February  16,  2000 (the  "Merger  Agreement"),
pursuant to which,  subject to the terms and conditions  set forth therein,  (a)
PFC will merge with and into Interim with PFC surviving the merger  (referred to
as the  "Merger")  and PFC shall be liquidated  into Sound  Federal,  with Sound
Federal; and (b) shareholders of PFC will receive $22.00 in cash in exchange for
each share of common stock of PFC outstanding on the closing date.

     Sound Federal Bancorp and Sound Federal have  requested,  as a condition to
its execution and delivery to PFC of the Merger Agreement, that the undersigned,
being  directors  and  executive  officers of PFC,  execute and deliver to Sound
Federal Bancorp this Letter Agreement.

     Each of the undersigned, in order to induce Sound Federal Bancorp and Sound
Federal to execute and deliver to PFC the Merger Agreement, hereby irrevocably:

     (a)  Agrees to be  present  (in  person or by  proxy)  at all  meetings  of
shareholders of PFC called to vote for approval of the Merger so that all shares
of  common  stock of PFC then  beneficially  owned  by the  undersigned  will be
counted for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at such meetings
and to vote all such shares (i) in favor of approval  and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including any amendments or
modifications  of the terms thereof  approved by the Board of Directors of PFC),
and (ii) against approval or adoption of any other merger, business combination,
recapitalization, partial liquidation or similar transaction involving PFC;

     (b) Agrees not to vote or execute any  written  consent to rescind or amend
in any manner any prior vote or written  consent,  as a  shareholder  of PFC, to
approve or adopt the Merger Agreement;

     (c) Agrees not to sell,  transfer or otherwise  dispose of any common stock
of PFC on or prior to the date of the meeting of PFC shareholders to vote on the
Merger Agreement; and

     (d)  Represents  that the  undersigned  has the capacity to enter into this
Letter  Agreement  and that it is a valid  and  binding  obligation  enforceable
against the undersigned in accordance with


<PAGE>


its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors'
rights and general equitable principles.

     The  obligations  set forth herein shall  terminate  concurrently  with any
termination of the Merger Agreement.

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


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

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

     The undersigned intend to be legally bound hereby.


                                                     Sincerely,



                                                     Name








<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT E

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT




<PAGE>





                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,   dated  February  16,  2000,  between  Peekskill
Financial  Corporation.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Issuer")  and Sound Federal
Bancorp, a federally-chartered  corporation ("Grantee").  Capitalized terms used
herein without  definition have the meanings  specified in the Merger  Agreement
(as hereinafter defined).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Grantee and Issuer have  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Merger dated  February 16, 2000 (the "Merger  Agreement"),  which  agreement has
been executed by the parties hereto prior to this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger Agreement and
in  consideration  therefor,  Issuer has agreed to grant  Grantee the Option (as
hereinafter defined):

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

     1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable option
(the  "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms  hereof,  up to 350,684 fully
paid and  nonassessable  shares of its common  stock,  par value $0.01 per share
("Common  Stock"),  at a price of $12.25 per share (such  price,  as adjusted if
applicable,  the "Option Price");  provided,  however,  that in the event Issuer
issues or agrees to issue any shares of Common  Stock  (other than as  permitted
under the Merger  Agreement) at a price less than $12.25 per share,  such Option
Price shall be equal to such lesser price.  The number of shares of Common Stock
that may be received  upon the  exercise of the Option and the Option  Price are
subject to adjustment as herein set forth.

     (b) In the event that any  additional  shares of Common Stock are issued or
otherwise  become  outstanding  after  the date of this  Agreement  (other  than
pursuant to this Agreement), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance,  it equals 19.99% of the
number of shares of Common  Stock then  issued and  outstanding  without  giving
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained
in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize
Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.

     (c) If this Option is exercised by Grantee,  in  accordance  with the terms
hereof, Grantee may become an "interested stockholder" of Issuer for purposes of
Section 203 of the DGCL.  Execution  of this Option  constitutes  and  evidences
Issuer's approval of the transaction pursuant to which Grantee becomes,  through
an exercise of this Option,  an "interested  stockholder" of Issuer for purposes
of Section 203 of the DGCL.

     2. (a) The  holder or  holders  of the  Option  (including  Grantee  or any
subsequent  transferee(s))  (the "Holder") may exercise the Option,  in whole or
part, if, but only if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)
and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)



<PAGE>



shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as
hereinafter  defined),  provided  that the Holder  shall  have sent the  written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within
180 days  following  the first such  Subsequent  Triggering  Event.  Each of the
following shall be an Exercise  Termination Event: (i) the Merger Effective Date
(as defined in the Merger  Agreement);  (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement
in accordance with the provisions  thereof if such  termination  occurs prior to
the occurrence of an Initial  Triggering Event; or (iii) the passage of eighteen
months after termination of the Merger Agreement if such termination  follows or
occurs at the same time as the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event.

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

                  (i)  Issuer  participates  (or  authorizes  participation  in)
         negotiations regarding a Superior Proposal, as contemplated in Sections
         5.06 and 7.01(c) of the Merger Agreement.

                  (ii)  Issuer  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  (each  an  "Issuer
         Subsidiary"),  without having received Grantee's prior written consent,
         shall  have  entered  into an  agreement  to engage  in an  Acquisition
         Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term "person"
         for purposes of this Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in
         Sections  3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
         and the rules and  regulations  thereunder (the "1934 Act")) other than
         Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a "Grantee  Subsidiary").  For
         purposes of this Agreement,  "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (x) a
         merger or consolidation,  or any similar transaction,  involving Issuer
         or any  Significant  Subsidiary  (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation
         S-X promulgated by the SEC) of Issuer,  (y) a purchase,  lease or other
         acquisition of all or substantially  all of the assets of Issuer or any
         Significant   Subsidiary  of  Issuer,   or  (z)  a  purchase  or  other
         acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation,  share exchange
         or otherwise) of beneficial ownership of securities representing 15% or
         more of the voting  power of Issuer or any  Significant  Subsidiary  of
         Issuer,  provided  that the  term  "Acquisition  Transaction"  does not
         include any  internal  merger or  consolidation  involving  only Issuer
         and/or Issuer Subsidiaries;

                  (iii)  (A) Any  person  other  than  Grantee,  or any  Grantee
         Subsidiary,  or any Issuer  Subsidiary  acting in a fiduciary  capacity
         (collectively,   "Excluded  Persons"),  alone  or  together  with  such
         person's  affiliates  and associates (as such terms are defined in Rule
         12b-2 under the 1934 Act) shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership or
         the  right  to  acquire  beneficial  ownership  of 15% or  more  of the
         outstanding shares of Common Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for
         purposes of this Option  Agreement  having the meaning assigned thereto
         in  Section  13(d) of the  1934  Act,  and the  rules  and  regulations
         thereunder)  or (B) any  group  (as such  term is  defined  in  Section
         13(d)(3)  of the 1934 Act),  other than a group of which only  Excluded
         Persons are members,  shall have been formed that beneficially  owns15%
         or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding;

                  (iv) The Board of  Directors  of Issuer  shall have  failed to
         recommend to its  stockholders  the adoption of the Merger Agreement or
         shall have  withdrawn,  modified  or changed  its  recommendation  in a
         manner adverse to Grantee;

                                        2

<PAGE>



                  (v) After a proposal is made by a third  party  (other than an
         Excluded  Person)  to Issuer to engage in an  Acquisition  Transaction:
         Issuer   shall  have   intentionally   and   knowingly   breached   any
         representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the Merger
         Agreement  and such breach (x) would  entitle  Grantee to terminate the
         Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(i) therein (without regard
         to any grace  period  provided for therein) and (y) shall not have been
         cured  prior  to the  Notice  Date  (as  defined  below);  or  the  PFC
         stockholders shall fail to approve the Merger Agreement.

                  (vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee  Subsidiary,
         other than in connection  with a transaction to which Grantee has given
         its prior written  consent,  shall have filed an  application or notice
         with  any  federal  or state  bank  regulatory  authority  ("Regulatory
         Authority"), for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

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

                  (i) The  acquisition  by any  person  other  than an  Excluded
         Person of beneficial  ownership of 25% or more of the then  outstanding
         Common Stock; or

                  (ii) The occurrence of the Initial  Triggering Event described
         in subparagraph (ii) of
         subsection (b) of this Section 2.

     (d) Issuer shall notify  Grantee  promptly in writing of the  occurrence of
any  Initial  Triggering  Event or  Subsequent  Triggering  Event  (together,  a
"Triggering  Event"),  it being  understood  that the  giving of such  notice by
Issuer  shall not be a  condition  to the right of the  Holder to  exercise  the
Option.

     (e) In the event the  Holder is  entitled  to and  wishes to  exercise  the
Option,  it shall send to Issuer a written  notice  (the date of which is herein
referred to as the "Notice  Date")  specifying (i) the total number of shares it
will  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier
than three  business  days nor later than 60 business  days from the Notice Date
for the closing of such purchase (the  "Closing  Date");  provided that if prior
notification  to  or  approval  of  any  Regulatory  Authority  is  required  in
connection  with such  purchase,  the Holder  shall  promptly  file the required
notice or application for approval and shall expeditiously  process the same and
the period of time that otherwise  would run pursuant to this sentence shall run
instead from the date on which any required notification periods have expired or
been  terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite  waiting
period or periods shall have passed.  Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed
to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.

     (f) At each closing  referred to in  subsection  (e) of this Section 2, the
Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of Common
Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available
funds by wire  transfer to a bank account  designated  by Issuer,  provided that
failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude
the Holder from exercising the Option.


                                        3

<PAGE>



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

     (h) Upon the  giving  by the  Holder to  Issuer  of the  written  notice of
exercise of the Option  provided for under  subsection (e) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately  available funds, the
Holder  shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon such  exercise,  notwithstanding  that the stock transfer books of
Issuer  shall then be closed or that  certificates  representing  such shares of
Common Stock shall not then be actually  delivered  to the Holder.  Issuer shall
pay all expenses,  and any and all United States federal,  state and local taxes
and other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation,  issue
and  delivery  of stock  certificates  under  this  Section 2 in the name of the
Holder or its assignee, transferee or designee.

     3.  Issuer  agrees:  (i) that it shall at all  times  maintain,  free  from
preemptive  rights,  sufficient  authorized  but unissued or treasury  shares of
Common   Stock  so  that  the  Option  may  be  exercised   without   additional
authorization  of  Common  Stock  after  giving  effect  to all  other  options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger,  dissolution or sale of assets,  or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek  to  avoid  the   observance  or  performance  of  any  of  the  covenants,
stipulations  or  conditions  to be observed or  performed  hereunder by Issuer;
(iii)  promptly  to take  all  action  as may  from  time  to  time be  required
(including (x) complying with all premerger notification,  reporting and waiting
period  requirements   specified  in  15  U.S.C.  Section  18a  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  and (y) in the event,  under the Change in Bank Control
Act of 1978, as amended,  or any state banking law,  prior approval of or notice
to any  state  regulatory  authority  is  necessary  before  the  Option  may be
exercised,  cooperating  fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or
notices and providing such  information to the any Regulatory  Authority as they
may  require)  in order to permit the Holder to  exercise  the Option and Issuer
duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant  hereto;  and (iv)
promptly to take all action  provided herein to protect the rights of the Holder
against dilution.

     4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable, without
expense,  at the option of the Holder,  upon  presentation and surrender of this
Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements  providing for
Options of different  denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase, on
the same terms and subject to the same  conditions as are set forth  herein,  in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  hereunder.
The terms  "Agreement"  and  "Option"  as used herein  include any Stock  Option
Agreements and related  Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby)  may be  exchanged.  Upon  receipt  by  Issuer  of  evidence  reasonably
satisfactory  to it of the  loss,  theft,  destruction  or  mutilation  of  this
Agreement,  and (in the  case of  loss,  theft  or  destruction)  of  reasonably
satisfactory  indemnification,  and  upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Agreement if mutilated,  Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall

                                        4

<PAGE>



constitute an additional  contractual  obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost,  stolen,  destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.

     5. In addition to the  adjustment  in the number of shares of Common  Stock
that are  purchasable  upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of this
Agreement,  in the  event of any  change  in  Common  Stock by  reason  of stock
dividends, split-ups, mergers,  recapitalizations,  combinations,  subdivisions,
conversions,  exchanges  of  shares,  distributions,  or the like,  the type and
number,  and/or the price, of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  upon exercise
hereof shall be  appropriately  adjusted,  and proper provision shall be made in
the agreements governing such transaction so that the Holder shall receive, upon
exercise of the Option (at the aggregate exercise price calculated in accordance
with  Section  1 of this  Agreement),  the  number  and class of shares or other
securities  or property that Holder would have received in respect of the Common
Stock if the Option had been exercised  immediately  prior to such event, or the
record date therefor, as applicable.

     6. (a) In the event that prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate  with or merge into any person,
other than Grantee or one of its  Subsidiaries,  and shall not be the continuing
or surviving  corporation of such  consolidation  or merger,  (ii) to permit any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries,  to merge into Issuer and
Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with
such merger,  the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall be changed into
or exchanged  for stock or other  securities  of any other person or cash or any
other property or the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall after such
merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding  shares and share  equivalents
of  the  merged  company,  or  (iii)  to  sell  or  otherwise  transfer  all  or
substantially all of its assets to any person,  other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries,  then,  and in  each  such  case,  the  agreement  governing  such
transaction  shall make  proper  provision  so that the Option  shall,  upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein,  be  converted  into,  or  exchanged  for,  an option  (the  "Substitute
Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as  hereinafter  defined)  or  (y)  any  person  that  controls  the  Acquiring
Corporation.

     (b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

                  (1) "Acquiring  Corporation"  shall mean (i) the continuing or
         surviving  corporation  of a  consolidation  or merger  with Issuer (if
         other  than  Issuer),  (ii)  Issuer in a merger in which  Issuer is the
         continuing  or surviving  person,  and (iii) the  transferee  of all or
         substantially all of Issuer's assets.

                  (2) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the shares of capital
         stock (or similar equity  interest) with the greatest voting power with
         respect  of the  election  of  directors  (or other  persons  similarly
         responsible for direction of the business and affairs) of the issuer of
         the Substitute Option.

                  (3)  "Assigned  Value" shall mean the highest of (i) the price
         per share of Common  Stock at which a tender  offer or  exchange  offer
         therefor has been made,  (ii) the price per share of Common Stock to be
         paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement with
         Issuer,

                                        5

<PAGE>



         or (iii) in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of Issuer's
         assets,  the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the
         current market value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by
         a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder,
         divided by the number of shares of Common  Stock of Issuer  outstanding
         at the time of such sale. In determining the  market/offer  price,  the
         value  of  consideration  other  than  cash  shall be  determined  by a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder.

                  (4) "Average  Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
         share of the  Substitute  Common  Stock for the six months  immediately
         preceding  the  consolidation,  merger or sale in  question,  but in no
         event higher than the closing price of the shares of Substitute  Common
         Stock on the day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided
         that if Issuer is the  issuer of the  Substitute  Option,  the  Average
         Price shall be computed  with respect to a share of Common Stock issued
         by the person  merging into Issuer or by any company which  controls or
         is controlled by such person, as the Holder may elect.

     (c) The  Substitute  Option shall have the same terms and conditions as the
Option, provided, that if any term or condition of the Substitute Option cannot,
for legal reasons, be the same as the Option, such term or condition shall be as
similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to the Holder.  The issuer
of the Substitute Option shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder
or  Holders  of the  Substitute  Option in  substantially  the same form as this
Agreement, which shall be applicable to the Substitute Option.

     (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
Substitute Common Stock as is equal to (i) the product of (A) the Assigned Value
and (B) the  number  of shares  of  Common  Stock  for which the  Option is then
exercisable,  divided  by (ii) the  Average  Price.  The  exercise  price of the
Substitute  Option per share of  Substitute  Common Stock shall then be equal to
the Option Price  multiplied  by a fraction the  numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common  Stock for which the Option is then  exercisable  and
the  denominator  of which  shall be the number of shares of  Substitute  Common
Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.  Notwithstanding  anything
to the contrary in this Section 6, the Substitute Option shall be subject to the
limitation set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement, as if the Substitute Option
is the Option.

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

     (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection (a)
of this Section 6 unless the Acquiring  Corporation and any person that controls
the  Acquiring  Corporation  assume in  writing  all the  obligations  of Issuer
hereunder.

         7. The 180-day  period for exercise of certain  rights under  Section 2
shall  be  extended:  (i) to the  extent  necessary  to  obtain  all  regulatory
approvals  for the  exercise  of such  rights,  and  for the  expiration  of all
statutory  waiting periods;  and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid liability
under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.

                                        6

<PAGE>



     8. Repurchase at the Option of Holder.  (a) At the request of Holder at any
time commencing upon the first  occurrence of a Repurchase  Event (as defined in
Section  8(d))  and  ending  12  months  immediately  thereafter,  Issuer  shall
repurchase from Holder (i) the Option and (ii) all shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchased  by Holder  pursuant  hereto  with  respect to which  Holder  then has
beneficial  ownership.  The date on which Holder exercises its rights under this
Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date".  Such repurchase  shall be at an
aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

                  (i) the  aggregate  Option Price paid by Holder for any shares
of Issuer  Common  Stock  acquired  pursuant to the Option with respect to which
Holder then has beneficial ownership;

                  (ii) the  excess,  if any,  of (x) the  Applicable  Price  (as
defined below) for each share of Common Stock over (y) the Option Price (subject
to adjustment  pursuant to Sections 1 and 5), multiplied by the number of shares
of Common Stock with respect to which the Option has not been exercised; and

                  (iii) the  excess,  if any, of the  Applicable  Price over the
Option Price  (subject to adjustment  pursuant to Sections 1 and 5) paid (or, in
the case of Option  Shares with  respect to which the Option has been  exercised
but the  Closing  Date has not  occurred,  payable)  by Holder for each share of
Common  Stock  with  respect to which the  Option  has been  exercised  and with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership,  multiplied by the number
of such shares.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this Section 8 to the contrary, the payment of
the  Repurchase  Consideration  to the Holder shall be subject to the limitation
set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement.

                  (b) If Holder  exercises  its  rights  under  this  Section 8,
Issuer shall,  within 10 business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase   Consideration  to  Holder  in  immediately   available  funds,  and
contemporaneously with such payment, Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option
and the certificates  evidencing the shares of Common Stock purchased thereunder
with respect to which  Holder then has  beneficial  ownership,  and Holder shall
warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such shares and that
the same are then free and clear of all liens. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to
the extent  that  prior  notification  to or  approval  of any  federal or state
regulatory  authority is required in  connection  with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for  repurchase  pursuant to Section 8, in whole or
in part, or to require that Issuer deliver from time to time that portion of the
Section 8 Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying
and  promptly  file  the  required   notice  or  application  for  approval  and
expeditiously process the same (and each party shall cooperate with the other in
the  filing of any such  notice or  application  and the  obtaining  of any such
approval).  If any federal or state regulatory authority disapproves of any part
of  Issuer's  proposed  repurchase  pursuant  to this  Section 8,  Issuer  shall
promptly give notice of such fact to Holder.  If any federal or state regulatory
authority  prohibits the repurchase in part but not in whole,  then Holder shall
have the  right (i) to  revoke  the  repurchase  request  or (ii) to the  extent
permitted by such regulatory authority,  determine whether the repurchase should
apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to each,  and Holder
shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the number of Option
Shares for which the Option was exercisable at

                                        7

<PAGE>



the Request  Date less the sum of the number of shares  covered by the Option in
respect of which  payment  has been made  pursuant to Section  8(a)(ii)  and the
number of shares  covered  by the  portion  of the Option (if any) that has been
repurchased. Holder shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding
sentence  within five (5) business days of receipt of notice of  disapproval  of
the repurchase.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  all of Holder's  rights
under this Section 8 shall  terminate on the date of  termination of this Option
pursuant to Section 2(a).

                  (c) For purposes of this  Agreement,  the  "Applicable  Price"
means the  highest of (i) the highest  price per share of Common  Stock paid for
any such share by the person or groups  described in Section  8(d)(i),  (ii) the
price  per  share of  Common  Stock  received  by  holders  of  Common  Stock in
connection with any merger or other business combination  transaction  described
in Section  6(a)(i),  6(a)(ii) or  6(a)(iii),  or (iii) the highest  closing bid
price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq System (or if Issuer
Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq System, the highest bid price per share
as quoted on the principal  trading market or securities  exchange on which such
shares are traded as reported by a recognized  source  chosen by Holder)  during
the 40 business days preceding the Request Date; provided,  however, that in the
event of a sale of less than all of Issuer's assets,  the Applicable Price shall
be the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the current market
value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized
investment  banking firm selected by Holder,  divided by the number of shares of
Common Stock  outstanding at the time of such sale. If the  consideration  to be
offered,  paid or received  pursuant to either of the  foregoing  clauses (i) or
(ii)  shall be other  than in cash,  the  value of such  consideration  shall be
determined  in good faith by an  independent  nationally  recognized  investment
banking  firm  selected by Holder and  reasonably  acceptable  to Issuer,  which
determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

                  (d) As used herein,  "Repurchase  Event" shall occur if, prior
to an Exercise  Termination  Event,  (i) any person  (other than  Grantee or any
subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (as such term
is defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Exchange  Act), or the right to
acquire  beneficial  ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under
the  Exchange  Act) shall have been formed  which  beneficially  owns or has the
right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of, 25% or more of the then  outstanding
shares of Issuer  Common  Stock,  or (ii) any of the  transactions  described in
Section 6(a)(i), 6(a)(ii) or 6(a)(iii) shall be consummated.

         9.  Limitation  on Value  of  Option.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision of this  Agreement,  this Option may not be exercised (nor  Repurchase
Consideration  paid to a Holder) for a number of shares as would, as of the date
of exercise,  result in a Notional  Total Profit (as defined below) of more than
$2,350,000;  provided that nothing in this sentence  shall restrict any exercise
of the Option  permitted  hereby on any subsequent date, as long as the Notional
Total Profit from all such exercises (and  Repurchase  Consideration  paid) does
not exceed $2,350,000.

                  (b) As used  herein,  the term  "Notional  Total  Profit" with
respect to any number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise this
Option shall be the Total Profit (as

                                        8

<PAGE>



defined below) determined as of the date of such proposed exercise assuming that
this Option were  exercised  on such date for such number of shares and assuming
that such shares,  together with all other Option Shares held by Grantee and its
affiliates as of such date,  were sold for cash at the closing  market price for
the Issuer Common Stock as of the close of business on the preceding trading day
(less customary brokerage commissions).

                  (c) As used  herein,  the term "Total  Profit"  shall mean the
aggregate  amount (before taxes) of the  following:  (i) the amount  received by
Grantee  pursuant to Issuer's  repurchase of the Option (or any portion thereof)
pursuant  to Section  8, (ii) (x) the amount  received  by Grantee  pursuant  to
Issuer's  repurchase  of Option  Shares (or any  portion  thereof)  pursuant  to
Section 8, less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price for such Option Shares,  (iii)
the net cash amounts  received by Grantee  pursuant to the sale of Option Shares
(or any other  securities  into  which  such  Option  Shares  are  converted  or
exchanged) to any unaffiliated  party, less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price of
such Option Shares,  (iv) any amounts received by Grantee on the transfer of the
Option (or any portion  thereof) to any  unaffiliated  party, and (v) any amount
equivalent to the foregoing with respect to the Substitute Option.

         10. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

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

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

         (c) Issuer has taken all necessary action to exempt this Agreement, and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby from, and this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and  thereby  are exempt  from,  (i) any
applicable  state takeover laws, (ii) any state laws limiting or restricting the
voting  rights of  stockholders  and (iii) any provision in its  certificate  of
incorporation,  or bylaws  restricting or limiting stock ownership or the voting
rights of stockholders.

         (d) The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement does not
or  will  not,  and  the  consummation  by  Issuer  of any  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation
of, or a default under, its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or

                                        9

<PAGE>



the  comparable  governing  instruments  of any of its  subsidiaries,  or (ii) a
breach or violation of, or a default  under,  any  agreement,  lease,  contract,
note, mortgage,  indenture,  arrangement or other obligation of it or any of its
subsidiaries  (with or without the giving of notice,  the lapse of time or both)
or under any law,  rule,  ordinance or  regulation or judgment,  decree,  order,
award or governmental or nongovernmental permit or license to which it or any of
its subsidiaries is subject,  that would, in any case referred to in this clause
(ii),  give  any  other  person  the  ability  to  prevent  or  enjoin  Issuer's
performance under this Agreement in any material respect.

     11. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:

         (a) Grantee has full  corporate  power and authority to enter into this
Agreement  and,  subject to any  approvals  or consents  referred to herein,  to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of Grantee.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.

         (b)  This  Option  is not  being  acquired  with a view  to the  public
distribution  thereof  and  neither  this  Option nor any Option  Shares will be
transferred  or  otherwise  disposed of except in a  transaction  registered  or
exempt from registration under applicable federal and state securities laws
and regulations.

     12.  Neither  of the  parties  hereto  may  assign  any of  its  rights  or
obligations  under this Option Agreement or the Option created  hereunder to any
other person, without the express written consent of the other party, except (i)
to any wholly-owned Subsidiary or (ii) that in the event a Subsequent Triggering
Event shall have  occurred  prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Grantee,
subject to the  express  provisions  hereof,  may assign in whole or in part its
rights and obligations hereunder to one or more transferees.

     13.  Each of  Grantee  and  Issuer  will use its best  efforts  to make all
filings  with,  and to obtain  consents of all third  parties  and  governmental
authorities  necessary to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.

     14. Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, in the event that the
Holder or any Related  Person thereof is a person making an offer or proposal to
engage in an Acquisition  Transaction (other than the transactions  contemplated
by the Merger  Agreement),  then in the case of a Holder or any  Related  Person
thereof, the Option held by it shall immediately  terminate and be of no further
force or effect. A Related Person of a Holder means any Affiliate (as defined in
Rule  12b-2 of the rules and  regulations  under the 1934 Act) of the Holder and
any person that is the  beneficial  owner of 20% or more of the voting  power of
the Holder.

     15. The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that damages  would be an  inadequate
remedy  for a breach of this  Agreement  by  either  party  hereto  and that the
obligations  of the parties  hereto shall be  enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.


                                       10

<PAGE>



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

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

         18. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance
with the laws of the  State  of  Delaware,  regardless  of the laws  that  might
otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.

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

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

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

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




                                       11

<PAGE>


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



                             PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORPORATION



                             BY:  ------------------------------------
                                      Eldorus Maynard
                                      Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                         Executive Officer



                             SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP



                             BY:  ------------------------------------
                                      Richard P. McStravick
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer






                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

     STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT,   dated  February  16,  2000,  between  Peekskill
Financial  Corporation.,  a Delaware  corporation  ("Issuer")  and Sound Federal
Bancorp, a federally-chartered  corporation ("Grantee").  Capitalized terms used
herein without  definition have the meanings  specified in the Merger  Agreement
(as hereinafter defined).

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Grantee and Issuer have  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Merger dated  February 16, 2000 (the "Merger  Agreement"),  which  agreement has
been executed by the parties hereto prior to this Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, as a condition to Grantee's entering into the Merger Agreement and
in  consideration  therefor,  Issuer has agreed to grant  Grantee the Option (as
hereinafter defined):

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

     1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable option
(the  "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms  hereof,  up to 350,684 fully
paid and  nonassessable  shares of its common  stock,  par value $0.01 per share
("Common  Stock"),  at a price of $12.25 per share (such  price,  as adjusted if
applicable,  the "Option Price");  provided,  however,  that in the event Issuer
issues or agrees to issue any shares of Common  Stock  (other than as  permitted
under the Merger  Agreement) at a price less than $12.25 per share,  such Option
Price shall be equal to such lesser price.  The number of shares of Common Stock
that may be received  upon the  exercise of the Option and the Option  Price are
subject to adjustment as herein set forth.

     (b) In the event that any  additional  shares of Common Stock are issued or
otherwise  become  outstanding  after  the date of this  Agreement  (other  than
pursuant to this Agreement), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the
Option shall be increased so that, after such issuance,  it equals 19.99% of the
number of shares of Common  Stock then  issued and  outstanding  without  giving
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained
in this Section 1(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize
Issuer or Grantee to breach any provision of the Merger Agreement.

     (c) If this Option is exercised by Grantee,  in  accordance  with the terms
hereof, Grantee may become an "interested stockholder" of Issuer for purposes of
Section 203 of the DGCL.  Execution  of this Option  constitutes  and  evidences
Issuer's approval of the transaction pursuant to which Grantee becomes,  through
an exercise of this Option,  an "interested  stockholder" of Issuer for purposes
of Section 203 of the DGCL.

     2. (a) The  holder or  holders  of the  Option  (including  Grantee  or any
subsequent  transferee(s))  (the "Holder") may exercise the Option,  in whole or
part, if, but only if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)
and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined)



<PAGE>



shall have occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as
hereinafter  defined),  provided  that the Holder  shall  have sent the  written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within
180 days  following  the first such  Subsequent  Triggering  Event.  Each of the
following shall be an Exercise  Termination Event: (i) the Merger Effective Date
(as defined in the Merger  Agreement);  (ii) termination of the Merger Agreement
in accordance with the provisions  thereof if such  termination  occurs prior to
the occurrence of an Initial  Triggering Event; or (iii) the passage of eighteen
months after termination of the Merger Agreement if such termination  follows or
occurs at the same time as the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event.

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

                  (i)  Issuer  participates  (or  authorizes  participation  in)
         negotiations regarding a Superior Proposal, as contemplated in Sections
         5.06 and 7.01(c) of the Merger Agreement.

                  (ii)  Issuer  or any  of its  Subsidiaries  (each  an  "Issuer
         Subsidiary"),  without having received Grantee's prior written consent,
         shall  have  entered  into an  agreement  to engage  in an  Acquisition
         Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term "person"
         for purposes of this Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in
         Sections  3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
         and the rules and  regulations  thereunder (the "1934 Act")) other than
         Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a "Grantee  Subsidiary").  For
         purposes of this Agreement,  "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (x) a
         merger or consolidation,  or any similar transaction,  involving Issuer
         or any  Significant  Subsidiary  (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation
         S-X promulgated by the SEC) of Issuer,  (y) a purchase,  lease or other
         acquisition of all or substantially  all of the assets of Issuer or any
         Significant   Subsidiary  of  Issuer,   or  (z)  a  purchase  or  other
         acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation,  share exchange
         or otherwise) of beneficial ownership of securities representing 15% or
         more of the voting  power of Issuer or any  Significant  Subsidiary  of
         Issuer,  provided  that the  term  "Acquisition  Transaction"  does not
         include any  internal  merger or  consolidation  involving  only Issuer
         and/or Issuer Subsidiaries;

                  (iii)  (A) Any  person  other  than  Grantee,  or any  Grantee
         Subsidiary,  or any Issuer  Subsidiary  acting in a fiduciary  capacity
         (collectively,   "Excluded  Persons"),  alone  or  together  with  such
         person's  affiliates  and associates (as such terms are defined in Rule
         12b-2 under the 1934 Act) shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership or
         the  right  to  acquire  beneficial  ownership  of 15% or  more  of the
         outstanding shares of Common Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for
         purposes of this Option  Agreement  having the meaning assigned thereto
         in  Section  13(d) of the  1934  Act,  and the  rules  and  regulations
         thereunder)  or (B) any  group  (as such  term is  defined  in  Section
         13(d)(3)  of the 1934 Act),  other than a group of which only  Excluded
         Persons are members,  shall have been formed that beneficially  owns15%
         or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding;

                  (iv) The Board of  Directors  of Issuer  shall have  failed to
         recommend to its  stockholders  the adoption of the Merger Agreement or
         shall have  withdrawn,  modified  or changed  its  recommendation  in a
         manner adverse to Grantee;

                                        2

<PAGE>



                  (v) After a proposal is made by a third  party  (other than an
         Excluded  Person)  to Issuer to engage in an  Acquisition  Transaction:
         Issuer   shall  have   intentionally   and   knowingly   breached   any
         representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in the Merger
         Agreement  and such breach (x) would  entitle  Grantee to terminate the
         Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(b)(i) therein (without regard
         to any grace  period  provided for therein) and (y) shall not have been
         cured  prior  to the  Notice  Date  (as  defined  below);  or  the  PFC
         stockholders shall fail to approve the Merger Agreement.

                  (vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee  Subsidiary,
         other than in connection  with a transaction to which Grantee has given
         its prior written  consent,  shall have filed an  application or notice
         with  any  federal  or state  bank  regulatory  authority  ("Regulatory
         Authority"), for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

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

                  (i) The  acquisition  by any  person  other  than an  Excluded
         Person of beneficial  ownership of 25% or more of the then  outstanding
         Common Stock; or

                  (ii) The occurrence of the Initial  Triggering Event described
         in subparagraph (ii) of
         subsection (b) of this Section 2.

     (d) Issuer shall notify  Grantee  promptly in writing of the  occurrence of
any  Initial  Triggering  Event or  Subsequent  Triggering  Event  (together,  a
"Triggering  Event"),  it being  understood  that the  giving of such  notice by
Issuer  shall not be a  condition  to the right of the  Holder to  exercise  the
Option.

     (e) In the event the  Holder is  entitled  to and  wishes to  exercise  the
Option,  it shall send to Issuer a written  notice  (the date of which is herein
referred to as the "Notice  Date")  specifying (i) the total number of shares it
will  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise and (ii) a place and date not earlier
than three  business  days nor later than 60 business  days from the Notice Date
for the closing of such purchase (the  "Closing  Date");  provided that if prior
notification  to  or  approval  of  any  Regulatory  Authority  is  required  in
connection  with such  purchase,  the Holder  shall  promptly  file the required
notice or application for approval and shall expeditiously  process the same and
the period of time that otherwise  would run pursuant to this sentence shall run
instead from the date on which any required notification periods have expired or
been  terminated or such approvals have been obtained and any requisite  waiting
period or periods shall have passed.  Any exercise of the Option shall be deemed
to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.

     (f) At each closing  referred to in  subsection  (e) of this Section 2, the
Holder shall pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of Common
Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available
funds by wire  transfer to a bank account  designated  by Issuer,  provided that
failure or refusal of Issuer to designate such a bank account shall not preclude
the Holder from exercising the Option.


                                        3

<PAGE>



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

     (h) Upon the  giving  by the  Holder to  Issuer  of the  written  notice of
exercise of the Option  provided for under  subsection (e) of this Section 2 and
the tender of the applicable purchase price in immediately  available funds, the
Holder  shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon such  exercise,  notwithstanding  that the stock transfer books of
Issuer  shall then be closed or that  certificates  representing  such shares of
Common Stock shall not then be actually  delivered  to the Holder.  Issuer shall
pay all expenses,  and any and all United States federal,  state and local taxes
and other charges that may be payable in connection with the preparation,  issue
and  delivery  of stock  certificates  under  this  Section 2 in the name of the
Holder or its assignee, transferee or designee.

     3.  Issuer  agrees:  (i) that it shall at all  times  maintain,  free  from
preemptive  rights,  sufficient  authorized  but unissued or treasury  shares of
Common   Stock  so  that  the  Option  may  be  exercised   without   additional
authorization  of  Common  Stock  after  giving  effect  to all  other  options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,
merger,  dissolution or sale of assets,  or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek  to  avoid  the   observance  or  performance  of  any  of  the  covenants,
stipulations  or  conditions  to be observed or  performed  hereunder by Issuer;
(iii)  promptly  to take  all  action  as may  from  time  to  time be  required
(including (x) complying with all premerger notification,  reporting and waiting
period  requirements   specified  in  15  U.S.C.  Section  18a  and  regulations
promulgated  thereunder  and (y) in the event,  under the Change in Bank Control
Act of 1978, as amended,  or any state banking law,  prior approval of or notice
to any  state  regulatory  authority  is  necessary  before  the  Option  may be
exercised,  cooperating  fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or
notices and providing such  information to the any Regulatory  Authority as they
may  require)  in order to permit the Holder to  exercise  the Option and Issuer
duly and effectively to issue shares of Common Stock pursuant  hereto;  and (iv)
promptly to take all action  provided herein to protect the rights of the Holder
against dilution.

     4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable, without
expense,  at the option of the Holder,  upon  presentation and surrender of this
Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements  providing for
Options of different  denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase, on
the same terms and subject to the same  conditions as are set forth  herein,  in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  hereunder.
The terms  "Agreement"  and  "Option"  as used herein  include any Stock  Option
Agreements and related  Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted
hereby)  may be  exchanged.  Upon  receipt  by  Issuer  of  evidence  reasonably
satisfactory  to it of the  loss,  theft,  destruction  or  mutilation  of  this
Agreement,  and (in the  case of  loss,  theft  or  destruction)  of  reasonably
satisfactory  indemnification,  and  upon  surrender  and  cancellation  of this
Agreement if mutilated,  Issuer will execute and deliver a new Agreement of like
tenor and date. Any such new Agreement executed and delivered shall

                                        4

<PAGE>



constitute an additional  contractual  obligation on the part of Issuer, whether
or not the Agreement so lost,  stolen,  destroyed or mutilated shall at any time
be enforceable by anyone.

     5. In addition to the  adjustment  in the number of shares of Common  Stock
that are  purchasable  upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of this
Agreement,  in the  event of any  change  in  Common  Stock by  reason  of stock
dividends, split-ups, mergers,  recapitalizations,  combinations,  subdivisions,
conversions,  exchanges  of  shares,  distributions,  or the like,  the type and
number,  and/or the price, of shares of Common Stock  purchasable  upon exercise
hereof shall be  appropriately  adjusted,  and proper provision shall be made in
the agreements governing such transaction so that the Holder shall receive, upon
exercise of the Option (at the aggregate exercise price calculated in accordance
with  Section  1 of this  Agreement),  the  number  and class of shares or other
securities  or property that Holder would have received in respect of the Common
Stock if the Option had been exercised  immediately  prior to such event, or the
record date therefor, as applicable.

     6. (a) In the event that prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate  with or merge into any person,
other than Grantee or one of its  Subsidiaries,  and shall not be the continuing
or surviving  corporation of such  consolidation  or merger,  (ii) to permit any
person, other than Grantee or one of its Subsidiaries,  to merge into Issuer and
Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with
such merger,  the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall be changed into
or exchanged  for stock or other  securities  of any other person or cash or any
other property or the then  outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall after such
merger represent less than 50% of the outstanding  shares and share  equivalents
of  the  merged  company,  or  (iii)  to  sell  or  otherwise  transfer  all  or
substantially all of its assets to any person,  other than Grantee or one of its
Subsidiaries,  then,  and in  each  such  case,  the  agreement  governing  such
transaction  shall make  proper  provision  so that the Option  shall,  upon the
consummation of any such transaction and upon the terms and conditions set forth
herein,  be  converted  into,  or  exchanged  for,  an option  (the  "Substitute
Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either (x) the Acquiring Corporation
(as  hereinafter  defined)  or  (y)  any  person  that  controls  the  Acquiring
Corporation.

     (b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

                  (1) "Acquiring  Corporation"  shall mean (i) the continuing or
         surviving  corporation  of a  consolidation  or merger  with Issuer (if
         other  than  Issuer),  (ii)  Issuer in a merger in which  Issuer is the
         continuing  or surviving  person,  and (iii) the  transferee  of all or
         substantially all of Issuer's assets.

                  (2) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the shares of capital
         stock (or similar equity  interest) with the greatest voting power with
         respect  of the  election  of  directors  (or other  persons  similarly
         responsible for direction of the business and affairs) of the issuer of
         the Substitute Option.

                  (3)  "Assigned  Value" shall mean the highest of (i) the price
         per share of Common  Stock at which a tender  offer or  exchange  offer
         therefor has been made,  (ii) the price per share of Common Stock to be
         paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement with
         Issuer,

                                        5

<PAGE>



         or (iii) in the event of a sale of all or substantially all of Issuer's
         assets,  the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the
         current market value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by
         a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder,
         divided by the number of shares of Common  Stock of Issuer  outstanding
         at the time of such sale. In determining the  market/offer  price,  the
         value  of  consideration  other  than  cash  shall be  determined  by a
         nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder.

                  (4) "Average  Price" shall mean the average closing price of a
         share of the  Substitute  Common  Stock for the six months  immediately
         preceding  the  consolidation,  merger or sale in  question,  but in no
         event higher than the closing price of the shares of Substitute  Common
         Stock on the day preceding such consolidation, merger or sale; provided
         that if Issuer is the  issuer of the  Substitute  Option,  the  Average
         Price shall be computed  with respect to a share of Common Stock issued
         by the person  merging into Issuer or by any company which  controls or
         is controlled by such person, as the Holder may elect.

     (c) The  Substitute  Option shall have the same terms and conditions as the
Option, provided, that if any term or condition of the Substitute Option cannot,
for legal reasons, be the same as the Option, such term or condition shall be as
similar as possible and in no event less advantageous to the Holder.  The issuer
of the Substitute Option shall also enter into an agreement with the then Holder
or  Holders  of the  Substitute  Option in  substantially  the same form as this
Agreement, which shall be applicable to the Substitute Option.

     (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
Substitute Common Stock as is equal to (i) the product of (A) the Assigned Value
and (B) the  number  of shares  of  Common  Stock  for which the  Option is then
exercisable,  divided  by (ii) the  Average  Price.  The  exercise  price of the
Substitute  Option per share of  Substitute  Common Stock shall then be equal to
the Option Price  multiplied  by a fraction the  numerator of which shall be the
number of shares of Common  Stock for which the Option is then  exercisable  and
the  denominator  of which  shall be the number of shares of  Substitute  Common
Stock for which the Substitute Option is exercisable.  Notwithstanding  anything
to the contrary in this Section 6, the Substitute Option shall be subject to the
limitation set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement, as if the Substitute Option
is the Option.

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

     (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection (a)
of this Section 6 unless the Acquiring  Corporation and any person that controls
the  Acquiring  Corporation  assume in  writing  all the  obligations  of Issuer
hereunder.

         7. The 180-day  period for exercise of certain  rights under  Section 2
shall  be  extended:  (i) to the  extent  necessary  to  obtain  all  regulatory
approvals  for the  exercise  of such  rights,  and  for the  expiration  of all
statutory  waiting periods;  and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid liability
under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.

                                        6

<PAGE>



     8. Repurchase at the Option of Holder.  (a) At the request of Holder at any
time commencing upon the first  occurrence of a Repurchase  Event (as defined in
Section  8(d))  and  ending  12  months  immediately  thereafter,  Issuer  shall
repurchase from Holder (i) the Option and (ii) all shares of Issuer Common Stock
purchased  by Holder  pursuant  hereto  with  respect to which  Holder  then has
beneficial  ownership.  The date on which Holder exercises its rights under this
Section 8 is referred to as the "Request Date".  Such repurchase  shall be at an
aggregate price (the "Section 8 Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

                  (i) the  aggregate  Option Price paid by Holder for any shares
of Issuer  Common  Stock  acquired  pursuant to the Option with respect to which
Holder then has beneficial ownership;

                  (ii) the  excess,  if any,  of (x) the  Applicable  Price  (as
defined below) for each share of Common Stock over (y) the Option Price (subject
to adjustment  pursuant to Sections 1 and 5), multiplied by the number of shares
of Common Stock with respect to which the Option has not been exercised; and

                  (iii) the  excess,  if any, of the  Applicable  Price over the
Option Price  (subject to adjustment  pursuant to Sections 1 and 5) paid (or, in
the case of Option  Shares with  respect to which the Option has been  exercised
but the  Closing  Date has not  occurred,  payable)  by Holder for each share of
Common  Stock  with  respect to which the  Option  has been  exercised  and with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership,  multiplied by the number
of such shares.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this Section 8 to the contrary, the payment of
the  Repurchase  Consideration  to the Holder shall be subject to the limitation
set forth in Section 9 of this Agreement.

                  (b) If Holder  exercises  its  rights  under  this  Section 8,
Issuer shall,  within 10 business days after the Request Date, pay the Section 8
Repurchase   Consideration  to  Holder  in  immediately   available  funds,  and
contemporaneously with such payment, Holder shall surrender to Issuer the Option
and the certificates  evidencing the shares of Common Stock purchased thereunder
with respect to which  Holder then has  beneficial  ownership,  and Holder shall
warrant that it has sole record and beneficial ownership of such shares and that
the same are then free and clear of all liens. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to
the extent  that  prior  notification  to or  approval  of any  federal or state
regulatory  authority is required in  connection  with the payment of all or any
portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration, Holder shall have the ongoing
option to revoke its request for  repurchase  pursuant to Section 8, in whole or
in part, or to require that Issuer deliver from time to time that portion of the
Section 8 Repurchase Consideration that it is not then so prohibited from paying
and  promptly  file  the  required   notice  or  application  for  approval  and
expeditiously process the same (and each party shall cooperate with the other in
the  filing of any such  notice or  application  and the  obtaining  of any such
approval).  If any federal or state regulatory authority disapproves of any part
of  Issuer's  proposed  repurchase  pursuant  to this  Section 8,  Issuer  shall
promptly give notice of such fact to Holder.  If any federal or state regulatory
authority  prohibits the repurchase in part but not in whole,  then Holder shall
have the  right (i) to  revoke  the  repurchase  request  or (ii) to the  extent
permitted by such regulatory authority,  determine whether the repurchase should
apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to each,  and Holder
shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the number of Option
Shares for which the Option was exercisable at

                                        7

<PAGE>



the Request  Date less the sum of the number of shares  covered by the Option in
respect of which  payment  has been made  pursuant to Section  8(a)(ii)  and the
number of shares  covered  by the  portion  of the Option (if any) that has been
repurchased. Holder shall notify Issuer of its determination under the preceding
sentence  within five (5) business days of receipt of notice of  disapproval  of
the repurchase.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  all of Holder's  rights
under this Section 8 shall  terminate on the date of  termination of this Option
pursuant to Section 2(a).

                  (c) For purposes of this  Agreement,  the  "Applicable  Price"
means the  highest of (i) the highest  price per share of Common  Stock paid for
any such share by the person or groups  described in Section  8(d)(i),  (ii) the
price  per  share of  Common  Stock  received  by  holders  of  Common  Stock in
connection with any merger or other business combination  transaction  described
in Section  6(a)(i),  6(a)(ii) or  6(a)(iii),  or (iii) the highest  closing bid
price per share of Issuer Common Stock quoted on the Nasdaq System (or if Issuer
Common Stock is not quoted on the Nasdaq System, the highest bid price per share
as quoted on the principal  trading market or securities  exchange on which such
shares are traded as reported by a recognized  source  chosen by Holder)  during
the 40 business days preceding the Request Date; provided,  however, that in the
event of a sale of less than all of Issuer's assets,  the Applicable Price shall
be the sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the current market
value of the remaining assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally recognized
investment  banking firm selected by Holder,  divided by the number of shares of
Common Stock  outstanding at the time of such sale. If the  consideration  to be
offered,  paid or received  pursuant to either of the  foregoing  clauses (i) or
(ii)  shall be other  than in cash,  the  value of such  consideration  shall be
determined  in good faith by an  independent  nationally  recognized  investment
banking  firm  selected by Holder and  reasonably  acceptable  to Issuer,  which
determination shall be conclusive for all purposes of this Agreement.

                  (d) As used herein,  "Repurchase  Event" shall occur if, prior
to an Exercise  Termination  Event,  (i) any person  (other than  Grantee or any
subsidiary of Grantee) shall have acquired beneficial ownership of (as such term
is defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Exchange  Act), or the right to
acquire  beneficial  ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined under
the  Exchange  Act) shall have been formed  which  beneficially  owns or has the
right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of, 25% or more of the then  outstanding
shares of Issuer  Common  Stock,  or (ii) any of the  transactions  described in
Section 6(a)(i), 6(a)(ii) or 6(a)(iii) shall be consummated.

         9.  Limitation  on Value  of  Option.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any  other
provision of this  Agreement,  this Option may not be exercised (nor  Repurchase
Consideration  paid to a Holder) for a number of shares as would, as of the date
of exercise,  result in a Notional  Total Profit (as defined below) of more than
$2,350,000;  provided that nothing in this sentence  shall restrict any exercise
of the Option  permitted  hereby on any subsequent date, as long as the Notional
Total Profit from all such exercises (and  Repurchase  Consideration  paid) does
not exceed $2,350,000.

                  (b) As used  herein,  the term  "Notional  Total  Profit" with
respect to any number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise this
Option shall be the Total Profit (as

                                        8

<PAGE>



defined below) determined as of the date of such proposed exercise assuming that
this Option were  exercised  on such date for such number of shares and assuming
that such shares,  together with all other Option Shares held by Grantee and its
affiliates as of such date,  were sold for cash at the closing  market price for
the Issuer Common Stock as of the close of business on the preceding trading day
(less customary brokerage commissions).

                  (c) As used  herein,  the term "Total  Profit"  shall mean the
aggregate  amount (before taxes) of the  following:  (i) the amount  received by
Grantee  pursuant to Issuer's  repurchase of the Option (or any portion thereof)
pursuant  to Section  8, (ii) (x) the amount  received  by Grantee  pursuant  to
Issuer's  repurchase  of Option  Shares (or any  portion  thereof)  pursuant  to
Section 8, less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price for such Option Shares,  (iii)
the net cash amounts  received by Grantee  pursuant to the sale of Option Shares
(or any other  securities  into  which  such  Option  Shares  are  converted  or
exchanged) to any unaffiliated  party, less (y) the Grantee's  purchase price of
such Option Shares,  (iv) any amounts received by Grantee on the transfer of the
Option (or any portion  thereof) to any  unaffiliated  party, and (v) any amount
equivalent to the foregoing with respect to the Substitute Option.

         10. Issuer hereby represents and warrants to Grantee as follows:

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

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

         (c) Issuer has taken all necessary action to exempt this Agreement, and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and thereby from, and this Agreement and
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and  thereby  are exempt  from,  (i) any
applicable  state takeover laws, (ii) any state laws limiting or restricting the
voting  rights of  stockholders  and (iii) any provision in its  certificate  of
incorporation,  or bylaws  restricting or limiting stock ownership or the voting
rights of stockholders.

         (d) The execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement does not
or  will  not,  and  the  consummation  by  Issuer  of any  of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby will not, constitute or result in (i) a breach or violation
of, or a default under, its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or

                                        9

<PAGE>



the  comparable  governing  instruments  of any of its  subsidiaries,  or (ii) a
breach or violation of, or a default  under,  any  agreement,  lease,  contract,
note, mortgage,  indenture,  arrangement or other obligation of it or any of its
subsidiaries  (with or without the giving of notice,  the lapse of time or both)
or under any law,  rule,  ordinance or  regulation or judgment,  decree,  order,
award or governmental or nongovernmental permit or license to which it or any of
its subsidiaries is subject,  that would, in any case referred to in this clause
(ii),  give  any  other  person  the  ability  to  prevent  or  enjoin  Issuer's
performance under this Agreement in any material respect.

     11. Grantee hereby represents and warrants to Issuer that:

         (a) Grantee has full  corporate  power and authority to enter into this
Agreement  and,  subject to any  approvals  or consents  referred to herein,  to
consummate the transactions  contemplated  hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly authorized by all necessary  corporate  action on the part of Grantee.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Grantee.

         (b)  This  Option  is not  being  acquired  with a view  to the  public
distribution  thereof  and  neither  this  Option nor any Option  Shares will be
transferred  or  otherwise  disposed of except in a  transaction  registered  or
exempt from registration under applicable federal and state securities laws
and regulations.

     12.  Neither  of the  parties  hereto  may  assign  any of  its  rights  or
obligations  under this Option Agreement or the Option created  hereunder to any
other person, without the express written consent of the other party, except (i)
to any wholly-owned Subsidiary or (ii) that in the event a Subsequent Triggering
Event shall have  occurred  prior to an  Exercise  Termination  Event,  Grantee,
subject to the  express  provisions  hereof,  may assign in whole or in part its
rights and obligations hereunder to one or more transferees.

     13.  Each of  Grantee  and  Issuer  will use its best  efforts  to make all
filings  with,  and to obtain  consents of all third  parties  and  governmental
authorities  necessary to the consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by
this Agreement.

     14. Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary herein, in the event that the
Holder or any Related  Person thereof is a person making an offer or proposal to
engage in an Acquisition  Transaction (other than the transactions  contemplated
by the Merger  Agreement),  then in the case of a Holder or any  Related  Person
thereof, the Option held by it shall immediately  terminate and be of no further
force or effect. A Related Person of a Holder means any Affiliate (as defined in
Rule  12b-2 of the rules and  regulations  under the 1934 Act) of the Holder and
any person that is the  beneficial  owner of 20% or more of the voting  power of
the Holder.

     15. The parties  hereto  acknowledge  that damages  would be an  inadequate
remedy  for a breach of this  Agreement  by  either  party  hereto  and that the
obligations  of the parties  hereto shall be  enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief.


                                       10

<PAGE>



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

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

         18. This  Agreement  shall be governed by and  construed in  accordance
with the laws of the  State  of  Delaware,  regardless  of the laws  that  might
otherwise govern under applicable principles
of conflicts of laws thereof.

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

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

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

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




                                       11

<PAGE>


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



                             PEEKSKILL FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                BY:  /s/ Eldorus Maynard
                                     ------------------------------------
                                      Eldorus Maynard
                                      Chairman of the Board and Chief
                                         Executive Officer



                             SOUND FEDERAL BANCORP


                              BY:    /s/ Richard P. McStravick
                                     ------------------------------------
                                      Richard P. McStravick
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer






Sound Federal Bancorp and Peekskill Financial Corporation Agree to
Merge

     MAMARONECK,  N.Y.  and  PEEKSKILL,   N.Y.--(BUSINESS   WIRE)--February  17,
2000--Sound Federal Bancorp (Nasdaq National Market: "SFFS") ("Sound Federal" or
the  "Company"),  the  holding  company  for  Sound  Federal  Savings  and  Loan
Association (the "Bank"),  and Peekskill Financial  Corporation (Nasdaq National
Market:  "PEEK")  ("Peekskill"),   announced  today  that  they  have  signed  a
definitive  merger  agreement  to  combine  their  institutions.  As part of the
transaction,  Peekskill  shareholders  will  receive $22 per share in cash which
represents  149% of  Peekskill's  book value per share and 26 times  Peekskill's
trailing  four  quarters  diluted  earnings  per  share.  The deal is  valued at
approximately $41.7 million, including the "in-the-money" portion of outstanding
stock options.  Sound Federal anticipates that the transaction will be accretive
to earnings  within the first year and will be  accretive  to cash  earnings per
share  immediately.  Sound  Federal  currently  has three  branch  locations  in
Westchester  County  and one each in  Rockland  County,  New York and  Fairfield
County, Connecticut.  Peekskill,  through its subsidiary,  First Federal Savings
Bank,  operates  three  branches  in Northern  Westchester  County and has total
assets of $212.7  million and total deposits of $152.7  million.  On a pro-forma
basis, Sound Federal will have approximately $500.0 million in assets and $420.0
million in deposits.

     Bruno J. Gioffre,  Sound Federal's  Chairman of the Board commented,  "This
transaction  enables us to grow our  franchise by  extending  our market area to
Northern  Westchester County - an area we are familiar with and an area in which
we already  have some  lending  activity.  Most  importantly,  we  believe  this
transaction  will be accretive to earnings by the end of the first year and will
be  accretive  to cash  earnings  immediately.  This  merger  also  allows us to
leverage the capital that was raised in our common stock offering in 1998. Sound
Federal  and  First  Federal  have  similar  franchises  and that will make this
transition an easy one. We both use the same data processing  service bureau and
our  products  and  services  are closely  matched.  In  addition,  we currently
advertise in media that cover the Northern  Westchester  area so we can leverage
our marketing dollars very effectively.  The Northern Westchester area is a fast
growing region and Peekskill's  branch  locations  provide us with a platform to
extend our reach into Southern Putnam county - another rapidly growing market. I
believe that the Board and  Management  of  Peekskill  have done a great job for
their  stockholders,  customers and employees and I would like to thank them for
this opportunity to continue to do the same for ours."

     Richard P. McStravick, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, added, "Sound
Federal Savings has operated in Westchester  County as a thrift  institution for
over 109 years.  Our  operating  philosophy  has  always  been that we are small
enough  to know your name and big  enough to fill your  needs.  With the help of
Peekskill's  Board of Directors,  management and  employees,  we can continue to
provide the level and quality of service that their customers  expect.  Our goal
is to make this transition transparent to our new customers.  As always, I would
like to thank all of our customers- new and existing- for allowing us to be your
bank."

<PAGE>


     Eldorus Maynard,  Peekskill's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated,
"This transaction is a win-win-win  situation.  Our stockholders are getting an
excellent  price,  $22 per share is an 83%  increase  over  yesterday's  closing
price.  Sound  Federal  is  leveraging  its  excess  capital  on a deal which is
expected to be accretive to earnings by the end of the first year, and customers
of both  companies  will have access to additional  services in more  locations.
Sound's conservative approach and customer oriented management style will enable
the new entity to continue our  community  bank  atmosphere.  We look forward to
being a part of Sound Federal's organization."

     The  Company  expects to complete  the  acquisition  in the third  calendar
quarter of 2000.

     This press release contains certain  forward-looking  statements consisting
of estimates with respect to the financial condition,  results of operations and
business of the Company, the Bank and Peekskill.  These estimates are subject to
various factors that could cause actual results to differ  materially from these
estimates.  Such  factors  include  (i) the effect  that an adverse  movement in
interest  rates  could have on the Bank's net  interest  income,  (ii)  customer
preferences,  (iii)  national  and local  economic and market  conditions,  (iv)
higher than  anticipated  operating  expenses and (v) a lower level of or higher
cost for deposits than  anticipated.  The Company  disclaims  any  obligation to
publicly   announce   future  events  or   developments   that  may  affect  the
forward-looking statements herein.

Contact:

Peekskill Financial Corporation
For further information contact:
William J. LaCalamito
President
(914) 737-2777
or
Sound Federal Bancorp
For further information contact:
Anthony J. Fabiano
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
(914) 698-6400






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