RIDGEWOOD FINANCIAL INC
SC 13D, 1999-02-16
SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED
Previous: COMMUNITY SAVINGS BANKSHARES INC /DE/, SC 13G, 1999-02-16
Next: AMERICAN NATIONAL FINANCIAL INC, 424B4, 1999-02-16



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                  SCHEDULE 13D
                                 (Rule 13d-101)


Information  to be Included in  Statements  Filed  Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(a) and
Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a)

                              (Amendment No. ____)


                            RIDGEWOOD FINANCIAL, INC.
                            -------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                           Common Stock $.10 Par Value
            --------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   76623N 10 6
            --------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                           Samuel J. Malizia, Esquire
                      Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.
                       1301 K Street, N.W., Suite 700 East
                             Washington, D.C. 20005
                                 (202) 434-4660
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 January 7, 1999
            --------------------------------------------------------
                     (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of
                                 This Statement)

         If the filing person has  previously  filed a Statement on Schedule 13G
to report the  acquisition  that is the  subject of this  Schedule  13D,  and is
filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e),  13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g),  check the
following box |_|.

         Note.  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original
and five copies of the schedule,  including all exhibits.  See Rule 13d-7(b) for
other parties to whom copies are to be sent.


                         (Continued on following pages.)

                                  (Page 1 of 9)


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                    <C>                                    <C>     <C>                                             <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------             ------------------------------------------------------------

CUSIP No. 76623N 10 6                                          13D     Page 2 of 9 Pages
- ----------------------------------------------------------             ------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           1             NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
                         S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS
                         Ridgewood Financial, MHC

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           2             CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP                                                (a)  |_|
                                                                                                                         (b)  |_|

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           3             SEC USE ONLY


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           4             SOURCE OF FUNDS      AF


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           5             CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT
                           TO ITEM 2(d) or 2(e)                                                                            |_|


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           6             CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
                         New Jersey

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               7          SOLE VOTING POWER
      NUMBER OF
        SHARES                                                   1,685,400
     BENEFICIALLY
       OWNED BY        ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         EACH                  8          SHARED VOTING POWER
      REPORTING               
     PERSON WITH                                                         0
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               9          SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                 1,685,400
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               10         SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                        0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          11             AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

                                                  1,685,400
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          12             CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES
                         CERTAIN SHARES                                                                                   |_|


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          13             PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
                         53.0% (based on 3,180,000 outstanding shares)

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          14             TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
                         HC

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>



Item 1.  Security and Issuer
- -------  -------------------

         The class of equity securities to which this Statement relates
is the common stock, $0.10 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"), of Ridgewood Financial, Inc. (the "Issuer"), the principal
executive office of which is located at 55 North Broad Street,
Ridgewood, New Jersey 07450.

Item 2.  Identity and Background
- -------  -----------------------

         The name and business  address of the company  filing this Statement is
Ridgewood  Financial,  MHC, 55 North Broad Street,  Ridgewood,  New Jersey 07450
(the "MHC").  The MHC is a mutual  holding  company  chartered as a  corporation
under the laws of the state of New Jersey.

         Pursuant  to General  Instruction  C of  Schedule  13D,  the  following
information  is being  provided  with  respect  to each  executive  officer  and
director of the MHC ("Insiders"):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Directors

Name                                        Occupation
- ----                                        ----------
<S>                                        <C>
Michael W. Azzara                           President of The Valley Hospital and the
                                            Valley Health System, Inc.

Nelson Fiordalisi                           Executive Vice President and Chief
                                            Operating Officer of the Issuer

Jerome Goodman                              Certified Public Accountant, partner of
                                            Flackman, Goodman & Potter PA

Bernard J. Hoogland                         Vice President of Ridgewood Associates

John Kandravy                               Attorney, partner of Shanley & Fisher,
                                            P.C., trustee and Vice Chairman of The
                                            Valley Hospital

Robert S. Monteith                          Retired - former President of a
                                            subsidiary of the Issuer

Susan E. Naruk                              President, Chief Executive Officer of the
                                            Issuer
</TABLE>

                                       -3-

<PAGE>




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Directors (continued)

Name                                        Occupation
- ----                                        ----------
<S>                                        <C>
Paul W. Thornwall                           Attorney, owner of Thornwall Law Firm

John J. Repetto                             Real Estate Manager for Marron
                                            Enterprises

                                     Executive Officers Who Are Not Directors

Name                                        Occupation
- ----                                        ----------

John Scognamiglio                           Senior Vice President, Chief Financial
                                            Officer of Issuer

Jean M. Miller                              Senior Vice President, Chief Lending
                                            Officer of Issuer

</TABLE>

         The business  address of each Insider is the same as the address of the
MHC and the Issuer. During the last five years, neither the MHC nor the Insiders
has been convicted in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic  violations or
similar misdemeanors),  nor has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial
or administrative body of competent  jurisdiction which resulted in such persons
being subject to a judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations
of,  or  prohibiting  or  mandating  activities  subject  to,  federal  or state
securities  laws or finding any violation  with respect to such laws. All of the
Insiders are U.S. Citizens.

Item 3.  Service and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
- -------  --------------------------------------------------

         The MHC acquired the Common Stock in connection with the
mutual holding company  reorganization  of Ridgewood  Savings Bank of New Jersey
(the "Bank") and related multiple tier ownership structure involving the Issuer.
The MHC was provided  working capital from its affiliate,  the Bank, and the MHC
formed the Issuer

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



and the Issuer sold shares at $7.00 per share in a registered
offering that resulted in the ownership by the MHC of the Issuer of
53% of the outstanding common stock of the Issuer.  The MHC was not
required to provide payment to the Issuer in return for obtaining
53% of the resulting issued and outstanding shares.  See Item 4.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction
- -------  ----------------------

         On January 7, 1999,  the Bank, a New  Jersey-chartered  mutual  savings
bank, completed its mutual holding company reorganization (the "Reorganization")
pursuant  to federal and state law,  whereby  the Bank  became the wholly  owned
subsidiary of the Issuer.  In connection with the  Reorganization,  the MHC, the
Issuer's mutual holding company,  acquired 1,685,400 outstanding shares, or 53%,
of common stock of the Issuer. The remaining  1,494,600  outstanding  shares, or
47%, of the common stock of the Issuer were sold in a  subscription  offering at
$7.00  per  share.  The  Reorganization  was  effected  in  accordance  with the
requirements  of the Board of  Governors  of the  Federal  Reserve  System  (the
"FRB"),  the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (the  "FDIC") and the New
Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (the "NJDBI") and the MHC, Issuer and
Bank remain subject to significant  limitations on future issuances of stock and
related matters.

         As  holding  company of the  Issuer,  the MHC,  from time to time,  may
explore  potential  actions and  transactions  which may be  advantageous to the
Issuer and its stockholders,  including possible mergers, acquisitions and other
business combinations. However, any such actions and transactions are subject to
significant regulatory oversight by one or more of the FDIC, FRB and NJDBI.

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         Other  than  as  the  Issuer's  mutual  holding  company  and  majority
stockholder,  the MHC has no current plans or proposals which relate to or would
result in:

         (a)      the acquisition by any person of additional securities of
                  the Issuer, or the disposition of securities of the
                  Issuer;

         (b)      an  extraordinary  corporate  transaction,  such as a  merger,
                  reorganization or liquidation,  involving the Issuer or any of
                  its subsidiaries;

         (c)      a sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of the
                  Issuer or any of its subsidiaries;

         (d)      any change in the present  board of directors or management of
                  the Issuer,  including  any plans or  proposals  to change the
                  number or term of directors or to fill any existing  vacancies
                  on the board;

         (e)      any material change in the present capitalization or
                  dividend policy of the Issuer;

         (f)      any other material change in the Issuer's business or
                  corporate structure;

         (g)      changes in the Issuer's  Certificate of Incorporation,  Bylaws
                  or  instruments  corresponding  thereto or other actions which
                  may  impede  the  acquisition  of control of the Issuer by any
                  persons;

         (h)      causing a class of  securities  of the  Issuer to be  delisted
                  from  a  national  securities  exchange  or  to  cease  to  be
                  authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer

                                       -6-

<PAGE>



                  quotation system of a registered national securities
                  association;

         (i)      a class of equity  securities of the Issuer becoming  eligible
                  for termination of registration  pursuant to Section  12(g)(4)
                  of the Securities Exchange Act; or

         (j) any  action  similar  to any of  those  enumerated  above.  

Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer
- -------   ------------------------------------

         (a) The MHC owns  beneficially an aggregate of 1,685,400  shares of the
Issuer's Common Stock, constituting 53.0% of the number of shares of such Common
Stock  outstanding on the date hereof.  Of this entire amount,  the MHC has sole
power to vote and  dispose  of such  shares of Common  Stock.  Information  with
respect to the number and  percentage of shares owned by Insiders has been filed
with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

         (b) No other  person is known to have the right to receive or the power
to direct the receipt of dividends  from,  or the proceeds from the sale of, the
shares held by the MHC.  Information  with respect to the voting and dispositive
power of Insiders with respect to the Issuer's  Common Stock has been filed with
the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

         (c)  Other  than its  acquisition  of the  Common  Stock of the  Issuer
described  in Item 3 and 4,  the MHC has not  effected  any  transaction  in the
Issuer's  Common  Stock  within the past 60 days.  Information  with  respect to
transactions  by Insiders with respect to the Issuer's  Common Stock has been or
will be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>



         (d) No person or entity,  other than the MHC, has the right to receive,
or the power to direct the receipt of,  dividends from, or the proceeds from the
sale of, the shares of the Issuer's Common Stock reported in this Schedule.

         (e)      Not applicable.

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understanding or Relationships
         With Respect to Securities of the Issuer               
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

         As of the  date  of  this  Schedule,  neither  the  MHC  nor any of the
Insiders is a party to any contract, arrangement,  understanding or relationship
among  themselves or with any other person with respect to any securities of the
Issuer,  including  but not  limited to  transfer or voting of any of the Common
Stock,  finder's fees,  joint  ventures,  loan or option  arrangements,  puts or
calls,  guarantees  of  profits,  division  of  profits  or loss,  the giving or
withholding of proxies,  or otherwise subject to a contingency the occurrence of
which  would give  another  person  voting or  investment  power over the Common
Stock.

 Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits
 ----------------------------------------

         Exhibit 1 - Plan of Reorganization and Stock Issuance.

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------

         After reasonable  inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information  set forth in this statement is true,  complete and
correct.

                                    Ridgewood Financial, MHC

                                    By:  /s/ SUSAN E. NARUK             
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                             Susan E. Naruk
                                             President




February 11, 1999








                                    EXHIBIT 1

                    PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND STOCK ISSUANCE


<PAGE>

                                                                       EXHIBIT A










                    PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND STOCK ISSUANCE
                        FROM A STATE MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK
                 TO A STATE MUTUAL SAVINGS BANK HOLDING COMPANY

                                       OF

                      RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANK OF NEW JERSEY



                        ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                       ON
                                  June 22, 1998
                           as amended October 26, 1998



<PAGE>




                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                               Page
                                                                                                               ----


<S>                                                                                                          <C>
1.       Introduction...........................................................................................A-1
2.       Definitions............................................................................................A-1
3.       Business Purposes for the Reorganization...............................................................A-6
4.       Method of Reorganization and Certain Effects of the Reorganization.....................................A-7
5.       Conditions to Implementation of the Reorganization.....................................................A-9
6.       Ratification by Depositors............................................................................A-10
7.       Stock Offering Documents..............................................................................A-11
8.       Stock Offering........................................................................................A-11
9.       Subscription Rights of Eligible Account Holders (First Priority)......................................A-13
10.      Subscription Rights of Employee Plans (Second Priority)...............................................A-13
11.      Subscription Rights of Supplemental Eligible Account Holders (Third Priority).........................A-13
12.      Subscription Rights of Current Depositors (Fourth Priority)...........................................A-14
13.      Community Offering....................................................................................A-15
14.      Public Offering and Syndicated Public Offering........................................................A-15
15.      Limitation on Purchases...............................................................................A-16
16.      Payment for Common Stock..............................................................................A-18
17.      Manner of Exercising Subscription Rights Through Order Forms..........................................A-19
18.      Undelivered, Defective or Late Order Forms: Insufficient Payment......................................A-20
19.      Restrictions on Resale or Subsequent Disposition......................................................A-20
20.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Mutual Holding Company.................................A-21
21.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Stock Holding Company..................................A-21
22.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Stock Bank.............................................A-21
23.      Status of Deposit Accounts and Loans Subsequent to Reorganization.....................................A-21
24.      Minority Stock Offering...............................................................................A-22
25.      Conversion of Mutual Holding Company to Stock Form....................................................A-22
26.      Establishment of Liquidation Account..................................................................A-23
27.      Interpretation........................................................................................A-23
28.      Amendment or Termination of the Plan..................................................................A-24

</TABLE>

<PAGE>




1.       Introduction

         The Board of  Directors  of  Ridgewood  Savings Bank of New Jersey (the
"Bank") has adopted this Plan of Reorganization  and Stock Issuance from a State
Mutual Savings Bank to a State Mutual Savings Bank Holding  Company (the "Plan")
pursuant to which the Bank  proposes to reorganize  from a New  Jersey-chartered
mutual   savings  bank  into  the  mutual   holding   company   structure   (the
"Reorganization")  pursuant  to  the  laws  of the  State  of  New  Jersey,  the
regulations  of the  Commissioner,  the  regulations  of  the  FDIC,  and  other
applicable laws and regulations.  A principal part of the  Reorganization is (i)
the formation of the Mutual Holding Company as a New Jersey state mutual savings
bank holding  company (ii) the  formation of a capital  stock  corporation  as a
wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the Mutual  Holding  Company  (the "Stock  Holding
Company"),  and (iii) the conversion of the Bank to a New Jersey-chartered state
stock savings bank (the "Stock Bank") which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of
the Stock Holding Company as long as the Mutual Holding Company is in existence.
Subsequent to the Reorganization,  the Mutual Holding Company will always own at
least a majority  of the Stock  Holding  Company's  common  stock so long as the
Mutual Holding Company is in existence.

         In adopting the Plan,  the Board of Directors has  determined  that the
Reorganization  is  advisable  and in  the  best  interests  of  the  Bank,  its
depositors and the community.  The  Reorganization is subject to the approval of
the  Commissioner  and the FRB and the  non-objection  of the FDIC,  and must be
adopted  by a  two-thirds  vote of the  Board of  Directors.  In  addition,  the
Reorganization is subject to ratification by the Depositors of the Bank.

2.       Definitions

         As used in this  Plan,  the terms set forth  below  have the  following
meanings:

                  Account  Holder:  The term  Account  Holder  means any  Person
holding a Savings Account in the Bank.

                  Acting in  Concert:  The Term  "Acting in  Concert"  means (i)
knowing  participation in a joint activity or interdependent  conscious parallel
action  towards a common goal whether or not  pursuant to an express  agreement;
(ii) a combination or pooling of voting or other  interests in the securities of
an  issuer  for a  common  purpose  pursuant  to  any  contract,  understanding,
relationship,  agreement or other arrangement,  whether written or otherwise; or
(iii) a person or company  which acts in concert with another  person or company
("other  party") shall also be deemed to be acting in concert with any person or
company who is also  acting in concert  with that other  party,  except that any
tax-qualified  employee  stock  benefit  plan will not be deemed to be acting in
concert with its trustee or a person who serves in a similar capacity solely for
the purpose of  determining  whether stock held by the trustee and stock held by
the plan will be aggregated.  In addition,  two or more Persons who have a joint
account will be deemed to be acting in concert.

                  Associate:   The  term  Associate  when  used  to  indicate  a
relationship with any person,  means (i) any corporation or organization  (other
than the Bank or a  majority-owned  subsidiary of the Bank) of which such person
is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly,  the beneficial owner of
10  percent or more of any class of equity  securities,  (ii) any trust or other
estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as to which
such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity except that for
the purposes of Sections 10 and 15 hereof, the term "Associate" does not include
any  Tax-Qualified  Employee  Stock Benefit Plan or any  Tax-Qualified  Employee
Stock  Benefit Plan in which a person has a substantial  beneficial  interest or
serves as a trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity,

                                       A-1

<PAGE>



and except that,  for purposes of  aggregating  total shares that may be held by
Officers and Directors the term "Associate"  does not include any  Tax-Qualified
Employee Stock Benefit Plan, and (iii) any relative or spouse of such person, or
any  relative of such  spouse,  who has the same home as such person or who is a
Director or Officer of the Bank or the Holding Company, or any of its parents or
subsidiaries.

                  Bank:  Ridgewood Savings Bank of New Jersey.

                  BHCA:  The Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

                  BHCA Application: The application filed with the FRB to obtain
FRB approval of acquisition  of the Bank by the Mutual  Holding  Company and the
Stock Holding Company.

                  BMA:  The Bank Merger Act.

                  Capital  Stock:  Any and all  authorized  stock  of the  Stock
Holding Company.

                  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of the Bank:  The  Bank's  New
Jersey mutual savings bank certificate of incorporation.

                  Certificate of  Incorporation  of the Mutual Holding  Company:
The Mutual  Holding  Company's  New Jersey mutual  savings bank holding  company
certificate of incorporation.

                  Certificate of Incorporation of the Stock Holding Company: The
certificate of incorporation of the Stock Holding Company.

                  Commissioner: The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance of the
State of New Jersey.

                  Common  Stock:  Common  Stock  issued  by  the  Stock  Holding
Company.

                  Community   Offering:   The  term   Community   Offering,   if
applicable, means the offering for sale to certain members of the general public
directly by the Stock Bank, of any shares not subscribed for in the Subscription
Offering.

                  Current  Depositors:  Persons  who have a Savings  or  Deposit
Account of at least $50 at the Bank as of the Date of Record.

                  Date  of  Record:   The  date  established  by  the  Bank  for
determining   which  Depositors  are  given  the  opportunity  to  vote  on  the
ratification of Plan.

                  Department:   The  New  Jersey   Department   of  Banking  and
Insurance.

                  Deposit  Account(s):  Withdrawable  deposit(s)  in  the  Bank,
including certificates of deposit and demand accounts.

                  Depositor:  Each holder of a Deposit Account as of the Date of
Record established by the Board of Directors.

                  Effective  Date:  The  Effective  Date of the  Reorganization,
which shall be the date of  consummation of the  Reorganization  and Offering in
accordance with this Plan and the applicable rules and regulations.

                                       A-2

<PAGE>




                  Eligible  Account  Holder:  The term Eligible  Account  Holder
means any Person holding a Qualifying  Deposit in a Savings  Account at the Bank
on the Eligibility Record Date.

                  Eligibility  Record  Date:  The term  Eligibility  Record Date
means the date for determining  Eligible  Account Holders in the Bank and is the
close of business on May 31, 1997.

                  Employee:  A person who is an Employee of the Bank at the date
of the Reorganization.

                  Employee   Plans:   The  term   Employee   Plans   means   the
Tax-Qualified  Employee  Stock  Benefit  Plans,  including  the  Employee  Stock
Ownership Plan, approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank.

                  Estimated  Valuation Range: The term Estimated Valuation Range
means the range of the  estimated  pro forma market value of the Common Stock as
determined by the Independent  Appraiser prior to the Subscription  Offering and
as it may be amended from time to time thereafter.

                  ESOP:  An  employees'  stock  ownership  plan with its related
trust,  that meets the  requirements to be "qualified"  under Section 401 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                  FDIC:  The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

                  FRB:  The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

                  HOLA:  The Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended.

                  Independent Appraiser: The term Independent Appraiser means an
appraiser  retained by the Bank to prepare an  appraisal of the pro forma market
value of the Common Stock.

                  Interim:  The New Jersey  interim stock savings bank organized
by the Mutual Holding Company in order to consummate the Reorganization.



                  Local   Community:   The  term  local   community   means  the
incorporated cities and the counties in which the Bank has offices.

                  Majority  Interest:  Greater than fifty  percent  (50%) of the
combined  voting  power or value of all  classes  of stock of the Stock  Holding
Company.

                  Merger  Application:  The  application  filed with the FDIC to
obtain FDIC approval of the Reorganization.

                  Minority Ownership Interest:  The percentage  representing the
number of shares of common  stock of the Stock  Holding  Company held by persons
other than the Mutual Holding  Company  divided by the total number of shares of
common stock of the Stock Holding Company outstanding.

                  Minority  Stock  Offering:  One or more  offers  and  sales of
common  stock by the Stock  Holding  Company,  after which  offering  the Mutual
Holding Company continues to own a majority of the outstanding  shares of Voting
Stock of the Stock Holding Company.


                                       A-3

<PAGE>



                  Minority Stockholder: Any owner of the Stock Holding Company's
common stock other than the Mutual Holding Company.

                  Mutual Holding  Company:  The  state-chartered  mutual savings
bank holding company organized in the Reorganization.

                  Mutual  Bank:  Ridgewood  Savings  Bank of New  Jersey  in the
mutual form of organization.

                  New Jersey  Application:  The notice or application filed with
the Department to obtain the Department approval of the Reorganization.

                  Non-Voting  Stock:  Non-Voting  Stock means any Capital  Stock
other than Voting Stock.

                  Notice of Reorganization: The Notice of Mutual Holding Company
Reorganization,  to be  submitted  by the Bank to the  Department  to notify the
Department of the Reorganization.

                  Officer:  An executive  officer of the Bank which includes the
Chairman,  President, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Vice President,  Senior
Vice President and Vice  Presidents in charge of principal  business  functions,
and any other person participating in major policy making functions of the Bank.

                  Order Form:  The term Order Form means any form  together with
attached  cover letter,  sent by the Bank to any Person  containing  among other
things a description of the alternatives available to such Person under the Plan
and by which any such  Person may make  elections  regarding  subscriptions  for
Common Stock in the Subscription and Community Offerings.

                  Participants: The term Participants means the Eligible Account
Holders,  Employee  Plans,  Supplemental  Eligible  Account  Holders and Current
Depositors.

                  Person:  An  individual,  a  corporation,  a  partnership,  an
association,  a joint-stock  company, a trust (including  Individual  Retirement
Accounts and KEOGH Accounts), any unincorporated  organization,  a government or
political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

                  Plan: This Plan of Reorganization  from a State Mutual Savings
Bank to a State Mutual Savings Bank Holding Company,  pursuant to which the Bank
shall  organize a mutual holding  company  structure and become the wholly owned
subsidiary  of the Stock  Holding  Company,  and an indirect  subsidiary  of the
Mutual Holding Company.

                  Preferred Stock:  Preferred Stock  authorized  pursuant to the
Stock Holding Company's articles of incorporation.

                  Public  Offering:  The term Public Offering means the offering
for sale through the  Underwriter  to the general public of any shares of Common
Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering.

                  Purchase  Price:  The term Purchase  Price means the per share
price at which  the  Common  Stock  will be sold in  accordance  with the  terms
hereof.


                                       A-4

<PAGE>



                  Qualifying  Deposit:  The term  Qualifying  Deposit  means the
balance  of each  Savings  Account  of $50 or more in the  Bank at the  close of
business on the Eligibility Record Date or Supplemental Eligibility Record Date.
Savings  Accounts  with  total  deposit  balances  of less  than $50  shall  not
constitute a Qualifying Deposit.

                  Reorganization: The reorganization of the Bank into the mutual
holding company  structure and the creation of the Mutual Holding  Company,  the
Stock Bank and the Stock Holding Company pursuant to this Plan.

                  SAIF:  The  Savings  Association   Insurance  Fund,  which  is
administered by the FDIC.

                  Savings   Account(s):   Withdrawable   deposits  in  the  Bank
including certificates of deposit and demand accounts.

                  SEC:  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

                  Special   Meeting  of  Depositors:   The  Special  Meeting  of
Depositors and any adjournment  thereto,  which may be called for the purpose of
ratifying the Plan.

                  Stock Bank:  The newly  organized New  Jersey-chartered  stock
savings bank established as part of the  Reorganization and which will be wholly
owned by the Stock Holding Company.

                  Stock Holding Company: The capital stock corporation that will
own 100% of the Stock Bank's common stock and initially  will be wholly owned by
the Mutual Holding Company.

                  Subscription  Offering:  The term Subscription  Offering means
the offering of Common Stock of the Stock Holding  Company for purchase  through
Order Forms to Participants.

                  Supplemental  Eligibility  Record Date: The term  Supplemental
Eligibility  Record  Date  means  the close of  business  on the last day of the
calendar quarter preceding the approval of the Plan by the Department.

                  Supplemental  Eligible Account Holder:  The term  Supplemental
Eligible  Account  Holder  means a holder of a  Qualifying  Deposit  in the Bank
(other than an officer or director or their Associates) at the close of business
on the Supplemental Eligibility Record Date.

                  Syndicated  Community Offering:  The term Syndicated Community
Offering  means the  offering of Common Stock  following  the  Subscription  and
Community Offerings through a syndicate of broker-dealers.

                  Tax-Qualified   Employee   Stock   Benefit   Plan:   The  term
Tax-Qualified  Employee  Stock  Benefit  Plan means any defined  benefit plan or
defined contribution plan, such as an employee stock ownership plan, stock bonus
plan,  profit-sharing  plan or other plan, which, with its related trust,  meets
the  requirements  to be "qualified"  under Section 401 of the Internal  Revenue
Code.

                  Underwriter: The term Underwriter means the investment banking
firm or firms  through  which the Common  Stock will be offered  and sold in the
Public Offering.




                                       A-5

<PAGE>



                  Voting Stock:

                  (1) Voting Stock means common  stock or  preferred  stock,  or
similar  interests if the shares by statute,  certificate of incorporation or in
any manner,  entitle the holder:  (i) to vote for or to select  directors of the
issuer;  and (ii) to vote on or to direct the conduct of the operations or other
significant policies of the issuer.

                  (2) Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (1) above, preferred
stock is not "Voting Stock" if: (i) voting rights  associated with the preferred
stock are limited solely to the type customarily provided by statute with regard
to  matters  that  would  significantly  and  adversely  affect  the  rights  or
preferences of the preferred stock,  such as the issuance of additional  amounts
or classes of senior securities,  the modification of the terms of the preferred
stock, the dissolution of the issuer,  or the payment of dividends by the issuer
when preferred dividends are in arrears;  (ii) the Preferred Stock represents an
essentially  passive  investment  or  financing  device  and does not  otherwise
provide the holder with control over the issuer;  and (iii) the preferred  stock
does not at the time entitle the holder, by statute,  charter, or otherwise,  to
select or to vote for the selection of directors of the issuer.

                  (3) Notwithstanding  anything in paragraphs (1) and (2) above,
"Voting Stock" shall be deemed to include  preferred stock and other  securities
that,  upon  transfer  or  otherwise,  are  convertible  into  Voting  Stock  or
exercisable to acquire  Voting Stock where the holder of the stock,  convertible
security or right to acquire Voting Stock has the preponderant  economic risk in
the underlying  Voting Stock.  Securities  immediately  convertible  into Voting
Stock at the option of the holder  without  payment of additional  consideration
shall be deemed to constitute the Voting Stock into which they are  convertible;
other  convertible  securities  and rights to acquire  Voting Stock shall not be
deemed to vest the holder with the preponderant  economic risk in the underlying
Voting Stock if the holder has paid less than 50% of the consideration  required
to directly  acquire the Voting Stock and has no other economic  interest in the
underlying Voting Stock.

3.       Business Purposes for the Reorganization

         The Bank has several  business  purposes  for  effecting  the  proposed
Reorganization.  The  Reorganization  will structure the Bank in the stock form,
which is used by commercial  banks,  most major  business  corporations  and the
majority of savings banks and savings associations.  Formation of the Stock Bank
as a wholly owned  capital  stock  savings bank  subsidiary of the Stock Holding
Company will permit the Stock Holding  Company to issue Capital Stock and infuse
the proceeds into the Stock Bank,  which is a source of capital not available to
mutual savings banks. At the same time, the Bank's mutual form of ownership will
be preserved in the Mutual Holding Company, and the Mutual Holding Company, as a
mutual corporation,  will at all times control at least a majority of the Voting
Stock of the Stock Holding Company so long as the Mutual Holding Company remains
in  existence.  The  Reorganization  will enable the Bank to achieve many of the
benefits  of a stock  company  without a loss of control and  independence  that
sometimes  follows  standard  conversions from mutual to stock form. The Bank is
committed to being an independent community-oriented institution, and to meeting
the  financial  and credit needs of the  communities  in which it operates.  The
Board of Directors  believes that the mutual holding  company  structure is best
suited for this purpose, particularly since standard mutual-to-stock conversions
often  result  in the sale of  locally  based  savings  institutions  to  larger
regional commercial banks.

         Formation  of the Stock  Holding  Company  is  expected  to  facilitate
acquisitions and the diversification of the Bank's activities, although the Bank
currently has no diversification or acquisition plans. The Stock Holding Company
will have the ability to acquire other financial  institutions and non-financial
institutions  which  may be owned  and  operated  separate  from the  Bank.  For
economic, legal

                                       A-6

<PAGE>



liability and tax purposes,  it may also be  advantageous to have assets held by
the Stock Holding Company instead of the Bank.

         The  mutual  holding  company  structure  will give the  Stock  Holding
Company  flexibility  to issue  Capital  Stock in Minority  Stock  Offerings  at
various times and in varying amounts as market conditions permit, rather than in
a single stock  offering.  This will better enable the Stock Holding  Company to
reinvest the proceeds of any such  Minority  Stock  Offering in a safe and sound
manner.  The  sale of  Capital  Stock at  appropriate  times,  coupled  with the
accumulation  of earnings  (net of  dividends)  from year to year,  represents a
means for the orderly preservation and expansion of the Bank's capital base, and
allows flexibility to respond to sudden and unanticipated capital needs.

         The  formation  of the  Mutual  Holding  Company  will allow the Mutual
Holding  Company and/or the Stock Holding  Company to borrow funds, on a secured
and unsecured basis, and to issue debt to the public or in a private  placement.
The proceeds of any such  borrowings or debt issuance may be  contributed to the
Stock Bank as core capital for regulatory capital purposes. No determination has
been made to borrow funds or issue debt at the present time, and there can be no
assurance  when, if ever, any such  borrowing or debt issuance  would occur,  or
whether it would be  consummated  on terms  satisfactory  to the Mutual  Holding
Company or the Stock Holding Company.

4.       Method of Reorganization and Certain Effects of the Reorganization

         A.       Organization of the Mutual Holding Company, the Stock  Holding
Company and the Stock Bank.

         A principal part of the Reorganization  will be the organization of the
Stock Bank which will be a wholly owned subsidiary of the Stock Holding Company.
The Reorganization is expected to be effected in the following manner, or in any
manner approved by the Commissioner that is consistent with the purposes of this
Plan and applicable laws and regulations.

         1.       The Bank will organize the Mutual Holding Company,  which will
                  initially exist as an interim stock subsidiary of the Bank.

         2.       The Mutual  Holding  Company will  organize the Stock  Holding
                  Company under state law as a wholly owned subsidiary.

         3.       The Mutual Holding  Company will organize  Interim as a wholly
                  owned New Jersey stock savings bank subsidiary.

         4.       The  Bank  will   convert  to  the   capital   stock  form  of
                  organization  by  exchanging  its  charter  for  that of a New
                  Jersey stock savings bank (becoming the Stock Bank).

         5.       Interim will merge with and into the Stock Bank with the Stock
                  Bank as the surviving  entity,  and the Mutual Holding Company
                  will become sole stockholder of the Stock Bank.

         6.       The Mutual Holding  Company will  contribute the capital stock
                  of the Stock Bank to the Stock Holding Company,  and the Stock
                  Bank  will  become  a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the  Stock
                  Holding Company.




                                       A-7

<PAGE>



         Based upon tax,  regulatory,  economic or other business  reasons,  the
Reorganization  can eliminate the Middle-Tier Stock Holding Company or otherwise
be revised without any further depositor ratification.  At the conclusion of the
Reorganization,  the Stock Bank will be the wholly owned subsidiary of the Stock
Holding  Company,  and the Stock Holding  Company will be majority  owned by the
Mutual Holding Company.

         B.       Ownership and Operation of the Mutual Holding Company

         The Mutual Holding Company will be a mutual corporation organized under
New Jersey law. As a mutual corporation, the Mutual Holding Company will have no
stockholders.  The Mutual Holding Company will own between 50.1% and 100% of the
Voting Stock of the Stock Holding Company,  and will be required to own at least
a  majority  of the  Voting  Stock of the Stock  Holding  Company so long as the
Mutual Holding  Company  remains in existence.  The Mutual Holding  Company will
have a board of directors  which is expected  initially to consist of all of the
members of the board of directors of the Bank. It is expected that management of
the Mutual  Holding  Company  will consist  initially  of the senior  management
person of the Bank.

         The rights and powers of the Mutual Holding  Company will be defined by
the Mutual Holding Company's  Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws and by the
statutory and regulatory  provisions  applicable to bank holding companies under
Federal and New Jersey law.  Depositors who have liquidation  rights in the Bank
immediately prior to the Reorganization will continue to have such rights in the
Mutual  Holding  Company after the  Reorganization  for so long as they maintain
deposit accounts in the Stock Bank after the Reorganization. Initially, the sole
business  of the Mutual  Holding  Company  will be the  ownership  of at least a
majority  of the  voting  stock  of the  Stock  Holding  Company.  The  Board of
Directors  will  continue  to have the sole  voting  rights to govern the Mutual
Holding Company, just as they do now for the Bank.

         The Bank will  apply to the  Commissioner  to have the  Mutual  Holding
Company receive or retain (as the case may be) $200,000,  in connection with the
Reorganization.  The Stock Holding Company may distribute  additional capital to
the Mutual Holding Company  following the  Reorganization  subject to applicable
state and federal regulations regarding capital distributions.

         C.       Ownership and Operation of the Stock Holding Company

         The Stock Holding Company will be a capital stock corporation organized
under New Jersey law.  The Mutual  Holding  Company  initially  will be the sole
stockholder  of the Stock  Holding  Company,  and so long as the Mutual  Holding
Company is in existence,  the Mutual Holding  Company will be required to own at
least a majority of the Voting Stock of the Stock Holding Company.  However, the
Stock Holding Company may issue any amount of Non-Voting  Stock to persons other
than the Mutual Holding Company, and will be authorized to undertake one or more
Minority Stock Offerings  provided the aggregate  amount of Voting Stock sold in
such  Minority  Stock  Offerings of less than a majority in the aggregate of the
total  outstanding  Voting Stock of the Stock  Holding  Company,  subject to any
required  regulatory  approvals.  The Stock Holding Company will own 100% of the
Voting  Stock of the Stock  Bank so long as the  Mutual  Holding  Company  is in
existence.

         The  initial  members of the board of  directors  of the Stock  Holding
Company  will be the  existing  members of the board of  directors  of the Bank.
Thereafter,  the holders of shares of the Stock Holding  Company's  Voting Stock
will elect the members of the Board of  Directors of the Stock  Holding  Company
for three year terms with  approximately  one-third  of the members of the Stock
Holding Company's board of directors elected annually.

                                       A-8

<PAGE>




         The Stock  Holding  Company  will be able to exercise all of the powers
authorized to a New Jersey corporation,  subject to the restrictions  applicable
to savings bank holding companies under the BHCA and New Jersey law.  Initially,
the sole business activity of the Stock Holding Company will be the ownership of
100% of the Voting Stock of the Bank.

         The Bank  will  apply to the  Commissioner  to have the  Stock  Holding
Company  receive  or  retain  (as the  case  may be) up to  one-half  of the net
proceeds raised in connection  with the Minority Stock Offering.  The Stock Bank
may distribute  additional  capital to the Stock Holding  Company  following the
Reorganization,  subject to applicable state and Federal  regulations  governing
capital distributions.

         D.       Ownership and Operation of the Stock Bank

         The Stock Bank will be a capital stock savings bank organized under New
Jersey Law. The initial members of the Board of Directors of the Stock Bank will
be the existing  Board of Directors of the Bank.  Thereafter,  the Stock Holding
Company,  as the sole  stockholder of the Stock Bank,  will elect the members of
the Stock  Bank's  Board of  Directors  for three year terms with  approximately
one-third of the directors up for election each year. The present  management of
the Bank will  continue  as the  management  of the  Stock  Bank  following  the
Reorganization.

         The Stock  Bank will be  authorized  to  exercise  any and all  powers,
rights and privileges of, and shall be subject to all limitations applicable to,
capital stock savings  banks under New Jersey law. The  Reorganization  will not
result in any  reduction  of the amount of  retained  earnings  (other  than the
assets of the Bank retained by, or distributed to, the Mutual Holding Company or
the Stock Holding Company),  undivided  profits,  and general loss reserves that
the Bank had prior to the  Reorganization.  Such  retained  earnings and general
loss  reserves will be accounted for by the Mutual  Holding  Company,  the Stock
Holding  Company and the Stock Bank on a consolidated  basis in accordance  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         All  insured  deposit  accounts  of the Stock Bank will  continue to be
federally  insured  up to the legal  maximum  by the FDIC in the same  manner as
deposit accounts existing in the Bank immediately  prior to the  Reorganization.
All loans and other  borrowings  from the Bank shall retain the same status with
the Stock Bank after the  Reorganization  as they had with the Bank  immediately
prior to the Reorganization.

         So long as the  Mutual  Holding  Company  is in  existence,  the  Stock
Holding  Company  will be required to own 100% of the Voting  Stock of the Stock
Bank.  The Stock Bank may issue any amount of Non-Voting  Stock to persons other
than the Stock Holding Company.

         E.       Expenses of the Reorganization

         The Bank shall use its best efforts to assure that expenses incurred by
it in connection with the Reorganization shall be reasonable.

5.       Conditions to Implementation of the Reorganization

         Consummation of the Reorganization is expressly  conditioned upon prior
occurrence of the following:

         A.       Approval of the Plan by the affirmative vote of two thirds  of
the Board of Directors of the Bank.

                                       A-9

<PAGE>




         B. Ratification of the Plan by the Depositors at the Special Meeting of
Depositors.

         C.       Approval by the  Commissioner  of the Plan, the certificate of
                  incorporation  and  bylaws  of the Stock  Bank and the  Mutual
                  Holding Company,  and all other  transactions  contemplated by
                  the Plan for which approval is required by the Commissioner.

         D.       Submission  of the FDIC Notice to the FDIC and the Bank either
                  (i)  receives a notice of intent not to object  from the FDIC,
                  or (ii) 60 days  (subject to extension  for an  additional  60
                  days) have passed  following the acceptance of a complete FDIC
                  Notice by the FDIC.

         E.       Approval by the FRB pursuant to the BHCA for the Stock Holding
                  Company  to  become  a  bank  holding  company  by  owning  or
                  acquiring  100% of the  common  stock of the Stock  Bank to be
                  issued in connection with the Reorganization.

         F.       Approval  by the FRB  pursuant  to the  BHCA  for  the  Mutual
                  Holding  Company to become a bank holding company by owning or
                  acquiring  100%  of the  common  stock  of the  Stock  Holding
                  Company to be issued in connection with the Reorganization.

         G.       Approval  by the FDIC  pursuant  to the BMA of the  merger  of
                  Interim with the Stock Bank or the transfer by the Bank to the
                  Stock Bank of  substantially  all of the Bank's assets and all
                  of its  liabilities,  including all of the deposit accounts of
                  the Bank,  and if necessary  approval by the FDIC of insurance
                  of accounts of the Stock Bank.

         H.       Receipt by the Bank of either a private letter ruling from the
                  Internal  Revenue  Service or an opinion of the Bank's counsel
                  as  to   the   federal   income   tax   consequences   of  the
                  Reorganization  to  the  Mutual  Holding  Company,  the  Stock
                  Holding Company, the Stock Bank and the Bank.

         I.       Receipt by the Bank of either a private  letter  ruling of the
                  New Jersey  Department  of Revenue or an opinion of counsel or
                  the Bank's independent public accountants as to the New Jersey
                  income tax  consequences of the  Reorganization  to the Mutual
                  Holding Company, the Stock Holding Company, the Stock Bank and
                  the Bank.

         J.       For regulatory,  economic,  timing or other business  reasons,
                  the  Board of  Directors  may  elect to  eliminate  the  Stock
                  Holding Company,  as a middle tier, between the Mutual Holding
                  Company and Stock Bank.

         The Bank intends to consummate the  Reorganization  as soon as possible
after all of the above approvals are obtained.

6.       Ratification by Depositors

         Pursuant to the laws of the State of New Jersey,  the voting  rights of
the Bank are held  exclusively  by the Board of Directors,  which is required to
adopt the Plan by a vote of not less than  two-thirds of its entire  membership.
The FDIC has  issued  Regulations,  under  which  all  state  savings  banks are
generally  required  to have  plans to  reorganize  from  mutual  to stock  form
approved  by  Depositors.  Accordingly,  the Bank is  expected  to seek  special
proxies from  depositors  to ratify the Plan.  Subsequent to the approval of the
Plan by the  Department,  a Special  Meeting of  Depositors  is  expected  to be
scheduled.  At least ten days but not more than sixty days prior to the  Special
Meeting, the Savings Bank

                                      A-10

<PAGE>



is expected to distribute proxy solicitation materials to all Depositors as of a
Date of Record twenty to sixty days prior to the Special Meeting.

         Each  Depositor  as of the Date of Record  shall  receive  one vote for
every $100 of deposits at the Bank. The Bank shall seek ratification of the Plan
by an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes outstanding.

7.       Stock Offering Documents

         The Stock Holding  Company and Bank intend to commence a Minority Stock
Offering concurrent with the formation of the Mutual Holding Company.  The Stock
Holding  Company  and the Bank may also  commence  one or more  stock  offerings
following the  Reorganization.  The Stock Holding Company and the Bank may close
the Minority Stock Offering before the Effective  Date,  provided that the offer
and sale of the  Common  Stock  shall be  conditioned  upon the  receipt  of all
required  regulatory  approvals  and depositor  ratification.  The Bank may send
Participants a Summary of the Reorganization and require Participants, to return
to the Bank by a reasonable date certain a postage prepaid card or other written
communication  requesting  receipt of the Stock Offering  Prospectus.  The Stock
Holding  Company and Bank shall not distribute the final Minority Stock Offering
Prospectus  until such  Offering  Prospectus  has been  approved  for use by the
Department.

         Any shares of Common Stock sold in the Minority Stock Offering that are
not subscribed for in the  Subscription  Offering may be offered for sale in the
Community  Offering,  if any,  as  provided in this Plan and may be offered in a
Public Offering or Syndicated Public Offering,  as provided herein, if necessary
and feasible.  The  Subscription  Offering may be commenced prior to the Special
Meeting of Depositors  and, in that event,  the Community  Offering,  if any, or
Public  Offering  may  also  be  commenced  prior  to  the  Special  Meeting  of
Depositors.

         The Stock  Holding  Company  and Bank may elect to pay fees on either a
fixed fee or commission  basis or combination  thereof to an investment  banking
firm  which  assists it in the sale of the Common  Stock in the  Minority  Stock
Offering.

         The Stock Holding  Company and Bank may also elect to offer to pay fees
on a per share basis to brokers who assist  Persons in  determining  to purchase
shares in the Syndicated Public Offering.

         Within the time period required by applicable laws and regulations, the
Stock Holding  Company will register the Common Stock issued in connection  with
the Minority Stock Offering pursuant to the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 and
will not  deregister  the  Common  Stock  for a period of at least  three  years
thereafter,  except  that  the  maintenance  of  registration  for  three  years
requirement may be fulfilled by any successor to the Stock Holding  Company.  In
addition,  the Stock Holding  Company will use its best efforts to encourage and
assist a  market-maker  to establish  and maintain a market for the Common Stock
and to list the Common  Stock on a national or regional  securities  exchange or
The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

8.       Stock Offering

         A. Number of Shares. The number of shares and price per share of Common
Stock to be offered  pursuant to the Plan shall be initially  determined  by the
Board of  Directors of the Bank in  conjunction  with the  determination  of the
Independent  Appraiser.  The  number  of  shares  to  be  offered  will  be on a
minimum-maximum  basis within a range  determined by the Board of Directors (the
"Offering  Range")  and may be  adjusted  at or  immediately  subsequent  to the
completion of the Minority Stock

                                      A-11

<PAGE>



Offering  without  notifying   Participants  and  without  a  resolicitation  of
subscriptions.  The  number of shares to be  offered  or  Offering  Range may be
subsequently  adjusted at or  immediately  subsequent  to the  completion of the
Minority Stock Offering for any reason, including a change in the appraisal. The
total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued to persons  other than
the Mutual  Holding  Company at the close of the Minority Stock Offering must be
less than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of the Stock Holding Company.

         B. Independent  Evaluation and Purchase Price of Shares.  All shares of
Common  Stock sold in the  Minority  Stock  Offering  shall be sold at a uniform
price per share,  referred to in this Plan as the "Purchase Price". The Purchase
Price and number of shares shall be  determined by the Board of Directors of the
Bank  immediately  prior  to  the  simultaneous  completion  of all  such  sales
contemplated  by this Plan on the basis of the  estimated pro forma market value
of the Bank and the fact that the shares offered  represent a minority  interest
in the Stock Bank. However, the estimated pro forma market value of the Bank and
the value of shares  representing  a  specified  minority  interest in the Stock
Holding Company must be determined by an Independent Appraiser (the "Independent
Evaluation").  Therefore,  the Independent Evaluation and the resulting Purchase
Price  may  reflect  a  discount  to  the   valuation   applied  to  a  standard
mutual-to-stock  conversion.  The aggregate  purchase price for the Common Stock
will not be  inconsistent  with such market value of the Bank.  The  Independent
Evaluation  shall be determined for such purpose by an Independent  Appraiser on
the basis of such appropriate  factors as are not  inconsistent  with Department
regulations.  The total  amount of Common  Stock  that may be issued to  persons
other than the Mutual Holding  Company must be less than 50% of the  outstanding
stock of the  Stock  Holding  Company.  The  Common  Stock to be  issued  in the
Minority Stock Offering shall be fully paid and nonassessable.

         C.  Minority   Ownership   Percentage.   Based  upon  the   Independent
Appraiser's  valuation of the Bank as updated prior to the  commencement  of the
Minority Stock  Offering,  the Board of Directors will establish the minimum and
maximum  ownership   percentage   applicable  to  the  Minority  Stock  Offering
("Ownership Range").  The final minority ownership  percentages or interest will
be determined by the Bank as follows: (a) the product of (x) the total number of
shares of Common Stock to be issued and sold and (y) the Purchase Price shall be
by divided by (b) the  estimated  aggregate  pro forma  market value of the Bank
immediately  after the Minority Stock Offering as determined by the  Independent
Appraiser,  expressed in terms of a specific  aggregate  dollar  amount upon the
closing of the Minority Stock Offering or sale of all the Common Stock.

         D. Method of Offering Shares. Subject to the discretion of the Bank and
the limitations set forth herein,  the opportunity to purchase Common Stock will
be  given  at no cost to:  (i)  Eligible  Account  Holders,  (ii)  Tax-Qualified
Employee Plans,  (iii) Supplemental  Eligible Account Holders,  and (iv) Current
Depositors  pursuant to priorities  established  by the Board of Directors.  The
Minority Stock Offering shall be conducted on a minimum-maximum  basis,  setting
forth the  minimum  and  maximum  amount of stock that must be offered  and sold
before  closing.  The Bank and the  Stock  Holding  Company,  in their  absolute
discretion,  have the  right to  refuse  in part or in whole any order for stock
sold in the Minority Stock Offering  either at the time of receipt or as soon as
practicable  following  the  termination  of  the  Minority  Stock  Offering  in
accordance with the Plan of Reorganization. The Bank shall be entitled to retain
an adviser and pay fees to  assisting  brokers in  connection  with the Minority
Stock Offering. The shares of Common Stock may be offered on a minimum - maximum
basis. The priorities for the purchase of Common Stock are as set forth below:





                                      A-12

<PAGE>



9.       Subscription Rights of Eligible Account Holders (First Priority)

         A.  Each  Eligible  Account  Holder  shall  receive,  without  payment,
nontransferable  subscription  rights to  subscribe  for shares of Common  Stock
equal to the greater of: (i) the maximum established for the Community Offering;
(ii) one-tenth of one percent of the Common Stock offered; or (iii) 15 times the
product  (rounded down to the next whole  number)  obtained by  multiplying  the
total  number of  shares of Common  Stock  offered  by a  fraction  of which the
numerator  is the  amount of the  Qualifying  Deposit of such  Eligible  Account
Holder and the  denominator  is the total amount of  Qualifying  Deposits of all
Eligible  Account  Holders but in no event  greater  than the  maximum  purchase
limitation specified in Section 15 hereof. All such purchases are subject to the
maximum and minimum purchase limitations specified in Section 15.

         B. In the event that Eligible  Account  Holders  exercise  Subscription
Rights for a number of shares of Common  Stock in excess of the total  number of
such  shares  eligible  for  subscription,  the shares of Common  Stock shall be
allocated  among the subscribing  Eligible  Account Holders so as to permit each
subscribing  Eligible  Account  Holder,  to the extent  possible,  to purchase a
number of shares  sufficient to make his or her total allocation of Common Stock
equal to the lesser of 100 shares or the number of shares  subscribed for by the
Eligible  Account  Holder.  Any shares  remaining  after that allocation will be
allocated among the  subscribing  Eligible  Account Holders whose  subscriptions
remain  unsatisfied in the proportion that the amount of the Qualifying  Deposit
of each Eligible Account Holder whose subscription  remains unsatisfied bears to
the total  amount of the  Qualifying  Deposits of all Eligible  Account  Holders
whose subscriptions  remain unsatisfied.  If the amount so allocated exceeds the
amount  subscribed for by any one or more Eligible Account  Holders,  the excess
shall be  reallocated  (one or more times as  necessary)  among  those  Eligible
Account  Holders whose  subscriptions  are still not fully satisfied on the same
principle  until all available  shares have been allocated or all  subscriptions
satisfied.

         C.  Subscription   rights  as  Eligible  Account  Holders  received  by
Directors and Officers and their  Associates which are based on deposits made by
such persons during the twelve (12) months preceding the Eligibility Record Date
shall be subordinated to the  Subscription  Rights of all other Eligible Account
Holders.

10.      Subscription Rights of Employee Plans (Second Priority)

         Subject  to  the  availability  of  sufficient   shares  after  filling
subscription  orders of Eligible  Account  Holders under Section 9, the Employee
Plans shall  receive  without  payment  nontransferable  subscription  rights to
purchase  in the  Subscription  Offering  the  number of shares of Common  Stock
requested  by such  Plans,  subject  to the  purchase  limitations  set forth in
Section 15.

         The Employee  Plans shall not be deemed to be  associates or affiliates
of or  Persons  Acting in  Concert  with any  Director  or  Officer of the Stock
Holding Company or the Bank.

11.      Subscription Rights of Supplemental  Eligible  Account  Holders  (Third
         Priority)

         A. In the event that the Eligibility Record Date is more than 15 months
prior to the date of the latest  amendment  to the  application  filed  prior to
Department  approval,  then, and only in that event, each Supplemental  Eligible
Account  Holder shall receive,  without  payment,  nontransferable  subscription
rights  entitling  such  Supplemental  Eligible  Account Holder to purchase that
number of  shares of Common  Stock  which is equal to the  greater  of:  (i) the
maximum  purchase  limitation  established  for  the  Community  Offering;  (ii)
one-tenth of 1% of the Common Stock  Offered;  and (iii) or 15 times the product
(rounded down to the next whole number) obtained by multiplying the total number
of shares of

                                      A-13

<PAGE>



Common Stock to be issued by a fraction of which the  numerator is the amount of
the  Qualifying  Deposit of the  Supplemental  Eligible  Account  Holder and the
denominator is the total amount of the Qualifying  Deposits of all  Supplemental
Eligible  Account  Holders.  All such  purchases  are subject to the maximum and
minimum purchase limitations in Section 15.

         B.  Subscription  rights  received  pursuant to this Category  shall be
subordinated to the subscription rights received by Eligible Account Holders and
by the Employee Plans.

         C. Any subscription  rights to purchase shares of Common Stock received
by an Eligible  Account Holder in accordance  with Section 9 shall reduce to the
extent  thereof  the  subscription  rights to be  distributed  pursuant  to this
Section.

         D. In the event of an  oversubscription  for  shares  of  Common  Stock
pursuant to this  Section,  shares of Common Stock shall be allocated  among the
subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders as follows:

                                    (1)   Shares  of  Common   Stock   shall  be
                           allocated  so as to  permit  each  such  Supplemental
                           Eligible Account Holder,  to the extent possible,  to
                           purchase   a  number  of   shares  of  Common   Stock
                           sufficient  to make his total  allocation  (including
                           the  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock,  if  any,
                           allocated in accordance  with Section 9) equal to 100
                           shares  of Common  Stock or the  total  amount of his
                           subscription, whichever is less.

                                    (2) Any shares of Common Stock not allocated
                           in accordance  with  subparagraph  (1) above shall be
                           allocated among the subscribing Supplemental Eligible
                           Account Holders on an equitable basis, related to the
                           amounts of their  respective  Qualifying  Deposits as
                           compared  to the  total  Qualifying  Deposits  of all
                           subscribing Supplemental Eligible Account Holders.

12.      Subscription Rights of Current Depositors (Fourth Priority)

         A.   Each   Current   Depositor   shall   receive,   without   payment,
nontransferable  subscription  rights to subscribe for shares of Common Stock in
an amount equal to the greater of the maximum  purchase  limitation  established
for the  Community  Offering or  one-tenth  of one  percent of the Common  Stock
offered,  subject to the maximum and minimum purchase  limitations  specified in
Section 15,  which will be  allocated  only after first  allocating  to Eligible
Account Holders,  the Employee Plans and  Supplemental  Eligible Account Holders
all shares of Common  Stock  subscribed  for  pursuant  to Sections 9, 10 and 11
above.

         B. In the event that such Current Depositors  subscribe for a number of
shares  of  Common  Stock  which,  when  added to the  shares  of  Common  Stock
subscribed  for by the Eligible  Account  Holders,  the  Employee  Plans and the
Supplemental Eligible Account Holders is in excess of the total number of shares
of Common Stock being issued,  the subscriptions of such Current Depositors will
be  allocated  among the  subscribing  Current  Depositors  so as to permit each
subscribing Current Depositor,  to the extent possible,  to purchase a number of
shares  sufficient  to make his total  allocation  of Common  Stock equal to the
lesser of 100  shares or the  number of  shares  subscribed  for by the  Current
Depositor.  Any shares remaining will be allocated among the subscribing Current
Depositors whose  subscriptions  remain unsatisfied on a 100 shares (or whatever
lesser amount is available) per order basis until all orders have been filled or
the remaining shares have been allocated.


                                      A-14

<PAGE>



13.      Community Offering

         If less  than  the  total  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock  to be
subscribed for in the Minority  Offering are sold in the Subscription  Offering,
it is expected  that shares  remaining  unsubscribed  may be made  available for
purchase in the  Community  Offering to certain  members of the general  public,
which may subscribe  together  with any Associate or group of persons  Acting in
Concert for up to that number of shares of Common Stock as shall equal  $200,000
divided by the  Purchase  Price per share,  subject to the  maximum  and minimum
purchase  limitations  specified in Section 15. The shares may be made available
in the Community Offering through a direct community marketing program which may
provide for utilization of a broker,  dealer,  consultant or investment  banking
firm, experienced and expert in the sale of savings institution  securities.  In
the  Community  Offering,  if any,  shares will be available for purchase by the
general public with preference  given first to natural  persons  residing in the
Local  Community  and second,  to natural  persons  residing in the State of New
Jersey ("Community Purchasers").  The Bank shall make distribution of the Common
Stock to be sold in the Community Offering in such a manner as to promote a wide
distribution of Common Stock.

         If the Community  Purchasers in the Community  Offering (if any), whose
orders would otherwise be accepted, subscribe for more shares than are available
for  purchase,  the shares  available  to them will be allocated  among  persons
submitting orders in the Community Offering in an equitable manner as determined
by the Board of Directors.  The Bank may  establish all terms and  conditions of
such offer.

         The  Community  Offering,  if any,  may commence  simultaneously  with,
during or  subsequent  to the  completion  of the  Subscription  Offering and if
commenced  simultaneously with or during the Subscription Offering the Community
Offering may be limited to Community Purchases.  The Community Offering, if any,
must be  completed  within 45 days  after  the  completion  of the  Subscription
Offering unless otherwise extended by the Department.

         The Bank, in its absolute discretion,  reserves the right to reject any
or all orders in whole or in part which are received in the Community  Offering,
at the time of receipt or as soon as practicable following the completion of the
Community Offering.

14.      Public Offering and Syndicated Public Offering

         Any shares of Common Stock not sold in the Subscription  Offering or in
the Community Offering,  if any, may then be sold through the Underwriter to the
general  public at the Purchase  Price in the Public  Offering,  subject to such
terms,  conditions and procedures as may be determined by the Board of Directors
of the Bank, in a manner that will achieve the widest distribution of the Common
Stock and  subject  to the right of the Bank,  in its  absolute  discretion,  to
accept or reject in whole or in part all  subscriptions  in the Public Offering.
In the Public Offering,  if any, any person together with any Associate or group
of persons Acting in Concert may purchase up to the maximum purchase  limitation
established  for the  Community  Offering,  subject to the  maximum  and minimum
purchase  limitations  specified in Section 15.  Shares  purchased by any Person
together  with any Associate or group of persons  Acting in Concert  pursuant to
Section 13 shall be counted  toward  meeting  the  maximum  purchase  limitation
specified  for  this  Section.  Provided  that  the  Subscription  Offering  has
commenced,  the Bank may  commence  the  Public  Offering  at any time after the
mailing  to the  Current  Depositors  of  the  Proxy  Statement  to be  used  in
connection with the Special Meeting of Depositors,  provided that the completion
of the  offer  and  sale of the  Common  Stock  shall  be  conditioned  upon the
ratification  of this Plan by the Current  Depositors.  It is expected  that the
Public Offering,  if any, will commence just prior to, or as soon as practicable
after, the termination of the Subscription  Offering.  The Public Offering shall
be

                                      A-15

<PAGE>



completed  within 45 days after the  termination of the  Subscription  Offering,
unless such period is extended as provided above.

         Shares of Common Stock not subscribed for in the Subscription Offering,
Community  Offering,  if any,  and Public  Offering  may be sold in a Syndicated
Public  Offering,  subject to such terms,  conditions  and  procedures as may be
determined  by the Board of Directors of the Bank, in a manner that will achieve
the widest distribution of the Common Stock subject to the right of the Bank and
the Underwriter,  in their absolute discretion,  to accept or reject in whole or
in part all subscriptions in the Syndicated  Public Offering.  In the Syndicated
Public  Offering,  any person  together  with any  Associate or group of persons
Acting in Concert may purchase up to the maximum purchase limitation established
for the Public Offering, subject to the maximum and minimum purchase limitations
specified  in Section  15.  Shares  purchased  by any Person  together  with any
Associate or group of persons Acting in Concert  pursuant to Section 13 shall be
counted  toward  meeting  the maximum  purchase  limitation  specified  for this
Section.  Provided that the  Subscription  Offering has commenced,  the Bank may
commence  the  Syndicated  Public  Offering at any time after the mailing to the
Current  Depositors  of the Proxy  Statement to be used in  connection  with the
Special  Meeting of  Depositors,  provided that the  completion of the offer and
sale of the Common Stock shall be conditioned upon the ratification of this Plan
by the  Current  Depositors.  If the  Syndicated  Public  Offering is not sooner
commenced pursuant to the provisions of the preceding  sentence,  the Syndicated
Public Offering will be commenced as soon as practicable following the date upon
which the Subscription Offering and Community Offering, if any, terminate.

         If for any reason a Public  Offering or Syndicated  Public  Offering of
shares of Common Stock not sold in the Subscription and Community  Offerings can
not be  effected,  other  purchase  arrangements  will be made  for the  sale of
unsubscribed shares by the Bank, if possible.  Such other purchase  arrangements
will be subject to the approval of the Department and the FDIC. Common Stock not
sold  to  persons  in the  Subscription  Offering  will  be  sold  in any of the
Community  Offering,  the Public Offering or the Syndicated Public Offering or a
combination of these offerings, subject to the feasibility of the manner of sale
being demonstrated to the Department and the FDIC, unless a determination by the
Stock  Holding  Company to not conduct  any of the  Community  Offering,  Public
Offering and Syndicated Public Offering is not objected to by the Department and
the FDIC.

15.      Limitation on Purchases

         The  following  limitations  shall apply to all  purchases of shares of
Common Stock in the Minority Stock Offering:

         A. The maximum  number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased
in the Subscription Offering by any person (or persons through a single account)
in the First Priority,  Third Priority and Fourth Priority shall not exceed such
number of shares as shall equal $200,000 divided by the Purchase Price.

         B. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be subscribed
for or purchased in all  categories in the Minority Stock Offering by any Person
(or persons through a single account) or Participant together with any Associate
or group of persons  Acting in Concert shall not exceed such number of shares as
shall  equal  $200,000  divided  by the  Purchase  Price per  share,  except for
Employee Plans, which in the aggregate may subscribe for up to 10% of the Common
Stock issued in the Minority Stock Offering.

         C. The maximum  number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased
in all  categories  in the  conversion by Officers and Directors of the Bank and
their Associates in the aggregate

                                      A-16

<PAGE>



shall not exceed 31% of the total number of shares of Common Stock issued in the
Minority Stock Offering.

         D. A minimum of 100 shares of Common  Stock must be  purchased  by each
Person  purchasing  shares in the  conversion  to the  extent  those  shares are
available; provided, however, that the minimum number of shares requirement will
not apply if the number of shares of Common Stock  purchased times the price per
share exceeds $500, in which case a lower minimum number of shares may be set as
long as that minimum, multiplied by the price per share, does not exceed $500.

         E. If the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise allocable pursuant
to Sections 9 through 14, inclusive,  to any Person or that Person's  Associates
would be in excess of the maximum number of shares permitted as set forth above,
the number of shares of Common  Stock  allocated  to each such  person  shall be
reduced to the lowest limitation  applicable to that Person, and then the number
of shares  allocated  to each group  consisting  of a Person  and that  Person's
Associates shall be reduced so that the aggregate  allocation to that Person and
his  Associates  complies with the above  maximums,  and such maximum  number of
shares shall be  reallocated  among that Person and his Associates in proportion
to the shares  subscribed by each (after first applying the maximums  applicable
to each Person, separately).

         F.  Depending  upon  market  or  financial  conditions,  the  Board  of
Directors of the Bank, without further approval of the Members,  may decrease or
increase  the  purchase  limitations  in this Plan,  provided  that the  maximum
purchase limitations may not be increased to a percentage in excess of 5% of the
Minority Stock Offering. If the Bank increases the maximum purchase limitations,
the Bank is only required to resolicit  Persons who  subscribed  for the maximum
purchase amount and may, in the sole discretion of the Bank,  resolicit  certain
other large  subscribers.  For  purposes of this Section 15, the Trustees of the
Bank shall not be deemed to be Associates or a group  affiliated with each other
or otherwise Acting in Concert solely as a result of their being Trustees of the
Bank.

         G. In the event of an increase in the total number of shares offered in
the Minority  Stock  Offering due to an increase in the maximum of the Estimated
Valuation Range of up to 15% (the "Adjusted Maximum") the additional shares will
be used in the  following  order of priority:  (i) in the event that there is an
oversubscription  at  the  Eligible  Account  Holder  level,  to  fill  unfilled
subscriptions of Eligible  Account  Holders;  (ii) in the event that there is an
oversubscription   at  the  Employee  Plan  level,  fill  the  Employees  Plan's
subscription up to 10% of the Adjusted Maximum; (iii) in the event that there is
an oversubscription  at the Supplemental  Eligible Account Holder level, to fill
unfilled  subscriptions of Supplemental  Eligible  Account Holders;  (iv) in the
event that there is an  oversubscription at the Current Depositor level, to fill
unfilled  subscriptions  of  Current  Depositors;   and  (v)  to  fill  unfilled
Subscriptions  in the  Community  Offering,  with  preference  given to  Persons
residing in the Local Community.

         H. Each Person  purchasing  Common Stock in the Minority Stock Offering
shall be deemed to confirm that such  purchase  does not conflict with the above
purchase limitations contained in this Plan.

         I. For a  period  of  three  years  following  the  Reorganization,  no
Officer, Director or their Associates shall purchase,  without the prior written
approval of the Department,  any outstanding shares of common stock of the Bank,
except  from a  registered  broker-dealer.  This  provision  shall  not apply to
negotiated  transactions  involving  more than one  percent  of the  outstanding
shares of common stock of the Bank,  the  exercise of any options  pursuant to a
stock option plan or  purchases of common stock of the Bank,  made by or held by
any  Tax-Qualified  Employee  Stock Benefit Plan or Non-Tax  Qualified  Employee
Stock  Benefit  Plan of the Bank  (including  the  Employee  Plans) which may be
attributable  to any Officer or Trustee.  As used herein,  the term  "negotiated
transaction"  means a transaction  in which the  securities  are offered and the
terms and arrangements relating to any sale are arrived at through direct

                                      A-17

<PAGE>



communications  between  the seller or any  person  acting on its behalf and the
purchaser or his investment representative. The term "investment representative"
shall mean a professional  investment  advisor acting as agent for the purchaser
and  independent  of the  seller  and not  acting  on  behalf  of the  seller in
connection with the transaction.

16.      Payment for Common Stock

         All  payments  for Common  Stock  subscribed  for in the  Subscription,
Community (if any),  Public and Syndicated Public Offerings (if applicable) must
be  delivered  in full to the  Bank,  together  with a  properly  completed  and
executed  original  Order Form, or purchase  order in the case of the Syndicated
Public Offering,  on or prior to the expiration date specified on the Order Form
or purchase order, as the case may be, unless such date is extended by the Bank;
provided,  however,  that if the Employee Plans subscribes for shares during the
Subscription  Offering,  the  Employee  Plan will not be required to pay for the
shares at the time they  subscribe  but rather may pay for such shares of Common
Stock  upon  consummation  of the  Reorganization.  The Bank may make  scheduled
discretionary  contributions to an Employee Plan provided such  contributions do
not cause the Bank to fail to meet its regulatory capital requirement.

         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the Bank and the Stock Holding Company
shall  have the  right,  in  their  sole  discretion,  to  permit  institutional
investors to submit contractually  irrevocable orders in the Community (if any),
Public or Syndicated  Public  Offering and to thereafter  submit payment for the
Common Stock for which they are subscribing in the Community (if any), Public or
Syndicated  Public  Offering  at  any  time  prior  to  the  completion  of  the
Reorganization. However, this right of the Stock Holding Company and the Bank is
subject to (1) the right of natural  persons with a preference  in the Community
Offering,  to the extent a Community Offering is held and (2) the offer and sale
of Common Stock in a manner that will achieve the widest  distribution of Common
Stock.

         Payment for Common  Stock  subscribed  for shall be made either in cash
(if delivered in person),  check or money order.  Alternatively,  subscribers in
the Subscription, Community (if any) and Public Offerings may pay for the shares
subscribed  for by  authorizing  the Bank on the Order Form to make a withdrawal
from the  subscriber's  Savings  Account  at the Bank in an amount  equal to the
purchase  price of such  shares.  Such  authorized  withdrawal,  whether  from a
savings  passbook  or  certificate  account,  shall  be  without  penalty  as to
premature  withdrawal.  If the  authorized  withdrawal  is  from  a  certificate
account,  and the remaining balance does not meet the applicable minimum balance
requirement,  the  certificate  shall be  canceled  at the  time of  withdrawal,
without  penalty,  and the remaining  balance will earn interest at the passbook
rate. Funds for which a withdrawal is authorized will remain in the subscriber's
Savings Account but may not be used by the subscriber until the Common Stock has
been sold or the 45-day  period (or such longer period as may be approved by the
Department)  following the Subscription  Offering has expired,  whichever occurs
first.  Thereafter,  the  withdrawal  will be given  effect  only to the  extent
necessary  to satisfy the  subscription  (to the extent it can be filled) at the
Purchase  Price per share.  Interest  will  continue to be earned on any amounts
authorized for withdrawal  until such withdrawal is given effect.  Interest will
be paid by the Bank at not less than the  passbook  annual rate on payments  for
Common Stock received in cash or by money order or check.  Such interest will be
paid  from the date  payment  is  received  by the Bank  until  consummation  or
termination  of  the  conversion.  If  for  any  reason  the  conversion  is not
consummated, all payments made by subscribers in the Subscription, Community (if
any),  Public and  Syndicated  Public  Offerings  will be  refunded to them with
interest.  In case of amounts  authorized for withdrawal from Savings  Accounts,
refunds will be made by canceling the authorization for withdrawal.


                                      A-18

<PAGE>



         The Bank is prohibited by regulation  from making any loans or granting
any  lines of  credit  for the  purchase  of stock  in the  Reorganization,  and
therefore, will not do so.

17.      Manner of Exercising Subscription Rights Through Order Forms

         As soon as practicable  after the Offering  Prospectus  prepared by the
Stock  Holding  Company  and  the  Bank  has  been  authorized  for  use  by the
Department,  Order Forms will be distributed to the  Participants  at their last
known  addresses  appearing  on the  records  of the  Bank  for the  purpose  of
subscribing to shares of Common Stock in the  Subscription  Offering and will be
made available for use in the Community Offering. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Bank may elect to send Order Forms only to those  Persons  who request  them
after such notice as is approved  by the  Department  and is adequate to apprise
the  Participants of the pendency of the  Subscription  Offering has been given.
Such notice may be included with the proxy statement for the Special Meeting and
may also be included in a notice of the pendency of the  Reorganization  and the
Special  Meeting  sent  to all  Eligible  Account  Holders  in  accordance  with
regulations of the Department.

         Each  Order  Form  will be  preceded  or  accompanied  by the  Offering
Prospectus describing the Bank, the Common Stock and the Subscription, Community
and Syndicated  Community Offerings.  Each Order Form will contain,  among other
things, the following:

         A. A  specified  date by which all Order  Forms must be received by the
Bank,  which date shall be not less than twenty (20),  nor more than  forty-five
(45) days,  following  the date on which the Order Forms are mailed by the Bank,
and which date will constitute the termination of the Subscription Offering;

         B. The  purchase  price per share for shares of Common Stock to be sold
in the Subscription, Community (if any), Public and Syndicated Public Offerings;

         C. A description  of the minimum and maximum number of shares of Common
Stock  which may be  subscribed  for  pursuant to the  exercise of  Subscription
Rights or otherwise  purchased in the Community  (if any),  Public or Syndicated
Public Offerings;

         D.  Instructions  as to how  the  recipient  of the  Order  Form  is to
indicate  thereon  the number of shares of Common  Stock for which  such  person
elects to subscribe and the available alternative methods of payment therefor;

         E. An acknowledgment  that the recipient of the Order Form has received
a final copy of the Offering Prospectus,  as the case may be, prior to execution
of the Order Form.

         F.  A  statement  to  the  effect  that  all  subscription  rights  are
nontransferable,  will be void at the end of the Subscription  Offering, and can
only be exercised by  delivering  within the  subscription  period such properly
completed and executed Order Form,  together with cash (if delivered in person),
check or money order in the full amount of the  purchase  price as  specified in
the Order Form for the shares of Common Stock for which the recipient  elects to
subscribe in the Subscription Offering (or by authorizing on the Order Form that
the Bank withdraw said amount from the subscriber's Savings Account at the Bank)
to the Bank; and

         G. A  statement  to the  effect  that the  executed  Order  Form,  once
received by the Bank, may not be modified or amended by the  subscriber  without
the consent of the Bank.


                                      A-19

<PAGE>



         Notwithstanding  the  above,  the Bank  reserves  the right in its sole
discretion  to accept or reject  orders  received on  photocopied  or facsimiled
order forms or whose payment is to be made by wire transfer.

18.      Undelivered, Defective or Late Order Forms: Insufficient Payment

         In the event Order Forms (a) are not  delivered and are returned to the
Bank by the  United  States  Postal  Service or the Bank is unable to locate the
addressee,  (b) are not  received  back by the Bank or are  received by the Bank
after the expiration date specified  thereon,  (c) are defectively filled out or
executed,  (d) are not accompanied by the full required payment, or, in the case
of  institutional  investors in the  Community  (if any),  Public or  Syndicated
Public  Offering,  by  delivering  irrevocable  orders  together  with a legally
binding  commitment to pay in cash, check, money order or wire transfer the full
amount of the  purchase  price prior to 48 hours  before the  completion  of the
conversion for the shares of Common Stock  subscribed  for  (including  cases in
which savings accounts from which withdrawals are authorized are insufficient to
cover the amount of the required  payment),  or (e) are not mailed pursuant to a
"no mail" order placed in effect by the account holder, the subscription  rights
of the person to whom such  rights have been  granted  will lapse as though such
person  failed to  return  the  completed  Order  Form  within  the time  period
specified  thereon;  provided,  however,  that  the  Bank  may,  but will not be
required to, waive any immaterial  irregularity on any Order Form or require the
submission  of  corrected  Order  Forms or the  remittance  of full  payment for
subscribed  shares by such date as the Bank may specify.  The  interpretation of
the Bank of terms  and  conditions  of the Plan and of the Order  Forms  will be
final, subject to the authority of the Department.

19.      Restrictions on Resale or Subsequent Disposition

         A. All shares of Common Stock purchased by Directors or Officers of the
Bank in the Minority Stock Offering  shall be subject to the  restriction  that,
except as provided in Section B, below, or as may be approved by the Department,
no interest in such shares may be sold or otherwise  disposed of for value for a
period of one (1) year following the date of purchase.

         B. The  restriction  on disposition of shares of Common Stock set forth
in Section A above shall not apply to the following:

                  (i) Any exchange of such shares in connection with a merger or
acquisition  involving the Bank or the Holding Company,  which has been approved
by the Department; and

                  (ii) Any disposition of such shares following the death of the
person to whom such shares were initially sold under the terms of the Plan.

         C. With respect to all shares of Common Stock  subject to  restrictions
on resale or  subsequent  disposition,  each of the following  provisions  shall
apply;

                  (i) Each certificate representing shares restricted within the
meaning of Section A, above, shall bear a legend prominently stamped on its face
giving notice of the restriction;

                  (ii) Instructions  shall be issued to the stock transfer agent
for the Bank not to  recognize  or effect any  transfer  of any  certificate  or
record of  ownership  of any such  shares in  violation  of the  restriction  on
transfer; and


                                      A-20

<PAGE>



                  (iii) Any  shares of  capital  stock of the Bank  issued  with
respect to a stock dividend, stock split, or otherwise with respect to ownership
of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock subject to the  restriction  on transfer
hereunder  shall be subject to the same  restriction  as is  applicable  to such
Common Stock.

20.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Mutual Holding Company

         As part of the  Reorganization,  the Certificate of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws  of the  Mutual  Holding  Company  shall  be  adopted  under  the name of
Ridgewood  Financial,  MHC to operate as a New Jersey mutual holding company.  A
copy of the  proposed  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws of the Mutual
Holding  Company,  Stock  Holding  Company and the Stock Bank are required to be
provided only to those depositors  requesting them. By their ratification of the
Plan, the Depositors of the Bank shall have approved and adopted the Certificate
and Bylaws of the Mutual Holding Company.

21.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Stock Holding Company

         As part of the  Reorganization,  a  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws of the Stock Holding Company shall be adopted pursuant to New Jersey law.
By their  ratification of the Plan,  Depositors  shall have approved and adopted
the Certificate of Incorporation  and Bylaws of the Stock Holding  Company.  The
number of shares of Common  Stock  authorized  under the Stock  Holding  Company
Certificate of Incorporation will exceed the shares of Common Stock to be issued
to  the  Mutual  Holding  Company  in the  Reorganization.  The  Certificate  of
Incorporation may include any provision authorized under New Jersey law.

22.      Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Stock Bank

         As part of the  Reorganization,  a  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and
Bylaws of the Stock Bank shall be adopted to authorize the Stock Bank to operate
as a New Jersey-chartered stock savings bank. By their ratification of the Plan,
Depositors shall have approved and adopted the Certificate of Incorporation  and
Bylaws of the Stock Bank. The number of total shares of Common Stock  authorized
under the Stock Bank  Certificate  of  Incorporation  will  exceed the shares of
Common Stock to be issued to the Stock  Holding  Company in the  Reorganization.
The Certificate of  Incorporation  may contain  provisions that, for a period of
five years from the effective  date of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  (i)
prohibit any person from acquiring  beneficial  ownership of greater than 10% of
the Common  Stock of the Stock Bank held by those  other than the Stock  Holding
Company,  except  for the  Stock  Holding  Company  and Non-  Tax-Qualified  and
Tax-Qualified Employee Stock Benefit Plans; and (ii) prohibit persons other than
the Board of Directors of the Stock Bank or committees of the Board of Directors
of the Stock Bank from calling special meetings of the stockholders of the Stock
Bank.   Prior  to  completion  of  the   Reorganization,   the   Certificate  of
Incorporation  and Bylaws may be amended in accordance  with the  provisions and
limitations for amending the Plan under Paragraph 28.

23.      Status of Deposit Accounts and Loans Subsequent to Reorganization

         All Deposit Accounts in the Bank shall retain the same status after the
Reorganization  as these accounts had prior to the  Reorganization,  except that
each Deposit  Account  holder shall  retain,  without  payment,  a  withdrawable
Deposit Account or accounts in the Stock Bank after the Reorganization, equal in
amount to the  withdrawable  value of such holder's  Deposit Account or accounts
prior to the  Reorganization.  All Deposit Accounts which are transferred to the
Stock Bank will  continue  to be insured on the same terms up to the  applicable
limits of FDIC insurance  coverage.  All loans shall retain the same status with
the Stock Bank after the  Reorganization  as they had with the Bank prior to the
Reorganization.

                                      A-21

<PAGE>




24.      Minority Stock Offering

         The Stock Holding  Company will be authorized,  subject to Commissioner
and  applicable  regulatory  approvals,  to undertake one or more Minority Stock
Offerings,  simultaneous with, or following  completion of, the  Reorganization.
Depositors will be offered  subscription  rights in any Minority Stock Offering;
however a Minority Stock Offering will not require the approval of Depositors.

25.      Conversion of Mutual Holding Company to Stock Form

         Once the  Reorganization is completed,  the Mutual Holding Company may,
if approved by the NJDB and the appropriate  federal banking agencies,  elect to
convert to the stock form of ownership  pursuant to applicable State and federal
law. The terms and conditions of such a conversion  cannot be determined at this
time and there is no assurance  when, if ever,  such a conversion will occur. If
the  conversion  does not occur,  the Mutual  Holding  Company will always own a
majority of the Common Stock of the Stock Holding Company.

         If the Mutual  Holding  Company  converts  to stock  form,  either on a
stand-alone  basis  or  in  the  context  of  a  conversion-merger  ("Conversion
Transaction"),  under  applicable law, shares of stock issued in connection with
the Conversion  Transaction  shall be subject to subscription  rights granted to
eligible account holders at the time of the transaction.  In addition,  pursuant
to applicable  federal law and regulation and NJDB  regulations or policies,  in
the Conversion Transaction,  the shares of stock held by the stockholders of the
Stock Bank or the Stock  Holding  Company  shall be exchanged  for shares of the
converted  Mutual  Holding  Company in a proportion  established  by independent
appraisals of the Mutual Holding  Company,  the Stock Holding  Company,  and the
Stock Bank. If, in a Conversion Transaction,  the stockholders of the Stock Bank
or the Stock  Holding  Company do not  receive,  for any  reason,  shares of the
converted Mutual Holding Company (or its successor) on such proportionate basis,
the Holding Company (or its successor) shall be obligated to purchase all shares
not owned by its simultaneously with the closing of such Conversion  Transaction
at the fair market value of such shares,  determined  as if such shares had such
exchange rights, as determined by the independent  appraisals.  Moreover, in the
event that the Mutual  Holding  Company  converts to stock form in a  Conversion
Transaction,  any options or other  convertible  securities held by any Officer,
Director,  or  Employee  of  the  Stock  Bank  or  the  Stock  Holding  Company,
convertible  into shares of the Stock Bank or the Stock Holding Company shall be
convertible  into  shares  of the  converted  Mutual  Holding  Company  (or  its
successor),  provided,  that any exchange ratio shall provide the holder of such
options or convertible  securities  with shares at least equal in value to those
exchanged;  provided,  further  however,  that  if  such  shares  cannot  be  so
converted,  the holders of such options or other convertible securities shall be
entitled  to  receive  cash  payment  for such  options  and  other  convertible
securities  in an  amount  equal  to  the  appraised  value  of  the  underlying
securities represented by such options or other convertible securities.

         In  any  Conversion  Transaction,  stockholders  of the  Stock  Holding
Company other than the Mutual Holding Company ("Minority Stockholders"), if any,
will be entitled to maintain the same percentage ownership interest in the Stock
Holding Company after the Conversion  Transaction as their ownership interest in
the Stock  Holding  Company  immediately  prior to the  Conversion  Transaction,
subject only to certain  adjustments (i.e., waiver of dividends and the transfer
of assets  held  solely by the Mutual  Holding  Company to the  resulting  stock
company) that may be required by the FDIC or FRB. These  adjustments  may result
in a decrease of ownership interest of the Minority Stockholders.

         Each certificate  representing shares of Common Stock of the Stock Bank
or the Stock Holding  Company shall bear a legend giving  appropriate  notice of
the provisions applicable to a Conversion Transaction.

                                      A-22

<PAGE>




26.      Establishment of Liquidation Account

         The Bank shall  establish at the time of  Reorganization  a liquidation
account in an amount  equal to its net worth as of the latest  practicable  date
prior to the  Reorganization.  The liquidation account will be maintained by the
Stock Bank for the benefit of the  Eligible  Account  Holders  and  Supplemental
Eligible  Account Holders who continue to maintain their Savings Accounts at the
Stock Bank.  Each Eligible  Account  Holder and  Supplemental  Eligible  Account
Holder  shall,  with  respect to his Savings  Account,  hold a related  inchoate
interest in a portion of the  liquidation  account  balance,  in relation to his
Savings  Account  balance  at  the  Eligibility  Record  Date  and  Supplemental
Eligibility Record Date or to such balance as it may be subsequently reduced, as
hereinafter provided.

         In the unlikely event of a complete  liquidation of the Stock Bank (and
only in such event),  following all liquidation payments to creditors (including
those to Account Holders to the extent of their Savings  Accounts) each Eligible
Account  Holder and  Supplemental  Eligible  Account Holder shall be entitled to
receive a liquidating  distribution from the liquidation  account, in the amount
of the then  adjusted  subaccount  balance  for his Savings  Account  then held,
before  any  liquidation  distribution  may be made to any  holders of the Stock
Bank's capital  stock.  No merger,  consolidation,  purchase of bulk assets with
assumption of Savings Accounts and other  liabilities,  or similar  transactions
with an  FDIC  institution,  in  which  the  Stock  Bank  is not  the  surviving
institution,  shall be deemed to be a complete  liquidation for this purpose. In
such  transactions,  the  liquidation  account shall be assumed by the surviving
institution.

         The  initial  subaccount  balance  for a  Savings  Account  held  by an
Eligible  Account  Holder  or  Supplemental  Eligible  Account  Holder  shall be
determined by multiplying the opening  balance in the  liquidation  account by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of such Eligible Account Holder's
and  Supplemental   Eligible  Account  Holder's   Qualifying   Deposit  and  the
denominator  of which is the total  amount  of all  Qualifying  Deposits  of all
Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental  Eligible Account Holders in the Bank.
Such initial subaccount balance shall not be increased,  but shall be subject to
downward adjustment as described below.

         If, at the close of business on any annual closing date,  commencing on
or after the  effective  date of  Reorganization,  the  deposit  balance  in the
Savings Account of an Eligible  Account Holder or Supplemental  Eligible Account
Holder is less than the lesser of (i) the balance in the Savings  Account at the
close of business on any other annual closing date subsequent to the Eligibility
Record Date or Supplemental Eligibility Record Date, as applicable,  or (ii) the
amount of the Qualifying Deposit in such Savings Account, the subaccount balance
of such Savings Account shall be adjusted by reducing such subaccount balance in
an amount  proportionate to the reduction in such deposit balance.  In the event
of such downward  adjustment,  the subaccount  balance shall not be subsequently
increased, notwithstanding any subsequent increase in the deposit balance of the
related  Savings  Account.  If any such Savings  Account is closed,  the related
subaccount shall be reduced to zero.

         The creation  and  maintenance  of the  liquidation  account  shall not
operate to restrict the use or  application  of any of the net worth accounts of
the Stock Bank.

27.      Interpretation

         All  interpretations  of this Plan and application of its provisions to
particular  circumstances  by a majority of the Board of  Directors  of the Bank
shall be final, subject to the authority of the Commissioner.


                                      A-23

<PAGE>


28.      Amendment or Termination of the Plan

         If  necessary or  desirable,  the terms of the Plan may be amended by a
two-thirds  vote of the Bank's Board of Directors,  with the  concurrence of the
Commissioner  and the FDIC, at any time prior to or after submission of the Plan
to Depositors for  ratification.  The Plan may be terminated at any time, before
or after Depositor ratification, by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.



0035RIDG\POC.MHC

                                      A-24







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