VERMONT FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP
8-K, 1996-03-18
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
Previous: HUBCO INC, 8-K/A, 1996-03-18
Next: MERCHANTS BANCORP INC/DE/, DEF 14A, 1996-03-18



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       The Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 1996



                        VERMONT FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     Delaware                     0-11012                  03-0284445
(State or other                (Commission               (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                File Number)            Identification No.)
incorporation)


                                 100 Main Street
                           Brattleboro, Vermont 05301
         (Addresses, including zip codes, of principal executive office)


                                 (802) 257-7151
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)







                       The index for exhibits is on page 4


                                  Page 1 of 50


<PAGE>



Item 5       Other  Events

         On February 27,  1996,  Vermont  National  Bank  ("Buyer"),  a national
banking  association and wholly-owned  subsidiary of Vermont Financial  Services
Corp.,  entered into a Stock  Purchase  Agreement (the  "Agreement")  with Arrow
Financial  Corporation ("AFC"), a New York business  corporation,  Arrow Vermont
Corporation ("AVC"), a Vermont business corporation and wholly-owned  subsidiary
of AFC,  and  Green  Mountain  Bank  ("GMB"  and,  together  with  AFC and  AVC,
"Seller"), a Vermont-chartered  banking corporation and wholly-owned  subsidiary
of AVC,  pursuant to which  Buyer will  acquire  substantially  all of the trust
business of GMB (the  "Business").  The  Agreement  provides  that Seller  shall
organize a trust  subsidiary as a wholly owned direct or indirect  subsidiary of
AFC (the "Trust Subsidiary") and transfer to such subsidiary the Business.  Upon
satisfaction of certain conditions precedent,  Buyer shall pay Seller the sum of
$3,230,000 in exchange for all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of capital
stock of the Trust  Subsidiary.  In addition to said sum, Buyer shall pay Seller
an  additional  "Supplemental  Payment" (as defined in the  Agreement)  of up to
$570,000  if  "Annual  Revenue"  (as  defined  in  the  Agreement)  attributable
generally  to the  Business  as  acquired  by Buyer is at  least  $1,600,000  as
determined  in  accordance  with the  Agreement  as of the first  month-end  day
following the ninetieth day after the date on which Buyer's  acquisition  of the
Trust Subsidiary is completed (such  post-closing  month-end date being referred
to as the "Measurement Date"). Buyer may also make certain "Adjustment Payments"
(as  defined  in the  Agreement)  to  Seller  equal to a certain  percentage  of
revenues received by Buyer during each of the first four consecutive three-month
periods immediately following the Measurement Date attributable to certain trust
business  acquired by Buyer as a result of its  acquisition  of the Business but
not  otherwise  included  in  the  calculation  of  Annual  Revenue  as  of  the
Measurement Date; provided, however, that under no circumstances will the sum of
the Supplemental Payment plus all Adjustment Payments exceed $570,000.

         Consummation  of  Buyer's  acquisition  of the  Business  is subject to
various  conditions,  including:  (i) Buyer and Seller shall have entered into a
trust  operation  service  agreement  pursuant to which  Buyer will  continue to
provide AFC and its affiliates  certain  fiduciary  services similar in type and
quality to the fiduciary services currently being provided by GMB to AFC and its
affiliates;  (ii) Buyer and Seller  shall have  entered  into a lease  agreement
pursuant  to which Buyer will lease from Seller on a  short-term  basis  certain
office space currently  occupied by the trust  department of GMB; (iii) "Closing
Annual Revenue" (as defined in the Agreement) shall be not less than $1,500,000;
(iv) Buyer and Seller shall have  received  all  regulatory  approvals  from the
appropriate Federal and state regulatory authorities;  (v) the conveyance of the
Business to the Trust  Subsidiary  shall have been completed in accordance  with
the terms of the  Agreement;  and (vi)  certain  other  conditions  customary in
transaction of this nature shall have been satisfied.

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

           (i)  Exhibits.

         The  exhibits  listed  in the  Exhibit  Index are filed as part of this
Current Report on Form 8- K and are incorporated herein by reference.

                                  Page 2 of 50


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

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

                                      VERMONT FINANCIAL SERVICES CORP.
                                      (Registrant)



Date:   March 13, 1996                By: /s/ John D. Hashagen, Jr.
                                           John D. Hashagen, Jr.
                                           President





                                  Page 3 of 50


<PAGE>




                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

                                                                    Sequential
Exhibit                                                              Page No.

    2.           Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of                   5
                 February 27, 1996, among Arrow Financial
                 Corporation, Arrow Vermont Corporation,
                 Green Mountain Bank and Vermont National
                 Bank.

   99.           Press release of Vermont Financial Services,           50
                 Corporation dated February 27, 1996.





                                  Page 4 of 50





                                                     

                                                                   EXHIBIT 2
                                                                   TO FORM 8-K








                            STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT


         This Stock Purchase  Agreement (this  "Agreement") made as of this 27th
day of February,  1996, between Arrow Financial  Corporation ("AFC"), a New York
business  corporation  having its  principal  office at 250 Glen  Street,  Glens
Falls,  New  York,  Arrow  Vermont  Corporation   ("AVC"),  a  Vermont  business
corporation having its principal office at 80 West Street, Rutland, Vermont, and
Green Mountain Bank ("GMB"), a  Vermont-chartered  banking  corporation with its
principal offices at 80 West Street,  Rutland,  Vermont (the foregoing  entities
sometimes  collectively referred to as the "Seller"),  and Vermont National Bank
("Buyer"),  a national  banking  association  having its principal office at 100
Main Street, Brattleboro, Vermont.

         WHEREAS,  AFC is a bank holding  company  which owns all of the capital
stock of AVC, which in turn owns all of the capital stock of GMB;

         WHEREAS,  the Seller intends to organize a trust subsidiary as a wholly
owned  direct or indirect  subsidiary  of AFC in  accordance  with Chapter 62 of
Title 8 of the Vermont Statutes (the "Trust Subsidiary"),  and to sell, transfer
and convey substantially all of the trust business of GMB as presently conducted
thereby, including, without limitation, substantially all of the assets, rights,
liabilities,   interests,  appointments  and  responsibilities  of  GMB  in  its
fiduciary,  custodial or agency capacity associated  therewith (the "Business"),
to the Trust Subsidiary,  all as authorized and provided for in said Chapter 62;
and

         WHEREAS,  it is the parties'  intention that the Seller sell,  transfer
and convey the  Business to Buyer by means of a sale and  transfer by the Seller
of all of the issued and  outstanding  capital stock of the Trust  Subsidiary to
Buyer;

         NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration  for the mutual covenants  contained
herein, and other good and valuable  consideration,  the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:


                                  Page 5 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -2-


                                    ARTICLE 1

                        ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST SUBSIDIARY


                1.01 Organization of Trust Subsidiary.

         Promptly following the date of this Agreement, the Seller shall take or
cause to be taken all necessary and appropriate  actions to (i) duly incorporate
and  organize  the  Trust  Subsidiary  as a  wholly  owned  direct  or  indirect
subsidiary  of AFC in  accordance  with  Chapter  62 of  Title 8 of the  Vermont
Statutes  ("Chapter 62") and all other  applicable  laws and  regulations,  (ii)
cause the  directors  and  stockholder(s)  of the Trust  Subsidiary  to take all
necessary and appropriate  corporate actions to approve and adopt this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) cause the Trust Subsidiary to
execute and deliver an  appropriate  instrument of accession to this  Agreement,
whereupon  the  Trust  Subsidiary  shall  become a party to and be bound by this
Agreement.  The legal name of the Trust Subsidiary shall be mutually agreed upon
by the parties.  On and as of the date the Trust  Subsidiary  becomes a party to
this Agreement, the Seller will be deemed to have represented and warranted, for
all purposes of this Agreement, to Buyer as follows:

                (a) The Trust  Subsidiary  is a trust  company  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, all of the outstanding capital stock of which is owned directly or
indirectly by AFC free and clear of any lien, charge or other encumbrance. Since
the date of its  incorporation,  the Trust  Subsidiary  has not  engaged  in any
activities other than in connection with or as contemplated by this Agreement.

                (b) The Trust  Subsidiary has the corporate  power and authority
to enter into this  Agreement and to carry out its  obligations  hereunder.  The
execution,  delivery and  performance of this Agreement by the Trust  Subsidiary
and its consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly  authorized by all necessary  corporate action in respect thereof on the
part of the Trust Subsidiary.  This Agreement is a valid and binding  obligation
of the Trust Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

                (c)  The  authorized  capital  stock  of  the  Trust  Subsidiary
consists  solely  of a  specified  number of  shares  of  common  stock,  with a
specified par value per share (which specific number of shares and per share par
value will be stated and  confirmed on the Closing Date in a  certificate  to be
executed  and  delivered  by  Seller),  all of which are duly issued and validly
outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable . The Trust Subsidiary is not bound by
any  outstanding   subscriptions,   options,   warrants,  calls  commitments  or
agreements of any character  calling for the Trust Subsidiary to issue,  deliver
or  sell  any  equity  security  of  the  Trust  Subsidiary  or  any  securities
convertible  into,  exchangeable for or representing the right to subscribe for,
purchase or otherwise  receive any such equity  security or obligating the Trust
Subsidiary  to grant,  extend  or enter  into any such  subscriptions,  options,
warrants, calls, commitments or agreements. There are no outstanding contractual
obligations of the Trust Subsidiary to repurchase,  redeem or otherwise  acquire
any shares of its capital stock.


                                  Page 6 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -3-

                (d)  Immediately  prior to the  Closing  (as  defined in Section
1.02), the Trust Subsidiary will have and own no assets other than the Purchased
Assets (as defined in Section 2.01), an amount in cash or immediately  available
funds equal to the Minimum  Capitalization  Amount (as defined in Section  3.02)
and such rights as are otherwise  possessed by the Trust  Subsidiary as a result
of this Agreement, and will have and be subject to no liabilities other than the
Assumed  Liabilities  (as  defined in  Section  2.03) and such  liabilities  and
obligations  as are  otherwise  incurred by the Trust  Subsidiary as a result of
this Agreement.

                1.02 Transfer of the Business to Trust Subsidiary.

         Following  the  lawful  incorporation  and  organization  of the  Trust
Subsidiary,  as contemplated by Section 1.01 above, and immediately prior to the
sale and  transfer  of all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of the capital
stock of the Trust  Subsidiary from Seller to Buyer as provided for in Article 3
below  (the  completion  of such  sale and  transfer  being  referred  to as the
"Closing"  and the date on which the  Closing  occurs  being  referred to as the
"Closing  Date"),  the Seller shall take or cause to be taken all  necessary and
appropriate actions to sell, transfer and convey all of the Business from GMB to
the Trust  Subsidiary in accordance with all applicable  requirements of Chapter
62 and all other applicable laws and regulations and all as further set forth in
Article 2 of this Agreement (the completion of the transfer of the Business from
GMB to the Trust Subsidiary as provided for in Article 2 of this Agreement being
referred to as the "Asset Closing").  The Asset Closing shall be a condition to,
and shall be completed on the same day as and immediately prior to, the Closing.


                                    ARTICLE 2

              TRANSFER OF THE BUSINESS FROM GMB TO TRUST SUBSIDIARY

                2.01 Purchase and Sale.

         Subject to the terms,  provisions and conditions set forth herein,  the
Seller  hereby  agrees  to  sell,  assign,  transfer  and  convey  to the  Trust
Subsidiary, and the Seller shall cause the Trust Subsidiary to purchase, acquire
and accept from the Seller,  the Business,  including all of the assets of every
kind and  description  used by the Seller in the  Business,  but  excluding  the
Retained  Business  Assets (as such term is defined in Section 2.02 below).  The
assets to be purchased  hereunder  (the  "Purchased  Assets")  shall include all
assets  owned by GMB and held by it solely as a part of the  Business  as of the
date  hereof  and all  assets  acquired  by GMB in the  ordinary  course  of the
Business prior to the Asset  Closing,  but excluding  assets  disposed of in the
ordinary  course of the Business  prior to the Asset  Closing or retained by GMB
pursuant  to  Section  2.02  below,  and  shall  specifically  include,  without
limitation:

                (a) Any and all fixtures, machinery,  installations,  equipment,
furniture,  supplies and other tangible  personal property owned by GMB and used
solely in conjunction with the operations of the Business and separable from the
Seller's  other  businesses,  all as described on Schedule  2.01(a)  hereto (the
"Personal Property");


                                  Page 7 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -4-

                (b) All of the Seller's  title to,  interest in and rights under
the leases of personal  property  used solely in the Business  and  described on
Schedule 2.01(b) hereto (the "Personal Property Leases");

                (c) Except as otherwise  set forth in Section  2.02 hereof,  all
rights and interest of GMB,  including  without  limitation any rights for which
consents, filings or other actions may be required, in and to its contracts with
customers relating to the Business,  including without  limitation,  any and all
rights of every kind and  description in connection  with any and all fiduciary,
custodial  and agency  contracts,  including  appointments  under  wills,  trust
instruments  or  other  agreements  and  agreements  for  GMB to  provide  trust
correspondent  computer processing services to other institutions,  in all cases
entered  into or accepted by GMB in a fiduciary,  custodial  or agency  capacity
with such customers ("Customers") in the ordinary course of the Business, all as
set  forth  on  Schedule  2.01(c)   attached  hereto  (such  contracts,   wills,
instruments and other agreements to be referred to collectively hereafter as the
"Trust Agreements");

                (d)  (i)  Copies  of the  Seller's  accounting  books,  records,
ledgers,  client lists and will files relating to the Business and copies of all
documents and records relating to the Purchased Assets and the Business, in each
case in each such form in which the same  currently is being  maintained by GMB,
including where  applicable in the form of databases or other computer  records,
and in each case in such other form or format as may be reasonably  requested by
Buyer and that can be  accommodated  without  material  incremental  expense  to
Seller,  and (ii)  originals of the Trust  Agreements and the Contracts (as such
term is defined in Section 2.01(i) below) (all such books, records,  files, data
and documents  included  within clauses (i) and (ii) hereof being referred to as
the "Business Documents");

                (e)  All  rights  of  the  Seller   which  by  their  terms  are
transferable  and which arise under or pursuant to warranties,  representations,
indemnifications,   contribution  agreements,   reimbursement   agreements,   or
guarantees  in favor of the  Seller  made by or for the  benefit  of  Customers,
predecessors  in  interest,  suppliers,  vendors,  or  affiliates  of any of the
foregoing,  and which relate to the Purchased Assets or the Assumed  Liabilities
(as such term is defined  in  Section  2.03  below)  with  respect to the period
following  the Asset  Closing,  but  excluding  those  rights  which  constitute
Retained Business Assets;

                (f) All rights to insurance  proceeds  which may become  payable
under  insurance  policies  held by the Seller  covering any claims  against the
Trust  Subsidiary  and/or Buyer for which the Trust  Subsidiary  and/or Buyer is
entitled to indemnity by the Seller hereunder or covering any claims by Buyer or
the Trust Subsidiary relating to matters occurring after the Asset Closing;

                (g)  All of  GMB's  interest  in the  funds,  cash,  securities,
instruments and other property of any type or description  held by GMB as agent,
custodian or fiduciary  pursuant to the Trust Agreements,  together with records
to support the calculation of such amounts and other records  relating  thereto,
except  the  following:  (i)  cash  held in the  Business  which is  subject  to
escheatment as of the date on which the Asset Closing is completed and (ii) cash
covering  outstanding checks relating to the Business and on accounts maintained
in the name of Seller;  provided,  however,  that  within  six months  after the
Closing,  the  Seller  shall  transfer  to the  Trust  Subsidiary  any such cash
covering checks which have not been presented within six months of issuance;

                                  Page 8 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -5-


                (h) All of the Seller's  title to,  interest in and rights under
the  computer  software  and  programs  and other  intellectual  property,  both
tangible and  intangible,  licensed to the Seller and used solely in conjunction
with the operation of the Business,  all as described on Schedule 2.01(h) hereto
(the "Software Contracts");

                (i) All of the Seller's  title to,  interest in and rights under
the  miscellaneous  contracts of the Seller  relating solely to the Business and
listed on Schedule  2.01(i) hereto (the  "Miscellaneous  Contracts" and together
with the Personal Property Leases and the Software Contracts,  the "Contracts");
and

                (j) All prepaid  Customer  fees and  expenses  allocable  to the
period from and after the Asset  Closing,  all as described on Schedule  2.01(j)
hereto.

                2.02 Retained Assets.

         Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Seller is not transferring to
the Trust  Subsidiary  and neither the Trust  Subsidiary  nor Buyer is acquiring
from Seller under this  Agreement,  and the term  "Purchased  Assets"  shall not
include:

                (a) any of the  following  assets  related to the Business  (the
"Retained Business Assets"):

                    (i) All Individual  Retirement  Accounts and Keogh Accounts,
as to which,  as of the Asset  Closing,  (1) GMB is serving either as trustee or
custodian,  and (2) all of the funds  associated  therewith are then invested in
one or more  certificates  of  deposit  or deposit  accounts  maintained  by GMB
(collectively,   the  "Trusteed  Deposit  Accounts"),   as  listed  on  Schedule
2.02(a)(i)  hereto,  together  with all  rights  and  interest  of GMB under the
agreements  or  contracts  with  Customers  relating  to such  Trusteed  Deposit
Accounts and all assets contained in such Trusteed Deposit Accounts;

                    (ii) Any cash held by GMB as of the Asset  Closing,  whether
previously generated by or used in connection with the Business, except for cash
covering  outstanding  checks as of the Asset  Closing as  described  in Section
2.01(g) (ii) above,  which shall be retained only to the extent and for the time
provided in Section 2.01(g) (ii);

                    (iii) Any accounts  receivable  relating to the Business and
allocable to the period prior to the Asset Closing;

                    (iv) Any of the  Seller's  trade names,  or any  stationery,
office  supplies,  business  forms,  manuals or  similar  property  bearing  the
Seller's  trademarks,  trade names,  service marks,  logos or similar  corporate
identification,  unless such trademarks,  trade names,  service marks,  logos or
similar corporate  identification  have been redacted  therefrom (there being no
obligation on the part of the Seller to effect any such redaction);


                                  Page 9 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -6-

                    (v) Any fixed assets used by the Seller  exclusively  in the
Business  which are  damaged or  inoperative  and any right to any  proceeds  of
insurance received with respect to any such damaged or inoperative assets;

                    (vi) Any income tax refunds or claims  therefor  relating to
the  Business  which the Seller may be  entitled  to receive  from any  federal,
state, or local authorities;

                    (vii)  Any  assets  of the  Seller  not used  solely  in the
Business;

                    (viii) Any insurance  policies of the Seller  relating to or
covering the Business and rights to any proceeds thereunder, except as set forth
in Section 2.01(f);

                    (ix)  Any  rights  of the  Seller  under  any  of the  Trust
Agreements or Contracts or with respect to any of the Purchased  Assets to fees,
indemnification or  reimbursements,  or any other claims or rights of the Seller
thereunder or with respect thereto,  in each case relating to the conduct of the
Business prior to the Asset Closing;

                    (x) Any rights to any  security  deposits  or other  amounts
deposited by Seller with any state or other jurisdiction or regulatory authority
in connection with the qualification,  certification, licensing or permitting of
the Seller in connection with the conduct of the Business; and

                    (xi)  Subject  to  Section  8.01(h)  below,  all  rights and
interests of GMB in and to any Trust  Agreement that is expressly  excluded from
GMB's transfer of the Business to the Trust  Subsidiary,  and which is therefore
excluded  from the Asset  Closing,  as a result  of or  pursuant  to any  order,
request or  directive  of the  Vermont  Department  of  Banking,  Insurance  and
Securities  (the  "Vermont  Department")  or of any court or other  governmental
agency or authority of competent  jurisdiction  (all such Trust  Agreements,  if
any, being referred to in this Agreement as the "Retained Trust Agreements").

                (b) Any assets of GMB not related to or used in connection  with
the Business (the  "Retained  Nonbusiness  Assets" and together with the Related
Business Assets, the "Retained Assets").

                2.03 Assumed Liabilities.

         At the Asset Closing,  the Trust  Subsidiary  shall assume and agree to
pay, perform and discharge those liabilities and obligations of GMB which relate
to the  Business as set forth below (the  "Assumed  Liabilities"),  and from and
after the Asset Closing,  the Trust  Subsidiary and any successor  thereto shall
pay, perform and discharge the Assumed Liabilities as they become due. The Trust
Subsidiary's administration of the various accounts assigned to it by the Seller
hereunder  will be in  accordance  with  the  respective  Trust  Agreements  and
applicable  law  pertaining  to the  performance  of  such  responsibilities  in
accordance with sound  fiduciary,  custodial and agency  practices.  The Assumed
Liabilities shall consist only of the following:

                (a) All  liabilities  and  obligations  under  each of the Trust
Agreements, in each case arising after the Asset Closing;

                                  Page 10 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -7-


                (b)  All  other  liabilities  and  obligations  relating  to the
Contracts  and the  Purchased  Assets  and  arising  after the Asset  Closing or
otherwise  relating to or arising out of the  operation of the Business from and
after the Asset Closing,  including  liabilities and  obligations  arising under
applicable law and regulation.

                2.04 Retained Liabilities.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary set forth in this  Agreement,
the Trust  Subsidiary  will not  assume,  pay or  discharge,  and Buyer will not
assume, pay or discharge, by virtue of the terms of this Agreement or otherwise,
any  debts,  liabilities,   obligations,   contracts,   loans,  commitments,  or
undertakings of the Seller, whether fixed, liquidated,  contingent or otherwise,
and whether  related to the Business or otherwise,  except,  with respect to the
Trust Subsidiary,  for those Assumed Liabilities expressly described or referred
to in Section 2.03.  All  liabilities,  debts,  obligations,  contracts,  loans,
commitments  or  undertakings  of Seller not so assumed by the Trust  Subsidiary
shall be  retained  by the Seller and shall be  hereinafter  referred  to as the
"Retained Liabilities" and shall include, without limitation, the following:

                (a) All  liabilities  of the  Seller  arising  solely  out of or
relating solely to the Retained Assets at any time;

                (b) All  liabilities of Seller  incurred in connection  with the
Purchased Assets and relating to the period prior to the Asset Closing;

                (c) All liabilities of the Seller for federal,  state or foreign
income,  sales, use,  payroll,  excise or franchise taxes relating to or arising
out of the operation of the Business for the period prior to the Asset Closing;

                (d)  All  liabilities  of  the  Seller  for  all  environmental,
ecological, accident, health or other claims pertaining to or arising out of the
operation  of the  Business or the  Purchased  Assets and relating to the period
prior to the Asset Closing;

                (e) All  liabilities  of the Seller to all of the  Employees (as
such term is defined in Section 4.08 below), including the Transferred Employees
(as such term is defined in Section 7.04 below), arising at any time, including,
without limitation,  any liabilities or indebtedness of the Seller in respect of
any wages, back pay or other  payroll-related items or taxes, any liabilities of
the Seller in connection  with  employee  benefits or arising under any Employee
Contract or Employee  Plan (as such terms are defined in Section  4.08 below) or
any  liabilities  of  the  Seller  resulting  from  any  termination-related  or
discrimination  claims of any Employee whether or not arising under any Employee
Plan.

                (f) All  liabilities of the Seller  relating to the period prior
to the Asset  Closing  and  arising out of or in  connection  with the  Seller's
services, actions, omissions or warranties,  including,  without limitation, any
violation,  breach,  or default  by the Seller  under or in respect of any Trust
Agreement or any Contract;


                                  Page 11 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -8-

                (g) All  liabilities  (contingent or otherwise)  with respect to
trust accounts which have been terminated prior to the Asset Closing;

                (h) All liabilities  and obligations  arising under the Trusteed
Deposit Accounts;

                (i) All liabilities of the Seller arising in connection with its
business and operations unrelated to the Business;

                (j) Any  liability  or  obligation  incurred  by the  Seller  in
connection  with the  negotiation,  execution or  performance  of this Agreement
including,  without limitation,  all legal, accounting,  brokers',  finders' and
other professional fees and expenses;

                (k) All  liabilities  and  obligations  incurred  in  taking  or
failing to take the steps  necessary to accomplish the  appointment of the Trust
Subsidiary  as  successor  under  the  Trust   Agreements,   including   without
limitation,  in the making or  failing  to make of any  filings or notices or in
obtaining or failing to obtain any consents,  permits or approvals  required for
the completion of the Asset Closing; and

                (l) Any liability, obligation, penalty, termination fee or other
cost or expense  arising out of the assertion by any party to a Trust  Agreement
that the transfer to the Trust  Subsidiary of the Seller's  rights and interests
thereunder  pursuant  to the  terms of this  Agreement  constitutes  a breach or
default by the Seller under such Trust Agreement.

                2.05 Updated Schedules.

         The  Seller  shall  update  all of the  Schedules  referred  to in this
Article 2 and Section 4.04(c) below and attached to this Agreement to the extent
necessary  to  reflect  any  changes  in  the  information  disclosable  therein
occurring prior to the Asset Closing or, with respect to Schedule  4.04(c),  the
Closing as a result of (i) the conduct of the Business by Seller as permitted to
be conducted by Seller under this Agreement, (ii) the retention by Seller of any
Retained  Trust  Agreements,  (iii)  changes  in the  list  of  Defaulted  Trust
Agreements (as such term is defined in Section 4.04(c) below) as is set forth in
Schedule  4.04(c)  or (iv) any other  changes  in any such  Schedules  as may be
agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto.  The Seller shall deliver to Buyer
such  updated  Schedules  (the  "Updated  Schedules")  on or prior to the  Asset
Closing or, with respect to any update of Schedule 4.04(c), the Closing, subject
in all  cases to  further  non-material  adjustments  on or  prior to the  fifth
business  day  after the  Closing  Date (the  "Adjustment  Date"),  and any such
Updated Schedule as adjusted shall be deemed to be the definitive  Schedule with
regard to the information  contained therein for all purposes of this Agreement,
including,  without  limitation,  the  specification  of the assets and accounts
intended to be  transferred  from the Seller to the Trust  Subsidiary  under the
terms of this Article 2. Seller's obligation to prepare and deliver to Buyer the
Updated  Schedules,  and its preparation and delivery thereof to Buyer, does not
affect  or  otherwise  cause  a  waiver  of  any of the  conditions  to  Buyer's
obligations under this Agreement,  including  without  limitation the conditions
contained in Section 8.01(h) and 10.02 below.


                                  Page 12 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -9-

                2.06 Asset Closing; Consideration.

                (a) The  Asset  Closing  shall  occur  immediately  prior to the
Closing on the Closing Date.

                (b) In  consideration  of the  transfer  of the  Business by the
Seller to the Trust Subsidiary hereunder,  the Trust Subsidiary agrees to assume
the Assumed Liabilities.

                2.07 Bank Sale Transactions.

                (a) Nothing in this  Agreement  shall  preclude  the Seller from
negotiating  and  entering  into an  agreement  or  agreements  with one or more
parties  unaffiliated with the Seller or the Buyer (any such unaffiliated party,
a  "Counterparty")  involving (i) the sale by the Seller to the  Counterparty of
any assets of AVC or GMB other than the Purchased  Assets or any Retained  Trust
Agreements (including any sale to a Counterparty of any of the Retained Business
Assets  other than  Retained  Trust  Agreements)  and/or the  assumption  by the
Counterparty  from the  Seller of any  liabilities  of AVC or GMB other than the
Assumed Liabilities or (ii) the sale to the Counterparty of all or substantially
all the  stock of GMB or AVC or (iii) a merger  or  consolidation  of GMB or AVC
with or into the Counterparty or an affiliate thereof (any such  transaction,  a
"Bank Sale Transaction"); provided, however, that (x) the Seller shall not enter
into an agreement for any such Bank Sale Transaction or consummate any such Bank
Sale  Transaction  if doing so would in any way adversely  affect the ability of
the parties to this Agreement to consummate the transactions provided for herein
under the terms and conditions  provided for herein in a timely manner, or would
otherwise in any way decrease the likelihood that the transactions  provided for
herein will be completed in  accordance  with the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement; (y) on and after consummation of any such Bank Sale Transaction,  all
the  obligations,   covenants,  agreements,   representations,   warranties  and
indemnifications incurred or given by the Seller and its affiliates in and under
this Agreement  shall  continue to be the  obligations,  covenants,  agreements,
representations,  warranties  and  indemnifications  of AFC and  its  continuing
subsidiaries and affiliates, regardless of whether the Counterparty in such Bank
Sale  Transaction  succeeds,  as a  matter  of  law or  contract,  to any of the
foregoing  upon  consummation  of  such  transaction;   and  (z)  on  and  after
consummation of any such Bank Sale  Transaction,  all the rights obtained by the
Buyer and its  affiliates in and under this  Agreement as against the Seller and
its  affiliates  shall  continue  to be  rights  possessed  by the Buyer and its
affiliates  as  against  AFC and its  continuing  subsidiaries  and  affiliates,
regardless of whether such rights also may then be asserted by the Buyer and its
affiliates,  as a matter of law or contract,  against the  Counterparty  in such
Bank Sale  Transaction.  It is  expressly  understood  and agreed by the parties
hereto  that the Seller is  presently  contemplating  entering  into a Bank Sale
Transaction  on or about the date of this  Agreement  involving  certain  of the
Retained  Assets  and  Retained  Liabilities  (specifically  including,  without
limitation,  the Trusteed Deposit  Accounts),  and that the Seller may desire to
consummate such Bank Sale Transaction at or around the time of the Closing under
this Agreement, to the extent provided in Section 3.03(b) below.

                (b) Seller shall  include in the  definitive  agreement  for any
Bank Sale  Transaction  (the "Bank Sale Agreement") a provision under which each
Counterparty  thereto (A) agrees, from the execution of such Bank Sale Agreement
until the date that is three years after the last principal transaction provided
for  therein,  not to use to its own  advantage,  and to ensure that none of its
affiliates uses to its advantage, any non-public information relating to Seller,
specifically including GMB, obtained by such Counterparty directly or indirectly
from Seller or its current or former employees that does not reasonably relate

                                  Page 13 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -10-

to the business or assets being acquired by such  Counterparty  in the Bank Sale
Transaction  ("Counterparty Restricted Information"),  whether such Counterparty
Restricted Information may have been or may be obtained by the Counterparty, its
affiliates,  representatives,  or agents,  or employees of any of the  foregoing
(collectively,  the  "Counterparty  Group"),  in the course of  negotiations  or
investigations  leading to execution or  consummation of the Bank Sale Agreement
or may be obtained by any of the Counterparty Group after such consummation from
former  employees of Seller,  which  provisions  shall  specifically  reference,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing,  that  information  related to
the  Business  is  Counterparty  Restricted   Information,   and  shall  further
specifically  reference  as  a  prohibited  usage  of  Counterparty   Restricted
Information thereunder,  any solicitation by such Counterparty or its affiliates
of any Business from the  Customers,  to the extent that such Customers may have
been or may be specifically  identified by the Counterparty or its affiliates as
a result of information  obtained by any one or more of the  Counterparty  Group
from Seller or its  employees  in the course of  negotiation  or  investigations
leading  to  execution  or  consummation  of the Bank  Sale  Agreement  or after
consummation  thereof from former employees of Seller,  and (B) agrees to return
to  Seller  all such  Counterparty  Restricted  Information  taking  the form of
documents,  books, records or tapes and to destroy any electronic records in its
possession containing such Counterparty Restricted Information.

                (c) Without  limiting the  foregoing,  and for a period of three
years  after the  Closing  Date  hereunder,  Seller  will not  disclose  or make
available  to any  Counterparty  in any Bank Sale  Transaction  (except  for any
required  disclosure  under  regulatory   applications)  any  of  the  nonpublic
information directly or indirectly related to any of the Business being acquired
or assumed by Buyer  hereunder,  except for any such  information  (non-customer
specific,  in any event) which is also  directly  related to the business  being
acquired by the Counterparty or Counterparties under the Bank Sale Agreement and
is necessary to be disclosed to the Counterparty or  Counterparties  thereunder,
provided  that  Seller  will in no event  disclose  during  such  period  to any
Counterparty  in any  Bank  Sale  Transaction  or any  person  proposed  to be a
Counterparty in any such transaction the identity of the Customers.


                                    ARTICLE 3

                   PURCHASE AND SALE OF TRUST SUBSIDIARY STOCK

                3.01 Purchase by Buyer.

         Upon  the  terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  set  forth  in this
Agreement,  Buyer  agrees to purchase or cause an affiliate of Buyer to purchase
all of the  shares of the  capital  stock of the  Trust  Subsidiary  issued  and
outstanding on the Closing Date (the "Stock") from Seller,  and Seller agrees to
sell or cause to be sold all of the Stock to Buyer.

                3.02 Purchase Price.

         On the  Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall  pay to AVC  or  GMB,  as AVC  may
designate, in cash, an amount equal to Three Million Two Hundred Thirty Thousand
and 00/100 Dollars  ($3,230,000.00) plus the "Minimum Capitalization Amount" (as
defined  below)  (such  amount  being  referred to herein as the "Base  Purchase


                                  Page 14 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -11-

Price"). The total purchase price to be paid by Buyer for its acquisition of the
Stock shall be subject to adjustment as provided for in Section 3.05 below.  The
"Minimum  Capitalization  Amount"  is the  minimum  amount of  capital,  if any,
required to be maintained  in the Trust  Subsidiary as of the Closing by any and
all bank regulatory  authorities  having  jurisdiction over the Trust Subsidiary
and actually maintained therein at such time in the form of liquid funds held in
a separate deposit account of a bank located in the United States under the name
and only the name of the Trust Subsidiary or such other form or manner as may be
directed at such time by Buyer.

                3.03 Closing Date.

                (a) The purchase and sale of the Stock  hereunder shall occur at
the  offices of  Sullivan &  Worcester  LLP,  One Post  Office  Square,  Boston,
Massachusetts,  or at such other  place as shall be  mutually  agreeable  to the
parties, on a date to be mutually agreed upon by Buyer and AFC, which date shall
be  within  five  (5)  business  days  after  the day on  which  the last of the
conditions precedent set forth in Articles 8, 9 and 10 hereof has been satisfied
or properly waived (the "Satisfaction Date"), subject to Section 3.03(b) below.

                (b) If,  as of the  Satisfaction  Date  under  Section  3.03 (a)
above,  the Seller  shall have  entered  into but not  consummated  a definitive
agreement or agreements for one or more Bank Sale Transactions pursuant to which
all or substantially all the capital stock of GMB or AFC or all or substantially
all the  Retained  Assets  and  Retained  Liabilities  (excluding  the  building
presently serving as GMB's main office and any Retained Trust Agreements) are to
be acquired  and/or assumed by a Counterparty or pursuant to which GMB or AFC is
to merge with a Counterparty, and if, as of the Satisfaction Date, it appears to
the reasonable  satisfaction of Buyer that the Seller will be able to consummate
such Bank Sale Transaction  within 30 days of such  Satisfaction  Date, then, at
the request of the Seller,  the Closing Date  hereunder  shall be postponed to a
date not more than 30 days  after the  Satisfaction  Date,  and in any case to a
date not later  than the  Termination  Date (as such term is  defined in Section
11.01 (d) below) in order that the Closing  hereunder  may occur at or about the
same time that such Bank Sale Transaction is consummated.

                (c) On the Closing Date, the following actions shall be taken:

                (i) Buyer  shall pay the Base  Purchase  Price to AVC or GMB, as
AVC may designate,  by wire transfer of immediately  available  federal funds to
such bank account in the United States of America as such payee shall  designate
at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date;

                (ii) Seller shall  deliver or cause to be delivered  one or more
certificates for the Stock to Buyer or an affiliate of Buyer designated thereby,
duly  endorsed in blank or with stock  powers duly  endorsed in blank,  together
with such  other  documents  as Buyer may  reasonably  request to  evidence  the
transfer to Buyer or such affiliate of good and valid title in and to the Stock,
free and clear of any lien,  security  interest,  pledge,  charge,  encumbrance,
restriction,  right,  option  to  purchase,  call or  commitment  of any kind or
nature;

                (iii) Buyer shall  reimburse the Seller for all sales taxes,  if
any,  payable  by Seller  or the Trust  Subsidiary  with  respect  to any of the
Personal  Property  transferred  by GMB to the Trust  subsidiary  as part of the
Asset Closing, and all other sales, transfer and other taxes, if any, payable in
connection with the Asset Closing shall be borne by Seller;


                                  Page 15 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -12-


                (iv) Each party shall take such other actions, and shall execute
and deliver such other instruments, certificates or other documents, as shall be
required  under  Articles 8, 9 and 10 hereof,  including  without  limitation as
shall be  necessary  or  appropriate  to evidence  the  completion  of the Asset
Closing;

                (v) Seller shall  deliver a  calculation  of Annual  Revenue (as
such term is  defined  in  Section  3.05  below) as of the last day of the month
immediately  preceding the month in which the Closing occurs,  which calculation
shall be for the parties general information only and shall not be determinative
in any way with respect to the  calculation to be undertaken in accordance  with
Section 3.04; and

                (vi) To the extent  reasonably  requested  by Buyer prior to the
Closing  Date,  Seller  shall  deliver  or cause to be  delivered  the  Business
Documents to such  location(s)  at which Buyer shall conduct its Trust  Services
business on and after the Closing Date.

                3.04 Proration; Allocation.

                (a) On or  prior  to  the  Asset  Closing,  subject  to  further
non-material  adjustments  on or  prior to the  Adjustment  Date,  Seller  shall
deliver to Buyer (i) a Schedule  3.04(a)(i) which shall accurately  reflect with
respect to the Trust  Agreements  (A) all fees and  reimbursements  for expenses
paid by Customers to the Seller prior to the Asset Closing  relating to services
to be rendered to such Customers under the Trust Agreements  ("Trust  Services")
following  the Asset  Closing and (B) all fees and  reimbursements  for expenses
which relate to Trust  Services  rendered  prior to the Asset  Closing for which
payment is to be received from Customers  following the Asset Closing and (ii) a
Schedule  3.04(a)(ii)  which shall accurately  reflect with respect to all other
fees and  expenses  relating to the  Business  (A) all fees,  disbursements  and
expenses  paid to or by the  Seller  prior  to the  Asset  Closing  relating  to
services  (including,  without  limitation,  services  provided under any of the
Contracts),  other than Trust Services,  to be rendered to or by Seller relating
to the Business  ("Business  Services")  following the Asset Closing and (B) all
fees,  disbursements  and expenses which relate to Business Services rendered by
or to the Seller prior to the Asset  Closing for which payment is to be received
or made following the Asset Closing.  All such fees,  disbursements and expenses
for both Trust Services and Business  Services shall be prorated as of the Asset
Closing to  allocate  the same to the  periods of service to which they  relate.
Seller  shall  pay to  Buyer an  amount  equal  to the  total of all such  fees,
disbursements and expenses (i) paid to the Seller prior to the Asset Closing but
allocable  to Trust  Services  or Business  Services  to be provided  during the
period  following  the Asset  Closing  and (ii) to be paid  following  the Asset
Closing but allocable to Business  Services provided to Seller during the period
prior to the Asset  Closing.  Buyer  shall pay to Seller an amount  equal to the
total of all such fees,  disbursements and expenses (i) paid following the Asset
Closing but allocable to Trust Services or Business  Services provided by Seller
during the period  prior to the Asset  Closing and (ii) paid by Seller  prior to
the Asset Closing but allocable to Business Services to be provided to the Trust
Subsidiary  during the period following the Asset Closing.  The payments of such
amounts shall be made in cash by cashier's check or wire transfer of immediately
available funds on the Adjustment  Date. A single net payment may be made by the
Seller or Buyer as appropriate at such time.

                                  Page 16 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -13-


                (b) To the extent any  additional  adjustment  or payment of the
prorated  amounts  contemplated  by Section  3.04(a) above is required after the
Adjustment  Date, the parties shall make any such further  adjustments  promptly
and in good faith.

                (c) The  aggregate  amount of (i) the Assumed  Liabilities  plus
(ii) the sum of (A) the  amount  paid by Buyer on the  Closing  Date and (B) the
amount of the  Supplemental  Payment,  if any, paid by Buyer in accordance  with
Section  3.05(a)  below  shall  be  allocated  among  the  Purchased  Assets  in
accordance with a schedule to be mutually agreed upon by Seller and Buyer and to
be made a part of this  Agreement  not less  than ten (10)  days  following  the
parties' final determination of the amount of such Supplemental Payment, if any,
in accordance with Sections 3.05(a)-(c) below.

                3.05 Supplemental Payment; Adjustment Payments.

                (a) As promptly as practicable following the ninetieth day after
the  Closing  Date or, if such  ninetieth  day is not the last day of a calendar
month,  the first  month-end day following such ninetieth day (such ninetieth or
other  month-end  day being  referred to as the  "Measurement  Date"),  the Base
Purchase  Price may be  increased  in  accordance  with this  Section  3.05 by a
supplemental  payment (the  "Supplemental  Payment").  The Supplemental  Payment
shall  equal  $570,000  if the Annual  Revenue  (as such term is defined  below)
attributable  to (i) all of the Trust  Agreements  that  have  been  effectively
transferred and assigned by Seller to the Trust  Subsidiary as part of the Asset
Closing or have been otherwise effectively transferred and assigned by Seller to
the Trust  Subsidiary  or Buyer as of the  Measurement  Date (and any  immediate
successor  agreements  or  arrangements  thereto)  and  (ii) any  agreements  or
contracts  that  would have  constituted  Trust  Agreements  if they had been in
effect  between the Seller and the other party  thereto on the Closing  Date and
that have been entered into by Buyer with any Prospective Retail Trust Customer,
as  such  term  is  defined  further  below  in  this  Section  3.05(a),  or any
Prospective Computer Processing Customer,  as such term is defined further below
in Section  3.05(e),  at any time after the  Closing  Date up to and through the
Measurement  Date,  and all of which  are in full  force  and  effect  as of the
Measurement  Date,  all  determined as of the  Measurement  Date, is equal to or
greater  than  $1,600,000.  Buyer shall  reduce the  Supplemental  Payment by an
amount  equal to $2.50 for each  $1.00  that such  Annual  Revenue  is less than
$1,600,000; provided, however, that the Supplemental Payment may not in any case
be less than $0; and provided further,  however,  that if and to the extent that
such Annual  Revenue as of the  Measurement  Date is less than  $1,600,000  as a
result  of  either  (i)  Buyer's  modification  of the fee  structure  for Trust
Services as in effect for GMB at the time of Closing or (ii) changes implemented
by Buyer to the  structure  of the  trust  accounts  included  in the  Purchased
Assets,  then the  Supplemental  Payment shall be reduced by only $1.00 for each
$1.00 by which such Annual  Revenue is less than  $1,600,000  as a result of the
foregoing.  As soon as reasonably  practicable  following the Measurement  Date,
Buyer  will  deliver  to Seller  its  calculation  of Annual  Revenue  as of the
Measurement  Date  and a copy of the Fee  Projection  Report  (as  such  term is
defined below), together with copies of any reports of new or closed accounts as
required by 12 C.F.R.  ss. 9.7 (a)(2)  (exclusive  of any account  activity  not
included  as part of the  Business as  acquired  by Buyer)  covering  the period
beginning  with the Closing Date and ending on the  Measurement  Date,  together
with a schedule  listing any changes  implemented by Buyer during such period in
the fee structure for Trust  Services as compared to the fee structure in effect
at  Closing  (collectively,  the  "Supplemental  Payment  Documents").  The term


                                  Page 17 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -14-

"Annual  Revenue"  means,  with respect to any date,  the sum of (i)  annualized
gross trust correspondent computer processing fees ("Computer Processing Fees"),
(ii)  annualized  preparation  fees for various trust related tax services ("Tax
Services Fees"), (iii) annualized  administrative fees for estate administration
("Administration  Fees"),  and (iv) the  annualized  gross sum of all other fees
received for all other Trust Services ("Other Fees"), each of the foregoing fees
as  determined  in  accordance  with the  following  sentence.  For  purposes of
calculating  Annual Revenue as of any date: (i) Computer  Processing  Fees shall
equal the  contractual  gross  monthly fee  assessed  for the  services  covered
thereby for all customers receiving such services on such date, as annualized on
a prospective  basis  commencing  with the first day of the first calendar month
beginning after such date;  (ii) Tax Services Fees shall equal [$88,500]  (which
represents  the sum of such fees billed  during the 1995 calendar  year);  (iii)
Administration  Fees shall equal (X) divided by (Y), where (X) equals the sum of
(a) the  estimated  amount  of  Administration  Fees  for  those  estates  under
administration on such date, determined in a manner consistent with existing GMB
revenue  recognition  practices,  for the twelve full calendar months commencing
with the first day of the first  calendar month  beginning  after such date (the
"1- Year  Projection") plus (b) the actual  Administration  Fees received by GMB
for the four calendar  years ended December 31, 1995, and where (Y) equals five,
provided that if such calculation  results in an amount that is either less than
50% or  greater  than  150%  of the  1-Year  Projection,  then  the  amount  for
Administration Fees to be used in calculating the Annual Revenue as of such date
shall be an amount that is mutually  satisfactory to the parties; and (iv) Other
Fees  shall  equal (X)  minus  (Y),  where (X)  equals  the total  gross  income
projected for the twelve full calendar  months  commencing with the first day of
the first calendar month  beginning after such date, as reported on the National
Computer Services Series 11 Fee Projection Report (the "Fee Projection  Report")
produced for such  period,  and where (Y) equals the portion of such total gross
income  included  in such  Fee  Projection  Report  attributable  to any and all
accounts  (the  "Noticed  Accounts")  with  respect to which (i) if such date is
prior to the Closing Date,  the Customer  associated  therewith has expressed to
any of the  Seller,  the Buyer,  the  Vermont  Department  or any court or other
governmental agency or authority of competent  jurisdiction any opposition to or
dissent against the transfer of the Business from GMB to the Trust Subsidiary or
Seller's  sale and  transfer of the Trust  Subsidiary  to the Buyer or otherwise
notified either Seller or Buyer of such Customer's intention to close his or its
account if the  transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement shall occur (which
expression of  opposition  or dissent or other such notice,  in the case of such
expression or notice to the Buyer, may be subject to reasonable  verification by
Seller),  and such  opposition  or  dissent  or other  such  notice has not been
expressly  withdrawn or  retracted by the Customer  prior to the Closing Date or
(ii) if such date is after the Closing Date, either Seller or Buyer has received
notice  (which,  in the case of Buyer's  receipt  of  notice,  may be subject to
reasonable verification by Seller), which has not been subsequently withdrawn or
rescinded,  on or prior to such date from the account  holder  thereof that such
holder intends to close the account within the ensuing twelve-month period (such
income  amount  determined  under the  immediately  preceding  clause  (Y) to be
referred to as the "Noticed  Account Total" and the income  attributable  to any
such  Noticed  Account to be a "Noticed  Account  Fee").  The term  "Prospective
Retail Trust Customers" means those  prospective  retail trust customers of GMB,
if any, as identified on Schedule 3.05(a) attached hereto or, subject to Buyer's
review and  reasonable  verification,  any  amended  or updated  version of said
Schedule 3.05(a) as may be prepared by Seller and delivered to Buyer on or prior
to the fifteenth day prior to the Closing Date.

                (b) Within ten (10) business days after Buyer's  delivery of the
Supplemental Payment Documents to Seller,  Seller may dispute all or any portion
of the Supplemental Payment Documents (to the extent that any such disputed

                                  Page 18 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -15-

calculation would affect the amount of any Supplemental Payment payable by Buyer
under this Section 3.05) by giving written  notice (a "Notice of  Disagreement")
to Buyer setting forth in reasonable  detail the basis for any such dispute (any
such dispute being  hereinafter  referred to as a  "Disagreement").  The parties
shall  promptly  commence good faith  negotiations  with a view to resolving all
such  Disagreements.  If the Seller  does not give a Notice of  Disagreement  in
accordance  with the  provisions of the first  sentence of this Section  3.05(b)
within  the ten (10)  business  day period set forth  therein,  Seller  shall be
deemed to have irrevocably  accepted the Supplemental  Payment  Documents in the
form delivered to Seller by Buyer.

                (c) If Seller shall deliver a Notice of  Disagreement  and Buyer
shall not dispute all or any  portion of such Notice of  Disagreement  by giving
written notice to Seller  setting forth in reasonable  detail the basis for such
dispute  within five (5) business days  following the delivery of such Notice of
Disagreement,   Buyer  shall  be  deemed  to  have   irrevocably   accepted  the
Supplemental Payment Documents as modified in the manner described in the Notice
of  Disagreement.  If  Buyer  disputes  all or any  portion  of  the  Notice  of
Disagreement  within the five (5) business day period  described in the previous
sentence, and within five (5) business days following Buyer's delivery to Seller
of the notice of such dispute Seller and Buyer do not resolve the  Disagreement,
such Disagreement  shall be referred to an Independent  Accounting Firm (as such
term is  defined  further  below)  mutually  selected  by Seller and Buyer for a
resolution of such  Disagreement in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
If Seller and Buyer do not immediately  agree on the selection of an Independent
Accounting  Firm,  their  respective   independent   public   accountants  shall
immediately  select such firm. The  determinations  of such firm with respect to
any  Disagreement  shall be final and binding upon the parties and the amount so
determined shall be used to complete the final  Supplemental  Payment Documents.
The  Independent  Accounting  Firm  will  render  its  determination  as soon as
practicable  after  referral of the  Disagreement  to such firm, and each of the
parties  shall  cooperate  with such firm and provide such firm with  reasonable
access  to the  books,  records,  personnel  and  representatives  of it and its
subsidiaries  and such other  information  as such firm may  require in order to
render  its  determination.  All of the fees  and  expenses  of any  Independent
Accounting  Firm  retained  pursuant to this  Section  3.05(c)  shall be paid by
Seller, if the Independent  Accounting Firm agrees with the position asserted by
Buyer;  shall be paid by Buyer, if the  Independent  Accounting Firm agrees with
the position asserted by Seller; or shall be split evenly by Seller and Buyer if
the Independent  Accounting Firm does not agree with either Seller or Buyer. For
purposes of this Agreement,  the term  "Independent  Accounting  Firm" means any
"Big  Six"  accounting  firm  or  its  successor   (other  than  the  respective
independent public accountants of each of Seller and Buyer).

                (d) Following  Buyer's  delivery and Seller's  acceptance of the
final  calculation  of  the  Annual  Revenue  as of  the  Measurement  Date,  in
accordance with the provisions of Sections  3.05(a)-3.05(c)  above,  Buyer shall
promptly pay to GMB or AVC, as directed by AVC,  the  Supplemental  Payment,  if
any,  required by Section 3.05(a) above,  such payment to be made in immediately
available  federal funds to such bank account in the United States of America as
the payee shall designate.

                (e) As soon as practicable following the last day of each of the
first four consecutive three-month periods immediately following the Measurement
Date  (each,  individually,   an  "Adjustment  Period"  and  collectively,   the
"Adjustment Periods"), Buyer shall remit to AVC or the payee designated by AVC,

                                  Page 19 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -16-

in immediately available federal funds to such bank account in the United States
of America as the payee shall  designate,  the amount of any Adjustment  Payment
(as defined below) due to Seller for such Adjustment  Period,  calculated on the
basis of any  Computer  Processing  Fees Credit and Noticed  Account Fees Credit
allocable to such Adjustment Period, determined as provided below.

                    (i) If during any such Adjustment Period, any one or more of
the Prospective  Computer  Processing  Customers,  as defined below,  shall have
entered into a trust computer  processing  contract or agreement with Buyer that
calls for  services  to be  rendered  by Buyer for at least one (1) year,  Buyer
shall  extend  to  Seller  for such  Adjustment  Period a  credit  (a  "Computer
Processing  Fees Credit")  equal to (X)  multiplied by (Y), where (X) equals the
total amount of annualized  trust computer  processing  fees receivable by Buyer
from such Prospective  Computer  Processing  Customer or Customers for the first
twelve-month period under the particular contract or agreement entered into with
each,  and where (Y) equals (a) 2.5,  if such  contract or  agreement  calls for
services to be  rendered  by Buyer for a period of at least five (5) years;  (b)
2.0, if such  contract or  agreement  calls for services to be rendered by Buyer
for a period of at least four (4) but less than five (5) years; (c) 1.5, if such
contract or  agreement  calls for  services to be rendered by Buyer for at least
three (3) but less than four (4)  years;  and (d) 0.5,  in the case of any other
such contract or agreement.  The  "Prospective  Computer  Processing  Customers"
shall be those  prospective  customers of GMB as identified on Schedule 3.05 (e)
attached hereto or, subject to Buyer's review and reasonable  verification,  any
amended or updated version of said Schedule 3.05(e) as may be prepared by Seller
and  delivered  to Buyer on or prior to the  fifteenth  day prior to the Closing
Date.

                    (ii) For each of the Adjustment Periods,  Buyer shall extend
to Seller a credit (the "Noticed  Account Fees  Credit"),  determined as soon as
practicable after the last day of such Adjustment Period, which shall equal, (a)
for each of the first three  Adjustment  Periods,  50% of the total gross income
received by Buyer during such Adjustment Period from all Noticed  Accounts,  and
(b) for the last Adjustment Period, an amount equal to the lesser of (X) or (Y),
where (X) equals 50% of the total gross  income  received  by Buyer  during such
Adjustment Period from all Noticed Accounts, and where (Y) equals (1) minus (2),
with (1) equaling  250% of the total amount of Noticed  Account Fees included in
the Noticed  Account Total under Section  3.05(a) above  attributable to Noticed
Accounts that continue to be accounts of Buyer as of the last day of such fourth
Adjustment  Period and with (2)  equaling  the sum of all Noticed  Account  Fees
Credits extended by Buyer to Seller in the first three Adjustment Periods.

         Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement that may be to the contrary,
the  "Adjustment  Payment"  due from Buyer to Seller for any  Adjustment  Period
shall be the  lesser of (X) or (Y),  where (X)  equals  the sum of any  Computer
Processing  Fees Credit and any Noticed  Account Fee Credit for such  Adjustment
Period,  and where (Y)  equals  $570,000  minus the sum of (a) the  Supplemental
Payment and (b) all Adjustment Payments for prior Adjustment Periods.

                (f) As soon as  practicable  after  the last  day of each  month
beginning  after  the  Closing  Date and  ending  at least 15 days  prior to the
Measurement  Date,  Buyer shall  provide to Seller a copy of the Fee  Projection
Report as of such month end for the Trust  Agreements  transferred  to and still
held by Buyer as of such month end, together with a list of any and all accounts
that become Noticed Accounts during such month. During the period extending from


                                  Page 20 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -17-

the Measurement Date until the last day of the final Adjustment Period, but only
for so long during such period as the  obligation of Buyer to pay any Adjustment
Payment  may  continue  under the terms of Section  3.05(e),  Buyer will  notify
Seller  promptly if it enters  into any trust  computer  processing  contract or
agreement with any Prospective Computer Processing Customer.


                                    ARTICLE 4

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER

         The Seller  hereby  represents  and warrants to Buyer as of the date of
this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as follows:

                4.01 Corporate Organization; Powers and Authority; Records.

                (a)  AFC is a  business  corporation,  duly  organized,  validly
existing and in good standing  under the laws of the State of New York. AVC is a
business  corporation,  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of  Vermont.  Each of AFC and AVC is a bank  holding
company, duly registered and in good standing with the Board of Governors of the
Federal  Reserve  System (the  "Federal  Reserve  Board") under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended. GMB is a banking  corporation,  duly organized,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the State of Vermont.
GMB is an "insured  depository  institution"  as such term is defined in Section
3(c) of the Federal  Deposit  Insurance Act, as amended (the "FDIA");  provided,
however, that if GMB consummates one or more Bank Sale Transactions prior to the
Closing  that  involve  the sale by GMB to one or more  third  parties of all or
substantially  all of the  Nonbusiness  Assets and the assumption by one or more
third  parties  from  GMB  of  all  or  substantially  all  of  the  Nonbusiness
Liabilities,  GMB may cease to be an "insured depository  institution" under the
FDIA or a banking corporation under the laws of the State of Vermont,  but shall
in all  events  remain  possessed  of all  required  charters,  authorities  and
licenses, state and federal,  required for the continuing operation by it of the
Business  at all times prior to the  Closing.  GMB has the  corporate  power and
authority  to own or lease all of its  properties,  and each of AFC, AVC and GMB
has the corporate  power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
to complete the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and to carry on its
business as presently conducted.

                (b) GMB is duly  licensed  or  qualified  to do business in each
jurisdiction  in  which  the  nature  of  the  business  conducted  by it or the
character  or the  location of the  properties  and assets owned or leased by it
makes such licensing or qualification necessary,  except where the failure to be
so licensed or qualified,  either  individually  or in the aggregate,  would not
have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Seller.  As used in this  Agreement,  the
term  "Material  Adverse  Effect"  when used for the Seller  means any change or
effect that is or may  reasonably  be expected to be  materially  adverse to the
conduct,  operations, or result of operations of the Business or to the value of
the Purchased Assets or to the Seller's ability to fulfill its obligations under
this  Agreement,  and when used for Buyer  means any change or effect that is or
may  reasonably  be  expected  to be  materially  adverse to Buyer's  ability to
fulfill its obligations under this Agreement.


                                  Page 21 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -18-

                (c)  The  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of  Directors of each of AFC, AVC and the GMB and no other
corporate  proceedings  on the part of AFC, AVC or GMB are  necessary to approve
this  Agreement and to consummate the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This
Agreement  has been duly and validly  executed and delivered by AFC, AVC and GMB
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of AFC, AVC and GMB,  enforceable
against AFC, AVC and GMB in accordance with its terms.

                (d) With respect to account records  reflecting the Business and
the  Purchased  Assets,  the books and records of GMB have been,  and are being,
maintained in accordance  with  applicable  legal and  accounting  requirements,
reflect only actual transactions and reflect all of such assets, liabilities and
accruals  and all of such  items  of  income  and  expense  in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting  principles  consistently  applied. All accounting
ledgers  and other books and records of GMB  relating  to the  Business  and the
Purchased Assets are located at the principal office of GMB in Rutland,  Vermont
or the  principal  office of AFC in Glens  Falls,  New York,  and have been made
available to Buyer, and are true, complete and correct in all material respects,
and present fairly the financial condition, results of operations and changes in
financial  position of the Seller with respect to the Business and the Purchased
Assets as of the dates and for the periods indicated therein.

                4.02 No Violation.

                (a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by AFC,
AVC or  GMB,  nor  the  consummation  by  AFC,  AVC  or GMB of the  transactions
contemplated  hereby, nor compliance by AFC, AVC or GMB with any of the terms or
provisions hereof, will (i) violate,  conflict with or result in a breach of any
provision of the  Charter,  Articles of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of AFC, AVC or
GMB, or (ii)  assuming  that the consents and  approvals  referred to in Section
4.03 hereof are duly obtained, (x) violate any statute,  code, ordinance,  rule,
regulation,  judgment,  order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to AFC, AVC
or GMB, or any of its  properties  or assets,  or (y)  violate,  conflict  with,
result  in a  breach  of any  provisions  of or the loss of any  benefit  under,
constitute a default (or an event, which, with notice or lapse of time, or both,
would  constitute a default)  under,  result in the termination of or a right of
termination or cancellation  under,  accelerate the performance  required by, or
result in the creation of any lien, pledge,  security interest,  charge or other
encumbrance  upon any of the respective  properties or assets of AFC, AVC or GMB
under, any of the terms,  conditions or provisions of any note, bond,  mortgage,
indenture,  deed of trust,  license,  lease,  agreement or other  instrument  or
obligation to which AFC, AVC or GMB is a party, or by which they or any of their
respective properties or assets may be bound or affected, except (in the case of
clause (y) above) for such  violations,  conflicts,  breaches or defaults which,
either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  would not have a  Material  Adverse
Effect on the Seller.

                4.03 Consents and Approvals.

         Except for (i) the filing of  applications  and notices  with,  and the
obtaining of required  consents and  approvals  of, as  applicable,  federal and
state  regulatory  authorities,  including the Vermont  Department  and perhaps,
depending upon the structure of Seller's ownership of the Trust Subsidiary prior
to the Closing,  the Federal  Reserve  Board,  (ii) the filings,  approvals  and
notices  required  by  Section  1476 of  Chapter  62 and (iii) the  consents  or


                                  Page 22 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -19-

approvals of, or prior notices to, any nongovernmental third parties required in
connection  with the Seller's  assignments of its rights and interests under the
Contracts, all of which required third-party consents, approvals and notices are
disclosed in Schedule 4.03 hereto, none of AFC, AVC or GMB is required to obtain
the  consent or approval  of, or give  notice to, any third party in  connection
with the  execution  and delivery by AFC, AVC and GMB of this  Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                4.04 Title to Personal Property; Encumbrances; and Leases.

                (a) Except as set forth on  Schedule  4.04 (a)  hereto,  GMB has
good and marketable title to all of the Personal Property and owns such property
free and clear of any and all encumbrances, liens, mortgages, security interests
or pledges, except such encumbrances,  liens, mortgages,  security interests and
pledges that do not affect the value of such  property in a  materially  adverse
manner and will not interfere with the use of such property as currently used or
contemplated  to be used by  Seller  prior to the  Asset  Closing  or the  Trust
Subsidiary's conduct of the Business after the Asset Closing.

                (b) Except as may be set forth in Schedule 4.04 (b) hereto, none
of AFC, AVC or GMB has received any notice of violation of any applicable zoning
or  environmental  regulation,  ordinance  or other law,  order,  regulation  or
requirement  relating to the conduct of the Business or otherwise  affecting any
of the  Purchased  Assets  and to  the  Seller's  knowledge,  there  is no  such
violation of a material nature.

                (c)  Each of the  Trust  Agreements  that  takes  the form of an
agreement  or  contract  and each of the  Contracts  is valid and binding on the
Seller  and, to the  Seller's  knowledge,  valid and binding on and  enforceable
against all other respective parties thereto in accordance with their respective
terms (subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar
laws  affecting  the rights and  remedies  of  creditors  generally  and general
principles of equity). Each of the Trust Agreements constituting or containing a
currently  effective  appointment  under will or other  instrument  is valid and
lawful.  Except as may be set forth in  Schedule  4.04 (c)  hereto,  GMB has not
received notice or otherwise become aware of, or provided notice or made a claim
with  respect  to, any breach or default by any other  party to any of the Trust
Agreements or Contracts  (all Trust  Agreements  with respect to which any other
parties  are in breach or default  being  referred to in this  Agreement  as the
"Defaulted  Trust  Agreements").  There are not under any of the Contracts,  any
existing  breaches,  defaults or events of default by GMB, or events  which with
notice  and/or  lapse of time  would  constitute  a breach,  default or event of
default by GMB  thereunder.  GMB enjoys  quiet and  peaceful  possession  of all
properties subject to a Personal Property Lease.

                (d) To the Seller's  knowledge,  all of the Personal Property is
in good maintenance,  repair,  and operating  condition,  ordinary wear and tear
excepted,  and is  adequate  for the  purposes  for  which it is now being or is
anticipated to be used, and is free from any material defects.

                4.05 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

         Except as may be set forth on Schedule 4.05 hereto:


                                  Page 23 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -20-

                (a) to the knowledge of the Seller,  no fact or condition exists
which will, or could  reasonably  be expected to,  result in a Material  Adverse
Effect on the Seller in the future;

                (b) since January 1, 1992,  GMB has carried on the Business only
in the  ordinary  course and  consistent  with prior and prudent  fiduciary  and
business practice;

                (c) the Seller has not  entered  into any  agreement,  contract,
commitment or transaction relating to or affecting the Business or the Purchased
Assets,  except for those in the  ordinary  course of  business  (none of which,
individually  or in the aggregate,  has had, or could  reasonably be expected to
have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Seller);

                (d) GMB has not suffered any strike, work stoppage, slowdown, or
other labor disturbance affecting its conduct of the Business;

                (e) since  September 30, 1995,  there has not been any change in
any of the  accounting  methods or  practices  or the  policies,  procedures  or
practices of the Seller with respect to or otherwise  affecting  the Business or
any  change  in  the  value  at  which  Purchased  Assets  are  carried  on  the
consolidated  or  consolidating  balance sheets of the Seller other than changes
that are reflected in their respective profit and loss statements;

                (f) since  September 30, 1995,  there has not been any notice or
indication  of  intention  from any person or entity to  terminate  any material
Contract  with GMB  affecting  the  Business  or any  notice  or  indication  of
intention from any Customer(s) accounting for more than ten percent (10%) of the
Business  individually or in the aggregate or third party vendor of GMB to cease
doing  business  with,  materially  change  the  price or  other  terms on which
business is transacted  with or materially  reduce the business  transacted with
GMB,  to the extent any such third party  action  would  relate to or  otherwise
affect the Business; and

                (g) all suspense  accounts of GMB maintained in connection  with
the Business have been reconciled monthly, and no differences over $500 exist.

                4.06 Legal Proceedings.

         Except as set forth on Schedule 4.06 hereto,  the Seller is not a party
to any,  and there are no pending  or, to the  Seller's  knowledge,  threatened,
legal,  administrative,  arbitral  or  other  proceedings,  claims,  actions  or
governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against or affecting AVC
or GMB or challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated
by this  Agreement,  and there is no reasonable  basis for any such  proceeding,
claim,  action  or  governmental  or  regulatory  investigation.   There  is  no
injunction,  order, judgment, decree, or regulatory restriction imposed upon the
Seller  or the  assets  of  the  Seller  which,  either  individually  or in the
aggregate,  has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect  on the  Seller.  To the  knowledge  of the  Seller,  there are no facts,
circumstances  or  conditions  affecting  the Business  which would  indicate or
suggest the possibility of any  unrecognized  future loss caused by defalcation,
embezzlement  or other  employee  malfeasance or by payments made or accepted in
violation of any law or regulation.


                                  Page 24 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -21-

                4.07 Taxes and Tax Returns.

         Each of AFC,  AVC and GMB has duly filed in correct  form all  federal,
state, county and local information returns and tax returns required to be filed
by it on or prior to the date  hereof  (all  such  returns  being  accurate  and
complete) and has duly paid or made  provisions for the payment of all Taxes (as
hereafter  defined) and other  governmental  charges which have been incurred or
are due or claimed to be due from it by federal,  state,  county or local taxing
authorities on or prior to the date hereof (including without limitation, if and
to the  extent  applicable,  those due in  respect  of its  properties,  income,
business, capital stock, deposits, franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls, and
any business  profits,  business  enterprise or other tax),  other than Taxes or
other charges that are not yet  delinquent or are being  contested in good faith
and have not been finally  determined  or that are not,  individually  or in the
aggregate, material in amount.

         As used in this Agreement,  the term "Taxes" means all federal,  state,
county, local and foreign income,  excise, gross receipts, ad valorem,  profits,
gains,  property,   sales,  transfer,  use,  payroll,   employment,   severance,
withholding, duties, intangibles,  franchise and other taxes, charges, levies or
like assessments,  together with all penalties and additions to tax and interest
thereon.

                4.08 Officers and Employees.

         Schedule  4.08 hereto sets forth (i) a true,  complete and correct list
of the name and  address  of each  and  every  officer  and  employee  currently
employed by GMB in connection with the Business (the "Employees"),  the position
of each such  Employee,  and the current  salary or wage of each such  Employee,
(ii) a list of all individualized employment or severance agreements,  contracts
or arrangements covering any such Employee (the "Employee Contracts"), and (iii)
a list and brief description of each pension, retirement, profit sharing, bonus,
thrift,  stock  option,  restricted  stock,  deferred  compensation,  severance,
collective  bargaining  or  other  plan,  agreement,   trust,  fund,  policy  or
arrangement that is maintained or contributed to, or within the past three years
has been  maintained or contributed to, by the Seller that covers or affects any
two or more Employees (the "Employee Plans").

                4.09 Other Statements and Reports.

         AVC and GMB have timely filed all material  reports,  registrations and
statements,  together  with any  amendments  required  to be made  with  respect
thereto,  that they were  required  to file  since  January 1, 1995 with (i) the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal  Reserve Board"),
(ii) the FDIC, (iii) the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance and Securities
and any other state banking commissions or any other state regulatory  authority
(each a "State  Regulator") and (iv) any  self-regulatory  organization or other
regulatory  agency and all other material reports and statements  required to be
filed by them since January 1, 1995, including without limitation, any report or
statement required to be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the
United States,  the Federal Reserve Board,  the FDIC, any State Regulator or any
self-regulatory  organization,  and have paid all fees and  assessments  due and
payable in  connection  therewith.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.09 hereto,
there is no material unresolved violation,  criticism or exception pertaining in
any way to the Business or any of the Purchased Assets which has been previously
cited by any  regulatory  agency in any  report  or  statement  relating  to any
examination of AFC, AVC or GMB.

                                  Page 25 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -22-

                4.10 Agreements with Regulatory Agencies.

         None of AFC, AVC or GMB is now subject to any cease-and-desist or other
order issued by, or is now a party to any written  agreement,  consent agreement
or memorandum of understanding  with, or is now a party to any commitment letter
or similar  understanding  to, nor now subject to any order or directive by, nor
now a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, nor has it adopted
any  board  resolution  that is  currently  in  effect at the  request  of,  any
regulatory  agency that  restricts  the  conduct of the  Business or that in any
manner relates to the Business or the management thereof by AFC, AVC or GMB (any
of the foregoing, a "Seller Regulatory  Agreement"),  nor has any of AFC, AVC or
GMB been  advised by any  regulatory  agency that it is  considering  issuing or
requesting any Seller Regulatory Agreement.

                4.11 Environmental Matters.

         Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11 hereto:

                (a) To the  knowledge of the Seller,  any real  property held by
GMB in a fiduciary  capacity (a "Trust  Property") is, and has been, in material
compliance  with  all  applicable   environmental   laws  and  with  all  rules,
regulations,  standards  and  requirements  of the United  States  Environmental
Protection  Agency (the "EPA") and of state and local agencies with jurisdiction
over pollution or protection of the environment.

                (b) To the  knowledge  of the Seller,  there is no suit,  claim,
action or proceeding  pending or threatened,  before any governmental  entity or
other  forum in  which  the  Seller  has been or,  with  respect  to  threatened
proceedings,  may  be,  named  as a  defendant  (i)  for  alleged  noncompliance
(including by any predecessor),  with any environmental  law, rule,  regulation,
standard or  requirement or (ii) relating to the release into or presence in the
Environment (as hereinafter  defined) of any Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter
defined)  or Oil (as  hereinafter  defined)  occurring  at or on,  or  otherwise
affecting, any Trust Property.

                (c) To the  knowledge  of the  Seller,  there  are no  facts  or
circumstances which would provide a reasonable basis for any suit, claim, action
or proceeding as described in paragraph (b) of this Section 4.11.

                (d) To the  knowledge of the Seller,  during the period of GMB's
ownership  or  operation  of any Trust  Property,  there has been no  release of
Hazardous  Material or Oil in, on,  under or  affecting  such  property.  To the
knowledge of the Seller,  prior to the period of GMB's ownership or operation of
any Trust  Property,  there was no release of Hazardous  Material or Oil in, on,
under or affecting  such property.  To the knowledge of the Seller,  without any
independent inquiry or examination, both during and prior to the period of GMB's
ownership or operation of any Trust  Property,  there was not nor has there been
any presence of Hazardous  Material or Oil discovered in, on, under or affecting
such property.

                (e) The following definitions apply for purposes of this Section
4.11: (i) "Hazardous  Material" means any pollutant,  contaminant,  or hazardous
substance or hazardous  material as defined in or pursuant to the  Comprehensive
Environmental   Response,   Compensation,   and  Liability   Act,  the  Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, Title 10, Chapter 159, Section 6602 of

                                  Page 26 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -23-

the Vermont Statutes or any other federal,  state, or local  environmental  law,
regulation, or requirement,  all as may be amended from time to time; (ii) "Oil"
means any  insoluble  or  partially  soluble oil of any kind or origin or in any
form,  as defined in or pursuant to Title 10,  Chapter 59,  Section  1922 of the
Vermont  Statutes  or any other  federal,  state,  or local  environmental  law,
regulation,  or requirement,  all as may be amended from time to time; and (iii)
"Environment"  means any soil, surface waters,  groundwaters,  stream sediments,
surface or  subsurface  strata,  and ambient  air,  and any other  environmental
medium.

                4.12 Insurance.

         All of the policies relating to insurance maintained by the Seller with
respect to the Business and the  Purchased  Assets (or any  comparable  policies
entered  into as a  replacement  therefor)  are in full force and effect and the
Seller has not received any notice of cancellation with respect thereto.

                4.13 Transactions with Certain Persons.

         No  Customer  who is an  officer  or  director  of  AFC,  AVC or GMB or
greater-than-5% stockholder of AFC or an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144(a)(1)
of the Securities  Act) of any such officer,  director or stockholder  (any such
person,  an  "Interested  Person"),  has  entered  into any Trust  Agreement  or
maintains  any Customer  account or  relationship  with or receives any trust or
fiduciary  services from GMB other than Trust  Agreements,  accounts or services
entered into, maintained or provided in the ordinary course of business on terms
substantially   the  same  as  those  prevailing  at  the  time  for  comparable
transactions  with  other,  unaffiliated  persons,  and which did not and do not
involve any unusual risk or other  features  unfavorable  to GMB.  Schedule 4.13
hereto  contains a full  description of all  outstanding  Trust  Agreements with
Interested Persons.

                4.14 Trust Agreements.

                (a) Schedule  2.01(c)  attached hereto sets forth as of the date
hereof,  and shall be amended as necessary in accordance with Section 2.05 above
to set forth as of the Asset Closing, (i) a complete and correct list of all the
Trust  Agreements,  (ii) information as to the capacities of GMB under each such
Trust  Agreement,   and  (iii)  current  annual  fees,  fee  schedules  and  fee
arrangements  with Customers and arrangements  regarding  payment of expenses by
Customers.  Except as set forth on Schedule 2.01(c),  to the Seller's knowledge,
GMB has been acting as the validly-appointed fiduciary, custodian or agent under
each Trust Agreement for all periods during which, based on a reasonable reading
of such  Trust  Agreement,  it should  have been  acting as a  validly-appointed
fiduciary,  custodian or agent. The Seller believes that each Trust Agreement is
in full  force  and  effect  on the date  hereof.  There  are no  material  oral
modifications in effect with respect to any of the Trust Agreements.

                (b)  GMB  is  not  in  breach  or  non-compliance,  nor,  to the
knowledge of Seller,  is GMB considered to be in breach or non-compliance by the
other party thereto, of any term of any Trust Agreement, except in any such case
for any  breaches  that  singly or in the  aggregate  would not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on the Seller.

                (c) Without limiting the foregoing,  to the Seller's  knowledge,
GMB has (i) complied with all applicable  laws and regulations in the conduct of
the  Business,   including,   without   limitation,   all  laws  concerning  tax


                                  Page 27 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -24-

withholding,  and has filed all  necessary  returns,  reports  or  schedules  in
connection  with any such  withholding as required  under the Trust  Agreements;
(ii) prepared and filed all income tax returns  required to be prepared or filed
by it as grantor  trustee or  otherwise;  (iii)  kept all  necessary  records as
required  by the terms of the Trust  Agreements;  (iv)  except  for the  escheat
obligations  of GMB which  shall have been  fulfilled  as of the Asset  Closing,
fulfilled all of its payment and escheat  obligations;  (v) paid all liabilities
required  to be paid by it  under  the  Trust  Agreements;  (vi)  not  made  any
overpayments  or  over-advances  under the Trust  Agreements;  (vii) not waived,
amended or modified any  provision of any Trust  Agreement  except in accordance
with  the  provisions  of such  Trust  Agreement  and as  shown  in the  records
maintained  by the Seller  that are part of the  Business  Documents;  (viii) no
current  disputes  with  co-agents or others as to amounts  payable by or to any
such person;  and (ix) to the extent required by law or by the applicable  Trust
Agreements, taken all action to maintain for the benefit of the holders or other
beneficiaries or obligees under the Trust Agreements all interests in collateral
granted  or  pledged  to  secure  obligations  thereunder,   including,  without
limitation,  the making of governmental  or other filings to effect,  perfect or
continue  such  interests  in such  collateral,  except to the extent that GMB's
failure to comply with or perform any of the foregoing  clauses  (i)-(ix)  would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Seller.

                (d) As of the Asset Closing,  all requirements and conditions to
the  succession  of the Trust  Subsidiary  as successor to GMB under each of the
Trust  Agreements,  other than any Retained  Trust  Agreements,  shall have been
fulfilled,  and no consents of third  parties to such  succession  that have not
been obtained shall be required.

                4.15 Disclosure.

         All material  facts relating to the business,  operations,  properties,
assets,  liabilities,  results of  operations  and  financial  condition  of GMB
affecting  the Business have been  disclosed to Buyer in this  Agreement and the
Schedules  furnished hereto.  No  representation  or warranty  contained in this
Agreement, and no statement contained in any certificate,  list or other writing
furnished to Buyer  pursuant to the provisions  hereof,  to the knowledge of the
Seller,  contains any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits to state a
material fact  necessary in order to make the statements  herein or therein,  in
light  of  the  circumstances  in  which  they  are  made,  not  misleading.  No
information  material  to the  Agreement  and  which  is  necessary  to make the
representations and warranties contained herein not misleading, to the knowledge
of the Seller,  has been withheld from, or has not been delivered in writing to,
Buyer.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  "to the knowledge of the Seller" means
any fact, condition or circumstance  actually known by any senior officer of the
Seller  engaged in the Business,  including  any vice  president or above in the
trust  department of GMB and any other senior  officer of the Seller,  including
any senior vice president or above, and any fact, condition or circumstance that
should have been known by any such senior officer in the reasonable  exercise of
such officer's duties in accordance with prevailing  banking and trust practices
and procedures.



                                  Page 28 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -25-

                                    ARTICLE 5

                     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

         Buyer  hereby  represents  and  warrants to each of AFC, AVC and GMB as
follows:

                5.01 Corporate Organization, Powers and Authority.

                (a) Buyer is a national  banking  association,  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good  standing  under the laws of the United  States of
America. Buyer is an "insured depository institution" as such term is defined in
Section 3(c) of the FDIA.  Buyer has the corporate power and authority to own or
lease its properties,  to execute and deliver this Agreement and to complete the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement  and  carry  on its  business  as
presently conducted.

                (b) Buyer is duly  licensed or  qualified to do business in each
jurisdiction  in  which  the  nature  of  the  business  conducted  by it or the
character  or the  location of the  properties  and assets owned or leased by it
makes such licensing or qualification necessary,  except where the failure to be
so licensed or qualified,  either  individually  or in the aggregate,  would not
have a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer.

                (c)  The  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
approved by the Board of Directors of Buyer. No other  corporate  proceedings on
the part of Buyer are necessary to approve this  Agreement and to consummate the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This  Agreement  has been duly and  validly
executed and delivered by Buyer and  constitutes a valid and binding  obligation
of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms.

                5.02 No Violation.

                (a) Neither the  execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement  by
Buyer, nor the consummation by Buyer of the transaction contemplated hereby, nor
compliance  by  Buyer  with  any of the  terms or  provisions  hereof,  will (i)
violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of the Articles of
Association or Bylaws of Buyer, or (ii) assuming that the consents and approvals
referred to in Section 5.03 hereof are duly  obtained,  (x) violate any statute,
code, ordinance,  rule, regulation,  judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction
applicable  to  Buyer,  or any of its  properties  or  assets,  or (y)  violate,
conflict  with,  result  in a  breach  of any  provisions  of or the loss of any
benefit under, constitute a default (or an event, which, with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would  constitute a default) under,  result in the termination of
or a right of  termination or  cancellation  under,  accelerate the  performance
required by, or result in the creation of any lien,  pledge,  security interest,
charge or other  encumbrance upon any of the respective  properties or assets of
Buyer under,  any of the terms,  conditions  or  provisions  of any note,  bond,
mortgage,   indenture,  deed  of  trust,  license,  lease,  agreement  or  other
instrument or  obligation to which Buyer is a party,  or by which they or any of
their respective  properties or assets may be bound or affected,  except (in the
case of clause (y) above) for such violations,  conflicts,  breaches or defaults
which,  either  individually  or in the  aggregate,  would  not have a  Material
Adverse Effect on Buyer.


                                  Page 29 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -26-

                5.03 Consents and Approvals.

         Except  for the  filing  of  applications  and  notices  with,  and the
required  consents  and  approvals  of, as  applicable,  federal  and state bank
regulatory authorities,  including the Vermont Department and perhaps, depending
upon the  structure of the ownership of the Trust  Subsidiary by Buyer's  parent
holding company, Vermont Financial Services Corporation ("VFSC"),  following the
Closing,  the Federal Reserve Board,  neither Buyer nor any of its affiliates is
required  to obtain the  consent or  approval  of, or give  notice to, any third
party in connection  with the execution and delivery by Buyer of this  Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                5.04 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

         To the knowledge of Buyer,  no fact or condition  exists which will, or
could reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer in
the future.

                5.05 Legal Proceedings.

         Buyer is not a party to any,  and there are no  pending  or, to Buyer's
knowledge,  threatened,  legal,  administrative,  arbitral or other proceedings,
claims,  actions or  governmental  or  regulatory  investigations  of any nature
against or  affecting  Buyer or  challenging  the  validity or  propriety of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and there is no reasonable  basis
for  any  other  proceeding,   claim,   action  or  governmental  or  regulatory
investigation against Buyer. There is no injunction, order, judgment, decree, or
regulatory  restriction  imposed upon Buyer or the assets of Buyer which, either
individually  or in the aggregate,  has had, or could  reasonably be expected to
have, a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer.

                5.06 Agreements with Regulatory Agencies.

         Buyer is not subject to any  cease-and-desist or other order issued by,
is not a party to any written  agreement,  consent  agreement or  memorandum  of
understanding  with,  is  not a  party  to  any  commitment  letter  or  similar
understanding  to,  is not  subject  to any  order  or  directive  by,  is not a
recipient of any  extraordinary  supervisory  letter from, and is not subject to
any board  resolution  adopted at the  request  of, any  regulatory  agency that
restricts  the  conduct of its  business  or that in any  manner  relates to its
management  or  its  business  (any  of  the  foregoing,   a  "Buyer  Regulatory
Agreement"),  nor has Buyer been  advised by any  regulatory  agency  that it is
considering issuing or requesting any Buyer Regulatory Agreement.

                5.07 Disclosure.

         All material facts relating to the financial condition of Buyer and its
ability to consummate the transaction provided for herein have been disclosed to
the Seller. No representation  or warranty  contained in this Agreement,  and no
statement contained in any certificate,  list or other writing furnished to AFC,
AVC or GMB  pursuant  to the  provisions  hereof,  to the  knowledge  of  Buyer,
contains any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omits to state a material
fact  necessary in order to make the statements  herein or therein,  in light of
the  circumstances  in which  they are  made,  not  misleading.  No  information
material to the Agreement and which is necessary to make the representations and
warranties contained herein not misleading, to the knowledge of Buyer, has been

                                  Page 30 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -27-

withheld from, or has not been delivered in writing to, the Seller. For purposes
of this Agreement,  "to the knowledge of the Buyer" means any fact, condition or
circumstance  actually known by any senior officer of Buyer,  including any vice
president or above,  and any fact,  condition or  circumstance  that should have
been  known  by any such  senior  officer  in the  reasonable  exercise  of such
officer's duties in accordance with prevailing banking practices and procedures.


                                    ARTICLE 6

                     CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE CLOSING

         During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing  until
the Closing, and except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement
or otherwise  consented to in writing by the party hereto whom such provision is
intended to benefit:

                6.01 Conduct of the Business.

                (a) The Seller (which reference, for purposes of this Article 6,
includes  the  Trust  Subsidiary  from and after  the time it is  organized  and
becomes a party to this  Agreement)  will carry on the Business  diligently  and
substantially  in the same manner as  heretofore,  and the Seller will not, with
regard to the Business,  engage in any one or more  activities  or  transactions
which shall be outside of the usual, regular and ordinary course of the Business
as  conducted  as of the date  hereof  except  for  activities  or  transactions
expressly contemplated by this Agreement, including any Bank Sale Transaction as
described under Section 2.07 above; and

                (b) The Seller will use its best  efforts to preserve  the value
of the Business.  The Seller  further agrees to use its best efforts to preserve
for Buyer the goodwill of the  Customers and others  having  relations  with GMB
through the conduct of the Business,  and to cooperate  with and assist Buyer in
assuring the orderly  transition of such business,  as will be conducted through
the Trust  Subsidiary,  from GMB to Buyer.  Nothing in this  paragraph  shall be
construed as requiring  Seller to engage in any activities or efforts outside of
the  ordinary  course of business as  presently  conducted,  except as otherwise
expressly provided for in this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing,  and  except as set forth on  Schedule  6.01  hereto or as  otherwise
expressly provided for by this Agreement or as consented to in writing by Buyer,
the Seller shall not:

                    (i)  amend,  revise or  otherwise  change  the  current  fee
schedules  and  arrangements  with  Customers as such are  disclosed in Schedule
2.01(c) of this Agreement;

                    (ii)  enter into any new line of  business  or offer any new
product in connection with its conduct of the Business;

                    (iii)  change  its  methods,   policies  or   procedures  of
accounting  for or relating to or including the Business in effect at January 1,
1995, except as required by changes in generally accepted accounting procedures;

                    (iv)  except  as  required  by  applicable  law or  under an
existing  Employee  Contract or Employee  Plan , (a)  increase in any manner the
compensation or fringe benefits of any Transferred Employee or pay any special

                                  Page 31 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -28-

benefit to such person,  other than in the ordinary course of business in normal
amounts  at normal  times,  or (b)  enter  into,  modify  or renew any  Employee
Contract with any Transferred Employee, or establish, adopt, enter into or amend
any  Employee  Plan  covering or  providing  for any benefit to any  Transferred
Employee;

                    (v) sell,  lease,  pledge,  encumber,  assign  or  otherwise
dispose of any material Purchased Asset,  Personal  Property,  Contract or Trust
Agreement  (other than any Retained  Trust  Agreement)  or take any action which
would have a material adverse effect on the value of any of the foregoing;

                    (vi) with  respect to the  Business or any of the  Purchased
Assets, incur any debt, liability or obligation (whether absolute or contingent,
whether primary or secondary or whether directly by way of guaranty) or make any
loan or  advance,  other  than in any case in the  ordinary  course of  business
consistent with past practice;

                    (vii) undertake, enter into or renew, amend or terminate, or
give notice of a proposed  renewal,  amendment or  termination of any commitment
with  respect to, (a) any  Contract,  Trust  Agreement  (other than any Retained
Trust  Agreement)  or any of the  Purchased  Assets  other than in the  ordinary
course of business  consistent with past practice or (b) any capital improvement
related to the Business or any Purchased  Asset,  except as provided in the 1996
capital budget as previously disclosed to Buyer;

                    (viii)  commit  any  act or  omission  which  constitutes  a
material breach or default by the Seller under any Seller Regulatory  Agreement,
Trust Agreement (other than any Retained Trust Agreement) or Contract;

                    (ix) since  September  30, 1995,  change the  procedures  or
practices relating to the Business other than as required by law;

                    (x)  establish  any new trust account other than pursuant to
GMB's  policies  and  procedures  in  effect  on June 30,  1995,  as  previously
disclosed to Buyer,  and in accordance  with  customary  terms,  conditions  and
standards and applicable law and consistent with prudent  fiduciary and business
practices;

                    (xi) waive any material right,  whether in equity or at law,
that it has with  respect  to any Trust  Agreement  or  Contract,  except in the
ordinary  course of business  consistent  with  prudent  fiduciary  and business
practices;

                    (xii) authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention
to authorize,  recommend or propose, or enter into an agreement with respect to,
(a) any merger,  consolidation,  purchase and assumption transaction or business
combination (other than as contemplated by this Agreement),  (b) any acquisition
of a material amount of assets or securities or assumption of liabilities or (c)
any disposition of a material amount of assets or securities, which with respect
to any of the foregoing would in any way relate to or affect the Business or any
of the Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities, it being expressly agreed by the
parties hereto that any agreement  entered into by the Seller for or relating to
a Bank  Sale  Transaction  as  described  in  Section  2.07  above  shall not be
prohibited by this Section 6.01 (b) (xi); or

                                  Page 32 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -29-


                    (xiii) take any action that is intended or may reasonably be
expected to result in any of its  representations  and  warranties  set forth in
this Agreement being or becoming untrue.

                6.02 No Solicitation.

         The  Seller  will  immediately  cease  and cause to be  terminated  any
activities,  discussions or  negotiations  conducted with any parties other than
Buyer with respect to the sale or transfer of all or any portion of the Business
to be sold and transferred to the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, and will not
solicit,  initiate,  encourage,  respond to or  participate  in any  discussions
regarding any inquiry or proposal from any third party relating to any such sale
or transfer while this Agreement is in effect.

                6.03 Access to Information.

         Upon  reasonable  notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the
provision  of  information,  the Seller shall  afford the  officers,  employees,
accountants,  counsel and other  representatives of Buyer, access, during normal
business  hours during the period  prior to the Closing,  to all of the Seller's
properties, books, contracts,  commitments and records relating to the Purchased
Assets and  Assumed  Liabilities  subject to this  Agreement  and,  during  such
period,  the Seller  shall  make  available  to Buyer (i)  copies of  applicable
periodic  reports to senior  management  of GMB  involving  the Business and all
materials  furnished to the Board of Directors of GMB relating to the conduct of
the Business generally,  and (ii) all other information  concerning the Seller's
business,  properties,  assets and personnel reasonably relevant to the Business
or the  completion of the  transactions  provided for in this Agreement as Buyer
may reasonably request.  The Seller shall not be required to provide such access
or to disclose such information where such access or disclosure would contravene
any law,  rule,  regulation,  order,  judgment,  decree or fiduciary duty or any
binding agreement  entered into prior to the date of this Agreement,  but in any
such case the  parties  hereto  will  attempt in good faith to make  appropriate
substitute disclosure arrangements.

                6.04 Advice of Changes.

         Prior to the  Closing,  each of the Seller and the Buyer will  promptly
advise the other of (i) any change or the  occurrence  or  nonoccurrence  of any
event  having  a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on such  party  or  which  would be
reasonably  likely  to  cause  any  representation  or  warranty  of such  party
contained in this  Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material  respect
and (ii) any  material  failure  of such  party to comply  with or  satisfy  any
covenant,  condition or  agreement to be complied  with or satisfied by it under
this  Agreement  if such  failure  is not or cannot  be cured  within 30 days of
discovery.  From time to time prior to the  Closing,  each  party will  promptly
supplement or amend any Schedule  delivered in connection  with the execution of
this Agreement to reflect any matter which,  if existing,  occurring or known at
the  date of this  Agreement,  would  have  been  required  to be set  forth  or
described in such Schedule or which is necessary to correct any  information  in
such Schedule which has been rendered inaccurate  thereby.  Neither the delivery
of any such notice nor any  supplement or amendment to such Schedule shall limit
or otherwise affect the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such


                                  Page 33 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -30-

notice,  supplement  or  amendment  nor  have any  effect  for the  purposes  of
determining  satisfaction  of  the  conditions  set  forth  in  this  Agreement;
provided,  however,  that the election by the party  receiving  any such notice,
amendment or  supplement  prior to the Closing  relating to any  representation,
warranty,  agreement  or covenant of the other party to proceed with the Closing
shall constitute the irrevocable waiver by such party, as of the Closing, of any
claim that such party might  otherwise  have had against the other party for any
damages,  satisfaction,  compensation,  specific performance or other remedy, at
law  or in  equity,  arising  out  of or  relating  to any  breach,  failure  or
nonfulfillment of the representation, warranty or covenant to which such notice,
amendment or supplement relates.

                6.05 Current Information.

                (a)  During the period  from the date of this  Agreement  to the
Closing   Date,   the  Seller   will  cause  one  or  more  of  its   designated
representatives  to  confer  on a  regular  and  frequent  basis  (not less than
monthly) with  representatives  of Buyer to report on the general  status of the
ongoing operations of the Business and the status of the Purchased Assets and to
cooperate and communicate fully with respect to the manner in which the Business
is proposed to be  conducted  before and after the  Closing,  including  without
limitation  the  type  and mix of  products  and  services,  personnel  matters,
accounting, and the making of any capital improvement related to the Business or
any of the Purchased Assets.

                (b) Each of the Seller and the Buyer  will  promptly  notify the
other party of any Material Adverse Effect on such party and of any governmental
complaints,  investigations  or hearings  that may relate or  otherwise  affect,
directly or indirectly,  the Business or the  transaction  contemplated  by this
Agreement (or  communications  indicating that the same may be  contemplated) or
the institution or the threatened institution of significant litigation relating
to or otherwise affecting,  directly or indirectly,  the Business, and will keep
such other party reasonably informed of such events.

                6.06 Failure to Fulfill Conditions.

         In the event that a party  hereto  determines  that a condition  to its
obligation to complete the transactions contemplated by this Agreement cannot be
fulfilled and will not be waived, it will promptly notify the other party.


                                    ARTICLE 7

              OBLIGATIONS OF PARTIES PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE CLOSING

                7.01 Regulatory and Other Approvals.

         Each party (i) shall,  as soon as  practicable  after the date  hereof,
prepare and file,  and shall assist and  cooperate in a timely  fashion with the
other party in its preparation and filing of,  applications with the appropriate
federal and/or state regulatory authorities for all approvals required by law or
regulation to effect the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and the
parties  hereto  shall,  if  required,   publish   appropriate  notice  of  such
applications, and (ii) shall, as soon as practicable after the date hereof, seek


                                  Page 34 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -31-

to obtain,  and shall assist and  cooperate  in a timely  fashion with the other
party in its attempts to obtain,  all other consents and approvals  necessary to
effect such  transactions,  including the approval or consent of nongovernmental
third parties of the assignment of the Seller's  rights and interests  under the
Contracts,  if and as required.  The parties agree to use their  respective best
efforts to cooperate and obtain any and all such  regulatory and other approvals
at the  earliest  practicable  time,  and to satisfy any  reasonable  conditions
imposed  by the  regulators  or other  parties  whose  consent  or  approval  is
required.

                7.02 Further Assurance.

         Each party will use its best efforts to perform its  obligations  under
this Agreement and to take such actions as are necessary or advisable to satisfy
the conditions set forth herein. In connection with the foregoing, to the extent
any one or more Customers shall object to the Chapter 62 proceeding  relating to
Seller's transfer of the Business to the Trust Subsidiary or otherwise object to
the transfer of such Customer's account to the Trust Subsidiary or Buyer, Seller
shall use its best  efforts  to  persuade  such  Customer(s)  to  withdraw  such
objection  or,  to  the  extent  such  efforts  are  unsuccessful  or  would  be
inappropriate  if  continued,  shall  use  its  best  efforts  to  transfer  the
trusteeship of each such Customer's  account(s) to a suitable successor trustee.
Each party hereby agrees to execute and deliver such  instruments  and take such
other  actions as the other party may  reasonably  require in order to carry out
the intent of this  Agreement.  In  connection  with the Asset  Closing,  Seller
agrees to give the Trust  Subsidiary  such bills of sale,  assignments and other
instruments of conveyance and transfer as, in the reasonable  judgment of Buyer,
shall be necessary and appropriate to vest in the Trust Subsidiary the legal and
equitable  title to the  Purchased  Assets,  free and  clear  of all  liens  and
encumbrances.  Seller  further  agrees to use its best  efforts  to  obtain  all
necessary and appropriate consents from third parties to effect the substitution
of Buyer or the Trust  Subsidiary in place of GMB with respect to any fiduciary,
custodial or agency  appointments of GMB included within the Purchased Assets or
otherwise relating to the Business that have not been effectively transferred to
the Trust Subsidiary, whether in accordance with Chapter 62 or otherwise, at any
time from and after the Closing Date; provided,  however,  that Seller shall not
be required to incur substantial  additional costs or expenses in fulfillment of
its obligation contained in this sentence.

                7.03  Limitations on the Seller's  Fiduciary  Services  Business
Activities.

         AFC  and  its  subsidiaries  and  affiliates  will  not,   directly  or
indirectly,  solicit to  provide or  provide,  by any means  including,  without
limitation, personal contact, mail or telephone, any form or manner of Fiduciary
Services (as such term is defined below) to any of the Customers for a period of
three  years  after  the  Closing  Date.  As used in this  Agreement,  the  term
"Fiduciary Services" means services provided primarily for the benefit of others
in the capacity as investment  manager,  trustee,  custodian,  agent,  executor,
administrator,  guardian of estates, assignee,  receiver or committee of estates
of lunatics.  Nothing in this Section 7.03 shall prevent the subsidiary banks or
other affiliates of AFC after the Closing from providing any services, including
without limitation Fiduciary Services, to any person or entity if the subsidiary
bank or affiliate  providing such services is initially  approached  without any
prior solicitation of any kind by such person or entity regarding such services.


                                  Page 35 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -32-

                7.04 Officers and Employees.

         Buyer intends to offer  employment,  through the Trust  Subsidiary,  to
such number of the Employees who meet Buyer's  qualifications and remain in good
standing as Employees  prior to the Closing  Date, as it requires to conduct the
Business  after the Closing  Date.  Buyer shall  provide to AFC at least 30 days
prior to the Closing Date a list of the Employees to whom Buyer intends to offer
employment after the Closing (such specified  Employees being referred to as the
"Transferred  Employees"),  which list may be amended from time to time by Buyer
prior to the Closing Date.  Buyer shall offer to the  Transferred  Employees the
same  benefits as are  maintained  by Buyer from time to time for the benefit of
its employees similarly situated.  Buyer shall cause its employee benefit plans,
programs or  arrangements,  other than any employee  pension  plan, to treat the
prior service of each  Transferred  Employee with GMB or its affiliates,  to the
extent such prior service is recognized  under any comparable  plan,  program or
arrangement of the Seller,  as service  rendered to Buyer or its affiliates,  as
the case may be,  for  purposes  of  eligibility  to  participate,  vesting  and
eligibility for special benefits under each such plan, program or arrangement of
Buyer, but not for benefit accrual attributable to any period before the Closing
Date.  Buyer shall have no obligations or  liabilities  whatsoever,  relating to
severance  benefits or otherwise,  to any Employee  other than those persons who
are included among the Transferred  Employees and, in any case, Buyer shall have
no obligations or liabilities to any of the Employees, including the Transferred
Employees,  with  respect to or under the terms or  conditions  of any  Employee
Contract or Employee Plan.

                7.05 Systems Conversion.

         From and after the date  hereof,  the Seller shall meet with Buyer on a
regular basis to discuss and plan for the conversion of GMB data  processing and
related electronic  informational systems relating to the Business to those used
by Buyer. Buyer shall use its best efforts to complete the systems conversion as
soon as is reasonably practicable following the Closing Date. Until such time as
the conversion is completed,  the Seller shall assist Buyer by providing  access
to the Seller's  computer  software and  computer and data  processing  services
relating to or otherwise affecting the Business. Each party shall be responsible
for its own costs and expenses associated with the systems conversion.

                7.06 Public Announcements;  Confidentiality; No Misuse of Seller
Information; Restricted Names.

                (a)  Except  as  otherwise  required  by law or the rules of the
NASDAQ Stock Market,  the Seller and Buyer will cooperate with each other in the
development and  distribution of all news releases and other public  information
disclosures   with  respect  to  this  Agreement  or  any  of  the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Each of the Buyer and the Seller will hold all non-public
information  relating  to the other party  received by it from the other  party,
directly or through  agents or  representatives,  under this Agreement or in the
course  of any  discussions  and  negotiations  leading  to  this  Agreement  in
strictest  confidence  and shall not  disclose,  and shall take all  appropriate
steps to ensure that its employees,  agents and representatives having access to
such information do not disclose,  any such information to any third parties, to
the public generally, or to any of its own employees,  agents or representatives
who have no need to know such  information,  unless and until  such  information


                                  Page 36 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -33-

shall otherwise have become publicly known;  provided,  however, that non-public
information  relating to the Business shall be deemed non-public  information of
the Buyer after the Closing.

                (b) Buyer and its affiliates  will not,  directly or indirectly,
solicit to provide  or  provide,  by any means  including,  without  limitation,
personal contact, mail or telephone, any form or manner of Fiduciary Services to
any customer of Seller whose account is serviced by Buyer in accordance with the
Servicing  Agreement (as such term is defined in Section 7.07 below) for so long
as such customer's  account is serviced by Buyer under the Servicing  Agreement.
For a period of three  years after the Closing  Date,  Buyer and its  affiliates
will not use to its or their advantage any Restricted  Information (as such term
is  defined  below),  including  without  limitation  soliciting  to  provide or
providing any form of Individual Retirement Accounts or Keogh Accounts to former
customers of GMB whose  Trusteed  Deposit  Accounts have been  transferred  to a
Counterparty  in any Bank Sale  Transaction,  to the  extent  that  Buyer or its
affiliates  shall have  identified  such customers by use of any such Restricted
Information.  As used in this Section 7.06(b), the term "Restricted Information"
means any of the  information of or relating to GMB or its business,  operations
or  customers  obtained  by  Buyer  from  Seller  under  this  Agreement  or  in
negotiations or investigations leading up to the parties' execution and delivery
of this Agreement and  consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby or
obtained  by Buyer after  Closing  from former  employees  of Seller,  including
without limitation  information relating to the Trusteed Deposit Accounts or the
loan  or  deposit  operations  or  business  of  GMB;  provided,  however,  that
Restricted Information shall not in any event include any of the following:  (i)
information  that  relates to the  Business  and is necessary to Buyer after the
Closing  in the  continued  operation  and  further  development  of the  trust,
fiduciary,  custodial, agency and other business constituting the Business; (ii)
information that is or becomes  generally  available to the public other than as
result of a disclosure by Buyer or any affiliate or  representative of Buyer, or
(iii)  information  that  was  previously  known  or  available  to Buyer or its
affiliates or representatives on a nonconfidential basis prior to its disclosure
to Buyer by Seller, its affiliates or representatives. Buyer agrees to return to
Seller all of such Restricted  Information taking the form of documents,  books,
records  or tapes  and to  destroy  any  electronic  records  in its  possession
containing  such  Restricted  Information.  Nothing  contained  in this  Section
7.06(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement  shall be deemed to prohibit Buyer or any
of  its  affiliates  from  engaging  in  general   marketing  and/or  soliciting
activities  in any area of  business  conducted  through  customary  mass  media
sources,  including without limitation print media,  television and radio, which
are not  intended to  specifically  target  persons who are  customers of Seller
whose accounts are serviced by Buyer in accordance with the Servicing  Agreement
or persons who are former GMB customers  whose  Trusteed  Deposit  Accounts have
been transferred to a Counterparty in a Bank Sale Transaction.

                (c) Nothing in this  Section 7.06 shall  prevent the  subsidiary
banks or other affiliates of VFSC after the Closing from providing any services,
including  without  limitation  Fiduciary  Services  or services  pertaining  to
Individual Retirement Accounts or Keogh Accounts, to any person or entity if the
subsidiary  bank or affiliate  providing  such services is initially  approached
without any prior  solicitation  of any kind by such person or entity  regarding
such services.

                (d) Buyer shall not use or permit any successor to use the names
"Green  Mountain  Bank,"  "First  Twin State  Bank,"  "Proctor  Bank" or "United
Vermont Bancorporation."


                                  Page 37 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -34-

                7.07 Servicing Arrangements.

         On the  Closing  Date,  AFC and  Buyer  shall  enter  into a  servicing
agreement in substantially the form included as Exhibit A hereto (the "Servicing
Agreement"),  which shall provide for the continued provision by Buyer after the
Closing Date to AFC and its affiliates of fiduciary services similar in type and
quality to the fiduciary services currently being provided by GMB to AFC and its
affiliates.

                7.08 Lease Arrangements.

         On the  Closing  Date,  the Seller and Buyer  shall  enter into a lease
agreement  in  substantially  the form  included as Exhibit B hereto (the "Lease
Agreement"), pursuant to which Buyer shall lease for the period from the Closing
Date  through  November 30, 1996 that space of  approximately  2,083 square feet
located in 80 West  Street,  Rutland,  Vermont  currently  occupied by the trust
department of GMB, at a per annum rate of Eight and 00/100  Dollars  ($8.00) per
square foot.

                7.09 Section 338(h)(10) Election.

         If Buyer so elects,  as  evidenced  by written  notice given to AFC not
later than the Closing Date, Buyer and AFC will join in making an election under
Section  338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (a "Section
338(h)(10)  Election").  Buyer will be responsible  for preparing and filing all
documents  and  materials  necessary  in  connection  with  making  the  Section
338(h)(10)  Election,  and AFC  agrees to  cooperate  with  Buyer in  connection
therewith (including,  without limitation,  signing and returning to Buyer after
the Closing Date,  completed Internal Revenue Service Forms 8023-A and any other
documents  sent to it for its signature in  connection  therewith (to the extent
such documents are consistent therewith) within fifteen (15) days of its receipt
of such  documents  and  filing  any  such  documents  with its tax  returns  as
necessary). The fair market value of the Purchased Assets shall be determined in
a manner  consistent  with the  allocation  of values  contemplated  by  Section
3.04(c)  above.  Buyer and AFC will file all tax returns in a manner  consistent
with the Section  338(h)(10)  Election and the valuation of the Purchased Assets
as so determined.

                           7.10 Alternative Structure.

         Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary  contained in this Agreement,
at any time prior to the  Closing  Date,  Buyer  shall be entitled to revise the
structure of its  acquisition of the Business as contemplated by this Agreement,
so long as the  transactions  comprising  such  revised  structure  shall (i) be
capable  of  consummation  in as timely a manner as the  structure  contemplated
herein and (ii) not  otherwise  have a material  adverse  impact on the  Seller,
including on the  financial  benefits  reasonably  expected to be derived by the
Seller  from the  transactions  provided  for  herein or the costs  likely to be
incurred  by Seller in  effecting  such  transactions.  This  Agreement  and any
related  documents shall be  appropriately  amended in order to reflect any such
revised structure.



                                  Page 38 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -35-

                                    ARTICLE 8

                   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO BUYER'S OBLIGATIONS

         Each and every obligation of Buyer under this Agreement to be performed
on or before the  Closing  Date shall be  subject to the  satisfaction  by or on
behalf  of  the  Seller,  on or  before  the  Closing  Date,  of  the  following
conditions, unless such satisfaction is waived by the Buyer:

                8.01 Representations and Warranties True; Obligations Performed.

                (a) The  representations  and  warranties  made by the Seller in
this  Agreement,  including  any that may be contained  in any Schedule  hereto,
shall be true at and as of the Closing Date as though such  representations  and
warranties were made at and as of such time, except for any changes consented to
by Buyer or otherwise expressly permitted in this Agreement.

                (b) The  Seller  shall  have  performed  and  complied  with all
obligations  and  agreements  required  by this  Agreement  to be  performed  or
complied with by it prior to or at the Closing Date.

                (c) From the date of this  Agreement  until  the  Closing  Date,
there  shall have been no Material  Adverse  Effect,  not cured,  on the Seller;
provided,  however,  that the updating of Schedule  4.04(c),  as contemplated by
Sections 2.05 and 4.04(c) above, to amend and revise the list of Defaulted Trust
Agreements contained in said Schedule 4.04(c) and/or the aggregate amount of the
fees payable to Seller  under the  Defaulted  Trust  Agreements,  including  any
increase thereof from the date of this Agreement up to and including the Closing
Date,  shall not on their own constitute  the  occurrence of a Material  Adverse
Effect for purposes of this Section 8.01(c),  subject in all cases,  however, to
the continuing effect and applicability of Section 8.01(h) below.

                (d) On the Closing Date, no action,  suit or proceeding shall be
pending or threatened  against the Seller which would  reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Seller.

                (e) Each of the  Servicing  Agreement  and the  Lease  Agreement
shall have been duly  executed and delivered by Buyer and Seller and shall be in
full force and effect on the Closing Date.

                (f) Buyer shall have  received the opinion of Gallop,  Johnson &
Neuman,  L.C., counsel to the Seller, dated the Closing Date, such opinion to be
in  substantially  the form  attached  hereto as Exhibit C. In  delivering  such
opinion,  said counsel may  reasonably  rely on the opinion of Vermont  counsel,
such counsel and opinion to be reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel,
with regard to matters of Vermont law.

                (g) Each of AFC,  AVC and GMB shall  have  delivered  to Buyer a
certificate signed by its President, Chief Financial Officer and senior officers
having  responsibility  for the management and operation of the Business,  dated
the  Closing  Date,  certifying  to the  fulfillment  of  all  of the  foregoing
conditions.


                                  Page 39 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -36-

                (h) The Closing  Annual  Revenue (as such term is defined below)
shall be not less that $1,500,000.00.  For purposes of this Section 8.01(h), the
"Closing  Annual  Revenue"  shall equal (i) the Annual  Revenue,  determined  in
accordance with Section 3.05(a), as of the most recent practicable date prior to
the Closing,  minus (ii) the amount of such Annual Revenue  attributable  to any
and all Retained  Trust  Agreements,  Defaulted  Trust  Agreements and any other
Trust  Agreements  that have not been  effectively  transferred  and assigned by
Seller to the Trust  Subsidiary as part of the Asset Closing,  plus (iii) if, as
of the Closing Date, Buyer shall have received written  commitment,  in form and
substance  satisfactory  to  Buyer,  from any one or more  Prospective  Computer
Processing  Customers for such Prospective  Computer  Processing  Customer(s) to
purchase trust  correspondent  computer processing services from Buyer after the
Closing,  the amount of Computer  Processing  Fees that would be attributable to
each such  Prospective  Computer  Processing  Customer  if a  contract  for such
services  had  been in  effect  between  Seller  and such  Prospective  Computer
Processing  Customer  prior  to the  Asset  Closing  and  had  been  effectively
transferred and assigned by Seller to the Trust  Subsidiary as part of the Asset
Closing (provided that the amount added under this clause (iii) shall not exceed
the Notice Account Total, if any, deducted from gross income in computing Annual
Revenue in clause (i) above).


                                    ARTICLE 9

                CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE SELLER'S OBLIGATIONS

         Each and every  obligation  of the Seller  under this  Agreement  to be
performed on or before the Closing Date shall be subject to the  satisfaction by
or on behalf of the  Buyer,  on or before the  Closing  Date,  of the  following
conditions, unless such satisfaction is waived by the Seller:


                9.01 Representations and Warranties True; Obligations Performed.

                (a) The  representations  and  warranties  made by Buyer in this
Agreement  shall  be  true  at  and  as of  the  Closing  Date  as  though  such
representations  and warranties were made at and as of such time, except for any
changes consented to by the Seller.

                (b) Buyer shall have performed and complied with all obligations
and agreements required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it
prior to or at the Closing Date.

                (c) From the date of this  Agreement  until  the  Closing  Date,
there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect, not cured, on Buyer.

                (d) On the Closing Date, no action,  suit or proceeding shall be
pending or threatened against Buyer which would reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer.

                (e) The Seller  shall have  received  the  opinion of Sullivan &
Worcester LLP,  counsel to Buyer,  dated the Closing Date, such opinion to be in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit D. In delivering such opinion,


                                  Page 40 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -37-

said counsel may reasonably rely on the opinion of Vermont counsel, such counsel
and opinion to be reasonably  satisfactory  to the Seller and its counsel,  with
regard to matters of Vermont law.

                (f) Buyer shall have  delivered to the Seller a  certificate  of
its President and Chief Financial Officer, dated the Closing Date, certifying to
the fulfillment of all of the foregoing conditions.


                                   ARTICLE 10

         CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL PARTIES' OBLIGATIONS

         Each and every  obligation  of the parties  under this  Agreement to be
performed on or before the Closing Date shall be subject to the satisfaction, on
or  before  the  Closing  Date,  of  the  following   conditions,   unless  such
satisfaction  is  mutually  waived  (to the  extent  legally  permitted)  by the
parties:

                10.01 Approval of Regulatory Authorities.

         All necessary approvals, authorizations and consents of all federal and
state   regulatory   authorities   required  to  consummate   the   transactions
contemplated  hereby shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and
effect and all statutory  waiting  periods in respect thereof shall have expired
or been terminated. No order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency
of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the
consummation  of the  transaction  contemplated  by this  Agreement  shall be in
effect  and no  proceeding  initiated  by any  regulatory  authority  seeking an
injunction shall be pending. No statute, rule, regulation,  order, injunction or
decree  shall  have  been  enacted,  entered,  promulgated  or  enforced  by any
regulatory or judicial  authority  which  prohibits,  restricts or makes illegal
consummation of the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

                10.02 Completion of Asset Closing.

         Subject  to  Buyer's  rights  under  Section  7.10  above to revise the
structure of its  acquisition of the Business as contemplated by this Agreement,
the Asset Closing shall have been completed in accordance with the provisions of
Article 2 of this Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE 11

                                   TERMINATION

                11.01 Methods of Termination.

         This Agreement may be terminated:


                                  Page 41 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -38-

                (a) At any  time on or prior  to the  Termination  Date (as such
term is defined below), if the Closing has not already then occurred,  by mutual
written agreement of Buyer and the Seller; or

                  (b) At any time on or prior to the  Termination  Date,  if the
                Closing has not already  then  occurred,  by either Buyer or the
Seller in writing, if (i) the other party has, in any material respect, breached
any covenant or agreement  contained herein or (ii) any material  representation
or warranty  of the other party  contained  herein is or becomes  inaccurate  or
misleading  (taking into account that Seller's updating of the list of Defaulted
Trust Agreements  contained in Schedule 4.04(c) shall not on its own result in a
breach of Seller's  representation  and warranty  contained in Section 4.04(c)),
and in either case if such breach or inaccuracy  has not been cured or otherwise
corrected within  forty-five (45) days after the date on which written notice of
such breach or inaccuracy is given to the party  committing  such breach and, in
the reasonable judgment of the party terminating this Agreement, cannot be cured
or otherwise corrected by the close of business on the Termination Date; or

                (c) At any time prior to the  Termination  Date, by either Buyer
or the Seller in  writing,  if any of the  requests  or  applications  for prior
approval or consent  referred to in Section  7.01 hereof is denied,  and, to the
extent applicable,  the time period for appeals and requests for reconsideration
has expired; or

                (d) By either Buyer or the Seller in writing, if the Closing has
not  occurred by the close of business on September  30, 1996 (the  "Termination
Date").

                11.02 Procedure Upon Termination.

                  In the event of termination  pursuant to Section 11.01 hereof,
written  notice  thereof shall  forthwith be given to the other party,  and this
Agreement  shall  terminate upon receipt of such notice,  immediately  unless an
extension is consented to by the party having the right to terminate.
If this Agreement is terminated as provided herein:

                (a) Each party will  redeliver  all  documents,  work papers and
other  material of the other  party  relating  to this  transaction,  whether so
obtained before or after the execution hereof, to the party furnishing the same.

                (b) All information received by either party hereto with respect
to the business of the other party (other than information  which is a matter of
public  knowledge or which has heretofore been or is hereafter  published in any
publication  for public  distribution  or filed as public  information  with any
regulatory  authority)  shall not at any time be used for business  advantage by
such party or disclosed by such party to third persons.

                (c)  Nothing  contained  in this  Article  11 shall be deemed to
excuse  either  party  for a  breach  of any of its  obligations  or  agreements
undertaken or made in this Agreement.


                                  Page 42 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -39-

                11.03 Effect of Termination

         If this  Agreement  shall be  terminated  as a result  of the  Seller's
breach of its covenant  under Section 6.02 or as a result of the willful  breach
of this  Agreement  by either  Buyer or the  Seller,  the other  party  shall be
entitled  to be paid an  amount  equal  to  $150,000  to  compensate  it for its
out-of-pocket  expenses and the time and effort of its  management in working on
the  transaction.  In addition,  if the Seller enters into an agreement with any
other party for the sale and transfer of the  Business  during a 12 month period
following Buyer's  termination of this Agreement due to the Seller's  committing
such a breach or willful  breach as provided in the  foregoing  sentence,  Buyer
shall  be  entitled  to be  paid an  additional  $200,000.  Notwithstanding  the
foregoing,  and subject to the last clause of Section  6.04 above,  either party
may pursue any remedy at law or in equity for damages or equitable relief if the
other party shall breach the terms of this Agreement,  and the prevailing  party
shall be entitled to be paid all out-of-pocket  expenses,  including  attorneys'
fees and court costs, in enforcing its rights hereunder.


                                   ARTICLE 12

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                12.01 Trust Indemnification.

                (a) The Seller  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless
Buyer and the Trust  Subsidiary  from and against  any and all  losses,  claims,
liabilities   and  damages,   including,   without   limitation,   any  and  all
investigation,  legal and other expenses  reasonably incurred by either Buyer or
the Trust  Subsidiary in connection with, and any amount paid by either Buyer or
the Trust  Subsidiary in settlement of, any action,  suit or proceeding  brought
against  the  Seller  or  either  Buyer or the  Trust  Subsidiary,  or any claim
asserted against the Seller or either Buyer or the Trust Subsidiary, arising out
of any act or  omission  of the Seller with  respect to any Trust  Agreement  or
related to the conduct of the Business, the ownership,  possession or use of any
Purchased Asset or the payment or performance of any Assumed Liability,  in each
case where such act or omission of the Seller  occurred  during the period prior
to the Closing.

                (b) Buyer  hereby  agrees to  indemnify  and hold  harmless  the
Seller from and against any and all  losses,  claims,  damages and  liabilities,
including,  without  limitation,  any and all  investigation,  legal  and  other
expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Seller in connection  with, and any amount
paid by the Seller in  settlement  of, any action,  suit or  proceeding  brought
against the Seller or either Buyer or the Trust  Subsidiary,  arising out of any
act or  omission  of Buyer or the Trust  Subsidiary  with  respect  to any Trust
Agreement or related to the conduct of the Business,  the ownership,  possession
or use of the  Purchased  Assets or the  payment or  performance  of the Assumed
Liabilities,  in each case where such act or omission occurred during the period
after the Closing, but in no event shall such indemnification  relate to actions
or omissions of the Trust  Subsidiary or Seller or Buyer during the period prior
to the Closing.


                                  Page 43 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -40-

                12.02 General Indemnification.

         Except as otherwise provided in Section 12.01 hereof, each party hereto
hereby  agrees to indemnify,  defend,  save and hold harmless the other from and
against any and all damage, liability,  loss, expense,  assessment,  judgment or
deficiency of any nature whatsoever (including,  without limitation,  reasonable
attorneys'  fees and other costs and  expenses  incident to any suit,  action or
proceeding)  incurred or sustained by such other party which shall arise out of,
result  from or  constitute  any  breach  by such  party of any  representation,
warranty  or  covenant  under this  agreement  or  non-fulfillment  by it of any
obligation under this Agreement.

                12.03 Claims.

                (a) In case any  claim  shall  be made or  action  brought  with
respect to a matter  referred to in Sections  12.01 or 12.02  hereof,  the party
entitled to indemnification  (the "Indemnified Party") shall promptly notify the
party liable therefor hereunder (the "Indemnifying  Party") in writing,  setting
forth the particulars of such claim or action,  and the Indemnifying Party shall
assume the defense thereof,  including,  without  limitation,  the employment of
counsel mutually  satisfactory to it and the Indemnified Party. No such claim or
action  shall be settled  by the  Indemnifying  Party  without  the  Indemnified
Party's  prior  written  consent,  which  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld;
provided,  however,  that no consent of the Indemnified Party is required in any
case if (i) such proposed  settlement  involves only the payment of money by the
Indemnifying  Party,  (ii) the  Indemnifying  Party is able to pay the amount of
such settlement and all related expenses, and (iii) the terms of such settlement
are to remain confidential by agreement of all parties to such action other than
the Indemnified Party. If the Indemnifying Party shall not have employed counsel
within a reasonable  time after  receiving  notice of  commencement  of any such
action,  or if the  Indemnified  Party  shall have  concluded  that there may be
defenses  available  to it  which  are  different  from or  additional  to those
available to the Indemnifying Party, then the Indemnified Party may take actions
separately  in its own  defense  and employ  separate  counsel and all legal and
other expenses,  including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses
of such  counsel,  incurred  by the  Indemnified  Party  shall  be  borne by the
Indemnified Party.

                (b) Notwithstanding  any other provisions of this Agreement,  no
claim for indemnification shall be brought pursuant to Section 12.01 hereof more
than three (3) years  after the  Closing  Date and no claim for  indemnification
shall be brought pursuant to Section 12.02 hereof more than thirteen (13) months
after  the  later  of the  Closing  Date or the date on which  any  covenant  or
obligation  in question  was required to have been  performed,  except that with
respect to the Seller's representations and warranties contained in Section 4.07
above a claim for  indemnification  may be brought  pursuant  to  Section  12.02
hereof at any time prior to the lapse of time  within  which  federal,  state or
local taxing authorities are entitled to assert any tax liability on the part of
the Seller for tax periods ending at or prior to the Closing Date.

                (c) If an Indemnified  Party receives any payment from any third
party  (including any insurer) as compensation  for any claim by the Indemnified
Party after the  Indemnifying  Party has made any payment under Section 12.01 or
Section  12.02  above to the  Indemnified  Party on account of such claim by the
Indemnified  Party,  then the  Indemnified  Party shall  promptly pay the dollar
amount of all such prior  indemnification  payments to the  Indemnifying  Party,


                                  Page 44 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -41-

without  demand or notice of any kind  made by the  Indemnifying  Party,  to the
extent of all such third-party payments received by the Indemnified Party.


                                   ARTICLE 13

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

                13.01 Amendment and Modification.

         The parties hereto may amend,  modify and supplement  this Agreement in
such manner as may be agreed upon by them in writing.  Any corporation,  bank or
other entity  organized by a party hereto to facilitate the  consummation of the
transactions  herein  contemplated shall join in this Agreement,  become a party
hereto and agree to be bound by its provisions by executing a written instrument
signifying such intent at such time as it is legally capable of doing so, but no
party shall be  relieved of any  obligation  hereunder  by the  addition of such
party.

                13.02 Assignment; Parties in Interest.

         This Agreement and all of the provisions  hereof shall be binding upon,
and inure to the benefit of, the parties hereto and their respective  successors
and  permitted  assigns,  but  neither  this  Agreement  nor any of the  rights,
interests or  obligations  hereunder  shall be assigned by either of the parties
hereto  without  the  prior  written  consent  of the  other.  Nothing  in  this
Agreement,  including  without  limitation  Section  7.04 above,  is intended to
confer,  expressly  or by  implication,  upon any  other  person  any  rights or
remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

                13.03 Counterparts.

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

                13.04 Headings.

         The  headings  of the  Sections  and  Articles  of this  Agreement  are
inserted for convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof.

                13.05 Waiver.

         Any  condition to a party's  obligation  hereunder may be waived by the
other party.

                13.06 Payment of Expenses.

         Each  party  herein  shall  pay for  its  own  expenses  and  costs  in
connection with the carrying out of this Agreement except as expressly  provided
otherwise herein.


                                  Page 45 of 50

<PAGE>


                                      -42-

                13.07 Governing Law, etc.

         This  Agreement  shall be governed by the laws of the State of Vermont.
The  representations,  warranties,  covenants  and  obligations  of the  parties
hereunder  shall survive the Closing Date,  subject to the provisions of Article
12 hereof.

                13.08 Addresses for Notice, etc.

         All notices,  requests,  demands and other communications  provided for
hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopy  communication) and mailed (by
registered or certified  mail) or delivered by telecopy to the applicable  party
at the address for such party  indicated below or such other address as shall be
furnished in writing by any party, and any such notice, request, demand or other
communication  shall be deemed to have been given as of the date received by the
recipient  party,  and copies of any such  notices,  requests,  demands or other
communications shall be provided as follows: (i) if to Buyer, copies to Sullivan
& Worcester LLP, One Post Office Square,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02109, Telecopy
No. (617) 338-2880,  Attention:  Christopher  Cabot, Esq. and Stephen J. Coukos,
Esq.; and (ii) if to Seller, a copy to Gallop,  Johnson & Neuman,  L.C., Interco
Corporate Tower, 101 South Hanley, St. Louis, Missouri 63105, Telecopy No. (314)
862-1219, Attention: Thomas B. Kinsock, Esq.


                     [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]


                                  Page 46 of 50

<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each of the parties has caused this instrument to
be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers and its corporate seal
to be affixed hereto, as of the first date written above.

                                       VERMONT NATIONAL BANK


                                       By: /s/ John D. Hashagen, Jr.
                                          John D. Hashagen, Jr.
                                          President
                                          100 Main Street
                                          Brattleboro, Vermont 05302
                                          Telecopy No.: 802-258-4097


                                       ARROW FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Michael F. Massiano
                                          Michael F. Massiano
                                          President
                                          250 Glen Street
                                          Glens Falls, New York  12801
                                          Telecopy No.: 518-745-5513


                                       ARROW VERMONT CORPORATION


                                       By: /s/ Michael F. Massiano
                                          Michael F. Massiano
                                          President
                                          80 West Street
                                          Rutland, Vermont  05702
                                          Telecopy No.:  802-775-3696

                                       GREEN MOUNTAIN BANK


                                       By: /s/ John J. Murphy
                                          John J. Murphy
                                          Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer
                                          80 West Street
                                          Rutland, Vermont  05702
                                          Telecopy No.:  802-775-3696



                                  Page 47 of 50

<PAGE>





           List of Schedules and Exhibits to Stock Purchase Agreement


Schedule 2.01(a):              List of Personal Property.

Schedule 2.01(b):              List of Personal Property Leases.

Schedule 2.01(c):              List of Trust Agreements.

Schedule 2.01(h):              List of Software Contracts.

Schedule 2.01(i):              List of Miscellaneous Contracts.

Schedule                       2.01(j):  List of prepaid  Customer fees and
                               expenses  allocable  to the period  from and
                               after the Asset Closing.

Schedule 2.02(a)(i):           List of Trusteed Deposit Accounts.

Schedule 3.04(a)(i):           List of (i) all fees and reimbursements for
                               expenses paid by Customers to Seller prior 
                               to the Asset Closing related to Trust 
                               Services rendered after the Asset Closing 
                               and (ii) all fees and reimbursements for
                               expenses which relate to Trust Services 
                               rendered prior to the Asset Closing for 
                               which payment is to be received from 
                               Customers following the Asset Closing.

Schedule 3.04(a)(ii):          List of (i) all fees, disbursements and
                               expenses paid to or by Seller prior to the 
                               Asset Closing relating to Business Services
                               to be rendered to or by Seller following
                               the Asset Closing and (ii) all fees,
                               disbursements and expenses which relate to
                               Business Services rendered by or to Seller
                               prior to the Asset Closing for which payment
                               is to be received or made following the 
                               Asset Closing.

Schedule 3.05(a):              List of Prospective Retail Trust Customers.

Schedule 3.05(e):              List of Prospective Computer Processing 
                               Customers.

Schedule 4.03:                 List  of   third   party   consents,
                               approvals and notices required in connection
                               with Seller's assignment of its rights under
                               the Contracts.

Schedule 4.04(a):              List of all encumbrances on the Personal 
                               Property.

Schedule 4.04(b):              List of any violations of law by AFC, AVC
                               and GMB relating to the Business.

Schedule 4.04(c):              List of any breaches or defaults under the 
                               Trust Agreements and Contracts.


                                  Page 48 of 50

<PAGE>


                                       -2-

Schedule 4.05:                 List of certain changes and events with 
                               regard to Seller.

Schedule 4.06:                 List of legal proceedings affecting Seller.

Schedule 4.08:                 List of all officers and employees employed
                               by GMB in connection with the Business.

Schedule 4.09:                 List of any violations, criticisms and
                               exceptions pertaining to the Business or the
                               Purchased  Assets which has been  previously
                               cited by any regulatory agency in any report
                               or statement  relating to any examination of
                               AFC, AVC or GMB.

Schedule 4.11:                 Certain environmental disclosures with 
                               regard to Seller.

Schedule 4.13:                 List of all outstanding Trust Agreements 
                               with Interested Persons.

Schedule 6.01:                 Certain changes in Seller's conduct of the 
                               Business.

Exhibit A:                     Form of Servicing Agreement.

Exhibit B:                     Form of Lease Agreement.

Exhibit C:                     Form of opinion of Seller's counsel.

Exhibit D:                     Form of opinion of Buyer's counsel.










                                  Page 49 of 50





                                                                  EXHIBIT 99
                                                                  TO FORM 8-K





                 VERMONT NATIONAL BANK ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF
                      GREEN MOUNTAIN BANK TRUST DEPARTMENT


Brattleboro, Vermont, February 27, 1996 . . . . John D. Hashagen, Jr., President
and Chief Executive Officer of Vermont Financial Services Corp., announced today
that its wholly owned Vermont  banking  subsidiary,  Vermont  National Bank, has
entered into a definitive  agreement with Arrow  Financial  Corporation  and its
wholly  owned  Vermont  banking  subsidiary,  Green  Mountain  Bank of  Rutland,
Vermont,  to purchase  Green  Mountain  Bank's trust  department  business.  The
agreement is subject to  regulatory  approvals.  Pending  these  approvals,  the
transaction is expected to close around mid-year.

Commenting on the transaction,  Mr. Hashagen stated,  "We are very pleased to be
acquiring the Green Mountain Bank trust business. Our existing trust business is
one of our most important business lines,  currently  generating over $3 million
in annual  revenues.  The  addition of the Green  Mountain  Bank trust  business
should give us approximately 800 new trust clients, additional trust revenues of
approximately  $1.6  million per year and some  experienced  and  capable  trust
personnel.  We  plan  to  service  these  new  clients  through  expanded  trust
facilities  and staff at our Rutland  regional  trust  center.  By combining the
trust  department  employees of the Green  Mountain  Bank with Vermont  National
Bank's current staff we believe we will have the most experienced trust officers
and  support  personnel  in the  state of  Vermont,  servicing  trust  customers
throughout the state."

Vermont Financial Services Corp. is a two-bank holding company  headquartered in
Brattleboro,  Vermont.  Its banking  subsidiaries  are Vermont  National Bank, a
commercial bank with 31 banking offices throughout  Vermont,  and United Bank, a
savings bank  headquartered in Greenfield,  Massachusetts with 7 banking offices
in western Massachusetts.

Vermont Financial Services Corp. common stock is listed on NASDAQ with a trading
symbol of VFSC.


                                  Page 50 of 50








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