REPUBLIC SECURITY FINANCIAL CORP
8-K, 1997-08-15
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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


                                    FORM 8-K


                             Current Report Pursuant
                          to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 August 8, 1997
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                     REPUBLIC SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


                                     Florida
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


                 0-14671                                 59-2335075
        (Commission File Number)              (IRS Employer Identification No.)

          4400 Congress Avenue
        West Palm Beach, Florida                            33407
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)


                                 (561) 840-1200
               Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code



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<PAGE>
Item 5.           Other Events.

         On  August  8,  1997,  Republic  Security  Financial  Corporation  (the
"Company")  entered into a definitive  agreement for the  acquisition  of County
Financial  Corporation,  a Florida Corporation ("CFC"), and County National Bank
of South Florida,  whereby County Bank ("County"), a national bank headquartered
in North Miami  Beach,  Florida,  would merge into the  Company's  wholly  owned
subsidiary   Republic   Security   Bank,  a  Florida   commercial   bank,  in  a
stock-for-stock  transaction.  At June 30, 1997,  the Company had assets of $625
million,  loans of $435 million and deposits of $488 million.  County had assets
of $238 million,  loans of $139 million and deposits of $210 million at June 30,
1997.

         Under the terms of the  agreement,  which  will be  accounted  for as a
tax-free pooling of interests,  shareholders of CFC will receive 4.807 shares of
the Company's  common stock for each share of CFC common stock. The Company will
issue  approximately  6.08  million  shares of its  common  stock for all of the
outstanding  shares of CFC. The Company  currently has 16.15  million  shares of
common stock outstanding and 1.03 million shares of convertible  preferred stock
outstanding.  The agreement  provides that, upon closing,  four County directors
will join the boards of  directors of the Company and  Republic  Security  Bank,
each of which currently consists of fourteen persons. The transaction is subject
to  shareholder  approval  of both the  Company  and CFC,  receipt  of state and
federal regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.  The merger
is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 1997.

         CFC may terminate the  transaction  if the Company's  stock price falls
below $7.65 per share at the determination  date (as defined) and the decline in
the  Company's  share price (as defined)  since  August 6, 1997,  relative to an
index of similar  institutions,  is greater  than 5%,  subject to the  Company's
right to adjust the exchange ratio.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)      Exhibits.

2.       Agreement  and Plan of  Merger,  as of  August  8,  1997,  by and among
         Republic  Security  Financial  Corporation,  Republic Security Bank and
         County Financial  Corporation and County National Bank of South Florida
         (without schedules).




<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                  REPUBLIC SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION
                                  (Registrant)


Date: August 15, 1997.             /s/ Carla H. Pollard
      ----------------            -----------------------------------------
                                  Carla H. Pollard
                                  Vice President and Controller



<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit: Description

2.     Agreement and Plan of Merger, as of August 8, 1997, by and among Republic
       Security Financial Corporation, Republic Security Bank, County Financial
       Corporation and County National Bank of South Florida (without
       schedules).


<PAGE>
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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER



                                  by and among



                    REPUBLIC SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION,

                             REPUBLIC SECURITY BANK,

                          COUNTY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                       and

                      COUNTY NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTH FLORIDA







                                 August 8, 1997





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MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                    Page

ARTICLE I
THE PARENT MERGER
 1.1      Articles of Merger.........................................2
 1.2      Conversion of Shares.......................................2
 1.3      Conversion Rate............................................2
 1.4      CFC Options................................................4
 1.5      The Closing................................................5
 1.6      Stock Certificates.........................................5
 1.7      Shares of Dissenting Holders...............................5

ARTICLE II
THE BANK MERGER
 2.1      Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement........................6
 2.2      Conversion of Shares.......................................6

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CFC AND COUNTY
 3.1      Corporate Organization.....................................7
 3.2      Authorization and Enforceability; No Violation.............7
 3.3      Capitalization; Stock Ownership............................8
 3.4      Investments; No Subsidiary.................................8
 3.5      County Corporate Organization..............................8
 3.6      County Capitalization; Stock Ownership.....................8
 3.7      County Authorization and Enforceability; No Violation......9
 3.8      Financial Statements......................................10
 3.9      Loan Portfolio............................................10
 3.10     Deposits..................................................11
 3.11     No Undisclosed Liabilities, Etc...........................11
 3.12     Absence of Certain Changes................................11
 3.13     Real Properties...........................................13
 3.14     Taxes and Fees............................................13
 3.15     Contracts.................................................14
 3.16     Litigation................................................15
 3.17     Compliance with Laws and Regulations......................15
 3.18     Employment Benefit Plans and Arrangements; Labor Matters..16
 3.19     Accounting Practices......................................17
 3.20     Minute Books..............................................17
 3.21     Insurance.................................................17
 3.22     Agreements with Regulators................................17
 3.23     Environmental.............................................18
 3.24     Community Reinvestment Act................................18

                                      -vi-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



 3.25     Transactions with Insiders................................18
 3.26     Fidelity Bond.............................................18
 3.27     Proxy Statement...........................................19
 3.28     Brokers...................................................19
 3.29     No Untrue Statements......................................19
 3.30     Absence of Regulatory Communications......................19
 3.31     Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................19

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC
 4.1      RSFC Corporate Organization...............................19
 4.2      RSFC Authorization and Enforceability; No Violation.......20
 4.3      RSFC Capitalization; Stock Ownership......................20
 4.4      Investments; No Subsidiary................................21
 4.5      Republic Corporate Organization...........................21
 4.6      Republic Capitalization; Stock Ownership..................21
 4.7      Republic Authorization and Enforceability; No Violation...22
 4.8      SEC Filings...............................................22
 4.9      Registration Statement....................................23
 4.10     Financial Statements......................................23
 4.11     Loan Portfolio............................................23
 4.12     Deposits..................................................24
 4.13     No Undisclosed Liabilities, Etc...........................24
 4.14     Absence of Certain Changes................................24
 4.15     Real Properties...........................................26
 4.16     Taxes and Fees............................................27
 4.17     Contracts.................................................27
 4.18     Litigation................................................28
 4.19     Compliance with Laws and Regulations......................29
 4.20     Employment Benefit Plans and Arrangements; Labor Matters..29
 4.21     Accounting Practices......................................30
 4.22     Minute Books..............................................30
 4.23     Insurance.................................................31
 4.24     Agreements with Regulators................................31
 4.25     Environmental.............................................31
 4.26     Community Reinvestment Act................................31
 4.27     Transactions with Insiders................................31
 4.28     Fidelity Bond.............................................31
 4.29     Brokers...................................................32
 4.30     No Untrue Statements......................................32
 4.32     Opinion of Financial Advisor..............................32

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF CFC

                                      -vii-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



 5.1      Access, Information and Documents.........................32
 5.2      No Other Transactions.....................................33
 5.3      Conduct of Business Prior to the Effective Time...........33
 5.4      Negative Covenants........................................34
 5.5      Current Information.......................................35
 5.6      Pursuit of Approvals......................................35
 5.7      Meeting of CFC's Shareholders; Proxy Statement............36
 5.8      CFC Future Financial Statements...........................36
 5.9      Observer at Meetings......................................36
 5.10     Pooling...................................................37
 5.11     Coral Way Branch..........................................37

ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC
 6.1      Access, Information and Documents.........................37
 6.2      No Other Transactions.....................................38
 6.3      Conduct of Business Prior to the Effective Time...........38
 6.4      Negative Covenants........................................38
 6.5      Current Information.......................................39
 6.6      Pursuit of Approvals......................................39
 6.7      Registration Statement; Meeting of RSFC's Shareholders....39
 6.8      Boards of Directors Election..............................40
 6.9      Pooling...................................................40
 6.10     County Employees..........................................40
 6.11     Indemnification...........................................40
 6.12     Future Financial Information..............................42
 6.13     Observer at Meetings......................................42
 6.14     Pooling and Securities Law Matters........................43
 6.15     Registration Rights.......................................43

ARTICLE VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE
OBLIGATIONS OF RSFC, REPUBLIC, CFC AND COUNTY
 7.1      Government Approvals......................................46
 7.2      Shareholder Approval......................................46
 7.3      No Litigation.............................................46

ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
THE OBLIGATIONS OF CFC AND COUNTY
 8.1      Representations, Warranties and Covenants.................47
 8.2      Material Change...........................................47
 8.3      Accountants' Comfort Letter...............................47
 8.4      Officers' Certificates....................................47

                                     -viii-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



 8.5      Consents..................................................47
 8.6      Tax Opinion...............................................48
 8.7      Fairness Opinion..........................................48

ARTICLE IX
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
THE OBLIGATIONS OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC
 9.1      Representations, Warranties and Covenants.................48
 9.2      Material Change...........................................48
 9.3      Financial Conditions......................................48
 9.4      Demands for Appraisal.....................................49
 9.5      Accountants' Comfort Letter...............................49
 9.6      Officers' Certificates....................................49
 9.7      Consents..................................................49
 9.8      Employment Agreements.....................................49
 9.9      Tax Opinion...............................................49
 9.10     CFC Affiliate Letters.....................................50
 9.11     Fairness Opinion..........................................50

ARTICLE X
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
 10.1     Termination by Mutual Consent.............................50
 10.2     Termination by CFC........................................50
 10.3     Termination by RSFC.......................................50
 10.4     Effect of Termination.....................................51
 10.5     Alternate CFC or County Transaction.......................51
 10.6     Alternate RSFC or Republic Transaction....................52
 10.7     Extension or Waiver.......................................52

ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
 11.1     Certain Terms.............................................52
 11.2     Expenses..................................................53
 11.3     Legal Fees................................................53
 11.4     Entire Agreement; Amendment; Waiver.......................53
 11.5     Notices...................................................53
 11.7     Rights Under this Agreement; Nonassignability.............55
 11.8     Form of This Agreement....................................55
 11.9     Governing Law.............................................55
 11.10    Public Announcements......................................55
 11.11    Counterparts..............................................55


Schedules

                                      -ix-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                  This  Agreement and Plan of Merger (the  "Agreement")  is made
and entered into as of August 8, 1997, by and among REPUBLIC SECURITY  FINANCIAL
CORPORATION,  a Florida corporation ("RSFC"),  REPUBLIC SECURITY BANK, a Florida
state bank ("Republic"),  COUNTY FINANCIAL  CORPORATION,  a Florida  corporation
("CFC"), and COUNTY NATIONAL BANK OF SOUTH FLORIDA, a national bank ("County").

                                    RECITALS

                  WHEREAS,  each  of the  parties  desires  to  provide  for the
acquisition  of CFC and  County  by RSFC and  RSFC's  wholly  owned  subsidiary,
Republic,  by means of the merger of CFC into RSFC (the "Parent Merger") and the
merger of County into Republic (the "Bank Merger"),  for the  consideration  and
upon the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

                  WHEREAS,  the Boards of Directors of RSFC,  CFC,  Republic and
County  believe that the Parent  Merger and the Bank Merger,  upon the terms and
conditions  set  forth  herein,  are in the best  interest  of their  respective
shareholders  and the Boards of Directors of RSFC and CFC have each  unanimously
approved  the Parent  Merger and the Boards of  Directors of Republic and County
have each unanimously approved the Bank Merger; and

                  WHEREAS, for Federal income tax purposes,  it is intended that
the Parent Merger  qualify as a  reorganization  under the provisions of Section
368(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code");  and, for
accounting purposes, it is intended that the Parent Merger be accounted for as a
"pooling of interests"; and

                  WHEREAS,  the  parties  desire to use their  best  efforts  to
consummate the Parent Merger and the Bank Merger prior to January 1, 1998;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the premises and other
good  and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  and  adequacy  of  which  are
conclusively acknowledged, the parties do represent, warrant, covenant and agree
as follows:


                                       -1-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE I

                                THE PARENT MERGER

                  1.1 Articles of Merger.  Subject to and in accordance with the
terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Florida Business Corporation Act,
at the Closing (hereinafter  defined) RSFC and CFC shall execute and deliver for
filing  Articles of Merger (the "Articles of Merger") to the Department of State
of Florida.  The  Articles of Merger  shall  provide  that the Parent  Merger be
effective  at 9:00  a.m.  (the  "Effective  Time")  on a  designated  date  (the
"Effective Date"). Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,  CFC shall be merged
with and into RSFC, which shall be the surviving corporation. The Plan of Merger
set forth in the Articles of Merger shall be as provided in this  Agreement  and
the Florida Business Corporation Act.

                  1.2 Conversion of Shares.  At the Effective  Time, each issued
and  outstanding  share of the common  stock of CFC,  par value  $0.01 per share
("CFC  Common  Stock"),  shall,  by virtue of the Parent  Merger and without any
action by the holder thereof, be converted into a number of shares of the common
stock of RSFC,  par value $.01 per share  ("RSFC  Common  Stock"),  equal to the
Conversion Rate (as defined in Section 1.3 hereof). No fractional shares of RSFC
Common Stock shall be issued.  In lieu thereof,  each holder of CFC Common Stock
shall be entitled to be paid an amount in cash  determined  by  multiplying  the
holder's  fractional  interest by the closing  price of RSFC Common Stock on the
NASDAQ-National Market System on the Effective Date. At the Effective Time, each
issued and  outstanding  share of RSFC  Common  Stock  shall  remain  issued and
outstanding and unaffected by the Parent Merger. In the event that, prior to the
Effective  Time,  RSFC's Common Stock shall be changed to a different  number of
shares or a  different  class of shares  by  reason of any  recapitalization  or
reclassification,  stock  dividend,  combination,  stock split or reverse  stock
split,  an  appropriate  and  proportionate  adjustment  shall  be  made  in the
Conversion Rate.

     1.3  Conversion  Rate.  The  "Conversion  Rate"  shall be 4.807;  provided,
however, if:

          (A) the Average Closing Price on the  Determination  Date of shares of
     RSFC Common Stock shall be less than $7.65; and

          (B) (1) the number  obtained by dividing the Average  Closing Price on
     such  Determination  Date by $8.76 (such number being referred to herein as
     the "RSFC  Ratio")  shall be less than (2) the number  obtained by dividing
     the  Index  Price  on the  Determination  Date by the  Index  Price  on the
     Starting Date and subtracting  0.05 from the quotient in this clause (B)(2)
     (such number being referred to herein as the "Index Ratio");


                                       -2-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



then CFC  shall  have the right to  terminate  this  Agreement,  if its Board of
Directors  so  determines  by a vote of a majority  of the members of its entire
Board,  at any time during the five-day period  commencing on the  Determination
Date;  subject,  however,  to the following  three  sentences.  If CFC elects to
exercise its termination right pursuant to the immediately  preceding  sentence,
it shall  give  prompt  written  notice to RSFC  (provided  that such  notice of
election to terminate  may be  withdrawn  at any time within the  aforementioned
five-day period). During the five-day period commencing with its receipt of such
notice, RSFC shall have the option of adjusting the Conversion Rate to equal the
number  equal  to a  quotient  (rounded  to  the  nearest  one-thousandth),  the
numerator of which is the product of $7.65 and the  Conversion  Rate (as then in
effect) and the denominator of which is the Average Closing Price. If RSFC makes
an election contemplated by the preceding sentence, within such five-day period,
it shall give written notice to CFC of such election and the revised  Conversion
Rate,  whereupon no termination shall have occurred pursuant to this Section 1.3
and this Agreement  shall remain in effect in accordance  with its terms (except
as the Conversion Rate shall have been so modified),  and any references in this
Agreement  to  "Conversion  Rate"  shall  thereafter  be  deemed to refer to the
Conversion Rate as adjusted pursuant to this Section 1.3.

                  For purposes of this Section  1.3, the  following  terms shall
have the meanings indicated:

                  "Average  Closing  Price"  means the average of the daily last
sales  prices of RSFC Common  Stock as reported  by the NASDAQ  National  Market
System (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported  therein,  in
another mutually agreed upon  authoritative  source) for the twenty  consecutive
full trading days in which such shares are traded on the NASDAQ  National Market
System  beginning on the first full trading day  following the date on which the
Registration  Statement  referred to in Section 6.7 is declared effective by the
SEC.

                  "Determination  Date"  means  the last  day of the  twenty-day
trading period referred to in the preceding paragraph.

                  "Index  Group" means the group of each of the ten bank holding
companies  listed  below,  the common  stock of all of which  shall be  publicly
traded and as to which there shall not have been,  since the  Starting  Date and
before the Determination Date, an announcement of a proposal for the acquisition
or sale of such company.  In the event that the common stock of any such company
ceases to be publicly  traded or any such  announcement  is made with respect to
any such  company,  such company  will be removed from the Index Group,  and the
weights (which have been determined based on the number of outstanding shares of
common stock)  redistributed  proportionately  for purposes of  determining  the
Index Price. The ten bank holding  companies and the weights  attributed to them
are as follows:


                                       -3-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                  Bank Holding Company
                   Weighting

                  ABC Bancorp (ABCB)
                  12.50
                  American Bancorp (AMBC)
                  2.90
                  Anchor Financial Corp. (AFSC)
                  4.74
                  Century South Banks Inc. (CSBI)
                  14.40
                  First Charter Corp. (FCTR)
                  14.03
                  George Mason Bankshares Inc. (GMBS)
                  9.42
                  Hamilton Bancorp Inc. (HABK)
                  17.55
                  Peoples Holding Co. (PHCO)
                  7.24
                  Republic Bancshares Inc. (REPB)
                  7.75
                  Seacoast Banking Corp. Florida (SBCFA)            
                  9.47
                  100.00%

                  "Index  Price"  on a given  date  means the  weighted  average
(weighted in accordance with the factors listing above) of the closing prices of
the companies composing the Index Group.

                  "Starting Date" means August 6, 1997.

                  If any company  belonging to the Index Group or RSFC  declares
or  effects  a stock  dividend,  reclassification,  recapitalization,  split-up,
combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction between the Starting Date
and the  Determination  Date, the prices for the common stock of such company or
RSFC shall be  appropriately  adjusted for the purposes of applying this Section
1.3.

                  1.4 CFC  Options.  At the  Effective  Time,  each  outstanding
option to purchase  shares of CFC Common  Stock  listed on  Schedule  3.3 hereof
("CFC  Stock  Options")  shall be  automatically  converted  into an  option  to
acquire,  on the same terms and  conditions  as were  applicable  under such CFC
Stock  Option,  the same number of shares of RSFC Common  Stock as the holder of
such CFC Stock Option would have been entitled to receive pursuant to the Parent
Merger had such holder  exercised such option in full  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time, at a price per share equal to (i) the

                                       -4-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



aggregate   exercise  price  for  the  shares  of  CFC  Common  Stock  otherwise
purchasable  pursuant to such CFC Stock  Option  divided by (ii) the  Conversion
Rate.

                  1.5 The  Closing.  The closing of the  transactions  described
herein  (the  "Closing")  shall  take place at the  offices  of Morgan,  Lewis &
Bockius LLP, 5300 First Union Financial  Center,  200 South Biscayne  Boulevard,
Miami,  Florida,  at 10:00 a.m.,  local time,  on such date as the parties shall
mutually  agree not more than 30 days nor less than ten days after the  calendar
month end first  occurring after the later of (i) the CFC  shareholders  meeting
referred to in Section 5.7 hereof,  (ii) the RSFC shareholders  meeting referred
to in Section 6.5 hereof,  (iii) the date of the letter of preliminary  approval
of the Department approving the Bank Merger or (iv) such later date on which all
conditions  precedent to such Closing  contained  in Articles  VII,  VIII and IX
hereof have been satisfied or duly waived; or at such other date, time and place
as the parties shall agree, but in no event later than January 31, 1998.

                  1.6  Stock  Certificates.  At the  Effective  Time,  the stock
transfer books of CFC shall be closed and there shall be no further registration
of transfers of CFC Common Stock  thereafter.  At and after the Effective  Time,
holders of  certificates  representing  shares of CFC Common  Stock  immediately
prior to the  Effective  Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to CFC
Common Stock.  The sole right of holders of CFC Common Stock shall be to receive
the RSFC Common  Stock and cash in lieu of  fractional  shares to which they are
entitled by virtue of the Parent Merger.  Immediately  after the Effective Time,
RSFC agrees to provide  Letters of Transmittal  and  instructions  regarding the
tender of CFC stock  certificates  for exchange for RSFC stock  certificates  to
each former CFC shareholder at the shareholder's  address of record on the books
of CFC. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the Effective
Time with  respect to RSFC Common  Stock with a record date after the  Effective
Time  shall  be  paid  to the  holder  of any  unsurrendered  CFC  Common  Stock
certificate with respect to the shares of RSFC Common Stock represented  thereby
until the holder of record of such certificate  shall surrender the certificate.
Subject  to the  effect of  applicable  laws,  following  surrender  of any such
certificate,  there shall be paid to the holder,  without interest,  such unpaid
dividends or other distributions.

                  1.7 Shares of Dissenting Holders.  Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary  contained in this  Agreement,  any holder of CFC Common Stock with
respect  to which  dissenters'  rights are duly  exercised  in  accordance  with
Section  607.1320  of the  Florida  Business  Corporation  Act ("CFC  Dissenting
Shares")  shall not be entitled to receive  shares of RSFC Common Stock pursuant
to  Section  1.2  hereof,  unless  such  holder  fails to  perfect,  effectively
withdraws  or loses his right to dissent from the Parent  Merger  under  Section
607.1320. Such holder shall be entitled to receive only the payment provided for
by  Section  607.1320.  If any such  holder  so fails  to  perfect,  effectively
withdraws  or loses his  dissenters'  rights,  his CFC  Dissenting  Shares shall
thereupon be deemed to have been  converted,  as of the Effective Time, into the
right to receive  shares of RSFC  Common  Stock (and cash in lieu of  fractional
shares) pursuant to Section 1.2 hereof.

                                       -5-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE II

                                 THE BANK MERGER

                  2.1 Plan of Merger  and  Merger  Agreement.  Subject to and in
accordance  with the terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and Chapter 658,
Florida  Statutes,  Republic and County agree to enter into a Plan of Merger and
Merger  Agreement (the "Plan of Merger") in accordance with the  requirements of
Section 658.42,  Florida Statutes,  and submit the Plan of Merger to the Florida
Department of Banking and Finance (the  "Department")  for approval.  Subject to
and in  accordance  with the  terms and  conditions  of this  Agreement,  at the
Closing,  Republic  and County  shall again  execute  the Plan of Merger,  if it
differs in any respect from the counterpart  thereof  theretofore filed with the
Department,  and shall execute certified copies of the resolutions approving the
Plan of  Merger  by the  shareholders  of each  bank.  The  Plan of  Merger  and
certified  resolutions  shall be delivered for filing with the  Department.  The
Plan of Merger shall  provide that County shall be merged with and into Republic
(which  shall be the  resulting  bank in the Bank  Merger)  at 3:00 p.m.  on the
afternoon of the Effective Date.

                  2.2  Conversion  of  Shares.  Upon  effectiveness  of the Bank
Merger,  all of the issued and outstanding shares of the common stock of County,
par value $3.00 per share ("County  Common Stock"),  shall be  extinguished  and
canceled,  and RSFC, as the parent  corporation of County upon  effectiveness of
the Parent  Merger,  shall be issued a number of shares of the  common  stock of
Republic in such  amount as agreed on or before such date by RSFC and  Republic.
The shares of common  stock of Republic,  par value $5.00 per share,  issued and
outstanding  immediately  prior to effectiveness of the Bank Merger shall remain
issued and outstanding and unaffected by the Bank Merger.


                                       -6-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE III

                REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CFC AND COUNTY

                  CFC and County  hereby  represent  and warrant to Republic and
RSFC as follows:

                  3.1 Corporate Organization. CFC is a Florida corporation, duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Florida.  CFC has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business and
operations  as now being  conducted  and to own and operate its  properties  and
assets as now owned and being operated by it. CFC is qualified or licensed to do
business  and is in good  standing in each  jurisdiction  in which it  operates,
except  where the  failure to do so will not have a material  adverse  effect on
CFC. CFC is a bank holding company, duly registered and in good standing as such
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

                  3.2  Authorization  and  Enforceability;  No Violation.  CFC's
Board of  Directors  has duly  authorized  the  execution  and  delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby. Subject
to approval of the Parent Merger by  shareholders  of CFC owning not less than a
majority of the  outstanding  shares of CFC Common  Stock,  this  Agreement is a
legal, valid and binding  obligation of CFC,  enforceable in accordance with its
terms,  except  as  enforceability  may be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,   reorganization,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws   affecting
creditors'  rights  generally  and except  that the  availability  of  equitable
remedies is within the  discretion  of the  appropriate  court.  The  execution,
delivery and  performance of this Agreement do not, and the  consummation of the
Parent  Merger and the Bank  Merger will not,  (a) violate or conflict  with any
provision of the Articles of  Incorporation  or Bylaws of CFC; (b) except as set
forth in Schedule 3.2,  require any third party consent pursuant to or result in
any breach of or default under any provision of any contract or agreement of any
kind to which  CFC is a party or by  which  CFC is bound or to which  any of its
property or assets of CFC is subject;  (c) result in any breach or violation of,
or default  under,  or any event  which with due notice or lapse of time or both
would  constitute a default under,  result in the  termination of, or accelerate
the  performance  required  by, or  require  CFC to obtain or make any  consent,
authorization, approval, registration or filing (other than as described in this
Agreement),  under  any  statute,  law,  bylaw,  ordinance,   regulation,  rule,
judgment,  decree, order, license,  waiver, variance or other requirement of any
court or agency,  board,  bureau, body or department of the United States or any
state thereof  which is applicable to CFC or any of the  properties or assets of
CFC; (d) cause any  acceleration  of maturity of any note,  instrument  or other
obligation  to which CFC is a party or by which it is bound or with  respect  to
which it is an obligor or guarantor; or (e) result in the creation or imposition
of any lien, pledge,  claim, charge,  restriction,  equity or encumbrance of any
kind  whatsoever  upon  or give to any  other  person  any  interest  or  right,
including any right of termination or cancellation, in or with respect to any of
the business, operations, properties, assets, agreements or contracts of CFC.

                                       -7-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                  3.3  Capitalization;  Stock Ownership.  As of the date hereof,
the  authorized  capital  stock of CFC  consists of  1,500,000  shares of common
stock,  par value  $0.01 per  share,  of which  1,265,081  shares are issued and
outstanding.  All of the issued and outstanding  shares of CFC Common Stock have
been duly  authorized and validly  issued and are fully paid and  nonassessable,
and none of them were issued in  violation  of any  preemptive  or other  right.
Except  as  described  on  Schedule  3.3,  CFC is not a party to or bound by any
contract,  agreement or  arrangement to issue,  sell or otherwise  dispose of or
redeem,  purchase or otherwise  acquire any of its capital stock and there is no
outstanding  option,  warrant or other right to subscribe  for or  purchase,  or
contract,  agreement or arrangement with respect to, any capital stock of CFC or
any other security  exercisable or convertible into any capital stock of CFC, or
any stock appreciation rights.

                  3.4  Investments;  No  Subsidiary.  Except  as  set  forth  on
Schedule 3.4, CFC does not own,  directly or  indirectly,  any shares of capital
stock  of  any  corporation  or  any  equity   investment  in  any  partnership,
association or other business organization, other than County.

                  3.5 County Corporate Organization.  County is a national bank,
duly  organized and validly  existing under the laws of the United States and in
good standing with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the "OCC") and
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"). County has the corporate
power  and  authority  to carry on its  business  and  operations  as now  being
conducted  and to own and  operate  its  properties  and assets as now owned and
being operated by it. County's  deposit accounts are duly insured by the FDIC to
the maximum extent  permitted under applicable law. County has delivered to RSFC
complete and correct copies of County's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as
amended to date,  which are in full force and effect on the date hereof.  County
is  qualified  or  licensed  to do  business  and is in  good  standing  in each
jurisdiction  in which it  operates,  except where the failure to do so will not
have a material adverse effect on County.

                  3.6 County  Capitalization;  Stock  Ownership.  As of the date
hereof,  the  authorized  capital stock of County  consists of 832,928 shares of
common stock,  par value $3.00 per share, of which 807,928 shares are issued and
outstanding  (none of which are held by County as treasury stock),  all of which
are owned by CFC.  All of the issued  and  outstanding  shares of County  Common
Stock  have been duly  authorized  and  validly  issued  and are fully  paid and
nonassessable,  and none of them were issued in violation of any  preemptive  or
other  right.  County is not a party to or bound by any  contract,  agreement or
arrangement  to issue,  sell or  otherwise  dispose  of or redeem,  purchase  or
otherwise  acquire any of its capital stock and there is no outstanding  option,
warrant or other right to subscribe for or purchase,  or contract,  agreement or
arrangement  with  respect  to, any capital  stock of CFC or any other  security
exercisable  or  convertible  into  any  capital  stock  of  CFC,  or any  stock
appreciation rights.

     3.7 County Authorization and Enforceability; No Violation. The County

                                       -8-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



Board of  Directors  and the sole  shareholder,  by  unanimous  vote,  have duly
authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the  consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby with respect to County. This Agreement is a
legal,  valid and binding  obligation of County  enforceable  against  County in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by regulatory
authorities  having  jurisdiction  or  by  applicable  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or other similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights
generally and except that the  availability of equitable  remedies is within the
discretion of the appropriate court. Except for required  regulatory  approvals,
the  execution,  delivery  and  performance  of this  Agreement  do not, and the
consummation  of the Bank  Merger will not,  (a)  violate or  conflict  with the
Articles of Association or Bylaws of County; (b) except as set forth in Schedule
3.7,  require any third-party  consent pursuant to or result in any breach of or
default  under any  provision  of any contract or agreement of any kind to which
County  is a party or by which it is bound or to which  any of its  property  or
assets is subject;  (c) result in any breach or violation of, or default  under,
or any event which with due notice or lapse of time or both would  constitute  a
default  under,  result in the  termination  of, or accelerate  the  performance
required  by, or require  County to obtain or make any  consent,  authorization,
approval,  registration  or filing (other than as described in this  Agreement),
under any statute, law, bylaw, ordinance,  regulation,  rule, judgment,  decree,
order,  license,  waiver,  variance or other requirement of any court or agency,
board,  bureau,  body or  department  of the United  States or any state thereof
which is applicable to County or any of the properties or assets of County;  (d)
cause any  acceleration of maturity of any note,  instrument or other obligation
to which  County is a party or by which either is bound or with respect to which
it is an obligor or  guarantor;  or (e) result in the creation or  imposition of
any lien, pledge, claim, charge, restriction,  equity or encumbrance of any kind
whatsoever upon or give to any other person any interest or right, including any
right of termination or cancellation, in or with respect to any of the business,
operations, properties, assets, agreements or contracts of County.

                  3.8 Financial Statements.  County has delivered to RSFC copies
of its statements of financial condition as of December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996,
and statements of changes in shareholders' equity,  statements of cash flows and
statements  of  operations  for each of the  years  then  ended,  together  with
supporting  schedules and notes  thereto,  audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP (the
"Annual  Statements"),  and its statements of financial condition as of June 30,
1997 and  statements  of operations  for the  six-month  period then ended (such
statements as of and for the period ended June 30, 1997 are hereinafter referred
to  as  the  "Interim  Statements").  The  Annual  Statements  and  the  Interim
Statements (and the CFC Future Financial Statements,  to be delivered to RSFC in
accordance  with  Section  5.8  hereof)  including,   without  limitation,   the
allowances  for loan  losses,  fairly  present  (or  will  fairly  present)  the
financial  position  and results of  operations  of County as of the  respective
dates of such financial  statements and for the respective periods then ended in
conformity  with GAAP,  consistently  applied  throughout the periods  involved;
except,  with respect to the Interim  Statements,  for year-end  adjustments and
footnote disclosure.


                                       -9-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



     3.9 Loan  Portfolio.  With respect to each loan owned by County in whole or
in part (each, a "Loan"), except as described on Schedule 3.9 hereto:

                  (a) the  note  and any  related  security  documents  are each
         legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the maker or obligor thereof,
         enforceable  against  such maker or obligor  in  accordance  with their
         terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium  or  other  similar  laws  relating  to  creditor's   rights
         generally, and to general equitable principles;

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

                  (c)  ounty is the sole holder of legal and beneficial title to
         each Loan (or County's applicable participation interest, as 
         applicable);

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

                  (e)  to the knowledge of County, there is no pending or 
         threatened condemnation proceeding or similar proceeding affecting the
         property which serves as security for a Loan;

                  (f) to the  knowledge  of County,  there is no  litigation  or
         proceeding pending or threatened  relating to the property which serves
         as security for a Loan which would have a material  adverse effect upon
         the related Loan;

                  (g)  with   respect   to  a  Loan   held  in  the  form  of  a
         participation, the participation documentation is legal, valid, binding
         and  enforceable  and  County's  interest in such Loan  created by such
         participation  would not be a part of the insolvency estate of the Loan
         originator or other third party upon the insolvency thereof; and

                  (h) each Loan  secured by a mortgage on  residential  property
         (except for  construction  loans) was  originated by a bank,  thrift or
         other HUD-approved lender.

                  3.10 Deposits.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10,  none of
the  deposits of County is a "brokered"  deposit or subject to any  encumbrance,
legal restraint or other legal process.

                                      -10-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



          3.11 No Undisclosed Liabilities, Etc. Since June 30, 1997, CFC has not
     incurred or become aware of any material liability or obligation (absolute,
     accrued,  contingent or otherwise) of any nature which should properly have
     been reflected or reserved for in the Interim Statements.

          3.12 Absence of Certain  Changes.  Since June 30, 1997 (except for the
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement), neither CFC nor County:

               (a) had any change in financial condition,  properties,  business
          or operations which would have a material adverse effect;

               (b) suffered any damage, destruction or loss of physical property
          or assets  (whether or not covered by insurance),  in the aggregate in
          excess of $100,000 in value;

               (c) issued,  sold or  otherwise  disposed of, or agreed to issue,
          sell or otherwise  dispose of, any of its capital  stock,  except upon
          exercise of outstanding stock options;

               (d)  incurred or agreed to incur any  material  indebtedness  for
          borrowed money, other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (e) made or obligated  itself to make any capital  expenditure in
          excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

               (f) waived any material right;

               (g) sold,  transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of, or agreed to
          sell,  transfer or  otherwise  dispose  of, any  material  assets,  or
          canceled,  or agreed to cancel,  any material debts or claims, in each
          case, other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (h) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any charge, lien, claim or
          encumbrance,  or agreed to mortgage,  pledge or subject to any charge,
          lien, claim or encumbrance,  any of its material properties or assets,
          other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (i) except as provided in Section 5.4(b),  declared, set aside or
          paid any dividend (whether in cash, property or stock) with respect to
          any  of  its  capital  stock,  or  redeemed,  purchased  or  otherwise
          acquired,  or agreed to redeem,  purchase or otherwise acquire, any of
          its capital stock;

               (j) except as disclosed on Schedule  3.12(j) or  contemplated  in
          Section  5.4(l),  increased  the  compensation  or  bonuses or special
          compensation of any kind of any of its directors,  officers, employees
          or agents over the rate being paid to them

                                      -11-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



         on June 30,  1997 or  adopted  or  increased  any  benefits  under  any
         insurance,   pension  or  other  employee  benefit  plan,   payment  or
         arrangement made to, for or with any such director,  officer,  employee
         or agent;

               (k)  made  or  permitted  any  amendment  or  termination  of any
          material contract,  agreement or license to which it is a party, other
          than in the ordinary course of business;

               (l)  made  any  material  change  in its  accounting  methods  or
          practices  with  respect  to  its  financial  condition,   properties,
          business or operations;

               (m) repaid any  outstanding  loans,  other than repayments in the
          ordinary course of business;

               (n)  entered  into  any  other  material  transaction  not in the
          ordinary course of business;

               (o)  become  aware  of  the  need  to  make  additional  specific
          provisions  for  reserves  for loan losses which would have a material
          adverse  effect on its financial  condition,  properties,  business or
          operations;

               (p) hired any new officers,  other than in the ordinary course of
          business, consistent with past practice;

               (q) entered  into any real estate or equipment  lease,  requiring
          aggregate rental payments in excess of $100,000;

               (r) entered into any agreement not terminable at will by it which
          requires  the  payment  by it of an  aggregate  amount  in  excess  of
          $100,000, other than loan commitments or agreements; or

               (s)  agreed to or  otherwise  become  obligated  to do any of the
          foregoing.

                  3.13 Real Properties.  Schedule 3.13 hereto describes all real
estate owned or leased by CFC or County,  exclusive of "other real estate owned"
acquired  by CFC or  County  as a  result  of  foreclosure  or  "deed  in  lieu"
settlements  and held by CFC or County for resale.  All such real  property,  if
owned by CFC or County,  is owned under good, clear and marketable  title,  free
and clear of all claims, liens,  charges,  security interests or encumbrances of
any nature  whatsoever except (i) statutory liens securing payments not yet due,
(ii) liens which are incurred in the  ordinary  course of its business and (iii)
such imperfections or irregularities of title, claims, liens, charges,  security
interests or  encumbrances as do not materially  impair  business  operations at
such property. CFC or County is the lessee of all leasehold estates described in
Schedule  3.13 and is in  possession  of the  properties  purported to be leased
thereunder and each such lease is valid, without

                                      -12-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



material default thereunder by the lessee or, to lessee's knowledge, the lessor.
True and  complete  copies  of all  leases  listed  in  Schedule  3.13 have been
delivered by CFC to RSFC.

                  3.14 Taxes and Fees.  With  respect to CFC and each  member of
any affiliated group, within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986,  of which CFC is or has been a member  (CFC as used  hereafter  in
this Section 3.14 shall refer to CFC and each such other  company) (i) except as
described  in  Schedule  3.14,  all  reports,  returns,   statements  (including
estimated reports, returns or statements), and other similar filings required to
be filed on or before the  Effective  Time by CFC or County (the "Tax  Returns")
with  respect to any Taxes (as defined  below) have been or will be timely filed
with the appropriate  governmental  agencies in all  jurisdictions in which such
Tax Returns are required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns correctly reflect
the liability of CFC for Taxes for the periods,  properties,  or events  covered
thereby;  (ii) except as  described  in Schedule  3.14,  all Taxes  payable with
respect to the Tax Returns  referred to in the preceding  clause,  and all Taxes
accruable or otherwise  attributable  to events  occurring prior to the close of
business on the last day of the calendar month ending  immediately  prior to the
Closing Date (the "Test Date"), whether disputed or not, whether or not shown on
any Tax Return, and whether or not currently due or payable, will have been paid
in full prior to the Test  Date,  or an  adequate  accrual  in  accordance  with
generally accepted  accounting  principles will be provided with respect thereto
on the balance  sheet dated as of the Test Date;  (iii)  except as  described in
Schedule 3.14, CFC has no knowledge of any unassessed Tax deficiencies or of any
audits or investigations  pending or threatened  against CFC with respect to any
Taxes;  (iv) no Tax Returns of CFC have been  examined by the  Internal  Revenue
Service  for  fiscal  years  ending  within  the last 15  years;  (v)  except as
described in Schedule  3.14,  there is in effect no extension  for the filing of
any Tax Return and CFC has not extended or waived the application of any statute
of limitations of any jurisdiction regarding the assessment or collection of any
Tax; (vi) no claim has ever been made by any Tax authority in a jurisdiction  in
which CFC does not file Tax returns  that it is or may be subject to taxation by
that  jurisdiction;  (vii)  there are no liens  for Taxes  upon any asset of CFC
except for liens for current  Taxes not yet due;  (viii) CFC has timely made all
deposits  required by law to be made with respect to employees'  withholding and
other payroll, employment, or other withholding taxes, including the portions of
such taxes imposed upon CFC.

     3.15  Contracts.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15 hereto,  neither CFC
nor County is a party to any written or oral:

               (a) contract or  agreement,  other than  contracts or  agreements
          made in the ordinary course of business, involving more than $100,000;

               (b) contract or agreement with any governmental authority,  other
          than contracts or agreements made in the ordinary course of business;

               (c) contract or agreement  providing  for the  settlement  of any
          material

                                      -13-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



         action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving it;

               (d)  employment  or  consulting  agreement  of any kind  with any
          officer,  director,  employee or consultant,  or any policy,  program,
          agreement  or  understanding  (whether  or  not  in  the  form  of  an
          agreement)  obligating it to pay any amount to any officer or employee
          on account of severance or termination of employment;

               (e) contract or collective  bargaining  agreement  with any labor
          union or representative of its employees; or

               (f)  contract or  agreement  which is  material to its  financial
          condition, properties, business or operations.

Except as set forth in Schedule 3.15 hereto,  each  contract or other  agreement
listed on such  schedule  to which CFC or County is a party is in full force and
effect and is valid and enforceable by it in accordance with its terms,  subject
to  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency  and similar laws  affecting  creditors'
rights generally,  and, as to  enforceability,  to general principles of equity.
Neither CFC nor County is in default in any material  respect in the  observance
or the  performance  of any term or  obligation  to be performed by it under any
such contract or other  agreement.  CFC has delivered or made  available to RSFC
true  and  complete  copies  of all  contracts  and  agreements  listed  on such
schedule.

                  3.16  Litigation.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.16 hereto
and except  for  actions in which  County is the  plaintiff  where the amount in
controversy is less than $100,000,  there are no actions, suits,  proceedings or
investigations  before  any  court or  administrative  authority  in the  United
States, any state thereof,  or any other  jurisdiction,  of any kind now pending
or, to the best of the knowledge of CFC, threatened,  involving CFC or County or
any of its businesses,  operations,  properties, assets or liabilities. There is
no arbitration  proceeding involving CFC or County which is pending or, to CFC's
knowledge,  threatened under any collective  bargaining  agreement or otherwise.
Except as set forth in Schedule  3.16  hereto,  neither  CFC,  County nor any of
their  properties,  assets  or  liabilities,  is  subject  to  any  judicial  or
administrative judgment,  order, decree or restraint which adversely affects its
business, operations or financial condition.

                  3.17 Compliance with Laws and Regulations. Except as set forth
as Schedule  3.17,  the business and  operations of CFC and County have been and
are in all material  respects  conducted in accordance with all applicable laws,
rules  and  regulations  (including,   without  limitation,   the  Equal  Credit
Opportunity  Act, the Consumer Credit  Protection Act, the Truth in Lending Act,
the Community  Reinvestment Act and the Real Estate Settlement  Procedures Act),
and  neither  CFC nor  County  is  subject  to or,  to  CFC's  knowledge,  being
threatened  with, any material fine,  penalty,  liability or legal disability to
its business as the result of its failure to comply with any  requirement of any
governmental  body or agency  having  jurisdiction  over it, the  conduct of its
business, the use of its assets

                                      -14-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



and  properties,  or any premises  occupied by it. CFC and County have filed all
reports and maintained all material  records  required to be filed or maintained
during the past five fiscal years and the current  fiscal year under  applicable
rules and  regulations of the Federal  Reserve,  the OCC and the FDIC. Each such
filing  contains  the  information  required  to  be  stated  therein  and  such
information  was true and correct in all  material  respects as of the time such
report was filed.

     3.18 Employment Benefit Plans and Arrangements; Labor Matters.

                  (a) Schedule  3.18 hereto lists all employee  benefits  plans,
         contracts,  programs  or  arrangements,  including  but not  limited to
         pension,   profit-sharing,   stock   option,   stock  bonus,   deferred
         compensation,   supplemental   retirement,   severance,   health  care,
         hospitalization, medical, dental, disability, life insurance and salary
         continuation,  which  are  currently  maintained,   contributed  to  or
         required to be contributed to by CFC or County or which otherwise cover
         or provide benefits to any employee or former employee of CFC or County
         or  any  beneficiary  thereof  (collectively,  the  "Plans").  CFC  has
         delivered to RSFC true and complete  copies of all of the Plans and all
         material  documents  relating thereto,  including,  but not limited to,
         summary  plan  descriptions,  annual  reports  (IRS Form 5500  Series),
         actuarial reports,  and accountant or trustee reports, if any, and such
         reports are  accurate in all  material  respects  and there has been no
         material  change in the  financial  or funding  status of any such Plan
         since the dates of the most recent of such reports.  Each Plan has been
         maintained and administered in all material respects in accordance with
         its  terms  and  with  all  applicable  laws,  including  the  Employee
         Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended  ("ERISA"),  and the
         Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder,  and in a manner which
         will not  result  in any  material  charge  or  assessment  against  or
         liability  of CFC or  County.  Except  as set  forth on  Schedule  3.18
         hereto,  any Plan that is intended to qualify under  Section  401(a) of
         the Code has been  determined by the Internal  Revenue Service to be so
         qualified,   and   nothing  has   occurred   since  the  date  of  such
         determination that could adversely affect such qualification.  The fair
         market  value of the  assets of each Plan that is  subject  to Title IV
         equals or exceeds the  present  value of all  benefit  liabilities  (as
         defined in Title IV of ERISA) under the Plan,  with such present  value
         being   determined  by  application   of  the  actuarial   methods  and
         assumptions  applied by the Plan's enrolled  actuary at the most recent
         annual valuation of the Plan. Neither CFC nor County has engaged in any
         transaction which may result in imposition on it of any material excise
         tax under  Sections  4971  through  4980,  inclusive,  of the Code,  or
         otherwise  incurred a liability  for any excise tax,  other than excise
         taxes which have  heretofore  been paid or have been  accrued,  and, in
         either case are fully reflected in the Interim  Statements.  There does
         not exist any  accumulated  material  funding  deficiency  (within  the
         meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or
         not  waived,  with  respect  to any Plan.  There  are no  circumstances
         pursuant to which CFC or County could be liable to the Pension  Benefit
         Guaranty Corporation or a multi-employer plan (as

                                      -15-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



         defined in Section  3(37) of ERISA) with respect to any plan not listed
         on Schedule 3.18.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.18 hereto, no Plan
         provides  hospital,  medical or health care benefits  (other than those
         mandated by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986)
         or any life insurance or death benefit  protection  (other than under a
         Plan that  qualifies  under Section  401(a) of the Code) to any retired
         employees.

                  (b) As of the date hereof,  no  association  of employees  has
         petitioned or applied for labor union certification with respect to all
         or any part of the  business  or  operations  of CFC or County,  nor is
         there any  organized  campaign  to obtain any such  certification;  and
         there have been no negotiations  with any labor union or association of
         employees  with respect to any future or amended  agreements  by CFC or
         County involving its business or operations, and neither CFC nor County
         has made or received any offers or proposals with respect thereto.

                  3.19  Accounting  Practices.  The books,  records and accounts
maintained by CFC and County  accurately and fairly reflect in reasonable detail
its businesses,  operations,  properties,  assets and  liabilities,  and CFC and
County maintain internal accounting controls that provide reasonable  assurances
that  transactions  are  executed  only  with  management's   authorization  and
transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to permit  preparation  of  accurate
financial  statements  and to maintain  accountability  for its  properties  and
assets.

                  3.20 Minute  Books.  The minute books of CFC and County are in
all material  respects  complete and accurate  records of all meetings and other
corporate  actions of their  respective  shareholders and Board of Directors and
CFC has made available to RSFC for inspection the originals thereof or delivered
true copies thereof.

                  3.21 Insurance.  All of the insurance policies in force on the
date hereof  insuring CFC and County,  and their  assets,  business,  employees,
officers and directors, are described in Schedule 3.21 hereto. CFC has delivered
or made available to RSFC true and complete copies of all such policies.

                  3.22 Agreements with  Regulators.  Neither CFC nor County is a
party to any written agreement or memorandum of understanding  with, nor a party
to any commitment letter or similar  undertaking to, nor subject to any order or
directive by, nor a recipient of any extraordinary  supervisory letter from, any
Agency which restricts the conduct of its business,  or in any manner relates to
its capital  adequacy,  its credit policies or its  management.  Neither CFC nor
County  has  been  advised  by any  Agency  or is  aware  that  such  Agency  is
contemplating issuing or requesting any such agreement, memorandum,  commitment,
understanding, order or supervisory letter.

     3.23  Environmental.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.23, neither CFC nor
County is (i) in violation of any law,  regulation,  order,  permit,  license or
decree regulating

                                      -16-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



emissions  into the  environment  and the proper  disposal of wastes,  petroleum
products or other  materials;  or (ii) liable or  responsible  for any  cleanup,
fines,  liability or expense arising under any environmental law,  regulation or
order as a  result  of the  disposal  of  wastes,  petroleum  products  or other
materials in or on its property  (whether owned or leased or in which either has
acquired an interest by way of mortgage or foreclosure) by it, its  predecessors
in  title,  or any  other  person,  or in or on any  other  property,  including
property  no longer  owned,  leased  or used by it.  There  are no  asbestos  or
petroleum products or any hazardous or waste material of any kind located under,
on or in the property (owned or leased) of CFC or County,  and such property has
never  been  used  for the  handling,  treatment,  storage  or  disposal  of any
petroleum  products or any  hazardous or toxic  substances  as defined under any
applicable  state or federal law.  RSFC intends to obtain Phase 1  environmental
audits on properties  listed on Schedule 3.13. In the event that such audits (or
subsequent Phase 2 assessments)  indicate necessary remediation which would cost
in excess of $100,000,  RSFC, at its option,  may, upon notice to CFC, terminate
this Agreement. In the event of such a termination, neither party shall have any
further  obligations  or  liability to the other,  notwithstanding  Section 10.4
hereof,  unless CFC or County had knowledge of the circumstances which indicated
such necessary remediation and failed to disclose such circumstances in Schedule
3.23.

     3.24  Community  Reinvestment  Act.  Except as set forth on Schedule  3.24,
County has  complied in all material  respects  with its  obligations  under the
Community Reinvestment Act.

                  3.25  Transactions  with  Insiders.  Except  as set  forth  on
Schedule 3.25, all of the loans,  transactions,  agreements and dealings between
County and any  "Insider,"  as defined in  Regulation  O, comply in all respects
with the provisions of Regulation O.

                  3.26  Fidelity  Bond.  County has obtained all fidelity  bonds
that are required by law or regulation. All such fidelity bonds are currently in
force and County has no reason to anticipate  that the issuers thereof will fail
to renew them or plan to revoke and/or cancel them.

                  3.27  Proxy  Statement.  The proxy  statement  referred  to in
Section 4.9 hereof will not, with respect to CFC and County,  contain any untrue
statements  of material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  necessary in
order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading;  provided, however, that this Section 3.27 shall
not apply to information included in the proxy statement with respect to RSFC or
Republic, including financial information and statements.

                  3.28 Brokers.  Except as described in Schedule  3.28,  neither
CFC, County nor any director,  officer,  employer, agent or other representative
of CFC or County, has paid or is obligated to pay to any party any finder's fee,
brokerage  commission,  fairness  opinion fee or like payment in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this

                                      -17-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



Agreement.

                  3.29 No  Untrue  Statements.  No  statement  by CFC or  County
contained  in this  Agreement  or any of the  Schedules  hereto or CFC or County
financial  statements  referred to herein  contains  or will  contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact,  or omits or will omit to state a material  fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

                  3.30 Absence of Regulatory Communications. Except as set forth
in Schedule 3.30,  neither CFC nor County is subject to, or has received  during
the past three years, any written communication directed specifically to it from
any Agency to which it is subject or  pursuant  to which such Agency has imposed
or has indicated it may impose any material restrictions on the operations of it
or the  business  conducted  by it or in which such Agency has raised a material
question concerning the condition, financial or otherwise, of such company.

     3.31 Opinion of Financial Advisor.  CFC has been advised by Alex Sheshunoff
& Co. that the Conversion Rate is fair to the holders of CFC Common Stock from a
financial point of view.

                                   ARTICLE IV

               REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC

                  RSFC and  Republic  hereby  represent  and  warrant to CFC and
County as follows:

                  4.1   RSFC   Corporate   Organization.   RSFC  is  a   Florida
corporation,  duly  organized,  validly  existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Florida.  RSFC has the  corporate  power and  authority  to
carry on its  business  and  operations  as now being  conducted  and to own and
operate its properties and assets as now owned and being operated by it. RSFC is
qualified  or  licensed  to  do  business  and  is  in  good  standing  in  each
jurisdiction  in which it  operates,  except where the failure to do so will not
have a material  adverse effect on RSFC.  RSFC is a bank holding  company,  duly
registered  as such and in good standing  under the Bank Holding  Company Act of
1956, as amended.

                  4.2  RSFC  Authorization  and  Enforceability;  No  Violation.
RSFC's Board of Directors has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions  contemplated hereby. Subject
to approval of the Parent Merger by  shareholders of RSFC owning not less than a
majority of the  outstanding  shares of RSFC Common Stock,  this  Agreement is a
legal, valid and binding obligation of RSFC,  enforceable in accordance with its
terms,  except  as  enforceability  may be  limited  by  applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,   reorganization,   moratorium  or  other  similar  laws   affecting
creditors'  rights  generally  and except  that the  availability  of  equitable
remedies

                                      -18-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



is within the discretion of the appropriate  court. The execution,  delivery and
performance of this Agreement do not, and the  consummation of the Parent Merger
and the Bank Merger will not, (a) violate or conflict  with any provision of the
Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of RSFC, (b) require any third party consent
pursuant  to or result in any breach of or default  under any  provision  of any
contract or  agreement  of any kind to which RSFC is a party or by which RSFC is
bound or to which any  property or asset of RSFC is  subject,  (c) result in any
breach or violation of, or default under,  or any event which with due notice or
lapse  of  time  or  both  would  constitute  a  default  under,  result  in the
termination  of, or accelerate the  performance  required by, or require RSFC to
obtain or make any  consent,  authorization,  approval,  registration  or filing
(other than as described in this  Agreement),  under any  statute,  law,  bylaw,
ordinance,  regulation, rule, judgment, decree, order, license, waiver, variance
or other requirement of any court or agency,  board,  bureau, body or department
of the United States or any state thereof which is applicable to Republic or any
of the properties or assets of RSFC, (d) cause any  acceleration  of maturity of
any note, instrument or other obligation to which RSFC is a party or by which it
is bound or with respect to which it is an obligor or  guarantor,  or (e) result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, pledge,  claim, charge,  restriction,
equity or  encumbrance of any kind  whatsoever  upon or give to any other person
any interest or right, including any right of termination or cancellation, in or
with respect to any of the business, operations,  properties, assets, agreements
or contracts of RSFC.

                  4.3  RSFC  Capitalization;  Stock  Ownership.  As of the  date
hereof,  the authorized  capital stock of RSFC consists of 100,000,000 shares of
common stock,  par value $.01 per share, of which  16,147,107  shares are issued
and outstanding,  and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock,  $10.00 stated value
per share,  of which no shares of Series A, no shares of Series B and  1,035,000
shares of Series C are issued and outstanding. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of RSFC Common Stock and preferred  stock have been duly  authorized  and
validly  issued  and are  fully  paid and  nonassessable,  and none of them were
issued in violation  of any  preemptive  or other right.  Except as described on
Schedule  4.3,  RSFC is not a party to or bound by any  contract,  agreement  or
arrangement  to issue,  sell or  otherwise  dispose  of or redeem,  purchase  or
otherwise  acquire any of its capital stock and there is no outstanding  option,
warrant or other right to subscribe for or purchase,  or contract,  agreement or
arrangement  with  respect to, any capital  stock of RSFC or any other  security
exercisable  or  convertible  into  any  capital  stock of  RSFC,  or any  stock
appreciation rights.

     4.4 Investments;  No Subsidiary.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4, RSFC
does not own,  directly  or  indirectly,  any  shares  of  capital  stock of any
corporation or any equity  investment in any  partnership,  association or other
business organization.

     4.5 Republic Corporate Organization. Republic is a Florida state bank, duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Florida. Republic has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business
and operations as now being  conducted and to own and operate its properties and
assets as now owned and

                                      -19-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



being operated by it.  Republic has delivered to CFC complete and correct copies
of Republic's  Articles of Incorporation  and Bylaws,  as amended to date, which
are in full  force and  effect on the date  hereof.  Republic  is  qualified  or
licensed to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it
operates,  except  where the  failure to do so will not have a material  adverse
effect on Republic.

                  4.6 Republic  Capitalization;  Stock Ownership. As of the date
hereof, the authorized capital stock of Republic consists of 5,000,000 shares of
common stock,  par value $5.00 per share, of which  1,539,490  shares are issued
and outstanding  (none of which are held by Republic as treasury stock),  all of
which are owned by RSFC or  Governors  Bank  Corporation  (RSFC's  wholly  owned
subsidiary).  All of the issued and outstanding  shares of Republic Common Stock
have  been  duly   authorized   and  validly  issued  and  are  fully  paid  and
nonassessable,  and none of them were issued in violation of any  preemptive  or
other right.  Republic is not a party to or bound by any contract,  agreement or
arrangement  to issue,  sell or  otherwise  dispose  of or redeem,  purchase  or
otherwise  acquire any of its capital stock and there is no outstanding  option,
warrant or other right to subscribe for or purchase,  or contract,  agreement or
arrangement with respect to, any capital stock of Republic or any other security
exercisable  or  convertible  into any capital  stock of Republic,  or any stock
appreciation rights.

                  4.7 Republic  Authorization and Enforceability;  No Violation.
Republic's  Board  of  Directors  and  shareholders  have  duly  authorized  the
execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation   of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby,  and this  Agreement  is a legal,  valid and
binding obligation of Republic, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium or other similar laws  affecting  creditors'  rights
generally and except that the  availability of equitable  remedies is within the
discretion of the appropriate court. The execution,  delivery and performance of
this  Agreement  do not, and the  consummation  of the Bank Merger will not, (a)
violate or conflict  with any  provision  of the  Articles of  Incorporation  or
Bylaws of Republic; (b) require any third party consent pursuant to or result in
any breach of or default under any provision of any contract or agreement of any
kind to which  Republic is a party or by which Republic is bound or to which any
property or asset of Republic is subject;  (c) result in any breach or violation
of, or  default  under,  or any event  which with due notice or lapse of time or
both  would  constitute  a  default  under,  result  in the  termination  of, or
accelerate the  performance  required by, or require  Republic to obtain or make
any consent,  authorization,  approval,  registration  or filing  (other than as
described  in  this  Agreement),  under  any  statute,  law,  bylaw,  ordinance,
regulation,  rule, judgment,  decree, order, license,  waiver, variance or other
requirement  of any court or agency,  board,  bureau,  body or department of the
United States or any state thereof which is applicable to Republic or any of the
properties or assets of Republic;  (d) cause any acceleration of maturity of any
note, instrument or other obligation to which Republic is a party or by which it
is bound or with respect to which it is an obligor or  guarantor;  or (e) result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, pledge,  claim, charge,  restriction,
equity or encumbrance of any

                                      -20-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



kind  whatsoever  upon  or give to any  other  person  any  interest  or  right,
including any right of termination or cancellation, in or with respect to any of
the  business,  operations,  properties,  assets,  agreements  or  contracts  of
Republic.

                  4.8 SEC Filings.  RSFC has  heretofore or will deliver to CFC,
copies of RSFC's:  (i) Annual  Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal  years  ended
December  31, 1996 and 1995;  (ii) 1996  Annual  Report to  Shareholders;  (iii)
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal  quarters  ended March 31 and June
30,  1997;  and (iv) any  reports  on Form 8-K  filed by RSFC with the SEC since
December 31, 1996 and will continue until the Closing to furnish CFC with copies
of such  reports.  As of the  respective  filing and effective  dates,  (i) such
reports  complied as to form with the applicable  requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933  (the "33  Act") and the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 (the "34
Act") and the regulations  thereunder,  and (ii) none of such reports  contained
any  untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omitted to state a material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading.

                  4.9  Registration  Statement.  At the  time  the  Registration
Statement referred to in Section 6.5 hereof becomes effective,  the Registration
Statement,  including the proxy  statement  constituting  a part  thereof,  will
comply in all material  respects  with the  requirements  of the 33 Act or other
applicable  securities law and the rules and  regulations  thereunder,  will not
contain an untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary  in  order  to  make  the  statements  therein,  in the  light  of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not  misleading;  provided,  however,
that  this  Section  4.9 shall not  apply to  statements  included  in the proxy
statement made in reliance upon and in conformity with information  furnished to
RSFC  in  writing  by CFC or any  of its  representatives,  including  financial
information and statements.

                  4.10 Financial Statements. RSFC has delivered to CFC copies of
its statements of financial  condition as of March 31, 1994,  1995 and 1996, and
December 31, 1996, and statements of changes in shareholders' equity, statements
of cash flows and  statements  of  operations  for each of the years then ended,
together with supporting  schedules and notes thereto,  audited by Ernst & Young
LLP (the "RSFC Annual  Statements"),  and its unaudited  statements of financial
condition as of June 30, 1997 and  statements  of  operations  for the six-month
period then ended (such  statements as of and for the period ended June 30, 1997
are hereinafter referred to as the "RSFC Interim  Statements").  The RSFC Annual
Statements and the RSFC Interim Statements,  including,  without limitation, the
allowances for loan losses, fairly present the financial position and results of
operations of RSFC as of the respective  dates of such financial  statements and
for the  respective  periods then ended in  conformity  with GAAP,  consistently
applied  throughout  the  periods  involved;  except,  with  respect to the RSFC
Interim Statements, for year-end adjustments and footnote disclosure.

     4.11 Loan Portfolio. With respect to each loan owned by Republic in whole

                                      -21-
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<PAGE>



or in part (each, a "Loan"), except as described on Schedule 4.11 hereto:

                  (a) the  note  and any  related  security  documents  are each
         legal,  valid and binding  obligations of the maker or obligor thereof,
         enforceable  against  such maker or obligor  in  accordance  with their
         terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium  or  other  similar  laws  relating  to  creditor's   rights
         generally, and to general equitable principles;

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

                  (c) public is the sole holder of legal and beneficial title to
         each Loan (or Republic's applicable participation interest, as
         applicable);

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

                  (e) to the knowledge of Republic, there is no pending or 
         threatened condemnation proceeding or similar proceeding affecting the
         property which serves as security for a Loan;

                  (f) to the  knowledge of Republic,  there is no  litigation or
         proceeding pending or threatened, relating to the property which serves
         as security for a Loan, which would have a material adverse effect upon
         the related Loan;

                  (g)  with   respect   to  a  Loan   held  in  the  form  of  a
         participation, the participation documentation is legal, valid, binding
         and  enforceable  and Republic's  interest in such Loan created by such
         participation  would not be a part of the insolvency estate of the Loan
         originator or other third party upon the insolvency thereof; and

                  (h) each Loan  secured by a mortgage on  residential  property
         (except for  construction  loans) was  originated by a bank,  thrift or
         other HUD-approved lender.

                  4.12  Deposits.  Except as described on Schedule  4.12 hereto,
none of the  deposits  of  Republic  is a  "brokered"  deposit or subject to any
encumbrance, legal restraint or other legal process.


                                      -22-
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<PAGE>
                  4.13 No  Undisclosed  Liabilities,  Etc.  Since June 30, 1997,
RSFC has not incurred or become aware of any  material  liability or  obligation
(absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any nature which should properly
have been reflected or reserved for in the RSFC Interim Statements.

     4.14  Absence  of Certain  Changes.  Since June 30,  1997  (except  for the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement), neither RSFC nor Republic has:

               (a) had any change in financial condition,  properties,  business
          or operations which would have a material adverse effect;

               (b) suffered any damage, destruction or loss of physical property
          or assets  (whether or not covered by insurance),  in the aggregate in
          excess of $100,000 in value;

                  (c) issued, sold or otherwise disposed of, or agreed to issue,
         sell or  otherwise  dispose of, any of its capital  stock,  except upon
         exercise of outstanding stock options;

               (d)  incurred or agreed to incur any  material  indebtedness  for
          borrowed money, other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (e) made or obligated  itself to make any capital  expenditure in
          excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

               (f) waived any material right;

               (g) sold,  transferred  or  otherwise  disposed  of, or agreed to
          sell,  transfer or  otherwise  dispose  of, any  material  assets,  or
          canceled,  or agreed to cancel,  any material debts or claims, in each
          case, other than in the ordinary course of business;

               (h) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any charge, lien, claim or
          encumbrance,  or agreed to mortgage,  pledge or subject to any charge,
          lien, claim or encumbrance,  any of its material properties or assets,
          other than in the ordinary course of business;

                  (i) declared, set aside or paid any dividend (whether in cash,
         property or stock) with respect to any of its capital stock, other than
         its  regular  cash  dividends,  or  redeemed,  purchased  or  otherwise
         acquired,  or agreed to redeem,  purchase or otherwise acquire,  any of
         its capital stock;

                  (j)   increased  the   compensation   or  bonuses  or  special
         compensation of any kind of any of its directors,  officers,  employees
         or agents  over the rate being paid to them on June 30, 1997 or adopted
         or increased any benefits under any

                                      -23-
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<PAGE>



         insurance,   pension  or  other  employee  benefit  plan,   payment  or
         arrangement made to, for or with any such director,  officer,  employee
         or agent;

               (k)  made  or  permitted  any  amendment  or  termination  of any
          material contract,  agreement or license to which it is a party, other
          than in the ordinary course of business;

               (l)  made  any  material  change  in its  accounting  methods  or
          practices  with  respect  to  its  financial  condition,   properties,
          business or operations;

               (m) repaid any  outstanding  loans,  other than repayments in the
          ordinary course of business;

               (n)  entered  into  any  other  material  transaction  not in the
          ordinary course of business;

               (o)  become  aware  of  the  need  to  make  additional  specific
          provisions  for  reserves  for loan losses which would have a material
          adverse  effect on its financial  condition,  properties,  business or
          operations;

               (p) hired any new officers,  other than in the ordinary course of
          business, consistent with past practice;

               (q) entered  into any real estate or equipment  lease,  requiring
          aggregate rental payments in excess of $100,000;

               (r) entered into any agreement not terminable at will by it which
          requires  the  payment  by it of an  aggregate  amount  in  excess  of
          $100,000; or

               (s)  agreed to or  otherwise  become  obligated  to do any of the
          foregoing.

                  4.15 Real Properties.  Schedule 4.15 hereto describes all real
estate  owned or leased by RSFC or  Republic,  exclusive  of "other  real estate
owned"  acquired  by  Republic  as a  result  of  foreclosure  or "deed in lieu"
settlements and held by Republic for resale.  All such real property,  if owned,
is owned under good, clear and marketable  title,  free and clear of all claims,
liens,  charges,  security  interests or encumbrances  of any nature  whatsoever
except (i) statutory  liens securing  payments not yet due, (ii) liens which are
incurred in the ordinary course of its business and (iii) such  imperfections or
irregularities  of  title,  claims,  liens,   charges,   security  interests  or
encumbrances as do not materially  impair business  operations at such property.
RSFC or Republic is the lessee of all  leasehold  estates  described in Schedule
4.15 and is in possession of the  properties  purported to be leased  thereunder
and each such lease is valid,  without material default thereunder by the lessee
or, to lessee's  knowledge,  the lessor.  True and complete copies of all leases
listed in Schedule 4.15 have been delivered by RSFC to CFC.

                                      -24-
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                  4.16 Taxes and Fees.  With  respect to RSFC and each member of
any affiliated group, within the meaning of Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986,  of which RSFC is or has been a member (RSFC as used  hereafter in
this Section 4.16 shall refer to RSFC and each such other company) (i) except as
described  in  Schedule  4.16,  all  reports,  returns,   statements  (including
estimated reports, returns or statements), and other similar filings required to
be filed on or before  Effective  Time by RSFC or Republic  (the "Tax  Returns")
with  respect to any Taxes (as defined  below) have been or will be timely filed
with the appropriate  governmental  agencies in all  jurisdictions in which such
Tax Returns are required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns correctly reflect
the liability of RSFC for Taxes for the periods,  properties,  or events covered
thereby;  (ii) except as  described  in Schedule  4.16,  all Taxes  payable with
respect to the Tax Returns  referred to in the preceding  clause,  and all Taxes
accruable or otherwise  attributable to events occurring prior to the Test Date,
whether disputed or not, whether or not shown on any Tax Return,  and whether or
not  currently  due or  payable,  will have been paid in full  prior to the Test
Date, or an adequate  accrual in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting
principles  will be provided with respect  thereto on the balance sheet dated as
of the Test Date;  (iii)  except as  described  in  Schedule  4.16,  RSFC has no
knowledge of any unassessed Tax deficiencies or of any audits or  investigations
pending or  threatened  against  RSFC with  respect  to any Taxes;  (iv) the Tax
Returns of RSFC have never been examined by the Internal  Revenue  Service;  (v)
except as described in Schedule  4.16,  there is in effect no extension  for the
filing of any Tax Return and RSFC has not extended or waived the  application of
any statute of  limitations  of any  jurisdiction  regarding  the  assessment or
collection  of any Tax; (vi) no claim has ever been made by any Tax authority in
a  jurisdiction  in which  RSFC does not file Tax  returns  that it is or may be
subject to  taxation  by that  jurisdiction;  (vii) there are no liens for Taxes
upon any asset of RSFC  except for liens for current  Taxes not yet due;  (viii)
RSFC has timely made all  deposits  required  by law to be made with  respect to
employees'  withholding  and other  payroll,  employment,  or other  withholding
taxes, including the portions of such taxes imposed upon RSFC.

     4.17 Contracts.  Except as set forth on Schedule 4.17 hereto,  neither RSFC
nor Republic is a party to any written or oral:

               (a) contract or  agreement,  other than  contracts or  agreements
          made in the ordinary course of business, involving more than $100,000;

               (b) contract or agreement with any governmental authority,  other
          than contracts or agreements made in the ordinary course of business;

               (c) contract or agreement  providing  for the  settlement  of any
          material action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving it;

               (d)  employment  or  consulting  agreement  of any kind  with any
          officer,  director,  employee or consultant,  or any policy,  program,
          agreement  or  understanding  (whether  or  not  in  the  form  of  an
          agreement) obligating it to pay any

                                      -25-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



     amount to any officer or employee on account of severance or termination of
employment;

               (e) contract or collective  bargaining  agreement  with any labor
          union or representative of its employees; or

               (f)  contract or  agreement  which is  material to its  financial
          condition, properties, business or operations.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.17 hereto, each contract or other agreement to
which RSFC or  Republic  is a party is in full force and effect and is valid and
enforceable  by  it  in  accordance  with  its  terms,   subject  to  applicable
bankruptcy,  insolvency and similar laws affecting  creditors' rights generally,
and, as to  enforceability,  to general  principles of equity.  Neither RSFC nor
Republic  is in  default  in  any  material  respect  in the  observance  or the
performance  of any term or  obligation  to be  performed  by it under  any such
contract or other  agreement.  RSFC has delivered or made  available to CFC true
and complete  copies of all contracts and agreements  referred to in clauses (a)
through (f) above.

                  4.18  Litigation.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18 hereto
and except for actions in which  Republic is the  plaintiff  where the amount in
controversy is less than $100,000,  there are no actions, suits,  proceedings or
investigations  before  any  court or  administrative  authority  in the  United
States, any state thereof,  or any other  jurisdiction,  of any kind now pending
or, to the best of the knowledge of RSFC, threatened, involving RSFC or Republic
or any of its businesses,  operations,  properties, assets or liabilities. There
is no arbitration  proceeding involving RSFC or Republic which is pending or, to
RSFC's  knowledge,  threatened  under any  collective  bargaining  agreement  or
otherwise.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18 hereto,  neither RSFC, Republic
nor any of their properties,  assets or liabilities,  is subject to any judicial
or administrative  judgment,  order, decree or restraint which adversely affects
its business, operations or financial condition.

                  4.19  Compliance with Laws and  Regulations.  The business and
operations  of RSFC and  Republic  have  been and are in all  material  respects
conducted  in  accordance  with  all  applicable  laws,  rules  and  regulations
(including,  without limitation,  the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Consumer
Credit Protection Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Community  Reinvestment Act
and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act), and neither RSFC nor Republic is
subject to or, to RSFC's  knowledge,  being  threatened with, any material fine,
penalty,  liability  or legal  disability  to its  business as the result of its
failure to comply with any requirement of any governmental body or agency having
jurisdiction  over it, the  conduct of its  business,  the use of its assets and
properties,  or any premises  occupied by it. RSFC and  Republic  have filed all
reports and maintained all records required to be filed or maintained during the
past five fiscal years and the current  fiscal year under  applicable  rules and
regulations of the Federal Reserve, the FDIC and the State of Florida. Each such
filing  contains  the  information  required  to  be  stated  therein  and  such
information  was true and correct in all  material  respects as of the time such
report

                                      -26-
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was filed.

     4.20 Employment Benefit Plans and Arrangements; Labor Matters.

                  (a) Schedule  4.20 hereto lists all employee  benefits  plans,
         contracts,  programs  or  arrangements,  including  but not  limited to
         pension,   profit-sharing,   stock   option,   stock  bonus,   deferred
         compensation,   supplemental   retirement,   severance,   health  care,
         hospitalization, medical, dental, disability, life insurance and salary
         continuation,  which  are  currently  maintained,   contributed  to  or
         required to be  contributed  to by RSFC or Republic or which  otherwise
         cover or provide benefits to any employee or former employee of RSFC or
         Republic or any beneficiary thereof  (collectively,  the "RSFC Plans").
         RSFC has  delivered to CFC true and complete  copies of all of the RSFC
         Plans and all documents  relating thereto,  including,  but not limited
         to, summary plan  descriptions,  annual reports (IRS Form 5500 Series),
         actuarial reports,  and accountant or trustee reports, if any, and such
         reports are  accurate in all  material  respects  and there has been no
         material  change in the  financial  or funding  status of any such RSFC
         Plan since the dates of the most recent of such reports. Each RSFC Plan
         has been  maintained  and  administered  in all  material  respects  in
         accordance with its terms and with all applicable laws, including ERISA
         and the  Code  and the  regulations  promulgated  thereunder,  and in a
         manner  which  will not  result in any  material  charge or  assessment
         against  or  liability  of RSFC or  Republic.  Except  as set  forth on
         Schedule  4.20 hereto,  any RSFC Plan that is intended to qualify under
         Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal  Revenue
         Service to be so qualified,  and nothing has occurred since the date of
         such determination that could adversely affect such qualification.  The
         fair  market  value of the  assets of each RSFC Plan that is subject to
         Title IV equals or exceeds the present value of all benefit liabilities
         (as  defined  in Title IV of  ERISA)  under  the RSFC  Plan,  with such
         present value being determined by application of the actuarial  methods
         and  assumptions  applied  by the Plan's  enrolled  actuary at the most
         recent annual valuation of the RSFC Plan. Neither RSFC nor Republic has
         engaged in any transaction  which may result in imposition on it of any
         material excise tax under Sections 4971 through 4980, inclusive, of the
         Code, or otherwise  incurred a liability for any excise tax, other than
         excise taxes which have heretofore been paid or have been accrued, and,
         in either  case are fully  reflected  in the RSFC  Interim  Statements.
         There  does not  exist  any  accumulated  material  funding  deficiency
         (within  the  meaning  of Section  302 of ERISA or  Section  412 of the
         Code),  whether or not waived, with respect to any RSFC Plan. There are
         no circumstances  pursuant to which RSFC or Republic could be liable to
         the Pension Benefit Guaranty  Corporation or a multi-employer  plan (as
         defined in Section  3(37) of ERISA) with respect to any plan not listed
         on Schedule 4.20.  Except as set forth in Schedule 4.20 hereto, no RSFC
         Plan provides  hospital,  medical or health care  benefits  (other than
         those mandated by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
         1986) or any life  insurance or death  benefit  protection  (other than
         under an RSFC Plan that qualifies under Section 401(a) of the Code) to

                                      -27-
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<PAGE>



         any retired employees.

                  (b) As of the date hereof,  no  association  of employees  has
         petitioned or applied for labor union certification with respect to all
         or any part of the business or  operations of Republic nor is there any
         organized campaign to obtain any such certification and there have been
         no  negotiations  with any labor union or association of employees with
         respect to any future or amended  agreements by Republic  involving its
         business or operations and Republic has not made or received any offers
         or proposals with respect thereto.

                  4.21  Accounting  Practices.  The books,  records and accounts
maintained  by RSFC and Republic  accurately  and fairly  reflect in  reasonable
detail its businesses,  operations, properties, assets and liabilities, and they
maintain internal  accounting  controls that provide reasonable  assurances that
transactions are executed only with management's  authorization and transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of accurate financial statements
and to maintain accountability for its properties and assets.

                  4.22 Minute  Books.  The minute books of RSFC and Republic are
in all material respects complete and accurate records of all meetings and other
corporate  actions of their  respective  shareholders and Board of Directors and
RSFC has made available to CFC for inspection the originals thereof or delivered
true copies thereof.

                  4.23 Insurance.  All of the insurance policies in force on the
date hereof insuring RSFC or Republic,  and their assets,  business,  employees,
officers  and  directors,  are  described  in  Schedule  4.23  hereto.  RSFC has
delivered  or made  available  to CFC  true  and  complete  copies  of all  such
policies.

                  4.24 Agreements with Regulators.  Neither RSFC nor Republic is
a party to any written  agreement or memorandum  of  understanding  with,  nor a
party to any  commitment  letter or similar  undertaking  to, nor subject to any
order or directive by, nor a recipient of any extraordinary  supervisory  letter
from, any Agency which  restricts the conduct of its business,  or in any manner
relates to its capital adequacy, its credit policies or its management.  Neither
RSFC nor Republic has been advised by any Agency or is aware that such Agency is
contemplating issuing or requesting any such agreement, memorandum,  commitment,
understanding, order or supervisory letter.

                  4.25  Environmental.  Neither  RSFC  nor  Republic  is  (i) in
violation of any law, regulation,  order,  permit,  license or decree regulating
emissions  into the  environment  and the proper  disposal of wastes,  petroleum
products or other  materials;  or (ii) liable or  responsible  for any  cleanup,
fines,  liability or expense arising under any environmental law,  regulation or
order as a  result  of the  disposal  of  wastes,  petroleum  products  or other
materials in or on its property  (whether owned or leased or in which either has
acquired an interest by way of mortgage or foreclosure) by it, its  predecessors
in title, or any other

                                      -28-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



person,  or in or on any other  property,  including  property no longer  owned,
leased  or used by it.  There  are no  asbestos  or  petroleum  products  or any
hazardous  or waste  material of any kind located  under,  on or in the property
(owned or leased) of RSFC or Republic, and such property has never been used for
the handling,  treatment,  storage or disposal of any petroleum  products or any
hazardous or toxic  substances as defined under any applicable  state or federal
law.

     4.26  Community  Reinvestment  Act.  Except as set forth on  Schedule  4.26
Republic has complied in all material  respects with its  obligations  under the
Community Reinvestment Act.

                  4.27  Transactions  with  Insiders.  Except  as set  forth  on
Schedule 4.27, all of the loans,  transactions,  agreements and dealings between
Republic and any  "Insider,"  as defined in Regulation O, comply in all respects
with the provisions of Regulation O.

                  4.28 Fidelity  Bond.  Republic has obtained all fidelity bonds
that are required by law or regulation or that are reasonably  necessary for the
protection  of  Republic.  All such  fidelity  bonds are  currently in force and
Republic has no reason to anticipate that the issuers thereof will fail to renew
them or plan to revoke and/or cancel them.

                  4.29 Brokers.  Except as described in Schedule  4.29,  neither
RSFC,   Republic  nor  any   director,   officer,   employer,   agent  or  other
representative  of  RSFC,  has  paid or is  obligated  to pay to any  party  any
finder's  fee,  brokerage  commission,  fairness  opinion fee or like payment in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  4.30 No Untrue  Statements.  No  statement by RSFC or Republic
contained in this  Agreement or any of the Schedules  hereto or RSFC or Republic
financial  statements  referred to herein  contains  or will  contain any untrue
statement  of a material  fact,  or omits or will omit to state a material  fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.

                  4.31 Absence of  Regulatory  Communications.  Neither RSFC nor
Republic is subject to, or has received during the past three years, any written
communication directed specifically to it from any Agency to which it is subject
or pursuant to which such Agency has imposed or has  indicated it may impose any
material restrictions on the operations of it or the business conducted by it or
in which such Agency has raised a material  question  concerning  the condition,
financial or otherwise, of such company.

     4.32 Opinion of Financial  Advisor.  RSFC has been advised by Ryan,  Beck &
Co. that the Conversion  Rate is fair to the holders of RSFC Common Stock from a
financial point of view.
   

                                      -29-
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<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE V
                                COVENANTS OF CFC

                  5.1 Access,  Information  and Documents.  From the date hereof
until the Effective Time, CFC will give, and will cause its directors, officers,
employees,  agents and other  representatives to give, to RSFC and to its agents
and representatives (including, but not limited to, its accountants and counsel)
reasonable access to any and all of its properties,  assets,  books, records and
other   documents,   to  enable  RSFC  to  make  such  audit,   examination  and
investigation  of the business,  operations,  properties,  assets,  liabilities,
books, records and other documents of CFC and County as RSFC may determine,  and
will furnish,  and will cause its  directors,  officers,  employees,  agents and
other  representatives  to furnish,  to RSFC such information and copies of such
documents and records as RSFC shall request,  including without limitation files
relating to loans  originated  or  purchased,  investments,  leases,  contracts,
employment records and benefit plans, minutes of the proceedings of the Board of
Directors and any committees thereof,  minutes of shareholders' meetings,  legal
proceedings, examination reports, correspondence with regulatory authorities and
correspondence with independent auditors. As part of such examination,  RSFC may
make such  reasonable  inquiries of such persons having business or professional
relationships  with CFC and County as RSFC shall determine (other than customers
of County,  except with the prior  permission  of CFC),  and CFC and County will
authorize, and will cause their directors, officers, employees, agents and other
representatives  to  authorize,  such  persons to respond to each inquiry and to
cooperate  fully with RSFC in connection  therewith.  No  investigation  by RSFC
shall affect the representations and warranties made by CFC and County herein or
result in any waiver or limitation thereof.

                  RSFC  agrees to keep  confidential  and not to disclose to any
persons,  except its officers,  directors,  accountants and legal counsel and as
may otherwise be required by law, all confidential information provided to it by
CFC and County in connection  with the foregoing  examination of CFC and County.
Nothing  contained  in this  Section 5.1 shall be construed to permit or require
any party to take any action,  obtain any  information  or provide access to any
information in violation of applicable law.

                  5.2 No  Other  Transactions.  Except  and  only to the  extent
required  by  fiduciary  obligations,  neither  CFC,  County  nor  any of  their
directors,  executive  officers,   representatives,   agents  or  other  persons
controlled  by CFC shall,  and neither CFC nor County shall permit its directors
and executive officers to, directly or indirectly,  encourage or solicit or hold
discussions or  negotiations  with, or provide any  information  to, any person,
entity or group (other than RSFC)  concerning any merger,  sale of substantially
all of the  assets,  sale of shares of  capital  stock or  similar  transactions
involving CFC or County.

                  5.3 Conduct of Business  Prior to the Effective  Time.  During
the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective  Time, CFC shall (i)
maintain its existence and good standing under the laws of its organization, and
(ii) conduct its business and engage in transactions only in the ordinary course
and consistent with its past prudent

                                      -30-
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<PAGE>



banking  practices.  In  addition,  CFC agrees  that from the date hereof to the
Effective Time,  except as permitted or required by this Agreement,  it will not
take any action that would result in any of its  representations  or  warranties
contained in this  Agreement not being true and correct in any material  respect
at the  Effective  Time.  CFC  agrees  that it shall  confer  with RSFC upon the
request of RSFC and will advise RSFC  regarding  all  significant  developments,
transactions  and  proposals  relating to its financial  condition,  properties,
business  or  operations,  and will cause its  directors,  officers,  employees,
agents  and  other  representatives  to  disclose  to RSFC any and all  material
changes  in,  or  events  which  materially  affect,  its  financial  condition,
properties, business or operations.

                  5.4 Negative Covenants.  From the date hereof to the Effective
Time, except as permitted or required by this Agreement,  neither CFC nor County
will, without the prior consent of RSFC, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld:

                    (a) change any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or
               Bylaws, or take any other action with respect thereto;

                  (b) change the number of shares of its issued capital stock or
         issue or grant any option,  warrant,  call,  commitment,  subscription,
         right  to  purchase  or  agreement  of any  character  relating  to its
         authorized or issued capital stock, or any securities  convertible into
         shares of such stock, or split, combine or reclassify any shares of its
         capital  stock,  or  redeem or  otherwise  acquire  any  shares of such
         capital  stock,  or  declare,  set aside or pay any  dividend  or other
         distribution  (whether in cash,  stock or  property or any  combination
         thereof) in respect of its capital  stock,  except for  quarterly  cash
         dividends in amounts per share not  exceeding  the amounts per share of
         any dividends paid by RSFC with respect to the same quarter, multiplied
         by the Conversion Rate;

                    (c) hire any  officer,  except  in the  ordinary  course  of
               business;

                  (d) grant any  severance  or  termination  rights to, or enter
         into or amend any written  severance or employment  agreement with, any
         of its  directors,  officers  or  employees  or adopt any new  employee
         benefit plan or arrangement of any type;

                    (e) sell or dispose of any assets or incur any  liabilities,
               in either case in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate,  except in
               the ordinary course of business;

                    (f) make any  capital  expenditure  in excess of $100,000 in
               the aggregate;

                    (g) file any  applications or make any contract with respect
               to branching or site location or relocation;

                    (h) make any loan, commitment therefor, or direct investment
               in or with  respect to any one party or related  group of parties
               or issue any letter of credit, or

                                      -31-
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<PAGE>



     any renewal thereof,  in a single or series of transactions in an amount in
excess of $1,000,000;

                    (i) engage in any transactions  with any of its directors or
               officers;

                    (j) take  any  action,  except  as may be  required  by law,
               regulation or judicial or regulatory  order,  which could prevent
               the Parent Merger or the Bank Merger;

                    (k)  enter  into  or  renew  any  employment  or  consulting
               agreement or amend or otherwise modify any existing employment or
               consulting agreements;

                  (l)  increase  the  compensation  or  benefits  of  any of its
         employees,  officers  or  directors  or pay any  bonuses,  directly  or
         indirectly,  to any such persons,  except for increases in the ordinary
         course of business not to exceed 6% of the aggregate payroll as of June
         30, 1997;

                  (m)      enter into, amend or renew any real estate lease;

                  (n) enter  into any  agreement  not  terminable  at will by it
         which  requires the payment by it of an  aggregate  amount in excess of
         $100,000 (other than loan commitments or agreements);

                    (o) waive any  material  right  other  than in the  ordinary
               course of business;

                    (p) incur any material indebtedness for money owed;

                    (q) mortgage,  pledge or subject to any charge,  lien, claim
               or encumbrance any of its assets;

                    (r) make any material  change in its  accounting  methods or
               practices;

                    (s)  amend  or  modify  any  employee  retirement  plans  or
               increase the amount of contributions to such plans; or

                  (t)      agree or obligate itself to do any of the foregoing.

                  5.5  Current  Information.  During the period from the date of
this Agreement to the Effective  Time, CFC shall promptly advise RSFC in writing
of any information or fact that would make any representation or warranty or any
statement  in this  Agreement or in the  Schedules  not true and correct if such
information  or fact  had  been  known  when  the  representation,  warranty  or
statement was made.

     5.6 Pursuit of Approvals. CFC and County will use their best efforts to

                                      -32-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



obtain all necessary  government  approvals and any other  regulatory  approvals
which may be required of CFC and County and to do all other  things which are or
may be necessary to  consummate  the Parent  Merger and the Bank Merger and will
cooperate  with RSFC and Republic in the  preparation  of all  applications  and
regulatory filings and will furnish promptly upon written request all documents,
information, financial statements or other materials as may be required in order
to complete such  applications.  RSFC will be provided the opportunity to review
and  approve in advance  all  information  relating  to it which  appears in any
filing  made  with,  or  written  material  submitted  to  any  third  party  or
governmental  body in  connection  with the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement.

                  5.7 Meeting of CFC's Shareholders;  Proxy Statement.  CFC will
take all steps  necessary  to duly  call,  give  notice of,  convene  and hold a
meeting of its  shareholders,  to be held within 45 days of the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, for the purpose of securing the required approval of
its  shareholders  of this  Agreement,  the Parent  Merger and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby.  Subject to  applicable  fiduciary  obligations,  CFC will
recommend to its shareholders the approval of this Agreement,  the Parent Merger
and the transactions contemplated hereby and use its best efforts to obtain such
approvals. The text of the CFC proxy statement with respect to such shareholders
meeting shall be prepared by RSFC in connection with the Registration  Statement
and shall be subject to the prior approval of CFC.

                  5.8 CFC  Future  Financial  Statements.  CFC shall  deliver to
RSFC, within 20 days after the end of each calendar month from the month of July
1997 through the Closing Date, its unaudited  statements of financial  condition
as of the end of such month and its statements of operations for the period from
January 1, 1997 through the month then ended.  All of the  financial  statements
hereinabove  referred to in this Section 5.8 are hereinafter  referred to as the
"CFC Future Financial  Statements." The CFC Future Financial Statements shall be
prepared  in  accordance  with  GAAP  on a basis  consistent  with  the  Interim
Statements.  The CFC Future  Financial  Statements  so delivered  after the date
hereof  shall be  accompanied  by a  certificate  of a duly  authorized  officer
certifying  that, to the best of his  knowledge,  such  statements are complete,
true and accurate and that they have been prepared in accordance  with GAAP, and
on a basis consistent with the Interim Statements.

                  5.9 Observer at Meetings.  Unless  prohibited  by law, CFC and
County each agrees to permit the  Chairman of the Board and the  Executive  Vice
President of RSFC or their  designees to attend,  as observers,  all meetings of
their respective shareholders, Board of Directors and committees of the Board of
Directors,  including  loan  committees,  which may be held from the date hereof
through the  Effective  Time.  CFC and County  shall  provide RSFC with the same
notice of all such meetings which is given to shareholders or directors,  as the
case may be, and with copies of all materials and documents  distributed at such
meetings.   Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,   CFC  and  County  may,  in  their
discretion,  exclude RSFC from portions of meetings  during which this Agreement
or its interpretation,  breach,  performance and/or enforcement are reviewed, or
if otherwise

                                      -33-
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<PAGE>



required to do so under applicable  fiduciary  obligations.  RSFC shall maintain
the strict  confidentiality of all matters observed at such meetings;  provided,
however, RSFC may discuss such matters with officers,  directors,  legal counsel
and  advisors of RSFC and Republic  and may  disclose  such matters  publicly if
obligated to do so by law.

     5.10 Pooling.  CFC agrees that it will not knowingly  take any action which
would have the effect of  jeopardizing  the  treatment of the Parent Merger as a
"pooling of interests."

                  5.11  Coral  Way  Branch.  Notwithstanding  anything  in  this
Agreement to the contrary, County may, at any time in its sole discretion, cease
operations at its Coral Way branch,  vacate the premises housing such branch and
take such related actions as it deems appropriate.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         COVENANTS OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC

                  6.1 Access,  Information  and Documents.  From the date hereof
until the  Effective  Time,  RSFC and Republic  will give,  and will cause their
directors, officers, employees, agents and other representatives to give, to CFC
and to its  agents  and  representatives  (including,  but not  limited  to, its
accountants  and counsel)  reasonable  access to any and all of its  properties,
assets,  books,  records and other documents,  to enable CFC to make such audit,
examination and investigation of the business,  operations,  properties, assets,
liabilities,  books, records and other documents of RSFC and Republic as CFC may
determine, and will furnish, and will cause its directors,  officers, employees,
agents and other  representatives to furnish, to CFC such information and copies
of such documents and records as CFC shall request, including without limitation
files relating to loans originated or purchased, investments, leases, contracts,
employment records and benefit plans, minutes of the proceedings of the Board of
Directors and any committees thereof,  minutes of shareholders' meetings,  legal
proceedings, examination reports, correspondence with regulatory authorities and
correspondence with independent auditors.  As part of such examination,  CFC may
make such  reasonable  inquiries of such persons having business or professional
relationships  with  RSFC  and  Republic  as CFC  shall  determine  (other  than
customers of Republic,  except with the prior permission of RSFC), and RSFC will
authorize, and will cause its directors,  officers,  employees, agents and other
representatives  to  authorize,  such  persons to respond to each inquiry and to
cooperate fully with CFC in connection therewith.  No investigation by CFC shall
affect the  representations  and warranties made by RSFC herein or result in any
waiver or limitation thereof.

                  CFC agrees to keep  confidential  and not to  disclose  to any
persons,  except its officers,  directors,  accountants and legal counsel and as
may otherwise be required by law, all confidential information provided to it by
RSFC and Republic in connection with

                                      -34-
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<PAGE>



the  foregoing  examination  of RSFC and  Republic.  Nothing  contained  in this
Section  6.1  shall be  construed  to permit  or  require  any party to take any
action, obtain any information or provide access to any information in violation
of applicable law.

                  6.2 No  Other  Transactions.  Except  and  only to the  extent
required by  fiduciary  obligations,  neither  RSFC,  Republic  nor any of their
directors,  executive  officers,   representatives,   agents  or  other  persons
controlled by RSFC or Republic shall, and neither RSFC nor Republic shall permit
its directors and executive  officers to,  directly or indirectly,  encourage or
solicit or hold discussions or negotiations with, or provide any information to,
any  person,  entity  or  group  (other  than  CFC)  concerning  any  merger  or
acquisition involving RSFC or Republic,  other than any merger or acquisition in
which RSFC, Republic or a subsidiary of either is the surviving  corporation and
which has an aggregate  purchase price of  $10,000,000  or less (an  "Additional
Acquisition").

                  6.3 Conduct of Business  Prior to the Effective  Time.  During
the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, RSFC shall (i)
maintain its existence and good standing under the laws of its organization, and
(ii) conduct its business and engage in transactions only in the ordinary course
and consistent with its past prudent banking practices. In addition, RSFC agrees
that from the date hereof to the Effective Time, except as permitted or required
by this  Agreement,  it will not take any action that would result in any of its
representations  or  warranties  contained in this  Agreement not being true and
correct in any material respect at the Effective Time. RSFC agrees that it shall
confer  with CFC upon the  request  of CFC and will  advise  CFC  regarding  all
significant  developments,  transactions and proposals relating to its financial
condition,  properties,  business or  operations,  and will cause its directors,
officers, employees, agents and other representatives to disclose to CFC any and
all  material  changes in, or events  which  materially  affect,  its  financial
condition, properties, business or operations.

                  6.4 Negative Covenants.  From the date hereof to the Effective
Time,  except as  permitted  or required  by this  Agreement,  neither  RSFC nor
Republic  will,  without the prior  consent of CFC,  which  consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld:

                    (a) change any provision of its Articles of Incorporation or
               Bylaws, or take any other action with respect thereto;

                    (b) take  any  action,  except  as may be  required  by law,
               regulation or judicial or regulatory  order,  which could prevent
               the Parent Merger or the Bank Merger;

                    (c) make any material  change in its  accounting  methods or
               practices; or

                    (d) agree or obligate itself to do any of the foregoing.

     6.5 Current Information. During the period from the date of this

                                      -35-
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<PAGE>



Agreement to the Effective  Time,  RSFC shall promptly  advise CFC in writing of
any  information or fact that would make any  representation  or warranty or any
statement  in this  Agreement or in the  Schedules  not true and correct if such
information  or fact  had  been  known  when  the  representation,  warranty  or
statement was made.

                  6.6 Pursuit of Approvals.  RSFC and Republic will each use its
best efforts to promptly  prepare  applications  for and to obtain all necessary
governmental  approvals and any other regulatory approvals which may be required
and to do all other  things  which are or may be  necessary  to  consummate  the
Parent Merger and the Bank Merger and will cooperate with CFC in the preparation
of  all  applications  and  will  furnish  promptly  upon  written  request  all
documents,  information,  financial  statements  or  other  materials  as may be
required  in order to  complete  such  applications.  CFC will be  provided  the
opportunity  to review and  approve in advance  all  information  relating to it
which  appears in any filing made with,  or written  material  submitted  to any
third  party  or  governmental   body  in  connection   with  the   transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

                  6.7 Registration Statement; Meeting of RSFC's Shareholders. As
soon as practicable after the date hereof,  RSFC shall prepare and file with the
Securities  and  Exchange   Commission   (the  "SEC"),   and   diligently   seek
effectiveness  of, a  Registration  Statement  on Form  S-4 ( the  "Registration
Statement") containing the joint proxy state ment/prospectus with respect to the
RSFC and CFC shareholders  meetings referred to herein and the RSFC Common Stock
to be issued upon  effectiveness of the Parent Merger.  CFC shall have the right
to review and approve drafts of the Registration  Statement.  RSFC will take all
steps  necessary duly to call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its
shareholders, to be held within 45 days of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, for the purpose of securing the required approval of its shareholders
of this Agreement,  the Parent Merger and the transactions  contemplated hereby.
Subject  to  applicable  fiduciary  obligations,  RSFC  will  recommend  to  its
shareholders  the  approval  of  this  Agreement,  the  Parent  Merger  and  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby  and use its  best  efforts  to  obtain  such
approvals.

     6.8 Boards of Directors  Election.  Promptly  after the  Closing,  RSFC and
Republic  agree to cause four  designees of CFC, who are  acceptable to RSFC and
Republic  in  their  sole  judgment,  to be  elected  to each of the  Boards  of
Directors of RSFC and Republic.

     6.9 Pooling.  RSFC agrees that it will not knowingly  take any action which
would have the effect of  jeopardizing  the  treatment of the Parent Merger as a
"pooling of interests."

     6.10 County Employees. All employees of County shall, at Republic's option,
become  employees of Republic on the Effective Date. All employees of County who
become  employees of Republic on the  Effective  Date shall be entitled,  to the
extent  permitted by  applicable  law, to  participate  in all benefit  plans of
Republic to the same

                                      -36-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



extent as Republic's employees, except as stated otherwise in this Section 6.10.
Employees of County on the Effective  Date shall be allowed to participate as of
the Effective Date in the medical and dental benefit plans of Republic,  and the
time of employment of such employees who are employed at least 30 hours per week
with County,  as of the  Effective  Date,  shall be counted as  employment  with
Republic  under such  dental and  medical  plans of  Republic  for  purposes  of
calculating any waiting period and  preexisting  condition  limitations.  To the
extent  permitted  by  applicable  law, the period of service with County of all
employees  to become  employees  of  Republic  on the  Effective  Date  shall be
recognized only for vesting and eligibility purposes under RSFC's and Republic's
current benefit plans,  but not for the  determination of the amount of benefits
(provided, however, that the period of service with County of each such employee
shall be  recognized  for  purposes  of  determining  the amount of annual  paid
vacation time to which the employee is entitled).  To the extent that Republic's
benefit  plans  will  not,  after  the  Effective  Date,  recognize  the  County
employees' accrued but unused paid vacation,  personal leave or sick leave time,
the County  employees will be entitled to receive,  on or prior to the Effective
Date, cash payments,  at their respective  compensation  rates, for such accrued
but unused time.

                  6.11     Indemnification.

                  (a) For a period of six years after the Effective  Date,  RSFC
         shall  indemnify,  defend  and hold  harmless  the  present  and former
         directors,  officers,  employees and agents of CFC or County (each,  an
         "Indemnified  Party") against all liabilities arising out of actions or
         omissions arising out their employment by or service with CFC or County
         and  occurring  at or prior to the  Effective  Date to the full  extent
         permitted under Florida law and by RSFC's Articles of Incorporation and
         Bylaws as in effect on the date hereof,  including  provisions relating
         to  advances of  expenses  incurred  in the defense of any  litigation;
         provided  that no such  indemnification  shall be made for  actions  or
         omissions which constitute fraud, are intentionally taken or omitted in
         bad faith,  constitute a knowing breach of this Agreement or constitute
         violations  of  criminal  law,  unless  the  Indemnified  Party  had no
         reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

                  (b) Any  Indemnified  Party  wishing to claim  indemnification
         under  this  Section  6.11,  upon  learning  of any such  liability  or
         litigation, shall promptly notify RSFC thereof (provided, however, that
         the failure to so notify  shall  release  RSFC only to the extent it is
         actually  prejudiced  thereby).  In the  event of any  such  litigation
         (whether  arising before or after the Effective  Date),  (i) RSFC shall
         have the right to assume  the  defense  thereof  and RSFC  shall not be
         liable  to such  Indemnified  Party for any  legal  expenses  for other
         counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified
         Parties in  connection  with the defense  thereof,  except that if RSFC
         elects  not to assume  such  defense  or  counsel  for the  Indemnified
         Parties advises that there are substantive issues which raise conflicts
         of interest between RSFC and the Indemnified  Parties,  the Indemnified
         Parties may

                                      -37-
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<PAGE>



         retain counsel  satisfactory to them, and RSFC shall pay all reasonable
         fees  and  expenses  of  such  counsel  for  the  Indemnified  Parties;
         provided,  however,  that  RSFC  shall be  obligated  pursuant  to this
         Section  6.11(b) to pay for such  additional  counsel  for  Indemnified
         Parties in any  jurisdiction  as counsel  for RSFC shall  determine  is
         necessary  under  law and  professional  ethics;  (ii) the  Indemnified
         Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such litigation, and (iii)
         RSFC shall not be liable for any settlement  effected without its prior
         written consent;  and provided,  further,  that RSFC shall not have any
         obligation  hereunder to any  Indemnified  Party when and if a court of
         competent  jurisdiction shall determine,  and such determination  shall
         have become final, that the  indemnification  of such Indemnified Party
         in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable law.

                  (c)  If  RSFC  or  any  of its  successors  or  assigns  shall
         consolidate  with or merge  into any other  person and shall not be the
         continuing or surviving person of such consolidation or merger or shall
         transfer all or substantially all of its assets to any person, then and
         in each case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and
         assigns of RSFC shall assume the  obligations set forth in this Section
         6.11.

                  (d)  In  consideration  of  the  indemnification   obligations
         provided  by RSFC in this  Section  6.11 and as a  condition  precedent
         thereto,  each director,  former  director and officer of CFC or County
         shall have delivered to RSFC on or prior to the date of this Agreement,
         a letter (in form reasonably satisfactory to RSFC) describing all known
         claims such  directors and officers may have against CFC or County.  In
         the  letter,  the  director,  former  director  or officer  shall:  (a)
         acknowledge  the assumption by RSFC of all liability (to the extent CFC
         or County  would be so liable) for claims for  indemnification  arising
         under Section 6.11(a) hereof; (b) affirm that he or she is not aware of
         any claims he or she might have,  against CFC or County;  (c)  identify
         any other facts or  circumstances of which he or she is aware and which
         he  or  she  reasonably  believes  could  give  rise  to  a  claim  for
         indemnification under Section 6.11(a) hereof; and (d) release as of the
         Effective  Date any and all claims that he or she may have  against any
         CFC or County  known to him or her which he or she did not so  disclose
         to RSFC.

                  (e) CFC hereby  represents  and  warrants to RSFC and Republic
         that it has no knowledge of any claim, pending or threatened, or of any
         facts or circumstances  that it reasonably  believes could give rise to
         any obligation by RSFC to provide the indemnification  required by this
         Section 6.11.

                  6.12 Future Financial Information.  RSFC shall deliver to CFC,
within 20 days after the end of each calendar  month from the month of July 1997
through the Closing Date, its unaudited  statements of financial condition as of
the end of such month and its  statements  of  operations  for the  period  from
January 1, 1997 through the month then ended.  All of the  financial  statements
hereinabove referred to in this Section 5.8 are

                                      -38-
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<PAGE>



hereinafter  referred to as the "RSFC  Future  Financial  Statements."  The RSFC
Future Financial Statements shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP on a basis
consistent with the Interim Statements.  The RSFC Future Financial Statements so
delivered  after the date hereof shall be accompanied by a certificate of a duly
authorized  officer  certifying  that,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,  such
statements  are complete,  true and accurate and that they have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP, and on a basis consistent with the Interim Statements.


                  6.13 Observer at Meetings.  Unless prohibited by law, RSFC and
Republic  agree to permit the Chairman of the Board and the  President of CFC or
their  designees  to attend,  as  observers,  all  meetings of their  respective
shareholders,  Board of  Directors  and  committees  of the Board of  Directors,
including  loan  committees,  which may be held from the date hereof through the
Effective  Time. RSFC and Republic shall provide CFC with the same notice of all
such meetings which is given to shareholders  or directors,  as the case may be,
and with copies of all  materials and documents  distributed  at such  meetings.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, RSFC or Republic may, in its discretion,  exclude
CFC from portions of meetings during which this Agreement or its interpretation,
breach, performance and/or enforcement are reviewed, or if otherwise required to
do so under  applicable  fiduciary  obligations.  CFC shall  maintain the strict
confidentiality of all matters observed at such meetings; provided, however, CFC
may discuss such matters with officers, directors, legal counsel and advisors of
CFC and may disclose such matters publicly if obligated to do so by law.

     6.14 Pooling and  Securities  Law Matters.  In order to  facilitate  to the
fullest extent  possible any future sale of shares of RSFC Common Stock received
by  shareholders  of CFC in connection  with the Parent  Merger,  RSFC agrees as
follows:

                  (a)  within  30 days of the end of the  first  calendar  month
         after the month which includes the Effective Date, RSFC shall file with
         the SEC a report on Form 8-K  reporting  at least 30 days of  operating
         results of RSFC as the corporation surviving the Parent Merger; and

                  (b) RSFC shall  timely  file any annual,  quarterly  and other
         reports required under the 34 Act in order to permit any of the current
         shareholders  of CFC to sell  their RSFC  Common  Stock  following  the
         Effective Date pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the 33 Act ("Rule
         144").   Assuming   that  any  such   shareholder   complies  with  the
         requirements  of Rule 144, RSFC agrees to promptly after the request of
         the  shareholder,  take such action as may be  reasonably  necessary to
         permit the  shareholder  to sell his or her shares of RSFC Common Stock
         under Rule 144, including, without limitation, causing counsel for RSFC
         to issue the necessary legal opinion to RSFC's transfer agent.

                  6.15     Registration Rights.

                                      -39-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                  (a) After the report on Form 8-K  referred to in Section  6.14
         has been  filed,  any  Qualifying  Affiliate  shall  have the  right to
         require RSFC, at RSFC's expense,  to register his or her shares of RSFC
         Common  Stock for  resale  on Form S-3 under the 33 Act (or such  other
         form for which RSFC then  qualifies  if Form S-3 is then not  available
         for use by RSFC). RSFC, upon receipt of notice from any such Qualifying
         Affiliate  requiring  registration,  shall so register  the  shares.  A
         "Qualifying  Affiliate"  shall  mean any  Affiliate  of CFC (or  entity
         controlled  by such  affiliate or any pledgee  holding at least 200,000
         shares of a Qualifying Affiliate's shares as collateral for a loan) for
         purposes  of Rule 145 of the 33 Act who,  at the time of such notice to
         RSFC,  owns RSFC  shares in an  aggregate  amount in excess of  200,000
         shares.

                  (b) The  registration  expenses  to be paid by RSFC shall mean
         all expenses incident to RSFC's  performance of or compliance with this
         Section  6.15,  including,  but  not  limited  to,  all  SEC  and  NASD
         registration  and  filing  fees  and  expenses,  fees and  expenses  of
         compliance with state securities and blue sky laws (including,  without
         limitation,  reasonable fees and  disbursements  of counsel for RSFC in
         connection with blue sky qualifications),  printing expenses, messenger
         and delivery  expenses,  fees and disbursements of counsel for RSFC and
         its independent certified public accountants (including the expenses of
         any annual audit,  special and "cold  comfort"  letters  required by or
         incident to such performance and compliance),  and fees and expenses of
         other persons retained by RSFC.

                  (c) RSFC shall  prepare and file with the SEC,  within 45 days
         after  receipt of notice from any  Qualifying  Affiliate  referenced in
         subsection  (a) above,  a  registration  statement on Form S-3 (or such
         other  form  for  which  RSFC  then  qualifies  if Form S-3 is then not
         available for use by RSFC).

                  (d) RSFC shall  prepare and file with the SEC such  amendments
         and supplements to such registration statement and prospectus as may be
         necessary or advisable to keep such  registration  statement  effective
         until  all of the  shares  of  Qualifying  Affiliate  covered  by  such
         registration  statement  have been sold or one year from the  effective
         date of such registration.

                  (e) RSFC  shall  furnish  to any  Qualifying  Affiliate  whose
         shares are covered by such registration statement such number of copies
         of such registration  statement,  each amended and supplemented thereto
         (in each case including all exhibits thereto),  the prospectus included
         in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus),
         in  conformity  with the  requirements  of the 33 Act,  and such  other
         documents as the Qualifying Affiliate may reasonably request.

                  (f)  RSFC  shall   register  or  qualify  the  shares  of  any
         Qualifying  Affiliate who has provided notice to RSFC under  subsection
         (a)  above,  under  such  other  securities  or blue  sky  laws of such
         jurisdiction  as the Qualifying  Affiliate  requests and do any and all
         other acts and things which may be reasonably necessary to

                                      -40-
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<PAGE>



         consummate the disposition of such shares in such jurisdictions.

                  (g) RSFC shall immediately notify a Qualifying Affiliate whose
         shares are covered by a registration  statement filed by RSFC hereunder
         of the  happening of any event which comes to RSFC's  attention if as a
         result  of such  event the  prospectus  included  in such  registration
         statement  contains an untrue  statement of a material fact or omits to
         state any material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
         make the  statements  therein not  misleading,  and RSFC will  promptly
         prepare  and  furnish to such  Qualifying  Affiliate  a  supplement  or
         amendment to such  prospectus so that,  as thereafter  delivered to the
         purchasers of the registered  shares,  such prospectus will not contain
         any untrue  statement of a material  fact or omit to state any material
         fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading.

                  (h) RSFC will use its best efforts to obtain a "cold  comfort"
         letter  from its  independent  public  accountants  in  customary  form
         covering such matters of the type  customary  covered by "cold comfort"
         letters as the Qualifying Affiliate reasonably requests.

                  (i) RSFC agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest
         extent  permitted by law,  any  Qualifying  Affiliate  whose shares are
         covered by any registration  filed by RSFC under this Section 6.15 (the
         "Indemnitee"),   against  any  and  all  losses,   claims,  damages  or
         liabilities, joint or several, and expenses (including any amounts paid
         in any  settlement  effected  with RSFC's  consent)  (each a "Loss") to
         which  such  Indemnitee  may  become  subject  under the 33 Act,  state
         securities or blue sky laws,  common law or otherwise,  insofar as such
         Losses arise out of or are based upon

                           (i) any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement
                  of any material fact contained in any  registration  statement
                  under which such securities were registered  under the 33 Act,
                  any preliminary, final or summary prospectus contained therein
                  or any  amendment  or  supplement  thereto  (other  than  with
                  respect to information provided by the Indemnitee);

                           (ii) any  violation by RSFC of any federal,  state or
                  common law rule or regulation applicable to it and relating to
                  action  required of or inaction by it in  connection  with any
                  such registration, and RSFC will reimburse such Indemnitee for
                  any  legal  or other  expenses  reasonably  incurred  by it in
                  connection with investigating or defending such Loss.



                                      -41-
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<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE VII

                           CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE
                  OBLIGATIONS OF RSFC, REPUBLIC, CFC AND COUNTY

                  The  obligations of RSFC,  Republic,  CFC and County to effect
the Parent Merger and the Bank Merger are subject to the  fulfillment of each of
the following conditions prior to or at the Effective Time, or waiver thereof by
all four parties:

                  7.1  Government  Approvals.  (a) The receipt of all government
approvals  required to be received to consummate  the Parent Merger and the Bank
Merger,  including the SEC ordering effective the Registration Statement,  shall
have been  received,  without the imposition of conditions  which would,  in the
reasonable  determination  of RSFC or CFC, (i) have a material adverse effect on
the financial condition,  properties, business or operations of RSFC or Republic
upon  completion  of the Parent  Merger and the Bank Merger,  or (ii)  otherwise
materially impair the value of the transactions  contemplated  hereby;  (b) such
government  approvals  shall  remain in  effect;  (c) all  applicable  statutory
waiting or notice periods with respect to such  government  approvals shall have
expired;  and (d) all conditions and  requirements  prescribed by law or by such
government  approvals  shall have been satisfied to the extent required prior to
the Effective Time.

     7.2 Shareholder  Approval.  At the respective  shareholders  meetings,  the
Parent  Merger shall have  received the approval of holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of each of RSFC Common Stock and of CFC Common Stock.

                  7.3 No  Litigation.  No order,  judgment  or  decree  shall be
outstanding  against a party  hereto or a third party that would have the effect
of preventing  consummation  of the Parent  Merger or the Bank Merger;  no suit,
action or other proceeding shall be pending or, to the knowledge of either party
hereto, threatened by any governmental body in which it is sought to restrain or
prohibit  the Parent  Merger or the Bank  Merger;  and no suit,  action or other
proceeding shall be pending before any court or governmental  agency in which it
is sought to restrain or prohibit the Parent Merger or the Bank Merger or obtain
other  substantial  monetary or other relief  against one or more of the parties
hereto in connection  with this  Agreement  and which RSFC or CFC  determines in
good  faith,  based  upon the  advice  of  their  respective  counsel,  makes it
inadvisable  to proceed  with either  Merger  because  any such suit,  action or
proceeding  has a  significant  potential  to be  resolved  in  such a way as to
deprive  the party  electing  not to proceed or its  shareholders  of any of the
material  benefits to it or them of either Merger or to have a material  adverse
effect on the business or financial condition of RSFC or CFC.

                                      -42-
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<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE VIII

                             CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
                        THE OBLIGATIONS OF CFC AND COUNTY

                  The  obligation  of CFC and County to effect the Parent Merger
and the Bank Merger is subject to the  fulfillment  of the  following  condition
prior to or at the Effective Time, or waiver thereof by CFC and County:

                  8.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The obligations
of RSFC or Republic  required to be performed by it at or prior to the Effective
Time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement  shall have been duly performed and
complied with in all material respects.  The  representations  and warranties of
RSFC or Republic  contained in this  Agreement  shall be true and correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Effective Time
as though made at and as of the Effective Time, except for those representations
and warranties specifically relating to a time or times other than the Effective
Time which  shall be true and correct in all  material  respects at such time or
times and except for changes permitted by this Agreement with the same force and
effect as if made at and as of the Effective Time.

     8.2  Material  Change.  There  shall not have  occurred a material  adverse
change in RSFC,  its  business,  financial  condition or  prospects,  taken as a
whole, since June 30, 1997.

                  8.3  Accountants'  Comfort  Letter.  CFC and County shall have
received  the letter of Ernst & Young,  dated the  Closing  Date,  to the effect
that, based on agreed-upon procedures, nothing has come to their attention which
would cause them to believe (i) that the  financial  condition of RSFC as of the
calendar  month ended  prior to the  Closing  Date is not as reported by RSFC or
(ii) that the accounting  treatment of the Parent Merger would not be a "pooling
of interests" in accordance with GAAP.

                  8.4  Officers'  Certificates.  RSFC and  Republic  shall  have
furnished  CFC with such  certificates  of its officers or others and such other
documents  to  evidence  the  fulfillment  of the  conditions  set forth in this
Article VIII as CFC may reasonably request.

                  8.5  Consents.  RSFC and  Republic  shall  have  received  all
necessary  consents  to the  transactions  contemplated  herein  required by any
agreement material to the operation or conduct of business of RSFC or Republic.

                  8.6 Tax Opinion.  RSFC and CFC shall have received the opinion
of Morgan,  Lewis & Bockius  LLP to the effect  that the Parent  Merger  will be
treated for federal income tax purposes as a  reorganization  within the meaning
of  Section  368(a) of the Code and that RSFC,  Republic  and CFC will each be a
party to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                                      -43-
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<PAGE>



                  8.7 Fairness  Opinion.  As of a date within five days prior to
the date on which the Registration  Statement is filed by RSFC with the SEC, CFC
shall have received in writing the opinion referred to in Section 3.31 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                             CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO
                      THE OBLIGATIONS OF RSFC AND REPUBLIC

                  The  obligation  of RSFC and  Republic  to effect  the  Parent
Merger  and  the  Bank  Merger  is  subject  to the  fulfillment  of each of the
following  conditions  prior to or at the Effective  Time, or waiver  thereof by
RSFC and Republic:

                  9.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The obligations
of CFC and County  required to be performed  by it at or prior to the  Effective
Time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement  shall have been duly performed and
complied with in all material respects.  The  representations  and warranties of
CFC and County  contained  in this  Agreement  shall be true and  correct in all
material respects as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Effective Time
as though made at and as of the Effective Time, except for those representations
and warranties specifically relating to a time or times other than the Effective
Time which  shall be true and correct in all  material  respects at such time or
times and except for changes permitted by this Agreement with the same force and
effect as if made at and as of the Effective Time.

     9.2  Material  Change.  There  shall not have  occurred a material  adverse
change in CFC, its business, financial condition or prospects, taken as a whole,
since June 30, 1997,  including but not limited to any such change  arising from
or relating to the lawsuit  styled  Dennis  Basile and James F.  Theriac III, as
co-receivers  for Florida Home  Finders,  Inc. and Florida Home Finders  Realty,
Inc. v. County  National Bank of South Florida,  or any other lawsuit filed with
respect to the same facts.

                  9.3 Financial  Conditions.  The interim  consolidated  balance
sheet of CFC for the calendar month end  immediately  prior to the Closing Date,
and as of the  Closing  Date,  shall  reflect  total  deposits  of not less than
$205,000,000,  total loans of not less than  $130,000,000,  Tangible  Equity (as
defined in Section  11.1  hereof) of not less than  $23,000,000,  non-performing
assets of not more than  $4,250,000 and an allowance for loan losses of not less
than the  greater of 1.4% of total  loans or  $2,000,000.  For  purposes of this
Section 9.3, legal fees paid by CFC or County in connection  with this Agreement
and the transactions  contemplated  hereby which have been expensed may be added
back to Tangible Equity in an amount up to 50% of the first $200,000 thereof.

                  9.4 Demands for Appraisal. The holders of not more than 10% of
the  outstanding  shares of CFC Common  Stock shall have duly  delivered  proper
demands stating an intention to demand appraisal of and payment for their shares
in accordance

                                      -44-
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<PAGE>



with Section 607.1320 of the Florida Business Corporation Act.

                  9.5 Accountants'  Comfort Letter. RSFC and Republic shall have
received  the letter of  Deloitte & Touche LLP dated the  Closing  Date,  to the
effect  that,  based  on  agreed-upon  procedures,  nothing  has  come to  their
attention  which  would  cause  them to  believe  that the total  assets,  total
deposits,  total loans,  Tangible Equity,  classified assets and  non-performing
assets of CFC as of the  calendar  month ended prior to the Closing Date are not
as reported by CFC.

                  9.6 Officers' Certificates.  CFC shall have furnished RSFC and
Republic  with  such  certificates  of its  officers  or others  and such  other
documents  to  evidence  the  fulfillment  of the  conditions  set forth in this
Article IX as RSFC and Republic may reasonably request,  including certification
of the names,  addresses  and numbers of shares of CFC Common  Stock held by CFC
shareholders of record as of the Closing.

                  9.7  Consents.  Republic  and RSFC  shall  have  received  all
necessary  consents  to the  transactions  contemplated  herein  required by any
agreement material to the operation or conduct of business of CFC.

     9.8 Employment  Agreements.  The Employment Agreements between Republic and
George  M.  Apelian  and  Richard  Kuci,  entered  into on the date  hereof  and
effective at the Effective Time, shall remain in full force and effect.

                  9.9 Tax  Opinion.  RSFC shall  have  received  the  opinion of
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP to the effect that the Parent Merger will be treated
for  federal  income tax  purposes  as a  reorganization  within the  meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code and that RSFC,  Republic and CFC will each be a party
to such reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                  9.10 CFC Affiliate Letters. RSFC shall have received from each
director of CFC and any other  person which would be an  "affiliate"  of CFC for
purposes of Rule 145 under the 33 Act a duly executed letter agreement,  in form
and substance  acceptable  to RSFC,  with regard to their Rule 145 and "pooling"
obligations.

     9.11  Fairness  Opinion.  Prior  to the  date  on  which  the  Registration
Statement is filed by RSFC with the SEC, RSFC shall have received in writing the
opinion referred to in Section 4.33 hereof.

                                    ARTICLE X

                        TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

     10.1 Termination by Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any
time prior to the Effective Time (whether before or after approval of the Parent

                                      -45-
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<PAGE>



Merger by RSFC's or CFC's  shareholders)  by mutual written  consent of RSFC and
CFC.

                  10.2  Termination  by CFC. CFC may terminate this Agreement by
written notice to RSFC, at any time prior to the Effective Time,  whether before
or after approval by the  shareholders of CFC, if (a) any event occurs such that
a material  condition  set forth in Articles  VII or VIII  hereof  which must be
fulfilled  before CFC is obligated to  consummate  the Parent  Merger  cannot be
fulfilled  (other than by reason of CFC's failure to comply with its obligations
hereunder) and  nonfulfillment  is not waived,  expressly or by implication,  by
CFC; (b) there shall have been a material  default under or a material breach of
RSFC or  Republic's  covenants  hereunder;  (c) there shall have been a material
default under or a material breach of RSFC's or Republic's  representations  and
warranties  hereunder;  (d) any event  occurs  which,  in the opinion of Ernst &
Young LLP,  would  disqualify the Parent Merger from being treated as a "pooling
of interests";  (e) the shareholders of either CFC or RSFC shall fail to approve
the Parent Merger at their respective shareholders meetings held to consider the
Parent Merger;  or (f) in accordance  with the provisions of Section 1.3 hereof.
CFC may also terminate this Agreement at any time after January 31, 1998, if all
the  conditions  precedent to its  obligations to effect the Parent Merger shall
not have been  fulfilled by reason  other than CFC's  failure to comply with its
obligations  hereunder and the Parent Merger shall not have become  effective on
or prior to such date.

                  10.3 Termination by RSFC. RSFC may terminate this Agreement by
written notice to CFC at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or
after approval by the  shareholders  of CFC, if (a) any event occurs such that a
condition set forth in Articles VII or IX hereof which must be fulfilled  before
RSFC is obligated to consummate the Parent Merger or cannot be fulfilled  (other
than by reason of RSFC's or  Republic's  failure to comply with its  obligations
hereunder) and nonfulfillment is not waived by RSFC; (b) there shall have been a
material  default under or a material breach of CFC's covenants  hereunder;  (c)
there  shall  have been a material  default  under or  material  breach of CFC's
representations  and warranties  hereunder;  (d) any event occurs which,  in the
opinion or Ernst & Young LLP,  would  disqualify  the Parent  Merger  from being
treated as a "pooling of interests";  (e) the shareholders of either CFC or RSFC
shall  fail to  approve  the  Parent  Merger  at their  respective  shareholders
meetings  held to consider  the Parent  Merger;  or (f) in  accordance  with the
provisions of Section 3.23 hereof. RSFC may also terminate this Agreement at any
time  after  January  31,  1998,  if  all  the  conditions  precedent  to  their
obligations  to effect the Parent Merger shall not have been fulfilled by reason
other than RSFC's or Republic's failure to comply with its obligations hereunder
and the Parent Merger shall not have become effective on or prior to such date.

                  10.4 Effect of  Termination.  If this Agreement is terminated,
this  Agreement,  except for this  Section  10.4 and Section  10.5,  which shall
remain in full force and  effect,  shall no longer be of any force or effect and
there shall be no liability hereunder on the part of any party or its respective
directors,  officers  or  shareholders;  provided  that (i) if such  termination
results  from  breaches  by CFC  of any  representation,  warranty  or  covenant
hereunder,  then CFC shall pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses  incurred
by RSFC and Republic in  connection  with this  Agreement  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby

                                      -46-
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<PAGE>



and (ii) if such  termination  results from  breaches by RSFC or Republic of any
representation or warranty or covenant  hereunder,  then RSFC and Republic shall
pay all of the reasonable fees and expenses of CFC and County in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  10.5 Alternate CFC or County  Transaction.  In addition to any
payment  required by Section  10.4 hereof,  in the event that this  Agreement is
terminated as a result of CFC or County or the holders of at least a majority of
the shares of CFC Common Stock  entering  into an agreement  with respect to the
merger  of CFC or  County  with a  party  other  than  RSFC or  Republic  or the
acquisition  of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of CFC Common Stock or of
County  Common  Stock  by  any  party  other  than  RSFC,  or is  terminated  in
anticipation  of any such agreement or acquisition,  then, in either event,  CFC
shall immediately pay RSFC, by wire transfer, $1,500,000 in full satisfaction of
RSFC's  losses and  damages  resulting  from such  termination.  CFC agrees that
$1,500,000 is reasonable under the circumstances, that it would be impossible to
exactly  determine  RSFC's actual damages as a result of such a termination  and
that RSFC's actual  damages  resulting from the loss of the  transaction  are in
excess of $1,500,000.

                  10.6  Alternate RSFC or Republic  Transaction.  In addition to
any payment required by Section 10.4 hereof, in the event that this Agreement is
terminated as a result of RSFC or Republic or the holders of at least a majority
of the shares of RSFC Common Stock  entering  into an agreement  with respect to
the  merger of RSFC or  Republic  with a party  other  than CFC or County or the
acquisition of a majority of the  outstanding  shares of RSFC Common Stock or of
Republic  Common  Stock  by any  party  other  than  CFC,  or is  terminated  in
anticipation of any such agreement or acquisition,  then, in either event,  RSFC
shall  immediately pay CFC, by wire transfer,  $500,000 in full  satisfaction of
CFC's  losses and  damages  resulting  from such  termination.  RSFC agrees that
$500,000 is reasonable under the  circumstances,  that it would be impossible to
exactly  determine  CFC's actual  damages as a result of such a termination  and
that CFC's actual  damages  resulting  from the loss of the  transaction  are in
excess of $500,000.

                  10.7  Extension or Waiver.  At any time prior to the Effective
Time, whether before or after shareholder approval,  either party may (a) extend
the time for the  performance  of any of the  obligations  or other  acts of the
other  party  hereto,  (b) waive any  inaccuracies  in the  representations  and
warranties  of the  other  party  hereto  contained  herein  or in any  document
delivered pursuant hereto, or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions of the other party hereto contained herein. Any agreement on the part
of any party hereto for any such  extension or waiver shall only be valid if set
forth in a writing signed on behalf of such party.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                  MISCELLANEOUS


                                      -47-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                  11.1     Certain Terms.

                  (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, all accounting terms used
         herein  shall  have  the  meanings  ascribed  to them  under  generally
         accepted  accounting  principles  ("GAAP"),  as adjusted by FDIC or OCC
         regulations and practice.

                  (b) "Agency"  shall mean each of the United States  Department
         of Justice,  the Board of the Governors of the Federal  Reserve System,
         the FDIC, the OCC, all state  regulatory  agencies having  jurisdiction
         over the parties,  HUD, the VA, the FHA, the GNMA,  the FNMA, the FHLMC
         and the SEC.

                  (c)  "Non-performing  assets"  shall mean loans which are past
         due at least 90 days or in material default for reasons other than late
         payment or non-payment,  Other Real Estate Owned, any other repossessed
         assets and any other loans off accrual for any reason.

                    (d) "Tangible Equity" shall have the meaning set forth in 12
               C.F.R. ss.325.2(s).

                  (e) "Taxes" shall mean any taxes, duties,  assessments,  fees,
         levies or similar  governmental  charges,  together  with any interest,
         penalties  and  additions  to tax,  imposed  by any  taxing  authority,
         wherever located (i.e. whether federal,  state,  local,  municipal,  or
         foreign),  including, without limitation, all net income, gross income,
         gross  receipts,  net  receipts,   sales,  use,  transfer,   franchise,
         privilege, profits, social security, disability,  withholding, payroll,
         unemployment,   employment,   excise,  severance,   property,  windfall
         profits,  value  added,  ad valorem,  occupation  or any other  similar
         governmental charge or imposition.

                  11.2 Expenses. Except as provided in Section 10.4 hereof, each
of the  parties  will pay all of its own legal,  accounting  and other  expenses
incurred in the  preparation of this Agreement and the  performance of the terms
and provisions of this Agreement.

                  11.3 Legal Fees. In the event of litigation between any of the
parties to this Agreement with respect to enforcement of the provisions  hereof,
the prevailing  party in such litigation  shall be entitled to recover its legal
fees and expenses from the other party to such litigation.

                  11.4  Entire  Agreement;  Amendment;  Waiver.  Except  for the
respective  confidentiality  agreements  signed by the parties,  this  Agreement
supersedes all previous arrangements or understandings, whether written or oral,
and  contains the entire  agreement of the parties,  with respect to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may be modified,  varied or otherwise amended only
by a writing executed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any
provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless in

                                      -48-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



writing  and signed by the party  against  whom  enforcement  of such  waiver is
sought. No waiver, course of dealing,  delay in acting or other purported waiver
by any  party  of  compliance  with any  provision  of this  Agreement  shall be
construed as a continuing  waiver,  or as a waiver of any subsequent  breach, of
any such provision or of any rights or remedies with respect thereto.

                  11.5  Notices.  Any  notice,   request,   election,  or  other
communication required or permitted to be given by any party under any provision
of this  Agreement  shall be in  writing  and  shall be deemed to have been duly
given if delivered in person, by overnight courier or by facsimile transmission,
to the following address,  or to such other address as any party shall designate
upon written notice to the other party pursuant to this Section 11.5:

                  If to RSFC or Republic:

                                    Republic Security Bank
                                    4400 Congress Avenue
                                    West Palm Beach, Florida  33407
                                    Facsimile No.: 561-881-9225

                                    Attn:   Rudy E. Schupp, President
                                    and Chairman of the Board

                  With a copy to:

                                    John S. Fletcher, Esq.
                                    Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
                                    5300 First Union Financial Center
                                    200 South Biscayne Boulevard
                                    Miami, Florida  33131-2339
                                    Facsimile No.:  305-579-0321

                  If to CFC or County:

                                    County National Bank of South Florida
                                    801 N.E. 167th Street
                                    North Miami Beach, Florida  33162
                                    Facsimile No.:  305-652-2539

                                    Attn:   George M. Apelian,
                                            President

                  With a copy to:


                                      -49-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



                                    Bowman Brown, Esq.
                                    Shutts & Bowen LLP
                                    201 South Biscayne Boulevard
                                    Miami, Florida  33131
                                    Facsimile No.:  305-381-9982

                  11.7  Rights  Under  this  Agreement;  Nonassignability.  This
Agreement  shall bind and inure to the benefit of the  parties  hereto and their
respective  successors,  but  shall  not be  assignable  by any  party.  Nothing
contained in this  Agreement  is intended to confer upon any person,  other than
the  parties to this  Agreement  and their  respective  successors,  any rights,
remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.

                  11.8  Form  of  This   Agreement.   Captions  to  the  various
provisions  in this  Agreement  are for the  convenience  of the reader only and
shall not be  construed  as  affecting  the  meaning  or  interpretation  of any
provision of this  Agreement.  Terms used in the  singular  shall be read in the
plural,  and vice versa, and terms used in the masculine gender shall be read in
the feminine or neuter gender, when the context so requires.  This Agreement may
be executed in several counterparts,  each of which shall be deemed an original,
but together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     11.9 Governing  Law. This Agreement has been entered into under,  and shall
be construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida.

                  11.10 Public Announcements. RSFC and CFC shall each approve in
advance the substance of and 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, except
as may be otherwise required by law or regulation.

                  11.11  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed in any
number  of   counterparts   and  by  the  several  parties  hereto  on  separate
counterparts,  each of which when so executed shall be an original, but all such
separate counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

                  IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  parties  have duly  executed  this
Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                   REPUBLIC SECURITY FINANCIAL CORPORATION


                                   By: /s/ Rudy E. Schupp
                                   ------------------------------------------
                                   Rudy E. Schupp,
                                   President and Chairman of the Board
                                      -50-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>



[SEAL]

ATTEST:

/s/ Richard J. Haskins
- ----------------------
Richard J. Haskins,
Assistant Secretary


                                   REPUBLIC SECURITY BANK

                                   By: /s/ Rudy E. Schupp
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   Rudy E. Schupp,
                                   President and Chairman of the Board
[SEAL]

ATTEST:


/s/ Richard J. Haskins
- ------------------------
Richard J. Haskins,
Assistant Secretary

                                   COUNTY FINANCIAL CORPORATION

                                   By: /s/ George M. Apelian
                                   -----------------------------------------
                                   George M. Apelian,
                                   President
[SEAL]

ATTEST:


/s/
- -----------------------
Secretary


                                      -51-
MI01A/16412.5


<PAGE>


                                  COUNTY NATIONAL BANK OF
                                  SOUTH FLORIDA


                                  By: /s/ George M. Apelian
                                  ----------------------------------------
                                  George M. Apelian,
                                  President
[SEAL]

ATTEST:


/s/
- ----------------------
Secretary

                                      -52-
MI01A/16412.5




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