FIRST BANCORP /NC/
10-Q, 1998-11-16
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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


                                    FORM 10-Q


                QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         For the quarterly period ended
                               September 30, 1998


                         Commission File Number 0-15572


                                  FIRST BANCORP
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


           North Carolina                                 56-1421916
           --------------                                 ----------
   (State or Other Jurisdiction of                     (I.R.S. Employer
   Incorporation or Organization)                      Identification Number)


     341 North Main Street, Troy, North Carolina            27371-0508
     -------------------------------------------            ----------
      (Address of Principal Executive Offices)             (Zip Code)

 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)        (910) 576-6171
                                                             --------------

     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 during the  preceding  twelve  months (or for such shorter  period that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.

                                 [ X ] YES [   ] NO



       As of September 30, 1998,  3,021,470  shares of the  registrant's  Common
Stock, $5 par value,  were  outstanding.  The registrant had no other classes of
securities outstanding.



EXHIBIT INDEX BEGINS ON PAGE 28
<PAGE>
                                      INDEX
                         FIRST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARIES


                                                                         Page

Part I.  Financial Information

Item 1 - Financial Statements

   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS -
   September 30, 1998  and 1997
   (With Comparative Amounts at December 31, 1997)                        3

   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME -
   For the Periods Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997                      4

   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME -
   For the Periods Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997                      5

   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY -
   For the Periods Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997                      6

   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS -
   For the Periods Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997                      7


NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS                                8

 Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated
          Results of Operations and Financial Condition                  11

 Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     22


 Part II.  Other Information

 Item 5 - Other Information                                              25

 Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K                               25

 Signatures                                                              27

 Exhibit Cross Reference Index                                           28



                                            -2-
<PAGE>
Part I.  Financial Information
Item 1 - Financial Statements
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                    Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                        September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
($ in thousands-unaudited)                                  1998           1997            1997
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>    
ASSETS
Cash & due from banks, noninterest-bearing .........     $  17,418         17,664         14,643
Due from banks, interest-bearing ...................        21,269         13,081             27
Federal funds sold .................................        11,707          2,896          3,090
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
     Total cash and cash equivalents ...............        50,394         33,641         17,760
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
Securities available for sale (costs of $39,171,
     $49,995, and $52,922) .........................        39,535         50,277         53,193

Securities held to maturity (fair values of $19,375,
     $21,512, and $21,376) .........................        18,589         20,856         20,814

Presold mortgages in process of settlement .........         1,495          1,330          1,258

Loans ..............................................       345,295        280,513        260,699
   Less:  Allowance for loan losses ................        (5,391)        (4,779)        (4,728)
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
   Net loans .......................................       339,904        275,734        255,971
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
Premises and equipment .............................         8,832          8,839          8,457
Accrued interest receivable ........................         2,980          2,866          2,744
Intangible assets ..................................         5,995          6,487          5,192
Other ..............................................         2,813          2,639          2,694
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
        Total assets ...............................     $ 470,537        402,669        368,083
                                                         =========        =======        =======
LIABILITIES
Deposits: Demand - noninterest-bearing..............     $  58,337         50,921         46,836
          Savings, NOW, and money market ...........       148,535        135,805        124,349
          Time deposits of $100,000 or more ........        54,613         40,200         35,484
          Other time deposits ......................       151,015        134,298        120,781
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
          Total deposits ...........................       412,500        361,224        327,450
Short-term borrowings ..............................        13,000            --             --  
Accrued interest payable ...........................         3,003          2,299          2,047
Other liabilities ..................................         2,401          2,381          2,859
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
     Total liabilities .............................       430,904        365,904        332,356
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                    Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                            (continued)


                                                        September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
($ in thousands-unaudited)                                  1998           1997            1997
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>    
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $5 par value per share
     Authorized: 12,500,000 shares
     Issued and outstanding: 3,021,470,
        3,020,370, and 3,016,370 shares ............        15,107         15,102         15,082
Capital surplus ....................................         3,869          3,861          3,831
Retained earnings ..................................        20,435         17,616         16,629
Accumulated other comprehensive income .............           222            186            185
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
     Total shareholders' equity ....................        39,633         36,765         35,727
                                                         ---------        -------        -------
          Total liabilities and shareholders' equity     $ 470,537        402,669        368,083
                                                         =========        =======        =======

</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                            -3-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                         Consolidated Statements of Income

                                                           Three Months Ended              Nine Months Ended
                                                              September 30,                   September 30,
                                                    ----------------------------      ----------------------------   
($ in thousands, except per share data-unaudited)      1998                1997           1998             1997
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
<S>                                                 <C>                  <C>          <C>                 <C>   
 INTEREST INCOME
Interest and fees on loans ....................     $     7,882            6,196      $    22,252           17,244
Interest on investment securities:
     Taxable interest income ..................             663              916            2,159            2,763
     Tax-exempt interest income ...............             246              283              788              902
Other, principally overnight investments ......             391               78              892              397
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
     Total interest income ....................           9,182            7,473           26,091           21,306
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
 INTEREST EXPENSE
Savings, NOW and money market .................             869              740            2,493            2,019
Time deposits of $100,000 or more .............             869              499            2,236            1,437
Other time deposits ...........................           1,971            1,596            5,741            4,582
Short-term borrowings .........................             106              --               106                3
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
     Total interest expense ...................           3,815            2,835           10,576            8,041
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
Net interest income ...........................           5,367            4,638           15,515           13,265
Provision for loan losses .....................             250              125              740              325
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
Net interest income after provision
   for loan losses ............................           5,117            4,513           14,775           12,940
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
 NONINTEREST INCOME
Service charges on deposit accounts ...........             655              627            1,912            1,854
Commissions from insurance sales ..............              62               69              180              218
Other service charges, commissions and fees ...             390              249            1,144              804
Data processing fees ..........................              --               74               --              216
Loan sale gains ...............................              66               --              213               --
Securities losses .............................              --              (12)              (3)             (12)
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
      Total noninterest income ................           1,173            1,007            3,446            3,080
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                           First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                         Consolidated Statements of Income
                                                    (continued)

                                                           Three Months Ended              Nine Months Ended
                                                              September 30,                   September 30,
                                                    ----------------------------      ----------------------------          
($ in thousands, except per share data-unaudited)      1998                1997           1998             1997
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
<S>                                                 <C>                  <C>          <C>                 <C>   
NONINTEREST EXPENSES
Salaries ......................................           1,864            1,568            5,309            4,606
Employee benefits .............................             416              317            1,191            1,021
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
   Total personnel expense ....................           2,280            1,885            6,500            5,627
Net occupancy expense .........................             270              247              758              715
Equipment related expenses ....................             231              223              666              652
Other operating expenses ......................           1,222            1,246            3,889            3,598
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
     Total noninterest expenses ...............           4,003            3,601           11,813           10,592
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
Income before income taxes ....................           2,287            1,919            6,408            5,428
Income taxes ..................................             805              651            2,230            1,795
                                                    -----------        ---------      -----------        ---------
NET INCOME ....................................     $     1,482            1,268      $     4,178            3,633
                                                    ===========        =========      ===========        =========

 Weighted average common shares
   outstanding - basic ........................       3,020,703        3,016,370        3,020,481        3,016,370
                                                    ===========        =========      ===========        =========

Weighted average common shares
   outstanding - diluted ......................       3,102,419        3,083,770        3,107,419        3,081,836
                                                    ===========        =========      ===========        =========

Earnings per share - basic ....................     $      0.49             0.42      $      1.38             1.20
Earnings per share - diluted ..................            0.48             0.41             1.35             1.17
Cash dividends declared per share .............            0.15             0.13             0.45             0.39
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements 

                                            -4-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                       Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income




                                              Three Months Ended        Nine Months Ended
                                                September 30,               September 30,
                                             --------------------      --------------------              
($ in thousands-unaudited)                      1998         1997         1998         1997
 
<S>                                          <C>            <C>        <C>            <C>  
Net income .............................     $ 1,482        1,268      $ 4,178        3,633
                                             -------        -----      -------        -----
Other comprehensive income:
   Unrealized gains on securities
     available for sale:
     Unrealized holding gains arising
        during the period, pretax ......         149          133           79           38
          Tax expense ..................         (69)         (40)         (45)          (7)
     Reclassification to realized losses        --             12            3           12

          Tax benefit ..................        --             (4)          (1)          (4)
                                             -------        -----      -------        -----
 Other comprehensive income ............          80          101           36           39
                                             -------        -----      -------        -----

Comprehensive income ...................     $ 1,562        1,369      $ 4,214        3,672
                                             =======        =====      =======        =====
</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


                                            -5-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                           Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity

                                                                                                   
                                                                                                    Accumulated 
                                                    Common Stock                                       Other           Share-
                                                -------------------        Capital      Retained    Comprehensive      holders'
(In thousands, except per share - unaudited)    Shares       Amount        Surplus      Earnings       Income          Equity
- --------------------------------------------    ------       ------        -------      --------       ------          ------
<S>                                             <C>         <C>              <C>         <C>              <C>          <C>   
Balances, January 1, 1997 ...............        3,016      $ 15,082         3,831       14,173           146          33,232

Net income ..............................                                                 3,633                         3,633
Cash dividends declared ($0.39 per share)                                                (1,177)                       (1,177)
Other comprehensive income ..............                                                                  39              39
                                                 -----      --------         -----       ------           ---          ------
Balances, September 30, 1997 ............        3,016      $ 15,082         3,831       16,629           185          35,727
                                                 =====      ========         =====       ======           ===          ======

Balances, January 1, 1998 ...............        3,020      $ 15,102         3,861       17,616           186          36,765


Net income ..............................                                                 4,178                         4,178
Cash dividends declared ($0.45 per share)                                                (1,359)                       (1,359)
Common stock issued under
     stock option plans .................            1             5             8                                         13
Other comprehensive income ..............                                                                  36              36
                                                 -----      --------         -----       ------           ---          ------

Balances, September 30, 1998 ............        3,021      $ 15,107         3,869       20,435           222          39,633
                                                 =====      ========         =====       ======           ===          ======

<CAPTION>
                                                      As of       As of    
                                                    September    September 
                                                     30, 1998    30, 1997  
                                                   ----------    ---------
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>          
Supplemental disclosure of components of                                                      
   Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income:     
         Unrealized gain on securities           
            available  for sale, pretax              $  364         271          
                 Tax expense                           (142)        (86)
                                                     ------         ---
Total Accumulated Other                           
   Comprehensive Income                              $  222         185
                                                     ======         ===
</TABLE>
See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                                                                   Nine Months Ended
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                ----------------------
($ in thousands-unaudited)                                                        1998           1997
                                                                                --------       -------

<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>   
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income ................................................................     $  4,178         3,633
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
   net cash provided by operating activities:
     Provision for loan losses ............................................          740           325
     Net security premium amortization (discount accretion) ...............          138            (8)
     Securities losses ....................................................            3            12
     Loan sale gains ......................................................         (213)         --
     Loan fees and costs deferred, net of amortization ....................           35            25
     Depreciation of premises and equipment ...............................          554           532
     Amortization of intangible assets ....................................          492           406
     Realized and unrealized other real estate losses .....................         --              16
      Provision for deferred income taxes .................................           37           (13)
     Increase in accrued interest receivable ..............................         (114)         (332)
     Decrease in intangible pension asset .................................         --             236
     Decrease (increase) in other assets ..................................         (185)          119
     Increase in accrued interest payable .................................          704           165
     Increase (decrease) in other liabilities .............................          (40)          324
                                                                                --------        ------
     Net cash provided by operating activities ............................        6,329         5,440
                                                                                --------        ------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
     Purchases of securities available for sale ...........................      (18,488)      (28,754)
     Purchases of securities held to maturity .............................         (755)       (1,222)
     Proceeds from sales of securities available for sale .................        1,015         8,361
     Proceeds from maturities/issuer calls of securities available for sale       28,171        21,209
     Proceeds from maturities/issuer calls of securities held to maturity .        3,005         2,710
     Proceeds from sales of loans .........................................        7,060          --
     Net increase in loans ................................................      (71,821)      (38,097)
     Purchases of premises and equipment ..................................         (753)       (1,267)
                                                                                --------        ------
     Net cash used in investing activities ................................      (52,566)      (37,060)
                                                                                --------        ------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
     Net increase in deposits .............................................       51,276        29,589
     Proceeds from short-term borrowings, net .............................       13,000          --
     Cash dividends paid ..................................................       (1,299)       (1,116)
     Proceeds from issuance of common stock ...............................           13          --
                                                                                --------        ------
     Net cash provided by financing activities ............................       62,990        28,473
                                                                                --------        ------

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS ..........................       16,753        (3,147)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD ............................       33,641        20,907
                                                                                --------        ------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD ..................................     $ 50,394        17,760
                                                                                ========        ======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     First Bancorp and Subsidiaries
                                 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                                                                   Nine Months Ended
                                                                                      September 30,
                                                                                ----------------------
($ in thousands-unaudited)                                                        1998           1997
                                                                                --------       -------

<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>   
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash paid during the period for:
     Interest .............................................................     $  9,872         7,876
     Income taxes .........................................................        2,201         1,700
Non-cash transactions:
     Foreclosed loans transferred to other real estate ....................           29            82
     Increase in fair value of securities available for sale ..............           79            38
     Premises and equipment transferred to other real estate ..............          206          --
     Loans to facilitate sales of other real estate .......................         --              17


</TABLE>

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>
                         First Bancorp And Subsidiaries
                   Notes To Consolidated Financial Statements



(unaudited)      For the Periods Ended September 30, 1998 and 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 1
In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial
statements  contain  all  adjustments   (consisting  of  only  normal  recurring
accruals) necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company  as of  September  30,  1998 and 1997 and the  consolidated  results  of
operations and consolidated  cash flows for the periods ended September 30, 1998
and 1997. Reference is made to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC
for a discussion  of accounting  policies and other  relevant  information  with
respect to the consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2
The  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting  Standards  No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share," as of December 31, 1997. As required by the standard,  all
prior year earnings per share amounts have been restated and computed  under the
provisions  of the new  standard.  Basic  earnings  per share were  computed  by
dividing net income by the weighted average common shares  outstanding.  Diluted
earnings per share includes the  potentially  dilutive  effects of the Company's
1994 Stock Option Plan. The following is a reconciliation  of the numerators and
denominators used in computing basic and diluted earnings per share:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       For the Three Months Ended September 30,
                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                    1998                                     1997
                                  ---------------------------------------  ------------------------------------------ 
                                        
($ in thousands except per          Income        Shares                      Income       Shares 
    share amounts)                  (Numer-       (Denom-       Per Share     (Numer-      (Denom-        Per Share
                                     ator)         inator)        Amount       ator)       inator)          Amount
                                  ----------      ---------     --------  ----------      ---------     -------------
<S>                               <C>             <C>           <C>       <C>             <C>           <C>          
Basic EPS
  Net income ................     $    1,482      3,020,703     $   0.49  $    1,268      3,016,370     $        0.42
                                                                ========                                =============
Effect of Dilutive Securities
  Effect of stock option plan             --         81,716                       --         67,400
                                  ----------      ---------               ----------     ----------
Diluted EPS
  Net income plus assumed
     exercises of options
                                  $    1,482      3,102,419     $   0.48  $    1,268      3,083,770     $        0.41
                                  ==========      =========     ========  ==========      =========     =============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
                                  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    1998                                       1997
                                  ---------------------------------------  --------------------------------------------- 
                                        
($ in thousands except per          Income        Shares                      Income          Shares 
    share amounts)                  (Numer-       (Denom-       Per Share     (Numer-         (Denom-        Per Share
                                     ator)         inator)        Amount       ator)          inator)          Amount
                                  ----------      ---------     --------  ----------         ---------     -------------
<S>                               <C>             <C>           <C>        <C>                <C>          <C>          
Basic EPS
  Net income ................     $   4,178       3,020,481     $   1.38   $   3,633         3,016,370     $        1.20
                                                                ========                                   =============
Effect of Dilutive Securities
  Effect of stock option plan          --            86,938                       --            65,466
                                  ---------       ---------     --------   ---------         ---------     -------------
Diluted EPS
  Net income plus assumed
     exercises of options ...     $   4,178       3,107,419     $   1.35   $   3,633         3,081,836     $        1.17
                                  =========       =========     ========   =========         =========     =============
</TABLE>

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
On January 1, 1998,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of  Financial  Accounting
Standards No. 130, "Reporting  Comprehensive Income" which establishes standards
for reporting and display of  comprehensive  income and its components in a full
set of financial  statements.  Comprehensive  income is defined as the change in
equity during a period for non-owner transactions and is divided into net income
and other comprehensive  income.  Other comprehensive  income includes revenues,
expenses,  gains,  and losses that are  excluded  from  earnings  under  current
accounting standards.  This statement does not change or modify the reporting or
display in the income  statement.  Comparative  financial  statements  have been
presented as required by the statement.

The  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board  (FASB)  has  issued  Statement  of
Financial  Accounting  Standards  No.  131,  "Disclosures  about  Segments of an
Enterprise  and Related  Information."  This  statement  requires  management to
report selected  financial data and  descriptive  information  about  reportable
operating  segments and is effective for periods  beginning  after  December 15,
1997.  This  statement  does  not  require   application  in  interim  financial
statements in the initial year of adoption.  The  requirements  of this standard
will be  applied  in a  manner  relevant  for the  Company  beginning  with  the
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1998.

As of  January  1,  1998,  the  Company  also  adopted  Statement  of  Financial
Accounting  Standards No. 132,  "Employers  Disclosures about Pensions and Other
Postretirement   Benefits."   This   statement   standardizes   the   disclosure
requirements of pensions and other postretirement  benefits. This statement does
not change any  measurement or recognition  provisions,  and thus has not and is
not expected to materially impact the Company.

The Financial  Accounting Standards Board has also issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities." This Statement  establishes  accounting and reporting standards for
derivative  instruments,  including certain derivative  instruments  embedded in
other  contracts,  (collectively  referred  to as  derivatives)  and for hedging
activities.  This Statement is effective for all fiscal quarters of fiscal years
beginning after June 15, 1999. Because the Company has not historically and does
not currently  employ the use of derivatives,  this Statement is not expected to
impact the Company.

NOTE 3
Certain amounts  reported in the prior periods'  financial  statements have been
reclassified  to conform with the  presentation  for September  30, 1998.  These
reclassifications  had no effect on net income or  shareholders'  equity for the
periods   presented,   nor  did  they  materially  impact  trends  in  financial
information.

NOTE 4
Based  on  management's  evaluation  of the  loan  portfolio,  current  economic
conditions and other risk factors,  the Company's  allowance for loan losses was
$5,391,000 as of September 30, 1998 compared to $4,779,000  and $4,728,000 as of
December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997, respectively. Nonperforming assets are
defined as nonaccrual  loans,  loans past due 90 or more days and still accruing
interest,  restructured loans and foreclosed,  repossessed and idled properties.
For each of the periods presented,  the Company had no loans past due 90 or more
days and  still  accruing  interest.  Nonperforming  assets  are  summarized  as
follows:


                                      -9-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>



                                                                September 30,     December 31,      September 30,
              ($ in thousands)                                      1998              1997               1997
              ----------------                                      ----              ----               ----
<S>                                                             <C>                     <C>              <C>             
              Nonperforming loans:
                 Nonaccrual loans ......................        $     575               957              1,148         
                  Restructured loans ...................              251               326                291 
                                                                ---------             -----              -----     
              Total nonperforming loans ................              826             1,283              1,439   
              Foreclosed, repossessed, and idled                                                                 
                   properties (included in other assets)              515               560                404   
                                                                ---------             -----              -----   
                                                                                                                 
              Total nonperforming assets ...............        $   1,341             1,843              1,843   
                                                                =========             =====              =====   
               Nonperforming loans to total loans .......             0.24%             0.46%              0.55%  
              Allowance for loan losses to                                                                       
                  nonperforming loans ..................           652.66%           372.49%            328.56%  
              Nonperforming assets as a percentage of                                                            
                 loans and foreclosed, repossessed, 
                 and idled properties ..................             0.39%             0.66%              0.71%               
              Nonperforming assets to total assets .....             0.28%             0.46%              0.50%  
              Allowance for loan losses to total loans .             1.56%             1.70%              1.81%  
</TABLE>                                                            

NOTE 5
Loans are shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of approximately  $10,000
of unearned income for each of the periods presented.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Consolidated
         Results of Operations and Financial Condition

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


OVERVIEW

     Net income for the three months ended September 30, 1998 was $1,482,000,  a
16.9% increase over the $1,268,000  reported in the third quarter of 1997. Basic
earnings per share for the third quarter of 1998 amounted to $0.49,  an increase
of 16.7% over the $0.42 recorded in third quarter of 1997.  Diluted earnings per
share for the third quarter of 1998 amounted to $0.48, an increase of 17.1% over
the $0.41 recorded in the third quarter of 1997.

     Net income for the nine months ended September 30, 1998 was  $4,178,000,  a
15.0% increase over the  $3,633,000  reported for the first nine months of 1997.
Basic earnings per share for the nine months ended  September 30, 1998 increased
15.0% to $1.38 per share  compared to $1.20 per share reported for the same nine
month period in 1997.  Earnings per share on a diluted  basis  amounted to $1.35
per share for the nine months ended  September  30, 1998, a 15.4%  increase over
the $1.17 per share for the same nine months of 1997.

     The  increase  in net  income for the three and nine  month  periods  ended
September 30, 1998 is primarily due to an increase in net interest income earned
by the Company.  Net interest income increased 15.7% and 17.0% for the three and
nine month periods ended September 30, 1998, respectively,  when compared to the
same three and nine month periods of 1997. The increases in net interest  income
are largely  attributable to loan and deposit growth,  the effects of which were
partially offset by lower net interest  margins.  Also partially  offsetting the
increases in net interest income were higher  provisions for loan losses for the
three and nine month  periods  ended  September 30, 1998 as compared to the same
periods of 1997,  which were  recorded  in  response to the high growth in loans
experienced by the Company.  Noninterest income increased by 16.5% and 11.9% for
the three and nine month periods ended  September 30, 1998,  respectively,  when
compared to the same periods of 1997. The increases in  noninterest  income were
partially  due to gains of $66,000 and $213,000  recorded for the three and nine
month periods ended September 30, 1998, respectively,  realized from the sale of
commercial  loans.  These loans were sold primarily to maintain a proper balance
between the amount of loans and  deposits  that the Company  maintains.  Without
these  gains,  noninterest  income  increased  9.9% for the three  months  ended
September  30,  1998 and 5.0% for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998.
Noninterest  expenses  increased by 11.2% and 11.5% for the three and nine month
periods  ended  September  30,  1998,  respectively,  when  compared to the same
periods of 1997, due primarily to the increase in the Company's branch network.

COMPONENTS OF EARNINGS

      Net interest income is the largest component of earnings, representing the
difference  between  interest and fees  generated  from  earning  assets and the
interest  costs of deposits and other funds needed to support those assets.  Net
interest  income for the third quarter of 1998 increased by $729,000,  or 15.7%,
compared to the third quarter of 1997,  while net interest  income for the first
nine months of 1998  increased by  $2,250,000,  or 17.0%,  compared to the first
nine months of 1997.  The increase in net  interest  income was due to growth in
the  Company's  loans and deposits.  The Company's  total loans at September 30,
1998 of $345.3  million  were 32.4% higher than the $260.7  million  recorded at
September 30, 1997.  Average loans outstanding for the third quarter of 1998 and
the first nine months of 1998 were 32.9% and 33.5%,  respectively,  greater than
the average loans outstanding for the comparable  periods of 


                                      -11-
<PAGE>
1997. The Company's  total deposits at September 30, 1998 of $412.5 million were
26.0% higher than the $327.5  million  recorded at September  30, 1997.  Average
deposits  outstanding for the third quarter of 1998 and the first nine months of
1998 were 25.5% and  23.8%,  respectively,  greater  than the  average  deposits
outstanding  for the  comparable  periods of 1997.  Contributing  to the deposit
growth was the Company's November 1997 branch purchase that included $14 million
in deposits. No loans were acquired in the branch purchase.

     Partially offsetting the incremental net interest income earned on the loan
and deposit  growth was a reduction in the Company's net interest  margin caused
by a flatter  yield  curve and a highly  competitive  pricing  environment.  The
Company's  tax-equivalent  net  interest  margin  for the third  quarter of 1998
decreased 55 basis  points to 5.14% from the 5.69% margin  realized in the third
quarter of 1997, while the net interest margin for the first nine months of 1998
was 38 basis  points  lower  than for the first nine  months of 1997  (5.32% vs.
5.70%).  The decrease in the Company's net interest margin was a result of lower
yields on  interest  earning  assets,  as well as a higher  cost of  funds.  The
following table presents average rates  earned/paid by the Company for the third
quarter of 1998 compared to the third quarter of 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   For the Three      For the Three
                                                                   Months Ended        Months Ended
                                                                   September 30,       September 30,
                                                                       1998                 1997
                                                                       ----                 ----
<S>                                                                    <C>                  <C>       
     Yield on loans ..................................                 9.25%                9.67%     
     Yield on taxable securities .....................                 6.21%                6.65%     
     Yield on non-taxable securities (tax equivalent).                 8.60%                8.69%     
     Yield on other interest earning assets,                                                          
       primarily overnight funds .....................                 5.62%                5.41%     
     Yield on all interest earning assets ............                 8.69%                9.04%     
 
     Weighted average rate on savings, NOW,                                                           
       and money market deposits .....................                 2.37%                2.37%     
     Rate on time deposits greather than $100,000 ....                 5.88%                5.74%     
     Rate on other time deposits .....................                 5.38%                5.30%     
      Rate on short-term borrowings ..................                 5.67%                 n/a      
     Rate on all interest bearing liabilities ........                 4.24%                4.04%     
                                                                                                      
     Interest rate spread ............................                 4.45%                5.00%  
</TABLE>                                                                   
     Partially  offsetting the effect of the increase in net interest  income on
net income was an increase  in the  provision  for loan  losses  recorded by the
Company,  which was  higher in 1998 for both the  three and nine  month  periods
ended  September 30, 1998 than it was for the  comparable  periods of 1997.  The
$250,000  provision  for loan losses for the third quarter of 1998 was twice the
$125,000 recorded in the third quarter of 1997. The $740,000  provision for loan
losses for the nine months ended  September  30, 1998 was 127.7% higher than the
$325,000  recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 1997.  These increases
in the provision  for loan losses were  primarily in response to the higher loan
growth  experienced  by the  Company in 1998  compared  to 1997,  and not credit
quality  concerns.  Loans grew by $64.8 million in the first nine months of 1998
compared  to $37.7  million  for the first  nine  months of 1997,  while  credit
quality ratios at September 30, 1998 are improved compared to September 30, 1997
(see  discussion  below).  Provisions for loan losses are based on  management's
evaluation  of the loan  portfolio,  as  discussed  under  "Summary of Loan Loss
Experience" below.


                                      -12-
<PAGE>
     Noninterest income increased $166,000, or 16.5%, to $1,173,000 in the third
quarter  of 1998 from  $1,007,000  for the third  quarter  of 1997.  Noninterest
income  for the first  nine  months of 1998  increased  $366,000,  or 11.9%,  to
$3,446,000  compared  to  $3,080,000  for the first  nine  months  of 1997.  The
increases in  noninterest  income were  partially due to the sales of commercial
loans that  resulted in pretax  gains of $66,000 and  $213,000 for the three and
nine month periods in 1998,  respectively.  These loans were 1998  originations.
There were no similar gains from loan sales  recorded in 1997.  These loans were
sold  primarily  to  maintain a proper  balance  between the amount of loans and
deposits that the Company  maintains.  Without these gains,  noninterest  income
increased  9.9% for the three months ended  September  30, 1998 and 5.0% for the
nine months ended  September 30, 1998.  The increases in  noninterest  income in
1998 not due to the loan  sales were  primarily  a result of  increases  in fees
collected on presold  mortgage  originations  and ATM surcharges on non-customer
transactions. The increases in these revenues were largely offset by the absence
of data  processing  revenue  that  the  Company  earned  in 1997  from its lone
third-party  data  processing  customer  that was acquired by another  financial
institution  and thus  terminated  its  contract  with the Company in the fourth
quarter of 1997. Fees collected on presold  mortgage  originations  increased by
$157,000  to  $365,000  for the first  nine  months of 1998 as a result of heavy
mortgage loan  origination  volume.  The Company began  assessing a surcharge on
non-customer ATM transactions in March 1998. This income amounted to $99,000 for
the nine months ended  September 30, 1998.  The Company  earned  $216,000 in the
first nine months of 1997 from the  aforementioned  data processing  client that
was not replaced in 1998.

      Noninterest  expenses increased by $402,000,  or 11.2%, from $3,601,000 to
$4,003,000, for the third quarter of 1998 compared to the third quarter of 1997.
Noninterest expenses for the first nine months of 1998 increased $1,221,000,  or
11.5%,  over the first nine months of 1997.  The  increases for both periods are
due primarily to the  Company's  growth in its branch  network,  which has grown
from 30 to 35 branches  since January 1, 1997, as well as growth in its customer
base and the corresponding expenses necessary to process, manage and service the
Company's 32% increase in loans and 26% increase in deposits. Personnel expense,
the single largest component of noninterest  expense,  increased 21.0% and 15.5%
for the three and nine month  periods ended  September  30, 1998,  respectively,
compared to the same periods of 1997.  These  increases  were  primarily  due to
additional employees associated with the Company's growth as well as normal wage
increases for substantially all Company employees that occurred in January 1998.

      Income taxes increased  $154,000,  or 23.7%, for the third quarter of 1998
over the third quarter of 1997. This reflects an effective tax rate of 35.2% for
the third quarter of 1998  compared to 33.9% for the third quarter of 1997.  The
effective  tax rate for the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1998 was  34.8%
compared  to 33.1%  for the  same  nine  months  of 1997.  The  increase  in the
effective tax rates for the respective periods was due to the Company deriving a
smaller percentage of its earnings from tax-exempt securities.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

     The  Company's  total assets were $470.5  million at September 30, 1998, an
increase of $102.4 million,  or 27.8%,  from the $368.1 million at September 30,
1997.  Interest-earning assets increased by 29.1%, from $339.1 million to $437.9
million,  compared to September 30, 1997.  Loans,  the primary  interest-earning
asset,  increased by $84.6 million,  or 32.4% during this same period.  Deposits
increased  $85.1  million,  or 26.0%,  to  support  the asset  growth,  of which
approximately  $14 million was acquired in the  Company's  November  1997 branch
purchase in  Lillington.  The increase in deposits  occurred in all  significant
categories with noninterest bearing demand deposits increasing by $11.5 million,
or 24.6%;

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
savings,  NOW and money market accounts  increasing by $24.2 million,  or 19.5%;
time deposits of $100,000 or more  increasing by $19.1  million,  or 53.9%;  and
other time deposits increasing by $30.2 million, or 25.0%. The 53.9% increase in
time  deposits  of $100,000  or more was due to the  Company  more  aggressively
pricing  these   deposits  to  provide   funding  for  the  strong  loan  growth
experienced.  The Company has not  traditionally  engaged in obtaining  deposits
through brokers and had no such deposits during 1997 or 1998. Since December 31,
1997,  the Company  has  experienced  increases  of 18.7%,  16.9%,  and 14.2% in
earning assets, total assets and deposits, respectively.

NONPERFORMING ASSETS

      Nonperforming assets are defined as nonaccrual loans, loans past due 90 or
more days and  still  accruing  interest,  restructured  loans  and  foreclosed,
repossessed and idled properties. For each of the periods presented, the Company
had no loans past due 90 or more days and still accruing interest. Nonperforming
assets are summarized as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     September 30,         December 31,      September 30,
              ($ in thousands)                           1998                 1997               1997
              ----------------                           ----                 ----               ----
<S>                                                   <C>                    <C>                 <C>                             
Nonperforming loans:                                                                                        
   Nonaccrual loans .....................             $     575                 957               1,148     
   Restructured loans ...................                   251                 326                 291  
                                                      ---------                 ---               -----        
Total nonperforming loans ...............                   826               1,283               1,439     
Foreclosed, repossessed, and idled                                                                          
    properties (included in other assets)                   515                 560                 404     
                                                      ---------                 ---               -----           
Total nonperforming assets ..............             $   1,341               1,843               1,843     
                                                      =========               =====               ===== 
Nonperforming loans to total loans ......                  0.24%               0.46%               0.55%    
Allowance for loan losses to                                                                                
     nonperforming loans ................                652.66%             372.49%             328.56%    
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of                                                                     
   loans and foreclosed, repossessed,                                                                       
   and idled properties .................                  0.39%               0.66%               0.71%    
Nonperforming assets to total assets ....                  0.28%               0.46%               0.50%    
Allowance for loan losses to total loans                   1.56%               1.70%               1.81%    
</TABLE>                                                               
    Management  has  reviewed  the  collateral  for  the  nonperforming  assets,
including  nonaccrual  loans,  and has  included  this review  among the factors
considered in the evaluation of the allowance for loan losses discussed below.

    A loan is placed on nonaccrual  status when, in management's  judgment,  the
collection  of  principal  or  interest  appears  doubtful.  While  a loan is on
nonaccrual status, the Company's policy is that all cash receipts are applied to
principal.  Once the recorded principal balance has been reduced to zero, future
cash receipts are applied to recoveries of any amounts  previously  charged off.
Further cash  receipts  are  recorded as interest  income to the extent that any
interest has been foregone. The accrual of interest is discontinued on all loans
that become 90 days past due with  respect to  principal  or  interest.  In some
cases,  where borrowers are experiencing  financial  difficulties,  loans may be
restructured  to  provide  terms  significantly  different  from the  originally
contracted terms.

    Nonperforming  loans are defined as nonaccrual loans and restructured loans.
As  of  September   30,  1998,   December  31,  1997  and  September  30,  1997,
nonperforming loans were approximately 0.24%, 0.46%, and 0.55%, respectively, of
the total loans outstanding at such dates.  Nonaccrual loans as of September 30,
1998 decreased  $573,000,  or 49.9%,  from  September 30, 1997 to  approximately
$575,000 

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
and are lower by approximately  $382,000, or 39.9%, since year-end. The decrease
in  nonaccrual  loans at September 30, 1998 as compared to December 31, 1997 and
September 30, 1997 is primarily attributable to generally improved loan quality,
as well  as the  full  payout  of two  nonaccrual  relationships  each  totaling
approximately $230,000 that occurred in the fourth quarter of 1997 and the first
quarter of 1998 (one payout of $230,000 in each  quarter).  As of September  30,
1998, the borrower with the largest  nonaccrual  loan owed a balance of $220,000
while the average  nonaccrual  loan balance was  approximately  $24,000.  If the
nonaccrual  loans and  restructured  loans as of September 30, 1998 and 1997 had
been current in accordance  with their original  terms and had been  outstanding
throughout  the nine month periods (or since  origination or acquisition if held
for part of the nine month  periods),  gross  interest  income in the amounts of
approximately  $42,000 and $79,000 for nonaccrual  loans and $20,000 and $21,000
for  restructured  loans  would have been  recorded  for the nine  months  ended
September 30, 1998 and 1997,  respectively.  Interest  income on such loans that
was actually  collected  and included in net interest  income in the nine months
ended September 30, 1998 and 1997 amounted to approximately  $7,000 and $31,000,
respectively,  for  nonaccrual  loans (prior to their being placed on nonaccrual
status) and $19,000 and $16,000, respectively, for restructured loans.

    The FASB has issued SFAS No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of
a Loan," which requires that all creditors value all specifically reviewed loans
for which it is probable that the creditor will be unable to collect all amounts
due  according  to the  terms  of the loan  agreement  at the  present  value of
expected cash flows,  market price of the loan,  if  available,  or value of the
underlying collateral.  Expected cash flows are required to be discounted at the
loan's effective interest rate.

    The FASB  also has  issued  SFAS  No.  118,  "Accounting  by  Creditors  for
Impairment of a Loan - Income Recognition and Disclosures," that amends Standard
No. 114 to allow a creditor to use  existing  methods for  recognizing  interest
income on an impaired loan and by requiring  additional  disclosures about how a
creditor recognizes interest income related to impaired loans.

    SFAS  No.'s  114 and 118 do not  apply to large  groups  of  smaller-balance
homogenous  loans  that  are  collectively  evaluated  for  impairment.  For the
Company,  these loans  include  residential  mortgage and  consumer  installment
loans.

    Consistent  with SFAS No.  114,  management  considers  loans to be impaired
when, based on current  information and events,  it is probable the Company will
be unable to collect all amounts due according to the  contractual  terms of the
loan agreement. Impaired loans are measured using either the discounted expected
cash flows or the value of collateral  method.  While a loan is considered to be
impaired,  the  Company's  policy  is that  all cash  receipts  are  applied  to
principal.  Once the recorded principal balance has been reduced to zero, future
cash receipts are applied to recoveries of any amounts  previously  charged off.
Further cash  receipts  are  recorded as interest  income to the extent that any
interest has been foregone.

    At  September  30,  1998,  December 31,  1997,  and  September  30, 1997 the
recorded  investment in loans that are  considered to be impaired under SFAS No.
114 was $29,000,  $398,000, and $512,000,  respectively,  all of which were on a
nonaccrual  basis.  The changes in the level of impaired loans at the respective
period ends is primarily  attributable to improved loan quality,  as well as the
payouts of the two $230,000  loans  mentioned  above that occurred in the fourth
quarter or 1997 and the first  quarter of 1998.  The related  allowance for loan
losses for these  impaired  loans as determined in accordance  with SFAS No. 114
was $4,000,  $60,000, and $107,000,  respectively.  There were no impaired loans
for which  there was no related  allowance  determined  in  accordance  with the
statement.  The average  recorded  investments in impaired loans during the nine
month period ended September 30, 1998, the year

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
ended  December 31,  1997,  and the nine months  ended  September  30, 1997 were
approximately  $138,000,  $654,000,  and  $718,000,  respectively.  For the same
periods,  the Company  recognized  no interest  income on those  impaired  loans
during the period that they were considered to be impaired.

     In addition to the nonperforming  loan amounts discussed above,  management
believes  that an estimated  $1,300,000-$1,500,000  of loans that are  currently
performing in accordance with their  contractual  terms may potentially  develop
problems,  depending upon the particular  financial  situations of the borrowers
and economic  conditions in general.  These loans were considered in determining
the  appropriate  level of the allowance  for loan losses.  See "Summary of Loan
Loss  Experience"  below.  Loans  classified  for  regulatory  purposes as loss,
doubtful,  substandard,  or special  mention that have not been disclosed in the
problem  loan  amounts   above  do  not  represent  or  result  from  trends  or
uncertainties which management  reasonably expects will materially impact future
operating  results,  liquidity,  or capital  resources,  or  represent  material
credits  about  which  management  is  aware  of any  information  which  causes
management to have serious  doubts as to the ability of such borrowers to comply
with the loan repayment terms.

      As of September 30, 1998,  December 31, 1997 and  September 30, 1997,  the
Company owned foreclosed,  repossessed,  and idled assets totaling approximately
$515,000, $560,000, and $404,000,  respectively,  which consisted principally of
several parcels of foreclosed real estate. The Company's management has reviewed
recent appraisals of these properties and believes that their fair values,  less
estimated costs to sell, exceed their respective carrying values as of the dates
presented.

SUMMARY OF LOAN LOSS EXPERIENCE

      The allowance for loan losses is created by direct  charges to operations.
Losses on loans are charged  against the  allowance  in the period in which such
loans, in management's opinion, become uncollectible.
Recoveries during the period are credited to this allowance.

      The factors that influence management's judgment in determining the amount
charged to operating  expense include past loan loss experience,  composition of
the loan portfolio,  evaluation of possible  future losses and current  economic
conditions.

      The Company's bank  subsidiary uses a loan analysis and grading program to
facilitate its evaluation of possible future loan losses and the adequacy of its
allowance for loan losses,  otherwise  referred to as its loan loss reserve.  In
this program, a "watch list" is prepared and monitored monthly by management and
is tested quarterly by the bank's Internal Audit  Department.  The list includes
loans that  management  identifies  as having  potential  credit  weaknesses  in
addition  to loans  past due 90 days or more,  nonaccrual  loans  and  remaining
unpaid loans identified during previous examinations.

    Based  on  management's  evaluation  of  the  loan  portfolio  and  economic
conditions,  a provision  for loan losses of $250,000 was added to the allowance
for loan losses during the three months ended  September 30, 1998.  The $250,000
provision for loan losses was double the $125,000  recorded in the third quarter
of 1997.  The  $740,000  provision  for loan  losses for the nine  months  ended
September  30,  1998 was 127.7%  higher than the  $325,000  recorded in the nine
months ended  September 30, 1997.  The increase in the provision for loan losses
was primarily in response to the higher loan growth  experienced  by the Company
in 1998 compared to 1997, and not credit quality  concerns.  Loans grew by $64.8
million in the first nine months of 1998 compared to $37.7 million for the first
nine months of 1997,  while credit  quality  ratios at  September  30, 1998 were
improved  compared to September 30, 1997.  At September 30, 1998,  the allowance
stood at $5,391,000,  compared to $4,779,000 at December 31, 1997 and $4,728,000

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
at September 30, 1997. At September 30, 1998,  the allowance for loan losses was
approximately  653% of total  nonperforming  loans,  compared  to  corresponding
percentages of 372% at December 31, 1997 and 329% at September 30, 1997.

      The allowance for loan losses was 1.56%, 1.70% and 1.81% of total loans as
of September 30, 1998,  December 31, 1997 and September 30, 1997,  respectively.
The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of total loans has been  gradually
decreasing since its high of 2.81% at September 30, 1994. The September 30, 1994
high of 2.81%  was an  increase  from  the  1.79%  ratio  at June  30,  1994 due
primarily  to an addition to the  allowance of $2.5 million that was recorded in
the third quarter of 1994 in connection with a corporate  acquisition in which a
higher risk loan  portfolio  was assumed.  The general  decrease in the ratio of
allowance  for loan  losses to total  loans  since then has been  largely due to
charge-offs  associated with that portfolio,  strong recent loan growth, as well
as generally  improved  overall loan  quality.  Management  believes the reserve
levels are adequate to cover possible loan losses on the loans outstanding as of
each reporting date. It must be emphasized,  however,  that the determination of
the  reserve  using the  Company's  procedures  and methods  rests upon  various
judgments and  assumptions  about future  economic  conditions and other factors
affecting  loans.  No  assurance  can be given that the Company  will not in any
particular  period  sustain  loan  losses  that are  sizable in  relation to the
amounts reserved or that subsequent evaluations of the loan portfolio,  in light
of conditions and factors then prevailing,  will not require significant changes
in the  allowance  for loan losses or future  charges to earnings.  In addition,
various regulatory  agencies,  as an integral part of their examination process,
periodically review the Company's allowances for loan losses and losses on other
real estate. Such agencies may require the Company to recognize additions to the
allowances based on their judgments about  information  available at the time of
such examinations.

For the periods indicated, the following table summarizes the Company's balances
of loans outstanding,  average loans  outstanding,  changes in the allowance for
loan losses arising from  charge-offs and recoveries by category,  and additions
to the allowance for loan losses that have been charged to expense.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Nine Months        Year         Nine Months
                                                  Ended            Ended           Ended
                                              September 30,       Dec. 31,     September 30,
($ in thousands)                                  1998              1997           1997
                                                ---------         -------         -------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>             <C>    
Loans outstanding at period end ...........     $ 345,295         280,513         260,699
                                                =========         =======         =======

Average loans outstanding during period ...     $ 317,155         245,596         237,485
                                                =========         =======         =======

Allowance for loan losses at
   beginning of period ....................     $   4,779           4,726           4,726

Loans charged off:
   Commercial, financial and agricultural .           (35)            (61)            (25)
   Real estate - mortgage .................           (44)           (449)           (336)
   Installment loans to individuals .......          (166)           (311)           (230)
                                                ---------         -------         -------
      Total charge-offs ...................          (245)           (821)           (591)
                                                ---------         -------         -------

Recoveries of loans previously charged-off:
   Commercial, financial and agricultural .            21              89              81
   Real estate - mortgage .................            16              38              21
   Installment loans to individuals .......            80             141             117
   Other ..................................          --                31              49
                                                ---------         -------         -------
      Total recoveries ....................           117             299             268
                                                ---------         -------         -------

Net charge-offs ...........................          (128)           (522)           (323)

Provision for loan losses .................           740             575             325
                                                ---------         -------         -------
 Allowance for loan losses at end of period     $   5,391           4,779           4,728
                                                =========           =====           =====

Ratios:
   Annualized net charge-offs to average
     loans during period ..................          0.05%           0.21%           0.18%
   Allowance for loan losses to
     loans at end of period ...............          1.56%           1.70%           1.81%
   Allowance for loan losses as a multiple
     of annualized net charge-offs ........        31.53x           9.16x          10.94x
   Provision for loan losses as a percent
     of net charge-offs ...................        578.13%         110.15%         100.62%
   Recoveries of loans previously charged-
     off as a percent of loans charged-off          47.76%          36.42%          45.35%

</TABLE>
     Based on the  results  of the  aforementioned  loan  analysis  and  grading
program  and  management's  evaluation  of the  allowance  for  loan  losses  at
September 30, 1998, there have been no material changes to the allocation of the
allowance for loan losses among the various  categories of loans since  December
31, 1997.
<PAGE>

LIQUIDITY

     The Company's  liquidity is determined by its ability to convert  assets to
cash or acquire  alternative sources of funds to meet the needs of its customers
who are withdrawing or borrowing funds, and to maintain required reserve levels,
pay expenses and operate the Company on an ongoing basis. The Company's  primary
liquidity  sources  are net income  from  operations,  cash and due from  banks,
federal funds sold and other short-term  investments.  In addition,  the Company
(through  its bank  subsidiary)  has 


                                      -18-
<PAGE>
the  ability,  on a  short-term  basis,  to  purchase  federal  funds from other
financial institutions and has an available line of credit with the Federal Home
Loan Bank in place that can provide  short or long term  financing.  The Company
has not  traditionally  had to rely on these  sources  of  credit as a source of
liquidity.  The Company has experienced an increase in its loan to deposit ratio
(83.7% at September  30, 1998  compared to 79.6% a year  earlier) as a result of
the significant loan growth that has reduced the Company's liquidity sources. To
ensure  satisfactory  liquidity,  during the second  quarter of 1998 the Company
increased  its  available  line of  credit  with the  Federal  Home Loan Bank of
Atlanta (the "FHLB")  from $36 million to $50 million.  In addition,  during the
third quarter of 1998,  the Company made periodic  draws and  repayments on this
line of credit on an  overnight  basis to  maintain  liquidity  ratios at levels
complying  with the Company's  internal  policies.  At September  30, 1998,  the
Company had outstanding borrowings with the FHLB totaling $13 million, while the
average amount outstanding for the third quarter was $7.4 million. The Company's
management  believes its liquidity sources are at an acceptable level and remain
adequate to meet its operating needs.

CAPITAL RESOURCES

      The Company is  required by its own  policies  and by  applicable  federal
regulations to maintain  certain capital  levels.  The Company's ratio of stated
capital to total  assets  exceeded 8% as of  September  30,  1998 and 1997,  and
December 31, 1997.  In an effort to achieve a  measurement  of capital  adequacy
that is sensitive to the individual risk profiles of financial institutions, the
various financial  institution  regulators have minimum capital  guidelines that
categorize various components of capital and types of assets and measure capital
adequacy in  relation to the  financial  institution's  relative  level of those
capital components and the level of risk associated with various types of assets
of that financial  institution.  The guidelines call for minimum  adjusted total
capital of 8% of risk-adjusted  assets.  As of September 30, 1998, the Company's
total risk-based capital ratio was 11.11%.

      In addition to the risk-based  capital  requirements  described above, the
Company is subject to a leverage capital requirement,  which calls for a minimum
ratio of leverage capital,  as defined in the regulations,  to quarterly average
total assets of 3-5%. As of September 30, 1998, the Company's  leverage  capital
ratio was 7.41%.

      The Company is not aware of any recommendations of regulatory  authorities
or otherwise which, if they were to be implemented, would have a material effect
on its liquidity, capital resources, or operations.


                                      -19-
<PAGE>
      As of September 30, 1998,  December 31, 1997 and  September 30, 1997,  the
Company was in compliance with all existing regulatory capital requirements,  as
summarized in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              September 30,         Dec. 31,      September 30,
($ in thousands)                                                 1998                 1997            1997
- ----------------                                                 ----                 ----            ----
<S>                                                           <C>                     <C>             <C>    
Tier I capital:
     Total stated shareholders' equity                        $     39,633            36,765          35,727
     Less:   Intangible assets                                       5,995             6,487           5,192
             Unrealized gain
                on securities available for
                sale, net of income taxes                              222               186             185
                                                              ------------           -------         -------
 Total Tier I leverage capital                                      33,416            30,092          30,350

Tier II capital:
     Allowable allowance for loan losses                             4,178             3,466           3,217
                                                              ------------           -------         -------
 
Total capital                                                 $     37,594            33,558          33,567
                                                              ============            ======          ======
Risk-adjusted assets                                          $    340,425           283,924         262,735
Tier I risk-adjusted assets (includes Tier I
     capital adjustments)                                          334,208           277,251         257,358
Tier II risk adjusted assets (includes Tiers I
     and II capital adjustments)                                   338,386           280,717         260,575
Quarterly average total assets                                     456,878           386,291         362,601
Adjusted quarterly average total assets
     (includes Tier I capital adjustments)                         450,661           379,618         357,224

Risk-based capital ratios:
     Tier I capital                                                 10.00%            10.85%          11.79%
     Minimum required Tier I capital                                 4.00%             4.00%           4.00%
     Total risk-based capital                                       11.11%            11.95%          12.88%
     Minimum required total risk-based capital                       8.00%             8.00%           8.00%
Leverage capital ratios:
     Tier I leverage capital ratio                                   7.41%             7.93%           8.50%
     Minimum required Tier I leverage capital                      3-5.00%           3-5.00%         3-5.00%

</TABLE>

UPDATE ON YEAR 2000

     The  Company   recognizes   and  is  addressing  the   potentially   severe
implications  of the "Year 2000  Issue." The "Year 2000 Issue" is a general term
used to  describe  the  various  problems  that may  result  from  the  improper
processing of dates and date-sensitive calculations as the Year 2000 approaches.
This  issue is caused by the fact that  many of the  world's  existing  computer
programs  use only  two  digits  to  identify  the  year in the date  field of a
program.  These  programs were designed and developed  without  considering  the
impact of the  upcoming  change in the  century  and  could  experience  serious
malfunctions  when the last two digits of the year change to "00" as a result of
identifying a year  designated  "00" as the year 1900 rather than the year 2000.
<PAGE>
This  misidentification  could  prevent the Company from being able to engage in
normal  business  operations,  including,  among  other  things,  miscalculating
interest accruals and the inability to process customer transactions. Because of
the potentially  serious  ramifications  of the Year 2000 Issue,  the Company is
taking the Year 2000 Issue very seriously.

     The Company's Technology  Committee,  which is comprised of a cross-section
of the  Company's  employees,  is leading the  Company's  Year 2000  efforts and
involving  all employees of the Company in 

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
ensuring that the Company is properly  prepared for the Year 2000. The Company's
Board of Directors  has approved a plan  submitted by the  Technology  Committee
that was  developed  in  accordance  with  guidelines  set forth by the  Federal
Financial  Institutions  Examination Council. This plan has three primary phases
related to internal Year 2000 compliance.

     The first phase of the Company's efforts to address the Year 2000 Issue was
to inventory all known Company processes that could reasonably be expected to be
impacted by the Year 2000 Issue and their related vendors,  if applicable.  This
inventory of processes and vendors included not only typical computer  processes
such as the Company's transaction  applications systems, but all known processes
that could be impacted by  micro-chip  malfunctions.  These  include but are not
limited to the Company's alarm system, phone system, check ordering process, and
ATM network.  This phase is  complete,  although it is  periodically  updated as
necessary.

     The Company's second phase in addressing the Year 2000 Issue was to contact
all  third  party  vendors,  request  documentation  regarding  their  Year 2000
compliance  efforts,  and analyze the  responses.  This was a significant  phase
because the Company does not perform in-house programming, and thus is dependent
on external vendors to ensure and modify, if necessary, the hardware,  software,
or service they provide to the Company to be Year 2000 compliant.  This phase is
now virtually  complete and the Company is currently  following up on any issues
or concerns identified in the responses received, as necessary.

     The  next  phase  for  the  Company   under  the  plan  is  to  complete  a
comprehensive  testing of all known  processes.  Initially,  processes are to be
tested  on a  stand-alone  basis  and then the  testing  will  involve  multiple
interfacing  processes.  Testing  of the  Company's  processes  has begun and is
scheduled to be substantially  complete by the end of 1998. Management plans for
any  corrective  actions to be  implemented  to ensure that the Company is fully
prepared  for the Year 2000 by the end of the first  quarter  of 1999.  The most
significant  phase of testing  is the  testing of the  Company's  core  software
applications.  Upgrades of the core software applications  currently used by the
Company were received from the software vendor in June 1998 and were represented
to be Year 2000 compliant by the vendor.  These  applications  were successfully
loaded  onto the  Company's  hardware  system  in early  July 1998 and Year 2000
testing began in September  1998.  While  testing is not  complete,  to date the
Company has not  identified  any  significant  problems or  deficiencies  in the
applications.

     Another  part of the  Company's  Year 2000 plan is to assess  the Year 2000
readiness  of its  significant  borrowers  and  depositors.  Through  the use of
questionnaires  and  personal  contacts,  the Company has assessed the Year 2000
readiness of significant borrowers and depositors of the Company.  Customers who
the Company has Year 2000  concerns  about are being  counseled on the Year 2000
Issue,  urged to take action,  and placed on an internal watch list that will be
updated on a quarterly  basis and reviewed and  monitored by the Company for any
potential  effects on the Company.  The initial list of these  customers will be
completed in the fourth  quarter of 1998 and evaluated by  management.  Based on
the information  gathered to date,  management of the Company  believes that the
number and magnitude of customers  with potential Year 2000 problems will not be
significant.  Prospective  new loan  customers  are also  assessed for Year 2000
compliance as a part of the underwriting process of significant loans.
<PAGE>
     In the Company's 1997 Form 10-K, the Company  disclosed an estimated  range
of total costs to address the Year 2000 Issue to be from  $100,000 to  $150,000.
During the second quarter of 1998, management determined that the estimated cost
to modify the Company's  automated teller machines (ATMs) would likely be higher
than originally projected. As a result, the Company now projects the total costs
to address the Year 2000 Issue to be from  $175,000 to $200,000.  Other than the
estimated 

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
cost to make the  Company's  ATMs  Year  2000  compliant,  the  Company  has not
identified any processes that will require  significant  expenditures to address
the Year 2000 Issue. The majority of these costs are expected to be incurred and
expensed by the Company  during the fourth  quarter of 1998 or the first quarter
of 1999.  Year 2000 project  costs during the three and nine month periods ended
September  30,  1998  amounted  to  $20,000.  Although  funding of the Year 2000
project costs will come from normal operating cash flow, the expenses associated
with the Year 2000 Issue will directly reduce otherwise  reported net income for
the Company.

     Management  of the  Company  believes  that the  potential  effects  on the
Company's  internal  operations of the Year 2000 Issue can and will be addressed
prior to the Year 2000.  However,  if required  modifications or conversions are
not made or are not completed on a timely basis prior to the Year 2000, the Year
2000 Issue could disrupt normal business operations.  The most reasonably likely
worst  case Year 2000  scenarios  foreseeable  at this time  would  include  the
Company  temporarily  not being able to process,  in some  combination,  various
types of customer transactions. This could affect the ability of the Company to,
among other things, originate new loans, post loan payments,  accept deposits or
allow  immediate  withdrawals,  and,  depending  on the  amount  of time  such a
scenario lasted, could have a material adverse effect on the Company. Because of
the  serious  implications  of these  scenarios,  the  primary  emphasis  of the
Company's  Year  2000  efforts  is to  correct,  with  complete  replacement  if
necessary,  any  systems  or  processes  whose  Year 2000 test  results  are not
satisfactory  prior  to the  Year  2000.  Nevertheless,  should  one of the most
reasonably  likely worst case  scenarios  occur in the Year 2000, the Company is
also in the process of  formalizing a contingency  plan (that should be complete
by January  1999) that  would  allow for  limited  transactions,  including  the
ability to make certain  deposit  withdrawals,  until the Year 2000 problems are
remediated.

     The costs of the Year 2000 project and the date on which the Company  plans
to complete Year 2000 compliance are based on management's best estimates, which
were  derived  using   numerous   assumptions  of  future  events  such  as  the
availability of certain resources  (including internal and external  resources),
third party vendor plans and other factors.  However,  there can be no guarantee
that these  estimates  will be achieved at the cost disclosed or within the time
frame  indicated,  and actual results could differ  materially from these plans.
Factors that might affect the timely and  efficient  completion of the Company's
Year 2000  project  include,  but are not  limited  to,  vendors'  abilities  to
adequately  correct or convert software and the effect on the Company's  ability
to test its systems,  the availability and cost of personnel trained in the Year
2000 area,  the ability to identify and correct all relevant  computer  programs
and similar uncertainties.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

INTEREST RATE RISK (INCLUDING  QUANTITATIVE  AND QUALITATIVE  DISCLOSURES  ABOUT
MARKET RISK)

     Net  interest  income  is  the  Company's  most  significant  component  of
earnings.  Notwithstanding  changes  in  volumes  of  loans  and  deposits,  the
Company's  level of net interest income is continually at risk due to the effect
that  changes in general  market  interest  rate trends have on interest  yields
earned and paid with respect to the various  categories  of earnings  assets and
interest-bearing  liabilities. It is the Company's policy to maintain portfolios
of earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with maturities and repricing
opportunities that will afford protection, to the extent practical, against wide
interest  rate  fluctuations.  The  Company's  exposure to interest rate risk is
analyzed on a regular basis by management  using standard GAP reports,  maturity
reports,  and an asset/liability  software model that simulates future 

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
levels of interest income and expense based on current interest rates,  expected
future interest rates, and various intervals of "shock" interest rates. Over the
years,  the Company has been able to maintain a fairly  consistent  net yield on
average earning assets (net interest margin). Over the past ten fiscal years the
net  interest  margin has not varied by more than 25 basis  points in any single
fiscal year and the lowest net interest margin realized over that same period is
within 60 basis  points of the  highest.  While the  Company  can not  guarantee
similar  stability  in the net  interest  margin  in the  future,  at this  time
management does not expect significant fluctuations. The Company has experienced
a decrease in its net interest  margin  during  1998,  and it is likely that the
Company's net interest  margin for fiscal 1998 will be more than 25 basis points
lower than the 5.65%  realized  during 1997 - see  additional  discussion in the
"Components of Earnings" section above.

     As of September 30, 1998, the Company had approximately $91 million more in
interest-bearing  liabilities  that are subject to interest rate changes  within
one year than earning  assets.  This generally  would indicate that net interest
income would experience  downward pressure in a rising interest rate environment
and would benefit from a declining  interest  rate  environment.  However,  this
method of analyzing  interest  sensitivity  only  measures the  magnitude of the
timing  differences and does not address  earnings,  market value, or management
actions.  Also,  interest rates on certain types of assets and  liabilities  may
fluctuate in advance of changes in market interest  rates,  while interest rates
on other  types may lag  behind  changes in market  rates.  In  addition  to the
effects of "when" various rate-sensitive  products reprice,  market rate changes
may not result in uniform  changes in rates  among all  products.  For  example,
included in  interest-bearing  liabilities  at  September  30,  1998  subject to
interest  rate changes  within one year are  deposits  totaling  $148.5  million
comprised  of NOW,  savings,  and certain  types of money market  deposits  with
interest rates set by management.  These types of deposits historically have not
repriced  coincidentally  with  or in the  same  proportion  as  general  market
indicators.  Thus, the Company believes that near term net interest income would
not likely experience  significant downward pressure from rising interest rates.
Similarly,  management would not expect a significant  increase in near term net
interest  income  from  falling  interest  rates.  As  of  September  30,  1998,
approximately 88% of interest-earning assets could be repriced within five years
and substantially all interest-bearing liabilities could be repriced within five
years.

     The  Company  has no market  risk  sensitive  instruments  held for trading
purposes,  nor does it maintain any foreign  currency  positions.  The following
table  presents  the expected  maturities  of the  Company's  other than trading
market risk sensitive financial  instruments.  The following table also presents
the fair values of market risk sensitive  instruments as estimated in accordance
with Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 107,  "Disclosures  About
Fair Value of Financial Instruments."

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              Expected Maturities of Market Sensitive
                           --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                               Instruments Held at September 30, 1998
                                                                                                          Average        Estimated
                                                                                                          Interest         Fair
($ in thousands)             1 Year    2 Years    3 Years    4 Years    5 Years     Beyond       Total     Rate (1)        Value   
- ----------------             ------    -------    -------    -------    -------     ------       -----     --------        -----   
<S>                        <C>           <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>     
Debt Securities- at
   amortized cost (2)      $ 23,603      7,285     11,526      2,153      4,179      7,698       56,444      7.13%       $ 57,597
Loans - fixed (3) ....       37,333     26,874     31,334     15,903     43,529     21,841      176,814      8.97%        176,823
Loans - adjustable (3)       80,071     19,493     19,066     12,631     21,121     15,524      167,906      9.10%        167,906
                           --------      -----     ------      -----      -----      -----       ------                  --------
  Total ..............     $141,007     53,652     61,926     30,687     68,829     45,063      401,164      8.77%       $402,326
                           ========     ======     ======     ======     ======     ======      =======      ====        ========

Savings, NOW, and
  money market                         
  deposits ...........     $148,535         --         --         --         --         --      148,535      2.24%       $148,535
Time deposits ........      172,099     22,653      6,424      1,936      2,506         10      205,628      5.46%        206,278
                           --------      -----     ------      -----      -----      -----       ------                  --------
  Total ..............     $320,634     22,653      6,424      1,936      2,506         10      354,163      4.11%       $354,813
                           ========     ======      =====      =====      =====      =====      =======      ====        ========
</TABLE>

(1)  Tax-exempt  securities are reflected at a tax-equivalent  basis using a 34%
     tax rate.

(2)  Callable  securities with above market interest rates at September 30, 1998
     are  assumed  to mature  at their  call date for  purposes  of this  table.
     Mortgage-backed  securities and  collateralized  mortgage  obligations  are
     assumed to mature,  lump sum, in the year  consistent  with their estimated
     weighted average life.

(3)  Excludes nonaccrual loans and allowance for loan losses.


     The Company's fixed rate earning assets have estimated fair values that are
slightly  higher than their carrying  value.  This is due to the yields on these
portfolios  being  slightly  higher than market yields at September 30, 1998 for
instruments with maturities  similar to the remaining term of the portfolios due
to a  generally  declining  interest  rate  environment  during  the  year.  The
estimated  fair value of the  Company's  time  deposits  is higher than its book
value for the same reason.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

    The  foregoing   discussion   contains   statements  that  could  be  deemed
forward-looking  statements  within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act,  which
statements are inherently  subject to risks and  uncertainties.  Forward-looking
statements are statements that include projections, predictions, expectations or
beliefs  about  future  events or results or  otherwise  are not  statements  of
historical  fact.  Such  statements  are  often  characterized  by  the  use  of
qualifying  words  (and  their   derivatives)   such  as  "expect,"   "believe,"
"estimate,"  "plan,"  "project,"  or other  statements  concerning  opinions  or
judgment of the Company and its  management  about future  events.  Factors that
could influence the accuracy of such forward-looking statements include, but are
not limited to, the  financial  success or changing  strategies of the Company's
customers, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates,
and general economic conditions.

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
Part II.  Other Information

Item 5 - Other Information

    The  bylaws  of the  Company  establish  an  advance  notice  procedure  for
shareholder  proposals  to be brought  before a meeting of  shareholders  of the
Company. Subject to any other applicable requirements, only such business may be
conducted  at a meeting  of the  shareholders  as has been  brought  before  the
meeting by, or at the  direction  of, the Board of Directors or by a shareholder
who has given to the Secretary of the Company timely written  notice,  in proper
form, of the shareholder's  intention to bring that business before the meeting.
The  presiding   officer  at  such  meeting  has  the  authority  to  make  such
determinations.

    To be timely, notice of other business to be brought before any meeting must
generally be received by the  Secretary  of the Company  within 60 to 90 days in
advance of the  shareholders'  meeting.  The notice of any shareholder  proposal
must set forth the various  information  required  under the bylaws.  The person
submitting  the notice must provide,  among other  things,  the name and address
under which such  Shareholder  appears on the Company's  books and the class and
number of shares of the Company's  capital stock that are beneficially  owned by
such Shareholder.  Any shareholder  desiring a copy of the Company's bylaws will
be furnished  one without  charge upon written  request to the  Secretary of the
Company at the Company's headquarters.


 Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

 (a)       Exhibits
           The following  exhibits are filed with this report or, as noted,  are
           incorporated by reference.  Management contracts,  compensatory plans
           and arrangements are marked with an asterisk (*).

3.a.i      Copy of Articles of  Incorporation  of the  Registrant and amendments
           thereto,  was filed as Exhibit 3(a) to the Registrant's  Registration
           Statement Number 33-12692, and is incorporated herein by reference.

3.a.ii     Copy of the  amendment  to Articles of  Incorporation  - adding a new
           Article Nine, filed as exhibit 3(e) to the Company's Annual Report on
           Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1988,  and is  incorporated
           herein by reference.

3.b.i      Copy of the Bylaws of the  Registrant  and  amendments  thereto,  was
           filed as Exhibit 3(b) to the  Company's  Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
           for the year ended December 31, 1994, and is  incorporated  herein by
           reference.

10         Material Contracts
10.a       Data  processing  Agreement dated October 1, 1984 by and between Bank
           of Montgomery  (First Bank) and Montgomery  Data  Services,  Inc. was
           filed as Exhibit  10(k) to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement
           Number 33-12692, and is incorporated herein by reference.

10.b       First Bank  Salary  and  Incentive  Plan,  as  amended,  was filed as
           Exhibit  10(m)  to the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  Number
           33-12692, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)


                                      -25-
<PAGE>
10.c       First Bancorp  Savings Plus and Profit  Sharing Plan (401(k)  savings
           incentive plan and trust),  as amended  January 25, 1994 and July 19,
           1994,  was filed as Exhibit 10(c) to the  Company's  Annual Report on
           Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1994, and is incorporated
           herein by reference. (*)

10.d       Directors and Officers  Liability  Insurance Policy of First Bancorp,
           dated  July 16,  1991,  was filed as Exhibit  10(g) to the  Company's
           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1991, and
           is incorporated herein by reference.

10.e       Indemnification  Agreement  between the Company and its Directors and
           Officers was filed as Exhibit 10(t) to the Registrant's  Registration
           Statement Number 33-12692, and is incorporated herein by reference.

10.f       First Bancorp Employees' Pension Plan, as amended on August 16, 1994,
           was filed as Exhibit  10(g) to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form
           10-KSB for the year ended  December  31,  1994,  and is  incorporated
           herein by reference. (*)

10.g       First Bancorp Senior  Management  Supplemental  Executive  Retirement
           Plan dated May 31, 1993,  was filed as Exhibit 10(k) to the Company's
           Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended June 30,  1993,
           and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)

10.h       First  Bancorp   Senior   Management   Split-Dollar   Life  Insurance
           Agreements between the Company and the Executive Officers, as amended
           on December 22,  1994,  was filed as Exhibit  10(i) to the  Company's
           Annual  Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended  December  31, 1994,
           and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)

10.i       First  Bancorp 1994 Stock  Option Plan was filed as Exhibit  10(n) to
           the Company's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter ended
           March 31, 1994, and is incorporated herein by reference. (*)

10.j       Severance  Agreement  between the Company and Patrick A. Meisky dated
           December 29, 1995 was filed as Exhibit 10(o) to the Company's  Annual
           Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended  December 31,  1995,  and is
           incorporated by reference. (*)

10.k       Amendment to the First Bancorp  Savings Plus and Profit  Sharing Plan
           (401(k) savings  incentive plan and trust),  dated December 17, 1996,
           was filed as Exhibit  10(m) to the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form
           10-KSB for the year ended  December  31,  1996,  and is  incorporated
           herein by reference. (*)

10.l       Employment Agreement  between the  Company and  James H. Garner dated
           August 17, 1998.

10.m       Employment  Agreement  between the Company  and Anna G. Hollers dated
           August 17, 1998.

10.n       Employment  Agreement  between the  Company and Teresa C. Nixon dated
           August 17, 1998.

27.1       Financial  Data Schedules pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation S-X for
           the nine months ended  September 30, 1998.

 (b) There were no reports filed on Form 8-K during the quarter ended  September
30, 1998.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>

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





                                         FIRST BANCORP


        November 10, 1998                BY:   /s/  James H. Garner
                                               --------------------
                                               James H. Garner
                                                   President
                                         (Principal Executive Officer),
                                            Treasurer and Director


        November 10, 1998                BY:  /s/ Anna G. Hollers
                                              -------------------
                                              Anna G. Hollers
                                           Executive Vice President
                                                 and Secretary


        November 10, 1998                BY:  /s/ Eric P. Credle
                                              ------------------
                                              Eric P. Credle
                                                Vice President
                                         and Chief Financial Officer


                                      -27-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             EXHIBIT CROSS REFERENCE INDEX

Exhibit                                                                           Page(s)
- -------                                                                           -------

<S>       <C>                                                                       <C> 
3.a.i     Copy of Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant                        *

3.a.ii    Copy of the amendment to Articles of Incorporation                         *

3.b.i     Copy of the Bylaws of the Registrant                                       *

10.a      Data  processing  Agreement by and between Bank of  Montgomery  (First
          Bank) and Montgomery Data Services, Inc.                                   *

10.b      First Bank Salary and Incentive Plan, as amended                           *

10.c      First  Bancorp  Savings Plus and Profit  Sharing Plan (401(k)  savings
          incentive plan and trust), as amended *

10.d      Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy of First Bancorp         *

10.e      Indemnification  Agreement  between the Company and its  Directors and
          Officers                                                                   *

10.f      First Bancorp Employees' Pension Plan                                      *

10.g      First Bancorp Senior Management Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan     *
           

10.h      First Bancorp Senior Management Split-Dollar Life Insurance Agreements
          between the Company and the Executive Officers                             *

10.i      First Bancorp 1994 Stock Option Plan                                       *

10.j      Severance Agreement between the Company and Patrick A. Meisky              *

10.k      Amendment to the First  Bancorp  Savings Plus and Profit  Sharing Plan
          (401(k) savings incentive plan and trust)                                  *

10.l      Employment  Agreement  between the  Company and James H. Garner  dated
          August 17, 1998.                                                          29

10.m      Employment  Agreement  between the Company and Anna G.  Hollers  dated
          August 17, 1998.                                                          35

10.n      Employment  Agreement  between  the  Company and Teresa C. Nixon dated
          August 17, 1998.                                                          41

27.1      Financial  Data Schedule  pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation  S-X for
          the nine months ended September 30, 1998 (SEC copy only)                  47

          *         Incorporated herein by reference.
</TABLE>

                                      -28-

                                                                    Exhibit 10.l


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated and  effective  this 17th day of August,  1998,
between FIRST BANCORP (a North Carolina  corporation)  (the "Company") and JAMES
H. GARNER (the  "Employee").  References to the "Company" herein shall be deemed
to refer to the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  taken  as a whole,  unless  the
context requires or the Agreement provides otherwise.

         The Company desires to employ the Employee,  and Employee desires to be
employed by the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions  hereinafter
set forth.  Accordingly,  in consideration  of employment,  the compensation the
Company agrees to pay the Employee,  the mutual covenants  contained herein, and
for  other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties mutually agree as follows:

         1. Employment and Term. The Company (or one of its  subsidiaries)  will
employ  Employee,  and  Employee  will be  employed by the Company for a term of
three (3) years, initially as President and Chief Executive Officer,  commencing
on the date hereof, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter  provided.  The term
of this Agreement shall  automatically  be extended for an additional  period of
one (1) year on each  anniversary  of the date of this  Agreement  unless either
party gives the other written notice on or prior to such  anniversary  date that
such extension will not occur.

         2.  Duties.  Employee  shall at all  times  faithfully  and  diligently
perform  Employee's  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  act in  the  best
interests  of the  Company  and  its  affiliated  companies.  Employee's  duties
hereunder  shall be to act in such  office or capacity as the Company may direct
or change from time to time, and Employee shall perform all duties  necessary or
advisable in order to carry out such functions in an efficient manner.  Employee
shall,  during the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder,  devote Employee's
full time,  best efforts and ability,  skill,  and attention  exclusively to the
furtherance  of the  business  objectives  and  interests of the Company and its
affiliated  companies  during  such  hours and in such a manner as is  generally
customary for  employees of  Employee's  position in businesses of the Company's
type.

         3. Compensation.
                  (a) Salary. For services rendered by Employee  hereunder,  the
Company shall pay Employee an annual salary of not less than $170,000 payable in
accordance  with the  customary  payroll  practices of the  Company.  Employee's
salary  shall be subject  to  increase  upon  annual  reviews of the  Employee's
performance.  Employee will receive an annual  increase that is at least as much
as any  percentage  increase in the U.S.  Consumer Price Index during the twelve
months preceding the date of Employee's annual review. Any such increase will be
considered in determining the Employee's base salary for all purposes hereunder.

                  (b)  Reimbursement  of  Expenses.  The  Company  shall  pay or
reimburse  Employee for all reasonable  and necessary  travel and other expenses
incurred by Employee in performing Employee's  obligations under this Agreement,
provided  that  Employee  shall  present  to the  Company  from  time to time an
itemized  account of such  expenses  in any form  required by the  Company.  The
Company  further  agrees to  furnish  Employee  with such other  assistance  and
accommodations as shall be suitable to the character of Employee's position with
the Company and adequate for the performance of Employee's duties hereunder.
<PAGE>
                  (c)  Employee  shall be entitled to such  insurance,  pension,
profit-sharing  and other benefit plans as are or may be available  generally to
employees  of  the  Company  to the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  laws  or
government regulations.  Employee will also be eligible for participation in the
Company's Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Split Dollar Insurance Plan and
Stock Option Plan.

                  (d)  Employee  shall be  entitled to  reasonable  time off for
vacation,  sick leave,  bereavement leave, jury duty and military obligations as
are or may become available to employees of the Company in positions  similar to
those of  Employee,  as  provided  by the  Company's  policies as they may be in
effect from time to time.

         4.  Termination.  In addition to the termination of the terms specified
in Section 1 hereunder,  employment may be terminated under any of the following
provisions:
                  (a) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement may be
terminated  immediately  by the Company if the Company  finds that the  Employee
shall  have (i)  demonstrated  gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  in the
execution of  Employee's  duties,  (ii)  committed an act of dishonesty or moral
turpitude,  or (iii) been  convicted  of a felony or other  serious  crime.  All
future compensation and benefits, not then accrued, will automatically terminate
if Employee is terminated under this subparagraph (a).

                  (b) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement  shall
be automatically terminated on the date of the Employee's death.

                  (c) Employer may terminate Employee's employment hereunder for
any reason other than as provided in subparagraphs (a) and (b), but in such case
Employer  shall be obligated to pay  Employee's  base salary to Employee for the
remainder of the term specified in Section 1 hereof (the "Remaining Term").

                  (d)  Employment  hereunder  may be terminated  voluntarily  by
Employee  on  forty-five  (45)  days'  written  notice  to the  Company's  Chief
Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, in which case
Employee  will receive his  compensation,  vested  rights and employee  benefits
accrued through the date of termination of employment.

         5. Other Obligations.  All payments and benefits to Employee under this
Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  Employee's   compliance  with  the  following
provisions:

                  (a)  Assistance  in  Litigation.   During  the  term  of  this
Agreement and for three full years after the expiration or  termination  hereof,
Employee shall,  upon  reasonable  notice,  furnish such  information and proper
assistance  to the  Company as may  reasonably  be  required  by the  Company in
connection  with  any  litigation  in  which  it or any of its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates is, or may become,  a party. In connection with such  assistance,  if
substantial  effort or expense is required of Employee after the  termination of
Employee's employment hereunder, the Company will pay reasonable compensation to
Employee and will reimburse him for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
<PAGE>
                  (b) Long-Term Disability.  If the Employee has become disabled
as determined  under the Company's  long-term  disability plan or policy then in
effect and is terminated from active employment,  any remaining benefits of this
contract  shall be reduced by any benefits  received by the  Employee  under the
Company's  long-term  disability  plan  or  policy.  Additionally,   if  such  a
circumstance  occurs, the Employee is under an affirmative duty to actively seek
and  accept  reasonable  alternative   employment  following  termination.   Any
compensation received by Employee following termination or compensation earnable
with reasonable  diligence will be deducted from any future compensation due the
Employee  under  this  Agreement.  In the  event  the  Employee  fails  to  seek
reasonable  alternative  employment,  the  Company's  obligation  to pay  future
compensation shall cease.

                  (c) Confidential  Information.  Employee  acknowledges that in
the course of  Employee's  employment  he will  acquire  knowledge  of trade and
business secrets and other  confidential  data of the Company,  its subsidiaries
and any  affiliated  companies.  Such  trade  and  business  secrets  and  other
confidential  data may  include,  but are not limited to,  confidential  product
information,  methods by which the Company proposes to compete with its business
competitors,   strategic  plans,   confidential  reports  prepared  by  business
consultant(s)   and  similar   information   relating  to  the  Company's,   its
subsidiaries' or its affiliated companies' products,  customers, and operations.
Employee recognizes that the possible  restrictions on Employee's activities are
required for the reasonable protection of the Company. Employee covenants not to
knowingly  disclose  or  reveal to any  unauthorized  person  such  confidential
business  secrets  or  other  confidential  data  both  during  the term of this
Agreement  and for a  period  of two (2)  years  following  termination  of this
Agreement.  Upon  expiration  or  termination  of  Employee's  employment by the
Company,  Employee agrees to return to the Company all documents (both originals
and copies),  including without  limitation,  customer lists, books and records,
form  agreements,   manuals,  and  other  information  (in  whatever  form  such
information may exist,  whether written,  recorded,  in magnetic media, or other
form) that  comes into  Employee's  possession  during,  by virtue of and in the
course of  Employee's  employment  and which  are in any way  connected  with or
related to the Company's business.

         It is further understood and agreed that the Company's right to require
Employee to keep  confidential  information  secret  shall not be in lieu of the
Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of any
obligation  contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach or
threatened  breach of any of these  covenants,  the Company may either,  with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (d)   Noncompetition   Covenants   and  Other   Covenants  For
Protection of the Company.  During the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder
and during the period  following the  termination of such  employment  specified
below as the "Restricted  Period," Employee separately covenants for the benefit
of the Company as follows:

                           (i)  Employee  shall  not,  directly  or  indirectly,
promote, be employed by, participate or engage in any activity or business which
is in competition  with the business of the Company,  or any of its subsidiaries
and affiliated companies, including acting, either singly or jointly or as agent
for, or as an employee of, any person or persons,  firm or  corporation  whether
directly or indirectly (as a director, shareholder or investor, partner, lessor,
lessee,  proprietor,  principal agent,  independent contractor,  representative,
consultant or otherwise),  in the  "Restricted  Territory"  (as defined  below).
Ownership  by Employee  of 5% or less of the  outstanding  capital  stock of any
corporation  which is actively  publicly  traded will not be a violation of this
covenant;
<PAGE>
                           (ii) Employee covenants that Employee will not employ
or assist others by active  solicitation to recruit and employ  employees of the
Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or affiliate companies; and

                           (iii)   Employee   agrees  that  Employee  will  not,
directly or indirectly,  on behalf of himself or any third party, make any sales
contacts with, or actively  solicit business from any customer of the Company or
its  subsidiaries  or  affiliate   companies,   for  any  products  or  services
competitive  with those offered by the Company or its subsidiaries or affiliated
companies within the "Restricted Territory" (as defined below).

         The  "Restricted  Period"  following  termination of employment  during
which  Employee will observe the covenants  contained in this Section 5(d) shall
be (A) one year following termination of employment under Section 4(a) hereof or
if Employee  voluntarily  terminates  his  employment  hereunder and (B) for the
Remaining  Term (as defined in Section 4(c) hereof) if  employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof.

         "Restricted  Territory"  is  defined  as the area  within a fifty  mile
radius of Troy,  North Carolina.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the aforesaid
limitations on Employee contained in this Section 5(d) shall be null and void if
Employee's employment hereunder is terminated within one year following a Change
in Control (as defined in Section 8 hereof).

                  (e) It is further  understood  and agreed  that the  Company's
right to require  Employee  to keep  confidential  information  secret or not to
compete  against the Company for the agreed upon period  shall not be in lieu of
the Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of
any obligation contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach
or threatened breach of any of these covenants,  the Company may either, with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (f) The parties hereby agree that all of the above obligations
in this  Section 5 are  reasonable  in nature  and are  designed  to  reasonably
protect the Company's interests.

         6. Source of Payment. Subject to the terms of any employee benefit plan
established by the Company and except as otherwise provided by law, all payments
provided  under this  Agreement  shall be paid in cash from the general funds of
the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established,  and no other
segregation  of assets shall be made to assure  payment.  Employee shall have no
right,  title or interest  whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company
may make to aid the  Company  in  meeting  its  obligations  hereunder.  Nothing
contained in this  Agreement,  and no action taken  pursuant to its  provisions,
shall  create or be  construed  to create a trust of any kind for the benefit of
the Employee. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments
from the Company hereunder,  such right shall be no greater than the right of an
unsecured creditor of the Company.

         7.  Payments by Company.  If the Company  shall find that any person to
whom any amount is or was  payable  hereunder  is unable to care for  Employee's
affairs  because of illness or accident,  or is a minor,  or has died,  then the
Company,  if it so elects,  may direct that any  payment  due him or  Employee's
estate (unless a prior claim  therefor has been made by a duly  appointed  legal
representative)  or any part  thereof be paid or applied for the benefit of such
person or to or for the  benefit  of such  person's  spouse,  children  or other
dependents,  an institution  maintaining  or having custody of such person,  any
other  person  deemed by the Company to be a proper  recipient on behalf of such
person  otherwise  entitled  to  payment,  or any of  them in  such  manner  and
proportion as the Company may deem proper. Any such payment shall be in complete
discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.
<PAGE>
         8.       Change in Control.
                  (a) If a "Change in Control" occurs while Employee is employed
by the  Company,  and  Employee's  employment  is  terminated  by the Company or
Employee,  for any reason or no reason,  other than a  termination  pursuant  to
Section 4(a) by the Company  herein,  within  twelve  months after the Change in
Control, the Company shall pay the Severance Payment provided in Section 8(b) to
Employee  within  ten days of  Employee's  date of  termination  of  employment,
provide benefits  pursuant to Section 8(c) and cause the acceleration of vesting
of benefits described in Section 8(d) to occur.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
Employee's  termination  of  employment  shall not be deemed  due to a Change in
Control if such termination is due to Employee's death pursuant to Section 4(b),
Employee's  disability  pursuant  to  Section  5(b),  Employee's  retirement  in
accordance with the Company's retirement policy, or pursuant to Section 4(a).

         In the event of successive  Changes of Control,  the provisions of this
Agreement shall apply with respect to each Change of Control.

                  (b) Employee's  Severance  Payment shall be an amount equal to
the lesser of (i) 2.9 times the amount of  Employee's  base  salary in effect on
the date of the  Change in  Control  and (ii) the  product of 2.99 and the "base
amount" as defined in Section  280G(b)(3) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

                  (c) The  Company  shall  provide to  Employee  and  Employee's
spouse or other qualified dependents,  at a cost to Employee no greater than the
cost of such  benefits to  Employee  at the time of the Change in Control,  such
hospitalization, health, medical and dental insurance benefits as were available
to Employee (and Employee's spouse or qualified dependents) immediately prior to
the Change in Control until the earlier to occur of (i) two years  following the
date of the Change in Control or (ii) Employee accepting  employment pursuant to
which he is eligible for comparable health insurance benefits.

                  (d)  Any  non-vested  option  to  purchase  securities  of the
Company will vest and become immediately exercisable upon a Change in Control.

                  (e)  "Control"  means the power,  directly or  indirectly,  to
direct the  management or policies of the Company or to vote forty percent (40%)
or more of any class of voting  securities  of the Company.  "Change in Control"
shall  mean a  change  in  Control  of the  Company,  except  that  any  merger,
consolidation  or  corporate  reorganization  in which the owners of the capital
stock  entitled to vote  ("Voting  Stock") in the  election of  directors of the
Company prior to said  combination  own  sixty-one  percent (61%) or more of the
resulting  entity's Voting Stock shall not be considered a change in control for
the purpose of this Agreement;  provided,  that, without limitation, a Change in
Control  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person" (as that term is
used in Sections  13(d) and  14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934),
other than a trustee or other  fiduciary  holding  securities  under an employee
benefit plan of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as that term is
used in Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934),  directly  or
indirectly,  of  thirty-three  percent  (33%) or more of the Voting Stock of the
Company or its  successors;  (ii)  during any period of two  consecutive  years,
individuals  who at the  beginning  of such  period  constituted  the  Board  of
Directors of the Company or its successors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;  provided, that any person who
becomes a director  of the Company  after the  beginning  of such  period  whose
election  was  approved by a vote of at least  three-quarters  of the  directors
comprising  the  Incumbent  Board shall be  considered a member of the Incumbent
Board; or (iii) there occurs the sale of all or substantially  all of the assets
<PAGE>
of the Company.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no Change in Control shall be
deemed to occur by virtue of any  transaction  which  results in Employee,  or a
group  of  persons  including  Employee,   acquiring,  directly  or  indirectly,
thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding securities. For purposes of this subparagraph (e), references to the
"Company"  shall  be  deemed  to refer to  First  Bancorp  only,  and not to its
subsidiaries.

         9. Modification and Waiver.

                  (a) Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified
or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

                  (b) Waiver.  No term or condition of this  Agreement  shall be
deemed  to have  been  waived,  nor  shall  there be any  estoppel  against  the
enforcement of any provision of this Agreement,  except by written instrument of
the party charged with such waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be
deemed a continuing  waiver unless  specifically  stated therein,  and each such
waiver shall operate only as to the specific term and condition waived and shall
not  constitute a waiver of such term or  condition  for the future or as to any
act other than that specifically waived.

         10.  Severability.  If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement
is held invalid,  such  invalidity  shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement not held so invalid,  and each such other  provision shall to the full
extent  consistent with law continue in full force and effect.  If any provision
of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way
affect  the rest of such  provision  not held so  invalid,  and the rest of such
provision,  together with all other  provisions of this Agreement,  shall to the
full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

         11. General Provisions.

                  (a) Nonassignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable by Employee, Employee's beneficiaries, or
legal  representatives  without the Company's prior written  consent;  provided,
that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the executors,  administrators, or
other legal  representative  of Employee or Employee's estate from assigning any
rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

                  (b) No  Attachment.  Except as  required  by law,  no right to
receive  payments  under  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  anticipation,
commutation,  alienation,  sale,  assignment,  encumbrance,  charge,  pledge  of
hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment
by operation of law, and any attempt,  voluntary or  involuntary,  to effect any
such action shall be null, void and of no effect.

                  (c) Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure  to the  benefit  of,  Employee  and  the  Company  and  their  respective
successors and assigns.

                  (d) Headings.  Headings in this Agreement are for  convenience
only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

                  (e) Notice.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  written  notice
shall be effective if personally  delivered or if sent by certified mail, return
receipt  requested,  to the  following  addresses or to such other  addresses as
either may designate in writing to the other party:
<PAGE>
                           Employee:        James H. Garner
                                             
                                            _______________

                                            _______________

                           Company: 341 North Main Street
                                            Post Office Box 508
                                            Troy, North Carolina  27371
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

For purpose of computing time, all time  requirements  under this Agreement will
start on the date mailed or if personally delivered, when delivered.

         12.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement has been executed and delivered in
the State of North Carolina, and its validity,  interpretation,  performance and
enforcement shall be governed by the laws of such State.

         13.  Effect of Prior  Agreements.  This  Agreement  contains the entire
understanding  between the  parties  with  reference  to the  employment  of the
Employee,  and  supersedes  any prior  employment  agreement,  understanding  or
arrangement   between  the  Employee  and  the  Company,   its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates.
                       [signatures contained on next page]
<PAGE>



         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed this  Agreement
under seal as of the day and year first above stated.
                                                     FIRST BANCORP


[CORPORATE SEAL]                    By:     /s/   Jack D. Briggs
                                            --------------------
                                            Jack D. Briggs
                                    Title:  Chairman of the Board of Directors
Attest:  /s/ Anna G. Hollers
         -------------------
         Anna G. Hollers
         Secretary

                                                     EMPLOYEE


                                            /s/   James H. Garner   (SEAL)


<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.m


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated and  effective  this 17th day of August,  1998,
between FIRST BANCORP (a North Carolina corporation) (the "Company") and ANNA G.
HOLLERS (the "Employee").  References to the "Company" herein shall be deemed to
refer to the Company and its subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  unless the context
requires or the Agreement provides otherwise.

         The Company desires to employ the Employee,  and Employee desires to be
employed by the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions  hereinafter
set forth.  Accordingly,  in consideration  of employment,  the compensation the
Company agrees to pay the Employee,  the mutual covenants  contained herein, and
for  other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties mutually agree as follows:

         14. Employment and Term. The Company (or one of its subsidiaries)  will
employ  Employee,  and  Employee  will be  employed by the Company for a term of
three  (3)  years,   initially  as  Executive  Vice  President   Administration,
commencing on the date hereof, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided.
The term of this  Agreement  shall  automatically  be extended for an additional
period of one (1) year on each  anniversary of the date of this Agreement unless
either party gives the other written notice on or prior to such anniversary date
that such extension will not occur.

         15.  Duties.  Employee  shall at all times  faithfully  and  diligently
perform  Employee's  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  act in  the  best
interests  of the  Company  and  its  affiliated  companies.  Employee's  duties
hereunder  shall be to act in such  office or capacity as the Company may direct
or change from time to time, and Employee shall perform all duties  necessary or
advisable in order to carry out such functions in an efficient manner.  Employee
shall,  during the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder,  devote Employee's
full time,  best efforts and ability,  skill,  and attention  exclusively to the
furtherance  of the  business  objectives  and  interests of the Company and its
affiliated  companies  during  such  hours and in such a manner as is  generally
customary for  employees of  Employee's  position in businesses of the Company's
type.

         16. Compensation.

                  (f) Salary. For services rendered by Employee  hereunder,  the
Company shall pay Employee an annual salary of not less than $120,000 payable in
accordance  with the  customary  payroll  practices of the  Company.  Employee's
salary  shall be subject  to  increase  upon  annual  reviews of the  Employee's
performance.  Employee will receive an annual  increase that is at least as much
as any  percentage  increase in the U.S.  Consumer Price Index during the twelve
months preceding the date of Employee's annual review. Any such increase will be
considered in determining the Employee's base salary for all purposes hereunder.

                  (g)  Reimbursement  of  Expenses.  The  Company  shall  pay or
reimburse  Employee for all reasonable  and necessary  travel and other expenses
incurred by Employee in performing Employee's  obligations under this Agreement,
provided  that  Employee  shall  present  to the  Company  from  time to time an
itemized  account of such  expenses  in any form  required by the  Company.  The
Company  further  agrees to  furnish  Employee  with such other  assistance  and
accommodations as shall be suitable to the character of Employee's position with
the Company and adequate for the performance of Employee's duties hereunder.
<PAGE>
                  (h)  Employee  shall be entitled to such  insurance,  pension,
profit-sharing  and other benefit plans as are or may be available  generally to
employees  of  the  Company  to the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  laws  or
government regulations.  Employee will also be eligible for participation in the
Company's Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Split Dollar Insurance Plan and
Stock Option Plan.

                  (i)  Employee  shall be  entitled to  reasonable  time off for
vacation,  sick leave,  bereavement leave, jury duty and military obligations as
are or may become available to employees of the Company in positions  similar to
those of  Employee,  as  provided  by the  Company's  policies as they may be in
effect from time to time.

         17. Termination.  In addition to the termination of the terms specified
in Section 1 hereunder,  employment may be terminated under any of the following
provisions:

                  (a) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement may be
terminated  immediately  by the Company if the Company  finds that the  Employee
shall  have (i)  demonstrated  gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  in the
execution of  Employee's  duties,  (ii)  committed an act of dishonesty or moral
turpitude,  or (iii) been  convicted  of a felony or other  serious  crime.  All
future compensation and benefits, not then accrued, will automatically terminate
if Employee is terminated under this subparagraph (a).

                  (b) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement  shall
be automatically terminated on the date of the Employee's death.

                  (c) Employer may terminate Employee's employment hereunder for
any reason other than as provided in subparagraphs (a) and (b), but in such case
Employer  shall be obligated to pay  Employee's  base salary to Employee for the
remainder of the term specified in Section 1 hereof (the "Remaining Term").

                  (d)  Employment  hereunder  may be terminated  voluntarily  by
Employee  on  forty-five  (45)  days'  written  notice  to the  Company's  Chief
Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, in which case
Employee  will receive his  compensation,  vested  rights and employee  benefits
accrued through the date of termination of employment.

         18. Other Obligations. All payments and benefits to Employee under this
Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  Employee's   compliance  with  the  following
provisions:

                  (a)  Assistance  in  Litigation.   During  the  term  of  this
Agreement and for three full years after the expiration or  termination  hereof,
Employee shall,  upon  reasonable  notice,  furnish such  information and proper
assistance  to the  Company as may  reasonably  be  required  by the  Company in
connection  with  any  litigation  in  which  it or any of its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates is, or may become,  a party. In connection with such  assistance,  if
substantial  effort or expense is required of Employee after the  termination of
Employee's employment hereunder, the Company will pay reasonable compensation to
Employee and will reimburse him for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
<PAGE>
                  (b) Long-Term Disability.  If the Employee has become disabled
as determined  under the Company's  long-term  disability plan or policy then in
effect and is terminated from active employment,  any remaining benefits of this
contract  shall be reduced by any benefits  received by the  Employee  under the
Company's  long-term  disability  plan  or  policy.  Additionally,   if  such  a
circumstance  occurs, the Employee is under an affirmative duty to actively seek
and  accept  reasonable  alternative   employment  following  termination.   Any
compensation received by Employee following termination or compensation earnable
with reasonable  diligence will be deducted from any future compensation due the
Employee  under  this  Agreement.  In the  event  the  Employee  fails  to  seek
reasonable  alternative  employment,  the  Company's  obligation  to pay  future
compensation shall cease.

                  (c) Confidential  Information.  Employee  acknowledges that in
the course of  Employee's  employment  he will  acquire  knowledge  of trade and
business secrets and other  confidential  data of the Company,  its subsidiaries
and any  affiliated  companies.  Such  trade  and  business  secrets  and  other
confidential  data may  include,  but are not limited to,  confidential  product
information,  methods by which the Company proposes to compete with its business
competitors,   strategic  plans,   confidential  reports  prepared  by  business
consultant(s)   and  similar   information   relating  to  the  Company's,   its
subsidiaries' or its affiliated companies' products,  customers, and operations.
Employee recognizes that the possible  restrictions on Employee's activities are
required for the reasonable protection of the Company. Employee covenants not to
knowingly  disclose  or  reveal to any  unauthorized  person  such  confidential
business  secrets  or  other  confidential  data  both  during  the term of this
Agreement  and for a  period  of two (2)  years  following  termination  of this
Agreement.  Upon  expiration  or  termination  of  Employee's  employment by the
Company,  Employee agrees to return to the Company all documents (both originals
and copies),  including without  limitation,  customer lists, books and records,
form  agreements,   manuals,  and  other  information  (in  whatever  form  such
information may exist,  whether written,  recorded,  in magnetic media, or other
form) that  comes into  Employee's  possession  during,  by virtue of and in the
course of  Employee's  employment  and which  are in any way  connected  with or
related to the Company's business.

         It is further understood and agreed that the Company's right to require
Employee to keep  confidential  information  secret  shall not be in lieu of the
Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of any
obligation  contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach or
threatened  breach of any of these  covenants,  the Company may either,  with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (d)   Noncompetition   Covenants   and  Other   Covenants  For
Protection of the Company.  During the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder
and during the period  following the  termination of such  employment  specified
below as the "Restricted  Period," Employee separately covenants for the benefit
of the Company as follows:

                           (iv)  Employee  shall not,  directly  or  indirectly,
promote, be employed by, participate or engage in any activity or business which
is in competition  with the business of the Company,  or any of its subsidiaries
and affiliated companies, including acting, either singly or jointly or as agent
for, or as an employee of, any person or persons,  firm or  corporation  whether
directly or indirectly (as a director, shareholder or investor, partner, lessor,
lessee,  proprietor,  principal agent,  independent contractor,  representative,
consultant or otherwise),  in the  "Restricted  Territory"  (as defined  below).
Ownership  by Employee  of 5% or less of the  outstanding  capital  stock of any
corporation  which is actively  publicly  traded will not be a violation of this
covenant;
<PAGE>
                           (v) Employee  covenants that Employee will not employ
or assist others by active  solicitation to recruit and employ  employees of the
Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or affiliate companies; and

                           (vi) Employee agrees that Employee will not, directly
or indirectly,  on behalf of himself or any third party, make any sales contacts
with,  or  actively  solicit  business  from any  customer of the Company or its
subsidiaries or affiliate  companies,  for any products or services  competitive
with those offered by the Company or its  subsidiaries  or affiliated  companies
within the "Restricted Territory" (as defined below).

         The  "Restricted  Period"  following  termination of employment  during
which  Employee will observe the covenants  contained in this Section 5(d) shall
be (A) one year following termination of employment under Section 4(a) hereof or
if Employee  voluntarily  terminates  his  employment  hereunder and (B) for the
Remaining  Term (as defined in Section 4(c) hereof) if  employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof.

         "Restricted  Territory"  is  defined  as the area  within a fifty  mile
radius of Troy, North Carolina.

         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the aforesaid  limitations on Employee
contained in this Section 5(d) shall be null and void if  Employee's  employment
hereunder  is  terminated  within one year  following  a Change in  Control  (as
defined in Section 8 hereof).

                  (e) It is further  understood  and agreed  that the  Company's
right to require  Employee  to keep  confidential  information  secret or not to
compete  against the Company for the agreed upon period  shall not be in lieu of
the Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of
any obligation contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach
or threatened breach of any of these covenants,  the Company may either, with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (f) The parties hereby agree that all of the above obligations
in this  Section 5 are  reasonable  in nature  and are  designed  to  reasonably
protect the Company's interests.

         19.  Source of Payment.  Subject to the terms of any  employee  benefit
plan  established  by the Company and except as  otherwise  provided by law, all
payments  provided under this  Agreement  shall be paid in cash from the general
funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established,  and
no other  segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment.  Employee shall
have no right,  title or interest  whatsoever in or to any investments which the
Company  may make to aid the  Company  in  meeting  its  obligations  hereunder.
Nothing  contained  in this  Agreement,  and no  action  taken  pursuant  to its
provisions,  shall  create or be construed to create a trust of any kind for the
benefit  of the  Employee.  To the extent  that any  person  acquires a right to
receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than
the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

         20.  Payments by Company.  If the Company shall find that any person to
whom any amount is or was  payable  hereunder  is unable to care for  Employee's
affairs  because of illness or accident,  or is a minor,  or has died,  then the
Company,  if it so elects,  may direct that any  payment  due him or  Employee's
estate (unless a prior claim  therefor has been made by a duly  appointed  legal
representative)  or any part  thereof be paid or applied for the benefit of such
<PAGE>
person or to or for the  benefit  of such  person's  spouse,  children  or other
dependents,  an institution  maintaining  or having custody of such person,  any
other  person  deemed by the Company to be a proper  recipient on behalf of such
person  otherwise  entitled  to  payment,  or any of  them in  such  manner  and
proportion as the Company may deem proper. Any such payment shall be in complete
discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.

         21.      Change in Control.

                  (a) If a "Change in Control" occurs while Employee is employed
by the  Company,  and  Employee's  employment  is  terminated  by the Company or
Employee,  for any reason or no reason,  other than a  termination  pursuant  to
Section 4(a) by the Company  herein,  within  twelve  months after the Change in
Control, the Company shall pay the Severance Payment provided in Section 8(b) to
Employee  within  ten days of  Employee's  date of  termination  of  employment,
provide benefits  pursuant to Section 8(c) and cause the acceleration of vesting
of benefits described in Section 8(d) to occur.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
Employee's  termination  of  employment  shall not be deemed  due to a Change in
Control if such termination is due to Employee's death pursuant to Section 4(b),
Employee's  disability  pursuant  to  Section  5(b),  Employee's  retirement  in
accordance with the Company's retirement policy, or pursuant to Section 4(a).

         In the event of successive  Changes of Control,  the provisions of this
Agreement shall apply with respect to each Change of Control.

                  (b) Employee's  Severance  Payment shall be an amount equal to
the lesser of (i) 2.9 times the amount of  Employee's  base  salary in effect on
the date of the  Change in  Control  and (ii) the  product of 2.99 and the "base
amount" as defined in Section  280G(b)(3) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

                  (c) The  Company  shall  provide to  Employee  and  Employee's
spouse or other qualified dependents,  at a cost to Employee no greater than the
cost of such  benefits to  Employee  at the time of the Change in Control,  such
hospitalization, health, medical and dental insurance benefits as were available
to Employee (and Employee's spouse or qualified dependents) immediately prior to
the Change in Control until the earlier to occur of (i) two years  following the
date of the Change in Control or (ii) Employee accepting  employment pursuant to
which he is eligible for comparable health insurance benefits.

                  (d)  Any  non-vested  option  to  purchase  securities  of the
Company will vest and become immediately exercisable upon a Change in Control.

                  (e)  "Control"  means the power,  directly or  indirectly,  to
direct the  management or policies of the Company or to vote forty percent (40%)
or more of any class of voting  securities  of the Company.  "Change in Control"
shall  mean a  change  in  Control  of the  Company,  except  that  any  merger,
consolidation  or  corporate  reorganization  in which the owners of the capital
stock  entitled to vote  ("Voting  Stock") in the  election of  directors of the
Company prior to said  combination  own  sixty-one  percent (61%) or more of the
resulting  entity's Voting Stock shall not be considered a change in control for
the purpose of this Agreement;  provided,  that, without limitation, a Change in
Control  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person" (as that term is
used in Sections  13(d) and  14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934),
other than a trustee or other  fiduciary  holding  securities  under an employee
benefit plan of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as that term is
<PAGE>
used in Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934),  directly  or
indirectly,  of  thirty-three  percent  (33%) or more of the Voting Stock of the
Company or its  successors;  (ii)  during any period of two  consecutive  years,
individuals  who at the  beginning  of such  period  constituted  the  Board  of
Directors of the Company or its successors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;  provided, that any person who
becomes a director  of the Company  after the  beginning  of such  period  whose
election  was  approved by a vote of at least  three-quarters  of the  directors
comprising  the  Incumbent  Board shall be  considered a member of the Incumbent
Board; or (iii) there occurs the sale of all or substantially  all of the assets
of the Company.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no Change in Control shall be
deemed to occur by virtue of any  transaction  which  results in Employee,  or a
group  of  persons  including  Employee,   acquiring,  directly  or  indirectly,
thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding securities. For purposes of this subparagraph (e), references to the
"Company"  shall  be  deemed  to refer to  First  Bancorp  only,  and not to its
subsidiaries.

         22. Modification and Waive.

                  (a) Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified
or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

                  (b) Waiver.  No term or condition of this  Agreement  shall be
deemed  to have  been  waived,  nor  shall  there be any  estoppel  against  the
enforcement of any provision of this Agreement,  except by written instrument of
the party charged with such waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be
deemed a continuing  waiver unless  specifically  stated therein,  and each such
waiver shall operate only as to the specific term and condition waived and shall
not  constitute a waiver of such term or  condition  for the future or as to any
act other than that specifically waived.

         23.  Severability.  If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement
is held invalid,  such  invalidity  shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement not held so invalid,  and each such other  provision shall to the full
extent  consistent with law continue in full force and effect.  If any provision
of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way
affect  the rest of such  provision  not held so  invalid,  and the rest of such
provision,  together with all other  provisions of this Agreement,  shall to the
full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

         24.      General Provisions.

                  (a) Nonassignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable by Employee, Employee's beneficiaries, or
legal  representatives  without the Company's prior written  consent;  provided,
that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the executors,  administrators, or
other legal  representative  of Employee or Employee's estate from assigning any
rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

                  (b) No  Attachment.  Except as  required  by law,  no right to
receive  payments  under  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  anticipation,
commutation,  alienation,  sale,  assignment,  encumbrance,  charge,  pledge  of
hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment
by operation of law, and any attempt,  voluntary or  involuntary,  to effect any
such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
<PAGE>
                  (c) Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure  to the  benefit  of,  Employee  and  the  Company  and  their  respective
successors and assigns.

                  (d) Headings.  Headings in this Agreement are for  convenience
only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

                  (e) Notice.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  written  notice
shall be effective if personally  delivered or if sent by certified mail, return
receipt  requested,  to the  following  addresses or to such other  addresses as
either may designate in writing to the other party:

                           Employee:        Anna G. Hollers
                                            P.O. Box 206
                                            Candor, NC  27229

                           Company: 341 North Main Street
                                            Post Office Box 508
                                            Troy, North Carolina  27371
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

For purpose of computing time, all time  requirements  under this Agreement will
start on the date mailed or if personally delivered, when delivered.

         25.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement has been executed and delivered in
the State of North Carolina, and its validity,  interpretation,  performance and
enforcement shall be governed by the laws of such State.

         26.  Effect of Prior  Agreements.  This  Agreement  contains the entire
understanding  between the  parties  with  reference  to the  employment  of the
Employee,  and  supersedes  any prior  employment  agreement,  understanding  or
arrangement   between  the  Employee  and  the  Company,   its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates.
                       [signatures contained on next page]


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed this  Agreement
under seal as of the day and year first above stated.


                                             FIRST BANCORP


[CORPORATE SEAL]                    By:     /s/  James H. Garner
                                            --------------------
                                            James H. Garner
                                    Title:  President and CEO
Attest:  /s/  Delores George
         Asst. Secretary

                                            EMPLOYEE


                                            /s/ Anna G. Hollers (SEAL)


<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 10.n


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS  AGREEMENT,  dated and  effective  this 17th day of August,  1998,
between FIRST BANCORP (a North Carolina  corporation) (the "Company") and TERESA
C. NIXON (the "Employee"). References to the "Company" herein shall be deemed to
refer to the Company and its subsidiaries  taken as a whole,  unless the context
requires or the Agreement provides otherwise.

         The Company desires to employ the Employee,  and Employee desires to be
employed by the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions  hereinafter
set forth.  Accordingly,  in consideration  of employment,  the compensation the
Company agrees to pay the Employee,  the mutual covenants  contained herein, and
for  other  good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt  of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties mutually agree as follows:

         27. Employment and Term. The Company (or one of its subsidiaries)  will
employ  Employee,  and  Employee  will be  employed by the Company for a term of
three (3) years,  initially as Executive Vice President  Lending,  commencing on
the date hereof, unless sooner terminated as hereinafter  provided.  The term of
this Agreement shall  automatically be extended for an additional  period of one
(1) year on each  anniversary of the date of this Agreement  unless either party
gives the other written  notice on or prior to such  anniversary  date that such
extension will not occur.

         28.  Duties.  Employee  shall at all times  faithfully  and  diligently
perform  Employee's  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  act in  the  best
interests  of the  Company  and  its  affiliated  companies.  Employee's  duties
hereunder  shall be to act in such  office or capacity as the Company may direct
or change from time to time, and Employee shall perform all duties  necessary or
advisable in order to carry out such functions in an efficient manner.  Employee
shall,  during the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder,  devote Employee's
full time,  best efforts and ability,  skill,  and attention  exclusively to the
furtherance  of the  business  objectives  and  interests of the Company and its
affiliated  companies  during  such  hours and in such a manner as is  generally
customary for  employees of  Employee's  position in businesses of the Company's
type.

         29.      Compensation.

                  (f) Salary. For services rendered by Employee  hereunder,  the
Company shall pay Employee an annual salary of not less than $116,000 payable in
accordance  with the  customary  payroll  practices of the  Company.  Employee's
salary  shall be subject  to  increase  upon  annual  reviews of the  Employee's
performance.  Employee will receive an annual  increase that is at least as much
as any  percentage  increase in the U.S.  Consumer Price Index during the twelve
months preceding the date of Employee's annual review. Any such increase will be
considered in determining the Employee's base salary for all purposes hereunder.

                  (g)  Reimbursement  of  Expenses.  The  Company  shall  pay or
reimburse  Employee for all reasonable  and necessary  travel and other expenses
incurred by Employee in performing Employee's  obligations under this Agreement,
provided  that  Employee  shall  present  to the  Company  from  time to time an
itemized  account of such  expenses  in any form  required by the  Company.  The
Company  further  agrees to  furnish  Employee  with such other  assistance  and
accommodations as shall be suitable to the character of Employee's position with
the Company and adequate for the performance of Employee's duties hereunder.
<PAGE>
                  (h)  Employee  shall be entitled to such  insurance,  pension,
profit-sharing  and other benefit plans as are or may be available  generally to
employees  of  the  Company  to the  extent  permitted  by  applicable  laws  or
government regulations.  Employee will also be eligible for participation in the
Company's Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Split Dollar Insurance Plan and
Stock Option Plan.

                  (i)  Employee  shall be  entitled to  reasonable  time off for
vacation,  sick leave,  bereavement leave, jury duty and military obligations as
are or may become available to employees of the Company in positions  similar to
those of  Employee,  as  provided  by the  Company's  policies as they may be in
effect from time to time.

         30. Termination.  In addition to the termination of the terms specified
in Section 1 hereunder,  employment may be terminated under any of the following
provisions:

                  (a) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement may be
terminated  immediately  by the Company if the Company  finds that the  Employee
shall  have (i)  demonstrated  gross  negligence  or willful  misconduct  in the
execution of  Employee's  duties,  (ii)  committed an act of dishonesty or moral
turpitude,  or (iii) been  convicted  of a felony or other  serious  crime.  All
future compensation and benefits, not then accrued, will automatically terminate
if Employee is terminated under this subparagraph (a).

                  (b) The employment of the Employee under this Agreement  shall
be automatically terminated on the date of the Employee's death.

                  (c) Employer may terminate Employee's employment hereunder for
any reason other than as provided in subparagraphs (a) and (b), but in such case
Employer  shall be obligated to pay  Employee's  base salary to Employee for the
remainder of the term specified in Section 1 hereof (the "Remaining Term").

                  (d)  Employment  hereunder  may be terminated  voluntarily  by
Employee  on  forty-five  (45)  days'  written  notice  to the  Company's  Chief
Executive Officer or Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors, in which case
Employee  will receive his  compensation,  vested  rights and employee  benefits
accrued through the date of termination of employment.

         31. Other Obligations. All payments and benefits to Employee under this
Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  Employee's   compliance  with  the  following
provisions:

                  (a)  Assistance  in  Litigation.   During  the  term  of  this
Agreement and for three full years after the expiration or  termination  hereof,
Employee shall,  upon  reasonable  notice,  furnish such  information and proper
assistance  to the  Company as may  reasonably  be  required  by the  Company in
connection  with  any  litigation  in  which  it or any of its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates is, or may become,  a party. In connection with such  assistance,  if
substantial  effort or expense is required of Employee after the  termination of
Employee's employment hereunder, the Company will pay reasonable compensation to
Employee and will reimburse him for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

                  (b) Long-Term Disability.  If the Employee has become disabled
as determined  under the Company's  long-term  disability plan or policy then in
effect and is terminated from active employment,  any remaining benefits of this
contract  shall be reduced by any benefits  received by the  Employee  under the
Company's  long-term  disability  plan  or  policy.  Additionally,   if  such  a
<PAGE>
circumstance  occurs, the Employee is under an affirmative duty to actively seek
and  accept  reasonable  alternative   employment  following  termination.   Any
compensation received by Employee following termination or compensation earnable
with reasonable  diligence will be deducted from any future compensation due the
Employee  under  this  Agreement.  In the  event  the  Employee  fails  to  seek
reasonable  alternative  employment,  the  Company's  obligation  to pay  future
compensation shall cease.

                  (c) Confidential  Information.  Employee  acknowledges that in
the course of  Employee's  employment  he will  acquire  knowledge  of trade and
business secrets and other  confidential  data of the Company,  its subsidiaries
and any  affiliated  companies.  Such  trade  and  business  secrets  and  other
confidential  data may  include,  but are not limited to,  confidential  product
information,  methods by which the Company proposes to compete with its business
competitors,   strategic  plans,   confidential  reports  prepared  by  business
consultant(s)   and  similar   information   relating  to  the  Company's,   its
subsidiaries' or its affiliated companies' products,  customers, and operations.
Employee recognizes that the possible  restrictions on Employee's activities are
required for the reasonable protection of the Company. Employee covenants not to
knowingly  disclose  or  reveal to any  unauthorized  person  such  confidential
business  secrets  or  other  confidential  data  both  during  the term of this
Agreement  and for a  period  of two (2)  years  following  termination  of this
Agreement.  Upon  expiration  or  termination  of  Employee's  employment by the
Company,  Employee agrees to return to the Company all documents (both originals
and copies),  including without  limitation,  customer lists, books and records,
form  agreements,   manuals,  and  other  information  (in  whatever  form  such
information may exist,  whether written,  recorded,  in magnetic media, or other
form) that  comes into  Employee's  possession  during,  by virtue of and in the
course of  Employee's  employment  and which  are in any way  connected  with or
related to the Company's business.

         It is further understood and agreed that the Company's right to require
Employee to keep  confidential  information  secret  shall not be in lieu of the
Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of any
obligation  contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach or
threatened  breach of any of these  covenants,  the Company may either,  with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (d)   Noncompetition   Covenants   and  Other   Covenants  For
Protection of the Company.  During the term of Employee's  employment  hereunder
and during the period  following the  termination of such  employment  specified
below as the "Restricted  Period," Employee separately covenants for the benefit
of the Company as follows:

                           (vii)  Employee  shall not,  directly or  indirectly,
promote, be employed by, participate or engage in any activity or business which
is in competition  with the business of the Company,  or any of its subsidiaries
and affiliated companies, including acting, either singly or jointly or as agent
for, or as an employee of, any person or persons,  firm or  corporation  whether
directly or indirectly (as a director, shareholder or investor, partner, lessor,
lessee,  proprietor,  principal agent,  independent contractor,  representative,
consultant or otherwise),  in the  "Restricted  Territory"  (as defined  below).
Ownership  by Employee  of 5% or less of the  outstanding  capital  stock of any
corporation  which is actively  publicly  traded will not be a violation of this
covenant;
<PAGE>
                           (viii)  Employee  covenants  that  Employee  will not
employ or assist others by active  solicitation to recruit and employ  employees
of the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries or affiliate companies; and

                           (ix) Employee agrees that Employee will not, directly
or indirectly,  on behalf of himself or any third party, make any sales contacts
with,  or  actively  solicit  business  from any  customer of the Company or its
subsidiaries or affiliate  companies,  for any products or services  competitive
with those offered by the Company or its  subsidiaries  or affiliated  companies
within the "Restricted Territory" (as defined below).

         The  "Restricted  Period"  following  termination of employment  during
which  Employee will observe the covenants  contained in this Section 5(d) shall
be (A) one year following termination of employment under Section 4(a) hereof or
if Employee  voluntarily  terminates  his  employment  hereunder and (B) for the
Remaining  Term (as defined in Section 4(c) hereof) if  employment is terminated
pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof.

         "Restricted Territory" is defined as a combination of the area within a
fifty mile radius of Troy, North Carolina and Lee County, North Carolina.

         Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  the aforesaid  limitations on Employee
contained in this Section 5(d) shall be null and void if  Employee's  employment
hereunder  is  terminated  within one year  following  a Change in  Control  (as
defined in Section 8 hereof).

                  (e) It is further  understood  and agreed  that the  Company's
right to require  Employee  to keep  confidential  information  secret or not to
compete  against the Company for the agreed upon period  shall not be in lieu of
the Company's  right to monetary  damages in the event  Employee is in breach of
any obligation contained in this Agreement,  and that in the event of any breach
or threatened breach of any of these covenants,  the Company may either, with or
without  pursuing  any action for  damages,  obtain  and  enforce an  injunction
prohibiting Employee from violating said covenants.

                  (f) The parties hereby agree that all of the above obligations
in this  Section 5 are  reasonable  in nature  and are  designed  to  reasonably
protect the Company's interests.

         32.  Source of Payment.  Subject to the terms of any  employee  benefit
plan  established  by the Company and except as  otherwise  provided by law, all
payments  provided under this  Agreement  shall be paid in cash from the general
funds of the Company, and no special or separate fund shall be established,  and
no other  segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment.  Employee shall
have no right,  title or interest  whatsoever in or to any investments which the
Company  may make to aid the  Company  in  meeting  its  obligations  hereunder.
Nothing  contained  in this  Agreement,  and no  action  taken  pursuant  to its
provisions,  shall  create or be construed to create a trust of any kind for the
benefit  of the  Employee.  To the extent  that any  person  acquires a right to
receive payments from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than
the right of an unsecured creditor of the Company.

         33.  Payments by Company.  If the Company shall find that any person to
whom any amount is or was  payable  hereunder  is unable to care for  Employee's
affairs  because of illness or accident,  or is a minor,  or has died,  then the
Company,  if it so elects,  may direct that any  payment  due him or  Employee's
<PAGE>
estate (unless a prior claim  therefor has been made by a duly  appointed  legal
representative)  or any part  thereof be paid or applied for the benefit of such
person or to or for the  benefit  of such  person's  spouse,  children  or other
dependents,  an institution  maintaining  or having custody of such person,  any
other  person  deemed by the Company to be a proper  recipient on behalf of such
person  otherwise  entitled  to  payment,  or any of  them in  such  manner  and
proportion as the Company may deem proper. Any such payment shall be in complete
discharge of the liability of the Company therefor.

         34.      Change in Control.

                  (a) If a "Change in Control" occurs while Employee is employed
by the  Company,  and  Employee's  employment  is  terminated  by the Company or
Employee,  for any reason or no reason,  other than a  termination  pursuant  to
Section 4(a) by the Company  herein,  within  twelve  months after the Change in
Control, the Company shall pay the Severance Payment provided in Section 8(b) to
Employee  within  ten days of  Employee's  date of  termination  of  employment,
provide benefits  pursuant to Section 8(c) and cause the acceleration of vesting
of benefits described in Section 8(d) to occur.  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,
Employee's  termination  of  employment  shall not be deemed  due to a Change in
Control if such termination is due to Employee's death pursuant to Section 4(b),
Employee's  disability  pursuant  to  Section  5(b),  Employee's  retirement  in
accordance with the Company's retirement policy, or pursuant to Section 4(a).

         In the event of successive  Changes of Control,  the provisions of this
Agreement shall apply with respect to each Change of Control.

                  (b) Employee's  Severance  Payment shall be an amount equal to
the lesser of (i) 2.9 times the amount of  Employee's  base  salary in effect on
the date of the  Change in  Control  and (ii) the  product of 2.99 and the "base
amount" as defined in Section  280G(b)(3) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and applicable rules and regulations thereunder.

                  (c) The  Company  shall  provide to  Employee  and  Employee's
spouse or other qualified dependents,  at a cost to Employee no greater than the
cost of such  benefits to  Employee  at the time of the Change in Control,  such
hospitalization, health, medical and dental insurance benefits as were available
to Employee (and Employee's spouse or qualified dependents) immediately prior to
the Change in Control until the earlier to occur of (i) two years  following the
date of the Change in Control or (ii) Employee accepting  employment pursuant to
which he is eligible for comparable health insurance benefits.

                  (d)  Any  non-vested  option  to  purchase  securities  of the
Company will vest and become immediately exercisable upon a Change in Control.

                  (e)  "Control"  means the power,  directly or  indirectly,  to
direct the  management or policies of the Company or to vote forty percent (40%)
or more of any class of voting  securities  of the Company.  "Change in Control"
shall  mean a  change  in  Control  of the  Company,  except  that  any  merger,
consolidation  or  corporate  reorganization  in which the owners of the capital
stock  entitled to vote  ("Voting  Stock") in the  election of  directors of the
Company prior to said  combination  own  sixty-one  percent (61%) or more of the
resulting  entity's Voting Stock shall not be considered a change in control for
the purpose of this Agreement;  provided,  that, without limitation, a Change in
Control  shall be deemed to have  occurred if (i) any  "person" (as that term is
used in Sections  13(d) and  14(d)(2) of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934),
other than a trustee or other  fiduciary  holding  securities  under an employee
benefit plan of the Company, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as that term is
<PAGE>
used in Section  13(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934),  directly  or
indirectly,  of  thirty-three  percent  (33%) or more of the Voting Stock of the
Company or its  successors;  (ii)  during any period of two  consecutive  years,
individuals  who at the  beginning  of such  period  constituted  the  Board  of
Directors of the Company or its successors (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;  provided, that any person who
becomes a director  of the Company  after the  beginning  of such  period  whose
election  was  approved by a vote of at least  three-quarters  of the  directors
comprising  the  Incumbent  Board shall be  considered a member of the Incumbent
Board; or (iii) there occurs the sale of all or substantially  all of the assets
of the Company.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  no Change in Control shall be
deemed to occur by virtue of any  transaction  which  results in Employee,  or a
group  of  persons  including  Employee,   acquiring,  directly  or  indirectly,
thirty-three percent (33%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
outstanding securities. For purposes of this subparagraph (e), references to the
"Company"  shall  be  deemed  to refer to  First  Bancorp  only,  and not to its
subsidiaries.

         35.      Modification and Waiver.

                  (a) Amendment of Agreement. This Agreement may not be modified
or amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

                  (b) Waiver.  No term or condition of this  Agreement  shall be
deemed  to have  been  waived,  nor  shall  there be any  estoppel  against  the
enforcement of any provision of this Agreement,  except by written instrument of
the party charged with such waiver or estoppel.  No such written waiver shall be
deemed a continuing  waiver unless  specifically  stated therein,  and each such
waiver shall operate only as to the specific term and condition waived and shall
not  constitute a waiver of such term or  condition  for the future or as to any
act other than that specifically waived.

         36.  Severability.  If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement
is held invalid,  such  invalidity  shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement not held so invalid,  and each such other  provision shall to the full
extent  consistent with law continue in full force and effect.  If any provision
of this Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity shall in no way
affect  the rest of such  provision  not held so  invalid,  and the rest of such
provision,  together with all other  provisions of this Agreement,  shall to the
full extent consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

         37.      General Provisions.

                  (a) Nonassignability.  Neither this Agreement nor any right or
interest hereunder shall be assignable by Employee, Employee's beneficiaries, or
legal  representatives  without the Company's prior written  consent;  provided,
that nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the executors,  administrators, or
other legal  representative  of Employee or Employee's estate from assigning any
rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereto.

                  (b) No  Attachment.  Except as  required  by law,  no right to
receive  payments  under  this  Agreement  shall  be  subject  to  anticipation,
commutation,  alienation,  sale,  assignment,  encumbrance,  charge,  pledge  of
hypothecation or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process or assignment
by operation of law, and any attempt,  voluntary or  involuntary,  to effect any
such action shall be null, void and of no effect.
<PAGE>
                  (c) Binding Effect.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure  to the  benefit  of,  Employee  and  the  Company  and  their  respective
successors and assigns.

                  (d) Headings.  Headings in this Agreement are for  convenience
only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.

                  (e) Notice.  For purposes of this  Agreement,  written  notice
shall be effective if personally  delivered or if sent by certified mail, return
receipt  requested,  to the  following  addresses or to such other  addresses as
either may designate in writing to the other party:

                           Employee:        Tersea C. Nixon
                                            P.O. Box 573
                                            Sanford, NC  27331

                           Company: 341 North Main Street
                                            Post Office Box 508
                                            Troy, North Carolina  27371
                                            Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

For purpose of computing time, all time  requirements  under this Agreement will
start on the date mailed or if personally delivered, when delivered.

         38.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement has been executed and delivered in
the State of North Carolina, and its validity,  interpretation,  performance and
enforcement shall be governed by the laws of such State.

         39.  Effect of Prior  Agreements.  This  Agreement  contains the entire
understanding  between the  parties  with  reference  to the  employment  of the
Employee,  and  supersedes  any prior  employment  agreement,  understanding  or
arrangement   between  the  Employee  and  the  Company,   its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates.
                       [signatures contained on next page]


<PAGE>


         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties  hereto have executed this  Agreement
under seal as of the day and year first above stated.

                                            FIRST BANCORP


[CORPORATE SEAL]                    By:     /s/  James H. Garner
                                            --------------------
                                            James H. Garner
                                    Title:  President and CEO
Attest:  /s/  Anna G. Hollers
         Secretary

                                           EMPLOYEE


                                           /s/  Teresa C. Nixon   (SEAL)




<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 9
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                          17,418
<INT-BEARING-DEPOSITS>                          21,269
<FED-FUNDS-SOLD>                                11,707
<TRADING-ASSETS>                                     0
<INVESTMENTS-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     39,535
<INVESTMENTS-CARRYING>                          18,589
<INVESTMENTS-MARKET>                            19,375
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<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 470,537
<DEPOSITS>                                     412,500
<SHORT-TERM>                                    13,000
<LIABILITIES-OTHER>                              5,404
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                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                        15,107
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES-AND-EQUITY>                 470,537
<INTEREST-LOAN>                                 22,252
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<INTEREST-OTHER>                                   892
<INTEREST-TOTAL>                                26,091
<INTEREST-DEPOSIT>                              10,470
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              10,576
<INTEREST-INCOME-NET>                           15,515
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<SECURITIES-GAINS>                                 (3)
<EXPENSE-OTHER>                                 11,813
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  6,408
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                       6,408
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