CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL INC
8-K, 1999-05-18
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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<PAGE>   1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT


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


Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): MAY 17, 1999




                           CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)




    DELAWARE                       0-16311                   34-1567092     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other            (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of                                           Identification
incorporation)                                                 No.)




1215 SUPERIOR AVENUE     CLEVELAND, OHIO                    44114    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)



        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (216) 566-5300


                                       N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)


<PAGE>   2



Item 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         On May 17, 1999, Charter One Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
Charter Michigan Bancorp, Inc., a Michigan corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Charter One Financial, and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger
Agreement") pursuant to which St. Paul Bancorp will be merged with and into
Charter Michigan Bancorp, with Charter Michigan Bancorp as the surviving
corporation (the "Merger"). Under the Merger Agreement, each share of the common
stock, par value $.01 per share, of St. Paul Bancorp outstanding immediately
prior to the effective time of the Merger will be converted into the right to
receive .945 of a share of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
Charter One Financial.

         Simultaneous with or as soon as practicable after the effective time of
the Merger, St. Paul Federal Bank for Savings, a federal chartered savings bank
and a wholly owned subsidiary of St. Paul Bancorp, will be merged with and into
Charter One Bank, F.S.B., a wholly owned subsidiary of Charter Michigan Bancorp.

         The parties intend that the Merger and the subsidiary bank merger will
be treated as "reorganizations" under the provisions of Section 368 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and that the Merger will be accounted
for under the pooling-of-interests method of accounting.

         Consummation of the Merger is expected to occur during the fourth
quarter of 1999, subject to various conditions, including: (i) adoption of the
Merger Agreement by the stockholders of St. Paul Bancorp and approval by Charter
One Financial's stockholders of the issuance of Charter One Financial common
stock contemplated by the Merger Agreement; (ii) receipt of requisite regulatory
approvals; (iii) receipt by each of St. Paul Bancorp and Charter One Financial
of an opinion of counsel as to certain tax consequences of the Merger; (iv)
receipt by Charter One Financial of letters from its independent accountants and
St. Paul's independent accountants stating that in their opinion the Merger
shall qualify for pooling-of-interests accounting treatment; and (v)
satisfaction of certain other conditions.

         Under the Merger Agreement, St. Paul Bancorp has the right to terminate
the Merger Agreement if Charter One Financial's common stock declines more than
17.5 percent during the period from May 14, 1999 through the date by which all
regulatory and stockholder approvals have been obtained and all waiting periods
have expired and such decline is at least 17.5 percentage points more than the
decline in the weighted average stock price of the predefined peer group
designated in the Merger Agreement during the same period.

         Under certain circumstances as described in detail under the Merger
Agreement, Charter One Financial and St. Paul Bancorp would be entitled to
receive a break-up fee of $45.0 million. In the case of Charter One Financial,
this would include any amounts paid under the Stock Option Agreement described
below.

                                        2

<PAGE>   3




         The preceding description of the Merger Agreement is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the copy of the Merger Agreement included as Exhibit
2.1 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

         In connection with the Merger Agreement, St. Paul Bancorp and Charter
One Financial entered into a Stock Option Agreement, dated May 17, 1999 (the
"Stock Option Agreement") pursuant to which St. Paul Bancorp granted to Charter
One Financial an option (the "Option") to purchase, under certain circumstances,
up to 4,384,730 shares of St. Paul Bancorp common stock at a price, subject to
certain adjustments, of $24.828 per share. The Stock Option Agreement provides
that in no event may the number of shares for which the Option is exercisable
exceed 11.0% of the issued and outstanding shares of St. Paul Bancorp common
stock (9.9% after giving effect to the exercise of the Option). The Option was
granted by St. Paul Bancorp as an inducement to Charter One Financial's
willingness to enter into the Merger Agreement. Under certain circumstances, St.
Paul Bancorp may be required to repurchase the Option or shares acquired upon
exercise of the Option. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the total
profit that a holder may realize, including Charter One Financial, as a result
of exercising the Option may not exceed $45.0 million.

         The preceding description of the Stock Option Agreement is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the copy of the Stock Option Agreement included as
Exhibit 2.2 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

         A copy of the joint press release issued by Charter One Financial and
St. Paul Bancorp announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement is attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein. Additional
information regarding the Merger is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and
incorporated by reference herein.

Item 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits

         2.1      Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17, 1999, by and
                  between Charter One Financial, Inc., Charter Michigan Bancorp,
                  Inc. and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc.

         2.2      Stock Option Agreement, dated as of May 17, 1999, by and
                  between Charter One Financial, Inc., as grantee, and St. Paul
                  Bancorp, Inc., as issuer.

         99.1     Joint Press Release of Charter One Financial, Inc. and St.
                  Paul Bancorp, Inc.

         99.2     Additional Information.


                                        3

<PAGE>   4



                                   SIGNATURES


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


                                            CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.



Date: May 18, 1999                          By: /s/  Robert J. Vana
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Robert J. Vana
                                                Chief Corporate Counsel and
                                                   Secretary

                                        4

<PAGE>   5



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number                                      Description
- ----------                                  -----------

2.1                        Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 17,
                           1999, by and between Charter One Financial, Inc.,
                           Charter Michigan Bancorp, Inc. and St. Paul Bancorp,
                           Inc.

2.2                        Stock Option Agreement, dated as of May 17, 1999, by
                           and between Charter One Financial, Inc., as grantee,
                           and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc., as issuer.

99.1                       Joint Press Release of Charter One Financial, Inc.
                           and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc.

99.2                       Additional Information.




                                        5


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 2.1

================================================================================














                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                            dated as of May 17, 1999

                                 by and between

                           CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.

                         CHARTER MICHIGAN BANCORP, INC.

                                       and

                             ST. PAUL BANCORP, INC.












================================================================================


<PAGE>   2



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




                                    ARTICLE I

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

1.01     Certain Definitions..................................................2

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 THE TRANSACTION

2.01     The Company Merger...................................................8
2.02     Bank Merger..........................................................9
2.03     Effective Date and Effective Time...................................10
2.04     Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction..........................10

                                   ARTICLE III

                       CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

3.01     Merger Consideration................................................10
3.02     Rights as Stockholders; Stock Transfers.............................11
3.03     Fractional Shares...................................................11
3.04     Exchange Procedures.................................................11
3.05     Anti-Dilution Provisions............................................13
3.06     Options.............................................................13

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           ACTIONS PENDING TRANSACTION

4.01     Forbearances of St. Paul............................................14
4.02     Forbearances of COFI................................................18



<PAGE>   3




                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

5.01     Disclosure Schedules................................................19
5.02     Standard............................................................20
5.03     Representations and Warranties of St. Paul..........................20
5.04     Representations and Warranties of COFI..............................31

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

6.01     Reasonable Best Efforts.............................................37
6.02     Stockholder Approvals...............................................37
6.03     Registration Statement..............................................38
6.04     Press Releases......................................................39
6.05     Access; Information.................................................39
6.06     St. Paul Proposal...................................................40
6.07     Affiliate Agreements................................................40
6.08     Takeover Laws.......................................................41
6.09     Certain Policies....................................................41
6.10     Listing.............................................................41
6.11     Regulatory Applications.............................................41
6.12     Officers' and Directors' Insurance; Indemnification.................42
6.13     Benefit Plans.......................................................44
6.14     Notification of Certain Matters.....................................44
6.15     Directors...........................................................44
6.16     Advisory Board Membership...........................................44
6.17     COFI Fee............................................................45
6.18     St. Paul Fee........................................................45

                                   ARTICLE VII

                CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE COMPANY MERGER

7.01     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Company Merger..46
7.02     Conditions to Obligation of St. Paul................................47
7.03     Conditions to Obligation of COFI....................................48




                                       ii

<PAGE>   4




                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

8.01     Termination.........................................................49
8.02     Effect of Termination and Abandonment...............................53

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

9.01     Survival............................................................53
9.02     Waiver; Amendment...................................................53
9.03     Counterparts........................................................53
9.04     Governing Law.......................................................53
9.05     Expenses............................................................54
9.06     Notices.............................................................54
9.07     Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries..................55
9.08     Interpretation; Effect..............................................55




EXHIBIT A     Form of Stock Option Agreement
EXHIBIT B     Form of Support Agreement
EXHIBIT C     Form of Subsidiary Plan of Merger
EXHIBIT D     Form of St. Paul Affiliate Agreement
EXHIBIT E     Form of COFI Affiliate Agreement




                                       iii

<PAGE>   5



     AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER,  dated as of May 17, 1999 (this "AGREEMENT"),
by and between St. Paul Bancorp, Inc. ("ST. PAUL"), Charter One Financial,  Inc.
("COFI") and Charter Michigan Bancorp Inc., a wholly-owned first-tier Subsidiary
of COFI ("CHARTER MICHIGAN").

                                    RECITALS

     A. ST. PAUL. St. Paul is a Delaware corporation, having its principal place
of business in Chicago, Illinois.

     B. COFI. COFI is a Delaware corporation, having its principal place of
business in Cleveland, Ohio.

     C. CHARTER MICHIGAN. Charter Michigan is a Michigan corporation, having its
principal place of business in Dearborn, Michigan.

     D. STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT. As an inducement to the willingness of COFI to
enter into this Agreement , St. Paul has agreed to grant to COFI on the date
hereof an option pursuant to a stock option agreement ("Stock Option
Agreement"), in the form of EXHIBIT A.

     E. SUPPORT AGREEMENTS. As a further inducement to the willingness of COFI
to enter into this Agreement, each director of St. Paul has agreed to enter into
a support agreement with COFI (each a "Support Agreement") on the date hereof,
in the form of EXHIBIT B; provided however the aggregate number of shares that
shall be subject to all of the Support Agreements shall not exceed 4.9% of the
outstanding St. Paul Common Stock (as hereinafter defined) as of the date
hereof.

     F. INTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES. It is the intention of the parties to this
Agreement that the combination of St. Paul and Charter Michigan be accounted for
under the "pooling-of-interests" accounting method and that each of the business
combinations contemplated hereby be treated as a "reorganization" under Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE").

     G. BOARD ACTION. The respective Boards of Directors of each of COFI,
Charter Michigan and St. Paul have determined that it is in the best interests
of their respective companies and their stockholders to consummate a strategic
business alliance between St. Paul and COFI by the merger of St. Paul with and
into Charter Michigan and the other business combination contemplated herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained herein the
parties agree as follows:



<PAGE>   6



                                    ARTICLE I

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     1.01 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS. The following terms are used in this Agreement
with the meanings set forth below:

     "ADMINISTRATOR"  means the chief  officer  of the  Michigan  Department  of
Commerce.

     "AGREEMENT" means this Agreement, as amended or modified from time to time
in accordance with Section 9.02.

     "ANNUAL PROXY STATEMENT" means in the case of either St. Paul or COFI its
Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders held in 1999 as filed
with the SEC and submitted to its shareholders.

     "AVERAGE CLOSING PRICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "BANK MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

     "CHARTER  MICHIGAN"  has the  meaning  set  forth in the  preamble  to this
Agreement.

     "CHARTER MICHIGAN BOARD" means the Board of Directors of Charter Michigan.

     "CHARTER ONE BANK" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

     "CODE" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this Agreement.

     "COFI" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "COFI ACQUISITION TRANSACTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.18.

     "COFI AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.07(a).

     "COFI BOARD" means the Board of Directors of COFI.

     "COFI COMMON STOCK" means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
COFI.

     "COFI MEETING" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

     "COFI PROPOSAL" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.18.

     "COFI RATIO" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).




                                        2

<PAGE>   7



     "COFI RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means that certain Rights Agreement between COFI
and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent, dated November 24, 1989,
as amended on May 26, 1995.

     "COMMISSIONER" means the Illinois Commissioner of Banks and Real Estate.

     "COMPANY MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.

     "COMPENSATION  AND  BENEFIT  PLANS"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
5.03(m).

     "COSTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(a).

     "DELAWARE SECRETARY" means the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

     "DETERMINATION DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "DGCL" means the Delaware General Corporation Law.

     "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.

     "DOJ" means the United States Department of Justice.

     "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor.

     "EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

     "EFFECTIVE TIME" means the effective time of the Company Merger as provided
for in Section 2.03.

     "ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" shall mean any federal, state or local law, statute,
ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval,
consent, order, judgment, decree, injunction or agreement with any Governmental
Authority relating to (i) the protection, preservation or restoration of the
environment (including, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water,
groundwater, drinking water supply, surface soil, subsurface soil, plant and
animal life or any other natural resource), and/or (ii) the use, storage,
recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling,
labeling, production, release or disposal of Materials of Environmental Concern.
The term Environmental Law includes without limitation (i) the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C.
ss.9601, ET SEQ; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42
U.S.C. ss.6901, ET SEQ; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. ss.7401, ET
SEQ; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. ss.1251, ET
SEQ; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. ss.9601, ET SEQ;
the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.1101, ET
SEQ; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. ss.300f, ET SEQ; and all comparable
state and local laws, and (ii) any common law (including without limitation



                                        3
<PAGE>   8



common law that may impose strict liability) that may impose liability or
obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a result of, the
presence of or exposure to any Materials of Environmental Concern.

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

     "ERISA AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(m).

     "ERISA AFFILIATE PLAN" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(m).

     "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder.

     "EXCHANGE AGENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "EXCHANGE FUND" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "EXCHANGE RATIO" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

     "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

     "FFIEC" means the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

     "FRB" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

     "GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means any court, administrative agency or
commission or other federal, state or local governmental authority or
instrumentality.

     "INDEMNIFIED PARTIES" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(c).

     "INDEX GROUP" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "INDEX PRICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "INDEX RATIO" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "INSURANCE AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(a).

     "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

     "KNOWLEDGE" means to the actual knowledge of any director, executive
officer, or officer responsible for environmental matters of a party to this
Agreement or any of its Subsidiaries but also including its general counsel if
he is not an executive officer.




                                        4
<PAGE>   9



     "LIEN" means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction,
claim, lien, or encumbrance.

     "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means, with respect to COFI or St. Paul, any
effect that (i) is material and adverse to the financial position, results of
operations, business, or operations of COFI and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or St. Paul and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, respectively, or (ii)
would materially impair the ability of COFI, Charter Michigan or St. Paul to
perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially impede the
consummation of the Company Merger; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Material Adverse
Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (a) changes in thrift,
banking and similar laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by
courts or governmental authorities, or other changes affecting depository
institutions generally, including changes in general economic conditions and
changes in prevailing interest and deposit rates, (b) changes in generally
accepted accounting principles or regulatory accounting requirements applicable
to thrifts, banks and their holding companies generally, (c) any modifications
or changes to valuation policies and practices or restructuring charges, in each
case taken pursuant to this Agreement by any of the parties hereto or their
respective Subsidiaries or otherwise by COFI or its Subsidiaries in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, (d) changes resulting from
expenses (such as legal, accounting and investment bankers' fees) incurred in
connection with this Agreement and (e) actions or omissions of COFI or St. Paul
taken with the prior written consent of St. Paul or COFI, as applicable, in
contemplation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     "MATERIALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN" shall mean pollutants, contaminants,
wastes, toxic substances, petroleum and petroleum products and any other
materials regulated under Environmental Laws.

     "MBCA" means the Michigan Business Corporation Act.

     "MERGER CONSIDERATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.

     "NASDAQ" means The Nasdaq National Market.

     "NEW CERTIFICATES" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "1998 FORM 10-K" means the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1998 of St. Paul or COFI, whichever is applicable, in the
form filed with the SEC.

     "NYSE" means the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     "OLD CERTIFICATES" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.




                                        5

<PAGE>   10



     "PENSION PLAN" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(m).

     "PERSON" means any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, association, joint-stock company, business trust or
unincorporated organization.

     "PREVIOUSLY DISCLOSED" by a party shall mean information set forth in its
Disclosure Schedule or in its Annual Proxy Statement or 1998 Form 10-K.

     "PROXY STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.

     "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.

     "REGULATORY AUTHORITY" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(i).

     "REPRESENTATIVES" means, with respect to any Person, such Person's
directors, officers, employees, accountants, legal or financial advisors or any
representatives of such legal or financial advisors.

     "RIGHTS" means, with respect to any Person, securities or obligations
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any person any
right to subscribe for or acquire, or any options, calls or commitments relating
to, or any stock appreciation right or other instrument the value of which is
determined in whole or in part by reference to the market price or value of,
shares of capital stock of such Person.

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

     "SEC DOCUMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(g).

     "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
rules and regulations thereunder.

     "SPECIFIED REPRESENTATIONS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02.

     "STARTING DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "STARTING PRICE" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(f).

     "STOCK OPTION  AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals to this
Agreement.

     "ST. PAUL" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

     "ST. PAUL  ACQUISITION  TRANSACTION"  has the meaning set forth in Section
6.17.

     "ST. PAUL AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.07(a).



                                        6
<PAGE>   11




     "ST. PAUL ARRANGEMENTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.13(a).

     "ST. PAUL BANK" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

     "ST. PAUL BOARD" means the Board of Directors of St. Paul.

     "ST. PAUL BY-LAWS" means the Bylaws of St. Paul.

     "ST. PAUL CERTIFICATE" means the Certificate of Incorporation of St. Paul.

     "ST. PAUL COMMON STOCK" means the common stock,  par value $0.01 per share,
of St. Paul.

     "ST. PAUL MEETING" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

     "ST. PAUL  PREFERRED  STOCK" means the serial  preferred  stock,  par value
$0.01 per share, of St. Paul.

     "ST. PAUL PROPOSAL" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.17.

     "ST. PAUL RIGHTS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(o).

     "ST. PAUL RIGHTS AGREEMENT" means that certain Rights Agreement between St.
Paul and The First  National Bank of Boston,  Rights Agent,  dated as of October
26, 1992.

     "ST.  PAUL STOCK" means,  collectively,  St. Paul Common Stock and St. Paul
Preferred Stock.

     "ST. PAUL STOCK OPTION" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).

     "ST. PAUL STOCK PLANS" means the St. Paul Bancorp,  Inc.  Stock Option Plan
dated  ___________,  1998 as modified by Amendments No. 1 and 2 thereto approved
by  shareholders  on May 13,  1992 and May 4, 1994,  respectively;  the St. Paul
Bancorp,  Inc. 1995  Incentive Plan approved by  shareholders  on May 3, 1995 as
modified by an amendment  thereto  approved by shareholders on May 6 ,1998;  the
St.  Paul  Bancorp,  Inc.  Employee  Incentive  Plan as approved by the Board of
Directors on May 19, 1997; and the Beverly  Bancorporation Stock Option Plan and
the Beverly  Bancorporation,  Inc. 1997  Long-Term  Stock  Incentive Plan to the
extent  assumed  by St.  Paul in  connection  with  the  conversion  of  Beverly
Bancorporation,  Inc.,  stock options to rights to acquire St. Paul Common Stock
pursuant to the merger of Beverly Bancorporation, with and into St. Paul.

     "SUBSIDIARY"  has the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X
of the SEC.

     "SUPPORT  AGREEMENT"  has the  meaning  set forth in the  Recitals  to this
Agreement.

     "SURVIVING CORPORATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01.



                                        7
<PAGE>   12



     "TAKEOVER LAWS" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03 (o).

     "TAX" AND "TAXES" means all federal, state, local or foreign taxes,
charges, fees, levies or other assessments, however denominated, including,
without limitation, all net income, gross income, gains, gross receipts, sales,
use, ad valorem, goods and services, capital, production, transfer, franchise,
windfall profits, license, withholding, payroll, employment, disability,
employer health, excise, estimated, severance, stamp, occupation, property,
environmental, unemployment or other taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments or
charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties,
additions to tax or additional amounts, in each case imposed by any taxing or
Governmental Authority whether arising before, on or after the Effective Date.

     "TAX RETURNS" means any return, amended return or other report (including
elections, declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information
returns) required to be filed with any Governmental Authority with respect to
any Tax.

     "TRANSACTION"  means the Company Merger and the Bank Merger.

     "TREASURY STOCK" shall mean shares of St. Paul Stock held by St. Paul or
any of its Subsidiaries or by COFI or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case
other than in a fiduciary capacity or as a result of debts previously contracted
in good faith.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                 THE TRANSACTION

         2.01     THE COMPANY MERGER.

                  (a) COMPANY MERGER. At the Effective Time, St. Paul shall
         merge with and into Charter Michigan (the "COMPANY MERGER"), the
         separate corporate existence of St. Paul shall cease and Charter
         Michigan shall survive and continue to exist as a Michigan corporation
         (Charter Michigan, as the surviving corporation in the Company Merger,
         sometimes being referred to herein as the "SURVIVING CORPORATION").

                  (b) CORPORATE LAW FILINGS. Subject to the satisfaction or
         waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the Company Merger
         shall become effective upon the occurrence of the filing in the office
         of the Delaware Secretary of a certificate of merger in accordance with
         Section 252 of the DGCL and the filing in the office of and endorsement
         by the Administrator of a certificate of merger in accordance with
         Section 735 of the MBCA or such later date and time as may be set forth
         in such certificates of merger.

                  (c) EFFECTS OF COMPANY MERGER. The Company Merger shall have
         the effects prescribed in the DGCL and the MBCA, including but not
         limited to, Charter Michigan, as the Surviving Corporation, thereupon
         and thereafter possessing all of the rights, privileges, immunities and
         franchises, of a public as well as of a private nature, of each of the



                                        8
<PAGE>   13



         corporations so merged and Charter Michigan, as the Surviving
         Corporation, becoming responsible and liable for all the liabilities,
         obligations and penalties of each of the corporations so merged. All
         rights of creditors and obligors and all liens on the property of each
         of St. Paul and Charter Michigan shall be preserved unimpaired.

                  (d) ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS OF SURVIVING
         CORPORATION. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Charter
         Michigan immediately after the Company Merger shall be those of Charter
         Michigan as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

                  (e) DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION. The
         directors and officers of Charter Michigan immediately after the
         Company Merger shall be the directors and officers of Charter Michigan
         immediately prior to the Effective Time, until such time as their
         successors shall be duly elected and qualified. Immediately after the
         Effective Time, COFI and Charter Michigan shall cause each of Joseph C.
         Scully and Patrick J. Agnew to be added to the Charter Michigan Board
         for a term expiring in April 2002, unless such individual does not
         qualify to serve under guidelines of applicable Regulatory Authorities.

                  (f) SERVICE OF PROCESS. At the Effective Time, Charter
         Michigan, as the Surviving Corporation, consents to be sued and served
         with process in the State of Delaware and irrevocably appoints the
         Delaware Secretary as its agent to accept service of process in any
         proceeding in the State of Delaware to enforce against it any
         obligation of St. Paul.

                  (g) PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The location of the principal office of
         Charter Michigan, as the Surviving Corporation, in the State of
         Michigan is 13606 Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor, Dearborn, Michigan 48126.

                  (h) PLAN OF MERGER. At the reasonable request of any party,
         St. Paul, COFI and Charter Michigan shall enter into a separate plan of
         merger reflecting the terms of the Company Merger for purposes of any
         state law filing requirement.

         2.02 BANK MERGER. As soon as practicable at or after the Effective
Time, unless otherwise determined by COFI, St. Paul Federal Bank For Savings, a
federally chartered savings bank and wholly owned Subsidiary of St. Paul ("ST.
PAUL BANK"), shall be merged with and into Charter One Bank, F.S.B., a federally
chartered savings bank and wholly-owned Subsidiary of Charter Michigan ("CHARTER
ONE BANK"). Such merger is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the "BANK
MERGER". The Bank Merger shall be implemented pursuant to the Subsidiary Plan of
Merger, in substantially the form of Exhibit C. In order to obtain the necessary
regulatory approvals for the Bank Merger, the parties hereto shall cause the
following to be accomplished prior to the filing of applications for regulatory



                                        9
<PAGE>   14



approval: (a) St. Paul shall cause the Board of Directors of St. Paul Bank to
approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger, St. Paul as the sole stockholder of St.
Paul Bank shall approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger, and St. Paul shall cause
the Subsidiary Plan of Merger to be duly executed by St. Paul Bank and delivered
to COFI; and (b) Charter Michigan shall cause the Board of Directors of Charter
One Bank to approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger, Charter Michigan as the sole
stockholder of Charter One Bank shall approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger, and
Charter Michigan shall cause the Subsidiary Plan of Merger to be duly executed
by Charter One Bank and delivered to St. Paul. At the request of COFI, St. Paul
shall cause St. Paul Bank, and Charter Michigan shall cause Charter One Bank, to
execute articles of combination to make effective the Bank Merger and cause such
articles to be timely and appropriately filed and endorsed by OTS so that the
Bank Merger shall become effective as soon as practicable at or after the
Effective Time.

         2.03 EFFECTIVE DATE AND EFFECTIVE TIME. Subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the parties shall cause the
effective date of the Company Merger (the "EFFECTIVE DATE") to occur on (i) the
fifth business day (the "Fifth Business Day") after the last of the conditions
set forth in Article VII to be satisfied prior to the Effective Date shall have
been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (or, if
the Fifth Business Day would be within the last ten days of a calendar month, at
the election of COFI by written notice to St. Paul not later than two business
days after the last such condition in Article VII is satisfied or waived, on the
last business day of the month in which such satisfaction or waiver occurs) or
(ii) such other date to which St. Paul and COFI may agree in writing. The time
on the Effective Date when the Company Merger shall become effective is referred
to as the "EFFECTIVE TIME."

         2.04 RESERVATION OF RIGHT TO REVISE TRANSACTION. COFI may at any time
prior to the Effective Time, with the prior written consent of St. Paul (such
consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), change the method of
effecting the Company Merger if and to the extent it deems such change to be
necessary, appropriate or desirable; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no such change
shall (i) alter or change the amount or kind of consideration to be issued to
holders of St. Paul Common Stock as provided for in this Agreement (the "MERGER
CONSIDERATION"), (ii) adversely affect the tax treatment of St. Paul's
stockholders as a result of receiving the Merger Consideration or the Company
Merger qualifying for "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment, (iii)
materially impede or delay consummation of the Company Merger, (iv) result in
any representation or warranty of any party set forth in this Agreement becoming
incorrect in any material respect, or (v) diminish the benefits, including
membership on the COFI Board or COFI advisory board, to be received by the
directors, officers or employees of St. Paul and its Subsidiaries as set forth
in this Agreement or in any separate agreement entered into by COFI and St. Paul
on the date hereof.

                                   ARTICLE III

                       CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

         3.01 MERGER CONSIDERATION. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
at the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Company Merger and without
any action on the part of any Person:

                  (a) OUTSTANDING ST. PAUL COMMON STOCK. Each share, excluding
         Treasury Stock, of St. Paul Common Stock issued and outstanding
         immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become and be converted
         into, subject to Sections 3.03, 3.05 and 8.01(f) hereof, .945 of a
         share of COFI Common Stock (the "EXCHANGE RATIO"), including the
         corresponding



                                       10

<PAGE>   15



         number of Rights associated with the COFI Common Stock pursuant to the
         COFI Rights Agreement. The Exchange Ratio shall be subject to
         adjustment as set forth in Sections 3.05 and 8.01(f).

                  (b) OUTSTANDING CHARTER MICHIGAN COMMON STOCK. Each share of
         Charter Michigan common stock issued and outstanding or held in
         treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain issued
         and outstanding or held in treasury and continue to be an identical
         issued and outstanding or treasury share of Charter Michigan common
         stock after the Effective Time.

                  (c) OUTSTANDING COFI COMMON STOCK. Each share of COFI Common
         Stock issued and outstanding or held in treasury immediately prior to
         the Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding or held in
         treasury and shall be unaffected by the Company Merger.

                  (d) TREASURY SHARES. Each share of St. Paul Common Stock held
         as Treasury Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
         canceled and retired at the Effective Time, and no consideration shall
         be issued in exchange therefor.

         3.02 RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS; STOCK TRANSFERS. At the Effective Time,
holders of St. Paul Stock shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as,
stockholders of St. Paul, other than to receive any dividend or other
distribution with respect to such St. Paul Common Stock permitted under this
Agreement with a record date occurring prior to the Effective Time and the
consideration provided under this Article III. After the Effective Time, there
shall be no transfers on the stock transfer books of St. Paul or the Surviving
Corporation of shares of St. Paul Stock.

         3.03 FRACTIONAL SHARES. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no
fractional shares of COFI Common Stock and no certificates or scrip therefor, or
other evidence of ownership thereof, will be issued in the Company Merger;
instead, COFI shall pay to each holder of St. Paul Common Stock who would
otherwise be entitled to a fractional share of COFI Common Stock (after taking
into account all Old Certificates delivered by such holder) an amount in cash
(without interest) determined by multiplying such fraction by the closing sale
price of COFI Common Stock, on the NASDAQ or the NYSE, whichever is applicable
(as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or, if not reported therein, in another
authoritative source), for the last trading day immediately preceding the
Effective Date.

         3.04     EXCHANGE PROCEDURES.

                  (a) DEPOSIT OF NEW CERTIFICATES, ETC. At or prior to the
         Effective Time, COFI shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited,
         with an independent exchange agent to be selected by COFI and
         reasonably acceptable to St. Paul (the "EXCHANGE AGENT"), for the
         benefit of the holders of certificates formerly representing shares of
         St. Paul Common Stock ("OLD CERTIFICATES"), for exchange in accordance
         with this Article III, certificates representing the shares of COFI
         Common Stock ("NEW CERTIFICATES") and an estimated



                                       11

<PAGE>   16



         amount of cash (such cash and New Certificates, together with any
         dividends or distributions with a record date occurring after the
         Effective Date with respect thereto (without any interest on any such
         cash, dividends or distributions), being hereinafter referred to as the
         "EXCHANGE FUND") to be paid pursuant to this Article III in exchange
         for outstanding shares of St. Paul Common Stock.

                  (b) TRANSMITTAL AND DELIVERIES. As promptly as practicable
         after the Effective Date, COFI shall send or cause to be sent to each
         former holder of record of shares of St. Paul Common Stock immediately
         prior to the Effective Time transmittal materials (which shall specify
         that risk of loss and title to Old Certificates shall pass only upon
         acceptance of such Old Certificates by COFI or the Exchange Agent) for
         use in exchanging such stockholder's Old Certificates for the
         consideration set forth in this Article III. COFI shall cause the New
         Certificates or uncertificated shares of COFI Common Stock registered
         on the stock transfer books of COFI ("Registered Shares") into which
         shares of a stockholder's St. Paul Common Stock are converted on the
         Effective Date and/or any check in respect of any fractional share
         interest or dividends or distributions which such person shall be
         entitled to receive to be delivered to such stockholder upon delivery
         to the Exchange Agent of Old Certificates representing such shares of
         St. Paul Common Stock (or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to COFI and
         the Exchange Agent, if any of such certificates are lost, stolen or
         destroyed) owned by such stockholder. No interest will be paid on any
         such cash to be paid in lieu of a fractional share interest or in
         respect of dividends or distributions which any such person shall be
         entitled to receive pursuant to this Article III upon such delivery.
         Old Certificates surrendered for exchange by any person identified by
         St. Paul pursuant to Section 6.07 as a St. Paul Affiliate shall not be
         exchanged for New Certificates or Registered Shares representing COFI
         Common Stock until COFI has received a written agreement from such
         person as specified in Section 6.07. COFI and the Exchange Agent shall
         be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of St. Paul to
         establish the identity of those persons entitled to receive the
         consideration specified in this Agreement, which books shall be
         conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of a dispute with respect
         to ownership of stock represented by any Old Certificate, COFI or the
         Exchange Agent shall be entitled to deposit any consideration in
         respect thereof in escrow with an independent third party and
         thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims thereto.

                  (c) ESCHEAT. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the
         Exchange Agent nor any party hereto shall be liable to any former
         holder of St. Paul Stock for any amount properly delivered to a public
         official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar
         laws.

                  (d) RESTRICTIONS ON THE PAYMENT OF DIVIDENDS AND VOTING. No
         dividends or other distributions with respect to COFI Common Stock with
         a record date occurring after the Effective Time shall be paid to the
         holder of any unsurrendered Old Certificates representing shares of St.
         Paul Common Stock converted in the Company Merger into the right to
         receive shares of such COFI Common Stock until the holder thereof shall
         be entitled to receive New Certificates or Registered Shares in
         exchange therefor in accordance with the procedures set forth in this



                                       12

<PAGE>   17



         Section 3.04. Registered holders of unsurrendered Old Certificates
         shall be entitled to vote after the Effective Time at any meeting of
         COFI stockholders with a record date at or after the Effective Time the
         number of whole shares of COFI Common Stock represented by such Old
         Certificates, regardless of whether such holders have exchanged their
         Old Certificates. After becoming so entitled in accordance with this
         Section 3.04, the record holder thereof also shall be entitled to
         receive any such dividends or other distributions, without any interest
         thereon, which theretofore had become payable with respect to shares of
         COFI Common Stock such holder had the right to receive upon surrender
         of the Old Certificates.

                  (e) RETURN OF EXCHANGE FUND TO COFI. Any portion of the
         Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the stockholders of St. Paul
         for twelve months after the Effective Time shall be paid to COFI. Any
         stockholder of St. Paul who has not theretofore complied with this
         Article III shall thereafter look only to COFI for payment of the
         shares of COFI Common Stock, cash in lieu of any fractional share and
         unpaid dividends and distributions on COFI Common Stock deliverable in
         respect of shares of St. Paul Common Stock such stockholder holds as
         determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, without any
         interest thereon.

         3.05 ANTI-DILUTION PROVISIONS. In the event COFI changes (or
establishes a record date for changing) the number of shares of COFI Common
Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Date as a result of a stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to
the outstanding COFI Common Stock and the record date therefor shall be prior to
the Effective Date, the Exchange Ratio shall be proportionately adjusted.

         3.06     OPTIONS.

                  (a) CONVERSION. At the Effective Time, each option outstanding
         on the date of this Agreement to purchase shares of St. Paul Common
         Stock under the St. Paul Stock Plans (each, a "ST. PAUL STOCK OPTION")
         and remaining outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time
         shall, at the Effective Time, be assumed by COFI and each such St. Paul
         Stock Option shall continue to be outstanding, but shall represent an
         option to purchase shares of COFI Common Stock in an amount and at an
         exercise price determined as provided below (and otherwise subject to
         the terms of the applicable St. Paul Stock Plan and St. Paul Stock
         Option):

                           (i) the number of shares of COFI Common Stock to be
                  subject to the continuing St. Paul Stock Option shall be equal
                  to the product of the number of shares of St. Paul Common
                  Stock subject to the St. Paul Stock Option immediately prior
                  to the Effective Time and the Exchange Ratio, provided that
                  any fractional share of COFI Common Stock resulting from such
                  multiplication shall be rounded down to the nearest whole
                  share; and




                                       13

<PAGE>   18



                           (ii) the exercise price per share of COFI Common
                  Stock under the continuing St. Paul Stock Option shall be
                  equal to the exercise price per share of St. Paul Common Stock
                  under the St. Paul Stock Option immediately prior to the
                  Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio, provided that
                  such exercise price shall be rounded down to the nearest cent.

                  It  is  intended  that  the  foregoing   assumption  shall  be
         undertaken  consistent  with and in a manner that will not constitute a
         "modification"  under  Section 424 of the Code as to any St. Paul Stock
         Option which is an "incentive stock option".

                  (b) RESERVATION OF COFI COMMON STOCK AND SECURITIES FILINGS.
         At all times after the Effective Time, COFI shall reserve for issuance
         such number of shares of COFI Common Stock as necessary so as to permit
         the exercise of continuing options in the manner contemplated by this
         Agreement and the instruments pursuant to which such options were
         granted. COFI shall make all filings required under federal and state
         securities laws promptly after the Effective Time so as to permit the
         exercise of such continuing options and the sale of the shares received
         by the optionee upon such exercise at and after the Effective Time and
         COFI shall continue to make such filings thereafter as may be necessary
         to permit the continued exercise of continuing options and sale of such
         shares.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           ACTIONS PENDING TRANSACTION

         4.01 FORBEARANCES OF ST. PAUL. From the date hereof until the Effective
Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any separate
agreement entered into by St. Paul and COFI on the date hereof, without the
prior written consent of COFI (which consent under subsections (h), (k), (l) and
(m) shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), St. Paul will not, and will
cause each of its Subsidiaries not to:

                  (a) ORDINARY COURSE. Conduct the business of St. Paul and its
         Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary and usual course consistent
         with past practice or fail to use reasonable efforts to (i) preserve
         intact in any material respect their business organizations and assets
         and (ii) maintain their rights, franchises and existing relations with
         customers, suppliers, employees and business associates, or take any
         action reasonably likely to materially impair St. Paul's ability to
         perform any of its obligations under this Agreement.

                  (b) ST. PAUL STOCK. Other than pursuant to St. Paul Stock
         Options outstanding on the date hereof and the Serve Corps Mortgage
         Corporation earn out, in each case as Previously Disclosed (i) issue,
         sell or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the
         creation of, any additional shares of St. Paul Stock or any Rights,
         (ii) enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing, or (iii)
         permit any additional shares of St. Paul Stock to become subject to new
         grants of employee or director stock options, other Rights or similar
         stock-based employee rights.



                                       14

<PAGE>   19




                  (c) OTHER SECURITIES. Issue any other capital securities,
         capital stock of any Subsidiary, debentures, or subordinated notes.

                  (d) DIVIDENDS, ETC. (i) Make, declare, pay or set aside for
         payment any dividend (other than (A), quarterly cash dividends on St.
         Paul Common Stock in an amount not to exceed $0.20 per share with
         record and payment dates consistent with past practice, (provided the
         declaration of the last quarterly dividend by St. Paul prior to the
         Effective Time and the payment thereof shall be coordinated with COFI
         so that holders of St. Paul Common Stock do not receive dividends on
         both St. Paul Common Stock and COFI Common Stock received in the
         Company Merger in respect of such calendar quarter or fail to receive a
         dividend on either St. Paul Common Stock or COFI Common Stock received
         in the Company Merger in respect of such calendar quarter) and (B)
         dividends from wholly owned Subsidiaries to St. Paul or another wholly
         owned Subsidiary of St. Paul) on or in respect of, or declare or make
         any distribution on any shares of St. Paul Stock or (ii) directly or
         indirectly adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, purchase or
         otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or Rights.

                  (e) COMPENSATION; EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS, ETC. Enter into or
         amend or renew any employment, consulting, severance or similar
         agreements or arrangements with any director, officer or employee of
         St. Paul or its Subsidiaries, or grant any salary or wage increase or
         increase any employee benefit (including incentive or bonus payments)
         except (i) for oral at will employment agreements, (ii) for normal
         individual increases in compensation to employees in the ordinary
         course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) for other
         changes that are required by applicable law, or (iv) to satisfy
         contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof that are
         Previously Disclosed provided, however, that St. Paul and its
         Subsidiaries may consistent with past practice extend employment and
         severance agreements in effect on the date hereof that contain
         evergreen provisions for an additional one year period.

                  (f) BENEFIT PLANS. Enter into, establish, adopt, renew, or
         amend (except as may be required by existing contractual obligations
         existing as of the date hereof that are Previously Disclosed or
         applicable law) any pension, profit sharing, employee stock ownership,
         retirement, stock option, stock appreciation, phantom stock, stock
         purchase, savings, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group
         insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract,
         plan or arrangement, or any trust agreement (or similar arrangement)
         related thereto, in respect of any director, officer or employee of St.
         Paul or its Subsidiaries, or take any action to accelerate the vesting
         or exercisability of stock options or other compensation or benefits
         payable thereunder.

                  (g) DISPOSITIONS. Except as Previously Disclosed, sell,
         transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any
         of its assets, deposits, business or properties except in the ordinary
         course of business for fair value consistent with past practice.



                                       15

<PAGE>   20



                  (h) ACQUISITIONS. Except as permitted by Section 4.01(s)
         acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control
         in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts
         contracted prior to the date hereof in good faith, in each case in the
         ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice)
         all or any portion of, the assets, business, deposits or properties of
         any Person or entity.

                  (i) GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.  Amend the St. Paul Certificate,  St.
         Paul By-laws or the certificate or articles of  incorporation,  charter
         or  by-laws  (or  similar  governing  documents)  of any of St.  Paul's
         Subsidiaries.

                  (j) ACCOUNTING METHODS. Implement or adopt any change in its
         accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be
         required by generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (k) CONTRACTS. Except to satisfy Previously Disclosed written
         commitments outstanding on the date hereof, to extend the term of
         employment and severance agreements to the extent permitted by Section
         4.01(e), and to renew real and personal property leases in the ordinary
         course of business where the renewal option would otherwise expire,
         enter into or terminate any material agreement or amend or modify in
         any material respect or renew any of its existing material agreements.

                  (l) CLAIMS. Except in the ordinary course of business
         consistent with past practice or involving an amount not in excess of
         $250,000, settle any claim, action or proceeding.

                  (m) FORECLOSE. Foreclose upon or otherwise take title to or
         possession or control of any real property without first obtaining a
         phase one environmental report thereon; provided, however, that St.
         Paul and its Subsidiaries shall not be required to obtain such a report
         with respect to any real property having a fair market value of less
         than $1,000,000 or one-to four-family, non-agricultural residential
         property of five acres or less to be foreclosed upon unless it has
         reason to believe that such property might be in violation of or
         require remediation under Environmental Laws.

                  (n) DEPOSIT TAKING AND OTHER BANK ACTIVITIES. In the case of
         St. Paul Bank (i) voluntarily make any material changes in or to its
         deposit mix; (ii) increase or decrease the rate of interest paid on
         time deposits or on certificates of deposit, except in a manner and
         pursuant to policies consistent with past practice; or (iii) incur any
         liability or obligation relating to retail banking and branch
         merchandising, marketing and advertising activities and initiatives
         materially in excess of the amounts Previously Disclosed;

                  (o) FACILITIES. Except for ATMs and a new branch to be located
         in Naperville, Illinois, open any new offices or facilities or expand
         any existing office or facility; and except for the Morton Grove branch
         and any in-store locations whose host stores are closing or relocating,
         or as Previously Disclosed, close or relocate any office or facility.



                                       16

<PAGE>   21



                  (p) INVESTMENTS. Enter into any material securities
         transaction for its own account or purchase or otherwise acquire any
         material amount of investment securities for its own account except
         purchases and sales of securities consistent with past practice in
         order to maintain investment portfolios at St. Paul and its
         Subsidiaries that have risk and asset mix characteristics substantially
         similar to those of the respective investment portfolios as of the date
         hereof.

                  (q) CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. Purchase or lease fixed assets where
         the amount paid or committed thereof is in excess of $450,000
         individually or $1,500,000 in the aggregate, except for amounts
         Previously Disclosed or for emergency repairs or replacements.

                  (r) LENDING. (i) Make any material changes in its policies
         concerning loan underwriting or which persons may approve loans or fail
         to comply with such policies as previously provided in writing to COFI;
         or (ii) make or commit to make any new loan or letter of credit, or any
         new or additional discretionary advance under any existing loan or line
         of credit, or restructure any existing loan or line of credit (other
         than (A) in the case of a consumer loan or extension of credit
         consistent with policies currently in effect as previously provided in
         writing to COFI, (B) in the case of a loan secured by a first mortgage
         on an owner occupied one-to-four single-family principal residence
         consistent with policies currently in effect as previously provided in
         writing to COFI and in a principal amount not in excess of $1,250,000,
         (C) in the case of a loan secured by a first mortgage on commercial
         real property (i) which is with full personal recourse to the borrower
         and made in accordance with underwriting policies currently in effect
         as previously provided in writing to COFI in a principal amount not in
         excess of $5,000,000 or (ii) which is an exception to its underwriting
         policies currently in effect as previously provided in writing to COFI,
         or without full personal recourse to the borrower, in a principal
         amount not in excess of $2,000,000, (D) in the case of a commercial
         loan secured by a first lien on accounts receivable, inventory or other
         tangible assets which also provides full personal recourse to the
         borrower in a principal amount not in excess of $2,000,000, or (E) in
         the case of loans outstanding on the date hereof to one borrower (or
         group of affiliated borrowers) the restructuring of loans with an
         aggregate principal balance not in excess of $2,000,000; provided in
         the case of subparts (A)-(D) the loan exposure to one borrower (or
         group of affiliated borrowers) shall not exceed $25,000,000) in each
         case without the prior written consent of COFI acting through its Chief
         Executive Officer or Executive Vice President of Lending in a written
         notice to St. Paul, which approval or rejection shall be given within
         three business days after delivery by St. Paul to such officer of COFI
         of the complete loan package;

                  (s) ACQUISITION OF LOANS. Purchase any loan, loan
         participation or other interest in any loan, except for the purchase by
         St. Paul Bank of adjustable rate first mortgage whole loans in an
         aggregate amount not to exceed $750 million through December 31, 1999
         (and $100 million per month thereafter) on owner occupied one-to-four
         single family principal residences (and non-owner occupied rental
         property to the extent provided below) with each individual loan having
         a principal amount not in excess of $1.5 million consistent with



                                       17

<PAGE>   22



         current policies and guidelines in effect on the date hereof as
         Previously Disclosed, such purchases are to be from existing servicers
         only with each purchased pool of mortgages not exceeding $100 million
         with whole loans secured by one-to-four single family non-owner
         occupied property representing not more than 15% of the dollar value of
         any mortgage pool.

                  (t) LAND  DEVELOPMENT  OPERATIONS.  Engage in any single  land
         development  acquisition  transaction  involving an amount in excess of
         $250,000.

                  (u) ADVERSE ACTIONS. (i) Take any action or fail to take any
         action while knowing that such action or inaction would, or is
         reasonably likely to, prevent or impede (A) the Company Merger from
         qualifying for "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment or (B) the
         Company Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization
         within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code; or (ii) knowingly take
         any action or fail to take any action that is intended or is reasonably
         likely to result in (A) any of its representations and warranties set
         forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material
         respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time except as
         expressly permitted by this Agreement, (B) any of the conditions to the
         Company Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied except as
         expressly permitted by this Agreement or (C) a material violation of
         any provision of this Agreement except, in each case, as may be
         required by applicable law or regulation.

                  (v) RISK MANAGEMENT. Except as required by applicable law or
         regulation, (i) implement or adopt any material change in its interest
         rate and other risk management policies, procedures or practices; (ii)
         fail to follow its existing policies or practices with respect to
         managing its exposure to interest rate and other risk; or (iii) fail to
         use commercially reasonable means to avoid any material increase in its
         aggregate exposure to interest rate risk.

                 (w) INDEBTEDNESS. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money
         other than Federal Home Loan Bank advances with a term not in excess of
         three years in an aggregate amount not to exceed $750 million through
         December 31, 1999 (and $100 million per month thereafter) in the
         ordinary course of business.

                  (x) COMMITMENTS. Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

         4.02 FORBEARANCES OF COFI. From the date hereof until the Effective
Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, without the prior
written consent of St. Paul, COFI will not, and will cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to:

                  (a) PRESERVATION. Fail to use reasonable efforts to (i)
         preserve intact in any material respect their business organizations
         and assets and (ii) maintain their rights, franchises and existing
         relations with customers, suppliers, employees and business associates,
         or take any action reasonably likely to materially impair the ability
         of COFI or Charter Michigan to perform any of its obligations under
         this Agreement.




                                       18

<PAGE>   23



                  (b) EXTRAORDINARY DIVIDENDS. Make, declare, pay or set aside
         for payment any extraordinary dividend or distribution other than in
         the form of COFI Stock.

                  (c) ADVERSE ACTIONS. (i) Take any action or fail to take any
         action while knowing that such action or inaction would, or is
         reasonably likely to, prevent or impede (A) the Company Merger from
         qualifying for "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment or (B) the
         Company Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization
         within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code; or (ii) knowingly take
         any action or fail to take any action that is intended or is reasonably
         likely to result in (A) any of its representations and warranties set
         forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material
         respect at any time at or prior to the Effective Time except as
         expressly permitted by this Agreement, (B) any of the conditions to the
         Company Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied except as
         expressly permitted by this Agreement or (C) a material violation of
         any provision of this Agreement except, in each case, as may be
         required by applicable law or regulation; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
         nothing contained herein shall limit the ability of COFI to exercise
         its rights under the Stock Option Agreement.

                  (d) ACCOUNTING METHODS. Implement or adopt any material change
         in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may
         be required by generally accepted accounting principles.

                  (e) COMMITMENTS. Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         5.01 DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES. On or prior to the date hereof, COFI has
delivered to St. Paul a schedule and St. Paul has delivered to COFI a schedule
(respectively, its "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE") which sets forth, among other things,
items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to
an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an
exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 5.03
(other than Section 5.03(f)(ii)(A)-(C) for which no disclosure is permitted) or
5.04 or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article IV and which are
not disclosed in such party's Annual Proxy Statement or 1998 Form 10-K;
PROVIDED, that (a) no such item is required to be set forth in a Disclosure
Schedule as an exception to a Specified Representation if its absence would not
be reasonably likely to result in the Specified Representation being deemed
untrue or incorrect under the standard established by Section 5.02 and (b) the
mere inclusion of an item in a Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a
Specified Representation shall not be deemed an admission by a party that such
item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such
item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on the party
making the representation, and St. Paul's representations, warranties and
covenants contained in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be untrue or
breached as a result of effects arising solely from actions taken in compliance
with a written request of COFI.




                                                        19

<PAGE>   24



         5.02 STANDARD. No representation or warranty of St. Paul or COFI
contained in Section 5.03(a), (c)(iii), (d), (e), (f)(i), (n), (o), (p), (q),
(r), (s), (t), (v) and (x) or 5.04(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (k), (l), (m), (n),
(o) (q) and (r) (collectively, the "Specified Representations") shall be deemed
untrue or incorrect, and no party hereto shall be deemed to have breached a
Specified Representation, as a consequence of the existence of any fact, event
or circumstance unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or taken
together with all other facts, events or circumstances inconsistent with such
Specified Representation has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect.

         5.03 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ST. PAUL. Subject to Sections
5.01 and 5.02 and except as Previously Disclosed (which exception shall not
apply to Section 5.03(f)(ii)(A)-(C)) (with St. Paul using its reasonable best
efforts to disclose information in its Disclosure Schedule corresponding to the
relevant paragraph below), St. Paul hereby represents and warrants to COFI:

                  (a) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND AUTHORITY. St. Paul is a
         corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the State of Delaware. St. Paul is duly qualified to do
         business and is in good standing in the states of the United States and
         any foreign jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or
         assets or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (b) ST. PAUL STOCK. The authorized capital stock of St. Paul
         consists solely of (i) 80,000,000 shares of St. Paul Common Stock, of
         which 40,010,058 shares were outstanding, and 1,608,791 shares were
         held in treasury, as of the business day prior to the date hereof, and
         (ii) 10,000,000 shares of St. Paul Preferred Stock, of which no shares
         are outstanding. The outstanding shares of St. Paul Stock have been
         duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
         nonassessable, and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued
         in violation of any preemptive rights). As of the date hereof, there
         are no shares of St. Paul Stock authorized and reserved for issuance,
         St. Paul does not have any Rights issued or outstanding with respect to
         St. Paul Stock, and St. Paul does not have any commitment to authorize,
         issue or sell any St. Paul Stock or Rights, other than pursuant to this
         Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement. The number of shares of St.
         Paul Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of each St. Paul
         Stock Option outstanding as of the date hereof and the exercise price
         per share are Previously Disclosed.

                  (c) SUBSIDIARIES. (i)(A) St. Paul has Previously Disclosed a
         list of all of its Subsidiaries together with the jurisdiction of
         organization of each such Subsidiary, (B) it owns, directly or
         indirectly, all the issued and outstanding equity securities of each of
         its Subsidiaries, (C) no equity securities of any of St. Paul's
         Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued (other than to St.
         Paul or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries) by reason of any Right or
         otherwise, (D) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or
         arrangements by which any of St. Paul's Subsidiaries is or may become
         bound to sell or otherwise transfer any equity securities of any such
         Subsidiaries (other than to St. Paul or its wholly-owned Subsidiaries),
         (E) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings, or
         arrangements relating to St. Paul's rights to vote or to dispose of
         such securities of its Subsidiaries and (F) all the equity securities



                                       20

<PAGE>   25



         of each St. Paul  Subsidiary held by St. Paul or its  Subsidiaries  are
         fully  paid  and  nonassessable  and  are  owned  by  St.  Paul  or its
         Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens.

                           (ii) Except for stock in the Federal Home Loan Bank
                  of Chicago and readily marketable securities, neither St. Paul
                  nor any St. Paul Subsidiary owns beneficially any equity
                  securities or similar interests of any Person, or any interest
                  in a partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture
                  of any kind, other than a St. Paul Subsidiary.

                           (iii) Each of St. Paul's Subsidiaries has been duly
                  organized and is validly existing in good standing under the
                  laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, and is duly
                  qualified to do business and in good standing in the
                  jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or
                  the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (d) CORPORATE POWER. Each of St. Paul and its Subsidiaries has
         the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now
         being conducted and to own all its properties and assets; and St. Paul
         has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
         its obligations under this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and
         to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                  (e) CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Subject in the case of this Agreement
         to receipt of the requisite approval of this Agreement (including the
         agreement of merger set forth herein) by the holders of two-thirds of
         the outstanding shares of St. Paul Common Stock entitled to vote
         thereon (which is the only St. Paul stockholder vote required thereon),
         this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby have been authorized, deemed advisable
         and approved by all necessary corporate action of St. Paul and the St.
         Paul Board (by unanimous vote) on or prior to the date hereof. This
         Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of St. Paul,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may
         be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
         equity principles).

                  (f) REGULATORY FILINGS; NO DEFAULTS. (i) No consents or
         approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental
         Authority are required to be made or obtained by St. Paul or any of its
         Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance
         by St. Paul of this Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement or the
         consummation of the Company Merger or the Bank Merger except for (A)
         filings of applications or notices with Regulatory Authorities, (B)
         filings with the SEC and state securities authorities, and (C) the
         filing of (and endorsement of, if required) certificates of merger and
         articles of combination with the Delaware Secretary, the Administrator
         and the OTS. As of the date hereof, St. Paul is not aware of any reason
         why the approvals set forth in Section 7.01(b) will not be received in
         a timely manner without the imposition of a condition, restriction or
         requirement of the type described in Section 7.01(b).



                                       21

<PAGE>   26



                           (ii) Subject to receipt from Regulatory Authorities
                  of the regulatory approvals referred to in the preceding
                  paragraph, and expiration of related waiting periods, and
                  required filings under federal and state securities laws, the
                  execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement (other
                  than the Bank Merger) and the Stock Option Agreement and the
                  consummation of the Company Merger and the exercise of rights
                  under the Stock Option Agreement do not and will not (A)
                  constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, or
                  give rise to any Lien, any acceleration of remedies or any
                  right of termination under, any law, rule or regulation or any
                  judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license, or
                  agreement, license, indenture or instrument of St. Paul or of
                  any of its Subsidiaries or to which St. Paul or any of its
                  Subsidiaries or properties is subject or bound, (B) constitute
                  a breach or violation of, or a default under, the St. Paul
                  Certificate or the St. Paul ByLaws, (C) require any consent or
                  approval under any such law, rule, regulation, judgment,
                  decree, order, governmental permit or license, agreement,
                  license, indenture or instrument or (D) result in any penalty
                  payment relating to borrowed funds, advances or financial
                  instruments; subject in the case of subparts A-C hereof to
                  breaches, violations, defaults or rights of termination
                  arising out of the consummation of the Company Merger that
                  would not have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in
                  the aggregate, on St. Paul and the St. Paul Subsidiaries taken
                  as a whole; and provided real property leases to which St.
                  Paul is the successor in interest by virtue of the merger of
                  Beverly Bancorporation, with and into St. Paul (the "Beverly
                  Leases") shall not be taken into account, individually or in
                  the aggregate, in determining whether the representations in
                  this Section 5.03(f)(ii) have been breached.

                  (g) FINANCIAL REPORTS, SEC DOCUMENTS, AND MATERIAL ADVERSE
         EFFECT. (i) St. Paul's 1998 Form 10-K and all other reports,
         registration statements, definitive proxy statements or information
         statements filed or to be filed by it or any of its Subsidiaries
         subsequent to December 31, 1998 under the Securities Act, or under
         Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in the form
         filed or to be filed (collectively, St. Paul's "SEC DOCUMENTS") with
         the SEC, as of the date filed, (A) complied or will comply in all
         material respects with the applicable requirements under the Securities
         Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (B) did not and will
         not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not misleading; and each of the balance sheets or statements of
         condition contained in or incorporated by reference into any such SEC
         Document (including the related notes and schedules thereto) fairly
         presents, or will fairly present, the financial position of St. Paul
         and its Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the statements of
         income or results of operations and changes in stockholders' equity and
         cash flows or equivalent statements in such SEC Documents (including
         any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents, or will
         fairly present, in all material respects, the results of operations,
         changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows, as the case may be, of
         St. Paul and its Subsidiaries for the periods to which they relate, in



                                       22

<PAGE>   27



         each case in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
         consistently applied during the periods involved, except in each case
         as may be noted therein, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments
         and the absence of footnotes in the case of unaudited statements.

                           (ii) Except for liabilities incurred in connection
                  with negotiation of and compliance with this Agreement and
                  otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated
                  hereby, since December 31, 1998 to the date hereof, St. Paul
                  and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability
                  other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with
                  past practice.

                           (iii) Since December 31, 1998, (A) St. Paul and its
                  Subsidiaries have to the date hereof conducted their
                  respective businesses in the ordinary and usual course
                  consistent with past practice (excluding matters related to
                  this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby) and
                  (B) there has not occurred any event or circumstance that,
                  individually or taken together with all other facts,
                  circumstances and events (described in any paragraph of
                  Section 5.03 or otherwise), would constitute a Material
                  Adverse Effect with respect to St. Paul.

                  (h) LITIGATION. No material litigation, claim or other
         proceeding before any Governmental Authority is pending against St.
         Paul or any of its Subsidiaries and, to St. Paul's knowledge, no such
         litigation, claim or other proceeding has been threatened.

                  (i) REGULATORY MATTERS. (i) Neither St. Paul nor any of its
         Subsidiaries or properties is a party to or is subject to any order,
         decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement
         with, or a commitment letter to, or extraordinary supervisory letter
         from, any federal or state governmental agency or authority charged
         with the supervision or regulation of financial institutions and trust
         companies (or their holding companies) or issuers of securities or
         engaged in the insurance of deposits (including, without limitation,
         the FRB, the OTS, the Commissioner, the DOJ, and the FDIC) or the
         supervision or regulation of it or any of its Subsidiaries
         (collectively, the "REGULATORY AUTHORITIES").

                           (ii) Neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has
                  been advised by any Regulatory Authority that such Regulatory
                  Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is
                  considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any
                  such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding,
                  commitment letter, or extraordinary supervisory letter.




                                       23

<PAGE>   28



                  (j) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Except for violations and acts of
         noncompliance that are not material to the business, assets,
         properties, operations or financial performance or condition of St.
         Paul or any of its Subsidiaries, each of St. Paul and its Subsidiaries:

                           (i) is in substantial compliance with all applicable
                  federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations,
                  ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable
                  thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses,
                  including, without limitation, the Equal Credit Opportunity
                  Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act of
                  1977, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and all other
                  applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to
                  discriminatory business practices;

                           (ii) has all permits, licenses, authorizations,
                  orders and approvals of, and has made all filings,
                  applications and registrations with, all Governmental
                  Authorities that are required in order to permit them to own
                  or lease their properties and to conduct their businesses as
                  presently conducted; all such permits, licenses, certificates
                  of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and
                  effect and, to St. Paul's knowledge, no suspension or
                  cancellation of any such permit, license, certificate, order
                  or approval is threatened or will result from the consummation
                  of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and

                           (iii) has received, since December 31, 1998, no
                  notification or communication from any Governmental Authority
                  (A) asserting that St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries is not
                  in compliance in any material respect with any of the
                  statutes, regulations, or ordinances which such Governmental
                  Authority enforces or (B) threatening to revoke any material
                  license, franchise, permit, or governmental authorization
                  (nor, to St. Paul's knowledge, do any grounds for any of the
                  foregoing exist).

                  (k) MATERIAL CONTRACTS; REAL ESTATE LEASES; DEFAULTS. As of
         the date hereof, except for this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement
         and those agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to its SEC
         Documents, neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, bound
         by or subject to any agreement, contract, arrangement, commitment or
         understanding (whether written or oral) (i) that is a "material
         contract" within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC's Regulation
         S-K or (ii) that restricts or limits in any material way the conduct of
         business by it or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood that any
         non-compete or similar provision shall be deemed material). Each real
         estate lease (including White Hen Pantry Store ATMs but excluding other
         ATMs) that may require the consent of the lessor or its agent resulting
         from the Company Merger or the Bank Merger by virtue of a prohibition
         or restriction relating to assignment, by operation of law or
         otherwise, or change in control, is listed in the St. Paul Disclosure
         Schedule identifying the section of the lease that contains such
         prohibition or restriction. Neither St. Paul nor any of its
         Subsidiaries is in default in any material respect under any material
         contract, agreement, commitment, arrangement, lease, insurance policy
         or other instrument to which it is a party, by which its respective



                                       24

<PAGE>   29



         assets, business, or operations may be bound or affected, or under
         which it or its respective assets, business, or operations receive
         benefits, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of
         time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.

                  (l) BROKERS. No action has been taken by St. Paul that would
         give rise to any valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage
         commission, finder's fee or other like payment with respect to the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, excluding a Previously
         Disclosed fee to be paid by St. Paul to Merrill Lynch & Co.

                  (m) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. (i) St. Paul has Previously
         Disclosed a complete and accurate list of all existing bonus,
         incentive, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit-sharing,
         thrift, savings, employee stock ownership, stock bonus, stock purchase,
         restricted stock, stock option, stock appreciation, phantom stock,
         severance, welfare and fringe benefit plans, employment, severance and
         change in control agreements and all similar practices, policies and
         arrangements maintained by St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries in which
         any employee or former employee, consultant or former consultant or
         director or former director of St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries
         participates or to which any such employees, consultants or directors
         are a party other than plans and programs involving immaterial
         obligations (the "COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT PLANS"). Except as expressly
         contemplated by a separate agreement entered into by St. Paul and COFI
         on the date hereof, neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         any commitment to create any additional Compensation and Benefit Plan
         or to modify, change or renew any existing Compensation and Benefit
         Plan.

                           (ii) Each Compensation and Benefit Plan has been
                  operated and administered in all material respects in
                  accordance with its terms and with applicable law, including,
                  but not limited to, ERISA, the Code, the Securities Act, the
                  Exchange Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, or any
                  regulations or rules promulgated thereunder, and all material
                  filings, disclosures and notices required by ERISA, the Code,
                  the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Age Discrimination
                  in Employment Act and any other applicable law have been
                  timely made. Each Compensation and Benefit Plan which is an
                  "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section
                  3(2) of ERISA (a "PENSION PLAN") and which is intended to be
                  qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
                  favorable determination letter from the IRS, and St. Paul is
                  not aware of any circumstances which are reasonably likely to
                  result in revocation of any such favorable determination
                  letter. There is no material pending or, to the knowledge of
                  St. Paul, threatened legal action, suit or claim relating to
                  the Compensation and Benefit Plans (other than routine claims
                  for benefits). Neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries
                  has engaged in a transaction, or omitted to take any action,
                  with respect to any Compensation and Benefit Plan that would
                  reasonably be expected to subject St. Paul or any of its



                                       25

<PAGE>   30



                  Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty imposed by either
                  Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502 of ERISA, assuming for
                  purposes of Section 4975 of the Code that the taxable period
                  of any such transaction expired as of the date hereof.

                           (iii) No material liability (other than for payment
                  of premiums to the PBGC which have been made or will be made
                  on a timely basis) under Title IV of ERISA has been or is
                  expected to be incurred by St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries
                  with respect to any ongoing, frozen or terminated
                  "single-employer plan", within the meaning of Section
                  4001(a)(15) of ERISA, currently or formerly maintained by any
                  of them, or any single-employer plan of any entity (an "ERISA
                  AFFILIATE") which is considered one employer with St. Paul
                  under Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA or Section 414(b) or (c) of
                  the Code (an "ERISA AFFILIATE PLAN"). None of St. Paul, any of
                  its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed, or
                  has been obligated to contribute, to a multiemployer plan
                  under Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA at any time since
                  September 26, 1980. No notice of a "reportable event", within
                  the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for which the 30-day
                  reporting requirement has not been waived, has been required
                  to be filed for any Compensation and Benefit Plan or by any
                  ERISA Affiliate Plan within the 12-month period ending on the
                  date hereof. The PBGC has not instituted proceedings to
                  terminate any Pension Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan and, to St.
                  Paul's knowledge, no condition exists that presents a material
                  risk that such proceedings will be instituted by the PBGC. To
                  the knowledge of St. Paul, there is no pending investigation
                  or enforcement action by the PBGC, DOL or IRS or any other
                  Governmental Authority with respect to any Compensation and
                  Benefit Plan. Under each Pension Plan and ERISA Affiliate
                  Plan, as of the date of the most recent actuarial valuation
                  performed prior to the date of this Agreement, the actuarially
                  determined present value of all "benefit liabilities", within
                  the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA (as determined on
                  the basis of the actuarial assumptions contained in such
                  actuarial valuation of such Pension Plan or ERISA Affiliate
                  Plan), did not exceed the then current value of the assets of
                  such Pension Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan and since such date
                  there has been neither a material adverse change in the
                  financial condition of such Pension Plan or ERISA Affiliate
                  Plan nor any amendment or other change to such Pension Plan or
                  ERISA Affiliate Plan that would increase the amount of
                  benefits thereunder which reasonably could be expected to
                  change such result.

                           (iv) All material contributions required to be made
                  under the terms of any Compensation and Benefit Plan or ERISA
                  Affiliate Plan or any employee benefit arrangements under any
                  collective bargaining agreement to which St. Paul or any of
                  its Subsidiaries is a party have been timely made or have been
                  reflected on St. Paul's financial statements. Neither any
                  Pension Plan nor any ERISA Affiliate Plan has an "accumulated
                  funding deficiency" (whether or not waived) within the meaning
                  of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA. None of
                  St. Paul, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate (x)
                  has provided, or would reasonably be expected to be required
                  to provide, security to any Pension Plan or to any ERISA
                  Affiliate Plan pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code, and
                  (y) has taken any



                                       26

<PAGE>   31



                  action, or omitted to take any action, that has resulted, or
                  would reasonably be expected to result, in the imposition of a
                  lien under Section 412(n) of the Code or pursuant to ERISA.

                           (v) Neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has
                  any obligations to provide retiree health and life insurance
                  or other retiree death benefits under any Compensation and
                  Benefit Plan, other than benefits mandated by Section 4980B of
                  the Code. There has been no communication to employees by St.
                  Paul or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be
                  expected to promise or guarantee such employees retiree health
                  or life insurance or other retiree death benefits on a
                  permanent basis.

                           (vi) St. Paul and its Subsidiaries do not maintain
                  any Compensation and Benefit Plans covering foreign employees.

                           (vii) Except as expressly contemplated by a separate
                  agreement entered into by St. Paul and COFI on the date
                  hereof, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
                  this Agreement would not, directly or indirectly (including,
                  without limitation, as a result of any termination of
                  employment prior to or following the Effective Time)
                  reasonably be expected to (A) entitle any employee, consultant
                  or director to any payment (including severance pay or similar
                  compensation) or any increase in compensation, (B) result in
                  the vesting or acceleration of any benefits under any
                  Compensation and Benefit Plan or (C) result in any material
                  increase in benefits payable under any Compensation and
                  Benefit Plan.

                           (viii) Neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries
                  maintains any compensation plans, programs or arrangements the
                  payments under which would not reasonably be expected to be
                  deductible as a result of the limitations under Section 162(m)
                  of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder.

                           (ix) To the knowledge of St. Paul, as a result,
                  directly or indirectly, of the transactions contemplated by
                  this Agreement (including, without limitation, as a result of
                  any termination of employment prior to or following the
                  Effective Time), none of COFI, St. Paul or the Surviving
                  Corporation, or any of their respective Subsidiaries will be
                  obligated to make a payment that would be characterized as an
                  "excess parachute payment" to an individual who is a
                  "disqualified individual" (as such terms are defined in
                  Section 280G of the Code), without regard to whether such
                  payment is reasonable compensation for personal services
                  performed or to be performed in the future.

                           (x) There are no SARs, LSARs, shares of restricted
                  stock, performance shares or performance units (as such terms
                  are defined in the St. Paul 1995 Incentive Plan) outstanding
                  under the St. Paul Stock Plans and neither St. Paul nor any
                  St. Paul Subsidiary has any commitment or obligation to make
                  any awards thereof.



                                       27

<PAGE>   32



                           (xi) There are no phantom stock shares or awards
                  outstanding.

                  (n) LABOR MATTERS. Neither St. Paul nor any of its
         Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any collective bargaining
         agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor
         union or labor organization, nor is St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries
         the subject of a proceeding asserting that it or any such Subsidiary
         has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the
         National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel St. Paul or any such
         Subsidiary to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or
         conditions of employment, nor is there any strike or other labor
         dispute involving it or any of its Subsidiaries pending or, to St.
         Paul's knowledge, threatened, nor is St. Paul aware of any activity
         involving its or any of its Subsidiaries' employees seeking to certify
         a collective bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational
         activity.

                  (o) TAKEOVER LAWS; ST. PAUL RIGHTS AGREEMENT; DISSENTERS
         RIGHTS. This Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby are not subject to the requirements of
         any "moratorium," "control share", "fair price", "affiliate
         transactions", "business combination" or other antitakeover laws and
         regulations of any state, including the provisions of Section 203 of
         the DGCL ("TAKEOVER LAWS") applicable to St. Paul or any St. Paul
         Subsidiary. The provisions of Article 12 of the St. Paul Certificate do
         not apply to the entering into of this Agreement, the Stock Option
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby,
         including the Company Merger. It has (i) duly approved an appropriate
         amendment to the St. Paul Rights Agreement and (ii) taken all other
         action necessary or appropriate so that the entering into of this
         Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not result
         in the ability of any Person to exercise any Rights, as defined in the
         St. Paul Rights Agreement (the "ST. PAUL RIGHTS"), or enable or require
         the St. Paul Rights to separate from the shares of St. Paul Common
         Stock to which they are attached or to be triggered or become
         exercisable. No "DISTRIBUTION DATE" or "SHARES ACQUISITION DATE" (as
         such terms are defined in the St. Paul Rights Agreement) has occurred
         or will occur in connection with the entering into of this Agreement,
         the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and
         thereby. The holders of St. Paul Common Stock will not have dissenters'
         rights in connection with the Company Merger.

                  (p) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. To St. Paul's knowledge, neither
         the conduct nor operation of St. Paul or its Subsidiaries nor any
         condition of any property currently or previously owned or operated by
         any of them (including, without limitation, in a fiduciary or agency
         capacity), or on which any of them holds a Lien, results or resulted in
         a violation of any Environmental Laws and to St. Paul's knowledge, no
         condition has existed or event has occurred with respect to any of them
         or any such property that, with notice or the passage of time, or both,
         is reasonably likely to result in any liability to St. Paul or any St.
         Paul Subsidiary under or by reason of any Environmental Laws or
         Materials of Environmental Concern. To St. Paul's knowledge, except for
         any notice for which, in St. Paul's reasonable judgment, there is no
         reasonable basis, neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has



                                       28

<PAGE>   33



         received any notice from any person or entity that St. Paul or its
         Subsidiaries or the operation or condition of any property ever owned,
         operated, or held as collateral or in a fiduciary capacity by any of
         them are or were in violation of or otherwise are alleged to have
         liability under any Environmental Law or relating to Materials of
         Environmental Concern, including, but not limited to, responsibility
         (or potential responsibility) for the cleanup or other remediation of
         Materials of Environmental Concern at, on, beneath, or originating from
         any such property.

                  (q) TAX MATTERS. (i) (a) All Tax Returns that are required to
         be filed by or with respect to St. Paul or its Subsidiaries have been
         duly filed, or requests for extensions have been timely filed (or an
         extension is automatic) and any such extension has been granted and has
         not been rescinded, (b) all Taxes shown to be due on Tax Returns
         referred to in clause (a), if filed, and all Taxes required to be shown
         on the Tax Returns for which extensions have been granted have been
         paid in full or adequate provision has been made for such Taxes on St.
         Paul's most recent balance sheet provided to COFI, (c) the Tax Returns
         referred to in clause (a) that have been filed have been examined by
         the IRS or the appropriate state, local or foreign taxing authority or
         the period for assessment of the Taxes in respect of which such Tax
         Returns were required to be filed has expired, (d) all deficiencies
         asserted or assessments made as a result of such examinations have been
         paid in full or non-material amounts are being contested in good faith,
         (e) no material issues that have been raised by the relevant taxing
         authority in connection with the examination of any of the Tax Returns
         referred to in clause (a) are currently pending, and (f) no waivers of
         statutes of limitation have been given by or requested with respect to
         any Taxes of St. Paul or its Subsidiaries. St. Paul has made available
         to COFI true and correct copies of the United States federal income Tax
         Returns filed by St. Paul and its Subsidiaries for each of the three
         most recent fiscal years ended on or before December 31, 1998. Neither
         St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability with
         respect to income, franchise or similar Taxes that accrued on or before
         the end of the most recent period covered by St. Paul's SEC Documents
         filed prior to the date hereof in excess of the amounts accrued with
         respect thereto that are reflected in the financial statements included
         in St. Paul's SEC Documents filed on or prior to the date hereof. As of
         the date hereof, neither St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries has any
         reason to believe that any conditions exist that might prevent or
         impede the Company Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying as a
         reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                           (ii) No Tax is required to be withheld pursuant to
                  Section 1445 of the Code as a result of the transfer
                  contemplated by this Agreement.

                           (iii) St. Paul and its Subsidiaries will not be
                  liable for any taxes as a result of the Company Merger.

                  (r) RISK MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS. All material interest rate
         swaps, caps, floors, option agreements, futures and forward contracts
         and other similar risk management arrangements, whether entered into
         for St. Paul's own account, or for the account of one or more of St.
         Paul's Subsidiaries or their customers (all of which are Previously
         Disclosed), were entered into (i) in accordance with prudent business



                                       29

<PAGE>   34



         practices and in all material respects in compliance with all
         applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies and (ii)
         with counterparties believed to be financially responsible at the time;
         and each of them constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation
         of St. Paul or one of its Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with
         its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by applicable
         bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer
         and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
         creditors' rights or by general equity principles), and is in full
         force and effect. Neither St. Paul nor its Subsidiaries, nor to St.
         Paul's knowledge any other party thereto, is in breach of any of its
         obligations under any such agreement or arrangement in any material
         respect.

                  (s) INSURANCE. St. Paul has Previously Disclosed all of the
         material insurance policies, binders, or bonds maintained by St. Paul
         or its Subsidiaries. St. Paul and its Subsidiaries are insured with
         reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as the
         management of St. Paul reasonably has determined to be prudent in
         accordance with industry practices and in accordance in all material
         respects with all contractual obligations. All such insurance policies
         are in full force and effect; St. Paul and its Subsidiaries are not in
         material default thereunder; and all material claims thereunder have
         been filed in due and timely fashion.

                  (t) ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. As of the date hereof, St. Paul is
         aware of no reason why the Company Merger will fail to qualify for
         "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment.

                  (u) YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT. Neither St. Paul nor any of its
         Subsidiaries has received, or has reason to believe that it will
         receive, a rating of less than "satisfactory" on any OTS Year 2000
         Report of Examination. St. Paul has Previously Disclosed a complete and
         accurate copy of its plan for addressing the issues set forth in the
         statements of the FFIEC dated May 5, 1997, entitled "Year 2000 Project
         Management Awareness," and December 17, 1997, entitled "Safety and
         Soundness Guidelines Concerning the Year 2000 Business Risk," as such
         issues affect it and its Subsidiaries, and such plan is in material
         compliance with the schedule set forth in the FFIEC statements. Neither
         St. Paul nor any of its Subsidiaries, to the extent applicable, has
         received, or has reason to believe that it will receive, a rating of
         less than satisfactory on any Year 2000 examination by the Commissioner
         or any other applicable Governmental Authority of the State of
         Illinois. St. Paul and its Subsidiaries shall complete Year 2000
         testing and certification in accordance with the requirements set forth
         in a separate letter from St. Paul to COFI of even date herewith.

                  (v) GOVERNMENTAL REVIEWS. No investigation or review by any
         Governmental Authority with respect to St. Paul or any St. Paul
         Subsidiary is pending or, to the knowledge of St. Paul, threatened, nor
         has any Governmental Authority indicated to St. Paul or any St. Paul
         Subsidiary an intention to conduct the same, other than normal or
         routine regulatory examinations.




                                       30

<PAGE>   35



                  (w) FAIRNESS OPINION. On the date of this Agreement, Merrill
         Lynch & Co. has provided to the St. Paul Board a written fairness
         opinion to the effect that the Exchange Ratio is fair to the
         stockholders of St. Paul from a financial point of view.

                  (x) COMPLIANCE WITH SERVICING OBLIGATIONS. St. Paul and the
         St. Paul Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with
         all contract, agency and investor requirements and guidelines, and all
         applicable laws, rules and regulations of Governmental Authorities,
         relating to the servicing and administration of loans by them, or any
         of them, including but not limited to, properly and timely making
         interest rate adjustments to adjustable rate loans.

         5.04 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COFI. Subject to Sections 5.01
and 5.02 and except as Previously Disclosed (with COFI using its reasonable best
efforts to disclose information in its Disclosure Schedule corresponding to the
relevant paragraph below), COFI hereby represents and warrants to St. Paul as
follows:

                  (a) ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND AUTHORITY. COFI is a
         corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the State of Delaware. COFI is duly qualified to do
         business and is in good standing in the states of the United States and
         foreign jurisdictions where its ownership or leasing of property or
         assets or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (b) COFI STOCK. (i) As of the date hereof, the authorized
         capital stock of COFI consists solely of (A) 360,000,000 shares of COFI
         Common Stock, of which no more than 166,401,568 shares were
         outstanding, and zero shares were held in treasury, as of the day prior
         to the date hereof and (B) 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01
         par value per share, of which none were issued and outstanding on the
         date hereof. As of the date hereof, COFI does not have any Rights
         issued or outstanding with respect to COFI Common Stock and COFI does
         not have any commitment to authorize, issue or sell any COFI Common
         Stock or Rights, other than pursuant to (A) this Agreement, (B)
         outstanding stock options (and any mandatory future awards under stock
         option plans) that have been Previously Disclosed, (C) its dividend
         reinvestment plan on terms Previously Disclosed, and (D) the COFI
         Rights Agreement. The outstanding shares of COFI Common Stock have been
         duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and
         nonassessable, and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued
         in violation of any preemptive rights).

                           (ii) The shares of COFI Common Stock to be issued in
                  exchange for shares of St. Paul Common Stock in the Company
                  Merger, when issued in accordance with the terms of this
                  Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
                  and nonassessable and subject to no preemptive rights.

                  (c) SUBSIDIARIES. Each of COFI's Subsidiaries has been duly
         organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of
         the jurisdiction of its organization, and is duly qualified to do
         business and is in good standing in the jurisdictions where its
         ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business



                                       31

<PAGE>   36



         requires it to be so qualified and COFI owns, directly or indirectly,
         all the issued and outstanding equity securities of each of its
         Subsidiaries.

                  (d) CORPORATE POWER. Each of COFI and its Subsidiaries has the
         corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is now
         being conducted and to own all its properties and assets; and each of
         COFI and Charter Michigan has the corporate power and authority to
         execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and,
         in the case of COFI, the Stock Option Agreement, and to consummate the
         transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

                  (e) CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Subject to the approval of the
         issuance of COFI Common Stock to be issued in the Company Merger by the
         holders of a majority of the outstanding COFI Common Stock voted (cast)
         at the COFI Meeting in accordance with the NASDAQ or NYSE rules,
         whichever is applicable (which is the only COFI stockholder vote
         required thereon), this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the
         transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been authorized,
         deemed advisable and approved by all necessary corporate action of COFI
         and Charter Michigan and the COFI Board and the Charter Michigan Board
         on or prior to the date hereof. This Agreement is a valid and legally
         binding agreement of COFI and Charter Michigan, enforceable in
         accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by
         applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
         fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general applicability relating
         to or affecting creditors' rights or by general equity principles).

                  (f) REGULATORY FILINGS; NO DEFAULTS. (i) No consents or
         approvals of, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental
         Authority or with any third party are required to be made or obtained
         by COFI or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
         delivery or performance by COFI or Charter Michigan of this Agreement
         or the consummation of the Company Merger or the Bank Merger except for
         (A) the filings referred to in Section 5.03(f)(i); (B) such filings as
         are required to be made or approvals as are required to be obtained
         under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states in connection
         with the issuance of COFI Common Stock in the Company Merger; and (C)
         receipt of the approvals set forth in Section 7.01(b). As of the date
         hereof, COFI is not aware of any reason why the approvals set forth in
         Section 7.01(b) will not be received in a timely manner without the
         imposition of a condition, restriction or requirement of the type
         described in Section 7.01(b).

                           (ii) Subject to the satisfaction of the requirements
                  referred to in the preceding paragraph, and expiration of the
                  related waiting periods, and required filings under federal
                  and state securities laws, the execution, delivery and
                  performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
                  Company Merger do not and will not (A) constitute a breach or
                  violation of, or a default under, or give rise to any Lien,
                  any acceleration of remedies or any right of termination
                  under, any law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree,
                  order, governmental permit or license, or agreement, license,
                  indenture or instrument of COFI or of any of its Subsidiaries
                  or to which COFI or any of its Subsidiaries or properties is
                  subject or bound, (B)



                                       32

<PAGE>   37



                  constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the
                  certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or similar governing
                  documents) of COFI or any of its Subsidiaries, or (C) require
                  any consent or approval under any such law, rule, regulation,
                  judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license,
                  agreement, license, indenture or instrument.

                  (g) FINANCIAL REPORTS, SEC DOCUMENTS; MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT,
         AND OTHER MATTERS. (i) COFI's SEC Documents, as of the date filed, (A)
         complied or will comply in all material respects with the applicable
         requirements under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case
         may be, and (B) did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and each of
         the balance sheets or statements of condition contained in or
         incorporated by reference into any such SEC Document (including the
         related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents, or will fairly
         present, the financial position of COFI and its Subsidiaries as of its
         date, and each of the statements of income or results of operations and
         changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows or equivalent statements
         in such SEC Documents (including any related notes and schedules
         thereto) fairly presents, or will fairly present, in all material
         respects, the results of operations, changes in stockholders' equity
         and cash flows, as the case may be, of COFI and its Subsidiaries for
         the periods to which they relate, in each case in accordance with
         generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied during
         the periods involved, except in each case as may be noted therein,
         subject to normal year-end audit adjustments in the case of unaudited
         financial statements.

                           (ii) Since December 31, 1998, (A) COFI and its
                  Subsidiaries have to the date hereof conducted their
                  respective businesses and incurred their respective material
                  liabilities in the ordinary and usual course consistent with
                  past practice (excluding branch and deposit purchases and
                  matters related to this Agreement and the transactions
                  contemplated hereby) and (B) there has not occurred any event
                  or circumstance that, individually or taken together with all
                  other facts, circumstances and events (described in any
                  paragraph of Section 5.04 or otherwise), would constitute a
                  Material Adverse Effect with respect to COFI.

                           (iii) As of the date of this Agreement, neither COFI
                  nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in any material
                  respect under any material contract (as defined in Section
                  5.03(k)) to which it is a party, by which its respective
                  assets, business or operations may be bound or affected, or
                  under which it or its respective assets, business or
                  operations receive benefits, and there has not occurred any
                  event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or
                  both, would constitute such a default.

                  (h) LITIGATION; REGULATORY ACTION. (i) No material litigation,
         claim or other proceeding before any Governmental  Authority is pending



                                       33

<PAGE>   38



         against COFI or any of its Subsidiaries and, to COFI's knowledge, no
         such litigation, claim or other proceeding has been threatened.

                           (ii) Neither COFI nor any of its Subsidiaries or
                  properties is a party to or is subject to any order, decree,
                  agreement, memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement
                  with, or a commitment letter to, or extraordinary supervisory
                  letter from a Regulatory Authority, nor has COFI or any of its
                  Subsidiaries been advised by a Regulatory Authority that such
                  agency is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is
                  considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any
                  such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding,
                  commitment letter or extraordinary, supervisory letter.

                  (i) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Except for violations and acts of
         noncompliance that are not material to the business, assets,
         properties, operations or financial performance or condition of COFI or
         any of its Subsidiaries, each of COFI and its Subsidiaries:

                           (i) is in substantial compliance with all applicable
                  federal, state, local and foreign statutes, laws, regulations,
                  ordinances, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable
                  thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses,
                  including, without limitation, the Equal Credit Opportunity
                  Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act of
                  1977, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and all other
                  applicable fair lending laws and other laws relating to
                  discriminatory business practices; and

                           (ii) has all permits, licenses, authorizations,
                  orders and approvals of, and has made all filings,
                  applications and registrations with, all Governmental
                  Authorities that are required in order to permit them to
                  conduct their businesses substantially as presently conducted;
                  all such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders
                  and approvals are in full force and effect and, to the best of
                  its knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any such
                  permit, license, certificate, order or approval is threatened
                  or will result from the consummation of the transactions
                  contemplated by this Agreement; and

                           (iii) has received, since December 31, 1998, no
                  notification or communication from any Governmental Authority
                  (A) asserting that COFI or any of its Subsidiaries is not in
                  compliance in any material respect with any of the statutes,
                  regulations, or ordinances which such Governmental Authority
                  enforces or (B) threatening to revoke any material license,
                  franchise, permit, or governmental authorization (nor, to
                  COFI's knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing
                  exist).

                  (j) BROKERS. No action has been taken by COFI that would give
         rise to any valid claim against any party hereto for a brokerage
         commission, finder's fee or other like payment with respect to the



                                       34

<PAGE>   39



         transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for a fee to be
         paid by COFI to Salomon Smith Barney.

                  (k) TAKEOVER LAWS. COFI has taken all action required to be
         taken by it in order to exempt this Agreement, the Stock Option
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby from,
         and this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement and the transactions
         contemplated hereby and thereby are exempt from, the requirements of
         any Takeover Laws applicable to COFI or Charter Michigan or their
         Subsidiaries.

                  (l) ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. To COFI's knowledge, neither the
         conduct nor operation of COFI or its Subsidiaries nor any condition of
         any property currently or previously owned or operated by any of them
         (including, without limitation, in a fiduciary or agency capacity), or
         on which any of them holds a Lien, results or resulted in a violation
         of any Environmental Laws and to COFI's knowledge no condition has
         existed or event has occurred with respect to any of them or any such
         property that, with notice or the passage of time, or both, is
         reasonably likely to result in any liability to COFI or any COFI
         Subsidiary under or by reason of Environmental Laws or Materials of
         Environmental Concern. To COFI's knowledge, except for any notice for
         which, in COFI's reasonable judgment, there is no reasonable basis,
         neither COFI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice from
         any person or entity that COFI or its Subsidiaries or the operation or
         condition of any property ever owned, operated, or held as collateral
         or in a fiduciary capacity by any of them are or were in violation of
         or otherwise are alleged to have liability under any Environmental Law
         or relating to Materials of Environmental Concern, including, but not
         limited to, responsibility (or potential responsibility) for the
         cleanup or other remediation of any Materials of Environmental Concern
         at, on, beneath, or originating from any such property.

                  (m) TAX MATTERS. (i) All Tax Returns that are required to be
         filed by or with respect to COFI or its Subsidiaries have been duly
         filed, or requests for extensions have been timely filed (or an
         extension is automatic) and any such extension has been granted and has
         not been rescinded, (ii) all Taxes shown to be due on Tax Returns
         referred to in clause (i) , if filed, and all Taxes required to be
         shown on the Tax Returns for which extensions have been granted have
         been paid in full or adequate provision has been made for such Taxes on
         COFI's most recent balance sheet provided to St. Paul, (iii) the Tax
         Returns referred to in clause (i) that have been filed have been
         examined by the IRS or the appropriate state, local or foreign taxing
         authority or the period for assessment of the Taxes in respect of which
         such Tax Returns were required to be filed has expired, (iv) all
         deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of such
         examinations have been paid in full, or non-material amounts are being
         contested in good faith, (v) no material issues that have been raised
         by the relevant taxing authority in connection with the examination of
         any of the Tax Returns referred to in clause (i) are currently pending,
         and (vi) no waivers of statutes of limitation have been given by or
         requested with respect to any Taxes of COFI or its Subsidiaries.
         Neither COFI nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability
         with respect to income, franchise or similar Taxes that accrued on or
         before the end of the most recent period covered by COFI's SEC
         Documents filed prior to the date hereof in excess of the amounts



                                       35

<PAGE>   40



         accrued with respect thereto that are reflected in the financial
         statements included in COFI's SEC Documents filed on or prior to the
         date hereof. As of the date hereof, neither COFI nor any of its
         Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that any conditions exist that
         might prevent or impede the Company Merger or the Bank Merger from
         qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
         the Code.

                  (n) ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. As of the date hereof, COFI is aware
         of no reason why the Company Merger will fail to qualify for
         "pooling-of-interests" accounting treatment.

                  (o) COFI OWNERSHIP OF ST. PAUL STOCK. Neither COFI nor any of
         its Subsidiaries either beneficially owns any shares of St. Paul Common
         Stock or, other than as contemplated by this Agreement and the Stock
         Option Agreement, has any option, warrant or right of any kind to
         acquire the beneficial ownership of any shares of St. Paul Common
         Stock.

                  (p) YEAR 2000. Neither COFI nor any of its Subsidiaries has
         received, or has reason to believe that it will receive, a rating of
         less than "satisfactory" on any OTS Year 2000 Report of Examination.
         COFI has Previously Disclosed a complete and accurate copy of its plan
         for addressing the issues set forth in the statements of the FFIEC
         dated May 5, 1997, entitled "Year 2000 Project Management Awareness,"
         and December 17, 1997, entitled "Safety and Soundness Guidelines
         Concerning the Year 2000 Business Risk," as such issues affect it and
         its Subsidiaries, and such plan is in material compliance with the
         schedule set forth in the FFIEC statements. COFI is in compliance with
         FFIEC guidelines in all material respects.

                  (q) GOVERNMENTAL REVIEWS. No investigation or review by any
         Governmental Authority with respect to COFI or any of its Subsidiary is
         pending or, to the knowledge of COFI, threatened, nor has any
         Governmental Authority indicated to COFI or any of its Subsidiary an
         intention to conduct the same, other than normal or routine regulatory
         examinations.

                  (r) RISK MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS. All material interest rate
         swaps, caps, floors, option agreements, futures and forward contracts
         and other similar risk management arrangements, whether entered into
         for COFI's own account, or for the account of one or more of COFI's
         Subsidiaries or their customers, were entered into (i) in accordance
         with prudent business practices and in all material respects in
         compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory
         policies and (ii) with counterparties believed to be financially
         responsible at the time; and each of them constitutes the valid and
         legally binding obligation of COFI or one of its Subsidiaries,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as enforceability may
         be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
         moratorium, fraudulent transfer and similar laws of general
         applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by general
         equity principles), and is in full force and effect. Neither COFI nor
         its Subsidiaries, nor to COFI's knowledge any other party thereto, is
         in breach of any of its obligations under any such agreement or
         arrangement in any material respect.



                                       36

<PAGE>   41



                  (s) FAIRNESS OPINION. On the date of this Agreement, Salomon
         Smith Barney has provided to the COFI Board a written fairness opinion
         to the effect that the Exchange Ratio is fair to the stockholders of
         COFI from a financial point of view.

                  (t) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS. Each employee benefit plan,
         program, policy or arrangement (including, but not limited to employee
         benefit plans (as defined in section 3(3) of ERISA) which COFI or any
         of its Subsidiaries maintain or contribute to for the benefit of their
         current or former employees complies and has been administered in form
         and in operation in all material respects with all applicable
         requirements of law and no notice has been issued by any Governmental
         Authority questioning or challenging such compliance.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

         6.01 REASONABLE BEST EFFORTS. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each of St. Paul and COFI agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable under
applicable laws, so as to permit consummation of the Transaction as promptly as
practicable and otherwise to enable consummation of the Transaction and shall
cooperate fully with the other party hereto to that end. Such reasonable best
efforts shall include, without limitation, using reasonable best efforts to
obtain all necessary consents, approvals or waivers from Regulatory Authorities
necessary for the consummation of the Transaction and opposing vigorously any
litigation or administrative proceeding or directive relating to this Agreement
or the Transaction, including, promptly appealing any adverse court or agency
order. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of St. Paul and
COFI agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Merger to be
consummated on or before October 31, 1999.

         6.02 STOCKHOLDER APPROVALS. COFI and St. Paul agree to take, in
accordance with applicable law or NASDAQ or NYSE rules, whichever is applicable,
and their certificates of incorporation and by-laws, all action necessary to
convene an appropriate meeting of their stockholders to consider and vote upon,
in the case of St. Paul, the adoption of this Agreement and in the case of COFI
to approve the issuance of COFI Common Stock to be issued in the Company Merger,
and in each case any other matter required to be approved by such stockholders
for consummation of the Company Merger (including any adjournment or
postponement, the "COFI MEETING" or "ST. PAUL MEETING", whichever is
applicable), in each case as promptly as practicable after the Registration
Statement is declared effective. The COFI Board and the St. Paul Board shall
each recommend such adoption or approval, and COFI and St. Paul shall take all
reasonable, lawful action to solicit such adoption or approval by its
stockholders; provided if either the St. Paul Board or COFI Board concludes by
at least a two-thirds vote of its entire membership that such recommendation
would result in a violation of its fiduciary duties to stockholders under
applicable law (as determined in good faith after consultation with counsel)
arising by virtue of St. Paul's receipt of a St. Paul Proposal or COFI's receipt
of a COFI Proposal, whichever is applicable, then such Board will not be
required to make such recommendations.



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<PAGE>   42



         6.03 REGISTRATION STATEMENT. (a) COFI agrees to promptly prepare a
registration statement on Form S-4 (the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") which, subject
to compliance by St. Paul with Sections 6.03(b) and (c), will comply in all
material respects with applicable federal securities laws to be filed by COFI
with the SEC in connection with the issuance of COFI Common Stock in the Company
Merger (including the joint proxy statement and prospectus and other proxy
solicitation materials of COFI and St. Paul constituting a part thereof (the
"PROXY STATEMENT") and all related documents). St. Paul agrees to cooperate, and
to cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate, with COFI, its counsel and its
accountants, in preparation of the Registration Statement and the Proxy
Statement; and PROVIDED that St. Paul and its Subsidiaries have cooperated as
required above, COFI agrees to file the Registration Statement (or the form of
the Proxy Statement) in preliminary form with the SEC as promptly as reasonably
practicable and shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such filing to occur
within 45 days after execution of this Agreement. If COFI files the Proxy
Statement in preliminary form, it agrees to file the Registration Statement with
the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after any SEC comments with respect to
the preliminary Proxy Statement are resolved. Each of St. Paul and COFI agrees
to use all reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared
effective under the Securities Act as promptly as reasonably practicable after
filing thereof. COFI also agrees to use all reasonable efforts to obtain, prior
to the effective date of the Registration Statement, all necessary state
securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and approvals required to carry out the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. St. Paul agrees to furnish to COFI
all information concerning St. Paul, its Subsidiaries, officers, directors and
stockholders as may be reasonably requested in connection with the foregoing.

                  (b) Each of St. Paul and COFI agrees, as to itself and its
         Subsidiaries, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied
         by it for inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the
         Registration Statement will, at the time the Registration Statement and
         each amendment or supplement thereto, if any, becomes effective under
         the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the
         Proxy Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto will, at the
         date of mailing to stockholders and at the time of the COFI Meeting or
         the St. Paul Meeting, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement
         of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
         stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
         misleading or any statement which, in the light of the circumstances
         under which such statement is made, will be false or misleading with
         respect to any material fact, or which will omit to state any material
         fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not false or
         misleading or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
         statement in the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement
         thereto. Each of St. Paul and COFI further agrees that if it shall
         become aware prior to the Effective Date of any information furnished
         by it that would cause any of the statements in the Proxy Statement to
         be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or to omit to
         state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
         false or misleading, to promptly inform the other party thereof and to
         take the necessary steps to correct the Proxy Statement.




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<PAGE>   43



                  (c) COFI agrees to advise St. Paul, promptly after COFI
         receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement
         has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of
         the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification
         of COFI Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the
         initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any
         request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Registration
         Statement or for additional information.

                  (d) Each of COFI and St. Paul, in consultation with the other,
         shall employ professional proxy solicitors to assist it in contacting
         stockholders in connection with soliciting votes on the matters to be
         considered and voted upon at the COFI Meeting and St.
         Paul Meeting.

         6.04 PRESS RELEASES. Each of St. Paul and COFI agrees that it will not,
without the prior approval of the other party, issue any press release or
written statement for general circulation relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby, except as otherwise required by applicable law or
regulation or NASDAQ or NYSE rules, whichever is applicable, and then only after
making reasonable efforts to first consult with the other party.

         6.05 ACCESS; INFORMATION. (a) Each of St. Paul and COFI agrees that
upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange
of information, it shall afford the other party and the other party's
Representatives, such access during normal business hours throughout the period
prior to the Effective Time to the books, records (including, without
limitation, Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), properties,
personnel and to such other information as any party may reasonably request and,
during such period, it shall furnish promptly to such other party (i) a copy of
each material report, schedule and other document filed by it pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state securities or banking laws, and (ii) all other
information concerning the business, properties and personnel of it and its
Subsidiaries as the other may reasonably request. St. Paul shall also permit
COFI or its environmental consultant, at the sole expense of COFI, to conduct
environmental audits, studies and tests on real property currently owned, leased
or used by St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries or upon which any of them have a
Lien; provided however COFI shall not conduct any subsurface or phase II
environmental assessments on any such property unless the phase I environmental
assessment (or in the absence thereof based upon the advise of COFI's
environmental consultant) indicates a reasonable basis for conducting further
assessments, studies or testing. In the event any subsurface or phase II site
assessments are conducted (which assessments shall be at COFI's sole expense),
COFI shall indemnify St. Paul for all costs and expenses associated with
returning the property to its previous condition. St. Paul shall provide copies
to COFI of any phase I site assessments or other environmental reports in its or
its Subsidiaries' possession or control with respect to any real property
previously or currently owned, leased or used by St. Paul or any of its
Subsidiaries or upon which any of them has a Lien. COFI shall not have the right
to conduct a phase I or phase II assessment with respect to any real property
upon which St. Paul or its Subsidiaries have a Lien.

                  (b) Each of St. Paul and COFI agrees that it will not, and
         will cause its Representatives not to, use any information obtained
         pursuant to this Section 6.05 (as well as any other information



                                       39

<PAGE>   44



         obtained prior to the date hereof in connection with the entering into
         of this Agreement) for any purpose unrelated to the consummation of the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Subject to the
         requirements of law, each party will keep confidential, and will cause
         its Representatives to keep confidential, all information and documents
         obtained pursuant to this Section 6.05 (as well as any other
         information obtained prior to the date hereof in connection with the
         entering into of this Agreement) unless such information (i) was
         already known to such party, (ii) becomes available to such party from
         other sources not known by such party to be bound by a confidentiality
         obligation, (iii) is disclosed with the prior written approval of the
         party to which such information pertains or (iv) is or becomes readily
         ascertainable from published information or trade sources. In the event
         that this Agreement is terminated or the transactions contemplated by
         this Agreement shall otherwise fail to be consummated, each party shall
         promptly cause all copies of documents, extracts thereof or notes,
         analyses, compilations, studies or other documents containing
         information and data as to another party hereto to be returned to the
         party which furnished the same. No investigation by either party of the
         business and affairs of the other shall affect or be deemed to modify
         or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement in this
         Agreement, or the conditions to either party's obligation to consummate
         the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

                  (c) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the
         Effective Time, each party shall promptly furnish the other with copies
         of all monthly and other interim financial statements produced in the
         ordinary course of business as the same shall become available.

         6.06 ST. PAUL PROPOSAL. St. Paul agrees that it shall not, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries and its and its Subsidiaries' officers, directors,
agents, advisors and affiliates not to, solicit or encourage inquiries or
proposals with respect to, or engage in any negotiations concerning, or provide
any confidential information to, or have any discussions with, any person
relating to, any St. Paul Proposal. It shall immediately cease and cause to be
terminated any activities, discussions or negotiations conducted prior to the
date of this Agreement with any parties other than COFI with respect to any of
the foregoing and shall use its reasonable best efforts to enforce any
confidentiality or similar agreement relating to a St. Paul Proposal in
existence on the date hereof. St. Paul shall promptly (within 24 hours) advise
COFI following the receipt by St. Paul of any St. Paul Proposal and the
substance thereof (including the identity of the person making such St. Paul
Proposal), and advise COFI of any material developments with respect to such St.
Paul Proposal immediately upon the occurrence thereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, after receipt of a St. Paul Proposal and during the period prior to a
St. Paul Meeting, St. Paul may provide information at the request of or enter
into negotiations with a third party with respect thereto, if the fiduciary
duties of the St. Paul Board would so require (as determined in good faith after
consultation with legal counsel) under applicable law.

         6.07 AFFILIATE AGREEMENTS. (a) Not later than the 15th day prior to the
mailing of the Proxy Statement, (i) COFI shall deliver to St. Paul a schedule of
each person that, to the best of its knowledge, is or is reasonably likely to
be, as of the date of the COFI Meeting, deemed to be an "affiliate" of COFI
(each, a "COFI AFFILIATE") as that term is used in SEC Accounting Series



                                       40

<PAGE>   45



Releases 130 and 135; and (ii) St. Paul shall deliver to COFI a schedule of each
person that, to the best of its knowledge, is or is reasonably likely to be, as
of the date of the St. Paul Meeting, deemed to be an "affiliate" of St. Paul
(each, a "ST. PAUL AFFILIATE") as that term is used in Rule 145 under the
Securities Act or SEC Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135.

                  (b) Each of St. Paul and COFI shall use its respective
         reasonable best efforts to cause each person who may be deemed to be a
         St. Paul Affiliate or a COFI Affiliate, as the case may be, to execute
         and deliver to St. Paul and COFI on or before the date of mailing of
         the Proxy Statement an agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
         D or Exhibit E, respectively.

         6.08 TAKEOVER LAWS. No party hereto shall take any action that would
cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Stock Option
Agreement to be subject to requirements imposed by any Takeover Law and each of
them shall take all necessary steps within its control to exempt (or ensure the
continued exemption of) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Stock Option Agreement from, or if necessary challenge the validity or
applicability of, any applicable Takeover Law, as now or hereafter in effect.

         6.09 CERTAIN POLICIES. Prior to the Effective Date, St. Paul shall, and
shall cause its Subsidiaries, but only to the extent consistent with generally
accepted accounting principles and on a basis mutually satisfactory to it and
COFI, to modify and change its loan, litigation and real estate valuation
policies and practices (including loan classifications and levels of reserves)
so as to be applied on a basis that is consistent with that of COFI; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that St. Paul shall not be obligated to take any such action pursuant
to this Section 6.09 unless and until COFI acknowledges that all conditions to
its obligations to consummate the Company Merger have been satisfied or waived
and certifies to St. Paul that COFI's representations and warranties, subject to
Section 5.02, are true and correct as of such date and that COFI is otherwise in
material compliance with this Agreement and is prepared to consummate the
Company Merger. St. Paul's representations, warranties and covenants contained
in this Agreement shall not be deemed to be untrue or breached in any respect
for any purpose as a consequence of any modifications or changes undertaken
solely on account of this Section 6.09.

         6.10 LISTING. COFI agrees to use its best efforts to list, prior to the
Effective Time, on the NASDAQ or NYSE, whichever is applicable, subject to
official notice of issuance, the shares of COFI Common Stock to be issued to the
holders of St. Paul Common Stock in the Company Merger.

         6.11 REGULATORY APPLICATIONS. (a) COFI and St. Paul and their
respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best
efforts to promptly prepare all documentation, to effect all filings and to
obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties
and Governmental Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and shall use reasonable best efforts to file
within 45 days of the date hereof, the applications necessary to obtain the
permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all Regulatory Authorities
necessary to consummate the Transaction. Each of COFI and St. Paul shall have
the right to review in advance, and to the extent practicable each will consult
with the other, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange



                                       41

<PAGE>   46



of information, with respect to, all material written information submitted to
any third party or any Governmental Authority in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right,
each of the parties hereto agrees to act reasonably and as promptly as
practicable. Each party hereto agrees that it will consult with the other party
hereto with respect to the obtaining of all material permits, consents,
approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Authorities
necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and each party will keep the other party apprised of the status of
material matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (b) Each party agrees, upon request, to furnish the other
         party with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries,
         directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be
         reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any filing, notice
         or application made by or on behalf of such other party or any of its
         Subsidiaries to any third party or Governmental Authority.

         6.12     OFFICERS' AND DIRECTORS' INSURANCE; INDEMNIFICATION.

                  (a) For six years after the Effective Time COFI shall maintain
         officers' and directors' liability insurance covering the persons who
         are presently covered by St. Paul's current officers' and directors'
         liability insurance policy with respect to actions, omissions, events,
         matters or circumstances occurring at or prior to the Effective Time,
         on terms which are at least as favorable as the terms of said current
         policy, provided that it shall not be required to expend in the
         aggregate during the coverage period more than an amount equal to 300%
         of the annual premium most recently paid by St. Paul (the "INSURANCE
         AMOUNT") to maintain or procure insurance coverage pursuant hereto, and
         further provided that if COFI is unable to maintain or obtain the
         insurance called for by this Section 6.12(a), COFI shall use its
         reasonable best efforts to obtain as much comparable insurance as is
         available for the Insurance Amount; provided, further, that officers
         and directors of St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries may be required to
         make application and provide customary representations and warranties
         to COFI's insurance carrier for the purpose of obtaining such
         insurance.

                  (b) From and after the Effective Time, COFI shall, and shall
         cause its Subsidiaries to, maintain and preserve the rights to
         indemnification of officers and directors provided for in the
         Certificate of Incorporation or other charter document (a "Charter")
         and By-Laws of St. Paul and each of its Subsidiaries as in effect on
         the date hereof with respect to indemnification for liabilities and
         claims arising out of acts, omissions, events, matters or circumstances
         occurring or existing prior to the Effective Time, including, without
         limitation, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to the
         extent such rights to indemnification are not in excess of that
         permitted by applicable state or federal laws or Regulatory
         Authorities.

                  (c) In addition to and without limitation of the rights set
         forth in Section 6.12(b), from and after the Effective Time, COFI shall
         to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law indemnify and hold



                                                        42

<PAGE>   47



         harmless each present and former director and officer of St. Paul
         (collectively, the "Indemnified Parties") against any and all costs,
         expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims,
         damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement in connection with
         any pending, threatened or completed claim, action, suit, proceeding or
         investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
         investigative, arising out of or pertaining to any act, omission,
         event, matter or circumstance occurring or existing prior to or at the
         Effective Time (including, without limitation, any claim, action, suit,
         proceeding or investigation arising out of or pertaining to the
         transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and in the event of any
         such claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising
         before or after the Effective Time) (i) COFI shall advance expenses to
         each such Indemnified Party to the fullest extent permitted by law,
         including the payment of the fees and expenses of one counsel with
         respect to a matter, and one local counsel in each applicable
         jurisdiction, if necessary or appropriate, selected by such Indemnified
         Party or multiple Indemnified Parties, it being understood that they
         collectively shall only be entitled to one counsel and one local
         counsel in each applicable jurisdiction where necessary or appropriate
         (unless a conflict shall exist between Indemnified Parties in which
         case they may retain separate counsel), all such counsel shall be
         reasonably satisfactory to COFI, promptly after statements therefor are
         received and (ii) COFI will cooperate in the defense of any such
         matter.

                  (d) Any determination required to be made with respect to
         whether an Indemnified Party's conduct complies with the standards for
         or prerequisites to indemnification set forth under the DGCL, or the
         Charter and By-Law provisions referred to in Section 6.12(b), shall be
         made by independent counsel selected by COFI (which shall not be
         counsel that provides any services to COFI or any of its Subsidiaries)
         and reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party, and COFI shall pay
         such counsel's fees and expenses.

                  (e) This Section 6.12 shall survive the Effective Time, is
         intended to benefit each of the Indemnified Parties (each of whom shall
         be entitled to enforce this Section against COFI), and shall be binding
         on all successors and assigns of COFI.

                  (f) In the event COFI or any of its successors or assigns (i)
         consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the
         continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or
         merger, or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties
         and assets to one or more other Persons, then, and in each such case,
         proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of
         COFI, assume, and are jointly and severally liable with COFI with
         respect to, the obligations set forth in this Section 6.12.

                  (g) COFI shall pay all expenses (including attorneys' fees)
         that may be reasonably incurred by any Indemnified Party in enforcing
         the indemnity and other obligations provided for in this Section 6.12
         if the Indemnified Party is successful in whole or any material part or
         if any dispute relating thereto is settled or compromised.





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<PAGE>   48



         6.13     BENEFIT PLANS.

                  (a) At the Effective Time, COFI or a COFI Subsidiary shall be
         substituted for St. Paul or a St. Paul Subsidiary as the sponsoring
         employer under those employee benefit and welfare plans with respect to
         which St. Paul or any of its Subsidiaries is a sponsoring employer, and
         any other employee benefit programs, policies, agreements and
         arrangements in each case as Previously Disclosed and in effect
         immediately prior to the Effective Time (collectively, the "ST. PAUL
         ARRANGEMENTS") subject to the terms of any separate agreement entered
         into by COFI and St. Paul on the date hereof and shall assume and be
         vested with all of the powers, rights, duties, obligations and
         liabilities previously vested in St. Paul or the applicable St. Paul
         Subsidiary with respect to each such St. Paul Arrangement. Except as
         expressly contemplated by a separate agreement entered into by St. Paul
         and COFI on the date hereof or as otherwise covered under the St. Paul
         Arrangements, each such St. Paul Arrangement shall be continued in
         effect by COFI or any applicable COFI Subsidiary after the Effective
         Time without a termination or discontinuance thereof as a result of the
         Company Merger or the Bank Merger, subject to the power reserved to
         COFI or any applicable COFI Subsidiary under each such St. Paul
         Arrangement to subsequently amend or terminate the St. Paul
         Arrangement, which amendments or terminations shall comply with
         applicable law. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, COFI agrees
         that, for periods prior to January 1, 2000, it shall not make any
         adverse changes to the contribution formula as in effect on the date
         hereof under the St. Paul Employees' Pension Plan. St. Paul, each St.
         Paul Subsidiary, and COFI will use all reasonable efforts (i) to effect
         said substitutions and assumptions, and such other actions contemplated
         under this Agreement, and (ii) to amend such St. Paul Arrangements as
         to the extent necessary to provide for said substitutions and
         assumptions, and such other actions contemplated under this Agreement.

                  (b) Any separate agreement entered into by St. Paul and COFI
         on the date hereof relating to employee or director benefits is
         incorporated herein by reference and shall be deemed a part of this
         Agreement.

         6.14 NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Each of St. Paul and COFI shall
give prompt notice to the other of any fact, event or circumstance known to it
that (i) is reasonably likely, individually or taken together with all other
facts, events and circumstances known to it, to result in any Material Adverse
Effect with respect to it, (ii) would cause or constitute a breach of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein as of the
date of this Agreement or (iii) would cause or constitute a material breach of
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein
arising from events or circumstances after the date of this Agreement or
otherwise.

         6.15 DIRECTORS. (i) At the Effective Time, COFI agrees to cause Joseph
C. Scully and Patrick J. Agnew to be elected to the COFI Board, and to the Board
of Directors of Charter One Bank, in each case for a term expiring in April 2002
unless such individual does not qualify to serve under guidelines of applicable
Regulatory Authorities.




                                       44

<PAGE>   49



         6.16 ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIP. At the Effective Time, each member of
the St. Paul Board (other than Joseph C. Scully and Patrick J. Agnew) shall be
offered the opportunity to become a member of the Illinois advisory board to be
established by COFI for a three year term, which advisory board shall advise
COFI with respect to the geographic areas in which St. Paul Bank operates as of
the date hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, any person serving on such advisory board
who subsequently becomes a director of COFI or any COFI Subsidiary shall cease
to be a member of the advisory board on the date that he or she commences
serving as a director of COFI or any COFI Subsidiary.

         6.17 COFI FEE. (a) If (i) the St. Paul Board shall have failed to
unanimously recommend adoption of this Agreement to the St. Paul stockholders,
withdrawn such recommendation or modified or changed such recommendation in a
manner adverse in any respect to the interests of COFI, (ii) St. Paul shall be
in material and willful breach of any of its covenants contained in this
Agreement such that COFI shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8.01(b), or (iii) the stockholders of St. Paul do not adopt this
Agreement at the St. Paul Meeting, in each case after there has been proposed by
a third party a St. Paul Acquisition Transaction (the "ST. PAUL PROPOSAL"), then
except as provided in Section 6.17(b), upon termination of this Agreement St.
Paul shall pay COFI a fee of $45 million. In addition, the $45 million fee shall
be payable by St. Paul to COFI upon a termination of this Agreement by St. Paul
pursuant to Section 8.01(g). No fee shall be payable pursuant to this Section
6.17(a) if either (x) COFI has acquired any shares pursuant to the exercise of
its Option (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement), St. Paul has repurchased
the Option pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement or St. Paul has paid COFI the
Surrender Price (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement) pursuant to the Stock
Option Agreement or (y) COFI refuses to execute and deliver a written release of
all of COFI's rights under the Stock Option Agreement against delivery and
payment of the $45 million fee set forth above. Any payment made pursuant to
this Section 6.17(a) shall be made in immediately available funds upon demand.

                  (b) The fee provided for in Section 6.17(a) shall not be
         payable if St. Paul has terminated, or has the right to terminate, this
         Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b), 8.01(d)(i), 8.01(d)(ii) as a
         result of the COFI stockholders failing to approve the issuance of COFI
         Common Stock to be issued in the Company Merger at the COFI Meeting or
         8.01(e).

                  For purposes of the foregoing, "ST. PAUL ACQUISITION
         TRANSACTION" shall have the same meaning as the term "ACQUISITION
         TRANSACTION" in the Stock Option Agreement except that the percentage
         referred to in clause (z) of the second sentence of Section 2(b)(i)
         thereof shall be 25%.

         6.18 ST. PAUL FEE. (a) If (i) the COFI Board shall have failed to
unanimously recommend to the COFI stockholders approval of the issuance of COFI
Common Stock to be issued in the Company Merger, withdrawn such recommendation
or modified or changed such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to
the interests of St. Paul, (ii) COFI shall be in material and willful breach of
any of its covenants contained in this Agreement such that St. Paul shall be
entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b), or (iii) the
stockholders of COFI do not approve the issuance of the COFI Common Stock to be



                                       45

<PAGE>   50



issued in the Company Merger at the COFI Meeting, in each case after there has
been proposed by a third party a COFI Acquisition Transaction (the "COFI
PROPOSAL"), then except as provided in Section 6.18(b), upon termination of this
Agreement COFI shall pay St. Paul a fee of $45 million. Any payment made
pursuant to this Section 6.18(a) shall be made in immediately available funds
upon demand.

                  (b) The fee provided for in Section 6.18(a) shall not be
         payable if COFI has terminated, or has the right to terminate, this
         Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b), 8.01(d)(i), 8.01(d)(ii) as a
         result of the St. Paul stockholders failing to adopt this Agreement at
         the St. Paul Meeting or 8.01(e).

         For purposes of the foregoing, "COFI ACQUISITION TRANSACTION" shall
have the same meaning as the term St. Paul Acquisition Transaction as such term
is defined for purposes of Section 6.17, except that COFI shall be substituted
for St. Paul as the target of such acquisition transaction.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE COMPANY MERGER

         7.01 CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE COMPANY
MERGER. The respective obligation of each of COFI and St. Paul to consummate the
Company Merger is subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by COFI and St.
Paul prior to the Effective Time of each of the following conditions:

                  (a) STOCKHOLDER APPROVALS. This Agreement shall have been duly
         adopted by the requisite vote of the stockholders of St. Paul under the
         DGCL and the St. Paul Certificate and the issuance of COFI Common Stock
         as contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved by the
         requisite vote of the COFI stockholders under NASDAQ or NYSE rules,
         whichever is applicable.

                  (b) REGULATORY APPROVALS. All regulatory approvals required to
         consummate the Company Merger shall have been obtained and shall remain
         in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect
         thereof shall have expired and no such approvals shall contain (i) any
         conditions, restrictions or requirements which the COFI Board
         reasonably determines would either before or after the Effective Time
         have a Material Adverse Effect on COFI and its Subsidiaries taken as a
         whole or (ii) any conditions, restrictions or requirements that are not
         customary and usual for approvals of such type and which the COFI Board
         reasonably determines would either before or after the Effective Time
         be unduly burdensome.

                  (c) NO INJUNCTION. No Governmental Authority of competent
         jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or
         entered any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, injunction or
         other order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) which is in
         effect and prohibits consummation of the Company Merger.



                                       46

<PAGE>   51



                  (d) REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration Statement shall
         have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
         been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
         initiated or threatened by the SEC.

                  (e) BLUE SKY APPROVALS. All permits and other authorizations
         under state securities laws necessary to consummate the transactions
         contemplated hereby and to issue the shares of COFI Common Stock to be
         issued in the Company Merger shall have been received and be in full
         force and effect.

                  (f) LISTING. The shares of COFI Common Stock to be issued in
         the Company Merger shall have been approved for listing on the NASDAQ
         or NYSE, whichever is applicable, subject to official notice of
         issuance.

                  (g) PERMITS, AUTHORIZATIONS. Each of COFI and St. Paul shall
         have obtained all permits, authorizations, waivers, approvals and
         consents (other than the Beverly Leases) required for the lawful
         consummation of the Company Merger, unless the failure to obtain such
         permits, authorizations, waivers, approvals and consents is not
         reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material
         Adverse Effect on COFI and its Subsidiaries or St. Paul and its
         Subsidiaries.

         7.02 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF ST. PAUL. The obligation of St. Paul
and its Subsidiaries to consummate the Company Merger is also subject to the
fulfillment or written waiver by St. Paul prior to the Effective Time of each of
the following conditions:

                  (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
         warranties of COFI set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
         correct in all material respects, subject in the case of Specified
         Representations to the standard set forth in Section 5.02, as of the
         date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Date as though made on
         and as of the Effective Date (except that (i) representations and
         warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this Agreement
         or some other date shall be true and correct as of such date and (ii)
         with respect to any information provided by COFI pursuant to Section
         6.14(iii) or discovered by St. Paul relating to (A) the Specified
         Representations or (B) Section 5.04 (g)(i), (h)(i), (h)(ii) other than
         relating to Year 2000 compliant matters or (i)(iii) other than relating
         to Year 2000 compliant matters, in each case, on account of events
         arising after the date of this Agreement, the representations and
         warranties in (x) the Specified Representations and (y) Sections 5.04
         (g)(i), (h)(i), (h)(ii) other than relating to Year 2000 compliant
         matters and (i)(iii) other than relating to Year 2000 compliant matters
         shall be deemed true and correct as of the Effective Date unless such
         information individually or taken together with other facts, events and
         circumstances has resulted in or is reasonably likely to result in a
         Material Adverse Effect on COFI), and St. Paul shall have received a
         certificate, dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of COFI by the
         Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of COFI to such
         effect.




                                       47

<PAGE>   52



                  (b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF COFI. COFI and its
         Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects all
         obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement at or
         prior to the Effective Time, and St. Paul shall have received a
         certificate, dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of COFI by the
         Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of COFI to such
         effect.

                  (c) OPINION OF ST. PAUL'S COUNSEL. St. Paul shall have
         received an opinion of Mayer, Brown & Platt, counsel to St. Paul, dated
         the date of or shortly prior to the first mailing of the Proxy
         Statement and the Effective Date, to the effect that, on the basis of
         facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, (i)
         the Company Merger constitutes a "reorganization" within the meaning of
         Section 368 of the Code and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by
         stockholders of St. Paul who receive shares of COFI Common Stock in
         exchange for shares of St. Paul Common Stock, except that gain or loss
         may be recognized as to cash received in lieu of fractional share
         interests. In rendering its opinion, Mayer, Brown & Platt may require
         and rely upon representations contained in letters from St. Paul, COFI
         and others.

         7.03 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF COFI. The obligation of COFI and its
Subsidiaries to consummate the Company Merger is also subject to the fulfillment
or written waiver by COFI prior to the Effective Time of each of the following
conditions:

                  (a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The representations and
         warranties of St. Paul set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
         correct in all material respects, subject in the case of Specified
         Representations to the standard set forth in Section 5.02, as of the
         date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Date as though made on
         and as of the Effective Date (except that (i) representations and
         warranties that by their terms speak as of the date of this Agreement
         or some other date shall be true and correct as of such date and (ii)
         with respect to any information provided by St. Paul pursuant to
         Section 6.14(iii) or discovered by COFI relating to (A) the Specified
         Representations or (B) Section 5.03(g)(i), (h), (i) other than relating
         to Year 2000 compliant matters or (j)(iii) other than relating to Year
         2000 compliant matters, in each case, on account of events arising
         after the date of this Agreement, the representations and warranties in
         (x) the Specified Representations and (y) Sections 5.03(g)(i), (h), (i)
         other than relating to Year 2000 compliant matters and (j)(iii) other
         than relating to Year 2000 compliant matters shall be deemed true and
         correct as of the Effective Date unless such information individually
         or taken together with other facts, events and circumstances has
         resulted in or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
         Effect on St. Paul) and COFI shall have received a certificate, dated
         the Effective Date, signed on behalf of St. Paul by the Chief Executive
         Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of St. Paul to such effect.

                  (b) PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS OF ST. PAUL. St. Paul and its
         Subsidiaries shall have performed in all material respects all
         obligations required to be performed by them under this Agreement at or
         prior to the Effective Time, and COFI shall have received a



                                       48

<PAGE>   53



         certificate,  dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of St. Paul by
         the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of St. Paul
         to such effect.

                  (c) OPINION OF COFI'S COUNSEL. COFI shall have received an
         opinion of Silver, Freedman & Taff, special counsel to COFI, dated the
         date of or shortly prior to the first mailing of the Proxy Statement
         and the Effective Date, to the effect that, on the basis of facts,
         representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion, the Company
         Merger constitutes a reorganization under Section 368 of the Code. In
         rendering its opinion, Silver, Freedman & Taff may require and rely
         upon representations contained in letters from COFI, St. Paul and
         others.

                  (d) ACCOUNTING TREATMENT. COFI shall have received from each
         of Ernst & Young LLP, St. Paul's independent auditors, and Deloitte &
         Touche, LLP, COFI's independent auditors, letters, dated the date of or
         shortly prior to the Effective Time.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

         8.01 TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated, and the
Transactions may be abandoned:

                  (a) MUTUAL CONSENT. At any time prior to the Effective Time,
         by the mutual consent of COFI and St. Paul, if the Board of Directors
         of each so determines by vote of a majority of the members of its
         entire Board.

                  (b) BREACH. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by COFI
         or St. Paul, if its Board of Directors so determines by vote of a
         majority of the members of its entire Board, in the event of either:
         (i) a breach by the other party of any representation or warranty
         contained herein, which breach would cause the condition in Section
         7.02(a) or 7.03(a), as applicable, to not be satisfied and which breach
         cannot be or has not been cured within 30 days after the giving of
         written notice to the breaching party of such breach; or (ii) a breach
         by the other party in any material respect of any of the covenants or
         agreements contained herein, which breach cannot be or has not been
         cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to the
         breaching party of such breach.

                  (c) DELAY. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by COFI or
         St. Paul, if its Board of Directors so determines by vote of a majority
         of the members of its entire Board, in the event that the Company
         Merger is not consummated by February 28, 2000, except to the extent
         that the failure of the Company Merger then to be consummated arises
         out of or results from the knowing action or inaction of the party
         seeking to terminate pursuant to this Section 8.01(c).




                                       49

<PAGE>   54



                  (d) NO APPROVAL. By St. Paul or COFI, if its Board of
         Directors so determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its
         entire Board, in the event (i) the approval of any Governmental
         Authority required for consummation of the Company Merger shall have
         been denied by final nonappealable action of such Governmental
         Authority or (ii) any stockholder approval required by Section 7.01(a)
         herein is not obtained at the St. Paul Meeting or the COFI Meeting.

                  (e) FAILURE TO RECOMMEND, ETC. At any time prior to the St.
         Paul Meeting, by COFI if the St. Paul Board shall have failed to
         unanimously recommend adoption of this Agreement to the St. Paul
         stockholders, withdrawn such recommendation or modified or changed such
         recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to the interests of
         COFI; or at any time prior to the COFI Meeting, by St. Paul, if the
         COFI Board shall have failed to unanimously recommend to the COFI
         stockholders approval of the issuance of COFI Common Stock to be issued
         pursuant to the Company Merger, withdrawn such recommendation or
         modified or changed such recommendation in a manner adverse in any
         respect to the interests of St. Paul.

                  (f) POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENT. By St. Paul, if its Board of
         Directors so determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its
         entire Board, at any time during the ten-day period commencing two days
         after the Determination Date (or such shorter period of time from the
         Determination Date to the Effective Date as contemplated by Section
         2.03(i)), if both of the following conditions are satisfied:

                       (i)   the Average Closing Price shall be less than the
                             product of 0.825 and the Starting Price; and

                       (ii)  (A) the number  obtained  by  dividing  the Average
                             Closing  Price by the  Starting  Price (such number
                             being referred to herein as the "COFI Ratio") shall
                             be less than (B) the number  obtained  by  dividing
                             the Index  Price on the  Determination  Date by the
                             Index Price on the  Starting  Date and  subtracting
                             0.175  from the  quotient  in this  clause  (ii)(B)
                             (such number being referred to herein as the "Index
                             Ratio");

         subject, however, to the following three sentences. If St. Paul elects
         to exercise its termination right pursuant to the immediately preceding
         sentence, it shall give prompt written notice thereof to COFI;
         provided, that such notice of election to terminate may be withdrawn at
         any time within the above stated period. During the five-day period
         commencing with its receipt of such notice, COFI shall have the option
         of adjusting the Exchange Ratio to equal the lesser of (x) a number
         equal to a quotient (rounded to the nearest one-ten-thousandth), the
         numerator of which is the product of 0.825, the Starting Price and the
         Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) and the denominator of which is the
         Average Closing Price, and (y) a number equal to a quotient (rounded to
         the nearest one-ten-thousandth), the numerator of which is the Index
         Ratio multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (as then in effect) and the
         denominator of which is the COFI Ratio. If COFI so elects, within such
         five-day period, it shall give prompt written notice to St. Paul of



                                       50

<PAGE>   55



         such election and the revised Exchange Ratio, whereupon no termination
         shall have occurred pursuant to this Section 8.01(f) and this Agreement
         shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms
         (except as the Exchange Ratio shall have been so modified and except
         that the Effective Date shall occur on the later of the Effective Date
         as determined pursuant to Section 2.03(i) or (ii) or on the fifth
         business day after COFI's election as provided in the immediately
         preceding sentence, and any references in this Agreement to "Exchange
         Ratio" shall thereafter be deemed to refer to the Exchange Ratio as
         adjusted pursuant to this Section 8.01(f).

         For purposes of this Section 8.01(f), the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:

              "Average Closing Price" means the average of the daily last sale
         prices of COFI Common Stock as reported on NASDAQ or NYSE, whichever is
         applicable (as reported in The Wall Street Journal or, if not reported
         therein, in another mutually agreed upon authoritative source) for the
         ten consecutive full trading days in which such shares are traded on
         NASDAQ or NYSE, whichever is applicable, ending at the close of trading
         on the Determination Date.

              "Determination Date" means the day that is the latest of (i) the
         day of expiration of the last waiting period with respect to any
         approval of any Governmental Authority required for consummation of the
         Company Merger, (ii) the day on which the last of such approvals is
         obtained, and (iii) the day on which the last of the required
         stockholder approvals has been received.

              "Index Group" means the 16 financial institutions and financial
         institution holding companies listed below, the common stock of all
         which shall be publicly traded and as to which there shall not have
         been, since the Starting Date and before the Determination Date, any
         public announcement of a proposal for such company (a) to be acquired
         or for such company to acquire another company or companies in a
         transaction with a value exceeding 25% of the acquiror's market
         capitalization as of the Starting Date or (b) to convert from a mutual
         holding company to a stock form of organization. In the event that the
         common stock of any such company ceases to be publicly traded or any
         such announcement is made with respect to any such company, such
         company will be removed from the Index Group and the weights (which
         have been determined based on the number of outstanding shares of
         common stock) redistributed proportionately for purposes of determining
         the Index Price. The 16 financial institutions and financial
         institution holding companies and the weights attributed to them are as
         follows:




                                       51

<PAGE>   56





HOLDING COMPANY                                       WEIGHTING
- ---------------                                       ---------
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated                       14.56%
Summit Bancorp                                           11.97%
North Fork Bancorporation, Inc.                           9.75%
Marshall & Ilsley Corporation                             7.23%
Dime Bancorp, Incorporated                                7.71%
Peoples Heritage Financial Group, Inc.                    7.21%
Old Kent Financial Corporation                            7.15%
GreenPoint Financial Corporation                          7.55%
TCF Financial Corporation                                 5.83%
Commercial Federal Corporation                            4.22%
Golden West Financial Corporation                         3.90%
Washington Federal, Inc.                                  3.87%
Astoria Financial Corporation                             3.83%
Webster Financial Corporation                             2.49%
Bank United Corporation                                   2.19%
M&T Bank Corporation                                      0.54%
Total                                                   100.00%


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

              "Starting Date" means May 14, 1999.

              "Starting Price" shall mean $30.28.

              If any company belonging to the Index Group or COFI declares or
         effects a stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, exchange of
         shares or similar transaction between the Starting Date and the
         Determination Date, the prices for the common stock of such company or
         COFI shall be appropriately adjusted for the purposes of applying this
         Section 8.01(f).




                                       52

<PAGE>   57



              (g) ST. PAUL PROPOSAL. Provided that St. Paul is not in breach of
         Section 6.02 or 6.06 of this Agreement, by St. Paul, if its Board of
         Directors so determines by at least a two-thirds vote of the members of
         its entire Board, to allow St. Paul to enter into an agreement in
         respect of a St. Paul Proposal which provides more favorable
         consideration to St. Paul's stockholders from a financial point of view
         than the consideration to be received by such stockholders in the
         Company Merger.

         8.02 EFFECT OF TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT. In the event of termination
of this Agreement and the abandonment of the Company Merger pursuant to this
Article VIII, no party to this Agreement shall have any liability or further
obligation to any other party hereunder except (i) as set forth in Section 9.01
and (ii) that termination will not relieve a breaching party from liability for
any willful breach of this Agreement giving rise to such termination. Provided,
however, if a party pursues its rights under Section 6.17 or 6.18, whichever is
applicable, then such party shall not be entitled to any other relief.
Conversely, if a party pursues a remedy pursuant to this Section 8.02, then it
shall waive its rights under Section 6.17 or 6.18, whichever is applicable.
Provided, further, that nothing contained herein shall diminish the rights of
COFI under the Stock Option Agreement which may be separately exercised and
enforced pursuant to the terms and provisions thereof.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         9.01 SURVIVAL. No representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time (other than the
agreements and covenants contained in Section 6.12, 6.13, 6.15, 6.16 and this
Article IX which shall survive the Effective Time) or the termination of this
Agreement if this Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Time (other
than Sections 6.05(b), 6.17, 6.18, 8.02 and this Article IX which shall survive
such termination).

         9.02 WAIVER; AMENDMENT. Prior to the Effective Time, any provision of
this Agreement may be (i) waived by the party benefitted by the provision, or
(ii) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing between the
parties hereto executed in the same manner as this Agreement, except that after
the St. Paul Meeting, the consideration to be received by the St. Paul
stockholders for each share of St. Paul Common Stock shall not thereby be
decreased.

         9.03 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to constitute an original.

         9.04 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State (except to the
extent that mandatory provisions of Federal law or of the MBCA are applicable).




                                       53

<PAGE>   58



         9.05 EXPENSES. Each party hereto will bear all expenses incurred by it
in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
except that printing expenses and SEC fees shall be shared equally between St.
Paul and COFI.

         9.06 NOTICES. All notices, requests and other communications hereunder
to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if personally
delivered, telecopied (with confirmation) or mailed by registered or certified
mail (return receipt requested) to such party at its address set forth below or
such other address as such party may specify by notice to the parties hereto.

      If to St. Paul, to:
                             St. Paul Bancorp, Inc.
                             6700 West North Avenue
                             Chicago, Illinois 60707

                           Attention: Joseph C. Scully, Chief Executive Officer
                                                     and
                                      Clifford Sladnick, General Counsel

      With a copy to:

                           Mayer, Brown & Platt
                            190 South LaSalle Street
                             Chicago, Illinois 60603

                            Attention: Stuart Litwin

      If to COFI or Charter Michigan, to:

                           Charter One Financial, Inc.
                           1215 Superior Avenue
                           Cleveland, Ohio 44114

                           Attention: Charles J.  Koch, Chief Executive Officer
                                                     and
                                      Robert J. Vana, Chief Corporate Counsel





                                       54

<PAGE>   59



With a copy to:

                           Silver, Freedman & Taff LLP
                           1100 New York Avenue, N.W.
                           7th Floor East
                           Washington, D.C. 20005

                              Attention: Barry Taff

         9.07 ENTIRE UNDERSTANDING; NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This
Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement dated April
13, 1999 between St. Paul and COFI and any agreement entered into between St.
Paul and COFI on the date hereof represent the entire understanding of the
parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written
agreements heretofore made (other than the Stock Option Agreement and any
agreement entered into between St. Paul and COFI on the date hereof). Except for
Section 6.12, 6.13, 6.15 and 6.16, nothing in this Agreement expressed or
implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto or
their respective successors, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities
under or by reason of this Agreement.

         9.08 INTERPRETATION; EFFECT. When a reference is made in this Agreement
to Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to a Section of, or
Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of
contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes
only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be
followed by the words "without limitation." No provision of this Agreement shall
be construed to require St. Paul, COFI or any of their respective Subsidiaries,
affiliates or directors to take any action which would violate applicable law
(whether statutory or common law), rule or regulation.



                                       55

<PAGE>   60



                             *         *          *


         The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed in
counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first
above written.


                                     ST.  PAUL BANCORP, INC.


                                     By 
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                          Name:    Joseph C.  Scully
                                          Title:   Chairman of the Board
                                                   and Chief Executive Officer

                                     CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.


                                     By 
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                          Name:    Charles J. Koch
                                          Title:   Chairman of the Board and
                                                   Chief Executive Officer

                                     CHARTER MICHIGAN BANCORP, INC.


                                     By 
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                          Name:    Charles J. Koch
                                          Title:   Chairman of the Board and
                                                   Chief Executive Officer
















                                       56





<PAGE>   1
                                                                     Exhibit 2.2










                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

      STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of May 17, 1999, between Charter One
Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Grantee"), and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation ("Issuer").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

      WHEREAS, Grantee, Charter Michigan Bancorp, Inc. and Issuer have entered
into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") on even date
herewith;

      WHEREAS, as an inducement to the willingness of Grantee to enter into the
Merger Agreement, Issuer has agreed to grant Grantee the Option (as hereinafter
defined); and

      WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Issuer has approved the grant of the
Option and the Merger Agreement;

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

      1. (a) Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an unconditional, irrevocable
option (the "Option") to purchase, subject to the terms hereof, up to an
aggregate of 4,384,730 fully paid and nonassessable shares of the common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of Issuer ("Common Stock") at a price per share equal
to the average of last reported sale prices per share of Common Stock as
reported on the NASDAQ National Market on May 13 and 14, 1999; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that in the event Issuer issues or agrees to issue any shares of Common
Stock (other than shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to stock options
granted pursuant to any employee benefit plan prior to the date hereof) at a
price less than such average price per share (as adjusted pursuant to subsection
(b) of Section 5), such price shall be equal to such lesser price (such price,
as adjusted if applicable, the "Option Price"); PROVIDED, FURTHER, that in no
event shall the number of shares for which this Option is exercisable exceed 11%
of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock immediately prior to such
exercise without giving effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the
Option. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be received upon the
exercise of the Option and the Option Price are subject to adjustment as herein
set forth.

      (b) In the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are issued or
otherwise become outstanding after the date of this Agreement (other than
pursuant to this Agreement and other than pursuant to an event described in
Section 5(a) hereof), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option
shall be increased so that, after such issuance, such number together with any
shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant hereto, equals 11% of the
number of shares of Common Stock then issued and outstanding without giving
effect to any shares subject or issued pursuant to the Option. Nothing contained
in this Section l(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to authorize
Issuer to issue shares in breach of any provision of the Merger Agreement.


<PAGE>   2



      2. (a) The Holder (as hereinafter defined) may exercise the Option, in
whole or part, if, but only if, both an Initial Triggering Event (as hereinafter
defined) and a Subsequent Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) shall have
occurred prior to the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (as
hereinafter defined), PROVIDED that the Holder shall have sent the written
notice of such exercise (as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2) within
six (6) months following such Subsequent Triggering Event (or such later period
as provided in Section 10). Each of the following shall be an Exercise
Termination Event: (i) the Effective Time of the Company Merger; (ii)
termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with the provisions thereof if
such termination occurs prior to the occurrence of an Initial Triggering Event
except a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(b) or Section 8.01(e)
of the Merger Agreement (each, a "Listed Termination"); (iii) the passage of
fifteen (15) months (or such longer period as provided in Section 10) after
termination of the Merger Agreement if such termination follows the occurrence
of an Initial Triggering Event or a Listed Termination or (iv) the date on which
the stockholders of the Grantee shall have voted and failed to approve the
issuance of Grantee common stock to be issued in the Company Merger (unless (A)
Issuer shall then be in material breach of its covenants or agreements contained
in the Merger Agreement or (B) on or prior to such date, the stockholders of
Issuer shall have also voted and failed to approve and adopt the Merger
Agreement). The term "Holder" shall mean the holder or holders of the Option.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) the Option may
not be exercised at any time when Grantee shall be in material breach of any of
its covenants or agreements contained in the Merger Agreement such that Issuer
shall be entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(b)
thereof as a result of a material breach and (ii) this Agreement shall
automatically terminate upon (x) the proper termination of the Merger Agreement
by Issuer pursuant to Section 8.01(b)(ii) thereof as a result of the material
breach by Grantee of its covenants or agreements contained in the Merger
Agreement or by Issuer or Grantee pursuant to Section 8.01(d)(i) or (y) the
acceptance by the Grantee of the $45 million fee from Issuer pursuant to Section
6.17(a) of the Merger Agreement.

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

            (i) Issuer or any Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02 of
      Regulation S-X promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
      "SEC")) (an "Issuer Subsidiary"), without having received Grantee's prior
      written consent, shall have entered into an agreement to engage in an
      Acquisition Transaction (as hereinafter defined) with any person (the term
      "person" for purposes of this Agreement having the meaning assigned
      thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
      1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), and the rules and regulations
      thereunder) other than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries (each a "Grantee
      Subsidiary") or the Board of Directors of Issuer (the "Issuer Board")
      shall have recommended that the stockholders of Issuer approve or accept
      any Acquisition Transaction other than the Company Merger. For purposes of
      this Agreement, (a) "Acquisition Transaction" shall mean (x) a merger or
      consolidation, or any similar transaction, involving Issuer or any Issuer
      Subsidiary (other than mergers, consolidations or similar transactions (i)
      involving solely Issuer and/or one or more wholly-owned (except for
      directors' qualifying shares and a de minimis number of other shares)
      Subsidiaries of the Issuer, PROVIDED, any such transaction is not entered
      into in violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement or (ii) in which
      the stockholders of Issuer immediately prior to the completion of such
      transaction own at least 50% of the Common Stock of the Issuer (or the


                                       -2-

<PAGE>   3



      resulting or surviving entity in such transaction) immediately after
      completion of such transaction, PROVIDED any such transaction is not
      entered into in violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement), (y) a
      purchase, lease or other acquisition of all or any substantial part of the
      assets or deposits of Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, or (z) a purchase
      or other acquisition (including by way of merger, consolidation, share
      exchange or otherwise) of securities representing 10% or more of the
      voting power of Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary and (b) "Subsidiary" shall
      have the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 under the 1934 Act;

            (ii) Any person other than the Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary
      shall have acquired beneficial ownership or the right to acquire
      beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the outstanding shares of Common
      Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for purposes of this Agreement
      having the meaning assigned thereto in Section 13(d) of the 1934 Act, and
      the rules and regulations thereunder);

            (iii) The stockholders of Issuer shall have voted and failed to
      adopt the Merger Agreement at a meeting which has been held for that
      purpose or any adjournment or postponement thereof, or such meeting shall
      not have been held or shall have been cancelled prior to termination of
      the Merger Agreement if, prior to such meeting (or if such meeting shall
      not have been held or shall have been cancelled, prior to such
      termination), it shall have been publicly announced that any person (other
      than Grantee or any of its Subsidiaries) shall have made, or publicly
      disclosed an intention to make, a proposal to engage in an Acquisition
      Transaction;

            (iv) (x) The Issuer Board shall have withdrawn or modified (or
      publicly announced its intention to withdraw or modify) in any manner
      adverse in any respect to Grantee its recommendation that the stockholders
      of Issuer approve the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
      (y) Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary, without having received Grantee's
      prior written consent, shall have authorized, recommended, proposed (or
      publicly announced its intention to authorize, recommend or propose) an
      agreement to engage in an Acquisition Transaction with any person other
      than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or (z) Issuer shall have provided
      information to or engaged in negotiations or discussions with a third
      party relating to a possible Acquisition Transaction.

            (v) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary shall
      have made a proposal to Issuer or its stockholders to engage in an
      Acquisition Transaction and such proposal shall have been publicly
      announced;

            (vi) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary shall
      have filed with the SEC a registration statement or tender offer materials
      with respect to a potential exchange or tender offer that would constitute
      an Acquisition Transaction (or filed a preliminary proxy statement with
      the SEC with respect to a potential vote by its stockholders to approve
      the issuance of shares to be offered in such an exchange offer);



                                       -3-

<PAGE>   4



            (vii) Issuer shall have willfully breached any covenant or
      obligation contained in the Merger Agreement in anticipation of engaging
      in an Acquisition Transaction, and following such breach Grantee would be
      entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement (whether immediately or after
      the giving of notice or passage of time or both); or

            (viii) Any person other than Grantee or any Grantee Subsidiary other
      than in connection with a transaction to which Grantee has given its prior
      written consent shall have filed an application or notice with the Board
      of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve Board")
      or other federal or state bank or thrift regulatory or antitrust
      authority, which application or notice has been accepted for processing,
      for approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction.

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

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

            (ii) The occurrence of the Initial Triggering Event described in
      clause (i) of subsection (b) of this Section 2, except that the percentage
      referred to in clause (z) of the second sentence thereof shall be 25%.

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

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

      (f) At the closing referred to in subsection (e) of this Section 2, the
Holder shall (i) pay to Issuer the aggregate purchase price for the shares of
Common Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account designated by Issuer and (ii)
present and surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal executive
offices, PROVIDED that the failure or refusal of the Issuer to designate such a


                                       -4-

<PAGE>   5



bank account or accept surrender of this Agreement shall not preclude the Holder
from exercising the Option.

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

      (h) Certificates for Common Stock delivered at a closing hereunder may be
endorsed with a restrictive legend that shall read substantially as follows:

            "The transfer of the shares represented by this certificate is
      subject to certain provisions of an agreement between the registered
      holder hereof and Issuer and to resale restrictions arising under the
      Securities Act of 1933, as amended. A copy of such agreement is on file at
      the principal office of Issuer and will be provided to the holder hereof
      without charge upon receipt by Issuer of a written request therefor."

It is understood and agreed that: (i) the reference to the resale restrictions
of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in the above legend
shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without such reference
if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from the staff
of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Issuer, to the effect that such legend is not required for
purposes of the 1933 Act; (ii) the reference to the provisions of this Agreement
in the above legend shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s)
without such reference if the shares have been sold or transferred in compliance
with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do not
require the retention of such reference in the opinion of counsel to the Holder;
and (iii) the legend shall be removed in its entirety if the conditions in the
preceding clauses (i) and (ii) are both satisfied. In addition, such
certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by law.

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

      3. Issuer agrees: (i) that it shall at all times maintain, free from
preemptive rights, sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of
Common Stock so that the Option may be exercised without additional
authorization of Common Stock after giving effect to all other options,
warrants, convertible securities and other rights to purchase Common Stock; (ii)
that it will not, by charter amendment or through reorganization, consolidation,


                                       -5-

<PAGE>   6



merger, dissolution or sale of assets, or by any other voluntary act, avoid or
seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the covenants,
stipulations or conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by Issuer;
(iii) promptly to take all action as may from time to time be required
(including (x) complying with all applicable premerger notification, reporting
and waiting period requirements specified in 15 U.S.C. Section 18a and
regulations promulgated thereunder and (y) in the event, under the Bank Holding
Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHCA"), or the Change in Bank Control Act
of 1978, as amended, or any state or other federal thrift or banking law, prior
approval of or notice to the Federal Reserve Board or to any state or other
federal regulatory authority is necessary before the Option may be exercised,
cooperating fully with the Holder in preparing such applications or notices and
providing such information to the Federal Reserve Board or such state or other
federal regulatory authority as they may require) in order to permit the Holder
to exercise the Option and Issuer duly and effectively to issue shares of Common
Stock pursuant hereto; and (iv) promptly to take all action provided herein to
protect the rights of the Holder against dilution.

      4. This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are exchangeable,
without expense, at the option of the Holder, upon presentation and surrender of
this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer, for other Agreements providing
for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to purchase,
on the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are set forth herein, in
the aggregate the same number of shares of Common Stock purchasable hereunder.
The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include any Agreements and
related Options for which this Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) may be
exchanged. Upon receipt by Issuer of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of
the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case
of loss, theft or destruction) of reasonably satisfactory indemnification, and
upon surrender and cancellation of this Agreement, if mutilated, Issuer will
execute and deliver a new Agreement of like tenor and date. Any such new
Agreement executed and delivered shall constitute an additional contractual
obligation on the part of Issuer, whether or not the Agreement so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated shall at any time be enforceable by anyone.

      5. In addition to the adjustment in the number of shares of Common Stock
that are purchasable upon exercise of the Option pursuant to Section 1 of this
Agreement, the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of
the Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment from time to time
as provided in this Section 5.

      (a) In the event of any change in, or distributions in respect of, the
Common Stock by reason of stock dividends, split-ups, mergers,
recapitalizations, combinations, subdivisions, conversions, exchanges of shares
or the like, the type and number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted and proper provision shall be
made so that, in the event that any additional shares of Common Stock are to be
issued or otherwise become outstanding as a result of any such change (other
than pursuant to an exercise of the Option), the number of shares of Common
Stock that remain subject to the Option shall be increased so that, after such
issuance and together with shares of Common Stock previously issued pursuant to


                                       -6-

<PAGE>   7



the exercise of the Option (as adjusted on account of any of the foregoing
changes in the Common Stock), it equals 11% of the number of shares of Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such issuance.

      (b) Whenever the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon
exercise hereof is adjusted as provided in this Section 5, the Option Price
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price by a fraction, the numerator
of which shall be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable
prior to the adjustment and the denominator of which shall be equal to the
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable after the adjustment.

      6. Upon the occurrence of a Subsequent Triggering Event that occurs prior
to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer shall, at the request of Grantee
delivered within twelve (12) months (or such later period as provided in Section
10) of such Subsequent Triggering Event (whether on its own behalf or on behalf
of any subsequent holder of this Option (or part thereof) or any of the shares
of Common Stock issued pursuant hereto), promptly prepare, file and keep current
a registration statement under the 1933 Act covering any shares issued and
issuable pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause such registration statement to become effective and remain current in
order to permit the sale or other disposition of any shares of Common Stock
issued upon total or partial exercise of this Option ("Option Shares") in
accordance with any plan of disposition requested by Grantee. Issuer will use
its reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement promptly to
become effective and then to remain effective for such period not in excess of
180 days from the day such registration statement first becomes effective or
such shorter time as may be reasonably necessary to effect such sales or other
dispositions. Grantee shall have the right to demand two such registrations. The
Issuer shall bear the costs of such registrations (including, but not limited
to, Issuer's attorneys' fees, printing costs and filing fees, except for
underwriting discounts or commissions, brokers' fees and the fees and
disbursements of Grantee's counsel related thereto). The foregoing
notwithstanding, if, at the time of any request by Grantee for registration of
Option Shares as provided above, Issuer is in registration with respect to an
underwritten public offering by Issuer of shares of Common Stock, and if in the
good faith judgment of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, or, if
none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of such offering the offer and sale
of the Option Shares would interfere with the successful marketing of the shares
of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the number of Option Shares otherwise to be
covered in the registration statement contemplated hereby may be reduced;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that after any such required reduction the number of Option
Shares to be included in such offering for the account of the Holder shall
constitute at least 25% of the total number of shares to be sold by the Holder
and Issuer in the aggregate; and PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that if such
reduction occurs, then Issuer shall file a registration statement for the
balance as promptly as practicable thereafter as to which no reduction pursuant
to this Section 6 shall be permitted or occur and the Holder shall thereafter be
entitled to one additional registration and the twelve (12) month period
referred to in the first sentence of this section shall be increased to
twenty-four (24) months. Each such Holder shall provide all information
reasonably requested by Issuer for inclusion in any registration statement to be
filed hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in connection with such
registration, Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting agreement relating
to the sale of such shares, but only to the extent of obligating itself in
respect of representations, warranties, indemnities and other agreements
customarily included in such underwriting agreements for Issuer. Upon receiving
any request under this Section 6 from any Holder, Issuer agrees to send a copy


                                       -7-

<PAGE>   8



thereof to any other person known to Issuer to be entitled to registration
rights under this Section 6, in each case by promptly mailing the same, postage
prepaid, to the address of record of the persons entitled to receive such
copies. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event
shall the number of registrations that Issuer is obligated to effect be
increased by reason of the fact that there shall be more than one Holder as a
result of any assignment or division of this Agreement.

      7. (a) At any time after the occurrence of a Repurchase Event (as defined
below) (i) at the request of the Holder, delivered prior to an Exercise
Termination Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10), Issuer (or
any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder at a price
(the "Option Repurchase Price") equal to the amount by which (A) the
market/offer price (as defined below) exceeds (B) the Option Price, multiplied
by the number of shares for which this Option may then be exercised and (ii) at
the request of the owner of Option Shares from time to time (the "Owner"),
delivered prior to an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10), Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase such
number of the Option Shares from the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a
price (the "Option Share Repurchase Price") equal to the market/offer price
multiplied by the number of Option Shares so designated. The term "market/offer
price" shall mean the highest of (i) the price per share of Common Stock at
which a tender or exchange offer therefor has been made, (ii) the price per
share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an agreement
with Issuer, (iii) the highest closing price for shares of Common Stock within
the six-month period immediately preceding the date the Holder gives notice of
the required repurchase of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the required
repurchase of Option Shares, as the case may be, or (iv) in the event of a sale
of all or any substantial part of Issuer's assets or deposits, the sum of the
net price paid in such sale for such assets or deposits and the current market
value of the remaining net assets of Issuer as determined by a nationally
recognized investment banking firm selected by the Holder or the Owner, as the
case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer, divided by the number of
shares of Common Stock of Issuer outstanding at the time of such sale. In
determining the market/offer price, the value of consideration other than cash
shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Holder or Owner, as the case may be, and reasonably acceptable to Issuer.

      (b) The Holder and the Owner, as the case may be, may exercise its right
to require Issuer to repurchase the Option and any Option Shares pursuant to
this Section 7 by surrendering for such purpose to Issuer, at its principal
office, a copy of this Agreement or certificates for Option Shares, as
applicable, accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the Holder
or the Owner, as the case may be, elects to require Issuer to repurchase this
Option and/or the Option Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7. As promptly as practicable, and in any event within five business
days after the surrender of the Option and/or certificates representing Option
Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto, Issuer shall
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Holder the Option Repurchase Price
and/or to the Owner the Option Share Repurchase Price therefor or the portion
thereof that Issuer is not then prohibited under applicable law and regulation
from so delivering.



                                       -8-

<PAGE>   9



      (c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from repurchasing the
Option and/or the Option Shares in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify the
Holder and/or the Owner and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from
time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the
Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively,
that it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five business days after
the date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if
Issuer at any time after delivery of a notice of repurchase pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this Section 7 is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to the
Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the Option Repurchase Price and the
Option Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and Issuer hereby
undertakes to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory
and legal approvals and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable
in order to accomplish such repurchase), the Holder or Owner may revoke its
notice of repurchase of the Option and/or the Option Shares whether in whole or
to the extent of the prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer shall
promptly (i) deliver to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, that
portion of the Option Repurchase Price and/or the Option Share Repurchase Price
that Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and (ii) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Holder, a new Agreement evidencing the right of the Holder to
purchase that number of shares of Common Stock obtained by multiplying the
number of shares of Common Stock for which the surrendered Agreement was
exercisable at the time of delivery of the notice of repurchase by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof
theretofore delivered to the Holder and the denominator of which is the Option
Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Owner, a certificate for the Option Shares
it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an Exercise Termination Event
shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice by Issuer described in the
first sentence of this subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any
time before the expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such
date, the Holder shall nonetheless have the right to exercise the Option until
the expiration of such 30-day period.

      (d) For purposes of this Section 7, a "Repurchase Event" shall be deemed
to have occurred upon the occurrence of any of the following events or
transactions after the date hereof:

            (i) the acquisition by any person (other than Grantee or any Grantee
      Subsidiary) of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the then outstanding
      Common Stock; or

            (ii) the consummation of any Acquisition Transaction described in
      Section 2(b)(i) hereof, except that the percentage referred to in clause
      (z) shall be 50%.

      8. (a) In the event that prior to an Exercise Termination Event, Issuer
shall enter into an agreement (i) to consolidate with or merge into any person,
other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, or engage in a plan of exchange with
any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary and Issuer shall not be
the continuing or surviving corporation of such consolidation or merger or the
acquirer in such plan of exchange, (ii) to permit any person, other than Grantee
or a Grantee Subsidiary, to merge into Issuer or be acquired by Issuer in a plan
of exchange and Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving or acquiring
corporation, but, in connection with such merger or plan of exchange, the then


                                       -9-

<PAGE>   10



outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be changed into or exchanged for stock
or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property or the
then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall after such merger or plan of
exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding shares and share equivalents
of the merged or acquiring company, or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all
or a substantial part of its or the Issuer Subsidiary's assets or deposits to
any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary, then, and in each such
case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make proper provision so
that the Option shall, upon the consummation of any such transaction and upon
the terms and conditions set forth herein, be converted into, or exchanged for,
an option (the "Substitute Option"), at the election of the Holder, of either
(x) the Acquiring Corporation (as hereinafter defined) or (y) any person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation.

      (b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

            (i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (i) the continuing or
      surviving person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than
      Issuer), (ii) the acquiring person in a plan of exchange in which Issuer
      is acquired, (iii) the Issuer in a merger or plan of exchange in which
      Issuer is the continuing or surviving or acquiring person, and (iv) the
      transferee of all or a substantial part of Issuer's assets or deposits (or
      the assets or deposits of the Issuer Subsidiary).

            (ii) "Substitute Common Stock" shall mean the common stock issued by
      the issuer of the Substitute Option upon exercise of the Substitute
      Option.

            (iii) "Assigned Value" shall mean the market/offer price, as defined
      in Section 7.

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

      (c) The Substitute Option shall have the same terms as the Option,
PROVIDED that if the terms of the Substitute Option cannot, for legal reasons,
be the same as the Option, such terms shall be as similar as possible and in no
event less advantageous to the Holder. The issuer of the Substitute Option shall
also enter into an agreement with the then Holder or Holders of the Substitute
Option in substantially the same form as this Agreement (after giving effect for
such purpose to the provisions of Section 9), which agreement shall be
applicable to the Substitute Option.

      (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares
of Substitute Common Stock as is equal to the Assigned Value multiplied by the
number of shares of Common Stock for which the Option was exercisable
immediately prior to the event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a),
divided by the Average Price. The exercise price of the Substitute Option per


                                      -10-

<PAGE>   11



share of Substitute Common Stock shall then be equal to the Option Price
multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares
of Common Stock for which the Option was exercisable immediately prior to the
event described in the first sentence of Section 8(a) and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the
Substitute Option is exercisable.

      (e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 11% of the shares of Substitute
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to exercise of the Substitute Option.
In the event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 11%
of the shares of Substitute Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to
exercise but for this clause (e), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Issuer") shall make a cash payment to Holder equal to the
excess of (i) the value of the Substitute Option without giving effect to the
limitation in this clause (e) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after
giving effect to the limitation in this clause (e). This difference in value
shall be determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected
by the Holder.

      (f) Issuer shall not enter into any transaction described in subsection
(a) of this Section 8 unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person that
controls the Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of
Issuer hereunder.

      9. (a) At the request of the holder of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Holder"), the issuer of the Substitute Option (the
"Substitute Option Issuer") shall repurchase the Substitute Option from the
Substitute Option Holder at a price (the "Substitute Option Repurchase Price")
equal to the amount by which (i) the Highest Closing Price (as hereinafter
defined) exceeds (ii) the exercise price of the Substitute Option, multiplied by
the number of shares of Substitute Common Stock for which the Substitute Option
may then be exercised, and at the request of the owner (the "Substitute Share
Owner") of shares of Substitute Common Stock (the "Substitute Shares"), the
Substitute Option Issuer shall repurchase the Substitute Shares at a price (the
"Substitute Share Repurchase Price") equal to the Highest Closing Price
multiplied by the number of Substitute Shares so designated. The term "Highest
Closing Price" shall mean the highest closing price for shares of Substitute
Common Stock within the six-month period immediately preceding the date the
Substitute Option Holder gives notice of the required repurchase of the
Substitute Option or the Substitute Share Owner gives notice of the required
repurchase of the Substitute Shares, as applicable.

      (b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, may exercise its respective rights to require the Substitute Option
Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares pursuant to
this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute Option Issuer,
at its principal office, the agreement for such Substitute Option (or, in the
absence of such an agreement, a copy of this Agreement) and/or certificates for
Substitute Shares accompanied by a written notice or notices stating that the
Substitute Option Holder or the Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be,
elects to require the Substitute Option Issuer to repurchase the Substitute
Option and/or the Substitute Shares in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 9. As promptly as practicable and in any event within five business days
after the surrender of the Substitute Option and/or certificates representing
Substitute Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices relating thereto,


                                      -11-

<PAGE>   12



the Substitute Option Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Substitute Option Holder the Substitute Option Repurchase Price and/or to the
Substitute Share Owner the Substitute Share Repurchase Price therefor or the
portion thereof which the Substitute Option Issuer is not then prohibited under
applicable law and regulation from so delivering.

      (c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from
repurchasing the Substitute Option and/or the Substitute Shares in part or in
full, the Substitute Option Issuer shall immediately so notify the Substitute
Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner and thereafter deliver or cause
to be delivered, from time to time, to the Substitute Option Holder and/or the
Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price and/or the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively,
which it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five (5) business days
after the date on which the Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the Substitute Option Issuer is at any time after
delivery of a notice of repurchase pursuant to subsection (b) of this Section 9
prohibited under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of
administrative policy, from delivering to the Substitute Option Holder and/or
the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, the Substitute Option Repurchase
Price and the Substitute Share Repurchase Price, respectively, in full (and the
Substitute Option Issuer shall use its reasonable best efforts to receive all
required regulatory and legal approvals as promptly as practicable in order to
accomplish such repurchase), the Substitute Option Holder and/or Substitute
Share Owner may revoke its notice of repurchase of the Substitute Option or the
Substitute Shares either in whole or to the extent of prohibition, whereupon, in
the latter case, the Substitute Option Issuer shall promptly (i) deliver to the
Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate, that portion
of the Substitute Option Repurchase Price or the Substitute Share Repurchase
Price that the Substitute Option Issuer is not prohibited from delivering; and
(ii) deliver, as appropriate, either (A) to the Substitute Option Holder, a new
Substitute Option evidencing the right of the Substitute Option Holder to
purchase that number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock obtained by
multiplying the number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock for which the
surrendered Substitute Option was exercisable at the time of delivery of the
notice of repurchase by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Substitute
Option Repurchase Price less the portion thereof theretofore delivered to the
Substitute Option Holder and the denominator of which is the Substitute Option
Repurchase Price, and/or (B) to the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for
the Substitute Option Shares it is then so prohibited from repurchasing. If an
Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the date of the notice
by the Substitute Option Issuer described in the first sentence of this
subsection (c), or shall be scheduled to occur at any time before the expiration
of a period ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Substitute Option
Holder shall nevertheless have the right to exercise the Substitute Option until
the expiration of such 30-day period.

      10. The 30-day, 6-month, 12-month, 18-month or 24-month periods for
exercise of certain rights under Sections 2, 6, 7, 9, 12 and 15 shall be
extended: (i) to the extent necessary to obtain all regulatory approvals for the
exercise of such rights (for so long as the Holder, Owner, Substitute Option
Holder or Substitute Share Owner, as the case may be, is using commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain such regulatory approvals), and for the expiration


                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13



of all statutory waiting periods; and (ii) to the extent necessary to avoid
liability under Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act by reason of such exercise.

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

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

      (b) This Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby are not
subject to the requirements of any "moratorium," "control share", "fair price",
"affiliate transactions", "business combination" or other antitakeover laws and
regulations of any state. applicable to Issuer. The provisions of Article 12 of
Issuer's certificate of incorporation do not apply to the entering into of this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Issuer has (i) duly approved
an appropriate amendment to its Rights Agreement and (ii) taken all other action
necessary or appropriate so that the entering into of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not result
in the ability of any Person to exercise any Rights, as defined in its Rights
Agreement, or enable or require any such Rights to separate from the shares of
Common Stock to which they are attached or to be triggered or become
exercisable.

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

      12. Neither of the parties hereto may assign any of its rights or
obligations under this Agreement or the Option created hereunder to any other
person, without the express written consent of the other party, except that in
the event a Subsequent Triggering Event shall have occurred prior to an Exercise
Termination Event, Grantee, subject to the express provisions hereof, may assign
in whole or in part its rights and obligations hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that until the date 15 days following the date on which the Federal Reserve
Board or other applicable regulatory authority has approved an application by
Grantee to acquire the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option, Grantee may
not assign its rights under the Option except in (i) a widely dispersed public
distribution, (ii) a private placement in which no one party acquires the right
to purchase in excess of 2% of the voting shares of Issuer, (iii) an assignment
to a single party (E.G., a broker or investment banker) for the purpose of
conducting a widely dispersed public distribution on Grantee's behalf or (iv)
any other manner approved by the Federal Reserve Board or other applicable
regulatory authority.


                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14



      13. Each of Grantee and Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to
make all filings with, and to obtain consents of, all third parties and
governmental authorities necessary to the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, applying to the
Federal Reserve Board under the BHCA, to the extent required, for approval to
acquire the shares issuable hereunder, but Grantee shall not be obligated to
apply to state banking authorities for approval to acquire the shares of Common
Stock issuable hereunder until such time, if ever, as it deems appropriate to do
so.

      14. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event
shall the Grantee's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed $45 million
and, if it otherwise would exceed such amount, the Grantee, at its sole
election, shall either (a) reduce the number of shares of Common Stock subject
to this Option, (b) deliver to Issuer for cancellation Option Shares previously
purchased by Grantee, (c) pay cash to Issuer, or (d) any combination thereof, so
that Grantee's actually realized Total Profit shall not exceed $45 million after
taking into account the foregoing actions.

      (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, this Option may
not be exercised for a number of shares as would, as of the date of exercise,
result in a Notional Total Profit (as defined below) of more than $45 million;
PROVIDED that nothing in this sentence shall restrict any exercise of the Option
permitted hereby on any subsequent date.

      (c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate
amount (before taxes) of the following: (i) the amount received by Grantee
pursuant to Issuer's repurchase of the Option (or any portion thereof) pursuant
to Section 7, (ii) (x) the amount received by Grantee pursuant to Issuer's
repurchase of Option Shares pursuant to Section 7, less (y) Grantee's purchase
price for such Option Shares, (iii) (x) the net cash amounts received by Grantee
pursuant to the sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares are converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, less (y)
the Grantee's purchase price of such Option Shares, (iv) any amounts received by
Grantee on the transfer of the Option (or any portion thereof) to any
unaffiliated party, and (v) any amount equivalent to the foregoing with respect
to the Substitute Option.

      (d) As used herein, the term "Notional Total Profit" with respect to any
number of shares as to which Grantee may propose to exercise this Option shall
be the Total Profit determined as of the date of such proposed exercise assuming
that this Option were exercised on such date for such number of shares and
assuming that such shares, together with all other Option Shares held by Grantee
and its affiliates as of such date, were sold for cash at the closing market
price for the Common Stock as of the close of business on the preceding trading
day (less customary brokerage commissions).

      15. (a) Grantee may, at any time following a Repurchase Event and prior to
the occurrence of an Exercise Termination Event (or such later period as
provided in Section 10), relinquish the Option (together with any Option Shares
issued to and then owned by Grantee) to Issuer in exchange for a cash fee equal
to the Surrender Price; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Grantee may not exercise its
rights pursuant to this Section 15 if Issuer has repurchased the Option (or any
portion thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7. The "Surrender


                                      -14-

<PAGE>   15



Price" shall be equal to $45 million (i) plus, if applicable, Grantee's purchase
price with respect to any Option Shares and (ii) minus, if applicable, the
excess of (A) the net cash amounts, if any, received by Grantee pursuant to the
arms' length sale of Option Shares (or any other securities into which such
Option Shares were converted or exchanged) to any unaffiliated party, over (B)
Grantee's purchase price of such Option Shares.

      (b) Grantee may exercise its right to relinquish the Option and any Option
Shares pursuant to this Section 15 by surrendering to Issuer, at its principal
office, a copy of this Agreement together with certificates for Option Shares,
if any, accompanied by a written notice stating (i) that Grantee elects to
relinquish the Option and Option Shares, if any, in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 15 and (ii) accept the Surrender Price. The Surrender
Price shall be payable in immediately available funds on or before the second
business day following receipt of such notice by Issuer.

      (c) To the extent that Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from paying the
Surrender Price to Grantee in full, Issuer shall immediately so notify Grantee
and thereafter deliver or cause to be delivered, from time to time, to Grantee,
the portion of the Surrender Price that it is no longer prohibited from paying,
within five business days after the date on which Issuer is no longer so
prohibited; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if Issuer at any time after delivery of a
notice of surrender pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 15 is prohibited
under applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative
policy, from paying to Grantee the Surrender Price in full, (i) Issuer shall (A)
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all required regulatory and legal
approvals and to file any required notices as promptly as practicable in order
to make such payments, (B) within five days of the submission or receipt of any
documents relating to any such regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee
with copies of the same, and (c) keep Grantee advised of both the status of any
such request for regulatory and legal approvals, as well as any discussions with
any relevant regulatory or other third party reasonably related to the same and
(ii) Grantee may revoke such notice of surrender by delivery of a notice of
revocation to Issuer and, upon delivery of such notice of revocation, the
Exercise Termination Event shall be extended to a date six months from the date
on which the Exercise Termination Event would have occurred if not for the
provisions of this Section 15(c) (during which period Grantee may exercise any
of its rights hereunder, including any and all rights pursuant to this Section
15).

      16. The parties hereto acknowledge that damages would be an inadequate
remedy for a breach of this Agreement by either party hereto and that the
obligations of the parties hereto shall be enforceable by either party hereto
through injunctive or other equitable relief. In connection therewith both
parties waive the posting of any bond or similar requirement.

      17. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this
Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state regulatory agency of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of
the terms, provisions and covenants and restrictions contained in this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect, and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated. If for any reason such court or regulatory agency determines
that the Holder is not permitted to acquire, or Issuer is not permitted to
repurchase pursuant to Section 7, the full number of shares of Common Stock


                                      -15-

<PAGE>   16



provided in Section l(a) hereof (as adjusted pursuant to Section l(b) or Section
5 hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire
or to require Issuer to repurchase such lesser number of shares as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.

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

      19. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of law
principles thereof (except to the extent that mandatory provisions of Federal
law are applicable).

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

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

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

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



                                      -16-

<PAGE>   17


      Each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed on its behalf
by its officer thereunto duly authorized, all as of the date first above
written.

                                       ST. PAUL BANCORP, INC.



                                       By 
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Name:   Joseph C.  Scully
                                          Title:  Chief Executive Officer

                                       CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.



                                       By 
                                          ----------------------------------
                                          Name:  Charles J.  Koch
                                          Title: Chief Executive Officer















                                      -17-





<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

                        FROM CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC.
                                       AND
                             ST. PAUL BANCORP, INC.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                          <C>
CONTACTS FROM CHARTER ONE:                      CONTACTS FROM ST. PAUL:
     INVESTORS- Ellen Batkie  (800) 262-6301        CFO-        Robert N. Parke     (773) 804-2360
     MEDIA-     William Dupuy (216) 566-5311        INVESTORS-  Robert E. Williams  (773) 804-2284

</TABLE>

            CHARTER ONE AND ST. PAUL TO COMBINE IN STOCK TRANSACTION
            --------------------------------------------------------

CLEVELAND, OHIO, May 17, 1999 -- The boards of directors of Charter One
Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ:COFI), the holding company of Charter One Bank, F.S.B.,
and St. Paul Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPBC), the holding company of St. Paul
Federal Bank in Chicago, Illinois, today announced a definitive agreement to
enter into a strategic alliance through a stock-for-stock exchange. St. Paul has
an asset base of $6.0 billion ($3.8 billion in deposits) and operates 60 branch
offices in the metropolitan Chicago area. Based on March 31, 1999 data, the
combined company will be the 30th largest bank holding company in the country
and the 3rd largest in Ohio.

Terms of the transaction - Terms of the agreement call for a tax-free exchange
of common shares at a fixed exchange ratio of .945 shares of Charter One common
stock for each of St. Paul's common shares. Based on the current number of
diluted St. Paul common shares, it is expected that approximately 38.7 million
shares of Charter One common stock will be added in conjunction with the merger,
37.7 million new shares to be issued and approximately one million additional
shares related to exercisable stock options. This results in an initial
transaction value of approximately $1.2 billion and a pro forma market
capitalization of the combined company of $6.2 billion.

Based on Charter One's closing prices over the past 10 trading days, which
averaged $30.825, the exchange ratio represents a price of approximately $29.13
for each St. Paul share, or a 19% premium over St. Paul's average closing price
during the period. Based on Charter One's May 14 closing stock price of $30.28,
the exchange ratio represents a price of $28.62 for each St. Paul share, or a
16% premium over St. Paul's May 14 closing price. The pricing equals
approximately 230% of St. Paul's book value at March 31, 1999 and 18.8 times St.
Paul's 1999 estimated earnings.



                                        1

<PAGE>   2



The merger, which would be accounted for as a pooling of interests, is expected
to close in the fourth quarter of 1999. Due diligence work (including an
assessment of Year 2000 readiness) has been completed by both companies and
their advisors. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of
both companies and is subject to approval by the Office of Thrift Supervision,
the Federal Reserve Board, and each company's shareholders.

"Chicago is clearly the cornerstone of the Midwest, and combining it with our
anchors in Cleveland and Detroit gives us a solid footprint in the region,"
commented Charles John Koch, Charter One's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"St. Paul, with its enviable 110-year history and strong market recognition, is
an ideal entry vehicle into Chicago. St. Paul's management has built a premier
branch franchise and extensive ATM network that give us a significant presence
in some of the most important areas of the Chicago market. They have an
attractive deposit base with 44% in core products and an average cost of 3.64%.
We also pick up strong commercial real estate lending expertise and a new depth
to our product set through St. Paul's trust operation and strong securities
brokerage unit. But the most exciting element of this deal is the potential to
parallel our experience in Detroit. Our 1995 acquisition of FirstFed Michigan
has been a significant catalyst to the Company's sustained earnings growth over
the past three years."

Koch continued, "This transaction drops perfectly into the pattern we have
successfully executed 15 times in 10 years. Phase One of each deal is to bring
the acquired company's efficiency ratio in line with ours. Our merger discipline
requires an acquisition to break even within 12 months on cost saves alone. With
respect to St. Paul, we expect the transaction to be accretive through cost
saves by the third quarter of 2000. Phase Two is the introduction of our retail
products and incentive plans to generate significant revenue growth going
forward. Based on the growth potential we see in Chicago, we expect earnings per
share accretion of 4% to 6% per annum to start phasing in during the second half
of 2000."

Phase One - cost saves - Charter One has specifically identified cost saves
equivalent to 30 to 35% of St. Paul's expense base, or $27 to $31 million after
tax, which would return the combined operation to COFI's premerger efficiency
levels of just over 40%. The targeted cost savings would be primarily created by
eliminating duplicative back office operations. Although job reduction will
result from eliminating certain operations, Charter One indicated its sales
approach frequently results in increased employment in the retail operation
following acquisitions. The initial implementation schedule indicates cost saves
should be fully phased in by mid-2000. The residential loan servicing platform
is scheduled to be converted in 1999 and the retail banking platform by
mid-2000.



                                        2

<PAGE>   3



Phase Two - revenue growth - Koch went on to discuss the opportunity to once
more capitalize on Charter One's successful experience of quickly introducing
its strong sales culture into an existing organization and launching a product
set that matches the needs of the market. In each market it has entered in the
past 10 years, it has become a top retail mortgage lender within 12 months, and
has experienced meaningful retail revenue growth. The implementation schedule
calls for introducing products and incentives early in 2000.

Charter One anticipates a number of revenue opportunities resulting from the
merger, including introducing its retail banking product lines into St. Paul's
retail branches (adding $5 to $7 million in fee revenue to annual after tax
earnings), redeploying St. Paul nonretail assets into retail loans (resulting in
incremental earnings of $8 to $11 million annually after tax), and leveraging
St. Paul's capital in excess of 6.5% (equivalent to $7 to $12 million annually
after tax).

Merger costs - One-time, after-tax charges in conjunction with the merger are
expected to approximate $55 to $70 million.

"We are very pleased with what this transaction means for our customers, our
community and our shareholders," stated Joseph C. Scully, St. Paul chairman and
chief executive officer. "Charter One is recognized as one of the premier
financial institutions in the country with a successful track record of entering
new markets and serving the customers well. Charter One will offer a broad array
of products to meet the needs of our customer base. In terms of shareholder
value, Charter One's record is almost unequaled. Charter One has consistently
generated strong earnings growth which has been rewarded by the investment
community through outstanding share price appreciation over the past 10 years.
On a personal note, I would like to express my appreciation to our shareholders,
customers and employees for their support over the past several years. We've
worked hard to maximize shareholder value, as evidenced by a total return in
excess of 800% since becoming a public company in 1987."

Scully noted that upon completion of the merger, all retail banking branches
will remain open and that they will retain the St. Paul name.

Additional terms of the transaction - Following the acquisition, Mr. Scully and
Patrick J. Agnew, President and Chief Operating Officer of St. Paul, will join
Charter One's Board of Directors.



                                        3

<PAGE>   4



As part of the transaction, Charter One would receive a break-up fee of $45
million under certain circumstances, including an option to purchase, under
certain circumstances, shares of St. Paul common stock equal to 11.0% of St.
Paul's outstanding common stock. St. Paul would also be entitled to receive a
break-up fee of $45 million under certain circumstances. Additionally, St. Paul
may terminate the transaction in the event Charter One's common stock price
declines more than 17.5 percent during the period from May 14, 1999 through the
date by which all regulatory and shareholder approvals have been obtained and
all waiting periods have expired and such decline is at least 17.5 percentage
points more than the decline in the weighted average stock price of a predefined
peer group during that same period.

Salomon Smith Barney is acting as financial advisor to Charter One, and Merrill
Lynch is acting as financial advisor to St. Paul. Both have provided fairness
opinions in connection with the transaction.

Charter One Bank has $24.6 billion in total assets, making it the 32nd largest
bank holding company in the country. The Bank currently has 340 branch locations
in Ohio, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont. Additionally, Charter
One Mortgage Corp., the Bank's mortgage banking subsidiary, operates 40 loan
production offices across 12 states, and Charter One Auto Finance, the Bank's
indirect auto finance subsidiary, generates loans in nine states.

Charter One's press releases are available by telefax at no charge by calling PR
Newswire Fax On Demand. To retrieve a specific press release, call: (800)
758-5804 and reference account 313075. Additional information may be found at
the Company's web site: www.charterone.com.

                                     ######

Forward-looking Information
Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts,
including estimates, may constitute forward-looking statements (within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995), which involve
significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from
the results discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that might
cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (1) expected cost
savings from the merger cannot be realized within the expected time frame; (2)
revenues following the merger are lower than expected; (3) costs or difficulties
related to the integration of the businesses of Charter One and St. Paul are
greater than expected; (4) competitive pressures among depository institutions
increase; (5) changes in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins;
(6) general economic conditions, either nationally or in the states in which the
combined company will be doing business, are less favorable than expected; (7)
Y2K compliance failures result in additional expense or business disruption; and
(8) legislation or regulatory changes adversely affect the business in which the
combined company would be engaged.

                                        4

<PAGE>   5


               CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC./ST. PAUL BANCORP, INC.
                                   AT-A-GLANCE

                   First Quarter 1999 Selected Financial Data
           (financial ratios reflect year-to-date results, annualized)
                     ($ in millions, except per share data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                        PRO FORMA
                                                        COFI             SPBC           (COMBINED)
                                                        ----             ----           ----------
<S>                                                  <C>               <C>              <C>   
Total assets                                           $24,555           5,981            30,536

Net loans                                               17,246           4,598            21,844

Total deposits                                          15,127           3,806            18,933

Total equity                                             1,952             497             2,449

Shareholders' equity/assets                               7.95%           8.30%             8.02%

Net income (3 months ended)                              $88.1            14.8             102.9

Efficiency ratio                                            43%             62%               43%(a)

Return on assets                                          1.45%           0.99%             1.47%(a)

Return on equity                                         18.34%          11.80%            18.44%(a)

Nonperforming assets                                    $110.3            23.2             133.5

Nonperforming assets/assets                               0.45%           0.39%             0.44%

Book value per share (d)                                $11.74           12.46             12.01(c)

Tangible book value per share (d)                        10.79           12.40             11.24(c)

Closing stock price                                      30.28(b)        24.66(b)             --

Diluted shares at 3/31/99                                170.5            40.9             209.2(c)

Outstanding shares at 3/31/99                            166.2            39.9             203.9(c)

Market capitalization (d)                               $5,034             983             6,175(c)

Retail banking locations                                   340              60               400

ATMs                                                       350             555               905

Stand-alone loan offices                                    40               0                40

Households served (000s)                                 1,100             300             1,400

Employees                                                5,677           1,288             6,965

</TABLE>


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

(a) Assumes cost saves equal to 30% of St. Paul annual operating expenses;
excludes revenue enhancements.
(b) May 14, 1999 closing price.
(c) Adjusted for the .945 exchange ratio.
(d) Based on outstanding shares.


                                        5


<PAGE>   1

                                                                    Exhibit 99.2

[LOGO] CHARTER ONE FINANCIAL, INC. (R)

                           [LOGO] StPaul Bancorp Inc.

                              Merger Presentation
                                  May 18, 1999
<PAGE>   2

                           FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

    This presentation contains a wide variety of historical information. There
    are a number of important factors which could cause future results to differ
    materially from historical performance. These include, but are not limited
    to, financial condition, operating efficiencies, revenue creation, lending
    origination, prepayment speeds, loan sale volumes, charge-offs and loan loss
    provisions. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not
    limited to: (1) expected cost savings from the SPBC merger cannot be
    realized within the expected time frame; (2) revenues following the SPBC
    merger are lower than expected; (3) costs or difficulties related to the
    integration of the business of COFI and SPBC are greater than expected; (4)
    competitive pressures among depository institutions increase significantly;
    (5) changes in the interest rate environment reduce interest margins; (6)
    general economic conditions, either nationally or in the states in which
    COFI does business, are less favorable than expected; (7) Y2K compliance
    failures result in additional expense or business disruption; and (8)
    legislative or regulatory changes adversely affect the businesses in which
    COFI is engaged.

                                      2
<PAGE>   3

                               TRANSACTION SUMMARY

FIXED EXCHANGE RATIO:      .945 COFI share per SPBC share

PRICE PER SPBC SHARE:      $28.62 (16% market premium)

STRUCTURE:                 Pooling of interests / tax-free exchange
                           Lock-up agreement is in place

TRANSACTION VALUE:         $1.2 B (based on diluted shares)

EXPECTED CLOSING:          4th Qtr 1999

DUE DILIGENCE:             Completed, including Y2K review

INTEGRATION CONVERSION:    Loans in 1999, deposits in 2000

BOARD SEATS:               Adding 2 directors

                      Prices/Values based on 5/14/99 close

                                      3
<PAGE>   4

                                  DEAL PRICING

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    SPBC/COFI      COFI
                                                   Merger (a)    Stand-alone
                                                   ----------    -----------
<S>                                               <C>            <C>
Price to:

   1999 E EPS-IBES                                   18.1           13.5

   1999 E EPS adj for synergies                      13.2(b)         N/A

Price/book value                                     2.30           2.58

Price/tangible book                                  2.31           2.81

Premium to deposits                                    18%           N/A

</TABLE>

(a) Multiples based on COFI closing price of $30.28 on May 14, 1999 applied to 
    SPBC data
(b) Assumes 30% cost saves; excludes revenue enhancements



                                      4
<PAGE>   5


                              COFI/SPBC SNAPSHOT
                          400 RETAIL BANKING LOCATIONS

                                     [MAP]






                                      5
<PAGE>   6

                              IMPACT OF COMBINATION


- -    Creates major Great Lakes/Northeast 
     franchise
     -  Provides entry vehicle into Chicago

- -    Outstanding asset quality

- -    Substantial excess capital

- -    Strong potential to mirror Michigan 
     experience

- -    Anticipated significant revenue growth




                                      6

<PAGE>   7

                               COFI/SPBC SNAPSHOT

- -    $6.2 B market cap

- -    $30.5 B assets
     -  30th largest bank holding company 

- -    $18.9 B deposits @ 3.83% 

- -    8.0% GAAP equity/assets 

- -    7.5% tangible equity/assets




                                      7
<PAGE>   8

                               COFI/SPBC SNAPSHOT

- -    400 retail banking offices - OH, MI, 
     NY, MA, VT & IL

- -    905 ATMs

- -    2.4 M deposit accounts

- -    1 M DDAs

- -    1.4 M households





                                      8
<PAGE>   9

                              IMPACT OF COMBINATION

                             Financially Attractive


- -    Accretive on cost saves alone by 3rd Qtr 
     2000

- -    SPBC has 62% efficiency ratio, making 
     minimum 30% cost saves easily 
     achievable

- -    Adds $3.8 B in deposits @ 3.64% cost 

- -    Significant accretion through revenue
     growth





                                      9
<PAGE>   10

                              IMPACT OF COMBINATION

                               LOW EXECUTION RISK

- -    Contiguous market extension with similar 
     demographics and business lines 

- -    Consistent track record of achieving cost 
     save targets 

- -    High % of SPBC assets in purchased loans 
     & MBS - simplifies conversion

- -    Identical 1-4 loan servicing platform





                                      10


<PAGE>   11

                                 MERGER STRATEGY

                               THE SAME OLD PLAN

- - Phase I - Cost Saves

     "The deal must break-even within 12
     months on cost saves alone,"

                                  Bud Koch

- - Phase II- Revenue Growth
     "Our products are tailor-made for
     mainstream America; our results
     prove it,"

                                  Bud Koch





                                      11
<PAGE>   12

                                    AT COFI

                                 MERGER PHASE I

                                  IS ALL ABOUT

                                   EFFICIENCY
                                   EFFICIENCY





                                      12
<PAGE>   13

                            "IN A COMMODITY BUSINESS,

                           THE LOW COST PROVIDER WINS"






                                      13
<PAGE>   14
                                       
                           COFI SUPERIOR EFFICIENCY
                                       
                 EFFICIENCY RATIO HAS BEEN ENHANCED BY MERGERS
                                       
                                    [GRAPH]

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         '88    '89    '90    '91    '92    '93    '94    '95    '96    '97    '98    3-99    '99
                                                                                                              GOAL
                        -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----  -----   -----

<S>                    <C>     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>     <C> 
First Akron, Western   71%

Broadview                      70%

Civic                                 66%

Toledo                                66%

First American                                60%

Women's Federal                                     57%     51%    50%

FirstFed Michigan                                                         49%

Haverfield                                                                      42%

RCSB                                                                                   46%

CS Financial                                                                           46%

ALBANK                                                                                         45%

                                                                                                      43%

                                                                                                             42%

</TABLE>
    OTHER EXPENSES (EXCL GOODWILL) DIVIDED BY NET INTEREST INCOME PLUS OTHER
                           INCOME (EXCL GAIN ON SALE)
        Prior period ratios have not been restated to reflect poolings.




                                      14

<PAGE>   15

                             COFI EFFICIENCY RECORD

                      MERGER EXPERIENCE-EFFICIENCY RATIOS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                       FFOM        RCSB       ALBK      SPBC (2)
                                      (10/95)     (10/97)    (11/98)     (4Q99)
                                      -------     -------    -------     ------

<S>                                   <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Premerger-Acquiree                      53%         60%        58%         62%

          COFI                          48%         40%        42%         43%


Postmerger-1 yr later                   42%         42%        41%(1)      43%

</TABLE>

(1) 4th Qtr 1999 goal
(2) Merger quarter is pro forma combined; 1 year later assumes 30% cost saves;
    excludes revenue enhancements.

                                      15
<PAGE>   16


                             COFI EFFICIENCY RECORD

                             A MICHIGAN REPORT CARD

- -    COFI entered Detroit in 1995 though 
     FirstFed Michigan merger

- -    4 years later, MI is generating tremendous 
     production & revenue on lower operating 
     costs

                                      16
<PAGE>   17

                             COFI EFFICIENCY RECORD

                             A MICHIGAN REPORT CARD
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                              1995(1)           199(2)
                              -------           ------

<S>                        <C>              <C>  
Operating expense              $73 M            $63 M
Offices                         80               84
Deposits:
  Balances                    $3.3 B           $3.5 B
  Accounts                     386 K            446 K
  Fee revenue                 $6.5 M          $40.6 M
Loans originated:           
  1-4 Mortgage                $362 M         $1,510 M
  Consumer                      $0           $1,042 M

</TABLE>

(1) Includes 1st Nationwide acquisition on pro forma basis
(2) 1st qtr annualized

                                      17
<PAGE>   18

                       DEAL ACCRETIVE ON COST SAVES ALONE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

          1999      DILUTED                         EPS ON
         IBES(1)    SHARES        EARNINGS      209.2 M SHS (2)
         -------    ------        --------      ---------------
<S>     <C>        <C>       <C>                <C>
COFI     $2.24      170.5 M      $ 381.9 M       

SPBC      1.52       40.9 M         62.2 M
                                  --------
                                   444.1 M

Cost saves, after tax            27 to 31 M
                                 ----------
                             $471.1 to 475.1 M    $2.25 to 2.27
                             =================    
</TABLE>

(1) Based on the IBES mean estimate on May 14, 1999
(2) Adjusted for the .945 exchange ratio

                                      18
<PAGE>   19

                         PROJECTED COST SAVES/SYNERGIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                 30% to 35%*
                                 -----------
<S>                            <C>  
Salaries & benefits              $20 to 23 M

Professional services & other      9 to 11 M

Occupancy & equipment             12 to 14 M
                                 -----------

  Benefit before tax             $41 to 48 M
                                 ===========

  Benefit after tax              $27 to 31 M
                                 ===========
</TABLE>

*Based on SPBC 1st qtr 1999 G & A

                                      19
                                      
<PAGE>   20

                                    AT COFI

                                MERGER PHASE II

                                  IS ALL ABOUT

                                 REVENUE GROWTH




                                      20

<PAGE>   21

                                 MERGER STRATEGY

                            PHASE II-REVENUE GROWTH

- -    Export COFI product sets, incentives and 
     sales culture into SPBC branches 

- -    Build on SPBC strengths
     -   Strong branch/ATM network
     -   Commercial real estate
     -   Trust & brokerage services

- -    Unlock earnings power of SPBC balance 
     sheet

- -    Apply Michigan template

                                      21
<PAGE>   22

                             THE MICHIGAN TEMPLATE


                         "WE BELIEVE WE CAN ACHIEVE THE

                           SAME SUCCESS IN CHICAGO AS

                              WE HAVE IN DETROIT,"

                                                                        BUD KOCH
                                                                    MAY 17, 1999

                                      22
<PAGE>   23

                                MERGER STRATEGY

                            CHICAGO MIRRORS DETROIT

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                   Chicago          Detroit
                                   in 1999          in 1995
                                   -------          -------

<S>                               <C>              <C>  
Households/branch                   1,300            1,400

Population                          7.8 M            4.3 M

Households                          2.8 M            1.6 M

Median income                       $51 K            $42 K

SPBC/COFI:

  Deposits                         $3.8 B           $3.3 B

  Branches                           60               80

</TABLE>

                                      23


<PAGE>   24

                              THE MICHIGAN TEMPLATE

                          REVENUE PER CHECKING ACCOUNT

[GRAPH]

MI rev/acct up 400% in 4 years

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     1995         1996       1997        1998       1Q'99 ann
                     ----         ----       ----        ----       ---------

<S>               <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>  
NUMBER OF ACCTS.    130 K         150 K      174 K       202 K       207 K

REVENUE PER ACCT.    $50          $90        $131        $181        $196

</TABLE>


                        SPBC HAD 210 K ACCTS AT 3/31/99,
                            EARNING APPROX $90/ACCT


                                      24

<PAGE>   25

                              THE MICHIGAN TEMPLATE

                           CONSUMER LOAN ORIGINATIONS

[GRAPH]

MI had virtually no consumer
   loan products in 1995

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                          1995      1996       1997       1998      1Q'99 ann
                          ----      ----       ----       ----      ---------

<S>                    <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>     
Consumer Loan Products   $5 M      $153 M     $211 M     $724 M     $1,042 M

                                                   (SPBC annualized at $34 M)

</TABLE>

                           SPBC HAS LIMITED CONSUMER
                             LOAN PRODUCTS IN 1999

                                      25
<PAGE>   26
                            THE MICHIGAN TEMPLATE
                             1-4 RETAIL MORTGAGE
                                ORIGINATIONS     


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         1995      1996      1997       1998       1Q'99 ANN
<S>                    <C>     <C>        <C>        <C>         <C>
                    
                        $426 M  $1,081 M    $1,175 M   $1,628 M    $1,510 M

                                                                   SPBC
                                                                   ANNUALIZED
                                                                   AT $525 M
</TABLE>

                       COFI CONSISTENTLY RANKS #1 OR #2
                   WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF ENTERING NEW MARKETS

                                      26
<PAGE>   27
                               ACCRETIVE ELEMENTS

                                                            After-tax
                                                          Annual Benefit
                                                          --------------
Use COFI product set to increase retail
   fee banking revenue                                    $  5 to   7 M

Redeploy nonretail assets into retail loans               $  8 to  11 M

Leverage SPBC capital in excess of 6.5%                   $  7 to  12 M
                                                          -------------
                                                          $ 20 to  30 M
                                                          =============
     Per diluted share (209.2 M)                          $.10 to .14


                     LEADS TO ANNUAL ACCRETION OF 4% TO 6%


                                       27
<PAGE>   28


                                      
                                HOW DOES SPBC

                               FIT INTO COFI'S

                             FUTURE PERFORMANCE?









                                       28
<PAGE>   29



                            COFI'S EARNINGS GROWTH

                             HAS BEEN ACCELERATED

                               THROUGH MERGERS






                                       29
<PAGE>   30
                              COFI EARNINGS GROWTH

                           (originally reported EPS)

                    COMPOUNDED ANNUAL EARNINGS GROWTH OF 17%
                    ----------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                 <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>   <C>   <C>   <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
PER SHARE            1988   1989   1990   1991   1992  1993  1994  1995   1996   1997   1998   1999
- ---------            ----   ----   ----   ----   ----  ----  ----  ----   ----   ----   ----   ----
                     $.39   $.50   $.53   $.90   $.95 $1.15 $1.26 $1.38* $1.56  $1.77* $1.97* $2.24 
*  First Akron
   Broadview Western
   Civic
   Toledo
   First American
   Women's Federal
   FirstFed Michigan
   Haverfield
   RCSB
   CS Financial
   ALBANK

  
</TABLE>
* 3 qtrs stand alone, 4th qtr merged

                                       30
<PAGE>   31



                                SPBC RAISES THE
                                        
                               PERFORMANCE BAR!!


                                   [GRAPHIC]






                                       31
<PAGE>   32
                             NEW PERFORMANCE GOALS




                                   Before         After
                                   ------         -----

               EPS growth          12-14%         13-16%

               ROE*                          20%

               ROA                         1.50%



                         *Model supports equity of 7.5%


                                      32
<PAGE>   33






                                   APPENDIX








                                       33
<PAGE>   34
                              PRO FORMA HIGHLIGHTS
                             BASED ON 1ST QTR 1999
                                        

                                                              PRO FORMA
                       COFI                   SPBC            COMBINED*
                     -------                -------          ----------
ROAA                   1.45%                   .99%            1.47%
ROAE                  18.34%                 11.80%           18.44%
Equity to assets       7.95%                  8.30%            8.02%
Book value/share     $11.74                 $12.46           $12.01
NPA ratio               .45%                   .39%             .44%
Efficiency ratio         43%                    62%              43%

*Assumes annual cost saves of 30%; excludes revenue enhancements




                                       34
<PAGE>   35



                          3/31/99 BALANCE SHEET ($B)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              COFI     SPBC    COMBINED
                              -----    -----   --------
<S>                           <C>      <C>      <C>
Net loans and leases          $17.2    $ 4.6    $21.8
MBS & investments               5.8      1.1      6.9
Other assets                    1.5       .3      1.8
                              -----    -----    -----
  Total assets                $24.5    $ 6.0    $30.5
                              =====    =====    =====
Deposits                      $15.1    $ 3.8    $18.9
Borrowings                      7.0      1.6      8.6
Other                            .5       .1       .6
                              -----    -----    -----
  Total liabilities            22.6      5.5     28.1

  Total equity                  1.9       .5      2.4
                              -----    -----    -----
  Total liability & equity    $24.5    $ 6.0    $30.5
                              =====    =====    =====

</TABLE>

                                      35

<PAGE>   36


                            3/31/99 LOAN COMPOSITION


                         COFI              SPBC              Combined
                   -------------      -------------       -------------
                    Amount    %         Amount   %         Amount   %    
                   -------   ---      --------  ---       -------   --- 
Residential Mtg  $  9.7B     56%      $3.3B     72%       $ 13.0B   60%

Consumer            5.5B     32%        .2B      4%          5.7B   26%

Commercial R/E       .7B      4%       1.0B     22%          1.7B    8%

Commercial          1.3B      8%        .1B      2%          1.4B    6%
                 -------              -----                 -----  
     Total       $ 17.2B    100%     $ 4.6B    100%       $ 21.8B  100%
                 =======              =====                 =====












                                      36
<PAGE>   37


                            3/31/99 DEPOSIT COMPOSITION


                              COFI              SPBC              Combined
                        -------------      -------------       -------------
                        Balance   %        Balance   %         Balance   %
                        -------   ---      --------  ---       -------   ---
Checking:

 Non-interest bearing   $ 1.0B      7%      $ .3B      8%       $  1.3B    7%

 Interest bearing         1.2B      8%        .3B      8%          1.5B    8%
                       ------               ----                  ----
                          2.2B     15%        .6B     16%          2.8B   15%
 
 Money market             2.7B     18%        .3B      8%          3.0B   16%

 Other savings            1.7B     11%        .8B     21%          2.5B   13%
                       ------               ----                  ----
  Core                    6.6B     44%       1.7B     45%          8.3B   44%
                       =======              =====                 =====

 Certificates             8.5B     56%       2.1B     55%         10.6B   56%
                       ------               ----                  ----

 Total deposits         $15.1B    100%      $3.8B    100%        $18.9B  100%
                       =======              =====                 =====

 Cost of Deposits        3.88%               3.64%                 3.83%


                                      37
                                      






<PAGE>   38
                       SUPERIOR CREDIT PROFILE @ 3/31/99



                               COFI               SPBC               Combined
                             --------           -------              --------

NPAs                         $110.3 M           $23.2 M              $133.5 M
  to assets                     .45%              .39%                  .44%
  to loans                      .64%              .50%                  .60%

Allowance                    $141.3 M           $40.6 M              $181.9 M
  to NPLs                       155%              182%                  160%
  to total loans                .81%              .88%                  .83%
  TO ENERGIZED ASSETS          1.87%             3.11%                 2.05%
  to ann charge-offs            3.5 yrs          84.3 yrs               4.5 yrs




                                       38


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