FINANCIAL BANCORP INC
SC 13D, 1998-07-27
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                  UNITED STATES
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                 SCHEDULE 13D

                   Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                          (Amendment No.____________)*


                            Financial Bancorp, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Issuer)


                    Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         (Title of Class of Securities)


                                   31738T100
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (CUSIP Number)


                                Michael P. Devine
                         Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
                              209 Havemeyer Street
                            Brooklyn, New York 11211
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
               Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)


                                 July 18, 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      (Date of Event which Requires Filing
                               of this Statement)

If the filing person has previously  filed a statement of Schedule 13G to report
the  acquisition  that is the subject of this  Schedule  13D, and is filing this
schedule because of ss.ss. 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the
following box [ ].




Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule,  including all exhibits.  See ss. 240.13d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any  subsequent  amendment  containing  information  which  would  alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).


                               Page 1 of 15 Pages
                            Exhibit Index on Page 15


<PAGE>

CUSIP No.  31738T100               SCHEDULE 13D



- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   1   NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
       S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

       Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
       IRS Identification No.11-3297463
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                             (a)  [  ]
                                                             (b)  [  ]


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


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   4   SOURCE OF FUNDS*

       WC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5   CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO 
       ITEMS 2(d) OR 2(e)                                         [  ]


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   6   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

          Delaware
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NUMBER OF      7    SOLE VOTING POWER
     SHARES             354,627**
  BENEFICIALLY    --------------------------------------------------------------
    OWNED BY      8    SHARED VOTING POWER
      EACH             0
   REPORTING      --------------------------------------------------------------
     PERSON       9    SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
      WITH              354,627**
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                       0

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

         354,627**

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

                                                                      [  ]

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

       17.3%

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

       CO


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

- ----------
* Beneficial  ownership of 339,627 shares  reported  herein is being so reported
solely as a result of the Option  Agreement  described  in Item 4. The number of
such shares is based upon 19.9% of the  1,706,666  shares of Financial  Bancorp,
Inc. Common Stock  outstanding as of July 15, 1998.  Dime Community  Bancshares,
Inc. expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of such 339,627 shares.


                               Page 2 of 15 Pages

<PAGE>


Item 1. Security and Issuer

     The  securities  to which this Schedule 13D relate are the shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"),  in Financial  Bancorp,  Inc.
(the "Issuer"), a Delaware corporation having its principal executive offices at
42-25 Queens Boulevard, Long Island City, New York 11104.


Item 2. Identity and Background

     This  Schedule  13D is being filed by Dime  Community  Bancshares,  Inc., a
Delaware  corporation  ("Dime  Community").   The  principal  business  of  Dime
Community  currently  consists of the operation of its wholly owned  subsidiary,
The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh,  a federally chartered savings bank (the
"Bank"). The principal business office of Dime Community and the Bank is located
at 209 Havemeyer  Street,  Brooklyn,  New York 11211. The names of the directors
and  executive  officers  of  Dime  Community  and  their  respective   business
addresses,  citizenship and present principal occupations or employment, as well
as the names,  principal  businesses and addresses of any  corporations or other
organizations in which such employment is conducted, are set forth on Schedule I
hereto, which Schedule is incorporated herein by reference.

     During the last five years,  neither Dime Community nor, to the best of its
knowledge, any of the persons listed in Schedule I hereto have been convicted in
a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors), or
have been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative  body of
competent  jurisdiction  which  resulted  in it,  his or her being  subject to a
judgment,  decree or final order enjoining future  violations of, or prohibiting
or mandating  activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding
any violation with respect to such laws.


Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

     As more fully described in Item 4, the Issuer has granted to Dime Community
an option pursuant to which Dime Community has the right, upon the occurrence of
certain events (none of which has occurred), to purchase up to 339,627 shares of
Common Stock  (subject to  adjustment  in certain  circumstances)  at a price of
$32.00 per share (the  "Option").  Certain terms of the Option are summarized in
Item 4. If the Option were  exercisable  and Dime Community were to exercise the
Option on the date  hereof,  the funds  required  to purchase  the Common  Stock
issuable upon such exercise would be approximately $10,868,064.  It is currently
anticipated  that such funds would be derived  from working  capital,  dividends
from the  Bank,  a loan from an  unaffiliated  bank or other  financial  service
company, other borrowings or selected sale of investment securities.


                               Page 3 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



Item 4. Purpose of Transaction

     Dime  Community is seeking to acquire in the Issuer  pursuant to the Merger
(as defined below).  The transactions  reported hereunder are intended to assist
in the achievement of that purpose.

     The Merger  Agreement.  Dime  Community and the Issuer have entered into an
Agreement  and  Plan  of  Merger,  dated  as  of  July  18,  1998  (the  "Merger
Agreement"),  providing for,  among other things,  the merger of the Issuer with
and into Dime  Community,  with Dime Community  being the surviving  corporation
(the "Merger" and the "Surviving Company").  At the effective time of the Merger
(the "Effective Time"),  each outstanding share of Common Stock shall become and
be converted  into the right to receive,  at the election of the holder  thereof
(subject to the  allocation and proration  provisions of the Merger  Agreement),
either  cash or shares of common  stock of Dime  Community,  par value $0.01 per
share,  having a value of $40.50 per share,  subject to adjustment  as set forth
in the Merger Agreement.

     Consummation  of the  Merger is  subject  to the  satisfaction  of  certain
conditions  set forth in the Merger  Agreement,  including  the  approval of the
stockholders of the Issuer and the approval of appropriate regulatory agencies.

     The  Option  Agreement.  Concurrently  with  the  execution  of the  Merger
Agreement,  Dime Community and the Issuer entered into a Stock Option Agreement,
dated as of July 18, 1998 (the "Option Agreement").  Dime Community required the
Issuer to grant the Option as a condition to Dime  Community  entering  into the
Merger  Agreement for the purpose of (i) providing some measure of  compensation
to Dime Community for loss of the benefits  expected from the Merger and/or loss
of the opportunity to explore other transactions while the Merger is pending, in
the event that a Purchase Event or  Preliminary  Purchase Event (both as defined
below)  occurs  and (ii)  increasing  the  likelihood  that the  Merger  will be
successfully consummated in accordance with the terms contemplated by the Merger
Agreement.  Pursuant to the Option Agreement,  the Issuer granted Dime Community
the  Option,   which  provides  for  the  purchase,   under  certain   specified
circumstances,  of up to 339,627 shares (the "Option  Shares"),  but in no event
may the number of Option  Shares for which the Option is exercised  exceed 19.9%
of the issued and outstanding Common Stock, at a price of $32 per share, subject
to adjustment in certain circumstances.

     Subject to applicable law and regulatory restrictions and provided that (i)
Dime  Community  is not  in  material  breach  of the  agreements  or  covenants
contained  in the  Option  Agreement  or  the  Merger  Agreement,  and  (ii)  no
preliminary  or  permanent  injunction  or other order  against the  delivery of
Option Shares issued by any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States
is in effect,  Dime  Community may exercise the Option,  in whole or in part, at
any time and from time to time,  following the  occurrence of a Purchase  Event;
provided,  however, that the Option will terminate and be of no further force or
effect  upon  the  earliest  to  occur  of  the  following  (each  an  "Exercise
Termination  Event"):  (A) the Effective  Time,  (B)  termination of the Plan in
accordance with the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a Purchase Event or
a Preliminary  Purchase Event other than a termination thereof by Dime Community
as a result  of a breach  by the  Issuer of any  covenant  of the  Issuer in the
Merger  Agreement  (a  termination  of the Merger  Agreement  by Dime  Community
pursuant to such Section of the Merger Agreement

                               Page 4 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>


being  referred  to herein as a "Default  Termination"),  (C) 12 months  after a
Default  Termination or (D) 12 months after  termination of the Merger Agreement
(other than a Default Termination)  following the occurrence of a Purchase Event
or a Preliminary Purchase Event; provided,  however, that any purchase of shares
upon exercise of the Option will be subject to compliance with applicable law.

          "Purchase Event" means any of the following events:

          (i) Without Dime Community's  prior written consent,  the Issuer shall
     have recommended,  publicly proposed or publicly  announced an intention to
     authorize,  recommend or propose,  or the Issuer shall have entered into an
     agreement  with any person (other than Dime  Community or any subsidiary of
     Dime  Community)  to  effect  (A)  a  merger,   consolidation   or  similar
     transaction  involving the Issuer or any of its  significant  subsidiaries,
     (B) the disposition,  by sale, lease,  exchange or otherwise,  of assets or
     deposits of the Issuer or any of its significant subsidiaries  representing
     in  either  case all or  substantially  all of the  consolidated  assets or
     deposits of the Issuer and its  subsidiaries  or (C) the issuance,  sale or
     other   disposition   by  the  Issuer  of  (including  by  way  of  merger,
     consolidation,  share  exchange  or  any  similar  transaction)  securities
     representing  20% or more of the  voting  power of the Issuer or any of its
     significant  subsidiaries  (each  of  (A),  (B)  or  (C),  an  "Acquisition
     Transaction");  provided,  however,  that in no  event  shall  any  merger,
     consolidation,  purchase or similar  transaction  involving only the Issuer
     and one or more of the  Subsidiaries  of the Issuer,  or involving only any
     two  or  more  of  such   Subsidiaries  be  deemed  to  be  an  Acquisition
     Transaction,  provided  that any such  transaction  is not entered  into in
     violation of the terms of the Merger Agreement; or

          (ii) Any person (other than Dime  Community or any  subsidiary of Dime
     Community)  shall  have  acquired  beneficial  ownership  (as such  term is
     defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of
     1934 (the "Exchange Act")) of, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership
     of, or any  "group"  (as such term is defined in  Section  13(d)(3)  of the
     Exchange Act), other than a group of which Dime Community or any subsidiary
     of Dime  Community is a member,  shall have been formed which  beneficially
     owns or has the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership  of, 20% or more of
     the voting power of the Issuer or any of its significant subsidiaries.

          "Preliminary Purchase Event" means any of the following events:

          (i) Any person  (other than Dime  Community or any  subsidiary of Dime
     Community)  shall have  commenced  (as such term is defined in Rule  14d-2,
     promulgated  under the  Exchange  Act) or shall have  filed a  registration
     statement  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the  "Securities
     Act"),  with respect to, a tender  offer or exchange  offer to purchase any
     shares of the Common Stock such that, upon consummation of such offer, such
     person would own or control 10% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of
     the Common Stock (such an offer being referred to as a "Tender Offer" or an
     "Exchange Offer," respectively); or


                               Page 5 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>


          (ii) The stockholders of the Issuer shall not have approved the Merger
     Agreement by the requisite vote at the  stockholders  meeting of the Issuer
     called for that purpose ("Company Meeting"),  the Company Meeting shall not
     have been held or shall have been canceled prior to termination of the Plan
     or the  Issuer's  Board of  Directors  shall  have  publicly  withdrawn  or
     modified in a manner  adverse to Dime Community the  recommendation  of the
     Issuer's Board of Directors with respect to the Merger  Agreement,  in each
     case after it shall have been  publicly  announced  that any person  (other
     than Dime  Community or any  subsidiary of Dime  Community)  shall have (A)
     made,  or disclosed an intention to make, a bona fide proposal to engage in
     an Acquisition  Transaction (which solely for purposes of the definition of
     a  Preliminary  Purchase  Event shall have the same meaning as set forth in
     the  definition of a Purchase  Event except that the reference to 20% shall
     be changed to 10%) or (B) filed an application (or given a notice), whether
     in  draft or final  form,  under  the  Home  Owners'  Loan Act of 1933,  as
     amended,  the Bank Holding Company Act, as amended, the Bank Merger Act, as
     amended or the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended, for approval
     to engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or

          (iii) Any person (other than Dime  Community or any subsidiary of Dime
     Community)  shall  have  made a bona  fide  proposal  to the  Issuer or its
     stockholders by public  announcement,  or written  communication that is or
     becomes  the  subject  of public  disclosure,  to engage in an  Acquisition
     Transaction; or

          (iv)  After a proposal  is made by a third  party to the Issuer or its
     stockholders to engage in an Acquisition  Transaction,  or such third party
     states its  intention  to the Issuer to make such a proposal  if the Merger
     Agreement  terminates,  the Issuer  shall have  breached  any  covenant  or
     agreement  contained  in the  Merger  Agreement  and such  breach (x) would
     entitle Dime  Community to terminate  the Merger  Agreement  under  Section
     9.1(f)  thereof  and (y) shall not have been cured prior to the Notice Date
     (as defined below).

     Under  applicable  law and in connection  with the Option  Agreement,  Dime
Community  may be  required  to  obtain  the  approval  of the  Office of Thrift
Supervision, Federal

                               Page 6 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



Deposit Insurance Corporation or other governmental authority prior to acquiring
5% or more of the Shares.

     Neither  the  Option  Agreement  nor  any  of  the  rights,   interests  or
obligations thereunder or under the Option may be assigned by any of the parties
thereto  (whether by operation of law or  otherwise)  without the prior  written
consent of the other  party,  except that Dime  Community  may assign the Option
Agreement to a wholly-owned  subsidiary of Dime Community and Dime Community may
assign  its  rights  hereunder  in whole or in part  after the  occurrence  of a
Purchase Event. Subject to the preceding sentence,  the Option Agreement will be
binding  upon,  inure to the  benefit of and be  enforceable  by the parties and
their respective successors and assigns.

     In addition,  any Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Option may be
resold by Dime  Community  pursuant  to  registration  rights  under the  Option
Agreement.

     In the  event  of any  change  in the  Common  Stock by  reason  of a stock
dividend,  stock split,  split-up,  recapitalization,  combination,  exchange of
shares,  exercise of the  Company  Rights or similar  transaction,  the type and
number of shares or  securities  subject to the Option,  and the Purchase  Price
therefor, will be adjusted  appropriately,  and proper provision will be made in
the  agreements  governing  any such  transaction  so that Dime  Community  will
receive,  upon  exercise of the Option,  the number and class of shares or other
securities or property that Dime Community would have received in respect of the
Common Stock if the Option had been exercised  immediately  prior to such event,
or the record date therefor,  as applicable.  If any additional  Common Stock is
issued after the date of the Option  Agreement  (other than pursuant to an event
described in the first sentence of this  paragraph,  upon exercise of any option
to purchase Common Stock outstanding on the date of the Option Agreement or upon
conversion  into  Common  Stock  of  any  convertible  security  of  the  Issuer
outstanding on the date of the Option Agreement), the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to the Option will be adjusted so that,  after such issuance,  the
Option,  together  with any shares of Common Stock  previously  issued  pursuant
thereto,  equals  19.9% of the number of shares of Common  Stock then issued and
outstanding,  without giving effect to any shares subject to or issued  pursuant
to the Option.

     Except as otherwise provided as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement,
the request of Dime Community at any time commencing  upon the first  occurrence
of a Repurchase Event (as defined in the Option  Agreement) and ending 12 months
immediately  thereafter,  the Issuer will be required  to  repurchase  from Dime
Community  (a) the Option and (b) all shares of Common  Stock  purchased by Dime
Community  pursuant to the Option Agreement with respect to which Dime Community
then has beneficial  ownership.  The date on which Dime Community  exercises its
repurchase  right under the Option  Agreement  is referred to as the  "Section 8
Request  Date." Such  repurchase  will be at an aggregate  price (the "Section 8
Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

          (a) The aggregate purchase price paid by Dime Community for any shares
     of Common Stock acquired  pursuant to the Option with respect to which Dime
     Community then has beneficial ownership;


                               Page 7 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



          (b) The excess, if any, of (1) the Applicable Price (as defined below)
     for each share of Common  Stock over (2) the  purchase  price  (subject  to
     adjustment pursuant to  the Option Agreement),  multiplied by the number of
     shares of Common  Stock  with  respect  to which  the  Option  has not been
     exercised; and

          (c) The excess,  if any,  of the  Applicable  Price over the  Purchase
     Price (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of the Option Agreement)
     paid (or, in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option has
     been exercised but the closing date therefor has not occurred,  payable) by
     Dime  Community  for each share of Common  Stock with  respect to which the
     Option has been exercised and with respect to which Dime Community then has
     beneficial ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing,  to the extent that prior notification to or
approval of any Regulatory  Authority is required in connection with the payment
of all or any portion of the Section 8 Repurchase Consideration,  Dime Community
shall have the ongoing option to revoke its request for  repurchase  pursuant to
Section 8 of the Option  Agreement,  in whole or in part, or to require that the
Issuer  deliver  from  time to time that  portion  of the  Section 8  Repurchase
Consideration  that it is not then so  prohibited  from paying and promptly file
the required  notice or application for approval and  expeditiously  process the
same (and each party  shall  cooperate  with the other in the filing of any such
notice or application and the obtaining of any such approval). If any Regulatory
Authority  disapproves of any part of the Issuer's proposed  repurchase pursuant
to Section 8 of the Option  Agreement,  the Issuer shall promptly give notice of
such  fact to Dime  Community  and Dime  Community  shall  have the right (i) to
revoke the repurchase request or (ii) to the extent permitted by such Regulatory
Authority,  determine  whether the repurchase  should apply to the Option and/or
Option Shares and to what extent to each,  and Dime  Community  shall  thereupon
have the right to  exercise  the  Option as to the  number of Option  Shares for
which the Option was  exercisable  at the Section 8 Request Date less the number
of shares  covered  by the  Option in  respect  of which  payment  has been made
pursuant  to Section  8(a)(ii) of the Option  Agreement.  Dime  Community  shall
notify the Issuer of its determination  under the preceding sentence within five
business  days  of  receipt  of  notice  of  disapproval   of  the   repurchase.
Notwithstanding  anything therein to the contrary,  in the event that the Issuer
delivers to Dime Community written notice  accompanied by a certification of the
Issuer's  independent auditor each stating that a requested repurchase of Common
Stock would result in the recapture of the Issuer's bad debt reserves  under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  Dime Community's  repurchase request
shall be deemed to be automatically revoked.

     For  purposes of the Option  Agreement,  the  "Applicable  Price" means the
highest  of (i) the  highest  price per share of Common  Stock paid for any such
share by the  person  or groups  described  in  Section  8(d)(i)  of the  Option
Agreement,  (ii) the price per share of Common  Stock  received  by  holders  of
Common Stock in connection with any merger,  sale or other business  combination
transaction  described in Section  7(b)(i),  7(b)(ii) or 7(b)(iii) of the Option
Agreement,

                               Page 8 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



or (iii) the highest closing sales price per share of Common Stock quoted on The
Nasdaq Stock Market  ("Nasdaq") (or if the shares of Common Stock are not quoted
on Nasdaq,  the highest bid price per share as quoted on the  principal  trading
market or  securities  exchange on which such shares are traded as reported by a
recognized  source  chosen  by  Dime  Community)  during  the 40  business  days
preceding the Section 8 Request Date; provided,  however, that in the event of a
sale of less than all of the Issuer's assets,  the Applicable Price shall be the
sum of the price paid in such sale for such assets and the current  market value
of the remaining  assets of the Issuer as determined by a nationally  recognized
investment  banking firm  selected by Dime  Community,  divided by the number of
shares  of  Common  Stock   outstanding  at  the  time  of  such  sale.  If  the
consideration  to be  offered,  paid  or  received  pursuant  to  either  of the
foregoing  clauses  (i) or (ii) shall be other  than in cash,  the value of such
consideration  shall be  determined in good faith by an  independent  nationally
recognized  investment  banking firm selected by Dime  Community and  reasonably
acceptable  to the  Issuer,  which  determination  shall be  conclusive  for all
purposes of the Option Agreement.

     As used in the Option Agreement,  "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any
person (other than Dime  Community or any  subsidiary of Dime  Community)  shall
have  acquired  beneficial  ownership of (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3,
promulgated  under  the  Exchange  Act),  or the  right  to  acquire  beneficial
ownership  of, or any "group" (as such term is defined  under the Exchange  Act)
shall  have been  formed  which  beneficially  owns or has the right to  acquire
beneficial  ownership of, 50% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of Common
Stock, or (iii) any of the transactions  described in Section 7(b)(i),  7(b)(ii)
or 7(b)(iii) of the Option Agreement shall be consummated.

     In the  event  that  the  Issuer  shall  enter  into  an  agreement  (i) to
consolidate  with or merge into any person,  other than Dime Community or one of
its  subsidiaries,  and the  Issuer  shall not be the  continuing  or  surviving
corporation of such  consolidation or merger,  (ii) to permit any person,  other
than Dime Community or one of its subsidiaries, to merge into the Issuer and the
Issuer shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but, in connection with
such merger,  the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall be changed into
or exchanged for stock or other  securities of the Issuer or any other person or
cash  or  any  other  property,  or  the  outstanding  shares  of  Common  Stock
immediately prior to such merger shall after such merger represent less than 50%
of the outstanding shares and share equivalents of the merged company,  or (iii)
to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its assets or deposits
to any person,  other than Dime Community or one of its subsidiaries,  then, and
in each such case, the agreement  governing such  transaction  shall make proper
provisions  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
Dime Community,  to purchase shares of either (A) the Acquiring  Corporation (as
defined in the Option  Agreement),  (B) any person that  controls the  Acquiring
Corporation or (C) in the case of a merger described in clause (ii), the Issuer.

     As more fully  described in the Option  Agreement,  the  Substitute  Option
shall have substantially the same terms as the Option,  including the ability to
be  repurchased,  with  adjustments  in the  exercise  price as set forth in the
Option Agreement.


                               Page 9 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



     Notwithstanding  any other provision of this  agreement,  in no event shall
Dime  Community's  Total Profit (as defined in the Option  Agreement)  exceed $4
million,  and, if it otherwise would exceed such amount, Dime Community,  at its
sole election,  shall either (a) deliver to the Issuer for  cancellation  Option
Shares  previously   purchased  by  Dime  Community,   (b)  pay  cash  or  other
consideration  to the Issuer or (c) undertake any combination  thereof,  so that
Dime  Community's  Total  Profit  shall not exceed $4 million  after taking into
account the foregoing actions.

     Other than as indicated above, and as set forth in the Option Agreement and
the  Merger  Agreement,  Dime  Community  does  not have  any  present  plans or
proposals  which relate to or would result in: (a) the acquisition by any person
of additional  securities of the Issuer or the  disposition of securities of the
Issuer;  (b)  an  extraordinary   corporate  transaction,   such  as  a  merger,
reorganization or liquidation,  involving Issuer or any of its subsidiaries; (c)
a sale or  transfer  of a material  amount of assets of the Issuer or any of its
subsidiaries;  (d) any change in the present board of directors or management of
the Issuer,  including  any plans or  proposals  to change the number or term of
directors  or to fill any  existing  vacancies  on the board;  (e) any  material
change in the present capitalization or dividend policy of Issuer; (f) any other
material change in the Issuer's business or corporate structure;  (g) any change
in the Issuer's charter,  bylaws or instruments  corresponding  thereto or other
actions which may impede the acquisition of control of the Issuer by any person;
(h) causing a class of  securities  of the Issuer to be delisted from a national
securities exchange or to cease to be authorized to be quoted in an inter-dealer
quotation system of a registered national securities association; (i) a class of
equity   securities  of  the  Issuer   becoming   eligible  for  termination  of
registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act; or (j) any action
similar to any of those enumerated above.

     Copies  of the  Option  Agreement  and the  Merger  Agreement  are filed as
exhibits to this  Schedule 13D and are  incorporated  herein by  reference.  The
foregoing  summary  is not  intended  to be  complete  and is  qualified  in its
entirety by reference to such exhibits.

Item 5. Interest in Securities of The Issuer

     (a) (i) Dime Community is the  beneficial  owner of 15,000 shares of Common
Stock, or 0.88% of the Common Stock issued and outstanding as of July 15, 1998;

     (ii) The Option.  Dime  Community  also may be deemed to be the  beneficial
owner of the Option Shares. As provided in the Option Agreement,  Dime Community
may exercise the Option only upon the  happening of one or more events,  none of
which has occurred as of the date hereof. See Item 4 hereof. Since the Option is
not  presently  exercisable,   Dime  Community  expressly  disclaims  beneficial
ownership of any of the Option Shares. If the Option were exercised in full, the
Option Shares would represent  approximately 16.6% of the currently  outstanding
Common Stock (after giving effect to the issuance of such Option  Shares).  Dime
Community  has no right to vote or dispose of the shares of Common Stock subject
to the Option unless and until such time as the Option is exercised. To the best
knowledge  of Dime  Community,  none of the persons  listed on Schedule I hereto
beneficially owns any shares of the Issuer Common Stock.

                               Page 10 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



     (b) (i) Dime  Community  has sole power to vote or direct the vote and sole
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 15,000 shares of Common Stock;

         (ii) The Option.  If Dime  Community  were  to exercise the Option,  it
would have sole power to vote or to direct the vote and, subject to the terms of
the Option  Agreement,  sole power to direct  the  disposition  of the shares of
Common Stock.

     (c) The Option.  Dime Community  acquired the Option in connection with the
execution of the Merger Agreement. See Item 4 hereof.

     To the best  knowledge  of Dime  Community,  none of the persons  listed on
Schedule I hereto has  effected any  transactions  in the shares of Common Stock
during the past 60 days.

     (d) No person  other  than Dime  Community  has the right to receive or the
power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of,
any  shares  of  Common  Stock  that may be  deemed  beneficially  owned by Dime
Community.

     (e) Not applicable.

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to
        Securities of the Issuer

     Except as set forth elsewhere in this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts,
arrangements,  understandings  or relationships  (legal or otherwise) among Dime
Community and the persons  listed on Schedule I hereto,  and any other person or
persons  with the  respect  to the  shares of Common  Stock,  including  but not
limited to  transfer  or voting of any of the shares of Common  Stock,  finder's
fees, joint ventures,  loan or option arrangements,  put or calls, guarantees of
profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies.

     In  connection  with the Merger  Agreement,  each  director  and  executive
officer of the Issuer will enter into an  affiliate  agreement  (the  "Affiliate
Agreement") with Dime Community pursuant to which each such person will agree in
his or her  personal  capacity to vote the shares of Common  Stock  beneficially
owned by him or her in favor  of the  Merger  Agreement  at the  meeting  of the
Issuer's  stockholders  called for the purpose of  considering  the same, to not
transfer  such shares of Common Stock or shares of Dime  Community  Common Stock
acquired upon  consummation  of the Merger or  otherwise.  The form of Affiliate
Agreement  is  attached  hereto as  Exhibit  B to the  Merger  Agreement  and is
incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7. Material Required to Be Filed as Exhibits

     2.1  Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 18, 1998, by and between Dime
          Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc.


                               Page 11 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



     2.2  Stock  Option  Agreement,  dated July 18,  1998,  by and between  Dime
          Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc.


Signature

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



                                   DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES,
                                   INC.


                                   /s/ Michael P. Devine
                                   ---------------------
                                   By:     Michael P. Devine
                                   Title:  President and Chief Operating Officer

July 27, 1998

                               Page 12 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>



                                   SCHEDULE I

                         DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

                        DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

     The names,  business  addresses and present  principal  occupations  of the
directors  and executive  officers of Dime  Community  Bancshares,  Inc. are set
forth  below.  If no business  address is given for a director or officer,  such
director's or officer's business address is 209 Havemeyer Street,  Brooklyn, New
York, 11211. Unless otherwise indicated, all directors and officers listed below
are citizens of the United States.

                                        Present Principal Occupation
       Name                              or Employment and Address
- --------------------      ------------------------------------------------------
Vincent F. Palagiano      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Michael P. Devine         President and Chief Operating Officer.

Kenneth J. Mahon          Executive Vice President and Officer.

Timothy B. King           First Vice President and Treasurer.

Michael Pucella           First Vice President and Controller Chief Financial
                          Officer.

Kenneth A. Ceonzo         Vice President and Secretary.

Anthony Bergamo           Director.  Attorney acting as Independent Fiduciary.

George L. Clark, Jr.      Director.  President of George L. Clark Inc. Realtors.

Steven D. Cohn            Director.  Managing partner at Goldberg and Cohn,
                          Esq.  Mr. Cohn is also a member of the Board of
                          Directors of Complete Management, Inc., a medical
                          management firm.

Patrick E. Curtin         Director.  Senior partner at Conway Farrell Curtin &
                          Kelly P.C.

Joseph H. Farrell         Director.  Chairman of Conway Farrell Curtin &
                          Kelly P.C.  President of the William F. Casey
                          Foundation.  Trial attorney  for the Roman Catholic
                          Diocese of Brooklyn and Vice President of the New
                          York State Bar Association.

Fred P. Fehrenbach        Director.  President of Consolidated Brokerage
                          Corp. And BF International Corp.

                             Page 13 of 15 Pages

<PAGE>

John J. Flynn             Director. Self-employed real estate mortgage broker.
                          Formerly an Executive Vice President of Flushing
                          Savings Bank, FSB.

Malcolm T. Kitson         Director.  Formerly a Vice President at Citibank,
                          N.A.

Stanley Meisels           Director.  Stockbroker with Gruntal & Co. and
                          President of Small Business Electronics Investment
                          Corp.

Louis V. Varone           Director.  Principal at Century 21 Lewis and Clark
                          Realty.



                               Page 14 of 15 Pages


<PAGE>


                                  Exhibit Index
                                  -------------

2.1            Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 18, 1998, by and between
               Dime Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc.

2.2            Stock Option Agreement,  dated July 18, 1998, by and between Dime
               Community Bancshares, Inc. and Financial Bancorp, Inc.


                               Page 15 of 15 Pages






                                   EXHIBIT 2.1



<PAGE>


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






                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


                                     Between


                         DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.


                                       and


                             FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.


                            Dated as of July 18, 1998






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


<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

1.1    The Merger..............................................................1
1.2    Effective Time..........................................................2
1.3    Effects of the Merger...................................................2
1.4    Conversion of Company Common Stock......................................2
1.5    Election Procedures.....................................................4
1.6    Stock Options...........................................................7
1.7    Parent Common Stock.....................................................9
1.8    Shares of Dissenting Stockholders.......................................9
1.9    Tax Opinion Adjustment.................................................10
1.10   Certificate of Incorporation...........................................10
1.11   By-Laws................................................................10
1.12   Directors and Officers.................................................10
1.13   Tax Consequences.......................................................10
1.14   Bank Merger............................................................10


                                   ARTICLE II

                               EXCHANGE OF SHARES


2.1    Parent to Make Shares Available........................................11
2.2    Exchange of Shares.....................................................11


                                   ARTICLE III

                         DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES; STANDARDS
                       FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1    Disclosure Schedules...................................................14
3.2    Standards..............................................................14



<PAGE>


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----


                                   ARTICLE IV

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

4.1    Corporate Organization.................................................15
4.2    Capitalization.........................................................16
4.3    Authority; No Violation................................................17
4.4    Consents and Approvals.................................................18
4.5    Reports................................................................19
4.6    Financial Statements...................................................19
4.7    Broker's Fees..........................................................20
4.8    Absence of Certain Changes or Events...................................21
4.9    Legal Proceedings......................................................21
4.10   Taxes..................................................................22
4.11   Employees..............................................................23
4.12   SEC Reports............................................................24
4.13   Company Information....................................................25
4.14   Compliance with Applicable Law.........................................25
4.15   Certain Contracts......................................................25
4.16   Agreements with Regulatory Agencies....................................26
4.17   Environmental Matters..................................................27
4.18   Opinion................................................................28
4.19   Approvals..............................................................28
4.20   Loan Portfolio.........................................................28
4.21   Property...............................................................30
4.22   Reorganization.........................................................30
4.23   Antitakeover Provisions Inapplicable...................................30
4.24   Insurance..............................................................30
4.25   Investment Securities; Borrowings; Deposits............................31
4.26   Indemnification........................................................32
4.27   Liquidation Account....................................................32
4.28   Year 2000 Matters......................................................32





<PAGE>


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                    ARTICLE V

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

5.1    Corporate Organization.................................................32
5.2    Capitalization.........................................................33
5.3    Authority; No Violation................................................35
5.4    Consents and Approvals.................................................35
5.5    Reports................................................................36
5.6    Financial Statements...................................................36
5.7    Broker's Fees..........................................................37
5.8    Absence of Certain Changes or Events...................................37
5.9    Legal Proceedings......................................................37
5.10   Taxes..................................................................38
5.11   Employees..............................................................38
5.12   SEC Reports............................................................40
5.13   Parent Information.....................................................40
5.14   Compliance with Applicable Law.........................................40
5.15   Ownership of Company Common Stock; Affiliates and Associates...........41
5.16   Agreements with Regulatory Agencies....................................41
5.17   Environmental Matters..................................................41
5.18   Opinion................................................................42
5.19   Approvals..............................................................42
5.20   Loan Portfolio.........................................................43
5.21   Property...............................................................43
5.22   Reorganization.........................................................44


                                   ARTICLE VI

                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

6.1    Covenants of the Company...............................................44
6.2    Covenants of Parent....................................................52





<PAGE>


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

7.1    Regulatory Matters.....................................................53
7.2    Access to Information..................................................54
7.3    Stockholder Meeting....................................................55
7.4    Legal Conditions to Merger.............................................55
7.5    Affiliates.............................................................55
7.6    Stock Exchange Listing.................................................56
7.7    Employee Benefit Plans; Existing Agreements............................56
7.8    Indemnification........................................................59
7.9    Additional Agreements..................................................60
7.10   Coordination of Dividends..............................................61
7.11   Parent Rights Agreement................................................61
7.12   Notification of Certain Matters........................................61
7.13   Certain Matters, Certain Revaluations, Changes and Adjustments.........61
7.14   Advisory Board.........................................................62


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

8.1    Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger.............63
8.2    Conditions to Obligations of Parent....................................64
8.3    Conditions to Obligations of the Company...............................65


                                   ARTICLE IX

                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT


9.1    Termination............................................................67
9.2    Effect of Termination..................................................69
9.3    Amendment..............................................................69
9.4    Extension; Waiver......................................................70



<PAGE>


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----


9.5    Termination Fee........................................................70


                                    ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

10.1   Closing................................................................71
10.2   Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements..............71
10.3   Expenses...............................................................71
10.4   Notices................................................................71
10.5   Interpretation.........................................................72
10.6   Counterparts...........................................................73
10.7   Entire Agreement.......................................................73
10.8   Governing Law..........................................................73
10.9   Severability...........................................................73
10.10  Publicity..............................................................73
10.11  Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries...............................74




<PAGE>


                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER


     AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF  MERGER,  dated as of July 18,  1998,  between  Dime
Community  Bancshares,  Inc., a Delaware corporation  ("Parent"),  and Financial
Bancorp,  Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company").  (Parent and the Company
are   sometimes   collectively   referred   to   herein   as  the   "Constituent
Corporations".)

     WHEREAS,  the Boards of Directors of Parent and the Company have determined
that it is in the  best  interests  of  their  respective  companies  and  their
stockholders  to consummate the business  combination  transaction  provided for
herein in which the Company will,  subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein, merge (the "Merger") with and into Parent;

     WHEREAS,  concurrently  with the execution and delivery of this  Agreement,
and as a condition  and  inducement to Parent's  willingness  to enter into this
Agreement,  Parent and the Company have  entered  into a Stock Option  Agreement
(the  "Stock  Option  Agreement"),  pursuant to which the Company has granted to
Parent an option to purchase  shares of the Company's  common  stock,  par value
$0.01 per share (the  "Company  Common  Stock"),  upon the terms and  conditions
therein contained; and

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and
agreements  in  connection  with  the  Merger  and  also  to  prescribe  certain
conditions to the Merger.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants,  representations,
warranties and agreements  contained  herein,  and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I

                                   THE MERGER

     1.1 The Merger.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,  in
accordance  with the  Delaware  General  Corporation  Law (the  "DGCL"),  at the
Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 hereof),  the Company shall merge with
and  into  Parent.  Parent  shall  be  the  surviving  corporation  (hereinafter
sometimes called the "Surviving  Corporation") in the Merger, and shall continue
its corporate existence under the laws of the State of Delaware. The name of the
Surviving Corporation shall continue to be Dime Community Bancshares,  Inc. Upon
consummation  of the Merger,  the  separate  corporate  existence of the Company
shall terminate.


<PAGE>



     1.2 Effective  Time. The Merger shall become  effective as set forth in the
certificate  of merger (the  "Certificate  of Merger") which shall be filed with
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary") on the Closing
Date (as defined in Section 10.1 hereof). The term "Effective Time" shall be the
date and time when the Merger becomes effective, as set forth in the Certificate
of Merger.

     1.3  Effects of the Merger.  At and after the  Effective  Time,  the Merger
shall have the effects set forth in Sections 259 and 261 of the DGCL.

     1.4 Conversion of Company Common Stock. (a) At the Effective Time,  subject
to Section 1.8, Section 2.2(e) and Section 9.1(g) hereof,  each share of Company
Common Stock issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time
(other than (i) shares of Company  Common Stock held in the Company's  treasury,
(ii)  unallocated   shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  held  in  the  Company's
Recognition and Retention Plans and related trusts,  and (iii) shares of Company
Common  Stock held  directly  or  indirectly  by Parent or the Company or any of
their  respective  Subsidiaries  (as defined  below)  (except for Trust  Account
Shares and DPC  Shares,  as such terms are  defined in Section  1.4(b)  hereof),
shall by virtue of this  Agreement  and  without  any  action on the part of the
Company,  Parent or the holder  thereof,  cease to be  outstanding  and shall be
converted  into and become the right to receive,  at the  election of the holder
thereof as provided in Section 1.5, either:

          (i) a number of shares of common stock,  par value $0.01 per share, of
     Parent ("Parent  Common Stock")  (together with the number of Parent Rights
     (as defined in Section 5.2 hereof) associated therewith) equal to the Final
     Exchange Ratio, or

          (ii) cash in an amount equal to the Per Share Consideration.

     (b) At the Effective  Time, (i) all shares of Company Common Stock that are
owned by the Company as treasury stock,  (ii) all unallocated  shares of Company
Common Stock held in the Company's  Recognition  and Retention Plans and related
trusts,  and (iii) all shares of Company Common Stock that are owned directly or
indirectly  by Parent or the  Company  or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries
(other than shares of Company  Common Stock (x) held  directly or  indirectly in
trust accounts,  managed  accounts and the like or otherwise held in a fiduciary
capacity for the benefit of third parties (any such shares, and shares of Parent
Common Stock which are  similarly  held,  whether held directly or indirectly by
Parent or the Company,  as the case may be,  being  referred to herein as "Trust
Account  Shares")  and  (y)  held  by  Parent  or the  Company  or any of  their
respective  Subsidiaries  in respect of a debt  previously  contracted (any such
shares of Company  Common  Stock,  and shares of Parent  Common  Stock which are
similarly held,



                                       2
<PAGE>


being referred to herein as "DPC Shares"), shall be cancelled and shall cease to
exist  and no stock of  Parent  or other  consideration  shall be  delivered  in
exchange  therefor.  All  shares of Parent  Common  Stock  that are owned by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (other  than Trust  Account  Shares and DPC
Shares) shall become treasury stock of Parent,

     (c)  On and  after  the  Effective  Time,  holders  of  certificates  which
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  represented  outstanding  shares  of
Company  Common  Stock (the  "Certificates")  shall  cease to have any rights as
stockholders of the Company,  except the right to receive the  consideration set
forth in this Article I (the "Merger  Consider  ation") for each such share held
by them.

     (d) If,  between the date of this  Agreement  and the Effective  Time,  the
shares of Parent Common Stock shall be changed into a different  number or class
of  shares  by  reason  of  any  reclassification,  recapitalization,  split-up,
combination,  exchange of shares or  readjustment,  or a stock dividend  thereon
shall be declared with a record date within said period, appropriate adjustments
shall be made to the  Preliminary  Stock Ratio,  the Minimum  Stock  Ratio,  the
Maximum Stock Ratio and the Final Exchange Ratio.

     (e) For purposes of this  Agreement the following  terms shall  (subject to
Section 9.1(g)) have the meanings indicated:

     "Aggregate  Cash   Consideration"   shall  mean  the  product  obtained  by
     multiplying (x) the Outstanding Shares Number by (y) $20.25.

     "Aggregate  Merger  Consideration"  shall mean the sum of (x) the Aggregate
     Cash Consideration and (y) the Aggregate Stock Consideration.

     "Aggregate  Stock  Consideration"  shall mean (w) 0.5 multiplied by (x) the
     Outstanding  Shares  Number  multiplied  by (y) the Average  Closing  Price
     multiplied by (z) the Preliminary Stock Ratio.

     "Average  Closing  Price" shall mean the average of the closing sale prices
     per share for Parent  Common Stock as reported on the National  Association
     of Securities Dealers Automated  Quotation/National Market System ("NASDAQ/
     NMS") (as reported by The Wall Street Journal, or, if not reported thereby,
     another authoritative  source, during the ten (10) consecutive  trading-day
     period  during  which the shares of Parent  Common  Stock are traded on the
     Nasdaq Stock Market National Market System  ("Nasdaq")  ending on the tenth
     business day immediately prior to the anticipated Effective Time.



                                       3
<PAGE>



     "Final  Exchange  Ratio"  shall mean the  quotient,  rounded to the nearest
     ten-thousandth,  obtained by dividing  the Per Share  Consideration  by the
     Average Closing Price.

     "Outstanding  Shares  Number"  shall mean  shares of Company  Common  Stock
     issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.

     "Per Share  Consideration" shall mean the quotient obtained by dividing the
     Aggregate Merger Consideration by the Outstanding Shares Number.

     "Preliminary  Stock Ratio" shall mean the quotient,  rounded to the nearest
     ten-thousandth  obtained by dividing  $40.50 by the Average  Closing  Price
     provided, that (i) if the Average Closing Price is equal to or greater than
     $31.05,  the  Preliminary  Stock Ratio shall be 1.3043 (the "Minimum  Stock
     Ratio"),  and (ii) if the  Average  Closing  Price is equal to or less than
     $22.95,  the  Preliminary  Stock Ratio shall be 1.7647 (the "Maximum  Stock
     Ratio").

     1.5 Election  Procedures.  (a) An election form and other  appropriate  and
customary  transmittal  materials  (which shall specify that  delivery  shall be
effected,  and risk of loss and  title to  Certificates  shall  pass,  only upon
proper delivery of such  Certificates  to a bank or trust company  designated by
Parent and reasonably  satisfactory  to the Company (the  "Exchange  Agent")) in
such form as the Company and Parent shall mutually agree (the "Election  Form"),
shall be  mailed  30 days  prior to the  anticipated  Effective  Time or on such
earlier date as Parent and the Company shall mutually agree (the "Mailing Date")
to each holder of record of Company  Common Stock as of five business days prior
to the Mailing Date ("Election Form Record Date");  provided,  however, that the
Mailing  Date shall not occur prior to the receipt of the  shareholder  approval
contemplated by Section 8.1(a) hereof.

     Each Election Form shall permit a holder (or the  beneficial  owner through
appropriate and customary documentation and instructions) of outstanding Company
Common Stock to elect, subject to provisions of this Section 1.5, to receive, on
a per share basis,  with respect to such holder's  Company Common Stock (i) cash
(shares as to which such election is made, the "Cash  Election  Shares") or (ii)
Parent  Common  Stock  (shares as to which  such  election  is made,  the "Stock
Election Shares").  Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  no holder of Company Common
Stock  may  elect to  receive  Parent  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  election
procedures  provided  herein  with  respect  to fewer  than 50 shares of Company
Common  Stock.  To be  effective,  a properly  completed  Election Form shall be
submitted to the Exchange  Agent on or before 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time, on
the 20th day  following  the Mailing Date (or such other time and date as Parent
and the Company may mutually agree) (the "Election Deadline") ; provided,



                                       4
<PAGE>


however,  that the Election  Deadline may not occur on or after the Closing Date
(as defined in Section 10.1 hereof).

     Parent  shall make  available up to two separate  Election  Forms,  or such
additional  Election  Forms as Parent  may  permit,  to all  persons  who become
holders (or beneficial owners) of Company Common Stock between the Election Form
Record  Date and close of  business on the  business  day prior to the  Election
Deadline.  The  Company  shall  provide to the  Exchange  Agent all  information
reasonably  necessary for it to perform as specified  herein.  An election shall
have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have actually  received
a properly completed  Election Form by the Election  Deadline.  An Election Form
shall  be  deemed  properly  completed  only  if  accompanied  by  one  or  more
Certificates (or customary affidavits and indemnification  regarding the loss or
destruction  of  such   Certificates   or  the   guaranteed   delivery  of  such
Certificates)  representing  all shares of Company  Common Stock covered by such
Election Form, together with duly executed  transmittal  materials included with
the  Election  Form.  If a  stockholder  either  (i) does not  submit a properly
completed  Election Form in a timely fashion,  or (ii) revokes its Election Form
prior to the Election Deadline,  the shares of Company Common Stock held by such
stockholder  shall be designated  "No Election  Shares."  Parent shall cause the
Certificates  described in clause (ii) of the preceding  sentence to be promptly
returned without charge to the person  submitting the Election Form upon written
request to that effect from the person who submitted the Election Form.  Subject
to the terms of this  Agreement  and of the Election  Form,  the Exchange  Agent
shall have reasonable  discretion to determine whether any election,  revocation
or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard  immaterial  defects
in any  Election  Form,  and any good  faith  decisions  of the  Exchange  Agent
regarding such matters shall be binding and  conclusive.  Neither Parent nor the
Exchange  Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any person of any defect
in an Election Form.

     (b)  The  "Cash   Election   Amount"  shall  be  equal  to  the  Per  Share
Consideration  multiplied  by the total number of Cash Election  Shares.  Within
five business days after the Election  Deadline,  unless the Effective  Time has
not yet occurred, in which case as soon thereafter as practicable,  Parent shall
cause the Exchange Agent to effect the  allocation  among the holders of Company
Common Stock of rights to receive  Parent  Common Stock or cash in the Merger in
accordance with the Election Forms as follows:

          (i) If the  Aggregate  Cash  Consideration  is  greater  than the Cash
     Election Amount, then

               (A) all Cash Election Shares shall be converted into the right to
          receive an amount of cash equal to the Per Share Consideration,



                                       5
<PAGE>


               (B) the Exchange  Agent will select,  on a pro rata basis,  first
          from among the holders of No Election  Shares and then,  if necessary,
          from among the holders of Stock Election Shares,  a sufficient  number
          of such  shares  ("Cash  Designee  Shares")  such that the sum of Cash
          Designee Shares and Cash Election  Shares  multiplied by the Per Share
          Consideration  equals as closely as  practicable  the  Aggregate  Cash
          Consideration  (the Cash Designee  Shares shall be converted  into the
          right  to   receive   an  amount  of  cash  equal  to  the  Per  Share
          Consideration), and

               (C) any Stock Election Shares and any No Election Shares, in each
          case, not so selected as Cash Designee  Shares shall be converted into
          the right to receive Parent Common Stock at the Final Exchange Ratio.

          (ii) If the  Aggregate  Cash  Consideration  is  less  than  the  Cash
     Election Amount, then

               (A) all Stock Election Shares and all No Election Shares shall be
          converted  into the right to receive  Parent Common Stock at the Final
          Exchange Ratio,

               (B) the  Exchange  Agent  will  select,  on a pro rata basis from
          among the holders of Cash Election Shares, a sufficient number of such
          shares  ("Stock  Designee  Shares")  such  that  the  number  of Stock
          Designee Shares  multiplied by the Per Share  Consideration  equals as
          closely as practicable the difference between the Cash Election Amount
          and the Aggregate Cash Consider ation (the Stock Designee Shares shall
          be  converted  into the right to receive  Parent  Common  Stock at the
          Final Exchange Ratio), and

               (C) any Cash  Election  Shares not so selected as Stock  Designee
          Shares shall be converted  into the right to receive an amount of cash
          equal to the Per Share Consideration.

     The pro rata  selection  process  to be used by the  Exchange  Agent  shall
consist of such equitable pro ration  processes as shall be mutually  determined
by the Company and Parent.

     1.6 Stock Options.  (a) At the Effective  Time,  each option granted by the
Company to purchase  shares of Company  Common Stock (each a "Company  Option"),
which is outstanding and unexercised  immediately prior thereto,  whether or not
then



                                       6
<PAGE>


vested or  exercisable,  shall be cancelled and all rights  thereunder  shall be
extinguished.  As consideration  for such  cancellation,  the Company shall make
payment  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time to each  holder of a Company
Option  of an  amount  determined  by  multiplying  (x) the  number of shares of
Company  Common Stock  underlying  such Company Option by (y) an amount equal to
the excess (if any) of (i) the Per Share  Consideration,  over (ii) the exercise
price per share of such Company Option, provided,  however, that no such payment
shall  be made to a holder  unless  and  until  such  holder  has  executed  and
delivered to the Company an instrument in such form prescribed by the Parent and
reasonably satisfactory to the Company accepting such payment in full settlement
of his rights relative to the Company  Option.  Prior to the Effective Time, the
Company shall take or cause to be taken all actions  required  under the Company
Option Plans to provide for the foregoing.

     (b)  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  Section  1.6(a)  above,  at  the
Effective  Time,  each  Company  Option  held  by  the  individuals   previously
designated by Parent and set forth on Schedule 1.6(b) hereto ("Continuing Option
Holders") which is outstanding and unexercised  immediately  prior thereto shall
at the election of the holder thereof be converted  automatically into an option
to purchase  shares of Parent Common Stock in an amount and at an exercise price
determined  as  provided  below  (and  otherwise  subject  to the  terms  of the
Company's 1995  Incentive  Stock Option Plan and the Company's 1995 Stock Option
Plan for Outside  Directors,  as the case may be (collec  tively,  the  "Company
Option  Plans"),  the  agreements  evidencing  grants  thereunder  and any other
agreements  between the Company and an optionee  regarding Company Options which
have been  delivered to Parent prior to the date of this  Agreement,  other than
stock appreciation  rights or limited stock appreciation  rights or other rights
to receive cash payments under the Company Option Plans):

          (1) the  number of shares to be  subject  to the new  option  shall be
     equal to the  product  of the  number  of shares of  Company  Common  Stock
     subject to the original option and the Final Exchange Ratio,  provided that
     any  fractional   shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock   resulting  from  such
     multiplication shall be rounded down to the nearest whole share; and

          (2) the exercise  price per share of Parent Common Stock under the new
     option  shall be equal to the  exercise  price per share of Company  Common
     Stock  under the  original  option  divided  by the Final  Exchange  Ratio,
     provided that such exercise price shall be rounded up to the nearest cent.

The adjustment  provided herein with respect to any options which are "incentive
stock options" (as defined in Section 422 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended


                                       7
<PAGE>


(the  "Code"))  shall be and is intended  to be  effected  in a manner  which is
consistent  with  Section  424(a)  of the Code and,  to the  extent it is not so
consistent,  such  Section  424(a)  shall  override  anything  to  the  contrary
contained  herein.  The  duration and other terms of the new option shall be the
same as the original  option except that all  references to the Company shall be
deemed to be references to Parent.  In order for any Continuing Option Holder to
have his or her Company  Options  converted  into an option to  purchase  Parent
Common Stock as set forth in this Section 1.6(b),  such Continuing Option Holder
shall have executed a written  election with respect to such conversion no later
than five (5) business  days prior to the Closing Date,  which written  election
shall  be in  such  form  as  shall  be  prescribed  by  Parent  and  reasonably
satisfactory to the Company.

     (c) Prior to the  Effective  Time,  Parent  shall  reserve for issuance the
number  of  shares  of  Parent  Common  Stock  necessary  to  satisfy   Parent's
obligations under Section 1.6(b) hereof.  Promptly after the Effective Time (but
in no event later than three business days  thereafter),  Parent shall file with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "SEC") a registration  statement on
an  appropriate  form  under  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"), with respect to the shares of Parent Common Stock subject to
options to acquire Parent Common Stock issued pursuant to Section 1.6(b) hereof,
and shall use its best efforts to maintain the current  status of the prospectus
contained  therein,  as well as comply with applicable state securities or "blue
sky" laws, for so long as such options remain outstanding.

     1.7 Parent Common Stock.  Except for shares of Parent Common Stock owned by
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  (other than Trust Account Shares and DPC
Shares),  which shall be converted into treasury stock of Parent as contemplated
by Section 1.4 hereof,  the shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time shall be unaffected by the Merger and
such shares shall remain issued and outstanding.

     1.8 Shares of  Dissenting  Stockholders.  Notwithstanding  anything in this
Agreement to the  contrary,  any shares of Company  Common Stock that are issued
and  outstanding as of the Effective Time and that are held by a stockholder who
has properly exercised his appraisal rights (the "Dissenting  Shares") under the
DGCL shall not be converted  into the right to receive the Merger  Consideration
unless  and  until the  holder  shall  have  failed to  perfect,  or shall  have
effectively  withdrawn  or lost,  his right to dissent from the Merger under the
DGCL and to  receive  such  consideration  as may be  determined  to be due with
respect to such Dissenting Shares pursuant to and subject to the requirements of
the DGCL.  If any such  holder  shall  have  failed  to  perfect  or shall  have
effectively  withdrawn or lost such right,  each share of such holder's  Company
Common Stock shall  thereupon be deemed to have been  converted into and to have
become, as of



                                       8
<PAGE>


the Effective  Time,  the right to receive,  without any interest  thereon,  the
Merger  Consideration  as provided in Section 1.4 and as  allocated  pursuant to
Section 1.5 upon surrender of the Certificate or Certificates  representing such
Dissenting Shares. The Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any notice
or demands for appraisal or payment for shares of Company  Common Stock received
by the  Company  and (ii) the  opportunity  to  participate  in and  direct  all
negotiations  and proceedings  with respect to any such demands or notices.  The
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent, make any payment
with  respect to, or settle,  offer to settle or otherwise  negotiate,  any such
demands. Dissenting Shares shall be deemed to be No Election Shares for purposes
of Section 1.5 hereof.

     1.9 Tax Opinion  Adjustment.  If either (i) the tax opinion  referred to in
Section 8.2(d) cannot be rendered (as reasonably  determined by Thacher Proffitt
& Wood) or (ii) the tax opinion referred to in Section 8.3(d) cannot be rendered
(as  reasonably  determined  by Skadden,  Arps,  Slate,  Meagher & Flom LLP), in
either  case as a result of the  Merger  potentially  failing  to  qualify  as a
reorganization  under Section  368(a) of the Code,  then Parent shall reduce the
Aggregate  Cash  Consideration  to the minimum  extent  necessary  to enable the
relevant  tax  opinion  or  opinions,  as the case may be, to be  rendered,  and
correspondingly increase the Aggregate Stock Consideration.

     1.10 Certificate of  Incorporation.  At the Effective Time, the Certificate
of  Incorporation  of Parent,  as in effect at the Effective Time,  shall be the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.

     1.11 By-Laws.  At the Effective  Time, the By-Laws of Parent,  as in effect
immediately  prior to the Effective Time,  shall be the By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.

     1.12  Directors  and  Officers.   The  directors  and  officers  of  Parent
immediately  prior to the Effective  Time shall be the directors and officers of
the  Surviving  Corpora  tion,  each to  hold  office  in  accordance  with  the
Certificate  of  Incorporation  and By-Laws of the Surviving  Corporation  until
their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified.

     1.13 Tax  Consequences.  It is intended that the Merger shall  constitute a
reorganization  within the  meaning of Section  368(a) of the Code and that this
Agreement shall  constitute a "plan of  reorganization"  for purposes of Section
368 of the Code.

     1.14 Bank Merger.  Promptly  following the execution of the Agreement,  the
Parent Bank (as defined  below) and the Company  Bank (as defined  below)  shall
enter into



                                       9
<PAGE>


the Plan of Bank  Merger  (the  "Bank  Merger")  in the form  annexed  hereto as
Exhibit A (which shall qualify as a  reorganization  under Section 368(a) of the
Code)  pursuant to which the Bank  Merger will be effected  pursuant to and with
the  effect  set  forth in the  rules and  regulations  of the  Office of Thrift
Supervision ("OTS"). The parties hereto intend that the Bank Merger shall become
effective on the Effective Date following the Effective Time of the Merger.  The
documentation  relating to the Bank Merger shall  provide that the  directors of
the Parent Bank as the  surviving  entity of the Bank Merger shall be all of the
respective directors of the Parent Bank immediately prior to such merger.


                                   ARTICLE II

                               EXCHANGE OF SHARES

     2.1 Parent to Make Shares  Available.  At or prior to the  Effective  Time,
Parent shall deposit,  or shall cause to be deposited,  with the Exchange Agent,
for the benefit of the holders of Certificates,  for exchange in accordance with
this Article II,  certificates  representing  the shares of Parent Common Stock,
the cash in lieu of  fractional  shares and an amount of cash  sufficient to pay
the  Aggregate  Cash  Consideration  (such cash and  certificates  for shares of
Parent Common Stock,  together with any dividends or distributions  with respect
thereto,  being  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Exchange  Fund") to be issued
pursuant to Section  1.4 and paid  pursuant  to Section  2.2(a) in exchange  for
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock.

     2.2  Exchange of Shares.  (a) As soon as  practicable  after the  Effective
Time,  and in no event more than five  business  days  thereafter,  the Exchange
Agent shall mail to each holder of record of a Certificate or  Certificates  who
has not previously  surrendered such Certificate or Certificates  with a Form of
Election a form letter of  transmittal  (which shall specify that delivery shall
be effected,  and risk of loss and title to the  Certificates  shall pass,  only
upon delivery of the  Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and  instructions  for
use in effecting  the surrender of the  Certificates  in exchange for the Merger
Consideration  into which the shares of Company Common Stock represented by such
Certificate  or  Certificates   shall  have  been  converted  pursuant  to  this
Agreement.  The  Company  shall  have the  right to  review  both the  letter of
transmittal  and the  instructions  prior  to the  Effective  Time  and  provide
reasonable  comments  thereon.  Upon surrender of a Certificate for exchange and
cancellation  to the Exchange  Agent,  together with such letter of transmittal,
duly executed,  the holder of such  Certificate  shall be entitled to receive in
exchange  therefor  the Merger  Consideration  to which  such  holder of Company
Common Stock shall have become entitled  pursuant to the provisions of Article I
hereof,



                                       10
<PAGE>


and the  Certificate so surrendered  shall  forthwith be cancelled.  No interest
will be paid or accrued on any cash constituting Merger Consideration (including
the  cash  in  lieu  of  fractional   shares)  and  any  unpaid   dividends  and
distributions, if any, payable to holders of Certificates.

     (b) No dividends or other  distributions  declared after the Effective Time
with respect to Parent Common Stock and payable to the holders of record thereof
shall be paid to the holder of any  unsurrendered  Certificate  until the holder
thereof shall  surrender such  Certificate  in accordance  with this Article II.
After the  surrender of a Certificate  in  accordance  with this Article II, the
record holder  thereof 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 Parent Common Stock,  if any,  represented  by
such Certificate.

     (c) If any certificate  representing shares of Parent Common Stock is to be
issued  in a name  other  than  that in which  the  Certificate  surrendered  in
exchange therefor is registered, it shall be a condition of the issuance thereof
that the Certificate so surrendered  shall be properly  endorsed (or accompanied
by an  appropriate  instrument  of  transfer)  and  otherwise in proper form for
transfer, and that the person requesting such exchange shall pay to the Exchange
Agent in advance any transfer or other taxes  required by reason of the issuance
of a  certificate  representing  shares of Parent Common Stock in any name other
than that of the registered holder of the Certificate  surrendered,  or required
for any other reason,  or shall  establish to the  satisfaction  of the Exchange
Agent that such tax has been paid or is not payable.

     (d) After the  Effective  Time,  there shall be no  transfers  on the stock
transfer  books of the Company of the shares of Company  Common Stock which were
issued and  outstanding  immediately  prior to the Effective Time. If, after the
Effective Time, Certificates representing such shares are presented for transfer
to the  Exchange  Agent,  they  shall  be  canceled  and  exchanged  for  Merger
Consideration as determined in accordance with Article I and this Article II.

     (e)   Notwithstanding   anything  to  the  contrary  contained  herein,  no
certificates  or scrip  representing  fractional  shares of Parent  Common Stock
shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates,  no dividend or
distribution  with  respect to Parent  Common  Stock shall be payable on or with
respect to any fractional  share,  and such fractional share interests shall not
entitle the owner  thereof to vote or to any other  rights of a  stockholder  of
Parent. In lieu of the issuance of any such fractional  share,  Parent shall pay
to each former  stockholder  of the Company who  otherwise  would be entitled to
receive a fractional share of Parent Common Stock an



                                       11
<PAGE>


amount in cash  determined by multiplying  (i) the Average Closing Price by (ii)
the fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock which such holder would otherwise
be entitled to receive pursuant to Section 1.4 hereof.

     (f)  Any  portion  of the  Exchange  Fund  that  remains  unclaimed  by the
stockholders  of the Company for twelve months after the Effective Time shall be
paid to  Parent.  Any  stockholders  of the  Company  who have  not  theretofore
complied with this Article II shall  thereafter  look only to Parent for payment
of the cash,  shares of Parent Common Stock,  cash in lieu of fractional  shares
and unpaid dividends and distributions on the Parent Common Stock deliverable in
respect  of each  share  of  Company  Common  Stock  such  stockholder  holds as
determined  pursuant  to this  Agreement,  in each case,  without  any  interest
thereon. If outstanding Certificates are not surrendered or the payment for them
is not claimed prior to the date on which such payments would otherwise  escheat
to or become the  property of any  governmental  unit or agency,  the  unclaimed
items  shall,  to the  extent  permitted  by  abandoned  property  and any other
applicable  law,  become the  property  of Parent  (and to the extent not in its
possession  shall be paid over to it),  free and clear of all claims or interest
of any person previously entitled to such claims. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
none of Parent,  the Company,  the  Exchange  Agent or any other person shall be
liable to any  former  holder of shares of Company  Common  Stock for any amount
properly  delivered  to a  public  official  pursuant  to  applicable  abandoned
property, escheat or similar laws.

     (g) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed,
upon the  making  of an  affidavit  of that  fact by the  person  claiming  such
Certificate  to be lost,  stolen or  destroyed  and, if required by Parent,  the
posting  by such  person  of a bond in such  amount  as  Parent  may  direct  as
indemnity  against  any claim that may be made  against it with  respect to such
Certificate,  the Exchange Agent will issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or
destroyed  Certificate the cash and/or shares of Parent Common Stock and cash in
lieu of  fractional  shares  deliverable  in respect  thereof  pursuant  to this
Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE III

                         DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES; STANDARDS
                       FOR REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

     3.1  Disclosure  Schedules.  Prior to the  execution  and  delivery of this
Agreement,  the Company has delivered to Parent, and Parent has delivered to the
Company,  a  schedule  (in the  case of the  Company,  the  "Company  Disclosure
Schedule,"



                                       12
<PAGE>


and in the case of Parent,  the "Parent  Disclosure  Schedule")  setting  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 of such  party's  representations  or
warranties contained in Article IV, in the case of the Company, or Article V, in
the case of Parent,  or to one or more of such  party's  covenants  contained in
Article VI; provided,  however, that notwithstanding  anything in this Agreement
to the contrary  (a) no such item is required to be set forth in the  Disclosure
Schedule as an exception to a  representation  or warranty if its absence  would
not result in the related  representation  or warranty  being  deemed  untrue or
incorrect  under the  standard  established  by  Section  3.2,  and (b) the mere
inclusion  of  an  item  in  a   Disclosure   Schedule  as  an  exception  to  a
representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by a party that such
item represents a material  exception or material fact, event or circumstance or
that such item has had or would  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  (as  defined
herein) with respect to either the Company or Parent, respectively.

     3.2 Standards.  (a) No  representation or warranty of the Company contained
in Article IV (other than the  representations  set forth in the first and third
sentences of Section 4.1(a),  the second sentence of Section 4.1(b) and Sections
4.2, 4.6, 4.8(a), 4.10 and 4.18) or of Parent contained in Article V (other than
the  representations  set  forth in the first and  third  sentences  of  Section
5.1(a),  the second  sentence of Section  5.1(b) and Sections 5.2, 5.6,  5.8(a),
5.10 and 5.18) shall be deemed  untrue or incorrect  for any purpose  under this
Agreement, and no party hereto shall be deemed to have breached a representation
or warranty for any purpose under this  Agreement,  in any case as a consequence
of the existence or absence of any fact, circumstance or event unless such fact,
circumstance or event, individually or when taken together with all other facts,
circumstances  or events  inconsistent  with any  representations  or warranties
contained in Article IV, in the case of the  Company,  or Article V, in the case
of Parent,  has had a Material  Adverse  Effect  with  respect to the Company or
Parent, respectively.

     (b) As used in this  Agreement,  the term "Material  Adverse Effect" means,
with  respect to Parent or the Company,  as the case may be, a material  adverse
effect on (i) the business, results of operations or financial condition of such
party  and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a  whole,  other  than  any  such  effect
attributable  to or  resulting  from (x) any change in banking or similar  laws,
rules or  regulations of general  applicability  or  interpretations  thereof by
courts or governmental  authorities,  (y) any change in GAAP (as defined herein)
or  regulatory  accounting  principles  applicable  to banks,  thrifts  or their
holding  companies  generally,  or (z) any action or  omission of the Company or
Parent or any Subsidiary of either of them taken with the prior written  consent
of the other party hereto or (ii) the ability of such party and its Subsidiaries
to



                                       13
<PAGE>


consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby. As used in this Agreement, the
word  "Subsidiary"  when used with  respect to any party means any  corporation,
partnership or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, which
is consolidated with such party for financial reporting purposes.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     Subject to Article  III,  the Company  hereby  represents  and  warrants to
Parent as follows:

     4.1  Corporate  Organization.   (a)  The  Company  is  a  corporation  duly
organized,  validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware.  The Company has the corporate power and authority to own or lease all
of its  properties  and assets and to carry on its  business  as it is now being
conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction
in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location
of the  properties  and  assets  owned or leased by it makes such  licensing  or
qualification necessary. The Company is duly registered as a unitary savings and
loan holding  company  under the Home Owners' Loan Act, as amended (the "HOLA").
The  Certificate of  Incorporation  and By-laws of the Company,  copies of which
have  previously  been made available to Parent,  are true and correct copies of
such documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

     (b) Financial  Federal Savings Bank (the "Company Bank") is a stock savings
bank duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
United States of America.  The deposit  accounts of the Company Bank are insured
by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (the "FDIC") through the Savings
Association  Insurance  Fund to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  and all
premiums and assessments  required to be paid in connection  therewith have been
paid when due. Each of the Company's other  Subsidiaries  is a corporation  duly
organized,  validly  existing  and  in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of its
jurisdiction  of   incorporation   or   organization.   Each  of  the  Company's
Subsidiaries  has the  corporate  power and authority to own or lease all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being  conducted
and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each  jurisdiction  in which
the nature of the business  conducted by it or the  character or the location of
the  properties  and  assets  owned or  leased  by it makes  such  licensing  or
qualification necessary.  The certificate of incorporation,  by-laws and similar
governing  documents of each  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  copies of which have
previously been made



                                       14
<PAGE>


available to Parent,  are true and correct copies of such documents as in effect
as of the date of this Agreement.

     (c) The minute  books of the Company and each of its  Subsidiaries  contain
true and correct  records of all  meetings and other  corporate  actions held or
taken since  December 31, 1995 of their  respective  stockholders  and Boards of
Directors (including committees of their respective Boards of Directors).

     4.2  Capitalization.  (a)  The  authorized  capital  stock  of the  Company
consists of 6,000,000  shares of Company  Common Stock and  2,500,000  shares of
preferred stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Company Preferred Stock"). As of
July 15, 1998, there were 1,706,666  shares of Company Common Stock  outstanding
and  478,334  shares of Company  Common  Stock held by the  Company as  treasury
stock.  As of July 15,  1998,  there were (i) no shares of Company  Common Stock
reserved for issuance  upon exercise of  outstanding  stock options or otherwise
except for (x) 171,766  shares of Company  Common  Stock  reserved  for issuance
pursuant to the Company  Option  Plans and  described  in Section  4.2(a) of the
Company  Disclosure  Schedule  and (y) 339,627  shares of Company  Common  Stock
reserved  for  issuance  upon  exercise  of the  option  to be  issued to Parent
pursuant to the Stock Option  Agreement and (ii) no shares of Company  Preferred
Stock  issued or  outstanding,  held in the  Company's  treasury or reserved for
issuance upon  exercise of  outstanding  stock options or otherwise.  All of the
issued and outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized
and validly  issued and are fully  paid,  nonassessable  and free of  preemptive
rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof. Except as
referred  to above or  reflected  in Section  4.2(a) of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  and except for the Stock Option Agreement,  the Company does not have
and is not bound by any outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  calls,
commitments or agreements of any character  calling for the purchase or issuance
of any shares of Company  Common Stock or Company  Preferred  Stock or any other
equity  security  of the  Company or any  securities  representing  the right to
purchase or  otherwise  receive any shares of Company  Common Stock or any other
equity  security of the Company.  The names of the  optionees,  the date of each
option to purchase Company Common Stock granted, the number of shares subject to
each such option,  the  expiration  date of each such  option,  and the price at
which each such option may be exercised  under the Company  Option Plans are set
forth in Section 4.2(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.

     (b) Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and
correct list of all of the  Subsidiaries of the Company.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company owns, directly or
indirectly,  all of the issued and  outstanding  shares of the capital  stock of
each of such



                                       15
<PAGE>


Subsidiaries,  free and clear of all liens,  charges,  encumbrances and security
interests  whatsoever,  and all of such shares are duly  authorized  and validly
issued and are fully paid,  nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no
personal  liability  attaching to the  ownership  thereof.  No Subsidiary of the
Company has or is bound by any  outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,
calls,  commitments  or agreements of any character  calling for the purchase or
issuance  of any shares of capital  stock or any other  equity  security of such
Subsidiary  or any  securities  representing  the right to purchase or otherwise
receive  any  shares of  capital  stock or any  other  equity  security  of such
Subsidiary.  Assuming  compliance  by Parent with  Section  1.5  hereof,  at the
Effective  Time,  there  will  not be any  outstanding  subscriptions,  options,
warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character by which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries will be bound calling for the purchase or issuance of
any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     4.3 Authority;  No Violation.  (a) The Company has full corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Option  Agreement and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Option  Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved
by the Board of Directors of the Company.  The Board of Directors of the Company
has directed that this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby be
submitted  to the  Company's  stockholders  for  approval  at a meeting  of such
stockholders  and,  except for the adoption of this  Agreement by the  requisite
vote of the Company's  stockholders,  no other corporate proceedings on the part
of the Company are necessary to approve this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This  Agreement  has been duly and  validly
executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming due authorization, execution
and  delivery  by  Parent)  this  Agreement  constitutes  a  valid  and  binding
obligation of the Company,  enforceable  against the Company in accordance  with
its terms,  except as enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity
whether  applied  in a court  of law or a court  of  equity  and by  bankruptcy,
insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally.

     (b)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  4.3(b)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by the Company,
nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor
compliance by the Company with any of the terms or provisions  hereof,  will (i)
violate any  provision of the  Certificate  of  Incorporation  or By-Laws of the
Company or the  certificate  of  incorporation,  by-laws  or  similar  governing
documents of any of its  Subsidiaries,  or (ii)  assuming  that the consents and
approvals  referred to in Section 4.4 hereof are duly obtained,  (x) violate any
statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation,



                                       16
<PAGE>


judgment,  order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to the Company or any of
its  Subsidiaries,  or any of their  respective  properties  or  assets,  or (y)
violate,  conflict  with,  result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of
any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse
of time, or both, would  constitute a default) under,  result in the termination
of or a right of termination or cancellation  under,  accelerate the performance
required by, or result in the creation of any lien,  pledge,  security interest,
charge or other  encumbrance upon any of the respective  properties or assets of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  under,  any of the terms,  conditions or
provisions  of any note,  bond,  mortgage,  indenture,  deed of trust,  license,
lease,  agreement or other  instrument or obligation to which the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries  is a party,  or by which  they or any of their  respective
properties or assets may be bound or affected.

     4.4 Consents and Approvals.  Except for (a) the filing of applications  and
notices,  as applicable,  with the OTS under the HOLA, Bank Merger Act,  Federal
Deposit  Insurance Act and the rules and  regulations of the OTS and approval of
such  applications and notices,  (b) the filing of such  applications,  filings,
authorizations,  orders and approvals as may be required under  applicable state
law (the  "State  Banking  Approvals"),  (c) the filing  with the SEC of a proxy
statement  in  definitive   form  relating  to  the  meeting  of  the  Company's
stockholders to be held in connection  with this Agreement and the  transactions
contemplated  hereby (the "Proxy  Statement")  and the filing and declaration of
effectiveness  of the  registration  statement on Form S-4 (the "S- 4") in which
the Proxy  Statement will be included as a prospectus,  (d) the approval of this
Agreement by the  requisite  vote of the  stockholders  of the Company,  (e) the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary pursuant to the DGCL, (f)
approval of the listing of the Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger on
the NASDAQ/NMS, and (g) such filings,  authorizations or approvals as may be set
forth  in  Section  4.4 of the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  no  consents  or
approvals of or filings or registrations with any court,  administrative  agency
or  commission  or  other  governmental  authority  or  instrumentality  (each a
"Governmental  Entity") or with any third party are necessary in connection with
(1) the  execution  and  delivery by the Company of this  Agreement  and (2) the
consummation   by  the  Company  of  the  Merger  and  the  other   transactions
contemplated hereby.

     4.5 Reports. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all
reports, registrations and statements,  together with any amendments required to
be made with respect thereto, that they were required to file since December 31,
1995 with (i) the OTS, (ii) the FDIC, (iii) any state banking commissions or any
other state regulatory  authority (each a "State  Regulator") and (iv) any other
self-regulatory  organization  ("SRO")  (collectively  with the Federal  Reserve
Board, the "Regulatory Agencies"), and



                                       17
<PAGE>


have paid all fees and  assessments  due and  payable in  connection  therewith.
Except for normal  examinations  conducted by a Regulatory Agency in the regular
course of the  business of the Company and its  Subsidiaries,  and except as set
forth in Section 4.5 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  no Regulatory Agency
has initiated any proceeding or, to the knowledge of the Company,  investigation
into the business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  since
December 31, 1995. There is no unresolved violation,  criticism, or exception by
any  Regulatory  Agency with respect to any report or statement  relating to any
examinations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     4.6 Financial  Statements.  The Company has  previously  made  available to
Parent copies of (a) the consolidated  statements of financial  condition of the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of September 30, for the fiscal years 1996 and
1997,   and  the  related   consolidated   statements  of  income,   changes  in
stockholders'  equity  and cash flows for the fiscal  years 1995  through  1997,
inclusive,  as  reported  in the  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended  September  30,  1997 filed with the SEC under the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange  Act"), in each case accompanied
by the audit report of Radics & Co., LLC,  independent  public  accountants with
respect  to the  Company,  and  (b) the  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of
financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1998 and
March 31, 1997 and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income, cash
flows and changes in stockholders'  equity for the six-month  periods then ended
as reported in the Company's  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
March 31, 1998 filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The September 30, 1997
consolidated  statement of financial  condition  of the Company  (including  the
related notes,  where  applicable)  fairly presents the  consolidated  financial
position of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as of the date  thereof,  and the
other  financial  statements  referred  to in this  Section 4.6  (including  the
related notes, where applicable) fairly present, and the financial statements to
be filed with the SEC after the date hereof will fairly present (subject, in the
case of the  unaudited  statements,  to recurring  audit  adjustments  normal in
nature and amount), the results of the consolidated  operations and consolidated
financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the respective fiscal
periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth; each of such statements
(including  the related notes,  where  applicable)  complies,  and the financial
statements  to be filed with the SEC after the date  hereof  will  comply,  with
applicable accounting  requirements and with the published rules and regulations
of the SEC with respect  thereto;  and each of such  statements  (including  the
related notes,  where  applicable) has been, and the financial  statements to be
filed with the SEC after the date hereof will be,  prepared in  accordance  with
generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP")  consistently  applied during
the periods involved, except as indicated in the notes thereto or, in the



                                       18
<PAGE>


case of unaudited  statements,  as permitted by Form 10-Q. The books and records
of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been,  and are being,  maintained  in
accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

     4.7 Broker's  Fees.  Neither the Company nor any  Subsidiary of the Company
nor any of their  respective  officers or  directors  has employed any broker or
finder or incurred any liability for any broker's fees,  commissions or finder's
fees in connection with any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,
except  that the  Company  has  engaged,  and will pay a fee or  commission  to,
Sandler  O'Neill & Partners,  L.P.  ("Sandler  O'Neill") in accordance  with the
terms of a letter agreement between Sandler O'Neill and the Company,  a true and
correct  copy of which has been  previously  made  available  by the  Company to
Parent.

     4.8 Absence of Certain  Changes or Events.  (a) Except as  disclosed in any
Company Report (as defined in Section 4.12) filed with the SEC prior to the date
of this  Agreement,  since  September  30,  1997,  there  has been no  change or
development or combination of changes or developments which,  individually or in
the aggregate, has had a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

     (b) Except as disclosed  in any Company  Report filed with the SEC prior to
the date of this  Agreement,  since  September  30,  1997,  the  Company and its
Subsidiaries have carried on their respective  businesses in the ordinary course
consistent with their past practices.

     (c)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  4.8(c)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  since March 31, 1998, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
has (i) increased the wages,  salaries,  compensation,  pension, or other fringe
benefits or perquisites payable to any executive officer,  employee, or director
from the amount  thereof in effect as of March 31, 1998 (which amounts have been
previously  disclosed  to Parent),  granted any  severance or  termination  pay,
entered into any contract to make or grant any severance or termination  pay, or
paid any bonus (except (x) for salary  increases and bonus  payments made in the
ordinary course of business  consistent  with past practices  following the date
hereof and (y) the Company may adopt the  severance  plan  described  in Section
6.1(j) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule),  (ii)  suffered  any strike,  work
stoppage,  slow-down,  or  other  labor  disturbance,  (iii)  been a party  to a
collective  bargaining  agreement,  contract or other agreement or understanding
with a labor union or organization, or (iv) had any union organizing activities.

     4.9 Legal  Proceedings.  (a) Except as set forth in  Section  4.9(a) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule,  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a



                                       19
<PAGE>


party  to  any,  and  there  are no  pending  or,  to the  Company's  knowledge,
threatened,  legal,  administrative,  arbitral  or  other  proceedings,  claims,
actions or governmental or regulatory  investigations  of any nature against the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  or challenging the validity or propriety of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  4.9(b)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule,  there  is no  injunction,  order,  judgment,  decree,  or  regulatory
restriction  imposed upon the Company,  any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     4.10  Taxes.  (a)  Except as set forth in Section  4.10(a)  of the  Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has (i) duly and
timely filed  (including  applicable  extensions  granted  without  penalty) all
material Tax Returns (as hereinafter  defined)  required to be filed at or prior
to the Effective Time, and such Tax Returns are true and correct in all material
respects,  and (ii) paid in full or made  adequate  provision  in the  financial
statements of the Company (in  accordance  with GAAP) for all material Taxes (as
hereinafter defined) shown to be due on such Tax Returns. Except as set forth in
Section 4.10(a) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  (i) as of the date hereof
neither the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has requested any extension of
time  within  which to file any Tax  Returns in respect of any fiscal year which
have not since been filed and no request  for  waivers of the time to assess any
Taxes are pending or outstanding,  and (ii) as of the date hereof,  with respect
to each  taxable  period of the  Company and its  Subsidiaries,  the federal and
state income Tax Returns of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  have been audited
by the Internal Revenue Service or appropriate state tax authorities or the time
for assessing and collecting  income Tax with respect to such taxable period has
closed and such taxable period is not subject to review.  Except as set forth in
Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,  neither the Company nor any
of its  Subsidiaries  (i) has made an election under Section 341(f) of the Code,
(ii) has made any payment,  is  obligated to make any payment,  or is a party to
any  agreement  that could  obligate  it to make any  payment  that would not be
deductible  under  Section  280G of the Code,  (iii) has issued or  assumed  any
obligation under Section 279 of the Code, any high yield discount  obligation as
described in Section 163(i) of the Code or any registration-required  obligation
within the meaning of Section  163(f)(2)  of the Code that is not in  registered
form, or (iv) is or has been a United States real property  holding  corporation
within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.

     (b) For the  purposes  of this  Agreement,  "Taxes"  shall  mean all taxes,
charges,  fees,  levies,  penalties or other  assessments  imposed by any United
States



                                       20
<PAGE>


federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, including, but not limited to
income, excise,  property,  sales, transfer,  franchise,  payroll,  withholding,
social security or other taxes,  including any interest,  penalties or additions
attributable  thereto.  For purposes of this Agreement,  "Tax Return" shall mean
any return, report,  information return or other document (including any related
or supporting information) with respect to Taxes.

     4.11 Employees. (a) Section 4.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and correct  list of each  deferred  compensation  plan,  incentive
compensation  plan, equity  compensation  plan,  "welfare" plan, fund or program
(within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Employee  Retirement  Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"));  "pension" plan, fund or program (within the
meaning  of  section  3(2) of ERISA);  each  "stay in place"  bonus,  retention,
employment,   consulting,   independent  contractor,  termination  or  severance
agreement;  and each other employee  benefit plan, fund,  program,  agreement or
arrangement,  in each case,  that is sponsored,  maintained or contributed to or
required to be  contributed  to by, or with  respect to which an  obligation  or
liability exists of, (the "Plans"),  the Company,  any of its Subsidiaries or by
any trade or business,  whether or not incorporated (an "ERISA Affiliate"),  all
of which  together with the Company would be deemed a "single  employer"  within
the meaning of Section 4001 of the Employee  Retirement  Income  Security Act of
1974,  as amended  ("ERISA"),  for the  benefit of any  employee  or director or
former employee or former  director of the Company,  any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate or any person who is an  independent  contractor  or consultant to the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate.

     (b) The Company has  heretofore  made  available  to Parent with respect to
each of the Plans true and correct copies of each of the following  documents if
applicable:  (i)  the  Plan  document  and  trust  agreement  or  other  funding
arrangement;  (ii) the  actuarial  report for such Plan for each of the last two
years and any subsequent changes to actuarial assumptions; (iii) the most recent
determination  letter from the Internal  Revenue Service for such Plan; (iv) the
most  recent Form 5500,  summary  plan  description  and  related  summaries  of
material  modifications  and (v) with  respect to any employee  stock  ownership
plan, all loan documents and repayment schedules.

     (c)  Except as set  forth in  Section  4.11(c)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule:  each of the Plans is in compliance with applicable law, including but
not limited to, the Code and ERISA; each of the Plans intended to be "qualified"
within  the  meaning  of section  401(a) of the Code has  received  a  favorable
determination  letter from the IRS; no Plan has an accumulated or waived funding
deficiency  within the meaning of section  412 of the Code;  neither the Company
nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred,  directly or indirectly,  any liability to
or on account of a Plan pursuant to Title



                                       21
<PAGE>


IV of ERISA  (other  than PBGC  premiums);  to the  knowledge  of the Company no
proceedings  have been instituted to terminate any Plan that is subject to Title
IV of ERISA;  no "reportable  event," as such term is defined in section 4043(c)
of ERISA,  has occurred with respect to any Plan (other than a reportable  event
with  respect to which the thirty day  notice  period has been  waived);  and no
condition  exists that  presents a material  risk to the Company of  incurring a
liability to or on account of a Plan pursuant to Title IV of ERISA; no Plan is a
multiemployer  plan  (within the meaning of section  4001(a)(3)  of ERISA and no
Plan is a multiple  employer  plan as defined in Section 413 of the Code;  there
are no pending,  or to the knowledge of the Company,  threatened or  anticipated
claims (other than routine  claims for benefits) by, on behalf of or against any
of the Plans or any trusts related thereto;  the fair market value of the assets
of each Plan  subject  to Title IV of ERISA  exceeds  the  present  value of the
benefit liabilities (as defined in Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA) under such Plan
as of the most recent plan year end prior to the date hereof,  calculated  using
the actuarial  assumptions used in the most recent  actuarial  valuation of such
Plan as of the date  hereof;  with  respect to each  qualified  plan which is an
employee stock  ownership  plan (as defined in Section  4975(e)(7) of the Code),
any assets of any such plan that are not allocated to partici pants'  individual
accounts  are  pledged as  security  for,  and may be applied  to  satisfy,  any
securities  acquisition  indebtedness;  and there is not  currently  any legally
binding commitment by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate to create an additional
Plan or amend  any Plan  (except  amendments  to  comply  with law  which do not
materially  increase the cost of such Plan) and the Company and its Subsidiaries
do not have any  obligations  for  post-retirement  or post  employment  welfare
benefits  that cannot be amended or  terminated  upon sixty days' notice or less
without incurring any liability thereunder, except for coverage required by Part
6 of Title 1 of ERISA of Section 4980B of the Code, the premium cost of which is
borne (to the extent permitted by law) by the insured individuals.

     4.12 SEC Reports.  The Company has  previously  made  available to Parent a
true and  correct  copy of each (a) final  registration  statement,  prospectus,
report, schedule and definitive proxy statement filed since December 31, 1995 by
the Company with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (the
"Company  Reports")  and  (b)  communication   mailed  by  the  Company  to  its
stockholders  since  December  31,  1995,  and no such  registration  statement,
prospectus,  report,  schedule,  proxy statement or communication  contained any
untrue  statement  of a  material  fact or omitted  to state any  material  fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading,
except that information as of a later date shall be deemed to modify information
as of an earlier  date.  The  Company has timely  filed all Company  Reports and
other  documents  required  to be filed by it under the  Securities  Act and the
Exchange



                                       22
<PAGE>


Act, and, as of their  respective  dates,  all Company Reports complied with the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

     4.13 Company  Information.  The information relating to the Company and its
Subsidiaries  which is provided to Parent by the  Company for  inclusion  in the
Proxy  Statement  and the S-4,  or in any other  document  filed  with any other
regulatory agency in connection herewith,  will not contain any untrue statement
of a  material  fact or omit to  state a  material  fact  necessary  to make the
statements  therein,  in light of the  circumstances in which they are made, not
misleading.  The Proxy Statement  (except for such portions  thereof that relate
only to the Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries)  will comply with the provisions
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.

     4.14   Compliance  with  Applicable  Law.  The  Company  and  each  of  its
Subsidiaries hold, and have at all times held, all licenses, franchises, permits
and  authorizations  necessary  for  the  lawful  conduct  of  their  respective
businesses  under and  pursuant to all,  and have  complied  with and are not in
default  in any  respect  under  any,  applicable  law,  statute,  order,  rule,
regulation,  policy and/or guideline of any Governmental  Entity relating to the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  and  neither  the  Company  nor any of its
Subsidiaries has received notice of any violations of any of the above.

     4.15 Certain  Contracts.  (a) Except as set forth in Section 4.15(a) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule,  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is
a party to or bound by any contract  (whether  written or oral) (i) with respect
to the  employment  of any  directors  or  consultants,  (ii)  which,  upon  the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  will (either
alone or upon the  occurrence of any  additional  acts or events)  result in any
payment or benefits (whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming due, or the
acceleration  or vesting of any rights to any payment or benefits,  from Parent,
the Company, the Surviving  Corporation or any of their respective  Subsidiaries
to any director or consultant  thereof,  (iii) which is a material  contract (as
defined in Item  601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) to be performed  after
the date of this Agreement that has not been filed or  incorporated by reference
in the Company  Reports,  (iv) which is a consulting  agreement  (including data
processing,  software  programming and licensing contracts) not terminable on 30
days or less notice involving the payment of more than $25,000 per annum, or (v)
which materially restricts the conduct of any line of business by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding
of the type  described  in this  Section  4.15(a),  whether  or not set forth in
Section 4.15(a) of the Company Disclosure  Schedule,  is referred to herein as a
"Company Contract". The



                                       23
<PAGE>


Company has  previously  delivered or made  available to Parent true and correct
copies of each Company Contract.

     (b)  Except as set  forth in  Section  4.15(b)  of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule, (i) each Company Contract described in clause (iii) of Section 4.15(a)
is valid and binding and in full force and effect,  (ii) the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries has performed all obligations required to be performed by it to
date under each Company  Contract  described in clause (iii) of Section 4.15(a),
(iii) no event or condition  exists which  constitutes or, after notice or lapse
of time or both, would  constitute,  a default on the part of the Company or any
of its  Subsidiaries  under any Company  Contract  described  in clause (iii) of
Section 4.15(a),  and (iv) no other party to any Company  Contract  described in
clause (iii) of Section 4.15(a) is, to the knowledge of the Company,  in default
in any respect thereunder.

     (c) Section  4.15 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule  contains a schedule
showing the good faith  estimated  present  value as of December 31, 1998 of the
monetary amounts payable (including any tax indemnification  payments in respect
of income and/or excise taxes) and  identifying  the in-kind  benefits due under
any Plan other than a  tax-qualified  plan for each  director of the Company and
each  officer of the  Company  with the  position of vice  president  or higher,
specifying the assumptions in such schedule.

     4.16 Agreements with  Regulatory  Agencies.  Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or
is a  party  to any  written  agreement,  consent  agreement  or  memorandum  of
understanding  with,  or  is  a  party  to  any  commitment  letter  or  similar
undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of
any extraordinary  supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions
at the request of (each, whether or not set forth on Section 4.16 of the Company
Disclosure  Schedule,  a "Regulatory  Agreement"),  any Governmental Entity that
restricts  the  conduct of its  business  or that in any  manner  relates to its
capital adequacy,  its credit policies,  its management or its business, nor has
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  been advised by any Governmental  Entity
that it is considering issuing or requesting any Regulatory Agreement.

     4.17  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in  Section  4.17 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule:

     (a) Each of the Company  and its  Subsidiaries,  each of the  Participation
Facilities and, to the knowledge of the Company,  the Loan  Properties  (each as
hereinafter defined),  are in compliance with all applicable federal,  state and
local



                                       24
<PAGE>


laws, including common law, regulations and ordinances,  and with all applicable
decrees,  orders  and  contractual  obligations  relating  to  pollution  or the
discharge of, or exposure to,  Hazardous  Materials (as hereinafter  defined) in
the environment or workplace ("Environmental Laws");

     (b) There is no suit,  claim,  action  or  proceeding,  pending  or, to the
knowledge of the Company,  threatened,  before any Governmental  Entity or other
forum in which the Company, any of its Subsidiaries,  any Participation Facility
or any Loan Property, has been or, with respect to threatened  proceedings,  may
be,  named  as a  defendant  (x) for  alleged  noncompliance  (including  by any
predecessor)  with any  Environmental  Laws,  or (y)  relating  to the  release,
threatened  release  or  exposure  to  any  Hazardous  Material  whether  or not
occurring at or on a site owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, any Participation Facility or any Loan Property;

     (c) To the knowledge of the Company, during the period of (x) the Company's
or any of its  Subsidiaries'  ownership or operation of any of their  respective
current or former  properties,  (y) the  Company's  or any of its  Subsidiaries'
participation  in the  management  of any  Participation  Facility,  or (z)  the
Company's or any of its  Subsidiaries'  interest in a Loan  Property,  there has
been no release of  Hazardous  Materials  in, on,  under or  affecting  any such
property.  To the  knowledge  of the  Company,  prior to the  period  of (x) the
Company's  or any of its  Subsidiaries'  ownership  or operation of any of their
respective  current  or  former  properties,  (y)  the  Company's  or any of its
Subsidiaries'  participation in the management of any Participation Facility, or
(z) the Company's or any of its Subsidiaries' interest in a Loan Property, there
was no release  of  Hazardous  Materials  in, on,  under or  affecting  any such
property, Participa tion Facility or Loan Property; and

     (d) The following  definitions apply for purposes of this Section 4.17: (x)
"Hazardous  Materials" means any chemicals,  pollutants,  contaminants,  wastes,
toxic  substances,  petroleum or other  regulated  substances or materials,  (y)
"Loan  Property"  means  any  property  in  which  the  Company  or  any  of its
Subsidiaries holds a security interest, and, where required by the context, said
term  means the  owner or  operator  of such  property;  and (z)  "Participation
Facility"  means any  facility in which the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
participates  in the management  and,  where required by the context,  said term
means the owner or operator of such property.

     4.18  Opinion.  Prior to the execution of this  Agreement,  the Company has
received  an opinion  from  Sandler  O'Neill  to the effect  that as of the date
thereof and based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein,  the Merger
Consideration is fair



                                       25
<PAGE>


to the  stockholders of the Company from a financial point of view. Such opinion
has not been amended or rescinded as of the date of this Agreement.

     4.19 Approvals.  As of the date of this Agreement,  the Company knows of no
reason  why  all  regulatory  approvals  required  for the  consummation  of the
transactions  contemplated hereby (including,  without  limitation,  the Merger)
should not be obtained.

     4.20 Loan Portfolio.  (a) With respect to each loan owned by the Company or
its Subsidiaries in whole or in part (each, a "Loan"),  to the best knowledge of
the Company:

          (i) the note and the related security  documents are each legal, valid
     and  binding  obligations  of the  maker of  obligor  thereof,  enforceable
     against such maker or obligor in accordance with their terms;

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

          (iii) the  Company  or a  Subsidiary  is the sole  holder of legal and
     beneficial  title to each Loan (or the Company's  applicable  participation
     interest,  as applicable),  except as otherwise referenced on the books and
     records of the Company;

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

          (v) there is no  pending  or  threatened  condemnation  proceeding  or
     similar  proceeding  affecting the property  which serves as security for a
     Loan,  except as  otherwise  referenced  on the books  and  records  of the
     Company;

          (vi)  there is no  pending  or  threatened  litigation  or  proceeding
     relating to the property which serves as security for a Loan; and



                                       26
<PAGE>


          (vii) with respect to a Loan held in the form of a participation,  the
     participation documentation is legal, valid, binding and enforceable.

     (b) Except as set forth in Section 4.20 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party to any written or
oral (i) loan  agreement,  note or  borrowing  arrangement  (including,  without
limitation,   leases,   credit   enhancements,   commitments,   guarantees   and
interest-bearing  assets) (collectively,  "Loans"), under the terms of which the
obligor  was,  as of June  30,  1998,  over 90 days  delinquent  in  payment  of
principal  or interest or in default of any other  provision,  or (ii) Loan with
any director,  executive  officer or five percent or greater  stockholder of the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or to the  knowledge of the  Company,  any
person,  corporation  or enterprise  controlling,  controlled by or under common
control  with  any of the  foregoing.  Section  4.20 of the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule  sets  forth  (i)  all  of  the  Loans  of  the  Company  or any of its
Subsidiaries  that as of June 30, 1998,  were  classified  by any bank  examiner
(whether regulatory or internal) as "Other Loans Specially Mentioned",  "Special
Mention", "Substandard", "Doubtful", "Loss", "Classified", "Criticized", "Credit
Risk  Assets",  "Concerned  Loans",  "Watch  List" or words of  similar  import,
together  with the principal  amount of and accrued and unpaid  interest on each
such Loan and the identity of the borrower thereunder,  (ii) by category of Loan
(i.e.,  commercial,  consumer,  etc.), all of the other Loans of the Company and
its  Subsidiaries  that as of June 30, 1998, were  classified as such,  together
with the aggregate  principal  amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on such
Loans by category  and (iii) each asset of the Company that as of June 30, 1998,
was classified as "Other Real Estate Owned" and the book value thereof.

     4.21  Property.  Each of the  Company  and its  Subsidiaries  has  good and
marketable title free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,  mortgages, pledges,
charges,  defaults or equitable  interests to all of the  properties and assets,
real  and  personal,  tangible  or  intangible,   which  are  reflected  on  the
consolidated  statement  of  financial  condition of the Company as of March 31,
1998 or  acquired  after such  date,  except (i) liens for taxes not yet due and
payable or contested in good faith by appropriate  proceedings,  (ii) pledges to
secure  deposits and other liens  incurred in the  ordinary  course of business,
(iii) such imperfections of title, easements and encumbrances, if any, as do not
interfere  with the use of the  respective  property as such property is used on
the date of this Agreement,  (iv) for  dispositions  and encumbrances of, or on,
such properties or assets in the ordinary course of business and (v) mechanics',
materialmen's,  workmen's,  repairmen's,  warehousemen's,  carrier's  and  other
similar liens and encumbrances  arising in the ordinary course of business.  All
leases  pursuant  to which the  Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  as
lessee, leases real or personal property are valid and enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms and neither



                                       27
<PAGE>


the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  nor, to the  knowledge of the Company,
any other  party  thereto,  is in  default  thereunder.  All  material  tangible
properties  of the  Company  and each of its  Subsidiaries  are in good state of
maintenance and repair, conform with all applicable ordinances,  regulations and
zoning laws and are  considered  by the  Company to be adequate  for the current
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

     4.22  Reorganization.  The Company has no reason to believe that the Merger
will fail to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.

     4.23 Antitakeover  Provisions  Inapplicable.  The Board of Directors of the
Company has approved the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  the Bank
Merger and the Option  Agreement  such that the provisions of Section 203 of the
DGCL and Article Eighth of the Company's  Certificate of Incorporation will not,
assuming the accuracy of the  representations  contained in Section 5.15 hereof,
apply to this  Agreement,  the Bank Merger,  the Option  Agreement or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     4.24 Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries are presently insured, and
since  December  31,  1994,  have been  insured,  for  reasonable  amounts  with
financially  sound and  reputable  insurance  companies,  against  such risks as
companies  engaged in a similar business would, in accordance with good business
practice,  customarily  be  insured.  All of the  insurance  policies  and bonds
maintained by the Company and its Subsidiaries are in full force and effect, the
Company and its  Subsidiaries  are not in default  thereunder  and all  material
claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion.

     4.25  Investment   Securities;   Borrowings;   Deposits.   (a)  Except  for
investments  in Federal Home Loan Bank Stock and pledges to secure  Federal Home
Loan  Bank  borrowings  and  reverse  repurchase   agreements  entered  into  in
arms-length  transactions pursuant to normal commercial terms and conditions and
entered into the ordinary  course of business  and  restrictions  that exist for
securities  to be  classified  as "held to  maturity,"  none of the  investments
reflected  in the  consolidated  balance  sheet of the  Company  included in the
Company's  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ended March 31, 1998 and none of
the investment  securities held by it or any of its Subsidiaries since March 31,
1998 is  subject  to any  restriction  (contractual  or  statutory)  that  would
materially  impair the ability of the entity holding such  investment  freely to
dispose of such investment at any time.

     (b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or has



                                       28
<PAGE>


agreed to enter into an  exchange-traded  or over the-counter  equity,  interest
rate, foreign exchange or other swap,  forward,  future,  option,  cap, floor or
collar or any other contract that is not included on the consolidated statements
of  condition  and is a  derivative  contract  (including  various  combinations
thereof)  (each,  a  "Derivatives  Contract")  or owns  securities  that (A) are
referred to generically as "structured notes," "high risk mortgage derivatives,"
"capped floating rate notes" or "capped  floating rate mortgage  derivatives" or
(B) are likely to have changes in value as a result of interest or exchange rate
changes  that  significantly  exceed  normal  changes in value  attributable  to
interest or exchange rate changes,  except for those  Derivatives  Contracts and
other  instruments  legally  purchased or entered into in the ordinary course of
business,  consistent  with regulatory  requirements  and listed (as of the date
hereof) in the Company  Disclosure  Schedule or disclosed in any Company Reports
filed on or prior to the date hereof.

     (c) Set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule is a true and correct list
of the Company's  borrowed  funds  (excluding  deposit  accounts) as of the date
hereof.

     (d) None of the  deposits  of the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
"brokered" deposit.

     4.26  Indemnification.  Except as provided in the Company  Contracts or the
Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws of the Company,  neither the Company nor
any Company Subsidiary is a party to any  indemnification  agreement with any of
its present or future directors,  officers,  employees,  agents or other persons
who  serve or  served in any other  capacity  with any other  enterprise  at the
request of the Company (a "Covered  Person"),  and, to the best knowledge of the
Company,  there are no claims for which any Covered  Person would be entitled to
indemnification  under the organization  certificate or bylaws of the Company or
any   Subsidiary   of  the  Company,   applicable   law  or  regulation  or  any
indemnification agreement.

     4.27  Liquidation  Account.  Neither  the Merger nor the Bank  Merger  will
result in any payment or distribution  payable out of the Liquidation Account of
the Company Bank.

     4.28 Year 2000  Matters.  Section 4.28 of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule
contains a true and correct copy of the Company's plan for addressing  year 2000
computer  issues (the "Year 2000 Plan").  The Company is in material  compliance
with the Company's Year 2000 Plan. The Company has been examined by the OTS with
respect to being "Year 2000 Compliant" and the Company's Year 2000 Plan has been
reviewed by the OTS and the Company has received a "satisfactory" rating in



                                       29
<PAGE>


connection therewith,  and neither the Company nor the Company Bank has received
any written  communication from the OTS commenting adversely with respect to the
ability of the Company to become Year 2000 compliant.


                                    ARTICLE V

                    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT

     Subject to Article  III,  Parent  hereby  represents  and  warrants  to the
Company as follows:

     5.1 Corporate  Organization.  (a) Parent is a corporation  duly  organized,
validly  existing and in good standing  under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Parent  has  the  corporate  power  and  authority  to own or  lease  all of its
properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted,
and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each  jurisdiction  in which
the nature of the business  conducted by it or the  character or location of the
properties   and  assets  owned  or  leased  by  it  makes  such   licensing  or
qualification necessary. Parent is duly registered as a savings and loan holding
company under the HOLA. The Certificate of Incorporation  and By-laws of Parent,
copies of which have previously been made available to the Company, are true and
correct copies of such documents as in effect as of the date of this Agreement.

     (b) Each Subsidiary of Parent that is a bank or savings institution (each a
"Parent  Bank"  and  collectively,  the  "Parent  Banks")  is a bank or  savings
institution,  as the case may be, duly organized,  validly  existing and in good
standing  under  the  laws of its  jurisdiction  of  organization.  The  deposit
accounts  of the  Parent  Banks are  insured  by the FDIC  through  the  Savings
Association  Insurance  Fund to the fullest  extent  permitted  by law,  and all
premiums and  assessments  required in connection  therewith have been paid when
due. Each of Parent's other  Subsidiaries  which is a  "Significant  Subsidiary"
(each a "Significant Subsidiary" and together the "Significant Subsidiaries") as
such term is defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC is duly organized,
validly  existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation. Each Significant Subsidiary of Parent has the corporate power and
authority to own or lease all of its  properties  and assets and to carry on its
business as it is now being  conducted,  and is duly licensed or qualified to do
business in each  jurisdiction in which the nature of the business  conducted by
it or the character or location of the  properties and assets owned or leased by
it  makes  such   licensing  or   qualification   necessary.   The  articles  of
incorporation,  by-laws  and other  similar  governing  documents  of the Parent
Banks, copies of which have previously been made



                                       30
<PAGE>


available to the Company,  are true and correct  copies of such  documents as in
effect as of the date of this Agreement.

     (c) The  minute  books of Parent and each of its  Significant  Subsidiaries
contain true and correct  records of all meetings  and other  corporate  actions
held or taken since  December  31,  1995 of their  respective  stockholders  and
Boards  of  Directors  (including  committees  of  their  respective  Boards  of
Directors).

     5.2  Capitalization.  (a) As of the date of this Agreement,  the authorized
capital stock of Parent consists of 45,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock and
9,000,000  shares  of  preferred  stock,  par value  $0.01  per  share  ("Parent
Preferred  Stock").  As of June 30, 1998, there were 12,176,513 shares of Parent
Common Stock and no shares of Parent Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, and
2,374,587  shares of Parent  Common Stock held in Parent's  treasury.  As of the
date of this  Agreement,  no shares of Parent  Common Stock or Parent  Preferred
Stock were  reserved for  issuance,  except that  (i)1,451,150  shares of Parent
Common  Stock were  reserved for  issuance  upon the  exercise of stock  options
pursuant to the Dime Community Bancorp,  Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside
Directors,  Officers and Employees  (the "Parent Stock Plan"),  and (ii) 450,000
shares of Parent Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock were reserved for
issuance  upon  exercise  of the rights (the  "Parent  Rights")  distributed  to
holders of Parent Common Stock  pursuant to the  Shareholder  Rights  Agreement,
dated as of April 19, 1998, between Parent and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the "Parent Rights  Agreement").  All of the issued and
outstanding  shares of Parent Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid,  nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no
personal liability  attaching to the ownership  thereof.  As of the date of this
Agreement,  except as referred to above or  reflected  in Section  5.2(a) of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule and the Parent Rights Agreement, Parent does not have
and is not bound by any outstanding  subscriptions,  options,  warrants,  calls,
commitments or agreements of any character  calling for the purchase or issuance
of any  shares of Parent  Common  Stock or Parent  Preferred  Stock or any other
equity securities of Parent or any securities representing the right to purchase
or  otherwise  receive  any shares of Parent  Common  Stock or Parent  Preferred
Stock.  The shares of Parent  Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Merger
will be duly  authorized and validly issued and, at the Effective Time, all such
shares will be fully paid,  nonassessable and free of preemptive rights, with no
personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.

     (b) Section 5.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure  Schedule sets forth a true and
correct list of all of the Parent Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement.
Except as set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the Parent Disclosure  Schedule,  as of
the date of this



                                       31
<PAGE>


Agreement,   Parent  owns,  directly  or  indirectly,  all  of  the  issued  and
outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries of Parent,  free
and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances and security interests whatsoever,
and all of such  shares are duly  authorized  and  validly  issued and are fully
paid,  nonassessable and free of preemptive  rights,  with no personal liability
attaching  to the  ownership  thereof.  As of the  date  of this  Agreement,  no
Subsidiary of Parent has or is bound by any outstanding subscrip tions, options,
warrants,  calls, commitments or agreements of any character with any party that
is not a direct or indirect  Subsidiary  of Parent  calling for the  purchase or
issuance  of any shares of capital  stock or any other  equity  security of such
Subsidiary  or any  securities  representing  the right to purchase or otherwise
receive  any  shares of  capital  stock or any  other  equity  security  of such
Subsidiary.

     5.3  Authority;  No  Violation.  (a)  Parent has full  corporate  power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Option  Agreement and to
consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby.  The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Option  Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly and validly approved
by the Board of Directors of Parent,  and no other corporate  proceedings on the
part of Parent are necessary to approve this  Agreement  and to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby.  This  Agreement  has been duly and  validly
executed and delivered by Parent and (assuming due authorization,  execution and
delivery  by the  Company)  this  Agreement  constitutes  a  valid  and  binding
obligation of Parent,  enforceable  against Parent in accordance with its terms,
except as  enforcement  may be limited by general  principles of equity  whether
applied in a court of law or a court of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency and
similar laws affecting creditors' rights and remedies generally.

     (b)  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  5.3(b)  of the  Parent  Disclosure
Schedule,  neither the execution and delivery of this  Agreement by Parent,  nor
the  consummation  by  Parent  of  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby,  nor
compliance  by  Parent  with any of the  terms or  provisions  hereof,  will (i)
violate any provision of the Certificate of  Incorporation or By-Laws of Parent,
or the articles of  incorporation or by-laws or similar  governing  documents of
any of its  Subsidiaries  or (ii)  assuming  that  the  consents  and  approvals
referred to in Section 5.4 are duly  obtained,  (x) violate any  statute,  code,
ordinance,  rule,  regulation,  judgment,  order,  writ,  decree  or  injunction
applicable  to  Parent  or any of its  Subsidiaries  or any of their  respective
properties or assets,  or (y) violate,  conflict with, result in a breach of any
provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event
which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under,
result in the  termination of or a right of termination or  cancellation  under,
accelerate the performance required by, or result in



                                       32
<PAGE>


the creation of any lien, pledge, security interest, charge or other encumbrance
upon  any of  the  respective  properties  or  assets  of  Parent  or any of its
Subsidiaries  under,  any of the terms,  conditions  or  provisions of any note,
bond, mortgage,  indenture,  deed of trust, license,  lease,  agreement or other
instrument or obligation to which Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries is a party,
or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or
affected.

     5.4 Consents and Approvals.  Except for (a) the filing of applications  and
notices,  as applicable,  with the OTS under the HOLA, Bank Merger Act,  Federal
Deposit  Insurance Act and the rules and regulations of the OTS, and approval of
such applications and notices,  (b) the State Banking Approvals,  (c) the filing
with  the  SEC  of the  Proxy  Statement  and  the  filing  and  declaration  of
effectiveness  of the S-4, (d) the filing of the  Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary  pursuant to the DGCL,  (e) such filings and approvals as are required
to be made or obtained under the securities or "Blue Sky" laws of various states
in connection with the issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock pursuant to
this  Agreement,  (f) approval of the listing for quotation of the Parent Common
Stock to be  issued  in the  Merger  on the  NASDAQ/NMS,  and (g) such  filings,
authorizations  or  approvals  as may be set forth in Section  5.4 of the Parent
Disclosure  Schedule,  no consents or approvals  of or filings or  registrations
with any Governmental Entity or with any third party are necessary in connection
with (1) the  execution  and  delivery by Parent of this  Agreement  and (2) the
consummation  by Parent of the  Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby.

     5.5  Reports.  Parent and each of its  Subsidiaries  have timely  filed all
reports, registrations and statements,  together with any amendments required to
be made with respect thereto, that they were required to file since December 31,
1995 with any Regulatory  Agency, and have paid all fees and assessments due and
payable in connection therewith.  Except for normal examinations  conducted by a
Regulatory  Agency in the  regular  course  of the  business  of Parent  and its
Subsidiaries,  and  except as set  forth in  Section  5.5 of  Parent  Disclosure
Schedule, no Regulatory Agency has initiated any proceeding or, to the knowledge
of Parent, investigation into the business or operations of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries  since  December  31,  1995.  There  is  no  unresolved  violation,
criticism,  or exception by any Regulatory  Agency with respect to any report or
statement relating to any examinations of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.

     5.6  Financial  Statements.  Parent has  previously  made  available to the
Company  copies  of (a)  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Parent  and its
Subsidiaries  as of June 30 for the fiscal  years 1996 and 1997 and the  related
consolidated  statements  of income,  changes in  stockholders'  equity and cash
flows for the fiscal years 1995 through 1997, inclusive, as reported in Parent's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year



                                       33
<PAGE>


ended  June 30,  1997 filed with the SEC under the  Exchange  Act,  in each case
accompanied  by the audit  report of  Deloitte & Touche LLP  independent  public
accountants with respect to Parent, and (b) the unaudited  consolidated  balance
sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1998 and March 31, 1997 and
the  related   unaudited   consolidated   statements   of  income,   changes  in
stockholders'  equity and cash flows for the  nine-month  periods  then ended as
reported in Parent's  Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the period  ended March
31,  1998  filed  with the SEC  under  the  Exchange  Act.  The  June  30,  1997
consolidated  balance  sheet of  Parent  (including  the  related  notes,  where
applicable)  fairly presents the consolidated  financial  position of Parent and
its  Subsidiaries  as of the date thereof,  and the other  financial  statements
referred to in this Section 5.6 (including the related notes,  where applicable)
fairly  present and the financial  statements to be filed with the SEC after the
date  hereof  will  fairly  present  (subject,  in the  case  of  the  unaudited
statements,  to recurring audit  adjustments  normal in nature and amount),  the
results of the consolidated  operations and changes in stockholders'  equity and
consolidated   financial  position  of  Parent  and  its  Subsidiaries  for  the
respective  fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth; each
of such statements (including the related notes, where applicable) complies, and
the  financial  statements  to be filed with the SEC after the date  hereof will
comply, with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations  of the SEC  with  respect  thereto;  and  each  of such  statements
(including  the related  notes,  where  applicable)  has been, and the financial
statements  to be filed with the SEC after the date hereof will be,  prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except as
indicated  in the notes  thereto  or, in the case of  unaudited  statements,  as
permitted  by Form 10-Q.  The books and  records  of Parent and its  Significant
Subsidiaries  have been, and are being,  maintained in accordance  with GAAP and
any other applicable legal and accounting requirements.

     5.7 Broker's Fees.  Neither Parent nor any Subsidiary of Parent, nor any of
their  respective  officers or  directors,  has employed any broker or finder or
incurred any liability for any broker's  fees,  commissions  or finder's fees in
connection with any of the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  except
that Parent has engaged,  and will pay a fee or commission  to,  Merrill Lynch &
Co. ("Merrill Lynch").

     5.8  Absence  of Certain  Changes or Events.  Except as may be set forth in
Section 5.8 of the Parent  Disclosure  Schedule,  or as  disclosed in any Parent
Report (as defined in Section 5.12) filed with the SEC prior to the date of this
Agreement,  since  June 30,  1997,  there has been no change or  development  or
combination of changes or developments which,  individually or in the aggregate,
has had a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.




                                       34
<PAGE>


     5.9 Legal  Proceedings.  (a) Except as set forth in  Section  5.9(a) of the
Parent  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is a
party to any and there are no pending  or, to  Parent's  knowledge,  threatened,
legal,  administrative,  arbitral  or  other  proceedings,  claims,  actions  or
governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against Parent or any of
its  Subsidiaries or challenging  the validity or propriety of the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b)  There  is  no  injunction,  order,  judgment,  decree,  or  regulatory
restriction imposed upon Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries.

     5.10 Taxes.  Except as set forth in Section  5.10 of the Parent  Disclosure
Schedule,  each of Parent and its  Subsidiaries  has (i) duly and  timely  filed
(including  applicable  extensions  granted  without  penalty)  all material Tax
Returns  required to be filed at or prior to the  Effective  Time,  and such Tax
Returns are true and correct in all material respects,  and (ii) paid in full or
made  adequate  provision in the financial  statements of Parent (in  accordance
with GAAP) for all material Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns. Except as
set forth in Section 5.10 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule,  (i) as of the date
hereof,  neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries has requested any extension
of time within which to file any Tax Returns in respect of any fiscal year which
have not since been filed and no request  for  waivers of the time to assess any
Taxes are pending or outstanding,  and (ii) as of the date hereof,  with respect
to each  taxable  period of Parent and its  Subsidiaries,  the federal and state
income  Tax  Returns  of Parent and its  Subsidiaries  have been  audited by the
Internal  Revenue  Service or appropriate  state tax authorities or the time for
assessing  and  collecting  income Tax with respect to such  taxable  period has
closed and such taxable period is not subject to review.  Except as set forth in
Section 5.10 of the Parent  Disclosure  Schedule,  neither the Parent nor any of
its Subsidiaries (i) has made an election under Section 341(f) of the Code, (ii)
has made any  payment,  is  obligated  to make any  payment,  or is party to any
agreement  that  could  obligate  it to  make  any  payment  that  would  not be
deductible  under  Section  280G of the Code,  (iii) has issued or  assumed  any
obligation under Section 279 of the Code, any high yield discount  obligation as
described in Section 163f(i) of the Code or any registration-required obligation
within  the  meaning of  Section  163f(2) of the Code that is not in  registered
form, or (iv) is or has been a United States real property  holding  corporation
within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.

     5.11 Employees.  (a) Section 5.11(a) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a true and correct  list of each  deferred  compensation  plan,  incentive
compensation  plan, equity  compensation  plan,  "welfare" plan, fund or program
(within the meaning



                                       35
<PAGE>


of section  3(1) of the  ERISA);  "pension"  plan,  fund or program  (within the
meaning of section 3(2) of ERISA) that is sponsored,  maintained or  contributed
to or required to be contributed to as of the date of this Agreement by, or with
respect to which an  obligation  or liability  exists of (the  "Parent  Plans"),
Parent,  any of its  Subsidiaries  or any  trade  or  business,  whether  or not
incorporated  (a "Parent ERISA  Affiliate"),  all of which  together with Parent
would be deemed a "single employer" within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA,
for the benefit of any employee or former employee of Parent,  any Subsidiary or
any Parent  ERISA  Affiliate  and  includes a true and correct  copy of the plan
document for the Severance Pay Plan of the Parent currently in effect.

     (b)  Except  as set  forth in  Section  5.11(b)  of the  Parent  Disclosure
Schedule:  each of the  Parent  Plans  is in  compliance  with  applicable  law,
including  but not  limited  to,  the Code and ERISA;  each of the Parent  Plans
intended to be "qualified"  within the meaning of section 401(a) of the Code has
received a  favorable  determination  letter from the IRS; no Parent Plan has an
accumulated  or waived funding  deficiency  within the meaning of section 412 of
the Code;  neither Parent nor any Parent ERISA Affiliate has incurred,  directly
or indirectly, any liability to or on account of a Parent Plan pursuant to Title
IV of  ERISA  (other  than  PBGC  premiums);  to  the  knowledge  of  Parent  no
proceedings have been instituted to terminate any Parent Plan that is subject to
Title IV of ERISA;  no  "reportable  event,"  as such term is defined in section
4043(c) of ERISA,  has  occurred  with  respect to any Parent Plan (other than a
reportable  event with  respect  to which the thirty day notice  period has been
waived);  and no  condition  exists that  presents a material  risk to Parent of
incurring a liability to or on account of a Parent Plan  pursuant to Title IV of
ERISA;  no Parent Plan is a  multiemployer  plan  (within the meaning of section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA and no Parent Plan is a multiple employer plan as defined in
Section 413 of the Code;  there are no pending,  or, to the knowledge of Parent,
threatened or anticipated claims (other than routine claims for benefits) by, on
behalf of or against any of the Parent Plans or any trusts related thereto;  the
fair  market  value of the  assets  of each  Plan  subject  to Title IV of ERISA
exceeds the  present  value of the  benefit  liabilities  (as defined in Section
4001(a)(16)  of ERISA) under such Plan as of the most recent plan year end prior
to the date hereof,  calculated using the actuarial assumptions used in the most
recent actuarial  valuation of such Plan as of the date hereof;  with respect to
each  qualified  plan which is an employee  stock  ownership plan (as defined in
Section  4975(e)(7)  of the  Code),  any  assets  of any such  plan that are not
allocated to participants'  individual accounts are pledged as security for, and
may be applied to satisfy, any securities acquisition indebtedness; and there is
not  currently  any  legally  binding  commitment  by the  Parent  or any  ERISA
Affiliate to create an additional  Plan or amend any Plan (except  amendments to
comply with law which do not materially  increase the cost of such Plan) and the
Parent and its subsidiaries do not have any obligations for  post-retirement  or
post-employment welfare benefits that



                                       36
<PAGE>


cannot be  amended  or  terminated  upon  sixty  days'  notice  or less  without
incurring any liability  thereunder,  except for coverage  required by Part 6 of
Title 1 of ERISA or  Section  4980B of the Code,  the  premium  cost of which is
borne (to the extent permitted by law) by the insured individuals.

     5.12 SEC Reports.  Parent has  previously  made  available to the Company a
true and  correct  copy of each (a) final  registration  statement,  prospectus,
report, schedule and definitive proxy statement filed since December 31, 1995 by
Parent with the SEC  pursuant to the  Securities  Act or the  Exchange  Act (the
"Parent  Reports") and (b)  communication  mailed by Parent to its  stockholders
since December 31, 1995, and no such registration statement, prospectus, report,
schedule,  proxy statement or communication  contained any untrue statement of a
material  fact or  omitted  to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the  statements  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  in which they were made, not misleading,  except that information
as of a later date shall be deemed to modify  information as of an earlier date.
Parent has timely filed all Parent  Reports and other  documents  required to be
filed by it under the  Securities  Act and the  Exchange  Act,  and, as of their
respective  dates,  all Parent  Reports  complied with the  published  rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto.

     5.13  Parent  Information.  The  information  relating  to  Parent  and its
Subsidiaries to be contained in the Proxy Statement and the S-4, or in any other
document filed with any other regulatory agency in connection herewith, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which
they are made, not  misleading.  The Proxy  Statement  (except for such portions
thereof that relate only to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries)  will comply
with  the  provisions  of  the  Exchange  Act  and  the  rules  and  regulations
thereunder.  The S-4 will comply with the  provisions of the  Securities Act and
the rules and regulations thereunder.

     5.14 Compliance  with  Applicable Law. Parent and each of its  Subsidiaries
holds,  and  has at all  times  held,  all  licenses,  franchises,  permits  and
authorizations  necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective  businesses
under and pursuant to all, and have  complied with and are not in default in any
respect under any,  applicable law, statute,  order,  rule,  regulation,  policy
and/or  guideline of any  Governmental  Entity  relating to Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries  and neither  Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  knows of, or has
received notice of violation of, any violations of any of the above.

     5.15 Ownership of Company  Common Stock;  Affiliates  and  Associates.  (a)
Neither  Parent  nor any of its  affiliates  or  associates  (as such  terms are
defined under the



                                       37
<PAGE>


Exchange Act) beneficially  owns,  directly or indirectly,  or is a party to any
agreement,  arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring,  holding,
voting or disposing of, any shares of capital  stock of the Company  (other than
Trust Account Shares and DPC Shares); and

     (b) Neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is an "affiliate" (as such
term is defined in DGCL ss.203(c)(1)) or an "associate" (as such term is defined
in DGCL  ss.203(c)(2))  of the Company or an "Interested  Stockholder"  (as such
term  is  defined   in  Article   Eighth  of  the   Company's   Certificate   of
Incorporation).

     5.16  Agreements with  Regulatory  Agencies.  Neither Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries is subject to any  cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is
a  party  to  any  written   agreement,   consent  agreement  or  memorandum  of
understanding  with,  or  is  a  party  to  any  commitment  letter  or  similar
undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of
any extraordinary  supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions
at the request of (each,  whether or not set forth in Section 5.16 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, a "Parent Regulatory  Agreement"),  any Governmental Entity
that  restricts the conduct of its business or that in any manner relates to its
capital adequacy,  its credit policies,  its management or its business, nor has
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries  been advised by any Governmental  Entity that
it is considering issuing or requesting any Parent Regulatory Agreement.

     5.17  Environmental  Matters.  Except as set forth in  Section  5.17 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule:

     (a)  Each  of  Parent  and  its  Subsidiaries,  each  of the  Participation
Facilities  and,  to the  knowledge  of  Parent,  the Loan  Properties  (each as
hereinafter defined), are in compliance with all Environmental Laws;

     (b) There is no suit,  claim,  action  or  proceeding,  pending  or, to the
knowledge of Parent,  threatened,  before any Governmental Entity or other forum
in which Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, any Participation Facility or any Loan
Property, has been or, with respect to threatened proceedings,  may be, named as
a defendant (x) for alleged  noncompliance  (including by any predecessor)  with
any Environmental  Laws, or (y) relating to the release,  threatened  release or
exposure to any  Hazardous  Material  whether or not  occurring  at or on a site
owned,   leased  or  operated  by  Parent  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries,   any
Participation Facility or any Loan Property;

     (c) To the  knowledge of Parent during the period of (x) Parent's or any of
its Subsidiaries' ownership or operation of any of their respective current or



                                       38
<PAGE>


former properties, (y) Parent's or any of its Subsidiaries' participation in the
management  of  any  Participation  Facility,  or  (z)  Parent's  or  any of its
Subsidiaries'  interest  in a Loan  Property,  there  has  been  no  release  of
Hazardous  Materials  in,  on,  under or  affecting  any such  property.  To the
knowledge  of  Parent,  prior  to  the  period  of  (x)  Parent's  or any of its
Subsidiaries'  ownership  or  operation  of any of their  respective  current or
former properties, (y) Parent's or any of its Subsidiaries' participation in the
management  of  any  Participation  Facility,  or  (z)  Parent's  or  any of its
Subsidiaries'  interest in a Loan  Property,  there was no release of  Hazardous
Materials in, on, under or affecting any such property,  Participation  Facility
or Loan Property; and

     (d) The following  definitions apply for purposes of this Section 5.17: (x)
"Loan  Property"  means any property in which Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries
holds a security interest,  and, where required by the context,  said term means
the owner or operator of such property;  and (y) "Participation  Facility" means
any  facility in which  Parent or any of its  Subsidiaries  participates  in the
management  and,  where  required by the  context,  said term means the owner or
operator of such property.

     5.18 Opinion. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, Parent has received
an opinion  from  Merrill  Lynch to the effect  that as of the date  thereof and
based  upon  and  subject  to  the  matters  set  forth   therein,   the  Merger
Consideration  pursuant to this Agreement is fair from a financial point of view
to Parent. Such opinion has not been amended or rescinded as of the date of this
Agreement.

     5.19 Approvals. As of the date of this Agreement, Parent knows of no reason
why all regulatory  approvals  required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (including,  without  limitation,  the Merger) should not be
obtained.

     5.20  Loan  Portfolio.  Except  as set  forth  in  Section  5.20 of  Parent
Disclosure  Schedule,  neither Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries is a party to
any written or oral (i) Loan, other than Loans the unpaid  principal  balance of
which does not exceed $250,000,  under the terms of which the obligor was, as of
June 30, 1998, over 90 days delinquent in payment of principal or interest or in
default  of any  other  provision,  or (ii) Loan  with any  director,  executive
officer  or  five  percent  or  greater  stockholder  of  Parent  or  any of its
Subsidiaries,  or to  the  knowledge  of  Parent,  any  person,  corporation  or
enterprise  controlling,  controlled by or under common  control with any of the
foregoing.  Section 5.20 of Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) all of the
Loans in original principal amount in excess of $250,000 of Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries  that as of June 30, 1998,  were  classified  by any bank  examiner
(whether regulatory or internal) as "Other Loans Specially Mentioned",  "Special
Mention", "Substandard", "Doubtful", "Loss", "Classified", "Criticized", "Credit
Risk Assets", "Concerned Loans", "Watch List" or



                                       39
<PAGE>


words of similar import,  together with the principal  amount of and accrued and
unpaid  interest on each such Loan and the identity of the borrower  thereunder,
(ii) by category of Loan (i.e.,  commercial,  consumer,  etc.), all of the other
Loans of Parent and its  Subsidiaries  that as of June 20, 1998, were classified
as such,  together with the aggregate principal amount of and accrued and unpaid
interest  on such Loans by  category  and (iii) each asset of Parent  that as of
June 30, 1998,  was  classified  as "Other Real Estate Owned" and the book value
thereof.

     5.21 Property.  Each of Parent and its Subsidiaries has good and marketable
title free and clear of all liens,  encumbrances,  mortgages,  pledges, charges,
defaults or equitable  interests to all of the properties  and assets,  real and
personal,  tangible or intangible,  and which are reflected on the  consolidated
statement  of  financial  condition  of Parent as of March 31,  1998 or acquired
after such date, except (i) liens for taxes not yet due and payable or contested
in good faith by appropriate  proceedings,  (ii) pledges to secure  deposits and
other  liens   incurred  in  the  ordinary   course  of  business,   (iii)  such
imperfections of title, easements and encumbrances,  if any, as do not interfere
with the use of the respective  property as such property is used on the date of
this  Agreement,  (iv)  for  dispositions  and  encumbrances  of,  or  on,  such
properties  or assets in the  ordinary  course of  business  or (v)  mechanics',
materialmen's,  workmen's,  repairmen's,  warehousemen's,  carrier's  and  other
similar liens and encumbrances  arising in the ordinary course of business.  All
leases pursuant to which Parent or any Subsidiary of Parent,  as lessee,  leases
real or personal  property are valid and  enforceable  in accordance  with their
respective  terms and  neither  Parent nor any of its  Subsidiaries  nor, to the
knowledge  of Parent,  any other  party  thereto is in default  thereunder.  All
material  tangible  properties of the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries are in
good state of maintenance  and repair,  conform with all applicable  ordinances,
regulations  and zoning laws and are considered by the Parent to be adequate for
the current business of the Parent and its Subsidiaries.

     5.22  Reorganization.  Parent has no reason to believe that the Merger will
fail to qualify as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                    COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

     6.1  Covenants  of the  Company.  Except  as  expressly  provided  in  this
Agreement or the Stock Option Agreement, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company shall use commercially reasonable



                                       40
<PAGE>


efforts  to, and shall cause its  Subsidiaries  to use  commercially  reasonable
efforts to, (i) conduct its business in the ordinary and usual course consistent
with past  practices and prudent  banking  practice;  (ii) maintain and preserve
intact its business organization, properties, leases, employees and advantageous
business  relationships  and  retain  the  services  of  its  officers  and  key
employees,  (iii)  take no  action  which  would  adversely  affect or delay the
ability of Company,  the Company Bank,  the Parent or the Parent Bank to perform
its covenants and  agreements on a timely basis under this  Agreement,  and (iv)
take no action which would adversely affect or delay the ability of the Company,
the  Company  Bank,  the  Parent  or the  Parent  Bank to obtain  any  necessary
approvals,  consents or waivers of any governmental  authority  required for the
transactions contemplated hereby or which would reasonably be expected to result
in any such approvals,  consents or waivers containing any material condition or
restriction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as set
forth  in  Section  6.1 of  the  Company  Disclosure  Schedule  or as  otherwise
specifically provided by this Agreement, the Stock Option Agreement or consented
to in writing by Parent,  the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to:

     (a) solely in the case of the Company,  declare or pay any dividends on, or
make other  distributions  in respect of, any of its capital  stock,  other than
normal  quarterly  dividends not in excess of $0.125 per share of Company Common
Stock; provided,  however, that if the joint venture known as AFT Associates, of
which the Company's indirect wholly owned subsidiary,  FinFed Development Corp.,
is a joint venture partner, sells 100% of its interest in the property described
in Section  6.1(a) of the  Company  Disclosure  Letter or if FinFed  Development
Corp.  sells 100% of its  interest in AFT  Associates  (in either  case  without
recourse  to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  and without the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries  providing any financing therefor) prior to the Closing,
then the Company may pay a special  one-time  dividend (the "Special  Dividend")
prior to the Closing in the following amount: (i) if the cash proceeds (received
in the form of a certified  check or immediately  available  funds) of such sale
(net of  transaction  expenses and transfer  taxes,  if any) are greater than or
equal to the book value of such assets on the Company's  books and records,  net
of any specific reserves  established by either FinFed  Development Corp. or the
Company Bank as of March 31, 1998, as set forth in Section 6.1(a) of the Company
Disclosure  Letter  ("Book  Value"),  the  Special  Dividend  may be paid in the
aggregate  amount of the product of the Outstanding  Shares Number and $1.00, or
(ii) if the  cash  proceeds  (received  in the  form  of a  certified  check  or
immediately available funds) of such sale are less than the Book Value, then the
Special Dividend may be paid in an aggregate amount equal to the amount by which
(A) the  product of the  Outstanding  Shares  Number and $1.00  exceeds  (B) the
difference between the Book Value and the cash proceeds of such sale;  provided,
further that such sale may not occur without the prior written consent of the



                                       41
<PAGE>


Parent if such sale would  result in the amount set forth in (B)  exceeding  the
amount set forth in (A).

     (b) (i) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire (except for the acquisition
of Trust  Account  Shares and DPC  Shares,  as such terms are defined in Section
1.4(b)  hereof) any shares of the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares
of the  capital  stock of the Company or any  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  (ii)
split,  combine  or  reclassify  any  shares  of its  capital  stock or issue or
authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu
of or in substitution  for shares of its capital stock, or (iii) issue,  deliver
or sell, or authorize or propose the  issuance,  delivery or sale of, any shares
of its capital stock or any securities  convertible  into or exercisable for, or
any rights,  warrants or options to acquire,  any such shares, or enter into any
agreement with respect to any of the foregoing,  except,  in the case of clauses
(ii) and (iii),  for the  issuance of Company  Common Stock upon the exercise or
fulfillment  of rights or  options  issued or  existing  pursuant  to the Option
Agreement,  the Company Option Plans or any employee benefit plans,  programs or
arrangements, all to the extent outstanding and in existence on the date of this
Agreement and in accordance with their present terms;

     (c)  amend its  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  By-laws  or other  similar
governing documents;

     (d) (i)  initiate,  solicit  or  encourage,  directly  or  indirectly,  any
inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer (including, without limitation,
any proposal or offer to  stockholders of the Company) with respect to a merger,
consolidation or similar transaction involving,  or any purchase of, all or more
than 10% of the assets or any  equity  securities  of the  Company of any of its
material  Subsidiaries (any such proposal or offer being hereinafter referred to
as an "Acquisition Proposal") or, (ii) engage in any negotiations concerning, or
provide any confidential  information or data to, or have any discussions  with,
any person relating to an Acquisition Proposal;  provided, however, that nothing
contained in this Agreement  shall prevent the Company or its Board of Directors
from (i)  complying  with Rule 14e-2  promulgated  under the  Exchange  Act with
regard to an Acquisition  Proposal or (ii)(A) providing  information in response
to a request  therefor by a person who has made an unsolicited bona fide written
Acquisition  Proposal  if the Board of  Directors  receives  from the  person so
requesting  such  information  an executed  confidentiality  agreement  on terms
substantially  equivalent to those  contained in the  confidentiality  agreement
between  Parent and the Company,  dated as of June 17, 1998;  or (B) engaging in
any negotiations or discussions with any person who has made an unsolicited bona
fide written Acquisition Proposal, if and only



                                       42
<PAGE>


to the extent  that,  in each such case  referred to in clause (A) or (B) above,
(i) the Board of Directors of the Company, after consultation with outside legal
counsel,  in good faith deems such action to be legally necessary for the proper
discharge of its  fiduciary  duties under  applicable  law and (ii) the Board of
Directors of the Company  determines in good faith (after  consultation with its
financial advisor) that such Acquisition  Proposal,  if accepted,  is reasonably
likely  to  be  consummated,  taking  into  account  all  legal,  financial  and
regulatory aspects of the proposal and the person making the proposal and would,
if  consummated,  result in a more favorable  transaction  than the  transaction
contem plated by this Agreement; provided further, however, that the Company may
communi cate information about any such Acquisition Proposal to its stockholders
if, in the judgment of the Company's  Board of Directors,  based upon the advice
of outside  counsel,  such  communication  is required under applicable law. The
Company will notify Parent  immediately  orally  (within one day) and in writing
(within 3 days) if any such inquiries,  proposals or offers are received by, any
such information is requested from, or any such  negotiations or discussions are
sought to be initiated or continued with the Company after the date hereof,  and
the  identity  of the person  making  such  inquiry,  proposal  or offer and the
substance thereof and will keep Parent informed of any developments with respect
thereto  immediately  upon  occurrence  thereof.  Subject to the foregoing,  the
Company  will  immediately  cease  and  cause  to  be  terminated  any  existing
activities,  discussions or negotiations with any parties  conducted  heretofore
with respect to any of the foregoing. The Company and its Subsidiaries will take
the necessary steps to inform their respective officers,  directors, agents, and
representatives (including,  without limitation, any investment banker, attorney
or  accountant  retained by it) of the  obligations  undertaken  in this Section
6.1(d).  The Company will promptly  request each person (other than Parent) that
has executed a confidentiality  agreement prior to the date hereof in connection
with its consideration of a business  combination with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries  to return  or  destroy  all  confidential  information  previously
furnished  to  such  person  by or on  behalf  of  the  Company  or  any  of its
Subsidiaries.  The Company  shall take all steps  necessary  to enforce all such
confidentiality agreements.

     (e) make any  capital  expenditures  other than those which (i) are made in
the ordinary course of business or are necessary to maintain  existing assets in
good  repair  and (ii) in any event are in an amount of no more than  $50,000 in
the aggregate;

     (f) enter into any new line of business;

     (g) acquire or agree to acquire,  by merging or  consolidating  with, or by
purchasing a  substantial  equity  interest in or a  substantial  portion of the
assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership,
association or other



                                       43
<PAGE>


business organization or division thereof or otherwise acquire any assets, which
would be material,  individually or in the aggregate, to the Company, other than
in connection with foreclosures,  settlements in lieu of foreclosure or troubled
loan or debt re structurings in the ordinary course of business  consistent with
past practices;

     (h) take any action  that is  intended  or may  reasonably  be  expected to
result in any of the  conditions  to the Merger  set forth in  Article  VIII not
being satisfied;

     (i) change its methods of accounting in effect at March 31, 1998, except as
required by changes in GAAP or regulatory  accounting principles as concurred in
writing by the Company's independent auditors;

     (j) (i)  except  as set  forth in  Section  7.12  hereof,  as  required  by
applicable  law or as required to maintain  qualification  pursuant to the Code,
adopt,  amend,  or terminate  any  employee  benefit  plan  (including,  without
limitation, any Plan) or any agreement,  arrangement, plan, trust, other funding
arrangement  or policy  between the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company and
one or  more  of  its  current  or  former  directors,  officers,  employees  or
independent  contractors except as required pursuant to irrevocable  commitments
existing on the date of this  Agreement,  change any trustee or custodian of the
assets of any plan or transfer plan assets among  trustees or custodians  except
that the Company may adopt the severance  policy and pay retention  bonuses,  in
each case as described  in Section  6.1(j) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,
(ii)  except for normal  salary  increases  in the  ordinary  course of business
consistent  with past practice,  which increases do not exceed 5% of annual rate
of base salary in effect on the date of this Agreement in any individual case or
except as required by applicable law,  increase or accelerate  payment of in any
manner the compensation or fringe benefits of any director,  officer or employee
or pay any benefit not  required by any Plan or agreement as in effect as of the
date hereof; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the
Company from (x)  committing  to pay  retention  bonuses as described in Section
6.1(j) of the Company  Disclosure  Schedule,  or (y) paying,  on or  immediately
prior to the Closing Date,  discretionary bonuses in respect of fiscal 1998 such
that the aggregate amount of all such bonuses in respect of fiscal 1998 does not
exceed  $291,000 and in individual  amounts to be mutually agreed upon by Parent
and the Board of Directors  of the Company,  provided,  however,  that  Parent's
agreement  shall not be  unreasonably  withheld or (ii) grant or award any stock
options, stock appreciation rights,  restricted stock, restricted stock units or
performance units or shares;

     (k) other than  activities  in the ordinary  course of business  consistent
with past practice,  sell, lease,  encumber,  assign or otherwise dispose of, or
agree to sell,



                                       44
<PAGE>


lease,  encumber,  assign or otherwise  dispose of, any of its material  assets,
properties  or other  rights  or  agreements  except as  otherwise  specifically
contemplated by this Agreement;

     (l) other than in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past
practice,  incur any  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money or  assume,  guarantee,
endorse or otherwise as an accommodation  become responsible for the obligations
of any other individual, corporation or other entity;

     (m) file any  application  to relocate or terminate  the  operations of any
banking office of it or any of its Subsidiaries;

     (n) create, renew, amend or terminate or give notice of a proposed renewal,
amendment  or  termination  of, any  material  contract,  agreement or lease for
goods,  services or office space to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
is a  party  or by  which  the  Company  or  any of its  Subsidiaries  or  their
respective properties is bound, other than the renewal in the ordinary course of
business of any lease the term of which expires prior to the Closing Date;

     (o) other than in the  ordinary  course of  business  consistent  with past
practice,   in  individual  amounts  not  to  exceed  $25,000,  and  other  than
investments for the Company's  portfolio made in accordance with Section 6.1(p),
make any investment either by purchase of stock or securities,  contributions to
capital,  property  transfers or purchase of any property or assets of any other
individual, corporation or other entity;

     (p) make any investment in any debt security, including mortgage-backed and
mortgage related  securities,  other than US government and US government agency
securities with final maturities not greater than five years or  mortgage-backed
or  mortgage  related  securities  which  would not be  considered  "high  risk"
securities  pursuant to Thrift  Bulletin  Number 52 issued by the OTS,  that are
purchased in the ordinary course of business with past practice;

     (q) other than as set forth on Schedule 6.1(j), enter into or terminate any
contract  or  agreement,  or make any change in any of its leases or  contracts,
other than with respect to those involving  aggregate  payments of less than, or
the provision of goods or services with a market value of less than, $50,000 per
annum and other than contracts or agreements covered by Section 6.1(t);

     (r) settle any claim,  action or proceeding  involving any liability of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries for money damages in excess of $50,000 or



                                       45
<PAGE>


involving any material restrictions upon the operations of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries;

     (s) except in the  ordinary  course of  business  and in amounts  less than
$100,000,  waive or  release  any  material  right or  collateral  or  cancel or
compromise any extension of credit or other debt or claim;

     (t) make, renegotiate,  renew, increase, extend, modify or purchase any (i)
loan, lease (credit equivalent),  advance, credit enhancement or other extension
of credit, or make any commitment in respect of any of the foregoing, except (A)
with respect to one- to four-family  owner-occupied  residential mortgage loans,
originations  or  refinancings  of adjustable  rate loans with maturities not to
exceed 30 years and fixed-rate  loans with maturities not to exceed 15 years, in
each case made in strict compliance with underwriting  guidelines established by
either the  Federal  National  Mortgage  Association  or the  Federal  Home Loan
Mortgage  Corporation;  (B) with respect to multi-family loans,  originations or
refinancing in amounts up to $400,000 in accordance  with the following  lending
policies:  (I) collateral consisting of multi-family buildings only within the 5
boroughs of New York City and Nassau  County,  (II) debt service ratios not less
than 1.2 based upon  actual cash flows at the time of  underwriting  (accounting
for normal vacancy and attributing no increase for potential future  increases),
(III) loan-to-value  ratios not greater than 75% based upon appraisals performed
by licensed real estate  appraisers  carrying the "MAI"  designation,  and based
upon cash flows as described above regarding computation of debt service ratios,
(IV) personal  guarantees of the borrower and (V) verification of rents with the
NYC  Department  of Housing and  Community  Renewal  where  apartment  rents are
subject to statutory control;  (C) with respect to construction  loans, only the
continuation of  disbursements  of proceeds in connection with existing loans in
process,  but only  subsequent to adequate due diligence  regarding the stage of
project completion; (D) with respect to loans secured by mixed-use properties or
by commercial  income-producing  properties,  originations  or  refinancings  in
amounts up to $250,000 with valuations and debt service coverage ratios that are
based upon actual rent rolls made in strict  compliance  with the  loan-to-value
ratios and debt service ratios set forth in the Company's current Board-approved
loan  policy  manual;  (E) with  respect  to  consumer  loans,  originations  or
refinancings  in the  ordinary  course of business  upon terms and in  aggregate
monthly volumes that do not differ  materially from past practice;  or (F) loans
or advances as to which the Company has a legally binding  obligation to make as
of the date hereof and a  description  of which has been provided by the Company
in writing to Parent prior to the execution of this  Agreement;  provided,  that
all new loan  commitments  made by the  Company  between the date hereof and the
Closing, as permitted by clauses (A) through (D) above, shall not aggregate more
than $8 million in any single month, and no more than $25 million in



                                       46
<PAGE>


the aggregate;  and provided  further,  however,  that the Company may not make,
renegotiate,  renew,  increase,  extend,  modify  or  purchase  any loan that is
underwritten  based on either no or limited  verification of income or otherwise
without full documentation  customary for such a loan; (ii) unsecured commercial
loans; or (iii) loans, advances or commitments to employees,  directors, officer
or other affiliated parties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

     (u) incur any additional  borrowings  beyond those set forth in the Company
Disclosure  Letter other than short-term  (with a final maturity of two years or
less)  Federal  Home Loan Bank  borrowings  and  reverse  repurchase  agreements
consistent  with past  practice,  or  pledge  any of its  assets  to secure  any
borrowings  other than as required  pursuant to the terms of  borrowings  of the
Company or any  Subsidiary  in effect at the date hereof or in  connection  with
borrowings or reverse repurchase agreements permitted hereunder.  Deposits shall
not be deemed to be borrowings within the meaning of this paragraph;

     (v) except for advances in the ordinary  course to fund the carrying  costs
of the properties  held in AFT  Associates up to $50,000 in the aggregate,  make
any  investment  or  commitment  to invest in real  estate or in any real estate
development  project,  other  than  real  estate  acquired  in  satisfaction  of
defaulted mortgage loans and investments or commitments approved by the Board of
Directors of the Company  prior to the date of this  Agreement  and disclosed in
writing to Parent;

     (w) except  pursuant to commitments  existing at the date hereof which have
previously  been disclosed in writing to the Parent,  make any real estate loans
secured by undeveloped land or real estate located outside the State of New York
or make any construction loan;

     (x) establish or make any commitment  relating to the  establishment of any
new branch or other office  facilities other than those for which all regulatory
approvals  have been  obtained;  with  respect  to any such new  branch or other
office  facility  for which  regulatory  approval  has been  received,  make any
capital expenditures that in the aggregate would exceed $50,000;

     (y) except for advances in the ordinary  course to fund the carrying  costs
of the  properties  held  in AFT  Associates  up to  $50,000  in the  aggregate,
organize,  capitalize,  lend to or otherwise invest in any Subsidiary, or invest
in or  acquire  a 10%  or  greater  equity  or  voting  interest  in  any  firm,
corporation or business enterprise;

     (z) elect to the Board of Directors of the Company any person who



                                       47
<PAGE>


is not a member of the Board of  Directors  of the  Company as the last  Company
Report; or

          (aa) agree to do any of the foregoing.

     6.2 Covenants of Parent.  Except as expressly  provided in this  Agreement,
during the period from the date of this  Agreement to the  Effective  Time,  the
Parent  shall use  commercially  reasonably  efforts  to,  and  shall  cause its
Subsidiaries to use commercially reasonable efforts to, (i) conduct its business
in the ordinary  and usual course  consistent  with past  practices  and prudent
banking practice,  (ii) maintain and preserve intact its business  organization,
properties, leases, employees and advantageous business relationships and retain
the services of its officers and key employees, (iii) take no action which would
adversely affect or delay the ability of the Company or the Parent to perform it
covenants and agreements on a timely basis under this  Agreement,  and (iv) take
no action which would adversely affect or delay the ability of the Company,  the
Parent,  the Company Bank or the Parent Bank to obtain any necessary  approvals,
consents or waivers of any governmental  authority required for the transactions
contemplated  hereby or which would reasonably be expected to result in any such
approvals, consents or waivers containing any material condition or restriction.
Without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  and except as set forth in
Section  6.2 of the Parent  Disclosure  Schedule  or as  otherwise  specifically
provided by the  Agreement or  consented  to in writing by the  Company,  Parent
shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

          (a) solely in the case of Parent,  declare or pay any  dividends on or
     make any other  distributions  in respect of any of its capital stock other
     than its current  quarterly  dividends;  provided,  however,  that  nothing
     contained  herein shall prohibit  Parent from increasing the quarterly cash
     dividend on the Parent Common Stock up to $0.15 per share;

          (b) take any action that is intended or may  reasonably be expected to
     result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VIII not
     being satisfied;

          (c) change  its  methods of  accounting  in effect at March 31,  1998,
     except  in  accordance  with  changes  in  GAAP  or  regulatory  accounting
     principles as concurred to by Parent's independent auditors; or

          (d) agree to do any of the foregoing.



                                       48
<PAGE>



                                   ARTICLE VII

                              ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS


     7.1 Regulatory  Matters.  (a) Parent and the Company shall promptly prepare
and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement and Parent shall promptly  prepare and
file with the SEC the S-4,  in which the Proxy  Statement  will be included as a
prospectus. Each of the Company and Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts
to have the S-4  declared  effective  under the  Securities  Act as  promptly as
practicable  after such filing,  and the Company shall thereafter mail the Proxy
Statement to its stockholders. Parent shall also use its reasonable best efforts
to obtain all necessary state securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and approvals
required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (b) The  parties  hereto  shall  cooperate  with  each  other and use their
reasonable   best   efforts  to  promptly   prepare   and  file  all   necessary
documentation,  to effect all applications,  notices, petitions and filings, and
to obtain as  promptly as  practicable  all  permits,  consents,  approvals  and
authorizations  of  all  third  parties  and  Governmental  Entities  which  are
necessary or advisable  to  consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  (including  without  limitation  the Merger).  The Company and Parent
shall have the right to review in advance,  and to the extent  practicable  each
will consult the other on, in each case subject to  applicable  laws relating to
the  exchange of  information,  all the  information  relating to the Company or
Parent,  as the case may be,  and any of their  respective  Subsidiaries,  which
appears in any filing made with,  or written  materials  submitted to, any third
party  or  any   Governmental   Entity  in  connection  with  the   transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  In exercising the foregoing right,  each of the
parties hereto shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable.  The parties
hereto  agree  that they  will  consult  with each  other  with  respect  to the
obtaining of all permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations of all third
parties and  Governmental  Entities  necessary or advisable  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and each party will keep the other
apprised of the status of matters  relating to  completion  of the  transactions
contemplated herein.

     (c) Parent and the Company shall, upon request, furnish each other with all
information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries,  directors,  officers and
stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably  necessary or advisable
in connection with the Proxy Statement, the S-4 or any other statement,  filing,
notice or



                                       49
<PAGE>


application  made  by or on  behalf  of  Parent,  the  Company  or any of  their
respective Subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     (d) Parent and the Company shall promptly furnish each other with copies of
written communications received by Parent or the Company, as the case may be, or
any of their  respective  Subsidiaries,  Affiliates or Associates (as such terms
are  defined in Rule 12b-2  under the  Exchange  Act as in effect on the date of
this Agreement)  from, or delivered by any of the foregoing to, any Governmental
Entity in respect of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     7.2  Access to  Information.  (a) Upon  reasonable  notice  and  subject to
applicable laws relating to the exchange of information,  each party shall,  and
shall cause each of its  Subsidiaries  to,  afford to the  officers,  employees,
accountants,  counsel  and other  representatives  of the other  party,  access,
during normal  business hours during the period prior to the Effective  Time, to
all its properties, books, contracts, commitments, records, officers, employees,
accountants,  counsel and other  representatives  and,  during such  period,  it
shall,  and shall cause its  Subsidiaries  to, make available to the other party
all information  concerning its business,  properties and personnel as the other
party may reasonably request.

     Neither  party nor any of its  Subsidiaries  shall be  required  to provide
access to or to  disclose  information  where such  access or  disclosure  would
violate or prejudice the rights of its customers, jeopardize any attorney-client
privilege or contravene  any law, rule,  regulation,  order,  judgment,  decree,
fiduciary  duty or  binding  agreement  entered  into  prior to the date of this
Agreement.  The  parties  hereto  will make  appropriate  substitute  disclosure
arrangements  under  circumstances  in which the  restrictions  of the preceding
sentence apply.

     (b) All information  furnished  pursuant to Section 7.2(a) shall be subject
to, and each of the  Company  and  Parent  shall  hold all such  information  in
confidence in accordance with, the provisions of the confidentiality  agreement,
dated June 17, 1998 (the  "Confidentiality  Agreement"),  between Parent and the
Company.

     (c)  No  investigation  by  either  of  the  parties  or  their  respective
representatives  shall  affect the  representations,  warranties,  covenants  or
agreements of the other set forth herein.

     7.3 Stockholder Meeting. The Company shall take all steps necessary to duly
call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its  stockholders to be held
as



                                       50
<PAGE>


soon as is  reasonably  practicable  after  the  date on which  the S-4  becomes
effective  for the  purpose of voting  upon the  approval  and  adoption of this
Agreement and the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby.  The
Company  will,  through  its Board of  Directors,  except to the extent  legally
required for the discharge by the Board of Directors of its fiduciary  duties as
advised by such Board's  legal counsel  subject to the fiduciary  duties of such
board,  recommend  to its  stockholders  approval  of  this  Agreement  and  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby and such other matters as may be submitted to
its stockholders in connection with this Agreement.

     7.4 Legal  Conditions to Merger.  Each of Parent and the Company shall, and
shall cause its  Subsidiaries to, use their reasonable best efforts (a) to take,
or cause to be taken,  all  actions  necessary,  proper or  advisable  to comply
promptly with all legal  requirements  which may be imposed on such party or its
Subsidiaries with respect to the Merger and, subject to the conditions set forth
in Article VIII hereof,  to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  and (b) to obtain (and to  cooperate  with the other party to obtain)
any  consent,  authorization,  order or approval  of, or any  exemption  by, any
Governmental  Entity and any other  third party which is required to be obtained
by the Company or Parent or any of their  respective  Subsidiaries in connection
with the Merger and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement,  and
to comply with the terms and conditions of such consent, authorization, order or
approval.

     7.5  Affiliates.  Promptly,  but in any event  within  two weeks  after the
execution  and  delivery of this  Agreement,  the Company  shall  deliver to the
Parent a letter  identifying  all persons who, to the  knowledge of the Company,
may be deemed to be "affiliates" of the Company under Rule 145 of the Securities
Act, including, without limitation , all directors and executive officers of the
Company,  together with executed letter  agreements,  each  substantially in the
form of  Exhibit B hereto,  executed  by each such  person so  identified  as an
affiliate  of the  Company  agreeing  (i) to comply with Rule 145 and (ii) to be
present in person or by proxy and vote in favor of the  Merger at the  Company's
stockholders meeting.

     7.6 Stock Exchange Listing. Parent shall use its reasonable best efforts to
cause  the  shares  of Parent  Common  Stock to be  issued  in the  Merger to be
approved for listing for quotation on the NASDAQ/NMS, subject to official notice
of issuance, as of the Effective Time.

     7.7 Employee Benefit Plans;  Existing  Agreements.  (a) As of or as soon as
practicable  following the Effective  Time, the employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries  (the "Company  Employees") shall be eligible to participate in the
employee



                                       51
<PAGE>


benefit  plans  of  Parent  and its  Subsidiaries  in which  similarly  situated
employees of Parent or Parent Bank participate,  to the same extent as similarly
situated  employees of Parent or Parent Bank (it being understood that inclusion
of Company Employees in such employee benefit plans may occur at different times
with respect to different plans and that  participation of Company  employees in
an  analogous  Company  Plan shall be  continued  until such time).  The Company
agrees to take any necessary  actions to cease benefit  accruals  under any Plan
that is a tax-qualified defined benefit plan as of the Effective Date.

     (b)  With  respect  to  each  Parent  Plan,  for  purposes  of  determining
eligibility to participate,  vesting, and entitlement to benefits, including for
severance  benefits  and  vacation  entitlement  (but not for accrual of pension
benefits),  service with the Company (or predecessor employers to the extent the
Company  provides past service  credit) shall be treated as service with Parent;
provided,  however, that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that
such  recognition  would result in a duplication of benefits.  Such service also
shall  apply for  purposes  of  satisfying  any  waiting  periods,  evidence  of
insurability  requirements,  or the  application  of any  preexisting  condition
limitations.  Each Parent Plan shall waive pre-existing condition limitations to
the same extent waived under the applicable  Plan.  Company  Employees  shall be
given credit for amounts paid under a corresponding benefit plan during the same
period for  purposes  of  applying  deductibles,  copayments  and  out-of-pocket
maximums as though such amounts had been paid in  accordance  with the terms and
conditions of the Parent Plan.

     (c) As of the Effective Time, Parent shall assume and honor and shall cause
the appropriate Subsidiaries of Parent to assume and to honor in accordance with
their terms all employment,  severance and other compensation agreements,  plans
and  arrangements  existing prior to the execution of this  Agreement  which are
between  the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  and any  director,  officer or
employee  thereof  and  which  have been  disclosed  in the  Company  Disclosure
Schedule.  Parent  acknowledges  and agrees  that (i) the Merger  constitutes  a
"Change  of  Control"  for  all  purposes   pursuant  to  such   agreements  and
arrangements  and  (ii) in  light  of  Parent's  plans  relating  to  management
assignments and responsibilities with respect to the business of Parent from and
after the Effective Time, each director,  officer or employee who is a party to,
or is  otherwise  subject  to, any such  agreement  or  arrangement  will,  upon
consummation of the Merger, be entitled to terminate  employment  thereunder and
receive the severance or other similar benefits that are provided  thereunder in
the  event of a  termination  of  employment  for  "Good  Reason",  constructive
discharge,   (including,   but  not  limited  to,   demotion  or   reduction  in
compensation) or other similar events. Any director,  officer or employee of the
Company who is a party to an agreement set forth in Section 7.7(c)



                                       52
<PAGE>


of the Company Disclosure Schedule who intends to terminate employment as of the
Effective Time, or who otherwise becomes entitled to benefits thereunder,  shall
be entitled to receive the cash  benefits  payable  under such  agreement on the
Closing  Date by wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds to an account
designated  by such  employee in writing and  delivered  to Parent not less than
five (5) business days prior to the Closing Date;  provided,  however,  that (i)
the amounts  payable by such wire transfer shall not exceed,  individually or in
the aggregate, the amounts reflected in Section 7.7(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule  and  (ii)  the  employee  executes  and  delivers  to the  Company  an
instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Parent releasing the Parent
and its affiliates from any further  liability for monetary  payments under such
agreement.  The  provisions  of this  Section  7.7(c) are intended to be for the
benefit  of,  and shall be  enforceable  by,  each  such  director,  officer  or
employee.

     (d) Prior to the Effective  Time, the Parent shall cause the Parent Bank to
amend its  Severance  Pay Plan in the form  included  in Section  5.11(a) of the
Parent  Disclosure  Schedule to  designate  the Company and the Company  Bank as
"Acquired Companies."

     (e) With  respect to the  Financial  Federal  Savings and Loan  Association
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP"), the Company shall:

          (i) take any actions  necessary to cause the ESOP to be terminated and
     for the  balances in all Accounts (as defined in the ESOP) to be come fully
     vested and nonforfeitable as of the Closing Date;

          (ii) use its best  efforts  to cause the  Trustee  of the ESOP to make
     such elections under Sections 1.4 and 1.5 of this Agreement with respect to
     unallocated  Company  Common Stock as are necessary to obtain cash at least
     equal to the remaining ESOP indebtedness;

          (iii)  cause  the  Trustee  to use such cash to repay in full all such
     outstanding ESOP indebtedness;

          (iv)  cause  the  shares  of  Company  Common  Stock  and/or  any cash
     remaining in the suspense  account  maintained under the ESOP, after giving
     effect to the repayment of ESOP  indebtedness  referred to in  subparagraph
     (iii) above,  to be allocated  (as of the Closing  Date) to the accounts of
     all ESOP  participants who have account balances as of the Closing Date, as
     investment experience in accordance with Section 8.3 of the ESOP;



                                       53
<PAGE>


          (v)  cause  the  account  balances  of  all  ESOP  participants  to be
     distributed  in a lump  sum (or  transferred  in  accordance  with  Section
     401(a)(31) of the Code) as soon as  practicable  following the later of (A)
     the Closing  Date or (B) the date of receipt of a  favorable  determination
     letter from the Internal  Revenue  Service (the  "Service")  regarding  the
     qualified status of the ESOP upon its termination; and

          (vi) adopt an amendment to the ESOP, in form and substance  reasonably
     satisfactory  to  Parent,  which  includes  and  provides  for the  actions
     described in subparagraphs (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above.

     (f) As soon as practicable after the date hereof,  the Company shall file a
request for a  determination  letter from the Service  regarding  the  continued
qualified status of the ESOP upon its termination.  Prior to the Effective Time,
the Company and, following the Effective Time, Parent shall use their respective
best efforts to obtain such favorable  determination letter (including,  but not
limited  to,  making  such  changes  to the  ESOP and the  proposed  allocations
described  herein as may be  requested  by the  Service  as a  condition  to its
issuance of a favorable  determination  letter).  Neither the Company nor Parent
shall  implement  any of the actions  described  in Section  7.7(e) (iv) and (v)
above until receipt of such favorable determination letter.

     7.8  Indemnification.  (a) It is  understood  and  agreed  that  after  the
Effective Time, Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless,  to the fullest extent
that the Company is permitted to indemnify  (including  advancement of expenses)
its directors and officers under Delaware law or OTS regulations,  as applicable
and the  Certificate of Incorpora tion and Bylaws of the Company as in effect at
the Effective  Time, any person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the
date of this Agreement,  or who becomes prior to the Effective Time, a director,
officer or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  (the "Indemnified
Parties") against any losses,  claims,  damages,  liabilities,  costs,  expenses
(including  reasonable  attorney's  fees and  expenses  in  advance of the final
disposition of any claim, suit,  proceeding or investigation to each Indemnified
Party)  judgments,  fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection  with any
such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation,  and
in the event of any such threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation  (whether asserted or arising before or after the Effective Time),
the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to them after
consultation  with  Parent;  provided,  however,  that (1) Parent shall have the
right to assume the defense thereof and upon such assumption Parent shall not be
liable to any  Indemnified  Party for any legal expenses of other counsel or any
other expenses subsequently incurred by any Indemnified Party in connection with
the defense thereof, except that if Parent elects not



                                       54
<PAGE>


to assume such defense or counsel for the Indemnified Parties reasonably advises
that there are issues which raise  conflicts of interest  between Parent and the
Indemnified  Parties,  the  Indemnified  Parties may retain  counsel  reasonably
satisfactory to them after  consultation  with Parent,  and Parent shall pay the
reasonable  fees and expenses of such counsel for the Indemnified  Parties,  (2)
Parent  shall in all cases be  obligated  pursuant to this  paragraph to pay for
only one firm of counsel for all  Indemnified  Parties,  (3) Parent shall not be
liable for any  settlement  effected  without its prior written  consent  (which
consent  shall  not be  unreasonably  withheld)  and (4)  Parent  shall  have no
obligation  hereunder to any Indemnified  Party when and if a court of competent
jurisdiction  shall  ultimately  determine,  and such  determination  shall have
become final and nonappealable,  that  indemnification of such Indemnified Party
in  the  manner  contemplated  hereby  is  prohibited  by  applicable  law.  Any
Indemnified Party wishing to claim  Indemnification under this Section 7.8, upon
learning of any such claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding or investigation,  shall
promptly notify Parent thereof, provided that the failure to so notify shall not
affect the  obligations  of Parent  under this  Section 7.8 except to the extent
such failure to notify materially prejudices Parent.  Parent's obligations under
this  Section  7.8 shall  continue  in full force and effect for a period of six
years from and after the Effective Time; provided,  however,  that all rights to
indemnification  in respect of any claim  asserted  or made  within  such period
shall continue until the final disposition of such claim.

     (b) Parent shall cause the persons serving as officers and directors of the
Company  immediately  prior to the Effective  Time to be covered for a period of
three years from the Effective Time by the  directors'  and officers'  liability
insurance policy  maintained by the Company (provided that Parent may substitute
therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and
conditions  which are not less  advantageous  than such policy or single premium
tail coverage with policy limits equal to the Company's existing annual coverage
limits) with respect to acts or omissions  occurring prior to the Effective Time
which were  committed by such officers and directors in their  capacity as such;
provided,  however,  that in no event  shall  Parent  be  required  to expend an
aggregate  premium in excess of 200% of the current annual premiums  expended by
the Company (the "Insurance  Amount") to maintain or procure insurance coverage,
and  further  provided  that if  Parent  is unable  to  maintain  or obtain  the
insurance  called for by this Section  7.8(b),  Parent shall use all  reasonable
efforts to obtain as much comparable insurance as is available for the Insurance
Amount.

     (c)  In  the  event  Parent  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 or conveys all or  substantially  all of its  properties  and
assets to any person, then, and in



                                       55
<PAGE>


each such case, to the extent necessary,  proper provision shall be made so that
the  successors and assigns of Parent assume the  obligations  set forth in this
section.

     (d) The  provisions  of this Section 7.8 are intended to be for the benefit
of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and
representatives.

     7.9 Additional Agreements. In case at any time after the Effective Time any
further  action is  necessary  or  desirable  to carry out the  purposes of this
Agreement  or  to  vest  the  Surviving  Corporation  with  full  title  to  all
properties,  assets, rights, approvals,  immunities and franchises of any of the
parties to the Merger,  the proper  officers and directors of each party to this
Agreement and their respective Subsidiaries shall take all such necessary action
as may be reasonably requested by Parent.

     7.10  Coordination of Dividends.  Subject to the proviso of Section 6.1(a),
after the date of this Agreement the Company shall coordinate the declaration of
any  dividends  in respect of the Company  Common Stock and the record dates and
payments dates relating  thereto with that of the Parent Common Stock,  it being
the  intention of the parties that the holders of Parent Common Stock or Company
Common  Stock shall not receive more than one  dividend,  or fail to receive one
dividend, for any single calendar quarter with respect to their shares of Parent
Common Stock and/or  Company  Common Stock and any shares of Parent Common Stock
any holder of Company Common Stock receives in exchange therefor in the Merger.

     7.11 Parent  Rights  Agreement.  Parent  agrees that Parent Rights shall be
issued with respect to each share of Parent Common Stock issued  pursuant to the
terms hereof  regardless  of whether  there has occurred a  "Distribution  Date"
under the terms of the Parent Rights  Agreement prior to the Effective Time, and
Parent shall take all action necessary or advisable to enable the holder of each
share of Parent  Common  Stock issued  pursuant to this  Agreement to obtain the
benefit  of  such  Parent  Rights   notwithstanding  their  prior  distribution,
including, without limitation, amendment of the Parent Rights Agreement.

     7.12  Notification of Certain Matters.  Each party shall give prompt notice
to the others of (a) any event or notice of, or other communication relating to,
a default or event that,  with notice or lapse of time or both,  would  become a
default,  received by it or any of its  Subsidiaries  subsequent  to the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time,  under any contract  material to
the financial condition, properties,  businesses or results or operations of the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  taken  as a whole to which  the  Company  or any
Subsidiary is a party or is subject ; and (b) any event,



                                       56
<PAGE>


condition,  change or occurrence which  individually or in the aggregate has, or
which,  so far as reasonably can be foreseen at the time of its  occurrence,  is
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Event. Each of the Company and
the Parent  shall give  prompt  notice to the other party of any notice or other
communication from any third party alleging that the consent of such third party
is or may be required in connection with the  transactions  contemplated by this
Agreement.

     7.13 Certain Matters, Certain Revaluations,  Changes and Adjustments. At or
before the  Effective  Time,  upon the  request of Parent,  the  Company  shall,
consistent  with GAAP,  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 consistently on a mutually satisfactory basis with
those of Parent and  establish  such accruals and reserves as shall be necessary
to reflect Merger-related expenses and costs incurred by the Company,  provided,
however,  that the  Company  shall not be  required to take such action (A) more
than five days prior to the  Effective  Time;  and (B) unless  Parent  agrees in
writing  that all  conditions  to closing  set forth in  Article  VIII have been
satisfied  or waived  (other  than those  conditions  relating  to  delivery  of
documents on the Closing Date); and provided further,  however,  that no accrual
or  reserve  made by the  Company or any  Company  Subsidiary  pursuant  to this
Section 7.13 or any litigation or regulatory  proceeding arising out of any such
accrual or reserve,  shall constitute or be deemed to be a breach,  violation of
or failure to satisfy any representation, warranty, covenant, condition or other
provision of this  Agreement or otherwise be considered in  determining  whether
any such breach, violation or failure to satisfy shall have occurred.

     7.14  Advisory  Board.  Parent shall,  effective as of the Effective  Time,
cause  Raymond M.  Calamari,  Richard J. Hickey,  Peter S. Russo and Dominick L.
Segrete,  if such persons are willing to so serve, to be elected or appointed as
members of an advisory  board  ("Advisory  Board")  established  by Parent,  the
function of which shall be to advise  Parent with respect to deposit and lending
activities  in the  Company's  former  market area and to  maintain  and develop
customer relationships.  The members of the Advisory Board who are willing to so
serve  initially  shall be elected or appointed  for a term of one year.  Parent
agrees  annually to re-elect or  re-appoint  each of the initial  members of the
Advisory Board to two successive  one-year terms following the initial  one-year
term;  provided,  however,  that Parent shall have no  obligation to re-elect or
reappoint  any member if Parent  reasonably  determines  that such  member has a
conflict of interest that compromises such member's ability to serve effectively
as a member of the advisory board of any cause exists that otherwise would allow
for  removal of such person as a director of Parent if such person were a member
of Parent's Board of Directors.  Each member of the Advisory Board shall receive
a retainer  fee for such  service at an annual rate of  $25,000,  which shall be
payable in quarterly installments or



                                       57
<PAGE>


in one lump sum at any time in advance at the option of Parent.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     8.1  Conditions  to Each  Party's  Obligation  To Effect  the  Merger.  The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject to the
satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

     (a)  Stockholder  Approval.  This  Agreement  shall have been  approved and
adopted  by the  requisite  vote of the  holders  of the  outstanding  shares of
Company Common Stock under applicable law.

     (b)  Listing of Shares.  The shares of Parent  Common  Stock which shall be
issued to the stockholders of the Company upon  consummation of the Merger shall
have been  authorized  for listing for quotation on the  NASDAQ/NMS,  subject to
official notice of issuance.

     (c) Other Approvals.  All necessary  regulatory or governmental  approvals,
consents or waivers required to consummate the transactions  contemplated hereby
shall  have been  obtained  and shall  remain in full  force and  effect and all
statutory  waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired;  and all other
consents,  waivers and  approvals of any third  parties  which are  necessary to
permit the  consummation of the Merger and the other  transactions  contemplated
hereby  shall have been  obtained or made except for those the failure to obtain
would not have a Material Adverse Effect (i) on the Company and its subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (ii) on the  Parent and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a whole.
None of the  approvals or waivers  referred to herein shall  contain any term or
condition  which  would  have  a  Material   Adverse  Effect  on  the  Surviving
Corporation and its Subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,  after giving effect to the
Merger.

     (d) S-4. The S-4 shall have become  effective  under the Securities Act and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the S-4 shall have been issued and
no  proceedings  for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
SEC.

     (e) No  Injunctions  or  Restraints;  Illegality.  No order,  injunction or
decree  issued by any court or agency of competent  jurisdiction  or other legal
restraint or prohibition (an  "Injunction")  preventing the  consummation of the
Merger shall be in



                                       58
<PAGE>


effect. No statute,  rule,  regulation,  order,  injunction or decree shall have
been enacted, entered,  promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity which
prohibits, restricts or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

     (f) Affiliate  Letters.  Parent shall have  received the letter  agreements
referred to in Section 7.5.

     8.2 Conditions to Obligations of Parent. The obligation of Parent to effect
the Merger is also subject to the  satisfaction  or waiver by Parent at or prior
to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

     (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  (i)  Subject  to Section  3.2,  the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (other
than those set forth in the first and third  sentences  of Section  4.1(a),  the
second sentence of Section 4.1(b) and Sections 4.2, 4.6, 4.8(a),  4.10 and 4.18)
shall be true and  correct as of the date of this  Agreement  and (except to the
extent such  representations  and warranties  speak as of an earlier date) as of
the  Closing  Date as though made on and as of the  Closing  Date;  and (ii) the
representations  and  warranties of the Company set forth in the first and third
sentences of Section 4.1(a),  the second sentence of Section 4.1(b) and Sections
4.2, 4.6,  4.8(a),  4.10 and 4.18 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all material  respects  (without giving effect to Section 3.2 of this Agreement)
as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the extent such  representations
and  warranties  speak as of an earlier  date) as of the Closing  Date as though
made on and as of the Closing  Date.  Parent shall have  received a  certificate
signed on behalf of the  Company by the Chief  Executive  Officer  and the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company to the foregoing effect.

     (b)  Performance  of  Obligations  of the Company.  The Company  shall have
performed in all material  respects all obligations  required to be performed by
it under this  Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date,  and Parent shall have
received a  certificate  signed on behalf of the Company by the Chief  Executive
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company to such effect.

     (c) Federal Tax Opinion. Parent shall have received an opinion from Thacher
Proffitt & Wood, counsel to Parent ("Parent's  Counsel"),  in form and substance
reasonably  satisfactory to Parent,  dated the Effective Time,  substantially to
the effect that,  on the basis of facts,  representations  and  assumptions  set
forth in such opinion which are  consistent  with the state of facts existing at
the Effective  Time, the Merger will be treated as a  reorganization  within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that, accordingly,  for federal income
tax purposes:



                                       59
<PAGE>


          (i) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by Parent or the Company as a
     result of the Merger;

          (ii) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by the  stockholders  of the
     Company who  exchange all of their  Company  Common Stock solely for Parent
     Common Stock  pursuant to the Merger  (except with respect to cash received
     in lieu of a fractional share interest in Parent Common Stock); and

          (iii) The aggregate  tax basis of the Parent Common Stock  received by
     stockholders  who  exchange  all of their  Company  Common Stock solely for
     Parent  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Merger  will  be the  same  as the
     aggregate  tax basis of the Company  Common Stock  surrendered  in exchange
     therefor  (reduced by any amount  allocable to a fractional  share interest
     for which cash is received).

In  rendering  such  opinion,   Parent's  Counsel  may  require  and  rely  upon
representations  and covenants,  including  those  contained in  certificates of
officers of Parent, the Company and others,  reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to such counsel.

     (d) Accountant's  Letter.  The Company shall have caused to be delivered to
the Parent "cold  comfort"  letters or letters of procedures  from the Company's
independent  certified public accountants,  dated (i) the date of the mailing of
the Proxy  Statement to the Company's  stockholders  and (ii) a date not earlier
than five business  days  preceding the date of the Closing and addressed to the
Parent,  concerning such matters as are  customarily  covered in transactions of
the type contemplated hereby;

     8.3 Conditions to Obligations of the Company. The obligation of the Company
to  effect  the  Merger is also  subject  to the  satisfaction  or waiver by the
Company at or prior to the Effective Time of the following conditions:

     (a)  Representations  and  Warranties.  (i)  Subject  to Section  3.2,  the
representations and warranties of Parent set forth in this Agreement (other than
those set forth in the first and third sentences of Section  5.1(a),  the second
sentence of Section 5.1(b) and Sections 5.2, 5.6,  5.8(a),  5.10 and 5.18) shall
be true and correct as of the date of this  Agreement  and (except to the extent
such  representations  and  warranties  speak as of an  earlier  date) as of the
Closing  Date as  though  made  on and as of the  Closing  Date;  and  (ii)  the
representations  and  warranties  of  Parent  set  forth in the  first and third
sentences of Section 5.1(a),  the second sentence of Section 5.1(b) and Sections
5.2, 5.6,  5.8(a),  5.10 and 5.18 of this Agreement shall be true and correct in
all material



                                       60
<PAGE>


respects (without giving effect to Section 3.2 of this Agreement) as of the date
of this Agreement and (except to the extent such  representations and warranties
speak as of an earlier  date) as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of
the Closing Date. The Company shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of Parent by the Chief  Executive  Officer  and the Chief  Financial  Officer of
Parent to the foregoing effect.

     (b)  Performance of  Obligations of Parent.  Parent shall have performed in
all material respects all obligations  required to be performed by it under this
Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company shall have received a
certificate  signed on behalf of Parent by the Chief  Executive  Officer and the
Chief Financial Officer of Parent to such effect.

     (c) Federal Tax Opinion.  The Company  shall have  received an opinion from
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (the "Company's Counsel"),  in form and
substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Company,  dated the Effective  Time,
substantially  to the effect that,  on the basis of facts,  representations  and
assumptions  set forth in such opinion  which are  consistent  with the state of
facts  existing  at  the  Effective  Time,  the  Merger  will  be  treated  as a
reorganization  within  the  meaning  of  Section  368(a)  of the Code and that,
accordingly, for federal income tax purposes:

          (i) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by Parent or the Company as a
     result of the Merger;

          (ii) No gain or loss will be  recognized  by the  stockhold ers of the
     Company who  exchange all of their  Company  Common Stock solely for Parent
     Common Stock  pursuant to the Merger  (except with respect to cash received
     in lieu of a fractional share interest in Parent Common Stock); and

          (iii) The aggregate  tax basis of the Parent Common Stock  received by
     stockholders  who  exchange  all of their  Company  Common Stock solely for
     Parent  Common  Stock  pursuant  to the  Merger  will  be the  same  as the
     aggregate  tax basis of the Company  Common Stock  surrendered  in exchange
     therefor  (reduced by any amount  allocable to a fractional  share interest
     for which cash is received).

In  rendering  such  opinion,  the  Company's  Counsel may require and rely upon
representations  and covenants,  including  those  contained in  certificates of
officers of Parent, the Company and others,  reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to such counsel.



                                       61
<PAGE>


     (d) Accountant's Letter.  Parent shall have executed to be delivered to the
Company  "cold  comfort"  letters  or letters of  procedures  from the  Parent's
independent  certified public accountants,  dated (i) the date of the mailing of
the Proxy  Statement to the Company's  stockholders  and (ii) a date not earlier
than five business  days  preceding the date of the Closing and addressed to the
Company,  concerning such matters as are customarily  covered in transactions of
the type contemplated hereby.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                            TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

     9.1 Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective  Time,  whether before or after  approval of the matters  presented in
connection with the Merger by the stockholders of the Company:

     (a) by mutual consent of the Company and Parent in a written instrument, if
the Board of  Directors  of each so  determines  by a vote of a majority  of the
members of its entire Board;

     (b) by either Parent or the Company upon written  notice to the other party
(i) 60 days after the date on which any request or  application  for a Requisite
Regulatory  Approval  shall  have been  denied or  withdrawn  at the  request or
recommen  dation of the  Governmental  Entity  which must  grant such  Requisite
Regulatory  Approval,  unless within the 60-day period  following such denial or
withdrawal a petition for  rehearing  or an amended  application  has been filed
with the applicable Governmental Entity, provided,  however, that no party shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) if
such denial or request or  recommen  dation for  withdrawal  shall be due to the
failure of the party seeking to terminate  this  Agreement to perform or observe
the  covenants  and  agreements  of such  party set forth  herein or (ii) if any
Governmental  Entity  of  competent  jurisdiction  shall  have  issued  a  final
nonappealable order enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger;

     (c) by  either  Parent  or  the  Company,  if its  Board  of  Directors  so
determines  by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire  Board,  if the
Merger shall not have been  consummated on or before March 31, 1999,  unless the
failure of the  Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the
party  seeking to terminate  this  Agreement to perform or observe the covenants
and agreements of such party set forth herein;



                                       62
<PAGE>


     (d) by either Parent or the Company if its Board of Directors so determines
by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire Board (provided that if the
Company is the  terminating  party, it shall not be in material breach of any of
its  obligations  under Section 7.3) if any approval of the  stockholders of the
Company required for the consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained
by reason of the failure to obtain the  required  vote at a duly held meeting of
such stockholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof;

     (e) by  either  Parent  or  the  Company,  if its  Board  of  Directors  so
determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire Board, (provided
that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein) if there shall have been
a material breach of any of the  representations or warranties set forth in this
Agreement  on the part of the other  party,  which  breach  is not cured  within
thirty days following  written notice to the party  committing  such breach,  or
which  breach,  by its nature,  cannot be cured prior to the Closing;  provided,
however,  that neither  party shall have the right to terminate  this  Agreement
pursuant to this Section 9.1(e) unless the breach of representation or warranty,
together with all other such  breaches,  would entitle the party  receiving such
representation  not to consummate  the  transactions  contemplated  hereby under
Section  8.2(a) (in the case of a breach of  representation  or  warranty by the
Company)  or  Section  8.3(a)  (in the case of a  breach  of  representation  or
warranty by Parent);

     (f) by  either  Parent  or the  Company  , if its  Board  of  Directors  so
determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire Board  (provided
that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty,  covenant or other agreement  contained  herein),  if there shall have
been a material  breach of any of the covenants or agreements  set forth in this
Agreement on the part of the other party, which breach shall not have been cured
within thirty days following receipt by the breaching party of written notice of
such breach from the other party hereto, or which breach, by its nature,  cannot
be cured prior to the Closing; or

     (g) by the Company,  if its Board of Directors so determines by a vote of a
majority of the members of its entire  Board,  if the Average  Closing  Price is
less  than  or  equal  to  $20.25,  subject,  however,  to the  following  three
sentences.  If the Company makes an election to terminate this  Agreement  under
this Section 9.1(g), it shall give ten (10) days prior written notice thereof to
Parent  (provided  that such notice of  election  may be  withdrawn  at any time
within  the  aforementioned   ten-day  period).   During  the  seven-day  period
commencing  with its  receipt of such  notice,  Parent  shall have the option to
increase the value of the cash, the Parent Common Stock or a combination thereof
being offered to stockholders of the Company (through an increase



                                       63
<PAGE>


in the Aggregate Cash  Consideration  and/or  Preliminary Stock Ratio) such that
the Per Share  Consideration  is at least $38.12 per share (provided that Parent
shall be  limited  in its  ability  to  elect to  increase  the  Aggregate  Cash
Consideration  to the  extent  necessary  to allow the  Merger to  qualify  as a
reorganization  within the  meaning of  Section  368 of the Code).  If Parent so
elects within such seven-day  period, it shall give prompt written notice to the
Company of such election and the increase in the Merger Consideration  whereupon
no termination  shall have occurred and this Agreement shall remain in effect in
accordance  with its terms (except as the Aggregate  Cash Consider  ation and/or
the  Preliminary  Stock  Ratio,  and all  amounts set forth in Article I derived
therefrom, shall have been so modified).

     9.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by
either  Parent or the Company as provided in Section 9.1, this  Agreement  shall
forthwith  become void and have no effect  except (i) Sections  7.2(b),  9.2 and
10.3  shall   survive  any   termination   of  this   Agreement  and  (ii)  that
notwithstanding  anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement,  no party
shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out of its
willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

     9.3 Amendment.  Subject to compliance  with  applicable law, this Agreement
may be amended by the parties  hereto,  by action taken or  authorized  by their
respective  Boards of  Directors,  at any time  before or after  approval of the
matters  presented  in  connection  with the Merger by the  stockholders  of the
Company;  provided,  however,  that  after  any  approval  of  the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement by the Company's stockholders,  there may not be,
without further  approval of such stockhold ers, any amendment of this Agreement
which  reduces  the  amount  or  changes  the  form of the  consideration  to be
delivered to the Company  stockholders  hereunder  other than as contemplated by
this  Agreement.  This  Agreement may not be amended  except by an instrument in
writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.

     9.4 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, each of the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by its Board of Directors, may, to
the extent legally  allowed,  (a) extend the time for the  performance of any of
the  obligations  or  other  acts of the  other  party  hereto,  (b)  waive  any
inaccuracies in the  representations and warranties of the other party contained
herein or in any document  delivered  pursuant  hereto and (c) waive  compliance
with any of the  agreements or conditions of the other party  contained  herein.
Any  agreement  on the part of a party  hereto to any such  extension  or waiver
shall be valid  only if set  forth in a written  instrument  signed on behalf of
such  party,  but such  extension  or  waiver  or  failure  to  insist on strict
compliance  with an  obligation,  covenant,  agreement  or  condition  shall not
operate as a waiver of, or estoppel  with  respect to, any  subsequent  or other
failure.



                                       64
<PAGE>


     9.5  Termination  Fee. In the event that at any time after the date of this
Agreement  (i) any person (as  defined in Sections  3(a)(9) and  13(d)(3) of the
Exchange Act, and the rules and  regulations  thereunder),  other than Parent or
any  Subsidiary of Parent,  shall have acquired  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 Exchange Act, and the rules and  regulations  thereunder)  provided
that such acquisition shall have required prior regulatory  approval  (including
waiver of such approval), (ii) (A) the holders of Company Common Stock shall not
have approved this  Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby at the
meeting of such  stockholders  held for the purpose of voting on this Agreement,
(B) such meeting shall not have been held or shall have been  canceled,  (C) the
Board of Directors of the Company shall have publicly withdrawn or modified,  or
publicly  announced its intent to withdraw or modify,  in any manner  adverse to
Parent,  its  recommendation  that the  stockholders  of the Company approve the
transactions  contemplated  by this  Agreement,  or (D) the  Company  shall have
breached any covenant or obligation  contained in this Agreement and such breach
would entitle  Parent to terminate this  Agreement,  in each case after it shall
have been publicly announced that any person other than Parent or any Subsidiary
of Parent shall have made a bona fide proposal by public announcement or written
communication  that  becomes  the  subject of public  disclosure  to engage in a
merger,  consolidation  or similar  transaction  with,  or a  purchase  or other
acquisition  of all or  substantially  all of the  assets  or 10% or more of the
outstanding  shares of Common Stock of, the Company,  or (iii) a Purchase  Event
(as defined in the Stock  Option  Agreement)  shall have  occurred  prior to the
occurrence  of an Exchange  Termination  Event (as  defined in the Stock  Option
Agreement),  then in any such case the Company shall pay to Parent a termination
fee of $1.0 million.


                                    ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS

     10.1 Closing.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this  Agreement,  the
closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place at 10:00 a.m. on the first
day  which is at least  two and not more  than  five  business  days  after  the
satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of the latest to occur of the
conditions set forth in Article VIII hereof (other than those  conditions  which
relate to actions  to be taken at the  Closing)  (the  "Closing  Date"),  at the
offices of Thacher Proffitt & Wood, unless another time, date or place is agreed
to in writing by the parties hereto;  provided,  however, that the Closing shall
occur no earlier than January 5, 1999, and shall not occur until after the



                                       65
<PAGE>


Election Deadline.

     10.2 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements in this Agreement or in
any instrument  delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective
Time,  except for those  covenants and agreements  contained  herein and therein
which by their terms apply in whole or in part after the Effective Time.

     10.3  Expenses.  All costs and expenses  incurred in  connection  with this
Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such costs and expenses.

     10.4 Notices.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed  given if  delivered  personally,  telecopied  (with
confirma  tion),   mailed  by  registered  or  certified  mail  (return  receipt
requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the parties
at the  following  addresses  (or at such other  address for a party as shall be
specified by like notice):

          (a)  if to Parent, to:

               The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh
               209 Havermeyer Street
               Brooklyn, NY  11211
               Attention:  Chief Executive Officer

     with a copy to:

               Thacher Proffitt & Wood
               2 World Trade Center
               New York, NY  10048, 39th Fl.
               Attention:  Robert C. Azarow, Esq.

          and

          (b)  if to the Company, to:

               Financial Federal Savings Bank
               42-25 Queens Boulevard
               Long Island City, NY  11104

                    Attention: Chief Executive Officer




                                       66
<PAGE>



     with a copy to:

               Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
               & Flom LLP
               919 Third Avenue
               New York, New York 10022

               Attn: William S. Rubenstein, Esq.

     10.5  Interpretation.  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  shall not  affect in any way the  meaning  or  interpretation  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".  The phrases  "the date of this  Agreement",  "the date hereof" and
terms of similar import, unless the context otherwise requires,  shall be deemed
to refer to July 18, 1998. No provision of this Agreement  shall be construed to
require  the  Company,  Parent  or  any  of  their  respective  Subsidiaries  or
affiliates  to take any action that would  violate any  applicable  law, rule or
regulation.

     10.6 Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,  all of
which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become  effective
when  counterparts  have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the
other  parties,  it being  understood  that all  parties  need not sign the same
counterpart.

     10.7 Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  (including  the documents and the
instruments  referred to herein),  together  with the Option  Agreement  and the
Confidenti ality Agreement,  constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all
prior  agreements and  understandings,  both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof.

     10.8  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be governed and  construed in
accordance  with  the laws of the  State  of New  York,  without  regard  to any
applicable conflicts of law.

     10.9 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid
or  unenforceable  in  any  jurisdiction  shall,  as to  that  jurisdiction,  be
ineffective  to the  extent  of  such  invalidity  or  unenforceability  without
rendering invalid or unenforceable



                                       67
<PAGE>


the remaining  terms and  provisions of this Agreement or affecting the validity
or  enforceability  of any of the terms or provisions  of this  Agreement in any
other  jurisdiction.  If any  provision  of this  Agreement is so broad as to be
unenforceable,  the  provision  shall be  interpreted  to be only so broad as is
enforceable.

     10.10  Publicity.  Except as otherwise  required by law or the rules of the
NASDAQ/NMS,  so long as this  Agreement  is in  effect,  neither  Parent nor the
Company shall,  or shall permit any of its  Subsidiaries  to, issue or cause the
publication of any press release or other public  announcement  with respect to,
or otherwise make any public statement concerning, the transactions contemplated
by this  Agreement  without the consent of the other party,  which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld.

     10.11 Assignment; No Third Party Beneficiaries.  Neither this Agreement nor
any of the rights,  interests or obligations  hereunder shall be assigned by any
of the parties  hereto  (whether by operation of law or  otherwise)  without the
prior written consent of the other parties.  Subject to the preceding  sentence,
this Agreement will be binding upon,  inure to the benefit of and be enforceable
by the parties and their respective successors and assigns.  Except as otherwise
expressly  provided  herein,   this  Agreement   (including  the  documents  and
instruments  referred to herein) is not intended to confer upon any person other
than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.



                                       68
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent and the Company have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective  officers  thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first above written.

                                        Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.


                                        By   /s/ VINCENT F. PABGIANO
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Vincent F. Pabgiano
                                             Title: Chairman/CEO




                                        Financial Bancorp, Inc.


                                        By   /s/ FRANK S. LATAWIEC
                                             -----------------------------------
                                             Name:  Frank S. Latawiec
                                             Title: President/CEO

<PAGE>

                                                                       Exhibit A


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


                               PLAN OF BANK MERGER

                     DATED AS OF THE __th DAY OF JULY, 1998

                                 BY AND BETWEEN

                         FINANCIAL FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK

                                       AND

                     THE DIME SAVINGS BANK OF WILLIAMSBURGH


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


<PAGE>


     THIS PLAN OF BANK MERGER ("Plan of Merger") dated as of July__, 1998, is by
and between The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh (the "Bank"), a federally
chartered stock savings bank and a wholly owned subsidiary of Dime Community
Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Financial Federal
Savings Bank ("Financial Bank"), a federally chartered stock savings bank and a
wholly owned subsidiary of Financial Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Financial"), pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the 18th
day of July, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and between the Company and
Financial. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

                                   BACKGROUND

     1. The authorized capital stock of the Bank consists of 20,000,000 shares
of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Bank Common Stock"), of which
1,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which none are issued and outstanding.

     2. The authorized capital stock of Financial Bank consists of 7,000,000
shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Financial Bank Common
Stock"), of which 1,706,666 shares are issued and outstanding, and 3,000,000
shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, of which none are issued
and outstanding.

     3. The respective Boards of Directors of the Bank and Financial Bank deem
the merger of Financial Bank with and into the Bank, pursuant to the terms and
conditions set forth or referred to herein, to be desirable and in the best
interests of the respective institutions and their respective shareholders.

     4. The respective Boards of Directors of the Bank and Financial Bank have
adopted resolutions approving this Plan of Merger. The respective Boards of
Directors of the Company, the Bank, Financial and Financial Bank have adopted
resolutions approving the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which this Plan of
Merger is being executed by the Bank and Financial Bank.

                                    AGREEMENT

     In consideration of the promises and of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained, and in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of
the United States of America, including 12 U.S.C. ss. 1828(c), 12 C.F.R. ss.
552.13 and 12 C.F.R. ss. 563.22 and the State of New York, the Bank and
Financial Bank, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree:


<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE I

                                     MERGER

     Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan of Merger and in
accordance with the applicable laws and regulations of the United States of
America and the State of New York, on the Effective Date (as that term is
defined in Article V hereof) immediately following the consummation of the
Merger of Financial into the Company, Financial Bank shall merge with and into
the Bank; the separate existence of Financial Bank shall cease; and the Bank
shall be the surviving corporation (such transaction is referred to herein as
the "Merger" and the Bank as the surviving corporation in the Merger, is
referred to herein as the "Surviving Bank"). The Bank, whose name will remain
unaffected by the Merger, will have its home office at 209 Havemeyer Street,
Brooklyn, New York 11211 and its branch offices at the locations listed on
Exhibit "A."

                                   ARTICLE II

                               CHARTER AND BYLAWS

     On and after the Effective Date, the Federal Stock Charter and Bylaws of
the Bank, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date, shall
automatically be and remain the Federal Stock Charter and Bylaws of the
Surviving Bank, until altered, amended, or repealed.

                                   ARTICLE III

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

     3.1 Board of Directors. On and after the Effective Date, the directors of
the Surviving Bank shall consist of the directors of the Bank duly elected and
holding office immediately prior to the Effective Date. The names and residence
addresses of the directors are:


Name                               Residence Address
- ----                               -----------------
Vincent F. Palagiano               44 DiRenzo Court, Staten Island, NY 10309
Michael P. Devine                  14 Dorchester Road, Summit, NJ 07901
Kenneth J. Mahon                   27 Joanna Way, Summit, NJ 07901
Anthony Bergamo                    150 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021
George L. Clark, Jr.               155 Avenue U, Brooklyn, NY 11223
Patrick E. Curtin                  5 Plane Tree Lane, Dix Hills, NY 11746
Steven D. Cohn                     16 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11241


<PAGE>


Joseph H. Farrell                  455 Beach 136th St., Belle Harbor, NY 11694
Fred P. Fehrenbach                 7 Gatsby Lane, Kings Point, NY 11024
John J. Flynn                      5 Seton Street, Melville, NY 11747
Malcolm T. Kitson                  3 Southward Court, Chatham, NJ 07928
Stanley Meisels                    1345 Noel Avenue, Hewlett, NY 11557
Louis V. Varone                    243 East 77th Street, New York, NY 10021

                                   ARTICLE IV

                              CONVERSION OF SHARES

                  4.1 Common Stock of the Bank. Each share of the Bank Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Date shall, on
and after the Effective Date, continue to be issued and outstanding as a share
of common stock of the Surviving Bank.

                  4.2 Common Stock of Financial Bank. Each share of the
Financial Bank Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Date, and each share of the Financial Bank Common Stock issued and
held in the treasury of Financial Bank as of the Effective Date, if any, shall,
on the Effective Date, be canceled, and no cash, stock or other property shall
be delivered in exchange therefor.

                                    ARTICLE V

                          EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE MERGER

     The Merger shall be effective on the date on which the articles of
combination with respect to the Merger are filed with the Office of Thrift
Supervision (the "OTS") or such other date and time as specified therein (the
"Effective Date").

                                   ARTICLE VI

                              EFFECT OF THE MERGER

     6.1 Separate Existence. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in 12
C.F.R. ss. 552.13. On the Effective Date the separate existence of Financial
Bank shall cease and all of the property (real, personal and mixed), rights,
powers, duties and obligations of Financial Bank shall be taken and deemed to be
transferred to and vested in the Surviving Bank, without further act or deed, as
provided by applicable laws and regulations.


<PAGE>


     6.2 Savings Accounts. After the Effective Date, the Bank will continue to
issue savings accounts on the same basis as immediately prior to the Effective
Date.

     6.3 Liquidation Account. After the Effective Date, the Bank will continue
to maintain the Bank's liquidation account for the benefit of eligible account
holders on the same basis as immediately prior to the Effective Date, and
Financial Bank's liquidation account for the benefit of eligible account holders
shall automatically be expressly assumed by the Bank, as of the Effective Date,
on the same basis as it existed immediately prior to the Effective Date.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                              CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

     The obligations of the Bank and Financial Bank to effect the Merger shall
be subject to satisfaction, unless duly waived by the party permitted to do so,
of the conditions precedent set forth in the Merger Agreement, including,
without limitation, the approval of the OTS as required by 12 C.F.R. ss. 552.13
and 563.22.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

     This Plan of Merger shall terminate upon any termination of the Merger
Agreement in accordance with its terms; provided, however, that any such
termination of this Plan of Merger shall not relieve any party hereto from
liability on account of a breach by such party of any of the terms hereof or
thereof.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    AMENDMENT

                  Subject to applicable law, this Plan of Merger may be amended
at any time prior to consummation of the Merger, but only by an instrument in
writing signed by duly authorized officers on behalf of the parties hereto.

                                    ARTICLE X

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     10.1 Extensions; Waivers. Each party, by a written instrument signed by a
duly authorized officer, may extend the time for the performance of any of the
obligations or other acts of the other party hereto and may waive compliance
with any of the covenants, or performance of any of the obligations, of the
other party contained in this Plan of Merger.


<PAGE>


     10.2 Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted under
this Plan of Merger shall be given, and shall be effective, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 10.4 of the Merger Agreement.

     10.3 Captions. The headings of the several Articles and Sections herein are
inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of,
or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Plan of Merger.

     10.4 Counterparts. For the convenience of the parties hereto, this Plan of
Merger may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
the original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

     10.5 Governing Law. This Plan of Merger shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and, in the absence
of controlling Federal law, in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York.


<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and Financial Bank have caused this Plan of
Merger to be executed by their duly authorized officers and their corporate
seals to be hereunto affixed on the date first written above.



                                    By________________________________
                                       Vincent F. Palagiano
                                       Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
                                       Officer


                                    By________________________________
                                       Frank S. Lataweic
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer



<PAGE>



EXHIBIT A


                     The Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh
                                Branch Locations


1.       275 South 5th Street
         Brooklyn, New York 11211
         (administrative office)

2.       209 Havemeyer Street
         Brooklyn, New York 11211

3.       1600 Avenue M at east 16th Street
         Brooklyn, New York 11230

4.       61-38 Springfield Boulevard
         Bayside, New York 11364

5.       2412 Jerusalem Ave
         Bellmore, New York 11710

6.       1545 86th Street
         Brooklyn, New York 11228

7.       1931 Turnbull Avenue
         Bronx, New York 10473

8.       1012 Gates Avenue
         Brooklyn, New York 11221

9.       176-47 Union Turnpike
         Flushing, New York 11366

10.      1902-1904 Kings Highway
         Brooklyn, New York 11229

11.      2172 Coyle Street
         Brooklyn, New York 11229

12.      1775 Merrick Avenue
         Merrick, New York 11566

13.      1000 Port Washington Boulevard
         Port Washington, New York 11050


<PAGE>


14.      1075 Northern Boulevard
         Roslyn, New York 11576

15.      622 Old Country Road
         Westbury, New York 11590

16.      24-44 Francis Lewis Boulevard
         Whitestone, New York 11357

17.      42-25 Queens Boulevard
         Long Island City, New York 11104

18.      45-14  46th Street
         Long Island City, New York 11104

19.      75-23 37th Avenue
         Jackson Heights, New York 11372

20.      5923 Main Street
         Flushing, New York 11355

21.      814 Manhattan Avenue
         Brooklyn, New York 11222


<PAGE>


                                                                       Exhibit B

                                                                   July 18, 1998


Dime Community Bancshares, Inc.
209 Havemeyer Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am delivering this letter to you in connection with the proposed merger
(the "Merger") of Financial Bancorp, Inc. ("Financial") with and into Dime
Community Bancshares, Inc., ("DCB"), pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated July 18, 1998 (the "Merger Agreement") between Financial and DCB.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the meanings
assigned to them in the Merger Agreement. I currently own ________________
shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Financial ("Financial
Common Stock"). As a result of the Merger, I will receive shares of common stock
of DCB, par value $0.01 per share ("DCB Common Stock), in exchange for my
Financial Common Stock.

     I have been advised that as of the date of this letter I may be deemed to
be an "affiliate" of Financial, as the term "affiliate" is defined for purposes
of paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the rules and regulations promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1993, as amended (the "1933 Act") by the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").

     I represent to and agree with DCB:

     A. Compliance with Rule 145. I have been advised that the issuance of DCB
Common Stock to me pursuant to the Merger will be registered with the Commission
under the 1933 Act on a Registration Statement on Form S-4. However, I have also
been advised that, since I may be deemed to be an affiliate of Financial at the
time the Merger is submitted for a vote of Financial's shareholders, any
transfer by me of DCB Common Stock is restricted under Rule 145 promulgated by
the Commission under the 1933 Act. I agree not to transfer any DCB Common Stock
received by me unless (i) such transfer is made in conformity with the volume
and other limitations of Rule 145 promulgated by the Commission under the 1933
Act, (ii) in the opinion of DCB counsel or counsel reasonably acceptable to DCB,
such transfer is otherwise exempt from registration under the 1933 Act or (iii)
such transfer is registered under the 1933 Act.

     B. Stop Transfer Instructions; Legend on Certificates. I also understand
and agree that stop transfer instructions will be given to DCB transfer agents
with respect to the DCB Common Stock received by me and that there will be
placed on the certificates of the DCB Common Stock issued to me, or any
substitutions therefor, a legend stating in substance:


<PAGE>



               THE SHARES  REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED
          IN A  TRANSACTION  TO WHICH RULE 145  PROMULGATED  UNDER THE
          SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS  AMENDED,  APPLIES.  THE SHARES
          REPRESENTED BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED IN
          ACCORDANCE  WITH THE TERMS OF AN  AGREEMENT  DATED  JULY 18,
          1998 BETWEEN THE REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF AND DIME COMMUNITY
          BANCSHARES,  INC.,  A COPY OF WHICH  AGREEMENT IS ON FILE AT
          THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.

     C. Related Parties. I recognize and agree that the foregoing provisions
also apply to (i) my spouse, (ii) any relative of mine or my spouse occupying my
home, (iii) any trust or estate in which I, my spouse, or any such relative owns
at least 10% beneficial interest or of which any of us serves as trustee,
executor or in any similar capacity and (iv) any corporation or other
organization in which I, my spouse or any such relative owns at least 10% of any
class of equity securities or of the equity interest.

     D. Consultation with Counsel. I have carefully read this letter and the
Merger Agreement and discussed the requirements of such documents and other
applicable limitations upon my ability to transfer Financial Common Stock or DCB
Common Stock to the extent I felt necessary with my counsel or counsel for
Financial.

     E. Voting of Shares. I will be present (in person or by proxy) at all
meetings of shareholders of Financial called to vote for approval of the Merger
so that all shares of Financial Common Stock I then own will be counted for the
purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at such meetings and I will vote
all such shares in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and
the transactions contemplated thereby (including any amendments or modifications
of the terms thereof approved by the Board of Directors of Financial).

     F. Termination. It is understood and agreed that this letter agreement
shall terminate and be of no further force and effect if the Merger Agreement is
terminated in accordance with its terms. It is also understood and agreed that
upon the later of delivery by the undersigned to DCB of a copy of a letter from
the staff of the Commission, an opinion of counsel in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to DCB, or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to DCB
to the effect that a transfer of my shares of DCB Common Stock will not violate
the 1933 Act or any of the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
the stop transfer instruction set forth in Paragraph B above shall be lifted and
the legend set forth in Paragraph B above shall be removed forthwith with
respect to the shares being transferred.


<PAGE>


     Execution of this letter is not an admission on my part that I am an
"affiliate" of Financial as described in the second paragraph of this letter, or
a waiver of any rights I may have to object to any claim that I am such an
affiliate on or after the date of this letter.

                                         Very truly yours,



                                         ________________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


ACCEPTED THIS ____ DAY OF
JULY, 1998 BY


DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.


By:    _______________________________                                     
       Name: 
       Title:








                                   EXHIBIT 4.1




<PAGE>



                        THE TRANSFER OF THIS AGREEMENT IS
                     SUBJECT TO CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED
                      HEREIN AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO TRANSFER
                               RESTRICTIONS UNDER
                              FEDERAL AND STATE LAW

                             STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------


     STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of July 18, 1998 (the "Agreement"), by and
between Dime Community  Bancshares,  Inc., a Delaware  corporation  ("DCB"), and
Financial Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("FBI").

                                    RECITALS

     A. The Plan. DCB and FBI have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger,
dated as of July 18, 1998 (the "Plan"),  providing for, among other things,  the
merger of FBI with and into DCB, with DCB being the surviving corporation.

     B.  Condition to Plan. As a condition and an inducement to DCB's  execution
and delivery of the Plan,  DCB has required that FBI agree,  and FBI has agreed,
to grant DCB the Option (as hereinafter defined).

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the  foregoing  and the  respective
representations,  warranties,  covenants and  agreements set forth herein and in
the  Plan,  and  intending  to be  legally  bound  hereby,  FBI and DCB agree as
follows:

     1. Defined Terms.  Capitalized  terms which are used but not defined herein
shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Plan.

     2. Grant of Option.  Subject to the terms and  conditions set forth herein,
FBI hereby grants to DCB an irrevocable  option (the "Option") to purchase up to
339,627 shares of common stock,  par value $0.01 per share ("FBI Common Stock"),
of FBI (as  adjusted  as set forth  herein,  the  "Option  Shares,"  which shall
include the Option Shares  before and after any transfer of such Option  Shares,
but in no event  shall the  number of Option  Shares  for which  this  Option is
exercised  exceed  19.9% of the  issued  and  outstanding  shares of FBI  Common
Stock),  at a purchase  price per Option Share (as adjusted as set forth herein,
the "Purchase Price") equal to $32.00.

     3. Exercise of Option.

     (a)  Provided  that  (i)  DCB  or  Holder  (as  hereinafter   defined),  as
applicable,  shall not be in  material  breach of the  agreements  or  covenants
contained in this  Agreement or the Plan,  and (ii) no  preliminary or permanent
injunction  or other order  against the delivery of Option  Shares issued by any
court of competent  jurisdiction  in the United  States shall be in effect,  the
Holder may exercise the Option,  in whole or in part,  at any time and from time
to time, following


<PAGE>



the occurrence of a Purchase Event (as  hereinafter  defined) which occurs prior
to the occurrence of an Exercise  Termination  Event (as  hereinafter  defined);
provided,  that the Holder shall have sent written  notice of such  exercise (as
provided in  subsection  (e) of this  Section 3) within 120 days after the first
Purchase Event of which DCB has been notified. The Option shall terminate and be
of no further force or effect upon the earliest to occur of the following  (each
an "Exercise Termination Event"): (A) the Effective Time, (B) termination of the
Plan in accordance  with the terms thereof prior to the occurrence of a Purchase
Event or a Preliminary  Purchase  Event other than a termination  thereof by DCB
pursuant  to  Section  9.1(f)  of the  Plan (a  termination  of the  Plan by DCB
pursuant  to such  Section of the Plan,  being  referred to herein as a "Default
Termination"),  (C) 12 months after a Default Termination or (D) 12 months after
termination  of the  Plan  (other  than a  Default  Termination)  following  the
occurrence  of a  Purchase  Event or a  Preliminary  Purchase  Event;  provided,
however,  that any  purchase  of shares  upon  exercise  of the Option  shall be
subject to compliance with applicable law;  provided further,  however,  that if
the Option  cannot be  exercised on any day because of an  injunction,  order or
similar restraint issued by a court of competent jurisdiction, the period during
which the Option may be  exercised  shall be extended  so that the Option  shall
expire no earlier than the tenth  business day after such  injunction,  order or
restraint shall have been dissolved or when such injunction,  order or restraint
shall have become permanent and no longer subject to appeal, as the case may be.
The term  "Holder"  shall mean the holder or holders of the Option  from time to
time,  and which  initially  is DCB. The rights set forth in Sections 8 and 9 of
this  Agreement  shall  terminate  when the right to  exercise  the  Option  and
Substitute  Option terminate  (other than as a result of a complete  exercise of
the Option or Substitute Option) as set forth herein.

     (b) As used herein,  a "Purchase  Event" means any of the following  events
occurring after the date hereof:

          (i) Without DCB's prior written consent,  FBI shall have  recommended,
     publicly  proposed  or  publicly   announced  an  intention  to  authorize,
     recommend or propose,  or FBI shall have entered into an agreement with any
     person  (other than DCB or any  subsidiary  of DCB) to effect (A) a merger,
     consolidation  or  similar   transaction   involving  FBI  or  any  of  its
     significant subsidiaries,  (B) the disposition, by sale, lease, exchange or
     otherwise,  of  assets  or  deposits  of FBI  or  any  of  its  significant
     subsidiaries  representing in either case all or  substantially  all of the
     consolidated  assets or  deposits  of FBI and its  subsidiaries  or (C) the
     issuance,  sale or other disposition by FBI of (including by way of merger,
     consolidation,  share  exchange  or  any  similar  transaction)  securities
     representing  20%  or  more  of  the  voting  power  of  FBI  or any of its
     significant  subsidiaries  (each  of  (A),  (B)  or  (C),  an  "Acquisition
     Transaction");  provided,  however,  that in no  event  shall  any  merger,
     consolidation,  purchase or similar transaction  involving only FBI and one
     or more of the  Subsidiaries  of FBI, or involving  only any two or more of
     such Subsidiaries be deemed to be an Acquisition Transaction, provided that
     any such  transaction  is not entered into in violation of the terms of the
     Plan; or

          (ii) Any person  (other than DCB or any  subsidiary of DCB) shall have
     acquired  beneficial  ownership  (as such  term is  defined  in Rule  13d-3
     promulgated  under the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange
     Act")) of, or the right to acquire




                                       -2-

<PAGE>



     beneficial ownership of, or any "group" (as such term is defined in Section
     13(d)(3)  of the  Exchange  Act),  other  than a group of which  DCB or any
     subsidiary  of DCB is a member,  shall have been formed which  beneficially
     owns or has the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership  of, 20% or more of
     the voting power of FBI or any of its significant subsidiaries.

     (c) As  used  herein,  a  "Preliminary  Purchase  Event"  means  any of the
following events:

          (i) Any person  (other than DCB or any  subsidiary  of DCB) shall have
     commenced  (as such term is defined in Rule  14d-2,  promulgated  under the
     Exchange  Act) or shall  have  filed a  registration  statement  under  the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to,
     a tender offer or exchange offer to purchase any shares of FBI Common Stock
     such that,  upon  consummation  of such  offer,  such  person  would own or
     control  10% or more of the then  outstanding  shares of FBI  Common  Stock
     (such an offer being referred to herein as a "Tender Offer" or an "Exchange
     Offer," respectively); or

          (ii) The  stockholders  of FBI shall not have approved the Plan by the
     requisite vote at the  stockholders  meeting of FBI called for that purpose
     ("Company Meeting"),  the Company Meeting shall not have been held or shall
     have  been  canceled  prior to  termination  of the Plan or FBI's  Board of
     Directors shall have publicly  withdrawn or modified in a manner adverse to
     DCB the  recommendation  of FBI's Board of  Directors  with  respect to the
     Plan,  in each case after it shall have been  publicly  announced  that any
     person  (other than DCB or any  subsidiary  of DCB) shall have (A) made, or
     disclosed  an  intention  to make,  a bona  fide  proposal  to engage in an
     Acquisition  Transaction  (which  solely for  purposes of this Section 3(c)
     shall have the same meaning as in Section 3(b) except that the reference to
     20%  shall be  changed  to 10%) or (B)  filed an  application  (or  given a
     notice), whether in draft or final form, under the Home Owners' Loan Act of
     1933, as amended, the Bank Holding Company Act, as amended, the Bank Merger
     Act, as amended or the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended,  for
     approval to engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or

          (iii) Any person (other than DCB or any  subsidiary of DCB) shall have
     made  a  bona  fide  proposal  to  FBI  or  its   stockholders   by  public
     announcement,  or written  communication  that is or becomes the subject of
     public disclosure, to engage in an Acquisition Transaction; or

          (iv)  After  a  proposal  is  made  by a  third  party  to  FBI or its
     stockholders to engage in an Acquisition  Transaction,  or such third party
     states its intention to FBI to make such a proposal if the Plan terminates,
     FBI shall have breached any covenant or agreement contained in the Plan and
     such  breach (x) would  entitle  DCB to  terminate  the Plan under  Section
     9.1(f)  thereof  and (y) shall not have been cured prior to the Notice Date
     (as defined below).

     As used in this  Agreement,  the  term  "person"  shall  have  the  meaning
specified in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.




                                       -3-

<PAGE>



     (d) FBI shall  notify DCB  promptly  in writing  of the  occurrence  of any
Preliminary Purchase Event or Purchase Event of which it has knowledge, it being
understood that the giving of such notice by FBI shall not be a condition to the
right of Holder to exercise the Option.

     (e) In the event Holder wishes to exercise the Option, it shall send to FBI
a written  notice (the "Stock  Exercise  Notice," the date of which being herein
referred  to as the "Notice  Date")  specifying  (i) the total  number of Option
Shares it intends to  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise  and (ii) a place and
date not earlier than three  business  days nor later than 15 business days from
the Notice Date for the closing (the  "Closing") of such purchase  (such date as
it may be extended pursuant to the next sentence,  the "Closing Date"). If prior
notification  to  or  approval  of  any  Regulatory  Authority  is  required  in
connection  with any such purchase,  FBI shall  cooperate with the Holder in the
filing of the required  notice of application  for approval and the obtaining of
such approval,  and the Closing shall occur promptly  following such  regulatory
approvals and any mandatory waiting periods. Any exercise of the Option shall be
deemed to occur on the Notice Date relating thereto.

     4. Payment and Delivery of Certificates.

     (a) On each  Closing  Date,  Holder  shall (i) pay to FBI,  in  immediately
available funds by wire transfer to a bank account  designated by FBI, an amount
equal to the  Purchase  Price  multiplied  by the number of Option  Shares to be
purchased on such Closing Date and (ii) present and surrender  this Agreement to
FBI at the address of FBI specified in Section 13(f) of this Agreement.

     (b) At each  Closing,  simultaneously  with  the  delivery  of  immediately
available  funds and surrender of this  Agreement as provided in Section 4(a) of
this  Agreement,   (i)  FBI  shall  deliver  to  Holder  (A)  a  certificate  or
certificates  representing  the Option  Shares to be purchased at such  Closing,
which  Option  Shares  shall be free and clear of all Liens (as  defined  in the
Plan) and subject to no preemptive rights, and (B) if the Option is exercised in
part only,  an  executed  new  agreement  with the same terms as this  Agreement
evidencing  the right to purchase  the balance of the shares of FBI Common Stock
purchasable  hereunder,  and (ii) Holder shall deliver to FBI a letter  agreeing
that Holder shall not offer to sell or otherwise  dispose of such Option  Shares
in violation of  applicable  federal and state law or of the  provisions of this
Agreement.

     (c) In addition to any other  legend  that is required by  applicable  law,
certificates  for the Option Shares  delivered at each Closing shall be endorsed
with a restrictive legend which shall read substantially as follows:

THE  TRANSFER  OF THE  STOCK  REPRESENTED  BY THIS  CERTIFICATE  IS  SUBJECT  TO
RESTRICTIONS  ARISING UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND PURSUANT
TO THE TERMS OF A STOCK  OPTION  AGREEMENT  DATED AS OF JULY 18, 1998. A COPY OF
SUCH AGREEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE HOLDER HEREOF WITHOUT CHARGE UPON RECEIPT
BY FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC. OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR.




                                       -4-

<PAGE>



It is understood and agreed that the portion of the above legend relating to the
Securities Act shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificate(s) without
such legend if Holder  shall have  delivered  to FBI a copy of a letter from the
staff of the  Securities  Exchange  Commission  (the  "SEC"),  or an  opinion of
counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to FBI and its counsel, to
the effect that such legend is not required for purposes of the Securities Act.

     (d) Upon the  giving by Holder to FBI of the  Stock  Exercise  Notice,  the
tender of the applicable  purchase price in immediately  available funds and the
tender of this  Agreement  to FBI,  Holder  shall be deemed to be the  holder of
record  of  the  shares  of  FBI  Common  Stock  issuable  upon  such  exercise,
notwithstanding  that the stock  transfer  books of FBI shall  then be closed or
that certificates representing such shares of FBI Common Stock shall not then be
actually delivered to Holder. FBI 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,  issuance and delivery of stock  certificates
under  this  Section  4 in the name of  Holder or its  assignee,  transferee  or
designee.

     (e)  FBI  agrees  (i)  that it  shall  at all  times  maintain,  free  from
preemptive rights,  sufficient authorized but unissued or treasury shares of FBI
Common   Stock  so  that  the  Option  may  be  exercised   without   additional
authorization  of FBI Common  Stock after  giving  effect to all other  options,
warrants,  convertible securities and other rights to purchase FBI Common Stock,
(ii)  that  it  will  not,  by  charter  amendment  or  through  reorganization,
consolidation,  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
FBI,  (iii)  promptly  to take all  action as may from time to time be  required
(including (A) complying with all applicable premerger  notification,  reporting
and  waiting  period  requirements  and (B) in the event,  under any  applicable
federal or state  banking  law,  prior  approval of or notice to any  Regulatory
Authority is necessary  before the Option may be  exercised,  cooperating  fully
with  Holder in  preparing  such  applications  or notices  and  providing  such
information to such  Regulatory  Authority as it may require) in order to permit
Holder to exercise  the Option and FBI duly and  effectively  to issue shares of
FBI Common Stock pursuant  hereto and (iv) promptly to take all action  provided
herein to protect the rights of Holder against dilution.

     5.  Representations  and  Warranties  of FBI.  FBI  hereby  represents  and
warrants to DCB (and Holder, if different than DCB) as follows:

          (a) Corporate Authority. FBI 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 Board of Directors of FBI, and no other corporate
     proceedings on the part of FBI are necessary to authorize this Agreement or
     to consummate the  transactions  so  contemplated;  this Agreement has been
     duly and validly executed and delivered by FBI.




                                       -5-

<PAGE>



          (b) Beneficial Ownership. To the best knowledge of FBI, as of the date
     of this Agreement, no person or group has beneficial ownership of more than
     10% of the issued and outstanding shares of FBI Common Stock.

          (c) Shares  Reserved for Issuance;  Capital  Stock.  FBI has taken all
     necessary corporate action to authorize and reserve and permit it to issue,
     and at all times from the date hereof through the termination of the Option
     in accordance with Section 3(a) of this  Agreement,  will have reserved for
     issuance  upon the  exercise  of the  Option,  that number of shares of FBI
     Common Stock equal to the maximum  number of Option  Shares at any time and
     from time to time  purchasable  upon  exercise of the Option,  and all such
     Option  Shares,  upon  issuance  pursuant  to  the  Option,  will  be  duly
     authorized,  validly  issued,  fully  paid and  nonassessable,  and will be
     delivered free and clear of all claims,  liens,  encumbrances  and security
     interests  (other than those created by this  Agreement) and not subject to
     any preemptive rights.

          (d) No  Violations.  The execution,  delivery and  performance of this
     Agreement does not and will not, and the  consummation by FBI of any of the
     transactions  contemplated  hereby will not,  constitute or result in (i) a
     breach  or  violation  of,  or  a  default   under,   its   certificate  of
     incorporation or bylaws, or the comparable governing  instruments of any of
     its subsidiaries, or (ii) a breach or violation of, or a default under, any
     agreement, lease, contract, note, mortgage, indenture, arrangement or other
     obligation of it or any of its subsidiaries  (with or without the giving of
     notice,   the  lapse  of  time  or  both)  or  under  any  governmental  or
     non-governmental  permit or license to which it or any of its  subsidiaries
     is subject,  that would,  in any case, give any other person the ability to
     prevent or enjoin FBI's  performance  under this  Agreement in any material
     respect.

     6.  Representations  and  Warranties of DCB. (a) DCB hereby  represents and
warrants to FBI that DCB has full  corporate  power and  authority to enter into
this  Agreement  and,  subject to obtaining  the  approvals  referred to in this
Agreement,  to consummate the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement;  the
execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  and  the   consummation   of  the
transactions  contemplated  hereby have been duly  authorized  by all  necessary
corporate  action on the part of DCB; and this  Agreement has been duly executed
and delivered by DCB.

     (b) The  Option is not  being,  and any  shares  of  Common  Stock or other
securities  acquired by DCB upon  exercise  of the Option will not be,  acquired
with a view to the public  distribution  thereof and will not be  transferred or
otherwise  disposed  of  except  in a  transaction  registered  or  exempt  from
registration under the Securities Act.

     7. Adjustment upon Changes in FBI Capitalization, Etc.

     (a) In the  event of any  change in FBI  Common  Stock by reason of a stock
dividend,  stock split,  split-up,  recapitalization,  combination,  exchange of
shares,  exercise of the  Company  Rights or similar  transaction,  the type and
number of shares or  securities  subject to the Option,  and the Purchase  Price
therefor, shall be adjusted appropriately, and proper provision




                                       -6-

<PAGE>



shall be made in the  agreements  governing any such  transaction so that Holder
shall  receive,  upon exercise of the Option,  the number and class of shares or
other  securities  or property that Holder would have received in respect of FBI
Common Stock if the Option had been exercised  immediately  prior to such event,
or the record date  therefor,  as applicable.  If any  additional  shares of FBI
Common Stock are issued after the date of this Agreement (other than pursuant to
an event  described in the first sentence of this Section 7(a), upon exercise of
any option to purchase FBI Common Stock  outstanding  on the date hereof or upon
conversion into FBI Common Stock of any convertible  security of FBI outstanding
on the date  hereof),  the number of shares of FBI Common  Stock  subject to the
Option shall be adjusted so that, after such issuance, the Option, together with
any shares of FBI Common Stock previously  issued pursuant hereto,  equals 19.9%
of the number of shares of FBI Common Stock then issued and outstanding, without
giving  effect to any shares  subject to or issued  pursuant to the  Option.  No
provision of this Section 7 shall be deemed to affect or change,  or  constitute
authorization for any violation of, any of the covenants or  representations  in
the Plan.

     (b) In the event that FBI shall enter into an agreement (i) to  consolidate
with or merge into any person,  other than DCB or one of its  subsidiaries,  and
FBI shall not be the continuing or surviving  corporation of such  consolidation
or merger, (ii) to permit any person, other than DCB or one of its subsidiaries,
to merge into FBI and FBI shall be the continuing or surviving corporation, but,
in connection with such merger,  the then outstanding shares of FBI Common Stock
shall be changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of FBI or any
other person or cash or any other  property,  or the  outstanding  shares of FBI
Common Stock  immediately prior to such merger shall after such merger represent
less than 50% of the  outstanding  shares  and share  equivalents  of the merged
company,  or (iii) to sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its
assets or  deposits to any  person,  other than DCB or one of its  subsidiaries,
then, and in each such case, the agreement governing such transaction shall make
proper  provisions 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
Holder,  to  purchase  shares  of  either  (A)  the  Acquiring  Corporation  (as
hereinafter defined),  (B) any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation or
(C) in the case of a merger  described  in clause  (ii),  FBI (such person being
referred to as "Substitute Option Issuer").

     (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 Holder.  Substitute  Option Issuer shall also enter
into an agreement with Holder in substantially  the same form as this Agreement,
which shall be applicable to the Substitute Option.

     (d) The Substitute Option shall be exercisable for such number of shares of
Substitute  Common  Stock (as  hereinafter  defined) as is equal to the Assigned
Value (as  hereinafter  defined)  multiplied  by the number of Option Shares for
which the Option was theretofore  exercisable,  divided by the Average Price (as
hereinafter  defined).  The exercise price of the Substitute Option per share of
Substitute  Common Stock (the  "Substitute  Option Price") shall be equal to the
Purchase Price  multiplied by a fraction in which the numerator is the number of
shares




                                       -7-

<PAGE>



of FBI Common  Stock for which the Option was  theretofore  exercisable  and the
denominator is the number of shares of the Substitute Common Stock for which the
Substitute Option is exercisable.

     (e) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

          (i) "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean (A) the continuing or surviving
     corporation of a consolidation  or merger with FBI (if other than FBI), (B)
     FBI in a merger in which FBI is the continuing or surviving  person, or (C)
     the  transferee  of  all  or  substantially  all  of  FBI's  assets  (or  a
     substantial part of the assets of its subsidiaries taken as a whole).

          (ii) "Substitute  Common Stock" shall mean the shares of capital stock
     (or similar equity  interest) with the greatest  voting power in respect of
     the  election  of  directors  (or  persons  similarly  responsible  for the
     direction of the business and affairs) of the Substitute Option Issuer.

          (iii)  "Assigned  Value"  shall mean the  highest of (A) the price per
     share of FBI  Common  Stock at which a Tender  Offer or an  Exchange  Offer
     therefor  has been made,  (B) the price per share of FBI Common Stock to be
     paid by any third party  pursuant to an agreement with FBI, (C) the highest
     closing  price for shares of FBI Common Stock within the  sixty-day  period
     immediately preceding the consolidation, merger or sale in question and (D)
     in the  event  of a sale of all or  substantially  all of FBI's  assets  or
     deposits, an amount equal to (x) the sum of the price paid in such sale for
     such assets (and/or deposits) and the current market value of the remaining
     assets of FBI, as determined by a nationally  recognized investment banking
     firm selected by Holder,  divided by (y) the number of shares of FBI Common
     Stock  outstanding  at such time.  In the event  that a Tender  Offer or an
     Exchange Offer is made for FBI Common Stock or an agreement is entered into
     for a merger or consolidation  involving consideration other than cash, the
     value of the  securities  or other  property  issuable  or  deliverable  in
     exchange  for  FBI  Common  Stock  shall  be  determined  by  a  nationally
     recognized  investment  banking  firm  selected  by Holder  and  reasonably
     satisfactory to FBI.

          (iv) "Average  Price" shall mean the average  closing price of a share
     of  Substitute  Common  Stock for the 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 FBI is the issuer of
     the Substitute  Option, the Average Price shall be computed with respect to
     a share of common stock  issued by FBI,  the person  merging into FBI or by
     any company which controls such person, as Holder may elect.

     (f) In no event,  pursuant to any of the  foregoing  paragraphs,  shall the
number of shares of Substitute  Common Stock for which the Substitute  Option is
exercisable  exceed  19.9% of the issued and  outstanding  shares of  Substitute
Common Stock  immediately  prior to exercise of the  Substitute  Option.  In the
event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more




                                       -8-

<PAGE>



than 19.9% of the issued and outstanding  shares of Substitute  Common Stock but
for the limitation in the first sentence of this Section 7(f), 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 the first
sentence of this Section 7(f) over (ii) the value of the Substitute Option after
giving effect to the limitation in the first sentence of this Section 7(f). This
difference in value shall be determined  by a nationally  recognized  investment
banking firm selected by Holder.

     (g) FBI shall not enter into any  transaction  described in Section 7(b) of
this Agreement unless the Acquiring Corporation and any person that controls the
Acquiring Corporation assume in writing all the obligations of FBI hereunder and
take all other  actions  that may be necessary  so that the  provisions  of this
Section 7 are given full force and effect (including,  without  limitation,  any
action that may be  necessary  so that the holders of the other shares of common
stock issued by Substitute Option Issuer are not entitled to exercise any rights
by reason of the issuance or exercise of the Substitute Option and the shares of
Substitute  Common Stock are  otherwise in no way  distinguishable  from or have
lesser  economic  value (other than any  diminution in value  resulting from the
fact that the shares of Substitute  Common Stock are restricted  securities,  as
defined in Rule 144,  promulgated  under the Securities Act ("Rule 144"), or any
successor  provision)  than other shares of common  stock  issued by  Substitute
Option Issuer).

     (h) Notwithstanding  anything herein to the contrary, in the event that FBI
completes a reorganization involving the formation of a holding company for FBI,
the agreement  governing such transaction  shall make proper  provisions 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 granted by such holding company.

     8. Repurchase at the Option of Holder.

     (a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a) of this Agreement,  at the
request  of  Holder  at any time  commencing  upon  the  first  occurrence  of a
Repurchase  Event (as  defined  in  Section  8(d)  hereof)  and ending 12 months
immediately thereafter, FBI shall repurchase from Holder (i) the Option and (ii)
all shares of FBI Common Stock  purchased by Holder pursuant hereto with respect
to  which  Holder  then has  beneficial  ownership.  The  date on  which  Holder
exercises  its rights  under this  Section 8 is  referred  to as the  "Section 8
Request Date." Such  repurchase  shall be at an aggregate  price (the "Section 8
Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

          (i) The aggregate  Purchase Price paid by Holder for any shares of FBI
     Common Stock  acquired  pursuant to the Option with respect to which Holder
     then has beneficial ownership;

          (ii) The  excess,  if any,  of (A) the  Applicable  Price (as  defined
     below)  for each  share of FBI Common  Stock  over (B) the  Purchase  Price
     (subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement), multiplied
     by the  number of shares of FBI  Common  Stock  with  respect  to which the
     Option has not been exercised; and




                                       -9-

<PAGE>



          (iii) The excess,  if any, of the  Applicable  Price over the Purchase
     Price (subject to adjustment  pursuant to Section 7 of this Agreement) paid
     (or, in the case of Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been
     exercised  but the Closing  Date has not  occurred,  payable) by Holder for
     each  share of FBI Common  Stock with  respect to which the Option has been
     exercised and with respect to which Holder then has  beneficial  ownership,
     multiplied by the number of such shares.

     (b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 8, FBI shall,  within
10 business days after the Section 8 Request Date,  pay the Section 8 Repurchase
Consideration to Holder in immediately  available  funds, and  contemporaneously
with such payment, Holder shall surrender to FBI the Option and the certificates
evidencing the Option Shares  purchased  thereunder with respect to which Holder
then has beneficial ownership,  and Holder shall warrant that it has sole record
and  beneficial  ownership  of such  shares  and that the same are then free and
clear of all Liens.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  to the extent  that prior
notification  to  or  approval  of  any  Regulatory  Authority  is  required  in
connection  with the payment of all or any  portion of the Section 8  Repurchase
Consideration,  Holder  shall have the ongoing  option to revoke its request for
repurchase  pursuant to this Section 8, in whole or in part,  or to require that
FBI  deliver  from  time  to time  that  portion  of the  Section  8  Repurchase
Consideration  that it is not then so  prohibited  from paying and promptly file
the required  notice or application for approval and  expeditiously  process the
same (and each party  shall  cooperate  with the other in the filing of any such
notice or application and the obtaining of any such approval). If any Regulatory
Authority  disapproves of any part of FBI's proposed repurchase pursuant to this
Section  8, FBI shall  promptly  give  notice of such fact to Holder  and Holder
shall have the right (i) to revoke the repurchase  request or (ii) to the extent
permitted by such Regulatory Authority,  determine whether the repurchase should
apply to the Option and/or Option Shares and to what extent to each,  and Holder
shall thereupon have the right to exercise the Option as to the number of Option
Shares for which the Option was  exercisable  at the Section 8 Request Date less
the number of shares  covered by the Option in respect of which payment has been
made pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) of this Agreement.  Holder shall notify FBI of
its  determination  under the  preceding  sentence  within five business days of
receipt of notice of disapproval  of the  repurchase.  Notwithstanding  anything
herein to the  contrary,  in the event that FBI  delivers to the Holder  written
notice accompanied by a certification of FBI's independent  auditor each stating
that a requested repurchase of FBI Common Stock would result in the recapture of
FBI's bad debt  reserves  under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended,
Holder's repurchase request shall be deemed to be automatically revoked.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  all of Holder's  rights
under this Section 8 shall  terminate on the date of  termination of this Option
pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

     (c) For  purposes  of this  Agreement,  the  "Applicable  Price"  means the
highest of (i) the highest price per share of FBI Common Stock paid for any such
share by the person or groups  described  in Section  8(d)(i)  hereof,  (ii) the
price per share of FBI Common  Stock  received by holders of FBI Common Stock in
connection  with any  merger,  sale or other  business  combination  transaction
described in Section 7(b)(i),  7(b)(ii) or 7(b)(iii) of this Agreement, or (iii)
the  highest  closing  sales price per share of FBI Common  Stock  quoted on The
Nasdaq Stock




                                      -10-

<PAGE>



Market  ("Nasdaq") (or if FBI Common Stock is not quoted on Nasdaq,  the highest
bid price per share as quoted  on the  principal  trading  market or  securities
exchange  on which such shares are traded as  reported  by a  recognized  source
chosen by Holder)  during the 40 business  days  preceding the Section 8 Request
Date; provided,  however,  that in the event of a sale of less than all of FBI's
assets, the Applicable Price shall be the sum of the price paid in such sale for
such  assets and the  current  market  value of the  remaining  assets of FBI as
determined  by a  nationally  recognized  investment  banking  firm  selected by
Holder,  divided by the number of shares of the FBI Common Stock  outstanding at
the time of such sale.  If the  consideration  to be  offered,  paid or received
pursuant to either of the  foregoing  clauses (i) or (ii) shall be other than in
cash,  the value of such  consideration  shall be determined in good faith by an
independent nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by Holder and
reasonably  acceptable to FBI, which  determination  shall be conclusive for all
purposes of this Agreement.

     (d) As used herein, "Repurchase Event" shall occur if (i) any person (other
than DCB or any subsidiary of DCB) shall have acquired  beneficial  ownership of
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3  promulgated  under the Exchange Act), or
the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership  of, or any "group" (as such term is
defined under the Exchange Act) shall have been formed which  beneficially  owns
or has the right to  acquire  beneficial  ownership  of, 50% or more of the then
outstanding  shares  of FBI  Common  Stock,  or  (ii)  any  of the  transactions
described in Section  7(b)(i),  7(b)(ii) or 7(b)(iii) of this Agreement shall be
consummated.

     9. Repurchase of Substitute Option.

     (a) Subject to the last sentence of Section 3(a) of this Agreement,  at the
request  of  Holder  at any time  commencing  upon  the  first  occurrence  of a
Repurchase  Event (as  defined  in  Section  8(d)  hereof)  and ending 12 months
immediately  thereafter,  Substitute  Option  Issuer  (or any  successor  entity
thereof) shall  repurchase  from Holder (i) the  Substitute  Option and (ii) all
shares of  Substitute  Common  Stock  purchased by Holder  pursuant  hereto with
respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership.  The date on which Holder
exercises  its rights  under this  Section 9 is  referred  to as the  "Section 9
Request Date." Such  repurchase  shall be at an aggregate  price (the "Section 9
Repurchase Consideration") equal to the sum of:

          (i) The  aggregate  Purchase  Price  paid by Holder  for any shares of
     Substitute  Common Stock acquired  pursuant to the  Substitute  Option with
     respect to which Holder then has beneficial ownership;

          (ii) The excess,  if any, of (A) the Highest Closing Price (as defined
     below)  for each share of  Substitute  Common  Stock over (B) the  Purchase
     Price  (subject to  adjustment  pursuant  to Section 7 of this  Agreement),
     multiplied by the number of shares of Substitute  Common Stock with respect
     to which the Substitute Option has not been exercised; and

          (iii) The  excess,  if any,  of the  Highest  Closing  Price  over the
     Purchase  Price  (subject  to  adjustment  pursuant  to  Section  7 of this
     Agreement)  paid (or, in the case of Substitute  Option Shares with respect
     to which the Substitute Option has been exercised




                                      -11-

<PAGE>



     but the Closing Date has not occurred, payable) by Holder for each share of
     Substitute  Common  Stock with respect to which the  Substitute  Option has
     been  exercised  and with  respect  to  which  Holder  then has  beneficial
     ownership, multiplied by the number of such shares.

     (b) If Holder exercises its rights under this Section 9, Substitute  Option
Issuer shall,  within 10 business days after the Section 9 Request Date, pay the
Section 9 Repurchase Consideration to Holder in immediately available funds, and
contemporaneously with such payment, Holder shall surrender to Substitute Option
Issuer the  Substitute  Option  and the  certificates  evidencing  the shares of
Substitute  Common Stock purchased  thereunder with respect to which Holder then
has beneficial  ownership,  and Holder shall warrant that it has sole record and
beneficial ownership of such shares and that the same are then free and clear of
all Liens.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that prior notification
to or approval of any  Regulatory  Authority is required in connection  with the
payment of all or any portion of the Section 9 Repurchase Consideration,  Holder
shall have the ongoing option to revoke its request for  repurchase  pursuant to
this Section 9, in whole or in part, or to require that Substitute Option Issuer
deliver from time to time that portion of the Section 9 Repurchase Consideration
that it is not then so  prohibited  from paying and  promptly  file the required
notice or application for approval and expeditiously  process the same (and each
party  shall  cooperate  with the  other in the  filing  of any such  notice  or
application and the obtaining of any such approval). If any Regulatory Authority
disapproves  of any  part of  Substitute  Option  Issuer's  proposed  repurchase
pursuant to this Section 9, Substitute  Option Issuer shall promptly give notice
of such fact to  Holder  and  Holder  shall  have the  right  (i) to revoke  the
repurchase request or (ii) to the extent permitted by such Regulatory Authority,
determine  whether the repurchase  should apply to the Substitute  Option and/or
Substitute  Option Shares and to what extent to each, and Holder shall thereupon
have the right to exercise the Substitute  Option as to the number of Substitute
Option Shares for which the Substitute  Option was  exercisable at the Section 9
Request  Date less the  number of shares  covered  by the  Substitute  Option in
respect of which  payment  has been made  pursuant  to Section  9(a)(ii) of this
Agreement.  Holder shall notify  Substitute  Option Issuer of its  determination
under the preceding  sentence  within five business days of receipt of notice of
disapproval of the repurchase.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
in the event that Substitute Option Issuer delivers to the Holder written notice
accompanied by a certification of Substitute Option Issuer's independent auditor
each stating that a requested repurchase of FBI Common Stock would result in the
recapture of Substitute  Option  Issuer's bad debt  reserves  under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, Holder's repurchase request shall be deemed to
be automatically revoked.

     Notwithstanding  anything  herein to the contrary,  all of Holder's  rights
under  this  Section  9  shall  terminate  on the  date of  termination  of this
Substitute Option pursuant to Section 3(a) of this Agreement.

     (c) For purposes of this Agreement,  the "Highest  Closing Price" means the
highest of closing sales price for shares of  Substitute  Common Stock quoted on
Nasdaq  (or if the  Substitute  Common  Stock is not  quoted on  Nasdaq,  on the
principal trading market on which such




                                      -12-

<PAGE>



shares are traded as  reported  by a  recognized  source)  during the  six-month
period preceding the Section 9 Request Date.

     10. Registration Rights.

     (a) Demand  Registration  Right.  FBI shall,  subject to the  conditions of
Section 10(c) of this Agreement,  if requested by any Holder,  including DCB and
any permitted  transferee ("Selling  Shareholder"),  promptly prepare and file a
registration  statement  under  the  Securities  Act,  if such  registration  is
necessary in order to permit the sale or other  disposition of any or all shares
of FBI  Common  Stock or other  securities  that  have been  acquired  by or are
issuable to the Selling  Shareholder  upon  exercise of the Option in accordance
with the  intended  method of sale or other  disposition  stated by the  Selling
Shareholder in such request, including without limitation a "shelf" registration
statement under Rule 415, promulgated under the Securities Act, or any successor
provision,  and FBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to qualify such shares
or other securities for sale under any applicable state securities laws.

     (b) Additional  Registration  Rights. If FBI at any time after the exercise
of the Option  proposes  to  register  any shares of FBI Common  Stock under the
Securities Act, in connection  with an underwritten  public offering of such FBI
Common Stock, FBI will promptly give written notice to the Selling  Shareholders
of its  intention  to do so  and,  upon  the  written  request  of  any  Selling
Shareholder given within 30 days after receipt of any such notice (which request
shall  specify the number of shares of FBI Common Stock  intended to be included
in such underwritten public offering by the Selling Shareholder), FBI will cause
all such shares for which a Selling Shareholder  requests  participation in such
registration,  to be so  registered  and  included in such  underwritten  public
offering;  provided, however, that FBI may elect to not cause any such shares to
be so registered (i) if the underwriters in good faith object for valid business
reasons,  or (ii) in the case of a registration  solely to implement an employee
benefit plan or a  registration  filed on Form S-4 of the  Securities Act or any
equivalent  or  successor  Form.  If some,  but not all the shares of FBI Common
Stock,  with respect to which FBI shall have received  requests for registration
pursuant to this Section 10(b),  shall be excluded from such  registration,  FBI
shall make  appropriate  allocation of shares to be registered among the Selling
Shareholders  desiring to register their shares pro rata in the proportion  that
the number of shares requested to be registered by each such Selling Shareholder
bears to the total  number  of shares  requested  to be  registered  by all such
Selling Shareholders then desiring to have FBI Common Stock registered for sale.

     (c)  Conditions  to  Required  Registration.  FBI shall use all  reasonable
efforts to cause each  registration  statement  referred to in Section  10(a) of
this  Agreement  to become  effective  and to obtain all  consents or waivers of
other  parties  which  are  required  therefor  and to  keep  such  registration
statement  effective,  provided,  however,  that FBI  shall not be  required  to
register  Option  Shares  under the  Securities  Act  pursuant to Section  10(a)
hereof:

          (i) Prior to a Purchase Event;

          (ii) On more than one occasion;





                                      -13-

<PAGE>



          (iii)  Within  90 days  after  the  effective  date of a  registration
     referred to in Section 9(b) of this Agreement pursuant to which the Selling
     Shareholder or Selling Shareholders concerned were afforded the opportunity
     to  register  such  shares  under the  Securities  Act and such shares were
     registered as requested; and

          (iv) Unless a request therefor is made to FBI by Selling  Shareholders
     that hold at least  25% or more of the  aggregate  number of Option  Shares
     (including shares of FBI Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Option)
     then outstanding.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  if, at the time of any request by DCB for
registration  of the Option or Option  Shares as  provided  above,  Issuer is in
registration with respect to an underwritten public offering 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 inclusion of the Holder's  Option or 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 (the
"Cutback");  and provided further,  however, that if such reduction occurs, then
the Issuer  shall file a  registration  statement  for the balance of the Option
Shares as promptly as practicable and no reduction shall thereafter  occur. Each
such Holder shall  provide all  information  reasonably  requested by Issuer for
inclusion in any registration statement to be filed hereunder.

     In addition  to the  foregoing,  FBI shall not be required to maintain  the
effectiveness of any  registration  statement after the expiration of six months
from the  effective  date of such  registration  statement.  FBI  shall  use all
reasonable efforts to make any filings, and take all steps, under all applicable
state  securities  laws to the  extent  necessary  to  permit  the sale or other
disposition  of the Option Shares so registered in accordance  with the intended
method of distribution for such shares; provided, however, that FBI shall not be
required  to consent to general  jurisdiction  or qualify to do  business in any
state where it is not otherwise  required to so consent to such  jurisdiction or
to so qualify to do business.

     (d) Expenses.  Except where  applicable  state law prohibits such payments,
FBI will pay all  expenses  (including  without  limitation  registration  fees,
qualification  fees, blue sky fees and expenses (including the fees and expenses
of counsel),  legal  expenses (not to exceed  $5,000),  including the reasonable
fees and expenses of one counsel to the holders  whose  Option  Shares are being
registered,  printing expenses and the costs of special audits or "cold comfort"
letters, expenses of underwriters,  excluding discounts and commissions, and the
reasonable  fees and expenses of any  necessary  special  experts) in connection
with each  registration  pursuant  to Section  10(a) or 10(b) of this  Agreement
(including the related  offerings and sales by holders of Option Shares) and all
other  qualifications,  notifications or exemptions pursuant to Section 10(a) or
10(b) of this Agreement.





                                      -14-

<PAGE>



     (e) Indemnification.  In connection with any registration  pursuant to this
Section 10, Issuer and Grantee shall provide each other and the  underwriter  of
the   offering   with   customary   representations,    warranties,   covenants,
indemnification   and   contribution  in  connection   with  such   registration
customarily included in secondary offering underwriting agreements.

     (f) Miscellaneous  Reporting.  FBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to
comply with all reporting  requirements and will do all such other things as may
be necessary to permit the expeditious  sale at any time of any Option Shares by
the Selling  Shareholders thereof in accordance with and to the extent permitted
by any rule or regulation  promulgated by the SEC from time to time,  including,
without  limitation,  Rule 144.  FBI shall at its  expense  provide  the Selling
Shareholders  with any  information  necessary in connection with the completion
and  filing  of any  reports  or forms  required  to be filed by them  under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or required pursuant to any state securities
laws or the rules of any stock exchange.

     (g)  Issue  Taxes.  FBI will pay all  stamp  taxes in  connection  with the
issuance and the sale of the Option Shares and in  connection  with the exercise
of the  Option,  and  will  save  the  Selling  Shareholders  harmless,  without
limitation as to time, against any and all liabilities, with respect to all such
taxes.

     11. Quotation;  Listing.  If FBI Common Stock or any other securities to be
acquired in connection  with the exercise of the Option are then  authorized for
quotation or trading or listing on Nasdaq or any securities exchange,  FBI, upon
the request of Holder,  will  promptly  file an  application,  if  required,  to
authorize  for quotation or trading or listing the shares of FBI Common Stock or
other  securities  to be acquired  upon exercise of the Option on Nasdaq or such
other  securities  exchange and will use its  reasonable  best efforts to obtain
approval, if required, of such quotation or listing as soon as practicable.

     12. Division of Option.  This Agreement (and the Option granted hereby) are
exchangeable,  without expense,  at the option of Holder,  upon presentation and
surrender of this Agreement at the principal  office of FBI for other Agreements
providing for Options of different denominations entitling the holder thereof to
purchase  in the  aggregate  the same  number  of  shares  of FBI  Common  Stock
purchasable hereunder. The terms "Agreement" and "Option" as used herein include
any other  Agreements  and  related  Options for which this  Agreement  (and the
Option  granted  hereby)  may be  exchanged.  Upon  receipt  by FBI 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,  FBI 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 FBI,  whether or not the
Agreement  so  lost,  stolen,  destroyed  or  mutilated  shall  at any  time  be
enforceable by anyone.

     13. Profit  Limitation.  (a)  Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this
agreement,  in no event shall DCB's Total Profit (as hereinafter defined) exceed
$4 million,  and, if it otherwise  would  exceed such  amount,  DCB, at its sole
election,  shall  either  (a)  deliver  to FBI for  cancellation  Option  Shares
previously purchased by DCB, (b) pay cash or other consideration to FBI




                                      -15-

<PAGE>



or (c) undertake any combination  thereof,  so that DCB's Total Profit shall not
exceed $4 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 Option Shares as would,  as of the Notice Date,
result in a Notional  Total  Profit (as defined  below) of more than $4 million,
and, if exercise of the Option  otherwise would exceed such amount,  DCB, at its
discretion,  may increase the Purchase Price for that number of Shares set forth
in the Stock Exercise  Notice so that the Notional Total Profit shall not exceed
$4 million;  provided, that nothing in this sentence shall restrict any exercise
of the Option  permitted hereby on any subsequent date at the Purchase Price set
forth in Section 2 hereof.

     (c) As used herein, the term "Total Profit" shall mean the aggregate amount
(before taxes) of the following:  (i) (x) the amount received by DCB pursuant to
the repurchase of Option Shares pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 hereof,  less
(y) DCB's purchase  price for such Option Shares,  (ii) (z) the net cash amounts
received by DCB 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) DCB's purchase  price for such Option Shares,  (iii) the amount
received by DCB pursuant to the repurchase of the Option to Section 8 or 9, (iv)
any  amounts  received  by DCB on the  transfer  of the Option  (or any  portion
thereof) to any unaffiliated party and (v) any equivalent amount with respect to
the Substitute Option.

     (d) As used herein,  the term  "Notional  Total Profit" with respect to any
number of Option  Shares as to which DCB may  propose to  exercise  this  Option
shall be the Total Profit determined as of the date of the Stock Exercise Notice
assuming that this Option were  exercised on such date for such number of Shares
and assuming that such Option Shares, together with all other Option Shares held
by DCB 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).

     14. Miscellaneous.

     (a) Expenses.  Except to the extent expressly provided for 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.

     (b) Waiver and Amendment.  Any provision of this Agreement may be waived at
any time by the party that is entitled to the benefits of such  provision.  This
Agreement may not be modified,  amended, altered or supplemented except upon the
execution and delivery of a written agreement executed by the parties hereto.

     (c) Entire  Agreement:  No Third-Party  Beneficiaries;  Severability.  This
Agreement,  together  with the  Plan and the  other  documents  and  instruments
referred to herein and therein,  between DCB and FBI (i)  constitutes the entire
agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and  understandings,  both written
and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and (ii)
is not intended to confer upon any person other than the parties  hereto  (other
than the  indemnified  parties  under  Section  10(e) of this  Agreement and any
transferees  of the Option Shares or any permitted  transferee of this Agreement
pursuant to Section




                                      -16-

<PAGE>



14(h)  of this  Agreement)  any  rights  or  remedies  hereunder.  If any  term,
provision,  covenant  or  restriction  of this  Agreement  is held by a court of
competent   jurisdiction  or  Regulatory  Authority  to  be  invalid,   void  or
unenforceable,   the   remainder  of  the  terms,   provisions,   covenants  and
restrictions  of 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  Authority  determines  that the  Option  does not  permit  Holder to
acquire, or does not require FBI to repurchase, the full number of shares of FBI
Common  Stock as  provided  in Section 3 of this  Agreement  (as may be adjusted
herein),  it is the express  intention  of FBI to allow  Holder to acquire or to
require FBI to  repurchase  such lesser  number of shares as may be  permissible
without any amendment or modification hereof.

     (d)  Governing  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be governed  and  construed in
accordance  with  the  laws of the  State  of New  York  without  regard  to any
applicable conflicts of law rules.

     (e) Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings contained herein are for
convenience  of  reference  only and shall not affect in any way the  meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     (f) Notices.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder  shall be in
writing and shall be deemed  given if  delivered  personally,  telecopied  (with
confirmation)  or  mailed  by  registered  or  certified  mail  (return  receipt
requested)  to the  parties at the  addresses  set forth in the Plan (or at such
other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice).

     (g) Counterparts.  This Agreement and any amendments hereto may be executed
in two  counterparts,  each of  which  shall  be  considered  one  and the  same
agreement and shall become effective when both counterparts have been signed, it
being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart.

     (h) Assignment.  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or
obligations  hereunder  or under  the  Option  shall be  assigned  by any of the
parties  hereto  (whether by  operation of law or  otherwise)  without the prior
written consent of the other party, except that Holder may assign this Agreement
to a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Holder  and  Holder  may  assign  its  rights
hereunder in whole or in part after the occurrence of a Purchase Event.  Subject
to the preceding  sentence,  this Agreement shall be binding upon,  inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.

     (i) Further  Assurances.  In the event of any exercise of the Option by the
Holder,  FBI, and the Holder shall  execute and deliver all other  documents and
instruments and take all other action that may be reasonably  necessary in order
to consummate the transactions provided for by such exercise.

     (j) Specific Performance.  The parties hereto agree that this Agreement may
be enforced by either party through specific performance,  injunctive relief and
other equitable relief.  Both parties further agree to waive any requirement for
the securing or posting of any bond




                                      -17-

<PAGE>



in  connection  with the  obtaining of any such  equitable  relief and that this
provision is without  prejudice to any other rights that the parties  hereto may
have for any failure to perform this Agreement.
















                                      -18-

<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  FBI and DCB have caused this Stock Option Agreement to
be signed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized,  all as of the
day and year first written above.



                                        FINANCIAL BANCORP, INC.


                                        By: /s/ FRANK S. LATAWIEC
                                            ------------------------------------
                                           Name  Frank S. Latawiec
                                           Title President/CEO

                                        DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES, INC.




                                        By:  /s/ VINCENT F. PABGIANO  
                                            ------------------------------------
                                           Name  Vincent F. Pabgiano  
                                           Title Chairman/CEO




                                      -19-




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