TRIANGLE BANCORP INC
8-K, 1998-03-11
STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS
Previous: TRIANGLE BANCORP INC, PRE 14A, 1998-03-11
Next: TECH ELECTRO INDUSTRIES INC/TX, SC 13D, 1998-03-11





                     U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   ----------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


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

        Date of Report ( Date of earliest event reported ) March 4, 1998

                             TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC.

     North Carolina                   0-21346                    56-1764546
(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission                (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)               File Number)             Identification No.)

4300 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, North Carolina                      27612
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code            (919) 881-0455


<PAGE>


Item 5. Other Information

On March 4, 1998,Triangle Bancorp, Inc. ("Triangle") executed an Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization and Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with United Federal
Savings Bank, Rocky Mount, North Carolina ("United Federal"), whereby United
Federal will be merged with and into Triangle's wholly-owned bank subsidiary,
Triangle Bank ("Triangle"). The transaction is subject to the receipt of
regulatory approvals and the approval of United Federal's shareholders as well
as the satisfaction of various other conditions.

Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Triangle will exchange 0.63
shares of its common stock for each share of United Federal's common stock
issued and outstanding, subject to adjustment as provided in the Merger
Agreement. It is contemplated the transaction will be accounted for as a pooling
of interests and the stock exchange will qualify as a tax free reorganization.
As of December 31, 1997, United Federal had approximately $304 million in
assets, $266 million in deposits and $22 million in shareholders' equity. United
Federal operates 13 branches in eastern North Carolina and a loan origination
office in both Charlotte and Wilmington, North Carolina.

Item 7. Exhibits

10(a)   Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger dated March 4, 1998 by
        and among Triangle Bancorp, Inc., Triangle Bank and United Federal
        Savings Bank

10(b)   Press Release


                                        2
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

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


                                             TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC.
                                                  (Registrant)



                                                  /s/ Debra L. Lee
Date  March 11, 1998                          By: ______________________________
                                                  Debra L. Lee
                                                  Chief Financial Officer


                                        3




                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN

                     OF REORGANIZATION AND MERGER

                             By and Among


                     UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK,

                             TRIANGLE BANK

                                  and

                        TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC.



                             March 4, 1998

<PAGE>


                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. AGREEMENT TO MERGE ..............................................  2

  1.01.        Names of Merging Corporations................................  2
  1.02.        Nature of Transaction........................................  2
  1.03         Effect of Merger; Surviving Corporation......................  2
  1.04.        Assets and Liabilities of United Federal.....................  2
  1.05.        Conversion and Exchange of Stock.............................  2
          a.   Conversion of United Federal Stock...........................  2
          b.   Exchange Procedures..........................................  4
          c.   Treatment of  Fractional Shares..............................  4
          d.   Surrender of Certificates....................................  4
          e.   Antidilutive Adjustments.....................................  5
          f.   Lost Certificates ...........................................  5
          g.   Treatment of United Federal's Stock Options..................  5
          h.   Outstanding Triangle Stock...................................  6
  1.06.        Articles, Bylaws and Management..............................  6
  1.07.        Closing; Articles of Merger; Effective Time..................  6

ARTICLE II.  REPRESENTATIVES AND WARRANTIES
   OF UNITED FEDERAL........................................................  7

  2.01.        Organization; Standing; Power................................  7
  2.02         Capital Stock................................................  7
  2.03         Principal Shareholders.......................................  8
  2.04         Subsidiaries.................................................  8
  2.05         Convertible Securities, Options, Etc.........................  8
  2.06         Authorization and Validity of Agreement......................  8
  2.07         Validity of Transactions; Absence of Required Consents
                 or Waivers.................................................  9
  2.08         United Federal Books and Records.............................  9
  2.09         United Federal Reports.......................................  9
  2.10         United Federal Financial Statements.......................... 10
  2.11         Tax Returns and Other Tax Matters............................ 10
  2.12         Adverse of Material Changes or Certain Other Events.......... 11
  2.13         Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities........................... 11
  2.14         Compliance with Existing Obligations......................... 11
  2.15         Litigation and Compliance with Law........................... 11
  2.16         Real Properties.. ........................................... 12
  2.17         Loans, Accounts, Notes and Other Receivables................. 13
  2.18         Securities Portfolio and Investments......................... 14
  2.19         Personal Property and Other Assets........................... 14
  2.20         Patents, Trademarks and Licenses............................. 14
  2.21         Environmental Matters........................................ 14
  2.22         Absence of Brokerage or Finders Commissions.................. 16

                                        i

<PAGE>


  2.23         Material Contracts........................................... 16
  2.24         Employment Matters; Employee Relations....................... 17
  2.25         Employee Agreements; Employee Benefit Plans.................. 17
  2.26         Insurance.................................................... 18
  2.27         Insurance of Deposits........................................ 19
  2.28         Affiliates................................................... 19
  2.29         Obstacles to Regulatory Approval, Accounting Treatment or
               Tax Treatment ............................................... 19
  2.30         Disclosure................................................... 19
  2.31         Dissenter's Rights........................................... 19

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE HOLDING
  COMPANY AND TRIANGLE ..................................................... 20

  3.01         Organization; Standing; Power ............................... 20
  3.02         Capital Stock................................................ 20
  3.03         Authorization and Validity of Agreement...................... 20
  3.04         Validity of Transactions; Absence of Required Consents
                 or Waivers................................................. 20
  3.05         Holding Company Books and Records............................ 21
  3.06         Holding Company Reports...................................... 21
  3.07         Holding Company Financial Statements......................... 22
  3.08         Absence of Material Adverse Changes.......................... 22
  3.09         Litigation and Compliance with Law........................... 22
  3.10         Absence of Brokerage or Finders Commission................... 23
  3.11         Obstacles to Regulatory Approval, Accounting Treatment
                 or Tax Treatment........................................... 23
  3.12         Disclosure................................................... 23

ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS OF UNITED FEDERAL .................................... 24

  4.01         Affirmative Covenants of United Federal...................... 24
          a.   "Affiliates" of United Federal............................... 24
          b.   Conduct of Business Prior to Effective Time.................. 24
          c.   Periodic Information Regarding Loans and Other Information... 25
          d.   Notice of Certain Changes or Events.......................... 26
          e.   Consents to Assignment of Leases............................. 26
          f.   Further Action; Instruments of Transfer, etc................. 26
          g.   Loan Loss Reserve............................................ 26
          h.   Incentive Compensation....................................... 26
  4.02         Negative Covenants of United Federal......................... 27
          a.   Amendments to Charter or Bylaws.............................. 27
          b.   Change in Capital Stock...................................... 27
          c.   Options, Warrants and Rights................................. 27
          d.   Dividend .................................................... 27
          e.   Employment, Benefit or Retirement Agreement.................. 27

                                       ii

<PAGE>


          f.   Increase in Compensation; Additional Compensation............ 27
          g.   Accounting Practices......................................... 28
          h.   Acquisitions; Additional Branch Offices...................... 28
          i.   Changes in Business Practices................................ 28
          j.   Exclusive Merger Agreement................................... 28
          k.   Acquisition or Disposition of Assets......................... 28
          l.   Debt; Liabilities ........................................... 29
          m.   Liens; Encumbrances.......................................... 29
          n.   Waiver of Rights ............................................ 29
          o.   Other Contacts .............................................. 30
               
ARTICLE V. COVENANTS OF THE HOLDING COMPANY AND TRIANGLE.................... 30

  5.01.        Advisory Board of Directors.................................  30
  5.02.        NYSE Notification of Listing of Additional Shares
                 of Triangle Stock.........................................  30
  5.03.        Notice of Certain Changes of Events.........................  30
  5.04         The Holding Company to Provide Necessary Information........  30

ARTICLE VI. MUTUAL AGREEMENTS .............................................. 31

  6.01.        Shareholders' Meeting; Registration Statement;
                  Proxy Statement/Prospectus................................ 31
          a.   Meeting of Shareholders...................................... 31
          b.   Preparation and Distribution of Proxy Statement/Prospectus... 31
          c.   Registration Statement and "Blue Sky" Approvals.............. 31
          d.   Recommendation of United Federal's Board of Directors........ 32
          e.   Information for Proxy Statement/Prospectus and
                 Registration Statement..................................... 32
  6.02.        Regulatory Approvals......................................... 32
  6.03.        Access....................................................... 32
  6.04.        Costs........................................................ 33
  6.05         Announcements................................................ 33
  6.06.        Environmental Studies........................................ 33
  6.07.        Employees, Severance Payments, Employee Benefits............. 34
          a.   Consulting and Employment Agreements......................... 34
          b.   Employment of United Federal Employees....................... 34
          c.   Severance Payment............................................ 35
          d.   Employee Benefits............................................ 35
  6.08.        Confidentiality.............................................. 36
  6.09.        Reorganization for Tax Purposes.............................. 36
  6.10.        Accounting Treatment......................................... 37
  6.11.        Other Permissible Transactions............................... 37
  6.12.        Dividend Coordination........................................ 37

                                      iii

<PAGE>


ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER................................. 37

  7.01         Conditions to all Parties' Obligations....................... 37
          a.   Approval by Governmental or Regulatory Authorities; No
                 Disadvantageous Conditions................................. 37
          b.   Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Compliance with
                 Securities and Other "Blue Sky" Requirements............... 38
          c.   Adverse Proceedings, Injunction, Etc......................... 38
          d.   Approval by Boards of Directors and Shareholders............. 38
          e.   Fairness Opinions............................................ 38
          f.   Tax Opinion.................................................. 39
          g.   No Termination or Abandonment................................ 39
  7.02         Additional Conditions to United Federal's Obligations........ 39
          a.   Material Adverse Change...................................... 39
          b.   Compliance with Laws......................................... 39
          c.   The Holding Company's and Triangle's Representations and      
                 Warranties and Performance of Agreements;                   
                  Officers' certificate..................................... 39
          d.   Legal Opinion of the Holding Company's Counsel............... 40
          e.   Other Documents and Information from the Holding Company..... 40
                 and Triangle............................................... 40
          f.   Acceptance by United Federal's Counsel....................... 40
  7.03         Additional Conditions to the Holding Company's and            
                Triangle's Obligations...................................... 40
          a.   Material Adverse Change...................................... 40
          b.   Compliance with Laws; Adverse Proceedings; Injunction, Etc... 40
          c.   United Federal's Representations and Warranties               
                 and Performance of Agreements; Officers' Certificates...... 40
          d.   Agreements from United Federal Affiliates.................... 41
          e.   Accounting Treatment......................................... 41
          f.   Legal Opinion of United Federal's Counsel.................... 41
          g.   Other Documents and Information from United Federal.......... 41
          h.   Consents to Assignment of Real Property Leases............... 41
          i    Acceptance by the Holding Company's Counsel.................. 41
          j.   Expenses..................................................... 41
          k.   Tainted Shares............................................... 41
          l.   Mortgage Loan Portfolio...................................... 42
                                                                             
ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION; BREACH; REMEDIES................................  42
                                                                            
  8.01         Mutual Termination........................................... 42
  8.02         Unilateral Termination....................................... 42
          a.   Termination by the Holding Company........................... 42
          b.   Termination by United Federal................................ 43
  8.03         Breach; Remedies............................................. 44
          a.   Breach of Agreement.......................................... 44

                                       iv

<PAGE>


          b.   Payment of Expenses.......................................... 44
                                                                             
ARTICLE IX.  INDEMNIFICATION................................................ 44
                                                                             
 9.01          Indemnification Following Effective Time..................... 44
 9.02          Procedure for Claiming Indemnification....................... 44

ARTICLE X.  MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS........................................ 45

  10.01        "Previously Disclosed" Information: 
                 "Material Adverse Effect" ................................. 45
  10.02        Survival of Representations, Warranties, Indemnification and
                 Other Agreements........................................... 45
          a.   Representatives, Warranties and Other Agreements............. 45
          b.   Indemnification.............................................. 46
  10.03        Waiver....................................................... 46
  10.04        Amendment.................................................... 46
  10.05        Notice....................................................... 46
  10.06        Further Assurance............................................ 47
  10.07        Headings and Captions........................................ 47
  10.08        Entire Agreement............................................. 47
  10.09        Severability of Provisions................................... 47
  10.10        Assignment................................................... 47
  10.11        Counterparts................................................. 47
  10.12        Governing Law................................................ 47
  10.13        Inspection................................................... 48

                                       v


<PAGE>


                 AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND MERGER
                                  By and Among
                          UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK,
                                  TRIANGLE BANK
                                       and
                             TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC.

     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION  AND MERGER  (hereinafter  called
"Agreement")  entered into as of the 4th day of March, 1998, by and among UNITED
FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK ("United Federal"), TRIANGLE BANK ("Triangle") and TRIANGLE
BANCORP, INC. (the "Holding Company").

     WHEREAS,  United  Federal is a  federally-chartered  savings  bank with its
principal office and place of business  located in Rocky Mount,  North Carolina,
and,

     WHEREAS,  Triangle  is  a  North  Carolina  banking  corporation  with  its
principal  office and place of business  located in Raleigh,  North Carolina and
also is the  wholly-owned  subsidiary of the Holding  Company,  a North Carolina
business  corporation with its principal office and place of business located in
Raleigh, North Carolina; and,

     WHEREAS,  the Holding  Company and United Federal have agreed that it is in
their  mutual  best  interests  and in the best  interests  of their  respective
shareholders  for United  Federal to merge with and into Triangle (the "Merger")
with the effect that each of the outstanding  shares of United  Federal's common
stock will be converted into newly issued shares of the Holding Company's common
stock,  all in the manner and upon the terms and  conditions  contained  in this
Agreement; and,

     WHEREAS,  to effectuate the foregoing,  the Holding  Company,  Triangle and
United  Federal desire to adopt this  Agreement as a plan of  reorganization  in
accordance with the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended; and,

     WHEREAS,  while  United  Federal's  Board of Directors  has  approved  this
Agreement, United Federal has executed this Agreement subject to the approval of
its  shareholders  and has agreed to call a special meeting of its  shareholders
for  the  purpose  of  voting  on  the  Agreement  and  will  recommend  to  its
shareholders  that they approve the  Agreement  and the  transactions  described
herein; and,

     WHEREAS,  the Holding  Company's and  Triangle's  Boards of Directors  have
approved this Agreement and the  transactions  described  herein,  including the
issuance  by the  Holding  Company  of  shares  of its  common  stock to  United
Federal's shareholders to effectuate such transactions.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, the mutual benefits to be
derived from this Agreement, and of the representations, warranties, conditions,
covenants and promises herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions
hereof,  the Holding Company,  Triangle and United Federal hereby adopt and make
this Agreement and mutually agree as follows:


                                       1
<PAGE>


                          ARTICLE I. AGREEMENT TO MERGE

     1.01. Names of Merging Corporations. The names of the corporations proposed
to be merged are UNITED  FEDERAL  SAVINGS BANK  ("United  Federal") and TRIANGLE
BANK ("Triangle").

     1.02.  Nature of Transaction.  Subject to the provisions of this Agreement,
at the "Effective  Time" (as defined in Paragraph 1.07.  below),  United Federal
shall be merged into and with Triangle (the "Merger").

     1.03. Effect of Merger;  Surviving  Corporation.  At the Effective Time, by
reason of the Merger the separate  corporate  existence of United  Federal shall
cease while the corporate existence of Triangle as the surviving  corporation in
the Merger shall continue with all of its purposes, objects, rights, privileges,
powers and  franchises,  all of which shall be unaffected  and unimpaired by the
Merger. Following the Merger, Triangle shall operate as the wholly-owned banking
subsidiary of the Holding Company and, as a North Carolina banking  corporation,
will continue to conduct its business at the then legally  established  branches
and main offices of Triangle and United  Federal.  The duration of the corporate
existence of Triangle,  as the  surviving  corporation,  shall be perpetual  and
unlimited.

     1.04.  Assets and Liabilities of United Federal.  At the Effective Time and
by reason of the Merger, all of United Federal's property,  assets and rights of
every kind and character  (including  without  limitation all real,  personal or
mixed  property,  all debts due on whatever  account  including the  liquidation
account  established by United Federal in connection  with its conversion to the
stock form of  organization,  all other choses in action and all and every other
interest  of or  belonging  to or due to United  Federal,  whether  tangible  or
intangible)  shall be  transferred  to and vest in Triangle,  and Triangle shall
succeed  to  all  the  rights,  privileges,  immunities,  powers,  purposes  and
franchises  of a public or private  nature  (including  all trust and  fiduciary
properties,  powers and rights) of United  Federal,  all without any conveyance,
assignment or further act or deed; and Triangle shall become responsible for all
of the liabilities, duties and obligations of every kind, nature and description
(including duties as trustee or fiduciary) of United Federal as of the Effective
Time.

     1.05. Conversion and Exchange of Stock.

     a. Conversion of United Federal Stock. At the Effective Time, all rights of
United Federal's  shareholders  with respect to all then  outstanding  shares of
United  Federal's  common stock ($0.01 par value) ("United Federal Stock") shall
cease to exist,  and, as  consideration  for and to  effectuate  the Merger (and
except  as  otherwise  provided  below)  each such  outstanding  share of United
Federal  Stock  (other  than any shares held by the  Holding  Company)  shall be
converted,  without  any  action on the part of the  holder of such  share,  the
Holding  Company,  Triangle or United Federal,  into 0.63 (the "Exchange  Rate")
newly  issued  shares  of the  Holding  Company's  no  par  value  common  stock
("Triangle  Stock"),  provided,  however,  that in the event the average closing
sales price of Triangle  Stock for the twenty (20) trading days preceding a date
three (3) business days before the Effective Time (the "Average  Closing Price")
is between $28.00 and $31.75,  the Exchange Rate shall be increased to provide a
per share value of not less than $20.00 for each share of United  Federal Stock,
and in the event the Average  Closing Price of Triangle  Stock is between $38.27
and $42.00, the Exchange Rate shall be decreased to provide a per share value of
not more than $24.11, and provided


                                       2
<PAGE>


further that in the event the Average  Closing  Price of Triangle  Stock is less
than $28.00 or is greater than $42.00,  either party,  at its option and without
penalty,  may terminate this Agreement  (except the Holding Company in the event
provided  below),  provided that in the event either party does not so terminate
this Agreement, the Agreement shall remain in effect; and provided further that,
after  determining  the Exchange Rate  required by the Average  Closing Price of
Triangle Stock, the Exchange Rate shall be adjusted in the following manner: (i)
if  between  January  1, 1998 and a date  five (5)  business  days  prior to the
Closing  charge-offs  by  United  Federal  (net of  recoveries)  for  all  loans
(excluding any  charge-offs  for Pea Island)  exceed  $500,000 the Exchange Rate
shall be  reduced  by .0010  for each  $100,000  in  charge-offs  in  excess  of
$500,000,  (ii) if at month-end preceding the Closing  non-performing  assets of
United  Federal exceed  $2,000,000,  the Exchange Rate shall be reduced by .0025
for   every   $1,000,000   in   excess  of   $2,000,000,   on  an   interpolated
dollar-for-dollar  basis (for purposes of this clause  non-performing assets are
defined as all loans (excluding  mortgage loans originated by United Federal for
sale in the secondary  market and mortgage loans which are guaranteed by the FHA
or VA) which are over ninety (90) days delinquent, on non-accrual status, or for
which the  borrower  has filed a  petition  for relief  under the United  States
Bankruptcy  Code,  and  all  other  collateral   property  received  under  loan
arrangements currently held for resale), or (iii) if on a date five (5) business
days prior to the Closing the loan loss  reserve of United  Federal is less than
the sum of $2,900,000  plus one and one-half  percent (1.5%) for every dollar in
total loan growth over the December 31, 1997 level of $254,000,000, the Exchange
Rate  shall be reduced by .0025 for every  $250,000  shortfall  in the loan loss
reserve  (excluding  any  write-off  of Pea  Island  loans)  on an  interpolated
dollar-for-dollar  basis; then if the aggregate reduction caused by clauses (i),
(ii) and (iii) above is less than or equal to .0025, the Exchange Rate shall not
be adjusted,  but if the aggregate  reduction is greater than .0025 the Exchange
Rate shall be adjusted,  provided that in the event the adjustment  provided for
herein  causes  the  Exchange  Rate (i) to  decrease  by more than one (1) basis
point,  either party hereto at its option and without penalty may terminate this
Agreement,  provided  that in the event that either  party does not so terminate
this Agreement,  this Agreement  shall remain in effect,  or (ii) to yield a per
share  dollar  value to a holder of United  Federal  Stock of less than  $20.00,
United Federal may terminate  this Agreement at its option and without  penalty,
provided  that in the event  that  United  Federal  does not so  terminate  this
Agreement, this Agreement shall remain in effect.

     In the event the Holding Company enters into a binding written agreement to
be acquired by a third party which causes the Average  Closing Price of Triangle
Stock to  exceed  $42.00,  the  Holding  Company  shall  not  have the  right to
terminate this Agreement  based on the Average  Closing Price as provided above.
Further, in such event, the Exchange Rate shall be adjusted to yield a per share
dollar value to a holder of United  Federal  Stock of not more than  $24.11.  In
such  event,  United  Federal may still  exercise  its right to  terminate  this
Agreement as provided in this Paragraph 1.05.a.

     At the Effective Time, and without any action by United Federal,  Triangle,
the Holding Company or any holder thereof, United Federal's stock transfer books
shall be closed as to holders of United Federal Stock  immediately  prior to the
Effective Time and, thereafter,  no transfer of United Federal Stock by any such
holder may be made or  registered;  and the holders of shares of United  Federal
Stock shall cease to be, and shall have no further  rights as,  shareholders  of
United  Federal other than as provided  herein.  Following  the Effective  Time,
certificates  representing  shares of United  Federal Stock  outstanding  at the
Effective  Time  (herein  sometimes  referred  to as "Old  Certificates")  shall
evidence only the right of the registered holder thereof to receive,  and may be
exchanged for,


                                       3
<PAGE>


certificates  for the number of whole shares of the Triangle Stock to which such
holders shall have become  entitled on the basis set forth above,  plus cash for
any fractional share interests as provided herein.

     b. Exchange Procedures.  As promptly as practicable following the Effective
Time,  the Holding  Company  shall cause  Registrar  and Transfer  Company,  the
transfer agent for Triangle Stock (the "Exchange Agent"), to mail to each former
shareholder of United Federal of record  immediately prior to the Effective Time
written instructions and transmittal  materials (a "Transmittal Letter") for use
in surrendering Old Certificates to the Exchange Agent. Upon the proper delivery
to  the  Exchange  Agent  (in  accordance  with  the  above  instructions,   and
accompanied by a properly completed  Transmittal Letter) by a former shareholder
of United  Federal of his or her Old  Certificates,  the  Exchange  Agent  shall
register in the name of such  shareholder  the shares of the Triangle  Stock and
deliver said New  Certificates to the individual  shareholder  entitled  thereto
upon and in exchange for the  surrender  and  delivery to the Exchange  Agent by
said individual shareholder of his or her Old Certificates.

     c. Treatment of Fractional  Shares.  No scrip or certificates  representing
fractional shares of Triangle Stock will be issued to any former  shareholder of
United Federal, and, except as provided below, no such shareholder will have any
right to vote or receive  any  dividend or other  distribution  on, or any other
right with respect to, any fraction of a share of the Triangle  Stock  resulting
from the above exchange. In the event the exchange of shares would result in the
creation of  fractional  shares,  then,  in lieu of the  issuance of  fractional
shares of Triangle Stock, the Holding Company shall deliver cash to the Exchange
Agent in an amount equal to the  aggregate  market value of all such  fractional
shares,  and the  Exchange  Agent  shall  divide  such  cash  among and remit it
(without  interest) to the former  shareholders  of United Federal in accordance
with their respective  interests.  For purposes of this Paragraph  1.05.c.,  the
"aggregate market value" of all fractional shares of the Triangle Stock shall be
equal to the total of such  fractional  shares  multiplied  by the closing sales
price of Triangle  Stock as quoted on the New York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE") (as
reported  by The Wall  Street  Journal or, if not  reported  thereby,  any other
authoritative  source) on the third to last trading day  preceding the Effective
Time (as defined in Paragraph 1.07 below).

     d. Surrender of  Certificates.  No certificate for any shares,  or cash for
any  fractional  share,  of  Triangle  Stock  shall be  delivered  to any former
shareholder  of United  Federal  unless  and until such  shareholder  shall have
properly  surrendered  to the  Exchange  Agent the Old  Certificate(s)  formerly
representing his or her shares of United Federal Stock, together with a properly
completed  Transmittal  Letter  in  such  form  as  shall  be  provided  to  the
shareholder  by the Holding  Company for that purpose.  Further,  until such Old
Certificate(s) are so surrendered,  no dividend or other distribution payable to
holders of record of Triangle  Stock as of any date  subsequent to the Effective
Time shall be delivered to the holder of such Old Certificate(s).  However, upon
the proper surrender of such Old  Certificate(s) the Exchange Agent shall pay to
the registered  holder of the shares of Triangle  Stock  represented by such Old
Certificate(s)  the amount of any such cash,  dividends or  distributions  which
have accrued but remain unpaid with respect to such shares.  Neither the Holding
Company,  Triangle,  United  Federal  nor the  Exchange  Agent,  shall  have any
obligation to pay any interest on any such cash,  dividends or distributions for
any  period  prior to such  payment.  Further,  and  notwithstanding  any  other
provision  of this  Agreement,  neither the Holding  Company,  Triangle,  United
Federal  nor the  Exchange  Agent  shall be liable to a former  holder of United
Federal Stock for any


                                       4
<PAGE>


amount paid or property delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to
any applicable abandoned property, escheat, or similar law.

     e. Antidilutive Adjustments.  If, following the date of this Agreement, the
Holding Company shall change the number of outstanding  shares of Triangle Stock
as a result of a dividend  payable in shares of Triangle Stock, a stock split, a
reclassification  or other subdivision or combination of outstanding shares, and
if the record date of such event occurs  prior to the  Effective  Time,  then an
appropriate and  proportionate  adjustment shall be made to the Exchange Rate so
as to  appropriately  and  proportionately  increase or  decrease  the number of
shares of  Triangle  Stock to be issued in  exchange  for each of the  shares of
United Federal Stock.

     f. Lost  Certificates.  Any shareholder of United Federal whose certificate
evidencing  shares of United Federal Stock has been lost,  destroyed,  stolen or
otherwise is missing shall be entitled to receive a certificate representing the
shares of Triangle  Stock to which he or she is entitled in accordance  with and
upon  compliance  with  conditions  imposed by the Exchange Agent or the Holding
Company (including without limitation a requirement that the shareholder provide
a lost  instruments  indemnity  or surety  bond in form,  substance  and  amount
satisfactory to the Exchange Agent and the Holding Company).

     g. Treatment of United Federal's Stock Options.

          (i) At the  Effective  Time,  each  option or other  right to purchase
     shares of United Federal Stock pursuant to stock options  ("United  Federal
     Options")  granted by United Federal under the United Federal  Savings Bank
     1993 Incentive  Stock Option Plan and the United Federal  Savings Bank 1993
     Stock Option Plan for outside Directors (collectively,  the "United Federal
     Stock Plans"),  which are outstanding at the Effective Time, whether or not
     exercisable,  shall be  converted  into and become  rights with  respect to
     Triangle  Stock,  and the Holding  Company shall assume each United Federal
     Option,  in accordance with the terms of the United Federal Stock Plans and
     stock option agreement by which it is evidenced, except that from and after
     the Effective Time (A) the Holding Company and its  Compensation  Committee
     shall be  substituted  for  United  Federal  and the  Committee  of  United
     Federal's Board of Directors (including, if applicable, the entire Board of
     Directors of United Federal)  administering the United Federal Stock Plans,
     (B) each  United  Federal  Option  assumed by the  Holding  Company  may be
     exercised  solely for shares of Triangle Stock, (C) the number of shares of
     Triangle  Stock subject to such United Federal Option shall be equal to the
     number of shares of United  Federal  Stock  subject to such United  Federal
     Option  immediately  prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange
     Rate and rounding  down to the nearest  whole share,  and (D) the per share
     exercise  price under each such United  Federal Option shall be adjusted by
     dividing the per share exercise price under each such United Federal Option
     by the Exchange Rate and rounding up to the nearest cent

          (ii) As soon as  practicable  after the  Effective  Time,  the Holding
     Company shall deliver to the participants in the United Federal Stock Plans
     an appropriate  notice  setting forth such  participant's  rights  pursuant
     thereto  and the grants  pursuant to the United  Federal  Stock Plans shall
     continue  in  effect  on the same  terms  and  conditions  (subject  to the
     adjustments  required  by  Paragraph  1.05.a.  after  giving  effect to the
     Merger).  At or prior to the Effective Time, the Holding Company shall take
     all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance sufficient shares of
     Triangle


                                       5
<PAGE>


     Stock for delivery upon exercise of United Federal Options assumed by it in
     accordance  with this Paragraph  1.05.h.  As soon as practicable  after the
     Effective Time, the Holding Company shall file a registration  statement on
     Form  S-3 or Form  S-8,  as the  case  may be (or any  successor  or  other
     appropriate forms), with respect to the shares of Triangle Stock subject to
     such  options  and  shall  use  its  reasonable  efforts  to  maintain  the
     effectiveness  of such  registration  statements  (and maintain the current
     status of the prospectus or prospectuses  contained therein) for so long as
     such options remain outstanding

          (iii) All  restrictions  or  limitations  on transfer  with respect to
     United  Federal Stock  awarded under the United  Federal Stock Plans or any
     other plan,  program,  or arrangement of United Federal, to the extent that
     such restrictions or limitations shall not have already lapsed,  and except
     as otherwise  expressly  provided in such plans,  program,  or arrangement,
     shall  remain in full force and effect  with  respect to shares of Triangle
     Stock  into which  such  restricted  stock is  converted  pursuant  to this
     Agreement.

          (iv)  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this  Paragraph
     1.05.g.,  in no event shall options to purchase more than 125,500 shares of
     United Federal Stock be converted  into options to purchase  Triangle Stock
     in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  United
     Federal  agrees  to  cooperate  with the  Holding  Company  to  insure  the
     implementation of this Paragraph 1.05.g.

     h.  Outstanding  Triangle Stock. The status of the shares of Triangle Stock
and of shares of common  stock of  Triangle  which are  outstanding  immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall not be affected by the Merger.

     1.06.  Articles,  Bylaws and Management.  The Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws of  Triangle  in effect at the  Effective  Time shall be the  Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Triangle as the surviving corporation.  The officers
and directors of Triangle in office at the Effective Time shall continue to hold
such  offices  until  removed  as  provided  by law or  until  the  election  or
appointment of their respective successors.

     1.07.  Closing;  Articles  of Merger;  Effective  Time.  The closing of the
transactions  contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at
the offices of the Holding Company in Raleigh,  North Carolina, or at such other
place as the Holding Company shall designate, on a date specified by the Holding
Company  (the  "Closing  Date")  after the  expiration  of any and all  required
waiting periods following the effective date of required approvals of the Merger
by governmental or regulatory  authorities  (but in no event later than December
31, 1998).  At the Closing,  the Holding  Company,  Triangle and United  Federal
shall take such actions  (including  without  limitation the delivery of certain
closing  documents) as are required herein and as shall otherwise be required by
law to consummate the Merger and cause it to become effective, and shall execute
Articles of Merger  under  North  Carolina  law which  shall  contain a "Plan of
Merger" substantially in the form attached as Schedule A hereto.

     Subject to the terms and  conditions  set forth herein  (including  without
limitation the receipt of all required  approvals of governmental and regulatory
authorities),  the Merger  shall be  effective  on the date and at the time (the
"Effective Time") designated in the Articles of Merger executed at the Closing

                                       6
<PAGE>


and filed with the North  Carolina  Secretary of State in  accordance  with law;
provided,  however,  that the date and time so specified as the  Effective  Time
shall in no event be later than  December 31, 1998. If the Articles of Merger do
not designate a date or specific time as the Effective  Time, then the Effective
Time shall be that date and time when the Articles of Merger are properly  filed
with the North Carolina Secretary of State.

     At the Holding Company's option, it may elect to have United Federal become
a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  whereby  United  Federal  would  convert to a North
Carolina  chartered  commercial  bank (the "Bank  Conversion")  and  immediately
thereafter merge with an interim commercial bank subsidiary to be established by
the Holding  Company  (the  "Interim  Merger"),  with United  Federal  being the
surviving  corporation.  Thereafter,  the merger of United  Federal and Triangle
Bank would be effected at a date selected by the Holding Company. If the Holding
Company  elects such option,  the  effectiveness  of the Bank  Conversion  would
immediately  precede the Interim  Merger  which,  when  effective,  would be the
Effective Time. The Interim Merger would be effected  pursuant to Plan of Merger
substantially in the form of Schedule A. Further,  in such event, the provisions
of this  Article I which  require  amendment  to provide for the Interim  Merger
shall be deemed to be so amended.

          ARTICLE II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF UNITED FEDERAL

     Except  as  otherwise   specifically  provided  herein  or  as  "Previously
Disclosed" (as defined in Paragraph 10.01. below) to the Holding Company, United
Federal hereby makes the following representations and warranties to the Holding
Company:

     2.01. Organization;  Standing;  Power. United Federal (i) is duly organized
and incorporated,  validly existing and in good standing as a savings bank under
the laws of the  United  States;  (ii) has all  requisite  power  and  authority
(corporate  and other) to own,  lease and operate its properties and to carry on
its business as now being conducted;  (iii) is duly qualified to do business and
is in good  standing in each other  jurisdiction  in which the  character of the
properties  owned,  leased or operated by it therein or in which the transaction
of its business makes such qualification  necessary,  except where failure so to
qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect on United Federal;  and (iv) is
not  transacting  business or operating any properties  owned or leased by it in
violation  of any  provision  of federal or state law or any rule or  regulation
promulgated thereunder,  which violation would have a Material Adverse Effect on
United Federal.

     2.02. Capital Stock. United Federal's  authorized capital stock consists of
10,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share. As of February 12,
1998,  3,201,314  shares of United  Federal  Stock were issued and  outstanding,
which  constitute  United  Federal's  only  issued and  outstanding  securities.
Options to purchase 125,500 shares of United Federal Stock are outstanding under
the United Federal Stock Plans.

     Each outstanding share of United Federal Stock (i) has been duly authorized
and is validly  issued and  outstanding,  and is fully paid and  non-assessable,
(ii)  has  not  been  issued  in  violation  of  the  preemptive  rights  of any
shareholder,  and (iii) has been issued  pursuant to and in compliance  with the
requirements of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").

                                       7
<PAGE>


     The  United  Federal  Stock  is  registered   with  the  Office  of  Thrift
Supervision  ("OTS") under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 (the  "Exchange
Act");  United Federal is subject to the periodic reporting  requirements of the
Exchange Act as administered by the OTS.

     2.03 Principal Shareholders. No person or entity is known to United Federal
to  beneficially  own,  directly or indirectly,  more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of United Federal Stock.

     2.04  Subsidiaries.  United  Federal's  only  subsidiary  is First  Service
Corporation  of NC ("First  Service").  First  Service has one  subsidiary,  The
Eagles Nest Bay Company ("Eagles Nest"),  and, other than the ownership of First
Service and Eagles Nest, neither United Federal nor First Service owns any stock
or other equity interest in any corporation, service corporation, joint venture,
partnership or other entity.  First Service's  authorized capital stock consists
of 3,000 shares of common  stock,  $100.00 par value per share  ("First  Service
Stock"),  of which 2,250 shares are issued and  outstanding  and  constitute the
only securities issued by First Service.  Eagles Nest's authorized capital stock
consists of 100,000  shares of common stock,  $1.00 par value per share ("Eagles
Nest Stock"),  of which 10,000 shares are issued and  outstanding and constitute
the only  securities  issued by Eagles  Nest.  All  outstanding  shares of First
Service  Stock are owned of record and  beneficially  by United  Federal and all
outstanding  shares of Eagles Nest Stock are owned of record and beneficially by
First  Service.  Each  outstanding  share of First Service Stock and Eagles Nest
Stock (i) has been duly authorized,  is validly issued and  outstanding,  and is
fully paid and  non-assessable,  (ii) has not been  issued in  violation  of the
preemptive rights of any shareholder,  and (iii) has been issued pursuant to and
in compliance with the requirements of an applicable exemption from registration
requirements under the 1933 Act.

     2.05. Convertible  Securities,  Options, Etc. With the exception of options
to purchase an aggregate of 125,500  shares of United  Federal  Stock which have
been issued and are  outstanding  under the United Federal Stock Plans,  neither
United Federal, First Service nor Eagles Nest has any outstanding (i) securities
or other obligations  (including debentures or other debt instruments) which are
convertible  into shares of United Federal Stock,  First Service Stock or Eagles
Nest Stock or any other  securities of United  Federal,  First Service or Eagles
Nest, (ii) options,  warrants,  rights, calls or other commitments of any nature
which  entitle  any person to receive  or acquire  any shares of United  Federal
Stock,  First  Service  Stock or Eagles  Nest Stock or any other  securities  of
United Federal,  First Service or Eagles Nest, or (iii) plan, agreement or other
arrangement  pursuant to which shares of United  Federal  Stock,  First  Service
Stock or Eagles  Nest Stock or any other  securities  of United  Federal,  First
Service or Eagles Nest, or options, warrants, rights, calls or other commitments
of any nature pertaining thereto, have been or may be issued.

     2.06. Authorization and Validity of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
and validly  approved by United  Federal's  Board of Directors  and executed and
delivered on United Federal's behalf. Subject only to approval of this Agreement
by the  shareholders  of  United  Federal  in the  manner  required  by law  (as
contemplated by Paragraph 6.01.a.  below),  (i) United Federal has the corporate
power and  authority  to execute and deliver this  Agreement  and to perform its
obligations and agreements and carry out the transactions described herein, (ii)
all corporate  proceedings and approvals required to authorize United Federal to
enter into this  Agreement and to perform its  obligations  and  agreements  and
carry out the transactions described herein have been duly and properly

                                       8
<PAGE>


completed or obtained,  and (iii) this  Agreement has been executed on behalf of
United Federal and  constitutes a valid and binding  agreement of United Federal
enforceable  in accordance  with its terms (except to the extent  enforceability
may  be  limited  by  (A)  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,  reorganization,
moratorium  or similar laws from time to time in effect which affect  creditors'
rights generally,  (B) by legal and equitable limitations on the availability of
injunctive relief,  specific  performance and other equitable remedies,  and (C)
general principles of equity and applicable laws or court decisions limiting the
enforceability of indemnification provisions).

     2.07.  Validity of Transactions;  Absence of Required  Consents or Waivers.
Except  where  the same  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on United
Federal,  neither  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement,  nor  the
consummation  of the  transactions  described  herein,  nor compliance by United
Federal with any of its obligations or agreements  contained  herein,  will: (i)
conflict  with or  result  in a  breach  of the  terms  and  conditions  of,  or
constitute a default or  violation  under any  provision  of,  United  Federal's
Charter or Bylaws,  or any contract,  agreement,  lease,  mortgage,  note, bond,
indenture,  license,  or obligation or understanding  (oral or written) to which
United  Federal is bound or by which it, its  business,  capital stock or any of
its  properties  or assets  may be  affected;  (ii)  result in the  creation  or
imposition of any lien, claim, interest, charge, restriction or encumbrance upon
any of United  Federal's  properties  or assets;  (iii)  violate any  applicable
federal or state statute, law, rule or regulation, or any judgment, order, writ,
injunction  or decree  of any  court,  administrative  or  regulatory  agency or
governmental  body;  (iv)  result  in  the  acceleration  of any  obligation  or
indebtedness  of United  Federal;  or (v) interfere with or otherwise  adversely
affect United Federal's ability to carry on its business as presently conducted.

     No  consents,  approvals  or waivers are  required to be obtained  from any
person or entity in connection with United  Federal's  execution and delivery of
this  Agreement,  or the  performance  of its  obligations  or agreements or the
consummation of the transactions described herein, except for required approvals
of United Federal's  shareholders as described in Paragraph 7.01.c. below and of
governmental or regulatory  authorities as described in Paragraph 7.01.a.  below
and other consents or approvals, the failure of which to obtain would not have a
Material  Adverse  Effect on United  Federal or its  ability to  consummate  the
Merger.

     2.08.  United Federal Books and Records.  United Federal's books of account
and  business  records  have been  maintained  in material  compliance  with all
applicable  legal  and  accounting  requirements  and in  accordance  with  good
business  practices,  and such  books  and  records  are  complete  and  reflect
accurately in all material respects United Federal's items of income and expense
and all of its assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity. The minute books of
United Federal accurately reflect in all material respects the corporate actions
which its shareholders and board of directors,  and all committees thereof, have
taken  during the time  periods  covered by such minute  books.  All such minute
books have been or will be made available to Triangle and its representatives.

     2.09. United Federal Reports.  Since January 1, 1992, and where the failure
to file has had or could  have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on  United  Federal,
United Federal has filed all reports,  registrations  and  statements,  together
with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that were required
to be filed with (i) the OTS,  (ii) the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation
(the "FDIC"),  or (iii) any other governmental or regulatory  authorities having
jurisdiction over United Federal. All such reports, registrations and statements
filed by United Federal with the OTS, FDIC, or


                                       9
<PAGE>


other such  regulatory  authority  are  collectively  referred  to herein as the
"United  Federal  Reports." As of their  respective  dates,  each United Federal
Report  complied  in all  material  respects  with all the  statutes,  rules and
regulations  enforced or promulgated  by the regulatory  authority with which it
was filed and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material  fact  required to be stated  therein or  necessary to make the
statements  therein,  in light of the circumstances  under which they were made,
not  misleading;  and United  Federal has not been notified that any such United
Federal  Report was  deficient  in any  material  respect as to form or content.
Following the date of this Agreement,  United Federal shall deliver to Triangle,
simultaneous  with the  filing  thereof,  a copy of each  report,  registration,
statement or other  regulatory  filing made by United  Federal with the OTS, the
FDIC or any other such regulatory authority.

     2.10. United Federal Financial Statements.  United Federal has delivered to
Triangle a copy (i) of its balance  sheets as of December  31, 1995 and December
31, 1996, and its statements of operations,  changes in stockholders' equity and
cash flows for the years ended December 31, 1994, December 31, 1995 and December
31,  1996,   together  with  notes  thereto  (the  "United   Federal   Financial
Statements"),  and (ii) a copy of its balance sheet as of September 30, 1997 and
its  statement of operations  for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 (the
"United Federal Interim Financial Statements");  and, following the date of this
Agreement,  United Federal promptly will deliver to Triangle all other annual or
interim  financial  statements  prepared  by or for United  Federal.  The United
Federal Financial Statements and the United Federal Interim Financial Statements
(including any related notes and schedules  thereto) (i) are in accordance  with
United  Federal's  books and records,  and (ii) were prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting  principles ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis
throughout  the periods  indicated and present  fairly in all material  respects
United  Federal's  consolidated  financial  condition,  assets and  liabilities,
results of operations, changes in stockholders' equity and changes in cash flows
as of the dates  indicated  and for the periods  specified  therein.  The United
Federal Financial Statements have been audited and certified by United Federal's
independent certified public accountants, McGladrey & Pullen LLP.

     2.11.  Tax Returns  and Other Tax  Matters.  (i) United  Federal has timely
filed or caused to be filed all federal, state and local tax returns and reports
which  are  required  by law to  have  been  filed,  and,  to the  knowledge  of
management of United  Federal,  all such returns and reports were true,  correct
and complete and  contained  all material  information  required to be contained
therein; (ii) all federal, state and local income,  profits,  franchise,  sales,
use,  occupation,  property,  excise and other  taxes  (including  interest  and
penalties),  charges and assessments which have become due from or been assessed
or levied against United Federal or its property have been fully paid, and, with
respect to any such taxes to become due from  United  Federal  for any period or
periods through and including  September 30, 1997,  adequate  provision has been
made for the payment of all such taxes and such  provision  is  reflected in the
United  Federal  Financial  Statements;  (iii) United  Federal's tax returns and
reports  have been  examined or closed by  applicable  statutes  of  limitations
through  the tax year  ended  December  31,  1993,  and United  Federal  has not
received  any  indication  of  the  pendency  of any  audit  or  examination  in
connection  with any tax  return or report  and has no  knowledge  that any such
return or report is subject  to  adjustment;  and (iv)  United  Federal  has not
executed  any waiver or extended  the statute of  limitations  (or been asked to
execute a waiver or extend a statute  of  limitation)  with  respect  to any tax
year,  the audit of any tax return or report or the  assessment or collection of
any tax. Any  deferred  taxes of United  Federal  have been  provided for in the
United Federal Financial Statements in all material respects.

                                       10
<PAGE>


     2.12. Absence of Material Adverse Changes or Certain Other Events

          (i) Since December 31, 1996, United Federal has conducted its business
     only in the ordinary course,  and there has been no Material Adverse Change
     in United Federal,  and there has occurred no event or development  and, to
     the knowledge of management of United Federal,  there  currently  exists no
     condition or circumstance  which,  with the lapse of time or otherwise,  is
     reasonably likely to cause,  create or result in a Material Adverse Change,
     in United Federal.

          (ii) Since December 31, 1996, and other than in the ordinary course of
     its business,  including its normal salary review for 1997 and 1998, United
     Federal has not incurred any material  liability or engaged in any material
     transaction or entered into any material agreement, increased the salaries,
     compensation  or general  benefits  payable to its employees,  suffered any
     loss,  destruction or damage to any of its properties or assets,  or made a
     material  acquisition  or  disposition  of any assets or  entered  into any
     material contract or lease.

     2.13. Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. United Federal has no liabilities
or  obligations,  whether  known or  unknown,  matured  or  unmatured,  accrued,
absolute,  contingent  or  otherwise,  whether  due or to become due  (including
without  limitation  tax  liabilities  or unfunded  liabilities  under  employee
benefit  plans or  arrangements),  other than (i) those  reflected in the United
Federal   Financial   Statements  and  the  United  Federal  Interim   Financial
Statements,  or (ii) obligations or liabilities  incurred in the ordinary course
of its business since  September 30, 1997,  and which are not reasonably  likely
to, individually or in the aggregate,  cause a Material Adverse Change in United
Federal.

     2.14. Compliance with Existing Obligations. United Federal has performed in
all material respects all obligations  required to be performed by it under, and
it is not in default in any  material  respect  under,  or in  violation  in any
material respect of, the terms and conditions of its Charter or Bylaws,  and any
contract,   agreement,   lease,  mortgage,   note,  bond,  indenture,   license,
obligation,  understanding  or other  undertaking  (whether  oral or written) to
which it is bound or by which  it,  its  business,  capital  stock or any of its
properties or assets may be affected.

     2.15. Litigation and Compliance with Law.

          (i) There are no actions, suits, arbitrations,  controversies or other
     proceedings  (or, to the  knowledge of management  of United  Federal,  any
     facts or circumstances  which  reasonably could result in such),  including
     without limitation any action by any governmental or regulatory  authority,
     which  currently  exists or is  ongoing,  pending or, to the  knowledge  of
     management  of United  Federal  threatened,  contemplated  or  probable  of
     assertion,  against,  relating to or otherwise  affecting United Federal or
     any of its  properties or assets  which,  if  determined  adversely,  could
     result in  liability  on the part of United  Federal for, or subject it to,
     monetary  damages,  fines or penalties,  or an injunction,  and which could
     have a  Material  Adverse  Effect on United  Federal  or on the  ability of
     United Federal to consummate the Merger;

          (ii) United Federal has all licenses, permits, orders,  authorizations
     or  approvals   ("Permits")  of  any  federal,   state,  local  or  foreign
     governmental  or regulatory  body that are material to or necessary for the
     conduct of its business or to own,  lease and operate its  properties;  all
     such Permits


                                       11
<PAGE>


     are in full force and effect;  no  violations  are or have been recorded in
     respect  of any such  Permits;  and no  proceeding  is  pending  or, to the
     knowledge  of  management  of United  Federal,  threatened  or  probable of
     assertion to suspend, cancel, revoke or limit any Permit;

          (iii)  United  Federal is not  subject to any  supervisory  agreement,
     enforcement  order,  writ,  injunction,   capital  directive,   supervisory
     directive,  memorandum of understanding or other similar agreement,  order,
     directive,  memorandum  or consent of, with or issued by any  regulatory or
     other governmental  authority  (including without limitation the OTS or the
     FDIC)  relating  to  its  financial   condition,   directors  or  officers,
     operations,  capital,  regulatory  compliance  or  otherwise;  there are no
     judgments,  orders,  stipulations,  injunctions,  decrees or awards against
     United  Federal which in any manner limit,  restrict,  regulate,  enjoin or
     prohibit any present or past  business or practice of United  Federal;  and
     United  Federal has not been  advised and has no reason to believe that any
     regulatory or other  governmental  authority or any court is contemplating,
     threatening  or  requesting  the  issuance  of any such  agreement,  order,
     injunction,  directive, memorandum, judgment, stipulation, decree or award;
     and,

          (iv) United  Federal is not in  violation  or default in any  material
     respect  under,  and has complied in all material  respects with, all laws,
     statutes,  ordinances,  rules,  regulations,  orders, writs, injunctions or
     decrees of any court or federal,  state, municipal or other governmental or
     regulatory  authority  having  jurisdiction  or  authority  over  it or its
     business operations, properties or assets (including without limitation all
     provisions  of North  Carolina law relating to usury,  the Consumer  Credit
     Protection Act, and all other laws and regulations applicable to extensions
     of  credit by  United  Federal)  and there is no basis for any claim by any
     person or authority for compensation, reimbursement or damages or otherwise
     for any  violation  of any of the  foregoing  that  would  have a  Material
     Adverse Effect on United Federal.

     2.16.  Real  Properties.  United  Federal has  Previously  Disclosed to the
Holding Company a listing of all real property owned or leased by United Federal
(including  United  Federal's  banking  facilities  and all other real estate or
foreclosed  properties  owned by United  Federal) (the "Real  Property") and all
leases, if any,  pertaining to any such Real Property to which United Federal is
a party (the "Real Property Leases"). With respect to all Real Property owned by
United Federal,  United Federal has good and marketable fee simple title to such
Real Property and owns the same free and clear of all mortgages,  liens, leases,
encumbrances,  title defects and  exceptions to title other than (i) the lien of
current taxes not yet due and payable,  and (ii) such imperfections of title and
restrictions, covenants and easements (including utility easements) which do not
affect  materially  the value of the Real Property and which do not and will not
materially detract from, interfere with or restrict the present or future use of
the properties  subject thereto or affected  thereby.  With respect to each Real
Property Lease (i) such lease is valid and  enforceable  in accordance  with its
terms,   (ii)  there  currently   exists  no  circumstance  or  condition  which
constitutes an event of default by United  Federal or its lessor or which,  with
the passage of time or the giving of required  notices will or could  constitute
such an event of  default,  and (iii)  subject  to any  required  consent of the
lessor,  each such Real  Property  Lease may be  assigned  to  Triangle  and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement does not constitute an event of default
thereunder.

     To the  knowledge  of  management  of  United  Federal,  the Real  Property
complies in all material respects with all applicable  federal,  state and local
laws, regulations, ordinances or orders of any


                                       12
<PAGE>


governmental  authority,  including  those relating to zoning,  building and use
permits,  and the Real Property may be used under applicable  zoning  ordinances
for  commercial  banking  facilities  as a  matter  of  right  rather  than as a
conditional or nonconforming use.

     All  improvements  and fixtures  included in or on the Real Property are in
good condition and repair,  ordinary wear and tear excepted,  and, except as may
have been Previously  Disclosed pursuant to Paragraph 2.21 below, there does not
exist any condition which  interferes  with United  Federal's use or affects the
economic value thereof.

     2.17. Loans, Accounts, Notes and Other Receivables.

          (i) All loans,  accounts,  notes and other  receivables  reflected  as
     assets on United  Federal's  books and records (A) have  resulted from bona
     fide  business  transactions  in the  ordinary  course of United  Federal's
     operations,  (B) were made in accordance  with United  Federal's  customary
     loan policies and procedures,  and (C) are owned by United Federal free and
     clear of all liens, encumbrances,  assignments, participation or repurchase
     agreements  or other  exceptions to title or to the ownership or collection
     rights of any other person or entity.

          (ii) All records of United Federal  regarding all  outstanding  loans,
     accounts, notes and other receivables, and all other real estate owned, are
     accurate in all  material  respects,  and,  with respect to each loan which
     United  Federal's  loan  documentation  indicates is secured by any real or
     personal  property or property  rights  ("Loan  Collateral"),  such loan is
     secured  by  valid,  perfected  and  enforceable  liens  on all  such  Loan
     Collateral  having the priority  described in United  Federal's  records of
     such loan.

          (iii) Each loan reflected as an asset on United  Federal's  books, and
     each guaranty  therefor,  is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
     obligor or guarantor  thereon,  and no defense,  offset or counterclaim has
     been asserted with respect to any such loan.

          (iv) United Federal has Previously  Disclosed to the Holding Company a
     listing  of (A) each  loan,  extension  of credit or other  asset of United
     Federal which, as of September 30, 1997, is classified by the OTS, the FDIC
     or by United  Federal  as "Loss",  "Doubtful",  "Substandard"  or  "Special
     Mention" (or otherwise by words of similar import), or which United Federal
     has designated as a special asset or for special  handling or placed on any
     "watch list" because of concerns  regarding the ultimate  collectibility or
     deteriorating  condition  of such asset or any  obligor or Loan  Collateral
     therefor, and (B) each loan or extension of credit of United Federal which,
     as of September  30, 1997,  was past due thirty (30) days or more as to the
     payment of principal  and/or  interest,  or as to which any obligor thereon
     (including the borrower or any guarantor)  otherwise was in default, is the
     subject of a proceeding  in  bankruptcy  or  otherwise  has  indicated  any
     inability or intention not to repay such loan or extension of credit.  Each
     such listing is accurate and complete as of the date indicated.

          (v) To the knowledge of management of United  Federal,  each of United
     Federal's loans and other extensions of credit (with the exception of those
     loans and extensions of credit specified in the written listings  described
     in Subparagraph (iv) above) is collectible in the ordinary course of United
     Federal's  business in an amount which is not less than the amount at which
     it is carried on United Federal's books and records.


                                       13
<PAGE>


          (vi) United Federal's reserve for possible loan losses (the "Loan Loss
     Reserve") shown in the United Federal Interim Financial Statements has been
     established  in  conformity  with GAAP,  sound  banking  practices  and all
     applicable  requirements  of the OTS and rules and  policies of the OTS and
     the FDIC and,  in the best  judgment  of United  Federal's  management,  is
     reasonable  in view of the size and  character  of  United  Federal's  loan
     portfolio,  current economic conditions and other relevant factors,  and is
     adequate to provide for losses  relating to or the risk of loss inherent in
     United Federal's loan portfolio and other real estate owned.

     2.18 Securities  Portfolio and Investments.  All securities owned by United
Federal (whether owned of record or beneficially) are held free and clear of all
mortgages,  liens,  pledges,  encumbrances or any other restriction or rights of
any other  person or entity,  whether  contractual  or  statutory,  which  would
materially  impair the ability of United  Federal to dispose  freely of any such
security  and/or  otherwise to realize the benefits of ownership  thereof at any
time  (other  than  pledges  of  securities  in the  ordinary  course  of United
Federal's  business to secure  public  funds  deposits  and in  connection  with
repurchase  agreements  with  customers and Federal Home Loan Bank  borrowings).
There are no voting trusts or other  agreements or  undertakings to which United
Federal is a party  with  respect  to the  voting of any such  securities.  With
respect to all  "repurchase  agreements" to which United Federal has "purchased"
securities  under  agreement  to resell (if any),  United  Federal  has a valid,
perfected first lien or security interest in the government  securities or other
collateral  securing the repurchase  agreement,  and the value of the collateral
securing each such repurchase agreement equals or exceeds the amount of the debt
owed to United Federal which is secured by such collateral.

     Since September 30, 1997,  there has been no significant  deterioration  or
Material Adverse Change in the quality,  or any material  decrease in the value,
of United Federal's securities portfolio.

     2.19.  Personal  Property  and Other  Asset.  All assets of United  Federal
(including without limitation all banking equipment,  data processing equipment,
vehicles, and all other personal property located in or used in the operation of
each  office of United  Federal  or  otherwise  used by  United  Federal  in the
operation  of its  business)  are owned by United  Federal free and clear of all
liens, leases, encumbrances, title defects or exceptions to title. All of United
Federal's banking equipment is in good operating condition and repair,  ordinary
wear and tear excepted.

     2.20. Patents,  Trademarks and Licenses.  United Federal owns, possesses or
has the right to use any and all  patents,  licenses,  trademarks,  trade names,
copyrights,  trade secrets and  proprietary and other  confidential  information
necessary to conduct its  business as now  conducted;  and, to the  knowledge of
management of United Federal,  United Federal has not violated,  or is currently
in conflict  with,  any patent,  license,  trademark,  trade name,  copyright or
proprietary right of any other person or entity.

     2.21.  Environmental  Matters.  United Federal has Previously Disclosed and
provided to the Holding Company copies of all written  reports,  correspondence,
notices  or  other   materials,   if  any,  in  its  possession   pertaining  to
environmental reports, surveys,  assessments,  notices of violation,  notices of
regulatory  requirements,  penalty assessments,  claims, actions or proceedings,
past or  pending,  of the Real  Property or any of its Loan  Collateral  and any
improvements  thereon,  or to any  violation of  Environmental  Laws (as defined
below)  on,  affecting  or  otherwise  involving  the  Real  Property,  any Loan
Collateral or otherwise involving United Federal.


                                       14
<PAGE>


          To the knowledge of management of United Federal:

          (i) there has been no presence, use, production, generation, handling,
     transportation,   treatment,  storage,  disposal,  distribution,  labeling,
     reporting,  testing, processing,  emission,  discharge, release, threatened
     release, control or clean-up, in a reportable or regulated quantity, of any
     hazardous,  toxic or otherwise regulated  materials,  substances or wastes,
     chemical  substances  or mixtures,  pesticides,  pollutants,  contaminants,
     toxic chemicals, oil or other petroleum products or byproducts, asbestos or
     materials  containing  (or presumed to contain)  asbestos,  polychlorinated
     biphenyls, or radioactive materials, and/or any hazardous, toxic, regulated
     or dangerous  waste,  substance  or material  defined as such by the United
     States Environmental Protection Agency or any other federal, state or local
     government or agency or political  subdivision  thereof, or for the purpose
     of any  Environmental  Laws (as defined  herein),  as may now or  hereafter
     (through  the  Effective   Time)  be  defined  or  in  effect   ("Hazardous
     Substances")  by any person on,  from or relating to any parcel of the Real
     Property

          (ii) United Federal has not violated any federal,  state or local law,
     rule,  regulation,  order, permit or other requirement  relating to health,
     safety  or  the  environment  or  imposing  liability,   responsibility  or
     standards of conduct applicable to environmental conditions (all such laws,
     rules, regulations, orders and other requirements being herein collectively
     referred to as  "Environmental  Laws"),  and there has been no violation of
     any Environmental Laws (including any violation with respect to or relating
     to any Loan  Collateral) by any other person or entity for whose  liability
     or obligation  with respect to any  particular  matter or violation  United
     Federal is or may be  responsible  or liable;  (iii) United  Federal is not
     subject  to any  claims,  demands,  causes of action,  suits,  proceedings,
     losses, damages, penalties, liabilities,  obligations, costs or expenses of
     any kind and nature which arise out of,  under or in  connection  with,  or
     which  result  from  or are  based  upon  the  presence,  use,  production,
     generation,   handling,   transportation,   treatment,  storage,  disposal,
     distribution,   labeling,   reporting,   testing,   processing,   emission,
     discharge,   release,  threatened  release,  control  or  clean-up  of  any
     Hazardous  Substances on, from or relating to the Real Property or any Loan
     Collateral, by United Federal or any other person or entity; and,

          (iv) No facts,  events or conditions  relating to the Real Property or
     any Loan  Collateral,  or the  operations  of United  Federal at any of its
     office locations,  will prevent,  hinder or limit continued compliance with
     Environmental  Laws,  or  give  rise  to  any  investigatory,  remedial  or
     corrective actions,  obligations or liabilities (whether accrued, absolute,
     contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to Environmental Laws.

          For purposes of this Agreement, "Environmental Laws" shall include:

          (i) all federal,  state and local statutes,  regulations,  ordinances,
     orders, decrees, and similar provisions having the force or effect of law,

          (ii) all contractual agreements, and

          (iii) all common law,


                                       15
<PAGE>


concerning public health and safety,  worker health and safety, and pollution or
protection of the  environment,  including  without  limitation all standards of
conduct and bases of  obligations  relating to the  presence,  use,  production,
generation,    handling,    transportation,    treatment,   storage,   disposal,
distribution,  labeling,  reporting,  testing, processing,  discharge,  release,
threatened release,  control or clean-up of any Hazardous Substances  (including
without limitation the Comprehensive  Environmental  Response,  Compensation and
Liability  Act, the  Superfund  Amendment and  Reauthorization  Act, the Federal
Insecticide,   Fungicide   and   Rodenticide   Act,  the   Hazardous   Materials
Transportation Act, the Resource  Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Water
Act, the Clean Air Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Oil Pollutant Act,
the Coastal Zone Management  Act, any "Superfund" or "Superlien"  law, the North
Carolina Oil Pollution and Hazardous  Substances Control Act, the North Carolina
Water and Air  Resources  Act, and the North  Carolina  Occupational  Safety and
Health Act,  including any amendments thereto from time to time) as such may now
or hereafter (through the Effective Time) be defined or in effect.

     2.22.  Absence of Brokerage or Finders  Commissions.  (i) All  negotiations
relative  to this  Agreement  and the  transactions  described  herein have been
carried on by United Federal directly with the Holding  Company;  (ii) no person
or firm  has been  retained  by or has  acted  on  behalf  of,  pursuant  to any
agreement,  arrangement or understanding with, or under the authority of, United
Federal's  Board of  Directors,  as a broker,  finder or agent or has  performed
similar  functions  or  otherwise  is or may be  entitled  to receive or claim a
brokerage fee or other commission in connection with the transactions  described
herein; and (ii) United Federal has not agreed to pay any brokerage fee or other
commission to any person or entity in connection with the transactions described
herein.

     2.23.  Material  Contracts.  Except for leases on United  Federal's  branch
offices,  United  Federal is not a party to or bound by any agreement  involving
money or other  property  in an amount or with a value in excess of $25,000  (i)
which is not to be  performed  in full prior to December  31,  1998,  (ii) which
calls for the  provision  of goods or services  to United  Federal and cannot be
terminated  without  material  penalty  upon  written  notice to the other party
thereto,  (iii) which is material to United  Federal and was not entered into in
the ordinary  course of business,  (iv) which involves  hedging,  options or any
similar trading activity, or interest rate exchanges or swaps, (v) which commits
United  Federal to extend any loan or credit  (with the  exception of letters of
credit,  lines of credit and loan commitments extended in the ordinary course of
United  Federal's  business),  (vi) which  involves  the purchase or sale of any
assets of  United  Federal,  or the  purchase,  sale,  issuance,  redemption  or
transfer of any capital stock or other securities  issued by United Federal,  or
(vii) with any  director,  officer or principal  shareholder  of United  Federal
(including  without limitation any employment or consulting  agreement,  but not
including any agreement  relating to loans or other banking  services which were
made in the ordinary course of United  Federal's  business and on  substantially
the same  terms and  conditions  as were  prevailing  at that  time for  similar
agreements with unrelated persons).


                                       16
<PAGE>


     United Federal is not in default in any material respect, and there has not
occurred  any  event  which  with the  lapse of time or giving of notice or both
would constitute such a default,  under any contract,  lease,  insurance policy,
commitment or  arrangement to which it is a party or by which it or its property
is or may be  bound or  affected  or under  which  it or its  property  receives
benefits,  where the  consequences of such default would have a Material Adverse
Effect on United Federal.

     2.24. Employment Matters;  Employee Relations.  United Federal (i) has paid
in full to or accrued on behalf of all its directors, officers and employees all
wages, salaries, commissions,  bonuses, fees, sick pay, severance pay, all other
amounts  promised to the extent  required  by law or when  United  Federal has a
policy of making such  payments and other direct  compensation  for all services
performed by them to the date of this  Agreement and (ii) is in compliance  with
all federal,  state and local laws, statutes,  rules and regulations with regard
to employment  and employment  practices,  terms and  conditions,  and wages and
hours and other  compensation  matters;  and no person has, to the  knowledge of
management  of United  Federal,  asserted  that United  Federal is liable in any
amount for any arrearages in wages or employment  taxes or for any penalties for
failure to comply with any of the foregoing.

     There is no action,  suit or  proceeding  by any person  pending or, to the
knowledge of management of United  Federal,  threatened,  against United Federal
(or  any  of  its  employees),   involving  employment  discrimination,   sexual
harassment, wrongful discharge or similar claims.

     United  Federal  is not a party to or bound  by any  collective  bargaining
agreement  with any of its  employees,  any labor union or any other  collective
bargaining  unit or  organization.  There  is no  pending  or  threatened  labor
dispute,  work  stoppage  or  strike  involving  United  Federal  and any of its
employees,  or any pending or threatened proceeding in which it is asserted that
United Federal has committed an unfair labor practice;  and management of United
Federal  is not aware of any  activity  involving  United  Federal or any of its
employees  seeking to certify a  collective  bargaining  unit or engaging in any
other labor organization activity.

     2.25. Employment Agreements; Employee Benefit Plans.

          (i)  United  Federal  is not a party  to or  bound  by any  employment
     agreements with any of its directors, officers or employees.

          (ii) United Federal has Previously Disclosed and has delivered or made
     available to the Holding  Company prior to the execution of this  Agreement
     copies,  in each case,  of all pension,  stock  ownership,  severance  pay,
     vacation,  bonus,  or other  incentive  plan,  all other  written  employee
     programs,  arrangements,  or agreements,  all medical,  vision,  dental, or
     other  health  plans,  all life  insurance  plans,  and all other  employee
     benefit plans or fringe benefit plans,  including  "employee benefit plans"
     as that term is defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee  Retirement  Income
     Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),  currently adopted,  maintained
     by,  sponsored in whole or in part by, or  contributed to by United Federal
     for the benefit of employees,  retirees,  dependents,  spouses,  directors,
     independent contractors,  or other beneficiaries and under which employees,
     retirees, dependents, spouses, directors, independent contractors, or other
     beneficiaries  are  eligible  to  participate  (collectively,  the  "United
     Federal Benefit  Plans").  Any of the United Federal Benefit Plans which is
     an "employee pension benefit plan," as that term is defined in Section 3(2)
     of ERISA, is referred to herein as a "United Federal ERISA Plan." No United
     Federal ERISA Plan is also a "defined  benefit plan" (as defined in Section
     414(j) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code) or is or has been a  multi-employer
     plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.  Neither  United Federal
     nor any affiliate of United Federal has ever been required to contribute to
     a multi-employer plan, as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.


                                       17
<PAGE>


          (iii) All United  Federal  Benefit  Plans are in  compliance  with the
     applicable  terms of  ERISA,  the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  and any  other
     applicable laws, rules or regulations, the breach or violation of which are
     reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the aggregate,  a Material
     Adverse Effect on United  Federal.  Each United Federal ERISA Plan which is
     intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal  Revenue Code
     has received a favorable  determination  letter from the  Internal  Revenue
     Service, and management of United Federal is not aware of any circumstances
     likely to result in revocation of any such favorable  determination letter.
     To the knowledge of management of United  Federal,  United  Federal has not
     engaged in a transaction  with respect to any United  Federal  Benefit Plan
     that,  assuming the taxable  period of such  transaction  expired as of the
     date  hereof,  would  subject  United  Federal  to a tax  imposed by either
     Section  4975 of the Internal  Revenue  Code or Section  502(i) of ERISA in
     amounts  which  are  reasonably  likely  to  have,  individually  or in the
     aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on United Federal.

          (iv) United  Federal  has no  liability  for  retiree  health and life
     benefits  under any of the United  Federal  Benefit  Plans and there are no
     restrictions  on the  rights of United  Federal to amend or  terminate  any
     United  Federal  Benefit Plan without  incurring any liability  thereunder,
     which liability is reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse Effect on
     United Federal.

          (v) Neither the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  nor the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (A) result in any
     payment (including severance,  unemployment compensation, golden parachute,
     or  otherwise)  becoming  due to any  director  or any  employee  of United
     Federal  from  United  Federal  under any United  Federal  Benefit  Plan or
     otherwise,  (B) increase any benefits  otherwise  payable  under any United
     Federal Benefit Plan or otherwise, or (C) result in any acceleration of the
     time of  payment  or  vesting  of any such  benefit,  where  such  payment,
     increase, or acceleration is reasonably likely to have,  individually or in
     the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on United Federal.

          (vi) The actuarial present values of all accrued deferred compensation
     entitlements  (including  entitlements  under any  executive  compensation,
     supplemental  retirement,  or employment agreement) of employees and former
     employees of United Federal and their  respective  beneficiaries  have been
     fully  reflected on the United Federal  Financial  Statements to the extent
     required by and in accordance with GAAP.

     2.26.  Insurance.  United  Federal has in effect a "blanket  bond" and such
other policies of general liability, casualty, directors and officers liability,
employee  fidelity,  errors  and  omissions  and other  property  and  liability
insurance  as  have  been  Previously  Disclosed  to the  Holding  Company  (the
"Policies").  The  Policies  provide  coverage in such  amounts and against such
liabilities,  casualties,  losses or risks as is  customary  or  reasonable  for
entities  engaged in United  Federal's  business or as is required by applicable
law or  regulation;  and,  in the  reasonable  opinion of  management  of United
Federal,  the  insurance  coverage  provided  under the  Policies is  considered
reasonable and adequate in all respects for United Federal. Each of the Policies
is in full force and effect and is valid and  enforceable in accordance with its
terms, and is underwritten by an insurer of recognized financial  responsibility
and which is  qualified  to  transact  business  in North  Carolina;  and United
Federal  has taken all  requisite  actions  (including  the  giving of  required
notices) under each such Policy in order to preserve all rights  thereunder with
respect to all matters.  United  Federal is not in default under the  provisions
of, has not received  notice of  cancellation  or  nonrenewal of or any material
premium


                                       18
<PAGE>


increase  on, and has no  knowledge  of any failure to pay any premium on or any
inaccuracy in any application  for any Policy.  There are no pending claims with
respect  to any Policy  (and  management  of United  Federal is not aware of any
facts which would form the basis of any such claim),  and  management  of United
Federal has no knowledge of any state of facts or of the occurrence of any event
that is reasonably likely to form the basis for any such claim.

     2.27. Insurance of Deposits.  All deposits of United Federal are insured by
the Savings  Association  Bank  Insurance Fund of the FDIC to the maximum extent
permitted by law, all deposit insurance premiums and assessments due from United
Federal  to the FDIC  have been paid in full in a timely  fashion,  and,  to the
knowledge of management of United Federal, no proceedings have been commenced or
are contemplated by the FDIC or otherwise to terminate such insurance.

     2.28.  Affiliates.  United Federal has Previously  Disclosed to the Holding
Company a listing of those  persons  deemed by United  Federal as of the date of
this Agreement to be  "Affiliates" of United Federal (as that term is defined in
Rule 405  promulgated  under the  Securities  Act of 1933),  including  persons,
trusts, estates,  corporations or other entities related to persons deemed to be
Affiliates of United Federal.

     2.29.  Obstacles  to  Regulatory  Approval,  Accounting  Treatment  or  Tax
Treatment.  To the knowledge of management  of United  Federal,  there exists no
fact or condition  (including  United  Federal's  record of compliance  with the
Community  Reinvestment  Act) relating to United  Federal that may reasonably be
expected to (i)  prevent or  materially  impede or delay the Holding  Company or
Triangle from obtaining the regulatory approvals required in order to consummate
transactions  described herein,  (ii) prevent the Merger from qualifying to be a
reorganization  under  Section  368(a)(1)(A)  of the Code,  or (iii) prevent the
Merger from being treated as a  "pooling-of-interests"  for accounting purposes;
and,  if any such fact or  condition  becomes  known to United  Federal,  United
Federal shall promptly (and in any event within three days after  obtaining such
knowledge)  communicate  such fact or condition to the  President of the Holding
Company.

     2.30.  Disclosure.  To the knowledge of management  of United  Federal,  no
written  statement,  certificate,  schedule,  list or other written  information
furnished by or on behalf of United  Federal at any time to the Holding  Company
or Triangle in connection  with this  Agreement  (including  without  limitation
information  "Previously  Disclosed" by United  Federal),  when  considered as a
whole, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
or will omit to state a material fact  necessary in order to make the statements
herein or therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.  Each document delivered or to be delivered by United Federal to the
Holding  Company or Triangle will be a true and complete copy of such  document,
unmodified except by another document delivered by United Federal.

     2.31.  Dissenters' Rights.  Holders of United Federal Stock do not have any
dissenters rights.


                                       19
<PAGE>


                   ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                       OF THE HOLDING COMPANY AND TRIANGLE

     Except  as  otherwise  specifically  described  herein  or  as  "Previously
Disclosed" (as defined in Paragraph 10.01. below) to United Federal, the Holding
Company  and  Triangle  each  hereby  makes the  following  representations  and
warranties to United Federal.

     3.01. Organization;  Standing; Power. The Holding Company and Triangle each
(i) is duly organized and  incorporated,  validly  existing and in good standing
under the laws of North  Carolina,  (ii) has all  requisite  power and authority
(corporate  and  other)  to  own  its  respective  properties  and  conduct  its
respective  businesses  as now being  conducted,  (iii) is duly  qualified to do
business  and is in good  standing  in each  other  jurisdiction  in  which  the
character  of the  properties  owned or  leased  by it  therein  or in which the
transaction of its respective  businesses  makes such  qualification  necessary,
except where failure so to qualify would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
the Holding  Company,  and (iv) is not  transacting  business,  or operating any
properties  owned or leased by it, in violation  of any  provision of federal or
state law or any rule or  regulation  promulgated  thereunder,  which  violation
would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Holding Company.

     3.02.  Capital  Stock.  The  Holding  Company's  authorized  capital  stock
consists of  20,000,000  shares of Triangle  Stock.  As of December 31, 1997, an
aggregate of 12,980,925  shares of Triangle  Stock were issued and  outstanding.
The Holding  Company's  outstanding  capital stock has been duly  authorized and
validly issued, and is fully paid and nonassessable,  and the shares of Triangle
Stock issued to United Federal's  shareholders pursuant to this Agreement,  when
issued as described herein, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
nonassessable and freely tradable by all holders other than Affiliates.

     3.03. Authorization and Validity of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
and validly approved by the Holding Company's and Triangle's Boards of Directors
and executed and delivered on the Holding Company's and Triangle's  behalf.  (i)
The Holding  Company and Triangle each has the corporate  power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations and agreements
and carry out the transactions  described herein, (ii) all corporate proceedings
required to be taken to authorize the Holding Company and Triangle to enter into
this Agreement and to perform their obligations and agreements and carry out the
transactions  described herein have been duly and properly taken, and (iii) this
Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Holding Company and
Triangle  enforceable  in  accordance  with  its  terms  (except  to the  extent
enforceability  may  be  limited  by  (A)  applicable  bankruptcy,   insolvency,
reorganization,  moratorium  or similar  laws from time to time in effect  which
affect creditors' rights  generally,  (B) by legal and equitable  limitations on
the availability of injunctive relief,  specific performance and other equitable
remedies,  and (C) general  principles  of equity and  applicable  laws or court
decisions limiting the enforceability of indemnification provisions).

     3.04.  Validity of Transactions;  Absence of Required  Consents or Waivers.
Except  where the same would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the Holding
Company,  neither  the  execution  and  delivery  of  this  Agreement,  nor  the
consummation of the transactions described herein, nor compliance by the Holding
Company or Triangle with any of its obligations or agreements  contained herein,
will: (i) conflict with or result in a breach of the terms and conditions of, or
constitute


                                       20
<PAGE>


a default  or  violation  under any  provision  of,  the  Holding  Company's  or
Triangle's  Articles of  Incorporation  or Bylaws,  or any contract,  agreement,
lease, mortgage, note, bond, indenture,  license, or obligation or understanding
(oral or written) to which the Holding  Company or Triangle is bound or by which
it,  its  business,  capital  stock or any of its  properties  or assets  may be
affected;  (ii)  result  in the  creation  or  imposition  of any  lien,  claim,
interest,  charge,  restriction or encumbrance upon any of the Holding Company's
or Triangle's  properties or assets;  (iii)  violate any  applicable  federal or
state statute, law, rule or regulation, or any order, writ, injunction or decree
of any court,  administrative  or regulatory  agency or governmental  body; (iv)
result in the  acceleration  of any  obligation or  indebtedness  of the Holding
Company or Triangle;  or (v) interfere  with or otherwise  adversely  affect the
Holding  Company's or  Triangle's  ability to carry on its business as presently
conducted.

     No  consents,  approvals  or waivers are  required to be obtained  from any
person  or  entity  in  connection  with the  Holding  Company's  or  Triangle's
execution and delivery of this Agreement,  or the performance of its obligations
or agreements or the consummation of the transactions  described herein,  except
for the  approval of  Triangle's  sole  shareholder  as  described  in Paragraph
7.01.d.  below  and of  governmental  or  regulatory  authorities  described  in
Paragraph 7.01.a. below.

     3.05.  Holding  Company  Books  and  Records.  The  Holding  Company's  and
Triangle's  books of  account  and  business  records  have been  maintained  in
substantial compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements and
in  accordance  with good  business  practices,  and such books and  records are
complete and reflect  accurately in all material  respects the Holding Company's
and Triangle's items of income and expense and all of their assets,  liabilities
and stockholders'  equity.  The minute books of the Holding Company and Triangle
accurately  reflect in all material  respects the corporate  actions which their
shareholders  and boards of directors,  and all committees  thereof,  have taken
during the time periods covered by such minute books. All such minute books have
been or will be made available to United Federal and its representatives.

     3.06 Holding Company Reports.  Since January 1, 1992, and where the failure
to file has had or could have a Material  Adverse Effect on the Holding Company,
the Holding Company and its  consolidated  subsidiaries  have filed all reports,
registrations and statements, together with any amendments that were required to
be made with respect  thereto,  that were required to be filed with (i) the SEC,
(ii) the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "FRB"), (iii) the
FDIC, (iv) the North Carolina  Commissioner of Banks (the  "Commissioner"),  and
(v) any other governmental or regulatory  authorities  having  jurisdiction over
the Holding Company or its  subsidiaries.  All such reports and statements filed
with the SEC,  the FRB,  the FDIC,  the  Commissioner  or other such  regulatory
authority are collectively  referred to herein as the "Holding Company Reports."
As of their  respective  dates,  the  Holding  Company  Reports  complied in all
material  respects  with all the  statutes,  rules and  regulations  enforced or
promulgated by the  regulatory  authority with which they were filed and did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required  to be stated  therein  or  necessary  in order to make the  statements
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading;  and the  Holding  Company  has not  been  notified  that any of the
Holding  Company  Reports were  deficient in any material  respect as to form or
content. Following the date of this Agreement, the Holding Company shall deliver
to United Federal upon its request a copy of any report, registration, statement
or other regulatory  filing made by the Holding Company or its subsidiaries with
the SEC,  the FRB,  the FDIC,  the  Commissioner  or any other  such  regulatory
authority.


                                       21
<PAGE>


     3.07.  Holding  Company  Financial  Statements.  The  Holding  Company  has
delivered  to United  Federal (i) a copy of the Holding  Company's  consolidated
balance  sheets  as of  December  31,  1995  and  December  31,  1996,  and  its
consolidated  statements of income,  changes in shareholders'  equity,  and cash
flows for the years ended December 31, 1994,  December 31, 1995 and December 31,
1996  (the  "Holding  Company  Financial  Statements"),  and  (ii) a copy of the
Holding  Company's  balance  sheet as of September 30, 1997 and its statement of
operations  for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 (the "Holding  Company
Interim Financial Statements"). The Holding Company Financial Statements and the
Holding  Company Interim  Financial  Statements were prepared in accordance with
GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods  indicated and present
fairly in all material  respects the Holding  Company's  consolidated  financial
condition,   assets  and   liabilities,   results  of  operations,   changes  in
shareholders'  equity  and  changes  in cash  flows as of the  dates and for the
periods specified  therein.  The Holding Company Financial  Statements have been
audited by the  Holding  Company's  independent  accountants,  Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P.

     3.08 Absence of Material  Adverse  Changes.  Since September 30, 1997 there
has  been no  material  adverse  change,  and  there  has  occurred  no event or
development  and, to the best  knowledge of management  of the Holding  Company,
there  currently  exists no condition or circumstance  which,  with the lapse of
time or otherwise, is reasonably likely to cause, create or result in a Material
Adverse Change in the Holding Company.

     3.09 Litigation and Compliance  with Law. (i) There are no actions,  suits,
arbitrations,  controversies or other proceedings or investigations  (or, to the
knowledge of management of the Holding Company, any facts or circumstances which
reasonably could result in such),  including without  limitation any such action
by any  governmental  or  regulatory  authority,  which  currently  exists or is
ongoing,  pending or, to the  knowledge of  management  of the Holding  Company,
threatened,  contemplated  or probable  of  assertion,  against,  relating to or
otherwise  affecting  the  Holding  Company or any of its  properties  or assets
which,  if  determined  adversely,  could result in liability on the part of the
Holding Company for, or subject it to, monetary damages, fines or penalties,  or
an injunction,  and which could have a Material Adverse Change in the Holding or
on the ability of the Holding Company or Triangle to consummate the Merger;

          (ii) The Holding Company and its  subsidiaries  each has all licenses,
     permits,  orders,  authorizations or approvals  ("Permits") of any federal,
     state,  local or foreign  governmental or regulatory body that are material
     to or  necessary  for the  conduct  of its  business  or to own,  lease and
     operate its properties;  all such Permits are in full force and effect;  no
     violations are or have been recorded in respect of any such Permits; and no
     proceeding  is pending or, to the  knowledge of  management  of the Holding
     Company,  threatened or probable of assertion to suspend, cancel, revoke or
     limit any Permit;

          (iii)  Neither the  Holding  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  is
     subject to any supervisory agreement,  enforcement order, writ, injunction,
     capital directive,  supervisory  directive,  memorandum of understanding or
     other similar agreement,  order, directive,  memorandum or consent of, with
     or issued by any  regulatory  or other  governmental  authority  (including
     without  limitation the FDIC, the FRB or the Commissioner)  relating to its
     financial condition, directors or officers,


                                       22
<PAGE>


     operations,  capital,  regulatory  compliance  or  otherwise;  there are no
     judgments, orders, stipulations, injunctions, decrees or awards against the
     Holding  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries  which in any  manner  limit,
     restrict,  regulate,  enjoin or prohibit  any  present or past  business or
     practice of the Holding Company or any of its subsidiaries; and neither the
     Holding  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has been  advised or has any
     reason to believe that any  regulatory or other  governmental  authority or
     any court is  contemplating,  threatening or requesting the issuance of any
     such  agreement,  order,  injunction,   directive,   memorandum,  judgment,
     stipulation, decree or award; and,

          (iv)  Neither the Holding  Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  is in
     violation or default in any material  respect under,  and each has complied
     in all material  respects  with,  all laws,  statutes,  ordinances,  rules,
     regulations, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees of any court or federal,
     state,  municipal or other  governmental  or  regulatory  authority  having
     jurisdiction or authority over it or its business operations, properties or
     assets (including  without  limitation all provisions of North Carolina law
     relating to usury,  the Consumer Credit  Protection Act, and all other laws
     and regulations applicable to extensions of credit by the Holding Company's
     bank  subsidiaries)  and there is no basis  for any claim by any  person or
     authority for  compensation,  reimbursement or damages or otherwise for any
     violation of any of the foregoing that would have a Material Adverse Effect
     on the Holding Company.

     3.10. Absence of Brokerage or Finders Commissions.

          (i) All  negotiations  relative to this Agreement and the transactions
     described  herein have been carried on by the Holding  Company and Triangle
     directly with United  Federal;  (ii) no person or firm has been retained by
     or has  acted on behalf  of,  pursuant  to any  agreement,  arrangement  or
     understanding  with,  or under  the  authority  of,  the  Holding  Company,
     Triangle or their Boards of Directors,  as a broker, finder or agent or has
     performed  similar  functions or otherwise is or may be entitled to receive
     or  claim a  brokerage  fee or  other  commission  in  connection  with the
     transactions  described  herein;  and (iii) neither the Holding Company nor
     Triangle has agreed to pay any  brokerage  fee or other  commission  to any
     person or entity in connection with the transactions described herein.

     3.11.  Obstacles  to  Regulatory  Approval,  Accounting  Treatment  or  Tax
Treatment.  To the knowledge of management  of the Holding  Company,  no fact or
condition  (including  the  Holding  Company's  bank  subsidiaries'  records  of
compliance with the Community  Reinvestment Act) relating to the Holding Company
exists that may  reasonably be expected to (i) prevent or  materially  impede or
delay the Holding Company  regulatory  approvals required in order to consummate
the transactions described herein, (ii) prevent the Merger from qualifying to be
a  reorganization  under Section  368(a)(1)(A) of the Code, or (iii) prevent the
Merger from being treated as a  "pooling-of-interests"  for accounting purposes;
and, if any such fact or condition  becomes known to the  executive  officers of
the Holding  Company,  it  promptly  (and in any event  within  three days after
obtaining  such  knowledge)  shall  communicate  such fact or  condition  to the
President of United Federal.

     3.12. Disclosure. To the knowledge of management of the Holding Company, no
written  statement,  certificate,  schedule,  list or other written  information
furnished  by or on behalf of the  Holding  Company or  Triangle  at any time to
United Federal in connection with this Agreement  (including  without limitation
information  "Previously  Disclosed" by the Holding Company and Triangle),  when
considered  as a whole,  contains  or will  contain  any untrue  statement  of a
material fact


                                       23
<PAGE>


or omits or will omit to state a material  fact  necessary  in order to make the
statements  herein or therein,  in light of the  circumstances  under which they
were made,  not  misleading.  Each document  delivered or to be delivered by the
Holding  Company or Triangle to United Federal is or will be a true and complete
copy of such document,  unmodified  except by another document  delivered by the
Holding Company or Triangle.

                     ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS OF UNITED FEDERAL

     4.01.  Affirmative  Covenants  of United  Federal.  United  Federal  hereby
covenants and agrees as follows with the Holding Company and Triangle.

     a. "Affiliates" of United Federal. United Federal will use its best efforts
to cause each person who shall be deemed by the Holding  Company or its counsel,
in their sole  discretion,  to be an Affiliate of United  Federal (as defined in
Paragraph  2.28 above),  to execute and deliver to the Holding  Company at least
forty-five (45) days prior to the Closing a written  agreement (the "Affiliates'
Agreement")  relating to restrictions on shares of Triangle Stock to be received
by such Affiliates  pursuant to this Agreement and which  Affiliates'  Agreement
shall be in form and content reasonably  satisfactory to the Holding Company and
substantially in the form attached as Schedule B to this Agreement. Certificates
for the shares of Triangle  Stock issued to Affiliates  of United  Federal shall
bear a restrictive  legend  (substantially  in the form as shall be set forth in
the Affiliates'  Agreement) with respect to the restrictions  applicable to such
shares.

     b. Conduct of Business Prior to Effective Time. While the parties recognize
that  the  operation  of  United   Federal  until  the  Effective  Time  is  the
responsibility of United Federal and its Board of Directors and officers, United
Federal agrees that,  between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time,
it will carry on its  business,  in and only in the regular and usual  course in
substantially the same manner as such business heretofore was conducted, and, to
the extent consistent with such business and within its ability to do so, United
Federal agrees that it will:

          (i) preserve intact its present business organization,  keep available
     its present  officers and employees,  and preserve its  relationships  with
     customers,  depositors,  creditors,  correspondents,  suppliers, and others
     having business relationships with it;

          (ii) maintain all its  properties  and equipment in customary  repair,
     order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted;

          (iii) maintain its books of account and records in the usual,  regular
     and ordinary manner in accordance with sound business  practices applied on
     a consistent basis;

          (iv) comply with all laws, rules and regulations applicable to it, its
     properties and to the conduct of its business;

          (v)  continue to maintain in force  insurance  such as is described in
     Paragraph  2.26.  above;  not modify any bonds or policies of  insurance in
     effect  as of the date  hereof  unless  the  same,  as  modified,  provides
     substantially  equivalent coverage;  and not cancel, allow to be terminated
     or, to the


                                       24
<PAGE>


     extent  available,  fail to renew,  any such  bond or  policy of  insurance
     unless the same is replaced with a bond or policy  providing  substantially
     equivalent coverage;

          (vi)  provide  to  the  Holding  Company  on a  monthly  basis  United
     Federal's  market  value  report  on its  investment  portfolio  and on its
     hedging portfolio; and,

          (vii) promptly provide to the Holding Company such  information  about
     United  Federal  and  its  financial  condition,   results  of  operations,
     prospects, businesses, assets, loan portfolio,  investments,  properties or
     operations, as the Holding Company reasonably shall request.

     c. Periodic  Information  Regarding  Loans and Other  Information.  All new
extensions  of  unsecured  credit in excess of $50,000 and of secured  credit in
excess of $100,000 will be submitted by United Federal to the Holding Company on
an  after-the-fact  basis for the Holding  Company's  review within fifteen (15)
business days of the end of the month in which the extension of credit was made.

     Additionally,  United  Federal  agrees to make available and provide to the
Holding Company the following information with respect to United Federal's loans
and other extensions of credit (such assets herein referred to as "Loans") as of
December 31, 1997,  and each month  thereafter  until the Effective  Time,  such
information for each month to be in form and substance as is usual and customary
in the conduct of United  Federal's  business and to be furnished within fifteen
(15) business days of the end of each month ending after the date hereof:

          (i) a list  of  Loans  past  due  for  sixty  (60)  days or more as to
     principal or interest;

          (ii) an analysis of the Loan Loss Reserve and management's  assessment
     of the adequacy of the Loan Loss  Reserve,  which  analysis and  assessment
     shall include a list of all  classified  or "watch list" Loans,  along with
     the outstanding balance and amount specifically  allocated to the Loan Loss
     Reserve for each such classified or "watch list" Loan (this report shall be
     delivered quarterly rather than monthly);

          (iii) a list of Loans in nonaccrual status;

          (iv) a list of all Loans over $50,000 without principal  reduction for
     a period of longer than one year;

          (v) a list of all foreclosed  real property or other real estate owned
     and all repossessed personal property;

          (vi) a list of reworked or  restructured  Loans over $25,000 and still
     outstanding, including original terms, restructured terms and status;

          (vii) a list of any  actual or  threatened  litigation  by or  against
     United Federal pertaining to any Loans or credits, which list shall contain
     a description of circumstances  surrounding  such  litigation,  its present
     status and management's evaluation of such litigation;


                                       25
<PAGE>


          (viii)  mortgage  pipeline  report,   including  hedged  and  unhedged
     positions; and

          (ix) a list of the aggregate dollar amount of fundings and commitments
     for floor planning, indirect lending, and speculative lending.

     Further,  United Federal shall provide to the Holding Company a copy of the
monthly package, including financial information,  sent by United Federal to its
board members at the same time as such packages are sent to such members.

     d. Notice of Certain  Changes or Events.  Following  the  execution of this
Agreement and up to the Effective Time,  United Federal promptly will notify the
Holding  Company in writing of and  provide to it such  information  as it shall
request  regarding (i) any Material  Adverse  Change in United Federal or of the
actual or prospective occurrence of any condition or event which, with the lapse
of time or  otherwise,  is  reasonably  likely to  cause,  create or result in a
Material  Adverse  Change in United  Federal,  or (ii) the actual or prospective
existence or occurrence of any condition or event which,  with the lapse of time
or otherwise, has caused or may or could cause any statement,  representation or
warranty of United Federal herein,  or any information  that has been Previously
Disclosed by United Federal to the Holding Company or Triangle,  to be or become
materially inaccurate, misleading or incomplete, or which has resulted or may or
could  cause,  create or result in the  material  breach or  violation of any of
United Federal's  covenants or agreements  contained herein or in the failure of
any of the conditions described in Paragraphs 7.01. or 7.03. below.

     e. Consents to Assignment of Leases. United Federal will use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain all consents of its  landlords  and lessors to the Merger
as may be required under the Real Property Leases and all other leases,  each of
which consents  shall be in form and substance  reasonably  satisfactory  to the
Holding Company.

     f. Further Action;  Instruments of Transfer,  etc. United Federal covenants
and  agrees  with the  Holding  Company  and  Triangle  that it (i) will use its
reasonable  best  efforts  in good faith to take or cause to be taken all action
required  of it  hereunder  as  promptly  as  practicable  so as to  permit  the
consummation of the transactions described herein at the earliest possible date,
(ii) shall  perform all acts and execute and deliver to the Holding  Company all
documents or  instruments  required  herein or as otherwise  shall be reasonably
necessary  or useful to or  requested  by  either of them in  consummating  such
transactions,  and (iii) will cooperate with the Holding Company and Triangle in
every way in carrying out, and will pursue diligently the expeditious completion
of, such transactions.

     g. Loan Loss  Reserve.  Beginning in the month after the  execution of this
Agreement, United Federal will, on a monthly basis until the Effective Time, add
to its loan loss  reserve an amount equal to $1.50 for each $100.00 in aggregate
commercial loan growth each month.

     h.  Incentive  Compensation.  Beginning in the month after the execution of
this Agreement,  United Federal will not pay incentive  compensation  (i) to any
lending officer that approves his or her own loans, or (ii) in excess of $500.00
per  loan  for  loans  (excluding  mortgage  loans  originated  for  sale in the
secondary  market)  approved  by a  credit  administrator  in  excess  of a loan
officer's authority.


                                       26
<PAGE>


     4.02. Negative Covenants of United Federal. United Federal hereby covenants
and agrees that,  between the date hereof and the Effective Time, it will not do
any of the  following  things or take any of the following  actions  without the
prior written  consent and  authorization  of the President or an Executive Vice
President of the Holding Company.

     a.  Amendments  to  Charter or Bylaws.  United  Federal  will not amend its
Charter or Bylaws.

     b. Change in Capital  Stock.  Except for United  Federal Stock to be issued
under the United  Federal  Stock  Plans,  United  Federal  will not (i) make any
change  in its  authorized  capital  stock,  or create  any other or  additional
authorized  capital stock or other securities,  or (ii) issue,  sell,  purchase,
redeem, retire, reclassify,  combine or split any shares of its capital stock or
other  securities  issued by it,  other  than the  issuance  of shares  upon the
exercise of stock options which are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement
(including  securities  convertible  into  capital  stock),  or  enter  into any
agreement or understanding with respect to any such action.

     c. Options, Warrants and Rights. United Federal will not grant or issue any
options,  warrants,  calls,  puts or other  rights of any kind  relating  to the
purchase,  redemption  or conversion of shares of its capital stock or any other
securities (including  securities  convertible into capital stock) or enter into
any agreement or understanding with respect to any such action.

     d.  Dividends.  Except for the payment of a six cents ($.06) cash  dividend
per share each quarter  (consistent with past practices) United Federal will not
declare or pay any dividends or make any other distributions on or in respect of
any shares of its capital stock or otherwise to its shareholders.

     e.  Employment,  Benefit  or  Retirement  Agreements  or  Plans.  Except as
required by law and except as may occur under the United  Federal  Stock  Plans,
United  Federal  will  not (i)  enter  into or  become  bound  by any  contract,
agreement or  commitment  for the  employment  or  compensation  of any officer,
employee or consultant  which is not  immediately  terminable by United  Federal
without cost or other  liability  on no more than thirty (30) days notice;  (ii)
adopt,  enter  into or  become  bound by any new or  additional  profit-sharing,
bonus, incentive,  change in control or "golden parachute",  stock option, stock
purchase, pension,  retirement,  insurance  (hospitalization,  life or other) or
similar  contract,  agreement,  commitment,  understanding,  plan or arrangement
(whether  formal or informal) with respect to or which provides for benefits for
any of its current or former directors,  officers,  employees or consultants; or
(iii) enter into or become bound by any contract with or commitment to any labor
or trade union or association or any collective bargaining group.

     f. Increase in Compensation;  Additional Compensation.  Except as otherwise
provided  herein,  United Federal will not increase the compensation or benefits
of, or pay any bonus or other special or additional  compensation to, any of its
directors,   officers,   employees  or  consultants.   Notwithstanding  anything
contained  herein to the contrary,  this  Paragraph  4.02.f.  shall not prohibit
annual  merit  increases in the  salaries of its  employees  or other  payments,
including  bonuses,  made to employees or directors in connection  with existing
compensation or benefit plans, so long as such increases or payments,  including
bonuses, are effected at such times and in such manner and amounts


                                       27
<PAGE>


as shall be consistent  with United  Federal's  past  compensation  policies and
practices and, in the case of payments made pursuant to  compensation or benefit
plans, consistent with the terms of those plans.

     g.  Accounting  Practices.  United Federal will not make any changes in its
accounting  methods,  practices or procedures or in depreciation or amortization
policies, schedules or rates heretofore applied (except as required by generally
accepted accounting principles or governmental regulations).

     h.  Acquisitions;  Additional  Branch  Offices.  United  Federal  will  not
directly or  indirectly  (i) acquire or merge with, or acquire any branch or all
or any significant part of the assets of, any other person or entity,  (ii) open
any new branch  office,  or (iii)  enter into or become  bound by any  contract,
agreement,  commitment  or letter of intent  relating to, or  otherwise  take or
agree to take any action in furtherance of, any such  transaction or the opening
of a new branch office.

     i. Changes in Business Practices. Except as may be required by the OTS, the
FDIC,  or any  other  governmental  or other  regulatory  agency  or as shall be
required by applicable law,  regulation or this  Agreement,  United Federal will
not (i) change in any material  respect the nature of its business or the manner
in which it conducts its business, (ii) discontinue any material portion or line
of  its  business,  or  (iii)  change  in  any  material  respect  its  lending,
investment,  asset-liability  management or other  material  banking or business
policies (except to the extent required by Paragraph 4.01.b. above).

     j.  Exclusive  Merger  Agreement.  United  Federal  will  not  directly  or
indirectly,  through any person (i) encourage, solicit or attempt to initiate or
procure  discussions,  negotiations  or offers with or from any person or entity
(other than the  Holding  Company  and  Triangle)  relating to a merger or other
acquisition  of United  Federal,  or the purchase or  acquisition  of any United
Federal  Stock,  any branch office of United  Federal or all or any  significant
part of  United  Federal's  assets;  or  provide  assistance  to any  person  in
connection with any such offer; (ii) except as the fiduciary duties of its Board
of Directors may require,  disclose to any person or entity any  information not
customarily  disclosed to the public  concerning United Federal or its business,
or afford to any other person or entity  access to its  properties,  facilities,
books  or  records;  (iii)  except  for the  fiduciary  duties  of its  Board of
Directors may require,  sell or transfer any branch office of United  Federal or
all or any significant  part of United  Federal's  assets to any other person or
entity;  or (iv) except for the  fiduciary  duties of its Board of Directors may
require,  enter into or become bound by any contract,  agreement,  commitment or
letter of intent  relating to, or otherwise  take or agree to take any action in
furtherance of, any such  transaction.  

     k.  Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.  United Federal will not, without
the prior  written  consent of the Holding  Company,  which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld:

          (i) sell or lease (as  lessor),  or enter into or become  bound by any
     contract,  agreement,  option or commitment relating to the sale, lease (as
     lessor)  or other  disposition  of any real  estate;  or sell or lease  (as
     lessor), or enter into or become bound by any contract,  agreement,  option
     or commitment  relating to the sale, lease (as lessor) or other disposition
     of any  equipment  or any other  fixed or capital  asset  having a value on
     United  Federal's  books or a fair market value,  whichever is greater,  of
     more than $10,000 for any individual item or asset, or more than $25,000 in
     the  aggregate  for all such items or assets;  

          (ii)  purchase or lease (as lessee),  or enter into or become bound by
     any contract,  agreement,  option or  commitment  relating to the purchase,
     lease (as lessee) or other acquisition of any real property; or purchase or
     lease  (as  lessee),  or  enter  into  or  become  bound  by any  contract,
     agreement, option or commitment relating to the purchase, lease (as lessee)
     or other  acquisition  of any  equipment or any other fixed assets having a
     purchase price, or involving aggregate lease payments, in excess of $10,000
     for any individual item or asset, or more than $25,000 in the aggregate for
     all such items or assets;


                                       28
<PAGE>


          (iii)  enter into any  purchase  commitment  for  supplies or services
     which calls for prices of goods or fees for services materially higher than
     current  market  prices or fees or which  obligates  United  Federal  for a
     period longer than twelve (12) months;

          (iv)  other than in the  ordinary  course of  business  and at a level
     consistent with past practice, sell, purchase or repurchase,  or enter into
     or become bound by any contract,  agreement,  option or commitment to sell,
     purchase or repurchase,  any loan or other receivable or any  participation
     in any loan or other receivable; or

          (v)  other  than in the  ordinary  course of  business  and at a level
     consistent with past practice,  sell or dispose of, or enter into or become
     bound by any contract, agreement, option or commitment relating to the sale
     or other  disposition  of,  any  other  asset of  United  Federal  (whether
     tangible or intangible,  and including  without  limitation any trade name,
     copyright,  service mark or  intellectual  property  right or license);  or
     assign its right to or otherwise  give any other person its  permission  or
     consent to use or do business under United Federal's  corporate name or any
     name similar  thereto;  or release,  transfer or waive any license or right
     granted  to it by any  other  person  to use  any  trademark,  trade  name,
     copyright or intellectual property right.

     l.  Debt;  Liabilities.  Except  in the  ordinary  course  of its  business
consistent with its past practices  (including  routine borrowings for liquidity
purposes  from the  Federal  Home Loan Bank of Atlanta  and other  correspondent
banks),United  Federal will not (i) enter into or become bound by any promissory
note,  loan  agreement  or other  agreement  or  arrangement  pertaining  to its
borrowing  of  money,  (ii)  assume,  guarantee,  endorse  or  otherwise  become
responsible or liable for any obligation of any other person or entity, or (iii)
incur any other liability or obligation (absolute or contingent).

     m. Liens; Encumbrances. United Federal will not mortgage, pledge or subject
any of its  assets  to, or permit  any of its  assets  to become or  (except  as
Previously  Disclosed)  remain  subject  to,  any lien or any other  encumbrance
(other  than in the  ordinary  course  of  business  consistent  with  its  past
practices  in  connection  with  securing of public funds  deposits,  securities
repurchase agreements or other similar operating matters).

     n. Waiver of Rights.  United Federal will not waive,  release or compromise
any material  rights in its favor  (except in the  ordinary  course of business)
except in good  faith  for fair  value in money or  money's  worth,  nor  waive,
release or compromise any rights against or with respect to any of its officers,
directors  or  shareholders  or members of families of  officers,  directors  or
shareholders.


                                       29
<PAGE>


     o. Other  Contracts.  United Federal will not enter into or become bound by
any  contracts,  agreements,  commitments  or  understandings  (other than those
described  elsewhere  in this  Paragraph  4.02.) (i) for or with  respect to any
charitable  contributions;  (ii) with any  governmental or regulatory  agency or
authority;  (iii)  pursuant to which United  Federal  would  assume,  guarantee,
endorse or otherwise become liable for the debt,  liability or obligation of any
other  person;  (iv) which is entered into other than in the ordinary  course of
its  business;  and (v)  which,  in the  case of any  one  contract,  agreement,
commitment  or  understanding  and whether or not in the ordinary  course of its
business,  would obligate or commit United Federal to make  expenditures of more
than $10,000.

                   ARTICLE V. COVENANTS OF THE HOLDING COMPANY

     The Holding  Company  hereby  covenants  and agrees as follows  with United
Federal.

     5.01.  Advisory Board of Directors.  After the Effective  Time, the current
members  of United  Federal's  Board of  Directors  shall  serve as  members  of
applicable Triangle local advisory boards, subject to satisfactory  performance,
and for such service,  such individuals  shall be compensated in accordance with
Triangle's  standard  arrangements  for the compensation of local advisory board
members.

     5.02. NYSE  Notification of Listing of Additional Shares of Triangle Stock.
As soon as practical  after the Effective  Time, the Holding  Company shall file
with the NYSE such  notifications  and other materials (and shall pay such fees)
as shall be required for the listing on the NYSE of the shares of Triangle Stock
to be issued to United Federal's shareholders at the Effective Time.

     5.03 Notice of Certain  Changes or Events.  Following the execution of this
Agreement and up to the Effective Time, the Holding Company promptly will notify
United  Federal  in writing of and  provide to it such  information  as it shall
request regarding (i) any Material Adverse Change in the Holding Company,  or of
the actual or prospective  occurrence of any condition or event which,  with the
lapse of time or otherwise, is reasonably likely to cause, create or result in a
Material  Adverse  Change  in  the  Holding  Company,  or  (ii)  the  actual  or
prospective  existence or occurrence  of any condition or event which,  with the
lapse of time or  otherwise,  has  caused or may or could  cause any  statement,
representation  or warranty of the Holding  Company or Triangle  herein,  or any
information  that  has been  Previously  Disclosed  by the  Holding  Company  or
Triangle to United Federal, to be or become materially inaccurate, misleading or
incomplete, or which has resulted or may or could cause, create or result in the
material  breach or  violation  of any of the Holding  Company's  or  Triangle's
covenants  or  agreements  contained  herein  or in  the  failure  of any of the
conditions described in Paragraphs 7.01. or 7.02. below.

     5.04. The Holding  Company to Provide  Necessary  Information.  The Holding
Company  will  promptly  provide to United  Federal  information  regarding  the
Holding Company and its subsidiaries that United Federal reasonably  requests in
order to satisfy any of its obligations under Paragraph 4.01.e.


                                       30
<PAGE>


                          ARTICLE VI. MUTUAL AGREEMENTS

     6.01.    Shareholders'    Meeting;     Registration    Statement;     Proxy
Statement/Prospectus

     a. Meeting of  Shareholders.  United  Federal  shall cause a meeting of its
shareholders (the "United Federal Shareholder  Meeting",  which may be a regular
annual meeting or a specially  called  meeting) to be held as soon as reasonably
possible  (but in no event less than twenty (20) days  following  the mailing to
United  Federal's  shareholders  of the "Proxy  Statement/Prospectus"  described
below) for the purpose of United Federal's  shareholders  voting on the approval
of the Agreement and the Merger.  In connection with the call and conduct of and
all other matters relating to the United Federal  Shareholder Meeting (including
the  solicitation  of  proxies),  United  Federal  shall  fully  comply with all
provisions of applicable law and regulations and with its Charter and Bylaws.

     b. Preparation and Distribution of Proxy Statement/Prospectus.  The Holding
Company and United Federal  jointly will prepare a "Proxy  Statement/Prospectus"
for  distribution to United  Federal's  shareholders  as United  Federal's proxy
statement  relating to its solicitation of proxies for use at the United Federal
Shareholder  Meeting and as the  Holding  Company's  prospectus  relating to the
offer  and  distribution  of  Triangle  Stock as  described  herein.  The  Proxy
Statement/  Prospectus shall be in such form and shall contain or be accompanied
by such  information  regarding the United  Federal  Shareholder  Meeting,  this
Agreement,  the  parties  hereto,  the Merger and other  transactions  described
herein as is required by applicable law and  regulations  and otherwise as shall
be agreed upon by the Holding  Company and United  Federal.  The Holding Company
shall  include  the  Proxy   Statement/Prospectus   as  the  prospectus  in  its
"Registration  Statement"  described below; and each party hereto will cooperate
with the other in good faith and will use their best  efforts to cause the Proxy
Statement/Prospectus to comply with any comments of the SEC thereon.

     United Federal will mail the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to United Federal's
shareholders  not less than twenty (20) days prior to the scheduled  date of the
United Federal Shareholder Meeting;  provided,  however,  that no such materials
shall be mailed to United  Federal's  shareholders  unless and until the Holding
Company  shall  have  determined  to its own  satisfaction  that the  conditions
specified in Paragraph 7.03.d. below have been satisfied and shall have approved
such mailing.

     c. Registration Statement and "Blue Sky" Approvals.  As soon as practicable
following the execution of this Agreement,  the Holding Company will prepare and
file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (or on such other form as
the Holding  Company  shall  determine  to be  appropriate)  (the  "Registration
Statement")  covering the Triangle Stock to be issued to  shareholders of United
Federal  pursuant to this Agreement and will use its reasonable  best efforts in
good faith to see that the Registration  Statement is declared  effective by the
SEC under the 1933 Act.  Additionally,  the Holding  Company shall take all such
other actions,  if any, as shall be required by applicable  state  securities or
"blue sky" laws (i) to cause the Triangle  Stock to be issued upon  consummation
of the Merger,  at the time of the  issuance  thereof,  to be duly  qualified or
registered  (unless exempt) under such laws, (ii) to cause all conditions to any
exemptions  from  qualification  or  registration  under  such laws to have been
satisfied, and (iii) to obtain any and all required approvals or consents to the
issuance of such stock.


                                       31
<PAGE>


     d. Recommendation of United Federal's Board of Directors.  Unless, due to a
material change in  circumstances or for any other reason United Federal's Board
of Directors  reasonably  believes that such a recommendation  would violate the
directors'   duties  or  obligations  as  such  to  United  Federal  or  to  its
shareholders, United Federal's Board of Directors will recommend to and actively
encourage  United Federal's  shareholders  that they vote their shares of United
Federal Stock at the United  Federal  Shareholder  Meeting to ratify and approve
this  Agreement  and the Merger,  and the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  mailed to
United Federal's  shareholders  will so indicate and state that United Federal's
Board  of  Directors  considers  the  Merger  to be  advisable  and in the  best
interests of United Federal and its shareholders.

     e. Information for Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  and Registration Statement.
Each of the Holding Company and United Federal agrees to respond  promptly,  and
to use its reasonable best efforts to cause its directors, officers, accountants
and affiliates to respond promptly,  to requests by any other such party and its
counsel for information for inclusion in the various applications for regulatory
approvals and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Each of the Holding Company and
United  Federal  hereby  covenants  with the other that none of the  information
provided by it for inclusion in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus will, at the time
of its mailing to United Federal's shareholders, contain any untrue statement of
a material  fact or omit any  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein or
necessary in order to make the  statements  contained  therein,  in light of the
circumstances  under which they were made, not false or misleading;  and, at all
times  following  such mailing up to and including the Effective  Time,  none of
such  information  contained  in the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  as it may be
amended or supplemented,  will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit any material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary in order to
make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not false or misleading.

     6.02.  Regulatory  Approvals.  Within  sixty  (60) days of the date of this
Agreement,  the Holding  Company,  Triangle and United  Federal  shall use their
respective  reasonable  best  efforts in good faith to (i) prepare and file,  or
cause to be prepared and filed, all  applications  for regulatory  approvals and
actions  as may be  required  of  them,  respectively,  by  applicable  law  and
regulations  with  respect  to  the  transactions  described  herein  (including
applications or notices,  as applicable,  to the FRB, the OTS, the  Commissioner
and the North Carolina  State Banking  Commission,  and to any other  applicable
federal or state banking,  securities or other regulatory  authority),  and (ii)
obtain all  necessary  regulatory  approvals  required for  consummation  of the
transactions  described herein.  Each such party shall cooperate with each other
party in the preparation of all applications to regulatory authorities and, upon
request, promptly shall furnish all documents, information, financial statements
or other  material  that may be required by any other party to complete any such
application;  and,  before the filing  therefore,  each party to this  Agreement
shall have the right to review and  comment on the form and  content of any such
application to be filed by any other party.  Should the appearance of any of the
officers,  directors,  employees  or  counsel  of any of the  parties  hereto be
requested  by any other  party or by any  governmental  agency at any hearing in
connection  with any such  application,  such party shall  promptly use its best
efforts to arrange for such appearance.

     6.03. Access. Following the date of this Agreement and to and including the
Effective  Time,  United  Federal  shall  provide  the  Holding  Company and its
employees,  accountants and counsel, access to all its books, records, files and
other information (whether maintained electronically or otherwise), to


                                       32
<PAGE>


all  its  properties  and  facilities,  and to all its  employees,  accountants,
counsel  and  consultants,  for  purposes  of the  conduct  of  such  reasonable
investigation  and review as the Holding Company shall, in its sole  discretion,
consider to be necessary or appropriate; provided, however, that any such review
conducted by the Holding Company shall be performed in such a manner as will not
interfere  unreasonably with United Federal's normal operations,  or with United
Federal's  relationship with its customers or employees,  and shall be conducted
in accordance with  procedures  established by the parties having due regard for
the foregoing.

     6.04.  Costs.  Subject to the  provisions  of Paragraph  8.03.  below,  and
whether  or not  this  Agreement  shall be  terminated  or the  Merger  shall be
consummated,  United  Federal,  on the one hand,  and the  Holding  Company  and
Triangle,  on the other,  shall pay their own legal,  accounting  and  financial
advisory fees and all their other costs and expenses  incurred or to be incurred
in connection with the execution and  performance of its obligations  under this
Agreement or otherwise in connection  with this  Agreement and the  transactions
described herein (including  without limitation all accounting fees, legal fees,
filing  fees,  printing  costs,  travel  expenses,  and,  in the case of  United
Federal,  all fees owed to The Carson Medlin Company  ("Carson  Medlin") for the
cost of United Federal's fairness opinion described in Paragraph 7.01.d.  below,
and, in the case of the Holding Company, the cost of the "Environmental  Survey"
described in Paragraph  6.06.  below).  However,  subject to the  provisions  of
Paragraph  8.03.  below,  all costs incurred in connection with the printing and
mailing of the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus  shall be deemed to be  incurred  and
shall be paid thirty percent (30%) by United  Federal and seventy  percent (70%)
by the Holding Company.

     6.05. Announcements.  United Federal, Triangle and the Holding Company each
agrees that no person other than the parties to this  Agreement is authorized to
make any public  announcement  or statement  about this  Agreement or any of the
transactions described herein, and that, without the prior review and consent of
the others (which consent shall not unreasonably be denied or delayed), no party
hereto may make any public announcement, statement or disclosure as to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement or the transactions  described  herein,  except
for such  disclosures  as may be  required  incidental  to  obtaining  the prior
approval of any regulatory  agency or official,  or the consent of any lessor or
landlord of United Federal to the  consummation  of the  transactions  described
herein.  However,  notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein to the contrary,
prior review and consent  shall not be required if in the good faith  opinion of
counsel to the Holding  Company or United  Federal any such  disclosure  by such
entity is required by law or otherwise is prudent.

     6.06. Environmental Studies. At its option the Holding Company may cause to
be conducted  Phase I environmental  assessments of the Real Property,  the real
estate  subject  to any Real  Property  Lease,  or the Loan  Collateral,  or any
portion  thereof,  together  with such  other  studies,  testing  and  intrusive
sampling and analyses as the Holding  Company shall deem  necessary or desirable
(collectively,  the "Environmental  Survey"). The Holding Company shall complete
all such Phase I environmental  assessments within sixty (60) days following the
date of this Agreement and thereafter  conduct and complete any such  additional
studies,  testing,  sampling  and  analyses  within  sixty  (60) days  following
completion of all Phase I environmental  assessments.  Subject to the provisions
of Paragraph 8.03. below, the costs of the Environmental Survey shall be paid by
the Holding Company.  If (i) the final results of any  Environmental  Survey (or
any related  analytical  data) reflect that there likely has been any discharge,
disposal,  release or emission by any person of any Hazardous Substance on, from
or relating to any of the Real Property,  real estate subject to a Real Property
Lease or Loan  Collateral at any time prior to the  Effective  Time, or that any
action has been taken or not taken, or a condition or


                                       33
<PAGE>


event likely has occurred or exists,  with respect to any of the Real  Property,
real  estate  subject  to  a  Real  Property  Lease  or  Loan  Collateral  which
constitutes  or would or may constitute a violation of any  Environmental  Laws,
and if, (ii) based on the advice of its legal counsel or other consultants,  the
Holding  Company  believes that United  Federal is  reasonably  likely to become
responsible for the remediation of such discharge, disposal, release or emission
or for other  corrective  action  with  respect to any such  violation,  or that
United  Federal  is  reasonably  likely to become  liable for  monetary  damages
(including  without  limitation any civil or criminal  penalties or assessments)
resulting therefrom (or that, in the case of any of the Loan Collateral,  United
Federal is reasonably likely to incur any such liability if it acquired title to
such Loan Collateral), and if, (iii) based on the advice of its legal counsel or
other  consultants,  the  Holding  Company  believes  the amount of  expenses or
liability which United Federal is reasonably likely to incur or for which United
Federal  could  become  responsible  or  liable on  account  of any and all such
remediation,  corrective  action  or  monetary  damages  at any time or over any
period of time could equal or exceed an aggregate of $100,000,  then the Holding
Company shall give United  Federal  written  notice  thereof  (together with all
information in its possession  relating thereto) within fifteen (15) days of the
completion of the Environmental Survey and, at the Holding Company's sole option
and discretion, at any time thereafter and up to the Effective Time, the Holding
Company may terminate this Agreement without further  obligation or liability to
United Federal or its shareholders.

     6.07. Employees; Severance Payments; Employee Benefits

     a. Consulting and Employment Agreements. From and after the Effective Time,
the Holding  Company and Triangle will honor the employment  agreements  between
United  Federal and each of John A. Barker and Robert C. White dated  January 1,
1997 and April 1, 1997,  respectively.  In addition,  at the Effective Time, the
Holding  Company will enter into a consulting  agreement with each of Mr. Barker
and Mr. White in the form attached hereto as Schedule C to this Agreement.

     Provided they each remain  employed by United Federal at the Effective Time
in their respective  current  position,  Triangle shall enter into an employment
agreement  with  Paul S.  Jaber,  Duran  Broadhurst  and Wade  Spears  as of the
Effective Time which shall contain  substantially  the same terms and conditions
and be in  substantially  the same form as is  attached  as  Schedule  D to this
Agreement;  provided,  that  in  the  event  Triangle  and  any of  those  three
individuals  do not agree within ninety (90) days prior to the Closing as to the
terms and provisions of the form of employment agreement and as to any specifics
left  incomplete in the form of employment  agreement,  Triangle  shall pay such
individual his current monthly base salary for fifteen (15) months,  provided he
remains  employed by United Federal from the date of this Agreement until thirty
(30)  days  after  the  Effective  Time,  such  payments  to begin in the  month
following the 30-day period after the Effective Time. In  consideration  of this
payment,  the individual would enter into a non-compete  provision  identical to
that contained in the form of employment agreement attached as Schedule D except
that the non-compete  would (i) have a duration of the 15-month payment periods,
and (ii) prohibit employment with any financial  institution  operating a branch
in any county in which any  banking  subsidiary  of the  Holding  Company  has a
branch.

     b.  Employment  of Other United  Federal  Employees.  Provided  they remain
employed by United Federal at the Effective Time,  Triangle will attempt in good
faith, but shall have


                                       34
<PAGE>


no obligation,  to locate suitable  positions for and to offer employment to all
other employees of United Federal (other than employees  serving  pursuant to an
employment   agreement  or  change  in  control   agreement  or  other   similar
arrangement).  Any  employment  so offered by  Triangle to an employee of United
Federal shall be in such a position,  at such location within  Triangle's branch
system,  and for such rate of  compensation  as Triangle shall  determine in its
sole discretion.  Each such person's  employment shall be on an "at-will" basis,
and  nothing  in this  Agreement  shall be deemed to  constitute  an  employment
agreement with any such person or to obligate Triangle or the Holding Company to
employ  any such  person  for any  specific  period  of time or in any  specific
position or to restrict the Holding  Company's or Triangle's  right to terminate
the employment of any such person at any time and for any reason satisfactory to
it.

     c.  Severance  Payment.  At the Effective  Time,  Triangle will pay to each
individual  employed  by  United  Federal  at the  Effective  Time  who has been
continuously employed as a full-time employee by United Federal for at least one
(1) year prior to the Effective  Time,  but who is not offered  employment  with
Triangle following the Effective Time at a position and salary comparable to his
or her current  position  and salary and within  thirty (30) miles of his or her
location,  a severance  payment in an amount equal to one week's salary or wages
for each year of full prior  continuous  service with United  Federal,  provided
that any severance  payment shall consist of a minimum of one (1) month's salary
or wages and a maximum of three (3) months' salary or wages for non-officers and
a minimum of three (3) months'  salary or wages and a maximum of six (6) months'
salary or wages for officers (any employee  elected as assistant  vice president
or higher), who were employed as an officer on December 24, 1997; if the officer
was not employed as an officer on December 24, 1997,  he or she shall be treated
either as a non-officer or an employee with less than one (1) year's employment,
as the case may be. Each individual  employed by United Federal at the Effective
Time who has not been  continuously  employed as a full-time  employee by United
Federal  for at least one (1) year  prior to the  Effective  Time and who is not
offered  employment  with Triangle  following the Effective Time shall receive a
severance  payment  in an  amount  equal  to two (2)  week's  salary  or  wages.
Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein  to the  contrary,  no  payment  of
severance  compensation  shall be made to any  person  who does  not  remain  an
employee of United Federal at the Effective Time. Notwithstanding the provisions
of this paragraph,  no severance payment shall be made hereunder to any employee
of  United  Federal  who is or will be  party  to an  employment  or  consulting
agreement,  a change in control agreement,  severance agreement or other similar
arrangement with United Federal,  the Holding Company or Triangle,  whether oral
or written.  To the extent United Federal  maintains any plan or arrangement for
the payment of severance or salary continuation benefits to employees, such plan
or arrangement (unless specifically provided to the contrary hereunder) shall be
terminated at the Effective Time.

     d. Employee Benefits.  Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph 6.07,
the benefit plans of United Federal  ("United  Federal  Benefit  Plans") will be
reviewed and appropriate amendments, consolidations or terminations will be made
thereto at or after the Effective Time; provided, however, that the employees of
United  Federal who become  employees of Triangle  Bank (i) shall be eligible to
receive group hospitalization, medical, life, disability and similar benefits on
the same basis and under the same terms  available  to the present  employees of
the Holding Company and its subsidiaries on a "no gain, no loss" basis,  (ii) in
the event a United Federal  Benefit Plan is terminated,  the rights and benefits
of United Federal's  employees  thereunder shall become fully vested,  with each
participating  United  Federal  employee  having  the right or option  either to
receive the benefits to which


                                       35
<PAGE>


he or she is entitled as a result of such  termination  or to have such benefits
"rolled" into the appropriate  Holding  Company benefit plan ("Triangle  Benefit
Plan"), on the same basis and applying the eligibility  standards as would apply
to the  employees  of the  Holding  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  as if  such
employee's  prior service to United  Federal had been performed on behalf of the
Holding  Company  and its  subsidiaries  for  qualification,  participation  and
vesting, but not for funding,  purposes, and (iii) in the event a United Federal
Benefit  Plan is merged  into a Triangle  Benefit  Plan,  shall be  entitled  to
participate  in such  Triangle  Benefit  Plan on the same basis and applying the
same  eligibility  standards as would apply to employees of the Holding  Company
and its  subsidiaries.  United  Federal,  Triangle and the Holding Company agree
that for  purposes  of  qualification,  participation  and  vesting in  Triangle
Benefit  Plans,  the employees of United  Federal shall receive credit for their
prior continuous periods of service to United Federal,  including  employees who
have had a break in service, but who were granted prior service credit by United
Federal when rehired by United Federal.

     6.08 Confidentiality. The Holding Company, Triangle and United Federal each
agrees that it will treat as confidential  and not disclose to any  unauthorized
person any  documents or other  information  obtained  from or learned about the
others during the course of the  negotiation  of this Agreement and the carrying
out of the events and transactions  described herein  (including any information
obtained during the course of any due diligence investigation or review provided
for herein or otherwise) and which documents or other information relates in any
way to the business, operations,  personnel, customers or financial condition of
such  other  parties;  and  that it will  not use any  such  documents  or other
information for any purpose except for the purposes for which such documents and
information were provided to it and in furtherance of the transactions described
herein. However, the above obligations of confidentiality shall not prohibit the
disclosure of any such document or information by any party to this Agreement to
the extent (i) such document or information  is then available  generally to the
public  or is  already  known to the  person or  entity  to whom  disclosure  is
proposed to be made (other than  through the  previous  actions of such party in
violation  of this  Paragraph  6.08),  (ii) such  document  or  information  was
available to the disclosing party on a  nonconfidential  basis prior to the same
being  obtained  pursuant to this  Agreement,  (iii)  disclosure  is required by
subpoena or order of a court or regulatory authority of competent  jurisdiction,
or by the SEC or  regulatory  authorities  in connection  with the  transactions
described herein, or (iv) to the extent that, in the reasonable opinion of legal
counsel to such party, disclosure otherwise is required by law.

     In the event this Agreement is terminated for any reason,  then each of the
parties hereto  immediately  shall return to the other parties all copies of any
and all documents or other written  materials or  information  of or relating to
such  other  parties  which  were  obtained  from them  during the course of the
negotiation   of  this  Agreement  and  the  carrying  out  of  the  events  and
transactions  described  herein  (whether during the course of any due diligence
investigation or review provided for herein or otherwise) and which documents or
other  information  relates in any way to the business,  operations,  personnel,
customers or financial condition of such other parties.

     The parties' obligations of confidentiality under this Paragraph 6.08 shall
survive and remain in effect following any termination of this Agreement

     6.09.  Reorganization for Tax Purposes.  The Holding Company,  Triangle and
United Federal each  undertakes and agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to
cause the Merger to qualify as a


                                       36
<PAGE>


"reorganization"  within the meaning of Section  368(a)(1)(A)  of the Code,  and
that it will not  intentionally  take any action  that would cause the Merger to
fail to qualify.

     6.10.  Accounting  Treatment.  The  Holding  Company,  Triangle  and United
Federal each  undertakes and agrees to use its reasonable  best efforts to cause
the Merger to qualify to be treated as a  "pooling-of-interests"  for accounting
purposes and that it will not intentionally take any action that would cause the
Merger to fail to so qualify.

     6.11. Other  Permissible  Transactions.  The Holding Company,  Triangle and
United Federal agree that the Holding Company and its  subsidiaries may offer to
acquire,  enter into  agreements  to acquire and acquire  financial  institution
holding companies and their  subsidiaries,  financial  institutions or financial
services entities and their  subsidiaries,  leasing companies and other entities
which are permissible for financial  institution holding companies and financial
institutions to own, and/or the assets and liabilities of such entities prior to
the Effective Time, and such action by the Holding Company and its  subsidiaries
shall have no effect on this Agreement.

     6.12.  Dividend  Coordination.  The  shareholders  of United  Federal shall
receive a quarterly  dividend from either United Federal or the Holding Company,
but not from both, in the quarter in which the Merger occurs, and United Federal
and the Holding shall coordinate the Closing, the Effective Time and the payment
of such quarterly dividend to ensure such dividend payment.

                   ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO MERGER

     7.01  Conditions  to all Parties'  Obligations.  Notwithstanding  any other
provision of this  Agreement to the  contrary,  the  obligations  of each of the
parties to this Agreement to consummate the transactions  described herein shall
be  conditioned  upon  the  satisfaction  of  each of the  following  conditions
precedent on or prior to the Closing Date.

     a.   Approval by Governmental or Regulatory Authorities; No Disadvantageous
          Conditions.

          (i) The Merger and other transactions described herein shall have been
     approved,  to the  extent  required  by  law,  by the  FRB,  the  OTS,  the
     Commissioner  and the North Carolina State Banking  Commission,  and by all
     other   governmental   or  regulatory   agencies  or   authorities   having
     jurisdiction over such transactions;

          (ii) no  governmental  or  regulatory  agency or authority  shall have
     withdrawn  its approval of such  transactions  or imposed any  condition on
     such transactions or conditioned its approval  thereof,  which condition is
     reasonably deemed by the Holding Company, Triangle, or United Federal to be
     materially  disadvantageous  or  burdensome  or to impact so adversely  the
     economic or business benefits of this Agreement as to render it inadvisable
     for such party to consummate the Merger;

          (iii) all waiting periods required  following  necessary  approvals by
     governmental or regulatory agencies or authorities shall have expired, and,
     in the case of the waiting


                                       37
<PAGE>


     period  following  approval by the FRB,  no  unwithdrawn  objection  to the
     Merger shall have been raised by the U.S.  Department of Justice;  and (iv)
     all other consents,  approvals and permissions, and the satisfaction of all
     of the  requirements  prescribed  by law or  regulation,  necessary  to the
     carrying  out of the  transactions  contemplated  herein  shall  have  been
     procured.

     b. Effectiveness of Registration Statement;  Compliance with Securities and
Other "Blue Sky"  Requirements.  The  Registration  Statement shall be effective
under  the  1933  Act and no stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
Registration  Statement  shall  have been  issued  and no  proceedings  for that
purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC. The Holding  Company
shall have taken all such  actions,  if any,  as required  by  applicable  state
securities  laws (i) to cause the Triangle Stock to be issued upon  consummation
of the Merger,  at the time of the  issuance  thereof,  to be duly  qualified or
registered  (unless exempt) under such laws, (ii) to cause all conditions to any
exemptions  from  qualification  or  registration  under  such laws to have been
satisfied,  and (iii) to obtain any and all required  approvals or consents with
respect to the  issuance  of such  stock,  and any such  required  approvals  or
consents shall have been obtained and shall remain in effect.

     c. Adverse Proceedings,  Injunction, Etc. There shall not be (i) any order,
decree or  injunction  of any court or agency of  competent  jurisdiction  which
enjoins  or  prohibits  the  Merger or any of the other  transactions  described
herein or any of the parties hereto from consummating any such transaction, (ii)
any  pending  or  threatened  investigation  of the  Merger or any of such other
transactions  by the U.S.  Department  of Justice,  or any actual or  threatened
litigation under federal antitrust laws relating to the Merger or any other such
transaction,  (iii) any suit,  action or proceeding by any person (including any
governmental, administrative or regulatory agency), pending or threatened before
any court or  governmental  agency in which it is sought to restrain or prohibit
United Federal,  Triangle or the Holding Company from consummating the Merger or
carrying out any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, or (iv) any other
suit, claim,  action or proceeding pending or threatened against United Federal,
Triangle or the Holding  Company or any of their  officers  or  directors  which
shall  reasonably  be  considered  by United  Federal,  Triangle  or the Holding
Company to be  materially  burdensome  in  relation  to the  proposed  Merger or
materially  adverse  in  relation  to the  financial  condition  of either  such
corporation,  and which has not been  dismissed,  terminated  or resolved to the
satisfaction of all parties hereto within ninety (90) days of the institution or
threat thereof. 

     d.  Approval  by  Boards  of  Directors  and  Shareholders.  The  Boards of
Directors of United  Federal,  Triangle and the Holding  Company shall have duly
approved  and  adopted  this  Agreement  by  appropriate  resolutions,  and  the
shareholders  of United Federal and Triangle shall have duly approved,  ratified
and confirmed this  Agreement,  all to the extent  required by and in accordance
with the provisions of this Agreement, applicable law, and applicable provisions
of their respective Charter or Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

     e. Fairness  Opinions United Federal shall have received from Carson Medlin
an opinion,  in form and substance  satisfactory to United Federal,  dated as of
the date of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus,  to the effect that the terms of the
Merger are fair,  from a  financial  point of view,  to United  Federal  and its
shareholders.  The  Holding  Company  shall  have  received  from its  financial
advisor, Orr Management Company, an opinion, in form and substance  satisfactory
to the  Holding  Company,  dated as of the  Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  to the
effect that the terms of the Merger are fair, from a financial point of view, to
the Holding Company and its shareholders.


                                       38
<PAGE>


     f. Tax  Opinion.  The  Holding  Company  shall have  received,  in form and
substance  satisfactory to the Holding Company,  an opinion of Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P.  substantially  to the effect that:  (i) for federal income tax purposes,
consummation  of the Merger will  constitute  a  "reorganization"  as defined in
Section  368(a)(1)(A)  of the Code; (ii) that no taxable gain will be recognized
by a shareholder of United Federal upon such  shareholder's  receipt of Triangle
Stock in exchange for his or her United Federal  Stock;  (iii) that the basis of
the Triangle Stock received by the shareholder in the Merger will be the same as
his or her United Federal Stock surrendered in exchange therefor;  (iv) that, if
United  Federal Stock is a capital asset in the hands of the  shareholder at the
Effective  Time,  then the holding  period of the Triangle Stock received by the
shareholder  in the Merger will  include the  holding  period of United  Federal
Stock surrendered in exchange therefor;  and (v) a shareholder who receives cash
in lieu of a  fractional  share of Triangle  Stock will  recognize  gain or loss
equal  to  any   difference   between  the  amount  of  cash  received  and  the
shareholder's basis in the fractional share interest.  In rendering its opinion,
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. may rely on  representations  contained in certificates
of officers of the Holding Company and United Federal.

     g. No  Termination  or  Abandonment.  This  Agreement  shall  not have been
terminated by any party hereto.

     7.02.    Additional    Conditions   to   United   Federal's    Obligations.
Notwithstanding  any other  provision of this Agreement to the contrary,  United
Federal's  obligations to consummate the transactions  described herein shall be
conditioned upon the satisfaction of each of the following  conditions precedent
on or prior to the Closing Date.

     a. Material Adverse Change.  There shall not have been any Material Adverse
Change in the Holding  Company,  and there shall not have  occurred any event or
development and there shall not exist any condition or circumstance  which, with
the lapse of time or otherwise,  is reasonably likely to cause, create or result
in a Material Adverse Change in the Holding Company.

     b.  Compliance  with Laws.  The  Holding  Company and  Triangle  shall have
complied  in  all  material  respects  with  all  federal  and  state  laws  and
regulations  applicable  to the  transactions  described  herein  and  where the
violation of or failure to comply with any such law or  regulation is reasonably
likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Holding Company.

     c. The Holding Company's and Triangle's  Representations and Warranties and
Performance of Agreements;  Officers'  Certificate.  Unless waived in writing by
United   Federal  as  provided  in   Paragraph   10.03.   below,   each  of  the
representations  and warranties of the Holding Company and Triangle contained in
this Agreement  shall have been true and correct as of the date hereof and shall
remain true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Effective Time
with the same force and effect as though made on and as of such date, except (i)
representations  and  warranties  that  speak as of a  specific  date,  (ii) for
changes which do not, in the aggregate,  result in a Material  Adverse Change in
the Holding Company, and (iii) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement;  and
the Holding  Company and  Triangle  each shall have  performed  in all  material
respects all its respective  obligations,  covenants and agreements hereunder to
be performed by it on or before the Closing Date.


                                       39
<PAGE>


     United  Federal shall have  received a certificate  dated as of the Closing
Date and executed by the Holding Company's President and Chief Financial Officer
to the foregoing effect.

     d. Legal Opinion of the Holding Company Counsel.  United Federal shall have
received  from  Alexander M.  Donaldson,  Esq.,  General  Counsel of the Holding
Company,  a written opinion dated as of the Closing Date in the form of Schedule
E attached hereto.

     e. Other Documents and  Information  from the Holding Company and Triangle.
The Holding  Company and Triangle shall have provided to United Federal  correct
and  complete  copies  of  its  Bylaws,  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  board
resolutions (all certified by its Secretary), together with a certificate of the
incumbency of its officers and such other closing  documents and  information as
may be reasonably requested by United Federal or its counsel.

     f. Acceptance by United  Federal's  Counsel.  The form and substance of all
legal  matters  described  herein or  related to the  transactions  contemplated
herein shall be reasonably acceptable to United Federal's legal counsel.

     7.03.  Additional  Conditions  to  the  Holding  Company's  and  Triangle's
Obligations.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of this  Agreement  to the
contrary,  the Holding  Company's and  Triangle's  obligations to consummate the
transactions described herein shall be conditioned upon the satisfaction of each
of the following conditions precedent on or prior to the Closing Date.

     a.  Material  Adverse  Change.  There shall not have  occurred any Material
Adverse Change in United Federal, and there shall not have occurred any event or
development and there shall not exist any condition or circumstance  which, with
the lapse of time or otherwise,  is reasonably likely to cause, create or result
in a Material Adverse Change in United Federal.

     b.  Compliance  with Laws;  Adverse  Proceedings,  Injunction,  Etc. United
Federal shall have complied in all material  respects with all federal and state
laws and regulations  applicable to the transactions  described herein and where
the  violation  of or  failure  to  comply  with any such law or  regulation  is
reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on United Federal.

     c. United  Federal's  Representations  and  Warranties  and  Performance of
Agreements;  Officers'  Certificate.  Unless  waived in writing  by the  Holding
Company as provided in Paragraph 10.03.  below, each of the  representations and
warranties of United Federal  contained in this  Agreement  shall have been true
and correct as of the date hereof and shall remain true and correct on and as of
the  Effective  Time with the same force and effect as though  made on and as of
such date, except (i) representations and warranties that speak as of a specific
date,  (ii) for  changes  which do not, in the  aggregate,  result in a Material
Adverse Change in United  Federal,  and (iii) as otherwise  contemplated by this
Agreement;  United Federal shall have performed in all material respects all its
obligations,  covenants  and  agreements  hereunder  to be performed by it on or
before the Closing Date.

     The  Holding  Company  shall have  received a  certificate  dated as of the
Closing  Date and executed by United  Federal's  President  and Chief  Financial
Officer  to  the  foregoing  effect  and  as to  such  other  matters  as may be
reasonably requested by the Holding Company.


                                       40
<PAGE>


     d. Agreements from United Federal Affiliates. The Holding
Company  shall have  received at least  thirty (30) days prior to the  Effective
Time the written Affiliates'  Agreements in form and content satisfactory to the
Holding  Company and signed by all persons who are deemed by the Holding Company
or its counsel to be  Affiliates  of United  Federal as  provided  in  Paragraph
4.01.a. above.

     e.  Accounting  Treatment.  (i) The  Holding  Company  shall have  received
assurances  from Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,  in form and content  satisfactory to
it,  to  the  effect  that  the  Merger   will   qualify  to  be  treated  as  a
"pooling-of-interests" for accounting purposes; (ii) if requested by the Holding
Company, United Federal's independent public accountants shall have delivered to
the  Holding  Company a letter  in form and  content  satisfactory  to it to the
effect  that such  accountants  are not aware of any fact or  circumstance  that
might cause the Merger not to qualify for such treatment; and (iii) it shall not
have come to the attention of  management of the Holding  Company that any event
has occurred or that any condition or  circumstance  exists that makes it likely
that the Merger may not so qualify.

     f. Legal Opinion of United  Federal's  Counsel.  The Holding  Company shall
have received  from United  Federal's  counsel,  Muldoon,  Murphy & Faucette,  a
written opinion, dated as of the Closing Date in the form of Schedule F attached
hereto.

     g. Other  Documents and  Information  from United  Federal.  United Federal
shall have provided to the Holding  Company  correct and complete  copies of its
Articles of  Incorporation,  Bylaws and board and shareholder  resolutions  (all
certified by United  Federal's  Secretary),  together with  certificates  of the
incumbency of United  Federal's  officers and such other  closing  documents and
information  as may  be  reasonably  requested  by the  Holding  Company  or its
counsel.

     h. Consents to Assignment of Leases. United Federal shall have obtained all
required  consents  to the  Merger as may be  required  under the Real  Property
Leases and all other leases,  under the same terms, rates and conditions of such
Real  Property  Leases  and all  other  leases  in effect as of the date of this
Agreement,  and such  consents  shall be in such form and  substance as shall be
satisfactory to the Holding Company;  and each of United Federal's lessors shall
have confirmed in writing that United  Federal is not in material  default under
the terms and  conditions of the Real Property  Lease or any other lease between
such lessor and United Federal.

     i. Acceptance by the Holding Company's  Counsel.  The form and substance of
all legal matters  described herein or related to the transactions  contemplated
herein shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holding Company's legal counsel.

     j.  Expenses.  Amounts  paid  or  payable  by  United  Federal  for  legal,
accounting and other professional  services related to the Merger (not including
fees charged by Carson Medlin to United Federal for financial advisory services)
shall not exceed $80,000, including not more than $60,000 in legal fees.

     k. Tainted Shares.  The aggregate  number of shares of United Federal Stock
as to which cash is  proposed  to be paid as the result of the  distribution  of
cash in lieu of fractional shares


                                       41
<PAGE>


(as described in Paragraph 1.5.c.  above), when coupled with any other shares of
Triangle Stock or United Federal Stock deemed tainted for  "pooling-of-interest"
purposes,  shall not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of United  Federal
Stock outstanding at the date of this Agreement or at the Effective Time.

     l. Mortgage Loan  Portfolio.  The portion of the real estate  mortgage loan
portfolio  originated for sale in the secondary  market  (including  outstanding
commitments) for which no binding contract for sale exists one (1) week prior to
the Closing  shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the dollar value of the total
portfolio.

                   ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION; BREACH; REMEDIES

     8.01.  Mutual  Termination.  At any time prior to the  Effective  Time (and
whether before or after approval hereof by the  shareholders of United Federal),
this Agreement may be terminated by the mutual  agreement of the Holding Company
and United Federal. Upon any such mutual termination,  all obligations of United
Federal,  Triangle and the Holding  Company  hereunder  shall terminate and each
party shall pay costs and expenses as provided in Paragraph 6.04. above.

     8.02.  Unilateral  Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated by either
the Holding  Company or United Federal  (whether before or after approval hereof
by United Federal's  shareholders)  upon written notice to the other parties and
under the circumstances described below.

     a. Termination by the Holding Company.  This Agreement may be terminated by
the Holding Company by action of its Board of Directors or Executive Committee:

          (i) if United  Federal  shall have violated or failed to fully perform
     any of its obligations,  covenants or agreements contained in Article IV or
     Article VI herein in any material respect;

          (ii) if the Holding Company  determines at any time that any of United
     Federal's  representations or warranties  contained in Article II or in any
     other  certificate or writing  delivered  pursuant to this Agreement  shall
     have been false or  misleading  in any material  respect when made, or that
     there has  occurred  any event or  development  or that  there  exists  any
     condition  or  circumstance  which has caused or, with the lapse of time or
     otherwise,  is  reasonably  likely  to cause  any such  representations  or
     warranties to become false or misleading in any material respect;

          (iii) if,  notwithstanding  the Holding Company's  satisfaction of its
     obligations under Paragraphs  6.01.b.,  6.01.c. and 6.01.e.  above,  United
     Federal's shareholders do not ratify and approve this Agreement and approve
     the Merger at the United Federal Shareholder Meeting;

          (iv) under the  circumstances  described in Paragraph 1.05.a. or 6.06.
     above; or,

          (v) if any of the conditions of the obligations of the Holding Company
     or Triangle (as set forth in Paragraph 7.01. or 7.03. above) shall not have
     been satisfied or effectively waived in writing by the Holding Company,  or
     if the Merger shall not have become effective on or


                                       42
<PAGE>


     before December 31, 1998,  unless such date is extended as evidenced by the
     written mutual agreement of the parties hereto.

     However, before the Holding Company may terminate this Agreement for any of
the reasons specified above in (i) or (ii) of this Paragraph  8.02.a.,  it shall
give written notice to United  Federal as provided  herein stating its intent to
terminate and a description of the specific breach, default,  violation or other
condition giving rise to its right to so terminate,  and such termination by the
Holding Company shall not become effective if, within thirty (30) days following
the giving of such notice,  United  Federal  shall cure such breach,  default or
violation  or satisfy  such  condition  to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of the
Holding Company.

     b.  Termination  by United  Federal.  This  Agreement  may be terminated by
United Federal by action of its Board of Directors:

          (i) if the Holding  Company or Triangle  shall have violated or failed
     to fully perform any of its obligations,  covenants or agreements contained
     in Article V or VI herein in any material respect;

          (ii) if United Federal determines that any of the Holding Company's or
     Triangle's  representations and warranties  contained in Article III herein
     or in any other certificate or writing delivered pursuant to this Agreement
     shall have been false or misleading  in any material  respect when made, or
     that there has occurred any event or  development  or that there exists any
     condition  or  circumstance  which has caused or, with the lapse of time or
     otherwise,  is  reasonably  likely  to cause  any such  representations  or
     warranties to become false or misleading in any material respect;

          (iii) if, subject to United Federal's  satisfaction of its obligations
     contained in Paragraphs  6.01.a.,  6.01.b.,  6.01.d.  and 6.01.e above, its
     shareholders  do not ratify and  approve  this  Agreement  and  approve the
     Merger at the United Federal Shareholder Meeting;

          (iv) under the circumstances described in Paragraph 1.05.a. above; or,

          (v) if any of the conditions of the  obligations of United Federal (as
     set forth in Paragraph 7.01. or 7.02.  above) shall not have been satisfied
     or effectively waived in writing by United Federal,  or if the Merger shall
     not have become effective on or before December 31, 1998,  unless such date
     is extended as  evidenced  by the written  mutual  agreement of the parties
     hereto.

     However,  before United Federal may terminate this Agreement for any of the
reasons  specified  above in clause (i) or (ii) of this  Paragraph  8.02.b.,  it
shall give written notice to the Holding  Company as provided herein stating its
intent to terminate and a description of the specific breach, default, violation
or  other  condition  giving  rise  to  its  right  to so  terminate,  and  such
termination by United Federal shall not become  effective if, within thirty (30)
days  following the giving of such notice,  the Holding  Company shall cure such
breach,  default  or  violation  or satisfy  such  condition  to the  reasonable
satisfaction of United Federal.


                                       43
<PAGE>


     8.03. Breach; Remedies.

     a. Breach of Agreement.  In the event of a breach by United  Federal of any
of its representations or warranties  contained in Article II of this Agreement,
or in  the  event  of  its  failure  to  perform  or  violation  of  any  of its
obligations,  agreements  or  covenants  contained  in Articles IV or VI of this
Agreement,  then  the  Holding  Company's  sole  right  and  remedy  shall be to
terminate  this  Agreement  prior to the Effective Time as provided in Paragraph
8.02.  above,  or, in the case of a failure to  perform  by United  Federal or a
violation of any of its obligations,  agreements or covenants,  to seek specific
performance thereof.

     Likewise,  in the event of a breach by the  Holding  Company or Triangle of
any of its  representations  or  warranties  contained  in  Article  III of this
Agreement,  or in the event of its failure to perform or violation of any of its
obligations,  agreements  or  covenants  contained  in  Articles V or VI of this
Agreement,  then United  Federal's  sole right and remedy  shall be to terminate
this Agreement prior to the Effective Time as provided in Paragraph 8.02. above,
or, in the case of a failure to perform by the  Holding  Company or  Triangle or
violation of any their  obligations,  agreements or covenants,  to seek specific
performance thereof.

     b. Payment of Expenses.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained herein to the
contrary, if any party to this Agreement breaches this Agreement by willfully or
intentionally failing to perform or violating any of its obligations, agreements
or covenants  contained in Articles  IV, V or VI of this  Agreement,  such party
shall be  obligated  to pay all  expenses of the other  party(ies)  described in
Paragraph 6.04. above (regardless of the allocation provided in Paragraph 6.04.)
together with other damages recoverable at law or in equity.

                           ARTICLE IX. INDEMNIFICATION

     9.01  Indemnification  Following  Effective  Time.  Following the Effective
Time,  without  releasing  any  insurance  carrier and after  exhaustion  of all
applicable director and officer liability insurance coverage for United Federal,
and its directors or officers, the Holding Company agrees that it will indemnify
United  Federal's  officers  and  directors  to the same extent  United  Federal
currently  indemnifies its directors and officers  against  liabilities  arising
from actions in their  official  capacities  as officers and directors of United
Federal.

     9.02.  Procedure  for  Claiming  Indemnification.  Any party  seeking to be
indemnified  hereunder  promptly shall give written notice and furnish  adequate
documentation  to the other party of any claims in respect of which indemnity is
sought. The indemnifying party,  through its own counsel and at its own expense,
shall  defend  any  such  claim  and  shall  have  exclusive  control  over  the
investigation,  preparation,  and  defense  of such  claim and all  negotiations
relating to its  settlement or  compromise.  The  obligations of either party to
indemnify the other  hereunder apply only if the party seeking to be indemnified
cooperates with and assists the indemnifying  party in all reasonably  necessary
respects in the conduct of the suit.


                                       44
<PAGE>

 
                       ARTICLE X. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     10.01. "Previously Disclosed" Information; "Material Adverse Effect".

     (a)  "Previously  Disclosed"  shall mean, as to United Federal or as to the
Holding  Company,  the disclosure of  information in a letter  delivered by such
party to the other prior to the date of this  Agreement  and which  specifically
refers to this  Agreement  and is arranged in  paragraphs  corresponding  to the
Paragraphs, subparagraphs and items of this Agreement applicable thereto, all of
which documents are incorporated herein by reference.

     Information  disclosed in either  party's letter  described  above shall be
deemed to have been  Previously  Disclosed  by such party for the purpose of any
given Paragraph,  subparagraph or item of this Agreement only to the extent that
information  is expressly set forth in such party's letter  described  above and
that, in connection with such  disclosure,  a specific  reference is made in the
letter to that Paragraph, subparagraph or item.

     (b) Where used in this Agreement,  the terms "Material  Adverse Effect" and
"Material  Adverse  Change" shall mean any event,  matter,  item or circumstance
(other  than as a result of (i)  changes in GAAP,  (ii)  changes in banking  and
similar  laws of general  application  or  interpretations  thereof by courts or
governmental authorities,  or (iii) any non-recurring  merger-related expense of
any kind) that in and of  itself,  or when  combined  with all  similar  events,
matters, items or circumstances, reasonably would be expected to have, now or in
the future,  a material  adverse  effect on the business,  financial  condition,
operations,  results of operations  or prospects of either party,  including but
not limited to, in the case of United  Federal,  a decrease in United  Federal's
consolidated  net  income,  exclusive  of any  merger-related  expense  and  any
non-recurring  income  item such as the sale of any  assets  (other  than in the
ordinary  and  customary  course  of  business  of  United  Federal),  such that
consolidated  net income for the months in 1998 preceding the Closing would,  in
the  aggregate,  be less than  $1,500,000,  pro rated  over 1998 by  multiplying
$1,500,000 by the  percentage of completed  months  preceding the Closing to all
months in 1998, or a decrease in total  consolidated  assets of 20% or more from
the level of total consolidated  assets at December 31, 1997 for United Federal,
or,  in the  case  of the  Holding  Company,  a  decrease  in  anticipated  1998
consolidated   net  income  of   $21,000,000   (exclusive  of  the   anticipated
acquisitions   of  Guaranty   State  Bancorp  and  United  Federal  and  of  any
merger-related  expenses  and any  non-recurring  items) of 20% or more from net
income  projected  (as of the date of this  Agreement)  or a  decrease  in total
consolidated  assets of 20% or more from the level of total consolidated  assets
at December 31, 1997 ($1,600,000,000) for the Holding Company.

     10.02. Survival of Representations,  Warranties,  Indemnification and Other
Agreements.

     a.   Representations,   Warranties  and  Other  Agreements.   None  of  the
representations, warranties or agreements herein shall survive the effectiveness
of the Merger,  and no party shall have any right  after the  Effective  Time to
recover  damages or any other  relief from any other party to this  Agreement by
reason of any  breach of  representation  or  warranty,  any  nonfulfillment  or
nonperformance  of any  agreement  contained  herein,  or  otherwise;  provided,
however,  that the parties'  agreements  contained in Paragraphs 6.07. and 6.08.
and Articles VIII and IX hereof, and the


                                       45
<PAGE>


Holding Company's  representations and warranties  contained in Paragraph 3.02.,
shall survive the effectiveness of the Merger.

     b. Indemnification.  The Holding Company's  indemnification  agreements and
obligations pursuant to Paragraph 9.01. above shall become effective only at the
Effective Time, and the Holding Company shall not have any obligation under that
Paragraph  prior  to  the  Effective  Time  or in  the  event  of  or  following
termination of this Agreement prior to the Effective Time.

     10.03.  Waiver.  Any term or  condition  of this  Agreement  may be  waived
(except as to matters of regulatory  approvals  and approvals  required by law),
either  in whole or in  part,  at any time by the  party  which  is,  and  whose
shareholders are, entitled to the benefits thereof; provided,  however, that any
such waiver shall be effective  only upon a  determination  by the waiving party
(through  action  of its  Board of  Directors  or,  in the  case of the  Holding
Company,  its Executive  Committee) that such waiver would not adversely  affect
the interests of the waiving party or its  shareholders;  and, provided further,
that no waiver of any term or condition of this  Agreement by any party shall be
effective  unless such waiver is in writing and signed by the waiving party,  or
be  construed  to be a waiver  of any  succeeding  breach  of the  same  term or
condition.  No failure or delay of any party to exercise any power, or to insist
upon a strict compliance by any other party of any obligation,  and no custom or
practice at variance  with any terms  hereof,  shall  constitute a waiver of the
right of any party to demand a full and complete compliance with such terms.

     10.04 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented at
any time or from time to time prior to the Effective  Time, and either before or
after its approval by the  shareholders  of United  Federal,  by an agreement in
writing  approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Holding Company
and United  Federal  executed  in the same  manner as this  Agreement;  provided
however, that, except with the further approval of United Federal's shareholders
of that  change or as  otherwise  provided  herein,  following  approval of this
Agreement  by the  shareholders  of United  Federal no change may be made in the
number of shares of Triangle Stock into which each share of United Federal Stock
will be converted.

     10.05. Notices. All notices and other communications  hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered  personally  or
by courier, or mailed by certified mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

                  a.       If to United Federal, to:

                           United Federal  Savings Bank
                           116 South Franklin Street
                           Rocky Mount, NC  27801

                           Attention:  John A. Barker
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer


                                       46
<PAGE>



                            With copy to:   George W. Murphy, Jr., Esq.
                                            Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette
                                            5101 Wisconsin Avenue, N. W.
                                            Washington, D.C. 20016

                  b.       If to the Holding Company, to:

                           Triangle Bancorp, Inc.
                           4300 Glenwood Avenue
                           Raleigh, North Carolina  27612

                           Attention:   Michael S. Patterson, President and  
                                         Chief Executive Officer

     10.06. Further Assurance.  United Federal, Triangle and the Holding Company
each agree to furnish to the others such further  assurances with respect to the
matters  contemplated  herein  and  their  respective   agreements,   covenants,
representations and warranties contained herein,  including the opinion of legal
counsel, as such other parties may reasonably request.

     10.07.  Headings  and  Captions.  Headings and captions of the sections and
paragraphs of this  Agreement  have been inserted for  convenience  of reference
only and do not constitute a part hereof.

     10.08.  Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  (including  all  schedules and
exhibits  attached  hereto and all documents  incorporated  herein by reference)
contains the entire  agreement  of the parties with respect to the  transactions
described  herein and supersedes any and all other oral or written  agreement(s)
heretofore  made, and there are no  representations  or inducements by or to, or
and agreements  between,  any of the parties  hereto other than those  contained
herein in writing.

     10.09.  Severability of Provisions.  The invalidity or  unenforceability of
any term, phrase, clause, paragraph,  restriction,  covenant, agreement or other
provision  hereof shall in no way affect the validity or  enforceability  of any
other provision or part hereof.

     10.10.  Assignment.  This Agreement may not be assigned by any party hereto
except with the prior written consent of the other parties hereto.

     10.11.  Counterparts.  Any number of  counterparts of this Agreement may be
signed and  delivered,  each of which shall be  considered an original and which
together shall constitute one agreement.

     10.12.  Governing Law. This Agreement is made in and shall be construed and
enforced in accordance  with the internal laws (and not the laws of conflict) of
the State of North Carolina.


                                       47
<PAGE>


     10.13.  Inspection.  Any right of the  Holding  Company  or United  Federal
hereunder to investigate or inspect the assets, books, records,  files and other
information  of the other in no way shall  establish  any  presumption  that the
Holding  Company or United Federal should have  conducted any  investigation  or
that such right has been exercised by the Holding Company, United Federal, their
respective agents,  representatives or others. Any investigations or inspections
that have been made by the Holding Company or United Federal  respective agents,
representatives  or others  prior to the Closing Date shall not be deemed in any
way in derogation or limitation of the covenants, representations and warranties
made by or on behalf of the Holding Company,  Triangle or United Federal in this
Agreement.


                                       48
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  United Federal,  Triangle and the Holding Company each
has caused this  Agreement  to be  executed  in its name by its duly  authorized
officers as of the date first above written. 

                                      TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC.


                                      By:  /s/ MICHAEL S. PATTERSON
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Michael S. Patterson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:
/s/ SUSAN C. GILBERT
- ---------------------------
Susan C. Gilbert, Secretary
                                      TRIANGLE BANK
[Corporate Seal]

                                      By:  /s/ MICHAEL S. PATTERSON             
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Michael S. Patterson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:

/s/ SUSAN C. GILBERT
- ---------------------------
Susan C. Gilbert, Secretary

[Corporate Seal]
                                      UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK


                                      By: 
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           John A. Barker
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer
ATTEST:

- ------------------------------------
Paula V. Walker, Assistant Secretary

[Corporate Seal]



                                       49
<PAGE>


     With respect to the above Agreement and Plan of  Reorganization  and Merger
(the "Agreement"), each of the individuals signing below agree as follows:

     1. As a director of United Federal Savings Bank ("United Federal"),  unless
there  has  been a  material  change  in  circumstances  since  the date of this
Agreement or for any reason it would, in my reasonable opinion,  violate my duty
or obligations as a director to United Federal or to its shareholders, I will:

          a.  Recommend to United  Federal's  shareholders  that they vote their
     shares in favor of ratification  and approval of the Agreement and approval
     of the Merger described therein;

          b. Vote against any action on the part of United Federal that would be
     in violation of the Agreement; and

          c. Vote in favor of any action on the part of United  Federal  that is
     necessary  or  appropriate  to carry out the  intent  and  purposes  or the
     Agreement.

     2. Further, in my individual capacity, I will:

          a. Vote all shares of United  Federal's  common stock which I have the
     power to vote  (excluding  shares  held by me in a fiduciary  capacity)  in
     favor of  ratification  and approval of the  Agreement  and approval of the
     Merger described therein;

          b. Execute and deliver to United Federal at least forty-five (45) days
     prior to the Effective Time an Affiliates Agreement in the form attached as
     Schedule B to this Agreement; and

          c.  During a period  of one year  following  the  Effective  Time (the
     "Restriction Period"), I will not "Compete" (as defined below), directly or
     indirectly,  with the  Holding  Company  or any of its  direct or  indirect
     subsidiaries  (collectively,  "Triangle") in the geographic area consisting
     of Edgecombe or Nash Counties,  North Carolina and any contiguous  counties
     in North Carolina (the "Relevant Market").

     I hereby  acknowledge  and agree that the Relevant  Market and  Restriction
Period  are  limited  in scope to the  geographic  territory  and period of time
reasonably necessary to protect Triangle's economic interest.

     For the purposes of this Paragraph 2(c), the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:

     Compete. The term "Compete" means: (i) soliciting or securing deposits from
any Person residing in the Relevant Market for any Financial  Institution;  (ii)
inducing or attempting to induce any Person who is a Customer of United  Federal
at the time of the Merger or a Customer of  Triangle  following  the Merger,  to
change any  depository,  loan and/or other banking  relationship of the Customer
from  Triangle to another  Financial  Institution;  (iii)  acting as a director,
incorporator, officer or employee of any Financial Institution that has its main
or principal office in the Relevant Market, or,


                                       50
<PAGE>


in acting in any such capacity with any other Financial Institution, to maintain
an office or to be employed at or assigned to or to have any direct  involvement
in the  management,  supervision,  business or  operation  of any office of such
Financial Institution located in the Relevant Market; (iv) serving as a local or
advisory  director  for any branch or office of a Financial  Institution,  which
branch or office is located in the Relevant Market;  or (v) communicating to any
Financial  Institution  the  names or  addresses  or any  financial  information
concerning  any Person who is a  Customer  of United  Federal at the time of the
Merger or a Customer of Triangle following the Merger.

     Customer.  The  terms  "Customer  of  United  Federal  " and  "Customer  of
Triangle"  mean any Person with whom United  Federal or Triangle,  respectively,
has or at any time has had a depository, loan and/or other banking relationship.

     Financial Institution.  The term "Financial  Institution" means any federal
or state  chartered bank,  savings bank,  savings and loan  association,  credit
union or financial  services  entity,  or any holding company for or corporation
that owns or  controls  any such  entity,  or any other  Person  engaged  in the
business of making loans of any type, receiving deposits, or providing financial
or investment advice or services, other than United Federal or Triangle.

     Person.  The term  "Person"  means any natural  person or any  corporation,
partnership,  proprietorship,  joint venture, trust, estate, governmental agency
or instrumentality, fiduciary, unincorporated association or other entity.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned  each has hereunto set his or her
hand and adopted the written  word "Seal" by his or her  signature as a personal
seal, all as of the date of the foregoing Agreement.

_______________________(SEAL)                ________________________(SEAL)
Norwood P. Blanchard                         Marshall Dunn

_______________________(SEAL)                ________________________(SEAL)
Joseph B. Brewer, Jr.                        Jake L. Rosenbloom

                                             ________________________(SEAL)
                                             John L. Sally


                                       51
<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE A
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998
                                 Plan of Merger

                                 PLAN OF MERGER
                                       OF
                           UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
                                  WITH AND INTO
                                  TRIANGLE BANK


     A. Names of Merging Corporations. The names of the corporations proposed to
be merged are UNITED FEDERAL  SAVINGS BANK, a federally  chartered  savings bank
("United  Federal")  and TRIANGLE  BANK, a North  Carolina  banking  corporation
("Triangle").

     B. Nature of Transaction. Subject to the provisions of this Plan of Merger,
United Federal shall be merged into and with Triangle (the "Merger").

     C.  Name  of  Surviving  Corporation.   Triangle  shall  be  the  surviving
corporation in the Merger and shall exist under the name "Triangle Bank."

     D. Terms and Conditions of the Merger.

     1. The Merger  shall be effected  pursuant to the terms and  conditions  of
this Plan of Merger and of the Agreement and Plan of  Reorganization  and Merger
dated as of March 4, 1998,  by and among United  Federal,  Triangle and Triangle
Bancorp, Inc. (the "Holding Company") (the "Agreement").  As provided herein and
in the Agreement,  except insofar as the same may be continued by law and except
as continued in and merged into  Triangle,  at the effective  time of the Merger
(the "Effective Time") the separate corporate  existence of United Federal shall
cease and the  corporate  existence of Triangle  shall  continue with all of its
purposes, objects, rights, privileges, powers and franchises, all of which shall
be unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger.

     2. At the  Effective  Time  and by  reason  of the  Merger,  all of  United
Federal's  property,  assets and rights of every kind and  character  (including
without  limitation  all  real,  personal  or mixed  property,  all debts due on
whatever account, all other choses in action and all and every other interest of
or belonging to or due to United Federal,  whether tangible or intangible) shall
be  transferred  to and vest in Triangle,  and Triangle shall succeed to all the
rights, privileges,  immunities,  powers, purposes and franchises of a public or
private nature (including all trust and fiduciary properties, powers and rights)
of United  Federal,  all without any  conveyance,  assignment  or further act or
deed; and Triangle shall become  responsible for all of the liabilities,  duties
and  obligations  of every kind,  nature and  description  (including  duties as
trustee  or  fiduciary)  of United  Federal  as of the  Effective  Time.  At the
Effective  Time,  and by reason of the Merger,  Triangle shall assume and become
responsible  for the  liquidation  account  established  by  United  Federal  in
connection  with  its  conversion  to the  stock  form of  organization.  At the
Effective Time, and by reason of the Merger, all savings


                                        1
<PAGE>


accounts and  certificates of deposit in United Federal shall,  without reissue,
be and become savings  accounts and  certificates of deposit in Triangle without
change in their respective terms.

     3.  The  Articles  of  Incorporation  and  Bylaws  of  Triangle  in  effect
immediately  prior to the Effective Time shall be the Articles of  Incorporation
and Bylaws of  Triangle  as the  surviving  corporation  in the Merger and shall
continue in full force and effect  following the Effective Time until amended in
accordance  with  applicable  laws.  The officers  and  directors of Triangle in
office at the Effective Time shall continue to hold such offices as the officers
and directors of Triangle as the surviving corporation until removed as provided
by law or until their respective successors have been elected or appointed.

     E. Conversion and Exchange of Shares.

     1. At the Effective Time, all rights of United Federal's  shareholders with
respect to all then  outstanding  shares of United Federal's common stock ($0.01
par value) ("United Federal Stock") shall cease to exist,  and, as consideration
for and to effectuate the Merger (and except as otherwise provided below),  each
such  outstanding  share of United  Federal Stock (other than any shares held by
the Holding  Company) shall be converted,  without any action on the part of the
holder of such share,  the Holding Company,  Triangle,  United Federal or United
Federal,  into 0.63 (the  "Exchange  Rate") newly  issued  shares of the Holding
Company's no par value common stock ("Triangle Stock").

     2. At the  Effective  Time,  and  without  any  action by  United  Federal,
Triangle,  the Holding  Company or any holder  thereof,  United  Federal's stock
transfer books shall be closed as to holders of United Federal Stock immediately
prior to the Effective Time and, thereafter, no transfer of United Federal Stock
by any such  holder  may be made or  registered;  and the  holders  of shares of
United  Federal  Stock shall  cease to be, and shall have no further  rights as,
stockholders  of United  Federal  other than as provided  herein.  Following the
Effective  Time,  certificates  representing  shares  of  United  Federal  Stock
outstanding  at  the  Effective  Time  (herein  sometimes  referred  to as  "Old
Certificates") shall evidence only the right of the registered holder thereof to
receive,  and may be exchanged for,  certificates for the number of whole shares
of Triangle Stock to which such holders shall have become  entitled on the basis
set forth  above,  plus cash for any  fractional  share  interests  as  provided
herein.

     3. As promptly as  practicable  following the Effective  Time,  the Holding
Company  shall cause  Registrar  and Transfer  Company,  the transfer  agent for
Triangle Stock (the  "Exchange  Agent"),  to mail to each former  shareholder of
United  Federal  of  record  immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  written
instructions  and  transmittal  materials  (a  "Transmittal  Letter") for use in
surrendering Old Certificates to the Exchange Agent. Upon the proper delivery to
the Exchange Agent (in accordance with the above  instructions,  and accompanied
by a properly  completed  Transmittal  Letter) by a former shareholder of United
Federal of his or her Old Certificates, the Exchange Agent shall register in the
name of such  shareholder  the shares of  Triangle  Stock and  deliver  said New
Certificates to the individual shareholder entitled thereto upon and in exchange
for the  surrender  and  delivery  to the  Exchange  Agent  by  said  individual
shareholder of his or her Old Certificates.


                                        2
<PAGE>


     4. (i) At the Effective Time, each option or other right to purchase shares
of United Federal Stock  pursuant to stock options  ("United  Federal  Options")
granted by United  Federal  under the  United  Federal  Savings  Bank 1993 Stock
Option Plan for  Outside  Directors  and the United  Federal  Savings  Bank 1993
Incentive  Stock Option Plan  (collectively,  the "United Federal Stock Plans"),
which are outstanding at the Effective Time,  whether or not exercisable,  shall
be  converted  into and become  rights with respect to Triangle  Stock,  and the
Holding Company shall assume each United Federal Option,  in accordance with the
terms of the United  Federal Stock Plans and stock option  agreement by which it
is evidenced,  except that from after the Effective Time (A) the Holding Company
and its  Compensation  Committee shall be substituted for United Federal and the
Committee of United Federal's Board of Directors (including, if applicable,  the
entire Board of Directors of United  Federal)  administering  the United Federal
Stock Plans,  (B) each United Federal Option assumed by the Holding  Company may
be exercised  solely for shares of Triangle  Stock,  (C) the number of shares of
Triangle  Stock  subject to such  United  Federal  Option  shall be equal to the
number of shares of United  Federal Stock subject to such United  Federal Option
immediately  prior to the  Effective  Time  multiplied  by the Exchange Rate and
rounding down to the nearest whole share,  and (D) the per share  exercise price
under each such United  Federal  Option  shall be  adjusted by dividing  the per
share  exercise price under each such United Federal Option by the Exchange Rate
and rounding up to the nearest cent.

     (ii) All  restrictions  or  limitations  on transfer with respect to United
Federal Stock  awarded  under the United  Federal Stock Plans or any other plan,
program,  or arrangement of United Federal, to the extent that such restrictions
or limitations shall not have already lapsed, and except as otherwise  expressly
provided in such plan, program,  or arrangement,  shall remain in full force and
effect with respect to shares of Triangle Stock into which such restricted stock
is converted pursuant to the Merger.

     (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Paragraph E.4, in no
event shall options to purchase more than 125,500 shares of United Federal Stock
be converted  into options to purchase  Triangle  Stock in  connection  with the
Merger.

     5. No scrip or  certificates  representing  fractional  shares of  Triangle
Stock will be issued to any former shareholder of United Federal, and, except as
provided herein,  no such shareholder will have any right to vote or receive any
dividend  or other  distribution  on, or any other  right with  respect  to, any
fraction of a share of Triangle Stock resulting from the above exchange. In lieu
of the issuance of fractional  shares of Triangle  Stock,  at the Effective Time
the Holding  Company shall deliver cash to the Exchange Agent in an amount equal
to the aggregate market value of all such fractional shares,  and, following the
Effective  Time,  the  Exchange  Agent shall divide such cash among and remit it
(without  interest) to the former  shareholders  of United Federal in accordance
with their respective  interests  therein.  The "aggregate  market value" of all
fractional  shares  of  Triangle  Stock  shall  be  equal  to the  total of such
fractional shares multiplied by $ _______ .

     6. No  certificate  for any shares,  or cash for any fractional  share,  of
Triangle  Stock shall be delivered to any former  shareholder  of United Federal
unless  and until  such  shareholder  shall  have  properly  surrendered  to the
Exchange Agent the Old Certificate(s) formerly representing his or her shares of
United Federal Stock,  together with properly completed transmittal materials in
such form as shall be provided  to the  shareholder  by the Holding  Company for
that purpose.  Further,  until such Old  Certificate(s)  are so surrendered,  no
dividend or other distribution payable to holders of


                                       3
<PAGE>


record of Triangle  Stock as of any date  subsequent to the Effective Time shall
be delivered to the holder of such Old Certificate(s).  However, upon the proper
surrender  of such Old  Certificate(s),  the  Exchange  Agent  shall  pay to the
registered  holder  of the  shares of  Triangle  Stock  represented  by such Old
Certificate(s)  the amount of any such cash,  dividends or  distributions  which
have accrued but remain unpaid with respect to such shares.  Neither the Holding
Company,  Triangle,  United  Federal,  nor the  Exchange  Agent,  shall have any
obligation to pay any interest on any such cash,  dividends or distributions for
any period prior to such payment.

     7. Any shareholder of United Federal whose certificate evidencing shares of
United  Federal Stock has been lost,  destroyed,  stolen or otherwise is missing
shall be entitled to receive a certificate  representing  the shares of Triangle
Stock to which he or she is entitled in accordance with and upon compliance with
conditions imposed by the Exchange Agent or the Holding Company.

     8. The status of the shares of Triangle Stock and the shares of the capital
stock of Triangle which are outstanding  immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall not be affected by the Merger.

     F. Abandonment. This Plan of Merger may be terminated and the Merger may be
abandoned  at any time  prior to the  Effective  Time  upon  termination  of the
Agreement as provided therein.


                                       4
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE B
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998


                               Affiliate's Letter



                             _________________, 1998


Triangle Bancorp, Inc.
4300 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina  27612

Dear Sirs:

Pursuant to the terms of that certain Agreement and Plan of  Reorganization  and
Merger dated March 4, 1998 (the "Agreement") by and among Triangle Bancorp, Inc.
(the "Holding Company"),  Triangle Bank and United Federal Savings Bank ("United
Federal")  (i) United  Federal will be merged into and with  Triangle  Bank (the
"Merger"),  and (ii) each  outstanding  share of United  Federal's  common stock
("Bank  Stock") will be converted  into and  exchanged  for newly issued  shares
(determined as provided in the Agreement) of the Holding  Company's no par value
common stock ("Triangle Stock").

Based upon the list of persons  submitted by United  Federal and approved by the
Holding  Company,  the  undersigned  "Affiliate" is considered an "affiliate" of
United  Federal  as that  term is  defined  and  used for  purposes  of Rule 145
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange  Commission (the "Commission")  under
the  Securities  Act of  1933,  as  amended  (the  "Act").  As  required  by the
Agreement,  this Affiliates' Agreement is being delivered to the Holding Company
in  connection  with and as a condition  of its  execution  and  delivery of the
Agreement.

The undersigned  (jointly and severally if more than one) hereby  represents and
warrants to the Holding Company as follows:

     A.   The  names of all  "Persons",  if any,  having a  relationship  to the
          Affiliate as described  under the  definition of "Person"  attached as
          Exhibit A hereto and who may receive  shares of the Triangle  Stock in
          connection  with the Merger (the  Affiliate's  "Related  Persons") are
          listed on the  signature  page hereto and also have signed this letter
          agreement;


                                        1
<PAGE>


     B.   The Affiliate and each of the Related Persons,  if any, have carefully
          read  this  letter  and have  discussed  its  requirements  and  other
          applicable limitations upon the sale, transfer or other disposition of
          Triangle  Stock to be received by them in connection  with the Merger,
          to the extent they deem necessary, with their own legal counsel;

As an  inducement  for the Holding  Company to enter into the  Agreement  and to
consummate the Merger and for the Holding Company to issue the Triangle Stock as
provided in the Agreement,  the undersigned  (jointly and severally if more than
one) hereby covenants and agrees with the Holding Company as follows:

     A.   The  Affiliate  and  each of the  Related  Persons,  if any,  has been
          informed  that,  since at the time the Merger is to be  submitted to a
          vote of United  Federal's  shareholders  the  Affiliate  and each such
          Related  Person  will be  considered  to be an  "affiliate"  of United
          Federal,  any resale by the Affiliate or a Related  Person of any such
          Triangle Stock would require either (i) the registration under the Act
          of the Triangle Stock to be sold,  (ii) compliance by the Affiliate or
          such Related Person with the  requirements of Rule 145(d)  promulgated
          under the Act, or (iii) the availability of another exemption from the
          registration requirements of the Act;

     B.   Following the date of the Merger, neither the Affiliate nor any of the
          Related  Persons,  if any,  will  make  any  sale,  transfer  or other
          disposition of Triangle Stock acquired by them in connection  with the
          Merger except in compliance  with the  requirements of the Act and the
          rules  and   regulations  of  the  Commission   (including  Rule  145)
          promulgated thereunder;

     C.   Notwithstanding  compliance with the  requirements of the Act, neither
          the  Affiliate nor any of the Related  Persons,  if any, (i) will make
          any sale, transfer or other disposition of any shares of Bank Stock or
          of Triangle  Stock during the 30 days prior to the date of the Merger,
          or (ii)  shall make any sale,  transfer  or other  disposition  of the
          Triangle  Stock  acquired by them in connection  with the Merger until
          such time as consolidated  financial  statements  covering the Holding
          Company's  operations  for a  period  of at  least  thirty  (30)  days
          following the Merger either have been (a) filed with the Commission in
          a Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q, (b) sent to the  shareholders of the
          Holding Company, or (c) published in newspapers of general circulation
          in  accordance  with  the  Holding   Company's  normal  practices  for
          releasing financial information to the general public;

     D.   The  Holding  Company  may place stock  transfer  restrictions  on the
          shares of Triangle Stock held by the Affiliate and each of the Related
          Persons,  if any, which are subject to this Agreement,  and there will
          be  placed  on  the  certificates  evidencing  such  shares,  and  any
          substitutions therefor, a legend stating in substance as follows:

                    "The shares  represented by this  certificate were
                    issued  pursuant to a business  combination  which
                    was 



                                       2
<PAGE>


                    accounted  for  as  a  "pooling-of-interests"  and
                    may not be sold,  nor may the owner hereof  reduce
                    the owner's risk relative hereto in any way, until
                    Triangle Bancorp,  Inc. ("Triangle") has published
                    financial  results  covering at least  thirty (30)
                    days of  combined  operations  after  ___________,
                    1998. In addition,  the shares represented by this
                    certificate  may  not  be  sold,  transferred,  or
                    otherwise disposed of except or unless (1) covered
                    by an effective  registration  statement under the
                    Securities  Act  of  1933,  as  amended,   (2)  in
                    accordance  with (i) Rule  145(d)  (in the case of
                    shares  issued  to an  individual  who  is  not an
                    affiliate  of  Triangle)  or (ii) Rule 144 (in the
                    case of shares issued to an  individual  who is an
                    affiliate   of   Triangle)   of  the   Rules   and
                    Regulations of such Act, or (3) in accordance with
                    a  legal  opinion   satisfactory  to  counsel  for
                    Triangle  that such sale or transfer is  otherwise
                    exempt from the registration  requirements of such
                    Act."

          The  legend  may be  removed  from  the  certificates  evidencing  the
          Triangle Stock to which this letter agreement  applies by the delivery
          of new  certificates  without such legend in substitution  therefor if
          the holder thereof delivers to the Holding Company an opinion of legal
          counsel  acceptable to the Holding Company,  and in form and substance
          acceptable to the Holding Company, to the effect that the restrictions
          described above are no longer  applicable to such person and that such
          legend is not or is no longer required for purposes of the Act.

                                          Yours very truly,


                                          By:________________________ (Seal)
                                          Print name: _______________________

                                  Related Persons", if any:


                                          _____________________________(Seal)
                                          Print name: _______________________


                                          _____________________________(Seal)
                                          Print name: _______________________


                                       3
<PAGE>


                                          _____________________________(Seal)
                                          Print name: _______________________


                                          _____________________________(Seal)
                                          Print name: _______________________



                                          ___________________________________
                                          Name of Corporation

                                          By:  ______________________________
                                          Name:  ____________________________
                                          Title:  ___________________________



                                          ___________________________________
                                          Name of Corporation

                                          By:  ______________________________
                                          Name:  ____________________________
                                          Title:  ___________________________


                                       4
<PAGE>


                                    EXHIBIT A

Rule 145 of the  Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  incorporates  by reference
the  definition  of "person"  set forth under  Paragraph  (a)(2) of Rule 144, as
follows:

     "(2) The term  "person"  when used  with  reference  to a person  for whose
     account  securities are to be sold in reliance upon this rule includes,  in
     addition to such person, all of the following persons:

          (A) Any  relative or spouse of such  person,  or any  relative of such
          spouse, any of whom has the same home as such person;

          (B) Any  trust or estate in which  such  person or any of the  persons
          specified  in (A)  collectively  own ten percent  (10%) or more of the
          total  beneficial  interest or of which any of such  persons  serve as
          trustee, executor or in any similar capacity; and,

          (C) Any corporation or other  organization  (other than the issuer) in
          which  such  person  or any of the  persons  specified  in (A) are the
          beneficial  owners  collectively  of ten percent  (10%) or more of any
          class of equity  securities or ten percent (10%) or more of the equity
          interest."


                                       5
<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE C
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998

                          Form of Consulting Agreement


STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF WAKE

                              CONSULTING AGREEMENT

     THIS  CONSULTING  AGREEMENT  entered into as of _________ __ , 1998, by and
between  TRIANGLE  BANCORP,  INC.  (hereinafter  referred to as "Triangle")  and
_____________________ (hereinafter referred to as "Consultant").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Consultant has been employed as the ____ Vice President of United
Federal  Savings  Bank  ("UFSB") and in such  position  has  provided  continued
leadership and guidance in UFSB's growth and development; and has developed many
contacts  throughout  the  banking  industry  and has  developed  many  business
relationships in the market areas served by UFSB; and,

     WHEREAS, Triangle desires to retain the advantage of Consultant's knowledge
of UFSB's affairs, and his knowledge of and experience,  standing and reputation
in the banking  industry  and UFSB's  market  area,  and  Triangle  desires that
Consultant  continue to support and  encourage  the  development  of  Triangle's
banking  business  and not compete  against  Triangle or its  subsidiaries,  and
Consultant is willing to do so; and,

     WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into this Agreement to set forth their
mutual understanding regarding Consultant's relationship with Triangle.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  for  and in  consideration  of the  premises  and  mutual
promises, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth, and for other good and
valuable  considerations,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of which  hereby  are
acknowledged, Consultant and Triangle hereby agree as follows:

1.   Services. During the term of this Agreement,  Consultant shall make himself
     available,  in person or by telephone, at such times and for such amount of
     time as shall be mutually  agreeable to him and  Triangle,  to consult with
     Triangle on such  matters as Triangle  reasonably  may request from time to
     time  regarding  matters  involving  the  customers,  employees,  products,
     services  and  operations  of, loan quality  control and review,  and other
     business and operational matters of Triangle.


                                       1
<PAGE>


     Consultant is an independent contractor for purposes of this Agreement.  As
     such,  Consultant shall be responsible for and incur all costs and expenses
     in the  performance  of his  obligations  under  this  Agreement.  However,
     Triangle  shall  promptly  reimburse  or cause one of its  subsidiaries  to
     reimburse  Consultant for all reasonable travel and other expenses incurred
     by him in the  performance  of his duties under this  Agreement  which have
     been  documented  to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of the Chief  Financial
     Officer of Triangle pursuant to established procedures.

2.   Term.  The term of this Agreement  shall be for a period  commencing on the
     date hereof and continuing for a period of four (4) months.

3.   Compensation. For the consulting services and Consultant's other agreements
     hereunder,  Consultant  shall  be paid  _____________  and  no/100  Dollars
     ($______) per annum payable on a monthly basis on the first regular payroll
     day of Triangle.

4.   Noncompetition;  Confidentiality. Consultant hereby acknowledges and agrees
     that (i) Triangle has made a significant  investment in the  development of
     its  business in the  geographic  area  identified  below as the  "Relevant
     Market"  and that  Triangle,  has a valuable  economic  interest in banking
     business in the Relevant  Market  which it is entitled to protect;  (ii) in
     the course of his service as an officer of UFSB he has  gained,  and in the
     course of his services pursuant to this Agreement he will gain, substantial
     knowledge of and familiarity  with Triangle's and UFSB's banking  customers
     and their dealings with them, and other information  concerning  Triangle's
     banking  business and UFSB's  banking  business,  all of which  constitutes
     valuable assets and privileged  information that is particularly  sensitive
     due to the fiduciary responsibilities inherent in the banking business; and
     (iii) in order to protect Triangle's  interest in its banking business,  it
     is reasonable and necessary to place certain  restrictions  on Consultant's
     ability to compete  against  Triangle and on his  disclosure of information
     about  Triangle's  customers.  For that purpose,  and in  consideration  of
     Triangle's agreements contained herein,  Consultant covenants and agrees as
     provided below.

(a)  Covenant Not to Compete. During the term of this Agreement or, in the event
     of a  termination  of  this  Agreement  prior  to the end of its  term  for
     "Cause," for a period equal to the unexpired term hereof (the  "Restriction
     Period"),  Consultant  will not  "Compete (as defined  below),  directly or
     indirectly,  with  Triangle  or  any  of its  subsidiaries  in the  banking
     business in the geographic area (the "Relevant  Market")  consisting of any
     county  (without regard to state or other  jurisdiction)  in which Triangle
     Bank or any other bank  subsidiary of Triangle  maintains a banking office;
     provided,  however,  that in the event that Triangle Bank or any other such
     bank  subsidiary  of  Triangle  shall be  merged  into  another  entity  or
     otherwise shall cease to exist as a separate entity,  then,  insofar as the
     Relevant  Market is defined by the  counties in which such bank  subsidiary
     maintains  banking  offices,  the Relevant Market shall be limited to those
     counties in which such bank  subsidiary  maintained a banking  office as of
     the effective date of such merger or cessation of existence.


                                       2
<PAGE>


     Consultant acknowledges and agrees that the Relevant Market and Restriction
     Period are limited in scope to the geographic  territory and period of time
     reasonably necessary to protect Triangle's economic interest.

     For purposes of this  Paragraph  4(a),  the following  terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:

     Compete.  Except as otherwise  provided below,  the term "Compete means (i)
     soliciting or securing the banking,  leasing,  brokerage or other financial
     services  business of any Person  residing in the  Relevant  Market for any
     Financial Institution;  (ii) soliciting any Person residing in the Relevant
     Market to become a customer of any Financial  Institution,  (iii) knowingly
     inducing or  attempting  to induce any Person who was a Customer of UFSB on
     the  date of this  Agreement  or who was a  Customer  of any of  Triangle's
     subsidiaries,  on the date of termination of this Agreement, to change such
     Customer's  financial   relationship  from  UFSB  or  Triangle  to  another
     Financial  Institution;  (iv) acting as a  consultant,  officer,  director,
     independent  contractor,  or employee  in the  operation  of any  Financial
     Institution  that has its main or principal  office in the Relevant Market,
     or, in acting in any such capacity with any other Financial Institution, to
     maintain  an office or be  employed at or assigned to or to have any direct
     involvement  in the  management,  business or operation  of such  Financial
     Institution's  banking  operations  located in the Relevant Market;  or (v)
     communicating  to any Financial  Institution  the names or addresses or any
     financial  information  concerning any Person who was a Customer of UFSB on
     the date of this  Agreement,  or who was a  Customer  of any of  Triangle's
     subsidiaries  at the  date of the  termination  of this  Agreement  for any
     reason  except  as  required  by  law or any  regulatory  agency  or in the
     performance of his duties or responsibilities hereunder.

     Customer.  The term  "Customer"  means  any  Person  with  whom,  as of the
     effective  date of  this  Agreement  or the  date  of  termination  of this
     Agreement for any reason,  UFSB or Triangle Bank has or has had a financial
     services.

     Financial Institution.  The term "Financial  Institution" means any federal
     or state chartered bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, credit
     union,  financial  institution or financial  services entity or any holding
     company for or  corporation  that owns or controls any such entity,  or any
     other Person engaged in the banking business,  other than UFSB, Triangle or
     a subsidiary of Triangle.

     Person.  The term  "Person"  means any natural  person or any  corporation,
     partnership,  proprietorship,  joint venture,  limited  liability  company,
     trust,   estate,   governmental  agency  or   instrumentality,   fiduciary,
     unincorporated association or other entity.


                                       3
<PAGE>


(b)  Confidentiality Covenant.  Consultant covenants and agrees that any and all
     data, figures,  projections,  estimates,  lists, files, records, documents,
     manuals  or other such  materials  or  information  (whether  financial  or
     otherwise)  relating  to  Triangle  or UFSB  and  their  banking  business,
     regulatory   examinations,   financial  results  and  condition,   leasing,
     brokerage,  lending and deposit operations,  customers  (including lists of
     UFSB's and Triangle's  customers and  information  regarding their accounts
     and business  dealings with UFSB and  Triangle),  policies and  procedures,
     computer  systems  and  software,  shareholders,  employees,  officers  and
     directors   (herein   referred  to  as  "Confidential   Information")   are
     proprietary  to  Triangle  and UFSB and are  valuable,  special  and unique
     assets of Triangle's and UFSB's business to which Consultant has had access
     as an  officer  of UFSB  and  will  have  access  during  the  term of this
     Agreement.  Consultant  agrees that (i) all such  Confidential  Information
     shall be considered  and kept as the  confidential,  private and privileged
     records and information of UFSB and Triangle,  and (ii) at all times during
     the term of this Agreement and following the  termination of this Agreement
     for any  reason,  and  except  as shall be  required  in the  course of the
     performance  by Consultant of his duties on behalf of Triangle or otherwise
     pursuant to the direct, written authorization of Triangle,  Consultant will
     not:  divulge  any such  Confidential  Information  to any other  Person or
     Financial Institution;  remove any such Confidential Information in written
     or other recorded form from Triangle's or its  subsidiaries'  premises;  or
     make any use of any  Confidential  Information  for his own purposes or for
     the benefit of any Person or Financial Institution other than Triangle or a
     subsidiary  of  Triangle.   However,  following  the  termination  of  this
     Agreement,  this  subparagraph  (b)  shall  not  apply to any  Confidential
     Information  which then is in the public domain  (provided that  Consultant
     was  not   responsible,   directly  or  indirectly,   for  permitting  such
     Confidential  Information  to enter the public  domain  without  Triangle's
     consent),  or which is obtained by  Consultant  from a third party which or
     who is not obligated under an agreement of confidentiality  with respect to
     such information.

(c)  Remedies for Breach.  Consultant understands and acknowledges that a breach
     or violation by him of any of the covenants  contained in  Paragraphs  4(a)
     and  4(b) of this  Agreement  will be  deemed  a  material  breach  of this
     Agreement and will cause irreparable injury to Triangle,  and that it would
     be difficult to ascertain the amount of monetary  damages that would result
     from any such violation.  In the event of Consultant's actual or threatened
     breach or  violation of the  covenant  contained in either such  Paragraph,
     Triangle  shall be entitled to bring a civil action  seeking an  injunction
     restraining  Consultant  from  violating  or  continuing  to violate  those
     covenants or from any threatened  violation thereof, or for any other legal
     or equitable  relief  relating to the breach or violation of such covenant.
     Consultant  agrees that,  if Triangle  institutes  any action or proceeding
     against  Consultant  seeking to enforce any of such covenants or to recover
     other relief relating to an actual or threatened breach or violation of any
     of such covenants,  Consultant  shall be deemed to have waived the claim or
     defense that Triangle has an adequate


                                       4
<PAGE>


     remedy at law and shall not urge in any such action or proceeding the claim
     or defense  that such a remedy at law  exists.  However,  the  exercise  by
     Triangle of any such right,  remedy,  power or privilege shall not preclude
     Triangle or its  successors  or assigns  from  pursuing any other remedy or
     exercising any other right, power or privilege available to it for any such
     breach or violation, whether at law or in equity, including the recovery of
     damages,  all of which  shall be  cumulative  and in  addition to all other
     rights, remedies, powers or privileges of Triangle.

     Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein to the contrary,  in the event
     that  Triangle  believes  that  Consultant  has  breached or  violated  any
     provision  of  this  Paragraph  4,  it  first  shall  be  required  to give
     Consultant   written   notice  thereof  (which  notice  shall  describe  in
     reasonable detail the facts or conduct which Triangle alleges to constitute
     such  breach or  default).  Triangle  agrees that  Consultant  shall not be
     deemed to have breached or violated any  provision of this  Paragraph 4 if,
     within five (5)  business  days  following  his receipt of any such written
     notice from  Triangle,  he ceases the conduct  described  in such notice or
     otherwise  takes  or  commences  (and  thereafter  pursues  in good  faith)
     reasonable  action  to cure  the  alleged  breach  or  violation,  provided
     however,  that,  after giving notice and an  opportunity  to cure once with
     respect  to a  particular  breach  or  violation,  Triangle  shall  not  be
     obligated to give any  additional  notice with  respect to, and  Consultant
     shall have no right to cure, any further breach or violation  involving the
     same or  substantially  similar  facts or  circumstances  as the  breach or
     violation as to which such notice was given.

     Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein  to the  contrary,  Consultant
     agrees  that the  provisions  of  Paragraph  4(b)  above  and the  remedies
     provided  in this  Paragraph  4(c) for a breach by  Consultant  shall be in
     addition to, and shall not be deemed to supersede or to otherwise restrict,
     limit or impair the rights of Triangle  under the Trade Secrets  Protection
     Act  contained  in Article  24,  Chapter 66 of the North  Carolina  General
     Statutes,  or any other state or federal law or regulation  dealing with or
     providing a remedy for the wrongful disclosure,  misuse or misappropriation
     of trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential information.

(d)  Survival of Covenants. Consultant's covenants and agreements and Triangle's
     rights and  remedies  provided  for in this  Paragraph 4 shall  survive any
     termination of this Agreement.

5.   Termination.

     a) This  Agreement may be terminated at any time by Consultant  upon thirty
     (30) days' written notice to Triangle.

     b) Except as otherwise  provided below,  this Agreement shall be terminated
     upon the death,  physical  disability  or mental  incapacity  of Consultant
     during the term of this


                                       5
<PAGE>


     Agreement.  In the event of Covenant's death, physical disability or mental
     incapacity  during  the  term  of this  Agreement,  Triangle  shall  pay to
     Covenant's  estate (or to his beneficiary  previously  designated by him in
     writing) any  compensation  that Consultant  shall have earned prior to the
     date of his death or mental incapacity which remains unpaid.

     c)  Triangle,  pursuant  to action of its Chief  Executive  Officer  or his
     delegatee,  may terminate this Agreement at any time for any reason with or
     without "Cause" (as defined below),  but, in the case of any termination by
     Triangle other than  termination for "Cause (as defined below),  Consultant
     shall be entitled to continue to receive,  and Triangle  shall be obligated
     to continue to pay to Consultant, all compensation under this Agreement for
     its  remaining  term.  Following  any  termination  of this  Agreement  for
     "Cause",  Consultant  shall have no  further  rights  under this  Agreement
     (including  any right to receive  compensation  for any  period  after such
     termination).

     For  purposes  of this  Paragraph  5(c) ,  Triangle  shall have  "Cause" to
     terminate this Agreement upon a determination by Triangle's Chief Executive
     Officer or his delegatee,  in good faith,  that Consultant (i) has breached
     in any material  respect any of the terms or conditions of this  Agreement,
     (ii) has engaged in any act of fraud or proven personal dishonesty (whether
     or not in the course of his  services to Triangle  hereunder)  or any other
     illegal act in the course of his services to Triangle  hereunder (in either
     event, whether or not resulting in criminal prosecution or conviction),  or
     (iii) is engaging or has engaged in willful misconduct or conduct which has
     had or  likely  will  have a  material  adverse  effect  on  Triangle's  or
     Consultant's  business  or  reputation;   provided  however,  that,  before
     Triangle may terminate this Agreement for Cause,  Triangle first shall give
     Consultant  five (5) days  written  notice  of the  facts or  circumstances
     constituting a breach by Consultant  and, if during such period  Consultant
     shall cure such breach to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of Triangle,  then
     this Agreement shall continue in effect.

     d) Triangle's obligation for the continued payment of compensation pursuant
     to subsection (c) above shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

6.   Successors and Assigns.

(a)  This  Agreement  shall  inure to the  benefit  of and be  binding  upon any
     corporate or other  successor of Triangle which shall acquire,  directly or
     indirectly, by conversion,  merger,  consolidation,  purchase or otherwise,
     all or substantially all of the assets of Triangle.

(b)  Triangle is contracting  for the unique and personal  skills of Consultant.
     Therefore,  Consultant  shall be precluded from assigning or delegating his
     rights or duties


                                       6
<PAGE>


     hereunder  without first obtaining the written consent of Triangle's  Chief
     Executive Officer.

7.   Modification;  Waiver;  Amendments.  No provision of this  Agreement may be
     modified,  waived  or  discharged  unless  such  waiver,   modification  or
     discharge  is agreed to in writing  and signed by the  parties  hereto.  No
     waiver by either  party  hereto,  at any time,  of any  breach by the other
     party hereto of, or  compliance  with,  any  condition or provision of this
     Agreement  to be  performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
     similar or dissimilar  provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior
     or subsequent  time. No amendments or additions to this Agreement  shall be
     binding  unless in  writing  and signed by both  parties,  except as herein
     otherwise provided.

8.   Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed in all respects whether as
     to validity, construction,  capacity, performance or otherwise, by the laws
     of North Carolina, except to the extent that federal law shall be deemed to
     apply.

9.   Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement  shall be deemed  severable
     and the invalidity or  unenforceability  of any provision  shall not affect
     the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

10.  Entire  Agreement.  This  Agreement  contains  the entire  agreement of the
     parties with respect to the  transactions  described  herein and supersedes
     any and all other oral or written  agreement(s)  heretofore made, and there
     are no representations or inducements by or to, or any agreements  between,
     any of the parties hereto other than those contained herein in writing.


                                       7
<PAGE>


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement under seal and
in such form as to be binding as of the day and year first hereinabove written.

                                  TRIANGLE BANCORP, INC


                                  By:      _____________________________________
                                           Michael S. Patterson
                                           President and Chief Executive Officer

ATTEST:



___________________________
Susan C. Gilbert, Secretary

(Corporate Seal)

                                           CONSULTANT


                                           _______________________


                                       8
<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE D
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998

                          Form of Employment Agreement

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF WAKE

                                                            EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     THIS  AGREEMENT  entered  into  as of  ___________,  1998,  by and  between
TRIANGLE  BANK  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "Triangle")  and  ______________
(hereinafter referred to as "Employee")

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS,  Employee heretofore has been employed a __________ Vice President
of United  Federal  Savings Bank (the "Bank") and in such  position has provided
continued leadership and guidance in the Bank's growth and development; and,

     WHEREAS,  as of the date hereof,  the Bank has been  acquired by and merged
into Triangle; and,

     WHEREAS,  Triangle desires to retain the advantage of Employee's  knowledge
of the Bank's  operations  and affairs,  and his  knowledge  of and  experience,
standing and reputation in Triangle's  market area formerly  served by the Bank;
and,

     WHEREAS,  for the  reasons  described  above,  Triangle  desires  to retain
Employee's  services as an employee of Triangle for the period specified herein,
and Employee is willing to serve as an employee of Triangle for such period; and
the  parties  desire  to enter  into this  Agreement  to set forth the terms and
conditions of Employee's employment with Triangle.

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  for  and in  consideration  of the  premises  and  mutual
promises,  covenants and conditions  hereinafter  set forth,  and other good and
valuable  considerations,  the  receipt  and  sufficiency  of which  hereby  are
acknowledged, Triangle and Employee hereby agree as follows:

     1.  Employment.  Triangle  hereby agrees to employ  Employee,  and Employee
hereby  agrees  to serve as an  employee  of  Triangle,  all upon the  terms and
conditions stated herein. As an employee of Triangle, Employee will (i) serve as
a ________________  Vice President of Triangle,  (ii) provide such assistance to
Triangle  as it may  reasonably  request  from  time to time  regarding  matters
involving the former  customers and employees of the Bank,  loan quality control
and review, product conversion and other tasks relating to the former operations
of the Bank,  (iii)  promote the  business of Triangle,  and advise  Triangle on
business development  activities in the Bank's former market area, and (iv) have
such  other  duties and  responsibilities,  and  render to  Triangle  such other

                                       1
<PAGE>


management  services,  as are customary for persons in Employee's  position with
Triangle or as shall  otherwise be reasonably  assigned to him from time to time
by Triangle.

     Employee  shall   faithfully  and  diligently   discharge  his  duties  and
responsibilities  under  this  Agreement  and  shall  use his  best  efforts  to
implement the policies established by Triangle.

     Employee  hereby  agrees to devote such number of hours of his working time
and endeavors to the employment granted hereunder as Employee and Triangle shall
deem to be  necessary  to discharge  his duties  hereunder,  and, for so long as
employment  hereunder  shall  exist,  Employee  shall  not  engage  in any other
occupation which requires a significant amount of Employee's  personal attention
during  Triangle's  regular  business hours or which  otherwise  interferes with
Employee's  attention to or performance of his duties and responsibilities as an
employee  of  Triangle  hereunder  except  with the  prior  written  consent  of
Triangle.  However,  subject to Paragraph 5(a) below,  nothing herein  contained
shall  restrict or prevent  Employee from  personally,  and for  Employee's  own
account,  trading in stocks,  bonds,  securities,  real estate or other forms of
investment  for  Employee's  own  benefit  so  long as  said  activities  do not
interfere  with  Employee's  attention  to or  performance  of  his  duties  and
responsibilities as an employee of Triangle hereunder.

     2.  Compensation.  For all services  rendered by Employee to Triangle under
this  Agreement,  Triangle  shall  pay  Employee  a base  salary  at a  rate  of
______________________  Thousand and No/100 Dollars  ($_____________) per annum.
Salary paid under this  Agreement  shall be payable in cash not less  frequently
than  monthly.  All  compensation   hereunder  shall  be  subject  to  customary
withholding taxes and such other employment taxes as are required by law.

     3. Participation in Retirement and Employee Benefit Plans; Fringe Benefits.
Subject  to the terms  and  conditions  of this  Agreement  and of that  certain
Agreement and Plan of  Reorganization  and Merger dated March __, 1998 among the
Bank,  Triangle  Bancorp,  Inc.  and  Triangle,  Employee  shall be  entitled to
participate in any and all employee benefit programs and compensation plans from
time to time  maintained by Triangle and available to all employees of Triangle,
all  in  accordance  with  the  terms  and  conditions  (including   eligibility
requirements) of such programs and plans of Triangle,  resolutions of Triangle's
Board  of  Directors  or  its  Compensation  Committee  or  Executive  Committee
establishing  such  programs and plans,  and  Triangle's  normal  practices  and
established  policies  regarding  such  programs  and plans.  Employee  shall be
entitled to paid vacation  leave in  accordance  with the policy of Triangle for
similarly  positioned  employees  now or  hereafter  in effect.  During the term
hereof,  Employee also shall be entitled to participate in Triangle's Management
Incentive  Compensation Plan which provides for an annual incentive  opportunity
of ___% of base salary.

     In  addition  to the other  compensation  and  benefits  described  in this
Agreement,  Triangle  shall  promptly  reimburse  Employee  for  all  reasonable
expenses  incurred by him in the  performance of his duties under this Agreement
and  documented  to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of  Triangle  or  appropriate
officers of Triangle pursuant to established procedures.

     4. Term. Unless extended or sooner terminated as provided in this Agreement
and subject to the right of either Employee or Triangle to terminate  Employee's
employment  at any  time as  provided  herein,  the term of this  Agreement  and
Employee's employment with Triangle


                                       2
<PAGE>


hereunder shall be for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing for
a period of two (2) years.

     5. Noncompetition; Confidentiality. Employee hereby acknowledges and agrees
that (i) the Bank has made a significant  investment in the  development  of its
business in the geographic  area identified  below as the "Relevant  Market" and
that, by virtue of Triangle's  acquisition of the Bank,  Triangle has a valuable
economic interest in its and the Bank's business in the Relevant Market which it
is entitled  to protect;  (ii) in the course of his service as an officer of the
Bank and  Triangle,  he has gained and will gain  substantial  knowledge  of and
familiarity  with the Bank's and  Triangle's  customers and their  dealings with
them, and other information  concerning the Bank's and Triangle's business,  all
of  which  constitutes  valuable  assets  and  privileged  information  that  is
particularly  sensitive  due to the fiduciary  responsibilities  inherent in the
banking business;  and (iii) in order to protect  Triangle's  interest in and to
assure it the benefit of its succession to the Bank's business, it is reasonable
and necessary to place  certain  restrictions  on Employee's  ability to compete
against  Triangle and on his disclosure of information  about Triangle's and the
Bank's  business  and  customers.  For that  purpose,  and in  consideration  of
Triangle's  agreements  contained  herein,  Employee  covenants  and  agrees  as
provided below.

     (a) Covenant  Not to Compete.  During any period  during which  Employee is
receiving any compensation from Triangle,  whether pursuant to this Agreement or
any other agreement, plan or other arrangement, and for a period of one (1) year
after the  termination  of this  Agreement by Employee for any reason,  Employee
will not "Compete" (as defined below), directly or indirectly,  with Triangle in
the geographic area consisting of (i) ________ County, North Carolina,  and (ii)
any  county  (whether  in  North  Carolina  or  another  state)   contiguous  to
______________ County, North Carolina (the "Relevant Market").

     Employee  acknowledges  and agrees that the Relevant Market and Restriction
Period  are  limited  in scope to the  geographic  territory  and period of time
reasonably necessary to protect Triangle's economic interest.

     For the purposes of this Paragraph 5(a), the following terms shall have the
meanings set forth below:

     Compete. The term "Compete" means: (i) soliciting or securing deposits from
any Person residing in the Relevant Market for any Financial  Institution;  (ii)
soliciting any Person  residing in the Relevant Market to become a borrower from
any Financial  Institution,  or assisting (other than through the performance of
ministerial or clerical duties) any Financial Institution in making loans to any
such  Person;  (iii)  inducing  or  attempting  to induce  any  Person who was a
Customer of the Bank on the date of its  acquisition  by Triangle,  or who was a
Customer of Triangle on the date of  termination of this Agreement or Employee's
employment  with Triangle,  to change such  Customer's  depository,  loan and/or
other  banking or  financial  relationship  from the Bank or Triangle to another
Financial  Institution;   (iv)  acting  as  a  consultant,   officer,  director,
independent  contractor,  or employee of any Financial  Institution that has its
main or  principal  office  in the  Relevant  Market,  or, in acting in any such
capacity  with any other  Financial  Institution,  to  maintain  an office or be
employed at or assigned to or to have any direct  involvement in the management,
business or operation of any office of such Financial Institution located in the
Relevant Market; or (v) communicating to any Financial


                                       3
<PAGE>


Institution the names or addresses or any financial  information  concerning any
Person who was a Customer of the Bank at the date of its merger  with  Triangle,
or who  was a  Customer  of  Triangle  at the  date of the  termination  of this
Agreement  or  Employee's  employment  with  Triangle  for any reason  except as
required by law or any regulatory  agency or in the performance of his duties or
responsibilities of employment.

     Customer.  The term  "Customer"  means  any  Person  with  whom,  as of the
effective date of termination  of this Agreement or Employee's  employment  with
Triangle for any reason, Triangle has or has had a depository, loan and/or other
banking or financial relationship.

     Financial Institution.  The term "Financial  Institution" means any federal
or state  chartered bank,  savings bank,  savings and loan  association,  credit
union,  or financial  services  entity or any holding company for or corporation
that owns or  controls  any such  entity,  or any other  Person  engaged  in the
business of making loans of any type, receiving deposits, or providing financial
or investment advice or services, other than Triangle.

     Person.  The term  "Person"  means any natural  person or any  corporation,
partnership,  proprietorship,  joint venture,  limited liability company, trust,
estate,  governmental  agency  or  instrumentality,   fiduciary,  unincorporated
association or other entity.

     b. Confidentiality  Covenant Employee covenants and agrees that any and all
data, figures, projections, estimates, lists, files, records, documents, manuals
or other such materials or information (financial or otherwise) relating to Bank
or Triangle and their respective banking  businesses,  regulatory  examinations,
financial  results  and  condition,  lending  and  deposit  and other  financial
services  operations,   customers  (including  lists  of  Bank's  customers  and
information  regarding their accounts and business dealings with Bank), policies
and procedures, computer systems and software, shareholders, employees, officers
and directors (herein referred to as "Confidential Information") are proprietary
to Triangle and are valuable,  special and unique assets of Triangle's  business
to which  Employee has had access as an officer of the Bank and will have access
during  his  employment  with  Triangle.  Employee  agrees  that  (i)  all  such
Confidential  Information  shall be  considered  and  kept as the  confidential,
private and  privileged  records and  information  of Triangle,  and (ii) at all
times  during  the  term of his  employment  with  Triangle  and  following  the
termination of this  Agreement or his  employment  with Triangle for any reason,
and except as shall be required in the course of the  performance by Employee of
his duties on behalf of Triangle or  otherwise  pursuant to the direct,  written
authorization  of Triangle,  Employee  will not:  divulge any such  Confidential
Information  to any  other  Person or  Financial  Institution;  remove  any such
Confidential  Information  in written  or other  recorded  form from  Triangle's
premises;  or make any use of any Confidential  Information for his own purposes
or for the benefit of any Person or Financial  Institution  other than Triangle.
However,  following the  termination of this Agreement or Employee's  employment
with  Triangle,  this  subparagraph  (b)  shall  not  apply to any  Confidential
Information  which then is in the public domain  (provided that Employee was not
responsible,   directly  or  indirectly,   for  permitting   such   Confidential
Information to enter the public domain without Triangle's consent),  or which is
obtained by Employee from a third party which or who is not  obligated  under an
agreement of confidentiality with respect to such information.


                                       4
<PAGE>


     c. Remedies for Breach.  Employee  understands  and agrees that a breach or
violation by him of the covenants  contained in Paragraphs 5(a) and 5(b) of this
Agreement  will be deemed a  material  breach of this  Agreement  and will cause
irreparable injury to Triangle,  and that it would be difficult to ascertain the
amount of monetary  damages  that would result from any such  violation.  In the
event of Employee's  actual or  threatened  breach or violation of the covenants
contained in either such Paragraph,  Triangle shall be entitled to bring a civil
action seeking an injunction  restraining  Employee from violating or continuing
to violate those covenants or from any threatened  violation thereof, or for any
other legal or  equitable  relief  relating to the breach or  violation  of such
covenant.  Employee agrees that, if Triangle institutes any action or proceeding
against  Employee  seeking to enforce any of such  covenants or to recover other
relief  relating to an actual or  threatened  breach or violation of any of such
covenants,  Employee  shall be deemed to have  waived the claim or defense  that
Triangle has an adequate  remedy at law and shall not urge in any such action or
proceeding the claim or defense that such a remedy at law exists.  However,  the
exercise by Triangle of any such right,  remedy,  power or  privilege  shall not
preclude Triangle or its successors or assigns from pursuing any other remedy or
exercising  any other  right,  power or  privilege  available to it for any such
breach or  violation,  whether at law or in equity,  including  the  recovery of
damages,  all of which shall be cumulative  and in addition to all other rights,
remedies, powers or privileges of Triangle.

     Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,  Employee agrees
that the  provisions of Paragraph  5(b) above and the remedies  provided in this
Paragraph  5(c) for a breach by Employee  shall be in addition to, and shall not
be deemed to supersede or to otherwise  restrict,  limit or impair the rights of
Triangle under the Trade Secrets Protection Act contained in Article 24, Chapter
66 of the North Carolina General Statutes,  or any other state or federal law or
regulation  dealing  with or  providing  a remedy for the  wrongful  disclosure,
misuse or misappropriation of trade secrets or other proprietary or confidential
information.

     (d)  Survival  of  Covenants.   Employee's  covenants  and  agreements  and
Triangle's  rights and remedies  provided for in this  Paragraph 5 shall survive
any termination of this Agreement or Employee's employment with Triangle.

     6.  Standards.  Employee,  in  the  execution  of  his  duties  under  this
Agreement,  shall at all times and in all respects comply with the Triangle Bank
Code of Ethics (the "Code of  Ethics"),  as the same is in effect as of the date
hereof and as shall be amended or supplemented  subsequent hereto), and with all
applicable statutes,  rules,  regulations,  administrative orders, statements of
policy and other pronouncements or standards promulgated thereunder.

     7.  Termination and Termination  Pay. (a) Employee's  employment under this
Agreement  may be  terminated  at any time by  Employee  upon  sixty  (60) days'
written notice to Triangle. Upon such termination, Employee shall be entitled to
receive compensation  through the effective date of such termination;  provided,
however,  that Triangle,  in its sole discretion,  may elect for Employee not to
serve out part or all of said notice period.

     (b) Employee's employment under this Agreement shall be terminated upon the
death of Employee during the term of this Agreement.  Employee's estate shall be
entitled to


                                       5
<PAGE>


receive any  compensation  that Employee  shall have earned prior to the date of
his death but which remains unpaid. 

     (c)  In  the  event  Employee  becomes  disabled  during  the  term  of his
employment  hereunder and it is determined by Triangle's Chief Executive Officer
that Employee is permanently  unable to perform his duties under this Agreement,
Employee shall be entitled to receive  compensation under this Agreement through
the date of such disabling event and thereafter  shall be entitled to disability
benefits  under any  disability  income plan of Triangle  which is applicable to
Employee.

     (d)  Triangle,  pursuant  to action of its Chief  Executive  Officer or his
delegatee,  may terminate Employee's  employment at any time for any reason with
or without  "Cause" (as defined  below),  but any  termination by Triangle other
than  termination for "Cause" (as defined below) shall not prejudice  Employee's
right to  compensation  or other benefits under this Agreement for its remaining
term.  Following  any  termination  of  Employee's  employment  by Triangle  for
"Cause",  Employee shall have no further rights under this Agreement  (including
any right to receive  compensation  or other  benefits for any period after such
termination).

     For  purposes  of this  Paragraph  7(d),  Triangle  shall  have  "Cause" to
terminate Employee's employment upon:

          (i) A  determination  by  Triangle's  Chief  Executive  Officer or his
     delegatee,  in good faith,  that  Employee (A) has breached in any material
     respect any of the terms or conditions of this  Agreement or of the Code of
     Ethics, or (B) is engaging or has engaged in willful  misconduct or conduct
     which is detrimental to the business prospects of Triangle or which has had
     or likely will have a material  adverse  effect on  Triangle's  business or
     reputation.  Prior to any termination by Triangle of Employee's  employment
     for a breach,  failure to perform or conduct described in this subparagraph
     (i),  Triangle  shall give Employee  written  notice which  describes  such
     breach,  failure to  perform or conduct  and if during a period of five (5)
     days  following  such notice  Employee  cures or  corrects  the same to the
     reasonable  satisfaction  of  Triangle's  Chief  Executive  Officer  or his
     delegatee,  then this  Agreement  shall  remain in full  force and  effect.
     However, notwithstanding the above, if Triangle has given written notice to
     Employee  on a previous  occasion  of the same or a  substantially  similar
     breach,  failure to perform or conduct, or of a breach,  failure to perform
     or conduct  which  Triangle's  Chief  Executive  Officer  or his  delegatee
     determines  in good  faith to be of  substantially  similar  import,  or if
     Triangle's  Chief  Executive  Officer or his  delegatee  determines in good
     faith that the then  current  breach,  failure to perform or conduct is not
     reasonably  curable,  then termination under this subparagraph (i) shall be
     effective immediately and Employee shall have no right to cure such breach,
     failure to perform or conduct.

          (ii) The violation by Employee of any applicable federal or state law,
     or  any  applicable  rule,   regulation,   order  or  statement  of  policy
     promulgated by any  governmental  agency or authority  having  jurisdiction
     over  Triangle or any of its  affiliates  or  subsidiaries  (a  "Regulatory
     Authority",  including  without  limitation the Federal  Deposit  Insurance
     Corporation,  the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, the Federal Reserve
     Board or any other banking regulator),  which results from Employee's gross
     negligence,  willful misconduct or intentional disregard of such law, rule,
     regulation,  order or  policy  statement  and  results  in any  substantial
     damage,  monetary or  otherwise,  to Triangle or any of its  affiliates  or
     subsidiaries or to Triangle's reputation;


                                       6
<PAGE>


          (iii) The  commission  in the  course of  Employee's  employment  with
     Triangle  of an  act of  fraud,  embezzlement,  theft  or  proven  personal
     dishonesty   (whether  or  not   resulting  in  criminal   prosecution   or
     conviction);

          (iv) The conviction of Employee of any felony or any criminal  offense
     involving  dishonesty  or breach of trust,  or the  occurrence of any event
     described in Section 19 of the Federal  Deposit  Insurance Act or any other
     event or  circumstance  which  disqualifies  Employee  from  serving  as an
     employee or executive  officer of, or a party affiliated with,  Triangle or
     its bank holding  company;  (v)  Employee  becomes  unacceptable  to, or is
     removed,  suspended  or  prohibited  from  participating  in the conduct of
     Triangle's  affairs (or if proceedings  for that purpose are commenced) by,
     any Regulatory Authority; and,

          (vi)  The  occurrence  of  any  event  believed  by  Triangle's  Chief
     Executive  Officer or his  delegatee,  in good faith,  to have  resulted in
     Employee  being excluded from coverage,  or having  coverage  limited as to
     Employee  as  compared  to  other  covered  officers  or  employees,  under
     Triangle's then current  "blanket bond" or other fidelity bond or insurance
     policy covering its directors, officers or employees.

     8. Additional Regulatory  Requirements.  Notwithstanding anything contained
in this Agreement to the contrary, it is understood and agreed that Triangle (or
its  successors  in interest)  shall not be required to make any payment or take
any action under this  Agreement  if (a) Triangle is declared by any  Regulatory
Authority  to be  insolvent,  in  default or  operating  in an unsafe or unsound
manner, or if (b) in the reasonable  opinion of counsel to Triangle such payment
or action (i) would be  prohibited by or would violate any provision of state or
federal law  applicable to Triangle,  including  without  limitation the Federal
Deposit  Insurance Act and Chapter 53 of the North Carolina  General Statutes as
now in effect or hereafter amended, (ii) would be prohibited by or would violate
any applicable rules,  regulations,  orders or statements of policy, whether now
existing  or  hereafter  promulgated,  of any  Regulatory  Authority,  or  (iii)
otherwise would be prohibited by any Regulatory Authority.

     9. Successors and Assigns.

     (a) This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit of and be binding  upon any
corporate  or other  successor  of  Triangle  which shall  acquire,  directly or
indirectly, by conversion, merger, consolidation,  purchase or otherwise, all or
substantially  all of the assets of Triangle's  Chief  Executive  Officer or his
delegatee.

     (b) Triangle is contracting for the unique and personal skills of Employee.
Therefore,  Employee  shall be precluded from assigning or delegating his rights
or duties  hereunder  without first  obtaining the written consent of Triangle's
Chief Executive Officer or his delegatee.

     10. Modification; Waiver; Amendments. No provision of this Agreement may be
modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver,  modification or discharge is
agreed to in writing and signed by the parties hereto. No waiver by either party
hereto,  at any time,  of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance
with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other
party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar


                                       7
<PAGE>


provisions  or  conditions  at the same or at any prior or  subsequent  time. No
amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be binding unless in writing and
signed by both parties, except as herein otherwise provided

     11.  Applicable  Law.  This  Agreement  shall be governed  in all  respects
whether as to validity, construction, capacity, performance or otherwise, by the
laws of North Carolina, except to the extent that federal law shall be deemed to
apply.

     12.  Severability.  The  provisions  of  this  Agreement  shall  be  deemed
severable and the  invalidity  or  unenforceability  of any provision  shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

     13. Entire Agreement.  This Agreement  contains the entire agreement of the
parties with respect to the transactions described herein and supersedes any and
all  other  oral or  written  agreement(s)  heretofore  made,  and  there are no
representations or inducements by or to, or and agreements  between,  any of the
parties hereto other than those contained herein in writing.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement under seal and
in such form as to be binding as of the day and year first hereinabove written.

                                            TRIANGLE BANK



                                            By: ________________________________
                                                 Michael S. Patterson, President
ATTEST:


___________________________
Susan C. Gilbert, Secretary


[Corporate Seal]


                                            EMPLOYEE


                                            ______________________(SEAL)


                                       8
<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE E
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998

            Form of Legal Opinion of Counsel for the Holding Company


                              _______________, 1998




United Federal Savings Bank
116 South Franklin Street
Rocky Mount, NC  27801

Gentlemen:

     I am General Counsel of Triangle Bancorp, Inc. (the "Holding Company") and,
in  such  capacity,   I  have  reviewed  that  certain  Agreement  and  Plan  of
Reorganization  and Merger  dated  March 4, 1998,  by and among  United  Federal
Savings Bank  ("United  Federal"),  Triangle Bank  ("Triangle")  and the Holding
Company (the  "Agreement",  including  the Plan of Merger  referenced  therein).
Pursuant to and in accordance  with the terms and  conditions of the  Agreement,
United  Federal is proposed to be merged into and with Triangle  (the  "Merger")
and the outstanding  shares of United  Federal's  common stock will be converted
into shares of the Holding  Company's common stock.  This letter is delivered in
connection  with  the   consummation   and  closing  of  the  Merger  and  other
transactions  described in the  Agreement  (the  "Closing").  Capitalized  terms
appearing herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Agreement.

As General Counsel of the Holding Company,  I have examined  originals or copies
of its  Articles  of  Incorporation,  Bylaws and  corporate  minute  books,  the
Agreement,   the  Registration   Statement  (No.   333-___)  on  Form  S-4  (the
"Registration  Statement")  filed by the Holding Company with the Securities and
Exchange    Commission   (the    "Commission")    and   containing   the   Proxy
Statement/Prospectus,  dated , 1998 (the "Proxy  Statement"),  certificates  and
written  statements of officers and agents of the Holding Company,  certificates
of public officials, and such other documents and records of the Holding Company
as we have deemed  necessary for the purpose of giving the opinions  hereinafter
expressed.

In giving  certain of the opinions set forth  below,  I have relied  solely upon
certifications and letters provided to me by public officials.  As to matters of
fact set forth  below,  and matters of fact which form the basis for any opinion
set forth below,  I have relied solely upon (i)  certificates  and statements of
officers,   employees  and  accountants  of  the  Holding   Company,   (ii)  the
representations  and warranties of the Holding Company and Triangle set forth in
the Agreement,  and (iii)  Certificates of Existence dated _____, 1998 as to the
Holding Company and Triangle issued by the North


                                       1
<PAGE>


Carolina  Secretary of State,  and a Certificate  of Good Standing  dated _____,
1998 as to Triangle issued by the North Carolina Banking Commissioner. Except as
expressly stated herein, I have not  independently  verified any factual matters
in connection with the giving of the opinions set forth below.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the  qualifications set forth below,
it is my opinion that, except as described in the Registration  Statement or the
Agreement or as Previously Disclosed by the Holding Company to United Federal:

     1. The  Holding  Company and  Triangle  each (i) is duly  incorporated  and
validly existing under the laws of North Carolina,  (ii) has all requisite power
and authority (corporate and other) to own its respective properties and conduct
its respective businesses as now being conducted,  (iii) is duly qualified to do
business  and is in good  standing  in each  other  jurisdiction  in  which  the
character  of the  properties  owned or  leased  by it  therein  or in which the
transaction of its respective  businesses  makes such  qualification  necessary,
except where failure so to qualify would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on
the  Holding  Company,  and  (iv) to my  Actual  Knowledge,  is not  transacting
business, or operating any properties owned or leased by it, in violation of any
provision  of  federal  or  state  law or any  rule  or  regulation  promulgated
thereunder,  which violation would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Holding
Company.

     2. The Holding  Company's  authorized  capital stock consists of 20,000,000
shares of Triangle Stock. The Holding  Company's Board of Directors has reserved
and  authorized  the  issuance  of the shares of  Triangle  Stock into which the
outstanding  shares of United Federal Stock will be converted in connection with
the Merger and which may be purchased upon the exercise of  outstanding  options
which are converted  into rights to purchase  Triangle  Stock as provided in the
Agreement,  and such shares, when issued as described in the Agreement,  will be
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     3. (i) The Holding  Company and Triangle each has the  corporate  power and
authority to execute and deliver the  Agreement  and to perform its  obligations
and  agreements  and  carry out the  transactions  described  therein,  (ii) all
corporate  proceedings required to be taken to authorize the Holding Company and
Triangle  to  enter  into the  Agreement  and to  perform  its  obligations  and
agreements and carry out the transactions  described  therein have been duly and
properly  taken,  and  (iii) the  Agreement  constitutes  the valid and  binding
agreement of the Holding Company and Triangle enforceable in accordance with its
terms.

     4. Except  where the same would not have a Material  Adverse  Effect on the
Holding  Company,  neither the execution and delivery of the Agreement,  nor the
consummation  of the  transactions  described  therein,  nor  compliance  by the
Holding Company or Triangle with any of its obligations or agreements  contained
therein,  will:  (i)  conflict  with or  result  in a breach  of the  terms  and
conditions of, or constitute a default or violation  under any provision of, the
Holding Company's or Triangle's  Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws,  or, to my
Actual  Knowledge,  any  contract,   agreement,  lease,  mortgage,  note,  bond,
indenture,  license,  or obligation or understanding  (oral or written) to which
the Holding  Company or its  subsidiaries is bound or by which it, its business,
capital  stock or any of its  properties  or assets may be affected;  (ii) to my
Actual  Knowledge,  result in the  creation or  imposition  of any lien,  claim,
interest,  charge,  restriction or encumbrance upon any of the Holding Company's
properties or assets;  (iii) violate any  applicable  federal or state  statute,
law, rule or


                                       2
<PAGE>


regulation,  or any judgment  order,  writ,  injunction  or decree of any court,
administrative or regulatory  agency or governmental  body; or (iv) to my Actual
Knowledge,  result in the  acceleration of any obligation or indebtedness of the
Holding Company.

     5. No consents,  approvals or waivers are required to be obtained  from any
person  or  entity  in  connection  with the  Holding  Company's  or  Triangle's
execution and delivery of the Agreement,  or the  performance of its obligations
or agreements or the consummation of the transactions described therein,  except
for required  approvals of governmental or regulatory  authorities  ("Regulatory
Approvals").

     6. All Regulatory  Approvals required to be obtained by the Holding Company
for the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Agreement (other
than the  filing of  Articles  of Merger)  have been  obtained,  all  conditions
imposed on the Holding  Company or Triangle in connection  with such  Regulatory
Approvals  that are  required  to be  satisfied  prior to  consummation  of such
transactions  have been satisfied or waived,  and, to my Actual  Knowledge,  all
such regulatory  approvals are in full force and effect;  and no other consents,
approvals,  authorizations  or other  orders  of any  court or any  governmental
agency are  required to be obtained by the Holding  Company or Triangle  for the
consummation of the  transactions  contemplated by the Agreement (other than the
filing of Articles of Merger with respect to the Merger);

     7. (i) To my Actual Knowledge, except as set forth in the disclosure letter
dated March 4, 1998 from the  Holding  Company to United  Federal,  there are no
actions,   suits,   arbitrations,   controversies   or  other   proceedings   or
investigations  (or any facts or circumstances  which reasonably could result in
such),  including  without  limitation  any such action by any  governmental  or
regulatory  authority,  which currently exists or is ongoing,  pending or, to my
Actual Knowledge,  threatened,  contemplated or probable of assertion,  against,
relating to or otherwise  affecting the Holding Company or any of its properties
or assets which, if determined adversely,  could result in liability on the part
of the  Holding  Company  for,  or  subject  it  to,  monetary  damages,  fines,
penalties,  or an injunction,  and which could have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Holding  Company or on the ability of the  Holding  Company and  Triangle to
consummate the Merger; and

          (ii) To my Actual  Knowledge,  neither the Holding  Company nor any of
     its  subsidiaries  is subject  to any  supervisory  agreement,  enforcement
     order,  writ,   injunction,   capital  directive,   supervisory  directive,
     memorandum of understanding or other similar agreement,  order,  directive,
     memorandum  or  consent  of,  with or  issued  by any  regulatory  or other
     governmental  authority  (including without limitation the FRB, the FDIC or
     the  Commissioner)  relating  to  its  financial  condition,  directors  or
     officers,  operations,  capital,  regulatory compliance or otherwise; there
     are no  judgments,  orders,  stipulations,  injunctions,  decrees or awards
     against the Holding Company or any of its subsidiaries  which in any manner
     limit, restrict,  regulate, enjoin or prohibit any present or past business
     or practice of the Holding Company or any of its  subsidiaries;  and, to my
     Actual  Knowledge,  neither the Holding Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     has been advised or has any reason to believe that any  regulatory or other
     governmental  authority  or any  court  is  contemplating,  threatening  or
     requesting  the  issuance  of  any  such  agreement,   order,   injunction,
     directive, memorandum, judgment, stipulation, decree or award.


                                       3
<PAGE>


     8. When  Articles  of Merger have been duly  executed by Triangle  and have
been filed with the Secretary of State of North Carolina in accordance with law,
the Merger will become effective at the time of such filing or, if later, at the
time specified in such Articles of Merger.

     Additionally,  I have  reviewed the  Registration  Statement  and the Proxy
Statement and have considered the matters  required to be stated therein and the
statements  contained  therein  and,  based on the  foregoing  (and,  in certain
circumstances  relying  as to  materiality  on  the  opinions  of  officers  and
representatives  of the Holding  Company) nothing has come to my attention which
would lead me to believe that the  Registration  Statement at the time it became
effective,  or the  Proxy  Statement  at the time it was  distributed  to United
Federal's  shareholders,  contained  any untrue  statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the  statements  therein not  misleading  (except  that I make no statement
regarding  any  information  included in the  Registration  Statement  regarding
United Federal or regarding any of the Holding Company's financial statements or
other financial, accounting or statistical data).

In giving the opinions  set forth above,  I have  assumed,  without  independent
verification, that:

     A.   United  Federal  is  duly  organized,  validly  existing  and in  good
          standing as a savings bank under the laws of the United States and all
          other  applicable laws to which it is subject.  United Federal has the
          full power and authority  (corporate  and otherwise) to enter into and
          perform its  obligations  under the Agreement  and to  consummate  the
          transactions  described therein. The Agreement and all other documents
          and  instruments  executed by United  Federal in connection  therewith
          have been duly and validly executed and delivered on behalf of and are
          enforceable in accordance with their terms against United Federal;

     B.   Other  than  persons  executing  documents  on behalf  of the  Holding
          Company,  or  Triangle  the  signatures  of all  persons  signing  any
          document or instrument  delivered in connection  with the Agreement or
          the  consummation of the transactions  described  therein are genuine,
          and  all  such  persons   executing  such  documents  have  been  duly
          authorized to execute and deliver such documents and instruments;

     C.   All natural persons executing any document or instrument  delivered in
          connection with the Agreement or the  consummation of the transactions
          described  therein,  or  on  whose  behalf  any  such  documents  were
          executed,  had and continue to have legal  competency  to do so and to
          become legally bound thereby;

     D.   All  documents  submitted to me as originals  are  authentic,  and all
          documents  submitted to me as certified or photostatic  copies conform
          to the original documents, which are themselves authentic;

     E.   No event  will take place  subsequent  to the date  hereof  that would
          cause  any  action  taken  in  connection  with the  Agreement  or the
          transactions  described  therein to fail to comply with any law, rule,
          regulation,  order, judgment, decree or duty, or that would permit any
          party to cancel, rescind or otherwise avoid any act;


                                       4
<PAGE>


     F.   United  Federal has complied or will comply with all conditions of all
          required approvals of regulatory  authorities having jurisdiction over
          United Federal, the Holding Company and Triangle, and the transactions
          described in the Agreement.

     G.   All  certificates of public officials have been properly given and are
          accurate and complete; and

     H.   There  has been no  mutual  mistake  of fact,  fraud,  duress or undue
          influence  in  connection  with  the  Agreement  or  the  transactions
          described therein, and the conduct of the parties to the Agreement has
          complied  with  any  requirement  of  good  faith,  fair  dealing  and
          conscionability.  Each party to the Agreement has acted without notice
          of any defense against the enforcement of any rights created  thereby;
          and there are no agreements or  understandings,  or any usage of trade
          or course of dealing,  among the parties that,  in either case,  would
          define, supplement or qualify the terms of the Agreement.

     In  addition,  all  opinions  and  statements  set forth in this letter are
expressly limited and qualified as follows:

     a.   The opinions expressed herein are limited to matters of North Carolina
          law and the  federal  laws of the  United  States of  America,  and no
          opinion is  expressed as to any matter that is governed by the laws of
          any  other  jurisdiction  or to the  effect  of any  such  laws on the
          matters dealt with herein.

     b.   My opinion in paragraph 1 regarding  the good  standing of the Holding
          Company  and  Triangle  is  based  solely  on  our  examination  of  a
          Certificate of Existence  dated  ______________,  1998,  issued by the
          North Carolina  Secretary of State for each of the Holding Company and
          Triangle,  and on a Certificate  of Good Standing  dated ______,  1998
          issued by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks for Triangle.

     c.   As used in any paragraph of this letter, the phrase "Actual Knowledge"
          means that, in giving the opinion  contain in such  paragraph,  I have
          relied with your consent  exclusively on  certificates  of officers of
          the Holding  Company and  Triangle,  certificates  of others as to the
          existence  or  non-existence  of the  circumstances  upon  which  this
          opinion is  predicated,  or  various  representations  and  warranties
          contained in the Agreement  (and I have not conducted any  independent
          investigation  in this  regard),  and that I have no actual  conscious
          awareness of any information to the contrary.

     d.   My opinions are limited to the matters expressly stated herein, and no
          opinion  may be  inferred  or  implied  beyond the  matters  expressly
          stated.

     e.   The  enforceability of all or various  provisions of the Agreement may
          be  limited by (A) the effect of  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
          reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in effect
          relating  to  or  limiting  the   enforcement  of  creditors'   rights
          generally,  (B) by legal and equitable limitations on the availability
          of injunctive relief, specific


                                       5
<PAGE>


          performance and other equitable  remedies,  (C) general  principles of
          equity  and   applicable   laws  or  court   decisions   limiting  the
          availability  of  specific  performance,  injunctive  relief and other
          equitable  remedies  (including the  enforceability of indemnification
          provisions, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
          a proceeding in equity or at law),  and (D) federal  and/or state bank
          holding company,  commercial bank,  savings bank and deposit insurance
          laws and  regulations  and the  application  of  principles  of public
          policy underlying such laws and regulation

     f.   I express no opinion with respect to compliance by the Holding Company
          or any of its subsidiaries with any federal, state or local law, rule,
          regulation,   ordinance,   order  or  decree   relating  to  hazardous
          substances, hazardous wastes, hazardous materials or the protection of
          the environment, or with respect to any Environmental Law.

     g.   These opinions are delivered to you pursuant to Section 7.02.d. of the
          Agreement  and in connection  with  consummation  of the  transactions
          described  therein and are solely for your  benefit.  No other  person
          shall  be  entitled  to rely on my  opinions  herein,  and you are not
          entitled  to rely on such  opinions  in any other  context  or for any
          other  purpose.  No copy of this letter or any portion  thereof may be
          delivered  to any other  person,  or quoted,  published  or  otherwise
          disseminated, without my prior written consent.

     h.   Except as otherwise  expressly  specified herein,  the opinions herein
          are  limited to  matters in  existence  as of the date  hereof,  and I
          undertake no responsibility to revise or supplement this letter or the
          opinions herein to reflect any change in the law or facts.

                                                     Yours truly,



                                       6
<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE F
               to Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and Merger
                               dated March 4, 1998

                   Form of Legal Opinion of Counsel for United

                               ____________, 1998


Triangle Bancorp Inc.
4300 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27612

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special  counsel to United  Federal  Savings Bank ("United
Federal"),   a  federally   chartered  savings  bank,  in  connection  with  the
transactions  described in that certain Agreement and Plan of Reorganization and
Merger  dated March 4, 1998,  by and among  United  Federal,  Triangle  Bank and
Triangle Bancorp,  Inc. (the "Holding Company") (the "Agreement",  including the
Plan of Merger referenced therein). Pursuant to and in accordance with the terms
and  conditions of the  Agreement,  United Federal is proposed to be merged into
and with  Triangle  Bank (the  "Merger")  and the  outstanding  shares of United
Federal's  common stock will be converted  into shares of the Holding  Company's
common stock.  This letter is delivered in connection with the  consummation and
closing of the Merger and other  transactions  described in the  Agreement  (the
"Closing").  Capitalized  terms appearing  herein and not otherwise  defined are
used as defined in the Agreement.

     As counsel to United Federal,  we have examined originals or copies of each
of its Charter,  Bylaws and certain  corporate minute books, the Agreement,  the
Registration  Statement (No. 333- ) on Form S-4 (the  "Registration  Statement")
filed by the Holding  Company with the Securities and Exchange  Commission  (the
"Commission") and containing the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus,  dated , 1998 (the
"Proxy  Statement"),  certificates and written statements of officers and agents
of United Federal,  certificates of public  officials,  and such other documents
and  records of United  Federal as we have deemed  necessary  for the purpose of
giving the opinions hereinafter expressed.

In giving  certain of the opinions set forth below,  we have relied  solely upon
certifications and letters provided to us by public officials.  As to matters of
fact set forth  below,  and matters of fact which form the basis for any opinion
set forth below, we have relied solely upon (i)  certificates  and statements of
officers,   employees  and   accountants  of  United   Federal,   and  (ii)  the
representations and warranties of United Federal set forth in the Agreement.  We
have not  independently  verified  any factual  matters in  connection  with the
giving of the opinions set forth below.


                                        1
<PAGE>


     Subject to the  qualifications and limitations set forth herein, and except
as set forth in the  Registration  Statement or the  Agreement or as  Previously
Disclosed by United Federal to the Holding Company in connection  therewith,  we
are of the opinion that:

     1. United Federal (i) is validly existing as a federally-chartered  savings
bank  under the laws of the  United  States;  (ii) has all  requisite  power and
authority  (corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as disclosed  in the Proxy  Statement/Prospectus;  (iii) is
duly qualified to do business in each other  jurisdiction in which the character
of the  properties  owned,  leased or  operated  by it  therein  or in which the
transaction of its business  makes such  qualification  necessary,  except where
failure  so to  qualify  would  not have a  Material  Adverse  Effect  on United
Federal;  and (iv) to our  Actual  Knowledge,  is not  transacting  business  or
operating any properties  owned or leased by it in violation of any provision of
federal or state law or any rule or  regulation  promulgated  thereunder,  which
violation would have a Material Adverse Effect on United Federal.

     2. United Federal's  authorized capital stock consists of 10,000,000 shares
of common stock, $0.01 par value per share ("United Federal Stock").

     Each outstanding share of United Federal Stock (i) has been duly authorized
and is validly issued and outstanding, and is fully paid and nonassessable,  and
(ii)  has  not  been  issued  in  violation  of  the  preemptive  rights  of any
shareholder.  Each share of United Federal Stock has been issued  pursuant to an
effective  registration  statement or in compliance with the  requirements of an
applicable exemption from registration  requirements under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act").  Holders of United  Federal Stock do not have
any rights of dissent.

     3. (i) United Federal has the corporate  power and authority to execute and
deliver the Agreement and to perform its  obligations  and  agreements and carry
out the  transactions  described  therein,  (ii) all corporate  proceedings  and
approvals  required to authorize  United Federal to enter into the Agreement and
to  perform  its  obligations  and  agreements  and carry  out the  transactions
described therein have been duly and properly  completed or obtained,  and (iii)
the Agreement  constitutes  the valid and binding  agreement of United  Federal,
enforceable in accordance with its terms.

     4. Except where the same would not have a Material Adverse Effect on United
Federal,   neither  the  execution  and  delivery  of  the  Agreement,  nor  the
consummation of the  transactions  described  therein,  nor compliance by United
Federal with any of its obligations or agreements  contained therein,  will: (i)
conflict  with or  result  in a  breach  of the  terms  and  conditions  of,  or
constitute a default or  violation  under any  provision  of,  United  Federal's
Charter or Bylaws, or, to our Actual Knowledge, any contract,  agreement, lease,
mortgage,  note, bond, indenture,  license, or obligation or understanding (oral
or  written)  to which  United  Federal is bound or by which it,  its  business,
capital stock or any of its  properties  or assets may be affected;  (ii) to our
Actual  Knowledge,  result in the  creation or  imposition  of any lien,  claim,
interest,  charge,  restriction  or  encumbrance  upon any of  United  Federal's
properties or assets;  (iii) violate any  applicable  federal or state  statute,
law, rule or regulation,  or any judgment,  order, writ, 


                                       2
<PAGE>


injunction  or decree  of any  court,  administrative  or  regulatory  agency or
governmental  body; or (iv) to our Actual Knowledge,  result in the acceleration
of any obligation or indebtedness of United Federal.

     5. No consents,  approvals or waivers are required to be obtained  from any
person or entity in connection with United  Federal's  execution and delivery of
the  Agreement,  or the  performance  of its  obligations  or  agreements or the
consummation of the transactions described therein.

     6. All approvals of  governmental  or regulatory  authorities  ("Regulatory
Approvals")  required to be obtained by United Federal for the  consummation  of
the  transactions  contemplated  by the  Agreement  (other  than the  filing  of
Articles of Merger) have been obtained, all conditions imposed on United Federal
in connection with such  Regulatory  Approvals that are required to be satisfied
prior to consummation of such transactions have been satisfied or waived.

     7. (i) To our  Actual  Knowledge,  except  as set  forth in the  disclosure
letter dated March 4, 1998 from United Federal to the Holding Company, there are
no  actions,  suits,   arbitrations,   controversies  or  other  proceedings  or
investigations  (or any facts or circumstances  which reasonably could result in
such),  including  without  limitation  any such action by any  governmental  or
regulatory  authority,   which  currently  exists  or  is  ongoing,  pending  or
threatened,  contemplated  or probable  of  assertion,  against,  relating to or
otherwise  affecting United Federal or any of its properties or assets which, if
determined  adversely,  could result in liability on the part of United  Federal
for, or subject it to, monetary damages, fines, penalties, or an injunction, and
which could have a Material  Adverse  Effect on United Federal or on the ability
of United Federal to consummate the Merger; and

          (ii) To our Actual  Knowledge,  United  Federal is not  subject to any
     supervisory  agreement,   enforcement  order,  writ,  injunction,   capital
     directive,  supervisory  directive,  memorandum of  understanding  or other
     similar  agreement,  order,  directive,  memorandum  or consent of, with or
     issued by any regulatory or other governmental authority (including without
     limitation  the  OTS or the  FDIC)  relating  to its  financial  condition,
     directors  or  officers,  operations,  capital,  regulatory  compliance  or
     otherwise;  there  are no  judgments,  orders,  stipulations,  injunctions,
     decrees  or  awards  against  United  Federal  which in any  manner  limit,
     restrict,  regulate,  enjoin or prohibit  any  present or past  business or
     practice of United Federal;  and, to our Actual  Knowledge,  United Federal
     has not been  advised and has no reason to believe that any  regulatory  or
     other governmental authority or any court is contemplating,  threatening or
     requesting  the  issuance  of  any  such  agreement,   order,   injunction,
     directive, memorandum, judgment, stipulation, decree or award.

     Additionally,  we have  reviewed the  Registration  Statement and the Proxy
Statement and have considered the matters  required to be stated therein and the
statements  contained  therein  and,  based  on the  foregoing  (and in  certain
circumstances  relying  as to  materiality  on  the  opinions  of  officers  and
representatives of United Federal) nothing has come to our attention which would
lead us to  believe  that  the  Registration  Statement  at the  time it  became
effective, or the Proxy


                                       3
<PAGE>


Statement  at the time it was  distributed  to  United  Federal's  shareholders,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the  statements  therein
not  misleading  regarding  United  Federal  (except  that we make no  statement
regarding any information  included in the Registration  Statement regarding the
Holding Company or Triangle Bank or regarding any of United Federal's  financial
statements or other financial, accounting or statistical data).

         In giving  the  opinions  set forth  above,  we have  assumed,  without
independent verification, that the following is true:

     a.   The Holding Company and Triangle Bank each is duly organized,  validly
          existing and in good standing as a corporation under the laws of North
          Carolina and all other applicable laws to which they are subject.  The
          Holding  Company  and  Triangle  Bank  each  have the full  power  and
          authority  to  enter  into  and  perform  its  obligations  under  the
          Agreement and to consummate the transactions  described  therein.  The
          Agreement  and all other  documents  and  instruments  executed by the
          Holding  Company and Triangle Bank in connection  therewith  have been
          duly  and  validly  executed  and  delivered  on  behalf  of  and  are
          enforceable in accordance with their terms against the Holding Company
          and Triangle Bank;

     b.   Other than persons  executing  documents on behalf of United  Federal,
          the  signatures  of all  persons  signing any  document or  instrument
          delivered in connection with the Agreement or the  consummation of the
          transactions  described  therein  are  genuine,  and all such  persons
          executing  such  documents  have been duly  authorized  to execute and
          deliver such documents and instruments;

     c.   All natural persons executing any document or instrument  delivered in
          connection with the Agreement or the  consummation of the transactions
          described  therein,  or  on  whose  behalf  any  such  documents  were
          executed,  had and continue to have legal  competency  to do so and to
          become legally bound thereby;

     d.   All  documents  submitted to us as originals  are  authentic,  and all
          documents  submitted to us as certified or photostatic  copies conform
          to the original documents, which are themselves authentic;

     e.   No event  will take place  subsequent  to the date  hereof  that would
          cause  any  action  taken  in  connection  with the  Agreement  or the
          transactions  described  therein to fail to comply with any law, rule,
          regulation,  order, judgment, decree or duty, or that would permit any
          party to cancel, rescind or otherwise avoid any act;

     f.   The Holding  Company and  Triangle  Bank have  complied or will comply
          with  all   conditions   of  all  required   approvals  of  regulatory
          authorities  having  jurisdiction  over the Holding Company,  Triangle
          Bank and the transactions described in the Agreement;


                                       4
<PAGE>


     g.   All  certificates of public officials have been properly given and are
          accurate and complete; and

     h.   There  has been no  mutual  mistake  of fact,  fraud,  duress or undue
          influence  in  connection  with  the  Agreement  or  the  transactions
          described therein, and the conduct of the parties to the Agreement has
          complied  with  any  requirement  of  good  faith,  fair  dealing  and
          conscionability.  Each party to the Agreement has acted without notice
          of any defense against the enforcement of any rights created  thereby;
          and there are no agreements or  understandings,  or any usage of trade
          or course of dealing,  among the parties that,  in either case,  would
          define, supplement or qualify the terms of the Agreement.

In addition,  all opinions and statements set forth in this letter are expressly
limited and qualified as follows:

     a.   The  opinions  expressed  herein are limited to matters of the federal
          laws of the United  States of America,  and no opinion is expressed as
          to any matter that is  governed by the laws of any other  jurisdiction
          or to the effect of any such laws on the matters dealt with herein.

     b.   Our  opinion in  paragraph  1  regarding  the good  standing of United
          Federal  is  based  solely  on  an  examination  of a  Certificate  of
          Existence dated _______, 1998, issued by the OTS for United Federal.

     c.   As used in any paragraph of this letter, the phrase "Actual Knowledge"
          means that, in giving the opinion contained in such paragraph, we have
          relied with your consent  exclusively on  certificates  of officers of
          United   Federal  as  to  the  existence  or   non-existence   of  the
          circumstances  upon  which  this  opinion  is  predicated,  or various
          representations and warranties contained in the Agreement (and we have
          not conducted any independent  investigation in this regard), and that
          the primary lawyer group from this firm working on the transaction has
          no actual conscious awareness of any information to the contrary.

     d.   Our opinions are limited to the matters  expressly stated herein,  and
          no opinion  may be inferred  or implied  beyond the matters  expressly
          stated.

     e.   The  enforceability of all or various  provisions of the Agreement may
          be  limited by (A) the effect of  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
          reorganization, moratorium or similar laws from time to time in effect
          relating to or limiting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
          or the rights of creditors of a savings bank the deposits of which are
          insured by the FDIC,  (B) by legal and  equitable  limitations  on the
          availability  of injunctive  relief,  specific  performance  and other
          equitable  remedies,  (C) general  principles of equity and applicable
          laws or court decisions limiting


                                       5
<PAGE>


          the availability of specific performance,  injunctive relief and other
          equitable  remedies  (including the  enforceability of indemnification
          provisions, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in
          a proceeding in equity or at law),  and (D) federal  and/or state bank
          holding company,  commercial bank,  savings bank and deposit insurance
          laws and  regulations  and the  application  of  principles  of public
          policy underlying such laws and regulation.

     f.   We express no opinion with  respect to  compliance  by United  Federal
          with any federal,  state or local law,  rule,  regulation,  ordinance,
          order or decree relating to hazardous  substances,  hazardous  wastes,
          hazardous  materials or the  protection  of the  environment,  or with
          respect to any Environmental Law.

     g.   These opinions are delivered to you pursuant to Section 7.03.f. of the
          Agreement  and in connection  with  consummation  of the  transactions
          described  therein and are solely for your  benefit.  No other  person
          shall be  entitled  to rely on our  opinions  herein,  and you are not
          entitled  to rely on such  opinions  in any other  context  or for any
          other  purpose.  No copy of this letter or any portion  thereof may be
          delivered  to any other  person,  or quoted,  published  or  otherwise
          disseminated, without our prior written consent.

     h.   Except as otherwise  expressly  specified herein,  the opinions herein
          are  limited to matters in  existence  as of the date  hereof,  and we
          undertake no responsibility to revise or supplement this letter or the
          opinions herein to reflect any change in the law or facts.

                                                              Yours truly,



                                       6




                                                                              
                                                  For more information, contact:
                            Michael S. Patterson, Chairman, President and CEO or
                            Debra L. Lee, Chief Financial Officer, Triangle Bank
                                                    at (919) 881-0455 in Raleigh
              or, John A. Barker, President and CEO, United Federal Savings Bank
                                                at (919) 446-9191 in Rocky Mount


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                             March 4, 1998

                TRIANGLE BANCORP AND UNITED FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
                ANNOUNCE EXECUTION OF DEFINITIVE MERGER AGREEMENT

     RALEIGH,  NC . . . Triangle  Bancorp,  Inc.  (Triangle)  and United Federal
Savings Bank  (United) have executed a definitive  merger  agreement,  announced
Michael S. Patterson,  chairman,  president and CEO of Triangle.  This completes
the first phase of the merger,  under the terms of which United Federal  Savings
Bank will be merged into Triangle's wholly-owned subsidiary,  Triangle Bank. The
transaction  will be a  tax-free  stock  for  stock  exchange  of .63  shares of
Triangle  common  stock  for each  share of  United  common  stock,  subject  to
adjustment as provided in the merger agreement.

     As of December 31, 1997, Triangle, headquartered in Raleigh, reported total
assets of $1.6 billion, while United, headquartered in Rocky Mount, NC, reported
total assets of $304 million.

     In a statement following the signing of the agreement,  Mr. Patterson said,
"We are pleased with the opportunity this merger gives us to expand our presence
in several key  markets and to enter four  markets we do not serve at this time.
We look  forward  to  working  with the staff of  United  to make this  merger a
success for everyone,  especially the customers and  communities  served by both
organizations."

     According to John A. Barker,  president and CEO of United,  "We are pleased
to have  moved to the next  step in this  transaction.  Our  customers  can look
forward to a broader range of banking services, as well as additional offices to
serve their needs.  And, our 


<PAGE>


stockholders will benefit from owning shares in a company which is listed on the
New York Stock  Exchange."

     It is anticipated  that the completion of the merger will take place during
the third quarter of 1998, subject to approval by the stockholders of United, as
well as applicable regulatory agencies.

     Triangle  is the holding  company  for  Triangle  Bank,  which  operates 56
offices in the Triangle  area and across North  Carolina;  Bank of  Mecklenburg,
which serves the Charlotte  market through 3 offices;  and Coastal  Leasing,  an
equipment  leasing company  headquartered  in Greenville,  NC. Triangle also has
signed a  definitive  merger  agreement to acquire  Guaranty  State Bank, a $104
million  bank  headquartered  in Durham,  NC.  Pending  approval  by  Guaranty's
stockholders  and  applicable  regulatory  authorities,  this  merger  should be
completed during the second quarter of 1998. 

                                      ###


NYSE Symbol -- TGL
www.trianglebank.com



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