MARION CAPITAL HOLDINGS INC
8-K, EX-2, 2000-06-08
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                                                                     Exhibit 2.1











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                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                            dated as of June 7, 2000

                                 by and between

                          MUTUAL FIRST FINANCIAL, INC.

                                       and

                          MARION CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.












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<PAGE>



                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I

     CERTAIN DEFINITIONS.......................................................1
     1.01     Certain Definitions..............................................1

ARTICLE II

     THE TRANSACTION...........................................................6
     2.01     [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK].......................................6
     2.02     The Company Merger...............................................6
     2.03     Bank Merger......................................................7
     2.04     Effective Date and Effective Time................................8
     2.05     Reservation of Right to Revise Transaction.......................8

ARTICLE III

     CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES........................................8
     3.01     Merger Consideration.............................................8
     3.02     Rights as Stockholders; Stock Transfers..........................9
     3.03     Fractional Shares................................................9
     3.04     Exchange Procedures..............................................9
     3.05     Anti-Dilution Provisions........................................11
     3.06     Options.........................................................11

ARTICLE IV

     ACTIONS PENDING TRANSACTION..............................................12
     4.01     Forbearances of Marion..........................................12
     4.02     Forbearances of Mutual First....................................15

ARTICLE V

     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...........................................17
     5.01     Disclosure Schedules............................................17
     5.02     Standard........................................................18
     5.03     Representations and Warranties of Marion........................18
     5.04     Representations and Warranties of Mutual First..................28


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ARTICLE VI

     COVENANTS................................................................35
     6.01     Reasonable Best Efforts.........................................35
     6.02     Stockholder Approvals...........................................35
     6.03     Registration Statement..........................................35
     6.04     Press Releases..................................................36
     6.05     Access; Information.............................................36
     6.06     Marion Proposal.................................................37
     6.07.    Affiliate Agreement.............................................38
     6.08     Takeover Laws...................................................38
     6.09     Certain Policies................................................38
     6.10     NASDAQ Listing..................................................38
     6.11     Regulatory Applications.........................................39
     6.12     Indemnification.................................................39
     6.13     Benefit Plans...................................................40
     6.14     Notification of Certain Matters.................................41
     6.15     Directors.......................................................42
     6.16     THIS PARAGRAPH INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.........................42
     6.17     Liabilities and Remedies and Breakup Fee........................42
     6.18     Marion Fee......................................................43

ARTICLE VII

     CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE COMPANY MERGER.........................43
     7.01     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to
                Effect the Company Merger.....................................43
     7.02     Conditions to Obligation of Marion..............................45
     7.03     Conditions to Obligation of Mutual First........................45

ARTICLE VIII

     TERMINATION..............................................................46
     8.01     Termination.....................................................46
     8.02     Effect of Termination and Abandonment...........................47

ARTICLE IX

     MISCELLANEOUS............................................................47
     9.01     Survival........................................................47
     9.02     Waiver; Amendment...............................................47
     9.03     Counterparts....................................................47
     9.04     Governing Law...................................................47
     9.05     Expenses........................................................48

                                                        ii


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     9.06     Notices.........................................................48
     9.07     Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries..............49
     9.08     Interpretation; Effect..........................................49





EXHIBIT A         Form of Subsidiary Plan of Merger
EXHIBIT B         Form of Marion Affiliate Agreement



                                                        iii


<PAGE>



         AGREEMENT  AND  PLAN  OF  MERGER,  dated  as  of  June  7,  2000  (this
"Agreement"),  by and between Mutual First Financial,  Inc. ("Mutual First") and
Marion Capital Holdings, Inc. ("Marion").

                                    RECITALS

         A. Marion. Marion is an Indiana corporation, having its principal place
of business in Marion, Indiana.

         B. Mutual  First.  Mutual First is a Maryland  corporation,  having its
principal place of business in Muncie, Indiana.

         C.  Intentions  of the Parties.  It is the  intention of the parties to
this Agreement that the  combination of Marion and Mutual First be accounted for
under  the  "purchase"   accounting   method  and  that  each  of  the  business
combinations  contemplated hereby be treated as a "reorganization" under Section
368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").

         D. Board Action. The respective Boards of Directors of Mutual First and
Marion have  determined  that it is in the best  interests  of their  respective
companies and their  stockholders  to consummate a strategic  business  alliance
between  Marion and Mutual  First by the merger of Marion  with and into  Mutual
First and the other business combinations contemplated herein.

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

                                    ARTICLE I

                               CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

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

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

     "Bank Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.

     "CEBA" means the Competitive Equality Banking Act of 1987.

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

     "Company Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

     "Compensation  and  Benefit  Plans"  has the  meaning  set forth in Section
5.03(m).

                                                         1


<PAGE>



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

     "Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.

     "DOL" means the Department of Labor.

     "Effective Date" means the date on which the Effective Time occurs.

     "Effective  Time" means the  effective  time of the Company  Merger and the
Bank Merger, as provided for in Section 2.04.

     "Environmental   Laws"  means  all  applicable  local,  state  and  federal
environmental,  health  and  safety  laws and  regulations,  including,  without
limitation,  the  Resource  Conservation  and Recovery  Act,  the  Comprehensive
Environmental  Response,  Compensation,  and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act,
the Clean Air Act, and the Occupational  Safety and Health Act, each as amended,
regulations promulgated thereunder, and state counterparts.

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

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

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

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

     "Exchange Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "Exchange Fund" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "Exchange Ratio" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).

     "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

     "FFIEC" means the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

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

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

     "Indiana  Law"  means  the  relevant  provisions  of the  Indiana  Business
Corporation Law.

                                                         2


<PAGE>



     "Indiana Secretary" means the Secretary of State of the State of Indiana.

     "Insurance Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(b).

     "IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.

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

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

     "Marion  Affiliate"  has the  meaning  set forth in SEC  Accounting  Series
Releases 130 and 135.

     "Marion Board" means the Board of Directors of Marion.

     "Marion Bylaws" means the Bylaws of Marion.

     "Marion Articles" means the Articles of Incorporation of Marion.

     "Marion Common Stock" means the common stock, without par value of Marion.

     "Marion Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

     "Marion  Preferred Stock" means the preferred  stock,  without par value of
Marion.

     "Marion Proposal" shall mean a tender offer or exchange offer, proposal for
a merger, involving Marion or any of its subsidiaries,  or any proposal or offer
to acquire in any manner a  substantial  equity  interest  in, or a  substantial
portion of, the assets or deposits of Marion or any of its  subsidiaries,  other
than the transactions contemplated by this agreement.

     "Marion  Stock"  means,  collectively,   Marion  Common  Stock  and  Marion
Preferred Stock.

     "Marion Stock Option" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).

     "Marion Stock Plan" means the Marion  Capital  Holdings,  Inc. Stock Option
Plan.

     "Maryland  Law" means the relevant  provisions  of the  Maryland  corporate
code.

     "Maryland   Secretary"  means  the  State  Department  of  Assessments  and
Taxation.

     "Material  Adverse  Effect" means,  with respect to Mutual First or Marion,
any effect that (i) is material and adverse to the financial  position,  results
of operations or business of Mutual First

                                                         3


<PAGE>



and its Subsidiaries  taken as a whole or Marion and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, respectively, or (ii) would materially impair the ability of Mutual First
or  Marion  to  perform  its  obligations  under  this  Agreement  or  otherwise
materially  threaten or materially impede the consummation of the Company Merger
and the other transactions  contemplated by this Agreement;  provided,  however,
that  Material  Adverse  Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (a)
changes  in  thrift,  banking  and  similar  laws of  general  applicability  or
interpretations thereof by courts or governmental authorities,  or other changes
affecting  depository  institutions  generally,  including  changes  in  general
economic  conditions and changes in prevailing  interest and deposit rates,  (b)
changes in generally  accepted  accounting  principles or regulatory  accounting
requirements applicable to thrifts, banks and their holding companies generally,
(c) any  modifications  or  changes  to  valuation  policies  and  practices  in
connection with the Company Merger or Bank Merger or restructuring charges taken
in connection with the Company Merger or Bank Merger, in each case in accordance
with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  (d) changes  resulting  from
expenses (such as legal,  accounting  and investment  bankers' fees) incurred in
connection  with this  Agreement and (e) actions or omissions of Mutual First or
Marion  taken  with the prior  written  consent  of Marion or Mutual  First,  as
applicable, in contemplation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

     "Merger Consideration" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.

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

     "Mutual First Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in SEC Accounting Series
Releases 130 and 135.

     "Mutual First Board" means the Board of Directors of Mutual First.

     "Mutual  First Common  Stock" means the common  stock,  par value $0.01 per
share, of Mutual First.

     "Mutual First Meeting" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

     "Mutual  First  Proposal"  shall  mean a tender  offer or  exchange  offer,
proposal for a merger, involving Mutual First or any of its Subsidiaries, or any
proposal or offer to acquire in any manner a substantial  equity interest in, or
a  substantial  portion of, the assets or deposits of Mutual First or any of its
subsidiaries, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

     "NASDAQ" means The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.'s National Market System.

     "New Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

     "Old Certificates" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(a).

                                                         4


<PAGE>



     "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision.

     "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

     "Pension Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(m).

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

     "Previously  Disclosed" by a party shall mean  information set forth in its
Disclosure Schedule.

     "Proxy Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.

     "Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.

     "Regulatory Authorities" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(i).

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

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

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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

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

     "Specified Representations" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02.

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

     "Surviving Corporation" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.

     "Takeover Laws" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.03(o).

                                                         5


<PAGE>



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

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

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

     "Treasury Stock" shall mean shares of Marion Stock held by Marion or any of
its  Subsidiaries  or by Mutual First or any of its  Subsidiaries,  in each case
other than in a fiduciary capacity or as a result of debts previously contracted
in good faith.

                                                    ARTICLE II

                                                  THE TRANSACTION

     2.01     [INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

     2.02     The Company Merger.

               (a) Merger.  At the Effective  Time,  Marion shall merge with and
          into Mutual  First (the  "Company  Merger"),  the  separate  corporate
          existence  of Marion  shall cease and Mutual  First shall  survive and
          continue  to exist as a Maryland  corporation  (Mutual  First,  as the
          surviving corporation in the Company Merger,  sometimes being referred
          to herein as the "Surviving Corporation").

               (b) Corporate Law Filings.  Subject to the satisfaction or waiver
          of the  conditions  set forth in Article VII, the Company Merger shall
          become  effective  upon the  occurrence of the filing in the office of
          the  Maryland  Secretary  of  articles  of merger in  accordance  with
          Maryland Law and the filing in the office of the Indiana  Secretary of
          articles of merger in accordance  with Indiana Law, or such later date
          and time as may be set forth in such articles of merger.

               (c) Effects of Company Merger.  The Company Merger shall have the
          effects  prescribed  in the Maryland Law including but not limited to,
          Mutual First, as the

                                                         6


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               Surviving Corporation, thereupon and thereafter possessing all of
          the rights, privileges, immunities and franchises, of a public as well
          as of a private  nature,  of each of the  corporations  so merged  and
          Mutual First, as the Surviving  Corporation,  becoming responsible and
          liable for all the  liabilities,  obligations and penalties of each of
          the  corporations so merged.  All rights of creditors and obligors and
          all liens on the  property of each of Marion and Mutual First shall be
          preserved unimpaired.

               (d)   Articles   of   Incorporation   and  Bylaws  of   Surviving
          Corporation.  The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Mutual First
          immediately after the Company Merger shall be those of Mutual First as
          in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

               (e)  Directors  and Officers of the  Surviving  Corporation.  The
          directors and officers of Mutual First  immediately  after the Company
          Merger shall be the directors and officers of Mutual First immediately
          prior to the Effective Time, subject to the provisions of Section 6.15
          hereof,  until such time as their successors shall be duly elected and
          qualified.

               (f) Service of Process.  At the Effective Time,  Mutual First, as
          the Surviving Corporation, consents to be sued and served with process
          in the  State  of  Maryland  and  irrevocably  appoints  the  Maryland
          Secretary  of State as its agent to accept  service  of process in any
          proceeding  in  the  State  of  Maryland  to  enforce  against  it any
          obligation of Marion.

               (g) Principal  Office.  The location of the  principal  office of
          Mutual First,  as the Surviving  Corporation,  in the State of Indiana
          shall be 110 E. Charles Street, Muncie, Indiana.

               (h) Plan of  Merger.  At the  reasonable  request  of any  party,
          Marion and Mutual  First  shall  enter into a separate  plan of merger
          reflecting  the terms of the Company  Merger for purposes of any state
          law filing requirement.

         2.03 Bank Merger.  At the Effective Time and immediately  following the
Company  Merger,  First  Federal  Savings Bank of Marion  ("First  Federal"),  a
federally chartered savings bank and wholly owned Subsidiary of Marion, shall be
merged with and into Mutual  Federal  Savings  Bank  ("Mutual  First  Bank"),  a
federally  chartered  savings bank and wholly-owned  Subsidiary of Mutual First.
Such merger is hereinafter  sometimes referred to as the "Bank Merger". The Bank
Merger  shall  be  implemented   pursuant  to  Subsidiary  Plan  of  Merger,  in
substantially  the form of Exhibit A. In order to obtain the necessary state and
federal regulatory approvals for the Bank Merger, the parties hereto shall cause
the  following  to be  accomplished  prior to the  filing  of  applications  for
regulatory approval:  Marion shall cause the Board of Directors of First Federal
to approve  Subsidiary Plan of Merger,  Marion as the sole  stockholder of First
Federal  shall  approve  Subsidiary  Plan of  Merger,  and  Marion  shall  cause
Subsidiary

                                                         7


<PAGE>



Plan of Merger to be duly  executed  by First  Federal and  delivered  to Mutual
First.  Mutual  First shall cause the Board of Directors of Mutual First Bank to
approve The Subsidiary Plan of Merger,  Mutual First as the sole  stockholder of
Mutual First Bank shall approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger,  and Mutual First
shall cause the  Subsidiary  Plan of Merger to be duly  executed by Mutual First
Bank and delivered to Marion.  Prior to the Effective  Time,  Marion shall cause
First  Federal and Mutual  First shall cause  Mutual  First Bank to execute such
articles of  combination  as are necessary to make effective the Bank Merger and
cause such documents to be timely and  appropriately  filed and endorsed,  where
required,  by the OTS so that the Bank  Merger  shall  become  effective  at the
Effective Time.

         2.04 Effective Date and Effective Time.  Subject to the satisfaction or
waiver of the  conditions  set forth in Article VII, the parties shall cause the
effective date of the Company Merger and the Bank Merger (the "Effective  Date")
to occur on (i) the fifth  business  day after  the last of the  conditions  set
forth in Article VII to be satisfied prior to the Effective Date shall have been
satisfied or waived in accordance  with the terms of this Agreement or (ii) such
other date to which the parties may agree in writing.  The time on the Effective
Date when the  Company  Merger and the Bank Merger  shall  become  effective  is
referred to as the "Effective Time".

         2.05  Reservation of Right to Revise  Transaction.  Mutual First may at
any time prior to the  Effective  Time,  with the prior  consent of Marion (such
consent  not to be  unreasonably  withheld  or  delayed),  change  the method of
effecting the Transaction or any part thereof if and to the extent it deems such
change to be necessary,  appropriate or desirable;  provided,  however,  that no
such change shall (i) alter or change the amount or kind of  consideration to be
issued to holders of Marion Common Stock as provided for in this  Agreement (the
"Merger  Consideration"),  (ii)  adversely  affect the tax treatment of Marion's
stockholders as a result of receiving the Merger Consideration, (iii) materially
impede  or  delay   consummation  of  the   Transaction,   (iv)  result  in  any
representation  or  warranty of any party set forth in this  Agreement  becoming
incorrect in any material  respect,  or (v)  diminish  the  benefits,  including
membership on the Mutual First Board, to be received by the directors,  officers
or employees of Marion and its Subsidiaries as set forth in this Agreement or in
any other written  agreements  between the parties made in connection  with this
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE III

                       CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

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

               (a)  Outstanding  Marion  Common  Stock.  Each  share,  excluding
          Treasury   Stock,  of  Marion  Common  Stock  issued  and  outstanding
          immediately prior to the

                                                         8


<PAGE>



         Effective Time shall become and be converted into,  subject to Sections
         3.03 and 3.05  hereof,  1.862  shares of Mutual First Common Stock (the
         "Exchange Ratio"). The Exchange Ratio shall be subject to adjustment as
         set forth in Section 3.05.

                  (b)  Outstanding  Mutual  First  Common  Stock.  Each share of
         Mutual First Common  Stock issued and  outstanding  or held in treasury
         immediately  prior  to the  Effective  Time  shall  remain  issued  and
         outstanding  or held in treasury and shall be unaffected by the Company
         Merger.

                  (c) Treasury Shares. Each share of Marion Common Stock held as
         Treasury  Stock  immediately  prior  to the  Effective  Time  shall  be
         canceled and retired at the Effective Time, and no consideration  shall
         be issued in exchange therefor.

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

         3.03 Fractional Shares.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no
fractional  shares of Mutual  First Common  Stock and no  certificates  or scrip
therefor,  or other evidence of ownership thereof, will be issued in the Company
Merger;  instead,  Mutual First shall pay to each holder of Marion  Common Stock
who would  otherwise  be entitled to a  fractional  share of Mutual First Common
Stock (after taking into account all Old Certificates  delivered by such holder)
an amount in cash (without interest)  determined by multiplying such fraction by
the closing sale price of Mutual First Common  Stock,  as reported by the NASDAQ
reporting  system (as  reported in The Wall Street  Journal or, if not  reported
therein, in another authoritative  source), for the last trading day immediately
preceding the Effective Date.

         3.04     Exchange Procedures.

                  (a)  Deposit  of New  Certificates,  Etc.  At or  prior to the
         Effective  Time,  Mutual  First  shall  deposit,  or shall  cause to be
         deposited,  with an independent exchange agent to be selected by Mutual
         First and reasonably  acceptable to Marion (the "Exchange Agent"),  for
         the benefit of the holders of certificates formerly representing shares
         of Marion Common Stock ("Old Certificates"), for exchange in accordance
         with this Article III,  certificates  representing the shares of Mutual
         First Common Stock ("New Certificates") and an estimated amount of cash
         (such  cash  and New  Certificates,  together  with  any  dividends  or
         distributions  with a record date  occurring  after the Effective  Date
         with respect thereto (without any interest on any such cash,  dividends
         or  distributions),  being  hereinafter  referred  to as the  "Exchange
         Fund")  to be  paid  pursuant  to  this  Article  III in  exchange  for
         outstanding shares of Marion Common Stock.

                                                         9


<PAGE>



                  (b)  Transmittal  and  Deliveries.  As promptly as practicable
         after the Effective  Date,  Mutual First shall send or cause to be sent
         to each  former  holder of record  of  shares  of Marion  Common  Stock
         immediately  prior to the Effective Time  transmittal  materials (which
         shall  specify  that risk of loss and title to Old  Certificates  shall
         pass only upon  acceptance of such Old  Certificates by Mutual First or
         the  Exchange  Agent)  for use in  exchanging  such  stockholder's  Old
         Certificates  for the  consideration  set  forth in this  Article  III.
         Mutual  First shall cause the New  Certificates  into which shares of a
         stockholder's  Marion Common Stock are converted on the Effective  Date
         and/or  any check in  respect  of any  fractional  share  interests  or
         dividends  or  distributions  which such  person  shall be  entitled to
         receive  to be  delivered  to such  stockholder  upon  delivery  to the
         Exchange Agent of Old Certificates  representing  such shares of Marion
         Common Stock (or indemnity reasonably  satisfactory to Mutual First and
         the Exchange Agent,  if any of such  certificates  are lost,  stolen or
         destroyed) owned by such  stockholder.  No interest will be paid on any
         such  cash  to be paid in lieu  of  fractional  share  interests  or in
         respect of  dividends or  distributions  which any such person shall be
         entitled to receive  pursuant to this  Article III upon such  delivery.
         Mutual First and the Exchange  Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the
         stock  transfer  books of Marion to  establish  the  identity  of those
         persons entitled to receive consideration  specified in this Agreement,
         which books shall be conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of a
         dispute  with  respect to  ownership  of stock  represented  by any Old
         Certificate,  Mutual First or the  Exchange  Agent shall be entitled to
         deposit  any  consideration  in  respect  thereof  in  escrow  with  an
         independent  third party and thereafter be relieved with respect to any
         claims thereto.

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

                  (d)  Restrictions  on the Payment of Dividends and Voting.  No
         dividends  or other  distributions  with respect to Mutual First Common
         Stock with a record date  occurring  after the Effective  Time shall be
         paid to the holder of any  unsurrendered  Old Certificate  representing
         shares of Marion Common Stock  converted in the Company Merger into the
         right to receive  shares of such Mutual  First  Common  Stock until the
         holder  thereof  shall be  entitled  to  receive  New  Certificates  in
         exchange  therefor in accordance  with the procedures set forth in this
         Section  3.04,  and no such  shares of  Marion  Common  Stock  shall be
         eligible  to vote until the holder of Old  Certificates  is entitled to
         receive New Certificates in accordance with the procedures set forth in
         this Section 3.04.  After becoming so entitled in accordance  with this
         Section  3.04,  the record  holder  thereof  also shall be  entitled to
         receive any such dividends or other distributions, without any interest
         thereon, which theretofore had become payable with respect to shares of
         Mutual  First  Common  Stock such holder had the right to receive  upon
         surrender of the Old Certificates.

                                                        10


<PAGE>



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

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

         3.06     Options.

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

                           (i) the number of shares of Mutual First Common Stock
                  to be subject to the  continuing  option shall be equal to the
                  product of the number of shares of Marion Common Stock subject
                  to the original option and the Exchange  Ratio,  provided that
                  any  fractional  share of Mutual First Common Stock  resulting
                  from such multiplication  shall be rounded down to the nearest
                  share; and

                           (ii) the  exercise  price per  share of Mutual  First
                  Common Stock under the continuing option shall be equal to the
                  exercise  price  per share of Marion  Common  Stock  under the
                  original option divided by the Exchange  Ratio,  provided that
                  such exercise price shall be rounded down to the nearest cent.

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

                                                        11


<PAGE>



                  (b)  Reservation  of Mutual First Common Stock and  Securities
         Filings.  At all times after the  Effective  Time,  Mutual  First shall
         reserve for issuance such number of shares of Mutual First Common Stock
         as necessary so as to permit the exercise of continuing  options in the
         manner  contemplated by this Agreement and the instruments  pursuant to
         which such  options were  granted.  Mutual First shall make all filings
         required  under federal and state  securities  laws promptly  after the
         Effective  Time,  but to be effective no earlier than one year from the
         effective date of Mutual First Bank's mutual to stock conversion, so as
         to permit the exercise of such  continuing  options and the sale of the
         shares  received by the  optionee  upon such  exercise at and after the
         Effective  Time and Mutual  First shall  continue to make such  filings
         thereafter  as may be  necessary  to permit the  continued  exercise of
         continuing options and sale of such shares.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                           ACTIONS PENDING TRANSACTION

         4.01  Forbearances of Marion.  From the date hereof until the Effective
Time,  except  as  expressly  contemplated  by this  Agreement  or any  separate
agreement entered into by Marion and Mutual First on the date hereof,  (any such
agreement being specifically incorporated by reference herein) without the prior
written  consent  of Mutual  First  (which  consent  shall  not be  unreasonably
withheld or delayed),  Marion will not, and will cause each of its  Subsidiaries
not to:

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

               (b)  Marion  Stock.  Other  than  pursuant  to Rights  Previously
          Disclosed  and  outstanding  on the date  hereof,  (i) issue,  sell or
          otherwise permit to become outstanding,  or authorize the creation of,
          any additional  shares of Marion Stock or any Rights,  (ii) enter into
          any  agreement  with  respect to the  foregoing,  or (iii)  permit any
          additional  shares of Marion Stock to become  subject to new grants of
          employee  or  director   stock   options,   other  Rights  or  similar
          stock-based employee rights.

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

               (d)  Dividends,  Etc.  (i)  Make,  declare,  pay or set aside for
          payment any  dividend  (other than (A),  quarterly  cash  dividends on
          Marion  Common  Stock in an amount not to exceed  $0.22 per share with
          record and payment dates consistent with past

                                                        12


<PAGE>



          practice  (provided the declaration of the last quarterly  dividend by
          Marion prior to the  Effective  Time and the payment  thereof shall be
          coordinated  with, and subject to the approval of Mutual First,  so as
          to preclude any  duplication  of dividend  benefit) and (B)  dividends
          from  wholly  owned  Subsidiaries  to Marion or another  wholly  owned
          Subsidiary  of  Marion)  on or in  respect  of, or declare or make any
          distribution  on any  shares  of  Marion  Stock  or (ii)  directly  or
          indirectly adjust, split,  combine,  redeem,  reclassify,  purchase or
          otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or Rights.

               (e) Compensation; Employment Agreements, Etc. Enter into or amend
          or renew any employment,  consulting,  severance or similar agreements
          or  arrangements  with any director,  officer or employee of Marion or
          its Subsidiaries, or grant any salary or wage increase or increase any
          employee  benefit  (including  incentive or bonus payments) except (i)
          for oral at will  employment  agreements,  (ii) for normal  individual
          increases in  compensation  to  employees  in the  ordinary  course of
          business  consistent with past practice,  (iii) for other changes that
          are  required  by  applicable  law,  or  (iv) to  satisfy  contractual
          obligations and planned  programs  existing as of the date hereof that
          are Previously Disclosed.

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

               (g) Dispositions. Except as Previously Disclosed, sell, transfer,
          mortgage,  encumber or otherwise  dispose of or discontinue any of its
          assets, deposits, business or properties except in the ordinary course
          of business for fair value and in a  transaction  that is not material
          to it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               (h) Acquisitions.  Except as Previously Disclosed, acquire (other
          than by way of  foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide
          fiduciary  capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously  contracted
          in good  faith,  in each  case in the  ordinary  and  usual  course of
          business  consistent  with past  practice)  all or any portion of, the
          assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity.

               (i) Governing Documents. Amend the Marion Articles, Marion Bylaws
          or the certificate or articles of incorporation, charter or bylaws (or
          similar governing documents) of any of Marion's Subsidiaries.


                                                        13


<PAGE>



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

               (k) Contracts.  Except to satisfy  Previously  Disclosed  written
          commitments  outstanding  on the date hereof,  enter into or terminate
          any  material  contract  (as  defined in Section  5.03(k)) or amend or
          modify in any material  respect or renew any of its existing  material
          contracts.

               (l) Claims.  Except in the ordinary course of business consistent
          with past practice, settle any claim, action or proceeding, except for
          any claim,  action or proceeding which does not involve  precedent for
          other  material  claims,  actions or  proceedings  and which  involves
          solely money  damages in an amount,  individually  or in the aggregate
          for all such  settlements,  that is not  material  to  Marion  and its
          Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

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

               (n) Deposit  Taking and Branch  Activities.  In the case of First
          Federal (i) voluntarily make any material changes in or to its deposit
          mix;  (ii)  increase  or decrease  the rate of  interest  paid on time
          deposits  or on  certificates  of  deposit,  except  in a  manner  and
          pursuant to policies  consistent  with past practice;  (iii) except as
          Previously  Disclosed open any new branch or deposit taking  facility;
          (iv) except as  Previously  Disclosed  close or relocate  any existing
          branch or other  facility;  or (v) incur any  liability or  obligation
          relating to retail  banking and branch  merchandising,  marketing  and
          advertising  activities  and  initiatives  materially in excess of the
          amounts budgeted in its 2000 business plan as Previously Disclosed;

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

               (p) Capital Expenditures. Purchase or lease any fixed asset where
          the amount paid or committed  thereof is in excess of $25,000,  except
          for Previously Disclosed amounts budgeted in the 2000 budget.

                                                        14


<PAGE>



               (q)  Lending.  (i)  Make any  material  changes  in its  policies
          concerning  loan  underwriting  or which  persons may approve loans or
          fail to comply with such policies;  or (ii) make or commit to make any
          new  loan,  line  or  letter  of  credit,  or any  new  or  additional
          discretionary  advance  under  any  existing  loan,  line or letter of
          credit,  or restructure any existing loan, line or letter of credit so
          that any such  loan,  line or  letter  of credit  after  such  actions
          exceeds  $500,000  without the prior  written  consent of Mutual First
          acting through its Chief Executive  Officer or a Senior Vice President
          in a written notice to Marion,  which  approval or rejection  shall be
          given  within  five  business  days after  delivery  by Marion to such
          officer of Mutual First of the complete loan package;

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

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

               (t) Indebtedness. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money other
          than in the ordinary course of business and with a term of one year or
          less.

               (u) Commitments. Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

         4.02  Forbearances  of Mutual  First.  From the date  hereof  until the
Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement,  without the
prior written consent of Marion (which consent under subsection (e) shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed), Mutual First will not, and will cause each of
its Subsidiaries not to:

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

                                                        15


<PAGE>



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

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

               (d) Acquisitions.  Except as Previously Disclosed, acquire (other
          than by way of  foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide
          fiduciary  capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously  contracted
          in good  faith,  in each  case in the  ordinary  and  usual  course of
          business  consistent with past practice) all or a significant  portion
          of the assets, business, deposits or properties of any other entity if
          the impact of any such  acquisition  would be to prevent or materially
          delay the Effective Time of the Transaction.

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

               (f)  Dividends,  Etc.  (i)  Make,  declare,  pay or set aside for
          payment any  dividend  (other than (A),  quarterly  cash  dividends on
          Mutual  First  Common Stock in an amount not to exceed $0.07 per share
          with record and payment dates consistent with past practice  (provided
          the  declaration of the last quarterly  dividend by Mutual First prior
          to the Effective  Time and the payment  thereof  shall be  coordinated
          with,  and subject to the approval of Mutual First,  so as to preclude
          any  duplication  of dividend  benefit) and (B) dividends  from wholly
          owned  Subsidiaries to Mutual First or another wholly owned Subsidiary
          of  Mutual  First)  on or in  respect  of,  or  declare  or  make  any
          distribution  on any shares of Mutual First Stock or (ii)  directly or
          indirectly adjust, split,  combine,  redeem,  reclassify,  purchase or
          otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or Rights.

                                                        16


<PAGE>



               (g) Compensation; Employment Agreements, Etc. Enter into or amend
          or renew any employment,  consulting,  severance or similar agreements
          or arrangements with any director, officer or employee of Mutual First
          or its Subsidiaries,  or grant any salary or wage increase or increase
          any employee  benefit  (including  incentive or bonus payments) except
          (i) for oral at will employment agreements, (ii) for normal individual
          increases in  compensation  to  employees  in the  ordinary  course of
          business  consistent with past practice,  (iii) for other changes that
          are  required  by  applicable  law,  or  (iv) to  satisfy  contractual
          obligations and planned  programs  existing as of the date hereof that
          are Previously Disclosed.

               (h) Dispositions. Except as Previously Disclosed, sell, transfer,
          mortgage,  encumber or otherwise  dispose of or discontinue any of its
          assets, deposits, business or properties except in the ordinary course
          of business for fair value and in a  transaction  that is not material
          to it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

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

               (j) Indebtedness. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money other
          than in the ordinary course of business.

               (k) Commitments. Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.


                                    ARTICLE V

                         REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         5.01 Disclosure  Schedules.  Prior to the date hereof, Mutual First has
delivered  to Marion a  schedule  and  Marion has  delivered  to Mutual  First a
schedule  (respectively,  its "Disclosure  Schedule") setting forth, among other
things,  items the  disclosure  of which is necessary or  appropriate  either in
response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or
as an  exception  to one or more  representations  or  warranties  contained  in
Section 5.03 or 5.04 or to one or more of its covenants contained in Article IV;
provided,  that (a) no such item is  required  to be set  forth in a  Disclosure
Schedule as an exception to a Specified  Representation if its absence would not
be  reasonably  likely to result in the  Specified  Representation  being deemed
untrue or incorrect under the standard  established by Section 5.02, and (b) the
mere  inclusion  of an  item  in a  Disclosure  Schedule  as an  exception  to a
Specified  Representation  shall not be deemed an admission by a party that such
item represents a material

                                                        17


<PAGE>



exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably  likely
to result in a Material  Adverse Effect on the party making the  representation.
Marion's  representations,  warranties and covenants contained in this Agreement
shall not be deemed to be untrue  or  breached  as a result of  effects  arising
solely from actions taken in compliance with a written request of Mutual First.

         5.02 Standard.  No representation or warranty of Marion or Mutual First
contained  in  Section  5.03(a),   (c)(iii),   (d),  (e),  (f)(i),   (f)(ii)(A),
(f)(ii)(C),  (j)(ii), (h), (n), (o), (q), (r), (s), (t), (u) and (w) or 5.04(a),
(c), (d), (e), (f)(i),  (h), (k), (m), (n), (o), (q) and (r) (collectively,  the
"Specified  Representations") shall be deemed untrue or incorrect,  and no party
hereto  shall be  deemed  to have  breached  a  Specified  Representation,  as a
consequence  of the  existence of any fact,  event or  circumstance  unless such
fact,  circumstance  or event,  individually  or taken  together  with all other
facts,  events or circumstances  inconsistent with any Specified  Representation
has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.  For purposes
of this  Agreement,  "knowledge"  shall mean,  with  respect to a party  hereto,
actual  knowledge of any officer of that party with the title,  if any,  ranking
not less than senior vice president and that party's in-house counsel, if any.

         5.03 Representations and Warranties of Marion. Subject to Sections 5.01
and 5.02 and except as  Previously  Disclosed in a paragraph  of its  Disclosure
Schedule corresponding to the relevant paragraph below, Marion hereby represents
and warrants to Mutual First:

                  (a)  Organization,   Standing  and  Authority.   Marion  is  a
         corporation  duly organized and validly  existing under the laws of the
         State of Indiana.  Marion is duly  qualified  to do business  and is in
         good  standing  in the  states of the  United  States  and any  foreign
         jurisdictions  where its  ownership or leasing of property or assets or
         the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (b)  Marion  Stock.  The  authorized  capital  stock of Marion
         consists  solely of (i) 5,000,000  shares of Marion  Common  Stock,  of
         which 1,362,971 shares were outstanding as of the day prior to the date
         hereof,  and (ii) 2,000,000  shares of Marion Preferred Stock, of which
         no shares are outstanding.  The outstanding shares of Marion Stock have
         been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid
         and  nonassessable,  and subject to no preemptive  rights (and were not
         issued in violation of any preemptive  rights).  As of the date hereof,
         except as  Previously  Disclosed,  there are no shares of Marion  Stock
         authorized  and reserved for issuance,  Marion does not have any Rights
         issued or outstanding with respect to Marion Stock, and Marion does not
         have any  commitment  to  authorize,  issue or sell any Marion Stock or
         Rights, other than as set forth in this Agreement. The number of shares
         of Marion  Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of each Marion
         Stock Option  outstanding  as of the date hereof and the exercise price
         per share are Previously Disclosed.

                                                        18


<PAGE>



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

                           (ii) Neither  Marion nor any Marion  Subsidiary  owns
                  beneficially any equity securities or similar interests of any
                  Person,  or any interest in a partnership  or joint venture of
                  any kind, other than a Marion Subsidiary.

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

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

                  (e) Corporate Authority. Subject in the case of this Agreement
         to receipt of the requisite  approval of this Agreement  (including the
         agreement  of merger set forth  herein) by the holders of a majority of
         the outstanding  shares of Marion Common Stock entitled to vote thereon
         (which is the only Marion  shareholder  vote required  thereon) and the
         corporate  approvals  required in Section 2.03 of this Agreement,  this
         Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized
         by all necessary  corporate action of Marion and the Marion Board on or
         prior to the date hereof. This Agreement is a valid and legally binding
         obligation of Marion,  enforceable in accordance with its terms (except
         as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,  insolvency,
         reorganization,  moratorium,  fraudulent  transfer  and similar laws of
         general applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by
         general equity principles).

                                                        19


<PAGE>



                  (f)  Regulatory  Filings;  No  Defaults.  (i) No  consents  or
         approvals  of, or  filings  or  registrations  with,  any  Governmental
         Authority  or with any third party are  required to be made or obtained
         by Marion or any of its  Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,
         delivery or  performance  by Marion of this  Agreement or to consummate
         the  Company  Merger  or the Bank  Merger  except  for (A)  filings  of
         applications  or notices  with the OTS,  (B)  filings  with the SEC and
         state  securities  authorities,  (C) filings for approval of listing on
         the Nasdaq  System of the  shares to be  issued,  and (D) the filing of
         (and  endorsement  of, if  required)  articles of merger or articles of
         combination with the Maryland Secretary,  the Indiana Secretary and the
         OTS. As of the date  hereof,  Marion is not aware of any reason why the
         approvals set forth in Section 7.01(b) will not be received in a timely
         manner   without  the   imposition  of  a  condition,   restriction  or
         requirement of the type described in Section 7.01(b).

                  (ii) Subject to receipt of the regulatory  approvals  referred
         to in the  preceding  paragraph,  and  expiration  of  related  waiting
         periods,  and required filings under federal and state securities laws,
         the  execution,  delivery and  performance  of this  Agreement  and the
         consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not
         and will not (A)  constitute  a breach  or  violation  of, or a default
         under,  or give rise to any Lien, any  acceleration  of remedies or any
         right  of  termination  under,  any  law,  rule  or  regulation  or any
         judgment,  decree,  order,  governmental permit or license, or material
         agreement,  indenture  or  instrument  of  Marion  or  of  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries  or  to  which  Marion  or  any  of  its  Subsidiaries  or
         properties  is subject or bound,  (B)  constitute a breach or violation
         of, or a default under,  the Marion  Articles or the Marion Bylaws,  or
         (C)  require  any  consent  or  approval  under  any  such  law,  rule,
         regulation,  judgment,  decree, order,  governmental permit or license,
         material agreement, indenture or instrument.

                  (g) Financial  Reports and SEC Documents.  (i) Marion's Annual
         Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended June 30, 1997, 1998 and
         1999, and all other reports, registration statements,  definitive proxy
         statements or information  statements filed or to be filed by it or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  subsequent to June 30, 1999 under the  Securities
         Act, or under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in
         the form filed or to be filed (collectively,  Marion's "SEC Documents")
         with the SEC, as of the date filed,  (A) complied or will comply in all
         material respects with the applicable requirements under the Securities
         Act or the  Exchange  Act, as the case may be, and (B) did not and will
         not contain any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state a
         material  fact  required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
         made, not  misleading;  and each of the balance sheets or statements of
         condition  contained in or  incorporated by reference into any such SEC
         Document  (including  the related notes and schedules  thereto)  fairly
         presents,  or  will  fairly  present  in  all  material  respects,  the
         financial  position of Marion and its  Subsidiaries as of its date, and
         each of the  statements of income and changes in  stockholders'  equity
         and cash flows or equivalent statements in such SEC Documents

                                                        20


<PAGE>



         (including any related notes and schedules thereto) fairly presents, or
         will  fairly  present,  in  all  material  respects,   the  results  of
         operations, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows, as the case
         may be, of Marion and its  Subsidiaries  for the  periods to which they
         relate, in each case in accordance with generally  accepted  accounting
         principles consistently applied during the periods involved,  except in
         each case as may be noted  therein,  subject to normal  year-end  audit
         adjustments  and the  absence  of  footnotes  in the case of  unaudited
         statements.

                  (ii)  Except  for  liabilities  incurred  in  connection  with
         negotiation  of and  compliance  with this  Agreement  and otherwise in
         connection with the transactions  contemplated  hereby,  since June 30,
         1999, Marion and its Subsidiaries have not incurred any liability other
         than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

                  (iii)  Since June 30,  1999,  (A) Marion and its  Subsidiaries
         have conducted  their  respective  businesses in the ordinary and usual
         course consistent with past practice (excluding matters related to this
         Agreement and the  transactions  contemplated  hereby) and (B) no event
         has  occurred  or  circumstance  arisen  that,  individually  or  taken
         together with all other facts,  circumstances  and events (described in
         any paragraph of Section 5.03 or  otherwise),  is reasonably  likely to
         have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Marion.

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

                  (i)  Regulatory  Matters.  (i)  Neither  Marion nor any of its
         Subsidiaries  or  properties  is a party to or is subject to any order,
         decree,  agreement,  memorandum of understanding or similar arrangement
         with, or a commitment letter or similar submission to, or extraordinary
         supervisory  letter from, any federal or state  governmental  agency or
         authority  charged  with the  supervision  or  regulation  of financial
         institutions  (or their holding  companies) or issuers of securities or
         engaged in the insurance of deposits  (including,  without  limitation,
         the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System,  the OTS, and the
         FDIC) or the supervision or regulation of it or any of its Subsidiaries
         (collectively, the "Regulatory Authorities").

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

                                                        21


<PAGE>



                  (j) Compliance with Laws. Each of Marion and its Subsidiaries:

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

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

                           (iii)  has   received,   since  June  30,  1998,   no
                  notification or communication from any Governmental  Authority
                  (A) asserting that Marion or any of its Subsidiaries is not in
                  compliance  in any material  respect with any of the statutes,
                  regulations,  or ordinances which such Governmental  Authority
                  enforces or (B)  threatening  to revoke any material  license,
                  franchise,  permit,  or  governmental  authorization  (nor, to
                  Marion's  knowledge,  do any grounds for any of the  foregoing
                  exist).

                  (k) Material  Contracts;  Defaults.  Except for this Agreement
         and those  agreements and other  documents filed as exhibits to its SEC
         Documents,  neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, bound
         by or subject to any agreement,  contract,  arrangement,  commitment or
         understanding  (whether  written  or  oral)  (i)  that  is a  "material
         contract" within the meaning of Item 601(b)(10) of the SEC's Regulation
         S-K or (ii) that restricts or limits in any material way the conduct of
         business by it or any of its Subsidiaries (it being understood that any
         non-compete or similar  provision which restricts the ability of Marion
         or its  Subsidiaries to compete with others shall be deemed  material).
         Neither it nor any of its  Subsidiaries  is in default in any  material
         respect   under   any   material   contract,   agreement,   commitment,
         arrangement, lease, insurance policy or other instrument to which it is
         a party, by which its respective assets, business, or operations may be
         bound  or  affected,  or  under  which  it or  its  respective  assets,
         business,  or operations  receive benefits,  and there has not occurred
         any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both,
         would constitute such a default.

                                                        22


<PAGE>



                  (l)  Brokers.  No action has been  taken by Marion  that would
         give rise to any valid claim  against any party  hereto for a brokerage
         commission,  finder's  fee or other like  payment  with  respect to the
         transactions  contemplated  by  this  Agreement,  excluding  Previously
         Disclosed  fees to be paid to Keefe,  Bruyette  and Woods  ("KBW")  and
         David A. Noyes & Company.

                  (m) Employee Benefit Plans. (i) Section 5.03(m)(i) of Marion's
         Disclosure  Schedule  contains  a  complete  and  accurate  list of all
         existing bonus, incentive, deferred compensation,  pension, retirement,
         profit-sharing, thrift, savings, employee stock ownership, stock bonus,
         stock purchase,  restricted stock,  stock option,  stock  appreciation,
         phantom stock, severance,  welfare and fringe benefit plans, employment
         or  severance  agreements  and  all  similar  practices,  policies  and
         arrangements  maintained by Marion or any of its  Subsidiaries in which
         any employee or former  employee,  consultant  or former  consultant or
         director  or  former  director  of  Marion  or any of its  Subsidiaries
         participates or to which any such  employees,  consultants or directors
         are  a  party  other  than  plans  and  programs  involving  immaterial
         obligations (the "Compensation and Benefit Plans"). Except as expressly
         contemplated by a separate  agreement entered into by Marion and Mutual
         First on the date hereof,  neither  Marion nor any of its  Subsidiaries
         has any  commitment to create any additional  Compensation  and Benefit
         Plan or to modify or change any existing Compensation and Benefit Plan.

                  (ii) Each  Compensation and Benefit Plan has been operated and
         administered in all material  respects in accordance with its terms and
         with applicable law,  including,  but not limited to, ERISA,  the Code,
         the  Securities  Act,  the  Exchange  Act,  the Age  Discrimination  in
         Employment Act, or any regulations or rules promulgated thereunder, and
         all material  filings,  disclosures and notices  required by ERISA, the
         Code, the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the Age  Discrimination  in
         Employment Act and any other applicable law have been timely made. Each
         Compensation  and Benefit  Plan which is an "employee  pension  benefit
         plan"  within the meaning of Section  3(2) of ERISA (a "Pension  Plan")
         and which is intended to be qualified  under Section 401(a) of the Code
         has   received  a   favorable   determination   letter   (including   a
         determination  that the  related  trust  under  such  Compensation  and
         Benefit Plan is exempt from tax under Section  501(a) of the Code) from
         the IRS, and Marion is not aware of any circumstances  likely to result
         in revocation of any such favorable  determination  letter. There is no
         material  pending  or, to the  knowledge  of Marion,  threatened  legal
         action,  suit or claim relating to the  Compensation and Benefit Plans.
         Neither  Marion  nor  any  of  its   Subsidiaries   has  engaged  in  a
         transaction,  or  omitted  to take  any  action,  with  respect  to any
         Compensation  and  Benefit  Plan that would  reasonably  be expected to
         subject Marion or any of its  Subsidiaries to a material tax or penalty
         imposed by either  Section  4975 of the Code or  Section  502 of ERISA,
         assuming  for  purposes  of Section  4975 of the Code that the  taxable
         period of any such transaction expired as of the date hereof.

                                                        23


<PAGE>



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

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

                                                        24


<PAGE>



         would  reasonably  be expected to result,  in the  imposition of a lien
         under Section 412(n) of the Code or pursuant to ERISA.

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

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

                  (vii) With respect to each  Compensation  and Benefit Plan, if
         applicable, Marion has provided or made available to Mutual First, true
         and complete  copies of  existing:  (A)  Compensation  and Benefit Plan
         documents and amendments  thereto;  (B) trust instruments and insurance
         contracts;  (C) two most recent  Forms 5500 filed with the IRS; (D) two
         most recent  actuarial  report and  financial  statement;  (E) the most
         recent summary plan  description;  (F) forms filed with the PBGC (other
         than for premium payments); (G) most recent determination letter issued
         by the IRS;  (H) any Form 5310 or Form 5330 filed with the IRS; and (I)
         two most recent  nondiscrimination  tests performed under ERISA and the
         Code (including 401(k) and 401(m) tests).

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

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

                  (x) To the  knowledge  of  Marion,  as a result,  directly  or
         indirectly,   of  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this  Agreement
         (including,  without  limitation,  as a result  of any  termination  of
         employment  prior to or following the Effective  Time),  none of Mutual
         First, Marion or the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective

                                                        25


<PAGE>



         Subsidiaries  will  be  obligated  to  make a  payment  that  would  be
         characterized as an "excess parachute  payment" to an individual who is
         a "disqualified  individual" (as such terms are defined in Section 280G
         of the Code),  without  regard to whether  such  payment is  reasonable
         compensation for personal services  performed or to be performed in the
         future  (provided  this  representation  does not take into account any
         payments to be made pursuant to any employment  agreement to be entered
         into by Mutual First and the Chief Executive Officer of Marion).

                  (xi) There are no LSAR's,  Tandem  SARs,  Stand-Alone  SARs or
         shares of  Phantom  Stock (as such  terms may be  defined in the Marion
         Stock  Plan)  outstanding  under the  Marion  Stock  Plan and except as
         Previously  Disclosed  neither Marion nor any Marion Subsidiary has any
         commitment or obligation to make any awards thereof.

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

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

                  (o)  Takeover  Laws;   Dissenters   Rights.   Subject  to  the
         continuing  accuracy  of  Mutual  First's   representation  in  Section
         5.04(p),  this Agreement and the transactions  contemplated  hereby are
         not subject to the requirements of any  "moratorium,"  "control share",
         "fair price", "affiliate transactions", "business combination" or other
         antitakeover   laws  and  regulations  of  any  state,   including  the
         provisions  of Section  23-1-42 and 21-1- 43 of Indiana law  ("Takeover
         Laws")  applicable to Marion or any Marion  Subsidiary.  Subject to the
         continuing  accuracy  of  Mutual  First's   representation  in  Section
         5.04(p),  the  provisions  of Article 12 of the Marion  Articles do not
         apply  to the  entering  into of this  Agreement  and the  transactions
         contemplated  hereby,  including the Company Merger.  Holders of Marion
         Common Stock will not have  dissenters'  rights in connection  with the
         Company Merger.

                  (p) Environmental Matters. To Marion's knowledge,  neither the
         conduct nor operation of Marion or its  Subsidiaries  nor any condition
         of any  property  currently or  previously  owned or operated by any of
         them  (including,   without  limitation,   in  a  fiduciary  or  agency
         capacity), or on which any of them holds a Lien, results or resulted in

                                                        26


<PAGE>



         a  material  violation  of  any  Environmental  Laws  and  to  Marion's
         knowledge,  no condition has existed or event has occurred with respect
         to any of them or any such property that, with notice or the passage of
         time, or both, is reasonably likely to result in any material liability
         to  Marion  or any  Marion  Subsidiary  under  Environmental  Laws.  To
         Marion's  knowledge,  neither  Marion nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has
         received  any  notice  from any  person  or entity  that  Marion or its
         Subsidiaries  or the operation or condition of any property ever owned,
         operated,  or held as collateral  or in a fiduciary  capacity by any of
         them are or were in material  violation of or otherwise  are alleged to
         have material liability under any Environmental Law, including, but not
         limited  to,  responsibility  (or  potential  responsibility)  for  the
         cleanup  or  other  remediation  of any  pollutants,  contaminants,  or
         hazardous or toxic wastes,  substances or materials at, on, beneath, or
         originating from any such property.

                  (q) Tax Matters.  (i) (a) All Tax Returns that are required to
         be filed by or with  respect to Marion and its  Subsidiaries  have been
         duly filed,  or requests  for  extensions  have been timely filed or an
         extension is automatic) and any such extension has been granted and has
         not  been  rescinded,  (b) all  Taxes  shown  to be due on Tax  Returns
         referred to in clause (a), if filed, and all Taxes required to be shown
         on the Tax Returns for which  extensions  have been  granted  have been
         paid in full or  adequate  provision  has been  made for such  Taxes on
         Marion's most recent  balance sheet  provided to Mutual First,  (c) the
         Tax  Returns  referred  to in clause (a) that have been filed (with the
         exception of the tax returns  filed in the last three  calendar  years)
         have  been  examined  by the IRS or the  appropriate  state,  local  or
         foreign  taxing  authority or the period for assessment of the Taxes in
         respect  of which  such  Tax  Returns  were  required  to be filed  has
         expired, (d) all deficiencies  asserted or assessments made as a result
         of such examinations have been paid in full or non-material amounts are
         being  contested in good faith,  (e) no material  issues that have been
         raised  by  the  relevant  taxing  authority  in  connection  with  the
         examination  of any of the Tax  Returns  referred  to in clause (a) are
         currently  pending,  and (f) no waivers of statutes of limitation  have
         been given by or  requested  with respect to any Taxes of Marion or its
         Subsidiaries.  Marion  has made  available  to  Mutual  First  true and
         correct copies of the United States federal income Tax Returns filed by
         Marion and its  Subsidiaries  for each of the three most recent  fiscal
         years ended on or before June 30, 1999.  Neither  Marion nor any of its
         Subsidiaries  has  any  material  liability  with  respect  to  income,
         franchise  or similar  Taxes  that  accrued on or before the end of the
         most recent period covered by Marion's SEC Documents filed prior to the
         date hereof in excess of the amounts  accrued with respect thereto that
         are  reflected  in the  financial  statements  included in Marion's SEC
         Documents filed on or prior to the date hereof.  As of the date hereof,
         neither  Marion nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any reason to believe
         that any  conditions  exist  that might  prevent or impede the  Company
         Merger and the Bank Merger from  qualifying as  reorganizations  within
         the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

                                                        27


<PAGE>



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

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

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

                  (s) Books and Records. The books and records of Marion and its
         Subsidiaries have been fully, properly and accurately maintained in all
         material   respects,   and  there  are  no  material   inaccuracies  or
         discrepancies  of any kind  contained  or  reflected  therein  and they
         fairly  reflect  the  substance  of events  and  transactions  included
         therein.

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

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

                                                        28


<PAGE>



                  (v) Fairness Opinion. On the date of this Agreement,  David A.
         Noyes & Company  has  provided to the Marion  Board a written  fairness
         opinion  to  the  effect  that  the  Exchange  Ratio  is  fair  to  the
         stockholders of Marion from a financial point of view.

                  (w)  Compliance  with  Servicing  Obligations.  Marion and the
         Marion Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all
         contract,  agency and investor  requirements  and  guidelines,  and all
         applicable  laws,  rules and regulations of  Governmental  Authorities,
         relating to the servicing and  administration  of loans by them, or any
         of them,  including  but not limited  to,  properly  and timely  making
         interest rate adjustments to adjustable rate loans.

                  (x) Disclosure.  The representations and warranties  contained
         in this Section 5.03 do not contain any untrue  statement of a material
         fact or omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the
         statements  and   information   contained  in  this  Section  5.03  not
         misleading.

         5.04  Representations  and  Warranties  of  Mutual  First.  Subject  to
Sections 5.01 and 5.02 and except as Previously  Disclosed in a paragraph of its
Disclosure Schedule  corresponding to the relevant paragraph below, Mutual First
hereby represents and warrants to Marion as follows:

                  (a)  Organization,  Standing and Authority.  Mutual First is a
         corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
         the laws of the State of Maryland. Mutual First is duly qualified to do
         business and is in good standing in the states of the United States and
         foreign  jurisdictions  where its  ownership  or leasing of property or
         assets or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

                  (b)  Mutual  First  Stock.  (i) As of  the  date  hereof,  the
         authorized  capital  stock  of  Mutual  First  consists  solely  of (i)
         20,000,000  shares of Mutual First Common Stock,  of which no more than
         5,819,611 shares were outstanding, and no shares were held in treasury,
         as of the day prior to the date  hereof  and (ii)  5,000,000  shares of
         preferred  stock,  $0.01 par value per share, of which none were issued
         and outstanding on the date hereof. As of the date hereof, Mutual First
         does not have any Rights issued or  outstanding  with respect to Mutual
         First  Common Stock and Mutual  First does not have any  commitment  to
         authorize, issue or sell any Mutual First Common Stock or Rights, other
         than pursuant to this Agreement. The outstanding shares of Mutual First
         Common  Stock  have been duly  authorized  and are  validly  issued and
         outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and subject to no preemptive
         rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights).

                  (ii) The shares of Mutual  First  Common Stock to be issued in
         exchange for shares of Marion Common Stock in the Company Merger,  when
         issued in accordance

                                                        29


<PAGE>



         with the  terms of this  Agreement,  will be duly  authorized,  validly
         issued,  fully paid and  nonassessable  and  subject  to no  preemptive
         rights.

                  (c) Subsidiaries. Each of Mutual First's Subsidiaries has been
         duly organized and is validly  existing in good standing under the laws
         of the  jurisdiction of its  organization,  and is duly qualified to do
         business  and is in  good  standing  in  the  jurisdictions  where  its
         ownership  or  leasing  of  property  or the  conduct  of its  business
         requires  it to be so  qualified  and Mutual  First  owns,  directly or
         indirectly, all the issued and outstanding equity securities of each of
         its Subsidiaries.

                  (d) Corporate Power. Each of Mutual First and its Subsidiaries
         has the corporate power and authority to carry on its business as it is
         now being  conducted  and to own all its  properties  and  assets;  and
         Mutual First has the corporate power and authority to execute,  deliver
         and perform its obligations  under this Agreement and to consummate the
         transactions contemplated hereby.

                  (e) Corporate Authority. Subject to the approval of the Merger
         and the  issuance  of  Mutual  First  Common  Stock to be issued in the
         Company  Merger  by  the  holders  of  Mutual  First  Common  Stock  in
         accordance  with  Maryland Law and the NASDAQ rules (which are the only
         Mutual  First  stockholder  votes  required  thereon),  the  Board  has
         declared  this  transaction   advisable  and  this  Agreement  and  the
         transactions  contemplated hereby have been authorized by all necessary
         corporate  action of Mutual First and the Board on or prior to the date
         hereof.  This  Agreement  is a valid and legally  binding  agreement of
         Mutual  First  enforceable  in  accordance  with its terms  (except  as
         enforceability  may be limited by  applicable  bankruptcy,  insolvency,
         reorganization,  moratorium,  fraudulent  transfer  and similar laws of
         general applicability  relating to or affecting creditors' rights or by
         general equity principles).

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

                  (ii) Subject to the satisfaction of the requirements  referred
         to in the  preceding  paragraph and  expiration of the related  waiting
         periods, and required filings under federal

                                                        30


<PAGE>



         and state securities  laws, the execution,  delivery and performance of
         this Agreement and the  consummation of the  transactions  contemplated
         hereby do not and will not (A)  constitute a breach or violation of, or
         a default under, or give rise to any Lien, any acceleration of remedies
         or any right of termination  under,  any law, rule or regulation or any
         judgment,  decree,  order,  governmental permit or license, or material
         agreement,  indenture  or  instrument  of Mutual First or of any of its
         Subsidiaries  or to which  Mutual First or any of its  Subsidiaries  or
         properties  is subject or bound,  (B)  constitute a breach or violation
         of, or a default  under,  the articles of  incorporation  or bylaws (or
         similar   governing   documents)   of  Mutual   First  or  any  of  its
         Subsidiaries,  or (C) require  any  consent or approval  under any such
         law, rule, regulation,  judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or
         license, material agreement, indenture or instrument.

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

                  (ii)  Since  December  31,  1999,  no event  has  occurred  or
         circumstance arisen that, individually or taken together with all other
         facts,  circumstances and events (described in any paragraph of Section
         5.04 or  otherwise),  is reasonably  likely to have a Material  Adverse
         Effect with respect to Mutual First.

                  (h) Litigation; Regulatory Action. (i) No material litigation,
         claim or other proceeding before any Governmental  Authority is pending
         against Mutual First or any of its Subsidiaries  and, to Mutual First's
         knowledge,  no such  litigation,  claim  or other  proceeding  has been
         threatened.

                  (ii)  Neither  Mutual  First  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  or
         properties is a party to or is subject to any order, decree, agreement,
         memorandum of understanding or similar

                                                        31


<PAGE>



         arrangement with, or a commitment  letter or similar  submission to, or
         extraordinary  supervisory letter from a Regulatory Authority,  nor has
         Mutual  First or any of its  Subsidiaries  been advised by a Regulatory
         Authority that such agency is  contemplating  issuing or requesting (or
         is considering the  appropriateness  of issuing or requesting) any such
         order,  decree,  agreement,  memorandum  of  understanding,  commitment
         letter, supervisory letter or similar submission.

                  (i)  Compliance  with  Laws.  Each  of  Mutual  First  and its
         Subsidiaries:

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

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

                         .  (iii)  has   received,   since  June  30,  1998,  no
                    notification   or   communication   from  any   Governmental
                    Authority  (A)  asserting  that  Mutual  First or any of its
                    Subsidiaries  is not in compliance  in any material  respect
                    with any of the statutes,  regulations,  or ordinances which
                    such Governmental  Authority  enforces or (B) threatening to
                    revoke  any  material   license,   franchise,   permit,   or
                    governmental   authorization   (nor,   to   Mutual   First's
                    knowledge, do any grounds for any of the foregoing exist).

                  (j)  Brokers.  No action has been  taken by Mutual  First that
         would  give rise to any valid  claim  against  any party  hereto  for a
         brokerage  commission,  finder's fee or other like payment with respect
         to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for a fee to
         be paid to RP Financial, lc.

                  (k) Takeover Laws.  Mutual First has taken all action required
         to  be  taken  by  it  in  order  to  exempt  this  Agreement  and  the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby  from,  and this  Agreement  and the
         transactions  contemplated  hereby are exempt from, the requirements of
         any Takeover Laws applicable to Mutual First or their Subsidiaries.

                                                        32


<PAGE>



         Holders of Mutual First common stock will not have  dissenters'  rights
         in connection with the Company Merger.

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

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

                                                        33


<PAGE>



         Merger from qualifying as reorganizations within the meaning of Section
         368(a) of the Code.

                  (n) Books and  Records.  The books and records of Mutual First
         and  its  Subsidiaries   have  been  fully,   properly  and  accurately
         maintained  in  all  material  respects,  and  there  are  no  material
         inaccuracies  or  discrepancies  of any  kind  contained  or  reflected
         therein,   and  they  fairly   present  the  substance  of  events  and
         transactions included therein.

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

                  (p) Mutual First  Ownership of Marion  Stock.  Neither  Mutual
         First nor any of its Subsidiaries  either  beneficially owns any shares
         of  Marion  Common  Stock  or,  other  than  as  contemplated  by  this
         Agreement,  has any option, warrant or right of any kind to acquire the
         beneficial ownership of any shares of Marion Common Stock.

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

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

                                                        34


<PAGE>



                  (s)  Fairness  Opinion.  On the  date  of this  Agreement,  RP
         Financial, lc has provided to the Mutual First Board a written fairness
         opinion  to  the  effect  that  the  Exchange  Ratio  is  fair  to  the
         stockholders of Mutual First from a financial point of view.

                  (t) Disclosure.  The representations and warranties  contained
         in this Section 5.04 do not contain any untrue  statement of a material
         fact or omit to state any material fact  necessary in order to make the
         statements  and   information   contained  in  this  Section  5.04  not
         misleading

                  (u) Employee Benefit Plans. (iii) Section 5.03(m)(i) of Mutual
         First's  Disclosure  Schedule  contains a complete and accurate list of
         all  existing  bonus,   incentive,   deferred  compensation,   pension,
         retirement,  profit-sharing, thrift, savings, employee stock ownership,
         stock bonus,  stock purchase,  restricted  stock,  stock option,  stock
         appreciation,  phantom  stock,  severance,  welfare and fringe  benefit
         plans,  employment or severance  agreements and all similar  practices,
         policies  and  arrangements  maintained  by Mutual  First or any of its
         Subsidiaries  in which any employee or former  employee,  consultant or
         former consultant or director or former director of Mutual First or any
         of its  Subsidiaries  participates  or to  which  any  such  employees,
         consultants  or  directors  are a party  other than plans and  programs
         involving   immaterial   obligations  (the  "Compensation  and  Benefit
         Plans").  Except as  expressly  contemplated  by a  separate  agreement
         entered  into by Mutual  First and Marion on the date  hereof,  neither
         Mutual First nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has any commitment to create
         any additional Compensation and Benefit Plan or to modify or change any
         existing Compensation and Benefit Plan.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    COVENANTS

         6.01  Reasonable  Best Efforts.  Subject to the terms and conditions of
this  Agreement,  each of Marion and Mutual First  agrees to use its  reasonable
best efforts in good faith to take,  or cause to be taken,  all actions,  and to
do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable
under  applicable  laws,  so as to permit  consummation  of the  Transaction  as
promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable  consummation of the Transaction
and shall cooperate fully with the other party hereto to that end.

         6.02 Stockholder  Approvals.  Mutual First and Marion agree to take, in
accordance   with   applicable  law  or  NASDAQ  rules  and  their  articles  of
incorporation and bylaws, all action necessary to convene an appropriate meeting
of their  stockholders  to consider  and vote upon,  in the case of Marion,  the
approval of the plan of merger and adoption of this Agreement and in the case of
Mutual  First to approve the Company  Merger and approve the  issuance of Mutual
First

                                                        35


<PAGE>



Common  Stock to be issued  in the  Company  Merger,  and in each case any other
matter  required to be approved by such  stockholders  for  consummation  of the
Company Merger  (including any  adjournment or  postponement,  the "Mutual First
Meeting" or "Marion Meeting", whichever is applicable), in each case as promptly
as  practicable  after the  Registration  Statement is declared  effective.  The
Mutual First Board and the Marion Board shall each recommend such approval,  the
Mutual First Board shall declare the transaction  advisable and Mutual First and
Marion shall take all reasonable,  lawful action to solicit such approval by its
stockholders,  unless either board of directors,  after having received a Marion
Proposal or a Mutual First Proposal,  as applicable,  and after having consulted
with and  considered the advice of outside  counsel and its  investment  banking
firm,  has  determined  in good faith that to do so would result in a failure by
the directors to discharge  properly their  fiduciary  duties in accordance with
the applicable law.

         6.03  Registration  Statement.  (a)  Mutual  First  agrees to prepare a
registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed by
Mutual First with the SEC in connection with the issuance of Mutual First Common
Stock in the Company Merger  (including the joint proxy statement and prospectus
and other proxy solicitation materials of Mutual First and Marion constituting a
part thereof (the "Proxy Statement") and all related  documents).  Marion agrees
to cooperate, and to cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate, with Mutual First, its
counsel and its accountants,  in preparation of the  Registration  Statement and
the  Proxy  Statement;  and  provided  that  Marion  and its  Subsidiaries  have
cooperated  as required  above,  Mutual  First  agrees to file the  Registration
Statement  (or the form of the  Proxy  Statement)  with the SEC as  promptly  as
reasonably  practicable and shall use reasonable efforts to cause such filing to
occur  within 60 days  after  execution  of this  Agreement.  Each of Marion and
Mutual  First  agrees to use all  reasonable  efforts to cause the  Registration
Statement  to be  declared  effective  under the  Securities  Act as promptly as
reasonably practicable after filing thereof. Mutual First also agrees to use all
reasonable  efforts to obtain,  prior to the effective date of the  Registration
Statement,  all  necessary  state  securities  law or  "Blue  Sky"  permits  and
approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Marion agrees to furnish to Mutual First all information  concerning Marion, its
Subsidiaries,   officers,  directors  and  stockholders  as  may  be  reasonably
requested in connection with the foregoing.

         (b) Each of Marion  and  Mutual  First  agrees,  as to  itself  and its
Subsidiaries,  that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (i) the Registration  Statement will,
at the time the Registration Statement and each amendment or supplement thereto,
if any, becomes effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement
of a material  fact or omit to state any  material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the
Proxy  Statement and any  amendment or  supplement  thereto will, at the date of
mailing  to  stockholders  and at the time of the  Mutual  First  Meeting or the
Marion Meeting,  as the case may be, contain any untrue  statement of a material
fact or omit to state  any  material  fact  required  to be  stated  therein  or
necessary to make the statements  therein not misleading or any statement which,
in the light of the  circumstances  under which such statement is made,  will be
false or  misleading  with  respect to any material  fact,  or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements

                                                        36


<PAGE>



therein not false or  misleading  or necessary  to correct any  statement in any
earlier statement in the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto.
Each of Marion and Mutual  First  further  agrees that if it shall  become aware
prior to the Effective Date of any information  furnished by it that would cause
any of the  statements  in the Proxy  Statement to be false or  misleading  with
respect to any material fact, or to omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the  statements  therein not false or  misleading,  to promptly  inform the
other  party  thereof  and to take the  necessary  steps to  correct  the  Proxy
Statement.

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

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

         6.04 Press  Releases.  Each of Marion and Mutual  First  agrees that it
will not, without the prior approval of the other party, issue any press release
or written  statement  for  general  circulation  relating  to the  transactions
contemplated  hereby,   except  as  otherwise  required  by  applicable  law  or
regulation or NASDAQ  rules,  and then only after making  reasonable  efforts to
first consult with the other party.

         6.05  Access;  Information.  (a) Each of Marion and Mutual First agrees
that upon  reasonable  notice and  subject to  applicable  laws  relating to the
exchange of  information,  it shall afford the other party and the other party's
Representatives,  such access during normal business hours throughout the period
prior  to  the  Effective  Time  to  the  books,  records  (including,   without
limitation,  Tax Returns and work papers of independent  auditors),  properties,
personnel and to such other information as any party may reasonably request and,
during such period,  it shall furnish promptly to such other party (i) a copy of
each material  report,  schedule and other  document filed by it pursuant to the
requirements of federal or state  securities or banking laws, and (ii) all other
information concerning the business, properties and personnel of it as the other
may reasonably request.

         (b) Each of Marion and Mutual  First  agrees that it will not, and will
cause its Representatives not to, use any information  obtained pursuant to this
Section 6.05 (as well as any other information obtained prior to the date hereof
in  connection  with  the  entering  into of  this  Agreement)  for any  purpose
unrelated  to  the  consummation  of  the  transactions   contemplated  by  this
Agreement.   Subject  to  the   requirements   of  law,  each  party  will  keep
confidential,  and will  cause its  Representatives  to keep  confidential,  all
information and documents obtained

                                                        37


<PAGE>



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

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

         6.06 Marion Proposal.  Marion agrees that it shall not, and shall cause
its  Subsidiaries and its and its  Subsidiaries'  officers,  directors,  agents,
advisors and affiliates not to, solicit or encourage inquiries or proposals with
respect  to,  or  engage  in  any  negotiations   concerning,   or  provide  any
confidential  information to, or have any discussions  with, any person relating
to, any Marion Proposal.  It shall  immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any activities,  discussions or negotiations conducted prior to the date of this
Agreement  with any parties  other than Mutual  First with respect to any of the
foregoing   and  shall  use  its   reasonable   best   efforts  to  enforce  any
confidentiality  or similar agreement relating to a Marion Proposal in existence
on the date hereof.  Marion shall promptly (within 24 hours) advise Mutual First
following the receipt by Marion of any Marion Proposal and the substance thereof
(including the identity of the person making such Marion  Proposal),  and advise
Mutual First of any material  developments  with respect to such Marion Proposal
immediately upon the occurrence thereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing but only
after  receipt of a Marion  Proposal  and during the period  prior to the Marion
Meeting,  Marion  may  provide  information  at the  request  of or  enter  into
negotiations with a third party with respect thereto, if the Marion Board, after
having  consulted  with and  considered  the advice of outside  counsel  and its
investment  banking firm, has determined  that the failure to do so would result
in a failure by the directors to properly discharge their fiduciary duties under
applicable law.

         6.07 Affiliate Agreement.  (a) Not later than the 15th day prior to the
mailing of the Proxy Statement,  Marion shall deliver to Mutual First a schedule
of each person that, to the best of its knowledge, is or is reasonably likely to
be, as of the date of the Marion Meeting,  deemed to be an "affiliate" of Marion
(each,  a  "Marion  Affiliate")  as that  term is used  in Rule  145  under  the
Securities Act or SEC Accounting Series Releases 130 and 135.

                                                        38


<PAGE>



         (b) Marion and Mutual  First shall use its  reasonable  best efforts to
cause each  person  who may be deemed to be a Marion  Affiliate  to execute  and
deliver to Marion and Mutual First on or before the date of mailing of the Proxy
Statement an agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

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

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

         6.10 NASDAQ  Listing.  Mutual  First  agrees to use its best efforts to
list, prior to the Effective Time, on the NASDAQ,  subject to official notice of
issuance, the shares of Mutual First Common Stock to be issued to the holders of
Marion Common Stock in the Company Merger.

         6.11  Regulatory  Applications.  (a) Mutual  First and Marion and their
respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best
efforts to prepare  all  documentation,  to effect all filings and to obtain all
permits,  consents,  approvals  and  authorizations  of all  third  parties  and
Governmental  Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement.  Each of Mutual  First and  Marion  shall  have the right to
review in advance,  and to the extent  practicable  each will  consult  with the
other,  in each case  subject to  applicable  laws  relating to the  exchange of
information,  with respect to, all material written information submitted to any
third party or any  Governmental  Authority in connection with the  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.  In exercising the foregoing right,  each of the
parties  hereto agrees to act reasonably  and as promptly as  practicable.  Each
party  hereto  agrees  that it will  consult  with the other  party  hereto with
respect to the  obtaining  of all  material  permits,  consents,  approvals  and
authorizations of all third parties and Governmental

                                                        39


<PAGE>



Authorities  necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions  contemplated
by this  Agreement  and each party  will keep the other  party  apprised  of the
status  of  material   matters   relating  to  completion  of  the  transactions
contemplated hereby.

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

         6.12 Indemnification. (a) Following the Effective Date and for a period
of six years thereafter,  Mutual First shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the present  and former  directors,  officers  and  employees  of Marion and its
Subsidiaries  (each,  an  "Indemnified  Party")  against  all costs or  expenses
(including  reasonable  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines,  losses,  claims,
damages or liabilities  (collectively,  "Costs") incurred in connection with any
claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding or  investigation,  whether civil,  criminal,
administrative or investigative,  arising out of actions or omissions  occurring
at  or  prior  to  the  Effective  Time  (including,   without  limitation,  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement) to the fullest extent that Marion
is permitted to indemnify  (and advance  expenses to) its directors and officers
under the laws of the State of  Indiana,  the  Marion  Articles  and the  Marion
Bylaws as in effect on the date hereof; provided that any determination required
to be made with  respect to  whether  an  officer's,  director's  or  employee's
conduct  complies  with the  standards  set forth under  Indiana law, the Marion
Certificate  and the Marion Bylaws shall be made by  independent  counsel (which
shall not be counsel that provides  material  services to Mutual First) selected
by Mutual First and reasonably acceptable to such officer or director.

         (b) For a period of three years from the Effective  Time,  Mutual First
shall use its best efforts to provide that portion of  director's  and officer's
liability insurance that serves to reimburse the present and former officers and
directors of Marion or any of its  Subsidiaries  (determined as of the Effective
Time) (as opposed to Marion) with respect to claims  against such  directors and
officers  arising from facts or events which occurred before the Effective Time,
which  insurance  shall  contain at least the same  coverage  and  amounts,  and
contain terms and conditions no less  advantageous,  as that coverage  currently
provided by Marion;  provided,  however,  that in no event shall Mutual First be
required to expend in the  aggregate  during the  coverage  period more than 150
percent of the current annual amount expended by Marion (the "Insurance Amount")
to maintain or procure such directors and officers insurance coverage; provided,
further,  that if Mutual  First is unable to  maintain  or obtain the  insurance
called for by this Section  6.12(b),  Mutual First shall use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain as much comparable insurance as is available for the Insurance
Amount;  provided,  further,  that  officers  and  directors  of  Marion  or any
Subsidiary  may  be  required  to  make   application   and  provide   customary
representations  and  warranties  to Mutual  First's  insurance  carrier for the
purpose of obtaining such insurance.

                                                        40


<PAGE>



         (c) Any  Indemnified  Party  wishing  to  claim  indemnification  under
Section  6.12(a),  upon  learning  of any claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding  or
investigation  described  above,  shall  promptly  notify Mutual First  thereof;
provided  that the  failure so to notify  shall not affect  the  obligations  of
Mutual First under Section 6.12(a) unless and to the extent that Mutual First is
actually prejudiced as a result of such failure.

         (d)  If  Mutual  First  or  any  of its  successors  or  assigns  shall
consolidate  with or merge into any other entity and shall not be the continuing
or surviving  entity of such  consolidation  or merger or shall  transfer all or
substantially  all of its assets to any  entity,  then and in each case,  proper
provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Mutual First shall
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.12.

         6.13     Benefit Plans.

                  (a) At the  Effective  Time,  Mutual  First or a Mutual  First
         Subsidiary  shall be substituted  for Marion or a Marion  Subsidiary as
         the  sponsoring  employer  under those  benefit and welfare  plans with
         respect  to which  Marion or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a  sponsoring
         employer  immediately prior to the Effective Time, and shall assume and
         be vested  with all of the  powers,  rights,  duties,  obligations  and
         liabilities  previously vested in Marion or its Subsidiary with respect
         to each such  plan.  Except as  expressly  contemplated  by a  separate
         agreement  entered  into by Marion and Mutual First on the date hereof,
         each  such plan  shall be  continued  in effect by Mutual  First or any
         applicable  Mutual First  Subsidiary after the Effective Time without a
         termination or discontinuance thereof as a result of the Company Merger
         or the Bank  Merger,  subject to the power  reserved to Mutual First or
         any  applicable  Mutual  First  Subsidiary  under  each  such  plan  to
         subsequently   amend  or  terminate  the  plan,   which  amendments  or
         terminations  shall comply with  applicable  law.  Marion,  each Marion
         Subsidiary,  and Mutual  First will use all  reasonable  efforts (i) to
         effect  said  substitutions  and  assumptions,  and such other  actions
         contemplated  under this Agreement,  and (ii) to amend such plans as to
         the extent necessary to provide for said substitutions and assumptions,
         and such other actions contemplated under this Agreement.

                  (b) At or as promptly as practicable  after the Effective Time
         as Mutual First shall reasonably determine, Mutual First shall provide,
         or cause a Mutual  First  Subsidiary  to  provide,  to each  full  time
         employee  of  Marion,  and  its  wholly-owned  Subsidiaries  as of  the
         Effective Time ("Marion  Employees")  the opportunity to participate in
         each employee  benefit and welfare plan maintained by Mutual First or a
         Mutual    First    Subsidiary,    whichever    is    applicable,    for
         similarly-situated  employees  provided that with respect to such plans
         maintained by Mutual First or a Mutual First  Subsidiary,  whichever is
         applicable,   Marion  Employees  shall  be  given  credit  for  service
         recognized under the corresponding  plan of Marion and its Subsidiaries
         in  determining  participation  in,  eligibility  for  and  vesting  in
         benefits  thereunder,  and only with respect to severance  and vacation
         plans,  accrual of benefits;  provided  further  that Marion  Employees
         shall not be

                                                        41


<PAGE>



         subject to any waiting  periods or  pre-existing  condition  exclusions
         under the group  health plan of Mutual First or any  applicable  Mutual
         First  Subsidiary  to the  extent  that  such  periods  are  longer  or
         restrictions   impose  a  greater   limitation   than  the  periods  or
         limitations  imposed under the applicable Marion group health plan; and
         provided further that to the extent that the initial period of coverage
         for Marion  Employees  under any plan of Mutual First or a Mutual First
         Subsidiary,  whichever  is  applicable,  that is an  "employee  welfare
         benefit  plan" as defined  in  Section  3(1) of ERISA is not a full 12-
         month period of coverage,  Marion Employees shall be given credit under
         the  applicable  welfare  plan  for any  deductibles  and  co-insurance
         payments made by such Marion Employees under the  corresponding  Marion
         welfare  plan during the balance of such 12- month  period of coverage.
         Nothing in the preceding  sentence shall  obligate  Mutual First or any
         Mutual First Subsidiary to provide or cause to be provided any benefits
         duplicative  to those provided under any Marion benefit or welfare plan
         continued  pursuant  to  subparagraph  (a)  above,  including,  but not
         limited to,  extending  participation in any plan which is an "employee
         pension  benefit plan" under ERISA  relative to any period of time with
         respect to which  allocations  are made to Marion  Employees  under any
         employee  pension  benefit plan  maintained or sponsored by Marion or a
         Marion Subsidiary.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the
         power  of  Mutual  First or any  Mutual  First  Subsidiary  to amend or
         terminate any benefit or welfare  plans of Marion and its  Subsidiaries
         shall not be altered or affected.  Moreover,  this  subsection  6.13(b)
         shall not  confer  upon any  Marion  Employee  any  rights or  remedies
         hereunder  and shall not  constitute a contract of employment or create
         any rights, to be retained or otherwise,  in employment at Mutual First
         or any Mutual First Subsidiary.

                  (c) Any separate  agreement  entered into by Marion and Mutual
         First on the date hereof  relating  to  employee  or other  benefits is
         incorporated  herein  by  reference  and shall be deemed a part of this
         Agreement.

         6.14  Notification of Certain Matters.  Each of Marion and Mutual First
shall give prompt notice to the other of any fact,  event or circumstance  known
to it that (i) is reasonably  likely,  individually  or taken  together with all
other  facts,  events and  circumstances  known to it, to result in any Material
Adverse  Effect with  respect to it, (ii) would cause or  constitute a breach of
any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein
as of the date of this  Agreement or (iii) would require any material  amendment
to any information  Previously  Disclosed  arising from events or  circumstances
after the date of this Agreement or otherwise  would cause a material  breach of
any  of its  representations,  warranties,  covenants  or  agreements  contained
herein.

         6.15  Directors.  At the Effective  Time,  Mutual First agrees to cause
four  directors of Marion,  Steve Banks,  John  Dalton,  Jerry  McVicker and Jon
Marler, to be elected to the Mutual First Board and Mutual First Bank's Board of
Directors for such terms as shall be agreed upon between the parties, subject to
compliance with applicable law.

                                                        42


<PAGE>



         6.16  Termination  of  Agreement.  In the event that this  Agreement is
terminated by a party (the  "Aggrieved  Party") solely by reason of the material
breach by the other  party  ("Breaching  Party") of any of its  representations,
warranties,  covenants or agreements  contained  herein then the Aggrieved Party
shall be entitled to such remedies and relief against the Breaching Party as are
available at law or in equity. Moreover, the Aggrieved Party without terminating
this  Agreement  shall be entitled  to  specifically  enforce  the terms  hereof
against the Breaching Party in order to cause the Merger to be consummated. Each
party acknowledges that there is not an adequate remedy at law to compensate the
other parties relating to the non- consummation of the Merger. To this end, each
party, to the extent permitted by law,  irrevocably  waives any defense it might
have based on the  adequacy  of a remedy at law which might be asserted as a bar
to specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable relief.

         6.17 Liabilities and Remedies and Breakup  Fee-Mutual First. (a) In the
event that (i) the Marion Meeting does not take place, the Board of Directors of
Marion fails to recommend  approval of this  Agreement and the Company Merger to
the stockholders of Marion,  or such Board of Directors shall adversely alter or
modify its favorable  recommendation of this Agreement and the Company Merger to
the  stockholders  of Marion,  and (ii) this Agreement and the Company Merger is
not  approved by the  stockholders  of Marion by the required  vote,  and Mutual
First  is  not,  as of the  date of  such  event,  in  material  breach  of this
Agreement,  then, upon  termination of this Agreement,  Marion and First Federal
shall be  obligated to pay Mutual First in  immediately  available  funds a cash
amount of $975,000 as an agreed upon break up fee and as the sole and  exclusive
remedy of Mutual First and Mutual First Bank.  In order to obtain the benefit of
the break-up fees provided in this Section 6.17,  Mutual First shall be required
to execute a waiver of its rights under  Section 6.16 above,  and shall not take
any further  action to enforce any right that it might have under  Section  6.16
hereof.

                  (b) In the event that a Marion  Proposal  occurs  between  the
date hereof and the time of the Marion  Meeting and the  stockholders  of Marion
fail to approve this Agreement and the Company Merger under  circumstances where
the  Board  of  Directors  of  Marion  continuously   maintained  its  favorable
recommendation  of this Agreement and the Company  Merger,  and Mutual First was
not, as of the date of such action,  in material breach of this Agreement,  then
if a definitive agreement relating to a Marion Proposal is executed by Marion or
any Marion  Subsidiary,  or a Marion  Proposal  is  consummated,  in either case
within  15  months  after  the  termination  of this  Agreement,  then  upon the
happening of such event Marion and First  Federal shall be jointly and severally
obligated  to pay Mutual First a cash amount of $975,000 as an agreed upon break
up fee and as the sole and exclusive  remedy of Mutual First.  There shall be no
duplication of remedy under this Section 6.17(b) and 6.17(a). In order to obtain
the benefit of the break-up fee provided in this Section  6.17(b),  Mutual First
shall be required to execute a waiver of its rights  under  Section  6.16 above,
and shall not take any  further  action to enforce  any right that it might have
under Section 6.16 hereof.

     6.18 Liabilities and Remedies and Breakup Fee-Marion. (a) In the event that
(i) the Mutual  First  Meeting  does not take place,  the Board of  Directors of
Mutual First fails to

                                                        43


<PAGE>



recommend  approval of this Agreement and the Company Merger to the stockholders
of Mutual First,  or such Board of Directors shall adversely alter or modify its
favorable  recommendation  of this  Agreement  and  the  Company  Merger  to the
stockholders of Mutual First,  and (ii) this Agreement and the Company Merger is
not  approved by the  stockholders  of Mutual First by the  required  vote,  and
Marion  is not,  as of the  date of  such  event,  in  material  breach  of this
Agreement,  then, upon  termination of this  Agreement,  Mutual First and Mutual
First Bank shall be obligated  to pay Marion in  immediately  available  funds a
cash  amount  of  $975,000  as an agreed  upon  break up fee and as the sole and
exclusive remedy of Marion and First Federal.  In order to obtain the benefit of
the break-up  fees  provided in this Section  6.18,  Marion shall be required to
execute a waiver of its rights under Section 6.16 above,  and shall not take any
further  action to  enforce  any right that it might  have  under  Section  6.16
hereof.

                  (b) In the event that a Mutual First  Proposal  occurs between
the date hereof and the time of the Mutual First Meeting and the stockholders of
Mutual  First  fail to approve  this  Agreement  and the  Company  Merger  under
circumstances  where  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Mutual  First  continuously
maintained  its  favorable  recommendation  of this  Agreement  and the  Company
Merger, and Marion was not, as of the date of such action, in material breach of
this  Agreement,  then if a  definitive  agreement  relating  to a Mutual  First
Proposal is executed by Mutual First or any Mutual First Subsidiary, or a Mutual
First  Proposal  is  consummated,  in either  case  within  15 months  after the
termination  of  this  Agreement,  and  the  transactions  contemplated  by this
Agreement  are not  consummated,  then upon the  happening of such events Mutual
First and Mutual  First Bank shall be jointly  and  severally  obligated  to pay
Marion a cash  amount of $975,000 as an agreed upon break up fee and as the sole
and exclusive  remedy of Marion.  There shall be no  duplication of remedy under
this Section 6.18(b) and 6.18(a). In order to obtain the benefit of the break-up
fee  provided in this  Section  6.18(b),  Marion  shall be required to execute a
waiver of its rights under  Section  6.16 above,  and shall not take any further
action to enforce any right that it might have under Section 6.16 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE VII

                CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE COMPANY MERGER

         7.01  Conditions  to Each  Party's  Obligation  to Effect  the  Company
Merger.  The  respective  obligation of each of Mutual  First,  Marion and their
respective  Subsidiaries  to  consummate  the  Company  Merger is subject to the
fulfillment  or written waiver by Mutual First and Marion prior to the Effective
Time of each of the following conditions:

                  (a) Stockholder Approvals. This Agreement shall have been duly
         approved by the requisite vote of the  stockholders of Marion under the
         Indiana Law and the  Company  Merger and the  issuance of Mutual  First
         Common Stock as contemplated by this Agreement shall have been approved
         by the  requisite  vote of the Mutual First  stockholders  under NASDAQ
         rules and applicable provisions of Maryland Laws.

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<PAGE>



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

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

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

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

                  (f)  Listing.  The shares of Mutual  First  Common Stock to be
         issued in the Company  Merger  shall have been  approved for listing on
         the NASDAQ, subject to official notice of issuance.

                  (g) Permits,  Authorizations.  Each of Mutual First and Marion
         shall have  obtained all material  permits,  authorizations,  consents,
         waivers  and  approvals  required  for the lawful  consummation  of the
         Company Merger.

         7.02  Conditions to Obligation of Marion.  The obligation of Marion and
its  Subsidiaries  to  consummate  the  Company  Merger is also  subject  to the
fulfillment (or written waiver by Marion) prior to the Effective Time of each of
the following conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
         warranties  of Mutual First set forth in this  Agreement  shall be true
         and correct in all material respects,  subject in the case of Specified
         Representations  to the standard set forth in Section  5.02,  as of the
         date of this  Agreement and as of the Effective  Date as though made on
         and as of the  Effective  Date  (except  that (i)  representations  and
         warranties  that by their terms speak as of the date of this  Agreement
         or some other date shall be true and correct as of

                                                        45


<PAGE>



         such date and (ii) with respect to any  information  provided by Mutual
         First  pursuant to Section  6.14(iii)  relating  to Section  5.04(l) on
         account  of  events  arising  after  the  date  of this  Agreement  the
         representations  and warranties in Section 5.04(l) shall be deemed true
         and  correct  as  of  the  Effective   Date  unless  such   information
         individually   or  taken   together   with  other  facts,   events  and
         circumstances  has resulted in or is  reasonably  likely to result in a
         Material  Adverse  Effect on  Mutual  First),  and  Marion  shall  have
         received a certificate,  dated the Effective Date,  signed on behalf of
         Mutual  First by the Chief  Executive  Officer and the Chief  Financial
         Officer of Mutual First to such effect.

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

         7.03 Conditions to Obligation of Mutual First. The obligation of Mutual
First and its  Subsidiaries  to consummate the Company Merger is also subject to
the  fulfillment (or written waiver by Mutual First) prior to the Effective Time
of each of the following conditions:

                  (a)  Representations  and Warranties.  The representations and
         warranties  of  Marion  set forth in this  Agreement  shall be true and
         correct in all  material  respects,  subject  in the case of  Specified
         Representations  to the standard set forth in Section  5.02,  as of the
         date of this  Agreement and as of the Effective  Date as though made on
         and as of the  Effective  Date  (except  that (i)  representations  and
         warranties  that by their terms speak as of the date of this  Agreement
         or some other  date shall be true and  correct as of such date and (ii)
         with respect to any information  provided by Marion pursuant to Section
         6.14(iii)  relating  to Section  5.03(p)  on account of events  arising
         after the date of this Agreement the  representations and warranties in
         Section  5.03(p)  shall be deemed true and correct as of the  Effective
         Date unless such information  individually or taken together with other
         facts, events and circumstances has resulted in or is reasonably likely
         to result in a  Material  Adverse  Effect on Marion)  and Mutual  First
         shall have received a certificate,  dated the Effective Date, signed on
         behalf of Marion by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
         Officer of Marion to such effect.

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

                                                        46


<PAGE>



                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   TERMINATION

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

                  (a) Mutual  Consent.  At any time prior to the Effective Time,
         by the  mutual  consent  of Mutual  First and  Marion,  if the Board of
         Directors of each so determines by vote of a majority of the members of
         its entire Board.

                  (b) Breach. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by Mutual
         First or Marion,  if its Board of Directors so  determines by vote of a
         majority  of the members of its entire  Board,  in the event of either:
         (i) a breach  by the  other  party of any  representation  or  warranty
         contained herein (subject in the case of Specified  Representations  to
         the standard set forth in Section 5.02),  which breach cannot be or has
         not been cured within 30 days after the giving of written notice to the
         breaching party of such breach;  or (ii) a breach by the other party in
         any material  respect of any of the covenants or  agreements  contained
         herein,  which  breach  cannot be or has not been cured  within 30 days
         after the  giving of  written  notice  to the  breaching  party of such
         breach.

                  (c) Delay.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, by Mutual
         First or Marion,  if its Board of Directors so  determines by vote of a
         majority  of the  members  of its entire  Board,  in the event that the
         Company Merger is not  consummated by February 28, 2001,  except to the
         extent that the failure of the  Company  Merger then to be  consummated
         arises out of or results  from the  knowing  action or  inaction of the
         party seeking to terminate pursuant to this Section 8.01(c).

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

                  (e) Failure to Recommend, Etc. At any time prior to the Marion
         Meeting,  by Mutual  First if the Marion  Board  shall  have  failed to
         unanimously  recommend  approval and adoption of this  Agreement to the
         Marion  stockholders,  withdrawn  such  recommendation  or  modified or
         changed such  recommendation  in a manner adverse in any respect to the
         interests  of Mutual  First;  or at any time prior to the Mutual  First
         Meeting,  by Marion,  if the Mutual  First  Board  shall have failed to
         unanimously  recommend to the Mutual First stockholders approval of the
         issuance  of Mutual  First  Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant to the
         Company Merger, withdrawn such

                                                        47


<PAGE>



         recommendation  or modified or changed such  recommendation in a manner
         adverse in any respect to the interests of Marion.

         8.02 Effect of Termination and Abandonment. In the event of termination
of this  Agreement  and the  abandonment  of the  Transaction  pursuant  to this
Article  VIII,  no party to this  Agreement  shall have any liability or further
obligation to any other party hereunder  except (i) as set forth in Section 9.01
and (ii) that  termination will not relieve a breaching party from liability for
any willful breach of this Agreement giving rise to such termination.  Provided,
however, if a party pursues its rights under Section 6.17 or 6.18,  whichever is
applicable,  then  such  party  shall  not  be  entitled  to any  other  relief.
Conversely,  if a party pursues a remedy  pursuant to this Section 8.02, then it
shall waive its rights under Section 6.17 or 6.18, whichever is applicable.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         9.01 Survival. No representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained in this  Agreement  shall survive the  Effective  Time (other than the
agreements and covenants  contained in Section 6.12 and 6.15 and this Article IX
which shall survive the Effective  Time) or the termination of this Agreement if
this  Agreement is terminated  prior to the Effective  Time (other than Sections
6.03(b), 6.04, 6.05(b), 6.17, 6.18, 8.02 and this Article IX which shall survive
such termination).

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

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

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

         9.05 Expenses.  Except as otherwise provided herein,  each party hereto
will bear all expenses  incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.

                                                        48


<PAGE>



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

If to Marion, to:

         Marion Capital Holdings, Inc.
         100 West Third Street
         Marion, Indiana 46952

         Attention: Steven L. Banks, Chief Executive Officer

With a copy to:

         Barnes & Thornburg
         11 South Meridian Street
         Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

         Attn: Claudia V. Swhier, Esq.

If to Mutual First, to:

         Mutual First Financial, Inc.
         110 E. Charles Street
         Muncie, Indiana 47305

         Attention: R. Donn Roberts, Chief Executive Officer

With a copy to:

         Silver, Freedman & Taff, LLP
         Suite 700 East
         1100 New York Avenue, N.W.
         Washington, DC 20005-3934

         Attn: James S. Fleischer, Esq.


                                       49


<PAGE>



         9.07 Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
and any  Supplemental  Letter  entered  into by the  parties on the date  hereof
represent the entire  understanding  of the parties hereto with reference to the
transactions  contemplated hereby and thereby and this Agreement  supersedes any
and all other oral or written  agreements  heretofore  made.  Except for Section
6.12 and 6.15 and the separate agreement entered into by Marion and Mutual First
on the date hereof,  nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied, is intended
to confer upon any person,  other than the  parties  hereto or their  respective
successors, any rights, remedies,  obligations or liabilities under or by reason
of this Agreement.

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

                                                        50


<PAGE>


                                      * * *


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

                                              MARION CAPITAL HOLDINGS, INC.


                                              By:  /s/ Steven L. Banks
                                                 ---------------------
                                              Name:    Steven L. Banks
                                              Title:   Chief Executive Officer

                                              MUTUAL FIRST FINANCIAL, INC.


                                              By:  /s/ R. Donn Roberts
                                                 ---------------------
                                              Name:    R. Donn Roberts
                                              Title:   Chief Executive Officer





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