LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP /NJ/
8-K, 1998-12-17
SAVINGS INSTITUTIONS, NOT FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

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



                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
                                December 16, 1998





                            LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP.
            -------------------------------------------------------             
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)



        New Jersey                0-25106             22-334052  
- ----------------------------    -------------     ----------------              
(State or other jurisdiction    (SEC File No.)      (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)                             Identification
                                                       Number)


1117 Main Street, Paterson, New Jersey                 07503   
- ----------------------------------------             ----------                 
(Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)




Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 201-890-1234 
                                                    -------------



                                 Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last Report)




<PAGE>




                      INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN REPORT
                      ------------------------------------



Item 5.  Other Events
         ------------

         A copy of a press release issued December 16, 1998 by the Registrant is
attached  hereto as Exhibit 99 and is  incorporated  herein by  reference in its
entirety.

Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits
         ------------------------------------------------------------------


Exhibit 99 -- Press Release Concerning Merger Agreement dated December 16, 1998.
- ----------


Exhibit  99.1 -- Agreement  and Plan of Merger  dated  December 15, 1998 between
- ------------
Lakeview Financial Corp. and Dime Bancorp, Inc.


Exhibit 99.2 -- Form of Stock Option Agreement.
- ------------



<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


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


                            LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP.


Date:  December 16, 1998              By: /s/Kevin J. Coogan
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                             Kevin J. Coogan
                                             President and Chief
                                             Executive Officer









<PAGE>

Lakeview Financial Corp.                    Contact: Kevin J. Coogan, President
Lakeview Savings Bank                                   (973) 890-1234
Paterson, New Jersey

                                                     December 16, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- ---------------------

             Dime Bancorp, Inc. to Acquire Lakeview Financial Corp.


         Paterson,  NJ -- December 16, 1998 -- Dime Bancorp,  Inc., New York, NY
(NYSE:  DME) today  announced  it has entered  into a  definitive  agreement  to
acquire Lakeview Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:  LVSB) headquartered in Paterson,  New
Jersey in a tax-free transaction valued at approximately $110 million.  Lakeview
is the holding  company of Lakeview  Savings Bank and had assets of $573 million
and  deposits of $454  million at October 31,  1998.  Lakeview  operates  eleven
offices, including seven in Passaic County and four in Bergen County.

         Lawrence J. Toal,  Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of Dime, said,
"The  purchase of Lakeview is consistent  with our  community  banking focus and
furthers  Dime's  strategic  objective  of  increasing  our  consumer  financial
services and business  banking  franchise in the attractive  northern New Jersey
market. In addition to operating efficiencies,  we expect to generate additional
revenues by deepening relationships with Lakeview's customers and attracting new
business to the franchise. The acquisition of Lakeview improves our market share
in Passaic County to 5.1% and makes us the 10th largest  depository  institution
in New Jersey, with deposits of $2.5 billion in 29 offices."

         Kevin J. Coogan,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Lakeview,
commented,   "This   transaction   is  exciting   news  for  our  customers  and
shareholders. Our customers will be able to access a one hundred office regional
branch network,  a state of the art telephone banking center accessible 24 hours
a day - seven days a week,  and a broader  menu of products  and  services.  Our
shareholders  will have the  opportunity  to  participate  in the  growth of the
greater New York area's premier thrift."

                                     -more-


<PAGE>


         Under the terms of the agreement,  holders of Lakeview common stock may
elect to receive  either 0.9 of a share of Dime  common  stock or $24.26 in cash
for each  outstanding  share of Lakeview common stock,  subject to a requirement
that, in the aggregate,  65% of Lakeview's  outstanding shares will be exchanged
for Dime common stock and the remaining  shares will be exchanged for cash.  The
elections of Lakeview  shareholders will be subject to allocation and pro-ration
if either type of the merger  consideration is over-subscribed.  Based on Dime's
closing price on December 15, 1998,  the per share value of the  transaction  is
$22.68,  factoring in both the stock and the cash portions of the consideration.
The transaction,  which has been approved by the Boards of Directors of Dime and
Lakeview,   is  subject  to  regulatory   approvals  and  approval  of  Lakeview
shareholders.  The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of
1999.

         Dime said that the transaction would be accounted for as a purchase and
is  expected  to be  accretive  to  earnings  within six months of  closing.  In
connection with the acquisition  agreement,  Lakeview has granted Dime an option
to  acquire  19.9%  of  Lakeview's   outstanding   common  stock  under  certain
conditions.

         At September 30, 1998, Dime had assets of $21.2 billion and deposits of
$13.5 billion.  Dime is a regional bank serving consumers and businesses through
90 branches  located  throughout  the greater New York City  metropolitan  area.
Directly  and  through  the over 200  offices  of its  North  American  Mortgage
subsidiary,  Dime also provides consumer financial services and mortgage banking
services throughout the United States.

         This release contains certain forward-looking statements regarding each
of Dime Bancorp,  Inc. and Lakeview  Financial  Corp.,  and the combined company
following the acquisition.  Among other things,  the statement that Dime expects
the  transaction  to be  accretive  to earnings  within six months of closing is
forward-looking in nature and subject to uncertainty. A variety of factors could
cause actual results and experience to differ  materially  from the  anticipated
results or other expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such
factors include, but are not limited to: risks and uncertainties  related to the
execution of the acquisition,  including integration  activities,  interest rate
movements,  competition  from both  financial  and  non-financial  institutions,
changes in  applicable  laws and  regulations,  the timing  and  occurrence  (or
non-occurrence)  of  other  transactions  and  events  that  may be  subject  to
circumstances   beyond  Dime's  or  Lakeview's   control  and  general  economic
conditions. Dime and Lakeview assume no obligation to update the forward-looking
statements  or to update the reasons why actual  results could differ from those
projected in the forward-looking statements.



                                       ###




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

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

                          dated as of December 15, 1998

                                     between

                            LAKEVIEW FINANCIAL CORP.

                                       and

                               DIME BANCORP, INC.



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








<PAGE>



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                    RECITALS



                                    ARTICLE I

                       Certain Definitions; Interpretation



1.01     Certain Definitions..........................................2
1.02     Interpretation...............................................8



                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Merger


2.01     The Merger...................................................8
         (a)  Structure and Effects of the Merger.....................8
              -----------------------------------
         (b)  Certificate of Incorporation............................8
              ----------------------------
         (c)  By-Laws.................................................9
              -------
         (d)  Directors...............................................9
              ---------
         (e)  Officers................................................9
              --------
2.02     Reservation of Right to Revise Structure.....................9
2.03     Effective Time...............................................9
2.04     Integration..................................................9



                                   ARTICLE III

                                  Consideration





<PAGE>


                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----


3.01     Consideration...............................................10
3.02     Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers.....................12
3.03     Fractional Shares...........................................12
3.04     Exchange Procedures.........................................13
3.05     Anti-Dilution Adjustments...................................14
3.06     Company Stock Options.  P...................................14



                                   ARTICLE IV

                           Actions Pending the Merger

4.01     Forbearances of the Company.................................15
4.02     Forbearances of the Acquiror................................18


                                    ARTICLE V
                         Representations and Warranties

5.01     Disclosure Schedules........................................19
5.02     Standard....................................................19
5.03     Representations and Warranties of the Company...............19
5.04     Representations and Warranties of the Acquiror..............31


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    Covenants

6.01     Reasonable Best Efforts.  ..................................35
6.02     Shareholder Approvals.......................................35


                                      -ii-

<PAGE>


                                                                     Page
                                                                     ----

6.04     Press Releases..............................................36
6.05     Access; Information.........................................37
6.06     Acquisition Proposals.......................................37
6.07     Affiliate Agreements........................................38
6.08     Takeover Laws...............................................38
6.09     No Rights Triggered.........................................38
6.10     NYSE Listing................................................38
6.11     Regulatory Applications.....................................39
6.12     Indemnification.............................................39
6.13     Accountants' Letters........................................40
6.14     Notification of Certain Matters.............................41
6.15     Advisory Board..............................................41
6.16     Employee Benefits...........................................41
6.17     Certain Accounting Policies of the Company..................42
6.18     Special Dividend............................................42


                                   ARTICLE VII

                    Conditions to Consummation of the Merger

7.01     Conditions to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the ........42
7.02     Conditions to Obligation of the Company.....................43
7.03     Conditions to Obligation of the Acquiror....................44


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   Termination

8.01     Termination.................................................45
8.02     Effect of Termination and Abandonment.......................46
8.03     Termination Fee.............................................46



                                      -iii-

<PAGE>

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous



9.01     Survival....................................................47
9.02     Waiver; Amendment...........................................47
9.03     Counterparts................................................47
9.04     Governing Law...............................................47
9.05     Expenses....................................................47
9.06     Notices.....................................................47
9.07     Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries..........49


EXHIBIT A     Form of Stock Option Agreement

EXHIBIT B     Form of Shareholder Agreement

EXHIBIT C     List of Persons to Execute Compensation-Related Agreements

EXHIBIT D     Form of Subsidiary Combination Agreement

EXHIBIT  E    Form of Affiliate Letter




                                      -iv-

<PAGE>



         AGREEMENT  AND PLAN OF  MERGER,  dated as of  December  15,  1998 (this
"Agreement"),  by and among LAKEVIEW  FINANCIAL  CORP.  (the "Company") and DIME
BANCORP, INC. (the "Acquiror").

                                    RECITALS

         A. The  Company.  The Company is a New Jersey  corporation,  having its
principal place of business in West Paterson, New Jersey.

         B . The Acquiror.  The Acquiror is a Delaware  corporation,  having its
principal place of business in New York, New York.

         C.  Stock  Option  Agreement.  As a  condition  and  inducement  to the
Acquiror's  willing ness to enter into this  Agreement,  following the execution
and  delivery of this  Agreement,  the Company  shall enter into a Stock  Option
Agreement with the Acquiror, in substantially the form of Exhibit A, pursuant to
which the Company  shall  grant to the  Acquiror  an option to  purchase,  under
certain circumstances, shares of Company Common Stock.

         D. Shareholder Agreements. As a further condition and inducement to the
willingness of the Acquiror to enter into this  Agreement,  shareholders  of the
Company who are also directors or executive  officers of the Company holding the
power to vote in the aggregate  approximately  30% of the outstanding  shares of
the Company Common Stock have agreed to enter into agreements with the Acquiror,
in the form of Exhibit B hereto, under which each shareholder will agree to vote
in favor of this Agreement.

         E. Compensation-Related  Agreements. Certain employees and directors of
the Company identified on Exhibit C have agreed to execute agreements related to
certain compensation matters.

         F. Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the parties to this
Agreement  that the  business  combination  contemplated  hereby be treated as a
"reorganization"  under  Section 368 of the Internal  Revenue  Code of 1986,  as
amended (the "Code").

         G. Board  Action.  The  respective  Boards of  Directors of each of the
Acquiror and the Company  have  determined  that it is in the best  interests of
their  respective  companies and their  shareholders  to consummate the business
combination transaction provided for in this Agreement.

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



                                       -1-

<PAGE>

                                    ARTICLE I

                       Certain Definitions; Interpretation

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

         "Acquiror" has the meaning assigned in the preamble to this Agreement.

         "Acquiror  Certificate"  means the Amended and Restated  Certificate of
Incorporation of the Acquiror.

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

         "Acquiror  Preferred  Stock" means the preferred stock, par value $1.00
per share, of the Acquiror.

         "Acquiror   Rights"  means  the  rights  to  purchase   Acquiror  Stock
outstanding from time to time pursuant to the Acquiror Rights Agreement.

         "Acquiror Rights  Agreement" means the Stockholders  Protection  Rights
Agreement,  dated as of October 20,  1995,  between the  Acquiror  and the First
National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent.

         "Acquiror Stock" means, collectively, the Acquiror Common Stock and the
Acquiror Preferred Stock.

         "Acquiror's SEC Documents" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.04(g).

         "Acquisition Proposal" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.06.

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

         "Cash Election Shares" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

         "Closing Date" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.03.

         "Code" has the meaning assigned in Recital F.

         "Company" has the meaning assigned in the preamble to this Agreement.


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



         "Company Affiliate" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.07.

         "Company Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         "Company  By-Laws"  means  the  Amended  and  Restated  By-laws  of the
Company.

         "Company  Certificate"  means the Amended and Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation of the Company.

         "Company  Common  Stock"  means the common  stock,  par value $2.00 per
share, of the Company.

         "Company Meeting" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.02.

         "Company Reports" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(i).

         "Company Stock Option" means each option to purchase  shares of Company
Common Stock outstanding under the Company Stock Plans.

         "Company Stock Plans" means the  Management  Stock Bonus Plan and Trust
Agreement and 1993 Stock Option Plan.

         "Company's SEC Documents" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(g).

         "Compensation  Plans"  has,  with  respect to any  person,  the meaning
assigned in Section 5.03(m).

         "Consideration" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(a).

         "Contract" means, with respect to any person, any agreement, indenture,
undertaking, debt instrument,  contract, lease or other commitment to which such
person or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound or
to which any of their properties is subject.

         "Converted  Cash Election  Shares" has the meaning  assigned in Section
3.01(c).

         "Converted  Stock Election  Shares" has the meaning assigned in Section
3.01(c).

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

         "DGCL" means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.



                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         "Disclosure Schedule" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.01.

         "DOL" means the United States Department of Labor.

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

         "Effective  Time"  means the date and time at which the Merger  becomes
effective.

         "Election" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

         "Election Deadline" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.04(a).

         "Election Form" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

         "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local law, regulation,
order,  decree,  permit,  authorization,  common law or agency  requirement with
force of law relating to: (1) the protection or restoration of the  environment,
health or safety  (in each  case as  relating  to the  environment)  or  natural
resources; or (2) the handling, use, presence,  disposal,  release or threatened
release of any Hazardous Substance.

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

         "ERISA Affiliate" has, with respect to any person, the meaning assigned
in Section 5.03(m).

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

         "ESOP" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.16.

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

         "Exchange Agent" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

         "Exchange Fund" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.04(b).

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

         "FDIC" means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

         "Fee" has the meaning assigned in Section 8.03.


                                       -4-
<PAGE>



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

         "Hazardous Substance" means any substance in any concentration that is:
(1) listed,  classified or regulated  pursuant to any Environmental Law; (2) any
petroleum product or by-product,  asbestos-containing material,  lead-containing
paint or plumbing, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials or radon; or
(3) any other substance  which is or may be the subject of regulatory  action by
any Governmental Authority pursuant to any Environmental Law.

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

         "Indemnified Person" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(m).

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

         "Insurance Policies" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(s).

         "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

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

         "Loans"  means loans,  leases,  extensions  of credit,  commitments  to
extend credit and other assets.

         "Mailing Date" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.04(a).

         "Material  Adverse  Effect" means,  with respect to the Acquiror or the
Company,  any effect  that (1) is both  material  and  adverse to the  financial
position,   results  of  opera  tions  or  business  of  the  Acquiror  and  its
Subsidiaries  taken as a whole, or the Company and its  Subsidiaries  taken as a
whole, respectively, other than (A) the effects of any change attributable to or
resulting  from  changes  in  economic   conditions   applicable  to  depository
institutions  generally or in general  levels of interest  rates,  except to the
extent that the effect of such change is materially more severe for the Acquiror
or the Company  than for  depositary  institutions  in general and (B)  payments
associated  with the  Merger as  contemplated  by this  Agreement;  or (2) would
materially  impair the ability of either the  Acquiror or the Company to perform
its  obligations  under this  Agreement  or  otherwise  materially  threaten  or
materially  impede the  consummation  of the  Merger and the other  transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.

         "Merger" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.01.


                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         "Multiemployer Plan" means, with respect to any person, a multiemployer
plan within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA.

         "New Certificates" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.04(b).

         "NJBCA" means the New Jersey Business Corporation Act.

         "NJBD" means the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance.

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

         "No-Election Shares" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

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

         "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision.

         "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

         "Pension Plan" has, with respect to any person, the meaning assigned in
Section 5.03(m).

         "Per Share Cash  Consideration"  has the  meaning  assigned  in Section
3.01(a).

         "Per Share Stock  Consideration"  has the  meaning  assigned in Section
3.01(a).

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

         "Previously  Disclosed"  means,  with  respect  to the  Company  or the
Acquiror, information set forth in such party's Disclosure Schedule.

         "Proxy Statement" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.03.

         "Registration Statement" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.03.

         "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


                                       -6-

<PAGE>



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.

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

         "Special Dividend" has the meaning assigned in Section 6.18.

         "Stock Election Shares" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(b).

         "Stock Number" has the meaning assigned in Section 3.01(a).

         "Stock-Selected No-Election Shares" has the meaning assigned in Section
3.01(c).

         "Subsidiary" and "Significant Subsidiary" have the meanings assigned to
them in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X of the SEC.

         "Subsidiary Combination" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.04.

         "Superior Proposal" means an Acquisition Proposal made by a third party
after the date hereof which,  in the good faith  judgment of the Company  Board,
taking into account the various legal,  financial and regulatory  aspects of the
proposal and the person making such proposal,  (1) if accepted, is significantly
more likely than not to be consummated,  and (2) if  consummated,  is reasonably
likely to result in a materially more favorable  transaction than the Merger for
the Company and its shareholders and other relevant constituencies.

         "Surviving Corporation" has the meaning assigned in Section 2.01.

         "Takeover Laws" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(e).

         "Taxes" means all taxes,  charges,  fees, levies or other  assessments,
however  denominated,  including,  without  limitation,  all net  income,  gross
income,  gross receipts,  sales, use, ad valorem,  goods and services,  capital,
transfer,  franchise,   profits,  license,  withholding,   payroll,  employment,
employer health, excise, estimated,  severance,  stamp, occupation,  property 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 imposed by any taxing authority  whether arising before, on or after the
Effective Date.



                                       -7-

<PAGE>


         "Tax Returns" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(p).

         "TRA" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(m).

         "Treasury Stock" has the meaning assigned in Section 5.03(b).

         1.02  Interpretation.  When a reference  is made in this  Agreement  to
Sections,  Exhibits or Schedules,  such  reference  shall be to a Section of, or
Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.  The table of
contents and headings  contained in this  Agreement are for  reference  purposes
only  and  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 rule of construction against the
draftsperson   shall  be  applied  in  connection  with  the  interpretation  or
enforcement of this Agreement. When ever this Agreement shall require a party to
take an action,  such requirement  shall be deemed to constitute and undertaking
by such party to cause its Subsidiaries,  and to use its reasonable best efforts
to  cause  its  other  affiliates,  to take  appropriate  action  in  connection
therewith.   References  to  "knowledge"  of  a  person  means  knowledge  after
reasonable  diligence in the  circumstances.  References  herein to "transaction
contemplated  by this  Agreement"  shall be deemed to include a reference to the
Subsidiary  Combination  and the  transactions  contemplated by the Stock Option
Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                   The Merger

         2.01 The Merger. At the Effective Time, the business combination contem
plated by this Agreement shall occur and in furtherance thereof:

         (a) Structure  and Effects of the Merger.  The Company shall merge with
     and into the Acquiror,  and the separate corporate existence of the Company
     shall thereupon  cease (the "Merger").  The Acquiror shall be the surviving
     corporation  in  the  Merger  (sometimes  hereinafter  referred  to as  the
     "Surviving  Corporation")  and shall continue to be governed by the laws of
     the State of Delaware, and the separate corporate existence of the Acquiror
     with all its rights,  privileges,  immunities,  powers and franchises shall
     con tinue  unaffected  by the  Merger.  The Merger  shall have the  effects
     specified in the DGCL and NJBCA.

         (b) Certificate of  Incorporation.  The certificate of incorporation of
     the Surviving  Corporation shall be the certificate of incorporation of the
     Acquiror as in effect  immediately  prior to the Effective Time, until duly
     amended in accordance with the terms thereof and the DGCL.



                                       -8-

<PAGE>


         (c)  By-Laws.  The by-laws of the  Surviving  Corporation  shall be the
     by-laws of the  Acquiror as in effect  immediately  prior to the  Effective
     Time,  until duly  amended in  accordance  with the terms  thereof  and the
     certificate of incorporation referred to in section 2.01(b).

         (d) Directors.  The directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be the
     directors of the Acquiror immediately prior to the Effective Time, and such
     directors  shall hold office until such time as their  successors  shall be
     duly elected and qualified.

         (e) Officers.  The officers of the Surviving  Corporation  shall be the
     officers of the Acquiror immediately prior to the Effective Time.

         2.02  Reservation  of  Right to  Revise  Structure.  At the  Acquiror's
election,  the Merger may alternatively be structured so that (i) the Company is
merged with and into or any other direct or indirect wholly owned  subsidiary of
the  Acquiror  or (ii) any direct or indirect  wholly  owned  subsidiary  of the
Acquiror is merged with and into the Company;  provided,  however,  that no such
change shall (a) alter or change the amount or kind of the  Consideration or the
treatment of the holders of Company Stock Options,  (b) prevent the parties from
obtaining the opinions of Malizia,  Spidi,  Sloane & Fisch,  P.C. and Sullivan &
Cromwell  referred to in  Sections  7.02(d) and  7.03(d),  respectively,  or (c)
materially impede or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.  In the event of such an  election,  the parties  agree to execute an
appropriate amendment to this Agreement in order to reflect such election.

         2.03 Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing,
in the  office  of the  Secretary  of  State  of the  State  of  Delaware,  of a
certificate  of merger in  accordance  with  Section 251 of the DGCL and, in the
office of the Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey, of a certificate of
merger in  accordance  with Section 14A:  10-4.1 of the NJBCA,  or at such later
date and time as may be set forth in such certificates.  Subject to the terms of
this  Agreement,  the parties shall cause the Merger to become  effective (1) on
the date that is the fifth full NYSE trading day (the  "Closing  Date") to occur
after the last of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than conditions
relating  solely to the delivery of documents  dated the  Effective  Date) shall
have been  satisfied or waived in  accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement
(or, at the election of the  Acquiror,  on the last business day of the month in
which such day occurs), or (2) on such date as the parties may agree in writing.

         2.04  Integration.  At the Effective Time, the parties hereto currently
intend  to  effectuate,  or  cause  to  be  effectuated,  the  combination  (the
"Subsidiary  Combination") of the business of The Dime Savings Bank of New York,
FSB,  with  that of  Lakeview  Savings  Bank,  pursuant  to a  merger  agreement
substantially  in the form attached  hereto as Exhibit D. The Company  agrees to
cooperate  with the  Acquiror  and to take all  reasonable  actions  prior to or
following the Effective Time,  including executing all requisite  documentation,
as may be requested by the Acquiror to effect the  Subsidiary  Combination.  The
Company also agrees to


                                       -9-

<PAGE>



cooperate with the Acquiror and to take all reasonable  restructuring  steps for
regulatory  purposes,  as may be requested by the Acquiror to merge or otherwise
consolidate  such legal entities to the extent desirable for regulatory or other
reasons.


                                   ARTICLE III

                                  Consideration

         3.01  Consideration.  (a) Subject to the terms and  conditions  of this
Agreement, at the Effective Time:

         (1)  Each  share  of  Company  Common  Stock  issued  and   outstanding
     immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares held as treasury
     stock of the Company and shares held  directly or  indirectly  by Acquiror,
     except  shares held in a fiduciary  capacity or in  satisfaction  of a debt
     previously  contracted)  shall  become and be  converted  into the right to
     receive,  at the  election  of each  holder  thereof,  but  subject  to the
     election and allocation  procedures of Sections  3.01(b) and (c), the other
     provisions  of this Section 3.01 and  possible  adjustment  as set forth in
     Section 3.05, either:

         (A) 0.9 (the "Exchange Ratio") of a share of Acquiror Common Stock (the
     "Per Share Stock Consideration"), or

         (B) $24.26 in cash (such sum,  the "Per Share Cash  Consideration"  and
     together with the Per Share Stock Consideration, the "Consideration");

     provided, that the aggregate number of shares of Acquiror Common Stock that
     shall be issued in the Merger (the "Stock Number") shall equal as nearly as
     practicable the product of (a) sixty-five  percent (65%),  (b) the Exchange
     Ratio, and (c) the number of shares of Company Common Stock  outstanding as
     of the Effective Time.

         (2) Each share of the Company Common Stock that,  immediately  prior to
     the  Effective  Time,  is held as  treasury  stock of the  Company  or held
     directly or indirectly  by Acquiror,  other than shares held in a fiduciary
     capacity  or in  satisfaction  of a debt  previously  contracted,  shall by
     virtue of the Merger be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and
     no exchange or payment shall be made therefor.

         (b) Subject to the allocation  procedures set forth in Section 3.01(c),
each record  holder of Company  Common  Stock will be  entitled  (1) to elect to
receive  Acquiror  Common Stock for all or some of the shares of Company  Common
Stock ("Stock Election


                                      -10-

<PAGE>



Shares")  held by such record  holder,  (2) to elect to receive  cash for all or
some of the shares of Company Common Stock ("Cash Election Shares") held by such
record holder or (3) to indicate that such holder makes no such election for all
or some of the shares of Company  Common Stock  ("No-Election  Shares")  held by
such record holder.  All such elections (each, an "Election") shall be made on a
form designed for that purpose by Acquiror and reasonably  acceptable to Company
(an "Election  Form").  Any shares of Company Common Stock with respect to which
the record  holder  thereof  shall not, as of the Election  Deadline (as defined
below),  have  properly  submitted  to the Exchange  Agent (as defined  below) a
properly  completed  Election Form shall be deemed to be No-Election  Shares.  A
record  holder  acting  in  different  capacities  or  acting on behalf of other
persons  in any way  shall be  entitled  to  submit  an  Election  Form for each
capacity  in which such  record  holder so acts with  respect to each person for
which it so acts. The exchange  agent (the "Exchange  Agent") shall be a bank or
trust company selected by Acquiror and reasonably acceptable to the Company.

         (c) Not later than the 15th day after the Election  Deadline,  Acquiror
shall cause the  Exchange  Agent to effect the  allocation  among the holders of
Company Common Stock of rights to receive the Per Share Stock  Consideration  or
the Per Share Cash Consideration in the Merger as follows:

         (A) Number of Stock Elections Less Than Stock Number.  If the number of
     Stock  Election  Shares (on the basis of Election  Forms received as of the
     Election Deadline) is less than the Stock Number, then

              (i) all Stock Election  Shares shall be, as of the Effective Time,
         converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration,

              (ii) the Exchange Agent shall allocate pro rata from among the No-
         Election Shares a sufficient number of No-Election Shares such that the
         sum of such number and the number of Stock Election  Shares shall equal
         as closely  as  practicable  the Stock  Number,  and all such  selected
         shares  ("Stock-Selected  No-  Election  Shares")  shall  be, as of the
         Effective Time, converted into the right to receive the Per Share Stock
         Consideration,  provided that if the sum of all No- Election Shares and
         Stock Election  Shares is less than the Stock Number,  all No- Election
         Shares shall be Stock-Selected No-Election Shares,

              (iii) if the sum of Stock Election Shares and  No-Election  Shares
         is less than the Stock Number,  the Exchange  Agent shall  allocate pro
         rata from among the Cash  Election  Shares a sufficient  number of Cash
         Election  Shares  such that the sum of such  number  and the  number of
         Stock  Election  Shares and Stock-  Selected  No-Election  Shares shall
         equal as closely as practicable the Stock Number, and all such selected
         shares ("Converted Cash Election Shares") shall be, as of the Effective
         Time,  converted  into  the  right  to  receive  the  Per  Share  Stock
         Consideration, and


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



              (iv) the No-Election  Shares and Cash Election Shares that are not
         Stock-  Selected  No-Election  Shares or Converted Cash Election Shares
         (as the case may be) shall be, as of the Effective Time, converted into
         the right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration; or

         (B) Number of Stock Elections  Greater Than Stock Number. If the number
     of Stock  Election  Shares (on the basis of Election  Forms received by the
     Election Deadline) is greater than the Stock Number, then

              (i) all Cash Election Shares and  No-Election  Shares shall be, as
         of the  Effective  Time,  converted  into the right to receive  the Per
         Share Cash Consideration,

              (ii) the  Exchange  Agent shall  allocate pro rata among the Stock
         Election Shares a sufficient number of Cash Election Shares ("Converted
         Stock  Election  Shares") such that the remainder of (x) Stock Election
         Shares less (y) the  Converted  Stock  Election  Shares  shall equal as
         closely  as  practicable  the Stock  Number,  and all  Converted  Stock
         Election Shares shall be, as of the Effective Time,  converted into the
         right to receive the Per Share Cash Consideration, and

              (iii) the  Stock  Election  Shares  that are not  Converted  Stock
         Election Shares shall be, as of the Effective Time,  converted into the
         right to receive the Per Share Stock Consideration.

         (C) Exclusion from Allocations in Sections  3.01(c)(A) and (B). For the
     avoidance  of doubt,  cash paid by the  Company for options as set forth in
     Section  3.06 of this  Agreement,  at the  election of the Company no later
     than  five  days  prior to the  Closing  Date,  shall  not be  utilized  in
     determining  any allocation as set forth in Sections  3.01(c)(A) and (B) of
     this Agreement.

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

         3.03  Fractional  Shares.  Notwithstanding  any other provision in this
Agreement,  no fractional shares of Acquiror Common Stock and no certificates or
scrip therefor,  or other evidence of ownership  thereof,  will be issued in the
Merger;  instead,  the Acquiror shall pay to each holder of Company Common Stock
who otherwise  would be entitled to a fractional  share of Acquiror Common Stock
(after taking into account all Old Certificates delivered by such


                                      -12-

<PAGE>



holder) an amount in cash  (without  interest)  determined by  multiplying  such
fraction by the average of the last sale prices of  Acquiror  Common  Stock,  as
reported by the NYSE Composite Transactions Reporting System (as reported in The
Wall  Street  Journal  or, if not  reported  therein,  in another  authoritative
source),  for the five consecutive NYSE full trading days immediately  preceding
the Effective Date.

         3.04 Exchange Procedures.

         (a) Not  later  than the 30th  business  day  prior to the  anticipated
     Effective  Date or such other date as the parties may agree in writing (the
     "Mailing  Date"),  Acquiror  shall  mail an  Election  Form and a letter of
     transmittal  to each  holder of  record  of  Company  Common  Stock.  To be
     effective, an Election Form must be properly completed, signed and actually
     received  by the  Exchange  Agent not later than 5:00  p.m.,  New York City
     time, on the 20th day after the Mailing Date (the "Election  Deadline") and
     accompanied  by the  certificates  representing  all the  shares of Company
     Common  Stock ("Old  Certificates")  as to which the Election is being made
     (or an  appropriate  guarantee  of delivery  by an eligible  organization).
     Acquiror shall have reasonable  discretion,  which it may delegate in whole
     or in part to the Exchange Agent, to determine  whether Election Forms have
     been  properly  completed,  signed and  timely  submitted  or to  disregard
     defects in Election  Forms;  such decisions of Acquiror (or of the Exchange
     Agent) shall be conclusive and binding.  Neither  Acquiror nor the Exchange
     Agent shall be under any  obligation  to notify any person of any defect in
     an Election Form  submitted to the Exchange  Agent.  The Exchange Agent and
     Acquiror  shall also make all  computations  contemplated  by Section  3.01
     hereof,  and, after  consultation  with the Company,  all such computations
     shall be  conclusive  and binding on the former  holders of Company  Common
     Stock absent manifest  error.  Shares of Company Common Stock covered by an
     Election Form which is not effective shall be treated as if no Election had
     been made with  respect to such  shares of Company  Common  Stock.  Once an
     Election is made it may not be revoked.

         (b) At or prior to the Effective  Time, the Acquiror shall deposit,  or
     shall  cause  to  be  deposited,  with  the  Exchange  Agent,  certificates
     representing the shares of Acquiror 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 issued as Consideration.

         (c) The Surviving  Corporation  shall cause the New  Certificates  into
     which shares of a  shareholder's  Company Common Stock are converted on the
     Effective  Date  and/or  any  check  in  respect  of  any  Per  Share  Cash
     Consideration,  fractional  share  interests or dividends or  distributions
     which such  person  shall be entitled  to receive to be  delivered  to such
     shareholder  upon  delivery (if not  previously  delivered) to the Exchange
     Agent of


                                      -13-

<PAGE>



     Old  Certificates  representing  such  shares of Company  Common  Stock (or
     indemnity satisfactory to the Surviving Corporation and the Exchange Agent,
     if any of such  certificates  are lost,  stolen or destroyed) owned by such
     shareholder; provided that New Certificates and/or any such check shall not
     be issued to any Company  Affiliate unless and until such Company Affiliate
     has  delivered an agreement  pursuant to Section  6.07. No interest will be
     paid on any Consideration that any such person shall be entitled to receive
     pursuant to this Article III upon such delivery.

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

         (e) No dividends or other distributions on Acquiror 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 Company Common
     Stock  converted  in the Merger  into the right to  receive  shares of such
     Acquiror Common Stock until the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive
     New Certificates in exchange  therefor in accordance with this Article III,
     and no such shares of Company  Common Stock shall be eligible to vote until
     the holder of Old  Certificates is entitled to receive New  Certificates in
     accordance  with this Article III. After becoming so entitled in accordance
     with this Article III, 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
     Acquiror  Common Stock such holder had the right to receive upon  surrender
     of the Old Certificate.

         (f) Any portion of the  Exchange  Fund that  remains  unclaimed  by the
     shareholders  of the Company for six months after the Effective  Time shall
     be returned to the Acquiror.  Any  shareholders of the Company who have not
     theretofore  complied with this Article III shall  thereafter  look only to
     the Acquiror for payment of the shares of Acquiror Common Stock,  Per Share
     Cash  Consideration,  cash in  lieu of any  fractional  shares  and  unpaid
     dividends and  distributions  on the Acquiror  Common Stock  deliverable in
     respect of each share of Company  Common  Stock such  shareholder  holds as
     determined  pursuant to this Agreement,  in each case, without any interest
     thereon.

         3.05  Anti-Dilution   Adjustments.   Should  the  Acquiror  change  (or
establish a record date for  changing)  the number of shares of Acquiror  Common
Stock  issued and  outstand  ing prior to the  Effective  Date by way of a stock
split, stock dividend,  recapitalization  or similar transaction with respect to
the  outstanding  Acquiror  Common Stock and the record date  therefor  shall be
prior to the  Effective  Date,  the  Exchange  Ratio  shall  be  proportionately
adjusted.

         3.06 Company Stock  Options.  Prior to the Effective  Time, the Company
shall take all action  necessary to cause each  Company  Stock  Option,  whether
vested or unvested,


                                      -14-

<PAGE>



exercisable or unexercisable, without any action on the part of the holder to be
converted  into the right to receive  an amount in cash equal to the  product of
(1) (A) the excess of $24.26 over (B) the  exercise  price per share  subject to
such Company  Stock Option and (2) the number of Shares  subject to such Company
Stock  Option  payable to the holder of such  Company  Stock  Option at any time
during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending  immediately prior to
the  Effective  Time;  provided,  that the Company shall be entitled to withhold
from such cash payment any amounts  required to be withheld by  applicable  law.
Each Company Stock Option to which this paragraph  applies will be cancelled and
shall cease to exist by virtue of such payment.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                           Actions Pending the Merger

         4.01  Forbearances  of the  Company.  From the date  hereof  until  the
earlier of the  termination of this Agreement or the Effective  Time,  except as
expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Disclosure Schedule, without the
prior written consent of the Acquiror, the Company will not, and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries not to:

         (a)  Ordinary  Course.  Conduct  the  business  of the  Company and its
     Subsidiaries  other  than  in the  ordinary  and  usual  course  (provided,
     however,  that the Company shall terminate the use of its trading  account)
     or, to the extent consistent  therewith,  fail to use reasonable efforts to
     preserve intact their business organizations and assets and main tain their
     rights,  franchises  and  existing  relations  with  customers,  suppliers,
     employees and business associates.

         (b) Capital Stock.  Other than pursuant to Rights Previously  Disclosed
     and outstanding on the date hereof,  (1) issue, sell or otherwise permit to
     become outstanding,  or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of
     Company  Common Stock or any Rights with respect to Company  Common  Stock,
     (2) permit any additional  shares of Company Common Stock to become subject
     to new grants of  employee  or  director  stock  options,  other  Rights or
     similar  stock-based  employee rights, (3) repurchase,  redeem or otherwise
     acquire,  directly or indirectly,  any shares of Company Common Stock,  (4)
     effect any recapitalization,  reclassification,  stock split or like change
     in  capitalization,  or (5)  enter  into,  or take any  action to cause any
     holders of Company Common Stock to enter into, any agreement, understanding
     or commitment  relating to the right of holders of Company  Common Stock to
     vote any shares of Company  Common Stock,  or cooperate in any formation of
     any voting trust relating to such shares.

         (c)  Dividends,  Etc. Make,  declare,  pay or set aside for payment any
     dividend, other than (1) regular quarterly cash dividends on Company Common
     Stock in an amount not to exceed  $0.0625  per share  paid with  record and
     payment dates  consistent  with past practice and (2) dividends from wholly
     owned Subsidiaries to the Company or another


                                      -15-

<PAGE>



     wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable (in each case, except
     pursuant to Section 6.18, consistent with past practice),  on or in respect
     of, or declare or make any  distribution on any shares of its capital stock
     split,  combine,  redeem,  reclassify,  purchase or otherwise acquire,  any
     shares of its capital stock.

         (d) Compensation; Employment Contracts; Etc. Enter into, amend, modify,
     renew  or  terminate  any  employment,  consulting,  severance  or  similar
     Contracts  with any  directors,  officers,  employees  of,  or  independent
     contractors with respect to, the Company or its Subsidiaries,  or grant any
     salary,  wage or other increase or increase any employee benefit (including
     incentive or bonus  payments),  except (1) for normal general  increases in
     salary  to  individual   employees  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business
     consistent  with past practice,  (2) for other changes that are required by
     applicable law, or (3) to satisfy Pre viously Disclosed  Contracts existing
     on the date hereof (as such Contracts are modified, as applicable, pursuant
     to the agreements entered into pursuant to Recital E hereof).

         (e) Benefit  Plans.  Enter into,  establish,  adopt,  amend,  modify or
     terminate any pension,  retirement,  stock option, stock purchase, savings,
     profit   sharing,   employee  stock   ownership,   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  current  or  former
     directors,   officers,  employees,  former  employees  of,  or  independent
     contractors  with  respect  to,  the  Company or its  Subsidiaries  (or any
     dependent or beneficiary of any of the foregoing persons), including taking
     any action that accelerates the vesting or exercisability of or the payment
     or distribution  with respect to, stock options,  restricted stock or other
     compensation or benefits payable thereunder, except, in each such case, (1)
     as may be required by applicable law or (2) to satisfy Previously Disclosed
     Contracts existing on the date hereof.

         (f)  Dispositions.  Except as  Previously  Disclosed,  sell,  transfer,
     mortgage,  lease,  encumber  or  otherwise  dispose of or  discontinue  any
     material portion of its assets, business or properties.

         (g) Acquisitions. Except (1) pursuant to Previously Disclosed Contracts
     existing  on the  date  hereof,  (2) for  short-term  investments  for cash
     management purposes, (3) pursuant to bona fide hedging transactions, or (4)
     by way of foreclosures  or otherwise in  satisfaction  of debts  previously
     contracted in good faith,  in each case in the ordinary and usual course of
     business consistent with past practice,  neither the Company nor any of its
     Subsidiaries  will  acquire any assets,  properties  or deposits of another
     person in any one transaction or a series of related transactions.

         (h) Governing  Documents.  Amend the Company  Certificate,  the Company
     By-laws  or  the  certificate  of  incorporation  or  by-laws  (or  similar
     governing documents) of any of the Company's Subsidiaries.


                                      -16-

<PAGE>



         (i) Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any change in the accounting
     principles,  practices or methods used by the Company and its Subsidiaries,
     other than as may be required by generally accepted accounting  principles,
     as concurred with by the Company's independent auditors.

         (j)  Contracts.  Except in the ordinary  course of business  consistent
     with past practice,  enter into or terminate any material Contract or amend
     or modify in any material respect any of its existing material Contracts.

         (k)  Claims.  Settle any claim,  action or  proceeding,  except for any
     claim,  action or proceeding  involving  solely money damages in an amount,
     individually  or in the aggregate,  that is not material to the Company and
     its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

         (l)  Risk   Management.   Except  as  required  by  applicable  law  or
     regulation: (1) implement or adopt any material change in its interest rate
     risk management and hedging policies,  procedures or practices; (2) fail to
     follow its  existing  policies or  practices  with  respect to managing its
     exposure to interest rate risk; or (3) fail to use commercially  reasonable
     means to avoid any material increase in its aggregate  exposure to interest
     rate risk.

         (m)  Indebtedness.  Other  than  in the  ordinary  course  of  business
     (including   creation  of  deposit   liabilities,   entry  into  repurchase
     agreements,  purchases  or sales of federal  funds,  Federal Home Loan Bank
     advances,  and  sales of  certificates  of  deposit)  consistent  with past
     practice,  (1) incur any  indebtedness  for  borrowed  money,  (2)  assume,
     guarantee,  endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for
     the  obligations  of any other  Person or (3)  cancel,  release,  assign or
     modify any material amount of indebtedness of any other Person.

         (n)  Loans.  Make any loan or advance  (1) other  than in the  ordinary
     course of business  consistent  with  lending  policies as in effect on the
     date hereof or (2) without prior  consultation  with  Acquiror,  other than
     residential  mortgage  loans,  in excess of $200,000;  provided that in the
     case of clause (1) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may make any such
     loan in the event (A) the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries has delivered
     to Acquiror or its designated  representative  a notice of its intention to
     make  such  loan  and  such  additional  information  as  Acquiror  or  its
     designated  representative  may reasonably  require and (B) Acquiror or its
     designated  representative  shall not have reasonably objected to such loan
     by giving notice of such objection within three business days following the
     delivery to Acquiror of the applicable notice of intention.

         (o) Adverse Actions.  (1) Take any action  reasonably likely to prevent
     or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning
     of  Section  368 of the Code;  or (2)  knowingly  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


                                      -17-

<PAGE>



     becoming  untrue  in any  material  respect  at any time at or prior to the
     Effective  Time,  (B) any of the  conditions  to the  Merger  set  forth in
     Article VII not being  satisfied or (C) a material  breach of any provision
     of this Agreement;  except,  in each case, as may be required by applicable
     law.

         (p) Tax Elections. Make any election with respect to Taxes.

         (q)  Commitments.  Agree or commit to do,  or enter  into any  Contract
     regard ing,  anything  that would be  precluded  by clauses (a) through (o)
     without first obtaining the Acquiror's consent.

         4.02  Forbearances  of the  Acquiror.  From the date  hereof  until the
Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement,  without the
prior written consent of the Company, the Acquiror will not, and will cause each
of its Subsidiaries not to:

         (a)  Ordinary  Course.  Conduct the  business of the  Acquiror  and its
     Subsidi  aries other than in the ordinary and usual  course;  provided that
     this Section  4.02(a) shall in no way affect the ability of the Acquiror or
     its Subsidiaries to engage in any business, asset or deposit acquisition or
     disposition,  or  merger,   consolidation  or  other  business  combination
     transaction.

         (b) Adverse Actions.  (1) Take any action  reasonably likely to prevent
     or impede the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning
     of  Section  368 of the Code;  or (2)  knowingly  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  Merger  set  forth in
     Article VII not being  satisfied or (C) a material  breach of any provision
     of this Agreement;  except,  in each case, as may be required by applicable
     law.

         (c) Governing Documents.  Amend the Acquiror Certificate or the by-laws
     of the Acquiror in a manner that would be materially adverse to the holders
     of the Acquiror Common Stock.

         (d)  Commitments.  Agree or commit to do,  or enter  into any  Contract
     regard ing,  anything  that would be  precluded  by clauses (a) through (c)
     without first obtaining the Company's consent.




                                      -18-

<PAGE>



                                    ARTICLE V

                         Representations and Warranties

         5.01 Disclosure Schedules.  On or prior to the date hereof, the Company
has  delivered to the  Acquiror and the Acquiror has  delivered to the Company a
schedule (respec tively,  its "Disclosure  Schedule") setting forth, among other
things,  items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either (1) in
response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or
(2) as an exception to one or more  representations  or warranties  contained in
Section 5.03 or 5.04, respectively, or to one or more of its covenants contained
in Article IV.

         5.02  Standard.  No  representation  or  warranty of the Company or the
Acquiror  contained in Section 5.03 or 5.04 shall be deemed untrue or incorrect,
and no party  hereto  shall be  deemed  to have  breached  a  representation  or
warranty,  as a consequence of the existence of any fact,  event or circumstance
unless such fact, event or circumstance, (1) is not Previously Disclosed and (2)
individually  or taken  together with all other facts,  events or  circumstances
that should have been Previously Disclosed with respect to any representation or
warranty  contained in Section 5.03 or 5.04, has had or is reasonably  likely to
have a Material  Adverse  Effect with  respect to the  Company or the  Acquiror,
respectively.

         5.03   Representations  and  Warranties  of  the  Company.   Except  as
Previously Disclosed in a paragraph of its Disclosure Schedule  corresponding to
the relevant  paragraph below, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the
Acquiror:

         (a)  Organization,   Standing  and  Authority.   The  Company  is  duly
     organized,  validly  existing  and in good  standing  under the laws of New
     Jersey, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in all
     the  jurisdictions  where its ownership or leasing of property or assets or
     the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

         (b) Company Stock. As of the date hereof,  the authorized capital stock
     of the  Company  consists  solely of  30,000,000  shares of Company  Common
     Stock, of which 4,818,478 shares are outstanding as of the date hereof.  As
     of the date hereof,  1,623,026  shares of Company  Common Stock are held in
     treasury by the Company  (collectively,  "Treasury Stock"). The outstanding
     shares of Company  Common Stock have been duly  authorized  and are validly
     issued,  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  Company
     Common Stock  authorized  and reserved for  issuance,  the Company does not
     have any Rights issued or outstanding with respect to Company Common Stock,
     and the Company does not have any  commitment to  authorize,  issue or sell
     any Company Common Stock or Rights, except pursuant to this Agreement.  The
     number of shares of Company  Common  Stock which are  issuable and reserved
     for issuance upon exercise of Company Stock Options as


                                      -19-

<PAGE>



     of the date hereof and the exercise price of such Company Stock Options are
     Previously Disclosed.

         (c) Subsidiaries. (1)(A) The Company has Previously Disclosed a list of
     all its Subsidiaries together with the jurisdiction of organization of each
     such  Subsidiary,  (B) the Company 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  Subsidiaries)  by  reason  of any
     Rights,  (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 Subsidiaries),  (E) there are no contracts,  commitments,
     understandings,  or  arrangements  relating  to its  rights  to  vote or to
     dispose of such securities (other than to it or its Subsidiaries),  and (F)
     all the equity  securities of each such  Subsidiary  held by the Company or
     its  Subsidiaries  are fully  paid and  nonassessable  and are owned by the
     Company or its Subsidiaries free and clear of any Liens.

         (2)  The  Company  has  Previously  Disclosed  a  list  of  all  equity
     securities  or  similar  interests  of any  person,  or any  interest  in a
     partnership  or joint venture of any kind owned  beneficially,  directly or
     indirectly  by it and the Company has provided to the Acquiror all material
     information or agreements pertaining to such interest.

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

         (d) Corporate  Power.  The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has the
     requisite  power and  authority to carry on its business as it is now being
     conducted  and to own all its  properties  and assets;  the Company has the
     corporate  power  and  authority  to  execute,   deliver  and  perform  its
     obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  to  consummate  the  transactions
     contemplated  hereby; and Lakeview Savings Bank has the requisite power and
     authority to execute,  deliver and perform its  obligations as set forth in
     the Form of Subsidiary  Combination  Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit D
     and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby.

         (e) Corporate  Authority and Action.  (1) The Company has the requisite
     corporate  power  and  authority,   and  has  taken  all  corporate  action
     necessary,  in order (A) to authorize  the  execution  and delivery of, and
     performance of its obligations  under,  this Agreement and the Stock Option
     Agreement  and (B) subject  only to receipt of the  approval of the plan of
     merger  contained  in this  Agreement  by the  holders of a majority of the
     outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, to consummate the Merger. This


                                      -20-

<PAGE>



     Agreement  and the  Stock  Option  Agreement  each is a valid  and  legally
     binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms
     (except  as  enforceability  may  be  limited  by  applicable   bankruptcy,
     insolvency,  reorganization  and  similar  laws  of  general  applicability
     relating  to  or  affecting   creditors'   rights  or  by  general   equity
     principles).

         (2) The  Company  has taken all  action  required  to be taken by it in
     order  to  exempt  this  Agreement,  the  Stock  Option  Agreement  and the
     transactions contemplated hereby from, and this Agreement, the Stock Option
     Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby each is exempt from, the
     requirements  of (A) any applicable  "moratorium,"  "control  share," "fair
     price,"  or  other   antitakeover   laws  and   regulation   of  any  state
     (collectively, "Takeover Laws"), including Section 14A-10A of the NJBCA and
     (B) Articles XIV and XV of the Company Certificate.

         (3) The Company has received the opinion of Sandler O'Neill & Partners,
     L.P. & Company ("Sandler  O'Neill"),  dated the date of this Agreement,  to
     the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement,  the Consideration to be
     received  in the Merger by the  shareholders  of the Company is fair to the
     shareholders of the Company from a financial point of view.

         (f) Regulatory Filings;  No Defaults.  (1) 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 the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,  delivery or performance
     by the Company of this Agreement, or to consummate the Merger and the other
     transactions contemplated hereby, except for (A) the filing with the SEC of
     the Proxy Statement in definitive  form, (B) the filing of applications and
     notices, as applicable, with the OTS, the NJBD and the FDIC with respect to
     the  Merger  and  the  Subsidiary  Combination  and  (C)  the  filing  of a
     certificate  of merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
     pursuant  to the DGCL and the filing of a  certificate  of merger  with the
     Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey  pursuant to the NJBCA. As of
     the date hereof,  the Company is not aware of any reason why the  approvals
     of all  Governmental  Authorities  necessary to permit  consummation of the
     transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement will not be received  without
     the imposition of a condition or requirement described in Section 7.01(b).

         (2) Subject to receipt of the regulatory  approvals,  and expiration of
     the waiting periods,  referred to in the preceding paragraph and the making
     of required filings under federal 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 Contract of the  Company or of any of its  Subsidiaries  or to
     which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries


                                      -21-

<PAGE>



     or properties is subject or bound, (B) constitute a breach or violation of,
     or a default under, the Company  Certificate or the Company By-laws, or (C)
     require  any  consent or  approval  under any such law,  rule,  regulation,
     judgment, decree, order, governmental permit or license or Contract.

         (g) SEC  Documents;  Financial  Statements.  (1) The  Company's  Annual
     Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal  years  ended July 31,  1996,  1997 and
     1998,  and all other reports,  registration  statements,  definitive  proxy
     statements or information statements filed or to be filed by the Company or
     any of its  Subsidiaries  subsequent to July 31, 1998 under the  Securities
     Act, or under Sections  13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in
     the form filed or to be filed (collectively, the "Company's SEC Documents")
     with the SEC,  as of the date  filed,  (A)  complied  or will comply in all
     material  respects as to form with the  applicable  requirements  under the
     Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (B) did not (or
     if amended or superseded  by a filing prior to the date of this  Agreement,
     then as of the  date of such  filing)  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 the light
     of the circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading;  and each
     of the balance sheets  contained in or  incorporated  by reference into any
     such SEC  Document  (including  the related  notes and  schedules  thereto)
     fairly  presents,  or will fairly  present,  the financial  position of the
     Company and its  Subsidiaries as of its date, and each of the statements of
     income and  changes in  shareholders'  equity and cash flows or  equivalent
     statements in such SEC Documents (including any related notes and schedules
     thereto)  fairly  presents,   or  will  fairly  present,   the  results  of
     operations,  changes in shareholders'  equity and changes in cash flows, as
     the case may be, of the  Company  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.

         (2) Since July 31, 1998,  on a  consolidated  basis the Company and its
     Subsidiaries  have not  incurred any  liability  other than in the ordinary
     course of business consistent with past practice.

         (3) Since July 31,  1998,  (A) the  Company and its  Subsidiaries  have
     conducted  their  respective  businesses  in the  ordinary and usual course
     consistent with past practice and (B) no event has occurred or circumstance
     arisen that,  individually  or taken together with all other facts,  events
     and   circumstances   (described  in  any  paragraph  of  Section  5.03  or
     otherwise),  has had or is  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
     Effect with respect to the Company.

         (h)  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the  Company's  SEC  Documents
     filed  before the date hereof,  no  litigation,  claim or other  proceeding
     before any court, arbitrator


                                      -22-
<PAGE>



     or  Governmental  Authority  is pending  against  the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries and, to the Company's knowledge, no such litigation,  claim or
     other proceeding has been threatened.

              (i)   Compliance   with  Laws.   The   Company  and  each  of  its
         Subsidiaries:

              (1)  conducts  its  business  in  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
         Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and all other applicable fair lending laws
         and other laws relating to discriminatory business practices;

              (2)  has  all  permits,  licenses,   authorizations,   orders  and
         approvals of, and has made all filings,  applications and registrations
         with, all Governmental  Authorities 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
         the Company's  knowledge,  no suspension or cancellation of any of them
         is threatened;

              (3) has  received,  since  December 31, 1997, no  notification  or
         communication  from any  Governmental  Authority (A) asserting that the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any of the
         statutes,  regulations,  or ordinances that such Governmental Authority
         enforces or (B) threatening to revoke any license,  franchise,  permit,
         or  governmental  authorization  (nor, to the Company's  knowledge,  do
         grounds  for  any of the  foregoing  exist),  or  (C)  restrict  ing or
         disqualifying  their  activities  (except  for  restrictions  generally
         imposed  by  rule,  regulation  or  administrative  policy  on  banking
         organizations generally);

              (4) is not  aware  of any  pending  or  threatened  investigation,
         review  or  disciplinary  proceedings  by  any  Governmental  Authority
         against the Company,  any of its Subsidiaries or any officer,  director
         or employee thereof;

              (5) is not subject to any order or decree issued by, or a party to
         any agreement or memorandum  of  understanding  with, or a party to any
         commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or subject to any order or
         directive by, a recipient of any supervisory letter from or has adopted
         any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental  Authority, or
         been  advised  by any  Governmental  Authority  that it is  considering
         issuing  or  requesting  any such  agreement  or other  action  or have
         knowledge of any pending or threatened regulatory investigation; and



                                      -23-

<PAGE>



              (6) since  December  31,  1995,  has  timely  filed  all  reports,
         registrations and statements,  together with any amendments required to
         be made with respect thereto,  that were required to be filed under any
         applicable law,  regulation or rule,  with any applicable  Governmental
         authority (collectively, the "Company Reports"). As of their respective
         dates,  the Company  Reports  complied  with the  applicable  statutes,
         rules, regulations and orders enforced or promulgated by the regulatory
         authority with which they were filed.

         (j) Material Contracts;  Defaults. The Company has Previously Disclosed
     a complete and accurate list of all material Contracts to which the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, including the following categories:

              (1) any Contract  that (A) is not  terminable at will both without
         cost or other liability to the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  and
         upon notice of ninety (90) days or less and (B) which provides for fees
         or other  payments  in  excess  of  $150,000  per annum or in excess of
         $250,000 for the remaining term of the Contract;

              (2) any Contract with a term beyond the Effective Time under which
         the Company or any of its Subsidiaries created,  incurred,  assumed, or
         guaranteed (or may create,  incur,  assume, or guarantee)  indebtedness
         for borrowed money (including capitalized lease obligations);

              (3) any  Contract  restricting  the  conduct  of  business  by the
         Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

              (4) any  Contract to which the Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
         is a party,  on the one hand, and under which any  affiliate,  officer,
         director, employee or equity holder of any of the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries, on the other hand, is a party or beneficiary;

              (5) any Contract with respect to the employment of, or payment to,
         any present or former  directors,  officers,  employees or consultants;
         and

              (6) any Contract  involving  the purchase or sale of assets with a
         book value greater than $250,000 entered into since July 31, 1998.

Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company's knowledge,
any other party  thereto is in default under any such Contract 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.



                                      -24-

<PAGE>



         (k) IMC.  The  Company's  Disclosure  Schedule  sets forth all material
     facts known to the Company  pertaining to the  Company's  investment in the
     stock of and line of credit to Industry Mortgage Company.

         (l) Properties.  Except as disclosed in the financial  statements filed
     in its SEC  Documents  on or before the date  hereof,  the  Company and its
     Subsidiaries  have good and marketable  title,  free and clear of all Liens
     (other  than  Liens for  current  taxes not yet  delinquent)  to all of the
     material properties and assets,  tangible or intangible,  reflected in such
     financial  statements as being owned by the Company and its Subsidiaries as
     of the dates thereof. All buildings and all fixtures,  equipment, and other
     property  and assets  which are material to its business and are held under
     leases or  subleases  by any of the Company and its  Subsidiaries  are held
     under  valid  leases or  subleases  enforceable  in  accordance  with their
     respective  terms  (except as  enforceability  may be limited by applicable
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,  moratorium or other laws affecting
     creditors' rights generally and to general equity principles).

         (m) Employee  Benefit  Plans.  (1) The  Company's  Disclosure  Schedule
     contains a complete  list of all bonus,  vacation,  deferred  compensation,
     commission- based, pension,  retirement,  profit-sharing,  thrift, savings,
     employee stock ownership,  stock bonus,  stock purchase,  restricted stock,
     stock  appreciation  and stock option  plans,  all  employment or severance
     contracts,  all medical,  dental,  disability,  severance,  health and life
     plans,  all other employee  benefit and fringe benefit plans,  contracts or
     arrangements and any "change of control" or similar provisions in any plan,
     contract or arrangement  maintained or contributed to by the Company or any
     of its  Subsidiaries  for  the  benefit  of  current  or  former  officers,
     employees or directors or the  beneficiaries  or  dependents  of any of the
     foregoing  (collectively,  the Company's "Compensation Plans"). Neither the
     Company  Board nor any  executive  officers  of the  Company  or any of its
     Subsidiaries  has taken or  initiated  any  formal  action  to  create  any
     additional material Compensation Plan or to modify, change or terminate any
     existing Compensation Plan in any material respect.

         (2) With respect to each Compensation Plan, if applicable,  the Company
     has provided or made available to the Acquiror, true and complete copies of
     existing: (A) Compensation Plan documents and amendments thereto; (B) trust
     instruments and insurance  contracts;  (C) two most recent Forms 5500 filed
     with the IRS; (D) the 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) the most recent determination letter
     issued by the IRS;  (H) any Form 5310 or Form 5330 filed with the IRS;  (I)
     the most recent  nondiscrimination tests performed under ERISA and the Code
     (including  401(k) and 401(m)  tests);  and (J)  documentation  relating to
     loans made to the Company's  employee  stock  ownership  plan and schedules
     supporting  all  allocations  made  under  such plan and  compliance  under
     Sections  404 and 415 of the Code.  Each Form  5500,  actuarial  report and
     financial statement referred to in the


                                      -25-

<PAGE>



     preceding sentence accurately  reflects the contributions,  liabilities and
     funding levels of the applicable Compensation Plan.


         (3) Each of the Compensation  Plans has been  administered and operated
     in accordance  with the terms thereof and with  applicable  law,  including
     ERISA,  the Code and the Securities  Act.  Neither the Company,  any of its
     Subsidiaries nor any other person for whom  indemnification  by the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries could apply ("Indemnified  Person") has incurred
     or is likely to incur fiduciary  liability under Part 4 of Title I of ERISA
     with respect to any Compensation Plan. Each of the Compensation Plans which
     is an "employee pension benefit plan" within the meaning of Section 3(2) of
     ERISA ("Pension  Plan") and which is intended to be qualified under Section
     401(a) of the Code has received a favorable  determination  letter from the
     IRS with respect to "TRA" (as defined in Section 1 of IRS Revenue Procedure
     93-39),  and, except as Previously  Disclosed,  the Company is not aware of
     any  circumstances  that would likely result in the revocation or denial of
     any such favorable  determination  letter. None of the Company,  any of its
     Subsidiaries  or an  Indemnified  Person has engaged in any  transaction or
     taken any action with respect to any Compensation  Plan that has subjected,
     or could,  to the  Company's  knowledge,  subject the Company or any of its
     Subsidiaries  or any  Indemnified  Person to a tax or  penalty  imposed  by
     either  Section  4975 of the  Code or  Section  502 of  ERISA.  There is no
     pending  or,  to  the  Company's   knowledge,   threatened   litigation  or
     governmental audit,  examination or investigation relating to the Company's
     Compensation Plans.

         (4) No liability  under Title IV of ERISA  (other than  premiums to the
     PBGC) has been or is  reasonably  expected to be incurred by the Company or
     any of its Subsidi aries with respect to any "single-employer plan" (within
     the  meaning  of  Section  4001  (a)(15)  of ERISA) or  Multiemployer  Plan
     currently or formerly  maintained or  contributed to by any of them, or the
     single-employer  plan  or  Multiemployer  Plan  of any  entity  (an  "ERISA
     Affiliate") which is considered one employer with the Company under Section
     4001(a)(14)  of  ERISA or  Section  414(b)  or (c) of the  Code (an  "ERISA
     Affiliate Plan"). 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  Pension  Plan or any
     ERISA Affiliate  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 the Company's  knowledge,  no condition  exists that
     presents a material risk that such proceedings  will be instituted.  To the
     knowledge of the Company,  there is no pending investigation or enforcement
     action by the PBGC, the Department of Labor (the "DOL") or IRS or any other
     governmental agency with respect to any Compensation Plan.



                                      -26-

<PAGE>



         (5) All contributions, premiums and payments required to have been made
     under the terms of any of the  Compensation  Plans or  applicable  law have
     been timely made or reflected in the Company's SEC  Documents.  Neither any
     of the Pension Plans nor ERISA Affiliate Plans has an "accumulated  funding
     deficiency"  (whether or not  waived)  within the meaning of Section 412 of
     the  Code  or  Section  302  of  ERISA.  None  of the  Company,  any of its
     Subsidiaries  or any  ERISA  Affiliate  has  provided,  or is  required  to
     provide,  security to, nor are there any circumstances  requiring, or which
     can  reasonably be expected to result in, the imposition of any lien on the
     assets of the Com pany or any of its  Subsidiaries  with  respect  to,  any
     Pension Plan or any ERISA Affiliate Plan pursuant to Section  401(a)(29) or
     Section 412(n) of the Code or pursuant to ERISA.

         (6) Under each Pension Plan which is a single-employer  plan, as of the
     last day of the most recent plan year ended prior to the date  hereof,  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 the Plan's most recent  actuarial
     valuation),  did not  exceed the then  current  value of the assets of such
     plan.  Under each of the Pension Plans, to the Company's  knowledge,  there
     has been no adverse  change in the financial  condition of any Pension Plan
     (with respect to either assets or benefits) since July 31, 1997.

         (7) No Compensation Plan provides benefits,  including death or medical
     benefits,  with respect to any employees or former employees of the Company
     or any of its Subsidiaries (or their spouses, beneficiaries, or dependents)
     beyond the retirement or other  termination of service of any such employee
     other than (A)  coverage  mandated by Part 6 of Title I of ERISA or Section
     4980B of the Code, (B) retirement or death benefits under any Pension Plan,
     (C) disability  benefits under any  Compensation  Plan which is an employee
     welfare  benefit  plan (as defined  under  Section 3(1) of ERISA) that have
     been fully  provided for by insurance or otherwise,  or (D) benefits in the
     nature of severance pay under any  Compensation  Plan.  The Company and its
     Subsidiaries  may amend or terminate any  Compensation  Plan which provides
     post-retirement  or termination of employment  benefits at any time without
     incurring  any liability  thereunder.  There has been no  communication  to
     employees,  former employees or their spouses,  beneficiaries or dependents
     by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries  that promised or guaranteed such
     employees  retiree health or life insurance or other retiree death benefits
     on a permanent basis or promised or guaranteed that any such benefits could
     not be modified, eliminated or terminated.

         (8) Neither  the  execution  and  delivery  of this  Agreement  nor the
     consumma tion of the transactions  contemplated  hereby including,  without
     limitation,  as a result of any  termination of employment  prior to, at or
     following  the  Effective   Time,  will  (A)  result  in  any  increase  in
     compensation  or any payment  (including,  without  limitation,  severance,
     golden  parachute  or  otherwise)  becoming  due to any  current  or former
     director,  officer or employee  of the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries
     under any


                                      -27-

<PAGE>



     Compensation Plan or otherwise from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
     (B) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any Compensation Plan, or
     (C) result in any  acceleration of the time of payment,  funding or vesting
     of any such benefit.


         (9)  Neither  the Company  nor any of its  Subsidiaries  maintains  any
     compensa tion plans,  programs or arrangements the payments under which are
     or 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.  None of the Company, the Surviving Corporation or any of their
     respective  Subsidiaries  will be  obligated to make a payment as a result,
     directly or indirectly,  of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
     that 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.

         (10)  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, at or following the Effective
     Time), none of the Acquiror, the Company the Surviving Corporation,  or any
     of their respective  Subsidiaries  will be obligated to make a payment that
     would be  characterized as an "excess  parachute  payment" to an individual
     who is a  "disqualified  individual"  (as such terms are defined in Section
     280G of the Code),  without  regard to whether such  payment is  reasonable
     compensation  for  personal  services  performed  or to be performed in the
     future.

         (11) The only persons  receiving or entitled to receive  benefits under
     the  Lakeview  Savings  Bank's  Supplemental  Retirement  Plan  for  Senior
     Officers (the "SERP") are Messrs.  Kevin J. Coogan,  Kevin M. McCloskey and
     Anthony A.  Gallo.  Each of such  persons  has  waived  the  receipt of any
     benefits under the SERP prior to the date hereof and no benefits will be
     payable to any person under the SERP.


         (n) Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a
     party to or is bound by any collective bargaining Contract or understanding
     with a labor union or labor organization,  nor is the Company 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 the Company 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 the  Company's
     knowledge,  threatened,  nor is the Company aware of any activity involving
     it or any of its  Subsidiaries'  employees  seeking to certify a collective
     bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational activity.



                                      -28-

<PAGE>



         (o) Environmental Matters. To the Company's knowledge:  (1) the Company
     and each of its  Subsidiaries  has  complied  at all times with  applicable
     Environmental  Laws;  (2) no property  (including  buildings  and any other
     structures)  currently or formerly  owned or operated by the Company or any
     of its  Subsidiaries or in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has
     a  Lien,  has  been  contaminated  with,  or has had any  release  of,  any
     Hazardous Substance except as Previously Disclosed; (3) neither the Company
     nor any of its Subsidiaries  would reasonably be expected to be ruled to be
     the owner or operator under any  Environmental Law of any property in which
     it has currently or formerly  held a Lien;  (4) neither the Company nor any
     of its  Subsidiaries  is subject to liability for any  Hazardous  Substance
     disposal or contamination on any other  third-party  property;  (5) neither
     the Company nor any of its  Subsidiaries  has received  any notice,  demand
     letter,  claim or request for  information  alleging any  violation  of, or
     liability under, any Environmental  Law; (6) neither the Company nor any of
     its  Subsidiaries  is  subject to any order,  decree,  injunction  or other
     agreement  with any  Governmental  Authority or any third party relating to
     any Environmental  Law; (7) the Company,  is not aware of any circumstances
     or  conditions  involving  the  Company or any of its  Subsidia  ries,  any
     currently or formerly owned or operated  property,  or any Lien held by the
     Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  (including  the  presence of asbestos,
     underground storage tanks, lead products,  polychlorinated biphenyls or gas
     station  sites) that would  reasonably be expected to result in any claims,
     liability or investigations or result in any restrictions on the ownership,
     use, or transfer of any property pursuant to any Environmental Law; and (8)
     the Company  has  delivered  to the  Acquiror  copies of all  environmental
     reports,  studies,  sampling  data,   correspondence,   filings  and  other
     environmental  information in its possession or reasonably  available to it
     relating to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any currently or formerly
     owned or operated  property or any  property in which the Company or any of
     its Subsidiaries has held a Lien.

         (p) Tax Matters.  (1) All returns,  declarations,  reports,  estimates,
     information  returns and  statements  required to be filed on or before the
     Effective  Date under federal,  state,  local or any foreign tax laws ("Tax
     Returns") with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, have been
     or will be timely filed,  or requests for extensions have been timely filed
     and have not expired;  (2) all Tax Returns filed by the Company and its Sub
     sidiaries  are  complete  and  accurate;  (3) all Taxes shown to be due and
     payable  (without  regard to whether such Taxes have been assessed) on such
     Tax Returns (or,  with  respect to Tax Returns for which an  extension  has
     been timely  filed,  will be  required to be shown as due and payable  when
     such Tax Returns are filed) have been paid or adequate  reserves  have been
     established  for the payment of such Taxes;  (4) no audit or examination or
     refund litigation with respect to any such Tax Return is pending or, to the
     Company's knowledge, has been threatened;  (5) all deficiencies asserted or
     assessments  made as a result  of any  examination  of a Tax  Return of the
     Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  have been paid in full; (6) no waivers
     of statute of  limitations  have been given by or requested with respect to
     any Taxes of the  Company  or its  Subsidiaries;  (7) the  Company  and its
     Subsidiaries  have  never  been  a  member  of  an  affiliated,   combined,
     consolidated or


                                      -29-

<PAGE>



     unitary  Tax group for  purposes  of filing  any Tax Return  (other  than a
     consolidated  group of which the  Company  was the common  parent);  (8) no
     closing agreements,  private letter rulings,  technical advice memoranda or
     similar agreement or rulings have been entered into or issued by any taxing
     authority with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidi  aries;  (9) no
     tax is required to be  withheld  pursuant to Section  1445 of the Code as a
     result of the transfer contemplated by this Agreement; (10) the Company and
     its Subsidi  aries are not bound by any tax  indemnity,  tax sharing or tax
     allocation  agreement  or  arrangement;   and  (11)  the  Company  and  its
     Subsidiaries  have  withheld  and paid all Taxes that they are  required to
     withhold from compensation income of their employees.

         (q) Risk  Management.  All  swaps,  caps,  floors,  option  agreements,
     futures  and  forward   contracts   and  other   similar  risk   management
     arrangements,  whether  entered into for the Company's own account,  or for
     the  account  of one  or  more  of  the  Company's  Subsidiaries  or  their
     customers,  were  entered  into (1) in  accordance  with  prudent  business
     practices  and all  applicable  laws,  rules,  regulations  and  regulatory
     policies and (2) with counterparties believed to be financially responsible
     at the time;  and each of them consti  tutes the valid and legally  binding
     obligation  of the  Company  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 are in full force
     and effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidia ries, nor to the Company's
     knowledge any other party thereto,  is in breach of any of its  obligations
     under any such agreement or arrangement.

         (r) Books and  Records.  The books and  records of the  Company 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
     financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries.


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

         (t) No Brokers. No action has been taken by the Company 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,


                                      -30-

<PAGE>



     excluding a fee to be paid by the  Company to Sandler  O'Neill in an amount
     and on terms Previously Disclosed.

         (u) Year 2000 Compliance.  The Company and its Subsidiaries  have taken
     all  reasonable  steps  necessary to address the software,  accounting  and
     recordkeeping  issues raised in order for the data processing  systems used
     in the  business  conducted  by the  Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  to be
     substantially Year 2000 compliant on or before the end of 1999.

         (v)  Disclosure.  The  information  Previously  Disclosed  or otherwise
     provided to the Acquiror in connection with this Agreement does not contain
     any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
     necessary in order to make the state ments contained therein,  in the light
     of the  circumstances  in which they are being made,  not  misleading.  The
     copies of all  documents  furnished to the Acquiror  hereunder are true and
     complete.

         5.04  Representations  and  Warranties  of  the  Acquiror.   Except  as
Previously Disclosed in a paragraph of its Disclosure Schedule  corresponding to
the relevant paragraph below, the Acquiror hereby represents and warrants to the
Company as follows:

         (a)  Organization,   Standing  and  Authority.  The  Acquiror  is  duly
     organized,  validly  existing  and in  good  standing  under  the  laws  of
     Delaware,  and is duly  qualified to do business and is in good standing in
     the  jurisdictions  where its ownership or leasing of property or assets or
     the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified.

         (b) Acquiror Stock. (1) As of the date hereof,  the authorized  capital
     stock of the Acquiror  consists  solely of  350,000,000  shares of Acquiror
     Common Stock, of which  111,883,481  shares were outstanding as of November
     30, 1998, and 40,000,000  shares of Acquiror  Preferred  Stock, of which no
     shares are outstanding as of the date hereof. As of the date hereof,  other
     than the Acquiror Rights and except as Previously  Disclosed,  there are no
     shares of Acquiror Stock authorized and reserved for issuance, the Acquiror
     does not have any Rights  issued or  outstanding  with  respect to Acquiror
     Stock, and the Acquiror does not have any commitment to authorize, issue or
     sell any Acquiror Stock or Rights,  except pursuant to this Agreement.  The
     number of shares of Acquiror  Common  Stock which are issuable and reserved
     for issuance  upon  exercise of any employee or director  stock  options to
     purchase shares of Acquiror  Common Stock,  and the number and terms of any
     Rights, as of November 30, 1998, are Previously Disclosed in the Acquiror's
     Disclosure Schedule.

         (2) The shares of Acquiror Common Stock to be issued as  Consideration,
     when issued in accordance  with the terms of this  Agreement,  will be duly
     authorized,  validly  issued,  fully  paid  and  nonassessable  and free of
     preemptive rights,  with no personal  liability  attaching to the ownership
     thereof.


                                      -31-

<PAGE>



         (c) Subsidiaries.  Each of the Acquiror's Significant  Subsidiaries has
     been duly organized and is validly  existing and 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.  The  Acquiror  and  each  of  its  Significant
     Subsidiaries has the requisite power and authority to carry on its business
     as it is now being conducted and to own all its properties and assets;  the
     Acquiror has the  corporate  power and  authority  to execute,  deliver and
     perform  its  obligations  under  this  Agreement  and  to  consummate  the
     transactions  contemplated  hereby;  and The Dime Savings Bank of New York,
     FSB has the requisite  power and authority to execute,  deliver and perform
     its  obligations  as  set  forth  in the  Form  of  Subsidiary  Combination
     Agreement  attached hereto as Exhibit D and to consummate the  transactions
     contemplated thereby.

         (e) Corporate Authority. The Acquiror has the requisite corporate power
     and  authority,  and has taken all corporate  action  necessary in order to
     authorize the execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations
     under,  this Agreement and the Stock Option Agreement and to consummate the
     Merger.  This Agreement and the Stock Option  Agreement each is a valid and
     legally binding  agreement of the Acquiror  enforce able in accordance with
     its  terms  (except  as   enforceability   may  be  limited  by  applicable
     bankruptcy,  insolvency,   reorganization,  and  similar  laws  of  general
     applicability  relating  to or  affecting  creditors'  rights or by general
     equity principles).

         (f) Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults. (1) 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 the  Acquiror or any of
     its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution,  delivery or performance
     by the Acquiror of this  Agreement or to  consummate  the Merger except for
     (A) the filing of applications  and notices,  as applicable,  with the OTS,
     the  NJBD  and the FDIC  with  respect  to the  Merger  and the  Subsidiary
     Combination; (B) approval of the listing on the NYSE of the Acquiror Common
     Stock to be issued in the Merger (and  related  Acquiror  Rights);  (C) the
     filing and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement;  (D)
     the filing of a  certificate  of merger with the  Secretary of State of the
     State of Delaware  pursuant to the DGCL and the filing of a certificate  of
     merger with the  Secretary of State of the State of New Jersey  pursuant to
     the NJBCA;  and (E) 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 Acquiror Common Stock in
     the Merger. As of the date hereof,  the Acquiror is not aware of any reason
     why the  approvals  of all  Governmental  Authorities  necessary  to permit
     consummation of the transactions  contemplated  hereby will not be received
     without the imposition of a condition or  requirement  described in Section
     7.01(b).


                                      -32-

<PAGE>



         (2) Subject to receipt of the regulatory  approvals,  and expiration of
     the waiting periods,  referred to in the preceding paragraph and the making
     of all  required  filings  under  federal 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 Contract of the Acquiror or of any of its  Subsidiaries  or to
     which the Acquiror or any of its  Subsidiaries  or properties is subject or
     bound,  (B)  constitute a breach or violation of, or a default  under,  the
     certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or similar governing documents) of
     the  Acquiror  or any of its  Subsidiaries,  or (C)  require any consent or
     approval under any such law, rule,  regulation,  judgment,  decree,  order,
     governmental permit or license, agreement, indenture or instrument.

         (g) SEC Documents;  Financial  Statements.  (1) The  Acquiror's  Annual
     Reports on Form 10-K for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and
     1997,  and all other reports,  registration  statements,  definitive  proxy
     statements or information  statements  filed or to be filed by the Acquiror
     subsequent to December 31, 1997 under the Securities Act, or under Sections
     13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, in the form filed or to be
     filed  (collectively,  the "Acquiror's SEC Documents")  with the SEC, as of
     the date filed, (A) complied or will comply in all material  respects as to
     form  with the  applicable  requirements  under the  Securities  Act or the
     Exchange  Act,  as the  case  may be,  and (B)  did not (or if  amended  or
     superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement,  then as of the
     date of such  filing)  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 the light of the
     circumstances  under which they were made, not misleading;  and each of the
     balance sheets  contained in or incorporated by reference into any such SEC
     Document  (including  the  related  notes  and  schedules  thereto)  fairly
     presents,  or will fairly present,  the financial  position of the Acquiror
     and its  Subsidiaries  as of its date, and each of the statements of income
     and changes in shareholders' equity and cash flows or equivalent statements
     in such SEC Documents  (including any related notes and schedules  thereto)
     fairly presents, or will fairly present, the results of operations, changes
     in  shareholders'  equity and changes in cash flows, as the case may be, of
     the Acquiror 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.

         (2) Since  December  31, 1997,  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),  has had or is  reasonably  likely to have a  Material  Adverse
     Effect with respect to the Acquiror.



                                      -33-

<PAGE>



         (3) Since  December 31, 1997,  the Acquiror has carried on its business
     in the ordinary  course  consistent  with past practice  except for actions
     that are permitted pursuant to the proviso of Section 4.02(a).

         (h)  Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the  Acquiror's  SEC Documents
     filed  before the date hereof,  no  litigation,  claim or other  proceeding
     before any court,  arbitrator or Governmental  Authority is pending against
     the Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries  and, to the Acquiror's  knowledge,
     no such litigation, claim or other proceeding has been threatened.

         (i) Compliance with Laws. The Acquiror and each of its Subsidiaries:

         (1) conducts its business in 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, the
     Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and all other applicable fair lending laws and
     other laws relating to discriminatory business practices;

         (2) 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;

         (3)  has  received,   since  December  31,  1997  no   notification  or
     communication  from  any  Governmental  Authority  (A)  asserting  that the
     Acquiror or any of its Subsidi aries is not in  compliance  with any of the
     statutes,  regulations  or  ordinances  that  such  Governmental  Authority
     enforces;  (B)  threatening  to revoke any  license,  franchise,  permit or
     governmental  authorization  (nor,  to  the  Acquiror's  knowledge,  do any
     grounds for any of the foregoing exist) or (C) restricting or disqualifying
     their  activities  (except  for  restrictions  generally  imposed  by rule,
     regulation or administrative  policy on banking  organizations  generally);
     and

         (4) is not subject to any order or decree  issued by, or a party to any
     agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any commitment
     letter or similar  undertaking to, or subject to any order or directive by,
     a  recipient  of any  supervisory  letter  from or has  adopted  any  board
     resolutions at the request of any Governmental  Authority,  or been advised
     by any Governmental  Authority that it is considering issuing or requesting
     any such  agreement  or other  action or have  knowledge  of any pending or
     threatened regulatory investigation.



                                      -34-

<PAGE>



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


         (k)  Disclosure.  The  information  Previously  Disclosed  or otherwise
     provided to the Company in connection  with this Agreement does not contain
     any untrue  statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
     necessary in order to make the state ments contained therein,  in the light
     of the  circumstances  in which they are being made,  not  misleading.  The
     copies of all  documents  furnished to the Company  hereunder  are true and
     complete.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                                    Covenants

         6.01  Reasonable  Best Efforts.  Subject to the terms and conditions of
this  Agreement,  each  of the  Company  and  the  Acquiror  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 Merger as promptly as practicable  and otherwise to enable  consummation  of
the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and shall cooperate fully with the other
party hereto to that end.


         6.02 Shareholder  Approvals.  The Company agrees to take, in accordance
with applicable law,  applicable stock exchange rules,  the Company  Certificate
and the Company ByLaws,  all action necessary to convene an appropriate  meeting
of  shareholders  of the  Company to  consider  and vote upon the  approval  and
adoption of this Agreement and any other matters  required to be approved by the
Company's  shareholders  for  consummation  of the Merger  and the  transactions
contemplated hereby, and to solicit shareholder approval and adoption (including
any  adjournment  or  postponement,  the  "Company  Meeting"),  as  promptly  as
practicable after the Registration Statement is declared effective.  The Company
Board is recommending and, unless the Company Board, after having consulted with
and considered the written advice of outside  counsel to the Company Board,  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 New
Jersey law,  the Company  Board will  continue to recommend  that the  Company's
shareholders approve this Agreement and take any other action required to permit
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

         6.03  Registration  Statement.  (a) The  Acquiror  agrees to  prepare a
registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration  Statement"),  to be filed
by the Acquiror with the SEC


                                      -35-

<PAGE>



in connection with the issuance of Acquiror  Common Stock (and related  Acquiror
Rights) in the Merger  (including  the proxy  statement and prospectus and other
proxy  solicitation  materials of the Company  constituting  a part thereof (the
"Proxy Statement") and all related documents).  The Company agrees to cooperate,
and to cause its Subsidiaries to cooperate,  with the Acquiror,  its counsel and
its  accountants,  in  preparation of the  Registration  Statement and the Proxy
Statement;  and,  provided that the Company and its Subsidiaries have cooperated
as  required  above,  the  Acquiror  agrees  to  file  the  Proxy  Statement  in
preliminary form with the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable, and to file
the Registration  Statement with the SEC as soon as reasonably practicable after
any SEC comments with respect to the  preliminary  Proxy Statement are resolved.
Each of the Company and the Acquiror  agrees to use its reasonable  best efforts
to  cause  the  Registration  Statement  to  be  declared  effective  under  the
Securities Act as promptly as reasonably  practicable after filing thereof.  The
Acquiror also agrees to use all reasonable  best efforts to obtain all necessary
state  securities law or "Blue Sky" permits and approvals  required to carry out
the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement.  The Company agrees to furnish
to the Acquiror  all  information  concerning  the  Company,  its  Subsidiaries,
officers,   directors  and  shareholders  as  may  be  reasonably  requested  in
connection with the foregoing.

         (b) Each of the Company and the Acquiror  agrees,  as to itself and its
Subsidi aries, that none of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for
inclusion or incorporation by reference in (1) 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 (2) the
Proxy  Statement and any  amendment or  supplement  thereto will, at the date of
mailing to  shareholders  and at the time of the  Company  Meeting,  contain any
untrue statement which, at the time and in the light of the circumstances  under
which  such  statement  is made,  is false or  misleading  with  respect  to any
material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct any statement
in any earlier  statement in the Proxy  Statement or any amendment or supplement
thereto.  Each of the Company and the Acquiror  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) The  Acquiror  agrees to advise  the  Company,  promptly  after the
Acquiror  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 the
Acquiror  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.



                                      -36-

<PAGE>



         6.04 Press  Releases.  Each of the Company and the Acquiror 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 for any release or statement that, in
the written  opinion of outside  counsel to the  Company,  is required by law or
regulation and as to which the Company has used its best efforts to discuss with
the Acquiror in advance,  provided  that such release or statement  has not been
caused by, or is not the result of, a previous disclosure by or at the direction
of the  Company or any of its  representatives  that was not  permitted  by this
Agreement).

         6.05  Access;  Information.  (a) Each of the Company  and the  Acquiror
agrees that upon  reasonable  notice and subject to applicable  laws relating to
the  exchange  of informa  tion,  it shall  afford the other party and the other
party's  officers,   employees,   counsel,   accountants  and  other  authorized
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 (1) 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 (2) all other
information  concern ing the  business,  properties  and  personnel of it as the
other may reasonably request.

         (b) Each of the Company and the  Acquiror  agrees that it will not, and
will cause its representatives not to, use any information  obtained pursuant to
this  Section  5.05  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 represen tatives to keep
confidential,  all information and documents  obtained  pursuant to this Section
6.05 unless such  information  (1) was already known to such party,  (2) becomes
available  to such party from other  sources not known by such party to be bound
by a  confidentiality  obligation,  (3) is  disclosed  with  the  prior  written
approval  of the party to which such  information  pertains or (4) 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 or extracts  thereof  containing  information  and
data as to another party hereto to be returned to the party which  furnished the
same.

         (c) 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 agree ment in this  Agreement,  or the  conditions to either party's
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         6.06 Acquisition  Proposals.  The Company 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


                                      -37-

<PAGE>



with,  any person  relating  to, any tender or exchange  offer,  proposal  for a
merger, consolidation or other business combination involving the Company 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, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than the transactions
contem  plated  by  this  Agreement  (any  of  the  foregoing,  an  "Acquisition
Proposal");  provided that, if the Company is not otherwise in violation of this
Section 6.06,  the Company Board may provide  information  to, and may engage in
such  negotiations or discussions  with, a person with respect to an Acquisition
Proposal,  directly or through representatives,  if (a) the Company Board, after
having  consulted with and  considered the written advice of outside  counsel to
the Company  Board,  has  determined  in good faith that the  provision  of such
information  or the engaging in such  negotiations  or discussion is required in
order to discharge  properly the directors'  fiduciary duties in accordance with
New  Jersey  law  and  (b)  the  Company  has   received   from  such  person  a
confidentiality  agreement  in  substantially  the same form as entered  into by
Acquiror.  The  Company  also  agrees  immediately  to  cease  and  cause  to be
terminated any activities,  discussions or  negotiations  conducted prior to the
date of this Agreement with any parties other than the Acquiror, with respect to
any of the foregoing.  The Company shall  promptly  (within 24 hours) advise the
Acquiror  following  the  receipt  by it of any  Acquisition  Proposal  and  the
substance thereof  (including the identity of the person making such Acquisition
Proposal),  and advise the  Acquiror of any  developments  with  respect to such
Acquisition Proposal immediately upon the occurrence thereof.

         6.07  Affiliate  Agreements.  Not later  than the 15th day prior to the
mailing of the Proxy  Statement,  the Company  shall  deliver to the  Acquiror a
schedule of each person that,  to the Company's  knowledge,  is or is reasonably
likely to be, as of the date of the Company Meeting, deemed to be an "affiliate"
of it (each,  a "Company  Affiliate") as that term is used in Rule 145 under the
Securities  Act. The Company agrees to use its reasonable  best efforts to cause
each person who may be deemed to be a Company  Affiliate  to execute and deliver
to the  Company  and the  Acquiror on or before the date of mailing of the Proxy
Statement an agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

         6.08 Takeover Laws. No party shall knowingly 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 No Rights  Triggered.  The Company shall take all reasonable steps
neces  sary  to  ensure  that  the  entering  into  of  this  Agreement  and the
consummation  of the  transactions  contemplated  hereby and any other action or
combination of actions,  or any other transactions  contemplated  hereby, do not
and will not  result in the  grant of any  rights  to any  person  (a) under the
Company  Certificate or the Company By-Laws or (b) under any material  agreement
to which


                                      -38-


<PAGE>



it or any of its  Subsidiaries  is a party (except as expressly  contemplated by
the mandatory provisions under its stock option plans, as applicable).

         6.10 NYSE  Listing.  The  Acquiror  agrees to use its  reasonable  best
efforts to list,  prior to the Effective Date, on the NYSE,  subject to official
notice of  issuance,  the shares of  Acquiror  Common  Stock to be issued to the
holders of Company Common Stock in the Merger.

         6.11  Regulatory  Applications.  (a) The  Acquiror  and the Company 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 the Acquiror and the Company agrees that
it will consult with the other party hereto with respect to the obtaining of all
material permits,  consents,  approvals and  authorizations of all third parties
and   Governmental   Authorities   necessary  or  advisable  to  consummate  the
transactions  contemplated  by this Agreement and each party will keep the other
party appraised of the status of material  matters relating to completion of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Copies of applications and correspondence with
such Governmental Authorities promptly shall be provided to the other party.

         (b) Each of the  Acquiror  and the Company  agrees,  upon  request,  to
furnish  the  other  party  with  all   information   concerning   itself,   its
Subsidiaries,  directors,  officers and share  holders 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 Subsidia
ries to any third party or Governmental Authority.

         6.12 Indemnification. (a) Following the Effective Date and for a period
of six years thereafter, the Acquiror shall indemnify,  defend and hold harmless
the  present  and  former   directors  and  officers  of  the  Company  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),  whether asserted or claimed prior
to, at or after the Effective  Time,  to the fullest  extent that the Company is
permitted to indemnify  its  directors and officers  under  applicable  law, the
Company  Certificate and the Company ByLaws as in effect on the date hereof (and
Acquiror  shall,  or shall cause the  Surviving  Corporation  to,  also  advance
expenses as  incurred  to the fullest  extent  permitted  under  applicable  law
provided the person to whom  expenses are advanced  provides an  undertaking  to
repay such  advances  if it is  ultimately  determined  that such  person is not
entitled to indemnification).

         (b) For a period of three years from the Effective Time, Acquiror shall
use its  reasonable  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 the Company or any of its


                                      -39-

<PAGE>



Subsidiaries  (determined  as of the  Effective  Time)  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 the Company;  provided,  however, that in no
event  shall the  Acquiror  be  required  to expend  more than twice the current
amount spent by the Company (the "Insurance Amount") to maintain or procure such
directors' and officers'  insurance  coverage;  provided,  further,  that if the
Acquiror  is unable to  maintain  or obtain  the  insurance  called  for by this
Section 6.12(b), the Acquiror 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 the Company or any  Subsidiary  may be
required  to  make  application  and  provide  customary   representations   and
warranties  to Acquirer's  insur ance carrier for the purpose of obtaining  such
insurance.

         (c) Any Indemnified  Party wishing to claim  indemnification  under Sec
tion  6.12(a),   upon  learning  of  any  claim,  action,  suit,  proceeding  or
investigation  described  above,  shall  promptly  notify the Acquiror  thereof;
provided that the failure so to notify shall not affect the  obligations  of the
Acquiror  under  Section  6.12(a)  unless and to the extent that the Acquiror is
actually prejudiced as a result of such failure. In the event of any such claim,
action, suit,  proceeding or investigation  (whether arising before or after the
Effective  Time), (1) the Acquiror or the Surviving  Corporation  shall have the
right to assume the defense thereof and the Acquiror shall not be liable to such
Indemnified  Parties  for any  legal  expenses  of other  counsel  or any  other
expenses  subsequently  incurred by such Indemnified  Parties in connection with
the defense  thereof,  except that if the Acquiror or the Surviving  Corporation
elects not to assume such defense or counsel for the Indemnified Parties advises
that there are issues that raise  conflicts of interest  between the Acquiror or
the Surviving  Corporation and the Indemnified  Parties, the Indemnified Parties
may retain  counsel  satisfactory  to them,  and the  Acquiror or the  Surviving
Corporation  shall pay all reasonable  fees and expenses of such counsel for the
Indemnified  Parties  promptly as statements  therefor are  received;  provided,
however,  that the Acquiror shall be obligated pursuant to this paragraph (c) to
pay for only one firm of counsel for all Indemnified Parties in any jurisdiction
unless the use of one counsel for such  Indemnified  Parties  would present such
counsel with a conflict of interest,  (2) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate
in the defense of any such matter and (3) the  Acquiror  shall not be liable for
any settlement  effected without its prior written consent,  which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld; and provided, further, that the Acquiror shall not
have any obligation  hereunder to any  Indemnified  Party when and if a court of
competent jurisdiction shall ultimately determine,  and such determination shall
have  become  final  and  non-appealable,   that  the  indemnification  of  such
Indemnified Party in the manner  contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable
law.

         (d)  If  the  Acquiror  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  consolida  tion 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 the Acquiror shall
assume the obligations set forth in this Section 6.12.


                                      -40-

<PAGE>



         6.13 Accountants'  Letters.  Each of the Company and the Acquiror shall
use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be delivered to the other party, and
such other party's  directors and officers who sign the Registration  Statement,
letters of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,  indepen dent auditors,  dated (1) the date on
which the  Registration  Statement shall become effective and (2) a date shortly
prior to the Effective  Date, and addressed to such other party,  and such direc
tors and  officers,  in form  and  substance  customary  for  "comfort"  letters
delivered by independent  accountants in accordance with Statement of Accounting
Standards No. 72. The Acquiror agrees to bear the expense of the letter referred
to in clause (2) above.

         6.14  Notification  of Certain  Matters.  Each of the  Company  and the
Acquiror  shall  give  prompt  notice  to  the  other  of  any  fact,  event  or
circumstance  known to it that (1) 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 or (2)  would  cause  or
constitute  a  material  breach  of  any  of  its  representations,  warranties,
covenants or agreements contained herein.

         6.15 Advisory Board. The Acquiror agrees to establish,  and to maintain
for a period of one year following the Effective Date, an advisory board for New
Jersey on which each person who was a director of the Company  immediately prior
to the  Effective  Time shall be invited to serve.  Each person  serving on such
advisory board shall be eligible to receive a fee of $20,000 per annum.

         6.16  Employee  Benefits.  Acquiror  agrees that the  employees  of the
Company  and  its  Subsidiaries  who  are  employed  by  Acquiror  or any of its
Subsidiaries  after the  Effective  Date will be provided  for at least one year
after the Effective Date with benefits under employee benefit plans during their
period of employment  which are no less  favorable in the  aggregate  than those
provided  by Acquiror  to  similarly  situated  employees  of  Acquiror  and its
Subsidiaries. Acquiror will cause each employee benefit plan of Acquiror and its
Subsidiaries in which employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries are eligible
to  participate  to take into  account for purposes of  eligibility  and vesting
thereunder,  but not for  purposes  of  benefit  accrual,  the  service  of such
employees  with the Company and its  Subsidiaries  as if such  service were with
Acquiror and its Subsidiaries, to the same extent that such service was credited
under a comparable  plan of the Company and its  Subsidiaries.  Employees of the
Company  and its  Subsidiaries  shall not be subject to any  waiting  periods or
pre-existing condition limitations under the medical, dental and health plans of
the  Company or its  Subsidiaries  in which they are  eligible  to  participate.
Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries will retain credit for unused sick
leave and vacation pay which has been accrued as of the  Effective  Time and for
purposes of  determining  the  entitlement  of such  employees to sick leave and
vacation pay following the Effective  Time,  the service of such  employees with
the Company and its  Subsidiaries  shall be treated as if such  service was with
the Acquiror and its Subsidiaries.

         The Company and its  Subsidiaries  will comply with  applicable law and
the terms of the  relevant  Compensation  Plan with respect to the voting of any
Company Common Stock


                                      -41-

<PAGE>



held by any such Plan. The Company's  Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the "ESOP")
may be terminated as of the Effective  Date in accordance  with the terms of the
ESOP (but not before such date); provided, however, that no distributions may be
made to participants in connection with such  termination  except as directed by
Acquiror.  The  Company  will  adopt  amendments  to the ESOP as are  reasonably
requested by Acquiror in connection with the termination.  Contribu tions to the
ESOP and to any profit  sharing,  defined  benefit  plan or other  pension  plan
maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will only be made after the
date of this Agreement to the extent approved in writing in advance by Acquiror.

         6.17 Certain  Accounting  Policies of the Company.  Upon the request of
the Acquiror,  the Company shall,  consistent with generally accepted accounting
principles and regu latory accounting principles, use its best efforts to record
any accounting  adjustments  required to conform the loan,  litigation and other
reserve  and real  estate  valuation  policies  and  practices  (including  loan
classifications  and levels of reserves) of the Company and its  Subsidiaries so
as to reflect  consistently  on a mutually  satisfactory  basis the policies and
practices of the  Acquiror;  provided,  however,  that the Company  shall not be
obligated  to record any such  accounting  adjustments  (1) unless and until the
Company shall be satisfied that the conditions to the obliga tion of the parties
to  consummate  the Merger will be  satisfied or waived on or before the Closing
Date, and (2) in no event until the day prior to the Closing Date.

         6.18 Special  Dividend.  Unless  otherwise  requested by the  Acquiror,
immedi  ately prior to the  Effective  Date,  the Company  shall cause  Lakeview
Savings  Bank,  to pay in cash the maximum  dividend  (the  "Special  Dividend")
permitted to be paid to the Company under applicable law and regulation.


                                   ARTICLE VII

                    Conditions to Consummation of the Merger

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

         (a) Shareholder  Approval.  This Agreement shall have been duly adopted
     by the  affirmative  vote of the  holders  of the  requisite  number of the
     outstanding  shares of Company  Common  Stock  entitled to vote  thereon in
     accordance  with  applicable  law,  the  Company  Articles  and the Company
     By-laws.

         (b)   Governmental   and   Regulatory   Consents.   All  approvals  and
     authorizations  of, filings and  registrations  with, and notifications to,
     all  Governmental  Authorities  required for the consummation of the Merger
     and the Subsidiary Combination, and for


                                      -42-

<PAGE>



     the prevention of any termination of any material right, privilege, license
     or  agreement  of either the  Acquiror or the  Company or their  respective
     Subsidiaries,  shall have been  obtained or made and shall be in full force
     and effect and all  waiting  periods  required  by law shall have  expired;
     provided,  however,  that none of the preceding shall be deemed obtained or
     made if it shall be subject to any condition or  restriction  the effect of
     which  would have been such that the  Acquiror  would not  reasonably  have
     entered into this Agreement had such condition or restriction been known as
     of the date hereof.

         (c) Third Party  Consents.  All  consents or  approvals of all persons,
     other than Governmental Authorities, required for or in connection with the
     execution,  delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
     of the  Merger  shall  have been  obtained  and shall be in full  force and
     effect,  unless the  failure to obtain any such  consent or approval is not
     reasonably  likely to have,  individually  or in the aggregate,  a Material
     Adverse Effect on the Surviving Corporation.

         (d) 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 transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         (e)  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.

         (f) Blue Sky Approvals.  All permits and other authorizations under the
     federal and state  securities  laws (other than that referred to in Section
     7.01(e)) and other authorizations  necessary to consummate the transactions
     contemplated  hereby and to issue the shares of Acquiror  Common Stock (and
     related  Acquiror  Rights)  to be  issued  in the  Merger  shall  have been
     received and be in full force and effect.

         (g) Listing.  The shares of Acquiror Common Stock (and related Acquiror
     Rights) to be issued in the Merger shall have been  approved for listing on
     the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance.

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

         (a) Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties
     of the Acquiror set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of
     the date of this  Agreement and as of the Effective  Date as though made on
     and as of the Effective Date


                                      -43-

<PAGE>



     (except that representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of
     the date of this  Agreement  or some other  date shall be true and  correct
     only as of such date),  and the Company shall have received a  certificate,
     dated the  Effective  Date,  signed on behalf of the  Acquiror  by a senior
     officer of Acquiror to such effect.

         (b) Performance of Obligations of the Acquiror. The Acquiror shall have
     performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
     by it under  this  Agreement  at or prior to the  Effective  Time,  and the
     Company shall have received a certificate, dated the Effective Date, signed
     on behalf of the  Acquiror  by a senior  officer  of the  Acquiror  to such
     effect.

         (c) Opinion of Counsel.  The  Company  shall have  received an opinion,
     dated the Effective Date, of Sullivan & Cromwell,  counsel to the Acquiror,
     to the effect  that the  shares of  Acquiror  Common  Stock to be issued as
     Consideration,  when issued in accordance  with the terms  hereof,  will be
     duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         (d) Tax Opinion of Company's  Counsel.  The Company shall have received
     an opinion of Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C., counsel to the Company,
     to the effect that (1) the Merger constitutes a "reorganization" within the
     meaning  of  Section  368 of the  Code  and (2) no  gain  or  loss  will be
     recognized by shareholders of the Company to the extent they receive shares
     of Acquiror Common Stock as Consideration in exchange for shares of Company
     Common Stock.

         (e) Accountants'  Letters.  The Company shall have received the letters
     referred to in Section  6.14 from KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP,  the  Acquiror's
     independent auditors.

         7.03  Conditions to Obligation of the Acquiror.  The  obligation of the
Acquiror to consummate the Merger is also subject to the  fulfillment or written
waiver by the  Acquiror  prior to the  Effective  Time of each of the  following
conditions:

         (a) Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties
     of the Company set forth in this Agreement  shall be true and correct as of
     the date of this Agree ment and as of the Effective  Date as though made on
     and as of the Effective  Date (except that  representations  and warranties
     that by their  terms speak as of the date of this  Agreement  or some other
     date shall be true and correct only as of such date) and the Acquiror shall
     have received a certificate,  dated the Effective Date, signed on behalf of
     the Company by the Chief Executive  Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
     of the Company to such effect.

         (b)  Performance of Obligations of the Company.  The Company shall have
     performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
     by it under this


                                      -44-

<PAGE>



     Agreement at or prior to the Effective  Time,  and the Acquiror  shall have
     received a certificate,  dated the Effective Date,  signed on behalf of the
     Company by the Chief Executive  Officer and the Chief Financial  Officer of
     the Company to such effect.

         (c) Payment of Special Dividend.  Unless Acquiror  otherwise  requests,
     Lakeview Savings Bank shall have paid the Special Dividend.

         (d) Tax Opinion of the  Acquiror's  Counsel.  The  Acquiror  shall have
     received an opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell,  counsel to the Acquiror, dated
     the  Effective   Date,  to  the  effect  that  the  Merger   constitutes  a
     "reorganization" within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code.

         (e) Accountants'  Letters.  The Acquiror and its directors and officers
     who sign  the  Registration  Statement  shall  have  received  the  letters
     referred  to in Section  6.14 from KPMG Peat  Marwick  LLP,  the  Company's
     independent auditors.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                   Termination

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

         (a) Mutual  Consent.  At any time prior to the  Effective  Time, by the
     mutual  consent of the Acquiror and the Company,  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 the Acquiror or
     the Company,  in each case if its Board of Directors so  determines by vote
     of a majority of the members of its entire  Board,  in the event of either:
     (1) a breach by the other party of any representation or warranty 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;  or (2)
     a breach by the other party 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 and
     which breach would be reasonably likely,  individually or in the aggregate,
     to have a Material Adverse Effect on the breaching party.

         (c) Delay.  At any time prior to the Effective Time, by the Acquiror or
     the Company,  in each case if its Board of Directors so  determines by vote
     of a majority  of the  members of its entire  Board,  in the event that the
     Merger is not consummated by September 30, 1999,  except to the extent that
     the failure of the Merger then to be consum  mated arises out of or results
     from the action or inaction of the party  seeking to terminate  pursuant to
     this Section 8.01(c).

         (d) No Approval.  By the Company or the  Acquiror,  in each case if its
     Board of Directors so  determines by a vote of a majority of the members of
     its  entire  Board,  in the  event  (1) the  approval  of any  Governmental
     Authority   required  for   consummation   of  the  Merger  and  the  other
     transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been denied by final
     nonappealable action of such Governmental Authority or (2) any share holder
     approval  required by Section  6.02  herein is not  obtained at the Company
     Meeting.

         (e) Failure to  Recommend,  Etc. By the  Acquiror,  if (1) prior to the
     effective ness of the Registration  Statement,  the Company Board shall not
     have  recommended  adoption and approval of this Agreement to the Company's
     shareholders,  (2) at any time prior to the receipt of the  approval of the
     Company's  shareholders  contemplated by Section 7.01(a), the Company Board
     shall have  withdrawn  such  recommendation  or  modified  or changed  such
     recommendation  in a  manner  adverse  to the  interests  of  the  Acquiror
     (whether in  accordance  with Section 6.02 or otherwise) or (3) the Company
     Board  participates  in  (or  authorizes   participation  in)  negotiations
     regarding the substan tive terms of an Acquisition Proposal).

         (f)  Acceptance  of Superior  Proposal.  By the  Company,  if,  without
     breaching  Section 6.06, the Company shall  contemporaneously  enter into a
     definitive  agreement  with a  third  party  providing  for an  Acquisition
     Proposal  on terms  determined  in good faith by the Company  Board,  after
     consulting with and considering the written advice of the Company's outside
     counsel  and  financial  advisors,   to  constitute  a  Superior  Proposal;
     provided,  that the right to terminate  this  Agreement  under this Section
     8.01(f)  shall not be  available  to the Company  unless it delivers to the
     Acquiror  (1) written  notice of the Com pany's  intention  to terminate at
     least  five days  prior to  termination  and (2)  simultaneously  with such
     termination, the Fee referred to in Section 8.03.

         (g) Stock Option  Agreement,  Shareholder  Agreements and Compensation-
     Related  Agreements.  By the  Acquiror,  if (1) the Stock Option  Agreement
     shall not have been  executed and  delivered by the Company by the close of
     business on the day following the date of execution of this Agreement;  (2)
     shareholders  of the  Company  holding  the power to vote in the  aggregate
     approximately 30% of the outstanding  shares of Company Common Stock, shall
     have not  executed  and  delivered  Shareholder  Agreements  in the form of
     Exhibit B hereto by the close of business on the second day  following  the
     date of execution of this  Agreement;  or (3) the  employees  identified on
     Exhibit  C shall  not  have  executed  compensation-related  agreements  as
     Previously  Disclosed  by the  Company  and the  Acquiror  by the  close of
     business  on the  second  day  following  the  date  of  execution  of this
     Agreement.



                                      -45-

<PAGE>



         8.02 Effect of Termination and Abandonment. In the event of termination
of this  Agreement and the  abandonment  of the Merger  pursuant to this Article
VIII, no party to this Agreement shall have any liability or further  obligation
to any other party  hereunder  except (a) as set forth in Sections 8.03 and 9.01
and (b) that  termination  will not relieve a breaching party from liability for
any willful breach of this Agreement giving rise to such termination.

         8.03  Termination  Fee. If (1) the Acquiror  terminates  this Agreement
pursuant to Section  8.01(b)  (at a time when the  Company  could not also do so
pursuant to Section  8.01(b)) or Section  8.01(e) or (2) the Company  terminates
this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(f), then, within five business days of a
termination  pursuant to Section 8.01(e) and  simultaneously  with a termination
pursuant to Section 8.01(f), the Company shall pay the Acquiror by wire transfer
in immediately available funds a fee of $400,000 (the "Fee").


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                  Miscellaneous

         9.01 Survival. No representations, warranties, agreements and covenants
contained in this Agreement (1) other than those contained in Sections  6.05(b),
8.02,  and 8.03 and in this Article IX, shall  survive the  termination  of this
Agreement if this  Agreement is terminated  prior to the Effective  Time, or (2)
other than those  contained in Sections 6.12, 6.15 and in this Article IX, shall
survive the Effective Time.

         9.02 Waiver;  Amendment.  Prior to the Effective Time, any provision of
this Agreement may be (a) waived by the party  benefitted by the  provision,  or
(b) amended or modi fied at any time,  by an  agreement  in writing  executed by
both parties,  except that,  after approval of the Merger by the shareholders of
the  Company,  no  amendment  may be made which under  applicable  law  requires
further approval of such  shareholders  without  obtaining such required further
approval.

         9.03  Counterparts.  This  Agreement  may be  executed  in one or  more
counter parts, 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 New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

         9.05  Expenses.  Subject to Sections  8.03 and 6.13,  each party hereto
will bear all expenses  incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the
transactions  contemplated hereby, except that printing and postage expenses and
SEC  registration  fees shall be shared  equally  between  the  Company  and the
Acquiror.



                                      -46-

<PAGE>



         9.06 Notices. All notices,  requests and other communications hereunder
to a party  shall be in  writing  and shall be  deemed  given (a) on the date of
delivery, if personally delivered or telecopied (with confirmation),  (b) on the
first business day following the date of dispatch,  if delivered by a recognized
next-day courier service, or (c) on the third business day following the date of
mailing,  if mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt  requested),
in each case to such party at its address or telecopy  number set forth below or
such other address or numbers as such party may specify by notice to the parties
hereto.

If to the Company, to:

         Kevin J. Coogan
         President and Chief Executive Officer
         Lakeview Financial Corp.
         989 McBride Avenue
         West Paterson, NJ  07424
         Facsimile:  (973) 890-1846


With a copy to:

         Samuel J. Malizia, Esq.
         Malizia, Spidi, Sloane & Fisch, P.C.
         One Franklin Square
         1301 K Street, N.W.
         Suite 700 East
         Washington, D.C. 20005
         Facsimile:  (202) 434-4661


If to the Acquiror, to:

         Chief Financial Officer
         Dime Bancorp, Inc.
         589 Fifth Avenue
         3rd Floor
         New York, New York 10017
         Facsimile:  (212) 326-6194






                                      -47-

<PAGE>



With a copies to:

         General Counsel
         Dime Bancorp, Inc.
         589 Fifth Avenue
         3rd Floor
         New York, New York 10017
         Facsimile:  (212) 326-6110


         Mitchell S. Eitel, Esq.
         Sullivan & Cromwell
         125 Broad Street
         New York, New York 10004
         Facsimile:  (212) 558-3588.

         9.07 Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
(together  with the  Disclosure  Schedules,  the Stock Option  Agreement and the
Exhibits hereto) represents the entire  understanding of the parties hereto with
reference to the transactions con templated hereby and this Agreement supersedes
any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. Except for Section
6.12,  insofar  as  such  Section  expressly  provides  certain  rights  to  the
Indemnified  Parties  named  therein,  nothing in this  Agreement,  expressed or
implied, is intended to confer upon any person, other than the parties hereto or
their  respective  successors  and  permitted  assigns,  any  rights,  remedies,
obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.



                                      * * *



                                      -48-




                                                              EXHIBIT A
                                                              ---------


                         FORM OF STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT


         STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of December 16, 1998, between LAKEVIEW
FINANCIAL CORP., a New Jersey corporation ("Issuer"), and DIME BANCORP, INC., an
Delaware corporation ("Grantee").

                                    RECITALS

         A.  Grantee  and Issuer  have  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of
Merger, dated as of December 15, 1998 (as amended, supplemented or replaced from
time to time,  the  "Merger  Agreement")  contemplating  a business  combination
between  Issuer  and  Grantee  (the  "Merger").  Capitalized  terms used in this
Agreement and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the
Merger Agreement.

         B. As a  condition  and  inducement  to the  willingness  of Grantee to
execute (and pursue the transactions  contemplated by) the Merger Agreement, and
in  consideration  therefor,  Issuer has agreed to grant  Grantee the Option (as
defined below).

         C. The Board of Directors  of Issuer has approved the Merger  Agreement
and the transactions contemplated thereby (including the Merger and the grant of
the Option (as defined below)) prior to the date hereof.

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

         1. Grant of Option.  Issuer hereby grants to Grantee an  unconditional,
irrevocable  option (the "Option") to purchase,  subject to the terms hereof, up
to an aggregate  of 958,877  fully paid and  nonassessable  shares of the common
stock,  par value  $2.00 per share,  of Issuer  ("Common  Stock") at a price per
share  equal to $21.50  (such  price,  as adjusted  if  applicable,  the "Option
Price");  provided  that in no event  shall the  number of shares for which this
Option is  exercisable  exceed  19.9% of the  issued and  outstanding  shares of
Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock that may be received upon the
exercise  of the Option and the Option  Price are subject to  adjustment  as set
forth below.

         2. Exercise of Option.  (a) The Holder (as defined  below) may exercise
the  Option,  in whole or part,  if, but only if, both a  Preliminary  Event (as
defined  below) and a  Triggering  Event (as  defined  below)  occur  before the
occurrence of an Exercise  Termination  Event (as defined below),  provided that
the Holder shall have sent the written  notice of such  exercise (as provided in
Section 2(e)) within 90 days following the first  Triggering  Event to occur (or
such later period as provided in Section 10). Each


                                       -1-

<PAGE>



of the following  shall be an "Exercise  Termination  Event":  (1) the Effective
Time of the Merger;  (2) the  termination of the Merger  Agreement in accordance
with the provisions  thereof, if such termination occurs prior to the occurrence
of an Preliminary  Event and is not a termination by Grantee pursuant to Section
8.01(b) or (e) of the Merger  Agreement;  or (3) the passage of eighteen  months
(or such  longer  period as provided  in Section  10) after  termination  of the
Merger  Agreement,  if  such  termination  is  concurrent  with or  follows  the
occurrence of an Preliminary  Event or is a termination  by Grantee  pursuant to
Section 8.01(b) or (e) of the Merger Agreement. The term "Holder" shall mean the
holder or  holders  of the  Option.  Notwithstanding  anything  to the  contrary
contained  herein,  (1) the Option may not be exercised at any time when Grantee
shall be in material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants
or  agreements  contained  in the Merger  Agreement  such that  Issuer  shall be
entitled to terminate the Merger  Agreement  pursuant to Section 8.01(b) thereof
and (2) this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the termination of the
Merger  Agreement by Issuer  pursuant to Section  8.01(b) thereof as a result of
the material breach by Grantee of its representations,  warranties, covenants or
agreements contained in the Merger Agreement.

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

         (1) Issuer or any Issuer Subsidiary (as defined below),  without having
     received  Grantee's  prior  written  consent,  shall have  entered  into an
     agreement to engage in an Acquisition  Transaction  (as defined below) with
     any person (the term  "person"  for purposes of this  Agreement  having the
     meaning assigned thereto in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations  thereunder
     (collectively,   the  "1934  Act"))  other  than  Grantee  or  any  Grantee
     Subsidiary  (as  defined  below) or the Board of  Directors  of Issuer (the
     "Issuer  Board") shall have  recommended  that the  shareholders  of Issuer
     approve or accept any Acquisition  Transaction  other than the Merger.  For
     purposes of this Agreement:

              (A)  "Acquisition   Transaction"   shall  mean  (x)  a  merger  or
         consolidation,  or any  similar  transaction,  involving  Issuer  or an
         Issuer  Subsidiary  (other  than  mergers,  consolidations  or  similar
         transactions  (1)  involving  solely  Issuer  and/or one or more wholly
         owned  Subsidiaries of the Issuer or (2) in which the voting securities
         of Issuer  outstanding  immediately prior thereto continue to represent
         (by either  remaining  outstanding  or being  converted into the voting
         securities of the surviving  entity of any such  transaction)  at least
         50% of the combined voting power of the


                                       -2-

<PAGE>



          voting  securities of the Issuer or the surviving  entity  outstanding
          immediately after the consummation of such merger,  consolidation,  or
          similar transaction, provided that any such transaction is not entered
          into  in  violation  of the  terms  of the  Merger  Agreement),  (y) a
          purchase,  lease or other  acquisition of 25% or more of the assets of
          Issuer or an Issuer Subsidiary, or (z) a purchase or other acquisition
          (including  by  way  of  merger,  consolidation,   share  exchange  or
          otherwise) of securities  representing 15% or more of the voting power
          of Issuer or an Issuer Subsidiary;

              (B)  "Subsidiary"  shall have the  meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2
         under the 1934 Act;

              (C) "Significant  Subsidiary"  shall have the meaning set forth in
         Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X  promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
         Commission (the "SEC");

              (D) "Issuer  Subsidiary" shall mean any Significant  Subsidiary of
         Issuer; and

              (E) "Grantee Subsidiary" shall mean any Subsidiary of Grantee.

         (2) Any person other than the Grantee,  any Grantee  Subsidiary  or the
     Issuer's  employee  stock  ownership  plan shall have  acquired  beneficial
     ownership  or the right to acquire  beneficial  ownership of 15% or more of
     the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the term "beneficial ownership" for
     purposes of this Agreement  having the meaning  assigned thereto in Section
     13(d) of the 1934 Act);

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

                                       -3-

<PAGE>



         (4) The Issuer  Board shall have  withdrawn  or modified  (or  publicly
     announced  its  intention  to withdraw or modify) in any manner  adverse to
     Grantee its  recommendation  that the  shareholders  of Issuer  approve the
     transactions  contemplated by the Merger Agreement,  or Issuer or an Issuer
     Subsidiary  shall have  authorized,  recommended  or proposed  (or publicly
     announced its intention to authorize, recommend or propose) an agreement to
     engage in an Acquisition  Transaction with any person other than Grantee or
     a Grantee Subsidiary;

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

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

         (7) Issuer shall have  willfully  breached  any covenant or  obligation
     contained in the Merger  Agreement after any person other than Grantee or a
     Grantee Subsidiary shall have made a proposal to Issuer or its shareholders
     to engage in an Acquisition Transaction,  and following such breach Grantee
     would be entitled to terminate the Merger Agreement (whether immediately or
     after the giving of notice or both).

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

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

         (2) The  occurrence  of the  Preliminary  Event  described  in  Section
     2(b)(1),  except that the  percentage  referred to in clause (z) of Section
     2(b)(1)(A) shall be 25%.

                                       -4-

<PAGE>



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

         (e) In the event the Holder is entitled  to and wishes to exercise  the
Option (or any portion  thereof),  it shall send to Issuer a written notice (the
date of which being herein referred to as the "Notice Date")  specifying (1) the
total  number of shares it will  purchase  pursuant to such  exercise  and (2) a
place and date not earlier than three  business  days nor later than 60 business
days from the Notice Date for the closing of such purchase (the "Closing Date");
provided  that,  if prior  notification  to or  approval of the Office of Thrift
Supervision  (the "OTS") or any other regulatory or antitrust agency is required
in connection  with such  purchase,  the Holder shall promptly file the required
notice or application for approval, shall promptly notify Issuer of such filing,
and shall  expeditiously  process the same and the period of time that otherwise
would run pursuant to this sentence shall run instead from the date on which any
required  notification periods have expired or been terminated or such approvals
have been  obtained  and any  requisite  waiting  period or  periods  shall have
passed.  Any  exercise of the Option shall be deemed to occur on the Notice Date
relating thereto.

         (f) At the closing  referred to in Section  2(e),  the Holder shall (1)
pay to  Issuer  the  aggregate  purchase  price for the  shares of Common  Stock
purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option in immediately  available funds
by wire  transfer  to a bank  account  designated  by Issuer and (2) present and
surrender this Agreement to Issuer at its principal executive offices;  provided
that the failure or refusal of the Issuer to  designate  such a bank  account or
accept surrender of this Agreement shall not preclude the Holder from exercising
the Option.

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

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

         "The transfer of the shares  represented by this certificate is subject
         to certain  provisions  of an  agreement,  dated as of December  _____,
         1998,  between the  registered  holder  hereof and Issuer and to resale
         restrictions

                                       -5-

<PAGE>



         arising under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended.  A copy of such
         agreement  is on file at the  principal  office of  Issuer  and will be
         provided to the holder hereof  without charge upon receipt by Issuer of
         a written request therefor."

It is understood and agreed that:  (1) the reference to the resale  restrictions
of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") in the above legend
shall  be  removed  by  delivery  of  substitute   certificate(s)  without  such
reference,  if the Holder shall have delivered to Issuer a copy of a letter from
the staff of the SEC, or an opinion of counsel, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory  to Issuer,  to the effect  that such  legend is not  required  for
purposes of the 1933 Act, (2) the reference to the  provisions of this Agreement
in the above  legend shall be removed by delivery of  substitute  certificate(s)
without  such  reference,  if the  shares  have  been  sold  or  transferred  in
compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and under circumstances that do
not require the retention of such reference in the reasonable opinion of counsel
to the  Holder  and (3) the  legend  shall be  removed  in its  entirety  if the
conditions in the preceding clauses (1) and (2) are both satisfied. In addition,
such certificates shall bear any other legend as may be required by law.

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

         (j) In the  event  Issuer  does  not  have  sufficient  authorized  but
unissued  shares of Common  Stock to permit  exercise  of the  Option,  upon the
occurrence of a Triggering  Event, for the full number of shares of Common Stock
for which the Holder elects to exercise the Option, the Issuer shall make a cash
payment to the Holder,  at the Closing Date specified in, and in accordance with
the other  provisions  of, this  Section 2, in an amount equal to the product of
(1) the  difference  between  the Fair Market  Value (as defined  below) and the
Option Price and (2) the number of shares of Common Stock  subject to the Option
for which the Holder provides notice to Issuer, pursuant to Section 2(e) of this
Agreement,  of its election to exercise that the Issuer is unable to deliver due
to  insufficient  authorized  shares.  For purposes of this Section  2(j),  Fair
Market  Value shall mean the average of the "bid" and "ask"  prices per share of
Common
                                       -6-

<PAGE>



Stock  reported by the Nasdaq  National  Market (as published in The Wall Street
Journal or, if not published therein,  another authoritative source) for the ten
trading days  immediately  preceding the Closing  Date.  Upon the payment of the
cash amount  calculated  pursuant  to this  Section  2(j),  the number of Option
Shares  subject to the Option shall be reduced by the number of shares of Common
Stock for which each cash payment is made.

         3. Certain  Agreements of Issuer.  Issuer agrees: (1) that it will not,
by  charter  amendment  or  through   reorganization,   consolidation,   merger,
dissolution or sale of assets,  or by any other  voluntary act, avoid or seek to
avoid the  observance or per formance of any of the covenants,  stipulations  or
conditions to be observed or performed hereunder by Issuer, (2) promptly to take
all action as may from time to time be required  (including  (x) complying  with
all applicable premerger notification, reporting and waiting period requirements
specified in 15 U.S.C.  Section 18a and regulations  promulgated  thereunder and
(y) in the event that, under the Home Owners' Loan Act, as amended (the "HOLA"),
or any state or other federal  banking law,  prior  approval of or notice to the
OTS or to any state or other federal  regulatory  authority is necessary  before
the Option may be exercised, cooperating fully with the Holder in preparing such
applications or notices and providing such  information to the OTS or such state
or other  federal  regulatory  authority as they may require) in order to permit
the Holder to  exercise  the Option and  Issuer  duly and  effectively  to issue
shares of Common  Stock  pursuant  hereto  and (3)  promptly  to take all action
provided in Sections 5 and 8 as and when required pursuant to such Sections.

         4. Exchange of Option.  This Agreement (and the Option granted  hereby)
are  exchangeable,   without  expense,   at  the  option  of  the  Holder,  upon
presentation  and surrender of this Agreement at the principal office of Issuer,
for other Agreements providing for Options of different  denominations entitling
the  Holder  thereof  to  purchase,  on the same  terms and  subject to the same
conditions as are set forth herein,  in the aggre gate the same number of shares
of Common Stock  purchasable  hereunder.  The terms  "Agreement" and "Option" as
used herein include any Agreements and related  Options for which this Agreement
(and the Option  granted  hereby) may be exchanged.  Upon receipt by Issuer from
Holder of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction
or mutilation of this Agreement, and (in the case of loss, theft, destruction or
mutilation)  of  reasonably  satisfactory  indemnification  by Holder,  and upon
surrender and cancellation of this Agreement, if mutilated,  Issuer will execute
and deliver a new Agreement of like tenor and date in substitution for the lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated Agreement.

                                       -7-

<PAGE>



         5. Adjustments.  In addition to the adjustment  provided for in Section
1, the number of shares of Common  Stock  purchasable  upon the  exercise of the
Option and the Option Price shall be subject to adjustment  from time to time as
follows:

         (a) In the event of any change in, or  distributions in respect of, the
     Common   Stock  by  reason   of  stock   dividends,   split-ups,   mergers,
     recapitalizations,  combinations,  subdivisions,  conversions, exchanges of
     shares  or the  like,  the  type and  number  of  shares  of  Common  Stock
     purchasable upon exercise hereof shall be appropriately adjusted and proper
     provision shall be made so that, in the event that any additional shares of
     Common Stock are to be issued or otherwise  become  outstanding as a result
     of any such change (other than pursuant to an exercise of the Option),  the
     number of shares of Common Stock that remain subject to the Option shall be
     increased so that,  after such  issuance and together with shares of Common
     Stock previously issued pursuant to the exercise of the Option (as adjusted
     on account of any of the foregoing  changes in the Common Stock), it equals
     19.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock then issued and  outstanding;
     and

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

         6. Registration under Securities Laws. Upon the occurrence of the first
Triggering  Event that occurs  prior to an Exercise  Termination  Event,  Issuer
shall, at the request of Grantee  delivered  within twelve months (or such later
period as provided in Section 10) of such  Triggering  Event (whether on its own
behalf or on behalf of any subsequent Holder of this Option (or part thereof) or
any of the shares of Common Stock issued  pursuant  hereto),  promptly  prepare,
file and keep current a registration  statement  under the 1933 Act covering any
shares issued and issuable  pursuant to this Option and shall use its reasonable
best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective and remain
current in order to permit the sale or other disposition of any shares of Common
Stock issued upon total or partial exercise of this Option ("Option  Shares") in
accordance  with  any  plan  of  disposition  requested  by  Grantee  (it  being
understood  and agreed that Grantee shall use its  reasonable  efforts to ensure
that any such sale or  disposition  shall be  effected  on a widely  distributed
basis so that upon  consummation  thereof,  no  purchaser  or  transferee  shall
beneficially own more than 2% of the Common Stock then outstanding). Issuer will
use its reasonable best efforts to cause such

                                       -8-

<PAGE>



registration statement promptly to become effective and then to remain effective
for  such  period  not in  excess  of 180 days  from  the day such  registration
statement  first  becomes  effective or such  shorter time as may be  reasonably
necessary  to effect such sales or other  dispositions.  Grantee  shall have the
right to demand no more than two such  registrations.  The Issuer shall bear the
costs of such registrations (including,  but not limited to, Issuer's attorneys'
fees,  printing  costs and filing fees),  except for  underwriting  discounts or
commissions,  brokers' fees and the fees and  disbursements of Grantee's counsel
related thereto. The foregoing  notwithstanding,  if, at the time of any request
by Grantee for  registration  of Option Shares as provided  above,  Issuer is in
registration with respect to an underwritten public offering by Issuer of shares
of Common Stock,  and if in the good faith judgment of the managing  underwriter
or managing underwriters,  or, if none, the sole underwriter or underwriters, of
such offering the offer and sale of the Option Shares would  interfere  with the
successful marketing of the shares of Common Stock offered by Issuer, the number
of  Option  Shares  otherwise  to  be  covered  in  the  registration  statement
contemplated  hereby may be  reduced;  provided  that,  after any such  required
reduction,  the number of Option  Shares to be included in such offering for the
account  of the  Holder  shall  constitute  at least 25% of the total  number of
shares to be sold by the  Holder  and  Issuer in the  aggregate;  and  provided,
further,  that, if such reduction occurs,  then Issuer shall file a registration
statement for the balance as promptly as  practicable  thereafter as to which no
reduction  pursuant to this Section 6 shall be permitted or occur and the Holder
shall thereafter be entitled to one additional registration and the twelve month
period  referred to in the first  sentence of this section shall be increased to
twenty-four  months.  Each such Holder shall provide all information  reasonably
requested  by Issuer for  inclusion  in any  registration  statement to be filed
hereunder. If requested by any such Holder in connection with such registration,
Issuer shall become a party to any underwriting  agreement  relating to the sale
of such  shares,  but only to the  extent of  obligating  itself in  respect  of
representations,   warranties,  indemnities  and  other  agreements  customarily
included in such underwriting  agreements for Issuer. Upon receiving any request
under this  Section 6 from any Holder,  Issuer  agrees to send a copy thereof to
any other  person  known to Issuer to be entitled to  registration  rights under
this Section 6, in each case by promptly mailing the same,  postage prepaid,  to
the  address  of  record  of  the  persons  entitled  to  receive  such  copies.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in no event shall the
number of  registrations  that Issuer is  obligated  to effect be  increased  by
reason of the fact that  there  shall be more than one Holder as a result of any
assignment or division of this Agreement.

         7.  Repurchase.  (a) At any time after the  occurrence  of a Repurchase
Event (as defined below) (1) at the request of the Holder, delivered prior to an
Exercise  Termination  Event (or such later  period as provided in Section  10),
Issuer (or any successor thereto) shall repurchase the Option from the Holder at
a price (the  "Option  Repurchase  Price")  equal to (A) the amount by which the
market/offer price (as defined

                                       -9-

<PAGE>



below) exceeds the Option Price (B) multiplied by the number of shares for which
this Option may then be exercised  and (2) at the request of the owner of Option
Shares  from  time  to  time  (the  "Owner"),  delivered  prior  to an  Exercise
Termination  Event (or such later period as provided in Section 10),  Issuer (or
any successor  thereto) shall  repurchase  such number of the Option Shares from
the Owner as the Owner shall designate at a price (the "Option Share  Repurchase
Price")  equal to the  market/offer  price  multiplied  by the  number of Option
Shares so designated.  The term  "market/offer  price" shall mean the highest of
(1) the highest price per share of Common Stock paid by any person that acquires
beneficial  ownership of 50% or more of the then  outstanding  Common Stock, (2)
the price per share of Common Stock to be paid by any third party pursuant to an
agreement  with Issuer  entered into after the date hereof and prior to the date
the Holder gives notice of the required  repurchase  of this Option or the Owner
gives notice of the required  repurchase of Option  Shares,  as the case may be,
(3) the highest last sale price for shares of Common Stock within the  six-month
period  immediately  preceding  the date the Holder gives notice of the required
repurchase  of this Option or the Owner gives notice of the required  repurchase
of  Option  Shares,  as the case may be, or (4) in the event of a sale of all or
any substantial  part of Issuer's or Issuer's  Subsidiary's  assets or deposits,
the sum of the net price paid in such sale for such assets or  deposits  and the
current market value of the remaining net assets of Issuer or Issuer  Subsidiary
as determined by a nationally recognized investment banking firm selected by the
Holder or the Owner,  as the case may be, and  reasonably  acceptable to Issuer,
divided by the  number of shares of Common  Stock of Issuer  outstanding  at the
time of such sale on a  fully-diluted  basis.  In determining  the  market/offer
price,  the value of  consideration  other  than cash shall be  determined  by a
nationally  recognized  investment banking firm selected by the Holder or Owner,
as the  case  may be,  and  reasonably  acceptable  to  Issuer.  Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary  herein,  neither the Option  Repurchase  Price nor the
Option Share  Repurchase Price in the aggregate shall be less than the Surrender
Price (as defined in Section 11).

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

                                      -10-

<PAGE>



         (c) To the extent that Issuer is  prohibited  under  applicable  law or
regulation,  or as a consequence of administrative policy, from repurchasing the
Option and/or the Option Shares in full,  Issuer shall immediately so notify the
Holder and/or the Owner and  thereafter  deliver or cause to be delivered,  from
time to time, to the Holder and/or the Owner, as appropriate, the portion of the
Option  Repurchase  Price and the Option Share Repurchase  Price,  respectively,
that it is no longer prohibited from delivering, within five business days after
the date on which Issuer is no longer so prohibited; provided that, if Issuer at
any time after  delivery of a notice of  repurchase  pursuant to Section 7(b) is
prohibited  under  applicable  law  or  regulation,   or  as  a  consequence  of
administrative  policy,  from  delivering  to the Holder  and/or  the Owner,  as
appropriate,  the Option Repurchase Price and the Option Share Repurchase Price,
respectively,  in full (and Issuer hereby  undertakes to use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain all required  regulatory  and legal  approvals and to file any
required  notices  as  promptly  as  practicable  in  order to  accomplish  such
repurchase),  the Holder or Owner may revoke  its  notice of  repurchase  of the
Option  and/or  the  Option  Shares  whether  in whole or to the  extent  of the
prohibition, whereupon, in the latter case, Issuer shall promptly (1) deliver to
the  Holder  and/or  the  Owner,  as  appropriate,  that  portion  of the Option
Repurchase  Price  and/or the Option Share  Repurchase  Price that Issuer is not
prohibited  from delivering and (2) deliver,  as appropriate,  either (A) to the
Holder,  a new  Agreement  evidencing  the right of the Holder to purchase  that
number of shares of Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of
Common Stock for which the surrendered  Agreement was exercisable at the time of
delivery of the notice of  repurchase  by a fraction,  the numerator of which is
the Option  Repurchase Price less the portion thereof  theretofore  delivered to
the Holder and the denominator of which is the Option Repurchase  Price,  and/or
(B) to the Owner,  a certificate  for the Option Shares it is then so prohibited
from repurchasing. If an Exercise Termination Event shall have occurred prior to
the date of the notice by Issuer described in the first sentence of this Section
7(c),  or shall be  scheduled  to occur at any time before the  expiration  of a
period ending on the thirtieth day after such date, the Holder shall nonetheless
have the right to  exercise  the  Option  until the  expiration  of such  30-day
period.

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

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


                                      -11-

<PAGE>



         (2)  The  consummation  of any  Acquisition  Transaction  described  in
     Section 2(b) (1) hereof,  except that the percentage  referred to in clause
     (z) of the definition of Acquisition Transaction shall be 50%.

         8.  Substitute  Option.  (a) In the  event  that  prior to an  Exercise
Termination Event,  Issuer shall enter into an agreement (1) to consolidate with
or merge into any person, other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary,  or engage
in a plan  of  exchange  with  any  person,  other  than  Grantee  or a  Grantee
Subsidiary  and Issuer shall not be the  continuing or surviving  corporation of
such  consolidation  or merger or the acquirer in such plan of exchange,  (2) to
permit any person,  other than  Grantee or a Grantee  Subsidiary,  to merge into
Issuer or be acquired by Issuer in a plan of  exchange  and Issuer  shall be the
continuing or surviving or acquiring  corporation,  but, in connection with such
merger or plan of exchange, the then outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be
changed into or exchanged  for stock or other  securities of any other person or
cash or any other property or the then outstanding  shares of Common Stock shall
after such merger or plan of exchange represent less than 50% of the outstanding
shares and share equivalents of the merged or acquiring company,  or (3) to sell
or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of its or any Issuer Subsidiary's
assets to any person,  other than Grantee or a Grantee Subsidiary,  then, and in
each such case,  the  agreement  governing  such  transaction  shall make proper
provision  so  that  the  Option  shall,  upon  the  consummation  of  any  such
transaction  and upon the terms and  conditions  set forth herein,  be converted
into, or exchanged for, an option (the "Substitute  Option"), at the election of
the Holder,  of either (A) the Acquiring  Corporation  (as defined below) or (B)
any person that controls the Acquiring Corporation.

         (b) The following terms have the meanings indicated:

         (1) "Acquiring  Corporation" shall mean (A) the continuing or surviving
     person of a consolidation or merger with Issuer (if other than Issuer), (B)
     the acquiring person in a plan of exchange in which Issuer is acquired, (C)
     the  Issuer  in a  merger  or plan  of  exchange  in  which  Issuer  is the
     continuing or surviving or acquiring  person and (D) the  transferee of all
     or  substantially  all of  Issuer's  assets  (or the  assets  of an  Issuer
     Subsidiary).

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

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

                                      -12-

<PAGE>



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

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

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

         (e) In no event, pursuant to any of the foregoing paragraphs, shall the
Substitute Option be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the shares of Substitute
Common Stock  outstanding  prior to exercise of the  Substitute  Option.  In the
event that the Substitute Option would be exercisable for more than 19.9% of the
shares of  Substitute  Common Stock  outstanding  prior to exercise but for this
Section  8(e),  the issuer of the  Substitute  Option  (the  "Substitute  Option
Issuer")  shall  make a cash  payment  to Holder  equal to the excess of (1) the
value of the  Substitute  Option without giving effect to the limitation in this
Section 8(e) over (2) the value of the Substitute  Option after giving effect to
the  limitation  in this  Section  8(e).  This  difference  in  value  shall  be
determined by a nationally  recognized  investment  banking firm selected by the
Holder and reasonably acceptable to Issuer.

                                      -13-

<PAGE>



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

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

         (b) The Substitute Option Holder and the Substitute Share Owner, as the
case may be, may exercise its respective rights to require the Substitute Option
Issuer to repurchase the Substitute Option and the Substitute Shares pursuant to
this Section 9 by surrendering for such purpose to the Substitute Option Issuer,
at its principal  office,  the agreement for such Substitute  Option (or, in the
absence of such an agreement,  a copy of this Agreement) and/or certificates for
Substitute  Shares  accompanied by a written notice or notices  stating that the
Substitute  Option  Holder or the  Substitute  Share Owner,  as the case may be,
elects to require the  Substitute  Option  Issuer to repurchase  the  Substitute
Option and/or the  Substitute  Shares in accordance  with the provisions of this
Section 9. As promptly as practicable and in any event within five business days
after the surrender of the Substitute  Option and/or  certificates  representing
Substitute  Shares and the receipt of such notice or notices  relating  thereto,
the  Substitute  Option  Issuer  shall  deliver or cause to be  delivered to the
Substitute  Option Holder the Substitute  Option  Repurchase Price and/or to the
Substitute  Share Owner the Substitute  Share  Repurchase  Price therefor or the
portion thereof which the Substitute  Option Issuer is not then prohibited under
applicable law, regulation and administrative policy from so delivering.

         (c) To the extent that the Substitute Option Issuer is prohibited under
applicable law or regulation, or as a consequence of administrative policy, from
repurchasing  the Substitute  Option and/or the Substitute  Shares in part or in
full, the

                                      -14-

<PAGE>



Substitute  Option  Issuer shall  immediately  so notify the  Substitute  Option
Holder and/or the Substitute  Share Owner and thereafter  deliver or cause to be
delivered,  from  time to time,  to the  Substitute  Option  Holder  and/or  the
Substitute  Share Owner,  as appropriate,  the portion of the Substitute  Option
Repurchase  Price and/or the Substitute Share  Repurchase  Price,  respectively,
which it is no longer  prohibited  from  delivering,  within five  business days
after the date on which the Substitute Option Issuer is no longer so prohibited;
provided that, if the Substitute  Option Issuer is at any time after delivery of
a notice of repurchase  pursuant to Section 9(b) prohibited under applicable law
or regulation,  or as a consequence of administrative policy, from delivering to
the Substitute  Option Holder and/or the Substitute Share Owner, as appropriate,
the  Substitute  Option  Repurchase  Price and the Substitute  Share  Repurchase
Price,  respectively,  in full (and the  Substitute  Option Issuer shall use its
reasonable  best efforts to receive all required  regulatory and legal approvals
as  promptly  as  practicable  in  order to  accomplish  such  repurchase),  the
Substitute  Option Holder and/or Substitute Share Owner may revoke its notice of
repurchase of the Substitute  Option or the Substitute Shares either in whole or
to the extent of  prohibition,  whereupon,  in the latter case,  the  Substitute
Option  Issuer shall  promptly (1) deliver to the  Substitute  Option  Holder or
Substitute  Share Owner, as appropriate,  that portion of the Substitute  Option
Repurchase  Price or the Substitute  Share  Repurchase Price that the Substitute
Option Issuer is not prohibited from delivering and (2) deliver, as appropriate,
either (A) to the Substitute  Option Holder, a new Substitute  Option evidencing
the right of the  Substitute  Option Holder to purchase that number of shares of
the Substitute  Common Stock obtained by multiplying the number of shares of the
Substitute  Common  Stock  for  which  the  surrendered  Substitute  Option  was
exercisable  at the time of delivery of the notice of  repurchase by a fraction,
the  numerator  of which is the  Substitute  Option  Repurchase  Price  less the
portion thereof  theretofore  delivered to the Substitute  Option Holder and the
denominator of which is the Substitute Option  Repurchase  Price,  and/or (B) to
the Substitute Share Owner, a certificate for the Substitute Option Shares it is
then so prohibited from  repurchasing.  If an Exercise  Termination  Event shall
have occurred  prior to the date of the notice by the  Substitute  Option Issuer
described in the first  sentence of this Section  9(c), or shall be scheduled to
occur at any time before the  expiration of a period ending on the thirtieth day
after such date, the Substitute Option Holder shall  nevertheless have the right
to exercise the Substitute Option until the expiration of such 30-day period.

         10. Extension of Time Periods. The time periods for exercise of certain
rights  under  Sections  2,  6, 7 and 9 shall  be  extended:  (a) to the  extent
necessary  to obtain all  regulatory  approvals  for the exercise of such rights
(for so long as the Holder, Owner,  Substitute Option Holder or Substitute Share
Owner, as the case may be, is using  commercially  reasonable  efforts to obtain
such  regulatory  approvals),  and for the  expiration of all statutory  waiting
periods, (b) during the pendency of any temporary restraining order,  injunction
or other legal bar to exercise of such rights and (c) to the

                                      -15-

<PAGE>



extent  necessary  to avoid  liability  under  Section  16(b) of the 1934 Act by
reason of such exercise.

         11.  Surrender  Value.  (a) Grantee in its sole  discretion may, at any
time during  which  Issuer  would be required  to  repurchase  the Option or any
Option Shares  pursuant to Section 7,  surrender the Option  (together  with any
Option Shares issued to and then owned by the Grantee or any affiliate  thereof)
to  Issuer in  exchange  for a cash  payment  equal to the  Surrender  Price (as
defined  herein);  provided,  however,  that Grantee may not exercise its rights
pursuant to this Section 11 if Issuer has previously  repurchased the Option (or
any portion  thereof) or any Option Shares pursuant to Section 7. The "Surrender
Price" shall be equal to the sum of (1) $5,500,000  and (2) if  applicable,  the
aggregate purchase price previously paid pursuant hereto by Grantee with respect
to any Option Shares, minus the sum of (3) if applicable,  the amount of the net
cash profit,  if any,  received by Grantee pursuant to the arm's-length  sale of
Option  Shares  (or any other  securities  into which such  Option  Shares  were
converted or exchanged) to any party not  affiliated  with Grantee,  and (4) the
amount of any Fee paid pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

         (b)  Grantee may  exercise  its right to  surrender  the Option and any
Option Shares pursuant to this Section 11 by  surrendering  for such purchase to
Issuer,  at its  principal  office,  a copy of  this  Agreement,  together  with
certificates for Option Shares, if any,  accompanied by a written notice stating
(1) that Grantee  elects to surrender the Option and Option  Shares,  if any, in
accordance  with the provisions of this Section 11 and (2) the Surrender  Price.
Within  two  business  days  after the  surrender  of the  Option and the Option
Shares, if applicable,  Issuer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Grantee
the Surrender Price.

         (c) To the extent that the Issuer is prohibited under applicable law or
regulation  from paying the  Surrender  Price to Grantee in full,  Issuer  shall
immediately so notify Grantee and thereafter  deliver, or cause to be delivered,
from time to time, to Grantee,  that portion of the Surrender  Price that Issuer
is not or no longer  prohibited from paying,  within two business days after the
date on which  Issuer is no longer so  prohibited;  provided,  however,  that if
Issuer at any time after  delivery of a notice of Surrender  pursuant to Section
11(b) is prohibited  under  applicable law or regulation  from paying to Grantee
the Surrender Price in full, (1) Issuer shall (A) use its best efforts to obtain
all required  regulatory and legal approvals and to file any required notices as
promptly as practicable in order to make such payments,  (B) within two business
days  of the  submission  or  receipt  of any  documents  relating  to any  such
regulatory and legal approvals, provide Grantee with copies of the same, and (C)
keep Grantee  advised of both the status of any such request for  regulatory and
legal approvals and any discussions with

                                      -16-

<PAGE>



any relevant regulatory or other third party reasonably related to the same, and
(2)  Grantee  may revoke  such  notice of  surrender  by delivery of a notice of
revocation,  the  Exercise  Termination  Event  shall be  extended to a date six
months from the date on which the Exercise Termination Event would have occurred
if not for the provisions of this Section 11(c) (during which period Grantee may
exercise any of its rights  hereunder,  including any and all rights pursuant to
this Section 11).

         (d) Grantee  shall have  rights  substantially  identical  to those set
forth in  paragraphs  (a),  (b) and (c) of this  Section 11 with  respect to the
Substitute  Option and the  Substitute  Option Issuer during any period in which
the  Substitute  Option  Issuer would be required to repurchase  the  Substitute
Option pursuant to Section 9.


         12.  Representations  and  Warranties.  Issuer  hereby  represents  and
warrants to Grantee as follows:

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

         (b) Issuer has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize and to
     permit it to issue,  that  number  of shares of Common  Stock  equal to the
     maximum number of shares of Common Stock issuable  hereunder,  and all such
     shares,  upon issuance pursuant thereto,  will be duly authorized,  validly
     issued, fully paid, nonassessable,  and will be delivered free and clear of
     all claims,  liens, encum brances and security interests and not subject to
     any preemptive rights.

         13.  Assignment.  Neither of the  parties  hereto may assign any of its
rights or obligations  under this  Agreement or the Option created  hereunder to
any other person, without the express written consent of the other party, except
that in the event a Preliminary  Event or  Triggering  Event shall have occurred
prior to an  Exercise  Termina  tion  Event,  Grantee,  subject  to the  express
provisions  hereof,  may assign in whole or in part its  rights and  obligations
hereunder  following the date of such  Preliminary  Event or  Triggering  Event;
provided  that  until the date 15 days  following  the date on which the OTS has
approved an application by Grantee to acquire the shares of Common Stock subject
to the Option,  Grantee may not assign its rights under the Option except in (a)
a

                                      -17-

<PAGE>



widely dispersed public  distribution,  (b) a private  placement in which no one
party  acquires  the right to purchase  in excess of 2% of the voting  shares of
Issuer,  (c) an  assignment  to a single  party  (e.g.,  a broker or  investment
banker)  for  the  sole  purpose  of  conducting  a  widely   dispersed   public
distribution on Grantee's behalf, or (d) any other manner approved by the OTS.

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

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

         16.  Severability.  If any term,  provision,  covenant  or  restriction
contained in this Agreement is held by a court or a federal or state  regulatory
agency of  competent  jurisdiction  to be invalid,  void or  unenforceable,  the
remainder of the terms,  provisions and covenants and restrictions  contained in
this  Agreement  shall  remain in full force and effect,  and shall in no way be
affected,  impaired or  invalidated.  If for any reason such court or regulatory
agency determines that the Holder is not permitted to acquire,  or Issuer is not
permitted  to  repurchase  pursuant  to Section 7, the full  number of shares of
Common  Stock  provided in Section 1 hereof (as  adjusted  pursuant to Section 5
hereof), it is the express intention of Issuer to allow the Holder to acquire or
to  require  Issuer  to  repurchase  such  lesser  number  of  shares  as may be
permissible, without any amendment or modification hereof.

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

                                      -18-

<PAGE>



         18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance  with  the laws of the  State  of New  York,  without  regard  to the
conflict of law principles thereof.

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

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

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


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