GILMER FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
DEF 14A, 1998-09-29
SAVINGS INSTITUTION, FEDERALLY CHARTERED
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                         GILMER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.



                                                              September 29, 1998




Dear Fellow Stockholder:

         On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Gilmer  Financial
Services,  Inc.,  I  cordially  invite  you to  attend  the  Annual  Meeting  of
Stockholders.  The  meeting  will be held at 4:00 p.m.  on October  22,  1998 at
Gilmer Savings Bank FSB, located at 218 West Cass Street, Gilmer, Texas.

         In addition to the annual stockholder vote on corporate business items,
the  meeting  will  include  management's  report  to  you on  Gilmer  Financial
Services, Inc.'s 1998 financial and operating performance.

         An important  aspect of the meeting process is the stockholder  vote on
corporate business items. I urge you to exercise your rights as a stockholder to
vote and participate in this process.  Stockholders  are being asked to consider
and vote upon the  proposals to elect two  directors to the Board and ratify the
appointment  of Henry & Peters,  P.C. as auditors for the Company for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1999. Your Board of Directors  unanimously  recommends that
you vote for each of the proposals.

         I  encourage  you to attend the  meeting in person.  Whether or not you
attend the meeting,  I hope that you will read the enclosed Proxy  Statement and
then  complete,  sign and date the  enclosed  proxy  card and  return  it in the
postage prepaid envelope  provided.  This will save Gilmer  Financial  Services,
Inc.  additional  expense in soliciting proxies and will ensure that your shares
are represented.  Please note that you may vote in person at the meeting even if
you have previously returned the proxy.

         Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

                                         Sincerely,




                                         Gary P. Cooper
                                         President and Chief Executive Officer


<PAGE>



                         GILMER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.
                              218 West Cass Street
                               Gilmer, Texas 75644
                                 (903) 843-5525

                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                         To be Held on October 22, 1998


         Notice is hereby  given that the Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders  (the
"Meeting") of Gilmer  Financial  Services,  Inc. (the "Company") will be held at
Gilmer Savings Bank FSB, located at 218 West Cass Street,  Gilmer, Texas at 4:00
p.m., Gilmer, Texas time, on October 22, 1998.

         A Proxy Card and a Proxy Statement for the Meeting are enclosed.

         The Meeting is for the purpose of considering and acting upon:

         1.  The election of two directors of the Company;

         2. The  ratification of the appointment of Henry & Peters,  P.C. as the
auditors of the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999;

and  such  other  matters  as may  properly  come  before  the  Meeting,  or any
adjournments  thereof. The Board of Directors is not aware of any other business
to come before the Meeting.

         Any action may be taken on the  foregoing  proposals  at the Meeting on
the date  specified  above,  or on any date or dates to which the Meeting may be
adjourned. Stockholders of record at the close of business on September 15, 1998
are  the  stockholders  entitled  to vote at the  Meeting  and any  adjournments
thereof.

         You are  requested  to complete  and sign the  enclosed  form of proxy,
which is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors,  and to mail it promptly
in the enclosed  envelope.  The proxy will not be used if you attend and vote at
the Meeting in person.

                                      BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS




                                      Gary P. Cooper
                                      President and Chief Executive Officer


Gilmer, Texas
September 29, 1998



IMPORTANT:  THE PROMPT  RETURN OF PROXIES  WILL SAVE THE  COMPANY THE EXPENSE OF
FURTHER  REQUESTS  FOR  PROXIES  TO  ENSURE A  QUORUM  AT THE  MEETING.  A SELF-
ADDRESSED  ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.  NO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED IF
MAILED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.


<PAGE>



                                 PROXY STATEMENT

                         Gilmer Financial Services, Inc.
                              218 West Cass Street
                               Gilmer, Texas 75644
                                 (903) 843-5525


                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                October 22, 1998


         This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection  with the  solicitation
on behalf of the Board of  Directors of Gilmer  Financial  Services,  Inc.  (the
"Company"),  the parent company of Gilmer Savings Bank FSB ("Gilmer  Savings" or
the "Bank"),  of proxies to be used at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the
Company (the "Meeting")  which will be held at Gilmer Savings Bank FSB,  located
at 218 West Cass  Street,  Gilmer,  Texas on  October  22,  1998,  at 4:00 p.m.,
Gilmer, Texas time, and all adjournments of the Meeting. The accompanying Notice
of  Annual  Meeting  and  this  Proxy   Statement  are  first  being  mailed  to
stockholders on or about September 29, 1998.

         At the Meeting, stockholders of the Company are being asked to consider
and vote upon the  election  of two  directors  and the  appointment  of Henry &
Peters, P.C. as auditors for the Company.

Vote Required and Proxy Information

         All shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common  Stock"),  represented  at the  Meeting  by  properly  executed  proxies
received  prior  to or at the  Meeting,  and not  revoked,  will be voted at the
Meeting in accordance with the  instructions  thereon.  If no  instructions  are
indicated, properly executed proxies will be voted for the director nominees and
the proposal set forth in this Proxy Statement. The Company does not know of any
matters,  other than as described in the Notice of Annual  Meeting,  that are to
come before the  Meeting.  If any other  matters are  properly  presented at the
Meeting for action,  the persons  named in the enclosed form of proxy and acting
thereunder  will have the discretion to vote on such matters in accordance  with
their best judgment.

         Directors  shall be  elected  by a  plurality  of the votes  present in
person  or  represented  by proxy at the  Meeting  and  entitled  to vote on the
election of directors.  The  ratification  of the appointment of Henry & Peters,
P.C. as auditors  requires the affirmative  vote of a majority of shares present
in person or  represented  by proxy at the Meeting  and  entitled to vote on the
matter.  Proxies  marked to abstain  with  respect  to a proposal  have the same
effect as votes against the  proposal.  Broker  non-votes  have no effect on the
vote.  One-third  of the  shares  of the  Common  Stock,  present  in  person or
represented  by proxy,  shall  constitute  a quorum for purposes of the Meeting.
Abstentions  and broker  non-votes  are counted for  purposes of  determining  a
quorum.

         A proxy given pursuant to the  solicitation  may be revoked at any time
before it is voted.  Proxies may be revoked by: (i) filing with the Secretary of
the Company at or before the Meeting a written  notice of  revocation  bearing a
later date than the proxy,  (ii) duly  executing a subsequent  proxy relating to
the same shares and  delivering  it to the Secretary of the Company at or before
the  Meeting,  or (iii)  attending  the Meeting  and voting in person  (although
attendance at the Meeting will not in and of itself  constitute  revocation of a
proxy).  Any written  notice  revoking a proxy should be delivered to Secretary,
Gilmer Financial Services, Inc., 218 West Cass Street, Gilmer, Texas 75644.

Voting Securities and Certain Holders Thereof

         Stockholders  of record as of the close of  business on  September  15,
1998 will be entitled to one vote for each share of Common  Stock then held.  As
of that  date,  the  Company  had  191,258  shares of Common  Stock  issued  and
outstanding.   The  following  table  sets  forth  information  regarding  share
ownership of those persons or entities known by management to  beneficially  own
more than five  percent  of the Common  Stock and all  directors  and  executive
officers of the Company and the Bank as a group.


                                        1

<PAGE>


                                                          Shares
                                                       Beneficially   Percent
                       Beneficial Owner                    Owned      of Class
                       ----------------                    -----      --------
Gilmer Savings Bank FSB Employee Stock Ownership Plan     15,660(1)     8.19%
218 West Cass Street
Gilmer, Texas  75644

M. Vance Gorman, Chairman of the Board                    10,821        5.66
 of the Company and the Bank

Gary P. Cooper, President and Chief Executive Officer     13,730        7.18
 of the Company and the Bank

Steven W. Sansom, Director                                12,521        6.55
 of the Company and the Bank

Tedd R. Austin, Director                                  10,821        5.66
 of the Company and the Bank

Lance S. Gad(2)                                           10,000        5.23
1250 Fence Row Drive
Fairfield, Connecticut  06430

Ross L. Haberman(3)                                       11,500        6.01
120 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, New York 10271

Tommy Smith                                               10,000        5.23
P.O. Box 1304
Gilmer, Texas   75644

Estate of F.L. Garrison                                   11,369        5.94
Gilmer, Texas   75644

Directors and executive officers of the Company           70,491(5)    36.86
 and the Bank, as a group (9 persons)
- ------------------------

(1)      The  amount  reported  represents  shares  held by the  Employee  Stock
         Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), 6,470 of which have been allocated to accounts
         of participants.  First Bankers Trust Company, N.A., Quincy,  Illinois,
         the trustee of the ESOP, may be deemed to  beneficially  own the shares
         held  by the  ESOP  which  have  not  been  allocated  to  accounts  of
         participants.  Participants  in the ESOP are  entitled to instruct  the
         trustee as to the voting of shares  allocated to their  accounts  under
         the ESOP.  Unallocated  shares held in the ESOP's  suspense  account or
         allocated  shares for which no voting  instructions  are  received  are
         voted by the trustee in the same  proportion as allocated  shares voted
         by participants.

(2)      The above information regarding beneficial ownership by Lance S. Gad is
         as reported by him in a statement  dated  February 23, 1995 on Schedule
         13D under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934.  Mr. Gad reported sole
         voting and dispositive power of 10,000 shares.

(3)      The above information  regarding  beneficial ownership by Ross Haberman
         is as reported  by him in a  statement  dated June 25, 1997 on Schedule
         13D under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934. Mr.  Haberman  reported
         sole voting and dispositive power of 11,500 shares.

(4)      Amount includes shares held directly,  as well as an aggregate of 1,761
         shares  which such  directors  and  officers  have the right to acquire
         pursuant to options  granted under the Company's  1995 Stock Option and
         Incentive  Plan ("Stock Option Plan") which will vest within 60 days of
         September  15, 1998,  an aggregate  of 704 shares of  restricted  stock
         which have been awarded to individual  officers and directors under the
         Company's Recognition and Retention Plan ("RRP") which will vest within
         60 days, 4,056 shares  allocated under the Company's ESOP,  shares held
         jointly with family members, shares held in retirement accounts, shares
         held in a fiduciary capacity or by certain family members, with respect
         to which  shares the group  members  may be deemed to have sole  voting
         and/or  investment  power.  Excludes an aggregate of 3,522 shares which
         directors  and  officers  will have the right to  acquire  pursuant  to
         options  granted  under the  Company's  Stock Option  Plan,  subject to
         vesting provisions in equal annual installments over a five-year period
         which  commenced in October 1996 and an aggregate of 2,368 shares which
         have been awarded to directors and officers  under the  Company's  RRP,
         subject to  vesting  provisions  in equal  annual  installments  over a
         five-year period which commenced in October 1996.

                                        2

<PAGE>



                       PROPOSAL I - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

         The  Company's  Board  of  Directors  is  presently  composed  of seven
members,  each of whom is also a director of the Bank. The Directors are divided
into three classes.  Directors of the Company are generally elected to serve for
a   three-year   term  which  is  staggered  to  provide  for  the  election  of
approximately one-third of the directors each year.

         The  following  table  sets forth  certain  information  regarding  the
Company's  Board of Directors,  including their terms of office and nominees for
election as directors.  It is intended  that the proxies  solicited on behalf of
the Board of  Directors  (other than proxies in which the vote is withheld as to
the  nominee)  will be voted at the  Meeting  for the  election  of the  nominee
identified in the following table. If any nominee is unable to serve, the shares
represented  by all  such  proxies  will  be  voted  for  the  election  of such
substitute as the Board of Directors may  recommend.  At this time, the Board of
Directors  knows of no reason why either  nominee  might be unable to serve,  if
elected. Except as described herein, there are no arrangements or understandings
between  any  director or nominee  and any other  person  pursuant to which such
director or nominee was selected.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                             Shares of
                                                                                              Common
                                                                                               Stock
                                                                                     Term   Beneficially  Percent
                                                                        Director      to      Owned at       of
          Name             Age          Position(s) Held in the Company  Since(1)   Expire   9/15/98(2)    Class
- ------------------------   ---   -------------------------------------- ---------  --------  ----------   ------
                                                     NOMINEES
<S>                         <C>  <C>                                       <C>       <C>       <C>         <C> 
Royce L. Hudgins            77   Director                                  1950      2001      3,321       1.74
Donald G. Bethard           53   Director                                  1998      2001      7,500       3.92

                                          DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE
M. Vance Gorman             77   Chairman of the Board                     1973      1999     10,821       5.66
Paul D. Williams            52   Director                                  1986      1999      8,821       4.61
Gary P. Cooper              45   President and Chief Executive Officer     1985      2000     13,730       7.18
                                 and Director
Tedd R. Austin              64   Director                                  1987      2000     10,821       5.66
Steven W. Sansom            48   Director                                  1991      2000     12,521       6.55
</TABLE>


(1)      Includes service as a director of the Bank.

(2)      Includes  shares held  directly,  as well as shares  subject to options
         granted under the Company's Stock Option Plan which will vest within 60
         days,  shares of  restricted  stock which have been  awarded  under the
         Company's RRP which will vest within 60 days,  shares  allocated  under
         the Company's ESOP, shares held in retirement accounts, held by certain
         members of the named individuals'  families, or held by trusts of which
         the named  individual  is a trustee or  substantial  beneficiary,  with
         respect  to which  shares the named  individuals  may be deemed to have
         sole voting and investment  power.  Excludes shares which directors and
         officers  will have the right to acquire  pursuant  to options  granted
         under the Company's Stock Option Plan, subject to vesting provisions in
         equal annual  installments  over a five-year  period which commenced in
         October  1996 and shares  which  have been  awarded  to  directors  and
         officers  under the  Company's  RRP,  subject to vesting  provisions in
         equal annual  installments  over a five-year  period which commenced in
         October 1996.

         The business  experience of each  director and director  nominee is set
forth below.  All directors  have held their present  positions for at least the
past five years, except as otherwise indicated.

         Royce  L.  Hudgins.  Mr.  Hudgins  is  the  owner  of  a  retail  store
specializing in the retail sale of men and women's  clothing  located in Gilmer,
Texas.

         M.  Vance  Gorman.  Mr.  Gorman  is the  Chairman  of the  Board of the
Company,  a position he has held since its formation in September of 1994. Prior
to his  retirement in 1984,  Mr.  Gorman  served as Manager and  Executive  Vice
President of the Bank beginning in 1971.

         Paul D. Williams.  Mr. Williams is currently employed as Vice President
with Gilmer Lumber Company,  Inc., a family lumber  business,  a position he has
held since 1975.


                                        3

<PAGE>



         Gary P. Cooper.  Mr.  Cooper is  currently  serving as President of the
Company  and the Bank,  positions  he has held  since  September  1994 and 1985,
respectively. Prior to joining the Bank as Manager in 1985, Mr. Cooper served as
a Vice President - Loan Officer at Interfirst  Bank of Irving.  Mr. Cooper began
his career in 1975 at Citizens  First  National  Bank of Tyler and  subsequently
moved to East Texas  Savings & Loan of Tyler where he was promoted to Manager of
the South Tyler branch prior to joining Interfirst Bank of Irving.

         Tedd R. Austin.  Mr. Austin currently works in the automotive field and
is associated with his family business; which includes a used car dealership and
an automobile repair business.

         Steven W. Sansom.  Mr. Sansom is the part owner of four funeral  homes,
two located in Gilmer, Texas and two in Gladewater, Texas.

         Donald G. Bethard.  Mr. Bethard is part-owner of three pharmacies,  one
located in Gilmer,  Texas,  one located in  Longview,  Texas,  and one in Hughes
Springs, Texas. Mr. Bethard is also a part-owner in MedShop Total Care.

Board of Directors' Meetings and Committees

         Board and Semi-Annual  Committee  Meetings of the Company.  Meetings of
the Corporation's  Board of Directors are held on a semi-annual basis. The Board
of Directors met three times during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1998.  During
fiscal 1998, no incumbent director of the Company attended fewer than 75% of the
aggregate of the total number of Board Meetings and the total number of meetings
held by the  committees of the Board of Directors on which he served.  Directors
are not paid for Board or Committee meetings attended.

         The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company  has  standing   Audit  and
Compensation Committees.

         The Audit Committee  recommends  independent  auditors to the Board and
reviews  the  results  of the  auditors'  services.  The  members  of the  Audit
Committee  are  Directors  Austin,  Williams and Gorman.  In fiscal  1998,  this
committee did not meet.

         The Compensation  Committee is composed of Directors Austin and Sansom.
The Compensation  Committee is responsible for  administering  the Corporation's
1995 Stock Option Plan and  Recognition  and Retention  Plan.  The  Compensation
Committee met one time in fiscal 1998.

         Board and Committee Meetings of the Bank.  Meetings of the Bank's Board
of Directors are generally  held on a monthly  basis.  The Board of Directors of
the Bank held 12  meetings  during the year ended June 30,  1998.  No  incumbent
director  attended  fewer than 75% of the total  number of meetings  held by the
Board of Directors  and by all  committees of the Board of Directors on which he
served during the year.

         The Board of Directors of the Bank has standing Executive and Loan, and
Audit Committees.

         The Executive  and Loan  Committee  generally  acts in lieu of the full
Board of  Directors  between  board  meetings and ratifies all loans made by the
Bank. This committee is comprised of President  Cooper and Directors  Austin and
Sansom.  This committee  generally  meets on an as needed basis and met 14 times
during fiscal 1998.

         The Audit Committee is responsible for setting  policies with regard to
internal controls and outside audits.  In addition,  the Audit Committee reviews
the  reports  of the  Bank's  independent  auditors  and  regulators  and  makes
recommendations  to the Board of  Directors.  This  committee  is  comprised  of
Directors Austin,  Williams and Gorman. The Audit Committee is scheduled to meet
on an as needed basis and met once during fiscal 1998.

         During  fiscal  1998,  the  entire  Executive  Committee  of  the  Bank
functioned as a compensation committee.  Mr. Cooper, who is the President of the
Bank, did not participate in any deliberations regarding his compensation.


                                        4

<PAGE>



Director Compensation

         The  Directors  of the Company  are not paid for their  service in such
capacity.  Directors  of the Bank are  currently  paid  fees of $750 per  month.
Directors  of the Bank also  receive  $100 per month for  service on the Board's
Executive Committee.

Executive Compensation

         The Company has not paid any  compensation  to its  executive  officers
since its  formation.  The  Company  does not  presently  anticipate  paying any
compensation to such persons until it becomes actively involved in the operation
or acquisition of businesses other than the Bank.

         The following table sets forth information  concerning the compensation
paid or accrued by the Bank for services  rendered by the Bank's Chief Executive
Officer.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                           Summary Compensation Table
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Long-Term
                        Annual Compensation                              Compensation Awards
- -----------------------------------------------------------------   ---------------------------
                                                                      Restricted                 All Other
                                     Fiscal    Salary(1)    Bonus        Stock       Options/  Compensation
    Name and Principal Position       Year        ($)        ($)       Award ($)     SARs (#)      ($)(4)
    ---------------------------       ----        ---        ---       ---------     --------      ------
<S>                                   <C>      <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>           <C>   
Gary P. Cooper, President and         1998     $89,650    $17,384    $       --      $     --      $6,488
Chief Executive Officer               1997      87,675     16,950            --            --       6,516
                                      1996      79,650     13,320     21,527(2)      4,893(3)       5,749
============================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)      Includes  $10,700,  $10,950  and  $10,950  in board fees paid in fiscal
         1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

(2)      Represents  the dollar  value,  as of June 30, 1996, of 1,957 shares of
         the  Company's  Common  Stock  awarded to Mr.  Cooper,  pursuant to the
         Company's  RRP, based on the last trade sales price of $11.00 per share
         of the  Company's  Common  Stock  as  reported  on the  National  Daily
         Quotation Service or the "pink sheets" by the National Quotation Bureau
         as of June 30,  1996.  The  shares of  restricted  stock  vest in equal
         annual installments over a five year period commencing in October 1996.

(3)      Represents  an option to purchase  shares of Common Stock awarded under
         the Company's 1995 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. The options vest in
         equal annual installments over a five year period commencing in October
         1996.

(4)      Includes $5,352,  $5,231 and $4,464 for  contribution  under the Bank's
         Profit Sharing Plan for fiscal 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively  and
         $1,136,  $1,285 and $1,285 for  insurance  premiums paid by the Company
         with respect to a term life insurance  policy for Mr. Cooper's  benefit
         for fiscal 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

         No stock options or stock  appreciation  rights  ("SAR's") were granted
during fiscal 1998.



                                        5

<PAGE>



         The following table provides  information as to stock options exercised
by the  Company's  Chief  Executive  Officer  at June 30,  1998 and the value of
in-the-money options held by the Company's Chief Executive Officer.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                 AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END
                                                       OPTION/SAR VALUES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Number of                             Value of
                             Shares                            Securities Underlying                     Unexercised
                            Acquired       Value                    Unexercised                          In-the-Money
                          on Exercise     Realized                Options/SARs at                      Options/SARs at
          Name                (#)           ($)                    FY-End (#)(1)                        FY-End ($)(2)
                                                         Exercisable        Unexercisable        Exercisable     Unexercisable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>           <C>             <C>                 <C>                 <C>             <C>    
Gary P. Cooper                ---           --              2,936               1,957               $19,818         $13,210

================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

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

(1)      Represents an option to purchase  Common Stock awarded to the Company's
         Chief Executive Officer.

(2)      Represents the aggregate market value (market price of the Common Stock
         less the exercise price) of in-the-money options granted based upon the
         last  trade  sales  price of $17.25 per share of the  Company's  Common
         Stock as reported on the National Daily Quotation  Service or the "pink
         sheets" by the National Quotation Bureau as of June 30, 1998.

Employment Agreement

         The  Bank has  entered  into an  employment  agreement  with  President
Cooper. The employment agreement is designed to assist the Bank in maintaining a
stable and competent  management team. The continued success of the Bank depends
to a  significant  degree on the skills and  competence  of its  officers.  This
agreement has been  approved by the Office of Thrift  Supervision  ("OTS").  The
employment  agreement  provides  for an annual base salary in an amount not less
than the  employee's  current  salary and an initial  term of three  years.  The
agreement provides for extensions of one year, in addition to the then-remaining
term under the  agreement,  on each  anniversary  of the  effective  date of the
agreement at the sole  discretion  of the Board of  Directors  of the Bank.  The
agreement  provides for termination  upon the employee's  death, for cause or in
certain  events  specified by OTS  regulations.  The  employment  agreements are
terminable by the employee upon 90 days' notice to the Bank.

         The employment agreement provides for continued health benefits for the
remaining  term of the  agreement  and  payment to the  employee  of 299% of the
employee's  base  amount  of  compensation  in the event  there is a "change  in
control" of the Bank where  employment  terminates  involuntarily  in connection
with such  change in control or within 12 months  thereafter.  This  termination
payment  is  subject  to  reduction  in  order  to  avoid  certain  adverse  tax
consequences.  For the  purposes  of the  employment  agreement,  a  "change  in
control" is defined as including  any event which would require the filing of an
application for  acquisition of control or notice of change in control  pursuant
to 12 C.F.R.  Section 574.3 or 4. Such events are generally  triggered  prior to
the acquisition or control of 10% of the Common Stock. The agreement  guarantees
participation  in  an  equitable  manner  in  employee  benefits  applicable  to
executive personnel.

         Based  on his  current  salary,  if Mr.  Cooper's  employment  had been
terminated as of June 30, 1998, under  circumstances  entitling him to severance
pay as described  above,  he would have been entitled to receive a lump sum cash
payment of approximately $302,899.

Certain Transactions

         The Bank has followed a policy of granting loans to eligible directors,
officers, employees and members of their immediate families for the financing of
their personal  residences.  All such loans to directors and executive  officers
are  required  to be made in the  ordinary  course of  business  and on the same
terms,  including collateral and interest rates, as those prevailing at the time
for  comparable  transactions  and do not  involve  more than the normal risk of
collectibility.

                                        6

<PAGE>



At June 30, 1998, the Bank's loans to directors,  executive officers,  employees
and members of their immediate families totaled $798,000, which was 21.0% of the
Company's  stockholders' equity at that date. There were no loans outstanding to
any director,  executive  officer or their  affiliates at preferential  rates or
terms which in the  aggregate  exceeded  $60,000  during the year ended June 30,
1998.  All loans to directors  and officers were  performing in accordance  with
their terms at June 30, 1998.


              PROPOSAL II - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS

         The Board of  Directors  of the Company has  appointed  Henry & Peters,
P.C., independent accountants,  to be the Company's auditors for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1999.  Representatives  of Henry & Peters,  P.C. are expected to
attend the Meeting to respond to  appropriate  questions and to make a statement
if they so desire.

         THE BOARD OF  DIRECTORS  RECOMMENDS  THAT  STOCKHOLDERS  VOTE "FOR" THE
RATIFICATION  OF THE  APPOINTMENT  OF  HENRY &  PETERS,  P.C.  AS THE  COMPANY'S
AUDITORS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1999.


                              STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

         In order to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's  proxy materials
for the next annual meeting of  stockholders,  any stockholder  proposal to take
action at such meeting must be received at the Company's  office  located at 218
West Cass  Street,  Gilmer,  Texas 75677,  no later than June 1, 1999.  Any such
proposal shall be subject to the  requirements  of the proxy rules adopted under
the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Otherwise,  any  shareholder
proposal to take action at such meeting must be received at the Company's office
located at 218 West Cass  Street,  Gilmer,  Texas 75677 by  September  23, 1999;
provided,  however, that in the event that less than 40 days' notice of the date
of the  meeting  is  given,  such  proposal  must be  received  by the tenth day
following  the day on which notice of the date of the annual  meeting was mailed
or  public  announcement  of the  date of  such  meeting  was  first  made.  All
shareholder  proposals  must also comply with the Company's  bylaws and Delaware
law.

                                  OTHER MATTERS

         The Board of  Directors is not aware of any business to come before the
Meeting  other  than those  matters  described  above in this  Proxy  Statement.
However,  if any other matter  should  properly  come before the Meeting,  it is
intended  that  holders of the proxies  will act in  accordance  with their best
judgment.

         The cost of solicitation  of proxies will be borne by the Company.  The
Company  will  reimburse  brokerage  firms and other  custodians,  nominees  and
fiduciaries for reasonable  expenses incurred by them in sending proxy materials
to the beneficial  owners of Common Stock.  In addition to solicitation by mail,
directors,  officers and regular  employees  of the Company  and/or the Bank may
solicit  proxies  personally  or by telegraph or  telephone  without  additional
compensation.




Gilmer, Texas
September 29, 1998

                                        7

<PAGE>



                         GILMER FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC.

                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                October 22, 1998


      The undersigned hereby appoints the Board of Directors of Gilmer Financial
Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  with full powers of  substitution,  to act as
attorneys and proxies for the undersigned to vote all shares of capital stock of
the Company which the  undersigned  is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders  (the "Meeting") to be held at Gilmer Savings Bank FSB,  located at
218 West Cass Street,  Gilmer, Texas on October 22, 1998 at 4:00 p.m. and at any
and all adjournments and postponements thereof.


1. The election as director of the nominees listed below:

      ROYCE L. HUDGINS             /_/ FOR                    /_/ VOTE WITHHELD

      DONALD G. BETHARD            /_/ FOR                    /_/ VOTE WITHHELD


2.    The  ratification of the  appointment of Henry & Peters,  P.C. as auditors
      for the Company for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1999.

              /_/ FOR              /_/ AGAINST                /_/ ABSTAIN


      In their  discretion,  the  proxies  are  authorized  to vote on any other
business  that may  properly  come  before  the  Meeting or any  adjournment  or
postponement thereof.

      THIS  PROXY  WILL  BE  VOTED  AS  DIRECTED,  BUT  IF NO  INSTRUCTIONS  ARE
SPECIFIED,  THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE  PROPOSAL  AND EACH OF THE NOMINEES
LISTED ABOVE. IF ANY OTHER BUSINESS IS PRESENTED AT THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL
BE VOTED BY THOSE  NAMED IN THIS PROXY IN THEIR BEST  JUDGMENT.  AT THE  PRESENT
TIME,  THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS  KNOWS OF NO OTHER BUSINESS TO BE PRESENTED AT THE
MEETING.

               The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the
                    proposal and the election of the nominees
                                  listed above.


                                    (Continued and to be SIGNED on Reverse Side)

                                        8

<PAGE>



           THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

      Should the  undersigned be present and choose to vote at the Meeting or at
any  adjournments  or  postponements  thereof,  and  after  notification  to the
Secretary  of the  Company  at the  Meeting  of the  stockholder's  decision  to
terminate  this  proxy,  then the power of such  attorneys  or proxies  shall be
deemed  terminated  and of no further  force and effect.  This proxy may also be
revoked  by filing a written  notice of  revocation  with the  Secretary  of the
Company or by duly executing a proxy bearing a later date.

      The  undersigned  acknowledges  receipt  from  the  Company,  prior to the
execution of this proxy,  of notice of the  Meeting,  a Proxy  Statement  and an
Annual Report to Stockholders.





Dated:_____________________________, 1998            ___________________________
                                                     Signature of Stockholder

                                                     Please sign exactly as your
                                                     name(s)  appear(s)  to  the
                                                     left.   When   signing   as
                                                     attorney,         executor,
                                                     administrator,  trustee  or
                                                     guardian,  please give your
                                                     full  title.  If shares are
                                                     held  jointly,  each holder
                                                     should sign.

PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND MAIL THIS PROXY PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE



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