EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

EXHIBIT 10.4

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), between The Bank of the Pacific, a Washington business corporation (“The Bank”) and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (“Officer”) is dated as of June 15, 2005 and will be effective July 1, 2005.

RECITALS

The Bank of the Pacific is a Washington banking corporation. The Bank is engaged in the business of commercial banking in Grays Harbor County, Pacific County, Skagit County, Whatcom County, and Wahkiakum County, Washington. The Bank also engages business in Oregon Counties.

The Officer represents that she has considerable experience, expertise and training related to banking and services offered by The Bank. The Bank desires and intends to employ the Officer pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

Both The Bank and the Officer have read and understand the terms and provisions set forth in this Agreement, and have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to review this Agreement and to consult with an attorney.

AGREEMENT

The parties agree as follows:

Employment. The Bank will employ the Officer for the Term, except as specifically stated herein, and the Officer accepts employment with The Bank on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Officer’s title will be “Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Effective Date and Term.

(a)

Effective Date. This Agreement is effective as of the 1^st day of July, 2005

(b)

Term. The initial term of this Agreement is two years (24 months), beginning on the Effective Date stated in paragraph 2(a), and shall automatically renew for an additional term of one year on each anniversary date of the Agreement, so as to create a two year term on each anniversary date, unless notice of termination or nonrenewal is provided by either party pursuant to paragraph 5(a).

Duties. The Officer will serve as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the Bank and faithfully and diligently perform the duties assigned to the Officer by the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). The Officer will report directly to the CEO of The Bank. The Officer will use her best efforts to perform her duties and will devote all her working time and attention to these duties.

Compensation.

(a)

Salary. Initially, the Officer will receive an annualized salary of $85,000.00 per year, to be paid at regular intervals by The Bank in accordance with its regular payroll schedules. The Officer’s salary will be subject to annual review and adjustment as set forth in section 4(f).

(b)

Incentive Compensation. Officer will be eligible to participate in an incentive plan relative to The Bank’s approved plan. A disinterested majority of The Bank’s Board of Directors will determine the amount of the bonus pool, if any, based on the profitability, safety, and soundness of The Bank. The Officer’s bonus, if any, will reflect the Officer’s performance in her area of responsibility and her contribution to the overall performance of The Bank during the year, as determined in the sole discretion of The Bank’s Board of Directors. No incentive compensation bonus shall be paid for any calendar year or portion thereof, in which this Agreement is terminated or not renewed, or in which notice of nonrenewal or termination is given, regardless of reasons for termination or nonrenewal, and regardless of which party terminates or declines to renew this Agreement. The Officer will also be entitled to participate in stock bonus or option plans generally available to senior Officers of The Bank.

(c)

Standard Benefits. The Bank will provide to the Officer the standard Officer benefits provided in accordance with The Bank’s benefit plans and policies, including but not limited to health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance and four (4) weeks of paid vacation per year accrued in accordance with The Bank’s benefit plans and policies. The Officer also will be entitled to participate in retirement plans, including 401(k) plans.

(d)

Automobile. The Bank will provide the Officer with an automobile allowance of $250 per month, unless a bank owned vehicle is assigned to the Officer in lieu of an automobile allowance.

(e)

Expenses. The Bank will reimburse the Officer for all reasonable expenses that the Officer may incur in the performance of her duties including monthly country club dues. The Officer will request reimbursement and provide documentation of such expenses within a reasonable time, but no later than 90 days after the expense has been incurred.

(f)

Annual Review and Adjustment. The Officer’s compensation as set forth in this Section 4(a), will be subject to annual review and adjustment by a disinterested majority of The Bank’s Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. In no case, however, will the Officer’s salary, vacation and expense reimbursement be less than the amounts set forth in this section 4.

Termination.

(a)

Notice of Termination or Nonrenewal. Either party may unilaterally terminate or decline to renew this Agreement for any reason by providing the other party with written notice of the termination or nonrenewal no less than ninety (90) days prior to the termination date or the final date of the then current Term of this Agreement.

(b)

Termination or Nonrenewal by The Bank: In the event that the Bank provides the Officer with a notice of termination without cause or nonrenewal under paragraph 5(a), The Bank will pay to the Officer her salary from the date of the notice for the balance of the then current Term or for twelve (12) months from the date of the notice, whichever is greater, and in its discretion will advise the Officer of those duties and responsibilities, if any, it wants him to perform during this time. All forfeiture provisions regarding restricted stock awards and all vesting requirements regarding stock options shall lapse or be deemed fully completed.

(c)

Termination or Nonrenewal by the Officer: In the event the Officer seeks to terminate or refuses to renew this Agreement without providing at least (90) days’ written notice prior to the termination date of final date of the then current term, the Officer will pay to The Bank liquidated damages as follows: (A) in the event the Officer provides notice of termination or nonrenewal 29 days or less prior to the termination date of the Agreement, the Officer shall pay The Bank $25,000 in liquidated damages; (B) in the event the Officer provides notice of termination or nonrenewal at least 30 days but not more than 59 days prior to the termination date of the Agreement, the Officer shall pay The Bank $20,000 in liquidated damages; (C) in the event the Officer provides notice of termination or nonrenewal at least 60 days but not more than 89 days prior to termination of this Agreement, the Officer shall pay to The Bank $15,000 in liquidated damages.

(d)

Termination by The Bank for Cause. Notwithstanding paragraph 4(a), The Bank may immediately terminate this Agreement with no advance notice if termination is for cause. For purposes of this Agreement, “cause” means dishonesty; fraud; commission of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude; deliberate violation of statutes, regulations, or orders pertaining to financial institutions or reckless disregard of such statutes, regulations, or orders; destruction or theft of Bank property or assets of customers of The Bank; physical attack of a fellow employee or a customer; intoxication at work; use of narcotics or alcohol to an extent that materially impairs Officer’s performance of her duties; willful malfeasance or gross negligence in the performance of Officer’s duties; violation of law in the course of employment that has a material adverse impact on The Bank, its Officers, or its customers; Officer’s refusal to perform Officer’s duties; Officer’s refusal to follow reasonable instructions or directions; misconduct materially injurious to The Bank; significant neglect of duty; or any material breach of Officer’s duties or obligations to The Bank that results in material harm to The Bank. If termination occurs under this paragraph, the Officer will be entitled to receive only the salary earned through the date this Agreement is terminated and shall not be entitled to any payment pursuant to paragraph 4(a), and except as otherwise provided by law, participation in benefit plans ceases upon termination of this Agreement.

(e)

Death or Disability. Notwithstanding paragraph 4(a), this Agreement will terminate immediately upon the Officer’s death. Notwithstanding paragraph 4(a), if the Officer is unable to perform her duties and obligations under this Agreement for a period of 90 days as a result of a disability that substantially limits one or more of her major life activities, this Agreement will terminate immediately upon expiration of such 900 day period unless Officer is thereafter able to perform the essential functions of the position referenced in paragraph 2(c) with or without a reasonable accommodation. If termination occurs under this paragraph, the Officer or her estate will be entitled to receive only the salary earned through the date this Agreement is terminated and shall not be entitled to any payment pursuant to paragraph 4(a), and except as otherwise provided by law, participation in benefit plans ceases upon termination of this Agreement, except that as of such termination date, all vesting requirements regarding then currently pending stock options shall be deemed fully completed.

(f)

Termination Related to a Change in Control. This paragraph will apply to any termination related to a Change in Control, as set forth herein.

“Change in Control” means a change “in the ownership or effective control” or “in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets” of The Bank, within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code. An initial public offering by The Bank will not, however, be deemed to be a Change in Control under this Agreement.

ii.

Termination by The Bank. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 5(a), if The Bank or its successors in interest by merger, or their transferees in the event of a purchase and assumption transaction, and for reasons other than the provisions in paragraphs 5(d) and 5(e) terminates this Agreement within twenty-four (24) months following a Change in Control, The Bank will pay the Officer eighteen (18) times the base compensation received by the Officer during the most recent calendar month ending on or prior to the effective date of termination, less statutory payroll deductions. Payment under this paragraph shall be made in accordance with The Bank’s ordinary payroll policies and procedures, unless the parties mutually agree to a different payment schedule.

iii.

Officer Assignment Related to Change in Control. If the assignment to the Officer by The Bank or its successors in interest by merger, or their transferees in the event of a purchase and assumption transaction, is other than the position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, without the Officer’s expressed written consent, then the provisions of paragraph 5(f)(ii) shall apply.

iv.

Limitations on Payments Related to Change in Control. The following apply notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement:

The payment described in Section 5(f)(ii) shall be less than the amount that would cause it to be a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G (b)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

The Officer’s right to receive the payment described in Section 5(f)(ii) terminates (a) immediately if before the Change in Control transaction closes, the Officer terminates her employment without good reason or the Company terminates the Officer’s employment for cause, or (b) two years after Change in Control occurs

Confidentiality. The Officer will not, after signing this Agreement, including during and after its Term, disclose to any other person or entity any confidential information concerning The Bank or its business operations or customers, or use for her own purposes or permit or assist in the use of such confidential information by third parties unless The Bank consents to the use or disclosures of their respective information, or disclosure is required by law or court order. The provisions of this paragraph survive the termination of the Officers employment by The Bank.

Noncompetition. During the Term and for twenty-four (24) months after the Officer’s employment with The Bank ends, the Officer will not become involved with a Competing Business or serve, directly or indirectly, a Competing Business in any matter. “Competing Business” means any company that competes with or will compete with The Bank in Grays Harbor, Pacific, Wahkiakum, Whatcom, and Skagit Counties, or any other Washington or Oregon county in which The Bank maintains a banking office(s) at the time of the termination of this Agreement. “Competing Business” includes, without limitation, any existing or newly formed financial institution or trust company.

Enforcement. The Bank and the Officer agree that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances of the relationship between The Bank and the Officer, the agreements referred to in paragraphs 5(a), 6 and 7 are fair and reasonably necessary for the protection of The Bank’s confidential information, goodwill and other protectible interests. The parties acknowledge and agree that the time and expense involved in proving in any forum the actual damage or loss suffered by The Bank if there is a breach of paragraphs 5(a), 6 or 7 make this case appropriate for liquidated damages. Accordingly, The Bank and the Officer agree that the following schedule of liquidated damages is reasonable and fair, and shall be the amount of damages which the Officer shall pay to The Bank for each, separate breach of paragraphs 5(a), 6 or 7 by the Officer:

for a breach of paragraph 5(a), the sum of $15,000;

for a breach of paragraph 6, the sum of $50,000;

for a breach of paragraph 7, the sum of $100,000.

For purposes of paragraph 7, a “separate breach” shall be deemed to have occurred with each Competing Business with which the Officer becomes involved or serves in violation of paragraph 7.

Neither the breach of paragraphs 5(a), 6 or 7, nor the payment of liquidated damages by the Officer, shall affect the continuing validity or enforceability of this Agreement, or The Bank’s right to seek and obtain injunctive relief. If a court of competent jurisdiction should decline to enforce any of these covenants and agreements, the Officer and the Bank hereby stipulate that the Court shall reform these provisions to restrict the Officer’s use of confidential information and the Officer’s ability to compete with The Bank to the maximum extent, in time, scope of activities, and geography, as the court finds enforceable.

Adequate Consideration. The Officer specifically acknowledges the receipt of adequate consideration for the covenants contained in paragraph 5(a), 6, and 7, and that The Bank is entitled to require him to comply with these paragraphs. These paragraphs will survive termination of this agreement. The Officer represents that if her employment is terminated, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, the Officer has experience and capabilities sufficient to enable the Officer to obtain employment in areas which do not violate this Agreement and that The Bank’s enforcement of a remedy by way of injunction will not prevent the Officer from earning a livelihood.

10.

Miscellaneous Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties concerning its subject matter. This Agreement will bind and inure to the benefit of The Bank’s and the Officer’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. This Agreement may be modified only through a written instrument signed by both parties. This Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with Washington law, except that certain matters may be governed by federal law. Venue for enforcement of any terms of this Agreement shall be in Grays Harbor County, Washington Superior Court.

Signed as of June _______, 2005:


THE BANK OF THE PACIFIC	OFFICER
/s/Xxxxxx X. Xxxx	/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx Chief Executive Officer	Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx

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EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

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