LIBERTY BANK
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made effective as of the ____ day of _____________, 1998
by and between Liberty Bank (the "Bank"), a federally-chartered stock savings
bank, with its principal administrative office at 0000 Xx. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000 and _________________ (the "Executive"). Any reference
to "Company" herein shall mean Axia Bancorp, Inc., a federally-chartered
corporation, or any successor thereto.
WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the continued services of
Executive for the period provided in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, Executive is willing to continue to serve in the employ of the
Bank on a full-time basis for said period.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained,
and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the parties hereby
agree as follows:
1. POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES
During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to serve as
__________________________ of the Bank and the Company. During said period,
Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an officer and director of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Bank. Failure to reelect Executive as
________________________ without the consent of the Executive during the term of
this Agreement shall constitute a breach of this Agreement.
2. TERMS AND DUTIES
(a) The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement shall begin
as of the date first above written and shall continue for a period of thirty-six
(36) full calendar months thereafter. Commencing on the first anniversary date
of this Agreement, and continuing at each anniversary date thereafter, the
Agreement shall renew for an additional year such that the remaining term shall
be three (3) years unless written notice is provided to Executive at least ten
(10) days and not more than thirty (30) days prior to any such anniversary date,
that his employment shall cease at the end of thirty-six (36) months following
such anniversary date. Prior to each notice period for non-renewal, the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Bank ("Board") will
conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation and review of the Executive for
purposes of determining whether to extend the Agreement, and the results thereof
shall be included in the minutes of the Board's meeting.
(b) During the period of his employment hereunder, except for periods of
absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and reasonable
leaves of absence, Executive shall faithfully perform his duties hereunder
including activities and services related to the organization, operation and
management of the Bank.
1
3. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT
(a) The compensation specified under this Agreement shall constitute the
salary and benefits paid for the duties described in Section 2(b). The Bank
shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of not less than $_______ per year
("Base Salary"). Such Base Salary shall be payable monthly. During the period of
this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least annually; the
first such review will be made no later than ____________. Such review shall be
conducted by a Committee designated by the Board, and the Board may increase,
but not decrease, Executive's Base Salary (any increase in Base Salary shall
become the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement). In addition to the
Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall provide Executive at
no cost to Executive with all such other benefits as are provided uniformly to
permanent full-time employees of the Bank.
(b) The Bank will provide Executive with employee benefit plans,
arrangements and perquisites substantially equivalent to those in which
Executive was participating or otherwise deriving benefit from immediately prior
to the beginning of the term of this Agreement, and the Bank will not, without
Executive's prior written consent, make any changes in such plans, arrangements
or perquisites which would adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits
thereunder. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this
Subsection (b), Executive will be entitled to participate in or receive benefits
under any employee benefit plans including but not limited to, retirement plans,
supplemental retirement plans, pension plans, profit-sharing plans,
health-and-accident plans, medical coverage or any other employee benefit plan
or arrangement made available by the Bank in the future to its senior executives
and key management employees, subject to and on a basis consistent with the
terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans and arrangements.
Executive will be entitled to incentive compensation and bonuses as provided in
any plan of the Bank in which Executive is eligible to participate (and he shall
be entitled to a pro rata distribution under any incentive compensation or bonus
plan as to any year in which a termination of employment occurs, other than
termination for Cause). Nothing paid to the Executive under any such plan or
arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which the
Executive is entitled under this Agreement.
(c) In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a) of this
Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations
under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form
and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.
(d) Compensation and reimbursement to be paid pursuant to paragraphs (a),
(b) and (c) of this Section 3 shall be paid by the Bank and the Company,
respectively, on a pro rata basis, based upon the amount of service the
Executive devotes to the Bank and Company, respectively.
2
4. PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION
The provisions of this Section shall in all respects be subject to the
terms and conditions stated in Sections 7 and 14.
(a) The provisions of this Section shall apply upon the occurrence of an
Event of Termination (as herein defined) during the Executive's term of
employment under this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following:
(i) the termination by the Bank or the Company of Executive's
full-time employment hereunder for any reason other than (A) Disability or
Retirement, as defined in Section 5 below, or (B) Termination for Cause as
defined in Section 6 hereof; or
(ii) Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ, upon any
(A) failure to elect or reelect or to appoint or reappoint
Executive as _____________,
(B) material change in Executive's function, duties, or
responsibilities, which change would cause Executive's position to
become one of lesser responsibility, importance, or scope from the
position and attributes thereof described in Section 1, above,
(C) liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Company other than
liquidations or dissolutions that are caused by reorganizations that
do not affect the status of Executive, or
(D) breach of this Agreement by the Bank.
Upon the occurrence of any event described in clauses (ii) (A), (B), (C) or (D)
above, Executive shall have the right to elect to terminate his employment under
this Agreement by resignation upon sixty (60) days prior written notice given
within a reasonable period of time not to exceed four calendar months after the
initial event giving rise to said right to elect. Notwithstanding the preceding
sentence, in the event of a continuing breach of this Agreement by the Bank, the
Executive, after giving due notice within the prescribed time frame of an
initial event specified above, shall not waive any of his rights solely under
this Agreement and this Section 4 by virtue of the fact that Executive has
submitted his resignation but has remained in the employment of the Bank and is
engaged in good faith discussions to resolve any occurrence of an event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C) or (D) above.
(iii) Executive's voluntary resignation from the Bank's employ on the
effective date of, or at any time following, a Change in Control during the
term of this Agreement. For these purposes,
3
a Change in Control of the Bank or the Company shall mean a change in
control of a nature that: (i) would be required to be reported in response
to Item 1(a) of the current report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date
hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
0000 (xxx "Xxxxxxxx Xxx"); or (ii) results in a Change in Control of the
Bank or the Company within the meaning of the Home Owners Loan Act, as
amended, and applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as in
effect at the time of the Change in Control (collectively, the "HOLA"); or
(iii) without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have
occurred at such time as (a) any "person" (as the term is used in Sections
13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner"
(as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the combined
voting power of Company's outstanding securities except for any securities
purchased by the Bank's employee stock ownership plan or trust; or (b)
individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the "Incumbent
Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof,
provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof
whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the
directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election
by the Company's stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee
serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause
(b), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (c) a
plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially
all the assets of the Bank or the Company or similar transaction in which
the Bank or Company is not the surviving institution occurs; or (d) a proxy
statement soliciting proxies from stockholders of the Company, by someone
other than the current management of the Company, seeking stockholder
approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the
Company or similar transaction with one or more corporations or financial
institutions, and as a result such proxy solicitation a plan of
reorganization, merger consolidation or similar transaction involving the
Company is approved by the requisite vote of the Company's stockholders; or
(e) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the
Company and the shareholders owning beneficially or of record 25% or more
of the outstanding securities of the Company have tendered or offered to
sell their shares pursuant to such tender offer and such tendered shares
have been accepted by the tender offeror.
(b) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 7, the Bank shall pay Executive, or, in the
event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate,
as the case may be, as severance pay or liquidated damages, or both, a sum equal
to three (3) times the sum of (i) Base Salary and (ii) the highest rate of bonus
awarded to the Executive during the prior three years. At the election of the
Executive, which election is to be made on an annual basis during the month of
January, and which election is irrevocable for the year in which made and upon
the occurrence of an Event of Termination, any payments shall be made in a lump
sum or paid monthly during the remaining term of this Agreement following the
Executive's termination. In the event that no election is made, payment to the
Executive will be made on a monthly basis during the remaining term of this
Agreement. Such payments shall not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains
other employment following termination of employment.
4
(c) Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will cause to
be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage substantially
identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank for Executive prior to his
termination. Such coverage shall continue for 36 months from the Date of
Termination.
(d) Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs of this Section 4, in the
event that:
(i) the aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to
Executive under said paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits")
would be deemed to include an "excess parachute payment" under
Section 280G of the Code or any successor thereto, and
(ii) if such Termination Benefits were reduced to an amount (the
"Non-Triggering Amount"), the value of which is one dollar
($1.00) less than an amount equal to the total amount of payments
permissible under Section 280G of the Code or any successor
thereto,
then the Termination Benefits to be paid to Executive shall be so reduced so as
to be a Non-Triggering Amount.
5. TERMINATION UPON RETIREMENT, DISABILITY OR DEATH
Termination by the Bank of the Executive based on "Retirement" shall mean
termination in accordance with the Bank's retirement policy or in accordance
with any retirement arrangement established with Executive's consent with
respect to him. Upon termination of Executive upon Retirement, Executive shall
be entitled to all benefits under any retirement plan of the Bank and other
plans to which Executive is a party. For purposes of this Agreement,
"Retirement" shall be defined as termination upon attainment of age 65, or such
later age as consented to by the Board.
In the event Executive is unable to perform his duties under this Agreement
on a full-time basis for a period of six (6) consecutive months by reason of
illness or other physical or mental disability, the Employer may terminate this
Agreement, provided that the Employer shall continue to be obligated to pay the
Executive his Base Salary for the remaining term of the Agreement, or one year,
whichever is the longer period of time, and provided further that any amounts
actually paid to Executive pursuant to any disability insurance or other similar
such program which the Employer has provided or may provide on behalf of its
employees or pursuant to any xxxxxxx'x or social security disability program
shall reduce the compensation to be paid to the Executive pursuant to this
paragraph.
In the event of Executive's death during the term of the Agreement, his
estate, legal representatives or named beneficiaries (as directed by Executive
in writing) shall be paid Executive's Base Salary as defined in Paragraph 3(a)
at the rate in effect at the time Executive's death for a period of one (1) year
from the date of the Executive's death, and the Employers will continue to
5
provide medical, dental, family and other benefits normally provided for an
Executive's family for one (1) year after the Executive's death.
6. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE
The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of the
Executive's personal dishonesty, willful misconduct, any breach of fiduciary
duty involving personal profit, intentional failure to perform stated duties,
willful violation of any law, rule, or regulation (other than traffic violations
or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order, or material breach of any
provision of this Agreement. In determining incompetence, the acts or omissions
shall be measured against standards generally prevailing in the savings
institutions industry. For purposes of this para graph, no act or failure to act
on the part of Executive shall be considered "willful" unless done, or omitted
to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief
that the Execu tive's action or omission was in the best interest of the Bank.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive shall not be deemed to have been
Terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to him a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-fourths of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and
held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity
for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in
the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying
Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail. The
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after Termination for Cause. Any stock options granted to Executive
under any stock option plan of the Bank, the Company or any subsidiary or
affiliate thereof, shall become null and void effective upon Executive's receipt
of Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 7 hereof, and shall not
be exercisable by Executive at any time subsequent to such Termination for
Cause.
7. NOTICE
(a) Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.
(b) "Date of Termination" shall mean (A) if Executive's employment is
terminated for Disability, thirty (30) days after a Notice of Termination is
given (provided that he shall not have returned to the performance of his duties
on a full-time basis during such thirty (30) day period), and (B) if his
employment is terminated for any other reason, the date specified in the Notice
of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not be less
than thirty (30) days from the date such Notice of Termination is given).
(c) If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is given,
the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
dispute exists concerning the termination,
6
except upon the voluntary termination by the Executive in which case the Date of
Termination shall be the date specified in the Notice, the Date of Termination
shall be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual
written agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and provided further
that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of dispute only if
such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such notice pursues the
resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence. Notwithstanding the
pendency of any such dispute, the Bank will continue to pay Executive his full
compensation in effect when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given
(including, but not limited to, Base Salary) and continue Executive as a
participant in all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which he was
participating when the notice of dispute was given, until the dispute is finally
resolved in accordance with this Agreement, provided such dispute is resolved
within the term of this Agreement. If such dispute is not resolved within the
term of the Agreement, the Bank shall not be obligated, upon final resolution of
such dispute, to pay Executive compensation and other payments accruing beyond
the term of the Agreement. Amounts paid under this Section shall be offset
against or reduce any other amounts due under this Agreement.
8. POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS
(a) All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with paragraph (b) of this Section 8 during
the term of this Agreement and for one (1) full year after the expiration or
termination hereof.
(b) Executive shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish such information and
assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be required by the Bank in connection
with any litigation in which it or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or
may become, a party.
9. NON-COMPETITION
(a) Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder, other than a
termination, (whether voluntary or involuntary) in connection with a Change in
Control, as a result of which the Association is paying Executive benefits under
Section 4 of this Agreement, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank
and/or the Company for a period of one (1) year following such termination
within twenty-five (25) miles of any existing branch of the Bank or any bank
subsidiary of the Company, or within twenty-five (25) miles of any office for
which the Bank, the Company or a bank subsidiary of the Company has filed an
application for regulatory approval, determined as of the effective date of such
termination, except as agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the
Board. Executive agrees that during such period and within said cities, towns
and counties, Executive shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve
with, directly or indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with
the depository, lending or other business activities of the Bank and/or the
Company. The parties hereto, recognizing that irreparable injury will result to
the Bank and/or the Company, its business and property in the event of
Executive's breach of this Subsection 9(a) agree that in the event of any such
breach by Executive, the Bank and/or the Company will be entitled, in addition
to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction
7
to restrain the violation hereof by Executive, Executive's partners, agents,
servants, employers, employees and all persons acting for or with Executive.
Executive represents and admits that Executive's experience and capabilities are
such that Executive can obtain employment in a business engaged in other lines
and/or of a different nature than the Bank and/or the Company, and that the
enforcement of a remedy by way of injunction will not prevent Executive from
earning a livelihood. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank
and/or the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank and/or
the Company for such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of
damages from Executive.
(b) Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of the
business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and affiliates
thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special and unique
asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or after the term
of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present, planned or
considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to any person,
firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose whatsoever (except
for such disclosure as may be required to be provided to any federal banking
agency with jurisdiction over the Bank or Executive). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge of banking, financial and/or
economic principles, concepts or ideas which are not solely and exclusively
derived from the business plans and activities of the Bank, and Executive may
disclose any information regarding the Bank or the Company which is otherwise
publicly available. In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Executive of the provisions of this Section 9, the Bank will be entitled to an
injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or in part, the
knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business activities of the
Bank or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to any person, firm,
corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or in part, has been
disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein will be construed as
prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for
such breach or threatened breach, including the recovery of damages from
Executive.
10. SOURCE OF PAYMENTS
All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid in cash or
check from the general funds of the Bank. The Company, however, guarantees
payment and provision of all amounts and benefits due hereunder to Executive
and, if such amounts and benefits due from the Bank are not timely paid or
provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits shall be paid or provided by the
Company.
11. EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS
This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties hereto
and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to the Executive
of a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this Agreement shall be
interpreted to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than
those available to him without reference to this Agreement.
8
12. REQUIRED PROVISIONS
(a) The Bank may terminate the Executive's employment at any time.
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after Termination for Cause as defined in Section 2(c) hereinabove.
(b) If the Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily prohibited
from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) (12 USC ss.1818(e)(3)) or 8(g) (12 USC ss.1818(g)) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform,
Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, the Bank's obligations under this contract
shall be suspended as of the date of service, unless stayed by appropriate
proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the Bank may in its
discretion (i) pay the Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while
their contract obligations were suspended and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in
part) any of the obligations which were suspended.
(c) If the Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e) (12 USC ss.1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 USC ss.1818(g)) of the Federal
Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery
and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of the Bank under this contract
shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the
contracting parties shall not be affected.
(d) If the Bank is in default as defined in Section 3(x) (12 USC
ss.1813(x)(1)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial
Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989, all obligations of
the Bank under this contract shall terminate as of the date of default, but this
paragraph shall not affect any vested rights of the contracting parties.
(e) All obligations of the Bank under this contract shall be terminated,
except to the extent determined that continuation of the contract is necessary
for the continued operation of the Bank, (i) by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation ("FDIC"), at the time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide
assistance to or on behalf of the Bank under the authority contained in Section
13(c) (12 USC ss.1823(c)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by
the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act of 1989; or (ii)
when the Bank is determined by the FDIC to be in an unsafe or unsound condition.
Any rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be
affected by such action.
13. NO ATTACHMENT
(a) Except as required by law, no right to receive payments under this
Agreement shall be subject to anticipation, commutation, alienation, sale,
assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or hypothecation, or to execution,
attachment, levy, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.
(b) This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of,
Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.
9
14. MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
(a) This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an instrument
in writing signed by the parties hereto.
(b) No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to have been
waived, nor shall there be any estoppel against the enforcement of any provision
of this Agreement, except by written instrument of the party charged with such
waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver
unless specifically stated therein, and each such waiver shall operate only as
to the specific term or condition waived and shall not constitute a waiver of
such term or condition for the future as to any act other than that specifically
waived.
15. SEVERABILITY
If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid, and each
such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent consistent with
law continue in full force and effect.
16. HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY
The headings of sections and paragraphs herein are included solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.
17. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey but
only to the extent not superseded by federal law.
18. ARBITRATION
Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by the employee within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association then in effect. Judgment may be entered on the
arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction; provided, however, that
Executive shall be entitled to seek specific performance of his right to be paid
until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement.
19. PAYMENT OF LEGAL FEES
All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by Executive pursuant to any
dispute or question of interpretation relating to this Agreement shall be paid
or reimbursed by the Bank, provided that
10
the dispute or interpretation has been settled by Executive and the Bank or
resolved in the Executive's favor.
20. INDEMNIFICATION
The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs, executors and
administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy at its expense, and shall indemnify Executive (and
his heirs, executors and administrators) to the fullest extent permitted under
federal law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may
be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the Bank
(whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements (such settlements must be approved by the
Board of Directors of the Bank). If such action, suit or proceeding is brought
against Executive in his capacity as an officer or director of the Bank,
however, such indemnification shall not extend to matters as to which Executive
is finally adjudged to be liable for willful misconduct in the performance of
his duties.
21. SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK
The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Company, expressly
and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's obligations under
this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that the Bank would be
required to perform if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
11
SIGNATURES
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Bank and the Company have caused this Agreement to
be executed and their seals to be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized
officers, and Executives have signed this Agreement, on the day and date first
above written.
ATTEST: ______________________________ LIBERTY BANK
By: ______________________________
ATTEST: ______________________________ AXIA BANCORP, INC.
By: ______________________________
WITNESS: ______________________________ EXECUTIVE: _________________________
By: ______________________________
12
