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Exhibit 10.22

NINTH AMENDMENT TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

        THIS NINTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Amendment") dated as of
July 24, 2002 is entered into between ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP. (the
"Company") and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (the "Bank").

W I T N E S S E T H

        WHEREAS, the Company and the Bank are parties to that certain Credit
Agreement dated as of July 24, 1997 (as amended, herein called the "Credit
Agreement"; terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as
defined in the Credit Agreement); and

        WHEREAS, the Company and the Bank desire to amend the Credit Agreement
on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and intending to be
legally bound hereby, the Company and the Bank hereby agree as follows:

        SECTION 1.    AMENDMENTS.    

        Subject to and upon the terms and conditions hereof and in reliance on
the Company's warranties set forth in Section 2 below, as of the date hereof the
Credit Agreement shall be amended as follows:

        (a)  The definition of "Tranche A Termination Date" set forth in
Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by deleting the reference
to "July 24, 2002" contained therein and replacing it with "September 30, 2002".

        (b)  The definition of "Tranche B Termination Date" set forth in
Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement shall be amended by deleting the reference
to "July 24, 2002" contained therein and replacing it with "September 30, 2002".

        SECTION 2.    WARRANTIES.    

        To induce the Bank to enter into this Amendment, the Company warrants to
the Bank as of the date hereof that:

        (a)  After giving effect to this Amendment, all representations and
warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof (except to the
extent such representations and warranties expressly refer to an earlier date).

        (b)  After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing.

        (c)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and other action
and do not and will not require any registration with, consent or approval of,
notice to or action by, any Person (including any governmental authority) in
order to be effective and enforceable. The Credit Agreement as modified by this
Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against it in accordance with the Credit Agreement's terms, without
defense, counterclaim or offset.

        SECTION 3.    EFFECTIVENESS.    

        This Amendment shall be effective upon the delivery this Amendment, duly
executed by the Company and the Bank.

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        SECTION 4.    GENERAL.    

        (a)  As hereby modified, the Credit Agreement shall remain in full force
and effect and is hereby ratified, approved and confirmed in all respects.

        (b)  The Company acknowledges and agrees that the execution and delivery
by the Bank of this Amendment shall not be deemed to create a course of dealing
or otherwise obligate the Bank to execute similar modifications under the same
or similar circumstances in the future.

        (c)  This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by
the different parties on separate counterparts, and each such counterpart shall
be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same Amendment.

Delivered at Chicago, Illinois, as of the date and year first above written.

    BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
 
 
 
      By: /s/  JOAN L. D'AMICO      

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    Name: Joan L. D'Amico     Title: Managing Director
 
 
 
      ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP.
 
 
 
      By: /s/  STANLEY R. ZAX      

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    Name: Stanley R. Zax     Title: Chairman & President
 
 
 
 

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NINTH AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT