Exhibit 10.8

LIFE INSURANCE

ENDORSEMENT METHOD SPLIT DOLLAR AGREEMENT

Insurer: Beneficial Life Insurance Company

Policy Number: BL2116558

Insurer: Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company

Policy Number: 0050309

Owner: FAR WEST BANK

Insured: H. Don Norton

Effective Date: February 1, 2003

This Agreement is by and between Far West Bank (referred to herein as the
“Company”), and H. Don Norton, a member of the Board of Directors of the
Company.

 

I. DEFINITIONS

The term “Policy” shall refer to the above-cited policies as well any policies
obtained, by means of 1035 exchange, to replace the above-cited policies. Policy
definitions shall govern.

 

II. POLICY TITLE AND OWNERSHIP

The respective rights and duties of the Company and the Insured in the Policy
shall be as follows:

Title and ownership shall reside in the Company for its use and for the use of
the Insured all in accordance with this Agreement. The Company alone may, to the
extent of its interest, exercise the right to borrow or withdraw the Policy cash
values or to terminate the Policy. Where the Company and the Insured, mutually
agree to exercise the right to increase coverage under the Policy, then, in such
event, the rights, duties and benefits of the parties to such increased coverage
shall continue to be subject to the terms of this Agreement.

 

III. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION

The Insured shall have the right and power to designate beneficiaries to receive
his/her share of death proceeds, as provided in this Agreement. Likewise, the
Insured shall have the right and power to elect and change a payment option for
such beneficiaries.

 

IV. PREMIUM PAYMENTS

The Company shall pay premiums and the Insured shall not be responsible for any
portion thereof.

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V. TAXABLE BENEFIT

Annually the Insured will receive a taxable benefit equal to the assumed cost of
insurance as required by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company (or its
administrator) will report to the Insured such imputed income on Form W-2 or its
equivalent.

 

VI. DIVISION OF DEATH PROCEEDS

The Company shall be entitled to the death proceeds of the Policy except that,
subject to Paragraph VII herein, beneficiaries designated by the Insured in
accordance with Paragraph III, shall be entitled to a split dollar share of the
death proceeds.

 

  1. The Insured’s beneficiary (ies), shall be entitled to the lesser of
$25,000, or one hundred percent (100%) of the Net At Risk Insurance portion of
the proceeds; Net At Risk Insurance portion of the proceeds is the aggregate
total proceeds less the cash value of the Policies designated herein.

 

  2. The Company and the Insured’s beneficiaries shall share any interest due on
death proceeds in the same pro rata ratio as applies to death proceeds,
respectively.

 

  3. In the event that the Policy is terminated other than as a result of a
termination of this Agreement pursuant to paragraph X, then the Bank shall pay
to the Insured’s beneficiary (ies) an amount which will provide a total
after-tax death benefit equal to the benefit that the Insured would have
received if the Policy had not been terminated.

 

VII. DIVISION OF CASH SURRENDER VALUE

The Company shall at all times be entitled to an amount equal to the Policy’s
cash value, as that term is defined in the Policy, less any Policy loans and
unpaid interest or cash withdrawals previously incurred by the Company and any
applicable Policy surrender charges. Such cash value shall be determined as of
the date of surrender of the Policy or death of the Insured as the case may be.

 

VIII.  PREMIUM WAIVER

If the Policy contains a premium waiver provision, any such waived amounts shall
be considered for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid by the
Company.

 

IX. RIGHTS OF PARTIES WHERE POLICY ENDOWMENT OR ANNUITY ELECTION EXISTS

In the event the Policy involves an endowment or annuity element, the Company’s
right and interest in any endowment proceeds or annuity benefits shall be
determined according to this Agreement, by regarding such endowment proceeds, or
the commuted value of such annuity benefits, as the Policy’s cash value. Such
endowment proceeds or annuity benefits shall be treated like death proceeds for
the purposes of division under this Agreement.

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X. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT

This Agreement shall terminate immediately upon the commission of any act by the
Insured that results in the termination of the Policy by the Insurer or the
Insured’s conviction of a felony.

Except as provided above, this Agreement shall terminate upon distribution of
death benefits in accordance with Paragraph VI above.

 

XI. PROHIBITION ON ASSIGNMENT

The Insured may not, without the prior written consent of the Company, assign to
any individual, trust or other organization, any right, title or interest in the
Policy or in any rights, options, privileges or duties created under this
Agreement.

 

XII. AGREEMENT BINDING UPON THE PARTIES

This Agreement shall be binding upon the Insured and the Company, and their
respective heirs, successors, personal representatives and assigns, as
applicable.

 

XIII.  NAMED FIDUCIARY AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR

The Company is hereby designated the “Named Fiduciary” until resignation or
removal by its Board of Directors. As Named Fiduciary, the Company shall be
responsible for the management, control, and administration of this Agreement as
established herein. The Named Fiduciary may allocate to others certain aspects
of the management and operations responsibilities of this Agreement, including
the employment of advisors and the delegation of any ministerial duties to
qualified individuals.

 

XIV.  FUNDING POLICY

The funding Policy for this Agreement shall be to maintain the Policy in force
by paying, when due, all premiums required.

 

XV. MERGER OR REORGANIZATION

The Company shall not merge or consolidate into or with another corporation, or
reorganize or sell substantially all of its assets to another corporation, firm
or person, unless and until such succeeding or continuing corporation, firm or
person agrees to assume and discharge the obligations of the Bank under this
Agreement.

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XVI. CLAIM PROCEDURES

Claims shall be directed to The Benefit Marketing Group, Inc., Atlanta Georgia
(770-952-1529). If a claim is payable, a benefit check will be issued to the
Named Fiduciary. In the event that a claim is not eligible under the Policy, the
Insurer will notify the Named Fiduciary of the denial as required by the Policy.
If the Named Fiduciary is dissatisfied with the denial of the claim and wishes
to contest such claim denial, it should contact the office named above and they
will assist in making inquiry to the Insurer. All objections to the Insurer’s
actions should be in writing and submitted to the office named above for
transmittal to the Insurer.

 

XVII. GENDER AND PLURAL VS SINGULAR

Whenever in this Agreement words are used in the masculine or neuter gender,
they shall be read and construed as in the masculine, feminine or neuter gender,
whenever they should so apply. When applicable, nouns in the singular shall be
read and construed as in the plural and visa versa.

 

XVIII. INSURANCE COMPANY NOT A PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT

The Insurer shall not be deemed a party to this Agreement, but will be served
with an executed copy of this Agreement. Payment or other performance in
accordance with the Policy provisions shall fully discharge the Insurer from any
and all liability.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Insured and duly authorized Company officer have signed
this Agreement as of the above written date.

 

Far West Bank /s/ Ivan T. Call Name   Ivan T. Call Title   Chairman

 

Executive /s/ H. Don Norton Name  

 

    Reviewed by Bank Legal Counsel:             Initial