<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                        CUSTODY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT


          CUSTODY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, dated as of April 1, 1998 between
Superior Financial Corp., (the "Pledgor") and The Bank of New York, as trustee,
(the "Trustee") for the benefit of the holders (the "Holders") of the Senior
Notes (as defined herein) of the Pledgor issued under the Indenture (as defined
herein).

          WHEREAS, the Pledgor and The Bank of New York, as trustee, have
entered into that certain indenture dated as of April 1, 1998 (as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the
"Indenture"), pursuant to which the Pledgor is issuing on the date hereof
$60,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes due 2003 (the "Senior
Notes").  Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given to such terms in the Indenture; and

          WHEREAS, the Pledgor agrees, pursuant to the Indenture, to (i)
purchase Permitted Investments (together with any replacement or substitute
securities, the "Pledged Securities") in an amount sufficient upon receipt of
scheduled interest and principal payments in respect of the Pledged Securities,
based on the report of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants selected by the Pledgor, to provide for payment at all times during
the period commencing on the Issue Date, interest due on the Senior Notes on the
next two succeeding Interest Payment Dates and (ii) place such Pledged
Securities in an account (the "Collateral Account") held by The Bank of New York
as custodian (the "Custodian") for the benefit of Holders of the Senior Notes;
and

          WHEREAS, the Pledgor is the legal and beneficial owner of the Pledged
Securities; and

          WHEREAS, to secure its obligations under the Indenture and the Senior
Notes (the "Secured Obligations"), the Pledgor has agreed to (i) pledge to the
Trustee for its benefit and the ratable benefit of the Holders a perfected first
priority security interest in the Pledged Securities and the Collateral Account
(as defined below) and (ii) execute and deliver this Custody and Security
Agreement in order to secure the payment and performance by the Pledgor of all
such Secured Obligations.
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                                  WITNESSETH:

          NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.  Pledge and Grant of Security Interest.
    ------------------------------------- 

          The Pledgor hereby pledges to the Trustee for its benefit and for the
ratable benefit of the Holders, and grants to the Trustee for its benefit and
for the ratable benefit of the Holders, a continuing first priority security
interest in and to (i) all of Pledgor's right, title and interest in the Pledged
Securities, the Collateral Account (as defined herein), and any other
securities, assets, or property held in or credited to the Collateral Account,
(ii) certificates or other evidence of ownership representing the Pledged
Securities, the Collateral Account, and any property held in or credited to the
Collateral Account and (iii) all products and proceeds of any of the foregoing,
including, without limitation, all dividends, interest, principal payments,
cash, options, warrants, rights, instruments, subscriptions and other property
or proceeds from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed or
distributable in respect of or in exchange for any or all of the foregoing,
including any such property held in or credited to the Collateral Account
(collectively, the "Collateral").

2.  Security for Secured Obligations.
    -------------------------------- 

          The Custody and Security Agreement and the Collateral secure the
prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at stated
maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of all Secured Obligations.

3.  Delivery of Collateral; Collateral Account;
    Interest; Substitution of Collateral.
    ---------------------------------------

          (a)  All certificates or instruments, if any, from time to time
     representing or evidencing the Collateral shall be delivered to and held by
     or on behalf of the Trustee pursuant hereto and shall be in suitable form
     for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed
     instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, all in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Trustee.

          (b)  Concurrently with the execution and delivery hereof, the Trustee
     shall establish an account entitled "SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP., AS PLEDGOR
     FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE" for the deposit of the
     Pledged Securities (such account, or any successor account, the "Collateral
     Account") at its office at [101 Barclay Street,] New York, New York  

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     10286. Subject to the other terms and conditions of this Custody and
     Security Agreement, all funds or other property accepted by the Trustee
     pursuant to this Custody and Security Agreement shall be held in the
     Collateral Account for the benefit of the Trustee and the ratable benefit
     of the Holders.

          (c)  All interest earned on any Collateral shall be retained and
     reinvested in the Collateral Account and credited thereto, pending
     disbursement pursuant to the terms hereof.

4.  Disbursements.
    ------------- 

          (a)  Not less than six (6) Business Days prior to the next scheduled
     Interest Payment Date with respect to the Senior Notes the Pledgor may, in
     writing, direct the Trustee to transfer from the Collateral Account to the
     Trustee in its capacity as Paying Agent funds necessary to provide for
     payment in full or any portion of the next scheduled interest payment on
     the Senior Notes.  Upon receipt of such written request, the Trustee will
     take any action reasonably necessary to provide for the payment of such
     interest payment on the Senior Notes directly to the Holders from proceeds
     of the Pledged Securities or any other property held in or credited to the
     Collateral Account.

          (b)  If the Pledgor makes any interest payment or portion of an
     interest payment for which the Pledged Securities are collateral from a
     source of funds other than the Collateral Account ("Pledgor Funds"), the
     Pledgor may, after payment in full for such interest payment, direct the
     Trustee in writing to release to the Pledgor or at the direction of the
     Pledgor an amount of funds from the Collateral Account less than or equal
     to the amount of Pledgor Funds so expended within six business days of such
     request.  Upon receipt of a direction from the Pledgor and any other
     documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee to substantiate such
     use of Pledgor Funds by the Pledgor (including the certificate described in
     the following sentence), the Trustee will take any action reasonably
     necessary to enable it to pay over to the Pledgor the requested amount.
     Concurrently with any release of funds to the Pledgor pursuant to this
     Section 4(b), the Pledgor will deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed
     by the Chief  Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of the
     Pledgor stating that the use of Pledgor Funds to make interest payments has
     been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and does not
     contravene, or constitute a default under, any provisions of applicable law
     or regulation or of the certificate of incorporation of the Pledgor or of
     any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other 

                                       3
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     instrument binding upon the Pledgor or result in the creation or imposition
     of any Lien on any assets of the Pledgor.

          (c)  If at any time the amount of Pledged Securities exceeds the
     amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
     independent public accountants selected by the Pledgor, to provide for
     payment in full of the next two succeeding scheduled interest payments due
     on the Senior Notes (or, in the event an interest payment or payments have
     been made, an amount sufficient to provide for payment in full of any
     interest payments then remaining, up to and including the final scheduled
     interest payment), the Pledgor may direct the Trustee in writing to release
     any such overfunding to it.  Upon receipt of a written request from the
     Pledgor and delivery of an Officer's Certificate to the Trustee to
     substantiate such excess in accordance with Section 4.15(d) of the
     Indenture, the Trustee will pay over to the Pledgor any such over-funded
     amount.

          (d)  Upon payment in full of all scheduled interest payments on the
     Senior Notes, the security interest in the Collateral evidenced by this
     Custody and Security Agreement will terminate and be of no further force
     and effect.  Furthermore, upon the release of any Collateral from the
     Collateral Account in accordance with the terms of this Custody and
     Security Agreement, whether upon release of Collateral to Holders as
     payment of interest, to the Company or otherwise, the security interest
     evidenced by this Custody and Security Agreement in the Collateral so
     released will terminate and be of no further force and effect.

5.  Representations and Warranties.
    ------------------------------ 

          The Pledgor hereby represents and warrants that:

          (a)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Pledgor of this
     Custody and Security Agreement do not contravene, or constitute a default
     under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or of the Articles of
     Incorporation of the Pledgor or of any agreement, judgment, injunction,
     order, decree or other instrument binding upon the Pledgor or result in the
     creation or imposition of any Lien on any assets of the Pledgor, except for
     the security interests granted under this Custody and Security Agreement.

          (b)  The Collateral, including the Pledged Securities, the Collateral
     Account and other property held therein or credited thereto are subject to
     no liens other than the lien created by this Custody and Security
     Agreement.  No financing statement covering the Collateral, including the
     Pledged Securities, the Collateral 

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     Account, or any other property held in or credited to the Collateral
     Account is on file in any public office (other than any financing
     statements filed pursuant to this Custody and Security Agreement) and no
     person other than the Trustee shall have "control", within the meaning of
     Section 8-106 of the UCC, of the Collateral, including the Pledged
     Securities, the Collateral Account, or any other property held in or
     credited to the Collateral Account.

          (c)  The pledge of the Collateral pursuant to this Custody and
     Security Agreement and the execution of the Securities Account Control
     Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1998 among the Pledgor, The Bank of New
     York, as Trustee and The Bank of New York, as Securities Intermediary
     creates a valid and perfected first priority security interest in and to
     the Collateral, which valid, perfected, first priority security interest
     will continue to be enforceable as such against all creditors of the
     Pledgor and any persons purporting to purchase any of the Collateral from
     the Pledgor other than as permitted by the Indenture.

          (d)  No consent of any other person and no consent, authorization,
     approval, or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
     governmental authority or regulatory body is required either (i) for the
     pledge by the Pledgor of the Collateral pursuant to this Custody and
     Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery or performance of this
     Custody and Security Agreement by the Pledgor (except for any filings and
     notations necessary to perfect Liens on the Collateral) or (ii) for the
     exercise by the Trustee of rights provided for in this Custody and Security
     Agreement or the remedies in respect of the Collateral pursuant to this
     Custody and Security Agreement, except for any filings or notices required
     by the UCC.

          (e)  The pledge of the Collateral pursuant to this Custody and
     Security Agreement is not prohibited by any applicable law or government
     regulation, release interpretation or opinion of the Board of Governors of
     the United States Federal Reserve System or other regulatory agency
     (including, without limitation, Regulations G, T, U and X of the Board of
     Governors of the Federal Reserve System).

6.  Further Assurances.
    ------------------ 

          The Pledgor agrees to promptly take such actions and to execute and
deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, or use its best efforts to
procure, such stock or bond powers, proxies, assignments, instruments and such
other or different writings as the Trustee may reasonably request, all in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to 

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the Trustee, deliver any instruments to the Trustee and take any other actions
that are necessary or, in the reasonable opinion of the Trustee, desirable, to
perfect, continue the perfection of, confirm and assure the first priority of
the Trustee's security interest in the Collateral, to protect the Collateral
against the rights, claims or interests of third persons, to otherwise effect
the purposes of this Custody and Security Agreement, including, without
limitation, the preparation, execution and filing of UCC financing statements
and any other actions required to maintain the Trustee's "control" (within the
meaning of Article 8 of the UCC) over the Collateral.

7.  Covenants.
    --------- 

          The Pledgor covenants and agrees with the Trustee and the Holders from
and after the date of this Custody and Security Agreement until the earlier of
payment in full in cash of (A) each of the scheduled interest payments due on
the Senior Notes under the terms of the Indenture or (B) all Secured Obligations
due and owing under the Indenture and the Senior Notes in the event such Secured
Obligations become due and payable prior to the payment of each of the scheduled
interest payments on the Senior Notes:

          (a)  The Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) sell or otherwise dispose
     of, or grant any option or warrant with respect to, any of the Collateral
     or (ii) create or permit to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of
     the Collateral (except for the Lien created pursuant to this Custody and
     Security Agreement) and at all times will be the sole owner of the
     Collateral.

          (b)  The Pledgor agrees that it will not (i) enter into any agreement
     or understanding that purports to or may restrict or inhibit the Trustee's
     rights or remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, the Trustee's
     right to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral or (ii) fail to pay or
     discharge any tax, assessment or levy of any nature not later than six days
     prior to the date of any proposed sale under any judgement, writ or warrant
     of attachment with regard to the Collateral.

8.  Power of Attorney.
    ----------------- 

          In addition to all of the powers granted to the Trustee pursuant to
Article VI of the Indenture, the Pledgor hereby appoints and constitutes the
Trustee as the Pledgor's attorney-in-fact to exercise to the fullest extent
permitted by law all of the following powers upon and at any time after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:  (i) collection of
proceeds of any Collateral; (ii) conveyance of any 

                                       6
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item of Collateral to any purchaser thereof; (iii) giving of any notices or
recording of any Liens under Section 6 hereof; (iv) making of any payments or
taking any acts under Section 9 hereof and (v) paying or discharging taxes or
Liens levied or placed upon the Collateral, the legality or validity thereof and
the amounts necessary to discharge the same to be determined by the Trustee in
its sole discretion, and such payments made by the Trustee in respect of this
clause (v) to become the Secured Obligations of the Pledgor to the Trustee, due
and payable immediately upon demand. The Trustee's authority hereunder shall
include, without limitation, the authority to endorse and negotiate any checks
or instruments representing proceeds of Collateral in the name of the Pledgor,
execute and give receipt for any certificate of ownership or any document
constituting Collateral, transfer title to any item of Collateral, sign the
Pledgor's name on all financing statements (to the extent permitted by
applicable law) or any other documents deemed necessary or appropriate by the
Trustee to preserve, process or perfect the security interest in the Collateral
(including, without limitation, any documents deemed necessary by the Trustee to
obtain or maintain "control" (within the meaning of Article 8 of the UCC) of the
Collateral) and to file the same, prepare, file and sign the Pledgor's name on
any notice of Lien, and to take any other actions arising from or incident to
the powers granted to the Trustee in this Custody and Security Agreement. This
power of attorney is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable by the Pledgor.

9.  Trustee May Perform.
    ------------------- 

          If the Pledgor fails to perform any agreement contained herein, the
Trustee may itself perform, or cause performance of, such agreement, and the
reasonable expenses of the Trustee incurred in connection therewith shall be
payable by the Pledgor under Section 13 hereof.

10.  No Assumption of Duties; Reasonable Care.
     ---------------------------------------- 

          The rights and powers granted to the Trustee hereunder are being
granted in order to preserve and protect the Trustee's and the Holders' first
priority security interest in and to the Collateral granted hereby and shall not
be interpreted to, and shall not, impose any duties on the Trustee in connection
therewith other than those imposed under applicable law.

11.  Indemnity.
     --------- 

          The Pledgor shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee and
its directors, officers, agents and employees from and against all claims,
actions, obligations, losses, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable
costs, fees and disbursements of 

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<PAGE>
 
counsel (including, without limitation, the reasonable cost to the Trustee of
legal counsel), the costs of investigations, and claims for damages, arising
from the Trustee's performance under this Custody and Security Agreement, except
insofar as the same may have been caused by the bad faith, gross negligence or
wilful misconduct of such indemnified person.

12.  Remedies upon Event of Default.
     ------------------------------ 

          If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing:

          (a)  The Trustee shall have and may exercise with reference to the
     Collateral any or all of the rights and remedies of a secured party under
     the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York, and as
     otherwise granted herein or under any other applicable law or under any
     other agreement now or hereafter in effect executed by Pledgor, including,
     without limitation, the right and power to sell, at public or private sale
     or sales, or otherwise dispose of, or otherwise utilize the Collateral and
     any part or parts thereof in any manner authorized or permitted under said
     Uniform Commercial Code after default by a debtor, and to apply the
     proceeds thereof toward payment of any costs and expenses and reasonable
     attorneys' fees and expenses thereby incurred by the Trustee and toward
     payment of the Secured Obligations in such order or manner as the Trustee
     may elect.  Specifically and without limiting the foregoing, the Trustee
     shall have the right to take possession of all or any part of the
     Collateral or any security therefor and of all books, records, papers and
     documents of Pledgor or in Pledgor's possession or control relating to the
     Collateral which are not already in the Trustee's possession, and for such
     purpose may enter upon any premises upon which any of the Collateral or any
     security therefor or any of said books, records, papers and documents are
     situated and remove the same therefrom without any liability for trespass
     or damages thereby occasioned.  To the extent permitted by law, Pledgor
     expressly waives any notice of sale or other disposition of the Collateral
     and all other rights or remedies of Pledgor or formalities prescribed by
     law relative to sale or disposition of the Collateral or exercise of any
     other right or remedy of the Trustee existing after default hereunder; and
     to the extent any such notice is required and cannot be waived, Pledgor
     agrees that if such notice is given in the manner provided in Section 17
     hereof at least six (6) Business Days before the time of the sale
     disposition, such notice shall be deemed reasonable and shall fully satisfy
     any requirement for giving of such notice.  The Trustee shall not be
     obligated to make any sale of Collateral regardless of notice of sale
     having been given.  The Trustee may adjourn any public or private sale.
     The Pledgor further agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to do or
     cause to be done all such acts as 

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     may be reasonably necessary to enable the Trustee to exercise its rights
     under this paragraph 12.

          (b)  All rights to marshalling of assets of Pledgor, including any
     such right with respect to the Collateral, are hereby waived by Pledgor.

13.  Expenses.
     -------- 

          The Pledgor will upon demand pay to the Trustee the amount of any and
all reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees,
expenses and disbursements of its counsel, experts and agents retained by the
Trustee) that the Trustee may incur in connection with (i) the administration of
this Custody and Security Agreement, (ii) the custody or preservation of, or the
sale of, collection from, or other realization upon, any of the Collateral,
(iii) the exercise or enforcement of any of the rights of the Trustee and the
Holders hereunder or (iv) the failure by the Pledgor to perform or observe any
of the provisions hereof.

14.  Security Interest Absolute.
     -------------------------- 

          All rights of the Trustee and the Holders and security interests
hereunder, and all obligations of the Pledgor hereunder, shall be absolute and
unconditional irrespective of:

          (a)  any lack of validity or enforceability of the Indenture or any
     other agreement or instrument relating thereto;

          (b)  any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or in any
     other term of, all or any of the Secured Obligations, or any other
     amendment or waiver of or any consent to any departure from the Indenture;

          (c)  any exchange, surrender, release or nonperfection of any Liens on
     any other collateral for all or any of the Secured Obligations; or

          (d)  to the extent permitted by applicable law, any other circumstance
     which might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of,
     the Pledgor in respect of the Secured Obligations or of this Custody and
     Security Agreement.

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15.  Continuing Security Interest; Termination.
     ----------------------------------------- 

          (a)  This Custody and Security Agreement shall create a continuing
     security interest in and to the Collateral and shall, unless otherwise
     provided in the Indenture or in this Custody and Security Agreement, remain
     in full force and effect until the earlier of payment in full in cash of
     (A) each of the scheduled interest payments due on the Senior Notes under
     the terms of the Indenture or (B) all Secured Obligations due and owing
     under the Indenture and the Senior Notes in the event such Secured
     Obligations become payable prior to the payment of each of the interest
     payments on the Senior Notes.  This Custody and Security Agreement shall be
     binding upon the Pledgor, its successors and assigns, and shall inure,
     together with the rights and remedies of the Trustee hereunder, to the
     benefit of the Trustee, the Holders and their respective successors,
     transferees and assigns.

          (b)  This Custody and Security Agreement shall terminate upon the
     earlier of payment in full in cash of (A) each of the scheduled interest
     payments due on the Senior Notes under the terms of the Indenture or (B)
     all Secured Obligations due and owing under the Indenture and the Senior
     Notes in the event such Secured Obligations become payable prior to the
     payment of each of the scheduled interest payments on the Senior Notes.  At
     such time, the Trustee shall, at the written request of the Pledgor,
     reassign and redeliver to Pledgor all of the Collateral hereunder that has
     not been sold, disposed of, retained or applied by the Trustee in
     accordance with the terms of this Custody and Security Agreement, the
     Indenture and relevant provisions of Article 8 of the UCC.  Such
     reassignment and redelivery shall be without warranty (either express or
     implied) by or recourse to the Trustee, except as to the absence of any
     prior assignments by the Trustee of its interest in the Collateral, and
     shall be at the expense of the Pledgor.

16.  Authority of the Trustee.
     ------------------------ 

          (a)  The Trustee shall have and be entitled to exercise all powers
     hereunder that are specifically granted to the Trustee by the terms hereof,
     together with such powers as are reasonably incident thereto.  The Trustee
     may perform any of its duties hereunder or in connection with the
     Collateral by or through agents or employees and shall be entitled to
     retain counsel and to act in reliance upon the advice of counsel concerning
     all such matters.  Neither the Trustee, any director, officer, employee,
     attorney or agent of the Trustee nor the Holder shall be liable to the
     Pledgor for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them
     hereunder, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful
     misconduct, nor shall the 

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     Trustee be responsible for the validity, effectiveness or sufficiency
     hereof or of any document or security furnished pursuant hereto. The
     Trustee and its directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents shall
     be entitled to rely on any communication, instrument or document reasonably
     believed by it or them to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or
     sent by the proper person or persons.

          (b)  The Pledgor acknowledges that the rights and responsibilities of
     the Trustee under this Custody and Security Agreement with respect to any
     action taken by the Trustee or the exercise or non-exercise by the Trustee
     of any option, right, request, judgment or other right or remedy provided
     for herein or resulting or arising out of this Custody and Security
     Agreement shall, as between the Trustee and the Holders, be governed by the
     Indenture and by such other agreements with respect thereto as may exist
     from to time among them, but, as between the Trustee and the Pledgor, the
     Trustee shall be conclusively presumed to be acting as agent for the
     Holders with full and valid authority so to act or refrain from acting, and
     the Pledgor shall not be obligated or entitled to make any inquiry
     respecting such authority.

17.  Notices.
     ------- 

          Any communication, notice or demand to be given hereunder shall be
duly given hereunder if given in the form and manner, and delivered to the
address set forth in the Indenture, or in such other form and manner or to such
other address as shall be designated by any party hereto to each other party
hereto in a written notice delivered in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture.

18.  No Waiver; Cumulative Rights.
     ---------------------------- 

          No failure on the part of the Trustee to exercise, and no delay in
exercising, any right, remedy or power hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise by the Trustee of any right,
remedy or power hereunder preclude any other or future exercise of any other
right, remedy or power.  Each and every right, remedy and power hereby granted
to the Trustee or allowed it by law or other agreement shall be cumulative and
not exclusive the one of any other, and may be exercised by the Trustee from
time to time.

19.  Benefits of Custody and Security Agreement.
     ------------------------------------------ 

          Nothing in this Custody and Security Agreement, express or implied,
shall give to any person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder, and the 

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Custody and Security Agreement.

20.  Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction.
     --------------------------------------- 

          This Custody and Security Agreement and the rights and obligations of
the parties hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York.  Pledgor hereby irrevocably submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court located in the
State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Custody and Security Agreement.

21.  Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.
     ------------------------------------------------ 

          (a)  THIS CUSTODY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND
     OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
     ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  TO INDUCE THE TRUSTEE
     TO ENTER INTO THIS CUSTODY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT, THE PLEDGOR HEREBY
     IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO THE TRUSTEE'S SOLE AND ABSOLUTE
     ELECTION, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS WHICH IN ANY MANNER ARISE OUT OF OR IN
     CONNECTION WITH OR ARE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS CUSTODY AND SECURITY
     AGREEMENT SHALL BE LITIGATED IN COURTS HAVING SITUS WITHIN THE COUNTY OF
     NEW YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK.  THE PLEDGOR HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE
     JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF NEW
     YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK.  THE PLEDGOR HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE
     TO TRANSFER OR CHANGE THE VENUE OF ANY LITIGATION BETWEEN THE PLEDGOR AND
     THE TRUSTEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS PARAGRAPH.

          (b) THE PLEDGOR HAS APPOINTED [     ], NEW YORK, NEW YORK [     ], AS
     ITS AUTHORIZED AGENT (THE "AUTHORIZED AGENT") UPON WHOM PROCESS MAY BE
     SERVED IN ANY SUCH ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED ON THIS AGREEMENT OR THE
     TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY WHICH MAY BE INSTITUTED IN ANY NEW YORK
     COURT BY ANY PURCHASER OR BY ANY PERSON WHO CONTROLS ANY PURCHASER,
     EXPRESSLY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT IN RESPECT OF ANY
     SUCH ACTION, AND WAIVES ANY OTHER REQUIREMENTS OF OR OBJECTIONS TO 

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     PERSONAL JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT THERETO. SUCH APPOINTMENT SHALL BE
     IRREVOCABLE. THE PLEDGOR REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THE AUTHORIZED AGENT
     HAS AGREED TO ACT AS SUCH AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS AND AGREES TO TAKE
     ANY AND ALL ACTION, INCLUDING THE FILING OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS AND
     INSTRUMENTS, THAT MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONTINUE SUCH APPOINTMENT IN FULL
     FORCE AND EFFECT AS AFORESAID. SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE AUTHORIZED AGENT
     AND WRITTEN NOTICE OF SUCH SERVICE TO THE PLEDGOR SHALL BE DEEMED, IN EVERY
     RESPECT, EFFECTIVE SERVICE OF PROCESS UPON THE PLEDGOR.

          (c)  EACH OF THE PLEDGOR AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY
     AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR
     PROCEEDING WHICH IN ANY MANNER ARISES OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH OR IS IN
     ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS CUSTODY AND SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE
     TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN.

          (d)  THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION 21 ARE A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR
     THE TRUSTEE ENTERING INTO THE AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED
     HEREIN.  PLEDGOR HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS REVIEWED THE PROVISIONS OF
     THIS SECTION 21 WITH ITS INDEPENDENT COUNSEL.

22.  Execution in Counterparts.
     ------------------------- 

          This Custody and Security Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.

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<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly
executed as of the date first above written.


                         SUPERIOR FINANCIAL CORP.



                         By: /s/ C. Stanley Bailey
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              Name:  C. Stanley Bailey
                              Title: Chairman of the Board of
                                     Directors and Chief Executive
                                     Officer


                         THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee



                         By: /s/ Robert A. Massimillo
                             --------------------------------------------------
                              Name: Robert A. Massimillo
                              Title: Assistant Vice President

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