EXHIBIT 10(a)(8)




                     EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


This Employment Agreement dated as of January 1, 2004 is by and between
Patriot National Bank, a national banking association ("Patriot") and
Marcus Zavattaro (the "Executive").

                           RECITALS

Patriot desires to employ the Executive and to have the benefit of his
skills and services, and the Executive desires to be employed by Patriot
on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, terms,
covenants and conditions set forth herein, and the performance of each,
the parties, intending legally to be bound, hereby agree as follows:


                           AGREEMENTS

Section 1.  Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the
following terms have the meanings set forth below:

"Board" means the Board of Directors of Patriot as same is constituted
from time to time.

"Business" means the business operations of the Pinnacle Financial
Division of Patriot National Bank, which consists of the residential
mortgage brokerage origination business as it exists on the date hereof.

"Cause" means (a) the commission by the Executive of any act, on or
after the date of this Agreement, constituting, as to any cash funds or
other receipts of Patriot, or any material property of Patriot or any
other Person, (i) theft, (ii) embezzlement, (iii) fraud, (iv) gross
misconduct, (v) dishonesty or (vi) or misappropriation of material
property under applicable law; (b) the conviction of the Executive of
(i) a crime resulting in material injury to the business or property of
Patriot or (ii) a felony; (c) the material breach by the Executive of
this Agreement, including but not limited to the failure by the
Executive to follow all reasonable and lawful directions of the Board as
to any material matter, or the taking of any action by the Executive
that would be reasonably likely to cause material injury to Patriot or
that would be in conflict with any material interest to Patriot within a
reasonable period of time following Executive's receipt of written
notice thereof by Patriot, which notice is sufficiently specific so as
to permit Executive reasonably to cure such misconduct; or (d) the
misuse or unlawful use of drugs, alcohol or other controlled substances
in contravention of written policies of Patriot that are applicable to
all employees of Patriot.

"Confidential Information" means information that was or is used,
developed or obtained by Patriot in connection with its business,
including (a) products or services, (b) fees, costs and pricing
structures, (c) analyses, (d) computer software, including operating
systems, applications and program listings, (e) flow charts, manuals and
documentation, (f) data bases, (g) accounting and business methods, (h)
inventions, devices, new developments, methods and processes, whether
patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice, (i)
other copyrightable works, (j) all technology and trade secrets, and (k)
all similar and related information in whatever form or medium.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Agreement imposes no obligation upon
the Executive with respect to Confidential Information which (a) was
known to the Executive before receipt from Patriot, (b) is or becomes
publicly available through no fault of the Executive, (c) is disclosed
to the Executive by a third party without a duty of confidentiality on
the part of the third party to Patriot, (d) is subsequently
independently developed by the Executive without a breach of this
Agreement, or (e) is required to be disclosed by the Executive in a
judicial or administrative proceeding, provided that the Executive gives
Patriot reasonable advance notice of such required disclosure so that
Executive may contest the disclosure or seek a protective order.

"Effective Date" means the date of this Agreement.

"Employment Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 5 of this
Agreement.

"Executive" means Marcus Zavattaro.

"Permanent Disability" shall have occurred if as a result of physical or
mental incapacity, the Employee shall have been incapable of performing
Employee's duties hereunder for a period in excess of 120 consecutive
days in any 6 month period, or an aggregate of 240 days in any 12 month
period.

"Person" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited
liability company, an association, a trust, a joint venture, an
unincorporated organization and a governmental entity or any department,
agency or political subdivision thereof.

"Pinnacle" means the Pinnacle Financial Division of Patriot.

"Reimbursable Expenses" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this
Agreement.

"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting
power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of
any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership
interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of the Person or
a combination thereof. For purposes of this Agreement, a Person or
Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity if such Person or Persons are allocated a majority of
partnership, limited liability company, association or other business
entity gains or losses or control the managing director or member or
general partner of such partnership, limited liability company,
association or other business entity.

"Termination Date" shall mean December 31, 2004.

Section 2.  Employment. Patriot hereby employs the Executive, and
the Executive hereby accepts employment with Patriot, upon the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, for the Employment Period
provided in Section 5.

Section 3.  Position and Duties.

  3.1  Position. The Executive shall hold the position of Executive
Vice President of Patriot National Bank, and the title President of the
Pinnacle Financial Division of Patriot National Bank. During the
Employment Period, the Executive will perform such reasonable executive
and management duties as may, from time to time, be determined and
assigned to him by the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President
and/or the Management Committee of Patriot National Bank, which duties
shall be similar to the services the Executive rendered to Pinnacle in
the past and shall relate primarily to the residential real estate
mortgage origination business of Patriot and its affiliates. Patriot
shall not require the Executive to relocate to any office of Patriot
outside of Fairfield County, Connecticut.

  3.2  Performance of Duties; Other Activities. The Executive shall
devote his best efforts, attention and skills toward performing his
duties on behalf of Patriot, and his full business and professional time
to fully and faithfully perform such duties and responsibilities to the
best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and
efficient manner. The Executive shall do such traveling as may
reasonably be required in connection with the performance of his duties
and responsibilities hereunder, provided that the Executive will not be
assigned to regular duties such as would require him to relocate his
permanent residence.

  3.3  Reporting. The Executive will report to the Chairman, Chief
Executive Officer, President and/or the Management Committee of Patriot
National Bank.

Section 4  Compensation and Benefits.

  4.1  Compensation. The compensation payable to the Executive by
Patriot during the Employment Period is set forth on Schedule A hereto.

  4.2  Executive Stock Purchases and Stock Options. The Executive may
be granted options and opportunities to purchase Patriot Common Stock
consistent with stock purchase plans and option plans provided to senior
management of Patriot and as may be awarded in the sole discretion of
Patriot's Board of Directors from time to time.

  4.3  Benefits. In addition to the aforesaid compensation, the
Executive shall be entitled to be included under the same rules or
restrictions in any employee welfare and retirement plan or program of
Patriot generally available to its employees and or officers, including,
without limitation, plans for hospital services, medical services
benefits, sick pay, dental and other health plans, as well as the
following benefits during the Employment Period:

  (a) four weeks of paid vacation per year during the Employment Period;

  (b) five personal/sick days per year;

  (c) participation in the 401K Plan of Patriot consistent with the
      participation afforded other similarly positioned Patriot
      executives.

  4.4  Expenses. Patriot shall reimburse the Executive for any and all
reasonable expenses incurred by him in the course of performing his
duties under this Agreement which are consistent with Patriot's policies
in effect from time to time with including business travel,
entertainment, mileage expenses and other business expenses
("Reimbursable Expenses"), subject to Patriot's requirements with
respect to reporting and documentation of expenses.

Section 5  Employment Period and Termination.

  5.1  Employment Period. The Executive's employment hereunder shall
commence on the Effective Date, and, unless renewed or modified by
written agreement between Patriot and the Executive, the Employment
Period will terminate on the "Termination Date"; provided, however, that
(a) the Employment Period shall terminate prior to such date upon the
Executive's death or Permanent Disability, and (b) the Employment Period
may be terminated by Patriot at any time prior to such date, if such
termination shall be for Cause. The Executive and Patriot agree to begin
negotiations to renew this employment agreement by September 15, 2004
and to use their best efforts to complete negotiations by October 15,
2004 provided, however, that neither the Executive nor Patriot shall
have any legal obligation to renew this employment agreement.

  5.2  Unjustified Termination. Except as otherwise provided in Section
5.3 below, if the Employment Period shall be terminated by Patriot prior
to the Termination Date for any reason other than (a) for Cause, or (b)
as a result of the death or Permanent Disability of the Executive
(collectively, an "Unjustified Termination"), the Executive shall, so
long as the Executive has not breached and does not breach the
provisions of Sections 6, 7 or 8 of this Agreement, be entitled to
receive during the unexpired portion of the Employment Period (i)
continuation of his compensation, (ii) reimbursement of all Reimbursable
Expenses incurred by the Executive prior to the termination of the
Employment Period, and (iii) continuation of all medical benefits.

  5.3  Justified Termination. If the Employment Period shall be
terminated by Patriot prior to the Termination Date (a) for Cause, (b)
as a result of the Executive's resignation, or (c) as a result of the
death or permanent disability of the Executive (collectively, a
"Justified Termination"), the Executive shall be entitled to receive his
compensation through the date of termination and reimbursement of all
Reimbursable Expenses incurred by the Executive prior to the termination
of the Employment Period. A termination for Cause shall become effective
on the date designated by Patriot.

  5.4  Benefits. Except as otherwise required by law, all of the
Executive's rights to fringe benefits under this Agreement, if any,
accruing after the termination of the Employment Period as a result of a
Justified Termination will cease upon such Justified Termination.

Section 6.  Non-Competition Agreement.

  (a)  The Executive covenants and agrees that during the Employment
Period, and for a period of 1 year following the Termination Date (the
"Restricted Period") for any reason (excluding an Unjustified
Termination by Patriot) of such employment, he will not, without the
prior written consent of Patriot, on his own behalf or in the service or
on behalf of others anywhere in Westchester, Nassau or Suffolk counties
in the State of New York or in the State of Connecticut as an owner,
manager, stockholder (except as a holder of no more than 1% of the
issued and outstanding stock of a publicly traded company) consultant,
director, officer, principal partner, agent or employee of any business
entity, participate in the development or provision of goods or services
in the area of residential conforming and nonconforming mortgage
origination. The enforcement, which is at the discretion of Patriot, of
this Section 6, for the period following the Termination Date, as a
result of either (i) a non-renewal of the Employment Period under
Section 5.1, or (ii) an Unjustified Termination under Section 5.2, shall
be conditioned upon Patriot paying to the Executive the compensation
payable under Section 4.1, Schedule A #1 - Salary/ Commission during the
entire Restricted Period (at 75% of the amount and in the same manner as
paid during the final year immediately preceding the Employment Period).

  (b)  The Executive covenants and agrees that during the Restricted
Period, the Executive will refrain from interfering with the employment
relationship between Patriot and its employees and will not solicit any
of such employees for employment by an entity other than Patriot.

Section 7.  Delivery of Materials Upon Termination of Employment. As
requested by Patriot from time to time and upon the termination of the
Executive's employment with Patriot for any reason, the Executive will
promptly deliver to Patriot all copies and embodiments, in whatever form
or medium, of all Confidential Information in the Executive's possession
or within his control irrespective of the location or form of such
material and, if requested by Patriot, will provide Patriot with written
confirmation that all such materials have been delivered to Patriot.

Section 8.  Nondisclosure and Non-use of Confidential Information. The
Executive will not, at any time, disclose or use any Confidential
Information of which the Executive is or becomes aware, whether or not
such information is developed by him, except to the extent that such
disclosure or use is directly related to and required by the Executive's
performance of duties assigned to the Executive pursuant to this
Agreement.

Section 9.  Affiliates; Equitable Relief. The Executive acknowledges
that a breach or threatened breach by him of any of his covenants
contained in Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this Agreement could cause
irreparable harm to Patriot for which it would have no adequate remedy
at law. Accordingly, and in addition to any remedies which Patriot may
have at law, in the event of an actual or threatened breach by the
Executive of his covenants contained in Sections 6, 7 and 8 of this
Agreement, Patriot shall have the absolute right to apply to any court
of competent jurisdiction for such injunctive or other equitable relief
as such court may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.

Section 10.  No Prior Agreements. The Executive hereby represents and
warrants to Patriot that the execution of this Agreement by Executive,
his employment by Patriot, and the performance of his duties hereunder
will not violate or be a breach of any agreement with a former employer,
client, or any other Person. Further, Executive agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless Patriot and its officers, directors, and representatives
for any claim, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorney's fees
and expenses of investigation, of any such third party that such third
party may now have or may hereafter come to have against Patriot or such
other persons, based upon or arising out of any non-competition
agreement, invention, secrecy, or other agreement between Employee and
such third party that was in existence as of the date of this Agreement.
To the extent that Employee had any oral or written employment agreement
or understanding with Patriot, this Agreement shall automatically
supersede such agreement or understanding, and upon execution of this
Agreement by Employee and Patriot, such prior agreement or understanding
automatically shall be deemed to have been terminated and shall be null
and void.

Section 11.  Miscellaneous.

  11.1  Remedies. The parties to this Agreement shall have all rights
and remedies set forth in this Agreement, all rights and remedies which
either party has been granted at any time under any other agreement or
contract and all of the rights which either has under any law. Both
parties will be entitled to enforce such rights specifically, without
posting a bond or other security, to recover damages by reason of any
breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other
rights granted by law or available in equity.

  11.2  Waivers and Amendments. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended or waived only by a written agreement executed and delivered by
Patriot and the Executive. No other course of dealing between the
parties to this Agreement or any delay in exercising any rights
hereunder will operate as a waiver of any rights of any such parties.

  11.3  Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements contained
in this Agreement by or on behalf of any of the parties hereto and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives,
successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not; provided that the
Executive may not assign his rights or delegate his obligations under
this Agreement without the written consent of Patriot.

  11.4  Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this
Agreement will be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and
valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement is
held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision
will be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or
invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of this Agreement.

  11.5  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in
two or more counterparts, any one of which need not contain the
signatures of more than one party, but all of which counterparts taken
together will constitute one and the same agreement.

  11.6  Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Agreement
are inserted for convenience only and do not constitute a part of this
Agreement.

  11.7  Notices. All notices, demands or other communications to be
given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this
Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been given when
delivered personally to the recipient, two business days after the date
when sent to the recipient by certified or registered mail, return
receipt requested and postage prepaid. Such notices, demands, and other
communications will be sent to the Executive and to Patriot at the
addresses set forth below. If to the Executive:

Marcus Zavattaro
c/o Pinnacle Financial Division of Patriot National Bank
71 Lewis Street
Greenwich, CT 06830

And

Marcus Zavattaro
1 Highmeadow Road
Old Greenwich, CT 06870

If to Patriot:

Patriot National Bank
900 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06901
Attn. Chairman

or to such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the
recipient party has specified by prior written notice to the sending
party.

  11.8  No Third Party Beneficiary. This Agreement will not confer any
rights or remedies upon any person other than Patriot, the Executive and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, personal
representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

  11.9  Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement among the parties and supersedes any prior understandings,
agreements or representations by or among the parties, written or oral,
that may have related in any way to the subject matter hereof.

  11.10  Construction. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed
to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent,
and no rule of strict construction will be applied against any party.
Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law
will be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The use of the word
"including" in this Agreement means "including without limitation" and
is intended by the parties to be by way of example rather than
limitation.

  11.11  Life Insurance. The Executive agrees that Patriot shall have the
right to obtain life insurance on the Executive's life, at the sole
expense of Patriot, as the case may be, and with Patriot as the sole
beneficiary thereof. The Executive shall (a) cooperate fully in
obtaining such life insurance, (b) sign any necessary consents,
applications and other related forms or documents and (c) take any
reasonably required medical examinations.

  11.12  Survival. Sections 6, 7, 8 and 9, of this Agreement will survive
and continue in full force in accordance with their terms
notwithstanding any termination of the Employment Period.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.

                                      PATRIOT NATIONAL BANK

                                      By: _____________________________
                                           Its Chairman



                                           ____________________________
                                           Marcus Zavattaro






                         SCHEDULE A

                        Compensation

1.  Salary / Commission. The Executive shall receive fifty (50%)
percent of the fee income generated by the Pinnacle Financial Division
of Patriot National Bank from mortgage transactions for customers
directly obtained by the Executive, and thirty five (35%) percent of
such fee income generated from mortgage transactions referred to the
Executive by other Patriot representatives. The annual amount payable
pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not exceed Three Hundred
Thousand ($300,000.00) Dollars per year, but shall not be less than One
Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00) Dollars per year. This salary will
be payable by Patriot in regular installments in accordance with the
general payroll practices of Patriot as in effect from time to time,
initially at the rate of One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000.00)
Dollars per year until such time as Three Hundred Thousand ($300,000.00)
Dollars in fee income has been generated, and thereafter, such draw rate
will be adjusted to reflect actual monthly fee income generation. The
Executive shall not be entitled to receive salary/commissions in respect
of new lines of business generated within the Pinnacle Financial
Division of Patriot National Bank (for example, warehouse lending),
provided that any such additional or new business generated by the
Executive shall be taken into account by Patriot's Management Committee
and Board of Directors in considering possible bonuses for the
Executive.

2.  Employee Override. In addition, if the Pinnacle Financial
Division earns $225,000.00 after-tax (after deduction of all expenses,
salaries, commissions and deduction for any employee override payments
described below), the Executive shall receive payments equal to (i)
seven and one-half (7.5%) percent of the commissions paid to the
employees reporting to the Executive where such employees earn fifty
(50%) percent or less of the fee income generated by such employees and
(ii) three (3%) percent of the commissions paid to the employees
reporting to the Executive where such employees earn over fifty (50%)
percent of the fee income generated by such employees. The amount of
this employee override payment shall be payable annually after the
results of the annual audit are certified provided that the Executive is
employed by Patriot on the last day of the Employment Period.

3.  Profit Participation. After such time as the Pinnacle Financial
Division earns $330,000 (after deduction of all expenses, salaries,
commissions and employee override payments and profit participation
payments), the Executive and Todd Brown shall collectively receive fifty
(50%) percent of the after-tax profits of the Business over Three
Hundred and Thirty Thousand ($330,000.00) Dollars (calculated on a
after-tax basis), which amount shall be divided between the Executive
and Todd Brown on the basis of the profit contribution of their
respective areas in the Business, namely Long Island and Connecticut.
The Profit Participation amounts shall be payable on an annual basis
after the results of the annual audit are certified provided that the
Executive is employed on the last day of the Employment Period. In
calculating profits for purposes of this paragraph, the revenues and
expenses of the Business shall be accounted for in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

4.  Referral Credits. In calculating profits for purposes of paragraph 3
above, the Pinnacle Financial Division of Patriot National Bank will
receive credit for referral fees for any loans booked by Patriot and
demand deposits maintained at Patriot, respectively, which are referred
to Patriot by either the Executive or Todd Brown. Such credits will not
be included in calculating the salary/commissions described in paragraph
1 above. Such credits shall be in the following amounts:

   (i)     Residential First Mortgages -- One (1%) percent of principal,
credited in twelve (12) equal monthly installments following the date
such loan is booked, provided such loan remains on the books during
such time;

   (ii)	   Commercial Loans -- One (1%) percent of principal (renewals
of commercial loans and commercial lines of credit do not qualify);

   (iii)   Bridge Loans -- one quarter of one percent (.25%) of the
average annual balance for the first year;

   (iv)    Home Equity and Other Lines of Credit -- one-half of one
percent (0.50%) of the average annual balance for the first year;

   (v)     Deposits -- Credited on a schedule equivalent to the schedule
applicable for other loan officers of Patriot as determined by the
Management Committee and the Board of Directors from time to time (see
Schedule B);

   (vi)    No referral credits will be given on residential mortgages,
HELOC, or end-financing on construction loans originated by other
Patriot employees, underwritten by Patriot and held in Patriot's
portfolio.



                           SCHEDULE B

                Assumes a Base Salary of $150,000
% of Goal                 90%     100%    125%    150%    175%    200%
% of Bonus Target Pay Out 75%     100%    125%    150%    175%    200%
Pay Out      Deposits    $984   $1,500  $1,875  $2,813  $3,281  $7,500

Deposits:     $450,000 average per quarter (10% of loans) comprised of
              checking, savings and money market accounts, of which at
              least $150,000 shall be non-interest bearing checking
              accounts. CD's are excluded.