Fiscal and Paying Agent Agreement



 Exhibit 10.18 
 FISCAL AND PAYING AGENCY AGREEMENT 
 Between 
 NORTH STATE BANK, 
 Issuer

 and 
 WILMINGTON
TRUST COMPANY 
 Fiscal and Paying Agent 
 Dated as of 
 May 13, 2008 
 Floating Rate Subordinated Notes 
 Due June 30, 2018 







 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  


					
	 	  	 	  	Page
			
	 ARTICLE I
	  	APPOINTMENT	  	1
			
	 SECTION 1.1
	  	APPOINTMENT OF FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	1
			
	 ARTICLE II
	  	THE SUBORDINATED NOTES	  	1
			
	 SECTION 2.1
	  	FORM OF SUBORDINATED NOTES	  	1
	 SECTION 2.2
	  	CERTIFICATES OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ISSUER	  	2
	 SECTION 2.3
	  	COMPLETION, AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY	  	2
	 SECTION 2.4
	  	DENOMINATIONS	  	4
	 SECTION 2.5
	  	PROCEEDS OF SALE OF THE SUBORDINATED NOTES; ISSUANCE OF
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES	  	4
	 SECTION 2.6
	  	REGISTRATION, REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE	  	5
	 SECTION 2.7
	  	PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS	  	5
	 SECTION 2.8
	  	MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED GLOBAL SUBORDINATED
NOTES	  	6
	 SECTION 2.9
	  	SUBORDINATED NOTES ACQUIRED BY THE ISSUER	  	6
	 SECTION 2.10
	  	REPAYMENT PRIOR TO MATURITY	  	6
	 SECTION 2.11
	  	OPTIONAL REDEMPTION	  	6
	 SECTION 2.12
	  	CUSIP NUMBERS	  	7
			
	 ARTICLE III
	  	THE FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	7
			
	 SECTION 3.1
	  	PAYMENT OF SUBORDINATED NOTES	  	7
	 SECTION 3.2
	  	INFORMATION REGARDING AMOUNTS PAYABLE AND COMPUTATION OF
INTEREST	  	7
	 SECTION 3.3
	  	DEPOSIT OF FUNDS	  	8
	 SECTION 3.4
	  	MONEY FOR SUBORDINATED NOTE PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN
TRUST	  	8
	 SECTION 3.5
	  	ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES	  	9
			
	 ARTICLE IV
	  	CONDITIONS OF FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT’S OBLIGATIONS	  	9
			
	 SECTION 4.1
	  	LIABILITY	  	9
	 SECTION 4.2
	  	INDEMNIFICATION	  	9
	 SECTION 4.3
	  	OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE	  	9
	 SECTION 4.4
	  	OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE	  	10
	 SECTION 4.5
	  	OTHER RIGHTS OF THE FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	10
	 SECTION 4.6
	  	COMPENSATION OF THE FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	11
			
	 ARTICLE V
	  	RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	11
			
	 SECTION 5.1
	  	RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL	  	11
	 SECTION 5.2
	  	SUCCESSOR FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT	  	12
	 SECTION 5.3
	  	SUCCESSOR BY MERGER, ETC	  	12
			
	 ARTICLE VI
	  	MISCELLANEOUS	  	12
			
	 SECTION 6.1
	  	NOTICES	  	12
	 SECTION 6.2
	  	PARTIES	  	13
	 SECTION 6.3
	  	GOVERNING LAW	  	13
	 SECTION 6.4
	  	SEVERABILITY	  	13
	 SECTION 6.5
	  	EFFECT OF HEADINGS	  	13
	 SECTION 6.6
	  	AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS; NOTICES OF ACCELERATION AFTER EVENTS OF
DEFAULT; COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE	  	13
	 SECTION 6.7
	  	FURTHER ISSUES	  	16
	 SECTION 6.8
	  	ACTIONS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS	  	17
	 SECTION 6.9
	  	AGREEMENT TO PAY ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES	  	17
	 SECTION 6.10
	  	SURVIVAL	  	17
	 SECTION 6.11
	  	NO IMPLIED WAIVERS	  	17
	 SECTION 6.12
	  	COUNTERPARTS	  	17
	 SECTION 6.13
	  	TERM	  	17








 This Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement (as may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time, and together with all Exhibits hereto, this “Agreement”) is dated as of May 13, 2008 between NORTH STATE BANK, a North Carolina state-chartered bank (the “Issuer”), and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, a
banking corporation organized under laws of the State of Delaware (the “Fiscal and Paying Agent”). 
 WHEREAS, the Issuer
has, by a Purchase Agreement dated May 8, 2008, agreed to issue $9,750,000 aggregate principal amount of the Issuer’s Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2018 (the “Subordinated Notes”), to be issued as of
the date hereof, and has, by a Subscription Agreement dated May 8, 2008, agreed to issue $1,250,000 aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes, to be issued as of July 1, 2008; and 
 WHEREAS, the Issuer desires to appoint the Fiscal and Paying Agent as calculation, fiscal and paying agent of the Issuer with respect to the preparation,
authentication, delivery, registration and payment of the Subordinated Notes; 
 NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows: 
 ARTICLE I 
 APPOINTMENT

 Section 1.1 Appointment of Fiscal and Paying Agent. The Fiscal and Paying Agent is hereby appointed by the Issuer as
fiscal and paying agent for the Subordinated Notes on the terms and conditions specified in this Agreement, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Issuer hereby appoints the Fiscal and Paying Agent as calculation agent
for the Subordinated Notes, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereby accepts such appointment. The Issuer hereby appoints the Fiscal and Paying Agent as registrar for the Subordinated Notes, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereby accepts such
appointment. 
 ARTICLE II 
 THE SUBORDINATED NOTES 
 Section 2.1 Form of Subordinated Notes. The Subordinated Notes will be represented by
one or more global certificates, each such certificate hereinafter called a “Global Subordinated Note.” All Global Subordinated Notes shall be registered in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company
(“DTC”), as Depository. All Global Subordinated Notes shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, the provisions of which are expressly incorporated into and made a part of this Agreement, and may have such
appropriate insertions, omissions, variations or substitutions as are required or permitted by, and not inconsistent with, this Agreement, and may also have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements
placed thereon as may be required to comply with any applicable law or with any applicable rules or regulations made pursuant thereto or with the rules or regulations of any securities exchange or governmental agency or as may, consistently
herewith, be determined by the officers of the Issuer executing such Global Subordinated Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof. Beneficial interests in Global Subordinated Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee and its participants. 







 Section 2.2 Certificates of Authorized Representatives of the Issuer. The Issuer shall
furnish the Fiscal and Paying Agent with a certificate of the Issuer certifying the incumbency and specimen signatures of representatives of the Issuer authorized to instruct the Fiscal and Paying Agent regarding the completion and delivery of the
Global Subordinated Notes (each, an “Authorized Representative”). Until the Fiscal and Paying Agent receives a subsequent incumbency certificate of the Issuer, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on the last such
certificate delivered to it for purposes of determining the Authorized Representatives. 
 Section 2.3 Completion, Authentication and
Delivery. 
 (a) All Global Subordinated Notes shall be issued and delivered in accordance with this Agreement, the Global Subordinated
Notes and, if required, a letter of representations from the Issuer to DTC dated as of the date hereof as to $9,750,000 in principal amount of the Subordinated Notes and dated not later than August 29, 2008 as to $1,250,000 in principal amount
of the Subordinated Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be required to perform any duties on any day that is not a Business Day (as hereinafter defined). All instructions regarding the completion and delivery
of Global Subordinated Notes shall be given by an Authorized Representative by telex, telecopy, E-mail or other means acceptable to the Fiscal and Paying Agent. Upon receipt of instructions as described in the preceding sentence and the Global
Subordinated Note or Notes executed by the Issuer (which signature may be facsimile), the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall: 
 (i) if so instructed, complete such Global Subordinated Note or Notes representing one or more Subordinated Notes in accordance with such instructions; 
 (ii) manually authenticate such Global Subordinated Note or Notes by any one of the officers or employees of the Fiscal and Paying Agent
duly authorized and designated by it for such purpose; and 
 (iii) deliver such Global Subordinated Note or Notes to DTC or
pursuant to DTC’s instructions. 
 (b) If any Global Subordinated Note has been executed on behalf of the Issuer by one of its officers
who was duly authorized for such purpose but who is not so designated at the time said Global Subordinated Note is to be paid, the Global Subordinated Note shall be paid by the Issuer, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent is hereby authorized to apply
funds received from the Issuer for such payment notwithstanding that the authority of said officer has been terminated between the time of execution and the time of payment. 
 (c) In the event a discrepancy exists between the instructions as originally received by the Fiscal and Paying Agent and any subsequent written
confirmation thereof, such original instructions will be deemed controlling if action has already been taken in reliance on such original instructions. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall give notice to the Issuer of any such discrepancy known to it
promptly upon the receipt of such subsequent written confirmation. 
  

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 (d) All instructions regarding completion and delivery of Global Subordinated Notes must be received by
the Fiscal and Paying Agent by 11 a.m., New York City time, on the second Business Day preceding the original issue date as set forth in Section 2.6(c) as to $9,750,000 in principal amount of the Subordinated Notes, and by 11:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the second Business Day preceding the issuance date of $1,250,000 in principal amount of Subordinated Notes or such other time as the Fiscal and Paying Agent may determine. For purposes hereof, the term “Business Day”
shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in the City of New York, New York, Wilmington, Delaware or the State of North Carolina, is not a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or obligated by law to close.

 (e) The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall incur no liability to the Issuer or to any other person or entity, including any holder, purchaser,
transferor or transferee of Subordinated Notes, in acting or refraining from taking any action hereunder upon instructions contemplated hereby which the recipient thereof believed in good faith to have been given by an Authorized Representative.

 (f) Each instruction given to the Fiscal and Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 2.3 shall constitute a representation and
warranty to the Fiscal and Paying Agent by the Issuer that the issuance and delivery of the Global Subordinated Note or Global Subordinated Notes to which the instruction relates have been duly and validly authorized by the Issuer, that such Global
Subordinated Note or Global Subordinated Notes when completed, executed, authenticated and delivered pursuant hereto, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer that the Fiscal and Paying Agent’s appointment to act for
the Issuer hereunder has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Issuer, and that the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be fully defended and indemnified as provided in Section 4.2 hereunder in connection with any liability
arising out of or related to any action taken by the Fiscal and Paying Agent in good faith reliance on such instruction. 
 (g) The Issuer
hereby represents and warrants to the Fiscal and Paying Agent that: 
 (i) The Issuer is duly formed and validly existing as a
state-chartered bank in good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina, with power and authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as such properties are currently owned and such business is presently conducted.

 (ii) The Issuer has the power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to carry out its terms, and the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by the Issuer by all necessary action. 
 (iii)
The Issuer has duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer, enforceable against the Issuer in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by


  

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bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general and by general equitable
principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity. 
 (iv) The
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the fulfillment of the terms hereof do not (i) conflict with, result in any breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time
or both) a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Issuer, or any indenture, agreement or other instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound, (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its
properties pursuant to the terms of any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or (iii) violate any law or, to the best of the Issuer’s knowledge, any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Issuer of any court or of any federal
or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Issuer or its properties where such violation would have a material adverse effect on the assets, results of operation or financial
condition of the Issuer. 
 (v) There are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to the Issuer’s best knowledge,
threatened before any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental instrumentality having jurisdiction over the Issuer or its properties (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or the Subordinated Notes,
(ii) seeking to prevent the issuance of the Subordinated Notes or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Subordinated Notes, or (iii) seeking any determination or ruling that might materially and
adversely affect the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under, or the validity or enforceability of, this Agreement. 
 Section 2.4 Denominations. Except as provided in Section 2.5(b), the Global Subordinated Notes shall be issuable only in book-entry form, without coupons, in denominations of $100,000 and any amount in excess thereof that
is a whole multiple of $1,000. If Subordinated Notes are issued in definitive form, payment and other terms related to such Subordinated Notes will be as set forth on the face thereof. 
 Section 2.5 Proceeds of Sale of the Subordinated Notes; Issuance of Certificated Securities. 
 (a) Funds received in payment for Global Subordinated Notes issued by the Issuer shall be credited to an account of the Issuer, as instructed by the
Issuer. 
 (b) If at any time (i) DTC notifies the Issuer in writing that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository for the
Global Subordinated Notes or if DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor depository is not appointed by the Issuer within ninety days after the effective date of DTC’s
ceasing to act as depository for the Subordinated Notes, (ii) the Issuer, at its option, notifies the Fiscal and Paying Agent in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Subordinated Notes in definitive form or (iii) any event shall
have happened and be continuing which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default (as defined in the Subordinated Notes) 

  

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with respect to the Subordinated Notes, the Issuer will execute, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent will, upon receipt of instructions in writing from the
Issuer, authenticate and deliver Subordinated Notes of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Subordinated Notes then outstanding in exchange for such Global Subordinated
Notes. Any such certificated Subordinated Notes will be issued in fully registered form to the persons designated by DTC as the beneficial owners thereof, without coupons, in denominations of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is a whole
multiple of $1,000. Such certificated Subordinated Notes may not subsequently be exchanged by a holder for Subordinated Notes in denominations of less than $100,000. 
 Section 2.6 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange. 
 (a) The Fiscal and Paying
Agent shall, so long as any of the Subordinated Notes remain outstanding, maintain all records as may be customary, including all forms of transfer for the Subordinated Notes and shall: 
 (i) Keep at its corporate trust office a register (the “Security Register”) in such form as the Fiscal and Paying Agent
may determine, in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall provide for the registration of the Subordinated Notes and registration of transfer thereof, and 
 (ii) Maintain records showing for each outstanding Subordinated Note the principal amount, maturity date, interest rate and other terms
thereof, and all subsequent transfers and consolidations or exchanges; provided that the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in a Global Subordinated Note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests, and it shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting on any such information
provided by DTC (or other depository for the Global Subordinated Notes) and the Fiscal and Paying Agent may regard such depository as the sole registered holder of such Global Subordinated Note. 
 (b) All Subordinated Notes presented for registration of transfer shall be duly endorsed or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer.

 (c) Each Subordinated Note shall bear the original issue date of May 13, 2008 which shall remain the same for all Subordinated Notes
subsequently issued upon registration of transfer, exchange or substitution of such original Subordinated Note regardless of the date of issuance of any such subsequently issued Subordinated Note. 
 Section 2.7 Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of a Subordinated Note for registration of transfer, the Issuer, the Fiscal and
Paying Agent and any agent of the Issuer or the Fiscal and Paying Agent may treat the person in whose name such Subordinated Note is registered as the owner of the Subordinated Note for the purpose of receiving payments of principal and interest, if
any, and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Subordinated Note be overdue, and neither the Issuer nor the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary. 
  

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 Section 2.8 Mutilated, Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Global Subordinated Notes. If (a) any
mutilated Subordinated Note shall be surrendered to the Fiscal and Paying Agent, or if the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Subordinated Note and (b) there shall be
delivered to the Fiscal and Paying Agent and the Issuer such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of the Issuer having notice that such Subordinated Note has been acquired by a
protected purchaser, the Issuer shall execute and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for, or in lieu of, any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Subordinated Note, a new Subordinated Note, of like tenor and
denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Subordinated Note under this Section 2.8, the Issuer or the Fiscal and Paying Agent may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Subordinated Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall constitute conclusive evidence of ownership of such Subordinated Note, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or
destroyed Subordinated Note shall be found at any time. 
 Section 2.9 Subordinated Notes Acquired by the Issuer. If the Issuer
shall acquire any of the Subordinated Notes, such acquisition shall not operate as a satisfaction of the indebtedness or rights represented by such Subordinated Notes unless and until the same are delivered or surrendered to the Fiscal and Paying
Agent by the Issuer with written instructions signed by an Authorized Representative directing their cancellation. 
 Section 2.10
Repayment Prior to Maturity. The Subordinated Notes may not be repaid prior to the Maturity Date, whether pursuant to an acceleration upon an event of default or otherwise, without the prior written approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (the “Commissioner”). Promptly following the receipt of any notice of acceleration, the Issuer will apply to the FDIC and the Commissioner for prior written
approval of repayment prior to maturity. In the event that the Issuer obtains such prior written approval, the Issuer shall notify the holders of Subordinated Notes and the Fiscal and Paying Agent of the consent of the FDIC and the Commissioner and
arrange for prompt repayment. 
 Section 2.11 Optional Redemption. The Subordinated Notes may be redeemed as set forth in the
Global Subordinated Note. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall publish at the request and expense of the Issuer any notice to holders of Subordinated Notes requested by the Issuer in connection with any such redemption and of the principal amount of
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed. Such notice shall specify the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price and the manner in which redemption will be effected. In addition, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall send to each holder of the
Subordinated Notes that are called for redemption, at its address shown in the Security Register, a copy of such notice together with details of such holder’s Subordinated Notes called for redemption. 
  

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 Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers. 
 The Issuer in issuing the Notes may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of prepayment and other similar or
related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided, that any such notice or other materials may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Notes or as contained in any notice of
prepayment or other materials and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Notes, and any such prepayment shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. 
 ARTICLE III 
 THE FISCAL AND PAYING
AGENT 
 Section 3.1 Payment of Subordinated Notes. Payment of the principal and interest payable on the date of maturity of
any Subordinated Note will be made through the facilities of DTC or by wire transfer in immediately available funds to a bank account in the United States designated by the holder, upon presentation and surrender of such Subordinated Note at the
office of the Fiscal and Paying Agent in Wilmington, Delaware, or at such other place or places as the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall designate by notice to the holder, provided that such Subordinated Note is presented to the Fiscal and Paying Agent
in time for the Fiscal and Paying Agent to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Payments of interest (other than interest payable on the date of maturity) will be made through the facilities of DTC or by check
to the person entitled thereto, as such person’s address appears on the Security Register. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall have no obligation to use its own funds for any such payment or for any other purpose pursuant to this Agreement.

 Section 3.2 Information Regarding Amounts Payable and Computation of Interest. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall, as soon as
practicable after each record date for the payment of interest (other than interest payable at maturity) on the Subordinated Notes but not later than five days preceding the related interest payment date, notify the Issuer of the interest to be paid
on such Subordinated Note on the related interest payment date. In addition, by the 15th day of the month immediately preceding the month in which the Subordinated Notes will mature, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall furnish to the Issuer a list
showing for each Subordinated Note issued by the Issuer the principal and interest payable at maturity on each such Subordinated Note. 
 The
amount of interest payable in each interest payment date will be calculated in the manner set forth in Section 1 of the Form of Subordinated Note attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference. 
 The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall notify the Issuer of the Interest Rate (as such term is defined
in Section 1 of the Subordinated Note) and the Determination Date (as defined below) for each Distribution Period (as such term is defined in Section 1 of the Subordinated Note), in each case as soon as practicable after the determination
thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Issuer, or any defect in
said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Issuer to make payment on the Subordinated Notes at 

  

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the applicable Interest Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Interest Rate by the Fiscal and Paying Agent may be corrected at any time by notice
delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a registered holder of a Subordinated Note, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall provide the Interest Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Interest Rate for the next Distribution Period.
“Determination Date” means the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, as the case may be (provided that such date is a Business Day and a date on which commercial banks are
open for business (including dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a “Libor Banking Day”), and otherwise the next preceding Business Day that is a Libor Banking Day), next preceding the particular Distribution Period for which
an Interest Rate is being determined. 
 Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions,
determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Subordinated Notes will (in the absence of willful misconduct,
bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Issuer and all of the holders of the Subordinated Notes, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful misconduct, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Fiscal and Paying
Agent in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by it or its powers, duties and discretion. 
 Section 3.3 Deposit of
Funds. The Issuer shall deposit by 11 a.m., New York City time, with the Fiscal and Paying Agent (i) on each interest payment date of the Subordinated Notes an amount in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the interest due on such
date and (ii) on the maturity date of each such Subordinated Note an amount in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the principal of such Subordinated Note and the interest accrued thereon to such maturity date. 
 Section 3.4 Money for Subordinated Note Payments to Be Held in Trust. 
 (a) In acting under this Agreement and in connection with the Subordinated Notes, the Fiscal and Paying Agent is acting not in its individual capacity,
but solely as agent of the Issuer and does not assume any relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the holders of the Subordinated Notes, except that, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 3.4, all money
deposited with the Fiscal and Paying Agent pursuant to Section 3.3 shall be held by it in trust for the benefit of the registered holders of the Subordinated Notes entitled thereto until such money is paid to such holders of the Subordinated
Notes in accordance with the provisions of the Subordinated Notes and this Agreement or otherwise disposed of as provided herein but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. 
 (b) Any money deposited with the Fiscal and Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Subordinated Note that remains unclaimed
for two years after such principal or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Issuer, upon its written request, and holders of the Subordinated Notes shall thereafter, as unsecured general creditors, look only to the Issuer for
payment thereof, and all liability of the Fiscal and Paying Agent with respect to such money shall thereupon cease. The Issuer hereby assumes full responsibility for compliance with all applicable escheat and other laws governing unclaimed property
and shall defend, hold harmless and indemnify the Fiscal and Paying Agent from and against any and all claims and liabilities arising out of or related to any money having been paid to the Issuer under this Section 3.4. 
  

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 Section 3.5 Additional Responsibilities. Unless the Fiscal and Paying Agent has entered into
a separate written agreement that specifically addresses the standard of care with respect to the duties discussed by this Section 3.5, if the Issuer shall ask the Fiscal and Paying Agent to perform any duties not specifically set forth in this
Agreement as duties of the Fiscal and Paying Agent (the “Additional Responsibilities”) and the Fiscal and Paying Agent chooses to perform such Additional Responsibilities, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be held to the same standard of
care and shall be entitled to all the protective provisions (including, but not limited to, indemnification) set forth herein. 
 ARTICLE
IV 
 CONDITIONS OF FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT’S OBLIGATIONS 
 Section 4.1 Liability. The Fiscal and Paying Agent’s duties are ministerial in nature and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not have any
liability hereunder except in the case of its negligence or willful misconduct. The duties and obligations of the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be determined by the express provisions of this Agreement and it shall not be liable except for the
performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth herein and no implied covenants shall be read into this Agreement against it. Except for its obligations set forth in Section 6.6 hereof, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall
have no responsibility in the case of any default by the Issuer in the performance of the covenants contained in the Subordinated Notes. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be required to ascertain whether any issuance or sale of Subordinated
Notes (or any amendment or termination of this Agreement) has been duly authorized or is in compliance with any other agreement to which the Issuer is a party (whether or not the Fiscal and Paying Agent is also a party to such other agreements).

 Section 4.2 Indemnification. The Issuer agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the Fiscal and Paying Agent, its
officers, directors, employees and agents from and against all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, damages, costs and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses) relating to or
arising out of its performance of the Fiscal and Paying Agent’s duties under this Agreement, except to the extent they are caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of the Fiscal and Paying Agent, provided, however, that no action taken or
refrained to be taken in good faith reliance upon and in conformance with the Issuer’s instructions shall be deemed negligence or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 4.2 and any other defense, hold harmless and
indemnification obligations under this Agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement, including any termination pursuant to any applicable federal or state bankruptcy law, to the extent enforceable under applicable law, and shall survive
the resignation or removal of the Fiscal and Paying Agent while remaining applicable to any action taken or omitted by the Fiscal and Paying Agent while acting pursuant to this Agreement. 
 Section 4.3 Officers’ Certificate. Any instruction given by the Issuer to the Fiscal and Paying Agent under this Agreement shall be in
the form of an Officers’ Certificate. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized 

  

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Representative and delivered to the Fiscal and Paying Agent setting forth the specific instruction and confirming that the instructed action is in compliance
with this Agreement and all applicable laws, and that all conditions precedent to such action have been satisfied hereunder. 
 Section 4.4 Opinion of Counsel and Officers’ Certificate. The Fiscal and Paying Agent may at any time request and shall be protected in acting upon the advice or opinion of its counsel (which shall not include in-house
counsel) or an Officers’ Certificate concerning its duties hereunder, and shall be free to act in good faith upon such advice, opinion or certificate, and shall be relieved of any liability under this Agreement in so acting. 
 Section 4.5 Other Rights of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, 
 (a) the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall only make payments hereunder to the extent it has actually received funds from the Issuer for such purposes;

 (b) in paying Subordinated Notes hereunder, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be acting as a conduit and shall not be paying Subordinated
Notes for its own account or with its own funds, and in the absence of written notice from the Issuer to the contrary, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be entitled to assume that any Subordinated Note presented to it, or deemed presented to it, for
payment, is entitled to be so paid; 
 (c) the Fiscal and Paying Agent may become a purchaser, holder, transferor or may otherwise own, hold
or transfer any beneficial interest in any Subordinated Notes and may commence or join in any action which a beneficial owner of a Subordinated Note is entitled to take without any conflict with its responsibilities pursuant to this Agreement;

 (d) the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be required to invest or pay interest on any funds delivered to it pursuant to this Agreement;

 (e) the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be responsible for the sufficiency of this Agreement or the correctness of any recital of any
party other than the Fiscal and Paying Agent that is stated herein or in the Subordinated Notes or in any offering materials and makes no representations as to the validity of the Subordinated Notes and shall incur no responsibility in respect
thereto; 
 (f) the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any notice, order, requisition,
request, consent, certificate, order, opinion (including an opinion of counsel, Officers’ Certificate (as defined in Section 4.3 hereof) or both), affidavit, letter, telegram or other paper or document in good faith deemed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by the proper person or persons; 
 (g) any action taken by the Fiscal and Paying Agent
pursuant to this Agreement upon the request or authority or consent of any person who at the time of making such request or giving such authority or consent is the holder of any Subordinated Note shall be conclusive and binding upon all future
holders of the same Subordinated Note and all Subordinated Notes issued in exchange therefor or in place thereof; 
  

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 (h) in the event that the Fiscal and Paying Agent is unsure of the course of action to be taken by it
hereunder, the Fiscal and Paying Agent may request instructions from the Issuer and to the extent the Fiscal and Paying Agent follows such instructions in good faith it shall not be liable to any Person. In the event that no instructions are
provided within the time requested by the Fiscal and Paying Agent, it shall have no duty or liability for its failure to take any action or for any action it takes in good faith; and 
 (i) the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall incur no liability to anyone in acting upon any document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been
signed by the proper person or persons. The Fiscal and Paying Agent may accept a certified copy of a resolution of the board of directors or other governing body of any corporate party as conclusive evidence that such resolution has been duly
adopted by such body and that the same is in full force and effect. As to any fact or matter the manner of ascertainment of which is not specifically prescribed herein, the Fiscal and Paying Agent may for all purposes hereof rely on a certificate,
signed by the Issuer, as to such fact or matter, and such certificate shall constitute full protection to the Fiscal and Paying Agent for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in reliance thereon. 
 Section 4.6 Compensation of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. The Issuer agrees to pay the Fiscal and Paying Agent compensation for all services
rendered by the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereunder in such amounts and payable at such times as the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent may agree to and to promptly reimburse the Fiscal and Paying Agent for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable counsel fees and expenses), disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Fiscal and Paying Agent in the performance of its duties hereunder and the Fiscal and Paying Agent will use reasonable efforts to promptly notify
the Issuer in writing or electronically of its determination after the Closing Date to engage outside counsel. The obligation of the Issuer pursuant to this Section 4.6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, including any termination
pursuant to any federal or state bankruptcy law, to the extent enforceable under applicable law, and the resignation or removal of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. 
 ARTICLE V 
 RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT 
 Section 5.1 Resignation or Removal. The Fiscal and Paying Agent may at any time resign from its duties hereunder by giving written notice of
resignation to the Issuer specifying the date on which such resignation shall become effective; provided, however, that, except in the case of removal due to the Fiscal and Paying Agent’s breach of its obligations hereunder, such date shall not
be less than 30 Business Days after such notice is given to the Issuer. The Issuer may at any time remove the Fiscal and Paying Agent by giving written notice of removal to the Fiscal and Paying Agent specifying the date on which such removal shall
be effective; provided, however, that such date shall be not less than 30 Business Days after such notice is given to the Fiscal and Paying Agent. Any removal or resignation hereunder shall not affect the Fiscal and Paying Agent’s right to the
payment of fees earned or charges incurred through the effective date 

  

 11 








 
of such removal or resignation, as the case may be. Under such circumstances, the Issuer may appoint a new fiscal and paying agent in respect of the
Subordinated Notes or undertake to perform at the Issuer any or all of the functions of the Fiscal and Paying Agent under this Agreement. The Issuer shall notify, or cause the Fiscal and Paying Agent to notify, the holders of the Subordinated Notes
of the appointment of any successor Fiscal and Paying Agent or the undertaking of the Issuer to perform the functions of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. 
 Section 5.2 Successor Fiscal and Paying Agent. Upon the effective date of such resignation or removal, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall deliver any funds then held by it pursuant to Section 3.4(a) to
the successor appointed by the Issuer to serve as fiscal and paying agent for the Subordinated Notes and all liability of the Fiscal and Paying Agent with respect to such funds shall thereupon cease. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall also provide
such successor with a copy of its records relating to the Subordinated Notes as such successor shall reasonably request. However, the Fiscal and Paying Agent may retain for archival purposes copies of any records turned over. If such successor has
not been appointed by the Issuer by the effective date of such resignation or removal, the Fiscal and Paying Agent may petition any court of competent jurisdiction, at the Issuer’s expense (including the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Fiscal and Paying Agent, its agents and counsel approved by the Issuer, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld), for the appointment of a successor Fiscal and Paying Agent, and shall pay such funds and
deliver such records to the person or persons appointed by such court of competent jurisdiction to act as fiscal and paying agent with respect to the Subordinated Notes, with the same effect as though such payment were made pursuant to
Section 3.4(b). The delivery, transfer and assignment of such funds and records by the Fiscal and Paying Agent to its successor shall be sufficient, without the requirement of any additional act or the requirement of any indemnity to be given
by the Fiscal and Paying Agent, to relieve the Fiscal and Paying Agent of all further responsibility for the exercise in good faith of the rights or the performance in good faith of the obligations vested in the Fiscal and Paying Agent pursuant to
this Agreement. 
 Section 5.3 Successor by Merger, etc. Any corporation or association into which the Fiscal and Paying Agent
may be converted or merged, or with which it may be consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer its corporate trust and agency business as a whole, or any corporation or association resulting from any such conversion, sale, merger,
consolidation or transfer to which it is a party, shall be and become successor Fiscal and Paying Agent hereunder and shall be invested with all of the rights, powers, trusts, duties and obligations of the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereunder, without
the execution or filing of any instrument or any further act. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall provide notice to the Issuer of any such conversion, merger, consolidation, sale or transfer as soon as practicable after the Fiscal and Paying Agent
obtains knowledge that such event will occur or has occurred. 
 ARTICLE VI 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 Section 6.1 Notices. Notices and other
communications hereunder shall (except to the extent otherwise expressly provided) be in writing or given via electronic media and shall be addressed as follows, or to such other addresses as the parties hereto shall specify from time to time.

  

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	If to the Issuer:	  	 North State Bank
 4270 The Circle at North
Hills
 Raleigh, NC 27609

	  	 Attention: Chief Executive Officer
 Telephone: (919)
787-9696
 Facsimile: (919) 719-4481

		
	If to the Fiscal and Paying Agent:	  	Wilmington Trust Company
	  	Rodney Square North
	  	1100 North Market Street
	  	 Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001
 Attention: Corporate
Trust Administration
 Telephone: (302) 651-1000

	  	Facsimile: (302) 651-8882

 All notices shall be deemed given when received. 
 Section 6.2 Parties. Except for rights arising under Sections 2.10, 3.4(a), 4.2 and 6.6, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the
parties hereto and their successors and assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, shall give to any other person including, without limitation, any beneficial owner of Subordinated Notes, any benefits or any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under this Agreement. 
 Section 6.3 Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES HERETO
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 Section 6.4 Severability. In case any
provision in this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. 
 Section 6.5 Effect of Headings. The article and section headings herein are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the
construction hereof. 
 Section 6.6 Amendments; Waivers; Notices of Acceleration After Events of Default; Compliance Certificate.

 (a) The Issuer, when authorized by the resolutions of its Board of Directors, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent from time to time and at any
time may enter into an agreement supplemental to this Agreement for one or more of the following purposes: 
 (i) to evidence
the succession of another entity to the Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumptions by the successor entity of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer; 
  

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 (ii) to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants, restrictions or
conditions for the protection of the holders of the Subordinated Notes as the Issuer’s Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of such holders; 
 (iii) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in this Agreement or in any supplemental agreement that
may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained in this Agreement or in any supplemental agreement, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement that shall not adversely affect
the interests of the holders of the Subordinated Notes; and 
 (iv) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor fiscal and paying agent with respect to the Subordinated Notes and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of
the holders of the Subordinated Notes. 
 The Fiscal and Paying Agent hereby is authorized to join with the Issuer in the execution of any
such supplemental agreement, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be contained in such supplemental agreement and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property under such supplemental agreement,
but the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental agreement that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise. 
 Any supplemental agreement authorized by the provisions of this Section 6.6(a) may be executed by the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent without
the consent of the holders of any of the Subordinated Notes at the time outstanding notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6.6(b). Any such supplemental agreement shall be accompanied by an opinion of counsel and Officers’ Certificate
to the Fiscal and Paying Agent that such supplemental agreement is authorized by the terms of this Agreement and that all conditions precedent have been satisfied. 
 (b) With the consent of the holders of not less than 66  2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes at the time outstanding, the Issuer, when authorized by the resolutions
of its Board of Directors, and the Fiscal and Paying Agent from time to time and at any time may enter into an agreement or agreements supplemental to this Agreement for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner any of the
provisions of this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders; provided, however, that without the consent of the holder of each Subordinated Note affected thereby no such supplemental agreement shall:
(a) change the maturity of the principal of or any premium or any installment of interest on, any Subordinated Note, or reduce the principal amount of any Subordinated Note or any premium or interest on any Subordinated Note, or reduce the
amount of principal payable upon acceleration of the maturity of any Subordinated Note, or change any place of payment where, or 

  

 14 








 
the coin or currency in which, any Subordinated Note or any premium or interest on any Subordinated Note is payable, or impair the right to institute suit
for the enforcement of any such payment on or after its maturity, or make any change in the subordination provisions of the Subordinated Notes that adversely affects the rights of any holder of the Subordinated Notes; (b) reduce the percentage
in principal amount of Subordinated Notes the consent of whose holders is required for any such supplemental agreement or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Agreement or certain
defaults under this Agreement and their consequences provided for in this Agreement; or (c) modify the provisions of Section 6.6(f) providing for the rescinding and annulment of a declaration accelerating the maturity of the Subordinated
Notes, or any of the provisions of this Section 6.6(b) or 6.6(e), except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Agreement cannot be modified or waived. 
 Upon request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of the resolutions of its Board of Directors certified by its Secretary or Assistant Secretary
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental agreement, and upon the filing with the Fiscal and Paying Agent of evidence of the consent of the holders of the Subordinated Notes as aforesaid, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall join with the
Issuer in the execution of such supplemental agreement unless such supplemental agreement affects the Fiscal and Paying Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise, in which case the Fiscal and Paying Agent may in
its discretion, but shall not be obliged to, enter into such supplemental agreement. 
 It shall not be necessary for the consent of the
holders of the Subordinated Notes under this Section 6.6(b) to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental agreement, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. 
 Any supplemental agreement entered into pursuant to this Section 6.6(b) shall be accompanied by an opinion of counsel and Officers’ Certificate
to the Fiscal and Paying Agent that such supplemental agreement is authorized by the terms of this Agreement and that all conditions precedent have been satisfied. 
 (c) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 6.6 to the contrary, the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not enter into any agreement or agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of changing
the date of maturity or the terms of subordination of any Subordinated Note unless the FDIC and the Commissioner consent to such agreement or agreements. The Issuer shall give a copy of any such consent to the Fiscal and Paying Agent promptly upon
receipt thereof. 
 (d) Upon the execution of any supplemental agreement under this Section 6.6, this Agreement shall be modified in
accordance therewith, and such supplemental agreement shall form a part of this Agreement for all purposes; and each holder of Subordinated Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby. The Issuer
shall transmit by mail to each holder of Subordinated Notes affected thereby a notice setting forth the general terms of any supplemental agreement executed under this Section 6.6. 
  

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 (e) The Issuer will promptly notify, and will
provide copies of such notice to, the Fiscal and Paying Agent of the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Subordinated Notes). The Fiscal and Paying Agent, promptly after the receipt of such written notice of Event of Default from
the Issuer, or written notice of Event of Default from any other source, shall mail to all holders of the Subordinated Notes, at their address shown on the Security Register, such written notice of Event of Default, unless such Event of Default
shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice. Prior to any declaration accelerating the date on which the principal of the Subordinated Notes is due and payable, the holders of 66  2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes at the time outstanding on behalf of all holders of the Subordinated Notes may waive any past Event of Default,
and its consequences. Upon any such waiver, the Issuer, the Fiscal and Paying Agent and the holders shall be restored to their former positions and rights under this Agreement and the Subordinated Notes; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Event of Default shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 6.6(e), such Event of Default, for all purposes of the Subordinated Notes and this
Agreement, shall be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. 
 (f)
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the money due shall have been obtained or entered, the holders of 66  2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes then outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Fiscal and Paying Agent, may waive all past Events of Default and rescind
and annul such declaration and its consequences, if: 
 (i) the Issuer shall pay to the Fiscal and Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay: 
 (A) all matured installments of interest on all the Subordinated Notes and the principal of and any
premium on any and all Subordinated Notes that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments of interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) and on such
principal and premium at the rate borne by the Subordinated Notes, to the date of such payment or deposit); and 
 (B) all
sums paid or advanced by the Fiscal and Paying Agent hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Fiscal and Paying Agent, its agents and counsel; and 
 (ii) any and all Events of Default with respect to the Subordinated Notes shall have been cured or waived. 
 No such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

 Section 6.7 Further Issues. The Issuer may, without the consent of the holders of the Subordinated Notes, create and issue
additional notes having the same terms and conditions of 

  

 16 








 
the Subordinated Notes (except for the issue date and issue price) pursuant to an agreement supplemental to this Agreement so that such further notes shall
be consolidated and form a single series with the Subordinated Notes. Any such issuance shall be made pursuant to another offering document and will either be registered or issued pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or similar laws or regulations issued by the applicable banking agency. 
 Section 6.8 Actions Due on Saturdays,
Sundays and Holidays. If any date on which a payment, notice or other action required by this Agreement falls on other than a Business Day, then that action or payment need not be taken or made on such date, but may be taken or made on the next
succeeding Business Day on which the Fiscal and Paying Agent is open for business with the same force and effect as if made on such date. 
 Section 6.9 Agreement to Pay Attorneys’ Fees and Other Expenses. In the event the Issuer shall default under any of the provisions of this Agreement and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall employ attorneys or incur other
expenses for the enforcement or performance or observance of any such obligation or agreement, the Issuer agrees that it will, on demand therefor, pay to the Fiscal and Paying Agent the reasonable fees and expenses of such attorneys and such other
reasonable expenses incurred by the Fiscal and Paying Agent. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Fiscal and Paying Agent will not have any affirmative duty to seek any enforcement or remedies on behalf of the holders of the
Subordinated Notes upon any occurrence of an Event of Default and has no trust or agency relationship with any of the holders of the Subordinated Notes. 
 Section 6.10 Survival. The Fiscal and Paying Agent’s rights to compensation, reimbursement and indemnification shall survive the termination of this Agreement, including any termination pursuant to
any federal or state bankruptcy law, to the extent enforceable under applicable law. 
 Section 6.11 No Implied Waivers. The
right of any party under any provision of this Agreement shall not be affected by its prior failure to require the performance by any other party under such provision or any other provision of this Agreement, nor shall the waiver by any party of a
breach of any provision hereof constitute a waiver of any succeeding breach of the same or any other provision or constitute a waiver of the provision itself or any other provision. 
 Section 6.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but both or
all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one instrument, and shall become effective when copies hereof, which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties hereto, shall be delivered to each of the parties hereto.

 Section 6.13 Term. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier to occur of (a) such time as
the principal of and interest on all the Subordinated Notes shall have been paid, and (b) the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. 
  

 17 








 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement on the date first set forth above.

  

			
	North State Bank
		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	
	
	 Wilmington Trust Company,
 as Fiscal and
Paying Agent

		
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	


  

 18 








 EXHIBIT A 
 FORM OF GLOBAL SUBORDINATED NOTE 
 NORTH STATE BANK 
 Floating Rate Subordinated Note due June 30, 2018 
 THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”) OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY OR FUND. 
 THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED AND JUNIOR IN RIGHT OF PAYMENT TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF NORTH STATE BANK (THE “ISSUER”) TO ITS DEPOSITORS AND TO THE ISSUER’S OTHER OBLIGATIONS TO ITS GENERAL AND SECURED
CREDITORS, IS UNSECURED AND IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE ISSUER. 
 THE ISSUER MAY NOT RETIRE ANY PART OF THIS OBLIGATION WITHOUT THE PRIOR
WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE FDIC. 
 THIS FLOATING RATE SUBORDINATED NOTE DUE JUNE 30, 2018 (THIS “NOTE”) IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF
CEDE & CO., THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE “DEPOSITORY”), 55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE
DEPOSITORY OR TO THE DEPOSITORY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS NOTE IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR NOTES IN DEFINITIVE FORM. UNLESS THIS
CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TO WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, AS FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT OR ANY DULY APPOINTED SUCCESSOR FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT (THE “FISCAL AND PAYING AGENT”), FOR
REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED IN WRITING BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO
CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED IN WRITING BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL, INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED
OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. 
 ANY INSURED DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION WHICH SHALL BE A NOTEHOLDER OR WHICH OTHERWISE SHALL HAVE
ANY BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN THIS NOTE SHALL BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF BE DEEMED TO HAVE WAIVED ANY RIGHT OF OFFSET WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEBTEDNESS EVIDENCED HEREBY. 
  

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	Registered	  	Principal	  	
	No. 1	  	Amount:	  	$                    
			
		  	CUSIP:	  	662588 AD4

 NORTH STATE BANK 
 Floating Rate Subordinated Note due June 30, 2018 
 1. Payment. 
 (a) NORTH STATE BANK, a North Carolina state-chartered bank (the “Issuer”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede &
Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of                      Dollars (U.S.)
($            ) on June 30, 2018 (the “Maturity Date”) and to pay interest thereon from May 13, 2008, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as
defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing on the
Interest Payment Date in June 2008, at an annual rate equal to 6.21563% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in June 2008 and at an annual rate for each successive period
beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in June 2008, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR,
determined as described below, plus 3.50% (the “Interest Rate”) applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without
duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are
due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. 
 “3-Month LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Fiscal
and Paying Agent in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related
Determination Date (“Telerate Page 3750” means the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be
nominated by the British Bankers’ Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the
Fiscal and Paying Agent will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market
for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two
such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Fiscal and Paying Agent will request four major New York City banks to provide such 

  

 2 








 
banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on
such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR
will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be
the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, “Determination Date” means the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, as the case may be (provided that such date
is a Business Day and a date on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a “Libor Banking Day”), and otherwise the next preceding Business Day that is a Libor Banking
Day), next preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. 
 The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time
be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. 
 All percentages resulting
from any calculations on this Note will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655%
(or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). 
 (b) Any payment of principal of or interest on this Note that would otherwise become due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day shall become due and payable on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same
force and effect as if made on the date for payment of such principal or interest, and no interest shall accrue in respect of such payment for the period after such day. The term “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday
or Sunday and that is not a day on which banks in the City of New York, New York, Wilmington, Delaware or the State of North Carolina are generally authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed. 
 (c) Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Fiscal and Paying Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized
signatories, this Note shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose. 
 2. Subordinated Notes, Noteholders, Fiscal and Paying Agency
Agreement. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of notes of the Issuer designated as Floating Rate Subordinated Notes due June 30, 2018 (herein called the “Subordinated Notes”), initially limited in aggregate
principal amount to $11,000,000. The Issuer, for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Subordinated Notes (collectively, the “Noteholders”), has entered into a Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement, dated as of
May 13, 2008 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Fiscal and Paying Agency 

  

 3 








 
Agreement”), between the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent. Reference is hereby made to the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement (copies of
which are on file and available for inspection during normal business hours at the offices of the Fiscal and Paying Agent at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890- 0001 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration,
or at such other place or places as the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall designate by notice to the holder in whose name this Note is registered on the Security Register (as defined in Section 10 of this Note) ), for a statement of the further
rights of the Noteholders and the further rights, limitations of rights, duties and indemnities thereunder of the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent and of the terms upon which the Subordinated Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered. 
 3. Optional Redemption. Beginning on June 30, 2013, the Issuer may, at its option and subject to obtaining prior
approval of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) and the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (the “Commissioner”), redeem some or all of the Subordinated Notes on any Interest Payment Date at a redemption price
of 100% of the principal amount of the redeemed Subordinated Notes, plus any accrued but unpaid interest. 
 The Issuer will notify the
registered holders of the Subordinated Notes to be redeemed at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the Issuer redeems the Subordinated Notes. If the Issuer redeems only some of the Subordinated Notes, the Fiscal and Paying Agent will select
the Subordinated Notes to be redeemed on principal amounts of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 by lot, pro rata or by another method the Fiscal and Paying Agent considers fair and appropriate.
All Subordinated Notes that remain outstanding after any partial redemption must have a principal amount of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000. 
 Subordinated Notes which have been called for redemption and with respect to which monies sufficient to pay the principal thereof and interest thereon
have been made available to the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall cease to be outstanding from and after the redemption date. 
 4.
Subordination. The indebtedness of the Issuer evidenced by the Subordinated Notes, including the principal and interest on this Note, shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment to the Issuer’s obligations to its depositors, its
obligations under bankers’ acceptances and letters of credit, and its obligations to its other creditors, including its obligations to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, the FDIC and any rights acquired by the FDIC as a result of loans made
by the FDIC to the Issuer or the purchase or guarantee of any of its assets by the FDIC, pursuant to the provisions of 12 U.S.C. 1823 (c), (d) or (e) whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred (except any other obligations which rank on
a parity with or subordinate to the Subordinated Notes). In the event of any insolvency, receivership, conservatorship, reorganization, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceedings or any liquidation or winding
up of or relating to the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, all obligations of the Issuer (except any other obligations which rank on a parity with or subordinate to the Subordinated Notes) shall be entitled to be paid in full before any
payment shall be made on account of the principal of or interest on the Subordinated Notes, including this Note. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to such prior obligations, the Noteholders,
together with the holders of any obligations of the Issuer ranking on 

  

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a parity with the Subordinated Notes, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Issuer the unpaid principal thereof, and the unpaid
interest thereon before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Issuer ranking junior to the Subordinated Notes. 
 Nothing herein shall impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note in
accordance with its terms. 
 5. Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge into another
entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless: 
 (a) the continuing entity
formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or the person which acquires by conveyance or transfer or which leases the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, association or
general partnership or other legal entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and expressly shall assume, by a supplemental agreement executed and delivered to the
Fiscal and Paying Agent in form satisfactory to the Fiscal and Paying Agent, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on the Subordinated Notes according to their terms, and the due and punctual performance of
all covenants and conditions hereof on the part of the Issuer to be performed or observed; and 
 (b) immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no Event of Default (as defined below), and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing. 
 6. Events of Default; Acceleration; Compliance Certificate. If any of the following events shall occur and be continuing (each an “Event
of Default”): 
 (a) the Issuer shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee or other similar official in any
liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to the Issuer or all or substantially all of its property; or 
 (b) a court or
other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction on the premises shall enter a decree or order for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, trustee or other similar official in any liquidation, insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to
the Issuer or all or substantially all of the property of the Issuer, or for the winding up of the affairs or business of the Issuer and such decree or order shall have remained in force for 60 days; then, and in each such case, unless the principal
of this Note already shall have become due and payable, the holder of this Note, by notice in writing to the Issuer and to the Fiscal and Paying Agent, may declare the principal amount of this Note to be due and payable immediately and, upon any
such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. The Issuer waives demand, presentment for payment, notice of nonpayment, notice of protest, and all other notices. 
  

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 The Fiscal and Paying Agent, promptly after the receipt of written notice from the Issuer or any other
source of the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to this Note, shall mail to all Noteholders, at their addresses shown on the Security Register, such written notice of Event of Default, unless such Event of Default shall have been cured
or waived before the giving of such notice. The Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement provides that, prior to any acceleration of this Note, the Noteholders holding 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes may waive
any past Event of Default. In addition, the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement provides that the Noteholders holding 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Subordinated Notes may rescind a declaration of acceleration of this Note
before any judgment has been obtained if (i) the Issuer pays the Fiscal and Paying Agent certain amounts due the Fiscal and Paying Agent plus all matured installments of principal of and interest on this Note (other than installments due by
reason of acceleration) and interest on the overdue installments and (ii) all other Events of Default with respect to this Note have been cured or waived. 
 THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE REPAID PRIOR TO THE MATURITY DATE, WHETHER PURSUANT TO AN ACCELERATION UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OR OTHERWISE, WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”)
AND THE NORTH CAROLINA COMMISSIONER OF BANKS (THE “COMMISSIONER”). 
 7. Failure to Make Payment. In the event of
failure by the Issuer to make any payment of principal of or interest on this Note (and, in the case of payment of interest, such failure to pay shall have continued for 30 days), the Issuer will, upon demand of the holder, pay to the holder the
whole amount then due and payable on this Note for principal and interest (without acceleration), with interest on the overdue principal and interest at the rate borne by this Note, to the extent permitted by applicable law. If the Issuer fails to
pay such amount upon such demand, the holder may, among other things, institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the
Issuer and collect the amounts adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer. 
 8.
Payment Procedures. Payment of the principal and interest payable on the Maturity Date will be made through the facilities of DTC or by wire transfer in immediately available funds to a bank account in the United States designated by the
holder of this Note, upon presentation and surrender of this Note at the office of the Fiscal and Paying Agent in Wilmington, Delaware or at such other place or places as the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall designate by notice to the Noteholders,
provided that this Note is presented to the Fiscal and Paying Agent in time for the Fiscal and Paying Agent to make such payments in such funds in accordance with its normal procedures. Payments of interest (other than interest payable on the
Maturity Date) shall be made through the facilities of DTC or by check mailed to the person entitled thereto, as such person’s address appears on the Security Register. Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be payable to the
holder in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15, as the case may be (whether or not a Business Day), next preceding such Interest Payment Date (such date
being referred to herein as the “Regular Record Date”) for such Interest Payment Date, except that 

  

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interest not so punctually paid or duly made available to the Fiscal and Paying Agent for payment, if any, will be paid to the holder in whose name this Note
is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date fixed by the Issuer (a “Special Record Date”) notice of which shall be given to the holder not less than ten calendar days prior to such Special Record Date. (The
Regular Record Date and Special Record Date are referred to herein collectively as the “Record Dates”). To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest shall accrue, at the rate at which interest accrues on the principal of this
Note, on any amount of principal of or interest on this Note not paid when due. All payments on this Note shall be applied first to accrued interest and then the balance, if any, to principal. 
 9. Form of Payment, Maintenance of Payment Office. Payments of principal of and interest on this Note shall be made in such coin or currency of
the United States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts. Until the date on which all of the Subordinated Notes shall have been surrendered or delivered to the Fiscal and Paying Agent
for cancellation or destruction, or become due and payable and a sum sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on all of the Subordinated Notes shall have been made available for payment and either paid or returned to the Issuer as provided
herein and in the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement, the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall at all times maintain an office or agency in the City of Wilmington, Delaware where Subordinated Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment. 

10. Registration of Transfer, Security Register. Except as otherwise provided on the first page hereof, this Note is transferable in whole or
in part, and may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of Subordinated Notes of other authorized denominations, by the holder in person, or by his attorney duly authorized in writing, at the office of the Fiscal and Paying Agent in the
City of Wilmington, Delaware. The Fiscal and Paying Agent shall maintain a register providing for the registration of the Subordinated Notes and any exchange or transfer thereof (the “Security Register”). Upon surrender or
presentation of this Note for exchange or registration of transfer, the Issuer shall execute and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a Note or Notes of like aggregate principal amount, each in a
denomination of $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $1,000 (and, in the absence of an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Fiscal and Paying Agent to the contrary, bearing the restrictive legend(s) called for
by Exhibit A of the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement) and that is or are registered in such name or names requested by the holder. Any Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Fiscal
and Paying Agent) be duly endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer with such evidence of due authorization and guarantee of signature as may reasonably be required by the Fiscal and Paying Agent in form satisfactory to the Fiscal
and Paying Agent, duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing, with such tax identification number or other information for each person in whose name a Note is to be issued, and accompanied by evidence of compliance with
any restrictive legend(s) appearing on such Note or Notes as the Fiscal and Paying Agent may reasonably request to comply with applicable law. No exchange or registration of transfer of this Note shall be made on or after the fifteenth day
immediately preceding the Maturity Date. 
  

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 11. Charges and Transfer Taxes. No service charge (other than any cost of delivery) shall be
imposed for any exchange or registration of transfer of this Note, but the Issuer or the Fiscal and Paying Agent may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
therewith (or presentation of evidence that such tax or charge has been paid). 
 12. Ownership. Prior to due presentment of this Note
for registration of transfer, the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent may treat the holder in whose name this Note is registered in the Security Register as the absolute owner of this Note for the purpose of receiving payments of principal of and
interest on this Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not this Note be overdue, and the Issuer and the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary. 
 13. Priority. The Subordinated Notes rank pari passu among themselves and pari passu, in the event of any insolvency proceeding,
receivership, conservatorship, reorganization, readjustment of debt, marshalling of assets and liabilities or similar proceeding or any liquidation or winding up of the Issuer, with all other present or future unsecured subordinated debt obligations
of the Issuer, except any unsecured subordinated debt which may be expressly stated to be senior to or subordinate to the Subordinated Notes. 
 14. Notices. All notices to the Issuer under this Note shall be in writing and addressed to the Issuer at 4270 The Circle at North Hills, Raleigh, North Carolina 27609, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, or to such other address as
the Issuer may notify to the holder. All notices to the Fiscal and Paying Agent shall be in writing and addressed to the Fiscal and Paying Agent at the office of the Fiscal and Paying Agent at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. All notices to the Noteholders shall be in writing and sent by first-class mail to each Noteholder at his or its address as set forth in the Security Register. 

15. Fiscal and Paying Agent. In acting under the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement, the Fiscal and Paying Agent is acting solely as the agent
of the Issuer and does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with the holder of this Note except that money deposited with the Fiscal and Paying Agent will be held in trust for the benefit of the Noteholders until disbursed to
the Noteholders, except as provided by the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement. Under the terms of the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement, the Issuer may remove any Fiscal and Paying Agent and appoint a new Fiscal and Paying Agent in respect of the
Subordinated Notes, or may remove any Fiscal and Paying Agent and undertake to perform at the Issuer any or all of the functions of the Fiscal and Paying Agent under the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement. The Issuer shall notify, or cause the
Fiscal and Paying Agent to notify, the holder of this Note of the appointment of any successor Fiscal and Paying Agent or the undertaking of the Issuer to perform the functions of the Fiscal and Paying Agent. 
 16. Denominations. The Subordinated Notes are issuable only as fully registered Notes without interest coupons in denominations of $100,000 or any
amount in excess thereof which is a whole multiple of $1,000. 
  

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 17. Modification. The Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement permits, with certain exceptions as
therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Issuer and the rights of the holders under the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement at any time by the Issuer with the consent of the Noteholders holding
66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes at the time outstanding. The Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement also contains provisions permitting Noteholders holding 66 2/3% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Notes
at the time outstanding, on behalf of all Noteholders, to waive compliance by the Issuer with certain provisions of the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement and past Events of Default under the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement and their
consequences. The Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement also provides that the Fiscal and Paying Agent and the Issuer shall not enter into any agreement for the purpose of changing the Maturity Date or the terms of subordination of any Note unless the
FDIC has consented to such agreement. 
 18. Absolute and Unconditional Obligation of the Issuer. No reference herein to the Fiscal
and Paying Agency Agreement and no provisions of this Note or of the Fiscal and Paying Agency Agreement shall alter or impair the obligation of the Issuer, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the
times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed. 
 19. Waiver and Consent. (a) Any consent or waiver
given by the holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note. 
 (b) No delay or omission of the holder to exercise any right or remedy accruing
upon any Event of Default shall impair such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. 
 (c) Any insured depository institution which shall be a holder of Note or which otherwise shall have any beneficial ownership interest in any Note shall, by its acceptance of such Note (or beneficial interest therein), be deemed to have
waived any right of offset with respect to the indebtedness evidenced thereby. 
 20. Further Issues. The Issuer may, without the
consent of the holders of the Subordinated Notes, create and issue additional notes having the same terms and conditions of the Subordinated Notes (except for the issue date and issue price) pursuant to an agreement supplemental to the Fiscal and
Paying Agency Agreement so that such further notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Subordinated Notes. Any such issuance shall be made pursuant to another offering document and will either be registered or issued pursuant to
an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or similar laws or regulations issued by the applicable banking agency. 
 21. Governing Law. This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable federal law and the laws of the State of New York. 
  

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Note to be duly executed and its corporate seal to be
hereunto affixed and attested. 
  

			
	NORTH STATE BANK
		
	By:	 	  

	Name	 	
	Title:	 	


  

	
	ATTEST:
	
	  

	Name:
	Title:

 (Corporate Seal) 
 This evidences Subordinated 
 Notes referred to in the within 
 mentioned Fiscal and Paying 
 Agency Agreement: 
 WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, 
 Not in its individual capacity but solely 
 as Fiscal and Paying Agent 
  

			
	By:	 	  

	Name:	 	
	Title:	 	

 Dated:             , 2008 
  

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