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                                                              EXHIBIT 10.8



                            THIS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

made and entered into this 1st day of September, 1996 between Patriot National
Bank ("Employer"), a national banking association chartered through the Office
of the Comptroller of the Currency; and Robert C. Shoemaker ("Employee")

         WHEREAS, Employee has agreed to be a Vice President of the Bank;

         WHEREAS, the parties wish to establish the terms and conditions of
Employee's employment,

         NOW, therefore, in consideration of the promises and the mutual
covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

                          1.   RELATIONSHIP AND DUTIES

         (a)     Employer hereby employs Employee on the effective date hereof
(as defined in paragraph 2 below) as an officer of the Bank to serve as Vice
President to serve as a construction/real estate lending officer and to perform
such services and duties as the Bank's President & CEO ("President") may, from
time to time, designate during the term hereof.  Subject to the terms and
conditions hereof, Employee will perform such duties and exercise such
authority as are customarily performed and exercised by persons holding such
office, subject to the direction of the President.

         (b)     Employee accepts such employment and shall devote full time,
attention, and best efforts to the diligent performance of duties herein
specified and as an officer of the Bank.  While employed by Employer, the
Employee will not, without the prior written consent of the President, accept
employment with any other individual, corporation, partnership, governmental
authority or other entity, or engage in any other venture for profit which
Employer or the Board may consider to be in conflict with the Bank's best
interests or to be in competition with the Bank, or which may interfere in any
way with the Employee's performance of his duties hereunder.  It is understood
that Employee does have the right to participate in passive investments
including income producing real estate, not otherwise in conflict with Bank
policy.

         (c)     Whenever the term "Employer" is used herein, that term shall
be deemed synonymous with the terms "the Bank", "President" or "the Board",
whenever the context so requires.

         (d)     Regarding the relationships and duties of the parties to this
contract, the Employee shall not be required by Employer, as a part of daily
duties, to perform or to participate in any activity which constitutes a
violation of any state or federal law, rule, ordinance or regulation.





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                            2.   TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

         Employee's employment hereunder shall commence upon the effective date
of this contract. Said employment shall continue from the date of this
agreement until December 31, 1998, unless terminated earlier pursuant to the
terms hereof.   Employee's employment pursuant to this agreement shall be
terminated by the first to occur of any of the following:

         (a)     the death of the Employee;

         (b)     the complete disability of the Employee.  "Complete
disability" as used herein shall mean the inability of Employee, due to
illness, accident, or any other physical or mental incapacity, completely to
fulfill his obligations hereunder for an aggregate of ninety (90) days within
any period of 180 consecutive days during the term hereof;

         (c)     The discharge of Employee by Employer for cause.  "Cause" as
used herein shall include, without limitation: dishonesty; theft; conviction of
a crime, which is either a felony or misdemeanor other than any minor traffic
violation; unethical business conduct; activity which is contrary to the Bank's
interests; gross or repeated negligence in carrying out Employee's duties; or
material violation of Employee's obligations hereunder.  Should Employer deem
specific activities contrary to the Bank's interest or that negligence by
Employee in carrying out duties or any violation of Employee's obligations
hereunder has occurred, notice of said activity, negligence or violation shall
be provided by Employer to Employee along with a reasonable period of time in
which to correct.  Provided that such activity, negligence or violation is
neither dishonest nor criminal, 30 days shall be deemed to be reasonable time
in which to correct such deficiencies.

         (d)     Discharge for "cause" will require approval by a two-thirds
majority vote of the Board of the Bank.  Termination of Employee's employment
for cause shall include termination as an employee and officer of Employer.

                                3. COMPENSATION

         For all services which Employee may render to Employer during the term
hereof, Employer shall pay to Employee, subject to such deduction as may be
required by law, according to the schedule set out below:

         (a)     Base Salary.  From the effective date hereof, Employee shall
receive for the term of this contract a salary based on an annual rate of
$65,285, payable in equal semi-monthly installments, subject to such deductions
as may be required by law.  The Employee will receive performance reviews at
least annually at the end of each fiscal year from the President, and the
Employee's salary may be increased but not decreased at the sole discretion of
the Board.





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                               4. OTHER BENEFITS

         During the term of the Employee's employment hereunder on and after
the effective date (except as noted in this paragraph) Employer shall furnish
to Employee: (i) A term life insurance policy providing for death benefits of
two times base salary having a beneficiary designated by the Employee; (ii) A
group health, hospitalization and dental insurance policy covering the Employee
at no cost to the Employee other than such deductible as may be applicable to
all other Employees of the Bank, and, if the Employee desires, covering the
dependents and spouse of the Employee, if any, at no cost to the Employee; and
(iii) A long term disability insurance policy, as generally defined in the
insurance industry, providing for benefits of at least 60% of Employee's basic
monthly earnings not to exceed $5,000 monthly.  This long term disability
policy will be as consistent as reasonably possible with the definition of
"complete disability" provided in paragraph 2(b) above.  Supplemental long term
disability benefits will be provided on an annual basis as deemed appropriate.
The Employee will be allowed to participate in all other benefits provided to
the company's employees.

                                 5.   EXPENSES


         Upon Employee's presentment to Employer of expense reports acceptable
to Employer and which are in sufficiently detailed form to comply with
standards for deduction of business expenses established from time to time by
the Internal Revenue Service, Employer will reimburse Employee for such
expenses approved by the Employer and incurred by Employee in connection with
performance of duties hereunder.

                         6.  POST TERMINATION COVENANTS

         Employee agrees to not furnish, use, or divulge to anyone any
confidential information of Employer acquired from Employer and relating to the
Employer's business activities and further agrees, for one (1) year following
such termination, Employee agrees that he will not, without the prior written
consent of Employer: (i) furnish anyone with the name of, or any list or lists
which identify, any customers or stockholders of the Employer or utilize such
list or information; (ii) contact directly or indirectly any customer of
Employer for the purpose of soliciting such person's business for another bank
or similar financial institution; (iii) hire for any other employer (including
self) any employee of Employer or directly or indirectly cause such employee to
leave his or her employment to work for another; (iv) pursue an actual or
potential business opportunity of interest to and which could be pursued by
Employer which came to the attention of Employee in connection with employment
with Employer and which Employee had not previously offered in writing to
Employer with sufficient advance notice to allow Employer to examine and pursue
or reject such opportunity.  Excepted from the requirements of subparagraph (i)
in this paragraph is any information which is or becomes publicly and available
information through no fault or act of Employee.


         It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the provisions
of this paragraph are independent of each other, and to the extent any
provision or portion thereof shall be determined by





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a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, such determination shall
not effect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this
paragraph or the remainder of this agreement.

                            7. WAIVER OF PROVISIONS

         Failure by any of the parties hereto to insist, in one or more
instances, on performance by the other in strict accordance with the terms and
conditions of this agreement shall not be deemed a waiver or relinquishment of
any right granted hereunder or of the obligation of future performance of any
such term or condition or of any other term or condition of this agreement,
unless such waiver is contained in writing signed by or on behalf of all the
parties.

                               8.  GOVERNING LAW

         This agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in
accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.  If for any reason
any provision of this agreement shall be held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable, the same shall not affect the
remaining provisions hereof.

                         9.  MODIFICATION AND AMENDMENT

         This agreement contains the sole and entire agreement among the
parties hereto and supersedes all prior discussions and agreements among the
parties, and any such prior agreements shall, from and after the date hereof,
be null and void.  This agreement shall not be modified or amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by on or behalf of all parties hereto.

                         10.  COUNTERPARTS AND HEADINGS

         This agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.  The headings set out herein are for
convenience of reference and shall not be deemed a part of this agreement.

                             11.  INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

         In the event of a breach or threatened breach by Employee of any of
the provisions of paragraph 2 or paragraph 7, and notwithstanding any other
provision in this agreement, Employer, in addition to any other available
rights or remedies, shall be entitled to such temporary restraining orders and
permanent injunctions, as are allowable and authorized by the laws of the
Commonwealth of Virginia based on the facts of the case, to restrain such
breach by Employee and/or any persons directly or indirectly acting for or with
him.  Employee's obligations under paragraph 7 hereof shall remain binding and
enforceable according to its terms notwithstanding expiration or termination of
the other terms of this agreement or the termination of Employee's employment
relationship with the Bank.

                                12.  SUCCESSORS





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         This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
Employer, its successors and assignees and upon the Employee, heirs and
personal representatives.  Neither this agreement nor performance hereunder may
be assigned by Employee.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement
under seal on the 27th day of September, 1996, to be effective as of the date
first written above.
                                    
                                                EMPLOYEE:
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    
               /s/                                           /s/    
------------------------------------            -------------------------------
Witness                                         Robert C. Shoemaker
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                                EMPLOYER:
                                                PATRIOT NATIONAL BANK
                                                national banking organization
                                    
                                    
             /s/                                           /s/
------------------------------------            -------------------------------
Witness                                         Carroll C. Markley
                                                President & CEO