exv10w7



 






Exhibit 10.7




EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT




     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 1st day of
January 2005, between DISCOVERY BANK (“Bank”), having a principal place of business at 338 Via Vera
Cruz, San Marcos, California 92078, and LOU ELLEN FICKE (“Executive”), whose residence is 1 Via
Del Lago, Lake Elsinore, CA 92532, with reference to the following:



W I T N E S S E T H




     WHEREAS, Bank is a California banking corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the laws of the State of California, with power to own property and carry on
its business as it is now being conducted;



     WHEREAS, Bank desires to avail itself of the skill, knowledge and experience of Executive in
order to insure the successful management of its business; and



     WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to specify the terms of Executive’s employment by Bank;




     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereafter set forth, it is agreed
that effective January 1, 2005 (the “Effective Date”), the following terms and conditions shall
apply to Executive’s employment:



A G R E E M E N T




A. TERM OF EMPLOYMENT




          1. Term. Bank hereby employs Executive and Executive hereby accepts employment with
Bank for the period commencing with the Effective Date and terminating three (3) years thereafter;
subject, however, to prior termination of Executive’s employment as hereinafter provided. Where
used herein, “Term” shall refer to the entire period of employment of Executive by Bank hereunder,
whether for the period provided above, or whether terminated earlier as hereinafter provided.



B. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE




          1. Duties. Executive shall perform the duties of Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Bank, which includes, but are not limited to those duties specified on Bank’s
Job Description for the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, subject
to the powers by law vested in the Board of Directors of Bank, Bank’s shareholders and Bank’s
President. Executive shall report only to the President of Bank and,



 









 





subject to the reasonable directions of the President, shall have general supervision, direction,
and control of Bank’s deposits, investments, accounting, financial reporting and computer systems.
However, the duties of Executive may be changed from time to time by the mutual consent of
Executive and Bank without resulting in a recission of this Agreement. During the Term, Executive
shall perform exclusively the services herein contemplated to be performed by Executive faithfully,
diligently and to the best of Executive’s ability, consistent with the highest and best standards
of the banking industry and in compliance with all applicable laws and Bank’s Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws.




          2. Conflicts of Interests. Except as permitted by the prior written consent of the
Board of Directors of Bank, Executive shall devote Executive’s entire productive time, ability and
attention to the business of Bank during the Term and Executive shall not directly or indirectly
render any services of a business, commercial or professional nature to any other person, firm or
corporation, whether for compensation or otherwise, which are in conflict with Bank’s interests.



C. COMPENSATION




          1. Base Salary. For Executive’s services hereunder, Bank shall pay or cause to be
paid as base salary to Executive the amount of not less than Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty
Dollars ($8,750) per calendar month; provided, however, that the base salary shall be prorated for
any partial month. Said base salary shall be payable in conformity with Bank’s normal payroll
periods. Executive’s base salary shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors annually, at its
discretion, and Executive shall receive such base salary increases, if any, as the Board of
Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine.



          2. Discretionary Bonus. Executive may receive such
discretionary bonuses, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine.



          3. Officers’ Bonus Plan. Executive shall participate in any officers’ bonus plans
Bank may establish, from time to time, during the Term.



D. EXECUTIVE BENEFITS




          1. Vacation and Sick Pay. Executive shall be entitled to four (4) weeks vacation each
year during the Term; provided, however, that at least two (2) weeks of said vacation (the
“Mandatory Vacation”) shall be taken consecutively. Executive shall not be entitled to vacation
pay in lieu of vacation, and any vacation time not used in excess of the Mandatory Vacation shall
be accumulated in accordance with Bank’s Personnel Policy unless other arrangements are approved in
advance by the Board of Directors. Executive shall also be entitled to sick pay in accordance with
Bank’s Personnel Policy.



          2. Group Medical and Life Insurance Benefits. Bank shall provide for Executive’s
participation in Bank’s group medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance benefits, as
provided to Bank’s other officers. Said insurance coverage shall be made available to Executive as
soon as possible and shall continue throughout the Term. Bank’s liability to



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Executive for any breach of this Paragraph D.2 shall be limited to the amount of premiums payable
by Bank to obtain the coverage contemplated herein.




          3. Automobile Allowance. Bank shall provide Executive with an automobile allowance of
Five Hundred Dollars ($500) per month, which allowance shall be in lieu of any expense
reimbursements for automobile or automobile-related expenditures. With Executive’s consent, in
lieu of this automobile allowance, Bank may furnish Executive with the use of a bank owned
automobile.



          4. Additional Benefits. Executive shall be entitled to participate in all programs,
rights, and benefits for which Executive is otherwise entitled under any 401(k) plan, bonus plan,
incentive plan, participation plan, or extra compensation plan, pension plan, profit sharing plan,
savings plan, life, medical, dental, other health care, disability, or other insurance plan or
policy or other plan or benefit Bank may provide for senior executives or for employees of Bank
generally, from time to time, in effect during the Term.



E. BUSINESS EXPENSES AND REIMBURSEMENT




          1. Business Expenses. Executive shall be entitled to reimbursement by Bank for any
ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of Executive’s
duties and in acting for Bank during the Term, which types of expenditures shall be determined by
the Board of Directors. Executive shall furnish to Bank adequate records and other documentary
evidence for the substantiation of such expenditures as deductible business expenses of Bank.



          2. Reimbursement. Executive agrees that, if at any time payment made to Executive by
Bank for business expense reimbursement shall be disallowed in whole or in part as a deductible
business expense by the appropriate taxing authorities, the amount so disallowed shall be treated
as taxable compensation to Executive.



F. TERMINATION




          1. Termination For Cause. Bank may terminate Executive’s employment at any time
without further obligation or liability to Executive, by action of the Board of Directors in good
faith:



               (a) If Executive materially breaches Executive’s duties under this Agreement or habitually
neglects Executive’s duties;



               (b) If Executive is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or crime of
moral turpitude or a crime (other than a traffic offense) which materially and adversely affects
Bank’s reputation in the community or which evidences the lack of Executive’s fitness or ability to
perform Executive’s duties, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith;



               (c) If Executive has committed any act which would cause termination of coverage under Bank’s
Blanket Bond as to Executive or as to Bank as a whole;



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               (d) If Executive is deceased; or



               (e) If Executive is found to be physically or mentally incapable of performing Executive’s
duties for a period of six (6) months or greater by the Board of Directors, in good faith, based
upon a medical diagnosis.



Such termination shall not prejudice any remedy which Bank may have at law, in equity, or under
this Agreement. Termination pursuant to this Paragraph F.1 shall become effective two (2) days
after written notice of termination.




          2. Action by Supervisory Authority. Executive’s employment shall terminate
immediately without further liability or obligation to Executive:



               (a) If Bank is closed or taken over by the Department of Financial Institutions or other
supervisory authority, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Bank; or



               (b) If such supervisory authority should exercise its statutory cease and desist powers to
remove Executive from office.



          3. Merger or Corporate Reorganization. Executive’s employment with Bank and the Term
shall terminate upon the occurrence of any of the following: (i) a merger, consolidation or
reorganization where the shareholders of Bank immediately preceding the closing of the transaction
will not own immediately after the closing of the transaction more than fifty percent (50%) of the
resulting or surviving institution; (ii) a merger, consolidation or reorganization where the
shareholders of Bank immediately preceding the closing of the transaction will not own immediately
after the closing of the transaction more than fifty percent (50%) of Bank, partnership or limited
liability company that controls the resulting or surviving institution; (iii) a transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of Bank to an entity where the shareholders of Bank immediately
preceding the closing of the transaction will not own immediately after the closing of the
transaction more than fifty percent (50%) of the entity; or (iv) a sale of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the outstanding Common Stock of Bank in a transaction or series of related transactions.
The foregoing events shall hereafter be referred to as a “Triggering Event.”



          4. Termination Without Cause. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein,
Executive’s employment may be terminated at any time without cause by Bank upon written notice of
termination to Executive and by Executive upon written notice of termination to Bank.



          5. Effect of Termination.



               (a) In the event of termination of Executive’s employment prior to the completion of the Term
for any of the reasons specified in Paragraphs F.1 through F.4, Executive shall be entitled to the
salary and other benefits earned by Executive prior to the date of termination as provided for in
this Agreement, computed pro rata up to and including that date, and accrued but unused vacation
time; but Executive shall be entitled to no further compensation for services rendered after the
date of termination.



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               (b) In the event Executive’s employment is terminated pursuant to Paragraph F.3, Executive
shall be entitled to severance compensation equal to six (6) months’ then current base salary.
Payment shall be made by Bank not later than the closing of the Triggering Event.



               (c) In addition, in the event Bank elects to terminate Executive’s employment pursuant to
Paragraph F.4, Executive shall be entitled to severance compensation equal to six (6) months then
current base salary, payable in monthly installments in conformity with Bank’s normal payroll
periods, and continuation of Executive’s group medical insurance benefits for that same period.



               (d) In the event Executive elects to terminate Executive’s employment pursuant to the
provisions of Paragraph F.4, Executive shall not be entitled to any severance compensation or
continuation of Executive’s group medical insurance benefits.



               (e) The payment of benefits pursuant to this Paragraph F.5 shall discharge Bank from any
further liability to Executive under this Agreement.



     As a condition for receiving any severance pay hereunder, Executive hereby agrees to execute a
full and complete release of any and all claims against the Bank and its officers, agents,
directors, attorneys, insurers, employees and successors in interest arising from, or in any way
related to, Executive’s employment with the Bank or the termination thereof.



G. GENERAL PROVISIONS




          1. Trade Secrets. Executive agrees that during the Term Executive will have access
to, and become acquainted with, confidential, trade secret, and proprietary information concerning
Bank, which may include information on its operations and business, identity of its customers,
including knowledge of their financial condition and financial needs, as well as such customers’
methods of doing business. Executive will not use or disclose any of such trade secrets,
proprietary, or confidential information during the Term or for a period of five (5) years
thereafter, without Bank’s prior written consent. This limitation shall not apply to information
that is or becomes public, or in the public domain, without the fault of Executive.



          2. Covenant Not to Interfere. Executive hereby covenants and agrees that Executive
will not now, or for the period during which Executive receives any compensation from Bank, whether
pursuant to Paragraph F.5 or otherwise, plus an additional period of one (1) year, disrupt, damage,
impair or interfere with the business of Bank, whether by way of interfering with or raiding its
employees, disrupting its relationships with customers and their agents, representatives or
vendors, or otherwise. After termination of employment, Executive is not, however, restricted from
being employed by or engaged in a competing business.



          3. Return of Documents. Executive expressly agrees that all manuals, documents,
files, reports, studies, instruments or other materials used and/or developed by Executive during
Executive’s employment with Bank, including service as a consultant and organizer during Bank’s
organization, are solely the property of Bank, and that Executive has no right, title or interest
therein. Upon termination of Executive’s employment, Executive or Executive’s representative shall
promptly deliver possession of all of said property to Bank in good condition.



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          4. Notices. Any notice, request, demand or other communication required or permitted
hereunder shall be deemed to be properly given when personally served in writing or by facsimile,
when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or when communicated to a public
telegraph company for transmittal, addressed to the party at the address appearing at the beginning
of this Agreement. Either party may change its address by written notice in accordance with this
paragraph.



          5. Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective executors, administrators, successors and assigns.



          6. Applicable Law. This Agreement is to be governed by and construed under the laws
of the State of California.



          7. Captions and Paragraph Headings. Captions and paragraph headings used herein are
for convenience only and are not a part of this Agreement and shall not be used in construing it.



          8. Invalid Provisions. Should any provisions of this Agreement for any reason be
declared invalid, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity and
binding effect of any remaining portion shall not be affected, and the remaining portions of this
Agreement shall remain in full force and effect as if this Agreement had been executed with said
provision eliminated.



          9. Entire Agreement. Except for a stock option agreement and participation in other
compensation plans which may be entered into by and between Bank and Executive, this Agreement
contains the entire agreement of the parties and supersedes any and all other agreements, either
oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of Executive by Bank.
Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations, inducements, promises, or
agreements, oral or otherwise, have been made by any party, or anyone acting on behalf of any
party, which are not embodied herein, and that no other agreement, statement, or promise not
contained in this Agreement shall be valid or binding. This Agreement may not be modified or
amended by oral agreement, but only by an agreement in writing signed by Bank and Executive.



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



	 	 	 
	

	 	DISCOVERY BANK
	 
	 	 
	

	 	/s/ JAMES P. KELLEY, II
	

	 	By: JAMES P. KELLEY
	

	 	Its: PRESIDENT & C.E.O.
	 
	 	 
	

	 	/s/ JOHN P. PLAVAN
	

	 	By: JOHN P. PLAVAN
	

	 	Its: CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
	 
	 	 
	

	 	/s/ LOU ELLEN FICKE
	

	 	LOU ELLEN FICKE







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