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                              Employment Agreement

      EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT dated as of January 1, 1998, between California
Federal Bank, A Federal Savings Bank (the "Company") and Lacy G. Newman (the
"Executive").

      The Company wishes to employ the Executive, and the Executive wishes to
accept such employment, on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Agreement.

      Accordingly, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

             Employment. Duties and Acceptance.

             1.1 Employment. Duties. The Company hereby employs the Executive
for the Term (as defined in Section 2.1), to render exclusive (except as
otherwise provided herein) and full-time services to the Company as Executive
Vice President and Chief Credit Officer or in such other executive position as
may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Executive, and to perform
such other duties consistent with such position as may be assigned to the
Executive by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company senior to the
Executive.

             1.2 Acceptance. The Executive hereby accepts such employment and
agrees to render the services described above. During the Term, the Executive
agrees to serve the Company faithfully and to the best of the Executive's
ability, to devote the Executive's entire business time, energy and skill to
such employment, and to use the Executive's best efforts, skill and ability to
promote the Company's interests. The Executive further agrees to accept
election, and to serve during all or any part of the Term, as an officer or
director of the Company and of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company,
without any compensation therefor other than that specified in this Agreement,
if elected to any such position by the shareholders or by the Board of
Directors of the Company or of any subsidiary or affiliate, as the case may be.
The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the Executive is not subject
to any other agreement, including without limitation, any agreement not to
compete or confidentiality agreement, which would be violated by the
Executive's performance of services hereunder.

             1.3 Location. The duties to be performed by the Executive
hereunder shall be performed primarily at the office of the Company in San
Francisco, California, subject to reasonable other travel requirements on
behalf of the Company.

      2.     Term of Employment; Certain Post-Term Benefits.

             2.1 The Term. The term of the Executive's employment under this
Agreement (the "Term") shall commence January 1, 1998 and shall end on
December 31, 2000.


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             2.2 Special Curtailment. The Term shall end earlier than the
original December 31, 2000 termination date provided in Section 2.1 if sooner
terminated pursuant to Section 4. Non-extension of the Term shall not be deemed
to be a wrongful termination of the Term or this Agreement by the Company
pursuant to Section 4.4.

      3.     Compensation; Benefits.

             3.1 Salary. As compensation for all services to be rendered
pursuant to this Agreement, the Company agrees to pay the Executive during the
Term a base salary, payable semi-monthly in arrears, at the annual rate of not
less than $500,000, less such deductions or amounts to be withheld as required
by applicable law and regulations (the "Base Salary"). In the event that the
Company, in its sole discretion, from time to time determines to increase the
Base Salary, such increased amount shall, from and after the effective date of
the increase, constitute "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement.

             3.2 Business Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the
Executive for all reasonable expenses actually incurred or paid by the
Executive during the Term in the performance of the Executive's services under
this Agreement, upon presentation of expense statements or vouchers or such
other supporting information as the Company customarily may require of its
officers provided, however, that the maximum amount available for such expenses
during any period may be fixed in advance by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of
the Board of Directors, the President of the Company, or the Board of
Directors. The Company acknowledges that the Executive shall be permitted to
travel first class when traveling on behalf of the Company.

             3.3 Paid Time Off. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to paid time off ("PTO") of five weeks taken in accordance with the
PTO policy of the Company during each year of the Term.

             3.4 Fringe Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to all benefits for which the Executive shall be eligible under any
qualified pension plan, 401(k) plan, group insurance or other so-called
"fringe" benefit plan which the Company provides to its employees generally,
together with executive medical benefits for the Executive, the Executive's
spouse and the Executive's children as from time to time in effect for officers
of the Company generally.

             3.5 Additional Benefits. During the Term, the Executive shall be
entitled to such other benefits as are specified in Appendix I to this
Agreement.

      4.     Termination.

             4.1 Death. If the Executive shall die during the Term, the Term
shall terminate and no further amounts or benefits shall be payable hereunder,
except that the


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Executive's legal representatives shall be entitled to receive continued
payments in an amount equal to 60% of the Base Salary, in the manner specified
in Section 3.1, until the end of the Term.

             4.2 Disability. If during the Term the Executive shall become
physically or mentally disabled, whether totally or partially, such that the
Executive is unable to perform the Executive's services hereunder for (i) a
period of six consecutive months or (ii) for shorter periods aggregating six
months during any twelve month period, the Company may at any time after the
last day of the six consecutive months of disability or the day on which the
shorter periods of disability shall have equaled an aggregate of six months, by
written notice to the Executive (but before the Executive has recovered from
such disability), terminate the Term and no further amounts or benefits shall
be payable hereunder, except that the Executive shall be entitled to receive
(i) continued payments in an amount equal to 60% of the Base Salary, in the
manner specified in Section 3.1, until the end of the Term and (ii) such
amounts and benefits, if any, specified in Paragraph 5 of Appendix I. If the
Executive shall die before receiving all payments to be made by the Company in
accordance with the foregoing, such payments shall be made to a beneficiary
designated by the Executive on a form prescribed for such purpose by the
Company, or in the absence of such designation to the Executive's legal
representative.

             4.3 Cause. In the event of gross neglect by the Executive of the
Executive's duties hereunder, conviction of the Executive of any felony,
conviction of the Executive of any lesser crime or offense involving the
property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, willful
misconduct by the Executive in connection with the performance of any material
portion of the Executive's duties hereunder, breach by the Executive of any
material provision of this Agreement, the Company's employment policies
including the Code of Ethics, or any other conduct on the part of the Executive
which would make the Executive's continued employment by the Company materially
prejudicial to the best interests of the Company, the Company may at any time
by written notice to the Executive terminate the Term and, upon such
termination, this Agreement shall terminate and the Executive shall be entitled
to receive no further amounts or benefits hereunder, except any as shall have
been earned to the date of such termination. Termination for cause under the
foregoing sentence shall also include the bases therefore set forth in the
provisions of 12 C.F.R. Section 563.39(b)(l) or successor regulation defining
termination for cause in employment agreements for employees of a savings
association.

             4.4 Company Breach. In the event of (a) the breach of any material
provision of this Agreement by the Company, (b) the assignment to Executive of
duties materially inconsistent with his status as Executive Vice President and
Chief Credit Officer of the Company or an adverse alteration in the nature of
Executive's responsibilities or (c) a reduction by the Company in the
Executive's Base Salary or bonus or a failure by the Company to pay any such
amounts when due, the Executive shall be entitled to terminate the Term upon 60
days' prior written notice to the Company. Upon such termination, or in the
event the Company terminates the Term or this Agreement other than pursuant to
the provisions of Section 4.2 or 4.3, the

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Company shall continue to provide the Executive (i) payments of Base Salary in
the manner and amounts specified in section 3.1 and (ii) fringe benefits and
additional benefits in the manner and amounts specified in Sections 3.4 and
3.5, until the end of the Term (the "Damage Period"). The Company's obligations
pursuant to this Section 4.4 are subject to the Executive's duty to mitigate
damages by seeking other employment provided, however, that the Executive shall
not be required to accept a position of lesser importance or of substantially
different character than the position held with the Company immediately prior
to the effective date of termination or in a location outside of the San
Francisco, California metropolitan area. To the extent that the Executive shall
earn compensation during the Damage Period (without regard to when such
compensation is paid), the Base Salary payments to be made by the Company
pursuant to this Section 4.4 shall be correspondingly reduced.

Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.4 to the contrary, the total of all
post-termination Base Salary payments to be made under this Section 4.4 shall
not be less than the Executive's annual Base Salary at the date of termination.
At the end of the Term the Company shall pay to Executive, subject to
applicable withholding requirements, the amount due under the preceding
sentence in a lump sum payment. Executive waives any right to compensation
under any Company severance program applicable to the Executive (other than the
Management Incentive Program and the Deferred Executive Compensation Program).

             4.5   Termination Under Banking Laws.

             4.5.1 If the Executive is suspended or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Company's affairs by a notice served under
Section 8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of Federal Deposit Insurance Act (the "FDIA") (12
U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(3) and (g)(l)) the Company's obligations under this
Agreement shall be suspended as of the date of service unless stayed by
appropriate proceedings. If the charges in the notice are dismissed, the
Company may in its discretion (i) pay the Executive all or part of the
compensation withheld while its obligations hereunder were suspended, and (ii)
reinstate (in whole or in part) any of its obligations which were suspended.

             4.5.2 If the Executive is removed or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Company's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e)(4) or (g)(l) of the FDIA (12 U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(4) or
(g)(l)), all obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall terminate
as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the contracting
parties shall not be affected.

             4.5.3 If the Company is in default (as defined in Section 3(x)(l)
of the FDIA), all obligations under this Agreement shall terminate as of the
date of default, but this Section 4.5.3 shall not affect any vested rights of
the Company or of the Executive.




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             4.5.4 All obligations of the Company under this Agreement may be
terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of this Agreement
is necessary for the continued operation of the Company, (i) by the Director of
the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "Director") or his or her designee, at
the time Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or Resolution Trust Corporation
enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the Company
under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA; or (ii) by the
Director or his or her designee, at the time the Director or his or her
designee approves a supervisory merger to resolve problems related to
operations of the Company or when the Company is determined by the Director to
be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any rights of the parties that have
already vested, however, shall not be affected by such action.

             4.6 Litigation Expenses. Except as provided for in Section 5.7. if
the Company and the Executive become involved in any action, suit or proceeding
relating to the alleged breach of this Agreement by the Company or the
Executive, and if a judgment in such action, suit or proceeding is rendered in
favor of the Executive, the Company shall reimburse the Executive for all
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Executive in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Such costs shall be paid to
the Executive promptly upon presentation of expense statements or other
supporting information evidencing the incurrence of such expenses.

      5.     Protection of Confidential Information; Non-Competition.

             5.1 In view of the fact that the Executive's work for the Company
will bring the Executive into close contact with many confidential affairs of
the Company not readily available to the public, and plans for future
developments, the Executive agrees:

             5.1.1 To keep and retain in the strictest confidence all
confidential matters of the Company, including, without limitation, "know
how", trade secrets, customer lists, pricing policies, operational methods,
technical processes, formulae, inventions and research projects, other business
affairs of the Company, and any information whatsoever concerning any director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company or their respective family members
learned by the Executive heretofore or hereafter, and not to disclose them to
anyone outside of the Company, either during or after the Executive's
employment with the Company, except in the course of performing the Executive's
duties hereunder or with the Company's express written consent. The foregoing
prohibitions shall include, without limitation, directly or indirectly
publishing (or causing, participating in, assisting or providing any statement,
opinion or information in connection with the publication of) any diary,
memoir, letter, story, photograph, interview, article, essay, account or
description (whether fictionalized or not) concerning any of the foregoing,
publication being deemed to include any presentation or reproduction of any
written, verbal or visual material in any communication medium, including any
book, magazine, newspaper, theatrical production or movie, or television or
radio programming or commercial; and

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             5.1.2 To deliver promptly to the Company on termination of the
Executive's employment by the Company, or at any time the Company may so
request, all memoranda, notes, records, reports, manuals, drawings, blueprints
and other documents (and all copies thereof) relating to the Company's business
and all property associated therewith, which the Executive may then possess or
have under the Executive's control.

             5.2 During the Term, the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, enter the employ of, or render any services to, any person, firm or
corporation engaged in any business competitive with the business of the
Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates; the Executive shall not
engage in such business on the Executive's own account; and the Executive shall
not become interested in any such business, directly or indirectly, as an
individual, partner, shareholder, director, officer, principal, agent,
employee, trustee, consultant, or in any other relationship or capacity
provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 5.2 shall be deemed to
prohibit the Executive from acquiring, solely as an investment, up to five
percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any public
corporation.

             5.3 If the Executive commits a breach, or threatens to commit a
breach, of any of the provisions of Sections 5.1 or 5.2 hereof, the Company
shall have the following rights and remedies:

             5.3.1 The right and remedy to have the provisions of this
Agreement specifically enforced by any court having equity jurisdiction, it
being acknowledged and agreed that any such breach or threatened breach will
cause irreparable injury to the Company and that money damages will not provide
an adequate remedy to the Company; and

             5.3.2 The right and remedy to require the Executive to account for
and pay over to the Company all compensation, profits, monies, accruals,
increments or other benefits (collectively "Benefits") derived or received by
the Executive as the result of any transactions constituting a breach of any of
the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and the Executive hereby agrees to
account for and pay over such Benefits to the Company.

Each of the rights and remedies enumerated above shall be independent of the
other, and shall be severally enforceable, and all of such rights and remedies
shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other rights and remedies
available to the Company under law or in equity.

         5.4 If any of the covenants contained in Sections 5.1 or 5.2, or any
part thereof, hereafter are construed to be invalid or unenforceable, the same
shall not affect the remainder of the covenant or covenants, which shall be
given full effect, without regard to the invalid portions.

         5.5 If any of the covenants contained in Sections 5.1 or 5.2, or any
part thereof, are held to be unenforceable because of the duration of such
provision or the area covered thereby, the parties agree that the court making
such determination shall have the power to

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reduce the duration and/or area of such provision and in its reduced form, said
provision shall then be enforceable.

         5.6 The parties hereto intend to and hereby confer jurisdiction to
enforce the covenants contained in Sections 5.1 and 5.2 upon the courts of any
state within the geographical scope of such covenants. In the event that the
courts of any one or more of such states shall hold such covenants wholly
unenforceable by reason of the breadth of such covenants or otherwise, it is
the intention of the parties hereto that such determination not bar or in any
way affect the Company's right to the relief provided above in the courts of
any other states within the geographical scope of such covenants as to breaches
of such covenants in such other respective jurisdictions, the above covenants
as they relate to each state being for this purpose severable into diverse and
independent covenants.

         5.7 In the event that any action, suit or other proceeding in law or
in equity is brought to enforce the covenants contained in sections 5.1 and 5.2
or to obtain money damages for the breach thereof and such action results in
the award of a judgment for money damages or in the granting of any injunction
in favor of the Company, all expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) of
the Company in such action, suit or other proceeding shall (on demand of the
Company) be paid by the Executive. In the event the Company fails to obtain
a judgment for money damages or an injunction in favor of the Company, all
expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) of the Executive in such
action, suit or other proceeding shall (on demand of the Executive) be paid by
the Company.

      6.     Inventions and Patents.

             6.1 The Executive agrees that all processes, technologies and
inventions (collectively, "Inventions"), including new contributions,
improvements, ideas and discoveries, whether patentable or not, conceived,
developed, invented or made by him during the Term shall belong to the Company,
provided that such Inventions grew out of the Executive's work with the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, are related in any manner to the
business (commercial or experimental) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or affiliates or are conceived or made on the Company's time or with the use of
the Company's facilities or materials. The Executive shall further: (a)
promptly disclose such Inventions to the Company; (b) assign to the Company,
without additional compensation, all patent and other rights to such Inventions
for the United States and foreign countries; (c) sign all papers necessary to
carry out the foregoing; and (d) give testimony in support of the Executive's
inventorship.

             6.2 If any Invention is described in a patent application or is
disclosed to third parties, directly or indirectly, by the Executive within two
years after the termination of the Executive's employment by the Company, it is
to be presumed that the Invention was conceived or made during the Term.


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             6.3 The Executive agrees that the Executive will not assert any
rights to any Invention as having been made or acquired by the Executive prior
to the date of this Agreement, except for Inventions, if any, disclosed to the
company in writing prior to the date hereof.

      7. Intellectual Property.

                  The Company shall be the sole owner of all the products and
proceeds of the Executive's services hereunder, including, but not limited to,
all materials, ideas, concepts, formats, suggestions, developments,
arrangements, packages, programs and other intellectual properties that the
Executive may acquire, obtain, develop or create in connection with and during
the Term, free and clear of any claims by the Executive (or anyone claiming
under the Executive) of any kind or character whatsoever (other than the
Executive's right to receive payments hereunder). The Executive shall, at the
request of the Company, execute such assignments, certificates or other
instruments as the Company may from time to time deem necessary or desirable to
evidence, establish, maintain, perfect, protect, enforce or defend its right,
title or interest in or to any such properties.

      8. Indemnification.

                  The Company will indemnify the Executive, to the maximum
extent permitted by applicable law, against all costs, charges and expenses
incurred or sustained by the Executive in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding to which the Executive may be made a party by reason of the
Executive being an officer, director or employee of the Company or of any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company.

      9. Notices.

                  All notices, requests, consents and other communications
required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally, sent by overnight
courier or mailed first class, postage prepaid, by registered or certified mail
(notices mailed shall be deemed to have been given on the date mailed), as
follows (or to such other address as either party shall designate by notice in
writing to the other in accordance herewith):

             If to the Company, to:


                   California Federal Bank, A Federal Savings Bank
                   200 Crescent Court; Suite 1350
                   Dallas, Texas 75201
                   Attention: Gerald J. Ford




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             with a copy to:

                   MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc.
                   35 East 62nd Street
                   New York, New York 10021
                   Attention: General Counsel


             If to the Executive, to:

                   Lacy G. Newman
                   c/o California Federal Bank,
                   A Federal Savings Bank
                   135 Main Street; 20th Floor
                   San Francisco, California 94105


      10. General.

             10.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed entirely in New York.

             10.2 The section headings contained herein are for reference
purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.

             10.3 This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements and understandings, written or
oral, relating to the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to,
that employment agreement between the Executive and the Company dated February
1, 1995. No representation, promise or inducement has been made by either party
that is not embodied in this Agreement, and neither party shall be bound by or
liable for any alleged representation promise or inducement not so set forth.

             10.4 This Agreement, and the Executive's rights and obligations
hereunder, may not be assigned by the Executive. The Company may assign its
rights, together with its obligations, hereunder (i) to any affiliate which has
the financial resources to meet the Company's obligations hereunder or (ii) to
third parties in connection with any sale, transfer or other disposition of all
or substantially all of its business or assets; in any event the obligations of
the Company hereunder shall be binding on its successors or assigns, whether by
merger, consolidation or acquisition of all or substantially all of its
business or assets.



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             10.5 This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded,
canceled, renewed or extended and the terms or covenants hereof may be waived,
only by a written instrument executed by both of the parties hereto, or in the
case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance. The failure of either party
at any time or times to require performance of any provision hereof shall in no
manner affect the right at a later time to enforce the same. No waiver by
either party of the breach of any term or covenant contained in this Agreement,
whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall be deemed
to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a
waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained in this Agreement.

      11.    Subsidiaries and Affiliates.


             11.1 As used herein, the term "subsidiary" shall mean any
corporation or other business entity controlled directly or indirectly by the
corporation or other business entity in question, and the term "affiliate"
shall mean and include any corporation or other business entity directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
corporation or other business entity in question.

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


                                      CALIFORNIA FEDERAL BANK, A
                                      Federal Savings Bank



                                      By: /s/ Gerald J. Ford
                                         ----------------------------------
                                          Gerald J. Ford
                                          Chairman of the Board


                                          /s/ Lacy G. Newman
                                         ----------------------------------
                                          Lacy G. Newman














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                                   APPENDIX I

Additional Benefits:

             1. Medical Examination. The Executive shall be reimbursed by the
Company for the reasonable cost of one annual medical examination upon
presentation of an expense statement.

             2. Automobile. The Company shall afford the Executive the right to
use an automobile on a continuing basis and shall provide garaging near the
Executive's office, all on the following basis. The Company shall pay, upon
presentation of an expense statement, all reasonable expenses associated with
the operation of such automobile and the rental of such garage space in the
same manner as is, from time to time, in effect with respect to executive
officers of the Company generally, including, without limitation, all
reasonable maintenance and insurance expenses. The automobile furnished by the
Company shall be a late model top-of-the-line luxury automobile to be
reasonably selected by the Executive. Upon the expiration of the Term, the
Executive promptly shall return the automobile to the Company.

             3. Insurance. The Company agrees to provide the Executive with
additional term life insurance coverage with a face amount of two (2) times the
then current Base Salary, on the following basis. The Executive may select a
plan of his choice and may designate the beneficiary of such plan. The Company
shall pay, upon presentation of an expense statement, the periodic premiums
relating to such additional term life insurance payable during the Term.

             4. Club Membership. The company shall reimburse the Executive,
upon presentation of an expense statement, for all reasonable initiation fees
and periodic dues for membership in a golf or social club of the Executive's
choice.

             S. Disability. If the Company elects to terminate the Term
pursuant to Section 4.2 of the Agreement, in addition to the amounts payable
under such Section, for the shorter of the period the Executive remains
disabled or until the Executive has attained the age of 65, the Company shall
continue to provide benefits for the Executive under the corporate group life
insurance plan and for the Executive, his spouse and children under the
corporate group medical (including the executive medical plan) insurance plan,
to the extent permitted by such plans and to the extent such benefits continue
to be provided to the Company's employees or officers, as applicable,
generally.

             6. Management Incentive Plan. The Executive shall be eligible to
participate in the First Nationwide Holdings Inc. Management Incentive Plan.
Participation shall be subject to the terms of the Plan. In the event that the
Term of the Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 4.4 hereof, the
Executive's interest in such plan shall become fully vested.


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