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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1


                     EXECUTIVE SALARY CONTINUATION AGREEMENT


       THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this 28th day of December, 1988, by
and between Borel Bank & Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of the State of California (hereinafter called "the
Corporation"), and Harold A. Fick (hereinafter called "the Executive").

                                   WITNESSETH:

       WHEREAS, the Executive is in the employ of the Corporation, serving as
its President; and

       WHEREAS, the experience, knowledge of the affairs of the Corporation, and
reputation and contacts in the industry of the Executive are so valuable that
assurance of the Executive's continued service is essential for the future
growth and profits of the Corporation, and it is in the best interest of the
Corporation to arrange terms of continued employment for the Executive so as to
reasonably assure the Executive's remaining in the Corporation's employment
during the Executive's lifetime or until the age of retirement; and

       WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Corporation that the Executive's
services be retained as herein provided; and

       WHEREAS, the Executive is willing to continue in the employ of the
Corporation provided the Corporation agrees to pay to the Executive or the
Executive's beneficiaries certain benefits in accordance with the terms and
conditions hereinafter set forth;

       NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the services to be performed in the
future, as well as the mutual promises and covenants herein contained, it is
agreed as follows:

                                   ARTICLE 1

       1.1. BENEFICIARY - The term "Beneficiary" shall mean the person or
persons whom the Executive shall designate in a valid Beneficiary Designation
Notice to receive the benefits provided hereunder.

            A Beneficiary Designation Notice shall be valid only if: (1) it is
in the form attached hereto and made a part hereof; and, (2) it is received by
the named Fiduciary and Plan Administrator prior to the Executive's death.

       1.2. CHANGE OF CONTROL - The term change of control shall mean:

            (a) any merger or consolidation of the corporation in which the
       Corporation is not the surviving corporation; or

            (b) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other
       disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any
       assets of the Corporation having an aggregate Fair Market Value of fifty
       percent (50%) of the total value of the assets of the Corporation and its
       consolidated subsidiaries reflected in the most recent balance sheet of
       the Corporation; or

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            (c) any person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2)
       of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes a beneficial owner,
       directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing
       twenty-five per cent (25%) of the combined voting power of the
       Corporation's then outstanding securities.

       1.3. DISABILITY - The term "disability" shall mean the complete and total
inability, due to illness or injury, of the Executive to perform his or her
duties as an Executive Officer of the Corporation and the continued complete and
total inability to perform such duties. Such disability shall be determined by
an independent physician in the event of physical disability or by an
independent psychiatrist in the event of mental disability selected with the
approval of the Corporation and the Executive.

       1.4. NAMED FIDUCIARY AND PLAN ADMINISTRATOR - The Named Fiduciary and
Plan Administrator of this plan shall be the Corporation.

       1.5. PLAN YEAR - The term "Plan Year" shall mean the Corporation's fiscal
year.

       1.6. SURVIVING SPOUSE - The term "surviving spouse" shall mean the person
(if any) who shall be legally married to the Executive on the date of the
Executive's death.

       1.7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE - The term "termination for cause" shall mean
termination of the employment of the Executive by reason of any of the
following:

            (a) The Executive's willful breach of duty in the course of
       employment, unless waived by the Corporation;

            (b) Dishonest or illegal conduct of the Executive; or,

            (c) The habitual neglect by the Executive of the Executive's
       employment duties, unless waived by the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE 2

       2.1. EMPLOYMENT - The Corporation agrees to employ the Executive in such
capacity as the Corporation may from time to time determine. The Executive shall
continue in the employ of the Corporation in such capacity and with such duties
and compensation as may be determined from time to time by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.

       2.2. FULL EFFORTS - The Executive agrees to devote his or her full time
and attention exclusively to the business and affairs of the Corporation, except
during vacation periods, and to use his or her best efforts to furnish faithful
and satisfactory services to the Corporation.

       2.3. FRINGE BENEFIT - The salary continuation benefits provided by this
Agreement are granted by the Corporation as a fringe benefit to the Executive
and are not part of any salary reduction plan or any arrangement deferring a
bonus or a salary increase. The Executive has no option to take any current
payment of bonus in lieu of these salary continuation benefits.

                                   ARTICLE 3

       3.1. RETIREMENT - If the Executive shall continue in the employment of
the Corporation at least until attaining the age of Sixty (60), the Executive
may retire from active daily employment as of the first

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day of the month following attainment of age Sixty (60), or upon such later date
as may be mutually agreed upon by the Executive and the Corporation. In any
event, however, the Executive may continue to work after the age of Sixty (60).

       3.2. PAYMENT - The Corporation agrees that upon such retirement it will
pay to the Executive the annual sum of Seven-five Thousand Dollars ($75.000.00),
payable monthly on the first day of each month following such retirement for a
period of one hundred fifty-six (156) months, subject to the conditions and
limitations hereinafter set forth. The Seventy-five Thousand Dollars
($75,000.00) annual payment amount may be adjusted as of the first year in which
it is to be paid, to reflect changes in the federally determined cost-of-living
index (U.S. Dept. of Labor BLS CPI) and may be adjusted annually for each
payment year thereafter to reflect further changes in said federally determined
cost of living index, using the date of retirement as a baseline. However, the
Corporation is not obligated hereunder to make any such adjustment.

       3.3. DEATH AFTER RETIREMENT - The Corporation agrees that if the
Executive shall so retire, but shall die before receiving the full amount of
monthly payments to which he is entitled hereunder, it will continue to make
such monthly payments to the Executive's designated Beneficiary for the
remaining period. If a valid Beneficiary Designation is not in effect, the
payments shall be made to the executive's surviving spouse or, if none, said
payments shall be made to the duly qualified personal representative, executor
or administrator of the Executive's estate.

                                   ARTICLE 4

       4.1. DEATH PRIOR TO RETIREMENT - In the event the Executive should die
while actively employed by the Corporation at any time after the date of this
Agreement, but prior to attaining the age of Sixty (60) years, or if the
Executive chooses to work after the age of Sixty (60), but dies before
retirement, the Corporation will pay the annual sum of Seventy-five Thousand
Dollars ($75,000.00) per year to the Executive's designated Beneficiary in equal
monthly installments for a period of one hundred and fifty-six (156) months. If
a valid Beneficiary Designation is not in effect, the payments shall be made to
the Executive's surviving spouse at the time of death, or, if none, said
payments shall be made to the duly qualified personal representative, executor
or administrator of the Executive's estate. The said monthly payments shall
begin the first day of the month following the month of the decease of the
Executive. Provided, however, that anything hereinabove to the contrary
notwithstanding, no death benefit shall be payable hereunder if it is determined
that the Executive's death was caused by suicide on or before December 30, 1990.

       4.2. DISABILITY PRIOR TO HIS RETIREMENT - In the event the Executive
becomes disabled while actively employed by the Corporation at any time after
the date of this Agreement, but prior to attaining the age of Sixty (60) years
the Executive will be considered to be one hundred percent (100%) vested in the
amount set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Said
amount, at the election of the Executive, shall be paid to the Executive in a
lump sum within three (3) months of the determination of disability, or may be
paid in equal monthly installments over a period not to exceed one hundred and
fifty-six (156) months, or such shorter period as is mutually agreed upon by the
Corporation and the Executive. Said payment shall be in lieu of any other
retirement or death benefit under this Agreement.

       If the Executive elects to work beyond the age of Sixty (60) and becomes
disabled prior to retirement, the Executive will be considered to have retired
as defined in Section 3.1 of this Agreement and will be entitled to the benefits
provided by Article 3 of this Agreement.

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                                   ARTICLE 5

       5.1. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT - The Corporation reserves the right to
terminate employment of the Executive at any time prior to retirement. In the
event that the employment of the Executive shall be terminated prior to the
Executive's attaining the later of age Sixty (60) or the date of termination,
other than by reason of disability or death, then this Agreement shall terminate
upon the date of such termination of employment; provided, however, that the
Executive shall be entitled to the following benefits under the following
circumstances:

            (1) TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE. If the Executive has been employed by
       the Corporation for a period of at least three (3) continuous years, and
       the Executive's employment is terminated by the Corporation without
       cause, the Executive will be considered to be vested in twenty (20%) of
       the amount set forth in Schedule A attached hereto and made a part
       hereof, and shall become vested in an additional ten percent (10%) of
       said amount for each succeeding year thereafter until he becomes one
       hundred (100%) vested. If the Executive's employment is terminated under
       the provisions of this Section 5.1, the Corporation will pay the
       Executive's vested amount upon such terms and conditions and commencing
       at such time as the Corporation shall determine, but in no event
       commencing later than age Sixty (60).

            (2) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION BY THE EXECUTIVE. It is understood by the
       Executive that the purpose of this Agreement is to assure the Executive's
       continued employment with the Corporation. If the Executive voluntarily
       terminates his or her employment with the Corporation, then the Executive
       shall be entitled to no benefits under this Agreement and no amount shall
       be paid to the Executive under this Agreement.

            (3) TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If the Executive is terminated for cause
       as defined herein, then the Executive shall be entitled to no benefits
       under this Agreement and no amount shall be paid to the Executive under
       this Agreement.

            (4) TERMINATION UPON CHANGE OF CONTROL. (a) Anything hereinabove to
       the contrary notwithstanding, if the Executive is not fully vested in the
       amount set forth in Schedule A, he will become fully vested in said
       amount in the event of a transfer in the controlling ownership or sale of
       the Corporation or its parent Corporation, and shall be entitled to the
       full amount set forth in Schedule A, upon the terms and conditions
       hereof, if termination of employment thereafter occurs under this Section
       5.1 as a result of such change of control.

                   (a) In the event that any payment or benefit received or to
            be received by the Executive in connection with a change in control
            of the Corporation or the termination of the Executive's employment
            (whether payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any
            other plan, arrangement or agreement with the Corporation, any
            person whose actions result in a change in control of the
            Corporation or any person affiliated with the Corporation or such
            person (together with the Severance Payment, the "Total Payments"))
            would not be deductible (in whole or in part) as a result of Section
            280G of the Internal Code

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            of 1954, as amended (the "Code"), the Severance Payment shall be
            reduced until no portion of the Total Payments is not deductible as
            a result of section 280G of the Code, or the Severance Payment is
            reduced to zero. For purposes of this limitation (i) no portion of
            the Total Payments, the receipt or enjoyment of which the Executive
            shall have effectively waived in writing prior to the date of
            payment of the Severance Payment, shall be taken into account; (ii)
            no portion of the Total Payments shall be taken into account which,
            in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Corporation's
            independent auditors and acceptable to the Executive, does not
            constitute a "parachute payment" within the meaning of section
            280G(b)(2) of the Code; (iii) the Severance Payment shall be reduced
            only to the extent necessary so that the Total Payments (other than
            those referred to in clause (i) or clause (ii)) in their entirety
            constitute reasonable compensation for services actually rendered
            within the meaning of section 280G(b)(4) of the Code, in the opinion
            of the tax counsel referred to in clause (ii); and (iv) the value of
            any non-cash benefit or any deferred payment or benefit included in
            the Total Payments shall be determined by the Corporation's
            independent auditors in accordance with the principles of sections
            280G(d)(3) and (4) of the Code.

                                   ARTICLE 6

       6.1. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT BY REASON OF CHANGES IN LAW - The
Corporation is entering into this Agreement upon the assumption that certain
existing tax laws will continue in effect in substantially their current form.
In the event of any changes in such federal laws, the Corporation shall have an
option to terminate or modify this Agreement, provided, however, that the
Executive shall be entitled to at least the same amount as he would have been
entitled to under Section 4.2 relating to disability. The payment of said amount
shall be made upon such terms and conditions and at such time as the Corporation
shall determine, but in no event commencing later than age Sixty (60) or the
date of termination.

                                   ARTICLE 7

       7.1. NONASSIGNABLE - Neither the Executive, nor the Executive's spouse,
nor any other Beneficiary under this Agreement shall have any power or right to
transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate, mortgage, commute, modify, or
otherwise encumber in advance any of the benefits payable hereunder, nor shall
any of said benefits be subject to seizure for the payment of any debts,
judgments, alimony or separate maintenance owned by the Executive or the
Executive's Beneficiary, or any of them, or be transferable by operation of law
in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency, or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE 8

       8.1. CLAIMS PROCEDURE - The Corporation shall make all determinations as
to rights to benefits under this Agreement. Any decision by the Corporation
denying a claim by the Executive or the Executive's Beneficiary for benefits
under this Agreement shall be stated in writing and delivered or mailed to the
Executive or such Beneficiary. Such decision shall set forth the specific
reasons for the denial, written to the best of the Corporation's ability, in a
manner calculated to be understood without

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legal or actuarial counsel. In addition, the Corporation shall provide a
reasonable opportunity to the Executive or such Beneficiary for full and fair
review of the decision denying such claim.

                                   ARTICLE 9

       9.1. UNSECURED GENERAL CREDITOR - The Executive and the Executive's
Beneficiary shall have no legal or equitable rights, interests, or claims in or
to any property or assets of the Corporation. No assets of the Corporation shall
be held under any trust for the benefit of the Executive or his Beneficiaries,
or held in any way as security for the fulfillment of the obligations of the
Corporation under this Plan. All of the Corporation's assets shall be, and
remain, the general, unpledged, unrestricted assets of the Corporation. The
Corporation's obligation under this Plan shall be that of an unfunded and
unsecured promise by the Corporation to pay money in the future. Executives and
their Beneficiaries shall be unsecured general creditors with respect to any
benefits hereunder.

                                   ARTICLE 10

       10.1. REORGANIZATION - The Corporation shall not merge or consolidate
into or with another corporation, or reorganize, or sell substantially all of
its assets to another corporation, firm, or person, unless and until such
succeeding or continuing corporation, firm, or person agrees to assume and
discharge the obligations of the Corporation under this Agreement. Upon the
occurrence of such event, the term "Corporation," as used in this Agreement,
shall be deemed to refer to such successor or survivor corporation.

                                   ARTICLE 11

       11.1. BENEFITS AND BURDENS - This Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure to the benefit of the Executive and the Executive's personal
representatives, and the Corporation and any successor organization which shall
succeed to substantially all of its assets and business.

                                   ARTICLE 12

       12.1. NOT A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT - This Agreement shall not be deemed
to constitute a contract of employment between the parties hereto, nor shall any
provision hereof restrict the right of the Corporation to discharge the
Executive, or restrict the right of the Executive to terminate his employment.

       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Agreement to be duly
executed by its proper officer, and the Executive has hereunto set his hand at
San Mateo, California, the day and year first above written.

                                         BOREL BANK & TRUST COMPANY



                                         By:  /S/ RONALD G. FICK
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Its: Vice President and
                                                 Senior Trust Officer



                                          EXECUTIVE

                                             /S/ HAROLD A. FICK
                                            ------------------------------------

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                                 HAROLD A. FICK

                                   SCHEDULE A


                                         AMOUNT IN WHICH
     PLAN YEAR                            VESTING OCCURS
     ---------                            --------------
         1                                    28,644
         2                                    60,287
         3                                    95,244
         4                                   133,862
         5                                   176,523
         6                                   223,651
         7                                   275,714
         8                                   333,229
         9                                   396,766
        10                                   466,957
        11                                   544,497




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                           DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY



       Pursuant to the terms of a Salary Continuation Agreement, dated December
28, 1988, between myself and the Borel Bank & Trust Company, I hereby designate
the following beneficiary (ies) to receive any payments which may be due under
such Agreement after my death:



Primary Beneficiary                 NANCY A. FICK
                   -------------------------------------------------------------

Secondary Beneficiary(ies)    TRUST UNDER THE WILL OF HAROLD A. FICK
                          ------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

       The Primary Beneficiary named above shall be designated beneficiary
referred to in Articles 1.1, 3.3 and 4.1 of said Agreement if he or she is
living at the time a death benefit payment thereunder becomes due and payable,
and the Secondary Beneficiary named above shall be designated beneficiary
referred to in Articles 1.1, 3.3 and 4.1 of said Agreement only if he or she is
living at the time a death benefit payment becomes payable and the Primary
Beneficiary is not then living.

       This designation hereby revokes any prior designation which may have been
in effect.

                                         Date: DECEMBER 28, 1988

       /S/ AIDA B. LISS                        /S/ HAROLD A. FICK
       ------------------                      -------------------------------
       Witness                                 Executive


       Acknowledged By:                        /S/ RONALD G. FICK
                                               -------------------------------


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