EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


         THIS AGREEMENT  ("Agreement")  is made and entered into effective as of
the 27th day of September,  1999 (the "Effective Date"), by and among HARTSVILLE
COMMUNITY  BANK,  National   Association  (the  "Bank");  and  Curtis  A.  Tyner
("Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS,  as of the Effective Date, the Bank commenced  operations as a
national bank chartered  under the provisions of the National Bank Act, with its
deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance  Corporation,  pursuant to the
provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act;

         WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Bank considers the establishment
and  maintenance of highly  competent and skilled  management  personnel for the
Bank to be essential to  protecting  and enhancing  its best  interests,  and is
desirous of inducing  Executive  to become and remain in the employ of the Bank,
subject to the terms and conditions hereof;

         WHEREAS, Executive is desirous of becoming employed by and remaining in
the employ of Bank, subject to the terms and conditions hereof; and

         WHEREAS,  the parties agree that the provisions of this Agreement shall
control with respect to the rights and obligations of the parties resulting from
the employment of Executive by the Bank;

         NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained,  and other good and  valuable  consideration,  the  receipt and legal
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto do hereby agree
as follows:

     1.  Definitions.  The following terms used in this Agreement shall have the
following meanings:

          a.  "Base  Salary"  shall  mean  the  annual  compensation  (excluding
     Incentive  Compensation  as  defined  in (e) of this  paragraph  and  other
     benefits)  payable or paid to Executive  pursuant to paragraph 4(a) of this
     Agreement.

          b. "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:

               i. Upon the  consummation  of any transaction in which any person
          (or persons acting in concert),  partnership,  financial  institution,
          corporation,  or other organization  shall own, control,  or hold with
          the power to vote more than fifty percent (50%) of any class of voting
          securities of the Bank;

               ii. Upon the  consummation  of any transaction in which the Bank,
          or  substantially  all of the  assets  of the  Bank,  shall be sold or
          transferred  to, or  consolidated  or merged with,  another  financial
          institution,  corporation or other organization; provided, however, if
          the  Bank  shall  become  a  subsidiary  of a  bank  holding  company,
          corporation, or other organization, or shall be merged or consolidated
          into another financial institution, corporation, or other organization
          and a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting  shares of the  parent or
          surviving  corporation are owned  immediately  after such acquisition,
          merger,   or  consolidation  by  the  owners  of  a  majority  of  the
          outstanding  shares of the Bank immediately  before such  acquisition,
          merger, or consolidation, then no Change of Control shall be deemed to
          have occurred.



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          c.  "Disability"  shall mean a condition for which  benefits  would be
     payable under any long-term  disability  insurance coverage (without regard
     to the application of any elimination period  requirement) then provided to
     Executive  by Bank,  or, if no such  coverage is then being  provided,  the
     inability  of  Executive  to perform the  material  aspects of  Executive's
     duties  under  this  Agreement  for  a  period  of  at  least  ninety  (90)
     consecutive days, as determined by an independent  physician  selected with
     the approval of Bank and Executive.

          d. "Event of  Termination"  shall mean the  termination by the Bank of
     Executive's  employment under this Agreement by written notice delivered to
     Executive for any reason other than Termination for Cause as defined in (g)
     of  this  paragraph  or  termination   following  a  continuous  period  of
     disability exceeding twelve (12) calendar months pursuant to paragraph 6(a)
     of this Agreement.

          e. "Incentive  Compensation"  shall mean that compensation  payable or
     paid to Executive pursuant to paragraph 4(b) of this Agreement.

          f.  "Severance  Amount"  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as the  term
     "parachute  payment" defined in Section  280G(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue
     Code (as amended) and the  regulations  and rulings  thereunder and, to the
     extent included in such definition, shall include all payments to Executive
     in the nature of compensation which are contingent on a change in ownership
     or  effective  control  of the Bank or in the  ownership  of a  substantial
     portion of the assets of the Bank, including the accelerated vesting of any
     stock options granted to Executive.

          g.  "Termination  for  Cause"  shall  have  the  meaning  provided  in
     paragraph 7(a) of this Agreement.

     2. Employment. The Bank agrees to employ Executive, and Executive agrees to
accept such  employment,  as President and Chief Executive  Officer of the Bank,
for the period  stated in  paragraph  3(a)  hereof and upon the other  terms and
conditions herein provided. Executive agrees to perform faithfully such services
as are  reasonably  consistent  with his position and shall from time to time be
assigned  to him by the  Board of  Directors  of the Bank in a  trustworthy  and
businesslike  manner for the purpose of advancing the interests of the Bank. The
Board of  Directors  of the Bank may also from time to time  change  Executive's
position or alter his duties and  responsibilities  and assign a new position or
new  duties  and  responsibilities  that are  similar  in scope  and  nature  to
Executive's existing position,  duties and responsibilities without invalidating
this  Agreement  or  effecting  the  termination  of  Executive.  At all  times,
Executive  shall manage and conduct the business of the Bank in accordance  with
the  policies  established  by  the  Board  of  Directors  of the  Bank,  and in
compliance  with  applicable  regulations  promulgated  by governing  regulatory
agencies.  Responsibility  for the  supervision of Executive shall rest with the
Board of Directors of the Bank,  which shall review  Executive's  performance at
least annually. The Board of Directors of the Bank shall also have the authority
to terminate Executive, subject to the provisions outlined in paragraphs 6 and 7
of this Agreement.

     3. Term and Duties.

          a. Term of  Employment.  This  Agreement and the period of Executive's
     employment under this Agreement shall be deemed to have commenced as of the
     Effective  Date and shall  continue  for a period of  thirty-six  (36) full
     calendar  months  thereafter,  unless earlier  terminated  pursuant to this
     Agreement or unless  Executive dies before the end of such  thirty-six (36)
     months,  in which case the period of employment shall be deemed to continue
     until  the end of the  month  of such  death.  On each  anniversary  of the
     Effective Date, this Agreement and Executive's  term of employment shall be
     extended for an additional  twelve (12) month period,  unless  Executive on
     the one hand, or the Bank on the other hand,  shall give written  notice to
     the  other,  within  the sixty  (60)-day  period  immediately  prior to the
     applicable  anniversary of the Effective  Date,  that  Executive's  term of
     employment hereunder shall not be extended.



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<PAGE>

          b. Performance of Duties.  During the period of employment  hereunder,
     except for periods of illness, disability, reasonable vacation periods, and
     reasonable leaves of absence,  Executive shall devote  substantially all of
     his  business  time,   attention,   skill,  and  efforts  to  the  faithful
     performance  of his  duties  hereunder.  Executive  shall  be  entitled  to
     reasonable  participation  as a member  in  community,  civic,  or  similar
     organizations and the pursuit of personal  investments which do not present
     any material conflict of interest with the Bank, or unfavorably  affect the
     performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement

          c. Office of  Executive.  The office of Executive  shall be located at
     the Bank's office in Hartsville,  South Carolina, or at such other location
     within  the  State of  South  Carolina  as the  Bank may from  time to time
     designate;  provided,  however, that, in the event such relocation is to an
     office more than thirty-five  (35) miles from  Hartsville,  South Carolina,
     and  Executive  elects  to move his  principal  residence,  the Bank  shall
     reimburse Executive for all his reasonable moving expenses.

          d. No Other Agreement.  Executive shall have no employment contract or
     other written or oral agreement  concerning  employment  with any entity or
     person  other than the Bank  during the term of his  employment  under this
     Agreement.

          e. Uniqueness of Executive's  Services.  Executive  hereby  represents
     that the services to be performed by him under the terms of this  Agreement
     are  of  a  special,  unique,  unusual,  extraordinary,   and  intellectual
     character  which gives them a peculiar  value,  the loss of which cannot be
     reasonably  or  adequately  compensated  in damages or in an action at law.
     Accordingly,  Executive  expressly agrees that the Bank, in addition to any
     rights  or  remedies  which  the Bank may  possess,  shall be  entitled  to
     injunctive  and  other  equitable  relief  to  prevent  the  breach of this
     Agreement by Executive.

          f. Life  Insurance  Policy on  Executive.  The Bank  shall  obtain and
     maintain, as owner and beneficiary, a life insurance policy on Executive in
     the  face  amount  of  $1,000,000.00.   Executive  agrees  to  perform  all
     reasonable  and necessary  actions  requested of him, by either the Bank or
     the insurance company selected by the Bank, to assist the Bank in obtaining
     this life insurance policy.

     4. Compensation.

          a. Salary. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 6 and 7 hereof, the
     Bank shall pay  Executive,  as  compensation  for serving as President  and
     Chief Executive  Officer of the Bank, an initial Base Salary of $l00,000.00
     such initial Base Salary, or any increased Base Salary, shall be payable in
     substantially  equal  installments in accordance with the Bank's normal pay
     practices,  but not less frequently than monthly.  Executive's  Base Salary
     and any Incentive  Compensation (as defined in paragraph 4(b) hereof) shall
     be reviewed and approved at least annually by the Board of Directors of the
     Bank,  or any committee  designated  thereby.  Said Board or committee,  if
     warranted  in its  discretion,  may  increase  Executive's  Base  Salary to
     reflect  Executive's  performance.  In  addition to the  foregoing,  to the
     extent that  Executive  serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the
     Bank,   Executive   shall  be  entitled  to  receive  any  Directors'  fees
     customarily paid to members of the Board of Directors.

          b.  Incentive  Compensation.  During the term of this Agreement and in
     addition to the aforesaid Base Salary,  Executive shall be entitled to such
     additional  Incentive  Compensation as may be awarded from time to time, in
     its  discretion,  by the Board of  Directors  of the Bank or any  committee
     designated  thereby.  It is  contemplated  that Executive will be awarded a
     target bonus in an amount not to exceed  twenty-five  percent  (25%) of his
     then  current Base Salary upon the  attainment,  in the  discretion  of the
     Board of Directors of the Bank or any committee(s)  designated  thereby, of
     Executive's  individual  performance goals and certain specified  corporate
     objectives.  It is provided,  however, that Executive shall not be entitled
     to receive  any such  target  bonus  unless and until all of the  following
     conditions  are  satisfied:  (i) the Bank  shall have  achieved  cumulative
     profitability,  unless the condition is waived by the Board of Directors of
     the Bank; (ii) the Bank's Composite  Uniform Financial  Institution  Rating
     shall  be  either  a "1" or a "2";  and  (iii)  the  Bank  shall  be  "well


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     capitalized" as defined under capital adequacy  regulations  promulgated by
     the Office of the  Comptroller  of the Currency.  Notwithstanding  anything
     contained in this  Agreement to the contrary,  any increase to  Executive's
     Base Salary and any Incentive  Compensation  paid to Executive shall be (i)
     in  compliance  with  regulations,  pronouncements,  directives,  or orders
     issued or  promulgated  by any  governing  regulatory  agency  and with any
     agreements  by and  between  the Bank and such  regulatory  agencies,  (ii)
     consistent  with the safe and sound  operation of the Bank,  (iii)  closely
     monitored  by the Board of Directors of the Bank,  and (iv)  comparable  to
     such compensation paid to persons of similar responsibilities and duties in
     other insured institutions of similar size, in similar locations, and under
     similar circumstances including financial condition and profitability.

          c.  Reimbursement  of  Expenses.  The  Bank  shall  pay  or  reimburse
     Executive  for  all  reasonable  travel  and  other  expenses  incurred  by
     Executive  in the  performance  of his  obligations  and duties  under this
     Agreement, as provided in the applicable policies of the Bank, as currently
     adopted or as may be adopted in the future by the Board of Directors of the
     Bank. In addition, in connection with Executive's relocation to Hartsville,
     South  Carolina,  the Bank shall  reimburse  Executive  for all  reasonable
     moving  expenses  actually  incurred  by  Executive  up  to  $9,000.00.  In
     addition,  on the Effective Date of this  Agreement,  the Bank shall pay to
     Executive the sum of $5,000.00 to offset,  inter alia,  certain  retirement
     benefits forfeited as a result of his change in employment.

          d.  Provision for Business  Development  Expenses.  In addition to the
     foregoing,  the Bank  believes that its best  interests  will be more fully
     served if Executive  maintains  active  membership in or joins  appropriate
     business or social clubs and other professional associations.  Accordingly,
     the Bank shall also reimburse  Executive for the dues and business  related
     expenditures  associated  with such  appropriate  business or other  social
     clubs  and  professional  associations  which  are  commensurate  with  his
     position and approved by the Board of Directors of the Bank.

          e. Provision of Automobile.  The Bank shall,  on the Effective Date of
     this Agreement, provide, for Executive's use, an automobile appropriate for
     Executive's title and position.  The Bank shall also provide  reimbursement
     relating to the operation and maintenance of any automobile provided by the
     Bank and shall maintain automobile liability insurance to protect Executive
     and/or the Bank, as their respective  interests may appear,  against claims
     arising out of the use of said  automobile  (or any other motor vehicle) in
     the course of Executive's employment hereunder.

     5. Participation in Benefit Plans.

          a. Incentive,  Savings,  and Retirement Plans. During the term of this
     Agreement,  Executive  shall be entitled to  participate  in all incentive,
     stock  option  or  warrant,   savings,  and  retirement  plans,  practices,
     policies, and programs applicable generally to senior executive officers of
     the Bank, on the same basis as such other senior executive  officers,  and,
     unless otherwise  prohibited by the terms of such incentive stock operation
     or warrant, savings, and retirement plans.

          b. Welfare Benefit Plans. During the term of this Agreement, Executive
     and/or  Executive's  family,  as the case may be,  shall  be  eligible  for
     participation  in and shall  receive all  benefits  under  welfare  benefit
     plans, practices, policies and programs provided by the Bank, to the extent
     applicable generally to senior executive officers of the Bank.

          c. Fringe Benefits. During the term of this Agreement, Executive shall
     be entitled to receive  fringe  benefits in  accordance  with the policies,
     practices and procedures of the Bank, to the extent applicable generally to
     other senior executive officers of the Bank.

     6. Benefits Payable Upon Disability.

          a. Disability  Benefits.  In the event of the Disability of Executive,
     the Bank shall continue to pay Executive  100% of Executive's  then current
     Base Salary  pursuant to paragraph 4(a) during the first twelve (12) months
     of a continuous period of disability. It is provided,  however, that in the
     event Executive is disabled for a continuous  period  exceeding twelve (12)
     months, the Bank may, at its election,  terminate this Agreement,  in which
     event payment of Executive's Base Salary shall cease.

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          b. Disability Benefit Offset. Any amounts payable under paragraph 6(a)
     hereof shall be reduced by any amounts  paid to  Executive  under any other
     disability program or policy of insurance maintained by the Bank.

     7.  Payments to Executive  Upon  Termination  of  Employment.  The Board of
Directors of the Bank may terminate Executive's  employment under this Agreement
at any time;  but any  termination  other than  Termination  for Cause shall not
prejudice  Executive's  right to  compensation  or  other  benefits  under  this
Agreement.  Executive  may  voluntarily  terminate  his  employment  under  this
Agreement.  The rights and obligations of the Bank and Executive in the event of
such termination are set forth in this paragraph 7 as follows:

          a.   Termination   for  Cause.   Executive  shall  have  no  right  to
     compensation  or other  benefits  for any period  after a  Termination  for
     Cause.  Termination for Cause shall be determined by the Board of Directors
     of the Bank in the  reasonable  exercise of their  discretion and acting in
     good faith, and shall include termination  because of Executive's  personal
     dishonesty,  incompetence,  willful misconduct,  breach of fiduciary duties
     involving  personal profit,  intentional  failure to perform stated duties,
     willful  violation  of any law,  rule,  or  regulation  (other than traffic
     violations or similar  offenses),  or a final  cease-and-desist  order, the
     regulatory suspension or removal of Executive as defined in paragraphs 8(a)
     and (b)  hereof,  the failure of  Executive  to follow  reasonable  written
     instructions of the Board of Directors of the Bank, or a material breach by
     Executive of any provision of this Agreement. The termination of employment
     of Executive  shall not be deemed to be a Termination  for Cause unless and
     until there shall have been  delivered  to Executive a copy of a resolution
     duly adopted by the  affirmative  vote of not less than  two-thirds  of the
     entire membership of the Board of Directors of the Bank at a meeting of the
     Board  called and held for such  purpose  (after at least thirty (30) days'
     prior  notice of such  meeting is provided to  Executive  and  Executive is
     given an opportunity,  together with counsel,  to be heard before the Board
     of  Directors),  finding  that,  in the good faith  opinion of the Board of
     Directors,  Executive  is  guilty  of  the  conduct  described  herein  and
     specifying the particulars  thereof in detail.  Said  Termination for Cause
     shall not be  effective  until  thirty (30) days after such  resolution  is
     adopted,  during which time Executive  shall be afforded the opportunity to
     petition the Board of Directors for reconsideration of such resolution. The
     Board of Directors of the Bank, in its discretion,  may suspend  Executive,
     with pay, for all or any portion of the period of time from the delivery of
     the notice described herein until the effective time of the Termination for
     Cause.

          b. Event of Termination Without Change of Control. Upon the occurrence
     of an  Event of  Termination,  other  than  after a Change  of  Control  as
     provided in paragraph 7(c) hereof,  the Bank shall pay to Executive,  or in
     the  event  of his  subsequent  death,  to his  designated  beneficiary  or
     beneficiaries, or to his estate, as the case may be, as liquidated damages,
     in lieu of all other  claims,  a severance  payment  equal to two (2) times
     Executive's then current Base Salary, to be paid in full on the last day of
     the month following the date of said Event of Termination.

          c. Event of  Termination in Connection  With a Change of Control.  If,
     during  the term of this  Agreement  and  within  one (1) year  immediately
     following a Change of Control or within six (6) months immediately prior to
     such Change of  Control,  Executive's  employment  with the Bank under this
     Agreement is terminated by an Event of Termination, then the Bank shall pay
     to Executive,  or in the event of his subsequent  death,  to his designated
     beneficiary  or  beneficiaries,  or to his  estate,  as the case may be, as
     liquidated  damages, in lieu of all other claims, a severance payment equal
     to two (2) times  Executive's then current Base Salary,  to be paid in full
     on the  last  day of  the  month  following  the  date  of  said  Event  of
     Termination.

          d. Limits on  Payments.  In no event shall the  payment  described  in
     paragraph 7(c) exceed the amount  permitted by Section 280G of the Internal
     Revenue  Code (as  amended).  Therefore,  with  respect  to the  payment(s)
     described  in  paragraph   7(c)  only,  if  the  aggregate   present  value
     (determined as of the date of the Change of Control in accordance  with the
     provisions of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code [as amended] or any


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     successor  thereof and the  regulations  and rulings  thereunder  ["Section
     280G"]) of the  Severance  Amount would  result in a parachute  payment (as
     determined  under Section  280G),  then the  Severance  Amount shall not be
     greater than an amount equal to 2.99 multiplied by Executive's  base amount
     (as determined under Section 280G) for the base period (as determined under
     Section 280G). In the event the Severance  Amount is required to be reduced
     pursuant to this paragraph  7(d),  Executive shall be entitled to determine
     which  portions  of the  Severance  Amount  are to be  reduced  so that the
     Severance Amount  satisfies the limit set forth in the preceding  sentence.
     Executive's  average annual  compensation shall be based on the most recent
     five  taxable  years  ending  before the  Change of Control  (or the period
     during  which  Executive  was  employed by the Bank if  Executive  has been
     employed  by the  Bank for less  than  five  years).  Should  Executive  be
     assessed any excise tax as a result of any payment of the Severance  Amount
     that  complies  with  Section  280G,  the Bank shall pay all such  assessed
     excise taxes, but shall pay no other taxes assessed against  Executive as a
     result of the payment of the Severance Amount.

          e. Voluntary Termination of Employment.  Executive shall have no right
     to  compensation  or other  benefits  under this  Agreement  for any period
     following the voluntary termination of Executive's employment by Executive.

          f.  Additional   Payments  After   Termination.   In  the  event  that
     Executive's  employment  is terminated  pursuant to paragraphs  7(b) or (c)
     above,  then the Bank shall pay  Executive  an  additional  amount equal to
     Executive's  cost of COBRA health  continuation  coverage for Executive and
     his  eligible  dependants  for the period  during which  Executive  and his
     eligible  dependants  are entitled to receive COBRA  continuation  coverage
     from the Bank under the applicable  laws,  rules and regulations  governing
     COBRA.

     8. Regulatory Suspension.

          a. If  Executive  is  suspended  and/or  temporarily  prohibited  from
     participating  in the conduct of the affairs of the Bank by a notice served
     under Sections  8(e)(3) or (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit  Insurance Act, 12
     U.S.C.  ss.  1818(e)(3) or (g)(l),  the  obligations of the Bank under this
     Agreement  shall be  suspended  as of the date of service  of such  notice,
     unless stayed by appropriate proceedings.  If the charges in the notice are
     dismissed,  the Bank may in its discretion (i) pay Executive all or part of
     the compensation withheld while its contract obligations were suspended and
     (ii)  reinstate  in  whole  or in part any of its  obligations  which  were
     suspended. Vested rights of Executive shall not otherwise be affected.

          b.  if  Executive  is  removed  and/or  permanently   prohibited  from
     participating  in the conduct of the affairs of the Bank by an order issued
     under Section  8(e)4) or (g)(l) of the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Act, 12
     U.S.C.  ss.  1818(e)(4) or (g)(l),  all  obligations of the Bank under this
     Agreement shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested
     rights of the parties hereto shall not be affected.

     9. Covenants Against Competition and Solicitation.  Executive  acknowledges
that he has  performed  services  and/or will perform  services  hereunder  that
directly  affect the Bank's  business  presently  conducted  (among other areas)
within the limits of Hartsville in the State of South Carolina. Accordingly, the
parties deem it necessary to enter into the following protective covenants,  the
terms and  conditions  of which have been  negotiated by and between the parties
hereto:

          a. For the period of  Executive's  employment  with the Bank and for a
     period  of  twenty-four   (24)  months  following   Executive's   voluntary
     termination of employment  under this  Agreement,  Executive  covenants and
     agrees  that he shall  not  within  the city  limits of  Hartsville,  South
     Carolina or within a one hundred  (100) mile radius  thereof,  compete with
     the Bank by performing banking services that require  performance of duties
     substantially  identical  to  those  performed  on  behalf  of the  Bank by
     Executive,  to-wit,  as a member of  management,  supervisor,  or executive
     employee for any bank, bank holding company or other financial  institution
     that is a competitor of the Bank.

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<PAGE>

          b. For the period of  Executive's  employment  with the Bank and for a
     period  of  twenty-four   (24)  months  following   Executive's   voluntary
     termination of Employment  under this  Agreement,  Executive  covenants and
     agrees as follows: (i) Executive shall not, for himself or any other party,
     solicit, directly or indirectly,  any clients or prospective clients of the
     Bank with whom he personally  had business  contact on the Bank's behalf at
     any time during the last  twenty-four (24) months he worked at the Bank, to
     do any business with another  company or business in  competition  with the
     Bank;  and (ii) Executive will not employ or attempt to employ or assist in
     employing  any employee of the Bank for the purpose of having such employee
     perform  services  for any  bank  or  other  business  or  organization  in
     competition with the business of the Bank as such exists on the termination
     date of Executive's  employment hereunder until such employee has ceased to
     be employed by the Bank for a period of one (1) year.

     10. Nondisclosure of Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that,
as an  officer  of the Bank,  he will have  access to  certain  confidential  or
proprietary  information possessed by the Bank or relating to its business,  and
including,  without limitation,  customer lists, details of client or consultant
contracts,  current and anticipated  customer  requirements,  pricing  policies,
price lists,  market studies,  business plans,  operational  methods,  marketing
plans or strategies,  product development techniques or plans, computer software
programs,  financial  information and data, business  acquisition plans, and new
personnel  acquisition plans, some of which information would constitute a trade
secret  under the common  law or  statutory  law of the State of South  Carolina
("Confidential   Information").   Executive  understands  and  agrees  that  the
Confidential  Information  constitutes a valuable asset of the Bank, and may not
be converted to Executive's own use.  Accordingly,  Executive hereby agrees that
for a period of twenty-four (24) months  following the voluntary  termination by
Executive of his employment under this Agreement (the "Restricted Period"), that
he shall not reveal, divulge, or disclose to any person not expressly authorized
by the Bank any Confidential  Information,  and Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly,  at any time  during  the  Restricted  Period use or make use of any
Confidential  Information  in connection  with any business  activity other than
that of the Bank.  Notwithstanding  anything  contained  herein to the contrary,
Executive  shall  not  be  restricted  from  disclosing  or  using  Confidential
Information that: (i) is or becomes generally available to the public other than
as a result of an  unauthorized  disclosure  by  Executive  or his  agent;  (ii)
becomes  available  to  Executive  in a manner that is not in  contravention  of
applicable  law from a  source  (other  than  the  Bank or one of its  officers,
employees,  agents  or  representatives)  that is not  bound  by a  confidential
relationship with the Bank or by a confidentiality  or other similar  agreement;
(iii)  was  known  to  Executive  on  a   non-confidential   basis  and  not  in
contravention of applicable law or a confidentiality  or other similar agreement
before  its  disclosure  to  Executive  by the  Bank  or  one  of its  officers,
employees,  agents or  representatives;  or (iv) is required to be  disclosed by
law, court order or other legal process;  provided,  however,  that in the event
disclosure is required by law,  Executive  shall  provide the Bank,  with prompt
notice of such  requirement so that the Bank may seek an appropriate  protective
order prior to any such required disclosure by Executive.

     11.  Source of Payments.  All payments  provided in  paragraphs 4, 6, and 7
hereof  shall be paid in cash  from the  general  funds of the Bank as  provided
herein, and no special or separate fund shall be established by the Bank, and no
other  segregation of assets shall be made to assure  payment.  Executive  shall
have no right,  title, or interest in or to any  investments  which the Bank may
make  to  meet  the  obligations  hereunder.

     12. Injunctions.  In view of the irreparable harm and damage which the Bank
would  sustain  as a  result  of a  breach  by  Executive  of the  covenants  or
agreements  under  paragraphs  9 and 10  hereof,  and in view of the  lack of an
adequate remedy at law to protect the Bank's interests,  the Bank shall have the
right to receive,  and Executive hereby consents to the issuance of, a permanent
injunction   enjoining  Executive  from  any  violation  of  the  covenants  and
agreements set forth in paragraphs 9 and 10 hereof.  The foregoing  remedy shall
be in addition  to, and not in  limitation  of, any other  rights or remedies to
which  the  Bank  is or may be  entitled  at law or in  equity  respecting  this
Agreement.



                                       56
<PAGE>

     13. Attorneys' Fees. In the event any party hereto is required to engage in
legal action  against any other party hereto,  either as plaintiff or defendant,
in order to enforce or defend any of its or his rights under this Agreement, and
such action  results in a final  judgment in favor of one or more parties,  then
the party or  parties  against  whom  said  final  judgment  is  obtained  shall
reimburse  the  prevailing  party or  parties  for all legal  fees and  expenses
incurred by the prevailing party or parties in asserting or defending its or his
rights hereunder in the event the court determines that the actions of the party
or parties against whom final judgment is obtained were reckless,  or in willful
disregard  of the  obligations  of this  Agreement,  or the court  otherwise  so
orders.

     14. Federal Income Tax Withholding. The Bank may withhold from any benefits
payable under this Agreement all federal,  state,  city, or other taxes as shall
be required pursuant to any law or governmental regulation or ruling.

     15.  Effect  of  Prior  Agreements.  This  Agreement  contains  the  entire
understanding  between the parties hereto and  supersedes  any prior  employment
agreement and any  contemporaneous  oral agreement or understanding by, between,
or among the Bank and Executive.

     16. General Provisions.

          (a) Nonassignability. Neither this Agreement nor any right or interest
     hereunder  shall be  assignable by Executive,  his  beneficiaries  or legal
     representatives,  without the prior written consent of the Bank;  provided,
     however,  that nothing in this paragraph 16(a) shall preclude (i) Executive
     from  designating a beneficiary to receive any benefits  payable  hereunder
     upon his  death,  or (ii) the  executors,  administrators,  or other  legal
     representatives  of  Executive  or his  estate  from  assigning  any rights
     hereunder to the person or persons  entitled  thereto.  The Bank may assign
     this Agreement without the consent of Executive.

          (b) No  Attachment.  Except as  required  by law,  no right to receive
     payments   under  this   Agreement   shall  be  subject  to   anticipation,
     commutation,  alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance, charge, pledge, or
     hypothecation,  or  to  execution,   attachment,  levy,  and  any  attempt,
     voluntary or  involuntary,  to effect any such action shall be null,  void,
     and of no effect.

          (c) Binding Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure
     to the  benefit  of, the Bank and  Executive  and their  respective  heirs,
     successors, assigns, and legal representatives.

     17. Modification and Waiver.

          (a)  Amendment of  Agreement.  This  Agreement  may not be modified or
     amended except by an instrument in writing,  signed by the parties  hereto,
     and which specifically refers to this Agreement.

          (b) Waiver.  No term or condition of this Agreement shall be deemed to
     have been waived,  nor shall there be any estoppel  against the enforcement
     of any  provision of this  Agreement,  except by written  instrument of the
     party charged with such waiver or estoppel. No such written waiver shall be
     deemed a continuing  waiver unless  specifically  stated therein,  and each
     waiver shall operate only as to the specific  term or condition  waived and
     shall not  constitute a waiver of such term or condition  for the future or
     as to any act other than that specifically waived.

     18. Severability. If for any reason any provision of this Agreement is held
invalid,  such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement
not held  invalid,  and  each  such  other  provision  shall to the full  extent
consistent with law continue in full force and effect.  If any provision of this
Agreement shall be held invalid in part, such invalidity  shall in no way affect
the rest of such provision not held so invalid,  and the rest of such provision,
together with all other  provisions of this Agreement,  shall to the full extent
consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

     19.  Headings.  The headings of paragraphs  herein are included  solely for
convenience of reference and shall not control the meaning or  interpretation of
any of the provisions of this Agreement.



                                       57
<PAGE>

     20.  Governing  Law. This  Agreement has been executed and delivered in the
State of South  Carolina,  and its validity,  interpretation,  performance,  and
enforcement shall be governed by the laws of said State.

     21.  Rights of Third  Parties.  Nothing  herein  expressed  or  implied  is
intended to or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person, firm, or
other entity,  other than the parties hereto and their  permitted  assigns,  any
rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.

     22.  Notices.  All notices,  requests,  demands,  and other  communications
provided  for by this  Agreement  shall be in writing and shall be  sufficiently
given if and when mailed in the United States by  registered or certified  mail,
or personally  delivered,  to the party  entitled  thereto at the address stated
below or to such changed  address as the  addressee  may have given by a similar
notice:

            To Bank:          Chairman of the Board
                              Hartsville Community Bank, National Association
                              644 South Fourth Street
                              Hartsville, South Carolina 29550

            Copied to the
            Bank's counsel:   Steven S. Dunlevie, Esq.
                              Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC
                              Suite 700
                              1275 Peachtree Street
                              Atlanta, Georgia 30309

            To Executive:     Mr. Curtis A. Tyner
                              PO Box 234
                              Hartsville, South Carolina 29551

Any notice to the Bank is ineffective if not also served on its counsel.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Bank has caused this Agreement to be executed and
its seal to be affixed hereunto by its duly authorized  officers,  and Executive
has signed this Agreement, as of the Effective Date set forth above.


                              [Signatures Omitted]



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