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                                 EXHIBIT 10.1
                                 ------------

                               LARRY D. HUFFMAN

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------

     THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is made and entered into as
of the 1st day of April, 2001 (the "Effective Date"), by and between Kankakee
Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Employer"), and Larry D. Huffman
(the "Executive").

                                   RECITALS
                                   --------

     A.   The Employer desires that Executive serve as the President and Chief
Executive Officer of the Employer and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Kankakee
Federal Savings Bank (the "Bank").

     B.   The Employer and Executive have made commitments to each other on a
variety of important issues concerning his employment, including the performance
that will be expected of him, the compensation that he will be paid, how long
and under what circumstances he will remain employed, and the financial details
relating to any decision that either the Employer or Executive might ever make
to terminate this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained, it is covenanted and agreed by and between the
parties hereto as follows:

                                  AGREEMENTS
                                  ----------

     1.   Position and Duties.  As of the Effective Date, the Employer hereby
          -------------------
employs Executive as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Employer
and the Bank. During the period of Executive's employment hereunder, Executive
shall devote his best efforts and full business time, energy, skills and
attention to the business affairs of the Employer and the Bank. Executive's
duties and authority shall consist of and include all duties and authority
customarily held and performed by persons holding equivalent positions with
business organizations similar in nature and size to the Employer and the Bank,
as such duties and authority are reasonably defined, modified and delegated from
time to time by the Board of Directors of the Employer (the "Board"). Executive
shall have the powers necessary to perform the duties assigned to him and shall
be provided such supporting services, staff, secretarial and other assistance,
office space and accouterments as shall be reasonably necessary and appropriate
in the light of such assigned duties.

     2.   Compensation.  As compensation for the services to be provided by
          ------------
Executive hereunder, Executive shall receive the following compensation, expense
reimbursement and other benefits:

          (a)  Base Compensation.  Executive shall receive an aggregate annual
               -----------------
     base salary at the rate of one hundred and forty thousand dollars
     ($140,000), which base salary amount shall be increased five percent (5%)
     on each of the first, second and
<PAGE>

     third anniversaries of the Effective Date. On the fourth anniversary of the
     Effective Date, and on each subsequent anniversary of the Effective Date
     during the term of this Agreement, Executive's base salary shall be
     adjusted as determined by the Board in its sole discretion. Executive's
     base salary shall be paid in installments in accordance with the Bank's
     regular payroll practices.

          (b)  Reimbursement of Expenses.  Executive shall be reimbursed, upon
               -------------------------
     submission of appropriate vouchers and supporting documentation, for all
     travel, entertainment and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably and
     necessarily incurred by Executive in the performance of his duties
     hereunder and shall be entitled to attend seminars, conferences and
     meetings relating to the business of the Employer consistent with the
     Employer's established policies in that regard.

          (c)  Vacation.  Executive shall be entitled to at least three (3)
               --------
     weeks of paid annual vacation during each of the first two (2) years of
     this Agreement and shall be entitled to four (4) weeks of paid annual
     vacation in each year thereafter during the term of this Agreement; such
     vacation shall be taken at times mutually agreeable to the Employer and
     Executive, and which annual vacation shall accrue in equal monthly amounts
     each year and shall not be carried over from one year to any subsequent
     year.

          (d)  Club Membership.  A social membership will be provided at
               ---------------
     Kankakee Country Club for business use.

          (e)  Mileage Reimbursement. Executive shall be reimbursed for business
               ---------------------
     use of his personal automobile at the then current allowable IRS mileage
     rate, and subject to any required documentation of such usage and
     reimbursement.

          (f)  Other Benefits.  Executive shall be entitled to all benefits
               --------------
     specifically established for him, including those included in this
     Agreement, and, when and to the extent he is eligible therefor, to
     participate in all plans and benefits generally accorded to employees of
     the Employer, including, but not limited to, pension, profit-sharing,
     disability income, group life, medical and hospitalization insurance and
     similar or comparable plans, and also to perquisites extended to similarly
     situated employees, provided, however, that such plans, benefits and
                         --------  -------
     perquisites shall be no less favorable than those made available to
     employees of the Employer generally.

          (g)  Withholding.  The Employer shall be entitled to withhold from
               -----------
     amounts payable to Executive hereunder, any federal, state or local
     withholding or other taxes or charges which it is from time to time
     required to withhold. The Employer shall be entitled to rely upon the
     opinion of its legal counsel with regard to any question concerning the
     amount or requirement of any such withholding.

     3.   Term and Termination.
          --------------------

          (a)  Term.  Executive's employment hereunder shall be for a term of
               ----
three (3) years commencing as of the Effective Date.

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<PAGE>

          (b)  Premature Termination.
               ---------------------

               (i)    If the Employer terminates this Agreement other than in
     accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (d) of this Section 3,
     then notwithstanding any mitigation of damages by Executive, the Employer
     shall continue to pay to Executive the annual base salary then payable to
     Executive and shall continue to provide coverage for Executive under the
     health insurance program maintained by the Employer for one (1) year
     following such termination, provided, however, that the continued payment
     of these amounts by the Employer shall not offset or diminish any
     compensation or benefits accrued as of the date of termination.

               (ii)   Payment to Executive will be made on a monthly basis
     during the remaining term of this Agreement. At the election of the
     Employer, payments may be made in a lump sum. Such payments shall not be
     reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following the
     termination of employment by the Employer.

               (iii)  If the Employer is not in compliance with its minimum
     capital requirements or if the payments required under subparagraph (i)
     above would cause the Employer's capital to be reduced below its minimum
     capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until such time as
     the Employer is in capital compliance.

          (c)  Constructive Termination.  If at any time during the term of this
               ------------------------
     Agreement, except in connection with a termination pursuant to paragraphs
     (a) or (d) of this Section 3, Executive is Constructively Discharged (as
     hereinafter defined) then Executive shall have the right, by written notice
     to the Employer within ninety (90) days of such Constructive Discharge, to
     terminate services hereunder, effective as of thirty (30) days after such
     notice, and Executive shall have no rights or obligations under this
     Agreement other than as provided in Sections 4, 5 and 8 hereof.  Executive
     shall in such event be entitled to a lump sum payment of compensation and
     continuation of health insurance as if such termination of his employment
     was pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 3.

     For purposes of this Agreement, Executive shall be deemed "Constructively
     Discharged" upon the occurrence of any one of the following events:

               (i)    Executive shall fail to be vested by the Employer with the
     powers, authority and support services equivalent to his then current
     position; or

               (ii)   The Employer changes the primary employment location of
     Executive to a place that is more than twenty-five (25) miles from the
     primary employment location of Executive as of the Effective Date; or

               (iii)  The Employer otherwise commits a material breach of its
     obligations under this Agreement.

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<PAGE>

          (d)  Termination for Cause.  This Agreement may be terminated by the
               ---------------------
     Employer on the basis of "Cause" as hereinafter defined. If Executive's
     employment is terminated for Cause, then the Employer shall only be
     obligated to pay to Executive such base salary and vacation pay for unused
     vacation days as shall be accrued and remain unpaid through the effective
     date of termination and such reimbursements for previously approved
     expenses. "Cause" shall mean the termination of Executive employment on the
     basis of or as a result of: (i) a material violation by Executive of any
     applicable material law or regulation respecting the business of the
     Employer; (ii) Executive being found guilty of a felony or an act of
     dishonesty in connection with the performance of his duties as an officer
     of the Employer, or which disqualifies Executive from serving as an officer
     or director of the Employer; (iii) Executive engages in one or more unsafe
     or unsound banking practices that have a material adverse effect on the
     Bank; (iv) Executive is removed or suspended from banking pursuant to
     Section 8(e) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, or any other
     applicable state or federal laws; or (v) Executive's willful or negligent
     failure to perform his duties hereunder in any material respect. Executive
     shall be entitled to at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice of the
     Employer's intention to terminate his employment for Cause specifying the
     grounds for such termination, a reasonable opportunity to cure any conduct
     or act, if curable, alleged as grounds for such termination, and a
     reasonable opportunity to present to the Board his position regarding any
     dispute relating to the existence of such Cause.

          (e)  Termination upon Death.  This Agreement shall terminate upon
               ----------------------
     Executive's death. Upon Executive's death, the Employer shall only be
     obligated to pay to Executive such base salary and vacation pay for unused
     vacation days as shall be accrued and remain unpaid through the date of
     death and such reimbursements for previously approved expenses. The amount,
     if any, that the Employer shall be obligated to pay upon Executive's death
     shall be made to such beneficiary as Executive may designate in writing, or
     failing such designation, to the executor of his estate, in full settlement
     and satisfaction of all claims and demands on behalf of Executive. Such
     payments shall be in addition to any other death benefits of the Employer
     for the benefit of Executive and in full settlement and satisfaction of all
     payments provided for in this Agreement.

          (f)  Termination upon Disability.  The Employer may terminate
               ---------------------------
     Executive's employment after Executive is determined to be disabled under
     the current Employer program or by a physician engaged by the Employer.
     Upon Executive's termination as a result of his disability, the Employer
     shall only be obligated to pay to Executive such base salary and vacation
     pay for unused vacation days as shall be accrued and remain unpaid through
     the effective date of termination and such reimbursements for previously
     approved expenses. For purposes hereof, "disability" shall mean Executive's
     inability, as a result of physical or mental incapacity, substantially to
     perform his duties hereunder for one hundred and twenty (120) business days
     within a consecutive twelve (12) month period, such disability to be deemed
     to exist on the one hundred and twentieth (120/th/) day of such inability.
     In the event of a

                                       4
<PAGE>

     dispute regarding Executive's disability, each party shall choose a
     physician who together will choose a third physician to make a final
     determination. Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits
     provided for under this Agreement for any period during the term of this
     Agreement and prior to the establishment of Executive's disability during
     which Executive is unable to work due to a physical or mental infirmity.
     Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, until
     the date specified in a notice of termination relating to Executive's
     disability, Executive shall be entitled to return to his positions with the
     Employer as set forth in this Agreement.

          (g)  Voluntary Termination.  If Executive voluntarily terminates his
               ---------------------
     employment under this Agreement, other than pursuant to Section 3(d)
     (Constructive Termination), then the Employer shall only be obligated to
     pay the Executive such base salary and vacation pay for unused vacation
     days as shall be accrued and remain unpaid through the effective date of
     termination and such reimbursements for previously approved expenses.

          (h)  Regulatory Suspension and Termination.
               -------------------------------------

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

               (ii)   If Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
     participating in the conduct of the Employer's affairs by an order issued
     under Section 8(e) (12 U.S.C. (S) 1818(e)) or 8(g) (12 U.S.C. (S) 1818(g))
     of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended, all obligations of the
     Employer under this contract shall terminate as of the effective date of
     the order, but vested rights of the contracting parties shall not be
     affected.

               (iii)  If the Employer is in default as defined in Section 3(x)
     (12 U.S.C. (S) 1813(x)(1)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as
     amended, all obligations of the Employer under this contract shall
     terminate as of the date of default, but this paragraph shall not affect
     any vested rights of the contracting parties.

               (iv)   All obligations of the Employer under this contract shall
     be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the
     contract is necessary for the continued operation of the institution by the
     Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the "FDIC"), at the time the FDIC
     enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of the
     Employer under the authority contained in

                                       5
<PAGE>

     Section 13(c) (12 U.S.C. (S) 1823(c)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act,
     as amended, or when the Employer is determined by the FDIC 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.

               (v)    Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement,
     or otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with
     Section 18(k) (12 U.S.C. (S)1828(k)) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act,
     as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

     4.   Confidentiality and Loyalty.  Executive acknowledges that the nature
          ---------------------------
of his employment will require that he produce and have access to material,
records, data, trade secrets and information that are not generally available to
the public (collectively, "Confidential Information") regarding the Employer and
its subsidiaries and affiliates. Accordingly, during and subsequent to
termination of this Agreement, Executive shall hold in confidence and not
directly or indirectly disclose, use, copy or make lists of any such
Confidential Information, except to the extent that such information is or
thereafter becomes lawfully available from public sources, or such disclosure is
authorized in writing by the Employer, required by a law or any competent
administrative agency or judicial authority, or he is authorized in writing by
the Board to disclose it. All records, files, documents and other materials or
copies thereof relating to the Employer's business which Executive shall prepare
or use, shall be and remain the sole property of the Employer, shall not be
removed from the Employer's premises for other than business purposes without
its written consent, and shall be promptly returned to the Employer upon
termination of Executive's employment hereunder. Executive agrees to abide by
the Employer's reasonable policies, as in effect from time to time, respecting
avoidance of interests conflicting with those of the Employer.

     5.   Non-Competition Covenant.
          ------------------------

          (a)  Restrictive Covenant.  The Employer and Executive have jointly
               --------------------
     reviewed the customer lists and operations of the Employer and have agreed
     that the primary service areas of the Employer's lending and deposit taking
     functions in which the Employer has and will actively participate extends
     separately to each area which encompasses a twenty-five (25) mile radius
     from the main office of the Employer (the primary employment location of
     Executive as of the Effective Date) and from each of the Employer's other
     branches and offices. Therefore, as an essential ingredient of and as
     consideration for this Agreement and the payment of the amounts described
     in Section 2, Executive hereby agrees that, except with the express prior
     written consent of the Employer, for a period of one (1) year after the
     termination of Executive's employment with the Employer (the "Restrictive
     Period"), he will not directly or indirectly compete with the business of
     the Employer, including, but not by way of limitation, by directly or
     indirectly owning, managing, operating, controlling, financing, or by
     directly or indirectly serving as an employee, officer, owner or director
     of or consultant to, or by soliciting or inducing, or attempting to solicit
     or induce, any employee or agent of Employer to terminate employment with
     Employer

                                       6
<PAGE>

     and become employed by any person, firm, partnership, corporation, trust or
     other entity which owns or operates, a bank, savings and loan association,
     credit union or similar financial institution (a "Financial Institution")
     within a twenty-five (25) mile radius of the Employer's main office (the
     primary employment location of Executive as of the Effective Date) and from
     each of the Employer's other branches and offices (the "Restrictive
     Covenant"). If Executive violates the Restrictive Covenant and the Employer
     brings legal action for injunctive or other relief, the Employer shall not,
     as a result of the time involved in obtaining such relief, be deprived of
     the benefit of the full period of the Restrictive Covenant. Accordingly,
     the Restrictive Covenant shall be deemed to have the duration specified in
     this Section 5(a) computed from the date the relief is granted but reduced
     by the time between the period when the Restrictive Period began to run and
     the date of the first violation of the Restrictive Covenant by Executive.
     In the event that a successor assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement,
     this Restrictive Covenant shall continue to apply only to the primary
     service area of the Employer as it existed immediately before such
     assumption and shall not apply to any of the successor's other offices. The
     foregoing Restrictive Covenant shall not prohibit Executive from owning
     directly or indirectly capital stock or similar securities which are listed
     on a securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ, which do not represent more
     than five percent (5%) of the outstanding capital stock of any Financial
     Institution.

          (b)  Remedies for Breach of Restrictive Covenant.  Executive
               -------------------------------------------
     acknowledges that the restrictions contained in Sections 4 and 5(a) of this
     Agreement are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the legitimate
     business interests of the Employer, that any violation of these
     restrictions would cause substantial injury to the Employer and such
     interests, that the Employer would not have entered into this Agreement
     with Executive without receiving the additional consideration offered by
     Executive in binding himself to these restrictions and that such
     restrictions were a material inducement to the Employer to enter into this
     Agreement. In the event of any violation or threatened violation of these
     restrictions, the Employer, in addition to and not in limitation of, any
     other rights, remedies or damages available to the Employer under this
     Agreement or otherwise at law or in equity, shall be entitled to
     preliminary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent or restrain any such
     violation by Executive and any and all persons directly or indirectly
     acting for or with him, as the case may be.

     6.   Intercorporate Transfers.  If Executive shall be transferred to an
          ------------------------
affiliate of the Employer, such transfer shall not be deemed to terminate or
modify this Agreement and the employing corporation to which Executive shall
have been transferred shall, for all purposes of this Agreement, be construed as
standing in the same place and stead as the Employer as of the date of such
transfer. For purposes hereof, an affiliate of the Employer shall mean any
corporation directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
control with the Employer.

                                       7
<PAGE>

     7.   Interest in Assets.  Neither Executive nor his estate shall acquire
          ------------------
hereunder any rights in funds or assets of the Employer, otherwise than by and
through the actual payment of amounts payable hereunder; nor shall Executive or
his estate have any power to transfer, assign, anticipate, hypothecate or
otherwise encumber in advance any of said payments; nor shall any of such
payments be subject to seizure for the payment of any debt, judgment, alimony,
separate maintenance or be transferable by operation of law in the event of
bankruptcy, insolvency or otherwise of Executive.

     8.   Indemnification.  The Employer shall provide Executive (including his
          ---------------
heirs, personal representatives, executors and administrators) for the term of
this Agreement with coverage under a standard directors' and officers' liability
insurance policy at its expense.

     9.   General Provisions.
          ------------------

          (a)  Successors; Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and
               ----------------------
     inure to the benefit of Executive, the Employer and his and its respective
     personal representatives, successors and assigns, and any successor or
     assign of the Employer shall be deemed the "Employer" hereunder. The
     Employer shall require any successor to all or substantially all of the
     business and/or assets of the Employer, whether directly or indirectly, by
     purchase, merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock, or otherwise, by an
     agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Executive, expressly to
     assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
     same extent as the Employer would be required to perform if no such
     succession had taken place.

          (b)  Entire Agreement; Modifications.  This Agreement constitutes the
               -------------------------------
     entire agreement between the parties respecting the subject matter hereof,
     and supersedes all prior negotiations, undertakings, agreements and
     arrangements with respect thereto, whether written or oral. Except as
     otherwise explicitly provided herein, this Agreement may not be amended or
     modified except by written agreement signed by Executive and the Employer.

          (c)  Enforcement and Governing Law.  The provisions of this Agreement
               -----------------------------
     shall be regarded as divisible and separate; if any of said provisions
     should be declared invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent
     jurisdiction, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions
     shall not be affected thereby. This Agreement shall be construed and the
     legal relations of the parties hereto shall be determined in accordance
     with the laws of the State of Illinois without reference to the law
     regarding conflicts of law.

          (d)  Arbitration.  Any dispute or controversy arising under or in
               -----------
     connection with this Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration,
     conducted before a single arbitrator sitting in a location selected by
     Executive within seventy (70) miles from the location of the Employer, in
     accordance with the rules of En Dispute then in effect. Judgment may be
     entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having jurisdiction;
     provided, however, that Executive shall be entitled to seek specific

                                       8
<PAGE>

     performance of his right to be paid through the date of termination during
     the pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
     with this Agreement.

          (e)  Legal Fees.  All reasonable legal fees paid or incurred by
               ----------
     Executive pursuant to any dispute or question of interpretation relating to
     this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed by the Employer if Executive is
     successful on the merits pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or
     settlement.

          (f)  Waiver.  No waiver by either party at any time of any breach by
               ------
     the other party of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this
     Agreement to be performed by the other party, shall be deemed a waiver of
     any similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or any
     prior or subsequent time.

          (g)  Notices.  Notices pursuant to this Agreement shall be in writing
               -------
     and shall be deemed given when received; and, if mailed, shall be mailed by
     United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested,
     postage prepaid; and if to the Employer, addressed to the principal
     headquarters of the Employer, attention: Chairman of the Board; or, if to
     Executive, to the address set forth below Executive's signature on this
     Agreement, or to such other address as the party to be notified shall have
     given to the other.

          (h)  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
               ------------
     counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
     together shall constitute one and the same instrument

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

KANKAKEE BANCORP, INC.                       LARRY D. HUFFMAN

By:  /s/ William Cheffer                      /s/ Larry D. Huffman  4/3/2001
   -------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Name:    William Cheffer
       ---------------------------
Title: Chairman           4/3/2001
       ---------------------------

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