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EXHIBIT 10.4

                      FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK OF AMERICA
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         This AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made effective as of July 31, 1997 by
and among First Federal Savings Bank of America (the "Bank"), a federally
chartered savings bank, with its principal administrative office at One North
Main Street, Fall River, Massachusetts, 02720, FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, the holding
company for the Bank (the "Holding Company"), and Edward A. Hjerpe, III
("Executive").

         WHEREAS, the Bank wishes to assure itself of the services of Executive
for the period provided in this Agreement; and

         WHEREAS, Executive is willing to serve in the employ of the Bank on a
full-time basis for said period.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein
contained, and upon the other terms and conditions hereinafter provided, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

1.       POSITION AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

         During the period of his employment hereunder, Executive agrees to
serve as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the
Bank. Executive shall render administrative and management services to the Bank
such as are customarily performed by persons situated in a similar executive
capacity. During said period, Executive also agrees to serve, if elected, as an
officer and director of the Holding Company or any subsidiary of the Bank.

2.       TERMS AND DUTIES.

         (a)      The period of Executive's employment under this Agreement
shall be deemed to have commenced as of the date first above written and shall
continue for a period of twenty-four (24) full calendar months thereafter.
Commencing on the first anniversary date of this Agreement, and continuing on
each anniversary thereafter, the disinterested members of the board of directors
of the Bank ("Board") may extend the Agreement an additional year such that the
remaining term of the Agreement shall be twenty-four (24) months unless the
Executive elects not to extend the term of this Agreement by giving written
notice in accordance with Section 8 of this Agreement. The Board will review the
Agreement and Executive's performance annually for purposes of determining
whether to extend the Agreement and the rationale and results thereof shall be
included in the minutes of the Board's meeting. The Board shall give notice to
the Executive as soon as possible after such review as to whether the Agreement
is to be extended.

         (b)      During the period of Executive's employment hereunder, except
for periods of absence occasioned by illness, reasonable vacation periods, and
reasonable leaves of absence, Executive shall devote substantially all his
business time, attention, skill, and efforts to the faithful performance of his
duties hereunder including activities and services related to the organization,
operation and management of the Bank and participation in community and civic
organizations; provided, however, that, with the approval of the Board, as
evidenced by a resolution of such Board, from time to time, Executive may serve,
or continue to serve, on the boards of directors of, and hold any other offices
or positions in, companies or organizations, which, in such Board's judgment,
will not present any conflict of interest with the Bank, or materially affect
the performance of Executive's duties pursuant to this Agreement.

         (c)      Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Executive's
employment with the Bank may be terminated by the Bank or the Executive during
the term of this Agreement, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.

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3.       COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

         (a)      The Bank shall pay Executive as compensation a salary of
$192,500 per year ("Base Salary"). Base Salary shall include any amounts of
compensation deferred by Executive under any qualified or unqualified plan
maintained by the Bank. Such Base Salary shall be payable bi-weekly. During the
period of this Agreement, Executive's Base Salary shall be reviewed at least
annually; the first such review will be made no later than one year from the
date of this Agreement. Such review shall be conducted by the Board or by a
Committee of the Board, delegated such responsibility by the Board. The
Committee or the Board may increase Executive's Base Salary. Any increase in
Base Salary shall become the "Base Salary" for purposes of this Agreement. In
addition to the Base Salary provided in this Section 3(a), the Bank shall also
provide Executive, with all such other benefits, arrangements and perquisites as
described in Exhibit A and as are provided uniformly to permanent full-time
employees of the Bank.

         (b)      The Bank will not, without Executive's prior written consent,
make any changes in such plans, arrangements or perquisites which would
materially adversely affect Executive's rights or benefits thereunder; except to
the extent such changes are made applicable to all Bank employees on a
non-discriminatory basis. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing
provisions of this Subsection (b), Executive shall be entitled to participate in
or receive benefits under any employee benefit plans including but not limited
to, retirement plans, supplemental retirement plans, pension plans,
profit-sharing plans, health-and-accident plans, medical coverage or any other
employee benefit plan or arrangement made available by the Bank in the future to
its senior executives and key management employees, subject to and on a basis
consistent with the terms, conditions and overall administration of such plans
and arrangements. Nothing paid to the Executive under any such plan or
arrangement will be deemed to be in lieu of other compensation to which the
Executive is entitled under this Agreement.

         (c)      In addition to the Base Salary provided for by paragraph (a)
of this Section 3 and other compensation provided for by paragraph (b) of this
Section 3, the Bank shall pay or reimburse Executive for all reasonable travel
and other reasonable expenses incurred by Executive performing his obligations
under this Agreement and may provide such additional compensation in such form
and such amounts as the Board may from time to time determine.

4.       PAYMENTS TO EXECUTIVE UPON AN EVENT OF TERMINATION.

         (a)      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination (as herein
defined) during the Executive's term of employment under this Agreement, the
provisions of this Section shall apply. As used in this Agreement, an "Event of
Termination" shall mean and include any one or more of the following: (i) the
termination by the Bank or the Holding Company of Executive's full-time
employment hereunder for any reason other than a termination governed by Section
5(a) hereof, or Termination for Cause, as defined in Section 7 hereof; (ii)
Executive's resignation from the Bank's employ upon any (A) failure to elect or
reelect or to appoint or reappoint Executive as Senior Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer unless consented to by the Executive, (B) a
material change in Executive's function, duties, or responsibilities, which
change would cause Executive's position to become one of lesser responsibility,
importance, or scope from the position and attributes thereof described in
Section 1, above, unless consented to by Executive, (C) a relocation of
Executive's principal place of employment by more than 25 miles from its
location at the effective date of this Agreement, unless consented to by the
Executive, (D) a material reduction in the benefits, arrangements and
perquisites to the Executive, as described in Exhibit A, unless consented to by
the Executive, (E) a liquidation or dissolution of the Bank or Holding Company,
or (F) breach of this Agreement by the Bank. Upon the occurrence of any event
described in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E) or (F), above, Executive shall have
the right to elect to terminate his employment under this Agreement by
resignation upon not less than sixty (60) days prior written notice given within
six full months after the event giving rise to said right to elect.

         (b)      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, on the Date of
Termination, as defined in Section 8, the Bank shall be obligated to pay
Executive, or, in the event of his subsequent death, his beneficiary or
beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be a sum equal to the sum of: (i)
the amount of the remaining payments that the Executive would have earned if he
had continued his employment with the Bank during the remaining term of this
Agreement at the Executive's Base Salary at the Date of Termination; and (ii)
the amount equal to the annual

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contributions that would have been made on Executive's behalf to any employee
benefit plans of the Bank or the Holding Company during the remaining term of
this Agreement based on contributions made (on an annualized basis) at the Date
of Termination; provided, however, that any payments pursuant to this subsection
and subsection 4(c) below shall not, in the aggregate, exceed three times
Executive's average annual compensation for the five most recent taxable years
that Executive has been employed by the Bank or such lesser number of years in
the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Bank for less than five
years. In the event the Bank is not in compliance with its minimum capital
requirements or if such payments pursuant to this subsection (b) would cause the
Bank's capital to be reduced below its minimum regulatory capital requirements,
such payments shall be deferred until such time as the Bank or successor thereto
is in capital compliance. At the election of the Executive, which election is to
be made prior to an Event of Termination, such payments shall be made in a lump
sum as of the Executive's Date of Termination. In the event that no election is
made, payment to Executive will be made on a monthly basis in approximately
equal installments during the remaining term of the Agreement. Such payments
shall not be reduced in the event the Executive obtains other employment
following termination of employment.

         (c)      Upon the occurrence of an Event of Termination, the Bank will
cause to be continued life, medical, dental and disability coverage
substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the Bank or the Holding
Company for Executive prior to his termination at no premium cost to the
Executive, except to the extent such coverage may be changed in its application
to all Bank or Holding Company employees. Such coverage shall cease upon the
expiration of the remaining term of this Agreement.

5.       CHANGE IN CONTROL.

         (a)      For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in Control" of the
Bank or Holding Company shall mean an event of a nature that: (i) would be
required to be reported in response to Item 1 of the current report on Form 8-K,
as in effect on the date hereof, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"); or (ii)
results in a Change in Control or "Acquisition of Control" of the Bank or the
Holding Company within the meaning of the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as
amended, the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the Rules and Regulations
promulgated by the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") (or its predecessor
agency), as in effect on the date hereof (provided, that in applying the
definition of change in control as set forth under the rules and regulations of
the OTS, the Board shall substitute its judgment for that of the OTS); or (iii)
without limitation such a Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at
such time as (A) any "person" (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of voting securities of
the Bank or the Holding Company representing 25% or more of the Bank's or the
Holding Company's outstanding voting securities or right to acquire such
securities except for any voting securities of the Bank purchased by the Holding
Company and any voting securities purchased by any employee benefit plan of the
Bank or the Holding Company, or (B) individuals who constitute the Board on the
date hereof (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to
the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters
of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for
election by the Holding Company's stockholders was approved by the same
Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of
this clause (B), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board,
or (C) a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or
substantially all the assets of the Bank or the Holding Company or similar
transaction occurs in which the Bank or Holding Company is not the resulting
entity; provided, however, that such an event listed above will be deemed to
have occurred or to have been effectuated upon the receipt of all required
regulatory approvals not including the lapse of any statutory waiting periods.

         (b)      If a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to Section 5(a)
or the Board has determined that a Change in Control has occurred, Executive
shall be entitled to the benefits provided in paragraphs (c), and (d) of this
Section 5 upon his subsequent termination of employment at any time during the
term of this Agreement due to: (1) Executive's dismissal or (2) Executive's
voluntary resignation following any demotion, loss of title, office or
significant authority or responsibility, material reduction in annual
compensation or benefits or relocation of his principal place of employment by
more than 25 miles from its location immediately prior to the Change in Control,
unless such termination is because of his death, disability, retirement or
termination for Cause.

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         (c)      Upon Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to Section
5(b), the Bank shall pay Executive, or in the event of his subsequent death, his
beneficiary or beneficiaries, or his estate, as the case may be, a sum equal to
the greater of: (1) the payments due for the remaining term of the Agreement; or
2) three (3) times Executive's average annual compensation for the five (5) most
recent taxable years that Executive has been employed by the Bank or such lesser
number of years in the event that Executive shall have been employed by the Bank
for less than five (5) years. Such average annual compensation shall include
Base Salary, commissions, bonuses, contributions on Executive's behalf to any
pension and/or profit sharing plan, severance payments, retirement payments,
directors or committee fees and fringe benefits paid or to be paid to the
Executive in any such year and payment of any expense items without
accountability or business purpose or that do not meet the Internal Revenue
Service requirements for deductibility by the Bank; provided, however, that any
payment under this provision and subsection 5(d) below shall not exceed three
(3) times the Executive's average annual compensation. In the event the Bank is
not in compliance with its minimum capital requirements or if such payments
would cause the Bank's capital to be reduced below its minimum regulatory
capital requirements, such payments shall be deferred until such time as the
Bank or successor thereto is in capital compliance. At the election of the
Executive, which election is to be made prior to a Change in Control, such
payment shall be made in a lump sum as of the Executive's Date of Termination.
In the event that no election is made, payment to the Executive will be made in
approximately equal installments on a monthly basis over a period of twenty-four
(24) months following the Executive's termination. Such payments shall not be
reduced in the event Executive obtains other employment following termination of
employment.

         (d)      Upon the Executive's entitlement to benefits pursuant to
Section 5(b), the Bank will cause to be continued life, medical, dental and
disability coverage substantially identical to the coverage maintained by the
Holding Company or the Bank for Executive prior to his severance at no premium
cost to the Executive, except to the extent that such coverage may be changed in
its application for all Bank employees on a non-discriminatory basis. Such
coverage and payments shall cease upon the expiration of twenty-four (24) months
following the Date of Termination.

6.       CHANGE OF CONTROL RELATED PROVISIONS

         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5, in no event shall the
aggregate payments or benefits to be made or afforded to Executive under said
paragraphs (the "Termination Benefits") constitute an "excess parachute payment"
under Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor thereto, and in order to avoid such a result, Termination Benefits
will be reduced, if necessary, to an amount (the "Non-Triggering Amount"), the
value of which is one dollar ($1.00) less than an amount equal to three (3)
times Executive's "base amount", as determined in accordance with said Section
280G. The allocation of the reduction required hereby among the Termination
Benefits provided by Section 5 shall be determined by Executive.

7.       TERMINATION FOR CAUSE.

         The term "Termination for Cause" shall mean termination because of
Executive's personal dishonesty, incompetence, willful misconduct, any breach of
fiduciary duty 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 final cease-and-desist order or material
breach of any provision of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Executive shall not be deemed to have been Terminated for Cause unless and until
there shall have been delivered to him a Notice of Termination which shall
include a copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority of the members of the Board at a meeting of the Board called and
held for that purpose (after reasonable notice to Executive and an opportunity
for him, together with counsel, to be heard before the Board), finding that in
the good faith opinion of the Board, Executive was guilty of conduct justifying
Termination for Cause and specifying the particulars thereof in detail.
Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other benefits for
any period after the Date of Termination for Cause. During the period beginning
on the date of the Notice of Termination for Cause pursuant to Section 8 hereof
through the Date of Termination for Cause, stock options and related limited
rights granted to Executive under any stock option plan shall not be exercisable
nor shall any unvested awards granted to Executive under any stock benefit plan
of the Bank, the Holding Company or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof, vest.
At the Date of Termination for Cause, such stock

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options and related limited rights and any unvested awards shall become null and
void and shall not be exercisable by or delivered to Executive at any time
subsequent to such Termination for Cause.

8.       NOTICE.

         (a)      Any purported termination by the Bank or by Executive shall be
communicated by Notice of Termination to the other party hereto. For purposes of
this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a written notice which
shall indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed to
provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision so
indicated.

         (b)      "Date of Termination" shall mean the date specified in the
Notice of Termination (which, in the case of a Termination for Cause, shall not
be less than thirty days from the date such Notice of Termination is given.).

         (c)      If, within thirty (30) days after any Notice of Termination is
given, the party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party
that a dispute exists concerning the termination, the Date of Termination shall
be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual written
agreement of the parties, by a binding arbitration award, or by a final
judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction (the time for
appeal therefrom having expired and no appeal having been perfected) and,
provided further, that the Date of Termination shall be extended by a notice of
dispute only if such notice is given in good faith and the party giving such
notice pursues the resolution of such dispute with reasonable diligence.
Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute, in the event the Executive is
terminated for reasons other than Termination for Cause, the Bank will continue
to pay Executive his Base Salary in effect when the notice giving rise to the
dispute was given until the earlier of: 1) the resolution of the dispute in
accordance with this Agreement or 2) the expiration of the remaining term of
this Agreement as determined as of the Date of Termination. Amounts paid under
this Section are in addition to all other amounts due under this Agreement and
shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due under this
Agreement.

9.       POST-TERMINATION OBLIGATIONS.

         All payments and benefits to Executive under this Agreement shall be
subject to Executive's compliance with this Section 9 for one (1) full year
after the earlier of the expiration of this Agreement or termination of
Executive's employment with the Bank. Executive shall, upon reasonable notice,
furnish such information and assistance to the Bank as may reasonably be
required by the Bank in connection with any litigation in which it or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party.

10.      NON-COMPETITION AND NON-DISCLOSURE OF BANK BUSINESS.

         (a)      Upon any termination of Executive's employment hereunder
pursuant to Section 4 hereof, Executive agrees not to compete with the Bank for
a period of one (1) year following such termination in any city, town or county
in which the Executive's normal business office is located and the Bank has an
office or has filed an application for regulatory approval to establish an
office, determined as of the effective date of such termination, except as
agreed to pursuant to a resolution duly adopted by the Board. Executive agrees
that during such period and within said cities, towns and counties, Executive
shall not work for or advise, consult or otherwise serve with, directly or
indirectly, any entity whose business materially competes with the depository,
lending or other business activities of the Bank. The parties hereto,
recognizing that irreparable injury will result to the Bank, its business and
property in the event of Executive's breach of this Subsection 10(a) agree that
in the event of any such breach by Executive, the Bank, will be entitled, in
addition to any other remedies and damages available, to an injunction to
restrain the violation hereof by Executive, Executive's partners, agents,
servants, employees and all persons acting for or under the direction of
Executive. Nothing herein will be construed as prohibiting the Bank from
pursuing any other remedies available to the Bank for such breach or threatened
breach, including the recovery of damages from Executive.

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         (b)      Executive recognizes and acknowledges that the knowledge of
the business activities and plans for business activities of the Bank and
affiliates thereof, as it may exist from time to time, is a valuable, special
and unique asset of the business of the Bank. Executive will not, during or
after the term of his employment, disclose any knowledge of the past, present,
planned or considered business activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof to
any person, firm, corporation, or other entity for any reason or purpose
whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Executive may disclose any knowledge
of banking, financial and/or economic principles, concepts or ideas which are
not solely and exclusively derived from the business plans and activities of the
Bank. Further, Executive may disclose information regarding the business
activities of the Bank to the OTS and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
("FDIC") pursuant to a formal regulatory request. In the event of a breach or
threatened breach by Executive of the provisions of this Section, the Bank will
be entitled to an injunction restraining Executive from disclosing, in whole or
in part, the knowledge of the past, present, planned or considered business
activities of the Bank or affiliates thereof, or from rendering any services to
any person, firm, corporation, other entity to whom such knowledge, in whole or
in part, has been disclosed or is threatened to be disclosed. Nothing herein
will be construed as prohibiting the Bank from pursuing any other remedies
available to the Bank for such breach or threatened breach, including the
recovery of damages from Executive.

11.      SOURCE OF PAYMENTS.

         (a)      All payments provided in this Agreement shall be timely paid
in cash or check from the general funds of the Bank. The Holding Company,
however, unconditionally guarantees payment and provision of all amounts and
benefits due hereunder to Executive and, if such amounts and benefits due from
the Bank are not timely paid or provided by the Bank, such amounts and benefits
shall be paid or provided by the Holding Company.

         (b)      Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, to the
extent that payments and benefits, as provided by this Agreement, are paid to or
received by Executive under the Employment Agreement dated July 31, 1997,
between Executive and the Holding Company, such compensation payments and
benefits paid by the Holding Company will be subtracted from any amounts due
simultaneously to Executive under similar provisions of this Agreement. Payments
pursuant to this Agreement and the Holding Company Agreement shall be allocated
in proportion to the services rendered and time expended on such activities by
Executive as determined by the Holding Company and the Bank on a quarterly
basis.

12.  EFFECT ON PRIOR AGREEMENTS AND EXISTING BENEFITS PLANS.

         This Agreement contains the entire understanding between the parties
hereto and supersedes any prior employment agreement between the Bank or any
predecessor of the Bank and Executive, except that this Agreement shall not
affect or operate to reduce any benefit or compensation inuring to Executive of
a kind elsewhere provided. No provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted
to mean that Executive is subject to receiving fewer benefits than those
available to him without reference to this Agreement.

13.      NO ATTACHMENT.

         (a)      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, or similar process or assignment by operation of law, and any
attempt, voluntary or involuntary, to affect any such action shall be null,
void, and of no effect.

         (b)      This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit
of, Executive and the Bank and their respective successors and assigns.

14.      MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.

         (a)      This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an
instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

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         (b)      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 such 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 as to any act other
than that specifically waived.

15.      REQUIRED PROVISIONS.

         (a)      The Bank may terminate Executive's employment at any time, but
any termination by the Bank, other than Termination for Cause, shall not
prejudice Executive's right to compensation or other benefits under this
Agreement. Executive shall not have the right to receive compensation or other
benefits for any period after Termination for Cause as defined in Section 7
hereinabove.

         (b)      If Executive is suspended from office and/or temporarily
prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice
served under Section 8(e)(3) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12
U.S.C. Section 1818(e)(3) or (g)(1); the Bank '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 Bank may in its
discretion: (i) pay Executive all or part of the compensation withheld while
their contract obligations were suspended; and (ii) reinstate (in whole or in
part) any of the obligations which were suspended.

         (c)      If Executive is removed and/or permanently prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order issued under
Section 8(e)(4) or 8(g)(1) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C.
Section 1818(e)(4) or (g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this contract
shall terminate as of the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the
contracting parties shall not be affected.

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

         (e)      All obligations of the Bank 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: (i) by the Director of
the OTS (or his designee), the FDIC or the Resolution Trust Corporation, at the
time the FDIC enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of
the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act, 12 U.S.C. Section 1823(c); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS (or
his designee) at the time the Director (or his designee) approves a supervisory
merger to resolve problems related to the operations of the Bank or when the
Bank is determined by the Director to be in an unsafe or unsound condition. Any
rights of the parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected
by such action.

         (f)      Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Agreement, or
otherwise, are subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section
1828(k), 12 C.F.R. Part 359 and 12 C.F.R. Section 545.121 and any rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

16.      REINSTATEMENT OF BENEFITS UNDER SECTION 15(b).

         In the event Executive is suspended and/or temporarily prohibited from
participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by a notice described in
Section 15(b) hereof (the "Notice") during the term of this Agreement and a
Change in Control, as defined herein, occurs, the Bank will assume its
obligation to pay and Executive will be entitled to receive all of the
termination benefits provided for under Section 5 of this Agreement upon the
Bank's receipt of a dismissal of charges in the Notice.

17.      SEVERABILITY.

         If, for any reason, any provision of this Agreement, or any part of any
provision, is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision
of this Agreement or any part of such provision not held so invalid,

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and each such other provision and part thereof shall to the full extent
consistent with law continue in full force and effect.

18.      HEADINGS FOR REFERENCE ONLY.

         The headings of sections and 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.

19.      GOVERNING LAW.

         The validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this
Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, but only to
the extent not superseded by federal law.

20.      ARBITRATION.

         Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration, conducted before a panel
of three arbitrators sitting in a location selected by Executive within fifty
(50) miles from the location of the Bank, in accordance with the rules of the
American Arbitration Association 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 performance of his right to be paid
until the Date of Termination during the pendency of any dispute or controversy
arising under or in connection with this Agreement.

         In the event any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection
with Executive's termination is resolved in favor of Executive, whether by
judgment, arbitration or settlement, Executive shall be entitled to the payment
of all back-pay, including salary, bonuses and any other cash compensation,
fringe benefits and any compensation and benefits due Executive under this
Agreement.

21.      PAYMENT OF COSTS AND LEGAL FEES.

         All reasonable costs and 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 Bank if Executive is successful on the merits
pursuant to a legal judgment, arbitration or settlement.

22.      INDEMNIFICATION.

         (a)      The Bank shall provide Executive (including his heirs,
executors and administrators) with coverage under a standard directors' and
officers' liability insurance policy at its expense and shall indemnify
Executive (and his heirs, executors and administrators) as permitted under
federal law against all expenses and liabilities reasonably incurred by him in
connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in which he may
be involved by reason of his having been a director or officer of the Bank
(whether or not he continues to be a director or officer at the time of
incurring such expenses or liabilities), such expenses and liabilities to
include, but not be limited to, judgments, court costs and attorneys' fees and
the cost of reasonable settlements.

         (b)      Any payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section are
subject to and conditioned upon compliance with 12 U.S.C. Section 1828(k), 12
C.F.R. Part 359 and 12 C.F.R. Section 545.121 and any rules or regulations
promulgated thereunder.

23.      SUCCESSOR TO THE BANK.

         The Bank shall require any successor or assignee, whether direct or
indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise, to all or
substantially all the business or assets of the Bank or the Holding Company,
expressly and unconditionally to assume and agree to perform the Bank's
obligations under this Agreement, in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Bank would be required to perform if no such succession or assignment had
taken place.

                                     - 8 -

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First Federal Savings Bank of America and FIRSTFED
AMERICA BANCORP, INC. have caused this Agreement to be executed and their seals
to be affixed hereunto by their duly authorized officers and directors, and
Executive has signed this Agreement, on the 31st day of January, 1997.

ATTEST:                              FIRST FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK
                                     OF AMERICA

/s/ Cecilia R. Viveiros              By:    /s/ Robert F. Stoico
                                           -------------------------------------
Cecilia R. Viveiros                        Robert F. Stoico
Secretary                                  President and Chief Executive Officer

         [SEAL]

ATTEST:                              FIRSTFED AMERICA BANCORP, INC.

                                           (Guarantor)

/s/ Cecilia R. Viveiros              By:    /s/ Robert F. Stoico
                                           -------------------------------------
Cecilia R. Viveiros                        Robert F. Stoico
Secretary                                  President and Chief Executive Officer

         [SEAL]

WITNESS:

                                            /s/ Edward A. Hjerpe, III
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Edward A. Hjerpe, III
                                           Executive

                                     - 9 -