Guarantee Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006



 Exhibit 10.2 
 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT 
 CRESCENT BANKING COMPANY 
 Dated as of May 18, 2006 









 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
  


					
	 	  	 	  	Page
	ARTICLE I
	DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION
			
	 SECTION 1.1.
	  	 Definitions and Interpretation
	  	1
	
	ARTICLE II
	POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
			
	 SECTION 2.1.
	  	 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee
	  	4
			
	 SECTION 2.2.
	  	 Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee
	  	5
			
	 SECTION 2.3.
	  	 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee
	  	7
			
	 SECTION 2.4.
	  	 Events of Default; Waiver
	  	7
			
	 SECTION 2.5.
	  	 Events of Default; Notice
	  	8
	
	ARTICLE III
	THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
			
	 SECTION 3.1.
	  	 The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility
	  	8
			
	 SECTION 3.2.
	  	 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee
	  	9
	
	ARTICLE IV
	GUARANTEE
			
	 SECTION 4.1.
	  	 Guarantee
	  	9
			
	 SECTION 4.2.
	  	 Waiver of Notice and Demand
	  	10
			
	 SECTION 4.3.
	  	 Obligations Not Affected
	  	10
			
	 SECTION 4.4.
	  	 Rights of Holders
	  	11
			
	 SECTION 4.5.
	  	 Guarantee of Payment
	  	11
			
	 SECTION 4.6.
	  	 Subrogation
	  	11
			
	 SECTION 4.7.
	  	 Independent Obligations
	  	12
			
	 SECTION 4.8.
	  	 Enforcement
	  	12

  

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 (continued) 
  

					
	 	  	 	  	Page
	ARTICLE V
	LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION
			
	 SECTION 5.1.
	  	 Limitation of Transactions
	  	12
			
	 SECTION 5.2.
	  	 Ranking
	  	13
	
	ARTICLE VI
	TERMINATION
			
	 SECTION 6.1.
	  	 Termination
	  	13
	
	ARTICLE VII
	INDEMNIFICATION
			
	 SECTION 7.1.
	  	 Exculpation
	  	14
			
	 SECTION 7.2.
	  	 Indemnification
	  	14
			
	 SECTION 7.3.
	  	 Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses
	  	15
	
	ARTICLE VIII
	MISCELLANEOUS
			
	 SECTION 8.1.
	  	 Successors and Assigns
	  	15
			
	 SECTION 8.2.
	  	 Amendments
	  	16
			
	 SECTION 8.3.
	  	 Notices
	  	16
			
	 SECTION 8.4.
	  	 Benefit
	  	17
			
	 SECTION 8.5.
	  	 Governing Law
	  	17
			
	 SECTION 8.6.
	  	 Counterparts
	  	17

  

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 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT 
 This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the “Guarantee”), dated as of May 18, 2006, is executed and delivered by Crescent Banking Company, incorporated in Georgia (the “Guarantor”), and Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association, a national banking association with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital
Securities (as defined herein) of Crescent Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer”). 
 WHEREAS, pursuant to an
Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, the administrators of the Issuer named therein, (the “Declaration”), dated as of May 18, 2006, among the administrators and trustees named therein of the Issuer, Crescent Banking Company, as
sponsor, and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of up to $3,500,000, designated the Capital
Securities (the “Capital Securities”) due July 7, 2036; and 
 WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the
terms and conditions set forth herein. 
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which
purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders. 
 ARTICLE I 
 DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION 
 SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation. 
 In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires: 
 (a) capitalized terms used in
this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; 
 (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; 
 (c) all references to “the
Guarantee” or “this Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; 
 (d) all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; 
 (e) terms defined in the Declaration as of the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
requires; and 







 (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. 
 “Beneficiaries” means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable. 
 “Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any
particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at 919 Market Street, Suite 700, Wilmington, DE 19801. 
 “Covered Person” means any Holder of Capital Securities. 
 “Debentures” means the junior
subordinated debentures of Crescent Banking Company, designated the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2036, held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. 
 “Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. 
 “Guarantee Payments” means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent
not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account (as defined
in the Declaration) therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to any Capital Securities called for
redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to Capital Securities called for redemption upon
the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the
Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the
extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Issuer as required by applicable law (in either case, the “Liquidation Distribution”). 
 “Guarantee
Trustee” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

 “Holder” means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. 

“Indemnified Person” means the Guarantee Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, 

  

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members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee. 
 “Indenture” means the Indenture, dated as of May 18, 2006, between the Guarantor and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, not in its
individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee of the Issuer. 
 “Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the definition of “Guarantee Payments” herein. 
 “Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities” means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but
separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to, but excluding,
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding. 
 “Obligations” means any
costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities.

 “Officer’s Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person.
Any Officer’s Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include: 
 (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officer’s Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; 
 (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the
Officer’s Certificate; 
 (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such
officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and 
 (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. 
 “Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. 
 “Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of any matters
relating to this Guarantee, including any vice president, any 

  

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assistant vice president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate
Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is
referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. 
 “Successor Guarantee Trustee”
means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1. 
 “Trust
Securities” means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities. 
 ARTICLE II 
 POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE 
 SECTION 2.1.
Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. 
 (a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the
benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor
Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee. 
 (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee
Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities. 
 (c) The Guarantee Trustee,
before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants
shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4(b)) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee,
the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of
his or her own affairs. 
 (d) No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from
liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: 
 (i)
prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred: 
 (A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and 
  

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 (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in
the case of any such certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not on their face they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;

 (ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the
Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; 
 (iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance
with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and 
 (iv) no provision of this
Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall
have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is
not reasonably assured to it. 
 SECTION 2.2. Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee. 
 (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1: 
 (i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution,
certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented
by the proper party or parties. 
  

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 (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate. 
 (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the
Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. 
 (iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument or other writing (or any
rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof). 
 (v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and
the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any
court of competent jurisdiction. 
 (vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or
powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee’s agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such
reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of
its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee. 
 (vii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be
bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper
or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. 
 (viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee
shall not be 

  

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responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. 
 (ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature
of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the
terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee’s or its agent’s taking such action. 
 (x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to
enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such
remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (C) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions. 
 (xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably
believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee. 
 (b) No
provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be
illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to
the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. 
 SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. 
 The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee. 
 SECTION 2.4. Events of
Default; Waiver. 
 (a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform
any of its payment or other obligations hereunder. 
 (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any 

  

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such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to
any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. 
 SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice. 
 (a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided,
however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders
of the Capital Securities. 
 (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless the
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge
thereof. 
 ARTICLE III 
 THE
GUARANTEE TRUSTEE 
 SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. 
 (a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall: 
 (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and 
 (ii) be a corporation or national association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or
territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least Fifty Million U.S. Dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or
examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published. 
 (b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under
Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c). 
  

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 (c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest’
within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to, this Guarantee. 
 SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee. 
 (a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except
during an Event of Default. 
 (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a
Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. 
 (c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its
removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take
effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee. 

(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60
days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after
prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee. 
 (e) No Guarantee Trustee
shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee. 
 (f) Upon termination of this Guarantee
or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination,
removal or resignation. 
 ARTICLE IV 
 GUARANTEE 
 SECTION 4.1. Guarantee. 
 (a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense
(except as defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The 

  

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Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by
causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. 
 (b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all
Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of
any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof. 
 SECTION 4.2.
Waiver of Notice and Demand. 
 The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it
applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption
and all other notices and demands. 
 SECTION 4.3. Obligations Not Affected. 
 The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the
happening from time to time of any of the following: 
 (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; 
 (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption
Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than
an extension of time for the payment of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sums payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension
of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture); 
 (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence
on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any
kind; 
 (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency,
bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; 
  

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 (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities; 
 (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or 
 (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being
the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. 
 There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. 
 SECTION 4.4. Rights of Holders. 
 (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon
the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine that the
actions so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by legal counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the
Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the
Guarantee Trustee in personal liability. 
 (b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to
require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor. 
 SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment. 
 This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee
Agreement will not be discharged except (i) by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by Issuer Trust) or (ii) upon the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures to the Holders as
provided in the Trust Agreement. 
 SECTION 4.6. Subrogation. 
 The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent 

  

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required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity,
reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation
of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. 
 SECTION 4.7.
Independent Obligations. 
 The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer
with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof. 
 SECTION 4.8. Enforcement. 
 A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1 (b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor
waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. 
 The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided,
however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement,
in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. 
 ARTICLE V 
 LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION 
 SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions. 
 So long as
any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension
thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor may not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s capital
stock or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other
than (i) payments under this Guarantee, (ii) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or
for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or


  

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securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of
the Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (iii) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the
Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock, (iv) the purchase of fractional interests in
shares of the Guarantor’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder’s
rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder’s rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (vi) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights
where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). 
 SECTION 5.2. Ranking. 
 This Guarantee will
constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of
Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein. 
 The right of the Guarantor
to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants
should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments thereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any
indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise. 
 ARTICLE VI 
 TERMINATION 
 SECTION 6.1. Termination. 
 This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as the
case may be, of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or
under this Guarantee. 
  

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 ARTICLE VII 
 INDEMNIFICATION 
 SECTION 7.1. Exculpation. 
 (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for
any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission of such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority
conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person’s negligence or willful misconduct with respect
to such acts or omissions. 
 (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of
the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person’s professional
or expert competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities,
profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid. 
 SECTION 7.2. Indemnification. 
 (a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified
Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person’s powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation
or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. 
 (b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified
Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the
commencement thereof. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor’s choice at the Guarantor’s expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the
Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be satisfactory to the
Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor’s election to appoint counsel to represent the Indemnified 

  

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Person in any action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the
reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local counsel), if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual
or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified
Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after
notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified
Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding. 
 SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses. 
 The Guarantor agrees: 
 (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such
compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and 

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses,
disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or
advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. 
 The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the
resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. 
 ARTICLE VIII 
 MISCELLANEOUS 
 SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns.

 All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of
the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease 

  

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of the Guarantor’s assets to another entity, in each case to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or
delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. 
 SECTION 8.2. Amendments. 
 Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights
of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to amendments of the Guarantee. 
 SECTION 8.3. Notices. 
 All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such
notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: 
 (a) If given to the Guarantee
Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities): 
 Wells Fargo Bank, National Association 
 919
Market Street 
 Suite 700 
 Wilmington, DE 19801 
 Attention: Corporate Trust Division 
 Telecopy: 302-575-2006 
 Telephone:
302-575-2005 
 (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor’s mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee): 
 Crescent Banking Company

 7 Caring Way 
 Jasper, Georgia
30143 
 Attention: Leland W. Brantley, Jr. 
 Telecopy: (678) 454-2276 
 Telephone: (678) 454-2258 
 (c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. 
 All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage
prepaid, except that if a 

  

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notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document
shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. 
 SECTION 8.4. Benefit. 
 This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable
from the Capital Securities. 
 SECTION 8.5. Governing Law. 
 THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF. 
 SECTION 8.6. Counterparts. 
 This Guarantee may
contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Guarantee may be executed by the affixing of the signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature
pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. 
  

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 THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. 
  

			
	 CRESCENT BANKING COMPANY,
 as
Guarantor

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Leland W. Brantley, Jr.

	 Name:
	 	 Leland W. Brantley, Jr.

	 Title:
	 	 CFO

	
	 WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
 ASSOCIATION, as Guarantee Trustee

		
	 By:
	 	 /s/ Jose I. Mercado

	 Name:
	 	 Jose I. Mercado

	 Title:
	 	 Assistant Vice President



  

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