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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.3
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT


     This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 1st
day of January, 1994 by and between Bay View Federal Bank (the "Bank"), a
Federal Savings Bank, and Cynthia Hart (the "Employee").

                                R E C I T A L S:

     A.  The parties desire to enter into this Agreement setting forth the terms
and conditions of the employment relationship between the Bank and the Employee.

     B.  The Board of Directors of the Bank (or "Board") believes it is in the
best interests of the Bank to enter into this Agreement with the Employee in
order to assure continuity of management of the Bank, and has approved and
authorized the execution by the Bank of this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the mutual
promises herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.  Executive's Title, Duty, Authority and Time Commitment.
         ------------------------------------------------------ 

     a.  Title.  The Employee's position and title with the Bank shall be that
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of Senior Vice President, Asset Management Division Manager.

     b.  Duties and Authority.  The Employee's duties and authority shall be
         --------------------                                               
consistent with those of a Senior Vice President, Asset Management Division
Manager.  The Employee shall render such administrative and management services
to the Bank as are customarily performed by persons employed in the savings bank
industry in a similar executive capacity.  In addition, the Employee shall
perform such other duties as the Board, or its authorized representative, may
from time to time require.  All duties performed by the Employee hereunder shall
be in accordance with such reasonable standards as are established from time to
time by the Board, or its authorized representative, and performance evaluations
shall be conducted by or under the direction of the Board and reviewed with the
Employee annually.

     c.  Time Commitment.  During the "Term of this Agreement", as defined in
         ---------------                                                     
Section 5 of this Agreement, unless the Employee has obtained the prior written
consent of the Board, or its authorized representative,

     (1) The Employee shall render his or her full productive time and services
to the Bank, keeping normal business hours, but is authorized to engage in such
savings and loan trade association and related activities during normal business
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hours which, in his or her judgment, with the concurrence of his or her
immediate supervisor, are in the business interests of the Bank; and

     (2) The Employee shall not render personal services to any other person or
entity for compensation, either as an employee, consultant, director or officer,
but shall remain free to engage in community, charitable, political and personal
pursuits which do not interfere with his performance under this Agreement.

     2.  Compensation.  The Bank agrees to pay the Employee during the Term of
         ------------                                                         
this Agreement a salary as follows:  salary of  $105,288.00 per annum, with the
salary to be reviewed on July 1, 1994, and annually on each July 1st thereafter
during the Term of this Agreement. Salary increases are not guaranteed or
automatic.  The salary provided for in this Agreement shall be payable semi-
monthly in accordance with the practices of the Bank.

     3.  Discretionary Bonuses.  The Employee may be entitled to participation
         ---------------------                                                
in discretionary bonuses and incentive payments to the extent authorized and
declared by the Board or its authorized representative.

     4.  Additional Benefits.
         ------------------- 

     a.  Participation in Employee Benefit Plans.  The Employee shall be
         ---------------------------------------                        
entitled to participate in any plan of the Bank, as such plan may from time to
time provide, relating to stock options, stock purchases, pension, thrift,
deferred profit-sharing, group insurance coverage, education or other retirement
or supplemental employee benefits that the Bank may adopt for the benefit of its
employees.

     b.  Fringe Benefits.  The Employee shall be entitled to participate in any
         ---------------                                                       
other program which may be or become applicable to the Bank's executive
employees, as such program may from time to time provide including a reasonable
expense account, the payment of reasonable expenses for attending educational
seminars and annual and periodic meetings of trade associations, and other
benefits which are commensurate with the responsibilities and functions to be
performed by the Employee under this Agreement.

     5.  Term.
         ---- 

     a.  Initial Term and Automatic Extension.  The initial term of employment
         ------------------------------------                                 
under this Agreement shall be for a period of one year commencing on January 1,
1994 (the "Commencement Date").  On the first anniversary of the Commencement
Date and on each anniversary date thereafter, the Term of this Agreement may be
extended by the Board of Directors, or its authorized 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
representative, for one additional year beyond the then-current expiration date.
Reference herein to the "Term of this Agreement" shall include the term as so
extended. If the Board of Directors, or its authorized representative, fails at
any time to extend the Term of this Agreement, then this Agreement shall
automatically expire at the then-current expiration date.

     b.  Consequences of Non-Extension.  If this Agreement is not extended as
         -----------------------------                                       
provided in Section 5a above, on the expiration of the Term of this Agreement,
the Employee shall be deemed to be employed by the Bank for no specific term and
the Employee's rights as an employee of the Bank shall be no less than those
provided by the laws of the State of California and the laws of the United
States provided, however, that such post expiration employment may be terminated
at any time by the Employee or by the Board, or its authorized representative,
with or without cause by delivery to the Employee of a written notice (the
"Termination Notice") of such termination.

     6.  Vacations.  At such reasonable times as the Board, or its authorized
         ---------                                                           
representative, shall in its discretion permit, the Employee shall be entitled,
without loss of pay, to absent himself or herself voluntarily from the
performance of his or her employment under this Agreement, all such voluntary
absences to count as vacation time, provided that:

     a.  Basic Vacation.  The Employee shall be entitled to an annual paid
         --------------                                                   
vacation of 20 days per year.

     b.  Timing of Vacation.  Vacations shall be scheduled in a reasonable
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manner by the Employee and subject to the Bank's needs, except that the Employee
shall take not less than ten (10) days vacation consecutively in each calendar
year.

     7.  Termination of Employment.
         ------------------------- 

     a.  Termination by Bank.  The Employee's employment under this Agreement
         -------------------                                                 
may be terminated, with or without cause, at any time by the Board, or its
authorized representative, by delivery to the Employee of a written notice (the
"Termination Notice") of such termination.  The Termination Notice shall state
the effective date of such termination and whether such termination is for
"cause," as defined in Section 7a(1), or without cause pursuant to Section
7a(2).  Unless the Termination Notice states that the termination is for cause
and states with reasonable particularity the cause, the termination shall be
deemed to be without cause pursuant to Section 7a(2).  In the event an
arbitrator appointed pursuant to Section 14 of this Agreement determines that a
purported termination for cause was in fact without proper cause, the
termination shall nonetheless be effective, but the Employee shall, be entitled
to the severance payment pursuant to Section 7a(2) hereof.

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<PAGE>
 
     (1) Termination by Bank for Cause.  The Employee's employment under this
         -----------------------------                                       
Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Board, or its authorized
representative, for "cause," which shall include, but not be limited to, the
items specified in 12 C.F.R. (S) 563.39 and the following:

     (a) The commission by the Employee of an act of misconduct (including, but
not limited to, the violation of any law, rule, regulation or cease and desist
order applicable to the Employee or the Bank), or an act which constitutes a
conflict of interest with the Bank or its stockholders, or a breach of a
fiduciary duty owed by the Employee;

     (b) The Employee's breach of this Agreement, dishonesty, incompetence,
willful misconduct, habitual absence from work, failure to perform duties, or
negligence or incompetence in the performance of stated duties;

     (c) The Employee's becoming physically or mentally incapable of performing
the essential functions of his employment position; or

     (d) Any criminal conviction of the Employee (other than for a minor traffic
violation or similar offense), whether or not in the line of duty.

In the event of termination for cause under this Section 7a(1), the Employee
shall have no right to receive compensation or other benefits under this
Agreement for any period after such termination.

     (2) Termination by Bank Without Cause.  The Employee's employment under
         ---------------------------------                                  
this Agreement may be terminated at any time by the Board, or its authorized
representative, without cause; provided, however, that unless the termination of
this Agreement is for "cause," as set forth in Section 7a(1), or pursuant to
Sections 7b, 7c, 7d, or 9, then, upon such termination, in addition to any
benefits that had accrued to the date of termination but in lieu of any rights
or benefits that would have accrued following such termination, the Employee
shall be entitled, upon execution of a release acceptable to the Board, or its
authorized representative, and in a form substantially identical to Exhibit "A",
to a lump sum severance payment pursuant to the following schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          Length of Service                          Severance Pay
          -----------------                          -------------
<S>                                                 <C> 
(from most recent hire date)
Up to six months                                    0 months salary
Six months to two years                             6 months salary
More than two years                                 12 months salary
</TABLE>

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<PAGE>
 
     b.  Termination by the Employee.  This Agreement may be terminated by the
         ---------------------------                                          
Employee at any time upon 90 days written notice to the Bank or upon such
shorter period as may be agreed upon between the Employee and the Board.

     c.  Termination by Death.  In the event of the death of the Employee during
         --------------------                                                   
the Term of this Agreement, the Employee's estate, or such person as the
Employee may have previously designated in writing for group insurance purposes,
shall be entitled to receive the salary due the Employee through the last day of
the calendar month in which his death shall have occurred.

     d.  Suspension or Termination by Regulatory Action.
         ---------------------------------------------- 
     (1) Suspension.  If the Employee 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 (g)(1) of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Act ("FDIA"), 12 U.S.C.(S)1818(e)(3); (g)(1), the Bank's obligations
under this Agreement 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 the Employee all or part of the compensation
withheld while its obligations under this Agreement were suspended and (ii)
reinstate in whole or in part any of the obligations which were suspended, but
vested rights of the parties shall not be affected.

     (2) Removal.  If the Employee is removed from office and/or permanently
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prohibited from participating in the conduct of the Bank's affairs by an order
issued under Section 8 (e)(4) or (g)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C.(S)1818(e)(4);
(g)(1), all obligations of the Bank under this Agreement shall terminate, as of
the effective date of the order, but vested rights of the parties shall not be
affected.

     (3) Termination on Default.  If the Bank becomes in default (as defined in
         ----------------------                                                
Section 3(x)(1) of the FDIA, 12 U.S.C.(S)1813(x)(1)), all obligations under this
Agreement shall terminate as of the date of default, but this provision shall
not affect any vested rights of the parties.

     (4) Supervisory Assistance or Merger. All obligations under this Agreement
         --------------------------------                                      
shall be terminated, except to the extent determined that continuation of the
Agreement is necessary for the continued operation of the Bank: (i) by the
Director of the Office of Thrift Supervision ("OTS") or his or her designee at
the time the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Resolution Trust
Corporation enters into an agreement to provide assistance to or on behalf of
the Bank under the authority contained in Section 13(c) of the FDIA, 12
U.S.C.(S)1823(c); or (ii) by the Director of the OTS or his or her designee at
the time the Director of the OTS or his or her designee approves a supervisory
merger to resolve

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
problems related to operation of the Bank or when the Bank is determined by the
Director of the OTS to be in an unsafe or unsound condition.  Any rights of the
parties that have already vested, however, shall not be affected by any such
action.

     8.  Disability.  If the Employee shall become disabled or incapacitated to
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the extent that in the judgment of the Board, or its authorized representative,
he or she is unable to perform the essential functions of his or her employment
position, he or she shall be entitled to receive disability benefits of the type
provided for other executive employees of the Bank.  In such event, any rights
of the Employee to receive the salary provided in Section 2 of this Agreement
shall be suspended until the Employee is able to fully perform his or her
duties.

     9.  Change in Control.  If during the Term of this Agreement, there is a
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"change in control," as hereinafter defined, of the Bank or of any company
holding more than 50 percent of the outstanding Common Stock of the Bank
("Holding Company"), the Employee shall be entitled upon execution of a release
acceptable to the Board or its authorized representative to a severance payment
in the event the Employee's employment is terminated, other than for "cause" as
set forth in Section 7a(1) or pursuant to Sections 7b (except as provided
below), 7c, or 7d, within twenty-four (24) months after the change in control.
The amount of this payment shall equal One Hundred Thirty percent (130%) of the
Employee's annual salary as of the date of termination and shall be in lieu of
any severance payment that would be due Employee under Section 7a(2); provided,
however, that in no event shall the amount of such payment combined with other
payments to be paid upon Employee's termination or upon said change in control,
exceed two hundred ninety-nine percent (299%) of the employee's "base amount" of
compensation, as discussed in Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), or such other amount as would from time to time
constitute an excess parachute payment nondeductible or taxable respectively
under Code Sections 280G or 4999 as they may be amended.  Except as provided
above, such termination or severance payment shall be in addition to all other
amounts payable to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, provided, however,
that the amount of termination or severance payment described in the preceding
sentence shall be reduced to the extent that such additional amounts are
included in the computation of the payment described in Section 280G(b)(2) of
the Code.  This termination or severance payment shall also be made in the case
of a termination of employment by the Employee pursuant to Section 7b of this
Agreement within twenty-four (24) months after a change in control because
during such twenty-four (24) month period there has been a material diminution
of or interference with the Employee's duties, responsibilities and benefits as
a Senior Vice President, Asset Management Division Manager of the Bank. By way
of example and not by way of limitation, any of the following actions, if
unreasonable or materially adverse to the Employee, shall

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
constitute such diminution or interference unless consented to in writing by the
Employee: (i) a change in the principal workplace of the Employee to a location
more than 25 miles from the Bank's main office; or (ii) a reduction or adverse
change in the salary, or benefits which had theretofore been provided to the
Employee, other than as part of an overall program applied uniformly and with
equitable effect to all members of senior management of the Bank or Holding
Company.

     Any payments made to the Employee pursuant to this Agreement, or otherwise,
are subject to and conditioned upon their compliance with 12 U.S.C. (S) 1828(k)
and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

     The term "change in control" is defined solely as any acquisition of
control of the Bank or the Holding Company (other than pursuant to the
Conversion or by a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an
employee benefit plan of the Bank or Holding Company), as defined in 12 C.F.R.
(S) 574.4, or any successor regulation, which would require the filing of an
application for acquisition of control or notice of change in control as set
forth in 12 C.F.R. (S) 574.3, or any successor regulation.

     10.  Successors and Assigns.  The terms, provisions, covenants, and
          ----------------------                                        
conditions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of
the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided,
however, that the Employee may not sell, assign, pledge, hypothecate or
otherwise transfer this Agreement or any part thereof without the prior written
consent of the bank, which consent may be withheld by the Bank for any reason it
deems appropriate.  "Successors and assigns" shall mean, in the case of the
Bank, any successor pursuant to a merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of
all or substantially all of the assets of the Bank.

     11.  Indemnification.  The Bank hereby agrees that the Bank shall indemnify
          ---------------                                                       
the Employee to the fullest extent permitted by Section 545.121 of the Rules and
Regulations for Federal Associations, as such section may be amended.

     12.  Disclosure of Information.  Employee recognizes that as an executive
          -------------------------                                           
of the Bank, Employee occupies a position of trust with respect to much business
information of a secret or confidential nature which is the property of the Bank
and which will be imparted to Employee from time to time in the course of
Employee's duties.  Employee therefore agrees that Employee shall not at any
time, whether in the course of his or her employment or thereafter, use or
disclose directly or indirectly to any person outside the Bank any of such
information, except as required in the ordinary course of Employee's duties
under this Agreement.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     13.  Arbitration.  The parties hereby agree that any controversy or dispute
          -----------                                                           
arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be resolved pursuant to this
Section 13.

     a.  Agreement to Negotiate.  Prior to submitting any controversy, dispute
         ----------------------                                               
or claim arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement to arbitration, the
parties hereto agree to observe the following procedures:

     (1) The party desiring to submit any such controversy, dispute or claim to
arbitration (the "claimant") first shall give written notice thereof to the
other party (the "recipient") setting forth in detail the pertinent facts and
circumstances relating to such controversy, dispute or claim;

     (2) The recipient shall have a period of fifteen (15) days in which to
consider the controversy, dispute or claim which is the subject of the notice
and to furnish in writing to the claimant a written statement of the recipient's
position;

     (3) Within seven days of claimant's receipt of recipient's written
statement, the parties shall meet in an effort to resolve amicably any
differences which may exist and, failing such resolution, either or both of the
parties shall have the right to submit the matter to arbitration.

     b.  Procedure for Arbitration.
         ------------------------- 

     (1) The parties hereby agree that any controversy, dispute or claim arising
out of, or relating to, this Agreement, or breach of this Agreement, including
disputes concerning termination of this Agreement, shall be settled by
arbitration in San Mateo, California.  This agreement to arbitrate shall be
specifically enforceable.  Judgment upon any award rendered by an arbitrator may
be entered in any court having jurisdiction.

     (2) Any demand for arbitration must be served on the other party within
forty-five (45) days of the act or omission giving rise to the controversy,
dispute or claim.

     (3) There shall be one impartial arbitrator chosen by the Bank from a list
procured from the California Mediation and Conciliation Service.

     (4) The arbitrator shall not extend, modify or suspend any of the terms of
this Agreement.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     (5) The decision of the Arbitrator within the scope of the submission shall
be final and binding on all parties, and any right to judicial action on any
matter subject to arbitration hereunder is hereby waived (unless otherwise
provided by applicable law), except suit to enforce this arbitration award.
     (6) Employee agrees that such arbitration shall be the exclusive forum for
any controversy, dispute or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
or breach or termination of this Agreement.  Employee further expressly agrees
that in arbitration his or her exclusive remedy shall be a money award not to
exceed the amount of wages he or she would have earned under this Agreement but
for the alleged violation and the Employee shall not be entitled to any other
remedy, at law or in equity, including but not limited to reinstatement, other
money damages, punitive damages and/or injunctive relief.

     (7) Each party shall pay such party's own attorney or other representative,
and the expenses of such party's witnesses and all other expenses connected with
his case.  Other costs of the arbitration, including the cost of any record or
transcript of the arbitration, administrative fees, arbitrator's fees, and all
other fees and costs, shall be borne equally by the parties.

     14.  General Provisions.
          ------------------ 

     a.  Notices.  Any notice, request, demand or other communication required
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or permitted hereunder shall be deemed to be properly given when personally
served in writing and when deposited in the United States mail, registered or
certified, postage prepaid, addressed to the party at the last address supplied
to the sending party by the addressed party.

     b.  Waiver.  The waiver by any party of a breach of any provision of this
         ------                                                               
Agreement by the other shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any
subsequent breach of the same provision or any other provision of this
Agreement.

     c.  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire agreement of the
         ----------------                                                      
parties.  It supersedes any and all other agreements, either oral or in writing,
between the parties hereto with respect to the employment of the Employee by the
Bank.  Each party to this Agreement acknowledges that no representations,
inducements, promises or agreements, oral or otherwise, have been made by any
party, or anyone acting on behalf of any party, which are not embodied herein,
and that no other agreement, statement or promise not contained in this
Agreement shall be valid and binding.

     d.  Amendments.  No amendments or additions to this Agreement shall be
         ----------                                                        
binding unless in writing and signed by both parties, except as herein otherwise
provided.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     e.  Paragraph Headings.  The paragraph headings used in this Agreement are
         ------------------                                                    
included solely for convenience and shall not affect, or be used in connection
with, the interpretation of this Agreement.

     f.  Severability.  The provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed
         ------------                                                   
severable and the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of the other provisions hereof.

     g.  Governing Law.  Except where federal law governs, this Agreement is to
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be governed by and construed under the internal substantive laws of the State of
California (and not under conflict of law principles) as such laws apply to
contracts made and to be performed entirely in the State of California.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day and
year first hereinabove written.

                                   BAY VIEW FEDERAL BANK,
                                   A Federal Savings Bank


                                       /s/ John E. Brubaker
                                   By: -----------------------------
                                       Name: John E. Brubaker
                                       Title: President and Chief Executive 
                                       Officer


                                   THE EMPLOYEE

                                   /s/ Cynthia Hart
                                   ---------------------------------
                                   Cynthia Hart

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