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                                                                   Exhibit 10.17

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY






                         COMMERCIAL LOAN SALE AGREEMENT

                                     between

                            FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK,
                                    as Seller


                                       and

                               FIB HOLDINGS, INC.
                                  as Purchaser


                          Dated as of December, 1, 1999
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         COMMERCIAL LOAN SALE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of December
1, 1999, by and between First International Bank, a Connecticut bank and trust
company (the "Seller"), and its successors and permitted assigns and FIB
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Purchaser"), and its successors and
assigns.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Purchaser has been formed as a qualifying special purpose
entity for the purpose of acquiring Commercial Loans from the Seller; and

         WHEREAS, from time to time, the Seller intends to sell or contribute
Commercial Loans to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser intends to purchase and/or
accept Commercial Loans from the Seller.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants set forth
herein, and for other valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

         SECTION 1. Definitions; Interpretation. Capitalized terms shall have
the meanings ascribed to them in this Agreement and the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

         "Adverse Claim" shall mean any claim of ownership or any lien, security
interest, title retention, trust or other charge or encumbrance, or other type
of preferential arrangement having the effect or purpose of creating a lien or
security interest, other than the interests created under the Warehouse and
Security Agreement in favor of the Lender.

         "Applicable Percentage" shall mean (i) for Eligible Commercial Loans
that are not Insured Commercial Loans, 82% and (ii) for Eligible Commercial
Loans that are Insured Commercial Loans, the percentage agreed to among the
Seller, the Purchaser and the Lender pursuant to a separate written agreement.

         "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Hartford, Connecticut
are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or governmental decree to be
closed.

         "Collateral" shall have the meaning set forth in the Warehouse and
Security Agreement.

         "Commercial Loan" shall mean a commercial loan made by the Seller to
Obligors in connection with financing the following: equipment loans, working
capital term loans, and loans secured by mortgages on commercial real estate.

         "Commercial Loan Acquisition Price" shall mean the lesser of (i) the
Applicable Percentage of the Unpaid Principal Balance for Eligible Commercial
Loans as of the date of purchase, and (ii) the Applicable Percentage of the
aggregate market value of such Eligible Commercial Loans.

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         "Commercial Loan Documents" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2 of the Custody Agreement.

         "Commercial Loan Files" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2
of the Custody Agreement.

         "Custody Agreement" shall mean the Commercial Loan Custody Agreement,
dated as of December 1, 1999, among the Purchaser, the Lender and the Custodian

         "Custodian" shall be HSBC Bank USA.

         "Cut-off Date" shall mean with respect to each Commercial Loan, the
applicable Funding Date, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the Seller,
the Purchaser and the Lender.

         "Eligible Commercial Loan" shall mean, for any date of determination,
any Commercial Loan as to which the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 4(b) of the Warehouse and Security Agreement are true and correct as of
the related Funding Date (for purposes hereof substituting the word "Seller" for
"Borrower" therein), and as to which the Custodian has delivered a Trust Receipt
pursuant to the Custody Agreement.

         "Event of Default" shall have the meaning assigned thereto in Section
10 of the Warehouse and Security Agreement.

         "Expiration Date" shall mean December 28, 2000, which is the last
permissible Sale Date.

         "Funding Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2 of the
Warehouse and Security Agreement.

         "Governmental Authority" shall mean any nation or government, any state
or other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government.

         "Insurance Policy" collectively, shall mean those certain Comprehensive
Export Credit Insurance Policy #649-8471 issued on April 17, 1998 and renewed on
April 17, 1999 and the Domestic Credit Insurance Policy #649-8512 issued on July
28, 1998 and renewed on July 28, 1999, each issued by the Insurer and relating
to each Insured Commercial Loan, as each may be subsequently renewed, extended,
amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

         "Insured Commercial Loan" shall mean a Commercial Loan that is entitled
to the benefits of the Insurance Policy.

         "Insurer" shall mean the National Union Fire Insurance Company of
Pittsburgh, PA and its permitted successors and assigns.

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         "Insurer Consent" shall mean a letter from the Insurer consenting to
the transfer by the Seller to the Purchaser of any and all Insured Commercial
Loans hereunder and the pledge of such Insured Commercial Loans to the Lender
pursuant to the Warehouse and Security Agreement and containing such other
provisions that the Lender may request.

         "Lender" shall mean Prudential Securities Credit Corporation, its
successors and permitted assigns.

         "Obligor" means the obligor on a Commercial Loan.

         "Parent" shall mean First International Bancorp, Inc., its successors
and permitted assigns.

         "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
estate, unincorporated organization or government (or any agency or political
subsection thereof).

         "Repurchase Price" shall mean as to any Commercial Loan, the then
current Commercial Loan Acquisition Price.

         "Sale Assignment" each assignment, substantially in the form of Exhibit
A to this Agreement, executed by the Seller in favor of the Purchaser from time
to time conveying Commercial Loans to the Purchaser.

         "Sale Date" shall mean, with respect to any Commercial Loan, the date
on which such Commercial Loan is sold or contributed pursuant to Section 2 of
this Agreement.

         "Trust Receipt" shall be defined in the Custody Agreement.

         "Unpaid Principal Balance" means, as of any date of determination, the
unpaid principal amount for a Commercial Loan.

         "Warehouse and Security Agreement" shall mean the Warehouse and
Security Agreement, dated as of December 1, 1999, between the Purchaser and the
Lender.

         Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them in the Warehouse and Security Agreement.

         SECTION 2. Sale and Disposition of Commercial Loans.

                  (a) From time to time, but no later than the Expiration Date,
the Seller may sell or contribute (and by execution of a Sale Assignment will
thereby sell or contribute) to the Purchaser, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, all right, title and interest of the Seller in and
to:

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                  (i) the Commercial Loans listed in the related Sale
         Assignment, all payments paid in respect thereof and all monies due, to
         become due or paid in respect thereof after the related Cut-off Date
         and all liquidation proceeds and recoveries thereon, in each case as
         they arise after the related Cut-off Date or other date specified in
         the Sale Assignment;

                  (ii) all security interests and liens and property subject
         thereto from time to time purporting to secure payment by Obligors
         under such Commercial Loans;

                  (iii) all guaranties, indemnities and warranties, and other
         agreements or arrangements of whatever character from time to time
         supporting or securing payment of such Commercial Loans, including
         without limitation, proceeds received under each Insurance Policy
         relating to each Insured Commercial Loan;

                  (iv) all collections and records (including computer records)
         with respect to the foregoing;

                  (v) all documents relating to such Commercial Loans, including
         those contained in the Commercial Loan Files and all Commercial Loan
         Documents; and

                  (vi) all income, payments, proceeds and other benefits of any
         and all of the foregoing.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Purchaser agrees to
purchase or accept the foregoing from the Seller. To the extent that the
Commercial Loan Acquisition Price paid to the Seller for any Commercial Loans is
less than the fair market value of such Commercial Loans, the difference between
such fair market value and the Commercial Loan Acquisition Price shall be deemed
to be a capital contribution made by the Seller to Purchaser on the relevant
Sale Date.

         (b)      In order to offer a Commercial Loan for sale by the Seller to
the Purchaser, the Seller shall deliver to the Custodian, on behalf of the
Purchaser, each of the Commercial Loan Documents and the originally executed
Sale Assignment therefor prior to the Sale Date. Upon receipt by the Custodian
of the complete Commercial Loan Documents and the duly executed original Sale
Assignment, the acceptance and approval by the Lender of a duly executed Trust
Receipt from the Custodian, and subject to the terms of this Agreement, the
Purchaser will transfer or cause to be transferred to the Seller, an amount
equal to the Commercial Loan Acquisition Price with respect to such the
Commercial Loans identified on the Trust Receipt by the close of business on or
before the second Business Day following the receipt by the Custodian of such
Commercial Loan Documents and Sale Assignment.

         (c)      Upon payment of the Commercial Loan Acquisition Price and
execution of the Sale Assignment with respect to a Commercial Loan, the
ownership of each such Commercial Loan and all collections allocable to
principal thereon since the related Cut-off Date and all other property
interests or rights conveyed pursuant to and referenced in Section 2(a) hereof,
shall be

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vested in the Purchaser, and the Seller shall not take any action inconsistent
with such ownership nor claim any ownership interest in any such Commercial Loan
for any purpose whatsoever other than consolidated financial and federal and
state income tax reporting.

         (d) On or prior to the related Sale Date, the Seller shall indicate in
its computer files and other records that each Commercial Loan has been sold to
the Purchaser and transferred and, if applicable, pledged to the Lender. In
addition, on or prior to the Sale Date, the Seller shall deliver to the
Purchaser (or to the Lender, if the Purchaser has pledged such Commercial Loans
to the Lender), UCC-1 financing statements in favor of the Purchaser and, if
applicable, the Lender with respect to the Commercial Loans meeting the
requirements of applicable state law in such manner and in such jurisdictions as
are necessary or appropriate to perfect the acquisition of the Commercial Loans
by the Purchaser from the Seller. In addition, the Seller and the Purchaser each
shall respond to any inquiries with respect to ownership of a Commercial Loan by
stating that such Commercial Loan has been sold to the Purchaser and that the
Purchaser is the owner of such Commercial Loan and, if applicable, that such
Commercial Loan has been assigned to the Lender.

         (e) The Seller, at any time and from time to time shall, at its sole
cost and expense, afford the Purchaser and the Custodian, as the case may be,
and their respective authorized agents and representatives upon reasonable
notice, reasonable access during regular business hours to its records relating
to its performance under and compliance with this Agreement and will cause its
personnel to assist in any examination of such records to enable such party to
determine the Seller's compliance with the terms of this Agreement. The
examination referred to in the immediately preceding sentence will be conducted
in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the Seller's normal
operations or customer or employee relations.

         (f) The Seller agrees that, from time to time, at its expense, it will
promptly execute and deliver all further instruments, notices and documents, and
take all further action, that may be necessary or appropriate, as reasonably
determined by the Purchaser, or that the Purchaser may reasonably request, in
order to perfect, protect or more fully evidence the transfer of ownership of
the Commercial Loans to the Purchaser or to enable the Purchaser or the Lender
to exercise or enforce any of its respective rights hereunder or under any Sale
Assignment, as the case may be.

         (g) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Purchaser in
furtherance of its agreement to purchase Commercial Loans hereunder, including
enforcement of its rights and receipt of documents, may be delegated by it to
one or more agents, or assigned to the Lender pursuant to the Warehouse and
Security Agreement.

         (h) Except as specifically provided for herein, the sale and the
purchase of the Commercial Loans under this Agreement is without recourse to the
Seller; provided that the Seller shall be liable to the Purchaser for all
representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made by it under this
Agreement.

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         (i) Neither the Purchaser nor any assignee shall have any obligation or
liability with respect to any Commercial Loan, nor shall the Purchaser or any
assignee have any liability to any Obligor in respect of any Commercial Loan. No
such obligation or liability is intended to be assumed by the Purchaser or any
assignee herewith, and any such liability hereby is expressly disclaimed.

         SECTION 3. Intended Characterization; Grant of Security Interest.

         It is the intention of the parties hereto that each transfer of
Commercial Loans to be made pursuant to the terms hereof shall constitute a sale
or, to the extent set forth in Section 2(a) hereof, a capital contribution by
the Seller to the Purchaser and not a loan. In the event, however, that a court
of competent jurisdiction were to hold that any such transfer constitutes a loan
and not a sale or capital contribution, it is the intention of the parties
hereto that the Seller shall be deemed to have granted to the Purchaser as of
the date hereof a first priority perfected security interest in all of Seller's
right, title and interest in, to and under each Commercial Loan, and the related
property as described in Section 2(a) hereof. In the event of the
characterization of any such transfer as a loan, the amount of interest payable
or paid with respect to such loan under the terms of this Agreement shall be
limited to an amount which shall not exceed the maximum nonusurious rate of
interest allowed by the applicable state law or any applicable law of the United
States permitting a higher maximum nonusurious rate that preempts such
applicable state law, which could lawfully be contracted for, charged or
received (the "Highest Lawful Rate"). In the event any payment of interest on
any such loan exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the parties hereto stipulate that
(a) to the extent possible given the term of such loan, such excess amount
previously paid or to be paid with respect to such loan be applied to reduce the
principal balance of such loan, and the provisions thereof immediately be deemed
reformed and the amounts thereafter collectible thereunder reduced, without the
necessity of the execution of any new document, so as to comply with the then
applicable law, but so as to permit the recovery of the fullest amount otherwise
called for thereunder and (b) to the extent that the reduction of the principal
balance of, and the amounts collectible under, such loan and the reformation of
the provisions thereof described in the immediately preceding clause (a) is not
possible given the term of such loan, such excess amount will be deemed to have
been paid with respect to such loan as a result of an error and upon discovery
of such error or upon notice thereof by any party hereto such amount shall be
refunded by the recipient thereof.

         SECTION 4. Conditions Precedent to Purchase.

         The agreement of the Purchaser to purchase Commercial Loans pursuant to
Section 2 of this Agreement on each Sale Date is subject to the following:

         (i)      each Commercial Loan shall be an Eligible Commercial Loan;

         (ii) the representations and warranties of the Seller contained in
Sections 5(a) and 5(b) of this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of
such Sale Date and no violations of the covenants contained in Section 5(c) of
this Agreement shall be existing;

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         (iii) the fulfillment and satisfaction of the conditions required in
Section 1 of the Warehouse and Security Agreement; and

         (iv) with respect to the first Sale Date on which Insured Commercial
Loans are being transferred, an Insurer Consent shall have been executed and
delivered to the Purchaser and the Lender; and

         SECTION 5. Representations, Warranties and Covenants of Seller.

         (a) The Seller represents and warrants to the Purchaser, as of the date
hereof (which representations and warranties may be relied upon by the Lender,
as if made directly to the Lender, and such representations and warranties shall
be deemed reaffirmed on each Sale Date as though made on such Sale Date) with
respect to the Seller as follows:


                  (i) The Seller has been duly organized and is validly existing
         as a bank and trust company under the laws of the State of Connecticut.

                  (ii) The Seller is duly licensed as a "Licensee" or are
         otherwise qualified in each state in which it transacts business where
         the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its
         business requires such license or qualification and are not in default
         of such state's applicable law, rules and regulations. It has the
         requisite power and authority and legal right to own, transfer
         ownership and/or grant a lien on all of their right, title and interest
         in and to the Commercial Loans, and to execute and deliver, engage in
         the transactions contemplated by, and perform and observe the terms and
         conditions of, this Agreement and the Custody, as applicable.

                  (iii) At all times after the Custodian has received an
         original note and Commercial Loan File relating to a Commercial Loan
         from the Seller and until payment in full of the Loan made by the
         Lender to the Purchaser pursuant to the Warehouse and Security
         Agreement, the Seller will not commit any act in violation of
         applicable laws, or regulations promulgated with respect thereto.

                  (iv) The Seller is solvent and is not in default under any
         mortgage, borrowing agreement or other instrument or agreement
         pertaining to indebtedness for borrowed money, and the execution,
         delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement and the
         Custody Agreement, as applicable, and the execution by the Seller of
         this Agreement and the Custody Agreement does not conflict with any
         term or provision of the charter, certificate of incorporation or
         by-laws of any of them or any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment,
         writ, injunction or decree applicable to it of any court, regulatory
         body, administrative agency or governmental body having jurisdiction
         over any of them and will not result in any violation of any mortgage,
         instrument or agreement pertaining to indebtedness for borrowed money.


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                  (v) All financial statements of the Seller furnished to the
         Purchaser and the Lender do not omit to disclose any material
         liabilities or other facts relevant to the Seller's condition. All
         certificates of the Seller or any of its officers furnished to the
         Holdings or the Lender are true and complete. All such financial
         statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. No financial
         statement or other financial information as of a date later than the
         date set forth in the Parent's most recent 10-K or 10-Q filing under
         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, has been furnished by
         the Seller to another lender of the Seller that has not been furnished
         to the Purchaser and the Lender.

                  (vi) Except as have been previously obtained, no consent,
         approval, authorization or order of, registration or filing with, or
         notice to any governmental authority or court is required under
         applicable law in connection with the execution, delivery and
         performance by it of this Agreement and the Custody Agreement, as
         applicable.

                  (vii) There is no action, proceeding or investigation pending
         or, to the best knowledge of the Seller, threatened against the Seller
         before any court, administrative agency or other tribunal (A) asserting
         the invalidity of this Agreement, as applicable, or the Custody
         Agreement, as applicable, (B) seeking to prevent the consummation of
         any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Custody
         Agreement, as applicable, or (C) which might materially and adversely
         affect the validity of the Commercial Loans or the performance by any
         of them of their obligations under, or the validity or enforceability
         of, this Agreement or the Custody Agreement, as applicable.

                  (viii) There has been no adverse change in the business,
         operations, financial condition, properties or prospects of the Seller
         and the Parent taken as a whole since the date set forth in the
         Parent's most recent 10-K or 10-Q filing under the Securities Exchange
         Act of 1934, as amended, which would have a material adverse affect on
         the Seller's ability to perform their respective obligations under this
         Agreement or the Custody Agreement, as applicable.

                  (ix) This Agreement and the Custody Agreement, as applicable,
         have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Seller, all
         requisite corporate action having been taken, and each is valid,
         binding and enforceable against the Seller in accordance with its
         terms.

                  (x) When a note and the related Commercial Loan File
         evidencing a Commercial Loan and the other Commercial Loan Documents
         are delivered to the Custodian, the security interest granted pursuant
         to the Warehouse and Security Agreement will constitute a
         fully-perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral in
         favor of the Lender.

                  (xi) The Boards of Directors of the Seller has approved the
         formation of the Borrower for the purposes set forth in the Borrower's
         certificate of incorporation and the

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         transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Custody Agreement,
         such approvals have been duly noted in the minutes of the Board of
         Directors of the Seller and, from the time of execution of this
         Agreement and the Custody Agreement, will be continuously an official
         record (as such term is used in Section 13(e)(1)(D) of the Federal
         Deposit Insurance Act, as amended by the Financial Institution Reform,
         Recovery and Enforcement Act and as in effect on the date hereof) of
         the Seller.

                  (xii) At the time of origination of a Commercial Loan, in all
         instances where commercial real property serves as the primary
         collateral for such Commercial Loan, the related mortgaged property was
         free of contamination from toxic substances or hazardous wastes
         requiring action under applicable laws or is subject to ongoing
         environmental rehabilitation, and the Seller has no knowledge of any
         such contamination from toxic substances or hazardous waste material on
         any mortgaged property unless such items are below action levels or
         such mortgaged property is subject to ongoing environmental
         rehabilitation.

         (b)      With respect to every Commercial Loan and related note and
Commercial Loan File sold to the Purchaser and delivered to the Custodian, the
Seller represents and warrants to the Purchaser (which representations and
warranties may be relied upon by the Lender, as if made directly to the Lender)
that:

                  (i) Such note evidencing a Commercial Loan and the related
         Commercial Loan File are complete and authentic and all signatures
         thereon are genuine.

                  (ii) Such Commercial Loan was (a) originated by the Seller
         pursuant to its published underwriting criteria existing at the time
         the Commercial Loans were originated if such Commercial Loans were
         originated prior to the date hereof and if such criteria was different
         than the criteria heretofore supplied to the Purchaser and the Lender,
         (b) originated by the Seller pursuant to its published underwriting
         criteria heretofore supplied to the Purchaser and the Lender (or if
         such criteria have been changed, the terms of such new underwriting
         criteria shall have been supplied to the Purchaser and the Lender) or
         (c) originated by third parties and re-underwritten by the Seller on
         terms consistent with its published underwriting criteria (or pursuant
         to other underwriting criteria previously supplied to the Purchaser and
         the Lender), and such Commercial Loan arose from a bona fide loan,
         complying with all applicable state and Federal laws and regulations,
         to Persons having legal capacity to contract and is not subject to any
         defense, set-off or counterclaim.

                  (iii) All amounts represented to be payable on such Commercial
         Loan are, in fact, payable in accordance with the provisions of such
         Commercial Loan.

                  (iv) No payment default or material non-payment default has
         occurred in any provisions of such Commercial Loan.

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                  (v) Any real property subject to any security interest granted
         by an obligor in connection with any Commercial Loan is not subject to
         any other encumbrances other than (i) a stated prior mortgage or
         mortgages, (ii) liens for taxes not yet due and payable or similar
         governmental charges not yet due and payable or still subject to
         payment without interest or penalty or (iii) zoning restrictions,
         utility easements, covenants or conditions and restrictions of record
         and other encumbrances, which will neither defeat nor render invalid
         such security interest or the priority thereof nor materially impair
         the marketability or value of such real property nor be violated by the
         existing improvements or the intended use thereof.

                  (vi) The Seller holds good and indefeasible title to, and is
         the sole owner of, such Commercial Loan, subject to no liens, charges,
         mortgages, participations, encumbrances or rights of any Person.

                  (vii) Each Commercial Loan conforms to the description thereof
         as set forth on the related Commercial Loan Schedule delivered to the
         Custodian, the Purchaser and the Lender.

                  (viii) The Commercial Loans do not have characteristics which
         are materially worse than those of other loans made to small business
         concerns financed by the Seller during the twelve-month period
         preceding the related Sale Date.

                  (ix) No Commercial Loan shall have been originated in, or be
         subject to the laws of, any jurisdiction under which the sale, transfer
         and assignment of such Commercial Loan under this Agreement shall be
         unlawful, void or voidable.

                  (x) With respect to each Insured Commercial Loan, the related
         Insurance Policy is in full force and effect and the holder of such
         Insured Commercial Loan is entitled to the full benefits of such
         Insurance Policy.

                  (xi) Except for Insured Commercial Loans, the obligor on such
         Commercial Loan is a United States entity.

                  (xii) Such Commercial Loan is payable on U.S. Dollars.

                  (xiii) The first payment due on such Commercial Loan was not,
         or will not be, 30 or more days delinquent in payment.

         (c) The Seller covenants with the Purchaser and the Lender, that until
the Expiration Date of this Agreement:

                  1.       The Seller's Tangible Net Worth (determined in
         accordance with GAAP) shall not be less than $47,500,000.

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                  2.       The Seller's Tangible Net Worth shall not be less
         than its Tangible Net Worth as shown on the Seller's financial
         statements as of September 30, 1999 (as delivered previously to the
         Lender) plus fifty percent (50%) of all accumulated positive net income
         from September 30, 1999 less $4,000,000. "Tangible Net Worth" means the
         difference between (x) net worth determined in accordance with GAAP
         less (y) the sum of (i) receivables from stockholders or affiliates of
         the Seller and (ii) intangible assets determined in accordance with
         GAAP (which include assets such as copyrights, patents, trademarks,
         goodwill, computer programs, capitalized advertising costs,
         organization costs, licenses, leases, franchises, exploration permits,
         and import and export permits, etc.).

                  3.       The Seller's leverage ratio shall not exceed 8:1,
         such ratio being the ratio of (x) the Seller's total liabilities plus
         an amount equal to all Advances under the Warehouse and Security
         Agreement, less subordinated debt maturing in more than one year, to
         (y) the Seller's Tangible Net Worth (determined as set forth above).

                  4.       The Seller shall be "well capitalized" as defined in
         12 CFR Part.

                  5.       The Seller will continue to be a wholly-owned
         subsidiary of the Parent and the Purchaser will continue to be a
         wholly-owned subsidiary of the Seller.

                  6.       The Seller will continue to maintain for itself and
         its subsidiaries insurance coverage with respect to employee
         dishonesty, forgery or alteration, theft, disappearance and
         destruction, robbery and safe burglary, property (other than money and
         securities) and computer fraud in an aggregate amount of at least
         $4,000,000, and shall name Lender as a loss payee.

                  7.       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
         herein, with the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Lender
         (not to be unreasonably withheld) Seller is permitted to assign its
         rights and obligations hereunder to another wholly-owned subsidiary of
         the Parent (the "Assignee") (in which case all of the provisions of
         this Agreement shall, to the same extent as they apply to the Seller
         hereunder, apply to the Assignee rather than to the Seller) on the
         condition that (a) the Assignee acquires substantially all of the
         Seller's assets relating to its commercial lending business, (b) the
         Assignee assumes substantially all of the Seller's liabilities relating
         to its commercial lending business, (c) the Purchaser and the Lender
         receive such documents evidencing (a) and (b) above as the Purchaser of
         the Lender shall reasonably request, and (d) Seller and Assignee
         execute and deliver to the Purchaser and the Lender such amendments to
         this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and such opinions of counsel
         as Lender shall reasonably request in order to evidence that the
         Assignee has assumed all of the Seller's rights and obligations, and is
         bound by all of the Seller's agreements, set forth herein.

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                  8.       The Seller shall make available to the Purchaser and
         the Lender and its agents and employees, upon reasonable prior notice
         and during normal business hours, the books and records of the Seller
         relating to the Commercial Loans and the transactions contemplated
         hereby.

         (d)      It is understood and agreed that the representations and
warranties and covenants set forth in this Section 5 shall survive the sale or
contribution of a Commercial Loan to the Purchaser and any pledge of such
Commercial Loan by the Purchaser to the Lender and shall continue so long as any
such Commercial Loan shall remain outstanding until such time as such Commercial
Loan is repurchased pursuant to Section 5(e). The Seller acknowledges that it
has been advised that the Purchaser may assign all or part of its right, title
and interest in and to each Commercial Loan and its right to exercise the
remedies created by this Section 5 to the Lender. The Seller agrees that, upon
any such assignment, the Lender may enforce directly, without joinder of the
Purchaser (but subject to any defense that the Seller may have under this
Agreement), the purchase obligations of the Seller set forth in Section 5(e)
with respect to breaches of the representations and warranties set forth in
Section 5(a) and Section 5(b) or breaches of the covenants contained in Section
5(c).

         (e)      Upon discovery by the Purchaser, the Lender, any subsequent
assignee or the Seller of a breach of any of the representations and warranties
in Section 5(a) or Section 5(b) or breaches of the covenants contained in
Section 5(c), which materially and adversely affects the value of a Commercial
Loan or the interests of the Purchaser or a subsequent assignee therein, the
party discovering such breach or failure to deliver shall give prompt written
notice to the other parties. If, at the time of such discovery, (i) no loss has
yet occurred with respect to such Commercial Loan, (ii) such breach or failure
to deliver is curable and (iii) Seller shall have failed to cure such breach
within 30 days after the earlier of (A) the Seller's discovery of such breach
and (B) the Seller's receipt of written notice of such breach, then if requested
in writing by notice from the Purchaser or any subsequent assignee, the Seller
shall immediately repurchase such Commercial Loan by remitting an amount equal
to the Repurchase Price in the manner specified in such notice. Any such
repurchase shall be made without recourse against, or warranty, express or
implied, of the Purchaser or any such assignee. Notwithstanding the immediately
preceding sentence, in connection with any such repurchase, the Purchaser shall
in writing represent to the Seller (i) the amount of the remaining balance of
the relevant Commercial Loan and (ii) that the Purchaser has not violated in any
material way any laws applicable to the collectibility of such Commercial Loan.
The Purchaser or any subsequent assignee shall execute and deliver an assignment
substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof to
vest ownership of such Commercial Loan in the Seller. If, at the time of the
discovery of such breach, a loss has occurred with respect to such Commercial
Loan, then the Seller shall pay to the Purchaser or any subsequent assignee an
amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the Repurchase Price exceeds the
net proceeds from such Commercial Loan. It is understood and agreed that the
obligation of the Seller to repurchase any Commercial Loan pursuant to this
Section 5(e) or to make the payment described in the immediately preceding
sentence (the "Repurchase Requirement") shall constitute the sole remedy for the
breach of any representation

                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
or warranty set forth in Section 5(b); provided, that the foregoing limitation
shall not be construed to limit in any manner the Purchaser's rights to (a)
declare the Termination Date to have occurred to the extent that such breaches
also constitute, or contribute to the determination of, an Event of Purchase
Termination, or (b) offset the amount of the Repurchase Price from the
Commercial Loan Acquisition Price in connection with any other Commercial Loans.
It is also understood and agreed that upon the repurchase by Seller of a
Commercial Loan in accordance with this Section 5(e) and the payment by Seller
of all monies required to be paid by it under this Section 5(e) it is the
intention of the parties hereto and the Purchaser warrants that, if the seller
of such Commercial Loan is the Purchaser, Seller shall own all right, title and
interest of the Purchaser in and to such Commercial Loan.

         (f)      With respect to any representations and warranties contained
in Section 5(b) which are made to the best of the Seller's knowledge, if it is
discovered that any representation and warranty is inaccurate and such
inaccuracy materially and adversely affects the value of a Commercial Loan or
the interests of the Purchaser or any assignee thereof, then notwithstanding the
Seller's lack of knowledge of the accuracy of such representation and warranty
at the time such representation or warranty was made, such inaccuracy shall be
deemed a breach of such representation or warranty for purposes of the
Repurchase Requirement described in Section 5(e).

         (g)      It is understood and agreed that the Repurchase Requirement
shall survive any assignment of a Commercial Loan by the Purchaser to any
subsequent assignee and shall continue so long as any such Commercial Loan shall
remain outstanding notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 6. Additional Covenants of Seller. Seller shall, unless the
Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing:

         (a)      comply in all material respects with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations and orders with respect to itself, its business and
properties; and

         (b)      preserve and maintain its corporate existence, rights,
franchises and privileges in the jurisdiction of its organization.

         SECTION 7. Events of Purchase Termination. If any of the following
events (each, an "Event of Purchase Termination") shall occur and be continuing:

         (a)      the Seller shall fail to perform or observe any material term,
covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement and such failure shall remain
unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given by the
Purchaser to the Seller; or

         (b)      an Event of Default under the Warehouse and Security Agreement
which default results in the acceleration of the Loan (as defined in the
Warehouse and Security Agreement); or

                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         (c)      there is a material breach of any of the representations and
warranties of the Seller set forth in Section 5(a) or a breach of any covenant
set forth in Section 5(c); or

         (d)      this Agreement and each Sale Assignment shall for any reason
cease to evidence the transfer to the Purchaser of the legal, equitable and
marketable title to, and ownership of, the Commercial Loans; or

         (e)      the Purchaser becomes obligated to cease purchasing Commercial
Loans from the Seller in accordance with the Warehouse and Security Agreement;

then and in any such event, the Purchaser may, by notice to the Seller declare
an Event of Purchase Termination to have occurred, in which case the date of
termination of this Agreement (the "Termination Date") shall be the date such
notice is given without demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of
which are hereby expressly waived by the Seller; provided, that in the event
that any of the Events of Purchase Termination described in subsections (d) or
(e) of this Section 7 shall have occurred, an Event of Purchase Termination
shall be deemed to have been declared in which case the Termination Date shall
be on the date on which such Event of Purchase Termination shall have occurred,
without demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby
expressly waived by the Seller. Upon any such actual declaration or deemed
declaration, (i) all of the Seller's rights under this Agreement (except its
rights by virtue of the Purchaser not having performed its obligations and
agreements hereunder) shall terminate and (ii) the Purchaser shall have, in
addition to all other rights and remedies under this Agreement, all other rights
and remedies provided under the UCC and other applicable law, which rights shall
be cumulative.

         SECTION 8. No Proceedings. The Seller hereby agrees that it will not,
directly or indirectly, institute, or cause to be instituted, or join any Person
in instituting, against the Purchaser any bankruptcy, reorganization,
arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings, or other proceedings under
any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law so long as there shall not have
elapsed one year plus one day since the Maturity Date of the Loan (each as
defined in and) made pursuant to the Warehouse and Security Agreement.

         SECTION 9. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided
for hereunder shall, unless otherwise stated herein, be in writing and mailed or
telecommunicated, or delivered as to each party hereto, at its address set forth
under its name on the signature page hereof or at such other address as shall be
designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties hereto. All
such notices and communications shall not be effective until received by the
party to whom such notice or communication is addressed.

         SECTION 10. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of the Seller,
the Purchaser or any assignee thereof to exercise, and no delay in exercising,
any right hereunder or under any Sale Assignment shall operate as a waiver
thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right.


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any other
remedies provided by law.

         SECTION 11. Binding Effect; Assignability. This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Seller, the Purchaser and their
respective successors and permitted assigns. Any assignee shall be an express
third party beneficiary of this Agreement, entitled to directly enforce this
Agreement. The Seller may not assign any of its rights and obligations hereunder
or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and
any assignee. The Purchaser may, and intends to, assign all of its rights
hereunder and the Seller consents to any such assignment. This Agreement shall
create and constitute the continuing obligations of the parties hereto in
accordance with its terms, and shall remain in full force and effect until its
termination; provided, that the rights and remedies with respect to any breach
of any representation, warranty or covenant made by the Seller pursuant to
Section 5 and the Repurchase Requirement shall be continuing and shall survive
any termination of this Agreement.

         SECTION 12. Amendments; Consents and Waivers. No modification,
amendment or waiver of, or with respect to, any provision of this Agreement, and
all other agreements, instruments and documents delivered thereto, nor consent
to any departure by the Seller from any of the terms or conditions thereof shall
be effective unless it shall be in writing and signed by each of the parties
hereto and the written consent of the Lender is given. Any waiver or consent
shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which
given. No consent to or demand by the Seller in any case shall, in itself,
entitle it to any other consent or further notice or demand in similar or other
circumstances. The Seller acknowledges that in connection with the intended
assignment by the Purchaser of all of the Seller's right, title and interest in
and to each Commercial Loan to the Lender, the Purchaser intends to enter into
certain financing and security arrangements with the Lender, and the Lender,
subject to the terms of such arrangements, shall provide funds to the Purchaser
to purchase Commercial Loans hereunder and pursuant to which the ability of the
Purchaser to perform hereunder (including its ability to purchase Commercial
Loans and to render consents hereunder) shall be subject to the consent of the
Lender. Notwithstanding the above, the obligation of the Purchaser to perform
hereunder shall not be diminished by the existence of such arrangements.

         SECTION 13. Severability. In case any provision in or obligation under
this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction,
the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions or
obligations, or of such provision or obligation, shall not in any way be
affected or impaired thereby in any other jurisdiction. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, in the event that a Governmental Authority
determines that the Purchaser may not purchase or acquire Commercial Loans, the
transactions evidenced hereby shall constitute a loan and not a purchase and
sale, notwithstanding the otherwise applicable intent of the parties hereto and
the Seller shall be deemed to have granted to the Purchaser as of the date of
each Sale a first priority perfected security interest in all of the Seller's
right, title and interest in, to and under the Commercial Loans, and all
proceeds thereof.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
         SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW; CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

         (A)      THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS
PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

         (B)      THE SELLER AND THE PURCHASER HEREBY SUBMIT TO THE
NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THE UNITED
STATES DISTRICT COURT LOCATED IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN NEW YORK CITY AND
EACH WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT AND CONSENTS THAT
ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY REGISTERED MAIL DIRECTED TO THE ADDRESS
SET FORTH ON THE SIGNATURE PAGE HEREOF AND SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE
COMPLETED FIVE DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN THE U.S. MAILS,
POSTAGE PREPAID. THE SELLER AND THE PURCHASER EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION
BASED ON FORUM NON CONVENIENS, AND ANY OBJECTION TO VENUE OF ANY ACTION
INSTITUTED HEREUNDER AND CONSENTS TO THE GRANTING OF SUCH LEGAL OR EQUITABLE
RELIEF AS IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE BY THE COURT. NOTHING IN THIS SECTION SHALL
AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE SELLER OR THE PURCHASER TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY
OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR AFFECT THE RIGHT OF ANY OF THEM TO BRING ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.

         SECTION 15. Headings. The headings herein are for purposes of reference
only and shall not otherwise affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision hereof.

         SECTION 16. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed
by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed
shall be deemed to be an original and both of which when taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

         SECTION 17. Intended Third Party Beneficiary. The Seller and the
Purchaser hereby agree that the Lender is an intended third party beneficiary of
this Agreement and all representations, warranties and covenants made by the
Seller herein may be relied upon and shall also be for the benefit of the
Lender.

                     [REST OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]


                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Commercial
Loan Sale Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, as of the date first above written.

                                FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK,
                                  as Seller


                                By: /s/Theodore J. Horan
                                   ----------------------------
                                    Name:    Theodore J. Horan
                                    Title:   Senior Vice President
                                    Address: 280 Trumbull Street
                                             Hartford, Connecticut  06103
                                    Telephone:        (860) 241-2595
                                    Telecopier:       (860) 241-4726


                                FIB HOLDINGS, INC.
                                  as Purchaser


                                By:    /s/Theodore J. Horan
                                   ----------------------------
                                    Name:     Theodore J. Horan
                                    Title:    Vice President
                                    Address: 280 Trumbull Street
                                             Hartford, Connecticut  06103
                                    Telephone:        (860) 241-2595
                                    Telecopier:       (860) 241-4726


                                      -18-